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1000 kilograms

1000 kilometres

Two bars of fuel remaining

One Isuzu D-Max

If you take nothing else from this article, take the above numbers away.

It was simply not enough for Isuzu to drive the 1.9-litre D-Max Blue Power from Bangkok to Singapore on a single tank of fuel. Isuzu Malaysia then upped the ante, loading it with 1000 kilogrammes and driving it through some of the highest accessible hills along the Titiwangsa Mountain Range, reaching its destination having clocked over 1,000km – with two bars of fuel remaining in the tank.

Just to make sure there was no hanky-panky, a thorough inspection of the test Isuzu D-Max 1.9-litre Single Cab model was conducted by PUSPAKOM to verify its conformity as a showroom-standard unit before ensuring the weight of the load exceeded the 1,000kg target.

Day 1: Drive on the East-West highway linking Jeli in Kelantan and Gerik in Perak with a climb to the peak of 1,052m before heading to Ipoh for the night.

Day 2: Climb up 1,112m to Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands before heading on to Fraser’s Hill (1,222m) followed by a 1,604m-high climb up to Genting Highlands before ending the journey at the Isuzu Service Centre in Shah Alam after clocking 1,145km.

Average consumption: 7.2L/100km (13.7km/L). Two bars of fuel left based on the on-board computer from its 76-litre tank.

“Through advanced technology, the new 1.9-litre RZ4E-TC engine is by far the most fuel efficient engine ever produced by Isuzu Motors and this was clearly demonstrated in this exercise. Perhaps some vehicles can travel long distances on a tank of fuel, some can probably manage to carry a ton of weight or climb mountains. But to achieve all three criteria with one vehicle is a true feat of a competent vehicle,” said CEO of Isuzu Malaysia Koji Nakamura.

Who says trucks have high fuel consumption?!


VIDEO: Do Hands-Free Devices Actually Promote Safer Driving?

We are often told that when behind the wheel of a vehicle, we should use a hands-free device when receiving incoming calls. In that way, both your hands are on the steering wheel instead of juggling between it and holding your mobile phone (terribly unsafe by the way).
However, what if the distraction so much as holding the phone but the phone call itself?
Which is where the Mythbusters team comes in: they’re here to test the myth: Do hands-free devices promote safer driving?
In their first experiment, both Jamie and Adam (the hosts of the show) attempt navigate themselves around a course while answering a series of questions over the phone either with the phone in their hand or using a hands-free device.
The questions asked are meant to stimulate certain parts of the brain to replicate an everyday situation. In both their attempts, they failed to hit a minimum pass score imposed by a driving instructor.
Which brings us to the second part of their testing at the Stanford University Automotive Innovation Facility and their state-of-the-art driving simulator, where 30 volunteer drivers are judged on their ability to follow the GPS’ instructions or if they get into an accident while either using a hands-free device for their phones or not. Similarly, they are also asked a series of questions to stimulate various parts of their brains like in a normal conversation.
In the end, the results are pretty evident. Out of the 30 volunteers – 15 hands-full (phone in hand) and 15 hands-free with the former saw a majority (14/15) of them losing their way or crashing into something. The results for the 15 hands-free were shocking as well, with a majority of them (14/15 as well) either missing the GPS’ instructions or crashing into something.
So there you have it, don’t use your phone while driving. Even with a hands-free device, your concentration is split towards making sure your car stays on course as well as maintain the conversation. So keep it short and get the caller to call you back.


Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV debuts in the Philippines - RM318,700

The
Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV
 has finally made its first ASEAN appearance in the Philippines earlier this week.

In conjunction with the first anniversary of Hyundai Motor Philippines, they organised the Hyundai Mobility Experience over at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall Activity Center alongside the brand's partnership with the latest Spider-Man animated movie, Across the Spider-Verse.

*Image credit: Hyundai Motor Philippines

As of now, there's only one variant of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV being offered in the country - the GLS 2WD Long Range. As for the pricing, customers in the Philippines can cop one for Php 3,798,000, which is around RM318,700.

That's quite a price tag considering the fact that this particular variant is fitted with a single electric motor to the rear axle that produces 229PS and 350Nm of torque. That is then paired with a 77.4kWh battery pack which offers a driving distance of up to 545km.

*Image credit: Hyundai Motor Philippines

Hyundai Philippines also mentioned that when the Ioniq 6 is connected to a 350kW DC charger, a 10%-80% battery charge state can be achieved in just 18 minutes. And just like the Ioniq 5, it also comes with the vehicle-to-load (V2L) function which allows the users to charge any electric devices which can be useful during power outages, camping trips, or just a quick charge when you're off the grid.

With the first ASEAN arrival done and dusted, we can expect the Hyundai Ioniq 6 to arrive here in Malaysia possibly within the final quarter of 2023. No news on variants and pricing just yet, but we can expect it to be somewhere higher in the Hyundai Ioniq 5's price range which starts from RM207,808 to RM270,408.


Services Like GrabCar And Uber Only For Licensed Vehicles, Dewan Rakyat Told

A further development in the spar between authorities and ride sharing apps had occurred yesterday when the Dewan Rakyat was told that only licensed vehicles and those with permits “would be allowed to be used the MyTeksi and Uber applications to get passengers.”
Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said that this was due to the fact the private vehicles are meant for personal use and not for generating income, which would have it fall under a commercial vehicle, writes Bernama.
PKR-Gopeng Member of Parliament Dr Lee Boon Chye questions its legality, wherein Dr Shahidan responded: "The application is widely used by taxi users and drivers and its usage is legal, but only for licensed vehicles."
Dr Shahidan continued by saying the Land Public Transport Commission were drafting a new policy to allow them to monitor taxi booking systems like those of Uber and MyTeksi through the use of smartphone applications. SPAD is also looking to into discussions with the providers of these kinds of applications.


Nissan Celebrates The GT-R In Heritage Exhibition

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) is showcasing the Nissan GT-R Heritage Exhibition at ETCM Jalan Raja Laut - in conjunction with the month of motorsports leading up to 2016 Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix.
From 23 September 2016 till 2 October 2016 – visitor can get up close with three of Nissan's ‘Godzillas’ - the Skyline GT-R R33, Skyline GT-R R34, and
GT-R R35
.
Nissan Skyline GT-R 33
The Nissan GT-R R33 was developed 1995 as a successor to the world-beating R32 model. The car had grown in size and weight but still packed the venerable RB26-DETT straight-six twin turbo. The R33 addressed some of the drawbacks of the R32 with toughened gearbox synchros and redesigned oil pump drive collar. The R33 V-Spec also featured the updated Atessa all-wheel drive system and four-channel independent ABS system. Production ended in November 1998 to make way for the hallowed R34 generation.
Nissan Skyline GT-R 34
The rarest car on display at ETCM’s heritage exhibition is the GT-R R34 M-Spec Nur. Only 250 units were built to commemorate the success of the Nissan GT-R R34. The M-Spec Nur (short for Nurburgring) was built on the bones of the regular M-Spec but featured an improved engine, with bits from Nissan’s N1 race program. Bigger turbos and increased boost took power comfortably beyond the 300hp mark and with slight tuning, could produce upwards of 450hp on stock internals. Production ended in 2002; the GT-R nameplate went on an extended hiatus until the R35 came along.
Nissan GT-R 35
A thorough redesign instead of the normal evolutionary progression, Nissan dropped the Skyline moniker in 2007 as it wanted the R35 to move up into a more premium marketplace alongside cars like the
Porsche 911
 and
Ferrari 458
. Chief Creative Officer, Shiro Nakamura wanted the R35 to look like a European sports-car yet offer a firm nod to Japanese culture. The new (handmade) 3.8-litre V6 24-valve twin-turbocharged engine offered up 476hp and 588Nm of torque, channelling power towards a rear-mounted six-speed dual-clutch transmission designed by Borg-Warner. Since then, modest tweaks have increased the Nissan GT-R’s performance, the
upcoming 2017 model
 features 562hp and 637Nm of torque.
In conjunction with the heritage exhibition, ETCM also carried out the Prize Giving Ceremony for their “Passion to Win” Campaign. The Campaign enables five winners who purchased and registered a Nissan in August the opportunity for an all-expense paid trip to the 2016 Super GT Round 7 in Buriram, Thailand.


McLaren ‘Senna 001’ Owner Goes On Epic 1,400km Drive Right After Picking Up Car

London-based businessman David Kyte, who happens to be the owner of the McLaren Senna chassis number 001, was officially handed the keys to his brand new ride earlier this week.
Following a few presentations by McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt and other McLaren Automotive and McLaren Special Operations senior executives at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK, David did something that most owners will never do – set out on a 1,400km road trip right after picking up the car.
The ‘Senna 001’, which went straight to the south of France from Woking, was accompanied by five other McLaren cars (3 Sennas, a 720S, and a 600LT).
The convoy of supercars, whose drivers included racing driver and nephew of Ayrton Senna, Bruno Senna, McLaren Automotive’s COO Dr Jens Ludmann, and McLaren Ultimate Series Vehicle Line Director Andy Palmer, arrived at the Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille, where David will join a Pure McLaren driving experience taking place this weekend.
“Handing over the key to the first customer McLaren Senna built was an honour for me and a milestone for the company,”commented McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt.
“David Kyte is a longstanding McLaren enthusiast with a true passion for our brand and a number of McLarens to prove it. We have had many conversations about the car he has now taken delivery of and while I believe that the McLaren Senna is already incredible in every respect, the additional work that David has commissioned from McLaren Special Operations has taken ‘Senna 001’ to another level.”
Finished in MSO Anniversary White with striking livery painted in MSO Aurora Blue and the Senna brand displayed on the wing endplate, the bespoke McLaren Senna also features a roof ‘snorkel’, T-Bar and fuel filler cover in MSO Satin Visual Carbon Fibre, brake calipers painted in MSO Bespoke Burton Blue, and MSO Bespoke Coloured Centre Lock wheel nuts in Volcano Red.
The paintwork alone took more than 600 hours to complete, two paint specialists devoting two weeks to ‘masking-up’ the car before the livery was applied.
The ‘Senna 001’ is further personalised with individual references to the legendary Ayrton Senna, like his signature on the door shut, the years that he was F1 world champion engraved on the throttle pedal, and the layout of the Interlagos circuit in  Brazil with the McLaren badge marking the start/finish line on the front of the car.
The interior has also been enhanced by McLaren Special Operations with MSO Bespoke interior trim in black Alcantara, diamond-stitching on the seats, and a Senna ‘S’ logo embroidered on each headrest, all in Harissa Red. The keys are also in red-tinted carbon.
“I committed to buying a McLaren Senna as soon as I became aware that McLaren was developing the car – so long before the name was confirmed - but leaving the McLaren Technology Centre after the handover ceremony was the first time I have actually driven one,” explained David.
“Now, with 1,400km covered, I’m delighted to report that as someone who rates driver engagement as crucial to driver enjoyment, the Senna has more than exceeded my expectations.”


Fuel Price Update: 17th to 23rd October

The Ministry of Finance Malaysia has announced the updated prices of petrol and diesel fuels starting from the 17th of October to 23rd of October.

The price of RON97 petrol will increase by 1 sen to RM 1.98 per litre, while the price of RON95 petrol has also increased by 1 sen to RM 1.68 per litre.

The price of diesel increased by 5 sen coming in at RM 1.74 per litre.

In summary, the prices for petrol and diesel are listed below:

RON95 – RM 1.68 per litre (up 1 sen)

RON97 – RM 1.98 per litre (up 1 sen)

Diesel – RM 1.74 per litre (up 5 sen)


Naza Announces Merdeka Promotions For Selected Kia, Peugeot, And Citroen Models

In conjunction with Malaysia’s 62 years of independence, Naza Automotive Group is offering special Merdeka deals for various brands under the group.
Kia
For Kia, the company has announced the ‘Fuel your Freedom, Discover Malaysia with Kia’ offer where 62 lucky customers will be rewarded with RM620 worth of petrol vouchers.
All you have to do to be eligible is register any one of Kia’s range of vehicles within the campaign period to win the petrol vouchers. Offer lasts from now until 30th of September 2019 at all Kia outlets.
Peugeot
Nasim Sdn Bhd is offering a special deal for the Peugeot 5008 SUV throughout August and September 2019 for all bookings made during this period. For a promotional price of RM161,888, buyers can drive home the SUV that boasts a clever blend of an MPV’s practicality with the dynamic appeal of an SUV.
Citroën
Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Citroën brand in Malaysia, is offering the Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer, at a promo price of RM139,888 from now until 30th September 2019.


SPAD CEO Says Higher Taxi Fares In Our Best Interest

A couple of days ago, we touched upon the
increase in taxi fares
 that were to result from a revision by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). The new fares have been brought forward and will take effect on April 1
st
 to coincide with the implementation of GST.
To help with this transition, taxi drivers are given a period of three months to make the necessary adjustments and recalibrations to their on-board meter system.
Within the Klang Valley, fares would be increased to 25 sen per 200 meters for regular budget taxis, with a flag-down rate of RM3 nationwide. For Teks1Malaysia cabs, the flag-down rate will be RM4, with 30 sen charged per 200 meters travelled.
Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal, SPAD Chief Executive, about the general reluctance of taxi drivers to accommodate certain fares, said to Free Malaysia Today “This is an example of how they operate within an environment where economic fundamentals are not appropriately addressed, with behaviour that also includes choosing passengers and destinations.”
While there have been obvious unhappiness surrounding this price hike, Mohd Nur said they were in a "tight spot" having to juggle the issues of sustainability, accessibilty and affordability. The more funds channelled into this industry may lead to higher morale, better maintained taxis, and an incentive to operate during congestion-heavy peak hours. Although far from a certainty, SPAD's argument is that it should contribute better quality of service to the customer.
Malaysians have a variety of options when it comes to transportation, especially within urban areas, and taxi drivers have to prove they can provide the increase in quality to justify the increase in price.


Tesla Readying Model 2 Hatch To Rival European, Chinese EVs

Following the
unveil of the Cybertruck
, their largest non-commercial vehicle we’ve seen from the US-based EV maker, Tesla is reportedly setting their sights on the compact segment with the Model 2 hatch.

According to Brit publication Autocar, Tesla’s upcoming new vehicle is their most compact yet, competing directly with newcomer rivals such as the
Volkswagen ID3
,
Hyundai IONIQ 5
, and
second-generation Nissan Leaf
.

Given its smaller dimensions, the Model 2, as it’s purported to be called, will also be the brand’s most affordable EV yet with prices to start at just US$25,000 (or just over RM103,000). Though it would certainly represent a great entry point for non-EV owners, it hopefully won’t suffer the same inflated final costs that plagued the Model 3.

Wind our memory clocks back to 2016, and we might recall the big fuss going on about the company’s ‘affordable’ first stab at making a truly mass-accessible EV as a complement to their larger and more expensive Model S saloon and Model X sort-of-SUV.

That didn’t turn out exactly as expected with that base price essentially excluding many important features. The Model 3 did indeed launch with a more affordable starting price relative to their other vehicles, but the majority of cars delivered to customers veered wildly from its advertised 30,000 US Dollar ballpark thanks to optional extras that should have been fitted as standard.

Upon its announcement, Tesla kicked off a pre-order campaign which saw over 500,000 interested individuals part with $1,000 each to reserve their early slot in the production run, half of which were garnered in the first week.

It provided them with an important injection of fresh capital, but continued delays and quality control issues - particularly on
early batches of Model 3s
 - severely soured the goodwill it first established at the preview event, leading to booking cancellations and a host of after-sale problems.

Tesla has certainly made strides in QC and production streamlining since then, but they’ll need to come out strong with the Model 2 in the face of some stiff competition from automakers that say, back in 2016, posed no immediate threat. According to the report, the Model 2’s development and eventual launch was dependent on the company perfecting work on a new type of battery cell.

Tesla was initially hesitant in offering a vehicle smaller than the Model 3 as it would mean a significant compromise in battery capacity and range. CEO Elon Musk had previously said that travelling “less than 250 miles” was regarded as “unacceptably low”. Funnily enough, back in 2019, the base Model 3 only had a range of 220 miles, as rated by the US’ EPA.

However, this new generation of batteries are quoted as allowing a 16 percent increase in efficiency and can be produced with reduced manufacturing costs, so perhaps it would be reasonable to expect Tesla has managed to extract a range of over 400km from a battery array under or around the 60kWh mark.

For the sake of comparison, the 2021 Tesla Model 3 boasts an EPA-rated range of 353 miles (568km) in its Long Range Dual Motor AWD configuration, deriving power from an 82kWh battery.

So far, the company and its chief executive have remained silent on the matter, declining to reveal any public details about this supposed upcoming entry-level model. That said, it is likely that the majority of the Model 2’s production will take place alongside the Model 3 and Model Y at Tesla’s new factory outside of Berlin, Germany, a facility that’s expected to begin operations in early 2022.

For now, at least, with the precious little that has been officially disclosed by the company, the Model 2 will remain on the back burner of ‘someday’ Tesla cars alongside the Cybertruck, Semi, and second-generation Roadster.

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Cars Today Are Now Ready For Our Smartwatches, More To Follow

The most recent battle in technology is the one being fought over a place on your wrist. For automakers, the functionality and convenience this technology offers, in how it can connect you with your car, seems very enticing indeed.
We find ourselves in a time of ever smaller and lighter and/or more powerful devices that fit into the mould we’ve already set in our lives. First it was the phone, and now it’s the watch. With the advent of the connected car slowly setting in, the ability to remotely monitor or control certain parameters of our automobiles seems like a no brainer – a feature just waiting to be built in.
The frontrunners in this new space are
BMW
 and
Porsche
, and these two German outfits have already built in support for the Apple Watch within a week of its release. For BMW, it pertains to its i Remote app (shown above) that can be set up to control their i8 hybrid sports car or their i3 electric city car. Functional parity is shared between the iOS or Apple Watch app, which can provide battery status, car location data, control cabin temperature, and lock/unlock the doors.
Similarly on the Porsche side of the fence, its Car Connect (shown above) app offers many if not more features for remotely controlling certain aspects of Porsche’s Hybrid vehicles (
Panamera
 Hybrid,
Macan
 Hybrid,
Cayenne
 Hybrid, 918 Spyder): climate control, vehicle tracking, door lock/unlock, real time journey monitoring, among others.
Not wanting to lag behind, Hyundai has made it clear they are going for a big push to equip their new cars with the latest in mobile platform support such as CarPlay and Android Auto as well as making its Blue Link smartphone app compatible with Android Wear and Apple Watch coming soon.
Audi
, too, are keen to explore this technologically enabled bridge between driver and car, and has even partnered with LG to develop a special smartwatch (shown below) that run’s an slightly altered version of the much missed webOS that has been tailored to work with Audi. The company showed this off during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 in January. More widely available solutions through other Android Wear devices and Apple Watch support are surely not far off.


Is Having A Third National Car Such A Bad Idea?

We think a third national car company will do the local industry some good.

When Nissan and Toyota were the only ones building cars in Japan way back in the 1920s, we wondered whether some Japanese people thought that two national car brands were enough? If they did, then surely we would not see the likes of our beloved Honda, Isuzu, Subaru and Mazda rise up to be what they are now - so, the question is, are two national car brands really enough?

Well, according to Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad, yes!! Two is enough. This is in relation to what she said at a press conference where they were discussing the automotive industry's first-half performance.

The Edge reported that Aminah had the sentiment that Malaysia does not need a third national car. "From the industry's standpoint, we already have two national cars — that's already too many. To have a third national car? I don't think we need it," said the MAA president.

We know some agree with her assessment, while some do not, but in our opinion, more competition only leads to better cars and better pricing, especially when it comes down to it being a local battle. If you look at it from the standpoint of profiteering yes this is a bad idea, but as an industry-building project and national car betterment, we are all for it.

If the third national car project surrounds itself with future tech (EEV or EV), even better because it will surely push Proton and Perodua to do the same thing. Yes, there is a lot of cost in starting a vehicle brand, but this time around, it seems that the project will be mostly private, so no wasting of taxpayers money. Yes, there have been talks about Perodua coming in to support them, but there has been no concrete evidence of that yet.

Also, one other point to ponder is this, if the third national car programme is wholly Malaysian owned, is that not a source of national pride? Yes, one can argue that Proton and Perodua are Malaysian companies but both have huge influence and ownership from Geely and Daihatsu respectively. Or is it a moot point? Is national pride no longer something to aspire for? A notion for romantic hacks with very little real world benefits? Tepuk dada, tanya selera.

At the same press conference, Aminah also said that every car company in Malaysia should be paying the same amount of duties to make it a level playing field. “We have highlighted many times to the government that duties on automobiles in Malaysia are very high and that they should relook at this, but it always falls on deaf ears,” she said.

Okay, we have to agree with Aminah on this one because right now all's fair in love and war. If we were to have a level playing field, only then can we truly give the people what they want. Right now, Malaysians are purchasing cars based on what is economically viable for them, but we bet if all duties are the same for everyone, the choices would be different. Aminah's comments are quite brave because if it was a level playing field, it means that a couple of car manufacturers would not be as attractive as they once were. But then again, just like in chess, to get better, you have to play against a better opponent.

Will we ever get to see a level playing field when it comes to duty? Should Malaysia have a third national car? Let us know, we want to hear what you think.


All-New Audi R8 Makes Full Debut Ahead Of Geneva Motor Show: Strictly V10

Aha! Didn’t we say this would happen? Spurred by
a leak of an official photo
,
Audi
 has finally opened up about its all-new second-gen
R8
 sports car, ahead of its 2015 Geneva Motor Show debut.
As expected, the R8 will no longer offer a V8 engine, making up for things with a choice of two V10 variants: the R8 V10, and the R8 V10 plus.
“The new R8 V10 plus is therefore the most powerful and fastest series-production Audi of all time,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development. And they’re right.
The lesser, if you will, of the two variants features a 5.2-litre FSI V10 petrol engine which makes 540hp and exactly the same number of Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. 3.5 seconds is what it’ll take to hit 100km/h, and then on it’s a top speed of 323km/h to chase.
The R8 V10 plus (they aren’t even capitalising the plus here), makes 610hp and 560Nm of torque, also at 6,500rpm. The range-topper requires no more than 3.2 seconds to reach 100km/h, and features a top speed of 330km/h.
Tough luck for the purist because it’s bye-bye manual transmission: Only a seven-speed S tronic is available. There is however, an updated quattro all-wheel drive system to help put its power down to the road. Audi tells us that in extreme conditions, 100% of the engine’s torque can be delivered to either the front or rear wheels, if needed.
Built on a new multimaterial Audi Space Frame (ASF), Audi has managed to shave off 50kg of its all-new R8 against its predecessor. The new ASF features a combination of aluminium and carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP), which also improves the sports car’s overall rigidity and crash behaviour. You’ll also find this architecture underpinning the Audi’s Italian cousin, the Lamborghini Huracan.
Audi promises a lot of design changes to its exterior design, and while the car does look fresh, it's still a bit too familiar for our 'nit-picky' liking. Bits here and there have been reworked (like the iconic side blades which have been split in half, and a whole new front-end appearance), but the first-gen R8’s familiar silhouette remains untouched. In all fairness, the car has in fact grown, in width, specifically, by 1.6-inches…
LED headlamps are now standard across both variants of the car, but if it’s the laser headlamp tech that you want, that’s be at an extra cost to you.
Inside, Audi’s virtual cockpit is prevalent, with a 12.3-inch display screen housing all the information you need, reserved solely for the driver’s view. Different modes will display a digital instrument cluster, while in performance modes, various driver programs and telemetry can be drawn up.
Audi R8 e-tron: The electrified sibling…
No images of this all-electric R8 have been revealed yet, but Audi will be showing off its R8 e-tron at the coming Geneva Motor Show as well. The e-tron will manage a range of 450km on a single charge, courtesy of its 92kWh T-shaped battery (almost doubled in capacity) which is located to the rear of the vehicle’s transmission tunnel.
Using all the CFRP material seen on the regular R8, the e-tron will benefit from the material providing better energy absorption in the event of a crash.
Describing its performance characteristics, Audi tell us that, “The power is now twice 170 kW and the maximum torque twice 460 Nm (339.3 lb-ft). The R8 e-tron 2.0 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.9 seconds on its way to an electronically restricted top speed of 210 km/h (130.5 mph) or 250 km/h (155.3 mph).”
On top of being available to customers, the new e-tron will also function as a “mobile high-tech laboratory” which Audi says will help in their development of a sedan character. Hmmm… what are you up to, Audi?


No Changes To Retail Prices For Now- ETCM on GST Abolishment

At the launch of the all-new Nissan Serena S-Hybrid today, ETCM has taken the opportunity to answer the question in every Malaysian’s mind – what is the impact of the abolishment of GST to vehicle prices?
Mr. Christopher Tan, Sales and Marketing Director of ETCM said, “Right now, the new Government and new Finance Minister have not made it clear on exactly when is the implementation of moving from GST to sales tax,”
Mr. Tan also added that apart from the GST figure of 6%, there also many other aspects of the taxation process to look deeper into, such as the methodology, i.e. will it be the same pre-GST with a 10% sales and services tax?
When GST was first implemented in April 2015, many mainstream automotive companies announced a lower on-the-road price, as the transition from sales and services tax of 10% was reduced to a GST rate of 6%. ETCM models that are locally-assembled
 saw a price reduction in a range of 0.3% to 2.0%
 with the implementation of GST.
“If the situation is such that sales and services tax implementation is the same as before (pre-GST), there could actually be a price increase,”
“Perhaps now is the best time to buy,” added Mr. Tan.
Should there be a price reduction after the abolishment of GST and a new taxation system is being imposed, ETCM will also honour the new lower price through their own 'Price Protection Promise'. Any differences in price will be refunded to customers.
Last week, TC Subaru, distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia,
announced their Price Protection Scheme
 which provides assurance to customers against price movements of their products up to 18th August, the 100th day of the new Government's administration.
To recap,
the abolishment of GST was a key part of Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto
to reduce the high cost of living. The new Government has given themselves 100 days to make the change.


Ford Malaysia achieves record sales for Ranger in 2015

Ford Malaysia today announced its retail sales figures in Malaysia for 2015 – a grand total of of 12,130 units.
The company added that out of the total, 9,231 units comprised of the Ranger pickup truck - an all time high for the model - making it the brand’s best-selling model.
The Ranger is also the country’s second-best-selling pickup truck as of January 2016, with full-year sales rising seven percent year-over-year.
“Our new Ranger epitomizes Ford’s proud truck heritage and global expertise, and is the most capable, most powerful and smartest truck in the market today. It’s everything our
Malaysian customers have come to love about the Ranger, which is helping to further drive its widening appeal,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific emerging markets, Ford Motor Company.
The Ranger aside, the Fiesta contributed full-year sales of 1,237 units, while the EcoSport contributed full-year sales of 855 units. Last but not least, 93 units of the Transit van were sold in 2015.
Ford also finished 2015 strong as December sales rose seven percent from the previous month to 889 units.
On another note, Ford Malaysia’s RM140 million network expansion is still ongoing, with the latest facility to be established being the brand’s 48
th
 dealership in Petaling Jaya along the Federal Highway (KL bound), which is also said to be the brand’s largest and most advanced sales and service centre in Malaysia.
“We are committed to going further in 2016, as we continue to focus on upgrading our facilities and enhancing the overall customer experience. We will also continue to expand our lineup of global Ford vehicles, with a number of launches including the new Mustang and the new Focus,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific emerging markets, Ford Motor Company.
Find out more about the
Ford Ranger
 models on sale at Carlist.my.


All-New 2016 Hyundai Elantra Makes US Debut

Two months after its global debut in Korea, the sixth generation Hyundai Elantra has just been unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The US-market Elantra will be made in two locations - Montgomery, Alabama in USA and Ulsan, South Korea.
Unlike the Korean-market Elantra, which comes with either a 1.6-litre diesel VGT, a 1.6-litre GDi direct injection petrol, or Nu-series 2.0-litre MPi Atkinson, the US-market Elantra comes with only two engine options - an all-new 1.4-liter Kappa turbocharged GDI four-cylinder, or a 2.0-liter Nu MPI Atkinson four-cylinder.
The all-new Elantra will go on sale in the US starting January 2016. Prices will be announced closer to its commercial launch date.
2.0-liter Nu four-cylinder
The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine makes 147 hp at 6,200 rpm and 179 Nm (estimated) of torque at 4,500 rpm. It also uses an Atkinson cycle operation, similar to the valvetrain system used by
Toyota’s VVT-iW
 engines. The valvetrain reduces pumping loss by delaying the close timing of the intake valve in the compression stroke, therefore maximizing the expansion ratio. It has a high 12.5:1 compression ratio.
Hyundai North America says the Elantra is the only model in the compact class to combine Atkinson cycle engine to be combined with multi-port injection.
High energy ignition coils are also adopted to increase combustion efficiency through increasing spark intensity. A new electronically controlled thermostat decreases pumping energy and allows the thermostat to open at a higher temperature.  Finally, piston cooling jets are added to cool down the piston by spraying oil at the lower position of the piston resulting in knock stability and fuel economy improvements.
The engine is paired to an all-new six-speed automatic transmission that Hyundai claims to be 3.3 percent more energy efficient than the previous unit.
1.4-litre turbocharged GDI four-cylinder
This downsized engine will be fitted on the lower range, ‘Eco’ trim variants of the Elantra. It will only be introduced in the US in the third quarter of 2016.
The engine produces 128 hp at 5,500 rpm and 211 Nm from 1,400 rpm to 3,700 rpm, paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The US-market Elantra also features Android Auto infotainment system, eight-speaker Infinity premium audio system, as well as Hyundai Blue Link telematics system.
Other features of the all-new Elantra can be found in our earlier post
All-New 2016 Hyundai Elantra Debuts In Korea
.


Insuring Your Car Against Flood Is Cheaper Than You Think

Did you know that last year, motor insurance companies in Malaysia have paid out RM5.29 billion worth of claims? In other words, Malaysian drivers are collectively receiving an average of RM14.5 million per day from their motor insurance, reimbursing them for their losses due to accidents and thefts (source: PIAM).

The numbers are a testament of the value that motor insurance in shielding motorists against potentially high repair bills. It is worth adding that drivers should review their motor insurance coverage and understand they cover against, and what benefits they can expect from their motor insurance provider.

At the most basic level, drivers must know what type of motor insurance they are paying for. Generally, there are two types of car insurance - Third Party and Comprehensive. The differences between the two are as explained in the table below:

Note that neither insurance plans protect you against losses due to flood. Should you be unfortunate enough to get caught in a flash flood, or come back to the basement parking at your office only to find your car damaged by flood water, you would have to expect to pay five-figure sum in repairs.

Upgrading your insurance to cover against natural disasters could be quite pricey. Depending on the value of your vehicle, it starts from around RM250 per year for a Myvi-class vehicle, or 0.5% of the car’s insured value. It’s one way to protect your fragile heart against the shock of being handed an expensive repair bill.

If that’s a bit too expensive for you, then do consider Allianz Enhanced Road Warrior roadside assistance program.

Unlike other roadside assistance programs, Allianz Enhanced Road Warrior policyholders do not only enjoy 24-hour unlimited towing distance, but also having their car(s) insured against damages caused by flood. At only RM99 per year (excluding 6% GST and stamp duty), you can enjoy cover against flood damage of up to RM1,500.

What’s more, you also enjoy additional benefits like car replacement or arrangements for car rental and hotel accommodation should you lose the use of your vehicle, and it’s available even if your car is in Thailand or Singapore.


Hi Proton - Three Rumoured 2021 Proton R3 Models Rendered

An assortment of Proton R3 models have been rumoured to be released for quite some time now. Proton’s
highly successful in-house motorsports division
 has throughout the years, introduced a number of limited-run models that have been rather successful and appealing to the boy racer in all of us.

Most recently, whispers from the grapevine suggested a Proton Saga R3 version was due out in 2020 – alas, with the pandemic slowdown and Proton’s hands full with the introduction of the
X50 SUV
, it is understood that these plans have been put off till next year.

With yearly model updates planned for both the Saga, Persona, and Iriz in 2021 – we might just be treated to a snazzy return of the R3 nameplate.

Of course, this is all conjecture at this point, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t swoon over the prospects of what might be if the R3 division gets to put their Midas touch on the regular Proton models. Now, with the help of our in-house designer Farhanah, we have rendered what we hope to see with the “plausible” R3 models.

We have selected X70 (because why not?), the Saga (because we think one is already in the works), and perhaps the one we want most the
Iriz
 R3 (come on Proton, we deserve a successor to the Satria).

One unifying trait you’d find on all three cars is the achingly beautiful British Racing Green – an iconic hue popularised by many British sports cars, including Lotus, which until 2017 was owned by Proton. It is also a homage to the rarest and most expensive R3 creation – the Satria Neo Lotus Racing.

Supplied from the factory with carbon parts, bonafide racing components (like titanium headers) and a chassis that would excite even the most die-hard track enthusiasts – it is about the best place to start for the ‘new’
 berangan-angan
 R3 models.

 Let's get stuck in…

Proton X70 R3

For the
X70
 we have our styling updates clean and simple, this is the flagship model of the Proton range and as such, must appeal to a more affluent crowd with a taste for exclusivity. We’ve finished of the colouring with some subtle yellow highlights on the side skirts – much like the
Proton Saga 35th Anniversary edition
.

Along the flanks, we contrasted the bodywork with dark AG Luxury ‘59’ Spec 3 wheels for a highly stylised and technical look – befitting the X70’s up to date technology and equipment.

Proton Saga R3

This is perhaps the first R3 named model that we might receive. Proton is believed to be already working on a sportier version of the
Saga
 to appeal to a younger audience of the brand. As far as we know, the updates are only said to be aesthetic, but the Saga’s ride and handling are already up to par and outperforms its main rival, the
Perodua Bezza
, so perhaps bolder looks are just what it needs.

To this end, we have to say, British Racing Green suits the sedan body style of the Saga especially well. We have added the same wheel package as the Satria Neo R3 Lotus Racing and given the car a subtle drop for a more aggressive stance. The sporty stance is finished with a matte-black lip spoiler at the front; the wing mirrors are matte black too.

Proton Iriz R3

Now we move onto the model that could benefit the most from an R3 edition and is theoretically the most fitting successor to the Satria Neo’s blend of budget style and performance. The
facelifted Proton Iriz
, is a good looking hatchback, offers lovely driving dynamics, a refined driving experience and a proven powertrain. The Iriz also has a
proven motorsports track record
 having garnered victories across various circuit racing championships; and who can forget the Iriz R5 WRC-spec homologation model.

It’s a shame the manual variant isn’t offered with the more powerful 1.6-liter engine anymore. That said, what we’d love to see with the R3 version is the aggressive six dual-spoke R3 light-alloy wheels with subtle highlights in yellow for the Iriz’s Ethereal Bow trim, which runs across the front of the car.

So Proton, bila nak launch?

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.

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With RM50k Up For Grabs A Race, Mat Rempits No Longer Want Women As Their Prize

With up to RM50k up for grabs, it's no wonder Mat Rempits now prefer cash winnings instead of women as prizes.

Despite the number of fatal accidents associated with street racing, Mat Rempits are
unwilling to give up
 their
 illegal racing
 activities as it could result in the loss of some lucrative earnings.

According to Kosmo, "with winnings from street racing surging to as high as RM50,000 a race, Mat Rempits have found it hard to turn down the illegal but lucrative activity".

A 25-year-old street racer from Kota Bharu, Kelantan told the daily he could earn up to RM6,000 a month by
racing on the streets every weekend
.

“The races are usually held at Jalan Padang Kala and the winnings can go as high as RM50,000. This would then be split between mechanics, jockeys, and bike owners,” said the street racer.

When Kosmo continued their investigation and interviewed a group of motorcycle street racers, they mentioned that they had dropped the act of offering women as a wager as it is deemed as "low class".

“Indeed, there were some races that offered women as a wager, but that was low class. It was popular in the 1990s, but now Mat Rempit want money".


2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Shooting Brake Debuts In Thailand

Beauty, isn’t it? The fifth model off the new range of compact cars from
Mercedes-Benz
, the 2015 Mercedes-Benz
CLA
 Shooting Brake, was only just unveiled to the world, and has rather quickly popped up officially in Thailand for a launch.
Our friends over at
Autospinn
 were at the premiere event of the car in Thailand and have shared with us the following video of the CLA-Class Shooting Brake being revealed there.
Riding on the same A-Class family platform as the A-, B-, CLA- and GLA-Class, the Shooting Brake is a wagon-ised variant of the CLA-Class coupe.
Powertrains are nothing new either, with four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines available, paired with Merc’s seven-speed DCT (dual-clutch) automatic transmission.
Read
more about the CLA-Class Shooting Brake
.
In Thailand, the CLA 250 Shooting Brake is the sole variant being sold there at the moment, and features a 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbo engine that makes 211hp and 350Nm of torque. Prices for the single variant is a cool 2.89 mil baht, which directly converts to RM323k. The car is also imported directly from the UK, much like our range of compact Mercs.
Over here, we haven't heard anything yet from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia about any official launch plans, but seeing how their
compact cars have taken flight here
, we wouldn't be too surprised if they do decide in favour of it.
Stay tuned for more.


Mitsubishi Outlander officially launched in Malaysia - RM172k introductory price

You’ve read our
preview
, and you’ve read our
quick review
 after we had a short spin in it from KL to JB; now, you can head over to view the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander 7-seater SUV at authorized Mitsubishi showrooms nationwide.
Officially launched today for the Malaysian market, the Outlander is initially available at an introductory offer price of RM171,644.80 on-the-road with insurance for vehicles booked and registered before 31 May 2016. Final pricing after the lapse of this offer period has not been revealed.
Wearing Mitsubishi’s bold-looking ‘Dynamic Shield’ front fascia, the Outlander is fully-imported from Japan and is offered in only one variant, powered by a 2.4-litre MIVEC petrol engine mated to an INVECS-III CVT.
The Outlander comes standard with an electronically-controlled all-wheel drive system with three driving modes:
4WD Eco:
 Vehicle operates primarily like a front-wheel drive, with traction routed astern as needed. Recommended for most driving conditions.
4WD Auto:
 Variable and continuous distribution of torque to all wheels for better cornering and high speed stability.
4WD Lock:
Fixed distribution of torque to all wheels for rough and treacherous terrain.
Priced in the vicinity of the
Nissan X-Trail 2.5
,
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4
, and
Kia Sorento 2.4
, the Outlander comes equipped with the following features:
Sunroof
Electric Tailgate
LED headlamps with daytime running lights
18-inch alloy wheels
Leather seats
Auto headlights, auto wipers
7 airbags
Electronic stability control, traction control
Hill start assist
ABS, EBD
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia
 has set a monthly sales target of 100 units for the Outlander, although some 200 bookings have been collected since order taking commenced in late February.


Best Ever Q1 And Monthly Sales For Mercedes-Benz Malaysia - AMG GT Confirmed

In spite of the challenging market conditions due to pre-GST uncertainties and falling consumer sentiments, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia ended the first quarter of 2015 by setting a new record for Q1 sales and monthly sales.
A total 1,886 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were sold in Q1 2015, up 13 percent from the same period in 2014, itself the second highest Q1 in the company's 11-year history in Malaysia (Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were previously distributed by Cycle and Carriage Bintang).
The company's quarterly sales record of 1,886 cars is also quite symbollic, because 1886 is the year when founder Karl Benz invented his 1886 Patentwagen - widely recognised to be the first car that started the motoring revolution.
In March, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia sold 967 passenger cars, up 53 percent from the same period last year, setting a new record for monthly sales.
Speaking at a media briefing this evening, President and CEO Roland Folger said, "Looking at this first quarter naturally brought up the question of how can we solidify and improve on the situation in spite of all these external influences (uncertainties in the market, falling crude oil prices impacting the overall economy). There was a plan, we looked at this year and said what we can do to really put us back to where we believe we belong. So the first quarter as it has turned out to be, was because all the planning, all the preparations that we have done in the past months and years, basically lead to the best first quarter ever in the history of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia."
Between January to March 2015, 34 percent of the sales (628 units) were contributed by the locally-assembled E300 BlueTec Hybrid, the first diesel-hybrid on sale in Malaysia. The flagship S400L Hybrid, also locally assembled, contributed 14 percent (270 units).
Mercedes-Benz's segment defining range of NGCC (New Generation Compact Car) models - the A-Class, CLA-Class and GLA-Class, all fully-imported - contributed 22 percent (418 units).
The C-Class, typically Mercedes-Benz's best-selling model is conspicuously missing from the best-sellers list because the all-new C-Class is currently imported and the company just can't secure enough allocation to satisfy the huge demand for the car.
Waiting period is said to stretch up to six months but this is expected to come down dramatically once local assembly operations begin.
Mark Raine, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia confirmed that the
locally-assembled C-Class
 will be launched by this weekend. Prices will start from RM269,888, about RM16,000 than the equivalent fully-imported model.
In a surprising revelation, the company also revealed that the Porsche 911-fighting AMG GT will be launched in Malaysia by the end of this year. Considering that
BMW has already launched the i8
, the AMG GT's entry into Malaysia is timely.
While Mercedes-Benz is in a strong position in the luxury sedan and hatchback segment, it is notably absent in the SUV segment, which is dominated by Audi, BMW while Lexus is upping its game with the NX.
When asked if Mercedes-Benz intends to raise its presence in this segment, Mark said, "We will be looking to introduce further models at the end of this year and coming next year, and SUVs will essentially play a role in that plan."


Penang's Bukit Kukus Elevated Highway Flooded Due To Excess Rubbish

Mere weeks
after officially opening
, the Bukit Kukus Twin Highway in Paya Terubong, Pulau Pinang, has experienced some mild flooding following heavy evening rains that hit the island over the past weekend.

Touted as Malaysia's highest elevated highway, it definitely was an
unexpected victim of road flooding
. Motorists could be seen chaotically trying to turn around instead of wading through the deepening water, which caused considerable congestion heading toward Jalan Tun Sardon.

Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) officials said that
flooding was caused by
 dry leaves and rubbish that clogged the drainage system, which had been carried by the consistent heavy rains the area has been experiencing.

It added that immediate work was carried out to clear the water obstruction and restore normal traffic flow, but expressed disappointment at some road users who were responsible for the roadside littering, especially on such a newly launched road. Since the road’s launch, many have posted pictures on social media of food and drink wrappers, plastic bags, and cigarettes that have been carelessly dumped.

Similarly, MBPP also took the opportunity to chastise those who stop by the roadside to take pictures and selfies of themselves at the Bukit Kukus Twin Highway without regard to the danger they are putting themselves and other motorists in.

That being said, it is not known if local authorities will strengthen any enforcement to ensure litterbugs and errant picture takers face due punishment for their irresponsible behaviour.


Renault R5 Turbo 3E EV Drift Car Unveiled - 380hp & 700Nm

Renault
 has officially unveiled the
Renault R5 Turbo 3E
 - an all-electric drift car in celebrations of the Renault 5's 50th anniversary.

This show car might just be the best-looking Renault yet which represents the brand's 'electric rebirth' as it prepares itself for the all-out European EV move by 2030. Just like the
Hyundai N Vision 74
, we completely and utterly approve of the Renault R5 Turbo 3E if this is truly the future of EVs.

Designed to go sideways always

Built on a tubular chassis setup with FIA-approved roll bars, the Renault R5 Turbo 3E comes packed with a 280kW electric motor which produces 380hp and 700Nm of torque. All that e-power is of course sent down to the rear wheels for some proper sideways action.

Mated to a 42kWh battery pack, it can hit 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds from a standstill (3.9 seconds in Drift Mode). Top speed? 200km/h, which is more than enough for several drift or gymkhana laps. To fully commit to the drift scene, it also comes with a 50-plus steering angle.

A work of art inspired by videogames

Almost everything on the Renault R5 Turbo 3E is flashily inspired by the world of video games. With body panels made out of carbon fibre, it comes with the Turbo 2's iconic air inlets and rear fenders plus a huge rear spoiler to churn out what Renault says "the wildest drifts".

Other highlights include some pink, blue, and yellow LED strips for the front and rear, retro camouflage stickers, carbon fibre racing bucket seats, Alcantara interior lining, 10 digital screens, and a selection of wacky-named driving modes like Turbo, Track Invader, Donut, and Drifty. Totally tubular, brah.


Tokyo 2018: Toyota GR Super Sport Concept Revealed, Preview Of Future Models

Toyota Gazoo Racing has unveiled the GR Super Sport Concept at the 2018 Tokyo Auto Salon. The concept car was
first teased
 in December 2017.
As the concept has been revealed, Toyota Gazoo Racing has released details of the powertrain. According to them, the GR Super Sport Concept features a 2.4-liter twin-turbo direct injection V6 that is hooked up to the Toyota Hybrid System – Racing (THS-R), for a combined output of 1000 PS.
The GR Super Sport Concept is based on the Toyota TS050 Hybrid
The company also reiterated that its participation in the World Endurance Challenge (WEC) has been a highly beneficial and necessary project in terms of developing its hybrid and EV systems. Toyota also confirmed that the GR Super Sport Concept is mostly made out of the same hardware as the TS050 Hybrid racer that competes in WEC.
Shigeki Tomoyama, President, GAZOO Racing Company mentioned that the new GR Super Sport Concept is a preview of what Toyota Gazoo Racing wants to achieve with their next-generation of sports cars.


2018 Toyota C-HR Previewed In Malaysia

UMW Toyota Motor has pulled the covers off the much-anticipated Toyota C-HR at the ongoing DRIVE event.
Before you head to your nearest Toyota dealership to pay a deposit, please keep in mind that UMW Toyota Motor is merely previewing the car here and gauging the public's interest in the new model.
From what we understood, the new model will only be introduced in 2018, possibly fully-imported from Thailand. The one that is on display at the moment is not representative of the actual model we will be receiving, as the Toyota C-HR here is currently an Australian spec 2WD model.

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For the Australian market, power comes from a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine, but the same engine won't be offered here. Instead, the company is expected to introduce the Toyota C-HR in Malaysia with a naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre engine mated to a CVT-type automatic that sends drive to the front wheels. Elsewhere, the Toyota C-HR was locked, therefore interior details are not shown.
Head over to the Carlist.my MAA DRIVE Test and Buy event that's happening at the Setia City Convention Centre this weekend to test drive and experience more than 50 different models from 15 different brands. Test drive, compare and buy, all in one location.


All-New Mercedes-Benz A-Class Debuts, Introduces MBUX Infotainment System

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the all-new A-Class in Amsterdam. The company says that the new model is as youthful and dynamic as ever, but now more grown up and more comfortable than before.
The all-new A-Class is the second model after the new CLS-Class to be designed under Mercedes’ Sensual Purity design language.
In terms of dimensions, the all-new model comes in at 4,419 mm long (+127 mm), 1,796 mm wide (+16 mm) and 1,440 mm tall (+13 mm). This allows the all-new A-Class to boast a boot capacity of 370 litres, an increase of 29 litres over the model it replaces. Additionally, shoulder room, head room and elbow room has been further increased over the W176-generation A-Class, on top of easier ingress and egress into the rear.
Up front, the all-new A-Class gets a low front bonnet featuring a pair of flat LED headlights with a torch-like daytime running lights neatly integrated into the headlights. The front grille is now wider, with the base opening outwards, features pins in a diamond look coupled with a central louvre to highlight the sportiness of the new model. Elsewhere, the all-new A-Class can be had with the company’s two-section AIRPANEL, featuring a louvre system integrated behind the radiator grille that adjusts the louvres, depending on cooling requirements.
Towards the sides, the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class can be had with 16- to 19-inch alloy wheels. Additionally, the rear end is wider than the front, giving the A-Class a more muscular appeal. The rear end receives slim, two-section type tail lights.
Moving inside, Mercedes-Benz has completely redesigned the all-new A-Class’ interior. The dashboard is now divided into two three-dimensional, horizontal sections, with the lower section visually separated from the upper section by a trench, allowing it to appear to float in front of the dashboard.
Another highlight of the interior is the free-standing display, which is available in three configurations:
Base Two 7-inch displays
Extended which consists of one 7-inch display and one 10.25-inch display
Larger system that is made out of two 10.25-inch displays
The free-standing display houses Mercedes-Benz’s all-new infotainment system called Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), with the company emphasizing on the system’s artificial intelligence, allowing the infotainment system to adapt to the user.
The base two 7-inch displays set up features touch control buttons on both sides of the steering wheel, Bluetooth and a USB Type C connector, quite possibly the first-ever production car to feature it.
Moving one level up is the extended version, which features a predictive function and theme support plus a WiFi hotspot.
For an extra cost, customers opting for the extended or larger system are able to add a touch pad, HD navigation that is inclusive of three years of Live Traffic, Car-To-X communication and map updates, a head-up display plus a Burmester surround sound system. Qi wireless charging is also available.
MBUX can be triggered via the code word “Hey Mercedes”, though users can also navigate though the system via the touchscreen, touchpad on the centre console and touch control buttons on the steering wheel.
Infotainment system aside, Mercedes-Benz also added that the all-new A-Class comes, as standard, with DYNAMIC SELECT, with active damping control available as an option.
More powerful variants of the all-new A-Class, including the A250 and all 4MATIC models receive a four-link rear suspension, while entry-level A200 and A180d models receive torsion beam rear suspension.
Also standard on the all-new A-Class is the comfort suspension with steel springs, which have been lowered by 15 mm. Those opting for the suspension with active damping control will allow drivers to choose their preferred damping characteristics.
In terms of powertrain, the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will feature the company's new line of petrol and diesel engines. The first is a 1.33-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine codenamed M282, which features cylinder shutoff when combined with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission. This engine is able to output 163 hp and 250 Nm. The M282 engine was developed by Mercedes-Benz in cooperation with Renault and is produced at the Kölleda plant. Mercedes also added that the M282 engine will be produced in China at a later date.
Then there's the 2.0-litre M260 four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that premieres the company's unique CONICSHAPE cylinder bore to minimize piston friction and improve fuel economy. The M260 is able to output 224 hp and 350 Nm, which sends drive to either the front wheels or all four wheels via the 7G-DCT transmission. The M260 is also produced at the Kölleda plant.
Last but not least is the 1.5-litre OM608 four-cylinder turbodiesel. This turbodiesel engine is rated at 116 hp and 260 Nm, paired to the 7G-DCT transmission. The OM608 was also co-developed with Renault, with Mercedes-Benz supplying various components including the flywheel, DCT, engine mounts, engine control software and ECO start/stop feature.
At launch, the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is available in four variants – the entry-level A200, A250 and diesel-powered A180d, with the entry-level A200 being available with a six-speed manual or 7G-DCT.
Customers in Europe can order the all-new A-Class from March onwards, while the market launch is expected in Q3 2018.


5 Safest Used Family SUVs for Less than RM79k!

We list down five of the safest used family SUVs for less than RM79k.

SUVs are all the rage these days, with something available for everyone. They are loved because most people live under the perception that bigger and stronger is better.

Although this perception is questionable, it's not all fiction because the greater height, weight and size of SUVs can actually keep their occupants safer, as it's much easier for them to shrug off damage when it's one of the bigger things on the road.

When you add a commanding view over traffic on top of its added security, it's no surprise that more and more motorists are aiming for an SUV as their next car.

However, many of the models that we aspire to own can sometimes be expensive, which is where the used car market comes into play.

So, we've lurked around Carlist. my's used car listings and have found some of the safest SUVs below RM80k.

Used SUV #1: Perodua Aruz AV, from RM61k

Perodua's third SUV model, after the Kembara and the short-lived Nautica, is a localized version of Indonesia's Daihatsu Terios, and is closely related to the Toyota Rush, which is assembled at Perodua's plant in Rawang alongside the Aruz.

The Aruz is powered by the 2NR-VE Dual VVT-i 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that makes 102 PS at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 133 Nm at 4,200 rpm. The engine is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission which distributes power to the rear wheels.

All variants are offered with six airbags, reverse camera, and LED headlights as standard, which is quite impressive, but if you want the safest Aruz out of them all, you must look towards the AV variant.

The AV variant adds Perodua's Active Safety Assist 2.0 autonomous emergency braking feature, which has now been upgraded to include Pedestrian Detection (only at speeds up to 50 km/h). It also adds Pre-Collision Warning at up to 100 km/h, and Pre-Collision Braking at up to 80 km/h. Other functions include Front Departure Alert with Pedal Misoperation Control.

What we like

What we don't like

Rugged looks

Used prices are not far off from new prices

Huge on practicality

Bouncy ride if unladen

Buy quality used Perodua Aruz with transparent pricing & a free 1-year warranty at
Carsome.my

Used SUV #2: Proton X70 Premium, from RM79k

The first imported batch of Proton X70s were all powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder petrol engine, outputting 181 hp and 285 Nm. The sole transmission option is a six-speed automatic, sending power to either the front wheels or all four wheels, depending on specification.

While the other variants come with regular safety features such as six airbags, traction and stability control, the top variant, the Proton X70 Premium 2WD, comes with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which gives its driver, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive cruise control, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Information System and Intelligent High Beam Control.

What we like

What we don't like

Good looks

Radiator fan premature failure

Good interior design

Interior door handle prone to snapping

Buy quality used Proton X70 with transparent pricing & a free 1-year warranty at
Carsome.my

Used SUV #3: Proton X50 Flagship, from RM79k

Unlike the first batch of Proton X70s, which used the same 1.8-litre engine across the board, the top-of-the-line Proton X50, the Flagship, came with a higher output powerplant, squeezing 177 PS and 255 Nm of torque from its 1.5-litre turbocharged engine.

In all cases, power is routed to the front wheels through a 7-speed (wet) double-clutch gearbox (DCT) similar to the unit found in the Proton X70.

But just like the Proton X70, the top-of-the-line X50 comes with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which gives its drivers access to, Blind Spot Information System,Intelligent High Beam Control,Forward Collision Warning,Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection,Lane Departure Warning,Lane Keep Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

What we like

What we don't like

Sporty exterior design

Only the Flagship variant comes with a more powerful engine

Spacious interior

Common

Buy quality used Proton X50 with transparent pricing & a free 1-year warranty at
Carsome.my

Used SUV #4: 1st-Gen Volvo XC60 T5, from RM64k

It's just not right to list down some of the safest cars available on the market without having a Volvo being part of it. Surprisingly, the prices of the 1s-Gen XC60 are starting to come down now, and it's actually one of the cheaper cars on this list.

When Volvo Malaysia launched the CKD XC60 in 2011, it came with a host of safety features that were way ahead of its time. On top of regular safety features such as airbags, stability and traction control, the Volvo also came with Pedestrian Detection, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Adaptive Cruise Control. This was in 2011 - some cars are only coming with this feature now - think about it.

Not only is it one of the safest SUVs on the market, but it is also a powerful machine as its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine pushes out 243PS and 320Nm. Despite its age, the interior design still feels current, and you can't say that about many older SUVs out there.

What we like

What we don't like

Powerful engine

Being an older car, it might need more maintenance

Good driving dynamics

Parts not as cheap as the rest of the SUVs on the list

Buy quality used Volvo XC60 at
Carlist.my

Used SUV #5: 2nd-Gen Honda HR-V, from RM90k

We know we said RM80k, but if you can top up another RM10k to your budget, you will be able to buy a 2nd-Gen HR-V RS, which is an excellent car as a package.

When Honda launched the mid-life facelift for the 2nd-Gen Honda HR-V in 2018, they introduced the RS variant, which came with a new helpful safety feature on top of the new body trim.

On top of the regular safety features such as six airbags, emergency stop signal, vehicle stability assist and hill start assist, the popular little SUV got Honda's fabled Lane Watch, which essentially allowed drivers a great view of the left-hand side of the car through a camera attached under the side mirror.

All its drivers had to do to activate it was to indicate left, and a live video view of the rear left side of the car would present itself on the infotainment screen. If you're wondering why it's only available on the left side, well that's because the left side is commonly known as the blind side of the vehicle.

The HR-V also came with Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering system, which at low speeds, provided the car with tighter steering angles for better car control. At higher speeds, the VGR steering system is able to increase its steering angle which makes it less sensitive to small steering corrections, thus making it easier and safer to drive for longer distances. The RS carried over the 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine with 142PS and 172Nm from the pre-facelift car.

What we like

What we don't like

Great urban commuter

Dated interior

Good build quality

3rd-Gen HR-V makes the 2nd-gen look unappealing

Buy quality used Honda HRV with transparent pricing & a free 1-year warranty at
Carsome.my

Conclusion

Mode
l

Average Price

after 6 years

Crash Test

Rating

Road Tax

Proton X70 Premium

RM80k

5 Star

RM280

Proton X50 Flagship

RM80k

5 Star

RM90

Volvo XC60 1st-Gen

RM63k

5 Star

RM380

Perodua Aruz

RM67k

5 Star

RM90

Honda HR-V 2nd-Gen

RM90k

5 Star

RM280

Personally, I've always been a fan of the 1st-Gen Volvo XC60 as it has the right balance of power, safety,driving dynamics and good design. Compared to the 2nd-gen XC60, it might be less sophisticated, but it still has everything that you will need if you're looking for one of the safest used SUVs available on the market.

If i were to buy the car, i would tuck away at least RM10k for its maintenance and general servicing, and get all of them done after the purchase to avoid any unexpected problems. You might not need the whole RM10k to get this done, but it's best to have a pot where you can dip into if things do need replacing. Like most used cars, this is a must!

Used Car Warranty with Warranty Smart

One of the downsides of buying a used car is that they are often not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Warranty Smart is an optional protection for any used car purchase under 10 years old.

Coverage starts from RM848 a year. Read more about Warranty Smart
here
.

How to use the Carlist.my to Find Your Perfect Car

So how do you find some of the safest SUVs below RM80,000 on Carlist.my?

Below is a tutorial on how to use Carlist’s advanced search feature to find your perfect used car:

1.Go to
Carlist.my

2.Click on the ‘Advanced Search’ on the left side below the search box

3.Select your filters, such as Body Type, Price and Brand

4.Happy Shopping!


New Ford 3S Centre in Penang coming soon - RM16.6 million investment

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) has literally broken new ground to make way for the construction of its upcoming
Ford 3S Centre
 in Penang.

With an investment of RM16.6 million, SDAC is looking at enhancing the new Ford 3S Centre with the latest customer service experience and as well as branding for the folks living in the Northern region.

45,000 square feet with 18 service bays

The huge investment will see the birth of a new Ford 3S Centre that spans 45,000 square feet. SDAC also plans to equip it with 18 service bays and a vehicle display area that can showcase a total of six different vehicles at a time.

State-of-the-art facilities will also be highlighted in this new and upcoming Ford showroom in line with Ford's global standards. The groundbreaking ceremony took place where the new showroom will be built along Jalan Baru in Seberang Perai.

According to Turse Zuhair, Managing Director of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion, said, "This is indeed a significant milestone for us. As a 3S Centre offering end-to-end services, the facility will offer greater convenience and accessibility for Malaysians. This investment is a clear reflection of our commitment to meet the needs of the market, as we strive to raise the bar in elevating the customer experience."


Is The 2022 Honda City Hatchback More Of A Hot Hatch?

The long-awaited
launch
 of the City Hatchback has finally taken place, but we bet a lot of you out there are wondering how it differentiates from its sedan sibling apart from the apparent lack of a boot?

Well, the City Hatchback has been created to provide more of a sporty drive, and Honda has spared no effort in ensuring that it has its own identity from a driving dynamics point of view - making it one of the liveliest hatchbacks to debut in recent times.

Through a virtual video conference with Rei Sakamoto, the Fifth Generation Honda City Project Leader, we found out that the Honda City Hatchback is not just a fifth-generation City Sedan with a rear makeover, but instead it was designed to provide a more
exhilarating drive
, thanks to some clever tweaking and rearrangements.

According to Sakamoto, the City Hatchback was conceptualised simultaneously as the sedan. This gave the team responsible for building the 5th gen Honda City twin a clear outline of how to make the cars different - with one focusing primarily on comfort and the other with a sharper drive.

As with any car that wants better driving dynamics, weight has to be reduced, and rigidity has to be increased. According to Honda, the City Hatchback is 7.3 kilograms lighter than the sedan and has an increased maximum rigidity of 6% compared to the agile and
outgoing Honda Jazz
.

They then went to town on the suspension and engine mounts, tweaking the suspension rates to provide better driving dynamics and at the same time giving the Honda City Hatchback "High-Performance Resin Mounts". According to Honda, the front suspension struts also come with reduced friction in each sliding area, which is 50% less than a lot of "current" cars on the market.

Now that the car is tighter and more rigid, Honda also wanted to better the Hatchback's weight distribution, emphasising a heavier load at the front. Compared to the sedan's rear fuel tank placement, they moved the Hatchback's fuel tank to the centre of the car. Not only has this move given the Hatchback a more sporty feel, but it has also opened up more rear legroom compared to its sibling.

All of this tweaking paired together with the small yet torquey hybrid engine should give the Hatchback a sporty yet fuel-efficient drive. Setting different levels of regenerative braking should further help on long highway drives, (depending on how brave you are) as you won't have to use the brakes as the regenerative braking will slow the car down according to your desired levels.

Just like the City RS e:HEV Sedan, the Honda City RS e:HEV Hatchback comes with Honda's cutting-edge Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain, which combines an internal combustion engine (ICE) with two electric motors and a high-power lithium-ion battery pack.

Honda says the powerplant, which has an output of 109PS and a best-in-class peak torque of 253Nm, is equivalent to a 2.5 -litre N/A engine. But, of course, what is different is its fuel consumption, as it returns a lowly 3.6l/100km.

Performance-oriented, fuel-efficient, practical and full of safety equipment, doesn't it just seem like the Honda City Hatchback RS e:HEV is probably
one of the smartest buys
 of a hybrid in 2022?

Even if you don't plan on getting the hybrid, the
regular petrol variants
 also come with this tweaked driving dynamics and practicality, making it one of the best-packaged hatchbacks on sale today.

The S, E and V Variants are powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC DOHC engine with 121PS at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,300rpm. The power is channelled to the wheels via a CVT gearbox which also helps the car reach a healthy fuel consumption figure of 5.6 l/100km.

Hot hatch or not, with bookings of 2,000 units already for the 2022 Honda City Hatchback coupled with Honda's aim of selling 1,000 units monthly, now would be a good time perhaps to make your own booking too!


Lexus ES 250 Luxury Variant Gets Special Colours

Lexus Malaysia today announced that it is offering two exclusive exterior colours for the limited edition
Lexus ES 250
 Luxury variant – Deep Blue Mica and Sleek Ecru Metallic. The two colours are only available on 50 cars (25 cars of each colour).
The limited edition ES 250 also comes with a new matte finished Bamboo interior trim with a Topaz Brown interior colour scheme.
According to Lexus Malaysia, the limited edition Lexus ES 250 with the new colours are available at no extra charge and have the same retail price as the luxury variant of Lexus ES 250 from RM293,900.00.
As with all new models sold by Lexus Malaysia, it comes with 5 years warranty with unlimited mileage.
Powering the car is the 2AR-FE 2.5-litre petrol engine with Dual VVT-I (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) that is capable of churning out  181 hp at 6,000 rpm and 235 Nm of torque at 4,100 rpm.
Looking for a Lexus? Find one now at
Carlist.my


The End Of Elegant Vehicle Interior Design?

With more screens dominating vehicle interiors these days, does this mean the end for good old vehicle interior design?

If you haven't seen it by now, let us introduce you to the newest interior design to come out of Mercedes Benz. Well, it's not interior design per se, but this is what the 2021 Mercedes Benz S-Class will be like on the inside as the German vehicle manufacturer steps up its MBUX integration.

MBUX stands for Mercedes-Benz User Experience, and the three-pointed star company is assuming that everyone will like the new minimalistic and floating screen user experience approach.

Now, if you're like us and appreciate vehicle interior design, buttons, switches and knobs, then you would be disappointed by these pictures, because not only do we feel that Mercedes Benz was on to one of the most beautiful interiors in any vehicle this decade, but because this is probably the direction that most vehicle companies will be going towards in the future.

It is all too much tablet and phone screen for us, and everything seems just to be plonked on instead of integration into the dash or seat or anything! We bet even the so-called buttons are touch-sensitive instead of being real click buttons.

Who do we blame for this soulless screen design? The vehicle company of the future, Tesla, of course, as they were the first ones to go all minimalistic, including every sort of cabin control onto a screen.

One of the reasons why Tesla did this was because they are futuristic and different, but essentially, the reason why they went down that route was that they did not have the manufacturing might to produce buttons, knobs, latches and so on. It's pretty clever really because by putting everything onto hardware that is programmable and operated through a screen, they save a ton of cash namely on R&D, quality control and sourcing.

The questions is, why are iconic brands like Mercedes Benz doing the same thing? They've been in this game for years and probably have a big department that can churn out a better interior feel than most. Yes, it will save them money but will these screens last a lifetime? Or maybe they're not meant to?

We know so many people with classic Mercedes Benz vehicles that can still operate their climate control, radio through the original buttons and switches. Could we say the same thing about these cars in probably 10-15 years time? By then, the screen would have probably been replaced and we bet it would cost and arm and a leg to do so too.

We're all for technology that makes our driving experience better, but some things as best left as a classic experience. We know Mercedes Benz has the tendency to surprise people and produce brilliance, but we feel that this is not the route it should go down. We'll have to wait and see what it is really like when the 2021 S-Class finally debuts.

Just look at the current crop of Mercedes vehicles, they have interiors to die for and the right ratio of virtual controls to mechanical controls. Maybe the current crop of Mercedes Benz's will be the Last of the Mohicans when it comes to good old vehicle interior and controls.

We may sound like sour old men and you may like this new direction by Mercedes Benz, if so we'd like to hear your thoughts. More screens fewer buttons? Let us know.


Robert DeNiro To Portray Enzo Ferrari In Biopic

The studios over in Hollywoodland have been trying to get a biopic of Enzo Ferrari, one of the most enigmatic men with arguably the most remarkable life story surrounding cars and racing, off the ground for years. Until now - well, hopefully.
The cameras haven’t begun rolling yet but with just the knowledge that Robert DeNiro will star in the title role to play “Il Commendatore” himself fills us with confidence. UK’s The Guardian cites a report from Italian newspaper
Il Messaggero
 saying that 71-year old screen veteran has made an official announcement of his involvement with the project, with Clint Eastwood and team in charge of the screenplay and will possibly sit on as director as well.
The film will be centred on Enzo’s life between the years of 1945 and the 1980s, during the man, and indeed the Ferrari brand’s, most crucial formative years from racing upstart to international champions and distinguished automaker. That start of that timeline also coincides neatly with Ferrari’s transition into producing road cars to further fund its racing efforts, the first model being the 125 S of 1947.
The more we think about it, De Niro seems like the obvious (probably only) choice to play such a man. He has played characters of Italian origin or Italian descent many times on screen to critical acclaim, and his ability to portray nuanced, layered, and often volatile personas will come in handy when it comes to Ferrari’s mercurial founder.  The actor had this to say about the role:
“It is an honor to tell the life of an extraordinary man who revolutionized the world of motor sport. The film will go into production soon, mostly in Italy, and has absolute priority over all my other projects.”


Terima Cucian Pertama Selepas 44 Tahun, Datsun 280Z 1976 Masih Merecik!

Selepas dibeli pada tahun 1976, akhirnya
Datsun 280Z
 1976 ini telah menerima mandian pertamanya setelah 44 tahun terbiar dan ditinggalkan oleh pemilik asal di dalam sebuah bangsal berhampiran Hershey Pennsylvania. Hasilnya? Macam kereta baru!

Ingatkah anda pada model rare ini? Model ini dihasilkan oleh Nissan Motors of Japan pada tahun 1975 hingga 1978. Di Jepun, model ini dikenali sebagai
Nissan Fairlady Z
. Enjin 2.8-liter yang terdapat pada kuda tua ini memberikan output sebanyak 170 hp dan 240 Nm tork sekaligus mampu mencapai kelajuan maksimum pada 203 km/j. Jentera ini memerlukan 8.3 saat untuk memecut dari 0-100 km/j. Tapi kalau model rare, kenapa ianya ditinggalkan berhabuk?

Untuk pengetahuan anda, ada cerita menarik di sebalik kereta terbiar ini. Difahamkan, pemilik telah membeli Datsun 280Z ini pada tahun 1976 dan memandu pulang kereta ini dari bilik pameran di Philadelphia. Ketika sampai di rumah, pemilik menyedari terdapat kemik pada bumper hadapan kereta dan telah membuat aduan pada pihak pengeluar. Pihak pengeluar menawarkan untuk membaikpulih kemik terbabit dan melakukan proses pengecatan semula bahagian tersebut, namun pemilik berkeras inginkan bumper baharu dan perkara itu telah dipersetujui pengeluar. Sementara menunggu bumper hadapannya sampai pemilik telah membuka bumper hadapannya untuk stand by.

Mungkin sedang berada dalam 'zonnya' tersendiri selepas membuka bumper kereta, pemilik telah mendapat idea baru dan memutuskan untuk menukar radio asal Datsun 280Z ini kepada pemain kaset keluaran Pioneer yang terkenal pada ketika itu. Untuk melakukan proses terbabit, beliau telah membuka beberapa bahagian interior untuk menguruskan kabel bagi proses pemasangan pemain kaset tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, ketika beliau sedang gigih dalam usahanya
mengubahsuai kenderaan
, beliau telah dihimpit dengan masalah kewangan yang memaksa beliau untuk menangguhkan misi tersebut.

Bahagian interior yang telah dibuka disimpan sahaja di ruangan kargo Datsun 280Z ini. Bumper kereta turut dibiarkan sahaja tanpa dipasang. Akhirnya, kereta ini ditinggalkan dan dibiarkan sahaja tersadai di dalam sebuah bangsal berhampiran Hershey Pennsylvania selama 44 tahun.

Namun setelah bertapa selama bertahun-tahun, Datsun 280Z ini akhirnya berpindah milik setelah Stephen Walker membeli kereta ini daripada pemilik asal. Meskipun harganya tidak didedahkan, ia ibarat durian runtuh buat Stephen kerana segala-galanya tentang kereta ini masih lagi baru, malah pada meternya tercatat bahawa Datsun 280Z ini hanya bergerak sekitar 500 km sahaja. Pelekat kilang asal juga masih ada pada kesemua bahagian kereta. Jentera ini cuma diselaputi dengan kotoran dan habuk yang tebal sahaja. Maklumlah, dah 44 tahun tak
cuci kereta
 ini.

Untuk memberi kehidupan baharu pada Datsun 280Z ini, ia telah menerima pembaikpulihan seperti pembersihan, detailing dan pemasangan semula bagi bahagian yang telah ditanggalkan oleh pemilik asal. Untuk memastikan cat asal kereta tidak dirosakkan ketika proses cucian ini, sebuah cecair khas bersama kain lap digunakan bagi membuang segala habuk tebal pada cermin dan bahagian luaran kereta ini. Kemudian, barulah khidmat pancutan air digunakan untuk membersihkan sisa kotoran yang tinggal.

Untuk bahagian dalam pula, segala habuk telah divakum secara teliti. Manakala bahagian kulit seperti tempat duduk dan kemasan pintu telah dicuci dan diselaputi dengan cecair khas perlindungan cahaya UV bagi memberikan perlindungan pada interior Datsun 280Z ini memandangkan ia bakal meneroka dunia luar selepas ini. Bahagian dalaman serta bumper yang telah dibuka oleh pemilik asal turut dicuci dan dipasang semula pada kereta terbabit. Selesai dicuci, baru nampak bahawa keadaan cat kereta yang terbiar selama 44 tahun ini tidaklah terjejas teruk. Hanya tompokan sisa kotoran selama bertahun-tahun sahaja yang tinggal dan ia boleh diselesaikan menggunakan polisher.

Selepas siap segala proses tersebut, Datsun 280Z ini dibawa keluar untuk dilihat perbezaannya di bawah matahari. Memang seperti baru keluar bilik pameran! Anda nilailah sendiri berdasarkan gambar ini.

Menarik bukan? Untuk lebih info mengenai proses cucian Datsun 280Z rare ini dari awal sampai habis, anda boleh rujuk video di bawah:

*Kredit video dan foto: AMMO NYC (YouTube)


Mega traffic operation in July by KL Police, JPJ, DBKL, and DOE

The
Kuala Lumpur Police
 will be setting up a mega traffic operation this month which will involve around 1,000 officers.

It's going to be an integrated operation where the KL Police will be working closely with other bodies of authority from the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and even the Department of Environment (DOE).

The operation will be looking into a list of offences like illegal parking, obstruction of traffic, illegal specs for cars, and also motorcycle-related matters throughout the whole month of July.

Apart from the usual offences on the road, they will also run background checks to look out for arrest warrants, criminal records, stolen cars, and even plans to take action against workshops that offer illegal modifications for both bikes and cars, as reported by
Bernama
.

According to KL Police chief, Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zin, "This operation will involve about 1,000 officers and police personnel with the respective agencies focusing on the offences under their own jurisdiction. The nature of this operation is to discipline, educate, and advise road users to obey all traffic rules as well as the rules of the other enforcement agencies involved."


2020 (H247) Mercedes-Benz GLA Launched – 2 Variants, From RM252k

The 2020 all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA has finally been launched in Malaysia.

First unveiled at the
tail-end of last year
, the entry-level model of the Mercedes SUV range mpw offers more space – now more than 100mm taller than its predecessor, while being consummately more connected with the company’s
MBUX
 (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system and the latest generation of Mercedes Me connect suite of functions.

The GLA has introduced at the outset with two variants – the GLA 200 Progressive Line and GLA 250 AMG Line priced as follows:

GLA 200 Progressive Line: RM252,888 (RM244,192 with SST Exemptions)

GLA 250 AMG Line: RM295,888 (RM285,336 with SST Exemptions)

The GLA200 is powered by a 1.33-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which is mated to a 7-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission. It develops 163 hp and a maximum torque of 250 Nm, allowing the vehicle to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds.

The GLA 250 on the other hand, by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 224hp and 350 Nm. The engine is paired to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic giving the GLA 250 a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 6.9 seconds, and a top speed of 250 km/h.

On the inside, the instrument panel features optical "cut-outs" in the driver and front passenger area. The cut-out on the driver’s side is dominated by the free-standing display unit, which is made up of two 10.25-inch displays screens making up a larger unit that covers all the cars information and connectivity needs.

The latest generation of the Mercedes Me connect is also a feature that comes as standard in the GLA. Also featured in both models is the MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) suite of connectivity feature which includes the “Hey Mercedes” voice-activated functions.

The GLA 200 Progressive Line comes with the following standard features:

Progressive Line Exterior

18-inc ‘5-twin-spoke’ light-alloy wheels

Mirror package

Aluminium roof rails

LED headlamps

Leather multifunction sports steering wheel

climate control

7-airbags

Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC

Cruise Control

KEYLESS-GO Package

Reverse camera

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Android Auto

Apple CarPlay

Mercedes Me connect services

Extended MBUX functions

Live Traffic Information

MBUX Multimedia system

The GLA 250 4MATIC AMG Line adds the following:

19-inch AMG 5-twin spoke light-alloy wheels

AMG door sill panels with illuminated "AMG" lettering

AMG floor mats

Blindspot assist (with bicyclist detection)

Extended MBUX functions

Remote Engine Start

Live Traffic Information

MBUX Multimedia system

Touchpad

The Mercedes-Benz GLA goes on sale today and is also available with Mercedes-Benz Agility Financing starting at RM2,388 per month for the GLA 200 and RM2,788 per month for the GLA 250.


Bukit Bintang Mungkin Jadi Lokasi Bebas Kenderaan

Bukit Bintang
 mungkin bakal menjadi kawasan bebas kenderaan di Kuala Lumpur.

Menurut Timbalan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, ini akan menyusuli penutupan mingguan pada hari Ahad yang dilalukan di
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR).

DBKL Teliti Kawasan Program Bebas Kenderaan

Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) sedang meneliti beberapa kawasan lain di ibu negara untuk dijadikan lokasi bebas kenderaan. Setakat ini, Jalaluddin berkata Bukit Bintang merupakan kawasan yang berpotensi untuk mewujudkan kawasan pejalan kaki di tengah bandar.

“Selepas Jalan TAR, kita bercadang untuk melaksanakan program bebas kenderaan di sekitar kawasan Hotel Federal kerana itu adalah kawasan tumpuan pejalan kaki,” jelasnya.

Ketika ini, pihaknya masih dalam sesi libat urus dengan pihak berkepentingan serta orang awam. Jika ia berjaya dan diluluskan, perkara itu akan diumumkan kelak.

Orang Awam Sambut Baik Program Bebas Kenderaan

Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah berkata pihaknya telah menerima maklum balas positif daripada orang awam termasuk peniaga berhubung penutupan Jalan TAR pada setiap Ahad.

“Perkara ini bukannlah sesuatu yang mudah untuk dilaksanakan, jadi kita perlu mendapatkan maklum balas orang ramai bagi menyelesaikan sebarang masalah yang mungkin timbul selepas itu,” tambahnya.

Disebabkan perkara itu, Mahadi berkata pihaknya sedang merancang untuk membawa lebih banyak program dan aktiviti untuk memeriahkan lagi kawasan bebas kenderaan itu.


CNY: 10km/h speed limited reduction on federal & state roads

The
Works Ministry
 has announced that the speed limit on federal and state roads will be
reduced by 10km/h
 this CNY.

As announced by the works minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, this temporary speed limit reduction will be enforced from 18 to 27 January 2023. Best to keep that Waze app up and running throughout your journey, eh?

80km/h for federal roads, 70km/h for state roads

This means that all federal roads with a speed limit of 90km/h will be brought down to 80km/h for 10 days and the same time period applies to state roads where the initial 80km/h speed limit is temporarily set at 70km/h.

The works ministry has also carried out road repairs at over 50 hotspots for accidents on federal roads throughout 2022. The cost for all to work done last year was RM17.2 million. A further RM4.7 million to install more street lights at 40 locations with frequent road incidents.

2,000 JP personnel on duty for CNY 2023

On top of that, Transport Minister Anthony Loke also mentioned that around 2,000 JPJ personnel will be on duty for this coming Chinese New Year holiday week. Apart from the normal operations, there will also be some 'undercover' operations where they will also ride along express buses to ensure that the bus operators are up to par when it comes to road laws.

Over 70 depots and 28 terminals have been inspected since 14 January 2023 to ensure that all vehicles that'll operate throughout the CNY 2023 period will be in good running condition.

To everyone, drive safe and have a prosperous Chinese New Year!


Berebut Masuk Laluan Tol – Pentingnya Bertimbang Rasa Ketika Menggunakan Jalan Raya

Pernah nampak dua kenderaan yang tak mahu mengalah di laluan masuk plaza tol? Pernah terfikir apakah puncanya?

Berjuta-juta rakyat Malaysia menggunakan jalan raya setiap hari tidak kiralah sama ada ingin ke tempat kerja ataupun untuk pergi ke bank bagi mengeluarkan
i-Sinar
. Pendek kata, semua orang gunakan jalan raya untuk pergi sesuatu tempat. Jadi anda boleh bayangkan bahawa terdapat pelbagai jenis manusia yang ada di atas jalan raya pada sesuatu masa.

Pada 1 Mei lalu, telah tular satu lagi video di mana
Perodua Bezza
 serta
Toyota Corolla Altis
 telah berebut untuk masuk ke laluan
Touch n Go
 di sebuah plaza tol. Saksikan video di bawah:

*Kredit video: Navin Kumar

Walau bagaimanapun, adik beradik
King
, iaitu Perodua Bezza akhirnya mengalah pada saat-saat akhir dan membiarkan Corolla Altis tersebut memasuki plaza tol tersebut terlebih dahulu. Nasib baik tiada sebarang kejadian tidak diingini berlaku di plaza tol terbabit.

Malah perebutan di plaza tol ini bukanlah kali pertama berlaku di Malaysia ini. Malah ianya bukan hanya di Malaysia saja, pasti ada pemandu sebegini di mana-mana negara sekalipun. Sebelum ini pun ada berita kereta berebut sehingga menyebabkan kemalangan.

*Kredit foto: Hishamuddin Ahmad Zaki

Ada juga yang masuk secara serentak ke dalam laluan tol tersebut. Biarlah gambar di atas berbicara dengan sendirinya. Sebelum anda mengutuk atau memaki kedua-dua kenderaan tersebut, pihak polis telah mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa brek
Perodua Kancil
 tersebut rosak dan telah menyebabkan ia terperosok ke sebelah Proton Iswara di Plaza Tol Mines.

Bertimbang rasa di jalan raya

Bagi mengurangkan risiko untuk anda terperangkap dalam situasi sebegitu, penting untuk anda mengamalkan sikap bertimbang rasa dalam memandu di jalan raya bagi kesejahteraan semua. Sebagai contoh, pandulah dengan beradab. Sekiranya anda perlu menukar lorong di saat saat akhir, berilah signal dan angkat tangan kepada pemandu yang telah memberikan anda laluan tadi. Tak susah kan?

Seterusnya, latih diri anda untuk memandu dengan otak, bukannya dengan perasaan. Ini tidak, baru kena hon sikit dah berhentikan kereta dan bawa keluar pedang samurai keluar kereta. Elakkan menjadi samseng jalan raya yang gemar memberhentikan kenderaan di tengah jalan hanya semata-mata untuk meluahkan isi hati pada pemandu lain. Kalau kena hon dah boleh buat bergaduh, muhasabah la diri tu dahulu.

Selain itu, belajarlah untuk mengalah. Setiap orang ada ego masing-masing. Seelok-eloknya, turunkan ego anda dan beri sahaja laluan kepada kereta yang ingin memasuki laluan terbabit. Kalau bagi kereta tu jalan dulu, anda hanya akan terlepas beberapa saat je. Kalau berebut sampai kemalangan, silap silap sampai berjam jam kat situ. Mana lagi berbaloi?

Apa keburukan tidak bertimbang rasa di jalan raya?

*Kredit foto: Berita Harian

Sekiranya anda memandu tanpa etika serta tidak bertimbang rasa terhadap pengguna jalan raya yang lain, anda berpotensi untuk menyebabkan kemalangan. Dah kalau dua-dua tak mahu mengalah, macam tu lah jadinya. Meskipun kemalangan kecil, tapi kalau badan kereta dah bergesel, kenalah
cat
 semula bahagian yang rosak tu. Duit lagi!

Kalau dah kemalangan, dah tentulah ia akan menyebabkan trafik sesak. Tambah-tambah bila kemalangan pelik-pelik seperti dua kenderaan berada di dalam satu laluan di plaza tol. Rakyat Malaysia ini memang antara pemerhati dan wartawan media sosial yang terbaik di dunia. Bila ada kemalangan, mesti ada yang perlahankan kereta demi untuk memerhatikan kemalangan tersebut secara teliti.

Kalau anda jenis yang keras kepada dan tidak mahu bertimbang rasa di jalan raya, satu hari nanti pasti akan menemui seseorang yang lebih tidak bertimbang rasa berbanding anda. Masa ini barulah kita panggil buku bertemu ruas. Bila kedua-dua pihak tak mahu bertimbang rasa dan mengalah, ia berpotensi untuk mencetuskan pergaduhan. Perkara yang sepatutnya boleh diselesaikan dengan memberi laluan, tak pasal-pasal bertumbuk pula.

Bila dah bertumbuk di tengah jalan, siap sedia sahajalah untuk video pergaduhan tersebut tersebar di media sosial. Seperti yang saya katakan tadi, rakyat Malaysia memang seorang wartawan bebas yang hebat. Kuasa viral ini juga membahayakan. Sekiranya anda tular akibat perkara yang tidak elok, anda berpotensi untuk dikenakan tindakan oleh majikan seperti digantung kerja atau dibuang kerja atas sikap peribadi anda itu.

Kesimpulannya, tak salah untuk mengalah. Jika anda menerapkan nilai kesabaran serta bertimbang rasa yang tinggi dalam pemanduan anda, nescaya waktu memandu anda akan menjadi lebih tenang dan berkualiti.

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