The Monotsukuri Focus – A Look at How Mazda Builds their Cars Together

These days every car maker likes to talk about heritage, reminding people of their achievements in innovation, motorsports successes, or even just making cars that lots of people buy. Heritage is like a magic pixie dust that you can sprinkle onto any car to make them appear greater than the sum of their parts.
As for
Mazda
, their heritage isn’t so much tied to landmark cars they were responsible for, cars like the Le Mans winning 787B or the popular
MX-5
. For Kiyotaka Shobuda, a managing executive officer of Mazda Motors Corporation, the company’s heritage is ingrained in the company itself. It is their spirit of taking on challenges, even if it means forging unconventional ways.
“At Mazda we have a spirit that never stops challenging,” Shobuda elaborated. “Our goal is to produce products that will wow people around the world.” Considering Mazda’s history and position in the Japanese automotive industry, achieving the company’s aforementioned goal is easier said than done.
Since the implosion of the world’s financial markets in 2008, Mazda had to strike out on their own after the
Ford
 Motor Company, which held a controlling stake in the company since 1996, sold off their stake in the company. Without the huge resources and volumes of scale that were available to them under the Ford banner, Mazda had to rethink the way of doing things in order to ensure their own survival without compromising on their belief of developing products that exceeds customer expectations.
In our previous interviews with Mazda’s designers, we have seen how
Mazda took the bold move to embark on a design-led revolution of their products
, and
used unconventional techniques to lend their vehicles a distinctive styling
. But that is only part of the story. As is often the case, translating concept to production is a route fraught with challenges and compromise. Something that Mazda cannot afford to let it happen.
Being relatively small, Mazda has an annual production capacity of approximately 1.2 million (2008 figures), which is nowhere near as big as Japan’s Big Three,
Toyota
,
Honda
, and
Nissan
, whose production figures often exceed 10 million vehicles a year. In a world dominated by volume, Mazda knew that maintaining the same operation structure with such small production numbers would render them uncompetitive. Something had to be done, and alluding to Shobuda’s words, Mazda looked back at their production structure and sought to challenge the whole concept of vehicle manufacturing. In the end what they came up with was christened as the
Monotsukuri
 innovation.
The
Monotsukuri
 Innovation
Boil any business of making cars down to its core elements and it is all about striking the right balance between creating a diverse range of products in order to be competitive, whilst retaining a commonality in parts to achieve economies of scale. Through Mazda’s
Monotsukuri
Innovation, the company was able to produce a diverse product line-up while maintaining economies of scale, even with a relatively low production capacity.
According to Shobuda, this was achieved through breakthroughs in key parameters of integrated planning, common architecture, and flexible production. Previously models were developed individually where the product development and manufacturing division worked exclusive from one another. This often resulted in conflicting perspective and ideals during the transition from the product's final design and concept to production, resulting in compromises and deviation from the original design.
By using integrated planning defined in Mazda's
Monozukuri
innovation, key personnel from product development, manufacturing, purchasing, and even suppliers would often meet together to hold discussions as to what products and technologies Mazda should be aiming to develop for the next five to ten years, and closely collaborate with one another to achieve those aims.
Through these numerous discussions and collaborations Mazda is able to define the structures that would be shared between several of these future models, such as a fixed engineering concept, cross-sections, machining method, and transfer standard. In doing so Mazda is able to establish a common architecture that would be used across several models with one development concept, and thus achieve the desired economy of scale that is close to what is possible from a single model.
From this common architecture, Mazda’s personnel will look into tweaking variable elements such as the wheelbase, sheet metal thickness, and floor height, to produce a wide variety of models such as hatchbacks, sedans, and crossovers from it.
Setting an Example through Design
A good example of this integrated planning is the company’s effort in faithfully reproducing the design of their concept cars in production form. Previously the product development team would hand over the vehicle design to the manufacturing division once they have finished finalising its design. From there the manufacturing division would create dies to form the parts, which at times, often results in the failure to accurately reproduce the intended shape, due to technological or production constraints.
Under the
Monotsukuri’s
integrated planning, product development and manufacturing divisions would have to work together to come up with a solution together. According to Shobuda it is a two-step process where engineers would have a design evaluation through forming simulation. With the information gained from the simulation, the designers are then able to follow up with the utilisation of craftsmen to further refined and fine tune the stamping die to achieve the intended form.
When Mazda’s engineers wanted to bring the
Takeri
concept car into production, the designers were on hand to help them recreate the concept car’s three distinctive lines on the body, while engineers gave feedback on solutions to help realise the
Takeri’s
 shape on the new
Mazda 6
. Taking their input, Mazda’s designers then put the design data through a simulation, and from there craftsmen were able to do the necessary improvements to the dies used to press the sheet metal panels for the new 6
Achieving
Soul Red
For Shobuda, one of the crowning achievements of the
Monotsukuri
innovation has to be the creation of Mazda’s distinctive communication colour, Soul Red. In 2010 the design team mooted the idea of bringing the vivid metallic red hue used on their concept cars to the production 6. Its deep lustre and captivating metallic glow was achieved through the use of 13 layers of paint, which was impossible to achieve for a paint job that is supposed to take 54 seconds on the production line.
Instead of refusing the design team’s request outright, the engineers came up with a paint layer design composition that comprised of just three layers. A reflex layer that is composed of aluminium flakes ensures reproduction of shine from a specific angle, giving its shimmering glow as you move from viewing angle to angle. Next a layer of translucent red paint is applied to give the desired red tint of light that is being reflected off the reflex layer below. And lastly the paint layers are topped off with a clear translucent layer that adds the depth of the concept car’s paintjob. According to Shobuda, the team took two years to develop Soul Red and bring it to the production line, but from the look of satisfaction in his eyes, you can tell it was years well spent.
Besides developing a new shade of paint, Mazda’s engineers also managed to improvise their paint shop. Their Aqua-tech paint shop is said to be lower in cost and poses less environmental burden with less than half the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions of standard water-borne paint production. The paint shop is also shorter than conventional paint shops at 81-metres in length, as compared to Honda’s water-borne paint shop of 271-metres in comparison. Thus cutting down on the demands of space in a production line.
Speaking of paints, Mazda also uses a special spray-on damping material that is far lighter than the conventional sound dampening sheet, which adds to the weight reduction work Mazda’s engineers are trying to achieve. The challenge of using a spray-on damping material is cutting down on excess layer thickness and application. For that Mazda uses a special porous nozzle spray, instead of slit nozzle that causes overlapping sprays and unstable spray widths. Its application on the car’s body panels is said to be extremely precise with automatons that operate like that of an inkjet printer.
Cutting Waste, Optimising Resources
Though Mazda puts a considerable amount of attention into bringing their concept cars to production reality, it doesn’t come at the expense of optimising their manufacturing processes. Being part of
Monotsukuri,
 manufacturing optimisation is also factored in to maximise the effective use of their resources.
One of the ways to do so is in increasing the material yield rate of the press process. Thanks to the close collaboration between product development and manufacturing, they are able to stamp multiple parts out of one die, thus cutting down on wastage. Furthermore, by fine tuning the varying thickness of metal required for each body panel according to requirements in body rigidity, functionality, and design, Mazda is able to improve material yield from the stamping process and at the same time deliver lighter chassis components and body panels that keeps to their Skyactiv fuel-efficient technologies ethos. By Mazda’s own estimates the improvement on material yield was said to be 60%, but their engineers managed to raise that figure to 70% for the
CX-5
.
With the use of a common architecture, Mazda is able to develop a flexible production model with a mixed model production in one line that won’t compromise on quality and delivery time. That being said it isn’t just limited to producing different bodystyles atop a single chassis.
One of the assembly lines in the Mazda’s Hiroshima plant we were shown around featured adjustable jigs that allowed the assembly of both the
CX-3
 and CX-5 SUV on the same line. The moveable jigs enables the assembly of chassis of different wheelbases and track widths. These jigs can be automatically moved on the X, Y and Z axis to allow for various body styles to be built on one line.
Like the adjustable jigs, the welding machinery of the body panels to the underfloor components can switch between the CX-3 and CX-5. Even with the production of Mazda’s compact and medium-sized SUV being shared on the same line, Mazda says the production line is able to produce around 50 units an hour.
With design, quality, and environmental well-being being a priority, Mazda has also looked into reducing the spatter from its spot welding process. Those bright sparks that shoot out from the welding process isn’t just insubstantial sparks of flame but tiny droplets of molten material that solidifies as it cools. Spatter isn’t just bad for paint quality, but it also affects the reliability of the assembly robots and is a pollutant to the environment. According to Mazda their engineers had managed to cut down spatter by 94% by tweaking the angle and method of welding, in effect improving the finish and consistency of the vehicles rolling off the production line.
Engine Production – Bringing Skyactiv across the Range

Like the underfloor and body assembly Mazda also applied their
Monotsukuri
principles towards manufacturing their Skyactiv engine range with the adoption of a common architecture and flexible production. Even though Mazda’s Hiroshima engine plant is responsible for the production of the 1.5-litre and 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol engines, and 1.5-litre and 2.2-litre Skyactiv-D diesel engines, their designs are standardise to allow for the production of multiple engine types and displacement without the need for additional investment in new facilities.
Considering their production numbers, Mazda opted to use a machining centre to produce their engines. Looking closely at the cylinder heads of the four engines and you would see it has the same locators where the heads would be mounted to the machining equipment. When machining different engine types, the jig is able to switch cutting tool to create the matching cylinder head to suit the engine type.
In order to improve productivity in engine production, Mazda sought to minimise the time of non-machining work. According to Mazda’s technicians, machining a cylinder head would have required 43 different steps, but Mazda was able to reduce this figure to just four stations, thus reducing the time that is required to move the cylinder heads between machining jigs. To achieve this Mazda designed unique machining stations that is able to support the production of inline-4 and the Cyclone V6 engine that is used in the CX-9. Assembly of both Skyactiv engines and the V6 engine are also carried out concurrently on the same assembly line.
Considering the amount of fine tuning that went into the engineering of the Skyactiv engine range, Mazda’s engineers had to ensure that the equipment used in production would be able to deliver finely and accurately machined engine components. When it came to machining the mounting points for the engine’s camshaft, the engineers managed to design a special rig to support the long drill bit as to prevent sagging during the drilling process. It is said that this special rig is able to deliver an accuracy of between 0.015mm to 0.05mm. As for drilling valve holes in the cylinder head, Mazda’s engineers were able to improve machining accuracy and reduce variations from a mere 9.4μm to just 3μm, or 0.003mm.
Bringing
Monotsukuri
to the World
As much as Hiroshima is Mazda’s centre of excellence, Mazda wants to bring their
Monotsukuri
 innovation to every one of their production hubs around the world. This is part of their goal to forge a single and consistent brand quality on a global basis. So a CX-5 that rolls off the production line in Kulim, is of the same build quality as those that roll off the production line in Japan or anywhere else in the world.
Where others are busily producing low-cost volume models for specific regions, Mazda doesn’t see such differentiations between markets. Instead they are training their sights on delivering products that appeal to discerning car lovers around the world, be it in America, Europe, or Asia, and this is why Mazda is stressing the importance of bringing the
Monotsukuri
principles to the world. For Mazda the end goal isn't to sell more and more cars, but to make a clear and consistent brand image that captivates drivers around the world.
And they can only get there together as one.
Shobuda summarises the
Monotsukuri
ideology as a relay marathon. “In a relay marathon each team will have seven runners, and each runner have to perform to the best of their abilities, a slight difference will result in a large gap,” said Shobuda. “My vision for Mazda is that everybody plays their part in building and bringing up the brand.”


RM15k of ‘Prosperity Blessings’ with the Renault Fluence

The C-segment is a ripe hunting ground for value-conscious buyers, and value buys don’t come much bigger in our market than the Renault Fluence, which offers a decently-sized and fully-equipped 2.0-litre family sedan priced very affordably from under RM110k without insurance.
Featuring proven mechanicals in the form of Renault/Nissan’s refined and highly-efficient 2.0-litre MR20DE engine combined with the X-Tronic continuously variable transmission, the Fluence also comes with a number of segment-leading features such as the Renault R-Link infotainment system, keyless entry and ignition, and auto-locking.
Two variants of the locally-assembled Fluence
 are offered, namely the entry-level Expression model at RM109,888 followed by a higher-end Dynamique variant at RM119,888. Both prices stated are on-the-road inclusive of GST without insurance.
Biggest highlight of the Fluence’s ownership preposition comes in the aftersales department, where owners enjoy TC Euro Cars’ unique ‘5inFluence’ aftersales and maintenance package. Previously exclusive only to the higher-end Dynamique model, the ‘5inFluence’ package now comes standard with both variants of the Fluence, offering the following benefits:
5-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty
5-year / 100,000km free maintenance
1-year genuine parts warranty
Complimentary pick-up service for scheduled services
Courtesy car if customer’s vehicle requires more than 48 hours in the service centre
Further strengthening the Fluence’s unbeatable value-for-money preposition, TC Euro Cars’ has rolled out a special ‘Usher in the New Year with 5 Prosperity Blessings’ sales campaign offering Fluence buyers a ‘Prosperity Blessings Package’ worth over RM15,000, comprising ang-pows worth RM11,888, complimentary petrol worth RM2,888, and a pre-loaded Touch & Go card worth RM500 each.
Coinciding with the campaign, TC Euro Cars will hold two showroom weekenders that are open to the public at selected showrooms nationwide – the first on 16 and 17 January, the second from 20 to 21 February. Both events are open to walk-in customers, you can book your test drive slot in advance by filling in your details in the
form contained within this link
.
Recently, TC Euro Cars had also announced that all Renault models will be sold at no increase in price for 2016. Prices of Renault vehicles sold in Malaysia are summarized in the list below.
Find out more about
Renault Fluence
 cars on Carlist.my.


No Better Time To Buy A Volvo Than Now

Volvo Cars Malaysia (VCM) have introduced attractive value-added packages for their XC90, XC60, and XC40 SUVs, hence if you were thinking of buying one of these Volvo models, there is no time like the present.

Volvo XC90 T8

The Volvo XC90 T8 is offered with a complimentary Recharge Package worth RM10,000, cash rebates worth RM8,000 plus a complimentary Volvo Service Agreement (VSA 5+) which takes care of all mandatory maintenance service costs and a wide range of wear and tear items for a worry-free ownership experience.

For the XC90 T8+ VCM offers a complimentary Recharge package worth RM10,000 plus the Complimentary VSA 5+ package.

Volvo XC60 T8

Pretty much the same applies for the XC90’s smaller sibling model, the XC60 T8, which comes with a complimentary Recharge Package (RM10,000), cash rebates worth RM8,000, and the VSA 5+ service package. If you've not seen us put this Swedish lass through her paces, then maybe this
video
 might further convince you of her value.

The XC60 T8+, on the other hand, comes with the Recharge package and the complimentary VSA 5+ package.

Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design

The XC40 T5 R-Design will be offered with the complimentary VSA 5+ package.

In addition, all customers who book their next Volvo via the website will receive a complimentary Polestar Optimization package worth RM 5,250.

The promotion period ends on 30th April 2020.


MINI Now Offers 7-Speed Wet-Type Dual Clutch Transmission, But Only For Its Slower Models

Up until now, MINI’s list of transmission options for the MINI 3-Door, 5-Door and Convertible (not sold here) are limited to the 6-speed manual (not available here) and 6-speed torque converter automatic. Now, MINI has announced that a new 7-speed Steptronic dual clutch automatic transmission (DCT) will be offered to certain entry variants of the MINI 3- and 5-Door as well as the Convertible.
The new transmission will adopt a new design gear shifter, one that always returns to its home position irrespective of which gear position is selected. The Park position is now engaged by pushing a button. It’s similar in operation to many rear-wheel drive BMW models.
To further improve shift quality, the electronic control of the new double clutch transmission includes a shift strategy based on navigation data. For example, when approaching a sharp bend or junction, a downshift is made early on so as to be able to make use of the engine braking effect for deceleration purposes. When passing through two bends in quick succession, the drive position engaged after downshifting is maintained so as to avoid any unnecessary shifting and ensure the ideal gear is available for powerful acceleration on exiting the bend.
When driving in MINI’s standard MID or the fuel saving Green driving mode, the new transmission enables a fuel economy improving coasting function that disengages the transmission when coasting. The transmission re-engages as soon as either the brakes or the accelerator is tapped, or when navigation data shows an approaching corner.
At the moment, the faster shifting twin oil-cooled wet clutches equipped transmission is only available in the European market MINI 3- and 5-Door as well as Convertible. Curiously, the new 7-speed DCT is only available in the entry petrol-powered One and diesel-powered Cooper D variants. The higher performance Cooper and Cooper S will continue to be driven by a 6-speed torque converter automatic, as will the Cooper SD with its 8-speed torque converter automatic.


Ford Reveals Its Hardcore, Track-Focused Mustang, The GT350R

At the 2015 Detroit Motor Show, the Blue Oval surprised the world when it unveiled the all-new Ford GT. However, that wasn’t the only model to make up the new Ford Performance Lineup as they’ve also introduced a new track-focused model, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R.
With the basic ingredients of the Shelby GT350, the R edition is off to a good start. The same 5.2-litre V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft is still here, providing more than 500 hp and 542 Nm of torque.
With the powertrain remaining the same, the GT350R underwent a weight-saving programme in pursuit of performance. No compromise is spared here because the stereo system, rear seats, trunk floorboard and carpet, reverse camera, and emergency tyre sealer and inflator have all been remove. The 19-inch wheels are now made of carbon fibre and wrapped in Michelin’s Pilot Sport Cup 2 high-performance tyres.
Along with that, the air conditioning system is also omitted as well as exhaust resonators, the latter to produce a sharper exhaust tone. According to
Ford
, “If a part did not make the car faster around a road course, it was considered for deletion.” As a result, the GT350R is 59 kg lighter than the Shelby GT350 Track Pack model. However, if you need some comfort, an optional Electronics Package brings back what was removed in the first place.
The weight-saving programme isn’t the only performance enhancement here. The GT350R also gets stiffer springs, anti-roll bars, and reduced ride height as well. Ford also switched to a cross-axis ball-joint connection for the front control arms from a traditional bushing-supported setup, resulting in a "zero-compliance" connection between the steering knuckle and the control arm.
Aerodynamics are also bumped up with various vents, diffusers, and wheel wells. Maximising downforce comes courtesy of revisions to the front splitter and a carbon fibre rear wing.
Rounding things up and to ensure that others are well aware this isn’t the run-of-the-mill Mustang Shelby GT350, the R comes with red design details to drive home that point. Red accents on the brake callipers, racing stripes, and GT350R badging can be seen around the vehicle. Inside, high-contrast red stitching and a D-shaped steering wheel can be seen.


Wearnes Automotive Launches New Volkswagen Showroom in Sg Besi

For the longest time, the Wearnes showroom off Jalan Sungai Besi has been a fairly nice display of Volkswagen products and definitely a welcome sight when crawling through a slow traffic jam. Unfortunately over the years, that space has become too restrictive to support the ever-growing Volkswagen customer base.
It was always in the cards that Wearnes Automotive would be moving their operations to a new location, but only now has the new centre been officially launched. Volkswagen and Wearnes officials were there to officiate the launching of the showroom with some ribbon cutting and signing.
While built on a rather oddly shaped piece of land, this new centre promises to be a one-stop outlet that caters to everything a Volkswagen owner would need (or a 4S centre); there are sales, after sales, service and repair, parts storage, and body and paint services provided by this new centre.
The layout is such that it spans 2 floors, with the lower floor housing the showroom and the various points of contact for service, as well as the car parks for owner collection. The showroom can display up to 9 vehicles with plenty of breathing room- a welcome change from the more cramped conditions of the previous showroom.
On the servicing side, there are 34 servicing bays with 34 trained Volkswagen technicians on duty in order to speed up regular service work. The service area operates on the second floor of this centre, and has plenty of upgraded tools and equipment to take on more complex jobs.
Overall, the new centre took 3 months to settle in and ensure operations would run smoothly, with a total of RM 6 million invested in building and equipping this new location. The total space area is 75,181 square feet across two floors, including a modern waiting lounge for customers with WiFi and cable TV.


Review: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line – Now Everyone Can Sports Car

Can sensibility and desirability co-exist in a vehicle? Regardless of whether it’s a full-blown supercar or a seven-seater MPV – arguably the hardest job for any manufacturer, and indeed its multi-disciplinary – in many cases international – team of engineers, designers, software programmers, and the lot involved with the actual production of any vehicle is creating desirability for any vehicle it hopes to sell.

Arguably the job is made easier if you were designing an iconic sports car like the
Porsche 911
, but potentially harder when developing a car like say… the
Toyota Rush
. Seven-seats, 13 cup holders, a powertrain that could last for eons, and yet an exterior that finally manages to look modern, stylish, and to a certain extent, desirable.

It boils down to that endless pursuit of form and function, and a careful interplay of which creates a car that is both a joy to own and drive but is also cool to look at and show off to your friends.

The Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI in its earlier generations may have been a great car to drive, but admittedly was a bit bland with its sedate styling, small-ish wheels, and reduced levels of equipment.

With the introduction of the facelifted Golf Mk 7.5 range – which incidentally also marked the
start of largest VW product offensive in history
 – the humble Golf 1.4 TSI has received an extensive update not just to its exterior, but in terms of the overall equipment levels, and in the case of the car you see here, the addition of the R-Line package.

But while it looks better, does it have what it takes to offer that all-important Golf trait of being a sporty car on a budget? Let’s drive.

Overview

Billed as the baby-GTI of the
facelifted Golf range
 – the Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line delivers a substantial chunk of the style and equipment of the
Golf GTI
 model for a fraction of the price. Priced at RM173,390, the R-Line is priced some RM73k down on the GTI model, which retails for RM246,490, post-SST introduction.

Among the more notable highlights is the R-Line’s 8-inch touchscreen 'Composition Media' infotainment system, 'Climatronic' dual-zone climate control, 12.3-inch high definition Active Info Display, and keyless entry and start system – dubbed “Kessy”.

Visually, the R-Line is fitted with the R-Line front and rear bumper, side sill extensions, a rear spoiler, and 17-inch “Singapore” alloy wheels. LED headlights and taillights finally top off the tasteful list of styling additions of the R-Line variant.

Under the hood lies the company’s proven direct-injected and turbocharged 1.4-litre engine which produces 148 hp at 5,000 rpm and 250 Nm of torque from as low as 1,500 rpm. Power is sent through a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission which is augmented by Volkswagen’s Extended Electronic Differential Lock or XDS for maximum traction at the front end.

Specifications for Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line

Engine: 1.4-litre turbocharged transverse four-cylinder

Power: 148 hp at 5,000 rpm

Torque: 250 Nm at 1,500 rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed dry-type dual-clutch automatic transmission, front wheel drive

Safety: Seven-airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, ESC, ISOFIX, Post-Collision Braking System, Hill Hold Control, Proactive Occupant Protection System

Price: RM 173,390 with SST, excluding insurance

Exterior

It’s a looker isn’t it – especially in the Tumeric Yellow highlight colour. The gloss black winglets on the front and rear bumpers, and side skirts add brilliant contrast to the body and gives the R-Line a rather technical look.

The 17-inch "Singapore" alloys are a wee bit sedate to match the rest of the car in my opinion, but the rim’s polished finish is top notch and looks the part.

And one must not forget the sequential turn signals of the R-Line at both the front and rear: I struggle to think of any other manufacturer that offers this feature at the R-Line’s price range – and it goes a long way too – delivering premium execution at a rather reasonable price tag.

Interior

In a nutshell – the interior is all one could need from a car of this size. Admittedly, a Honda Jazz would be more practical if space is all that you’re looking for, but for the most part, the Golf R-Line’s interior will accommodate four with ease and is very comfortable even on extended journeys.

Fit and finish, as you might come to expect from a Volkswagen, is superb: touchpoints such as the steering wheel, dashboard, door panels, and centre console all feel very well built – much better than the pre-facelift model – and offer much confidence that it would stand the test of time.

And by far the most notable aspect of the interior is the 12.3-inch Active Info Display which relays a multitude of information in clear and organised fashion and is pretty easy to get to terms with, once you start playing with the steering wheel controls.

And if I’m being honest, Volkswagen’s current generation of infotainment systems – an 8-inch touchscreen unit with MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity in the case of the Golf R-Line – is relatively easy to understand and use. I also love that the Bluetooth reconnects with my phone almost as soon as I get into the car. Also, in terms of appearance and overall quality, it's about as good as it gets at this price range.

Despite the Park Assist's good intentions, I did find it a bit of a bother after a while - it works very well - a bit too well that it instantly comes on in traffic the moment a motorcycle whizzes by even 5-feet away from the car. So for the most part, one would end up having to repeatedly turn it off if you were navigating the crowded streets of Petaling Jaya or Bukit Bintang.

Driving Experience

Within minutes of getting behind the wheel of the R-Line, one can instantly appreciate its balanced driving demeanour. In many ways, it’s a sports car dressed in a casual evening suit.

The DSG double-clutch transmission has over the years been developed to be an extremely smooth and versatile unit. This is best demonstrated when starting from a standstill or creeping in traffic – it’s smooth, with no drivetrain judder during clutch activation – almost like a torque converter automatic.

As you build speed, gear shifts are trigger quick and almost unnoticeable unless you’re monitoring your rev counter. Depress the throttle, and the transmission intuitively calls up a lower gear. It pretty much does exactly what you wanted it to do, when you want it to.

As does the engine. I’ve never been short of praise for Volkswagen’s little 1.4-litre turbocharged powerplant – powerful, zesty, eager to rev and most of all, deliciously linear throughout the rev range. 90 percent of the time, it simply feels like a naturally-aspirated engine, with no hint of turbo lag, and it pulls like a train from as low as 1,500 rpm.

The car gets pretty manic if you toggle its drive mode selector into “Sport” mode – the revs heighten, the gearbox goes into full-attack mode, and the throttle pedal responds to every millimetre of input.

Floor it and revs race to redline in every gear, while it may not have the swish-bang-pop and go of the GTI, it’s no slouch either. Often times, I ran out of road way before being able to exploit the engine’s generous mid-range torque and top end power. Needless to say, it handles highway speeds with ease and will cruise all day at 170 km/h if you need it to.

And given relatively low mass at the front, turn-in is sharp and predictable. The front end responds to every input from the equally quick steering rack. Mid-corner balance is sublime given the body’s rigidity levels and superb suspension setup which manages to be both comfortable when you’re simply cruising around, but responsive enough when you feel like bashing about.

But do keep in mind, the fuel economy does go up quite on the urban cycle. Constant stop-and-go returned fuel economy readings of 12.0 litres/100 km, which is a bit thirsty for a relatively small engine. On the highway though with seven closely stacked gears, readings can drop as low 6.8 litres/100km, if you drive conservatively.

Conclusion

When viewed in isolation, the 1.4 TSI R-Line is the same well-sorted driving machine that it has always been, now made even better with the stylistic enhancements and better equipment levels.

If we don't consider Japanese rivals such as the Mazda 3, which is a great car in its own right, its Golf's closest competitor is the
BMW 118i M Sport
. Given its rear-drive powertrain and excellent driving dynamics, the 118i pips the Golf in terms of an overall package, but it does cost roughly RM15k more.

But that doesn't change the fact the Golf R-Line offers great value and is every bit the "budget" performer even when compared against the iconic Golf GTI. But in the case of that all-important quantum of street cred - I would argue the VW Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line finally has it... and has it spades.


2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Coming In November To Malaysia - Three Variants - Priced From Under RM150k

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has confirmed that the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric will be launched in Malaysia in November 2021.  Three variants will be made available and pricing is expected to start from under RM150k.

The new
2021 Kona Electric
 will be the first fully electric model to be launched by Hyundai in Malaysia.

Three variants will be made available. The basic version featuring a 39.2 kWh battery with a driving range of 305 kilometres will come in two guises, the Kona Electric e-lite and the Kona Electric e-plus. The range-topper with a 64 kWh battery with a range of 484 kilometres completes the Kona Electric variants on offer in Malaysia.

Pricing is estimated to start from under RM150,000 for the basic model taking into account the SST exemptions and the
Budget 2022
 announcement on the adoption of EVs in Malaysia.

“With the newly announced import and excise duty exemptions, we envisage greater interest in EVs in Malaysia. The arrival of the Kona Electric is timely as it will provide more choice for consumers who want a more sustainable and greener ride option to help reduce carbon footprint,” said Mr. Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM.

The two basic variants of the 2021 Kona Electric will get a single 136 PS motor while the range-topper gets a beefier 204 PS motor. All three variants will have the same 395 Nm of torque. A 9.9 second 0-100 km/h for the basic variants and 7.9 seconds for the 64 kWh variant should see the Kona Electric winning most traffic light to traffic light drag races.

Charging time using a 100 kW DCFC is rated at 47 minutes from 10 to 80 percent. The 2021 Kona Electric will also feature an optional 11 kW three-phase on-board charger for AC charging stations or wall boxes installed at homes or residential properties. You will also be able to charge your Kona Electric using a regular household socket using the ICCB-cable (in-cable control box).

Three colours are available:

Chalk White

Dive in Jeju Two Tone

Misty Jungle Two Tone

Customers also have the option of a black or grey interior.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is now open for bookings via Hyundai's
online shopping platform
.


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Opens 3S Centre In Sitiawan, Perak

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), together with authorized dealer Lofty Ambition Sdn Bhd, has officially opened the doors to its Mitsubishi Motors 3S Centre in Sitiawan, Perak. This is Lofty Ambition’s third Mitsubishi Motors showroom in Perak, with the first two showrooms in Ipoh and Taiping respectively.
The dealership in Sitiawan is the first showroom of its kind in the Northern region to feature Mitsubishi Motors’ new corporate brand design and corporate identity; represented by its global tagline ‘Drive Your Ambition’.
Tomoyuki Shinnishi, CEO of MMM added, “Mitsubishi Motors and Lofty Ambition have been business partners since 2014. In a short time, Lofty Ambition is able to grow and strengthen the Mitsubishi brand presence in Perak and we are happy to celebrate Lofty Ambition’s third Mitsubishi showroom today,”
The 3S Centre is located at No. 1, Jalan Medan Serdang 1, Medan Serdang, 32000 Sitiawan, Perak. The new 3S Centre houses a customer lounge, a fully-equipped workshop, advance diagnostic tools, and Special Set Tools (SST) to serve every Mitsubishi vehicle.
With the opening Sitiawan 3S Centre, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is now represented by 47 3S Centres, 52 showrooms, and 54 service outlets throughout Malaysia. In East Malaysia, the brand is represented by 15 showrooms (7 in Sarawak and 8 in Sabah).


Penunggang p-hailling Wajib Ada GDL - Lesen Kenderaan Barangan

Jika pindaan tiga undang-undang pengangkutan jalan diluluskan kelak, penunggang
perkhidmatan p-hailling
 diwajibkan memiliki lesen memandu vokasional (GDL).

Menurut
Menteri Pengangkutan
, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, pindaan akta terbabit akan dibentangkan untuk perbahasan dan kelulusan Parlimen pada dalam sesi akan datang.

Penunggang p-hailing Wajib Ada GDL

Wee berkata pindaan Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987, Akta Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan 1987 dan Akta Pengangkutan Awam Darat 2010 menetapkan had usia penunggang perkhidmatan penghantaran makanan kepada tidak kurang 18 tahun berbanding tidak kurang 21 tahun.

Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri pada Jumaat lalu bersetuju supaya Kementerian Pengangkutan dan agensinya iaitu:

Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD)

Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP) Sabah dan Negeri Sarawak

untuk turut mengawal selia perkhidmatan kenderaan barangan yang disediakan oleh perniagaan penghantaran, terutamanya yang menggunakan motosikal (perkhidmatan p-hailing).

*Kredit foto: Metro Driving Academy

Kenapa Pinda Had Umur?

Menurut Wee, pindaan had usia ini akan membolehkan rakyat Malaysia bekerja sebagai penunggang motosikal p-hailing apabila mempunyai Lesen Memandu Kompeten dalam kelas motosikal dan seterusnya mendapatkan GDL bagi tujuan itu.

Baginya, ketetapan ini akan membuka peluang untuk menarik lebih ramai menyertai sektor ekonomi gig untuk menjana pendapatan menerusi perkhidmatan p-hailing dan platform perkhidmatan penghantaran lain.

Menteri Pengangkutan berpendapat bahawa penurunan had usia itu dibuat selepas melihat demografi di Malaysia, selain penghantaran makanan kini menjadi punca rezeki yang penting, termasuk remaja yang sudah tidak lagi bersekolah pada usia 18 tahun

*Kredit foto: The Edge

Ada bantahan, tapi..

Meskipun ada sesetengah pihak termasuk penunggang p-hailing sendiri yang meminta supaya tidak diwajibkan mengambil lesen GDL, namun Wee menegaskan ia bertujuan bagi memastikan semua penawar perkhidmatan berkenaan menghadiri kursus.

Katanya, ini juga bagi mengekang pihak yang tidak mempunyai lesen daripada beroperasi tanpa memahami peraturan dan pematuhan undang-undang yang mengawal selia perkhidmatan berkenaan.


Live From Portugal: Global Launch of All New 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12)

The sixth Generation 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12) comes with so many innovative features that we believe we should write a petition to the government to give it a special tax exemption filed under 'Incentive for Innovation'. Really.
Back in 1977, BMW was a small car manufacturer with only 23,000 employees when Eberhard von Kuenhim pushed for the development and the subsequent launch of the first BMW 7-Series, a car that marked BMW's foray into challenging the all time leader of premium cars - Mercedes-Benz. Twelve years later, when Lexus launched the first LS 400, the industry laughed at Lexus for trying to pitch itself against the 7-Series and the S-Class, indirectly implying that the 7-series is the benchmark to beat. Just a mere span of 12 years is all it takes for BMW to establish its rightful spot on the upper echelons of luxury car making.
By 2008 when BMW launched the fifth generation 7-Series (F01/F02), BMW was already celebrating its first anniversary of overtaking Mercedes-Benz to become the world's largest premium car maker with sales of more than 1.5 million units, and the Bavarian brand has never looked back ever since after seven years on the podium. With the launch of this all-new 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12), BMW is not only just the largest premium car maker in the world, but with sales of more than two million units, they're effectively larger than many mass market car manufacturers, leaving Mercedes-Benz at a distant third place trailing behind by more than 300,000 units, with Audi in between.
So, just what it is then, that helps propel BMW's stratospheric rise? And what is installed in the latest BMW 7-Series that sets it apart from the competition? To answer that, we went to Portugal, to attend the 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12)'s global launch, and we're here to give a quick preliminary understanding, and over the course of the next few days, giving you all a thorough update on each aspect of this new full size premium flagship sedan.
Model variants that are available following the global unveiling (Only the 750Li xDrive and 730d are available for at the global test drive event)
BMW 750i xDrive / BMW 750Li xDrive:
Engine: 4.4-liter V8 petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology (two TwinScroll turbochargers, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos)
Performance: 450hp/5,500rpm and 650Nm/1,800rpm
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds
Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
Average fuel consumption of 8.3 to 8.1-liters per 100km
CO
2
 emission: 194-189 g/km
Exhaust standard: EU6

BMW 740i / BMW 740Li:
Engine: 3.0-liter inline-six petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (TwinScroll turbocharger, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos)
Performance: 326hp/5,500rpm and 450Nm/1,380rpm
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds
Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
Average fuel consumption of 7.0 to 6.6-liters per 100km
CO
2
 emission: 164-154 g/km
Exhaust standard: EU6

BMW 730d / BMW 730Ld:
3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (turbocharging with variable inlet geometry, common-rail direct injection)
Performance: 265hp/4,000rpm and 620Nm/2,000rpm
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds
Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
Average fuel consumption: 4.9 to 4.5-liters per 100km
CO
2
 emission: 129-119 g/km
Exhaust standard: EU6

BMW 730d xDrive / BMW 730Ld xDrive:
3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (turbocharging with variable inlet geometry, common-rail direct injection)
Performance: 265hp/4,000rpm and 620Nm/2,000rpm
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds
Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
Average fuel consumption: 5.2 to 4.8 liters per 100km
CO
2
 emission: 137-127 g/km
Exhaust standard: EU6

BMW 740e / BMW 740Le / BMW 740L3 xDrive:
2.0 liter inline-four petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (TwinScroll turbocharger, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos)
Performance: 258hp/5,000rpm and 400Nm/1,250rpm (Combustion Engine)
BMW eDrive technology with synchronous electric motor with lithium ion high voltage battery
Output: 113hp and 250Nm
Total system output: 326hp
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds
Max speed: 240km/h
Max speed, electric only: 120km/h
Electric range: 40km (37km for xDrive)
Average fuel consumption: 2.1 liters / 12.4 kWh per 100km
CO
2
 emission: 49 g/km
Exhaust standard: EU6
While there can be a myriad of trim levels based on customer's choice of exterior color, interior trims, choice of leather, design of rims etc, generally BMW has three distinct packages for customers:
DESIGN PURE EXCELLENCE
The exterior of the Pure Excellence trim features hotizontal chrome accents in the front air inlets and on the rear bumper, while the brake calipers are anodized in black color. The interior has an elegant fine wood detailing for the roof grab handles, the cup holders, and the rear seat belt retractor point housing. In the long wheelbase model, there are high pile floor mats and the entire roof headliner is finished in Alcantara.
M SPORT PACKAGE
The M Sport package features an M Aerodynamics package with large frontal air intakes and all the styling elements of the car's exterior can be optioned to be finished in gloss black or polished chrome. On top of that, there's the exclusive M light alloy wheels in the Double-spoke design. Opening the doors, there are illuminated M doorsills, M footrests and BMW Individual headliner in Anthracite finishing.
BMW INDIVIDUAL
As the name suggests, you can have it in any way you like.
Of course we can't expect the full range of available models to make its way into Malaysia, but do expect at least the 730Ld and 740Li to find its way here. And to make a business case, since the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid is enjoying such massive success in Malaysia with the incentive tax breaks, we believe BMW will do their every best to ensure competitive pricing. We will follow up with multiple posts detailing the car's various innovation, and come November, a drive report and review on just how good, the all-new G11/G12 BMW 7-Series is. For now, enjoy the videos below live from Portugal, explaining the Carbon Core, and lastly, the design process of the all new BMW 7-Series


Fuel Price Update: April 2017 Week 3

Fuel prices are now updated on a weekly basis.
Here are the new prices for petrol and diesel.
RON95 - RM2.24 (up 8 sen)
RON97 - RM2.52 (up 8 sen)
Diesel - RM2.16 (up 8 sen)


Suzuki To Launch All-New Baleno In Frankfurt Auto Show

Five months after showcasing the iK-2 Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March, Suzuki has announced that it will be debuting a production version of the five-seater hatchback and that it will wear the Baleno nameplate.
Not much else is revealed about the Baleno but the model is expected to sit above the Swift rather than to replace it.
Suzuki has not mentioned any dimensional details about the all-new Baleno, but the iK-2 Concept’s 4,023mm length and 1,920mm width suggests that it will be significantly longer (173 mm longer) and wider (225mm wider) than the Swift, lending credit to rumours that the Baleno will not replace the B-segment Swift, but that it will be a separate B+ segment model.
Given the strength of the Swift's nameplate, if it's an all-new Swift, you can be sure that Suzuki will call it as such rather than giving it a new name.
At Geneva, Suzuki also announced that it will reduce its platform count from four to three, and that its new platforms will be modular. The all-new Baleno is expected to be built on this new modular platform.
Also announced is the BOOSTERJET 1.0-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engine. This is engine is expected to power the all-new Baleno.
More details will be revealed next month, when the Frankfurt International Auto Show opens on 16-September.


CES 2018: Continental’s New Wireless Charging System Can Turn An EV Into A Power Bank

In an effort to make charging an all-electric or plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle just as easy as refuelling a conventional vehicle, Continental will be revealing two innovative charging systems – the inductive charging system and the AllCharge - at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The main highlight here is the AllCharge system which has the potential to revolutionize cable-based charging, as it eliminates the driver apprehension of finding a compatible charging station.
According to Continental, the AllCharge technology can utilize any charging point regardless of the charging rate, type of current or voltage level.
Besides being flexible and efficient, the system also allows the EV vehicle to double as a mobile power bank capable of supplying AC power off-board without the need for additional equipment.
In this role, the vehicle can be used to provide power for a range of scenarios, from tailgate parties to powering tradesmen’s equipment on construction sites.
And then, we have the automatic wireless inductive charging system, which transfers charging power inductively. What this means is that the driver no longer has to grapple with a cable.
Power is transferred wirelessly from a ground-based charging pad to a receiver pad on the underside of the vehicle, and since it is important to locate the vehicle precisely over the ground pad, Continental has developed a micronavigation solution that uses a magnetic location system to position the vehicle up to ten times more accurately than a conventional parking assistant could.
The location system, which operates in the long-range frequency band, is capable of precisely detecting the ground pad even when it is covered by a layer of snow or leaves. Charging then takes place fully automatically. Continuous safety monitoring is performed throughout the charging process.
The company said that further advances in the field of semi-automated driving technology will make it possible to do this without any driver action in the future.
 “Continental offers an unrivaled range of charging technologies developed on the basis of our extensive cross-divisional know-how,” said Brian McKay, Director Powertrain Technology & Innovation Continental North America.
“The innovative technologies we are showcasing at CES will make charging an electric vehicle simpler, more convenient and more efficient. This means that the widely discussed issue of range anxiety will soon become largely irrelevant. Additionally, to bring additional features to the consumer, our AllCharge system gives electric vehicles the added utility to serve as a mobile energy source.”


Japan Airlines Adds Baby Icon On Seats For Passengers Who Don't Want To Sit Near Kids

Japanese Airlines have launched a feature that lets you identify where children are located on a
flight
 so you can choose to sit far away from them.

There are many things that can ruin a flight experience, and sitting in front of a kicking child or around a crying baby on a
long haul flight
 is very high on that flight from hell ranking list.

Seeing the number of complaints on this matter, Japan Airlines has come out with a solution to help other passengers who don't want to sit near kids while flying and launched a feature that can indicate where children are located during the ticket purchasing process - there will be baby or toddler icon on the reserved flight seat plan.

"Passengers travelling with children between eight days and two years old who select their seats on the JAL website will have a child icon displayed on their seats on the seat selection screen," Japan Airlines explains. "This lets other passengers know a child may be sitting there."

As good as this feature is, Japan Airlines did note that the child icon won't apply for any seats booked through a third-party website, which means you might still end up being near a kid if you do not book through the official website.

As much as this feature intends to save ear sensitive passengers and parents from having to apologize for their young ones on board, which is usually met with a long stern and cold glares, some parties said that this feature would also create some safety concerns.

Most of the concerns surround the privacy of the family and the child itself, as it allows every person on an aircraft to see precisely where young children are located even before getting on the flight, which might be harmful if there were any bad intentions.

Overall, the feature from JAL has received a mixed bag of reactions. While business travellers certainly appreciate it, it does have its drawbacks and does little to make travelling with little kids easier.


All-New G05 BMW X5 Unveiled, Bigger And Smarter Than Before

BMW has unveiled the all-new G05 BMW X5, the fourth iteration of its successful SUV lineup. At launch, the Munich-based firm will be introducing four variants of the all-new G05 X5, with the range-topping variant being the X5 M50d.
While the silhouette is unmistakably an X5, BMW has updated the front fascia with an extra-large BMW kidney grille with a single-piece surround, flanked by a pair of LED headlights that are fitted as standard equipment. BMW Laserlight with Adaptive LED Headlights can be had as a cost option.
Despite its familiar silhouette, the G05 X5 features a completely revamped rear end, featuring a pair of LED tail lights that are slimmer than the ones found on the predecessor. As before, the all-new G05 X5 continues the tradition of its signature two-section split tailgate.
As for the dimensions, the all-new G05 X5 is longer (+36 mm), wider (+66 mm) and taller (+19 mm) than the model it replaces, coming in at 4,922 mm x 2,004 mm x 1,745 mm. BMW has also mentioned that the wheelbase is now 42 mm longer, coming in at 2,975 mm.
Also new for BMW is the wheel option for the all-new G05 X5, as for the first-time ever, buyers can opt for 22-inch alloy wheels.
Moving inside, the all-new G05 X5 features BMW’s latest interior design language, in particular the centre console. The G05 X5 is the first BMW model to feature the new centre console design, first seen in spyshots of the next-generation BMW 3 Series, codenamed G20.
The centre console now looks more upmarket with a piano black finish, with vital buttons scattered around the gear lever. Controls for the ride height and hill descent control are also found here, alongside BMW’s famed iDrive controller.
Other highlights of the interior include the newly-designed digital meter cluster and the new Vernasca variant for the leather upholstery. In addition to that, the all-new G05 X5 can be had with a panorama glass roof, dynamic interior lighting system, Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, and rear-seat entertainment with a 10.2-inch touchscreen display.
Boot space of the all-new G05 X5 comes in at 645 litres, which can be further expanded to a maximum of 1,860 litres once the rear seats are folded. Additionally, buyers can opt for third row seats for two additional passengers.
At launch, the all-new G05 X5 can be had with one V8 and three straight-six engines. The V8 powers the X5 xDrive50i model, delivering 462 hp and 650 Nm. The other petrol model is the X5 xDrive40i, delivering a total of 340 hp and 450 Nm.
The range-topping X5 M50d is powered by a quad turbocharged straight-six diesel that churns out 400 hp and 750 Nm. No mention of the X5 M, however.
Safety equipment on the all-new G05 X5 is also extensive, including Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go feature, Steering and lane control assistance, Lane Change Warning and Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Assistance, Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision protection, Crossing traffic warning, Parking Assistant, and Wrong-way warning. A new feature is the Emergency Stop Assistant that brings the X5 safely to a stop in the event of a medical emergency.
The all-new G05 BMW X5 will be built at BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, with a worldwide market launch slated to start in November 2018.


Review: Ferrari GTC4Lusso V12 – Supertouring With Your Mates

Mention the name Ferrari and the image of a two-door sports car with a low, short front end and a dominant rear emerges. In a striking red too, of course.
Before the emergence of the rear-mounted V8-engine coupes that now stereotypes the brand, Ferrari vehicles had always been a silhouette with a long bonnet to accommodate the V12 engine and a short tail.
The 2+2 Grand Touring (GT) models were introduced in the 1960s and used by elites to travel across the continent with their luggage in higher than average speeds. It has been told that Enzo Ferrari himself preferred to travel in 4-seat GTs rather than in the sports cars.
The Ferrari GTC4Lusso is the latest 4-seat GT offering by the company, which is a major update over its predecessor, the FF.
Specifications of the Ferrari GTC4Lusso V12:
Price: RM 1,115,800 before taxes and options
Engine: 6.26-litre, V12, naturally-aspirated
Power: 690 Hp @ 8,000 rpm
Torque: 697 Nm @ 5,750 rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, paddle shifters, AWD
Safety: 4-airbags, ISOFIX, F1-Trac Traction control, front and rear parking sensors, front and rear camera (as tested).
Origin: Fully-imported from Maranello, Italy.
Overview
The Ferrari GTC4Lusso is a big departure for the brand, as the model introduced a few firsts for the brand. With the tail gate opening to a large 450-litre boot area, the GTC4Lusso is the first shooting-brake body design for the famed company.
As with other previous generation 4-seat GT models, the GTC4Lusso was originally available only with the large displacement V12 engine. Thanks to tightening legislation on total corporate CO2 emission figures, Ferrari now also offers the 4-seat GT with a downsized 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
Exterior
Much of the focus of the design update has been on the rear of the vehicle. In the predecessor model, the FF had a rather complicated rear design by Pininfarina. Ferrari’s own designers have reworked the tail gate to incorporated slimmer tail lamps and sculpted a sharper look for the GTC4Lusso.
The new rear design also marks the return of four circular-tail lamps for Ferrari - a styling design that was dropped in the mid-2000s.
The large louvres on the front fenders meanwhile take inspiration from the stunning Ferrari 330 GTC. These louvres also boost downforce levels by relieving pressure build up around the front wheels.
Interior
The GTC4Lusso was the window of opportunity for Ferrari to introduce their new interior design language called the balanced Dual Cockpit. The passenger can now better blend in with the driving experience thanks to the touchscreen Passenger Display which presents all vital driving data as well as allowing the passenger the ability to change music tracks or select navigation points-of-interest.
A set of new switches and a new 10.25-inch infotainment system, together with a new steering wheel were also added to complement the new design of the new interior.
Believe it or not, the back seats of the GTC4Lusso are more useable than many of today’s compact premium hatchbacks and crossovers. Getting into the back is equally easy thanks to the fully-electric adjusting front seats with memory function.
The rear seats are individual, full-sized sports seats with plenty of support. Large air conditioning vents keep your friends well ventilated. It is just a shame they cannot adjust it to their own preference.
Also as part of the product update, more noise cancelling materials have been inserted to further reduce road and wind noise that can get tiring on long journeys.
Driving Experience
We have covered the practical aspects of the GTC4Lusso and are thoroughly impressed with how accommodating the rear seats are.
As with every modern Ferrari, the drive parameters are controlled by a little red dial-switch called the Manettino, located on the steering wheel.
First off, the ride quality from the magnetorheological adaptive suspension almost-perfectly flattens the movement of the vehicle.
Ferrari has de-coupled the suspension setting with the Manettino, leaving us to have comfortable suspension around town, but still have a more emotive exhaust noise from Sport mode. Brilliant!
The GTC4Lusso accelerates from standstill to 200 km/h in just 10.5 seconds, thus, straight-line performance is as predictable as ever.
In order to virtually reduce the length of the GTC4Lusso, Ferrari has fitted the car with 4-wheel steering. This was extremely useful when going around tighter roads in Petaling Jaya, where the smaller turning radius reduced the stress of driving.
On the highway, the GTC4Lusso indeed feels comfortable racking up the miles. Although the steering has an extremely quick ratio, it requires almost no correction which in turn makes it less tiring to drive.
The steering wheel might look complicated to use with so many switches, but it has actually been the best human-machine interface for this author who keeps getting his turn signal and wiper stalks mixed up.
Ownership Experience
All new Ferraris are now covered by a very comprehensive warranty and maintenance program. A seven-year maintenance programme with unlimited mileage is provided by Naza Italia.
Service intervals are either every 20,000 kilometres or once a year.
What about that yearly road tax for the 6.26-litre 12-cylinder engine in Malaysia? The JPJ (Road Transport Department) quote a sum of RM 16,809 for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia, while tax-free Langkawi still requires a fee of RM 8,405.
Meanwhile, owning an iconic Ferrari is also akin to being a member of a very exclusive and passionate club.
Naza Italia continuously engages with its customers to ensure that they truly experience the magic and are creating new memories in driving a Ferrari.
Apart from exclusive track days complete with instructors and five-star hospitality, Naza Italia also organizes frequent lifestyle events with owners.
Short drives, as well as longer excursions, allow fellow owners to better network with key figures of various industries in a more relaxed manner.
Conclusion
This is the Ferrari that was engineered to appeal to a new audience - younger, more practical, and yet requiring all the emotions from a Ferrari. The GTC4Lusso is quite a significantly different model compared to the FF it replaces, and it rightly carries a new name.
The much-improved cabin and quality of materials certainly made the interior befit its
Lusso
 (luxury in its native Italian) badging. The inclusion of various high technologies that allows for easy access to high levels of performance makes this a very capable supercar with tonnes of practicality.
As the ultra-luxury segment moves towards SUV models, Ferrari already has a really good basis for a multi-door, multi-seat vehicle for the future, today.


Mazda BT-50 Revealed At Carlist.my Virtual Drive Auto Fair 2021

Bermaz Motor, exclusive Malaysian distributor for Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, has revealed details on their foray into the dual-cab pickup truck market with the 3rd-generation BT-50 at the
Carlist.my’s 2021 Virtual Drive Auto Fair
.

Two variants will be offered starting with the baseline
1.9D High AT at a decently competitive RM124,179
 and capping off with the
3.0 High Plus AT with an on-the-road price of RM143,218
 before insurance. The former gets a 1.9-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder with 150PS and 350Nm while the latter gains a 3.0-litre VGS turbodiesel engine outputting a beefier 190PS and 450Nm. Both motors are mated to a 6-speed automatic sourced from Aisin and distributed to all four (4x4) wheels.

If that package sounds familiar, that’s due to the fact that the BT-50 is essentially a badge-engineered 3rd-generation
Isuzu D-Max
, sharing both its body-on-frame Isuzu Dynamic Drive Platform and its duo of engines: the 1.9L RZ4E-TC GEN2 and 3.0L 4JJ3-TCX plus drivelines, respectively.

Previously, the BT-50 had a similar relationship with the Ford Ranger due to Ford taking a majority stake in a financially stricken Mazda in the mid-1990s, eventually leading to the creation of the first-generation truck. Of course, after both companies parted ways in 2008, the BT-50’s fate hung in the balance, finding firm footing again with the partnership with Isuzu.

In fact, each 3rd-generation BT-50 is built alongside the 3rd-generation Isuzu D-Max in Samut Prakan, Thailand before being exported to their respective receiving markets. For Malaysia, Mazda’s pricing makes it only slightly pricier than the Isuzu in its
range-topping 3.0L X-Terrain
 guise, which slots in at RM141,938.

Naturally, being a Mazda product, the exterior has been given a thorough makeover to feature the brand’s staple KODO design. In particular, the 3.0L High Plus looks very similar in trim level to the BT-50 Dual Cab 4X4 GT sold in Australia, which continues to be the model’s most successful market.

It is equipped with 17-inch alloys on the 1.9 and a set of 18-inchers on the 3.0. Also reserved for the rang-topper is leather upholstery and a full gamut of active safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Zone Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Keeping Assistance, and even Adaptive Cruise Control that uses twin-cameras instead of a radar sensor at the nose (to allow for aftermarket off-road accessories to be fitted).

The 1.9, however, isn't totally left out, receiving Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert in consolation. Also interesting is that the entry-level variant boasting a maximum rated payload of 870kg where the more powerful 3.0 only manages 790kg.

With the BT-50 now on the battlefield, the already heated competition in the pickup truck market will only get more fierce with recent arrivals from
Mitsubishi in the Triton Athlete
 (RM141,500) and the
Nissan Navara Pro-4X
(RM142,200) - all fighting for the same title of premium pickup champion.

Meanwhile, Ford has also recently
revealed their next-gen Ranger,
 including its Wildtrak form, which could make local landfall sometime in 2022.


The Proton X50 Has ICC - What Is That?

ICC is a new feature not seen before in any other Proton but what is it exactly?

By now, and apart from the price, interested buyers would probably know all there is to know about the upcoming
Proton X50
 - or do they?

There is much talk about the 2020 Proton X50's powertrain, ride and handling as well as its refinement but what people do not talk about enough is its advanced driver aid feature, known as
ADAS
.

ADAS is an abbreviation for Advanced Driver Assist System, a worldwide name for driver assistance features in cars. Many car manufacturers have it these days. Honda's is called
Honda Sensing
, Subaru's is called
Eyesight
 and Perodua's is called A.S.A.

Only available in the top X50 variant, ADAS adds an impressive amount of driver aid safety features to the X50, including an all Intelligent Cruise Control system (ICC) which is not even available on the X70 (X70 has adaptive cruise control without ICC).

ICC is classified as a Level 2 autonomous driving feature, providing assisted acceleration, steering and braking in certain driving conditions. It works in tandem with the adaptive cruise control which has lane-keeping assist and lane centring assist. This nifty feature gives the X50 the ability to maintain a centre line while sustaining a set distance from the front car when in adaptive cruise control mode.

Available up to 150km/h, the ICC not only keeps the car true to the centre of the lane but it also provides the X50 with another excellent feature where it can follow the braking pattern of the vehicle in front all the way down to a full stop. The impressive feature doesn't stop there either, if the car in front does not stop for more than three seconds; it will automatically accelerate without any input from the driver. This is called the Stop and Go function and while other manufacturers might have it on their cars, Proton's Stop and Go Function doesn't require any input from the driver to get the car moving again.

Sounds fancy but don't expect the ICC to do everything for you because once again, it is a driving aid, so you would need to be having two hands on the steering wheel at all times and eyes focusing on the road. If you ever get into an accident while using ICC, it is still on the driver as the system is merely there to help you and not control the car fully - so please do not start messing around with the infotainment system or your phone!

The ‘Flagship’ variant will also receive a suite of other Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, similar to the X70, among them are Blind Spot Information System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assistance, Intelligent High Beam Control as well as Auto Park Assist.

The X50's ADAS is truly impressive, and some of the features were exhibited during the X50 performance outing yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit. They all performed admirably and should aid the drivers, especially the APA system that will help you side or parallel park into tight spots. We can't wait to get our hands on the 2020 Proton X50 for a longer more comprehensive review.


More Than 20 Years Of Experience: Hankook Master Dealers Encik Othman & Mr Lau

As challenging as developing a world-class tyre is, it is only part of the challenge for establishing the reputation of Hankook Tire. Besides delivering high quality tyres with the performance that meets customer expectations on the road, Hankook is also working on enhancing the customer’s buying experience. For that reason Hankook Tire Malaysia has established the Hankook Master Dealer network.
Being a representative of the Hankook name, carrying the ‘Master Dealer’ designation doesn’t come easy, and we talk to two Master Dealers, Bumi Tyre & Sport Rims Enterprise in Bandar Baru Uda, Johor Bahru, and SYS Automobile in Taman Keramat Permai, Kuala Lumpur, to see what it takes to become a Hankook Master Dealer and what sets it apart.
It is About Experience
Both Bumi Tyre and SYS Automobile have been in the tyre business for years. For Othman bin Basiron of Bumi Tyre, his decision to open his own tyre shop in 1992 came after eight years of working in a tyre shop which he had worked in since 1984. From his first shop in Kampung Melayu, Othman eventually expanded his business in 1998 with his second outlet in Bandar Baru Uda. In 2005, Othman opened his third outlet in the other end of Bandar Baru Uda, which was turned into a Hankook Master Dealer in 2010.
In fact Othman’s experience extends beyond its commercial aspects, with active participation in annual drift events in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, Othman has used such motorsports participation to promote his company and the Hankook name.
Lau Hoo Soon on the other hand has been in the industry for 20 years, starting off as a technician on the service floor and eventually moving up to the position of branch manager at various tyre outlets. In 2008, Lau decided to take his 13 years of experience and knowledge in the business to start up SYS Automobile in Taman Keramat Permai. Today SYS Automobile holds the distinction of being the first Hankook Master Dealer in the Klang Valley.
What Sets a ‘Master Dealer’ Apart?
Being a ‘Master Dealer’ means more than just selling tyres to end-customers. Both Master Dealers in this case do more than just that, with Bumi Tyre specialising in light engine and parts servicing, and SYS Automobile offering customers the convenience of being a one-stop center for Hankook Tire.
The difference start from the moment a customer walks into the dealership. At SYS, customers are greeted upon arrival with their trained technical advisors to assess the customers need and provide the right recommendations from Hankook’s huge tyre selection. This selection includes Hankook’s Ventus V12 Evo
2
 and Ventus S1 Evo
2
, premium performance tyres that cannot be found at your regular tyre dealerships.
For Bumi Tyre, being a ‘Master Dealer’ allows them to get the latest products from Hankook Tire, as well as offer better tyre warranty claims and promotions. Thanks to the training support from Hankook Tire Malaysia, Bumi Tyre’s technical advisors are also able to give professional advice on which tyre would suit the customer’s car.
To give Hankook Master Dealer outlets the proper knowledge and experience about the brand, Hankook Tire Malaysia would send representatives to update their dealers about the latest products, training courses, and promotions from the brand. On top of that Hankook Tire Malaysia organises dealer incentive trips to visit Hankook’s production and R&D facilities for their dealers. According to Othman, these trips allows them to better understand the technology that goes into the products that they sell to their customers.
Maintaining Customer Relationships
One of the key aspects for any good business is maintaining a good customer relationship. After more than 20 years of operations, Bumi Tyre have established a trusted reputation amongst their customers, some of them are the children of the business’ first customers as well. “One of my customers for more than 10 years recently moved to Kuala Lumpur, but he still continues to buy tyres from us,” recalled Othman.
Though SYS Automobile has been around for a few years, Lau says that his business have a number of regular customers who trust SYS and the Hankook brand. With such support, SYS is able to expand their operations to Shah Alam and Lake Fields.
Choosing to Go with Hankook
As compared to the many ‘established’ tyre brands that are in Malaysia, Hankook is a relative new comer, but even so both Othman and Lau says the product speaks for itself. According to Othman its proven quality has attracted a loyal following amongst his customers. He says that these customers are also confident of recommending Hankook Tire to their friends and family.
From eight years of selling Hankook Tires, Lau is confident that Hankook will continue to provide high quality products. As a testament to its performance and quality, Lau says that Hankook provides plenty of support to the end-customer with a five-year warranty on each tyre from its production date.
Highlights from Hankook
Thanks to Hankook’s reputation as an OEM supplier to major car makers such as Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, Lau says that his outlet in Kuala Lumpur often sees a diverse range of cars – ranging from small passenger cars to premium luxury cars – coming through its doors for a tyre change and service.
Some of the most popular products from Hankook’s line-up includes the Ventus S1 Noble
2
, Ventus V2 Concept
2
, and Kinergy EX. Similarly Othman says that most of his customers are owners of medium-sized family cars, SUVs, and luxury cars.
As the close of 2015 approaches, both Bumi Tyre and SYS Automobile will be having promotions for their products and services. For Bumi Tyre they will be soon offering customers promotions such as an extra service, free gifts, and loyalty points. SYS Automobile on the other hand will be organising a stock clearance promotion with a complementary tyre balancing and alignment for any purchase of a set (of four) tyres from any model range.
The contact details for Bumi Tyre & Sport Rims Enterprise and SYS Automobile are as follows, pay them a visit if you're nearby.
Bumi Tyre & Sport Rims Enterprise
28 & 28-01, Jalan Padi Emas 4/5,
Bandar Baru Uda,
81200 Johor Bahru,
Johor
Contact: +607-2354 699
SYS Automobile
25G, Jalan AU 1A/4B,
Taman Keramat Permai,
54200 Kuala Lumpur,
Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +603-4253 1136


TC Subaru Enhances Warranty Coverage For New Models

TC Subaru has announced that they have enhanced their warranty coverage for new Subaru vehicles, which is now a five-year/100,000 km comprehensive warranty.
The updated five-year warranty is applicable to all locally-assembled and imported Subaru models that are distributed by TC Subaru and their authorized dealers. In fact, owners who book their new Subaru models from 25
th
 April are eligible for the new, extended warranty.
TC Subaru also stressed that the warranty coverage will be the same over the five year period, for better peace of mind for owners. The company also states that the new warranty program is different from extended warranty programs which provide reduced coverage in subsequent years.
As a result, these items now get a full five-year coverage:
Front & rear suspension
Electrical system
Fuel system
Air-conditioning & cooling system
Brakes
Airbags & safety restraint system
Exhaust system
Steering system
Engine
Drivetrain & transmission
To fully enjoy these benefits, owners must adhere to the scheduled service intervals and conducted at authorized Subaru service centres. TC Subaru will not provide this warranty program to owners who use non-genuine parts or modify their vehicles not approved by the company.
Looking for a new Subaru? Find for the best deals
here
.


Geneva 2018: Porsche Presents The Multi-Talented Mission E Cross Turismo

Aimed at adrenaline junkies, Porsche has presented the Mission E Cross Turismo at the ongoing Geneva International Motor Show.
Featuring all-wheel drive technology and a flexible interior, the strengths of the four-door four-seater include an emotional design with striking off-road elements as well as an innovative display and operating concept with touchscreen and eye-tracking control.
Measuring 4,950 mm in length, the concept vehicle comes with an 800-volt architecture, prepared for connection to the fast charging network.
It can also be charged by induction at a charging station, or using the Porsche home energy storage system.
The 800-volt architecture of the vehicle ensures that the lithium-ion battery can be charged for a range of around 400 kilometres in just over 15 minutes.
On the exterior, we have a low-cut bonnet between heavily curved wings inspired by the 911, vertical air inlets, matrix LED headlights, narrow 3D DRLs embedded in four sweeping wings, as well as Porsche X-Sight headlight technology up front.
And then we have the off-road design elements which include robust wheel arch protection and door sills, a striking front spoiler and lower rear and increased ground clearance.
Other distinctive features include the eye-catching side door sills with their off-road appearance and 20-inch wheels with 275/40 R20 tyres.
Inside, passengers will get to benefit from the flexible nature of the four-seater which measures 1,420 mm in height. For example, the backrest of each individual seat in the rear has a load-through facility. This can be used for skis and other long equipment.
Additionally, the boot features a rail system with adjustable and removable straps. These can be used to secure items quickly and safely.
Key features in the cabin include a split dashboard, instrument panel with an extra-wide display, a freestanding instrument cluster with three circular display graphics with digital content on TFT screens, and atmosphere lighting.
The interior also features illuminated Porsche letterings, door linings with 3D elements with a textured surface, Nordic Blue anodised edges on the air vents and window lift modules, and aniline leather in black and light grey.
Power is supplied by two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PSM) with a system output of more than 600 hp, which allow the Mission E Cross Turismo to accelerate to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and reach a speed of 200 km/h in under 12 seconds.
Power is guaranteed on any surface thanks to on-demand all-wheel drive with Porsche Torque Vectoring, which automatically distributes torque to individual wheels.
Complementing the powertrain package is an all-wheel steering system, adaptive air suspension, and also Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC).
In the Mission E Cross Turismo, a software called DestinationsApp shows what added value the digital platform could offer in the near future, making it possible to organise a weekend trip in a few convenient steps on the smartphone.
The app inspires users with travel destinations, facilitates quick and easy bookings, and takes care of route planning, food, and sports equipment.
The app even allows you to adapt the body of the Mission E Cross Turismo to your chosen route and to select appropriate music, air conditioning settings and ambient lighting.


East Coast Expressway Phase 2 Toll Booths Now Open

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has announced that the second phase of the East Coast Expressway (ECE) will be opened for traffic starting today with all 10 toll plazas beginning operations.
The move was done by LLM to prevent a congestion at the Jabor toll plaza. Currently, motorists who wanted to proceed on their journey to ECE2 are required to pay the toll at Jabor before making a U-turn and heading towards ECE2.
With the second phase fully opened to traffic, motorists can now travel from ECE1 to ECE2 without stopping and will only need to pay for the toll when exiting out of any ECE2 toll plaza. Even then, the toll rate is calculated based on the distance travelled from ECE1 only (refer below).
For users of the ECE2 who do not include usage of ECE1 in their journey, they will not need to pay any toll and are only required to take the transit ticket and handing it over to any ECE2 toll plaza when exiting the highway. The free toll passage will go on until a date yet to be disclosed along with its toll rate.
LLM also urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are fuelled up before using the ECE2 because preparation work of fuel stations along the highway is still ongoing. As a guide, motorists who plan to use the ECE2 can fuel up at these fuel station within range of the highway:


The Importance of Child Safety Locks

Most, if not all modern cars will come with a child lock if they have 4 or more doors. When engaged, this lock only allow the doors to be opened from the outside- and this is especially useful when it comes to children. Children can be impulsive at times and may not have the height or foresight to check for oncoming traffic before they open the doors to get out.
This becomes a problem if you come to a stop by the roadside and they open the rear right door, as it puts them right in the path of any oncoming vehicles. You can normally child lock each door individually, and the best course of action is to lock at least the rear right door (as it's the most dangerous to step out of).
The problem, unfortunately, is that most people rarely know where it is or how to use it, which is why it's important to read the owner's manual. In most cars it's usually a little tab-like switch that locks to either on or off and can be adjusted for each door individually, although we have seen some cars that combine window locks with door locks that are operated with an electronic switch by the driver. In any case, it's best to go through your user manual to find out how to activate the child locks- as large of an inconvenience as it may be for rear seat passengers at times.


Lebuh Raya Pesisiran Pantai Barat (WCE) ‘Bunuh’ Penduduk

Sejak pembinaan laluan tidak bertol Lebuh Raya Persisiran Pantai Barat (WCE) dijalankan, lima buah kampung di sepanjang laluan berkenaan mahukan kerajaan melakukan sesuatu kerana sering melihat nyawa penduduk terkorban ekoran persekitaran tidak selamat.

Antara kampung yang terkesan adalah:

Kampung Batu 14 Lekir

Kampung Batu 15 Lekir

Kampung Tersusun Kayan

Kampung Ulu Kayan

Parit Jerman

*Kredit foto: Kosmo

WCE Sukarkan Penduduk Setempat

Menurut laporan Utusan, kira-kira 5,000 penduduk mendakwa sejak pembinaan WCE, mereka menghadapi masalah seperti:

Sukar untuk menyeberang ke kawasan bertentangan kerana terdapat penghadang konkrit

Terpaksa memandu jauh untuk membuat pusingan U

Kereta semakin laju, risiko kepada penunggang motosikal

Risiko
banjir

Menurut wakil penduduk Parit Jerman, warga kampung itu terpaksa memandu sejauh empat kilometer ke kawasan Sejagop, Kampung Gajah semata-mata untuk membuat pusingan U jika mahu ke Sitiawan, Seri Manjung atau Lumut jika ada sebarang urusan rasmi atau membeli barang keperluan.

Oleh sebab itu, penduduk kampung mendakwa ramai ibu bapa sudah tidak menghantar anak-anak mereka ke sekolah agama pada waktu petang kerana jauh manakala jumlah jemaah surau pula semakin berkurangan kerana perlu berjalan jauh.

Nyawa penduduk di kawasan berkenaan, terutamanya
penunggang motosikal
yang terpaksa berulang-alik pada jarak yang lebih jauh lebih terancam kerana kebanyakan kenderaan yang menggunakan laluan itu kini semakin laju ekoran keadaan jalan yang cantik.

Penduduk Cadang Bina Kawasan Pusingan U Tambahan

Rata-rata penduduk di kawasan berkenaan tidak menolak pembangunan dan memahami pemasangan penghadang konkrit di pembahagi jalan atas sebab keselamatan, namun mereka mencadangkan agar kerajaan membina pusingan U tambahan berhampiran Parit Jerman untuk kemudahan penduduk di tiga kampung berdekatan iaitu Parit Jerman, Kampung Ulu Kayan dan Kampung Tersusun Koyan.

Risiko Banjir

Pembinaan Lebuh Raya WCE telah menyebabkan parit sedia ada yang sudah dibesarkan menjadi sempit dan penduduk risau masalah banjir yang pernah berlaku sebelum ini bakal berulang.

Menurut penduduk, kontraktor lebuh raya telah membuang pembentung asal dan menggantikannya dengan pembentung sementara. Namun pembentung itu masih belum ditukar meskipun jalan sudah diturap.

*Kredit foto: Lagenda Ria Supplies

Pasang Lebih Banyak Papan Tanda

Penduduk turut menyarankan Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) dan kontraktor terlibat untuk memasang lebih banyak papan tanda pemakluman kepada pengguna jalan raya kerana ia masih dalam pembinaan dan arah laluan sering berubah sehingga mengelirukan pengguna.

JKR bakal Buat Pantauan

Menurut wakil JKR Malaysia dari Putrajaya, pihak JKR akan membuat lawatan tapak dan mengenal pasti masalah penduduk untuk diselesaikan.

Tambahnya, laluan sepanjang sembilan kilometer melibatkan kawasan terlibat sudah dibina tiga jejantas, dua pusingan-U besar yang boleh digunakan kenderaan berat serta tiga pusingan U kecil, selain telah mematuhi peraturan teknik jalan dan Kajian Audit Keselamatan Jalan Raya (RSA).

Wakil tersebut juga menjelaskan cadangan membina persimpangan lampu isyarat oleh penduduk kurang praktikal kerana ia bakal melambatkan perjalanan sedangkan matlamat asal pembinaan WCE ialah untuk memendekkan perjalanan dari kawasan Lembah Klang ke utara tanah air.


Hakim Danish Juarai Asia Talent Cup 2022 – Pelumba pertama Malaysia menang ATC

Sejarah tercipta apabila pelumba muda dari Malaysia, Hakim Danish menjadi rakyat Malaysia pertama yang menjadi juara keseluruhan Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup 2022 (ATC).

Pada perlumbaan penutup ATC di Litar Antarabangsa Mandalika di Indonesia, pelumba berusia 15 tahun ini bermula di petak ketiga dan telah diasak hebat oleh seterunya dari Jepun, Shinya Ezawa.

Hakim Danish Juara Keseluruhan ATC 2022

Pada pelumbaan kedua dan juga terakhir bagi kejohanan itu, Hakim Danish menamatkan perlumbaan di tempat kedua selepas cemerlang menutup segala ruang sambil mengejar selepas beberapa kali dipintas pelumba lain.

Walaupun Danish mahu juarai perlumbaan terakhir itu, namun beliau dilihat mengambil langkah untuk lebihi berhati-hati selepas menyaksikan pelumba Indonesia, Veda Ega Pratama muncul juara. Pratama juga berjaya muncul juara dalam perlumbaan pertama manakala Hakim Danish menduduki tempat ketiga dan Carter Thompson (Australia) berada di tempat kedua.

Walaupun meraih gelaran naib juara pada perlumbaan kedua, namun ia sudah memadai untuk meletakkan Hakim Danish sebagai juara keseluruhan ATC 2022 setelah mengumpul 187 mata manakala Ezawa mengumpul 177 mata dan diikuti Pratama di kedudukan ketiga dengan 141 mata.

Anak muda dari Terengganu ini telah diangkat sebagai juara selepas tujuh kali menaiki podium dengan merangkul empat kemenangan sepanjang enam pusingan perlumbaan musim ini.

Beliau telah membolot kedua-dua gelaran juara pada perlumbaan di litar yang sama pada pusingan kedua Mac lalu. Selepas itu dia berjaya muncul juara di pusingan keempat di Litar Antarabangsa Chang Thailand dalam perlumbaan pertama.

Hakim juga telah menakhluk litar tanah air setelah meraih kejuaraan dalam perlumbaan kedua di pusingan kelima di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC) sebelum ini.

Secara rasminya, ia adalah kejayaan pertama anak Malaysia yang berjaya merangkul gelaran ATC sejak perlumbaan tersebut dipertandingkan pada 2014.


All-New 2015 Mitsubishi Triton On Display @ Mid Valley Megamall

It will make its official debut in just a matter of days, but if you can’t wait any longer, head on over to the Mid Valley Megamall, and you can catch all variants of the all-new 2015
Mitsubishi

Triton
 – the full range is on display at the Centre Court.
We’ve shown you the vehicle’s grand
global debut in Thailand
, and then its
quiet slip on to Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia’s (MMM) website
 which revealed its tentative prices and impressive list of specifications (we still haven’t gotten over this pick-up featuring shift paddles, by the way). Now, even after showing you
the highest-spec version making its showroom debut
, here’s a full gallery of the Triton’s full range on display at Mid Valley.
Just as before, here’s a quick look at the range’s tentative price list:
2015 Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure (5AT): RM114,000
2015 Mitsubishi Triton VGT (5AT): RM103,000
2015 Mitsubishi Triton VGT (5MT): RM97,000
2015 Mitsubishi Triton (5MT): RM87,000
2015 Mitsubishi Triton Quest (5MT): RM71,000
Powering all variants of the double-cab Triton will be a 2.5-litre DI-D Hyper Common Rail DOHC turbo-diesel engine, which makes 178PS and a staggering 400Nm of torque. Depending on your fancy, transmission options include a five-speed manual, and a five-speed torque converter automatic.
Our only peeve where powertrain is concerned is with the all-new, all-aluminium turbo-diesel 2.4-litre engine not making it to Malaysia. Despite the smaller displacement, the 2.4-litre MIVEC VG turbo-diesel (codenamed 4N15) develops 181hp and 430Nm of torque, along with improving fuel efficiency by 20% and reducing CO2 by 17% against the existing 2.5-litre turbo-diesel.
Apart from this, MMM has been rather generous with specifying its Triton (depending on the variant of your choice), offering lots of first-in-class features (for Malaysia) from very competitive prices.
Key features & equipment available in the Triton include:
Xenon HID projector headlamps (Adventure only)
Daytime running lights (Adventure only)
15 to 17-inch alloy wheel
Touchscreen Audio System with Bluetooth, iPod & USB (Adventure & VGT only)
Rear-view camera (Adventure only)
Easy Select 4WD with Shift-on-the-Fly (Adventure, VGT 5AT)
Handsfree & Voice Control (Adventure only)
Paddle Shifters (Adventure only)
Cruise Control (Adventure only)
Leather Seats (Adventure only)
Safety features are common across all variants of the all-new Mitsubishi Triton, with  two airbags (dual SRS), ISOFIX child-seat anchors and an alarm system offered as standard.
At the on-going roadshow, MMM is carrying out a survey which asks visitors if or not a Sport Bar (roll-bar) would be something customers may want from their Triton. Typically, most pick-ups (D-Max, Ranger etc.) feature either chrome or plastic bars at the cargo bed, but you’ll note that the Triton doesn’t have one.
Presumably, if demand is high for this, MMM may specify it for the future. So, if you want one, go fill out the survey!


How You Like Me Now – The AC Schnitzer (G22) BMW 4 Series Looks Mean

There’s been a lot of buzz about the
(G22) 4 Series
 – and for the most part, the love or hate you may have for the 4 Series starts at the very front, the massive kidney grille stretching from top to bottom in a central position of the front bumper – which BMW has said, will be an era-defining stylistic detail.

Time will tell if the design language stands the test of time, or proves to have a face only a mother can love, but it hasn’t stopped
premier BMW tuner, AC Schnitzer
, from putting their very own touch of beauty and madness on the G22 4 Series.

Their latest tuning kit, which covers stylistic, handling, and performance upgrades for the model aims to make it even more of a showstopper when driving down the road. Certain products are still in development and are slated to be released within Q1 2021 but it has to be said – we already like what we’re seeing.

At the front the AC Schnitzer package will be offered with a front spoiler giving the 4 Series an even lower stance, the spoiler can be coupled with an additional splitter element (still in development) for better downforce.

Along the flanks, the 4 Series receives a sculpted side skirt, and par the course - killer looking AC1 5-spoke light-alloy wheels available in both 19- and 20-inch sizes and three different colour finishes.

Round the back, the AC Schnitzer 4 Series offers a rear “protective foil” for an extra aggressive look. Further up, the 4 Series also receives the company’s trademark rear roof spoiler which mounts to the leading edge of the rear windscreen. A carbon rear spoiler is also in the works.

However, the AC Schnitzer treatment doesn’t stop there – they have also introduced a set of spring kits (to lower the car) or a complete suspension kit which lowers the car by 20-30mm and is said to give the car a much sharper driving feel without sacrificing comfort.

On the inside, the company has designed an array of trinkets to spice up the interior – these include aluminium paddle shifters, aluminium foot pedals and rest, and customised keyholder.

However, the highlight of the tuning package is the remapped ECU which bumps up power considerably. The unit is a complete plug and play item which is offered with a 5-year warranty. The tuning programs are still in development at the moment but will be offered on both the BMW 430i and 440i xDrive models. An assortment of sporty exhaust components is also in development.


Shell Helix Ultra Technology In Formula One

Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology – the first motor oil made from natural gas – is a critical component of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One power unit. Tasked with cleaning and lubricating the engine’s moving parts, minimising frictional losses and reducing heat generated within the power unit whilst still allowing the engine to run as freely as possible to maximise power and deliver improved fuel economy; the role that Shell Helix plays has always been extremely challenging.
This is even more important with the latest introduction of new technical regulations to the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) Formula One World ChampionshipTM. Perhaps the greatest challenge stems from an engine re-design introduced in 2014: Formula One engines have changed from a capacity of 2.4 litres to smaller 1.6 litre engines. The new V6 engine is also turbo-charged and forms part of a power unit including the Energy Recovery Systems (ERS).
The net result sees components such as the turbo revolving at higher speeds and working within a much more hostile environment than previous years in terms of operating temperatures and packaging. Despite the increased stress placed on the engine oil by these revolutionary changes, the reliability of the F14 T power proved to be a highlight of the 2014 season, underlining the importance of Shell’s Technical Partnership with Scuderia Ferrari and the role of Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology in meeting the demands of the new engine.
With greater allowance in the technical regulations for expansive engine design in 2015, the biggest challenge for Shell will be to continue to provide Scuderia Ferrari with lubricants that are optimised to meet the demands of any hardware developments as they happen.
Furthermore, there is increased demand on engine durability as the number of power units available to each driver over the course of the season has been reduced from last year’s total of five to just four. Any power unit used in addition to this allowance would see severe grid penalties imposed on the driver.
Therefore, Scuderia Ferrari has been looking to Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology to provide protection throughout this extended engine life without decreasing the performance. For Shell scientists and all of the competing Formula One teams, the modern era of the sport presents a significant challenge.
Shell has decades of experience working with race and road-going engines, both naturally aspirated and turbocharged. In fact, the engine of every Ferrari GT car leaving the production line is already filled with Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology – an entirely new method of producing synthetic, crystal clear base oils from natural gas with virtually none of the impurities found in crude oil. When combined with Active Cleansing Technology, Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology delivers even higher levels of cleaning and protection, meaning that no other motor oil keeps road car engines closer to factory clean.
Shell PurePlus Technology was first introduced into the Ferrari Formula One programme in 2014 and from January 2015, every oil supplied to Scuderia Ferrari will be formulated using this revolutionary technology.
With Shell PurePlus Technology now at the heart of every oil used by Shell’s Technical Partner, Scuderia Ferrari can also enjoy the benefits of this latest innovation. Shell’s lubricants are also formulated to actively reduce friction by introducing Shell’s Friction Modification Technology (also found in Shell V-Power fuels), designed to protect critical engine parts and unlock valuable energy.
It is this technology that has enabled Shell to help power Scuderia Ferrari to 10 FIA Formula One World ChampionshipTM Constructors’ Titles and 12 Drivers’ Titles.
As the world’s most extreme automotive test bed, Formula One represents the ideal platform for Shell to develop its range of products for the everyday motorist. Many of the components used to power and protect the Scuderia Ferrari engine can be found in Shell Helix Ultra’s road-going products.
This means Shell can develop superior lubricants that can keep pace with the changing demands of the modern engine and improve its performance and life; and eventually passing this onto the everyday motorist.
With greater allowance in the technical regulations for expansive engine design in 2015, Shell will continue to provide Scuderia Ferrari with lubricants that are optimised to meet the demands of hardware developments as they happen.