Review: Proton Ertiga – First Driving Impressions

The fourth and final piece of Proton’s model-driven renaissance is upon us. Having successfully put all-new versions of the
Perdana
,
Persona
, and
Saga
 on the road within the same calendar year, Proton is on track to keep its promise of four model launches in 2016 with the
all-new Ertiga
 on the verge of being launched next week.
In a routine that has grown extremely familiar, we were invited to a behind-closed door preview of the Ertiga at Proton’s design studio in Shah Alam followed by a short test drive in the company’s banked oval circuit test track.
Without further ado, here’s what we can tell you about Proton’s new compact MPV. As usual, the event was a no-camera affair, so all we have at the moment are snippets of images as well as screen grabs from a 15-second teaser video released by Proton (scroll below to view).
Specifications:
Engine: 1.4-litre, Inline-4, Transverse, VVT
Power:  94hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 130Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual / 4-speed auto, FWD
Safety: 2 airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX (rear), ASEAN NCAP 4 stars
Origins: Locally-manufactured at Tanjung Malim
Overview
Somewhat ironically, the Ertiga name is said to be derived from the Indonesian pronunciation of R3 (R-Tiga). In this case, of course, R3 has a far less sporting connotation than Proton’s similarly-named motorsports devision; here, it is simply denoting the Ertiga’s three-row seating configuration.
Underpinning the Ertiga is a stretched and raised version of the
Suzuki Swift
 platform; even the engine is identical – the 1.4-litre K14B DOHC VVT unit producing outputs of 94hp and 130Nm, sent to the front wheels through either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
Claimed fuel consumption is 5.7 litres/100km for the manual version if driven at a constant 90 km/h; the automatic model sips 6.0 litres/100km. According to Proton officials, this qualifies the Ertiga as an energy efficient vehicle (EEV) – a first for the company.
Two trim levels will be available for selection – Executive and Executive Plus. The regular model is offered with the choice between manual and automatic transmission, whilst the Plus variant is auto only.
Appearance
If you’ve travelled to India or Indonesia recently and have seen the Ertiga recently in its original Suzuki configuration, that’s almost exactly how the Proton version will look like. Proton was not given much of a license to tinker with the original design even at surface level – the most they were able to do was to change the front grille, add reflectors to the tailgate, and change the badge on the steering wheel.
Against rivals, the Ertiga’s overall length of 4,265mm eclipses that of the
Toyota Avanza
, but shorter than the Perodua Alza,
Nissan Grand Livina
 and
Honda BR-V
. Worth noting however, is its ground clearance of 185mm, which is taller than even some SUVs – handy in a flash flood.
Inside, the Ertiga’s cabin receives a beige finish – ideal to create a feel of spaciousness, but not brilliant for keeping the cabin clean. The fabrics lining the seats and doors look distinctly unattractive, but we are nevertheless happy with the cabin’s overall build quality – material selection is what you expect of the price, but fit and finish feel durable enough to last a lengthy ownership cycle. We drove the car through some of the rougher patches of the test track without causing any undue vibrations.
Key Talking Points
1. Suzuki engineering through-and-through:
 There’s no beating around the bush about this, the Ertiga is a rebadged Suzuki – even the model name is not changed. Everything on this car was designed and engineered by Suzuki; Proton had next to no engineering input on any aspect of the vehicle. That being said, Proton is not Suzuki’s only client for this model; it is also marketed as the Mazda VX-1 in Indonesia
2. ASEAN NCAP 4 stars:

Suzuki doesn’t offer the Ertiga in highly-developed markets, and this shows in the vehicle’s safety arsenal. You get dual airbags, ABS, EBD, and ISOFIX mounts, but electronic stability control is not present even in the highest-specced model. The Ertiga carries a
four-star rating by ASEAN NCAP
.
3. Six-Seater:
 There are three rows of seats with enough room for seven passengers, but seat belts only for six of them. Hence, the Ertiga is legally classified as only a six-seater. Like any good MPV, the two rows of seats at the back can be folded to yield different loading and seating configurations – middle-row split folds 60:40, third row split folds 50:50. Space within the cabin is packaged well enough to not feel cramped, but Suzuki’s partitioning of the centre console remains poor with too much under-utilization of space along the centre console. For a manufacturer that makes a living off making small cars, we expect a smarter dashboard layout.
4. Roof-mounted blower with independent cooling coil:
 Rear passengers receive their dose of cold air through a row of roof-mounted multi-speed blowers situated ahead of the middle row seats. The blowers suck cold air from the forward section of the cabin and blow it further astern. An independent cooling coil ensures that the recycled air is cooled again before it is blown toward the rear-seated occupants.
Driving Experience
From pleasant experiences with the Swift, S-Cross, and
Kizashi
, we know that Suzuki has a knack of tuning the vehicles to drive with pleasing fluidity and excellent mechanical refinement. Despite their overall mechanical simplicity, Suzuki vehicles tend to feel like they are very meticulously engineered to exceed the sum of their parts.
The Ertiga drives in that distinctively familiar Suzuki fashion, which should not surprise us since Proton had minimal engineering input on the vehicle. The 1.4-litre engine is outgunned on paper by 1.5-litre alternatives of its closest rivals, but it pulls delightfully with a spirited engine note.
The 5-speed manual transmission is a delight to use, its slots are precise and pedals calibrated well enough for drivers with smooth footwork to enjoy a bout of heel-and-toe downshifting. Indeed, Swift owners might even want to procure examples of this gearbox for manual conversion projects. The 4-speed automatic, on the other hand, is an adequate performer too, shifting between its cogs smoothly enough that we found no reason to complaint.
The raised ride height over the Swift does not seem to have significantly hampered the Ertiga’s dynamics. Whilst we’re mindful of more severe body roll around corners, stability at high speeds is sufficiently reassuring that we were able to push speeds of 160 km/h on the test track without cause for alarm.
Ride quality over poor surfaces are satisfactory too; it was noteworthy that even on sections of the test track meant to simulate the worst of Malaysian roads, the Ertiga felt reassuringly solid with all fittings holding together well despite the punishment.
Conclusion
The Ertiga is a decent compact MPV, but its case is weakened by an inability to legally function as a proper seven-seater despite having the space to do so. The lack of electronic stability control in a market that is growing increasingly aware of the importance of safety is another black mark against it, although the saving grace is that most of its rivals are understocked in this department anyway.
There is a big market for compact people carriers in Malaysia; for MPV buyers who want something smaller than the
Exora
, Proton now pitches the Ertiga as the solution for your needs. Being a Suzuki-engineered product, it is a well-designed product underpinned by solid fundamentals. It also drives well, which would come as a pleasant surprise for most buyers in this segment.


TGR Racing Festival All Set To Rock Johor This Weekend

The Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival makes it way to Medini City in Iskandar Puteri, Johor this weekend, bringing with it non-stop racing action, A-list celebrity activities and impressive prizes including a brand new Toyota Vios Sports Edition that will be presented to a lucky visitor.
Having thrilled crowds in Penang and Kuala Lumpur with total attendance of 50,000 visitors, the TGR Festival is expected to attract a sizeable crowd in Medini City on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th January 2018, particularly as the excitement of the Vios Challenge continues to develop with great intensity.
With the
championship in mid-season and no winner in sight
, the races are beginning to heat up in all three categories where some of the top local racing drivers will be competing.
So, spectators can expect a thrilling weekend of racing on the street circuit which features one of the longest straights in the championship, promising lots of overtaking action.
The category which fans will definitely be keen to catch will be the Promotional Class where celebrity racers Fattah Amin, Shukri Yahaya, Diana Danielle, Janna Nick, Geraldine Gan, Danny Koo, Venice Min and Shawn Lee will be battling it out for glory.
For those who are thinking of checking out the celebrities, this weekend promises to be a star-studded event in Medini as apart from the eight racing celebrities, Media Prima’s Drama Sangat bus tour celebrities including Nazrief Nazri, Intan Najwa, Adiba Yunos, Aishah Azman, Raja Afiq, Ruhainies, Zie Zainal and Aliff Yasraff will be at the event meeting fans and giving away prizes and souvenirs during their meet and greet sessions.
In addition, superheroes Ejen Ali and Comot will be making appearances throughout the weekend as well.
Racing aside, there will be lots of prizes and souvenirs to be given away throughout the weekend. The biggest prize will be a Toyota Vios Sports Edition that is being offered as the grand prize in the lucky draw.
Fans of Toyota cars will further be treated with a showcase of the latest models including the 2018 Toyota Vios and the C-HR compact SUV. There will be test drives of most Toyota models as well.
And then, there will be stunt performances by Japanese World Champion drifters Masato Kawabata and Drift Samurai Takahiro Imamura.
In keeping with UMW Toyota Motor’s efforts to promote healthy, safe and wholesome activities, the race track at the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival in Johor will be open for an hour to cyclists who register on Saturday morning, allowing them an opportunity to experience the circuit in a safe and controlled manner.
Another attraction of the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival in Medini City is the presence of some of the region’s top food trucks from Johor including Brader Doug, Tacoloco, Salys Streetfood, Aromorasa to name a few.
Entrance to the TGR Racing Festival is free and activities begin from 9am daily stretching till 6.30pm.


Changan's UNI-T Speedster - A Convertible SUV, Who Would Have Thought?

Changan's UNI-T Speedster concept wants to change the future with a convertible SUV!

If you've never heard of
Changan Automobile
, we don't blame you!

However, you should know that Changan Automobile is one of the top automotive brands in China and fight
Geely
 toe to toe for the top spot, with the Chongqing based company topping the sales chart more than once this year.

Although Changan's C-Segment Sedan, the Eado, is their best-selling vehicle, their sleek and sporty Lexus-esque looking SUV, the
UNI-T
 is hot behind its trail. It has even been dubbed as the best-looking SUV in China by many media outlets such as Carscoop - primary target demographic, sporty and fashion-centric youth.

Although the UNI-T has not surpassed monthly sales figures of 10k units, Changan has already started to implant the idea to buyers that they want to sell a convertible version of the UNI-T, called the UNI-T Speedster.

Despite the lack of demand for convertibles in China, Changan believes they can disrupt China's antipathy for drop-tops through an SUV roadster, ala Land Rover's
Evoque convertible
.

The UNI-T Speedster, with its wide body,  extensive front splitter and side skirts as well as big grill, looks like it came out of one of Japan's custom body kit makers.

The design of the front face maintains the design style of the UNI, with its "Z" shaped light and lower grille combo polarising the front end. While the front end is definitely striking, it's probably the rear, that catch the eye, especially when you can clearly see the speedster-type hump. Of course, we can't see where it would hide the soft top, so perhaps this concept is a bit far from the showroom floor.

Of course, what is possible is the inclusion of a petrol 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with 180 hp and 300 Nm of torque, as found on the UNI-T. The interior of the UNI-T should also fit directly into the Speedster as it's already flamboyant. Just look at that hovering touchpad on the centre console.

A four-seater speedster is probably the last thing Chinese buyers want, but with their youth's ever-changing behaviour where style is essential, perhaps Changan is on to something here. If that fails, they could always try their luck in Europe, where cabriolets thrive.


Goodyear unveils tyre made with 90% sustainable material

Goodyear
 is upping its eco-friendly game by unveiling a demo tyre that comprises 90% sustainable material.

That's quite an achievement and to make things better, the tyre has passed all applicable regulatory internal testing to be approved for road use in the near future.

Lower rolling resistance, better fuel savings

Goodyear also stated that its demonstration tyre made with 90% sustainable material has a lower rolling resistance compared to the reference tyre, which also means that it has the ability to offer improved fuel savings as well as a reduced carbon footprint.

This was accomplished thanks to 17 different ingredients across 12 tyre components. The carbon black used in the production is made with methane, CO2, plant-based oil and end-of-life tyre pyrolysis oil feedstocks instead of the burning of petroleum products.

Other additions include

Soybean oil for rubber compound pliability

Silica from rice husk waste residue (RHA silica)

Polyester from post-consumer bottles

Bio-renewable resins from pine trees + more

70% sustainable-materials tyres to go on sale in 2023

While the 90% sustainable-material tyre still has quite a bit to go, Goodyear also announced that a 70% version will go on sale in 2023. That's already a good figure but in order to reach 90%, Goodyear needs to finalise its collaboration plans with supply bases regarding things like materials and volume.

This movement also falls in line with the brand's support towards autonomous transportation via its Goodyear Sightline technology and its usage by one of North America's autonomous delivery network companies, Gatik. The Goodyear Sightline technology is said to 'accurately estimate tyre-road friction potential' and deliver that data to Gatik's automated driving system for better safety.


Divorced From Proton, Suzuki Joins Forces With Toyota

As a follow-up of the initial announcement back in
February 2017
, Toyota and Suzuki detailed their new collaborations plans.
Part of the new collaboration work will see Suzuki leveraging on Toyota’s know-how in hybrid technology and vehicles. As such, Toyota will be supplying its Toyota Hybrid System to Suzuki for the global market.
In addition to that, Toyota will also be supplying Suzuki with two new electrified vehicles based on the RAV4 and Corolla Wagon for the latter to sell in Europe.
Suzuki will also benefit from Toyota’s expertise in hybrid technologies as Toyota will supply Suzuki with hybrid systems in India.
Toyota will also benefit from Suzuki’s knowledge in compact vehicles, as Suzuki will be supplying Toyota with the Ciaz and Ertiga platform for the latter to sell in India. Toyota will also utilize Suzuki’s engines for compact vehicles sold in Europe.
On top of that, Suzuki will also supply Toyota with Indian-assembled vehicles, including the Baleno, Vitara Brezza, Ciaz, and Ertiga for the latter to sell in Africa.
Last but not least, both companies will jointly develop a Toyota C-segment MPV which will be sold by Suzuki in India, while Suzuki will have access to assemble the Vitara Brezza at the Toyota Kirloskar Motor production facility in India from 2022.
Closer to home, Suzuki's partnership has ended and production of the Proton Ertiga will cease once the committed volumes are met.
Toyota’s President Akio Toyoda said, “Through our new agreement, we look forward to the wider use of hybrid technologies, not only in India and Europe, but around the world. At the same time, we believe that the expansion of our business partnership with Suzuki―from the mutual supply of vehicles and powertrains to the domains of development and production―will help give us the competitive edge we will need to survive this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation. We intend to strengthen the competitiveness of both our companies by applying our strong points and learning from each other."
Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki said, "At the time we announced our scope of cooperation in May last year, I spoke that we will strive for success globally. I have seen progress in the partnership since then, and it is my pleasure to be able to make this announcement today regarding the status of partnership on a global basis, including Europe and Africa. In addition, we appreciate the kind offer from Toyota to let us make use of their hybrid technology. We will continue our utmost efforts."


24 More Hours To Le Mans 2015

On Saturday 3PM (9PM Malaysian time) at Circuit de La Sarthe in France, Audi, Porsche and Toyota will once again fight it out at the 83
rd
 Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race.
Defending Le Mans winner Audi Sport Team Joest is aiming for its 14
th
 Le Mans victory but Porsche, still the most successful manufacturer in Le Mans, with 16 wins between 1981 to 1998, is starting to become a major annoyance to the four rings team this year by locking out Audi from the top three positions on the starting grid.
The fastest No.18 Porsche 919 Hybrid is 3 seconds faster than the fastest No.8 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, and nearly seven seconds faster than defending WEC champion Team Toyota Racing’s TS040 Hybrid.
The historic Le Mans 24 Hours race is the third of the eight FIA World Endurance Championship’s (WEC) racing events. However because of its history, and its 24 hours race duration which really pushes the limits of the drivers, crews and cars, it is the most glamourous of all FIA WEC races.
Last year, Toyota won the WEC 2014 Championship with its supercapacitor-based petrol-electric TS040 Hybrid but everyone remembered the diesel-electric hybrid Audi R18 e-tron Quattro for winning last year’s Le Mans.
All points scored in Le Mans are double that of a regular 6 hours FIA WEC race.
Ingolstadt’s team Audi is going into this year’s Le Mans with a promising start, leading the WEC Manufacturer’s Championship with 70 points after winning both the 6 Hours of Silverstone and the 6 Hours of Spa. Porsche is second with 53 points while defending WEC champion Toyota is third with 47 points.
But team from Stuttgart could derail Audi’s ambition to secure its 14
th
 Le Mans title. Still, endurance racing is nothing like Formula One. Starting in pole is one thing, winning the race 24 hours later is quite another.
Last year, Porsche lead for most of the race but by the final quarter, things started to go horribly wrong for Porsche, suffering accidents and breakdowns before handing over the lead to Audi.
For Le Mans, all the top LMP1 class teams are fielding mildly revised cars with a dedicated aerodynamic packaged developed specifically for Le Mans.
The new aerodynamics package seems to be working wonders for Porsche, whose 919 Hybrid is showing amazing pace, leading the fastest Audi R18 e-tron Quattro by 1.7 seconds in qualifying practice sessions.
Some quick facts about Le Mans
Fastest lap record: 3m 19.074s, Loic Duval (France), made in 2010 in a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
Fastest speed record: 403.9 km/h on the Mulsanne Straight in 1988, set by Roger Dorchy in a WM-Peugeot. The record will most likely stay for a very long time as the length of the straight was shortened in 1990 with the addition of two chicanes, following a controversial directive by the FIA to limit the maximum distance of racing straights.
Unluckiest car number: 24. No race car bearing the number 24 has won in Le Mans, whose history dates back to 1923. It is an amusing numerical irony in a race that’s so synonymous with the number 24.
For various reasons, drivers trained in Formula One discipline don’t fare well in Le Mans. The last time an F1 driver won in Le Mans was Michele Alboreto, back in 1997 in a Joest Racing TWR Porsche WSC-95.
Most successful driver in Le Mans – Tom Kristensen (Denmark), with a record nine wins
Most successful country in Le Mans – While the World Rallying Championship is dominated by Scandinavian drivers, and F1 by Brazilian, British and German drivers, Le Mans is equally dominated by French and UK drivers (tie at 42 victories).
Only Audi and Porsche have ever pulled off a Le Mans hat trick, i.e. pole position, best lap time and overall win. Audi has managed the feat eight times and Porsche, the constructor with the most Le Mans wins to its name, has done it seven times.
Total crew member: About 70 (typical). Leading teams like Audi and Porsche run a three car team while Toyota runs two cars. Porsche keeps 23 crews per car, including race engineer, performance engineer, data engineer, hybrid engineer, systems performance engineer, 12V engineer, software engineer, gearbox engineer, track aerodynamics engineer, and many more mechanics.
On an extended race stint, a Le Mans LMP1 class car stays on the track with the same set of tyres for four hours, twice as long as Formula One.
Unlike Formula One, tyre changes in Le Mans need a little more choreography, four mechanics and two wheel guns are involved but at any one time, only two mechanics are allowed to work on the car, using only one wheel gun. So two teams of tyre mechanics work in a relay-like manner.
Wheel spins are not allowed when driving out of the pits, otherwise a stop-go penalty will be applied.
At all pit stops, the engine must be switched off.
To understand what’s so special about Le Mans, watch this video by Audi below, chronicling Le Mans 2012.
You can follow Le Mans 2015 live
here
.


Volvo XC40 Is Japan’s Car Of The Year 2018

Volvo has achieved its first-ever back-to-back victory for an importer in Japan’s Car of the Year (JCOTY) award this year.
The XC40 has been named Japan’s Car of the Year for 2018 right after the XC60 won the country’s top trophy in 2017.
The JCOTY 2018 awards, which took place yesterday at the Tokyo International Exchange Center, saw 60 jurors from Japan’s most influential automotive publications as well as car manufacturer executives gathering to witness the vote counting and prize-giving ceremony.
Earlier this year, we've reported that demand for the XC40 in Japan is so strong that the waiting period for the car had stretched to
12 months
!
Commended for its practicality, design, advanced safety equipment, as well as performance, the Volvo XC40 scored 363 points, beating other cars like the all-new Toyota Corolla, Mazda CX-8, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
The vote counting started off as a battle between the Volvo XC40 and the Toyota Corolla Sport. After the XC40 picked up an early lead, the Corolla came back midway through counting to briefly overtake the Swede before the Volvo accelerated away to win by 49 votes.
The VW Polo on the other hand finished third with 197 votes, followed by the Toyota Crown with 170, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross at fifth with 165 votes.
That being said, the finalists in this year’s JCOTY are as mentioned below:
Volvo XC40 – 363 points
Toyota Corolla Sports – 314 points
Volkswagen Polo – 197 points
Toyota Crown – 170 points
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – 156 points
Mazda CX-8 – 111 points
Alfa Romeo Stelvio – 106 points
BMW X2 – 47 points
Honda Clarity PHEV – 36 points
Accepting the trophy in front of 60 jurors and over 200 industry colleagues, Volvo Japan CEO Takayuki Kimura said, “After the XC60 won last year, we are ecstatic with this back-to-back victory and I’d firstly like to thank our nationwide staff for this award.”
In the special awards categories, the Honda Clarity PHEV (plug-in hybrid) won the Best Innovation Award while the BMW X2 captured the Emotional Award, and the Daihatsu Tocot took home the Small Mobility award.
Toyota may have missed out on the top award but its Gazoo Racing team did receive the COTY steering committee’s ‘Special Achievement Award’ for its hugely popular victories at the Le Mans 24-hours and the World Rally Championships. In a second ‘Special Achievement Award,’ the Honda N-Van was also honoured.


Detroit 2016: Ford Fusion Sport debuts with 325hp 2.7L V6

Ford is expanding its line-up of the Fusion mid-sized sedan in the US to now include two hybrid models along with an all-wheel drive Fusion V6 Sport variant alongside the model’s existing range of EcoBoost petrol engines. The revised line-up is being showcased at the ongoing 2016 Detroit Auto Show.
Headlining the range is the new Fusion V6 Sport, which delivers projected outputs of 325hp and 474Nm; good enough, the company claims, for the not inconsiderable effort to smoke
BMW’s latest 326hp/450Nm 340i
. A twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 powers this new performance-oriented variant, which sends traction to all corners.
The enhanced performance is highlighted by design touches such as deeper air deeper air intakes and a gloss black-finish mesh grille, 19-inch wheels, rear spoiler and dual twin exhaust outlets. Beneath its sheet metal, and uprated chassis incorporates active dampers that is able to self-adjust to a degree that the impact of potholes can be significantly reduced.
Hybrid power for the Fusion comes in the form of the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid. The latter features a 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery that can be fully recharged in 2.5 hours. In markets where electricity price varies at different times of the day, intelligent software ensures that the Fusion Energi recharges at low price periods.
On electric power alone, the both the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi can be coaxed to cover either 30km of ground or hit a top speed of 137km/h. A 2.0-litre petrol engine completes the hybrid setup. Ford claims that its regenerative braking system can recapture up to 95 percent of energy that would otherwise be lost as heat during braking.
Known as the
Mondeo in our market
, these
new variants of the Fusion
 is expected to hit Ford dealerships across North America this summer. The Fusion V6 Sport will come slightly later after a few weeks.
Find
Ford Mondeo
 cars on sales at Carlist.my.


Scheduling You BMW And MINI Service Is Now A Click Away

BMW Group Malaysia has introduced BMW and MINI Service Online which enables its customers to schedule their vehicle’s service appointments at their preferred authorised dealership, via the BMW Malaysia and MINI Malaysia website.
Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia Mr. Han Sang Yun said, “Digitalisation is a strategic direction for the BMW Group worldwide and we have been moving in tandem here in Malaysia to introduce products and service offerings that push the envelope for Digitalisation for further convenience and peace of mind in the premium automotive industry.”
He adds that the new service program is meant to complement the entire 360-degree ownership experience of a BMW or MINI vehicle.
With the addition of the Service Online program, BMW and MINI owners can enjoy the following benefits:
BMW vehicles
BMW 5-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with free scheduled service
BMW 24-month Tyre Warranty Program for its run-flat tyres
Ultimate Protection Program+ (UPP+) by BMW Credit Malaysia
BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
BMW WhiteCard and BMW Excellence Club membership program
BMW Service Online
MINI vehicles
MINI 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with free scheduled service
MINI BlackCard membership program
MINI Service Online


My Most Reliable Car Has Been My 2012 Peugeot 308 1.6 THP

Now before you think this article is clickbait - it isn't, I actually really do mean it, my most reliable car over this past year has been my 2012 Peugeot 308 1.6 THP, so indulge me, an owner to regale you with stories of how brilliant the car is to drive, how it's not-so-cheap to maintain but ultimately why I wouldn't sell it for anything else!

So before we embark on the story of the Pug, how did it come to get the title of 'most reliable'? You must own an Alfa Romeo and a Fiat for a Peugeot to be your most reliable daily driver? Actually, no. My two other cars are my 'toys', my BMW E36 - a work in progress and my BMW E30 Sedan, which is also a work in progress. Make no mistake on most days I love my Beemers, they both drive on rails, pull hard and my E30 gives me lots of street cred. But when I want fuss-free, attention-free motoring, I reach for the keys of my
Peugeot 308
.

I've driven and maintained my 308 for about two years now. In the space of that two years, I've changed:

Head gasket cover - RM1000

Rear brake pads - RM285

Front brake pads - RM295

Wheel speed sensor x 2 - RM510

Front window wipers - RM180

Car mat - RM190

Air-cond gas refill - RM80

Automatic Transmission Fluid - RM350

The above were one-time repairs/ replacements thus far.

I've serviced the car three times so far and I only use Rowe Fully Synthetic engine oil that sets me back RM285 for 4 litres in addition to a Peugeot oil filter for RM45.

I've had all four tyres changed, aligned and balanced for RM936. I'm currently running Sportiva 225/45/17.

Under recall (May 2020) from Nasim Sdn. Bhd, the compressor, condenser, the associated seals, bearings and hoses were changed at the cost of approximately 3.5k. I paid nothing.

Now putting all these numbers in context is the maintenance of a 2012 Peugeot 308 all that ludicrous really? Is it any more expensive than your BMW E90 or Volkswagen Golf Mk6?

When the Peugeot 308 1.6 FL was first launched here in Malaysia it started from RM102,888 for the VTi and RM121,888 for the Turbo. Today second-hand
options
 can be found from as low as RM15,000.

Some of the notable features of the turbo variant:

156hp, 240Nm of torque

Six-speed adaptive gearbox with Tiptronic and Sport Mode

ABS, EBD, EBA, Isofix, 4 airbags, ESP and DSC

Panoramic sunroof

Automatic dual-zone air-conditioning with rear blowers

Now before you call this a Peugeot advertisement or me a Peugeot fanboy (I am a little), bear in mind that the plastic and touch surfaces on the 308 are s**tty, flaky and crumble over time. Simply put the interior materials used were just not suitable for our weather and climate. The gear lever literally crumbled in my hands, but fortunately, replacements are inexpensive across Shopee or Lazada. The roof lining sags after a few years (repairs cost about RM400 to glue it back in place),

Below are some of the more common mechanical issues you should look out/ budget for:

HPFP (high pressure fuel pump) - has been known to be problematic, replacements cost approximately 1.7k

Engine oil leak - a replacement package consisting of oil filter housing + turbo lubrication pipe + turbo return hose + labor will set you back approximately RM880

Coolant leak - thermostat most likely needs replacement, approximately RM800

Turbo losing pressure - housing replacement at approximately 1.2k

High carbon build-up - decarbonisation starting from RM488

It's also very important to be informed and to have a community of owners that you can learn from or contribute to, the Peugeot 308 Club on Facebook has been an inexhaustible source of information and guidance. And of course, a reliable mechanic that won't shortchange you. Generally for continental makes, you do need a bit more specialized care, your regular run-of-the-mill bawah pokok mechanic might not have the right diagnostic tools for your Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, BMW, etc. I maintain my car at Bros Auto in Kota Damansara with Kent Wan and Razlan Shah. The approximate prices you see above are courtesy of them. As I have only maintained my Peugeot with them, I cannot speak of other mechanics/ workshops that may be equally proficient. A colleague who owns a Peugeot RCZ has his car serviced at Edar Auto in Cheras and informs me that they are totally adequate for servicing purposes.

My point here is that when you're owning/ maintaining/ thinking of buying an older continental make, it is important to have a reliable trustworthy mechanic, better if they also happen to be close to where you live (you know in case of breakdowns, etc).

If you've reached this point of the article, then go look back at some of your repair bills, receipts and compare that against the 308. Then benchmark that against its selling price when it was first launched and its resale price today. If that gives you room for pause or makes you consider one, then please test drive a few, refer to the owner's groups for guidance, have it checked thoroughly by a trusted mechanic and then decide if you'd like to have a hot French hatch in your driveway. I've not even touched on the driving dynamics yet but we'll save that for another day.

By the way, road tax + insurance comes up to about RM1000 a year depending on your cover. I opted for the add-in of Special Perils and Windscreen. My go-to insurance is Allianz for all my vehicles mostly because I have a very trustworthy insurance agent that takes care of all my insurance needs.

Yes, there is always a chance you could end up with a lemon or citron as the French call it but if you've done your due diligence then you should be well served for years yet.

If you're a current Peugeot owner and you've not updated your contact details with
Berjaya Auto Alliance
 (the new distributors for Peugeot in Malaysia) then please do so
here
.

If you decide to buy a 308 then let me know, we can have a teh-tarik and exchange war stories!

For more latest car news, reviews, car buying guides and videos visit us at Carlist.my
Auto News
.

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


Government Approves New Highways For The Klang Valley

More highways are to be built around the Klang Valley, according to works minister Fadillah Yusof.

According to FMT, works minister Fadillah Yusof has said that the government has approved proposals from the private sector to
build new highways
, around the Klang Valley.

He said that the highway building proposals were approved to help address the problem of traffic congestion around the country and increase connectivity around the Klang Valley.

But there are no guarantees...

"With these new highways, we hope the connectivity within the Klang Valley and the rest of the country will improve," he told FMT at the works ministry's Hari Raya celebration recently.

He also said other proposals are being analysed and are currently under consideration.

"We will continue to look into the other proposals and hope the private sector will comply with the set requirements and conditions once approval has been granted."

Picture credit: @nadiafernz on Twitter

Although Fadillah hopes that these new highways will decrease congestion, he makes no guarantees that it will, as there is an increasing number of vehicles on the road.

However, he said that the continued investment in public transport should help alleviate traffic congestion.

The public can help ease traffic congestion

"The government continues to
invest in public transport
, such as the MRT and LRT, to ensure alternatives are available to the people."

"If 60% of the people use the roads while 40% use public transport, it can offset the increase in vehicle numbers and potentially reduce traffic congestion," he said.

Experts are skeptical though

In another report by FMT, where they interviewed two transport experts, the individuals practically said that the new highways would not alleviate traffic.

Transport consultants Rosli Azad Khan and Goh Bok Yen said the government's priorities were misplaced in the report.

"It is time for us to consolidate and resolve the first mile and last mile issues of our public transport systems. They're not operating at the optimal level, with so many of them constantly breaking down. Shouldn't a responsible government resolve those issues first?" said Rosli.

Goh, on the other hand, said that there was an "obvious conflict" between Putrajaya's investment in the construction of rails, coaches, and feeder buses and the continued building of elevated urban expressways.

"They don't compliment each other but are competing," he said, according to FMT's report.


2017 Maserati Levante S Launched In Malaysia – From RM788,800

Naza Italia, the official distributor for Maserati vehicles in Malaysia has introduced the petrol-powered Maserati Levante S SUV, roughly nine months after introducing the
diesel variant
 earlier this year.
The Maserati Levante S is priced at RM788,800 roughly RM100k cheaper than the diesel-powered variant (From RM888,800), which also remains on sale.
The Levante S is powered by a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V6 that outputs 430 hp at 5,750 rpm and 580 Nm at 5,000 rpm. Power is sent to an eight-speed ZF transmission.
The Levante is equipped with the company’s (Q4) all-wheel drive system fitted with a rear limited-slip differential, allowing the Levante to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. Top speed is rated at 264 km/h.
In terms of fuel consumption, Maserati claim the Levante achieves 10.9 litres/100 km on the NEDC test cycle, with CO2 emissions of 253 g/km.
There are four drive modes available – Normal, I.C.E. (Increased Control & Efficiency), Sport and Off-Road. Each mode alters engine, transmission, suspension and electronic assistance features.
New for the Levante S is an electric power steering in place of the older hydraulic system. In addition, the Levante S introduces a suite of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) that include Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition.
The Levante S also features an updated braking system which adapts Brembo 6-piston aluminium 'Monobloc' calipers clamping on 380 mm drilled discs at the front. At the rear, aluminium floating calipers act on 330 mm ventilated and drilled discs.
The Levante S is offered in two trim levels for the Malaysian market:
GranLusso Trim
Emphasis on luxury
GranLusso badges on the front wings, body-coloured side skirts
Black-painted brake calipers
19” Zefiro alloy wheels.
Choice of Ermenegildo Zegna silk or Italian upholstery on the inside
Wood interior trimming
Harman Kardon sound system
Navigation system
soft-close doors
GranSport Trim
Emphasis on sportiness
Piano black front grille, skid plates, and roof rails
GranSport badges on the front wings, body-coloured  side skirts
Blue inserts on all Trident and Saetta logos
Red painted brake calipers
20” Nereo wheels
Carbon interior trimming
Sports steering wheel with paddle shifters
Inox sport pedals
Navigation system
All Levante S models are offered with a 3-year unlimited mileage warranty and Maserati's Premium Service Plus package of 3 years/ 60,000 km whichever comes first.


Volvo Targets 25 Percent Recycled Plastics In Every New Car From 2025

Volvo Cars yesterday announced its ambition that from 2025, at least 25 percent of the plastics used in every newly launched Volvo car will be made from recycled material.
The company also urged automotive industry suppliers to work more closely with car makers to develop next-generation components that are as sustainable as possible, especially with regards to containing more recycled plastics.
“Volvo Cars is committed to minimising its global environmental footprint,” said
Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars
. “Environmental care is one of Volvo’s core values and we will continue to find new ways to bring this into our business. This car and our recycled plastics ambition are further examples of that commitment.”
In support of UN Environment’s Clean Seas campaign and to demonstrate the viability of this ambition, Volvo trialled some new parts in their XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid SUV, which was revealed at the Ocean Summit during the Gothenburg Volvo Ocean Race stopover.
The Volvo XC60 T8 looks identical to the existing model but more than 170 parts were replaced with parts containing recycled materials – reusing more than 60 kilograms of materials.
This special XC60’s interior has a tunnel console made from renewable fibres and plastics from discarded fishing nets and maritime ropes. On the floor, the carpet contains fibres made from PET plastic bottles and a recycled cotton mix from clothing manufacturers’ offcuts.
The seats also use PET fibres from plastic bottles. Used car seats from old Volvo cars were used to create the sound-absorbing material under the car bonnet.
Meanwhile, in the luggage area, parts of the trim pieces are made up from everyday post-consumer waste including ketchup bottles, water bottles, and even shampoo bottles.
“We already work with some great, forward-thinking suppliers when it comes to sustainability,” said Martina Buchhauser, Senior Vice President of Global Procurement at Volvo Cars. “However, we do need increased availability of recycled plastics if we are to make our ambition a reality. That is why we call on even more suppliers and new partners to join us in investing in recycled plastics and to help us realise our ambition.”
“Extensive recycling and reuse of plastic is vital to our efforts to turn the tide on plastic pollution,” said Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment. “Volvo’s move to integrate plastic waste into the design of their next fleet of cars sets a new benchmark that we hope others in the car industry will follow. This is proof that this problem can be solved by design and innovation.”
The recycled plastics ambition is the most progressive statement around the use of recycled plastic by any premium automotive manufacturer. It represents another demonstration of Volvo’s commitment towards reducing its impact on the environment across all operations and products. Last month, Volvo Cars committed to eradicate single-use plastics across all its premises and events by the end of 2019.
Apart from high recycled plastics content usage, the company also aims to
have fully electric cars to make up 50
percent
 of its global sales
 by 2025, together with a climate-neutral manufacturing operation by then.
In January this year, the engine plant in Skövde, Sweden,
became its first climate-neutral facility
.


New And Improved 2022 Toyota Camry Launched - New Engine, New Transmission, New Interior Features - RM199,109

UMW
Toyota
 Motor has launched its new and improved eighth-generation 2022 Toyota Camry, and we've got loads to update you with.

Taking over from the
previous Camry
, which had a price tag of RM189k, UMW Toyota has now increased its D-segment offering and priced the 2022 Toyota Camry 2.5V at RM199,109.50 OTR without insurance.

Toyota officials may address its new Camry as a "minor change" model, and they're probably right where the exterior of the car is concerned. However, inside and under the bonnet, the 2022 Camry receives some considerable changes from the outgoing model.

On the outside, there's a newly designed front-end to bring the quintessential "uncle's" car up to par with its newer-looking siblings like the
Corolla Altis
 and the
Vios
. The new lower grille ornamentation gives the Camry more of an aggressive look where the centre intake bit of the grille is now more pronounced, just like the Altis.

The rear has also received an update to make it look sportier, where the taillights have been given the smoked treatment. The 18-inch 'twisted dark spokes' alloy rims finish the new exterior look.

As mentioned, the 2022 Toyota Camry has been slightly reworked inside and out, with the bulk of what's excitingly new being what the eyes don't see at first glance.

On top of tweaking the exterior, the 2022 2.5V Camry has been treated to a new engine and transmission, displacing the 2.5-litre 2AR-FE engine and 6-speed automatic with the 2.5-litre A25A-FKS Dynamic Force engine and doing away with the six-speed auto in favour of a new Direct Shift eight-speeder. The New Camry also comes equipped with a paddle shifter and three drive modes - ECO, Normal and Sport, for seamless manoeuvring and a highly responsive drive.

The A25A-FKS engine and 8-speed transmission is not something that we have not seen before, as it is featured in the current
Lexus ES250
, even though the 2022 facelift Camry has 209PS/253Nm and the ES250 207PS/247Nm. Toyota says the new engine and transmission combo gives the Camry more power while maintaining the fuel efficiency of the outgoing powertrain.

On the inside, the two most significant changes are the floating 9-inch infotainment screen and powered rear seats. The new floating infotainment system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and can be operated by touch screen. The 9-speaker JBL audio system provides real sound clarity courtesy of 'Clari-Fi' and marches on in the new car.

There's also a Qi wireless charger for compatible mobile devices and four USB ports (two in front, two behind).

While the new infotainment system gives front passengers easier accessibility to the infotainment system, the powered rear seats add another dimension to the Camry's rear passenger comfort.

You can now recline the most outward rear seats adding to the seats' already comfortable levels. All of this reclining can be controlled via a touch-sensitive panel on the flip-out centre armrest, which also houses controls for air conditioning temperature, audio system and powered sunshade. Speaking of air conditioning, the Camry now has Tri-Zone climate control, which means that rear passengers can also have their own preferred settings.

The new car also has some new interior trim, mainly on the dashboard and centre console, featuring a grey tiger stripe-like design. The leather used in the interior is also new for better-perceived quality.

One of the most significant upgrades, which once again is unnoticeable at first glance, is the safety systems. Toyota says the
Safety Sense
 (TSS) 2.5+ is class-leading, where it adds nighttime pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection for the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system.

You also now get rear cross-traffic auto-braking for the first time on top of other features such as pre-collision warning, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure warning, lane tracing assist, automatic high beam, BSM, intelligent clearance sonar and vehicle telematics system.

Colours

The 2022 Toyota Camry 2.5V can be had in Platinum White Pearl Mica, Silver Metallic, Graphite Metallic, Burning Black and Red Mica. Platinum White Pearl and Burning Black will cost an additional RM800.

Warranty

As with most Toyota vehicles, UMW offers a
five-year vehicle warranty
 from the date of first registration with unlimited mileage.


Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Makes Its Debut At 2015 NYIAS

Following the release of a
teaser image and attached brief message
,
Toyota
 has unveiled the new 2016
Toyota RAV4
 Hybrid 4WD, the eighth hybrid in the company’s range. The reveal of the hybrid model coincides with the introduction of the refreshed RAV4 at the New York International Auto Show.
Details are scarce on certain specifics like the performance of the hybrid powertrain including its fuel economy ability and range. However, the powertrain itself is comprised a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired to an electric motor to power the front wheels, with another electric motor powering the rear axle to deliver electronic all-wheel drive. The powertrain provides the RAV4 Hybrid with a 1,650 kg towing capacity.
As mentioned earlier, the new hybrid introduction comes with the announcement of the updated RAV4 with a new frontal design including full LED headlights, a first for the model, a new rear bumper with skid plate trim, and reshaped combination lights at the rear.
Inside, the interior receives more premium materials and is now available with a 4.2-inch TFT multi-info display, 7-inch touchscreen display linked to the infotainment system, and many other practical add-ons like an additional USB port, revised cup holder design, etc.
New technology added to the RAV4 include a 360-degree panoramic view monitor and for safety, Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of systems can be found here with an enhanced Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam, and Road Sign Assist.
The new RAV4 Hybrid AWD will go on sale in the UK and Europe in early 2016 with the non-hybrid models to be launched there in December this year.


Ford Malaysia Hits 872 Retail Sales In August: Three New Models Arriving Before End Of The Year

For the month of August,
Ford
 Malaysia has managed a retail sales figure of 872 units, comprising its Ranger, Fiesta, and EcoSport nameplates.
From that figure, the
Ford Ranger
 pickup truck contributed the most sales with 651 units shifted in August, continuing on as the Blue Oval’s best-selling model here in Malaysia, and increasing year-to-date sales by 17% to 6,171 units.
Next, the
Ford EcoSport
 saw 75 units sold in August with year-to-date sales standing at 724 units. The
Ford Fiesta
 meanwhile, which is available in 1.5-litre Ti-VCT and 1.0-litre EcoBoost variants, saw retail sales of 108 units, driving year-to-date sales to 943 units.
Scheduled to make its local debut before the end of the year will be the new Ford Ranger and all-new
Ford Everest
, along with the
mighty Ford Mustang (now open for bookings)
.
“We’re looking forward to further increasing the appeal of our Malaysia showroom and vehicle lineup, and continuing with our ongoing efforts to ensure the very best customer and ownership experience,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.


2024 Porsche Cayenne facelift unveiled - more luxury and performance

Porsche has introduced the 2024
Porsche Cayenne
 facelift model, now with more luxury, performance, and comfort.

The third-generation Cayenne has gone through quite some changes for its powertrain, chassis, design, and equipment. Porsche stated that this 'new and improved' Cayenne has not only been enhanced for both on-road and off-road performance but also 'luxurious everyday comfort'.

A completely revised Porsche Driver Experience is now available in the 2024 Porsche Cayenne. There are now additional functions on the left lever behind the steering wheel but more importantly, its automatic transmission selector lever is now on the dashboard.

There's also a more balance between digital and analogue elements with features like a large air-conditioning controller with large mechanical switches that pair with a haptic audio volume controller which offers a cleaner and more balanced look for the updated Cayenne's interior.

Another major update is the inclusion of a fully-digital 12.6-inch instrument cluster with a curved and free-standing design. If that's not enough to float your boat, the front passenger now has his/her own screen in the form of a 10.9-inch display for separate access to things like infotainment, video streaming, and more.

The 2024 Porsche Cayenne comes with a more expressive exterior appearance thanks to a new front end which features strongly arched wings, a new bonnet, and Matrix LED headlights fitted now as standard equipment.

Depending on the variant of choice, customers can opt for a range of wheels ranging from 20-22 inches to tie everything together, including its new rear end that features redesigned three-dimensional tail lights, a new rear apron, and an expanded colour palette to meet with all of your wants and needs.

Speaking of comfort and performance, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne now rides on a set of steel spring suspensions as part o the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). New shock absorbers with two-valve tech allow for better agility at higher speeds and improved comfort at lower speeds but if that's not enough, the optional and new adaptive air suspension can help seal the deal, even for off-road driving.

Firepower comes in the form of a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine that has been enhanced to produce 353PS and 500Nm of torque for the base Cayenne model. This is then followed by the Cayenne S which is fitted with a bigger 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 that produces 474PS and 600Nm of torque.

There's also the Cayenne E-Hybrid variant that pairs the V6 engine with an upgraded electric motor that produces a combined output of 476PS. It also comes with a bigger 25.9kWh battery pack which offers an all-electric driving range of up to 90km.

If money is not an option and you simply want the best Cayenne, the range-topping 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT kicks things up with the same 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine as the Cayenne S, but tuned to produce 659PS. This translates to a 0-100km/h run of only 3.3 seconds as well as a top speed of 305km/h.


TC Subaru Adds New STI Performance Variant To Forester Lineup

TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, the official importer and distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia has introduced a new variant of the Forester called the Forester 2.0 STI Performance.
Changes from the regular Forester include:
STI front skirt
STI rear skirt
Blacked-out front grille
Tailgate protector
STI Performance emblem
Carpet mats with red piping
STI gearknob
Side sill plate
Leather seats with contrasting red stitching
STI flexible tower bar
STI brake pads
STI air filter
Power from its 2.0-litre flat-4 remains identical at 150 PS and 198 Nm, sent to all four wheels via Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
The Subaru Forester 2.0 STI Performance is priced from RM135,288, on-the-road without insurance.


2023 Honda City facelift now open for booking

Exciting news from Honda Malaysia! The eagerly anticipated facelifted version of their best-selling model, the City, is now available for booking at all Honda dealerships across the country.

Embracing the concept of "The Best Gets Better," the New City promises to deliver a new stunning design refreshing it to new heights in the B-Segment. Fans of the sedan can expect the official launch in Q3 2023.

Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia, expressed his delight at the success of the 5th Generation City, which has captured the hearts of Malaysians since its launch in 2020.

The City RS e:HEV, introduced last year, raised the bar even higher for their best-selling model. With over 68,600 units sold since its debut and more than 10,000 units in the first half of 2023, the City has undoubtedly become a favourite among Malaysian drivers.

For now, Honda only wishes to promote the City e:HEV RS,
but we're sure others will follow
 suit soon. With a lengthened wheelbase and a refreshed bumper design, the New City e:HEV RS exudes a sporty and robust aura, measuring 4,589mm in length, 1,748mm in width, and 1,467mm in height.
 Additional upgrades include the striking Honeycomb Front Grille, Front Lower Grille, Rear Diffuser, Side Skirting, and a newly designed "RS" emblem, accompanied by new Front Bumper, Rear Bumper, and 16-inch Dual-Tone Alloy Wheels.

Under the hood, the New City e:HEV RS is still powered by the venerable 1.5L e:HEV powertrain, which combines two electric motors with an Electric Continuous Variable Transmission (e-CVT). This combination delivers an optimal blend of power and fuel efficiency, generating 109PS of maximum output and a class-leading 253Nm torque, equivalent to D-segment Naturally Aspirated engine torque.

Safety is of utmost importance in the New City e:HEV RS, equipped with Honda SENSING driver assistance safety systems. To enhance the driving experience, two additional features have been added: Low Speed Follow (LSF) and Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN).

Together with features like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB), the New City ensures a secure and enjoyable ride for all occupants.

According to Honda, the New City targets young families who appreciate a practical vehicle for their daily commutes, promising an enjoyable and comfortable driving experience.

Customers can now place their bookings through the HondaTouch application on their smartphones or visit any of the 101 Honda authorized dealerships nationwide.

For more information, head to prebook.honda.com.my or log onto
www.honda.com.my
 or call Honda’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020.


New 2015 Peugeot 508 Facelift Officially Launched In Malaysia

At long last,
after several teasers
,
roadshow appearances
, and
previews
, Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributors of
Peugeot
 vehicles in Malaysia, has officially launched its new, 2015,
508 sedan
 range. Buuuttttt...... we're unfortunately still without prices!
We were all set to bring you the news today, having been invited to the brand's new Peugeot Glenmarie outlet for an event, but sadly, we've been told that we'll have to wait a little longer for Nasim to firm things up with its prices - we understand that they'll have some news of this come next week. However, we can fully show you what will officially be coming to you, from our local-spec Peugeot 508.
In total, there will only be three variants of facelifted 508, since Nasim decided against re-introducing the 508 SW GT (station wagon, turbo-diesel) to the local market. The variants that are available, however, are estimated to be priced as such:
Peugeot 508 1.6 THP:
RM175k (estimated, formerly RM169,888 a.k.a. 508 Premium)
Peugeot 508 SW 1.6 THP:
 RM185k (estimated, formerly RM179,888)
Peugeot 508 GT: RM205k
(estimated, formerly RM199,888)
KEY SPECS: 2015 Peugeot 508 1.6THP/ 2.2 HDi
Engine: 1.6-litre Twin Scroll Turbo High-Pressure/ 2.2-litre HDi FAP turbo-diesel
Transmission: six-speed torque converter automatic
Power: 165PS @ 5,000rpm/ 206PS @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,450rpm/ 450Nm @ 2,000 to 2,750rpm
Consumption: 7.1-litres/100km / 5.7-litres/100km (claimed)
Buyer’s Guide:
News looks, new engines, new interior, is the sum of the 508 line-up’s updates as introduced here. The sedan and its wagon variant largely shows off a new face, while under the bonnet, a slightly more powerful engine is available for the 1.6 THP version. There have been other improvements beyond the design aspects of the car, and we’ll go through them one by one here. Starting with…
So What’s New?
PERFORMANCE:
As mentioned, there are a choice of two engines available for the 508: a 1.6-litre THP and a 2.2-litre HDi, the former a petrol, and the latter a diesel option.
The 1.6 THP, believed to be the market favourite of the 508 range, features improved engine performance, delivering 9hp more than before from the 1.6-litre Turbo High Pressure four-pot engine. The same engine variant is used in the Station Wagon.
For the 508 GT (only in sedan form), Nasim is continuing to offer the brand’s 2.2-litre HDi FAP turbo-diesel engine. The engine has been updated with a new ECCS (Extreme Conventional Combustion System) which further optimises the compression ratio of 16.0 to deliver similar power outputs, but reduced emissions.
Transmission wise, the six-speed torque converter source from Aisin has been updated as well, itself also contributing to smoother gear changes.
EXTERIOR STYLING
: The biggest change to the 508’s facelift is seen on the front-end on the vehicle, which is now clearly identifiable from the pre-facelift model via its new front grille design and repositioned daytime running lights.
The radiator grille is much wider and more upright than before, while the front bumper too has been slightly reworked to feature stylish, full LED daytime running lights. Speaking of the light emitting diodes, just the front-end of the vehicle alone is said to feature no less than 44 LEDs, courtesy of the new, slimmer, full LED headlamps with Smart Beam function.
Around the rear, the taillights are new designs as well, each featuring 36 LEDs themselves, alight in Peugeot’s signature three-claw design.
The two 1.6 THP-powered variants will ride on 18-inch alloy wheels, while the top-spec GT gets 19-inch alloys. Apart from this, a dual exhaust tip for the GT and its rightful exterior badging, there’s nearly no telling each variant apart visually.
Against the pre-facelift model, the new 508 sedan has increased its overall length by 38mm: 16mm has been added to the front overhang, while the remaining additional 22mm is located behind the rear wheels.
INTERIOR DESIGN:
 Inside, new and old 508s are pretty much identical to each other, apart from two key items that have been reworked.
For one, the center console no longer features a rotary control dial for the infotainment – in its place, a small storage pocket fit for your key fob or other items of similar size. Why no more control dial, you ask? That’s because the infotainment screen, a seven-inch HD one, is now a touchscreen unit.
There’s also a ‘Jukebox’ feature for the entertainment system, which is essentially Peugeot’s way of saying there’s an 8GB HDD built in to store your audio files.
Else, it’s business as usual for the 508s, retaining key feature highlights such as:
Full leather seats (Nappa GT upholstery for GT variant)
Head-Up Display
Intelligent Keyless Entry with Push Start
Power adjustable front seats with seat cooling for driver
Quad-zone air-conditioning system
Premium JBL HiFi 10-speaker system with 500W subwoofer
Panoramic glass roof (only for SW variant)
SAFETY:
 Not one to slouch on safety, Nasim Sdn Bhd is continuing to offers it 508 range with six airbags, ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Program, Emergency Braking Assistance, ASR (traction control) and Dynamic Stability Control – all as standard, and as before.
New to the facelifted 508 is a Blind Spot Sensor System (BLISS). Using various sensors alongside the vehicle, BLISS will detect oncoming vehicles in a driver’s blindspot, and relay that information to a light positioned within the wing mirror.
Other information:
Included in the prices of the 508 range is Nasim’s five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, along with the Peugeot 24-hour roadside assistance service, and access to Peugeot Privilege, and the Peugeot Lounge.
Five colour options are available for the 508: Pearl White (all), Bourrasque Blue (THP), Pine Brown (THP, SW), Artense Grey (THP, SW), Haria Grey (THP, GT).
Stay tuned to Carlist.my for when prices of the new, 2015 Peugeot 508 range are finally revealed, sometime next week. Hopefully!
In the meantime, here's a quick video with a close up of the 2015 Peugeot 508 Facelift:


Year-End Promo: 1-Year Free Instalments, Free Service With Renault Captur & Fluence

TC Euro Cars, the sole franchise holder for Renault cars in Malaysia, is currently offering a year-end promotion on the
Renault Captur
 crossover and
Fluence
 sedan.
Valid until 31 December 2016, the Renault Year End promotion offers a year of free instalments for both models.
Additionally, customers can also opt for either a cash rebate or free service covering the first year or 20,000km, whichever comes first. Both models follow 6-month / 10,000km maintenance intervals.
Powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the Captur is priced at RM117,200 on-the-road including GST, but without insurance. The 2.0-litre Fluence sedan, meanwhile, is priced at RM119,888.
As with other mainstream (i.e. non R.S.) models from Renault, the Captur and Fluence are both covered by a five-year manufacturer-backed warranty with unlimited mileage.


Smart Reveals Brabus Fortwo and Forfour ‘Disturbing London’ Editions

Smart has revealed the new Brabus Sport Fortwo and the Brabus Forfour Disturbing London Edition models, inspired by the brand's collaboration with 'Disturbing London' - a 360 entertainment company founded by musicians Dumi Oburota and Tinie Tempah.
Launched in 2015 with a series of short online documentaries, this collaboration brings the Disturbing London brand and its spirit of independent entrepreneurialism to smart’s environmentally aware, metropolitan audience.
Based on the Brabus sport model line, both special edition models feature black paint with rose gold exterior and interior detailing.
Powered by a 90 hp turbocharged petrol engine paired to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, both the Brabus Fortwo and Forfour Disturbing London edition models come with rear parking sensors, smart media package, height-adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat, as well as electrically-adjustable exterior mirrors.
“The two cars that are the culmination of our collaboration with Disturbing London look incredible. I am delighted we have been able to build on this already successful partnership: it’s a testament to the authenticity and credibility of our relationship that we are able to offer a limited production run of smart Disturbing London special edition models that we know will appeal to our smart audience,” said Krishan Bodhani, Head of smart UK.


Porsche Kekal Tenang Ketika Pandemik – Jual Lebih 270 Ribu Unit Pada Tahun 2020.

Porsche
 mencapai jualan sebanyak 272,162 kenderaan baru di seluruh dunia pada tahun lepas namun ianya kurang 3 peratus daripada rekod jualan tahun 2019!

Bilangan Porsche AG  Yang Terjual (Unit)

Januari - Disember

2019

2020

Perbezaan

Seluruh dunia

280,800

272,162

-3%

Eropah

88,975

80,892

-9%

Jerman

31,618

26,152

-17%

Amerika Utara dan Selatan

75,367

69,629

-8%

Amerika Syarikat

61,568

57,294

-7%

Asia-Pasifik, Afrika dan Timur Tengah

116,458

121,641

4%

China

86,752

88,968

3%

Ini banyak dibantu oleh perkembangan positif jualan Porsche di pasaran Asia-Pasifik dan China. Secara keseluruhan, Pasaran Asia-Pasifik, Afrika dan Timur Tengah telah mencatatkan peningkatan sebanyak 4 peratus dengan menjual sebanyak 121,641 unit berbanding 116,458 unit pada tahun 2019. Bayangkan, di negara China sahaja, Porsche telah menjual sebanyak 88,968 unit pada 2020, meningkat sebanyak 3 peratus berbanding tahun 2019!

Lebih menarik, kereta sport elektrik keluaran Porsche,
Taycan
 telah terjual sebanyak 20,015 unit walaupun terpaksa diberhentikan pengeluaran selama enam minggu akibat wabak COVID-19. Kejayaan melepasi paras 20 ribu unit terjual ini merupakan sesuatu yang boleh dibanggakan kerana ia merupakan kenderaan elektrik pertama keluaran Porsche!

Meningkat 1 peratus berbanding tahun 2019, model
Cayenne
masih mengungguli carta sebagai model keluaran Porsche yang paling laris terjual pada tahun 2020 dengan 92,860 unit. Kereta sport dua pintu mereka, model
718
 ternyata masih menjadi kesukaan ramai dengan mencatatkan jualan sebanyak 21,784 pada tahun 2020. Ini menyaksikan peningkatan sebanyak 6 peratus berbanding tahun 2019.

Tetapi, jualan keseluruhan Porsche di pasaran Eropah mencatatkan penurunan sebanyak 9 peratus kepada 80,892 unit, sekaligus merupakan penurunan terbesar berbanding pasaran lain pada tahun 2020. Yang paling banyak terkesan dalam pasaran Eropah ialah Jerman dengan 17 peratus penurunan, iaitu sebanyak 26,152 unit berbanding 31,618 unit pada tahun 2019.

Bagi pasaran Amerika Utara dan Amerika Selatan, Porsche turut mencatatkan penurunan sebanyak 8 peratus selepas hanya menjual 69,629 unit berbanding 75,367 unit pada tahun 2019. Daripada jumlah keseluruhan jualan tersebut, sebanyak 57,294 unit kenderaan telah terjual di negara Amerika Syarikat.

Sementara itu, ahli lembaga eksekutif jualan dan pemasaran bagi Porsche AG, Detlev von Platen menegaskan walaupun ketika waktu getir, beliau percaya dengan karisma, kepelbagian jenis kenderaan yang ditawarkan serta kejayaan
kenderaan elektrik pertama mereka
 akan terus membantu mereka untuk mengharungi waktu-waktu yang mencabar seperti pandemik ini.


BMW Safety 360° Program Kicks Off From 12 To 14 June At Publika

In conjunction with the launch of the
new BMW 1 Series
 and all-new
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer
, BMW Group Malaysia have announced the second series of its BMW Safety 360° program which will take place at Publika from June 12
th
 to 14
th
 alongside the Cooler Lumpur Festival 2015.
The program is a followup to
BMW
 Group Malaysia’s Active and Passive Safety campaign introduced last year with BMW Motorrad, the group’s motorcycle division.
Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Alan Harris said at the announcement, “As a leading premium automotive brand, we are just as committed to prioritising the safety of our drivers and passengers as to delivering sheer driving pleasure.”
The United Nation Status Paper on Road Safety in Malaysia reported at least 61% of children under the age of 5 are exposed to the risk of death or serious injury in reportable road accidents. A restrained child in a child safety seat can reduce that risk with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) reporting recently that only 7 to 9% of people buckle up in the rear seat.
Which is why BMW has also introduced a range of child safety seats – Baby Seat 0+, Junior Seat 1, and Junior Seat 2/3. The child safety seats are meant for children of different age groups from one month to twelve years and all are all ISOFIX compatible.
On hand at this weekend’s 360° Safety program is guest speaker Maree Haley who is the Founder and Executive Director of The Safety Educator, a non profit organisation responsible for the health, safety, and education for children and families.
Armed with over five years of experience, Haley will be conducting a series of clinics on the topic of child seats to highlights the importance of owning one as well as the proper methods to secure and position them for your children as well.
“Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes for serious injury and death in children worldwide. Unrestrained children can easily be thrown out of the vehicle, thrown forward against the front windscreen or dashboard, or against the back of the front vehicle seats. With the use of proper child restraints, we can reduce up to 28% of risk for death in children aged two to six as compared to using just as a seat belt,” explained Haley.
So head on down to Publika this weekend to learn more about BMW Group Malaysia’s 360° Safety program while checking out the latest BMW models.


Dreams Can Drive Weekly Prize Winners Won RM1000!

Who would have thought that searching for a car could actually win you RM1,000 cash? Well, for Karan Chhabra, Sean Lim and Asnah Binti Munani it was indeed a dream come true when they were selected as Carlist.my's Dreams Can Drive weekly winners.
"I was actually looking for a car but I checked out and test drove a Perodua Alza instead as I am looking for something that has enough boot space to hold items. It was actually through Carlist.my that I understand the range of car prices. It is an easy website for car buyers to compare prices," said the 27 year-old, Karan.
The contestants were thrilled to receive their winnings from Carlist.my and hope that the site would run more contests for its loyal followers. "I definitely will join again and even recommend it to my friends and family as it is an authentic and recognised website. The site is very trustworthy and systematically arranged," said Perak native, Sean.
Asnah is thrilled with her prize and intend to use it on her new car which she just purchased. Stay tuned for the announcement of the RM25,000 down payment grand prize winner, which we will be announcing soon.


iCar Asia Launches All-New People’s Choice Awards - Car of the Year

iCar Asia, ASEAN’s No 1 network of automotive portals and largest and most trusted online source for new and used cars, has launched a brand new People’s Choice Awards – Car of the Year (PCACOTY) in Malaysia and across ASEAN with 100% based on consumer votes for the first time. The voting process in Malaysia for 18 car categories is open from 12
th
 of October till 1
st
 of November 2017, with each voter being qualified for a lucky draw, offering MYR 30,000 worth in prizes to be won, ranging from top-of-the-range smartphones, electronics and vouchers.
This is the third year that iCar Asia will host the ASEAN Car of the Year awards, and this year iCar Asia is letting the people decide on the Car of the Year. In previous years a panel of automobile experts voted on the car of the year. Jonathan Adams, Chief Marketing Officer of iCar Asia explained this year’s selection process: “As the leading digital automotive platform, iCar Asia’s success in the new and used car markets are based on listening to and responding to our consumers, the car buyers and sellers. The People’s Choice Awards will give them a chance to voice their opinion and reflect their perspective and perception of the cars launched in 2017, whether based on consumer experience, price point, car design or even what they perceive about the car brands and models available in the marketplace.”
Consumers in Malaysia can cast their votes online through
https://www.carlist.my/caroftheyear
  from today until 1
st
 of November, 2017. There are 54 car models nominated through 18 categories, ranging from budget, mid-range to premium classification. They are able to vote for their favorite hatch, sedan, MPV, SUV, pick-up and more.
At the same time as Malaysian car-lovers are voting for the Carlist.my People’s Choice Awards, consumers in Indonesia and Thailand will also be casting their votes online, with each country gathering their winners across the categories. Once these results are finalized, the regional-level nominations will be announced and can be voted for in early November via iCar Asia’s official website at
https://www.carlist.my/caroftheyear
 . This round of voting will reach consumers across ASEAN region including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, and Vietnam. For the nomination and winner selection, the processes are done at iCar Asia headquarter office in Malaysia and audited by a third-party audit firm, PKF (the official scrutinizer).
The iCar Asia People’s Choice Awards – Car of the Year 2017 is proudly sponsored by Michelin as the official industry partner and Regal Valet, the official car detailer.
All the country and regional winners of People’s Choice Awards will be announced altogether during the Night Gala Ceremonies to be organized across 3 countries respectively on the 24
th
 of November 2017. During the ceremonies, there will be a live broadcast, allowing the event attendees to witness what is happening at the same time across the 3 countries. The esteemed car manufacturers, media and invited guests in Malaysia will be attending the ceremony at the Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara.
“The People’s Choice Awards – Car of the Year 2017 is to be independently voted by consumers without the influence from the organizer and relevant industry experts. We are putting consumers in the driving seat and their decision will determine the best car brands and models to be recognized as the people’s favorite rides.” concluded Jonathan Adams.


July 2018 New Vehicle Sales- Only 6 Makes Did Better Than June 2018

The expected surge in Malaysia’s total industry volume (TIV) continues into the month of July. A total of 68,465 units of new vehicles were sold, which is an increase of 3,963 units or 6.1% versus the previous month.
Year-to-date, the TIV is 358,179 units, which is over 25,000 units (or 7.6%) more than the same period last year. MAA also reported that
Audi did not provide their sales figures
 for the month of July.
While June was an above-average month for Perodua, the car company with only four models achieved their best month of sales in July, registering 23,830 units. With this outstanding sales result, the company’s sales are almost 19% better than the same period last year. The sales contribution of each of
the four models can be found here
.
Only five other makes enjoyed a better sales in July versus June- Proton, Honda, Nissan, Kia, and Land Rover. Proton
earlier announced their July sales of 8,102 units
 was their best in 30 months.
With the sales of 12,808 units, July was also the best ever monthly sales performance for Honda Malaysia. Based on the body type breakdown, the sales of their passenger car range (City, Jazz, Civic, HR-V, and Accord) hit a new high of 9,745 units, triple the figures achieved by long-time arch-rival Toyota (3,246 units) and tenfold over Nissan (944 units).
For this month, we will also take a quick look at the production output numbers, to assess if the local assembly plants are reacting to the surge in demand due to the ‘tax-free holiday’.
From the trend above, production in January 2018 was almost an all-time high of 68,002 units. This surge was attributed to a single model, the new Perodua Myvi, where the company reported to have produced over 24,000 units.
After the announcement of zero-rated GST with effect from 1st of June, the ‘rakyat’ started pulling forward their new vehicle purchases and thus, clearing the available new vehicle stocks.
Data for July 2018 highlighted that with 55,164 units of new vehicle production, it is the second highest of 2018, and even surpassing any of the months in 2017 (monthly average production output in 2017 was 41,637 units). Year-to-date, assembly plants in Malaysia had produced approximately 36,841 units more (or 12.3%) compared to last year, totalling to a figure of 336,111 units.
A quick analysis revealed these plants also managed to increase their production output tremendously to meet the surge in demands from the ‘tax-free holidays’. Honda Malaysia’s plant in Malacca managed to churn out 10,201 units, over 50% more than its June output, while Toyota’s ageing plant in Shah Alam did not really reflect many changes at an increase of just 169 units.
An interesting note, June and July outputs of Toyota’s Shah Alam plant are far lower than their production output in March 2018. This could be due to the company’s transition of moving production to
the new plant in Bukit Raja, Klang
, that is designed for the all-new TNGA platform and products.
Mazda, Nissan, and Isuzu also managed to increase production in line with the surge in demand, together with premium brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
As we reach the final 10 days of the memorable ‘tax-free holiday’, further promotions are still available on top of zero-GST savings for quite a number of makes. Both the government and MAA have also announced that prices of new vehicles will be going up next month with Sales and Services Tax (SST) being re-introduced.


Are Malaysians Ready For Car Sharing?

As Malaysians, we’re living in a time when there are an incredibly wide range of options for mobility. You can buy a car outright with cash, or you can take your regular hire-purchase loan of varying duration that is the more common option across various market segments. For those who look to change their cars every few years, leasing is also an option on the table albeit less popular. If you don’t feel like bearing the burden of owning a car, ride sharing is also an option with services like Grab.

While these were the options for the majority of the last decade, lately a couple of new options have popped up that have seen various degrees of success in other countries. It’s known as car sharing, and you can get them in short term or long term flavours. This differs from more traditional forms of car ownership in the sense that you don’t own an actual car, but you do get to control where you take the car and how long you use it.

But with these new options comes the issue of responsibility. When you own a car – at least in this context having the car in your name – you have to at the very least make sure that the car is habitable because you’re going to have to use it almost every day. Even if you don’t keep the car absolutely spotless, it has to be at least in a decent enough condition to drive.

When we look to shared mobility services in the past, it doesn’t look so great. O Bike was a great example before they folded – their bikes were trashed, strewn about, dumped in the strangest of places and ultimately damaged. Even if they were so plentiful that nobody had an issue finding one nearby, it does speak to the attitude of the average Malaysian consumer.

This lack of care can translate to car sharing platforms as well, as users don’t necessarily feel obliged to take care of these cars. The most direct equivalent to O Bike would be services like GoCar or SOCAR, which allow users to rent cars hourly or daily. For now the hefty financial penalties and the relatively small pool of users means that the cars don’t suffer as much – but this can change very quickly if the number of users ramps up rapidly. Sooner or later any fleet of cars is going to suffer from strenuous use and you will see them degrading in various ways.

While you may not find cars returning damaged, they may very well be abandoned in random spots or returned with almost no fuel in the tank, which can be incredibly frustrating for the next user. Regardless of how well a service cleans their cars or how frequent, if the next user is queued nearly immediately, there is hardly any time to prepare a car and make sure it is in good shape.

The longer term solution that FLUX offers is a decent half measure that lets you change the vehicle you have every month if you need to, just topping up the difference in lease rates. This gives you the flexibility of a car sharing program but the longevity of use that gives you a sense of ownership and the need to take care of the car.

Regardless of whether you’re paying for a car sharing program by the hour or by the month, the benefits are still present – no headaches when it comes to getting the car regularly serviced, and no worries about forking out for insurance and roadtax. You may have to do a little bit of foot travel for hourly car sharing programs, but longer term options even have the availability of low level concierge.

But the question remains as to whether we can be responsible enough car users to get the best out of a car sharing program. Insurance companies are willing to underwrite the policies that allow such programs to happen, but it will all come down to whether the incident rates can stay low. Why this is important is because in the future, there’s a high chance that car ownership as we know it will be replaced by a pay as you need it system – especially with autonomous cars. When that time comes, one hopes that consumers are ready for the necessary change in mindset.


MaxTag PSE Dilancarkan – Peranti SmartTAG Guna USB

Inginkan
SmartTAG
 tapi malas nak tukar bateri? Kini MaxTag telah melancarkan satu peranti SmartTAG yang menggunakan USB, iaitu MaxTag PSE yang boleh didapati di laman web rasmi mereka, Shopee serta
stesen minyak
 terpilih.

Walaupun ia berfungsi sama seperti MaxTag dan SmartTAG, namun MaxTag menggunakan
microprocessor
 generasi baharu. Kedua-dua peranti ini dihasilkan oleh pengeluar yang sama, iaitu Basset Sdn. Bhd.

Dikuasakan Melalui USB

Salah satu sebab mengapa orang beralih dari SmartTAG ke
RFID
 adalah disebabkan keperluan untuk menukar bateri apabila diperlukan. Dengan MaxTag PSE yang dikuasakan melalui kabel USB, anda tidak perlu risau untuk menukar bateri lagi atau mengecas semula bateri yang sudah kehabisan tenaga.

Walaupun menggunakan USB, peranti ini juga hadir lengkap dengan bateri. Bezanya, anda tidak perlu mengeluarkan bateri tersebut untuk dicas semula.

Seperti peranti SmartTAG yang lain, MaxTag PSE juga membolehkan anda menyemak baki kad
Touch ‘n Go
 dengan mudah dan cepat pada skrin yang disediakan pada peranti ini.

Pakej MaxTag PSE

Dengan setiap pembelian MaxTag PSE ini, anda bakal menerima:

1 unit peranti SmartTAG

1 unit Kabel USB

1 unit Bracket Holder

1 unit Dashboard Holder

Harga

Ketika ini, MaxTag dijual pada harga promosi, iaitu RM165 sebelum kembali kepada harga asalnya, iaitu RM175. Tempoh waranti selama satu tahun juga akan diberikan kepada pengguna setelah membeli peranti tersebut.

Mana Nak Beli?

MaxTag boleh dibeli secara dalam talian melalui laman web rasmi mereka (
https://maxtag.com.my/
) ataupun melalui kedai rasmi mereka di Shopee. Selain itu, MaxTag boleh dibeli di stesen minyak seperti berikut:

Lembah Klang

Shell TTDI

Shell Damansara Jaya

Shell NKVE Subang Toll

Shell Kota Damansara Seksyen 6

Shell Putrajaya Precinct 8

Shell Putra Heights

Shell Pandan Indah

Caltex Sunway-PJS10

Shell USJ 2

Shell USJ 21

Shell Kota Damansara Sek 4

Shell R&R Kinrara

Petronas USJ 2

Petronas Pekan Baru

Petron Kesas Barat

Petron Kesas Timur

Petron Meru, Klang

BHP Kesas Kinrara

BHP Kayu Ara

Luar Lembah Klang

Shell Jalan Mengkibol, Kluang

Shell Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru

Shell Jln Masjid Negeri, Penang

Shell Bukit Mertajam, Penang

Caltex Bukit Gantang, Changkat Jering

Jika peranti dengan kabel berwayar bukanlah sesuatu yang anda gemarkan, anda dinasihatkan untuk menggunakan SmartTAG biasa dengan bateri 9V yang boleh dicas semula berbanding bateri 9V pakai buang. Kalau malas nak tukar bateri atau cas bateri, gunalah MaxTag PSE!


Mercedes-Benz Unveils E Class Coupe And Cabriolet Updates

In a market that’s growing increasingly diverse, it’s important to remember that Mercedes-Benz were one of the first to really push the limits of how many models they could run in their stable. The E Class Cabriolet and Coupe were always a little unchallenged in their size and execution, and that has carried on even until today. 2020 brings updates for the pair of two-doors, and we’ll run through them as quickly as we can.

New Face

With product updates usually come changes to the overall look of the car in order to make them fit in well with the most current styling and design choices. Both the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet get sportier, more aggressive front ends. All models now get all-LED headlamps, with optional MULTIBEAM LED headlamps. The new look varies between mild aggression with the regular models, and serious aggression with the E53 AMG variants of the Coupe and Cabriolet.

MBUX

Gotta love that MBUX system that has slowly been showing up in every Mercedes-Benz model as they go through their respective updates at different times since the launch of the A-Class back in 2018. This amazing infotainment system helps to really make use of the wide dual screen setup that the E-Class models were already known for, and combines intuitive operation with great functionality.

Interior Improvement

To match the styling changes on the outside, minor moves have been made on the inside to add a touch more modernity – not that the E-Class models really needed it. A new steering wheel design makes an appearance here, as well as new trim materials like pore grey ash wood and brushed aluminium. There’s even a system that sets the ideal seating position for the driver once they enter their height in the media display or the Mercedes me app.

Phone Connectivity

Following on from the note of the Mercedes me app, there has been a big increase in the amount of functionality with these E-Class models. Granted, you would have to select the URBAN GUARD Vehicle Protection package on your options list, but the system will even notify you if the vehicle sensors register a bump or towing force, and even if someone is trying to break in.

Electrified Powertrains

Emissions and efficiency are the key here, and Mercedes-Benz’ strategy for mild electrification through integrated starter generators. These devices have been repositioned from hanging off the engine to sitting inside the transmission, and with EQ Boost functionality they add up to 20 hp and 180 Nm of torque to the drivetrain when the driver demands it. Even for the diesel models that don’t benefit from the performance boost, there has been work to integrate a 48-volt on-board system for better efficiency and functionality.


2022 Mercedes-AMG SL In Final Stages Of Testing, No Benz and Hello AWD

The upcoming Mercedes-Benz SL is nearly here and these are some of its juiciest details.

The final testing for the next-generation
Mercedes-Benz SL
 (Super-Leicht or Super Light in English) is currently underway, and while many things are still undisclosed, Mercedes-Benz has revealed some interesting details about the sports car that will showcase how far it has deviated from its previous generations.

Firstly, the upcoming SL will only be the third model lineup in Mercedes' current vehicle portfolio to sport a Mercedes-AMG only moniker, after the
GT
 and
GT four-door coupe
. Okay, there is the SLS coupe, but that car no longer exists in Mercedes showrooms.

Secondly, this will be the first time any SL will be made available with an all-wheel-drive system (4MATIC+), which is probably a good idea considering rumours suggesting that the car will come with 800hp and 1000Nm in its highest variant. The roadster variant will also apparently be offered with a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine under that long iconic hood design which is a bit of a letdown, but a necessary evil.

The model lineup should comprise of the SL 43, SL 53 4Matic, SL 63 4Matic and SL 73 4Matic+. Engine options should also span four, six and eight cylinders. All powertrains are expected to be electrified using Mercedes' mild-hybrid 48-volt technology, while the 800hp powered car should be getting a super high-tech plug-in hybrid system taken from Mercedes'
Formula 1
 cars.

Last but not least, the upcoming SL will apparently be a 2+2 seating arrangement sports car, which will see it becoming a better rival to the BMW 8 Series Cabriolet and Porsche's 911 Cabriolet. As we all know, the upcoming SL shares its underpinnings with Mercedes-AMG's second-generation GT so it makes sense to offer more seats in the SL as the GT is already a two-seater sports car.

Since the SL is in its final stages of testing, we can perhaps expect a debut of the car by the end of the year. Also, since everyone is under the presumption that electric cars are the future, this will probably be the last SL to come with an internal combustion engine.

In the spirit of celebrating ICE-powered SLs, let's take a look back at some of the previous iterations of the legendry Super-Leicht.

W198 and W121 (1954-1963)

The
'gullwing'
 300SL is probably the most iconic SL of all time, which is why all of the other SLs after it had a lot to live up to. The sleek and smooth exterior design of the car is truly timeless and although by today's standards its 215PS doesn't seem like much, it was a rapid machine back in the fifties. Imagine having a 215PS rated engine back in the fifties, where even the muscliest of muscles cars from America only had around 135PS. The 300SL was also Mercedes' first road-legal sports car.

W113 (1963-1971)

Next up in the line of SLs is the
W113 SL
 or more commonly known as the Pagoda SL. It received its iconic nickname due to the hardtop version's resemblance to an Asian temple.

R107 (1971-1989)

The R107 SL will always be known as the SL with the highest production volume to date. Mercedes and its fans loved it so much, they continued making it for 18 years. This was also the first SL to get safety technological advances in the form of crumple zones, deformable switches and stronger A-pillars. This was also the first time Mercedes introduced a 500SL which featured 240HP.

R129 (1989-2001)

The R129 Mercedes-Benz SL mostly had the same underpinnings as the legendary Mercedes W124, but it did introduce some groundbreaking technological advancement in a sports car such as automatic sensor-controlled roll-over bars and adaptive dampers. The main talking points about the R129 was actually its engine options as this was the first time AMG had a hand in pimping an SL out after it got officially absorbed into Mercedes. There was the SLs 55 AMG, 60 AMG, and the 7.3-litre SL73 AMG which had 518HP.

R230(2001-2011)

The R230 will always be known as the first SL to be equipped with a hardtop folding roof. It was introduced to the media in Hamburg in 2001. The flagship SL600 had a bonkers twin-turbo V12 that pushed out 500bhp.

R231(2011-2021)

In our opinion, out of all the SLs, this is probably the least distinctive SL in terms of design, however, to some, they considered this SL prettier than the previous generation. Its aluminium body shell weighs around 110 kilograms less than its predecessor, but the heavy usage of clever electronic systems gave the car a 1.7-tonne rating. Interestingly, Mercedes introduced a 'FrontBass' system in the car which uses the cavities in the aluminium body structure to help with bass resonance.

Before you leave us, why not drop a comment telling us which SL is your favourite. We know the Gullwing is the grail SL, but realistically the R129 would be an achievable classic SL to purchase which makes it our favourite. But that's just us, what about you? Modern or classic SL?


Kerana Percayakan Waze, Toyota Corona Tersangkut Dalam Lumpur – Ubah Tetapan Waze Untuk Elak Sesat

Kerana Waze, Toyota Corona sangkut!
Pihak Bomba dan Penyelamat
 Kampung Gajah telah menyelamatkan dua beranak setelah kereta dinaiki mereka tersangkut dalam lumpur di Jalan Kampung Gajah-Changkat Lada, di Pasir Salak gara-gara mempercayai aplikasi navigasi
Waze
.

Seorang wanita berusia 37 tahun dan anak perempuannya yang berusia 10 tahun dilaporkan sedang dalam perjalanan dari Chenderong Balai menuju ke arah Changkat Lada. Dengan kemudahan
teknologi GPS
 yang memberikan navigasi secara terus ke
telefon pintar
 anda, siapa sangka yang aplikasi navigasi ini mampu mendatangkan musibah pada dua beranak ini.

Ketika kejadian, kedua-dua mangsa tersebut bergerak menggunakan navigasi yang diberikan oleh Waze. Walau bagaimanapun, mangsa dipercayai sesat setelah memasuki ladang kelapa sawit yang terletak sejauh 3 km dari jalan utama. Keadaan gelap di sekitar kawasan ladang terbabit menyukarkan lagi penglihatan mereka ketika meredah kawasan tersebut.

*Kredit foto: Utusan Malaysia

Keadaan di sana bukan sahaja gelap, malah keadaan jalan di ladang itu juga teruk dan berlumpur. Malang tidak berbau, kereta jenis
Toyota
 Corona yang dipandu mangsa bersama anak perempuannya telah tersangkut di dalam lumpur di kawasan ladang berkenaan dan tidak mampu untuk keluar daripada lumpur tebabit. Ekoran daripada itu, mangsa bertindak untuk tidak lagi mempercayai bantuan navigasi yang diberikan oleh Waze dengan menghubungi bantuan kecemasan 999.

Menurut Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Kampung Gajah, Nor Mazlan Mohd Salleh, pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan daripada mangsa berhubung perkara tersebut pada jam 12.20 tengah malam. Anggota bomba bergegas ke lokasi kejadian untuk membantu mengeluarkan mangsa dan keretanya.

Setibanya di sana, pihak bomba menggunakan teknik webbing untuk menarik keluar kereta terbabit daripada lumpur di kawasan itu. Kedua-dua mangsa yang terlibat bagaimanapun berada dalam keadaan selamat dan stabil. Operasi menyelamat ini tamat sepenuhnya pada jam 1.30 pagi.

Sekiranya anda sesat ketika menggunakan aplikasi navigasi Waze di telefon pintar anda, berkemungkinan besar ada tetapan yang perlu anda ubah pada aplikasi tersebut.

Antara kesilapan utama yang dilakukan oleh pengguna adalah dengan tidak mematikan fungsi avoid toll roads pada aplikasi berkenaan. Sekali pandang memang fungsi ini berguna kerana ia akan membawa anda ke jalan yang tidak mempunyai tol. Walau bagaimanapun, ia akan menimbulkan masalah besar sekiranya jalan dalam yang dibawa oleh Waze tidak mempunyai isyarat telefon atau
internet
 yang kuat sekaligus memutuskan bantuan Waze di tengah-tengah kawasan pedalaman yang dikelilingi hutan.

Anda juga perlu mengelakkan daripada menggunakan
jalan yang tidak berturap
 seperti kawasan hutan ataupun ladang. Untuk cara ini, pastikan anda memilih
Don’t Allow
 pada pilihan
Dirt roads
 pada tetapan navigasi di aplikasi terbabit.

Selain itu, anda juga boleh menghidupkan tetapan
Avoid difficult intersections
 bagi mengelakkan Waze daripada memberi laluan yang agak serabut dengan pelbagai simpang. Bukan pemandu sahaja yang boleh pening, malah Waze juga boleh pening sekiranya jalan yang diambil itu terlalu banyak simpang alternatif yang berpotensi untuk menyebabkan anda menerima arahan yang bertukar-tukar dalam tempoh yang singkat. Perkara ini berpotensi untuk mendatangkan masalah lebih-lebih lagi sekiranya terdapat gangguan pada sambungan internet anda.

Tetapan seperti ini di aplikasi Waze mungkin kelihatan remeh dan tidak penting, namun jika diambil mudah, anda berpotensi untuk menjadi mangsa sesat seterusnya apabila menggunakan aplikasi navigasi ini.