2015 BMW X1 Review In Austria: Coming To Malaysia Q4 This Year

To be fair, when the all-new
BMW X1
 was first revealed, the lot of us were far more bemused by the fact that this was yet another one of them sacrilegious front-wheel drive
BMWs
, inevitably missing out on a lot of what the new car had to boast.
Yes, this is the brand’s third attempt at FWD now, and since, hardcore enthusiast would have probably found it easier to let slide the fact that the first two FWDs. The 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer were completely new MPV models, without the heritage of rear-wheel pushing power.
In the case of the X1, however, gone is the wheel-spinning, drift-able baby Sports Activity Vehicle, in favour of a more efficiently-packaged and new-world friendly vehicle. There’s going to be a lot more forgiving required with the X1.
And as you can tell, we’re still not quite done bemusing the elephant in the room.
*READ ALSO: All-New BMW X1 Makes Global Debut
Off we were taken, then, to Achenkirch, Austria, where we’d been kindly invited by BMW Malaysia to drive the all-new BMW X1, front-wheel drive and everything, all the way to Munich, Germany.
At first glance of the car before us we thought, “Hey, this actually (and finally) looks like an X1 we’d be proud to call our own” (if ever a journalist could be so lucky): the out-going model had a snout too long for the good of its overall proportions, and a mug that just didn’t belong. Sorry BMW, but we’re only about to heap praise on the new one’s looks, so let us get off some hard truths to the old one first.
And, if Mercedes-Benz are getting away with their compact range of front-wheelers without too much gripe, what’s to stop the new, handsome, and purposeful X1 from the same?
Buyer’s Guide:
Because this has been an international drive in a foreign country, there’s little we can tell you about our coming Malaysian-spec all-new BMW X1. We can only tell you that it will be coming to this part of the globe in Q4 2015, and just like the new 1 Series, local-assembly is very likely from the start. Currently, prices for the out-going X1 range from RM240k to RM270k for the two 2.0-litre sDrive and xDrive variants.
*READ ALSO: What is the BMW X1’s Biggest Competition in Malaysia?
Back to the car to drive from Achenkirch, and two variants were up for our tests: an X1 xDrive25d, and the X1 xDrive25i. By some luck, we were in the petrol xDrive25i for both legs of our journey, which is the more likely model to make its way to Malaysia anyhow. The diesel, we hear, could come trumpeting BMW’s latest three-cylinder engine.
Exterior Design:
If photos were all you had to go off on, we wouldn’t blame you for mistaking the X1 for a full-on X5. Rather than sport its own unique look, BMW’s designers, led by one 29-year old Calvin Luk from Korea, have seemingly sculpted this one to look a lot more like its larger siblings: leaving little room then to imagine what an X2 might look like if they ever made one (clue: think baby X4/ X6). The rumour mill suggests its very likely, though.
Nevertheless, the X1 is also far more approachable in design than before, adopting what is said to be a ‘softer’ and ‘gentler’ styling approach, rather than the aggressive and sharp, without losing the ‘X’ brand’s masculinity. No longer having to align its engines front to back (longitudinal) has also allowed the baby Sports Activity Vehicle to reduce its bonnet length, and make the car appear a lot more proportionally appealing than before.
While you’ve probably read all there is about it’s the X1’s new design from our
global launch report
, let us be amongst the first few to tell you what it looks like in reality (yes, this story has been on bench for a while to adhere to BMW’s international embargo).
It’s handsome, to say the least – we don’t think we could do any better at imagining the latest-gen X1 ourselves. The overall design is masculine, the styling is reminiscent of its larger siblings (which we like) and the rear doesn’t do a boring flat-line drop, its angled rear windshield tucks nicely into the rest of the tailgate, and check out those exhaust tips, two of them on each end, no less.
We love how the X1’s shape can be traced back to that of the awesome X5, and is no longer a cut-and-paste job more reminiscent of a 3 Series that’s been stretched awkwardly into a wagon, then put on short stilts. This is a proper Sports Activity Vehicle, rightfully belonging to the BMW X line-up.
Interior Design:
As you would already know, adopting the transverse engine layout through the new front-wheel drive configuration has allowed BMW’s designers to lengthen the cabin space significantly: most notably introducing up to 66mm more rear knee room (rear seats slid back).
Else, the interior design largely resembles what you’d get from the latest BMWs: large infotainment display screen on the dash (now free-standing), iDrive Touch controller (optional) on the centre console, sporty BMW steering wheel, the works like you’ve seen it before.
IMPROVED QUALITY:
 Where the difference is made for passengers is with the new and improved quality of materials used in the all-new X1. Just like we’ve seen in the Active Tourer and Gran Tourer MPVs, the switchgear, instruments, and displays are far more refined to exude the kind of premium BMW quality we’ve longed for with the previous model.
Speaking of similarities with the 2 Series Active Tourer, you may also note that the 8.8-inch touchscreen is now a free-standing affair (rather than the old one which was embedded in the dash), while the gear lever is also a departure from the previous X1’s design, now featuring a taller lever that mimics the design of an actual manual stick. All amber-colour displays have also been thrown out in favour of the new white-coloured digital ones.
STORAGE:
 Addressed is the lacking cubby hole issue of the previous X1: look just ahead of the new model’s gear lever here, and there’s a large compartment that splits into two sections when opened: dual cupholders and a slot for other items and a power source.
For more storage, the all-new X1 has also adopted the Active Tourer’s handy centre armrest design, which doesn’t just fold upwards to a large and deep storage opportunity, but the top layer itself (the cushioned bit) can be opened as well to reveal yet another storage compartment most appropriate for your mobile phone or other similarly slim objects.
SEATING POSITION:
Just like the 2 AT and 2 GT MPV models, the all-new X1 also gives its passengers a higher seating position than before – escaping the sedan-like approach, and favouring to offer a higher view out the windscreen for its driver and front passenger.
CARGO SPACE:
 As covered in our
global debut report
, the X1 has grown significantly in width and height, but has however reduced its overall length marginally. This has led to lots of space created in the cabin, yes, but also more cargo space.
With the rear seats upright, there’s 85 litres more space than before, for a total of 505 litres. As it is, the space was enough to pack in two of our large travel bags laid out flat on the floor, with enough room for our backpacks to sit alongside. On top, you could easily fit a few more items, such as a duffel bag etc.
Driving a 2015 BMW X1:
Where would we be on a trip from Austria to Munich if not for the immaculate BMW Head-Up Display (optional) system and the excellent Navigational Professional infotainment program guiding us along the way: lost, for sure? We’ve no doubts. Here equipped with the optional 8.8-inch infotainment screen, the BMW X1 is the rightest thing for the exploration of unchartered routes, sufficient GPS data provided and connectivity, of course.
POWER:
 Hurrying us along is the power of BMW’s 2.0-litre TwinPower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, developing 231hp and 350Nm of torque for the xDrive25i we were driving. The engine is a step up from the xDrive20i we have offered right now in Malaysia, but rest-assured whatever mill BMW Malaysia decides on for us, will bring more power and fuel efficiency than its predecessor.
As BMW powertrains go, there’s an instantaneous gallop forwards every time you plant the throttle – not that you’d need to, because a flick of a button to send the car into Sport mode (Sport + if you’re feeling brave) adds lots of throttle pedal linearity to power delivery from the acres in reserve.
There’s also a sense of BMW having worked on the auto start/stop feature, with a lesser jolt felt each time the engine was brought back to life after coming to a stop. If or not this was in any way influenced by the cold weather is hard to say, but we do know four-pot BMWs to stir a cabin very noticeably back home in Malaysia.
Drive within the realms of what’s normal for a car like this, and you’ll quickly come to your senses over any qualms of its FWD nature.
VISIBILITY:
 Seated high, seeing out the vehicle is no problem at all. Despite what appears to be a narrowly slanted rear windscreen, you are very aware of the X1’s surroundings – there’s no sense of losing sight of where all four corners of the vehicle are in relation to the nearest objects around it. We would know, having easily navigated around Austria’s smaller towns with very narrow roads, where two lanes with opposing directions seamlessly merge to become one under stone arches. And did we mention, in a left-hand drive vehicle?
RIDE & HANDLING:
 Should you request it, BMW will now for the first time be able to spec your car up to feature adaptive dampers (local availability may differ), but they really weren’t a necessity on the kind of silky smooth roads we were on. More so were we able to brave the X1’s dynamic handling abilities, which you’d be highly mistaken for thinking has gone out the door with the changes from RWD to FWD.
Let’s get things straight: despite the FWD architecture, the xDrive all-wheel drive system equipped here has the ability to send maximum power to the rear wheels when needed: particularly when front wheel traction isn’t doing the best job of propelling the car forward as quickly as possible (in wet or loose surfaces, mostly).
We hate to say it for how it may sound on paper, but the Sports Activity Vehicle here handles very much like the brand’s newest MPVs – an obvious point, though, given that the X1 shares the same UKL 1 platform as the 2 Series Active Tourer.
But as we found out with the 2 AT and 2 GT, they’re very capable of delivering BMW’s promise of properly dynamic driving. And so too the X1, which despite yielding the expected lateral body roll of a tall SUV, returns lots of willingness to handle whatever corners you throw at it, within reason for a car of this nature, that is.
Cruising down the autobahn demonstrated a very quiet cabin, with wind noises only breaking in at the 120km/h mark. Driving there in access of most normal highway speed limits, up to 180km/h even, the X1 is remarkably comfortable with the speed – not that we encourage exploring those limits, ever, unless on a track: this was Germany’s autobahn.
COMFORT:
 Paired up two per car, the time this writer spent in the passenger seats for hour-long stretches at a time was surprisingly comfortable. With space enough to accommodate my six-foot self in the front and rear, the chassis did well to soak up any unevenness. The measure may yield different results locally, where as we all know, Malaysian roads are of a special kind of terrible. From Austria to Germany, I’d be glad and relaxed to ride shotgun all the way.
GOING SIDEWAYS:
 Literally, that is. Kindly, BMW had set up for us a bit of an obstacle course to show off the nature of the beast we were driving. Needless to say, the 35-degree slants, stair slope and seesaw gave opportunity for the vehicle’s new downhill speed regulation system, low centre of gravity and more to shine, and so the car did perform without a hint of struggle. Check out the photos in the gallery to see more of this in action.
Verdict:
Overall, the all-new BMW X1 is to us a success. A far more sensible choice to buyers with a passion for a premium compact SUV than the out-going model it’s here to replace, let alone many of its competitors. As a daily driver that could ferry the family to school on weekdays and then brave a little bit of the wilderness on the weekend, I’d personally put my confidence is this to do the job.
Priced and specified right, this is going to be a hit when it comes to Malaysia, so start budgeting for it come Q4 2015, and get in that early booking where possible – don’t say we didn’t warn you in advance.


Perbandingan MPV 7-Tempat Duduk Mampu Milik Di Malaysia

Adakah
Perodua Alza 2022
 merupakan MPV 7 tempat duduk terbaik yang boleh dibeli berdasarkan harga yang ditawarkan berbanding MPV 7 tempat duduk lain di Malaysia?

Susulan berita berkenaan MPV baharu Perodua Alza 2022 yang telah menerima
lebih 30,000 tempahan
, adakah ia bermaksud ketika ini Perodua Alza merupakan MPV yang paling berbaloi untuk dimiliki berbanding pencabarnya yang lain?

Kami senaraikan beberapa
MPV
7 tempat duduk di bawah RM100,000 bagi mereka yang sedang mencari kenderaan sesuai untuk kegunaan seisi keluarga.

MPV 7-Tempat Duduk Mampu Milik

Model

Mitsubishi Xpander

Honda BR-V 1.5 V

Perodua Alza AV

Toyota Veloz

Proton Exora Premium

Harga

RM96,800

RM97,700

RM75,500

RM95,000*

RM66,800

Panjang (mm)

4,475

4,457

4,425

4,475

4,610

Lebar (mm)

1,750

1,735

1,730

1,750

1,809

Tinggi (mm)

1,730

1,677

1,670

1,700

1,691

Jarak Roda (mm)

2,775

2,662

2,750

2,750

2,730

Enjin dan Output

1.5L MIVEC DOHC

105 PS & 141 Nm

1.5L SOHC i
‑
VTEC

120 PS & 145 Nm

1.5L 2NR-VE DVVT-i

106 PS &  138 Nm

1.5L 2NR-VE DVVT-i

106 PS & 137 Nm

1.5L Turbo DOHC VVT

103 PS & 205 Nm

Transmisi

4-Kelajuan Automatik

CVT

CVT

CVT

CVT

Saiz Tayar

205/55 R16

195/60 R16

195/60 R16

205/50 R17

205/50 R16

Pacuan

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

Ciri Keselamatan

2 airbags

ABS, EBD, BA

Traction Control

Hill Start Assist

All-Round Monitor

Driving Video Recorder

Parking Sensors

2 airbags

ABS, EBD, BA

Vehicle Stability Assist

Traction Control

Hill Start Assist

Reverse Camera and Sensors

6 airbags

ABS, EBD, BA

Vehicle Stability Control

Traction Control

Hill Start Assist

Digital Driving Recorder

360 camera

Auto Brake Hold

Perodua Smart Drive Assist: (Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Pre-Collision Warning and Braking, Blind Spot Monitor, RCTA, Adaptive Driving Beam)

Toyota Safety Sense (TSS)

Pre-Collision System

 Adaptive Cruise Control

Auto Hold

2 Airbags

ABS, EBD, ESC

Rear Parking sensors

Reverse Camera

Harga

Jika melihat dari kedudukan harga MPV keluaran nasional, Alza dan Exora muncul sebagai pilihan mampu milik terbaik antara yang tersenarai. Walau bagaimanapun, Proton Exora merupakan model MPV lama yang tidak dipenuhi dengan teknologi keselamatan aktif yang terkini.

Sementara itu, Alza yang berkongsi platform DNGA yang sama seperti Toyota Veloz pula dilihat pilihan yang terbaik dari segala segi memandangkan ia memiliki ciri-ciri yang hampir sama dengan Veloz, namun dijual kira-kira RM19,500 lebih murah berbanding model Toyota itu.

Saiz

MPV 7 tempat duduk seharusnya mempunyai ruang yang besar dan selesa di bahagian penumpang. Dari segi lebar dan panjang, agak mengejutkan kerana Exora muncul sebagai juara. Namun angka tersebut tidaklah melambangkan keluasan dan keselesaan dengan tepat di dalam kabinnya kerana ia bergantung pada rekaan serta kualiti binaan.

Output Enjin

Meskipun enjin i-VTEC pada Honda BR-V menghasilkan output tertinggi dengan 120 PS, namun kadar tork maksimumnya tidaklah sehebat enjin turbo pada Exora yang menghasilkan sekitar 205 Nm. Kesemua MPV yang disenaraikan menggunakan transmisi CVT, kecuali Xpander yang menggunakan transmisi 4-kelajuan automatik.

Ciri Keselamatan

Tidak dinafikan, ciri keselamatan yang ditawarkan pada Alza dan Veloz adalah ciri yang paling termaju dan terkini. Berbanding MPV lain, hanya Alza sahaja yang dilengkapi dengan 6 airbag serta ciri Perodua Smart Drive Assist seperti Toyota Safety Sense (TSS). Meskpun Toyota belum menjelaskan ciri lengkap TSS bagi Veloz untuk pasaran Malaysia, namun sudah pasti ia bakal menyamai ciri keselamatan pada Alza.

Kesimpulan

Kesimpulannya, hanya Exora dan Alza sahaja yang dijual pada harga di bawah RM80,000 sementara kesemua pencabar lainnya berada pada lingkungan RM95,000 ke atas. Jika anda mencari MPV termurah, Proton Exora memang pilihan terbaik, namun harus diingatkan bahawa ia merupakan model lama jika nak dibandingkan dengan MPV lain yang disenaraikan.

Ini sedikit sebanyak membuatkan Perodua Alza sebagai MPV terbaik dari segala segi berdasarkan harga serta ciri-ciri yang ditawarkan memandangkan ia masih baru dilancarkan. Walau bagaimanapun, untuk mendapatkan perbezaan sebenar untuk antara MPV yang disebutkan ini, pastikan anda pandu uji kesemua model ini terlebih dahulu sebelum membuat pilihan.


F1 2017: Renault’s R.S.17 F1 Car Launched

The Renault Sport Formula One Team has launched its 2017 F1 season challenger, the R.S.17, and announced its new sponsors - BP, Castrol and MAPFRE. The launch was also the first public unveil of the new Renault Sport brand identity, designed to provide a stronger link between Renault Sport Racing and Renault Sport Cars.
The R.S. 17 is powered by Renault Sport Racing’s R.E.17 power unit, the R.S.17 has no carry over parts from the R.S.16. The team has worked from a clean sheet of paper to respond to Formula 1’s latest regulations. It is the first Formula 1 car designed from the outset by Renault Sport Racing from its two locations in Enstone, England and Viry-Châtillon, France.
Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport Racing Managing Director added, “The R.S.17 is the first car which Enstone and Viry have been able to plan and develop from the outset and we’re satisfied by the fruits of this interaction. It’s a beautiful car. As well as the excitement of the R.S.17 itself, we also have a highly important new partner in BP through their BP and Castrol brands. For 2017 our performance targets are clear. We want to take a definite, tangible step forward in performance and results. Fifth position in the Constructors’ Championship is our goal.”

The R.S. 17 will be piloted by race drivers Nico Hülkenberg who joins Renault Sport from Foce India, and Jolyon Palmer who is back for a second season with Renault. The third and reserve driver, Sergey Sirotkin has also been confirmed for the 2017 season.


Finally! New Honda HR-V Is Launched – Drops S Variant, Adds Hybrid

After nearly six months of delays, the new Honda HR-V facelift is now available at Honda showrooms nationwide. Before you blame Honda Malaysia for the delay, we should make it clear that the delays were caused by the government, and there was nothing that Honda Malaysia could have done to fix the delays, as explained by MAA President Datuk Aishah Ahmad
earlier today
.
In terms of features, the new HR-V now sees six airbags offered as standard. The V and RS variants also get an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat. Previously, the driver’s seat was manual adjusting while curtain and side airbags were only available on the V variant. LaneWatch camera to minimize blind spots is also now available for the V and RS variants. However, speakers count has been reduced to four across the range. Previously, the range topping V variant had 6 speakers.
On the outside, the new HR-V is identified by its new grille, a different pair of LED headlamps and LED tail lamps with tube-like patterns plus LED front fog lights (V and RS variants), and a tailgate garnish.
Previously, the HR-V range had three variants – S, E, and V. Prior to zero-rated GST, prices of the pre-facelift HR-V ranged from RM98,060 to RM117,430.
The updated range has since dropped the entry S variant, while adding a sporty RS and a full-hybrid variant. Prices are as follows:
HR-V E: RM108,800 (previously RM107,410 with 6% GST)
HR-V V: RM118,800 (previously RM117,430 with 6% GST)
HR-V RS: RM124,800 (new addition)
HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD: RM120,800 (new addition)
The hybrid variant is powered by the same engine as the City Hybrid and Jazz Hybrid – the familiar 1.5-litre petrol-electric full-hybrid engine paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels. Unlike the City Hybrid and Jazz Hybrid, the HR-V Hybrid comes with six airbags, two more than the petrol-electric City/Jazz.
However it's still not the range topper, with most of the features mirroring the lower E variant - making do with halogen headlamps and front fog lamps, half-leather seats instead of full-leather, and a smaller 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (0.2-inch smaller than V or RS).
The hybrid variant also features a different, shift-by-wire gear knob, which takes up less space and frees up the lower-tier of the HR-V's signature two-tier centre console.
Being a hybrid, it also has a slightly different instrument panel that also displays, among other things, the energy flow/split between the wheels, petrol engine, and lithium-ion traction battery.
Slightly more than a year ago, we reviewed the Japanese-market HR-V Hybrid. Some of the features are not applicable to our local HR-V, but the driving experience shouldn’t differ too much. You can read the review
here
.
As for the sportier RS variant, it features a Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering system that promises to deliver a sharper steering in the corners while at the same time keeping the car stable enough on straight, long distance drives. Outside, the RS variant adds 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, RS front grille, and RS bumpers in front and behind.
Inside, the RS variant also gets ivory coloured leather upholstery.
Mechanically the petrol-powered variants remain unchanged, using the same 1.8-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated petrol engine paired to a CVT-type automatic transmission.
A new Passion Red Pearl colour replaces the previous Dark Ruby Red Pearl, bringing the total colour options to five - including Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Ruse Black Metallic, and White Orchid Pearl.
Honda Malaysia has set a monthly sales target of 1,000 units for the petrol-powered HR-V variants, while the target for the hybrid variant is at a modest 100 units per month.


JPJ Bakal Gantung/Batal Permit Institut Memandu Jika Lahirkan Ramai Pemandu Terlibat Kemalangan

Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ)
 akan bertindak untuk menggantung atau membatalkan permit institut memandu yang didapati melahirkan ramai pemandu cuai yang terbabit dalam kemalangan atau melanggar peraturan.

Malah sijil tenaga pelajar yang terlibat dengan
sekolah memandu
 yang mempunyai rekod ramai pemegang lesen bermasalah sehingga menyebabkan kemalangan juga akan ditarik.

Menurut Ketua Pengarah JPJ, Datuk Zailani Hashim, tindakan itu bakal diambil selepas pelaksanaan sistem kod pendigitalan yang dapat mengesan dari mana sesuatu lesen dikeluarkan bermula tahun ini.

*Kredit foto: BERNAMA

Ketika ini, JPJ sedang dalam proses untuk memberi kod di
lesen memandu
. Jika pemandu didapati melakukan kesalahan jalan raya atau terbabit dalam kemalangan, kod itu dapat mengesan sekolah memandu mana yang lahirkan pemandu tersebut.

Kod tersebut berfungsi seperti
‘audit tracking’
 untuk mengetahui jika ada sesuatu yang tidak kena atau pengajaran serta modul yang tidak diikuti dengan betul yang mengundang kepada sesuatu kesalahan.

*Kredit foto: Metro Driving Academy

“Jika banyak rekod kesalahan atau kemalangan jalan raya termasuk menyebabkan kemalangan maut dikesan dari sesuatu institusi memandu ini, kita tidak teragak-agak menggantung atau membatalkan permit,” jelas Zailani.

Walau bagaimanapun, Zailani berkata kaedah itu masih dalam peringkat cadangan, namun akan disenaraikan di bawah sistem
e-Testing
 selepas dilancarkan pada 1 April nanti.

Melalui sistem kod pendigitalan pada lesen pemandu, JPJ akan membuat pemeriksaan berkala mengenai kesalahan atau faktor infrastruktur yang menyebabkan pemandu disaman.

Selain sekolah memandu, pemandu yang bermasalah juga tidak terlepas daripada dikenakan tindakan termasuklah pembatalan lesen. Namun ia bergantung pada kesalahan selepas diputuskan oleh mahkamah.

Langkah ini diambil dalam usaha JPJ membantu mengurangkan statistik kemalangan jalan raya termasuklah kemalangan maut.

Mengulas lanjut, Zailani berkata, Jawatankuasa Pelesenan Institut Memandu mempunyai kuasa untuk mengambil tindakan sama ada menggantung atau membatalkan permit sesebuah institusi memandu dan menarik balik sijil tenaga pengajar yang tidak berkelayakan.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Katanya, tindakan yang bakal dikenakan itu disifatkan sebagai suatu pengajaran kepada calon serta institusi memandu agar tidak leka dan memberi latihan mengikut modul dengan cara yang betul.

Tindakan untuk menggantung dan membatalkan permit bagi yang melanggar syarat permit boleh diambil terhadap permit institut memandu mengikut Kaedah 27 di bawah Kaedah-kaedah Sekolah Memandu 1992.

Manakala mengikut Kaedah 28 di bawah Kaedah-kaedah Kenderaan Motor 1992 pula, tindakan menggantung dan membatalkan sijil mengajar pengajar institut memandu boleh dikenakan jika guru sekolah memandu terbabit melanggar syarat, tidak berkelayakan atau terbabit jenayah.

Walau bagaimanapun, pengumuman tersebut telah melahirkan satu persoalan besar, iaitu wajarkah institut memandu serta tenaga pengajar dikenakan tindakan atas kesalahan pemandu sedangkan pihak JPJ yang diberi kuasa untuk menguji dan meluluskan calon sebelum lesen memandu dikeluarkan?


Vios Challenge Final Day- Race Craft And Drama Galore

Sporting Class
After a massively dramatic start in
yesterday's Vios Challenge Sporting Class
, Saturday’s Race 2 saw a more harmonious flag off with Wong Chin Eeg starting from Pole with Brendan Paul Anthony alongside him.
When the flag dropped, Race 1 winner Wong Chin Eeg made yet another great start as he lead the pack with pro go-karter Brendan following close behind. It was obvious that Wong gave all he could but the 19-year old put his obvious racing experience to good use and lined Wong up at the end of the opening lap to make a clean move on the inside going into Turn 1.
Brendan tried to make a gap but Wong doggedly took advantage of the draft from the Dream Chaser car to maintain a narrow gap. The pair slowly eeked some breathing space over third-placed Kenneth Koh who was now having to defend against Tedco Racing’s Brendon Lim.
By lap 6, the gap had expanded to over 5 seconds and continued to grow until Lap 9 when Clement Yeo in his Team Distinctive Model car made a move on Shanmuganathan in Turn 1. The pair touched but Yeo managed to get ahead with Shan and Ken Foo in tow. Clement hesitated going into the hairpin allowing the pair to pass him.
Two laps later, Clement built up enough momentum down the front straight but ran out of brakes, pushing Shan’s car into the barriers and bringing the safety car out. With water from the barricades flowing on the track, the race resumed with Turn 1 put under a permanent yellow flag for the rest of the race.
While the leaders maintained their positions to the end of the race, the dramas were to be found in the minor positions as on the penultimate lap, Patrick Tam made a huge move to pass Goh Eng Peng on the inside of Turn 5. However, he outbraked himself and hit the left rear corner of Goh's car, causing him to spin out and retiring from the race for the second time this weekend.
Promotional Class
It was once again Shawn Lee who made a sensational start with a perfect launch, gapping himself from the group by a substantial margin before Turn 1.
Janna Nick who drove superbly in Race 1, was aiming to do even better in Race 2 and made a brave charge through the mid pack only to lock the brakes going into Turn 1 on Lap 3. She did however recover and was determined to continue in the race.
Meanwhile Shukri was not about to let Shawn get away with it and manged to close the gap. He inched up to Shawn by lap 2 and was giving the beatboxer a run for his money.
When the Safety Car returned to the pits on Lap 5 following Janna’s off, Shukri made his move and successfully passed into Turn 1. The pair continued battling and this allowed Fattah Amin to close the gap on the pair.
Shawn remained determined to regain the lead and on Lap 7, he made his move going into the hairpin. This time he made it stick and pushed hard from there to open up a gap.
While Fattah was busy chasing down Shukri, it was Danny Khoo who crept up and was now giving Fattah a hard time for precious 3rd position.
On Lap 9, Danny tapped Fattah in the hairpin but couldn’t get through. Then on the fast Turn 2, Danny went wide and hit the wall pretty hard, damaging his front suspension and ending his race.
Shawn Lee maintained his pace and earned himself a double win with Shukri Yahya and Fattah Amin repeating the podium positions from Race 1.
Super Sporting Class
With the top six drivers in the Super Sporting Class grid a reversed order of their finishing position in Race 1, it was Keifli Othman of Laser Motor Racing who started on pole with Tengku Djan alongside him. Race 1 winner Syafiq Ali thus started from 6th, with Boy Wong in 5th.
Keifli made a clean start with Djan in tow. As the pair moved towards the outside of Turn 1, Boy Wong who started from the third row saw the gap on the inside and went for it. Unfortunately, the pair turned in for the corner and Boy forced Tengku wide. The Team Nanoplus driver however managed to hold it together to continue his pursuit of Keifli while Syafiq Ali maintained his third position.
Keifli found that he could maintain a good gap from Tengku who himself was under threat from Syafiq. The trio slowly pulled away from the next pack of William Ho in 4th and Kenny Lee in 5th.
On lap 8, Mitchell Cheah began catching Kenny Lee and lined him up for a pass. On Lap 10, he made his attempt going into Turn 1 but failed to pull it off. The pair exchanged paintwork and Mitchell lost his front right tyre although he escaped a date with the wall.
Noting that Djan was now nursing a car that didn’t seem to be braking well, Syafiq pushed even harder in his M7 Racing Team car. He relentlessly pressured Djan and even ran wide on Turn 4 glancing the wall. It didn't stop him and on the final lap, the hearts of spectators in Medini skipped a beat when Tengku Djan, anticipating an attempt on the inside of Turn 1, gave Syafiq an extremely wide berth. Syafiq needing no second invitation, went for the inside line. However, Tengku called Syafiq’s bluff by shuffling his car behind Syafiq on the inside to deny him the position.
It was hands down the greatest heist in the history of the Vios Challenge to date but sadly for Syafiq, he didn’t want to give up and in his final attempt, he clipped the wall in Turn 3, resulting in a puncture and allowing William Ho, who until then was running a lonely 4
th
 to inherit the final podium position.
It was a thrilling conclusion to yet another exciting weekend of racing action in the Vios Challenge. With the numerous surprises in the results, the season finale back in Kuala Lumpur in March promises to be anything but a walk in the park.


What the 2018 Volkswagen CC May Look Like

The Volkswagen CC has always been a more interesting alternative to the Volkswagen Passat, being based on the same platform but featuring a much sportier roofline. For our local market, we were blessed with higher performance variants of the first generation Volkswagen CC, with a 2.0-litre turbo and a 3.6-litre V6 to pick from. The second generation saw options limited to the same 1.8-litre turbo powertrain that powered the regular Passat, so the CC was little more than a slightly sportier looking variant.

But with the new Passat, there is a new CC as well. Various blogs have spotted it roaming around the Nurburgring and the like, dressed in camouflage. Rumour has it that it will be a 5-door liftback instead of the 4-door sedan of before, which has always made more sense when a sloping rear is available. Remco Meulendijk of RM CarDesign has provided some high quality renders of what he thinks the car will look like, and it's certainly stunning. From the more aggressive front end to the tapering roofline, it's a solid contender against the Mercedes CLS and the BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe, albeit at a much lower price point. Let's just hope we get some more exciting powertrains this time around.


NAZA – PSA Group ASEAN Manufacturing Hub Gets A New Boss

Laurence Noël has been appointed as the new CEO of the
Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) joint venture
, and Senior Vice President of ASEAN markets, effective 1st May 2018.
The NAM joint venture, inked in February of this year, establishes a shared operation between PSA Group (owners of Peugeot, Citroen, and DS Automobiles), and NAZA to operate the Group’s first ASEAN manufacturing hub, in Gurun, Kedah.
In her new position, based in Kuala Lumpur, Noël will report Carlos Gomes, Executive Vice President, China & Southeast Asia, and execute PSA Group’s development in Southeast Asia, as part of the company's larger ‘Push to Pass’ plan, first announced in 2016. Laurence Noël joined Group PSA in 1995. After holding various positions in Powertrain Projects and Programmes, she took charge of Powertrain, Platform and Module Programmes in 2014.
The NAM joint venture will oversee the production and marketing of Peugeot, Citroën, and DS Automobiles vehicles in Malaysia and other ASEAN markets.
The first vehicles to be produced locally will be the
Peugeot 3008
 in 2018, followed by the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV in 2019.
The Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant in Gurun, Kedah has been in operation since 2004, has a workforce of close to 450 people, and boasts a 50,000 vehicle per year production capacity.


AD: Volkswagen Dares You To Test Drive The Passat; RM100 If You’re Unsatisfied

There’s no better way to prove intent than the readiness to put one’s money in the line, and that’s what Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia is doing in order to prove the Passat’s worth to you.
Confident that the Passat will exceed the expectations of most, Volkswagen is throwing a challenge to all Malaysians to take its latest D-segment flagship model out for a spin in the Passat Test Drive Challenge running from now to 30 September 2017.
Members of the public participating in the Test Drive Challenge have no obligation to buy the car, and will be given a Touch n Go card pre-loaded with RM100 each if the Passat does not end up exceeding their expectations. Participants will be required to respond to a questionnaire to gauge their feedback of the car.
Launched locally in 2016
, the current-generation Passat B8 is powered by Volkswagen’s latest-generation TSI turbocharged direct injection engines with outputs from 180 to 220 PS.
Read our reviews of the Passat here:
Review: 2017 Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI (B8) – An Unassuming Sleeper
Review: 2016 Volkswagen Passat B8 – 1.8 TSI & 2.0 TSI Driven In Langkawi
More recently, Volkswagen have given the 1.8-litre TSI versions of the Passat added value with up to RM12,000 worth of features in the Passat Plus. In addition to the added equipment, the Passat Plus is even more affordable than the regular Passat, being priced at RM169,980 in Comfortline Plus spec.
If you are keen to take on Volkswagen's dare, follow this link to
register yourself for the Passat Test Drive Challenge
 via the official Volkswagen Malaysia Facebook page. Do note that the link works only through your mobile device.
The registration process utilizes a Facebook Messenger chatbot to process your response and gather your contact details - name, phone number, email - to be forwarded to a Volkswagen dealership of your choosing. A confirmation email will automatically be sent to your email address upon completion of the sign up process.
Scroll through our gallery below for a step-by-step guide how to sign up for the Passat Test Drive Challenge.


502 Bad Gateway


You Can Now Buy The New Proton Iriz Rally Car Which Marcus Gronholm Help Build

WRC legend Marcus Gronholm helped build the new Proton Iriz R5!

Fancy a Malaysian rally car but have no idea where to buy one? Well, thanks to prestigious and leading motorsport preparation and build firm, Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM), you can now buy a fully prepped Proton Iriz Rally car for JUST RM776,000.

Mellor Elliot Motorsport has been in the race car building business for 38 years now, and their latest project is the Proton Iriz R5, the latest R5 specification rally car to be homologated by the FIA.

Designed and built in the UK by Mellors Elliot Motorsport, The Iriz R5 is designed and developed for use within the R5 Rally World Championship category, giving you easy access to rally championships worldwide.

Based on the Proton Iriz chassis, the Iriz R5 boasts a bespoke 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, XTRAC 4-wheel-drive system, Cosworth electronics and Reiger suspension. MEM said that this package of components is proven, especially when it consists of the best rally components on the market.

The Iriz R5 which underwent a test session and feedback from two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm, went through an extensive development and modification phase to increase performance and maximise strength based on the Proton Iriz chassis.

MEM are also proud to mention that they are the only builders to have both a right and left-hand drive, fully FIA homologated R5 car. The customisation doesnt end there either, for an additional fee, the car can also be equipped with many other racey features, namely heated windscreen, brake balance adjuster, anti-glare dashboard coating and many more.

Mind you, the RM776,000 price tag is only for a base-spec vehicle, which is ‘ready to race’ as a tarmac racer. It comes painted, fitted with some 18 x 8 inches aluminum wheels, tarmac competition tyres as well as a competition specced brake system.

Many other add on options are available including a gravel kit as well as a quarter of a million ringgit Cosworth co-driver’s display, data handling kit including a laptop with Cosworth software, data key and download cable.

The prices are not for the faint-hearted but this is the price you have to pay to compete in one of the most prestigious motorsport events in the world. Luckily you have an established company like MEM to help you out.

Makes you wonder though if MEM can do it, surely we too can design and customize if not a rally version but at least a performance version of the Iriz. An Iriz R3 perhaps?


2022 All-New Honda HR-V Open For Booking - Hybrid and Petrol Variants On Offer

Honda Malaysia has officially announced that the all-new 2022 Honda HR-V is now open for booking at all Honda dealerships in Malaysia.

Developed under the concept of
'AMP UP YOUR LIFE'
 the 2022 HR-V is said to offer customers
exceptional styling and premium feel yet maintaining the practicality approach of HR-V as an everyday companion.

2022 Honda HR-V launching in Malaysia

It is slated for an 'official' launch in Q3 2022 in Malaysia and will be available in both hybrid and petrol variants but firstly what's it's like to drive? Click
here
 to find out.

For a run-down of the variants that will be offered here in Malaysia, you can refer to this
article
.

Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura said, “The HR-V was first introduced to the Malaysian market in 2015, and it became a best-selling as well as a sensational model. Its unique, unmatched practicality and advanced features made it a game-changer ahead of its competitors. Having sold more than 111,000 units to date, the HR-V has been the forerunner in the Non-National Compact SUV segment from 2015 to 2021. The facelifted HR-V which was launched in 2019 has sold close to 39,000 units. With its proven track record, the HR-V is truly the compact SUV that is loved by many Malaysians. Therefore, we are excited to be introducing the All-New HR-V in Malaysia, which is now officially open for bookings.”

2022 Honda HR-V dimensions

The 2022 HR-V is both 39mm and 15mm shorter than its outgoing precedessor giving it dimensions of
4,385mm in length, 1,790mm in width and 1,590mm in height.

The standout feature as my colleague Adam pointed out in the video below has to be its new front grille design and fastback silhouette.

Honda HR-V e:HEV

For the first time the Honda HR-V will come with Honda's e:HEV technology
powered by the intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system delivering 131PS and 253Nm of torque with 3 drive modes available - ECON, Normal and Sport.

2022 Honda HR-V Honda Sensing

The all-new HR-V RS comes with Honda SENSING, the most complete package, the suite of advanced driver assistance safety systems including:

Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN)

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Low Speed Follow (LSF)

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)

Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Auto High Beam (AHB)

Booking the 2022 Honda HR-V

You can log on to prebook.honda.com.my or download the HondaTouch application on your smartphone.

For more information, visit any Honda authorised dealerships nationwide or call Honda’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to
www.honda.com.my
.

*All images were taken during a recent media trip to Thailand to test drive the all-new Honda HR-V.


Spyshots: BMW X2 Undergoing Testing

BMW’s controversial front transverse-mounted engine UKL platform is set to spawn yet another model, the all-new X2, as confirmed by
BMWBlog.com
, which also published spyshots of the vehicle undergoing testing.
Much like how the bigger
X4
 and
X6
 are positioned as coupe derivatives of the
X3
 and
X5
 respectively, the X2 will be the sportier foil of the
entry-level X1
.
An earlier report from the same website also indicates that the X2 will be making its first appearance at the Paris Motor Show later this year in concept form.
The production model is geared for a 2017 launch, and if BMW’s practice with the X4 and X6 are any indication, expect to see the higher-powered versions of the X1’s engines to feature in the X2.
Globally, BMW’s engine catalogue for the X1 features the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder and 2.0-litre 4-cylinder B-series modular petrol and diesel powerplants in various states of tune.


Infiniti Shows First Q30 Interior Picture, Is Really Just A Mercedes-Benz A-Class

So,
Infiniti
 has just revealed the first ever image of their all-new Q30’s interior. They’ve been
dropping several exterior images
 since the concept first came around, and we know that the premium arm of
Nissan
 is going to be revealing the full production vehicle in a matter of days, at the coming Frankfurt Motor Show.
Now, to the unsuspecting, this first official look inside the car is impressive: classy, elegant, fit for a premium brand. But if you’ve ever seen the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, this picture is all too familiar.
It’s no secret that an alliance was formed between Daimler and Nissan-Renault to form the Q30 you have here. In short, one of the things Infiniti has gained out of this arrangement is the front-wheel drive MFA platform that underpins the A-Class, on which they have built their own compact hatchback model. But have they?
Yes, we’re being cheeky now. Because judging by this first interior image here, we’re doubtful that they're trying hard enough to set their car uniquely apart. This is far too familiar to that of the A-Class, and clearly not “their own compact hatch model.”
The Volkswagen Group is one large-scale class example of how to create individuality despite sharing common parts and platforms, utilising one scalable platform (MQB) across several models, including the Volkswagen Golf, Audi TT, Audi A3, Seat Leon, Skoda Superb and more. If you look hard enough, the signs of similarities are there, but they're all very unique too.
The important thing to remember here is individuality – the importance of which is exemplified by two of the Volkswagen Group’s key models: the Volkswagen Jetta and the Audi A3.
Despite sharing common platforms and parts, it’s easy to rationalise buying one or the other, Audi A3 or the next-gen Jetta, for their own unique selling points, plainly because they’re both quite different cars. One’s a slightly more affordable German sedan – a Toyota Corolla Altis competitor, even. The other, a premium German sedan nearly fit to fight a BMW 3 Series. See the gap?
What the Infiniti Q30 seemingly does here is too identically similar to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class's interior: an aging one, nonetheless. Take a look at the two interiors side by side. We don’t have to tell you just how much has been copied. Switches, instrument panel, steering wheel audio control buttons, ignition key slot, electric seat controls, door handles, power window controls, rotary dial on the centre console, cupholders next to that...
Fine, it’s been upholstered differently, the display screen isn’t free-standing, and the air-conditioning vents aren’t circular-shaped like the A-Class, but what else is there? Gear lever? Well, while the Q30 didn’t get to pinch the Benz Direct Select shifter (mounted to steering column), the short shifter is straight out of an A 45 AMG. We can even see the transmission mode selector (Eco, Sport, Manual) button is a direct copy.
Understandably, it makes perfect sense for Infiniti to get in on the compact hatch market, but the lacking difference between the two might just hurt the Japanese premium brand a bit more than they could appreciate. After all, we don't think the Q30 would be priced any more cheaper than its A-Class equivalents, so apart from its re-skinned shape, would there be enough here to persuade you into buying an Infiniti over a Mercedes-Benz, if they both cost roughly the same, anyways?
Infiniti’s president, Roland Krueger, seems to think otherwise, though.
“Q30’s sculpted exterior and asymmetric cabin design are unmistakably Infiniti. With the Q30, we are entering a new segment for Infiniti and broadening the offer to our customers. This vehicle is a vital part of our strategy to be a top tier global manufacturer of premium cars.”


Langkawi Kini Dibuka Bagi Tujuan Pelancongan – Mampukah Langkawi Bertahan?

Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (LADA) menjangkakan seramai 400,000 pelancong akan mengunjungi pulau peranginan tersebut selepas pelaksanaan gelembung pelancongan bermula pada 16 September lalu.

Jumlah itu sebenarnya hanyalah angka sederhana yang disasarkan setelah kerajaan melaksanakan projek rintis gelembung pelancongan di Langkawi. Pada hari pertama pembukaan
Langkawi
 kepada pelancong luar, dianggarkan seramai 3,200 pelancong telah tiba di Langkawi menggunakan
feri
 serta laluan udara.

Terdahulu, kami ada kongsi maklumat lanjut tentang
SOP, cara-cara untuk ke Langkawi serta aktiviti yang dibenarkan
 di sana. Jika anda melepasi segala syarat-syarat yang dikenakan, anda layak untuk bercuti ke Langkawi menggunakan jalan darat atau jalan udara.

Pihak
KKM
 juga kini lebih tegas dengan menjalankan ujian saringan COVID-19 terhadap individu yang mahu berlepas menerusi pintu masuk udara dan laut ke Pulau Langkawi. Hasilnya, sebanyak 5 kes positif telah dikesan. Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah berkata, 5 kes positif yang dikesan adalah kategori satu iaitu tidak bergejala dan diberikan perintah Pengawasan dan Pemerhatian di Rumah (HSO) untuk diisolasi bagi tempoh 10 hari.

Katakanlah virus ini berjaya diseludup masuk ke Langkawi dan mula tersebar, mampukah Langkawi untuk bertahan memerangi wabak tersebut? Cukupkah katil di hospital di sana bagi menampung jumlah pesakit yang ramai dalam sesuatu masa? Memandangkan Langkawi bakal menjadi destinasi ahli keluarga yang tinggal di kawasan berbeza untuk bertemu, pertemuan itu berisiko untuk menyebarkan lagi virus secara lebih meluas apabila mereka pulang dari Langkawi.

Untuk mengelakkan perkara ini daripada berlaku, para pelancong yang bercuti di Langkawi tidak seharusnya mengabaikan SOP yang telah ditetapkan. Sekiranya tempat yang ingin dituju itu terlalu sesak, pilihlah lokasi lain. Jangan tambahkan lagi kesesakan di sesebuah kawasan itu sekaligus menambah risiko jangkitan untuk berlaku.

Ambil sahaja pengajaran daripada aktiviti mandi sungai di Sungai Pisang, Gombak baru-baru ini. Setelah kerajaan beri kebenaran untuk beriadah, berkerumun manusia di kawasan tersebut. Dah la duduk ramai-ramai, sampah pun buang merata-rata seperti orang tidak bertamadun. Kalau sampah pun tak boleh nak buang betul-betul, apakah jaminan yang rakyat Malaysia boleh ikut SOP dengan betul? Jangan lupa bahawa kita masih lagi hidup bersama
virus
, di mana ia sentiasa ada di sekeliling kita.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Sementara itu di Pulau Pinang, Empangan Mengkuang yang menjadi tumpuan warga Seberang Perai untuk beriadah telah diarah tutup selama tujuh hari selepas pemeriksaan dijalankan oleh Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Seberang Perai yang mendapati berlaku pelanggaran
SOP Fasa Dua Pelan Pemulihan Negara
 di kawasan terbabit.

Penutupan sementara itu dibuat bagi mencegah penularan wabak COVID-19 di Pulau Pinang. Kegiatan berkumpul hingga menyebabkan berlaku kesukaran menjaga penjarakan fizikal adalah dilarang sama sekali. Adakah perkara yang sama turut akan dilakukan di Langkawi? Adakah sesuatu tempat itu akan ditutup jika terlalu sesak?

Kejayaan Projek Rintis Langkawi sebagai
gelembung pelancongan domestik
 pertama sangat penting dalam menentukan hala tuju pembukaan destinasi gelembung pelancongan domestik seterusnya. Selalu kita dengar kalau gelembung pelancongan ini berjaya, lebih banyak tempat akan dibuka. Tapi jika gagal, adakah kerajaan sudah bersedia menanggung risikonya?

Tak adil jika kita nak salahkan orang yang bercuti ke Langkawi kerana mereka hanyalah membantu merancakkan kembali ekonomi negara dalam sektor pelancongan yang sudah sekian lama menyepi. Tambahan pula, kerajaan dah beri kebenaran untuk melancong ke sana. Sebaliknya, salahkan mereka yang bercuti tanpa mengikut SOP yang ditetapkan.

Jika anda ingin bercuti ke Langkawi, pastikan anda mengikuti segala SOP yang telah ditetapkan oleh kerajaan supaya anda tidak mendatangkan masalah kepada diri sendiri serta pelancong lain. Jika banyak berlaku kes positif dalam kawasan pelancongan, kemungkinan kawasan tersebut akan ditutup semula dan mencacatkan ekonomi negara.

Nak bercuti? Pergilah. Asalkan jaga SOP!


300 Workers Lose Their Jobs At Naza Automotive Manufacturing

Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) laid off 300 workers from its assembly plant in Gurun, Kedah recently. According to a report by
The Malaysian Insider
, the affected employees were given a farewell party which was attended by NAM chief operations officer Roslan Abd Ghani, where they also received their termination letters.
Of the 300 who lost their jobs at NAM Sdn Bhd, 225 were staff members, while 30 are from the NAM Committee. The remainder who lost their jobs were administration staff.
Since 2004, NAM has served as one of the car manufacturing companies under the Naza Group which, up till recently, had a workforce numbering 1,000. The company is involved in the assembly of Peugeot and Kia cars for the Malaysian and international market.


Suzuki To Bring Swift Sport Concept With 1.4 Turbo And 4WD To Tokyo Motor Show

Come October, the world’s automotive media will converge, physically and virtually, on the Japanese capital for the Tokyo Motor Show.
Suzuki
 might be choosing that venue to unveil a new hot
Swift
 with a fresh turbo engine and advanced dual-clutch transmission.
Not only that, but
reports
 suggest that the concept would also feature an all-wheel drive system. Could this be the first inkling of an hot hatch people’s hero from Suzuki? It certainly has the makings for it.
The 1.4-litre turbocharged engine is endowed with the company’s ‘Boosterjet’ technology that first made its appearance in the smaller displacement 1.0-litre variety
during the 2015 Geneva Motor Show
 and later slated to be fitted in the Chinese market variant of the Suzuki
S-Cross
.
In that tune it is said to produce 136PS and 220Nm, reaching the front wheels via a CVT. Should Suzuki be inclined, that power output could likely see a considerable bump when slotted into a new Swift Sport.
The all-wheel drive system, too, is rather interesting as it is reported to send all drive to the front wheels while cornering and re-engages the rear wheels when accelerating.
Of course, there’s no confirmation until we clap our eyes on the Suzuki booth in Tokyo a couple of months from now, and even then there’s no guarantee that the car would survive the transition to production, assuming it makes it at all.
Here's hoping it the new Swift Sport concept looks like 2011's Swift S concept, cause that was a little stunner.


After 10 Years, Ford's All-New Ranger Is Set For A 2021 Unveil

It’s true, Ford is finally about to finish the development of an all-new 2021 Ford Ranger, which should be ready for an end-2021 reveal making it a full decade since the
outgoing T6 version
 was introduced. Yeah, it’s been a while.

Details have been a little hard to come by, but seeing as how the latest prototype is undergoing late-stage desert and snow stress testing in Australia and New Zealand, we reckon there isn’t much time left before the leaks start forming ahead of an official premiere event.

Prior to that, this short but information-dense 1 minute 19 seconds long video shows us a heavily camouflaged next-generation Ford Ranger that bears a very similar front end treatment to the F-150 and, more recently, the unibody Maverick pickup.

While the upcoming Ranger does share a very similar profile silhouette with the model it replaces, the truck does look more squared and angular overall, matching those C-shape headlights with a similar vertically-oriented illumination signature at the rear with LED lamps.

The Ranger in disguise was being driven through all sorts of hard-going terrain and environments in both extreme cold and warm weather, even sliding around on the mud, sand, and snow for good measure.

Ford has so far remained fairly tight-lipped about the small-ish truck, but little tidbits have emerged out of that silence over the past few years. According to past insider reports, the next-generation Ranger will share more engineering DNA with the Bronco than first anticipated.

Naturally, it is assumed that this would most likely pertain to its new body-on-frame chassis and unified styling cues, but any truth to rumours about a large overlap in engine options is much more difficult to pinpoint.

Perhaps in regions such as North America, it might make more sense to have the 6th-generation Bronco and incoming Ranger offered with the exact same, or similar, variety of petrol engines. Notably, a majority of Bronco sales comprise of variants powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 270hp, mated primarily to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Popular as this engine is, the bulk of Ranger buyers come from regions such as Southeast Asia, Australasia, and South America, wherein buyers are much more in favour of diesel engines in these types of vehicles for their large reserves of torque and fuel economy.

The most likely outcome here is for the all-new 2021 Ranger to carry over the
2.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBlue
 diesel
from the current T6
 as that still remains a competitive power plant even next to more recent
rival entrants
. But the real question is whether it will be accompanied by a secondary diesel or petrol engine?

If the EcoBlue could be likened to the previous 2.2-litre Duratorq, Ford has far fewer options higher up the tier of diesel units that’s also recent enough to pair it up with, which might mean a single engine option for the Ranger in most markets well into its life cycle.

Apart from that, Ford, as
previously done with the Maverick
, could also utilise electrification to deflect from the next-gen Ranger’s lack of internal combustion variety. A plug-in
hybrid variant
 has long been spinning in the rumour mill, but would make sense when paired to that aforementioned 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol to narrow the utility gap between it and the EcoBlue diesel. Though, whether it will see action here is anyone’s guess.

With the all-new Ranger being
developed alongside the Volkswagen Amarok
, we do wonder if Ford might even slot a German engine into it as VW has no shortage of powerful four and six-cylinder diesels. Sure would make sense for the next Ranger Raptor.

Another area where the Wolfsburg connection could benefit the Ranger is with regard to its suite of active safety features, an area where previous Rangers weren’t quite up to snuff. On the other hand, their new development partner has been leading the charge with driver aid tech in their current Amarok, if only they’d let Ford have access to it.


Vios Challenge Finale This Weekend Promises To Be Epic

From the get-go, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge has been a huge hit with race fans. Its unique blend of street circuits across the country and close door-to-door racing has made for a series that's unique in our little corner of the world, and with everyone from celebrities to full-on professionals competing there's entertainment at every level. The finale for the series will be held at Technology Park Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, this 24th and 25th of March.
At the beginning of the series, we expected the faster drivers to pull away from the competition easily - after all, the first race was held on a track where overtaking was hardly possible. But as the series progressed and provisions were made, it became clear that it could be anyone's title - in all three racing classes.
Tengku Djan currently leads the Super Sporting Class with a mere 4 points, but William Ho is just behind. Failure to finish any of the races this coming weekend will put him in a serious spot of trouble. Syafiq Ali sits just 16 points behind Djan, meaning he too has a run for the championship title.
The Sporting Class is a little more interesting, with the current points leader being Brendon Lim. Trailing just 4 points behind is Brendan Anthony, and it's worth noting that Anthony did not participate in the first round of the Vios Challenge which makes his current position all the more impressive. Third in the standings is rally sensation Kenneth Koh, with a 12 point deficit - but still within reach of that top spot.
In the Promotional Class, Shawn Lee has managed to stay well ahead of his rivals with an 18 point lead. This is expected as he has a little more motorsports experience than the rest, but to take victory would still require him to complete each race in a high enough position. It's interesting that it's the drivers in the Promotional Class - those with significantly less experience with racing - that make the boldest moves on the track and have some of the more exciting races.
The winner of each class will take home a brand new Toyota Vios. While the prize itself is appealing, it's also the glory of being the winner of the inaugural season of the Vios Challenge in Malaysia.


Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Completes Takeover Of Commercial Vehicles Business From MBM

Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Sdn Bhd today announced that they have completed the takeover of the commercial vehicle general distribution business from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
This marks the beginning of Hap Seng Trucks Distribution as the exclusive general distributor of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans and FUSO Trucks in Malaysia, which includes handling the import, assembly, wholesale distribution and aftersales services of Mercedes-Benz and FUSO commercial vehicles.
The “office-opening” ceremony of Hap Seng Trucks Distribution was held at its new office housed in Wisma Mercedes-Benz at Kinrara, Puchong (designed, built, managed and owned by the Hap Seng group).
“We are truly grateful for this very honour and opportunity to be appointed the exclusive general distributor of Mercedes-Benz and Fuso commercial vehicles in Malaysia. I steadfastly believe that Hap Seng Trucks Distribution is well-poised to fly more Mercedes-Benz and Fuso flags on the roads and highways in Malaysia in time to come,” said Roland Schneider, CEO of Hap Seng Trucks Distribution.
Antonio Randazzo, Vice President of Daimler Commercial Vehicles South East Asia said, “Leveraging on the prominent brand presence of Mercedes-Benz and FUSO, as well as the proven track record and reputation of Hap Seng, we are confident that Hap Seng Trucks Distribution is on their way to bring the commercial vehicle business in Malaysia to a whole new level”.
Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Sdn Bhd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad, a public listed company on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad with a market capitalization of approximately RM23 billion.


Audi reorganizing production sites to build new electric SUV

A new all-electric Audi SUV is being readied for series production, and Audi has begun re-organizing its production sites across Europe in anticipation of the new model’s introduction scheduled for 2018.
Production of this new model is planned to be centralized at Audi’s Brussels plant in Belgium. The plant will have its own on-site battery production facility as well, making it a key plant for electric mobility in the wider Volkswagen Group.
Currently, the Brussels plant is Audi’s production hub for the
A1
. To accommodate this change, A1 production will transferred to the Martorell plant in Spain, where the
Q3
 is being made.
Production of the
Q3
, in turn, will be moved to Gyor, Hungary, where Audi is already producing the
A3 Sedan
,
A3
 Cabriolet,
TT
, and
TT Roadster
.
“The new model distribution will enhance our production efficiency and strengthen all of the sites involved,” stated Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Audi AG management board.
Stadler also pointed out that this reorganization helped protect jobs and promote the internationalization of Audi’s production network.
Previewed in concept form as the
e-tron quattro at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show
, the new electric SUV will, according to Audi, slot in the line-up between the
Q5
 and
Q7
. The
h-tron quattro concept
 shown at Detroit this year was given the same description with regards to its positioning, meaning these two concepts are in fact previewing merely different variants of the same model, speculated to be called Q6.
Preliminary specifications released by Audi indicate that the production e-tron quattro will be equipped with three electric motors and a high‑capacity battery capable of providing a cruising range exceeding 500km per full charge. The h-tron quattro, meanwhile, is claimed to have a projected range of 600km per tank.
Shopping for an Audi vehicle? We have a wide range of
new and used Audi models
 available for browsing here in Carlist.my


Brace For Floods This November!

It's only September, and already we are facing frequent heavy downpours, and the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) predicts that we are about to have an even wetter November.

According to Berita Harian, the Malaysian
Met Department predicts
 that the country will experience continuous heavy rain from mid-November,
leading to major floods
 by the end of that month.

MetMalaysia's director-general, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, said the La Nina phenomenon, which is ongoing and expected to last until early next year, will cause an increase in rainfall.

Heavy rainfall and floods expected in November 2022

"From mid-November there is a possibility of major flooding, especially at the end of November", said Abdullah.

He said, usually from the end of September to the beginning of November, the country will experience the monsoon transition phase.

"During this period, the weather throughout the country is usually good in the morning. While in the afternoon to early night, thunderstorms will occur more often, especially in the states of the west coast as well as the interior of the peninsula, Sarawak (western and central) and western Sabah."

"The risk of flash floods is high during this period, especially in low-lying areas on the west coast of the Peninsula," he said.

Muhammad Helmi said, the Northeast Monsoon usually starts in mid-November

Helmi also said that METMalaysia predicts that, throughout October, the risk of weather disasters only involves thunderstorms that have the potential to produce strong winds, heavy rains, and flash floods in a short period and on a small scale.

While this alarming bit of news means we will potentially face certain risks while driving our vehicles throughout this period, we can protect ourselves and our vehicles by getting special perils insurance.

What is special perils insurance?

Special perils is a
vehicle insurance add-on
 that covers your car against loss or damage caused by natural disasters. Depending on the perils covered by your insurer, they usually protect you against typhoons, storms, landslides, and most important of all, floods.

This additional coverage will compensate you in the event of car loss or damage due to any natural disaster.

The cost of special perils coverage varies according to insurance providers, but generally, it will set you back 0.5% of your vehicle's total value, which is not a lot to pay for added safety.


Vinfast Just Overtook Everyone With 3 New Full EVs - VF31, VF32, VF33

Pretty much out of nowhere, the Vietnamese automaker Vinfast has revealed a trio of new cars to add to their roster, only this time they've leapfrogged to full EVs with the VF31, VF32, and VF33.

Unsurprisingly, the company hasn't given much thought about improving their vehicle nomenclature from their
debutant pair
 back in 2018: the LUX A2.0 and the LUX SA2.0. While those took much from a licensing deal with BMW and General Motors for existing platform and powertrain tech, these trio of cars appear to be entirely (or much more)
home-grown
.

Though the VF probably stands for Vinfast, 31 seems to be an arbitrarily chosen number for this high-riding hatchback. Measuring 4,300mm long with a wheelbase of 2,611mm, it makes sense that the VF31 is the most modestly sized of the three.

For now, all we have are computer generated renderings of these cars, leaving us to wonder if Vinfast even has a near-production prototype to show off. Though the styling is somewhat of an acquired taste, the interior looks properly modern.

The dashboard itself is mostly screen, as is the fad these days, with a minimal smattering of buttons, and a large portrait-oriented touchscreen dominating the centre stack. Vinfast says that a 42kWh battery resides within the VF31, paired as standard to an 115hp and 190Nm electric motor in the base variant or a more powerful 201hp and 320Nm unit towards the top of the range.

Despite its small size and more budget-friendly specification, Vinfast promises that advanced active safety features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, and a 360-degree all-round view monitor will come as standard.

The middle child in this is the VF32, which is considerably larger and sports styling cues that remind us of the Jaguar F-Pace, but worse. We're entering the 'premium' tier of their EV range, it seems, as this model gains all-wheel drive via a second electric motor and an impressive 90kWh battery.

Combined power is increased to around 400hp with torque surging to 640Nm, though Vinfast declined to provide any acceleration, performance figures, or estimated range per charge. Again, this leaves us wondering about the origins of their EV technology.

Something tells me they've had quite a lot of outside help, especially once we learned that the company is touting Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 semi-autonomous driving capabilities with up to 14 exterior cameras, 19 auxiliary sensors, and even a Lidar array. You don't just 'learn' that in 3 years.

The VF33, despite being just 2 digits above the VF31, is many levels higher in sheer size. This is quite obviously Vinfast's electric flagship.  Though here, Vinfast are even shier about the details. We can take an educated guess that it sits on a larger version of the VF32's platform and an uprated version of its dual-motor powertrain possibly fed by an even larger battery.

With a footprint that large, the VF33 could be configured either as a 7-seater or luxury-focused 6-seat cruiser.

Vinfast are aiming to start deliveries of the VF31 in its home market by Q4 2021 with bookings slated to open in May. Meanwhile, the VF32 and VF33 are both earmarked for an early 2022 premiere that will also coincide with a European and North American launch.

We've not yet heard of a planned rollout into China much less the rest of Southeast Asia or Australia, though it must definitely be on the cards eventually. Would love to take them for an early spin once the world stops ending.


Honda Malaysia Has Over 2,000 Bookings For the New City

When it comes to Honda products, you can be assured that bookings go throough the roof whenever one is announced and launched for public consumption. The Honda City is no different, with the
official launch just 11 days ago
. Honda Malaysia has hit their 1 month booking target of 2,000 units in under 2 weeks, which is an incredibly impressive feat. This also greatly contributes to the 100,000 unit sales target that Honda is aiming to achieve this year.
Of the three variants, it is the top spec V model that receives the highest number of bookings with 44% of the models booked being in this grade. The entry level S variant was not quite as attractive, although it did have an 18% share of the bookings received which was much better than the 5% share of its predecessor. For now there is no waiting period for the cars as their plant in Pegoh is operating at full steam.

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 If there isn't already enough incentive to head to a Honda showroom today, Honda Malaysia is also launching two new campaigns, one of which involves tinting while the other is an interactive puzzle tied to Honda Malaysia's facebook page. In the former case, new and existing Honda owners can opt an EcoTint RayBarrier Splendour tint with an RM 1,350 discount on the regular retail price of RM 2,200. The latter is one that offers attractive prices to those who participate and answer questiions that Honda Malaysia puts up on their Facebook page.
Rounding out Honda Malaysia's current set of promotions, there is also the ongoing aftersales promotion happening at dealers nationwide. New and existing Honda customers will have a chance at winning 2 years of free service or a cash option, Honda Malaysia has executed the winning combination of a solid product and a solid marketing effort as well.


BMW Malaysia Provides 530e Fleet To TNB For CESPI 2018

There's no better transport fleet for an energy conference than hybrid or electric vehicles, and if you can throw luxury into the equation then you've got a winning formula. For the upcoming Conference on the Electric Power Supply Industry 2018 (or CESPI 2018 for short), BMW has provided Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) with a fleet of 530e hybrid vehicles. It will be the official car for the event which runs from the 17th to 22nd of September 2018 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, and BMW is the official e-mobility partner for the event.
The cars were handed over at TNB's building in Bangsar, and will be used to shuttle VVIPs and the AESIEAP council members throughout the five day conference. The partnership with BMW is the first of its kind since the first CESPI in Hong Kong back in 1976, and so it's a momentous occasion for the German brand.
In addition to the showcasing of their hybrid vehicles as part of the fleet, BMW will also be showcasing their range of iPerformance vehicles, namely a new model from the i portfolio. It's the perfect time to launch a model that combines the traditional combustion engine with the future of propulsion.


Post-GST: Toyota Cuts Prices By Up To RM4,000, Guarantees Transparency

Following Honda Malaysia's announcement that it will be
cutting prices for all of its locally assembled models
 by up to RM2,500, UMW Toyota Motor has upped the ante by announcing that it will slash up to RM4,000 off the list price of some Toyota and Lexus models.
Of course, one has to remember that the most expensive
Toyota
 model can reach up to nearly RM400,000 (
Toyota Alphard
 3.5G) so it is not surprising that the absolute value of the price reduction is higher than Honda, whose most expensive model is the RM229k Odyssey.
At the point of publishing, UMW Toyota's website is yet to be updated with their revised price list so we are unable to confirm the new prices for all Toyota and Lexus models. It will be interesting to see if imported Toyota/Lexus models see an increase in prices (as experienced by Honda) or will their prices move in another direction.
Update 9:45am
There is a slight increase in prices for some variants of the Toyota Vios, but prices for all other Toyota models have been reduced.
Similarly with Lexus, prices have been slashed across all Lexus models except for the ES 300h, which saw a nominal increase of RM201.26.
President of UMW Toyota Motor Datuk Ismet Suki also stressed that the company will pass 100 percent of the cost savings derived from replacing the previous 10 percent SST with a new 6 percent GST to its customers.
“There will be price reduction up to RM4,000 or 2 percent for Toyota and Lexus models. UMW Toyota Motor vehicles will pass 100 percent of the cost savings to the customers upon purchasing any Toyota and Lexus models during the new tax structure’s implementation,” he said.
Ismet also stressed that UMW Toyota is very serious about maintaining full transparency in its business transactions and assures customers that the company strictly adheres to Malaysia's Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2014.
He also said that although UMW Toyota still have some carryover stock whose SST have already been paid (which will still be taxed with another 6 percent GST when a customer buys the car), Ismet assured customers that UMW Toyota will absorb this temporary increase in cost.
"I'd like to confirm here that nett nett, the car prices excluding insurance will definitely go down. Even though we have some carryover stocks from pre-GST, we will definitely not transfer the cost to our customers in doing our business," he said.
"I am sure that 100 percent of our savings from the GST will be passed over to our customers," he added.
Below is an infographic prepared by UMW Toyota. Note that the 10 percent SST is applied to ex-distributor value of the car, which does not include dealer margins, transportation cost and handling fees, accessories and other miscellaneous distribution costs.


Get Ready For Malaysia’s EV Big Bang In 2022

Since
the Budget 2022 tabling
 that revealed how the Malaysian government would be giving both buyers and car brands a massive incentive to both purchase and sell fully electric vehicles, it’s no surprise that there has been a sudden surge of EV models announced and coming to greet us in the new year.

As a quick refresh, these initiatives are aimed at
boosting the adoption rate
 of electric vehicles by essentially making them ‘tax-free’, which means exemption from import duty, excise duty, sales tax, and even a 100% road tax exemption. While these pertain to fully imported (CBU) electric cars up until 31st December 2023, EVs that are locally assembled (CKD) will have these tax breaks extended until 31st December 2025.

Prior to this, and without including grey market or specialty imports, the options for a prospective EV buyer were quite limited with the only prominent post-combustion entrants the Nissan Leaf and, more recently, the
Porsche Taycan
,
MINI Electric
, as well as the
Hyundai Kona Electric
.

However, in the final months of 2021, automakers from BMW to Volvo to even Kia and Peugeot have now thrown their hat into the ring, making the next few years potentially very interesting as more Malaysian motorists transition away from fossil fuel.

We’re sure this list will continue to expand but, in no particular order, let's run down the list of EV newcomers:

Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 (Tentatively - Q1 2022)

The Swedish marque had always been bullish about the prospect of electrified vehicles, more so in the past decade, especially after its tie-up with Geely.

Pretty much all their current-generation cars sold in Malaysia have been launched with a plug-in hybrid option, making it no surprise that their first production EV -
the XC40 Recharge
 - will be making its debut here as well.

Its arrival was actually significantly delayed due to the global pandemic but should be on track to launch in early 2022. Obviously, it's based on the XC40 but has had its conventional powertrain replaced with dual electric motors drawing power from a 78kWh battery.

Volvo quotes a total combined output of 408PS and 660Nm with a WLTP range of 418km and DC fast charging up to 150kW.

BMW iX3 (Launched - October 2021)

Like the Volvo, the BMW iX3 is an electric offshoot of the existing 3rd-generation X3 (G01). Though
launched in late October 2021
, we’ve included it on this list due to all deliveries being scheduled for 2022.

Unlike the Volvo, we actually have a price here - starting at RM317,360 - as its debut preceded the reveal of the Budget 2022 proposals. We’ve no doubt that this figure will change to reflect the slashed taxes and duties, of course.

Also unlike the Swede is its rear-drive layout that uses a single 286PS/400Nm motor. Though outpaced by the XC40 Recharge, it does mean the iX3 can extract more endurance from its 73.8kWh battery between charges, yielding a WLTP range of up to 461km.

BMW iX (Launched - October 2021)

The iX sits atop BMW’s current portfolio of electric vehicles and is the first to be developed as such from the ground up. Similar to the iX3 that was
launched in Malaysia simultaneously
, no example has been delivered to buyers (at least as far as we know).

Still, despite its fully imported origin and impressive spec sheet, its RM419,630 starting price as of October 2020 was a little shocking as it managed to undercut the locally assembled X5 xDrive 45e M Sport.

Of course, that number will tumble even more when the aggressive incentives take effect, giving Malaysians access to BMW’s flagship EV, in xDrive40 guise, at a very attractive price for what you’re getting.

Two electric motors generate a combined output of 326PS and 630Nm with 425km of range (WLTP) from its 76.6kWh battery, but it's the details that will set the iX apart from the rest of the pack. BMW has designed and engineered it to be impressive.

Though you might
balk at the exterior styling
 (rightly so), there’s no questioning the materials, fit, finish and sheer ‘wow factor’ of that cabin. Coupled with the futuristic tech features, it’s akin to comparing an X3 with an X7 - there’s just no contest.

Kia EV6 (Tentatively - Q3/Q4 2022)

This is another flagship EV, as its name makes obvious, but from Korean automaker Kia. They do have larger, more advanced models to follow, but for now,
the EV6 remains the top dog
 alongside the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

The EV6, along with the following 2 cars below, form the zero-emissions offensive line assembled by Bermaz, which in 2020 had taken stewardship of the Kia and Peugeot brands away from Naza. With this, they’re in the running to have the most aggressive and varied offering of EVs in Malaysia, at least in the short term.

Among that trio, the EV6 will be the largest, fastest, and most technically advanced. It’s available in other markets with a selection of battery capacities and electric motors of up to 77.4kWh supplying 580PS and 740Nm dual-motor configuration for a 0-100km/h sprint in 3.5 seconds, this is easily the
fastest Korean car (let alone a Kia)
 ever produced.

Range of up to 530km is also possible if the right battery/motor pair is chosen, while the car also boasts an augmented reality head-up display, machine learning tech, and the Korean marque’s most advanced semi-autonomous driving tech yet.

Mazda MX-30 (Tentatively - Q3 2022)

Another feather in Bermaz’s cap is an entrant from their Mazda stable. The MX-30 is the Hiroshima-based automaker’s first stab at an EV that
first made its debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show
 (back when events were still a thing).

In terms of its exterior design, the high-riding electric vehicle is a cross between a compact SUV and coupe with that slanted roof being a defining feature. Interestingly, the MX-30 also incorporates a couple of features from Mazda's previous performance coupe, the RX-8, namely its ‘suicide’ style rear-hinged doors and a ‘Wankel’ rotary engine.

A single 143PS/264Nm electric motor is responsible for driving the wheels, drawing power from a 35.5kWh battery that should yield about 210km according to Mazda’s own claims.

That’s not especially impressive and especially limiting for those with longer commutes, which is why a range-extender version of the MX-30 was an integral addition to the line-up.

It essentially re-classifies the MX-30 into a PHEV (albeit one that works in reverse) instead of a BEV (battery electric vehicle), allowing a small rotary engine to act as a generator to replenish the battery charge levels while on the move.

Still, without the range extender, the electric-only Mazda should still work perfectly as a city car where long distances are rarely covered in one trip. And the benefit of a smaller battery in this setting is reduced charging time, allowing the MX-30 to be more easily and quickly topped off at urban stopovers. Provided, of course, the charging infrastructure allows.

Peugeot e-2008 (Tentatively - Q4 2022)

The second-generation 2008 is one of the French marque’s most popular vehicles currently on sale, riding on the wave of acclaim its B-segment hatchback is based on: the 208, which took the overall win at the 2020 European Car of the Year awards.

In
electrified and crossover-fied guise, the e-2008
 swaps its combustion engine and fuel tank for a  133PS/260Nm electric motor hooked up to a 50kWh battery for up to 345km of range, all while seeming to remain barely different to the ‘standard’ 2008 inside and out.

The
Hyundai Kona Electric
, launched in November 2021, will no doubt be its fiercest rival in Malaysia, outclassing the Pug on pure range with the larger of its two battery capacities (64kWh) able to take the Korean entrant past 480km on a single charge. Then again the e-2008 might be able to undercut it on price and value.

Like the Mazda MX-30, the Peugeot might not be ideally suited to long-distance journeys but could excel as an urban runabout. When plugged into a DC fast-charging station, which the Kona supports up to 100kW, Hyundai quotes about 50 minutes to get the Kona Electric to 80% capacity. By comparison, and on the same DC charger, Peugeot estimates
the e-2008
 will reach that charge level in 30 minutes.

Enjoy The Show

Like we said at the beginning of this article, the list of confirmed EVs entering the market is sure to balloon as the months roll on. These are just the ones that we know to be on their way or as good as arrived.

As we speak, even more automakers are probably busy plotting their own electric offensive to take advantage of the slashed taxes and duties that have inhibited their efforts to sell to the Malaysian public for so long.

With that critical condition being that the vehicle is powered by electricity, it’s a sure thing that plenty more are on the way. We have yet to hear a proper
local EV roadmap from Mercedes-Benz
 who has fully committed to
being EV-only going forward
, nor from Volkswagen Malaysia, nor from the droves of Chinese automakers that have been focusing on electric models for years. And
what about Vinfast?

The proposed EV incentives, once approved, will run until at least December 31st, 2023 with CKD electric models benefitting for another two full years. Get your popcorn ready, it’s going to be quite a show.


The New 2020 Toyota Hilux is Here, From RM94k to RM149k

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd has announced that the new 2020 Toyota Hilux is officially open for booking.

Customers now have a choice of five variants with the Double Cab 2.4 E A/T being a new addition. The new Double Cab 2.8 Rogue A/T replaces the current Double Cab 2.8 Black Edition, while the new Double Cab 2.4 V A/T is an upgrade from the current Double Cab 2.4 L-Edition.

For those who prefer a manual transmission, the Double 2.4 G and Single Cab 2.4 will still be available.

Various styling elements of the new Hilux have been redesigned, such as the front bumper, grille, and also the foglamp bezel. For the flagship Hilux Double Cab 2.8 Rogue, there’s a new bonnet moulding and skidplate while the base variants get new designs for the 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the notable change for the flagship variant is a new interior trim design, new meter design, addition of illuminated door trim garnish and a new key cover design. The base variants get a new meter design with additional information on the Multi Information Display (MID).

Seven colour choices are available for the 2020 Toyota Hilux. They are Bronze Mica Metallic (new colour), Crimson Spark Red Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Phantom Brown Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic and Super White II. The Hilux Single Cab is available only in a Solid White.

The 1G-FTV 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine has received improvements that raise both power output and torque. Maximum power output is now 204PS at 3,400 rpm (27PS increase), while maximum torque is 500Nm between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm (50Nm increase).

Although the engine is more powerful, fuel consumption has not gone up. In fact, fuel efficiency has improved due to the use of a 2-stage oil pump that can optimally switch the oil pressure. Additionally, a water-cooled double-pipe type pre-EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) cooler has also been installed to optimize the EGR gas temperature.

The power-assisted rack and pinion steering system for the new Hilux (except for the Single Cab variant) now has a Variable Flow Control (VFC) system which has reduced demand on the power steering pump, benefiting fuel economy.

The new Hilux also comes with an Auto Limited Slip Differential (LSD) which aids traction by using the traction control system (TRC) to control braking and engine output when one of the rear wheels start to spin. The Auto LSD system is available only when in the High range and in 2WD at speeds up to 50 km/h.

In line with Toyota’s aim of making motoring safer and reducing accidents, many of its models are now getting the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) system. The TSS system consists of three systems: Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), with Yaw Assist.

Estimated prices for the new Hilux range from RM93,880 onwards. For the Hilux 2.8 Rogue the estimated price is RM148,880. Interested buyers are urged to enjoy the Early Bird Special Price of RM144,880 applicable only for the Toyota Hilux D/Cab 2.8 Rouge AT 4x4 (for sales in 2020). The full price list will be issued with the showroom launch.


Lynk & Co Made An XC90 Except It’s Not A Volvo (But It Totally Is)

There are quite a few brands under the Geely Group’s umbrella, right? You could probably fire off a few off the top of your head right now. So can we. For today though we'll focus on Lynk & Co and Volvo.

So far, they’ve successfully managed to keep the cars within each brand pretty separated, or at least distinct from one another. Except, of course, for the Proton ones. I mean the X70 is pretty much just a right-hand drive Boyue with a different grille and the same applies to
the X50 and Binyue
.

But Lynk & Co always stood out as having a name that was probably reserved for a department store brand.

In 2021, they may have wavered on their initial mission to revolutionising the car ownership experience by convincing us all about
the joys of subscription vehicles
, but at least their cars are still interesting and
unique and worth talking about
.

That said, they’ve just launched their biggest vehicle yet - literally. And that’s due to the fact that, quite obviously, it’s based on the Volvo XC90. We’re not sure if this was wholly intended either as it’s Volvo’s Scalable Premium Architecture (SPA) that Lynk & Co really wanted access to, but just look at it.

In this striking white body colour, you’d only need to squint your eyes a little to see how much they resemble each other. Sure, you’ve got a different set of wheels with a complicated new face design, quad tailpipes at the rear, and a properly ugly two-tiered front fascia that makes it look like a grinning albino frog, but there’s still
a tinge of XC90 about it
. Also, we’re pretty sure those side vents are entirely fake.

We’ll hand them credit for doing a pretty good job on the interior, though. As impressive as the Volvo’s is in terms of design, Lynk & Co have splashed their own flavour of luxury here and it looks superb, perhaps even a little more appealing than what the Swedes have managed.

The white leather - and there’s plenty of it -has a warm shade to it that mixes every well with the muted tones of the dashboard with its faux polished dark marble accents. Apparently, the cabin has a total of six screens to adequately inform and delight the driver and everyone else aboard. In the pictures here we only see two.

In terms of its powertrain options, again, there’s quite a bit of overlap between it and other Volvos. The centrepiece here is that same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol which is paired to the 8-speed Aisin automatic transmission.

However, depending on the variant chosen, it’s paired with either a mild-hybrid, a plug-in hybrid system or nothing at all, meaning power can vary between 252PS to 430PS in relation to how powerful the electric motor is.

Additional details will follow in early July, according to the automaker, but we expect that news dump will revolve around the 09’s
semi-autonomous driving features
, launch markets, and price info. What’s confusing about this large Lynk & Co SUV’s debut is the timing of it all.

The current XC90, impressive as it still is, is known to be in its final phase of life as a new replacement/successor is prepared for a 2022 unveil, giving the 09 a generational parity maximum of just 2 years. Getting Volvo’s chewed up scraps might be fine for a more mass market-oriented marque like Proton, but Lynk & Co are supposed to be up there closer to the level of Polestar and
Zeekr
.


Proton Stake Sale: Five Concrete Proposals Received; Decision By 2018

Proton has confirmed initial reports by Bloomberg that up to 51 percent of Proton Holdings could be put up for sale.
Speaking at the press conference following the launch of the
all-new 2016 Proton Saga
 in Setia Alam earlier today, Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar, Group Managing Director of DRB-Hicom, the owner of Proton Holdings revealed that Proton is in talks with five foreign car makers, and that a decision will be made next year.
Without revealing the identity of the five suitors, Faisal adds that the five proposals made by the foreign car makers are concrete.
He also said that DRB-Hicom will naturally wish to maintain its majority stake in Proton, the company is not opposed to the idea of ceding majority control, if the proposal is in Proton’s best interest in the longer term.
"There are a few criteria that we are looking at. First, we ask ourselves whether or not there is a strategic fit [between the two car makers]; and then whether or not there is operational fit, and cultural fit. These three things are quite key to DRB-Hicom and Proton," Faisal elaborated.
Earlier reports
 have indicated the Czech Republic's Skoda (a budget brand owned by Germany’s Volkswagen Group), France’s Renault, as well as Group PSA (Peugeot and Citroen) and Japan's Suzuki are among the interested buyers of Proton’s stake.
A separate report by the New Straits Times have also said that China’s Geely Automobile Holdings, which also owns Sweden’s Volvo Cars is also in talks with Proton.


Toyota C-HR Takes Top Spot In Thailand's Car Of The Year

Let's look at this realistically. The Toyota C-HR is a car that has garnered a lot of controversy locally, but overseas it has been received incredibly well by critics and customers alike. Rumour has it that Thailand has halted exports of the C-HR because it's become such an unexpected hit that factories are scrambling to keep up with orders. The harshest critics of the C-HR have continuously accused the car of being poor on spec in comparison to rivals, but
Thailand thinks otherwise
.
This year's Thailand Car of the Year sees the Toyota C-HR taking top honours, scoring a total of 382 points with a panel of judges from the Thai Automotive Journalists Associations. This is head and shoulders above the Mazda CX-5, which came in at 307 points, and the Suzuki Swift, which managed 260 points. These are three left-field cars that do an incredible job of punching above the belt, and to be recognized for it is no small feat.
Over the years, the previous winners of this prestigious award have been the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Ford Everest. Perhaps the fact that the last few years have seen SUVs as winners may be owed to the Thai markets' disposition to high-riding vehicles, but even so they are all solid contenders in their respective fields, and the Toyota C-HR just happens to be the latest in this line.


2022 Honda Odyssey Launched In Malaysia - CBU, RM275,311.00

The 2022 Honda Odyssey makes landfall in Malaysia, in CBU form from Japan, retailing for RM275,311.00.

First introduced in Malaysia in 2013, the
Honda Odyssey
, Honda's answer to the premium MPV segment has sold over 2,000 units locally to date.

Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Madoka Chujo said, “The introduction of the New Odyssey caters to the needs of customers such as families and executives who seek a luxury 7-seater MPV with excellent ride comfort, elegant exterior and unrivalled utility features, all in one package. In addition, the refined exterior and enhanced  premium interior will further elevate the joy of owning a luxury Honda 7-seater MPV.”

Exterior

The 2022
Odyssey
 comes with a new front grille, new LED headlights with position lights and a new front bumper. At first glance, it definitely looks a bit more muscular compared to the outgoing model.

On the rear, a new taillight design and new bumper coupled with new 17-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior enhancements to this premium 7-seater MPV.

Interior

Upon entering the cockpit of the 2022 Odyssey you will first be greeted with a new dashboard design, replete with a storage compartment. A new 7-inch TFT meter and 8-inch advanced audio display beam all the relevant information to the driver and passengers alike. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard.

The 2022 Odyssey comes in leather for its second row of seats with Captain Cradle Seat and Ottoman for next levels of comfort. The seats can be folded forward or backward, allowing for multiple configurations according to your seating needs. Also standard is the Hands-free Power Tailgate at the back with a kick motion under the rear bumper.

Safety

The 2022 Honda Odyssey comes with Honda SENSING, complete with:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)

Road Departure  Mitigation (RDM)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Auto High Beam (AHB)

Additionally, the 2022 Honda Odyssey is also equipped with a Multi-View Camera System with Smart Parking Assist, Blind Spot Information, and Cross Traffic Monitor.

Colours

The 2022 Odyssey will be available in three colours: Platinum White  Pearl, Premium Twinkle Black Pearl and Super Platinum Metallic.

For more information on the 2022 Odyssey, customers can visit any of the Honda authorised dealerships in Peninsular and East Malaysia or call Honda’s Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020.

Our colleague, Adam only very recently sampled once again this standout 7-seater MPV as he calls it, and you can read all about it
here
.


3-4 P-Hailing Riders Caught In Accidents Each Week

Due to fatigue and interaction with application systems, about three to four accidents are reported weekly among p-hailing riders in the country.

According to a report by The Star, Zulhelmi Mansor, President of the Persatuan Penghantar
P-Hailing Malaysia
 has said that the lack of awareness of safety is one of the main causes of accidents involving such riders.

"On average, they work more than four hours non-stop to chase trips and bookings until they are tired and eventually lead to accidents," he told reporters after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Penghantar and the Malaysian Society for Occupational Safety and Health (MSOSH).

"This cooperation is to support Penghantar's safety and health policy towards creating a safe work culture among p-hailing riders and to prioritise occupational safety and health (OSH) based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act," said Mansor.

"It is also to create awareness and protection among p-hailing riders on OSH as well as to ensure that all riders wear personal protective equipment while working," he added.

Dr Shawaludin said MSOSH would recognise the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) module developed by Penghantar.

"It will be adapted as the p-hailing OSH guidelines as a whole, thus improving the social safety net of its employees," he said.

Last year, Bukit Aman Deputy Director of Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT), Datuk Mohd Nadzri Hussain said
he was concerned about the rising numbers of accidents
 involving p-hailing riders.

Data collected from January 2020 to July 2021 across the country showed that out of the 347 accidents, 48 were fatal while the rest were severe or minor injuries.

For 2020, e-hailing drivers and riders recorded 17 deaths, 10 severe cases, and 64 minor injuries.