Here is why NISMO is Going Front-Wheel Drive for Le Mans

One of the biggest curiosities in motorsports this year is
Nissan
 Motorsports’ entry into the premier LMP1 category of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race with a front-engine front-wheel drive car. On May 31
st
 Nismo’s unique looking GT-R LM Nismo, will be turning its wheels in competitive anger and going up against a field full of mid-engine rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive cars in the LMP1 category.
Ever since Ferdinand Porsche's pioneering work in mid-engine race cars, mid-engine rear-wheel drive has become the template by which almost all race cars follow. A mid-engine rear-wheel drive layout allows for better balance, traction, and packaging, and rear-wheel drive makes it easier for drivers to tame high engine power outputs. However Nismo thinks that they have found a Le Mans’ winning formula in utilising a front-engine, front-wheel drive layout as detailed in the latest video from the Nismo University series.
Since the GT-R LM Nismo features a 3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine and flywheel kinetic energy recovery system is located behind the front axle, it is technically having a front mid-engine configuration with the gearbox located in front of the engine. Thanks to its long and flat bonnet, Nismo says that the GT-R LM Nismo is able to generate a huge amount of downforce on high speed corners, at the same time it is aerodynamically efficient for it to conserve fuel while speeding down the Circuit de la Sarthe’s incredibly long Mulsanne straight. Considering the importance of fuel efficiency in an endurance race, the GT-R LM Nismo’s shape might just give them the edge to take top honours at Le Mans.
One of the biggest challenges with front-wheel drive is quelling the onset of understeer in slow-speed corners, however team principal Ben Bowlby explains that the team plans to address the issue through the use of innovative aerodynamic aids and traction control strategies. What’s more having an engine in the front means that the car is intrinsically more stable that a mid-engine configuration, and therefore less prone to spinning in rainy conditions
as seen in last year’s World Endurance Championship race
 at the Circuit of the Americas.
All said and done the test of the pudding is in the tasting and we will have to wait till May 31
st
 when Nismo puts it through 24 Hours of the most gruelling endurance racing to see if they are right.


WTCC adopts Volvo V60 Polestar as safety car

In terms of how relatable a race series is, FIA’s World Touring Cup Championship is pretty high on the list as it features cars that still bear strong resemblance to their road-going counterparts. Other races like DTM or Super GT have a large disconnect between the cars you see on the track and the cars you can buy in the showroom.
For the 2016 season, the WTCC has called on Polestar to provide a safety car. It takes something quick to lead a pack of touring cars, even under the yellow flag. The Volvo V60 Polestar was a natural choice, especially as it matches the Volvo S60 TC1 that is being fielded in the race. The Volvo V60 is already an excellent, well balanced machine, but the Polestar variant is packed with 345 bhp, 500 Nm of torque and a more aggressive all-wheel drive system.
A few changes have been made to the V60 Polestar in order to make it track ready. The large trunk offers plenty of space to store rescue and communication equipment, but a roll-cage was a necessary inclusion as per FIA safety requirements.
With one driver and one observer in the car while out on the track, an array of communications gear was installed in order to stay in contact with race control. While this safety car may not be as manic as the touring cars it will shepherd, it definitely won’t be a drag to drive out on the track. And perhaps, just maybe, it will remind people that there was once a time when Volvo wagons dominated the touring car scene.


KLIA Terima Aerotrain Baharu Menjelang 2025

Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA)
 bakal beralih kepada sistem Aerotrain baharu menjelang 2025 bagi menggantikan perkhidmatan sedia ada.

Ketika ini, perkhidmatan Aerotrain yang sedia ada di KLIA ketika ini sudah berusia hampir 25 tahun beroperasi.

*Kredit foto: Kosmo

Aerotrain Baharu Menjelang 2025

Menurut Pengarah Urusan Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, fasa pertama peralihan sistem pengangkutan itu telah bermula pada 14 Mac lalu dengan melibatkan proses reka bentuk
tren
.

Jelasnya, pihaknya bukan sekadar menggantikan gerabak lama yang telah digunakan sejak 1998, namun keseluruhan sistem perkhidmatan itu akan digantikan melalui pemasangan fasa kedua yang dijangka bermula pada 14 Mac 2023.

Iskandar telah membentangkan perkembangan terkini Program Penggantian Aerotrain KLIA yang turut dihadiri Pengerusi MAHB, Datuk Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd. Kadir.

Mengulas lanjut, Iskandar berkata, kelewatan tren baharu berkenaan bukan disengajakan pihaknya tetapi telah mengambil kira pelbagai aspek termasuk perlu memenuhi spesifikasi pelbagai agensi.

Kelewatan Tren Baharu Bersebab

Iskandar turut menjelaskan pihaknya tidak mahu tergesa-gesa menggantikan tren lama dengan tren baharu yang berkemungkinan kerap rosak seperti sekarang sehingga terpaksa beroperasi dengan jadual terhad selama 17 jam setiap hari disebabkan faktor usia yang sudah tua.

 “MAHB juga terpaksa memaksimumkan perkhidmatan
bas
 ulang alik yang berfungsi 24 jam setiap hari melibatkan sembilan buah sebagai mod pengangkutan alternatif,” jelasnya.

Bagaimanapun ujarnya, MAHB berbangga kerana tren sekarang berjaya mengangkut lebih 300 juta penumpang selepas 24 tahun beroperasi dan turut terkenal sebagai imej unik KLIA.

“Jadi, kami optimis penggantian Penggerak Penumpang Automatik (APM) atau Aerotrain baharu akan melonjakkan keupayaan pergerakan penumpang antarabangsa di KLIA sejajar tarafnya sebagai hab udara utama negara,” katanya.

MAHB menerusi pengumuman sebelum ini mengesahkan bahawa Pestech International Berhad meraih tender APM baharu daripada model Innovia 300 dengan muatan penuh 270 penumpang.

Projek bernilai lebih RM700 juta dengan rekaan mesra pengguna akan beroperasi 24 jam setiap hari selain dilengkapi pakej penyelenggaraan operasi selama 10 tahun sehingga 2034.


Meet The Crown Jewel Of The Furious 7 Movie, The RM12,453,180 Lykan HyperSport

In a scene from the
official theatrical trailer of Furious 7
, we see Dominic Toretto (played by Vin Diesel) and crew pay a visit to Dubai in highly exotic machinery. In the next scene, he is seen jumping a Lykan HyperSport from one two building tower to another. The outrageously priced US$3.4 million (RM12,453,180) machine you see there is the highlight of this new featurette released by Universal Pictures.

Produced by W Motors, the Lykan HyperSport is the first supercar to be produced in the Middle East and is powered by a RUF-developed 3.7-litre flat-six boxer engine that has been fitted with two turbochargers to generate 770hp and 960Nm torque. In numbers: 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds. Top speed, 385 km/h.

That’s mighty impressive but how does it justify such an excessive price tag? You’ll need to examine the details on the car to answer that question.

Let’s start with the headlights that are bedazzled with 420 diamonds, totalling 15 carats, mounted on a titanium accent piece. In fact, buyers will be able to choose a variety of other precious stones (emeralds, sapphires, rubies, etc) that can be integrated throughout the car depending on the colour scheme of their desire.

Inside, the interior features various precious metals and expensive materials that make up the cabin. This includes gold wire stitching on the upholstery, more precious stones and the main highlight from all the sharp, angular carbon fibre and titanium pieces of trim, is the company’s Holographic Mid-Air Display System which is fully interactive.

As a bonus for the expensive purchase, buyers will also receive a US$$200,000 (RM732,540) Cyrus Klepcys watch.

With all that in mind, we don’t think jumping the HyperSport between buildings was a very good idea. Maybe Dom should have taken the elevator down instead.


New Volvo V40 Comes Closer To Reality

It's well known that Volvo has been trying to fill in the gap that their 40 series hatchback vehicle left ever since they discontinued it eight months ago, and a couple of publications have rendered a picture of what said vehicle might look like.

Before we get to that, let's talk about the genesis of this rendering and how they might have come up with the idea of what the new V40 would look like. To be frank, no one knows whether the V40 will actually be a small family hatchback. With the current trend of turning everything into an SUV, the car that would replace the V40 might actually be a V40 with an SUV spin.

In 2016, Volvo had a press day where they unveiled the Volvo 40.1 and 40.2 concept cars. The 40.1 ended up being the XC40 and the 40.2 turning into a Polestar vehicle car called the Polestar 2. If the two concepts ever got together and produced an offling, then that vehicle would look like a V40 proportioned vehicle, so we think these publications have pictured the new V40 based on that theory.

According to AutoExpress, this is what the new V40 would look like because Volvo's European Boss, Lex Kerssemakers confirmed to them that the new V40 would be some sort of SUV. "Volvo could launch a "pseudo-SUV" as an indirect successor to the recently discontinued V40 hatchback, the company's European boss has confirmed to Auto Express".

DriveMag, an American automobile publication also came out with a similar-looking vehicle some time ago, and according to their artist, his rendering too was based on the concept vehicles. "As for the design, look no further than the Volvo Concept 40.2 unveiled in 2016. While that study was of a high-riding compact sedan, it's likely to have a significant influence on the second-generation V40, as Christian Schulte Design's rendering attests. Our artist turned the 40.2 study into a hatchback, and the illustration looks very plausible if you ask us".

They also mentioned that the new V40 would be underpinned by the CMA platform, meaning that we can expect the V40 to share powertrains and technologies with the XC40 which can be had in either a three or four-cylinder powertrain configuration. It's also interesting to note that the Geely Preface is also built on the CMA platform, a car that has been touted to be the next Proton Perdana.

If the new V40 is what everyone expects it to be, then the Mercedes GLA and BMW X2 will face stiff competition, because from what we can see from the rendering, the V40 would be a gorgeous little thing. If it also follows the platform and available powertrains that the XC40 has, the V40 would be lovely to drive too, because the XC40 is one car that we all love. Volvo's current design language can do no wrong at the moment as it has produced many pretty cars in recent years.

We know we can't wait to see the real car because if it does end up looking like the renderings, then the Germans better beware!


Fuel Price Update: June 2017 Week 4

From 21 June till 28 June 2017, motorists in Malaysia will be able to enjoy slightly cheaper petrol and diesel.
New prices below:
RON95 - RM1.91 (down 7 sen from RM1.98)
RON97 - RM2.17 (down 7 sen from RM2.24)
Diesel - RM1.88 (no change)
Via: KPDNKK


Bangkok 2015: Subaru Levorg Makes Its Regional Debut

Motor Image has been building steadily to the launch of the
Subaru
 Levorg, an all-new entrant they hope will claim a strong footing in the markets with its rakish and very Subaru-ish wagon looks, all-wheel drive grip and turbocharged flat-four power.
At the 2015 Bangkok Motor Expo, it makes its regional debut alongside the
updated Subaru XV
, with prices starting at 2.35 million Baht, and is earmarked to make its way into Malaysian showrooms around midway through 2016. Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL) Executive Director, Glenn Tan, was reserved about it’s price once it hits our shores, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Levorg takes its name from a rather interesting medley of abbreviations, specifically:
LE
gacy, Re
VO
lution, and finally Tou
R
in
G.
We were, admittedly, a little apprehensive about that name but over the months its quirkiness and bold choice pronunciation kind of grew on us. It is distinctive, and surely a more characterful name will aid in the awareness to prospective customers. First impressions are important, after all.
Staying on the exterior for a moment, the Subaru DNA does make itself very apparent especially toward the front of the car. That over fascia is reminiscent of past Imprezas and that hood scoop is almost a brand trademark by now. Also the dual chrome-tipped exhausts are clearly meant to hint at this car’s sporting persona, as does the 18-inch wheels.
The Levorg we spent some time, all too brief, with was the Levorg 1.6 GT (not higher the 1.6 GT-S), two units of which were on display along with the 2016 Subaru XV. Under the hood, we find a turbocharged 1.6-litre boxer engine that chucks out 170PS and 250Nm of torque. Of course, this being a Subaru, drive is sent to all four wheels with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and a six-speed Lineartronic CVT.
Inside, the dark interior is accented with glossy black and aluminium fixtures. There are also grippier-than-usual fabric seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit mounted centrally below the air-conditioning vents, a top-mounted vehicle information display, keyless entry and start. Being a wagon, the Levorg provides excellent practicality with 60:40 split folding rear seats that increases maximum storage capacity to over 520 litres - perfect for those furniture spending sprees.
We’re hesitant to specify a Malaysian price, even tentatively for the Levorg, as it is well dependent on financial fluctuations between the Ringgit and Yen as it will arrive fully imported. What’s more, 2016 will be a busy year for Motor Image and Subaru in Malaysia, as the 2016 Subaru XV is due to make its local debut in January, followed by the locally-assembled (CKD) Subaru Forester that takes precedence over the Levorg. More on this as it comes to light.


All-New 2017 Mazda CX-5 CKD Malaysia - Pics Of 2.5L Petrol And 2.2L Diesel

Following its
official roll-out a fortnight ago from the Inokom Kulim plant
, we now take another close look at the all-new second-generation Mazda CX-5 being shown on display at One Utama, Petaling Jaya.
The latest refinement of Mazda's Kodo styling language, the all-new CX-5 has been redesigned to appear bolder and more dynamic than its predecessor with tauter lines and greater emphasis of the car's visual width. The front fascia features a new honeycomb grille, redesigned chrome signature wing, and slimmer headlights. At the rear, new tail lights incorporate distinctive two-layer moulded outer lens.
Inside, the CX-5's dashboard has been made more symmetrical with increased focus on driver-orientation. The 7-inch MZD Connect touchscreen has been redesigned and repositioned higher up closer to the driver's natural line of sight.
A total of three engines are being offered with the all-new CX-5, all of them being the familiar SkyActiv four-cylinder powerplants carried over from
the predecessor
. Base models get a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 162 hp and 210 Nm; middle of the range is occupied by a 2.5-litre mill with 192 hp and 257 Nm; lastly, the flagship variants are powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 173 hp and 420 Nm.
All engines are paired with Mazda's in-house 6-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission as standard. The petrol models come exclusively in front-wheel drive configuration, whilst the torquier diesel powertrain is offered with a choice between front- and all-wheel drive. All variants of the CX-5 also come standard with G-Vectoring Control for more confident handling around corners.

At a base price of RM134,205.50 OTR without insurance, the entry level
2.0 Petrol 2WD GL
 offers the following equipment:
225/65 R17 tyres, 17" x 7J wheels
LED headlights, auto on/off, auto-leveling, bulb-type DRL
Fog lights: LED front, bulb rear
Bulb-type tail lights
Reverse sensors
Engine start button, no keyless entry
Electronic parking brake
Steering-mounted controls - audio, Bluetooth handsfree, cruise control
Tilt & telescopic steering adjust
Leather-wrapped steering & gear knob
Gun metallic dashboard trim
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
Trip-computer - 4.6-inch monochrome LCD
Dual zone climate control, rear air-con vents
12V power outlets (3x)
Fabric seats
MZD Connect Infotainment - 7-inch touchscreen, rotary control knob, voice command
USB ports (4x)
Reverse camera
6 airbags, ABS, EBD
Electronic stability control
ISOFIX
For an additional RM14,000, the
2.0 Petrol 2WD GLS
 (RM148,205.50) adds:
LED headlights, auto on/off, auto-leveling, adaptive front lighting
LED daytime running lights
LED tail lights
Keyless entry, walk-away auto lock
Front parking sensors
Metal & wood dashboard trim
Leather seats
10-way powered driver seat adjustment
GPS Navigation
Blind spot monitoring (BSM)
Rear cross traffic alert (RCTA)
Smart City Brake Support, Front Only
The
2.5 Petrol 2WD GLS
, meanwhile, at RM160,596.70 adds 19-inch wheels and a more powerful 2.5-litre petrol engine for a premium of RM12,000 over the 2.0 GLS.
The
2.2 Diesel 2WD GLS
 at RM164,179.10 is about RM3,500 north of the 2.5. Besides a more powerful engine, the diesel variant adds considerably more equipment than its price gap with the 2.5 GLS model suggests, including the full suite of Mazda i-Activsense advanced driver assistance systems:
Trip-computer - 4.6-inch colour LCD
Adaptive LED headlights
Lane Departure Warning (LDWS)
Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
Drowsiness detection (DAA)
Smart City Brake Support, Front & Rear
The range-topping
2.2 Diesel AWD GLS
 (RM174,779.10) offers identical equipment to its 2WD sibling, but charges a bit over RM10,000 extra for the added capability of powering all four wheels.
All variants of the CX-5 are finished standard in solid paint; metallic colours cost an additional RM400, whilst a choice of three premium metallic colours - Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Snowflake White Pearl - is available for an extra RM2,000. The
availability of these new premium metallic colours for the first time in a locally-assembled Mazda model
 is made possible by the opening of a new
state-of-the-art paint shop in the Kulim plant
 which cost Mazda the better part of RM 87 million.
The new premium colours are painted with Mazda's Takuminuri painting technology, which is said to give a high-quality finish as if as hand-sprayed by a master craftsperson. It consists of three layers comprising clear, translucent, and reflective coats. The translucent layer features a high chroma colour pigment, whilst the reflective coat features light-absorbing flakes and aluminium flakes uniformly-sized and aligned horizontally to reflect light with lustre.
Introduction of the all-new CX-5 at the Inokom plant started in August 2017. Thanks to newly-upgraded facilities, Mazda now has access to annual production capacity of 20,000 vehicles from the Kulim plant. The new paint shop also brings paint work quality of Malaysia-made Mazda vehicles on par with those made in Japan. Mazda is set to export the all-new CX-5 from Malaysia to Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
The original CX-5 that was launched in 2011 as a CBU model and subsequently offered as CKD grew to become one of the most popular mid-sized SUVs in the market and was a key model for Mazda worldwide. The new model is expected to continue its predecessor's success and is expected to contribute as much as half of Mazda's total sales in Malaysia.
Like all new Mazda vehicles registered from 1 Feb 2017, the all-new 2017 CX-5 enjoys a 5-year / 100,000 km manufacturer warranty along with 3 years / 60,000 km of free maintenance.
Scroll below for picture galleries of the CX-5 2.5 2WD GLS and 2.2 Diesel GLS models.


2017 Honda Grace Facelift Debuts In Japan, Features Honda Sensing

The Japan market Honda City, officially known as the Honda Grace, has just been facelifted featuring updated styling as well as advanced Honda Sensing safety features.
Externally, the updated Honda Grace is identical to our recently-facelifted City with a new grille, front and rear bumper, and LED tail lights. As with our City, higher grade variants of the Grace get LED headlights, though buyers of other trims can opt for LED headlights as well.
Under the bonnet, the revised Honda Grace carries over two petrol engines. The first is a 1.5-litre direct-injection four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine that does 132 PS and 155 Nm, sent to either the front wheels or all four wheels via a CVT-type automatic transmission. Under the JC08 test cycle, the regular petrol variant of the Honda Grace returns 22 km/L for the front-wheel drive model and 19.6 km/L for the four-wheel drive model.
The second engine option utilizes Honda's Sport Hybrid i-DCD system, with a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle direct-injection four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine mated to a seven-speed DCT. The petrol engine is good for 110 PS and 134 Nm, whilst the electric motor adds another 29.5 PS and 160 Nm. Power is sent to either the front wheels or all four wheels, depending on specification. Honda said that the Sport Hybrid i-DCD system in the updated Grace now returns 34.8 km/L under the JC08 test cycle, improving upon its predecessor's 34.4 km/L.
New to the Honda Grace is Honda Sensing, adding Road Sign Information (RSI), auto high beam, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Road Departure Warning (RDW), pedestric detection system and City-Brake Active System.
Additionally, all variants of the Honda Grace receive auto headlights, LED-type third brake light, dual SRS airbags up front, ABS, EBD, VSA, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Start Assist, ISOFIX child seat anchor points and immobilizer.
Six airbags, Honda Sensing, and LED headlights are standard on higher grade Grace Hybrid EX and Hybrid LX models and optional on the lower Hybrid DX and LX models.
Two new colours have been introduced, namely Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic and Lunar Silver Metallic. These two colours will increase the total colour options to seven for the Japanese market, with the others being White Orchid Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Ruse Black Metallic, Midnight Blue Beam Metallic and Premium Crystal Red Metallic.
Prices start from JPY 1,769,040 (RM66,634) for the entry-level Honda Grace LX, whilst the range-topping Honda Grace Hybrid EX 4WD will cost JPY 2,569,320 (RM96,778).


Free shuttle bus to parliament now in service - Bus to be escorted by outriders?

Transport Minister Anthony Loke is trying his hardest to get everyone to use public transport and has even provided visitors of the parliament with a free shuttle service.

The ever-busy transport minister dropped another
interesting piece of news
 this week, announcing that a free shuttle bus service from KL Sentral to the Parliament building is now in service.

Through his official Facebook page, he said the free shuttle service is available to all members of parliament, officers as well as media practitioners.

The bus will operate from 8 am till the close of daily sittings and that the T851 service will have a travel frequency of every 30 minutes during peak hours and every hour at other times.

"I was informed that every day an average of 2,000 vehicles enter parliament in session. However, only less than 500 parking spaces are available."

"There are complaints that they have to queue for up to an hour in the car. I understand that this
congestion will affect the quality of life
, especially for members of parliament or the media who have to work until the night."

"So the Ministry of Transport, together with Rapid KL is providing a bus service to encourage the use of public transport and introduce a "last mile connection" from KL Sentral to Parliament."

No doubt, members of the media and duty officers will benefit the most from this new service, but it would be great to see members of parliament also utilising this public transport service, as it can free up police outriders, so they can get on with other things.


More Vigilance Needed When Buying Parts And Cars Online

Be vigilant when buying cars or spare parts off Facebook or social media, there are many a**holes out to make a quick buck out of you.

The worldwide web and Social media has really made the automotive world smaller because now, more than ever, people can easily get connected and find so much information about cars just by using their fingertips.

For every Yang, there is a Yin and the Yin side effect of this amazing internet revolution is that scammers are starting to infiltrate what was once pure.

As an example, Facebook's marketplace is quite an attractive system because people can quickly and easily post ads of things they are selling or things that they are looking for. We know so many people who have found rare cars and amazing deals through Facebook's marketplace, but recently, more and more scams are being unravelled, and while some have been lucky enough to avoid it, some have been victims to this ugly side of Facebook.

The most common scam is the spare parts scam. Malaysians love their cars, and they would do anything to maintain and upgrade them. For that reason, many go to Facebook to look for good deals, and usually there are quite a few to be found. But in some cases where a scammer is operating in a car group, that car enthusiast would often not get the parts after paying for it. As you can see from the example down below, the scammer is a member of many car groups and is probably operating in all of them. The buyer has transferred the money but never received his purchase. The scammer would then usually disappear and ignore any sort of contact from the victim.

It used to be easy to detect scammers on the internet because the most apparent red flag would be the "too good to be true" pricing. These days however, scammers are starting to become more cunning and a lot more vigilance is needed to ensure that you do not fall into a scammer's trap.

A non-traditional method of scamming is when a vehicle seller falsely advertises the condition of the car. Yes, this is a scam too, and a scary one at that. While some would require you to part with your hard-earned cash to replace many things that are broken on the car, some scams are just outright deadly.

An example we have of this is when modified cars are advertised as normal cars. The stance car movement is a cool thing, but to get them to squat like that some modifications must be carried out. They usually alter many things on the car, including things that we cannot see through the naked eye. Now, if someone is completely honest about these modifications than that is fine, but when you are selling something and passing it off as something else, it could potentially end in disaster for the uninitiated. Check out this example down below. As you can see, the chassis is now compromised.

Fake parts are scams too, and this is all too familiar in Malaysia's automotive scene. It's just sad when people have to part with their money for an unreliable part that might cause an accident. The car might break down, but when that small but integral part causes a loss of life, it just brings heartache.

Luckily however there are many ways to avoid scams. The internet gives us easy access to information and within 10 minutes, you can probably find out the part specification and price. If these things don't tally up, avoid the part. Yes, some prices are better than others, but if it's too far away from the average price, then it probably is too good to be true.

For scammers that take your money without delivering the goods, it is also easy to find out whether the seller is legitimate. All you have to do is do a bit of investigation about the seller, and usually a telltale sign will appear to whether they are reliable. Rely on members of your FB groups when unsure. Odds are one or more of them have been scammed by the same person before hence they'll be able to warn you off said purchase.

The cliche 'if it's too good to be true, it probably is' holds a lot more water in online marketplaces. Its ease of access makes it a hotbed for scammers and conmen alike. Exercise vigilance, be smart and try as much as possible to opt for Cash on Delivery. That way at worst, you'll have only lost some time.


Proton Jual Lebih 100k Unit Kenderaan Untuk 3 Tahun Berturut-Turut – Saga Model Paling Laku Pada November 2021

Untuk tempoh 3 tahun berturut-turut,
Proton
 telah berjaya melepasi jumlah jualan kenderaan sebanyak lebih 100,000 unit.

Jualan keseluruhan sebanyak 14,187 unit (domestik + eksport) pada bulan November telah menghasilkan jualan semasa sebanyak 100,566 unit, justeru meningkatkan keyakinan bahawa syarikat berkenaan bakal mengakhiri tahun ini dengan perkembangan jualan yang positif.

Pada bulan November lalu, Proton telah mencatatkan peningkatan jualan sebanyak 6.2% berbanding bulan sebelumnya. Jika nak dibandingkan dengan bulan yang sama tahun lalu, Proton telah mencatatkan sebanyak 24.3% peningkatan. Pegangan pasaran kini pula dianggarkan sekitar 24.5%.

Jualan Proton pada bulan November 2021

Model

Bilangan Unit Terjual

Pencapaian Jualan

Saga

5,666

Jualan segmen-A tertinggi dan jualan keseluruhan tertinggi

Persona

1,534

Jualan ke-3 tertinggi bagi sedan segmen-B

Exora

434

Jualan tertinggi bagi MPV segmen-C

Iriz

642

Jualan ke-4 tertinggi bagi hatchback segmen-B

X70

1,901

Jualan tertinggi bagi SUV segmen-C

X50

4,010

Jualan tertinggi bagi SUV segmen-B

Jumlah

14,187*

*Jualan model lain yang tidak dinyatakan dimasukkan kedalam jumlah jualan keseluruhan

Meskipun diancam dengan masalah
kekurangan bekalan komponen
 dan wabak COVID-19, namun
Proton Saga
 telah mencatatkan kadar jualan bulanan tertinggi sejak Disember 2020 dengan 5,666 unit. Ini memberikan peluang untuk model tersebut merampas semula takhta sebagai model terlaris di Malaysia yang kali terakhir dipegang pada bulan September.

Sehubungan dengan itu, Proton juga berharap untuk mengekalkan takhta Saga sebagai kereta sedan segmen-A yang terlaris sekurang-kurangnya sehingga hujung tahun ini dengan bantuan
pengecualian cukai SST yang berlarutan sehingga Jun 2022.

Diperkenalkan pada 2016 dan menerima pembaharuan (facelift) pada tahun 2019, Proton Saga tidak hanya fokuskan pada perubahan exterior semata-mata, tetapi turut menerima pelbagai pembaharuan dari segi teknikal dan elektronik.

Di bawah bonetnya, Saga menerima enjin 1.3 liter VVT yang menghasilkan output sebanyak 95 PS dan 120 Nm tork. Enjin tersebut telah dipadankan dengan transmisi baharu kerana Saga kini tidak lagi menggunakan Punch CVT, sebaliknya telah digantikan dengan transmisi 4-kelajuan automatik.

Tidak dilupakan,
Proton X50
 juga mencatatkan rekod yang memberangsangkan pada bulan lalu dengan mencatatkan sebanyak 4,010 unit diserahkan kepada pelanggan. Ia merupakan peningkatan yang baik kerana rekod tertingginya sebelum ini adalah sebanyak 3,839 unit pada bulan Oktober.

Oleh itu, ia menjadikan SUV pintar segmen-B keluaran Proton ini mencatatkan jualan terbaik bagi kelasnya dan bagi segmen SUV.
Proton X70
 juga terus berjaya mengejar jualan dengan sebanyak 1,901 unit dihantar kepada pelanggan, menjadikannya lebih jauh kehadapan sebagai SUV segmen-C paling laris.

Menurut Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah, bulan November merupakan bulan jualan yang baik bagi Proton setelah melepasi 100,000 unit dengan tempoh berbaki sebulan lagi sebelum tahun 2021 melabuhkan tirainya.

Tambah beliau, ini akan menjadikan Proton sebagai jenama nasional tunggal yang meningkat dari segi jualan dan pegangan pasaran pada tahun ini dan memberikan mereka asas yang kukuh menuju tahun 2022 untuk mereka melakukan proses konsolidasi dan meningkatkan kedudukan mereka di pasaran domestik dan antarabangsa.


Efkon Asia Introduces SmartTag-Compatible Reader, Priced At RM143

Efkon Asia, the Austrian technology provider of the SmartTag infrared toll system in Malaysia has introduced its own E-Tag device, compatible with the existing SmartTag infrastructure. Sigma Technology is one such company that has licensed the SmartTag infrared technology from Efkon and has started to market its own device called MaxTag.
The E-Tag devices can be found at brick and mortar locations including accessories shop while MaxTag devices will be available online at
Lazada
 and
11street
. Both the E-Tag and MaxTag devices will be sold at RM143.
Helmuth Blasch, the director of Efkon Asia said, “Both E-TAG and MaxTAG feature new microprocessors and enhanced display for even better performance and reliability.  These proven Infra-Red TAG devices provide peace of mind to users by providing secure transactions with the exact toll amount paid immediately visible.  Most importantly, there is no possibility of cloning and risk of losing control of your finances through incorrect deductions.”
He added that the infrared devices are cost-effective solutions for frequent highway users as they are built with a high-impact resistant casing.
According to Efkon Asia, they have rectified the issues with the early batch of the slim SmartTag devices, as some issues were caused due to cost-cutting measures. The company rectified the issues under warranty and identified the cause and fixed them.
Speaking of warranty, a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects is offered, though buyers can opt to add another 2 years of warranty for better peace of mind (valid for online purchases only). The additional 2-year warranty will set buyers back for just an extra RM15.
Efkon Asia also recommends that users use super alkaline-type batteries by GP, Duracell, or Energizer for optimum performance.
Moving forward, Efkon Asia plans to introduce a line of built-in infrared devices available as another option for buyers. These built-in devices can be found in the all-new Perodua Myvi and Toyota Rush.


Is Drunk Driving As Out Of Control As We Think It Is?

Let’s start this off by saying that we totally agree with harsher penalties for drunk driving. It’s an incredibly reckless act that can cause great loss of life, and anyone under the influence of any substance really should not be behind the wheel. That being said, Malaysians have been in uproar over the last few days because of a number of drunk driving incidents – with some even going so far as to say that alcohol should be banned.

Well, maybe it’s time to take a step back and understand the problem. Many developed countries manage to severely cut down drunk driving with extreme penalties – some countries send you straight to jail if you’ve even had one beer in your system. With ride sharing and taxis always available, those who drink will usually manage to find their way home – and overall the system seems to work.

But it isn’t the punishment alone that is a deterrent. To understand why, you need to look at other illegal activities like purchasing or using drugs. Malaysia has very strict punishments when it comes to the possession of drugs, and yet people still find a way to get their hands on these illegal substances. Even back in the days of alcohol prohibition in the United States of America, moonshine runners and bootleggers were helping to get home-brewed alcohol into the hands of those skirting the law.

Really, the only way to curb drunk driving is a combination of penalties and enforcement. There’s no use having an extremely harsh sentence if people can simply slip by roadblocks because of selective testing or soliciting bribes. It needs to be made clear that anyone who drinks and is over the legal limit – whether that’s the limit as it is now, or lower – will face the music.

All of this aside, let’s get back to the reason why we’re here. We love seeing Malaysians hopping on the bandwagon because it gives us something to pick at, and today we’re going to look at the idea of drunk driving being so incredibly rampant given the recent incidents. The problem we’re facing is that the actual statistics of cases by type vary depending on which department you look at and the way they group the actual cases.

If we look at the most optimistic case from the Ministry of Home Affairs, we find that drunk driving and drug related accidents and deaths are incredibly low at single or double digits a year. From a percentage standpoint that’s incredibly small and almost negligible when you compare it to other tallies from other categories – for example, in 2019 there were 33 times more cases of deaths from driving against the flow of traffic than those by drunk driving.

Say that you don’t believe these statistics. A more extreme example is from a presentation that the Ministry of Transport provided to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. In this far less detailed report, there are much higher figures as you can see in the picture above. And yet, the percentage of deaths from total fatalities across all kinds of incidents has been under 1% for 2017 and 2018.

What we’re trying to get at is that while we can all agree that penalties and punishments for drunk driving should be more severe and better enforced, the actual number of drunk driving cases and fatalities are almost negligible compared to the variety of other cases that make up our frankly embarrassing road accident statistics. Sometimes it’s better to take a step back and understand the context and scope of the problem before we jump to conclusions. And remember – don’t drink and drive.


The Puchong MCO Jam Was Crazy, But Wasn’t Unexpected

In the last 24 hours or so, Malaysian social media has been set ablaze with photos and videos of a fairly extreme jam along Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong. Netizens seem to be quick to jump on the bandwagon in condemning these folks, saying that they should “all kena tangkap”, and that they should just #dudukrumah.

But let’s think about it for a second. Reports on the length of the jam vary – one post says that it took roughly five hours to travel through 900 metres of traffic. Some videos show a little more, some a little less. Let’s run through the maths quickly – an average of six metres per car, six lanes wide, 900 metres – roughly 900 cars in total over the course of five hours.

This works out to a rough average time of 20 seconds per car at the road block. Even if the jam were to run from 8 am to 8 pm, that’s a maximum of 2,160 cars that can pass through. This is some extreme back-of-envelope mathematics of course, but it isn’t a lot of cars when you consider that Puchong has a population of roughly 400,000 people, and the LDP is a major artery that leads to Shah Alam, Putrajaya, Kajang, and so on. Notice how there are a number of lorries and trucks in the queue?

There are around 21 million people in Malaysia above legal driving age, while 358,593 vehicles were inspected nationwide just a couple of days ago on April 12th – making for a national average of roughly 1.7%. If we assume that the average household size in Puchong is four people (there may be single folk, or families with more), then you’ve got 100,000 households – and 2,160 cars accounts for just over 2% of that number. No matter how you cut it, the figures are not an unreasonable expectation for movement even for daily essentials, let alone those going to work.

But where are all these people going? This is another thing that many fail to grasp. If you have actually gone out to look for essentials these last few weeks, you might notice that quite nearly everything is closed except for grocery stores, pharmacies, and some restaurants or kopitiams. Even then, people aren’t exactly hanging around – the reality is that the vast majority of people aren’t travelling for leisure. Even if you wanted to flout the law by driving out, there aren't many places you can go.

Over the last few weeks, MITI has been catching up with applications for permits to travel for work and restart businesses. Some of these permits have taken two weeks to arrive, so it’s only natural for the amount of traffic to increase as more people get back to work. This doesn’t mean that they are flouters or rule breakers per se – just regular people trying to earn a living at a time when money is scarce.

Perhaps that’s the most important thing of all. It has been a month since this MCO began and those who still have employment or are financially stable can consider themselves lucky. There are many people who are struggling to make ends meet - even with a moratorium on loans, landlords are not forced to provide a moratorium on rent. It is easy to tell people to #dudukrumah when putting food on the table isn’t a challenge.

While we are all for
social distancing and limiting movement
, we cannot continue down this path indefinitely. Flattening the curve is not a means to eradicate COVID-19 completely, but a means to ensure that healthcare services are not overloaded by an influx of cases – and expecting a zero case presentation at any time prior to a vaccine or cure is a very thin hope. The government has to develop a solid plan to allow people to return to work in a safe and controlled manner – whether it’s allowing those with immunity to continue, or more stringent tracking of authorized movement, or something else entirely.

If you see someone flouting the laws,
by all means report them
. But if it’s an ambiguous case, it is best to analyse and try to understand what is going on before going straight to the keyboard. After all, you too could be a part of a queue at a roadblock when you’re out buying groceries or heading to a pharmacy – or you could be sending a family member to the hospital if they can’t drive themselves. You wouldn’t like it if someone passed judgement on you without a full understanding of the story, would you?


Proton Offering Special Financial Packages For Fresh Graduates And Government Employees

Proton and Bank Rakyat are offering special financial packages for fresh graduates and government employees on specific Proton cars, namely the Persona, Iriz, Exora, and Saga.

According to Proton, this special package, which runs until 31 December 2019, provides up to 100% financing for fresh graduates and government employees.

The packages consist of two special financing rates:

An-Naqlu 1 – 90% financing with interest rate from 2.88% per annum

An-Naqlu 2 - 100% financing with interest rate from 3.30% per annum

The offer is limited to Malaysians who are new graduates aged between 20 to 30 years old, and also government employees aged between 18 to 60 years old.

On top of this, customers will also benefit from an enhanced insurance package. Designed with Etiqa Takaful and Zurich Takaful, the Proton Insurance Programme provides customers with a special coverage which includes key care cover, flood relief allowance, and also an all-driver coverage which includes a guarantee of zero-excess charges for Proton vehicles up to 10 years old.

According to Fazli Hisham Shukor, Director of Corporate Sales at Proton, this is one of the many efforts by Proton to ensure easy ownership.

“Under this special scheme, Bank Rakyat offers customers easy financing approval, while Proton makes it more attractive with a free service package of up to two years, depending on the models that they choose. The Saga is being offered with one year free service, while the Persona and Iriz with two years; including free labour and parts” he said.

Looking for a new Proton? Find the best deals
here.


Wiper Silikon vs Wiper Getah – Wiper Silikon Lebih Baik Berbanding Wiper Getah Biasa?

Penggunaan
wiper atau pengelap cermin
 pada kereta amat penting, tambah-tambah pada
musim hujan
. Tetapi apakah jenis wiper terbaik yang boleh anda beli untuk kegunaan kereta anda?

Pengelap cermin atau wiper berfungsi untuk menyapu air hujan yang turun ke atas
cermin kereta
 bagi membantu memberikan pemandu pandangan hadapan yang lebih jelas ketika memandu di dalam hujan. Kini, terdapat 2 jenis pengelap cermin yang sering digunakan di kereta iaitu wiper jenis getah dan wiper jenis silikon.

Antara pengelap cermin jenis silikon dan jenis getah (biasa), yang mana satu pilihan terbaik dari segi kualiti dan ketahanan? Jom kita lihat perbezaan antara kedua-dua jenis pengelap cermin ini.

Wiper Getah Biasa

Wiper Silikon

Tidak tahan lama, perlu ditukar sekurang-kurangnya 6 bulan sekali

Tahan lama, lebih mesra alam

Mudah koyak, reput atau melekat di cermin

Tidak mudah koyak, reput atau melekat di cermin

Getah cepat keras, tidak mengelap cermin dengan sempurna

Tidak sekeras wiper getah meskipun dah lama digunakan

Meninggalkan kesan air

Sapuan yang rata dan lebih menyeluruh

Boleh mencalarkan cermin kereta kerana mempunyai besi

Lebih lembut, tidak mencalarkan cermin

Hujan lebat membuatkan penglihatan kabur

Berfungsi lebih baik ketika hujan lebat

Menghasilkan bunyi bising dan terketar-ketar pada kelajuan tinggi

Pergerakan wiper lebih lancar dan senyap

Harga murah, RM10-RM50

Harga lebih mahal, RM100-RM200 mengikut jenama

Berdasarkan jadual di atas, tidak salah lagi jika ramai yang mengatakan bahawa wiper jenis silikon merupakan pilihan yang lebih baik berbanding wiper getah biasa. Tetapi ini bukan bermakna wiper jenis getah ini tidak selamat atau tidak berkualiti untuk digunakan.

Anda jangan tersilap, wiper silikon juga boleh rosak sekiranya tidak dijaga dengan betul. Aspek penjagaan wiper ini memainkan peranan untuk wiper tahan lebih lama dan berfungsi dengan baik. Berikut merupakan antara
tips mudah
 yang boleh anda ikuti bagi memastikan wiper kereta anda (silikon atau getah) tahan lebih lama.

1. Angkat Bilah Pengelap

Ketika
meletakkan kereta
 di tempat terbuka atau terdedah dengan cahaya matahari, tegakkan bilah wiper kereta agar ia tidak bersentuhan dengan cermin dalam keadaan cuaca panas. Jika tidak ditegakkan, tindak balas suhu panas pada cermin kereta akan menyebabkan bilah wiper menjadi rosak dan tidak rata.

2. Isikan Sedikit Cecair Pencuci Pada Wiper Fluid

Untuk prestasi wiper yang lebih baik, anda perlu mengisi air yang dicampurkan dengan sedikit cecair pencuci wiper pada tangki pencuci cermin kereta anda. Selain membersihkan cermin, cecair tersebut juga akan melicinkan cermin sekaligus membuatkan wiper anda lebih lancar selain tidak mencalarkan cermin atau merosakkan bilah wiper.

3. Bersihkan Bilap Pengelap

Seeloknya, bersihkan bilah wiper anda sekurang-kurangnya seminggu sekali menggunakan kain basah dan bersihkan bilah secara menyeluruh. Wiper yang kotor akan meninggalkan kesan hitam pada kain basah yang anda gunakan. Kotoran pada bilah wiper itu berisiko untuk merosakkan
permukaan cermin
 serta bilah pengelap cermin itu sendiri.

4. Gunakan Window Coating Pada Cermin

Selain itu, anda juga boleh menyapu coating atau salutan pada cermin yang menghalang air hujan daripada melekat pada cermin kenderaan anda. Dengan ini, anda akan kurang menggunakan wiper kereta anda, terutama ketika hujan yang tidak bergitu lebat kerana penglihatan anda tidak terjejas. Cara penggunaannya juga mudah dimana anda perlu sembur dan lap sahaja cecair tersebut pada cermin kereta anda.

Untuk mengetahui cara-cara menggunakan window coating, anda boleh rujuk video dibawah:

5. Bersihkan Cermin Kereta

Cermin kereta anda perlu sentiasa bersih agar tiada kotoran pada permukaan cermin yang boleh merosakkan bilah pengelap cermin kereta. Anda perlu menggunakan bahan pencuci yang bersesuaian agar ia tidak memberi kesan sampingan pada cermin serta wiper kereta. Pastikan cermin bebas daripada sebarang kotoran seperti najis burung bagi mengelakkan cermin kotor apabila wiper dihidupkan.

Tanda-Tanda Pengelap Cermin Perlu Ditukar

Pengelap cermin bergegar, bergoyang ketika digunakan

Terdapat kesan air bergaris pada cermin ketika menggunakan wiper

Wiper berbunyi ketika digunakan

Bilah wiper sudah haus, rosak

Anda bebas memilih pengelap cermin terbaik yang anda ingin gunakan pada kereta anda. Secara amnya, wiper silikon lebih tahan lama di mana anda tidak perlu kerap menukarnya berbanding wiper biasa. Namun harganya juga lebih mahal berbanding wiper biasa. Yang paling penting, pastikan wiper anda sentiasa dalam keadaan baik untuk digunakan.

Berbelanjalah mengikut bajet, bukan mengikut nafsu serta orang sekeliling. Barang yang mahal pun boleh mudah rosak juga jika tidak dijaga dengan betul, kan? Kunci utama untuk memiliki wiper yang baik adalah meliputi
aspek penjagaan yang rapi
 terhadap cermin dan wiper kereta.


Another Day, Another Lynk & Co Model

We can't get enough of Lynk & Co because number one - they are weird looking but in an exciting way, and two - because they are owned by the Geely Group and currently anything that is owned by Geely tends to make the news here.

The latest car that is rumoured to come out of the ever-expanding Geely Group is the Lynk & Co 06, an SUV roughly the same size as a Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and co.

According to
Car News China
, who managed to obtain some photos of the Lynk & Co 06, the SUV is due to be launched early next year, joining Lynk & Co's other vehicles the 01, 02, 03, 03+ and 05.

Engines that will probably make its way into this appealing looking SUV will probably be the already available 174hp 1.5-litre turbocharged mill and a 190hp 1.5-litre PHEV.

We can't see the 06 being built on a new platform because just like its siblings, the 06 will most probably use the Geely Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) which is also currently being used on the Volvo XC40.

Geely is currently using Proton's Tanjung Malim plant as an R&D centre for right-hand drive models, and if the 06 ever gets built, it will inevitably someday hit our shores for research purposes.


ETCM’s ‘Riang Raya’ Campaign Offers A Fully Paid-For Raya Celebration Party Worth RM50,000

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), the sole distributor of
Nissan
 vehicles in Malaysia, has launched it’s Riang Raya campaign for this upcoming festive season.
The campaign, they say, is one unlike anything ETCM has offered to customers before. It will run throughout the months of June and July 2015 and by the end, will award six lucky winners the opportunity to host their own Celebration Party.
The Celebration Party will be organized and paid for ETCM, which will cover the expenses worth up to RM50,000. In addition, the prize will come with the full facility of an even organizer, decorator, venue manager, sound system, food and beverage catering, and many more amenities.
All that is required from participants are to submit an entry form with their purchase of any new Nissan vehicle.
“We are always looking for innovative ways to reward our customers, and we believe that the concept of this ‘Riang Raya Campaign’ has never been done before here,” said Mr Tan Keng Meng, Director of Marketing and Product Planning, ETCM. “Being able to plan their celebration is a way of us at ETCM to be closer to our customers, and playing a part in creating a wonderful moment for them to share with friends and loved ones. This is something we are extremely honoured to be doing.”
Additionally, ETCM is also extending its “RM1.00 Promotion Campaign” as part of its Riang Raya celebrations. With just RM1.00, customers are able to purchase the NISMO Aerokit for the Nissan
Almera
, or an IMPUL Aerokit for the Nissan
Grand Lavina
 or Nissan
Sylphy
.
With the purchase of a new Nissan
Teana
 or
X-Trail
 2.5, the RM1.00 promotion allows customers to add on the 8-inch display Multimedia Navigation System. Nissan X-Trail 2.0 customers will be entitled to upgrade to leather seats for RM1.00 as well.
This extension of the RM1.00 Promotion Campaign expands to allow owners of selected variants of the Nissan
Navara
 to upgrade to the Navi-Plus Package. For the Nissan
Serena
 S-Hybrid, customers will enjoy free two years maintenance service.
ETCM is also offering the chance to win an iPad Air 2 when they test drive any Nissan model in showrooms nationwide.
More information can be found at
www.nissan.com.my
 or by calling ETCM’s Nissan Customer Care Centre at 1800-88-3838.


2015 Mercedes-AMG GT Launched In Malaysia: From RM1.15mil

Spotted on a
trailer not too long ago
, and then
confirmed for an official launch
 a while later, here then, is the 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT, brought to you by
Mercedes-Benz
 Malaysia.
While you could still call it one, it’s not officially known as a Mercedes-Benz model: no sir, this is bred straight out of Affalterbach’s workshops from the ground up, which also makes it the Mercedes-AMG model to come since the larger SLS AMG.
With the SLS discontinued, the weight of being the pinnacle of AMG motoring falls on this monster to carry: the AMG GT, launched here in Malaysia in its GT S form for now, with the option of the brand’s Edition 1 performance package. The regular AMG GT is ready for bookings, but will unveil itself at a later point.
*Keep in mind that the vehicle you see pictured here is the AMG GT S Edition 1
Here’s how the GT S is priced, inclusive of the necessary duties and taxes, OTR + GST, without insurance:
Mercedes-AMG GT S: RM1,150,000
Mercedes-AMG GT S Edition 1: RM1,200, 000
KEY SPECS: 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT S
Engine: 4.0-litre biturbo AMG V8, 3982cc
Transmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT-7 (seven-speed dual-clutch automatic)
Power: 510 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Torque: 650Nm @ 1,750 – 4,750 rpm
0-100kmh: 3.8 seconds
Top speed: 310km/h (electronically limited)
If you were expecting to see the brand’s powerhouse of a 6.2-litre AMG V8, you should know that AMG has since replaced it with a 4.0-litre biturbo V8, codenamed the M178 – an engine hand-made of the one-man, one-machine AMG philosophy.
Not to worry, because the new biturbo engine is capable of dishing out just as much performance. Torque is rated at the same 650Nm, but the new 4.0-litre is capable of delivering its max torque much earlier in the rev range – the SLS’s torque peaks at 4,750rpm, whereas the GT hits max torque from 1,750rpm, and keeps delivering it up to 4,750rpm.
Where power is concerned, it’s also important to remember that the AMG GT is a far lighter and smaller vehicle than the SLS. We’ll let you do the remaining math on its performance, which having witnessed it today at the Sepang International Circuit, we’ll say is mesmerizing. Not forgetting the incredible noise this thing makes with its fully variable exhaust flaps.
Step inside the new flagship AMG supercar and you’ll never more clearly understand the GT’s intentions: it’s low to the ground, cocoons you in performance luxury, and gives you sight only of things far ahead of you – this is a thoroughbred race car for the road.
To be able to tame the beast, however, there are several AMG Dynamic Select driving modes to choose from (Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus), each of which offering variable stages of damping, throttle response, gear shift points and exhaust noises: Sport Plus is naturally the one you save for track use, while the Comfort option turns everything soft and supple. There’s also a three-stage ESP system, offering three modes of preferred levels of traction: ESP On, ESP Sport Handling Mode, and ESP Off.
Helping the GT keeping its weight down is a light-alloy chassis: over 90% the spaceframe is made from aluminium components. The bodyshell itself sets a benchmark in the sportscar industry: it weighs just 231kg.
Edition 1:
Drop an additional RM50,000 on your Mercedes-AMG GT S and opting for the Edition 1 kits gets you a load of additional kit, as you see in the images here.
Starting at the front end, the Edition 1 aerodynamic package brings with a larger front splitter, flics on the side air intakes of the front apron, wheel arch flics at the front, dynamic black trim on the side sill panels and a fixed-position rear wing (it's an extendable arrangement on the non Edition 1 models).
A Night Package is specified by default, which sees the signature diamond front grille in black with a lourve in high-gloss black, exterior mirror housings in high-gloss black, a trim strip in the diffuser insert in high-gloss black, and black tailpipes, amongst other items.
The  Edition 1 also includes a set of 10-spoke light-alloy 19-inch wheels in the front, and 20-inch in the rear, painted in black
Optional Equipment:
There's lot of options to choose from with the AMG GT here as well. The AMG Dynamic Plus package is what you'll need ticked if you plan on getting the most out of the GT S. Electing this optional package upgrades the GT with dynamic engine and transmission mounts, for one, offering further agility at top speeds by continously adjusting the stiffness of the mounts to match your handling demands.
The AMG Dynamic Plus package also adds a further "Race" mode to the existing four Dynamic Select modes. This effectively stiffens the front springs further, and sharpens the transmission responses in "M" manual mode.
The Dynamic Plus package also comes with a performance steering wheel in black DINAMICA microfibre material, with yellow highlights in the instrument cluster.
The also an optional ceramic high-performance composite brake system: on the GT with internally ventilated, perforated 360-millimetre brake discs all-round; on the GT S with discs measuring 390 millimetres in diameter at the front, to cope with the higher performance, as well as red brake callipers.
A ceramic high-performance composite brake system is available for both models as an option. Its advantages: lower weight, longer service life and even better fade resistance thanks to the ceramic brake discs with a diameter of 402 millimetres at the front and 360 millimetres at the rear.
So, what will your choice be? This, or the BMW i8?


VIDEO: Bond Filming Shows Jaguar C-X75 Spotted Chasing DB10s

You’ve got to hand it to James Bond, that movie franchise doesn't let up with having the best of British cars in the business. There’ve been no shortages of leaked footage from the set of 007’s latest outing, Spectre, and bless the script that mandated many scenes shot within a busy city filled with people with cameras.
And so it would seem, another day another scene gets spied for us to get even more geared up for the movie’s release. This time, the
Aston Martin

DB10 that was spotted in Rome
 finds itself in narrow streets lined with parked cars, but threading carefully isn’t an option when you’ve got a
Jaguar
 C-X75 breathing down your neck, most likely driven by the baddies on film. Stuntmen try several takes at power sliding the Bond’s DB10 (the Aston’s V8 sounds glorious) while the Jag gives chase, calmly staying within the limits of grip.
Nearer to the 0:40 second mark, the cars almost come together. What a tragedy that would be to witness one of the very few examples of the C-X75 – Jaguar’s hybrid-powered answer to the Porsche 918 Spyder, La Ferrari and McLaren P1 that got axed before entering production – with a crumpled front end.
The DB10 is nice and all, but we wished it looked as cool as the Jag.
Video via Marchetinno
Here's a video of the C-X75 project from Jaguar, way back when:


You Will Be Fired If You Can Finish Honda's New CR-V Commercial In Office

Most television commercials last at the most 30 seconds, 90 seconds if it is some YouTube feature commercial if they can hold your attention long enough to avoid being skipped. This YouTube advertisement on the other hand, isn’t quite like your average promotion and takes the art of commercials to a whole new level.
Honda
 recently released a very ambitious commercial to portray the
new CR-V’
s ‘endlessness’, which is meant ot portray endless enjoyment and endless reliability, that is sort of perfectly communicated through this rather unique “Droste effect” spot. What's more you can switch between 11 major cities around the world, including Kuala Lumpur, where it would collect real-time weather and time data from the chosen city and change the lighting and weather in the cycle to reflect the city's current weather and time, be it sunny, dusk, cloudy, raining, or night.
Trust me, you won’t be able to stop watching, and I bet you can’t finish it in time before you get fired. Click the image below
to watch it
, you have been warned.


The 2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Touches Down In Kuala Lumpur

Bentley Kuala Lumpur has just launched their first-ever plug-in vehicle available in the country with the all-new Flying Spur Hybrid, which are available in Azure and Azure S trim levels starting from RM945,000.

Mind you, that shade under a million is not inclusive of taxes, duties, and registration, so there's still quite a bit of cash left to top up before the Bentley is actually yours. This car isn't only the first electrified model to be offered by the British brand in Malaysia, but coincides with their 25th year of presence in the country.

Under that bonnet we find a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 enginet that, on its own, produces 416hp and 550Nm paired with a 136hp electric motor for a combined output of 544PS and 750Nm. Despite it weighing over 2.4 tonnes, it crunches the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.3 seconds.

At the rear, the electricity reserves are stored within an 18kWh lithium ion battery that, in its engine-off EV Drive mode, can propel the car for up to 40 kilometers. Not only does the Flying Spur hybrid outgun Bentley's first-ever hybrid offering,
the Bentayga Hybrid
, the sedan's more efficient downsized engine and higher-capacity battery means there's some impressive stats to back up the superlative performance and luxury.

Touted as the most efficient Bentley ever produced so far, the Flying Spur hybrid is claimed to be able to drive for some 800km before needing to refuel provided you also pair that with a fully charged battery.

You might also notice that this engine and e-motor combo is eerily similar to that of another maruqe under the VW Group: Porsche. In fact, it's essentially the same hybrid powertrain as the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, albeit with the V6 engine tuned to a higher output.

In fact, they both share an Porcshe-developed 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, which was first seen in a Bentley via the 3rd-generation Continental GT.

Inside, the Flying Spur is pure class as you might expect. Bentley say that there are over 1 billion customisation permutations available a prospective customer during the order process, but you can be sure the car is soaked with fine materials and the best build money can buy.

It won't be long before the 4.0-litre V8 and brand staple 6.0-litre W12 engines are on their way out either, or at least subject to some electricfied assist or downsizing, or both. Rumours are already swirning about the W12 being canned entirely in favour of a new V8 PHEV.

However, if you were really keen on snagging up some of the first Flying Spurs for yourself, you might have to be patient as Bentley Kuala Lumpur says that they're currently all sold out.


All-New 2017 Audi A8 To Offer Hybrid Engines As Standard

All engines of the upcoming all-new Audi A8 will have varying degrees of electrification, starting with mild hybrid combustion engines underpinned by a 48-volt electrical system.
Specifics of the engine range have yet to be disclosed, but Audi has revealed that the system will consist of a 10Ah lithium-ion battery and a belt-driven alternator starter (BAS), which gets a dedicated water-based cooling system.
A conventional starter is also provided, but is only required for use during cold starts. In regular operation, the BAS allows faster and smoother restarts of the engine at every start/stop cycle.
With the ability to restart the engine swiftly and smoothly, Audi engineers can then enable an engine-off coasting feature for up to 40 seconds at a time at speeds between 55 and 160 km/h. The engine fires back up at a step of the accelerator pedal.
Additionally, the new A8’s auto start/stop system is calibrated to kill the engine as the vehicle slows past 22 km/h to a full stop.
A common concession in driving vehicles with auto start/stop systems is the need to give the system a couple of seconds to fire the engine up before taking off. Audi plans to eliminate this wait altogether by using the BAS in conjunction with predictive software that monitors surrounding roads through the vehicles network of cameras and sensors.
In a traffic jam, for example, the system is programmed to start the engine as soon as the car in front inches forward. Another example, is when the car is slowing down approaching a red light; if the car detects the lights turning green, the engine is restarted before the driver releases the brake pedal.
The predictive software is also used to govern the use of the vehicle’s brake energy recuperation system. If the driver lifts off on a clear road, the vehicle goes into coasting mode; but if it is detected that the vehicle is closing in on a slower car ahead, the brake recuperation system then kicks in to simultaneously slow the car down and recover the otherwise-wasted kinetic energy.
Audi claims that implementation of these mild hybrid features help slash 0.7 litres/100km off the all-new A8’s fuel consumption.
Set to debut at the Audi Summit in Barcelona on 11 July, the all-new A8 will also be debuting an innovative
new iteration of its Audi Space Frame chassis
 with a mix of four different materials - aluminium, steel, magnesium, and CFRP.


BMW: For More M Power – Just Inject Water

Yes you’ve read that right. BMW believes that the solution to increase power output from a turbocharged petrol engine is to inject water, and we’re not talking about the radiator or intercooler here, but literally injecting water directly into the combustion chamber.
Earlier this year, BMW debuted a novel water injection technology in the M4 MotoGP Safety Car. Since then, the technology have progressed further, evolving into direct water injection and have been adapted for use in a prototype 1-series (pre-LCI model) fitted with a modified 1.5-litre three cylinder engine.
BMW says its direct water injection technology overcomes the main hurdle with turbocharged engines – that power output is affected by high temperature of the compressed air that is being fed into the engine, thus limiting the compression ratio, which subsequently limits the engine’s power output.
The temperature in the combustion chamber is also directly proportionate with harmful NOx emissions. So cooling the compressed air that’s coming into the engine’s intake manifold not only increases performance, but also reduces NOx emissions.
In the M4 MotoGP Safety Car, located in the boot is a five-litre water tank. With the aid of a high pressure pump and sophisticated control electronics, water is then injected into the engine’s intakes at 10 bars of pressure.
The water is injected as a fine spray into the intake manifold plenum chamber where it evaporates, extracting energy from its surroundings and reducing combustion temperatures in the engine by around 25 degrees Celsius. In the case of the 1-series prototype, the system has been improved further to inject water not just into the intake manifold, but also directly into the combustion chamber.
In most turbocharged engines, the engine’s computer usually injects a tiny amount of fuel to cool combustion chamber before delivering more fuel for combustion. With direct water injection, this process is no longer necessary and BMW reckons that the system can reduce real-world fuel consumption by 8 percent.
With better control of the combustion chamber’s temperature, the prototype 1-series’ three cylinder turbocharged engine’s compression ratio can now be increased from 9.5:1 to 11.0:1, which BMW says will improve power and torque by up to 10 percent.
With lower combustion temperatures comes reduced risk of ‘knocking,’ so the engine can now reliably run on lower octane RON95 fuel despite the high 11.0:1 compression ratio.
How often must the water tank in the boot be refilled? In the case of the M4 MotoGP Safety Car’s twin turbo straight-six 431 PS engine driven under racing conditions, the tank needs to refilled at every fuel stop.
However BMW says the system that will be fitted into production BMWs in the future will require almost zero maintenance as the tank refills itself by recovering waste condensed water vapour from the vehicle’s air-conditioning system.


This Is The Fourth Generation Toyota Prius, Due Late 2015

What you are seeing here is a sneak preview of the next generation Toyota Prius, assuming that we have correctly read between the lines of Toyota's carefully crafted press release regarding a progress update of its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform project.
"Toyota will begin rolling out its new platforms with the launch of a midsize front-wheel-drive vehicle this year, followed by specific new platforms for front-wheel-drive compact and large vehicles, as well as for rear-wheel-drive vehicles," said Toyota, along with multiple references to an all-new hybrid powertrain.
In the US, Prius is classified as a midsize class model, along with the Camry.
"By improving thermal efficiency in engines and energy-relay efficiency in transmissions, Toyota has increased the overall fuel efficiency of its powertrains by approximately 25 percent and overall power output by more than 15 percent. Also, by rethinking drive unit layout and making electric motors, inverters and batteries smaller, Toyota expects to improve the overall fuel efficiency of its hybrid vehicle systems by more than 15 percent. Toyota will begin introducing its new powertrain units this year, and will continue to develop innovative new hybrid systems, transmissions and engines," it added.
It could also mean that an all-new generation of Toyota's iconic full hybrid model will make its world debut in late 2015, probably at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show in October.
Toyota also sent out three images of a chassis cut-out but intentionally left out any description for the images.
Closer inspection revealed some clues. The relatively compact engine bay, heavily raked A-pillars extending towards a heavily slanted bonnet (as suggested by the dummy box covering the engine bay) and the rear seats construction suggests that this is hatchback/liftback model - all hallmarks of the current and previous generation Prius.
There appears to be no provision to mount a traction battery in the boot (as in all Prius past and present) but the picture also shows an exposed rear seat frame with a curiously empty space beneath the thin seat cushions. It could be that the new traction battery, which Toyota have said will be made lighter and smaller, will now sit beneath the rear seats. The current Prius c already adopts this layout (below).
Toyota said the new TNGA platform will deliver dividends in the form of "achieving attractive, low-stance designs, responsive handling, a high-quality drive feel, and collision performance that offers safety and peace of mind." It also adds that overall body rigidity have been increased by as much as 30 to 65 percent, aided by adoption of laser screw welding technology.


Smash and Grab Foiled By Security Tint Film

Four robber’s attempt to make a quick smash and grab was foiled when they failed to shatter the passenger side glass of the victims Perodua Axia, which was likely reinforced with a security tint film recently.
The video illustrates the importance of installing a good quality tint film to protect occupants and valuables from incidences such as this.
A word of caution, please refrain from placing valuables, especially handbags on the passenger side seat. If you absolutely must, place items in the passenger foot well and cover your items with a black cloth to avoid detection.


Apakah Posisi Memandu Yang Betul Untuk Wanita Bertubuh Kecil?

Bagi wanita dengan saiz badan kecil dan rendah, memandu kereta menjadi sedikit mencabar buat mereka.

Kebiasaannya,
pemandu wanita
 bertubuh kecil cenderung menggerakkan seluruh tubuh mereka ke depan hingga terlalu rapat dengan stereng untuk memudahkan kaki menekan pedal brek, juga untuk melihat jalan di hadapan dengan lebih baik.

Cukup bahaya! Ini kerana posisi selamat ketika memandu ialah menyandar belakang badan sepenuhnya pada kerusi dengan bahagian bawah badan dijauhkan dari stereng.

Nampak macam remeh, tetapi
posisi rapat ke stereng sangat berbahaya jika berlaku perlanggaran
 kerana beg udara yang mengembung dengan kelajuan 320km/j berisiko menyebabkan impak kuat ke atas badan pemandu.

Walaupun memakai tali keledar, impak yang terhasil akibat posisi memandu tidak betul boleh menyebabkan anggota badan patah dan kecederaan serius yang lain.

Ya, memang mencabar bagi seorang wanita bertubuh genit mendapatkan posisi memandu yang tepat dan selamat. Tetapi, itu bukan bermakna ia tidak boleh dilakukan. Jika anda salah seorang daripada wanita itu, cuba ikut tip yang kami kongsi ini.

1. Pelarasan stereng yang betul

Stereng sepatutnya lurus ke dada, tidak tinggi ataupun rendah. Secara anatomi tubuh badan manusia, tulang dada kita lebih kuat berbanding tulang leher. Jadi, ini sedikit sebanyak membantu
survival
 jika berlaku perlanggaran secara berdepan yang menyebabkan badan menghentam roda stereng.

2. Jarak selamat yang betul

Apabila stereng sudah dilaraskan, sandarkan badan sepenuhnya pada tempat duduk pemandu dan pastikan siku dalam keadaan membengkok dan bukan melurus ketika memegang stereng.

Bagi wanita bertubuh kecil, mereka akan cuba bergerak ke depan stereng supaya kaki mereka selesa dengan pedal brek. Namun ini akan merapatkan jarak antara tubuh dan stereng dan bukanlah jarak yang selamat jika berlaku pelanggaran.

Mungkin ada tidak tahu, pemanjang pedal (
pedal extenders
) ada dijual dan boleh dibeli secara dalam talian atau di kedai aksesori kereta. Inilah cara paling selamat dan terbaik untuk merapatkan jarak antara kaki dan pedal tanpa merapatkan jarak selamat.

3. Kusyen peninggi tempat duduk

Selain jarak selamat, ketinggian tempat duduk juga membantu wanita untuk melihat dengan jelas ketika memandu.

Cara terbaik untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini ialah gunakan kusyen peninggi tempat duduk untuk meninggikan posisi badan. Ini dapat membantu anda melihat jalan di depan dengan lebih jelas dan pastinya lebih selamat untuk anda.

Kebanyakan kereta baharu di pasaran menawarkan
kerusi jenis boleh laras
, sama ada secara automatik atau manual. Mungkin boleh masukkan ciri ini sebagai syarat wajib sebelum beli kereta baharu. Jangan lupa cuba dulu fungsi tersebut yer.

4. Pakai tali keledar dengan betul

Masalah bagi wanita bersaiz kecil dan juga kanak-kanak adalah sama – tali keledar melalui bahagian muka dan bukannya paras bahu.

Tahukah anda tali keledar boleh dilaraskan? Pastikan tali adalah di bahagian bahu dan melintang lurus sepanjang dada, manakala tali pinggang dipasang ketat merentasi pinggul. Ini adalah untuk keselamatan anda,
andai berlaku pelanggaran
, tali keledar menghalang dada ke depan berbanding muka atau perut anda.

5. Pegang stereng pada posisi yang betul

Posisi betul untuk memegang stereng adalah jam 3 dan 9 untuk mengelak tangan menghentam muka sekiranya
beg udara diaktifkan ketika kemalangan
.

Jangan jadikan fizikal sebagai penghalang dan menyukarkan pemanduan anda. Apa yang anda perlukan ialah sedikit modifikasi, kreativiti dan keyakinan. Asalkan mematuhi segala tip di atas, anda pasti dapat
enjoy
 memandu seperti pemandu lain.

Selamat mencuba!


Face Masks Still Mandatory On: Taxis, e-Hailing Rides, Trains, Buses, Planes

The Health Ministry might have relaxed the nationwide rule
on wearing masks indoors
, but before you throw yours in the trash to symbolise the emancipation of the lower half of your face, there are still some places where they are most definitely mandatory.

First of all, KKM emphasises the standing requirement to wear face masks in small, enclosed indoor spaces since they cannot outright list all the potential situations this might entail. However, for the protection of our fellow Malaysians,
only commutes in your private vehicle
 can be mask-free.

Face masks still mandatory in taxis, e-hailing rides, trains, buses, and planes

Otherwise, those using a
taxi, bus, or e-hailing service
 will still need to wear one. The same also continue to apply to those riding
on trains, planes, and light rail networks such as the LRT, MRT, Komuter, and Monorail.

Besides the vehicular protocols, other places where wearing a face mask is a must include
health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, as well as haemodialysis centres, and the like
.

The big difference after the September 7th announcement is the downgraded status of face masks in everyday urban environments from ‘required’ to ‘highly encouraged’. These include houses of worship and generally crowded areas (even outdoors - concerts, pasar malam come to mind), meaning you can now technically walk freely mask-free in indoor premises.

That said, that can’t stop people from giving you disapproving looks and walking in a wide berth around you, nor does it apply to
private premises that specify a requirement for wearing a mask
.

If the proprietor of a business, for example, imposes a mask mandate to enter, you'll have to comply or leave.

It also goes without saying the Health Ministry highly encourages the use of face masks when around (or likely to be around) high-risk individuals such as those of old age, with comorbidity, or those generally prone to or suffering from an ongoing health issue.

Malaysia hasn’t yet committed to being a completely mask-free society like, say, the United Kingdom has. Like it or not,
the COVID-19 virus is still prevalent
 despite all of us being fully vaccinated and, globally, the worse of the pandemic is behind us. Anything can still happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.


Stricter Seatbelt Enforcement Coming, Warns Transport Minister

Only seven to nine percent of drivers and passengers are aware of how imperative the use of seat belts are to safety on the road, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, backing up
previous findings from MIROS
. Stricter enforcement needs to be put into place to affect change.
As the
Malaysian Insider
 reports,
following statistics
 that mark Malaysia as having one of the worst traffic fatality rates in the country during recent times, much firmer measures have to be taken to ensure the safety of the people when on the road, particularly when it concerns basic safety measures such as seatbelts.
The ministry would place more emphasis on campaigns to educate the public on the use of seat belts, especially for rear passengers, in addition to intensifying enforcement by the police and Road Transport Department to ensure the public obeys the requirement.
"I hope the people will accept the advice because it is for their own good. I don't like to penalise people, but if there is no enforcement, there will be very low compliance with the law," he told reporters in Putrajaya.
In 2014, Malaysia recorded over 180,000 road accidents, leading to 6,674 fatalities.


Subaru WRX STI Type RA Becomes Fastest Sedan Around Nurburgring

Another day, another broken record – such is the story with the ‘most difficult racetrack in the world’; the Nurburgring.
This time around, the star of the show is the Subaru WRX STI Type RA which has become the fastest sedan around ‘The Ring’ with a lap time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds.
Piloted by FIA World Endurance Driver Richie Stanaway, the Subaru completed the lap 35 seconds quicker than the last car to set the record – the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
The new WRX STI Type RA, which aptly stands for "record attempt," is powered by a tweaked version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder engine as the WRC-spec WRX STI, kicking out a massive 600hp.
Complemented by a generous dose of carbon fiber parts, custom dampers, and modified stability control system, it is no surprise that the car was able to accomplish this feat.
It is said that the stunt was an effort to help promote the upcoming production version of the WRX STI Type RA which Subaru is introducing in 2018.
Limited to only 500 units, the car will feature similar upgrades to the NBR special, although on a much milder scale.
As legit as this record is, we can't really compare this car with the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio as this particular WRX STI is actually a full-blown race car, while the latter is a production car.


Singapore 2018: Borneo Motors Launches All-New Toyota C-HR, Priced From SGD 119,988

Borneo Motors, the official importer of Toyota vehicles in Singapore recently launched the all-new Toyota C-HR. Prior to this, all Toyota C-HR models were brought in by parallel importers. The Toyota C-HR was earlier previewed by Borneo Motors at the 2017 Singapore Motorshow.
The launch happened yesterday at FOC Sentosa, and Borneo Motors is currently displaying the all-new C-HR at the ongoing 2018 Singapore Motorshow.
Units brought in by Borneo Motors feature a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine that delivers 114 hp and 185 Nm to the front wheels via a CVT-type automatic, while returning 6.4L/100 km. Later on, Borneo Motors could be adding the 1.8 Hybrid to its C-HR lineup.
Borneo Motors is offering two variants of the Toyota C-HR – Active and Luxury, both of which are equipped with Toyota’s Safety Sense P, which includes Lane Departure Alert, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System and Blind Spot Monitoring. Additionally, seven airbags and Rear Cross Traffic Alert come as standard equipment on the Borneo Motors-imported Toyota C-HR.
Both Toyota C-HR models share a similar powertrain, through the Luxury spec adds:
LED auto headlights
LED clearance lights
LED tail lights
Smart entry with smart start system
Leather seats
Powered driver seat with adjustable lumbar support
In terms of pricing, the all-new Toyota C-HR Active costs SGD 119,988, while the C-HR Luxury costs SGD 129,988. Additionally, Borneo Motors is offering a dual-tone version of the C-HR base on the Luxury trim, priced at SGD 130,988. All prices are inclusive of COE.


Shell And Porsche's First DC Fast Charging Station Is Now Open In Johor

Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific have opened their first HPC charging station in Tangkak, Johor.

Nine months after its original announcement, Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific have announced the operational start of their high-performance charging (HPC) station, beginning with the first one in Tangkak, Johor. This HPC station marks the start of the construction of 12 charge points at six Shell stations strategically located along
Malaysia's North-South highway
.

All
EV customers
 will be able to use the HPC Network via a pay-per-use service or an exclusive membership plan by making reservations via an online booking app.

The six Shell stations in Malaysia will be outfitted with 180 kilowatt (kW) direct-current (DC) chargers, offering the fastest charging capacity across Malaysia and later right up to Bangkok, Thailand.

As an example, the fast DC charger is able to re-juice the
Porsche Taycan
 from zero to 80% battery capacity in around 30 minutes.

"Decarbonisation is a global challenge that requires broad-reaching, multi-faceted solutions. Our partnership with Porsche in meeting the needs of EV customers today is an important initiative under our Powering Progress strategy to achieve our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Together with Porsche, we'll be working to improve the EV charging experience along a key travel artery connecting three countries in the region," said Amr Adel, Senior Vice President, Mobility – East, Shell.

"At Porsche, we are committed to driving the future of mobility in South East Asia, as we pursue a carbon neutral balance sheet across our entire value chain by the year 2030. Our partnership with Shell is a result of well-aligned sustainability objectives and will further supplement our range of charging solutions for electric vehicle owners, with specific benefits accorded to Porsche owners. With this new high performance charging network, we are making what was once a vision – long-distance, crossborder emissions-free travel – now a reality," said Dr Henrik Dreier, Director New Business Fields, Porsche Asia Pacific.

If we refer to
Shell and Porsche's original plans
, these should be the locations for the upcoming stations.

Phase 1

Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)

Tangkak (Johor)

Phase 2

Jalan Ayer Hitam (Johor)

Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)

Phase 3

Simpang Pulai (Perak)

Tapah (Perak)


Suzuki Swift Facelift 2021 Dilancarkan Di Thailand – Bermula daripada RM75,000

Selepas dilancarkan di negara kelahirannya, Jepun pada tahun lalu,
Suzuki
 telah memperkenalkan Swift facelift 2021 ke pasaran Thailand pula baru-baru ini. Seperti model sebelumnya, Suzuki Swift 2021 ini turut akan dipasang dan dibina secara tempatan (CKD) di Thailand.

Selepas diperkenalkan di pasaran Thailand
3 tahun lalu
, Suzuki kini hanya menawarkan dua varian iaitu GL dan GLX. Tiada lagi varian GA dan GLX-Navi dalam versi 2021 ini. Tidak terdapat banyak perubahan besar pada model ini. Yang paling ketara semestinya pada gril hadapannya yang kini hadir dengan kemasan krom nipis menggantikan kemasan plastik, sama seperti model yang diperkenalkan di pasaran Jepun.

Bagi memastikan Swift 2021 ini memenuhi piawaian emisi fasa 2 yang ditetapkan oleh kerajaan Thailand, kedua-dua varian ini dikuasakan dengan enjin 1.2 liter ‘naturally-aspired’ empat silinder yang dipadankan dengan kotak gear
CVT
 yang memberikan 83 PS serta 108 Nm tork.

Bukan itu sahaja, kemudahan auto start/stop yang terdapat pada kedua-dua varian ini berupaya memberikan lebih penjimatan bahan api, dengan 4.3 liter/100km, bersamaan 23 km/liter. Siapa yang taknak kereta yang jimat minyak betul tak?

Varian GL yang hadir dengan rim 15 inci kini telah ditambahbaik dengan sistem keyless dengan butang Push-Start, penghawa dingin automatik, serta cermin sisi boleh lipat. Pembaharuan tersebut telah menyebabkan harga bagi varian asas ini naik sebanyak THB 21,000 (RM2800) kepada THB 557,000 (RM75,300) berbanding harga generasi sebelumnya, THB 536,000 (RM72,500).  Berbaloi ke?

Varian GLX pula tiba dengan rim alloy bersaiz 16 inci, enam beg udara, lampu isyarat pada cermin sisi, serta kamera belakang yang baru diperkenalkan. Untuk bahagian dalaman pula, GLX menerima kemasan kulit pada stereng dan skrin sentuh bersaiz 8 inci yang disokong oleh Android Auto dan Apple CarPlay.

Berbeza dengan varian GL yang menggunakan brek gelendong, varian GLX tiba dengan brek cakera untuk lebih cengkaman. Namun walau bagaimanapun, harga yang ditawarkan untuk varian GLX ini tidak berubah pada THB 629,000, bersamaan RM84,915.

Terdapat 6 warna yang ditawarkan pada model ini iaitu merah, silver, biru, hitam, putih dan kelabu. Suzuki optimis dengan penerimaan model ini di Thailand dan telah mensasarkan untuk menjual 12,000 unit di pasaran Thailand pada tahun ini.

Agak-agaknya model ni bakal masuk Malaysia tak? Seperti yang sedia maklum, Suzuki dah keluar daripada pasaran Malaysia sejak 2016 lagi. Tiada lagi model baharu Suzuki yang masuk ke pasaran Malaysia sejak tahun tersebut. Tapi walau bagaimanapun, terdapat desas desus mengatakan bahawa mungkin ada pengedar baru berminat untuk mewakili Suzuki di Malaysia, seterusnya membawa masuk kembali model Suzuki di pasaran negara ini.

Sejauh manakah kebenaran ini? Pada waktu ini, ia hanyalah khabar angin. Tiada apa-apa kepastian dapat dibuat pada masa ini ditambah pula dengan penularan wabak COVID-19 yang merencatkan segala perancangan tahun ini. Sekiranya Suzuki kembali ke pasaran Malaysia, model apa yang anda paling minat untuk dibawa masuk?


Tan Chong’s MUV Expands Beyond Nissan, Targets B2B Sector

MUV Marketplace Sdn. Bhd., the sister company of Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor, has today launched a mobile application that allows used car dealers to make wholesale purchases by putting out their bids online.
Started in 2013 as a seller of used Nissan vehicles, operating out of an outlet in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, MUV will now be expanding beyond retail sales of used Nissan vehicles to consumers, to include the Business-to-Business (B2B) sector, by supplying vehicles to other used car dealers.
The company now has three hubs, located in Klang Valley, Penang and Johor, and has sold more than RM260 million worth of used vehicles so far. It has also ran 50 auctions for more than 11,000 vehicles with a hit rate of 75 percent.
A quick look at the vehicles in MUV’s lot revealed a wide variety of cars that are being processed by MUV, not just Nissan models.
For now, the MUV app (downloadable from Apple’s and Google’s app stores) is only accessible by used car dealers registered with MUV (consumers can view the vehicles up for bidding as guests) but in the longer term, Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Consumer-to-Business (C2B) functions will be added, allowing consumers will be able to buy and sell cars using MUV’s mobile app.
Dealers can also view the vehicles physically at the various MUV Xchange Hubs located at Seri Kembangan, Bayan Lepas and Johor Jaya.
Nicholas Tan, Founder of MUV Marketplace Sdn. Bhd., said: “The used vehicle industry is ripe for disruption. If you look at it, there’s billions invested in the new vehicle space and very little in the used vehicle space. We wanted to create a level playing field, a marketplace that brings the openness of information technology with the physical ecosystem of a marketlace – nationwide.”
MUV Marketplace Sdn. Bhd. is a subsidiary of the Tan Chong group’s Warisan TC Holdings.
Consumers can also put up their vehicles for sale at MUV, albeit in a conventional manner, as the app is now only accessible by dealers. The process on how to sell your car via MUV is as explained in the infographic below:
You may also browse the wide selection of used cars sold by
MUV at Carlist.my
.


BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car To Make A Pit Stop At Bangsar

For the 20th consecutive season, BMW M GmBH returns to the racetrack at the 2018 MotoGP World Championship to lead the world’s best motorcycle riders with its fleet of vehicles at the front.
Prior to the Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix happening this weekend , the new spearhead of the Safety Car fleet – the BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car with BMW M Performance Parts – will make appearances across Kuala Lumpur on a convoy with the
BMW M5
,
BMW 530i M Sport
, BMW S 1000 RR, and the BMW S 1000 RR Safety Bike.
The convoy will make a pit stop at Bangsar Village II at 12:00 pm, where a meet-and-greet session with BMW M MotoGP expert and three-time World Champion, Loris Capirossi will take place.
Fans can also participate in the BMW S 1000 RR Safety Bike puzzle challenge and stand a chance to win main grandstand tickets to the Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, happening this weekend of 2nd to 4th November 2018.
Check out the video below of the BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car in a promotional video at the recently concluded Thailand Grand Prix.


Perodua 1st Half 2016 Performance Review - 10,115 Bezza bookings

Perodua today announced that it maintains its 2016 sales target of 216,000 units, driven by strong response towards the Perodua Bezza sedan. As of 26th July 2016, Perodua has collected 10,115 bookings, just five days after the
launch
.
Perodua President and CEO, Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh commented, “We began mass production of the Perodua Bezza since June and have a ready stock of 7,000 units as of 21st July 2016, by 31st July, we expect to have 9,000 units ready for delivery nationwide.”
Despite
moderate sales growth
 in the automotive sector, Perodua managed the delivery of 97,400 units in the first six months of 2016 and plans to deliver a further 118,600 units in the second half of the year.
The Perodua Bezza has averaged 1,000 bookings per day since booking opened on 16th July 2016 and 500 vehicles have been delivered thus far. As for the other three Perodua models on sale, the sales breakdown for the first half of 2016 is as follows:
Perodua Axia:
 51,100 units
Perodua Myvi:
 28,100 units
Perodua Alza:
 18,150 units
Perodua has enjoyed an increase in market share from 33.7% to 35.5% year-on-year (YOY) despite the reduced Total Industry Volume (TIV). The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has downgraded the projected TIV for 2016, from 650,000 units to 580,000 units amidst the volatility of the global economy and soft consumer sentiment.
Datuk Aminar does admit, however, that the worrying factor is that the non-national manufacturers currently enjoy a bigger market share compared to national manufacturers - 51 percent versus 49 percent. Of this, Perodua contributes 33 percent and Proton a further 16 percent. The national market share has, however, showed improvement, gaining traction during the first half of 2016.
Perodua maintains a cautiously positive outlook for the second half of 2016. Despite the revised TIV forecast, Bank Negara’s reduction of Overnight Policy Rates (OPR) and softer Gross Domestic Product (GDP) outlook, the company believe the introduction of the Bezza will drive consumer interest and bolster sales requirements.
Perodua aims to round-off 2016 with an overall TIV market share of 37 percent.


Mercedes Previews E-Class All-Terrain Ahead of Paris Motor Show- Essentially an Elevated Estate

Many have questioned the direction of German manufacturers in their seemingly relentless expansion of their product portfolios, creating models for segments between segments and creating all new crossover type vehicles. But this time, Mercedes isn't doing anything that hasn't been done before; Audi has had an A6 allroad quattro estate for a while now, although it can be a little difficult to tell it apart from a regular A6 estate. This new Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain, on the other hand, seems to be a better defined middle ground between the estate and the sport utility vehicle.
The overall lines are that of the E-Class Estate that we know and love, but a change to an SUV grille and beefier wheel arch covers help to accentuate that hard-core offroading look. As expected with any estate, the key point is "intelligent use of space" - not that you don't really get that with an SUV - but estates are usually a little more wieldy than something as top heavy and bulky as an SUV in most situations. This All-Terrain model comes with 4MATIC and AIR BODY CONTROL (yes all caps) as standard, making it effective when you go off the beaten path. Ground clearance can go from 121 mm to 156 mm, with the standard ride height at the lowest setting being 29 mm higher than the standard E-Class Estate.
But then it also comes packaged with either 19 inch or 20 inch wheels, which feels a little counter productive. Mercedes says it is done to improve ride comfort, but naturally the question is "relative to what?". There are very few tyres that can offer enough sidewall profile on either of those wheel sizes that will make the model anything short of bone rattling once you hit the dirt. An underride guard finished in silver chrome also makes you wonder what will happen if (when) you scrape against something that it can't quite clear.
For now, Mercedes plans to launch it in Europe with a 4-cylinder diesel engine, and eventually a 6-cylinder diesel engine, and no word of a petrol variant. For all the implied ruggedness and seriousness of this All-Terrain model, you still aren't likely to see it bouncing through an oil-palm estate or taking part in the Borneo Safari- it would be much more comfortable in the valet spot in front of that-one-restaurant-you-can't-get-a-table-at, or the hotel with many stars to their name. But at least it's something a little different.


Honda, Nissan, And Toyota Join Forces To Expand Hydrogen Infrastructure

Three Japanese car makers:
Toyota
 Motor Corporation,
Nissan
 Motor Co., Ltd., and
Honda
 Motor Co., Ltd. have agreed to work together to help accelerate the development of hydrogen station infrastructure for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in their local market (Japan).
Hydrogen-powered FCVs certainly have a lot going for them. On one hand, they are zero-emission – producing only water and no carbon dioxide at all. On the other, they are capable of achieving a driving range similar to a regular petrol-powered vehicle and can be refilled within the same amount of time too. The only drawback is the lack of hydrogen station infrastructure.
The Japanese government highlighted the importance of developing this infrastructure following the formulation of its Strategic Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in June 2014. With this initiative, it is in the hope that hydrogen-powered FCVs gain popularity. Besides introducing subsidies to support the installation of hydrogen stations, additional policies are also introduced, including partially subsidising the operating costs.
Among the three companies, Toyota introduced its Mirai in November 2014, which went on sale in Japan a month later. The next-generation of Honda’s FCV Concept made its debut at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. As for Nissan, it’s most recent FCV was the TeRRA SUV concept unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. In January 2013, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., under the Alliance with Renault, have signed a unique three-way agreement for the joint development of common fuel cell system.