All-New Honda WR-V bookings open at Honda dealerships nationwide!

Honda Malaysia announces booking opening for all-new WR-V, set to launch in Q3 2023.

Honda Malaysia has announced that the highly anticipated compact SUV, the All-New Winsome Runabout Vehicle (WR-V), is now open for booking at all 101 dealerships nationwide.

As the first Japanese mass market manufacturer to introduce a Small SUV in the Non-National Segment, Honda Malaysia
aims to win the hearts of SUV fans with this trendsetting vehicle
.

The Managing Director and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura, expressed excitement about the upcoming launch in Q3 2023. He emphasized that the All-New WR-V delivers a unique experience to customers, combining sporty style, advanced technology, safety features, top-notch performance, and high-ground clearance.

This Small SUV is designed to be the ideal companion for young adults and families seeking a vibrant and bold vehicle that complements their active lifestyle.

The All-New WR-V features a compact and well-proportioned design, measuring 4,060mm in length, 1,780mm in width, and 1,608mm in height. With a high ground clearance of 207mm, surpassing cars from a class above, the WR-V offers practicality and manoeuvrability for urban commutes.

The WR-V will be available with an RS variant, showcasing a newly designed RS emblem, unique Front Grille, and 17” Dual-Tone Alloy Wheels. Its sleek and sporty look is further enhanced by coupé-style rear door handles, adding an edgy stylishness to its appearance.

The All-New WR-V boasts various premium features, including a Power Retractable Door Mirror, Auto LED Headlights, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED Front Fog Lights, and LED Sequential Turn Signals.

Under the hood, the All-New WR-V is equipped with a powerful 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine, generating a maximum power of 121PS and a maximum torque of 145Nm. Paired with the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with G-design shift technology, this compact SUV can achieve an excellent balance between fuel economy and driving performance.

Safety is also a top priority for Honda Malaysia, which is why the All-New WR-V is fitted with Honda SENSING, a comprehensive and advanced safety technology comprising eight safety functions, including:

Lead Car Departure Notification,

Adaptive Cruise Control,

Collision Mitigation Braking System,

Forward Collision Warning

Lane Keep Assist System

Road Departure Mitigation

Lane Departure Warning

Auto High Beam

Additionally, Honda LaneWatch and Honda CONNECT provide customers with increased confidence, convenience, and access to various functions via their smartphones.

In the lead-up to the launch, Honda Malaysia will organise exclusive previews at selected dealerships, allowing customers to be among the first in Malaysia to experience the All-New WR-V up close.

For more information and to book the All-New WR-V, customers can visit any of the 101 Honda dealerships nationwide.


Volkswagen x Tarik Jeans: Tapping for the Tapir

Did you know that the Malaysian Tapir, Tapirus Indicus, is the only Tapir species left in the world? With around 2500 of them still left, they are listed as endangered under the IUCN Red List.

Truthfully, if you're not an animal lover or a zoologist, you might not be aware of the dire situation these Tapirs are in. Yes, there are organisations and NGOs that are championing the cause of the Tapir and now you can add two more to the list: Volkswagen and Tarik Jeans.

Volkswagen, with its worldwide presence and mission to provide everyone with valuable cars, are no strangers to animal causes. In South Africa, they play a major role in initiatives to curb the illegal poaching of Rhinos. In the UK, they have donated cars to the RSPCA to help them with animal rescue. It's no surprise then that VW Malaysia has now joined in.

Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, expressed delight in being able to partner with Tarik Jeans on this cause. "A key pillar for Volkswagen is sustainability, and the group is investing heavily in this cause with over 500 sustainability projects worldwide. The Malayan Tapir is an endangered species here, together with the Malayan tigers, Borneo elephants or orangutans. As 'gardeners of the rainforest', the tapir plays a crucial role in maintaining the biological diversity of their habitat as they help disperse and fertilise seeds much needed for the reproduction of trees," he said.

Malaysian apparel brand, Tarik Jeans with its huge pop culture following are advocates of Malaysian life embodied through immaculate clothing. Their tagline of "Denim Untuk Rakyat" says it all and their efforts to remind people of our national treasure, the Tapir is apparent in their clothing line.

According to Afiq Iskandar, Founder and CEO of Tarik Jeans, "The Malayan Tapir has always been part of the Tarik design aesthetics so much so that it was added as the brand's logo (in addition to the main logo of the Mamak 'teh tarik') – both created along the lines of their brand philosophy. In commemorating Tarik's 10th year anniversary, we are honoured to partner with an innovative global automotive brand such as Volkswagen.

If you want our kids to continue to be able to see a Tapir in the wild then do lend Volkswagen and Tarik Jeans a hand. Merchandise from Tarik's "Modern Nostalgia" collection can be purchased on Volkswagen's and Tarik Jeans' website, Shopee, Zalora and at all Volkswagen authorised dealers nationwide. A total of 50 per cent of all proceeds generated from the sales of this campaign will be donated to the Kenaboi Forest Reserve in Negeri Sembilan on World Tapir Day this 27th April.


KLIMS13: New Subaru XV Crosstrek Debuts: RM139k For More Kit Included

Yet another debut took place at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2013, and this time it’s
Subaru
 with something to show off: the
2013 Subaru XV
 Crosstrek – and yes, you guess it, it’s all about the new bodykit.
From a price of
RM138,800
 (without road tax and insurance), the new limited-edition version of the Subaru XV Crosstrek includes a new mesh front grilled, a roof spoiler, daytime running lights, a customised sporty leather interior trim and a few more bits that feature above the existing treatment given to the XV. You can also opt for the new XV Crosstrek in a Tangerine Orange Pearl colour, on top of the existing colours available.
No changes occur in terms of performance, where under the bonnet still sits the 2.0-litre FB-series Boxer four-cylinder engine generating 150hp at 6200rpm and 196Nm at 4200rpm.
The
RM138,800
 price tag is limited to attendees of the
KLIMS13
 show, so you better make your way to PWTC soon before the show ends this Sunday, on the 24
th
 of November.
Malaysian EVO and

Carlist.my

will be present at KLIMS13! Come visit our booth in Hall 3.


Watch This Beautiful Le Mans Congratulatory Video From Porsche

Porsche is not only the world’s best sports car manufacturer, but is also the master of building and managing a brand.
How else would you describe a company that has successfully convinced the masses that a car with an engine placed at the wrong end, and a car that has not changed much for over 40 years is the one to have?
To celebrate its 17
th
 victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Porsche has released this very dramatically scripted video, celebrating Porsche’s identity and its close ties with the iconic Circuit de La Sarthe.
Porsche’s victory at the 83
rd
 Le Mans 24 Hours not only broke Audi’s dominance, which has won every Le Mans since 2000 except for 2009 (won by Peugeot) and 2003 (won by an Audi R8C wearing Bentley livery), but also proved that you don’t
necessarily need diesel power
 to win at Le Mans.
Hence the script: “Stronger than before, we can take a look back, knowing now that our own way was the right one. Not bending to the will of others, but staying true to everything that makes us what we are.”
The latest video from Porsche is a fitting follow-up to the one released by Porsche last year - one that showed Porsche's exemplary spirit of sportsmanship, congratulating Audi for winning Le Mans, while promising Porsche’s fans and its own staff that they will do better next year, and do better they did.
With this 17
th
 win at Le Mans, Porsche has further strengthened its lead as the most successful manufacturer in the history of Le Mans. Audi trails behind with 13 Le Mans victories.


New 'Baby Tesla' Model 2 will be fully autonomous?

It looks like the rumoured
Tesla Model 2
 will be a fully autonomous vehicle. Well, almost.

According to CarBuzz, the upcoming 'baby Tesla' (also rumoured to be called the Model 2) will not only come with an affordable price tag of $25,000 (around RM112k) but also be used as an autonomous vehicle once it is launched.

Listen up! CARSOME Autofair is back this month for 2023, from March 17th to 19th! And if you
pre-register with this link
 to let them know Carlist.my sent you, you’ll be able to claim some Carlist.my branded goodies!

An affordable EV that can basically drive itself is indeed an idea that is worth millions, but with the infamous Tesla's Full-Self Driving currently enrolled in a safety recall program, the new Tesla Model 2 will have its work cut out in order to turn this into a safe reality in the future.

Elon Musk himself has stated in the recent past that Tesla's Full-Self Driving suite has been evolving over the years, and it should be at the stage where it can be trusted to run a fully autonomous vehicle. But, words can change fast. Musk once said that they're not interested in producing 'entry-level EVs'.

The proposed Tesla Model 2 is the exact opposite of that with plans to deploy the brand's next-generation platform that is said to be cheaper to produce and therefore, cheaper to buy. It also carries the potential of generating income for owners in the future if used as autonomous taxis. Driverless e-hailing, anyone?


Review: 2016 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI (B9) – No Longer Left Field

“If you had sat me and my friends down in high school and asked us what car we would have wanted to buy, I would be the only one among them who would have picked an Audi”. The man speaking to me was part of Audi Malaysia’s marketing department, but this sentiment had nothing to do with his current employment. “It was something new and something completely different from the BMWs and Mercedes of the time, and that really attracted me.”
That paradigm is what has driven a lot of owners to buy Audis over the years. Their dominance in motorsport through superior technology (Vorsprung Durch Technik), and the way that technology tangibly filtered down into their road cars, is what has given the German brand such a rich history and an eclectic line-up of cars in the past. Their products were known to be “left field” in a sense, the alternative to the establishment, in an almost rebellious kind of way. Of course this didn’t necessarily do so well for outright sales, but for a time Audi was comfortably and identifiably unique.
Things have changed over time, as they inevitably do for any company that wishes to survive in an increasingly competitive market. Audi may still have strong ties with motorsport (although their departure from the WEC is saddening), but their products have become popular as they have adapted them to suit the needs of the market. Granted, the Audi brand isn’t as big in Malaysia as it is in other countries, but that’s largely due to local mismanagement over the past few years under the stewardship of Euromobil. Since Audi Malaysia has taken over, they've gone on an aggressive product offensive that is aimed at revitalizing their product range.
Here we have one of the latest and most important products for Audi’s local product range: the A4 2.0 TFSI. It’s the middle variant in the A4 range, soon to be joined by an entry level 1.4 TFSI and a top-spec 2.0 TFSI quattro, but it has finally come to market after months of delays. Arguably it’s a little late to the party, although that in itself offers some advantages in terms of specifying options and seeing what the market appreciates and expects. The task of specifying it while keeping it competitively priced is made even more difficult by the fact that all Audi models are fully imported, versus the locally produced models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre longitudinal four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged DOHC
Power: 190 PS @ 4,200 - 6,000 rpm
Torque: 320 Nm @ 1,450 – 4,200 rpm
Transmission: 7-speed S tronic Dual Clutch
Safety: 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control, ABS, ISOFIX, Multi-collision brake assist
Price: RM 248,900.00 (On The Road, with GST, Without Insurance)

Overview
It’s the fifth generation Audi A4, and the ninth Audi in its class. This new Audi A4 is a car that may not be a large leap forward in terms of overall looks, but there’s a lot going on underneath and inside that makes it a proper evolutionary step for the A4 nameplate. It’s a little longer, a little wider, and a little taller- as you would expect a newer generation to be- but on the whole the proportions are kept the same.
The new Audi A4 sits on the same MLB-Evo platform that underpins the Audi Q7, and this in conjunction with various improved construction techniques and lightweight materials has allowed the A4 to shed up to 120 kilograms in weight. That’s a massive amount of weight to lose, and especially important when you consider the upcoming quattro model adds a number of kilograms as a result of the heavier drivetrain.
As mentioned earlier, the Audi A4 has 3 variants, but the sole variant available for now is the 2.0 TFSI model. It comes with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine to the tune of 190 PS and 320 Nm of torque, which is actually fairly similar in performance figures to the 1.8 TFSI powerplant found in the
facelifted Audi A6
. It’s a fairly conservative tune, similar to how BMW detuned their N20B20 for use in the 320i. But of course in staying true to Audi’s principles, this non-quattro variant of the A4 is a front-wheel driven car, and this naturally presents some problems in the dynamics department.

Interior
We’re seeing an industry wide trend of doing away with chunky large dashboards and adopting free-floating entertainment head units. Audi even went one step further with the addition of the Audi Virtual Cockpit for their cars, effectively centralizing all information readouts to a giant screen that replaces the standard instrument cluster. Sadly this test unit was not equipped with it, but it will be made available by next year as part of an optional Technology package for an estimated RM 25,000.
The rest of the interior is fairly standard fare. There’s a little more legroom in the rear now, courtesy of the MLB-Evo platform and slightly longer wheelbase, and that means that the new A4 is far more family friendly than its predecessor. The colour palette of choice is decidedly sombre, interspersed with bits of brushed aluminium; perhaps we are still a few years away from the return of brighter, lighter interiors.
There’s an ample boot for your golfing equipment, or your fishing equipment, or your luggage for that family vacation road trip that you’ve always wanted to go on. It’s not the cramped, sporty, bruiser of a car that was the previous generation A4, but rather much like a shrunk down A6 in the way it feels and looks- and it may just be what the people need, even if that’s not immediately obvious.

Exterior
There’s no two ways about it: the new Audi A4 has a fairly muted design. While this isn’t the best time for the company to take a conservative approach, their minimalist styling that first came about with the quattro concept car has found its way into everything from the TT to the Q7, and applied to the A4 it simply doesn’t have that aggressive, sporty edge that we’ve grown used to from its rivals. Buyers can opt for the S line package for a price, and it does help to sharpen up the looks, but the overall shape of the car is distinctly luxury sedan.
Perhaps this is one of those cars that has a design which grows on you. It may not have the slightly muscular bulged fenders of the model it replaces, but instead you get a nice sharp crease that runs down the length of the car and connects the headlights to the tail lights. At night, the headlights are still as evocative as ever, although the tail lamps are far less distinctive and could easily be mistaken for an A6.

How does it drive?
Having driven the A3 1.8 TFSI quattro a while back, it reaffirmed my belief in the uncanny effectiveness of the all-wheel drive system in even the most difficult of conditions. But conversely this also means that if an Audi model isn’t equipped with quattro, it might be best to drive them with a bit more discretion. Audi models, sans quattro, are front-wheel driven as opposed to the rear wheel drive nature of their rivals.
That’s not to say that the A4 2.0 TFSI is bad to drive. It accelerates briskly when you need it to and the gearbox is as attentive as a dog doing tricks for treats. Slip it into “efficiency” mode and it even disengages the transmission to let you roll along while the engine ticks over at idle. It’s only when you hurtle through a set of corners that you discover the minor problems with this non-quattro variant; a little bit of understeer here and there, a little bit of bouncing as a result of underdamped suspension, and a steering feel that’s a little light at times.
But you can forgive the A4 2.0 TFSI for this, as it clearly wasn’t meant to be pushed to the limit. Even in the sharpest suspension setting there’s a fair amount of body roll, along with dive and squat during braking and acceleration respectively. The tyres equipped aren’t known for outright performance either, and so penalizing it for not rewarding spirited driving is somewhat irrelevant. For that purpose, we’d probably wait for the quattro model to arrive.

How efficient is it?
As you would expect with a modern turbocharged engine, it’s possible to get fairly good fuel efficiency figures. Unfortunately, our efficiency averaged out to roughly 10.5 kilometres per litre, as we combined high speed cruising and getting stuck in horrendously long traffic jams. This isn’t all too shabby for a 2.0-litre engine alternating between being stuck in slow moving traffic and hustling down empty stretches of highway to make up for lost time.

How comfortable is it?
As mentioned earlier, this variant of the A4 comes with adjustable suspension. With many cars, this usually means you can have the suspension in “stiff” or “slightly less stiff”, but in the case of the A4 it’s more an option of “soft” or “softer”. What this trades away in terms of dynamic agility and response, is more than made up for with the ride quality and the comfort offered. There may not be LCD screens in the back of the seats in front, but even sitting in the backseat is hardly a chore- something you would never have said about the previous generation A4.

Conclusion

At the beginning of this review, we said that this new A4 is the one of the most important products for Audi. They still have plenty more coming in the months ahead, but the segment in which the A4 resides is meant to be one of the defining segments for a manufacturer. These luxury marques may now be producing everything from crossovers, to MPVs, to coupe-roofline SUvs- but it is the sedan segments where they so desperately seek validation, from both critics and owners.
The new A4 ticks all the right boxes for prospective owners, with great features and a solid package- everything you’d ever really want from a luxury car- and in doing so it has lost some of that unique character that made Audis the interesting left field choice of yesteryear.  It’s character that goes beyond nice features like the plane-throttle-looking-gear-selector, or the Virtual Cockpit; truth be told there may be no more room for character in today’s market.
Most consumers nowadays don’t understand nor appreciate character, and perhaps Audi has come to terms with that. They’ve focused on producing a car that is competitive and complete and will perform well- one that’s worth the price tag they put on it. It’s a car that has become less evocative and more luxurious in equal measure, and while that may alienate the traditional Audi demographic it is welcomed by a newer (larger) one with open arms.


Injustice Or Fair Punishment? Mixed Feelings On The 'Basikal Lajak' Conviction

The ‘basikal lajak’ case has come to a conclusion with the verdict of guilty, leading to quite a
split of opinion
 between the public on whether justice was really served.

Judge Abu Bakar Katar of the Johor Bahru high court meted out the sentence under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of RM20,000.

Already, shortly following the sentencing of 27-year old defendant Sam Ke Ting to 6 years in jail and an RM6,000 fine in addition to having her driver’s license banned for a subsequent 3 years after her release, there has been an outcry of disbelief at the verdict.

Some have even started online petitions (with close to 300,000 signatures) to bring more attention to the defendant’s plight in a grassroots attempt to secure her early release or even a retrial.

The 'Basikal Lajak' Accident And How It Happened?

This case has been active for 5 years since the incident occurred on that early 2017 morning. Then 22-year old clerk
Sam Ke Ting
 was driving home along the Johor Bahru Middle Ring Road (Jalan Lingkaran Dalam) at around 3.20am on February 18th when her vehicle caused the death of 8 teenagers -
Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli
, 14 (at the time);
Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie
, 14;
Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar
, 16;
Fauzan Halmijan
, 13;
Mohamad Azhar Amir
, 16;
Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah
, 14;
Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Marudin
, 14 and
Haizad Kasrin
, 16, - who were riding their modified bicycles in a dangerous manner in the middle of the night.

Essentially,
they were road hazards
.

She was not found to be speeding, under the influence of alcohol or any other illicit substance, nor was she found to be mentally compromised at the time. She was also wearing her seatbelt and was found to be not using her phone. Nevertheless, she has been charged with reckless driving.

The following month, in March 2017, the accused pleaded not guilty at the Johor Bahru Magistrate Traffic Court, and in October 2019, she was found to be acquitted. From there began a legal whirlwind that involved a High Court re-examination, the acquittal being upheld, and multiple appeals that have spilled into this April 2022 verdict of guilty.

Who Is At Fault?

The aforementioned road where this tragedy took place is essentially a highway with cars driving at higher speeds, though it is not subject to a toll. From what
we know of the scene, the road
 was fairly well lit and consisted of 2 lanes on either side.

There is a suspicious lack of transparency when it comes to what evidence has emerged from the scene. Despite it being well lit, there was
no dashcam or CCTV footage
 of what transpired and only flimsy eyewitness and/or first responder accounts to corroborate the forensic evidence collected after the fact.

However, the fact remains that Ms. Sam’s vehicle did make contact with the 8 teenage bicyclists out of a reported 30 youth bicyclists that were occupying the road. And due to its much higher mass, velocity, and physical leverage, we can safely assume they were quite violently ejected from their two-wheeled conveyances.

Who Is More Reckless?

There is still no public-facing testimony or solid evidence to prove that actual reckless driving was at play. However, there is a much more damning case to be presented by the defence.

It is much likelier that the 8 teenagers (or more) were riding in an unsafe, even reckless manner enough to cause a fatal accident while ‘racing’ each other on modified bicycles in the middle of the night. The lack of eyewitnesses at the scene suggests that it was a fairly empty road, which is what you’d expect to find at 3am.

Remember, these deceased victims probably have very little knowledge of road safety, were most definitely not wearing high visibility clothing and likely even had removed
the reflectors on their bicycles
 - all while racing each other in the direction of traffic flow.

On a two-lane stretch such as that found on that stretch of the Johor Bahru Middle Ring Road, it is also very likely that the 8 victims were actively impeding the road as there was little to no hard shoulder. The magistrate also described the road as
dark, hilly, and winding
.

How hard would it be to avoid slow, barely visible bicyclists arranged (conservatively) 4-in-a-row, who were sat low in a ‘superman’ pose if they were racing each other? With all these handicaps, the odds are stacked against any experienced driver, let alone a 22-year-old at the wheel in the middle of the night.

A Driver’s Rights

Should we be presented with an unavoidable hazard on the road, is it still the fault of the driver that an accident occurs?

There is a limitation on driver alertness and reaction time when the unexpected occurs. As drivers, we are taking a risk every time we start our cars up. We are not defending Sam Ke Ting’s position, but rather the rights of every driver in Malaysia that might now feel vulnerable to uncontrollable circumstances.

This case essentially sets a dangerous precedent that affords other roads users - even ones using the road much more recklessly, even illegally - the unspoken license to immediately place the blame on drivers.

A reductionist’s take on the tragic death of these 8 teenagers might have been to say that the driver, driving on a public highway, had the
‘right of way’
 as these are not places suited for bicycles - that the outcome was inevitable and of their own doing. However, we are dealing with human lives, and such a view is deemed insensitive, but how far removed is it from objective justice?

Define ‘Reckless’ Driving....

Of course, all drivers should be alert on the road at all times, and there is little excuse to let that caution lapse when driving along a seemingly empty road at 3 in the morning. This is a very pointed, though sobering reminder.

However, there is a ceiling on how vigilant anyone can reasonably be on the road. The phrase “you can’t be too careful” is often flat-out wrong and clearly absent in the minds of those 8 victims that exercised no caution or good judgement in the circumstances that led to their demise.

When we think of
someone driving recklessly
, most of us can clearly picture someone weaving in and out of lanes, tailgating another vehicle, cutting them off, performing brake checks, or even trying to ram them off the road.

There is no evidence, at least that the public is aware of, to show that any behaviour of that sort was exhibited by the accused (and now convicted) party in this case. If driving normally and being involved in an accident as the result of someone else’s recklessness and unsafe conduct is somehow found to be our fault, we all need to be worried.

Negligence Is The Real Issue

The question on everyone’s minds is an obvious one: what were these teenagers (as many as 30, reportedly) doing out in the middle of the night? Not only that but engaging in an activity so lacking in safety?

We won’t pretend to know the specific situations of the 8 victim’s family/home lives but it does reflect poorly on the parents that could not, or chose not to, prevent them from developing/pursuing these negative pastimes and social associations.

It’s quite clear that the teens had put themselves in danger, but when the negligence of others has robbed 8 individuals of their lives and put another through 5 years of legal upheaval only to serve another 6 years in jail, something needs to change.


Nearly Half Of All BMWs Sold In Malaysia Are PHEVs

BMW Group Malaysia has the world’s highest mix of plug-in hybrid models in its overall sales numbers. Presently, plug-in hybrid models account for 44% of BMW sales in Malaysia, far above the brand’s global average of 3%.
Even in Nordic countries where take-up rate for vehicles with electrified powertrains is high, only 14% of BMW vehicles sold there are PHEVs.
BMW first introduced its iPerformance range of PHEVs in Malaysia with the X5 xDrive40e in June, and has subsequently added the
330e
 and
740Le xDriv
e to the line-up. To date, the three models have sold a combined total of 3,200 units with 2,300 units sold in the first six months of 2017.
Mr Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “The growth and take up rate of the BMW iPerformance vehicles here indicates that Malaysians are ready for the newest technology in the automotive industry and the BMW Hybrid vehicles with eDrive Technology are the best offerings for customers to get into vehicles that are not only dynamic and beautifully designed but are also responsible and frugal in terms of fuel consumption and CO
2
 emissions.”
PHEVs have become extremely popular in the luxury segments in Malaysia, thanks to the likes of BMW along with Mercedes-Benz and Volvo capitalizing on the Government's customized EEV incentives for locally-assembled vehicles. The tax breaks have enabled highly-specced PHEV models to be offered at comparable or even lower prices then the regular petrol variants.
At present, the 330e accounts for more than 60% of BMW 3 Series sales in Malaysia, whilst the
740Le xDrive
 make up over 40% of deliveries for the 7 Series. BMW did not provide a similar breakdown for the X5, but we doubt there are many takers of the 3.0-litre petrol xDrive35i variant these days.
It is worth noting, however, that BMW has removed the 320i, 320d, and 330i from its Malaysian line-up, leaving prospective 3 Series buyers the choice only between the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder 318i and the 330e PHEV. The 740Le, meanwhile, is set to become the sole variant of the 7 Series on sale in Malaysia once BMW clears existing stocks of its 730Li and 740Li variants.
To help further drive growth of its PHEV portfolio, BMW Group Malaysia is taking an active role in developing the infrastructure to support the operation of these vehicles. In partnership with GreenTech Malaysia, the two companies have set up over 200 ChargEV stations nationwide and are targeting to have 25,000 stations by 2020.
“We are pleased to share that over 500 BMW plug-in hybrid vehicle owners have also signed up for the BMW ChargeNow programme on the ChargEV platform,” Mr Han revealed.


Police considering proposing to Transport Ministry and JPJ to increase usage of dashcams in vehicles

PDRM wants the Transport Ministry and Road Transport Department to urge people to install dashcams in their vehicles. Could help with road accidents and mischievous driver investigations.

Dashcams have proven to be valuable tools
 in investigations involving road accidents. Dashcam footage can provide investigators with a visual record of the accident scene.

This allows them to reconstruct the sequence of events, determine fault, and understand the factors that led to the collision. The footage can be used to analyze the speed, position, and even behaviour of vehicles involved, helping investigators make accurate assessments.

It's no surprise then the Royal Police force are considering proposing to the Transport Ministry and Road Transport Department (RTD) to promote the usage of dashcams in private vehicles.

According to the Vibes, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said such devices would assist investigations into road crashes as well as public complaints on traffic safety and violations.

"It (dashcam usage) should be definitely encouraged," he told The Vibes.

When the Vibes asked if the police would pursue with matter and put forward a proposal to RTD, the IGP said: "This can be suggested (to RTD and the ministry).

The Police have even conducted a form of research on the matter and asked the public on their feedback about Dashcams on their facebook page.

Some academicians have even called for dashacam to be standard equipment on cars, siting that "it could be used as evidence in the event of an accident or when dealing with road thugs".

"The use of dashcams is important to record any type of criminal incident that occurs such as road bullying, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, robbery, violence or physical assault and sexual harassment," said Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia's (Usim) faculty of shariah and laws' Assoc Prof Muzaffar Syah Mallow.

Picture Credit: The Star

But not everyone agrees, as there are legislative obstacles.

Former transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said "Without legal provisions and clear rules, I am afraid that any behaviour recorded (on dashcams) cannot be used for claims or court proceedings."

"This matter will also cause people to blame the government for mandating the use of a piece of equipment that cannot be used in court."

"I also do not disagree with the view that it will be a burden to the people, especially the B40 group, if dashcams are made mandatory."

Should dashcams be made mandatory in all cars to enhance road safety and assist in accident investigations? Let us know your thoughts.


VinFast Wows CES Crowd With 3 New EVs - VF5, VF6, VF7 On Stage

Despite some protestations about public health and safety putting a damper on audience turnout and booth counts, the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) went ahead in Las Vegas. It was a particularly important event for Vinfast, which detailed some big plans and several vehicles there.

The Vietnamese automaker, who in 2018 had only 2 models in its tentative line-up which were derived
from past-generation BMWs
, has now blossomed into a brand that’s very quickly on the rise.
Its hunger for expansion
 has brought it to the United States, a key market upon which its broader ambitions hinge.

Aside from their domestic market offerings and their first-ever production fully electric model,
the VF e34
, Vinfast unveiled the VF5, VF6, and VF7 to the crowds at CES - a trio of all-new EVs that will form the backbone of its global line-up alongside the previously unveiled VF e35 and VF e36 (however, the latter two in the US will be renamed the VF8 and VF9, respectively).

Unfortunately, information is rather scarce on these 3 newest models, probably since the company is still in the midst of its development. They do look impressively sleek and contemporary, it must be said, with the twin light bars upfront making for a distinctive fascia.

Two incoming large electric crossovers are already open for pre-order to US customers with prices starting at $41,000 (RM172k) for the VF8 and $56,000 (RM235k) for the VF9. Both share identical architectures and a dual-motor electric powertrain with as much as 402hp and 640Nm with even the D-segment VF8 boasting a range up to 510km. The even larger VF9, however, comes equipped with an even beefier battery that’s good for up 680km, claims Vinfast.

For reference, a comparable Tesla Model X in dual-motor AWD guise starts at just
over
 $100,000, or around RM420,000.

Going forward, a crucial aspect of their business plan and what will set them apart from most other EV makers is their battery leasing program. Buyers can choose a more affordable ‘Flexible’ plan that affords them 500km per month (with extra fees for additional mileage) or a pricier ‘Fixed’ plan that allows for unlimited monthly mileage.

Either way, Vinfast will cover the maintenance cost and even the outright replacement of said battery in the event of a malfunction, performance degradation, or if its maximum capacity - eventually, inevitably - falls below 70%.

With such aggressive pricing thanks to its battery-as-a-service approach, Vinfast is aiming to undercut the majority of EV offerings from rivals with their portfolio of 5 incoming models, which should be fully realised within the next 5 years, all with a minimum of Level 2 autonomous driving capability as standard while maintaining premium levels of build, features, and materials.

It’s in EV-friendly California where Vinfast obviously sees the most growth potential. Sales are slated to begin in latter 2022 with construction nearing completion on its 15,000 square-foot regional headquarters in Los Angeles to support an expected 50+ showrooms and service centres to be opened this year alone.

Further down the line, the company is reported to have more of its production and manufacturing infrastructure moved to North America with plans to expand vehicle production to the US by 2024 and construct a ‘gigafactory’ to churn out its own batteries with a peak annual output of 1 million lithium-ion packs.

Meanwhile, Vinfast are also in talks to expand into Europe with the company keen to tackle Germany first. Five locations are being shortlisted for an EV factory there, which will only move forward once its US manufacturing and assembly reaches its first phase of completion.

Closer to home, the Vietnamese brand is also looking into neighbouring countries as reports have been consistently pointing to an eventual entry into ASEAN
starting with Thailand and Indonesia
.


LA 2018: Hyundai Unveils The Palisade, Its New Flagship 8-Seater SUV

Hyundai has introduced its new flagship premium three-row Palisade SUV to global media at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Produced in Ulsan, Korea, the Palisade rides on an all-new SUV chassis with exceptional second- and third-row roominess coupled with generous cargo area and reconfiguration flexibility.
All set to go on sale in the U.S in mid-2019, the Palisade eight-seater SUV’s key exterior features include a wide and striking cascading grille, full LED headlamps with DRLs, an extended hood profile, a panoramic rear glass coupled with a cutaway roof, 20-inch alloy wheels, 0.33 coefficient of drag (Cd), a rear spoiler side garnish, and an optimized front cooling area with an extended internal air guide, aero underside panels, and rear wheel aero deflectors.
The interior offers a generous dose of Nappa leather upholstery, while on the instrument panel, smooth woodgrain trim in a wraparound interior design create a spacious, comfortable ambience.
The One-Touch second row seat allows for one-touch operation of the seat forward and out of the way for easy access into and out of the third-row seat. For more convenience, the third row offers power-folding/unfolding and reclining seats. Second-row captain’s chairs are also available with ventilated seating surfaces.
Every Palisade seating row offers USB outlets for convenience for all passengers, for a total of seven available USB outlets. Even more, a conversation mirror allows the driver to clearly see passengers in the rear.
The Palisade also offers a class-exclusive Blind View Monitor that complements the standard Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, which provides easy-to-see body-side views whenever the turn signal is activated.
The audio and navigation display is a generous 10.25-inch touchscreen in widescreen format, coupled with a 12.3-inch fully-digital TFT center instrument cluster offering various view modes and differentiated drive mode illumination.
Two Bluetooth devices can be connected simultaneously, with one for a mobile phone connection and the other for audio streaming.
The single instrument panel gauge cluster integrated with navigation offers exceptional legibility and ease of use, coupled with an available head-up display feature.
Centre console innovations such as shift-by-wire controls free up valuable control space for the features drivers use most. The shift-by-wire system also includes automatic park logic that shifts the vehicle into park when the engine is off and the driver opens the door.
The Palisade also features an industry-first, innovative new roof vent diffuser design that can provide a focused, partially-diffused or fully-diffused stream of air to rear passengers. This new diffuser vent design provides quieter rear air conditioning airflow, draft-free operation, more uniform distribution of air, and the capability for a focused stream of air whenever desired.
On top of these features, the list of tech offered in the Palisade comprises Hyundai’s latest navigation system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, Infinity audio system with Clari-Fi and QuantumLogic Surround Sound technology, a Heads-Up Display (HUD), a full-colour TFT LCD display, a Driver Talk in-car intercom system with rear seat conversation and sleep modes, and a Rear Sleep Mode that allows the driver’s row to listen to their selected audio without that same audio being transmitted to the second- and third-row audio speakers, so that potentially sleeping passengers will not be disturbed.
Powering the Palisade is a 3.8-litre V6 engine with dual CVVT and direct-injection, producing 291 PS and 355 Nm of torque. Paired to the engine is an eight-speed automatic transmission with a multi-plate torque converter which offers both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive configurations.
According to Hyundai, special efforts were made to reduce the level of NVH in the Palisade, with generous under-hood insulation, special sound-deadening carpets, and powertrain tuning.
Safety features on the other hand, include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go.
Last but not the least, the Palisade will be available in a number of exterior colors, including Beckets Black, White Cream, Lagoon Silver, Steel Graphite, Sierra Burgundy, Moonlight Cloud, and Forest Rain, with interior combinations featuring unique molding accent colors tailored to the exterior combination.


All-New Toyota Hiace Unveiled, Seats Up To 17 People

Toyota has unveiled the all-new Hiace, with the Philippines being the first country in the world the honour to market it.
Now entering its sixth generation, the all-new Hiace now adopts a new ‘semi-bonnet’ design as opposed to the traditional cab-over design. This not only increases front-collision safety protection, but also better ergonomics for occupants, as well as a reduction in noise, vibration, and harshness.
In Europe, ‘semi-bonnet’ design is the only available, as the van segment is also required to meet stringent Euro NCAP crash protection assessment. Thus, in Europe, Toyota does not offer the outgoing Hiace, but the partnership with Peugeot allow the company to offer the
Toyota Proace
 that is based on the Peugeot Traveller.
Toyota says the all-new Hiace is built on a special revised platform and is certainly larger in all dimensions of height, width, length, and wheelbase. The wheelbase is now over 3.2 metres in the standard length, a massive 640 millimetres longer than the previous generation.
The back door continues to be a single piece that is horizontally hinged at the roof, as opposed to European brands who adopt a twin-door, side-hinged setup.
Under the new bonnet, Toyota has placed the new-generation ‘1GD’ turbo-diesel engine that currently sees duty in the Hilux and Fortuner. Certain markets such as Australia offers the option of a 3.5-litre petrol engine.
At launch, three distinct configurations are available. The “Tourism” version will feature 12 large high-backed passenger seats, interior trim covering, and other comfort amenities.
The “Commuter” version meanwhile allows business owners who require the most efficient transporter to accommodate up to 17 people.
Toyota has also included what is deemed to be an industry’s first- a centre-mounted airbag for its front-centre passenger.  Advanced driving assistance systems feature such as Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Monitor that also form part of the Toyota Safety Sense is being offered in the all-new Toyota Hiace.
Toyota said the all-new Hiace also expected to achieve a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP once it is officially assessed.
The company also said it will continue selling the current fifth generation Hiace in Japan due to different local market environment and requirements.


‘Spectre’ Is Rolls-Royce’s First Fully Electric Car

Rolls Royce announces Spectre, the brand's first fully electric vehicle.

In April of 1900, Rolls-Royce’s co-founder Charles Rolls was gushing about with the Columbia, a rather primitive ancestor of the modern electric car. Still, it was a vehicle propelled by an electric motor, and immediately the potential here was obvious.

Modern day Rolls-Royce
 has taken that to be a prophetic moment in automotive history, and that of the brand, calling the introduction of the Spectre, its upcoming fully electric model, a fulfilment of that prophecy.
Whatever you say, buddy.

Still, it is a legitimately big step for the ultra-luxury marque. All the same, attributes that so enamoured the company co-founder back at the turn of the 20th century - clean, tidy, silent - will be embodied by the Spectre, which is expected to enter production in 2023 and is a welcome return to their ghost-related nomenclature after the ‘Cullinan’ aberration.

Judging from a camouflaged prototype that Rolls-Royce is showing off here, which could have been mistaken for some graffiti vandalism on
a Black Badge model
, the car is still quite a ways off from being ready for prime time.

The automaker has seemingly skipped past hybridisation entirely with its current crop of cars still
powered by V12 engines exclusively
, yet its plans for electrification is ambitious with the brand pledging to go all-electric by 2030, with the Spectre as their inaugural EV.

In contrast to the 103EX concept back from 2016, the car itself doesn’t look to be a major departure on the design front, looking like it shares quite a bit with the Ghost-based Wraith coupe. Still, Rolls-Royce insists that the Spectre is entirely new - must just be the effects of that clever disguise, then.

We still do not know anything about Spectre’s technical aspects, nor can we really draw too many comparisons with what parent company BMW has in their EV stable at the moment since they’re too preoccupied with electric SUVs.

Currently, the most potent version of Munich’s electric line-up is
the i4 in M50 spec
; its dual motors producing a combined 544PS and 795Nm and boasting a maximum range of 520km on the WLTP testing cycle.

Will any of this technology make the jump to Rolls-Royce? There’s certainly precedent for it, the most obvious being the shared N74 BMW twin-turbo V12 engine that powers
the 7 Series
 as well as the majority of the British luxury marque’s cars today.


Review: 2017 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid AMG Line (W222) – Luxury In A Sport Suit

Common wisdom in automotive circles is that if you want to predict the automobile of the future, you look at today’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Innovation and luxury are qualities so ingrained in S-Class lore that each model generation is almost universally-acclaimed as the world’s best automobile. That the
BMW 7 Series
 spent four decades in second place says all you need to know about the S-Class’ pedigree.

A
facelifted version
 of the current W222 S-Class was unveiled globally earlier this year, but its local introduction remains sometime away, meaning the
S400 Hybrid
 that we are familiar with will have to carry on as-is for a little while longer.

Between the newly-introduced
BMW 740Le PHEV
 and the prospect of an updated version not too far away, the S-Class’ position of leadership in its segment has never been more tenuous, or is it?

To keep its flagship ticking over, and somewhat appropriately coinciding with AMG’s ongoing 50
th
 anniversary festivities, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has introduced an enhanced version of the S400 Hybrid with AMG Line package as standard.

Specifications:

Price: RM598,888, on-the-road without insurance

Engine: 3.5-litre, V6 Longitudinal, Petrol-Electric Hybrid

Power: 306hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: 7-speed torque converter automatic, 4x4

Safety: Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, queue assist, active cruise control, cross-traffic alert, blind spot assist, lane keeping assist, airbag-in-seatbelt (rear passengers)

Origin: Locally-assembled in Pekan

Overview

Since its arrival in Malaysia, the S400 Hybrid remains the only offering of the locally-assembled W222 S-Class family in our market. At the time of its launch, it was Mercedes-Benz’s first hybrid-powered model in Malaysia; benefitting from tax free pricing due to its status as an energy efficient vehicle (EEV), it quickly became a fast seller, further widening the already large chasm that separates it and the BMW 7 Series.

The upcoming S-Class facelift will offer an
all-new range of engines
 to pick from, but such has been the S400 Hybrid’s success, don’t expect Mercedes-Benz Malaysia to deviate from the current template of putting a hybrid as the forefront model. Globally, however, Daimler has yet to reveal any hybrid powertrains for the S-Class facelift yet, but MBM VP Mark Raine has confirmed on the record that the company plans to introduce the S-Class facelift in mid-2018 with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, subject to incentives available from the Government.

Mechanically, the S400 Hybrid in its current form needs no introduction. Up front, lies Mercedes-Benz’s proven 3.5-litre M276 V6 petrol pushing out a rated 302hp and 370Nm. The electric motor chips in an extra 20hp, and drive is sent to the rear wheels via Merc’s in-house 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox.

The new AMG Line package throws in sportier bumpers, but unlike AMG Line-trimmed variants of the C- and E-Class, the S-Class retains the classic Mercedes grille design with the bonnet-mounted three-pointed star. The front bumpers are sculpted with sharper lines to give a touch of mildly-added sportiness; astern, the rear bumpers get a more pronounced diffuser with angular exhaust tips. At a glance, the treatment gives the regal S-Class a touch of mildly-added sportiness, but the overall effect is admittedly to subtle to glean at one glance.

Interestingly, the fitment of AMG Line trim has come together with downsized rims measuring 19 inches across as opposed to 20 inches previously. A sensible change, in our opinion, for the benefit of added comfort and also longer-lasting rims for cars regularly driven over pothole-laden roads.

Inside, the cabin retains the existing standard model's configuration, but its appearance tweaked with a darker colour shade and a new AMG Line three-spoke steering wheel at the helm. The level of luxury remains the same, but the ambiance has a slightly sportier tone than the previous beige treatment.

Driving Experience

Uniquely for this review, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia didn’t just lend us the S400 for a full three days, they hired a chauffeur to go with the car as well. The idea was to let us experience the car in the way its typical clientele would, primarily from the back seat.

On the rare days which the owner chooses to migrate up front, however, he or she would find the S400 to be car that whilst configured with comfort and refinement as key priorities, is not found lacking in dynamism. The standard air suspension chassis allowing the driver to tackle long sweeping bends at speed with assuring confidence.

Outright sportiness seems to play a distinct second fiddle to unrivalled comfort and refinement in the S-Class’ agenda. The 3.5-litre V6 hybrid combo feels less eager to pull than even the BMW 730Li’s 2.0-litre inline-4, but that’s to no detriment of its case.

Where it lacks in outright punch, the engine makes up for with creamy smooth delivery; full bore acceleration comes in a smooth-flowing yet unrelenting crescendo. It is worth noting that with the 7 Series now being offered exclusively with a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain in the 740Le, the S400 now becomes the main six-cylinder option in the segment.

Ably helping things along is the 7G-Tronic transmission. Often chided for lacking the snappy and intuitive shift quality of the ZF 8HP transmission preferred by arch-rivals BMW, Merc’s in-house slushbox’s laidback character is rather well-suited for its duties here where smooth transitions between gears are prioritized.

The electric motor blends in as a seamless assistant, with switchover between the vehicle’s two sources of power conducted in unobtrusive fashion. The setup is capable for stints of fully-electric propulsion, but its limited range means that the motor can only be realistically called upon to step in at the parking lot or in a traffic jam.

Comfort & Refinement

Mercedes’ unrelenting pursuit of plushness for its flagship mean that nothing less than a Rolls-Royce has what it takes to make an S-Class feel second-rate where comfort is concerned. BMW's tremendous strides in the current 7 Series' comfort levels have served only to close the gap rather than surpass the unblemished ride quality of Mercedes' flagship.

Selecting ‘Sport’ among available driving modes adds a degree of firmness to the ride, but whichever way you choose, the standard air springs are clearly configured with a priority toward isolating occupants from external disturbances.

At the rear, the S400 offers pleasingly well-finished surroundings with first rate materials at all touch points. Rear-seat infotainment is offered with two remote controls provided for interface – lacks the apparent sophistication of the 7 Series’ touch tablet, and requires a lengthier learning curve, but easy enough to use upon familiarization. Could use a slot to neatly dock the units when not in use though.

Adjustment range of the rear seats is good, with generous incline angles available for a quick nap. As if as the already-generous volume of space isn’t sufficient, the left rear passenger has the option of pushing the front passenger seat forward to free up even more leg room.

Conclusion

Whichever way you look at it, the S-Class has all the attributes relevant to its segment exceptionally well covered – comfort, luxury, space, and road presence are all delivered in big spades. A significant amount of technology also underpins the S-Class’ make up, but deliberately laid out in a way to not take prominence ahead of the vehicle’s core values.

The AMG Line package adds a dose of subtle sportiness to the S-Class’ appearance and serves to undoubtedly boost future resale value of these final batch vehicles that precede the upcoming facelift. It does not, in any way, make the S-Class any sportier in the way it moves about, and we suspect that’s the way Mercedes’ clientele would want it.

We, the enthusiasts, admittedly prefer the BMW 7 Series to drive, but despite considerable gains by BMW in the latest iteration of its flagship limo, there is no doubting the S-Class still possesses that final tenth of added comfort and refinement that ultimately make it the preferable chauffeur-driven express.

Impressive then, that even at this advanced stage of its model cycle, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class’ age-old claim of being the world’s best automobile continues to be as legitimate as ever.


2017 Honda City Facelift Launched In Malaysia – From RM78,300

Following the
preview
 of the facelifted Honda City a few weeks back, Honda Malaysia have officially launched the facelifted new 2017 Honda City in Malaysia.
The new City includes updated aesthetics, improved convenience features and crucially added safety equipment across the range. Mechanically, the car remains unchanged.
The 2017 facelifted Honda City is available in three variants (previous S+ variant has been discontinued), price as follows:
City S: RM78,300 ((RM1k reduction over previous 'S+' variant)
City E: RM84,600
City V: RM92,000
(Prices are OTR, inclusive of GST and Insurance)
What’s new?
At the front, the most notable difference are the full-LED headlamps (V-grade variant only), with integrated LED daytime running lights. The front bumper also receives a refreshed look while the new chrome grille looks closer in design to the Civic C-Segment model.
Along the flanks, the 2017 City sports new dual tone alloy wheels. The rear, like the front, features a new bumper design and LED tail lights. The boot lid is now finished with a ducktail spoiler with an integrated third brake light.
The most substantial highlight of the new car is the inclusion of Vehicle Stability Assist, more commonly known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – is now available across the range. Previous, VSA was reserved only for the top-two highest E- and V-grade models. Additionally, Hill Start Assist (HSA) is also now a standard feature.
Mechanically, everything remains the same. Under the hood lies Honda's proven 1.5-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder engine, which produces 120hp at 6000rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4000rpm. The engine is paired to Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

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 On the inside, the biggest highlight is the addition of a 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, fitted on the City E and V variants. A Push Start button is available across the range now, and a redesigned meter cluster, with white illumination on the surrounds, is also fitted on all variants. Enthusiastic drivers will also appreciate the addition of paddle shifters, fitted on the E and V variants of the new City.
The standard equipment, between variants, of the 2017 Honda City facelift is summarised below:
City S

Halogen headlights
Halogen taillights
Smart Entry with engine push start button
ECON button
Auto retracting and power adjustable door mirrors
Manual air-conditioning
Steering wheel mounted audio controls
Urethane steering wheel and gear knob
Fabric seats
60:40 split folding rear seats
Remote release trunk
4-speaker standard audio system with USB, AUX
2 airbags
ABS with EBD and BA
VSA
Hill Start Assist
Emergency stop signal
ISOFIX (rear)
City E
 adds the following:
Side mirror with turn signals
Chrome door handles
Automatic air-conditioning
Cruise control
Paddle shifters
Front centre console with arm rest
Rear arm rest with cup holders
6.8-inch touch screen 4-speaker infotainment system with HDMI
4 airbags (front and side)
Multi-angle reverse camera
City V
adds the following:
LED headlights
LED front fog lights
LED taillights
Ducktail spoiler
Leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob
Leather seats (black)
Soft padded dashboard
6.8-inch touch screen 8-speaker infotainment system with HDMI
6 airbags (front, side, curtain)
the 2017 Honda City is locally-assembled at Honda’s plant in Pegoh, Melaka.
The new City is available in five colours - Lunar Silver, Tafetta White, Dark Ruby Red Pearl, Modern Steel, and Crystal Black Pearl.
With VSA (electronic stability control) now available as standard across the range, the ASEAN NCAP 5-star rating is now applicable across all variants of the new City.
The 2017 Honda City is also covered by a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, and comes with up to 6 free services (alternating visits, up till 100,000 km).


Data peribadi 5 juta penumpang, kakitangan AirAsia didakwa bocor

Data peribadi seramai lima juta penumpang dan pekerja syarikat penerbangan tambang rendah,
AirAsia
didakwa bocor selepas digodam kumpulan penggodam dikenali sebagai Daixin.

Menurut laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh DataBreaches, sebuah laman yang melaporkan insiden kebocoran data di seluruh dunia, mereka diberitahu oleh Daixin bahawa mereka telah memperolehi data peribadi 5 juta penumpang serta kakitangan AirAsia.

DataBreaches berkata mereka diberikan dua fail .csv yang turut berikan kepada Kumpulan AirAsia oleh Daixin. Khabarnya, terdapat satu fail mengandungi maklumat mengenai penumpang yang dinamakan.

Fail kedua mengandungi maklumat pekerja dengan pelbagai informasi termasuk nama, tarikh lahir, negara lahir, lokasi, tarikh pekerjaan bermula, soalan rahsia, serta jawapan mereka.

Memetik jurucakap Daixin, DataBreaches berkata AirAsia telah bertindak balas terhadap serangan itu dengan bertanyakan contoh data yang dibocorkan. Selepas diberikan sampel, AirAsia dilaporkan bertanya dengan terperinci bagaimana Daixin boleh memadamkan data tersebut sekiranya bayaran dibuat.

AirAsia dilaporkan tidak cuba merundingkan jumlah itu, yang mungkin menunjukkan bahawa mereka tidak pernah berniat untuk membayar apa-apa.

'Biasanya semua orang mahu merundingkan jumlah yang lebih kecil,' kata jurucakap itu kepada DataBreaches.

DataBreaches berkata ia tidak tahu berapa banyak yang diminta oleh Pasukan Daixin untuk menyediakan kunci penyahsulitan, memadam semua data yang telah mereka bocorkan, dan memaklumkan Kumpulan AirAsia tentang kelemahan yang telah ditemui dan dieksploitasi.

Firma itu berkata sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, entiti Malaysia sering menjadi sasaran serangan siber dan Kumpulan AirAsia bukan satu-satunya syarikat penerbangan Malaysia yang mengalami kebocoran data. Malaysia Airlines mendedahkan insiden kebocoran data pada 2020 dan 2021.

Setakat ini, AirAsia masih belum mengeluarkan kenyataan rasmi berhubung isu kebocoran data berkenaan.


Review: 2016 Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC (FC) – Respectable Point Of Entry

By now, most of us know the
new tenth-generation Honda Civic
 is a genuinely good car. Stung by criticism of the underwhelming ninth-generation predecessor, Honda has thrown the full might of its engineering department to give us what arguably is the
best Civic to date
.

There is much to like about
the new Civic
, but much attention has unavoidably been focused on its new 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine – with 173hp and 222Nm on tap, it propels the Civic to the same performance league as the
Ford Focus EcoBoost
 and
Volkswagen Golf TSI
, and within striking distance of the Mercedes C200 and BMW 320i.

But what if we take the fancy new engine away? Is the Civic still as good a car without the enhanced performance of its new VTEC Turbo engine? Can the base 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, now in its third model generation and tenth year of service, still cut the mustard in 2017?

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 Specifications:

Price: RM113,800 (OTR with Insurance)

Engine: 1.8-litre, Inline-4 Transverse, i-VTEC, Petrol

Power: 141PS @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 174Nm @ 4,500rpm

Transmission: CVT, FWD

Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist, ISOFIX, Emergency Stop Signal, Reverse Camera

Origin: Locally-assembled in Malacca

Overview

Perhaps the best examination of the Civic 1.8’s proposition is to look first not at what it has, but rather at what it doesn’t - paddle shifters, auto-dimming rear view mirror, leather upholstery, some fancy dashboard inserts, LED head lights, LED front fog lights, chromed door handles, dual zone climate control, and satellite navigation are all that’s missing from the base Civic’s kit count.

Depending on whether you take the mid-spec 1.5 Turbo or the range-topping 1.5 Turbo Premium, you are looking at an additional outlay between RM14,000 and RM22,000 for the added kit above. Acceptable omissions given the savings? Definitely.

What you do get, however, is impressively generous.
Safety is standardized across the board
, as is keyless entry, cruise control, LCD virtual instrument cluster, rear air-con vents, 7-inch touchscreen, and reverse camera amongst a raft of other equipment. By any measure, Honda’s asking price of RM113,800 for the equipment on offer is exceptional value.

The 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine requires no introduction by now. Outputs of 141PS and 174Nm are unchanged from what was introduced a decade ago in the Civic FD, but remains adequate by today’s class standards. Gone is the engine’s familiar partner, the venerable 5-speed automatic transmission now being replaced by a CVT to drive the front wheels.

Exterior

Enough has been said about the new Civic FC’s styling that its shape should require no introduction by now. An innocuous “i-VTEC” badge on the bootlid marks this car out as the entry variant, beyond which an onlooker need to look very hard indeed to realize that you’ve settled for the cheapest variant of the range.

Smaller 16-inch alloy wheels are the only definite tell-tale of the Civic 1.8; the turbo models roll on 17-inch wheels. It otherwise shares the same basic halogen projector headlamps, halogen fog lamps, and body colour-finished door handles as the mid-range 1.5 Turbo; the Turbo Premium model upgrades these to LED lighting and chrome finishing.

As in the
Accord
, the standard fitment of LED daytime running lights ensure that even the base model Civic carries a respectable appearance when confronting its better-heeled siblings.

Interior

A little less smattering of chrome, your bum perched on fabric instead of leather, but where function is concerned, what you get in the higher grade turbo models are preserved in the 1.8. As we’ve said in our reviews of the 1.5 Turbo, the Civic’s cabin is easily the best conceived and packaged in the segment – ergonomics are flawless and small item storage on offer is utterly exceptional. In true Honda form, this cabin rates five stars for practicality, thoughtfulness, and user-friendliness.

Worth mentioning on its own is the Civic’s walkaway auto lock feature and
remote engine start system
. With the engine switched off, the doors automatically lock themselves once the key fob is taken a certain distance away from the car.

Remote starting of the engine comes in handy on a hot sunny day, allowing you to cool the cabin before a hot sunny day. If you’re worried that people can get in and drive off your car, it’s not possible – the transmission cannot be taken off ‘P’ without the key fob being inside the car.

Driving Experience

We’ve come to the meat of this review – can the 1.8 deliver the kind of performance one expects from a car this segment in 2017 with a decade old engine? The short answer is yes, and quite convincingly so.

Granted, we are missing the mid-range punch of the 1.5 VTEC Turbo, but with 141PS and 174Nm on tap, the Civic has just about enough to shade both its closest 1.8-litre rivals – the
Toyota Corolla Altis (139PS / 173Nm)
 and Nissan Sylphy (131PS / 174Nm). Like the Civic, both cars come with a CVT. Worth noting however, that unlike both its closest rivals that make do with torsion beams, the Civic offers the advantage of independent multi-link rear suspension.

On the road, the engine’s grunt proved more than sufficient in helping the Civic 1.8 keep pace with traffic. Despite its age, the R18 SOHC i-VTEC engine remains a refined performer – pulling revs with both smoothness and conviction. The new in-house Earth Dreams CVT, which replaces the old 5-speed auto, proved an effective partner as well – adapting its shift patterns intelligently to match throttle inputs.

Handling, too, was good. As we’ve found with the Turbo variant, the Civic FC’s stiff chassis, further strengthened by a rear cross brace gives the driver a good degree of body control, enabling turn-ins to be executed with poise and high speeds to be carried with confidence. Steering isn’t the most chatty, but accurate enough even when driven in enthusiastic fashion.

All said, the most important conclusion is this – a bit of straight line pace aside, there is little about the Civic 1.8’s driving experience that is significantly inferior to its turbocharged sibling.

Comfort & Refinement

Ride comfort was never the Civic’s call card, a shortcoming which Honda has positively addressed with this new model – especially in the case of our 1.8 i-VTEC test car with higher profile 60-series tyres. The pliant suspension and thick side walls combine to admirably smoothen out most surface imperfections one could reasonably expect on urban roads.

Noise levels are dialled down significantly too; not too long ago, Honda vehicles were renowned to be noisy and lacking in its ability to insulate outside sound from the cabin – not anymore. We are also aware that the Civic, like many recent Honda models, have additional layers of insulation material specifically for the Malaysian market.

Economy & Maintenance

The team’s tight schedule during our testing period restricted the test car to perform largely urban duties under our watch. An average fuel consumption of 9.9 litres/100km isn’t bad in that setting. The Civic Turbo fared slightly better in my hands, averaging 9.6 litres/100km under similar conditions. Earlier,
Hans was able to manage 7.1 to 8.3 liltres/100km in the Turbo
.

As with all real world evaluations of fuel consumption go, the caveat ‘your mileage may vary’ applies; if there’s anything we can imply from all this , however, is that under similar driving conditions, the 1.8 i-VTEC and 1.5 VTEC Turbo can be expected to return similar fuel consumption numbers. A sufficiently disciplined driver, however, might be able to coax superior mileage from the newer engine.

Honda is one of few manufacturers that provide a comprehensive schedule and cost breakdown for servicing on its website. As with other models currently in the range, Honda prescribes a
6-month/10,000km interval for the Civic 1.8
. The Civic Turbo, on the other hand, follows a condition-based schedule, with engine oil and filter replacement intervals prompted by the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics.

In summary, these are the regular maintenance items

Engine Oil (6-month/10,000km interval): RM108.90

Oil Filter (1-year/20,000km interval): RM26.30

Air Cleaner, Dust, Pollen Filter: (1½-year/30,000km interval):  RM179.11

CVT Fluid (2-year/40,000km interval): RM120.85

Brake Fluid (3-year/60,000km interval): RM33.54

Iridium Spark Plugs (5-year/100,000km interval): RM398.58

Fuel Strainer (5½-year/110,000km interval): RM335.28

Coolant (10-year/200,000km interval): RM128.86

Conclusion

Whilst the plaudits flow for the admittedly very good Civic 1.5 Turbo, the 1.8-litre model is sufficiently well-engineered and well-packaged that the Turbo model is really only worth plonking the extra money for the sake of its engine.

On its own, the Civic 1.8 is an entirely adequate package, offering respectable performance and a level of equipment that is as complete as one can expect from the segment. If you have the budget to spare and appreciate the extra horses, go for the Turbo by all means, otherwise, the 1.8 i-VTEC is all the Civic you need at a much kinder budget.


The All New 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross - Banking On The Corolla Nameplate

Just like everybody else, Toyota is totally smitten by SUVs, so it was no surprise that they launched another one today, which is Toyota Corolla Cross.

Called the Toyota Corolla Cross, this according to Toyota is the 'world's first multi-purpose SUV' - and although we're not sure what they mean by that, it does seem to have all you would want from a family-oriented SUV.

According to Michinobutsukata, Toyota's CEO and president of Toyota Motor Thailand Co, this all-new SUV can be considered as a vehicle that is entirely created by the Thais.

"The new 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross comes with the slogan 'A New Journey ... Let Life Travel' which has been developed under the concept of 'compact yet comfortable' and 'cutting-edge innovation that reflects the dignity of city life' (Dignity Urban Vogue). By using the Corolla Sedan platform which has outstanding quality, durability and reliability, everyone will receive a vehicle that allows them 'to spend valuable time with family in a safe and private area'.

Combining a powerful exterior with a spacious interior as well as an affordable price, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross can be said to have the complete package. The Corolla Cross will be exported from the Toyota Gateway assembly plant, which is a passenger car manufacturing plant of Toyota located in Chachoengsao Province from 13 July. This is considered a model created by Thai people and will be exported to other markets around the world under the production skills of Thai people."

Built on the TNGA/Corolla Sedan platform, Toyota hopes to emulate the success story of the Corolla but in SUV form.

The main points that Toyota would like to highlight to the world about the new Corolla Cross are:

 Frame based on the TNGA platform (GA-C)

A new torsion-beam suspension resulting in a stable, cushioned ride

A spacious cabin and class-leading luggage space

Exterior - 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross

The Corolla Cross features a powerful, sleek, and sophisticated appearance.

A relaxed side view hints at a spacious interior

An imposing front and rear

Sturdy front fender molds

Interior - 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross

A comfortable interior space

Outstanding views and ample head clearance

Class-leading luggage capacity of 487 liters / 440 liters*3

Outstanding utility

The height providing easy access to the luggage space

The large spacious door openings; this makes entering or exiting the vehicle easy even when carrying a child

Performance - 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross

Superb maneuverability

An elevated driving position contributes to a wide field of view, and helps minimize blind spots

A class-leading minimum turning radius of 5.2 meters results in responsive handling

Combination of driving performance and comfort

Optimized suspension geometry and the use of large, soft bushings ensure that passengers in all seats enjoy a comfortable ride

Safety equipment - 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross

Safety equipment inherited from the Corolla series provides safety and peace of mind.

Environmental performance - 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross

Lightening the body has enabled it to achieve superb fuel efficiency. As a result, both the gasoline-powered and hybrid models boast class-leading environmental performance.

There it is folks, the All-New Toyota Corolla Cross, made and designed in SEA. This Corolla based SUV will be available in Malaysia in the first half of next year.

We think that this is Toyota Malaysia's answer to the problem created by the fully imported and very expensively priced RAV4. The biggest question is how much sales will the 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross take away from the Proton X70?

Prices in Thailand for the 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross is as follows:

1.8 Sport - 989,000 Baht (RM135k)

Hybrid Smart - 1,019,000 Baht (RM139k)

Hybrid Premium - 1,089,000 Baht (RM149k)

Hybrid premium, Safety - 1,199,000 Baht (RM153k)

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2015 Nissan X-Trail Quick Review: One To Reclaim The Throne?

The Malaysian mid-size SUV market has undoubtedly been dominated by the likes of the Honda CR-V, and the Mazda CX-5. Undeniably, the previous-gen
Nissan
 X-Trail hasn’t had it easy, with a design that didn’t do much to flatter itself, and specifications that didn’t quite add up to customer satisfaction.

Now, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) is throwing itself back into the game, with the launch of the
all-new third-gen Nissan X-Trail
, launched in Malaysia with prices ranging from RM142,800 to RM165,800, updated power- and drivetrains, and the local return of a dearly-missed 4WD variant.

On paper, things were always going to be a lot prettier than the last, but ETCM were kind enough to have us along for a trip to Perak, to discover the charms of it first hand, and we’re here to tell you all about that.

Buyer’s Guide:

Two variants are available to buyers – a 2.0-litre two-wheel drive and a 2.5-litre four-wheel drive model, which as mentioned, signals the welcomed return of a 4WD variant to the X-Trail’s line-up. Differences between the two variants are yours for the reading over at our
full launch coverage
, but it has to be said that the 2.0-litre model leaves very little room for wanting a 2.5-litre over it.

Yes, there are lots gained in specifications on top of the added power and 4WD system, but RM142,800 on the 2.0-litre is a bargain, all things considered – this is of course only if you can look past the standard dual airbags (even the 4WD variant has to live with this). If a little bit more is what you’re after, than the X-Trail’s 4WD option will get you additional features such as leather seats, a touchscreen infotainment unit with navigation, different interior trims, and on the obvious side, the more powerful engine and all-wheel drive mode with hill descent – all for a RM23,000 premium.

When compared to the X-Trail’s closest rivals, the first from
Honda with the CR-V
 and
Mazda’s CX-5
, it is fairer to compare the 2.0 2WD variant against the CR-V’s 2.0-litre 4WD variant at RM 150,800 and the CX-5’s 2WD High Spec at RM 144,141. However, in doing so, the X-Trail does lose out on certain features like the CR-V’s 4WD system and CX-5’s navigation system. That’s not to say the X-Trail doesn’t have its fair share of impressive tech as well because it boasts advance safety systems and an all-view camera (first in class) that its rivals lack.

KEY SPECS:

2.5L 4WD

Engine: QR25DE-K2 2.5-litre four-cylinder DOHC with Twin CVTC

Transmission: Seven-speed XTRONIC CVT with manual mode

Power: 171PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000 rpm

2.0L 2WD

Engine: MR20DD 2.0-litre four-cylinder DOHC with Twin CVTC and direct fuel injection

Transmission: Seven-speed XTRONIC CVT with manual mode

Power: 144PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 200Nm @ 4,400 rpm

Driving The All-New 2015 Nissan X-Trail:

Cruising on the highway, the
X-Trail
 offered a very comfortable ride paired with well insulated cabin. The usual bumps and unevenness were easily dealt with and in some instances where the road evenness deteriorated severely, the Active Ride Control (ARC) component of the X-Trail’s Active Chassis Control system kicked in, automatically applying the brakes on sudden dips in the road to smoothen the ride out. You can watch
THIS VIDEO
 for a better inside of that by Nissan.

Even when tackling twisty B-roads, as we got a little eager in the corners, the vehicle’s dynamic control (VDC) and traction control (TC) systems kept us in check, even braking each individual wheel to correct the vehicle’s cornering path. That comes courtesy of Active Trace Control, which functions as a sort torque vectoring system.

During the drive, ETCM also arranged for the media to take the X-Trail off-road to see for ourselves how the SUV coped on looser surfaces and much more unpredictable terrain.. In that session, we took the 2.5-litre variant that was equipped with the All-Mode 4x4-i system.

Now, the route wasn’t a full-on 4x4 adventure by any means. Instead, the path was through a plantation, which was a good replication of how far regular X-Trail drivers may typically tread with their vehicles. And to the vehicle’s credit, this was a far easier challenge than we know the X-Trail is capable of.

The All-Mode 4x4-i has three modes – 2WD, Auto, and Lock. On roads, 2WD is more than sufficient but when you do take the vehicle off-road, the system will regulate the power sent between the front and rear wheels up to a 50:50 split in Auto mode. As we made our way across the loose gravel, the multi-info display showed the amount of power being divided and it kept the vehicle going. It wasn’t the most demanding sort of terrain but we guess a trip to a construction site for instance, would be pretty easy.

As for the Lock mode, the system permanently sends 50% of the power to the front and the remainder to the rear. We found out during another demonstration of the all-new X-Trail’s hill descent feature that the vehicle needs to be set in Lock mode for the feature to work, which it did, bringing us down a slope without us needing to modulate between the brakes and throttle, only the steering.

Visibility is also pretty good and it’s pretty easy to judge the size of the vehicle when navigating it. The 2.5L 4WD variant doesn’t have a blind spot monitor like Honda’s LaneWatch on the CR-V but it does come with an around view monitor that is found on the 2.0L 2WD as well.

By providing a panoramic, 360-degree view of what’s around the vehicle, no doubt it was useful when attempting to park, making it easy to make out where the vehicle is relative to what’s around it.

PERFORMANCE:

Available in 2.0- and 2.5-litre engines, both variants are paired to Nissan’s XTRONIC CVT 7-speed transmission. The former produces 144 PS; 200 Nm of torque and the latter, 171 PS; 233 Nm.

Like most CVTs, the ‘rubber band effect’ is also found here where upon stepping on the accelerator pedal, you’ll see a rise in engine revs but not much in terms of speed. This trait is not a deal breaker however, because both the X-Trail’s powertrains provided good performance and it never felt like the engine was being strained to haul its more than 1.5 tonne kerb weight.

ECONOMY:
The brochures quoted a fuel economy figure of 12 km/L for the 2.5L 4WD and 14.1 km/L for the 2.0L 2WD. We can’t guarantee a solid figure for the 2.0L 2WD because we didn’t spend much time driving it.

However, we did spend a solid amount of time driving the 2.5L 4WD variant on the return leg of the journey, opting for the Kuala Selangor-Teluk Intan route that were basically B-roads all the way back instead of the main highway. Upon arrival back at ETCM’s new 3S centre at Glenmarie, the fuel economy figure we obtained was 12.3 km/L.

Living with the 2015 Nissan X-Trail:

INTERIOR:
When you’re seated inside the cabin, the zero gravity leather seats, found only on the 2.5L 4WD variant, provide good support and was comfortable during the long drive. The fabric ones on the 2.0L 2WD were decent, but can’t compare to the comfort offered by the leather ones. Those leather seats are also electric-powered, adjusting for height, tilt, distance from the steering wheel, and 2-way lumbar support – which is a pleasant feature to have.

As for roominess, there is an ample amount of cabin space. Passengers at the second row also have the luxury of sliding their seats back for more legroom, likewise forwards for more cargo room or legroom for the third row passengers. The third row isn’t ideal for ferrying full-size adults, and we recommend using the space more for cargo than anything else. However, if you insist, you can fill two, smaller size, adults in the most back.

The middle and third row seats are also foldable as well (60:40 at the second row and 50:50 for the third), expanding the boot size from 550 litres (when the third row is folded down), all the way to 1,520 litres when both the second and third rows are folded via a few simple strap pulls. Unfortunately, the X-Trail’s seat-folding requires far more steps to accomplish a flat cargo floor than a Honda CR-V’s would – a minor point to note, but should be taken into consideration if you plan on fully maximising the X-Trail’s cargo-carrying abilities on a more frequent basis.

Minor details like the cup holders in the centre console are cooled via an air vent lend a nice touch as well to keep your canned drinks nice and chilled.

EQUIPMENT:
 The 2.0 2WD gets a 5-inch infotainment display with the Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile phone and other auxiliary inputs. Pairing the phone to the system was a straight forward affair. As for the 2.5 4WD, the same infotainment system now receives touchscreen interaction and navigation as well.

Said unit is a TCAT multimedia navigator unit and it offered an intuitive interface which was easy to use as well. Pairing a mobile phone via Bluetooth was simple enough and the GPS unit was quick to lock on and a full list of ETCM
Nissan
 centres were included as well.

SAFETY:
As we mentioned above, the Nissan X-Trail comes with an impressive safety suite, a common theme now found in ETCM’s recent car launches including the Sylphy, Teana, and Serena S-Hybrid. Aside from VDC, TC, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist (BA) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD), Active Chassis Control is also found here.

As a short refresh, the Active Chassis Control system comprises of three separate modules – Active Ride Control, Active Engine Brake, and Active Trace Control.

With
Active Ride Control
, the system modulates the vehicle’s brakes along with the engine’s torque to reduce the pitching motion when passing over undulated surfaces like bumps on the road.

Active Engine Brake
 works with the CVT gear ratio control to help reduce the vehicle speed by adding small amounts of engine braking to assist the brakes, decreasing the frequency and effort required to decelerate the vehicle.

Lastly,
Active Trace Control
 works to ensure the vehicle stays on the cornering line by applying small amounts of braking to individual wheels and is engaged at any point in the corner, so long as the driver does not lift his foot off the accelerator pedal. In a way, it serves to provide torque vectoring for the vehicle.

Unfortunately, only two front airbags are available to both variants of the X-Trail, with no option to increase the count. The Honda CR-V offers a maximum six, and the CX-5 puts up six airbags from the base model even. A strange omission when you consider than the
Nissan Sylphy
 and
Teana
 both get six airbags from the base model up too.  Do the extra active safety features thrown in here make up for the lacking airbags? We’ll leave that for you to decide..

Verdict: What we think of the all-new 2015 Nissan X-Trail:

The Nissan
X-Trail
 is best described as an all-rounder. If you’re planning a long cruise back to your hometown, the comfortable ride and cruise control will help you cover ground quickly without leaving you fatigued.

Even then, when you do finally reach your hometown and the road conditions might not be favourable, the intelligent four-wheel drive system does a good job of pulling the vehicle through relatively tough terrain. It’ll even bring you down a hill on its own when you set it right.

And by the end of that trip, you’d probably load up the vehicle with stuff and it’ll carry all that with minimal fuss. Add on a capable powertrain to all the above with a strong safety system suite and you have a crossover SUV that can tackle most situations it’s put in.


Honda’s Mean Mower V2 Sets New Guinness World Record, Has Better Power-To-Weight Ratio Than A Bugatti Chiron

Honda’s Mean Mower has re-entered the record books after setting a brand new Guinness World Record title for ‘Fastest Acceleration 0-160 km/h for a Lawnmower’.
The new record was set at the Dekra Lausitzring circuit in Dresden, Germany last month under the watchful eye of a Guinness World Records adjudicator.
The record was set by the latest version of Honda's crazy lawnmower called the Mean Mower V2, which was driven by experienced stunt driver and racer Jess Hawkins, averaging 0-160 km/h in just 6.29 seconds.
Besides being able to go so fast in a straight line, the Mean Mower V2 also had to demonstrate that it could still do what it is actually designed for – to cut grass – which it does.
Under the regulations of Guinness World Records, the mower must also ‘intrinsically look like a lawnmower’ - in this case the Honda HF 2622 lawn tractor– which it does by carrying over its front cowl, grass box and body panels.
Unveiled in summer 2018, Mean Mower V2 set out to build on the incredible success of the original Mean Mower, which became the world’s fastest lawnmower in 2014 when it hit 188 km/h.
But this time Honda and its British Touring Car Championship partner, Team Dynamics, took the development to a whole new level, using computer aided design, bespoke parts, advanced materials and even 3D printing.
At the heart of Mean Mower V2 lies a 999 cc four-cylinder unit taken from Honda’s high-performing CBR 1000RR Fireblade SP motorcycle which produces 200 bhp at 13,000 rpm.
It packs almost double the power of the original Mean Mower, with a super-light frame and engine dry weight of just 69.1 kg, which overall results in a power-to-weight ratio in excess of that of a Bugatti Chiron.
The official acceleration figure was measured using a VBOX on-board recording device, which was fitted, set-up and verified by independent and accredited timers, Timing Solutions Limited.
To meet the requirements of Guinness World Records, the mower had to record the same run, in both directions, within an hour – with the average acceleration of these two runs taken as the official time.
The team also took the opportunity while at the Lausiztring to put Mean Mower V2 through its paces on a longer run to see what it is really capable of, recording an incredible top speed of 243 km/h.


Spyshot: All-New Nissan Almera Caught In Thailand

The all-new fourth generation Nissan Almera has been sighted in
Thailand
, just two months after the model was first shown to the public in Florida.

This lone spyshot of the all-new Almera has been doing its rounds on various social media platforms, indicating that Nissan Thailand is readying its new B-segment sedan.

Codenamed N18, the all-new Nissan Almera continues the lineage with a considerably sharper exterior design coupled with a snazzier-looking interior.

In terms of safety, the all-new Almera boasts a wide range of driving assistance systems, such as Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning and High Beam Assist. Also available on higher range variants are Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Driver Alertness and Intelligent Cruise Control. However, these features are for the US market model and may not reflect local specifications.

For the US market, the all-new Almera is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that is carried over from the predecessor model. However, for the ASEAN region, the Almera gets several different engines – Thailand gets a 1.2-litre petrol engine, allowing the Almera to conform to the country’s Eco Car scheme, while Malaysia and Indonesia gets a larger 1.5-litre petrol engine.

When the previous generation Almera was introduced here back in 2012, that model’s key highlight was its segment-leading rear legroom and boot space, but that crown was snatched by the Honda City was introduced in 2014. For the past couple of years, the Almera remained largely unchanged, barring some minor styling updates.

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Pesawat Rasmi Harimau Malaya Dilancarkan – Beri Inspirasi Kepada Skuad Bola Sepak Negara

Pesawat rasmi
Harimau Malaya
 yang baru sahaja dilancarkan ini diharap dapat memberi inspirasi kepada skuad bola sepak negara untuk melakar lebih banyak kejayaan pada masa hadapan.

Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin berkata, pelancaran ini juga diharap dapat menambah baik kerjasama antara dua jenama kebangsaan, iaitu FAM dan pihak
Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB)
 pada masa hadapan.

Sebelum ini, pihak MAB juga sering bekerjasama dengan FAM untuk membawa pasukan bola sepak kebangsaan untuk memenuhi beberapa tugasan antarabangsa menerusi penerbangan khas yang disewa.

Hamidin berharap majlis pelancaran ini dapat memberikan inspirasi kepada skuad kebangsaan terutamanya bagi mengharungi pusingan ketiga aksi kelayakan Piala Asia 2023 pada Jun depan dan seterusnya dapat membanggakan rakyat Malaysia.

*Kredit foto: BERNAMA

Pesawat kepunyaan MAB dengan corak rasmi Harimau Malaya ini menggunakan pesawat Airbus 330-300 dan telah dilancarkan di Sepang pada pagi Selasa, 8 Februari 2022.

Sejak tahun 2019 lagi, MAB sering bekerjasama dengan FAM khususnya dalam menyewa
pesawat
 untuk membawa pasukan kebangsaan ke destinasi luar negara seperti Dubai dan Manama.

Pada majlis sama, kad eksklusif Harimau Malaya X Enrich 2022 turut dilancarkan dan sesiapa yang berminat untuk mendapatkannya boleh mendapatkannya di laman web rasmi Malaysia Airlines.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MAB, Kapten Izham Ismail berkata, pihaknya turut bergembira dengan pelancaran pesawat rasmi berkenaan kerana ia menggambarkan hubungan kerjasama yang baik antara FAM dan MAB.

Tambahnya, pihak MAB juga akan terus memberikan sokongan terhadap skuad kebangsaan dengan membawa skuad Bawah 23 tahun (B-23) kebangsaan ke Phnom Penh, Kemboja bagi menyertai Piala AFF B-23 2022 dalam masa terdekat ini.


BMW M4 2015 MotoGP Safety Car Previews Innovative Water Injection System

The 2015 Moto GP World Championship will feature, as was the case last year, a
BMW

M4 Coupe
 as its official Safety Car. Since 1999, BMW M has been through all of the intervening 17 seasons as the “Official Car of MotoGP”. So confident are MotoGP organizer Dorna Sports with their partnership with BMW M that they have confirmed to extend their alliance up until the end of the 2020 season, securing a partnership that will last at least for 20 years.
This year’s black 2015 edition is a departure from the usual white liveries of BMW’s previous safety cars and while there are some boxes left unchecked on the optional extras form available from BMW M, we get a peek at some interesting new technologies here first prior to their consumer availability.
Under the bonnet we find a deceptively familiar S55 3.0 liter twin-turbo straight-six engine, output stands at 431 hp and 550 Nm, but BMW has fitted it with an innovative water injection system. This results in the thermal tolerances being significantly raised, enabling the engine to remain in the more extreme levels of performance for longer, more efficiently, and with significantly less component degradation. Power and torque is delivered more effectively due to the higher charging pressure and an earlier ignition point, optimizing the performance and consumption of the twin-turbo engine under full throttle. In addition, the cooler process temperatures reduce hazardous substances, particularly nitrogen oxide, forming.
To ensure consistent cooling within an efficient and compact package, BMW M Division engineers chose a layout with three injection valves in the plenum chamber, each responsible for two cylinders. In the boot of the M4 MotoGP Safety Car sits a freeze-proof water tank (approximately 5 liters), water pump, valves, together with the electronically controlled sensor array actuating elements. The water supply will have to be refilled after continuous heavy use such as that on a race track. Refill intervals are considerably longer during normal driving.
 For safety, the water injection system works in tandem with onboard automatic diagnostics, so should the water tank be empty or some components were to malfunction, appropriate measures can be taken to protect the power unit such as cancelling supercharging pressure and ignition point, enabling the engine to continue operation albeit with reduced performance.
There are many different ways that this new technology can benefit BMW’s entire range and from what we are hearing, this technology is far too beneficial to not trickle down. But before that, we’re looking forward to a future M production model utilizing this new water injection system.