Detroit 2017: All-New 2018 Lexus LS

Set to go on sale in late-2017, Lexus is taking its flagship limousine on a very different path. Far from being the cozy chauffeur driven limousine that all previous generations of Lexus LS were known for, the key highlights for the all-new LS read almost as if they came from some GTI hot hatch.
Curiously, there press materials don’t contain any pictures of the rear seat, which you would typically expect to be the focal point for a car like an LS.
Unveiled just a few hours ago at the on-going North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the flagship Lexus will now wear a new designation – LS 500, dropping the previous model’s LS 460 designation.
Here some highlights of the all-new Lexus LS:
New GA-L platform, Lower and Wider
Underpinning the all-new LS is the GA-L platform, which has already made its debut in the
Lexus LC
 coupe.
Stiffer than any Lexus platforms in the past, the 3,125 mm wheelbase of the standard wheelbase all-new LS 500 is already 35 mm longer than the outgoing long wheelbase model LS 460L. It also sits 15 mm lower than before, while overall height has been lowered by 15 mm.
The all-new LS is not just physically lower than before, but its centre of gravity has also been brought closer to the ground. The key to this is the GA-L platform, which allows the engine and passengers to be placed closer to the centre.
Hello 3.5-litre V6, goodbye 4.6-litre V8
The legendary 4.6-litre naturally aspirated V8, which traces its history back to the first Lexus LS 400’s famous champagne glass TV commercial will bid its farewell, replaced by a more CO2 emissions friendly 3.2-litre twin turbo V6.
The force fed V6 engine with electric waste gate produces 415 hp and 600 Nm of torque, 35 hp and 107 Nm more than the outgoing V8.
There are three driving modes to choose from Normal, Sport and Sport+, with the final two adjusting the exhaust note accordingly.
Drive is transferred either to the rear wheels or all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission, a first in its class. Lexus says the torque converter automatic shift time is comparable to a dual-clutch automatic. Torque converter lock-up is activated in all ranges, except when starting off, to provide a direct feel, while at the same time supporting fuel efficiency.
The driver (or chauffeur) can even select any of the 10 ratios by using the pair of paddle shifters, again not something that you would expect from an LS.
Lexus claims a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds (all-wheel drive model).
It steers the rear wheels too
Already available in F Sport versions of the IS and GS models in some markets, the all-new LS now benefits from the latest Lexus Dynamic Handling (LDH) feature, which allows for independent front and rear steering. It should grant the LS a level of agility that you wouldn’t expect a large limousine to be capable of.
It also has active anti-roll bars, and the new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) is now hooked up with all vehicle sub-systems – braking, steering, powertrain and suspension – to control the car’s basic longitudinal, lateral and vertical motion, as well as yaw, roll and pitch.
Special braces in the engine compartment and stiff aluminum suspension towers will also improve chassis control, while multilink suspension has double ball joints on the upper and lower arms for precise steering response.
24-inch colour Heads Up Display – World’s Largest
As for the gadgets, the focal point is the optional 24-inch colour heads up display, which Lexus says is the largest in any car. Lexus’ signature Remote Touch Interface has also been upgraded to mimic a smartphone operation and can support handwritten input.
The cabin is kept serene by employing Active Noise Control to cancel out undesirable frequencies by using anti-phase sound from the speakers.
There’s an optional rear seat luxury package that equips the rear seats with Shiatsu massage function and a raised ottoman leg rest. It also allows the seat behind the front passenger to recline up to 48 degrees, and raised up to 24 degrees to make it easier to exit the vehicle.
When equipped with the optional air suspension with an access function, the car automatically raises itself and opens to seat bolsters when unlocked using the smart key, to allow for easier access.
By combining the Lexus Safety System+ and the Advanced Safety Package, the all-new Lexus LS is equipped with the world’s first system with Intuitive Pedestrian Detection with Active Steering within the lane. With this system, if a pedestrian is detected in the lane ahead and a collision is imminent, the LS is designed to automatically brake and potentially steer around the person while staying in the lane. The available color HUD is utilized in alerting the driver.
As mentioned earlier, this all-new Lexus LS will only go on sale in late-2017, and we don’t expect lower volume right-hand markets like Malaysia to introduce the car until 2018. Lexus didn't say anything about the presence of a hybrid variant to replace the outgoing LS 600h, but we expect it to be announced at a later stage.


Goodyear Launches Assurance TripleMax 2

Can you believe Goodyear is 120 years old? That's older than most car brands. And perhaps there's no more fitting tyre to celebrate their 120th year in business than a tyre of the people - the Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2. It's the successor to the - you guessed it - Assurance TripleMax, which was known for three things: fuel economy, wet braking, and long lifespans. The Assurance TripleMax 2 builds on this, and adds a secret fourth ingredient.
This fourth element is resistance performance, in the form of a sidewall that's more durable than ever in order to take our nasty Malaysian roads without risking a puncture. There's also an improvement in handling performance, as you would expect tyres to become progressively grippier as tyre compound and construction technology advances through the years.
There's no better time to invest in a wet tyre when you're seeing thunderstorms on the daily, but good wet braking and handling need not come with a premium price tag, or low tyre lifespans, or excessive tyre noise. Goodyear's experience in tyre construction and manufacturing has allowed them to make a tyre that ticks all the right boxes for the average Malaysian.
We've made a handy dandy chart to show you which models can take the Assurance TripleMax 2 as an OEM tyre replacement based on the sizes available for customers. For more information about Goodyear's latest and greatest, head on over to
https://www.goodyear.com.my/tyres/goodyear-assurance-triplemax-2
.


CNY 2023: Thousands of accidents reported by PDRM every day

Ops Selamat 19
 has reported thousands of accidents every single day for CNY 2023.

The
Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT)
 has released daily traffic information in relation to this year's Op Selamat 19 and the statistics have seen a slight reduction on the fifth day.

Over 1,300 accidents on the fifth day

Op Selamat 19 started its operations by PDRM on 18 January 2023 and on the third day itself, over 1,900 road accidents were reported that involved 2,852 vehicles. 22 deaths were also reported on that day.

The fourth and fifth days of Ops Selamat 19 saw a slight reduction in accident numbers with 1,546 and 1,445 reported cases for both of these days. Day 6 (23 January 2023) recorded 1,312 accidents involving a total of 1,603 vehicles.

For all of the reported days, the stats for passenger cars remain the same - between 70%-80% of all reported incidents. The 2023 Op Selamat 19 will conclude on 28 January 2023, and hopefully, the numbers would see a further reduction.

PDRM drones are watching

For those who think that they can get away by driving on the emergency lane when there's no emergency, just know that the authorities are watching and they have the tech to prove it if or when you're caught.

PDRM is using drones to record traffic offenders and present them as evidence should they attempt to dispute their actions. Just like the saying goes, "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime".


Renault R5 Turbo Concept Teased Ahead Of Launch

It looks like
modern-retro race cars
 are in style and
Renault
 wants in with its upcoming R5 Turbo Concept.

Teased ahead of its official unveiling in conjunction with the R5 50th anniversary, Renault's latest show car is said to have been inspired by the Renault 5 Turbo but looking at the photos, it has been dramatically modernised and prepped for one of the most interesting motorsports to date - hillclimbing.

Hillclimb elements to the max

Although it is inspired by the slightly more modest Renault 5 Turbo, the Renault R5 Turbo Concept takes everything up to 11 with its monstrous rear wing, wheel arches, and ground-slicing splitter. One thing is for certain, this baby looks gorgeous.

Set to be the stepping stone of the brand's next production car in 2024, the Renault R5 Turbo Concept will also be all-electric. Yup, it's a modern-retro motorsports-inspired EV. While this might be just a one-off, we sure hope that some of these massive sporty elements do trickle down to the production model.

More info on the Renault R5 Turbo Concept once it's officially unveiled later this week. For now, enjoy these lovely teaser photos.


Finance Your Car With Hong Leong Bank This Coming Chinese New Year

There are few better feelings than coming back to your hometown in a new car!

Cue Hong Leong Bank who is offering excellent finance rates on vehicles between now and February 7th, 2020.

If you haven’t been paying attention to interest rates, Hong Leong Bank is offering finance rates as low as 2.18% per annum – and it’s an unbeatable interest rate even if you shop around with other finance providers.

For those who aren’t mathematically inclined, interest rates have a huge effect on the overall amount you pay over the course of a loan period (more so if your loan is longer), which in turn affects your monthly instalments.

Not only do you end up paying less, having a lower interest rate on a loan doesn’t affect your car’s resale value and in turn allows you to maximize your purchase. That extra money saved every month can be used for a variety of things, from day to day expenses to treating yourself or your family. Nobody would ever turn down an improvement in quality of life.

But perhaps best of all is the fact that even if you don’t personally celebrate or observe Chinese New Year, you can still benefit from this promotion – just as Hong Leong opens its doors to anyone, regardless of what you celebrate, making them one of the largest and most comprehensive financial service providers in Malaysia.

As always, terms and conditions apply. Request from your car dealer to give  you the unbeatable rates from Hong Leong Bank. To find out more about Hong Leong’s Chinese New Year promotion, click here. For those making their way back home this festive season, ensure your vehicle is in a proper state and drive safe.


Third Generation Honda Jazz Debuts In India With 1.5-litre i-DTEC Diesel, And 1.2-litre i-VTEC Petrol

Over in India, 50 percent of all passenger cars sold are powered by diesel engines. Hence, in order to do well in India, it is imperative to have a diesel engine option.
The need to specify a diesel engine for the Indian market Honda Jazz – the only country to have a diesel Jazz – is the reason behind its delay in India, where the Jazz was launched two weeks ago.
The diesel Jazz is powered by a 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine that delivers a claimed fuel economy of 27.3 km/litre. It develops 100 PS at 3,600 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. The diesel Jazz is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Unlike our locally-assembled 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol CVT automatic Jazz, India’s petrol Jazz comes with a smaller 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine to take advantage of India’s excise duty structure that favours cars that are shorter than 4m in length, with petrol engines not exceeding 1.2-litre or diesel engines that are 1.5-litre or less.
The Jazz measures 3,955 mm long, just below India’s 4,000mm limit.
The 1.2-litre i-VTEC unit produces 90 PS at 6,000 rpm and 110 Nm at 4,800 rpm. When paired to a CVT, it delivers a claimed 19 km/litre. A five-speed manual (18.7 km/litre, claimed) is also available.
To cope with India’s road conditions, the Indian market Jazz has a higher ground clearance – 165mm versus the Malaysia market Jazz’s 135mm. The Indian Jazz also features a different exhaust layout to cope with rough roads.


Ford Elevates The 2015 Mondeo To Luxury Status With The Vignale

Ford has introduced a new range-topping variant for its flagship Mondeo sedan called the Vignale in its bid to capture a wider audience and to change the perception of its most high-end cars from premium into the more prestigious luxury strata.
Back during the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show,
Ford
 showed us the
Vignale

Mondeo
 as a concept. Despite this, we could all agree that it wasn’t far off from its production form. Its name is reminiscent of the famed Italian coachbuilder that was brought under the Ford umbrella back in 1973 as part of its acquisition of Ghia. In this new Mondeo revival guise, the Vignale name means an upgraded interior and exterior to reflect its more luxurious status.
Each car that carries the Vignale sub-brand moniker will be hand-finished and inspected in a special building at the Ford plant in Valencia, Spain called the Vignale Centre. It comes with a more lavishly appointed cabin with laser-cut leather trim with a unique hexagonal quilting that is contrasted with what Ford calls “tuxedo” stitching, massaging seats, as well as active noise cancellation and more extensive sound insulation material built into the structure.
The Sony 12-speaker sound setup to work seamlessly with the SYNC 2 touchscreen infotainment system and transmits sounds through an anti-phase frequency to drown out ambient noise. Safety features have also been upgraded to showcase the best of what the company has to offer.
Powering the
Vignale
Mondeo is the familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost turbocharged engine that puts out 237hp and 340Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. There are also two turbo diesel engine options, in 177hp or 207hp levels of tune, mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. Also offered is a petrol-electric hybrid option with a combined output of 184hp.
On the outside, the Vignale Mondeo makes some changes to elevate itself above the standard car and, in this respect, it acquits itself nicely. Apart from the expected “Vignale” badges, there are unique metallic paint finishes, 18-inch alloy wheels, and chrome trim applied to accentuate key areas.
The ownership experience begins through dealerships that are equipped with Vignale Lounges where customers can spec their car (offered in either sedan or estate body styles, front or all-wheel drive). Included in the customer care package is a special companion smartphone app and a 24-hour “relationship manager” that is on-call to assist you in any way about your car during the ownership period.
Ford is taking aim at the
Jaguar

XF
 and
Audi

A6
 with the Vignale Mondeo , with starting prices for the UK market sitting at £29,045 (approximately RM163k without the requisite tax and charges). How the world reacts to a more luxurious Mondeo is anyone’s guess, but we're hard pressed to think of many better cars to start with.


Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Rallye Set To Debut Later This Month

Porsche is set to put its new Cayman GT4 Clubsport Rallye Concept through its paces at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, happening later this month.
Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars said, “We’re looking forward to seeing how the rally world responds to our FIA R-GT concept study. I would like to invite every interested driver and team principal to visit the service park and take a close look at our rally concept car.”
Piloting the Cayman is Porsche works driver Romain Dumas, a Le Mans veteran that has taken part in various rallies around the world with his own team. Dumas has also won the legendary Pikes Peak hill-climb challenge 4 times and holds a record there. Richard Lietz and Timo Bernhard are also involved in the test programme.
“Based on the feedback and the interest from potential customers, we will then decide by the end of the year whether we’ll develop in the mid-term a competition car for near-standard rallying based on a future Porsche model,” Walliser added.
The Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport is powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six that does 380 hp, sent to the rear wheels via a Porsche PDK dual-clutch transmission. For rallying, Porsche has fitted full underbody protection.


Honda City X and Jazz X Limited Edition Models Launched

Honda Malaysia today introduced the limited edition models for the
City
 and
Jazz
 called the City X and Jazz X.
Limited to 450 units and 300 units respectively, both the City X and Jazz X will carry unique features such as Daytime Running Lights (DRL), half-leather seats with ‘X’ emblem, as well as a trunk tray with the ‘X’ logo.
Besides these features, there are no differences between these limited edition variants and the standard models.
Mechanically, there’s nothing special as well. Both cars are still powered by Honda’s 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine offering 120 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,600 rpm, and paired to the engine is a CVT.
Both the City X and Jazz X, which are priced at RM86,100 and RM82,500 (On-the-road with insurance) respectively, have a waiting period of one month according to Honda Malaysia.
It is said that 450 units of the City X are available in Modern Steel Metallic and Dark Ruby Red Pearl colours while a limited 300 units of Jazz X will be available in Modern Steel Metallic and Carnival Red colours.
Honda Malaysia believes that with the introduction of these X Edition models, the City and Jazz would be able to attract a new group of customers especially those who prefer a vehicle with additional offerings in a value for money package.
The service maintenance for City X and Jazz X is 5 years warranty with unlimited mileage, extended service interval to every 10,000km and 6 Free Labour Services alternating with paid service till 100,000km.
Looking for a Honda? Find one at
Carlist.my
 today


What's A Limited Slip Differential?

We hear this term every now and then, usually with performance cars - but what does it actually mean?

We're not talking about brake-based torque vectoring. We're not talking about the electronic illusion of traction - we're talking about the proper, full monty: a limited slip differential. To understand why they're so great, we first need to understand what a differential is and why cars have one.

The majority of cars on the road come with something known as an open differential. What it does is it sits between the left and right driven wheels of an axle - or between the front and rear driven axles. The function of a differential is to allow the wheels to turn at different speeds, which is something you need when you want to go around corners. Naturally the outside wheels have to spin faster than the inside wheels as they turn in a larger radius, and the differential allows the wheels to slip against each other.

Without a differential, you get chatter as one wheel gets dragged along to keep up with the other. You also have issues with traction and control, which is why they're a necessary item in every single car you see on the road. But they do have their problems, especially when you're right on the limit of grip.

For you see, when an open differential loses grip on one of the wheels connected to it, it will automatically dump all of the torque into that wheel. The other wheel basically loses any form of drive, and the wheel that's already losing grip will spin uselessly. In a way it's slightly safer for most applications as the car will automatically slow down until it regains traction, but when you're driving hard this is far from ideal.

Which is why the limited-slip differential (LSD) was invented - and in its simplest form, the LSD is there to make sure both wheels keep getting drive even when one has far less grip. The name is its function: it limits the slip between the driven wheels, so that as one wheel slips the torque will be spread across both driven wheels.

There are multiple benefits to an LSD. You can accelerate harder out of a corner because you have more torque getting to the wheels, and you can even use the LSD to pull a car's front end into a corner or kick the tail out (fighting understeer and inducing oversteer respectively). On the very edge of grip, a well-set-up LSD can even let you enter a corner more quickly. But among limited-slip differentials, there are so many different flavours you can choose from with their unique strengths and drawbacks.

Helical LSDs

Also known as a torsen (torque sensing), or torque-biasing differential, the helical LSD consists of a clever arrangement of gears inside the differential casing. The helical LSD constantly adjusts and "senses" the amount of grip at each wheel to deliver torque to the wheel with the most available grip. Cars like the
Toyota GR Yaris
 and
Honda Civic FD2 Type R
 come with this type of LSD from factory, and they were a factory-option on some older BMW models.

These are incredibly easy to live with and fairly low maintenance in nature, with none of the discomfort or roughness you might get with other LSDs. The downsides, however, are that they can be slightly slow to react and they are absolutely useless if one wheel lifts completely off the road surface - it will ultimately spin uselessly and take up all the torque.

Clutch-type LSDs

This is the most serious type of LSD, whether it comes from factory or aftermarket. The clutch-type LSD uses a series of clutch plates inside the differential casing to limit the amount of slip between the wheels and transfer torque when necessary. The actual operation can be a little tricky to understand, but the nature of clutch-type LSDs also allows them to be tweaked and tuned with the amount of locking force and the threshold of slip between the wheels before they engage.

Due to the nature of their construction, they can react extremely quickly as well as being more predictable in nature as they can be tuned to a driver's preferences. The problem is they require specific differential fluids and additives to keep them working smoothly, as well as being chattery in operation when taking tight turns even at very low speeds. They can be slightly uncomfortable at times, but when you need them to work they deliver as necessary.

Viscous-type LSDs

We only mention this type of LSD in passing, because they were around for a very brief period of time and phased out soon after. This type of LSD is far quieter than a clutch-type and smoother as well, but it has nowhere near the aggression of other LSD types, nor is it as responsive. It uses hydraulic fluid to transfer torque, a little like a torque converter in an automatic gearbox, and they can be prone to wearing out fairly quickly. Avoid them or replace them with something else if necessary.

Electromechanical LSDs

This is perhaps the single largest step in differential development since the invention of the car. Electromechanical controls will, as you guessed it, electronically control and limit the slip of a differential as and when you need it. Most of the time, they will function like an open differential being easy to use and get around with - but when you push it until a wheel starts to slip, it can limit the slip and transfer torque to the wheels with grip.

Electronic control also allows the systems to decide when best to activate or deactivate - for the reason that when an LSD locks it can also provoke a car into understeer if it's at the wrong point in the corner. With electronic control it can leave the LSD unlocked until the exact moment you need it. There's a reason that Lotus models only came with factory LSDs when electronic control systems were offered in tandem. Programmed properly, they can even allow a car to gain speed while in a drift - something really unheard of with traditional systems.


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Appoints Tomoyuki Shinnishi as New CEO

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia announced that it has appointed Tomoyuki Shinnishi as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company effective 28 October 2016.
Shinnishi joined Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Tokyo in 1997 and has held a wide range of leadership positions in the company.
From 2001 to 2008, Shinnishi worked in PT. Krama Yudha Tiga Belian Motors (KTB), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Indonesia. Shinnishi held the position as the advisor of Production and Engineering before taking over the position of the Unit Head of Sales and Marketing.
From 2008 onwards, Shinnishi served as the Manager of Motor Vehicle ASEAN and South West Asia Department in MC.
In 2012, Shinnishi moved to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) in Tokyo where he was the Manager of Russia & Alliance Office. There, Shinnishi was in charge of the Sales and Marketing for Mitsubishi Motors Russian market.
“With Shinnishi’s strong automotive experience, passion and commitment towards Mitsubishi Motors, we believe he will continue to drive the Mitsubishi Motors brand forward in Malaysia,” said Tan Sri Marzuki bin Mohd Noor, Chairman of the Board for MMM.
Shinnishi’s pre successor, Mr. Yang Won-Chul will report back to MC, Tokyo during the same time. During his tenure, Yang has led the company to launch the all-new Triton pick-up in Malaysia, all-new Outlander SUV as well as drove the company to achieve the feet of surpassing 100,000 units of vehicle sales in Malaysia.
Shinnishi’s aim moving forward is to continue to discover new and innovative and competitive products in Malaysia.
Looking for a Mitsubishi? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Polestar 2: Can Proton produce its own EVs, make Tun M happy?

Tun M gets shown around a Polestar 2 and wants Proton to make their own EV. Can Proton produce its own EV though?

Although former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed is no longer involved with Proton, he still loves the brand and wants to see it thriving, which is why he wants to see Proton produce its own electric vehicle to keep up with current times.

So when DRB-Hicom
introduced the Polestar 2
 to him, he did what he does best, which is to somehow link it back to Proton and wish that they could make their own EV.

On his official Facebook page, the brainchild of Proton had more than a few words to say about the Polestar 2, where he was generally impressed by the EV from Volvo and Geely Holding's standalone electric offshoot brand.

"This morning DRB-Hicom introduced an electric car 'Polestar 2' to me. I understand that with a single charge it can reach up to 400KM. One charge is enough to use this car as usual."

"In my view, in terms of design, this car is very sophisticated. This car does not have a large engine compartment, instead, it is used as a storage area. The interior design features are also neat and futuristic, where all controls and settings can be made with the touch of a 'tablet'. There are no more switches or knobs on the dashboard like normal cars."

"I hope that PROTON can advance this kind of project so that one-day PROTON can also release its own electric car."

Tun Matahir also showed that he is clued up about zero-emission vehicles where he mentions that EVs are still harming the environment.

"But we have to remember that even if cars don't pollute the air, the electricity that comes from the power station also pollutes the air. Electric cars have not yet reached the level of air pollution-free. In the end we may have to use hydrogen cars, but even then, there are other problems that need to be tested and solved. Meanwhile, to clean the climate in the city, electric cars are still an option."

So as we can see, Tun loves the idea of zero-emission cars, but the big question is, can Proton actually build their very own? We believe they can, but it'll need to be built from the ground up and not a rebadge for it to be successful.

We all know that Proton has become the
official distributor of smart vehicles
, an EV company under the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Group and Geely Holding.

They plan to debut the smart#1 in 2023, potentially giving Malaysians another option when it comes to reasonably priced EVs. At the smart distributorship agreement signing press conference, Proton did say that they will use the smart distributorship as a stepping stone, potentially leading up to building their own EV.

Before that, we believe they will have to go through CKD assembly first to learn the processes involved in building an EV. The problem is, there's no mention from Proton that they will be locally assembling the smart#1 in the near future, so it might be some time before we actually have a Proton EV.

The bigger question though is whether you're willing to pay more than RM150k for a Proton EV? EVs are not cheap for now, and the ones from the Geely group are mostly pricey.

Suppose it were to happen that Proton would make their own EV by rebadging a Geely; in that case, we're not quite sure how many people would feel about paying more than RM150k for a Proton, let alone a Proton EV.

Unless they build it from the ground up using local resources, we can pretty much see it being another Geely rebadged vehicle, which we predict would make the Proton EV pricey. Yes, Proton are going up a notch in price, but a Proton novelty vehicle for more than RM150k seems hard to market.

So far, all new vehicles from Proton seem to be rebadged Geely vehicles, so until they build their own car, we can't really see it being as affordable as people would expect. Proton has the engineering and manufacturing capabilities to build its own car, but it doesn't seem to be the direction it will be going in the foreseeable future.

How do you feel about Proton making their own EV? Can they do it? Will it be affordable? Let us know in the comments.


Audi Malaysia Announce Opening of New 3S Centre In Puchong

Audi Malaysia has announced the appointment of Swire Motors as the latest authorised dealer for the brand in Malaysia.
While operations have commenced since earlier in the month at a temporary Audi Puchong sales facility in SetiaWalk Mall, Puchong with aftersales support provided at a dedicated facility nearby, the construction of a fully-fledged 3S centre will begin operations in 2018.
As the eighth official Audi sales outlet in Malaysia and the inaugural one from Swire Motors, the temporary Audi Puchong sales facility will be able to display four vehicles on its 3,500 sq. ft showroom floor, whilst the temporary service facility will have 3 dedicated service bays to start off with.
The dealership will also initially employ a total of 20 staff, rising to 40 once operations are fully underway in 2018, when the dedicated Audi Puchong 3S centre is opened.
Rudi Venter, Marketing Director of Audi Malaysia mentions, “As the geographical centre of the Klang Valley, Puchong is a very important region for Audi in Malaysia from a sales and aftersales perspective.
Eric Khoo, General Manager of Swire Motors South East Asia said, “We have big plans in the months to come and with Audi Malaysia’s commitment and Swire Motor’s track record, I am very confident that together we will be able to achieve great things.”
Looking for an Audi? Find one now at
Carlist.my


MazdaSports Academy Is Back – Now Mazda 6 And MX-5 Owners

Mazda Malaysia will be hosting its next round of its MazdaSports programme, this time catered to owners of the Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, CX-3, CX-5, and MX-5.
Set to happen on the December 15
th
 and on December 16
th
 , the next installation of the MazdaSports programme will be held at MAEPS, Serdang.
With this driving programme, owners of the Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, CX-3, CX-5, and MX-5 will be able to experience with being one with their Mazda and discover its potential. In addition to that, owners will learn to find their ideal driving position and improve their driving ability through the practical driving course.
Owners of these models that are interested to join can check out
this link
 for more information.


Shanghai 2017: The BMW M4 CS Is A Limited Production Club Sport Race Car

Positioned one rank below the full-on race ready M4 GTS, this M4 CS bridges the gap between a ‘regular’ M4 upgraded with Competition Package and the race-ready M4 GTS.
The M4 CS is aimed at people who take their track days a bit more seriously but at the same time need a greater level of usability than what’s previously provided by the M4 GTS.
In the years to come, BMW will restructure the portfolio of some of its M Series models to create a new hierarchy that will start from standard M cars, to M Competition cars, before progressing upwards to the CS and GTS cars.
Compared to the M4 with Competition Package, the M4 CS’ 3.0-litre twin-turbo (mono-scroll) inline 6-cylinder engine now produces 10 more horsepower (460 hp at 6,250 rpm) and 50 Nm more torque (600 Nm between 4,000 - 5,380 rpm).
For comparison, the standard M4 produces 431 hp between 5,500 – 7,300 rpm and 550 Nm between 1,850 – 5,500 rpm. At the other extreme end of the M4 variants, the M4 GTS with its water injection cooling system pumps out 500 hp at 6,250 rpm and 600 Nm between 4,000 – 5,500 rpm.
The M4 CS scoots from 0-100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds (standard M4 – 4.1 seconds, M4 with Competition Package – 4.0 seconds, M4 GTS – 3.8 seconds).
BMW declined to reveal the exact production volume planned for the M4 CS, but said that the model will be in production for between two to three years.
The M4 CS is only available with a seven-speed M Dual Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic.
Like the M4 GTS, the M4 CS uses a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) bonnet, but unlike the CFRP roof panel, the CFRP hood is painted in body colour.
Behind, the M4 CS is differentiated by its OLED tail lights. On European market models, the tail lights are designed to animate upon engine start-up.
The car comes standard with semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres in staggered sizes - 265/35 R 19 in front and 285/30 R 20 behind. The car can also be ordered with Michelin Sport road tyres at no extra cost. The tyres will wrap around a forged, light alloy wheels weighing around 10 kg each. (9Jx19 in front and 10Jx20 behind).
The standard brakes are M compound brakes with four-piston callipers at the front and two-piston callipers at the rear. Of course, carbon ceramic brakes are also available as an option.
As expected, the track-focused M4 CS has a very spartan interior, although it still comes equipped with air-conditioning, GPS navigation and radio.
Instead of full leather trimmings, the M4 CS’ interior is lined in Alcantara while the lightweight M sports seats are a half leather/Alcantara. The door panels are made from lightweight natural fibres and the door-side armrests no longer have any depressions for you to pull the door close. Instead, you will have to pull the doors close by using the pull loops. Curiously, you still use the standard car’s door handles to open the doors from the inside.
For chassis control, the M4 CS’ suspension tuning largely mirrors that of the M4 with Competition Package. It is a fitted with Adaptive M suspension and BMW claims a Nurburgring lap time of 7:38.
In Europe, the M4 CS will be priced at EUR 116,900.


AMG Hypercar To Be Officially Called Mercedes-AMG One

Mercedes-AMG’s hypercar project will now have its name set in stone as the Mercedes-AMG One.
First
unveiled in prototype form
 at last year’s Frankfurt Motorshow to much fanfare as the Project One hypercar, the Mercedes-AMG One will be the new pinnacle for the AMG brand.
At the upcoming 2018 Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-AMG will shed more light on the AMG One’s active aerodynamics, having
conducted extensive testing
 for months in England on high-performance race tracks.
The active aerodynamics systems, which are currently undergoing wind tunnel testing, feature a multi-part, two-stage extendable rear wing for maximum downforce in race mode. The testing and development of the AMG One have been combined effort between AMG’s Affalterbach HQ in Germany, and the Mercedes-AMG's High-Performance Powertrains (HPP) dyno-facility in Brixworth, and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team based in Brackley, UK.
Future Mercedes-AMG ONE customers can now obtain comprehensive information on the development progress of the vehicle via a mobile showroom dubbed "The Future of Driving Performance".
Through this initiative, Mercedes-AMG will showcase the latest status of the hypercar’s development, including a chance to sit in the cockpit, along with a demonstration of the individual equipment options. This is made possible by a custom-built trailer with extendable sides. Information will be regularly updated and supplemented. The information on offer is rounded off by video documentation and interviews.
It is known that one Malaysian buyer has
already placed an order
 for the Mercedes-AMG One.


BMW X3 M to Come in 2018

When BMW released the X5 M and X6 M, people thought that they were genuinely crazy, and that M Division was being repurposed and used as a tool simply to move more product. The truth is that the high powered luxury SUV (or SAV) segment is highly competitive (even more so with the introduction of Bentley and Jaguar offerings), and BMW was only responding to the demands of the market. More importantly, both the X5 M and X6 M were wonderful to drive both on track and off, being a sort of one-car-suits-all solution for the family man.
But we've long wondered when M Division would turn their attention to the smaller SAV models. Products like the X1 and the X3 may in fact have been better suited to this kind of treatment, being both more compact and lighter. Well according to
BMWBlog,
 an X3 M is on its way under the designation F97. The X3 M is being built on the next generation of X3 platform, but will naturally look more aggressive with different bumpers and fender flares.
Powering it will likely be the 3.0-litre twin turbocharged inline-6 engine from the current generation M3 and M4, with power outputs sitting between 450 and 500 hp. BMW is said to be producing the X3 M to go head to head with Mercedes' upcoming GLC 63 AMG, and if it really does make it all the way to production it will definitely be an interesting model to see. It's just a shame that the X1 will probably not enjoy the same treatment, given its shift to a transverse engine layout.


Hyundai Can Now Build Their Own CVTs

It turns out that with this merger and technological acquisition, Hyundai is one of the only companies to be able to do build every kind of transmission.

We aren't the largest fans of the continuously variable transmission, what with its rubber-band like operation that can feel a little unsettling when you're really on the gas pedal - but we also can't deny that they are incredibly efficient, and more modern iterations have improved vastly from their not-so-pleasant beginnings. Hyundai is the latest to join the fray with their IVT, or Intelligent Variable Transmission, thanks to their merger between Hyundai Powertech and Hyundai Dymos.

The new transmission will be featured in the latest
Hyundai Elantra
, which will be launching in Malaysia in the coming weeks or months. Powering the Elantra that we will be receiving is a 1.6-litre Smartstream naturally-aspirated petrol engine that makes 123 hp and 154 Nm of torque - and the IVT will be the bridge between the engine and the front wheels.

What makes the IVT different is that, well, it's a little more robust and quick to respond as it uses chains instead of belts to transfer power from one pulley to another. That in essence is the nature of a CVT's operation - two variable pulley sizes that act like two gears on a bike, changing in size to change the ratio of speed between the engine and the wheels.

In addition to the more fluid operation, the IVT boasts a 4.2 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 5 to 8 percent reduction in power loss, which are both great things for us.


2017 Ford Focus 1.5-litre EcoBoost Red And Black Edition

At today’s opening of the Carlist.my MAA DRIVE Test and Buy event, Ford Malaysia has on display the new special edition variant of the Ford Focus hatchback, the Focus Red And Black Edition.
Priced at RM120,888 excluding insurance, the Focus Red And Black Edition is positioned mid-way between the entry Focus Trend hatchback and the highest specifications (and identically priced) Focus Sport+ hatchback and Titanium+ sedan.
From the outside, the special edition Focus is clearly differentiated from the Focus Trend by its polished-black 17-inch wheels, high gloss black wing mirrors, radiator grille and lower air dam with integrated front lip, as well as high gloss lower rear spoiler on the rear bumper. There’s also a discrete but sufficiently sporty looking body kit fitted.
The headlights and tail lights remain the same as the Focus Trend – halogen multi-reflector headlamps in front and bulb-type tail lights behind.
Inside, the Focus Red And Black Edition builds on the Focus Trend’s interior. It retains the same manual air-conditioning and 3.5-inch dot matrix display Sync infotainment system with 6 speakers.
However, the interior has been upgraded with leather upholstery, including leather wrapped steering wheel, versus the Trend’s fabric seats and urethane wrapped steering wheel. The seats however, remain manual adjusting.
To recap, the Ford Focus’s model range now include:
Ford Focus Trend hatchback: RM118,888
Ford Focus Red and Black Edition hatchack: RM120,888
Ford Focus Sport+ hatchback: RM139,888
Ford Focus Titanium+ sedan: RM139,888
All variants are powered by the same 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine, paired to a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
Prices quoted are not inclusive of insurance.
Come and experience the Ford Focus at the Carlist.my MAA DRIVE Test and Buy event, happening today and tomorrow at the Setia City Convention Centre in Setia Alam, Shah Alam. Test drive and compare the Ford Focus against the Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis, Kia Cerato, and Peugeot 308, all in one place.


KTMB Union Criticised Transport Minister Over 'Wild Accusations'

The
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)
 has been a very hot topic as of late, and it just got hotter with the war of words between the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya (RUM) President, Abdul Razak Md Hassan, and Malaysia's Transport Minister, Wee Ka Siong.

RUM claimed that the reason behind KTMB's poor service was due to the train sets obtained by the ministry through direct negotiations. Abdul Razak added that the 10 sets of Electric Train Service (ETS) procured directly from China were of poor quality. In other words, RUM is pointing the finger at the transport ministry over KTM's poor service.

KTM poor service due to poor quality train sets?

*Image credit: KTMB

Wee Ka Siong later slammed RUM over its 'wild accusations' and replied by stating that the train set procurements made by the ministry were carefully and meticulously carried out via a stringent process plus being overseen by a committee.

It's a whole back and forth thing between these two parties, with Abdul Razak having the last word by stating that open tenders for train set purchases should be the way to go as the selection would take into account multiple factors such as quality and price.

*Image credit: KTMB

What is the solution, Dear KTMB?

The public has been very vocal as of late regarding
KTMB's train frequencies and delayed trips
, which led to them being the less popular choice of public transport. The union explained that apart from the faulty trains, it was also due to the Klang Valley Dual Tracking project (KVDT2) Phase 2 being postponed.

At the end of the day, these are the issues that are being faced by KTMB, and it seems that the transport ministry is already aware of the causes/problems that led to these issues. The next set of questions would be, who will fix these issues, and when will it be done?


Lotus Unveils Its Elise 20th Anniversary Special Edition

It’s amazing how time flies, isn’t it? It might not seem like the Elise has been with us for 20 years but
Lotus
 isn’t about to let us forget that milestone with the Elise 20
th
 Anniversary Special Edition.
Its supercharged 1.8-litre
Toyota
 ZZ four-cylinder engine produces 217hp and 249Nm of torque and it needs just 4.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill with its close ratio six-speed manual transmission feeding the rear wheels.
This model replaces the Elise S Club Racer in Lotus’s line-up and (we assume) seems pretty much identical to it since Lotus has not specified the changes made to the chassis or drivetrain, if any. In addition from 20
th
 Anniversary decals scattered throughout the car, there are lighter forged wheels and colour-matched centre console that contributes to a 10kg weight saving, along with sports seats dressed in either leather or Alcantara to set it apart. It is available in the four classic Elise colours of blue, green, yellow, and silver.
Making its debut at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, the mid-engine roadster rescued Lotus from fading into obscurity by returning to its roots of light weight, compact dimensions and world-beating agility and handling. It also became a template that would define Lotus’s cars for the next decade. It has been through numerous refinements throughout its lifetime and even today is regarded as the benchmark in vehicle dynamics and driver involvement.
“It’s hard to believe that the Elise has been around for 20 years,” said Jean-Marc Gales, Group Lotus CEO. “Over the years, we have improved and refined the Elise but we have also ensured that we have retained the purity of the driving experience and for the Elise to remain as the sports car to which other marques aspire.”


All-New Nissan Juke Unveiled – The Most Connected Nissan Ever

Nissan has the covers off the second-generation Nissan Juke SUV. Nissan’s mold-breaking compact crossover – originally launched in 2010 – now gets a renewed lease on life with a funky new design, new powertrains, and latest generation infotainment and connectivity systems.

The all-new Juke has grown in size – now measuring 4,210 mm in length (up 85 mm), 1,800mm in width (up 170 mm), and 1,595 mm in height (up 25 mm) – and is underpinned by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-B Platform which also underpins the 2019 Renault Clio and
Captur
 model.

Despite growing in size, the Juke has actually shed weight, approximately 23 kg, courtesy of some high-strength but lightweight metals in the construction of the platform and body.

The Juke’s wheelbase is also 105 mm longer than its predecessor, creating a much roomier cabin space both passengers and their cargo. Rear-seat knee room has increased by 58 mm, rear headroom by 11 mm, and the luggage capacity has grown to 422 litres.

Under the hood, Nissan offers a lightweight 1.0-litre, turbocharged 3-cylinder which produces 117PS and 180Nm of torque (200Nm with over torque function). A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a new dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifts is also available for the first time. The Juke is also offered with a "D-Mode" which allows drivers to cycle between three drive modes – Standard, Eco, and Sport.

The Juke retains its trademark circular headlamps design, but with a refreshed new twist: the lights now feature a Y-shaped LED signature which complements Nissan ‘V-Motion’ grille. Along the flanks, 19-inch wheels give an imposing and athletic stance, while a 'floating' roof design and sharply-creased side panels give it a snazzy and sporty outlook.

On the inside, the Juke brandishes more upmarket materials and equipment this time around: ambient lighting and new soft-touch materials on the dashboard, door trim, and footwell deliver a more premium feel.

The Juke has the most advanced infotainment system ever fitted to a Nissan. The NissanConnect infotainment system utilises an 8-inch touch screen display and offers Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration. Separately, there is also an app to control and monitor the Juke, and in-car WiFi (available in early 2020).

In terms of driving assistance, the Juke is offered with Nissan’s ProPilot driving assistance suite which is made up of smaller technologies such as Lane Keep Assist with steering assistance and Active Cruise Control. Other active safety systems include Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Blind Spot Intervention.

Nissan has commenced production at its Sunderland plant in the UK. Since the new Juke has been developed specifically for European markets it will be the only production site (for the foreseeable future) for the second-generation Juke. Sales start from the end of November in European markets


Singapore Has Over 3,000 EV Charging Points. Malaysia Catching Up?

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority recently announced a progress update in the country’s effort to boost its EV infrastructure with the island nation now boasting over 3,000 publicly available
charging points
 throughout.

The Straits Times reports that at the end of July, there is roughly one EV charging point for every two passenger electric vehicles in use there, but the LTA has expanded upon that figure slightly with the more recent installation of more than 200 charging points in 70 public carparks with another 400 scheduled to be put up by early 2023.

Singapore planting EV chargers like trees

That’s a pretty quick rate, but their urgency is perhaps a necessary one given the adoption rate of EVs there and the country’s intention to reduce air pollution in such a confined space. In fact, with more than 3,000 EV chargers already up and running, there should be at least 4 public EV charging points for every square kilometre of Singapore’s total land area.

According to ComfortDelGro Engie, which has erected 100 chargers within parking structures all over Singapore, usage of these stations has seen a 3x increase since April 2022. As part of a pilot tender, they plan to install another 479 charging points, further strengthening Singapore’s total EV infrastructure.

One EV charging point for every two passenger EVs in Singapore

Meanwhile, French firm TotalEnergies responsible for some 1,500 charging points, are also echoing a similarly sharp 3x increase in usage this year compared to 2021. All parties concerned, private and public, expect this trend to continue as the country continues its push toward sustainable mobility.

In Singapore’s case, the appeal of an EV is dramatically more pronounced given that the huge majority of driving will be done in slower-moving urban traffic and there are rarely instances where a protracted long-distance drive ever becomes necessary.

Coming up soon is a large-scale tender to deploy at least 12,000 more public charging points at Housing Development Board (HDB) carparks, which is to be awarded at the end of 2022, making
all HDB towns EV ready by 2025
.

Adjacent to this, the LTA is also aiming to independently install another 60,000 public charging stations by 2030 comprising of the slower but less costly AC variety.

This will give EV drivers in Singapore ample choice to charge up their cars wherever they end up parking for the day, either at home or out and about. And given the relatively short distances needed to be travelled, quick top ups are all that’s needed to indefinitely maintain a healthy amount of charge in their batteries.

What about Malaysia?

We might have to do a deeper dive on the state of Malaysia’s charging infrastructure as the information out there is pretty scattered so nobody has a clear idea of what’s operational at any given time.

chargEV remains the most widespread
 network of chargers at some 300 stations but we’ve found some that were flat out not working upon reaching them.

Automakers and energy suppliers such as Shell and
Petronas
 have taken it upon themselves to erect DC rapid charging stations to promote their own solutions but these remain few and far between.

The Malaysian government has promised tens of thousands of public chargers to be installed within the next few years both independently and through partnerships with the private sector but these projects clearly have not kicked into high gear.

For now, it's pretty much a requirement for local EV owners to have a home charging solution in place (
such as an AC wallbox
) to keep your battery levels in the green.


How To Put Your Car To Sleep For Two Weeks

The necessary restricted movement action by the government for Malaysia and her inhabitants has arrived, and apart from preparing food for the next two weeks, we must also prepare our vehicles for two weeks of downtime.

Yes, it may seem trivial to think of this while there are other things to think of, but if you love your vehicle as much as we do, then here are some things that you can do to help your vehicle stay in top condition while it sleeps for two weeks.

Wash and wax your car

If you don't clean your car's exterior, the paint will be contaminated, and in the span of two weeks, it may get corroded and turn into rust.

Clean and vacuum interior

Once again, cleanliness is essential if your car will be sitting static for a while and if you leave dirt and debris in the interior which will be sitting for a set amount of time, it can cause irreversible damage. This is especially so for those who will have their car baking in the sun.

Battery care

If you do not plan to use your car at all in these two weeks, your battery might get drained. To stay safe, disconnect your battery. This is essential for older vehicles as they are not as efficient as newer cars.

Fill it to the brim

A full tank of fuel means there is less room for condensation and moisture is definitely not supposed to be in a fuel system. If possible, also fill up other essential fluids like power steering and brake fluids to the brim.

Disengage Parking brake

This is something that will catch most people off guard. If your vehicle is sitting still for an extended period and your parking brake is engaged, the brake pads can rust to the rotors/drum, causing a bonding effect which will seize your wheel. Instead, leave the transmission in Park and use blocks or bricks behind/ in front of tyres to inhibit it from moving.

So there you have it, a few tips to put your car to sleep safely.


Audi Details Its New 2.0 TFSI Engine: Will Make Its Way Into The Next-Gen A4

At the annual Vienna Motor Symposium recently,
Audi
 revealed a brand new four-pot petrol engine which promises a near-diesel like fuel efficiency levels and will find its way into the next-generation
Audi A4
.
The engine is specified as a TFSI four-cylinder with a capacity of 2.0-litres with turbocharging and direct-injection, producing 190hp and 320Nm of torque. However, although it may produce less power than the current 2.0 TFSI (225hp/350Nm), the new powerplant is capable of returning a NEDC combined fuel consumption figure of 5.0 litres per 100km according to Audi.
That’s 1.7 litres per 100km less than the current Audi A4 you can buy in Malaysia today and will certainly take the fight to competitors like
Mercedes-Benz
,
BMW
, and
Jaguar
. Not only that, the new engine weighs in at just 140kg.
Utilising a new combustion method that is comparable to the Miller cycle, Audi engineers have managed to increase the “efficiency and performance characteristics across the entire engine speed range.”
So how does it work?
The Miller cycle was patented by Ralph Miller in 1957 and operates in a similar manner to the Atkinson cycle but tags on force induction (turbocharging or supercharging).
An Atkinson and Miller cycle engine leaves the intake valve open during the compression phase longer than a normal engine on the traditional Otto cycle. However, this results in lower engine compression. With the Miller cycle, forced induction makes up for that loss in engine compression.
Audi’s new 2.0-litre TFSI engine employs this combustion method while applying other bits of technology to improve efficiency.
Audi also changed the engine’s intake period by shortening the crank angle to 140 degrees from around 190 or 200 degrees. The intake valves also close earlier, before the bottom dead centre of the crankshaft’s rotation is reached. This lowers the medium cylinder pressure, allowing for a higher compression ratio provided by the turbocharger on the inlet side, translating to higher energy levels from each combustion cycle.
During partial loads, Audi says the engine will deliver an extra fuel-injection burst from its indirect fuel-injection system (in the intake manifold) before the fuel-air mixture reaches the combustion chamber.
Using Audi’s variable Valvelift system on the inlet side, it allows a short intake time during partial loads but when high performance is required on heavy loads, the intake time is extended up to 170 degrees on the crank angle.
This allows a high torque output across a wide rev range – 1,450 to 4,400 rpm.
Also part of Audi’s ‘rightsizing’ approach, the exhaust manifold is integrated in the cylinder head. Together with the controlled coolant flow, engine warm-up time is shortened. Low friction 0W-20 lubricant is also used to minimise internal friction.


Audi Facelifts The A4 Again – Updated MMI Touch, S4 TDI With 48V Hybrid System

Audi has facelifted the A4 sedan/Avant model yet again, however, changes are more substantial this time around, compared to the updates the model
received in 2018
. The new car now boasts 12V and 48V mild-hybrid drivetrains, improved connectivity features, and a sharper driving experience.
At the front, the Singleframe grille is now broader and flatter and is now flanked by standard-fit LED headlights (Matrix LED optional). Horizontal body lines further emphasize the car's width at both the front and rear fascias. The side view is defined by the bolder character lines above the fenders and the lower set shoulder line in between.
Three equipment lines are now on offer for the exterior: Basic, Advanced, and S line, including a more independent look for the S models and the A4 Allroad quattro. Customers can choose from 12 paint colours, including a new Terra Gray option.
On the inside, the main highlight of the interior is the new high-resolution TFT 10.1-inch MMI touch display which is now angled slightly towards the driver. The graphics have been updated and the menu structure is now tailored to be more user-friendly, akin to using a smartphone. It also features natural-language voice control and the search function is based on free text input.
The new MMI is Audi’s third-generation modular infotainment platform (MIB 3) that displays a separate communication box that bundles all connectivity tasks – such as the Audi connect services – and incorporates the Wi-Fi hotspot.
The Audi Connect and Audi Connect Plus have also been updated with new connected features, including traffic light information function which receives information from a centralised traffic light server (selected European cities) and displays a personal speed recommendation (to make the next green light) as well as the remaining time to the next green light if stationary.
Two interior packages: Design Selection and S line can be combined freely with the exterior packages for added customisability.
Audi will be offering the A4 sedan/Avant model lineup with six turbocharged engines (petrol and diesel engines included) globally. All petrol-powered variants feature the turbocharged 2.0 TFSI engine with different power outputs of 150 hp, 190 hp, and 245 hp. Two diesel power plants are on offer; a base 2.0 TDI which produces 190 hp and a larger 3.0 TDI which outputs 231 hp. For the European market launch, three engine variants will feature a 12V mild-hybrid (MHEV) system which is claimed to reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.3 litres/100km.
For the European market, the S4 TDI sedan/Avant are now equipped with a more powerful version of the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine which outputs 347 PS and maximum torque of 700 Nm. The engine is built on a 48V main electrical system which powers an electric compressor and belt-drive alternator/starter motor. The 12V subsidiary electrical system is connected to the 48V main electrical system via a powerful DC/DC converter. A compact, air-cooled 0.5 kWh lithium-ion battery resides under the luggage compartment floor to store electrical charge.
Outside of Europe, Audi will offer the S4 sedan/Avant with a turbocharged 3.0 TFSI engine which produces 354 PS and 500 Nm of torque from 1,370 to 4,500 rpm. The S4 sedan accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds all the way to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Three transmissions are offered globally: a six-speed manual, seven-speed dual-clutch S Tronic or eight-speed automatic, depending on the market and engine variant.
Customers can also choose between a standard suspension setup and the sport suspension. There are also two adaptive suspension systems. One option is the comfort suspension with damper control, which reduces the ride height by 10 mm and offers better ride comfort. The other is the sport suspension, either with or without damper control, which is lowered by 23 mm.
The Audi A4 models and the S4 models will go on sale in Europe starting from May 2019. The A4 Allroad quattro will be made available later within Q2 of 2019.
For the latest deals on Audi vehicles, click
here
.


Hyundai Palisade Officially Launched - Two Engine Options, Seven And Eight Seater Configuration, Hyundai SmartSense, From RM329k

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has officially launched the 2022 Palisade, Hyundai's answer to an E-segment SUV, priced from RM329k

First
introduced globally at the tail end of 2018
, the Palisade is Hyundai's flagship premium 7-seater SUV that rides on a bespoke new chassis which is 13.7% stronger than its current Santa Fe SUV. Not only is it one of the strongest Hyundai's ever built, but it is also considered to be the perfect combination of comfort, style and functionality.

Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM said, “The Hyundai Palisade is designed with a wide range of cutting-edge features that offer practical usage. The perfect combination of comfort, style and functionality presents enjoyment for in city as well as countryside drives. The recent range of new launches place Hyundai on a strong footing as we solidify our position as a premium choice, driven by innovative expertise.”

It is offered in four different variants, a petrol-powered seven/eight-seater or diesel powered seven/eight-seater. The seven-seater features captain style seats while the eight features the typical three-seat arrangement at the second row.

The price of the four variants are as follow:

R 2.2 CRDi turbo diesel engine (HTRAC AWD)

EXEC 7 - RM 348,888

EXEC 8 - RM 328,888

Lambda II 3.8 GDI V6 petrol engine (2WD)

LUXE 7 - RM 358,888

LUXE 8 - RM 338,888

The petrol variant is powered by an Atkinson-cycle 3.8-litre V6, dual CVVT, direct-injected engine rated at 291 HP at 6,000 RPM and a peak torque of approximately 355 Nm's at 5,000 RPM. On the other hand, the Diesel engine is the same R 2.2 turbo diesel engine found in the Santa Fe, offering 197 HP at 3,800 and a peak torque of 440 Nm between 1,750 - 2,750 RPM. All engines are paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission, as seen in most Hyundais.

The
petrol variants
 will only be driven by the front wheels, while the diesel variant is an all-wheel-drive vehicle that comes with Hyundai's HTRAC, an intelligent multi-mode system that provides all the benefits of all-wheel-drive traction when additional grip is needed with the efficient fuel-economy numbers of front-wheel drive in normal conditions.

Apart from the differences in the drivetrain, seating, and engine options, the main distinction between the petrol and diesel variants are its safety gear, where the diesel variant only gets Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Blind Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW) and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist( RCCA).

The petrol variants come with Hyundai's full suite of SmartSense safety systems, which include:

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)

Forward Collision-Avoidance Warning (FCW)

Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)

Lane Follow Assist (LFA)

Driver Attention Warning (DAW)

Lead Vehicle Departure Warning (LVDA)

High Beam Assist (HBA)

Rear Occupant Alert

Smart Cruise Control

Safe Exit Alert (SEA)

Rear view display while driving.

Looks-wise, the Palisade sets off its masculine look via the 3-dimensional chrome mesh cascading grille. It is flanked and complimented by some vertically connected 3D LED DRLs, which run from the top of the front end to the bottom.

As with most Hyundai
SUVs these days
, the main lights are located at the bumper and not at the top. All the lamps from the low beam, high beam and positioning lights are lit up by LEDs.

According to Hyundai, the striking side silhouette reinforces the strong and luxurious styling of the Palisade. The character line stretches along the body panel from the front lights all the way to the rear. The half-mirror type chrome trim used in the Palisade also gives the SUV a cool sophistication.

On the inside, the Palisade is laced with tech and premium materials, including a 7-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster, 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heads-up display, dual deck control system, 12-way powered driver's seat and 8-way powered passenger seats. All variants also get wireless phone chargers and powered tailgates.

Other noticeable features are its 6-airbags, three-zone independent control fully automatic air conditioning, and Blind-Spot View Monitor.

The second-row seat has also been designed to aid accessibility, as it features a smart one-touch button that helps with the third-row entry and folding of the second-row seats. The second-row seats can also be folded via some switches at the boot, giving the Palisade more practicality.

Currently, there is limited stock for the Palisade, but if you wish to order one and customise it, the maximum lead time for the order is around six months, but Hyundai reckons they will get it to you in three.

There are five exterior colours available, including Timeless Black, White Cream, Lagoon Silver, Steel Graphite and Moonlight Cloud. On the inside, the colour options include Black Leather, Burgundy (Nappa Leather), and Warm Grey (Nappa Leather). The Burgundy interior and Moonlight Cloud exterior are only available for the seven-seater configuration.

All variants come with a standard warranty of 2 years or 50,000 km (whichever comes first).

Optional upgrades are available for the above variants by adding RM 11,000 (for LUXE 7 and LUXE 8) and RM 12,000 (for EXEC 7 and EXEC 8) to enjoy an upgrade of the vehicle’s warranty to 5 years or 300,000 km (whichever comes first) and free service maintenance of 3 years or 50,000 km (whichever comes first).

For those interested in experiencing the versatile Hyundai Palisade, it is available for viewing at the Hyundai Ara Damansara showroom at Sime Darby Motors City as well as at the Hyundai Old Klang Road, Gurney Paragon and Skudai showrooms.


Meet Lamborghini’s first plug-in hypercar, the Revuelto - It's not a PHEV, it's an HPEV

Lamborghini has been promising enthusiasts their
new-age cars
for some time now - well, that wait is over because Lamborghini has just unveiled to the world the Revuelto, Lambo's first super sports V12 hybrid HPEV.

If you're wondering if I've muddled up PHEV and misspelt it as HPEV, think again because in Lambo lingo, HPEV is an acronym for High Performance Electrified Vehicle.

Not only is the Lamborghini Revuelto revolutionary in terms of powertrain, but its fuselage has also been given the best treatment, resulting in the best weight-to-power ratio in the history of Lamborghini.

But before we get to that, lets take a look at the powertrain and bedroom poster factor, because that's what Lamborghini is best known for.

The Lamborghini Revuelto sports a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 mid-mounted engine, and is complemented by three electric motors, one of which is integrated into the new double-clutch eight-speed gearbox.

This is mounted transversely and placed for the first time behind the combustion engine. In what has been the transmission tunnel since the days of the Countach, there is a lithium-ion battery instead, which powers the electric motors.

The new L545 engine has a capacity of 6.5 liters and is the lightest and most powerful 12-cylinder engine ever made by Lamborghini. In total it weighs just 218 kilograms: 17 kilograms less than the Aventador unit.

The superquadro V12 puts out 825 hp at 9,250 rpm  thanks to the redesigned distribution system that supports a maximum rev range of 9500 rpm. According to Lamboghini, this is the highest output in the history of Lamborghini's 12-cylinder engines, while maximum torque is 725 Nm at 6750 rpm.

Doesn't sound like much? well, when the 6.5-liter V12 engine asks for some help from the three electric motors, in total, they can make a combined 1,015hp, delivering a 0-100km/h time of 2.5 seconds.

How does the Revuelto make sure all of that horsepower goes around the bend? Well, the Revuelto comes with Lamborghini's strongest traditions: four-wheel drive.

Design wise, it's definitely loud, definitely Lamborghini. It links with the iconic and legendary Lamborghini V12 cars of the past throughout the new shape, while the new proportions open the door towards the future.

The front end is something you will instantly recognise as typically Lamborghini, featuring inimitable proportions of the Diablo and the floating blade on the rear fender, while the muscularity and inclined front of the Murciélago is evident.

Since this is a revolutionary car, Lambo gave it all it had, which also means that its safety features and infotainment system are all debuting new features.

The Revuelto offers a completely new Human Machine Interface (HMI) system consisting of three displays: a 12.3' instrument cluster, 8.4' central display, and in addition a 9.1' display. Amazon Alexa allows access to vehicle control functions such as climate, navigation and media via voice commands

Revuelto sees Lamborghini implementing a complete ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) for the first time, powered by radars, cameras, and other sensors.

The package includes Active Lane Departure Warning (ALDW), which monitors lane markings and corrects steering if the driver inadvertently crosses the lane line. In addition, Lane Change Warning (LCW) monitors blind spots and warns the driver of any danger before changing lanes. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) regulates the car's speed and its distance from the vehicle in front, accelerating or braking autonomously.

A couple of years ago, the Italian automaker announced its electrification plans, and this is the first of the bunch - which surely will be followed up by the Huracán and
Urus
. This is a wild car, and we can't wait to see what else Lamborghini comes up with soon.


2016 Honda Pilot: For When You Feel The CR-V Is Too Small

At the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, the all-new third-generation Honda Pilot made its debut, featuring a new design, powertrain options, and technologies to match as well. Primarily aimed at the North American market, the Honda Pilot is the largest SUV available from Honda with three-row seating. That makes it even larger than the
Honda CR-V we have here
.

Exterior

The exterior receives a more modern and sleek look to it, incorporating LED projector headlights, LED daytime running lights and taillights. From the side, you’ll see 20-inch alloys and as a first-ever, a panoramic roof option is available as well.

Interior

Moving inside, the cabin features soft-touch materials everywhere. Passengers at the front and second-row can benefit from heated and ventilated seats. Pilot models of a specific trim will be available with two second-row captain’s chairs, providing easy access between the second and third rows.

Interior space is abundant to complement the Pilot’s size. Honda say that a 77.6 litres cooler in the trunk without having the need to fold the third-row seats down. Aside from that, there are several storage compartments littered around the cabin.

Features

Much like the recently launched
Honda HR-V here in Malaysia
, the Pilot comes with a variety of connectivity and power points, perfect for every gadget a family might own. With up to five USB ports, AUX jack, HDMI port, two headphone jacks, two 12-volt power outlets, and a 115-volt power outlet, you could even bring along your gaming console for a ride.

Infotainment options come in the form of an 8-inch touchscreen Android-based unit. Aside from its usual duties, Honda’s navigation system is included as well. HondaLink, the connected car system is present to pair your smartphone to the vehicle and as an option, a 9-inch rear entertainment system with DVD and Blu-Ray capability is available.

Powertrain

Powered by a 3.5-litre direct injection i-VTEC V6 engine and paired to either a 6-speed automatic transmission or Honda’s first 9-speed auto, the Pilot also includes fuel efficiency features including Idle Stop.

Safety

A suite of technologies make up the safety and driver-assistive Honda Sensing system here. It includes: Honda's LaneWatch display, blind spot Indicators, a standard multi-angle rear view camera, and available Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control and a Honda-first Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system.

Other standard safety features include anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control.


Review: Proton Iriz 1.6 Manual – Self-Shifting Choice

Whilst much attention is currently lavished on the
all-new Persona
, it is worth remembering the car from which
Proton’s
 latest baby is derived – the Iriz hatchback. Touted as yet another dawn of a new era for Proton, the Iriz impresses on paper with commendable safety across the board along with the inspiring ride and handling which the homegrown brand is renowned for.
Two years from its launch, much of what we know of the Iriz stems from time
behind the wheel of two out of four possible engine-drivetrain combinations
 Proton has to offer for its baby hatchback, the 1.3-litre engine with manual transmission, or the more powerful 1.6-litre unit with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Recently came the chance for us to have a go in the Iriz with what we believe is its most potent setup – the 1.6 manual.
Specifications:
Price: RM59,880 OTR with insurance, metallic paint
Engine: 1.6-litre, Inline-4, Transverse, DOHC VVT
Power:  107hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 150Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual, FWD
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, Traction Control, Hill-Hold Assist, ISOFIX (rear), reverse camera, impact-sensing door unlock
Origin: Locally-manufactured at Tanjung Malim, Perak.
Overview?
Both the 1.3- and 1.6-litre engines offered in the Iriz are available to be paired with either a 5-speed manual or CVT to put power down on the front wheels. Each engine-transmission pairing is, in turn, offered with a choice between two trim levels, presenting a total of eight variants altogether.

Manual
CVT
1.3 Standard
RM41,520
RM44,450
1.3 Executive
RM45,760
RM48,680
1.6 Executive
RM53,140
RM56,080
1.6 Premium
RM59,430
RM62,030
*OTR with Insurance and Solid Paint for Individual Private Registration in Peninsular Malaysia. Add RM450 for Metallic Paint.
Pleasingly for the enthusiast, insistence on the manual transmission does not restrict one to the lesser-equipped models. As tested, our 1.6 Premium demo vehicle represents the very best in features and equipment that is available in the Iriz range. The same level of performance but lesser kit is offered in the 1.6 Executive model priced over RM6,000 cheaper.
Safety forms a big part of Proton’s agenda. Uncommon for a vehicle at this price, electronic stability control is standard across the board, as are dual airbags and ISOFIX anchors. Reverse camera is found in both 1.6-litre trim levels, whilst the range-topping Premium trim levels up with side and curtain airbags. Commensurate with its efforts in this area, the Iriz’s
5-star ASEAN NCAP rating
 comes with no caveats – it applies to all variants.
Exterior
The Iriz may not have
challenged the Perodua Myvi’s
 popularity the way Proton had hoped it would, but there are still enough numbers of it on the road that its familiar shape should require no introduction by now. Proton has yet to implement any facelifts or minor changes to the model, so its appearance is as per what was launched in 2014.
Appropriately reflecting its status as the range-topping variant, our 1.6 Premium-spec test car is easily distinguished from its lesser siblings by an expressive rear spoiler and LED daytime running lights, the latter replacing front fog lights found in the mid-range 1.6 Executive model. Both 1.6-litre trims get a dual-tone all-round bodykit and 15-inch alloy wheels.
Interior
An overall glance of the Iriz’s interior generates rather positive first impressions. Proton’s confident use of layering and fine visual details successfully elevate the cabin’s value perception above its price point. Ergonomics also appear well-sorted; controls are arranged with good usable clarity and the centre console seem well-partitioned for small item storage.
Closer inspection, however, reveals much room for improvement. For starters, buttons and knobs lack reassurance in their tactility when operated upon. It raises the question of why Proton had prioritized investing its ringgits on fake stitching instead of giving the switchgear actual substance. The cubby holes along the centre console could also do with added depth to better secure items on the move, particularly when the driver is in the mood to put the Iriz’s Lotus-inspired handling prowess to the test.

Both 1.6-litre trim levels of the Iriz come standard with a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. The system features the commendable integration of a reverse camera, but sensitivity and responsiveness of the touchscreen could do with further improvement – it doesn’t respond to inputs predictably or quickly enough for our liking.
Specific to the Premium model is the fitment of a gear-shift lock, which ties into the vehicle’s push-start button. For added security, it requires the driver to put the manual transmission into reverse before leaving the vehicle; the clutch pedal then needs to be depressed to allow the vehicle to be started. Our test car had a faulty gear-shift lock which did not always auto-unlock after starting the car; it resulted in a few occasions where we had to repeatedly restart the engine until the shift lock disengaged.
How does it drive?
Our earlier experience with the Iriz revealed a car that was reassuringly secure in its ride and handling but ultimately lacking a little punch to fully exploit the talents of its well-engineered chassis. Swapping the CVT for a manual transmission added some zestiness in terms of straight line performance, but the 1.6-litre VVT engine still needs to be worked hard to coax anything more than merely brisk progress.
Shifts on the Getrag-sourced 5-speed manual transmission are smooth and precise, albeit with rather long throws. Clutch bites high up the travel, but its weighting is light, so no reason to complain about tired legs in traffic jams.
The disc/drum brake combo provides adequate stopping power for the purpose, but pedal calibration lacks linearity – the anchors really bite only towards the end of the pedal’s travel. Whilst stopping is still easy enough to modulate, smooth execution of heel-and-toe downshifts proved much trickier altogether. The new Persona we tested recently on Proton’s test track seemed to have addressed this though.
To sum up, this is definitely a more interesting steer than the CVT model, but not as good as what Proton is capable of. Better pedal calibration will improve the driving experience tremendously.
How comfortable is it?
True to form, Proton’s expert chassis calibration has not resulted in any notable sacrifice of ride comfort for the Iriz’s directional sharpness and stability. Thanks to its rigid chassis, the Iriz does not need overly hard springs and dampers to feel sure-footed on the move. The result is a suspension that is made pliant enough to rival the ride comfort of cars a class above.
Rolling refinement also feels improved over the CVT model, but this is primarily due to the absence of transmission whine from the manual gearbox. Suppression of external sources of noise is merely adequate rather than outstanding.
How economical is it?
Proton did not publish any claimed fuel consumption numbers for the Iriz, but our 400km test run of the car returned a trip computer reading of 8.3 litres/100km, a figure that rivals Proton’s previous-generation Campro 1.3 engine and definitely improved over the Campro 1.6.
Estimated maintenance costs of the Iriz are not provided either, but intervals are set at 6-month / 10,000km intervals after a minor service at 1,000km. Labour charges are absorbed for the 1,000km, 10,000km, and 20,000km services.
Conclusion
Proton cars may get a lot of flak from the public for suspect quality over the years, but we are great admirers of their effervescent and fun-to-drive nature. The Iriz is a car not without flaws, but if you’re the type that places value on a good driving experience, this car fits that particular need on a budget.
Does putting a manual transmission make the Iriz better to drive? Definitely, but perhaps not by enough for most. Enthusiasts as we may be, we recognize that the manual transmission’s appeal is exceedingly limited for today’s audiences.
The less than satisfactory calibration of pedals mean that the driving experience is not as rewarding as it should be, as it could be. What Proton can do to immediately improve things is quickly duplicate the new Persona’s control calibration here – that would be the making of a truly incredible to drive little hatchback.


Honda Civic Hatchback 2022 Tampil Dengan Kit Badan Dan Aksesori Mugen

Kurang berminat dengan reka bentuk
2022 Honda Civic
 Hatchback? Bagaimana pula kalau ditambah dengan
kit badan Mugen
? On tak on?

Honda Civic versi Hatchback 2022

Meskipun perincian lanjut belum terdedah, namun beberapa keping gambarnya sudah didedahkan oleh Mugen berkenaan dengan reka bentuk
kit badan
 yang mereka hasilkan untuk Honda Civic Hatchback 2022 generasi ke 11 ini. Segala perincian mengenai kit badan ini akan diumumkan pada 3 September 2021, iaitu pada hari Civic Hatchback 2022 ini mula dijual di Jepun.

Memandangkan pasaran Jepun hanya menawarkan
Honda Civic 2022 versi hatchback
, Mugen hanya mendedahkan kit badan untuk versi hatchback sahaja. Kalau anda nak tengok kit badan untuk versi sedan, Modulo ada hasilkan kit badan untuk
Civic Sedan
.

*Kit badan Modulo Honda Civic 2022

Jadi apa yang baru? Berdasarkan gambar yang didedahkan, berikut merupakan penambahan aksesori kit badan yang ditawarkan oleh Mugen.

Hadapan

Spoiler bawah atau bibir pada bampar hadapan

Gentian karbon pada gril hadapan berserta logo Mugen

Sisi

Skirt sisi

Penutup cermin sisi bersirip

Visor tingkap

Pelindung pemegang pintu

Rim aloi forged dwi-tona 18 inci

Belakang

Rear splitter

Diffuser

Spoiler

Segala penambahan kit badan Mugen pada Honda Civic Hatchback 2022 ini datang dengan kemasan berwarna hitam. Ia juga menampilkan rekaan minimal dan tidak terlalu menonjol memandangkan reka bentuk
Civic generasi ke 11 ini lebih santai berbanding Civic generasi ke 10
 yang jauh lebih garang dan agresif.

Selain itu, ia turut menampilkan rim aloi forged bersaiz 18 inci dengan kemasan dwi-tona yang menambah rupa sporty pada model ini. Lihat sendiri perbezaan rim kilang dengan rim keluaran Mugen. Mana yang lebih menarik?

Bahagian belakangnya menampilkan sedikit kelainan berbanding model asal di mana Mugen menawarkan sistem ekzos sporty yang mendedahkan mucung ekzos sebenar berbanding tip krom palsu berbentuk trapezoid pada diffuser asal. Rekaan tip pada diffuser asal lebih bersifat leper dan memanjang.

Selain itu, Mugen turut menawarkan karpet kaki istimewa untuk Civic Hatchback 2022 generasi ke 11 ini. Jika kita merujuk pada
Honda HR-V
 sebelum ini, Mugen turut menawarkan penambahbaikan pada bahagian interior. Jadi tidak mustahil untuk mereka hasilkan aksesori dalaman lain untuk Civic Hatchback 2022 ini.

Seperti yang kita tahu, reka bentuk kereta ini tidaklah segarang generasi sebelumnya. Namun dengan penambahan kit badan Mugen yang serba hitam dan bersifat minimal, adakah ianya kelihatan lebih menarik berbanding reka bentuk asal Honda Civic Hatchback 2022 ini?

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.

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.

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No Truth In Audi Leaving Le Mans To Make Way For Porsche

Both Audi and Porsche will continue to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours race for the foreseeable future, said Audi’s Head of Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.
When asked to comment about rumours saying that Audi will leave Le Mans in favour of Formula One to avoid direct competition with its sister-company Porsche in Le Mans, Dr. Ullrich rubbished such rumours by saying that it was a unanimous decision by the Board of the Volkswagen Group to have both Audi and Porsche competing against each other in Le Mans.
Speaking to Carlist.my during a pre-race press conference at Circuit de La Sarthe, Dr. Ullrich said “There was a decision of the Volkswagen Group to let us race against each other. It was not that Porsche decided to do it, and Audi decided to do it, and the Board didn’t know it.”
He elaborated further by saying that although Audi and Porsche are sister-companies, they compete with totally different powertrain concepts and such competition is important to promote innovation.
“We race with completely different concepts, and those (powertrain) concepts you can find in the cars of those brands. For sure Porsche is a brand with more emphasis on petrol and Audi is selling so many diesel engines on our road cars. So it makes sense – two companies, two technical concepts, one competition, and competition between those concepts. When both rivals are strong it lifts the level of the technology and that’s good for our customers in the future,” said Dr. Ullrich.
“I haven’t heard it,” laughed Dr. Ullrich when asked to comment about rumours of plans within the Volkswagen Group to have Audi compete in Formula One, leaving Le Mans to Porsche.
The Audi R18 e-tron quattro is a diesel-electric hybrid race car that competes in the top LMP1 of the World Endurance Championship, whose third race this year is tomorrow’s Le Mans.
Despite the hybrid moniker, the R18 does not use traction batteries like a regular hybrid road car, but uses a carbon-fibre flywheel encased in a vacuum housing, located next to the driver, to recover kinetic energy during braking.
During acceleration, the energy stored in the flywheel can be discharged to drive front axle. This, when combined with a 4.0-litre V6 558 hp turbo diesel TDI engine behind, allows the R18 to deliver Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel drive traction.
Meanwhile, the Porsche 919 Hybrid is a petrol-electric hybrid LMP1-class race car. The rear axle is powered by a 2.0-litre V4 turbocharged petrol engine that produces over 500 hp.
While the Audi uses a carbon-fibre flywheel, the Porsche uses more passenger car-like lithium-batteries to store recovered kinetic energy from the front wheels during braking. This energy can then be discharged to drive the front wheels, giving it all-wheel drive traction.
The 919 Hybrid’s notable achievement for this year’s Le Mans is its 8 MegaJoule hybrid system, the highest on the grid. Compared to the Audi R18’s 4 MegaJoule system, the Porsche is able to deliver record-setting pace (3 seconds faster than Audi in qualifying) which even Dr. Ullrich himself admits cannot be matched by Audi.
“But Le Mans is a very unique place. Qualifying doesn’t mean much. You still have another nearly 379 more laps to go (the total laps completed in Le Mans 2014),” said Dr. Ullrich, adding that while the Porsches are faster, he believes Audi has a better aerodynamic package which will allow it to catch up in the corners.
Le Mans 2015 will start at 3PM on Saturday at the Circuit de La Sarthe in France (9PM Malaysian time). Fans can catch the race live
here
.
More about Le Mans 2015
here
.


Mercedes-Benz Has The Vehicles You Need To Escape From Dinosaurs In Jurassic World

If you own a dinosaur themed wildlife park, you certainly need the proper vehicles which can first of all, get you across the harsh terrain and secondly, be able to transport or run away from the large, almost certainly dangerous dinosaurs roaming around the park. For the owners of Jurassic World, they’ve decided to go with
Mercedes-Benz
 as their vehicle fleet supplier of choice.
That’s right, in the upcoming movie
Jurassic World
, we will see Owen Grady (played by actor Chris Pratt) behind the wheel of several vehicles from the German car maker. His vehicle of choice? The
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
 while park operations manager Claire, portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard drives the
new GLE 450 AMG Coupé
.
In addition, the lesser-known Unimog is also featured in the film. The four-wheel drive medium truck is capable of a variety of roles but in Jurassic World, it is cast as a dinosaur ambulance. Yes, you heard it right, an ambulance for sick and injured dinosaurs. The monstrous six-wheeler G 63 AMG 6x6 also appears in the movie with various
Sprinter
 van models.
Dr. Jens Thiemer, Vice President Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars said, “In 1997 the Mercedes-Benz M-Class made its first official appearance in the Hollywood Blockbuster ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’. Today, 18 years later, another Mercedes-Benz car will debut in a significant role in the latest installment of the groundbreaking Jurassic Park series named Jurassic World: the new GLE Coupé. We are delighted to continue our partnership with a multitude of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and will promote the film and our cars with many exciting global marketing activities.”
Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making-of Jurassic World from Mercedes-Benz:
Jurassic World
 will be released in Malaysia on 11 June 2015.


Proton Flags Off X70 Owners To China – 13,000 km Road Trip

Earlier today, Proton flagged off several X70 owners as they kick-started their 13,000 km journey from the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam to Hangzhou, China. A total of 33 participants, including car owners and members of the Malaysian Foochow Association, and nine cars took part in this overland trip.
These participants will pass through four countries and 13 cities to get to their destination. In an effort for better peace of mind, Proton has set up checkpoints along the route at dealer locations and service centres to welcome the participants.
According to Proton, the entire trip will take approximately 33 days to complete, with the halfway point being Hangzhou, where all 33 participants will be able to visit the Geely Experience Centre.
Apart from allowing owners to fully experience their X70 over various road conditions, this trip also gives Proton some limelight, as it proves that the X70 is capable of performing in various road conditions as it travels from Malaysia to China.
Aptly called the Malaysia – China Amazing Trip, owners of the Proton X70 will be able to enjoy viewing some eye-catching scenery along the way.
Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Proton, said, “While this is a private initiative, Proton is happy to offer its support as a sign of appreciation to its customers. The Proton X70 has been very well received by Malaysians and we hope that by showing regional car buyers its capabilities, we will be laying the groundwork for future export sales success.”
After completing their trip to Hangzhou, the participants will drive back to Malaysia via a different route with the final destination being the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam.


Free tests for B2 motorcycle, taxi, bus & e-hailing licences not for EVERYONE

Remember when our lovely PM announced the free tests for B2 motorcycle, taxi, bus, and e-hailing licences during the
Budget 2023
 presentation?

Well, it turns out that it won't be for everyone. According to a report posted by
Berita Harian
, our Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, stated that it's not going to be for everyone. The reason? The government is not able to support all B40 individuals in this particular matter.

Only those who are facing financial difficulties will be considered for this particular benefit amounting to over RM4 million. The mechanism for this programme is currently being finalised by the Ministry of Transport prior to the official announcement.

For those who are planning to get their PSV and GDL licences, some individuals with financial constraints in the B40 group (particularly the youths) will be covered in terms of fees via the MyPSV programme.

As for the B2 motorcycle licence (250cc and below), driving schools across Malaysia are charging anywhere between RM500-RM800 for the whole thing, including test fees. The test fees alone should be around RM40, and that's the part that will be covered by the Malaysian government.


All-New Kia Picanto Launched, Priced From RM49,888

Naza Kia Malaysia, the official distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia has introduced the all-new Picanto, the company's most affordable model in their lineup.
The new model from Kia is available in one trim level, priced at RM 49,888 OTR without insurance.
What’s New
The third-generation Kia Picanto is all-new. Despite looking rather similar to its predecessor, the Kia Picanto is built on an all-new platform.
Thanks to the new platform, wheelbase is now 15 mm longer, coming in at 2,400 mm. Seating height of the first row have been reduced by 10 mm and moved backwards by 5 mm to improve headroom by 3 mm and legroom by 15 mm.
Boot space comes in at 255 litres, which can be further expanded to 1,010 litres by folding down the 60:40 split rear seats.
Additionally, the all-new Kia Picanto is the cheapest new car on sale in Malaysia to offer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via its floating-type 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Engine and Transmission
In terms of powertrain, Kia offers the all-new Picanto with two naturally-aspirated engines and one turbocharged engine, though for the Malaysian market, Naza Kia Malaysia has opted to fit in the predecessor’s 1.2-litre Kappa four-cylinder petrol engine.
While the predecessor was offered with a five-speed manual, the all-new Picanto is now an automatic-only affair, with a four-speed automatic hooked up to the engine that sends 84 PS and 121 Nm to the front wheels.
Standard Features
Keyless entry with push start button
One touch turn signal
7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Reverse camera with dynamic guide lines
Projector headlights
LED daytime running lights (DRLs)
LED tail lights
Electric folding side mirrors
175/65R14 tires
Front and rear disc brakes
Elsewhere, the all-new Picanto is also the first model in its segment to offer six airbags as standard, on top of Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), much like its predecessor. ISOFIX anchor points and rear seat belt pretensioners are also fitted as standard.
The introduction of the all-new Kia Picanto also marks the return of Naza Kia Malaysia’s ‘Novus’ accessory bundle. Two packages are available, namely Novus X and Novus S, priced at RM5,618 and RM3,498 respectively. Among the included accessories are the Novus emblems, window tints, Novus bodykit, leather seat and a car DVR.
The all-new Kia Picanto is available in five different colours – Pop Orange, Lime Light, Honey Bee, Clear White and Titanium Silver. Naza Kia Malaysia is backing the all-new Picanto with a five year unlimited mileage factory warranty.