Review: 2017 Honda BR-V – The One Car That Middle-Class Malaysia Needs

So you have a baby on the way and everyone’s congratulating you. You need to replace your Myvi with a bigger car that has enough space for a child seat and still be able to sit your in-laws or your other kids.
The larger, almost minibus-like Nissan Serena would be ideal but you don’t have RM133k to spend, because diapers and daycare fees will tear you a new hole.
The latest entrant in the sub-RM100k seven-seater market is this all-new Honda BR-V. Considering that the BR-V has broken past its five-month sales target within just three weeks, clearly the BR-V that resonates very well with middle-class Malaysia. In fact, internal data from Honda Malaysia suggests that the
BR-V had outsold the Perodua Alza
 in February!
Specifications for 2017 Honda BR-V 1.5L V
Engine: 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC, 16-valve, transverse
Transmission: Automatic (Continously Variable Transmission), front-wheel drive
Power: 120 PS at 6,600 rpm
Torque: 145 Nm at 4,600 rpm
Safety: Dual airbags, ABS with EBD, VSA, HAS, ISOFIX (2x, second-row seats)
Price: RM92,800 (on the road with insurance)
Origin: Locally assembled in Pegoh, Melaka
Overview
The Honda BR-V is a budget friendly seven-seater primarily aimed at those who are upgrading from a Perodua Alza/Myvi-class of vehicles. For many, the BR-V is their first seven-seater vehicle.
The model tested here is the highest specifications V-grade model. There’s also a cheaper E-grade model but what’s important is that both models are equipped with the same level of safety features. The RM7,000 cheaper E-grade model loses minor exterior garnishes, front fog lights, electric tailgate release (but has a mechanical latch), leather upholstery, Smart Entry and engine push start button, steering wheel control-mounted control buttons, automatic air-conditioning, and touchscreen infotainment system with reverse camera.
Within the segment, there are many alternatives to the BR-V but only a handful of them are worth your consideration – namely the Perodua Alza, Proton Exora, and Toyota Sienta.
The cheapest among them is the 1.5-litre Perodua Alza (cheapest automatic variant from RM55,000). However the Alza is more of a 5+2 seater rather than a proper seven-seater. It’s also showing its age, having been on the market almost unchanged since 2009. It is however the most economical to buy and to run.

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 The 1.6-litre turbocharged Proton Exora (from RM67,220) is equally old. It might boast of more power (138 hp and 205 Nm) but it’s also very heavy and lacks direct injection that many modern turbocharged engines have, and as such, it’s very thirsty on fuel. It however comes decently equipped - with electronic stability control, lots of space, individual air-conditioning vents in the rear and a spacious third row.
There’s also the 1.4-litre Proton Ertiga (cheapest automatic model at RM61,880), but it’s only a six-seater and as far as space and practicality of the third row seats are concerned it is best that you look elsewhere. Access to the third row is difficult as the second-row seats can only be titled forward but it doesn’t fold or tumble.
The 1.6-litre Nissan Grand Livina (cheapest automatic from RM91,100) is living well past its prime and isn’t worth your time. The second generation Toyota Avanza (cheapest automatic from RM78,200) have improved much in terms of refinement but the RM92,900 Toyota Sienta, with its very practical sliding doors is a better buy.
Exterior
Let’s be honest here. Nothing in this segment looks good. This is a place where all your youthful aspirations and childhood ambitions wither away. That coupe/roadster that you always wanted will have to wait. For the next two decades or so, you will exist solely for your children.
Rational, adult-type considerations are the main purchase drivers, because sleep deprived parents of toddlers/screaming kids have no time and money to think about aesthetics.
This is a segment where you choose least bad looking choice, rather than the best looking choice.
Having said that, BR-V isn’t too bad looking. For one, it fits in our local landscape better than the Sienta, which looks really awesome in Japanese surroundings but stands out very oddly here.
The BR-V also has a hint of SUV-like styling. By the way the roof rails are not for show. It can take up to 30 kg of load.
The BR-V also rides surprisingly high – 200 mm from the ground. That’s 30 mm more than either the CR-V (which comes 4WD option) or the HR-V. While the BR-V only has front-wheel drive, its taller ride height means that it is quite capable of dealing with flash floods and potholes that JKR/DBKL forgot to fix.
If you must know, yes it is quite capable of climbing up kerbs, but please don’t do that.
All these are reasons why Honda describes the BR-V as an SUV-like crossover rather than an MPV.
The full-size spare wheel is stored under the car and for many, this is a new experience so do read the owner’s manual on how to remove it.
Interior
As mentioned in our launch story, the front-quarter of the BR-V is borrowed from the City/Jazz, sharing the same engine bay and bulkhead. The dashboard and instrument panel looks almost identical to the B-segment City/Jazz, but misses out on the soft padding material used on highest V-grade City.
All seven seats are adult-size seats, capable of sitting full-size individuals. Of course, like all seven-seaters in this class, once both third row seats are up there isn’t a lot cargo room left – just 233 litres to be exact, still big enough for a medium size stroller though.
Unlike the Sienta, the BR-V’s third row seats don’t ‘dive in’ and hide under the floor. It merely split folds and tumbles forward but it’s enough to expand cargo capacity to 539 litres. There’s also none of the Magic/Ultra seats that the Honda City/Jazz has. This is because unlike the centre fuel tank City/Jazz, the BR-V's fuel tank is installed in a more conventional rear position, allowing the third row seats to be placed higher than the second row, thus improving outward visibility, giving occupants in the third row a very 'airy' feeling.
The second-row seats slide fore/aft by up to 90 mm to create more legroom for occupants in either the second or third row. The middle occupant in the second row seat is belted via a roof-mounted seatbelt.
Rear occupants are kept cool by a roof-mounted air-conditioning blower, which comes with its own evaporator unit for optimal cooling performance. It’s powerful enough to cool occupants in the third row but be warned that when set at max fan speed, the noise can be quite loud for the driver in front.
Our major gripe with the BR-V's interior, at least as far as this V-grade model is concerned, is volume control 'soft key' on infotainment system's touchscreen. There is no physical volume control, which is fine, but the problem with the BR-V is that you have to go back to the home screen every time you want to adjust the volume.
The area above the rear view mirror, between the sun visors, also lacks blackout coating so in certain driving conditions, there is no way for you to block out the sun's glare.
Driving Experience
When the BR-V was launched, many were doubtful if the BR-V is able to drive up Genting Highlands with a full load, but curiously the same group of people never doubted the Toyota Avanza (9.1 PS/ton), Toyota Sienta (7.9 PS/ton), Perodua Alza (9 PS/ton), or even Proton Exora (9.4 PS/ton) – all of which outputs less power (PS) per ton than the BR-V’s 9.7 PS/ton, so it’s difficult to understand why was the BR-V’s power output is a concern in the first place.
The BR-V’s 120 PS only had to move 1,240 kg. That’s 240 kg less than the Exora and 110 kg less than the Sienta. Rest assured that compared to its peers, pace is not a concern for the BR-V.
Don't for a moment think that the BR-V’s lightweight comes at the expense of strength, as this is not one of those a developing-market, de-contented ASEAN-only car. As reported earlier, the BR-V meets
all the necessary safety regulations
 in Europe and the only reason it’s not sold there is because there is no demand for such cars in those regions.
So it’s powerful enough for what it is but don’t expect it to match the pace of say an all-wheel drive Audi Q7 on full bore climbing uphill so stick to the left lane.
With the CVT in S mode we made very quick progress along the uphill stretches of Gua Tempurung and Menora Tunnel in our drive up north. Its acceleration won't pin you to your seat but it’s certainly better than what we had expected from a vehicle in this category.
Like all other CVT-equipped Honda models, the BR-V’s transmission was responsive enough and there was none of the droning noise at high speeds although owners who are new to CVTs might find the step-less nature of the shifts odd, or even slow, but a quick look at the speedometer will assure you the pace the car is actually building. Being a CVT, it doesn’t have the usual D3 or D2 engine braking modes for steep downhill driving, so remember to shift into L to avoid overcooking your brakes when coasting downhill.
In city, the BR-V does not fear tight streets. Turning circle is a tight 5.6 metres, which isn’t too far off from the much smaller Jazz’s 5.1 metres.
We also had the chance to briefly sample the Toyota Sienta, Avanza and Nissan Grand Livina alongside the Honda BR-V. Of course, the selection of competitor models and driving route was chosen by Honda Malaysia and as you would’ve guessed it, none of the competitior models could match the pace and composure of the BR-V.
The Sienta struggled the most because of its weight and was quite a handful when pushed hard, but it is noticeably quieter than the BR-V. The Livina and Avanza were very twitchy around tight and twisty stretches. None could keep up with the BR-V. Once again, questions like “Can the BR-V drive up Genting Highlands with a full load?” is moot.
If you have to know, there is a speed limiter in the BR-V. Power is cut once speed exceeds 160 km/h (actual speed, speedometer might over-read).
In a simulated emergency lane change, the BR-V’s mechanical grip is so good that it didn’t require intervention from the electronic stability control (VSA). Flicking the steering wheel right-left-right at 70 km/h before braking hard, the BR-V’s rear remained planted and avoided the obstacles with so little drama that VSA never had stepped in to rein the car, as shown in the video below.
Comfort
At high speeds, the BR-V is a tad noisier than a Toyota Sienta, not by much, but it’s noticeable. Keep it at no more than 130 km/h, it’s a very relaxed cruiser, with minimal wind and road noise. It’s a pity that the car doesn’t come with a centre arm rest in front.
As for ride comfort, we were very surprised to experience that the BR-V is more comfortable than the City. Odd but true.
We explained our odd finding to Atsushi Arisaka, the Large Project Leader (Honda’s equivalent for executive chief engineer) for the BR-V, who confirmed our butt-feel to be correct. He explained that the BR-V’s suspension is tuned to cope with both Malaysian highways and Indonesia’s rough roads – the latter explains why. The ride is very pliant, with sufficient wheel travel and controlled damping even at higher speeds.
Of course, the BR-V’s wider track and longer wheelbase over the City also allows Arisaka greater flexibility in fine-tuning the car’s ride and handling.
The seats are more or less what you would expect from this category of vehicles – lower thigh support is lacking but back and shoulder support is firm enough.
Yours truly even sat in the third row during the journey from Ipoh to Penang, with sufficient knee and head room, and even provisions for cup holders and cubby holes.
Usually, the third row is the least comfortable, not just because it usually has the thinnest and smallest seats, but also because you are sitting above the suspension, feeling every motion of the car. In the BR-V, the ride is comfortable enough that I have no problem reading random social media nonsense on my phone, while my driving partner from Roda Pusing, Albakry Salehuddin drove.
Of course I didn’t arrived in Penang feeling as if I rode in a 7 Series, but neither did I feel any discomfort throughout the journey.
Fuel consumption
Like most of our group test drives, we had a tight schedule to keep to, and we even took several detours off the highway to drive the car on different types of roads.
After driving over 400 km, not just on highways but also old trunk roads in Tapah and stopping over at Ipoh city, the trip computer showed an average fuel consumption of around 12 km/litre, despite a lot of hard driving.
On the return leg from Penang to Kuala Lumpur via the more direct PLUS highway route, we recorded a very frugal 14.8 km/litre, including time spent in Penang rush hour traffic and us being rather liberal in keeping to the speed limit. That’s a real-world figure that the BR-V’s competitiors will have difficulty matching.
Conclusion
If you are shopping for a seven-seater priced below RM100,000, the choices are very clear, assuming you are clear with your priorities.
If price and running cost are what you care the most, then go for the Perodua Alza.
For practicality, the Sienta’s power sliding doors are particularly useful for parents with toddlers. It makes a whole lot of difference in easing access into the car. But the function comes at a higher price premium, not to mention the weight penalty. It’s also comparatively smaller inside and the exterior design is a bit too anime-like for our local taste.
As an overall package, the BR-V ticks all the right boxes. If you were to chart the BR-V’s attributes on a four quadrant price vs functions/features chart, it’s hard to find another product that meets the needs of middle-class Malaysia any better.
The next question to ask is whether do you really need a seven-seater, or will a cheaper, more fuel efficient Jazz be good enough, because many forget what a big car inside the Ultra Seats-equipped and very space-efficient Jazz (from RM73,800) is inside.


Reckless Driver Drives Straight Into Nasi Kandar Shop

Video footage of a reckless Perodua Alza driver who plowed into a popular Nasi Kandar eatery in George Town, Penang has surfaced online. The footage appears to be recorded by one of the outlet’s CCTV cameras and provides a clear account of the incident.
The incident occurred last night at popular Nasi Kandar joint, Kassim Mustafa, around 10:07 PM, according to the video’s time stamp.
Before the crash, the recording clearly shows the driver recklessly weaving in and out of traffic as he approaches the restaurant. Moments before impact, the white car ahead of the Alza appears to slow down, forcing the Alza driver to swerve away to avoid a collision. At this point, it seems he may have lost control of his vehicle and rammed directly into the restaurant tables and chairs, before coming to an abrupt stop after hitting a concrete pillar of the restaurant.
The male driver later re-emerges, visibly looking traumatized.
Separately,
FreeMalaysiaToday
 reports that case will be investigated for reckless driving. The 26-year-old driver reportedly swerved into the direction of the restaurant to avoid a pedestrian crossing the road, this is unclear from the CCTV footage, and district police have confirmed that the driver was not drunk at the time.
In the same report, Kassim Mustafa owner Salim Manshoor, reportedly plans to sue the driver for damages to his property and is currently in discussion with his partners on their next move.
Thankfully, there were no reported injuries to the restaurant's patrons and the driver. In addition to tables and chairs, there seems to be a substantial loss of Dalcha curry as well!


Vios Challenge Celebrities Promote Safety Among Youth

Celebrity race drivers participating in the upcoming Vios Challenge - Diana Danielle, Danny Koo, Venice Min, Geraldine Gan and Shawn Lee, together with UMW Toyota Motor recently held the ‘Road Smart & Road Fit’ tour in Penang in an effort to promote the Gazoo Racing Festival and also road safety among the younger generation.
The celebrities visited KDU Penang University College where they reminded students to always use their seat belts and to be fully focused on their driving and not be distracted by their mobile devices.
According to the President of UMW Toyota Motor Ravindran Kurusamy, Toyota hopes to impart the knowledge of the Vios Challenge celebrities who have a big fan following among young Malaysians, through the Road Smart & Road Fit Tour.
“Young drivers remain impressionable and can be inspired to become responsible and safety-conscious road users. Through these talks, we hope that they will develop a safety-first attitude every time they start the engine,” said Ravindran.
Students from KDU will also be participating in the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival in Batu Kawan with their stage performances.
It is said that the Festival will feature a myriad of activities throughout the weekend and promises to be a starry event with celebrity appearances including the eight racers who will be competing for the first time, and special guests from Media Prima’s ‘Drama Sangat’ bus tour.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival will take place in Batu Kawan, Penang on 12 and 13 August 2017.  Entrance is free.


Honda Malaysia sold over 80,200 vehicles in 2022

Honda Malaysia
 recorded over 80,200 vehicle sales in 2022, which surpassed its initial target of 80,000 units.

This also means that Honda Malaysia was able to retain its position as the number 1 car brand in the 'Non-National Passenger Vehicle' segment for nine consecutive years - a magnificent achievement since 2014.

51% sales increase compared to 2021

COVID-19 has been tough for almost everyone in the past couple of years, Honda Malaysia included. Their recovery, however, has been on a positive note as they reported a 51% total sales increase in 2022 compared to 2021.

The numbers would've been greater if it weren't for issues like part shortages and chip supplies that affected almost all car manufacturers around the world. Despite all that, Honda Malaysia recorded its highest sales month back in March 2022 with over 10,500 units sold.

Honda City contributed 36% of total sales

While Honda Malaysia may have had some sales boost thanks to a couple of very interesting model launches last year like the new Honda Civic in January and HR-V in July, the brand's most popular model remains the City sedan.

Contributing around 36% of total sales in 2022, the City sedan was closely followed by the City Hatchback at 20% and the HR-V at 14% of the total sales for last year. 2023 will most likely be a stronger year, especially with the high interest in the new Honda Civic FE range.


Review: All-New Porsche Cayenne – More Sportscar Everyday, Everywhere

Looking at the comparison list below, the introduction of all other models only started long after the introduction and proven success of the Porsche Cayenne back in 2002.
This is how significant the high-performance SUV model is, not only to Porsche but to the entire premium automotive industry. Hyper-niche automakers such as Lamborghini even admitted that their sales hit an all-time high thanks to their decision to introduce the Urus SUV, which accounted for close to a third of their 2018 sales.
The Porsche Cayenne has now progressed into its third generation, and thanks to its success (and revenue) since 2002, plenty of new ideas, technologies, and all-around performance now lifts the all-new Cayenne to levels far ahead of the followers.
Specifications of the all-new Porsche Cayenne V6
Price: RM795,000 after duties and before options
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6, Single-turbocharger, petrol
Power: 340 Hp @ 5,300 – 6,400 rpm
Torque: 450 Nm @ 1,340 – 5,300 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic S (conventional auto.), Active AWD
Performance: 5.9 seconds 0-100 km/h, top speed: 245 km/h
Origin: Fully imported from Bratislava, Slovakia
Overview
The introduction of the third generation Cayenne sees the end of the long-serving 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine. All engines powering the Cayenne are now turbocharged, translating to better performance and reduce fuel consumption plus emissions.
Porsche Malaysia also offers the all-new Cayenne S model that features a bi-turbo 2.9-litre V6 (440 hp, 550 Nm) priced from RM 955,000 before including the additional options.
The Cayenne Turbo meanwhile has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine that develops 550 hp and 770 Nm of torque. It also carries quite a hefty price, listing at over RM1.5 million before including the recommended options and features.
The all-new Porsche Cayenne remains a high-performance SUV for five occupants and there are no plans to have a four-cylinder engine option, unlike its competitors.
Exterior
The overall styling of the all-new Cayenne remains true to the original, maintaining a practical, wagon-esque roofline, but slightly lower (-9 mm) for a sportier stance.
Through the higher usage of aluminium (all exterior panels), the bare-metal bodyshell of all-new Cayenne is 22 kilograms lighter, but with much better body rigidity.
Fully laden with all the comfort features and sophisticated chassis components, the Cayenne V6 is close to 55 kilograms lighter than its predecessor.
The Cayenne’s more athletic and technical looks are best found in the rear, especially the slim tail lamps that span the entire width of the SUV. Porsche’s four-point lighting identity found at the front DRLs is now repeated in the slender tail lamps, functioning as brake lamps.
Plenty of customization can be selected on the Cayenne, and this example from Porsche Malaysia features 21-inch Cayenne Exclusive Design wheels that are paired with body-colour wheel arches.
Interi
or
The interior of the all-new Cayenne certainly astonishes with minimal physical buttons and plenty of display screens, a glaring contrast to the previous generations.
All driver commands and selections are done through the crisp and ultra-responsive 12.3-inch HD touch screen infotainment display.
Currently, Porsche only offers Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity through the Porsche Connect system.
Directly ahead of the driver lies the digital instrument panel - an exquisite combination of heritage with advanced technology.
The classic centrally-mounted physical tachometer is flanked by a pair of 7-inch HD displays, with the content easily customized through the steering wheel mounted thumb-scroll switches.
Advanced driving assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane keep assistance are only found in the higher-range Cayenne S and Turbo models.
Driving Experience
Headlines of lighter overall weight, a more powerful engine, better spread of gear ratios, and the fitment of the rear-wheel steering in the all-new Porsche Cayenne certainly points to a more involving drive with higher precision.
Before heading to back roads with plenty of bends to experience the core strength of the all-new Cayenne, we cruised on the highway to find that the SUV offers cruising capabilities of a large limousine.
Wind noise is well muted, while the extraordinary ride comfort from the adaptive air suspension continues to show why this is the benchmark high-performance SUV with strong grand touring capabilities.
It’s a pity that the air-conditioning felt underwhelming though, where the cabin just didn’t feel sufficiently cold even when set to the lowest temperature and high fan speed.
On the quiet trunk roads on route to Semenyih, the new Cayenne truly reveals all the new technology and fine-tuning the experts at Stuttgart has applied.
Switching the drive mode to Sport (easily done through the steering wheel mounted mode button) allows the driver to confidently carry higher-than-average speeds around the endless left and right bends.
Increasing the steering wheel angle and the new rear-axle steering happily says ‘Yes Sir!’, with plenty of traction complimented by the fitment of wider rear tyres.
Thanks to the abundance of torque delivered in a plateau from a low 1,350 rpm to 5,300 rpm matched with a better spread of eight ratios in the conventional automatic transmission, darting from corner to corner is also more undisturbed through the use of just the third gear.
Something didn’t feel right in the enthusiastic drive though, and it was the lack of the engine and exhaust notes. Dialling the drive mode up to Sport + didn’t energize the cabin with more melodic noises, which was a shame.
Carlist.my was also invited to experience both realms of the Cayenne’s expertise at Sepang Circuit, before its official Malaysian launch.
Read more about it here
.
Cost of Ownership
Porsche Malaysia offers a comprehensive ownership package for their products. The new Cayenne comes with a four-year warranty, with the maintenance (service parts and labour) over the course of four years or first 100,000 kilometres are also taken care by Porsche Malaysia.
During our short spell (260 kilometres) in the new Cayenne V6, the trip computer showed the vehicle consumed under 15 litres per 100 kilometres, proving this new generation is much more efficient thanks to the lighter bodyweight and more efficient powertrain.
Conclusion
Thanks to the broad appeal of the Cayenne, it frequently tops the list of consumers looking for a high-performance SUV. It glides over the long miles on the highway like a true Grand Tourer and when the roads become curvier, the Cayenne brilliantly emphasizes the "sport" in the SUV acronym.
A more powerful base engine and lighter overall weight in the all-new Cayenne further reduce the performance gap amongst its siblings. Choosing a family-friendly Porsche now is just a matter a personal preference in the body type of an SUV, sedan, or
sporty fastback
, with the SUV having the most capable chassis.
Fun fact, Lamborghini built their Urus from the base of the new Cayenne, proving how complete the SUV is after three generations of delivering performance, premium hospitality, and grand touring.


Bengkel Kereta Halang Laluan Kaki Lima – Jadikan Tempat Letak Barang

Pemilik perniagaan dan penduduk setempat kecewa dengan tindakan
bengkel kereta
 yang menghalang laluan kaki lima di kawasan komersial Taman Keramat Permai.

Bengkel kereta di kawasan terbabit dilaporkan menggunakan laluan kaki lima yang terlindung untuk melakukan pembaikan serta menempatkan barangan seperti
tayar
, alat ganti kereta dan tin minyak enjin di situ, berdasarkan laporan The Star.

Mengganggu Laluan Pejalan Kaki

Menurut mereka yang tinggal serta bekerja berdekatan kawasan berkenaan, halangan di
laluan pejalan kaki
 itu mendatangkan gangguan. Selain menyusahkan pejalan kaki agar tidak terlanggar barang yang diletakkan di situ, barang-barang itu juga menyukarkan akses bagi orang kurang upaya.

Ramai pejalan kaki terpaksa berjalan di atas jalan kerana laluan kaki lima di kawasan bengkel itu sudah terhalang. Bukan itu sahaja, laluan kaki lima itu juga menjadi licin ekoran tumpahan minyak enjin. Pekedai di kawasan terbabit turut melaporkan limpahan air hujan telah membawa tumpahan minyak tersebut masuk ke dalam longkang berdekatan. Akibatnya, longkang telah tersumbat dan berbau busuk.

 “Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) perlu mengeluarkan kompaun kepada pengusaha premis yang ingkar dan merampas barangan mereka kerana menyebabkan halangan,” katanya.

Bengkel Bolot Kawasan Parkir

Selain itu, ada juga aduan dibuat tentang kekurangan tempat letak kereta di kawasan itu. Pekedai di kawasan itu berkata, banyak bengkel telah menyewa teluk di hadapan premis mereka daripada MPAJ.

“Majlis harus mengehadkan bilangan petak yang disewa untuk memastikan terdapat ruang parkir yang mencukupi untuk semua orang dan memastikan bahawa petak ini digunakan secara ketat untuk tempat letak kereta dan bukan untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja pembaikan,” katanya.

Hasil siasatan StarMetro, beberapa petak kawasan letak kereta di kawasan itu dicat merah, bermakna ia dikhaskan untuk premis tertentu.

Walau bagaimanapun, ada pemandu yang pernah diminta mengalihkan keretanya selepas meletak kenderaan di hadapan sebuah bengkel meskipun petak itu tidak ditanda merah. Menurut pemandu tersebut, petak itu diperlukan oleh orang ramai yang menunggu untuk melakukan servis kereta," tambahnya.

Banyak Kereta Terbiar

Seorang pekedai lama yang hanya memberikan namanya sebagai Chong, berkata kawasan itu juga mempunyai banyak kereta terbiar kerana tidak dituntut pemilik kerana mereka tidak mampu menanggung kos pembaikan. Tegasnya, MPAJ harus menarik balik kereta ini, kerana mereka mengambil ruang dan juga boleh menghalang pembeli daripada datang ke kawasan itu.

Selain memberi kesan kepada perniagaan mereka dalam jangka masa panjang, isu kesesakan lalu lintas juga merupakan isu harian yang menyukarkan penghantaran barang ke kedai. Menurut peniaga di kawasan itu, pembekal perlu meletak kenderaan dan berjalan lebih jauh sambil membawa barang berat.

Perlu Mohon Permit Sementara Daripada DBKL

MPAJ, dalam satu kenyataan kepada StarMetro, berkata pengusaha premis boleh meletakkan barangan mereka di kaki lima, tetapi mesti memohon permit sementara. Presidennya Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim berkata barang-barang itu tidak boleh menyebabkan halangan, sambil turut menegaskan bahawa sebarang aktiviti pembaikan di kaki lima adalah dilarang.

“Kompaun akan dikeluarkan kepada pengusaha yang gagal mematuhi Akta Jalan, Parit dan Bangunan 1974 (Akta 133) untuk halangan. Lesen pengendali yang ingkar itu juga akan ditamatkan di bawah Undang-undang Kecil Perlesenan Perdagangan, Perniagaan dan Perindustrian (MPAJ) 2007,” katanya.

Menjawab kebimbangan mengenai ruang parkir yang terhad, Mohd Fauzi berkata tiada aktiviti perkhidmatan atau pembaikan dibenarkan di petak rizab itu. Beliau menegaskan bahawa petak berwarna merah khusus untuk tempat letak kereta pelanggan," katanya sambil menambah hanya 25 daripada 638 ruang di kawasan itu telah disewakan.

*Kredit foto: The Star


New Mazda CX-5 Open For Booking - 5 variants, 2.2L Diesel AWD Dropped

Shortly after its first
public preview
, Bermaz Motor, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia has opened its order books for the updated 2019 Mazda CX-5, the company’s most successful SUV model.
Prices will be announced at a later date but five variants have been confirmed, with the previously available CX-5 2.2L Skyactiv-D (AWD) turbodiesel has been dropped in favour of the CX-5 2.5L Turbo (AWD) petrol model. The 2.2L 2WD turbodiesel variant remains. This is how the range shapes up now:
CX-5 2.0L GL Skyactiv-G (FWD, 162 hp/ 213 Nm @ 4,000 rpm)
CX-5 2.0L GLS Skyactiv-G (FWD, 162 hp/ 213 Nm @ 4,000 rpm)
CX-5 2.5L GLS Skyactiv-G (FWD, 192 hp/ 258 Nm @ 4,000 rpm)
CX-5 2.2L GLS Skyactiv-D (FWD, 188 hp/ 450 Nm @ 2,000 rpm)
CX-5 2.5L Skyactiv-G Turbo (AWD, 228 hp/ 420 Nm @ 2,000 rpm)
All variants are locally assembled (CKD) at the Mazda Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah.
The new 2.5L turbo engine has one of the highest compression ratios of any four-cylinder turbocharged engine, at 10.5:1, achieved through a series of innovative Skyactiv technologies. These include an oil pump with continuously variable displacement, multi-hole injectors, Mazda’s Dynamic Pressure Turbo system and cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), all working to maximise combustion efficiency and minimise energy losses. A pulse scavenging 4-3-1 exhaust manifold prevents exhaust gases from restricting airflow through the engine and helps the engine breathe freely.
All variants are paired with a Skyactiv-Drive 6-Speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. Mazda’s new G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) feature is also supplied as standard across all variants. In the updated version, GVC Plus improves steering response as the driver straightens the wheel, by adding a hint of braking to the outer wheels.
New convenience features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, accessible via the Mazda Connect Infotainment display. There is also the introduction of a new configurable 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster display. Exclusive to the Skyactiv-G 2.5L Turbo variant is the Coloured Windshield head-up display.
In terms of safety, all variants are supplied with 6-airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Stability Control, Traction Control, and Hill-Start Assist.
The standard equipment highlights, by variant, are as follows:
CX-5 2.0L GL Skyactiv-G
17-inch alloy wheels, 225/65/R17 tyres
GVC Plus
Automatic LED headlamps
Bulb type DRLs
LED taillights
Mazda Connect Infotainment System With Voice Command
Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
4.6 inch TFT LCD Standard Display
Dual-Zone Auto Climate Control
Fabric seats, leather steering wheel, and gearknob
7-inch touchscreen infotainment display
Reverse camera
Rear parking sensors
CX-5 2.0L GLS Skyactiv-G
Signature LED headlights
LED DRLs
Signature LED taillights
Front parking sensors
Piano Black door trim
Metal and wood dashboard trim
10-Way adjustable, powered driver seat
6-Way adjustable, powered passenger seat
2-Position driver seat memory
Leather seats
Power tailgate
360-degree View Monitor
Walk Away Lock
Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS)
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) – Front
CX-5 2.5L GLS Skyactiv-G
19-inch alloy wheels, 225/55/R19 tyres
7-inch TFT Display instrument cluster display
Driver Attention Alert (DAA)
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) – Rear
CX-5 2.2L Skyactiv-D
Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
Lane-Keep Assist System (LAS)
CX-5 2.5L Skyactiv-G Turbo
Active Head-Up Display (Colour Windshield Projection)
The colour lineup includes Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Snowflake White Pearl, Deep Crystal Blue, Sonic Silver, Meteor Gray, Jet Black, and Arctic White; totaling 8 colours.
All new Mazda vehicles registered from January 1, 2019 onwards are offered with a 5-Year/100,000 km manufacturer warranty and 5-Year/100,000 km free maintenance package according to manufacturer’s standards inclusive of labour, parts, and lubricants.


Volkswagen and Nvidia Join Forces To Develop AI Co-Pilot Technologies

Volkswagen and Nvidia have joined forces to jointly develop Artificial Intelligence and ‘deep learning’ technologies for a new generation of intelligent Volkswagen vehicles.
Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess added, “Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the car. Autonomous driving, zero tailpipe emission mobility and digital networking are virtually impossible without advances in AI and deep learning. Combining the imagination of Volkswagen with NVIDIA, the leader in AI technology, enables us to take a big step into the future.”
A preview of these technologies is found on Volkswagen I.D. Buzz concept vehicle – which will include “Intelligent Co-Pilot” capabilities, which adds convenience and driver assistance systems based on processing sensor data from both inside and outside of the car.
These systems can be enhanced throughout the life of the vehicle via software updates and can gain new capabilities as further developments are made in autonomous driving. Thanks to deep learning, the car of the future will learn to accurately assess situations and analyse the behaviour of others on the road, enabling it to make accurate and correct decisions.
Using the Nvidia Drive IX ‘Intelligent Experience’ platform, future vehicles will include AI-enabled features such as facial recognition for unlocking the vehicle from the outside, driver alerts for bicyclists, gesture recognition for user controls, natural language understanding for voice control, and gaze tracking for driver distraction alerts.
The I.D. BUZZ, first unveiled at the 2017 Detroit Autoshow, is an all-electric concept from Volkswagen’s I.D. family, which also includes the I.D. and
I.D. Crozz
 concept vehicles.
The I.D. Buzz is a retrospective concept, inspired by VW Microbus (or Kombi) from the 1950s, based on the new MEB (
Modular Electrification Toolkit)
 platform that is consistently geared towards
zero-tailpipe emission
 and digital mobility.
Using a battery that is integrated flat in the chassis floor, and a compact drive system, MEB-based vehicles offer a generous and highly variable interior which can integrate technologies that will be commonplace for electric compact car segment in the future, such as an augmented-reality heads-up display.
Models based on the MEB architecture are planned to offer the very latest driver assistance systems, geared towards different levels of autonomous driving. MEB-based electronic systems will also be gradually introduced to vehicles with conventional drive systems that are based on the VW’s MQB architecture.


MINI Malaysia Announces New Prices With Zero Percent Rated GST

MINI Malaysia, through BMW Group Malaysia, has released an updated price list of MINI vehicles that apply the GST rate of zero percent (with effect from 1st June 2018) until further notice from the Ministry of Finance Malaysia.
Mr. Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “While we await further announcements and confirmation from the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, we look forward to continue serving our customers seamlessly. Rest assured, BMW Group Malaysia continues to offer the complete Premium Ownership experience.”
The MINI Malaysia Premium Ownership experience includes:
MINI 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service
MINI Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
MINI Black Card
MINI Service Online


Volvo Offering Special Deals for S60, S90 T8, S90 T8 Special Edition

Volvo Car Malaysia announced its Volvo 2020 Merdeka Campaign in conjunction with the upcoming celebrations of National Day and Malaysia Day.

To pay homage to this year’s 63rd National Day, the campaign harnesses on the belief that good things come in threes, and so will centre upon three Volvo sedans –
Volvo S60 T8 R-Design
,
Volvo S90 T8 Inscription Plus
 and Volvo S90 T8 Special Edition – and three special deals – free first-year insurance, free Polestar optimisation package and free 5-year service maintenance (VSA5+) – all of which will be offered on top of the current sales tax relief by the government.

On top of the three special deals of free first-year insurance, free Polestar optimisation package and free 5-year service maintenance (VSA5+), Volvo Car Malaysia is also adding on extra deals for buyers of the Volvo S90 Inscription Plus and Volvo S90 T8 Special Edition, in the form of a RM15,000 voucher to purchase accessories for the former model, and a complimentary exterior styling kit and a 20” rim and tyre package worth RM35,000 for the latter model.

The company has also extended its current online booking campaign until the end of August. To recap, the campaign offers a complimentary Polestar optimisation package for all Volvo cars booked online.

Meanwhile, the three special deals under the Volvo 2020 Merdeka Campaign consisting of free first-year insurance, free Polestar optimisation package and free 5-year service maintenance (VSA5+) is worth RM11,000, RM5,250 and RM9,200 respectively.

In addition, Maybank credit card customers will be entitled to a 0% Ezypay Instalment Plan of up to RM30,000, which includes 10 times Maybank TreatsPoints.

Through this campaign, Volvo Car Malaysia is also offering everyone a chance to own exclusive Volvo merchandise such as watches, sunglasses, electric ride-on cars for children and more, at a special bundle price of RM1,957. There is a bundle deal for men, women and children, with each category consisting of specific lifestyle items.

Finally, in collaboration with Thule Malaysia, Volvo Car owners who present their car key when purchasing any Thule Crossover 2 luggage bags and backpacks will be given a Thule Subterra PowerShuttle Organiser worth RM119.

Volvo car owners will also receive a 15% discount on all Thule items until the end of December 2020.


Volvo Trucks Malaysia Continues Push On Safety Campaigns

Mention Volvo, and automotive safety comes to mind. It is no different whether the automotive products being a passenger or commercial vehicle.
Volvo Trucks Malaysia continues to emphasise its commitment to safety through its two hallmark campaigns: “Stop Look Wave” and “Seen and Be Seen”.
These safety campaigns, aimed particularly to children and cyclists, are intended to raise awareness of risks and create an understanding of how to act safely in traffic.
Pioneered by Volvo Trucks in Sweden, the Stop, Look and Wave campaign was designed to help children how to act safely near traffic. With three simple steps, the campaign offers simple yet important advice to children that may ultimately save lives:
Stop
Look and notice their surroundings
Wave at the driver and make sure they have been seen
Commenting on the ‘Stop, Look and Wave’ campaign, Mitch Peden, the Managing Director of Volvo Trucks Malaysia said, “Over 260,000 children around the world die in traffic accidents each year. Through collaboration with local partners, we hope to do our part to keep Malaysian children safe on the road.”
The ‘See and Be Seen’ initiative meanwhile focuses on awareness while in traffic. Most accidents are due to human factors such as lack of attention, poor understanding, and misjudgement. The ‘See and Be Seen’ campaign by Volvo Trucks demonstrates how safety can be improved in the interactions between cyclists, motorcyclists, and truck drivers, and thereby reduce the risk of accidents.
In collaboration with Petronas Carigali in Kerteh, Volvo Trucks organised the Festive Season Safe Drive Campaign to help shed more light on road safety, highlighting a large number of road deaths in Malaysia involving motorcyclists.
As part of the Volvo’s ‘See and Be Seen’ Campaign, participants were shown a presentation on road safety by professional driver trainers from Volvo Trucks and took part in activities that gave them an opportunity to apply their knowledge on blind spots.
“81% of road accidents in Malaysia are due to human errors,” adds Peden. “It is not enough for us to make our trucks safer, we play an important role in making sure the world’s roads are safer too. Safety talks with our partners and the communities that we operate in are part of
Volvo Trucks’ on-going efforts
 to make our roads safer for everyone.”
Through both of these campaigns, Volvo Trucks aims to combat the impact of road accidents and make a positive difference in the lives of road users, not just in Malaysia but around the globe. Volvo Trucks actively supports and collaborates with communities and organisations across Malaysia to help promote road safety.


BMW Malaysia Teases 8 Series Coupe, But Why?

Just this morning, BMW Malaysia posted a teaser of a silhouette that pretty much looks like the up-and-coming 8 Series Coupe. Now, this is a car that hasn't even been launched globally and is still undergoing testing, and from our experience it takes roughly half a year before a global launch for a product translates into a local launch for us. So what does it mean?
For now, all we have to go on is a date (22nd of February) and a place (Kuala Lumpur City Centre). What BMW Malaysia has cryptically mentioned is that they plan to share their vision of luxury in the city of Kuala Lumpur, and a bunch of other fluffy press-sounding words. Regardless, it would be interesting to see what they have in store for us.
The 8 Series will succeed the 6 Series in the BMW lineup, not quite being a revival of the classic 8 Series namesake but vital to the repositioning of the 6 Series as a sports-car fighting machine. Word is that the new 6 Series takes aim at the Mercedes-AMG GT, but we have very little information on that development for now.


2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG Quick Review + Track Video

The
Mercedes-Benz
 Driving Experience (MBDE) is an all-round fun experience for anyone with the chance to get in – customers/ owners have special invitations on occasion, while members of the public can get in for a cool RM5,000. If it’s any consolation, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia does take very good care of participants over the one day event at the Sepang International Circuit: food, drink, track time and all. On track, the MBDE gives you the opportunity to get behind the wheel of almost every model in the brand’s local range of cars, and put their – and your – limits to test through a series of courses that surround defensive driving, experiencing Mercedes-Benz’s safety technology (ESP tests etc.), and more. Or just go really quickly around the circuit, if that’s what you like.
And while all that’s great fun for anyone, something we were particularly excited about trying was the
GLA 45 AMG
. In attendance specifically for a very limited amount of people to try out, we were fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of the SUV ourselves, for a second go at an AMG model around the Sepang circuit. Here are a few of our thoughts from the quick drive.
Driving the GLA 45 AMG:
 Before we get started, let us make clear that, yes, we do have a soft spot for this bad boy. Okay, maybe not so much a soft spot in the sentimental sense, but more of a hard on for what’s conceived as a compact family SUV with a ruddy 360hp and 450Nm of torque – wouldn’t you feel the same?
Having established that this would be the baby AMG for us (minus the ostentatious Edition 1 decals, and until the
CLA 45 Shooting Brake
 gets here), we’ve got to say that the full might of its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot is noticeably weighed down by the GLA’s added mass over the A-Class. Strangely, Affalterbach’s spec-sheets show only a 30kg difference between the two, with the A 45 weighing in at 1555kg at the kerb, and the GLA 45 at 1585kg. Off the line, the GLA 45 is said to be only 0.3 seconds slower than the benchmark A 45, and the difference is only slightly obvious from the get-go – I
still recall the A 45’s launch from 0-100km/h
 as one of the most thrilling 4.6 seconds of the year. Regardless, the GLA 45’s Race Start sequence is also still as lengthy to activate, but something we’d do over and over again if we had the chance. *Watch the video attached to see it (we’re told the video’s speed isn’t edited, but we have our suspicions).
On track, the GLA 45 didn’t feel as sharp as
we remember the A 45 AMG
 to be when we last had a go, but again, the added mass is most likely to be thanked here. You could also attribute this to the increase in ride height over the A 45. That said, both baby AMGs share identical AMG sport suspensions, which leave them behaving very similarly: firm, flat cornering for as long as you don’t overcook entering a corner with too much speed. It’s a bit harder to correct the AMG in a corner, than it would be to correct a Golf R. Speaking of which… The 4MATIC all-wheel drive worked hard to keep our errors of exuberance in check, but is unfortunately a fair bit behind the
Volkswagen Golf R’s 4MOTION system
. The 4MATIC has the ability to go from full FWD to a 50-50 torque split when needed, but the Golf R’s arrangement can go from a 100-0 torque split to a maximum 10-90 split, which nearly turns the mighty Golf into a full-on rear-wheel drive car. The R is fantastic, but that’s something for the hatchback A 45 AMG to sort out, not the “SUV” in review here.
To conclude, we’re quite sure there isn’t much anyone could fault the Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG for. As a thing to drive daily, it’s a fantastic toy to have on the side, or to serve purely as a weekend driver: it still pushes the same fantastic tones from its AMG exhaust, the slingshot surge of power is well accounted for, and everything is pretty much just as fantastic as it is in its other two AMG siblings, the A and CLA 45 AMG. Best of all, you get a much more human/ cargo load-friendly cabin, and a much bigger boot which could easily fit a baby stroller or two – much needed in the real world, especially when RM378,888 is what’s asked for it. For now, we’ll leave you with this short teaser video which features yours truly driving a bunch of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including the GLA 45 AMG – albeit clumsily – around the Sepang circuit. Do enjoy, until we can get a hold of the for ourselves for a more extensive review.


ETCM Annonces CNY Promotion And New Insurance Program For Customers

In conjunction with the Tan Chong Group’s 60th anniversary and also the upcoming festive season, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) the authorised distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia has announced its special Chinese New Year promotion campaign.
The campaign offers Malaysians the chance to win a brand new Nissan Teana 2.5L XV every month from January to March 2018, AirAsia Big Points, as well as Hitachi premium appliances worth up to RM600,000 with every purchase of a new Nissan vehicle.
Customers can also enjoy the ‘Golden Fortune Bonus Set’ on selected Nissan models and receive either savings up to RM12,000, or the RM1 promotion for premium accessory package. Additionally, there are also rebates of up to RM10,500.
Last but not least, ETCM is also kicking off its 2018 Nissan Chinese New Year Test Drive Carnival at selected ETCM showrooms nationwide, where members of the public can visit the outlets and get attractive deals and offers, while participating in fun-filled activities such as Lion Dance, Calligraphy Art and other games with exciting giveaways.
Dates and venues for the test drive carnival are as follows:
As for the roadshows, the schedule is as mentioned below:
On another note, Tan Chong Insurance Business Stream (TCIBS) and RHB Insurance have officially launched a new Return To Invoice and Guaranteed Asset Protection (RTI-GAP) insurance coverage called the TC GAP Protector for Nissan owners.
TC GAP Protector program provides financial shortfall coverage with maximum benefit up to RM140,000 in the event of total loss of a vehicle due to accident, fire or theft on top of the motor insurance reimbursement.
According to the company, the insurance coverage will prevail throughout the geographical area of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
Three insurance plans are available under the program; Plan A, B and C with maximum coverage up to 5 years. This insurance can be obtained through a one-time premium payment which is based on original purchase price and number of years the insurance will be in effect.
Insurance period will commence with immediate effect from policy inception date; and is only available for new and existing vehicles with private registration aged not more than 12 months after first registration.
The Premium payable on selected Nissan models as follows:


Mitsubishi Announces ‘Triton Extra Hardcore’ Roadshow Nationwide

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) announced that it will be showcasing the newly launched
Mitsubishi Triton with MIVEC Turbo Diesel Engine
at the Triton Extra Hardcore roadshow which will make its debut this weekend, 1-2 October 2016 at the Outdoor Carpark of Setia City Convention Centre.
The roadshow will see local motorsports talent Leona Chin performing high-speed rides amongst other thrilling test rides on a specially outfitted obstacle truck.
The obstacle include the newly launched Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck, being put through the test on the purpose-built Mitsubishi truck featuring a wide range of obstacles including a 45-degree, 25-feet tall “sky” ramp that points upwards to the sky – an extreme test for any 4x4 vehicle.
Other challenges will include the roller ramp test that will see the 4x4 vehicle “drive through” the giant obstacle truck as well as the side traverse and uneven ramp tests.
Besides Setia Alam, the Mitsubishi Triton Extra Hardcore roadshow will be visiting other major cities as well, such as:
No
City
Venue
Date
Time
1
Klang Valley
Setia City Convention Centre, Outdoor Carpark
1-2 October
10.00am-8.00pm
2
Penang
Juru Auto City, Carpark
8-9 October
10.00am-8.00pm
3
Johor Bahru
Plaza Angsana, Carpark C
15-16 October
10.00am-8.00pm

It is said that admission is free and visitors who make a booking of any Mitsubishi vehicles during the roadshow will receive a special edition Ralliart umbrella, while those who test drive any Mitsubishi model will receive exclusive merchandise while stock lasts.
MMM also added that visitors will get to meet and greet Leona Chin, as well as stand a chance to win exclusive Ralliart merchandise during the event. Besides that, children will also get to enjoy sand art and other fun activities organized for the whole family.
Looking for a Mitsubishi? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Honda Malaysia Confirms 100% Parts Availability For Driver Airbag

Honda Malaysia has announced that there is 100% parts availablity for the driver side airbag inflator module as part of the Takata recall. This means that if your car is affected, you can make an appointment straight away to get the module replaced at one of Honda's service centres. Honda also has mobile service hubs operating to speed up replacements, so check to see if there is one available for you.
As of 17th August 2016, Honda Malaysia has completed 45% of the replacements for the recalled Takata airbag inflators, which translates to approimately 175,000 units of airbag inflators in affected vehicles. Over the past 3 weeks alone, Honda Malaysia has managed to replace more than 31,800 units of airbag inlators at authorised dealers, service central hubs, and mobile hubs. Unfortunately, due to the global shortage of passenger side inflators, Honda Malaysia has yet to secure 100% stock availability but will continue to work towards this.
Customers of affected Honda vehicles can replace both Takata driver and passenger (based on parts availability) front airbag inflators by making an appointment with any Honda authorised dealers. They also encourage customers to call the Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020 to make an appointment with any of the Service Central Hubs which are located at:
Northern Hub (Next to S.M.J.K. Convent Dato’ Keramat School)
Address: No.401, Jalan Dato’ Keramat, 10150 Georgetown, Penang.
Central Hub - Soo & Sons Metal Works Sdn. Bhd. (Next to Columbia Asia Hospital)
Address: Lot 15 Jalan 13/6, Section 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Southern Hub - Oriental Assemblers Sdn. Bhd.
Address: 99 & 99A-C, Jalan Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor.
These temporary Service Central Hubs have been operating since
1st August 2016
 and will be operational until
30th September 2016
. The hubs open 7 days a week except public holidays, from
8am to 7pm
.
To provide additional outlets for Takata airbag replacement activity, Honda Malaysia has also opened a total of 24 Mobile Hubs which are set up at
21 selected Petron service stations
 and
three (3) Honda Family Road Trip locations
. These Mobile Hubs have started operations since
5th August
 and will close on
25th September 2016
. The Mobile Hubs are open from
 8am to 7pm on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday
 at three (3) different locations. Further details of the location of the Mobile Hubs are available at
www.honda.com.my
 or
www.productrecall.honda.com.my
.
If you're still confused over this whole Takata situation, read our FAQ
here
 to find out more.


Honda Recalls Further 23,476 Units For Takata Front Airbag Inflator Replacement

Honda Malaysia has announced a recall involving 23,476 units of Honda vehicles that were previously recalled to replace the Takata front airbag inflators as a preventive measure.

The affected Honda models are as per the two following tables:

Table 1: Models involved recall for Takata
FRONT DRIVER
 airbag inflator replacement

Table 2: Models involved in recall for Takata
FRONT PASSENGER
 airbag inflator replacement

Honda Malaysia sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused to its customers once again, the company believes this replacement is necessary as a precautionary action and urges affected customers to replace the defective Takata front airbag inflators as soon as possible. The replacement of the defective Takata front airbag inflators is free of charge and the costs of the replacement will be borne by the company.

Honda Malaysia reiterates that all its current selling models are not affected, and the company will continue to uphold transparency and stringent controls to ensure customer safety. Affected customers will receive notification letters from Honda Malaysia with the details of this recall and stock availability. Honda Malaysia strongly encourages customers who receive these letters to send their vehicles to any of the 95 Honda authorised service dealers for inspection and replacement.

The replacement of Takata front airbag inflator stock for these 23,476 units of Honda vehicles will be available in stages and Honda Malaysia is doing its utmost best to ensure 100% stock availability in the shortest period of time. This particular recall phase this year does not significantly change the total number of recalled vehicles as it involves the replacement of inflators installed in vehicles previously subject to recall.

As of 1 October 2019, Honda Malaysia has completed more than 249,000 units of Takata front driver airbag inflator replacements, which translates to a 91 percent completion ratio. The total number of Takata driver and passenger front airbag inflator replacements completed is at more than 537,000 units or 89 a percent completion ratio.

Vehicle owners can check their vehicles’ recall status either by logging on to the
Honda Malaysia Website
,
Product Recall microsite
, or by calling the Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020.


Our Take On The Federal Government's Budget For 2019

Budget announcements are always an exciting – or worrying – time of year, for people across all walks of life. There’s the chance that the government will introduce new relief measures, or in tough times put forward austerity measures. With everything from housing to education under consideration, it’s perhaps the second most important announcement to Malaysians after election results.
We’ve always taken particular interest in the policies that relate to our automotive industries and its peripheries. The largest announcement would be the fuel subsidy plan – one that is being heavily debated in the public sphere. The government has put forward a plan for a 30 cent subsidy on RON95 that only applies to single car owners with vehicles at or under 1500 cc of displacement, or 40 cents per litre of RON 95 for motorbikes under 125 cc of displacement.
The policy is limited to 100 litres per month for cars and 40 litres per month for motorbikes, which works out to a maximum of RM 30 or RM 12 saved respectively. The main issue that folks seem to have with this is that the policy is too straightforward in nature, with no consideration for the fact that manufacturers have largely downsized their engine capacities. A simple example is this: a Proton Iriz 1.6 would not qualify, but a Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI would.
With regards to toll charges, which have been the subject of much controversy as it was part of Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto, there has been some movement: an estimated budget of RM 700 million will be used to freeze all toll charges on highways within the city in 2019. Whether this will eventually work itself outwards to include inter-state highways remains to be seen, but it’s definitely a step forward.
Motorcyclists can look forward to toll abolishment on both bridges between Penang mainland and island, as well as the Second Link Expressway in Johor, which will take approximately RM 20 million a year, from the start of 2019.
More loosely related to the automotive industry is a new initiative by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to investigate “extraordinary wealth”, which is essentially looking into individuals who possess luxury items without a clear explanation for how they came into possession. This is following in the footsteps of the U.K., which began these investigations in order to catch money launderers and those who commit other financial crimes. Luxury cars, of course, are to be regarded as a luxury item alongside jewellery, watches, handbags, and real estate.
Those who take public transport are also receiving aid in the form of cheaper monthly passes for unlimited trips on the RapidKL bus or rail services starting from January 2019. These will be available from the start of 2019 for RM 100, and a cheaper RM 50 option is available for those who wish to only take RapidKL busses.
Also of note for all users is the fact that the government has allocated RM 926 million for the building and improvement of new highways, roads, and bridges. While this sounds like an extremely large amount of money to allocate to roadworks, to maintain just one side of one kilometre of highway for a year costs around RM 1 million. It doesn’t take much maths before you realize that even the North South Expressway, at 772 kilometres long, can’t be maintained with that entire budget. Thankfully, however, the NSE is not owned and operated by the government, which means that they do won’t need to handle its upkeep – but perhaps now you can understand why removing tolls and buying back highways is no simple matter.
And finally, we come to biodiesel. In 2019, the government plans to implement the B10 biodiesel program for the transportation sector and B7 for the industrial sector in order to make more use of one of our biggest exports: palm oil. It’s also a measure in sustainability of energy resources as it’s largely renewable. B10 biodiesel is made from a blend of 10% palm oil and 90% diesel, and when you consider how many vehicles use diesel fuel, the scale makes sense.
That’s as much as we can glean from the budget announcement, and it seems to be fairly neutral on the whole. We neither benefit nor suffer come 2019, although fluctuating fuel prices remain a big question mark for the overall running costs of our vehicles.


VPCM Records Its Best Year Yet

2018 was a great year for Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and the company is aiming to continue that momentum into 2019.
With 7,001 units sold in 2018, VPCM witnessed an increase of 15.8% (465 units) over 2017, the highest figure yet since VPCM took over the operations from Volkswagen Group Malaysia in 2016.
The increase in sales was partly driven by the tax holiday period during the GST to SST transition. Looking forward into 2019, Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM did not provide a sales target for 2019, merely stating “sustainable growth”.
But sales figures aside, VPCM is also working hard on becoming a 5-star organization. According to Volkswagen AG’s in-house Customer Experience Management (CEM), VPCM’s sales CEM scored 4.6 points, up from 2018’s 4.46 points, out of a maximum of 5.00 points. As for their after sales, VPCM scored 4.4 points, up from the 4.25 points of 2018. The CEM score is tabulated and conducted globally by Volkswagen AG.
In an effort to further increase their score, VPCM has listed out some of their initiatives, like the Volkswagen Cares app, which has been downloaded more than 10,600 times since it was introduced in October 2018.
Apart from that, VPCM has also vouched to improve their after-sales. The company now has a regional parts centre in Johor, which was previously in Singapore. Now that the facility has been relocated, customers can expect even faster delivery of parts. Depending on stock availability, customers may not need to wait as long as they did in the past.
Continuing on the topic of after-sales, VPCM has worked hard and brought the number of repeat repairs down by 98% since 2014.
Another aspect where VPCM is doing well is its net sentiment, where the company currently has a score of 2.5 points. The figure may not sound impressive, but when VPCM took over in 2016, the score was just 1.02 points. The score improved to 1.6 points in 2017 and 2.03 points in 2018.
Last but certainly not the least is VPCM’s pre-owned cars program called Das WeltAuto. Set to go online at selected dealers by the second half of the year, vehicles under the Das WeltAuto program will have to go through a 133-point check. For a better peace of mind, the cars are backed by a 12-month warranty.
Looking for a new Volkswagen? Find for the best deals
here
.


Nissan Introduces X-Trail Hybrid Variant For Japan

Sixteen months after the all-new Nissan X-Trail made its debut in Japan, Nissan announced today that a 2-litre hybrid variant will also join the X-Trail line-up in Japan.
The Nissan X-Trail Hybrid will go on sale in Japan on 13-May 2015 but Nissan did not elaborate any further about the model's availability in markets outside of Japan. The move comes after Toyota introduced its RAV4 Hybrid at the New York International Auto Show earlier last week.
The X-Trail Hybrid's MR20DD 2-litre engine is paired to Nissan's 'Intelligent Dual Clutch Control' hybrid drivetrain - a two-clutch, one-motor full parallel hybrid system which Nissan says produces more torque than a regular 2.5-litre petrol engine in all speed ranges.
Nissan did not provide the combine system output of its hybrid drivetrain but the 2.0-litre engine produces 147 PS at 6,000 rpm and 207 Nm at 4,400 rpm while the 'RM31' electric motor produces 41 PS and 160 Nm. It is not possible to simply sum up the output of petrol and electric motor's as they both peak at different rotational speeds although some companies like Toyota do publish a 'total system output' figure - this figure is calculated using mathematical formulas.
It should also be pointed out that despite carrying the world 'dual clutch,' Nissan's 'Intelligent Dual Clutch Control' does not use a dual clutch gearbox and is nothing like Honda's Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive hybrid system (which uses a dual clutch gearbox). Instead, the X-Trail Hybrid still retains a conventional XTronic CVT automatic, as is the optional All Mode 4x4 i-system.
The 'dual clutch' that is mentioned by Nissan refers to Clutch 1, which sits between the electric motor and the petrol engine, and Clutch 2, which sits between the electric motor and the CVT.
Depending on driving conditions and power requirements, the two clutches will engage/disengage to optimize the drivetrain's efficiency. Similar to Infiniti hybrid models (which uses a different hybrid drivetrain for rear wheel drive vehicles), once settled in a relaxed cruising pace, the X-Trail Hybrid is able to maintain highway speed using electric power alone.
The traction battery is mounted beneath the boot floor and is lithium-ion type. Cargo volume remains unaffected, 400-litre (Japanese market specifications).
Claimed fuel economy is 20.6 km/litre (2WD model) under the Japanese JC08 driving cycle but expect this figure to be significantly reduced when tested under the more realistic European driving cycle. In comparison, the standard Nissan X-Trail 2.0-litre 2WD petrol delivers 16.4 km/litre under the same JC08 driving cycle.


Unbelievable deals await you at Sime Darby Motors City This Weekend!

Now you can shop for cars at Sime Darby Motors City Ara Damansara, an auto mall which houses Ford, Hyundai, BMW, MINI, BMW Motorrad, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo as well as quality pre-owned cars by Sime Darby Auto Selection – everything under one roof where you can fulfill all your automotive needs.

This weekend, unbelievable deals await you at Sime Darby Motors City including exceptional rebates, high trade-in values, and attractive ownership packages on a wide range of cars including premium quality pre-owned cars.

This effectively means that you’ll be able to see and feel the Jaguar F-PACE whilst also booking a test drive for the Ford Ranger all at the same time. If you’re looking for a quality pre-owned cars or motorcycles, then browse through the vast selection on offers, all certified, and comes with a warranty too. Moreover, get an instant valuation and high trade-in value for your existing car!

Customers can also enjoy special offers on lifestyle merchandise from the participating brands.

From now till 30 December 2020, enjoy 100% sales tax exemption for locally assembled (CKD) units and 50% exemption on CBU units, in line with the recent announcement made by the Government of Malaysia.

So key in 6, Jalan PJU 1A/7, Ara Damansara, 47301 into Waze and make your way to Sime Darby Motors City this weekend for some automotive fulfillment. You know you want to!


2017 BMW 740Le xDrive PHEV CKD In Malaysia, RM599k

BMW Group Malaysia has launched a new
740Le plug-in hybrid variant
 of the G12 7 Series. Besides being a plug-in hybrid, the 740Le is also being fitted with xDrive, making it the first BMW sedan to be officially offered with all-wheel drive in the Malaysian market.
Locally-assembled in Inokom Kulim plant, the 740Le hits the road at RM598,800 before insurance thanks to substantial tax incentives from the Malaysian Government; the car would have been priced at RM853,800 otherwise. Following this launch, the 740Le now becomes the sole variant of the 7 Series being offered in Malaysia.
The 740Le xDrive also happens to be the fourth plug-in model in BMW Group Malaysia’s line-up after the i8, X5 xDrive40e, and 330e. In Malaysia to date, BMW has sold over 2,500 units of the 330e and over 2,000 units of the X5 xDrive40e
It is, however, not the first 7 Series to be locally-assembled in Malaysia; BMW had quietly assembled a small batch of the
G12 740Li
 at Kulim earlier. This development nevertheless ties in nicely with the company's announcement last year that it would make Malaysia the
export hub for BMW models into Vietnam and the Philippines
 from 2018.
The 2.0-litre inline-4 petrol engine powering the 740Le requires no further introduction, being essentially the same B48 twin-scroll turbo unit as found in the outgoing
730Li
 and quoted with the same outputs – 258hp and 400Nm.
Electric propulsion for the 740Le is delivered by a permanently-exciting synchronous motor housed in the casing of the ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission, replacing its conventional torque converter. In pure electric driving mode, the 740Le has access to 113hp and 250Nm; electric driving range based on the NEDC is rated at 41km.
Combined outputs of engine and motor adds up to 326hp and 500Nm, identical in power to the 3.0-litre 740Li, but with 50Nm more torque. This advantage translates to a 0.2-second advantage in the 740Le’s century sprint time of 5.3 seconds.
Unsurprisingly, the 740Le’s biggest advantage over its conventional petrol siblings come in the fuel consumption department, where it sips a claimed 2.5 litres/100km and emits 56 g/km of carbon dioxide. Electric power consumption is rated at 13.9 kWh/100km. As a comparison, BMW claimed 5.8 litres/100km for the 730Li.
The 740Le’s 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged from a regular domestic socket. A full charge through the dedicated BMW i Wallbox takes less than five hours and can be remotely managed via the BMW Remote app or an upgraded version BMW Display Key. On the go, owners of the 740Le can recharge their vehicles on GreenTech Malaysia’s 181 ChargEV stations nationwide through the BMW ChargeNow service.
Equipment-wise, the 740Le xDrive mostly matches what was found on the 740Li. Follow
this link
 back to our launch story of the 7 Series in Malaysia for a full run-down of the 740Li’s kit level. New to the 740Le is a wireless device charging slot in the centre console box, in which owners can usefully charge the Display Key as well as other Qi-enabled mobile devices.

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A notable omission in the 740Le's arsenal from the 740Li is the Executive Drive Pro electronic active roll stabilization system, which BMW does not offer in conjunction with the PHEV drivetrain anywhere in the world. This nevertheless was a factor in the Malaysian office's decision to spec xDrive as standard for the vehicle in our market.
In appearance, the 740Le is differentiated from its siblings by a littany of badges sprinkled across its body. Besides the bootlid badge, there is also a pair of ‘eDrive’ badges on either C-pillar as well as a BMW ‘i' logo on each front fender. Like the 730Li and 740Li, the 740Le is shod in 19-inch alloy wheels at all corners.


Honda Files Patent For ZR-V Name – A New Small SUV?

Honda recently filed trademarks under the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for the Australian market for what could be their new small SUV. WIPO Trademarks for the name ZR-V were first filled in mid-April, according to
Autonetmagz
, adding yet another badge to their growing list (x)R-V nameplates which denote their SUV models.

We’ll all be pretty familiar with the
BR-V
,
CR-V
, and
HR-V
 in Malaysia, while South American and Indian markets offer the WR-V, and China, the XR-V, which is essentially what the Chinese call the HR-V. UR-V is another China-specific nameplate.

Image credit:
Bestcarweb Japan

The latest ZR-V could point to one of two SUV models that Honda is said to be working on. Japanese website
BestCarWeb reported
 in 2019, that the first one, perhaps the ZR-V will be a sub-4.0 meter (in length) SUV which will be positioned under the HR-V – as the next generation HR-V (due sometime next year) could grow in size for a more upmarket push.

The new SUV model is positioned to take on other small SUVs such as the Toyota Raize and
Daihatsu Rocky
 depending on market. The latter forming the base for Perodua’s new SUV, codenamed D55L.

In markets such as India, where the WR-V (essentially a Honda Jazz on stilts) and the HR-V is sold, the new ZR-V could likely carve itself a niche between the two models.

In other markets such as Europe, a small SUV will likely put it up against the likes of the Renault Captur and Ford Ecosport, which are more popular than the larger HR-V given their slightly more compact size and superb levels of practicality.

Locally, with battles between the upcoming Perodua D55L and
Proton X50
 heating up, a smaller budget SUV from Honda could be just the thing to throw a spanner in the works.


Spyshot: All-New Range Rover Velar Spotted In Malaysia, Launching Soon?

It appears that Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia will be introducing its new mid-sized luxury SUV called the Range Rover Velar pretty soon, as one of our readers sent in these photos of the new model somewhere in town.
From these spyshots, we can confirm that at least one variant of the Velar will be the Velar P250, powered by a 2.0-litre Ingenium turbocharged petrol engine capable of 250 hp and 365 Nm. The engine is mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.
Additionally, the photos also indicated that there are likely two variants of the new Velar, namely the regular Velar and the Velar R-Dynamic.
Visually, we noticed that the Velar is fitted with 20-inch 7 split-spoke Style 7014 alloy wheels, and the standard exterior pack with satin black lower bumper finish.
The Velar R-Dynamic on the other hand is fitted with the R-Dynamic Black Pack with Narvik Black finishing on the air curtain inserts, Range Rover and tailgate wordings, lower air blade, grille mesh, and side vents. Additionally, the Velar R-Dynamic seen here is fitted with 21-inch 10 spoke Style 1033 alloy wheels with satin dark grey finish.
In terms of equipment, the Range Rover Velar is expected to come with a long list of equipment, including:
Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with a large 10-inch touchscreen
Dual-zone climate control with air quality sensor
250W audio system with 8 speakers
Automatic LED headlights
Follow-me-home lighting
Torque Vectoring by Braking
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
Hill Launch Assist
Gradient Release Control (GRC)
Electronic Traction Control (ETC)
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)
Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
Roll Stability Control (RSC)
Speed Proportional Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)
Low Traction Launch
Late last year, the company announced that they are looking to introduce the Range Rover Velar as soon as the second quarter of this year.
The Ranger Rover Velar is produced at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant in England.
Special thanks to Mohan for the photos!


Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SV Completes The Nurburgring Run In Under Seven Minutes

There’s an exclusive club at the Nürburgring race track in Germany known as the “Under 7”. Its members are the cars that have managed to lap the track and all of its 154 corners in under seven minutes, no mean feat. Well, there’s a new entrant into the club and it is the
Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce.
Lamborghini
 released this video to officially confirm its achievement and you can watch as the driver, Marco Mapelli work hard on the steering wheel to meet the required completion time.
The latest bull from Sant'Agata managed to make its way around the entire Nordschleife registering an officially recorded time of 6:59.73. This puts the Aventador SV alongside the barely-road legal Radical SR8 and the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid supercar in the “Under 7” club. Although unofficial, the McLaren P1 also recorded a time of 6:47.
Revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Aventador SV is a lightened, more powerful version of the standard car. Weighing in at 1,525kg, a full 50kg lighter and packing an extensive aerodynamic package that sees an increase in downforce by 170% it is little wonder that the SV is track-minded to tackle such a challenge.
Other enhancements that helped with this endeavour is its reworked naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine that outputs 740hp and 690Nm of torque. 0 to 100 km/h is met in just 2.8 seconds and top speed stands at 350 km/h.


SOLD! The Toyota Supra From The First Fast And Furious Movie Auctioned Off For RM668k

Recently, this
Toyota
 Supra stunt car which starred opposite Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in 2001’s
The Fast and the Furious

had gone up for sale at the Mecum Auctions’
 28th Original Spring Classic 2015 event and has now been confirmed to be sold for $185,000 (RM668,090).
A prominent highlight in the movie, the orange stunt car was featured in many of the movie’s climatic scenes, most notably the final drag race between Brian O’Conner’s Supra and Dominic Toretto’s Dodge Charger.
If you wanna relive a bit of nostalgia, this is the scene we were referring to:
Looking the part, the Supra was fitted with a Bomex body kit, APR wing, Dazz wheels wrapped in Yokohama tyres, Roadboy foglights, and Modern Image decal graphics. The interior also receives some modifications with a Sparco steering wheel and bright blue seats inside. However, the two NOS/Holley Performance nitrous oxide bottles in the trunk aren’t attached to anything so no power boost here.
Powering the stunt car is a 2JZ-GE 3.0-litre in-ine six-cylinder engine produces 220hp, paired to a five-speed manual transmission. That’s not a lot of grunt but for reliving memories, it’s more than enough.
Also being a stunt car, stronger suspension and a roll cage are fitted as well to ensure the car holds up during all the required stunt sequences.
Now, what other car from the
Fast and Furious
 franchise would you like to own?


New Car Launches For 2019- Mainstream Brands

Let's get straight to the list of new vehicles that are expected to be launched this year. Of course, those that are previewed at KLIMS 2018 will be briefly mentioned.

Perodua

We certainly can expect the new
Perodua Aruz compact SUV
 to make a big impact on the company’s total sales. The product that is priced (estimated) between RM72,200 and RM 77,200 is expected to be officially launched very soon.

Perodua’s lean model line-up is relatively new, apart from the Alza. The ageing Perodua Alza has just undergone a facelift in September 2018, so that just leaves the Bezza left with scheduled refreshment after being in the market since 2016.

Proton

The latest product, under the collaboration with Geely, should be even more exciting due to expected price positioning. Slotting under the Proton X70, the Geely Binyue-based
compact SUV
 is rumoured to hit showrooms within this year.

Meanwhile, Proton’s range of dependable models, the Persona sedan and Iriz hatchback, have been seen undergoing
 testing with camouflaged
front and rear designs, suggesting that a refresh is on the way.

Honda

Our neighbours up north in Thailand recently previewed the
all-new Honda Accord
. They will then launch the flagship sedan by Q1, and Malaysia will follow perhaps a quarter later.

At the same Bangkok Motor Expo 2018, Honda Thailand also previewed the facelifted Honda Civic. Apart from the usual front and rear bumper design changes, the new Honda Civic now adds the Sensing advanced driving assistance system package.

We can expect Honda Malaysia to introduce the facelift Civic sooner than the Accord, as Honda Thailand is already taking orders for the new Civic as we speak.

The facelifted H-RV, joined by a
new sporty RS
 variant, is expected to be launched very soon too.

Mitsubishi

The new Triton displayed at KLIMS 2018 was just a teaser, as there has not been any other major marketing activity since then.

Already open for booking, and going through a roadshow tour around Malaysia. Check Mitsubishi Malaysia
website
 for schedule.

Customers can expect Mitsubishi Malaysia to deliver the new Triton by Q1.

We thought the
Xpander
 would be arriving at our shores in 2018, and that didn’t happen. Could the company offer this new model this year instead?

The Xpander is enjoying success in Indonesia

Toyota

Could Malaysia be allocated just a handful of units of the all-new A90 Supra?

Based on various information we have gathered, this year set to be a busy year for Toyota. Apart from the all-new Toyota Supra that will be
offered in limited quantities,
 the company is also expected to introduce the all-new Yaris hatchback.

Image from Toyota Thailand Facebook

The
all-new Corolla
 that utilizes the much-praised TNGA platform is expected to arrive in showrooms in Q4, a year after its international launch.

Could there be a fourth front fascia design for the ASEAN market? Based on variants offered in key markets, the only turbocharged petrol engine on offer is a 1.2-litre developing 116 PS, which might not be sufficient to attract those who are already
considering a Civic Turbo
.

Toyota is using its hybrid technology to match down-sized turbocharged engine performance, as the all-new Toyota Hybrid System with a 2-litre engine accelerates the all-new Corolla from 0 to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds, thanks to a combined system output of 180 PS.

Hyundai

After previewing the
all-new Santa Fe 7-seater SUV at KLIMS 2018
, it is only a matter of time before Hyundai officially announces the prices of the flagship SUV.

The Sonata has also been refreshed globally. Can we expect Hyundai Sime Darby Malaysia to offer the facelifted sedan soon?

Kia Cerato K3

Another show highlight at KLIMS 2018 was the all-new Kia Cerato K3. Expect Kia Malaysia to introduce the familiar sedan within the first quarter of the year, together with the
Picanto GT-Line
.

Haval H9

We have seen the Haval H9 being
previewed at their Glenmarie showroom
. It is just a matter of time before Go Auto announces the final specifications and price for the petrol-engined large SUV.

Subaru Forester

We can expect the
all-new Forester
to hit Subaru showrooms within Q2 this year. It will require substantial upgrades of convenience and safety features to compete with the kings of the segment, the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V.

Nissan

Initially slated for a late 2018 debut, we understand that the Kicks entry-level compact SUV from Nissan has been pushed to a possible 2019 debut.

When the Kicks arrives, we can expect the new compact SUV to compete with the champions of B-segment SUVs- the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3. Engineered on an extended Almera platform, costing/pricing can be ETCM’s triumph card and thus another potentially successful product from them.

The Nissan X-Trail meanwhile should be updated (facelifted) based on what other global markets are offering today. Expect more features and equipment, as the segment is now more competitive than ever.

As mentioned during the KLIMS 2018 preview, ETCM will officially launch the
new all-electric Leaf
 this year too.

Peugeot 508

After a strong 2018 for Peugeot and Nasim, we suspect Nasim will introduce the all-new 508 within the first half of 2019. The beautiful sedan was launched in Europe in the middle of last year.

2019 is shaping up to be the year the D-segment models return, all-new and all-commanding.

Volkswagen Arteon

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM)
displayed an Arteon
 at a recent sales event. Response to the vehicle has been rather good, given that looks really sporty and backed by serious performance credentials. No indication of the introduction timing, but we expect is to be within the first half of this year.

Isuzu

At the rate the pick-up segment is advancing in Malaysia, the line-up from Isuzu Malaysia seems to offer the least horsepower and Nm of torque. In Thailand, the D-max has been updated with a new 1.9-litre diesel mill, with outputs of 150 PS and 350 Nm, figures that are higher than the ageing 2.5-litre engine (136 PS, 320 Nm).

But perhaps, Isuzu Malaysia might have hard evidence to substantiate the continuation of large-displacement diesel engines.

Mazda 3

Mazda is set to excite enthusiasts again through the introduction of the all-new Mazda 3. An ultra-efficient engine is now mated to an
 all-new chassis
 that promises great NVH whilst maintaining its famed handling characteristics.

We suspect the company will also update the compact Mazda 2, as the product has reached the middle of its current life cycle.

Want to reward yourself or a loved one after a great 2018? Take a look at what are the key
premium models that will be launched here
.


2016 Porsche 911 Carrera – New Turbocharged Versions Make Malaysian Debut

As we all know, the Porsche 911 range includes a specially-designated 911 Turbo variant that is positioned to offer added performance over the regular models. Moving forward, however, the Turbo nomenclature becomes a bit of a misnomer, as
turbocharging makes its way into the Carrera derivatives
.
In a bold call to phase out the famed naturally-aspirated flat-sixes of the outgoing models, the
new 911 Carrera variants
 launched today in Malaysia is powered by an all-new 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six tuned to provide 370hp for the Carrera and 420hp for the Carrera S. In each case, the new outputs represent a 20hp hike from the 3.4- and 3.8-litre predecessors respectively.
Torque is also raised by 60Nm from the preceding models, with 450Nm and 500Nm on offer from the Carrera and Carrera S respectively. Both engines spread their maximum twist from 1,700 to 5,000rpm and will pull all the way to 7,500rpm.
The simultaneous increase in both power and torque inevitably results in improved performance. The base 911 Carrera Coupe is now 0.2 seconds faster in the century sprint, checking in at 100km/h from rest in 4.2 seconds with Porsche’s PDK dual clutch transmission and Sport Chrono Package; the Carrera S enjoys identical improvement, needing only 3.9 seconds. At full pelt, the Carrera and Carrera S maxes out at 293 and 306 km/h respectively. For the Malaysian market, Porsche specifies both the PDK transmission and Sport Chrono Package as standard for all variants of the 911 Carrera.
Crucially, as a result of the engine’s reduced size, rated fuel consumption has been reduced – a 911 Carrera with PDK is rated to consume 7.4 litres/100km in the European test cycle, 0.8 litres/100km less than the 3.4-litre predecessor; the Carrera S PDK, meanwhile, sees its fuel consumption slashed by 1.0 litre/100km to 7.7 litres/100km.
In addition to the rear-wheel driven models, Porsche also additionally offers a Carrera 4S variant. Effectively a Carrera S enhanced with all-wheel drive traction, the Carrera 4S manages a top speed of 303 km/h and completes the benchmark sprint in 3.8 seconds. Like its RWD siblings, the new Carrera 4S is also more efficient than its predecessor, consuming fuel at a rated 7.9 litres/100km, 1.2 less than before.
All new variants of the 911 Carrera now get adaptive dampers, dubbed Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), as standard. The trick setup lowers vehicle ride height by 10mm and is claimed to offer improved stability during fast corners. Meanwhile, new shock absorbers with wider spread characteristics is said to give better ride comfort and compliance over poor surfaces.
Externally, the new 911 Carrera variants can be identified by their new Porsche signature four-point daytime running lights as well as a redesigned rear lid with vertical louvres and new tail lights. The Carrera 4S model additionally get a tail light trip to emphasize its 44mm wider rear over its rear-wheel driven siblings.
A crucial interior upgrade applied to all new variants of the 911 Carrera is the standard fitment of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system which incorporates a seven-inch touchscreen display that recognizes multi-touch gestures; in English, it means you scroll through its functions like a modern day smartphone. The system also features an online navigation module that draws real-time traffic data from Google Maps, meaning you can navigate around congested urban traffic in Waze style; your own data charges apply, of course.
Retail base prices of the new 911 Carrera start from:
911 Carrera:
 RM870,000
911 Carrera S:
 RM970,000
911 Carrera 4S:
 RM1,040,000
All prices include import and excise duties, but excludes on-road costs and insurance. All models are covered by a four-year warranty and free maintenance package.


Bukan Lumba Haram, Hanya Bercuti – Pemandu Dakwa Difitnah Pihak Berkuasa, Media

Baru-baru ini, telah tular sebuah isu berkenaan
26 pemandu yang ditahan di Melaka atas tuduhan berlumba haram.
 Walau bagaimanapun, beberapa pemandu berkenaan telah tampil dan menafikan sekeras-kerasnya terhadap dakwaan lumba haram tersebut. Apa yang berlaku sebenarnya?

Terdahulu, Buletin TV9 ada melaporkan bahawa sekumpulan anak muda yang ingin berlumba ala-ala filem ‘
Fast And Furious’
 gagal setelah kereta tersebut disita kerana enjinnya telah diubah suai dan kesemua pemandunya ditahan dalam Ops Samseng Jalanan baru-baru ini.

Memetik kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Ketua Polis Melaka, Datuk Abdul Majid Mohd Ali, mereka yang ditahan merupakan penduduk luar yang bukan dari Melaka. Kesemua tangkapan telah dibuat di tiga lokasi berbeza seperti Klebang, Sg Putat serta Alor Gajah. Tambahnya, operasi ini dijalankan bagi menghalang negeri Melaka daripada dijadikan litar lumba haram.

Ekoran daripada kenyataan tersebut, beberapa individu tampil untuk menjelaskan keadaan sebenar berkenaan kes ini. Di TikTok, @ismat.ammar serta @m_zaidie tampil menjelaskan bahawa serbuan dilakukan di
homestay
 tempat penginapan mereka ketika mereka sedang tidur, bukanlah di tepi jalan sedang berlumba.

Di Facebook, individu bernama Muhammad Izzat telah tampil membuat laporan polis bagi menafikan dakwaan dan tuduhan lumba haram yang dilemparkan kepada mereka di sidang media baru-baru ini bagi membersihkan imej dan maruah mereka yang tercalar.

Menurutnya, pada malam kejadian, mereka sedang bersantai-santai sambil mengadakan barbeku bersama keluarga dan rakan-rakan. Namun di sekitar jam 1 pagi, mereka telah didatangi oleh anggota polis yang meminta 4 buah kereta yang baru sahaja tiba di lokasi berkenaan pada waktu itu untuk menghidupkan enjin kereta. Sesudah itu, kesemua pemilik diarahkan keluar dari
homestay
 berkenaan untuk dibawa ke IPK Bukit Beruang Melaka untuk pemeriksaan lanjut.

Pada awalnya, bantahan telah dibuat kerana tiada apa-apa kesalahan yang dilakukan tetapi mereka telah diugut untuk diberikan tindakan yang lebih keras jika tidak memberikan kerjasama. Mereka terpaksa akur kerana pegawai polis berkenaan menjanjikan hanya pemeriksaan kereta serta
saman
 sahaja jika ada.

Tapi setelah sampai di IPK Bukit Beruang, pegawai polis tersebut telah mengubah arahan dan mengarahkan mereka meninggalkan kenderaan tersebut disitu kerana telah disita. Dalam jam 6 pagi, mereka terpaksa pulang sendiri ke tempat penginapan mereka tanpa sebarang salinan surat sita dari pihak berkuasa. Mereka hanya disuruh untuk hadir ke IPK Bukit Beruang pada Isnin, 2 hari kemudian.

Apa yang mengejutkan, apabila tiba di rumah, mereka mendapati berita yang dikeluarkan oleh pihak media menyatakan bahawa mereka ditahan kerana ingin lumba haram, sedangkan mereka hanya ingin bercuti di negeri berkenaan. Tambahnya, laporan media menyebut penahanan kereta mereka dibuat di Jalan Sg Putat adalah tidak benar kerana mereka ditahan di Homestay Muslimah Sg Putat.

Ekoran penahanan tersebut, segelintir pengguna media sosial ada mempersoalkan tindakan polis yang menyerbu dan menyita kereta mereka walaupun mereka tidak memandu kereta tersebut ketika itu. Adakah tindakan itu dibenarkan?

Kalau dilihat segi undang-undang, memanglah pihak berkuasa memiliki kuasa untuk melakukan apa sahaja atas dasar siasatan, namun berdasarkan penjelasan yang dibuat oleh pihak tertuduh, tuduhan lumba haram itu merupakan tuduhan yang berat, apatah lagi untuk sesuatu yang mereka tidak lakukan.

Kesimpulannya, mereka yang dituduh datang ke Melaka untuk berlumba haram mahu pihak berkuasa dan pihak media menarik semula kenyataan bahawa mereka datang ke Melaka atas sebab ingin berlumba haram tempoh hari.

Pada awalnya, kami di Carlist,my juga merasakan ianya merupakan kes lumba haram berdasarkan kenyataan Ketua Polis Melaka serta beberapa media lain. Namun berdasarkan info terbaru yang diterima, ia bercanggah dengan laporan media semasa. Kami cuba untuk menghubungi individu yang terlibat dengan kes ini untuk penjelasan lanjut namun masih tidak berjaya dihubungi.


Maserati Levante SUV Previewed in Malaysia

Naza Italia S.B., official importer and distributor of Maserati vehicles in Malaysia today previewed the Maserati Levante SUV. The first SUV in the company’s 102-year history, touches down in Malaysia as the first stop in South East Asia.
We must stress that this is the preview, i.e. very little is known about the specifications and variants that will be offered to Malaysian consumers. The price range, according to one source, is estimated to be within the RM600,00 to RM800,000 range. Naza Italia however, have opened their order books for the new car.
The price range though, does suggests that the petrol powered variants will be made available – namely the Levante and Levante S. The two share the (F160) 3.0-litre V6 Twin-turbocharged engine outputting 350bhp and 500Nm in the Levante, and 430bhp and 580Nm in Levante S guise. The engine is also found on Maserati’s luxury-sedan the Ghibli.
All versions come with an eight-speed gearbox, utilising Maserati’s Q4 AWD replete with torque vectoring optimised for on and off-road driving.
A plethora of customisation options for the exterior and interior are available as you might expect – including the top of the line Zegna interior. For the Levante; Ermenegildo Zegna partnered with Maserati to create a bespoke leather interior featuring natural fibre Zegna Mulberry Silk inserts on the seats, door panels, roof lining, sunshades and ceiling light fixture. The Silk is embellished with a hand-stitched macro chevron. Seating features a central silk insert with a micro chevron weave. Door panels, roof lining and sunshades are covered with Zegna silk jersey.


Watch This VW Polo WRC Drifting On Norwegian Mountain Roads

Norwegian rally driver Andreas Mikkelsen is one of Volkswagen Motorsport’s trio of drivers in the World Rally Championship. The team is sponsored by Red Bull, which is known for making outlandish videos of extreme sports competition.
In this latest stunt by Red Bull, the energy drink company paired up Mikkelsen and his fellow Norwegian professional skier Akesel Lund Svindal, and got them to race against each other downhill on Norway’s Lyseveien mountain.
This two minute plus video is almost like a real life, Norwegian version of Initial D, swapping Mount Akina’s hairpins and Takumi Fujiwara’s Toyota Corolla AE86 with a Norwegian rally stage and a Volkswagen Polo R WRC.
The Polo R WRC is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine producing 318 hp, 430 Nm of torque, delivered to all four wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox. It goes from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
Volkswagen is the reigning World Rally champion, winning both the manufacturer’s and driver’s title for 2013 and 2014.


2017 Ford Ranger WildTrak Now Available in Limited Edition ‘Jet Black’ Colour

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) today revealed a new colour limited edition version of the Ford Ranger WildTrak in Jet Black paint theme.
From what we can see, the limited edition version features a blacked out exterior with two grey racing stripes which run from the bonnet all the way to the bed lid at the rear, while the wheels and other features remain similar to the regular WildTrak.
In case you’re wondering how much the Jet Black Ranger WildTrak costs, it is priced at  RM141,588.00 inclusive of GST, which is RM1,750 more than the 3.2L Wildtrak Automatic 4×4 High Rider.

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 According to SDAC, the WildTrak variant now features improved infotainment system SYNC 3, the latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity system that boasts an eight-inch colour touchscreen to operate phone, entertainment and climate control using a simple voice command system.
Powered by a a 3.2-liter 5-cylinder turbo diesel engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox,  the Wildtrak, which delivers 197 hp and 470Nm of torque, features Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and ISOFIX child safety mounts as standard, making the Ranger the only pickup truck in the Malaysia to offer these two important safety features across all variants.
Other smart technologies across all variants include Hill Launch Assist – which holds the Ranger in place for up to three seconds when the driver removes the foot from the brake – Adaptive Load Control, which maximises control when carrying heavy loads, and Emergency Brake Assist.