Experts Agree Malaysia Needs Traffic Management System (Like Singapore?)

Driving in Malaysia is too stressful, experts say, and the country needs to work towards a more effective means of managing its growing traffic problems.

Anyone who has needed to commute to and from (or within) a busy part of the country has experienced what it’s like to be stuck at a crawl. In fact, a perfect storm of congestion is about to occur again on the days leading up to
Hari Raya 2022
 after lockdowns interfered with ‘
balik kampung
’ festivities for 2 years in a row.

According to Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Dr. Hazli Zakaria, the problems that contribute to the elevated stress levels experienced routinely by motorists are more deeply rooted.

A lack of coordination is a primary example he cites, such as finding more appropriate times
to conduct roadblocks
 and the carrying out of maintenance works. He also points to Singapore as an example of an efficient system to create a conducive on-road experience for its drivers.

“Many factors have been identified for contributing to increased stress levels when driving in this country including being forced to face roadblocks by the authorities who narrow lanes and poor timing in the implementation of maintenance works,” Dr. Hazli told Bernama.

“All these will affect the endurance of Malaysians or their ability to drive, hence there must be a management system which is user-friendly,” he added when asked to comment on the recent study that revealed
Malaysia to be the 8th most stressful country to drive in
.

When queried about the increased frustrations faced by drivers in contrast to Malaysia’s road quality which is higher relative to most of Southeast Asia, he mentions a lack of driver etiquette:

“[…] we often see situations when motorists are being reckless while on the road, squeezing between vehicles, changing lanes without signalling, or using the emergency lane without reason. This situation can lead to risky driving or cause other road users to be stressed and fail to keep their emotions in check, forcing them to act out of control on the road,” he said.

Datuk Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim, director-general of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (MIROS), linked the stresses of driving in Malaysia to problems at the workplace, financial situation, health, age, gender, and the purpose of the journey.

“There are five categories of stress identified among road users in Malaysia, namely, aggression, dislike of driving, hazard monitoring, proneness to fatigue and thrill-seeking. For example, aggression indicates an attitude or behaviour of motorists who are easily upset when facing an incident while driving especially among male drivers” he said.

On a slightly more personal note, it seems these experts are pretty well-versed in the troubles faced by the everyday driver in Malaysia. These are very plausible, common-sense reasons that all contribute to the problem.

However, they don’t exactly help matters when it comes to its possible resolution. As drivers, we pretty much already know why we might be stressed behind the wheel, but because so many of these factors are beyond our control, it is now up to the authorities and the government to coordinate an action plan to improve this.

Merely stating the obvious will not get the gears of change turning. A traffic management system that impacts every local driver for the better sounds like a daunting project, but simple improvements to road conditions, swifter/stricter punishment/enforcement of traffic laws, and orderly planning of our road network (particularly in dense areas) will alleviate the majority of woes to the average commuter.


All-New Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Also Available As A Sedan, Friday Premiere

The all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will be making its world premiere in Amsterdam this Friday, 2
nd
 February.
In the latest teaser released by the company, only quick glances of the tail lamp and head lamp are shown, with the video ending with the side silhouette of the hatchback. The all-new A-Class is also
available in a sedan bodytype
.
The new A-Class will also be debuting Mercedes-Benz’s latest user interface, Mercedes-Benz User Experience or MBUX.
A unique feature of MBUX is its ability to learn thanks to artificial intelligence. Key features of the new user interface include the high-resolution Widescreen Cockpit, now with touchscreen operation, navigation display with augmented reality technology, plus intelligent voice control with natural speech recognition, which is activated with the keyword “Hey Mercedes”.
The all-new A-Class is expected to be available in Malaysia by Q4 2018.


What goes into a VTEC Turbo?

For a lot of car enthusiasts growing up in the 80s and 90s, the word VTEC was synonymous with high-performance engines from renowned Japanese manufacturer, Honda. Over time that acronym, which stands for Variable Timing Electronic Control, has been found on everything from the entry-level Honda City to the family-carrying Honda CR-V.
While there were many versions of VTEC that operated in different ways, the base principle was the same: it allowed Honda to have an engine with variable cam timing (and in some cases, duration and lift) in order to maximize efficiency at the low end without sacrificing performance up top.
For decades, Honda was adamant about staying away from forced induction. They felt that the naturally aspirated form still had some ways to go in terms of development, and arguably all their work culminated in one of the most incredible naturally-aspirated engines available in a road car: the K20A 2.0-litre i-VTEC unit found in the DC5 Integra Type R and FD2 Civic Type R.
But moving forward from there, Honda realized that the only way to keep up with tightening emissions and efficiency regulations, as well as to cater to shifting consumer demands, was to adopt forced induction. Every manufacturer on the market is making this shift as well, although some are caught trying to catch up to the rest. You would expect the same from Honda given how quiet they were about the issue, but you can almost guarantee that they have had turbocharged engines in development for the years leading up to this shift.
The same principles remain. Improve efficiency at the low end while maximizing performance up top. Almost every modern engine has some form of variable timing, executed in a myriad of different ways- but to make it work with a turbocharger requires a little bit more work. Aftermarket tuners who deal with modified turbocharged engines will usually fiddle with the cam timing adjustment to speed up turbo spool times at the low end while doing the opposite at the top to reduce the amount of air-fuel charge that blows out through the exhaust.
But through the magic of direct injection, you can do away with all this tip-toeing around. Direct injection to most people is just another technical term that means “better efficiency”, but combining direct injection with forced induction can lead to some pretty interesting results. Because the engine is spraying fuel into the chamber after the valves shut, this means that no fuel and air mix gets blown out the exhaust valve during the intake stroke of an engine. It also allows for precise fuel injection multiple times to help combat detonation and improve low end performance.
It may be to the dismay of some, but the 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engines don’t have that VTEC kick of the classic VTEC engines. There is but one cam profile on each cam, rather than the double cam profile associated with the VTEC changeover. Despite this, there is still a Variable Timing Control system that advances and retards the cams in order to spool up the turbo more quickly. On the other hand, the 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engines such as those found in the FK8R maintain the variable lift system- although the kick is much less pronounced as the engine is already on boost.
From here on, Honda focused on reliability and usability. Some may dismay at how small the turbochargers are on these engines from factory, but the size of a turbocharger directly affects how long it takes to spool up. Small turbochargers allow the engine to hit full boost more quickly and provide that low end torque punch that makes modern turbocharged engines so efficient. To combat high exhaust gas temperatures, the exhaust manifold is water-cooled as well: another problem that comes with running the engine leaner (for efficiency) and having a small turbocharger is high exhaust gas temperatures, and the extra cooling helps to improve reliability of the turbocharger components.
The result of all of this work is a lineup of engines that can easily rival those of the Europeans, despite their head start on turbocharging. What Honda has achieved is truly impressive considering how dead-set they were on natural aspiration until the very end, and they have applied those same philosophies with the development of these newer engines. One might even say that those original concepts are ingrained in Honda’s engineers, the drive to get the most out of any component without compromising reliability or efficiency.


Geely launches a new electrified brand called Geely Galaxy

Geely Auto
 has officially unveiled its latest electrified brand called the Geely Galaxy.

Marketed as a high-end electrified product series, the Geely Galaxy brand unveiling was also joined by its first premium PHEV production model, the Geely Galaxy L7 long-range PHEV SUV as well as a concept EV called the Galaxy Light.

The Geely Galaxy brand will be at the forefront of Geely Auto's latest advanced driving techs which were also unveiled during the ceremony. Future NEV enthusiasts can look forward to the brand's extensive use of the latest E-CMA electrified architecture, Aegis battery safety system, NordThor Hybrid 8848 powertrain, and the Galaxy N-OS smart vehicle operating system.

Seven new Geely Galaxy models in two years

The Geely Galaxy journey will start in the second and third quarters of 2023 when the first Galaxy L7 SUV and L6 go up for sale. That will be followed by its first Galaxy E range production model, the Galaxy E8, in the final quarter of 2023.

There will be a total of seven different models that will be introduced by Geely Galaxy in the next two years - three of which will be the Galaxy E range. All of them will incorporate the new Aegis battery safety system which is said to offer the highest level of user protection as well as usage lifespan. It can also predict pre-empt thermal runaways as well as other situations.

Other highlights include the latest-generation NordThor dedicated hybrid engine from Geely, the NordThor 8848. Its biggest shoutout is the achievement of hitting a peak thermal efficiency of 44.26% which improves fuel economy by up to 15% as well as enhanced performances.

Paired to the NordThor three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), this hybrid powertrain allows the Geeley Galaxy L7 PHEV SUV to hit 0-100km/h in just 7.5 seconds before arriving at its top speed of 200km/h. In real-world driving situations, the Galaxy L7 can essentially cover 1,370km of range using only a single tank of fuel as tests revealed a remarkable fuel consumption rate of 5.23L/100km. No news so far for its all-electric range, though.

Galaxy N-Operating System

Last but not least, the Galaxy N-Operaing System developed by Geely offers the fastest system startup and response time in its class as the self-developed chips, operating systems, intelligent cloud computing, and satellite networks from Geely are backed using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 vehicle chip.

The brains of it all will see the advancements in the brand's precise satellite positioning, high-precision maps, and intelligent driving assist functionalities in the near future. Perhaps our favourite part is how good the cars look. Very Audi e-tron-like, eh?


Review: 2016 Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI – A Fearless Companion

Priced at RM589,900 excluding insurance, the fully imported from Slovakia 2016 Audi Q7 recently found itself forced into a tight position when Mercedes-Benz and BMW engaged in a price war of sorts with their S400 Hybrid and
730Li
 respectively.
Both the German limos are now priced just below RM600,000. In the past, they were priced north of RM700,000, and were supposed to compete with the imported from Neckarsulm, Germany, RM656,900 Audi A8L.
The locally-assembled RM598,888
Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid
 is skewing the market to its favour thanks to generous exemptions on excise duties under Malaysia’s ‘customised incentives’ for locally-assembled energy efficient vehicles.
The semi-carbon fibre body RM598,800
BMW 730iL
 is currently imported from Germany, but its low price suggests that some form of exemptions has already been granted by the government, possibly with assurances from BMW that local assembly will begin soon (a similar arrangement was made for the Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid).
Within this context, is there still a case for the Audi Q7?
Specifications for 2016 Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI with S-Line Package
Price: RM589,900 excluding insurance (excluding optional RM13,000 for S-Line Package)
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6, longitudinal
Power: 333 hp from 5,500 – 6,500 rpm
Torque: 440 Nm from 2,900 – 5,300 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed tiptronic automatic with paddle shifters, quattro all-wheel drive with electronic differential lock
Safety: 8 airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (ABS with EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), traction control (TC), hill start assist, hill descent control, 360 degree parking camera
Our test car is fitted with the optional RM13,000 S-Line accessories package, which includes a set of sportier 20-inch wheels, perforated leather trimmed gear knob and steering wheel, half leather half Alcantara seats, illuminated scuff plates and black roof lining.
Overview
Despite having been around just one generation before, and promoted mostly by grey importers, the Q7 is a fairly well known model among the locals.
Yes, the same amount of money can now buy you an S-Class or a 7 Series, but have you considered how plebeian you might look if you have to drive your limo yourself, for a family trip? Both these cars are meant to be chauffeur driven and the driver’s seat is not a place where many buyers from this income category want to be seen in, at least not in this side of the world.
The Q7 on the other hand, offers similar levels of prestige as the S-Class and 7 Series, but minus the ‘chauffeur’ tag should you decide to drive it yourself.
Of course, you do have to trade-off some of the features available in these limousines – business class airplane-style seats with extendable footrests, foldable table trays and infotainment screens and controls for rear passengers for example.
But the seven-seater Q7 offers a different level of uncompromising performance and go-anywhere capability that a regular limousine can’t. Flash floods and rough roads are now just minor annoyances rather than road blocks on your journey.
The closest alternative to the Q7 is the RM923,960 Lexus LX570, which also comes with a third row seat. Viewed within that context, the Q7 is quite a steal.
There’s also the RM573,800 BMW X5 xDrive35i but the X5 is more like a 5+2 seater, plus its second row seats only tilts and can’t tumble, making access into the third row difficult. Don’t forget the exceptionally good value RM453,888
Volvo XC90
 too – fully-imported from Sweden at the moment, but locally-assembled models will follow later this year.
The headlights are regular LEDs, not the individually controlled Matrix LED units available in the A8 or the TT.
Exterior
Like many recent Audis, the Q7 suffers from the Russian doll syndrome – all Audi models now looks the same, only the sizes are different. It’s a case of “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”
But design is a rather subjective matter so we leave it to you to judge. In our opinion, the second generation Q7 has lost some of the unique design identity that its predecessor had.
On the upside, we prefer its slightly smaller body now. The previous Q7 was simply too big to be practical, and was built mainly for plus-sized Americans rather than the rest of the world. Thankfully, the latest Q7 has been scaled down to a more manageable size. It’s 35 mm shorter and 15 mm narrower than its predecessor, but is marginally taller by 3 mm. Wheelbase is also shorter by 8 mm.
Interior
While it’s smaller on the outside, it’s actually bigger on the inside. The new MLB platform allows for better packaging efficiency and shoulder room is now significantly wider, increased by 81 mm, while 41 mm of headroom is liberated.
From the outside, the all-new Q7’s looks might induce yawns, but step inside, it retains all the familiar Audi traits – which means it has the best interior in its class, made with the best selection of materials.
The brushed aluminium engine starter button is a nice touch, as are the beautifully trimmed dashboard.
The air-conditioning’s control knobs doubles as a small display for the temperature settings, another one of Audi’s signature details.
The 8.3-inch MMI infotainment screen is retractable at the push of a button, but given the size of the Q7’s cabin, there is no need to hide the screen away.
Like many newer high-end Audis, it has an MMI Touch handwriting recognition system for you to enter inputs for the Bluetooth handsfree telephone controls and the navigation system. In theory it’s supposed to be more intuitive than twirling and pushing the rotary knob to enter individual alphabets, but frankly it’s much easier and way faster to just pull over by the side of the road and type it directly into your smartphone.
Alternatively, you could spend some time to train the voice recognition system to listen to your commands.
The full-colour LCD Virtual Cockpit instrument panel allows you to toggle between multiple display modes, including a Navigation mode that shows a map. It’s a neat feature that will impress your friends but we found it to be not very practical. BMW’s full colour Heads-up Display system is much more intuitive to follow, as the image is projected onto the windscreen, within your line of sight. On the Audi, you have to take your eyes off the road to look at the map – not very progressive. Even following Waze on a smartphone mounted on the car’s windscreen is a more eye-friendly alternative.
Occupants in the first two rows will have no complains but those in the third row will feel more comfortable in the Volvo XC90, which has air-conditioning vents integrated into the inner C-pillars, as well a more compact seat frames that liberates more legroom.
The second row seats slide fore and aft but if one needs to access the third row, a lot of strength is required to fold and tumble the second row seats. It’s definitely not something that you can operate using just one hand and it’s not so user-friendly to mothers. Still, it’s a lot better than the X5, which for reasons only BMW themselves know, has second-row seats that can only tilt forward but can’t fold or tumble.
On the upside, the Q7’s third row seats can be folded electrically, which is a plus point over the XC90 and X5. However, the motorised action can be quite slow to fold compared to the
Lexus RX 200t F Sport
 that we’ve sampled recently.
The boot is big enough, but quite a lot of room underneath the floor board has been sacrificed to accommodate a sub-woofer.
Driving Experience
The Q7 drives like what you would expect from a big Audi SUV – an ego-boosting combination of power and stupendous amount of grip. It gives you an illusion that there is nothing to fear, but at the same time it’s not an experience that you will find engaging, and that’s perfectly acceptable considering the Q7’s target customers.
Flex your right foot to summon all 333 hp and 440 Nm if you must, and the Q7 launches forward, readily committing itself to whichever direction you point it to. It follows your orders with very little drama but if fun if what you are looking for, look to the TT instead.
Like the Q5 (as well as A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8), the Q7 uses a self-locking centre differential version of Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel drive system. It’s a rear axle-biased system that under normal driving conditions, sends 60 percent of available torque to the rear, and if necessary, up to 85 percent.
Pushing this two-plus ton SUV on tight and twisty stretches, you are more likely to run out of talent before the Q7 runs out of grip. It’s surprisingly agile, but it’s not a driving challenge that you want to subject the Q7 to. It’s willing to dance but it’s like asking a trained elephant to do tricks – possible but can be a tad silly to watch.
Heaving the beautiful perforated leather S-line steering left and right, the breath of talent in the Q7’s chassis is impressive but you are also constantly aware of the weight that’s being hustled around, even though this Q7 is the lightest SUV in its class thanks to intelligent use of aluminium materials.
How Comfortable Is It?
On the straights, the Q7 chomps kilometres after kilometres of tarmac in comfort as if you are sitting in a very fast moving library.
Like all cars from the Volkswagen Group, damping is spot-on. The adaptive suspension combines both air suspension and electromagnetic dampers.
Most of the time, I left the Audi Drive Select in Auto but if necessary, ride height and be increased by up to 35 mm (off-road conditions, limited to 80 km/h), or lowered by 55 mm for easy loading of cargo.
The 8-speed automatic transmission has a very eager lock-up converter in the pursuit of lower emissions and fuel consumption, but that also means that it can be a tad jerky in urban traffic.
How economical is it?
Over 200-plus km, a lot of it done in weekday urban traffic, the Q7 recorded an average fuel consumption of around 13 litre/100 km, pretty good for a 333 hp all-wheel drive seven-seater SUV, especially considering the kind of driving it was subjected to in a typical test drive routine.
Conclusion
With prices of the Mercedes-Bez S400 Hybrid and BMW 730iL now lower than before, buyers shopping in this price range now have more choices than ever before, and that’s not playing into the Q7’s favour.
However, the Q7 still strikes out as an excellent choice for those who appreciate the added security of a tall-riding, tough all-wheel drive SUV.
We love the ‘nothing to fear’ feeling that driving a Q7 evokes. Its combination of performance, all-weather traction, comfort and the secure feeling of sitting in a tall, commanding position, cocooned in a well-insulated, tough looking body is hard to argue.
On the downside, the heavy and difficult to fold and tumble second row seats needs to be improved, and we wished it had the
Volvo XC90
’S air-conditioning vents in the third row.


For Only Three Days, You Can Buy A Discounted Volkswagen Beetle From Lazada

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and SEA Lazada Malaysia will be collaborating to sell 12 limited edition Volkswagen Beetles online – a first of its kind attempt at online vehicle sales in Malaysia.
For a limited three-day period between 12th to 14th December, in conjunction with Lazada’s Online Revolution campaign, Malaysian consumers will be able to purchase a limited edition Volkswagen Beetle at a discounted price of RM112,112 (excluding insurance), which is 18 percent off its regular price. The offer price is only applicable to Beetle models purchased via Lazada.
There are three variants on offer, all with identical 1.2 TSI and 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Beetle “Herbie 53” pays homage to the iconic movie star car, and is available either in Pure White or White Silver. The Beetle “Hot Bug” is available only in Tornado Red.
Customers interested to own any of the Beetles will simply need to visit Lazada’s platform and purchase an exclusive Welcome Kit at RM5,000 which doubles as a pre-payment booking fee.
This Welcome Kit contains a limited edition Volkswagen keychain and a Touch & Go card with a pre-loaded value of RM100. Once the purchase is finalised, the customer will be contacted by a Volkswagen representative for customers to select their preferred dealership and complete the purchase.
Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM said that the partnership represents a milestone for Volkswagen in Malaysia. “We live in a digital age where goods and services can be obtained online, so why not cars. To be able to purchase an iconic limited edition car through an e-commerce platform is something that has never been done before here. This is a historical first for Volkswagen, and would not have been made possible without the support from Lazada and our dealer partners.”
“At Lazada Malaysia, we continuously invest to provide services that create a more engaging customer experience, and ultimately, better serve the needs of Malaysians. This collaboration is a testament that customers can purchase anything via our platform, with cars being sold online for the first time in Malaysia! We look forward to working together with Volkswagen in growing its online presence as they add a wide range of assortment on our platform, providing customers added convenience, choice and value”, said Hans-Peter Ressel, CEO of Lazada Malaysia.


Honda Malaysia Welcomes New Managing Director And CEO

Sayōnara Toichi Ishiyama, Kon'nichiwa Madoka Chujo - Honda Malaysia would like it known that Ms. Madoka Chujo is their first woman Managing Director and CEO.

Prior to her recent appointment in Malaysia beginning, April 1, 2021, Ms. Chujo was in charge of strategizing Honda Canada's sales and marketing as President of Honda Canada Inc. It was a role she held since 2019. Throughout her 23 years in Honda, she has held various offices in Japan, China, Spain and Canada.

Commenting on her new role at Honda Malaysia, Ms. Chujo said, “Malaysia is indeed an important market in the Asia and Oceania region with Honda Malaysia achieving various significant sales milestones and have become one of the leading automotive brands in the country. I am looking forward and excited for my first assignment as the MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, and at the same time I am also eager to explore Malaysia as the country is unique and a melting-pot of diverse cultures and people, with enormous potential and of course a fast-paced work environment.”

Ishiyama-san begin his exploits with Honda Malaysia in 2017, kicking off his appointment with the launch of the
Civic Type-R
. He led Honda to be the best Non-national Car Brand for six consecutive years, along the way helping Honda Malaysia achieve 900,000 total sales by 2019.  Not forgetting also the world premiere of the
Honda City RS e:HEV
 that took place in October last year.

Ms. Chujo will have big shoes to fill especially with Toyota beginning their offensive early in the year with the launch of the
2021 Toyota Corolla Cross
 - if anything Toyota seems to be at their strongest coming into 2021 and will fancy their shot at the crown of best Non-national Car Brand for 2021.

Still all that is in the future, all of us at Carlist.my wish Ms. Chujo Selamat Datang dan Selamat Maju Jaya!

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Scuffed Paint On Your New Mazda? Bermaz Is Making Your Life Easier

On top of unveiling the all-new
Mazda
 2 SkyActiv, Bermaz Motor also took the opportunity to show-off its brand-new Mazda Body & Paint Repair Center. Located just 300 metres away from Bermaz Motor’s headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

Aside from the typical body and paint services, the new centre also offers additional paint coat protection and glass tinting. Bermaz Motor is also using this 67,165 square-feet facility as its new grounds for its training programs for Aftersales Service in Body Repair Technology and new spray painting techniques.

Check out our
full launch report
 of the all-new
Mazda 2 SkyActiv
 which took place at the new Body and Paint Repair Centre.


BMW Gets Its Interns To Chop The Back Off An X7

Despite German carmakers being seemingly stiff, there are times when they can surprise you. Volkswagen, for example, has always had something interesting to show at Worthersee - usually a product of their vocational school trainees. BMW always has some kind of April Fools planned every year, but this is something else entirely. Built by their own trainees as a sort of final project, it went from concept to completion in just ten months.
Twelve trainees were involved with the project, and this X7 pick-up started life as a testing vehicle that was due to be scrapped. The trainees were free to decide which direction to take the project in, and what a novel idea for the platform they were given. Most would try their own take on a sporty looking model, but they pursued the practical instead, designing this particular concept to take a BMW F 850 GS motorbike.
The bulk of the project utilizes carbon fibre reinforced polymer for the roof, bed, and rear doors, while the luxurious aspect comes from handcrafted teakwood cladding for the loading area, as well as various other touch points that show an attention to detail that rivals a full on production car - remember, these are just trainees. The hardwood trim is offset by the colour of the car - Tanzanite Blue metallic - which was inspired by yachting on the whole.
There are no plans to put this stunning vehicle into production, just as there are no plans to put that E92 M3 ute into production from April Fools just a couple of years ago. There's no real need for it at the moment, and while Mercedes-Benz has entered the pickup truck segment with the X-Class, we don't see any of the other luxury brands following suit anytime soon. Hopefully the trainees will be able to take their concept up into the mountains, as they wished to do, after the premiere of this model at this year's BMW Motorrad Days in Munich.
For the best deals on BMW models, click
here
.


The Tyre Conundrum

Engine stats and cabin tech are always taking the spotlight when it comes to talking about vehicles, whilst one of the more essential parts of the car really does not get the coverage it deserves.

Tyres, these are the things that connect the car to the road and one of the most critical parts of the vehicle that keeps it on the road. Most car owners don't really think of them much, that is until they get into a slip and slide while driving (loss of traction), suffer a flat or simply when the donut goes kaboom due to old age.

Tyres can also be the difference between a slow car and a fast car. It can also be the difference between a stiff ride and a comfortable ride. Heck, even how noisy your cabin gets can be traced down to your tyres.

So here is a simple guide to tyres and what you should be looking for when thinking of purchasing some.

Stock/ OE (original equipment)

These are tyres that come with your car straight out of the factory. They usually are specified per the capabilities of the vehicle and purchasing them over and over again will keep your vehicle in spec. They are generally great tyres but not necessarily the tyres that suit your driving purposes.

Grand Touring

If you want the best tyres for comfort and fuel efficiency, GT tyres are the ones to go for. They will usually give you a pillowy type feel for maximum comfort, as opposed to stiff grippy tyres. Saying that, they still do handle well, but the main objective of the tyre is to provide daily usability, comfort and dependability on road trips. Examples: Michelin Primacy 4, Bridgestone's Turanza, Continental Premium Contact 2

Extreme Performance

These are the best street performance tyres. They lack in comfort and wet weather grip but will provide you with the best grip in the dry to keep your car on the road during those 'woohoo' spirited drives. Although not technically for track or competition use, they will be better for those occasions compared to other tyres. Using them as a daily tyre is like using a bazooka to kill a mosquito.

Examples: Bridgestone Potenza Re-11, Hankook Ventus R-S3

Max Performance

Max Performance tyres provide excellent high-speed handling, relatively good wet grip performance and resistance against hydroplaning. They are a bit more compliant compared to Extreme Performance tyre but still not recommended for daily use.

Examples: Michelin Pilot Super Sport, Bridgestone Potenza S-04, Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT

Ultra-High Performance (UHP) Tyres

The go-to tyres for most drivers that want excellent grip wet or dry, resistant to hydroplaning as well as an acceptable level of comfort. They are built for predictable high-speed handling. They are also rather quiet for what they are.

Examples: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric, Michelin Pilot Sport, Continental Extreme Contact.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Confirms 8 More Launches In 2017

Not content with defending its
leadership in the sales chart
 amongst premium brands, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is looking to turn the screw further on its rivals with another eight launches planned for the rest of the year.
To date, MBM has introduced eleven new model variants into the Malaysian market, although that total notably includes the now-discontinued
E300 CBU
, limited-run
A200 Urban Hunting Edition
, and counts the
locally-assembled E200 and E250
 separately. The
six AMG 43 series models
 and the GLA facelift round up the overall total.
The coming months of the year will see the introduction of four new variants, two special edition models, and two new models.
We can confirm that one of the two new models will be the C238 E-Class Coupe that we
reviewed earlier this year at Barcelona
, and that the
E350e plug-in hybrid sedan
 will count as one of the four new variants.
Another eagerly-anticipated offering from Mercedes-Benz will be the new
W222 S-Class facelift
, but we believe this model is not likely to come before 2018.


All-New 2015 Pajero Sport Makes ASEAN Debut In Thailand

The all-new second-generation Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has just been launched in Thailand today, with a starting price of THB 1.138 million. There are three variants on offer – the entry GLS 2WD, GT 2WD and GT Premium 4WD.
Unlike the previous generation Pajero Sport, which is clearly an SUV model derived from the Triton pick-up truck, this all-new model has been improved by leaps and bounds, and is distinctively different from the all-new second generation Triton which it is based upon (Thai regulations offer lower excise duty rates for SUVs that are based on pick-up trucks).
What is it?
The seven-seater Pajero Sport is an SUV cousin of the
Mitsubishi Triton
 pick-up truck. It competes against the upcoming all-new
2015 Toyota Fortuner
,
2015 Ford Everest
 and the
2015 Isuzu MU-X
, the latter is
already on sale in Malaysia
.
The current generation Pajero Sport on sale in Malaysia is imported from Thailand, so we expect this all-new second generation model to be launched here very soon.
When will it come here?
The Thailand-made all-new second generation Triton took about six months after the model’s global debut in Thailand before it was launched here.
Six months is a normal lead-time for pick-up trucks as such vehicles are in high demand in many countries and Thailand being a global hub for pick-up trucks, is expected to initially focus on supplying its domestic market and several other key export markets like Australia and South Africa before exporting to smaller markets like Malaysia.
For pick-up passenger vehicles (the official classification for pick-up trucks derived SUVs in Thailand) like the Pajero Sport, the demand is less so we can expect a slightly shorter lead time before exports to Malaysia begin. We expect to see this all-new Pajero Sport in Malaysia within the next three to four months, before the year ends, or latest by early-2016.
What’s new?
Everything about this all-new Pajero Sport is simply impressive, on paper at least. While the previous Pajero Sport could be easily passed off as a Triton with an SUV body in the rear-half, this all-new model sports a unique styling and looks stunning!
Inside, the cabin is nothing like the Triton. In fact, it can be easily passed off as a higher range passenger car – with generous application of faux aluminium trimmings, premium looking centre console, dashboard and steering wheel.
Gone is the previous model’s manually operated shift lever for the part-time 4WD transfer case. Instead, this all-new model uses a rotary dial to select between 2H, 4H, and 4L.
While the previous model required Herculean effort to fold and tip-up the third-row seats (it cannot be folded down flat), this all-new model’s third row seats can be collapsed into the boot floor to create a flat surface in the cargo area.
Wheelbase remains the same at 2,800mm, as is its width (1,815 mm). It is however 35 mm lower (1,805 mm for the 4WD model) and 90 mm longer (4,785 mm). Ground clearance is also increased by 13mm to 218mm.
Impressively, the all-new Pajero Sport’s turning radius is just 5.6m, which Mitsubishi says is class-leading. That’s even tighter than the Triton 4WD’s 5.9m.
The Pajero Sport’s list of safety features is even more impressive – seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (Forward Collision Mitigation), 360-degree view camera park assist camera, blind-spot monitor, hill start assist, hill descent assist, traction and stability control. There’s also a feature which prevents accidental acceleration during parking.
Of course, interested buyers should be mindful that features will differ from country to country.
Under the hood is a new 4N15 aluminium block 2.4-litre common rail turbo diesel engine that develops 181 hp and 430 Nm of torque, paired to a new 8-speed automatic transmission.
We don’t think this new powertrain will be offered here though, at least not for now, as
this new engine requires Euro-5 diesel
.
The all-new Triton sold in Malaysia uses an updated version of the previous model’s DI-D series engine rather than the Thailand market Triton’s 4N15 engine. We expect the same updated DI-D series engine to power the Malaysian-market all-new Pajero Sport.
Although Euro-5 diesel is now available in certain parts of the country, Mitsubishi Motors needs to be assured that the required clean diesel is available across the country, including rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak – the main market for such vehicles – before it can assure customers that the engine is suitable for use in Malaysia.


Porsche reveals desert-ready 911 Dakar -  a.k.a Banjir Spec to Malaysians

At the Los Angeles Motor Show, Porsche unveiled the 911 Dakar, an off-roading limited edition version of the brand’s signature sports coupe inspired by the model’s rallying heritage in the 1980s.

Based on the existing 992-gen Carrera 4 GTS, buyers can even spec it with a period-correct livery that resurrects the iconic Rothman’s blue and white aesthetic of the ‘84 Paris-Dakar winning 959-based 953 Group B racer (part of the optional Rallye Design package - RM100k).

As you might have guessed, the German automaker isn’t making these modern-day interpretations easy to obtain with a production run of just 2,500 units.

The writing was already on the wall that a high-riding 911 was incoming, but especially so when Porsche themselves sent a duo of modified 992s up the Andes mountains
to scale the world’s tallest volcano
.

However, as was the case with the 911 R and other limited editions, this 911 Dakar could precede a more widely available production model down the line, provided demand is high enough.

The exterior has been bulked up to accommodate the enlarged fenders and wheel wells with added cladding, steel bash plates up front and throughout much of the undercarriage as well as rear spoiler done in carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) . Meanwhile, its boot lid is
swiped from the GT3
.

The base car already has the full all-wheel traction that’s long been part of Porsche’s 911 range. No changes have been made to the powertrain or driveline, where it remains 3.0-litre bi-turbo flat-6 producing 480PS and 570Nm mated to an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox.

Where plenty has been altered is with the suspension, body, and chassis. Most obviously is the added ride height, making the Dakar sit 50mm higher than the standard 911 Carrera S with the option of an added lift of 30mm available at the push of a button. Very handy for
Malaysia's flood prone roads
.

The Dakar is capable of 170km/h over rough terrain, which we imagine to be some serious dune surfing at those sorts of speeds, aided by its standard Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tyres with reinforced sidewalls and a tread depth of 9mm. Because of this, though, top speed is reduced to 240km/h.

That said, Porsche will fit more road-friendly rubber upon customer request. A special ‘Off Road’ driving mode also divides power equally between the front and rear axles as well as engages Rally Launch Control, tuned to minimise wheel slippage on loose surfaces for maximum acceleration.

Thankfully the interior looks plush, so you'll be nicely pampered as you're tackling some rough and tumble terrain.

On road, it’ll hit 100km/h in 3.4 seconds, but good luck being quick enough to put your name down for one. Pricey as it is, this limited run variant is expected to sell out very quickly.


BYD Dolphin EV launched in Thailand from RM103k - Malaysia's next affordable EV?

The
BYD Dolphin EV
 has made waves in Thailand following its official launch and price tag.

With prices starting from 799,999 baht (around RM103k), the BYD Dolphin certainly has the potential to spread the EV gospel like wildfire thanks to its much more affordable price tag, but looking at the details, is that really the case?

For RM103k, the mid-range model BYD Dolphin EV in Thailand will only get you the variant that's fitted with a single electric motor that produces 94hp and 180Nm of torque paired to a 44.9kWh battery pack. This gets you an NEDC range of up to 410km.

There's going to be a cheaper version of this particular BYD Dolphin variant that's fitted with a smaller 30.7kWh battery pack which offers an NEDC range of around 300km, but if it's power you're looking for, the BYD Dolphin also comes with a range-topping variant that churns out 174hp and 290Nm of torque.

Looking at the price differences between the BYD Atto 3 and Dolphin in other markets, we can safely assume that the Dolphin will be priced much closer to the RM100k mark (compared to the Atto 3's RM150k starting price). With that being said, we will just have to wait for more updates as we head closer to the end of 2023 (when both the Dolphin and Seal will be launched here in Malaysia).


Volvo Launches Their Mild Hybrid XC90, The 2022 XC90 B5 Inscription Plus

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has launched the XC90 B5 Inscription Plus, their mild hybrid XC90 priced from RM386,842.12.

In line with its mission to have all of its cars electrified, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has just launched the new Volvo XC90 B5 Inscription Plus, a mild hybrid vehicle under the
B badge line
. The mild-hybrid XC90 replaces the fully ICE (internal combustion engine)
XC90 T5 AWD Momentum
.

With this addition, the mild-hybrid completes the XC90 range, joining the
XC90 Recharge T8
 AWD Inscription Plus.

The Volvo XC90 B5 Inscription Plus combines an advanced kinetic energy recovery braking system with its existing internal combustion engines to reduce fuel consumption and emissions with an integrated electrified powertrain.

Equipped with a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine driven by an 8-speed automatic transmission with Geartronic, the Volvo XC90 B5 Inscription Plus produces an output of 249hp and 350Nm of torque.

It also comes fully kitted with all the features that everyone loves in the XC90, including Volvo's signature features of a 360° surround-view camera, 20-inch wheels and a Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound Audio System.

As with any Volvo, where they come with
Volvo's commitment to developing the safest cars possible
, the SUV is bolstered with excellent safety features such as the Lane Keeping Aid, Cross-Traffic Alert and City Safety with Autobrake.

Charles Frump, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, said: "We are excited to strengthen our XC90 line-up with the introduction of our latest mild hybrid. This new variant allows our customers the flexibility to choose the powertrain that best suits their needs."

The Volvo XC90 B5 comes in four different colours available at all authorised Volvo dealers in Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, the Volvo XC90 B5 will soon be available at East Malaysian showrooms from 5 March onwards. Interested buyers can book a test drive through www.volvocars.com/my.

For more information, please visit www.volvocars.com/my or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-FB and Instagram http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG


Porsche Dragged Into Volkswagen’s Dieselgate Nightmare

As news of a second notice of violation was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in the USA against
Volkswagen
, a wider list of cars were found to be in violation of emissions regulations - including
Porsche
 for the first time.
The notice alleges that German automaker Volkswagen and the other marques under its umbrella installed devices designed to deceive emissions tests in many a fair number more vehicles than initially suspected.
The new entrants to the list of violators include cars with diesel engines made between the 2014 and 2016 model year, including those by
Audi
 and Porsche. Specifically, the latest notice cites the 2015 Porsche
Cayenne
, as well as the 2016
Audi A6
 Quattro,
A7
 Quattro,
A8
, A8L, and
Q5
.
Within that range, it is suspected that over 10,000 units containing the “defeat device” were sold in the United States alone. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency points to the the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines mostly used in larger, more expensive models, as Reuters reports.
Volkswagen responded in dispute with that claim, saying that “no software has been installed” in its 3.0-litre V6 engines “to alter emissions characteristics in a forbidden manner.,”. However, it has to be said that Volkswagen did make similar refutations regarding its smaller diesel powerplants before finally admitting to the contrary in September.
These new findings, if ultimately proven true, drags Porsche and Audi into same darker waters that has already soaked their parent company Volkswagen, so far leading to a near 20 billion Euros decline in its market capitalisation.


Toyota Confirms C-HR For Thai Motor Expo – Priced From THB 900k, Hybrid Option

Toyota Motor Thailand will begin collecting orders for the Toyota C-HR at next month’s Thailand International Motor Expo, reports Thailand’s Bangkok Post.
Prices have not been confirmed but the report did say that it will start from around THB 900,000. In comparison, the Thai market Honda HR-V starts from THB 933,000.
The report also confirms our earlier report that the Thailand-made C-HR will come with two engine options – naturally aspirated 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i from the Toyota Corolla Altis, and a 1.8-litre petrol-electric hybrid from the Toyota Prius.
While the C-HR will be put on display at the Thai kingdom’s premier year-end auto show, the model will not go on sale until early next year.
The Thai daily explained that the delay in its introduction is due to additional fine-tuning of the chassis to cope with Thai driving conditions as well as recent changes in requirements to qualify for tax incentives for locally-produced hybrid/electric vehicles.
Separately, sources have indicated to Carlist.my that the Malaysian market Toyota C-HR will be imported from Thailand, but we will only be getting the 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine.
The Malaysian specifications model will be previewed at tomorrow’s opening of the MAI Malaysia Autoshow 2017 but it will not be launched until late-Q1 or early-Q2 next year, after its regional sales debut in Thailand.
More:
Malaysian Specs 2018 Toyota C-HR To Be On Display At MAI Malaysia Autoshow


Bridgestone Developing Even Quieter Tyres Through Autonomous Driving Tech

Bridgestone Corporation has found a new method to achieve lower tyre noise emission, through the application of automated unmanned vehicles to perform the performance tests.
Together with ZMP Inc., a Japanese company that creates products and services based on its advanced robotics technologies, both companies are planning to use SAE-Level 4 autonomous driving protocol for tyre noise tests in 2019.
Currently, Bridgestone conducts tyre performance tests on its proving grounds with skilled test drivers. This new joint development with ZMP, who designed and developed the Toyota Estima Hybrid-based RoboCar Minivan, aims to have fully autonomous vehicles performing the various tyre performance tests, including the tightening tyre noise emission test.
A sample of tyre label in Europe. It is a requirement to declare the noise level of a passenger car tyre product.
In more developed markets such as Europe and Japan, regulatory bodies are lobbying for stricter noise emission from rolling tyres. Bridgestone, together with ZMP and technologies from their Robocar Minivan, hope to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the tyre tests and thereby increase the quality of the tyres.
Bridgestone also hopes to utilize the insight gained through this project in the development of tyres for self-driving vehicles and other next-generation vehicles.
If you are interested in a quieter premium touring tyre now, Bridgestone Malaysia recently introduced their new Turanza T005A premium tyre which places low emission of noise as its key priority.
Learn more about this new product here
.


Clarkson, Hammond And May's New Show To Feature Three-Way Hypercar Showdown

Its no secret that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May have moved on from their stint on the popular long-running BBC motoring show Top Gear following
Clarkson’s dismissal in March
.
While not much is yet known about the show's format or even its name, we do know it will be produced by Amazon (Amazon Prime, specifically). Also coming as new information, thanks to tweet (below), is that somewhere within the first season of the new program and maybe as early as the first episode, there will be a hypercar showdown between the La
Ferrari
,
Porsche
 918 Spyder, and
McLaren
 P1.
With a skeleton crew, filming for Amazon Prime's new motoring programme has begun.
pic.twitter.com/8PaYvke5il
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson)
October 7, 2015

Business as usual, then, for the three hosts. The three cars were meant to feature at the tail end of
Series 22 of Top Gear
, but fell shy of fruition partly due the one host being fired and the other two leaving soon after, but also partly due to the logistical demands. Ferrari, for example, at the time wouldn’t allow the show to test their LaFerrari outside their own Fiorano test track.
But it seems that passing time and perhaps a good amount of persistence has allowed it to all come together. You can even see what looks to be Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche engineers behind each car, no doubt sent to ensure nothing untoward happens to them.
The photo was taken at the paddock area of the Portimao Circuit in Portugal where, intriguingly, fellow motoring journalist and presenter Chris Harris also appeared to be on hand – filming his next series of videos, most likely, as he does have an affinity for the track. He subsequently posted the picture below.
Its still early but the new show looks to be a worthy of all the anticipation surrounding it.
@JeremyClarkson
 Actually, maybe we'll hang around for a little bit longer
pic.twitter.com/zWqjukDWfG
— chris harris (@harrismonkey)
October 7, 2015


VinFast Itching To Enter America, Europe. New CEO To Lead Global Offensive

In Vietnam,
sole national automaker VinFast
 is making moves to expand into major new territories for the still-new brand, including regions such as Europe and North America, poaching Opel veteran Michael Lohscheller as their new CEO to lead this global push.

The former Volkswagen Group America executive and former
Opel CEO under Stellantis
 for the past 4 years, he will soon relocate to the Southeast Asian country once he takes the helm as the new chief executive of VinFast Global.

He'll have plenty on his plate as their expansion plans include simultaneously expanding their reach in Vietnam alongside an ambitious campaign to raid the shore of the United States, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands in the coming years.

On his decision to join VinFast, Michael Lohscheller said: “During my career, I have always been attracted by new challenges. When the opportunity came to join VinFast, I was immediately attracted because of the growth opportunities. I look forward to working with the leadership team to grow the company and establish it as a global smart electric car company.”

VinFast has admitted to been on somewhat of a hiring spree as of late, with Lohscheller being one of the newest recruits. Apart from that, they've also nabbed automotive and business experts from the likes of BMW, Porsche, Toyota, Tesla, and Nissan.

It'll be a marathon in the coming decade for VinFast as they probably won't stop for a breather until they achieve their goal of becoming global smart
electric car company
, evidenced by a recent statement made by the automaker.

Luckily, Lohscheller seems pretty suited to such undertakings as he has been instrumental in turning
the Opel business
 into a profitable one after years in the red. More recently, he helped lead the implementation of Stellantis’ electrification roadmap, setting up the foundation, whereupon he unveiled the fully electric Corsa-e hatchback at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, laying the groundwork for the previously struggling German automaker's future successes.

VinFast is already on its way to full EV portfolio, having already launched
the VF e34 crossover
 to their home market of Vietnam, where it recorded a staggering pre-order count of more than 25,000. With a range of 300 km from its 42kWh underfloor battery, a single electric motor drives the front wheels with 148hp and 242Nm.

The company has also
announced the VF32 and VF33
, respectively a mid-size and a full-size SUVs that are fully electric as well. In addition to promising top crash test and safety scores both from the NHTSA and Euro NCAP. The VF32 and VF33 will go after the higher-end EV market with up to a 90kWh battery, a 400hp/640Nm dual-motor setup, and up to Level 4 semi-autonomous driving capabilities, it certainly ticks all the boxes on paper.

Earlier this month, VinFast established their official presence in those aforementioned foreign markets under the name VinFast Commercial and Services Trading LLC in preparation of full-blown launch of their current and future vehicle line-up.


2022 Honda BR-V Lands In Indonesia With Sharp New Design, Sensing Tech

Honda have just revealed the next-generation 2022 BR-V, the company’s B-segment 7-seater cross-MPV, to some fanfare in Indonesia. In 2021, it finds itself in a landscape that’s a little
more hostile, more dense with competition
.

Closer to home, the Mitsubishi Xpander has finally spread its influence into Malaysia while the Toyota Rush has been leading a
double life as the Perodua Aruz
. The Honda enters the fray among more cost-conscious rivals, and it may have to prove itself all over again to emerge the victor.

Originally slated to debut at this year’s Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) in August, the event has since been postponed to November, forcing the Japanese automaker’s hand to host their own reveal event specifically for the BR-V.

Despite being ostensibly launched, pricing has yet to be confirmed but will reportedly start from around 260 million Rupiah (around RM76,550).

For now, the new 2022 BR-V seems to be following an identical variant breakdown to its predecessor, but with a new Prestige trim line to top off the range. Like the current City, it straddles the line between being truly 'all-new' and substantially upgraded.

Though it shares plenty of bones with the outgoing version, much of this new BR-V’s new look was first previewed in great detail through the N7X (New 7-seater eXcitement) concept by Honda R&D Asia Pacific back in May.

Patent images retrieved from the website of Indonesia’s Directorate-General of Intellectual Property (DKJI) reveal that Honda was happy enough with the concept to finalise it into full production with only minor changes.

It grants the BR-V a front fascia treatment that’s much more consistent with the current corporate design language with even some cues (such as the horizontal chrome grille elements) lifted from the automaker’s other MPV, the Odyssey.

The pronounced nose is capped with Honda’s 'Solid Wing Face' element with flanking L-shape daytime running lights on either side. Within the same enclosure, they’ve also made LED headlights a standard feature with LED positioning lights further down the bumper.

More welcome are the much cleaner side profile that bins the older model’s zig-zaggy shoulder lines and kinked rear door window. Instead, the glass house now more closely resembles the CR-V, which most might agree is a step in the right direction.

The rear end is also considerably neatened out and simplified with the tail lamp clusters that bear relation to the current-generation City sedan with its U-shape illuminator strip.

With the
popular original model
 having made land in showrooms over 5 years ago, there was much to anticipate with the arrival of a replacement. Honda’s roster of standard tech features and equipment has risen considerably in that time, as has its suite of active safety features. With that in mind, how much further does the new BR-V take the game?

The first indication that this new version doesn’t stray far from its roots is its continued use of a sole engine, namely Honda’s naturally aspirated L15ZF 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol with 121PS and 145Nm of torque driving the front wheels via an Earth Dreams CVT - basically the same updated dual-overhead camshaft 1,497cc unit in the newest City.

This all-new Honda BR-V comes with a choice of 5 exterior colours: Premium Opal White Pearl (new colour variant), Taffeta White, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl.

Inside, the BR-V takes a considered but evolutionary step ahead of the older model, retaining a similar dashboard layout and a mixture of dark faux leather and cloth upholstery. An upgraded 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits front and centre and is better integrated into the centre stack, offering smartphone connectivity and features through Apple CarPlay.

Besides Honda Lane Watch, by far the biggest and most sweeping update on display here is
the offering of Honda Sensing
 in the range-topping BR-V Prestige , the automaker’s active safety and driver assist suite. The new BR-V has the full roster of Sensing goodies such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Automatic High Beam, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lead Car Departure Notification.

Most important here is the addition of camera-based Collision Mitigation Braking System (basically Autonomous Emergency Braking, or AEB), which will apply the brakes if it senses an imminent collision with reaction times much quicker than that of a human being.

We’ve no indication yet when the new 2022 BR-V will making its way across the strait onto Malaysian shores, unfortunately. Given Honda Malaysia’s current backlog of vehicle launches delayed due to health-related restrictions, we reckon that we’re likely to see the 7-seater somewhere in early 2022.

Of course, we’ll keep you all posted if we hear anything about its local arrival.


BMW Confirms New Quad-Turbo Straight-Six

How many turbochargers can you fit into one engine? Most cars never go more than two, but in 2012,
BMW
 saw fit to slam three blowers into its 3.0-litre diesel block to yield the frankly insane M50d engine that churned out 381hp and 740Nm of torque. When fitted in the
5 Series
, the engine had to come with all-wheel drive to ensure civilized deployment of its outputs.
But why stop at three?
At the Vienna Engine Symposium over the weekend, BMW confirmed
long-suspected rumours
 by unveiling a new 3.0-litre inline-six diesel that has its outputs boosted by no less than four turbochargers.
In the absence of official press materials from BMW, reports from various international motoring websites indicated that the new quad-turbo straight-six will replace the existing tri-turbo six-pot and will debut in a new 750d xDrive variant of the current-generation
G11 7 Series
.
The same reports also revealed that the new engine generates maximum power of 394hp from 4,000 to 4,400rpm and twists out 760Nm from 2,000 to 3,000rpm. It is said that the engine has to be restricted from its full torque potential to protect the ZF 8HP automatic transmission paired to it.
Preliminary numbers for the 750d xDrive fitted with this engine are century sprint of 4.5 seconds and fuel consumption rated at 5.8 l/100km, a remarkable improvement from the current tri-turbo M550d xDrive’s already-impressive 6.3 l/100km. Top speed is electronically capped at 250km/h.


Toll Hikes Causing A Sea Of Congestion As Motorists Divert To Lesser Roads To Avoid Paying

Heading on a soothing drive home after a long and arduous day might sound like the blessed relief one needs before having to face the grind again come the next work day. But more and more of the working population are finding their drives home to be the most stressful part of their day.
This is exacerbated by the
recent toll hike
, repelling drivers away from taking the usual highways and instead clogging up smaller roads. There seems to be a disconnect between the authorities who are responsible for traffic planning, the government that have these approved hikes in toll rates, and – most importantly – the Malaysian people.
Isaac Newton phrased it accurately in his third law of motion: every action will have an equal and opposite reaction. In this context, by constructing highways to reduce congestion but also making the tolls expensive, motorists end up not use them and the congestion remains. You’re back to the problem you were trying to solve back in square one. Excellent work.
Earlier this year, we’ve reported on the World Bank’s findings that say Kuala Lumpur’s worsening traffic conditions are, each year,
costing the country billions of Ringgit
 in time, fuel, pollution, and lost productivity. And if something is not done soon, it looks like the situation could get even more dire.
An area like Phileo Damanara seems to have found itself in the eye of a perfect storm. Right outside is Jalan 16/11 that runs parallel to the SPRINT highway – where the toll rate has just doubled as of last Thursday, and funneling more traffic into the toll-free slip road. Previously, those who wanted to avoid the toll did still take that alternative route despite having to endure traffic lights, but the numbers were rather small by comparison.
Now, though, the toll hike has turned many more motorists into the proverbial ‘cheapskates’ that are willing to skirt around small roads, housing estates, and industrial areas for any shortcut to escape the dreaded toll booth. And with good reason.
Unluckily for The Star, their offices are right there at the Phileo business centre and
they write
 that it sometimes takes close to two hours to escape the area’s congestion chokehold, with the tailbacks sometimes starting as early as building’s basement carparks. And, even once that’s over, people most likely still have a ways to go before reaching home. This is no way to live.
The newspaper’s findings have led them to point the blame, at least in majority, to certain traffic lights that remain green for far too brief a period while giving the go to lanes that are much less congested. They wrote that some traffic lights which are critical to dispersing heavy traffic stayed green for as little as 30 seconds. In that time, an average of only 10 cars could make it through.
These days, living close to your workplace is not enough of an advantage to arrive at work or back at home on time. Mind you, this is far from an isolated occurrence. Many other buildings, neighborhoods, and communities are either caught in a jam or not willing to brave the traffic.
Dwellers of the Klang Valley are stuck between a rock and a hard place - they will either have to contend with this crippling congestion or embrace the toll hikes. Clearly, coming to terms with the added penny pinch is happening at a crawling pace for the majority of motorists. And who can blame them, with tolls rates like the SPIRNT highway’s doubling overnight?
Surely this very eventually had to be anticipated in the run up to last week’s toll hike by the government and/or highway concessionaires. After all, finding ways to avoid an expensive toll seems like the obvious reaction to a population growing increasingly cash-sensitive with each passing month.
Charging each motorist a higher toll rates does look like a fruitless pursuit if it results in fewer cars willing to travel on these highways.


Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Introduces AgilityPlus Financing

Once of the driving factors behind Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia's high sales figures is their excellent financing schemes, and Agility Financing has been the backbone of this for the past few years. But even with these great offers for financing and guaranteed future value, for some the packages offered weren't quite to their liking.
As a result, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia is introducing AgilityPlus Financing, which offers that ability to tailor a plan to a specific owner's requirements. It still has the great core features of the Agility Financing plans that made it appealing - i.e. the flexibility to settle or extend contracts, to return, and guaranteed future value - but it also allows for add-ons in the form of motor insurance, tyre and rim insurance, return to invoice insurance, and service packages.
In addition to this, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia is introducing the EQ Agility Care campaign and the Performance Agility Care campaign, both of which will go on until the 30th of June, 2018. In the case of the former, the needs of the service package are tailored to EQ Power products, while the latter does the same but for the AMG 43 and 45 models that Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia offers. The former includes the EQ Power wallbox charger, while the latter has exclusive AMG merchandise.
For more information on AgilityPlus, visit
www.mercedes-benz.com.my/
AgilityPlus
, call the Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia finance and insurance customer service centre at 1-800-88-1133, or visit any Mercedes-Benz authorised dealer.


Mazda MX-5 RF Gets Spec Bump For 2022, From RM264k

Bermaz Motor, local distributors for Mazda vehicles, have announced the arrival of the
updated MX-5 RF
 for the 2022 model year.

The latest version of the famous roadster, albeit in Retractable Fastback flavour, has been given a minor spec bump and will start from
RM264,029
 for the variant with a
6-speed manual transmission
.

Opting for a
6-speed automatic version
 of what is an otherwise identical car, will cost
RM265,964
 - or an additional RM1,935. Mind you, this is factoring in the ongoing 50% SST discount for new fully imported cars.

Also worth noting is that it's now RM21k pricier than when it was
first launched in Malaysia
 around this time in 2017. In terms of specific changes coming for 2022, there honestly isn’t much to speak of. Then again, why fix what wasn’t broken.

Kinematic Posture Control (KPC)

Visually, they’re indistinguishable from its previous update, bearing the 17-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, and folding metal roof that defined it before. Inside, the cozy cockpit is accessed via keyless entry (and start) and features leather upholstery, cruise control, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that uses the older MZD Connect interface, unfortunately.

Its main highlight is the addition of Kinematic Posture Control (KPC). Ignoring the name that sounds like it was invented by chiropractors, it’s a feature that Mazda first brought to light in late 2021 that is essentially an evolution of the
G-Vectoring Control Plus technology
 that seeks to improve handling and dynamic responsiveness.

Unlike GVC+, however, it’s better suited to enhance more spirited driving and inputs, hence its presence in the MX-5. This is achieved through applying light braking force on the inner rear wheel in high-G situations to keep body roll in check and deliver a more uniform steering feel.

The main advantage with this is the ability to do without the stiffer suspension components - springs, shocks, anti-roll bars - while reaping identical or very similar improvements without compromising ride comfort or refinement.

Honestly, besides this, the spec sheet for this RF (2022) reads exactly like the car that preceded it - unless we’re missing something.

2022 Mazda MX-5 RF Specifications

The car continues to be powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated SkyActiv-G four-cylinder petrol that outputs 181hp @ 7,000rpm and 205Nm of torque @ 4,000rpm which, for a car that has a kerb weight of just 1,111kg (manual), is a pretty generous helping.

We’ve not encountered any pain points with this same unit in other Mazda models but they’ve fitted it with idle stop-start and their i-ELOOP brake-energy recovery system to further improve fuel economy.

Mazda has also given the MX-5 RF Smart City Brake Support (SCBS, also known as AEB, front and rear), Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, and Driver Attention Alert to go along with its more passive safety kit such as 6 airbags and anti-lock brakes.

Just as before, exterior colour options include:

Deep Crystal Blue

Jet Black

Machine Gray

Polymetal Gray

Snowflake White Pearl

Soul Red Crystal

The 2022 Mazda MX-5 RF will also come with a 5-year or 100,000km manufacturer’s warranty with 5 years (or 100,000km) free maintenance.


2015 Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy R Limited Edition Is In Malaysia, But You Can't Have One

Along with the facelifted
Megane

RS
 265, TC Euro Cars have decided to bring
Renault
's most potent hot hatch to date, the Megane 275 Trophy R – one of the fastest front-wheel drive cars ever made, and limited to just 250 units worldwide, making its Malaysian presence even more special.
Yours for RM299,888, the 275 Trophy R is the most extreme hot hatch that Renault has come up with, the ‘R’ moniker denoting that it is essentially a lightened, track-focused version of the already formidable 275 Trophy.
Why Can't I Have One?
Well, they're sold out. Yup. Of the 250 available worldwide, 10 have been allocated for Malaysia, and they're all gone.
What Is It?
It is a limited edition variant of the Renault Megane RS that broke the lap record for front-wheel drive production cars at the Nurburgring Nordschliefe that has only recently been unseated by a certain Japanese hot hatch.
The limited edition Trophy R comes in a pearl white finish paired with a roof set in Etoile Black. Various red bits such as the wheels, side stickers, and front F1-style blade were added to round off the exterior.
The 275 Trophy R uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as the 275 Trophy (non ‘R’) that outputs 275hp and 360Nm of torque, but sheds almost 100kg over the 1381kg car that it’s based upon, allowing the R to run the century sprint in just 5.8 seconds. In addition to the weight loss, the Trophy R comes with a number of notable chassis enhancements, both of which we’ll detail below.
Clearly this car isn’t made to cosset its driver in absolute comfort. The 275 Trophy was already very fast, but RenaultSport has transformed the R into a track-day freak’s dream come true.
Suspension
The car on which it is based, the 275 Trophy, already had a mechanical limited slip differential fitted as standard, but the Trophy R improves upon this with adjustable (20 positions front, 30 rear) Öhlins Road&Track dampers and Allevard composite springs.
Also standard with the Trophy R are the extra grippy tyres in the form of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2. This all adds up to an extremely capable car in the corners, and a marked improvement over the base car, evidenced by its scorching Nurburgring lap.
Weight, Or Lack Thereof
Renault has gone through their Megane RS with a fine tooth comb to carefully remove any unnecessary encumbrances, managing to shave off almost 100kg.
The removal of sound deadening material has yielded a 21kg saving, throwing out the back seats rids the car of another 20kg, the lack of air-conditioning sheds another 6kg, the lightweight 19-inch Speedline Turini alloy wheels save another 5kg individually, and the special Recaro Pole Position bucket seats save a further 22kg. Its titanium Akrapovic exhaust system too must contribute to the weight saving, so too does the lithium-ion battery by 16kg.


2 tahun tak servis kereta, Perodua Axia catat 79,600km sebelum breakdown

Pernah tak anda tertanya-tanya berapa lama jangka hayat enjin kereta yang langsung tidak dihantar servis selama 2 tahun? Untuk
Perodua Axia
, jarak perbatuan yang boleh dicapai adalah 79,600km!

Berdasarkan sebuah video yang dikongsikan pusat servis Perodua Penchala, enjin Perodua Axia itu dilihat rosak agak teruk, namun jarak perbatuan yang dicatatkan kereta malang itu membuktikan bahawa enjin kecil Perodua ini agak tahan lasak juga.

Enjin Perodua Axia tahan 2 tahun tanpa servis

Perodua Axia yang dibeli pada tahun 2019 ini akhirnya melawat pusat servis selepas 2 tahun dibeli apabila mengalami kerosakan. Pusat servis berkenaan telah menerima bantuan teknikal daripada HQ yang turut membantu menyelesaikan masalah Axia ini.

Antara kerosakan yang boleh dijumpai pada enjin Axia ini adalah:

Keadaan dalam enjin rentung dan terbakar

Oil pump sumbat

Camshaft patah

Sludge merata-rata

Meskipun kerosakan ini dilihat kritikal, namun ia menunjukkan bahawa enjin Perodua mampu bergerak sehingga hampir 80,000km tanpa servis-servis penting seperti menukar minyak enjin.

Kesimpulan

Kesimpulannya, hantarlah kereta ke pusat servis mengikut jadual secara berkala bagi memastikan kereta anda kekal berfungsi dengan baik. Untuk tips penjagaan asas kereta, akan boleh klik
di sini.

Tapi untuk pengguna Axia 2019 yang malas nak servis kereta, pastikan anda tetap membawa kereta ke pusat servis sebelum mencecah 70,000km kalau tak mahu senasib dengan pemilik Axia ini.


JPJ doubling down on non-compliant commercial vehicles

The
Road Transport Department (JPJ)
 will be increasing its efforts against
non-compliant commercial vehicles
 that are involved in
accidents
.

Any
commercial vehicle
 that has been involved in a road accident will go through JPJ's Safety Inspection and Audit Report (JISA). Any red flags that compromise the safety of road users will be dealt with severely.

JPJ's director-general, Datul Zailani Hashim, has stated that a lot of aspects will be looked into from the commercial vehicle's last periodic inspection at PUSPAKOM, as well as if there are any signs of exceeded load.

Fines up to RM500,000 if found guilty

In a report posted by
The Malay Mail
, Datuk Zailani stated that "We will also check the vehicle to see if it exceeded 35% of the permitted load (BDM) and if found guilty, the individual involved can also be fined up to RM500,000 under Section 57(1)(b) )(vi) Land Public Transport Act (APAD) 2010."

“I would also like to remind commercial vehicles such as lorries or trailers not to rush on ‘trips’ or carry overloaded items because it will affect the vehicle when braking. What is more important is the safety of the other road users," commented Datuk Zailani.


Motorcyclist Gets Hit by Perodua Alza, Video Goes Viral

Traffic accidents happen all the time in Malaysia, and every now and then we find them recorded by dashcams that people usually run to protect themselves in the event of an accident. Whether it's things as crazy as someone driving the wrong way up the highway, or an out of control car smashing into traffic- there are all kinds of peculiaraties that occur and being able to review it on video serves as a good lesson.
In this case, it's a little difficult to say who is in the wrong. An MPV runs through a junction and smashes straight into a motorcyclist, sending the rider bouncing off the car's windscreen. In this case the motorcyclist is immediately in the wrong for being stopped in a yellow box, but similarly it is unclear whether the Perodua Alza had cross the junction on red or if the light was still yellow.
Arguably had the rider been more patient and waited until the light was a solid green for him, this never would happened. There is a lot of impatience among motorists these days that result in unnecessary accidents and altercations, but if there is one piece of advice we can provide is that you can never expect others to obey traffic lights. Even if you see a solid green up ahead, do not simply charge through the junction as there may be other motorists thinking they can take advantage of a brief lull in traffic.


Selangor Wants Firms To Reject Toll Hike, Suggests GST Monies To Compensate Instead

The
toll hike
 has come into effect on Thursday and, surprisingly, it
isn’t just the motorists
 that are working themselves into dissatisfaction. The Selangor government
called a meeting yesterday
 afternoon with the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) and Kumpulan Perangsang (KPS), to have them explain the matter.
These firms hold a 30 percent stake in Kesas and 20 percent of Sprint, respectively, and the Selangor government takes issue with the hike as, out of the 17 highways that were involved in the rate increase, 12 of them are within Selangor.
As a result, Mentri Besar Azmin Ali, who called for yesterday’s meeting, has instructed both PKNS and KPS to discuss with the board of Kesas Holdings Sdn Bhd and Sprint Sdn Bhd, hopefully to reach a quick resolution.
The Mentri Besar claims the hikes issued by certain concessionaires such as these were decided upon and implemented without prior notification of either company’s board of directors, writes The Star.
Following the MTES meeting on Thursday, Azmin told reporters: "The Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) have instructed PKNS and KPS to write in and call for special board meetings of both the concession companies and to reject and protest against the toll hike,"
He added that despite both the state companies holding minority shares, it is important that PKNS and KPS represents the Selangor government’s stand against allowing any hikes in toll rates at the moment.
“We have told our representatives, as shareholders, to call for the emergency board meetings to discuss the matter and to object the toll hike,’’ said Azmin.
In a statement, Azmin noted how the toll rate increases – some as low as 10sen or as high as RM4.70 – will only further burden the population who are already faced with a poor-performing economy and higher costs of living.
On a related note, he said the state government would consider multiple options to undo the toll hike and urged the Federal government to use funds collected from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to compensate concessionaires should the decision to overturn the increased toll rates come to pass.
"The GST collections were more than RM6bil. Why not use it to lessen the rakyat’s burden?’” asked Azmin.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Achieves Best 1H Sales In Its History, 53% Growth

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) recorded its best-ever sales record in the first half of the year with over 5,163 units sold in 1H2015. This marks a 53% growth from last year's 1H2014 sales result of 3,366 units.
From the Three Pointed Star's arsenal, the locally-produced C-, E-, and S-Class models exhibited the most growth, contributing to 3,787 units sold, a 62% increase.
The
E-Class
 on its own registered 1,967 units, leading the sales figures for MBM's bread and butter models, and displayed a tremendous growth by 41% from the first half of 2014, no doubt invigorated by the success of the
E300 BlueTec Hybrid
.
As for the
C-Class
 midsize sedan, the recently crowned '
Car Of The Year
' saw a 38% increase in sales from 1H2014 with 1,104 units.
Meanwhile, the flagship
S-Class
, which is fully assembled in Malaysia as the S400L Hybrid, registered 719 units sold, a whopping 419% increase. MBM say the sales of the luxury sedan in this first half period of the year alone equalled that of all S-Class sales from 2004 to 2006.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz compact car models, comprising of the
A-
,
B-
,
CLA-
, and
GLA-Class
, managed a combined sales figure of 1,348 units, charting a 32% growth.
Even with such record figures, MBM is confident of maintaining their growth for the rest of 2015.
"With the implementation of a double shift at the Pekan production plant we are able to fulfil orders in a shorter time, and with a strong nationwide dealer network, customers can be assured of the best after-sales experience," said MBM president and CEO, Roland Folger.
Folger also took the time to inform the media of his imminent departure from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia to head Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd. Dr Claus Weidner (seen on the right in the group photo), will officially succeed him and
assume the role of president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia from October 2015 onwards


Rentas Negeri Sambut Aidilfitri? KKM Cadang Tangguh Hasrat Tersebut

Selepas terlepas kemeriahan
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
 pada tahun 2020 ekoran Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan, Nampaknya rakyat Malaysia sekali lagi bakal menyambut raya tahun ini tanpa kebenaran rentas negeri oleh Kerajaan.

Sebelum ini, Menteri Kanan Keselamatan, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob berkata segala keputusan tentang kebenaran rentas negeri sempena Aidilfitri perlu diumumkan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) kerana ianya adalah di atas nasihat kementerian berkenaan.

*Kredit foto: The Star

Meskipun isu rentas negeri untuk pulang beraya di kampung halaman merupakan perkara utama khususnya apabila Ramadan dan Syawal menjelma, namun KKM perlu melakukan penilaian risiko terlebih dahulu sebelum memberi kebenaran rentas negeri.

“Kita lihat apa yang berlaku dulu apabila kerajaan membenarkan pergerakan rentas negeri, terdapat 31 kluster balik kampung, sebab itu KKM perlu berhati-hati kali ini,” tambah Ismail Sabri.

Oleh itu, KKM telah mencadangkan bahawa kebenaran rentas negeri bagi menyambut Hari Raya Aidilfitri pada bulan hadapan ditangguhkan terlebih dahulu kerana penularan wabak COVID-19 masih berada di tahap membimbangkan.

*Kredit foto: The Star

Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Adham Baba berkata meskipun terdapat banyak pihak yang merayu kerajaan untuk membenarkan pergerakan rentas negeri, ianya terlalu berisiko ekoran terdapat varian baharu dalam komuniti dan program imunisasi masih diteruskan.

Ketika ditanya sekiranya mereka yang sudah menerima dua dos suntikan vaksin COVID-19 akan diberi pelepasan rentas negeri atau tidak, Dr. Adham berkata pihaknya masih menunggu input daripada Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) dan Pusat Kawalan dan Pencegahan Penyakit Amerika Syarikat (CDC).

Ismail Sabri berkata perkara seperti ini diumumkan awal kerana tidak mahu orang ramai berpusu-pusu membeli tiket bas atau pesawat untuk pulang ke kampung bagi menyambut raya.

Walau bagaimanapun, aktiviti rentas negeri bagi petugas barisan hadapan tetap dibenarkan kerana mereka perlu menjalankan tugas. Selain itu, anda turut diberi peluang untuk membuat permohonan rentas negeri sekiranya terdapat kecemasan melibatkan ahli keluarga terdekat sahaja (dengan dokumen sokongan), kematian atau pasangan jarak jauh.

Permohonan rentas negeri pada bulan Ramadan juga telah
diperketat
. Menurut sekeping gambar yang tular tentang arahan Ketua Polis Negara tentang kebenaran rentas negeri, tiada lagi kebenaran rentas negeri akan diberikan bagi tujuan menghadiri majlis perkahwinan dan lain-lain kenduri.

Nampaknya dua tahun berturut-turut lah kita beraya tanpa balik kampung. Tapi nak buat macam mana, vaksin pun belum dapat lagi jadi kena sabar lah sedikit. Bagi mereka yang dah
servis kereta
 dan siap dengan kelengkapan untuk pulang ke kampung, sebaiknya tangguhlah dulu hasrat anda. Kalau kena tahan nanti tak pasal pasal nak kena bayar duit raya (saman) kat kerajaan pula!


2023 BMW 3.0 CSL unleashed - the last BMW 50th anniversary 'hurrah' for 2022

BMW is capping off its BMW M 50th anniversary year with the launch of the new
2023 BMW 3.0 CSL
.

Labelled as the brand's 'most exclusive model the company ever produced', the BMW 3.0 CSL embodies 50 years of the brand's racing history and passion and those who know will quickly go back to the
3.0 CSL Hommage
 model introduced back in 2015 and prior to that, the BMW 3.0 CSL which competed and won in the 1973 European Touring Car Championship plus more.

Only 50 units to go into production

BMW will allocate three months of their time to produce only 50 examples of the BMW 3.0 CSL using a team of 30 specially qualified and experienced technicians. Nicknamed "The Batmobile", the coupe comes with some juicy wide wheel arches and a set of lovely aero bits which include the front spoiler, air bars, roof spoiler, and rear wing.

The new BMW 3.0 CSL shares a lot of pointers from the BMW M4 model, but you won't be able to tell straight away thanks to BMW's efforts to make this a unique coupe. It was successfully done using a lot of carbon fibre and aluminium for the body parts and a dash of glass fibre-reinforced plastic.

1,270kg with 560hp & 550Nm of torque

Featuring BMW's most powerful straight six-cylinder power unit ever used in a road-legal BMW M automobile, the BMW 3.0 CSC comes packing with a 3,153cc straight six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, the BMW 3.0 CSL registers a very promising 560hp and 550Nm of torque. All that power is sent down only to the rear wheels, baby.

To make things even more interesting, the BMW 3.0 CSL will be offered with a six-speed manual transmission with shift assist and an Active M Differential. Handling all that power is done via a set of Adaptive M Suspension, M carbon ceramic brakes, and forged light alloy wheels (20-inch front, 21-inch rear). The result is a true-performance road car that weighs only 1,270kg. Power-to-weight ratio? 2.9kg per hp

Classic racing-style paintwork & interior

Finished in Alpine White, the BMW 3.0 CSL is also dressed in the BMW M GmbH iconic colours of blue, purple, and red. All the parts that come with the M stripes (22 in total) are applied by hand and the carbon components are painted by specialists which will take up to around six days to complete.

As for the interior, the lightweight theme continues with M carbon full bucket seats, more carbon fibre-reinforced plastic trims, black Alcantara surfaces, M seat belts, and more. If you're lucky to even get one booked under your name, be prepared to pay a huge sum for it - an estimated figure of over RM3 million a pop.


Mercedes-Benz No. 1 Premium Brand Three Years In A Row – 12,045 Units Delivered

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has rounded off another stellar year, ending 2017 as the leading premium brand in Malaysia delivering a total of 12,045 vehicles, up from 11,779 units in 2016.

2017 marked the fourth consecutive year of expansion, underlined by an overall growth of 2.3 percent
compared to 2016
. In terms of overall market share, the three-pointed star maintains an overall market share of 2.3 percent.

In 2017, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's sales were driven by the locally produced limousines, such as the C, E and S Class models, which recorded 7,041 units sold. This was followed closely by the Mercedes-Benz SUVs with 2,599 units sold, spurred by the introduction of the locally produced Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 and GLC 250. Growth in this segment is expected to continue in 2018.

The Mercedes-Benz compact cars recorded a total of 2,031 units sold, while the aspirational Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars, which entails models such as the
E-Class Coupe
 and AMG GTR, recorded a total of 374 units in 2017.

The sales expansion for MBM 2017 was largely driven by a product offensive that saw 17 new models being introduced throughout the year – including six new AMG ‘43’ series models, namely the E43 4Matic, SLC 43, C43 4Matic, C43 4Matic Coupe, GLC 43 4Matic, GLC 43 4Matic Coupe. One of the key milestone during the year also included celebrating
50 years
 of the AMG performance brand.

MBM also engaged in customer engagement activities such as Ultra Singapore 2017, Urban Hunting, and Hungry for Adventure campaign in East Malaysia aimed at fortifying its brand experience.

Mercedes-Benz also launched its branded charging station in Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC), with two more locations planned in 2018.

The company expanded on its customer touch points with roadshows, the Mercedes-Benz Gallery, Customer Care Centre, and Test Drive Booking System.

Another new addition is experiencing cars with Virtual Reality, Digital Signage, Product Experts initiative, Online Service Booking, the Mercedes-Benz Financial Calculator and also the one-stop integrated web platform known as ‘OneWeb’.

MBM’s financing and insurance subsidiary Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM), which celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2017, also tracked growth last year, financing 4 out of 10 Mercedes-Benz vehicles and has a current servicing portfolio of RM 2.2 billion, up from 1.8 billion in 2016. MBSM also introduced new products like AgilityPlus and Lease2Go aimed at further enabling prospective buyers to get their cars on the road.

2017 also saw significant growth in MBM’s sales and aftersales operations, highlighted by the entrance of Auto Commerz Sdn Bhd. MBM and Auto Commerz have allocated investments totalling more than RM 10 million over the next two years for the expansion and development of Mercedes-Benz Auto Commerz Autohaus.

To date, MBM has 33 dedicated dealerships nationwide, which is the largest premium dealer network in the country.

MBM’s dealer network also boasts servicing a total of 128,072 vehicles in 2017, while simultaneously maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction, achieving the highest Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) after-sales score in its history.

In 2017, the MBM’s service network was recognised as the global benchmark for body and paint facilities, processes and the implementation of Service Differentiation – My Service.

Since 2003, MBM has invested approximately RM 1 billion; one-third of this investment went towards its Pekan Production Plant and MBM Training Academy in Puchong, Selangor.

At the core of managing the strong demand for its vehicles: MBM’s Pekan production plant in Pahang which produced 9,286 vehicles, a new record high from 7,882 units in 2016.

The Pekan production plant currently produces the following 12 models:

C180 Avantgarde

C200 AMG Line

C250 AMG Line

C350E AMG Line

E200 Avantgarde

E250 Avantgarde

E250 Exclusive

E350E AMG Line

E350e Exclusive

S400h AMG Line

GLC 200

GLC 250 AMG Line

The latest investment in Pekan is its paint shop that has a production capacity of 10,000 units per year, equipped with a state-of-the-art robotic painting system, is also the first to use a 360-degree conveyor system in the ASEAN region.


Mercedes-Benz’s Avatar-inspired Vision AVTR Shown At CES

Welcome to (possibly) the weirdest thing on four wheels(?) you’ll see this year - and we’re only just at the start of January. It’s called the Vision AVTR, a wildly stylised concept vehicle headed to this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and Mercedes-Benz is confident that it’s much less outlandish than it is very futuristic.

Some have posited this as what the luxurious S-Class might eventually look like in the 22nd century, begging the question why the automaker bothered to tap the minds of those behind Avatar, the 2009 James Cameron sci-fi blockbuster movie in order to create this. After all, we don’t recall seeing roads on the alien world of Pandora unless the Vision AVTR is hiding some serious off-road gear.

At least they’ve got the glowing purple lights down pat and they do look great reflected against the car in these pictures. On a Vegas convention centre floor, perhaps the impact isn’t quite there.

Either way, this is the car they’ve come up with. Despite the movie connection, the AVTR acronym actually stands for Advanced Vehicle Transformation, and according to Benz, this incorporates various new organic-inspired visual cues as well as those that have been previously tread upon with other Mercedes-Benz concept cars such as the Biome, Urbanetic, and F 015 Luxury in Motion - unified under the “One Bow” design language.

On its hind there are 33 “bionic flaps” that Mercedes-Benz say are reminiscent of reptile scales, functioning as communication mediums between the driver and the outside world through subtle flowing movements and gestures.

Of course, it’s almost a given that every concept car presents its own vision of a driverless, fully autonomous future. The Vision AVTR is no different with a ‘multifunction control element’ placed in the centre console taking the practical place of a conventional steering wheel. Upon touching it, the car would recognise the driver based on his or her breathing patterns and heartbeat. Trippy.

Another trope of a futuristic concept car is the lack of a combustion engine, a propulsion method of a bygone, less enlightened age. It’s powered by electricity, naturally, but the Vision AVTR goes one step further by incorporating sustainable materials even in its battery system.

For example, graphene-based organic cells take the place of present day lithium ion energy storage and would therefore be fully recyclable, even compostable. Inside, the car’s seats are refined vegan-based DINAMICA leather, which is made from fast-growing rattan and is the only microfibre material that is fully environmentally sustainable throughout the production process.

Lastly, with drive going independently to the front and rear axles, the Vision AVTR is able to move sideways by approximately 30 degrees in a so-called “crab movement” by controlling the front or rearward direction of drive across all wheels.


Sweden Is Learning That Mazda’s Prediction About EVs Was Right All Along

The Swedish government has set a target of becoming neutral by 2045. Achieving that target requires slashing carbon emissions from the transport sector by 70 percent and the government is considering a total ban of internal combustion engine cars by 2030.
Supporting this ambition requires a migration from combustion engines to electrified drivetrains – plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Last year, the Swedish government announced tax incentives for buyers of BEVs while at the same time penalizing internal combustion engine cars by substantially raising road taxes, which can now reach up to 25,000 Swedish Kronas, which translates to a whopping RM 10,900! Of course, not all cars will be taxed as much and this is just the upper limit.
Buyers of BEVs will get 60,000 Kronas in tax rebates (about RM26,000). As a result, sales of BEVs have increased by over 250 percent in this year alone, led by the Tesla Model 3.
However, a report by Bloomberg has indicated that the country’s power grid is now struggling to cope with the increase in BEVs.
According to Swedish power industry group Power Circle, demand for electricity in Stockholm and other major Swedish cities is outpacing capacity, and the group is calling for the government to hasten the implementation of smart grids to reduce the strain on the country’s power transmission infrastructure.
Smart grids are power grids that will pause/delay the charging of an electric car depending on available power supply, and also allows excess energy stored in an electric vehicle to be returned to the grid when there is a shortage in power supply.
"Electric cars can make or break the grid," said Johanna Lakso, who heads Power Circle.
The infrastructure’s limited capacity, which already has to cope with additional demand from new housing projects and subway lines, will now have to accommodate an increase in electric vehicle charging stations.
“Right now there is a tendency to cover up the deficiency by increasing the cost of capacity, and that would make it impossible to build a charging infrastructure." Tobias Henmark, head of the Swedish unit of Fortum Charge and Drive, which operates 740 fast chargers in the Nordic region.
What Sweden is experiencing now is exactly what the engineers at Mazda have cautioned.
Last year, Carlist.my
sat down with the engineers at Mazda
 to pick their brains on the industry’s transition to electric vehicles. Mazda will be launching its first BEV next year but the company also cautioned that EVs are being overhyped.
The simple reason is because even in many developed countries, Japan included, the power grid simply won’t be able to cope if there is a massive shift towards electric vehicles. During peak winter/summer months, Japan’s power grid’s reserve capacity hovers at around 5 percent.
In addition to this, most power generation plants are still relying on the burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, thus negating most of the benefits of an electric vehicle’s zero emission.
Increasing power supply is possible but it would take decades to lay new cables and add power generation capacity. Sweden’s local power grid manager Ellevio told Bloomberg that Sweden cannot be expected to significantly increase its electric power supply to cities until 2030.
The solution advocated by Mazda however, is so underwhelming that it gets drowned out by Tesla investors’ hype – to make combustion engines even cleaner and to measure a vehicle’s total carbon emissions from the point of power generation, the so-called ‘Well-To-Wheel’ method, instead of ‘Tank-To-Wheel.’
Mazda claims that its
SkyActiv-X
 equipped Mazda 3 has a Well-To-Wheel CO2 emissions that’s comparable to a similar-size electric vehicle charged using electric generated from non-renewable sources. CO2 emissions (depending on specifications) can go as low as 96 g/km.
The SkyActiv-X is the world’s only SPCCI (Spark Controlled Combustion Ignition) engine. The concept has been studied by Daimler in the past but Mazda is the only car company that is able to make it work. How this gamble will payoff is still left to be seen, because the migration towards EVs appears to be inevitable and many governments will eventually ban combustion engine cars.