Perodua Myvi Merdeka SE – Model Facelift Myvi Yang Diimpikan?

Bersempena dengan bulan kemerdekaan negara, kami di Carlist.my ingin berkongsi sebuah
render
 Perodua Myvi Merdeka Special Edition (SE) yang menggabungkan antara ciri-ciri yang boleh diimpikan pada sebuah King of The Road!

Perodua Myvi Merdeka SE (Special Edition)

Walaupun mungkin tiada model facelift Myvi bakal dilancarkan pada tahun ini, namun angan-angan itu kan percuma? Sebagai
kereta paling popular
 di Malaysia pada masa kini, tak salah jika kita impikan sesuatu yang lebih menarik pada model Myvi akan datang, kan?

Oleh itu, anda dipersilakan untuk menikmati model Perodua Myvi Merdeka SE ciptaan kami yang sarat dengan kelainan serta pembaharuan berbanding model Myvi sebelum ini.

Exterior

Myvi Merdeka SE ini hadir dengan warna badan baharu, iaitu warna oren seakan akan warna tema Harimau Malaya. Bahagian hadapannya juga tampil berbeza dengan rekaan
gril
baharu yang lebih besar berbanding sebelumnya.

Di bahagian sisi model Merdeka SE ini, tersergam indah corak belang Harimau Malaya menandakan bahawa selain daripada kereta marhaen yang berstatus
raja di jalanan
, kereta ini juga mampu mengaum seperti seekor harimau di
lebuh raya
. Perubahan pada bahagian luaran ini dilengkapkan dengan rim 10 jejari berkembar bersaiz 16-inci yang lebih sporty dan agresif.

Interior

Meskipun bahagian luaran kelihatan biasa-biasa sahaja, namun keistimewaan sebenar Myvi Merdeka SE ini terdapat pada bahagian dalamannya. Tempat duduk semi bucket di hadapan kini dilengkapi dengan sistem power seat seperti yang terdapat pada
Toyota Camry
. Tetapi, kerusi ini hadir bersama ciri khas kerusi urut daripada Ogawa dan ditambah dengan perehat tangan. Baru lah boleh memecut dalam keadaan selesa tanpa sakit badan. Tali pinggangnya juga kini ditukar kepada warna oren bersama corak jalur belang harimau berwarna hitam.

Sistem infotainment Myvi Merdeka SE kini telah juga menyokong sistem sambungan
Android Auto
 dan
Apple CarPlay
 selain hadir dengan skrin paparan infotainment jenis terapung bersaiz 10-inci seperti yang terdapat pada
Toyota Raize
. Jumlah speaker turut ditambah daripada 4 speaker kepada 6, 3 di hadapan dan 3 di belakang. Dengan ini, anda boleh mainkan lagu Ella yang bertajuk Standing In The Eyes Of The World sekuat-kuatnya tanpa merungut bunyi di dalam kabin terlalu bising ketika memandu Myvi seperti sebelum ini.

Enjin dan Prestasi

Di bawah bonet Myvi Merdeka SE ini, tersimpan sebuah enjin turbo lagenda 1.3L K3-VET 4 silinder seperti yang terdapat pada Daihatsu YRV Turbo. Enjin ini pernah menjadi kegilaan geng-geng kereta seperti Kenari pada satu ketika dahulu. Meskipun dengan kapasiti enjin yang lebih kecil (1.3L berbanding 1.5L), enjin turbo ini mampu menghasilkan output maksimum 129 PS dan 170 Nm tork berbanding enjin lama Myvi, 2NR-VE yang hanya menghasilkan 103 PS dan 137 Nm tork.

Transmisi
 automatic 4-kelajuannya turut ditukar ke transmisi manual 5-kelajuan untuk memberi pemandu lebih kecekapan dalam menyusuri selekoh selain pemandu boleh menukar gear mengikut situasi yang bersesuaian. Yang paling best Perodua Myvi Merdeka Special Edition ini turut tampil dengan transmisi manual 5-kelajuan bagi anda yang berjiwa
racer
.

Ciri Keselamatan

Myvi ini juga merupakan Myvi yang paling selamat yang anda boleh miliki pada waktu ini. Ini kerana sistem keselamatan
ASA 2.0
 terdahulu kini telah ditambah baik dengan sistem
ASA 3.0
 yang lebih baik seperti yang terdapat pada SUV kompak
Perodua Ativa
.

Selain itu, Myvi Merdeka SE juga berbeza dengan Myvi 2020 kerana model khas ini telah dibina semula menggunakan
Platform DNGA
 (Daihatsu New Global Architecture), platform yang sama seperti Ativa. Dengan menggunakan Platform DNGA, tahap keselamatan pada badan kereta ketika pelanggaran berlaku telah dipertingkatkan. Oleh kerana pelantar ini lebih ringan dan kukuh, faktor seperti gegaran dan bunyi bising turut telah dikurangkan. Model baharu ini juga menerima peningkatan lain seperti kamera 360 darjah serta bantuan parkir.

Jika model
Myvi versi facelift
 akan datang akan menerima pembaharuan seperti ini, nescaya Komisioner James Gordon daripada filem Batman akan berkata, '
this is the Myvi that we need, but not the one that we deserve
'. Ini kerana penambahan seperti ini akan menambah lagi tanda harga kereta ini. Kita semua tahu bahawa faktor harga memainkan peranan penting bagi
sektor automotif
 di Malaysia ini.

Apa-apapun, angan-angan itu kan percuma. Memandangkan model Myvi telah diterima baik di negara ini tidak kiralah model generasi apa pun, diharapkan agar segala penambahan pada model Myvi facelift akan datang akan hadir dengan ciri-ciri yang jauh lebih baik berbanding Myvi sebelumnya meskipun model sebelum ini jauh lebih baik berbanding model
Iriz Active
 yang baru dilancarkan pada awal bulan lalu.

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.

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2016 McLaren 570S Coupé And Sports Series Officially Previewed In Malaysia

McLaren
 Malaysia today has previewed its first car in its Sports Series tier, the 570S, to further expand its line-up into more competitive niches within the rarified world of supercars. The car is expected to begin production for the Asian market in early 2016.
McLaren is on rather a hot streak with their production cars these days – granted, not so much with their F1 team, as of the 2015 season. Starting with the
MP4-12C
 that was unveiled in 2011 which soon spawned from that base their current line-up of road cars.
From their most powerful, fastest, and most advanced P1 hypercar, down notch to their 675LT and 650S, and now this: the 570S. McLaren has chosen to label their cars with a different series: Ultimate, Super, and Sport. It will be joined by its less-powerful sibling, the 540C.
Despite being the base-level tier, the 570S kicks off McLaren’s newly christened Sports Series and is a perfect illustration of how insanely far automobile performance has come in the last two decades or so. As an example, this ‘baby’ McLaren model very nearly matches the 0-160km time of their world-beating F1 supercar from the mid 1990s, at 6.3 seconds.
It’s an important car for McLaren, to be sure, because this 570S Coupé is the car that they are aiming for high(er) volume sales. This will go up against the
Audi

R8
 V10,
Lamborghini

Huracan
, various
Porsche

911
 permutations, and
Mercedes-Benz
-
AMG GT-S
’ of the world for effectively the same customers.
So let’s go through what we’ve got here. The 570S is built around McLaren’s carbon-fibre MonoCell chassis that’s the central structure for all their current crop of cars. Mounted amidships is a revised version of their 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8
engine
 that incorporates 30 percent new components. It chucks out 562hp and 600Nm of torque and is mated to a dual-clutch seven-speed seamless shift gearbox (SSG) made by Graziano Trasmissioni.
Combined with its dry weight of 1,344kg, McLaren is claiming the 570S has a pack-leading power to weight ratio of 428hp per tonne. It also enables a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 328km/h.
The car’s
suspension
 technology is quite a wonder, with independent adaptive dampers, paired with front and front and rear anti-roll bars, and an F1-style dual wishbone setup – doing away with the hydraulic roll control circuit seen in previously the 12C and 650S, for example. With twin damper valves per corner, McLaren says it has toiled over the 570S’ calibration tuning to provide a refined yet engaging ride depending on whether ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, or ‘Track’ modes are selected.
Moving to the
exterior
, the 570S’s predominantly aluminium body is noticeably more compact than McLaren’s previous cars. It certainly is very well proportioned and manages to dial in a lot of cues that lend a resemblance to its siblings in the automaker’s stable. It’s an altogether rounder, curvier car, and also very pretty.
Making a return are the dihedral doors, which they say they have worked hard on to optimize passenger leg swing and general ease in entering and exiting the car, despite it being smaller. There are 19-inch wheels at front front, and 20-inch wheels at the rear – fitted as standard with fourteen-spoke lightweight forged wheels.
Inside, the 570S Coupe carries over the exterior’s curved aesthetic. McLaren wanted to reduce
interior
clutter by combining as many cabin elements as it could in order to make it airy and accessible to the occupants. Switchgear and control surfaces remains as ergonomic as ever, and even the central IRIS system screen makes for a much larger (and easier) touch target. The interior can be upholstered in a range of leather and Alcantara combinations.
All told, the 570S is what McLaren is banking on to open the brand up a whole new world of potential owners. It will be going up against some stiff competition, chief of which being the newly-turbocharged offering from Ferrari, the 488 GTB. However, McLaren are confident the 570S will prove to be quite a strong contender, and seeing it now, we’re inclined to believe them.
Indicative pricing was revealed to be pegged at a tentative RM1.68 million. However, McLaren reiterated that final pricing and specification will be confirmed at a later date.


Perodua Cuts Aruz Delivery Times Down To Just 1 Month

Of all the problems a car company can face, having demand exceed supply is a good one to have. Perodua first faced this with the third generation Myvi, with demand far exceeding their predictions and forcing them to work overtime to crank out the top-spec 1.5 AV variants as fast as their factory could go. More recently, their Aruz SUV has been facing this issue - with wait times starting at between 2 and 2.5 months, finally tapering down to 1 month as of August.
In the first six months of 2019, Perodua managed to move 17,989 units of the Aruz - no small feat for a model that isn't exactly a core product for the company. This puts total sale on par with last year's figures at 140,900 units sold across their entire range of vehicles. With this, Perodua is on track to hitting their 2019 sales target of 235,000 units, or a 3.4% increase from 2018's figure of 227,234 units.
“In terms of comparison, the months of June, July and August last year saw a “tax holiday” resulting from the elimination of the Goods and Services Tax or GST by the government. Notwithstanding the circumstance, we are fortunate that our performance so far is comparable to the “tax holiday” impact” Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.
To find the best deals on Perodua models, click
here
.


Five things We Like About The (W447) Mercedes-Benz V-Class

First launched in 2015, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is the company’s first real stab the Malaysian market’s thriving large MPV segment. A segment dominated for the longest time by the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire models, it is one segment where the big German is the underdog, and the ‘new kid on the block’, something that doesn’t happen very often.
There is a duality of purpose, especially in the Malaysian market, where the decision to purchase a large MPV is primarily motivated by the status and presence it has on the road before it is judged for its comfort and practicality.
It hard to beat an entrance where the owner, driven, of course, strides out from a wide, powered sliding door, decked out in all manner of elegant style. Then, at a touch of a button, walks away nonchalantly as the door closes again.
If this is what it's all about, having the three-pointed star perched on the front grille is no bad thing, we’d argue it’s even better. Plus, the V-Class’ rear door aperture is massive.
We reviewed the
V-Class in detail
 recently and found that, despite its van lineage, and commercial “image”, in the case of the Vito and Viano models, commonly found in Europe – the V-Class offers tasteful luxury, great build quality and competent driving dynamics that more than matches its rivals.
But, being the "unproven" newcomer, is the V-Class any good or perhaps, better?
Here’s a shortlist of five reasons we love about the V-Class and two aspects where we think it could be improved.
Specifications
Engine: 2.2-litre inline-four, turbodiesel
Power: 163 hp at 3,800 rpm
Torque: 380 Nm between 1,400 – 2,400 rpm
Transmission: 7-speed torque converter automatic (7G-Tronic Plus)
Safety: 6 airbags (front, side, curtain), ABS, ESC, Attention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Crosswind Assist, 360-degree camera.
Price: RM449,088 (Avantgarde trim), without insurance
Origin: Fully-imported from Spain
It’s a rare sight
Anytime you see a V-Class, it’s a breath of fresh air. With the roads literally littered with multiple generations of Toyota Alphard and Vellfire models, the V-Class stands out, which makes a lot of sense when you have to plonk over RM400k on a vehicle.
After all, if road presence is a criterion, then being unique goes a long way.
It’s a good steer
Within minutes of driving a V-Class, one would instantly recognise how easy it is to handle; regardless of it being a mammoth vehicle, it wraps itself around you and adapts to your driving style with ease. The steering is light and responsive, while the throttle and brake pedals are easy to modulate and get to terms with.
On the road, great body rigidity allows for a poised and comfortable ride, and promises good control in the corners. The V-Class never feels clumsy when the roads tighten up and it rarely gets unsettled on bumpier surfaces, which in turn ensures a pleasant journey, regardless of how short or long it is.
While the driving dynamics of the latest-generation Alphard and Vellfire models have been greatly improved over their predecessors (due in part to the multi-link rear suspension), the V-Class still offers a sharper steer, and better overall driving dynamics.
It’s got a pleasant cabin
In Avantgarde trim, the V-Class is equipped with four individual rear seats (a third-row three-seater option is also offered), which are a great place to be in on long journeys, the rear cabin space is airy and offers great visibility of the outside. Also, with folding tray tables on both rear rows, it doubles up as a capable workstation on the road.
Up front, the seating position is upright, while pedals and steering wheel are positioned for comfortable operation, which translates into less fatigue over long journeys.
It’s got a great drivetrain
163 hp and 380 Nm of torque might not sound like much, given the car’s proportions, but rest assured, the V220d has plenty of punch low in the rev range, and a steady stream of mid-range torque for moving about town and cruising on the highway. It won’t break a sweat doing 140km/h all day.
Also, the V220d punches out more torque that Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6, fitted in the Alphard, and not to mention, a whole lot cheaper on road tax.
The V-Class is frugal too, even with my relatively carefree right-foot, the V220d returned on average 10.0 litres/100km, in mostly city driving, carrying three to four passengers most times. Those number significantly drop on the highway, to around 8.4 litres/100km, which matters when most of these cars will see varying duty cycles, from long outstation hauls, to grocery runs.
It’s got a boot, even with the seats in place
Perhaps, the biggest drawback of a people carrier is its lack of boot space; yes it may carry people, but it struggles with a few decent sized travel bags. The Alphard gets around this by offering clever folding seats that fold up and away from the centre for bigger items (which means you can't use them), but, with them fixed in place though, cargo space is tight.
The V-Class, on the other hand, has third-row sliding seats which simply slide forward for more room. However, one would rarely have to do that given the generous boot space, even with the third-row in its nominal position.
Remove both seat rows (by sliding them out the back), and the V-Class effectively turns into a capable cargo carrier. The low "floor" and large boot opening make it possible to transport everything from a sofa set to a refrigerator. If that's not added practicality, we don't know what is.
Finally, two things that could be better…
Captain Seats in the second row
The fitment of Ottoman or Captain seats in the second row will go a long way to completing the VIP experience of the V-Class. As of now, it would seem the biggest trump card the Alphard has over the V-Class.
Needs to be cheaper
Being the newcomer in the local market, it has to establish a lower entry point in terms of price to make it more competitive. At around RM450k, it sits in between the Alphard 3.5 (RM429,800) and Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge (RM540,800), but we argue, an RM410k price range is where it needs to be, to truly make an impact.


Porsche Teams Up With Manthey Racing To Take Back The Ring Record With a GT2 RS

Manthey Racing is a name that most Porsche-philes are familiar with, having competed in numerous race series around the world and being a solid technical support provider for non-works teams. With high-end manufacturers seeking to hold Nurburgring records, Porsche sent a GT2 RS to Manthey Racing for a couple of tweaks, resulting in the 911 GT2 RS MR and a new lap record.
In just 6 minutes and 40.3 seconds, the GT2 RS MR completed a lap of the infamous Green Hell, wresting the record title back from Lamborghini when they set a 6 minute 44.97 lap time with their Aventador SVJ earlier this year.
Being the fastest Porsche road-going 911 ever created, the GT2 RS was already a formidable beast – but with some tweaks to the suspension and aerodynamics, they managed to shave 7 seconds from the previous GT2 RS record title at 6 minutes 47.3 seconds.
Unfortunately, the records can be a little difficult to discern. Every manufacturer will add prefixes to their record title – for example, Honda quoting that their record was for front-wheel drive road cars, and the Panamera taking the four-door record – and this tie up with Manthey Racing means that while this is still a road-going car, it’s not a factory production car.
That being said, it could all change if Porsche were to offer the MR package as an official equipment option – in the same way that certain records are difficult to accept because they aren’t completed on dealer-offered tyres. Regardless of what you believe, it’s always interesting to see who is going to make a run for the next record.


Federal Court Rules Automatic Compensation For Road Accident Victims

The Federal Court has ruled that
road accident victims
 should be automatically
compensated
 by
insurance companies
, and this should be done without having the need for them to sue.

This statement came from Federal Court judge Abdul Rahman Sebli, who led a three-member bench that allowed appeals from eight road accident victims via his 140-page judgment. Five were awarded RM150,000 compensation for each successful appeal.

Appeals from past cases nullified by the insurer

These appeals first came to light as some of the insurance companies went through the High Court in order to get a declaration that nullifies the insurance policies due to 'misconduct' from the vehicle owners.

Having succeeded in getting the High Court declaration, insurance companies will no longer be required to compensate the road accident victims as they've succeeded in making the policies 'null and void' after having 'proven' a form of wrongdoing from the vehicle owner or insurance policy holder.

Some of these cases involved the vehicle owner selling off their cars using the illegal 'sambung bayar' method, which was done without having informed the insurance company. The road accident victim involved in this particular case did not get any compensation, even though they were innocent.

This along with several other road accident cases showcased the unfairness towards the victim's constitutional rights as well as deserving fair treatment due to their unfortunate involvement in the accident.

Road Transport Act should protect all

All arrangements within the Road Transport Act 1987 should be interpreted in a way that protects all road users, and that includes road accident victims or in other words, third-party road users who were clearly innocent in accident cases.

The court also mentioned that all vehicle owners are required by law to have insurance coverage, and with that comes the issuance of road tax from the Road Transport Department to make them legal to drive on the road.

With this sorted, road accident victims should be automatically covered by the insurance companies without having the need for them to sue the insurance companies or the driver of the vehicle.

There are, however, some cases where the compensation can go up to the millions, but since the vehicle owner is covered, the insurance companies will need to fork out for the victim's damages following a long process in the courtroom.

This is where the Road Transport Act comes into play by making sure that it should be easily interpreted to protect innocent third-party accident victims, as well as insurance companies from fraudulent claims.

This latest ruling from the Federal Court has helped to clarify quite a big grey area within the vehicle insurance coverages and policies. Those uncertainties can now be easily resolved thanks to this.


Mercedes-AMG Teases The C 63 Coupé

Mercedes
-AMG previously teased that it has “
something fast is coming
” and now we know what it is – the C 63 Coupé after the car maker teased it on Facebook.
Scheduled to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé is essentially a two-door version of the sedan although it isn’t explicitly shown in these photos of a camouflaged C 63 at the track.
The sedan version is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which is closely related to the one that
powers the Mercedes-AMG GT
. Paired to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT seven-speed sport transmission, the C 63 S sedan outputs 503hp and 700Nm of torque while the non-S variant provides 469hp and 650Nm. Both will hit 100 km/h from a standstill in four seconds with the C 63 S doing so 0.1 seconds quicker. Top speeds are 290 km/h and 250 km/h respectively.
Expect the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé to achieve the same levels of performance in a two-door body style when it debuts in Frankfurt to bring the fight against the BMW M4.


The Retro-Chic Mitsuoka Buddy Is An SUV The World Needs

Mitsuoka, a semi-known Japanese automaker, certainly does love doing things unconventionally. They’ve never made a car that could be described as ordinary nor have they ever seemed to care about volume sales; for them, it was all about statement and style. Gotta respect that.

In the past, this brand has dabbled into the odd, the futuristic, and the retro, so please take a guess as to which of those words could best describe this five-door soft-roader, their newest creation. It’s called the Buddy, which is unfortunate, and does give the impression of sounding like a ‘My First SUV’ toy you’d buy at some department store.

In case you haven’t noticed, the Buddy is based on the
fifth-generation RAV4
 but has been treated to a very distinctive exterior makeover to give it some 1980s American flair, though its Toyota genes are more clearly visible along the side profile. Specifically, to my eyes, there are plenty of cues from the Jeep Cherokee and Chevrolet’s K5 Blazer of that era.

It looks like nothing else on the road (anymore), and that’s what I love about the Buddy. The RAV4 already has a bad habit of showing up wearing a different badge (as on the Suzuki Across), proving Mitsuoka could have easily given it a few simple styling tweaks here or there and called it a day to make a quick buck.

However, the thought and care that went into making this SUV unique is really a breath of fresh air. SUVs these days are already so generic and soulless, styled to look nothing more than high riding hatchbacks that are so coddled and fragile that they’ll pee out their coolant reserves at the sight of a muddy off-road trail.

The Buddy is different, adding to the RAV4’s already angular shape with a huge upright front end with plenty of chrome and a stacked headlight arrangement that’s propped up by an almost perfectly horizontal bonnet.

Paired with chunky BF Goodrich tyres with white lettering wrapped around very retro-style wheels and topped off with chrome hubcaps, this thing looks like an early 1980s vision of what future SUVs might have looked like.

You could opt to reinstate the much more modern five-spoke wheels and lower profile tyres straight from the Toyota parts bin, but it would only ruin the Buddy’s character. Around back, Mitsuoka has reworked the entire rear end to include a prominent chrome bumper and upright tail lamps. Meanwhile, the tailgate panel sports a huge contrasting plaque with the automaker’s name laid out in spaced characters.

With this kind of styling, you might be expecting a lazy high displacement V8 to be hiding up front, but here the Buddy has inherited the RAV4’s mechanicals lock, stock, and barrel - it’s
mechanically identical
. Choices of engine are between a 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol, though the larger of the duo is actually a hybrid with an electric motor powering the rear axle for all-wheel drive.

This configuration is also available in other markets as the RAV4 PHEV which, if unchanged, means the Buddy is capable of a 6.2 second 0-100km/h sprint thanks to 302hp and 228Nm. Pretty impressive.

Without any images showing the cabin, we’ve no idea what changes have been made in there. However, we’d be very surprised if Mitsuoka hasn’t gone to town to render the interior as vintage and retro-chic as the exterior.

In typical fashion for the marque, there’s not much chance that the Buddy will be making its way to showrooms anywhere else apart from Japan and a few select foreign markets, nor will we end up seeing too many on the road in any case due to their small-ish production numbers. Mitsuoka hasn't even revealed exactly when the first real one will be produced, so who knows...


VIDEO: Motorcyclist Saves Child Running Across Busy Street

This one may not be for the faint-hearted, but thankfully, no one was injured. We're sharing this video in the hope that this sort of thing doesn't happen again.
A new video has just come to our attention, making its rounds on
social media
, and is a due reminder to all parents to please be mindful of your children and their whereabouts at all times.
The incident is believed to have taken place last Thursday (18
th
, June 2015) at Jalan Kampung Sireh in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, where a child, no more than the age of two to four, is seen running across a busy street.
Obviously, the child’s parents are nowhere to be seen in the video, completely clueless to the whereabouts of their child. The child crosses one lane, then almost another, then dashes back across after almost being hit by two motorcycles, then freezes in the middle of the street.
Thankfully, a motorcyclist out of camera stops and runs to the child’s aid, carrying him safely across.
This is a reminder to all parents to be mindful of your children’s whereabouts – roadside or not. This sort of responsibility isn’t something newly required, nor should journalists be the ones to highlight to parents. But the devastating result of what could have been should that child not be so lucky is something we cannot stomach. Yet, we’re sure this sort of recklessness occurs more often than we like to know.
Please. Take care of your children. The road is far from somewhere a child should be playing, let alone be left to wander about.
Watch this, be thankful nothing happened, and share it with your friends and family as a reminder to be more careful.
To the motorcyclist who saved the child, you are a hero.
If for some reason the video below doesn’t work with your browser (we’re working on a fix), click
HERE
 to watch the video.

Mohon ibubapa lebih peka terhadap keselamatan anak2
Mohon ibubapa lebih peka terhadap keselamatan anak2. Lokasi kejadian, Jalan Kampung Sireh, Kota Bharu. Kejadian berlaku semalam 18/6/2015.More : Sukan Star TVBy : Sukan Star .com @ sukanstar.com
Posted by
Sukan Star TV
 on Friday, 19 June 2015


Review: JDM Honda HR-V Hybrid – The Better HR-V That We Can’t Have, Yet

By now, you would’ve been aware that Toyota will be launching the C-HR early next year. Powered by a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated Dual VVT-i petrol engine, the front-wheel drive only Toyota C-HR is mechanically similar to the segment leading Honda HR-V.
However their similarity stops there. Beyond the oily bits, the two crossovers diverge significantly in their product concept.
The HR-V is an exercise of function over form, prioritizing interior space and practicality over exterior styling. The C-HR however, represents a total opposite. All about style and little else, the C-HR has less space inside than a Toyota Vios, but this is unlikely to matter to buyers looking for something stylish and unique. Whichever way you look at it, the C-HR is certainly shaping up to be a strong contender.
As the leading non-national brand in Malaysia, surely Honda won’t be sitting idle.
We have reasons to believe that Honda Malaysia will soon expand the HR-V’s model range to include a hybrid variant.
The HR-V is already assembled locally at Honda Malaysia’s plant in Melaka and shares many components with the Jazz and City, including hybrid components and the centre fuel tank layout (a patented design by Honda) Global Small Car platform.
As such, the HR-V Hybrid is a realistic candidate to take advantage of Malaysia’s tax incentives for locally-produced energy efficient vehicles.
The Toyota C-HR is also available as a hybrid, but reliable sources have indicated to us that this variant will
only be available in Thailand
, which also supplies to regular petrol powered C-HR to Malaysia. That’s a loss for Toyota and a strategic gain for Honda.
To date, the HR-V Hybrid exists only in Japan under the Vezel Hybrid nameplate.
Understandably, Honda Malaysia declined to deny or confirm if the HR-V Hybrid is in the plans for Malaysia, but at the sidelines of the recently concluded 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, they did pass us the keys to the Honda HR-V (Vezel) Hybrid. So we leave it to you to make your own conclusions.
How Different Is It From A Regular HR-V?
Instead of a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre i-VTEC and CVT-type automatic transmission, the HR-V Hybrid shares the same drivetrain as the Jazz Hybrid and City Hybrid – the 1.5-litre Sport Hybrid i-DCD (Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive) engine paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
To briefly recap, i-DCD is significantly better in every way than earlier generations of Honda hybrid models. Unlike the previous IMA (Intelligent Motor Assist) mild-hybrid system, i-DCD is a full-hybrid.
For the average consumer, you can ignore all the confusing acronyms and terminologies. All you need to know is all Honda hybrids now driver smoother in stop-go traffic, as it can drive off in electric power alone. Plus, the air-conditioning works even when the engine has been shut off while idling, a luxury that drivers of the Honda Insight and CR-Z don’t have.
The high voltage battery is located under the boot floor. Compared to a regular HR-V’s 437-litre boot space, the hybrid model’s boot is slightly smaller as the boot floor has been raised, but you would only notice the difference when you compare them side by side.
As with the Jazz Hybrid and City Hybrid, there’s no space for a spare wheel, not even a space-saver type. You will have to make do with a tyre repair kit.
Inside, the mechanical gear shifter has been replaced with a shift-by-wire joystick-like control. With no mechanical linkages underneath the panel, the HR-V signature two-tier centre console now has more utility space underneath than before. In the regular HR-V, most of the space in the lower-tier section is dominated by a housing for the gear shifter's linkage, severely limiting the two-tier layout's utility potential. In the HR-V hybrid, users can now rearch HDMI and USB ports beneath with greater ease.
And of course, the instrument panel is also different - with additional displays for the hybrid drivetrain's status.
Since this is a Japanese market model, it looks a little different from our local HR-V - front fog lamps are LEDs instead of regular halogen bulb units and the LED tail lights are also different (but similar to Thailand market models). Our test car is the sportier RS variant, so it adds black painted exterior trims.
Does It Drive Better Than The Regular HR-V?
Yes it does. Like all Honda hybrids, the HR-V hybrid benefits from a tighter, better resolved chassis tuning. Overall ride and handling is just better.
While the Jazz Hybrid and City Hybrid are noticeably more powerful than the regular petrol-powered variants thanks to additional torque from the electric motor, the difference is less so in the HR-V.
In simple terms, the combined output of petrol and electric power is 152 hp and 190 Nm, far more than a regular 1.8-litre variant's 142 hp and 172 Nm.
In a small car like the Jazz and City, that makes a lot of difference. In the bigger and heavier HR-V, which already had a 1.8-litre to begin with, the difference is less so, on paper at least.
In real world driving, the combination of a faster shifting and direct power delivery dual-clutch transmission, instantaneous torque delivery from the electric motor, a more balanced weight distribution (the high voltage battery is behind) and a revised suspension makes the hybrid variant a lot better to drive.
While we love the regular HR-V for its practicality, we didn’t like the standard car’s ride and handling. Its suspension was soft but oddly this didn’t resulted in a comfortable ride. It lacks sufficient travel and crashes into its bump stops even at low speeds, and doesn’t isolate rough patches of tarmac very well.
In this hybrid variant however, we didn’t experience any of those shortcomings. Of course, we are also aware that Japanese roads are a lot smoother than ours so we will reserve our verdict on overall comfort.
We had the chance to drive the HR-V Hybrid up Japan’s famous Mazda Hakone Turnpike and the Ashinoko Skyline route. It’s a challenging enough ‘touge’ (Japanese for mountain pass) route to but the presence of tourist vans and Sunday drivers also mean that we need to drive within six- or seven-tenths of the car’s limits rather than going full ten-tenths maximum attack on Japan’s most famous touge roads. Besides, the many tyre marks on the road that went straight into a stone wall serve as regular reminders that this route demands respect and talent.
The roads here are tight and experiencing it first-hand makes you understand why spotters on walkie-talkies are included in the Initial D manga/anime. Driving on roads like these makes us understand why 'kei' sports cars like the S660 makes perfect sense here.
Climbing uphill at full throttle, the HR-V Hybrid doesn’t struggle as much as the regular model did, and the presence of paddle shifters added another level of control that’s certainly appreciated on such challenging roads.
Steering response is also more precise than the regular HR-V and overall, the car’s dynamics do a better job at tracing your intended driving line.
We were also running behind schedule as we had to return the cars to Tokyo by evening, which was a pity as it meant that we just didn’t have time to savour the beautiful scenery or stop for the obligatory photo shoot.
Carving our way past the mountainous roads, snaking through the turnpike’s famous consecutive hairpin turns, the HR-V never felt nervous at all.
With the transmission in Sport mode, we flicked the paddles to knock down a couple of ratios to power past slower tourist vehicles whenever the road widens up, with the Sport Hybrid i-DCD engine proving itself to be up to the task, at least as far as short bursts of acceleration is needed. Power delivery from the dual-clutch automatic was smooth, fast and felt direct enough, with none of the uncertainty of the regular CVT-equipped HR-V.
Downhill, it also provided stronger engine braking. Coming downhill fast, understeer is typically exaggerated in such conditions but in the HR-V Hybrid, there was little drama so long as you know what you are doing and continue feeding the car with clean, smooth and measured steering and braking inputs.
The car pitches, dives, and rolls in a much more controlled manner than we remember the regular HR-V did in similar conditions in Genting Highlands.
Rejoining the highway, we soon got stuck right in the middle of Tokyo’s notorious traffic jam but it did provided us with a good environment to evaluate the smoothness of the hybrid drivetrain in stop-go traffic, which to most buyers, is far more important than how it handled the touge roads.
With the high voltage battery above 50 percent, the HR-V Hybrid inches forward in electric power alone most of the time. When the engine does kick in, it’s smooth enough that you will barely notice it.
However as the charge levels drop, the engine kicks in earlier more frequently and there is a noticeable reduction in its smoothness. It is from this moment onwards that stop-go drive becomes less smooth. You will notice the clutches engaging and disengaging every time you pull away from idle.
In these heavy urban traffic driving scenarios, a Toyota hybrid with its E-CVT – which is actually a planetary gear set rather than a CVT since it doesn’t use any belts – is much smoother. However the comparison is purely academic as Toyota’s sole remaining hybrid model in Malaysia is the Camry Hybrid (from RM160,200) , which is a lot more expensive than any Honda hybrids.
Our test car is equipped with Honda Sensing, a feature that’s currently already available in the CR-V and Accord. This allows the HR-V’s Auto Brake Hold function, already available in the standard HR-V, to be paired to Sensing’s radar and camera for added functionalities.
With Auto Brake Hold active, you are free to take your foot off the brake pedal when the vehicle is stopped in traffic while the system maintains brake pressure, releasing smoothly only when you accelerate.
Paired with Honda Sensing, the hybrid variant’s Auto Brake Hold now alerts a distracted driver (yes, we know that you look at your phones when stuck in traffic) with a gentle buzz once the vehicle in front has driven off.
Overall, despite hard driving on touge roads plus the heavy traffic in Tokyo, we recorded an average fuel consumption of 15 km/litre, which is remarkably good considering nature of our driving routes and pace.
When is it coming to Malaysia?
At the moment, this remains a forbidden fruit for those of us living outside of Japan. Publically, Honda Malaysia has not committed itself to any timeline to introduce the HR-V Hybrid. However we have strong reasons to suspect that the model will be introduced sometime late next year to strengthen the HR-V range’s defense against the upcoming Toyota C-HR, due sometime between early-Q1 and late-Q2.
The model might not be available outside of Japan yet but remember that Honda Malaysia was also the first and only overseas Honda distributor to introduce the FD generation Civic Type-R, Jazz Hybrid and City Hybrid.
What will be the estimated price, if it is to be launched in Malaysia?
Assuming that Honda Malaysia will maintain its current objective of promoting hybrid models as an affordable alternative rather than as a range topping variant, we speculate that the HR-V Hybrid is likely to be priced below the most expensive HR-V 1.8V (RM 117,430).
However, it will also mean that the HR-V hybrid will lose a bit of features from the V-grade variant, mirroring the features/specifications hierarchy of the Jazz and City model range.
Should I wait for this?
With no estimated timeline, you could be in for a very long wait. Besides, if the Jazz Hybrid and City Hybrid is a reliable indication, the list of features in the HR-V Hybrid is very likely to be lower than the petrol-only HR-V 1.8V model.
However if you appreciate the lower fuel cost of hybrids but are not willing to settle for a smaller Jazz or a City, and you want a crossover that handle and drive better, this could be something worth waiting (a year?) for. If money is less of a concern for you and you like your car with all the fancy features thrown in, just go ahead with the top specs HR-V 1.8V model.


Mercedes-Benz S560e Launched In Malaysia, Priced From An Est. RM 658,888

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has introduced the new S560e in Malaysia, adding a plug-in hybrid to its S-Class line-up.
The S560e is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 that does 367 hp and 500 Nm, which is supplemented by a 90 kW electric motor that delivers a peak torque of 400 Nm. The combined system output for the S560e is 476 hp and 700 Nm, allowing the large luxury saloon to complete the century sprint in just 5.0 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz also replaced the old 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission with a newer 9G-Tronic Plus nine-speed automatic.
Thanks to a new 37 Ah battery pack, the S560e boasts an electric driving range of about 50 km. The new battery pack is also more compact than the one found in the S400h, allowing boot space in the S560e to be increased to 410 litres, up from the 395 litres of the S400h.
Standard equipment on the Mercedes-Benz S560e include:
Multibeam LED headlights
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus
19-inch alloy wheels
Nappa leather upholstery
Brown burr walnut wood trim
Ambient lighting
Multicontour rear seats with massage function
Comand Online infotainment system
Burmester surround sound system
Qi wireless charging at front and rear
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Active Distance Assist
Active Steering Assist
Active Parking Assist with Parktronic
360-degree camera
The Mercedes-Benz S560e is priced from an estimated RM 658,888 and is assembled at the company’s plant in Pekan, Pahang. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is also offering the S560e with its Agility Financing plan that starts from RM 6,588.
Looking for a new Mercedes-Benz? Find for the best deals
here
.


Torque Equals Speed – And Here’s Why It Matters

What exactly is torque, and why you always need more of it to go fast!

One of the most prolific minds in all of automotive history, Soichiro Honda once said - “We only have one future, and it will be made of our dreams, if we have the courage to challenge convention.”

Born to a poor family and with little formal education, at age 15, Honda left his village to work as a mechanic in Tokyo. A long 27 years later, he would go on to establish his namesake company, which 72 years later, is one of the greatest automotive companies the world has ever known.

If that is not desire and achievement fuelled by the “power of dreams” – we do not know what is!

All successes that have come for Honda, have been driven by Soichiro’s principles of creativity, hard work, betterment for the community, and the willingness to challenge convention.

Back in the mid-80s, Honda’s were far from the last word in performance. Yes, they had an illustrious motorcycle racing heritage, and successful eras in Formula 1, but their road cars rarely resembled their race efforts and technology.

Building the dream engine

So, they challenged convention. Honda wanted to create a naturally-aspirated engine that would produce a specific output of 100 hp/litre, deliver torque across the rev range, and achieve good fuel economy – to say these were lofty ambitions is an understatement, it was pure insanity at the time!

However, the best part is: Honda wanted to do all this with an engine capacity of just 1.6 litres.

Yet when Honda’s NCE (New Concept Engine) program began in 1984, not one engineer backed down from the challenge. Under the stewardship of Project Leader Ikuo Kajitani, and nearly 5 years of brilliant engineering, development, and execution – the “B16A” four-cylinder was born. Honda's first engine with a specific output of 100 hp/litre (total 160 hp at 7,600rpm).

The first Honda model to receive the new 1.6-litre VTEC engine was the 1989 Honda Integra. The engine technology was subsequently adapted for use in other models such as the Civic, Accord, and legendary NSX.

It’s worth noting that in 1989, the 3.2-litre V8 that powered Ferrari’s 328 GTS produced 84 hp/litre (total 270 bhp), and the 3.3-litre turbocharged flat-six in Porsche’s (930) 911 Turbo developed around 85 hp/litre (total 282bhp).

Nearly three decades on, Honda’s little 1.6-litre VTEC powerplant is lauded as one of the best engines ever created. In addition, every VTEC engine that followed – namely from the Honda B-, F-, H- and K-Series of engines – became more powerful, more efficient, and most importantly, VTEC engines gained a cult-like following like no other across the world. In short, VTEC put Honda on the map!

However, the VTEC engine was far from perfect...

Honda’s VTEC technology was as brilliant as it was simple and reliable. Concisely – and this has probably been written about a gazillion times – VTEC allows for more air and fuel to get into the engine to make more power. VTEC engines have a unique camshaft and rocker assembly – which at certain engine RPM engages a different camshaft profile that alters the amount of valve lift and duration – how much the valves open and for how long. The bigger and longer that opening is, the more air and fuel, and boom… power!

Therefore, when driving at low speeds, the default cam provides good fuel economy and drivability, but once you start to push the engine – say to above 5,200 rpm for instance – VTEC is engaged and what you get is essentially the characteristics of a high-revving race engine. Honda wasn’t alone in the development of variable valve timing, BMW introduced their Vanos system shortly after, Toyota eventually introduced their ‘VVT-I’ systems, and Alfa Romeo started tinkering with systems like these in the early 80s – but none were more effective, or characterful than Honda’s.

Despite the huge horsepower numbers VTEC engines could generate, they lacked torque lower down within the rev range. Therefore, if the driver needed more acceleration, one would have to rev the engines senselessly to find that power, which as you might surmise, is not ideal within the confines of city driving. Moreover, not the most refined driving experience as well – because revving out your engine also produces more noise and vibration.

It is for this reason, European manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz still utilise larger six-cylinder engines, for their silky smooth power delivery, quiet operation, and dollops of torque down low in the rev range. With a larger inline-six cylinder engine, a simple prod of the accelerator will get the car up to cruising speeds; this is great for both cruising around the city and spirited driving on the backroads.

In other words, torque is the energy you can feel instantly when driving, and more of the time when you drive.

However, as we all know, the only constant in life is change!

As technology progressed forward and emission and fuel regulations got tighter over the years – manufacturers have had to make engines smaller in capacity and find or add power and torque from outside the engine.

Given what they could extract from within the engine (via variable cam timing and intelligent combustion cycles) was limited, manufacturers moved to turbocharging and hybrid systems to help the engine, and provide more power, torque, and at the same time fuel efficiency.

There are a variety of ways to achieve this, turbocharging is the most prominent. Turbocharging utilises energy from burnt exhaust gases to power a compressor that supplies pressurised air to the engine. More air and fuel sent to the engine equals more torque and power. Turbocharging has been around for decades, and like the internal combustion engine – has grown more complex and efficient over the years.

But like most things mechanical, there’s always a sweet spot – (with some exceptions) smaller turbochargers generate less power but provide a boost of torque earlier in the rev range, bigger turbos provide a larger dose of power, but take longer to ‘spool’ up. Of course, manufacturers have come up with a plethora of ways to counteract the negative drawbacks of turbocharging, but limitations remain.

In recent, hybrid technology has changed the game.

Electric motors are instantaneously able to add torque or horsepower virtually instantly, at any point within the rev range. That coupled with the obvious benefits of being able to drive the car without the engine – as is the case in some battery-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Is it any wonder then, why the upcoming Honda City RS, will offer up to 253Nm of torque? Can you imagine that performance in essentially a small family car?

To put that into perspective, that’s more torque than a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine outputs, and more torque than the 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Volkswagen Tiguan.

But, why is torque so important?

By definition, torque refers to the rotational force produced by the engine. The greater the torque, the greater the engine’s ability to do work, i.e.: drive the wheels. Horsepower or power refers to the rate of which work is accomplished, more power, higher rate of work – more speed!

In more layman terms, when we drive our cars – torque refers to the amount of energy the engine can produce to start moving the car, in other words accelerate. Moreover, we first need to accelerate to get up to speed, before we can add speed, and go faster.

Makes sense right!

So if you can imagine your car’s tachometer – and those numbers that read between 1,000rpm and 6,500rpm. A car with great torque and horsepower would have a linear and progressive amount of energy all throughout that rev range.

An engine with great torque is felt between the regions of 1,000rpm to 4,500rpm, a car with less torque but a lot of horsepower, would typically have less energy down low, but more reserves up higher, much like the aforementioned VTECs of yore. However, in our daily driving, when we need power, it is down low in the rev range, and not up top.

Having abundant and instantaneous torque allows easy acceleration and effortless driving. Hence, setting off from a traffic light or when trying to enter a roundabout – a light tap of the pedal will get the car moving precisely as fast as you need it to.

An engine with great torque also means climbing hills or a steep car park ramp is much easier, because all the energy from the engine comes quickly, we won’t need to push the engine hard to climb the hill. Therefore, a car with good torque will more often than not be a stellar performer if you were to drive it up Genting Highlands or the hilly regions of Sabah for instance.

Other dividends of a high torque engine is its linearity of engine response, the more linear an engine – the easier it is to drive at both low and high speeds, the easier it is to gauge overtaking, and the more predictable a car is when coming out of a corner.

In short, when you need that burst of speed, its torque, and not horsepower that makes all the difference.


Finally, There Is An Aston Martin We Can Afford Thanks To Lego

Lego today announced the launch of the Lego Creator Expert James Bond Aston Martin DB5.
Modelled after the Aston Martin DB5 from the 1964 hit film Goldfinger, the latest model in the Lego Creator Expert series even features a wide range of authentic gadgets and gizmos created by Q, James Bond's good old gadget expert.
They include a working ejector seat, revolving number plates, radar tracker, hidden telephone, bulletproof shield, front wing machine guns, and also wheel mounted tyre scythes.
Featuring 1,290 pieces, the 1:8 scale model’s key features include the Silver Birch paint, sloped headlamps, and drum lacquered silver front and rear bumpers just like the real car.
The moulded silver wire wheel rim inserts also feature the iconic Aston Martin wings that match the wings on the front and rear of the car.
Pop open the bonnet to find a detailed six cylinder engine and open the doors of the car to reveal a radar tracker, as well as a telephone tucked away in the secret door compartment.
The finished model measures over 10 cm in height, 34 cm long, and 12 cm wide.
To celebrate the launch, LEGO Group is also offering the chance to win a once in a lifetime trip to 007 Elements in Sölden, Austria ‘the ultimate James Bond experience.


Mitsubishi Confirms That Ralliart Will Return In 2023

In its most recent annual financial report, Mitsubishi dropped a rather tantalising golden nugget of news in that it plans to revive its hallowed Ralliart brand as a means to further offer customers more “Mistubishi Motors-ness” with their vehicles.

The long-dormant moniker, which was scaled back starting in 2010 (due to financial pressures), and put to rest – drawing an end to its storied involvement in motorsports – especially in the disciplines of
rallying
 and endurance off-roading events such as the Paris-Dakar.

Though the Ralliart name continued to be around in some capacity to cap off limited-run models of the iconic
Lancer Evolution X model
 until the mid-2010s – it was by then a shadow of its older self.

How will Ralliart return?

The plan now, however, is to revive Ralliart as an in-house sub-brand that will give birth to sporty versions of its current lineup and offer aftermarket accessories and parts. AutoExpress UK also reported that Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kato saying there are plans to take the name back to “motorsports events around the world.”

While that last bit of news will undoubtedly cause some fanfare amongst Mitsubishi and motorsport fans – we struggle to imagine with what car and where Mitsubishi plans to go racing. With the company following the fad of moving to
SUVs, hybridisation
, electrification and its Triton pickup truck business separately doing well – there seems to be a lack of a proper product from which to develop into the foray of motorsports.

With no Lancer Evolution sedan or Colt hatchback, or sedans and hatchbacks of any kind, Mitsubishi could likely only be looking at off-road motorsports – which granted is no bad thing.

What's the plan?

The plans, which take effect starting 2023 should see the Ralliart treatment being applied for two SUVs – our best guess from the presentation material is it’s the
all-new Outlander
 and much anticipated
Eclipse Cross
.

We also cannot forget
Mistubishi’s venerable Triton
 as well, which will see a mid-life update due sometime in 2022.

At the same time, we cannot discount Mitsubishi might gain certain models, especially hatchbacks through its
larger alliance with Renault and Nissan
, which are also reported as part of its post-2023 plans. The report also states two incoming OEM models from Renault as part of this.

This should give Ralliart the proper toys to play with from which to develop a range of aspirational models from which to rebuild the Ralliart brand.

Will we see another Lancer Evolution?

Well, it for sure won’t be a four-door sedan, Mitsubishi has previously teased the
Mitsubishi e-Evolution (e-Evo) Concept
 – an all-electric high-performance SUV that embodies the company’s renewed ambition to develop fun and desirable products.

And while it may not have a chirpy, buzzing turbocharged engine, the e-Evo is claimed to use three high-torque electric motors, fed by a high-capacity battery system to deliver smooth and responsive performance.

The drive battery is mounted under the floor at the midspan of the vehicle, to provide a low centre of gravity. Power to all four wheels, in familiar Evo fashion, is delivered by Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamic control system for enhanced traction.


Seven Neat Details about the 2015 MINI Clubman

Compared to its quirky predecessor,
the new 2015 MINI Clubman
 looks almost conventional with its four forward-hinged occupant doors, instead of the asymmetrical three-door plus suicide door arrangement that its predecessor was known/criticised for. The only distinguishing design feature the two cars share is the split rear door arrangement.
However after our first drive of the new
MINI Clubman
 in Stockholm, we can say that it is far from the case of being “more of the same, only slightly better”. With
MINI
 striking out into the “premium compact class”, occupied by the likes of the
Audi A3 Sportback
, MINI has incorporated several neat design cues into the new Clubman that certainly elevates the Clubman's status and is deserving of a mention.
1 – ‘Chester’ Diamond Stitch Upholstery is quite Exclusive
If you have seen the pictures of the new MINI Clubman, chances are it will be sporting a deep rich purple paintjob on the outside and blue leather seats on the inside. Those seats are MINI's new 'Chester' upholstery and not only do they look good, but they aren't your normal fare with MINIs or even BMWs.
If you have ever flipped through the options list of any BMW, you would have noticed that you won’t find such a diamond-stitch pattern available in BMW models. According to Oliver Sieghart, head of MINI interior design, the Clubman is the only other model besides
the brand new 7-Series
 to feature such an upholstery design. It looks part exquisite, part excessive, and actually pretty attractive.
2 – More Customisation Options
Personalisation has been a big part of the MINI appeal, and the Clubman would be bringing the customisation options up a notch, especially when it comes the interior. The dashboard itself has three customisable styling elements, the cockpit fascia inserts that run horizontally across the dashboard, the cockpit fascia frame that circles around the dashboard, the door bezel, and centre console bracket.
Sieghart is especially proud of the Clubman’s unique cockpit fascia frame design element and the angular air conditioning vents, which is made with a precise fit and finish, and gives the cabin a premium appearance.
3 – Mesmerising Door Panel Light Show is Produced from a Single LED
One option that should pique your interest is the
MINI Yours
 illuminated door bezels, which light up like a huge disco ball and changes colour according to the car’s cyclic ambient lighting colours. Rather than using a whole panel of tiny LED lights, the illuminated door panel achieves this lighting trick through a single LED light hooked up to fibre optics that dispense light through tiny little holes in the panel.
4 – Plenty of Tartan Patterns to be Found
Whether you like it or not, the tartan pattern is kind of cool to have in a small hatchback. For the Clubman, MINI has inserted several tartan-patterned non-slip mats in storage compartments around the Clubman. That being said, these mats are removable if you don’t fancy having tartan in the first place.
5 – Those Big Signature Taillights Isn’t the Clubman's Brake Lights
It might sound strange but as far as we can tell, the Clubman’s huge signature taillights aren’t there to light up when you get on the brakes. Instead it serves the role of parking lights or daytime running lights to let others know of its presence.
In fact the braking lights are the two light clusters located on the rear bumper, below the rear doors. They might be small, but they will certainly light up the rear like a Christmas tree and are rather effective at telling others that you are slowing down.
The decision to put the brake lights there is to fulfill legal requirements that require the brake lights to be pointing rearward to warn oncoming cars when the rear boot door is open. With the signature taillights being an integrated part of the rear doors, thus putting it out of sight of oncoming traffic when the doors are open, MINI engineers had to relocate the real brake lights to the bumper instead.
6 – Alarm Blinkers are Inspired by Aircraft Positioning Lights
Sitting atop its immensely long roof is the Clubman's tiny shark fin shaped antenna, but rather than just leaving it as that, MINI’s designers decided to integrate the alarm blinker light on its tip. MINI says that this design feature was inspired by the positioning lights on aircrafts, and is meant to help owners locate their cars in a crowded parking lot. To the best of their knowledge the Clubman is the only car to come factory fitted with such a design feature, though whether the light will help owners find their car amongst a parking lot full of other Clubmans is yet to be verified.
7 – A MINI Logo will Show you the Way to the Driver’s Door
Afraid that you might lose your way to the driver’s seat in the dark? Don’t worry, the Clubman’s optional MINI Excitement package will add a small light beneath the driver’s door mirror which will project a welcoming MINI logo onto the ground for 20 seconds to help you find your way to the door.
That being said, it remains to be seen what features would be included in the upcoming MINI Clubman when it arrives on our shores on the second-quarter of next year. If our first impressions of the MINI Clubman is anything to go by, our expectations for it is pretty high.


TERKINI: Full Lockdown - dari 1 Hingga 14 Jun 2021

Kerajaan Malaysia telah memutuskan untuk melaksanakan total ataupun full lockdown dari Jun 1 hingga Jun 14, 2021.

Keputusan ini dibuat dan diumumkan baru-baru tadi melalui satu kenyataan daripada Pejabat Perdana Menteri.

Full atau total lockdown ini bermaksud penutupan penuh sektor sosial dan ekonomi Fasa Pertama di seluruh negara bagi tempoh 14 hari bermula 1 hingga 14 Jun 2021 kecuali bagi negeri Sarawak yang akan memulakan PKP bermula esok (29 Mei) seperti yang telah diputuskan oleh Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN).

Sepanjang tempoh ini semua sektor tidak dibenarkan beroperasi KECUALI sektor ekonomi dan perkhidmatan perlu
(essential economic and service sector)
yang bakal disenaraikan oleh MKN dan Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI).

Keputusan ini diambil setelah mengambil kira situasi genting terkini penularan wabak COVID-19 di Malaysia yang telah mencatatkan angka tertingginya hari ini (28 Mei 2021) sebanyak 8,290 kes positif dan kes aktif melebihi 70,000 kes.

Sekiranya lockdown Fasa Pertama ini dikira berjaya dan bilangan kes harian berjaya diturunkan, kerajaan akan beralih ke lockdown Fasa Kedua - lockdown Fasa Kedua akan membenarkan pembukaan beberapa sektor ekonomi yang tidak akan melibatkan golongan yang ramai atau perhimpunan yang besar. Segala jenis sektor ini juga perlu memenuhi SOP penjarakan fizikal. Lockdown Fasa Kedua ini dijangka untuk berlangsung selama tempoh empat minggu selepas Fasa Pertama.

Bagi Fasa Ketiga pula, kerajaan akan melaksanakan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan seperti MCO 3.0 ataupun PKP 3.0 sekarang.

Namun begitu jangkamasa yang diberi bagi Fasa Pertama dan Fasa Kedua tertakluk kepada penilaian risiko oleh Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM).

Kementerian Kewangan juga akan memperincikan pakej bantuan kepada rakyat dan sektor ekonomi yang terkesan dalam masa terdekat ini.

Sekarang nak tak nak kenalah #dudukrumah kan? Jadi sama-sama kita berdisiplin, jaga diri dan keluarga. #KitaJagaKita

*Cover image ehsan Astro Awani

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First Six Units Of Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) In Malaysia Handed Over To Customers In Style

First launched in Malaysia in October with a starting price of RM2.23 million, the latest 991.2 generation 911 GT3 RS is a 520 hp, road legal, race-ready version of the 500 hp 911 GT3 (from RM1.74 million). In the 911 hierarchy, it’s bettered only by the RM3.17 million 700 hp GT2 RS.
Yesterday, Porsche delivered the first batch of 911 GT3 RS models to six lucky owners in a one of a kind vehicle delivery experience at the Sepang International Circuit.
Instead of being handed over the keys to their new 911 in a Porsche showroom, owners were invited to the track to see their new cars driven towards them on Sepang’s main straight, in a convoy lead by a Porsche GT3 Cup race car, driven by none other than Porsche Carrera Cup Asia’s Will Bamber.
With this being a GT3 RS, it was only fitting for the owners to try out their new cars for the first time in a race track, with the benefit of guidance from certified Porsche instructors.
Owners also got to play race drivers for a day, complete with pit crew to check on their cars and pit garages with their names painted on it.
“It was a unique occasion for six new owners of the new 911 GT3 RS. Not only did they receive the keys to their brand new sports car, but they also got to experience the capabilities of their car in a controlled environment and a day of adrenaline-pumping driving in a real motorsport atmosphere. I am sure they will not soon forget the experience of buying one of the greatest Porsche GT cars, a Porsche which they can drive to work during the weekdays and have fun on the racetrack on the weekend, said Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance, the distributor of Porsche vehicles in Malaysia.
To recap, the 911 GT3 RS is powered by a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine that produces 520 hp and 470 Nm, 20 hp and 10 Nm more than a regular GT3. It comes with the all-wheel drive 911 Turbo’s wide body, except that it’s a rear-wheel drive car, driven by a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
With this being closer to a track car, it swaps top speed for acceleration. The GT3 RS sprints from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the regular PDK-equipped GT3. Top speed however, is 8 km/h slower, at 312 km/h. It lapped the Nurburgring in 6:56.4
The biggest difference between the GT3 RS and a regular GT3 are the rear wing, vents on the front fenders, and NACA ducts on the front boot lid.
Most of the cars were ordered with the the Weissach package, a limited-run package that focuses on reducing weight, featuring carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) exterior panels that consist of the front bonnet, the roof, side mirrors, and the “Porsche” lettering on the rear wing.
Inside, the Weissach package replaces the “standard” steel-made Clubsport roll cage to a lighter titanium material (less 12 kilograms). The lightest configuration of the 911 GT3 RS tips the scales at just 1,430 kilograms.


Can You Take A Porsche Cayenne Off-Road?

When a company like
 Porsche
 invites you over to the racetrack and says that you will be driving its vehicles all-day long, the models which you will be expecting to get your hands on are obviously the performance based ones rather than SUVs and large sedans, which are more likely to be used as shuttle vehicles for visitors.
However, when we visited the Sepang International Circuit last month for the Porsche World Roadshow 2016, one of the exercises in which we were required to participate was an “off-road” session, which took us by surprise.
Come on, who would go to SIC for off-road lessons, right? Plus, this was Porsche of all the brands.
And of course, we couldn’t help it but jokingly ask Porsche driving instructors if we were going to see how well the
Boxster
 or the
911 Carrera
 handle the gravel if at all it goes off the track.
And then, when the time came, we headed to a purpose-built off-road course within the motocross track at the Sepang International Circuit to witness the off-road capabilities of the
Cayenne
 – something that often goes unmentioned – first hand.
The off-road session comprised a few exercises for the Cayenne such as driving through massive inclines, on a 45-degree hill climb and hill descent, as well as through a diagonal surface.
There were six units of Cayennes comprising the Diesel, Turbo, S, and also the base variant for this exercise. However, it didnt really matter which version we drove as they were all just as capable off-road. So, after a quick briefing from the instructors, we got into our respective Cayennes and went off the beaten track.
Although it is marketed as a premium urban SUV, what the Cayenne was capable of doing off-road was nothing short of impressive. All we had to do was jump into the driver’s seat, put the SUV in Off-Road mode, and turn on the Hill Control system and let it do the rest.
Once we turned the driver aids on, we raised the Cayenne’s air suspensions by 110mm to a full 268mm (32mm shorter than the Range Rover’s 300mm) to give it maximum ground clearance. After that, the Porsche Traction Management system worked its magic by deciding how much power each tyre needed while the rear differential was locked, and off we went.
First, we drove through a series of massive inclines where only two tyres were making contact with the surface at a time. Despite the extreme wheel articulation and it looked like we were hanging on to dear life from outside, things felt unbelievably comfortable and composed in the cabin.
After that, it was time to put the Hill Control system through a steep incline. Unlike most vehicles out there where the typical Hill-Descent Control will only hold a vehicle for a few seconds before it rolls down, Porsche’s system will keep holding the vehicle until the driver intervenes.
Now, the most interesting part about the off-road exercise was that the Cayenne aced it while sporting nothing more than low-profile road tyres. Maybe they were deflated a little for grip, but the point is that they were still road tyres.
Coming back to the question – Can a Porsche Cayenne be taken off-road? – Absolutely! Thanks to the air suspensions which translate to good ground clearance, Porsche Traction Management, the PDK gearbox, and of course, the driver aid systems.
As much as we were dreading the off-road session and thought that it would be a waste of time, it actually turned out to be one of the highlights of the day as many of those who were present were surprised at how capable the Cayenne is.
And while what we saw in Sepang was just a glimpse of the Cayenne's abilities, our colleagues took things to the next level with the Cayenne and Macan during the
Porsche Adventure Drive in Cambodia
.
So, yes, looking at how capable the Cayenne and the
Macan
 are, It is no surprise that they are actually the brand’s global best sellers.
Looking for a Porsche? Find one now at
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Subaru Outs All-New BRZ - Sharper Looks, Bigger Engine, Same RWD Purity

Subaru has pulled back the proverbial curtain to reveal their all-new BRZ, the
highly anticipated successor
 to the everyman’s front-engine rear-wheel drive coupe, introducing some welcome improvements while staying very true to the intents and overall approach of the 2012 original.

Naturally, the car will also be available as the Toyota-badged 86 (or GT86 in certain markets), both of which should make their on-sale debuts in “early fall 2021” with a 2022 model year designation, meaning we’ve still quite a long wait before these cars appear in showrooms.

The Japanese automaker hasn’t let the next-generation BRZ stray very far from its roots. In fact, it’s hard to say for sure whether this isn’t just a heavy ‘facelift’ packed with major revisions as, so far, nothing really points to a new platform or architecture.

In this new form, the BRZ retains its width but is now 30.5mm longer overall while sporting a wheelbase that’s been very slightly lengthened by 0.6mm. It’s also lower by a minuscule 1.05mm. Good luck verifying that later.

All that being said, there wasn’t exactly a torrent of complaints that needed to be addressed with regard to the original BRZ’s chassis or dynamics or dimensions, though amazingly Subaru says that this new car has improved torsional rigidity by 50 percent.

Obviously, the most important announcement here surrounds the powertrain. Addressing the concerns that the previous car’s FA20 2.0-litre flat-four petrol engine was a little underpowered, a larger 2.4-litre horizontally opposed Boxer engine has been fitted as its successor, mounted such that this new car achieves an even lower centre of gravity than the outgoing model.

To the disappointment of some who wanted a turbocharged mill, the BRZ’s motor remains naturally aspirated but will now deliver a fair bit more grunt at 228hp (over 205hp previously) at 7,000rpm while peak torque has also seen a healthy increase to 250Nm (up by 38Nm) at 3,700rpm. Presumably, this engine is very similar - if not identical - to the
FA24 found in the Subaru Ascent
, minus the forced induction.

Drive is sent rearward through a standard fit 6-speed manual transmission, though a 6-speed torque converter automatic is available as an option. And at least in its North American spec, where buyers can choose between the Premium and Limited trims, each BRZ will come fitted with a limited slip differential from factory, regardless of variant or transmission choice; all in a car weighing just a touch over 1,300kg. Woohoo!

In terms of styling, the basic shape is unaltered but Subaru have clearly given the car’s aesthetic a little more drama and athleticism. Even in this subdued shade of silver, the car’s more aggressive fascia is now characterised by the large side inlets.

Along its side, the car receives contoured elements that start from the sculpted front fender and flared arch which flows into large vents to vacate air pressure from the front wheel wells.

Similarly, there are larger hips around the rear wheels past the doors, so much so that the fuel cap needed to adopt an oblong asymmetrical shape. The rear end itself looks very sophisticated, even upmarket, with its squinted tail light housing, smart looking ducktail spoiler, and large diffuser with integrated dual exhaust exits. Overall, it’s a very balanced design, even downright handsome from some angles.

Inside, the cabin looks familiar but has been significantly revised to keep up with the expectations of its 2022 model year rollout. Highlights in this regard include a 7-inch digital dashboard with customisable readouts as well as an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Subaru’s excellent
EyeSight Driver Assist
 suite is also available but only for cars with the automatic transmission.

Of course it goes without saying that we can’t wait to find out more about this second-generation BRZ, Subaru (and Toyota’s) second stab at delivering accessible rear-drive sports car thrills to the masses. Things look very promising so far.


Tokyo 2017: Toyota Auto Body LCV Concept – Bread Van And Private Lounge All In One

Toyota Auto Body (TAB), the subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation which specialises in the production of vehicle bodywork and bespoke body engineering, has rolled out the (Light Commercial Vehicle) LCV concept – which is designed to be a flexible vehicle that can accommodate the user’s needs, be it work or play.
The LCV is designed to be compact and adaptable to carry passengers in comfort and style or be made to offer economical and durable goods carrying capacity. At the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show, TAB is showcasing the LCV with two distinct interior concepts.
Similar in concept to European market MPV/van models such as the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Renault Trafic, the LCV measures 4,700 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width and 1,885 mm in height, for a comparison – the current-generation Mercedes-Benz Vito van measures between 4,895 and 5,141 mm in length and between 1,927 and 2,242 mm in width depending on the application. Height varies from 1,885 mm for the D-Cargo version to 2120 mm for the Business Lounge Concept.
The D-Cargo concept is envisioned as a small delivery van which is claimed to be easy to operate and drive for female staff. The concept features a wide, front-and-rear sliding doors and a low, flat floor for ease of loading. This also allows the driver’s seat, and cargo to be accessed from the passenger side and vice-versa, allows goods to be handed out without the driver climbing out of the vehicle, thereby increasing efficiency.
Even the front passenger seat area can be used to load longer items. A removable tablet, affixed to the centre of the steering wheel, will display important delivery information to the driver. At the rear, a split opening rear tailgate allows the user to gain access to the inside even in tight parking spots.
In the Executive Lounge concept, the LCV is designed to be a hired vehicle, which is both spacious and luxurious space for jet-setting individuals – offering up a vehicle that allows them to relax and refresh while on their journey.
The higher ceiling height allows passengers to perform various tasks including even a change of clothes, while seats are offered with a comfort mode for relaxation. Easily accessible storage space is on hand if extra storage is needed. Finally, a large screen display gives access to a wide variety of information sources, including video conferencing capability.


Masuk Penjara Jika 'Cop' Parking

Isu cop parking di Malaysia bukanlah perkara baru, terutama sekali di pusat membeli-belah,
kawasan perumahan
 ataupun lot kedai tetapi di bawah Seksyen 50(3) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 anda boleh didenda atau dipenjarakan kerana cop parking.

Undang-undang kesalahan cop parking

Seksyen 50(3) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 menyatakan:

“Jika mana-mana orang melainkan dengan kuasa yang sah, berada di atas mana-mana jalan atau di mana-mana tempat letak kereta bagi maksud mendesak mana-mana orang lain berkenaan dengan penjagaan atau pencucian sesuatu kenderaan motor, atau bagi maksud mengarahkan mana-mana pemandu sesuatu kenderaan motor berkenaan dengan meletakkan kereta di atas jalan atau di tempat itu, dia melakukan suatu kesalahan.”

Undang-undang ini juga boleh diguna pakai di semua kawasan sama ada ditempat awam mahupun di premis swasta termasuk pusat membeli-belah.

Hukuman bagi pesalah cop parking ditetapkan dibawah Seksyen 119 yang membawa penalti tidak lebih RM2 ribu atau penjara tidak lebih 6 bulan bagi kesalahan pertama dan denda sehingga RM4,000 atau penjara tidak lebih 12 bulan bagi kesalahan seterusnya.

Di mana cop parking biasa berlaku?

Cuba anda pusing di sekitar kawasan perumahan anda, cuba perhatikan lot-lot kedai - perasaan tak kon, pasu, tong sampah di letak di tengah-tengah sebuah petak parking. Itu tandanya petak parking itu telah dicop seseorang individu atau premis perniagaan. Kalau di pusat membeli-belah pula, orang sanggup merisikon badan dan nyawa dan berdiri di atas petak parking kosong walaupun ada kereta lain yang ingin parkir di situ.

Di sesetengah kawasan perumahan seperti di TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, penulis sendiri pernah melihat penduduk tanpa kebenaran mahupun segan mendirikan garaj berbumbung bagi parkir kereta mereka di tanah lapang milik awam.

Menurut Pensyarah Kanan Pusat Pengajian Pengurusan Hartanah, Fakulti Senibina Perancangan & Ukur Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, Dr Nurul Nadiah Zainol berkata, trend 'cop' parking ini sering berlaku di kawasan perumahan yang mempunyai jumlah
petak parkir terhad
 dan tiada halangan untuk orang luar keluar dan masuk di kawasan perumahan seperti yang dilaporkan oleh
Harian Metro
.

"Sesetengah penduduk yang tidak bertanggungjawab ini meletakkan objek seperti ampaian, pasu bunga, tong besar, kon dan lain-lain di petak parkir yang mereka ingin gunakan bagi mengelakkan orang lain meletakkan kenderaan di petak parkir itu.

"Masalah ini berlaku berikutan penduduk perlu berebut dengan orang luar yang bebas keluar masuk untuk meletakkan kenderaan di kawasan itu kerana ia bukan tempat letak kereta berpalang dan tiada pengawal keselamatan," dia berkata.

"Ada segelintir penduduk yang tidak berpuas hati juga akan bertindak merosakkan kenderaan dan mengancam keselamatan kenderaan dan penduduk lain. Ini dapat menggugat keharmonian dan kesejahteraan penduduk," Dr Nurul mengulas lanjut

Berapa ramai di antara kita faham dan mengikut undang-undang Malaysia mengenai harta benda dan hak milik awam?

Berapa kali pernah kita jerit atau dengar
 "Your father's parking ah?"

"Ramai rakyat Malaysia beranggapan bahawa 'cop' parking bukan menjadi satu kesalahan kerana mereka adalah penduduk atau pemilik unit di kawasan perumahan itu.

"Walaupun mereka adalah pemilik unit rumah di kawasan itu, sekiranya harga rumah yang dibeli tidak termasuk dengan petak parkir (atau juga dikenali sebagai petak aksesori), mereka tiada hak untuk menjadikan mana-mana petak parkir sebagai hak milik, dan mereka juga tidak boleh menghalang orang lain untuk meletakkan kenderaan di petak itu," Dr Nurul menambah.

Kesalahan di bawah Seksyen 50(3) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987

Kegiatan cop parking ini adalah satu kesalahan di Seksyen 50(3) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 dan individu yang cop parking boleh dikenakan denda maksimum RM2,000, atau penjara tidak melebihi enam bulan bagi kesalahan kali pertama. Jika ianya berulang buat kali kedua dan seterusnya, individu itu boleh dikenakan saman maksimum RM4,000 atau penjara tidak melebihi 12 bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali mengikut Seksyen 119 (2) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987.

Apa yang boleh dillakukan bagi membendung aktiviti cop parking?

Dr Nurul Nadiah Zainol turut mengetengahkan beberapa idea bagi membendung kegiatan cop parking ini daripada berlaku, di antaranya:

Membina tempat parkir bertingkat di kawasan lapang berhampiran bagi menampung jumlah kereta di sesebuah kawasan perumahan.

Mendirikan pintu masuk berpalang dengan syarat penduduk kawasan berkenaan berkongsi kos pengawal dan penyelenggaraan. Dengan cara ini penduduk di kawasan itu akan diberi pelekat bagi mengenal kenderaan masing-masing.

Bagi spesies yang suka
cop parking di pusat membeli-belah
 kami nasihatkan bebal itu simpan di rumah, jangan dibawa bersiar-siar di luar. Nanti tak pasal-pasal jadi viral atau lagi teruk
meme
!

Bagi anda yang terserempak atau menjadi mangsa kepada kegiatan cop parking anda boleh melaporkannya dengan butiran berkenaan di:

Hantar Whatsapp ke 011-511 5252

Hantar emel ke aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my

Telefon 03-8886 6412

Selain itu, anda sebagai pengadu juga perlu menyediakan:

Maklumat peribadi pemandu (termasuk IC)

Lokasi

Tarikh dan masa

Nombor plat

Keterangan tentang situasi yang berlaku

Zaman smartphone ini jangan lupa ambil gambar dan juga video sebagai bahan bukti nanti.


OKU Sticker For Vehicles: A Guide To Obtaining Them For Those Who Truly Need It

After viewing the video that showed a
selfish driver hogging an OKU spot in Shah Alam
, we thought we would do our best to ensure that OKUs in Malaysia know of their rights to obtain the special sticker to be placed on their vehicles, notifying other motorists on the road as well as allow them to access to utilise specially designated parking spots.
Even if you’re not an OKU, this guide on how to obtain the special OKU vehicle sticker also serves as an education purpose for if and when you need to help someone who is an OKU. It is adapted from the
Road Transport Department Malaysia
.
Requirements For Application
The application can be done by the vehicle owner, heir, or representative of an organisation or committee.
The vehicle being registered must be registered under the respective OKU with a OKU card that begins with ‘PH’ (OKU with physical disability) or ‘CA’ (previous OKU card reference number issued by Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Negeri Sarawak) OR;
The vehicle is registered under the IA usage code (vehicle for special needs people) OR;
The vehicle is owned by an association or organisation that deals with OKU who are also registered or received verification from the Department Of Social Welfare Malaysia.
Documents Required For Application
Upon meeting the requirements mentioned above, you will require these documents depending on the scenario:
Application By Owner Of Registered Vehicle
One copy of
Borang JPJK17
Identity card
OKU registration card, or copies if application is done on the behalf of representative
Application By Heir
One copy of
Borang JPJK17
Identity card of heir
Copy of OKU registration card
Letter of verification from the Department Of Social Welfare Malaysia
Application By Representative Of OKU Association/Organisation
One copy of
Borang JPJK17
Identity card of representative
Letter of verification for the association or organisation that is registered with the Department Of Social Welfare Malaysia
The
Borang JPJK17
 looks like this:
Upon Receiving The OKU Sticker
The JPJ has provided a guide when placing the OKU sticker on your car which you can find in full
here
.
As a summary, the OKU sticker placed on cars should be transparent and displayed on the upper left of both the front and rear windscreens.
Motorcycle with side-cars should use reflective 3M OKU stickers and be placed on the upper right of the front and rear of the side-car.
As for support-based motorcycles (support wheels at the back), reflective 3M OKU stickers should be used and placed on the upper right at the front of the motorcycle and for the rear, it should be placed on an additional plate fixed below the number plate.


GoCar Updates Prices - Now From Just RM 6.90/hour For A Nissan Almera

There's this fast moving trend for a newer generation of consumers to completely avoid purchasing and owning a car. With the rise of ride sharing applications and other mobility services, the costs of owning a car may not be favourable for some. Unfortunately, there are still a number of situations where driving yourself provides you with the flexibility and practicality that isn't offered with pure ride sharing.
GoCar is one such company that bridges the gap with a car rental service that can be booked with various rates depending on weekend and timing. Their latest announcement is a revision of prices for bookings from Monday to Thursday every week, down to just RM 6.90 per hour and RM 69 per day, from RM 9.90 per hour and RM 99 a day, for the Nissan Almera.
In addition to that, there will be a promotional price for weekend bookings from the 21st of June 2019 to the 24th of July: prices will stand at RM 8.90 per hour or RM 89 a day - again, for the Nissan Almera. The list of cars available is extensive, including the Renault Captur, Renault Koleos, Nissan Serena S-Hybrid, Nissan Grand Livina, and even the Nissan Navara.
With such a broad range of cars to choose from, you can be almost guaranteed you will find a vehicle that will fit your exact needs - whether it's moving a large group of people or a large amount of cargo. The GoCar Malaysia app is available for download via the Google Play Store and App Store. For more information, please visit
www.gocar.my
.


Haval H9 SUV Previewed At MAI Autoshow, To Be Priced Below RM200,000

Go Auto Sales Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor for Haval SUVs in Malaysia today previewed its latest model, the seven-seater Haval H9 at the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) Autoshow 2018 in MAEPS, Serdang.
According to Go Auto, the H9 will be offered in two variants (Luxury and Ultra), indicative prices starting from below RM200,000. It will be available five exterior colour options – Alaskan White, Ebony, Sleek Silver, Kakadu, and Bronze.
Slated to be launched later this year, the Haval H9 is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged direct injection 4-cylinder 16-valve, double VVT petrol engine producing 160 hp and 324 Nm of torque. It will also come with all-wheel drive (4x4) system, according to Go Auto.
From what has been revealed, the SUV is equipped with a respectable list of safety features, including Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system by Bosch, Hill Descent and Ascent Control, ABS, EBD, Tyre Pressure Monitor System, Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), as well as 6 airbags.
The Haval H9 will initially be sold as a CBU at launch, but a locally-assembled CKD version will be amade vailable towards the end of the second quarter of 2019.
Haval Malaysia also plans to further expand its export market to Myanmar and Philippines, beyond its current export destinations of Cambodia, Brunei, Batam, Indonesia.
The company targets to sell 2,650 units his year. Since it began operations in 2014 till 2017, Haval has recorded a total sales of 4,500 units.
On another note, Haval Malaysia is currently running the ‘Reimagine’ campaign, which offers those who purchase new Haval SUVs with savings of up to RM3000.


Waranti Kenderaan Semakin Membebankan – MyCC Siasat Terma Waranti Kereta Tidak Adil

Suruhanjaya Persaingan Malaysia (MyCC) sedang mengenal pasti terma
waranti
yang tidak adil kepada pengguna yang berpotensi untuk menghalang, menyekat atau mengganggu persaingan dalam pasaran.

Berdasarkan laporan Kajian Semula Pasaran di bawah Akta Persaingan 2010 bagi Sektor Pengangkutan di Malaysia (Ekosistem Logistik Pelabuhan dan Waranti Kenderaan Bermotor), syarikat pengeluar kenderaan kini lebih cenderung untuk memanjangkan tempoh
waranti kenderaan
 berbanding beberapa tahun sebelumnya.

MyCC turut mengenal pasti terdapat perjanjian eksklusif di antara pengeluar kereta dan syarikat
insurans
, yang menyebabkan pasaran pembaikan kenderaan akibat kemalangan adalah terhad kepada bengkel francais dan pengedar yang sah sahaja.

Kesannya, pengguna tidak lagi mempunyai pilihan untuk mendapatkan khidmat pembaikpulihan kereta daripada
bengkel persendirian
 dan bengkel panel panel kelolaan Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PARS).

Sekatan waranti yang dikenakan oleh pengeluar kereta mungkin dapat mencegah atau menyekat persaingan dalam industri pembaikan dan
servis kereta
. Sebaliknya, pengguna terpaksa membawa kereta ke pusat servis pihak pengeluar sahaja kerana mereka kini terikat dengan tempoh waranti yang lebih panjang.

Klausa pengecualian dalam waranti berpotensi untuk menyebabkan pasaran hanya melakukan penyitaan kepada bengkel francais dalam rangkaian pengeluar kereta. Dominasi pengeluar kenderaan secara berterusan harus dielakkan kerana ia akan menjejaskan kepentingan pengguna dalam jangka masa panjang serta menafikan hak pemain industri lain.

MyCC dalam kajian pasarannya juga telah mencadangkan
Lemon Law
 dan penambahbaikan lain pada proses waranti untuk melindungi kepentingan pemilik kenderaan.
Lemon Law
 adalah undang-undang untuk mengukuhkan Akta Perlindungan Pengguna.

Dalam masa yang sama, MyCC turut mendedahkan isu persaingan yang berleluasa dalam pasaran ekosistem logistik pelabuhan yang memerlukan perhatian dan tindakan segera pihak berkaitan. Isu perjanjian konsesi dan monopoli ini memberi kesan kepada persaingan dalam kalangan pemain industri logistik pelabuhan.

Dominasi ini dapat dilihat melalui penguasaan ketara 66% syer pasaran operator pelabuhan yang didominasi oleh MMC Corporation Berhad, manakala Westports Holdings Berhad memiliki pegangan sebanyak 25% berbanding operator pelabuhan lain iaitu pada kadar 4%.

Kajian ini turut mengupas isu kenaikan caj di pelabuhan yang tidak munasabah dan dipercayai mempunyai unsur kartel mengakibatkan peningkatan harga barangan di pasaran. Kajian yang bermula pada Oktober tahun lalu dan selesai sepenuhnya pada Ogos lalu itu akan dibawa ke Jemaah Menteri selepas menerima maklum balas daripada pihak berkepentingan termasuk kementerian dan pemain industri berkaitan.


Loke gets cracking on airline fares, wants more frequent flights to combat high ticket prices

Transport Ministry wants airlines to increase flight frequencies to combat high prices during the festive season.

It looks like the new government and its newly appointed ministers are hitting the ground running with the most recent directive coming from the Transport Ministry, which has instructed airlines to increase flight frequencies to combat high ticket prices caused by the festive season.

Picture credit: The Star

According to NST, Transport Minister Anthony Loke wants to ensure a balanced supply and demand for tickets to help reduce dynamic pricing.

He said there had been many complaints about high ticket prices due to dynamic pricing, particularly for those travelling to and from Sabah and Sarawak.

"There should be no excuse for companies to refuse this measure, which could potentially help reduce or maintain ticket prices," he told reporters as reported by NST.

He said the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) had given its commitment to the cause and would be extending the operating hours of airports, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, to beef up the efforts.

"The operating hours are currently from 10am to about 11pm. CAAM is committed to extending the operating hours to a week before and after Chinese New Year as well as other festive celebrations.The ministry will also monitor airline companies that regularly delay flights," he said.

Loke also took the time to mention that aviation industry will see a much-needed improvement next year in terms of flight time thanks to the implementation of new systems.

The introduction of the Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Instrument Arrivals (STARs) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of air control.

"This will help shorten the landing time and also save fuel consumption which can decrease operational costs for companies. It is estimated to be able to save some RM500 million per year for KLIA. Not only this will help the aviation sector, it can also help us reduce carbon emissions," said the transport minister.


The Volkswagen Tiguan Is Better Experienced Than Explained – but we’ll try anyway

While it’s a choice that has been in our market for a couple of years now, the Volkswagen Tiguan is not something to pass over. It’s the sleeper hit that can go to toe to toe with any of its rivals and hold its own, regardless of what you prioritize in your car. Saying it’s a jack of all trades would be a disservice to how well it works.

Performance not compromised.

Every car manufacturer is now going to small turbocharged engines, but let’s not forget that Volkswagen was here first with their TSI powertrains. All variants of the Tiguan sold locally come with a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, which pushes a good 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque. Low end torque helps you get off the line quickly – regardless of whether you’re driving alone or carrying a family of five with luggage – while there’s still plenty of power to maintain good cruising speeds on highways.

But is it fuel efficient?

As low as 6.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres travelled is possible, which works out to around 800 kilometres of travel before you need to refuel. And the road tax for a 1.4-litre engine? Just RM 70 a year. With numbers like this, even the most kiasu among us will be content – after all, who doesn’t like saving money?

Tech geeks would approve!

Features are always a point of contention for any car purchase. The Tiguan comes practically loaded with items that allow it to punch far above its weight and even go toe-to-toe with more premium offerings.  As a standard, the Tiguan Highline comes with advanced LED headlamps with LED DRLs, 18-inch alloys and 3-zone air conditioning.

The Tiguan also comes with high res color display that is similar to a smartphone. It has a feature that displays 2D and 3D navigation and media. It also comes with a three-view customizable screen via the infotainment with over 30 preset combination options. No more struggling with Waze on your phone when you can have a full 3D view of the Tiguan’s navigation map!

Good enough for all.

What kind of person does a Tiguan fit in with best? The great thing about it is that it has a breadth of abilities and plenty of accessories to kit it out to meet your exact needs. Luggage space is best in class – which is a great practicality in mind, but if you’re the kind to go bike riding on weekends you can add a roof rack.

It goes without saying then that the Tiguan is an excellent family car, but it can easily double as a run-around vehicle if you’re the kind of person who lives an active lifestyle and needs the storage space to match.  Despite being generously equipped and possessing exemplary levels of comfort and performance through German engineering, it sits comfortably mid-field in terms of pricing at just RM 165,990 which is competitive for its segment and class.

Why you should consider a Tiguan

The great news is that if you’re in the market for one of these, there’s a pretty big rebate package made available for all Volkswagen Tiguan registered by the 31st of March. You get a RM 2,000 rebate, 1-year free petrol cash worth RM 2,500, and 1-year free insurance worth RM 4,500.

Head on over to any authorized dealer to test drive the Tiguan today.


Renault Samsung SM3 Z.E. – Fluence-based EV, 213km Range

Renault Samsung Motors has unveiled a facelifted version SM3 Z.E., an electric-powered version of the Fluence C-segment sedan, at the Daegu International Future Auto Expo in South Korea.
The updated SM3 Z.E.’s batteries offer an improved charge capacity of 36 kWh without incurring any increase in weight. Previously, the Z.E.’s 250 kg lithium-ion battery had a charge capacity of 22 kWh.
The stronger batteries enable the SM3 Z.E. to gain a 57 percent increase of its cruising range to 213 km as tested according to the Korean type approval cycle.
On sale since 2011, and known as the Fluence Z.E. in Europe, the SM3 Z.E. is powered by a synchronous electric motor with rotor coil with outputs of 70 kW and 226 Nm.