Review: 2015 Ford Everest 3.2L Titanium – Still Untouchable, For Now

Welcome to the territory of truck-based SUVs; a segment which car manufacturers haven’t seriously looked at for over least a decade.
Besides brands like Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Toyota, most companies somewhat neglected this category in favour of crossover SUVs designed for the urban jungle as that is where the money was.
But now that we are in an era where big bulky vehicles are kings, more and more eyes are slowly, but surely returning towards this segment.
Who needs station wagons, people movers, or even mid-size sedans when you can get the best of all worlds in large truck-based SUVs?
Furthermore, with the increasing amount of people who are indulging in outdoor activities as a hobby, and the booming amount of business owners who constantly need to transport goods on a regular basis, things are looking promising for this segment.
However, there is a catch – the hefty price tag. Compared to urban crossover SUVs, prices of truck-based SUVs start at around RM170,000 in our market, which is a lot of money.
But those with the moolah have another issue - there aren’t many options to choose from. We have the good ol’
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
, the
 Isuzu MU-X,
 and everyone’s favourite, the
Toyota Fortuner
.
As much as these models are excellent workhorses, they are still pickup trucks with a third-row of seats, which means that comfort, refinement, and driving characteristics are identical to their pickup siblings.
Fortunately, just like how pickup trucks are improving and have become almost car-like in terms of refinement, the SUVs that they are derived from on are also transforming. They are no longer just pickup trucks with seven seats. No, not anymore.
A good example would be this handsome thing you’re looking at now –
the Ford Everest
.
Specifications of the Ford Everest 3.2L Titanium AWD
Price: RM258,888
Engine: Duratorq P5AT 3.2 litre five-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 200PS at 3,000rpm
Torque: 470Nm from 1,750 – 2500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Safety: 7 airbags, ESC, ABS, ISOFIX, front parking sensors, reverse camera, Ford MyKey
Origin: Imported from Thailand
Overview
Based on the Ranger T6 facelift, the Everest is offered here in two variants – 2.2L Trend and 3.2L Titanium, priced at RM198,888 and RM258,888 respectively. And being the higher-spec model, the Everest Titanium is packed with equipment, including:
         Xenon projector headlamps with auto-levelling and LED DRLs
         Dual-zone air conditioning
         Cruise control
         Front and rear fog lamps
         Painted roof rails
         Ford Terrain Management System
         20-inch wheels
         Automatic wipers
         Leather seats
         SYNC 2 infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen display
         Powered driver seat
         One-touch power-folding third-row 50:50 split folding seats.
Under the hood, powering the Titanium variant is the same 3.2-litre turbocharged 5-cylinder diesel engine as the Ranger 3.2, which is capable of producing 200PS and 470Nm of maximum torque.
Offered in three colour options, the Everest is being built in Ford’s plant in Rayong, and competes with the Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X, as well as the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. It also happens to be the most expensive in the lot, but is it worth it?
Exterior
Measuring at 4,893mm long, 1,862mm wide, and 1,836mm tall, the Everest, living up to its name, is massive. Complemented by the massive 20-inch rubbers and wheels, it even makes some pickup trucks look puny next to it.
Featuring xenon projector headlamps with auto-levelling LED lights and Daytime Running Lights (DRL), the Everest is almost identical to the Ranger when seen from the front, but the moment you look at the behemoth from the side or the rear, you’ll know that it is an Everest.
While noteworthy exterior features on the Everest Titanium include a spoiler with a centre-mounted stop lamp, automatic wipers, roof rails and what not, this is how it measures against competition:
Model
Length(mm)
Width(mm)
Height(mm)
Wheelbase(mm)
Ford Everest
4,893
1,862
1,836
2,850
Toyota Fortuner
4,795
1,855
1,835
2,750
Isuzu MU-X
4,825
1,860
1,840
2,845
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
4,695
1,815
1,800
2,800
As you can see, the Everest is the most massive among its current crop of rivals and is set to stay that way for some time. The next-generation Pajero Sport will barely grow in size from the current one; the upcoming Chevrolet Trailblazer will be wider and taller, but remains shorter in overall length and wheelbase than the Ford.
Another strength of the Everest is that it is also arguably the best looking vehicle in class. In fact, we have not come across anyone who said that they don’t like the way it looks, yet.
Interior
While the Everest’s exterior justifies the RM260,000 price tag, the cabin is less extravagant. There’s no denying that it is well equipped and well built, but we just feel that it would be better if it had more ‘bling’ factor. Some brushed metal trim, coloured stitching, or beige/cream leather seats would’ve done the job.
Besides that, things are fine and dandy in the Everest. In fact, features such as the split power-folding third row seats, active noise-cancellation and powered tailgate certainly give it an edge over its competition.
Space is not an issue for occupants of the first and second rows but in the third row, it comes at a premium. Children and medium-sized adults can fit in without any issues but anyone taller than about 170cm will definitely feel claustrophobic.
Storage room and spaces are available in abundance too. Believe it or not, there are more than 25 compartments across the cabin for occupants to store their stuff, and the highlight is the glove compartment, which can store a 15-inch laptop in it with ease.
In case you’re wondering how much cargo space the Everest offers, there are 1,050 litres available with the third row folded. Fold the second row also and you will have a massive 2,010 litres.
How does it drive?
Unlike the Fortuner, MU-X, and the Pajero Sport which remind us of their pickup cousins the moment we hit our first pothole or hump, the Everest takes longer to remind you of the Ranger.
This is due to the fact that the Everest's chassis is completely different than the Ranger's, and only the engine mounts are identical between both models. Besides that, Ford has also tweaked the engines, the exhaust system, the diesel injectors, and also the gearbox to reduce vibration to deliver a more refined driving experience.
Did it work? Absolutely.
Throughout our stint with the Everest, the ride was more composed than expected. In addition, external noise and wind intrusions were kept to a minimum as well.
Handling was fine; and there wasn’t much boat-like wallowing that plagues a lot of large SUVs. Thanks to the electronically power-assisted steering (EPAS) steering, the Everest seemed quite nimble for a vehicle which weighs over 2.3 tonnes.
We couldn’t run away from the typical diesel engine noise while accelerating and overtaking but it was not as prominent as some of its rivals and didn’t get on our nerves at any given time.
Overall, comfort has been sorted very well for all occupants, with separate vents to each row and independent climate control for the rear climate zones for the second row passengers.
Seats all around the cabin were pretty supportive too, and the third row seats have a decent amount of room and can be split 50:50, so you can have storage and seating.
Complemented by all the bells and whistles like the panoramic sunroof, the Microsoft Sync2 infotainment system, 8-inch touch screen and what not, there was constantly something to fiddle with and never once did we feel that this vehicle needs more features.
As far as off-roading goes, the Everest Titanium comes with a full-time, on-demand 4X4 system and Ford’s Terrain Management System. What this system does is that it allows you to choose a mode from sand, to rock to snow, and based on the selected terrain, the system communicates with the engine, gearbox, and suspensions to ensure that there is always sufficient grip.
So, regardless of whether we were on the road or off the beaten track, the Everest didn't have any issues going through them.
How economical is it?
After spending a couple of days with the Everest, mostly in urban surroundings, town roads and a little highway cruising here and there, we observed a fuel consumption of 9km/l, which might seem a little scary but it was expected from a 4x4 SUV which weighs a massive 2.3 tonnes.
To be frank, the Everest 3.2 is not the most economical vehicle in this category as it will require you to pay more for road tax compared to its rivals, and also require owners to fork out quite a bit for things like replacing the 20-inch tyres. So, for those with financial restrictions, the 2.2L Trend variant would be the sensible choice.
Conclusion
The Everest is an ideal vehicle for families that like to hit the road together, as it is arguably the best option for a seven-seater that’s not only comfortable but also capable.
Price aside, what the Everest Titanium has to offer in terms of comfort, equipment, and capabilities make it arguably the best in the business for now, but can it remain on top once newer, more capable rivals such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer, and the new Pajero Sport arrive here?
We shall wait and see…
Looking for a Ford? Find one now at
Carlist.my


The Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet Might be the Most Expensive Vehicle to Visit the African Safari

When the
Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet
was first unveiled a couple of weeks ago, our guess was that it would most probably be spotted out in urban surroundings first.
But to our surprise, the folks at Stuttgart released a promo video where the Landaulet is seen traversing the African plains, looking right at home among the Giraffes and Zebras.
Equipped with portal axles which provide ample ground clearance, the open-top all-terrain vehicle overcame some pretty rough obstacles in masterly fashion.
Complementing the off-road system is of course, the V12 biturbo engine which delivers a 630 hp and 1000 Nm of torque.
Inside, the rear seats are taken straight from the S-Class. And then, there is the electrically powered folding roof. There is also an electrically operated glass partition which separates the rear compartment from the driver's section. The best part is that the glass can be changed from transparent to opaque at the press of a button.
Limited to only 99 units, we are glad that the unit seen in the video didn’t go anywhere near animals known to have anger issues like lions, rhinos or elephants, as we would’ve ended up with one unit less.


Senarai Sekatan Jalan Raya PKPD (EMCO) Di Selangor Dan Kuala Lumpur

Berikutan pelaksanaan PKPD (EMCO) di beberapa mukim di Selangor dan beberapa lokaliti di Kuala Lumpur selama 14 hari bermula 3 hingga 16 Julai, terdapat beberapa
Sekatan Jalan Raya
 (SJR) yang dikenakan di Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur.

PKPD di Kuala Lumpur adalah bersandarkan kepada lokaliti berbanding mengikut mukim di Selangor. Jadi, tiada pemasangan kawat besi di Selangor, tetapi tumpuan diberikan dengan mempertingkatkan
Sekatan Jalan Raya (SJR)
 di kawasan tersebut. Di Kuala Lumpur pula, jumlah SJR sedia ada akan dikekalkan tetapi lokaliti kawasan PKPD dipasang kawat berduri.

*Kredit foto: Berita Harian

Oleh itu, Polis Selangor telah menggerakkan kira-kira 10,000 anggotanya untuk operasi SJR secara besar-besaran di seluruh negeri bagi memantau penguatkuasaan
Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) Diperketatkan (PKPD)
 di negeri tersebut. Meskipun tiada kawat berduri, namun pemantauan lebih ketat akan dilakukan di laluan yang biasa dilalui orang awam.

Polis akan melakukan pemeriksaan dengan lebih ketat di setiap lokasi SJR dengan memeriksa dokumen setiap individu. Individu perlu menyediakan dokumen, misalnya jika bekerja di Kuala Lumpur dalam sektor dibenarkan, wajib ada surat kebenaran daripada majikan dan Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI). Bagi
urusan vaksin
 pula, individu dari kawasan PKPD dibenarkan keluar untuk mendapatkan suntikan.

Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed berkata tindakan tegas akan diambil terhadap mana-mana individu yang didapati cuba untuk
merentas daerah atau negeri
 tanpa kebenaran. Menurutnya, individu yang ingkar akan diarahkan berpatah balik tetapi jika telah merentasi sempadan, mereka akan dikompaun dan diarahkan untuk berpatah balik.

Sekiranya anda mempunyai kebenaran dan perlu bergerak ke tempat kerja atau sebagainya, kami telah menyenaraikan info roadblock atau lokasi Sekatan Jalan Raya (SJR) di Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor untuk panduan dan rujukan anda.

Lokasi Sekatan Jalan Raya di Kuala Lumpur:

IPD Cheras

Jalan 1/91 Taman Shamelin

SIRIM Lebuhraya Bukit Jalil Puchong

IPD Dang Wangi

Jalan Lok Yew

Laluan Jalan Ampang

Laluan Jalan Sultan Ismail

Jalan Kuching

IPD Brickfields

Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi (Hadapan Balai Polis TTDI)

Jalan 2/149 Sri Petaling

Taman Sri Sentosa 12, Jalan Sri Sentosa

Jalan Semantan

Jalan Maarof, Bangsar

Hadapan Pondok Polis NU Sentral

Jalan Sri Hartamas (Menghala ke TTDI)

IPD Sentul

Jalan Sentul Pasar (Hadapan Darul Hidayah)

Hadapan Balai Polis Kepong

Bawah Highway Duke-Manjalara Masjid Imam Al-Ghazali

IPD Putrajaya

Lebuh Sentosa Susur Keluar Ke MEX Highway (KM4.0)

Exit 2A Persiaran Utara (Susur Keluar ke Hospital Serdang)

Persiaran Selatan Susur Keluar ke Dengkil

Exit 3 Persiaran Utara (Susur Keluar ke Puchong – KM1.0)

IPD Wangsa Maju

Jalan 2/27A Wangsa Melawati

JSPT KL

Tol Jalan Duta (Susur Keluar/Susur Masuk)

Jalan Sungai Besi (TUDM Lama)

Lokasi Sekatan Jalan Raya Di Selangor

Kajang

Hadapan Balai Polis Beranang

Susur keluar Plaza Tol Bandar Seri Putra

Jalan Broga-Mantin

Susur keluar Plaza Tol Kajang

Plaza Tol Eco Majestic

Susur keluar Plaza Tol Bangi

Lebuh Raya Besraya berhampiran Minlon

Serdang

Lebuhraya Bukit Jalil di Bandar Kinrara 5

Hadapan Telekom Taman Tenaga, Jalan Puchong Lama menuju Jalan Klang Lama

Jalan Putra Permai

Jalan Utama Seksyen 8, Jalan Serdang Raya

Shah Alam

Susur keluar dan susur masuk Plaza Tol Shah Alam

Susur keluar dan susur masuk Plaza Tol Setia Alam

Subang Jaya

Plaza Tol USJ 8, Lebuhraya ELITE

Plaza Tol Putra Heights

Ampang Jaya

Laluan berhampiran Apartmen Desa 288

Jalan Pandan Indah-Cheras dari arah Lebuh Raya Sungai Besi ke Ampang

Jalan Lingkaran Tengah 2 (MRR2) berhampiran stesen minyak Petronas Klang Gates dari arah Gombak ke Ampang

Sungai Buloh

Susur keluar dan susur masuk Plaza Tol Hospital Sungai Buloh

Susur keluar dan susur masuk Plaza Tol Rawang

Jalan Selangor-Kepong KM12

Jalan Sungai Buloh-Shah Alam

Kuala Langat

Tol ELITE, Bandar Saujana Putra

Jalan Batu 7, Sijangkang

Tol SKVE

Jalan Seri Cheding

Hadapan Petronas Olak Lempit.

Petaling Jaya / Damansara

Susur keluar Tol Sungai Buloh

Laluan masuk Tol Kota Damansara

Susur keluar Tol Damansara

Susur keluar Tol Subang

Sepang

Laluan keluar dan masuk Nilai-Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi

Tol Serimas/Pekan Salak

Jalan Salak-Kampung Jijan

Gombak

Gombak (sekatan jalan raya) Plaza Tol Gombak di kedua-dua arah

KM12 dari Rawang ke Kuala Lumpur/dari Kuala Lumpur ke Rawang

Plaza Tol Rawang Kedua

Di Jalan Desa Aman Puri, Desa Jaya

Klang Selatan

Susur Majlis Perbandaran Klang

Plaza Tol KESAS

Jalan Langat

Kampung Delek

Jalan Dato Ahmad Sidin

Klang Utara

Lebuhraya Selat Klang Utara Baru (hadapan AEON Mall Bukit Raja)

Plaza Tol Bukit Raja (dari Klang ke Shah Alam)

Batu 10 Jalan Kapar (dari Kuala Selangor ke Klang)

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Berikut merupakan antara kawasan yang sering dilakukan Sekatan Jalan Raya di sekitar Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor. Anda harus tahu bahawa pihak PDRM akan menilai dan menukar lokasi SJR dari semasa ke semasa, jadi mungkin akan berlaku perubahan terhadap senarai di atas. Jika perlu untuk keluar (dengan alasan sah), rancang perjalanan anda sebaik-baiknya dan berhati-hatilah di jalan raya.

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Hyundai Set To Debut All-New 2018 Kona Compact SUV In June

Hyundai is developing a new compact SUV that is set to be unveiled in June, before going on sale in October. The new compact SUV is said to be called Kona.

When the new compact SUV is launched later this year, Hyundai expects its all-new Kona to challenge the popular
Toyota C-HR
,
Mazda CX-3
 and
Honda HR-V
.
AutoExpress
 reckons that the new model from Hyundai rides on the same platform as the B-segment i20, on top of sharing the i20's petrol and diesel engines.

Known internally as OS, the 2018 Hyundai Kona continues Kia's trend of utilizing a well known location name for its own models. Hyundai currently uses the Santa Fe and Tucson nameplates for its models. As for Kona, the name is derived from a district in Hawaii, renowned for its premium coffee beans.

A lone spyshot from
hyundai-blog
 gives us a hint at the new Kona's design, in which its LED daytime running lights visible on top of its headlights, possibly indicating that Hyundai could debut an updated design language in the Kona.


Mitsubishi CNY Promo Announced – 0.88% Interest For Triton, Rebates Up to RM12,000 For Selected Models

In conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is offering low interest rate of up to 0.88% for selected Triton variants.

However, the deal, which is valid from now until end of January 2020, is only available exclusively with Maybank or Public Bank hire purchase.

Customers who book and register a new Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X, Triton VGT AT Premium, and the Triton VGT MT Premium can choose to either enjoy interest rate of up to 0.88%, OR cash rebates as mentioned below:

Mitsubishi owners and pick-up owners who purchase selected Triton variants will also be entitled to RM3,000 cash rebates, and RM2,000 cash rebates respectively, on top of on-going promotions.

Customers who book and register a new Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0-litre or 2.4-litre will enjoy cash rebates up to RM4, 000 plus 2-Year Free Maintenance and RM2, 000 plus 2-Year Free Maintenance respectively.

The Outlander 2.0-litre is priced at RM137, 888 while the Outlander 2.4-litre is priced at RM152, 888.

Last but not least, the Mitsubishi ASX Compact SUV 4WD and 2WD come with cash rebates up to RM12, 000 and RM8, 000 respectively.

While the ASX 4WD is priced at RM133, 336, the ASX 2WD is priced at RM118, 866.

The Outlander and ASX both come with five years/ unlimited mileage warranty.


2022 Renault Zoe EV Has Arrived In Malaysia - From RM163,000

TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd
 (Renault Malaysia) has officially revealed the price and specs for the 2022
Renault Zoe
 EV for the Malaysian market.

Those who are interested in getting one of these
eco-friendly electric cuties
 have the option to choose from two different variants - the Zoe Zen R110 and the Zoe Intens R135.

Priced from RM163,000 to RM175,000

The 2022 Renault Zoe is priced at RM163,000 for the Ren R110 variant and RM175,000 for the Intens R135 (recomended retail price without insurance). The RM12,000 price difference can be mostly seen via its interior as well as some added safety features.

Zoe Zen R110 or Zoe Intens R135?

Shooting straight to firepower, the 2022 Renault Zoe EV is able to produce
110PS
 and
225Nm
 of torque for the Zoe Zen R110 variant while the Zoe Intens R135 peaks at
135PS
 and
245Nm
 of torque.

Both models are fitted with the same front-wheel-drive setup as well as a
52kWh
 battery pack that offers a WLTP cycle range of
395km
 for the R110 and
386km
 for the R135.

The 2022 Renault Zoe EV supports AC charging up to 22kW (Type 2) which offers a charging time from 0-100% in three hours. If you're connected to a more modest 7.4kW charger, a full charge can be completed in 9.5 hours.

For DC charging, the 2022 Renault Zoe also supports up to 50kW and when connected to one via its CCS2 port, 0-80% charge is achieved in just 70 minutes. If you're in a hurry, 30 minutes will get you an added 145km of range with the 50kW DC fast charger.

Exterior - 2022 Renault Zoe

Both variants of the 2022 Renault Zoe come with the same full-LED headlight setup with C-shaped DRLs. Both variants are also fitted with 16-inch wheels (195/55) but the only difference is that the R110 comes with alloy wheels while the R135 comes with the alloy 'diamond cut' option.

Exterior colour options also differ between the two variants. If you opt for the Zoe Zen R110, you can get it in Black or Solid White. The Zoe Intens R135, however, is available in four vibrant colour options - Black, Blue, Purple, and Red.

Interior - 2022 Renault Zoe

While both variants are fitted with the same 10-inch customisable colour driver screen and a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and six speakers, there are major differences between the two.

The base Zoe Ren R110 does not come with Offline Navigation, rear USB charging port, automatic climate control, electrochromatic rearview mirror, folding side mirrors, reverse camera, and front parking sensors.

These features are available as standard on the Renault Zoe Intens R135 variant, which also comes with black leather-cloth combination upholstery (black fabric for the R110).

Safety features - Added Blind Spot Warning for the R135

Safety specs for both variants can be summed up with the same features which are:

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane Keep Assist (LKA)

Adaptive High Beam (AHB)

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Traction Control Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)

ABS with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)

Hill Start Assist (HSA)

Four airbags

Blind Spot Warning (Intens R135 only)

Visit the Renault flagship showroom along Jalan Kemajuan in Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya to check it out live.


Three Malaysian Drivers To Debut At This Year’s Le Mans 24 Hours Race

Malaysia’s top racing drivers will be carrying the ‘Jalur Gemilang’ to the most famous and without doubt, the toughest motor race in the world - the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Drivers Jazeman Jaafar, Nabil Jeffri, and Weiron Tan will make their Le Mans debut this weekend, driving the Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca bearing number 37 in the LMP2 class.
The trio had a successful outing at their first FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) race in Belgium last month finishing fourth in the LMP2 class.
Other notable drivers in LMP2 class that has a field of 20 cars this year include ex-Formula 1 drivers Pastor Maldonado, Jean-Eric Vergne, and Felipe Nasr.
The first qualifying session (out of three), which was held on Wednesday night, saw the trio put their Jackie Chan DC Racing machine to 16th place overall (7th in LMP2 class), the leading car in the Jackie Chan DC Racing team of four entrants.
The trio, who are under the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) talent development programme, only recently moved up to WEC from the Asian Le Mans Series.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans will start at 9 pm Malaysia time this Saturday, 16th of June 2018. All the best to the drivers!
Photo credit: All images from
Jackie Chan DC Racing Twitter page


New Daihatsu sedan patent filed in Indonesia - Perodua's next B-segment model?

Patent images of what seems to be a new
Daihatsu
 sedan have been filed in Indonesia, but does this mean anything related to
Perodua
?

Daihatsu Motor Co. filed the patent images with the country's Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) under the number
A00202204663
 and what's interesting is the fact that it carries enough resemblance to be called by some the 'twin of the Toyota Vios'.

Toyota Vios challenger?

The latest
Toyota Vios or Yaris Ativ
 that was launched in Thailand last year was also built on the latest Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform, which is not surprising if this new Daihatsu sedan shares the same design DNA.

There are several specs and variants with engine capacities ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 litres, but there's a chance that this new Daihatsu sedan model might point towards the more affordable side of things. With that being said, Indonesia's Astra Daihatsu Motor stated that there are no plans for this patent just yet and the filing is more of a 'routine registration'.

Possible platform for Perodua's new sedan?

Indonesia's market is filled with a number of models between the two companies that share the same platforms such as the Rocky and Raiza, Xenia and Avanza, plus more. What's more interesting is the fact that Daihatsu also has ties with Malaysia's carmaker, Perodua.

We've heard of rumours about a possible B-segment sedan from Perodua, but that has remained to be unseen for now. What we do know is that Perodua is gunning to be Daihatsu's centre for R&D in Asia together with more DNGA-based models to be introduced following the popular Perodua Ativa. Will one of them be an affordable B-segment sedan? We'll just have to wait and see, folks.


We Are Thankful That The Toyota Supra Doesn’t Use BMW's Instrument Panel – Here’s Why

The all-new fifth generation Toyota Supra has just made its global debut at today’s opening of North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Internet is - as expected - divided about the car. As you might have already know, the coupe-only Supra is closely related to the convertible-only BMW Z4, both born out of a German-Japanese partnership. The economics of the sports car market is too brutal for one company to embark on the project alone.
Some derided Toyota’s decision to use BMW engines instead of Toyota’s own legendary straight-six, nevermind the sheer absurdity of suggesting that a ‘90s era 2JZ-GTE can be adapted to meet today’s emissions standards. Others didn’t like that it didn’t come with a manual transmission, while some say it needs to be styled like the previous A80 generation Supra.
Pleasing enthusiast drivers is a near impossible task so it’s not surprising that very few car companies bother paying attention to this vocal but tiny segment of the market any more. Toyota (86) and Mazda (MX-5) are the only two affordable sports cars left in the market. Enthusiasts want simple and affordable sports cars but when someone actually makes one, the enthusiast crowd either won’t put up the cash that they said they will, or express some ridiculous expectations.
This explains why every other car maker has resorted to the cheaper and simpler route of making higher performance variants off a standard car (Volkswagen Golf GTI, BMW M cars and Mercedes-Benz AMG models for example), reserving their sports cars range only for the super luxury crowd - customers who actually pay the asking price and don’t complain as much.
Dynamically, we can’t say yet how the Supra differs from its sister-car the BMW Z4, but judging by the instrument panel alone, it’s very clear that Toyota is the one that is keeping the enthusiast driver’s spirit alive.
Like all recent BMWs, the Z4 uses an opposite facing, upward sweeping analogue-style dials on its LCD instrument panel. It looks good in the pictures but out in the real world, it’s a dreadful experience trying to make sense of the information presented on the LCD screen. It tries to cram too much information into the display - infotainment and navigation in the centre, with opposite facing dials at the sides. The result is a very counter-intuitive experience.
On a regular BMW model like the upcoming G05 X5 and G20 3 Series, one can still make some justification that perhaps this is what a customer wants, especially in this age of connected cars. On a driver-oriented sports car like a Z4 however, the rationale in maintaining such a layout is questionable.
So when we saw today that Toyota has modified BMW’s instrument panel, replacing the LCD screen with its own design, complete with a centrally-mounted tachometer – exactly how a sports car should be – we knew that Toyota is looking after the interest of us enthusiasts.
The refreshingly simple layout of having a large tachometer in the middle, speedometer readout and vehicle status displayed on the sides, is exactly how we, if given the chance, would customize a sports car’s instrument panel.
Toyota’s own marketing materials also suggests that the Supra (in 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder guise) will have a much more emotional engine note than the BMW.
More on the Toyota Supra
here
. Meanwhile, a recap of the BMW Z4 can be found
here
.
UMW Toyota Motor have also confirmed that the Supra will be launched in Malaysia, albeit in very
limited volumes
, most likely only in the highest specifications 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged variant. Don't expect it to be cheap though, remember that our import and excise duties are based on engine capacity, which is different from the practice in USA and UK so one can't make comparisons based on prices overseas especially on higher engine capacity variants.
The last time BMW Group Malaysia sold a 3.0-litre BMW Z4, it was priced close to RM600,000.


2018 BMW 8 Series Concept Debuts At Concorso dEleganza

The
BMW 8 Series
 is set to return next year, nearly 20 years after the original bearer of the nameplate was discontinued in 1999. Previewed a year ahead of its planned debut here is the Concept 8 Series being showcased at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event.
Widely speculated as an indirect replacement of the 6 Series Coupe, the forthcoming 8 Series Coupe will give BMW a bigger two-door to go head on against Mercedes-Benz’s own S-Class Coupe. The 6 Series nameplate, on the other hand, is expected to live on in a new Gran Turismo model that is set to replace the 5 Series GT.
Whilst the sharp details are likely to be toned down, the concept’s basic lines and silhouette should survive the transition to production. Overall shape of the car gives a hunkered down look up front with lines gradually rising moving astern. From certain angles, the proportions appear distinctly Aston Martin-ish.
Its long bonnet and enlarged air intakes suggest performance of high capacity engines, whilst the enlarged down-ward flaring kidney grilles give the car immense road presence – it reminds of another long-discontinued BMW model, the Z8. Narrow-slit tail lights with BMW’s trademark twin circular lighting signature give added menace to its front fascia.
Rear section shows a distinctly expressive interpretation of BMW’s L-shaped tail lights – slim-looking and projecting out from the vehicle’s body like a blade. Highly-toned sheet metal, distinctive rear diffuser elements, and large trapezoidal exhausts all emphasize the car’s muscular stance.
Inside, the conceptual dashboard exhibits a vastly different architecture from what’s familiar in the current-generation
G11 7 Series
 or the
G30 5 Series
. Notably, the centre console flows down to the tunnel on a gentler slope than typical of a BMW. Number of buttons too, is minimized, although the free-standing iDrive screen and its familiar rotary control knob remain present.
No technical details have been released by BMW, but it is understood that the 8 Series is being built off the 7 Series’ CLAR platform and should also feature the flagship limo’s Carbon Core chassis.
Engine options will likely be taken off the upper-end of the petrol 7 Series range, meaning we could see variants like a 3.0-litre six-cylinder 840i, 4.4-litre V8 850i, and maybe even a 6.6-litre V12 M860i. Diesel models are possible but unlikely in this segment though an 840e PHEV might be an interesting preposition.


Spyshot: All-New 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Caught With BMW 7 Series

For the first time ever, the all-new 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been caught on camera undergoing winter testing.
A G11 BMW 7 Series was seen behind the heavily-camouflaged mule, a clear indication that Mercedes-Benz is testing its next-generation flagship model.
Although the test mule features an abundance of body cladding and camouflage, it is very likely that the all-new S-Class will feature Mercedes’ latest design language that was introduced on the new CLS and A-Class. The headlights of the new model also appear to be placed lower than the current W222 generation S-Class.
As for the rear end, this particular mule features muffler openings that are neatly integrated into the bottom of the bumper, unlike the current S-Class’ half exposed muffler.
Not much is known about the new generation S-Class’ powertrain, though the company did introduce a new line of straight-six engines last year both in petrol and diesel variants. These engines could potentially find their way into the all-new S-Class, on top of the plug-in hybrid variants at a later date.


KLIMS 2018: All-New 7th Generation Lexus ES Previewed Ahead Of Malaysia Launch

The Lexus ES was at one time one of Lexus Malaysia’s most popular models, until the model reached the end of its life cycle. Compared to its rear- or all-wheel drive German peers, the front-wheel drive ES stood out from the competition by offering superior, class-leading cabin space.
The all-new seventh generation ES has since been launched in Thailand and Singapore, and we expect Malaysia to follow suit soon. At the ongoing 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show, Lexus Malaysia has put on display the all-new ES 250.
Underpinned by an all-new GA-K platform (a Lexus iteration of Toyota’s TNGA), the all-new ES 250 promises to deliver a far more engaging drive and superior ride than before.
Powering the ES 250 is a 2.5-litre VVT-iE naturally aspirated petrol engine, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Specifications for Malaysia have yet to be confirmed but in some markets, the four-cylinder engine is tuned to deliver 203 bhp at 6,600 rpm and 247 Nm at 5,000 rpm.
Highlights include a 10.2-inch full colour Heads-Up Display - the largest in its class, sunroof, and a 12.3-inch infotainment display (EMV, Electro Multi Vision).
But what sets the ES apart from its similarly priced peers are the rear seats, which comes with power adjustable reclining seat back. The centre arm rest also houses a control panel for the sunshade, audio system and air-conditioning.
Being imported from Japan, Lexus models will unfortunately carry a higher price tag than an equivalent locally-assembled BMW or Mercedes-Benz and the ES is no different. The previous generation ES was last sold at between RM 274,900 (ES 250 Premium) to RM 293,900 (ES 250 Luxury).


Tips Memandu Ketika Hujan - Jangan Salah Guna Hazard Light

Lampu amaran bahaya atau
hazard light
 yang digunakan ketika berlaku kecemasan, sering disalah guna oleh segelintir pemandu ketika memandu dalam hujan.

Memandu ketika hujan lebat adalah situasi yang agak mencabar bagi kebanyakan pemandu kerana memerlukan fokus yang tinggi untuk melihat dengan jarak yang terhad di hadapan, juga mengawal pemanduan terutamanya melalui jalan yang tidak rata atau
 berlopak
.

Fasa peralihan monsun yang dialami saban tahun akan membawa hujan lebat dan ribut petir di kebanyakan tempat di seluruh negara. Malah, ada beberapa negeri turut dilanda
banjir
 ketika musim hujan ini. Sehubungan itu, Jabatan Siasatan Dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik (JSPT) telah mengeluarkan garis panduan dan tips pemanduan yang boleh diamalkan ketika hujan antaranya

1. Jangan nyalakan hazard light

Umum mengetahui,
hazard light
 digunakan ketika waktu kecemasan untuk memberi isyarat bahawa kenderaan yang dipandu sedang menghadapi masalah dan pemandu perlu memperlahankan kenderaan sebelum berhenti.

Namun, bagi pemandu yang menyalah guna hazard light ketika memandu dalam hujan, kereta mereka masih meluncur di jalan raya dan tidak mempunyai tanda untuk berhenti. Ini akan mengelirukan pengguna jalan raya yang lain tentang ‘niat’ sebenar si pemandu. Nak berhenti atau nak terus jalan?

Lebih parah, apabila kereta terbabit ingin
menukar lorong
 ke kiri atau kanan jalan, lampu signal tidak akan berfungsi kerana hazard light yang dipasang telah berkelip secara serentak di lampu kiri dan kanan kereta anda. Ini menyukarkan pemandu lain untuk mengagak tindakan anda yang seterusnya.

Bayangkan jika anda memasang hazard light dan terus menukar lorong ke kanan, namun kereta di belakang anda tidak sempat membrek dan akhirnya
melanggar belakang kereta
 anda. Bukankah ini satu kemalangan yang boleh dielakkan jika anda tidak menyalah guna hazard light?

Jadi, jangan nyalakan hazard light ketika memandu dalam hujan. Sebaiknya, nyalakan lampu utama kereta walaupun ketika hujan di siang hari kerana ini akan membantu pemandu lain untuk ‘melihat’ kereta anda di jalan raya.

2. Pandu secara perlahan

JSPT juga menasihati anda supaya memperlahankan kelajuan kenderaan. Dalam erti kata lain, jangan
pandu laju
 sewaktu hujan lebat. Kelajuan melebihi 80 km/j boleh membuatkan tayar kenderaan tidak begitu mencengkam pada permukaan jalan, malah boleh membuatkan kenderaan yang dipandu
hilang kawalan
 dalam keadaan jalan yang licin.

3. Kekalkan jarak yang selamat

Cengkaman tayar
 yang kurang sewaktu hujan juga akan mengakibatkan jarak berhenti anda bertambah sewaktu menekan brek. Jika brek ditekan terlalu kuat, kereta anda mungkin akan tergelongsor tanpa kawalan.

Oleh itu, kekalkan jarak yang selamat sebaiknya jarak 5 saat antara kereta anda dengan kereta di hadapan anda.

4. Elak memandu di lorong kanan

Ini merupakan salah satu insiden yang boleh berlaku ketika memandu dalam keadaan hujan, dan anda pula sedang memandu di lorong kanan - percikan air dari kenderaan arah berlawanan.

Air yang terpercik itu sebenarnya mampu menghalang pandangan anda dan selaju mana pun
pengelap kereta
 (
windshield wiper
) anda beroperasi, anda sebenarnya boleh 'kehilangan' penglihatan hadapan untuk tempoh beberapa saat.

Lorong kiri dan kanan jalan juga kebiasaannya akan dibanjiri air semasa hujan. Ini kerana lorong-lorong ini selalunya dibina lebih rendah daripada lorong tengah. Jadi, gunakan
lorong tengah
 semasa memandu di dalam hujan untuk menjauhi lopak air yang berbahaya!

Untuk lebih banyak tips memandu ketika hujan, boleh baca di
sini
.

Jadilah pengguna jalan raya yang bertanggungjawab dengan mengamalkan tips di atas supaya dapat menghindari kejadian yang tidak diingini ketika musim hujan ini.


When Was The Last Time You Checked Your Tyres?

Today’s car are packed with so many features that the software running the infotainment system alone has more lines of codes than an entire car from two decades earlier. We now have cars that pre-emptively brake and apply corrective steering if the driver is not reacting fast enough - all of which mean nothing if the driver doesn’t do the basics: wear their seat belts and maintain their tyres.
It doesn’t matter how good or how poor a car is because the only contact between the car and the road is via the four patches of rubber, each patch only slightly bigger than the palm of your hands, which is also why changing to the right tyres is so important.
In the days leading up to Hari Raya, the North-South Highway alone could see traffic volumes increasing by at least 50 percent, and with greater car density comes an increased risk of accidents. Apart from watching your speed and distance with other vehicles, the ability to brake and steer properly is extremely crucial – the last two are a function of your car’s tyres.
Tyre Pressure
The most basic of all tyre maintenance is of course tyre pressure. Apart from poor driving habits, the most common cause of high fuel consumption is under inflated tyres.
Incorrectly inflated tyres not only wear out your tyres faster, but also affects a vehicle's steering response.
Check for the correct tyre pressure rating for your car. It’s typically found on the driver’s side door sill or on the fuel tank door.
Tread Wear
Next is to inspect for uneven wear. Start by parking your car on level ground with good natural lighting, and turn the steering wheel to full lock on either side. On a correctly maintained tyre, the tread depth will wear evenly.
Unevenly worn tyres are a sign of incorrect tyre inflation pressure, or damage to a car's suspension.

A new tyre for passenger cars typically has around 7 to 8 mm of tread depth. Traffic regulations say that the minimum allowable limit is 1.6 mm, the point that all tyres’ tread depth indicators point to, but know that braking performance in the wet – crucial for our climate – drops considerably once a tyre’s tread depth goes below 50 percent.
There are exceptions to the rule however.
Michelin’s Primacy 4
 tyres with its proprietary EverGrip technology features intelligently designed grooves that delivers wet braking performance superior to new tyres of other brands even when the tread depth is down to just a barely legal 2 mm. However this is an exception rather than the norm. For everyone else, the advice to change their tyres well before they are visibly worn still applies.
You can use a gauge to check a tyre’s tread depth but a simple visual inspection works just as well. On most tyres, the tread depth indicator is identifiable by a small triangle. Michelin tyres, however, have a tiny Michelin Man figure pointing to it. When the indicator bar is close to or is level with the tyre’s surface, it’s time to change the tyre.
Tyre rotation
Also, don’t forget to rotate your tyres, which depending on vehicle type, should be done at around every 10,000 to 15,000 km. As the front and rear tyres don’t wear out evenly due to the nature of a car’s weight distribution and steering, swapping the front tyres with the rear ones at regular intervals prolongs the service life of your tyres.
To learn more about tyre safety and have your tyres inspected for free, pay a visit to
Michelin’s Safe on The Road Truck
 that will be touring major cities on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Details and location can be found here.
Also, drivers will receive car service voucher with free Petron card worth RM50 when they spend in a Michelin Expert Centre during this Raya season.
This public service announcement is brought to you by Michelin Malaysia.


The All-New Hyundai Azera Appears in Render Form

The Azera, also known as the Grandeur, was Hyundai’s flagship model for the longest time- that is, until the Genesis sedan. It was repositioned to sit between the Hyundai Sonata and the Hyundai Genesis, becoming sort of middle-class among large sedans. The current generation Azera isn’t available here, but from what we see it looks a lot like a scaled up Sonata.
Hyundai has just released a pair of early renders of the new Azera, and they say that it is a radical departure from the styling of the current generation of Hyundai products while drawing on various cues from the Azeras of old. It will feature the new ‘cascading grille’ that Hyundai is rolling out in their newer products. Some of the lines look very Audi-esque, but who are we to judge until the product comes out in the metal. The all-new Azera will go on sale in Korea within the next month.


2017 Hyundai Sonata Facelift Image Leaked

Following the official sketches that were uploaded on
Hyundai’s Australian Facebook page
 a few days ago, a leaked image, which surfaced on the
Hyundai Blog page
, now reveals what the upcoming 2017 Hyundai Sonata facelift model could actually look like.
The facelift of the current generation (LF) Hyundai Sonata is due for a domestic launch in March, the leaked image, although less dramatic than the sketches, appears to show the comprehensive restyle of the outgoing car.
The focal highlight being the new grille, which cascades downwards from the leading edge of the bonnet. The redesigned front bumper also integrates larger enclosures for the LED fog lamps, and the headlamps look to be of a new design as well.
Along the flanks, newly designed wheels fill up the wheel arches. Heavily camouflaged test mules
spotted last year
 hint at the extent of the facelift exercise, which seems to be far more extensive than what carmakers, or indeed Hyundai normally do.
From the sketches, the rear also visibly has gone through a thorough revamp, starting with the rear boot, LED lights and aggressive looking bumper.
Separately, Hyundai Blog also reports that Hyundai plans to introduce two models with the facelift, a standard version and a sportier turbocharged model. The sketches further serve to confirm this.


Review: Honda HR-V 1.5L Sport Hybrid – Putting the 'S' Back In SUV

The Honda HR-V has never been a particularly sporty SUV to drive; practical, well packaged, and good value for money: yes, but the driving experience was never going to set your pants on fire. It is for this reason that despite its less than engaging experience behind the wheel, it is still the best selling compact SUV on sale today, even in the face of newer competition.

The updated
2017 HR-V
 remedied some of the slightly dull handling (especially at the front) with better tyres and swanky new wheels, and the
2019 facelift
 brought about the new RS and Hybrid, in addition to the perennial E and V variants. The previous entry-level S variant has since been dropped.

The RS variant – billed as the sporty one of the family – enlists a Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering system for sharper steering in the corners, a snazzy bodykit, and 18-inch wheels to set it apart from the V variant. But, mechanically, it remains unchanged, using the same 1.8-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated petrol engine paired to a CVT-type automatic transmission.

Which leads us to the HR-V Hybrid. The Hybrid loses out on some equipment of the RS (it actually mirrors the E variant), but retains the 17-inch wheels and offers what is in my opinion, the best petrol-electric hybrid powertrain (with the discontinuation of the Toyota Camry Hybrid) on sale today.

So while it may not be the sportiest looking variant among the HR-V range, it sure as hell is the most high-tech, and the most powerful. Which as you might surmise, spices up proceedings quite a bit.

Can the Hybrid variant really put the Sports back in Sport Utility Vehicle for the HR-V? I’d say so…

Overview

First introduced at the beginning of the year, after massive delays in obtaining government
pricing approvals
, the HR-V Hybrid is the second most expensive variant after the RS variant. As mentioned, Hybrid variant buyers lose out on some features in exchange for the high-tech drivetrain and added fuel-efficiency.

In terms of equipment the HR-V Hybrid loses out on the Honda Lane Watch Camera system, automatic LED headlamps, power-adjusted front seats, and packs a slightly smaller infotainment touchscreen (at 6.8 inches versus the RS’s 7-inch unit). On the upside the Hybrid variant gets auto start/stop and the Variable Geometry Ratio (VGR) steering which was exclusive to the HR-V RS. That said, the turning radius of the Hybrid is actually slightly smaller, at 5.7 metres (versus the RS’s 5.8 meters).

Powering the HR-V Hybrid is a 1.5-litre petrol-electric full-hybrid engine paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels. The engine and transmission combo are almost identical to what is featured in the City/Jazz Hybrid save for one crucial difference: fuel is fed through a direct-injection system in the H-RV and the combustion cycle is a regular Otto cycle versus the City/Jazz Hybrid's Atkinson cycle, allowing the HR-V Hybrid to make more power.

Inside, the biggest differentiators of the hybrid variant are the hybrid-exclusive meter panel (with energy flow display), unique shift-by-wire gear knob, and a Sport mode button.

Specifications of the Honda HR-V 1.5L Sport Hybrid:

Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder, naturally aspirated, hybrid

Power: 152 PS (combined, engine and motor)

Torque: 190 Nm (combined, engine and motor)

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic

Safety: 6 airbags, ISOFIX, ABS with EBD and BA, electronic stability control (VSA), hill start assist, emergency stop signal

Origin: Locally-assembled in Pegoh, Melaka

Price: RM120,800 excluding insurance

Exterior

Nothing much has changed on the outside - most of the visual highlights, save the front and rear lights of the Hybrid variant, have been reserved for the V and RS variants. There’s little doubt that the stylistic elements of the RS variant (the 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, RS front grille, RS bumpers at the front and back, and Passion Red Pearl colour) would work wonderfully on the Hybrid too, but that would have increased the price substantially, perhaps even more so than anyone would likely pay for it.

Most importantly, Honda Malaysia has kept the 17-inch alloys, shod in 215/55/ R17 rubbers which gives the car a nice sweet spot between looks, handling, and ride comfort. Elsewhere badges on the front fenders and rear tailgate are the only visual differentiators between the Hybrid and E variant.

Interior

The key differences of the Hybrid variant are front and centre in the cockpit; the new shift-by-wire joystick, a Sport button positioned just above the parking brake lever and a different instrument panel that also displays, among other things, the energy flow/split between the wheels, petrol engine, and lithium-ion traction battery.

The energy flow display is mighty useful given the absolute silence of the drivetrain when the car is “switched on” in battery mode. I was caught out several times, restarting the car over and over, not realising it was primed and ready to go. That is until I made a habit of looking at the energy flow meter on the right of the instrument cluster.

Elsewhere, given there are no mechanical linkages required for the joystick-type shifter (which is super cool in my opinion), extra space is freed up in the compartment underneath.

That said, I would prefer to have an additional USB slot in the compartment underneath the gear shifter (2015 variants were offered with this) as the cubby bin itself is a convenient space for storage while charging devices. There’s an additional USB charger on the infotainment unit, which is good, but this connection is primarily for data connectivity.

And as with the 2017 model, I have my reservations with the infotainment head unit itself. Complicated menu sets, a low-resolution screen, and excessive screen glare during the day makes it feel like a step backward from what was offered in the pre-2017 models.

Having covered in excess of 1,000 km in the car – nicely split between highway and inner-city driving – I can vouch for the comfort levels of the HR-V Hybrid. The seats are nicely padded and supportive and are a nice place to be in even for extended periods of driving.

For the most part, Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) levels are good; there’s little road noise or tyre roar heard inside the cabin on a decent road. Hitting bigger bumps can sometimes introduce a ‘thud’ inside the cabin, but I suppose this is somewhat true with any car in this segment. That said, the Subaru XV and Toyota C-HR are better in this respect than the HR-V.

Elsewhere, the tactility of the steering wheel and switchgear are all up to par.

Driving Experience

The suspension, though still softer sprung than a Mazda CX-3, straddles a good point between a poised and comfortable ride and decent dynamics in the corners. Yes, the Hybrid isn’t as sharp as the Mazda CX-3 nor as planted as the Subaru XV, but it offers a good balance between being a good grocery-getter and something decent to steer on a back road.

The HR-V Hybrid benefits from a slightly revised chassis and suspension, and improved weight balance given its high voltage battery rests underneath the boot floor. Where the updates are most noticeable is the front end, there’s much less buoyancy, and despite the stiffer setup, is better at soaking up irregularities. Previously, a big bump would normally send the absorbers bashing into their bump stops - now though, the car simply absorbs the bump and returns back to a neutral position in very quick order.

It’s worthy to note that the majority of HR-V Hybrid buyers are not going to blast along the backroads of Ulu Yam every weekend, and hence the benefits of the proven underpinnings, good body rigidity, and quick steering shine instead in terms of having a predictable, nimble, and safe SUV that feels and handles very much like a big hatchback.

The power delivery of the 1.5-litre petrol hybrid unit is sublime right from the get-go. The synthesis between the engine, electric motor, and gearbox
stops just short of sheer witchcraft
, delivering a seamless and a linear powerband throughout the rev range. With sufficient charge in the battery, a substantial part of the inner city crawling can be done purely in EV mode.

At low speeds, the electric motor allows for freakishly silent acceleration in traffic or when coming to a halt. As you build speed, the most instantly appreciable aspect is the meaty torque band; it feels effortless; especially between speeds of 40km/h – 90km/h, and accelerates almost as well as a 2.0-litre. Keep your foot down, and it will keep going strong up to speeds of 165 km/h. Engage ‘Sports’ mode and proceedings get even peppier.

Now, I’m not saying it is
Volkswagen Tiguan
 quick, but it’s no slouch either. For further context, the specific power output of the HR-V Hybrid’s little 1.5-litre engine is 101.3 PS/litre (of displacement); by comparison, the (175 PS) Accord 2.4-litre punches out just 72.9 PS/litre, hence this power plant is the third most power-dense after the hallowed turbocharged 2.0-litre in the
(FK8) Civic Type R
, and the turbocharged 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo mill in the Honda CR-V.

The seven-speed transmission offers up a wide spread of ratios for the engine to work on and shifts, up and down, are despatched rather quickly. The HR-V Hybrid is offered with paddle shifters, which does spice things up a little during an enthusiastic drive, but for the most part, the gearbox is intuitive enough to shift up and down depending on the throttle application, such that I rarely found myself needing them.

Another notable mention is the brake-by-servo system, as there’s good predictability and fluidity when the system moves from a recharging phase into a traditional braking phase. This is somewhere even more expensive hybrid cars tend to fall short sometimes.

Elsewhere, the Auto Hold function is also quite possibly the best system on sale today – many other systems require a fair amount of throttle load before the Auto Hold is disengaged, and there’s nothing of that sort with the HR-V Hybrid; just tap the accelerator when you’re ready to go, and the brakes instinctively release the car without any judder or rearward movement.

Perhaps a drawback of the advanced drivetrain is that the engine is worked quite hard, between powering the car and its battery regeneration duties. Hence, despite additional soundproofing materials in the bulkhead, floorplan, and boot floor – it groans and bellows when worked hard. Especially in cases where the engine is required both recharge battery and drive the car up a steep hill.

Click
here
 for a separate opinion.

Conclusion

The HR-V traditionally competes against the Mazda CX-3, Subaru XV, Mitsubishi ASX, and
Toyota C-HR
 but the biggest spanner in the works has been without a doubt, the
Proton X70
. Even though the Proton is a larger product that sits one class higher, comparisons with the Honda are inevitable due to the X70’s price, which ranges between RM99k and RM123k.

There’s no doubt the X70 offers superb value for money and generous space, but it still can’t match the HR-V in terms of outright packaging and usability. The chief argument is the HR-V’s innovative floorplan design and Ultra seats – the seats can be adjusted into a variety of configurations that make travel and hauling luggage a much easier operation.

But for the most part, practicality and packaging have always been the HR-V’s strong points. Handling, power, and comfort, on the other hand, is where it’s always paled in comparison to its competitors previously – which I am happy to report have been duly addressed with the HR-V Hybrid.

The sales figures will attest to the fact that Honda HR-V is the pick of the bunch when it comes to the current crop of compact SUVs.

I will attest that the HR-V Hybrid being the pick of the bunch when it comes to the HR-V range, simply because, the abbreviation for SUV first starts with Sport, and that, the HR-V Hybrid now offers in spades.


Toyota Aygo X Revealed: Probably The Coolest Little Hatch Ever

I said before that if Toyota made a rugged ‘cross’ version of their tiny Aygo supermini, assuming it’s faithful to the Prologue concept,
it would be the coolest new Toyota
. Well guess what: they did, and it is.

The Agyo X (which is pronounced Aygo Cross, like ‘iPhone X’ is pronounced “iPhone Ten”) takes everything that’s charmingly simple and fuss-free about the standard Toyota Aygo and turns it up a few notches in terms of style and attitude. Some people might be dissatisfied at the fact that this is essentially - underneath it all - just an Aygo with some extra ride height and cosmetic touches, but not me.

In fact, this car is technically the direct replacement for the Aygo city car, which ended production in early 2021 after 2 generations. The decision to shift the entire range onto a larger B-segment platform and reposition it as a funky urban runabout with off-road aspirations is a smart, if unexpected, move.

The car measures in modestly at just 3,700mm nose to tail, most of which is taken up by its 2,430mm wheelbase and very little front or rear overhang. Its 1,510mm height is aided by that slightly elevated ride height but its 1,740mm width was likely very deliberate to endow it with a certain presence on the road despite its compact footprint.

Naturally, it excels in manoeuvring tight spaces with a turning circle of just 4.7m. Kerb weight, meanwhile, comes in at under a tonne. Specifically, an Aygo X can weigh as little as 940kg in its most lightweight form, giving it real pep on the road and some remarkably frugal fuel consumption to boot. Speaking of which, there’s 231-litres of cargo capacity behind those rear seats, which is pretty decent for this size.

The Aygo X’ styling is also just too fun and full of personality that I can’t help but take a liking to it even at first glance. The reason why this car invites such warm, excitable feelings in contrast to the mild revulsion at the sight of the Iriz Active is pretty simple: execution.

Where the Proton looks and feels poorly considered and the product of focus group thinking to sell an ageing hatchback by flimsily attempting to capitalise the ‘crossover’ trend, the Aygo X seems to be a much more cohesive product.

As with all present-day Toyota passenger cars, it rides on some version
of their TNGA platform
 (the GA-B permutation, in this case), which also underpins the European Yaris, Yaris Cross,
GR Yaris
, and Aqua hybrid.

Just like its predecessor, the Agyo X sits below the Yaris range, straddling the line between the A and B segment and was developed primarily for sale in European markets. Hence, for now, all units are built exclusively in Toyota’s Kolin plant about 50km east of Prague in the Czech Republic.

There’s a surprising level of customisability on offer here too with Toyota giving buyers the options of the standard fixed roof or even a retractable canvas top that retracts in much the same way as a full length sunroof would.

The Aygo X’s cabin can be selected with a number of different upholstery and trim materials and contrasting colours as well, but packs in plenty of tech and convenience features such as a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, in-built cloud-assisted satellite navigation,
MyT remote vehicle telematics
, Toyota Smart Connect, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and even over the air software updates - depending on variant selected.

Regardless of tier, every version of the supermini will come equipped with
Toyota Safety Sense
 complete with pre-collision and other active safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist, and pedestrian/cyclist detection, which are commonly omitted in cars of this segment.

The Aygo X, at least for now, comes with a sole petrol engine option; that being a 1KR-FE carried over from the previous-generation non-X Aygo. It’s a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder that produces 72hp and 93Nm mated to either a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatics.

While it won’t be setting any performance benchmarks, that’s plenty of grunt for a sub-tonne hatch to have some fun with. The brand’s Gazoo Racing performance arm does have a history of turning Toyota’s small vehicles into something really special, so who’s to say that a treatment
similar to the GR Yaris
 can’t happen for the Aygo X.

Of course, Toyota hasn’t said anything about bringing this newest model into markets outside Europe, so don’t hold your breath for a surprise Malaysian debut. Still, stranger things have happened.

Should we stay tuned for a hot GR version?


Audi To Develop Connected Car Tech With Huawei, Baidu

Always finding ways to keep ahead of the curve,
Audi
 AG has announced a three-way collaboration between it, Chinese web services company Baidu, and telecommunications company Huawei.
The Ingolstadt automaker revealed its plans with those two prominent Chinese technology providers at CES Asia 2015 in Shanghai. Baidu CarLife will be integrated into Audi vehicles to provide quick access to country-specific content and web services.
Smartphone integration will also play a central role, as it always has, in bridging the functionality gulf between in-car screen and of that on a modern mobile device. Huawei is working with Audi on the hardware front, developing a Asia-specific LTE module that will allow vehicles to tap into the expanding network of high speed data streams.
BaiduCarLife is a smartphone integration solution for use in automobiles, working in a similar vein to Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto. Audi is banking on Baidu to achieve parity with those two competitors.
“The aim of our partnership with Baidu – a company that is number one on the Chinese search engine market – is to drive advances in the online networking of our cars in China,” says Ricky Hudi, Head of Development Electrics/Electronics at AUDI AG.
Audi cars will pull up the automaker’s smartphone interface upon device plug-in, and on the MMI screen would display a selection of customized Baidu apps which are especially popular with the youth of China. The CarLife platform will support both iOS and Android, two of the most popular smartphone operating systems in the country, and indeed, the world.
Audi will further collaborate with Baidu on optimizing China-specific backend services to complement the CarLife integration, such as map and navigation data, point-of-interest functions, and positioning algorithms.
Huawei, one of the largest network providers, is working with Audi to offer a fully integrated LTE solution in China to allow unlimited use of the in-car online services by adapting to market-specific requirements.
“By partnering with industry-leading automobile companies like Audi, Huawei aims to bring the best interconnection services and solutions to the next generation of cars, while actively promoting interaction between cars, smartphones, wearables and people, creating a seamless communication experience and driving environment,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, Huawei.
Audi will use the aforementioned Huawei-built LTE module in China, Japan, and Korea where the Time Division Duplexing (TTD-LTE) and Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD-LTE) technologies are supported.


LA 2017: The Toyota FT-AC Has All The Right Ingredients For Your Next Adventure

Toyota has unveiled its Future Toyota Adventure Concept (FT-AC) at the ongoing Los Angeles Motor Show in an effort to offer motorists something rugged and versatile.
On the exterior, the concept SUV comes with a wide front grille flanked with LED headlights, and a few clever innovations such as the fog lights that can be taken out and used as portable lights, twin hooks for vehicle recovery, skid plates, a long wheelbase and wide track, extra wide fender flares, as well as 20-inch wheels.
Adding to the package is the safari-style cargo roof rack system which can haul all types of adventure gear, as well as the LED marker lights that can provide ambient lighting around the vehicle, brighten the trail ahead or even act as a flash for the side mirrors’ embedded infrared cameras.
According to Toyota, the roof rack’s rear-facing LED lights can be controlled via mobile device as well. Also, at the rear is an innovative integrated bike rack that retracts, making for a highly useful feature that can be securely hidden in only a few seconds.
The interior of the concept has not been revealed yet but we know that it has features like an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot and an advanced navigation system.
As far as the powertrain is concerned, Toyota said that the FT-AC has been imagined as a thoroughly capable petrol-powered vehicle with an advanced torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.


Perodua Alza 2022 – Warna Baharu, 1.5L CVT, Apple Carplay & Android Auto

Melalui memo dalaman berkenaan Perodua Alza 2022 yang kami kongsikan pada
artikel
 lalu, ia sedikit sebanyak memberi pendedahan terhadap perincian MPV itu.

Kemunculan generasi baharu Perodua Alza amat dinantikan ramai. Melalui khabar angin yang hangat disebarkan ketika ini, model ini dikatakan mungkin akan dilancarkan pada 26 Jun nanti. Betul atau tidak, ini adalah beberapa perkara yang anda perlu tahu tentang Perodua Alza 2022 ini.

Tiada Enjin Turbo

Memo dalaman itu menunjukkan Alza 2022 ini tidak akan ditawarkan dalam pilihan transmisi manual. Sebaliknya, memo tersebut memaparkan
MPV
 generasi baharu ini hadir dengan enjin 1.5L NA yang dipadankan bersama CVT, bukanlah enjin 1.0 turbo seperti yang terdapat di Perodua Ativa.

Di Indonesia, kembar Alza 2022, iaitu Avanza dan Xenia menerima enjin 2NR-VE 1.5 liter seperti
Perodua Myvi facelift 2022
. Namun tidak seperti King Myvi yang menghasilkan 102 PS/138 Nm, talaan pada enjin MPV ini membolehkan ia menjana 106 PS/138 Nm.

Warna Baharu

Perodua Alza 2022 ini bakal ditawarkan dalam 5 pilihan warna berbeza yang terdiri daripada warna
solid
 dan
metallic
 seperti:

Ivory White (solid)

Glittering Silver (metallic)

Garnet Red (metallic) – Varian X terkecuali

Vintage Brown (metallic) – Varian X terkecuali

Elegant Black (metallic)

Apple Carplay, Android Auto

Sementara itu, berdasarkan spesifikasi varian Alza 2022 yang dikatakan bocor beberapa hari lalu, varian H dan AV bakal menjadi kenderaan pertama Perodua dengan ciri sambungan pintar Apple Carplay dan Android Auto.

Sistem Keselamatan Aktif

Semejak pelancaran Ativa, Perodua tidak lagi mengabaikan ciri keselamatan aktif yang diberi nama Perodua Smart Drive Assist yang mewakili:

A.S.A. 3.0

Driving Assist

Parking Assist

Headlamp Assist

Selain Ativa dan Myvi 2022, ciri ini juga bakal hadir pada barisan model Perodua Alza 2022 nanti.

Lebih besar Dari Alza Terdahulu

Sama seperti
Perodua Ativa
serta
Daihatsu Xenia
, Alza ini akan dihasilkan menggunakan platform
Daihatsu New Global Architecture
 (DNGA) yang membuatkan Alza ini lebih besar berbanding model lamanya meskipun jarak antara rodanya kekal sama.

Harga

Berdasarkan khabar angin, jika benar RM69,000 itu merupakan harga untuk Alza baharu ini, ia lebih mahal daripada Alza sedia ada yang dijual dari harga RM49,944 dan RM60,525 ketika ini setelah diberikan pengecualian SST. Namun dengan segala penambahan terutamanya dari segi keselamatan, harga tersebut masuk akal juga.

Walaupun harganya mungkin hampir sama dengan Aruz, namun kedua-dua kereta ini berbeza kerana Aruz menggunakan kerangka ladder frame dan pacuan roda belakang manakala Alza pula menggunakan kerangka unibody dan pacuan roda hadapan.

Mungkin Tak Guna Nama Alza?

Alza memang sinonim sebagai MPV mampu milik di Malaysia. Jika harga meningkat, ada kemungkinan nama Alza tidak akan digunakan pada MPV generasi baharu tersebut memandangkan Perodua dikesan mendaftarkan nama
Traz dan Nexis
 di Perbadanan Harta Intelek Malaysia (MyIPO).

Untuk maklumat lanjut tentang spesifikasi Perodua Alza 2022 mengikut varian, rujuk
di sini
.


Enhanced Touch 'n Go Cards Sold Out Once Again!

Just as you thought you could grab yourself the newly enhanced Touch ‘n Go card with NFC capabilities, it once again becomes sold out within a matter of hours.

Ever since Touch 'n Go launched its upgraded Touch ‘n Go Card in April, where users can
perform card reloads
 anytime, anywhere from their Touch ‘n Go eWallet app - it has been selling like hotcakes.

The first batch sold out within hours, and every subsequent batch after also followed suit. But, just as you thought things might have calmed down and that you could finally get yourself one, the newest batch which was made available a few days ago, has also sold out incredibly quickly.

The most recent batch was supposed to be made available in June, but it came earlier than expected. Those who had Touch ‘n Go's eWallet app were prompted about its availability, but within a few hours, the app started to notify users that it was sold out.

Touch ‘n Go's new card retails for RM10, the same amount as the version without NFC. Thanks to NFC technology, it enables users to top up their cards via their mobile devices, which has made it popular.

Ever since its launch, the card
has been hard to find
, let it be at petrol stations, convenience stores, or even the Touch ‘n Go app itself, as it is out of stock. The lack of stock has also seen some parties resell the card at a much higher price than the original, up to RM100.

If the card comes with a custom sticker, some sell it for up to RM132 each.

Although not many sell at this high a price, most sell this card on online trading platforms at a price gap of between RM35 - RM85.

If you don't like the idea of re-sellers selling it at a higher price, you could always just purchase it through the eWallet app when another batch comes in. You would have to be quick about it though because it seems that there is no room for slowpokes, as they are HIGH in demand.


BMW To Unleash A 400hp Quad-Turbo Diesel Engine In New 7-Series

To accompany the next-generation
BMW

7-Series
, the Munich outfit is speculated to be fitting it with a new high-powered diesel engine option that, with 400hp, reads more like sports car spec sheet than that of a high-end diesel saloon.
This time, as
Autocar
 reports, BMW has fitted four turbochargers to the 3.0-litre unit to allow a 400hp peak output and a monstrous torque figure of 800Nm. It will reportedly find a home under the hood of a new, more sporting version of the 7-Series dubbed the M750d, which is earmarked for a 2016 launch.
Their source indicates the engine will be rather similar to BMW’s previous 3.0 tri-turbo diesel unit, but low-end boost pressure will be provided by an additional small electrically-driven turbo.
To achieve that much power from a diesel, BMW had to employ all their technical skills learned through its other efforts such as the M550d and
X5
 xDrive50d M-Performance, which developed 376hp and 739Nm or torque.
With other engines, especially in the more expensive cars, routinely pushing past 500hp and beyond, this 400hp figure might seems unremarkable. Turbodiesels, partly due to their much higher boost pressure tolerances, are known for their ample torque, which is why they’re so useful in an industrial capacity. This, however, comes at the expense of out-and-out horsepower, and what BMW aims to do is get around that wall, with as little compromise to refinement and reliability as possible.
Hopefully, BMW won’t relegate their potentially new 400hp quad-turbo 3.0-litre diesel unit to just the new 7-Series, but will trickle it down to some of its lighter, more nimble models like the
5-Series
 and, perhaps,
3-Series
. It would transform them into real barnstormers, and since it’s a diesel, could return some decent economy figures too.


Haval Malaysia Partners Up With Maxx ‘N Go For Mobile Service

Haval Malaysia has teamed up with Maxx ‘N Go – a mobile car maintenance service – to offer on-site periodical maintenance to existing Haval owners as an alternative to visiting Haval’s service center.
BY using Maxx ‘N Go’s mobile app Haval owners will be able to select their location, pick a preferred time, and receive the necessary services for their SUVs. All maintenance services conducted will be conducted using Haval’s in-house brand of lubricants and original parts, all booked via the Maxx ‘N Go mobile application.
Director of Go Auto Group, Dato’ SM Azli SM Nasimuddin added, “We have chosen to include a mobile service provider like Maxx ‘N Go as a service option to help ease the burden on our customers when it comes to the maintenance of their Haval SUVs, without having to sacrifice their free time. Most importantly, our customer need not to worry about voiding their 7-year warranty, as our partner will be using Go Auto’s lubricant and following our Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) during service,”
HAVAL Malaysia anticipates Maxx ‘N Go will be able to provide services such as basic engine oil change and breakdown assistance to an around 2,000 existing Haval customers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur as part of the partnership.


5 Things They Don’t Teach You In Driving School

Going to driving school is a rite of passage for most Malaysian motorists, but it’s been known for years that the syllabus in our driving school leaves new drivers woefully unprepared for the open roads. Some might get some driving advice from their parents, but for the most part, the only way to learn is through experience. In other countries like Australia, qualifying for a driver’s license requires many hours of guided on-the-road driving day and night, and of course in countries like Finland, there are many more car control techniques worked into the syllabus as well. But here are five tips that we feel most drivers should know.

1. Turn on your lights in the car park

With most modern car instrument clusters and bright car park lighting, it has become increasingly common to see drivers exiting car parks without their headlights on. More often than not, it’s only when they reach an unlit section of road do they realize they need to switch their lights on. Turning on your lights is important for other road users as much as it is important for you because it makes your car more visible to motorists all around.

2. Green lights don’t always mean go

This is where we delve a little into defensive driving, and situational awareness. Often times, you might be driving down a road, seeing a green light in the distance and think you would be able to speed past that. But even though you have the right of way, there are other cars and motorbikes out there who might jump  the red light to get through, resulting in an accident. The best thing to do is to approach the traffic lights at a regular speed and be ready to hit the brakes if something comes out in front of you.

3. Keep a safe distance

Tailgating may be frowned upon, but most Malaysian drivers don’t realize that their following distance is still a little too close. When you follow behind a car, you should be far back enough to brake safely in case traffic comes to a sudden stop. Although keeping a distance might “invite” another car to slot into the space between, it is way better than a potential car pileup.

4. Speed up to merge onto the highway

One important thing to learn when driving is the speed difference between highways and regular town roads. When you join a highway, you should accelerate as quickly as possible on the access ramp to get up to speed before you reach the merge in the road. Travelling too slowly can be extremely dangerous as you might come out in front of a lorry that will not be able to slow down in time.

5. There’s a night time mode for your rear-view mirror

Many people don’t realize that their main rear-view mirror has a night time mode which cuts a lot of the glare out. Granted, it also darkens most of the image – but it shows you the headlights of the cars behind with precision, without creating glare. If your car doesn’t do this electronically, all you need to do is pull the little tab at the bottom of your mirror towards you. Don’t forget to flip it back the other way when you’re done.

With these few tips, we hope they will help you be a little safer on the roads. If you have anything you’d like to add, let us know in the comment section below.

This message is brought to you by Allianz Enhanced Road Warrior, the only roadside assistance program that provides 24-hour unlimited towing distance, arrangements for a replacement car and hotel accommodation, covering not just Malaysia but also Thailand and Singapore.


First Flagship Hyundai 3S GDSI Centre In South East Asia Opens In Old Klang Road

At the same event that same the
official launching of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis
,
Hyundai
-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) officially opened the doors its new flagship 3S centre in Old Klang Road, officially known as Sime Darby Auto Hyundai.
The new flagship centre is the first of its kind in South East Asia, and is located along the Old Klang Road: specifically situated at No 193 & 195, Batu 3 3/4, Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur.
The RM9.5mil facility represents Hyundai’s Global Dealership Space Identity (GDSI), and features the latest facilities, 20 service bays including 3 Quick Service bays and ample parking lots for customers. Customers can expect an upgraded premium customer lounge, VVIP lounge for Leader Card members and pickup/delivery service for the convenience of busy working executives.
 “The GDSI aims to strengthen Hyundai’s Modern Premium brand proposition by not only improving the look of its sales and service outlets but also its service quality that will offer customers experience beyond expectations,” said Mr Lau Yit Mun, Managing Director of HSDM.
The modern showroom feature floot-to-ceiling glass panes and a bronze-coloured roof. Its design concept themed E Motion Park integrates technological perfection and emotional satisfaction, with smart design and environment responsibility.
The sales showroom is open from Monday to Friday (8.30am to 7.00pm), Saturday (8.30am – 6.00pm) and Sunday (9.30am to 6.00pm) while the service centre is open from Monday to Friday (8.30am – 5.15pm) and Saturday (8.30am – 12.45pm).


Lamborghini's Best-Selling Model Ever Is An SUV!

If you were still in denial that SUVs are taking over the world, then how has the Lamborghini Urus officially become Lamborghini's best-selling model of all time?

Three years after it was introduced to international markets, the
Lamborghini Urus super-SUV
 has hit the extraordinary threshold of 15,000 cars produced. This, the latest of a list of broken records, since doubling Lamborghini’s annual volume the first year (2019) it was fully marketed.

 The Urus with chassis number 15,000, is earmarked for a British buyer and configured with the latest “Graphite Capsule” set of colors and finishes.

According to Lamborghini, its extraordinary performance and absolute versatility, provided by an ability to merge the soul of a super sports car with the features of an SUV, continue to endorse it as the best-selling Lamborghini model today.

Need we say more about why every company needs an SUV

The Urus’ success cements the reason why every premium manufacturer needs a formidable SUV in its ranks. For even amongst the most focussed and iconic of sportscar companies, it shows that its more affluent buyers place a higher value on the practicality and usability of a vehicle than outright performance and racing heritage.

After all, what good is a car that is fast, but makes you look less than graceful getting in and out, and one that you can only sit in it for 20 minutes before needing a muscle relaxant jab for your back? Not that Lamborghini’s SUV is a slouch by any measure.

The Urus is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which delivers 650hp and peak torque of 850Nm at 2,250rpm. With 162.7 hp/litre, it boasts one of the highest specific power ratings in its class, as well as the best power-to-weight ratio at 3.38 kg/hp. It accelerates from 0-100 km in 3.6 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 12.8 seconds and achieves a top speed of 305 km/h, putting its performance on par with Lamborghini’s sports cars.

Add to that, Lamborghini’s chassis and handling development, and you get a Lamborghini that does not just sit five in comfort but is fast on virtually any given road. Therefore, it is easy to understand why more buyers see the point in buying the Urus, over one of Lamborghini’s heritage supercars.

However, there’s always that question of the brand’s soul

Lamborghini’s fiercest rival Ferrari, until recently said that building an SUV meant sacrificing the soul of a sports car company. However, even it has relented and its upcoming Purosangue SUV will soon be joining a raft of super SUVs that include the Urus,
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
,
Aston Martin DBX
,
Bentley Bentayga
,
Maserati Levante
, and the one that started it all, the
Porsche Cayenne
.

It is inevitable, as it is profitable, because like it or not, SUVs especially ones that brandish a marque’s sporting heritage and history is more effective at keeping the lights on at the factory than any low volume supercar ever will. But in doing so, gives the company the resources it needs to spur development towards racing and killer supercars that further build back towards a sportscar brand.

Most buyers that can actually afford these cars are more often than not, older buyers who much rather plonk themselves into a high-riding and plush SUV than a sportscar 90 percent of the time. But, they still want to be able to tell their friends that their car is better than a
mass-selling BMW or Mercedes-Benz
.

And there are very few brands that can do this…

One look at the
latest-generation Hyundai Santa Fe
 will tell you how far along relatively new carmakers have come in the SUV game. Therefore, it takes something really special to set one’s self apart in the highly competitive SUV game and this is why cars like the Urus, despite certain quarters arguing that it kills the identity of the brand, work to the contrary.

Instead of liquidating the brand, it brings to the fold new buyers (that would otherwise not be there) and allows them to experience something totally different from the norm. Because of the Urus we now have perhaps the most aggressive looking and powerful SUV ever created, and because of the DBX, we now attach the sound of an Aston Martin with the practicality of an SUV, and because of the Bentayga, buyers now experience luxury off the beaten path.

SUVs like the Urus make far more sense than what they’re given credit for and allows sportscars to keep building on their design, powertrain, and racing heritage while remaining profitable in the long run.

Lamborghini however, should celebrate their newly found success, because before they ever built a supercar, they were first successful, building tractors…


2015 Mazda 6 SkyActiv Facelift Appears In Malaysian Showrooms, From RM164k

Rather than make a big fuss about its business, Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, the official distributors of
Mazda
 vehicles in Malaysia has quietly introduced its new, facelifted
Mazda 6 SkyActiv
 into local showrooms.
Our friends over at a
Mazda 3S Centre in Sg Besi
 dropped us a note about the car being there, and have shared with us a full price list of the new Mazda 6 model, which will be available in three variants: Mazda 6 2.0L Sedan, Mazda 6 2.5L Sedan and Mazda 6 2.5L Touring.
PERFORMANCE:
 The new Mazda will continue to be powered by its SkyActiv-G 2.0L and 2.5L engines, which deliver 153hp and 200Nm of torque and 185hp and 250Nm of torque respectively. Power is still sent to the front wheels via a six-speed torque converter automatic SkyActiv-DRIVE transmission.
EXTERIOR STYLING:
 On the base-level Mazda 6, Bermaz has elected to keep its exterior completely unchanged from before, so good luck trying to tell the pre- and post-facelift SkyActiv-G 2.0L  based on exterior appearances alone: same old halogen reflector headlamps, same old foglamp designs, same old bumper, same old taillights, same old 17-inch alloy wheels.
If you fancy the new-look Mazda 6, you’ll have to drop a further RM36k and opt for the top-spec 2.5L model: it’s only here that the M6’s new-design LED headlamps, foglamps, redesigned front bumper and heft of chrome highlights appear. The M6 facelift’s latest 19-inch alloys are also specified as standard, there.
The Mazda 6 Touring 2.5L hasn’t shown itself locally just yet, but we understand that it will soon be ready for viewing, and like its Sedan 2.5L, will feature the new exterior updates.
The gallery below of the 2.5L Mazda 6 is courtesy of
Mazda Zoom Zoom
INTERIOR DESIGN:
 Fortunately, all variants of the new Mazda 6 will benefit from the new interior upgrades seen when the facelift made its
global debut at the end of 2014
. Particularly, this includes a interior redesign largely to incorporate the new MZD Connect infotainment touchscreen display, and the rotary Commander Control dial – both features were introduced to the new line of Mazda SkyActiv vehicles just after the 6 was introduced, first on the 3, then on the 2.
To add to the sophistication of the new interior, an electronic parking brake has replaced the conventional hand-operated lever, while Mazda engineers have worked hard to reduce the facelift’s noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels by 10% on rough roads, and 25% on highways with extra sound insulation.
SAFETY FEATURES:
 With no official word from Bermaz, it’s hard to detail every inch of the car, but what we can tell you is that when the facelift made its global debut, two new features were added to the car’s i-ACTIVSENSE suite of safety features. These are Lane-keep Assist System and Driver Attention Alert. For now, at least, we don’t imagine that Mazda’s local distributor will be reducing the safety spec on the M6, but will these two additions be added? Your guess is as good as ours, for now.


Cara Tebus Tambang Percuma Rapid KL Membebankan - Pengguna Tidak Puas Hati

Tambang percuma pengangkutan awam
 di kesemua rangkaian bas dan rel Rapid KL telah diaktifkan, serentak dengan pengumuman oleh YAB Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob pada majlis pelancaran
MRT Laluan Putrajaya Fasa 1
 tempoh hari.

Ia adalah salah satu langkah kerajaan untuk mengurangkan beban rakyat disamping mempromosikan penggunaan pengangkutan awam. Tambang percuma ini ditawarkan mulai 16 Jun sehingga 15 Julai 2022.

Walau bagaimanapun, sebahagian pengguna berang dan tidak berpuas hati dengan cara untuk menebus tambang percuma tersebut yang disifatkan sebagai kabur dan menyusahkan. Berikut merupakan cara menebus tambang percuma berdasarkan perkongsian
Rapid KL
 di Facebook.

Muat Turun Aplikasi MyRapid PULSE

Pengguna digalakkan memuat turun aplikasi MyRapid PULSE yang tersedia di dalam Google Play atau Apple Store, dan mendaftar akaun serta mengisi maklumat menerusi borang yang disediakan. Setelah borang dilengkapkan, pengguna hanya perlu membuat tangkapan skrin dan menunjukkannya kepada pegawai di stesen ketika melalui gantri untuk ke landasan rel atau apabila menaiki bas.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Isi Borang

Borang turut disediakan di semua kaunter khidmat pelanggan Rapid KL, hab bas terpilih, di dalam bas dan boleh juga dimuat turun menerusi laman web dan platform media sosial Rapid KL. Pengguna perlu mengambil gambar atau bahagian atas borang yang telah lengkap untuk menikmati tambang percuma.

Masih Perlu Sentuh Kad TNG

Kad TouchN’Go masih perlu disentuh seperti biasa untuk keluar dan masuk. Ini adalah untuk tujuan kawalan dan pemantauan. Tiada sebarang caj yang akan dikenakan. Menurut Rapid KL, baki minimum RM5 perlu ada di dalam kad.

Pemegang Pas My50

Bagi para penumpang yang melanggan pas perjalanan tanpa had My50, jika mereka telah membeli Pas My50 pada 16 Jun 2022:

Tebus 30 hari tambang percuma selepas pas tamat

Aktifkan tambang percuma dalam tempoh 23 – 25 Julai 2022

Sebaiknya bawa resit sebagai pengesahan pembelian

Manakala, jika pas My50 pengguna akan tamat tempoh di antara 17 Jun ke 15 Julai 2022, tambang percuma akan dimasukkan ke dalam pas dan diaktifkan serta merta sehari selepas pas tamat.

Pengguna mesti memastikan nilai simpanan minimum RM5.00 dikekalkan dalam pas My50, kad Touch ‘N Go dan kad konsesi mereka.

Penggunaan Token

Bagi pengguna yang tidak mempunyai kad TouchN’Go atau sebarang pas, mereka boleh mendapatkan token percuma di kaunter khidmat pelanggan dengan mengisi maklumat menerusi aplikasi MyRapid PULSE atau borang yang disediakan sebelum memasuki stesen.

Pengguna Tidak Puas Hati

Rata-rata pengguna berasa tidak berpuas hati kerana perlu melakukan pelbagai perkara seperti mengisi borang tinjauan dan memuat turun aplikasi Rapid KL PULSE yang dianggap melecehkan. Ada juga pengguna yang mempersoalkan keperluan menyimpan resit untuk pengesahan sedangkan sistem terkini Rapid KL boleh mengesan mana-mana individu yang mempunyai kad aktif.

Bukan itu sahaja, ada juga pengguna yang dikenakan caj tambang ketika menaiki LRT Kelana Jaya meskipun sudah menggunakan aplikasi PULSE. Pengguna turut berang apabila dikenakan caj bayaran tambah nilai sebanyak 50 sen untuk memperbaharui pas mereka.

Sudahkah anda menikmati perjalanan 30 hari percuma Rapid KL dan KTM? Apa pula pengalaman anda?


Vehicle Sales 2022: April Slumps Amid Chip Shortage

As usual, numbers gathered and published by the Malaysian Automotive Association are the best guesses with April's numbers slumping due to the chip shortage.

Like clockwork, their neatly tabulated digits were released for the month that elapsed, showing that the encouraging performance seen in March was not maintained. That said, the industry is faring better than it did in 2021,
unsurprising as that is
.

April 2022 MAA Sales Numbers

The month of April 2022 saw 49,815 passenger cars and 6,398 commercial vehicles sold (56,213 total) in contrast to, respectively, 65,137 and 7,320 units in March 2022 (73,222 total), taking the year-to-date sum to 215,965.

This was somewhat anticipated given the fact that, as a general practice, many car brands in Malaysia have laboured to aggressively push vehicle sales to meet their own targets for the financial year ending March 31st.

Do note that this does not mean there aren’t plenty of us out there excited to purchase a new car as bookings do not factor into the April data but only count upon vehicle delivery. This downtrend was expected to end given the typical
Hari Raya surge
, but clearly, that has not materialised.

Global semiconductor shortage

Far from being a local issue, the ongoing global semiconductor shortage is the primary contributor to these middling numbers. Basically, despite strong consumer sentiment and demand, automakers are struggling to keep production numbers sufficiently high.

Add to this the rising global oil prices and geopolitical instabilities that have resulted in supply chain disruptions, delays in shipment and transport, more expensive raw materials, and
higher production costs in general
.

The good news is that those outside factors that previously held the automotive industry in such a stranglehold are gradually loosening their grip - the world has mostly put the COVID-19 pandemic behind it, for example.

However, seeing the positive impact in terms of production output to meet sales demand is something that will take place over the longer term. The MAA, therefore, anticipates vehicle sales in May 2022 to echo that of April.


Ford Previews 2018 Ranger Raptor For Thailand

Fitting a US-market Ford F-150 Raptor inspired grille is one of the most common modifications for fans of the Ford Ranger. It appears that Ford has been listening and will be introducing a new Raptor variant to the Ranger line-up in Thailand next year.
Details are scarce and it is unclear if this new Ranger Raptor is an all-new model or a final hurrah special edition model before the current T6 generation Ranger retires. Launched in 2011, the current generation Ranger is already at the tail-end of its model lifecycle and is due for a replacement soon.
Whichever generation it is, our guess is that the Ranger Raptor will built upon what’s available in the 3.2-litre turbo diesel Ranger Wildtrak. Despite the name, the Ranger Raptor is unlikely to be related to the US-market Ford F-150 Raptor, which is powered by a 3.5-litre turbocharged EcoBoost V6 petrol engine - not a very suitable engine for pick-up trucks in this region.
The single teaser video released by Ford suggests that Ranger Raptor is not going to be some dressed up pretty looking pick-up truck. Instead, the Ranger Raptor is likely to feature some serious off-road performance enhancing goodies, tough enough for high speed rally cross races in unforgiving Australian outbacks.
Also shown in the video is a new Ford Performance sub-brand, suggesting that Ford will be introducing a range of factory-approved performance enhancing parts, at least for Thailand.


Volkswagen Teases Golf Mk8 Ahead Of World Premiere Later This Month

Developed continuously from one generation to the next, the Volkswagen Golf has become a firmly established model worldwide.

And in just two weeks, on 24 October, the brand will present the eighth generation model at a world premiere in Wolfsburg, Germany.

So, to further increase the hype over the car, Volkswagen has revealed the initial sketches to provide an insight into the design of the eighth generation Golf.

Featuring more digitalisation and connectivity than ever before, Volkswagen claims that the all-new Golf Mk8 will be packed with innovations, and sport a highly expressive design.

On the exterior, the Golf’s design is expected to be more dynamic than before, yet Volkswagen says that it will be instantly recognisable as a Golf from all sides.

As for the interior, the Golf will be getting fresh colours, new fabrics, as well as a new digital cockpit in order to define the look of the new compact model.

On top of the above, there will be a new range of efficient engines, as well as further enhanced suspension technology to provide a boost in terms of agility.

Last but not the least, the all-new Golf will also feature a wide range of driver-assistance features, as well as online-based functions and services.

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


New 2016 Toyota Corolla Altis Debuts In Thailand – Minor Updates To The Interior

The Thailand market Toyota
Corolla Altis
 has been given some minor updates. Changes are limited to the car’s interior, which now features a slightly different instrument cluster, new air conditioning system with Nanoe, auto folding side mirrors and reclining rear seats (already available on our local models).

At a glance, the new instrument cluster looks almost the same as the previous design. The new design does away with the circular, faint blue highlight around the numerals. The location of several indicator lights have also been repositioned, including the indicator lights for the turn signals, main beams, and check engine light.

The Multi-Information Display now displays in colour rather than black and white, and is quite similar to the ones fitted on the
Camry
, as well as recent Lexus models.

The air-conditioning system has been upgraded to include Nanoe, which uses electrostatic atomized water particles to not only purify the air, but also reduces skin and eye irritation caused by dry air-conditioned air.

The side mirrors’ folding function is now linked to the car’s central locking, folding and unfolding automatically every time the vehicle is locked and unlocked.

The rear seats can now be adjusted to recline, but this feature is already available on our Malaysian market
Toyota Corolla Altis
.

Thailand’s Toyota Corolla Altis is only available with either a 1.6-litre (CNG) or 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine. The
2.0-litre version
, available in Malaysia, has been dropped in Thailand as it would be priced too high under Thailand’s new CO2 emissions-based excise duty structure.


ROAD CLOSURE: LDP Highway Near Kelana Jaya Bridge Affected This Weekend

 Sections of the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP) highway will be closed this weekend to accommodate works for the pedestrian walkway for the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – Sunway Line Project.
At specifically KM18.45 on the LDP, where the Kelana Jaya overhead bridge is located, do expect traffic diversions between 11.55pm on 23
rd
 May (Saturday) to 6am on the 24
th
 May (Sunday). The works will be carried out in the wee hours of the morning, so no worries if you’re travelling there during the day to late evening.
Late night travellers, do take note.
Heavy machinery and lifting of materials will be on site, so make sure you slow down, and take heed of the diversions, warning signals and flagmen on site.
Prasarana Malaysia Berhad has offered the following alternative routes if you’re in the area:


SPAD Announces 30 Percent Discount For Inter-Town Bus Users Commuting To KL

A 30 percent discount will be given to bus users effective from September 1
st
, 2015 that reside in Seremban, Klang, and Rawang but commute to Kuala Lumpur as part of a government initiative to ease the travel cost of those living outside of the capital city.
The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) announced this move as in line with its effort to increase the use of public transport within the population in the hopes that it will encourage more and more people to use public transport and help it become the transport of choice.
These discounts are to be made available for three main travel routes: Seremban – Kuala Lumpur, Klang – Kuala Lumpur, Rawang – Kuala Lumpur, and Bus Expressway Transit (BET) routes 5 and 6.
It offers discounted fares through the purchase of a monthly pass at the counters of participating bus operators.
Daily passengers who buy a monthly pass will be given a discount rate based on the following schedule:
Passengers must fill out an application form to enjoy the discounted rates when purchasing their monthly pass, which can be downloaded from the SPAD website or obtained from the ticket counters of the bus operators involved.