Volvo Car Malaysia Launches  New 3S Centre In Skudai

Volvo Car Malaysia, together with its dealer-partner, Pekin Auto Sdn Bhd have opened the doors to a new showroom in Skudai, Johor Bahru, further bolstering the brand’s presence in the Southern region.
The new 3S Centre (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) located on the outskirts of Johor Bahru will adhere to Volvo Cars’ latest retail standard, called the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) – a dealer guide that best communicates the brand’s Scandinavian-inspired values.
To cater to the growing demand for the brand in Johor, the new 3S Centre features a well-appointed showroom that houses the brand’s latest models and a fully equipped service centre with a total of five repair bays.
Volvo Skudai is located at PTD 144228, Jalan Sutera Kenanga 10/1, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor and opens from 8:30 am till 6:00 pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and 9:00 am till 6:00 pm on Sundays. The service centre opens 8:30 pm till 6:00 pm Mondays to Fridays, and 8:30 am till 1:00 pm on Saturdays.
Mr. Nalin Jain, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia added, “Our brand puts a high emphasis on people, safety, and the environment. It extends beyond our cars – we are committed to ensuring that our customers are looked after throughout their ownership journey,”


Aston Martin DBX The One Edition Arrives In Malaysia, Priced From RM1.1 MILLION

Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur
 has unveiled the Aston Martin DBX The One Edition, a special edition DBX that has been customized and hand-built - priced from RM1.1 Million.

Being the only DBX model of its kind in Malaysia, the unique specifications of the
super SUV
 is made to celebrate the synergy between sport and refinement that is well known in any
Aston Martin product
.

The customization starts with its body colour, the Concours Blue, a metallic silver-blue paint job that is unique, beautiful and elegant. It was the same colour used on the Aston Martin One-77 when it made its world debut. After being removed from the
DBX colour palette
 globally, Aston decided to revive the colour and splash it onto The One Edition.

The DBX The One Edition is also fitted with 23-inch forged - Satin Black Halo Diamond Turned wheels, which is the largest wheel ever fitted on an Aston Martin machine. The rim is not only beautiful, but it also improves the performance of the DBX due to its lightness despite its size.

On the inside, the cabin comes in a luxurious two-tone environment, mixing subtly detailed Oxford Tan and Onyx Black leather, which emphasizes refinement and beautiful craftsmanship. Customers can also personalize the SUV through an exterior glossy black finish package and sports exhaust upgrade.

The
Aston Martin
 DBX The One Edition is priced from RM 1,100,000.00 (price stated excluding duties and taxes).

For more information about the Aston Martin DBX The One Edition, please call +60 3 2163 1196 or email astonmartinkl.enquiries@wearnes.com


Did You Know That Tesla Has A Boat Mode?

Another Tesla wades through a flood, proving that it has an unofficial Boat Mode.

For those who think that Elon Musk's Teslas are
crap vehicles
, you've just been served a slice of humble pie because a Tesla has just been caught on video successfully wading through a flood for the third time in two years.

Wading through floodwaters is certainly not a wise move unless you are driving a 4×4 vehicle that has suitable ground clearance, large size tires and a snorkel so that the engine can breathe.

We guess Tesla owners never got the memo, which is why they are brave enough to wade through a flood in their fully electric vehicle.

The video below shows a white
Tesla Model 3
 wading through floods without any problems on a Chinese highway.

Dubbed Boat Mode, it seems like a Tesla will more likely get you home when there is a flood rather than an
ICE vehicle
.

As a disclaimer, there is no such thing as Boat Mode on a Tesla, but recent events have fictitiously created this mode, due to its ability to traverse through the water.

The reason we guess why Tesla owners are brave enough to do this probably stems from a tweet by its creator in 2016.

Despite this, we still think that these Chinese Tesla owners are brave because considering that their cars are an all-electric vehicle and is laced with
high-tech electronic systems
, it would be detrimental to the operation of the vehicle if water got inside the car and wreaked havoc on the electronics.

Perhaps this video down below also gives Tesla owners a lot of confidence in their cars, because after all, it did go through some rigorous testing which shows that the car is airtight to a certain extent

Would you be brave enough to put your electric car through water? Well, with the number of Malaysian cars abandoned
in a flood
, we think sooner or later we will see a Tesla wading through a highway flood in Malaysia.

For more latest car news, reviews, car buying guides and videos visit us at Carlist.my
Auto News
.

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


Why Can't The 2015 Renault Captur Have Six Airbags?

As you might have already know, the Spain-built Renault Captur has just been previewed in Malaysia, with a
tentative price of between RM118,000 to RM123,000
. Renault's latest crossover is expected to be launched here in the fourth quarter of this year.

The front-wheel drive-only 1.2-litre turbo Captur competes against the locally-assembled 1.5-litre Honda HR-V (from RM98,689), Thailand-made 1.5-litre Ford EcoSport (from RM90,100), and locally-assembled 2.0-litre Mitsubishi ASX (from RM118,131), plus the upcoming Japan-made Mazda CX-3 2.0-litre.

Keen observers might have noted that despite its European origin and higher list price, the Renault comes with only four airbags. This compares against the Ford EcoSport’s seven (RM100,800 Titanium variant) and the Honda HR-V’s six (RM114,744 1.5V variant).

The omission of curtain airbags have little to do with Renault’s distributor in Malaysia TC Euro Cars, because globally, the Renault Captur is only available with four airbags – two at the front, and two at the sides.

According to a report by Australia’s GoAuto, quoting the Captur’s global project manager Christophe Pejout, limitations in the vehicle’s packaging meant that Renault was not able to equip the Captur with curtain airbags. To accommodate curtain airbags, the Captur’s rear-seat area would have to be reengineered and the roof-mounted grab handles would have to be moved to a more intrusive position.

The Clio, which the Captur is based on, also suffers from the same limitations and comes with only four airbags.

Only Four Airbags but Five-Star EuroNCAP Rating

However, Pejout was quick to stress that despite having less airbags than its competitors, the Captur is no less safe than its peers – scoring a maximum five-star rating in EuroNCAP, with an 88 percent score for adult occupant protection and 79 percent for child occupant.

It is important to note that EuroNCAP’s test methodologies do not award scores based on a vehicle’s airbag count but on actual impact protection performance. In EuroNCAP’s opinion, if a manufacturer is able to reduce cost, do away with airbags but yet is able to offer the same level of passive safety protection, they are more than welcomed to introduce such a car.

Read also:

2015 Renault Captur SUV Previewed In Malaysia: RM118k to RM123k Estimated


Volvo XC40 Receives 5 Stars For Euro NCAP Assessment

Another Volvo, another 5-Star Euro NCAP rating. This time it's the XC40, joining the larger 60 and 90 series models as one of the safest cars money can buy (if not according to Euro NCAP, then according to most of the world). Volvo is continuously looking to advance safety technologies in their vehicles, which is why every new model that's launched will receive the latest and greatest variant of their tech. Compound this with the fact that Euro NCAP is toughening testing standards with each passing year and you have an even more impressive feat, with the XC40 coming out on top of all cars tested under the latest standards.
One could argue that Euro NCAP standards are defined and redefined by Volvo. Much of the newer regulations require companies include more active safety systems rather than focusing merely on occupant protection. Pre-empting accidents is the name of the game, and Volvo is constantly adapting and evolving in this field. This year saw the inclusion of pedestrian and cyclist detection as well.
This accolade follows on from the XC40 being named as 2018 European Car of the Year. It's yet another success for Volvo in this renaissance of sorts for the Swedish marque, and it will no doubt allow them to continue as they have been for the years to come. It really goes to show just how far the Swedish are willing , if you're willing to put your money on them.


Review: Volkswagen Golf R Mk 7.5 – Track It On Sunday, Commute With It On Monday

While the Golf R sits at the top of the Golf family’s hierarchy, car culture often lavish more attention on the middle rank GTI’s over 40 years’ worth of heritage. In truth, the Golf R’s lineage dates as far back as the Mk 2 generation model, except that it was using a different G60 badge, subsequently R32, and then the R, but the concepts were all the same – pairing forced induction with all-wheel drive to create a more intense GTI.
This Lapiz Blue example seen here is the sixth generation of Volkswagen’s all-wheel drive mega Golf, now wrapped within an upgrade Mk 7.5 generation Golf’s body.
Specifications for Volkswagen Golf R Mk 7.5
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged direct injection
Power: 290 PS from 5,500 – 6,500 rpm
Torque: 380 Nm from 2,000 – 5,400 rpm
Transmission: 7-speed wet-type dual clutch automatic transmission, 4Motion all-wheel drive
Safety: 7 airbags, electronic stability control, ISOFIX, hill start assist, automatic post-collision braking system, tyre pressure monitor, reverse camera
Origin: Imported from Wolfsburg, Germany
Price: RM 304,390 with SST, excluding road tax, registration fees and insurance
Overview
The biggest difference between the previous Mk 7 and this upgraded Mk 7.5 Golf R is its transmission. The previous model had a 6-speed DSG unit while this new model adds one more forward ratio, still with wet-type dual clutches. Power output has also been bumped up by 10 PS more, achieved at 200 rpm earlier and sustaining it until 300 rpm later.
Other notable highlights include new headlamps with snazzier looking LED daytime running light strips, new tail lights with animated turn signal light patterns, full-LCD instrument panel that brings it up to par with the Passat and Tiguan Highline models, as well as a larger 9.2-inch screen infotainment with gesture control.
Its closest rival is the RM 330,002
Honda Civic Type R
 that pushes out 310 PS but since that’s a front-wheel drive and it’s a Honda, the similarly all-wheel drive and German heritage Mercedes-AMG A45 will be drawn in for comparison. However the A45 is no longer on sale and the all-new model is not expected to arrive anytime soon, as the car hasn’t even been launched in Europe yet.
The Golf R is best known for its Swiss Army-like wide breath of talents, striking one of the best balance between all-weather performance, interior space, and comfort.
Exterior
The Golf R is without a doubt the most handsome looking hatchback. Devoid of any adolescent looking wings behind and in front, the Golf R cuts a very clean silhouette. The changes for the Mk 7.5 model are subtle but add up to make for a significantly more respectable and progressive looking car.
Interior
Like every Volkswagen, the Golf R’s interior doesn’t disappoint. It’s not quite as spacious or as ergonomically sound as the Civic Type R’s cabin, but material selection and perceived quality is much better than the Honda.
It can’t match the Honda’s leg and shoulder room but you still can decently ferry four adults in comfort. Boot space is 37 litres less than the GTI - mostly due to having to accommodate the all-wheel drive drivetrain - but it’s still at a very usable 343 litres.
The full-LCD 12.3-inch 1440x540 resolution Active Info Display instrument panel really changes the cabin’s atmosphere. The Vienna leather is perforated, crucial in our climate. It is certainly a plusher place to sit in compared to the Civic Type R.
Shortcomings mentioned in
our review of the GTI
 also applies here – the controls don’t work very well in our right-hand drive configuration. Frequently used buttons for the engine idle start-stop and drive modes for example, are to the left of the gear knob, hidden away from the driver’s line of sight when the car is in Drive position. The superimposed image of the vehicle on the reverse camera’s display is also placed on the left – exactly where pedestrians and motorcyclists will be hidden from view.
The new 9.2-inch screen Discover Pro infotainment has gesture operated control function but it is limited only to swiping your hand left/right for next/previous audio track, radio, or menu. You can’t use gestures to adjust the volume or zoom in/out of the navigation display.
On the upside, the unit has App Connect and thus supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Driving Experience
The front-wheel drive Golf GTI has already set a high enough benchmark when it comes to accessible performance, making heroes out of otherwise average drivers. The all-wheel drive Golf R takes this to another level by enlisting the rear wheels to propel the car.
Where the GTI’s traction control would’ve held you back, the Golf R would power out as if it’s running along virtual rails that held the car tightly.
It may have four doors and a sufficiently large boot but it’s every bit a supercar slayer. It doesn’t matter how many horsepower you pack, it’s about how much can you realistically use them without becoming the next Youtube sensation for all the wrong reasons. On public roads, in the hands of the right person, the Golf R could easily keep up with any supercar it fancies.
But be warned though, that there is no escaping from the laws of physics and there are limits to what the tyres can cope, all-wheel drive or not. Combine this with its short wheelbase, you need to be hyper alert if you are hustling along your favourite dragon’s tail trail.
Compared to the previous Mk 7 Golf R however, the new Mk 7.5 has a marginally more neutral behaviour, resisting understeer slightly better so that’s a good thing.
The fact that the Golf R can deliver that sort of pace but at the touch of a button on the drive mode settings, revert to Eco, disengaging the clutches at the earliest opportunity to coast along quietly with minimal fuel used, makes the Golf R even more impressive.
While the car puts on an impressive show of shock and awe, it’s also an example that power is not everything. Drivers looking for a deeper level of driving engagement will find that it’s actually the less powerful but lighter Golf GTI that’s more fun to drive. It may have less traction but it’s also lighter on its feet and more willing the dance. Find a driving rhythm that matches the car and the road, and you will find that the GTI is a better salsa partner while the R prefers to play a solo act, albeit a highly effective one.
That’s also exactly the same reason why the Civic Type R gives a more rewarding driving experience, even if it lacks the Golf R’s traction and ridiculously easy but effective point-and-shoot pace.
Ride Comfort
All Golf Rs sold in Malaysia come equipped with adaptive dampers, which does an excellent job at ironing out bumps and ruts. Despite riding on thinner 35 series 19-inch tyres, the new Golf R now rides marginally better than the Golf GTI’s with thicker 40 series 18-inch tyres. Sounds odd, but the part numbers suggest that both cars no longer use the same set of adaptive dampers.
It’s still not as comfortable as the Civic Type R. Hard to believe if your impression of a Honda Type R is shaped by the FD2, but the FK8 is now the segment’s benchmark for striking the best balance between power and comfort. Still, the FK8’s 6-speed manual transmission does not fit into everyone’s idea for a daily use car.
Which leaves the Golf R as the undisputed hero as a performance car that you can comfortably use every day.
Fuel Economy
We don’t expect anything that packs close to 300 PS to be economical but after driving nearly 350 km, most of it spent either hustling along twisty back roads or getting stuck in rush hour traffic, none of which will do any favours to the car’s average fuel economy, the trip computer showed an average fuel consumption of around 10.5-litre/100 km.
Conclusion
We parted ways with the Golf R with mixed feelings. We love its discrete, mature yet progressive styling. It’s easily the most respectable looking hatchback. We love the Civic Type R’s dynamics and ride comfort even more but not that questionable looking rear wing. The AMG A45 deserves mention but it’s no longer on sale and the all-new model is not expected anytime soon.
The Golf R is often seen as the benchmark for delivering the best balance between power and performance, but the fact that a Civic Type R - a nameplate that’s previous known for its unforgivingly stiff ride - now rides better and has the pace to match, with a more engaging three-pedal driving experience, has left us questioning everything we thought we knew about this segment.
Still, the Golf R’s combination of every day usability – spacious interior, automatic transmission, refined driving character – with a styling that’s discrete enough for the office’s car park, means that it remains the undisputed choice for a daily use supercar slayer. No other car embraces the ‘Track it on Sunday, drive it to work on Monday’ philosophy better than the Golf R.
At the time of completing this review, the Golf R’s price would’ve been bumped up with the reintroduction of 10 percent SST, but Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia has confirmed that it will be absorbing any differences in prices for vehicles registered between now until 15-November.


UMW Toyota To Slash Waiting Time For Harrier

Since its launch in Malaysia in January this year, the Toyota Harrier has been in great demand. To date, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has
delivered
 over 500 units to customers throughout Malaysia but with the number of outstanding orders still high, waiting periods have reportedly risen to over a year according to sources familiar with the matter.
With the cooperation of Toyota Motor Corporation, UMW Toyota aims to increase the supply of the Harrier SUVs from the production lines in Japan to significantly shorten waiting times for customers.
Mr. Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor added, “We understand that our customers had to wait for a longer period to get delivery of their vehicle. The global demand for the Harrier has been great right from the start and for Malaysia, it surged further during the three months of the (GST) tax break. The production in Japan is now able to supply more to suit the demand and we will have more vehicles available for delivery,”
The
Toyota Harrier
 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (direct-injection with VVT-iW) which produces 231 PS and 350 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission which drives the front wheels.
The Harrier’s is equipped with Toyota’s Safety Sense Package: a suite of active safety systems that include the Pre-Crash System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping System, Lane Departure Alert, and Adaptive High-Beam System.
Four colour choices are available – Dark Blue Mica Metallic, White Pearl, Sparkling Black Pearl, and Silver Metallic. The Harrier is offered in two variants, Premium and Luxury, priced at RM243,000 and RM266,000 (OTR, including SST, without Insurance) respectively. The Toyota Harrier comes with a 5-year/ unlimited mileage warranty.


Toyota Europe Vice President Talks Of New Car Above GT86. Supra Coming Soon?

Things are looking up for
BMW
 and
Toyota
, in regards to their collaborative sports car effort, to produce the next-generation
Z4
 and perhaps to even resurrect the Supra name.
In a report by Autocar, Karl Schlicht, vice-president of Toyota Europe said during the 2015 Geneva Motor Show “The intention with the new car is for it to sit above the GT86. It doesn’t replace that model; the GT86 goes on with its own mission.”
This joint effort was announced in 2012 and little has been revealed about its progress since then until BMW commented that the project had entered the “concept phase” as well as the “successfully completed” technical feasibility study.
This confirmation of the unannounced model’s place in the automakers line up suggest it will sit right where the Supra would have been if it were still around, signaling a potential comeback might be likelier than Toyota forming an entirely new brand with which to endow its sports car flagship.
The gap in price separating this future model and the GT86 could be high enough to merit its construction with more expensive lightweight materials and a more complex engine. BMW brings to the table some formidable expertise in hybrid powertrains with its i3 and i8, and this could be an ideal platform to explore its more high performance applications.
The recent Toyota FT-1 concept does echo the Supra in a number of ways such as overall dimensions and layout; it could be interpreted as a preview of the Supra's next form.
There should be a lot of forthcoming buzz surrounding the birth of this new Toyota model along with its platform-sharing BMW half-brother, and we honestly cannot wait until each new development breaks cover.


Could Kia Sales Quickly Exceed Mazda In Malaysia? Bring On The Rivalry

The recent, if unsurprising, confirmation that BAuto, through subsidiary Dinamikjaya Motors, will be taking up the
distributorship of Kia cars
 alongside that of the Peugeot brand has lead to some speculation at just how meteoric the rise in popularity of its vehicles could be, perhaps even quickly overshadowing Mazda’s presence.

Some analysts, such as those at CGS-CIMB Research, bullishly predict that at least 2,000 vehicle deliveries will be yielded as early as 2022, with that number more than tripling to 7,000 vehicles in 2023.

For some perspective, local sales of Mazdas totalled over 12,000 units in 2020, a rather healthy 4.2% increase over the previous year despite the economic slowdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and their cars’ higher asking prices relative to other Japanese brands such as Toyota and Honda.

Should this prediction prove accurate, that’s a pretty steep incline considering how poorly the brand had performed in the years that lead up to its prior distributor abandoning ship. Though, arguably, that has little to do with the merits of the automaker.

Other observers, however, hold more tepid projections. MIDF research, for example, reckon that Kia - under BAuto - would need closer to four to five years to match or even exceed the volume of Mazdas sold in Malaysia per given year.

In a report on the matter, CGS-CIMB analyst Mohd Shanaz Noor Azam said: "We also see an attractive opportunity for the after sales services business given that there have been over 45,000 Kia vehicles sold in Malaysia over the past 10 years,”

"BAuto could also benefit from Kia's
aggressive electric vehicle (EV) roadmap
 strategy given that the Korean marque plans to introduce 11 EV models by 2027," he added.

As was previously confirmed, the South Korean automaker’s renewed push into the Malaysian market will be spearheaded by a locally assembled 3-car line-up consisting of
the Seltos crossover
 and Carnival large MPV; the third car will be confirmed at a later date.

There are also plans to fully exploit the further investment planned for the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, further cementing the strategic role of their Malaysian presence.

This planned expansion has the potential to increase plant productivity and capacity to even supply vehicles for regional export markets, maximising the terms of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA).

In the interim before CKD operations can begin proper, though, Dinamikjaya Motors will be focused on moving the existing inventory of new Kia vehicles carried over from the previous distributor via the existing network of 35 dealerships nationwide.

For more latest car news, reviews, car buying guides and videos visit us at Carlist.my
Auto News
.

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles Unveils 3S Centre In Ipoh

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles (MBM CV) in collaboration with authorised dealer, Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle (HSCV) have unveiled its fourth dedicated commercial vehicle 3S centre, the Mercedes-Benz Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle Centre, located in Ipoh.
The full-fledged 3S commercial vehicle centre sits on a 24,829 sq.ft. premise, equipped with facilities capable of servicing more than 150 Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles per month.
HSCV Ipoh is operated by a dedicated administration and technical team capable of providing sales, service (repair and maintenance), and financial services for Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles.
MBM’s Commercial Vehicle division has 15 authorised dealerships nationwide, including HSCV Ipoh. HSCV Ipoh joins other centres in Puchong, Klang, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Miri.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Vice President, Commercial Vehicles, Mr Albert Yee commented, “We are pleased to launch this new Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle 3S centre in Ipoh that will provide the highest quality of sales and after sales services to live up to the tagline, ‘Trucks you can trust’,”
Yee added, “This new Mercedes-Benz Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle Centre in Ipoh will further enhance our position as we continue to expand our presence in Malaysia by offering after-sales quality that is synonymous with the Mercedes-Benz brand globally."
Despite challenging market conditions, MBM CV has recorded an impressive first quarter in 2017, recording 577 vehicles sold, a 10 percent increase over the same period last year. These comprised of its Fuso light duty and heavy duty trucks as well as Mercedes-Benz trucks and vans.


2022 Chery Omoda 5 EV Coming To Malaysia - Under RM200k?

Barely a week ago, Chery had opened bookings for their newest compact SUV in its home market of China, for the bold looking Omoda 5. With the imminent arrival of a fully electric version,
they’ve turned to Malaysian
s
 to gauge interest.

Chery itself has been plotting a strong return to market with the Omoda 5 being used as a spearhead to capture new customers, but it seems we might rank pretty highly on the automaker’s regional priorities if the as-yet-unreleased EV variation is on the horizon.

Chery Omoda 5 EV - Early Specs

The ‘official’ OMODA 5 Fans Malaysia page on Facebook was set up by Chery Malaysia
back in late March
, but has most recently set up an online survey that also shed new light on its zero-emissions powertrain.

Its tentative specifications read very closely to that of the
Hyundai Kona Electric
 in the range-topping e-Max guise. Like the Korean crossover, the Chery uses a single electric motor to motivate the front wheels with 204PS and 400Nm (395Nm in the Hyundai).

As its underlying vehicle platform allows for multiple powertrain types, its floor has been hollowed out to accommodate a 64kWh battery that, according to the automaker, should yield a maximum range of 450km based on the WTLP test cycle.

Performance details were not shared though we are expecting it to be pretty brisk around town. That said, Chery did disclose the projected charging wait times with a 0-80% charge capable within 40 minutes from a DC fast charger. Meanwhile, 5 hours are needed for ‘slow charging’, which we take to mean when plugged into a public AC charger/ wallbox (11kW is assumed).

The Omoda 5 EV is also confirmed to measure 4,374mm from nose tip to tail, is 1,824mm wide, and is 1,585mm tall while sporting a wheelbase of 2,630mm. By every dimensional measure, the Chery is markedly larger than the Kona Electric to which it shares very similar powertrain characteristics.

450km - Range Cukup Tak?

Speaking of which, though the car pictured here is not the final version of the electric variant, it has been confirmed that visual distinctions between
 the combustion-powered variants
 “will not be major.”

It's hard to gauge exactly when the Omoda 5 will be making its Malaysian debut, though we can probably hazard a guess at it being near the closing months of 2022. Harder still is trying to predict if the style-focused SUV will be arriving in combustion-only form or will be joined by the EV version from the start.

Things are definitely heating up in the Malaysian market as more Chinese automakers contend for the favour of our active car-buying population. Separately, GAC (
with the GS3
) has entered the arena, Great Wall Motors has
announced an ambitious rollout
, and Geely cars have infiltrated our roads via Proton for years now. We’ll keep you all posted if we hear anything more.


Geely To License 3 Models To Proton Until 2020

Geely Automobile Holdings announced that it has agreed to allow Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which operates Proton, to sub-license three Geely models to Proton until 2020, with the first model being the X70.
The other two models that will be license to Proton include the
VF11 MPV
 and SX11 compact SUV (also known as the
Binyue
).
According to a financial report by Geely Automobile Holdings (first reported by our friends over at
Automachi
), the total licensing fee is CNY 1,344,000,000 (about RM 810,000,000), which will be settled by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in five equal annual installments over the course of 5 years.
Geely Automobile Holdings is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange while Geely Holding Group is the subsidiary that runs Proton.
The Geely Binyue was launched in China back in August, built on the company’s new BMA platform. Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder that outputs 177 hp and 255 Nm, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Binyue’s century sprint is said to be completed in just 7.9 seconds.
As for the VF11 MPV, the Hangzhou-based company recently teased the model, though details of the new MPV remain scarce. Thus far, we understand that the new MPV will be longer than the Proton Exora, possibly hinting that the new model may not necessarily replace the Exora.
At the moment, it remains to be seen how soon will Geely introduce the two models here, though sources familiar with the matter said that a debut in 2019 is possible.


Proton SUV Named X70, Open For Bookings From Tomorrow

Proton has just announced the name of its upcoming Geely Boyue-based SUV, and it is called the X70.
The name was chosen after Proton ran an online campaign to allow members of the public to select the name out of four options. Nearly 90,000 entries were submitted and the X70 was selected by 60 per cent of the entrants.
Proton says the new naming nomenclature that consists of
alphanumeric arrangement
 was selected as it will be more accessible globally, without the need to overcome any naming conventions.
Breaking down the X70 name, Proton simply says the alphabet ‘X’ is popularly used by automotive brands to denote crossover or SUV models, while the figure ‘70’ just represents the size or class of the SUV in the brand’s line-up.
The Proton X70 is heavily based on the facelifted Geely Boyue. Proton was given the liberty to design the front grille that reflects design motifs from Malaysian craftsmanship.
At the rear, the chrome trim piece that connects the tail lamps is now finished in satin grey and spells the Proton brand name.
Moving to the interior, there are no changes to any elements except those bearing the donor vehicle’s branding. The steering wheel now carries the Proton logo, while the beautiful speaker grilles on all four door panels have a pattern called 'Infinite Weave' that is inspired by traditional Malaysian wood carving.
Under the hood, Proton informed that the turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol engine with direct injection (TGDI) will deliver outputs of 181 hp and 285 Nm of torque, which is available almost instantly from 1,500 rpm. Drive is available in either front-wheel or all-wheel, depending on variant.
Proton has not released the detailed specification sheet, but based on observation of the two display units, the features available include (subject to change in final production vehicle):
Premium variant (tentative grade name)
Panoramic Moonroof
Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane keeping assist, and Blind Spot Monitor
Nappa leather upholstery
Infotainment with voice command
Front passenger easy-adjustment switch (slide and recline to improve rear passenger’s legroom)
Executive variant (tentative grade name)
Satin silver roof rails
LED head lamps with DRL
LED tail lamps with signature look
18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels with 225/60R18 tyres
High resolution coloured instrument panel
360-degree surround view camera system
Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning
Rear air-conditioning duct with separate air ionizer system
Keyless entry and push start system
Power adjustable front seats
Sport and Eco drive modes
Auto-hold with an electric parking brake
Six USB slots, including two at the top of the front windscreen, above the rear view mirror
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with six airbags
Proton will release more details on the X70’s specifications and equipment levels in the coming weeks. Prices have not been announced but we understand that the base model will start from slightly below RM 100,000, and that there will be four variants on offer.
Public preview events which are scheduled to begin from 19th September to 4th November will bring the new Proton X70 to seven major cities in Malaysia- KL, Penang, Ipoh, Kuantan, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.
Proton 3S and 4S centres will also be accepting bookings for the new X70 starting tomorrow (8th September), with a small fee of just RM1,000 and an official launch targeted before the end of the year.


All-New Ford Focus RS Performance Figures Revealed: 0-100 KM/H In 4.7 Seconds, 266 KM/H Top Speed

When Ford first
introduced the all-new Focus RS
 way back in February, they were pretty reserved when it came to providing any details on the hot hatch’s exact performance figures. Only in June were we told the
official power figures of the EcoBoost engine
 and now, the Blue Oval has decided to divulge just what its third-generation Focus RS is capable of.

The key number here is 4.7 because that’s the amount of seconds the Ford Focus RS will take to hit 100 km/h from a standstill, essentially making it the fastest-accelerating RS model Ford has ever built.

Keep the accelerator floored and as you cycle up through the six-speed manual gearbox, the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, which produces 345hp at 6,000 rpm and 440Nm of torque from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm, will bring the hot hatch to a top speed of 266 km/h.

Putting things into perspective, the
Ford Focus
 RS out-accelerates the
all-new Honda Civic Type R
 (5.7 seconds), just edges out the Volkswagen Golf R (4.9 seconds), but just loses out to the
new Mercedes-AMG A 45
 (4.2 seconds).

Ford
 credits the Focus RS’ impressive acceleration to the introduction of launch control technology that configures the car’s chassis and powertrain systems to deliver the fastest possible acceleration – in various track conditions.

They’ve even detailed how this system works:

“The driver selects launch control from the cluster menu, engages first gear, applies full throttle and releases the clutch. The system then delivers optimum drive – including distributing torque through the all-wheel-drive system, maintaining maximum torque using the turbo overboost function, managing traction control and setting the dampers.”

The Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive uses twin electronically controlled clutch packs to manage the torque split to the car’s front/rear, and can control side-to-side torque distribution on the rear axle – enabling torque vectoring capability to improve handling and cornering stability.

Multiple vehicle sensors transmit data to the system at up to 100 times per second, working alongside the electronic stability control, including its brake-based Torque Vectoring Control that works in parallel with torque vectoring all-wheel drive.

Four different drive modes are selectable by the driver – Normal, Sport, Track, and the all-important Drift (thanks to Gymkhana star, Ken Block serving as a consultant on the car’s development) where the car’s systems, dampers, steering and engine responses, and even the exhaust note are adjusted to deliver the best performance and experience for the given situation.

How much for all this excellence? Well, in the United States, the Ford Focus RS is priced from $36,605 or RM155,454 with a direct conversion.

Read more:

New 2015 Ford Focus Review In Adelaide: Beyond Just A Facelift


Proton X50 VS Perodua D55L: Same League, Different Class

Proton and Perodua's rivalry set to reach new heights soon, but is it a straight-up fight?

When Mohammed Ali fought Joe Frazier for the first time, it was dubbed the "Fight of the Century". It was a fight that everyone was looking forward to as it was supposed to be the so-called comeback for the rightful owner of the heavyweight boxing throne, Ali.

The build-up to the fight was monumental because, despite Ali's unbeaten run in the heavyweight class, he had lost the title due to his meddling in politics. Ali, who had learnt his lesson quietly stayed away from the limelight, and after some time, they finally gave him another chance at the title which he eventually won.

Although boxing and cars are two worlds apart, the same lesson can be learnt here, and that lesson is if you ever meddle around in politics, something has got to give, and usually, it is something that you care about the most.

Just like Ali and Frazier, Proton and Perodua have been engaged in one of the biggest rivalries we have ever seen. With a lot of politics involved in Proton, they naturally lost their title as Malaysia's best selling car to Perodua who kept it on the straight and narrow.

Now that Proton is under new owners Geely, they can finally get back to the business of selling cars and Proton can finally challenge again. The Proton X70 was the opening punch, but the most significant battle that is about to happen between these two national makers is just around the corner, and it involves the upcoming Proton X50 and Perodua D55L.

Although nothing is confirmed yet, we can make an educated guess based on leaks and what we know so far. All the opinions down below are just guesstimations so the final versions might be slightly different.

Segments

Both will be entry-level SUVs, but the similarities end there as they will be selling in different segments based on size. If we look at the data based on its genesis vehicle (Daihatsu Rocky for D55L and Geely Binyue for X50), the prices will be different too with the Perodua being the cheaper of the two based on equipment, size and powertrain.

Size

The D55L's smaller size puts it closer to the A-segment rather than the B segment which the larger X50 will be in. This translates into more room and boot space in the X50 despite it having a lower roofline. The Daihatsu Rocky does have a false floor in the boot but Perodua will likely put the spare tyre there, keeping in line with Perodua's philosophy of including the basics.

Powertrain

The Daihatsu in its home market is equipped with a 1.0-litre turbo engine mated to a CVT gearbox. It would be a big surprise if the D55L would come with this powertrain because we believe that the D55L will come with the tried and tested powertrain that is currently in the Myvi (102hp/136Nm, four-speed AT) but then again, Perodua please prove us wrong! The X50, on the other hand, will most probably come with a 174hp/255 Nm 1.5 litre turbocharged mill mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Equipment

If we look at the possible equipment list available on the X50's Binyue base car, there is a plethora of equipment that the X50 will come with that the D55L simply cannot compete with. These include dual-zone climate control, air purifier, panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 10.25-inch display, Hi Proton, big screen you have.

Safety

Referring back to their donor cars, both SUVs can be equipped with an array of driver assistance systems, six airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control as well as stability control. Only the X50 might also be equipped with lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring as the Geely Binyue SUV has these options.

Price

This will be the most mysterious part of the comparison as its just too speculative to even guess how much they will be. However, you can probably guess based on their closest sibling vehicles. The Proton X70 retails from RM95k while the Aruz can be had from RM72k - you do the maths.

Which will sell more? It remains to be seen, but then again, in the first fight, the more sophisticated Ali did lose to Frazier who was more straightforward and built like a tank. Who will land the knockout blow?


Why The 1990 VW Golf Mk2 GTI Is The People’s Sports Car

For most petrolheads, the love for cars is usually inherited from our fathers. The cars we grew up with, and all the fond memories we have with these cars often follow us all the way to the grave.
In fact, many of our first cars were handed down from our parents. So, there is no surprise that an emotional bond is formed between man and machine when many good experience are shared together, like what Andrew Tucker here who was featured in this video by
Petrolicious
 last week, has gone through.
With his father having owned two Golf GTIs during his childhood, there was seemingly only one choice when it came to Andrew Tucker buying his first car - a Mk2 Golf GTI 16V.
“Since most of my childhood memories revolved around my dad’s Golf GTIs, I told myself many years ago that one day, I would save up and have one of my own, and here we are,” said Andrew.
Having purchased it from a collector in 2012 after a three-year search, Andrew describes his 1990 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2 as something that is not perfect, but perfectly usable.
Besides the rebuilt suspensions, everything on the car is kept stock standard from the exterior, interior, and also in the engine bay. Power is supplied by a 1.8-litre 16-valve engine, kicking out 139 hp.
Andrew says that the car does have minor issues such as corroding fuel lines, but it is also his duty to preserve it.
“It is a very easy car to drive. I can push it to its limits without scaring myself, which is a good thing. What I love most about it is how it reminds me of all the good times I used to have in the car which my father owned back in the day.”
When asked about his future plans for his Golf, Andrew said that he will keep the car as it is and won’t apply any modifications.
“It may not be the most pristine one out there but it works perfectly, it is fun, and it is reliable – which makes it perfectly usable. I would rather have a functioning car than a “show pony”.
“In Europe, Volkswagens have always been the people’s cars – affordable and easy to live with. This GTI here is just as reliable but more fun, which makes it the people’s sports car, and that is what I like about it,” concludes Andrew.


From An Unknown Brand To The World’s Stage - Vietnam’s VinFast Aims High With BMW Tech

Vietnam is known for many good things - food and picturesque travel locations especially - but car manufacturing isn’t one of them. That might change within the next five years if the young upstart VinFast’s global debut at the recent
Paris Motor Show
 is an indicator of things to come.
Most automotive brands would typically aim low to establish a firm footing on their domestic market before venturing overseas. Not VinFast which, despite being born out of Marxist-ideology-Vietnam, embraces the free market more than some European/American brands.
Remember that the German state of Lower Saxony owns nearly 12 percent of the Volkswagen Group while the French government owns 15 percent of Renault.
In contrast, VinFast was founded with no direct government assistance. We say not directly because Vietnam does try to make things difficult for import of Thailand-made vehicles using dubious non-tariff barriers like environmental test certifications, which can only be done at one very specific Vietnamese lab, forcing cars to be parked at Vietnamese ports for extended periods of time.
Anyway on paper, VinFast is purely a private initiative by Pham Nhat Vuong - chairman and founder of Vietnam's largest private company, Vingroup - whose business interests now spans retail, property development, and food.
Pham’s rags to riches story started in the most unlikely location - Ukraine. Pham was a geology student in Moscow at the tail-end of the USSR’s dissolution. In 1993, he founded an instant noodle business in the newly independent and democratic Ukraine. He got his big break when he sold the business to Nestle, before moving back to Vietnam to establish a property development business.
Vietnam is rarely viewed by the West as a shining example of championing women’s rights but the country boasts of an extensive list of women leaders in its private sector. VietJet (Vietnam’s equivalent to Air Asia) for example, is founded by a lady, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, while Vietnam’s first private bank was founded by a woman, Nguyen Thi Nga.
VinFast’s management team is headed by two females. Chairwoman Le Thi Thu Thuy also holds the concurrent position as Vingroup’s Vice-Chairperson. Prior to joining Vingroup, she was a former Vice-President for Asian markets at Lehman Brothers. Meanwhile, Le Thanh Hai is the CEO of VinFast Trading and Service. She was formerly the General Sales and Marketing Director for General Motors Vietnam, whose Hanoi factory was sold to VinFast earlier this year.
The ladies of VinFast are joined by a few other ex-GM staff, including CEO of VinFast Trading and Production James DeLuca (former Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing Operations) and Design Director David Lyon (Formerly Executive Director of Asia-Pacific Design General Motors).
Despite its Asian heritage, VinFast didn’t see the need to be humble about its ambitions. The company’s profile reads: “…to become Southeast Asia’s leading vehicle manufacturer, as well as a significant new player in the global automotive industry.”
Malaysians will of course, will naturally read that as a (healthy and welcomed) challenge to Proton’s own similar ambitions under its new owner Geely.
Take that within the context of the prevailing tensions between the people of Vietnam and China, whose rivalry dates back centuries and goes beyond today’s politics; it has the makings of an Asian version of tensions between ‘70s era British car makers and larger players in continental Europe.
Like Geely’s new direction for Proton, VinFast believes in establishing itself first in the higher-end segments, before rolling out more affordable products, except that VinFast is taking things a bit closer to the extreme.
While Geely is leveraging on Volvo know-how to build the premium car-like X70, VinFast’s first two models – a LUX A2.0 sedan and a LUX SA2.0 SUV – are derived from BMW. Mind you it’s not a rebadge, as you can see from the pictures. Both models have been heavily reworked.
When asked about VinFast’s relationship with BMW, VinFast’s CEO James DeLuca told Carlist.my that VinFast is licensed to utilize BMW patents for specific technologies. To clarify, BMW didn’t license the F10 5 Series and F15 X5 to VinFast, but just specific patents.
“From our perspective, BMW is well-known for its safety, quality, reliability, durability, and ‘German Technology’. We want to build a solid platform for our two pioneering products, and this is why we decided to cooperate with BMW,” said DeLuca.
When asked about VinFast’s decision to enter the business at a premium-end instead, DeLuca explained:
“When Vingroup launches any product (real estate, automobile, etc.), that product is always the best one. We want to introduce our brand at a major show at Paris by presenting our aspirational products and to prove Vietnamese capabilities. Moreover, it also helps us set a high-class position, from where we can expand in to more mainstream segments in the future.”
Smaller and more affordable models are in the plans, but rather than selling cheap cars before moving upmarket, VinFast wants to approach the challenge from the opposite direction.
The first two VinFast models will hit the Vietnamese market in September 2019, ambitious considering that their 335-hectare USD 1.5 billion manufacturing plant is still under construction.
As recent as last year, the land on which the plant is being built was still partially submerged in sea water! When ready, VinFast claims that the plant will be one of the most advanced in the world, never mind South East Asia.
Whether VinFast can deliver as claimed is still yet to be seen. It is one thing to build two show cars, but series production is quite a different matter, as Tesla is now finding out the hard way.
Even quality stalwarts like Toyota, whose Toyota Production system is now adopted by nearly every single car maker today, still finds itself tripping over quality shortcomings every now and then.
Export plans are being put in place in parallel with its domestic introduction. Cars are being readied to meet requirements of export markets, but VinFast isn't divulging any details yet. The company has registered an office in Frankfurt, with Shanghai and Seoul to follow soon.
“At the moment, we are completing homologation procedures for several international markets. We are not yet announcing the timing of the start of exports or the first export markets,” said DeLuca.
VinFast is making a lot of headlines but it is important to remember that VinFast still doesn't have a functioning plant or a working prototype for the motoring press to evaluate.
But before Malaysians dismiss VinFast, we should also reflect on ourselves and recognize that despite having over 30 years of head start, we still don’t have much to show apart from one maker of small cars that is more of an South East Asian outpost for Daihatsu with limited export capability beyond small Pacific nations, and a laggard that just can’t seem to get things right until the mainland Chinese came in.
Perhaps the healthy rivalry from VinFast will force policy makers to acknowledge that the government has no business in businesses apart from creating business-friendly environments, especially with regards to the
third national car company
 mooted by Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir.
At the same time, we also understand that challenge faced by Tun. When you are leading a nation with a population of around 30 million, simple statistics will tell you that taking the organic path and waiting for an entrepreneur to rise up from the masses to create wealth will take too long. Hence the need for government intervention to kick start things.
In comparison, Vietnam has a population of over 95 million, with a long history of hard working and resilient people, whose predecessors have chased away superpowers including ancient imperial China and modern day USA. It’s only a matter of time before an enterprising Vietnamese will rise up and build the next unicorn startup.


Sub RM50K SUV: All The Car You'll Ever Need

There's no denying it, SUVs have taken over the road. 2020 Statistics are not out yet, but for 2019 people bought 77 per cent more SUVs than in 2018, so we can expect 2020 to be even more. It feels like they have mushroomed overnight. SUVs are so popular these days even the supercar boys are getting into the act. Who-ever thought we'd live in times where Lamborghini and Aston Martin have SUVs as part of their line-up, but in 2020 its become the new normal.

Everybody can buy their way into the SUV lifestyle now because there are just so many to choose from. With this in mind, we thought we would list the best ones for under RM50k because owning an SUV doesn't necessarily mean you need to break the bank.

Second Generation Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is in its fourth generation now, but there is no love lost for the second-generation vehicle due to its powerful engine and space versatility. There are two variants, one equipped with a 2.2-litre turbo diesel and the other with a 2.4-litre petrol mill. The turbo diesel excites us as it can produce 197hp and 436Nm of torque. That's a lot of torque for so little money and we love it. Youll be needing that torque later because the Korean SUV can ferry around seven people and with that much torque, it'll never be overwhelmed. The leather seats in the SUV also seem like they have lasted the test of time, so most of them will still look new.

Second Generation Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

If you need a SUV that can handle the rough and tough stuff then the Pajero Sport is one of the best choices. Rides tall and mighty above most other vehicles, the Pajero is perfect for drivers that need a family car as well as a vehicle that can be used on the weekends to create some adventures with. It's also an excellent choice for those who have to go in and out of a construction site as the Pajero Sport doesn't mind getting dirty. The example that we have picked up from Carlist also shows that at RM49k, you're pretty much buying a tried and tested Japanese SUV that hasn't aged, because for around this price range the SUV still looks almost brand new. The Pajero Sport is also one of the nicer riding SUVs so going fast and far on the motorway is not an issue.

Second Generation Nissan X-Trail

If you're looking for a family SUV that doesn't feel like a barge, then look no further than the Nissan X-Trail. Forget the soft-looking current generation X-Trail, because the boxy, utilitarian look from the second-gen X-Trail is what dreams are made of. There is a reason why once upon a time, the X-Trail was the vehicle of choice for the police force, and that reason is simply that the SUV is just so reliable and sturdy. What it lacks in comfort, it more than makes up for it when it comes to robust mechanical reliability—saying that however, it is still a comfortable vehicle and can easily be your family car for many years to come.

Second Generation BMW X5

Believe or not, for, under RM50k, you can now pick up a used second-generation BMW X5. Not only is it an X5, it is also the powerful diesel version called the X5 3.0d. With 500Nm of torque available from a low 2,000rpm, you can pretty much outpace anyone at the traffic lights. Weak areas of the vehicle are the self-levelling rear suspension so make sure you set aside a budget for a replacement part because, at this price point, we're pretty sure it's been worn and torn. Nevertheless, it is still one heck of a car.

So which SUV tickles your fancy at this price point?


Ford offering up to RM10,000 cash rebates for CNY

Chinese New Year promotions and cash rebates are all the rage at the moment, and the most recent company to hop on the bandwagon is Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the local distributor of Ford vehicles.
SDAC announced it is offering cash rebates of up to RM10,000 on selected Ford vehicles from now through 31 March through the ‘Ford CNY Promo’. To be specific, those who opt for the Fiesta can get up to RM10,000 of cash rebates, while those who purchase the EcoSport can get up to RM5,000. Last but not least, the Kuga SUV also comes with up to RM3,000 cash rebate. Unfortunately, there has not been any word on rebates for the Ranger or the Focus.
Ford CNY Promo
Ford Fiesta
 - Up to RM10,000 cash rebate
Ford EcoSport
 - Up to RM5,000 cash rebate
Ford Kuga
 - Up to 3,000 cash rebate
Ford Ranger
 - No promotion
Ford Focus
 - No promotion
Cash rebates aside, Ford Malaysia also said that it is offering a special service promotion to customers from now until 15 February, where owners who bring their vehicle to a Ford dealership for service or maintenance will receive a free 27-point vehicle health check by a Ford-certified technician.
In addition, Ford is offering up to 20 per cent off labour and parts for many of its service packages, and customers who spend more than RM300 will receive exclusive Ford merchandise.
That is not all. Anyone who test drives a new Ford from 16 to 24 January is entitled to receive a free car boot organiser, and those who place bookings within this period will also receive a Ford umbrella and a handy seat hook/organiser.
During the same period, Ford is running a fun ‘Count The Kam’ contest. For a chance to win 200,000 AirAsia Big Points and other prizes, Ford fans can visit the SDAC PJ2 Showroom and guess the total number of mandarin oranges filling the EcoSport, take a selfie with the vehicle, and upload it to the Ford Malaysia Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/FordMalaysia
. People can also choose to join by guessing directly from the photos uploaded by Ford on the page.
Looking for a Ford? Find one now at
Carlist.my


2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Facelift Launched In Malaysia, RM176k

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has officially introduced the facelifted 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander seven-seater SUV.
New features for the 2017 Outlander SUV include an Electronic Parking Brake, Interior Floor Illumination Lamps, which activate once the doors are opened, and a Shark-Fin antenna.
Elsewhere, the Outander SUV remains mostly unchanged to the
outgoing model
, still offering its suite of value-for-money features such as sunroof, powered tailgate, LED Headlamps with Daytime Running Lights (DRL), auto headlights and wipers, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Outlander SUV is offered with a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated engine, with the company’s MIVEC variable valve timing system, producing a maximum output of 167 PS at 6,000 rpm and a torque figure of 222Nm at 4,100 rpm.
The engine is mated to Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with a 6-Step manual mode distributing power through a 4WD system with three different drive modes – 4WD ECO, 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is offered in three colours - Red Metallic, White Pearl and Grey Metallic.
The Outlander SUV is only available in one variant, priced at RM176,062, OTR inclusive of GST and Insurance charges. The Outlander SUV also comes with a warranty package of five years or 100,000km, whichever comes first.
The Outlander SUV is a Complete Built-Up (CBU) vehicle imported from Japan.


Fernando Alonso Has A New Ride, A 2015 Honda Civic Type R

Fernando Alonso has posted on his Instagram account a picture of a brand new 2015
Honda

Civic

Type R
 that, by the looks of it, has become his new company car with the caption "E voilà".
Alonso, the Formula 1 double world champion, made the jump from Scuderia
Ferrari
 to the
McLaren
-Honda team at the end of the 2014 season. Since then, he and the team hasn’t enjoyed the success they’re hoping for, at least this year.
We’ve seen plenty of the
all-new Civic Type R
, though, and with it setting the fastest lap for a front-wheel drive car
around the Nurburgring
, it certainly is a very potent hatch.
He seems quite enthused about it. And there are reports of him waiting patiently for the second-generation
Honda NSX
.
Looks like he, like the rest of us, will have to wait until 2016 for that privilege as the release has been pushed further. Our guess is that Alonso will naturally be one of the first to gain a drive in the new NSX once it’s out.


Honda Malaysia Partners With Astro Radio, Tealive, And Unifi To Give Away 9 Cars

Honda Malaysia has announced that it is collaborating with three major brands - Astro Radio, Tealive, and unifi to add further anticipation to its Road to 900,000th Unit Milestone Campaign.
The campaign, which was launched last month to build the momentum towards Honda Malaysia achieving its 900,000th sales unit in the third quarter of 2019, will see lucky Malaysians driving home nine brand new Honda models.
Out of the nine models, three will be given away to participants in the contests that are organised by Astro Radio, Tealive, and unifi.
Adding to the excitement, Honda Malaysia also announced the first lucky winner who will be driving home a Civic 1.5L Turbo, Mohamad Adib Fida’iy bin Mohamad Hanapi.
With one down, eight more Hondas are still up for grabs in the campaign. To participate in the campaign, customers can register their details through QR code or visit the campaign’s website before taking part in the activities or contests to earn giveaway tickets.
The more tickets collected, the higher the chances are to win.
The activities:
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said, “The collaboration with these homegrown brands is a first for Honda Malaysia and will offer more value to Malaysians. We are very excited about this campaign as it provides an excellent opportunity to reward Malaysians for their unwavering support. It is a gesture of appreciation for the customers’ trust that has helped make each of these brands, including Honda, a sought-after brand in Malaysia.”
Looking for a new Honda? Get the best deals
here
.


2017 Porsche 718 Boxster, Cayman GTS – 2.5L Boxer-4, 365hp

The Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman family receives a new GTS engine variant with maximum outputs of 365 hp from its 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine.
Improvised from the engine in the 718 S range, the new GTS engine has its intake duct and turbocharger reworked to generate an additional 15 hp over the S engine and up to 35 hp more than its naturally-aspirated six-cylinder predecessor.
Maximum torque is rated at 430 Nm and is spread across the rev range from 1,900 to 5,000 rpm.
Standard transmission is a 6-speed manual, Porsche’s 7-speed PDK dual clutch transmission available as an option. When fitted with the latter, both the 718 Boxster GTS and 718 Cayman GTS is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. Top speed is 290 km/h for both vehicles.
Besides higher outputs, the GTS models come standard with a host of features that are otherwise cost options in the regular 718 and 718 S models – Sport Chrono Package, torque vectoring with mechanical rear diff lock, and PASM adaptive dampers which lower the body by 10 mm.
Regular track day
kakis
 can make use of the Porsche Track Precision App to record, display, and analyse driving data on their smartphone to dissect their laps.
Visual differentiation for GTS grade include the new Sport Design front apron, tinted bi-xenon headlamps, tinted tail lights, black logos, black rear apron, and centrally-mounted exhaust pipe. Alloy wheels measure 20 inches and finished in satin black.
Inside, the GTS models are finished with a high proportion of Alcantara spread over not just the sports seats, but also on the steering wheel, centre console, and armrests.


Kerajaan Melaka Rancang Bina Terowong Dasar Laut – Hubungkan Melaka Dan Indonesia

Selepas isu
Terowong SMART kedua
 dicadang untuk dibina di Lembah Klang, kali ini giliran negeri
Melaka
 pula untuk menyerlah dengan terowongnya tersendiri, iaitu terowong di dasar laut merentasi Selat Melaka.

Kerajaan Melaka menegaskan terowong di dasar laut itu boleh digunakan bagi rangkaian sistem rel yang menghubungkan Melaka dan Dumai, Indonesia.

Kenyataan tersebut dibuat oleh Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali ketika sidang akhbar selepas Pelancaran Melaka Week di Expo 2020 Dubai di Pavilion Malaysia.

Menurutnya, ini merupakan perancangan jangka panjang memandangkan jarak paling hampir antara Melaka dan Dumai ialah 47 kilometer.

Sementara itu, Exco Kanan Pelaburan, Perindustrian dan Pembangunan Usahawan Negeri Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh memberitahu setakat ini, sudah ada sebuah firma yang menyatakan minat untuk membina terowong terbabit.

Walau bagaimanapun, projek berkenaan perlu mendapat persetujuan dan kelulusan kerajaan
Indonesia
 sebelum pembinaan projek ini dimulakan.

Tambahnya lagi, firma dari Malaysia hanya mampu untuk menanggung 50% daripada kos keseluruhan pembinaan terowong ini. Projek ini juga boleh mengambil masa sehingga empat ke lima tahun untuk disiapkan jika semuanya berjalan lancar.

Projek itu dijangka mampu menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar yang lebih tinggi bagi Melaka. Ketika ini, ekonomi Melaka banyak bergantung kepada sektor perkhidmatan namun sektor pembuatan juga semakin menunjukkan peningkatan.

Terdahulu, beberapa syarikat pengeluar kenderaan mewah terkemuka dunia memilih Melaka sebagai lokasi untuk mendapatkan lampu kenderaan yang menggunakan teknologi diod pemancar cahaya (LED).
BMW X Series
 merupakan antara kenderaan yang menggunakan teknologi LED yang dikeluarkan syarikat dimiliki anak jati Melaka, Dominant Opto Technologies Sdn Bhd.


Batang Kali-Genting road to be closed for ONE YEAR

The deadly
landslide
 last week has led to the full closure of the Batang Kali-Genting road for repair works.

Those who frequent the route will need to take note as it'll be closed off to the public for a year, according to the
Works Ministry
. That might sound like a long time, but it is necessary to ensure everyone's safety in the long run.

Affected slopes & roads to begin repair works

*Image credit: NST

According to the Works Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman, an entire year will be dedicated to assessing, repairing, and fortifying all the damaged slopes and roads. A more thorough assessment will kick off once the search and rescue efforts at the affected camping site are concluded.

Despite the many theories surrounding the tragic landslide at the Father's Organic Farm campsite, Wan Ahmad Uzir stated that the cause of it all might have been due to natural causes upon detecting active underground water flow at the affected slope that's connected to beneath the campsite.

No more developments in high-risk areas

*Image credit: Malaysia Trend

The Public Works Department also issued a formal statement stating that the massive slop failure was due to a combination of retrogressive translational and debris flow which caused not one but two massive landslides.

Temporary preventive measures have been deployed like covering the exposed areas with tarpaulin sheets as well as diverting surface water flow to the other side of the affected areas. Tilt sensors have also been installed to further monitor for any more ground movements.

Over 1,000 slopes across federal roads have been identified as high-risk areas and the Works Ministry has announced that there will be no developments in the marked areas until further notice, particularly the red zones.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this unfortunate incident.


Geely Jia Ji Launched In China – Next Proton Exora?

Geely’s Jia Ji MPV is now on sale in China, with prices ranging from 99,800 Yuan to 182,800 Yuan, about the same price as a Geely Boyue (donor car for our Proton X70), which ranges from 98,800 Yuan to 159,800 Yuan.
Four engine options are available for the Chinese market:
1.5-litre turbocharged petrol (177 PS/255 Nm), 6-speed manual
1.8-litre turbocharged petrol (183 PS/300 Nm), 6-speed torque converter automatic
1.5-litre turbocharged petrol mild hybrid (190 PS/300 Nm), 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
1.5-litre turbocharged petrol plug-in hybrid (258 PS/385 Nm), 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
The plug-in hybrid variant has an electric-only driving range of 56 km (China test cycle), while the mild-hybrid variant uses a 48V belt-driven starter-generator, similar to those used by four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz EQ Boost models.
In China, the Jia Ji is available either as a 6- or a 7-seater, with 3 different seating options to choose from: 2+2+2, 2+2+3, or 2+3+2.
In terms of size, the Jia Ji measures 4,706 mm long, 1,909 mm wide, 1,690 mm tall, with a 2,805 mm long wheelbase. The plug-in hybrid variant however, sits slightly taller at 1,718 mm to accommodate the floor-mounted hybrid battery. That makes the Jia Ji a lot bigger than the familiar but aging Proton Exora, bringing it closer to a Toyota Innova that measures 4,735 mm long, 1,830 mm wide, and 1,795 mm tall, with a 2,750 mm wheelbase.
The highlight of the Jia Ji is its family-focused interior. From the pictures supplied by Geely, the Jia Ji’s cabin appear to exude a lot of premium ambitions, trimmed in high quality plastics and leather, complete with panoramic sunroof (higher range variants only).
Even the drink holders are illuminated and can be kept cool/warm by the air-conditioner, which like all recent Geely models, features a Volvo-style AQS air quality management system that uses a medical grade PM2.5 air filter.
The 12.3-inch floating screen GKUI infotainment system has a special ‘Children Mode’ which when activated, automatically adjusts the air-conditioner, closes all windows, lowers audio volume and plays children songs. An active noise reduction system (similar to the one used in a Honda Accord) is also employed to keep the cabin quiet.
At night, the cabin is also illuminated by soft colour LED ambient lighting, just like a premium car. The ceiling light is also motion activated. A simple wave of the hand is all it takes to light up the interior.
There's air-conditioning vents for the second row, but it's front-mounted though rather than roof-mounted. Floor-mounted air-conditioning vents don't offer sufficient cooling performance in our hot climate.
Airbag count ranges from four to six, while electronic stability control and hill start assist is standard. When equipped with ICC Intelligent Cruise Control, ACC Adaptive Cruise Control, and LKA Lane Keep Assistant, the Jia Ji is capable of semi-autonomous driving. It’s capable of following the vehicle ahead at speeds of up to 150 km/h, and is also capable of executing lane changes.
It also parks itself, capable of steering itself into parallel/perpendicular parking spots (driver still controls brake and accelerator pedals). There’s also RCW rear collision warning, RCTA rear cross traffic alert, AEB automatic emergency braking with pedestrian identification, FCW front collision warning, LCA lane change assistant, BSD blind spot detection, SLIF speed limit identification, IHBC intelligent high-beam control.
Late last year, Geely’s parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited announced that three Geely models will be licensed to Proton until 2020. Among the three is the VF11, then the development code for the Jia Ji.
Proton’s next Geely-based model will most probably be the Honda HR-V rivalling Binyue (
possibly renamed as Proton X50
), so we won’t expect the Jia Ji to be launched in Malaysia before 2020. Like the Proton X70, the Jia Ji will certainly be given a more international market friendly alphanumeric name when it’s launched here.


JPJ To Roll Out New Star Rating System For Driving Schools In Malaysia

*Image courtesy of
Metro Driving School
In an attempt to induce “healthy competition,” the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will reportedly kick-off a new star rating system for driving schools in Malaysia, reports Bernama.
"Driving schools which offered the best services will get five stars followed by four stars and so on," said JPJ director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad in his talks with the Malaysia news site.
There are a total of 205 driving schools in Malaysia, and the new star rating system will help young drivers to pick the best ones.
The JPJ director-general also believes that driving schools will then begin to compete for the five-star (max) rating, thus improving the quality of driving schools in Malaysia. Driving circuits at these facilities are also expected to improve to conform with the guidelines set.
Would this be something that produces better drivers in Malaysia too?


Renault Names Its Upcoming Global SUV Model “Arkana”, World Premiere Next Week

After
teasing
the front fascia of its upcoming global SUV model in June, Renault has released the second teaser image of the model, giving us a glimpse at the rear.
Besides that, the French carmaker has also revealed that the SUV will go by the name of “Arkana”, which was derived from the Latin word “arcanum” meaning “secret.”
From what we can see, the Arkana’s rear comes with an integrated spoiler lip and LED taillights which stretch across the rear, similar to the new Megane and Talisman.
The Renault logo and the model name are also placed in the middle, similar to latest Renault models.
Details are still scarce, but what we know is that it will most likely be based on the Renault Kaptur, a Russia-only, longer wheelbase, four-wheel drive version of the Captur compact SUV.
It will be built at Renault’s plant in Moscow and launched in Russia first, with other markets around the globe to follow.
Some sources say that it could be a ‘coupe’ version of the Kaptur, featuring a low-slung roof and sportier visual appearance.
According to Renault, the vehicle which will be revealed at the Moscow Motor Show will still be a ‘show car’ and not the finished production model, though it will be an extremely close preview.
More details are to be revealed closer to its premiere next week.


LA 2018: All-New Mazda 3 To Premiere – New Engine, New Platform

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that the all-new Mazda 3 will debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
According to Mazda, the all-new 3 will adopt a more matured interpretation of its Kodo design, as previewed by the
Kai Concept
 first seen at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.
In an earlier teaser video released by the Hiroshima-based firm, the side profiles of the all-new 3 can be seen briefly, clearly inspired by the Kai Concept, albeit with regular door handles and side mirrors.
Mazda has also confirmed that the all-new 3 will mark the beginning of a whole new generation of vehicles, as it will be the first model to feature the new SkyActiv-X powertrain. More details can be found here.
To recap, Mazda’s new
SkyActiv-X
 engine utilizes compression ignition as opposed to regular spark ignition. As a result, fuel efficiency of the SkyActiv-X engine will be superior as opposed to regular engines, whilst offering improved engine response.
Last but certainly not the least is the new platform that will be the basis of the
all-new Mazda 3
. One of the key changes Mazda has done is to replace the multilink rear suspension with a new Mazda-patented torsion beam design, featuring a diameter that progressively thickens from the middle to the sides.
According to Mazda, the new torsion beam design is less complicated with as it has fewer moving parts, allowing for better control of mechanical noise and vibration, while at the same time retaining the high level of control that the multilink set up is famed for.
The 2018 edition of the Los Angeles Motor Show will run from 30
th
 November till 9
th
 December.


Isuzu Malaysia Appoints Yuumi as Brand Ambassador

Isuzu Malaysia today announced that popular entertainer and model Yuumi is now their brand ambassador.
As the face of Isuzu Malaysia, Yuumi will appear in all multimedia campaigns including all types of media, digital, roadshows and social media.
She is also set to appear as a ring girl in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia and Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fight on 9th July in Mid Valley Exhibition Center, where Isuzu Malaysia is the main sponsor of the title fight.
Born in Japan, Yuumi, who moved to Malaysia when she was five years old, is able to converse in multiple languages inclusive of Japanese, English, Malay and Chinese.
Having started her career as a model, Yuuni progressed to being a TV personality where she appeared in local TVs program such as TV3’s “Jenaka Kampung Kalut”, “Melodi”, and also TV9’s “Nasi Lemak Kopi O”.
Soon in August 2017, she will be featured in “The Captivating Travel of Malaysia” to promote Malaysia in travelling channel that will be on air at few cable and satellite televisions in Japan such as CATV, SkyPerfecTV and IPTV.
“I am delighted to welcome Yuumi as our brand ambassador. Although she is still young and at the development stage of her career, she is strongly committed to be a part of Malaysian society and willing to take a challenge in this country, in which we found something in common with ourselves. In addition to that, her charisma and lively personality are an ideal fit for the Isuzu brand. I am confident that our collaboration will be tremendously beneficial to everyone”, said Hajime Machimura, executive director of Isuzu Malaysia.
“I am excited and grateful for this collaboration with Isuzu Malaysia. This is such an amazing honor in my career to be associated with Isuzu, a top Japanese brand both in Malaysia and globally”, said Yuumi.


Why The Toyota Alphard And Vellfire Is The Defacto Family/VIP Car

The Toyota Alphard and Vellfire have become the de facto luxury family vehicles, but how did it get this status?

It's not uncommon to drive past a car dealership and see an array of tissue box on wheels parked at the front. Well, they are there for a reason, and that reason is the fact that these tissue box on wheels have become one of the most sought after cars in Malaysia.

Calling them a tissue box on wheels is quite unfair really because although their shape does remind us of a tissue box, they are one of the most luxurious cars around. Generally, they are loved for their reliability and ability to provide the highest form of comfort and space. With these three attributes part of the car's unique selling point, there's no reason why any Malaysian family wouldn't want one because practicality is king.

The car that we are referring to is of course the
Toyota Alphard and Vellfire
, but what is it about these cars that people can't get enough of? Why are they the default cars to buy when you want a luxurious family chariot? We examine why.

Background of the Toyota Alphard

Apart from the obvious reason being that the seats in these MPVs are like the ones in Etihad's first-class, another reason that Malaysians are completely in love with the twins is simply that it gives them the sense that they are a very important person - it is, after all, a VIP MPV.

When Toyota first built the Alphard, they just wanted to make a capable and comfortable van to help move the family around. It wasn't until the second generation Alphard (introduced in 2008) that Toyota really focused on luxury when it came to their best selling MPV. They even created a new sub-model called the Vellfire, which mainly focused on the youth and pushed the Alphard to a more upmarket segment targeting VIPs.
The Alphard
 featured a Lexus like interior, with curtained windows, captain chairs and a smooth drivetrain moving it. It all came together to make a person feel very relaxed and important. It was a winning formula that was unseen anywhere else.

The Toyota Alphard Invasion

Mass-market availability is another factor in why the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire have become the default vehicle for a perfect family carrier. Because of this simple reason, the social acceptance of this vehicle grew stronger and stronger, especially when ministers and wealthy businessman started purchasing them over predictable VIP cars like the S-Class or 7-Series. It really did create a sense of belonging - as if the car made the owners part of this VIP club. But who could blame anyone for wanting one, it's comfortable, reliable and luxurious.

No competition for the Toyota Alphard

There are many MPVs out there, but none of them has the complete package of the Toyota Alphard. Mercedes Benz's V-Class could probably give it a run for its money, but it would also cost you probably RM200k or more to purchase one. Yes, there are some V's around, but they are all either expensive or the less luxurious variants. That's why it has become common for Malaysians to compare a Mercedes Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series to an Alphard because really, they have no choice but to do so. Yet again, it's not really comparing apples to apples so really; the Alphard has no competition.

The Toyota Alphard sells itself

As we mentioned before, there is just no end to how smart the Alphard and Vellfire twins are. When a product doesn't need a big marketing team to push hard on how RIGHT it is, it generally means it will sell itself. Why? Because the public will do the marketing for them. Everyone knows the Alphard, whether for better or worse. Even my parents who are ignorant of cars know about them, they're just viral.

Conclusion

Till there is a worthy competitor, the Alphard and Vellfire will obviously go on unchallenged and continue to dominate, but even then, it'll be pretty damn hard for any car to dethrone decades of dominance. We Malaysians have known about the twin Toyota luxurious MPVs for some time now but the Americans and Europeans are just finding out about them and guess what, they seem to be liking it so far!


VW-Suzuki Divorce: Court Orders Suzuki To Pay Damages, VW To Sell Stakes In Suzuki

After a lengthy four-year legal tussle, the ‘divorce’ proceedings between Volkswagen and Suzuki is almost settled.
On Sunday, an arbitral tribunal in London announced its ruling that the alliance between Volkswagen AG and Suzuki Motor Corporation is now terminated, effective 18-May 2012.
The court also rejected Suzuki’s counterclaim that Volkswagen had breached the agreement, claiming that Volkswagen is withholding technology transfer to Suzuki. Instead, the court ruled that it was Suzuki that had breached its contractual obligations to Volkswagen under the agreement and that Volkswagen has the right to claim damages.
The amount of damages that Suzuki has to pay Volkswagen, if any, would be addressed in a further stage of the arbitration proceedings.
On the other hand, Volkswagen was ordered by the court to allow Suzuki to purchase Volkswagen’s 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki.
“We welcome the clarity created by this ruling. The tribunal rejected Suzuki’s claims of breach and found that Volkswagen met its contractual obligations under the cooperation agreement. Nevertheless, the arbitrators found that termination of the cooperation agreement by Suzuki on reasonable notice was valid, and that Volkswagen must dispose of the shares purchased. This decision is based on the principle that a contract may be terminated upon reasonable notice. Volkswagen expects a positive effect on the Company’s earnings and liquidity through the sale of the Suzuki shares.
“Furthermore, the arbitration court confirmed that Suzuki committed an infringement of the agreement. Suzuki broke off an ongoing cooperation project at the end of 2010/beginning of 2011 and failed to give Volkswagen last-call rights for the delivery of diesel engines. Volkswagen reserves the right to claim damages against Suzuki,” said Volkswagen Group.
Suzuki Motors Corporation said “As a result of VW disposing of its shares in Suzuki, there will be a change in our largest shareholder, which is also a major shareholder.
“At this stage, Suzuki does not foresee any need to amend its forecast of consolidated results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, however, if any matters that need to be disclosed occur, such matter will be promptly disclosed.”
Background
In December 2009, Volkswagen AG and Suzuki jointly announced that the two were entering a ‘long-term strategic partnership.’
Briefly, the main objective of the partnership was to allow Volkswagen to leverage on Suzuki’s expertise in compact cars and its distribution channels in India, where Suzuki’s local joint venture Maruti-Suzuki is India’s largest automotive brand. In return, Suzuki would be given access to Volkswagen’s fuel-saving advanced diesel and hybrid technology.
Less than a year later, Suzuki signed an agreement to purchase diesel engines from Fiat, which Volkswagen argued was a breach of the agreement.
Suzuki’s CEO Mr. Osamu Suzuki was also unhappy with Volkswagen listing Suzuki as an ‘associate company’ in the Group’s 2010 annual report, which in Volkswagen’s terms meant a company which Volkswagen has direct or indirect influence in.
Osamu Suzuki asserted that Suzuki is an independent company, despite having Volkswagen as a majority shareholder, while Volkswagen reasoned that its annual report is compiled in accordance to international accounting rules.
On 18-November 2011, Suzuki served a notice of termination to Volkswagen.


Voluntary Recall For 3rd Generation Toyota Prius - MY 2009 to 2013

UMW Toyota Motor, the distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, has announced today that 6,160 units of Toyota Prius made between 2009 to 2013 will need to have a software update done to the vehicle’s control system.
The move is a voluntary initiative by UMW Toyota and the update related to maintaining the vehicle’s reliability.
“This recall serves to provide an additional remedy to the vehicles involved in the previous recall announced in 2014,” said the company’s press release, which did not elaborate further on the specifics of the recall other than it’s a software update.
It continued to say, “Although there have not been any reported cases in Malaysia, UMW Toyota Motor will be conducting this Special Service Campaign to ensure their customers’ vehicles remain reliable and at its best performance level.”
UMW Toyota Motor will notify all affected vehicle owners officially to update the ECU programming at no charge. The work should take around an hour.
For further information, owners of affected cars can contact any authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682).


Spied: Tamer Honda Civic Type R In The Works?

Photos of several mildly camouflaged Honda Civic Type R models recently surfaced, fueling rumours that Honda could be working on a slightly tamer variant of its mighty hot hatch.
From the photos provided by our European spy photographer, these prototypes were lightly camouflaged, covering only the front and rear bumpers.
Upon closer inspection of the red prototype, we can see that it wears a front bumper that is slightly redesigned with a new surround for the front fog lights.
As for the white prototype seen here, the redesigned front fog light surrounds are more visible here. We noticed what appears to be an inverted L-shaped piece on each side, right above the front fog lights.
Moving towards the rear end, the white prototype dons a rear wing that is noticeably smaller and less fancy than the regular Type R. This rear wing sits on the rear bootlid itself, similar to the one found on the US market-only Civic Si Sedan.
The rear bumper of the white prototype also appears different from the Type R we’re accustomed to. We noticed that the bumper garnish on each edge of the rear bumper appears to feature similar garnish as the front bumper.
Additionally, the front brakes of these prototypes do not receive the same cross drilled treatment as the regular Type R.
Production of the new generation Civic Type R began in 2017 in Swindon, so a facelift is unlikely at this point of time.
Current Civic Type R
Plans for more variants of the Civic Type R have been in the works, according to Hideki Matsumoto, Chief Engineer for the Civic. “We’re hoping that by gradually putting out more [variants] that we’ll be able to maintain a more stable sales volume,” he told
Autonews
. He added that Honda is considering a tamer version of the Type R that has a more grand touring character.
Photo via SBMedian


2018 All-New Nissan Leaf Images Leaked Ahead Of Tokyo 2017 Debut

Grainy images of the 2018 Nissan Leaf have been leaked online, reportedly by a Nissan staff. The images originated on the ‘
2001yNB8C
bluemiata
’ Twitter account, which has since been removed by the user but
archived
 at a separate location.
The user's Tweet claimed a “new type Leaf” and that it was captured at Nissan’s
high-tech Oppama plant
, where the Leaf will indeed be produced. Nissan has also
teased
 the upcoming Leaf previously.
The leaked images come just under a month away from its official debut at the upcoming 2017 Tokyo International Motor Show next month.
First launched in 2011, the Nissan Leaf is the world’s best-selling electric vehicle (EV) – and has seen several updates throughout its life cycle, crucially offering two battery variants (a standard 24 kWh battery or a 30 kWh battery) since 2016.
The outgoing Nissan Leaf has a claimed driving range of 200 km New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) cycle, the all-new model is set to offer a claimed driving range in excess of 250 km. The Nissan Leaf will also notably pack a host of autonomous driving technology.
The images of the front fascia take after Nissan’s latest ‘V-Motion’ design language - with a prominent (V-shaped) grille trim flanked by sleek headlights. The car’s prominent shoulder line leads up towards sharp looking tail lights, reminiscent of the Nissan IDS Concept which also debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2015.
The all-new Nissan Leaf is expected to reach showrooms in U.S. late in 2017, followed by introduction into the European market in 2018.


Red Beacon Light On VIP Cars Banned In India

Public officials abusing their power isn't just limited to Malaysia. The trend is largely similar in India, though the Indian government has clamped down on political figures using red beacon light on their cars.
Come 1 May 2017, only emergency vehicles will be allowed to use the red beacon light. Politicians and government officials will need to crawl through traffic like everyone else.
“We are removing the rule which allows state and central government to specify who can use the red lights,”
said
 Arun Jaitley. finance minister for India.

Related Articles

Child Killed By Inflating Airbag

Auto News

January 20, 2016

Red Light Running Toyota Hilux Crashes And Flips, Highlights Importance Of Dash Cams

Auto News

February 08, 2017

This German Policeman Is Pissed Off, But Why?

Auto News

May 17, 2017

A couple of years back, an Indian supreme court ruled that the abuse of the red beacon light as a menace to society. Even criminals are known to install these red beacon lights to avoid police, as they know that police are unwilling to stop a car with red flashing light.
Ministers in India have gradually stopped using red beacon light, including Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi and respective chief miniters of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Photo credit:
BBC