Review: 2017 BMW 5 Series (G30) – 530d xDrive, 540i Driven In Lisbon, Portugal

More than any other model in its line-up, the 5 Series is the cornerstone on which the foundations of BMW’s success today is built. The original E12 5 Series launched in 1972 was the model that first used BMW’s familiar naming convention that continues to be used today.
Indeed, the 5 Series has come far from the days of the E12. In the model generations that followed, from the
second-generation E28
 to the outgoing
sixth-generation F10
, BMW has carefully cultivated
successive generations of the 5 Series
 to embody the spirit of sportiness and dynamism that is unmatched within the premium luxury segment.
From being an also-ran at the beginning, the BMW 5 Series is now a
segment front-runner
, locked in an eternal battle for supremacy against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The new G30 5 Series comes hot on the heels of a similarly-renewed
W213 E-Class
, and the stage is indeed set for perhaps the most epic of tussles between the two segment heavyweights.
Thus far, Mercedes-Benz has opened with a strong hand; the
W213 E-Class is a vehicle of immense excellence
. Can the G30 rise to the challenge? We flew to Lisbon, Portugal, to find out.
Specifications:
BMW 530d xDrive
Engine: 3.0-litre, Inline-6 Longitudinal, Turbocharged, Diesel
Power: 265hp @ 4,000rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 2,000 – 2,500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed torque converter automatic, AWD
BMW 540i
Engine: 3.0-litre, Inline-6 Longitudinal, Turbocharged, Petrol
Power: 340hp @ 5,500 – 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 1,380 – 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed torque converter automatic, RWD
Overview
BMW made only two variants available for driving at the 5 Series international media drive; both of them, in the best traditions of the 5 Series, being powered by 3.0-litre six-cylinder engines. At the petrol corner sat the 540i, kitted in M Sport trim and driving its rear wheels, whilst the diesel end was represented by the all-paw 530d xDrive – neither variants, however, are likely to form the core offerings for our market.
Whilst it is possible that we may see the 540i in Malaysia at launch, bulk of sales in our market is likely to be made up by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder variants. At present, BMW only offers its new B48 modular aluminium engine in 252hp guise powering the 530i, but we expect lower powered versions to eventually appear at a later time.
The 530e plug-in hybrid is another intriguing variant that may see the light of day in our market, provided BMW gets the same EEV incentives that have already been blessed to the
330e
. Lastly, we may also see the 520d coming in to complete the range.
Globally, only the 520d is offered with the option of a 6-speed manual transmission; rest of the range are fitted standard with ZF’s 8-speed automatic transmission that we know well enough for its sterling service since the days of the F10. Selected markets additionally get the option of all-wheel drive.
Underpinnings of the new G30 are derived from the
7 Series
, but without the groundbreaking Carbon Core inner structure. The reason for this, we are told, is less about cost but simply because current manufacturing techniques are not able to churn our carbon fibre in sufficient quantities to meet the 5 Series’ projected volume. Nevertheless, by intelligently working with materials that it can use, namely aluminium, high-tensile steel, and magnesium, BMW is still able to make the G30 a full 100kg lighter than the F10. A more relevant comparison – the 1,615kg 530i is 85kg lighter than the F10 528i it replaces.
Exterior
Being developed concurrently with the
G11/G12 7 Series
, it is unsurprising that the G30 5 Series not only shares much of its bigger brother’s underpinnings, but common styling cues as well. The fascia, for starters, is a dead ringer for the G11 notably with its wide oversized key grilles joined to headlamp clusters housing those distinctive double-C LED daytime running lights.
Zoom out, however, the silhouette points to a more evolutionary progression from the preceding F10 model. Notable cues retained from the predecessor include the strong character line running along the shoulder through the door handles and the distinctly acute curvature of the Hofmeister kink that first appeared in the E34 then not seen again until the F10. Overall effect of the styling strikes a middle ground between the outlandish E60 and the more subdued F10.
The 5 Series has grown along all three physical dimensions, albeit by minor increments in each direction. Lengthwise, the G30 has gained 37mm to stretch the tape measure to 4,936mm; seven of those extra millimetres went between the axles, pushing the wheelbase to 2,975mm. The new car is also 8mm wider and 15mm taller than its predecessor, these two measurements reading 1,868mm and 1,479mm respectively.
Interior
In typical BMW fashion, the G30’s cabin is more functional than it is luxurious. You get the virtual instrument cluster and free-standing iDrive touchscreen complete with gesture control from the 7 Series, but unlike the E-Class, the overall layout is distinctly conventional. Entirely appropriate, however, if the idea is to take focus off the cabin’s dressing and onto the driving experience, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.
Significant improvements are nevertheless visible with BMW’s choice of materials of which we can find no meaningful fault. We particularly like the patterned aluminium dash inserts that were fitted our 540i M Sport test car. The cabin does not appear outlandishly expensive as the Mercedes E-Class, but is far from lacking in quality. Whilst it seems to carry an evolution of the F10's cabin layout, make no mistake, gains in fit and finish are leaps and bounds from the predecessor.
Of greater importance over an ownership cycle is the intuitive clarity with which the instruments and controls are laid out that make ease of day-to-day operation of the vehicle. In true BMW fashion, this cabin is unmistakably functional first, and plush a close second.
Driving Experience
We demand nothing short of class leadership from a BMW 5 Series where driving performance is concerned, and early indications in Portugal suggest those expectations will be convincingly met, even though the model mix of test cars made available to us were hardly reflective of what we will be getting in Malaysia.
A fuller verdict await our review of local-spec cars, but in 540i guise as tested, the 5 Series presents itself as a car with its breadth of abilities better rounded than ever. Running on a more aggressive M Sport suspension setup, admittedly with adaptive dampers, the 540i offered convincing body control whilst barely sacrificing any notion of comfort.
Steering delights too; pleasantly weighted with just enough heft to feel substantial, but not too much to feel unwieldy at low speeds. Allied with Integral Active Steer in our test car, the 5 Series is impressively nimble and agile for a car its size; we certainly felt the new car’s reduced kilograms more acutely around tight corners than we did its extra millimetres around the seams.
Despite all the electronic driving aids BMW has bundled into the cars, the electric-assisted rack was not found wanting for feedback, although it’s admittedly not as feelsome as we experienced with elder members of the lineage.
Straight line performance is impressive, but strangely less brutal than the less powerful 535i of the previous generation. Don’t be fooled into thinking the newer car is slower, however, it isn’t – it is a full second faster to 100km/h from standstill. The new car accelerates faster and does so with a greater degree of finesse.
The diesel-powered 530d xDrive is even more accomplished, with 620Nm of twist applied to all corners, it is a properly fast yet supremely stable vehicle. It has that same nimble feeling as the 540i yet more sure-footed and confident; one gets the distinct sensation that all-wheel drive is geared to be a mainstream option with the G30 rather than just as a niche offering in select markets.
It is quite unfortunate then, that the combination of a 3.0-litre engine and all-wheel drive is overkill for the needs of our market – the 530d xDrive feels like a very complete and well-honed package with an impressively wide range of talents.
Comfort & Refinement
The G30’s gains in the handling department is surprisingly well-matched by equally deft improvements in comfort. Our 540i M Sport test car notably delivered a ride quality that was truly supple without sacrificing any notion of body control. The 530d xDrive, also with adaptive dampers, but in standard tune and 18-inch alloys, added a further layer of polish to an already supremely plush ride.
The suspension’s impressive pliancy come hand-in-hand with similarly noteworthy levels of refinement. At highway speeds, neither versions of the G30 troubled our ear drums with uncomfortable levels of noise. Whatever sounds that were let into the cabin, were mostly of the pleasant variety produced by its gloriously smooth straight-six engines.
Auto start-stop, once the bane of BMW vehicles when the technology was introduced, also sees significant improvements in its application. It’s not imperceptible, the way the engine cuts in and out of firing, but sounds and vibrations inherently generated by the process are sufficiently well-damped that they did not trouble us.
BMW engineers claim that they have fine-tuned the system minutely enough that the car is able to ascertain whether actually stopped at a traffic light or merely caught in stop go traffic or just exiting a junction. The system is supposedly programmed to not shut the engine down in the latter situations.
Conclusion
As it was, the F10 BMW 5 Series was already convincingly competitive athlete with a sufficiently balanced spread of abilities that made it a class favourite when launched and still near the pinnacle of its class at the end of its model life cycle.
That the G30 was going to better its predecessor was a given, but the quantum of improvement achieved by BMW is still nevertheless impressive. Balancing market trends toward more economical and more autonomous driving, BMW was somehow able to meet those needs whilst still producing a vehicle that is quantifiably better and more engaging to drive than its predecessor, without sacrificing any comfort to boot.
The all-new BMW 5 Series is due to launch in Malaysia later this week, and we await the opportunity to sample a local-spec car before delivering a fuller verdict more relevant to Malaysian readers, but indications are that BMW's latest mid-sizer is set to resume its position of leadership against its rivals. A thoroughly accomplished all-rounder, this is.


Selected Proton Outlets to Operate Full 7-Day Weeks; GPS Locations Listed

Proton
 customers will have all week to service and repair their vehicles at selected authorized outlets effective immediately. Beginning 6 August 2016, nine Proton Edar 2S and 3S service centres will operate full business hours on all seven days of the week.
The move is part of Proton’s renewed Customer First initiative in which the company has been intensifying its effort to improve on after sales. The seven-day service is aimed at reducing customers’ service waiting time and thus provide additional flexibility for customers to send their cars for servicing and maintenance over the weekends.
“When we started the seven-day operations at selected service outlets prior to this, it was to accommodate normal service and opening hours were only until 12 noon on Sunday. Now, for selected service centres we have extended the opening hours for Sunday up to 5 pm. More importantly, we have also enabled warranty claims to be processed during weekends as opposed to only weekdays previously.” said Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Holdings Bhd.
The facility will be expanded to a further 14 service centres from 1 October 2016 followed by another four from 1 December 2016. The business hours for all these outles are from 8 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Sundays. Visits by appointments are encouraged, although walk-in customers are welcomed as well. Outlets selected for seven-day operation are identified based on demand and requirements of the area.
Additionally, effective 1 August 2016, Proton has revised prices for selected parts such as turbocharger, ECU, and transmission assemblies, lowering them by between 12 and 30 percent.
The list of Proton Edar service centres available for seven-day operation are listed below. Click on the outlet's name for a link to its Google Maps location pin.
Phase 1
: Effective 6 August  2016 (9 Service Centres)
States
Outlets
Johor
Proton Edar Plentong, Johor Bahru
Melaka
Proton Edar Peringgit
Negeri Sembilan
Proton Edar Senawang, Seremban
Pahang
Proton Edar Temerloh
Kedah
Proton Edar Alor Setar
Perak
Proton Edar Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh
Penang
Proton Edar Juru, Seberang Prai
Selangor
Proton Edar COSE, Subang Jaya
Proton Edar Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya

Phase 2:
 Effective 1 October  2016 (14 Service Centres)
States
Outlets
Johor
Proton Edar Larkin, Johor Bahru
Proton Edar Muar
Proton Edar Kluang
Proton Edar Batu Pahat
Melaka
Proton Edar Bachang
Terengganu
Proton Edar Kuala Terengganu
Kelantan
Proton Edar Kota Bharu
Pahang
Proton Edar Semambu 2, Kuantan
Perak
Proton Edar Jalan Lahat, Ipoh
Proton Edar BB Sri Manjung, Manjung
Proton Edar Taiping
Sabah
Proton Edar KK Inanam, Kota Kinabalu
Sarawak
Proton Edar Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching
Central
Proton Edar Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Kuala Lumpur

Phase 3
: Effective 1 December  2016 (4 Service Centres)
States
Outlets
Penang
Proton Edar Jalan Makloom
Sarawak
Proton Edar Jln Lanang, Sibu
Proton Edar Miri
Selangor
Proton Edar Glenmarie Temasya, Shah Alam


Four Aston Martin DB10 Prototypes Spotted During Bond 24 Filming

The streets of Rome were graced by some rather rare and beautiful guests recently. Four
Aston Martin
 DB10 prototypes made an appearance as a stunt filming sequence was underway involving the cars for the upcoming 24th James Bond film, Spectre.
While no actual sequences were captured by amateur video, it does give us a clear idea of what the as-yet unreleased DB10 will look like, reminiscent of Casino Royale where a near-production DBS was used for filming before its actual launch.
The DB10 seen in this video also previews what Aston Martin cars might look like going forward. It certainly has a different, almost extruded aluminum, look to the body. We suspect that the design cues here will spread to other future models soon, and a blockbuster film is a great way for Aston to introduce its new look to the world.
Videos via Marchetinno


Vehicle age for taxis and e-hailing extended to 15 years

The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) has officially announced that the age limit for
taxis and e-hailing
 vehicles has been increased or extended to 15 years.

It's indeed a good move from the previous 10-year limit to ensure that both the taxi and e-hailing industries can be sustained in a bid to improve the country's public transportation system.

This new age ceiling for taxi and e-hailing vehicles will be applicable to those operating in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. However, there are a few conditions to follow.

One is that the car's previous maximum age limit of 10 has been reached starting 1 January 2023 and of course, complying with all the mandatory safety inspections and vehicle maintenance to ensure high levels of safety not only for the driver and occupants but also other road users as well.


The Mexico Grand Prix - By Alex Yoong

I wanted to talk about the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend. Even though the F1 championship is decided, it’s still a great race to watch. We head to Mexico City for the first time in 23 years. It’s held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and it’s a great venue to be going back to. It last held a race in 1992 when Nigel Mansell won in the all-conquering Williams.
I love this track, its one of the most charismatic circuits around. I raced it back in 2006/2007 in A1Gp for A1 Team Malaysia. I have fond memories about it mostly because I put it on pole and won the race. But also because its such a great fast track. I was fortunate to drive it in its original configuration when the Peraltada corner was still there. This fast long sweeping right-hander was one of the best corners in the world and there was no run off at all. So if you made a mistake, you were in for a big accident as Ayrton Senna found out in 1991 when he rolled his Mclaren there.
Unfortunately we have lost that corner because F1 cars just go too fast and it’s too unsafe. Why not just extend the run off, I hear you say? Well that’s not really possible because the circuit is situated within a park inside Mexico City. Any extending of the run off area would require movement of buildings and highways.
It’s a bit like Melbourne that is also built within a park and the greenery around it is beautiful. I remember that every evening once we had finished with out activities on track, there would be swaths of cyclists and runners who would descend on the track to walk/run or cycle around it. It was quite a sight and I hope they do that still this weekend even though F1 is there.
So the track is 4.3 km and there are 17 corners. The front straight is massively long so overtaking will happen here. In fact, if they put the start line in the same place as when I raced there, we will easily have the longest run down to the first corner on the calendar. It will make for an interesting start as some drivers may slip stream the leaders by the time you need to brake for turn 1. It’s a track where sometimes the front row is not where you want to be.
Turns 7 to 11 are fast and flowing and the drivers will love it there. Now we have lost Peraltada – which used to be the last corner – so turns 12 to 17 now go through a stadium section, which normally serves as a baseball stadium. It will be slow and fiddly there but it will look great once the stands are filled up overlooking the track.
Now that the championship is decided, you would think the drivers might take it easy. That’s not going to happen, as everyone will be especially pushing hard to try and win the first race back here in over two decades. It should be a pulsing, atmospheric race weekend.


All-Electric BMW 3 Series In The Works; Possible Frankfurt Debut

BMW could be adding a new electric-powered version of the 3 Series to join the i3 in its electric vehicle lineup, according to some reports.
A report by Handelsblatt, which cited company sources, claim that with the new 3 Series EV is targeted at the upcoming Tesla Model 3. The source also mentioned that the electric 3 Series could feature a range of at least 400 km, besting the Tesla's range of about 350 km.
The new electric 3 Series should not be confused with the existing
BMW 330e
, which is essentially a plug-in hybrid variant of the regular 3 Series. The BMW 330e still uses a internal-combustion engine once battery power has depleted.
A debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show in September is on the cards.
Elsewhere, BMW is also going to offer an electric variant of the X3, which is said to enter production in 2019.


Say Hello to FIVE, the Newest Petrol Company in Malaysia

Those of you who visited the rural town of Kalumpang, Selangor, would have noticed that a new, funky
petrol
 station named “FIVE” has been around since March this year, but who owns it?

It is actually the first outlet of Five Petroleum Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the newest oil company in Malaysia.

Established with localisation as the main focus, the brand was just officially launched a couple of days ago. However, the company’s Ultimaxx range of fuel and the Woo! Mart convenience store both made their debut when the station in Kalumpang opened its doors in March.

According to a report by The Edge, the company received its operating licence from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs on Jan 15, 2020, and set up its first petrol station on March 7, 2020.

Operated by the Seng Group of companies, who also manage many
BHPetrol
 outlets, the fuel at Five Petroleum stations will be supplied by
Petronas
.

According to Five’s managing director Datuk Seri Dr King Lim Chin Fui, the company will equip every petrol station with artificial intelligence (AI) and digitised facilities such as vehicle plate recognition, making it the first brand to have such features in the country.

"We not only digitalise how the petrol retail business has been done, we digitalise the entire business from the cloud POS (point-of-sale) system, mobile loyalty platform and also enables digital payments technology which uses AI (facial and licence plate recognition) - cashless payment, to bring this to the whole of Malaysia," he said.

It is said that Five will also be charting a new roadmap for interested entrepreneurs, which would lower the requirements for operating a petrol station, making it more accessible to potential dealers.

As for their future plans, Five Petroleum announced that more than 200 fuel stations will be opened gradually nationwide, at both major cities and rural areas.


Singapore worker parking fiasco reaches boiling point

Kim Teng Park residents and businesses are fed up with workers parking their cars in the area before disappearing off to Singapore for work.

Being neighbours with Singapore has its perks, one of which is that many Malaysians can seek better job opportunities in the Lion City.

Despite being able to take up a job in Singapore, which we suppose leads to better income, it seems that it is not enough as many Malaysians who work in Singapore are still trying to find ways to retain their income as much as they can, which has led to some of them parking their vehicles in Johor  Bahru for free before heading off to work in Singapore.

The Star recently reported that 'Singapore workers are taking up parking bays in JB', and while this might seem innocent, they are irritating Residents and businesses in the Kim Teng Park area, as some of them leave their cars there for up to 10 days at a time.

Picture credit: The Star

According to The Star, Kim Teng Park, was a favourite spot for motorists to park for free before travelling to Singapore for work. Kim The area is within walking distance of the
Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar
.

Residents and businesses had said the neighbourhood's close proximity to the CIQ had led to many of those working in Singapore to park there, with some of them doing it for days, making it difficult for businesses because customers cannot find parking.

Cars were also parked on the road outside houses, making it dangerous for other drivers in the residential area reported The Star.

While residents and businesses have taken extreme measures to ensure that they don't park there, such as placing flower pots and garbage bins at the parking bay, it seems that their deterrent won't stop them as the workers have" even removed flower pots placed in front of residential houses to park their cars".

Wong Lee Fei, who has lived at Kim Teng Park for 36 years, wishes that the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) would take drastic actions to solve the problem.

"MBJB should impose tougher penalties like towing away their cars.I believe only then will these people learn a lesson," said Wong.

MBJB is aware of parking issues in Kim Teng Park and will be taking appropriate action to deal with the matter. However, Mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said MBJB would not be towing the car away straight away, even though it has the power to do so.

He said MBJB will use a more humane approach and raise awareness among all motorists in Johor Baru, not just in Kim Teng Park, so that they can be more considerate to others.

"So that is why, starting this year, our enforcement team will make an announcement for the first five minutes."

"This is to notify vehicle owners, especially those who have parked their cars in an undesignated location or blocked any route," he said.

"If the enforcement team does not receive any response, then their vehicle will be towed," he said, adding that motorists would need to pay around RM500 to get their vehicles back (depending on the offence).

Picture credit: My Metro

Mohd Noorazam said the city council is currently upgrading its tow truck to be equipped with sirens and loudspeakers to improve its operations.

He also warned businesses and residents to stop placing items in the parking bay as it is illegal. If they do so, they may get fines as compounds would be issued under Section 46 of the Street, Drainage, and Building (Amendment) Act 1993 for placing obstructions in public places.

"Any premises owner who wishes to reserve parking spaces can apply to rent the bay for RM150 per month.

As you can see, not only have these workers caused trouble for the businesses and residents there, but they may even get them fined. We hope MBJB finds a solution as it seems unfair for the people of Kim Teng Park.


Hukuman berat mengikut Akta Pengangkutan Jalan menanti sesiapa sahaja yang membenarkan anak tidak cukup umur atau remaja memandu.

Menteri Pengangkutan
Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong
 yang dipetik Bernama turut menyatakan, "Bukan sahaja terhadap pemandu bahkan pemilik kenderaan juga akan dikenakan tindakan paling berat kerana kecuaian dan menyebabkan kecederaan mana-mana pihak.

Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Sesiapa yang disabit kesalahan ini boleh diambil tindakan keras, sebab remaja itu tiada lesen memandu dan perlindungan insurans," tambah beliau lagi.

Hukuman Berat Benarkan Anak, Remaja Tidak Cukup Umur Memandu

Ini berikutan insiden remaja 16 tahun yang memandu sebuah kenderaan jenis MPV dan merempuh dua orang pemotong rumput sehingga mengakibatkan maut seorang daripadanya di Jalan Pintasan Semeling, Kedah.

Mengikut Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Penguatkuasaan Trafik Kedah Superintendan Mohd Mahiri Hussain siasatan mendapati kedua-dua mangsa sedang berehat ketika kejadian berlaku setelah memotong rumput di kawasan berdekatan.

Kredit grafik: Bernama Facebook

Sebuah MPV kemudiannya hilang kawalan sebelum terbabas ke bahu kiri jalan dan merempuh kedua orang pemotong rumput berkenaan. Salah seorang daripadanya, rakyat Myanmar, Cinglowpa maut di tempat kejadian akibat parah di kepala manakala manakala rakan mangsa, Jamal Husson Fozol Haque, 33, juga cedera parah.

Remaja lelaki yang memandu
MPV Alza
 itu telah pun ditahan untuk siasatan lanjut dan pihak polis juga akan memanggil ibu bapanya bagi mengetahui bagaimana dia dapat memandu kenderaan MPV itu tanpa pengawasan mereka.

Para penjaga dan para ibu bapa tolonglah jangan sekali-sekali merisikokan anak anda mahupun pengguna jalan raya yang lain dengan membenarkan anak anda memandu tanpa lesen atau di bawah umur. Nyawa seorang yang tidak bersalah, yang hanya berehat kini telah hilang. Trauma kemalangan ini pasti akan kekal bersama remaja itu buat masa yang lama.

Tuhan dah beri kita akal pemikiran, tolonglah manfaatkannya!


BMW Malaysia Launches 530i M Sport Dark Shadow Edition

This limited edition model comes with a couple of nice aesthetic choices and is highly limited.

Just 36 units will be offered in Malaysia - it's possibly the last model to be launched before 2020 draws to a close and it's the BMW 530i M Sport Dark Shadow Edition. As you can expect, the name refers to an all-black design with Shadow Line items and an M Performance Wheelset with TPMS to strengthen the number of blacked out items.

Window finishers are also done in black, while the wheels are a slightly contrasting Orbit grey, being of the 669 M design. The kidney grill is also finished in gloss black, with Black Dakota leather on the inside adorned with contrasting blue stitching. If that's too much for you, you can opt for Cognac Dakota leather with contrast stitching instead.

The model will be officially launched, and exclusively we might add, on BMW Shop Online from the 4th of January - where customers can place bookings for this particular variant at the low price of just RM 1,000. The remainder of the RM 392,800 sticker price (RM 10,000 more than a regular
BMW 530i M Sport
) will need to be settled through your finance method of choice.


2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport spotted in Thailand?

Someone in Thailand has spotted what possibly might be the 2023 Toyota Hilux GR Sport.

Covered in stickers to hide its true identity,
Headlightmag
 reported that it looks like the
2021 Toyota Hilux GR Sport
 but plastered with parts that transform its looks into a more rugged beast.

Toyota bringing the fight to Ford's Ranger Raptor?

*Image credit: Headlightmag

The Ford Ranger Raptor is arguably one of the best pickup trucks within its segment, which is understandable if or when Toyota decides to bring out the big guns with a new Toyota Hilux offering. Considering that Thailand is regarded as the 'Pickup Truck Capital of the World', we understand if they're planning to start the fight there where the big money is at.

These spy shots also resemble the Toyota Hilux Rogue quite a bit, the recently updated model launched in Australia back in July. Eagle-eyed enthusiasts may pick up on its slightly beefier suspension setup as well as brakes to possibly tackle more extreme offroad conditions.

Different design cues from the Hilux Rogue?

We can also see that the front-end design is slightly different from the current Aussie Hilux Rogue offering via its positioning. Although camouflaged, the impressions seemed to be a bit different and it's also apparent looking at the slightly higher-placed fog lights.

Not much else can be said about the specs inside and out, but Headlightmag expects that the new and possibly Toyota Hilux GR Sport to be fitted with the 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV turbodiesel unit that punches out 204hp and 500Nm of torque, which is then connected to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission with sequential shift.

Another point to take note of is the fact that the Toyota Hilux GR Sport is set to be launched in Australia within the second half of 2023 to replace the outgoing Rugged X variant.


All-New 2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo Previewed

Formerly known as the BMW 5 Series GT, BMW has pulled the covers off the new 6 Series Gran Turismo.
Versus the model it replaces, the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo is 87 mm longer at 5,091 mm and 21 mm shorter to 1,538 mm, though the width of 1,902 mm remains unchanged. This gives the new 6 Series Gran Turismo better proportions than its predecessor. The tailgate of the 6 Series Gran Turismo is now 64 mm lower, giving the new model a better roofline than the old model.
Up front, LED headlights are standard fitment across the range, flanking BMW's signature kidney grille with active air flap control. The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo also receives doors with frameless windows and large wraparound tail lights. BMW says that the Air Curtains in the lower half of the front intake and Air Breathers behind the front wheels help reduce turbulence in and around the wheel arches. The active rear wing automatically deploys at 120 km/h and help bring down drag coefficient (Cd) to 0.25.
Three engines are available at launch for the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo. The entry-level BMW 630i Gran Turismo receives a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine with 258 hp and 400 Nm, mated to an eight-speed Steptronic automatic. 0-100 km/h is dispatched in just 6.3 seconds.
Moving one level up is the BMW 640i Gran Turismo, fitted with a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine. Standby to 100 km/h is achieved in just 5.4 seconds, while the BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo brings the number down to 5.3 seconds. Similar to the 630i, the bigger sibling is equipped with an eight-speed Steptronic automatic.
Last but not least is the BMW 630d Gran Turismo, the sole diesel-powered variant in the lineup. Power comes from a 3.0-litre straight-six diesel that does 265 hp and 620 Nm. Drive is sent to the rear or all wheels depending on configuration. 0-100 km/h is achieved in just 6.1 seconds for the 630d, while the 630d xDrive completes it in 6 seconds flat.
The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo is host to a number of BMW's driver assistance systems. Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Collision Mitigation comes as standard. Options include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function operational at speeds between 0 and 210 km/h. Steering and Lane Control Assistant is also available, on top of Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning systems and Side Collision Warning. Crossing traffic warning, Priority warning, Crossroads warning and Wrong-way warning systems similarly work together to keep the driver and occupants safe. On top of that, the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo can be optioned with Remote Control Parking.
BMW says that the new 6 Series Gran Turismo will make its global debut at this September's Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA). Market launch will happen in November 2017.


Risiko Basikal Lajak – Ibu Bapa Boleh Didenda RM20k Atau Dipenjara 5 Tahun, Tapi..

Tahukah anda, ibu bapa boleh didenda dan dikenakan hukuman penjara sekiranya membenarkan anak-anak di bawah umur terlibat dengan aktiviti
basikal lajak
?

Basikal lajak merupakan basikal yang telah diubahsuai untuk menambah tahap kelajuannya. Walau bagaimanapun, segala pengubahsuaian pada basikal lajak tanpa mengikut spesifikasi yang dibenarkan boleh mengundang bahaya, apatah lagi apabila ia digunakan di
jalan raya
.

Risiko Basikal Lajak

Kerusi Tinggi -  Boleh mengakibatkan sakit belakang

Tiada Brek - Mengundang risiko kemalangan

Tiada Loceng - Untuk menarik perhatian ketika berlaku kemalangan

Tiada Helmet - Risiko berlaku kecederaan di kepala

Seperti yang anda tahu, golongan basikal lajak ini kebiasaannya akan melakukan aksi ‘superman’ di atas basikal yang tidak mempunyai brek untuk memaksimumkan kelajuan, terutama ketika turun bukit. Walaupun ia kedengaran seperti menempah maut, namun fenomena ini masih lagi menjadi kegilaan anak muda.

Hukuman Terhadap Ibu Bapa

Sehubungan itu, ibu bapa memainkan peranan yang amat penting dengan mengawasi setiap gerak-geri dan aktiviti anak masing-masing supaya tidak terjebak dengan aktiviti membahayakan nyawa diri dan pengguna jalan raya lain.

Memandangkan mereka masih di bawah umur, segala tanggungjawab perlu dipikul oleh kedua ibu bapa dalam mendidik anak-anak. Sekiranya ibu bapa terbukti mengabaikan keselamatan anak-anak dengan membenarkan mereka melakukan aktiviti basikal lajak, ibu bapa boleh dikenakan hukuman denda RM20,000 atau penjara selama 5 tahun.

Pada tahun 2020, Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) telah berkongsi infografik yang disediakan oleh Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya (JKJR) tentang risiko serta hukuman yang boleh dikenakan kepada ibu bapa jika anak-anak mereka terlibat dengan aktiviti basikal lajak.

Mengapa Ibu Bapa Tidak Didakwa?

Walau bagaimanapun, orang ramai mula menyuarakan pendapat bahawa keputusan penjara 6 tahun serta denda RM6,000 terhadap pemandu wanita yang melanggar mati 8 orang kanak-kanak yang berbasikal lajak di Johor pada jam 3.20 pagi, 2017 seakan-akan berat sebelah.

Antara yang dipersoalkan adalah mengapa ibu bapa kanak-kanak terbabit tidak didakwa kerana telah cuai dan tidak mengawasi kelakuan anak-anak di bawah umur daripada bermain basikal lajak di lebuh raya. Jika dirujuk pada infografik yang dikeluarkan, ibu bapa juga boleh dihukum denda dan penjara atas kelalaian menjaga keselamatan anak.

*Kredit foto: The Reporter

Tambahan pula, siapa sangka pada jam 3 pagi masih ada kanak-kanak bermain basikal di jalan raya? Orang dewasa memandu di jalan raya pada jam 3 pagi itu walaupun bukan biasa, tidak ganjil tapi kanak-kanak bawah umur bermain basikal pada jam 3 pagi itu bukanlah sesuatu yang normal.

Berdasarkan Seksyen 31(1)(a) Akta Kanak-Kanak 2001 (Akta 611), ibu bapa atau penjaga yang cuai boleh didenda tidak melebihi RM 20,000 atau dipenjarakan selama tempoh tidak melebihi 10 tahun atau kedua-duanya.

Dari sudut emosi, kami faham bahawa ibu bapa kanak-kanak yang maut itu telah menerima pengajaran yang amat besar di atas kehilangan nyawa anak mereka. Tetapi dengan kehilangan nyawa tersebut, adakah mereka terkecuali daripada dikenakan tindakan undang-undang seperti pemandu tersebut?

Tujuan artikel ini ditulis bukanlah untuk menyokong mana-mana pihak. Jika pemandu telah dijatuhkan hukuman penjara dan denda atas kesalahannya, ibu bapa juga perlu bertanggungjawab dan dihukum atas kesalahan cuai.

Secara logiknya, orang ramai hanya mahu ibu bapa terbabit diadili sama seperti apa yang dipaparkan pada infografik yang dikongsi PDRM pada tahun 2020 itu.


Volkswagen powers Le Tour de Langkawi with 190 Passats

Malaysia’s premier cycling event, the 2016 Le Tour de Langkawi, flagged off earlier this week on 24 February and will be ongoing until 2 March 2016.
Supporting the event as official car sponsor is none other than Volkswagen Group Malaysia, which has supplied some 190 units of the Passat to be used throughout the race by riders, safety marshalls, and police officers.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia said that “Volkswagen Malaysia is honoured to be a part of this year’s Tour De Langkawi 2016 – one of Malaysia’s prestigious sporting event. We are also very pleased that our locally-assembled Volkswagen Passat which comes packed with world-class safety features will play a vital role in keeping the event, delegates and officials as well as the riders safe while on the race.”
An annual fixture in the Malaysian sporting calendar since 1996, the Le Tour de Langkawi features 10 stages over the course of 10 days. The route changes each year, but always includes a climb up Genting Highlands as the toughest leg of the tour – the task of powering up the steep slopes will eminently suit the Passat’s turbocharged 1.8-litre TSI engine.
To find out more on the Passat, read our
review published earlier this week
. If you're interested, shop for
new and used units of the Passat
 here in Carlist.my.


EV Maker Polestar Says Half Of Singapore Wants To Ban Engines

A global survey by Polestar, spurred by “the continued lack of climate action from car makers despite strong consumer demand” and a fair bit of corporate agenda, claims that the world really wants to be
rid of the internal combustion engine
.

Unlike other automakers, Polestar right now
makes nothing but fully electric vehicles
 whereas years prior they had been the performance arm of Swedish automaker Volvo. So, it’s the fault of others why they haven’t sprinted to follow in their footsteps.

Just 1.5% Of All Cars Are Full Electric

Thomas Ingenlath lamented that, as of 2022, just 1.5% of vehicles on the road are fully electric - that
“we’re in an EV bubble, not an EV boom.”

On the contrary, many automakers have set a firm internal timeline to going EV-only while many countries around the world have committed to outlaw the sale of new passenger cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) powered by petrol or diesel by as early as 2030 as they seem to think this is the miracle cure for the world’s climate issues.

This death cult calling for the outright ban on internal combustion engines has quite a large following with much of the European Union already committed to
a 2035 deadline,
 echoed by many automakers based in the EU
such as Mercedes-Benz
, the Volkswagen Group, and Stellantis.

That year also happens to be when Japanese automakers such as Mazda and Subaru (
Honda shortly after
) plan to be done with phasing out ICE cars from their line up in addition to countries such as Japan, Canada, and even Thailand planning to enforce it at a national level.

Ban ICE Cars: 50% Of Singaporeans, South Koreans

Polestar funded
 a survey to recruit respondents in 19 countries across the world, tasking GlobeScan with conducting and compiling the data from the 18,000 individuals queried, selected to be representative of all demographics of both current and future drivers.

South Korea
 emerged at the top of the list of countries calling out for an ICE ban with
48% of respondents
 in favour of it. In the runner-up position,
at 44%, was the UK
while
Singapore came in 3rd with 42%
. Yes, we rounded up to 50%. Sorry.

Interestingly, Polestar’s own home country of
Sweden found only 32%
 of favourable respondents while
Norway
, a country that’s embraced EV adoption, was further
down at 27%
. Australia and the United States, known for their love of V8s, big muscle, and wide open spaces, came in with
34% and 33% respectively.

Of course, this, according to Polestar, is strong evidence of consumer interest in EVs over all other types of propulsion tech for passenger cars. However, it’s pretty telling that many of these countries were clearly chosen for being EV strongholds or markets that Polestar is eager to sink its teeth into.

Also notice that they are all
of the more ‘high income’ classification
, whose population is comprised of people much more likely to be able to afford an EV, which are still
expensive compared to an ICE
 vehicle. In the rest of the world, they continue to be priced out of reach for most.


LEAKED: All-New 2016 Toyota Fortuner Shows Its Side Profile

Another leaked image of 2016
Toyota Fortuner
 has appeared on Thai forum site
HeadlightMag
 which gives us a slightly clearer look at the SUV’s profile.
Expected to make its global debut in Thailand on 28 July, 2015, the all-new Fortuner would most likely be based on the new
Toyota Hilux
 which was
recently launched in Thailand during its global premiere there.
On the pickup truck,
Toyota’s
 new FIRM (Frame with Integrated Rigidity Mechanism) platform serves as the vehicle’s underpinnings and would most likely be adopted by the Fortuner as well.
Based on the sole leaked image seen here, the Fortuner looks to feature near-identical looks to the Hilux pickup at least at from the front with what appears to be a similar front fascia and alloy wheel design. However, the C-pillars are significantly shorter than its predecessor.
(Current generation Toyota Fortuner)
Things we can tell from this and
previously leaked images of the Fortuner
 are the powertrain options which is expected to be
Toyota’s new ‘GD’ turbo-diesel engine family
 that includes 2.4- and 2.8-litre four-cylinder powerplants. Those engines are paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, at least on the Hilux where they make their first debut.
Similarly, the cabin should also borrow heavily from the pickup as well. Whether the all-new Toyota Fortuner gets the increased safety package like the Hilux with its seven airbag count, remains to be seen.


Five Car Launches That Could Be Delayed Due To COVID-19

For any Liverpool fan out there, 2020 couldn't be more bittersweet. Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, they would likely have lifted the English Premier Trophy (for the first time in 30 years) by today.

It is highly unlikely - and I say this as a Manchester United fan - any other team would have closed their 25 point lead with the number of games left.

Credit:
www.premierleague.com

But, while the funny memes will undoubtedly flow, we can chalk Liverpool's best season ever to the growing list of upsets due to that darned virus, along with several cars that would likely have their Malaysian launches delayed in 2020 due to the global pandemic.

To those who are were looking forward to the following, I'm sorry but you're going to have to wait a little longer.

2020 Facelifted Honda BR-V

The facelifted Honda BR-V was slated for an end-Q1 launch. The popular 7-seater SUV's midlife facelift brings some design updates to the front and rear end, and swanky new wheels. On the inside, premium variants get new leather upholstery design. Before the nationwide MCO, Honda had already opened their order books for the 2020 BR-V.

2020 All-New Nissan Almera

The archaic (third-generation) Nissan Almera was finally scheduled for an All-New model change within the first half of 2020. Having already been introduced for the Thailand market, the 2020 Almera's design finally looks period correct, and cool, and also offers up a fresh new interior. There's a lot of hype surrounding the Almera's new 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder but our guess is that's not gonna make it onto the local model - leaving the older 1.5-litre to soldier on. On the upside, premium variants should get a comprehensive suite of active safety systems.

2020 All-New Kia Cerato

The local introduction of the all-new Kia Cerato is well overdue, to say the least. First previewed here in 2018 at KLIMS 2018, test mules have been spotted on Malaysian roads for nearly a year, perhaps for a 2020 launch. The 2020 Cerato features a stellar new design, updated drivetrains, and improved safety features. There's even a hot 204PS GT variant, so here's to hoping!

2020 Porsche Taycan

We have it on good authority that the Porsche Taycan was slated for a 2020 launch, which could now be up in the air given the pandemic. Porsche's first all-electric Bahn-stormer offers between 571PS in the 4S variant, and up to 625PS in the Turbo S variant. Just to be clear, there are no turbos in the Taycan, the nomenclature aims for solidarity with the rest of the Porsche range - but there is a temporary overboost function in the Turbo S variant which bumps the electric motor's power up to 761PS when Launch Control is engaged. 0-100 km/h in an eye-watering 2.8 seconds... yumm!

2020 Proton X50

Saving the best for last, 2020 could be the year we finally see the Proton "X50" launched. Having been spotted testing on Malaysian roads for over a year, Proton had earlier confirmed a 2020 launch so here's to hoping we'll see the X70's smaller, snazzier sibling by the end of the year. Based on the
Geely Binyue
, which is offered with either a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-pot or a (174 hp/ 255 Nm) turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder - Proton, we'll take this one please - matched to the same 7-speed dual-clutch automatic featured in the
CKD X70
. Expect a comprehensive range of safety systems, the Geely GKUI ("Hi Proton") infotainment system, and other top-notch equipment such as a panoramic sunroof.


BMW 528i M Performance Edition – 100 Unit Centenary Special, RM364k

More goodies in conjunction with
BMW’s centenary celebrations
 this year.
BMW Group Malaysia
 has introduced the 528i M Performance Edition, an uprated version of its regular 528i Sedan.
Limited to just 100 units, these exclusive cars are fitted with an enhanced M Performance Aerodynamics package that consist of a front splitter, rear spoiler, and side skirts all made of carbon fibre. Further emphasizing the vehicle’s added sportiness is the darkening of its otherwise chromed double kidney grille.
The M Performance Aerodynamics package comes in addition to the already standard M Sport package that has been with the 528i in our market since as far back as 2011, when the variant was powered by BMW’s previous-generation 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine.
All variants of the
BMW 5 Series
 in Malaysia are powered by 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. The 528i gets the most powerful state of tune, pushing out 245hp and 350Nm to the rear wheels via ZF’s 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission.
Currently, BMW offers the entire F10 range in Malaysia, consisting of the 520d, 520i, and 528i, in M Sport specification as standard. This upgrade in specification came in conjunction with BMW being granted
EEV certification for all locally-assembled variants of the 5 Series in April
.
Despite the added kit, the 528i M Performance Edition is actually selling for less money than the regular 528i M Sport, being priced at
RM363,800
 on-the-road without insurance.
Like all BMW models sold officially in Malaysia, the 528i M Performance Edition enjoys the coverage of 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, 5-year free maintenance, and
2-year tyre warranty
.
Other variants of the 5 Series are priced as follows:
520d M Sport: RM317,800
520i M Sport: RM329,800
528i M Sport: RM378,800


Mercedes-Benz E350e Passes Environmental Audit, 40% Less Carbon Footprint

We may not have the Mercedes-Benz E350e in our local market (yet), but if and when it comes you can be assured that you're doing the right thing for the environment. After a comprehensive environmental audit by TÜV Süd, the German Technical Inspection Authority, the E350e was found to be comprehensively cleaner than the comparable E350 CGI of old. But this audit involves more than just emissions from driving.
When the life cycle of the car is considered, this includes everything from manufacturing the materials, to production of the car, to driving of the car over 250,000 kilometres based on verified consumption figures, and recycling as well. It has been said in the past that hybrid systems are actually more harmful for the environment and in many cases this may be true, but for the E350e it is verified that it is has a smaller carbon footprint from start to finish.
How much cleaner is it? When the E350e is charged with a European energy mix (it is a plug-in hybrid after all), the figure comes is a whopping 44% cleaner than the E350 CGI. Yes, the audit also takes into account where the electrical energy is coming from and what kind of carbon emissions are the result of such energy- which has been an argument against plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles for a while. The reduction in carbon footprint goes as high as 63% if only renewable energy is used to charge the E350e. Energy consumption is down by between 31% and 48% across all of its phases.
The powertrain for the Mercedes-Benz E350e is similar to that of the one we have in the C350e, which is fairly impressive in its operation, although the E350e has 9 forward gears instead of the C350e's "paltry" 7 forward gears, which should lead to better efficiency as well. With the EEV incentives still applicable for the E350e, it's only a matter of time before we see it launched for our market.


Naza Automotive Group CEO Honoured By The French Government

Dato’ Samson Anand George, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd was recently awarded the Ordre National du Mérite by the French government.
He was honoured for his contributions towards the French nation through the automotive industry.
The Ambassador of France to Malaysia, Frédéric Laplanche, conferred the distinguished award to Dato’ Samson at a conferment ceremony held at the Residence of France, Kuala Lumpur.
A French order established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802 and restored by decree in 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle, the l’Ordre National du Mérite (the National Order of Merit) is awarded by the President of the French Republic and seeks to reward distinguished men and women for their civil or military achievements.
“I am truly humbled and honoured to be conferred the Ordre National du Mérite, a recognition by the government of the French Republic. Our association with France began with the Peugeot 206 CKD project in 2006 and this partnership has since culminated in a Joint Venture that both NAZA Group and Groupe PSA have forged to make Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) in Gurun, Kedah its ASEAN manufacturing hub,” said Dato Samson.
“We look forward to enhancing business opportunities and greater collaboration with French companies in the automotive industry,” he added.
Having said that, Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor for DS cars in Malaysia officially launched the
new DS Store Petaling Jaya
, marking the first of its kind in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
DS Automobiles is a luxury sub-brand of Groupe PSA created in 2015, which has since undergone a worldwide brand-shaping exercise – including standalone DS Stores which offer a tailored experience for customers – and further demarcate DS from other Groupe PSA brands such as Citroen and Peugeot.


KLIMS 2018: Citroen DS7 Crossback Previewed Ahead Of 2019 Launch

Naza Euro Motors, the official distributor of DS Automobiles models in Malaysia has previewed the Citroen DS7 Crossback at the ongoing 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (2018 KLIMS) ahead of its local debut next year.
First unveiled
 at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show, the DS7 Crossback is based on Groupe PSA’s EMP2 platform that also underpins other products such as the Peugeot 308 and
5008 SUV
.
The Crossback features several DS aesthetic highlights – at the front, the vertical DS Wings features a newly-designed diamond-shaped radiator grille, with the DS emblem at its centre, set in a hexagonal frame. The DS7 Crossback features full-LED headlamps and uniquely designed full-LED tailamps which feature a 3D diamond-like signature.
The preview unit wore the “DS Performance Line” badge which adds 19-inch “Beijing” diamond-cut alloys wheels.
The diamond theme is continues on the inside as well, with much of the intricate detailing of the dashboard components and switchgear. The DS7 Crossback also features the same ‘joystick’ gearknob as the upcoming
Peugeot 508
sedan. A full digital instrument cluster works in tandem with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit replete with a wireless charging dock. Other notable highlights are a 14-speaker Focal Electra sound system and an analog clock made by B.R.M.
There’s no confirmation yet on the powerplant of the DS7 Crossback. In other markets DS7 Crossback is offered with one of two 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine options, producing 180 hp and 215 hp respectively. The engine is mated exclusively to an 8-speed automatic that was co-developed by Groupe PSA and Aisin.
Naza Euro Motors has yet to release prices of the DS7, but from the product brochures, there are three colour options – Platinum Grey, Absolute Red, and the preview unit’s Nera Black. The DS7 Crossback comes with a 5-year or 120,000 km manufacturer’s warranty (whichever comes first), and a three-year roadside assistance service.


Tokyo 2013: Honda Confirms Compact Sedan Hybrid For Malaysia - Possibly A City Hybrid

Honda has confirmed that the company will be introducing an unnamed hybrid compact sedan in 2014.
The president and CEO of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Takanobu Ito told Carlist.my that a compact, B-segment hybrid global sedan is currently in the plans, adding that this model will be sold in various Asian markets including Japan.
In the weeks preceding the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show's opening, we have been tipped off by several industry players that the next generation 2014 Honda City is going to feature a hybrid variant but we refrained from publishing the news as it seemed too speculative.
At this afternoon's press event at the Tokyo Motor Show, we noticed that tucked away in one of the presentation slides aimed at the Japanese media, there was a slide which listed a compact hybrid sedan as one of the two more upcoming models to Japan.
When asked to comment more about this compact hybrid sedan, Ito was initially apprehensive to reveal any further information, explaining that the presentation slide was meant for the Japanese media.
Fortunately, he gracefully entertained our question and began to motion to Hiroshi Kobayashi, COO of Asia Ocenia (below) Region Operations to reveal further information to us.
Without specifically naming the model, Kobayashi confirmed that a B-segment compact sedan hybrid model will be introduced in both Thailand and Malaysia, adding that the model will first be introduced in overseas Asian markets, followed by Japan.
"The slide with the model shaded in grey shown earlier today was aimed at the Japanese media. This coming soon sedan is not in our current Japanese market line-up. We plan to launch this model globally as well so I guess it can be called a global sedan. Some markets will receive a hybrid variant, some will receive a non-hybrid gasoline powered model while other markets will have both models," said Ito (below).
The current generation Honda City is not sold in Japan but the earlier generation model was sold in Japan as the Fit Aria for a short period of time.
It is still unclear if the 2014 Honda City Hybrid will feature the current IMA hybrid system used on the Jazz Hybrid or the latest Sport Hybrid i-DCD system featured in the all-new Jazz that is currently on sale in Japan.
Honda Malaysia current hybrid models line-up consists of the Honda Jazz Hybrid, Insight, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid.


Updated 2017 Proton Exora Goes on Sale, RM67,800 to RM75,800

Remember the updated Proton Exora which was on display during the MoU signing ceremony between Proton and Geely last month?
Proton has discreetly revealed the specifications and also the pricing on its official website, which means that the MPV is now on sale.
From what we can see on the Proton Edar website, the Exora is now offered in two variants:
Exora Executive 1.6T Executive CVT – RM67,800
Exora 1.6T Executive Plus CVT – RM75,800
While the Premium and Super Premium variants have been dropped, both trim levels on sale now are powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged Campro engine as before, producing 138 hp and 205 Nm of maximum torque. Paired to the engine is a CVT type automatic gearbox.
The updates on the new Exora revolve mainly around cosmetics actually – featuring new wheels, new Ruby Red paint, LED DRLs, and blacked out components like the roof, side-mirrors, and spoiler.
Inside, the MPV now comes with a new steering wheel similar to the Preve, a new centre-strip, and a USB port on the floor console.
While the list of standard features on the Executive variant includes:
         Halogen headlamps
         Front fog lamps
         Rear combinational tail lamps
         Glossy Black front grille
         Black front fog lamp garnish
         16-inch wheels
         Side skirting
         Fabric seats
         Silver interior finishing
         Urethane steering wheel
         2nd and 3rd row air conditioning
         60:40 fold and tumble 2nd row seats
         50:50 folding 3rd row seats
         2-DIN Radio, with CD Player, IPOD Connectivity, MP3 & Bluetooth
         Reverse camera
         Dual airbags with ABS and EBD
         Reverse sensor
The range-topping Executive Plus variant on the other hand, gets all of the above and even more goodies like:
         Power-folding wing mirrors
         LED DRLs
         Leather seats
         Leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel
         Carbonado interior finishing
         Front seat armrests
         Cruise control
         Rear DVD player with a nine-inch roof-mounted screen
         Window tint
         ESC
Having been around since 2009, the Exora MPV is now offered in five colour choices – Cotton White, Cocoa Grey, Ruby Red, Indian Grey, and the good ol’ Elegant Brown.


MAN Malaysia perkenal casis bas elektrik tahun 2023 – Enjin Euro 5, pelepasan karbon sifar

MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia) dijangka menawarkan casis bas elektrik sepenuhnya dengan pelepasan karbon sifar bersama dengan casis konvensional yang dikuasakan oleh enjin Euro 5 bermula tahun depan.

Dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh pengeluar jenama kenderaan komersial terkemuka Jerman itu, casis MAN eBus boleh didapati di pasaran Malaysia sebagai kenderaan dua gandar dengan lantai rendah (LF) yang sesuai untuk pengangkutan awam bandar.

Menurut laporan Berita Harian, MAN Malaysia berkata casis itu dikuasakan oleh motor elektrik dengan kuasa berterusan 160 kW dan tork maksimum 2100 Nm serta dipadankan dengan kotak gear kelajuan tunggal.

Dengan bekalan elektrik sama ada daripada bateri 4-pek 320 kWj atau 6-pek 480 kWj berteknologi NMC (lithium-nikel-mangan-kobalt), casis MAN eBus mempunyai jarak perjalanan sehingga 350 kilometer (km) dengan sekali cas.

MAN Malaysia dan Gemilang International Limited (GML), yang juga syarikat bas dan badan bas Malaysia disenaraikan di pasaran saham Hong Kong menampilkan casis MAN eBus buat pertama kali di Malaysia pada majlis pratonton khas untuk pengendali bas dan pegawai kerajaan di ibu pejabat GML di Senai, Johor.

Pengarah Urusan MAN Malaysia, Andrew O'Brooks, berkata syarikat itu yakin casis MAN eBus, dengan fleksibiliti dan prestasi yang telah terbukti, akan menjadi platform yang sempurna untuk pengendali bas Malaysia beralih kepada mobiliti elektro.

"Kami merancang untuk memasang casis MAN eBus secara tempatan untuk menjadikan harganya lebih kompetitif bagi mereka yang berminat untuk menyertai kami dalam perjalanan ke arah kemampanan.

"Dengan program pemasangan tempatan (CKD), kami menjangkakan bas elektrik akan mencapai sekurang-kurangnya 20 peratus daripada jualan keseluruhan bas MAN di Malaysia menjelang 2026," katanya.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif GML, Pang Chong Yong berkata, syarikat itu berkongsi matlamat yang sama dengan MAN dalam mengurangkan pelepasan karbon, selain komited untuk membangunkan badan bas aluminium yang paling tahan lama, ringan, mesra alam dan kos efektif bagi casis MAN yang menggunakan teknologi terkini.

"Selain mempunyai casis sifar pelepasan karbon, sama penting adalah penghasilan badan bas berkonsep hijau dalam mengeluarkan kenderaan mesra alam secara keseluruhan. Bersama-sama, kami berharap dapat meneraju Malaysia dan seluruh rantau ini ke arah masa depan yang lebih bersih, tenang dan selamat," katanya.

Sebagai pembina badan bas neutral, GML telah menjadi pengeluar peralatan asal (OEM) untuk MAN sejak sedekad yang lalu.

GML yarikat itu telah membekalkan lebih daripada 2,500 bas MAN ke pasaran Malaysia dan luar negara seperti Singapura, Hong Kong, Australia, Uzbekistan dan Dubai.

Sementara itu, MAN Malaysia akan menawarkan perkhidmatan perundingan emobiliti 360 darjah khusus pelanggan kepada syarikat yang merancang untuk beralih ke elektro mobiliti.

Perkhidmatan eksklusif Penyelesaian Pengangkutan MAN meliputi semua faktor penting untuk peralihan yang berjaya seperti analisis pelbagai dan penggunaan, analisis rangkaian, konsep infrastruktur, pengisian dan konsep tenaga, peralihan armada pengangkutan dan perkhidmatan serta latihan.


2015 Lotus Elise GREAT Britain And Exige S Automatic Launched In Malaysia

Lotus
 Cars Malaysia, in conjunction with the GREAT Britain marketing campaign, have launched a special limited edition model made specifically for the Malaysian market known as the
Lotus Elise
 GREAT Britain with a price tag of RM254,888.

Based on the
recently introduced Elise 20
th
 Anniversary
, the car comes equipped with as per the standard car but with additional options exclusive to our market. On the visual front, the Elise GREAT Britain features a soft top and is easily identified by the Union Jack decals on the side intake. These are accompanied by the Black Style Pack that tags on matte black wheels and rear diffuser. Three body colours are available to choose from - Metallic Silver, Metallic White and Metallic Yellow.

On the performance front, the GREAT Britain edition includes the “Sport Pack” that equips the roadster with lightweight forged wheels, lightweight center console, lightweight black cloth trimmed sport seats and Bilstein sport dampers. Also included is a Sport Mode button which increases throttle response and alters the traction slip thresholds allowing the driver enhanced control before the system intervenes.

Powering the lightweight Elise GREAT Britain will still be a Toyota-sourced 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine developing 217hp and 250Nm of torque and is capable of propelling the 924kg roadster to 100km/h from a standstill in just 4.2 seconds with a 233km/h top speed.

The first three lucky customers to purchase the Elise GREAT Britain will receive a complimentary Touring Pack which swaps out the seats for Ebony Black leather sport seats.

Along with the introduction of this limited edition model, Lotus Cars Malaysia has also opened the order books for the
Lotus Exige S
 Automatic. The self-shifting Exige S features a 3.5-litre V6 engine developing 345hp and 400Nm of torque, and is mentioned by Lotus to be quicker than the manual by 0.1 seconds in the century sprint, achieving it in just 3.8 seconds.

The Exige S Automatic is will be on display in roadster form at the North Atrium of the Gardens Mall beginning tomorrow (5 August) till 9 August 2015, from 10am - 10pm. Enthusiasts will also be able to view the
Evora
 S Sport Racer and Elise 220 Cup which will also be put up on display.

Interested customers will also receive special promotions at the roadshow which includes 3 years warranty, 2 years free service, one time experience at the Lotus Driving Academy, glass coating and automatic membership to the Lotus Owners Club Members (LOCM). Complimentary insurance and road tax will also be provided, subject to terms and conditions.


Lamborghini Aventador Driver Goes Under The Boom Gate To Avoid Paying Tol

A viral video of a Lamborghini Aventador driving under a tol boom gate to avoid paying the tol fee shows that not all supercar owners in Malaysia have class or toll money for that matter.

Supercars and their owners are often associated with a certain degree of panache, so when they are caught doing something as
low
 as avoiding the toll fee, they get hounded with nasty comments online regarding their actions.

This is of course in relation to a recent seven-second viral video caught by a road user, which shows the action of a
Lamborghini Aventador
 passing under the toll boom gate to avoid paying the toll fee.

The Lamborghini Aventador which can be bought anywhere between RM1.5 Million to RM3.5 Million depending on year and specification was seen slowly creeping towards the toll gate, which it then snuck under before speeding off.

The video clearly showed that the supercar owner made no attempts to pay the toll fee, as the toll light never went green and the sirens went off after he drove through it.

The comments from netizens who viewed the video mostly cast a bad light on the supercar owner who clearly carried out his action to avoid paying the toll.

"The toll light did not turn green at all, so it clearly shows what his intentions were"

"No wonder the price of this car is worth more than a million because it comes with a package where the owner doesn't have to pay for tolls for life"

“Kereta mahal boleh beli, tapi tol tak nak bayar, malulah sikit, saya bawa Perodua Kancil pun bayar tol lah"

Perhaps the
Aventador
 owner was out of pocket after paying the car's annual road tax which commands about RM18k. When you couple this with a five-figure insurance premium, it does add up to a significant amount, which someone might struggle to pay if they could barely afford the car in the first place.

They always say you can buy a supercar, but maintaining one is a different story.

The Aventador comes with a 6.5-litre V12 engine that has 740 hp and 690 Nm of torque. It can do 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds. If the authorities ever manage to trace the driver, even the fastest of Aventadors will not be able to outrun the law.


Production Interruption: Nissan, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, BMW, Ford, And Honda Being Kneecapped By Chip Shortage

The effect of the
global chip shortage
 is starting to rear its ugly head in the automotive industry.

It seems that the ongoing semiconductor chip shortages are hitting the automotive industry hard, with some having to either reduce or temporarily halt production at some of their plants.

According to Reuters, Nissan, Suzuki and Mitsubishi will all have some sort of production schedule alteration due to the global chip shortage.

The report made by Reuters said that Nissan Motor Co will idle its factory in Kyushu, southern Japan, for three days on June 24, 25 and 28, while making production adjustments during the month at its Tochigi and Oppama plants in Japan.

Suzuki on the other hand will idle its three plants in Shizuoka prefecture from three to nine days.

However, these reports are not official as they were disclosed by sources who wanted to remain anonymous. The sources declined to be identified because the plan is not public.

Official Nissan and Suzuki spokespersons contacted by Reuters also refused to confirm these production changes but did say that they will be making adjustments to minimise the impact of the chip shortage.

The only official declaration came from Mitsubishi Motors. A spokeswoman from the company has confirmed that they will reduce production by 30,000 vehicles in total in June at five plants in Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia, said Reuters. The spokeswoman added that the impact has already been factored into its earnings outlook for the current fiscal year.

According to Al-Jazeera, BMW, Ford and Honda have said that they will have pause production and predict falling sales due to chip shortfall. Honda Motor Co. said it would halt production at three plants in Japan for around five to six days next month; BMW AG will pause Mini car production at its Oxford, England, factory for three days; and Ford Motor Co. reduced its full-year earnings forecast due to the debilitating chip shortage, which it sees extending into next year.

On the local scene, we may also be facing a production slowdown due to chip shortages because
Perodua
 and
Proton
 have to account for that on top of not anticipating the sheer volume and demand for their products. Perodua CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said "The chip shortage is our top priority at present and we are deploying all our resources to deal with it, including working closely with the government and our business partners for viable solutions".

Proton on the other hand has not yet made any official comment regarding the matter.


Porsche Gives the Cayman the ‘Black’ Treatment

Following
the introduction of the 911 and Boxster Black Edition
,
Porsche
 has now applied the same treatment to the 2015 Porsche Cayman. As the name implies, and as demonstrated on its aforementioned compatriots, the Cayman Black Edition sports a black paintjob that is complemented with a black partial leather interior.
On the outside the Black Edition adds 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels, bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System, and optional side window trims in aluminium.
As for its features, this blacked-out Cayman is tricked-out with the Porsche Communication Management with navigation module, automatic anti-dazzle mirrors, rain sensor, cruise control, front and rear parking assistant, Sport Design steering wheel, and the Sound Package Plus audio system.
Powering the Cayman Black Edition is the 275PS 2.7-litre flat-six engine that you would find on the base-model Cayman.


2023 BIMS: The GWM Tank 500 is a 2.5 tonne SUV powered by a puny 2.0-litre to scratch that Landcruiser itch

Great Wall Motor previewed the TANK 500 at the 2023 Bangkok International Motorshow - Will this be the TANK model to be launched here in Malaysia?

When Great Wall Motor officially entered the Malaysian market through their electric vehicle, the Ora Good Cat, they took the opportunity to announce that they would be launching nine models locally in the next three years.

With local assembly operations due to start this year, we can't wait to see what
GWM's next vehicle will be
. One of the confirmed sub-brands that will be making its way to our local market is TANK, which is basically vehicle designed with an off-road theme attached to them.

So when GWM decided to display a TANK at the ongoing Bangkok Motor Show, we couldn't help but highlight it, because you never know, this vehicle might make its way to Malaysia.

Which TANK was displayed at the 2023 BIMS? The TANK 500 HEV of course, the newest version of the  TANK 500.

The Tank 500, is a four-wheel-drive barge ready to offer consumers a cheaper and readily available alternative to the famous Toyota Land Cruiser (LC).

Tank 500 is the latest model to come out of Great Wall Motor's new TANK four-wheel-drive
brand
, after the TANK 300, which in our opinion is their version of the Jeep Wrangler.

Coming in at 4,878mm long, 1,934mm wide and 1,905mm high and sitting on a 2,850mm wheelbase (identical to the LC300), the Tank 500 is nearly the same size as the latest Land Cruiser, the 300 (4,950L,1,980W,1,925H).

Just like the
LC
, the Tank 500 is built tough by utilising a body-on-frame platform borrowed from the Great Wall Motors family.

The off-road emphasis is once again emphasised on Great Wall Motor's Tank website, where they reckon its "3.0T V6 + 9AT super powertrain with a maximum power of 260kW and a maximum torque of 500Nm meets the diverse needs of everyday use and outdoor off-road". They also claim that the vehicle can go from 0-100 in 7.3 seconds and achieve a fuel consumption of 10.79l/100km.

But that's the powertrain that debuted in the TANK when it was first introduced to the world last year. Recently however, GWM has introduced a road tax friendlier powertrain option in the TANK 500 HEV, comprising of a 2.0-litre turbocharged hybrid engine.

The hybrid engine produces 346 PS and 615 Nm of torque and is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all 4 wheels. That amount of power shout get it moving, but the TANK's 2.5-tonne weight will bog it down a little.

With customers worldwide having to wait nearly four years for the new
Land Cruiser
 300 (yes, the waiting is that long), perhaps the Tank 500 HEV can fill in the gap left by the LC300 - especially now since it has a powertrain option which won't require you to pay a lot for road tax.

The mega Chinese SUV is offered in three variants with prices ranging from RMB 335,000 (RM222k) to RMB 395,000 (RM261k).


2017 Audi A4 Gets New 1.4 And 2.0 Quattro Variants In Malaysia

The B9 Audi A4 launched in Malaysia last year receives three new variants to its line-up. Alongside the
existing 2.0 TFSI model
, prospective customers of the B9 A4 can now choose from the 1.4 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI Tech Pack, and 2.0 TFSI quattro.
The 1.4 TFSI is a new base model for the A4, channelling 150hp and 250Nm to the front wheels via a 7-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission. Able to do 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, the new A4 1.4 also offers small engine economy with rated fuel consumption of 5.2 litres/100km and CO
2
 emissions of 119 g/km.
Externally, the 1.4-litre A4 gets xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights, and halogen tail lights. Its cabin is differentiated from the existing A4 2.0 TFSI only by the design of its steering wheel.
At the other end of the spectrum comes the new 2.0 TFSI quattro flagship variant offering an uprated engine tune liberating 252hp and 370Nm to power all four wheels. Capped to an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h, the A4 quattro is able to complete the century dash in 5.9 seconds whilst achieving rated consumption and emission numbers of 5.9 litres/100km and 136 g/km respectively.
S line trim is standard fit in the new quattro variant, offering the following enhancements:
Sport front and rear bumpers
18” five twin-spoke alloy wheels
Satellite navigation with MMM touch
Sport front seats
Alcantara upholstery
Brushed matt aluminium cabin trim
Apple Carplay, Android Auto
Audi Connect
The
existing front-wheel driven 2.0 TFSI
 variant continues to be offered, but with the additional option of a Tech Pack trim complementing the existing standard and S line trims. Priced at a RM25,000 premium over the standard 2.0 TFSI, the Tech Pack model adds:
Audi virtual cockpit
Matrix LED headlamps with dynamic front indicators
Apple Carplay, Android Auto
The FWD A4 2.0 TFSI has its four-cylinder turbocharged engine tuned to produce outputs of 190hp and 320Nm, enabling it complete the century sprint in 7.3 seconds and attain a rated fuel consumption of 5.0 litres/100km; CO
2
 is rated at 114 g/km.
The new Audi A4 variants are available for viewing and booking at all authorized Audi dealerships by Friday, April 14, with delivery set to commence from May 2017. From April 2017 onwards, all variants of the Audi A4 are covered by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.
OTR prices (excluding insurance) of the 2017 Audi A4 in Malaysia are as follows:
1.4 TFSI: RM218,900 (introductory – RM199,900)
2.0 TFSI: RM248,900
2.0 TFSI Tech Pack: RM273,900 (introductory – RM249,900)
2.0 TFSI quattro: RM314,900 (introductory – RM294,900)


KLIMS 2018: Over 258K Visited The Motor Show, Lexus Booth Recognized As The Best

The recently concluded 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show saw a turnout of 258,508 visitors throughout the 10-day motoring event.
Held at the new Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the 9th edition of KLIMS was spread over 16,000 square meters of exhibition floor space housing 187 vehicles from 74 participating companies.
Prior to KLIMS, key figures in the automotive stakeholders and industry experts exchanged ideas and fostered collaboration through the two-day Kuala Lumpur International Automotive Conference (KLIAC). Carlist.my was invited as
 one of the panel speakers
 to provide insights into how consumers shop for a vehicle today.
At the Appreciation Dinner, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), organizer of KLIMS 2018, recognized the exhibitors with Best Booth Awards for booth designs and presentation of displays. The awards were presented in two categories: Automotive-related products and Cars, Motorcycles, and Trucks.
In the Automotive-related products category that saw many booths featuring the latest accessories and services, Petronas whose booth included a barber shop came out as the winner for the Best Booth Award. Second place was awarded to Thinkware Dashcam by ZMC Automotive Pte Ltd with third placing awarded to V-Kool by NVK Interior (M) Sdn Bhd.
The Lexus booth won the Best Booth Award; it showcased the
new Lexus ES
, previewed
the UX
, and had a special section dedicated to a unique artistic installation. The Nissan booth that previewed the
all-electric Leaf
 won second place, ahead of
Honda
in third placing.
Visitors to the show were also eligible to enter a lucky draw which prizes that included new cars. The lucky draw winners were drawn on the last day of the Motor Show, with a live streaming over social media. Each of the three lucky winners were notified immediately, but the stars and moon must have aligned perfectly for grand prize winner Wan Afedizal bin Wan Ariffin as he and his family were present at the announcement on Sunday night!
Wan Afedizal won the Toyota C-HR, while Tan Tse Thye will be enjoying a new Honda City, and Ng Mei Ching will be receiving the key fob to a new Perodua Myvi.
MAA is looking forward to the next presentation of KLIMS with more members across-the-board participating so that Malaysia and the automotive industry players can continue to develop and maintain a strong motoring culture in Malaysia.


JPJ Raids E-Hailing Company inDriver Office In Bukit Bintang

It’s not looking great for
incoming e-hailing player
 inDriver’s rollout plans as a JPJ enforcement team was dispatched to raid on a Bukit Bintang office processing driver applications, alleging them to be operating with an expired business license.

Information was gathered from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) that had raised suspicions. JPJ ended up seizing several computers, promotional material, and other pieces of equipment to conduct further investigation.

E-hailing company inDriver operating with expired license

Those suspicions of an expired business license were apparently proven correct, as stated in a statement released by the JPJ’s director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim, which found them in potential violation of Section 222 and Section 12A of the Akta Penangkutan Awam Darat (APAD) 2010.

Should they be found guilty, the company (more likely its local representatives) could be facing a fine of not more than RM500,000 or a jail sentence of not more than 3 years or both.

JPJ said
 they will be closely monitoring the activities of E-Hailing Operators (EHO) to ensure they and the vehicles used are conforming to the rules and laws under the Road Transport Act 1987, Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987, and APAD 2010.

Founded in Russia in 2013 but presently headquartered in California, inDriver’s ride-sharing service has now spread to some 45 countries and counting, mostly concentrating in Eastern Europe, South America, and Africa. However, more recently they have been embarking on a Southeast Asian push with operations starting in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

According to them, they had been offering e-hailing services in the country since October 2021 in several major cities in Malaysia such as Penang, Alor Setar, Kuantan, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu.


New Vehicles Sales Dipped 23% In July 2022 According To MAA

For the month of July 2022, the
Malaysian Automotive Association
 reported that a 23% drop was observed in new vehicle deliveries compared to June, which was tallied at 63,563 units, or a decrease of 14,641 units.

A total of 48,922 new vehicles were delivered to customers in July, the first full month following the end of the SST exemption period (in a roundabout way) for locally assembled cars. Expectedly, new vehicle sales reflected this collective market sigh.

July car sales down by 23%

Despite the rush of orders, bookings, and deliveries (and confusion) in the lead-up to the June 30th deadline, July has proved to be a relatively solid month for Malaysia’s vehicle market, representing a dramatic jump from the 7,499 units that were delivered within the same period last year in July 2021 when pandemic-related restrictions were still in effect.

As far as how these July numbers add to this year’s Total Industry Volume, we’re now standing at 380,595 vehicles after 7 months into 2022 and well on track to achieving our TIV forecast for the year, which has now been
revised upward to 630,000 units
 - significantly higher than the 508,911 new cars sold in 2021 overall against a forecasted 500,000 and a 48% jump from our TIV at the end of July 2021.

If achieved or exceeded, 2022 would be a welcome return to pre-pandemic sales numbers after a 2-year period of market contraction, in fact exceeding 2019’s total sales of 604,287 units.

The good news is that with
the flood of bookings collected
 before July 1st as a result of the government announcing SST exemptions/discounts still being applicable for cars booked before the June 30th deadline and delivered before March 31st, 2023, automakers will continue to push hard for as many deliveries as possible over this year’s remaining months.


The Original Proton Saga/Iswara – The Cheapest Everyday Car In Malaysia

The original Proton Saga/ Iswara - still the cheapest everyday car in Malaysia!

Last year, I was in dire need of a simple car to get from A to B. Having sold my ultra-reliable and super fun
Kia Picanto (TA)
 sometime before (with remorse), as I wanted to free up more funds to work on my ‘project’
BMW (E36) 3 Series
. I lacked a get-in-and-drive car that would cover up to 80 percent of my daily travel. Not that the E36 wasn’t reliable enough, it’s just not something that can't be used every day given its stiff suspension setup and loud-ish exhaust.

My typical travel included runs for groceries, shuttling my daughter, and getting to and from work (when we could go into the office anyway), most of my trips were under 10km, within a short radius of my home. Therefore, my mobility needs were not much different from a large majority of drivers out there.

I had a few criteria to fulfil:

The car had to be cheap, very cheap

It had to be reliable

It had to be decently comfortable for my daughter

It must be easily maintained by virtually any mechanic

Parts had to be cheap

It had to be simple, facilitating small DIY repairs to save even more cost

It had to at least have air-con and a radio

I say again, it had to be very cheap…

I even toyed with the idea of buying the
Perodua Axia 1.0E
, which would have answered all my requirements, at just over RM23k. However, I did not want to get bogged down with another loan, and was enjoying the freedom from hire purchase loans over the last year or so.

Therefore it had to be a used car, bought cash.

I’d set myself a budget of RM3-5k, which as you can surmise doesn’t offer too many options for a Mercedes-Benz, or even a used Myvi for that matter. My search was narrowed down to a few proven cars, which are so simple, they hardly can go wrong. The original Proton Saga,
Proton Wira
, Honda Civic (EF), Toyota Corolla (AE92) or a Nissan Sunny.

Now it’s worth remembering, that before there was ever a
Perodua Myvi
, these were that cars that mobilised families across the nation. They were cheap, very economical and almost reliable to a fault, which is why there’s still a decent number of them on the roads even three decades on.

But the hard part was finding one that was decent enough that it won’t require major immediate repairs and especially not be a Swiss-cheese rust bucket waiting to fall apart at the sight of a pothole. The integrity of the shell at the very least had to be intact.

Weeks of searches turned up nothing, good cars were out of budget (which is understandable, because there is a price to keep them running well), the cheap ones required too much work and everything in-between was out of reach given our MCO restrictions at the time.

I hit a stroke of luck when my uncle said that he had just purchased a new Myvi, and was looking to get rid of the family’s trusty 1993 Proton Iswara Aeroback. Given my desperation, sight unseen, with only some memory of how it looked and drove. I jumped at it. The price: RM1,600 (yes, I admit there was a friends and family discount – but heck, smartphones cost more, so how can I lose!).

Getting to grips with my Iswara

By any measure of the word, it was a steal. My uncle had done a top overhaul less than 2 years ago, the front suspension was renewed, the front tyres were new, save some electrical gremlins – everything worked.

The air-conditioning:
sejuk beku
, radio…check, wipers…check, lights…check, four seatbelts…check, working doors handles…check, big boot…hell yes! Oh, and it has a folding rear seatback for large items too…what more could I need?

I’m not sure if I set the bar too low, but I was simply amazed by this little nugget of cheap motoring, which after 28 years still worked wonderfully well and was amazingly usable on so many levels.

In fact, the only things wrong with my Iswara were the rear wiper motor (destroyed by water seepage), the cabin light was broken, and one reverse light wasn’t working.

How is it to drive?

It feels like a boat to steer, but it’s so softly sprung it flattens most bumps around PJ without even knowing it. My particular car was upgraded with a power steering system at some point (the 1.3-litre base models were not offered with it) making it easy enough to whizz about in town and park in a tight spot.

Power is decent enough as well. The Proton 4G13 engine 1.3-litre 12 valve models had just over 75hp from the factory, and it feels like I might still have around 50 of those ponies left to play with but I don’t complain. It gets up to around 80km/h with relative ease and that’s about as much as I need to get around. The car is geared pretty short, therefore, despite 5 forward ratios, the engine is already revving at around 2,600rpm (the sweet sport for good fuel economy) by the time you hit approximately 70km/h.

Given that it’s a carburetted engine, fuel economy isn’t superb, but I still get around 100km of travel for every RM20 that I pour into the ‘old girl'. That roughly translates to 9.7 litres/100km at current fuel prices.

If you have not sat in an old car recently, the interior will feel a lot smaller than most modern cars. The first thing that will stand out is older cars have much less head and legroom at the back – with that said, we’ve travelled four at a time over a short distance and no one complains. My wife even says it’s pretty comfortable at the back.

Refinement levels aren’t great either, there are squeaks and rattles, but hey it’s a 28-year-old car, and it’s something I’ve gotten used to.

How cheap is cheap…

So we’ve established how cheap the Iswara is to buy, anywhere between RM2k and RM3K will secure you a decent runner. Just be diligent in looking out for rust around the wheel wells, door jams and boot base.

After getting the car, I managed to get some minor repairs done at the following prices. Note that in most cases, I purchase the parts from suppliers and get repairs done at my regular mechanic.

Air filter: RM8

Spark plugs x 4: RM17

Power steering belt: RM9

Oil change: RM85

Rear tyres: RM95-RM120/piece (depending on brand – my rear two costs around RM100 a piece)

Cabin dome light: RM14

Complete key and lockset inclusive ignition barrel: RM98

Front speakers: RM65 (old ones were water damaged)

Associated labour and wiring costs: RM150

Yes, I bought a power steering belt for less than a McDonalds Happy Meal.

I still have some items to address, mainly a squeaky crankshaft main pulley (part costs around RM90), to refresh the brake fluids and pads and the rear wiper motor.

As with all the above repairs, parts are readily available and literally any mechanic can perform the repairs, many of which cut their teeth and learnt their trade working on cars like the Saga, Iswara and Nissan Sunny.

Conclusion

It’s coming up to a year since I first got my Iswara, and I can honestly say I love it. It has stood the test of time, remains a steadfast workhorse as it was originally intended to be.

It’s not perfect by any measure, but I always have a sense of gratitude for every journey it completes, and there’s many more to come. I recently told a friend, that I might still sell my BMW E36 at some point, but my Iswara is going nowhere. I will upkeep and cherish it for as long as I can, and as the old saying goes,
drive it till the wheels fall off.


The 2021 Top 5 Father’s Day Gifts From LEGO

Building LEGO sets transcends time and age – from 5-year-olds to grown-ups, collectors and hobbyists – there is something so alluring about building something from tiny pieces, that it appeals to the engineer, architect and the child in all of us. Moreover, they come in all shapes and sizes, from ones that fit in the palm of your hand, to
life-sized recreations of the real thing
.

From a child, the simplest LEGO sets encourage creativity, patterning and motor functions and as you progress, more complex sets like the ‘Technic’ range encourage – analytical thinking, problem-solving, resilience and concentration, In addition, since they are right for any age, LEGO sets also make excellent gifts – especially given Father’s Day is coming up. Here is our roundup of five awesome
LEGO sets
 for daddy.

1. LEGO Speed Nissan GTR Nismo

The LEGO Speed Champions Nissan (R35)
GT-R Nismo
 pays tribute to the legendary Japanese supercar.  It is one of the first in the 2020 Speed Champions themed sets, which will be 25 percent bigger than in previous years. The GT-R Nismo model, made from 298 LEGO pieces, captures the authentic and intricate details of the life-size race car in a relatively small LEGO model.

LEGO spent a lot of time exploring different building techniques in order to correctly recreate features such as the body and especially the taillights, as they are one of the most recognizable details on the car. The reduced complexity of the set also means that younger members of the family will also be able to attempt building this iconic car.

Price: RM79.90

2. LEGO Technic Jeep Wrangler

Second, on our list is the awesome
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
.  This LEGO Technic set is designed to emulate the iconic look, design and legendary off-road capabilities of the actual vehicle, this first-ever LEGO model of a Jeep SUV allows fans of all ages to recreate the high-performance 4x4 systems, rugged tyres, fold-down rear seats and classic seven-slot grille in LEGO Technic form.

This 665-piece model even includes a button-operated front steering system and powerful axle-articulation suspension, which means owners, can actually test their Wrangler on challenging off-road obstacles outside. In addition, the eye-catching, yellow-and-black colour scheme also makes it a nice showpiece to add to any collection.

Price: RM215.91

3. LEGO Technic Ducati Panigale V4 R

It’s the LEGO version of one of the fastest and most beautiful motorcycles ever created… need we say more! According to LEGO, this model is the first-ever brick reproduction of a Ducati motorcycle which expresses and respects the ‘Style, Sophistication and Performance’ that characterize the brand. The 646-piece Panigale V4 R includes an innovative 2-speed gearbox, which activates the V4 engine, as well as original front and rear suspension, to simulate a GP bike ride and feel.

The LEGO® Technic Panigale V4 R measures 32cm in length, 16cm in height and 8cm in width and is the first motorcycle Technic set in history to include a gearbox to simulate different speeds and riding techniques. Other striking features are the steering and suspension that give realistic movement, in addition to front and rear disc brakes. kickstand, exhaust pipe, windscreen and dashboard are the details that make this bike so faithful to the real version.

Price: RM224.91

4. LEGO Technic
McLaren Senna
GTR

Combining McLaren’s unrivalled power and sophistication with LEGO design precision, the 830-piece model of this track-focused supercar is the first McLaren supercar to be recreated in LEGO Technic form and is designed to provide the ultimate building thrill for those ages 10 and above.

This awesome DIY replica is packed with authentic features and design details such as the V8 engine with moving pistons, aerodynamic body curves, opening dihedral doors and a one-of-a-kind blue livery. This 32cm long model can be taken out for a spin or put admiringly on display once built.

Price: RM215.91

5. LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37

This is quite possibly one of the
most complex LEGO Technic set
s
 of all time. This 1.8 scale of this limited run Lamborghini model first unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Auto Show contains a whopping 3,696 pieces including a replica of the V12 engine; a moveable rear spoiler; front and rear suspension; and steering powered by a wheel complete with the Automobili Lamborghini badge.

The model boasts scissor doors, which open to reveal the intricately recreated cockpit, with a fully-functioning eight-speed sequential gearbox controlled by a movable paddle gearshift. The vivid lime-green colour and elegant golden rims of the LEGO Technic replica are available as colour and trim on the real Sián, with the model measuring over 13 cm in height, 60 cm in length and 25 cm in width. Model owners can also open the front hood of their LEGO Technic Sián to find a Lamborghini overnight bag, together with a unique serial number that unlocks special content.

Price: RM1311.91


Selangor Aims To Have 10,000 Charging Stations By 2025

Selangor will start with 1,000 charging stations next year and plan to have 10,000 charging stations by the end of 2025.

Another day, another knock-on effect of the government's proposal to make EV's practically tax-free through some incentives in 2022. However, this time, it is the state of Selangor that is looking to be proactive, as they plan to install a total of 10,000
Electric Vehicle
 (EV) charging stations throughout Selangor by 2025, with the first 1,000 stations expected to be ready in 2022.

According to the Selangor Journal, Selangor aims to be the pioneer in
EV usage
, seeing all types of electric vehicles used in the state, including buses, lorries, delivery vans and garbage trucks.

Selangor's Menteri Besar, Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the collaboration between the Selangor state and
private parties
 would involve an investment value of RM10 million.

"To further promote the use of EV, the state government plans to provide some incentives to the businesses and industries that have invested in EV infrastructure projects".

"The incentives include a reduction of business fees and assessment tax. Apart from that, parking fees which come under the jurisdiction of the local authorities will also be waived for EV users in 2022," he said during the tabling of the 2022 Selangor Budget (#Selangor2022) at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly last week, as reported by Selangor Journal.

Amirudin also said he would welcome all proposals from the private sector for the EV project, especially from firms that are operating in the green tech sector.

Selangor has always wanted to be the main player in Malaysia regarding green technology. The push for EVs in Selangor started way before the new government proposal as former Selangor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri
Mohamed Azmin Ali
 also devised action plans for green tech in Selangor, which included the use of electric vehicles across the state.


Proton Resumes Export To Egypt – Saga, Exora, Preve Set For October Launch

Proton is set to further strengthen its overseas presence with the debut of the Saga, Exora, and Preve models in Cairo next month.
A total of 225 Proton models will leave Northport, Klang on 22 September and are set to arrive at the Alexandria port in Cairo on 6 October.
The company held a flag-off ceremony at its Tanjung Malim plant, marking its first shipment of Proton vehicles to Egypt in almost 3 years. The last shipment which comprised of 320 units of the Gen 2 and Persona was sent out in December 2015, just before the local currency got devalued, making it tougher to price new stock competitively. Distributor efforts and continued export of parts ensured that the needs of owners were met while waiting for the economic situation to improve.
Thanks to improvements in product quality introduced by the product audit processes used by Geely, Proton is now able to resume export activities.
Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Proton said, "Proton is excited at being able to export its cars to a market where they have proven to be popular in the past. Buyers there value the safety, reliability and strong resale price of Proton cars, qualities evident in the three models set to be launched in Cairo in October. To ensure sufficient stocks, the distributor has ordered an additional 280 units to be shipped next month with a target of 1,000 cars for the whole of 2018.”
Additionally, Proton’s Egypt distributor, Alpha Ezz El-Arab, will also be introducing Proton’s latest Corporate Identity (CI) across 3 outlets. This marks a significant steps as this distributor will be the first Proton outlet outside of Malaysia to feature the new CI.
“The move to adopt our new CI shows our distributor is in step with our aim of building a consistent brand experience and image for Proton internationally. It will also help in our aim to add to the more than 13,000 Proton cars that have been sold in Egypt since 2004,” he added.
Proton is also studying the possibilities of setting up CKD activities in other countries to further improve sales. “As Proton seeks to drive its export initiatives forward, establishing regional CKD activities will be vital to increasing our brand visibility and growing sales volume. It will also improve our cost effectiveness and help to speed up entry into new markets. At this point however, the Proton Tanjung Malim plant as well as Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Shah Alam Plant remain essential as they will build the cars required to serve our export markets in a timely manner,” Dato Radzaif said.