Officially Imported 2018 Toyota Harrier Now In Malaysia – From RM238,000, Tentative Full Specs Here

Following yesterday’s scoop by Carlist.my, we now have the confirmed prices for the officially imported Toyota Harrier. Previously, the Harrier was only available from grey importers, and only in pre-facelift form with a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre Valvematic engine.

UMW Toyota Motor’s version is the newer facelift model, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged. The official Malaysian market Toyota Harrier will be offered in two variants, both imported from Japan – 2.0T Premium (RM238,000 excluding insurance) and 2.0T Luxury (RM259,900 excluding insurance). The prices are very close to
our initial estimate
 of about RM250,000.

The display model seen here is a mid-specs Singaporean market model, which sits between our Premium and Luxury variant. As such, some of the items seen here are not applicable to our fortchoming Malaysian market Toyota Harrier.

As mentioned in our earlier posts, UMW Toyota Motor’s Harrier is powered by a 2.0-litre direct injected twin-scroll turbine turbocharged engine that produces 231 PS and 350 Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission driving the front wheels. No all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive variant is available.

Specifications have not been confirmed but based on preliminary information obtained by Carlist.my, the specs breakdown are as below:

Toyota Harrier 2.0T Premium (RM238,000 excluding insurance):

LED headlamps with auto levelling, adaptive high beam, and LED cornering lights

LED daytime running lights

LED tail lights with sequential blinking turn signals

Keyless Smart Entry

Adaptive cruise control (Dynamic radar cruise control)

Capacitive touch operated dual zone automatic air-conditioning with rear vents

Ultrasuede (synthetic microfiber fabric) seats

Power-operated 4-way adjustable driver’s seat

Power adjusting steering column

Seven airbags

Electronic Stability Control (Vehicle Stability Control)

Hill Start Assist

Auto brake hold

Electric parking brake

ISOFIX child seat anchors

Toyota Safety Sense P (Pre-collision warning, Adaptive High Beam, Lane Departure Alert, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control)

The higher range Toyota Harrier 2.0T Luxury (RM259,900) adds the following:

Power-operated boot with programmable opening height

Panaromic sunroof

NanoE air purifying function for the automatic air-conditioning

Nappa leather seats

Power-operated 8-way adjusting driver’s seat

Power-operated 4-way adjusting front passenger seat

Rain sensing automatic wipers

Electrochromic auto dimming rear-view mirror

Note that the above are tentative specs. UMW Toyota Motor has yet to formally announce the Harrier's specifications.

Although prices have been confirmed, you won’t be able to check out the Harrier at your local Toyota showroom yet as the model will only be launched in the first quarter of 2018.

However you can start placing your bookings now. Deliveries are expected to begin in March 2018 onwards.

Like all models sold by UMW Toyota Motor, the Toyota Harrier is covered by a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty.

More:
2017 XU60 Toyota Harrier From UMW Toyota Motor – Better Than A Recond Model?


Nama Rasmi Geely KX11 Didedahkan – Kini Dikenali Sebagai Xingyue L

Model Geely yang didedahkan sebagai KX11 pada Januari lalu kini mempunyai nama rasmi – Xingyue L!

Pada awal tahun ini,
Geely
 telah mendedahkan model ketiga mereka yang dibina berdasarkan Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) selepas model
Xingyue
 dan Xingrui. KX11 yang turut sama menggunakan platform seperti
Volvo XC40
 ini kini dikenali sebagai Xingyue L.

Menghampiri tarikh pelancarannya di China tidak lama lagi, ada beberapa perkara yang perlu anda tahu tentang Xingyue L ni. Kalau anda rasa paparan infotainment pada
Tesla
 dah cukup besar, Xingyue L ini hadir dengan skrin paparan bersaiz 1 meter! Kalau anda lihat berdasarkan gambar, skrin terbabit memenuhi hampir keseluruhan ruang dashboard kereta ini.

Walau bagaimana pun, skrin itu terbahagi kepada dua bahagian. Skrin utama di atas bahagian saluran pendingin hawa tengah hadapan memberi akses kepada semua fungsi kenderaan. Sementara itu, skrin selebihnya berfungsi untuk penumpang hadapan tetapi aksesnya mungkin sedikit terhad – media atau navigasi.

Menurut Geely, maksud L pada Xingyue L membawa pelbagai maksud. Salah satunya ialah Luxury. Lihatlah saja pada skrin paparan yang tersedia pada kereta ini yang mencerminkan minimalis yang serba mewah. Jentera ini turut dilengkapi dengan tempat duduk berwarna cerah dengan ciri-ciri mewahnya yang tersendiri. Lihat juga pada A-pillar kenderaan ini, ada dua speaker Bose!

Selain itu, L juga bermaksud Large atau besar. Kenapa besar? Xingyue L merupakan
SUV 7 tempat duduk
. Pada waktu ini, gambar penuh tentang keadaan tempat duduk belakang masih belum diketahui. Tapi kalau dah 7 tempat duduk, mestilah besar kan? Takkan saiz
Ativa
 pula.

Model

Jarak Roda

Panjang

Tinggi

Lebar

Unit (mm)

2,845

4,770

1,689

1,895

Selain itu, L juga membawa maksud Liberate yang merujuk pada enjin serta prestasi yang bakal ditawarkan pada SUV ini. Berdasarkan beberapa info yang terdedah, model ini bakal menggunakan enjin Volvo Drive-E 2.0 Liter Turbo 4-silinder yang menghasilkan output 218 PS serta 238 PS. Enjinnya akan diterajui dengan transmisi 8-kelajuan automatik yang menjadi standard pada semua varian.

2021 Geely Haoyue

Yang pastinya, model ini pasti akan dibandingkan dengan
Haoyue
, satu lagi SUV 7 tempat duduk keluaran Geely. Walau bagaimanapun, Haoyue dibina berdasarkan platform CV yang lebih murah untuk dihasilkan. Pendek kata, Xingyue L merupakan model yang lebih premium berbanding Haoyue. Oleh itu, Xingyue mungkin akan ditawarkan dengan harga yang lebih tinggi daripada Haoyue yang berharga 109,600 ke 139,600 yuan (RM69,310 to RM88,282) di China.

Jadi pasti ramai yang tertanya-tanya, Proton ada rancang nak bawa masuk model ini ke nanti? Mengikut pada paras harga pasaran Malaysia pada waktu ini, model SUV 7 tempat duduk keluaran Geely yang paling sesuai untuk dibawa masuk oleh Proton adalah Haoyue. Tapi kalau Proton bawa masuk
Xingyue L versi lokal
 dengan paparan skrin 1 meter, korang on ke tak on?

For more latest car news, reviews, car buying guides and videos visit us at Carlist.my
Auto News
.

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


Ford Ranger’s Q3 Volume Jump 61 Percent Thanks To Sale Of 2,245 units

The segment-defining Ford Ranger pick-up proved its continued popularity in Malaysia in the third quarter, as retail sales increase 61% compared to the previous year.
During the third quarter of 2018, which was also Malaysia’s tax-free holiday period, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) sold 2,245 units of Ford Ranger. The company also recorded its
best sales of 2018 in August
, registering 1,056 units of sales.
This memorable three months helped the Ranger boost its quarterly market share in the pick-up segment to 15.3%, an increase of 1.1% from the same period a year ago.
“The Ranger’s appeal in Malaysia remains strong,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Bin Syed Faiz, Managing Director, SDAC. “We’re confident its momentum will continue in Malaysia with the launch of the new Ranger later this month.”
Learn more on the variants and specifications of the new Ranger
, plus the highly anticipated
Ranger Raptor here
.
To better support Ranger customers across the country, Ford and SDAC are continuing efforts to further enhance the ownership experience, including ongoing expansion and upgrades to Ford dealerships nationwide.
Over the past year, Ford and Sime Darby Auto Connexion have announced the opening of four new and upgraded Ford dealer facilities, including Acecourt Auto Sdn Bhd (Acecourt Auto), SNS Kembara Utama Sdn Bhd (SNS Kembara),
Sime Darby Auto Connexion (Kuching)
 and
Sime Darby Auto Connexion (Kota Kinabalu)
.


Subaru Launches 2021 XV 2.0i-P From RM132k

Subaru’s exclusive local distributor TC Subaru Sdn Bhd have introduced a new addition to the popular XV crossover’s range in the form of the updated 2.0i-P with prices starting at RM131,788 (on-the-road without insurance).

Of course, you might be wondering what the big difference is between this 2.0i-P and the ones that were sold just before this, but this isn’t a major update filled with dramatic changes and upgrades.

Rather, it’s more akin to a spec bump to keep the XV at the
top of its game
. At a quick glance, they might seem identical, at least on the outside, but dig a little deeper and you’ll spot the new interior upholstery that’s exclusive to the Malaysian and Thai market.

This ‘Leather Suede Deluxe’, as they call it, is quite literally a combination of these two plush and premium materials, giving the seating experience a more luxuriously textured experience and are finished in a mixture of gloss black, matte black, and sleek silver coordinated with the XV’s character orange stitching.

Of course, this interior treatment is only available on the 2.0i-P and not on the entry-level 2.0i or the
range-topping GT
.

Stepping back outside, the XV’s design has not been altered between the two model years and we find the usual complement of 17-inch alloys, LED headlamps, LED rear combination lamps, and a selection of six exterior colours: Pure White, Dark Grey Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Blue Pearl, Cool Grey Khaki and Sunshine Orange.

Also as before
, the XV is powered by Subaru’s FB20 naturally aspirated 2.0-litre flat-four petrol engine producing 156PS and 196Nm, mated to their Lineartronic CVT to send drive to all four wheels via Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with Active Torque Vectoring and X-Mode.


Panduan Tukar Warna/ Cat Kenderaan Mengikut Kebenaran JPJ 2021

Tahukah anda sekiranya anda menukar warna cat kenderaan anda tanpa pengetahuan JPJ, anda boleh disaman?

Betul tu! Undang-undang ini sebenarnya dah lama dah ada, malah ramai yang sudah mengetahui hal ini. Sebelum ini, warna kenderaan ada dinyatakan di dalam Kad Pendaftaran Kenderaan (RC). Jadi setiap penukaran warna kenderaan haruslah mendapat kelulusan daripada JPJ terlebih dahulu.

Namun setelah
Kad Pendaftaran Kenderaan (RC) ditukar kepada Sijil Pemilikan Kenderaan (VOC)
 bermula Jun 2016, maklumat tentang warna kenderaan tidak lagi terdapat pada geran terbabit. Ini membuatkan ramai pengguna merasakan bahawa proses menukar warna kenderaan bukan lagi isu kerana maklumat tersebut telah dikeluarkan daripada geran atau Sijil Pemilikan Kenderaan.

Oleh kerana kekusutan ini, JPJ telah berkongsi info grafik tentang panduan serta prosedur yang perlu dibuat sekiranya anda ingin menukar warna cat kenderaan anda. Berikut merupakan langkah-langkahnya.

Panduan Tukar Cat/Warna Kenderaan

Cat dahulu kenderaan.

Apabila siap dicat, hadir ke Pejabat JPJ.

Jika kenderaan diwarnakan melebihi dari 1 warna, warna yang paling banyak atau dominan di anggap warna kenderaan tersebut.

Isi Borang JPJ K8 (pindaan butir-butir kenderaan) dan serah pada Pegawai JPJ yang bertugas.

Pegawai bertugas akan mengemaskini dalam sistem MySikap.

Tiada bayaran dikenakan.

Merujuk Seksyen (12) APJ 1987, setiap pemilik kenderaan yang menukar warna, perlu diberi suatu Notis Arah Periksa atau PG1. Notis tersebut diberikan supaya pemilik memaklumkan kepada JPJ setiap perubahan warna kenderaan berkenaan dan bukanlah saman kerana tukar warna kenderaan.

Pengemaskinian warna kenderaan di dalam sistem adalah penting supaya jika terjadi apa-apa seperti kemalangan atau sebagainya, warna kenderaan yang didaftarkan boleh dijadikan rujukan bagi mengelakkan sebarang masalah yang tidak diingini berlaku pada anda apabila mahu membuat tuntutan insurans kereta kelak. Kalau insurans tak lulus sebab warna kenderaan ditukar tanpa pengetahuan JPJ, kan naya tu?

Untuk urusan menukar warna kenderaan di Pejabat JPJ, anda dikehendaki membawa Sijil Pemilikan Kenderaan (VOC) serta kenderaan anda ke sana untuk diperiksa. Menurut akaun Facebook rasmi JPJ, urusan ini hanya boleh dilakukan di pejabat JPJ sahaja buat masa ini, bukan di UTC mahupun Pejabat Pos.

Kesimpulannya, meskipun warna kenderaan tidak lagi dinyatakan dalam geran, namun JPJ masih lagi mengambil kira maklumat terbabit untuk dimasukkan ke dalam MySikap sebagai rekod. Lagipun proses ini hanya percuma. Jangan sesekali ambil mudah!

Untuk mengelakkan kesesakan di kaunter JPJ, anda boleh memuat turun borang JPJ K8 di portal rasmi JPJ terlebih dahulu. Anda cuma perlu datang ke kaunter JPJ untuk menghantar borang serta melakukan pemeriksaan sahaja. Tak perlu kelam kabut untuk isi borang masa tengah sesak di kaunter JPJ tu nanti.

Dengan penguatkuasaan undang-undang tentang pengubahsuaian kenderaan yang semakin berleluasa sekarang, kita seharusnya peka dengan segala isu baru yang timbul bagi mengelakkan diri daripada disaman pihak berkuasa.  Untuk pengubahsuaian bagi bodykit kenderaan, anda boleh rujuk
disini
.

For more latest car news, reviews, car buying guides and videos visit us at Carlist.my
Auto News
.

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


Toyota Malaysia To Display New C-HR At Selected Locations

UMW Toyota Motor has announced that the Malaysian public will be able to view the upcoming Toyota C-HR compact SUV at selected showrooms and other locations from August onwards.
Having made its
first appearance at the MAA – Carlist.my Test Drive & Buy Event in May 2017
 at the Setia City Convention Centre in Selangor, The C-HR will be on display at the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival on 12 and 13 August at the Batu Kawan Stadium, Penang.
After that, it will be on display at the Toyota Subang Jaya showroom (16 – 22 Aug), Mid Valley (23 – 27 Aug), Sunway Pyramid (4 – 10 Sept) and other locations around Peninsular Malaysia.
Powered by a 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine paired with a CVT-type gearbox with sequential shifter, the C-HR comes with features like Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), side mirror puddle lights, as well as Follow-me-home headlights among others.
Expected to be launched here in 2018, the C-HR is currently
the best-selling SUV in Japan
.


BMW 7 Series Plug-In Hybrid Goes on Sale in Europe

BMW has officially begun selling plug-in hybrid variants of the 7 Series in the European market.Three variants are available at the outset:
740e iPerformance: standard wheelbase, RWD
740Le iPerformance: long wheelbase, RWD
740Le xDrive iPerformance: long wheelbase, AWD
The trio are all powered by BMW's latest-generation 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine coupled to an electric motor.
The permanently excited synchronous electric motor is integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission to generate a total system output of 326 hp and combined torque of 500 Nm. The electric motor alone delivers 113 hp and maximum torque of 250 Nm, while the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine provides 258 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 1,550 – 4,400 rpm.
BMW claim the standard wheelbase 740e and long wheelbase 740Le return a frugal 2.2 – 2.0 l/100 km on the combined cycle, while emitting combined CO2 emissions of just 50 – 45 g/km. The long wheelbase all-wheel drive 740Le xDrive meanwhile, musters 2.5 – 2.1 l/100km at 56 – 49g/km CO2.
A Lithium-ion high-voltage battery with a gross capacity of 9.2 kWh, is positioned under the rear seat bench; and can be charged from a domestic power socket in under four hours or from a BMW i Wallbox in under three hours.
On a full charge, the 740e and 740Le return 44 – 48km of EV range, while the 740Le x Drive will cover between 41 – 45km before the batteries run dry. The top speed on electric power alone is 140 km/h.
Outright performance figures read 0-100km/h in 5.4seconds for the 740e, 5.5 seconds for the 740Le while the 740Le xDrive is the quickest needing just 5.3 seconds. Top speed in all three models is electronically limited to 250km/h.
The interplay between electric and internal combustion is modulated by the Driving Experience Control switch with ADAPTIVE mode and ECO PRO mode including a coasting function. The eDrive button allows the driver to select the hybrid function as and when required, while AUTO eDRIVE optimises the propulsion strategy. MAX eDrive allows for full-electric driving.
Hybrid-specific proactive energy management allows for a link up to the navigation system to study the route ahead and allow for optimised power strategy while allowing arrival at destination in pure electric driving mode.
The 740e models will be equipped with model specific aesthetic highlights such as the eDrive” badges on the C-pillars, BMW i logo on the front side panels and BMW kidney grille with bars in BMW i Blue.
The M Sport package, Pure Excellence BMW Individual Design exterior and interior packages are available for all BMW iPerformance variants of the BMW 7 Series model range.
There are two clear indications as to why we believe the 7 Series plug-in hybrid range looks firmly poised to enter the Malaysian market. Firstly, BMW had announced earlier in the year that it plans to
expand operations
 at its Kulim plant, in-line with becoming an export hub within the region.
Secondly, considering Malaysia's incentives to promote local assembly of energy efficient vehicles (EEVs), and the strong reception to the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid (also locally assembled), a locally-assembled 740e isn't very far fetched.


GR Hilux Name Trademarked

Australia is one of the biggest playgrounds for pickup trucks, and manufacturers love to flaunt and test their newest and best utes there. We Malaysians also look to Australia for hints of what we might get here - case study: Ford Ranger Raptor

So when Toyota trademarks a name there, we get excited.  According to carsguide's report, Toyota has just trademarked the GR Hilux name in Australia, woohoo!!!

If you know a thing or two about Gazoo Racing (GR) vehicles, then we can expect the GR Hilux to come with pumped-up performance parts, because no moniker with a GR name will come with average mechanical bits.

This must send shivers down the Ford Ranger Raptor's chassis because it sounds like it might have a competitor here in Malaysia if the trademarking leads up to a production truck.

No technical information on the super-ute has yet to be unveiled, but there is that GR Hilux from the South American and South African market that we can take cues from.

The South African GR Hilux which was limited to 535 vehicles, came with beefed-up front suspension and the all dependable 2.8 GD-6 turbodiesel engine with 170hp and 450Nm. The South American GR Hilux, on the other hand, features a 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine with 235hp and 376Nm of torque and some suspension enhancements. All vehicles received aggressive-looking beautification to make it look like one mean truck.

If we were to get a GR Hilux, it'd most probably be similar to the diesel-powered South African truck. That ute was sold in South Africa for RM194,988, also another hint of what the price might be like if we ever get it here. Can't wait!


Seremban–Port Dickson Highway To Go Fully Cashless From June 1

Starting June 1st, all transactions at toll plazas on the Seremban – Port Dickson Highway (SPDH) will go fully electronic, meaning no more of the cash and ticket payments for us left swerving “tunai” lane lovers.
This the latest development as part of PLUS’s ongoing initiative to phase out cash in favour of a faster and more cost-effective entirely electronic payment-based highway system and they recommend that commuters migrate to a cashless solution (PLUSMiles cards, Touch ‘n Go or SmartTAG) as soon as possible.
To further promote this transition, highway users will be able to purchase PLUSMiles or Touch ‘n Go cards at the Mambau and Lukut toll plazas between May 1st and 31st August 2015 at a promotional rate of RM5 each, which will have all of its sale value preloaded into the card (card is free). SmartTAGs will also be available for purchase there at a GST-inclusive promotional rate of RM104.95 from May 1st and 30th June 2015.
Toll users who use electronic payments will be given a discount of 20% per pass-through between June 1st and September 30th 2015, provided they fall into the Class 1 vehicle category. Based on a 30 days per month commute and a 20% rebate, toll users are able to save more than RM48 per month.


Can The 4th-Gen Outlander Help The Xpander Give Mitsubishi Malaysia Strong Sales In 2022?

Can the fourth generation Outlander help Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia post an equally strong sales record in 2022?

After being in our market for around half a decade, December 2021 marked the month where Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) officially discontinued the third-generation Outlander after debuting in Malaysia in
2016
.

While this might seem a bit of sad news, Outlander fans should actually be excited as the removal of the third-gen Outlander from MMM's website is probably exercised to make way
for the fourth-gen
 (launched globally in Feb 2021), which also sees a complete overhaul of the Outlander.

The third-generation Outlander has been
chugging along for nine years now
, and there aren't that many passenger vehicles, particularly in the highly competitive SUV space, that have been left out in the field as long as it has.

Those following the Mitsubishi journey for the past few years know it to be peppered with periods of uncertainty even after it came under the wing of the
Renault-Nissan alliance
. During this period, it openly and aggressively shifted its focus to SUVs, which did the Outlander's future a lot of good.

The fourth-gen Outlander is not merely a heavily revised version of the outgoing model as it sits on the newer (but almost as old) CMF-C/D platform shared with the
latest Nissan Rogue
 (X-Trail) that's constructed with high tensile steel. This boost in structural rigidity means increased safety and allows strategic use of lightweight material, which improves weight distribution and fuel economy.

Dimensionally, this newest iteration is a significant step ahead of the outgoing Outlander, measuring 51mm wider and 38mm taller with a 36mm longer wheelbase that results in a nose-to-tail length of 4709mm, or 15mm longer overall. What this translates to is a big improvement in front/ rear legroom and shoulder room.

Though there is plenty of change both visually and with regard to practicality, some things remain static. In the case of the Outlander, at least at launch, it's still powered by a naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a CVT (with 8 virtual ratios).

However, as overly familiar as this might sound, this is no MIVEC under the bonnet. In fact, the powertrain package is wholly lifted from the Nissan camp and is, in fact, also shared with the X-Trail. It has a performance output of around 181PS and 245Nm of torque.

The big question on our minds however is whether MMM will bring this naturally aspirated version or go straight for the Plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) Outlander or perhaps both?

For those intrigued about the PHEV Outlander, we can't blame you as it sounds like a heck of a package.

Under the hood of the PHEV Outlander is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 131hp and 194Nm of torque. This ICE engine joins forces with a pair of electric motors; a 113hp unit at the front axle, and a 134hp unit at the rear. Those electric motors work off a 350-volt 20-kWh lithium-ion battery, which should deliver about 80 km of range.

If these two are added to the MMM lineup, we're pretty sure that they can help Mitsubishi Malaysia surpass their 17,489 vehicles sold from January to December 2021. According to MMM, the bulk of the sales achievement is credited to the
Mitsubishi Xpander
, with 7,397 units sold from January to December 2021.

This accomplishment has crowned the Xpander as the number one best-selling Japanese seven-seater crossover in Malaysia. Can the success of the Xpander and the incoming new Outlander help MMM achieve better sales figures in 2022? Sama-sama kita nantikan!


Takata Recall: 419 Units Of Honda Civic Type R FD2R Added To List

The ongoing recall of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag crisis has just been expanded to include 419 units of the Honda Civic Type R FD2R in Malaysia, affected both driver and passenger frontal airbag modules of the affected model.
This time around, the recall affects units of the popular Civic FD2R manufactured for the 2007, 2008, and 2010 model years. At the time of its production, Malaysia was the only country in the world outside Japan to receive the FD2R officially imported from Japan.

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August 04, 2017

To recap, defective Takata airbag inflators can rupture during deployment, sending shrapnel at the direction of the passengers which they are meant to protect.
Latest figures available indicate that these defective airbags have resulted in the deaths of no less than fourteen people across the globe, four of them being Malaysians. (
Source:
Automotive News
)
As before, Honda Malaysia will be reaching out to affected owners by notification letters which will include details of the recall and advice to bring their vehicles in to the nearest authorized Honda dealer for inspection and replacement free of charge.
Honda vehicle owners are also advised to check their vehicle recall status through any of the following means:
Log on to
www.honda.com.my
 or
www.productrecall.honda.com.my
.
Honda Toll Free: 1-800-88-2020
Any Honda Authorized Service Centre
Selected Petronas Stations
Mobile Hubs in Selected Shopping Malls
Operating schedule for selected Petronas station and Mobile Hubs (click to enlarge)
Door-to-door Mobile Teams
 are also prowling neighbourhoods across the country to replace airbags on site if necessary.
Honda Malaysia is also working closely with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to track down owners of vehicles that have been sold by their first buyers. The company also recently
teamed up with
Carlist.my
 to get in touch with used car dealers carrying affected Honda vehicles to replace the defective airbags at the dealer’s yard.
As of 7 May 2017, Honda Malaysia has full stock availability to replace all affected driver front airbag inflators in the country; passenger airbag stock availability, meanwhile, is at 90.5 percent. The company has, to date, managed to complete replacing some 79 percent of all affected driver front airbags in Malaysia.


MV Agusta Returns To Malaysia Under New Distributor

MV Agusta Motor has officially appointed MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd as the sole distributor of the brand here in Malaysia.

This recently announced subsidiary company under AFY Mobility Sdn Bhd (AMI), MV Agusta Malaysia will be handling the overall operations in terms of motorcycles, merchandise, and even special parts.

CKD plans in Glenmarie, Shah Alam

Another exciting part of the deal is that the bikes that are going to be sold here in Malaysia will be locally assembled at the AFY Mobility plant in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, which will also double up as the brand's training facility here in the country.

AFY Mobility has plans to transform Malaysia into a global motorcycle assembly hub. They recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MARA to produce the next Malaysian motorcycle brand, so expect big plans in the coming years from AMI.

The return of MV Agusta to Malaysia since 2018

MV Agusta was previously represented here in Malaysia by DNC Asiatic, but the deal only lasted less than two years following an abrupt and surprising operation shut down back in the middle of 2018. Since then, the premium Italian bike brand has been in limbo which was made even more troublesome thanks to COVID-19.

According to Timur Sardarov, CEO of MV Agusta Motor, "I am particularly thrilled about this new, important partnership marking the consolidation and the expansion of the MV Agusta presence in one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia. The CKD assembly solutions found with our partners will boost our competitiveness in the region, in line with our global expansion strategy. I wish the newly born MV Agusta Malaysia every success."


What Could Mazda be Cooking Up Behind Those Rotary Engine Rumours?

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you might have heard about the rumours that are circulating around about
Mazda
 working on a new rotary engine, and
Mazda themselves have dropped some strong suggestions about what they have in store for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show
.
Rather coincidentally, during my recent trip to Hiroshima
to visit Mazda’s production facilities
,
design studio
, and
sample their latest MX-5
 last month, I came across a third-generation RX-7 parked in front of their design studio. It looked like any non-descript RX-7, except that it bore an R&D badge on its flanks, and didn’t have any registration plates.
With my curiosity piqued I took a quick glance inside and it looked like any other RX-7 interior save for research stickers being plastered around the base of its manual shifter. Being on the grounds of Mazda’s centre of operations, cameras were obviously barred from being used.
Seeing an RX-7 prowling around the factory lots of Mazda’s headquarters is a strange sight, considering its age and relevance to the Mazda. My suspicions were heightened when we went to Mazda’s Mine Proving Ground where we were told not to take any pictures except for those facing the circuit’s main straight. There wasn’t anything strange to be seen around the pit facilities.
But on the short tour of the circuit we sighted an open garage that held between five and six RX-7s wearing various pieces of body trim. Some with wings, and aerodynamic bits, some with headlight covers, some just left untouched.
On one hand it could look like cars that were kept that for the occasional one-make race series, or where local enthusiasts could come by and do some laps of the track.
But Mine (pronounced
me-
nay) has been designated as Mazda’s own vehicle testing facility and used to host Mazda’s CSR events on traffic safety and at times being used as the training ground for the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police. Not the sort of place you would randomly find a collection of ‘modern classics’ lying around sporting various body modifications.
Is Mazda Really Making a New Rotary Engine?
It is highly possible that the number of RX-7s running around could be nothing more than a mere coincidence, after all it would be strange for Mazda to be using cars that it has discontinued 13 years ago as a development mule. A car that is famed for having an engine that requires frequent rebuilds and a fuel consumption that rivals that of a Ferrari.
The question of Mazda reviving the rotary engine is nothing new, and in fact it has been one of the industry’s most persistent rumours.
Companies like BMW constantly test different engine types to see if they can make it meet their internal standards. What’s more, Mazda has said on numerous occasions that they have continued development of the rotary engine in one way or the other, but won’t consider bringing it into production until they can get it to return the sort of fuel efficiency figures similar to that of a conventional piston engine,
much less match those impressive figure achieved with their Skyactiv range of engines
.
Mazda has been burned by rotaries before, their bet in adopting rotary engines in the 1970s brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy when the 1973 oil crisis hit the United States, Mazda’s main export market. In the meantime the company’s bet on Skyactiv fuel-efficienct technologies has worked wonders for the company’s image and fortunes, especially in today’s demand for low-emissions and fuel-efficient cars in markets such as Japan and Europe.
And yet, Mazda hasn’t totally forgotten their rotary engine heritage. Even though Mazda updated their museum installations to reflect Mazda’s current Kodo design language and Skyactiv technologies, in my recent visit I was surprised to find that they haven’t touched their entire rotary engine exhibit. It is still there today, even with educational installations extolling the merits of rotary technology, which seems all the more quaint in today’s context.
A screaming petrol guzzling engine might not make a modicum of sense anymore, especially in the context of Mazda’s long-term vision of “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom”. But what if it isn’t one in the spirit of the original lightweight and simple RX-7?
So How Could Mazda Realise a Rotary Engine?
Say that Mazda really is going to build a new RX series, one that adheres to the company’s focus on fuel-efficiency, how would Mazda get around to doing it?
One of the weak points of a rotary engine in today’s context is its low torque output, which gives it poor fuel consumption figures, especially when tested in standardised test cycles. The solution then would be to compensate for the lack in torque, and what better way to do it then attaching it to a hybrid system.
Think about it, a hybrid system can compensate for the engine’s lack of torque by taking over drive completely at low to medium speeds, giving a zero-emissions torque boost or even drive. And when more power is demanded, the rotary engine can be summoned in to deliver the power when needed.
In the meantime a rotary engine is remarkably light weight and compact compared to a conventional engine, allowing Mazda’s engineers to achieve their goal of engineering their cars to be lightweight, even with a heavy hybrid system on board.
Introducing a hybrid system isn’t entirely excluded from Mazda’s plans for future products. After all Mazda does have a plan to boost the environmental performance of the cars by gradually adding electric drive technologies as they go along, with hybrids and electric vehicles are part of the plan as well.
Alluding to
our earlier post about the possible return of a rotary powertrain,
 the future does look possible for the rotary’s return, be it in a hybrid or plug-in hybrid form. Should it be a hybrid, the easiest hybrid powertrain to develop would be those with an electric motor mated to the transmission, which could be what was staring at my face at Mazda’s headquarters in Japan.
Imagine then a rotary-powered Mazda that takes after the
hybrid sports car spirit such as the new Honda NSX
, or
take inspiration from the i8 plug-in hybrid
. Interesting times are in store from Mazda indeed.


Malaysian RON95, RON97, And Diesel Prices Decreased For August 2015

The Domestic Trade Cooperatives and Cosumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) has just announced that petrol and diesel prices will be down for the month of August, 2015.
In July, the prices of fuel saw an increase of RM0.10 per litre for RON95 and RM0.20 per litre for RON97 (inclusive of GST 6%). Diesel however, remained unchanged. For August 2015, these are the new prices that consumers will be paying for fuel:
RON 95: RM2.05 per litre (RM0.10 decrease)
RON 97: RM2.45 per litre (RM0.10 decrease, inclusive of GST 6%)
Diesel: RM1.95 per litre (RM 0.10 decrease)
Euro 5 diesel, where available, is priced from RM2.15, maintaining its price from the previous month as well as the previous RM0.10 premium over the regular Euro 2M grade diesel sold more commonly.


Aston Martin's Vantage Roadster Is What Daydreams Are Made Of

Aston Martin has rolled out a slightly newer Vantage, one missing its usual fixed roof and replaced by a folding soft top.

The folks at Gaydon promise the open top Vantage is just as thrilling to drive, more so with the surround sound from its 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 filling your ears as it cuts through the countryside.

We might not have the rolling Scottish highlands, but we do have some breathtaking roads of our own here in Malaysia, ready to indulge any adventure.

Hug the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia from Kuantan through to Kota Bharu, then saunter across the Temenggor Dam and snake through the edges of the Royal Belum State Park before letting the best food in Penang cleanse the mind.

If the mood strikes, head up to Perlis and cross the border into Thailand via Wang Kelian, taking in the majestic limestone formations that sprout from the earth, a perfect echo chamber to explore the nuances of the Vantage’s 510hp heartbeat.

Before long, Krabi and its thick sea breeze beckons and you pull into a seaside inn, letting the Aston tick itself cool as daylight fades into the horizon.

One day……


BMW Group Malaysia teases BMW 330e with their #ElectricDrivingPleasure campaign

In the run up to the launch of the 330e (preliminary details
here
), BMW Group Malaysia is continuing their #ElectricDrivingPleasure campaign- highlighting the ways Malaysians can improve lives through innovative new ideas. Next in the series of films are the EcoKnights- a not-for-profit organization that has run numerous projects focused on sustainability and ecological consciousness.
This episode follows Yasmin Rasyid- founder of the group- and is shot by Paul Gan Yew Hoe. Followers of the BMW Shorties award may remember him for his 2013 film, 'The Boy Who Rocked The World'. As BMW Group Malaysia begins to introduce hybrids en masse, one can expect this to build to the same level as their EfficientDynamics campaigns that pushed BMW diesel powertrains just a few years ago.


Ford Ranger Black Edition Takes On The Darkest Place On Earth

In order to put the Ford Ranger Black Edition to the ultimate test, the brand decided to put the pick-up truck on the darkest and toughest place on Earth: the small town of Longyearbyen on the island of Svalbard, the Arctic circle’s northernmost settlement.
The people of this community know darkness better than any other people in the world as they spend over 100 days of the year living in constant darkness.
So, in an effort to explore how tough darkness can really be, some of the town’s folks were handed with the Ranger Black Edition - an exclusive new version of the Ranger which comes in Shadow Black and 17-inch Panther black alloy wheels on the outside, and premium black full-leather seat trims inside the cabin – for the 100 days of total darkness.
“This isn’t the Wild West – this is the wild, raw north. It might be dark 24 hours a day but we all still have to do our jobs and life still goes on, like normal,” says Ranger Black test driver Ben, whose vehicle effortlessly tackled icy tracks to supply hotels and restaurants with the fresh produce he manages to cultivate in temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius. “At first, people thought I was crazy,” he says,” but if I can do it here I can do it anywhere.”
Airport worker Silje, who was born on the island, also knows how hard it can be to thrive in Longyearbyen.
“Most people come to Svalbard for an adventure and stay for one or two years. Not everyone can handle it. It’s dangerous, but I love to go out and there’s no one else there. It’s just the wild – I feel alive.”
With no running water in her isolated home, she relied on the Ranger to transport filled tanks from the town supply.
Fellow tester Martin is a carpenter who lives outside the town of Longyearbyen in an isolated cabin with his team of twelve huskies.
“To get to the store, I have to drive 15 km but if there’s a blizzard outside a normal 10-minute drive could take an hour and a half,” says Martin whose home is warmed by paraffin heaters so he took our Ranger to load up with barrels of fuel. “Most people would describe the way I live as a tough life, but for me it’s a perfect life.”
Life at 78 degrees north may not be easy, but as the Northern Lights glow and the huskies howl, Ranger Black Edition has lightened the load on the darkest hours for the hardworking residents of Svalbard.
After all, as Martin says, “Only another 100 days or so until the sun rises again.”


A Desert Offroad 911? You Best Believe It!

The fact that the Gemballa Marsien is a 750bhp
Porsche 911
 optimised for the desert offroad doesn’t make it the coolest ‘tuner’ 911 out there.

Far from it, that’s down to the brilliant minds and companies that came together to create it and the level of engineering that makes it just about the coolest thing on four wheels in the world today.

The Marsien, is the brainchild of Marc Phillip Gemballa, the son of the late, great Uwe Gemballa, known throughout the tuning world for his extensive, high-dollar work of upgrading sportscars to be something very different than the machines they’re based on. His creations were often better looking, way more powerful, and so extensively reworked that referring to what the company did as 'tuning' is a gross understatement.

Now, the prodigal son, in the same vein, has (started his own namesake company Marc Phillip Gemballa GmbH) and produced not just one of the coolest cars out there, he has taken a modern Porsche 911 somewhere it has never been before.

The Marsien is based on the current
(992) Porsche 911 Turbo S
. From there, (one time Gemballa rival)
RUF Automobile
 reworks the turbocharged 3.7-litre flat-six engine to produce 750bhp and 930Nm of torque. A premium of 100hp and 130Nm over the factory figures. A more powerful 830hp with enhanced VTG turbochargers and a revised ECU mapping and transmission settings is also said to be on offer by RUF.

The Marsien utilises the 911 Turbo’s 8-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox which is sent to all four wheels through a modified all-wheel-drive system with Porsche Traction Management (PTM).

Performance figures are a claimed 2.6 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint up to a top speed of 335km/h (with on road tyres) – almost identical to those of the standard ‘road going’ 911 Turbo S, we can’t imagine how fast this thing is on the dirt, either way, it’s bound to be crazy.

Given the Marsien is optimised for offroad, the suspension is comprehensively upgraded by (suspension specialist) KW Automotive and features a newly developed double-wishbone front suspension setup equipped with KW solid piston damper technology featuring an intelligent active damper control as well as an adjustable ride height system for on and offroad use.

At the touch of a button, the adjustable ride height system enables an electronically controlled hydraulic lift increasing the ride height from Turbo S on road level up to an overall ground clearance of 250mm, enabling the ultimate on and offroad driving experience.

The Marsien comes with two specially designed forged aluminium wheel sets with centre locking system, running on Michelin Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyres for on-road and All-Terrain tyres for offroad use.

For the sound of the vehicle, Marc Phillip Gemballa’s company teamed up with leading performance exhaust manufacturer Akrapovič to develop an entirely new titanium exhaust system – focusing on a bespoke sound experience, lighter weight and further increasing the power output of the engine.

Another unique factor of the Marsien is its design concept, which combines an utterly modern design with retrospective proportions of the Porsche iconic 959 model, which Porsche famously participated in the Paris-Dakar Rally with.

The body was penned by designer and Porsche aficionado Alan Derosier, known for his stunning Porsche 908 design study. The Marsien features a full carbon fiber body. All exterior components are produced in pure carbon fiber, exclusively designed for performance, lightweight, and cooling, and are manufactured by a leading German carbon  fiber  specialist, that also supplies renowned OEM sportscar manufacturers as well as several F1 teams.

The rear of the Marsien features functional design upgrades such as a completely bespoke taillight. Featuring the latest LED technology, the rear light has been developed together with light specialist GERG Lighthouse, enabling a completely holistic design change from that of the base 911 Turbo.

On the inside, the Marsien comes with a choice of full leather or Alcantara interior handcrafted with the highest quality of materials, equipped with a bespoke Carrera GT-inspired carbon fibre middle console, as well as GT style door lashes, carbon fibre side sills, and further carbon fibre accents throughout the interior.

Marc Phillip Gemballa plans to build just 40 units of the Marsien, guaranteeing its rarity and pricetag – which is claimed to costs GBP495,000 for the conversion, not inclusive of the costs of purchasing the base Porsche 911 Turbo S, which costs upwards of GBP160,610 in the UK.


5 Best Hot Hatchbacks Under RM80k In Malaysia

Since the first arrival of the hot hatch, no other type of car perfectly blends everyday practicality and performance, but the good news is that there’s lots to choose from.

While Malaysia might not have the market abundance of, say, the UK, there are still a selection of hot hatchbacks that tick all the right boxes, and a majority of them can be found on the used market for a fraction of their price when brand new.

The formula of adding more power and precision handling to an otherwise uninspiring 5-door family car has been refined over the past decades to make most contenders in the hot hatch space a pretty well-rounded machine.

If you’re willing to look in the right places and take your time during your search, you’re bound to stumble onto a gem. But to help you along, here’s some of our best picks from the pre-owned pool in Carlist.my that are under 10 years old and around RM80,000.

Volkswagen Golf GTI (MK6)

The OG hot hatch will always be a tough one to unseat and the MK6 VW Golf GTI is a refinement of that lineage that improves upon
the leapfrogging MK5
 in almost every way.

Its stout 2.0-litre TSI engine packs a strong punch with 210PS and is very open to further tuning, which can also be said of its more durable dual-clutch transmission (DSG) that moves past the reliability issues (mostly) that plagued other Golf variants. Paired with an understatedly classy exterior and cabin, the Golf GTI the obvious choice for some very good reasons.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Class-less, elegant, sporty looks

Look out for modded units

German build quality

‘Tartan’ fabric seats aren’t for everyone

Exciting yet everyday driveable character

Stay alert for DSG issues

Peugeot 208 GTI

For nearly 30 years the French brand has been trying to recreate the magic that was the 205 GTi from the 1980s, arguably their most iconic model. In
the 208 GTi
, after many tries, they’ve come the closest yet.

Its 200PS 1.6-litre turbo mill was as playful as its pointy nose.Handling is taut and power is delivered to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, an analogue antidote to most of its peers even today. Compact, lightweight, stylish, and always ready for a burst of fun, this was a return to form for Peugeot.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Sexy French appeal

3-door format isn’t very practical

6-speed manual gearbox

Touchscreen interface is frustrating

Engaging dynamics

Volkswagen Polo GTI (MK5)

Often overlooked,
the Polo GTI is probably just as capable
 as the Golf GTI of any era (in this case being the MK6 mentioned above.

Less powerful, sure, but also tighter to drive and encumbered by less mass. The twin-charged (supercharger and turbocharger combo) 1.4-litre TSI was uprated to 180PS and rightfully felt a little overpowered, but as it aged can be prone to mechanical fragility, but is a technological marvel.

The DSG, similarly, can be a handful if not maintained properly. That said, you’re more likely to find a Polo GTI that’s been treated more gently than a Golf GTI, so pay attention to verifying the car’s service history and the prior owner’s preventative maintenance practices to bag a bargain.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Tighter, lighter Golf GTI

Possible DSG issues

Shockingly rapid point-to-point

Boot could be bigger

Twincharged engine = uninterrupted power

Engine more prone to wear and tear

Renault Clio RS 200 EDC

In Peugeot’s hot hatch floundering until the 208 (and VW’s until the MK5 GTI), Renault Sport has gone from strength to strength. However, purists view the EDC - short for Efficient Dual Clutch - as the black sheep in the family.

Unlike its predecessors, the 200 EDC (so named for its 200PS 1.6-litre turbo engine) swapped a manual gearbox for an automatic gearbox and a high-revving naturally aspirated engine for a downsized forced induction unit. Arguments aside, the car drove beautifully and was wicked fun on a twisty road.

Sold for a too-brief window in Malaysia by TC Euro Cars, a majority of Clio RS examples found homes in enthusiasts and genuinely careful owners, which might make tracking a good one down a little less tedious.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Makes you drive like a hooligan (positively)

Plasticky cabin materials

Strong engine

EDC gearbox not as involving as MT

Left-field appeal

Ford Focus ST (C346)

Back in 2012, the Focus ST’s local arrival was a shocker. Looked killer, 250PS from a 2.0-litre turbo, a 6-speed manual, and standard Recaro bucket seats were an irresistible combo.

Sime Darby Auto Connexion didn’t have an ample allocation headed our way, meaning the few that got their hands on one were extra lucky. As a result, they’ve become hard to find as owners first, second, or third tend to resist the urge to sell.

And why would they? Generally speaking, the car has been surprisingly void of noteworthy faults or reported issues despite it toeing the line at 10 years old, and there’s literally nothing quite like it on the road since. If you find one, especially if it’s in good condition, we say snatch it up!

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Powerful engine

Thirsty when pushed hard

Aggressive looks

Garish cabin trim

Sharp handling

Conclusion

If you adhere to the rule of taking your sweet time in looking for a used car and inspecting every one to a thorough inspection before moving forward with a purchase, your future ownership of a ‘dream’ hot hatch should be relatively scare-free assuming you’ve managed expectations.

To help you decide, here is a brief condensation of how the cars we’ve mentioned above stack up:

Car Model

Year Range

Price (New)

Price (2022)

0-100km/h

Worth a Mention

VW Golf GTI

2012-2014

~RM215k

RM65 - RM80k

6.5s

The OG hot hatch

Peugeot 208 GTI

2013-2015

~RM140k

RM55 - RM65k

6.8s

French flair

VW Polo GTI

2012-2013

~RM135k

RM48 - RM55k

7.0s

Mini Golf GTI

Renault Clio RS EDC

2014-2015

~RM173k

RM68 - RM78k

6.7s

Pocket rocket

Ford Focus ST

2012-2013

~RM210k

RM75 - RM80k

6.5s

Buy one if you find one

Used Car Warranty with Warranty Smart

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

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

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

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

In this article, I showed you how to find hot hatchbacks 10 years old & below under RM80,000.

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

Go to
Carlist.my.

Click on the ‘Advanced Search’ below the search box.

Select Your Filters

Happy car shopping!


MARii And UCTS Join Hands To Enhance And Increase Automotive Talent In Sarawak

Following the opening of its
first Satellite centre in Kota Kinabalu
, Sabah, the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) and the University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) towards collaboration in research and development in energy efficiency, and bridging human capital development between Peninsula Malaysia and Sarawak.
The agreement solidifies both parties’ commitment to collaborate in the following areas in the future:
To conduct research and development in areas focusing on automotive and overall mobility applications for Sarawak
To increase and enhance the automotive talent and expert pool within the state of Sarawak through cross-exchange of Post graduates
Increasing the critical mass of undergraduates and graduates in Sarawak, equipped with automotive-ready knowledge and skills through programmes conducted by MARii
MARii and UCTS will also collaborate in research and development (R&D) programmes focusing on the development of applications of robotics and IoT within the automotive and overall mobility sectors.
These programmes are expected to generate spin-off technology that can be applied to other sectors within the Sarawak state, such as smart plantations, tourism analytics, forest monitoring, and swamp assessment.
“This MoA is a significant milestone in optimising the utilisation of expertise and facilities of all stakeholders within the Malaysian automotive fraternity. The inclusion of UCTS in MARii’s extensive network creates an important strategic connection in bridging  automotive technology and human capital development throughout the national economic landscape”, explained Dato’ Madani Sahari, MARii’s Chief Executive Officer.
Through the MARii-UCTS MoA, the two parties will work together to establish research projects with industry players through post graduate scholarship programmes under the UCTS Center of Excellence.
“The Joint scholarship will not only provide students with opportunity to pursue their studies at a higher level but also expose them to the real world, create networking and provide value added to their qualification and indirectly will contribute to graduate employability and relevance to the industry” , said Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abd Hamid, UCTS’s Vice Chancellor.
At the same time, UCTS undergraduates will be part of MARii’s Industry Led Graduate Apprenticeship Programme, a capacity building programme designed to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and personal characters of undergraduates to be industry-ready upon graduation.
The students will also enroll in the UCTS Corporate Talent Development Scheme (CTD) in collaboration with MARii.
The programmes above are expected to prepare the postgraduates for Industry 4.0 readiness, which is expected to demand new competencies in careers such as data scientists, full stack engineers, drive test engineers, user experience designers, and content creators.


So Yeah, Nissan Cars Are Pretty Now - Deal With It

Out of all the Japanese automakers,
Nissan
 seems to have come into stride with regard to the visual presentation of their cars - both inside and out. It’s a small miracle to consider just how consistently pretty and upmarket their cars look (and usually feel) in contrast to where they were just a few years ago.

This won’t, however, be a commentary of where Nissan’s cars in terms of their engineering, mechanical and technological standing are relative to the rest of the industry, though one could make the argument that they are making significant headway in a number of those areas as well.

Say what you will about how the company’s 2020 financials and their turbulent break-up with former CEO and chairman Carlos Ghosn, but Nissan’s design chops have been consistently on the rise in spite of these distractions, and the recent
preview of the Malaysia-spec Almera
 has us excited for the design of a new Nissan for the first time in a long while.

V-Motion

Pinpointing a specific time when this transition started to take root is a little difficult, though I suspect it ties closely with the 2012 appointment of Alfonso Albaisa to the post of head of global design at Nissan, with the first car to emerge in earnest with a fresh and forward-looking aesthetic being the 8th-generation Maxima of 2015.

It wore a face now widely known as the V-Motion grille and an athletic body that combined subtle curves with angular accents as well as a low-slung roofline. The D-segmenter - and Nissan’s largest four-door - sedan formed the template that has undeniably trickled down to their smallest saloon car, the Almera; also known elsewhere as the Versa, giving it a visual appeal that’s a cut above its rivals.

Considering where the Almera was in its prior generation, the contrast between these two cars is striking. The previous version was a real ugly duckling which did not seem to care how ‘challenging’ it was to look at, relying instead on its ample boot space and competitive price to appeal to customers, making it a very effective choice for ride-hailing.

Nissan’s design transition (from having buyers largely having to ignore or merely tolerate their cars’ mediocre designs to actually looking forward to seeing them) have been largely unsung in the company’s marketing despite being as impactful and obvious as similar design-led revolutions from Mazda and Peugeot in recent years.

However, the company’s silence on the matter does have its advantages, as by not making a big fuss of it does also mean not having to admit that its previous designs were lacking.

Consistency Is Key

Unlike Hyundai, which seems to have a separate design language for its SUVs (Kona, Santa Fe), sedans (Elantra, Sonata) and hatchbacks (i30), Nissan’s has uniformity across their various types of vehicles. Since the newest Maxima, the company has worked hard to proliferate this brand identity across all their cars, which we’ve listed below:

SUV/Crossovers

Apart from its uniformity, the most positive thing about Nissan's design language is how versatile it is, able to translate well across a multitude of different cars, new and old. Impressively, it was able to endow many Nissan SUVs (even smaller ones
like the Kicks
) with a strong presence on the road while remaining pleasing when viewed up close. Even during a midlife refresh, the treatment made the second-generation Qashqai a markedly better car to look at. And it even
transformed the Juke
 from oddity to beauty.

Sedans

Following the progression down, we see how the V-Motion front end and overall design trickled from the Maxima to the Versa/Almera, successfully elevating each of the segment contenders to the level of frontrunners in terms of visual appeal, which is no easy feat given how competent their rivals are. In Malaysia, however, both the
Teana (Altima)
 and Sentra are no longer offered, but the newest Almera makes a solid case for a comeback.

Hatchbacks

This is one area where the V-Motion grille and overall design language again comes across quite well, but it, unfortunately, isn't an area of intense focus for the brand, and Nissan prefers to leave the hatchbacks in general to their sister company Renault. In certain markets such as the UK, we have the Micra (or March), which is a 5-door B-segment equivalent of the Clio and competes against the Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris. In Malaysia, though, we're glad to have the option of the
2nd-generation Leaf EV
, which is now more advanced and boasts a far better exterior design than its predecessor.

The Remainder

Of course, there are some laggards in the line-up that haven’t undergone this visual upgrade treatment such as the X-Trail (
coming soon
), Navara, Frontier, and Armada, all of which now look decidedly dated  (but not bad, necessarily) as a result.

Other ones left behind include the company's long-standing sports car models, which by nature sell in lower volumes than their more mainstream stablemates. That said, both the R35 GT-R and 370Z is about a decade old at this point (or older) with replacements due to be announced in the near future, which means that we could look forward to see some rather pretty (and pretty fast) new two-door cars from the Japanese marque.


Proton: Top Tether Omission Miscommunicated To ASEAN NCAP

Following last week’s announcement by ASEAN NCAP that a Malaysian made car is under investigation for a
safety violation
, specifically regarding the discrepancy in the fitment of a top tether between the models sold to consumer and the model tested by ASEAN NCAP, Proton has now admitted that the omission had been miscommunicated to ASEAN NCAP.
“Upon consultation with ASEAN NCAP on 16 October 2015, Proton Holdings Berhad regret for the miscommunication with ASEAN NCAP on the "top tether" matter that was mistakenly omitted from the current running Saga model that was crash tested in 2013.
“The Company would like to reiterate that we are committed in enhancing safety and all our models are equipped with active and passive safety features.”
Proton added that the top tether is not required by (Malaysian) regulations and that the Proton Saga complies with all existing regulations in the country.
“Although we had complied with safety regulations and other required conditions in the country, we had overlooked in updating ASEAN NCAP on the omission of the top tether from the current Saga models,” said Proton.
As a countermeasure, Proton said, “At this juncture PROTON is offering its customers a free installation of the top tether as an option for current Proton Saga owners. Customers are advised to call our Customer Care Hotline 1 800 888398 or email customercare@proton.com for any enquiries and assistance to schedule such an appointment at their nearest service outlet.”
The company however, did not specificy if Saga models manufactured from which year onwards are eligible for the free fitment. Presumably, this offer applies only to Saga models made after 2013, when the revised Saga was tested by ASEAN NCAP.


Frankfurt 2017: Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell - Fuel Cell PHEV SUV Nearing Production

While the S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet will most likely be the stars of the Mercedes-Benz booth at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the brand has announced its intentions to reveal yet another important and interesting model – a pre-production version of the GLC F-Cell Fuel Cell PHEV SUV.
Powered by a combination of hydrogen fuel cell stack and a lithium-ion battery technology, the emission-free plug-in hybrid vehicle is capable of holding up to 4kg of Hydrogen, and can be refilled in just 3 minutes. Unlike other hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the GLC F-Cell can also be charged from domestic or fast charger sockets.
Having gone through over 500 individual tests including crash tests, aerodynamics analyse, and chassis tests at Mercedes-Benz’s Fuel Cell Centre of Competence in Stuttgart, Germany since 2015, the GLC F-Cell was then sent to the brand’s new Technology Centre in Sindelfingen, Germany where it received its aerodynamic finishing touches in the wind tunnels that can replicate the most extreme of weather conditions.
With technical details such as the powertrain’s range still under wraps, the GLC F-Cell, which is expected to enter production later this year, will be available to private customers on a standard sale basis unlike the earlier B-Clas F-Cell which was only available as a private in-house fleet.
After a total of more than 18 million kilometres of testing vehicles with fuel cell, Mercedes-Benz says that the aforementioned powertrain system has proven its market maturity, and is all set to hit the roads around the world.


That One Time BMW Got Sued For Making Too Many Cars

You can get sued for a variety of things in the United States including, as BMW found out first hand, making more cars than you initially promised. This happened in 1991 when a group of E28 M5 owners filed a class action lawsuit against the Bavarian car maker for making and selling more units of the said car than initially stated.

According to
bmwmregistry.com
, BMW North America had stated in the original U.S. market sales brochure that production of the M5 was to be limited to just 500 cars – it was not elaborated upon whether this number referred to the global total or just allocation for the North American market.

Either way, BMW eventually produced 2,191 units of the original M5, with 1,239 units finding their way to the United States.

Upset that the increased numbers would erode the future values of their limited edition vehicles, early owners of the 1988 M5 in the US filed an antitrust class action lawsuit (case number 91 CH 04192) against BMW.

BMW settled the lawsuit in 1993 by issuing discount vouchers worth US$4,000 to the affected owners. These vouchers could be used for the purchase or lease of a new BMW and can be transferred – meaning owners can cash in by selling them to another buyer.

Only seven percent of the buyers ended up utilizing the said vouchers. The remaining vouchers were bought by the Chicago Clearing Corporation (CCC) who then sold them on to potential BMW customers. In its official website, the CCC claims that it was able to induce a 60% redemption rate of all vouchers issued by BMW from this lawsuit.

Despite producing more numbers than initially planned, the E28 M5 remains one of BMW M’s rarest production cars ever. Unlike its more recent successors, E28 M5s, as well as the E34 that followed, were hand-assembled. The E39 was the first M5 built on a regular production line alongside regular variants of the 5 Series.

The E28 M5 debuted globally in 1984 and was notable for being the world’s fastest production sedan at the time. Most versions were powered by BMW’s 3.5-litre M88/3 inline-6 engine from the M1.

Paired to a 5-speed manual transmission from Getrag, its outputs of 286 hp propelled the M5 from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 245 km/h. North American versions of the M5, in order to comply with stricter emission regulations, had catalytic converters installed that blunted their performance slightly to just 260 hp.


BMW X3M and X4M World Debut – M Performance Versions With 510 hp

BMW’s M division has further expanded its high-performance model line-up with the introduction of the X3 M and X4 M SUVs. This is the first time both SUVs receive the full-fledged M Division tuning and name, as well as more powerful M Competition variants.
The newly developed 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine is the most powerful BMW six-cylinder ever, producing 480 hp with peak torque 600 Nm. The X3 and X4 M Competition variants develop 30 hp more, at 510 hp.
The engine is coupled with an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission which distributes power to all four wheels through an M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which made its debut it the
(F90) M5
.
Like the M5, the BMW X3 M and X4 M system will have a rear-wheel bias and offers two AWD driving modes. The centrally controlled interaction between M xDrive and the Active M Differential at the rear axle allows the all-wheel-drive system to split the engine’s power between the four wheels as required.
The X3 M and X4 M accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, the M Competition variants do it 0.1 seconds quicker.
To marshal all that power the X3 M and X4 M specially tuned Adaptive M suspension with three selectable settings, M-specific steering (including M Servotronic and variable ratio), M compound brakes, and standard 20-inch alloys wheels.
The DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system allows controlled wheel slip in M Dynamic Mode which can also be switched off.
Visually, the X3 M and X4 M receive redesigned front and rear bumpers optimised for better cooling (at the front) and overall aerodynamics. The M Competition package adds an additional body bracing package, a ‘track-ready’ cooling system, 21-inch wheels, and gloss black exterior design elements. An optional carbon trim package is available too. Two exclusive M colours are offered: Toronto Red Metallic and Donington Grey Metallic.
Inside, electrically adjustable sports seats, Vernasca leather upholstery, M-specific cockpit, M leather steering wheel, and M gearshift selector lever help create a sporty ambiance.
The M Competition models receive M Sport seats trimmed in Merino leather and model-specific door sill plates. Optionally, the M Competition models are also offered with special bi-colour leather upholstery variants with Alcantara applications.


The New Mitsubishi Triton Against Its Rivals

The Triton is the latest model to join the crowded and competitive field of talented modern pick-up trucks. Four other major players include the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, and Isuzu D-Max - all boasting lifestyle-centric aspirations, macho styling, and crucially impressive levels of comfort and day-to-day usability.
For this discussion, we will be comparing the range-topping models from each brand. The
Triton
 and
Ranger
 are the newest from the current crop, but the Hilux, Navara, and D-Max have all received some updates throughout their production lifespan, some more substantial than others. We discount the
Ranger Raptor
, which is a super-truck of sorts that is priced way above trucks in this class.
In terms of pricing, the Triton slots right in the centre of the group. riced from RM135,200, it offers great value in terms of its suite of active safety features and
sophisticated AWD system
.
In terms of power, the Ranger’s 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine is in a league of its own – with 213 PS of power, it produces nearly 23 PS more than the next most powerful vehicle, the Navara (at 190 PS) and nearly and 32 PS more than the Triton, in third place (with 181 PS).

Powertrain
It’s much the same with torque: the Ranger eclipses its rivals with 500 Nm, 50 Nm more than the Navara and Hilux – both produce 450 Nm – followed by the Triton with 430 Nm. That said, peak torque is produced earliest in the Hilux, at 1,600 rpm, which is a boon when going off-road and if immediate power is needed to overcome an obstacle. Also, note that the D-Max sustains its peak torque the longest – between 1,800 rpm and 2,800 rpm – a crucial aspect especially when climbing steep hills or muddy sections.
However, while the Ranger might be the most powerful, it’s also the heaviest – with a kerb weight of 2,156 kg, it’s nearly a quarter of a tonne heavier than the Triton. The Hilux comes in a close second with a kerb weight of 2,100 kg. So in terms of the power to weight ratio, the Ranger (at 98.8 PS/Ton) comes in second to the
Nissan Navara
, which delivers 101.1 PS/Ton, followed by the Triton at 93.8 PS/Ton.
What the Ranger has going for it, which no other truck in the group offers is a slick-shifting 10-speed automatic. The 10-speed automatic grants the
Ranger impressive highway cruising
 ability and ensures the engine is always in its optimum power band. The Navara does with a 7-speed automatic, while the Triton and Hilux make do with a 6-speed automatic, the D-Max uses a proven 5-speed automatic.
Driving Experience
In practice, the Ranger, Triton, and Navara are well-heeled for day-to-day use on the highway and within the city, and also for transporting goods. The Ranger excels with light and quick (electric) steering, a powerful engine, and an SUV-like suspension setup. That is not to say the Triton is a slouch; its equally agile and surefooted on and off the road, and comfort levels are as good as the Ranger, if not better, and it’s also got the best turning radius of the bunch, at 5.9 meters – making it very adept on tight, city roads.
The Navara is the only truck here that utilises a multi-link rear suspension setup instead of the traditional leaf-spring common to pickups, it grants the Navara a nice supple ride, but proves a tad too soft when laden at the back. The Hilux too is impressive on the roads but loses out only just because it still retains some measure of stiffness which makes it very capable off-road. It is much the same with the D-Max: while no one would gripe about its on-road performance (perhaps the game has also moved on a bit with the Ranger and Triton), it truly shines when taken off-road. The D-Max’s long-standing record with numerous
Borneo Safari Expeditions
 is a testament of this.
Moving on to the drivetrain systems is where we see intrinsic innovation on Mitsubishi’s part. While all the other vehicles have 4WD modes and pre-requisite low-range gear reductions for going off-road, the Triton’s Super Select 4WD II however, is able to operate almost like a premium full-time 4WD SUV, capable of driving in four-wheel drive 4H mode even on normal roads - the only pick-up truck on the market with such capability.
A centre differential compensates for differences in the individual tyres rotational speeds at the front and rear axles, thus allowing us to maximize the usage of the 4WD system. Shifting between 2H to 4H can be performed at speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Safety
On the safety front, both the Triton and Ranger enlist a suite of active safety functions that rest of the pickup group don’t offer. The range-topping Triton Adventure X comes with Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Ultrasonic Mis-acceleration Mitigation System (UMS), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA), and Auto High Beam (AHB). The Ranger does without a blind spot warning system but has a more advanced Lane Keep Assist system that offers both warning and steering correction. The other Hilux and Navara make do with just hill-start assist and hill-descent control as an additional driver assistance feature, the D-Max with just hill-start assist.
Interior
Moving inside, having recently tested the Ranger Wildtrak, we found that refinement levels have improved substantially. There’s little trace of wind and road noise and the characteristic chatter from the diesel engine up front; while initial tests of the Triton also suggest that NVH levels have much improved over the predecessor, we’d have to reserve final judgement for when the car is driven on more familiar roads.
The
Hilux also boasts far improved NVH levels
 in the 2.8 L-Edition variant over its predecessor, very close to that of its Fortuner SUV sibling, having tested both of them back-to-back. This is another example of where the newer platforms (which share development with ladder-frame SUV models) have pushed the envelope for pickup trucks. The Navara and D-Max still lack execution in this department.
Infotainment and connectivity have also vastly improved over the years. Perhaps most impressive is the Ranger’s Sync 3 system which features an 8-inch touchscreen display, voice command, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The Triton’s infotainment lacks in comparison; resolution is low compared to the Ranger’s Sync 3 but at least it supports Android Auto and Apple Car Play. All the others here – with the exception of the Hilux, which additionally offers DVD playability – feature a touchscreen system with Bluetooth connectivity.
Conclusion
Over the past decade or so – driven by market forces of course – we have seen a substantial shift in terms of engineering, safety, and connectivity in pickups. Yes, while the overarching principle of a truck remains a do-it-all workhorse, there’s a fundamental skew towards lifestyle aspirations and they’re all the better for it. It’s also the best way – in my opinion – to rank the current group of trucks.
So if we laid them out on a spectrum, with ‘utility’ as a criterion at one end and ‘lifestyle’ at the other end, the D-Max would be the most utilitarian of the lot. Yes, in its Z-Prestige guise, it’s gained some stylistic and connectivity additions, but there’s no denying the drivetrain and platform is aging. Its traction levels and efficient engine make it a superstar off-road and a great goods hauler, but in terms of comfort levels and refinement it loses out to the rest.
The Hilux practically started the pickup truck segment and holds true to its heritage of rugged dependability, superb build quality, and awesome traction levels (thanks to its A-TRC system). The 2.8 L-Edition variant adds Hill-Descent Control and a reverse camera but overall, the Hilux still has an affinity for the rough and tough before anything else. And truth be told, I don't think we would have it any other way.
The Navara comes next, with a revolutionary rear suspension setup and a tried and tested powertrain – the Navara offers a comfortable ride, superb value for money, a comfortable cabin space, and day-to-day drivability. It’s also the only one here that offers a 360-degree camera which really helps when driving in crowded city centres. It is edged out by the Triton and Ranger in the lifestyle department due to its lack of connectivity and safety features.
The Triton, in my opinion, is the new best value proposition: between its snazzy styling, driver assistance and safety features, punchy engine, and sophisticated AWD drivetrain, it definitely has what it takes to offer both utility and practicality in spades. Also, note that it has the most comfortable rear seating and NVH levels are very impressive. There’s still some improvement needed in terms of connectivity.
Which leaves us with the Ranger, across its range of abilities: solid refinement levels, superb on-road handling performance, the full suite of driver assistance and safety features, and comprehensive infotainment functions, it’s still the most complete pickup if most of your usage requires putting thousands of miles on highways and crowded urbanscapes. It’s the most expensive too, but for the most part, justifies its price with its breadth of capabilities.


Review: Isuzu D-Max 1.9L Ddi BluePower Driven In Thailand – More Than Just A New Engine

There must have been a time when automotive innovation must have felt truly groundbreaking.

When carmakers had a less restrained hand in developing futuristic concepts; when great ideas are met with equally great minds to truly deliver uniquely crafted innovations that changed the automotive landscape for years to come.

Some examples of game-changing innovations are Chrysler’s Hydraguide “powered” steering system (1951), Volkswagen's dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) from 2003, and more recently Mazda’s Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) SkyActiv-X engine.

The flipside of this is when carmakers are pinched and prodded into similar technological frameworks by strangulating regulations, tax structures, and the need to sell a million of each and every model – this Russian Doll effect is especially true with larger manufacturers like Toyota and Volkswagen.

So instead, we see different approaches of similar ideas – the Geneva International Motor Show 2019 is an exhibitor of this – with the majority of major manufacturers brandishing varied versions of the same concept: electric, connected, and autonomous.

Impressive yes, but mavericks in their own right, not really, and lesser even to buck the trend to be truly remarkable.

This is possibly even less apparent in the pickup truck segment – which is typically, driven more by purely economic engineering parameters such as cost of ownership, service life, maintenance, and durability rather than the newest technology and equipment.

This is why the new Isuzu D-Max 1.9L Ddi BluePower is that much more remarkable. Given that, while it’s a truck – and essentially is not much different than the D-Max we have come to know over the last few years – everything under the hood screams top-notch engineering and mould-breaking innovation.

We recently had a chance to experience the Isuzu D-Max 1.9L Ddi on the roads of Thailand, and this is what we found out.

Overview

It’s hard to believe that the current second-generation D-Max has been with us for nearly 7-years, but that not odd at all considering pick-up trucks normally have a longer model lifespan of anywhere between 8-10 years depending on manufacturer and markets.

This is the third and most extensive facelift of the (RT50) D-Max which was first introduced in 2013, and after the first facelift in 2016 (RT85), and another minor update in 2018. Additionally, there’s been no shortage of limited edition models to maintain public interest and relevance such as the Isuzu Diablo, Arctic, and Beast versions – which are mostly limited to aesthetic enhancements with minor equipment updates.

Isuzu Malaysia has introduced an extensive range of 11 variants to cater to a larger audience of buyers, plus two entirely new variants, the 1.9-litre 4x2 MT Lo-Ride (cheapest double-cab variant); prices range from RM85,000 to RM115,799 for the 1.9L VGS 4x4 (6-MT) Hi-Ride Type-P as tested here.

The new 1.9-litre Ddi Bluepower engine, dubbed RZ4E replaces the older 2.5-litre VGT (4JK1) turbodiesel and promises even better fuel economy (a longstanding trademark of Isuzu engines), bulletproof reliability, lighter weight, and lower emissions. The larger (4JJ1) 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel will continue to serve as the most powerful engine of the D-Max pickup range.

In terms of aesthetics, depending on variant, the new D-Max sports a redesigned front grille, new LED headlamp with Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and new fog lamp garnish design. Along the flanks, there are new 18-inch alloy wheels and sticker decals that run along the lower edge of the doors.

Round the back, the major highlight is the new (optional) tailgate assist function, which dramatically reduces the effort required to open/close the tailgate, and sliding base for the loading bed.

On the inside, the new D-Max receives newly designed leather seats and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is hooked up to an 8-speaker audio system. There is an additional USB charging port for added convenience of rear seat passengers.

The new D-Max also features for the first time, Hill Descent Control (HDC) that makes for safer descending of slippery slopes. New too is the Vehicle Launch Assist (in the 1.9L Ddi) which increases initial torque on gradients of 25 percent or more. This enables the D-Max 1.9L Ddi to be quicker off the line without bogging down due to the effects of turbo-lag when accelerating from idle.

Exterior

While it has to be said, that looks has not always been the strongest selling point of the Isuzu D-Max, the new updates have done well to give this well-known pickup a dose of excitement.

The new front grille now blends in more seamlessly with the headlight assembly, and the LED DRLs graphics look bang up-to-date. Along the flanks, the 18-inch alloy wheels give the D-Max a slightly more premium look – unlike most other manufacturers, which are trying to look more aggressive – I must say, it is a breath of fresh air.

Add to that, a new colour option – Sapphire Blue – and some decals lower down in the bodywork, and it’s easy to tell the 1.9L Ddi from earlier versions of the D-Max.

The biggest highlight is the new optional Tailgate Assist, which uses a system of struts and torsion members to reduce up to 95 percent of the normal effort (and it’s quite an effort) to lower/lift the rear tailgate.

Interior

On the inside, the new D-Max receives newly designed leather seats and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is hooked up to an 8-speaker audio system. As before there is little complain about the cabin space and comfort levels of the Isuzu D-Max.

There’s an additional USB charging port for added convenience of rear seat passengers. Auto Start/Stop and auto-folding side mirrors are other notable highlights of the new model.

Driving Experience

Much of the engine’s performance enhancement comes from its breakthrough designs including a new combustion chamber design, a new high-efficiency VGS turbocharger, low-friction engine components and more precise fuel injection from its high-pressure commonrail system.

Through these innovations, the RZ4E engine delivers a 10 percent increase in power, delivering 110kW (150PS) at 3,600rpm and a 9 percent increase in torque, producing 350Nm (35.7kg/m) between 1,800rpm and 2,600rpm compared to the 2.5-litre engine it replaces.

The RZ4E gains a massive 37 percent reduction in mechanical losses by reducing internal friction. Coupled with an intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system and an eco-oil filter, the engine has been able to improve fuel efficiency by approximately 19 percent as (tested in Thailand) and lower carbon emissions. The reduction of internal friction also means that parts will last longer. Alongside this, the commonrail injection system has also been improved for more efficient combustion.

In the real world, these improvements make themselves known in the quiet and smooth character of the RZ4E, the engine ticks away with little intrusion of diesel clatter and engine vibration inside the cabin. The immediate torque response makes accelerating in traffic and climbing up hills a fuss-free affair.

Isuzu has also managed to overcome the natural low-rev torque deficiency of the smaller engine with Vehicle Launch Assist function which employs some clever engine mapping to boost torque so that the D-Max doesn’t bog down when faced with a challenging stop-go situation.

Once at speed, the engine settles into a pleasant stride, again the improved NVH levels make themselves known, while the meaty mid-range torque offers up good performance for overtaking and accelerating to the speed limit. Though, at around 100-110km/h, the differences – in terms of performance – between the older 2.5-litre mill and RZ4E 1.9-litre are less so – this is because, while the new engine is punchy and urgent, the older 2.5-litre engine had a very broad torque curve which made it very good at highway cruising.

With your foot flat to the floor, the new D-Max 1.9-litre will hit circa 165 km/h if given enough space, which is better than the older 2.5-litre mill, and more than enough for a pick-up truck if you ask me.

But arguably, all those improvements Isuzu made with the engine would have been nullified without the addition of a new six-speed automatic gearbox. Both manual and automatic transmissions now have closer ratios for better acceleration and mid-range response, with the two top (overdrive) ratios geared for cruising. The transmission unit offers nice and smooth when creeping around in traffic and shifts up and down its six cogs with authority. You get a sense that the gearbox is built to last a million miles if not more, just from moving the lever from “P” to “D” which is hardly surprising coming from Isuzu.

On the downside, the transmission gets caught out sometimes when coming to an abrupt halt from a mid to low speeds. Given modern transmissions can get up to 4th/5th gear with speeds under 50 km/h, coming to a stop in 40-feet would mean cycling down more than 3-gears in less than 3 seconds, which in this case, induces some drivetrain judder - but it's no deal-breaker.

Another significant area of improvement has been in weight savings. The new engine has seen a 56kg reduction over the 2.5-litre engine which not only has improved the D-Max kerb weight and payload capacity, it’s made the front end noticeably more nimble. Much of the overall improvements in the driving experience revolves around the reduction in mass of the D-Max.

While I would say the Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger are still a sharper steer – I would say the D-Max has definitely closed the gap in terms of driving performance over the previous generations. The 18-inch wheels (on the premium variants) also do well to sharpen up proceedings and improve steering feedback across the front axle.

And also commendably, rearseat comfort has improved – there’s less tyre roar to intrude the cabin space, and the seats themselves are a comfortable place to be in for extended periods of time.

Conclusion

Despite being around the market for a considerable amount of time, the current raft of updates has done well to inject a bit of excitement and most importantly, much-needed innovation to rival the current, more modern crop of pickup trucks such as the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton.

As the pickup truck genre becomes increasingly mainstream – and with that, the requirement for up to date technology and equipment – Isuzu have done well to integrate newer updates such as the new infotainment system and safety features such as Hill Descent Control to offer an attractive proposition not just for traditional customers, but also buyers from other vehicle segments.

There’s little doubt, familiar hallmarks of Isuzu engineering such as rugged dependability and phenomenal fuel efficiency (and the 1.9-llitre Ddi Blue Power completing its maiden Borneo Safari Expedition is a further testament of this), have been enhanced with the addition of the new engine, and without a doubt, remain the strongest proposals for buying the Isuzu D-Max pickup.


The Proton X50 Bumblebee Accident

Malang tidak berbau, the
Proton X50
 Bumblebee that was the talk of the town not too long was involved in an accident last night.

According to comments on images uploaded on the Facebook page of its owner Lee Jian Xian or more fondly known as Pad Tai the Proton X50 hydroplaned in the wet causing it to hit first the left then the right divider on the highway.

It appears no one was hurt in the accident nor did the accident involve any other vehicles apparently.

With it raining quite heavily in the evenings these past few days, it's important for you to know how to react accordingly while driving in a heavy downpour. We've prepared a guide for you
here
 detailing what to do and a checklist of things you need to be aware of.

We're also glad to see the owner in good spirits after what must have been a scary accident.

In case you were wondering this particular X50 already had the stock 18-inch rims replaced with 20-inch wheels from Veemann, with a width of 8.5JJ, wider than the stock 7JJ factory profile. The rims were shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, 235/40 ZR20. The brakes too had been upgraded to 405 mm drilled and ventilated rotors in the front with six-piston Brembo calipers.

Power output was also higher with a piggyback ECU providing an increase of 22 PS and 35 Nm of torque on the dyno. The
Proton X50 Flagship
 in stock form produces 177 PS at 5,000 rpm and 255 Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm.

The Proton X50 Flagship's ADAS system includes:

Forward Collision Warning

Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Lane Keep Assist

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Auto Park Assist

Blind Spot Information System

Intelligent Cruise Control

Intelligent High Beam Control

Bear in mind though these systems were rated and tested for the original specifications of the Proton X50 Flagship, not for the upgrades that were made on this particular vehicle.

The Proton X50 also obtained the full five-star ASEAN NCAP crash safety rating.

Remember regardless of what cart you drive, how much power your vehicle may have or what active safety systems you may have available, it is ultimately up to us the drivers, to make smart choices while driving.

Drive safe!

*All images courtesy of Lee Jian Xian's Facebook

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Jakarta 2018: All-New Honda Brio Launched

Honda Prospect Motor (HPM), the official distributor of Honda vehicles in Indonesia has launched the all-new second generation Brio at the 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (2018 GIIAS).
Seeing that the all-new Brio conforms to Indonesia’s Low Cost Green Car (LCGC) regulations, power is derived from a tiny 1.2-litre that churns out 90 PS at 6,000 rpm and 110 Nm at 4,800 rpm. The tiny engine can be had with a 5-speed manual or CVT-type automatic that sends drive to the front wheels.
Visually, the all-new Brio draws inspiration from the new Mobilio, with a pair of large headlights flanking Honda’s Solid Wing face grille. A pair of prominent front fog light surrounds help complete the front end of the all-new Brio.
Towards the rear end, the all-new Brio features a pair of trapezoid-shaped tail lights. The regular Brio features a simple recess at the bottom of the rear bumper.
As for the sportier Brio RS, this model gets a black finish on the front grille and roof, plus a rear spoiler that is more noticeable than the regular model. Completing the Brio RS’ exterior are dual-tone alloy wheels and a more aggressive rear diffuser.
The interior of the all-new Brio is reminiscent of the Honda BR-V we’re familiar with. Audio switches are found on the left side of the three-spoke steering wheel, though this feature is limited to upper variants of the all-new Brio. Other interior features include a 6.1-inch Display Audio head unit, tweeters, and digital air-conditioning controls.
Takehiro Watanabe, the President Director of PT Honda Prospect Motor said, “Indonesia is one of the most important automobile and motorcycle markets for Honda within Asia and Oceania region and on a global scale, recording the largest automobile sales for Honda in the region. This achievement was made possible with models developed locally such as Honda Brio, Honda Brio Satya, Honda Mobilio, and Honda BR-V. The launch of All New Honda Brio, sportier and fun-to-drive vehicle, is Honda's commitment to continue offering exciting products and the joy of driving to our customers in Indonesia.”


Volvo Shares Its Safety Knowledge With Everyone Through Open Digital Library

This is the world we live in now - one of Google and Wikipedia - where information is easily accessible and widely available so long as you have an internet connection. In the same way that Volvo chose to give away its patent for the three point seatbelt all those years ago, they are now sharing their knowledge on safety with anyone and everyone - including other manufacturers.
This is knowledge that has come after decades of research and development, and it's no surprise that Volvo is at the top of every NCAP crash test ever. It's been sixty years since the three point seatbelt, and it's a good way to celebrate that anniversary. Volvo is calling it Project E.V.A, or Equal Vehicles for All, with data from both Volvo's own research and other studies as well.
“We have data on tens of thousands of real-life accidents, to help ensure our cars are as safe as they can be for what happens in real traffic,” says Lotta Jakobsson, professor and senior technical specialist at Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “This means our cars are developed with the aim to protect all people, regardless of gender, height, shape or weight, beyond the ‘average person’ represented by crash test dummies.”
As technology progresses and safety standards become stricter, so too does the thinking and methodology when it comes to developing safety features. Over the years, everything from the WHIPS anti-whiplash seat design, to the SIPS side impact protection system, and even an impact energy absorber in the seats of every SPA-platform based Volvo has come from the pursuit of reducing or entirely eliminating injuries and fatalities on the road.
Volvo has been the driving force behind crash safety development, and in many situations they have unwittingly become the industry standard. Regardless of what you may have thought of their models in the past, the ultimate truth is that a Volvo was the safest car to be in. Their modern products combine form and function, safety and style - but it's always going to be safety first.