Hyundai Teases Its All-New Elantra With Convincing Preview

Hyundai
 has a new
Elantra
 waiting in the wings, itching to reveal itself at an event with the requisite pomp and circumstance. But before that takes place, the Korean automaker wants us to have a little taster of what it looks like.
Yes, it is indeed a sketch. An artist’s impression, a rendering – whatever you’d prefer to call it. But, this preview does show off a lot of the key designs cues that Hyundai has attributed to it and, to our eyes, looks quite ‘production-ready’.
Typically, these kinds of sketches can come across as a little far-fetched. Not so for the this new Elantra. With a little imagination, we can definitely piece it together.
The designers wanted to bring to the new car a sense of presence on the road, and cites their copious use of “clever use of character lines” to evoke a dynamic, stylish and confident appearance.
Touches that will definitely make it to the in-the-flesh version will be a the large hexagonal grille with a revised pair of headlights that are slimmer and sportier looking, as well as more pronounced wheel arches that flow together with the car’s definition lines along the side.
Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer at Hyundai Motor Company said: “The All-new Elantra captures the car’s unique design characteristics that really place this model in a class of its own. The subtle and innovative appearance enhancements reflect Hyundai Motor’s vision for design. Furthermore, this car indicates a move from traditional to modern styling by communicating the new model’s comfort, fashion and sporty feel.”
For the sake of quick comparisons, here's an image of the current Elantra. See any worthwhile improvements?


SPAD Wants To Hear Your Say About Ride Sharing Apps Like Uber And GrabCar

Alright, so it’s a survey, so you can select from a few answers someone already crafted earlier. So while the spectrum of opinion can only vary so much, at least it will be easier for the average person and their average and gradually decreasing attention span to participate.
Participate they should, as the questionnaire of 10 queriers will be used to affect change in the way SPAD (Land Public Transport Commission) approaches the rising popularity of ride sharing applications such as GrabCar and Uber. The growth of which, at least in Malaysia, has led to the substantial decline in appeal for the local taxi industry.
Or rather, the decline in appeal had lead (or contributed largely) to the rapid growth and popularity of these aforementioned ride sharing apps.
Either way, this government survey will help them decide which way to turn, and you can make your voice heard on the matter - albeit in a small but sure way.
According to The Star, a SPAD spokesperson said the survey was created to gauge public sentiments over the taxi issue: "We want feedback, as we gear to introduce the way forward,” she said.
The survey itself can be accessed via this link:
http://bit.ly/1NPVmu7
. But don't put it off too long, as it will only be running from now until December 3rd.
Don’t worry, SPAD has constructed the survey using Google Docs, because we all know how wonderfully designed our government’s online efforts tend to be.


New 2017 ASEAN NCAP Rating System Explained – Side Impact, Assist Tech Gain Importance

The New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) has announced a new single rating system for the purpose of clearer communication to consumers.
The new single rating system replaces the existing dual rating system in use since 2012 that produced separate scores for adult and child occupant protection. The new assessment system consolidates three aspects of a car’s safety into a single rating:
Adult occupant protection: 50%
Child occupant protection: 25%
Safety assist technologies: 25%
ASEAN NCAP will be evaluating cars under this new rating system from 2017 to 2020.
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)
The familiar 64 km/h offset deformable barrier frontal crash test continues as is, but with a new set of Q dummies to replace the outgoing P dummies.
Side impact testing receives increased emphasis. The 2012 – 2016 evaluation protocol requires only compliance to the UN R95 legislation test. Now comes a more comprehensive side impact test protocol that even rates the performance of head protection technology in a side impact – i.e. curtain airbags.
Child Occupant Protection (COP)
As with AOP assessment, evaluation for child occupant protection also moves on from P to Q Series test dummies. For frontal impact evaluation, injuries to head, chest, and neck continue to be examined. Head protection performance in the event of a side impact is added to the score sheet.
Vehicles are also evaluated on the provision of rear three-point seat-belts, usability of its ISOFIX mounts, front passenger airbag warning and disabling, as well as the room for simultaneous installation of two child seats.
Additionally, vehicles are also assessed on their ability to securely install a series of reference ISOFIX and non-ISOFIX child seats of various sizes. Each manufacturer is also allowed to nominate one Q3-sized ISOFIX seat and a Q1.5 Baby Safe Plus ISOFIX base to be added. The list of child seats selected for installation assessment is as follows:
Safety Assist Technology (SAT)
Perhaps the biggest addition to the ASEAN NCAP test protocol is a more comprehensive evaluation of safety technology. Previously, electronic stability control and seat belt reminders were just pre-requisites for a 5-star AOP rating.
Under the new system, points are awarded for the fitment of the following technology:
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Seat belt reminders
Blind spot warning
Autonomous emergency braking
Pedestrian detection
Lane departure warning
Forward collision warning
Final Tally
For each vehicle, the scores attained for each of the three aspects – AOP, COP, and SAT – are converted into a percentage and summed up to form an overall rating, which then translates into a star rating with a maximum of five.
To ensure all aspects of safety are given equal emphasis, a car must meet the minimum required score in each individual aspect in order to attain its highest possible rating. So, for example, a car rated five stars for AOP and COP but good for only three stars in the aspect of SAT will have to settle for an overall rating of just three stars.
According to ASEAN NCAP, the new rating system is conceptualized to emphasize on current needs whilst attempting to stay relevant for future requirements. The heavier weightage allocated to AOP was done with the purpose to spur immediate development in strengthening the crashworthiness of cars, whilst the COP and SAT scores are meant to motivate the fitment of better safety specifications for the region in the near future.
Honda became the first manufacturer in the region to have its vehicle tested by ASEAN NCAP under the new rating system; the
recently-launched
 all-new 2017
CR-V attained a five-star rating
 with an overall score of 88.80 points.


GALLERY: Alami Proton Carnival 2015

This weekend, the
Alami Proton Carnival 2015
 takes place at the carmaker’s Centre of Excellence complex in Shah Alam. There certainly is a lot to see and do, as we found out during out early media walkabout of the event area.
There is something for everyone on both days of the event (3-4 October 2015 from 10am to 7pm), regardless of age group.
For starters, the main carnival area located near the Centre of Excellence building contains the numerous games like foosball, golf putt, sand art, and many more. Food and beverages stalls positioned there during the day will be offering refreshments as well.
Live performances by local musical icons Amy Search and Ella will also be held at the concert stage at the main carnival area as well, with several other celebrities participating in a meet and greet session before then. Following this is the first of
two grand lucky draws
 where those who signed up for a test drive or even booked a new Proton could be in the running for a chance to win a brand new Proton Iriz, while a Suprima S is up for grabs on Sunday.
Next stop is the Fun Zone situated near Proton’s Research and Development building where a LEGO play section, movie screening, paintball, wall climbing, and other activities are held. For those seeking even more excitement, hop onboard one of the many shuttle buses to the Gymkhana area where you’ll be able to sign up for a taxi ride or enjoy the R3 Drifting demonstration. Food trucks nearby will be parked nearby should you need to grab a quick bite as well.
Aside from that, Proton’s numerous vendors have set up interactive booths in the main event area where you can get up close and personal with the parts that go into a Proton vehicle and have your questions about them answered.
Lastly, check out the Centre of Excellence complex itself and take a trip through time where nearly every Proton model ever produced is put on display, along with some of its race cars, including the race-prepped Iriz that won during its debut at the Malaysian Touring Car championship.
With so much to see and do, we’ve prepared a gallery for your viewing pleasure, but do attend the Alami Proton Carnival this weekend. There is certainly a lot more to see than what we can show you.


VIDEO: Aston Martin's 800hp Vulcan Smokes Tyres And Spits Flame At Goodwood

Aston Martin
 decided to bring it’s track-only 800hp Vulcan to the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed, having put the final touches on the finished production version, and in doing so lit the event on fire in more ways than one.
We’ve not had many chan to see the Vulcan strutting it’s monstrous 7.0-litre V12 engine. The closest thing was seeing the
car as it was unveiled
 for the first time in lead the up to the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. But here we get to see it run through the famous Goodwood hill climb, scaling up the gradient and through its Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox. Drive is sent to the rear wheels and a pair of 345/30 x19 rear wheels fitted to Michelin race-spec tyres.
All that grunt and grip allows the Vulcan to reach a top speed of over 321km/h (200mph) and a century sprint time of under three seconds.
Dr Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, said: “Seeing the Aston Martin Vulcan unleashed at Goodwood today is a memory I will cherish for many years. We wanted to give this car its debut on ‘home soil’, and where better than at this hugely popular and globally renowned event.”
There will only be 24 units built, and is one of the few current-day supercars with a naturally aspirated engine. It’s contemporaries instead opting for a downsized but turbocharged engine or have sought the help of electric motors, or both. Not so for Aston Martin, they're kickin’ it old school.
Piloting the Vulcan is Aston Martin works’ driver Darren Turner who chose to pull a few burnouts before crossing the finish line, deliberately slowing down in front of the crowd before accelerating, and mincing his tyres in the process (in a very good way). The most impressive spectacle, though, came from when the car first set off.


Geneva 2019: The Koenigsegg Jesko Is The Quickest Swedish Car Yet

We'll get the name out of the way first, because it's probably the simplest to explain. The Koenigsegg Jesko is named after Jesko von Koenigsegg, father of the founder of the Swedish hypercar company, Christian von Koenigsegg. It's an homage to the man who helped fund the company during its fledgling days - a company that would not exist had it not been for his belief in Christian's vision.
Everything else gets far more complicated from here on out. More power, more downforce, an insanely quick gearbox, a new monocoque, and rear wheel steering all help to make this potentially the fastest hypercar in the world, with simulations seeing it clocking over 480 km/h. The only problem is that there isn't a tyre manufacturer that would be willing to develop a tyre capable of spinning so quickly just yet, so until that happens it's unverifiable.
The engine may seem similar in terms of the broad strokes, but the power increases are due to much more complex changes. On pump gas, the Jesko will make a solid 1280 hp, but fill it up on E85 and you'll see that figure rise to 1600 hp. The twin-turbo 5.0-litre V8 engine had to be redesigned to accommodate these targets, now with a lighter billet flat-plane crankshaft that allows it to rev to 8500 rpm over the old redline of 7500 rpm, and lighter conrods and pistons as well.
Besides hypercars, Koenigsegg is also known for their engine development work - Freevalve comes to mind - and the engine in the Jesko features cutting edge monitoring and a novel anti-lag system. On the monitoring end there are new sensors in the head to detect the tumble of the intake charge and the cylinder pressure, which allows the management systems to ensure far better efficiency and safety. This new anti-lag system is similar to Volvo's in the way that it uses pre-compressed air to speed up the turbo spool time when coming back on the throttle.
The gearbox is perhaps the largest step forward. With such low production numbers with such high requirements, Koenigsegg has had to develop a lot of component in house - this new "Light Speed Transmission" (LST) as it's called packs a whopping 9 gears and multiple clutches for ultra quick gear selection. Instead of operating sequentially like most multi-clutch gearboxes, the LST can jump seamlessly between gears when necessary with a two-stage shift operation - half press for next gear up and down, and full press for the highest or lowest possible gear at any given time.
The chassis is redesigned, being 40 mm longer and 22 mm taller than before for better legroom and headroom respectively. Despite this increase in dimensions, structural integrity and rigidity is maintained - a key point considering just how fast these cars can move. The Triplex suspension damper at the rear has been copied for the front, making the car far better sorted when it comes to handling high speed aggressive cornering manoeuvres. Rear wheel steering also helps to vary the wheelbase virtually when on the move, as is the requirement for cars of such a nature in this day and age.
But the real party piece is the aerodynamics, punctuated by that massive rear wing out back. The package as a whole can produce over 1,000 kg of downforce when up to higher speeds which is absolutely necessary to keep the car from careening off the road. Both front and rear aero elements are bigger than ever before, with the active elements being tucked away under the body to help vary airflow and control downforce depending on the situation.
The price for all this? A cool RM 12 million, before options, shipping, and duties. 125 of these will ever be built (at least in this form, as you never know what special editions will pop up), and 80 have already been accounted for. It's a car few people in the world will ever get to drive, but it show what's possible when not tied down by engineering constraints. Koenigsegg has always been a maverick of a manufacturer, and we love them all the more for it.


Volkswagen Honours Top Dealers And Staff Of 2018

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) celebrated its dealer accomplishments at the recent 2018 Volkswagen Dealer Awards Night at Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
The awards night was aimed at recognizing and celebrating top performing dealers and dealer employees for their achievements in supporting the Volkswagen brand in Malaysia in 2018.
The event was attended by 25 dealers from the Volkswagen network nationwide. Four awards were presented under the dealership category, which comprised of dealers with 3S and 4S centres.
The judging and scoring criteria were based on the dealer’s efforts in sales and marketing, aftersales, customer satisfaction, dealer standards compliance and manpower qualification. The dealers were monitored from January till December 2018.
The title of Best Overall Dealer for 2018 went to MHV Autohaus (Volkswagen Gombak). MHV Autohaus had also won Best Overall Dealer in 2017.
The other recipients for Best Dealers in their respective categories (by location and region) were:
Category A - 4S centres: Wearnes Automotive
Category B - dealers within Klang Valley: MHV Autohaus
Category C – dealers out of Klang Valley: Lee Motors Autohaus
Besides the dealers, individual talents within the network were also acknowledged and awarded for their exceptional performances in their roles as Sales Manager, Sales Consultant, After-sales Manager, Parts Manager, Service Advisor, and Technician.
Individuals from the respective categories were tested on both qualitative and quantitative KPI achievements for the different levels and positions.
The criteria included sales and aftersales targets, customer satisfaction, adherence to processes and procedures, and attaining required training and qualifications.
The overall individual top achievers were:
James Leong from MHV Autohaus for Best Sales Manager
Yan Mun Ee from Goh Brothers, Ipoh for Best Sales Consultant
William Loh from MHV Autohaus for Best Aftersales Manager
John Leow from MHV Autohaus for Best Parts Manager
Azrul Muzakhair from Wearnes Sg Besi for Best Service Advisor
Husni Thamrin from Lee Motors, Alor Setar for Best Techinician
Also present at the ceremony to receive their trophies were the winners of the National Finals 2018/2019 Volkswagen Retail Qualification World Championship (RQWC):
Lu Weng Jen from MHV Autohaus for Service Advisor category
John Leow Zhi Kuan MHV Autohaus for Parts Services category
Yeoh Chun Ping from Goh Brother Motors for Master Technician category


2023 Toyota Yaris Cross unveiled in Indonesia - Perodua Ativa's big brother?

The
2023 Toyota Yaris Cross
 made its first official ASEAN appearance earlier this week in
Indonesia
.

For those who are wondering about the significance of the Toyota Yaris Cross debut in our neighbouring country should know that it's considered the bigger brother of the Toyota Raize aka Perodua Ativa. Does this mean that this will be Perodua's next B-segment SUV?

To put things into perspective, the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross measures 4,310mm long, 1,770mm wide, 1,615mm tall, and is paired with a 2,620mm wheelbase. This is indeed bigger compared to the Perodua Ativa's measurements of 4,065mm long, 1,710mm wide, 1,635mm tall, and paired with a 2,525mm wheelbase.

The new Yaris Cross is also built on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform but this is not to be confused with the same-named model that is sold in markets like Europe and Japan due to its different Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform that is slightly smaller in measurements.

Marketed as a roomy yet sporty five-seater SUV, the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross is also regarded as a light off-roader thanks to a number of features that make it stand out above the rest like a 19-degree approach angle, 28-degree departure angle, higher rocker panel height of 260mm, and more.

We recently posted about Toyota's
multi-pathway mobility solutions
 and the new Yaris Cross is no different in terms of providing multiple solutions towards carbon neutrality. The usual ICE engine kicks things off with the same 1.5-litre NA engine as the Vios with 106PS and 138Nm of torque paired to either a CVT or a five-speed manual gearbox.

The second (and more interesting) powertrain is the 2NR-VEX 1.5-litre NA engine that produces 91PS and 121Nm of torque. Paired with an electric motor that kicks out a very healthy 80PS and 141Nm of torque, the Toyota Yaris Cross can be driven on electric power alone as it is the first Toyota model in Indonesia to be fitted with a lithium-ion battery.

You can actually see this in one of the photos above where the number plate showcased the name of the variant - Yaris Cross GR Sport HEV. In other words, it's a fully capable hybrid, not a mild hybrid.

As for the interior, the driver gets a more focused 'cockpit' thanks to the seven-inch driver's display, while the rest of the passengers can enjoy the large 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, central aircon vents, and spacious seats that can comfortably cater to five adults.

For safety, the Toyota Yaris Cross comes with:

Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold

Six airbags

ABS+EBD+BA

Parking Sensor

Emergency Stop Signal

Hill Start Assist (HSA)

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)

Panoramic View Monitor

No word on the Indonesian pricing for the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross just yet, but what's more important is that it might be Perodua's next B-segment SUV here in Malaysia under the codename D66B. Will this be the Ativa's bigger and bolder brother?


This Kancil “Cabriolet” is the Coolest Car You’ll See Today, and it's on Sale

The Facebook Marketplace is a very interesting place. The things you will find listed sometimes is nothing short of mind blowing.

With things ranging between gelas A&W terpakai to horses for sale, the marketplace never fails to surprise, and today is no exception.

What we have here is a very heavily modified Kancil “cabriolet” which was put up
for sale by Muhamad Kamarul
 without a roof, and that’s not all - The car is fitted with Daihatsu Mira body parts and dashboard, a Japan-spec Kelisa engine, after-market wheels, as well as a pimped out interior.

As cool as it looks, the car is not roadworthy because of the chopped roof. In fact, the owner has mentioned in the post that the car is only sesuai untuk jalan di kampung, or to be used for parts, which explains why it is only being sold for RM 2,000.

Whatever it is, the owner certainly deserves credit for the amount of creativity and effort that has gone into this Kancil Cabriolet. Very cool, indeed.

Have you seen a cooler Kancil? Let us know below!


Pengganti Proton Exora – Geely Jiaji (Proton V70) Atau Geely Haoyue (Proton X90) - Yang Mana Malaysia Nak?

Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, anda mahu
Proton
untuk membawa masuk
Geely Jiaji
 sebagai Proton V70 (MPV) atau
Geely Haoyue
 sebagai Proton X90 (SUV) bagi menggantikan
Proton Exora
 yang sudah menjangkau usia 12 tahun?

Pada yang terlupa, kita telah diberitahu pada awal kemasukan
Geely
ke dalam Proton bahawa Proton telah diberikan lesen atau kebenaran untuk menghasilkan 3 model Geely untuk pasaran tempatan dan Asia Tenggara. Dua daripadanya adalah
Geely Boyue
 (
Proton X70
) dan
Geely Binyue
 (
Proton X50
) telah dilancarkan.

Memandangkan model X70 dan X50 dah dilancarkan, hanya Geely Jiaji yang pernah dikhabarkan sebagai pengganti Exora sahaja yang masih belum dilancarkan. Tetapi, timbul pula desas desus mengatakan bahawa Proton akan sekali lagi membawa masuk model SUV iaitu Geely Haoyue sebagai pengganti Exora setelah ia dikesan sedang menjalankan ujian jalan raya di negara ini. Memandangkan SUV mereka laku macam pisang goreng panas, tak mustahil Proton akan bawa masuk satu lagi SUV milik Geely untuk dilencanakan semula, kan?

Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, antara Geely Haoyue (Proton X90) atau Geely Jiaji (Proton V70), yang mana satu anda rasa sesuai untuk menggantikan Proton Exora?
SUV atau MPV
? Jom kita tengok apa beza kedua-dua model ni.

Dimensi:

Model

Proton Exora

Geely Jiaji

Geely Haoyue

Panjang (mm)

4,610

4,706

4,835

Lebar (mm)

1,809

1,909

1,900

Tinggi (mm)

1,691

1,690

1,780

Jarak Roda (mm)

2,730

2,805

2,815

Exterior:

Secara amnya, Geely Jiaji merupakan sebuah MPV yang lebih besar dan lebar berbanding Proton Exora. Bahagian hadapannya menampilkan gril
Expanding Cosmos
 Geely yang ditemani oleh
lampu LED
 bersama jalur krom dibawahnya. Reka bentuknya ringkas sahaja, tapi tetap kelihatan moden. Di sudut sisi, tiang tingkap digelapkan untuk memberi gambaran seperti atapnya terapung.

Sementara itu, Geely Haoyue pula merupakan SUV terbesar keluaran Geely.Oleh kerana ianya merupakan SUV
segmen-D
, reka bentuknya agak sedikit agresif berbanding Jiaji dan lebih bersegi berbanding Proton X70. Jeriji depannya turut menggunakan gril yang sama seperti Jiaji dan menggunakan lampu utama jenis LED matriks.

Interior:

Meskipun ruangan luarnya ringkas, Geely Jiaji menampilkan ruangan dalaman yang serba premium dengan skrin paparan infotainment terapung bersaiz 12.3-inci. Reka bentuk konsol tengah serta papan pemuka yang seakan-akan terapung menekankan aspek keluasan dalam MPV ini. Jiaji turut menawarkan panoramic sunroof penuh, paparan head-up adaptif, pembatalan bunyi aktif serta sistem pembersihan udara AQS.

Geely Haoyue pula datang dalam pilihan 5 atau 7 tempat duduk. Semakin kurang tempat duduk, semakin besarlah ruang but. Kerusi tempat duduk baris kedua dan ketiga juga boleh dilipat rata menjadi sebuah katil. Malah, orang yang berketinggian sehingga 190cm juga boleh duduk dengan selesa di belakang. SUV ini juga dilengkapi dengan penapis udara CN95 serta sistem AQS. Ia turut menerima paparan infotainment sama seperti Jiaji.

Enjin dan Prestasi:

Geely Jiaji ditawarkan dengan dua pilihan enjin. Pertama ialah enjin 1.8L turbocaj 4-silinder petrol yang memberi output 185 PS dan 300 Nm yang digandingkan bersama transmisi 6-kelajuan automatik. Manakala enjin 1.5L turbo yang dibangunkan bersama
Volvo
menghasilkan 174 PS dan 255 Nm tork bersama transmisi 6-kelajuan manual atau klac berkembar 7-kelajuan automatik.

Haoyue pula menawarkan enjin 4-silinder direct-injection 1.8L yang menghasilkan 185 PS dan 300 Nm tork. Transmisi yang digunakan pula adalah klac berkembar 7-kelajuan automatik. Ada juga desas desus di China bahawa Geely sedang membangunkan enjin 2.0L turbo bersama Volvo. Geely Haoyue merupakan model pertama yang bakal menerima enjin tersebut apabila dilancarkan nanti.

Keselamatan:

Geely Jiaji

8 beg udara kecemasan

Ciri pemanduan Autonomous Tahap 2

24 sensor meliputi segala arah

Adaptive Cruise Control dengan fungsi Stop-Go

Lane Centering dengan bantuan membelok

Electronic Stability Program

Amaran pelanggaran belakang dan hadapan

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Bantuan pertukaran lane

Pengesan titik buta

Kawalan lampu tinggi pintar

Geely Haoyue

Ciri pemanduan Autonomous Tahap 2

24 sensor meliputi segala arah

Adaptive Cruise Control dengan fungsi Stop-Go

Kamera parking 360 darjah

Parking automatik

Lane keep assistant

ICC smart pilot system

Lane Centering dengan bantuan membelok sehingga 150km/j

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Pengesan titik buta

Amaran pelanggaran belakang dan hadapan

Harga:

Di China, Geely Jiaji dijual dijual dari harga di sekitar RM60,000 hingga RM111,400 mengikut versi sistem janaan. Manakala SUV terbesar Geely, Haoyue pula dijual bermula sekitar RM62,000 hingga RM84,000.Tapi ini merupakan harga di pasaran China. Untuk pasaran Malaysia, masih belum dapat ditentukan. Jika nak dibandingkan dengan harga
Proton Exora Black Edition
, harga Exora hanyalah RM69,800 sahaja.

Kesimpulan

Melalui satu hantaran di
Facebook Carlist.my
 yang bertanyakan tentang Jiaji atau Haoyue yang lebih sesuai menggantikan Exora, rata-rata pengikut beranggapan bahawa Geely Jiaji merupakan pilihan yang lebih sesuai berbanding Geely Haoyue. Jika Jiaji dibawa masuk oleh Proton, ia mungkin akan kelihatan seperti gambar dibawah. Mengancam tak?

Sebagai pengganti Proton Exora yang juga merupakan sebuah MPV, Geely Jiaji dilihat sebagai pilihan yang paling sesuai. Reka bentuknya juga lebih praktikal untuk kegunaan keluarga kerana mempunyai jarak dengan tanah yang lebih rendah berbanding Haoyue yang lebih tinggi dan bersifat kotak. Ramai juga menyedari bahawa kos pemilikan SUV agak sedikit mahal. Walau bagaimanapun, ada juga yang menyuarakan pendapat supaya Proton membawa masuk Jiaji sebagai MPV dengan kebolehan pintu gelongsor untuk menambah nilai praktikalnya,

Walau bagaimanapun, jangan sesekali memperkecilkan permintaan
SUV
yang semakin meningkat dalam pasaran negara ini. Oleh kerana ada yang mahukan
SUV 7-tempat duduk
 berbanding MPV, mungkin juga Proton akan memperkenalkan SUV besar ini bagi menggantikan Proton Exora kelak. Berdasarkan pada rekod cemerlang penjualan SUV oleh Proton, perkara ini tidak mustahil untuk direalisasikan.

Pada pendapat anda, antara dua model Geely ini, yang mana satu lebih menarik sebagai pengganti Exora?

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

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

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

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


LA 2019: Kia Unveils All-New Seltos For US Market - The Miniature Kia Telluride?

Kia has premiered its latest SUV model, dubbed the Seltos at the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show 2019.

The Seltos slots between the popular Soul and Sportage models, and boasts Kia’s new design language (which we first saw with the Kia Telluride), a tech-savvy cabin space, and variants with capable AWD drivetrains (with torque vectoring and a lock mode) for the more adventurous of customers.

The Seltos has been designed to exude strong off-road ability; short front overhangs, a long wheelbase, a substantial ground clearance of 182mm, and front and rear skid plates are further references of its off-road abilities. Along the flanks, chiselled surfaces and well-drawn lines lead back into the D-pillar for a streamlined appearance. The Seltos is supplied with 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels depending on variant. Round the back, the tailgate garnish connects the rear lamps to create a sense of width.

On the inside, the Seltos features a driver-centric cabin and roomy space for all occupants. Standard on all variants is a two-step reclining rear seat function that further enhances the second-row comfort level. In terms of equipment, the Seltos can be specified with up to a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with UVO telematics, navigation, and split-screen display. Elsewhere, for the first time in Kia, an optional 8-speaker Bose premium sound system is offered. Other highlights include Apple CarPlay and multi-user Bluetooth connectivity.

The Seltos also sees the fitment of Kia’s “Drive Wise” advanced driver-assistance systems which include Blindspot Warning and Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop/Go function, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA).

In terms of powertrains, the Seltos is offered with a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder which develops 146 hp and 178 Nm of torque; mated a to CVT-type automatic transmission, while the more powerful power plant is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that outputs 175 hp and 264 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The Seltos is equipped with MacPherson strut front suspension, and Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) rear suspension on front-wheel drive models, AWD models receive Multi-link rear suspension.

The AWD variants feature an active on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system, similar in design to the Telluride; augmented by a center locking differential that splits power equally between the front and rear wheels for more severe environments. The AWD system also makes use of torque vectoring to increase traction depending on the terrain.

The all-new Kia Seltos goes on sale in the US starting in Q1 of 2020.


The Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé Is Now The Most Expensive Car Ever Sold

The world's most expensive car ever sold is now a Mercedes-Benz Coupe out of the '50s.

In 2018, a 1962
Ferrari 250 GTO
 sold for a sum of  $48,405,000 (RM212 million). At the time, it was the most expensive car ever sold.

Just as we thought things could not get any more bonkers, 2022 proved to be the year that things went up another notch because thanks to a 1955
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
Uhlenhaut Coupe, the most expensive car ever sold now is now a Mercedes.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which sold for $143 million (RM627 million) at a Sotheby's auction, was one of two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe prototypes.

It was sold in a closed-door auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on 5 May where only selected collectors and Mercedes-Benz customers were invited. It was said that the sale took many collectors by surprise as Mercedes-Benz owned both of the 300 SLRs.

The winning bid was made by Simon Kidston, a British car collector, on behalf of an anonymous client. According to CNCB, Kidston lobbied the Mercedes-Benz board for a year and six months to consider selling the car.

The 67-year-old race car was named after Mercedes' chief engineer at the time, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and was claimed to have a top speed of 299 kilometres per hour.

Considered one of the most prized cars in auto history, The
300 SLR
 Uhlenhaut Coupe was based on the company's successful W 196 R Grand Prix car, which won two World Championships under driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

Mercedes-Benz said it would donate the proceeds to create a fund for scholarships and educational research into the environment and decarbonization.


Frankfurt 2017: MINI Electric Concept Previews 2019 MINI Electric Vehicle

Ten years since the BMW Group conducted pilot trials with over 600 units of lease-only MINI E in Europe, MINI has now confirmed that it will be putting into series production an all-new electric drive-only model in 2019.
The upcoming all-new EV model will be previewed at next month’s Frankfurt International Auto Show as the MINI Electric Concept.
No technical details about its electric drivetrain have been released yet but it’s likely to mirror what’s offered in the BMW i3, possibly with an optional range extender petrol engine that doesn’t drive the wheels but to recharge the high-voltage batteries.
What we do know is that MINI is claiming that the electric MINI will stay true to the virtues of the MINI brand by offering MINI’s signature handling and agility.
“With its characteristic go-kart feeling and powerful electric motor, the MINI Electric Concept is great fun to drive while also being completely suitable for everyday use – and producing zero emissions to boot. That’s how we at MINI envisage electric mobility in tomorrow’s world,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad.
Currently, the only electric-drive model in MINI’s line-up is the plug-in hybrid (and the very long name) MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. The upcoming 2019 electric MINI will be the brand’s first all-electric vehicle.
Since it’s an all-electric vehicle, the MINI Electric Concept doesn’t need air intakes for cooling and thus the front grille is only for aesthetics and is sealed.
The yellow accent bar extending across the grille and the E badge in the same colour could also point to a design identity for all future MINI electric vehicles.
The concept also previews the potential of incorporating 3D printing to produce functional design elements in future cars. The aerodynamic inlays fitted onto the 19-inch wheels are made using 3D printing process.
The Frankfurt International Auto Show will run from 14 September to 24 September.


Review: Mazda CX-5 GVC – An SUV Should Not Be This Fun

First previewed as the Mazda Minagi concept back in 2011, the then-new Mazda CX-5 was a special model for the company, as it was their first-ever model to fully encompass all the goodness of SkyActiv; from its all-new platform to its equally-new powertrain.
While it has been reasonably established that the first-generation Mazda CX-5 was quite a capable SUV when it came to ride and handling, it was evident that the model’s cabin noise and lack of interior space was its key weakness.
So when work began on the second generation model, it was clear that these two areas - cabin noise and interior space - had to be improved. However, reducing cabin noise often involved adding more sound insulation materials which would in turn increase the vehicle's overall weight, to the detriment of Mazda's highly-prized 'jinba-ittai' driving feel. Overcoming this in a Mazda fashion would mean attacking the problem at its source rather than muffling it out. This involved re-engineering the side mirrors to reduce wind noise, in addition to tightening panel gaps and seals around the door and windows, which is not always easy to consistently achieve on a mass production vehicle.
As a result, the all-new Mazda CX-5 boasts a cabin noise that is 1.3 dB lower than the model it replaces, and it shows, but more on that later.
For the purpose of this review, we will be comparing the entry Mazda CX-5 2.0 GL against the previous generation CX-5, also in the 2.0 GL guise.
Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G, 16 valves, transverse
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 162 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 210 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, DSC, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), ISOFIX anchor points
Price: RM134,205 OTR without insurance
Overview
The second generation Mazda CX-5 you see here is based on a modified platform of the first generation model. Not exactly a bad thing per se, seeing how capable the first generation CX-5 was.
In addition to that, Kulim-assembled Mazda CX-5 models carry over powertrains from the previous model, including the earlier-mentioned 2.0-litre petrol, 2.5-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel. All engines are mated to Mazda’s six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission.
Available in five variants with three different powertrains, Bermaz has a CX-5 for almost everyone. The range-topping models are diesel-powered, available as a 2WD or AWD.
While our test unit may be the entry-level model, equipment levels are still generous, as the 2.0 GL gets LED headlights with bulb-type DRLs, LED front fog lights, auto-dimming rear view mirror, 7-inch MZD Connect infotainment system with reverse camera, 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and ISOFIX anchor points.
Exterior
At a glance, the all-new Mazda CX-5 has all the makings of a premium SUV. Finished in Mazda’s premium Soul Red Crystal, the Mazda CX-5 certainly looks the part. Coupled with Mazda’s second generation Kodo design language, the CX-5 is perhaps one of the sleekest looking SUVs out there.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Mazda CX-5 gets slimmer headlights and a more pronounced front grille. The fog light surrounds have been redesigned as well, now designed to look like extensions of the lower air intake.
Towards the rear end, Mazda has also slimmed down and sharpened the tail lights. One quirk we noticed was that part of the rear hatch is made out of plastic, as opposed to metal on the predecessor. Towards the bottom are two red reflectors, with the rear fog light integrated into the right side.
Interior
At a glance, it may appear that the interior of the new model is unchanged, though if you spend a bit more time inside the new CX-5, you’ll notice that quite a lot has changed despite the new model carrying over a lot of hardware from the old model.
For starters, the MZD Connect infotainment system now resides in a floating display, unlike the old model’s integrated design.
There are now 3 12V sockets in the CX-5 - one more than before, including one in the centre console. This position makes it easier for owners to charge devices while on the move. Mazda has also repositioned the USB port and SD card slot into the centre arm rest.
Elsewhere, in the same fashion as the Mazda 2 and 3 GVC models, the company has discontinued the use of the faux carbon fibre trim in the new CX-5, opting for a much classier-looking piano black finish.
The good news continues into the rear seats, as the new CX-5 has a centre arm rest that features USB charging ports, useful for the modern gadget-heavy families. Another addition to the new CX-5 is the rear air vents, a much-appreciated feature for those ferrying their family.
Despite the new additions, the new CX-5 loses out on Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which was available on the older model.
Driving Experience
Okay, what about the driving experience between the old and new model?
In short, engineers at Mazda has managed to pull off the impossible; adding more sound deadening material without sacrificing its ‘jinba-ittai’ appeal.
Considering that we had the previous generation Mazda CX-5 at our disposal, we decided to pitch it back-to-back against the old model, as a direct comparison.
For starters, despite both models sharing its powertrain, engine noise in the new Mazda CX-5 is noticeably less than the old model.
Bear in mind that despite being an earlier generation model, our first generation CX-5 here has clocked roughly 5,000 km.
Then there’s the ride comfort. Mazda has done a good job with the new CX-5, as the new model boasts similar, if not better, driving dynamics. Body control is superior than other SUVs in its segment, as the rear of the SUV reacts instantaneously to steering inputs.
The other reason why the CX-5 handles so well is due to the presence of G-Vectoring Control (GVC), which helps reduce occupants' body movement discomfort when driving through twisty roads. We've explained how GVC works in
this article
.
We would dare say that the new Mazda CX-5 one of the best SUVs to drive, despite not being fitted with paddle shifters.
Pedal feel is also great, as the organ-type accelerator allows for more precise throttle inputs, while the brake pedal feel is progressive. The brakes bite strong enough to bring the 1.6 tonne SUV to a halt easily.
Another difference we noticed between both the new and old model is how the new CX-5 goes over potholes with ease as opposed to its predecessor. In the old CX-5, going over potholes are a bit more uncomfortable and noticeable.
Conclusion
Key rival to the Mazda CX-5 is the all-new Honda CR-V. Similar to the range-topping CX-5 2.2D AWD with Mazda iActiveSense, the top-of-the-line CR-V gets Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance. The flip side is that Honda Malaysia does not offer a diesel version of the CR-V, nor does the company offer a high spec AWD.
However the Honda CR-V counters by offering the most practical cabin in its class, offering more usable space than the CX-5. We especially love the CR-V's centre console box that is big enough to accommodate a medium-sized ladies handbag.
Continuing on the topic of safety, the Mitsubishi Outlander is also worth a mention, as this model features a grand total of seven airbags, including a driver knee airbag. On top of that, the Mitsubishi Outlander sits seven, as opposed to the CX-5’s five seats. We reckon that the biggest pitfall for the Outlander is the fact that rear air-conditioning vents are not available.
As a whole, the Mazda CX-5 has it all; handsome looks, improved cabin appeal, exciting driving dynamics and generous safety equipment, but is it enough to attract existing owners to upgrade?
For them, we would reckon a trip down to your nearest Mazda showroom is much needed to sample the new model, as the upgrade from the old model to new model is justifiable, in terms of refinement and added safety equipment. Besides, your family will appreciate the improvements at the rear too.
In short, if driving enjoyment and premium cabin ambience is your top priority, the Mazda CX-5 is the best choice. However, if you need a practical SUV, the Honda CR-V is an excellent choice. Then if you need to ferry seven people around, the Mitsubishi Outlander should be on your shortlist. Sure, the Nissan X-Trail is an option, but with just two airbags the model is no longer as competitive as it should be.


Youngman Lotus T5 to become Proton Extrema?

Earlier this year, we reported that Proton is keen to expand its product portfolio to include SUV and pick-up truck models, but is for the moment
hampered by the lack of 4WD technology
 in its knowledge pool.
So, imagine our surprise when images of supposedly leaked brochures of a new Proton Extrema SUV (nice name) surfaced over the Internet this morning. The images show a realistic-looking vehicle of very handsome proportions and also one with styling cues that fit into Proton’s current line-up. The brochure pages were also laid out in a manner consistent with Proton’s CI.
Of course, Proton did not pull an SUV out of thin air and it was quickly obvious that this vehicle is based on the China market Youngman Lotus T5 SUV that we saw as far back as 2012 at the Beijing Motor Show. The T5 itself was derived from the Lotus APX concept which Proton was long-rumoured to have been looking at developing an SUV from.
Given that Proton owns Lotus, it does not seem inconceivable that Proton would have access to the model’s engineering and design, right? Well, the reality is a bit more complicated; the T5 is a joint venture between Lotus UK and Youngman China, and Proton has no rights on the vehicle’s intellectual properties.
So, whilst the vehicle looks attractive, and the brochures look convincing, we reckon this is little more than an admittedly well-executed April Fools prank. Amusingly, this is not the only April Fool prank this year revolving around a
Proton SUV
. Perhaps this is indication from the market that Proton really needs an SUV in its line-up?
Brochure images from
funtasticko.net
.


Next Generation Toyota Supra Caught On Video

Let's review what we know so far. The Toyota Supra (or whatever Toyota decides to call it), is going to be their new halo sports car that's developed in conjunction with BMW. This means that we'll likely see a BMW variant as well, which some are beginning to call the "Z5"- and given what little styling we can see peeking out from underneath the camouflage it wouldn't be all too unlikely. While the Z5 is said to be a soft top roadster, the Supra will more likely be the hard-top counterpart to this and is slated to come out in 2018.
There's strong indication that the new Supra will be an all-wheel drive hybrid vehicle. Part of this is driven by speculation based on the Yaris Hybrid-R concept- an all-wheel drive monster with a conventional engine up front and a motor powering each rear wheel- and other strong reasoning is simply the fact that performance hybrids are becoming de rigeur for halo models. On the conventional side of things will likely be a turbocharged straight-6, perhaps something out of BMW's wide portfolio of TwinPowerTurbo powertrains. From the video, it certainly sounds like a straight-6 providing the majority of the kick.
The fact that Toyota also has a strong background in hybrid technology and energy storage systems means we will see something along the lines being applied. The TS-030 Le Mans Prototype vehicle showed how effective Toyota's supercapacitor system is, and to see that kind of technology being applied in a road car will be something to behold. Of course it will also mean that the new Supra will be more of an all-wheel drive traction monster than a rear-wheel drive hooligan machine, but we can't really complain either way.
There are some elements that are visibly Toyota on this prototype vehicle. The roof, for example, sports a 'pagoda' esque form- which we last saw on the GT86. The hardtop lines in general seem more Supra than Z4M Coupe as well, and the larger bumper on the front is definitely against BMW's principles of minimizing the overhangs at either end. The wheelbase doesn't look all too long- common to both the BMW and the Toyota variants of the model, but perhaps it could be a visual result of the large wheels and odd ride height.


Drive The All-New Mazda 3 At Carlist.my Drive Auto Fair 2019

Get up close with the
recently launched Mazda 3
 sedan and hatchback models at the upcoming Carlist.my Drive Auto Fair 2019.
Since it was
first unveiled in 2018
 the fourth-generation Mazda 3 has been making waves all over the world on account of its simplistic yet stylish “Kodo” design, fuel-efficient powertrains, and stellar
driving characteristics
.
Two engines choices are offered across five variants.
The entry-level Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback models are powered by a 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G four-cylinder petrol engine which develops 118 hp at 6,000 rpm and 153 Nm at 4,000 rpm, while three other variants are powered by the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G four-cylinder petrol engine that outputs 162 hp and a peak torque of 213 Nm. The sole transmission option is a six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.
Another hallmark of the all-new Mazda 3 is the integration Mazda's i-Activsense advanced safety technologies which make use of detection devices such as mill-wave radars and cameras to reduce the likelihood and/or damage resulting from accidents.
i-Activsense boasts technologies such as Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), High Beam Control (HBC), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), and Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC).
Don’t miss this chance to grab great deals and test drive the all-new Mazda 3. The Carlist.my Drive Auto Fair 2019 takes place this weekend (16th - 18th August) at Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam, Selangor.
For more info about the exhibition and test drive booking, click
here
.


Veloster N Sales In South Korea Exceeds Hyundai's Expectations

Built in an effort to showcase Hyundai’s technological prowess, the Veloster N coupe’s sales figures in the South Korean market have surpassed the company’s expectations.
According to a
report by the Korean Herald
, Hyundai has sold 1,007 units of the Veloster N since the model made its debut in South Korea in June, surprising Hyundai itself.
The report says that Hyundai didn’t even announce the sales target for the Veloster N when it was launched as the company’s aim was to make its presence known in the performance car arena, more than to sell the car in large volume.
Going against the likes of the Honda Civic Type R, Volkswagen Golf R, The Ford Focus ST, as well as the Renault Megane RS, the Veloster N is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine which produces up to 275 hp and 352 Nm of torque. Paired to the engine is a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The Veloster N also features Hyundai’s ‘N Power Sense Axle’, which features a zero-scrub radius for quicker response, more precise steering inputs, and a more direct feel. The suspension setup is electronically-controlled to reduce nose-dip during hard braking and body control during cornering.
Priced from 29 million won in South Korea, Hyundai said that one of the factors that contributed towards the Veloster N’s success is its selling price, which is significantly lower than most of its rivals which are priced around 40 million won.


30 Years of Proton – Tracing Back To A Time When Malaysians Cheered For Proton

Proton, that one word which mere mention in any headline on any publication will elicit strong, emotionally charged responses, be they for or against Proton.
For some, Proton can do no right. Whatever that Proton does, no matter how good it is, will always be seen as a negative. For others, Proton by virtue of it being Malaysian, has to be supported at all cost, even if it is at the expense of investment in public transport or inflated prices of cars.
At which point did Malaysians become so divided over Proton? As a kid growing up in the ‘80s, I remember that there was a time when Malaysians were generally rather proud of Proton. At least that was description of the environment that I grew up in – my father cancelled his booking for a Nissan Sunny 130Y for a Proton Saga 1.3S – because he believed that the Proton offers better value and is as good as the Nissan, worthy of support from us Malaysians.
Sure, we grumbled about our Protons – the dodgy strength of its body shell, the lacklustre performance - but deep within us, we were proud of Proton.
There was a time when even the harshest critic would beam in pride at the sight of a Proton in a foreign country.
“We made that. That’s one of us and it’s here in a foreign country,” is a common response of a Malaysian tourist when coming upon a Proton wearing a foreign number plate. What was a regular car to some random driver in a foreign country was to a Malaysian tourist a familiar link to home.
I remember school boys beaming with pride when they noticed a Proton Iswara making a cameo appearance in an episode of Mr. Bean on TV.
And admit it – chances are you did your first street racing in a Proton, at an age when you were young and stupid.
There was a time when every 21-year old who, upon making a little bit of money on the sides, would spend it on a 1.8-litre MIVEC engine conversion for their Proton Wiras.
Over the years, something else happened. Malaysians felt that they have been taken for a ride, that their goodwill to Proton in its early years – tolerating unfairly high excise duties levied on foreign brand cars – were taken for granted.
Politically connected individuals started opening Proton dealerships while others got lucrative contracts to supply parts to Proton. With guaranteed success in a closed market, there was little or no incentive to improve themselves.
The Malaysian public was their proverbial goose that lay the golden egg. In a not too dissimilar analogy with the fairy tale story, greed got the better of the owners and they ended up killing the goose to get more golden eggs. The public reacted accordingly and today there was no love lost between Proton and the Malaysian public.
Still, beneath all the negativity, we believe that there are still many Malaysians who genuinely want to see Proton succeed, as do the brilliant engineers at Proton, whose brilliance often go unappreciated by the public because the people above them simply kept interfering with their jobs and making poor strategic decisions.
How else would you explain the presence of three C-segment Protons (Preve, Inspira and Persona) priced at more or less the same price range and thus eating into each other’s sales, but not a single SUV model after 30 years, not to mention the loss of heritage everytime Proton changes the names of its cars.
Toyota for example, maintained a laser-like focus on its C-segment Corolla since the first generation model appeared in 1966, continoustly refining it for nearly 50 years to build the Corolla brand to be what it is today. Likewise Hyundai with their Elantra.
The task of reinvigorating Proton is akin to ‘raising the Titanic’ – it’s difficult but not technically impossible.
Today marks the 30
th
 anniversary of Tun Mahathir’s historic unveiling of the first Proton. 9-July 1985 is the day when Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, then the Prime Minister of Malaysia, revealed the Proton Saga to the media by driving a metallic blue Proton Saga 1.5S around Proton’s test track in Shah Alam.
It was also the first time Malaysians got to see the pictures of the full car, which will only go on sale on 28-August.
For now, we want to put aside for a moment on those “What went wrong?” questions because we have written enough about them and we are sure the people at Proton already know the answer themselves. It’s just a question about whether are the people at Proton empowered to do what’s necessary.
Instead, follow us as we take a nostalgic trip to where it all began.
July 1979: Malaysia was under the leadership of Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn, with Tun Dr. Mahathir as Minister of Trade and Industry. A strong believer the heavy industries is necessary for Malaysia to progress, called for a feasibility study for a Malaysian car.
October 1981: The late Yohei Mimura, the-then President of Mitsubishi Corporation, was invited by Tun Dr. Mahathir to participate in Malaysia’s national car project.
28-October 1982: New import and excise duty structure announced on Budget Day. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Musa Hitam announced plans for a Malaysian car.
January 1983: Tun Dr. Mahathir visited Mitsubishi’s Okazaki plant to view two proposed designs by Mitsubishi – codenamed LM41 and LM44.
23-May 1983: Agreement signed between HICOM, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation to kick-start the Proton project. To show its commitment to Proton, Mitsubishi Motors will gradually exit from Malaysia’s passenger car market to avoid competition with Proton. Sales of Pajero 4x4 models remained.
July 1983: Public invited to suggest a name for Proton’s first car.
December 1983: The F (final) prototype Proton car, codenamed Perkasa, was completed in Japan. 24 F prototypes were built. It was based on a Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore.
April 1984: Proton prototypes send to Malaysia for durability testing on Malaysian road and weather conditions.
November 1984: The P (production) prototype was signed off in Tokyo. A total of 12 P prototypes were built.
January 1985: Trial production started at Proton’s newly constructed Shah Alam plant.
June 1985: A total of RM405.4 million was spent by HICOM to get the national car project going.
9-July 1985: The first production Proton Saga, bearing registration number Proton 1, was given to the-then Yang DiPertuan Agong Sultan Iskandar of Johor. Tun Dr. Mahathir, as witnessed by the media, test drove a metallic blue Proton Saga 1.5S around Proton’s test track in Shah Alam. Full specifications and pictures of the Proton Saga made public. Prices will only be announced during its commercial launch in August.
8-August 1985: Two Proton Sagas bearing registration number BCH 1351 and BCH 1352, started on a three week ‘Sagarama’ nationwide drive across Malaysia, including an airlift to Sabah and Sarawak, as part of a month long pre-launch teaser campaign to demonstrate the durability of Proton cars, which completed the 4,109 km drive without breaking down.
28-Aug 1985: Proton’s starting price announced – RM17,575 for 1.3S and RM19,005 for 1.5S. It had an 8-Valve Orion engine from Mitsubishi.
1-September 1985: Tun Dr. Mahathir became the first paying customer for a Proton Saga when he took delivery of a metallic blue Proton Saga 1.5S, bearing registration number Proton 1001, as a gift to his wife Datin Seri Dr. Siti Hasmah.
28-October 1987: Hatchback variants join the Saga range – RM20,013 for Proton Saga Aeroback 1.3S and RM23,905 for 1.5I. It was in this year where the Saga facelift was launched – with new bumper claddings, and a new 8-valve Magma engine to replace the previous model’s 8-valve Orion unit.
8-March 1989: Proton Saga Knight replaces Aeroback variants.
March 1989: Export to UK begins, achieves 5,000 sales within just six months. In comparison, Hyundai took 1.5 years to achieve the same. The UK-specifications Proton Sagas feature a different dashboard to comply to European environmental and safety regulations, and an optional sunroof.
March 1989: Britain’s Daily Mail voted Proton Saga as Top-10 economy cars in the UK, beating Hyundai Pony.
20-October 1989: AutoCar UK’s review of the Proton Saga reads “It proves to be an unexpectedly competent effort; it is very well equipped, handles well and rides acceptably, with brisk performance and good build.”
12-August 1990: The Saga received its second facelift, featuring new headlights, radiator grille and a 12-valve Megavalve engine.
21-May 1993: Proton Wira launched, with a six-month waiting period. Wira 1.6 AT – RM54,306, Wira 1.5AT – RM42,301, Wira 1.5 MT – 39,278.
1994: Proton outsold Hyundai and the Volkswagen-owned Seat in UK for two consecutive years, becomes one of UK’s fastest growing brand.
1994: Proton becomes the only non-European car manufacturer selected by the British Home Office to supply cars to the British police force. Image from
Flickr
.
12-November 1994: Proton Satria launched.
January 1995: Proton Perdana launched – RM92,755
30-October 1996 – Proton acquires Lotus Group.
March 1997: Proton Putra launched.
December 1999: AutoCar UK and Evo UK rated Proton Satria GTi to be better than a Peugeot 206 GTi.
April 1996: Proton Tiara launched at RM36,000.
May 2000: Proton Waja launched – RM58,000 base specs, RM63,000 high specs.
November 2002: Proton Waja 1.8X launched.
March 2003: Proton Perdana V6 launched.
6-February 2004: Proton Gen.2 launched – RM52,888 to RM55,888.
19-June 2006: Proton Satria Neo launched – RM43,500 to RM54,800.
8-June 2005: Proton Savvy launched – RM40,970 to RM43,714.
15-August 2007: Proton Persona launched – RM44,999 to RM55,800.
18-January 2008: After multiple facelifts (Saga Magma, Saga Megavalve, Saga Iswara), the Saga was finally replaced by an all-new model, commonly referred to as the Saga BLM.
15-April 2009: Proton Exora launched – RM69,998 to RM75,548.
16-April 2012: Proton Preve launched - RM59,540 to RM72,990
17-Aug 2013: Proton Suprima S launched - RM76,668 to RM79,638
25-September 2014: Proton Iriz launched - RM42,438 to RM62,888
Read also:
Remembering The Late Datuk Gurcharan Singh – A True Malaysian Who Made Proton A Success In The ‘80s
Proton To Launch Three New Models Next Year, Perdana To Lead Revival Charge


Hyundai Gives The Public A Chance To Experience Its Self-Driving Vehicles

It’s been a busy start to the year for Hyundai’s next-generation fuel cell vehicle
Nexo
, scheduled to be released in Korea next month.
Unveiled at CES 2018 as the technological flagship of Hyundai’s growing eco-vehicle portfolio, the Nexo SUV model is set to spearhead Hyundai Motor’s plans to accelerate development of low emission vehicles. This is in line with Hyundai Motor Group’s renewed goal of introducing 38 eco-friendly models to global markets by 2025.
Besides that, the Nexo just travelled 609 kilometres on a single charge from Seoul to Pyeongchang last month, making it the longest driving range for a fuel cell-powered vehicle in the world.
So, in order to promote the Nexo and the other self-driven fuel cell electric vehicles in the portfolio, Hyundai gave members of the public the opportunity to experience the vehicles around the urban roads of PyeongChang throughout February.
In addition, four third-generation safety-amplified fuel cell electric buses have also been transporting passengers in Gangneung and PyeongChang. Each vehicle was fitted with cutting-edge Driver State Warning (DSW) safety technology, which also includes a dashboard camera which monitors the driver’s facial expressions in real-time.
How it works is that blinking, yawning, and the driver gazing off the road ahead for a certain length of time are all taken as signs that the driver may be experiencing fatigue.
If detected, alerts are delivered via dashboard messages and through audio cues. DSW can be paired with wearable devices such as smart watches, to alert the driver with additional vibration cues.
This is the first time in Korea that such technology has been deployed in public transport.
Hyundai said that it will continue the efforts to reinforce safety features for commercial vehicles including public transportation in the near future.


iCardata: The Best Time To Buy/Sell A (T32) Nissan X-Trail 2.0L CVT 2WD

We discuss the depreciation of the Nissan X-Trail 2015 (T32) Nissan X-Trail 2.0-litre 2WD CVT based on iCarData algorithm based tracking program.

As SUVs become ever more popular as the defacto mainstream vehicle for Malaysian families, almost every carmaker has joined the bandwagon. From Perodua to Lamborghini, every range on sale currently offers an SUV of some sort. Their blend of functionality, style, and value means that they appeal to everyone from young urban professionals to growing families.

However, until recently there we not too many mid-size and large SUVs that offered seating for families with three or four children – meaning you needed a full-sized seven-seater. One could argue that the Toyota Innova would carry up to seven adults with ease; the Toyota Fortuner and Isuzu MU-X are other candidates with 7-seater capacities.

However, all those three vehicles are based on pickup truck ladder-frame chassis, which are immensely robust but lack refinement and comfort on the road – leaving just the Nissan X-Trail, which was the only SUV in its class to offer a brilliant 5+2 seating arrangement, and stylish SUV exterior, and reliable powertrains packages.

With the global reveal of the fourth-generation model due this year – and perhaps a bit more than a year before its introduced here – we thought it would be a great time to examine the third-generation Nissan X-Trail, codenamed T32, to see just how it fared on the market with regard to resale value.

Overview

The Nissan X-Trail is no stranger to Malaysian roads. The nameplate has been around since the early 2000s. Across its three generations – the T30, T31 and T32 – it has earned a reputation for its steadfast reliability, well-packaged interior, and spacious cabin space.

The current T32 was introduced in January 2015 in two variants, powered by either the ‘MR20DD’ 2.0-litre or ‘QR25DE’ 2.5-litre engines. In both cases, the engine sends power to a CVT-Type automatic transmission. The 2.0-litre variant is front-wheel driven while the 2.5-litre is equipped with Nissan’s All-Mode Intelligent 4X4-i system.

Among the highlights of the new T32 were the inclusion of improved safety equipment such as Stability Control, Hill-Start assists, and Active Chassis Control systems, improved infotainment and two-extra seats that fold up from the boot floor to accommodate more passengers if needed – a unique addition to the feature list for a car in its class.

Prices started at RM143k for the 2.0-litre, and the 2.5-litre slotting in at just below RM166k, here’s a snapshot of the T32 X-Trail in Malaysia:

Jan 2015: Nissan X-Trail launched in Malaysia.

Jan 2016: X-Trail Impul Edition introduced, RM149,715.

May 2017: X-Trail Aero Edition launched – RM141k to RM164k

February 2018: Nissan X-Trail X-Tremer edition introduced – RM141k to RM164k

April 2019: Facelifted X-Trail launched. Four variants with new 2.o-litre hybrid variant. Priced from RM133,888 for the base 2.0-litre, up to RM158,888 for the range-topping hybrid.

In terms of competitors, the X-Trail primary rival has always been the Honda CR-V, which we recently discussed
here
, offers unparalleled value retention given its superb consumer demand. Now let’s take a look at how the X-Trail fares.

Of course, tracking average used vehicle deals across the country has until now been nigh-on impossible, but given the resources of our in-house developed iCarData – we can now draw insight and examine resale value patterns across hundreds of models and thousands of used vehicle listings from all over Malaysia.

iCarData's
 algorithm-based data takes the guesswork out of vehicle depreciation and thus offers valuable fiscal advice on the best timing to make that all-important purchase or sale decision.

We have also covered other popular models sold in Malaysia, such as the
(NCP150) Toyota Vios
 and the
(GM6) Honda City
.

Specification of the 2015 (T32) Nissan X-Trail 2.0-litre 2WD CVT

Engine: 2.0-litre (MR20DD) inline-four, Twin CVTC, Petrol

Power: 144 PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 200 Nm @ 4,400 rpm

Transmission: CVT-type automatic, Front-wheel drive

Safety: Two airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Stability Control, Active Chassis Control, Hill-Start Assist, ISOFIX anchor points

Origin: Locally assembled in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.

Price: RM142,800 – January 2015 launch (OTR with insurance)

We have taken into account the following to keep our numbers accurate and representative.

Vehicle variant: (T32) Nissan X-Trail 2.0-litre 2WD CVT, delivered between January and July 2015.

Depreciation is calculated using the original list price of RM142,800.

Depreciation percentage does not take into account special/seasonal offers or rebates on the original selling price.

The 2015 2.0L Twin-CVTC, 2WD variant is used for comparison for its conclusive spread of data points across the market.

Notwithstanding that, depreciation for other variants may differ, in particular, the 2.5L AWD variant also launched in 2015.

Based on ICarData, here's the summarized data for depreciation:

And the graphical analysis below:

Blue line: Average selling price (RM) by year

Grey line: Cumulative depreciation (RM) by year

Orange line: Retained value percentage by year

From the depreciation graph, we can clearly see the X-Trail has a reasonably organic rate of depreciation, despite two years that resulted in more depreciation than others. In other words, one could say that the graph is slightly steeper than say the Honda CR-V. but we do have to keep in mind that the X-Trail starts at a lower selling price.

Those two years between 2016-2017, and again in 2019-2020 could have independently caused the increased rates of depreciation - which in both years, amounts to approximate RM17k of yearly depreciation losses.

The 2016-17 dip was most likely caused by newer product updates from rivals Honda and crucially Mazda with their successful CX-5, which may have swayed market forces in that year, especially since the X-Trail was already around two years old by then.

In 2019-20, the major contributor to accrued losses of value could be attributed to two factors, one is from the introduction of the fifth-generation CR-V, and the other factor would have surely been the introduction of the facelifted X-Trail model launch, which took place in April 2019.

In more recent times, the X-Trail has also had to contend with newer competitors such as the Proton X70, which undoubtedly has dulled the demand for the X-Trail. Notwithstanding the sublime talent of the X70, but the car market is a fickle landscape, which normally gravitates to the newest, freshest metal.

Inferring from the data would lead us to believe that the best time to buy a used X-Trail is in the fourth year of its lifespan, which offers yet another year of manufacturer warranty (in some newer units with 7-year Nissan warranty packages...even more), and plenty of financing options available.

However, it's also fine for buyers to delay their purchase into the fifth-year of the X-Trail because by now, the retained value has reached that off 50 percent of the car's original selling price earning massive value gains. The retained value seems to stabilise after this point which means, retained value for the second owner is strengthened, albeit with no warranty in place.

As for sellers, the graph also quite easily illustrates that an existing owner should sell his/her X-Trail in the sixth year. Despite substantial depreciation sums in two years of the X-Trail's lifespan, the otherwise robust retained value in other years means that the cumulative depreciation has yet to equate to that of the retrained value of the car which means owners can choose to keep their car for another year before choosing to sell.

Especially since the biggest sums of depreciation have already been accrued by now and used prices begin to stabilise in the fifth and sixth years respectively.

For some great deals on the (T32) Nissan X-Trail, click
here
.

If you're looking to sell your Nissan X-Trail, we have two solutions for you too. List it in on carlist.my or better still use
Carlist Bid
 where we remove all the hassle of selling your car for you as you get searching for your next upgrade.

Which make/ model would you like us to research next? Let us know in the comments.


Ford achieves record sales for ASEAN region in 2015

Driven by record full-year performances in the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as full-year market share gains in Thailand,
Ford
 has achieved a 3.3 per cent growth in sales in the ASEAN region, selling 103,975 vehicles.
According to Ford, this is a record figure for the company in the ASEAN region.
"The introduction of the new
Ranger
 and the new
Everest
across ASEAN in 2015 helped an even more diverse range of customers connect with the Ford brand,” said Mark Kaufman, president, Ford ASEAN.
“Additionally, we continued to enhance our customer and ownership experience, as well as expand our Ford dealer network in markets across the region,” added Kaufman.
Leading Ford’s ASEAN sales was the Thai-built Ford Ranger, which was the best-selling pickup truck in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar for second consecutive year, as well as the second-best seller in the Philippines and Malaysia.
Ranger sales across the ASEAN region increased nearly eight percent from the previous year to an all-time record 54,114 units.
Ford’s ASEAN performance was also given a boost by continuing demand for the
EcoSport
 compact SUV which became Ford’s second best-selling vehicle in the region, delivering overall sales that rose 13 percent year-over-year to 20,518 units.
High demand was also received for the new Everest – which helped drive the overall ASEAN performance with sales rising 98 percent year-over-year to 11,233 units.
The
 Fiesta
 also contributed to the record ASEAN performance with retail sales across the region of 7,634 units.
Among all the ASEAN markets, Thailand continued to lead Ford’s overall performance with full-year sales of 36,463 units. Amidst a protracted domestic industry slowdown that saw overall sales decline for the third consecutive year, Ford continued to outpace the industry to help drive its full-year market share up 0.3 percentage points to 4.6 percent.
Ford’s Thailand sales were driven by the Ranger pickup which finished the year with its best-ever December sales rising 24 percent year-over-year to 3,025 units. Ranger full-year sales of 23,846 units helped its segment share increase 0.8 percentage points to 7.3 percent.
In the Philippines, Ford delivered record full-year sales that rose 25 percent to 25,372 units, helping it jump one spot to become the number three-selling automotive brand. The EcoSport became Ford’s best-selling nameplate in the Philippines with full-year sales up 67 percent to 8,702 units. Ranger was the second best-selling pickup truck overall in the Philippines with sales that increased six percent year-over-year to a record 8,445 units. Everest also delivered all-time record sales in 2015 that climbed 58 percent to 4,945 units.
Ford delivered record full-year sales in Vietnam with total 2015 sales rising 48 percent to 20,740 units. Ranger remained Vietnam’s best-selling pickup truck for the second consecutive year with sales jumping 81 percent to a record 8,685 units.
EcoSport also achieved record Vietnam sales in 2015 with overall sales climbing 145 percent to 3,977 units. And Transit remained the best-selling vehicle in Vietnam’s commercial bus and van segment for the second consecutive year with sales jumping 56 percent to 5,600 units.
In Malaysia, the Ranger remained the second-best selling pickup 2015 with sales rising almost eight percent to 9,231 units, helping contribute to Ford’s overall full-year sales of 12,130 units.
Ford’s ASEAN performance was also supported by continued growth in emerging markets that was led by strong demand for the Ranger.
In Cambodia, Ford finished 2015 with its best-ever full-year performance and sales increasing 41 percent from the previous year to 1,266 units. Ford’s full-year new vehicle sales in Myanmar rose six percent to 679 units.
In Laos, Ford sales increased five percent to 653 units. And in Singapore, Ford saw its sales rise 83 percent from the previous year to 422 units.
Looking for a Ford? Find one now at
Carlist.my


ETCM Launches Flagship Nissan 4S Centre Located In Glenmarie

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd officially launched its flagship
Nissan
 4S Centre located in Glenmarie today boasting a built-up area of 165,318 square feet.
The full-fledged 4S Centre includes a showroom that is able to display up to 15 Nissan vehicles. Additionally, the service centre has 27 service bays and is manned by 22 experienced and highly-trained technicians, supported by a full spare parts centre, with a capacity to service up to 100 cars per day. The body and paint centre at the 4S centre also provides car body repair and alignment, surface preparation and spray painting service.
ETCM has also made its flagship Nissan 4S centre a unique retail concept, housing a motorsports boutique, offering a official NISMO and IMPUL products. A V-Kool boutique also gives customers a chance to provide their Nissan vehicles with tinting, car detailing, car care product and customized car wraps.
Other services include the MUV certified Nissan pre-owned and used vehicles office and display area, hire purchase and insurance division, and a vehicle distribution centre.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dato’ Dr Ang, Executive Director of ETCM said, “We stand by our philosophy to provide quality products and services to our customers across our network. Be it at a 1S or a 3S Centre, customer satisfaction comes first from the moment they step through the door. With a total investment of about RM20 million, this new flagship 4S Centre is the epitome of services that we envision to provide to our customers in ETCM and Nissan. Its strategic location – right in the heart of the established automotive industrial hub in Glenmarie makes it extremely convenient and accessible for our customers.”
Customers will also be able to enjoy various facilities while their car is being serviced with a modern lounge and refreshment bar. Wi-Fi connectivity is also available for free as well by customers. Furthermore, customers with children can have their little ones entertained at the Kid’s Corner. That’s not all because a Zen Lounge can also be found here, supplied with Gintell massage chairs.
The ceremony was officiated by Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister of Transportation Malaysia, who was accompanied by Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Tan Heng Chew, President of Tan Chong Motor Holdings. Nissan was represented by Mr. Kenji Naito, Senior Vice President of Nissan Motor Asia Pacific Co. Ltd and ETCM was represented by Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of ETCM.


Visit The Sime Darby Auto Selection Used Cars Sales Carnival At Desa Parkcity This Weekend

Finding good deals on used cars is not difficult at all, not in this age where you can find almost anything you want from the convenience of your smartphone. Finding a used car that is accident free, hasn’t been damaged by flood, poorly maintained or worse, stolen, that is the time consuming part.
If driving from one used car dealer to another is simply not worth your time, we suggest that you drop by Desa Park City in Kuala Lumpur this weekend for the Sime Darby Auto Selection Used Car Sales Carnival 2017.
You can be assured that all used cars sold by Sime Darby Auto Selection have a clean history and all deals are completed in an honest, transparent manner. What you see is you what you get. There are no hidden charges or nasty surprises in these cars.
At this weekend’s event, there will be a wide range of used vehicles on offer, including those from brands not represented by Sime Darby Motors. Drop by this weekend
17-19 November

at Desa Parkcity (Carpark 2) from 9am – 9pm
, where you can find a wide range of used cars & bikes that suits everyone's needs and budgets.


Apa Lebihnya Alfa Romeo Ni?

Ini soalan yang saya sering dapat dan sebelum ini saya juga sering tanya orang sebelum saya mula memandu Alfa ayah saya iaitu Alfa GT Veloce 2000 dengan plate BU8011 sekitar tahun 1987-88 jika tak salah masa umur 15 tahun.

Alhamdulillah dengan sedikit rezeki Allah bagi, dapat saya merasai Alfa 168 Super 3.0 V6 24V.

Alfa tak perlu recommend, yang ada DNA atau jiwa Alfa, dia akan cari sendiri.

Gang Alfa tak ada bincang isu problem apa. Yang dibincang bagaimana nak selesaikan isu, mana spare parts, siapa mekanik. Parts ada ke tak?

Banyak kereta lain lebih laju, lebih reliable, lebih empuk tempat duduknya. Bagi saya, kalau soalan tanya kenapa saya pilih Alfa Romeo?

Saya akan jawab sebab pakej ketika memandu yakni bunyi enginenya (mana-mana Alfa ada character bunyi masing-masing), throttle responsenya (walaupun banyak lagi kereta lain yang bagus dan crisp) dan yang penting ialah “Driving Experience” yang “intangible” atau sukar nak didokumentasikan.

Seseorang hanya boleh rasa bila anda memandu.

Farah lakonan Deanna Yusuf dalam filem Abang 92 bertanya kepada bapanya lakonan Rahim Razali;

“Abah, apa itu love?”

Rahim Razali berkata “Love itu Farah ialah satu perasaan yang kita tahu bila kita merasainya.”

Itulah Alfa Romeo!

Alfa Romeo ini ialah seperti pemandu meromantiskan diri dengan kenderaan. Pelik?

Memang pelik dan “puak-puak” Alfa ni pun spesis pelik juga.

Kereta ada isu kan? Ya

Kereta susah dapat parts kan? Ya

Kereta susah cari mekanik kan? Ya

Kereta lain banyak laju lagi kan? Ya

Habis tu kenapa masih suka Alfa?

It’s like love. You can’t really see it. You know you’re in love when you feel it. Alfa Romeo to me is about the love and bonding between the driver and the machine. You have a love-hate situation but you have hope. That’s love.

If you still need to ask “What’s so special about Alfa?” Then you’re not yet having Alfa Romeo DNA.

And those with Alfa Romeo DNA will never think of asking the question as they firmly believe that every Alfa Romeo is so special in its own way.

You can take an Alfa Romeo from someone’s life but you cannot take his or her life from Alfa Romeo.

I always say to some friends,
Once An Alfa Man, Always An Alfa Man
.

Just a short note from an Alfa fan.

Selamat Memandu. Safety First, Last & Always!

Republished with permission from Azad Jasmi, current owner of a 168 Super 3.0 V6 24V from the AROC Malaysia FB page.

*All image credits belong to Azad Jasmi.


Isuzu D-Max Sales Figures Increase

Isuzu Malaysia today announced that the demand for the
 D-Max
 pickup truck has increased in the first six months of 2016.
Although the pick-up truck segment saw a contraction of 15 percent across the board, sales of the D-Max rose to 3,069 units, recording a 10.6 percent increase over the corresponding period in 2015, while its market share has increased by 3.4 percent to 14.7.
Based on the current sales momentum of the D-Max, Isuzu Malaysia said that it is confident that its sales performance this year could better the 6,042-unit record achieved in 2014 despite the downward forecast by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
Executive Director of Isuzu Malaysia Hajime Machimura said that the high demand remained consistent with previous market trends when consumer sentiment was at its ebb.
“Isuzu vehicles continue to convincingly impact users by providing genuine solutions of good value, dependability and excellent driving character, bringing welcome relief at times when motoring has become a necessary burden,” said Machimura.
While things are looking positive for Isuzu, this is
how other brands did in June 2016
.
Looking for an Isuzu? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Volkswagen CNY Promotion – Up To RM18k Discounts, Petrol Card And Lego Merchandise

In conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced its “Leaders of the Pack” promotional campaign, which promises rebates of up to RM18k on selected models, a free ‘Liquid Gold’ Petrol Card and even Lego merchandise.
The cash rebates by model, are as follows:
Model
Cash Rebate
Additional Info
Beetle Design
RM 5,000

Jetta Comfortline
RM 10,000

Jetta Highline
RM 8,000

Passat Trendline
RM 18,000
Low interest rate from 0.88% per annum.
Passat Comfortline
RM 18,000
Passat Highline
RM 6,000
Polo
RM 7,000

Tiguan Comfortline
RM 5,000

Tiguan Highline
RM 3,000

Vento Trendline
RM 10,000

Vento Comfortline
RM 10,000

Vento Highline
RM 9,000

The campaign period is on from now till 28th February 2018. Customers who register their vehicle within the campaign period will be rewarded with a free ‘Liquid Gold’ petrol card worth RM1,188, which equates to up to 10,000km of driving distance (for Jetta 1.4 TSI, claimed FC: 5.0l/100km (combined) @ RM2.29/litre).
The first 250 customers who book and register their Volkswagen cars will also be presented with a limited edition Lego Volkswagen T1 Camper Van.
As of 1st January 2018, all Volkswagen cars come with a free maintenance programme for hassle-free ownership for the first 3-years or 45,000km of (whichever comes first).
The programme covers all maintenance costs, as per the standard maintenance schedule, with the exception of wear-and-tear parts such as tyres, brake discs, pads, windscreen wipers and bulbs.


Faulty Fuel Pump - Honda Malaysia Issue A Recall

Honda Malaysia issues recall pertaining to a possible fault with its vehicle fuel pump.

Honda Malaysia today announced a product recall involving 77,708 units of Honda vehicles to replace its fuel pump as a precautionary measure.

All affected customers will be informed via notification letters, which will include details of the product recall. Customers can also check if their vehicle is affected by the fuel pump recall via the HondaTouch application.

Honda Malaysia urges all affected customers to contact any Honda authorised dealer to make an appointment upon receipt of the notification to replace the fuel pump, subject to parts availability.

Honda Malaysia has always been proactive in making Honda vehicle ownership a pleasant experience, which is why they have made this precautionary recall. There was one recall made last year involving
55,354 units
 of Honda vehicles in line with the
global recall
 that also happened in 2020.

As customer safety is Honda Malaysia’s top priority, the company will continue to uphold transparency and stringent controls for customers, it says. Honda Malaysia believes this product recall

is necessary as a preventive measure to address the possibility of difficulty in starting the engine, loss of engine power, or vehicle stalling.

The replacement of the affected fuel pump is free of charge and all costs related to this replacement activity will be borne by Honda Malaysia. The replacement stock will be available in stages.

The good news is that there are no incidents of crashes or injuries caused by this issue in Malaysia.

Vehicle owners can obtain information or check their vehicle status on product recall on the HondaTouch application or by calling Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to
https://productrecall.honda.com.my/
 to check your vehicle status.

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

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

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

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


Nikaijaya Resource KL Is The First Dealer With Thew New Nissan Retail Concept

Little by little, Nissan is making a comeback in Malaysia through small, but significant steps. Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) has introduced the latest iteration of the Nissan Retail Concept, or NRC, which falls in line with the most current Nissan showroom design and styling globally. The first showroom to adopt the NRC is the Nikaijaya Resource KL dealer, located in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara in the Klang Valley.

The central theme for the NRC is improving the customer experience and journey with the Nissan brand. Red remains a strong colour for the brand, with the bold Nissan tablet signage outside, while 'Nissan Drive' sales and consultation areas welcome customers on the inside.

This new showroom has a built-up area of 6,556 square feet, with a display area that can fit up to five Nissan models, as well as an expected cafe-styled customer lounge with complimentary Wi-Fi.

Operating hours:

Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 6.30pm

Saturday: 9.30am – 6.00pm

Sunday and Public Holiday: 9.30am – 5pm

Address:

923A, Jalan Melor,

Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara (approximately 700 metres after Damansara Toll Plaza)


Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia thrills millions with night racing spectacle at Sepang International Circuit

Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia delights millions of online viewers with thrilling night racing in Round 2 of GR Vios Challenge.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia's electrifying weekend of night racing in Round 2 of the GR Vios Challenge captivated a staggering total of 3.7 million online viewers across all social media platforms.

Held at the iconic Sepang International Circuit, the event showcased intense competition as top contenders in the Super Sporting Class, Sporting Class, Rookie Class, and Promotional Class vied for championship points.

With one final round remaining in September, the race for the overall titles remains wide open.

"The GR Vios Challenge's door-to-door competition, where no favourite driver can be singled out for dominance until the last corner of the last lap, keeps spectators and online viewers at the edge of their seats," remarked Datuk Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our online viewers, race fans, racers, race teams, dealers, and sponsors for their unwavering support. It is their passion that has made the GR Vios Challenge what it is today."

Sporting Class

Race 2 unfolded with gripping highlights in the Sporting Class as Sharique Zulqarnain, a former Rookie driver, faltered at the start, allowing Kenneth Koh of Panglima City Racing Team to surge into the lead.

Bradley Benedict Anthony of Crestmax Motorsport claimed third place, closely followed by Aaron Haikal of Distinctive Model in fourth.

Sharique's withdrawal from the race on the third lap set the stage for a fierce battle between Koh, Bradley, and Aaron. Bradley eventually surpassed Koh to secure the lead in the seventh lap, and the three contenders engaged in a thrilling duel until the checkered flag.

Crossing the finish line just 0.6 seconds ahead of Koh, Bradley clinched the victory, while Aaron secured his second podium finish of the weekend in third place.

Reflecting on his performance, the 21-year-old Bradley stated, "Although the car setup this weekend wasn't optimal for me until tonight's race, we made significant progress. My fastest lap during the race was even faster than my qualifying time. However, it was far from an easy race, as everyone behind me kept exerting pressure throughout the 20 laps."

Koh, who returned to the podium after six races, expressed his elation, stating, "It was a combination of exploring various setups, receiving technical assistance from a new team, and adopting a different driving style. I aim to accumulate as many points as possible this season, and the approach seems to be paying off."

Super Sporting Class

In the Super Sporting Class race, Naquib Azlan of Axle Sports took the lead from pole position, closely pursued by Freddie Ang of Telagamas Toyota and Hayden Haikal. By the second lap, Hayden surged ahead, with Putera Adam of Laser Motor Racing climbing to third as Naquib faced mounting pressure, eventually dropping to sixth place.

Putera overtook Ang for second place in the fifth lap, but a red flag incident prompted the race to be stopped in the seventh lap. Upon the restart, Putera maintained his lead, with Ang resolutely regaining second place and Mitchell Cheah of Prima Pearl TD Racing finishing third with just two laps remaining.

Recapping his victory, Putera expressed his satisfaction, saying, "Yesterday's race was a good one, despite starting at a disadvantage. Today's race was equally challenging, and winning feels surreal. The final round of the Super Sporting Class promises even more excitement, as everyone is racing at similar speeds, and the outcome will be determined by the split-second decisions made during the race."

Rookie Class

In the Rookie Class, Elson Lew redeemed himself from a disappointing Race 1 by securing victory in Race 2. Despite a poor start that saw him finish fifth in Race 1, Lew showcased his talent by claiming first place. Iman Danish secured second place, while Azriel Azhar finished third, securing his second podium finish of the weekend.

Reflecting on his comeback, Lew said, "I had a difficult start in Race 1 and struggled to keep up with the leading pack. It feels great to bounce back stronger in Race 2 and eventually clinch the win."

Promotional Class

The Promotional Class race for celebrities experienced an early stoppage when an incident involving actor Shukry Yahaya and TV personality Hefny Sahad led to a red flag after just three laps.

Upon the restart, Zizan Razak, swiftly established a 1.8-second lead over Ezzrin. Ahirine Ahirudin secured third place. Zizan faced intense pressure from Ezzrin throughout the race, with the final gap between them standing at a mere 0.2 seconds.

Acknowledging the challenge posed by Ezzrin, Zizan humorously commented, "Ezzrin Loy has become my new rival. He applied constant pressure from start to finish in Race 2. I must also commend Ahirine for delivering an outstanding race."

The GR Vios Challenge and Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival will culminate with the third and final round at the Sepang International Circuit from September 29th to October 1st, 2023.


ANCAP: All-New 2016 Hyundai Tucson Disappoints

The all-new 2016 Hyundai Tucson went on sale in Australia and New Zealand in August 2015. The model is also edue to be launched in Malaysia later this week. Hyundai’s latest five-seater SUV was awarded four stars in the latest assessment by Australia’s ANCAP, which was not too happy with the Tucson's results.
“The result is disappointing and unexpected for a new vehicle in this competitive class,” ANCAP Chief Executive Officer James Goodwin said.
“Testing revealed the structural integrity of the driver footwell was compromised in the frontal offset test and there was also excessive movement of the brake pedal, meaning the vehicle could not achieve 5 stars,” he said.
In other words, the fifth star was not withheld from the Hyundai on technicalities like non-availability of advanced driver’s assistance features (blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist etc etc.), but on the poor performance of the vehicle’s body structure.
“The structural integrity of the driver footwell was compromised in the frontal offset crash test. There was also excessive rearward and upward movement of the brake pedal,” reads ANCAP’s technical report on the Tucson’s frontal offset collision test.
“Driver leg and foot protection was marginal in the frontal offset test. There was a slight risk of serious chest injury to the driver in this test,” reads the report.
ANCAP adds that Hyundai is looking into the matter, and will be making some changes to the Tucson’s design.
“It’s encouraging however, that Hyundai has taken immediate steps following the test to make design and production changes to improve the safety of the model,” Mr Goodwin said.
“This demonstrates the importance of the independent testing conducted by ANCAP to continually improve the safety of the vehicle fleet,” he said.
“ANCAP has agreed to test the vehicle once the design changes are in production and it’s hoped the countermeasures will improve the vehicle’s overall rating,” Mr Goodwin said.


Singapore 2019: All-New G05 BMW X5 Offered In Four Variants In Singapore

Three months after being
previewed in Thailand
, the
all-new G05 BMW X5
 has been launched in Singapore.
The variant you’re looking at now, which was revealed earlier today at the ongoing 2019 Singapore International Motor Show is the xDrive40i, but BMW Singapore’s official website has four variants listed:
X5 xDrive40i – 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol / 350 PS, 450 Nm
X5 xDrive50i – 4.4-litre turbocharged petrol / 462 PS, 650 Nm
X5 xDrive30d – 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel / 265 PS, 620 Nm
X5 M50d – 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel / 400 PS, 760 Nm
Measuring 4,992 mm long, 2,004 mm wide, and 1,745 mm tall, this 4th generation X5 is 36 mm longer and 66 mm wider than the outgoing model. Wheelbase length has also grown by 44 mm to 2,975 mm, all of which translates into a larger, more spacious X5 than before.
Design wise, the all-new X5 features an updated front fascia with an extra-large BMW kidney grille with a single-piece surround, flanked by a pair of LED headlights that are fitted as standard equipment. BMW Laserlight with Adaptive LED Headlights can be had as an option.
The rear end has also been revamped, featuring a pair of LED tail lights that are slimmer than the ones found on the predecessor.
As before, the all-new G05 X5 continues the tradition of its signature two-section split tailgate. Also new for the X5 is the 22-inch wheel option.
Inside, the all-new X5 comes with BMW’s new dashboard and centre console design. Key features include a fully digital instrument panel and control display that share the same graphics, newly designed gear lever, more ergonomically positioned buttons around the centre console, panoramic glass roof, dynamic interior lighting system, Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, and two USB charging ports for rear occupants.
There is also a new generation head-up display, featuring a new 7x3.5 inch projection surface, and gesture control among other technological goodies.
Having said that, the all-new G05 BMW X5 will be arriving on Malaysian shores later this year, but it remains unknown which variants and how many of them will be offered here, so watch this space for more updates on the all-new X5.


2017 Toyota Yaris Ativ Brochure Leaked, 1.2L, 7 Airbags

A couple of months back,
spyshots
 of what appeared to be a Toyota Vios emerged from Thailand. Headlightmag forum speculated that the spied model could be the Vios eco car, with the name changed to Yaris. The new Toyota Yaris Ativ is likely going to be positioned below the Vios, challenging the likes of the Honda Brio Amaze.
Now we can be certain that the new Yaris variant will be called the Toyota Yaris Ativ. The platform is from the current Toyota Vios, not the new TNGA platform.
Visually, the Toyota Yaris Ativ gets an updated front and rear fascia. The front end is adorned by a large grille with a pair of LED daytime running lights positioned below the headlights. The rear end is also differentiated from the Vios with different tail lamps and rear bumper design.
Due to Thailand's Eco Car scheme, the new Toyota Yaris Ativ will receive a 1.2-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT that sends drive to the front wheels. The leaked brochure also indicated that the Yaris Ativ will get a gated gear shifter.
Smaller engine aside, the Toyota Yaris Ativ is set to be the safest Eco Car in Thailand. Airbag count is at a whopping seven, which includes two front airbags, curtain airbags, side airbags and a driver knee airbag. On top of that, the Yaris Ativ will receive ABS with EBD, Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).
The new Toyota Yaris Ativ is expected to be officially unveiled on 15 August.
Photo credit: headlightmag
1
,
2