Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) Unveils The 2022 CKD XC40 Recharge - 418km Range, Price To Be Announced On April 4

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has unveiled the 2022 CKD XC40 Recharge, their
first-ever Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
 SUV. Price to
be announced on 4 April 2022.

In line with Malaysia's vision to start introducing more pure electric vehicles, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has just unveiled the new locally-assembled XC40 Recharge, an all-electric SUV. It is also

part of Volvo’s global ambition of becoming a fully electric company by 2030.

Charles Frump, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, said: “Volvo Car Malaysia is ready to implement Volvo’s global plan for a fully electric line-up by 2030, starting with the launch of the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric. The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is just one of our many steps to encourage consumers to adopt electric vehicles for a more sustainable future. By mid-decade, we’re aiming to reduce our overall CO2 lifecycle emissions per car by 40 percent. This means more than simply reducing tailpipe emissions – electrification is not enough. We must reduce CO2 emissions across our operations and supply chain.”

Based on the XC40 ICE SUV, the BEV boasts a 78kWh battery embedded low within the centre of the vehicle; protected by a safety cage. The battery powers two motors, one at each axle, for a combined power output of 408PS and 660Nm.

The
 XC40 Recharge
 delivers up to 418km (WLTP standards) of driving range, courtesy of its 78 kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery requires around 40 minutes to juice up to 80% capacity with a 150kW
DC fast charger
 (or around 2 hours for a full charge with a DC charger), or roughly 8-10 hours with an 11kW AC Wallbox charger. Performance numbers read 4.9 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint onto a
limited top speed (as all Volvo models are)
 of 180km/h.

The electric XC40 gets Volvo's EV-specific 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with model-specific display. The SUV is also equipped with Volvo's new Android-powered infotainment system which offers customers unprecedented personalisation, with improved levels of intuitiveness and embedded Google technology and services, such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play Store.

Courtesy of a
Google based operating software
, the XC40 Recharge will also benefit from a Google Maps based route planner – which includes real-time traffic info and rerouting plus a route based planner which alerts the driver on the state of charge and can make recommendations to nearby charging points along the route.

The XC40 Recharge will also be able to receive over-the-air software and operating system updates.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric will be available for viewing at all authorised Volvo dealers in Malaysia from 4 April 2022. Deliveries of the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric will start from the end of April 2022 onwards, for all locations throughout Malaysia. Interested buyers can book a test drive through
 www.volvocars.com/my
 or contact any Volvo authorised dealer to experience the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric.


JPJ Penang hands 'saman' to workshops which are cutting brakes of motorcycles

Apparently, cutting of the brakes is a popular modification amongst 'mat rempits' as it makes their motorcycles accelerate faster.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is always trying to crack down on illegal motorcycling racing activities in this country, and it's good to see that they have started to clamp down on workshops that help these street racers carry out their illegal activities.

It has been reported that the
Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ)
has issued 66 summons notices to five workshops believed to be illegally modifying motorcycles around the North East and South West areas.

Picture credit: Bernama

Its director Adenan Md Isa said through the Workshop Ops, his party had inspected five workshops and found that 24 motorcycles found there committed various offences related to modifying motorcycles.

"Through inspections at five workshops, a total of 66 summons notices were issued involving 30 offences, namely installing 'tayar sotong', changing the exhaust, installing speed control devices, changing the engine system, changing the swing arm and others," he told Bernama reporters.

The two-hour operation was conducted by 120 officers and members of the JPJ, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Ministry of Domestic Trade (KPDN) and the Penang City Council (MBPP).

The JPJ director said summons notice was issued in accordance with Section 6 and Section 59 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and workshop operators and motorcycle owners were directed to fix all modified motorcycles to standard.

He also advised the owners of the workshops to stop illegally modifying motorcycles to ensure that illegal racing or racing activities are not carried out by 'mat rempit' gangs.

"Our inspection even found that one of the popular modifications involves cutting the motorcycle's brakes to increase engine speed because when the motorcycle brakes are removed, friction does not occur on the tires and it allows the engine to have faster acceleration," he said.

He said the motorcycle workshop in Jalan Gudwara, Penang is often the spot for gangs to modify motorcycles illegally, which is why they keep 'raiding' the area and even handed out some 'samans' to the workshops for the same offences last year.


How NASA Got A Nazi To Put An Electric Car On The Moon 44 Years Ago

Forty four years ago, on this day 31-July in 1971, NASA’s LRV (Lunar Roving Vehicle), better known as the ‘moon buggy,’ was first deployed for use on the moon. What was less said however, was that one of NASA’s biggest achievement was actually the brainchild of a former Nazi engineer, Wernher von Braun, a rocket engineer who developed the V2 rockets used to attack Britain.
After the end of World War 2, the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency was in competition with the other two victors of World War 2 - Soviet Union and the United Kingdom – to gather military intelligence from the Axis forces and to deny post-war Germany of any means to rebuild its military strength.
Wernher von Braun and his team of engineers surrendered to the Americans and the CIA was very interested with the von Braun and his team had to offer.
He was among the group of 1,500 Nazi engineers and scientists brought over to the US under the CIA’s Operation Paperclip to extract useful technical know-how.
Von Braun was subsequently employed by NASA, which later became a key-part of President John F. Kennedy’s efforts to upstage the Soviets – whom by then had become a Communist country and is no longer friends with the US - in a race to space.
The Americans were worried that if the Soviets gained control of space, it could allow them to launch attacks from there.
Von Braun was a strong advocate of space programmes, and harboured dreams of setting up manned space stations. Later, he headed the programme to develop the Saturn V rockets used to launch NASA’s space programmes.
By February 1964, von Braun, in his position as Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, mooted the idea for a lunar rover.
To protect themselves from cosmic radiation, extreme temperatures and space’s vacuum, astronauts had to wear the bulky protective suit, which limited their body’s movement. A limited supply of oxygen also meant that they couldn’t walk too far away from their lunar landing module (Lunar Module, LM)
It quickly became clear without a motorised vehicle, it would not be possible for astronauts to travel far enough across the moon’s surface to conduct experiments, gather soil samples, and return to their Lunar Module.
On 11-July 1969, shortly before Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their maiden landing on the moon on 20-July 1969, von Braun sent out a request of proposal for a Lunar Roving Vehicle to Chrysler, Boeing, Bendix, and Grumman. Boeing’s USD 19 million proposal was selected, but cost overruns later escalated the project to USD 38 million.
On the upside, Boeing delivered the rover on 14-March 1971, two weeks ahead of the deadline. Boeing’s LRV took just 17 months to develop with no major faults reported – the shortest and most successful for any major component in the Apollo programme.
Boeing built eight test units of the LRV before the final approved unit was delivered to NASA. In total, three LRVs were sent to the moon under the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 programme.
Although designed by Boeing, the actual task of building the LRVs was sub-contracted to General Motors.
A Foldable EV!
The electric-powered LRV weighed just 210 kg, but since astronauts had to haul a lot of moon rocks back to earth, it was designed to carry up 490 kg of payload. That’s more than its own weight! A typical car can only carry a payload of half its own weight.
However since the moon’s gravity is only 1/6 that of Earth’s, the LRV weighs just 35 kg on the moon, and the 490 kg payload becomes just 82 kg.
To navigate across the rough lunar surface, the LRV had a ground clearance of 355 mm, that’s 122 mm more than a Ford Ranger XLT. The suspension on both ends are double horizontal wishbone with upper and lower torsion bars and a damper unit between the chassis and upper wishbone.
But the Apollo Lunar Module is not exactly a Honda Jazz – it doesn’t have Ultra Seats and it is rather tight inside. So the LRV’s length is keep to just 3.1 metres long – shorter than a Perodua Axia, and just 1.14 metres tall. And they had to make it foldable to fit inside the Lunar Module.
The LRV’s tubular aluminium frame chassis could be folded into three sections for a more compact fit. The suspension itself can be rotated by 135 degrees when folded.
Upon setting foot on the moon, astronauts only need to release two nylon tapes and a D-handle to unfold the LRV. Pretty neat.
Power comes from a pair of 36V silver-zinc batteries, giving it a total driving range of around 92 km. That’s not too bad considering that a modern electric car like a Mitsushi i-MiEV has a real world driving range of around 120 km (with air-conditioning and headlamps switched on).
The maximum speed is 14 km/h. On moon’s low gravity surface, that’s fast enough unless you are not concerned of accidently launching yourself into orbit.
As the LRV’s power-source is the most important component, the batteries were designed with system redundancy in mind. Only one set of battery is needed to power the LRV, but the LRV was fitted with two sets of batteries.
As the Apollo astronauts have no intention of taking the LRV back to Earth with them (they had rocks to carry home with them remember?), the batteries are non-rechargeable types.
Like any proper off-road vehicle, it’s all-wheel drive. Each wheel is driven by a 0.25 hp DC series-wound motor. To disperse heat in space’s vacuum, the motor drive units are hermetically sealed with nitrogen at 7.5 psi to transfer heat from the drive motors to the drive assembly’s outer wall.
Unlike a normal buggy, the LRV doesn’t have steering wheel. A more compact joystick-like hand control is adopted instead.
Push forward to drive, left or right to turn. Pulling the control backwards will engage the cable operated drum brakes on each wheel. Flicking a switch will engage reverse. Pull the handle past spring-loaded catch and it engages the parking brake.
There’s also four-wheel steering, giving the LRV a remarkably tight turning circle of 3.1 metres. To put that into context, a Mitsubishi Mirage’s turning circle is 4.6 metres.
Did Goodyear Built The Lunar Roving Vehicle’s Tyres?
There is an often perpetuated myth that Goodyear made the tyres for NASA’s LRV. Some of
Goodyear’s own press materials
 credited itself for pioneering space tyres, linking its innovative wire-mesh tyres with NASA’s Lunar Roving Vehicle.
This is incorrect as NASA’s own achieved materials show that the LRV’s tyres were developed General Motors’ Defense Research Laboratories (GM DRL) and not Goodyear.
In fact,
Goodyear’s US corporate website's
 own accounts of its brand’s history only said that Goodyear tyres were the first tyres to be used on the moon – when it was fitted to the hand-pulled, unpowered MET (Modularized Equipment Transporter) used on the Apollo 14. There was no mention of any Goodyear tyres used on the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
NASA’s own records (below) showed that Goodyear was one of the partners asked to develop a tyre for the LRV, along seven other companies, but it was not selected for the project. It end, it was GM’s design that was selected by NASA.
The LRV's aluminium hub wheels and zinc wire mesh tyres were developed by GM. It had titanium chevron-pattern tread covering 50 percent of the surface contact area. There’s an inner frame which acts as a bump stop to prevent excessive deflection of the wire mesh under high impact.
Somewhere along the way, the later generation of Goodyear staffs and their colleagues from public relations and creative agencies confused Goodyear’s involvement in NASA’s hand-pulled Modularized Equipment Transporter with that of the electric-powered all-wheel drive Lunar Roving Vehicle, and credited itself for developing the LRV’s wire mesh tyres.
It is worth noting that the computers used by astronauts in the Apollo space programme had less than 1/10 of the computing power available on many of today’s smartphones.


Peugeot Gets A New Partner In Thailand

When it comes to car markets in the region, Thailand is perhaps one of the fastest growing - thanks in no small part to the aggressive incentives for manufacturers to set up shop locally. There can be extreme penalties on imported cars - more so than even Malaysia - which has resulted in a rather interesting direction of development. Peugeot has been one such brand that has had a presence in Thailand on a rather small scale - but with the appointment of a new local partner in the form of Belfort Automobiles (Thailand), there are some aggressive expansion plans on the horizon.
Over the next couple of years, Peugeot is looking to introduce five new models to the Thai lineup, with the first two being the 3008 and 5008. Both of these models will be imported from the Naza Automotive Manufacturing plant located in Gurun, Kedah, which is the first manufacturing hub in ASEAN for Groupe PSA. As of now, Peugeot operates in 11 ASEAN countries, with exports to the Philippines and Thailand starting the next few weeks.
Belfort Automobiles (Thailand) is a subsidiary of the Master Group Corporation (Asia) Co., Ltd., which is one of the leading automotive retailers and mobility companies in Thailand. With this partnership kicking off, it will properly solidify Peugeot place in Thailand and within the ASEAN region outside of Malaysia.
To find the best deals for Peugeot models, click
here
.


All-New 2015 Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure On Display At Glenmarie Showroom

The all-new 2015
Mitsubishi
 Triton will soon be launched here later this month but if you’re still eager to check out the upcoming pick-up truck, here’s what to expect from the top-of-the-line VGT Adventure (5AT) variant, as seen in live photos.

Seen at
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia’s Glenmarie showroom
, the highest-spec 2015
Mitsubishi Triton
 features a restyled front fascia with a new grille, xenon HID headlamps with daytime-running lights, and new fog lamps. Moving along the side, the alloy wheels are now of a seven twin-spoke design and wrapped in 245/65 series tyres. At the rear, the taillights also receive a redesign and a reverse camera is fitted as well.

Previously, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia posted a
studio image of the top-spec Triton’s interior
 and it looks like there isn’t any huge departure from what was shown (on this variant at least).

Standard features on the 2015 Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure (5AT) variant are manually-adjustable leather seats with various pieces of trim made of soft touch and black gloss materials. A 6.1-inch touch-screen multimedia unit which is linked to the reverse camera sits just above the dual-zone climate control system, surrounded by black glossy plastic.

Below them are the cigarette lighter port with a USB input slot. Moving to the centre console is the five-speed automatic transmission gear shifter with sequential shifting and the Easy Select 4WD dial with shift-on-the-fly capability. The driver’s steering wheel features on-wheel controls for both the multimedia unit and cruise control function. Also available are paddle shifters, the first pick-up truck in Malaysia to feature them!

Meanwhile at the rear of the dual-cab pick-up, passengers have the luxury of a centre arm rest with cup holders.

Under the hood, the all-new Triton VGT Adventure (5AT) will not be receiving Mitsubishi’s new 2.4-litre MIVEC VG turbo diesel but instead will be equipped with the familiar 2.5-litre DI-D Hyper Common Rail DOHC Intercooled Turbocharged (VGT), delivering 178PS and 400Nm of torque to a five-speed automatic transmission.

Keep in mind that this is only
one of five variants that will be offered
 come launch day with tentative prices starting from RM71k all the way up to RM114k.


Review: 2016 Maserati Quattroporte – As Italian as You Would Expect

While Ferrari and Maserati may have ties in terms of history and ownership, the two companies could not be further apart. Ferrari was focused on building sports cars, aggressive machines for the track, while Maserati focused more on grand tourers. While Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)has strong control over the direction of the Italian brand, they still have a small amount of leeway when it comes to product development.
Nowadays, Maserati is focused on expanding their product range- first with the fun-sized Ghibli and then with the Levante- a crossover with a can-do attitude. Speaking with some of Naza Italia’s product managers, it was made clear that the waiting list for both the Ghibli and Levante are decidedly long due to their huge popularity across the world- to the point where they have had to sell their showroom units as well in order to accommodate customers. The introduction of the Ghibli more than doubled Maserati sales through 2014, and the Levante is set to push this figure to even greater heights as we go into 2017.
While we were initially meant to test the Ghibli, the particular test unit had been purchased. So we got behind the wheel of a Quattroporte instead- a base model, no less- but it was an interesting first look at Maserati’s products. The Quattroporte is going to receive an update for 2017 towards the end of this year, and customers should be able to view the forthcoming model around November or December. This model is the last of the 2016 units, and pricing for the 2017 units has yet to be announced.
Specifications
Engine: 3.0-litre longitudinal V6 twin-turbocharged
Power: 410 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 550 Nm @ 1,750 rpm to 5,000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed ZF Automatic
What you see here is the sixth generation Quattroporte, which is larger and more luxurious than ever. The Quattroporte was their first saloon model that came about in the 1960s, but since the Maserati brand changed ownership frequently over the years, the Quattroporte lineage is as convoluted as cars come. With this generation comes the introduction of serious platform sharing, as the Maserati Ghibli and the Alfa Romeo Giulia sit on modified versions of the Quattroporte platform.
This variant comes with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which is a fairly punchy engine. It produces a solid 410 hp and 550 Nm of torque from 1,750 rpm to 5,000 rpm, which is the kind of performance you need when propelling a car that weighs north of 2 tonnes. This is in contrast to the Quattroporte GTS, which comes with a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that puts out a whopping 530 hp and 6,500 Nm from 2,000 rpm to 4,000 rpm- a true beast of a car.
Paired with this is the 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox that needs no introduction. It’s in everything from the BMW 316i to the Audi RS 6s, and the gearbox is as quick and smooth as ever. The combination of engine and gearbox propels the Quattroporte to illegal speeds in no time at all: 0-100 km/h is done in 5.1 seconds, and the top speed is a quoted 284 km/h.
As a car to drive, the Quattroporte is very GT in its operation. No matter which settings you put the suspension and powertrain in, it still errs on the side of soft and floaty- more perhaps to do with its hefty kerb weight and long overall length. The controls aren’t particularly sharp or aggressive, making it easy to drive in most situations but a little imprecise on the edge.
As much as we want to attribute “Italian design” to the styling, the Quattroporte is a little out of date no matter how you cut it. The individual components are competent and solid, but the way everything comes together- from the materials to the build quality- leaves a little to be desired. It is here that you begin to understand and appreciate the Teutonic brilliance that comes from German product offerings, even if they may be regarded as a little cold and emotionless.
There’s quirkiness beyond the design as well. If you find yourself driving a Quattroporte, over time you will realize that the steering wheel, pedals, and seat are all slightly misaligned. It provides an awkward driving position that isn’t as noticeable at first, but becomes bothersome and tiresome after prolonged periods on the highway. It’s a little like how classic Porsches have offset pedals, but it is 2016 and we shouldn’t be subject to this kind of gimmickry.
And yet, there’s still something distinctly special about it. It’s not in any particular quality that you can see or touch, but rather in the intangible. It’s a car that combines high performance with the Grand Tourer form. It’s a car that, for all its oddities, still manages to command an air of elegance when you pull up to the valet. It’s quick enough to shorten long haul trips, but it’s comfortable at low speeds as well in a way that most high performance cars aren’t.
If you want to buy one of these, they’re all sold out for 2016. But the good news is the 2017 model is coming to our shores soon, with an updated powertrain and features to bring it up to speed. Unfortunately, if we do a little bit of comparing with what other manufacturers will offer in the coming year, it’s a little difficult for the Quattroporte to compete.
Porsche will be bringing out their new Panamera, and the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe is still a solid contender when it comes to 4-door GT cars. Both options will no doubt be better equipped and have better handling- and it’s a little unfortunate for the Quattroporte that it is a ways away from a full model change. In the meantime, hopefully Maserati will focus on their newer Levante and Ghibli models in order to keep the brand going and to provide direction for their future products.


RHB Customers Win Brand New Mazdas In The “Trade & Win 3.0 2018” Campaign

Mazda and RHB Investment Bank Berhad (RHB) recently presented two lucky winners of the “Trade & Win 3.0 2018/19 Campaign” with grand prizes worth more than RM200, 000.
While Tan Poh Cheok from Kuala Lumpur walked away with a brand new Mazda2 Skyactiv, Jang Peir Boon from Kuala Lumpur won the Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv.
Throughout the campaign period, 232 winners received vouchers for electrical consumables, attractive rewards points such as AirAsia BIG Points, and also holiday products.
The campaign, which ran from 1st of July 2018 to 30th of June 2019, was targeted at RHB Investment Bank’s new and existing customers, and saw an improved and active participation.
It is said that the response to the campaign has been overwhelming with more than 20 million entries received over the last 12 months.
Looking for a new Mazda? Get the best deals
here
.


KTM Berhad's Kuala Lumpur-Padang Besar ETS Facing Delays With SPAD

KTM Berhad’s new Electric Train Service (ETS) operation from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar, which was supposed to officially start from July 1, 2015 now appears to suffer a setback as the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has yet to provide the green light on the service.
The Sun Daily
 reported that KTM Berhad had initially planned for the service to start at the start of July to coincide with the Hari Raya ‘balik kampung’ period for northbound passengers. However, approval from SPAD has yet to be finalised.
Among the matters that still needed to be sorted out include commissioning and ensuring the safety features on the 329km electrified double track and the China-made electric trains. Until SPAD commissioned the trains, a green light will not be given, said SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar who added that the initial target launch date was actually for the extension of ETS service to the border from KL-Ipoh service using the current Korean-made trains.
"Nothing has been finalised. We still need to complete the commissioning of the double-track. Even the new batch of China-made electric trains which can touch 160km/h are yet to undergo full testing. So it will take some time," he said. Once ready, the ETS travel time from the Thailand-Malaysia border to the capital city is expected to be just four hours and 15 minutes.


Mercedes-Benz Thailand Hits 100,000th Locally Assembled Car Milestone

The partnership between Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Thailand and Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) have reached a new milestone in December when they successfully rolled out their 100,000
th
 Thai-assembled Mercedes-Benz vehicle – a Mercedes-Benz S500e Exclusive.
The Mercedes-Benz S500e Exclusive is a plug-in hybrid that pairs a 3.0-litre biturbo V6 petrol engine with an 85 kW electric motor. It’s different from the S400h that we have here in Malaysia, which is a regular hybrid with no plug-in function.
Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) have been assembling Mercedes-Benz vehicles at their Samut Prakan plant since 1979.
In the same announcement, Mercedes-Benz Thailand also revealed that that the current 135,000 square metre Samut Prakan facility will be expanded to 185,000 square metres later this year to cater for increase demand for plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Thailand.
Currently, the TAAP plant is assembling four Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid models – S500e, E350e, C350e, and GLE500e.
Thailand’s carbon emissions-based excise duty structure currently offers a 5 percent discount on excise duty for locally-assembled hybrid/plug-in hybrid vehicles.


You Can Now Adjust The Mercedes-Benz E-Class' Air-Cond By Voice

Mercedes-Benz announced that it has further enhanced the new W213 E-Class’ infotainment system in an effort to provide owners with more convenience and safety.
One of the main features to be updated was the Linguatronic voice control, which is part of Mercedes-Benz’s Comand Online infotainment system.
Having received a host of new and intuitive voice commands, the system does not only allow the driver to control the entertainment system, but also other functions like the air-conditioning.
For example, when the vehicle is equipped accordingly, blower level, temperature and seat heating can be controlled conveniently by voice command, with no need for drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel or their eyes off the traffic. The same also goes for the rear window heater and various comfort and lighting functions.
In order to cover the vast range of control options, up to 450 voice commands are available, depending on the language version and the vehicle's equipment.
It is said that the commands are designed to be as simple, intuitive and natural as possible, so that drivers will usually phrase the appropriate commands and questions instinctively.
Several hundred alternatives are also stored in Linguatronic for each command, resulting in a high likelihood that the user will hit on the right phrase at the first attempt.
Linguatronic aside, there have also been other updates revolving around the new E-Class’ infotainment features, such as the addition of audible feedback from the Touch Control buttons on the steering.
Having featured eleven languages in the past, the new E-Class’ enhanced infotainment system now features eleven more. It will carry even more individualisation options in future, according to the folks at Stuttgart.
While models in Europe will be getting the enhanced Comand Online system first, the feature will make its way to other markets around the world progressively.
Launched in April this year, the new W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is offered in three trim levels in Malaysia - E200 Avantgarde (RM348,888), E250 Avantgarde (RM378,888), and E250 Exclusive (RM383,888).


Mercedes-AMG GT C Launched In Malaysia, Priced From RM1.461 Million

The supercar category, although exclusively niche, seems to have many clusters of demanding customers that desire a better-packaged product.
While some might find the Mercedes-AMG GT R too hardcore, too “loud”, another group of customers might find the Mercedes-AMG GT S at “only “ 510 hp insufficient and perhaps, not getting the new performance updates.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just introduced the Mercedes-AMG GT C, a variant that slots in between the GT S and the GT R. Priced from RM1.461 million (subject to change upon implementation of SST), the flagship AMG two-door coupe has quite a few upgrades to justify its position above the GT S.
First up is the front grille. The Mercedes-AMG GT C take styling cues from the GT R with the AMG Panamericana grille and a more pronounced corner cooling intakes. The entire airflow management works together with the new front fascia, as an Airpanel active air management system moves louvres under the vehicle for optimized cooling performance.
Moving the rear, the Mercedes-AMG GT C is a full 57 millimetres wider than the GT, thanks to the wider body panels to accommodate the larger wheels, wider track, and a more sophisticated rear axle. At 2,007 mm wide, it is the same width as the Beast of the Green Hell, the Mercedes-AMG GT R.
With the AMG GT C, the boffins at Affalterbach have massaged a higher output level for the 4.0-litre bi-turbo engine to 557 hp available from 5,750 rpm to 6,750 rpm, 47 hp more than the AMG GT S and just 28 hp shy of the Mercedes-AMG GT R.
Maximum torque meanwhile is rated at 680 Nm (up 10 Nm versus GT S, only 20 Nm below GT R), available between 2,100 rpm and 5,500 rpm. The GT C races to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds and will keep accelerating to a maximum velocity of 316km/h.
All that power is sent through the rear-mounted AMG Speedshift 7-Speed dual-clutch transmission that spins the massive 305-section rear tyres on 12-inch wide AMG twin-spoke wheels. The gear ratios are also altered for agile acceleration through a higher first gear, and a lower seventh and final drive ratio. This is, again, shared with the Beast.
As mentioned earlier, new performance items are fitted to the rear axle of the Mercedes-AMG GT C. First up is the electronically controlled locking differential. Working together with the Mercedes-AMG GT R-derived active rear-wheel steering, the Mercedes-AMG GT C offers superior agility and stability together with better control for the driver.
Keen to know how different the Beast (GT R) and GT S drives? Click
here for the GT R review
, and
here for the GT S review
.
Other standard features in the Mercedes-AMG GT C includes:
AMG Dynamic Plus package that includes Race mode
AMG exterior night package
AMG Performance exhaust system
High-performance compound braking system (Optional: Carbon Ceramic system)
AMG Performance seats
Burmester Surround Sound
Panoramic moonroof
Lane Keeping and Blind Spot Assist
The launch of the Mercedes-AMG GT C is part of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's update on their Dream Cars range. The company also unveiled the new Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class range that includes the
Mercedes-AMG CLS 53
,
CLS 450, CLS 350
, and
Mercedes-Benz E300 Cabriolet.


Lotus Unveils Their 600hp ELETRE Electric Hyper-SUV – 600km Range

Lotus has unveiled their latest model, the electric Hyper-SUV, Eletre, coming in with 400km of range.

There's no doubt that the rave at the moment is about SUVs and EVs, which is why Lotus will be combining the two with its latest EV Hyper-SUV - the
Lotus Eletre
.

The Eletre also continues the tradition of having a model name starting with the letter E, and features Lotus' famed'
Ride and Handling
'. According to Lotus, Eletre means '
coming to life
' in some Eastern European languages.

20 minute charge = 400km of range

Underneath the Hyper-SUV, Lotus Eletre is the automaker's
Electric Premium Architecture (EPA)
 platform, with 600hp coming out from twin electric motors.
The Eletre
 can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in under three seconds and has a top speed of around 260 km/h.

The Lotus Eletre's 350 kW charging system can provide the Hyper-SUV with a driving range of up to 400 km after being charged for just 20 minutes.

Design Inspiration...

The Lotus Eletre comes with a five-link suspension at the rear, an active air suspension and height adjustment system, a rear-axle steering system, and an active anti-tilt roll bar.

The Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV brings design elements from the
Lotus Emira
 sports car, with a separate main lighting unit, horizontal LED taillights, and a front grille with an active aerodynamic system aimed at cooling the electric motor system, battery pack, and even brakes.

Host of futuristic tech

According to Lotus, the Eletre comes with four LIDAR (
Light Detection and Ranging)
 sensors that can be found on top of the windshield, at the rear, with two more located on the front fender.

If you're a fan of futuristic tech, the side mirrors on the Eletre can be had with an Electric Reverse Mirror Display (ERMC) system, which consists of three cameras with different functions.

The Hyper-SUV Eletre’s interior space is capable of accommodating four to five people, but you can have the SUV with two individual seats on the second row.

Minimalist instrument cluster

Interestingly, the Eletre Hyper-SUV does not have a traditional instrument panel screen, as it comes with a display strip mounted in front of the steering wheel.

The 15-inch main screen is located at the centre and houses all sorts of vehicle information and functions. There's also a head-up display system with augmented reality features which comes standard with the SUV.

Safety

As for safety, the Lotus electric Hyper-SUV comes with:

Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Collision Mitigation Support Front (CMSF)

Traffic Sign Information (TSI)

Door Open Warning (DOW)

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA)

Lane Change Assist (LCA)

Children Presence Detection (CPD

 Lane Keep Aid with Lane Departure Warning/ Prevention (LKA+)

Parking Emergency Brake (PEB)

Collision Mitigation Support Rear (CMSR)

Emergency Rescue Call (E-Call).

When can you buy one?

Lotus will be building the Hyper-SUV Eletre at its new plant in
Wuhan
, China, with deliveries starting in 2023.


Pelaksanaan Semula GST Boleh Turunkan Harga Kereta – Boleh Percaya Ke?

Harga kenderaan dijangka akan menurun sebanyak 2-3% peratus sekiranya Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) diperkenalkan semula pada kadar 6%. Boleh percaya ke?

Kementerian Kewangan sebelum ini mengumumkan sedang mengkaji untuk memperluaskan asas pendapatan negara termasuk melaksanakan semula GST serta menilai semula pakej insentif cukai untuk mengukuhkannya dan menjadikannya lebih bersasar serta strategik. Kementerian itu juga akan melakukan beberapa pembaharuan fiskal yang besar untuk mengukuhkan kapasiti pendapatan negara apabila berlaku pandemik dan menyebabkan krisis.

Jika cukai GST dihidupkan kembali bagi menggantikan
Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan (SST)
 seperti yang berlaku pada tahun 2015, harga kenderaan secara keseluruhannya dijangka akan turun. Perkara ini turut disokong oleh Penganalisis RHB Investment Bank Bhd, Eddy Do Wey Qing yang berkata cukai GST sebanyak 6% pada 2015 telah menyebabkan sebahagian besar harga model kenderaan di pasaran tempatan susut 1% hingga 3%.

Ini disebabkan oleh kaedah pengiraan kerana GST merujuk kepada cukai nilai tambah di mana cukai dibayar pada setiap peringkat transaksi perniagaan, manakala SST dibayar sekali saja oleh pengilang atau pengimport. Jumlah cukai yang dibayar sebenarnya lebih rendah kerana mekanisme tuntutan cukai input di bawah regim GST. Pada dasarnya, kuantum GST akhir ditanggung oleh pengguna berbanding SST yang dibayar oleh pengimport/pengilang.

Jadi benarkah pelaksanaan GST ini benar-benar mampu menurunkan harga jualan kenderaan? Memandangkan cukai GST pernah dilaksanakan pada tahun 2015, jom kita lihat perbezaan harga beberapa kenderaan pada ketika itu selepas kali pertama GST diperkenalkan.

Sime Darby Auto Connexion, pengedar kenderaan Ford, telah menurunkan harga Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT 4×4 Automatic kepada RM110,504.80 daripada RM110,506.45 sebelum ini, manakala S-Max 2.0 dikurangkan kepada RM198,833.41 berbanding RM198,933.90 sebelum GST.

Harga kereta Mercedes-Benz dijual di Malaysia turun sebanyak RM10,000 berbanding sebelum GST. Sebagai contoh, harga
Mercedes-Benz E300 Blue TEC Hybrid
 turun 2.87% kepada RM338,888 daripada RM348,888 (tanpa insurans).

Proton Holdings Bhd mengumumkan harga baharu model terpilih kenderaannya yang
dikurangkan sehingga RM1,475
 atau 3.25% seunit berikutan pelaksanaan GST.

Tidak dinafikan, pelaksanaan GST mencatatkan penurunan harga penjualan kereta pada 2015. Tetapi pada tahun 2018, selepas GST dimansuhkan untuk
digantikan dengan SST
 semula, sekurang-kurangnya 5 jenama kenderaan menurunkan harga antara RM2,000 hingga RM3,000 selepas pelaksanaan Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan (SST). 5 jenama kenderaan itu termasuklah model Perodua, Honda, Toyota, BMW dan Volkswagen.

Harga sebuah
Perodua Axia
 harga yang dikenakan selepas pelaksanaan SST adalah RM40,390 berbanding RM41,497 iaitu penurunan sebanyak RM1,107 semasa dikenakan cukai GST

Bagi kereta
Myvi
 1.5 harga kini adalah RM54,090 berbanding RM55,300

Honda Jazz 1.5 berharga RM83,633 (sebelumnya RM85,750)

Toyota Vios
 RM93,200 berbanding dahulu RM93,980

Volkswagen Polo
 hanya RM74,900 berbanding harga semasa dikenakan GST iaitu RM76,888

Sewaktu pengenalan semula SST pada 2018, ramai yang menyangka bahawa harga kenderaan akan naik mendadak. Tetapi ramalan tersebut meleset apabila perbandingan harga semasa GST dilaksanakan dan SST dilaksanakan menunjukkan harga kereta selepas SST dilaksanakan lebih rendah.

Sebagai rakyat biasa, pasti ramai yang keliru mana satu kaedah yang paling menguntungkan buat pembeli. Berdasarkan sejarah, penggunaan GST memang berpotensi untuk menurunkan harga kereta. Tetapi berdasarkan sejarah juga, SST juga mampu menurunkan harga kereta. Jadi mana satu yang lebih baik?

Pelaksanaan SST pada 2018 telah menurunkan harga kereta kerana menurut Menteri Kewangan ketika itu, Lim Guan Eng berkata kerajaan tidak mengutip begitu banyak melalui SST berbanding GST. Kesimpulannya, kenaikan atau penurunan harga kereta akan bergantung kepada kadar GST yang bakal dikenakan berbanding kadar SST semasa.

SST merupakan sistem cukai lama yang pernah dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan Malaysia sebelum GST dilaksanakan. Namun pelaksanaan GST mengalami kegagalan apabila mekanismenya tidak mencapai matlamat meskipun cukai ini digunakan di kebanyakan negara.

Meskipun GST boleh dilaksanakan semula kerana berkesan untuk meningkatkan hasil kerajaan dan menjadi penyelesaian kepada ekonomi gelap, namun ia tidak perlu dilakukan secara tergesa-gesa. Kerajaan perlu perbaiki mekanisme, pemantauan dan pelaksanaan terlebih dahulu.

GST merupakan sistem pungutan cukai yang lebih baik, efektif dan adil terhadap hasil pendapatan negara. Tetapi, pelaksanaannya perlu lebih teratur supaya tidak terlalu membebankan pengeluar atau pengguna. Untuk pengetahuan anda, pengutipan cukai tahunan purata negara berada kira-kira RM40 bilion ketika sistem GST dijalankan berbanding dengan kutipan tahunan sebanyak RM25 bilion ketika SST.

Walaupun potensi penurunan harga kereta selepas GST ialah satu faktor positif, namun pakar ekonomi percaya bahawa perubahan itu tidak begitu ketara bagi pengguna kerana kuantum penjimatan cukai yang dialihkan kepada pengguna juga akan dipengaruhi oleh kadar tukaran asing (FX) semasa. Jika harga barangan dan perkhidmatan lain meningkat selepas GST, pengguna yang ingin membuat pembelian barangan mahal mungkin berubah fikiran dalam jangka pendek.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah berkata terdapat banyak aspek yang perlu diambil kira, termasuk senarai
barang atau komponen
 yang tidak akan dikenakan cukai serta insentif bagi syarikat yang melakukan aktiviti penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D serta pengilangan di pasaran domestik) sebelum pelaksanaan GST dilakukan.

Tetapi jika penukaran sistem percukaian SST kepada GST dapat memastikan industri automotif lebih kompetitif dan memberi kelebihan kepada pembeli, apa salahnya kan? Malah perkara ini turut disokong oleh pengeluar kereta tempatan yang mahu merancakkan semula industri automotif yang sudah lama sendu.


What Women Want?

Trying to find out what women want is not easy, luckily we had some help, from women itself.

We've always wondered what cars women like, because unless you are woman or Mel Gibson from the movie "What Women Want" it's pretty much a shot in the dark for us the male motoring journalists.

Yes, there is this prevalent notion that points us towards the idea that women prefer hatchbacks and SUVs that are comfortable, safe and practical, but it still doesn't tell us which specific cars or brands they prefer.

Thankfully, all we had to do was Google it because, for the last decade, a body called WWCOTY has in some ways gathered that information for us.

WWCOTY stands for Women's World Car Of The Year, a yearly automobile awards programme created by Kiwi motoring journalist, Sandy Mhyre in 2009. It clearly states on their website that they don't judge the cars based on whether it is "a 'woman's car", but women do decide the winners of WWCOTY.

"The voting criteria is based on the same principles that guide any driver when choosing a winning car. Aspects such as safety, quality, price, design, ease of driving, benefits and environmental footprint, among others, are taken into account when casting a vote. In total, there are 43 judges from 35 countries. The Women's World Car of the Year is present on all five continents", says the WWCOTY About Us section.

Awards have been presented since 2011 and to see whether our assumptions are correct, let's take a look at the past results of WWCOTY.

2019

Supreme Winner Award: Mazda 3

Urban Car Award: Kia XCeed

Family Car Award: Mazda 3

Green Car Award: Kia Soul EV

Luxury Car: BMW 8 Series

Performance Car: Porsche 911

SUV/Crossover: Range Rover Evoque

Holly Reach Dream Car: Porsche Taycan

Woman of Worth Award: Linda Jackson, CEO of Citroën

2018

Supreme Winner: Volvo XC40

2017

Supreme Winner: Hyundai Ioniq

Family Car: Mazda CX-5

Economy Car: Ford Fiesta

Luxury Car: BMW 5 Series

Sports Car: Honda Civic Type R

Eco Car: Hyundai Ioniq

SUV: Peugeot 3008

2016

Supreme Winner: Jaguar F-Pace

Family Car: Honda Civic

Economy Car: Honda Jazz

Luxury Car: Volvo S90

Sports Car: Ford Mustang

Eco Car: Toyota Prius

SUV: Jaguar F-Pace

2015

Supreme Winner: Volvo XC90

Family Car: Renault Espace

Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Sports Car: Mercedes-AMG GT

Economy Car: Toyota Auris

Eco Car: BMW i8

SUV: Volvo XC90

2014

Supreme Winner: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Family Car: Audi A3

Dream Car: Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Sports Car: Audi S3

Economy Car: Honda Jazz / Fit

Eco Car: Tesla Model S

SUV: Range Rover Sport

2013

Supreme Winner: Ford Fiesta

Family Car: Audi Allroad

Luxury Car: Range Rover

Sports Car: Porsche Boxster S

Economy Car: Ford Fiesta

SUV: Mazda CX-5

2012

Supreme Winner: Range Rover Evoque

Family Car: BMW 3 Series

Luxury Car: Range Rover Evoque

Sports Car: Porsche 911

Economy Car: Honda Civic

2011

Supreme Winner: BMW 5 Series and Citroën DS3 (tie)

Family Car: Volvo S60

Luxury Car: BMW 5 Series

Sports Car: Aston Martin Rapide

Economy Car: Citroën DS3

Eco Car: Audi A1

We're not sure why some years had more or fewer awards, but we can clearly see that in the past nine years of WWCOTY, there have been four hatchbacks, three SUVs and two sedans emerge as overall winners. Is this an indication that maybe, just maybe we're not that far off the mark indeed?

When we tallied up every single winner in each category, BMW came up as the brand that has won the most awards while Land Rover, Volvo and Honda came in second with Mazda, Porsche and Audi tied for third.

Although it's a little hard to make a sweeping assumption that these are real-world indications for what brand and types of car women want, it has at least given us some insight to what they might like.

Of course, it would be easier to find out "What Women Want" if we had the powers of Mel Gibson.


Review: 2020 Lexus RX300 F Sport - What A Magic Carpet Ride

Its ability to blend luxury with utility while providing the best in class ride makes it one of the best SUVs ever made.

If you talk about vehicles that were among the first ones to be part of the luxury SUV game, then there's no argument that the Lexus RX was one of its founders and most certainly one of the first luxury SUVs that brought unprecedented reliability as well as car-like ride quality to the fore.

While other SUVs in the nineties were built on body-on-frame platforms, the RX which was also known as the rebadged Toyota Harrier back then was built on a unibody, giving it that non-jittery and controlled ride.

Being able to combine practicality, luxury, reliability, and comfort was how the RX won so many hearts, and to no surprise, it has also won many awards around the world due to that package.

The RX faces more competition than ever now and as much as other brands have tried hard to knock it down off its perch, they have all failed, because not only has Lexus managed to make all of those loveable RX qualities better year after year, they have also added some extra pizzaz each time.

This improvement generation after generation has made the RX the best selling SUV in most markets. It is highly regarded and undefeated when it comes to sales figures. But what is it that makes this SUV so unique? What is it exactly that makes the RX so wanted? We borrowed one to find out.

The current generation RX is the fourth and the ones you can view at Lexus' showrooms across Malaysia is the facelift version. There are three variants available, starting with the RX300 Premium, and then the RX300 Luxury. The top dog for the RX300 variant is called the RX300 F Sport, and naturally, we wanted to try out the best of the best.

If you're not familiar with Lexus' nomenclature, the F Sport is basically the variant you buy if you want your Lexus to have a sporty character. In the case of the RX300 F Sport, the most notable differences over the other two lower variants are its enormous and aggressive black front grille, sportier unique design rims, and most important of all, AVS (Adaptive Variable Suspension).

The F Sport design totally transforms the exterior look of the RX. If it were a suit, it'd look like a suit made by Issey Miyake - you know, the ones that the Yakuzas like to wear. That substantial black front grille is so aggressive that if there was ever to be an updated LFA, it would have the RX's front end. It just accentuates the sharp front end design of the SUV. The darker rims also add to the sporty character and complete the look - like shoes made by Junya Watanabe to compliment that Yakuza Issey Miyake suit.

While the exterior looks sporty, the interior is classy. Everything just seems to have that extra air of lushness to it. The dashboard is soft to touch, the roof liner is as smooth as velvet, seats are comfortable and supportive, and the buttons, stalks and knobs are all nicely weighted. Even the radio's volume button rotates nicely.

It is truly a representation of what luxury is supposed to be like. It doesn't just look it, it feels like it too. Of course, air-conditioned front seats, thick floor carpets, as well as powered rear seats help add to the whole experience, but there's just something about the interior that tells you that Lexus spent countless number of hours to make you feel like you are in the Japanese emperor's living room. It just feels like it was made for royalty.

The other thing that gives you that special feeling is how the car rides. The Adaptive Variable Suspension by Lexus really does trump the ride quality from its German competition. It's simply magical and a joy to experience. While other manufacturers firm up the suspension to help provide control over the big SUV bodies which results in a clunky ride, the RX's is weirdly firm but soft. It's tough to explain through words, you just have to try it out. You can also firm up the RX's suspension by selecting sport through the driving mode dial, but after feeling the normal mode you wouldn't want to - it's just heavenly.

The other reason why we say that you shouldn't bother going into sports mode is because the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 235hp and 350Nm of torque is a bit, meh!! The 6-speed automatic gearbox is also not that snappy, so what's the point. Don't get us wrong, because the car can move swiftly and get up to illegal speeds fast. It's just that it doesn't particularly feel energetic about it.

But then again, this is not the whole point of the Lexus RX300 F Sport. The whole point of this SUV is to provide you with an aggressive sporty looking SUV, but with a ride that makes you feel like you are on a magic carpet. Why bother going so fast anyways, you'd want to go slow enough so that everyone can see and appreciate the design of the car. It will turn heads and grab attention wherever it goes.

If I had to pick a car for long journeys, this car would be right up there in the top 3. It has practicality, comfort, luxury but most important of all, a heck of a ride.


Myvi Kena Clamp Di Petak Parkir Kosong – Pemilik Persoal Apa Salahnya

Sebuah
Myvi
 telah dikunci tayarnya atau kena
clamp
 setelah diletakkan di kawasan
parkir
 kosong di pusat beli belah Berjaya Times Square di Kuala Lumpur.

Namun menurut pemiliknya, beliau tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan kerana parkir yang digunakannya merupakan parkir kosong yang tidak mempunyai tanda sebagai
petak parkir khas
 yang disediakan kepada sesuatu pihak.

*Kredit video: Mia Saripah

Myvi Kena Clamp, Pemilik Keliru

Menerusi sebuah video berdurasi 41 saat yang dikongsikan oleh Mia Saripah di Facebook, pemilik di dalam video berkenaan keliru mengapa keretanya dikunci dan menerima notis bahawa beliau perlu membayar RM100 untuk membuka kunci tersebut.

Pemilik itu juga menjelaskan bahawa tiada sebarang tanda larangan atau notis yang menyatakan bahawa dilarang meletakkan kereta di kawasan parkir itu, jadi mengapa keretanya dikunci?

Bukan itu sahaja, pemilik tersebut turut menyatakan bahawa Myvi miliknya langsung tidak menghalang laluan untuk mana-mana kenderaan lain keluar daripada kawasan tersebut. Lebih mengelirukan, rakannya yang meletakkan kereta di hadapannya tidak dikunci dan boleh keluar daripada kawasan parkir itu tanpa sebarang masalah.

Video yang dikongsikan ini sedikit sebanyak telah menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi dan tanda tanya dalam kalangan pengguna media sosial. Agak-agaknya apa kesalahan yang dilakukan oleh pemilik tersebut?

Antara Sebab Mengapa Kereta Itu Dikunci

Apabila video tersebut dimuatnaik di media sosial, tentera bawang negara terus memberikan antara sebab-sebab mengapa Myvi itu dikunci. Ada yang mendakwa kereta itu dikunci kerana mungkin parkir itu disediakan khusus untuk kegunaan kedai cuci kereta yang berada di sebelah itu.

Selain itu, ada juga yang menyatakan bahawa parkir tersebut mungkin parkir khas kerana terdapat nombor di petak tersebut. Jika dilihat pada video, ada petak parkir lain di kawasan itu tidak mempunyai nombor yang mungkin menandakan bahawa pengunjung boleh meletakkan kenderaan di situ.

Namun ada juga yang berkongsi bahawa
tayar kereta
 mereka pernah dikunci kerana mereka terlupa untuk mengunci pintu kereta dan pihak pengurusan telah mengunci tayarnya atas sebab keselamatan bagi mengelakkan kereta itu dicuri.

Apapun sebabnya, pemilik berkenaan telah digesa untuk pergi berjumpa pihak pengurusan pusat beli belah terbabit untuk mendapatkan jawapan sebenar mengapa Myvi itu dikunci di kawasan tersebut bagi mengelakkan sebarang fitnah.

Setakat ini masih tiada video baharu yang menjelaskan apa sebenarnya yang berlaku. Para pengguna media sosial turut mendesak agar mereka memuat naik bahagian kedua video itu bersama pihak pengurusan untuk mengetahui apa sebenarnya kesalahan yang dilakukan sampai keretanya dikenakan
clamp
.


Could This Be Our First Real Look At The Upcoming Infiniti Q30?

The
Infiniti
 Q30 is on its way to a production debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but interestingly a new picture has emerged (leaked?) showing what looks to be our earliest look yet at the car.
The photo in question appears on a Russian website
Autowp
 with the title ‘Infiniti Q30 2.2d’. Since it wasn’t obtained directly from the automaker, we can’t be entirely sure about its authenticity.
Having said that, it does look awfully believable, at least to these eyes.
What isn’t entirely clear either is whether this is the
Q30
 or the crossover variant, the
QX30
. Since the pictured car does not include the widened arches, higher ground clearance, roof rails and ruggedized panels, we’re leaning to this likely being the Q30.
When it does make its way out on to the roads, the
Mecedes

A Class
-derived hatch will rival the
BMW

1-Series
 and
Volkswagen

Golf
, among others. The strong European association of the car matches it’s manufacturing too, as it will be the first Infiniti to be made in Europe.
Should the 2.2-diesel engine specified alongside the picture prove accurate, it should likely be another Mercedes-sourced component, the same unit used on the European-market Infiniti
Q50
that produces 168hp and 400Nm of torque.


Proton To Show A Pickup Truck Concept At Alami Proton Carnival 2015

During a media tour of Proton’s Research and Development Centre prior to the Alami Proton Carnival 2015 at the company’s Centre of Excellence, we were shown a concept for a pickup truck designed by Proton.
As there is an embargo placed on the publication of any photos taken whilst we’re there, words will have to do for the mean time.
On first impressions, the pickup truck looks aggressive from the front with a massive grille featuring “teeth-like” structures nestled within. The headlights are miniscule in comparison to the vehicle’s size and appear to be of the LED variety, housed within a horizontal silver bar that runs across the vehicle’s front, with the Proton logo displayed in the middle. At the bottom is where you’ll find a skid plate with two fog lamps at the corners of the bumper.
Moving on, muscular haunches can be seen on the hood but beyond that, the side mirrors appear to be very conventional in nature, as is the profile, leading back to the flatbed. At the rear, the funky design resumes with octagonal-shaped taillights and a massive tailgate with the ‘Proton badge’ prominently displayed on it.
We’ve been told that during an organised tour for the general public, they will have the opportunity to see the concept through a viewing window so if you’re curious just what a Proton pickup truck might look like, head on over to the Alami Proton Carnival tomorrow. Stay tuned for the photos of the pickup truck concept once the embargo is lifted.


150 Million And Counting – Nissan Celebrates Production Milestone

Nissan just announced that it has reached a new production milestone as the brand’s 150 millionth vehicle rolled out of the production line in Japan yesterday.
Established in 1933, it took 73 years for Nissan to produce its first 100 million vehicles and another 11 years to build the last 50 million.
When the company reached its 100 million vehicle milestone in 2006, 76.5% of the total vehicles had been produced in Japan.
In the past 11 years however, close to 80% of the 50 million Nissan vehicles produced globally were made outside Japan – driven in particular by the U.S. and China.
Besides Japan, the US and China, Nissan vehicles are also being produced in Mexico, the UK, Spain, Vietnam, Myanmar, and also in Malaysia (Serendah and Segambut).
Nissan sees this achievement as the result of 84 years of continued support from all of its stakeholders worldwide, including employees, dealers, suppliers and local communities, as well as the numerous customers who have chosen cars produced by Nissan.


Hyundai Expands Sales And Service Network In Peninsula Malaysia

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM), the official importer and distributor of Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia, has expanded its sales and service network in Peninsula Malaysia.
Owners residing in four cities now have better access to Hyundai products and services and their location are:
GS Smart Auto Gallery, Alor Setar
Lee Cheng Motor Services, Sungai Petani
Vong Auto, Menglembu
Ang Trading and Motor Credit, Muar
Both the Muar and Alor Setar service centres are authorized Hyundai Ioniq hybrid service centres.
Meanwhile, in the central region, Millennium Automart has just opened a new sales showroom at Taman Equine, Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
“We are opening up more sales and service centres particularly in the suburbs to make it more accessible for Hyundai owners living outside the city areas, and also for those who are passing by when travelling from one district to another,” said Mr Dennis Ho, Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors (Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan).
“We have covered most of the city and town areas in all states, so naturally, our next move is to expand to the suburbs to offer convenience to Hyundai owners living in those areas,” Mr Dennis Ho added.
With these new sales and service centres, Hyundai has a total of 69 outlets (including all 3S centres, sales outlet and service centres) nationwide. Owners can also use the
online form here
 to perform service appointments.


Spied: Geely Binyue Testing In Genting Highlands – Future Proton SUV?

A camouflaged test mule of the Geely Binyue SUV has been caught testing by local motoring journalist
Y.S. Khong
.
The roughly 30-second video shows a dark blue Left Hand Drive test mule, camouflaged at both front and rear ends, driving out of a petrol station in Goh Tong Jaya. The video, albeit brief, gives us a good look the Binyue’s unmistakable silhouette which features a characteristic chrome window lines (top and bottom) which come together in the rear quarter glass. Along the flanks, the wheels also seem to be sporting camouflage, an indication that the localised vehicle could feature a different wheel design.
This is the second time the Geely Binyue has been spied testing on Malaysian roads.
The first time
 the SUV was spotted, the test mule was wrapped from nose to tail in camouflage, revealing very little of the car’s overall design, besides the “Expanding Cosmos” front grille.
The Geely Binyue is based on the company’s 'BMA' platform, with two engine variants available. The first is a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol that produces 177 hp and 255 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder that outputs 134 hp and 205 Nm, mated exclusively to a 6-speed manual transmission.
Depending on the market, the Binyue comes equipped with the company’s latest intelligent driving technologies, capable of SAE Level 2 autonomous driving. On offer are driving aids such as active cruise control, speed limit detection, parking assist, lane keep assist and departure warning, and a 360-degree view camera system.
In its home market in China, the Binyue is priced from CNY 88,800 for the 1.5-litre turbocharged model; for comparison, the Geely Boyue (Proton X70) is priced at CNY 129,800 – making it a relatively affordable B-Segment SUV. With that in mind, Malaysian consumers could expect the upcoming Binyue-based Proton model to have a ballpark price very close to that of the Perodua Aruz (Priced from RM 72,000).
The Binyue will go up against rivals such as the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches their Mercedes me Store - owners can now purchase enhancements for their car via an app

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched its Mercedes me digital store, enabling its customers to purchase additional digital products for all its connected vehicles.

The new
Mercedes me
 Store is now live and kicking and offers customers the ability to purchase selected personalisation offerings that include digital services and innovative enhancements that would elevate their Mercedes-Benz experience.

With the Mercedes me Store, customers now have full flexibility in choosing run-time options for packages that are compatible with their vehicle. However, essential safety and maintenance services ranging from SOS, Roadside Assistance, and Accident Management to retrieval of vehicle data will remain complimentary indefinitely.

The personalisation services are listed below. Product specification may vary depending on the technical pre-requisite of the vehicle.

(A) Renewal Package

1-year subscription

3-year subscription

Remote Package

RM388

RM888

Navigation Package

RM608

RM1,438

Excellence Package

(Bundle of Remote & Navigation Package)

RM868

RM1,988

(B) Service On-Demand

One Time Purchase

Hard Disc Navigation

RM3,488

AMG Track Pace

RM1,188

Edmin Naidoo, Vice President of Customer Services at Mercedes-Benz Cars, Malaysia and SEA II said “Since its local debut in 2019, Mercedes me Connect has been providing convenient digitalised experiences with tailor-made offerings as part of our commitment to further elevate driving experiences and comfort of our customers’ ownership journey. "

He added, “As a global luxury brand, we are constantly looking for a new and updated way to enhance our offerings. And with the digitalisation of business and services, it is only natural for us to upgrade our services to offer convenient seamless digital experiences at our customer’s fingertips. Mercedes me connect is a close companion of Mercedes-Benz owners in Malaysia that makes everyday life easier. With close to 100% pairing rate on the Mercedes me Connect, we are confident that existing and future customers will see the value and appreciate the new digital experience.”

The Mercedes me Connect is an app for owners to stay connected with their vehicles where they can retrieve data to make full use of other digital features that range from safety essential services to convenient features such as locking and unlocking of doors and windows, making online service appointments, and customer care support. Owners can also update their personal information such as contact details, email, and password at any time.

The full list of paid subscriptions is also available with Mercedes-Benz Pre-Owned connected vehicles. For more information on the Mercedes me Store, log on to
www.mercedes-benz.com.my/me-store


Tokyo 2017: Be Prepared For The All-New Mazda 3

Mazda is poised to reveal, albeit in concept form, what the next-generation Mazda 3 hatchback could look like at the upcoming 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. The company has confirmed that they will premiere a "product concept model" which will be based on the next-generation Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture, and be powered by the revolutionary Skyactiv-X compression ignition engine.
Two teaser pictures highlight the concept's streamlined silhouette and rear section. More importantly, Mazda has also released a picture of which could possibly be the next-generation car's body structure.
The third-generation Mazda 3 was first introduced in 2013 at the Frankfurt Motorshow, this would suggest that a successor could be upon us as early as 2019, coinciding with the
debut of the Skyactiv-X
 engine. Mazda’s Spark Controlled Compression Ignition enables the engine to switch between spark and compression ignition, resulting in more power and fuel economy rivalling that of hybrid engines.
Another concept from Mazda at Tokyo 2017 will showcase the concepts that will define the next generation of Mazda design. Essentially expanding on the hugely-successful Kodo design language which Mazda debuted with the CX-5 in 2012.
Masamichi Kogai, Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO adds “Our stand this year marks the beginning of a new era for Mazda. We will showcase a concept model with the design and technologies that will define a whole new generation of Mazda cars. Among them is Skyactiv-X, a gasoline engine that realizes a long-held dream of the global automotive industry.”


BMW Group Appoints Ex-Skoda Design Chief Jozef Kabaň

The BMW Group announced yesterday that it has appointed Jozef Kabaň, a former designer from the Volkswagen Group to be responsible for design for its core BMW brand.
He will be working under the BMW Group’s Chief Designer Adrian van Hooydonk.
Kabaň’s was position at the Volkswagen Group was Chief Exterior Designer for Skoda Auto. His last project completed was the
Skoda Kodiaq
.
However BMW’s statement to the press said nothing about Kabaň new position, apart from being responsible for design for the core BMW brand, so it cannot be immediately confirm if the 44-year old Slovakian national will be succeeding Karim Habib’s former position as Head of BMW Design.
Karim had left BMW earlier this year on his accord.
“We naturally respect Karim Habib’s decision and wish him every success in his new business endeavours,” said Adrian van Hooydonk.
At the same time, the BMW Group have also appointed Domagoj Dukec to head the design team for BMW i and BMW M vehicles.
Dukec has been with BMW since 2010 and was responsible BMW’s front-wheel models like the X1 and the 2-Series Active Tourer.
“I am looking forward to this strengthening of the BMW Group design team,” said Adrian van Hooydonk. “Both Jozef Kabaň and Domagoj Dukec bring the experience, talent and vision we need for the future direction of our design.”


Prasarana Introduces New Distance-Based Fares For LRT, Monorail, Cashless Discounts

The fare structure for the three main rail-based public transportation in Kuala Lumpur - LRT Kelana Jaya Line, LRT Ampang Line, and the KL Monorail - has, for the most part, remained unchanged for the past two decades (nearly). Yesterday, Prasarana Malaysia has announced a new fare structure based on distance blocks, and it would come into effect on December 2nd.
President and Group CEO Dato’ Azmi Abdul Aziz said the current fare structure, for the Kelana Jaya Line, was based on the different rates between stations in the Central Business Districts and non-Central Business Districts while the Ampang Line was based on the number of stations travelled. Same goes for the KL Monorail. This new fare structure is also meant to unify the charges for all three services.
“For a more equitable and consistent fares structure, the current structure would be realigned to the distance-based fare structure, similar with the practice of other rail operators globally.
“Under the new fares structure, passenger would be charged a flag fall plus the actual distance travelled multiplied by the corresponding rate that decreases the further the passenger travels,” Azmi said.
To encourage the use of cashless payments for travellers using these rail services such as Touch n’ Go or MyRapid card, the government has requested Prasarana to introduce fare differentiation.
“As an added incentive, passengers who opt for “MyRapid Smart 7 Weekly” or “MyRapid Smart 30 Monthly” would enjoy discounts of between 18 and 26 percent, and 20 and 35 percent respectively on the distance rate compared with cash,” Azmi explained.
“For example, passengers travelling between Chan Sow Lin and PWTC would pay RM2.30 in cash compared with RM2.40 today. They would only pay RM1.90 for a further discount of 40 sen from the new cash fare when travelling with “MyRapid Smart 30 Monthly”.
An additional discount incentive is added for those who purchase MyRapid Smart7 or Smart30 cards. With that, commuters can can an additional 3 to 14 percent lower fare over the normal cashless rate.
“Passengers travelling between Imbi and Dato’ Keramat would pay only RM3.40 via cash compared with the current fare of RM4.40. They would only pay RM2.80 when travelling with “MyRapid Smart 30 Monthly”,” said Azmi.
Passengers travelling between KL Sentral (Kelana Jaya Line) and KLCC, meanwhile, would need to pay RM2.40, an additional 80 sen in cash compared with RM1.60 today. However, they would only pay additional 40 sen when travelling with “MyRapid Smart 30 Monthly” or 50 sen more when travelling with “MyRapid Smart 7 Weekly”.
“We strongly encourage passengers, particularly our daily commuters, to purchase either “MyRapid Smart 7 Weekly” or “MyRapid Smart 30 Monthly”, depending on their travel patterns, to enjoy greater savings,” he continued.


New All-Electric Mercedes-Benz EQC Interior Teased, Tuesday Premiere

Mercedes-Benz has just released another online teaser of their all-electric EQC SUV, this time showing the EQC’s interior. The company earlier showed a short glimpse of the rear design of the new all-electric premium SUV.
While the exterior of the vehicle is largely based on the popular Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class SUV, the dashboard gets a completely new design. Seen in the photo is the layout of their now-signature dual-LCD Widescreen Cockpit, with newly designed rectangular air-conditioning outlets, breaking the norm of the circular-shaped designs.
It looks like the design elements of the EQ Concept SUV have been carefully replicated into the production EQC.
The display screen for infotainment is also displaying the ‘home image’ for the company’s
latest
MBUX
 interface that premiered in the all-new A-Class
.
Moving our focus to the lower console highlights a different COMAND touch pad. The design, squarer and slimmer in this EQC is closer to the one found in the new A-Class and upcoming GLC F-Cell.
Another interesting note is a switch that resembles a paddle-shifter on the steering wheel.
To recap, EQ (electric intelligence) is Mercedes-Benz’s new sub-brand that encompasses all future battery-electric cars as well as the associated products and services. The first product from the all-electric brand will be the said EQC SUV, followed by the A-class-sized compact called the EQA later. In total, more than ten new electric passenger cars are scheduled to be launched by 2022.
Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia brought over the one-and-only
Concept EQ for a quick demonstration and display purposes
. In the Concept EQ, the all-electric SUV similar in size to the Mercedes-Benz GLC-class is capable of going up to 500 kilometres on a single charge, with a 70 kWh lithium-ion battery. With 700 Nm of torque and 402 hp on hand, the Concept EQ can perform the benchmark 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in under 5 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz will make the global unveiling in Stockholm, Sweden on Tuesday, and has also announced that sales of the new EQC will only be starting in 2019.


The All-New Toyota Vios Is As Quiet As A C-Segment Sedan

At the sidelines of all-new Toyota Vios launch in Malaysia last week, UMW Toyota Motor organized a briefing session with Akira Kasamatsu, the Deputy Chief Engineer of the regionally popular compact sedan.
Prior to his current position, Kasamatsu-san was involved in the model life planning of Lexus RX model. Before that, he was also involved in the chassis division of non-sedan models such as SUVs.
Comfort and noise suppression benchmark with C-segment models
In our
review of the new Vios
, we were surprised by the quietness of the cabin. Tyre roar, wind noise, as well as engine noise were all very well muted, making it a very pleasant drive.
In the briefing session, Kasamatsu-san and his team laid out three main features to emphasize in the development of the new Vios. Comfort levels and low levels of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) were placed as top priority.
Insulation around the cabin now covers a wider area to keep out external noises and expansion foam is inserted in cavities to suppress vibration noise. Sponges are also used in the seals for more effective sealing.
The addition of an acoustic glass windshield (available from E-variant) which blocks exterior noises from entering the cabin works in harmony with the multiple layers of high-quality insulators and noise suppressors.
Perhaps from his previous experience, Kasamatsu-san could easily apply all his knowledge of achieving high levels of cabin quietness in the new Vios; a signature feature associated with many Lexus models.
Chassis is much stronger, enables better tuning of the suspension
Kasamatsu-san also revealed that additional spot welding was applied to the new Vios. This resulted in a more rigid bodyshell, improving
impact and occupant safety
 as well as comfort levels.
With a stronger bodyshell, the shock absorber and coil spring were also calibrated to work in harmony to deliver better ride comfort and high-speed stability.
During the media group test drive, the new Vios absorbed road irregularities with a more solid suspension travel and feedback. Occupants felt more stable thanks to the more rigid bodyshell that doesn’t flex as much.
The same ride comfort was felt on the North-South highway, where some portions of unevenness were simply “flattened” out.
Powertrain calibration uniquely for Malaysia
The powertrain consisting of the fuel-efficient Dual VVTi 2NR-FE 1.5-litre engine paired with a CVT-type automatic was carried over from the 2016 Toyota Vios.
Malaysian users wanted more responsive acceleration and response from a standstill, which the then all-new powertrain was not conveying.
Kasamatsu-san and his team, together with the technical team from UMW Toyota Motor worked on calibrating the transmission and engine control systems to deliver a response that mimics a geared-transmission.
Transmission “shift-steps” were even programmed into the control systems, as feedback from users in Malaysia indicated a familiarity and liking to the engine revolutions moving upwards with relation to speed.
The all-new Toyota Vios is available from RM77,200, and all of the great features (apart from the acoustic noise cancelling windshield) are available from the entry 1.5J variant. Learn more about
the new Vios here
.


How A Garden Hose Inspired Mazda’s Solution To Turbo Lag

Modern day turbocharging has come a long way. Once the exclusive purview of performance cars, it is ironic that turbochargers have found their way into mainstream cars as the solution opted by many a manufacturer to meet increasingly stringent fuel economy and emission requirements.
Going back to basics, a turbocharger uses the engine’s exhaust gas to spool up a turbine which in turn forces subsequent a higher volume and pressure of incoming air for the next combustion cycle. The higher you rev your engine, the faster the turbo spins, the more air can be forced into the cylinder, and thus more power can be produced.
The biggest disadvantage in turbos, as explained by Jason Fenske of the
Engineering Explained
 Youtube channel, is lag. In theory, the turbocharger runs on ‘free energy’, but the reality is that there is a wait between the moment you floor the throttle to the moment where the turbo spools up enough pressure to go ‘on boost’.
In our experience, modern cars do not have turbo lag as severe as they used to be, but they remain noticeable and get increasingly pronounced is you ramp up the boost levels.
Popular solutions to alleviate turbo lag include simply opting for a low pressure turbo, sequential turbocharging where differently-sized turbos operate at different speeds, or even variable geometry turbos. Now, Mazda comes into the equation with the first of its kind Dynamic Pressure Turbo.
In the words of Mazda’s PR speak, it is ‘the world’s first turbocharging system that can vary the degree of exhaust pulsation depending on engine speed.’ Sounds fabulous, but what does it mean in English?
Dato Sri Ben Yeoh, Managing Director of local Mazda distributors Bermaz Motor offers an elegant explanation by linking it to your garden hose. When the water pressure is low, you simply squeeze the tip of the hose to push the water out at a higher pressure.
Mazda’s Dynamic Pressure Turbo therefore has a valve ahead of the turbocharger that ‘squeezes’ the flow of air, thereby enabling even a low volume of air to hit the turbocharger at high pressure. With this solution, Mazda is able to offer a boost profile similar to variable geometry or twin sequential setups whilst only using a mechanically simpler single fixed-geometry turbo.
Dato Sri Ben reveals that from as low as 1,600rpm, the new SkyActiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine that will power the all-new Mazda CX-9 has access to 1.2 bar of boost enabling it to generate outputs of 250hp @ 5,000rpm and 420Nm @ 2,000rpm.


Mercedes-Benz Shed Light On Crash Protection In An EV

As the automotive industry progresses toward fully electric vehicles (EV), a different approach to crash protection is required on these chemical-dense, battery-heavy automobiles.
Mercedes-Benz will be starting the sales of their
all-electric EQC SUV from late 2019
, and as such, the company has started performing in-house crash testing to ensure all protection features performed as designed.
Key focus on EV crash protection safety will be the batteries. For the Mercedes-Benz EQC, the company has designed various physical as well as software-based protection systems to protect occupants inside the vehicle, as well as those near it in the event of a collision.

The large 80 kWh lithium-ion battery that is placed under the under the floor of the SUV is first protected by a robust frame with an integral crash structure. Deformation elements are installed between the frame and the battery, absorbing forces in the event of a severe side impact.
A battery guard in the front area of the battery is designed to prevent the battery from being pierced. Battery supplier Accumotive, a subsidiary of Daimler, also performed tests and evaluated the battery’s behaviour under impact and when penetrated by foreign objects.
The protection system also places an automatic cut-off system on the high-voltage system. Apart from operating during a dynamic collision, the system is also designed to curtail charging if an impact is detected while the EQC is at the charging station.
Thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s extensive experience of high-voltage drive systems, the EQC delivered high-levels of crash safety, validated at the Mercedes-Benz technology centre for vehicle safety (TFS), the most advanced crash test centre in the world.


EV sales to double in Malaysia at the end of 2023

It looks like the
number of EV sales here in Malaysia
 is expected to double by the end of 2023, and for good reasons.

With more and more manufacturers entering the local market with their own offering of electric cars (as well as some new players like
BYD
 and
GWM
), a sharp rise in registered EVs has been forecasted by the folks over at the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

2,093 EVs registered as of October 2022

According to a recent post by The Star quoting MAA's president, Datuk Aishah Ahmad, a total of 2,093 EVs have been registered as of October 2022. Forecast research unit, Fitch Solutions, forecasted that there will most likely be a jump of 45.6% or 4,449 units next year.

Based on what the Director General of JPJ, Dato’ Zailani Haji Hashim, their database has recorded around 10,700 registered EVs over the years. Looking at these figures, the EV market is certainly growing at a massive rate compared to the 274 units sold earlier this year.

Tax incentives will play a huge role

The current tax incentives for EVs covering both locally assembled (CKD) and completely built (CBU) units are helping with the EV driving force. To reach the mass market, more affordable options will need to be introduced.

We're talking about EVs that can be sold below the RM100,000 mark like what most of us are expecting from the likes of BYD and its
Dolphin EV
 model. So far, the cheapest EVs stand at around the RM150,000 mark but we will definitely see a lot more electric vehicles on the road as the price tags go down.

Exciting times ahead, folks. But, we already expected that.


Puspakom Tawar Pemeriksaan Kenderaan Percuma Secara Sukarela Sempena Aidilfitri

Dah lama kereta tak jalan ekoran
Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP)
? Jangan risau, kini anda boleh mendapatkan pemeriksaan kenderaan secara percuma oleh
Puspakom
!

Memastikan kenderaan anda berada dalam keadaan baik dan selamat amatlah penting, bukan sahaja pada anda, malah untuk pemandu lain yang menggunakan jalan raya juga. Oleh kerana tahun ini juga kelihatan seperti sambutan
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
 akan terbantut ekoran larangan merentas negeri bagi pulang ke kampung, namun ia tidak bermaksud anda perlu membiarkan kereta anda tanpa diperiksa.

“Walaupun musim perayaan ini tidak dibenarkan untuk
merentas negeri
, namun keselamatan kenderaan masih perlu dititikberatkan kerana kenderaan masih lagi digunakan untuk bergerak melakukan aktiviti harian,” kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Puspakom, Shukor Ismail.

Oleh itu, Puspakom kini menawarkan pemeriksaan kenderaan secara percuma untuk kenderaan persendirian di seluruh negara bermula 2 Mei sehingga 12 Mei 2021 dari jam 8 pagi hingga jam 5 petang. Pemeriksaan tersebut boleh dibuat di semua cawangan Puspakom kecuali di Shah Alam dan Pasir Gudang.

*Kredit foto: NST

Terdapat 25 item yang bakal diperiksa oleh Puspakom dalam pemeriksaan ini, antaranya adalah
cermin gelap
, bahagian bawah dan atas kenderaan, asap,
tayar
, lampu, gelincir sisi, ujian brek dan suspensi. Kebiasaannya, anda akan dicaj RM150 untuk menjalani pemeriksaan kenderaan secara sukarela anjuran Puspakom ini. Pemeriksaan ini bertujuan untuk menentukan sama ada kenderaan anda selamat untuk berada di atas jalan raya atau tidak dengan mengesan sebarang potensi kerosakan pada kenderaan anda.

Selain daripada hadir ke Puspakom untuk menjalani pemeriksaan ini, anda juga boleh hadir ke unit pemeriksaan bergerak di lokasi berikut pada tarikh yang dinyatakan:

3 Mei 2021 – Wisma DRB-HICOM, Shah Alam (9 pagi – 4 petang)

8 Mei 2021 – Perkarangan Stadium Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (9 pagi – 4 petang)

Sekiranya anda berminat untuk turut serta dalam pemeriksaan ini, tetapkan janji temu anda secara dalam talian pada tarikh yang sesuai di
mypuspakom.com.my
. Anda akan dikenakan fi pemprosesan sewaktu melakukan tempahan. Walau bagaimanapun, fi tersebut akan dipulangkan semula kepada anda setelah pemeriksaan selesai. Pastikan anda mematuhi segala SOP yang telah ditetapkan di sana. Kalau tak sia-sia je dapat pemeriksaan kereta percuma tapi kena saman SOP RM10,000.

*Kredit foto: BERNAMA

Ini merupakan peluang yang baik bagi pemilik kereta untuk mendapatkan pemeriksaan kenderaan yang sewajarnya tanpa bayaran. Untuk mereka yang tidak pasti dengan keadaan semasa kenderaannya, tak perlu pening kepala. Hantar sahaja ke Puspakom dan biarkan mereka periksa. Penting untuk mengetahui keadaan sebenar kenderaan anda supaya anda berpada-pada dalam pemanduan anda.

Yang paling penting, jangan pula gatal-gatal rentas negeri balik kampung untuk sambut raya pula. Tahu lah kereta dah sedap lepas diperiksa, tapi jika anda bukan
golongan kayangan atau selebriti
, tak perlu la nak susah-susah rentas negeri. Nanti kena saman di
Sekatan Jalan Raya (SJR)
, naya je!


Volvo Cars Sells More Than 600,000 Vehicles In 2018, Setting New Global Sales Record

Volvo Cars set a new global sales record in 2018, breaking the 600,000 sales milestone for the first time ever since the company was founded in 1927.
The company’s sales rose 12.4 % to 642,253 cars in 2018, compared with the same period the year before. This is the fifth consecutive year of global sales record for Volvo Cars. In 2017, the company sold 571,577 cars.
The new sales record in 2018 underscores strong demand for Volvo’s renewed product portfolio, led by its award winning SUV line-up, across the core regions of US, China, and Europe. In December the company sold 60,157 cars, up 2.8 per cent compared with the same period last year.
The XC60 was the company’s top selling model with sales reaching 189,459 units, followed by the XC90 with 94,182 units, and the Volvo V40/V40 Cross Country at 77,587 units. During the first 12 months, a total of 75,828 XC40s were sold while the S90 generated volumes of 57,142 units.
In the US, sales grew by 20.6 per cent to 98,263 cars compared with the same period the year before. The strong performance came on the back of growing demand for its SUV line-up, led by the XC60.
In China, sales grew by 14.1 per cent to 130,593 cars during the year, as compared with the same period the year before. The demand was spearheaded by the locally assembled XC60 and the S90 models.
Europe also reported a strong performance for the year. Sales rose by 6.4 per cent to 317,838 cars in the 12-month period compared to 2017. The robust performance was led by the new V60 and XC40 models.


Proton Smashes Its 2018 Sales Record Within Q3 Of 2019

Proton’s sales surge in 2019 is bringing the carmaker back to the forefront of Malaysia’s automotive market. As of September 2019, the company has exceeded its total sales for 2018 with 70,330 units (domestic + export) registered so far this year, compared to 64,744 for the whole of last year.

Proton rounded off a stellar September, with 8,934 units (domestic + export) registered in September 2019, marking a 97 percent increase (4,524 units) over the same month last year.

Proton estimates a total market share of 20.2 percent in September. The figure is a 66 month high-point for the brand and is estimated to increase Proton’s year-to-date market share to 15.8 percent.

The Proton Saga remains the most popular model sold, with 3,994 units delivered in September, the highest number of monthly deliveries for a Proton model in 2019. The Saga was the best-selling A-segment sedan in Malaysia in September.

Proton has also announced additional benefits for customers who purchase the Proton X70 in the month of October: subsidised insurance packages and overtrade incentives worth up to RM2,000.

Chief Executive Officer of Proton, Dr. Li Chunrong added, “By exceeding our total sales volume in 2018 in just nine months Proton is on target to achieving its best sales number since 2015. Of even greater significance though is the Saga’s return to the number one spot in its segment.”


Citroën DS5 Gets Nipped and Tucked Ahead of Geneva

For its odd and polarising egg-shaped body, Citroën’s DS5 is one of the most unique, if not beautiful, of cars on the roads today. However, there is a worry that any facelift work could taint the original’s originality, which is what
Citroën
 has done on their new take on the DS flagship that is set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The facelift work has removed the DS5’s sleek and rounded nose that was bookended by a subtle chromed grille of the brand’s iconic double chevron logo. In its place, the DS5 gets a big new vertical grille that proudly bears the DS logo, similar to that first seen on the DS Wild Rubis Concept of 2013. The headlights too have been replaced with sleeker new items that feature LED and xenon lighting elements, and neat design touches that extend the sleek lines of the front grille.
Aside from the new front end, much of the DS5’s shape has been retained and so too has its aviation cockpit inspired interior layout. The controls are still cantered towards the driver, and there are three moonroofs overhead for occupants to peer out of. Like its Peugeot 508 relative, the DS5 also benefits from the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group’s new touchscreen multimedia system. Gone is the knob controller behind the gearknob and in its place is a useful cubby hole for your personal belongings.
Features-wise the DS5 now comes with a blind spot monitoring system joining the DS5's line-up of existing safety features such as lane departure warning system, automatic highbeam control, swivel lights, and a head-up display.Powertrain wise, Citroën has updated the DS5 with the latest engines from the PSA Group to be complaint with the new Euro 6 emission standards. Its 165PS THP turbocharged petrol engine will be getting a new 6-speed automatic, while diesel adopters would have three choices of diesel BlueHDi engines with torque outputs ranging from 300Nm to 400Nm, to pick from. For those seeking the greenest DS5 of the lot, there is the diesel-hybrid ‘Hybrid 4x4’ variant which comes with a 200PS diesel-hybrid powertrain, 90g/km boast and a rate fuel consumption figure of 3.5L/100km.


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Conducts Field Fix Campaign For Selected Models

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia will be conducting 6 field fix campaigns for selected models. Roughly 21,133 vehicles are affected.
MMM will issue letters to all affected Mitsubishi owners and the company will bear the full cost of replacement and rectification.
Listed below are the details of the field fix campaign.
“Safety is our utmost priority thus MMM is taking this initiative to assure customer’s safety and regrets the inconvenience caused to the affected customers,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.
The company also requests that all affected customers to make an appointment at any Mitsubishi Motors authorized service centres for the replacement job.


Overwhelming Turnout For Carlist.my MAA Drive, Test and Buy Event

Carlist.my’s first-ever multi-brand test-drive sales carnival ended yesterday on a strong note, with 20,000 visitors recorded, exceeding the organizer’s expectations by twice as much.
Endorsed by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), the event took place at the Setia City Convention Centre in Setia Alam, Shah Alam, with 15 different brands participating, offering more than 50 different models for test drives.
Present during the event's opening ceremony on Saturday was (from left): Mr. Wong Man Hoe, Director of Hire Purchase Operations Divison, Public Bank, Mr. Chang Swee Wah, Retail Manager, Chevron Malaysia, Datuk Aishah Ahmad, President of the MAA, YB Dato’ Henry Sum Agong, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism, Mr. Hamish Stone, CEO of iCar Asia Sdn Bhd, and Ms. PC Gan, Country Manager (Malaysia) of iCarAsia Sdn. Bhd.
The event also proudly hosted the world debut of the
new Honda Jazz Hybrid
, as well the first ever Malaysian appearance of the Toyota’s upcoming 2018
Toyota C-HR
 crossover.
Subaru also took the opportunity to preview its upcoming
Subaru Forester 2.0i-S
 variant, which is set to be launched later this month, while Volkswagen launched its special edition
Volkswagen Polo ALLSTAR
 there.
The event also attracted a high number of quality leads. Over 2,500 visitors signed up for a test drive, which was immediately translated into over 250 bookings over the weekend. The total value of cars sold is estimated to be worth at least RM23 million.
More bookings are expected to be secured over the next few days, as consumers deliberate on their purchase decision carefully.
Honda took the lion’s share of bookings, securing 73 bookings over the weekend, followed by Perodua, Volkswagen, Toyota and Mazda rounding up the top-5 most popular brands.
iCar Asia Sdn. Bhd., the parent company of Carlist.my, would like to thank all participating automotive companies (in alphabetical order) for their support given:
Bermaz Motor
Honda Malaysia
Isuzu Malaysia
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia
Motor Image Malaysia
Nasim
Naza Euro Motors
Naza Kia Malaysia
Perodua Sales
Sime Darby AutoConnexion
UMW Toyota Motor
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia
Wheelcorp Premium Setia Alam
We would like to thank our event partners and sponsors for their participation (in alphabetical order):
Chevron Malaysia Limited
Malaysian Automotive Association
Public Bank
Below is a brief walkaround video log of the event, shot by our friend Bobby Ang from
EvoMalaysia.com
.


Toyota RAV4: Has It Lost The SUV Fight Before It Even Started?

At an estimated price of RM223k at the higher end, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 is knocking on Harrier territory. Does it even stand a chance against the CR-V?

Yesterday, June 10th 2020, was a whirlwind of news coming out of UMW Toyota Motor. What began as a routine teaser for next week’s planned local launch of the much-anticipated 5th-generation RAV4 - after a hiatus of about 15 years from our market - was followed by a slow trickle of even more information and, shockingly, even the price.

Granted, the numbers published by Toyota about the two incoming variants were stated as being ‘Estimated’. Even then, a key piece of information like that is something every automaker tends to make you wait for and with good reason. You could make some pretty accurate predictions about a car’s success (or otherwise) based on where it lands in the local automotive landscape and how it stacks up against competitors in the same price bracket.

Usually, any air of mystery at a car launch is almost always for the sake of theatrics. That cloth cover they place over them is purely ceremonial; there to facilitate the ‘tada moment’ done by a designated special guest or VIP(s).

Everyone there, assuming they’ve done their homework, basically knows everything - more or less - about the car except for its pricing. Doubly so for the motoring press. For some cars, like those which have already been revealed in an identical (or near-identical) spec in a neighbour country, it’s basically the whole point of a launch.

Mind you, I’m not a big fan of SUVs to begin with - though that’s more to do with crossovers - but when word got out that the RAV4 was set to re-enter the Malaysian market, there was probably few less keen on witnessing that than me. In my opinion, it’s one of the most interesting vehicles in the Toyota portfolio and, if given the right runway, could really shake things up in a segment that’s grown a little stale despite there being so many entrants to choose from.

Prior to yesterday afternoon, pretty much every guess on the matter of price had it hovering around RM200k, though expectedly a lot of would-be customers and/or Toyota fans reacted with some denial, fearing a fully imported RAV4 wouldn’t be able to compete for the SUV heavyweight championship if  the locally assembled CR-V represented spec-for-spec value at a much lower price. They’re right to feel that way.

The price reveal later that day also raised some questions as to the motives behind its introduction, and more specifically, why now?

This move could be likened to the Malaysian arrival of the newest Camry (XV70) in late 2018, except that we weren’t emerging from a global pandemic. A combination of factors led up to it being considerably more expensive than its immediate predecessor. It’s definitely a more upmarket vehicle to begin with, with a superbly appointed cabin, near-Lexus levels of refinement, generous equipment levels, and is genuinely impressive behind the wheel. It commanded BMW 3 Series money for something with a Toyota badge, though to its credit it was an objectively superior vehicle to the 318i at the time.

You could argue that, in its absence from Malaysia, the RAV4 has also grown into a much more accomplished vehicle - larger, more luxurious, and clearly with a lot more importance placed on its conception and development. It’s the Toyota Corolla of SUVs, their unofficial flagship. Then again, the same could be said of all automakers as, ultimately, that’s where buyer interest seems to be shifting. More customers means more money available to be thrown at newer, better SUV models to pad out showrooms.

Both the RAV4 and Camry share a similar (high) starting price which is unlikely to shift by much once UMW Toyota confirms the final number before next week’s virtual launch, even with the government-imposed discount on ST. However, while the Camry’s focus was already starting to narrow thanks to the rise in SUV popularity along with its turn to becoming a more ‘prestige’ product for the brand that does attract a certain type of buyer, the RAV4’s set of expectations are much broader.

The RAV4 is Toyota’s mainstream medium-SUV and is competing globally in one of the most high volume, lucrative category of vehicle sales. It was engineered to be the crowd pleaser, the ‘do-everything’ car for the majority of buyers. The press and owner testimonials also seem to be unanimous in it being so damn good. And in a lot of markets, it dominates the sales charts for good reason.

Sadly, because of Malaysia’s excise duties and other taxes imposed on foreign-built vehicles, the RAV4 comes into our market with a pricing handicap that puts it out of consideration for most everyday buyers. Against its arch rival, the venerable Honda CR-V, its value proposition just doesn’t stack up.

Usually, those in the market for an SUV are there to find a suitable car for the family, so there's less room for subjective wants. This car would need to meet a certain checklist of tech features, safety, practicality, size, and price. The RAV4 just doesn't pass the
spreadsheet
 test because the CR-V offers just as much on-paper plus points for much less money.

That's also why it’s much likelier that Camry buyers will find ways to justify it as a car bought for more heart-driven (subjective) reasons, legitimising its higher price over the previous version. Against rivals such as the Passat, the new Camry offers just as much athleticism, 'prestige' factor, and maybe even a bit more novelty.

The RAV4, though excellent, will be judged through a far more rigid and unforgiving set of rules. This is probably why I am simultaneously glad and disappointed at this newest addition to the UMW Toyota line-up.

It's not as if you're getting significantly more performance from the RAV4 either. For that RM204k (RM203,880) estimated starting price, you'll get a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder mill (M20A-FKS) from Toyota's Dynamic Force family of engines, producing 169hp and 203Nm. More decent outputs are yielded from the range-topping variant, which boasts the larger 2.5-litre atmospheric (A25A-FKS) four pot, generating 202hp and 250Nm.

Mind you, the RAV4 in most overseas markets is also offered as a hybrid to further supplement power and improve refinement while allowing it to consume even less fuel. More recently, Toyota launched a PHEV variant with a combined output of 306PS and an amazing 95km of pure electric range. A 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.0 seconds doesn't hurt either, but don't count on any of those versions reaching our shores anytime soon.

It’s somewhat tragic that Toyota built an SUV so good that its interest gained enough momentum for it to return to the Malaysian market, only for it to be forced to compete under such unfair circumstances because it wasn’t built within our borders, denied of its true potential success.