New 2015 Mazda 3 CKD Launched In Malaysia: Sedan GL, Sedan High and Hatchback From RM109k

Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd has finally introduced the new 2015
Mazda
 3 CKD which not only brings about a more affordable price tag, but also introduces a new hatchback body style as well.

Update : Check out our updated review of the 2015 Mazda 3 by
clicking here
!

Previously a fully imported model, the arrival of the CKD model now sees three variants being offered, two of which are in the sedan body style and a new hatchback body style with prices starting from RM109k to RM125k, substantially undercutting the CBU unit’s RM138k price tag.

Prices of the three variants are as below (inclusive of GST, insurance):

2015 Mazda 3 SkyActiv Sedan GL: RM108,941 (Solid); RM109,341 (Metallic)

2015 Mazda 3 SkyActiv Sedan High: RM124,354.40 (Solid); RM124,754.40 (Metallic)

2015 Mazda 3 SkyActiv Hatchback: RM124,354.40 (Solid); RM124,754.40 (Metallic)

The Mazda3 SkyActiv CKD is available in four color choices: Artic White, Meteor Grey Mica, Aluminium Metallic, and Blue Reflex Mica.

Buyer’s Guide:

The arrival of the Mazda 3 CKD is good news for those who were previously put off by the commanding price tag of the CBU unit. The entry-level has a very tempting price tag but take note that it will have to do away with a few features.

Of course the most enticing addition would have to be the hatchback body style for those seeking an alternative to the sedan while maintaining the same price tag as the Sedan High variant. Curiously, they do not share the same set of features.

At the very top sits the Sedan High (shown here) that sees nearly a RM14k price cut from the CBU unit but at the expense of the sunroof. However, that is a minor loss compared to what it gains in other features.

Performance:

All three variants of the 2015 Mazda 3 CKD will be powered by the same SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder petrol engine that outputs 162hp at 6,000 rpm and 210Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Drive is still sent to the front wheels through a SkyActiv-DRIVE six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

KEY SPECS:

Engine: SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder, 16 valve DOHC with dual variable valve timing and direct injection

Transmission: SkyActiv-DRIVE six-speed torque converter automatic

Power: 162hp @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 210Nm @ 4,000 rpm

Exterior Styling:

Very few differences separate the CKD unit from the CBU one. The most obvious would be the inclusion of hatchback body style which measures 4,460mm compared to the sedan’s 4,580mm. Sadly, the Hatchback was nowhere in sight at Mid Valley Megamall at the time of our visit.

The Sedan High however, retains a lot of what the CBU unit had including the bi-xenon headlamps with auto levelling but sees the removal of the sunroof as mentioned earlier. Daytime running lights (DRLs) are found on the Hatchback and Sedan High but not on the Sedan GL

Sedan GL:
 With the addition of an entry-level variant, numerous changes have been done in an effort to drive cost down beginning with the size of wheels. Where the Sedan High and Hatchback are equipped with 18-inch alloys wrapped in 215/45 series tyres, the GL will instead wear 16-inch alloys wrapped in 185/60 series tyres. Also, halogen headlamps are found at the front instead of bi-xenon headlamps on its sibling variants.

Interior Design

The GL variant and others across the range come with Mazda’s MZD CONNECT multimedia system with a seven-inch LCD display and Commander Control as seen on the previously launched Mazda 2. The unit features the usual inputs including AM/FM, CD, Bluetooth, AUX, and USB, played back through a six-speaker setup. The seats and upholstery utilise fabric as its material.

Hatchback:
 Adding to the above, the Hatchback gains GPS navigation for the MZD CONNECT system, paddle shifters, and automatic single zone air-conditioning.

Sedan High:
 The Sedan High carries on from what the GL and Hatchback has but with the addition of powered adjustable seat on the driver side, leather seats and upholstery, and an Active Driving Display (heads-up display) as that found on the Mazda 2.

Other Features:

Push-start and Mazda’s i-Stop Idling Stop System come standard on all three variants but only the Hatchback and Sedan High gets smart keyless entry.

Elsewhere, automatic windshield wipers is reserved solely for the Sedan High including cruise control.

Safety Features:

From the entry-level variant upwards, the Mazda 3 CKD comes well equipped in terms of safety with the top-of-the-range Sedan High benefiting from additional safety systems in the form of Mazda’s i-ACTIVESENSE suite. Here’s the safety features that come with each variant:

Mazda 3 SkyActiv Sedan GL:

Six airbags (dual front, side, curtain)

ABS with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution and Brake Assist

ISOFIX child-seat anchors

Dynamic Stability Control

Traction Control System

Mazda 3 SkyActiv Hatchback: (adds to the above)

Adaptive Front-Lighting System

Mazda 3 SkyActiv Sedan High: (adds to the above)

High Beam Control System (HBC)

Smart City Brake System (SCBS)

Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM)

Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)

Other information:

Bermaz Motor will also be offering a three-year warranty on each purchase of the Mazda 3 CKD along with a three-year free scheduled maintenance following the manufacturer’s standard. Bookings are now open and you can view the new 2015 Mazda 3 CKD in showrooms including the hatchback body style beginning tomorrow. Various roadshows will also be taking place in Peninsular Malaysia
which you can check out here
.

Related :
2015 Mazda 3 SkyActiv Full Review - The Hero You Know


VIDEO: Road Bully Caught On Camera In Serdang

Looks like another case of road bullying has been caught on camera, in Serdang this time, over something we understand to be as petty as a beep of a horn.
Clearly aggravated, the man driving the white Sonata pulls over to the left of the road and waits for the lady driver to come closer. As she approaches, the man darts his Sonata to the right in front of her, and slams the brakes – it also looks like a bit of contact between the cars as well.
That’s not the worst of it yet.
The angered driver steps out, and the rest, you can probably see. He even pushes his own wife and kid out of the way in anger: not something you want kids around you learning.
In the caption of the video, the lady recording it all says that the two were stuck in traffic, when the Sonata driver tried to squeeze his way into her lane, without using his signal. He forces his way through, and the two cars nearly hit each other, which is why the lady “instinctively” honked back.
How do you handle road bullies?
This is a tricky question, because often times, road bullies aren’t always cruel people: people have bad days, we all do, don’t we? That’s what makes handling them a bit difficult to predict. Here's four simple tips that may help you in the future:
The best you can do is to protect yourself first, and to do that, we recommend trying to prevent the situation from happening altogether. Yes, honking is sometimes a very instinctive thing to do, as is believed to be the case here. But where possible, don’t blare your horn out in pure anger. A simple beep to call out for someone’s attention is ideal (not saying the victim here was blaring her horn), and hopefully your concerns are addressed.
If someone’s being ignorant enough to cut ahead of you without courtesy of caution, let them. This can be difficult to bring yourself to do, but it could save you from a road bullying incident or worse. Thankfully, you can now
send your videos and photographs of these ignorant drivers caught
 in the act to the Road Transport Department (JPJ), for their action. You can send them here: aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my
When the pot does boil over, don’t react similarly – stay calm, stay in your car, lock the doors and windows. If the person outside seems calm enough, open the window marginally to speak – just enough for sound to travel clearly.
Recording the incident is great for evidence later, but shoving a camera in someone’s face can further aggravate them, rather than deter them from acting out (partly why we think this chap got even more aggressive is because there was a camera right in his face). Let your dash-cams do the work, and be discreet about it should you need to reposition it, or whip out your mobile phone for back-up.
Thankfully, this incident didn’t escalate further, nor was anyone physically hurt.

沙登路霸
自雇人士G小姐今天独自出门，遇上这样的经历！带着老婆孩子在幼童面前如此，真担心着小孩，在这种身教耳濡目染之下，往后会变如何？＃沙登路霸G小姐自述经历：30/7,6.30pm,打算送蛋糕去给顾客，一路上我驾车很慢，车速才40-50km/j而已。到了沙登大街，远远见到一辆白色 W3626B的轿车，准备从左边的车龙驶向右边的路，但是当中要出不出，因为我走很慢，就让他可以驶离左边的塞车道。可是他的车出了一点点，没有打方向灯就停着，直到我接近他才踩油门突然插出来，差点酿车祸，这种情形之下，我也本能的按喇叭。 这个uncle于是割了出来，然后架在我前面，一直走走停停，我直觉这个人不对路，只好割了他，再立马用电话电话拍下。结果他真的要找事。重新割我然后在一边等我要接近时立刻冲出来挡着我。然后他下车，叫我下车，我一个女人而已，当然不下车。他又敲镜子，又挥拳的，我没办法，只好继续拍。本来他的太太出来好声跟我说“小姐，对不起，我们这就走，不要拍了好吗？” 于是我也收手不拍，可是这个男人还不想罢休，继续骂，我就回他，他这样驾驶很危险，他就骂我“hon什么？看不到嘛！” 我见不对劲，继续拍，然后他的太太又出来劝。没办法，这么暴躁的人，我们见到这两车 W3626B,记得要很小心。这个人危险驾驶兼冲动粗鲁。
Posted by
Vivian卓卉勤
 on Thursday, 30 July 2015


Volvo Adds New Hybrid Powertrains, Diesels To Continue

In conjunction with the introduction of the
facelifted Volvo XC90
 flagship, Volvo has expanded its portfolio of electrified powertrains.
Customers will be able to select the mild hybrids that are available with both petrol and diesel engines, beginning with the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA)-based models: the 90-series and 60-series models.
Volvo says the new mild hybrid powertrains offers drivers up to 15 percent in fuel savings and emissions reductions in real-world driving.
The company is introducing the ‘B’ badged mild hybrid powertrain to meet its own goal of
offering only electrified cars by 2025
 and a target of 1 million units of sales. Volvo also aims to have climate neutral manufacturing operations by the middle of the next decade.
The new ‘B’ badged powertrains will begin with the XC90 and XC60 models first. The XC90 will be available with the B5-badged mild hybrid petrol or diesel variant, as well as a B6-badged petrol mild hybrid powertrain.
The XC60 meanwhile is available with the said-three variants above, plus a smaller B4 diesel mild hybrid.
While Volvo has not divulged the details of the mild hybrid powertrain, it should follow the industry-trend of having a belt-driven starter-generator (BSG), a compact lithium-ion battery, and a 48-volt electrical architecture.
Geely, the holding company of Volvo, recently launched the
Borui GE sedan
 that offers a mild hybrid powertrain. The system consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivering 180 PS and 265 Nm of torque and the BSG adds another 16 PS and 50 Nm of torque.


FCA Group Announces Mike Manley As New CEO

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Group has just announced that Mike Manley will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect, after unexpected news of a health crisis for Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne.
The group controls brands such as Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat, Jeep, and Dodge as well as automotive system supplier Magneti Marelli. While Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles are not officially represented in Malaysia, Magneti Marelli has a plant in Penang that produces lighting systems for vehicles, called Malaysian Automotive Lighting Sdn Bhd.
Maserati vehicles meanwhile are distributed by Naza Italia, who also distributes Ferrari vehicles.
“With reference to the health of Sergio Marchionne, FCA communicates with profound sorrow that during the course of this week unexpected complications arose while Mr Marchionne was recovering from surgery and that these have worsened significantly in recent hours,” the company said in a statement today.
“As a consequence, Mr Marchionne will be unable to return to work.”
According to international news reports, Marchionne recently developed complications following a shoulder surgery three weeks ago.
Manley is also the current global head of the Jeep brand. Prior to this new role, Manley, a native of England, was the COO of the Asia Pacific region. He was also the lead Chrysler Group executive for the international activities of Chrysler outside of North America.


Geely Is Spending RM19 Billion On a Battery Plant

Geely set to build an RM19 Billion battery factory. Does that mean anything for Malaysia?

There's just no curbing Geely's enthusiasm in their attempt to be one of the
largest car manufacturers
 in China and the world, and after announcing that they will be working on special collaborative projects with Chinese search engine giant Baidu, Chinese social media giant Tencent and Apple component supplier Foxconn in January, they have come out and announced that they will be building an RM19 Billion
electric battery plant
, to help strengthen their electric vehicle push.

According to CNN, "The company will invest 30 Billion yuan ($4.6 billion) into a battery factory in Ganzhou, a city in eastern China, according to a statement released Sunday by the local government."

The factory will have a capacity of 42 gigawatt-hours per year, a similar output to Volkswagen's future factory in Germany.

The company's official WeChat account later confirmed they signed a deal last weekend and will be working with Farasis energy, an advanced lithium-ion battery technology company from China.

If S&P Global Platts' (a provider of energy and commodities information provider) predictions are accurate, where the demand for batteries is expected to take-off in China as the country's electric car sales are projected to touch six million units by 2025, then Geely's new factory will probably slot in very well with this rise.

This factory-build also shows Geely's ambition to be on par with the very best in the automotive industry as carmakers worldwide are pushing ahead to develop more and more electric vehicles due to the growing pressure from regulators to tackle the climate crisis. China's government is no exception to this as they have been aggressively pushing
Chinese vehicle
 manufacturers to create new energy vehicles to help tackle their own pollution problems.

This push for electric vehicle technology and componentry by Proton's partners must also bode well with the local vehicle manufacturer as they will probably have access to this factory one way or another.

Proton for more than a decade now has been keen on the idea of producing its own EV and hybrid vehicles, and the Geely partnership will probably be their gateway into this world. If you can claw your memory back to 2010 and 2011, the national carmaker actually came up with a couple of electrified vehicles, in the form of the Range Extender Electric
Exora
, and UTM-Proton developed
Saga
 EV. The duo did see some action and participated in the RAC Future Car Challenge 2011, where it was driven from Brighton to London in the United Kingdom.

Since then, Proton has been a roller coaster ride, but the Geely partnership has given the local vehicle manufacturer some stability and firm ground to stand on.

Are you looking forward to a Proton plug-in hybrid or EV?


EV Superstar Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV Now On Sale In Thailand Unofficially – from RM43k

The
bestselling Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) in China
, the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV has found its way to Thailand. The tiny EV is made available only as a left-hand drive vehicle by local grey importers and is understood to not offer a warranty of any sort. Leading to the assumption that they’re merely bought from the Chinese market and sold in Thailand.

Since its debut, the MINI EV’s blend of simplicity and cheap pricing has made it a runaway success – selling upwards of 40,000 units in its home market in the first 2 months of this year, when even its makers only estimated a monthly volume of 3,000 - 4,000 units.

A lot of that has to do with its price tag which is quoted to be around USD5,000 in its home market, around USD4,500 if you forgo air-conditioning. For that, you get a boxy but well-designed EV that seats up to four or folds down its rear seats for up to 74 litres of rear boot space. The MINI EV is powered by a 17PS (85Nm) electric motor that drives the rear wheels.

It is offered with either a 9.3kWh or a 13.9kWh battery that returns a range of 120km or 170km respectively. It requires about 9 hours to fully recharge when using a home socket. Performance isn’t exactly brisk, with a top speed of 105km/h, but as you might surmise, is plenty of pace when driven around in congested urban cities.

Image credit: FB @ OKO Automobile

As for the Thai-market imports, they are made available with both battery choices ranging from THB320,000 (RM43k) to THB395,000 (RM53k). It is also understood that multiple importers are offering different variants so prices may vary.

This isn’t much value in Malaysia when you consider a full-spec
Perodua Axia
 costs considerably less (at circa RM43k). However, it is much the same in Thailand, with the entry-level
Suzuki
 Celerio costing just over THB328,000 (or RM43k).

In any case, it goes to show how competitive prices on new EVs have become, and if so, how much cheaper if a CKD assembly operation is put in place?


Nissan Terra Earns 5-Star ASEAN NCAP Rating

The New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) has released its latest crash test.
This time, the result was on the Nissan Terra, the brand’s new pickup-platform based SUV which was
 launched in Thailand
 and Indonesia in August.
The SUV model successfully achieved a 5-Star ASEAN NCAP rating with an overall score of 83.17 points.
While the Terra obtained 44.70 points in the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) category, it scored 20.79 points in the Child Occupant Protection (
COP
) category, followed by full points in the dynamic test (frontal and side crash test).
As for the Safety Assist Technologies (SATs), the model gained 17.69 points with Seatbelt Reminder System (
SBR
) as standard across variants.
The Nissan Terra is fitted with six airbags as standard in Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines. As for side and curtain airbags, they are only available as an option in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Electronic Stability Control (
ESC
) comes as standard in this SUV with an exception of Vietnam and the Philippines whereby it is offered only in higher variants.
In addition, there are several other technologies made available in the Nissan Terra as optional fitment such as Blind Spot Technology, Lane Departure Warning and Nissan’s very own safety technology called the Intelligent Rear View Mirror. ISOFIX and top tether are also fitted as standard in this SUV model.
Going against Toyota's Fortuner, Mitsubishi's Pajero Sport, Isuzu's MU-X, and Ford's Everest, the Nissan Terra is powered by a newly-developed 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel codenamed YS23, producing 190 hp and 450 Nm.
Among the key features are 18-inch wheels, LED head lamps, roof-mounted rear air conditioning vents, Around View Monitor (AVM) and the aforementioned advanced safety features: intelligent rear view mirror, blind spot monitor, and lane departure warning.


VIDEO: Is This The Next-Generation Of Public Transportation?

Thorstin Crijns, a Dutch engineer, has plans to reinvent public transportation as we know it.
Thus far, quadcopter drones are largely been used for new-age videography, or for the average hobbyist to muck around with.
Thorstin here, has seemingly slapped a bunch of them together, and is on his way to turning it into a personal flying machine! You can see him in the video below getting some serious air under himself with the machine he simply calls, "Autonomous Human Transport". Check out his website here:
http://www.quadrouas.nl/
Never mind
Lexus’s hoverboard
, which was cool, but depended on the earth beneath it to be magnetically charged. The quadrocopter uses air propulsion, of course, and can go anywhere it wants to.
The drone is powered by lithium-ion battery cells, and we count up to 20 propellers (five on each end) used here. Controlling it all via his smartphone, Thorstin’s  has only been able to hold passengers in the air for up to 10 seconds at a time (presumably because the batteries run out), for now, and being the realist he is, he openly admits that full-on taxi rides are far from reality at the moment.
Still, Thorstin has plans for his flying machine to one day take over from taxis as we know it. Using smartphones to call for it, he’s designing his quadrocopter to be able to fly in, arrive, pick up passengers, and transport them immediately to their destinations – no traffic included, of course.
Hopefully, those propeller blades get covered up by the time it all comes to fruition.

Are Drones The New Ubers?
Drones could be the new "flying taxis"
Posted by
NowThis
 on Thursday, 13 August 2015


LEAKED: Is This The All-New 2016 Hyundai Elantra AD?

While we in Malaysia have only just gotten the
2015 Hyundai Elantra facelift
 on the market, it looks like the Korean carmaker is already about to reveal an all-new next-generation
Elantra
. Here’s a leaked photo that first surfaced on
indianautosblog
.
The all-new Elantra (codenamed Elantra AD) is expected to hit showrooms in Korea mid this year, and apart from the new looks, is believed to feature an all-new platform, a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine (1.6 T-GDI), as well as the company’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission: both things Kia’s latest Cerato offers as well.
Design wise, it looks as though Hyundai is bringing the Elantra up to scratch with its latest models like the refreshed
Hyundai i40
 and the all-new
 Hyundai Tucson
 – Fluidic Sculpture V1 is out of here.
For further details, we’ll have to wait until Hyundai reveals its Elantra in full, which likely happens April/ May 2015.
Here's a reminder of what the current Elantra in Malaysia looks like. Which do you think looks better?


iCarData: The Best Time To Buy/Sell A (XV60) 2015 Lexus ES250 Premium

We take a look at the resale value of the seminal Lexus ES premium sedan in Malaysia.

It’s hard to believe but just thirty years ago – in 1990 – East and West Germany reunified, the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed, and Madonna’s song Vogue spent multiple weeks at the top spot, and just a year earlier, Lexus started selling their first two models, the LS and ES models.

Fast forward 30 years, which will make most Xennials and Millennials feel quite a bit older. Germany is the economic powerhouse of Europe, we have an International Space Station, Madonna is 62, and Lexus, at first thought to be a fluke stab at the luxury segment (competing with the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz), now sells their brand of premium luxury in over 70 countries.

In all their models, Lexus has a forged a heritage of luxurious design and exceptional build quality. These traits, in turn, keep Lexus cars in high regard and high demand on the used car market. The ES is no different, being the second model to be introduced by the brand; it goes up against the likes of the
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
 and
BMW 5 Series
 in the premium executive category.

Overview

The ES started out as a more upmarket version of the Toyota Camry, and in its first five iterations, it was based on the same platform as its sibling from Toyota. This gave rise to certain circles calling the ES nothing more than a glorified Camry with a substantially higher sticker price. However, that might be only telling half the story – the ES in many cases, offered engines that are more powerful, better safety features, high-end equipment, and better materials for the interior.

The sixth-generation XV60, launched here in 2013, still shared some parts of the Camry platform, but major components of the engine and chassis were farther apart – creating a distinct character and driving experience for the ES. The new snazzy-looking, fully imported model was offered here in three variants, the ES250, ES250 Luxury, and ES300h.

The former two were powered by a (181hp/235Nm) 2AR-FE 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder, mated to a six-speed automatic. The 300h was powered by the (158hp/213Nm) 2AR-FXE 1.5-litre Atkinson Cycle four-cylinder engine combined with a 105kW electric motor for a combined output of 202hp, paired with an eCVT automatic.

An impressive safety suite for the ES250 models included 10-airbags, stability control, traction control and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

The facelifted version of the (XV60) ES model was introduced to the
Malaysian market in 2015
. The same three variants (albeit with new trim packages) were offered at the following prices:

ES250 Premium – RM259,200

ES250 Luxury – RM278,600

ES300h – RM355,100

Styling updates of the facelifted ES included the bolder looking rendition of Lexus' signature ‘spindle grille.’ The signature LED daytime running lights were now arranged in an ‘arrow-head’ pattern. At the back, the tail lamps featured an L-shaped light pattern.

The list of safety features was expanded to include Hill-start Assist (standard for all variants), Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The latter two are only available in the ES250 Luxury and ES300h.

On the Inside, the ES received a new genuine leather and woodgrain steering wheel and revised steering wheel-mounted buttons layout. The trademark Lexus Remote Touch Interface control for the 8-inch infotainment display has also been improved for better user-friendliness.

Powertrains were as before.

iCarData

For this report, we will be analysing the average resale value of the Lexus ES model using
iCarData
. Our in-house algorithm-based tracking program is able to track and analyse ad listings of a particular model throughout a measured timeframe. By tracking the period ad listings for a particular model, as they were advertised, we are uniquely able to draw a graph representing the depreciation rates of the model over time.

We have taken into account the following to keep our numbers accurate and representative.

Vehicle variant: (XV60) 2015 Lexus ES250 Premium, delivered between August and December 2015.

Depreciation is calculated using the original list price of RM259,200.

Depreciation percentage does not take into account special/seasonal offers or rebates on the original selling price.

Notwithstanding that, depreciation for other variants may differ, in particular, the hybrid ES300h range-topping variant.

Specifications of the 2015 (XV60) Lexus ES250 Premium

Engine: 2.5-litre (2AR-FE) inline-four naturally-aspirated, petrol

Power: 181 hp @ 6,00 rpm

Torque: 235 Nm @ 4,100 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, FWD

Safety: Ten airbags, ABS with EBD, Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill-Start assist

Origin: Fully imported from Japan.

Price: RM259,200 – Aug 2015 launch (OTR without insurance)

Based on iCarData, here is the summarized data for depreciation:

And the graphical analysis below:

Blue line: Average selling price (RM) by year

Grey line: Cumulative depreciation (RM) by year

Orange line: Retained value percentage by year

Conclusion

The Lexus ES has some of the lowest first- and second-year depreciation rates we have ever seen for a premium vehicle. At just 8 and 17 percent respectively, in those two years, the value retention of the ES is comparable to much cheaper cars such as the Honda City and Perodua Myvi.

This speaks volumes of its overall brand desirability and uniqueness in the market.

Though the depreciation rates tend to go up in the third and fourth years, the third year being the more substantial of the two, a 17 percent drop in value in 2018. This could be down to competitor model launches (we know the
G30 5 Series
 was launched in 2017) and other factors such as financing approvals.

Another slight disadvantage of the Lexus is the three-year warranty package. This directly correlates to an additional selling price for the owner if he/she wishes to sell their car within the warranty period which guarantees additional peace of mind for the second-hand buyer.

We see this take effect with the dip in prices between 4th and 5th years of service - a sizeable drop of 12 percent in the last year. We must take into account, that given the model is relatively new, and given the ES doesn't sell in great numbers, there can be a margin of error from the relative lack of data points.

With that said, we can assume, the ES will stabilise its prices in the following years, as most premium sedans do, once their asking prices dip below the RM100k range, and with overall desirability still high.

From the data, the threshold between retained value and cumulative depreciation intersect just before the fifth year of ownership, meaning the ES250 drops to half the price of what it was new. This is an excellent time for used car buyers, who are getting a half-priced deal, albeit with no manufacturer warranty on the vehicle.

However, the fact that they are buying a Lexus, a brand known for its sublime build quality, should calm some anxious nerves.

Inversely, current owners looking to sell their ES can do so just as their vehicle crosses the five-year mark. Simply because prices visibly start to stabilise in this period, and gives the seller a larger window to sell their cars for the best prices.

For some great deals on the Lexus ES, click
here
.

If you're looking to sell your Lexus ES, we have two solutions for you too. List in on carlist.my or better still use
Carlist Bid
 where we remove all the hassle of selling your car for you as you get searching for your next upgrade.

Which make/ model would you like us to research next? Let us know in the comments.


Official Launchfilm Of The All-New (F40) BMW 1 Series Released – The 1 Is Coming

In the lead up to the worldwide market launch of the upcoming (F40), BMW has released a selection of fun short films than perfectly encapsulates the fun and snazzy nature of the much-anticipated premium compact hatch.
The short films showcase the M135i xDrive 5-door variant entertaining style with modern imagery and vivid colours, featuring not just rapid pan shots and fast cutting but also several comical elements.
Michael Sommer, Head of Brand Communication BMW adds, “With the launch of the BMW 1 Series and the campaign created for this purpose, we’re not just demonstrating that the third edition of this model leads the compact class in terms of driving dynamics, we’re also making a clear statement about design and lifestyle,”
The campaign films were shot in Cape Town, South Africa and directed by Specter Berlin, an established name in the hip-hop scene as the co-founder of the Aggro Berlin label. In addition to a 30-second TV commercial, several 15-second cut-downs and other formats were also produced for use on social media channels. All communication instruments reflect the vivid, colourful character of the campaign.
First unveiled
 in May 2019, the third-generation of BMW’s entry-level model will only feature a front-or all-wheel drive layout, instead of the more driver-centric rear-wheel drive format of the first two generations. BMW has also dropped the 3-door hatchback variant of the all-new 1 Series, keeping the new model strictly as a 5-door hatchback.
The all-new (F40) 1 Series is the first petrol-powered BMW model to receive ARB (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation), first found in the BMW i3s. ARB is fitted as standard to all variants of the new 1 Series, and it works hand-in-hand with BMW Performance Control (yaw movement distribution) to limit understeer.
The F40-generation 1 Series has a length of 4,319 mm, a width of 1,799 mm, and a height of 1,434 mm. The wheelbase is 20 mm shorter than the outgoing (F20) model, coming in at 2,670 mm.
At launch, the (F40) 1 Series will be offered with a choice of two petrol engines and three diesel engines. The most powerful variant will be the M135i xDrive, which is powered by a 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that does 306 hp and 450 Nm, channelled to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system. 0-100 km/h is achieved in just 4.8 seconds, while top speed is rated at 250 km/h.
Unlike its key rival the
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
, all variants of the (F40) 1 Series will get multi-link rear suspension.
The worldwide launch of the new model is slated for 28th September 2019.


SUV or Crossover: Is There A Difference? Does It Even Matter?

I can probably skip ahead here and just say what we might be all thinking: there is no difference! Who cares?! There might a
clear division between SUVs
 and crossovers in the past but now the lines are blurred beyond repair.

It's worth repeating that SUV is an acronym for Sport Utility Vehicle. Crossover is a blanket term for a vehicle that straddles the line between two but has been co-opted to mean one that's stuck between a normal car and an SUV. In the early days, automakers resorted to calling them '
compact SUV
s' to get around the unfamiliarity.

I'd guess that 90 percent of new SUVs/crossovers sold today are so labelled based on
a decision from the marketing department
 on which designation would sell the most units, having nothing to do with its construction, platform, utilitarian attributes, pricing, or even size. If it's convenient to call it a crossover, that's what it is. Same with SUVs, and this can vary by region.

A great example here is Mitsubishi. Quite helpfully, their North American arm went through the trouble of explaining some of the key differences, and they all make sense. Unfortunately, while they classify the Outlander as a crossover, Mitsubishi Malaysia says it's an SUV. Great, seems the automakers are even more confused.

There was a time not long ago when cars fell into very obvious categories. A sedan had a three box design with a separate boot that extended away from the rear axle whereas a hatchback lacked this to be more compact.

On the other hand, a coupe would typically be defined by two doors and a more svelte profile. A pick-up truck was also clearly defined by its cab-centric shape and cargo bed in the rear. Simple, and these two definitions are still true today, mostly.

Not to bash on Mitsubishi here. Their USA website does, in fact, cite all the correct differences between an SUV and crossover. The issue is that none of those differences still apply. One such contrast here is the vehicle platform and construction. By the traditional definition, SUVs use a body-on-frame design with a separate chassis whereas a crossover has a unibody structure much like a car.

In a time when your typical SUV would be fairly large and designed for durability and maximum modularity, this would be true. In recent times, though, there are only a handful of models that match this description such as the Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Mercedes-Benz G-Class,  and Jeep Wrangler.

Ironically, if four-wheel traction and a body-on-frame construction were the only defining conditions for an SUV, then even the Tesla Model 3 would qualify, yet the Range Rover and all-new
Land Rover Defender
 would be categorised as crossovers.

See? It doesn't matter. What matters is what sells.

Much like that American all-electric four-door, however, most SUVs and/or crossovers are just about as useless off-road. Despite being tempted by marketing campaigns/lies promising an 'active lifestyle' of camping and surfing and laughs, automakers are very aware that a huge majority of buyers never leave the safety of a paved road.

Consequently, they've
all gone soft
. Nearly all these vehicles regardless of their branding campaign as an SUV or crossover are only equipped with front-wheel drive and are fitted with road-only tyres. Your bulky shape and less aerodynamic elevated ride height won't save you either, apart from making your wallet pay for more fuel.

Both crossovers and SUVs do prioritise additional practicality with more space to load cargo, fulfilling the 'Utility' portions of the SUV acronym. That said, they're not appreciably more spacious than a typical 5-door hatch, which is cheaper and yields better fuel economy.

Bottom line, in 2021 both SUVs and crossovers are pretty much interchangeable with any distinction between the two having lost all meaning. The auto industry has successfully tricked us all into buying a more expensive vehicle on a (false) promise which none of their buyers will ever care to verify or hold them accountable to.

Unfortunately, the bar to be a modern-day SUV is set pretty low. They're all Vehicles, of course, but they're not Sporty nor are they big on Utility either. Unless, of course, you're
talking about Subarus
 - they're pretty legit. For the more rugged varieties, calling them off-roaders or 4x4s is probably more accurate.


Honda Integra Dilelong RM58,000 - JPJ Selangor Lelong 135 Kenderaan

JPJ Negeri Selangor telah mengadakan Lelongan Awam Kenderaan Sita Siri 3 baru-baru ini yang menyaksikan sebanyak 135 buah kenderaan berjaya dilelong.

Pengarah JPJ Selangor, Datuk Khairul Khar Yahya berkata, sebanyak 135 kenderaan sita yang dilelong JPJ Selangor itu terdiri daripada kenderaan berdaftar dan kenderaan tidak berdaftar.

Lelongan Awam Kenderaan Sita JPJ

Proses lelongan itu menyaksikan sebanyak 135 kenderaan sita yang terdiri daripada 97 motosikal, 17 kereta, kenderaan pelbagai guna (MPV), jip, bas, van, lori kargo am dan semi treler.

“Daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak 132 berjaya dilelong dengan kutipan sebanyak RM527,878," jelas Khairul.

Seramai 92 pembida hadir dalam proses lelongan awam itu yang terdiri daripada individu dan pemilik bengkel kenderaan.

Honda Integra Dilelong RM58,000

Khairul berkata,
Honda Integra
 adalah model paling tinggi nilainya berjaya dilelong selepas dibida pada harga RM58,000 manakala jumlah lelongan terendah berjumlah RM93.

Tambahnya, antara kenderaan lain yang turut dilelong termasuk Honda Civic dan kenderaan pelbagai guna (MPV) seperti
Toyota Wish
 dan
Honda Odyssey
.

Semua kenderaan yang dilelong ini merupakan kenderaan yang disita oleh JPJ Selangor sejak setahun lalu.

Beliau menambah, sebanyak 115 kenderaan sita berdaftar dalam lelongan awam itu, di mana 104 daripada boleh dilesenkan, manakala 11 buah tidak boleh dilesenkan (
scrap
).

Bagi kenderaan tidak berdaftar (
klon
), sebanyak 20 buah berjaya dilelong.

Ini menjadikan jumlah kutipan lelongan awam keseluruhan sejak 2019 sehingga semalam sebanyak RM5.4 juta.


Suzuki 100th Anniversary Special: 5 Popular Suzukis sold in Malaysia

The 15th of March 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of a brand that is very familiar to us – Suzuki.

Founded by Michio Suzuki back in 1920, the company, which was initially called Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Company, only changed the name to Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd in 1954 and launched the Suzulight, the first mass-produced mini vehicle in Japan.

The company name was then changed to ‘Suzuki Motor Corporation’ in 1990 in view of its business expansion and globalization, and it did pretty well in Malaysia too.

Many models were sold in Malaysia, but out of the entire lot, these are some of the Suzuki models that still stand fresh in our minds and memories:

2nd generation Suzuki Swift / Cultus

Sold in Japan as the Suzuki Cultus, the 2nd gen Swift as it was known in Malaysia and many other markets, was certainly one of the most popular compact hatchbacks in Malaysia back in the 1990s, alongside cars like the Daihatsu Charade and the Toyota Starlet. Besides being the car of choice for many urbanites, the little Swift even made a name for itself in the rally scene in the 1990s.

2nd generation Jimny

It may be small, but this “Cili Padi” of an SUV is so durable and capable that it became the “weapon” of choice for numerous organisations like TNB, Telekom, JKR, and many local city councils. Still going strong after three decades, many old Jimnys are still being used on a daily basis by people around the world.

Suzuki Carry

No
Pasar Malam
 was complete without at least two of these parked behind the stalls. Despite being much smaller than models like the old Ford Econovan or the Mitsubishi Dacia, it was just as popular due to its affordability and durability. In fact, some Taukeys are still relying on their trusty Carry vans for their businesses today.

2nd gen Suzuki Swift Sport

1.6-litre engine, 136 PS, 160 Nm, 6-speed manual, 0 – 100 in under 9 seconds, 6.5L/100km fuel consumption, just 1,070 kg, and under RM100k… What is there not to like?

Suzuki Kizashi

In 2010, Suzuki decided to shock the world by going big with the Kizashi, aiming to take on markets like America and Australia. It was even launched in Malaysia a couple of years later, much to the excitement of the brand’s fans and enthusiasts alike.

But as impressive as it looked, it didn’t really do well due to a number issues like a poorly designed glove box door which opened easily and caused injury during accidents, as well as a global economic crisis which caused the brand to pull out from a few markets and eventually discontinue the Kizashi, which meant “something big is coming”, or “an omen”.

Oh, the irony.

Suzuki Vitara

Following the success of the Jimny, Suzuki released the Vitara to be positioned right above the former in its product portfolio and boy, did it take off! The boxy design, durable powertrain, off-roading prowess, and the amount of space it offered made it one of the most popular SUVs on our roads back in the 1990s. Many are still going strong today and will probably outlive some of the new SUVs on sale currently.

Did we miss out any models? Let us know in comments section below!


Kerajaan Jamin Harga Tiket ECRL Tidak Membebankan Pengguna

Kerajaan Malaysia telah memberi jaminan yang tambang
keretapi
 Laluan Rel Pantai Timur (ECRL) tidak akan membebankan pengguna atau rakyat nanti.

Ini berikutan dakwaan Pengerusi PKR Terengganu Azan Ismail yang berkata bahawa tambang ECRL akan sehingga
enam kali ganda lebih tinggi berbanding harga tiket kapal terbang
. Carlist.my ingin bertanya akan YB Pengerusi PKR di mana beliau memetik angka sehingga enam kali itu - adakah ianya berdasarkan sebuah kertas kerja atau penyelidikan daripada pihak YB atau spekulasi semata-mata?

Harga tiket ECRL mahal?

*Kredit foto: Astro Awani

Menurut Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, dakwaan Pengerusi PKR Terengganu bersifat spekulatif dan tidak berasas. Wee turut menambah yang perbincangan berhubung harga tiket ECRL masih berjalan di peringkat kerajaan dan ianya akan ditetapkan supaya setara dengan kadar tambang yang dikenakan oleh perkhidmatan tren elektrik (ETS) Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) di Pantai Barat Semenanjung.

*Kredit foto: thestar.com.my

"Sepertimana yang diketahui, kadar tambang ETS adalah amat berpatutan dan lebih rendah berbanding kadar tiket kapal terbang bagi laluan dan destinasi di Pantai Barat Semenanjung. Penetapan kadar tambang ECRL adalah berdasarkan Akta Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD).

"Secara dasarnya, kadar tambang yang ditetapkan akan memastikan ECRL terus berdaya saing dengan harga berpatutan dan dalam masa sama berupaya menanggung kos pengoperasian serta penyelenggaraan. Apa yang paling penting, ia tidak akan membebankan para pengguna," kata Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong menerusi satu kenyataan di Facebook rasmi beliau.

Ini semua gara-gara Pengerusi PKR Terengganu yang dipetik berkata tiket ECRL dijangka mahal disebabkan kos pembinaannya yang tinggi.

Status Projek ECRL

Projek Laluan Rel Pantai Timur (ECRL) sepanjang 655 kilometer itu merangkumi kerja pembinaan melalui negeri Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang dan Selangor. Ia turut melibatkan 59 terowong dan akan menelan belanja RM50.27 billion.

Setakat bulan April 2022,
Projek ECRL
 telah mencapai kemajuan sebanyak
28.57%
.

Apa tanggungjawab APAD?

Mengulas lanjut, Wee berkata yang kerajaan tidak berhasrat mengenakan tambang yang tinggi bagi ECRL untuk memperoleh semula kos pembinaannya memandangkan ini adalah projek untuk rakyat.

Perkhidmatan pengangkutan kargo bagi kegunaan industri, perkilangan dan pembuatan dijangka menjana lebih 70% daripada sumber pendapatan ECRL apabila ia bakal beroperasi pada tahun 2027 kelak tambahnya lagi seperti yang dilaporkan Astro Awani.

Struktur tambang/ harga tiket ECRL perlu mendapatkan kelulusan kerajaan sebelum ia mula beroperasi mengikut keperluan APAD dan Lesen Operator Keretapi yang turut berada di bawah penyeliaan APAD.

*Kredit foto utama: malaymail.com


2021 Ford Ranger Raptor X Special Edition Wants To Paint The Town Red

Ford Sime Darby Auto ConneXion introduces the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor X Special Edition

Red must be the new black, which is why Ford Malaysia has unveiled the new 2021 Ford
Ranger Raptor
 X Special Edition, a true red colour Ranger Raptor, exclusively for Malaysian customers- making it the first Red Raptor to be introduced in the market.

Priced at RM216,888 OTR without insurance, the Ranger Raptor X Special Edition not only comes with a new striking paint job but has also been equipped with enhanced convenience and safety features, namely the in-built 360-degree camera, Dual Digital Video Recorder, and distinctive accessories comprising of a bold Raptor X decal and Special Edition carpet mats.

According to Sime Darby Auto ConneXion head of sales, Turse Zuhair, "With its Ford Performance DNA, Ranger Raptor is undoubtedly the ultimate and only performance pickup truck in Malaysia that has been perfected for everyday urban use in addition to commanding the harshest off-road terrains at thrilling speeds. With this Special Edition, we hope to inject excitement into our lineup of well-loved Ranger vehicles".

The 360-degree camera, which combines several video cameras to provide real-time full coverage of the area surrounding the mighty truck, seems like a welcoming feature as drivers can now get a better view of their surroundings, let it be it in the urban setting or rugged off-road terrain.

Following the vehicle equipment list trend, the special edition Raptor also features a dual-channel Kenwood Digital Video Recorder that records in quad high-definition (HD) with wide-angle viewing, night view recording, a built-in polarised filter and Mobile App connect via hotspot. The cameras are compatible with both Apple iOS and Android and come with a 32GB memory card, allowing drivers to record their adventure on and off the road.

Performance figures are the same as the regular
Ranger Raptor
, delivering 213 PS of power and 500Nm of torque from a 2.0L twin-turbodiesel mated to

Ford's latest 10-speed automatic transmission with PaddleShift technology.

Also similar to the regular Ranger Raptor is the first-in-class autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system with vehicle and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and lane departure warning and assist.

The New Ford Ranger Raptor X Special Edition comes with Ford Malaysia's new 5-year manufacturer's warranty or 160,000km (whichever comes first).


KPDNKK: RON 95 Prices Will Not Spike Once Float System Is Implemented

The government has assured that RON 95 petrol prices won’t see huge price hikes once the
targeted oil subsidy system
 comes into effect in Q2 of 2019.
The Sun Daily
 reports that users which aren’t eligible for the subsidy need not worry, as price increases of RON 95 petrol, if required, will be implemented in stages as a substantial petrol price hike will have a negative impact on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and lead to inflation.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail added, “Say on the first day of execution (of the floating price system), the price difference is 30 sen. We do not want that to happen. Although it should be increased by 30 sen, it will be done gradually within a certain period of time, for example between six to eight months,”
Nasution said that the ministry has studied the impact of petrol price hikes to the CPI with the Department of Statistics Malaysia, and will take this into account during the implementation of the float pricing of RON 95 petrol.
The government has yet to determine if the float price will be set on a weekly or monthly basis but has taken into account the feedback from petrol companies, dealers, retailers, and the general public.
The targeted oil subsidy program will be implemented once a comprehensive study is completed by an independent entity/company regarding the design, supply, testing, monitoring, hardware, and software updates required to effectively introduce the system.


Nissan NV350 Urvan Gets New Safety Features

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd. (ETCM), the sole distributor and assembler of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia today announced the introduction of the updated NV350 Urvan High Roof 14-seater van with new safety features.
Priced from RM122,000, the updated NV350 Urvan’s list of updated safety features includes a headlamp levelizer, a rear foglamp, speed limiter (100km/h) and also a fuel cap with locking mechanism.
These features are offered on top of the already available ABS, BA, High Mount Stop Lamp, and Child Safety Lock.
Powering the NV350 Urvan is a 2.5L YD25DDTi turbocharged engine with clean-diesel technology, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, returning 11.2km/L.
On another note, ETCM is organising its third series of the 2017 Nissan Safety Campaign alongside ETCM’s Nationwide Test Drive Carnival to educate Malaysians with road safety knowledge through fun and creative activities at the following venues:


Angkut Balai Jika Dirakam Merempit – Cara Baharu Tangkap Mat Rempit

Pihak berkuasa kini menggunakan pendekatan baharu untuk menahan mereka yang terlibat dengan aktiviti
merempit dan lumba haram.

Untuk membendung aktiviti Mat Rempit serta memelihara keselamatan pengguna jalan raya lain, gambar-gambar mereka yang terlibat dengan aktiviti merempit dan lumba haram kini akan dirakam menerusi kamera pihak berkuasa sebelum mereka ditahan untuk tindakan lanjut.

*Kredit foto: Kosmo

Cara Baharu Tahan Mat Rempit

Menurut Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pengangkutan, Datuk Isham Ishak, cara lama pihak berkuasa memberkas mereka yang terlibat adalah dengan berada di lapangan untuk melakukan ‘serang hendap’.

Namun cara tersebut dilihat berbahaya kepada anggota penguatkuasa serta mereka yang berada di lokasi-lokasi berhampiran dengan kegiatan tersebut.

Oleh iitu, pihak berkuasa kini mengambil pendekatan lebih defensif iaitu dengan menggunakan kamera-kamera untuk melihat dan merakam gambar suspek yang terlibat sebelum menahan mereka di kediaman mereka atau di tempat kerja.

Pulau Pinang
 akan menjadi model untuk projek perintis tersebut sebelum dibuat secara nasional iaitu diguna pakai ke seluruh negara.

Hentikan Budaya Idolakan Mat Rempit

Isham turut berkata, pihak berkuasa juga dalam usaha untuk mengubah budaya mengidolakan Mat Rempit yang membawa kemudaratan kepada semua pihak.

Baginya pandangan itu menjijikan dan tidak mendatangkan kebaikan. Oleh demikian, masyarakat, media dan ibu bapa diharap dapat membantu kita dalam usaha membanteras pelumba haram ini secara keseluruhannya.

Meskipun fenomena mat rempit ini berlaku di seluruh negara, namun perhatian diberikan lebih di Pulau Pinang kerana ada berlaku peningkatan
kematian
akibat kemalangan membabitkan golongan tersebut.

"Berdasarkan statistik sejak Januari hingga Jun tahun ini, sebanyak 1,096 operasi samseng jalanan dijalankan di seluruh negara dan seramai 1,451 pesalah atau mat rempit ditahan dengan 21,258 saman dikeluarkan manakala 2,200 kenderaan telah disita.

"Daripada jumlah itu, Perak merekodkan operasi samseng jalanan paling tinggi iaitu 286 operasi dan 4,597 saman dikeluarkan diikuti Pulau Pinang dengan 157 operasi membabitkan 4,444 saman dan Johor, 157 operasi dan 1,436 saman," katanya.


Proses Kelulusan VTA - JPJ Lakukan Demo Pada BMW iX 2022

Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (JPJ)
 melakukan demonstrasi bagi kelulusan jenis kenderaan (VTA) kategori kenderaan penumpang M1 bagi BMW iX xDrive40i 2022 untuk pendedahan pihak media.

VTA
 atau Vehicle Type Approval ialah suatu prosedur yang wajib dilalui dan dipatuhi oleh semua model baharu kenderaan bermotor, sebelum ianya layak dipasarkan ke dalam negara ini.

Kerjasama antara JPJ dan
BMW Group Malaysia
 untuk demonstrasi VTA ini adalah pertama kali diadakan secara terbuka, bagi memberi pendedahan kepada umum tentang proses kelulusan bagi sesebuah jenis kenderaan yang akan diguna pakai di jalan raya kita.

Menurut JPJ, tiada
shortcut
 untuk mendapat
kelulusan VTA
 ini. Tidak kira lah kereta mewah import atau tempatan, kesemua model kereta mendapat layanan yang sama rata untuk prosedur VTA.

Prosedur VTA

Prosedur VTA dilakukan bagi mematuhi Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 dan Peraturan Pengangkutan Jalan di Malaysia, sebelum pendaftaran kenderaan tersebut dibenarkan.

Ia mengambil masa 20 hingga 30 hari dari proses penyerahan dokumen, pemeriksaan fizikal kenderaan, ujian dinamik (pandu uji) hingga homologasi atau sijil pengesahan dikeluarkan.

Kesemua penilaian VTA akan berdasarkan rangka kerja World Forum Harmonization of Vehicle Regulation (WP29) yang menghimpunkan 64 negara di bawah satu perjanjian.

Di bawah perjanjian ini, satu peraturan teknikal yang dikenali sebagai peraturan United Nations (UN) telah dibangunkan dan digunapakai secara seragam oleh semua negara anggota, termasuklah Malaysia.

Sehingga kini, terdapat 114 United Nations Regulations (UNR) yang telah berkuatkuasa di Malaysia, termasuklah peraturan melibatkan keselamatan umum, keselamatan aktif, keselamatan pasif, serta alam sekitar.

Pemeriksaan fizikal kenderaan

Pihak BMW telah menyerahkan dokumen lengkap model iX xDrive40i 2022 untuk tindakan selanjutnya, iaitu pemeriksaan fizikal kenderaan.

Bagi model SUV elektrik ini, sejumlah 63 peraturan UNR yang akan diperiksa iaitu 32 UNR keselamatan aktif, 14 UNR keselamatan pasif dan 7 UNR peraturan alam sekitar, dan model ini perlu lulus kesemuanya sebelum ke proses VTA yang seterusnya.

Antara UNR yang diperiksa adalah identiti kenderaan (nombor casis dan enjin), nombor motor elektrik (EV sahaja), dimensi kenderaan,
spesifikasi tayar
, komponen isyarat dan lampu, tali pinggang keselamatan, roda stereng, panel meter, dan ketelusan cahaya pada cermin.

Pemeriksaan fizikal kenderaan dijalankan oleh dua pegawai JPJ dari bahagian kejuruteraan automotif dan boleh mengambil masa kira-kira sejam.

Sebarang ujian yang sah dilakukan oleh mana-mana negara anggota akan terus boleh diterima dan diguna pakai di kesemua 63 negara anggota lain.

Sebagai contoh, model
Proton
 atau
Perodua
 yang pertama kali diuji oleh VTA JPJ, jika lulus, pensijilannya juga sah untuk kegunaan di negara-negara anggota seperti Jerman, Sweden, Itali, Korea Selatan, dan Jepun.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pengarah JPJ, Dato’ Zailani Hj Hashim berkata, “Saya berharap demonstrasi hari ini dapat membekalkan pemahaman yang lebih mendalam mengenai peranan dan fungsi Jabatan Kejuruteraan Automotif, JPJ serta prosedur VTA, yang turut menggambarkan peranan kerajaan dan JPJ untuk menjamin tahap keselamatan yang optimum bagi pengguna jalan raya di dalam negara.”

Manakala Pengarah Urusan BMW Group Malaysia, Hans de Visser berbesar hati kerana JPJ telah mempertimbangkan
BMW Malaysia
 sebagai rakan kongsi bagi demonstrasi proses VTA BMW iX xDrive40i 2022 ini yang pertama kali diadakan di Malaysia.


Government Ends Contract With Spanco After 25 Years

For quite nearly as long as yours truly has been alive, the government has had an ongoing contract with Spanco Sdn Bhd (Spanco) to essentially handle government vehicle leases. That contract finally ended at the end of 2018, and the government opened tender to other concessionaires who would be willing to take up this seemingly lucrative job.
Spanco has received a lot of money in the maintenance of these vehicles, which includes police cars as well. Back in 2008, the government dropped a whopping RM 158 million for the maintenance of 8,654 cars - which works out to RM18,257 on average per vehicle, annually. Granted this is a leasing scheme of sorts, but that's still a mighty high sum to pay.
The deadline for submission for the open tender was at the end of February, so it shouldn't take long for the government to announce which concessionaire has won the contract. For the time being, Spanco will continue their duties until the end of June - or six months from the end of their contract.


Bentley Reports Improved Sales Figure in H1 2022

Bentley
 is happy to report some encouraging results in the first half of 2022 with increases in global sales, revenue, and operating results.

Despite the global economic uncertainty that continues until today thanks to COVID-19, the
luxury British carmaker
 was more than thrilled to report an increase in operating profits at €398 million (124% increase compared to H1 2021).

Higher first-half profits than the entire 2021

This is an important note considering that the entire operating profit for 2021 posted by Bentley was €389 million, and they were able to exceed that within the first half of 2022.

The same can be said for its turnover of revenue, which was €1.707 billion - 29% more compared to the first six months of 2021. Bentley was able to achieve that due to the rise in demand not only for the Bentley model line-up but also increase in levels of personalisation.

The results also showcased a return on a sales increase of 23.3% compared to 13.4% reported in the same period of 2021.

Bentley Bentayga wins best-selling model

40% of the total sales for Bentley were thanks to the Bentayga luxury SUV, followed by the Continental GT grand tourer at 33%, and 27% for the Flying Spur.

Most markets around the globe saw rises in sales figures up to 44%, apart from China, Hong Kong, and Macau which saw a 25% drop due to all the lockdowns and restrictions. The same goes for the Middle East, but that was only 9%.

All in all, Bentley successfully delivered 7,398 units to customers around the world - a 3% increase compared to 2021 when they only managed to sell 7,199 units. A small rise in comparison, but definitely a more favourable outcome with all the uncertainties in today's market conditions.


Geely Teases A Volvo-based SUV Coupe - A BMW X6 Inspired Flagship

Geely has dropped several teasers of its first-ever coupe SUV model, codenamed FY11.
The new FY11 is Geely’s first model to be built on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which also underpins the Volvo XC40 and all Lynk & Co models. Future 40 Series models from Volvo will also be underpinned by the CMA platform.
According to Geely, the new FY11 features the company’s signature expanding cosmos grille that is wide yet slim, flanked by a pair of headlights with newly-designed LED daytime running lights. The rear end of the FY11 features tail lights that are inspired by traditional Chinese fan.
Another design highlight of the Geely FY11 is its sloping roofline, a design that was first popularized by the E71-generation BMW X6. It's sportier, more lifestyle image also suggests that this could be Geely's flagship SUV.
That aside, Geely also mentioned that the FY11 will have ‘true sporting credentials’, adding that it will be the most driver-focused model. However, Geely stopped short of sharing any powertrain details of the FY11.
While the teaser photos released by Geely did showcase the silhouette of the FY11, Chinese automotive news portal
Autohome
 released photos of the new model well ahead of its official debut, which gives us a pretty good look at the new model.
Putting the design element to one side, the photos released by Autohome also gave us a list of possible names that Geely could use on the FY11 - 锋越 (Fengyue), 皓越 (Yuyue), 朗越 (Longyue), 智越 (Zhiyue), 歌越 (Geyue), 劲越 (Jinyue), and 星越 (Xingyue).


SPIED: First Volvo electric MPV spotted in China

Volvo
 is working hard on its first all-electric MPV and several news portals have reported its first sighting in China.

According to
CarNewsChina
, the brand's first EV MPV will most likely make its official global debut at the end of 2023 and the vehicle itself has been spotted in China. Why China?

Judging by the looks, the EV MPV does bare a lot of visual similarities with the
Zeekr 009
, an all-electric MPV from Geely's premium electric automotive brand. It is also said that both models will share the same SEA platform (Sustainable Experience Platform) produced by Geely.

If that's the case, then the dimensions for Volvo's first-ever electric MPV will also be somewhat the same as the Zeekr 009 at 5209mm/2024mm/1858mm together with a 3205mm wheelbase. In other words, this is probably going to be the biggest passenger car from Volvo yet.

From the outside, we can similar-looking headlights from the Volvo EX90 despite most of the exterior being covered by camo stickers. The insides are purely lavish thanks to those modern and plush-looking seats with the 2-2-3 seating configuration, also similar to the Zeekr 009.

We're guessing that the interior equipment will be at the level of modern-day electric Volvos with a huge dose of premium finishes, enhanced comfort, and of course, top-of-the-line safety features renowned to the Volvo brand.

No news on the powertrain just yet, but if that too is similar to the Zeekr 009, we can expect the power output to be north of 550hp and close to 700Nm of torque. The Zeekr 009, in particular, carries 544hp and 686Nm of torque on tap.

The driving range is also currently in the dark for the Volvo EV MPV, but the Zeekr 009 has two different battery options - 116kWh that offers over 700km of range and an even bigger 140kWh unit that pushes the all-electric driving distance to over 800km.

Despite the similarities, we can expect a bigger price tag for the Volvo EV MPV. The price range for the Zeekr 009 in China right now sits from 499,000 – 588,000 yuan (RM322k to RM380k) and we can already tell that the Volvo EV MPV will be higher than that. Stay tuned for more updates.


Bentley delivers the Bentayga to its first customers

Bentley says that it takes over 130 hours to produce a Bentayga, from start to finish. That’s over four times more than it takes for Volkswagen to push out a Golf, which sits at around 30 hours split across 2 to 4 days. But being a luxury car, there is a lot more attention to detail and far more complexity in everything from powertrain to insulation.
The first batch of Bentayga customers were presented their cars at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England. It also happens to be the manufacturing location of a number of other Bentley staples, like the Flying Spur, Mulsanne, and Continental GT. In addition to finally seeing their cars in person, these lucky owners were treated with a tour of the factory and meeting the people involved in creating their cars.
These customers are especially important to the Bentley brand as they were the first customers to put their name down on the booking list for the Bentayga- before there was even a finished model to see in the metal. These customers will be receiving the specific First Edition variant of the Bentayga. Despite sharing a platform with the Q7 and the upcoming Cayenne, the Bentayga is the most powerful SUV in the world- for now.


Explore The New Ford Ranger And Win Exclusive Merchandises Courtesy Of SDAC

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the sole distributor of Ford in Malaysia, has announced the ‘Ford Ranger Explore & Experience Roadshow’ which will run from now until March.
Held at participating Ford showrooms, visitors will be able to explore and experience the Ranger’s smart and safe technologies. Exciting promotions on selected Ford models will also be made available.
The roadshow also comprises various family-friendly activities such as plinko, rubber duck, and a kids colouring corner to keep children entertained.
Those who opt to test drive Ford models during the roadshow will stand a chance to enter the Ford wind tunnel to win attractive and exclusive Ford merchandise.
Available in Malaysia in nine variants including the high-speed, performance oriented Ranger Raptor, the new Ford Ranger will be available at the locations mentioned below:


Spyshot: Facelifted 2018 Toyota Hilux Already At Dealerships In Malaysia

This week has gotten off to an interesting start with images of the facelifted 2018 Toyota Hilux making their way to social media.
Shared on the ‘Yana Toyota Online’ Facebook page, the pictures posted were of the Hilux 2.4G 4x4 A/T variant.
According to the post, new features include:
Redesigned front end (new lights, new bumper, new grille, new fog lamp design)
New rear step ornament
New sticker design
New seat material (Perforated Nappa Leather)
Black interior roof
New wheel design
Besides the above, the facelifted Hilux also comes with a new meter cluster with blue backlit fonts, blue backlit digital air-conditioning controls, as well as new stitching for the leather steering wheel.
Mechanically, things should remain the same as before, with two engine options:
2.4L 2GD-FTV Turbo diesel engine producing 150 PS / 400 Nm
2.8L 1GD-FTV Turbo diesel engine producing 177 PS / 450 Nm
Both engines are paired to a choice of either a 6-speed auto or 6-speed manual gearbox, and are offered with 4x4 or 4x2 configuration.
No details on the pricing or the number of variants available have been disclosed yet, but since the vehicle is already at dealership stockyards, the facelifted Hilux could be making its official Malaysian debut real soon.


Senai-Desaru Highway Crash:  Father who lost his two-year-old son in accident appealing for witnesses

A father who has lost his two-year-old son in a horrible accident is appealing to the public to come forward if they witnessed the crash.

Aizat Istamuel Amir Hamzah, who tragically lost his only child Gibran Alfarizqi, was heading out from Desaru when suddenly a car from the opposite direction crashed into his car.

According to NST's report, the accident which took place at KM57.2 of the Senai-Desaru Highway near Bandar Penawar, was caused by a dark vehicle which lost control after making a mess of an overtaking attempt.

Picture credit: Bomba

"On Feb 19, at around 3.30pm to 4.30pm, we were involved in an accident along the Senai-Desaru highway heading towards Pasir Gudang. Gibran died, and my wife is fighting for her life right now as she sustained serious injuries," Aizat said.

"Before the accident, I saw a black or dark vehicle overtaking too close from the opposite direction. The driver lost control, hitting our car and the one behind me."

"The reckless, irresponsible driver took our my dear son's life away from us. I hope the culprit who caused the accident realises this and takes responsibility," he said, as reported by NST.

"I'm appealing for help if there is anyone out there who witnessed the accident to come forward to the Kota Tinggi Police Station."

Kota Tinggi District Police chief, Superintendent Hussin Zamora said the accident was believed to be caused by a vehicle that was carrying out a botched overtaking manoeuvre.

"The vehicle's number plate is still unknown as all five vehicles lost control from trying to avoid hitting one another from opposite sides.

"Police are making efforts to find witnesses for the accident involving five vehicles that tragically resulted in Gibran Alfarizqi's death.

"Those who witnessed the accident are urged to come forward and get in touch with the investigating officer from the Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Division (BSPT) at the Kota Tinggi District Police Headquarters , Inspector Amirul Mustakim Mustaza at 017-479 3329 to aid in investigations," he said.


Singapore 2019: BMW Previews G20 3 Series

It's taken a while to come to our part of the globe, but at the 2019 Singapore Motor Show, BMW Singapore put the all-new G20 3 Series on display for visitors to see and touch in the metal. This particular unit was a left hand drive model, with no firm date on when the model will officially be launched for our neighbours down south.
By now you should be familiar with BMW's new dashboard and interior layout- first launched with the X5 and introduced to the Z4 as well - and it looks well applied in this context with a traditional black on tan interior trim colourway. This model also has a few M Sport bits and bobs which help to give it a little more aggression.
What we see here is also a 330i, which means it comes equipped with the B48B20B turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that was available in the F30 330i locally before it was phased out. This mill produces 248 bhp and 350 Nm of torque from 1,450 rpm to 4,800 rpm, and is paired with the ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox that delivers drive to the rear wheels.
It's also sitting on an all-new platform compared to the outgoing model, derived from the 5 Series and 7 Series before it. The new platform should be stiffer, lighter, and so on, and so forth, which as you know translates to better ride and handling.
we've covered the all-new 3 Series extensively - to find out more, you can check out our debut story
here
, where you'll get a rundown of the various improvements and powertrain options that should be available, although you can probably guess we'll be getting the 316i and 330e variants to mirror what we currently have.


13 Pengeluar Automotif Gergasi Miliki Hampir Semua Jenama Kereta Utama Di Dunia

Dalam dunia ini, ada banyak jenama kereta seperti
BMW
,
Honda
,
Mercedes-Benz
,
Volvo
 dan lain-lain. Tapi tahukah anda dalam banyak-banyak jenama tersebut, ada segelintir syarikat besar yang memiliki hampir semua jenama kereta utama di dunia?

Betul! Jika digabungkan, jumlah keseluruhan jenama kereta yang dimiliki oleh 13 syarikat ini memegang sebanyak lebih 50 jenama kereta dibawah kawalan mereka. Ini membuatkan mereka menguasai industri automotif dunia.

Senarai ini tidak merangkumi setiap syarikat kereta dan setiap jenama yang ada di muka bumi ini. Sebaliknya, senarai ini bertujuan untuk menunjukkan jumlah pengaruh dan kuasa pasaran yang dimiliki oleh segelintir syarikat yang sangat besar. Berikut merupakan 13 syarikat tersebut:

1. Hyundai Motor Company

Pengeluar automotif yang berasal dari Korea Selatan ini ditubuhkan pada tahun 1967. Kini, ia memliki jenama kereta seperti berikut:

Hyundai

Kia

2. Honda Motor Company

Syarikat gergasi Asia datang dari Jepun ini ditubuhkan oleh Soichiro Honda pada tahun 1946. Sebelum menjual kereta, Honda lebih menumpukan perhatian pada pengualaran motosikal. Antara jenama yang dimiliki Honda Motor:

Acura

Honda

3. Stellantis

Stellantis adalah sebuah kumpulan automotif multinasional yang ditubuhkan pada 16 Januari 2021 hasil daripada penggabungan kumpulan PSA dan Fiat Chrysler Automobiles yang kini muncul sebagai pengeluar kedua terbesar di belakang Toyota. Kumpulan Stellantis beroperasi dan memasarkan jenama kereta seperti:

PSA

Citroën

DS Automobiles

Opel

Peugeot

Vauxhall

FCA

Abarth

Alfa Romeo

Chrysler

Dodge

Fiat

Jeep

Lancia

Maserati

4. Daimler AG

Daimler AG merupakan syarikat automotif multinasional yang berasal dari Jerman. Sebelum ini, ia dikenali sebagai Daimler-Benz dan Daimler Chrysler namun biasanya, ia dikenali dan disebut sebagai
Mercedes-Benz
 atau Daimler. Daimler-Benz dibentuk dengan penggabungan Benz & Cie. dan Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft pada tahun 1926. Kini ia memegang jenama kereta seperti:

Mercedes-Benz

Smart

5. Ford Motor Company

Syarikat multinasional yang bertapak di Amerika Syarikat ini ditubuhkan oleh Henry Ford pada 16 Jun 1903. Ford kini memiliki jenama kereta seperti:

Ford

Lincoln Motor Company

Troller

6. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group

Semenjak
Proton
 umum kerjasama dengan Geely, rata-rata rakyat Malaysia tahu bahawa Geely ini merupakan syarikat pengilang automotif nasional dari China. Ia dibangunkan pada tahun 1986 dan memasuki industri automotif pada tahun 1997 dengan jenama Geely Auto. Syarikat China ini memiliki jenama kereta seperti:

Geely

Volvo

London EV Company

7. Bayerishe Motoren Werke AG (BMW)

Syarikat multinasional Jerman yang menghasilkan kenderaan seperti motosikal dan kereta mewah ini ditubuhkan pada 1916 sebagai pengeluar enjin kapal terbang. Namun kini, syarikat ini memegang jenama kereta seperti:

BMW

MINI

Rolls-Royce

8. Nissan Motor

Nissan Motor pula merupakan syarikat gergasi dari Jepun yang telah menghasilkan banyak kenderaan JDM yang menjadi pujaan peminat kereta dunia. Pada awalnya, dia dikenali sebagai Nissan Zaibatsu sebelum ditukar kepada Nissan Group. Ditubuhkan pada tahun 1933, kini syarikat ini memiliki:

Nissan

Infiniti

Datsun

9. Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Motor adalah sebuah pengeluar kenderaan antarabangsa dari Jepun yang diasaskan oleh Kiichiri Toyoda pada tahun 1937. Syarikat ini merupakan syarikat pengeluar automotif terbesar dunia pada waktu ini dan memiliki jenama seperti:

Toyota

Daihatsu

Lexus

10. Tata Group

Tata Group meupakan sebuah syarikat pegangan konglomerat multinasional yang berasal dari India. Ia diasaskan pada 1868 oleh Jamshedji Tata dan mula mencuri perhatian apabila membeli beberapa syarikat global lain. Kini, Tata Group memiliki:

Tata Motors

Land Rover

Jaguar

11. Renault Group

Dikenali secara sah sebagai Renault S.A. dan ia merupakan syarikat multinasional automotif keluaran Perancis yang ditubuhkan pada 1899. Syarikat ini menghasilkan pelbagai kenderaan seperti kereta, van, traktor, bas, kereta api dan kapal terbang. Kini, ia memiliki:

Renault

Dacia

Renault Samsung Motors

AvtoVAZ

Alpine

12. Volkswagen Group

Syarikat perkilangan automotif multinasional Jerman ini dimiliki oleh keluarga Porsche-Piech Austria. Volkswagen mula ditubuhkan pada tahun 1937 dan ia turut menghasilkan motosikal dan kenderaan komersial. Kini ia memiliki 8 jenama besar seperti:

Audi

Bentley

Bugatti

Lamborghini

Porsche

SEAT

Škoda

Volkswagen

13. General Motors

GM merupakan sebuah syarikat automotif multinasional Amerika Syarikat. Syarikat gergasi ini menghasilkan kereta serta trak di 37 buah negara dan memiliki jenama seperti:

Chevrolet

Cadillac

GMC

Buick


All-new Honda WR-V unveiled in Indonesia - Ativa's biggest rival?

Indonesia staged the global debut of the all-new Honda WR-V compact SUV model earlier this week.

Using the SUV RS Concept which was unveiled in the country last year, the Honda WR-V is the final product that has entered the production stage. Sitting comfortably just under the Honda HR-V, the Honda WR-V is said to rival some big competition within its category that consists of the Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize. In Malaysia, that would be the Perodua Ativa.

Three variants with the same 1.5L NA engine

There will be three different variants made available for the all-new Honda WR-V in Indonesia - the base E, mid RS, and the range-topping RS with Honda Sensing. With dimensions of 4,060mm (long), 1,780mm (wide), and 1,608mm (tall), the latest compact SUV from Honda is slightly shorter and lower but wider compared to the Perodua Ativa.

That funky design is powered by a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine that produces 121ps at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,300rpm. Mated to a CVT transmission, it's the same engine configuration for all three WR-V variants which can also be found in the non-hybrid and non-turbo Honda City and HR-V.

Honda WR-V E, RS, or RS with Honda Sensing?

The base Honda WR-V model is already starting strong with specs like:

One push ignition system with remote engine start

Keyless entry

7-inch infotainment touchscreen

16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels

LED turn signals for the side mirrors

Rear multi-angle reverse parking camera

Digital AC panel

Four airbags

380-litre boot space + more

Moving up to the Honda WR-V RS model, this variant comes with a few extras such as:

Full LED headlight with LED DRLs

Chromed chequered front grille

Walk away auto lock

17-inch two-tone alloy wheels

Analogue/digital combination meter cluster with a 4.2-inch TFT display

Leather/fabric combination seats

Auto AC

Side mirrors with auto fold

The range-topping Honda WR-V RS with Honda Sensing sits at the very top with specs like:

Honda Sensing

Honda LaneWatch

Six airbags

USB power outlet

Auto headlights

Honda WR-V - From RM82k to RM94k in Indonesia

As for the price tag, the base Honda WR-V E variant is priced at Rp271.9 million, followed by Rp289.9 million for the RS, and Rp309.9 million for the RS with Honda Sensing. That's roughly in the ballpark of between RM82,000 to RM94,000.

There are six colour options to choose from - Taffeta While (E variant only), Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, and three exclusive colours for the RS variants - Stellar Diamond Pearl, Ignite Red Metallic, and Ignite Red Metallic (two-tone).

Is it a good enough prospect to be brought into the Malaysian market and go head-to-head with the Perodua Ativa? Like everything else, the price will be the determining factor if it does land on our shores.


BMW X5 xDrive40e – Setting the Tone For iPerformance, M Performance’s Alter Ego

The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is one of the most coveted performance cars on the market today. At RM1.2 million, for many it will remain as a dream car. What the i8 has accomplished however, is firmly establishing the BMW i brand in Malaysia.
Just as the previous generations of the BMW 7 Series have always led the way in safety, comfort and convenience technologies, previewing the features that are likely to trickle down to future generations of the 5 Series and 3 Series, the advanced carbon-fibre structure and plug-in hybrid technology used in the i8 will trickle down to other mainstream BMW core models – most recently being the Carbon Core chassis in the all-new
BMW 7 Series
.
Sitting a couple of rungs below the 7 Series is the new BMW X5 xDrive40e, better known as the BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid. Following behind the tyre tracks of the i8, the X5 Plug-in Hybrid is the first model to introduce the BMW iPerformance sub-brand in Malaysia.
BMW iPerformance is to M Sport in the same way i Series is to M Series – aspirations to the sporting appeal and dynamism of the sub brands from BMW.
In the same way BMW’s M cars have never compromised on comfort, utility and aesthetics in pursuit of faster lap times, neither has the X5 Plug-in Hybrid. There are none of the ugly aero aides, low but stiff ride height typically seen in other hybrids, trading off handling and performance for lower emissions. It drives just as well, if not better than a regular BMW X5 xDrive35i.
30 km and 120 km/h in eDrive – because that’s the optimum
By now, you would’ve read that the X5 Plug-In Hybrid has a maximum electric-only driving distance of 30 km, reaching up to 120 km/h (real-world performance will vary depending on driving conditions).
Not a lot, but it’s more than enough to get many drivers to work. In certain countries where charging facilities are widely available, drivers can in theory drive to work and back without using a single drop of fuel.
Why the obsession with electric-only driving distance? In places where carbon-tax applies, there are significant benefits in driving an ultra-low emissions vehicles like the X5 Plug-In Hybrid, whose CO2 emissions stands at 77 g/km, versus over 200 g/km that a typical SUV of this size emits.
Exemption from congestion charge to enter city centres, priority parking, access to carpool lanes, income tax rebates, are among some of the benefits enjoyed by many X5 Plug-In Hybrid owners around the world.
Closer to home, where the public transportation is barely even integrated, such benefits are easily a decade away but the advantages of the X5 Plug-In Hybrid’s eDrive mode are not lost entirely.
Filtering your way through Klang Valley’s notorious peak hour traffic, the X5 Plug-In Hybrid is probably the most comfortable BMW to commute in, bar the 7 Series. Prod the throttle gently when the traffic light turns green, the leviathan X5 glides forward with amazing poise, minus any engine noise or vibrations. It simply wafts along riding on the electric motor’s ample 250 Nm of torque.
Unlike a regular hybrid, the X5 Plug-in Hybrid can continue doing this for a pretty long distance, up to 30 km, and the petrol engine doesn’t fire up until you really give the accelerator a firm shove.
Why stop at only 30 km? Of course BMW can extend the X5’s eDrive distance beyond 30 km, and sustain it at speeds much higher than 120 km/h, but doing so would require a bigger traction battery, and that would mean more weight, and weight is the enemy of driving performance, never mind about the significantly higher cost.
Interestingly, an independent study conducted by China’s Tsinghua University same to the same conclusion as BMW had, that when all else are equal, an eDrive distance of about 30 km is the optimum balance in covering the average driver’s daily driving distance, while controlling cost. Beyond 30 km, every additional km in eDrive distance exponentially bumps up the weight and cost penalty.
Even when all four cylinders fire up, increasing the torque reserve to 450 Nm, there’s hardly any noticeable jerk as the vehicle is already at speed.
The BMW Roundel – Symbol of Class-Leading Driving Pleasure, Hybrid or Not
Unlike the regular X5 models, the X5 xDrive40e comes strictly with two-row seats, without the option of adding a third row. The omission is made in the interest of preserving the agile handling that all BMW cars are known for.
Hybrid or not, this X5 Plug-in Hybrid wears the BMW badge, and that means having to live up to certain levels of expectations in driving performance.
The addition of a traction battery beneath the boot floor adds 150 kg over the rear axle. The need to offset this weight penalty, plus the associated packaging constraints meant that the third row seats have to go.
This allows the X5 Plug-in Hybrid to deliver almost the same performance as the petrol-powered X5 xDrive35i, with a power-to-weight ratio of 9.7 kg/kW versus the petrol variant’s 9.0 kg/kW. Both figures are much better than the xDrive30d’s 10.7 kg/kW.
The all-important century sprint from 0-100 km/h is done in 6.8 seconds, just 0.3 seconds slower than an X5 xDrive35i, a pretty acceptable trade-off considering the plug-in hybrid’s added eDrive capability.
On its own, the 2.0-litre four cylinder engine produces 245 hp and 350 Nm, thanks to a single TwinScroll turbocharger, making it the most powerful four cylinder engine from BMW. Together with the electric motor, the combined system produces 313 hp and 450 Nm, marginally better than the X5 xDrive35i.
BMW doesn’t expect X5 owners to engage in any Borneo Safari-like activities, so the X5 xDrive40e’s permanent all-wheel drive system is optimised for on-road performance.
With a combined torque of 450 Nm (50 Nm more than a base model Porsche Cayenne), the X5 xDrive40e needs all four wheels to be driven rather than just two.
A short drive in the car during the X5 Plug-In Hybrid’s launch gave a good enough first impression of the car. Keen drivers will be happy to note that hybridisation has not affected the X5’s hallmarks of surefootedness and excellent ride and handling. The steering wheel connects not just to the car’s mechanicals, but also to the driver’s emotions.
But nevermind about all that. Priced at just RM388,800.00, Malaysia is one of the few, if not the only country in the world to have a supposedly pricier Plug-In Hybrid variant priced significantly lower than its petrol or diesel equivalent. The Boss has never looked so good.
For more information on the BMW X5 xDrive40e, visit
bmw-electricdrivingpleasure.com


Buy A Toyota And Win A Vios Or A Trip To Tokyo

Buyers of a new Toyota vehicle can stand a chance of winning a new Toyota Vios Sports Edition or a trip to Japan for the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.
The Toyota 'Buy & Win', which ends 30 Sept, offers two units of the Vios Sports Edition to be won.
A further 45 winners stand to win a trip for two to the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show as first prizes.
The company is offering up to RM5,000 (model dependent) in cash rebates for the Vios, Camry, Hilux Double Cab, Corolla Altis, Fortuner, Sienta and Avanza. Buyers of the new Vios will also be receiving free accessories worth RM4,000 plus a special Merdeka Reward worth RM500, while Corolla Altis buyers will enjoy free accessories worth RM5,700, on top of the cash rebates.
UMW Toyota has also made the Toyota Vios easier for graduates to afford with its ‘Toyota Easy GradSCHEME’ with installments from as low as RM675 a month.
More information are available at all Toyota dealerships nationwide.


2020 Honda City VS 2020 Nissan Almera Turbo: Prices Are Out, It's Decision Time!

2020 Nissan Almera Turbo vs 2020 Honda City: Can't decide which one to buy?

Let us help you out!

Now that the prices are finally out for the 2020 Nissan Almera Turbo (from RM80K) and the
All-New Honda City (from RM74K)
, it's decision time for those who have been mulling over these two cars for the last few months or so.

They are pretty closely matched and will no doubt present a headache when it comes to choosing time, so if you're still undecided, perhaps these three points can sway you in the right direction.

Are you prepared to wait?

Even though one car has a turbocharged engine and the other has a naturally aspirated one, the performance figures for both cars are not really far off on the surface. But if you look closer, there are some details which can give a telltale sign that they will both be completely different when the green light comes on.

The Honda City, with its 1.5-litre N/A engine pushes out 121PS/145Nm while the Nissan Almera Turbo with its 1.0-litre turbocharged engine provides 100PS/152Nm.

While there isn't much in it between the two when it comes to performance, the fact that the Almera's 152Nm of torque kicking in between 2,000-4,000rpm means that it will be faster off the blocks. This will be very helpful for city driving where you need torque down low.

On the highway, on the other hand, the Honda City will probably be better as its torque kicks in higher up the rev range at 4,300rpm. This will give the Honda City better usable power at higher cruising speeds.

Better be safe than sorry

To get the full lock stock and two smoking barrels of safety features,  you would need to purchase the Honda City RS which will come with Honda Sensing.

The Almera Turbo, on the other hand, comes with a slew of safety features as standard, including Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and traction control, ABS, EBD, brake assist, two rear Isofix points as well as hill start assist.

To say that the Honda City is less safe is far fetched, but the standard safety features on the Almera Turbo is impressive.

You might as well wait for the Honda City RS

If you're planning to buy the highest spec Nissan Almera Turbo (VLT), you might as well just wait for the Honda City RS (slated to arrive in Jan 2021) because there is reliable insider information that the Honda City RS will be priced under RM100k.

The Almera Turbo VLT is priced at RM91,310, and if the Honda City RS is under RM100k, the monthly payment between the two would not be that much different.

If the difference is not that much, then the Honda City RS with its Honda Sensing safety features and 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle DOHC i-VTEC engine plus two-hybrid motors which have an output of 108PS and 253Nm will be the safer and faster car.

Ultimately, the decision goes down to what you can afford and whatever your budget is. Both manufacturers have provided a variety of variants to suit your needs. In our opinion, if you want to spend big, wait for the Honda City RS, if you're going to be frugal with your money, the Almera Turbo is not a bad shout.


Proton Signs MoU With PT Adiperkasa Citra Lestari

Proton recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PT. Adiperkasa Citra Lestari to develop and manufacture an Indonesian national car.
The MoU serves to enhance business opportunities between both companies of their respective countries in areas relating to the development and manufacturing of the proposed vehicle project.
Proton
 Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah and PT ACL Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono signed the MoU at the Proton Centre of Excellence in Subang Jaya, witnessed by Malaysian Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Dato' Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Herman Prayitno.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Proton chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
A feasibility study on the commercial and technical aspects of the project will be conducted to explore specific areas of cooperation between the two companies including the development plans on localisation activities, purchasing activities, engineering and design activities, logistic services, market studies and other relevant processes relating to the project.
Keep in mind that the MoU is only an expression of the current intention of both parties and is not binding.
Dato’ Harith said, “The collaboration will be good as both nations specifically work together to develop products for the larger market. Furthermore, PROTON, which has the facilities, capabilities and technology know-how in design, development and manufacturing of cars, is the only company in the ASEAN region with a Research & Development (R&D) facility in-house.”


Porsche Embraces Electrification - 60% Of Panameras Delivered In Europe Are Hybrids

While there's yet to be a roadgoing hybrid 911, Porsche has stepped into electrification seamlessly with both their Panamera and Cayenne model lines, adopting hybrid systems with little fuss. More important than that is market reception: in Europe, 60% of Porsche Panameras sold are hybrid models, with fluctuations between various countries. Belgium in particular has high hybrid uptake rates, with 90% of their Panameras being hybrid, while Austria follows at 80%, and France comes in with 70%.
Of course, these figures are to be taken with a pinch of salt - after all, how many Panameras does Porsche actually move compared to more regular mass market cars, and as we see in markets (like our own) Porsche doesn't always offer the full model lineup to customers. Hybrids could be the more appealing option in certain markets simply because customers don't have a choice. This is also important in Europe where taxation is based on emissions.
That being said, the hybrid models and, more recently, plug-in hybrid models are very appealing for their electric drive range. With the plug-in hybrid system, the Panamera is capable of travelling up to 50 kilometres on pure electric, and in the form of the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid this efficiency is matched by sheer performance. It's a nice balance that lets you save the environment without compromising on those moments when you want a bit of raw power.
Porsche doesn't believe that hybrids and electrification are just a fad either. They've recently announced a 1 billion Euro investment for their Mission E project, around 700 million of which will go into a new production facility that includes a paint shop, as well as expansion of the engine production and body construction facilities to accomodate the new electric drives and body shells respectively. Roughly 1,200 new jobs will be created in preparation for the Mission E.
Better news for Porsche plug-in hybrid owners is that Porsche is developing their own in-house fast charging system known as Porsche Turbo. Yes, the name is confusing - perhaps no more confusing than the Tesla Supercharger - but the specs are in true Porsche fashion: 800 Volts, with a charging rate of up to 320 kW. The system is designed to make charging quicker and easier, even with current electrical network infrastructures.


Rolls-Royce Previews New Cullinan SUV With Teaser Images

Bentley has done it
.
Jaguar has gotten into the act
. It was only a matter of time before Rolls-Royce joins the party. They may officially give the fancy title ‘all-terrain high-sided vehicle’, but be in no doubt that the first SUV by Rolls-Royce will soon be upon us.
Called Project Cullinan at this stage, Rolls-Royce has just officially published teaser photographs of camouflaged prototypes ready to hit public roads for advanced developmental testing.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of Project Cullinan both for Rolls-Royce and for the patrons of luxury that follow us around the world,” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Beneath the camouflage stickers of this first test mule is an entirely new aluminium architecture that will go on to underpin the next-generation of Rolls-Royce models launched from 2018 onwards. The vehicle is also confirmed to have all-wheel drive.
A punishing test schedule awaits the pictured prototype. Cold weather durability and traction testing is set to commence in the Arctic Circle just after Christmas. After that, the high temperatures of the deserts lie await in the Middle East.
“Bringing together the new four-wheel drive system and the new ‘architecture of luxury’ for the first time sets us on the road to creating a truly authentic Rolls-Royce which, like its forebears, will reset the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged,” said Müller-Ötvös.


Renault Reveals All-New 2015 Duster Oroch, Its First-Ever Pick-Up

Renault
 has taken the wraps off its first-ever pick up, the Duster Oroch, at the 7
th
 Buenos Aires International Motor Show and aimed at the Latin American market. Let's take a look at what the French automaker brings to its first foray into this unique market segment.
We’ve reported on the
teaser
 that Renault had pushed out on the ramp-up to the unveil, but this is the first real look at what this new offering brings to the table. It is based on the Renault Duster, which, aside from the South American market, is known as a product of Renault’s Romanian subsidiary, Dacia. The Duster Oroch is part of Renault's range of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) and ties into the company's investment in its Santa Isabel, Córdoba plant in Argentina to launch the manufacture of a new-generation utility vehicle.
Details are a little scarce, but what we can safely assume is that the new Duster Oroch sits on a C-segment platform and fits in between the half-tonne and one-tonner pick-ups. Renault has specifically positioned it between two segments, effectively creating an entirely new one, sort of. It features four doors and five proper seats, combining a double cab with cabin space comparable to a larger pickup. Being dimensionally smaller, though, means it’s more nimble and fits nicely on most roads. Despite that, Renault is quick to point out that it still has plenty of loading space and a decent cargo bed - again, no specific details were shared, so these images are all we have to go off on.
This is a racidally different product from Renault, who says that it will be powered by a 1.6 or 2.0-litre injection engine that are "adapted to the needs of the new model". It comes equipped with what looks to be a leather interior and Renault's Media NAV Evolution, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has GPS navigation, Bluetooth and USB media compatibility; features that are not typical of a car with developing markets in mind, and Renault is bringing a lot of value to what is, essentially, a blue-collar working man's premium SUV, so to speak.
The automaker is targeting the Duster Oroch as a combined use vehicle, ideal for the customer who don't necessarily need a full size pick-up but would benefit from the extra utility without sacrificing the ease of use and maneuverability of a more compact vehicle.
"This new model, Renault's first pickup, is the next step in Renault's globalization strategy. With Renault Duster Oroch, the brand is launching its offensive in the competitive pickup segment", said Ashwani Gupta, Renault's Global Head of Light Commercial Vehicles.