Is 199km Enough - Does The 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV Need A Range-Extender?

With just 199km of range from its smallish 35.5kWh battery, Malaysians were quick to doubt the real world usability of
the incoming Mazda MX-30
. Would a range-extender ease those concerns?

First of all, Mazda is never one to shy away from introducing a bold
concept
 into the mix. Just as their cars can be perceived as radical from norms established by other Japanese automakers in terms of design and engineering, the MX-30 is an EV
with a difference
.

Mazda MX-30 - 199km Of EV Range

Instead of attempting to replace the car you already (probably own) as your main mode of personal transport, it seeks to fill the role of an efficient, stylish, fun, and zero emissions second vehicle - hence the ‘limited’ published WLTP range of 199km.

It’s not meant for long distance road trips or lengthy commutes but is optimised to excel at quicker, shorter journeys that are done in higher frequency like the kind we find ourselves doing over a weekend to catch up on our long ‘to-do lists’.

For some, approximately 200km of travel distance between charges is plenty to get them through the week, but its smaller capacity battery also means quicker charge times even when hooked up to the slower but more widespread AC charger.

Still, since it has an onboard AC converter that outputs at just 6.6kW instead of the usual 11kW or 22kW, it still takes some 5 hours to fully charge. Hooking it up to a fast charger will cut down wait time, naturally, but its quoted 36 minutes (to 80%) is about level with most other EVs with higher capacities due to the MX-30’s relatively low maximum DC input rate of 40kW.

By comparison, the
Hyundai Kona Electric
 in e-Lite and e-Plus guises supports DC charging up to 100kW (47 minutes to 80%) and yields a claimed 305km on a single charge from a 39.2kWh battery.

In other markets, Mazda also offers the MX-30 with a small petrol-powered rotary combustion engine that effectively makes it a
REEV
 (Range-Extended Electric Vehicle).

What Is An REEV?

The engine in a REEV is only used as an onboard generator to replenish the battery and power auxiliary systems, but not to directly power the electric motor that drives the wheels.

Importantly, it serves as buffer against range anxiety, acting as a ‘last resort’ should the EV not be able to reach a charging point in time by burning its petrol reserves and extending the vehicle’s effective range - hence the name.

The BMW i3
 was one of the first mass-produced electric vehicles, to include a similar range extender system, albeit as an optional extra, to augment the endurance of the car’s relatively small 22kWh battery at launch.

Interestingly, the MX-30’s range extender system uses a
Wankel rotary engine
 similar to the beloved units found in the discontinued RX-8, RX-7 sports cars, but further miniaturised and only producing 38PS. Reports have said the MX-30 can travel up to 400km with the use of the range extender, though this has yet to be confirmed by Mazda themselves as it has yet to enter production.

Mazda MX-30 REEV

Unfortunately Bermaz Motor, the brand’s exclusive distributor in Malaysia, has said that there are no plans to bring in the range extender version to offer alongside the fully electric MX-30 that was previewed in late April 2022.

Like potential EV converts in other countries, a range of just 199km might be enough of a disadvantage to keep the MX-30 off their shortlists despite its other positive attributes: stylish design, premium appointments, and presumably high equipment levels.

It’s only natural for buyers, especially those first-time adopters, to opt for an electric vehicle that can deliver a per-charge range that’s similar to what they expect from their combustion-powered vehicles. However, as more people become familiar with
adapting their requirements
 around EVs, they might find that a larger capacity battery is unnecessary.

EV Range - How Many KM Is Enough?

Having lived with the Hyundai Kona Electric and its 305km range (39.2kWh), I can attest to experiencing this so-called ‘range anxiety’ firsthand. Though I never found myself in a situation where I was stranded with a depleted battery, I credit this to the persistent worrying about charging it at the earliest convenience, which was made more difficult without a home-mounted wallbox or convenient socket plug point at my condominium’s multi-storey car park.

Given more time, I could have settled into ‘trusting’ the car’s displayed range and become more confident in thinking ahead about when/where to slot in a charge session, but that isn’t a concern a first-time EV buyer can be expected to dismiss.

Upping the MX-30’s advertised total range to something closer to 400km with the help of a range extender will certainly help drive sales even though its methods to reach that figure is technically breaking its own ‘zero emissions’ label.

It’s just unfortunate that, at the earliest, Bermaz will only be able to offer an MX-30 in showrooms with a range extender sometime in 2023 instead of at the model’s slated Malaysian launch (EV only) in latter 2022, though they do not seem to have an interest in doing so.


The 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Unleashed – Manual Shifting Driving Nirvana

Porsche have officially unleashed its most puristic form of an untamed street beast – the 2021 (992) Porsche 911 GT3 Touring.

The name ‘Touring package’ goes back to an equipment variant of the 1973 911 Carrera RS. Back then, the focus was already on purist 911 design and elements of a classic interior. Porsche revived the idea again in 2017, and for the first time again offered a Touring package for the previous generation of the 911 GT3, the
Type 991
.

Essentially, the GT3 Touring is a celebration of simplicity and driving nirvana in equal amounts; Porsche pares down the racing bits of
track-ready 911 GT3
, whilst keeping all of its unadulterated power and chassis engineering firmly intact. Add to that, a slick-shifting seven-speed manual transmission and the GT3 Touring guarantees a driving experience like no other within the Porsche stable. Now for the first time – the 2021 911 GT3 Touring will also include an option of a seven-speed Porsche PDK dual-clutch transmission at no extra cost.

The exterior’s most conspicuous difference is the omission of the fixed rear wing of the 911 GT3, in place is a powered extending rear spoiler that according to Porsche provides the necessary downforce at high speeds while keeping the exterior lines clean. However, the striking and functional rear diffuser which originates from the successful 911 RSR GT racing car is present and accounted for.

Along the flanks, silver-coloured trim strips made of high-gloss anodised aluminium on the side windows are another distinguishing feature that underlines the newcomer’s understated appearance.

Upfront, the keen-eyed will spot that the lower regions of the 2021 911 GT3 Touring’s front bumper are finished in the car’s exterior colour, versus the similar regions painted in contrasting black on the GT3. Other stylistic details include satin-gloss black finish of the exhaust tailpipes, dark-tinted front light modules and subtle ‘GT3 touring’ logo located on the engine lid grille.

On the inside – the Touring package also offers the atmosphere of a classic sports car but with all the modern-day creature comforts and functionality of high-performance Porsche. The steering wheel rim, gear/selector lever, centre console cover, armrests in the door panels and the door handles are covered in black leather.

The partial leather interior features black stitching, a black roofliner and seat centre panels are covered with black fabric replete with embossed Porsche Crests on the headrest section.

Porsche also offers almost all the optional equipment for the 911 GT3 in combination with the Touring package. This includes all exterior and wheel colours, LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System and Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus, the front-axle lift system and finally the Porsche PCCB carbon-ceramic brakes.

Classy and understated though it may be, underneath, the 2021 911 GT3 Touring remains a bonafide driving machine. Power comes from the proven 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine based on the drive unit of the
911 GT3 R endurance racer
. Peak power is rated at 510PS which corresponds to a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds (GT3) with the PDK transmission.

Despite a wider body, larger wheels and additional technical features, the weight of the new GT3 is on a par with its predecessor.

With the manual gearbox, it weighs 1,418 kg, and 1,435kgs with the PDK transmission. Weight has been kept down courtesy of a front bonnet made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass windows, lightweight rear seat compartment, weight-optimised brake discs and forged light-alloy wheels.

As the Touring package is now offered as a no-cost option of the 911 GT3, it costs exactly the same, prices start from GBP127,820 in the UK. The
previous generation (991) 911 GT3RS
 was offered in Malaysia at a retail price tag starting from RM2.2 million.


The 100,000th Honda Jazz In Malaysia Finds A Home

Milestones are always exciting. Honda Malaysia has a rather special one to announce, as they hit the 100,000 unit mark in Malaysia for the third generation of their Jazz compact hatchback. At an official handover ceremony held at Ban Lee Heng Motor Sdn Bhd, Mr Kevin received the keys to his brand new car, which also came with the complete Protection Package free of charge. The specific package includes ultra body coating, ultra window coating, and wheel lock nuts - and will be available from all Honda dealerships starting from the 1st of July.
Historically, the Jazz has always managed to stir up impressive sales figures. Even the first generation Jazz, introduced to a market that generally avoids hatchbacks, proved successful with 18,000 fully-imported units sold. The second generation Jazz became a hit when the locally-assembled (CKD) models were introduced, with over 80,000 units sold across petrol and hybrid variants.
Next year will see the introduction of a fourth generation Jazz to the world, and it's incredible how quickly time flies. For many, the second generation Jazz is still a shape that's fresh in their memories, while the third generation models have aged well and remain eye catching to this day. The current generation model is offered with either a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine paired with a CVT-type automatic, or a 1.5-litre hybrid petrol powertrain with a dual clutch transmission.
For the best deals on a Honda, click
here
.


Shell Eco-Marathon Asia 2016 – Four Malaysian Teams Bring Home Honours

Malaysian students participating in the recent Shell Eco-Marathon Asia 2016 held at Manila did the country proud by bringing home four out of 24 On-Track awards. This year’s edition of the annual event attracted the participation of 117 student teams from 17 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
Eight of the 117 teams were from Malaysia
.
Teams submitted vehicle entries in either the Urban Concept or Prototype category in any of the seven different energy types:
gasoline
,
diesel
, alternative gasoline (ethanol 100), alternative diesel (Shell Gas-to-Liquid or fatty acid methyl ester), battery electric, or hydrogen fuel cell. The competition challenges students to design, build and drive the most energy-efficient car with a unique focus on going farther, not faster. Results are measured on who can drive the furthest on the equivalent of 1 kWh or 1 litre of fuel.
In the ‘Prototype’ categories, student teams are given free reign to maximise fuel efficiency almost without restriction. The ‘UrbanConcept’ categories, meanwhile, requires the vehicles to be designed with roadworthiness and day-to-day usability in mind. Cars in these categories are closer in appearance to actual production cars than those competing in the ‘Prototype’ categories.
Three out of the five Malaysian teams focused their attention to hydrogen, culminating in a 1-2 finish for the country in the Prototype Hydrogen Fuel Cell category by Team UiTM Eco-Sprint winning the category for a third year in a row followed by Team Eco-Voyager from Universiti Malaya (UM) in second place.
Team Eco-Sprint’s hat-trick triumph was achieved with a record-breaking mileage of 476 km/m
3
 – yes, cubic metres for hydrogen fuel cell as opposed to litres more commonly used in conjunction with conventional combustion fuels. Second-placed Eco-Voyager managed 244 km/m
3
.
The UrbanConcept Hydrogen Fuel Cell category witnessed another UiTM triumph through a second team, namely Team UiTM Eco-Planet, which debuted a 3-D printed car assembled from 120 individually-printed parts, with each part taking approximately 10 hours to complete.
“We chose to 3-D print our car as it’s lightweight, economical, reduces fabrication time and ensures zero fabrication errors. As we only had a small, office-sized 3-D printer, we spent over 1,200 hours printing the individual parts which we assembled together when we arrived in Manila,” said Mohd Syafiq Akmal Samsudin from Team UTIM Eco-Planet.
Finally, Team Eco-Chaser from Monash University Malaysia clinched the top spot in the Prototype Compressed Natural Gas (“CNG”) category with a mileage of 95km/l, the approximate equivalent of driving from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson on just one litre of fuel.


Subaru Introduces Drive Now, Pay Later In Collaboration With Maybank - Installment Payments Only Starts 15 Months Later

Subaru introduces a payment scheme in collaboration with Maybank where it allows you to buy a brand new Subaru Forester now but only pay for it 15 months later.

In an attempt to help its customer acquire the latest generation
Subaru Forester
, TC Subaru today introduced a Drive Now, Pay Later Promotion in collaboration with Maybank, where eligible customers will not need to pay their loan instalments for 15 months upon receiving their new
Forester
.

The offer is available exclusively to Maybank customers looking to purchase a new Forester between 15 October 2021 and 31 December 2021.

Every new Forester bought through the campaign is entitled to a 5-year comprehensive warranty as usual, but a complimentary Subaru Eco Sterilising In-Cabin 3D Spray Service worth RM1,200 that removes up to 99% harmful bacteria and viruses will be added to the overall package.

Customers who purchase a new
Forester
 can trade in their old vehicle through TC Subaru’s Special Trade-In Assist programme for added value.

The promotional collaboration is available for selected model year units while stocks last.

The Subaru Forester is priced from RM163,788 and comes in
six variants
:

•
Forester 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition

• Forester 2.0i-S

• Forester 2.0i-S GT Lite Edition

• Forester 2.0i-S Eyesight

• Forester 2.0i-S Eyesight GT Lite Edition

• Forester 2.0i-S Eyesight GT Edition


AD: 5 Things We Love About The All-New BMW X3

With the launch of the all-new BMW X3, the mid-sized luxury SUV market has a fierce new competitor. There are many reasons to love the BMW X3, and here are our top five picks.
The Powertrain
At launch, the BMW X3 is offered in one powertrain specification – the xDrive30i. Our experience with the TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre engine in its 252 hp, 350 Nm state of tune gives us confidence that the X3 will be no slouch. Paired with the highly effective xDrive all-wheel drive system, which is similar in technology to the BMW 740Le xDrive Hybrid with eDrive Technology, and you have a go-anywhere, do-anything kind of car.
The Looks
In a time when car design is becoming more convoluted and exaggerated by the generation, it’s great to see that the X3 maintains those same Sport Activity Vehicle proportions that BMW is known for. While various elements and design cues from their most current model line-up have been integrated with the X3, they don’t feel out of place at all.
The Interior
When the first luxury off-road vehicles were introduced, people scoffed at the idea of marrying high-end materials with the rigours of venturing off the beaten path. But after three generations and countless different Sport Activity Vehicles in various sizes, BMW has proven that it is very much possible, and the X3 is no exception. With high-end leather and wood trim, the Sensatec dashboard liner and the large central touch screen, you’ll never forget that you’re in a luxury car.
The Technology
BMW ConnectedDrive. Parking Assistant. BMW HiFi with 12-speaker Professional Audio System. When it comes to equipment, the BMW X3 does not leave you wanting. It also helps to remember that as the X3 is locally assembled from launch, you won’t have to wait and see the equipment differences between fully-imported and locally-assembled models (with locally-assembled usually coming with more kit for the money). Let’s not forget that the BMW X3 also has the Concierge Services for the ConnectedDrive package, which comes as standard across the BMW model range. Rather than having to fiddle with your phone to find a gas station or convenience store, you simply call your “personal assistant” using the Concierge Services and have them automatically set your route for you with the navigation system. In addition to this, the Intelligent Emergency Call feature enables drivers to reach their nearest rescue coordination centres via a BMW Call Centre whenever needed, or automatically in the event of an accident.
The Price
RM 320,000 is what BMW Malaysia estimates the price to be, and if it comes to that it would make the BMW X3 extremely competitive within its class. This is far from an entry level model given the powertrain and equipment list, and gives you a great deal of equipment for the money.
More information at
bmw.com.my


JPJ To Take Over AES, Revamps Demerit Point System – Here’s What You Need To Know

Come 1 September 2018, the Road Transport Department of Malaysia will take over the operation, development, and maintenance of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) and Automated Awareness Safety System (AwAS).
This means that the demerit point system will return, punishing drivers that break various traffic laws in Malaysia, including running the red lights and driving over the speed limit.
Every driver start with 0 points, each offence will result in demerit added to the record. Drivers who accumulate their first 20 points will receive a warning from JPJ. If the driver accumulates another 20 points, his or her driving license will be suspended for 6 to 8 months. In short, for every 20 points the driver accumulates, his or her license will be suspended for an additional 2 months. Once the driver has been suspended 3 times within a period of 5 years, his or her driving license will be terminated.
To redeem themselves, they can attend courses held by JPJ. Additionally, if these drivers does not rake in any points within a 1 year period, their demerit points will be deducted in half.
As mentioned earlier, demerit points are given to drivers who fail to stop at red lights (4 points) and exceeding the speed limit. If the driver exceeds a speed limit by up to 25 km/h, 2 points will be given. For speeds exceeding the speed limit by 25 km/h to 40 km/h, 3 points will be given. For speeds exceeding 40 km/h above the speed limit, 4 points will be "awarded".
With the demerit system in place, JPJ hopes to reduce the amount of road accidents and make travelling safer for everyone.


How BMW Is Working To Solve The Mess Of Ocean Plastics

In case you don’t already know, we now have five massive clumps of garbage – most of it plastics – floating in the world’s oceans. The largest of it is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, literally a floating garbage dump nearly five times the size of Malaysia!
The plastic wrapper or container that you used for a short while before throwing out, ends up not only in landfills but also our oceans, which are then carried by ocean currents before ending up in one of the five naturally occurring concentration points.
The severity of the issue extends beyond just marine animals and birds ingesting the plastics, as bits of these plastics will eventually return to exert their karma upon the human race. Microplastics have already been found in nearly all types of seafood.
Among consumers, the BMW brand is best known for its premium cars but what many are not aware of is that BMW is also the world’s greenest company. BMW is the only car company to make it to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) every year since the index was established in 1999.
So while its BMW i3 is just one of the many battery electric vehicles (EV) on sale today, what separates the i3 is that it is one of the few EVs that are truly green. To say that electric cars are green would be pointless if the manufacturing of its battery, procurement of raw materials, production and disposal at the end of its service life creates more pollution than a regular combustion engine car.
The Leipzig plant that makes the i3 is powered by renewable energy, and the i3’s manufacturing process uses a staggering 50 percent less energy and 70 percent less water than the average BMW Group plant, which are already among the world’s greenest.
Even the ships that are used to transport finished BMW cars to export markets must comply to Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI) – the first for any car company.
The i3s – the sportiest of the i3 range - was recently previewed at the ongoing Malaysia Auto Show in MAEPS in Seri Kembangan. With an
estimated price of RM279,000
, the soon to be launched EV is doing its part to clean up our landfills and oceans by recycling plastic bottles and other waste, turning them into floor mats, door trims and other plastic parts for the i3.
The i3’s fabric seats for example, are made of up to 100 percent recycled polyster, produced using 34 percent of recycled PET. A further 25 percent recycled plastics are used in the exterior.
On display at the BMW booth are three boxes containing PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) materials – one of the most common plastic waste – that have been recycled into pellets. These pellets are then melted down to produce a fibre that can be woven into textile surfaces.
By using recycled plastic water bottles and food containers, BMW has also to reduce the use of thermoplastics in the i3 by 25 percent.
Other recycled materials are also used on the i3’s floor mats, door trims, roof lining, as well as linings for the boot, and seats.


Nissan Mulling Transferring ASEAN Pick-Up Production To Mitsubishi

Nissan and Mitsubishi, are studying ways of implementing joint production of pickup trucks in the South East Asian markets.
Reuters
reports
, the move comes as the Renault-Nissan Alliance (RNA) looks for further savings in production and development costs.
Trevor Mann, Mitsubishi’s Chief Operating Officer told Reuters at the ongoing 2017 Geneva show, that Nissan and Mitsubishi could potentially pool technical underpinnings and consolidate production for future Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton pickup models. Both the Triton and Navara are currently produced in Thailand and exported worldwide, including Malaysia.
Under the arrangement, Mitsubishi’s pickup architecture could underpin future RNA pickup models.
Nissan acquired Mitsubishi
 after the company falsified emissions scandal in October of last year, the RNA currently holds a
34% controlling stake
 in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC).
The
NP300 Navara
 is currently produced in Nissan’s Samut Prakan plant, while the
(fifth-gen) Triton
 is produced in Mitsubishi’s Laem Chabang plant. Trevor Mann added, “Moving to common architectures could potentially allow the Mitsubishi factory to specialize in pickups while the Nissan plant builds cars and SUVs, increasing productivity at both sites.” However, nothing is confirmed yet.
The cooperation will extend to other markets such as Indonesia and Philippines, where the companies have facilities. Mann also admits, that Nissan will likely utilise Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid technologies, and that alliance partner Renault, may have to “wait longer” to generate a strategic relationship with Mitsubishi.
Mann admits, that under Nissan stewardship, Mitsubishi have been “cleaning house” in the wake of the scandal and damage control has been addressed by a proper delegation of authority and risk and ethics oversight.


Honda To Sell World's First Mass Produced Level 3 Self-Driving Car This Upcoming March - But What Is Level 3?

Honda will be the first to mass-produce a Level 3 autonomous self-driving car, but what is Level 3?

The race to build self-driving cars is a battle that many automakers are quietly participating in, and it seems that Honda is about to spearhead to the front of this race as they have just received
type approval
 in Japan to sell vehicles with Level 3 autonomous driving technology.

The approval from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism means that Honda will now be able to sell cars with this technology starting with the Honda Legend sedan.

Due to be launched by 31 March 2021, the Level 3 system in the car will allow it to drive itself instead of the driver under certain conditions, such as when the vehicle is in congested traffic or highway.

When specific requirements are not met, the system will issue a warning to the driver, where they will then have to take over the driving immediately, Honda said.

Mercedes-Benz has also been touted to introduce a Level 3 system in the new S-Class in mid-2021 but so far there is no news of it receiving regulatory approval. Closer to home, it is worth noting that the Proton X50 has Level 2 systems.

To understand what Level 3 is we must first explore the 5 levels of autonomous driving.

Level 1: Driver Assistance

This is the most basic form of autonomous driving. The driver still handles most of the car's functions but with a little autonomous help. For example, adaptive cruise control, brake booster, park assist sensors.

Level 2: Partial Automation

Partial automation allows drivers to somewhat disengage from some basic driving functions. Level 2 vehicles are able to assist with functions like steering, acceleration, braking, and maintaining speed, but drivers will still have to have both hands on the wheel and be ready to take control if necessary. For
example
, car centring assists and auto-braking.

Level 3: Conditional Automation

Conditional automation which can sometimes be referred to as 'eyes-off' functions is a system that helps drivers to sit back and let the car do all the driving. With a speed limit of 60km/h, cars with Level 3 systems don't require any human intervention when moving, but only under ideal road conditions.

Level 4: High Automation

At this level, cars are capable of accelerating, braking and steering all by themselves. They're also able to read and monitor road conditions where they will then respond to it accordingly, determining when to turn and when to change lanes. Just like Level 3, this system will only be available for activation when road conditions are ideal.

Level 5: Full Automation

This level is what we dream of for the future. It requires no human interaction as vehicles are able to accelerate, brake, steer and avoid obstacles on the road. Level 5 automation enables the driver to sit back and relax without having to pay any attention to the car’s functions whatsoever, just like what we see in films that portray future mobility. Will Smith's Audi in I Robot comes to mind when thinking of Level 5.

So are you ready to leave the driving to sensors? Or are you more Level 1 and Level 2 only for now?


Audi Sets Foot in Ipoh with the Appointment of Goh Brothers

The Audi brand will now have a proper representation in Ipoh with the appointment of Goh Brothers by Audi Malaysia as the newest authorised dealer for the Audi brand in Malaysia. Operations of a temporary Audi Ipoh sales facility and aftersales service centre will commence in December.
While Audi Ipoh’s sales facility is located in Ipoh Garden, aftersales services are available at a separate location along Jalan Kuala Kangsar. This interim arrangement will precede the construction of a state-of-the-art 3S centre along Jalan Kuala Kangsar, which will begin operations in early 2017.
The new facility will occupy a land area of approximately 57,000sq ft, and will feature a showroom floor with a display capacity of up to 10 cars, 8 service bays, a premium reception area, and lounge. Besides building the new facility, a substantial investment will also go towards ensuring that the service centre is fully equipped with the latest equipment and tools, as well as having the necessary technical training for the staff in order to guarantee customer satisfaction through top notch service.
“We at Audi Malaysia have had a year of consolidation in 2015, and now as 2016 is just around the corner, we are ramping up our operations to ensure that we have the capacity for a qualitative and quantitative expansion of our sales and aftersales offerings,” said Immo Buschmann, managing director of Audi Malaysia.


Enjin V6 Dalam Proton Waja?

Masihkah anda ingat dengan Proton Chancellor? Atau lebih mudah dikenali sebagai
Proton Waja
 yang telah dipanjangkan jarak antara rodanya serta disumbat dengan enjin 2.0L V6?

Sekali pandang, Proton Chancellor saling tak tumpah seperti Proton Waja. Mana taknya, rupanya memang serupa seperti Proton Waja. Bagi sesetengah orang, Proton Waja sinonim dengan gelaran kereta bermasalah seperti pada tingkap automatiknya. Tapi apa istimewanya Proton Chancellor ini berbanding Waja biasa?

Berbalik pada sejarah, kemunculan pertama Proton Chancellor adalah ketika digunakan sebagai kereta rasmi persidangan ASEAN Summit pada 12-14 Disember 2005, sebelum tempahan kereta terbabit dibuka kepada umum pada 15 Disember 2005 dan dilancarkan pada tahun berikutnya.

*Kredit foto: Motor Trader

Pembangunan kereta ni tak mengambil masa yang lama pun memandangkan platform serta badan kereta dah tersedia. Fokus utama pembinaan kereta ini adalah untuk meningkatkan ketahanan struktur, dinamik serta menggunakan kapasiti enjin yang lebih besar pada Proton Waja.

Exterior

Proton Chancellor didatangkan dengan warna serba hitam pada bahagian luarannya. Oleh yang demikian, kereta ini lebih disasarkan pada golongan korporat, eksekutif dan pegawai kerajaan.

Rupa luarannya sama saja seperti Waja, cuma wheel base kereta dah dipanjangkan kepada 2,850mm berbanding 2,600mm pada Waja standard. Oleh kerana jarak antara roda kereta ini dah dipanjangkan,
P
roton
 telah menjalankan pelbagai ujian keselamatan yang menyeluruh di Sepanyol bagi memastikan badan kereta yang lebih panjang itu sekukuh Proton Waja standard yang lebih pendek.

Bahagian belakang ada kereta ini dilengkapi dengan 2 ekzos dan lencana Chancellor di bahagian kanan belakang kereta. Sekali pandang, memang susah nak bandingkan antara Waja dan Chancellor.

Interior

Di bahagian dalam, Proton Chancellor menawarkan ciri interior mewah bertemakan warna krim (termasuk tali pinggang) dengan kemasan highlight bercorak kayuan coklat pada pintu, perehat tangan, papan pemuka serta setereng.

Lebih menarik, kereta yang dihasilkan pada tahun 2005 ini lengkap dengan pemain DVD dan CD, skrin kecil jenis terapung di bahagian belakang dan corong penyaman udara di bahagian belakang. Ruang di bahagian belakang juga lebih luas kerana wheelbase kereta telah dipanjangkan. Pintu belakangnya juga kini lebih lebar berbanding Waja biasa.

Enjin dan Kuasa

Proton Chancellor ini jauh lebih berkuasa berbanding Waja standard kerana ia dilengkapi dengan enjin Mitsubishi 6A12 2.0L V6, iaitu enjin yang sama digunakan pada
Proton Perdana V6
. Enjin tersebut telah terbukti menghasilkan kuasa yang memberangsangkan sebanyak 149 PS. Enjin tersebut pula digandingkan dengan transmisi 4-kelajuan automatik.

Menurut PROTON, kereta ini mampu mencapai 205 km/j sebagai
had laju
 maksimumnya. Selain itu, ia memerlukan 13 saat untuk memecut dari 0-100 km/j. Untuk kereta yang dihasilkan pada tahun 2005, kuasa yang ada pada Chancellor pada ketika itu dikira sebagai boleh tahanlah.

Selain itu Proton Chancellor turut dilengkapi dengan beberapa ciri khas lain seperti:

Sistem penggera (alarm)

Power window depan dan belakang

Sensor undur

Kawalan cermin sisi elektrik

Walau bagaimanapun, kereta dulu-dulu seperti Chancellor ini memang tidak dilengkapi dengan ciri-ciri keselamatan seperti sekarang. Malah dalam spesifikasi rasmi yang dikeluarkan PROTON ketika itu juga langsung tidak menjelaskan ciri-ciri keselamatan pada kereta ini seperti ABS, beg udara keselamatan atau traction control. Rupanya, kereta mewah ini memang tidak dilengkapi dengan beg udara keselamatan sebagai ciri standard.

Proton Chancellor edisi khas ini dilancarkan pada harga yang sedikit mahal ketika zamannya, iaitu RM138,888. Malah harga itu masih mahal jika nak dibandingkan dengan harga kereta ketika ini. Tapi memandangkan kereta ini telah mempunyai pembeli tersedia (kerajaan), Proton tak perlu risau sangat. Malah syarikat swasta juga pasti tiada masalah untuk membeli Chancellor pada ketika itu.

Jika anda rasa ia terlalu mahal, mungkin anda bukanlah pembeli sasaran model ini. Mungkin sebab itulah kereta ini jarang dilihat di
jalan raya
. Atau mungkin juga kereta ni dah banyak kali muncul depan mata kita, tapi sebab dia mempunyai rupa Waja, jadi orang pun tak perasanlah.


Jeep Glenmarie Launches The 2020 Wrangler Rubicon, Yours From RM378k

Despite the prevalence of SUVs,
Jeeps
 remain a rare sight in Malaysia yet are simultaneously the most refreshingly honest interpretation of what a ‘sport utility' vehicle should be - especially with regard to the Wrangler.

Through
Jeep Glenmarie
, the 2020 model year revision of the 4th-generation boxy American off-roading specialist has arrived in Malaysia, offered in the Rubicon trim as either a two-door or four-door body style (or is it 3-door and 5-door?). Though both are fitted with the same levels of equipment, the shorter wheelbase version kicks off the range and is priced at RM378,000.

Two rear doors and a larger cabin result in the 4-door Rubicon carrying an RM10k premium to RM388,000. It’s also worth noting that both prices quoted here include the 50% sales tax discount, as they are fully imported from the Jeep factory in Toledo, Ohio.

Retaining the body-on-frame construction, high ground clearance, long-travel suspension, and solid front and rear axles, both Wrangler Rubicons also feature a removable rooftop to fully embrace the outdoors.

Its 17-inch wheels wear BF Goodrich off-road tyres over huge wheel arches to account for the full breadth of its axle articulation. Plenty of heavy-duty cladding and skid plates protect the vehicle’s undercarriage and outer perimeter.

Along with a string of updates over the previous iteration, the JL series of Wrangler (first brought out in 2018) introduces turbocharged engines into the powertrain line-up, and that’s what now powers both variants that have arrived in Malaysia.

Though staples like the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 and the 6.4-litre HEMI V8 are offered in other markets such as North America, Jeep is clearly pushing the adoption of this downsized 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder.

This ‘Hurricane’ unit is pretty much the same engine designed by Alfa Romeo for their shared parent company
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
, made in Italy, and adapted for use in FCA’s US division. It produces a pretty healthy 272hp and 400Nm, which in this Jeep reaches all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission and a Rock-Trac 4:1 transfer box that’s capable of an 84:1 crawl ratio to maximise torque.

Even inside, the Rubicon is clearly geared to off-roading, prioritising form over function. That said, the cabin isn’t exactly spartan. There are leather seats, a larger multi-function display sandwiched between the analogue dials, and an even larger 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system running FCA’s Uconnect system and paired to an Alpine speaker system.

Jeep Glenmarie, which operates under TAHB Automotive, offer the Wrangler(s) Rubicon with the Jeep Care package that includes a 3-year 100,000km warranty as well as a 3-year 60,000km free maintenance.


VW Dieselgate: Suzuki Lost USD 558 million

Volkswagen’s
dieselgate
 scandal has just claimed its first collateral damage – Suzuki Motor Corporation, which lost USD 558 million after shares of Volkswagen AG, which Suzuki has a 1.5 percent stake in, plunged 25 percent in this week alone.
At the end of March 2015, Suzuki’s stakes in Volkswagen AG was worth 137.5 billion Yen, but by the end of last week, it was worth only 70.3 billion Yen.
Despite the poor value,
Suzuki insists
 to go ahead with the ‘divorce’ from Volkswagen AG, with whom it partnered in 2009 before falling out two years later.
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.
Earlier this month, a tribunal court in London found Suzuki to have breached the terms of its agreement with Volkswagen, and granted the rights to Volkswagen to claim damages from Suzuki.
The court also ordered Volkswagen sell back its 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki back to Suzuki.
Related Link:
VW-Suzuki Divorce: Court Orders Suzuki To Pay Damages, VW To Sell Stakes In Suzuki


Beijing 2016: Renault Koleos Debuts Second Generation Model

The second iteration of the Renault Koleos SUV makes its global debut at the ongoing Beijing Motor Show.
Like its predecessor, the new Koleos is based closely upon the
Nissan X-Trail
, being underpinned by the CMF-CD platform, Renault-Nissan Alliance’s own version of a modular architecture like
Volkswagen
’s MQB or
Volvo
’s SPA designs.
Its close relations to the
X-Trail
 can be seen in its external measurements. Notably, its 2,710mm wheelbase and 213mm ground clearance is very close to the Nissan’s 2,705 and 210mm dimensions. In fact, both these vehicles occupy identically-sized footprints, stretching 4,640mm long by 1,820mm wide. The X-Trail is 5mm taller at 1,715mm though.
Styling-wise, effort was expended to create as much visual differentiation as possible from the X-Trail. In fact, the Koleos was styled in parallel with the
Talisman
, Renault’s new large family sedan, thus ensuring a cohesive family look across the range. The stylings of both vehicles were in fact supervised by the same person, designer Alexis Martot.
“The new Koleos completes the styling renaissance of the Renault range that began with the new
Clio
 in 2012. As a designer, the challenge was to imagine an SUV that was not only elegant, but also modern and dynamic,” said Laurens van den Acker, Renault’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Design.
Inside, the Koleos is being introduced as a five-seater providing 289mm of leg room for rear passengers and 624 litres of boot space with the 60:40 split-foldable rear seats up; with them down, the cargo hold expands to 1,940 litres. Handles allow remote folding of the rear seat backs from behind the vehicle.

On board function controls are facilitated by Renault’s latest R-Link 2 infotainment system, which can be ordered with either 7-inch landscape or 8.7-inch portrait size touchscreens. Besides providing the usual connectivity functions expected of infotainment systems today, R-Link 2 is programmed with voice recognition and also incorporates pinch-zooming, drag and drop, and swipe scrolling like a modern smartphone.
Depending on the market, the Koleos is available with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines offering outputs ranging from 130hp to 175hp mated to either 6-speed manual or continuously variable transmissions. Educated guesses suggest that the two petrol engines are the same 2.0- and 2.5-litre power plants seen in the X-Trail, whilst the diesel menu should feature a 1.6-litre unit that the Alliance also shares with Mercedes-Benz.
The Koleos is offered with a choice between front- and all-wheel drive configurations. All-wheel drive models utilize the same All-Mode 4x4-i intelligent driveline as found in the X-Trail 2.5 offering the same three driving modes – 2WD, 4WD Auto, and 4WD Lock.
The new Koleos will first go on sale in Q3 2016 in Australia, Turkey, the Gulf states, and selected African and Latin American markets. The car will then hit Mainland Chinese showrooms in the last quarter of 2016 followed by introduction in Europe and Russia by early 2017.
Globally, Renault plans to assemble the Koleos at only two locations – Busan in South Korea for all markets except China, and at Wuhan exclusively for the Chinese market.


All-New (G20) BMW 3 Series To Feature Company’s Most Powerful Turbo 4-Cylinder

BMW has just released updates on the development of the all-new (G20) 3 Series. Apart from the usual suspension set-up trials and testing at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, BMW is also putting their heavily revised turbocharged four-cylinder engine through its paces.
The company said it will be the most powerful four-cylinder engine ever to be fitted in a BMW series production model. The heavily revised powertrain that includes the 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission has also been tweaked to deliver lower fuel consumption, by as much as 5 per cent compared to the F30 range.
For reference, the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the current BMW line-up is the highest tuned B48-engine that delivers outputs of 258 hp / 400 Nm in the BMW 730Li (G11).
Close-up shots on the details of the all-new (G20) 3 Series. Click to enlarge.
The all-new 3 Series will also feature a lighter and more rigid bodyshell. A new innovative damping system will take full advantage of the new body to provide the all-new premium sports sedan with even better cornering and ride comfort abilities, without sacrificing each other.
The diverse layout of Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit that features 73 corners spread over 20.8 kilometres also tortures the vehicle in traversing nearly 600 metres in elevation changes is the perfect setting for refinement of the interaction between the new damping technology and the other suspension components.
“We are using lift-related dampers as an active set-up element so as to create supreme driving properties in all conditions,” explains Peter Langer, Head of Driving Dynamics. “With short spring travel, a sensitive damping response ensures comfortable vibration compensation. When the car passes over large bumps, the body movements are controlled by increased damping forces.”
BMW is also making efforts to increase the differences between the standard suspension setting and the ‘M Sport’ setting. Apart from more rigid bearings, stabilizer bars, and additional body struts, BMW is also offering Variable Sports Steering and M Sports electronically-controlled locking rear differential in the ‘M Sport’ variants. Tyres fitted in the development cars also reveal 19-inch goodies from Michelin.
While sales for the all-new 3 Series is planned for 2019, let’s hope BMW shares more information on this important premium sports sedan at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.


Honda unveils the new Accord Hybrid for the Thai market

Five months after introducing the
naturally-aspirated Honda Accord
 facelift models, Honda Thailand has now added a hybrid variant, thus completing the update exercise for the entire Accord range.
Aesthetic revisions include newly-designed blue-frame LED taillights; a Clear-Blue accented front grill, rear trunk spoiler and sporty new alloy wheels
As before the new Honda Accord Hybrid packs the firm's Sport Hybrid Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD) which delivers fuel economy as low 4.2-litre/100km and is able to propel the Accord Hybrid up to 120km/h in full EV Drive mode.
The facelifted Accord Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-litre, 16-valve, (Atkinson Cycle) Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine combined to two powerful electric motors through an E-CVT transmission. The car is fitted now with a 1.3 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery that offers better electrical transmission and charging performance.
The new car is able to seamlessly opt between four pre-set modes, namely:
EV Drive Mode
 (electric motors only up to 120 km/h)
Hybrid Drive Mode
Engine Drive Mode
Sport Drive Mode
(delivers up to 215bhp)
The facelifted Honda Accord Hybrid now also features the ‘Honda Sensing’ suite of advanced driving aids (ADAS) which features:
Adaptive Cruise Control system (ACC): Maintains vehicle speed when on a cruise according to vehicle ahead.
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS): Audio-visual Multi-Information Display (MID) alerts the driver, further warning is provided via vibration of the steering wheel – differen levels of autonomous braking is applied if the situation is not resolved. CMBS can detect pedestrians as well.
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS): Cameras detect lane markings helps the driver to maintain the proper lane position, system applies corrective torque to the steering wheel if driver fails to react.
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW): If the car is moves out of the detected lane, the LDW will displays an alert on the Multi-Information Display (MID), steering vibration provides further warning. If uncorrected, the brake system will be activated to assist the driver in braking to reduce speed to return to a lane marked with a solid line.
The previously fitted systems such as Honda LaneWatch blind-spot display with a camera on the passenger-side mirror that provides a view on the 7.7 inch screen, Active Cornering Lights (ACL) and six-airbags are still offered as standard.
There have been
whispers
 of widening the range of hybrid Hondas on sale in Malaysia, however, very little is set in stone as of now. For the Thai market however, the new Accord Hybrid is offered in two variants:
Hybrid: THB 1,659,000
Hybrid TECH: THB 1,849,000


Fined For Going Too Slow – How It’s Done In Germany

For driving well below the speed limit and holding up traffic behind him by staying on the outer lane, this Hyundai Matrix was pulled over by the German police and fined 40 Euros (RM190). Based on the cars seen in this footage, this video is quite old and the subtitles adds that the fine has been raised to 80 Euros (RM380) as of 2016.
Note this video was taken in left-hand drive Germany, so overtaking lanes are the opposite of what we adhere to in right-hand drive Malaysia. Because their vehicles are left-hand drive, slow vehicles have to stay on the right, while overtaking is to be done on the left.
Turn on Youtube’s closed captions to see the subtitles.
Unbeknownst to the driver of the Hyundai, an unmarked E60 generation BMW 5 Series police car was patrolling the stretch of the highway and noted that the Hyundai was staying on the left (overtaking) lane unnecessarily long, which later forced a van and a convertible car following behind to undertake aggressively on the right – which they aren’t supposed to but the policeman noted that they sympathised with their predicament and understood why they were forced to do so.
Eventually the unmarked police car made its presence known and pulled the Hyundai over.
Interestingly, the policeman tracked the Hyundai to be driving at 90 km/h on the overtaking lane, when the speed limit was 100 km/h – which to the German police, was definitely an offence for obstructing traffic.
Here's another video, filmed on a more familiar right-hand drive setting.
Closer to home, we have a slightly different problem. On one hand, poor enforcement of traffic regulations mean that Malaysians drive the fastest in the region. At the same time, we also the slowest drivers hogging the lanes, many of whom don’t see any problem with holding up traffic by driving slowly. It doesn’t matter if we expand our roads from two to four lanes, because they would all be clogged up by the same group of drivers who believe that as long as they are driving below the speed limit, they have a right to stay in any lane they wish. They also took it upon themselves to stop anyone from going any faster, by firmly staying put on the overtaking lane.
At the same time, we have overloaded lorries that are just overwhelming their engines, and travelling way to slowly on the first lane.
Our friend Bobby Ang from EvoMalaysia.com did a vlog about this topic some time back.


2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e Plug-in Hybrid Launched In Malaysia – From RM388,800

Having seen how well Volvo tactically turned the spotlight on itself with its all-new, locally-assembled plug-in hybrid XC90 T8 (from RM403,888), BMW Group Malaysia has responded with this locally-assembled plug-in hybrid X5, the X5 xDrive40e.
With this, the X5’s range now covers 3 different powertrain types – petrol (xDrive30i), diesel (xDrive30d), petrol plug-in hybrid (xDrive40e), making it the only premium SUV in the country with such a diverse range of powertrain options.
Specifications for BMW X5 xDrive40e
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol, 4-cylinder with Valvetronic, single twin scroll turbocharger, direct injection
Transmission: 8-speed torque converter automatic, all-wheel drive, with synchronous electric motor (113 hp, 250 Nm)
Traction battery: 9.2 kWh, lithium-ion (plug-in hybrid)
Electric-only range: 31 km, maximum speed of 120 km/h
Charging time: 3 hours 50 mins (domestic power socket)
Power (engine): 245 hp at 5,000 to 6,500 rpm
Torque (engine): 350 Nm at 1,250 – 4,800 rpm
Total system’s power: 313 hp
Total system’s torque: 450 Nm
Safety: Six airbags, crash activated head restraints (front seats), ABS, electronic stability control and traction control, hill start/descent assist, lane departure warning, collision warning, 360 degree parking camera
Claimed fuel consumption: 3.3-litre/100 km
Claimed C02 emissions: 77 g/km
Origin: Locally assembled in Kulim, Kedah
Overview
The xDrive40e designation on this particular X5 tells us that it not only has all-wheel drive, but is also a plug-in hybrid.
This powertrain concept might not be very familiar to many in this part of the world, but to explain it simply, a plug-in hybrid is essentially a hybrid vehicle that can also be charged from a domestic power socket to extend the vehicle’s electric power-only driving range. With or without charging, a plug-in hybrid still requires petrol just like any other petrol-electric hybrid vehicle. More on that in the Engine and Transmission section below.
With a starting price of RM388,800, the X5 xDrive40e presents itself as an unusually good purchase. Keep in mind that the regular X5 xDrive35i used to retail for RM573,800, while the X5 xDrive30d was priced at RM533,800.
That also makes Malaysia the only country in the world where a plug-in hybrid BMW is cheaper than conventionally powered variants. Curiously, despite the huge disparity in pricing, BMW says it will continue selling the xDrive35i and xDrive30d alongside the xDrive40e, for now at least.
The unusually low price was possible thanks to government incentive for locally-assembled hybrid vehicles. Without it, BMW says the X5 xDrive40e would’ve been priced at RM582,800.
Like all the other X5 variants, the X5 xDrive40e is locally assembled at BMW Group Malaysia’s assembly facilities in Kulim, Kedah. It’s the 11
th
 BMW model currently assembled at Kulim.
Its closest plug-in hybrid competitor is the RM403,888
Volvo XC90 T8
, now locally-assembled in Shah Alam (first batch of cars delivered here in 2015 were made in Sweden). It produces a combined output of 407 hp and 640 Nm.
The Volvo also offers extra seating capacity, thanks to its
third row seats
 – a feature that’s available in the locally-assembled X5 xDrive30d and xDrive35i but omitted in the X5 xDrive40e to accommodate the 9.2 kWh lithium-ion traction battery under the boot floor.
Plug-in hybrids aside, here’s how the X5’s range is priced against other similar class SUVs.
Mercedes-Benz GLE 250d 4MATIC – from RM486,888 (2.1 litre turbo diesel, 204 hp)
Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 4MATIC – from RM568,888 (3.0-litre turbo petrol, 333hp)
Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro
 – from RM587,918 (3.0-litre petrol supercharged, 333 hp)
Engine and Transmission
The 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder unit alone produces 245 hp and 350 Nm, but with this X5 being a plug-in hybrid, a 113 hp (83 kW)/250 Nm synchronous electric motor nestled within the 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission bumps up the total system output to 313 hp and 450 Nm.
The total system output is always less than the sum of values produced by the electric motor and petrol engine as they peak at different rpms.
0-100 km/h is done in 6.8 seconds, not bad for an SUV that weighs over 2.3 tons.
More than just a regular hybrid, plug-in hybrids like the X5 xDrive40e can be driven much further than hybrids using electric power alone. In the case of the X5 xDrive40e, the maximum electric-only driving distance is 31 km, with a top-speed of 120 km/h.
In comparison, a regular full-hybrid sedan can only do about 2 km, usually at speeds no more than 60 km/h.
Of course, actual performance in the real world is dependent on many other factors including use of air-conditioning, cargo load, road surface and gradients.
Why this obsession with electric-only driving distance? In Malaysia, it’s just a novelty but in many other countries with carbon tax, there are significant financial and convenience benefits to be gained from driving a vehicle that emits less than 99 g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2) – lower taxes, access to priority lanes and parking, waiver of congestion charges to enter the city centre etc etc.
In addition to BMW’s standard Driving Experience Control (Comfort, Sport, Eco Pro modes), the X5 xDrive40e has three ‘eDrive’ driving modes to choose from.
Leave it in the default AUTO eDrive mode, the computer intelligently spreads the driving load between the engine and electric motor for optimum efficiency.
In MAX eDrive mode, the car will be driven as much as possible under electric power.
In SAVE eDrive mode, use of electric power will be minimised, allowing the driver to save the battery’s energy for use at the later part of his or her journey.
Yes, you can still drive the X5 xDrive40e without charging it, relying purely on the petrol engine and regenerative braking to partially recharge the traction battery, but you will not be able to tap the maximum performance accorded by the petrol plus electric power combo.
Charging Options
The 9.2 kWh lithium-ion traction battery can be charged from a regular domestic power socket in just 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Under the umbrella of BMW 360° ELECTRIC, customers are offered the ChargeNow service, comprising of a ChargeNow card that grants straightforward access to partner charging stations, ChargEV, offered through BMW Group Malaysia’s partnership with Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia).  The ChargEV stations are already operational in 19 strategic locations throughout Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah, Melaka, and Johor.
As mentioned earlier, a plug-in hybrid petrol-electric vehicle (PHEV) is not a battery electric vehicle (BEV), and it can be driven with or without charging, so long as there is petrol in the fuel tank. So fret not if there are no charging stations nearby. The only downside is that you will not be able to tap the full potential of the petrol+electric combo, as the petrol engine and regenerative braking can only charge the battery up to about 30 percent at best.
Key Differences From Regular X5 Variants
From the outside, it’s quite hard to tell the X5 xDrive40e apart from the regular xDrive30i or xDrive30d variants.
There are only three noticeable exterior visual cues differentiating the xDrive40e – the badges on the tailgate and front doors, a flap on the front left fender covering the charging port, and a pair of trapezoidal tail pipes, one of each side (regular X5 has round tail pipe tips).
The Malaysian-market X5 xDrive40e comes with equipped with M Sport Aerodynamic Package, Adaptive LED headlights, LED fog lights, adaptive air suspension, electric tailgate and 19-inch M Double-spoke light alloy wheels.
Inside, the easiest way to tell an X5 xDrive40e apart is its hybrid-specific functions in the instrument panel and infotainment display screen, and the ‘eDrive’ switch on the centre console.
The xDrive40e also comes with Intelligent Emergency Call, BMW TeleServices, Concierge Services and eDrive Services – the only premium brand in the country to offer such services.
Here is a review of the European market X5 xDrive40e:
2015 BMW X5 xDrive40e Review in Munich


Jenis Dan Harga Bateri Kereta Untuk Perodua Axia

Bateri
Perodua Axia
 anda buat hal? Jangan risau, kami di sini akan membantu anda dengan menyenaraikan jenis bateri kereta yang sesuai untuk kereta anda.

Sebelum kita pergi lebih jauh dalam topik
bateri
 yang sesuai untuk Perodua Axia, penting untuk anda kenali jenis-jenis bateri terlebih dahulu tidak kira apa jenis kereta sekalipun. Bukan apa, penjagaan bateri ini merupakan salah satu
penjagaan asas kereta
 yang wajib anda tahu. Ada pelbagai jenis bateri kereta seperti bateri sel basah, bateri sel kering, bateri gel dan bateri AGM.

1. Bateri Sel Basah

Bateri sel basah memerlukan penyelenggaraan secara berkala seperti penambahan air suling (distilled water) ke dalam bateri. Selain itu, tahap air bateri perlu berada pada tahap yang ditetapkan untuk memastikan jangka hayat yang lebih lama boleh dicapai. Kekerapan penambahan air suling bergantung pada keadaan cuaca dan penggunaan anda. Kebiasannya, sebulan sekali mesti kena periksa.

2. Bateri Sel Kering

Bateri ini turut dikenali sebagai bateri bebas penyelenggaraan atau maintenance free. Dengan bateri ini, Pemilik kereta tidak perlu tambah air dalam bateri, sebaliknya, pemilik hanya perlu memastikan sambungan terminal berada dalam keadaan baik dan terminal bateri diperiksa dari masa ke masa untuk mengelakkan sebarang kehakisan pada terminal bateri. Selalunya, bateri sel kering dijual pada harga lebih mahal berbanding bateri sel basah.

3. Bateri Gel

Bateri kereta jenis ini mampu bertahan lebih lama sehingga 5-10 tahun berbanding bateri biasa. Bateri ini merupakan bateri bebas penyelenggaraan sepenuhnya dan dilengkapi dengan gel elektrolit yang lebih tebal sekali gus menjadikan bateri ini lebih selamat, mesra alam dan dapat menahan dua kali lebih banyak kitaran pengecasan dan pelepasan. Oleh kerana jangka hayatnya lebih panjang, jadi harganya agak mahal berbanding bateri bebas penyelenggaraan yang lain.

4. Bateri Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)

Bateri AGM menggunakan pelapik kaca poros yang berfungsi seperti span yang bertindak memerangkap elektrolit yang berbentuk cecair atau gel. Kelebihannya, ia bebas kebocoran hasil daripada penggunaan teknologi pengkapsulan asid, mempunyai jangka hayat yang lebih lama, mempunyai kadar rintangan yang lebih rendah, kadar tidak balas terhadap perubahan yang lebih cepat dan berfungsi dengan baik pada suhu sejuk.

Jenis Dan Harga Bateri Perodua Axia

Berdasarkan buku manual pengguna keluaran Perodua, Perodua Axia menggunakan bateri jenis NS40ZL/34B19L. Memandangkan Axia tidak dilengkapi dengan fungsi
auto start/stop atau eco idle
, model ini tidak memerlukan bateri jenis EFB (Enhanced Flooded Batteries) bagi menyokong segala sistem eletronik yang ada pada kereta tersebut seperti pada
Perodua Myvi 2020
. Berikut merupakan senarai beberapa jenis, jenama serta harga bateri yang boleh anda gunakan pada Perodua Axia.

NS40ZL Sel Kering:

Century Marathoner – RM185

Motolite Heavy Duty – RM170

Amaron – RM205

GP MF Platinum – RM195

Varta – RM200

Yokohama Gold – RM200

Bosch SM Mega Power – RM230

Camel Plus – RM195

NS40ZL Sel Basah

Century Power – RM165

Motolite Heavy Duty – RM145


2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Gets Brash On Top and Better Underneath

As
teased earlier last month
,
Mitsubishi
 has unveiled the facelifted Outlander SUV at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, wearing a striking new front end that looks inspired by the striking 2013 XR-PHEV concept and previewed by last year’s Outlander PHEV Concept-S.
Besides the distinctive front fascia, which
represents Mitsubishi’s new ‘global brand identity’
, the Outlander’s front fenders and lower door sections has been redesigned, while the Outlander is rounded off with a better profiled rear tailgate and LED taillights. According to Mitsubishi, the facelift work is more than just a nip-and-tuck. It is said that the Outlander facelift features over 100 engineering and design improvements done to the platform to deliver better structural rigidity, ride quality, and reduced NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) levels.
Improved Handling and Refinement
Though there is no mention on changes to the Outlander’s drivetrain, Mitsubishi has given all CVT-equipped variants a new generation CVT that is said to deliver improved acceleration, performance, shift feel and torque delivery. In the meantime the Outlander’s handling has been improved with the body and suspension structural rigidity increased, suspension redesigned, the addition of dynamic dampers on front and rear suspension and rear differential, and an electric power steering system that has been tweaked. NVH levels is also said to have been reduced thanks to inclusion of thicker rear door glass and more sound insulation throughout the vehicle.
Better Levels of Comfort and Safety
On the inside however the Outlander features minor improvements to its trim, giving it a classier feel with the addition of soft touch features, accent trim for the doors and dashboard, improved seating surfaces, and a subtly redesigned steering wheel. The folding operation of the rear seats has also been improved and made easier. As for in-car entertainment, the Outlander has been overhauled as well with the fitment of a new Mitsubishi Multi-Communication System navigation and display audio system.
For the US-market at least the Outlander is available with a whole host of active safety systems such as Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control. Fitted with the optional Forward Collision Mitigation system, the pre-facelift Outlander was able to gain a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Outlander comes fully equipped with seven airbags with roll-over sensors, Active Stability Control with Traction Control Logic, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Can we expect to see it in Malaysia?
There have been plenty of rumours circulating over the introduction of the Outlander in Malaysia. While it is no secret that Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has been putting the Outlander PHEV through its paces here, there has yet to be any confirmation on when it would be making its debut in Malaysia. However should it make its entry anytime in the near future, you can expect it to appear big and bold just as it did in New York.


Hyundai Previews The G90, Its New Range-Topping Luxury Saloon

That didn’t take long, did it? South Korean automaker
Hyundai
 has revealed its first renderings of its upcoming flagship sedan, named the G90, that will be sold under the
newly minted Genesis luxury sub-brand
.
For the uninitiated, you can think of Genesis as Hyundai’s version of what
Lexus
 is to
Toyota
 or
Infiniti
 to
Nissan
 - a branch that independently targets the more premium end of the market. The Genesis G90, tentatively called, will be sold as the EQ900 in Korea and Hyundai says hints at the brand’s design identity and future direction.
Woong-Chul Yang, Head of Hyundai Motor R&D Center and Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor, said, "Genesis' new large luxury sedan G90 will deliver a concept of 'New Luxury' to our customers. The G90 sits at the pinnacle of the Genesis brand and demonstrates how we apply our human-centered values to give our customer true satisfaction in every aspect of the vehicle ownership experience.”
The new car’s design was done by its newly-formed Prestige Design Division and has some clear inspiration from the company’s newest Genesis sedan that was
launched in Malaysia
 some months ago while also drawing cues from
Hyundai’s Vision G Coupe concept
 that it revealed earlier this year.
We’re sure to see more of the G90 as the days draw closer to its official launch, and perhaps hear some chatter of future plans to bring the Genesis brand to our shores.


Jualan Bulan April Perodua Menurun 16.5% Berbanding Mac - Hampir 9,000 Ativa Dihantar Setakat Ini

Berdasarkan laporan prestasi jualan yang dikeluarkan oleh
Perodua
 bagi bulan April, Perodua telah mencatatkan jualan sebanyak 20,399 kenderaan.

Walau bagaimanapun, jualan kenderaan Perodua pada bulan lalu mencatatkan penurunan sebanyak 16.5% daripada 24,431 unit pada bulan Mac berikutan isu
kekurangan cip semikonduktor
 yang memberi kesan negatif kepada pelbagai industri secara global.

Pada bulan lalu, sebanyak 4,624 unit
Perodua Ativa
 telah berjaya dihantar kepada pemilik dan ianya mewakili lebih 22% daripada jumlah jualan keseluruhan Perodua Ativa pada April 2021 sekaligus melonjakkan jumlah pendaftaran model berkenaan sejak pelancarannya pada 3hb Mac lalu kepada hampir 9,000 unit.

Menurut Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perodua Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, permintaan bagi SUV baharu keluaran Perodua ini masih tinggi dengan menerima hampir 290 tempahan sehari secara purata. Meskipun berdepan dengan masalah kekurangan cip semikonduktor, Perodua berjaya menghasilkan 20,278 kenderaan pada bulan lalu, menjadikan jumlah pengeluaran Perodua setakat tahun ini sebanyak 80,661 unit.

“
Tempoh menunggu Ativa
 kini dari dua hingga empat bulan, bergantung kepada warna dan varian yang diingini. Kami menasihatkan para pelanggan kami yang dihargai untuk bercakap dengan penasihat jualan kami yang sah untuk mendapatkan maklumat terkini dan tepat mengenai tempoh menunggu bagi pelbagai kombinasi varian warna Ativa,” tambah beliau.

Setakat tahun ini, Perodua telah mencatatkan jualan keseluruhan kenderaan sebanyak 78,304 unit, di mana meningkat 74% berbanding empat bulan pertama tahun lalu yang hanya mencatatkan 45,034 unit kenderaan sahaja ekoran Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan kali pertama dilancarkan di negara ini.

Mengenai isu kekurangan cip yang melanda dunia ketika ini, Perodua sedang mengkaji kesemua sumber yang ada untuk menanganinya, termasuk menjalinkan kerjasama dengan pihak kerajaan serta rakan-rakan niaga mereka bagi mendapatkan penyelesaian terhadap masalah ini.

Dato’ Zainal berkata Perodua akan mengekalkan sasaran jualan 2021 pada 240,000 unit buat masa ini. Sasaran jualan tahun 2021 Perodua menyaksikan peningkatan 9% daripada 220,163 unit yang dijual pada 2020, dan dijangka membawa kepada perbelanjaan rekod sebanyak RM6.5 bilion pada tahun ini untuk membeli komponen tempatan.

Bagi pengeluaran pula, Perodua mensasarkan pengeluaran sebanyak 272,000 unit pada tahun ini. Ini menyaksikan peningkatan sebanyak 23% daripada 220,968 pada tahun 2020. Selain itu, mereka turut mensasarkan sebanyak 2.4 juta pengambilan servis, iaitu lebih 20% berbanding 2 juta pengambilan servis pada tahun lalu.

“Perodua tetap komited terhadap penghantaran tepat pada masanya, dibantu oleh skala ekonomi kami. Kami mengucapkan terima kasih kepada para pelanggan yang dihargai atas kesabaran mereka.

“Kami akan bertungkus lumus untuk menyerahkan sebanyak kenderaan yang mungkin sebelum tamatnya pengecualian cukai jualan kerajaan pada akhir Jun ini,” tambah beliau.

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The Art Of Track Walking And The KL City Grand Prix - By Alex Yoong

I was stuck in a wee bit of traffic today in down town KL. Not surprising with all the work going on to get
the circuit
 up and running for this weekend’s
KL City Grand Prix
.
Since traffic was a little slow, I decided to get out of my car, walk around and take a few behind-the-scenes pictures. I was in quite a bit of luck because as I got down to see the pit area and control tower, a few of the main officials were on their way out for a track walk.
Walking the track sounds like a pretty obvious thing to do, especially when it’s a brand new circuit. But it’s especially important to try and do this often because it’s easy to miss important things with a street track.
This is mainly due to the traffic that fills the road so you cannot easily cover every part of the tarmac. It’s important to do this at all times of the day so you can see the traffic flow when rush hour is on and when it is not. So even if you cannot fix it for this first of City races, then you can at least tackle it for the next one.
As one of the official’s told me, they also get out on track when it rains because it’s important to know how the drainage works, especially when the barriers are up. Puddles of standing water can be disastrous to a racecar and you need to try and minimize it. It’s also a good time to see if the contractors have laid the tarmac well, because pools of water can show up easier surrounding the bumps and surface imperfections.
As a driver we always try and walk the track with our engineers and, if it’s a new circuit, we will do this half a dozen times. We look out for bumps and cambers in the tarmac during the braking areas and corners. Also how the tarmac is laid and try and get a head start on which areas will be have the most grip.
Most important is how the corners are laid out and how they flow into each other. By getting a good read on this we can tell if the track will punish the front or the rear axle and have an idea which way to go on setup.
However, we must always bear in mind that we need to drive on the track first before we actually do anything. Many an engineer or driver have been caught out by trying to outsmart a track before actually driving on it. It’s good to have information before the weekend starts, but never to act on it until you actually get the best data in hand. And that best data is accumulated in the head of the driver once he has done a handful of laps on the track at racing speeds.


Tesla Model 3 and Y to be launched here in Malaysia on July 20th?

Tesla Malaysia
 has officially announced that it will officiate its arrival into the Malaysian market on July 20th.

While the announcement itself has been deleted from its official Instagram account for reasons unknown, we can expect to see the arrival of either the Model 3 or Model Y or even both at the same time.

Tesla Malaysia has been receiving a lot of hype, particularly due to the big involvement from our current Minister of Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul. In the next few weeks, Malaysia will be the third country in Southeast Asia to officially sell the Tesla offerings after Singapore and Thailand.

Looking at the photo, we can see that the Model Y is being 'previewed' for launch, but considering the fact that it shares a lot of parts with the Model 3, it makes sense for Tesla Malaysia to bring in both models at the same time to cater to both the sedan enthusiasts as well as the SUV followers in the country.

The next obvious question would be the pricing. The best indicator is most likely the ones sold in Thailand with prices starting from THB1,759,000 to THB2,309,000 for the Model 3, which is around RM235k to RM308k.

As for the Model Y, you can buy one in Thailand from THB1,959,000 to THB2,509,000 (around RM262k to RM335k) for three different variants (same as the Model 3). Judging by these figures, our best-educated guess would be an estimated starting price tag of RM250k for the Model 3 and closer to the RM300k mark for the Model Y.

Also, expect to see three different variants for each model that starts with the Standard Range RWD followed by the Long Range AWD and the Performance AWD. We will only know for sure once we arrive on the fateful date of 20 July 2023. Stay tuned for more updates.


Beijing 2016: Mazda CX-4 Debuts – Hiroshima’s Interpretation Of A BMW X4

After months of spyshots overload, many of which we strongly believe were planted by Mazda themselves, the Mazda CX-4 has finally made its world debut at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show. The CX-4 will go on sale in China in June this year.
Riding on the same 2,700 mm wheelbase as the familiar CX-5, the five-seater CX-4 is Mazda’s attempt to marry the stylish attributes of a coupe while retaining a high seating position that’s preferred by many urban SUV owners – Mazda’s take on the BMW X4 if you may.
Compared to the CX-5, the CX-4 has a significantly lower roofline, standing 135 mm lower (for models with roof rail). Width however, remains the same at 1,840 mm. The A-pillars are also blacked out, giving it a 'floating roofline' illusion.
Power comes from a 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine, paired to either a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission driving all four wheels via Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system. However, we understand that a 2.0-litre version could be introduced later.
Inside, the CX-4 features an electric parking brake, allowing Mazda to introduce an Auto Hold function for easier driving in traffic jams. It’s also a lot more spacious than the CX-3, and the rear has an air-conditioning vent too.
For now, the CX-4 is only available in China, produced exclusively at the FAW-Mazda joint venture plant in Changchun. It’s not even available in Mazda’s home market Japan.
Mazda has not made any firm plans to introduce the model outside of China, but Carlist.my understands that understands that several Mazda distributors from around the world have expressed their interest for the model and are looking into a business case for the CX-4.


Lexus Is Developing An EV For China and Europe

Lexus is developing its first EV model, specifically for the Chinese and European markets, reports
Automotive News Europe
.
President of Lexus, Yoshihiro Sawa added that an EV is necessary for China, and certain markets in Europe, amidst tightening emissions regulations in these regions. But Sawa declined to confirm when the new model will be out, stating that it depends on regulation rollouts of each market.
He added, “Lexus is working on plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles in addition to EVs, Sawa noted. But plug-ins do not fulfill some regulatory requirements. It's a transition era. We are studying several possibilities,”
Lexus’ parent company Toyota currently doesn’t sell any EV models, but recently unveiled an
EV version of its C-HR SUV
 which is set to go on sale in China next year.
Toyota plans to market 10 EV models globally by 2025.
Toyota is a pioneer in electric-hybrid technology, a legacy it started with the Toyota Prius over two decades ago, but a relative newcomer to the EV market. Earlier this year, Toyota entered a joint venture with Panasonic (who also supplies batteries to Tesla) to develop prismatic lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and other future generation EV batteries. Toyota and Panasonic will start operations in 2020.
Thus, it might be a while before we see the first Lexus EV break cover.
Separately,
InsideEEVs
 recently reported that Toyota is quietly planning another EV model due in 2021.


BMW Is Testing Their 8 Series Coupe Up In Italy

Somewhere, out there, beneath the (probably) clear blue sky, BMW is testing their all-new 8 Series Coupe. That clear blue sky happens to be over a proving ground - Aprilia in Italy, to be exact - and the cars are still clad in that camouflage synonymous with prototypes. The proportions are clear, but the details are not - that is except for a giant un-covered power bulge on the bonnet.
The 8 Series is partly a reintroduction of the original 8 Series name, but more a rebadging of the 6 Series that has been discontinued in its current form. As we've found from various sources, the next 6 Series is supposed to be more of a 911 fighter, while the 8 Series will become the GT car of the BMW lineup.
BMW says they are testing the 8 Series' "dynamics on surfaces with high friction coefficients" which is basically a really fancy way of saying "dry, hot, sticky tarmac". What they're trying to achieve is the "harmonization of all drive and suspension systems", or in other words, "make sure the car's suspension is tuned for its performance".
It's funny how while all of this is going on, BMW's motorsport program is preparing their M8 GTE for its race debut at Daytona. It will be competing in the Daytona 24-hour race this weekend, along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
For now they're all just prototypes, but it's fairly easy to see the sleek coupe form that will be the 8 Series Coupe. Its due to be launched this year so these are likely to be their near-final tests, using slaloms, circuits, and different road surfaces to assess how the car handles and reacts. We can hardly wait to see the grand-tourer form return to the BMW lineup.


Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Goes On Sale In Europe

The hottest version of the Volkswagen GTI (Mk 7.5): the GTI TCR has gone on sale in Europe. The TCR name is derived from the manufacturer-backed, two-time overall winning racer of the international TCR racing series.
Previewed for the first time at
Worthersee 2017
, the GTI TCR gets a substantial boost in power, to 290 PS (45 PS more than the GTI Performance variant). The GTI TCR doesn’t produce as much power as the hardcore
GTI Clubsport S
 (read 310 PS and 400 Nm) but thanks to a mechanical locking front differential, it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than the Clubsport S.
Top speed is limited to 250 km/h but customers can optionally delete the limiter function for a 260 km/h top speed.
Under the bonnet, the engine remains the same 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI unit, but with a bigger turbocharger, as well as two extra radiators. The transmission is still the same DSG 7-speed dry-type dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GTI TCR is not offered with a manual transmission.
Elsewhere, other notable standard features include perforated front brake discs, Front Assist (warning and emergency braking), VW’s Active Info Display, and LED headlights.
On the outside, the GTI TCR is fitted with 18-inch Belvedere forged wheels (or 18-inch Milton Keynes wheels), black exterior mirror caps, side sill extensions, a front splitter, TCR roof spoiler, and a diffuser at the rear.
The GTI TCR can be additionally optioned with honeycomb decor foil for the side sections, carbon look mirror caps, black painted roof, and two other wheel packages. Both packages add 19-inch wheels, Adaptive Chassis Control, sports springs, and retuned absorbers, the more expensive of the two even adds semi-slick tyres.
The cabin space has been upgraded with a premium front sport seats with a new microfibre/fabric design, seat belts with red edging plus an exclusive sports steering wheel. The steering wheel’s 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock sections are trimmed with perforated leather and feature a red marker at the 12 o'clock position.
The GTI TCR is priced at EUR 38,950 (in Germany, inclusive VAT). There is no confirmation yet of the production numbers of the GTI TCR, or if it is limited at all.


Bekas Pereka PROTON Hasilkan Konsep Kereta Elektrik Malaysia (MEV)

Kereta Elektrik Malaysia? Ketua Rekabentuk Industri MIMOS Berhad,
Saharudin Busri
 yang juga merupakan seorang bekas pereka PROTON yang mempunyai pengalaman selama lebih 27 tahun dalam bidang rekaan automotif telah berkongsi idea rekaan konsep Kereta Elektrik Malaysia (MEV).

Rekaan konsep MEV ini dipertontonkan pada umum ketika Hari Reka Bentuk Perindustrian Sedunia (WIDD) pada 3 dan 4 Julai lalu anjuran Persatuan Pereka Perindustrian Malaysia (Pereka). Menurut Saharudin, masih tiada nama untuk MEV yang dihasilkan daripada asas platform
Volkswagen Golf
 ini.

Saharudin memilih
hatchback
 segmen-B sebagai model untuk menyiapkan MEV ini kerana menurutnya,
segmen-B
 sangatlah sesuai untuk pasaran Malaysia pada ketika ini yang banyak dipenuhi dengan
kenderaan mampu milik
. Lihat sahaja
Perodua Myvi
, sebuah hatchback segmen-B yang muncul sebagai kereta paling laku di Malaysia. Dah lebih satu juta terjual kat pasaran negara ini.

Rekaan bahagian luaran kereta ini tampak kemas dan bersifat futuristik. Bahagian bampar dan rekaan gril di bahagian hadapan kereta juga kelihatan berbeza daripada kereta enjin pembakaran bahan api (ICE) kerana kereta elektrik hanya memerlukan motor elektrik. Oleh itu, tempat jeriji telah digantikan dengan rekaan lampu nyalaan siang (DRL) yang melintang dan bersambung dengan kedua-dua lampu LED utama kereta seperti
Hyundai Staria
, cuma yang ini nampak lebih menariklah.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Rekaan bamparnya dengan elemen gril hitam lebar telah menyerlahkan lagi reka bentuk sporty kereta elektrik ini. Beliau menggunakan bingkai elemen hitam kawasan perumah lampu kabus bagi menambah bentuk 3 dimensi dari sudut pandangan hadapan.

Di bahagian sisi, terdapat kemasan krom pada penghujung tiang A kereta dan terus bersambung ke cermin sisi. Selain itu, terdapat juga satu garisan pada bahagian wheel arch atau gerbang roda terus ke pintu dan tiang C yang menaikkan lagi bentuk sporty kereta ini. Terdapat juga lekuk di bahagian sisi bawah kereta yang bermula dari hadapan skirt sisi sehingga ke lekuk wheel arch belakang. Konsep
kereta elektrik
 ini dipadankan dengan rim aloi bersaiz 18 inci. Rim tersebut mempunyai ciri dwi-tona mengikut warna badan kenderaan.

Sementara itu di bahagian belakang, lampu kereta ini turut mengambil elemen yang sama dengan lampu hadapan iaitu rekaan jejalur lampu melintang merentasi pintu but dan bersambung antara satu sama lain. Rekaan bampar belakangnya agak ringkas, kemas dan tidak keterlaluan menjadikan ia kelihatan segar dan menarik.

Ciri futuristik turut dibawa ke bahagian dalaman kereta ini. Bahagian dalaman kereta ini kelihatan kemas dengan gabungan warna badan kereta, kelabu dan hitam. Papan pemukanya dihiasi dengan banyak bentuk bulat seperti pada corong dan butang penyaman udara, pembesar suara dan tuil gear. Selain paparan meter pemandu yang berbentuk digital dan terapung, kereta ini turut hadir dengan paparan infotainment di bahagian tengah papan pemuka. Tempat duduk sport dengan sokongan sisi dan garisan jahitan menyerlahkan gaya masa hadapan dan menawarkan pengalaman seperti berada di sebuah kapal angkasa.

Saharudin difahamkan telah mengambil masa selama 3 minggu untuk menyiapkan rekaan MEV ini. Proses ini bermula daripada lakaran dua dimensi (2D) sehingga menjadi tiga dimensi (3D) termasuk bahagian luaran dan dalamannya.

Meskipun rekaan ini hanyalah konsep, namun Saharudin berharap bahawa rekaannya akan menjadi sumber inspirasi dalam menghasilkan kenderaan elektrik negara pada masa hadapan melalui pembabitan pihak tertentu untuk merealisasikan idea ini. Tambahnya, ia juga dapat mewujudkan lebih ramai pereka untuk membantu negara dalam penghasilan produk berkaitan automotif yang lebih maju, inovatif dan berdaya saing dengan negara lain.

Untuk melihat kereta MEV ini dengan lebih terperinci, anda boleh menonton video dibawah:

*Kredit video: Harian Metro

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Rottweiler Loves Driving In An Ariel Atom As Much As Its Owner

We can only assume that life is pretty good when you’re a car enthusiast who owns an Ariel Atom. It might not have the largest boot space - or a boot at all - but that isn’t stopping one man who is happy to use it to run though a typical Saturday/Sunday routine.
Let’s face it, practicality matters – even if we don’t think about it immediately. It’s a common belief that what you drive is determined by who or what you have to take with along you. Maybe its groceries, your family, your friends, or your dog. That’s why the dream of owning a tarmac shredding two-seater sports car remains in the distance for so many of us who have to have just one car to do it all.
But this man isn’t letting the sound logic of practicality get the way of his weekend lifestyle. He wants to get dog food at the local pet supply and maybe go for a little drive afterward – so in this video he does just that. Straps himself and his Rottweiler named Bronx down into the Ariel Atom and drives off. That's right. They breeze down the highway, both occupants (man and man's best friend) as calm as can be until he pulls over to park by some stores.
With the shopping over, he and Bronx drive (though slowly by Ariel Atom standards) down to the waterfront – judging by the skyline, this could be Vancouver or Seattle – for a game of fetch. Then it’s a cruise down the highway back home.
Honestly, we’re a little envious of this guy. He (and his dog) are living the petrolhead’s dream.
Some of you might know what an Ariel Atom is. But, just in case its a little hazy, here’s a quick rundown: it’s an open-wheel sports car that’s capable of acceleration and manoeuvrability unlike any other thanks to its supercharged Honda V-TEC engine that produces 300hp and the lack of body panels to weigh it down that power. With the Atom, its all about a philosophy of reduced essence. All it needs is just 2.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill. All this along with its open wheel design and exposed tubular chassis enables an thrilling racing-like driving experience.
This video is produced by eGarage and unabashedly endorsed by GoPro.


2018 (F90) BMW M5 Teased – Malaysian Launch Soon

BMW Malaysia has teased the all-new (F90) BMW M5 on their
Facebook page
, confirming a local introduction in the near future.

The short 14-second video, cycles through all the colour finishes of the M5, while giving viewers a 360-degree look at the vehicle. The Facebook post is also interactive – asking viewers to screenshot their colour of choice and share it in the comments section.
The M5 is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that produces 600 hp and 750 Nm of torque between 1,800 and 5,600 rpm.
The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic that sends power to all four wheels through the M xDrive all-wheel drive system. In keeping with the M5’s trademark rear wheel drive ethos, the xDrive system can also be configured to deliver power to just the rear wheels.
Performance is “brisk”, to say the least, with a 0–100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds, 0–200 km/h in 11.1 seconds, and a top speed of 305 km/h when specified with the M Driver’s Package.
The M5’s closest competitor, the 2017 (W213)
Mercedes-AMG E63S 4Matic+
, is priced from RM998,888. The E63S features a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that delivers a whopping 612 hp at 5,750 rpm and torque of 850 Nm between 2,500 to 4,500 rpm.
Power is sent to all four wheels through the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system, which allows for fully-variable torque distribution between front and rear axles. Like the M5,  the E63S’ “Drift mode”, which is activated in the car’s "Race" drive program will isolate power to the rear wheels alone.
Separately, the (F90) BMW M5 officially went on sale, for the
first time in Thailand
, priced at THB13.339 million. The M5 is the third "M" car to be offered officially, after the M2 and M4 models.


BMW Full Circle Programme Now Available On iPerformance Models, 330e From RM2,918 Per Month

BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia has just introduced the BMW Full Circle Recharged that now expands the innovative financial solution option to BMW iPerformance models and the MINI Full Circle Urban Explorer.
The Full Circle Programme, introduced early last year, is a flexible financing scheme suited for customers with a limited ownership duration and mileage in mind. At the end of the financing tenure, users have the option of returning the car with no further obligations, trade in for a new BMW or MINI, take complete ownership of the vehicle with a full settlement, or simply extend the loan tenure.
Through this financing programme, customers are also guaranteed the resale value of their vehicle at the end of the agreed upon tenure. Terms of the financing programme can be customized to the customer’s budget and intended length of usage of the vehicle.
Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Customer-orientation is at the heart of innovations at the BMW Group. From our premium vehicles to our premium services, we are the specialists when it comes to premium individual mobility.”
“The new financial programmes demonstrate this philosophy perfectly. We aim to continue leading the Malaysian premium automotive industry towards the mobility of the future with revolutionary financing and mobility programmes for the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership Experience.”
Tobias Eismann, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Financial Services in Malaysia, meanwhile, said, “The Full Circle Programme is created from the ground up to be a customer-focused mobility solution to give our customers the ultimate peace of mind in their premium ownership experiences.”
BMW
i
 Charging Station at Weil Hotel, Ipoh
“Our Malaysian customers are very advanced in terms of their needs for financial solutions and we are already seeing a shift with trends moving gradually from the conventional, straight-line financing driven solutions where customers finance their car for 5 years or more, towards a more modern lifestyle-oriented driving experience where customers can change their car every 2 to 4 years.”
The new Full Circle Recharged campaign is developed specifically for the high-performance plug-in hybrid models under the BMW iPerformance brand, consisting of the BMW 330e M Sport, 530e Sport, 740Le xDrive and X5 xDrive40e M Sport. The overwhelming acceptance of these models also placed Malaysia high in the eyes of BMW Group, as
 Malaysia is BMW’s fifth largest market for plug-in hybrid models.
New users of the Full Circle Recharged campaign will also receive a complimentary set of BMW Life Recharged package consisting of a Fitbit Charge 2 and a limited edition HoriznStudios for BMW Board Case, 33L (terms and conditions apply). This campaign is from now until 31st August 2018.
The
 all-new BMW X3 xDrive30i Luxury
 has also been added to the Full Circle Programme, with a monthly instalment starting from RM3,808 and a guaranteed future value of over 50 percent after three years of usage.
BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia is also offering the BMW 318i Luxury with an attractive monthly instalment from RM2,098.
As for the MINI Full Circle Urban Explorer, the programme offers the recently launched MINI Cooper S Countryman from RM2,698 monthly together with MINI Urban Essential set, consisting of a Nanopresso portable coffee maker and a Fitbit Charge 2 for every new user (terms and conditions apply).
Learn more about the BMW iPerformance models in our reviews below:
Review: BMW 330e – Forty Years In The Making, The Best 3 Series To Date
Review: BMW 530e
iPerformance
 - Charged Up Performance
Review: BMW X5 xDrive40e Plug-in Hybrid – Joy Is Reclaiming Your Tax Money
Review: BMW 740Le xDrive - You'll Want This Over The S-Class
BMW Group Malaysia Amps Up Electric Drive Push With
ChargEV
BMW models financed under the Full Circle Programme are also fully covered by BMW’s 5-year unlimited mileage warranty inclusive of free service in addition to the 2-year tyre warranty programme. Users also enjoy the BMW White Card lifestyle membership programme.
MINI models meanwhile enjoy a 4-year unlimited mileage warranty with free service and roadside assistance. MINI users also enjoy lifestyle membership programme with the MINI Black Card.