Volkswagen Mk7 Golf R Review – How Volkswagen Made Our Driver’s Car of the Year

‘Objective scoring’ is the short answer as to how the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R became the first
ASEAN Car of the Year’s (ACOTY) “Driver’s Car of the Year”
, even though the parameters of judgement for a category such as this might be a little, subjective. After all it isn’t about speed, power, features, or value for money that defines a “Driver’s Car”, it is those qualities that are quantifiable only to the driver and defines greatness.
What does come as a surprise is the Volkswagen Golf R’s triumph. A marked win over the delectable Renault Megane RS265 and the utterly loveable Ford Fiesta ST, two cars that figure highly in nearly every judge’s “want to take this home and keep it forever” list of cars.
If you know Volkswagen’s track record of performance hatches, their hot hatch buck usually stops at the Golf GTI. Of course there has always been a higher-horsepower four-wheel drive version that sits above the GTI since the Mk4 Golf R32. But it just wasn’t what you describe as the better ‘Driver’s car’. Even the ludicrously fast Mk6 Golf R, the first official Golf from Volkswagen’s newly minted motorsports division – R GmbH – was strangely unexciting and a little emotionless, compared to the Golf GTI of its time.
As such initial expectations of the Mk7 Golf R only went as far as the performance figures quoted on the spec sheet, which are impressive for Volkswagen’s ultimate hatchback.
Volkswagen Mk7 Golf R Specifications
Price: RM291,888
Engine: 1,984cc, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Power: 280hp @ 5,700-6,200rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 1,750-5,600rpm
Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch, four-wheel drive
0-100km/h: 5 seconds
Top Speed: 250km/h
Combined Fuel Consumption: 6.9L/100km
Under its hood, the new Golf R uses Volkswagen’s proven 2-litre EA888 powerplant, hailing from the same engine family that is used in the Golf GTI. Only in the Golf R, power has been bumped up to 280hp and 380Nm of torque. 60hp and 30Nm more than what the GTI packs, knocking its 0 to 100km/h times down by 1.5 seconds to 5 seconds flat.
Mind you that this 280hp figure is for the Malaysian version, which had to have its power figures trimmed to suit the fuel in this part of the world. In its normal state of tune for European countries the Golf R would be clocking in 300hp and a 0 to 100km/h time of 4.9 seconds. Not that this 0.1 second and 20hp deficit would be an issue, as even with 280hp on hand, the Golf R is already rabidly fast.
Acceleration in the Golf R is simply breath taking, as it picks up speed with frightening ease. The engine has an immense mid-range punch, and even as you cross over its initial low-end torque surge, the Golf R’s engine has a propensity to keep on going with no pause or signs of relent as closes in on its 6,000rpm red line. The six-speed dual-clutch transmission on the other hand is flawless with its lighting quick changes and well-spaced ratios.
R GmbH certainly had beefed up the acoustics to deliver the right notes to accompany its new power delivery. At idle the Golf R sounds menacing with a gruff growl. Wind the engine up and from 4,000rpm that engine note turns feral, with a racy audio audacity that sounds like the engine was lifted wholesale from a race car. An absolutely gratuitous racket.
Four-Wheel Traction, Without Four-Wheel Drawbacks
Normally the idea of packing a four-wheel drive system into a small hatchback platform doesn’t sound like a great recipe. After all a four-wheel drive system is heavy, and unless you have more than 300hp at your disposal, the added mechanical bits will dull the power and its weight will blunt its edge.
Not so in this. With a new fifth-generation Haldex coupling added to its 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, the Golf R is able to go from being a fully front-wheel drive car when coasting or cruising, to all-wheel drive in a fraction of a second. And should the system deem it necessary, all power from the engine can be redirected to the rear wheels alone. With this lightning quick juggling of power between all four wheels, the Golf R not only has massive reserves of traction on hand, but more importantly, it doesn’t feel inert.
R for Revelation
While speed and traction were the qualities of its predecessor’s calling card, this Mk7 version feels so much more alive. Where the Mk6 Golf R was a ground-hugging cruise missile bred for autobahn miles, this feels built for alpine passes.
Though Volkswagen says the Golf R comes with a quicker steering rack with a progressive steering gear ratio that increase the weight the faster you go, I have to say it is one of the best steering of its kind. The transition in steering weight is imperceptible, with an immediate and precise nature.
On tight winding roads, the Golf R doesn’t feel like a four-wheel drive car, the front end reaction isn’t blunted nor does the whole car feel as though it is bogged down by unnecessary weight. It is amazingly light on its feet, with sublime adjustability in the corners, and imbued with a playful nature that makes the firepower of its 280hp boast feel present and yet accessible. It isn’t just an overpowered hot hatch, but one that gives you the confidence to make the most of its power and involves you in the experience.
All that power is also kept in check by Volkswagen’s XDS+ electronic differential locks that now boasts a wider operating that is effectively kills any hints or understeer, and improves steering precision. There is even an “ESC Sport” mode, which delays the ESC intervention so that you can induce some mild antics before the safety net draws you back into line. However, if you are feeling especially adventurous, the Golf R’s stability control can be fully deactivated, leaving you, the car, and all 280 of its ponies at your disposal. Though considering the pace and amount of grip the Golf R is capable of, we would only recommend trying that out on a closed circuit.
With the addition of the Dynamic chassis control (DCC) system fitted to the five-door Tech Pack equipped model, the R’s suspension can be adjusted between three settings, “Comfort”, “Normal”, and “Race”.  In “Comfort” the R has a rather cushy and controlled ride, and though “Normal” is on the firmer side of things, the ride doesn’t feel wearisome nor jittery on imperfect public roads. “Race” on the other hand stiffens up the dampers leaving no play in the suspension for any roll or suppleness in its ride.
That being said, while the DCC gives plenty of settings for drivers to adjust the car’s settings to suit their individual needs, with adjustments for steering, suspension, and throttle response, choosing the correct Drive Mode can be troublesome. The DCC offers five Drive Modes, “Comfort”, “Normal”, “Race”, “Eco”, and “Individual”, which is only selectable from the centre touchscreen on the dashboard. And switching between one of five modes while on the move is especially tricky. Whatever happened to the good old physical switch that allows you to cycle through the settings without looking?
Turned up to Eleven yet Dressed to the Nine
At RM292,000 the Golf R is very pricey, and it is hard to justify shelling out the price of a nice German premium sedan for a hatchback. On the flipside, the Golf R doesn’t look like the sort of loutish discount hot hatch for ‘wannabe’ youngsters to show off.
Instead the R adopts R GmbH’s subtle signature styling such as an understated silver grille stripe, silver door mirrors, blacked out taillights, and tiny black R badges. The Golf R looks and feels like a grown up hot hatch that exudes a restrained image hiding its weapons grade substance beneath an elegant veil. The only jarring addition to the Golf R is the adoption of dual twin exhaust pipes, which ruins the subtly. I’d much prefer the predecessor’s mid-mounted twin tail pipes, but that is a personal preference.
That classiness is continued in the cabin where it is trimmed in dark leather, with high-gloss black panels and blue highlights. That being said, while the bolstered front seats offer good support, we did pine for the old semi-bucket seats that the predecessor had, even if it meant having to scale its tall and often prohibitive side bolsters when it came to getting in and out of it.
Besides the fancy front furnishings, the rest of the Golf R is as usable and practical as the standard Golf, with ample legroom and headroom for rear seat occupants. There is ample space in the boot too that can easily swallow the weekend luggage for five.
Conclusion
Often the term “Driver’s Car” means there is some sort of compromise fitted in its clause. It might be a lack of comfort, a trait of inconvenience, or several hundreds of reasons that is hard to justify its price when there are many other more comfortable and convenient choices out there. The Volkswagen Golf R is not only without compromise, it doesn’t seem to lack merits when it comes to the driving experience.
Yes a manual would have made it even better, as is the case with its closest rivals in its ACOTY class, the Renault Megane RS265 and the Ford Fiesta ST. But the dual-clutch is supremely competent, which helps us keep our heads focused on making the most of its 280hp on hand. And furthermore Volkswagen’s R department has managed to weave in its Golf the focus and capability of RenaultSport’s Megane, as well as the sheer bravado and interactivity of the Fiesta ST, and topped it off with a near endless reserves of power.
It might lack the Megane’s ability to deliver the exhilaration at 10/10ths of its performance and track-proven robustness, but the Golf is able to match 9/10ths of the French car’s thrills and counters it with a broader range of abilities such as better high speed stability and cornering traction.
Exciting, fun, and absolutely brilliant on any given road. A car that most judges would agree, that if they had to live with only one car, this would be it. And I too have no case to argue against a verdict like that.


Geneva 2017: Lexus Pulls the Covers Off the LS 500h

Ever since the current generation Lexus GS, the company has been on a roll with exciting new products packed with exciting new features. They finally made the step to forced induction in the last few years with the NX 200t and the various 200t models that followed, but perhaps the model we were most excited for is their flagship LS sedan. Lexus finally unveiled the LS back at the NAIAS, and it was drop-dead gorgeous from front to rear- a blend of sophistication and aggressive modern Lexus design.
For Geneva, Lexus has brought up the top-of-the-line hybrid variant for their LS model: the LS 500h. Unlike the regular LS 500, this one doesn't come with a turbocharged engine. Instead the main source of motivation is a 3.5-litre V6 engine similar to that in the GS 350. What does make this new generation so special is the addition of a multi-stage hybrid system that surpasses its predecessors in a number of ways.
With two electric motors providing additional torque, total system output sits at 354 hp. While the transmission in the LS 500h only has 4 forward gears, the hybrid system helps to fill in the spaces in between with a reduction gear that results in a 10-speed feel with no rubber-band effect during in gear acceleration. Much like hybrids of today, the LS 500h is capable of travelling at up to 140 km/h in pure electric mode, while having all hands on deck results on a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.4 seconds.
This new hybrid system is said to make the LS 500h a lot more fun and intuitive to drive, with the system even having a DMI (or Driver's Mind Index) that helps to understand how to driver shifts and mimics it in order to make the driver feel at ease even when not in manual override mode. Of course it's unlikely that most LS 500h owners will be driving themselves, but it is a fairly neat feature. It pays to remember that the previous generation Lexus LS 460 Sport was one of the most agile, fun to drive cars in its class, rather ironically.
We can't wait until it comes to our market. Of course the regular LS 500 is also something we're looking forward to, what with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 that pushes 415 hp and 600 Nm of torque- definitely something that we can see eating up the miles on a long distance trip. Lexus is really coming into its own under Toyoda's leadership, and we hope that the market responds in an encouraging way to this new direction.


The Best First Car? – Perodua Kelisa Buying Guide

Buying a car on a budget doesn't have to be dismal. The Perodua Kelisa might just be the perfect choice and we explain why in our buying guide.

When it comes to buying a first car for yourself, or maybe your kid, you really can’t get better value for money than with a local brand car – Perodua or Proton, so to speak. This applies whether you’re working with a smaller budget and opting for something second hand, or looking at something new, because either way you can get a surprising amount of bang for your buck.

On top of that, you can expect maintenance costs to be fairly low. Even with all this in mind, not all first car options are made equal. We’re here to talk about one of our favourite choices and Malaysia’s very own Mini, the Perodua Kelisa. Produced from 2001 to 2007 and based off of the fifth generation Daihatsu Mira Cuore, this ultra-compact car meant a lot of things to a lot of different people.

Throughout its lifespan, the Kelisa was sold alongside the Kancil – despite the two models both effectively being Daihatsu Miras, albeit from different generations. As such, the Kelisa was regarded as a slightly higher end model – and the very last of the models sold even came with Bluetooth if you picked some of the higher trim options.

They were available with either an 850 cc engine or a one litre engine – both being three cylinders, though the latter instantly making it more powerful than its Kancil sister. You could get them with either an automatic or a manual transmission, even up to the highest trim levels and options, which quickly became a rare case for a car as we approached the end of the 2000s.

What are the trim levels that you should look out for? Let’s break it down for you in this quick and easy list:

EX (or 850 EX) – the 850 cc manual variant

GX – the 1.0-litre manual variant

EZ – the 1.0-litre automatic variant.

GXS – a Special Edition version of the GX

EZS – a Special Edition version of the EZ

GXL/GXQ – Limited Edition and final run variants of the GX

EZL/EZQ – Limited Edition and final run variants of the EZ

Despite Top Gear UK’s disdain for this amazing little car, the Kelisa is not a car you should disregard so quickly. For one, it handles like an absolute dream with the right set of tyres on; after all, with such a low kerb weight of just under 810 kilograms, it can dance around pretty much any other car on the road once you put decent rubber on it. The engine may only produce 64 PS, but quick gear ratios means you can get up to speed swiftly and effortlessly.

Now if you’re a parent buying a car for a child, we wouldn’t fault you if you sprung a little bit more for a brand new Perodua Myvi 1.5 AV, which comes loaded with all the bells and whistles and safety systems. It is the newer, safer car with better crumple zones and overall safety and functionality. But if you trust your child enough to stay out of trouble, you can’t go wrong with a Kelisa and there will definitely be a modicum of appreciation for how easy the Kelisa is to park.

The running costs for these cars are generally quite low with the exception of some items like engine mounts – but even then we’re talking high three-figure pieces and you would only change them perhaps once over the course of a five to seven year cycle. You can fit up to 14-inch wheels comfortably, and going to 15-inch wheels would require a fair amount of massaging of the arches to prevent any fouling.

One of the more notable colours for the Kelisa was Kenari Yellow (ironically), but that definitely wasn’t the only option. Of the solid choices you could get either Ivory White or Kristal White. Metallic paint options were more plentiful, with Pearl Jade, Mocca Silver, Millennia Gold, Glittering Silver, Gemilang Blue, Sparkling Silver, and Ozzy Orange being your choices here. Alongside the Kenari Yellow were Royal Blue and Ebony Black as more limited colour options.

Resale value on the Kelisa has pretty much stabilized at the bottom end, and even then these cars don’t go for as cheap as you would think. Of the
97 examples listed on our website
, the cheapest one will still run you RM 7,500 for a 1.0-liter automatic EZ model, going all the way up to RM 17,800 for one of the last Kelisa examples ever produced – also a 1.0-liter automatic EZ trim variant. Still though, for under RM 10,000 you get a great little car that’s fun to drive, easy on fuel, and easy to maintain, which are things we firmly stand for when it comes to a daily driver.


Kereta Terbiar Lama? 7 Pemeriksaan Penting Kereta Sepanjang Tempoh Lockdown 3.0

Susulan pelaksanaan
Total Lockdown 3.0
 yang bermula 1 Jun – 14 Jun ini, pasti ada diantara kita yang memilih untuk berkurung sahaja di dalam rumah ekoran lonjakan tinggi dalam kes positif COVID-19 harian di negara ini. Persoalannya, jika kereta anda sudah lama tidak bergerak dan enjinnya langsung tidak dihidupkan, apakah masalah yang akan timbul pada kereta?

Bilakah kali terakhir anda menghidupkan enjin kereta anda? Sekiranya anda merupakan antara golongan yang diarahkan bekerja dari rumah sejak tahun lalu akibat pelaksanaan PKP, pasti kekerapan anda menggunakan kereta juga berkurang. Cukuplah sekadar pergi ke kedai membeli barang keperluan bagi meneruskan kelangsungan hidup. Tapi bagaimana pula sekiranya anda mempunyai lebih daripada satu kereta? Patutkah anda biarkan sahaja kereta kedua anda terbiar tanpa diperiksa?

Jawapannya mestilah tidak patut. Walaupun kereta anda dah lama tak jalan, tak semestinya kereta terbabit akan bebas daripada sebarang masalah. Antara masalah yang berisiko untuk berlaku pada kereta yang terbiar lama adalah bateri kereta menjadi lemah serta gangguan pada pam minyak dan brek. Bagi mengelakkan kereta anda daripada ditimpa masalah akibat ditinggalkan begitu lama, anda perlu lakukan 6 pemeriksaan penting pada kereta anda sepanjang tempoh lockdown 3.0 ini.

1. Bateri dan Alternator

Nak tinggal kereta lebih daripada dua minggu? Tiada masalah! Walaupun kereta yang tidak dihidupkan enjinnya dalam jangka masa dua minggu keatas akan mengalami kemerosotan kuasa
bateri
. Masalah akan berlaku sedikit demi sedikit sehinggalah bateri kereta berkenaan hilang kuasa sama sekali. Seeloknya, cabut kepala bateri terlebih dahulu bagi mengelakkan bateri daripada kehabisan tenaga. Kalau dah habis tenaga, terpaksalah guna jumper.

Untuk periksa
alternator
 kereta pula, anda cuma perlu hidupkan enjin kereta anda dan buka kepala bateri yang berwarna hitam/ negatif. Sekiranya kereta anda mati sebaik sahaja anda melakukan perkara tersebut, ia bermakna alternator tersebut tidak lagi berfungsi. Komponen ini menjana tenaga elektrik untuk kereta hasil dari gerakan ataupun putaran komponen enjin kereta. Selain daripada menghidupkan semua aksesori kereta anda, alternator juga memastikan bateri kereta dicas secukupnya untuk membantu menghidupkan enjin kereta.

2. Periksa Tayar

Tayar
 merupakan antara komponen penting pada kereta. Oleh itu, bahagian ini amatlah penting untuk anda pastikan sentiasa berada dalam keadaan baik bagi menjamin keselamatan pemandu dan penumpang. Periksa tekanan udara pada tayar kereta dan pastikan ianya mencukupi. Tekanan udara pada tayar akan berkurangan sekiranya dibiarkan begitu lama. Sebab itu kereta yang ditinggalkan lama di parkir kebiasaannya mempunyai tayar yang pancit, leper dan rata kerana berat kenderaan akan menekan tayar dan proses ini akan lebih cepat sekiranya pada waktu sejuk.

Selain itu, periksa juga
keadaan tayar
 anda dari semasa ke semasa. Pastikan bunga tayar anda masih tebal kerana tayar yang botak agak berbahaya untuk dipandu kerana kurang cengkaman. Jika terdapat rekahan pada tayar anda, dah tiba masanya untuk anda menukar tayar tersebut kerana tayar yang merekah mempunyai risiko yang lebih tinggi untuk meletup.

3. Periksa Minyak Enjin

Untuk periksa minyak pada jantung kereta, anda cuma perlu membuka bonet kereta anda dan menarik dipstick keluar untuk menyukat tahap minyak enjin anda. Sekiranya minyak anda mencukupi itu cukup bagus. Namun sekiranya terdapat pengurangan, ianya berkemungkinan berlaku kerana minyak terbabit ‘leaking’.

Bilakah kali terakhir anda menukar minyak enjin anda? Kalau nak tahu bila waktu tepat anda patut tukar minyak enjin, ikut sahaja had mileage maksimum yang telah ditetapkan semasa anda menukar minyak enjin sebelum ini. Namun oleh kerana PKP, kereta anda mungkin tidak kerap berjalan. Jadi sebaliknya, anda boleh periksa keadaan kualiti minyak itu dengan memerhatikan warnanya. Jika minyak enjin anda berwarna kehitaman seperti minyak goreng ayam yang telah digunapakai beberapa kali, dah tiba masanya untuk anda menukar minyak enjin anda bagi melancarkan lagi prestasi enjin. Alang-alang dah periksa minyak enjin, periksa juga minyak gearbox (transmission fluid) anda!

4. Periksa Air Radiator

Perkara ini nampak remeh, tapi ini merupakan antara komponen penting dalam memastikan kelancaran enjin kereta anda. Jangan sesekali membiarkan air
radiator
 anda kering tanpa pengetahuan anda. Kalau anda lenjan kereta tanpa air radiator, ia bakal mendatangkan masalah kepada komponen lain yang boleh menelan belanja yang tinggi.

Periksa keadaan air radiator anda dan pastikan ia tidak berada dalam keadaan berkarat. Radiator anda berpotensi untuk tersumbat dengan keladak dan karat akibat terbiar lama sangat di kawasan parkir. Kalau dah berkarat, eloklah pergi
servis
 terlebih dahulu sebelum anda terlupa dan melenjan kereta tersebut sebaik sahaja Total Lockdown 3.0 berakhir.

5. Brake Pad dan Handbrake

Selain itu, jika anda merancang untuk meninggalkan kereta anda dengan tempoh yang lama, seeloknya, elakkan daripada menarik handbrake bagi mengelakkan ia daripada ‘jammed’ dan tersangkut. Jika perkara ini terjadi, anda perlu hidupkan kereta, lepaskan handbrake dan gerakkan kereta perlahan-lahan sampai bunyi ‘gedegang’ menandakan brek anda sudah berjaya dilepaskan. Kalau tak berjaya, seeloknya telefon sahaja pomen on-the-go untuk datang membantu.

Anda juga perlu periksa keadaan brake pad anda untuk memastikan ianya masih dalam keadaan baik dan tidak haus (worn out). Anda boleh tengok sendiri brake pad anda dari luar sahaja. Jika getahnya masih tebal, ianya masih dalam keadaan elok. Namun jika ianya sudah nipis dan terdapat bunyi berdesing setiap kali anda memijak pedal brek, ini bermaksud dah sampai masanya untuk tukar.

6. Periksa Lampu

Periksa juga keadaan semua lampu-lampu pada kereta anda sepeti lampu utama, lampu kabus, signal dan lampu brek. Pastikan semuanya menyala tanpa ada masalah. Lampu utama atau lampu hadapan amat penting terutamanya untuk pemanduan pada waktu malam. Penting untuk periksa awal-awal bagi mengelakkan sebarang kecemasan yang memerlukan anda untuk bawa kereta pada waktu malam. Kalau lampu tak hidup kan berbahaya tu?

Lampu brek juga penting. Untuk memastikan lampu brek anda masih elok, pijak pedal brek dan suruh rakan anda berdiri di belakang kereta. Sekiranya lampu brek menyala setiap kali anda menekan brek, maknanya ia tiada masalah. Penting juga untuk anda pastikan lampu ketiga brek anda berfungsi dengan baik kerana pemandu lori biasanya menggunakan lampu ini untuk mengetahui bahawa kereta hadapan sedang brek. Maklumlah, nak tengok lampu brek utama kereta agak sedikit rendah.

7. Bersihkan Kereta

Pastikan keadaan luaran dan dalaman kereta sentiasa dijaga dengan baik. Untuk bahagian luaran, anda boleh
membasuh atau mencuci kenderaan
 sekurang-kurangnya dua minggu sekali bagi memastikan
cat kereta
 sentiasa dalam keadaan baik. Jika anda tinggalkan kereta dalam keadaan kotor, kotoran pada cat boleh membuatkan cat pudar dan terhakis.

Kalau ada duit lebih, bawalah kereta pergi polish dan wax untuk lebih perlindungan. Jangan letakkan kenderaan di kawasan terbuka di bawah sinaran matahari. Sebaiknya, cari tempat tertutup atau balut kereta anda dengan pembalut kereta yang boleh didapati secara atas talian.

Bahagian dalaman kereta juga perlu dititikberatkan kerana ia bakal memberi keselesaan kepada pemandu dan penumpang. Pastikan anda membersihkan tempat duduk dan pastikan kereta anda bebas dari sebarang sampah bagi mengelakkan kehadiran semut dan lipas di dalam kereta. Kalau malas, hantar sahaja kereta ke car wash. Di sana, anda bukan sahaja boleh vakum kereta, malah boleh cuci tempat duduk sekali.

Berikut merupakan antara perkara penting dan asas yang perlu anda ambil perhatian sekiranya kereta anda dibiarkan lama tanpa diperiksa. Penting juga untuk anda menghidupkan enjin selama 10-20 minit sekurang-kurangnya sekali seminggu untuk memastikan segala komponen kereta tidak ‘tidur’ atau rosak. Tambahan pula, kereta yang dijaga dengan rapi akan mempunyai nilai jual balik yang lebih tinggi. Ianya pasti membantu sekiranya anda ingin menjual kereta tersebut untuk membeli kereta baharu pada masa hadapan!

Jagalah kereta anda seperti mana anda menjaga diri ketika waktu pandemik ini bagi mengelakkan sebarang kejadian yang tidak diingini daripada berlaku pada kereta anda.

Jaga diri, jaga kereta! #kitajagakereta

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Honda Malaysia Recalls 28,399 Units Of Vehicles For Takata Passenger Front Airbag Inflator Replacement

Honda Malaysia today announced that it is extending its proactive measure to ensure customer safety by continuing to undertake a precautionary recall of 28,399 units of 2013 Year Model vehicles to replace the Takata passenger front airbag inflator.
The models involved in this recall are City (2013 Year Model), Jazz (2013 Year Model), Jazz Hybrid (2013 Year Model) and Insight (2013 Year Model).
As of March 2018, Honda Malaysia has completed more than 223,000 units of Takata driver front airbag inflator replacement which translates to a 84% completion ratio.
The total number of Takata driver and passenger front airbag inflator replacements completed is at more than 435,000 units or 77% completion ratio.
Honda Malaysia reiterates that all its current selling models are not affected and will continue to uphold transparency and stringent controls to ensure customer safety.
As of today, there are no crashes or injuries related to this Takata passenger front airbag inflator reported in Malaysia.
The company will be informing all affected customers via notification letters which will include details of the product recall.
Customers who receive these letters are encouraged to send their vehicles to the nearest Honda authorised dealer for inspection and replacement for free.
The company has sustained the activities for airbag inflator replacement including ensuring 100% stock availability for front driver and passenger airbag inflators (excluding front passenger airbag inflator parts availability for this recall) and increased service capacity via mobile hubs, hubs at selected Petronas stations, hubs at Honda roadshows, and dealerships.
Honda Malaysia said that it is doing its utmost best in ensuring the stock availability for Takata passenger front airbag related to this recall which is currently limited.
The replacement works will be carried out once the parts are ready, and the cost of parts and labour will be borne by Honda Malaysia, which continues to proactively recall vehicles on the Takata front airbag inflator issue and continue alerting and informing customers of the importance of replacing the affected vehicle’s airbag inflators via increased frequency of postings on social media and SMS blasts.
Vehicle owners can check their vehicle’s recall status either by logging on to
 www.honda.com.my
 or
www.productrecall.honda.com.my
 or by calling Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020.
Owners of Honda vehicles affected by the airbag inflator product recall are advised to immediately get their vehicles checked and parts replaced at any Honda Authorized Service dealers or Mobile Hubs as soon as possible.


Fake News: No SST For Cars - How The Media Got It Wrong

News reports claiming that new locally-assembled cars will be exempted from the upcoming 10 percent sales tax are not true. According to a press release by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the document titled ‘’Proposed Goods Exempted From Sales Tax" uploaded to the official Customs site has been erroneously interpreted by many local news sites.
Section 87.03 on the document includes a clause that says Completely Knocked Down (CKD) vehicles are exempted from sales tax.
Earlier reports by MalaysiaKini and The Sun Daily, which has since been corrected, had based their reports on the document, claiming that prices of new locally-assembled cars will not see any increase post-SST implementation on 1-September 2018.
The Customs Department clarified that the items exempted from SST on the said list only refers to knocked down kits that are for completely knocked down (CKD) packages.
At this point, we need to clarify that the definitions of CKD and CBU used in policy papers are different from consumers’ understanding. CKD here doesn’t necessarily mean locally-assembled cars, but imported components and kits used to assemble a vehicle.
Obviously sales tax cannot be imposed at this level as that would result in double taxation of the vehicle – at plant’s assembly level and at point-of-sale at the showroom, hence the exemption on CKD cars.
In short, the clause merely says that unfinished cars are exempted from sales tax, only finished cars that are sold will be slapped with the 10 percent sales tax.
It should be noted that the exemptions listed under Section 87.03 have been around for decades, since the pre-GST era.
This trusted news content is brought to you by Carlist.my.


Monorail Coach Tyre Catches Fire, Traffic Delays Expected [UPDATE]

In an official media statement released by RapidKL today, the Rapid Rail monorail service is temporarily suspended from 8:50 am due to two separate incidents. Motorists are advised to avoid Jalan Tun Razak with traffic being backed up along Jalan Istana, Jalan Damansara, and the Sultan Iskandar Highway (formerly the Mahameru Highway). Traffic on Jalan Kuching coming from Selayang Baru is also affected.
[UPDATE] The Rapid Rail monorail service has resumed at 12.15pm although operating on degraded mode due to faults of the signaling system.
The first incident is caused by one of the rubber tyres of a two-car train catching fire at Titiwangsa station, resulting in heavy smoke to be released. No one was on board the train at the time.
As for incident two, a four-car train became stranded between Imbi station and Bukit Bintang station due to technical problems. A rescue train was dispatched to push the stranded train to Imbi station to clear the passengers.
Rapid Rail is carrying out an internal investigation into both incidents and apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Image source: Keng/Lowyat forum


Porsche Applies The GTS Treatment Onto Its Targa 4 For Detroit Auto Show

Joining its SUV brother on stage at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show is the
Porsche

911
 Targa 4 GTS, joining the 911 coupe and convertible in receiving the GTS treatment. So, if you’re looking for just that little bit more out of the 911 but the GT3 is too hardcore for you and the standard
911
 Targa 4 is not edgy enough, this is the car for you.
Joining its SUV brother on stage at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show is the
Porsche

911
 Targa 4 GTS, joining the 911 coupe and convertible in receiving the GTS treatment. So, if you’re looking for just that little bit more out of the 911 but the GT3 is too hardcore for you and the standard
911
 Targa 4 is not edgy enough, this is the car for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftNVJeROxFs
Like the coupe and convertible, the Targa 4 GTS gets a power boost with the 3.8-litre flat-six now pumping out 430 hp, a 30 hp increase. Maximum torque stands at 440 Nm. All that power is sent through either a 7-speed manual or PDK gearbox and all-wheel drive system with the 0-100 km/h sprint achieved in just 4.3 seconds.
The
Porsche
 Targa 4 GTS also comes with the Sport Chrono Package, PASM chassis, sport exhaust system and 20-inch Turbo S black wheels with central lock as standard. Other features include smoked bi-xenon headlights, new door mirrors and black accents on the model logo, chrome tailpipes and GTS logos on the doors.
Inside the cabin, you’ll be greeted by Sport Plus seats with GTS logos on the headrests, black Alcantara trim and a stopwatch that comes standard with the Sport Chrono package.


VIDEO: Toyota Shows Its Mirai’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Sedan Could Run On Lemonade

Toyota
 seems to be at the forefront of advocating hydrogen as the solution to the world’s energy problems, or at least one of its leading proponents, especially when it comes to powering cars. In it’s newest promo video, it talks about how lemonade can make cars go.
Some cute kids were used in the making of that production, but let’s not get side-tracked from the bigger topic here. Can lemonade really generate enough hydrogen to power the Mirai, possibly to its maximum
502km range
?
The Japanese automaker seems to think so, and with a very important middle step involving scientists and an electrolyzer (which is by made by Proton? No relation, maybe.) before its fit to be channelled into the Mirai.
Funny how they had to add the disclaimer “Do Not Use Raw Lemonade As Fuel”. Because everyone everywhere are just dying to do just that.
All that aside, however, it is important to note just how important the
work on hydrogen fuel cells
 and the mass production is to our future. It could literally power everything. We wish Toyota all the best.
Maybe those same kids will be riding in hydrogen cars by the time they’re old enough to drive.


2018 MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports CKD Launched, From RM245,888

Right after unveiling
the first locally-assembled MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid
, MINI Malaysia introduced the new MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports, priced from RM245,888.
The new locally-assembled MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports places Malaysia on the map as the first market in the world to locally assemble the new MINI Countryman.
Kidd Yam, head of MINI Malaysia, also revealed that the company have already delivered over 200 units of the new Countryman range since its introduction almost a year ago.
The new MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports is fitted with the John Cooper Works Package, which consists of a front bumper that feature brake cooling ducts, a rear bumper with diffuser and door sill finishers. Completing the Sports look are sports suspension combined with 19-inch wheels in MINI John Cooper Works Course Spoke design.
No changes to the Cooper S powertrain, with the 2.0-litre MINI TwinPower Turbo engine coupled to an 8-speed conventional automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Outputs are 192 hp and 280 Nm of torque, accelerating the vehicle from rest to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds.
Stepping inside, the new MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports differs from the now-discontinued fully imported non-Sports variant by offering, for the first-time ever, an 8.8-inch touch screen Display with split-view function and navigation. Music is now played through the Harman Kardon 'hi-fi loudspeaker' system, featuring 360-watt output through 12 high performance speakers.
A head-up display is also fitted as standard.
The new MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports also comes with Park Assist, which automates parallel parking by taking control of the steering operation. All the driver has to do is control the accelerator and brake.
Standard features in the MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports include:
Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC)
Auto LED headlights with cornering lights
Automatic Tailgate with Comfort Access
MINI Yours Piano Black Illuminated interior surfacing
Leather Cross Punch in Carbon Black upholstery
John Cooper Works leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
Stainless steel foot pedals
Active Sound Design engine sound enhancement
Electric seat adjustment with memory function
Rear view camera
Picnic table
The new locally-assembled MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports is available in a variety of dual-colour schemes. Black roof is applied to Chili Red, British Racing Green, Thunder Grey, and Light White. Buyers who prefer a white roof scheme can only pair it with either Chili Red or British Racing Green.
Similar to the existing MINI range, the new MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports is backed by MINI Malaysia’s 4 years unlimited mileage warranty that includes free scheduled service as well as a 5-Year Roadside Assistance programme.
With the introduction of the locally-assembled Countryman range, the line-up offered by MINI Malaysia is as follows:
Locally-assembled (CKD) Countryman
MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports – RM245,888
MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid – RM255,888
Fully-imported (CBU) Countryman
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman – RM348,888


The XC40 Will Be The Most Customisable Volvo Ever

Volvo’s has promised that its
soon-to-be-revealed
 XC40 SUV, will be the company’s most exciting product ever, owing to dozens of exterior and interior colour combinations that offer a vibrancy and individuality that it believes the segment currently lacks.
There are no official photos of the XC40 yet, but it is heavily inspired by the 40.1 concept vehicle (main pic) which ushered in a new age of Volvo premium small cars, built around Volvo's new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform.
Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Design Officer at Volvo Cars explains, “We wanted the XC40 to be a fresh, creative and distinctive member of the Volvo lineup, allowing its drivers to put their personality in their driveway. XC40 drivers are interested in fashion, design and popular culture, and often live in large, vibrant cities. They want a car that reflects their personality. The XC40 is that car.”
On the outside, Volvo will offer a broad selection of possible colour combinations, ranging from a solid, monochromatic theme, to dual compositions in vivid colours allowing owners to further express their individuality.
The XC40’s interior will exude a youthful yet premium feel with interior colour choices that include warm Lava Orange carpet and Oxide Red upholstery. Also on offer is a range of new interior trim finishes and materials with designs inspired by urban architecture and cartography. Natural, felt-based carpets, headliners and door inserts are claimed to deliver a modern touch.
According to Volvo, the ‘Momentum trim level is slated as the more youthful and fashion-oriented offering of the XC40 line-up, while the ‘R-Design’ and ‘Inscription’ trim levels will reflect a dynamic and more premium feel.


Honda Malaysia Has Delivered 7,000 HR-Vs In 2 Months

It’s probably not going to come as a surprise that the 3rd-generation Honda HR-V is turning out to be a big hit with customers here. But we didn’t know exactly how warmly we’ve been reacting to it in terms of objective numbers. That’s changed.

Since its launch in July
, Honda Malaysia has revealed that over 7,000 units of the HR-V have been delivered to customers. It’s an impressive result, but perhaps more so is the fact that our appetite for the new crossover is far from sated.

30,000 bookings at the end of September

According to CEO Hironobu Yoshimura, Honda has secured a further 30,000 bookings near the end of September with prospective owners undeterred by long wait times for their units to be ready. Some say it’s still hovering around a full year.

Interestingly, he also revealed that the large majority of buyers are choosing the 1.5T V with the four-cylinder VTEC turbo petrol engine, followed by an equal 18% for both the 1.5T E and the entry-level 1.5 S at RM114,800. The least popular variant so far, at 12% of overall bookings collected, is the range-topping e:HEV RS at RM140,800.

The 1.5 turbo unit is essentially an unchanged
powertrain package from the Civic FE
, mating its 181PS and 240Nm output to the front wheels via a CVT. Meanwhile, the e:HEV RS uses the same impressively
efficient i-MMD hybrid unit
 from the City RS and City RS Hatchback, albeit with a peak power raised to 131PS.

Having sampled two of the three powertrains on offer, we’ll soon be bringing you a more in-depth comparison on which one you should consider based on your criteria, but suffice it to say that we had a very positive experience overall.

Fully assembled in Pegoh, Melaka, the entire range of Honda HR-V has now taken a more upmarket swing with a heftier price tag, but it’s also a much more stylish proposition that’s also better equipped in terms of creature comforts, tech, and safety features.


Toyota Wins Fortune Magazine Award … For The Fifth Time

Toyota has been ranked as the top motor vehicle company for the fifth consecutive year by Fortune Magazine in its “World’s Most Admired Companies 2019” annual ranking. The magazine also recognized Toyota as No. 30 among the Top 50 “All-Star” companies surveyed.
Fortune’s annual list is widely acknowledged as a conclusive report card on corporate reputation and is based on company surveys and industry peer ratings from senior executives, directors, and industry analysts.
For each company, the survey measures nine attributes considered critical to a company’s global success: quality of products and services, social and environmental responsibility, global competitiveness, and value as an investment.
To make it into Fortune’s list, companies have to generate annual revenues of USD 10 billion or more, which is then narrowed down to the 15 largest in each industry and 10 largest in each U.S. industry - surveying a total of 680 companies in 30 countries.
The list is further narrowed down by a panel of 3,750 executives, directors, and securities analysts to select the 10 companies they admired most. They choose from a list made up of the companies that ranked in the top 25 percent in last year’s surveys, plus those that finished in the top 20 percent of their industry.
Participants were then asked to rate companies in their own industry on nine criteria: Innovation, People Management, Use of Corporate Assets, Social Responsibility, Quality of Management, Financial Soundness, Long-Term Investment Value, Quality of Products/Services, and Global Competitiveness.
BMW finished a close second, behind Toyota in the 2019 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, but pipped Toyota by one spot, to place 29th, in Fortune’s Top 50 “All-Star” companies of 2019.


Banjir: Diskaun 15% Pada Semua Alat Ganti Subaru – Bantu Pemilik Terjejas

Banjir kilat
 yang melanda negara pada hujung minggu lalu menggerakkan
TC Subaru Sdn Bhd
 untuk turut serta dalam usaha meringankan beban pelanggan mereka pada waktu sukar seperti ini.

Sehubungan dengan itu, TC Subaru telah mengumumkan diskaun sebanyak 15% terhadap kesemua alat gantinya sebagai usaha membantu pemilik yang terjejas. Diskaun yang diberikan ini boleh didapati di semua pusat servis Subaru yang sah di seluruh negara.

Menurut Pengurus TC Subaru, Eugene Tay, bantuan ini diberikan kepada semua pemilik kenderaan Subaru yang terkesan dengan bencana banjir baru-baru ini. Diskaun tersebut bertujuan untuk mengurangkan bebanan banjir yang ditanggung oleh para pelanggan mereka.

Selain itu, beliau menegaskan bawa syarikat berkenaan juga mahukan kenderaan yang dimiliki oleh para pelanggannya sentiasa boleh digunakan dengan dengan selamat dan berada dalam keadaan baik.

Pemilik kenderaan Subaru yang terjejas boleh menghubungi Talian Bantuan Subaru di 1800-22-9898 atau bawa terus kenderaan ke mana-mana pusat servis Subaru yang sah di seluruh negara
sebelum 31 Disember 2021.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Welcomes 30 New Apprentices

In the last few years, vocational training has really started to pick up lately - especially high level, highly specialized training that is conducted and funded by auto manufacturers. This is actually not altogether uncommon in many parts of Europe (a college degree is pretty much on par with good vocational training), and seeing concepts and standards being imported here is great. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has been invested in growing local talent for 35 years now.
This year, they welcome the 14th batch of their Automotive Mechatronic Training programme, a cohort which consisted of 30 apprentices. 850 such trainees have gone through various different programs offered by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia as part of a three year program, and these trainees go on to work at various dealerships and service centres or production centres around the country.
“Our state-of-the-art, purpose built Training Academy aims to continuously nurture talent and provide Malaysian youths with a pathway to advance their career through job placement opportunities. Today, we contribute towards the nation’s demand for highly skilled talent in the automotive industry with the graduation of another 30 apprentices. This marks a significant milestone in our quest to build a solid foundation of the network and deliver the Best Customer Experience throughout the Mercedes-Benz extensive dealers in Malaysia,” said MBM’s President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner.
The training academy in question isn't easy to even get into. Potential candidates first need to sit through an enrolment assessment examination by Daimler AG - yes, the actual head company - and a recruitment panel will select the candidates which actually make it into the programme. Throughout the three year training period, candidates will go through 48 different courses, with a 70-30 mix of practical training and theory, including real work experience.


Porsche 911 Set To Go Fully Turbo In 2016 (Nearly)

Porsche
 is all set to take the wraps off a face lifted
911
 Carrera in September during the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show before being on sale some time in 2016, and in addition to the updated styling it will come with a turbocharged engine.
According to a
report by Motoring Australia
, the base 911 Carrera would set the stage and is expected to feature a turbocharged 2.7-litre engine, followed by the rest of the 911 (991 Series II) variants through this downsizing and forced induction program, with the exception of the Turbo and Turbo S that retain their big-bore motors and the track-focused GT3 and GT3 RS’s engines remaining as the final bastions of the rear-engine atmospheric flat-six. The Carrera S will be downsized from its current capacity of 3.8-litres to the 3.4-litre engine that powers the existing base Carrera model, albeit with turbocharged grunt.
The new engines are expected to be altered versions of the current Boxster and Cayman engines, with forced induction allowing for power outputs in the next 911 to be greater than its predecessors in spite of their smaller capacity. This means that the current crop of 911 are the last ones before range goes fully turbo (almost).
Product Line Director for Porsche's 911 Turbo, Carrera 4 and Targa, Dr Erhard Mossle, told motoring.com.au “This is the last one. And then we start again”.
Actually, downsizing has always been part of the Porsche recipe, with most of its competition at any given point in its history sporting significantly higher capacity engines. This is just the next step in a series that Porsche has been taking to reduce emissions and meet stricter regulations, especially in its native Europe. The automaker has made significant strides in engineering technologies toward this end that do not clash with but rather enhances the driving experience. And it’s going to take their best efforts to transition into this approaching era of lower emissions and hybrid powertrains without something being lost in the process, especially with a car that’s always been a benchmark driver-focused sports car: the 911.
Dr Mossle continued by saying, “992 or whatever we call it won't be as big a change as 997 was to 991. The change will be dictated by [hybrid] powertrain requirements.”
The next version of Porsche’s signature vehicle, whatever that may be called (series 992 perhaps?), will most likely have some type of hybrid power when it’s due for release around 2020. The good news is that, as they proved with the 918, Porsche are able to pull off a master class in vehicle calibration, managing so many systems operating at once within a single vehicle, but producing a cohesive and very engaging driving package.


Mercedes-AMG’s 850PS 4-door GT 63 S E Performance debuts for just RM2.1M

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, represented by local distributor Cycle & Carriage, has brought quite the surprise to the Malaysia Auto Show: the AMG GT 63 S E- Performance, the version as you can see.

Sitting at the very top of the AMG range, this fast 4-door (it’s actually a liftback and based on the CLS-Class) blends the power of the company’s M178 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a powerful electric motor to create quite the potent hybrid.

All told, the car puts a mighty 843hp and 1,400Nm of torque onto the road via all four wheels, allowing the car to rocket to 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds despite its kerb weight of 2,380kg.

Top speed, meanwhile, stands at 316km/h. It uses a permanently excited electric motor (204hp, 320Nm)  and lithium ion battery, both of which are located at the rear get the car’s weight balance just right.

None of this comes cheap, of course, with the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE coming in with a recommended retail price (inclusive of 10% sales tax) of RM2,088,888. Mercedes-AMG will also likely be offering some options for customers to select, so be ready for that price to be a little more inflated.

Exterior features include Benz’s MULTIBEAM LED headlights, 21-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke forged wheels, AMG Aerodynamics Package, Inside you’ll get AMG Performance Seats with Nappa leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, AMG carbon fibre trim, MBUX multimedia system through a widescreen cockpit, a Burmester sound system, a heads up display, and a bunch of active safety and electronic convenience features.

So, ‘just’ 2 million for the hybrid bragging rights?


TOUCH ‘N GO TOP-UP Charges Waived At All 27 SHELL Stations Along The NORTH-SOUTH EXPRESSWAY (NSE)

Shell's always trying to find ways to reward their customers, and in their latest effort on this endeavour, they announced today that 27 of its stations along the North-South Expressway (NSE) will waive the RM0.50 Touch ‘n Go top-up fee.

Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd said, “Shell understands the challenge Malaysians face against the rising cost of living. We know it can be difficult to save when there are inclining necessary expenditures like food, transportation, utilities and education, which form a huge part of one’s expenditure. This drives us to help Malaysians save more and ultimately, get more out of their journeys. Hopefully, forgoing the Touch ‘n Go top-up charges at all stations along NSE, as a start, will give our customers one less worry when travelling or fueling up at Shell during long journeys.”

Shell Malaysia had a busy 2019 with respect to customer rewards. They launched several campaigns that gave away amazing prizes from cars to loyalty points. Back in September, Shell gave away 3 BMW X3 xDrive30i Luxury through WIN 3 BMW X3 campaign. The excitement continued when Shell gave 10x BonusLink points collection with every one (1) litre of fuels purchased and offered 50% rebate for BonusLink points redeemed on 12 December 2019; amongst the many initiatives last year.


Geely Has Overtaken All Japanese Brands In China, Becomes China’s Largest Car Maker

Just 20 years after producing its first car, Geely has now zoomed past many government-backed domestic car makers as well as big name Japanese brands to become China’s largest domestic car company. In the first six months of 2018, Geely’s sales in China surged 44 percent to 766,643 units – more than the total number of cars sold in Malaysia annually. Yes, Geely sells more cars in China in six months than all the car companies' combined annual sales in Malaysia.
The numbers include its Lynk & Co brand but excludes Volvo. In the overall China sales ranking, Geely is now the third biggest automotive manufacturer, behind the Volkswagen Group’s 1.48 million and General Motors' 1.84 million vehicles. It also means that Geely has now overtaken all Japanese and Korean car brands operating in China, which is probably the world's most competitive car market with 27.5 million new cars sold last year.
More importantly, Geely’s profits after tax surged 54 percent to 6.7 billion Yuan (USD 978 million). The company is on track to close the year with more than 1.58 million cars sold.
In the second half of 2018, Geely will further bolster its product line-up with at least 10 more new models, including some electric and plug-in hybrid models. Of relevance to consumers in Malaysia is an
upcoming MPV
 (could replace our ageing Proton Exora) and a ‘sporty SUV’ derived from the Boyue, possibly a lower roofline iteration of the Boyue.
An upcoming A segment Sedan, which will ride on Geely’s latest BMA platform co-developed with Volvo, could possibly form the basis for the next Proton Persona.
Geely’s rise from the inner regions of China, a little known fridge-maker that started in 1986 in the Zhejiang province, away from the centres of influence and power of Beijing and Shanghai, have been nothing short of extraordinary.
The central government of China's initial plans was for its state-owned car companies, which have ties foreign car makers like Volkswagen and General Motors, to lead its domestic car industry. Small, private companies started by politically unconnected individuals like Geely's founder Li Shufu were never part of the plan. In fact, Chinese bureaucrats have actively discouraged private companies like Geely to make cars, and instead granted assistance and privileges to state-owned companies like Shanghai’s SAIC, Beijing’s BAIC and Changchun’s FAW – all of which have been overtaken by Geely in the span of less than 20 years, despite receiving very little government assistance.
Today, Geely is publically listed in Hong Kong and owns Sweden’s Volvo, UK’s iconic black London Taxi and Lotus Cars, and more recently our own Proton. It also owns nearly 10 percent of Germany's Daimler, making Geely the single biggest shareholder.
Read also:

From Fridge-maker To Car-maker In Just 12 Years, What's Pushing Geely?


2016 Ford Mustang Opens For Bookings In Malaysia: From RM435k

Sime Darby Auto Connexion, the official distributors of
Ford
 vehicles in Malaysia, has just confirmed prices for its all-new 2016
Ford Mustang
, as well as opened the order bookings for the two variants.
2.3-litre EcoBoost Fastback: RM435,000 to RM450,000
5.0-litre V8 Fastback: RM550,000 to RM560,000
The two variants,
previewed earlier at the Publika shopping mall
, are expected to be in Malaysian showrooms come December 2015.
Veemala Rethinasamy, sales and marketing director, Malaysia, Ford Motor Company, said, “This 2.3-litre EcoBoost fastback is a perfect fit for Malaysia, because it delivers the legendary power and performance that a Mustang driver expects, while addressing today’s demands for exceptional fuel efficiency, and all with head-turning style.”
*Looking for a classic Ford Mustang?
Check this link out
The 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-pot delivers 310hp and a total 434Nm of torque, establishing its century sprint in 4.3 seconds.
For those with the means, the 5.0-litre V8 is also being made available, together with its 435hp when mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Both variants of the sixth-gen Mustang will come from Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant in the US as full CBU units, and will be available in five colour options: Oxford White, Shadow Black, Deep Impact Blue, Magnetic Grey and Race Red. A special Triple Yellow Tri-Coat colour is also available for the 5.0-litre V8 variant.
Tech features of the ‘Stang’ includes Ford’s Intelligent Access, SYNC2 connectivity system, and Ford’s MyKey system.
For more information on where you can place your bookings, visit
www.ford.com.my


BMW Sheds More Light On Its OLED Technology

In early January 2015,
BMW
 unveiled the M4 Concept Iconic Lights at the Consumer Electronic Shows (CES) which showcased the brand’s development in lighting technology. Yes, it looked wicked cool with its Laserlight headlamps at the front but it was the use of organic light-emitting diodes or OLEDs for the rear lights that proved to be most impressive as they’ve highlighted with this video here:
The term OLED would be familiar for those who are looking to buy a television but there are many advantages for its application on cars. For one, OLEDs consume less power which makes it less harmful on the planet. In fact, no expensive rare earth metals are required to produce them.
Secondly, OLEDs are capable of producing light uniformly over their entire surface unlike conventional LEDs, which are a point light source. Thirdly, OLED elements are seriously thin, with a thickness of just 1.4 millimetres as BMW point out and each individual module can be activated separately, allowing for different lighting effects as the video exemplifies.
As the video points out, the technology allows for many new dimensions of lighting design and systems. The OLEDs used on the M4 Concept Iconic Lights are currently arranged in a two-dimensional format but BMW plans to make them three-dimensional in the near future.
BMW
 adds that its M GmbH division will be launching a production model which will feature OLED technology but have yet to reveal which but our guess is the M version of the BMW 2 Series (M2).


Malaysian Petrol, Diesel Price Increase Announced For June 2015

The Domestic Trade Cooperatives and Cosumerism Ministry has just announced that petrol prices will go up for the month of June.
After three months of unchanged petrol prices from March to May which saw an increase come for the third month of 2015, the new prices that consumers will be paying are:
RON 95: RM2.05 per litre
RON 97: RM2.35 per litre (inclusive of GST 6%)
Diesel: RM2.05 per litre
This sees an increase of RM0.10 per litre for RON 95, RON 97, and Diesel over the
previous month of May
.
As usual, we would expect a usual rush to the pumps to fuel up before the new prices take effect at midnight of June 1, 2015 but we don't think the time wasted queuing up is worth the cost savings.


Revised LRT, Monorail Fares To Be Announced By End Of The Month

The fare revision that were
reported to be on the books
 looks to be taking shape, with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) set to announce the new prices for the LRT and Monorail services by the end of this month.
According to
Bernama
, the commission’s chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, said the cabinet had approved the previously submitted fare review proposal. Discussions between SPAD and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd had been ongoing, with the agreed date for announcement set for October 31
st
.
"People are keen to get quality service, so there's always the element of cost involved in providing the best service in public transport," he said while speaking to reporters during his visit to the Ampang LRT Line extension project on Thursday.
Both SPAD and Prasarana will ensure the new fares, despite the revision, will not be a burden on the people, added Tan Sri Syed.
During the visit, Prasarana chairman Tan Sri Ismail Adam and its president and group CEO Datuk Azmi Abdul Aziz were also on hand. Regarding the Ampang LRT Line extension, Azmi said that 99.4 percent of the first phase was completed and will begin operations in late October.
"The first phase will see four new stations open to the public, namely Awan Besar, Alam Sutera, Muhibbah and Kinrara BK5 stations," he said.


Will This All-Electric BMW i4 Preview The Next 4 Series Gran Coupe?

BMW has given a sneak preview of its upcoming battery electric vehicle (BEV) – the first ever BMW i4, a four-door coupe that slots between the city commuter i3 and the two-seater i8 sports car.
Since it’s a four-door coupe, the i4 has many design elements that could hint towards the upcoming all-new 4 Series Gran Coupe but it’s still difficult to say for certain that this is the next 4 Series Gran Coupe.
This is because BMW has said that the i4 will be made at BMW’s Munich plant in 2021. The Munich plant currently only makes the 3 Series (all variants) and 4 Series coupe but not the 4 Series Gran Coupe, which is currently produced at BMW’s Dingolfing plant.
At the same time, BMW has also announced that the Dingolfing plant, which mainly produces 5 Series and 7 Series models, will be retooled to manufacture the iNEXT, which will enter production in 2021. More on that later.
Given that the i4’s market launch is still two years away, BMW is understandably keeping a tight lid on the details but the company did say that it will have a range of 600 km (WLTP test cycle). Sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is just a mere 4 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h.
Also announced are two more upcoming electric SUVs – the iX3 and iNEXT.
The
iX3 will be produced in China
 in 2020, from where it will then be exported to international markets. Essentially a fully electric version of the X3, the iX3 will compete directly against the
Mercedes-Benz EQC
. It will have a 400 km driving range (WLTP cycle) and when hooked up to a suitably equipped 150 kW DC fast charger, charging can be completed in just 30 minutes.
Completing the trio of upcoming BMW electric vehicles is the iNEXT. Its relative position within BMW’s product hierarchy is still unclear but it does have elements of the X7. The iNEXT will enter production in 2021 at BMW’s Dingolfing plant. It will serve as BMW’s new technology flagship, with a 600 km driving range (WLTP test cycle) and is designed for Level 3 automated driving.
All three models mentioned here will utilize BMW’s fifth generation eDrive technology.


MAXUS Introduces New 2020 T60 - Should you even consider it?

MAXUS introduces new 2020 MAXUS T60 to the Malaysian market.

MAXUS has always been known as a vehicle manufacturer that provides you with the best bang for the buck, and the new 2020 MAXUS T60 is no different.

With a big and bold exterior, the pick-up truck does seem to look like it has road presence, but it's actually their safety and equipment level that's more impressive than anything.

The company says the 2020 MAXUS T60 is set out to establish a new benchmark for safety and equipment level in 4x4 pick-up trucks with the introduction of so many industry firsts.

Firstly there is the 5-star ANCAP safety. It got this as it is packed to the brim with safety features. According to MAXUS, the T60 is the only 4x4 pick-up in its class to offer front and rear ventilated disc brakes and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). In addition, the 2020 MAXUS T60 comes equipped with a Bosch Electronic Stability Program that integrates the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist (BA), Roll Movement Intervention (RMI) for greater stability and traction at high speeds or in emergency avoidance manoeuvres.

The RMI recognizes the threat of an impending rollover and intuitively applies the brakes to resist and return control and stability to the vehicle. The vehicle is also fitted with Hill Start Assist Control (HAS) to prevent back rolling and slippage on inclines, and Hill Descent Control (HDC) for steep declines.

Safety in the 2020 MAXUS T60 is further reaffirmed with front and side airbags, automatic headlight

adjustment, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, two Isofix anchorage points, and Blind Spot Assist

(BSA) on its side mirrors that is activated from 30km/h. Automatic adjustments in the MAXUS T60 headlights autonomously adjusts the beam level according to road conditions and rotates at intersections and corners in correspondence to steering input to give the

driver better visibility.

The headlights are also equipped with a follow-me-home function, Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and automatic headlight sensing. The 2020 MAXUS T60 is also the only vehicle in its segment with fully electric adjustable front seats with 6-way adjustments for the driver and 4-way adjustments for the front passenger seats. It is also the only pick-up truck available with both forward and rearward folding rear seats for extra storage.

There are up to 21 storage areas within the vehicle for greater convenience and in total, the MAXUS T60 boasts an overall cargo volume of 1188 litres.

The impressive list continues inside as the MAXUS T60 comes with a multifunction steering wheel with audio control, cruise control, and an integrated 10” inch HD infotainment touch screen with Android and Apple Car. It is also equipped with green glass insulation to protect the entire vehicle from

ultraviolet radiation.

Powered by 2.8-litre, 16-valve, DOHC VGT Turbocharged engine, and tuned to Euro 4 emission

standards, the 2020 MAXUS T60 is rated at 150 bhp with a maximum torque of 360 Nm between 1600 and 2800 rpm. It's also touted to return combined fuel consumption of 9.2 litres/100km with a 75-litre fuel tank and has a cargo payload of 815kg and a towing capacity of 3000kg.

The MAXUS T60 is mated to a 6-speed PUNCH automatic transmission and has a BorgWarner

Electronically-Controlled Four-Wheel Drive System that allows it to switch between 2H, 4H, and 4L

without stopping.

It is also fitted with what is hailed as the world’s best mechanical differential lock manufactured by American company, Eaton.

As standard, all MAXUS T60s will include a push start function, automatic air-conditioning, an aluminium luggage rack, a stainless steel roll cage, side steps, chrome-plated door handles, chrome-plated electric folding mirrors, and fog lamps.

At RM99,888, the 2020 MAXUS T60 is pretty much around RM20k cheaper than its closest rival which reaffirms its position as the most affordable fully-equipped 4x4 pick-up truck you can currently buy in the market.

This value proposition is also increased at the moment as part of a promotion that offers the MAXUS T60 with attractive 19” inch alloy wheels with Continental 255/55R 19 tyres!

The MAXUS T60 is available in Obsidian Black, Agate Red, Lava Grey, Blanc White, Aurora Silver and

Ocean Blue,


BMW Malaysia launches BMW Charging in partnership with JomCharge

BMW Group Malaysia has introduced its latest
BMW Charging
 in partnership with one of the country's top EV charging providers,
JomCharge
.

In a bid to further elevate the brand's premium EV ownership, the BMW Charging x JomCharge collab will offer access to over 100 charging facilities (including the ones owned by Petronas' Gentari) around city centres and highways that'll help with lowering range anxiety as well as peace of mind throughout the journey.

RM640 one-time fee for new & existing BMW EV owners

All new and existing BMW EV owners are entitled to register for the BMW Charging package for a one-time fee of RM640. This will get you a one-year non-renewable subscription together with complimentary JomCharge credits worth RM160. Furthermore, the pay-per-use service will also offer an additional 10% discount for each charging transaction for a year.

According to Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at BMW Group Malaysia, "An integral part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the electromobility landscape in Malaysia are our strategic partnerships with industry leaders in the charging infrastructure for EVs such as JomCharge as well as ChargEV and Tenaga Nasional Berhad in the coming months."

"With our shared goals and diversified expertise, we are bringing more key infrastructure and access to these charging platforms to our ever-growing community of existing and potential EV owners here," added Sashi.


Geely Offering GC9 Sedan, Boyue SUV And Small Car Tech To Proton, Aims RHD Partnership

China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co is prepared to share with Proton its know-how co-developed with its Swedish subsidiary Volvo Cars, as part of the company’s pitch to seek control of Proton, reports Reuters.
The report, quoting unnamed sources in China familiar with the matter, said that Geely is looking for at least a 51 percent stake in Proton.
The technologies on offer by Geely include know-how in engineering D-segment and SUVs type vehicles - segments which Proton has limited or no presence in. Proton has no SUV models in its line-up while the D-segment Proton Perdana is developed based on a one-off deal with Honda, involving the previous generation Honda Accord. In 2015, Honda said that there will be
no further collaborations with Proton
.
Reuters’s report also mentioned of Geely sharing its technology in small car engineering, also co-developed with Volvo.
Two Geely models were mentioned in the report – the D-segment Geely GC9 and the Geely Boyue five-seater SUV.
As mentioned in our earlier article chronicling the
origins of Geely
, the GC9 is powered by either a 163hp turbocharged 1.8-litre, 162hp naturally aspirated 2.4-litre or a 270hp 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine, all self-developed by Geely and complies with Euro-5 emission standards. Inside, it has enough features to rival any Japanese/Korean model, including 360-degree view camera, Heads-Up Display, adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking and auto parking.
A 2.0-litre naturally aspirated version of the same engine used in the GC9 is homologated for use in China’s FIA Formula 4 racing series.
Last year, GC9 won over the Chinese motoring press to become the first Chinese car to win the China Car of the Year award. It’s designed by former Volvo Car designer Peter Horbury, who was responsible for the first generation Volvo S40.
Meanwhile the Boyue is powered by either a naturally-aspirated 141hp 2.0-litre engine, or a 1.8-litre turbo with two different state of tune – 184hp and 163 hp.
The report by Reuters also added that Geely is prepared to invest in Proton to grow its sales in right-hand drive (RHD) markets, alluding to deal that could see Proton selling right-hand drive Geely models under its own brand.
"There are 8 million RHD vehicles sold every year globally," one of the individuals told Reuters. "Geely sells roughly zero RHD cars, so even if Geely cars were sold under Proton, if nothing else Geely would make a handsome license fee."
"The overall plan is basically to invest in Proton to bring it back to global (sales) levels it had in the 1990s," the person added.
Geely is in a two-horse race with France’s PSA Group, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, to take form partnerships with Proton, including the possibility of taking a controlling stake in struggling Malaysian car maker owned by the government-linked DRB-Hicom.
An earlier report by The Star have said that
Geely is only interested in Lotus Cars
, the famed but ailing British sports car specialist owned by Proton, while the PSA Group only wants Proton, with the aim of using Proton’s under-utilized Tanjung Malim plant as its regional manufacturing hub.
Proton is expected to make an announcement regarding its chosen foreign strategic partner within the first half of this year.


Drunk-Driving Can Now Land You 15 Years In Jail, RM150,000 Fine

Unless you’ve been stuck in a ditch for the past couple of months, you’d be well aware that
drunk driving
 has been a rather hot button issue lately.

This of course following the sharp rise in accidents, vehicle-related injuries and even involuntary manslaughter caused by individuals driving under the influence.

It was announced that the proposal of stricter enforcement and, most importantly, harsher penalties were passed by the government. The Bill that would introduce amendments to the
Road Transport Act 1987
, was tabled for first reading at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, according to Bernama.

Aside from the most high profile set of changes, the Bill’s drafters also took the opportunity to make other minor amendments, including adding definitions to micro-mobility electric vehicles. Most importantly, however, it defines the updated prescribed
limit of alcohol
 content depending on the method of measurement.

22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath

50 milligrammes per 100ml of blood

67 milligrammes per 100ml of urine

For first offenders, those found convicted of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol to the extent of causing death will be given a recommended jail sentence of between 10 and 15 years as well as a fine of between RM50,000 and RM100,000.

Meanwhile, repeat offenders (oh my, how irresponsible can you be) will receive a recommended jail time of between 15 to 20 years and slapped with a fine of between RM100,000 and RM150,000. However, we’re unclear as to whether a conviction would also lead to a mandatory lifetime revocation of the suspect’s driver’s license. If there’s even a possibility that they could hold a license, then why is that the case?

On that note, for offences that result in injury but not death, the newly passed Bill states that those individuals convicted will be barred from holding or obtaining a driver’s license for at least 10 years in addition to facing a maximum jail term of 10 years and a RM50,000 fine upon conviction.

These amendments and stiffer punishments will hopefully act as enough of a deterrent for anyone even considering to get behind the wheel of a car when inebriated. When you’ve had one too many, don’t take the risk and call for a cab or a Grab. Making that call could save a life, including yours.


Gordon Murray's T.50 Will Be A Sub 1-Tonne Supercar

In an age where autonomous cars and electric vehicles are dominating headlines, it's good to see that someone wants to stick with tradition. It just so happens that this "someone" is Gordon Murray, the man behind the McLaren F1 and a number of world-renowned Formula 1 cars. He has some pretty lofty goals for his upcoming T.50 supercar - of which only 100 will be made - and even the broad strokes are left-field enough to raise some eyebrows.
The supercar in question will be powered by a Cosworth developed and built 3.9-litre V12 engine that revs to 12,100 rpm, to produce 650 hp and 450 Nm of torque. These figures aren't revolutionary by today's standards, but the T.50 is set to weigh just 980 kg, which will give it a pretty phenomenal power to weight ratio. Power will be sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox, to the joy of enthusiasts. It will even have a 400 mm fan at the rear to assist with downforce - a nod to the Formula 1 fan cars that were banned for being too quick.
While this sounds like a purist's dreams come true, one wonders how realistic these ambitions are. It won't be packaged which a hybrid system, which in turn helps to keep the weight down as well without the dead weight of batteries and motors. But that in itself can pose a very significant problem when it comes to driveability: anyone who has ridden a superbike or driven a car with a very high revving engine knows that low speed maneuvering can be jerky and difficult.
Compound that with the fact that the T.50 is packaged with a manual gearbox and you run into more problems. It's easy to puff your chest out and say "a real driver can handle it", but there is a reason real racecars are awful to drive on the road. The closest rival to the T.50 would be the Aston Martin Valkyrie, but that hypercar is packaged with a hybrid system where the electric motors can handle the crawling and start-stop nature of real world road conditions.
The weight itself also raises questions. 980 kilograms would require an incredibly light chassis, and McLaren is already known for their carbon-fibre tubs but even their kerb weights sit around the 1300 kg mark or more without hybrid gear. Even the featherweight Lotus Exige V6 with its bare bones interior and bonded aluminium chassis sits at 1,110 kg. One wonders how exactly Gordon Murray plans to make the T.50 so light, let alone packaging it with all the creature comforts of a modern car.
With the car still in the early phases of development and due for deliveries in 2022, there is still time for Gordon Murray to figure out all of these engineering problems. There's no doubt that the man is a visionary, but people speak of Elon Musk in the same vein and he has been known to overpromise and underdeliver at times. Expect pricing to be in excess of 2 million GBP (RM 10.5 million), and units will be snapped up before the covers are pulled off the launch car.


All-New 2018 Volvo XC60 Is Here – CBU T8 From RM373,888, CKD T5 And T8 Coming Soon From RM298,888

Volvo Car Malaysia has unveiled the long-awaited new Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine premium mid-sized SUV.
Only one variant is available for time being, which is the fully imported from Sweden 407 hp/640Nm plug-in hybrid XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus, priced at RM373,888 (OTR without insurance).
Locally assembled models as mentioned below will be arriving by April, prices and variants as below:
XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus - RM343,888
XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription - RM333,888
XC60 T5 - RM298,888
The new model will replace the original XC60 which has sold nearly a million units globally and represents 30 per cent of Volvo’s total global sales.
Built on a shorter version of the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, the new XC60 measures 4,688 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, and 1,658 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,865 mm.
Compared to the outgoing model, the new XC60 is 61 mm longer, 108 mm wider, and 55 mm lower. The wheelbase on the other hand has increased by 91 mm. Boot space is a maximum of 1,432 litres with the rear seats folded.
On the exterior, key features on the XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus include:
Inscription grille with chrome frame
Roof rails in bright finish
Inscription exterior elements with chrome details
Dual integrated tailpipes
19-inch 10-spoke black diamond cut wheels with 235/55R19 tires
LED headlights with Active Bending Lights (ABL) with washers
360° Surround View Camera
Power operated tailgate with hands-free operation
In the cabin, the new XC60 looks almost identical to the S90 and the V90, featuring a large vertical central display, vertical air vents, and a generous dose of leather and Volvo’s Driftwood trim.
As expected, the list of features is quite long, comprising of:
Sensus Connect with 9.0-inch Portrait Integrated Colour Touchscreen
Inscription driftwood trim
Inscription front and rear door scuff plates
Inscription specific carpets
3-spoke sports leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles
Head-up display
Digital Instrument Cluster with 12.3” TFT Adaptive Digital Display
Orrefors crystal gear lever
Panoramic sunroof
Voice control with active noise cancellation
Inscription leather key
Additional cushion extenders on front seats
Power folding rear headrests
Power fold/release rear seat back
Parking climate with cabin pre-conditioning
Net pocket on tunnel
Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound Audio System - 15 Speakers (10 Channel,1100W)
As for safety, the premium mid-sized SUV comes with:
City Safety – Collision Avoidance & Mitigation with Intersection Support
 Pedestrian, Cyclist & Large Animal Detection
 Rear Collision Warning & Mitigation Support
 Driver Alert Control (DAC)
 Lane Keeping Aid (LKA)
 Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection
 Oncoming Lane Mitigation
 Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist
 Cross Traffic Alert (CTA)
 Seat Belt Detection with Graphical Indicator for All Seats
 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
 Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
 Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
Pre-Prepared Restraints (PRS)
Electric Seatbelt Pretensioners
Run-Off Road Protection
Dual Stage Driver & Front Passenger Airbags
Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) with Dual Chamber SIPS Airbags, Front Row Seats
Full-Length Inflatable Curtains (IC)
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
Post-Collision Auto Braking & Unlocking
Collapsible Steering Column
Brake Pedal Release
Power Child Safety Lock
Passenger Airbag Cut-Off Switch with Indicator
ISOFIX Attachment Points, Rear Outer Seats
Power Windows with Pinch Protection
In terms of performance, the XC60 T8 Twin Engine combines a turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine with an electric motor that independently drives the rear axle to produce a combined system output of 407 hp (320 hp internal combustion engine + 87 hp electric motor) and 640 Nm (400 Nm internal combustion engine + 240 Nm electric motor) of torque.
The performance figures translate to a century sprint of 5.3 seconds and 2.1 litres of fuel consumed for every 100 km travelled. Since it's a plug-in hybrid, it is capable of a pure electric range of up to 45 km courtesy of the 10.4 kWh hybrid battery, centrally located in the tunnel of the car.
Unlike BMW plug-in hybrid models, VCM doesn't offer a charging wall box yet, although there are plans to do so in the future. At the moment, charging at home can be done via a supply cable that can be used on household 3-pin socket.
When charged using a 10A supply, it takes about 4 hours to complete a full charge. Of course, owners can also take advantage of any publically available chargers. The location and availability of most of these chargers can be found via the NewMotion app.
As for the locally-assembled XC60s, there will be two engine variants, namely the T8 Twin Engine and T5.
While the T8 Twin Engine will be offered in two trim levels – Inscription and Inscription Plus - the T5 will be offered in a single trim level.
Customers are free to choose from five exterior colour options which includes Ice White, Bright Silver, Osmium Grey, Onyx Black and Maple Brown. In response to customer demands, Volvo Car Malaysia has also added a second leather upholstery colour for locally-assembled variants – Maroon Brown – which will complement the usual Charcoal.
The current XC60 is Volvo’s best-selling vehicle, accounting for 30 percent of the company’s global sales.
VCM brought in less than 100 units of the CBU XC60, all of which have been spoken for upon today's launch. Despite that, VCM has stated that CKD deliveries will commence in April.
“Volvo has a vision that by the year 2020, no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car – this recent award underlines our leadership in safety technologies and makes the new XC60 one of the safest cars that we have ever made,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director, Volvo Car Malaysia.
Scoring a near perfect score of 98 per cent in the Adult Occupant category and 95 per cent in the Large Off-Road vehicle class, the new XC60 has been awarded Best Overall Performance by the Euro NCAP 2017, making it arguably the safest SUV out there at the moment.
Read also our review of the all-new XC60 here:
Review: All-New 2018 Volvo XC60 – Better Than BMW X3 Or Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class?


Toyota To Make A Road-Going Le Mans Racer

The 86th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans which took place last weekend was indeed an eventful one for Toyota.
Not only was Toyota busy with the race (which it actually won), but it also announced that the development of the
GR Super Sport Concept
; the roadworthy version of its Le Mans racer, has begun.
Revealed at the 2018 Tokyo Auto Salon in January, this next-generation hyper car incorporates hybrid electric technology honed through Toyota's participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Powered by the same twin-turbo V6 engine and Toyota Hybrid System-Racing (THS-R) as the TS050 Hybrid LMP1 racecar, the GR Super Sport delivers a combined output of 1,000 hp.
"As the automotive industry is approaching an era of big changes, we will continue our passion for making cars that are truly exciting. No matter how electronics and digital technology will continue to transform vehicles, we will make sure that our cars will not become just another commodity,” said Shigeki Tomoyama, President of Gazoo Racing.
"We started this project because we believe that creating a super sports car that delivers the same appeal as the TS050 Hybrid greatly adds to Toyota's involvement in WEC. And at some point in the near future, customers will have a chance to get behind the wheel of this incredible machine and experience its astonishing power and driving performance", said Tomoyama.
That being said, the Toyota GR Super Sport will become the latest addition to the list of Le Mans racer-derived road cars which includes:
Nissan R390 GT1
Toyota GT-One
Porsche 911 GT1
Dauer 962 Le Mans
Schuppan 962CR
Ford GT40
Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR
Lister Storm
Lotus Elise GT1
 Panoz Esperante GTR-1


Bangkok 2019: BMW Thailand Releases X7 Price, To Debut At Motor Show

The Thai market is seen as one of the more important ones in ASEAN, after Malaysia. Last year, the brand moved 12,036 BMW models in the Thai market, while the Rayong plant manufactured 15,302 units, with over 25% of them were shipped out for exports.
Thus, Thailand gets many of the latest models ahead of Malaysia. After previewing the G15 BMW 8 Series and
G05 BMW X5
 at November’s Motor Expo, BMW has chosen to launch the new G07 BMW X7 at the upcoming Bangkok International Motor Show 2019.
Only one variant will be available, and it is the M50d which is powered by a 400 hp / 760 Nm quad-turbo 3.0-litre diesel engine. BMW Thailand has priced the new luxurious 3-row SUV from 8.999 million Thai Baht.
Standard features include seating for seven, M Sport package, and some advanced driving-assist features. The BMW X7 M50d also comes standard with an M Sport differential, a sportier chassis set-up, and 21-inch M-design alloy wheels.
The BMW X7 also has the honour of having the largest BMW Kidney grille in the brand’s history. Similar to other SUV models by the brand, the BMW X7 is manufactured at
BMW Spartanburg
, USA.
Comparing the BMW X7 to the Audi Q7, the Audi is smaller in size and also starts from a much lower price of 4.799 million Baht. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Thailand has long discontinued the BMW X7’s direct rival, the GLS-CLass. Lexus meanwhile does not offer the LX model in Thailand.


Bangkok 2017: Mitsubishi To Introduce New Triton Athlete

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand has released teasers of a new Triton variant called Athlete. The new variant will be making its public debut at the upcoming 2017 Thai Motor Expo.
According to the company, the Triton Athlete will be their first sporty version of the Triton range, featuring improved driving dynamics and an slightly revised exterior design.
The 20 second teaser video did not reveal key details of the new Triton Athelete, but we can spot an updated front fascia with LED daytime running lights and turn signals that flows into the front bumper from the sides. We also noticed that this version of the Triton sports an Athlete decal on the side of the truck. Additionally, the Triton Athlete appears to feature a sports bar and possibly unique alloy wheels.
Mitsubishi has not released any powertrain details as yet, though details are expected to be known once the truck is launched later this month.


New Assembly Plant for Tata in Bangkok

Thai daily
Bangkok Post
 reported yesterday that Tata Motors Thailand is investing 500mil baht into a new assembly facility operated by its new partner BGAC.
It was said that the move came after Tata’s 10-year contract with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant expired last month.
Tata’s CEO Sanjay Mishra said that Tata vehicles has signed an agreement with Bangchan General Assembly Bangkok, a subsidiary of Phra Nakorn Automobile Company to assemble pickup truck models like the Tata Xenon for the next five years.
The BGAC plant, which currently assembles China's Foton pickup trucks, will start putting Tata vehicles together from this October.
The facility, which has an annual production capacity of 10,000 units, will have an assembly capacity of 8,000 for Tata Xenon pickups and 2,500 for Tata Super Mint mini-trucks, all for one-shift operation.
Mishra added that until production resumes at the new plant, Tata has about 1,200 Xenon pickups in stock for delivery to customers.
"We are still confident Thailand is a competitive car market, which is why we have invested 4 billion baht in our automotive business here the past decade," he said.
Tata Motors Thailand also mentioned that it aims to produce 2,700 vehicles per year from next year, and export 300 units of Xenon pickups to Malaysia once production commences at the BGAC plant.


Volkswagen confirms imminent arrival of new Jetta variants and all-new Passat B8

Volkswagen Group Malaysia
 will be launching new variants of the Jetta as well as the all-new
Passat B8
 in our market this year. This was disclosed by Managing Director Armin Keller at the opening of Hicom Auto Sdn Bhd’s Volkswagen Semenyih 3S Centre.
Speaking to the press, Keller also revealed that Volkswagen’s recent ‘Drop Everything’ sales campaign was a success in clearing out existing stocks of the
Polo
,
Jetta
, and
Passat
 to make way for the new introductions.
Earlier this year, Keller already promised a series of new Volkswagen launches without elaborating on the specific model to be introduced whilst
speaking at the opening of FA Wagen’s Volkswagen Sri Hartamas 3S Centre
.
Based on available information, we know that the Passat is likely to
launch as a locally-assembled model
, although the actual variant to be offered in our market remains unknown to us. Globally, the Passat B8’s engine range currently consists of 1.4-, 1.8-, and 2.0-litre TSI engines along with 1.6- and 2.0-litre TDI engines. Selected markets also get the plug-in hybrid GTE variant.
The Jetta, meanwhile, is likely to get a refresh of its trim level similar to what the
Golf

underwent recently
. Currently, Volkswagen offers the
Jetta in Malaysia
 powered exclusively by its award-winning 1.4-litre TSI twincharged engine with 160PS and 240Nm.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Semenyih 3S Centre is the latest addition to Volkswagen’s still-growing dealership network in Malaysia. To date, it is already the fourth new Volkswagen outlet to open in the country this year.
Established with an initial investment of RM10.7 million by Hicom Auto Sdn Bhd, this 3S centre is catered for customers based in southern Klang Valley from areas such as Semenyih, Kajang, Balakong, Putrajaya, and Nilai.
Spanning over 34,030 sq ft, the Volkswagen Semenyih 3S Centre has floor space big enough to fit 8 cars and a customer lounge. Its service centre has a total of 11 service bays manned by 12 experienced and trained technical staff.
Volkswagen Semenyih 3S Centre operates from 8:30am to 7:00pm on weekdays and from 10:00am to 5:00pm on weekends. Aftersales operations run from 8:30am to 5:30pm from Monday to Saturday. Facilities for customers include computers and a café bar. Pick-up and drop-off services are available on request by appointment basis.


Spyshot: All-New 2017 Subaru XV Spotted On PLUS Highway

The replacement model of the popular
Subaru XV
 crossover made its
global debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show
 in March and appears to be not far from its local introduction in the Malaysian market.
Our colleague
Eric
 was travelling southbound on the PLUS Highway returning to KL from Penang when he spotted a hardly-camouflaged unit on trade plates ferrying three occupants onboard – even the badges were left exposed.
The only covered areas of the vehicle were the lower corners of the front bumper around the front fog lights where there appear to be graze marks on the paintwork.
Up front, we get a clear look of the test vehicle’s halogen reflector headlights. A slight indentation on the front door handle suggests the fitment of keyless entry, and there also seems to be a reverse camera fitted near the rear number plate holder.
Eric described the car as being "surprisingly quick", noting that its test drive appeared to be "gunning for it".

Despite seemingly evolutionary looks from the current model, the 2017 XV is underpinned by Subaru’s all-new Global Platform architecture. Major upgrades in body rigidity is said to improve the body’s torsional stiffness by 70% and increase energy absorption in a collision by 40%.
Drivetrain template is similar to the predecessor – Subaru’s tried-and-tested formula of a boxer engine paired to an all-wheel drive setup. Engine revealed at the global launch was a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated direct injection powerplant with 156 PS and 198 Nm mated to a CVT.
The current Subaru XV is assembled locally in Malaysia at the Tan Chong Motors Assembly plant in Segambut from which it is also exported to Thailand. The new model is likely to be assembled locally as well, but exports are expected to cease with Subaru having committed to opening a
new CKD plant in Thailand by 2019
.


Fatal motorcycle accident on SUKE Expressway sparks outrage over reckless riding

The SUKE motorcycle tragedy has reignited concerns regarding motorcyclists who choose to travel in the opposite direction of traffic.

Tragedy struck today on the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Expressway (SUKE) as a motorcyclist lost his life in a horrifying incident. A video shared on Twitter by @HezeriSamsuri captured the moment when the victim, in an attempt to avoid a rider travelling against traffic, lost control of his motorcycle on a ramp.

The impact threw him over the bridge, where he tragically landed on a safety barrier, resulting in instantaneous death. Reports from Berita Harian indicate that the victim was riding a powerful Ducati motorcycle.

The incident has reignited public anger on social media, directing criticism towards the dangerous riding behaviours exhibited by some motorcyclists, especially those who choose to travel in the opposite direction of traffic.

Ampang Jaya police chief Farouk Eshak confirmed that a report had been filed regarding the crash, and investigations are currently underway. More details will be disclosed as the investigation progresses, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.


GIIAS 2015: All-New Honda BR-V Pops Up Ahead Of Global Debut

Well, what do we have here!? Probably one of the most exciting things to make a global debut at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, the all-new 2015
Honda BR-V
 has made a slight appearance online via Indonesian motoring website
AutonetMagz
.
The photos reveal the exterior styling of what is believed to be a three-row seven-seater SUV from
Honda
, one that’s believed to be fitting of a size between the existing HR-V and CR-V models.
*SEE ALSO: Honda Reveals Surprise Sketch Of BR-V SUV
Designed particularly for the Asian market, the Honda BR-V you see here will make its full debut in the coming days, and is expected to feature a 1.5-litre petrol engine, one common to the Jazz and City models we know. Back when Honda released initial details of it, they also mentioned the availability of “two advanced transmissions.”
The Honda BR-V is a product of Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., LTD (HRAP) in Thailand: a third model to come from the company.
 From the images shared by the Indo website, it looks like the BR-V has significant ground clearance, and is packed with body toughening panels. However, it a rugged look that doesn’t appear to compromise styling either: on top of the protective bits, the BR-V here is probably blinged-out with chrome detailing to match.
There isn’t too much more we could say about it, so rather than speculate too much, let’s just hang tight until the official global debut which happens very soon. Stay tuned!


Ferrari Tidak Akan Hasilkan Kereta Khas Untuk Wanita

Ferrari
 tidak bercadang menghasilkan model khas untuk golongan wanita.

Menurut pengeluar automotif Itali itu, adalah satu 'kesilapan' menghasilkan supercar untuk pelanggan wanita kerana mereka sebenarnya tidak mahu Ferrari untuk wanita.

Ferrari juga bimbang model feminin akan menyebabkan pelanggan lelaki sebagai majoriti pembeli supercar jenama itu akan beralih kepada pengeluar lain.

"Perempuan yang mahukan kereta sport memang mahu memandu kereta sport. Apa kesilapan yang (syarikat) automotif lakukan, dan kami cuba untuk tidak buat perkara sama adalah
menghasilkan kereta untuk wanita
”.

Berikut kata Enrico Galleria, Ketua Pegawai Pemasaran & Komersial Ferrari NV ketika ditanya berkenaan perancangan masa depan Ferrari sambil menambah, wanita tidak akan membeli supercar Ferrari yang telah diubahsuai menjadi kurang agresif dan kurang berkuasa.

Walaupun tidak menumpukan kepada rekabentuk feminin, Ferrari mengakui ada ramai pemandu wanita memandu supercar jenama itu. Menariknya, ia bukan kerana pengenalan model-model tertentu, tetapi lebih kepada aktiviti bersama pasangan.

Galliera juga memberitahu, pelanggan wanita takut memandu Ferrari yang 'amat agresif dan sporty', tetapi model lebih elegan seperti
Roma
 mampu mengurangkan kebimbangan itu. Pada masa sama model itu, yang sebuas 600hp, mensasarkan pelanggan lelaki dan wanita.

Uniknya, Ferrari mempunyai suruhanjaya dalaman tersendiri yang akan menentukan sama ada permintaan pelanggan itu selari dengan kedudukan Ferrari atau sebaliknya, termasuklah menghasilkan edisi wanita atau
women's edition
.

"Pada masa lalu, kami ada pelanggan yang minta untuk memiliki kereta dicatkan merah jambu. Kami cakap maaf, kami tidak buat," kata Galliera yang menegaskan ada beberapa warna atau kombinasi warna yang tidak akan dituruti kerana bercanggah dengan prinsip Ferrari.

Adakah Ferrari menidakkan kehendak pelanggan wanitanya? Mungkin ya, mungkin tidak.

Penulis kira ini adalah pegangan yang harus diberi pujian kerana Ferrari tahu apa yang wanita mahu dan tidak mahukan untuk kereta, melalui survey dan suruhanjaya dalaman mereka, berbanding segelintir pengeluar kenderaan yang mengeluarkan
women's edition
 tapi
tiada input wanita dalam penghasilannya
.

If you’re going to do something, do it right.
 Mungkin pengeluar lain boleh tiru macam Ferrari?