New Isuzu Flagship Outlet Launched in Shah Alam

In an effort to offer better after-sales services to its customers, Isuzu Malaysia today opened the doors to its new flagship after-sales facility in Padang Jawa, Shah Alam.
Operated in partnership with Automotive Corporation Malaysia (ACM), a subsidiary of DRB-Hicom Bhd, the facility is managed by a team of technical representatives from Isuzu Motors Limited Japan and local technicians who possess Isuzu’s i-Mec certification.
The new facility, which houses the Isuzu Technical Centre where trainee mechanics are developed, will be completely equipped by the third quarter of 2017 with high-capacity hoists capable of raising medium and heavy-duty trucks, calibrated brake testers, exhaust emission measuring devices, as well as tyre alignment and wheel balancing machines that will prepare commercial vehicles for their PUSPAKOM inspections.
Currently the service centre comprises a waiting lounge, two service areas with 16 working bays, a dedicated washing area, as well as a parts warehouse.
The two-acre facility will also have a spectrum of proprietary diagnostic equipment to troubleshoot and tune the latest range of Isuzu vehicles.
“With over 10,000 new Isuzu vehicles being registered every year in Malaysia, we hope that this outlet will be able to offer additional support to our dealer network and growing customer base by offering efficient and meticulous after-sales service,” said Kenji Matsuoka, the CEO of Isuzu Malaysia.
The Isuzu Service Center opens from 8:30am to 5:30pm on weekdays and 8:30am to 5:00pm on Saturday.
The facility also houses the 24-hour Isuzu Dr. Mobile breakdown service that is contactable through the Dr. Mobile hotline at 1-800-88-8000.


GM Of Vehicle Manufacturing Company Arrested For Corruption

A General Manager of a vehicle manufacturing company has been remanded as he is believed to have been involved in a scandal selling pre-production cars.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has remanded a General Manager of a vehicle manufacturing company for six days as he is believed to have received bribes worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit from a used car company.

Magistrate Shah Wira Abdul Halim issued the remand order until September 26 for the individual after MACC made the application at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on September 22.

It has been said that bribes were given to the manager in return for helping to get pre-production cars for sale below market price, thus not following the proper procedure.

The activity, which is believed to have been carried out since 2019, did not go through the approved sales process, and it is estimated that the loss will reach millions of ringgit with the sale of around 1,000 units of cars.

The 'pre-production' cars that were sold were reserved for use at the manufacturer's plant for testing and quality control before the actual production of the model was sold in the market.

Apart from that, 'trade-in' cars from customers who bought new cars from the local car manufacturer is also part of the fiasco as they were sold to the used car dealer illegally.

The suspect is being investigated under Section 16 of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ASPRM) Act 2009 as reported by the New Straits Times.


2017 Honda City Hybrid Launched In Malaysia, Priced From RM89,200

Honda Malaysia has introduced a new hybrid variant of the Honda City earlier today. This is the second hybrid Honda model introduced this year, following the June's debut of the Honda Jazz Hybrid.
As with the Jazz Hybrid, Malaysia is the only country outside of Japan to introduce the City Hybrid.
Priced from RM89,200 (excluding insurance), the City Hybrid shares the same 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine as the Jazz Hybrid. In place of the standard petrol powered-only Jazz/City's CVT-type automatic transmission, the City Hybrid (and Jazz Hybrid) uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) mated to a 22 kW electric motor that sends drive to the front wheels. Together with the petrol engine, the petrol-electric hybrid combination makes 137 PS and 170 Nm, which Honda Malaysia says is equivalent to a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine.
Unlike the previous IMA generation Honda hybrids, this City Hybrid (and Jazz Hybrid) is a full-hybrid, meaning that it is able to accelerate from standstill in electric power alone for a smoother stop-go traffic driving. The air-conditioning compressor is also electrically driven, meaning that the air-conditioning’s cooling performance will remain optimal even when the petrol engine is shutdown.
Compared to the cheaper RM84,800 Jazz Hybrid, the City Hybrid comes equipped with paddle shifters.
Inside, the Honda City Hybrid is differentiated from the standard City by an advanced 3D meter designed that displays Energy Flow, Sport Meter, Fuel Economy, Drive Info and ECO Display. The gear knob is also different, using an electronic shift-by-wire type which works more like a joystick rather than the conventional City's mechanically linked gear knob.
Impressively, the hybrid variant does not compromise in boot space - boasting an identical 536 litres of cargo carrying capacity.
Other equipment in the City Hybrid include:
6.8-inch Display Audio infotainment system with USB, Bluetooth connectivity
Smart Entry with Push Start Button
Touch panel air-conditioning
Rear air vents
Cruise control
Fabric upholstery
Shift by Wire transmission knob
16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels
Safety kit of the Honda City Hybrid mirrors that of the Honda City Grade E, which includes:
Four airbags
ABS with EBD
Brake Assist
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)
Rear sear ISOFIX mounts
Reverse camera
Priced from RM89,200, the Honda City Hybrid is backed by a 5 year warranty with unlimited mileage. The City Hybrid's battery has an 8 year warranty in addition to the standard warranty.
The Honda City Hybrid can be had in four colours, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and White Orchid Pearl.


Would The Bangsar Babes love the Honda E and Peugeot e-208?

The Honda e and Peugeot e-208 is the perfect city car, it's a shame we can't have them.

When we were geeking out at the
Polestar 2
 at Vision Motorsports a couple of weeks ago, the owner of the now-famous car dealership, Raja Petra mentioned that bringing in fully electric cars will be his primary mission from now on as he sees enormous potential in this area.

Part of the conversation we had about this exciting new vision of his included the type of full-electric cars that would be great for the Malaysian market. Obviously, at the moment, the best cars in terms of pricing are the Teslas and Polestars, but only because they are made in China which gives him some leeway in terms of pricing, as cars made in China have better tariff codes in Malaysia compared to cars made elsewhere he said.

A couple of cars that he is really keen on is the
Peugeot e-208
 as well as the
Honda e
, but it's just difficult to justify bringing them in as the tax bill alone will make these small electric cars even more expensive than the bigger Tesla and Polestar.

Imagine having to pay more than RM400k for those two little electric mini cars; it just wouldn't make any economic sense. This is especially so when their electric range is smaller than the Tesla and Polestar, which will only make them a city-specific run about electric vehicle.

It's a shame really because if the prices are lower, some Malaysians might actually turn to them as they are the perfect city cars. They are small and practically maintenance and gasoline free. Wins all around!

My superior reckons that if they were made available in Malaysia, it'll be the perfect car for the Mont Kiara and Bangsar babes or even The Desperate Housewives of Hartamas. They are stylish, cute, and easy to park, making it the perfect car for those who live and frequent these affluent residential suburbs.

While I don't really have an opinion of this sort, I do see where he is coming from. Raja Petra, on the other hand, is currently rallying the right people to help change the tax structure for electric cars, but he says unless the nation doesn't start to voice their needs for these cars, it's hard to change it at the top.

But then again, we are a fossil fuel producing country which only means that the people at the top will do everything it takes to protect this monumental profit-making substance which is why we think it'll be a tough fight.

What do you think? Would these cars get much love in Malaysia if the prices are reasonable?


Toyota Showcases its Safety Sense Features at Mobilitas

We won't lie: when Toyota gives us the opportunity to test one of their new products or technologies, it tends to be an incredibly slow affair in heavily controlled conditions that leave us feeling a little underwhelmed. This is even more apparent when you're in their home country of Japan, at their Mobilitas centre- a safety education facility located at Fuji Speedway itself- and you're presented with an open car park and a set of cones.
But this time, we weren't testing dynamics or performance or speed. We were testing safety systems- a part of Toyota's Safety Sense package that they plan to employ in most of their products in the coming years. These are active safety systems, some of which we are familiar with and some of which we may have seen in more generic applications for other brands, but it is a step forward for the Japanese giant nonetheless. Perhaps a little antithetical to Akio Toyoda's desire to bring fun back to the brand, these systems are still undeniably useful in everyday situations and a big help in getting to Toyota's target of zero road fatalities.
Our test vehicles for the day were a Toyota Crown and a fourth-generation Toyota Prius- neither of which are available in our market. The Crown is a rear-wheel drive sedan that's a little larger than a Camry and regarded as being highly representative of Japanese Domestic Market models. Our exercises with the Crown were conducted on a wet handling course, which was a chance for us to test out the ABS and the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control).
We've all heard of ABS before, and some marques such as BMW boast of their ABS being multiple times quicker and more reactive than other ABS systems. But what is very surprising about the ABS in the Crown is that it has none of the brake pedal judder that comes with ABS engagement. You can feel the brakes engaging and releasing before the point of lock on such a slick surface, but the brake pedal feel remains as solid as ever.
Moving on to the VSC, it is a little surprising that Toyota began the exercise with the systems off. Even being restricted to 40 km/h, the constantly slick surface and low ambient temperature made it difficult to find grip. The Crown was either in a state of mild understeer or (far more entertaining) oversteer. Going through a second lap with the systems on proved for a fuss-free experience, although again it seems that Toyota has refined their VSC to be less abrupt during engagement and a little less noticeable than before.
Moving on to the Prius, we were made to test out the Pre-Collision System; it's not something we haven't seen before in cars like the Ford Focus, but once again it is nice to see what Toyota's take on it is like. The system is said to be active between 10 and 50 km/h, operating using both laser sensors and a radar system. Testing was limited to a leisurely 20 km/h- the kind of speed you might travel at in a housing area. As expected the Prius engaged the brakes by itself, coming to a prompt stop with a meter or so to spare. It's a familiar experience, but one should only expect this on higher end models as it requires the full suite of sensors to operate.
Was either set of tests particularly new or exciting? No, not really- from a pure technological standpoint, these features have been in the market for years. But what is exciting is the fact that Toyota is working towards incorporating these systems on such a massive scale; while the systems are available, they have always ever been made available by brands with a relatively small market share. For the ASEAN region in any case, this would be extremely beneficial to Toyota as it fights the idea that they do the very minimum to scrape by in terms of features and technology- and a full safety suite such as the Safety Sense could allow Toyota to pull well ahead of the competititon. It's only a matter of time.


Economist: Government Should Focus On Promoting Competition

The Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) said the government should avoid employing discriminatory trade restrictions to protect the national car makers and be clear about its automotive policy, as reported by
The Sun Daily
.
“The government needs to have a clear mind on which direction that they are planning to go. Malaysia should be open to trade and look to competition, rather than direct government support, to develop a competitive domestic car industry,” Ideas economist Adli Amirullah said in a statement responding to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s plans to impose restrictions on foreign brands.
According to Tun Dr Mahathir, the previous government’s National Automotive Policy (NAP) has over liberalized the country’s automotive market to the point that it has destroyed Proton.
Adli added that technical standards on foreign brands to ensure occupant safety are welcomed, but not protectionism.
Adli also took the opportunity to highlight that the Malaysian automotive industry has long passed the “infancy” stage as frequently mentioned by Tun Dr Mahathir.
“Perodua itself has grown so much that now it has the highest market share at
40.4 per cent (January to June 2018)
, and sold a total of 204,887 units in 2017,”
“Proton came third, after Honda, with 12.9 per cent market share with sales of 70,991 units in 2017. These facts prove that there are flaws in an infant-industry argument. How long our automotive industry should be considered as an ‘infant'?" Adli pointed out.
Apart from sales figures, Perodua has also heavily invested in component manufacturing plants to further reduce cost and improve efficiencies of their operation. The automatic transmission and
engine assembly plants located in Negeri Sembilan
are state-of-the-art facilities that manufacture the latest technology products that meet global standards.
Automotive conglomerate Sime Darby and BMW Group Malaysia meanwhile recently opened the
Sime Darby Auto Engineering (SDAE) engine plant in Kedah
. The engine plant assembles turbocharged three and four-cylinder engines for standard and hybrid BMW and MINI models, and the completed vehicles are then exported to the Asean region.
The oldest automotive assembly plant in Malaysia, the Volvo Car Manufacturing plant in Shah Alam, is also
 Volvo’s only plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) core competency centre
outside of Sweden. Volvo Cars Malaysia has also been exporting their products to Thailand and planning to supply the Taiwan market with the sophisticated PHEV models this year.
Earlier on Monday,
MAA President Datuk Aishah Ahmad also voiced her opinion
 on the same matter, stating that placing trade restrictions to protect Proton, in particular, is a major step backwards.


China Mulls Removing Protection For Domestic Brands

China, still the world’s largest market with over 25 million motor vehicles sold last year, is considering to remove the current 50 percent limit on foreign ownership of automotive joint ventures.
Under the current regulations, any foreign car maker that intends to setup local assembly operations must form a 50:50 joint venture with a local partner. Fully imported vehicles are slapped with a 25 percent import duty, on top of the 3 – 20 percent excise duty that’s applicable to all vehicles, irrespective of their country of origin.
Due to the sheer scale of the Chinese market, it is not uncommon for foreign automakers to form multiple joint ventures with several local partners, each focusing on different products.
Volkswagen for example, has joint ventures with SAIC and FAW, while Toyota has joint ventures with FAW and Guangzhou Automobile.
The requirement to form local joint ventures dates back to the early ‘80s. The aim was to help domestic brands gain new know-how and technology from their foreign partners.
In private, foreign car companies complain that the requirement for a 50:50 joint venture is a form of protectionism, and allows local partners to steal their designs to develop cheap imitation products. However, everyone grudgingly accepts it as a simply a cost of doing business in the lucrative Chinese car market.
Earlier in June, Xu Shaoshi, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), shocked many when he, during an interview at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, announced that China is looking into lifting the 50 percent limit on ownership stakes by foreign car companies.
This would mean that a foreign car company can simply start a local operations in China on their own, run the business as they see fit, without having to accommodate any local partner.
Analysts have two interpretations to Xu’s latest move.
One, the Chinese central government is losing patience with domestic manufacturers, especially state-owned companies, who after 30-plus years of involvement in the automotive industry, have yet to make significant impact in export markets.
There are several success stories – Chery and Great Wall (Haval) for example, but both of these are privately owned companies. Being privately owned, Chery and Great Wall held little sway in their home market and received limited forms of assistance from the Chinese government, but that didn’t hamper their growth.
In contrast, state-owned companies like Shanghai-owned SAIC, which counts VW and GM as its partner, Beijing-owned BAIC (Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz), Guangzhou-owned GAC (Honda, Toyota), and Wuhan-owned Dongfeng (Kia, Nissan, Peugeot, Citroen) have limited success overseas with their domestic brands. This is despite having access to ample capital thanks to stronger sales of their foreign-brand products.
While the NDRC may want to spur greater competition, Yang Jian, the editor of Automotive News China said in his editorial that any move to deregulate the industry will meet stiff resistance from these state-owned companies.
The second reason could be that the NRDC wants to loosen its regulations to spur investment from foreign manufacturers.
Last year, China’s economy grew by 6.9 percent, still healthy by any measure, but it’s the lowest in the last 25 years for China. Plus, economists have often doubted the authenticity of China’s official economic figures.
Loosening the requirement could attract new players like Tesla, which are currently imported into China, and its EV-products fits into China’s target of sell over 4 million EVs over the next five years.


Will MINI Still Be Fun To Drive When They're All Electric?

With an all-electric line-up due in 2023, will MINI lose what makes their car special? Maybe not.

This is perhaps one of the most loaded questions you can ask an automotive enthusiast, but the simple answer is: no. MINIs will probably remain fun to drive for as long as the brand exists, and that's because they have a little more flexibility in the way they design and engineer their vehicles. Besides, we've already tested the all-electric
MINI Cooper SE
 hatch and it's a fantastic car to chuck around a city.

But this does then open the door up for more serious questions. MINI has constantly pushed the idea that their cars handle like go-karts, and their enthusiastic owners echo this sentiment - even their own drive mode selection system has a Maximum Go-Kart Feel message. Unfortunately, I'd have to disagree pretty hard because they simply don't feel like go-karts. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they don't even feel like an original Mini.

We'll ignore the fact that the modern MINI models you see before you are a lot larger than their forefathers. They may not be as big as other cars on the road, but they certainly aren't small. There are some simple engineering principles that you can't avoid when it comes to vehicle dynamics, and the original Mini has handling elements that can't (and perhaps shouldn't) be replicated.

I have had the extreme fortune to be able to drive one of the best examples of a road-going classic Mini in Malaysia, complete with a fast-road package engine and straight cut gears, first through third. It was such an eye-opening experience, and it made me realize that the MINI models we see today are nothing like the original. The directness of the steering, the way the suspension reacts to inputs, and even the overall footprint make it so incredibly nimble in the right situations that you almost forget it's driven by its front wheels.

Where am I going with this? The problem is when you try to equate "fun to drive" with "drives like an original Mini". A car can be fun to drive without having to feel like an original Mini, and there's no doubt in my mind that MINI models today are great to throw around a back road or track. Where they lack the extreme agility of the original, they make up for it in stability at higher speeds, comfort, NVH, interior space - and of course, safety.

That's right - the original Mini isn't as versatile as a modern consumer needs it to be, and that's why MINI hasn't tried to copy every single thing about the original. They make excellent hatchbacks, hot or otherwise, and whether that conventional powertrain is swapped out for an electric motor doesn't change this. With improvements in motor and battery technology, you'll see weights drop and output increase.

Within the next decade or so, we'll probably have an all-electric MINI model that could match their most potent John Cooper Works GP model in performance, with similar kerb weights. Sure, you lose out on the experience of rowing a manual gearbox - but there are going to be modern-classic cars to fulfill that need if you really have the urge to work your left foot and left hand.

Modern MINIs haven't felt like a classic Mini in a long time - perhaps not even since the first generation R53 - and that's perfectly fine. They still feel great compared to their peers, with their own styling choices and interiors that are a refreshing break from the cookie cutter designs you see with other automakers. An all-electric MINI doesn't change that, and it will present its own set of challenges for an enthusiastic driver to overcome.

But what if you want a real go-kart? Drive something like a Toyota AE86 Corolla with a decently aggressive suspension setup. Drive something that weighs less than a tonne, with some sticky tyres at each corner. Drive something that gets lairy when you pitch it into a corner under braking, and squirrels around when you get back on the gas. The only thing is when you're done having fun, you'll miss the creature comforts of a modern MINI - electric or not.


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Hits Record High Sales For April To September 2018

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), has reported a record high sales figure of 4,788 for the first half of its financial year – from April to September 2018.
In that 6-month period, MMM saw sales increase 66% from the first half of its 2017 financial year (April to September) 2017).
According to MMM, the strong sales were driven by the surge of sales for its Triton and Outlander models.
While MMM did not provide sales figure of the ASX, the remaining 323 units from the total sales figures should refer to the ASX.
Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia said, “Late last year, we have repositioned our Triton variants to benefit our customers not only in terms of handling, performance and safety, but also to price it affordably to cater for different customers. The positive sales results were also further boosted by the tax holiday period from June-August 2018.”
He added, “We are also pleased to share that the Triton is still, the only pick-up offering up to 200,000KM or 5 Years of warranty. That means our customers will get to travel more mileage with an added peace of mind.”


2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Turbo Confirmed for Thailand

It was a yes before a no, then a maybe before a most likely, but wonder no more – the Honda Civic Hatchback turbo has been confirmed for the Thailand market.
A teaser photo of the
Enjoy Honda Thailand Facebook
 page, with the caption, “Meet the Honda Civic Hatch soon”, confirms our
earlier hunch
 that the car will indeed go on sale over there.
This means that it’s the first time since the fifth generation (EG) Civic, of the mid-90’s that a hatchback version of Honda Civic is returning to the ASEAN region.
A prototype version of the Civic hatchback was first previewed at the
2016 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show
, Indonesia have also confirmed the Civic hatch, due to be introduced later in 2017.
Civic hatchbacks have been rolled out of Honda’s
Swindon plant in the U.K
. since last year – and are actively exported to 70 countries. It is unclear if Honda will import the Civic Hatchback to Thailand from the UK (currently still the only source of Civic hatchbacks worldwide) or if they will be assembling it within the ASEAN region
Honda Malaysia’s
CEO Katsuto Hayashi previously suggested
 that the Civic Hatchback is unlikely to come to Malaysia, as there is little demand for hatchbacks of such class here, given Malaysia’s tax structure for hatchbacks isn’t as favourable as they are in Indonesia.
But, Hayashi hasn’t denied it either. Having explained, “Selling cars is our business. If there is (sufficient) market demand in Malaysia, we will think about it. Currently I am not sure”.
Exciting times indeed.
In Europe, the Civic Hatchback is available with three engine options, all turbocharged - 1.0-litre petrol, 1.5-litre petrol, and 1.6-litre diesel.


Volkswagen Passat B7 1.8 TSI Review – Statement of Understatement

It is no secret that, some one and a half years from its global debut, the Volkswagen Passat B8 is nearing its official introduction in Malaysia. Camouflaged
prototypes were sighted in our shores
 as far back as the middle of last year, and it certainly won’t be long before Volkswagen’s eighth-generation D-segment sedan becomes officially available in showrooms.

The
Passat
 is an important name in the
Volkswagen
 model hierarchy, and as far as Malaysia is concerned, it is a mainstay of the brand. A small number of the
sixth-generation B6
 model made its way to our market, but it wasn’t until 2011 that the Passat nameplate became firmly entrenched in the Malaysian psyche with the Passat B7’s official launch.

A year later, the Passat was the centre of another important milestone in that it became Volkswagen’s first locally-assembled model in Malaysia. As the B8’s launch draws near, we give the B7 a send-off in this review.

Specifications:

Price: RM174,835.20 on-the-road without insurance

Engine: 1,798cc, inline-4, transverse, turbocharged

Power: 160PS @ 5,000 – 6,200rpm

Torque: 250Nm @ 1,500 – 4,200rpm

Transmission: 7-speed dry dual clutch transmission, FWD

Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, Electronic Stability Control (ESP) with Counter-Steering Assistance, ISOFIX (rear), Hill-hold ontrol, ‘Rest Assist’ drowsiness detection, Flat Tyre Detection

Origin: Locally-assembled at Pekan, Pahang

Overview

From a global catalogue comprised largely of four-cylinder turbocharged engines, the Passat B7 comes to Malaysia powered exclusively by Volkswagen’s 1.8-litre EA888 TSI engine with direct injection technology.

Pushing out 160PS and asking for RM175k with on-road costs before insurance, the Passat pitches itself against 2.4-2.5-litre Japanese
D-segment sedans
 in both power and price. The
Peugeot 508
 is another rival, it too being powered by a downsized turbocharged engine of similar outputs.

The
Ford Mondeo
 could have been counted as a direct rival as well, if only Ford had considered offering it here with the similarly-powered 160PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost variant that would have been a more natural match for the Passat in our market’s 1.8 TSI guise.

Exterior

In typical Volkswagen fashion, the Passat B7 is styled with commendable taste and restraint. It is essentially a boxier reinterpretation of the B6 model that preceded it; and as we will see soon enough, this evolutionary styling process continues with the B8.

The overall styling is notable for a lack of wow factor or any distinctive cues. This writer recalls walking past a display unit of this model during its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and completely missing it. That general lack of fuss in its design has nevertheless enabled the B7 to age gracefully and not look at all out of date alongside the competition. In fact, the preceding B6 model can still be regarded as a properly handsome vehicle.

Lighting setup is competitive enough for our times. You get LEDs on the tail lights and daytime running lights, plus the bi-xenon headlamps come with self-levelling and corner swivelling function.

Standard wheel diameter of the Passat measures at 17 inches. It is a rather conservative sizing for our times, but entirely in keeping with the Passat’s generally restrained demeanour. We are not fans of the wheel design selected for our market though – we’ve seen better looking rims (even of the same size) in Volkswagen’s official global catalogue.

Interior

Much like its exterior, the Passat’s cabin is sculpted with an ethos of understatement, one done with a clear focus on getting the basics right rather than over-reaching with fanciful indulgences. Rather than sweeping curves, Volkswagen kept the sensible approach – arranging controls with intuitive clarity and finishing surfaces with a high degree of perceived quality.

The dashboard is, in actual fact, carried over pretty much wholesale from the Passat B6. That the appearance does not look fully out-of-date despite serving two full model cycles is a testament of the design’s timelessness.

Volkswagen took good care of small item storage spaces as well. Besides deep door pockets, front occupants have access to three lidded and well-shaped storage compartments along the centre console. Another lidded box tucked away at the lower reaches of the dashboard at the driver’s side provide a more than deep enough enclosure for your Smart Tag.

If there is one complaint we want to make is the lack of keyless entry and engine start. Among D-segment sedans in the
RM170k-RM180k
 ball park, the Passat is the only one which requires you to reach for your key fob before unlocking your car and driving off. It is an omission which the upcoming Passat B8 will do well to rectify.

How does it drive?

Despite enjoying a 400cc displacement advantage, the Passat’s 1.8 TSI makes do with very similar outputs to the EA111 1.4 TSI powerplant fitted into the
Jetta
. The two engines are evenly-matched on power, but the 1.8-litre unit does make its extra cubes count in the torque department, offering an extra 10Nm of twist spread over a similarly wide plateau in its mid-range.

The reason why the two engines have such closely-matched outputs despite a significant disparity in displacement is simply because the 1.4 has a supercharger supplementing its turbo, whereas the 1.8 does not.

If it poses the question of why is there a need for two distinctly different powertrains to serve practically the same performance niche; the answer to this is that the smaller, more complicated, and soon to be phased-out twincharged mill is tuned to be frantic, relentless, and hard-hitting. For the Passat, the objective is a more relaxed progress which the under-tuned 1.8 TSI is configured for. It pulls strongly, but without ever punching your gut in the process.

Continuing the ease of use theme, the Passat’s chassis, much like its engine, is tuned with evident care and sensibility. It’s not a setup to invoke excitement of the unadulterated sort, but it does inspire confidence with reassuringly safe neutrality. Push it hard, the chassis responds to inputs obediently, but there isn’t the kind of playfulness or interaction to elevate the experience from merely competent to outright fun.

How comfortable is it?

If there is one trait which the Passat is singularly good at, it is covering hundreds upon hundreds of kilometres with minimal effort. Unwanted sources of noise, be it external or mechanically-generated by the vehicle, are all well-suppressed, creating an environment that is supremely serene.

It also helps that the engine has adequate torque to pull strongly from as low as 1,500rpm which, in 7
th
 gear, is good for 100km/h thereabouts. Indeed, gentle-footed drivers will find much appeal in the engine’s usable flexibility and long-geared ratios of the transmission.

Complementing the excellent sound-deadening and mechanical refinement, is a suspension setup that rides over imperfections with authority. Typical of a European vehicle, primary ride errs on the firm side, but secondary ride is outstanding, giving the Passat unflappable composure at high speed.

Somewhat at odds with the Passat’s overall hushness is the DSG’s lack of polish at low speeds. We’ve come to accept this as an inherent nature of dual clutch transmissions, but we can’t help but wonder if a back-to-basics 6-speed torque converter automatic from the B6 would have been a better fit for vehicle characteristics Volkswagen aimed to create for the Passat.

How economical is it?

Few carmakers blend performance and efficiency as effectively as Volkswagen. The company claims an official fuel consumption figure of 7.0 litre/100km in the combined cycle and 9.5 litre/100km in the urban cycle. Over three days using the car in regular town commute, our trip computer threw us a read-out of 9.3 litre/100km. Theoretically, this is a car in which 750 to 1,000km can be covered between refills.

As a product of its Continental origins, the Passat was engineered to last great distances in between maintenance. Intervals are set at 15,000km, and if serviced according to Volkswagen’s prescribed schedule, you will need to set aside a little over RM3,800 over a period of five years for your service centre.

Volkswagen’s quality troubles in recent years is not an issue which we can conveniently gloss over, but potential defects are covered by a five-year warranty with no mileage restriction. Additionally, a five-year Mobility Guarantee programme provides 24-hour breakdown support not just within Malaysia, but in Singapore and Thailand as well.

Conclusion

Understandably, Volkswagen’s brand standing among Malaysia is not at its highest at the moment, and the Passat does suffer from its reputation for some teething problems. Volkswagen is not sitting idly on the problem, however, and we understand that running fixes have minimized issues with newer batches of vehicles.

Although we are a mere months away from the Passat B8’s introduction in our market, the B7 remains an up-to-date vehicle that is a fine day-to-day companion. For D-segment shoppers looking for more spirited performance and more surefooted handling than the usual Japanese entrants, the Passat’s blend of pace, economy, and dynamic composure is a compelling preposition.


BYD to start selling their EVs in Japan next year - can the Chinese penetrate the mighty JDM?

Here's something that we thought we would never see - BYD, the manufacturer of Chinese electric vehicles, has announced that it will sell their battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Japan early next year.

They said they will launch the electric SUV,
ATTO 3
, in Japan from 31 January 2023 for a price of ¥4.4 million, which is about RM144k.

The Atto 3 was recently launched in Malaysia from RM149k

While Chinese cars are becoming increasingly popular around South East Asia, there are only a few of them in Japan, limited to cheap utilitarian vehicles like vans from Geely.

BYD's move can be a masterstroke if received well in Japan, as they are probably trying to capitalise on the slow development of EVs from Japanese automakers.

There are challenges for BYD to make it big in Japan as most Japanese still prefer hybrid vehicles, but there is a growing demand for BEVs, especially when manufacturers like BYD and Volkswagen are starting to offer them in the land of the rising sun.

Japanese Times reported that BYD’s Japan division is planning to set up tentative retailers starting late January in 22 cities but is eager to cover all 47 prefectures, said Atsuki Tofukuji, BYD Auto Japan chief executive.

“We hope that we can make our presence felt little by little as we work toward carbon neutrality and as our customers demand a variety of choices,” he said.

Currently there are only two Japanese automakers that sell electric vehicles, with
 Nissan selling their Leaf
 from ¥3.7 million, while Toyota are selling their bZ4X as a lease only, for ¥106,700 a month for the first four years in a 10-year contract.

UMW Toyota has recently
confirmed
that they will be introducing the bZ4X in Malaysia in 2023

According to Japanese Times, Toyota are already considering starting all over again with their EV plan to make their car more competitive in a market which they underestimated.


Anticipation grows as the 6th-Generation Honda CR-V spotted more and more in Malaysia

Apart from the launch of the highly anticipated Honda WR-V, Malaysians will be treated to another hotly anticipated launch from Honda Malaysia this year in the form of the latest and newest Honda CR-V.

Honda Malaysia has announced plans to introduce four new vehicle models in 2023, one of which is likely to be the highly anticipated sixth-generation Honda CR-V.

The new CR-V was first unveiled in Thailand earlier this year
 and has been generating a lot of buzz locally, especially when a few of their test CR-V cars have been spotted on our local roads.

Picture credit: WapCar and KeVin Leong

As highlighted by WapCar recently, an observant Facebook user named KeVin Leong captured a photo of a heavily camouflaged Honda CR-V, presumably somewhere in Pahang.

Interestingly, similar camouflaged units were also sighted around Muadzam Shah in the southern region of the state. This isn't the first time the all-new CR-V has been spotted on Malaysian roads, as another sighting occurred in March.

Picture credit: Autospinn

In Thailand, the latest CR-V is available in five different variants with two powertrain options with the prices for these variants falling between THB 1.419 million(RM186k) and THB 1.729 million (RM227k).

Thai customers can choose between a turbocharged 1.5-litre VTEC engine (192 PS/240 Nm) or a 2.0-litre two-motor i-MMD petrol-electric hybrid (Combined 185 PS/335 Nm).

Picture credit: Autospinn

Noteworthy features in the Thai-spec CR-V include:

9-inch infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

8-speaker audio system

LED headlights

Honda Sensing as standard.

The convenience and safety suite includes:

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)

Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW)

 Automatic High Beam (AHB)

Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-speed Follow (ACC with LSF)

Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN).

It is expected that the prices of the all-new CR-V in Malaysia will be dearer compared to the previous generation, following the prices revealed in Thailand.

This increase can also be attributed to the weakening Malaysian ringgit, but we're pretty sure enthusiasts in Malaysia are eagerly awaiting nonetheless for the official launch of the sixth-generation Honda CR-V, as it promises to deliver a host of exciting enhancements.


All-New Toyota Granvia Unveiled, Replaces Estima In Australia

Toyota has unveiled the all-new Granvia, reviving a nameplate that was discontinued since 2004.
Built on the same platform as the all-new Hiace, the Granvia is designed as a luxurious people mover, capable of seating 8 with ease. In addition to that, the all-new Granvia is fitted with four-link coil-spring rear suspension for improved comfort.
For the Australian market, the all-new Granvia will be offered with one turbodiesel powertrain, though Toyota has yet to confirm the exact engine and transmission. Two variants of the all-new Granvia will be made available, with features such as powered rear sliding doors, second-row captain seats, and leather upholstery separating them.
Both variants of the all-new Granvia will get Active Cruise Control and Toyota’s Pre-Collision Safety System (PCS), in addition to the generous 9 airbags.
Set to arrive in Australian showrooms by the fourth quarter of the year, the all-new Toyota Granvia will be replacing the long-serving Toyota Tarago (Estima to us). Both models will be sold side-by-side until the Tarago is discontinued towards the end of the year.


Raya 2017 – Volkswagen Adds Free Service And RM500 Petrol To Duit Raya Offer

Volkswagen’s ongoing
Hari Raya
 promotion
 gets an added boost with free service packages and petrol vouchers added to
duit raya
 rebates that are already on offer.
For the entire campaign duration until 31 July 2017, all variants of the Vento and Passat will come with five years of free maintenance.
Additionally, all customers who register and receive their VW vehicles before 30 June 2017 will additionally get RM500’s worth of petrol vouchers to go with their new car.
To recap, the list of models and savings for VW’s Raya promo is as follows:
Polo
 – RM7,000
Vento
, Vento AllStar – RM11,000
Vento GT
 – RM8,000
Jetta
 – RM10,000
Golf
 – RM21,000
Passat 1.8 TSI
 – RM15,000
Tiguan Comfortline
 – RM5,000
Over the next month, Volkswagen Sales Tours will be happening at the following venues and dates:
1 – 4 June: Berjaya Times Square
2 June – 4 July: Avenue K
Existing VW customers, meanwhile, get to enjoy an aftersales promotion offering discounts of 20% off brake discs and brake pads from now till 15 July 2017. Free gifts and Raya packets are also in store for customers with a minimum spend of RM400 on servicing during the promotional period.


BMW Malaysia Adds X3 sDrive20i M Sport, X3 xDrive30i M Sport, X3 xDrive30e M Sport And X4 xDrive30i M Sport To Local Offerings

BMW Malaysia has introduced three
new BMW X3 variants and one new BMW X4 variant
 to the Malaysian market.

The four new locally assembled models with a range of powertrain options named the most popular BMW X models in the world are making their way into Malaysia for the first time.

Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia said, “The BMW X portfolio has long been revered across the globe and especially so in Malaysia for producing some of the most coveted premium Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV). Last year, the BMW X portfolio recorded over 3,200 deliveries in Malaysia – contributing to just over 38% of total deliveries from the BMW brand. This success of the BMW X portfolio signals a strong market within the country, in turn affirming our confidence in expanding and revolutionising the automotive industry here with more local assembly facilities and infrastructure.”

De Visser added, “As we move into a year full of electrification possibilities, BMW Group Malaysia is also thrilled to
electrify
 our locally-assembled BMW X3 for the very first time, while offering different powertrain options for those who prefer different driving experiences. This is reflective of our promise to offer the Power of Choice through our extensive range of petrol, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric vehicles in Malaysia.”

Exterior

Both the new BMW X3 and X4 will come with a new front apron design complete with vertical air intakes. A new bumper and slimmer full-LED headlights adorn the front fascia of the 2022 BMW X3 and X4. The charging port behind the left front wheel discerns the PHEV BMW X3.

The BMW X3 will now come with a new range of alloy wheels all the way up to 20-inches, with full-LED taillights and new larger tailpipes.

The M Sport packages across both models will come with larger air intakes, specific front aprons, new colour options, rims as well as interior trim.

Powertrains

The BMW X3 will receive two new petrol variants:

X3 sDrive20i - four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo with 184hp and 300Nm of torque

X3 xDrive30i - four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo with 252hp and 350Nm of torque

Transmission for the
BMW X3 sDrive20i
 comes in the form of an 8-Speed Automatic Steptronic with Automatic Hold Function, while the BMW X3 xDrive30i is equipped with an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission.

The PHEV X3 xDrive30e will come with an additional
powerful electric motor and 12 kWh battery with a range of up to 50 kilometres (WLTP) in all-electric mode.

Buyers of the 2022 BMW X3 will be able to choose between all-wheel-drive variants via the BMW X3 xDrive30i and BMW X3 xDrive30e, or a rear-wheel-drive via the BMW X3 sDrive20i - both coming with the M Sport suspension.
The BMW X4
 xDrive30i will come with adaptive suspension.

Connectivity

The 2022 BMW X3 and X4 will now come with a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen Control Display. If you like sports seats then you'll be glad to come it will now come as standard across all these four new variants. The X3 xDrive30e will arrive with BMW i Blue details, such as the ring around the BMW logo – pointing to the fact that it is a PHEV.

The BMW Live Cockpit Plus, analogue circular dials and a 5.1-inch display in the instrument cluster complement the inside of the BMW X3 sDrive20i, whilst the other three offerings are fitted with the BMW Live Cockpit Professional as standard.

All four new variants will be powered by BMW Operating System 7, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and a whole host of other BMW Connected packages. All four variants will be able to enjoy over-the-air remote software upgrades.

Colours and Trims

The BMW X3 variants will arrive in a variety of exterior colour combinations, including:

Alpine White

Brooklyn Grey

Phytonic Blue

Carbon Black

Interior colour options will be either leather Vernasca black with blue stitching or leather Vernasca Mokka interior with the Alpine White and Carbon Black exterior offerings.

The BMW X4
, on the other hand, will be available in:

Alpine White

Piemont Red

Phytonic Blue

Carbon Black

Buyers can complement the exterior with leather Vernasca black with contrast stitching or leather Vernasca Tacora Red with the Alpine White and Carbon Black exterior colours.

Price

BMW X3 sDrive20i M Sport - RM 315,800.00

BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport - RM 358,800.00

BMW X3 xDrive30e M Sport - RM 356,800.00

BMW X4 xDrive30i M Sport  -RM 398,800.00

Prices are OTR, without insurance but with SST.

As per the usual, buyers of the 2022 BMW X3 and X4 will also get to enjoy:

BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme

BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline

The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App - BMW Privileges Card

BMW Service Online


Is The BYD Atto 3 EV Coming To Malaysia Soon?

The
BYD
 Atto 3 EV is already available in Australia and Singapore. Is Malaysia next? Can it do well in our growing
EV market
?

Electric vehicles in general have seen quite a boom here in Malaysia thanks to the many incentives introduced by our current government. With more and more EVs entering the market, the next step that everyone has their eyes set on is bringing in more affordable brands, models, and options.

China's BYD incoming?

The chase for more affordable EV options has led to many brands popping up here and there, and a lot of eyes are on China. One of the brands that are currently doing well for themselves is
BYD - short for "Build Your Dreams"
.

Backed by the infamous Warren Buffet, BYD has sold over 640,000 'new energy' vehicles in the first half of 2022. Half of those were fully-electrified cars. Quite a number when put up against other giants of the industry like
Tesla
.

And they're not satisfied which just tackling the local market, either. Plans to expand into several markets outside of China have begun, and they're already present in right-hand-drive versions in markets like Australia (February) and Singapore (July).

Lower-priced EV for the middle-class?

For obvious reasons, the BYD Atto 3 is not cheap in Singapore (from $178,888 or around RM570,000) and it's about RM134,000 in the land Down Under. Distributed by Sime Darby Motors Singapore, this could be an easier transition should Sime Darby Motors want to bring the BYD brand into the Malaysian market.

Our educated guess sees the potential of the BYD Atto 3 being sold in the market somewhere between the RM100,000-RM150,000 mark - a more attainable figure compared to EV offerings here in Malaysia like the
Mercedes-EQ range
 or
Volvo's XC40 Recharge Pure Electric
.

Paired with the Atto 3's 201hp electric powertrain and a 60.4kWh battery that can cover around 480km, it's definitely an interesting prospect to boost the EV market here in Malaysia. The cherry on the cake? The BYD Atto 3 looks amazing, and this is coming from someone who's not really into SUVs.


BMW Thailand Announces Line-Up And Prices For All-New 3 Series

BMW Thailand has announced prices for the all-new G20 3 Series which is scheduled for public launch end of March at the Bangkok Motor Show.
Joining the popular sedan at the region’s best motor show is the all-new G29 BMW Z4.
Consumers who are looking forward to the new sports sedan will again only have the option of two four-cylinder engines, consuming either petrol or diesel fuel.
The
all-new BMW 330i
 will feature the heavily revised 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates 258 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Being fully-imported initially, the 330i in M Sport package will be priced from 3.359 million Baht.
In Thailand, where diesel models are gaining in popularity, BMW will offer the 320d in Sport line package together with a more competitive price.
Generating the same 400 Nm as its petrol counterpart but with a naturally lower peak horsepower rating of 190 hp, the 320d is priced from 2.959 million Baht, similar levels to the AMG-packaged Mercedes-Benz C 220d that is locally-assembled.
For reference, the outgoing F30 BMW 320d was priced from 2.459 million Baht, while the 330e plug-in hybrid was priced from 2.759 million Baht in 2018.
Moving to the
all-new Z4
, two different engine types allow for a significant difference in price positioning. The strict two-seat soft-top convertible Z4 30i that is equipped with the same 2.0-litre 258 hp engine as the 330i is priced from 3.999 million Baht.
The head-lining Z4 M40i is priced one million Baht more at 4.999 million Baht. The 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine delivers outputs of 340 hp and 500 Nm torque, placed on a chassis that has more dedicated M components such as adaptive dampers, sports braking system, electronically-controlled locking rear differential, and 19-inch wheels.


Genesis G70 - Probably 2020’s Best Looking Compact Exec Saloon

The Genesis G70 is only about 3 years old at this point, so it’s not like the South Korean 3 Series rival really even needed a refresh. They did it anyway, and it took
just one
 facelift to surpass the BMW, the Merc C-Class, Audi A4, and even the Jaguar XE on looks. Just one.

Styling is subjective - of this we are fully aware. However, what we have here is probably the most transformative mid-cycle facelift to ever hit the compact executive saloon category. That said, with this shaken up pecking order of handsomeness, only the 2020 Lexus IS is trailing closely behind, and we have yet to see what Stuttgart has up its sleeve with the upcoming W206 C-Class.

From the start, Hyundai has made no bones about prioritising the North American market with the luxury-oriented Genesis marque. If that wasn’t still clear, have a look at those huge chrome wheels the updated G70 is wearing under those arches.

The facelift has given the car a completely new face that’s more in tune with the automaker’s newest corporate identity; most notably with its inverted pyramid grille and G-Matrix mesh pattern. However, where the original G70’s design was good, it may have strayed too much into mimicking the cues from its larger sibling, the G80.

It’s a condition that many of Genesis’ German competitors also share, albeit willingly, and has led us to a premium vehicle landscape filled with Russian nesting dolls where an automaker’s family of cars is so stylistically uniform to the point of not being individually recognisable.

Here, the G70’s tauter dimensions and overall athleticism has been retained, but the car has been given an extra dose of understated elegance, especially in this sharp silver body colour. In fact, quite aptly, Genesis’ design philosophy is called
Athletic Elegance
.

The quad front lamps might not seem like particularly great ideas on paper, but it has been executed very well on the final car. Less has changed at the rear of the G70 apart from a revised tail light cluster and diffuser element but, again, there wasn't much wrong with the 2017 original in the first place.

While power on previous G70s was supplied by either a 2.0-litre turbo-four or 3.3-litre bi-turbo V6, matching the Kia Stinger, this facelift is expected to inherit the newer 3.5-litre bi-turbo V6 from the G80 for a marginally higher maximum output of 373hp and 588Nm.

At the lower end of the range, it’s also looking increasingly likely that the aforementioned four-cylinder engine will be replaced by a larger displacement 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, arming even base variants of the C-Class fighter with a decently grunty 300hp and 420Nm.

There are some in-car alterations too, but truth be told I can't really spot them from the single image released of the interior. Something about leveraging "driver-centric architecture" and "fighter jet cockpit" was mentioned, but it looks pretty standard fare luxury saloon to me. A more obvious change was the introduction of a larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen with a new interface and support for over-the-air software updates.

As they’ve communicated to us recently, Hyundai Sime-Darby Motors still has no plans to introduce any of Genesis' cars into the Malaysian market. Looks like the closest we would have ever got was the brief window in 2015 where the Hyundai Genesis was briefly on sale here, prior to the Genesis name being spun off into its own luxury brand.


Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda Designs A Cool One-Off Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mike Shinoda, the co-lead vocalist of the multi-platinum winning rock band Linkin Park just concluded his solo tour called the Mike Shinoda Post Traumatic Tour in China, presenting his personal songs from the upcoming Post Traumatic album as well as hits from previous albums.
Since Mercedes-Benz was the title sponsor for the tour, the brand gave the singer, who is well known for his artistic talents, an opportunity to design a G-Class for the show.
As expected, Mike seized the opportunity and came up with a cool matte grey vector art concept, which Mercedes-Benz wrapped around a silver G-Class.
Although the artwork is barely noticeable from a distance, close up photos which were shared by Mike Shinoda on his official Facebook fan page show how detailed and unique the custom wrap is.
“Mercedes Benz China asked me if I wanted to design a G Class for the show, and I couldn’t say no. I did this custom wrap in ink on paper, created the vector art myself, and their team implemented it - Matte grey on a silver G-Wagon,” said Mike Shinoda in his Facebook post.
This is not the first time Mike and Mercedes-Benz are partnering as Linkin Park has been working together with Mercedes-AMG since 2014.
The band, which will be developing engine sounds for future Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles, performed at a concert last year at the Mercedes-Benz arena in Berlin to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary, designed a one-off Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the 2016 Spa 24 Hours race, and also provided their song ‘Papercut’ for the global debut of AMG’s GT R at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed.


MITI: Decision On Open APs To Be Finalised Soon

The government is expected to make a decision (again...) on the controversial Open Approved Permits (APs) import control mechanism soon, said Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
"We made a study. The study is almost finalised, they are getting a date from me to make the briefing, and then we will present it to the government," said the minister during the National Automotive Policy Status Update at MITI's office in Kuala Lumpur earlier today.
Datuk Mustapa also said that the briefing to him should be scheduled sometime around next week.
The controversial Open APs are due to be terminated by 31-December 2015 but to date, there has been no clear decision made on the matter.
Back in January 2014, when the third
National Automotive Policy (NAP)
 was announced, Datuk Mustapa said that an announcement on the matter can be expected around February or March 2014.
"The issue is more complex than what we initially thought," said the minister when asked on NAP 2014's stance on Open APs.
Background
AP is an import-control mechanism based on the Malaysian Customs Act 1967. Items that fall under the list of controlled imports include cars, motorcycle helmets and equipment to manufacture drugs and optical discs. Depending on the item, APs are issued either by MITI or other relevant government bodies.
For cars, there are two types of APs issued by MITI: Franchise APs that are given out for free to franchise holders of car brands registered with MITI; and Open APs that are sold to parallel importers at RM10,000 a piece to import cars of any brand.
The total number of APs issued each year is capped at 10 per cent of the number of locally-assembled cars in the preceding year. Sixty per cent of APs are given to Bumiputera Open AP holders while the remaining 40 per cent are given to franchise holders, the majority of which are Bumiputera-owned.
The actual number of Open APs given out each year however is unclear as the information is not made public. The prevalence of parallel-imported vehicles in this country, and the opaque manner in which Open APs are given out, are major concerns to franchise holders.


Umur Berapa Sesuai Untuk Anak Bonceng Motor?

Bagi mereka yang mempunyai anak kecil, umur berapakah yang paling sesuai untuk memboncengkan anak kecil di bahagian belakang
penunggang motosikal
?

Baru-baru ini telah tular satu video yang menunjukkan seorang lelaki memboncengkan anak kecilnya di belakang tanpa dikepit atau dipegang oleh orang dewasa yang telah menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan daripada warga media sosial.

Persoalannya, umur berapa yang sesuai bagi kanak-kanak membonceng motosikal tanpa dikepit atau dipegang oleh penumpang dewasa lain di bahagian penumpang belakang?

Umur Sesuai Anak Bonceng Motosikal

Jika kita mengukur dari segi umur, jawapannya mungkin kurang tepat kerana kanak-kanak mempunyai saiz badan serta pembesaran yang berbeza. Oleh itu, ikuti perkara di bawah untuk mengetahui sama ada anak kecil anda sudah layak membonceng atau tidak:

Periksa postur dan umur anak sama ada sesuai atau tidak untuk membonceng

Pastikan kaki anak boleh diletakkan tempat pemijak penumpang dengan betul

Pastikan anak sudah boleh memegang dan mengenggam dengan kuat

Pastikan anak sudah faham bahasa dan pandai berkomunikasi

Risiko Kepada Anak

Jika anda mengabaikan segala perkara di atas, anak kecil yang membonceng di belakang tanpa sebagai pengawasan akan berisiko untuk terjatuh ketika membonceng kerana pegangannya terlepas.

Banyak punca yang boleh menyumbang kepada situasi tersebut antaranya

Terlanggar
lubang
 sehingga menyebabkan gegaran kuat

Anak mengantuk dan tertidur di belakang

Anak tidak duduk diam sepanjang perjalanan

Tips Memboncengkan Anak Kecil

Menggunakan helmet keselamatan kepada anak

Bonceng di belakang, bukan di hadapan seperti di dalam bakul motosikal

Jangan tunggang motor terlalu laju

Jangan tunggang untuk waktu yang lama

Bagi penggunaan helmet motosikal bagi anak kecil, pastikan helmet yang digunakan mematuhi pensijilan UNECE R22 (ada E marking) atau MS1 (logo SIRIM) yang layak digunakan di atas jalan raya.

*Kredit foto: Shopee

Ada juga yang menggunakan
baby carrier
 untuk membawa anak kecil di bahagian belakang motosikal. Walaupun kelihatan lebih selamat berbanding tiada, namun jika anak anda masih belum kuat untuk berpaut, anda amat tidak digalakkan untuk membawa kanak-kanak sebegitu kecil membonceng motosikal.

Ingatlah, sekiranya:

Kaki anak tidak sampai pada pemijak

Helmet yang diluluskan JPJ terlalu besar untuk kepala anak

Anak masih belum pandai berkomunikasi

Ini bermakna anak anda masih terlalu kecil untuk membonceng motosikal. Atas sebab-sebab keselamatan, anda dinasihatkan supaya tidak membawa risiko besar ke atas keselamatan anak anda.

Sebagai ibu bapa, anda memainkan peranan penting dalam memastikan keselamatan anak-anak. Boleh sahaja jika mahu memboncengkan anak menggunakan motosikal, namun pastikan umur, saiz badan serta kebolehan berkomunikasi anak anda sudah melepasi tahap kelayakan membonceng
motosikal
.


April 2018 New Vehicle Sales – Better Than Expected

April 2018 was the beginning of the feeling of uncertainty in Malaysia. With two big announcements made (dissolution of Parliament and announcement of general elections date), consumers were expected to be cautious with their big-ticket item purchases.
However, looking at the April 2018 sales results from MAA, numerically, it proved otherwise. April 2018 with 47,089 units registered was the best month of April in three years. April 2017 and 2016 was only 42,746 units and 42,177 units respectively. That is a performance that amounted to a 10 percent improvement!
So what contributed to the strong April 2018 performance compared to April last year? Looking at the top gainers for this month, it is clear that the majority of the consumers only have the Perodua in their radar. While there is no model breakdown, we can safely accept that the Myvi model is the largest contributor to the brand's increase of over 5,500 units sales.
Other brands that experience a happy April 2018 include Mitsubishi (we believe that Outlander is a big contributor), Peugeot (3008), Renault (Captur) and MINI. Although better than April 2017, these brands experienced sales gain nowhere near as large as Perodua.
With the much stronger than expected April 2018 performance, the cumulative TIV of the first four months of sales is at 182,229 units, just 1,357 units or 0.7% lower than last year.
However, with the entire month of May 2018 being consumed by news of General Election which resultant in the formation of a new government and thus fulfilling its election manifesto of abolishing GST, we do not expect the month to fare well.
May 2017 delivered a whopping 50,600 units, and the lowest monthly TIV figure for the past 20 months is circa 41,000 in September 2016.  Even with nearly all brands pushing for sales by offering
 zero-rated GST prices
 even before the June 1st 2018 commencement date, the TIV is expected to be weak in May 2018.
Looking at the
new model launches so far
, a majority of new product launches we covered in 2018 have been from the Premium brands such as BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, MINI, Volvo, and Lexus. Mainstream brands only offered new models costing over RM100,000 (Toyota C-HR, Volkswagen Golf and, Nissan Serena) and these are not expected to impact the TIV significantly.
The all-new Kia Picanto
 was the only all-new product launched with a price tag of under RM 50,000.


Wake Up Putrajaya: Free LRT/MRT/RapidKL Bus Rides Don’t Solve Any Problems

As a daily commuter to work, if taking public transportation during the morning and evening rush hours is already overcrowded, frustrating, and potentially claustrophobic, how can making the service
free to use (temporarily)
 be a good sign?

Last week’s announcement by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob came as a surprise to most but sounds like a textbook move by the elected officials to ‘unburden the Rakyat’, as it were. Though it seemed paved with good intentions,  it didn’t take long for many Malaysians to see past the smoke screen.

Free Rides = Extra Overcrowded

In case you weren’t aware, June 16th marks the start of a month-long period where all public transport services that are part of the RapidKL network, such as MRT, LRT, KL Monorail, and RapidKL buses (including feeder buses and the Sunway BRT), can be used without any charge. How incredibly generous, isn’t it?

This announcement coincided with the
opening of Phase 1 of the new MRT Putrajaya Lin
e
 that stretches across 12 stations from Kwasa Damansara to Kampung Batu. Admittedly, it doesn’t stretch very far yet and we’ll have to wait for Phase 2 to begin operations in early 2023 to appreciate its full effect.

Getting To The Real Issues

Residents of the Klang Valley have been complaining for months that, since the start of the endemic period where a large portion of the nation’s workforce is returning to the office on a regular basis (as per ‘normal’ procedure), the act of getting to work is disproportionately more difficult than it was pre-pandemic.
The roads are consistently clogged up
 and so is the public transportation network.

Somehow, Malaysia’s most populated area has ballooned in population over the past lockdown-laden 2 years, and they’re made to all be rushing into and out of their respective offices every day.

Flood Of People or Flood Water?

And just as greater KL was not (
and continues not to be
) adequately ready to shoulder and effectively disperse the torrent of water brought by a torrential downpour, so too are the road network and public transportation system overburdened by the ‘flood’ of people rushing into and out of the city in the mornings and evenings.

Is the solution, then, to encourage the people trapped in traffic jams to leave their cars parked at home and ride the buses and rail lines instead, despite the capacity being so high even now? Well, of course not.

Though it will no doubt urge people to use the RapidKL network at off-peak hours in addition to exploring new routes/destinations, it’s reasonable to assume that it could trigger even more instances of packed (claustrophobic) trains, long queues at stations, and in turn, result in delays to arriving at work on time.

Importantly, it is quite likely that those taking public transportation will arrive at their destinations even more frazzled and frustrated, subtly but significantly impacting productivity across a large cross-section of the country’s workforce.

In fact, this very reason is paramount to why people prefer taking their personal vehicle to work if given the option, and the ‘free rides’ may only reinforce this preference since the issue was never surrounding the cost factor of taking public transportation. Everyone can agree that taking the bus/train to work is cheaper, but rather everything else about the experience that was potentially problematic. We tolerate ‘driving to work’ despite it being significantly more expensive.

Again, ‘free rides’ don’t solve anything.

Who Does This Benefit?

Many Malaysians have also pointed out the political subtext of this announcement, characterising it as a way to earn easy points with the public ahead of a looming 15th general election.

Since Prasarana Malaysia, operator of the RapidKL transport network, is wholly owned by the government and funded by
the Ministry of Finance
, it is actually taxpayer money being spent to compensate for the lost revenue from this zero charge month.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. We’re still paying in a way but in a more collective fashion.

Not to be the bearer of bad news but there are much more pressing matters that need to be addressed as opposed to offering the public a supposed free lunch, which has been a routine tactic to distract from implementing more holistic, long-term solutions. For example, the country is facing economic difficulties amid an uncertain financial future, still carries plenty of debt, as well as losing strategic advantages and
key investments to our ASEAN neighbours
.

What the government must accept and address is that the current congestion issues, both on the road and public transport network, are symptomatic of a larger issue. Until that is properly analysed and a solution implemented, these short-term freebies will always be seen as a ploy.


What If I Had RM2 Million To Splurge On My Dream Car?

We’ve all been there - sitting in an empty room, letting our thoughts wander. Perhaps the mind drifts and you begin thinking about the ideal driveway and the car you wish was parked there, all yours and ready to be enjoyed.

What would it be? How would it sound or feel like behind the wheel? How many muscle relaxants will it take to deal with that permanent smile on your face? These questions need to be answered in your mind to build an immersive fantasy.

However, questions that shouldn’t be asked include: how you’d be able to afford it, will your wife even let you get it, will you have any kidneys left to sell for fuel and road tax because - hint - it’s gotta be a supercar; the kind that fills your veins with a giddy cocktail of adrenaline and endorphins just by hearing it come to life.

Even in daydreams, some constraints do seep in from reality, so let’s not make it Bugatti, Koenigsegg, or Pagani-level pricey. Rarified and super desirable, sure, but not made of pure unobtanium. That in mind, let’s not cross the RM2 Million threshold, which is still somewhat conceivable and gives us plenty of choice.

Being stuck at home during this MCO makes this kinf of wishful thinking even tougher to refrain from. It’s a harmless pursuit, I suppose, and these cars are all about indulgence (at the expense of rationality). Here’s what my shortlist might look like if I had to choose:

Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

I’ve always wanted a 911 (obviously), but with a daydream budget of 2 million Ringgit, maybe I shouldn’t settle for a Carrera S and go straight for the GT3 with the Touring Pack, a real driver’s
Porsche
, but with a more subdued look thanks to the removal of its fixed rear wing.

Like a normal GT3, the Touring is much lighter than a normal 911 and has had much of its luxury features stripped away. Despite that, it’s actually still surprisingly bearable to drive on the road, even in cities, as you can spec some creature comforts back into it. Really, though, I’m after that epic 4.0-litre flat-6. Naturally aspirated and revs out to a screaming 9,000rpm. It might as well be a drug.

McLaren 720S Spider

As much as it might pain Ferrari and Lamborghini to admit it, McLaren are probably the best at making the most
effective
 supercar, which is even more impressive when you realise they've only started in 2011 with the MP4-12C.

The 720S is the grandson of that first mainstream McLaren road car and perhaps the quickest thing you can buy from a showroom. Despite being rear-wheel drive, it needs just 2.9 seconds to sprint to 100km/h. It’s such a rocket ship that even some tuned R35 GT-Rs back down from a straight line confrontation.

Impressive as that is, the roundedness of the 720S is its real achievement. Show it a technical track, and it’ll perform with the best of them. Bring it over to the urban sprawl and, incredibly, it’s as comfortable and refined as an executive saloon - one with 720hp. I’m still coming to grips with the magnitude of its abilities. Oh, it also looks incredible and the top goes down. This car is….impossible to resist.

Lexus LC500

When production stopped on the LFA, the automotive world lost a little bit of spark. Anyone who was emotionally moved by that orchestral V10 needed withdrawal counselling. More than that, the LFA represented a 10 year journey for
Lexus
 to create a world-shaking supercar. In the end, it reached legendary status.

The LC500 is the torchbearer of that dream. Not a true sequel, but closest thing we will probably ever get. In its own right the LC500 is a beautifully designed and impeccably crafted sports car. The Japanese interpretation of the kind of Grand Tourer the Brits do so well.

It’s sharp and fast when you ask it to be, but that isn’t the point. The LC500 would rather be unhurried with its drama and have its elegance savoured, not consumed. Under that long bonnet is a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 - one of the last of its kind, and one of the best to be heard.

Polestar 1

How’s this for a curve ball. No thumping V8 or thunderous V12, but a humble 2.0-litre four-cylinder; but that only tells half the story. The other half of its powertrain guts is electric, making the Polestar 1 a plug-in hybrid. A fast one.

Looks seriously good too, doesn’t it? Really muscular yet subdued as if the Swedes decided to make a car for James Bond. We can’t officially get it here (yet?) but perhaps that RM2 million budget can grease some palms to secure an import license for it. Malaysia Boleh!

In fact, that 2.0 is largely identical to the ones found in nearly every model at your nearest
Volvo
 showroom. In the Polestar 1, it’s turbocharged to produce 300hp and drives the front wheels, but with the two e-motors powering the rear, total output jumps to 600hp and 1,000Nm. And unlike the other cars on this list, road tax will only be a reasonable RM380.

Those lithium-ion batteries do mean it’s a little on the heavy side, though, and the effortless whoosh of those electric motors will have to try extra hard to make up for the lack of an angry engine note. In a luxury 2+2 GT like this, though, perhaps this lack of sound and fury a perfect fit.

Ferrari F12
Berlinetta

If you need to calculate how much road tax would be due for this car’s 6.3-litre V12, you probably can’t afford this Ferrari. However, there is some relief. The F12 has been replaced by the 812 Superfast at the top of Maranello’s non-hypercar pecking order, and used examples fall into our RM2 million (daydream) budget.

The twelve-cylinder engine absolutely dominates the experience, of course. Naturally aspirated and so razor sharp and high-revving that driving it anywhere other than a track seems illegal. Somehow, Ferrari has extracted 730hp from it and given it a warranty too. It’s a masterpiece of internal combustion.

All that power is handed over to the rear wheels and a set of doomed tyres, which stand every chance of getting scorched anytime the driver sneezes over the accelerator. I can’t help but laugh at the thought of treading around with this kind of danger under my right foot. It’s ridiculous.

Yet, Ferrari has already gone and made something even more bonkers. The 812 Superfast has a slightly larger V12 at 6.5-litre with 800hp - must be hilarious. I just happen to prefer the look of the F12 more than its replacement, so I’ll be reasonable and settle for its 730-ish horsepower.

—

So, what would you have sitting in that imaginary driveway?


Good Ol' American Muscle - The Best Options You Can Buy Here

Muscle cars are a bit of an acquired taste, but if you've got the desire to own one in Malaysia, here are our best picks.

What is it that's so appealing about American cars? We don't mean just any car, but rather muscle cars (although if we're nit-picking, the
Ford Mustang
 is NOT a muscle car). Perhaps it's the fact that these cars are such a strong part of popular culture in the United States that the cars become synonymous with the lifestyle - or maybe it's the idea of a simpler package that packs a reasonable amount of power.

Whichever it is that you look for in a muscle car, the options here aren't exactly plentiful. Still though, here are our muscle car picks from our huge database of sellers:

Ford Mustang

Yes, it isn't a muscle car by definition - but if enough people believe it is, does it really matter? It's the quintessential American car, one that almost anybody would choose if they were asked to name an American car. For a time, Sime Darby Auto Connexion sold the Ford Mustang officially in either 2.3 Ecoboost or 5.0 GT trims, but over the years plenty of parallel imports have popped up.

The
price range
 for the Ford Mustang starts at
RM 212,300
 for the 2.3 Ecoboost, and goes as high as
RM 808,888
 for a manual 5.0 GT packing a supercharger kit that makes over 800 hp. That sounds like some supercar beating performance, but of course those are supercar rivalling prices.

Chevrolet Camaro

There's more to the
Chevrolet Camaro
than meets the eye - just as there's more to the car than a Transformer's reference. The Camaro was known as a pretty decent, pretty capable performance car for both the drag strip and on road race tracks - especially special variants like the Z/28. There are 43 Camaros for sale throughout our listings, in a variety of trims and engine packages.

There were a number of engine options from the Camaro, from a turbocharged 2.0-litre to a full-fat 6.2-litre supercharged powerplant. Pricing for the two-door muscle car starts at
RM 145,888
 and goes as high as
RM 888,888
for some pre-order units that can be imported.

Dodge Challenger

It's important to remember that not all
Dodge Challengers
 are made equal - but that doesn't mean we're ever going to forget that the Hellcat and Demon variants of the Challenger exist. Granted, most of those in Malaysia and especially those for sale aren't likely to be those ultra-high performance variants, but one can't deny that status and stature that comes with a Challenger.

A Challenger can go for as much as
RM 838,888
 for the supercharged 6.2-litre variant (on pre-order), but it can also go for
RM 468,888
 for a Japan spec 6.4-litre unit (also on pre-order). If you spend time in the Klang Valley or down in Johor you're bound to see the odd unit rumbling along, and it is always mind-blowing how long and wide the Challenger is compared to our more common cars.

Bonus: Chevrolet Corvette

This is a bit of a peculiar option given that, like the Mustang, it's far removed from the definition of a muscle car. And yet, the
 Corvette
 is a prime option for both performance and aesthetics. One particular right-hand drive converted unit has been spotted on our roads, but so far the options we've found on Carlist.my are left-hand drive and still out of country.

Don't let that stop you from picking up a Corvette though - remember that this is the last of the front-engine, rear-wheel drive Corvettes as the current generation has gone to a mid-engine layout in the pursuit of performance metrics. Pricing for the Corvette varies between
RM 560,000
 and
RM 788,888
.


2022 Art Of Speed Malaysia Concludes 10th Anniversary

The
Art of Speed Malaysia
 'Kustom & Counter Culture' event concluded its 10th annual show following two years of delay due to COVID-19.

Upon its return to the Malaysian custom scene, thousands of car and bike enthusiasts (and everything else within the growing scene) met up once again at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) Serdang together with some distinguished international guests.

Harley-Davidson launches the Nightster

Hailing from all parts of the world like Japan, the USA, Indonesia, Thailand, and many more, there were many happenings within the event venue inside and out. Even
Harley-Davidson
 took the opportunity to launch its latest model for the local market, the
Nightster
.

AOS Invitational Bike Build Off

One of the many highlights at AOS 2022 was the AOS Invitational Bike Build Off where seven talented builders from across Malaysia competed for a total of RM15,000 cash prize. Sarawak's Skatecture and Penang's Moto Buruk Garage took home RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively for their amazing works of rolling art.

Within the main hall alone, attendees witnessed some jaw-droppingly beautiful custom bikes and cars. Some were crowned winners of a multitude of awards, but all those who attended and participated should be proud of just being a part of Art of Speed Malaysia's 10th-anniversary celebrations.

Art of Speed Malaysia 2023?

For those who missed the show, AOS has already booked its date for its 11th installment which is set to take place on 29 and 30 July 2023. That way, you can block your calendars early and enjoy whatever plans they have to top this year's edition.


Toyota Teases The White Hot AWD Yaris GR-4 (Again)

Toyota
 has been teasing another hot Yaris for months now, purportedly called the GR-4 (at least in prototype form). In fact, a premiere had been slated to coincide with the Australian leg of the World Rally Championship. Circumstances, however, meant those plans were scrapped for a later reveal date, now known to be in January 2020 at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

To fan the flames that keep the hype train speeding, though, are a fresh set of images about the motorsport-inspired hatch. Engineered by the automaker’s newly minted Gazoo Racing division, it will be the second ‘pure sports-car’ following the A90 GR Supra.

Rather than being tuned for the track, they seem to be honing the car to perform adeptly off-road, much like the competition-spec WRC racers being fielded, featuring four driven wheels and a rather powerful turbocharged engine as well.

It has now been confirmed that the car has completed its final stage of development, even with input and approval given from Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda under the guise of his TGR Master Driver code name “Morizo”.

The company’s previous attempt at a uncompromising hot hatch was the GRMN. Based on a previous-generation Yaris, it was armed with a supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 209 horsepower and 250Nm of torque. Paired with an upgraded suspension package, the front-drive 3-door certainly did not behave like anything we had seen with a Toyota badge in a long time.

The Gazoo Racing division, now their premier in-house high performance skunkworks, will be keen to go even further with the GR-4. Acceleration and sharpness could even be on-par with established AWD mega hatches such as the Ford Focus RS. Wouldn’t that be worth waiting for?

For the best deals on Toyota cars,
click here
.


Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa Is Taking A 50 Percent Pay Cut

Nissan announced today that it is cutting the compensation for CEO Hiroto Saikawa by 50 percent.
Saikawa was paid 500 million Yen (RM19.3 million) in the previous fiscal year. This is the second time Saikawa has cut his salary. In November 2017, he volunterered to return the remaining portion of his annual salary following a costly quality scandal in Japan.
Nissan is currently facing many financial challenges, following criminal charges against its former Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn and the associated corporate drama being played out in the media space.
The whistleblowing ouster of Ghosn was also related to Nissan’s own disagreements with Ghosn and its partner Renault, a relationship that Nissan says is not fair as Nissan contributes more to the Alliance’s revenue but enjoys less control.
Sales in Nissan’s two biggest markets - USA and China - are slowing, and the company has warned investors that it expects this year’s operating profit to drop by 45 percent over the previous financial year.
Saikawa’s salary cut can also be seen as a symbolic gesture to return to Japanese values, which see Ghosn’s 16.9 million US Dollar annual compensation as excessive. Prior to his removal, Ghosn was the highest paid car company executive in Japan, and is among the top-5 highest paid in the world. Ghosn’s salary is 10 times more than CEOs of far more profitable Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda.
Separately, Saikawa announced yesterday that he welcomes the proposed merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Renault. In a statement to the press, Saikawa said:
"I am aware that FCA’s merger proposal will be discussed by Renault’s board this week.
“I believe that the potential addition of FCA as a new member of the Alliance could expand the playing field for collaboration and create new opportunities for further synergies.
“That said, the proposal currently being discussed is a full merger which—if realized—would significantly alter the structure of our partner Renault. This would require a fundamental review of the existing relationship between Nissan and Renault.
“From the standpoint of protecting Nissan’s interests, Nissan will analyze and consider its existing contractual relationships and how we should operate business in the future."
Reuters have reported that Nissan stands to win big if the merged FCA is to leverage on electric vehicle (EV) technology developed by the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Motors Alliance, as the Alliance’s EV tech is contributed mostly by Nissan. Existing agreements within the Alliance requires other brands wishing to use Nissan’s EV tech to pay royalties to it.


Uber Launches Service In Penang To Ease Public Transportation Demands

Uber, the smartphone app that links passengers to its own drivers, has launched the service in Penang. It recently held a press conference in George Town to officiate the addition of the city to it's list of operation locations.
According to The Star, a senior Penang official from the Tourism and Culture Ministry told the daily “I am tempted to work with them."
There are definite areas in which Uber can help supplement the local taxis, operating in areas and during hours to zig where the local taxis zag. As with any city, Penang has it's own host of transportation issues, says the official, who is curious about a possible collaboration with the service.
“Penang taxis have a habit of asking tourist attraction operators for tips after driving tourists there. If the operators don’t want to give, the taxi drivers gang up and dissuade tourists from going to those attractions. It eats into the attraction operators’ revenue.”
Despite reports that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has labeled Uber as an illegal taxi service, Uber's South-East Asia general manager Chan Park is confident that a mutually beneficial compromise can be reached.
“We’ve sat down with SPAD many times. I think the tone in the discussions has changed. I think SPAD is beginning to have a better understanding of how Uber works and we are getting somewhere,” he says.
Park also cites many discussions with the national Secretary of Transportation to legitimise the service.
“We want to be regulated in every region. But using transportation laws developed decades ago to regulate Uber is like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. It won’t work.”
During the press conference, Uber’s South Asia communications lead Karun Arya showed via his smartphone how if he needed an Uber car right there and then (in George Town), the estimations on his waiting time are under a minute. In Kuala Lumpur, where the service first started in Malaysia, the waiting times have been improved dramatically with the average duration slashed down to just 7 minutes compared to 18 minutes previously.
Just who are signing up as Uber partner drivers? Karun says they are professional drivers, former taxi drivers, university students, housewives, and even a number of retrenched Malaysia Airlines workers.
Uber is a transportation service company that operates a mobile application with a fleet of drivers called 'partners' in cities around the world. It was founded in 2009 in San Franciso, California.


Industry 4.0 Solutions Key To Production Of New Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz has just begun the production of the new C-Class at its lead plant, Bremen, Germany.
The assembly of the new C-Class uses state-of-the-art digital production technologies and forward-looking Industry 4.0 solutions. These makes it possible to optimize the material flow, further increase efficiency and flexibility and further improve ergonomics for employees.
For example, preloaded shopping carts are delivered to the production line by driverless transportation systems and paper documentation is replaced by mobile devices such as tablets, Mini-PCs and Smart PDAs in accordance with the "paperless factory" concept.

Closer to home, while nothing has been firmed up, consumers in Malaysia can look forward to the launch of the new C-Class at the end of this year. The popular C200 is reported to feature the new 1.5-litre engine with mild hybrid and digital instrument panel. New head lamps, tail lamps and steering wheel are the biggest indicators for the new C-class.
Learn more in details about the new
Mercedes-Benz C-class and the new 1.5-litre engine here
.
There is still a chance to purchase the
current locally-assembled C200 with the 2.0-litre
 engine from
RM2,405 per month through the innovative Agility flexible financing
, as dealers continue to record orders, but delivery is far from assured as the queue is rather long thanks to the surge in demand in line with the reduced pricing from zero-rated GST.
Since 2014, the C-Class has been produced at four locations on four continents at the same level of Mercedes quality: Bremen, Germany; East London, South Africa; Beijing, China; and Tuscaloosa, USA. Production was launched at all four plants within just six months. The Bremen plant is responsible for managing global production of the C-Class.


It Was A Case Of 'Buy 1 Free 1' For These Lucky Nissan Customers

For these few lucky Nissan customers, a simple Nissan car purchase resulted in them walking away with an additional car on top of their initial purchase in round two of the Great Nissan Buy 1 Win 1 campaign. Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) recently held a prize-giving ceremony at its Nissan showroom in Petaling Jaya for the five winners
Round two of the campaign offered Malaysians a chance to win a brand new Nissan on top of their purchase of a Nissan, with models like the Grand Livina 1.8, X-Trail 2.0, Navara 2.5 LE and Sylphy 1.8E up for grabs.
The list of winners are as follows:
Among the winners, Zainudin Bin Ahmad was thrilled to find out he had won the
Sylphy
 1.8E. “I have been driving
Nissan
 cars since the Datsun generation. And with my growing family, I decided to switch from a Nissan Bluebird to a Grand Livina. As a loyal customer, I feel extremely rewarded, and am appreciative towards ETCM for this.”
For 47-year old Tan Song Ping, who works in the fishing industry, it was sheer delight when he heard the wonderful news. He said, “I bought the
Navara
 because it’s a very tough car, and I needed one for transportation purposes. I could not believe my luck when I won the
Grand Livina
, but my wife was even happier as she will be the one using the car. Thanks to Edaran Tan Chong Motor, I am very happy that I chose Nissan!”
Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Senior Sales and Marketing Director of ETCM said, “On behalf of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd, I am honoured to be able to present the keys to the lucky winners. I would like to thank our customers for their amazing support for this incredibly successful campaign. We wouldn’t be where we are now without our customers, and it is a pleasure to be able to give something extra to our valued customers and to see the joy in their faces.”
In addition, with Chinese New Year festivities merely days away, ETCM is offering attractive deals and promotions on selected Nissan models through its ‘Joy of Abundance’ campaign that kicked off on 3 January 2015 and will continue until 28 February 2015.
Not only that, ETCM is also holding a “Test Drive and Win a Fortune” contest where customers who test drive any Nissan model and upon completing a slogan in the entry form, could stand a chance to win a brand new Nissan Sylphy. As a bonus, those who purchase and register any Nissan model before 28 February 2015 are entitled to an additional seven (7) entry forms to increase their chances of winning the Sylphy.


MITI: Malaysian Automotive Council To Meet In March

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) is expected to complete the setting up of a Malaysian Automotive Council to oversee the implementation of the National Automotive Policy (NAP).
According to the MITI minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who is also the council's chairperson, the council will convene for its first meeting in two months time.
He however did not reveal who will be participating in this council but said that it will be a lean, small council with representatives from the government, vehicle and parts manufacturers, and consumer groups will be invited to participate.
"The purpose of setting up this council is to provide a platform for policy makers so we can have some inputs from the industry, and some clear directions as to which way should the auto industry move. So in the next couple of months we will have our first meeting for the Malaysian Automotive Council," said the minister.
"Hopefully by the end of March we will have our first meeting. This is a very important platform to get inputs from industry players. Of course I see them on a regular basis, but the council is the highest body," he added.
The Malaysian Automotive Council was first mentioned when the third National Automotive Policy was announced in January 2014.