Volkswagen Liquid Power Kit: Keeping Your Car Tip Top Without Spending A Bomb

Buying a car is no laughing matter as it is one of the biggest and costliest decisions which we have to make in our lives, and what is even more important than buying a car is maintaining it properly.

Well, if you happen to be a petrolhead, you may know what to do and how to make sure that the car, especially the engine, is constantly in good shape. But what if you’re not an expert?

Keeping your car in its best shape requires both regularly scheduled maintenance and the occasional preventative measure, but does that mean that you have to spend a lot of money? Do you only use premium products? What fluids do you have to change regularly?

Luckily for Volkswagen customers in Malaysia, the Volkswagen Liquid Power Kit is here to save the day.

Costing only RM169, the Volkswagen Liquid Power Kit package comes with three fluids:

1) Castrol Edge Professional engine oil (1 litre)

High performance engines tend to consume engine oil over the course of their operation – it’s an unavoidable, inalienable truth.

As your oil vaporizes and leaves the engine, the level of engine oil slowly drops, and if you’ve been pushing your car hard chances are your engine may start running a little low on oil. The extra one litre bottle of Castrol Edge Professional engine oil might be just what you need to tide the engine over before a scheduled service.

2. Fuel additive (200 ml)

Every petrol company boasts about their additive package, but every now and then it pays to use a little more to really help clean out your injectors and valves. The fuel additive that Volkswagen is offering just needs to be mixed in with your tank of petrol as it runs through during normal driving, helping to keep your fuel system working and free of gunk.

3. Windscreen washer fluid (Complimentary 1-litre)

Iit’s an often-overlooked aspect of maintenance that many won’t realize is missing until you absolutely need to wipe your windows. The windscreen wiper fluid is designed to remove grime and dirt that normal water is not able to. It also helps to lubricate the wiper blades for a smoother and cleaner wiping action.

So what are you waiting for? If you own a Volkswagen, drop by an authorized service centre to pick up your Liquid Power Kit.


All-New 718 Cayman Hides Under Porsche's New Crazy-Fast Electric Race Car

The Taycan cemented Porsche’s commitment to the EV switch but 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance is a sneak peek at their first (and likely not last) electric two-door.

With last year’s Mission R
, we knew that an all-electric mid-engine sports coupe was on the horizon in spite of its status as a ‘concept’ vehicle. Anyone with two eyes could see that it was a technical testbed for zero-emissions performance with a strong leaning toward motorsport applications. Eventually, those innovations would find their way to Zuffenhausen’s production models.

Next-Gen 718 Cayman Or Mission R Evo?

It also acted as a slightly more crude but highly stylised sibling to this 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance which, besides being saddled by a mouthful of a name, is clearly bearing cues that make it look more and more like a heavily modified showroom car.

In fact, Porsche has all but confirmed this as the next Cayman and has heavily hinted at it
being a purely electric sports car
 which may or may not be underpinned by a bespoke electric platform. Without the race-spec safety equipment, big aero, exterior camouflage, and aggressive weight savings, this looks to be something quite close to that final car.

However, instead of a mid-engine layout, we have a powerful dual e-motor and battery combo that pushes out a hypercar-slaying 1,088PS in its most unrestrained ‘qualifying mode’. In its race setup, max power is wound down to a more manageable 612PS to extract a predicted 30 minutes of hard-driving from its 82kWh battery, or roughly the duration of a Carrera Cup race. Its 900v architecture means it can be charged from 5% to 80% capacity in just 15 minutes.

Matthias Scholz, GT racing vehicle project manager, said: “With the Mission R, we’ve shown how Porsche envisages sustainable customer motor racing in the future. The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance now demonstrates that this vision works impressively on the racetrack,”

“We’re very excited about the response because a one-make cup with electric racing cars would be an important addition to our existing customer racing programme,” he said.

1,088PS For 1,600kg

Like the Mission R, the GT4 ePerformance takes from the existing Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with certain components taken from the 911 RSR GTE and a further 6,000 new parts designed and built from scratch. Most of its body is constructed of natural-fibre composite materials and recycled carbon fibre and is 140mm wider than GT4 RS Clubsport thanks to larger fender flares needed to accommodate its 18-inch wheels on wide Michelin racing slicks that are also made from mostly renewable materials.

Despite the aggressive weight reduction measures, the car still manages to tip the scales at 1,600kg or just over 200kg more than the aforementioned GT4 racer. That extra power and instantaneous torque response certainly might compensate for that as the Mission R boasts a 2.5 second 0-100km/h sprint time and a top speed of around 300km/h.

The body, which is made of natural-fibre composite materials to minimise production emissions, is 140mm wider than the petrol-powered GT4 RS Clubsport, featuring extended flares to accommodate the 18-inch tyres. On track, Porsche claims the GT4 ePerformance is proving quicker than 992-gen 911 GT3 Cup car.

For its first public appearance, the car will tackle the hill climb at the 2022
Goodwood Festival of Speed
 in late June, followed up with a more intimate showcase as part of the 20th anniversary of Porsche’s Leipzig factory. In early 2023, two demo vehicles will travel through parts of North America and Europe with the world tour concluding in the Asia-Pacific region around mid-2024.

Assuming the development of the GT4 ePerformance is undertaken alongside that of the next-generation production 718 Cayman, we could see the all-new electric coupe hit showrooms in 2025.

We’re uncertain if Porsche will indeed only offer the road car exclusively as an EV or
with a combustion engine option (eFuels?)
, but in either case would set a clear foundation to introduce an electric 911 and, from there, a completely electric model line-up.


Ford Ranger Takes on Some of the Toughest Jobs in Asia Pacific

We all know the Ford Ranger is an extremely capable vehicle, but what's it like in real life scenarios? To find out, Ford put the Ranger through a series of challenges around the Asia Pacific region to see how it would fare. First up is East Malaysia, where the Ranger is made to travel up to the campsite of Kota Belud.

Next up is the outback of Northern Territory, Australia, where a zoologist took a Ranger out into the wilderness in order to find and catch a crocodile to study. The back of the Ranger is large enough to store the captive crocodile and double as a testing platform.
Moving further South and East, in New Zealand the Ranger returns to more conventional duties, pulling a trailer through some rough construction site terrain. The solid weight of the Ranger allows it to pull the trailer without being destabilized.
A little closer to home is the Phillipines, where the Ranger is used to deliver medicine to typhoon stricken villages. The Ranger's offroad capability and cargo carrying space makes it ideal for this as it allows the driver to get to hard-to-reach places in comfort.
Up north in Thailand, the Ranger is put to work with moving sapling trees in order to counter rapid deforestation. Crossing rivers and crawling along muddy paths is a fairly easy task for the Ranger to handle.
Finally we have Vietnam, where the Ranger becomes a vehicle for humanitarian aid. Loaded up with books, clothes, and food, the Ranger is taken from Hanoi to one of the poorest remote villages nearly 6 hours away.


Post-GST: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Drops Prices By Up To RM10,000 For Its Range

Mercedes-Benz
 Malaysia has officially announced the new prices of its models following the implementation of the Goods & Services Tax (GST) on April 1
st
, 2015, which sees a price drop across all models of up to RM10,000 from the pre-GST prices.
Earlier in the day, the
E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid
had its price slashed
 by up to RM10,000 and with this new price announcements, the rest of the Mercedes-Benz range has followed suit.
If you’re wondering why the Mercedes-Benz C 200 and C 250 are not listed, it is likely because these models are due to be locally-assembled (CKD) units in the near future.
The list of new prices for Mercedes-Benz models is provided below (click to enlarge):


We’ve had 500 Plus Days Of Movement Control Orders – What Has Happened To Our Cars?

Last Friday, the 30th July 2021, marked the 500th day the nation has been under a
Movement Control Order
. Most of us will know the many different names of these and more.

Currently, we are in the
National Recovery Policy (NRP)
 which is divided into a few distinct phases as the country gradually moves to reopen.

Now while it's open to interpretation whether the
government has dealt with the pandemic
 in the most effective manner, one thing is for certain – these 500 plus days or 72 weeks (as you read this) have changed the life of each and every Malaysian, forever.

In these 500 days of our lives in the “new norm” we got used to SOPs,
roadblocks
, lockdowns, limitations on how we could work, socialise and where we could go – and yes, it hasn’t been easy.

No doubt,
many Malaysians have had it tougher
, some have lost their jobs or earnings, businesses have shuttered, some have had to live far apart from their families throughout this time, but none have had it tougher than families that have had lost loved ones because of this deadly pandemic.

On the plus side, many of us have found productive ways of using the time we have had at home. Most of us would have become better cooks, some may have picked up a new skill or new hobby, others may have found ways of earning a supplementary income and some may have even turned their fortunes around for the better in this challenging time.

These 500 days will never be forgotten.

Given much of our mobility has been reduced to preset radiuses to/from our home – our cars have also travelled less. In many cases, some of our cars have travelled just as much over the last 500 days, as we normally would in a couple of months in the time before the pandemic. Therefore, has this been a good or bad thing, well the short answer is yes, it’s more good than bad, so let’s weigh the pros and cons.

The Pros

Less mileage

Of course, our cars have travelled much less in the last 500 days so they would have clocked much less mileage over this period. This is a good thing, simply put, there’s less wear and tear and therefore parts and components will still have a lot of life left in them. For those who capitalised on the
SST exemptions
 that have been around for just over a year, It’s highly likely that some of them might not have covered more than 10,000km since they were delivered.

Manufacturers assume a yearly usage of 20,000km a year, so it's highly likely that your car has only travelled one-fourth to one-third of that distance in the last 500 days. A car with lower mileage also means a better resale value later on, as lower mileage cars will typically fetch higher values down the line.

Smaller fuel bills

As many Malaysians
have
pusing-pusing
a lot less
 in the last 500 days, we have surely spent much less on fuel, and this is a good thing because it has allowed many Malaysians to reallocate these funds towards other necessities. In addition to lesser travel, the pandemic has probably also altered where you travel to, given restricted travel, it is highly likely that you have changed your consumption habits to purchase goods and necessities at places closest to your home instead of simply driving 20km for a cup of coffee.

Smaller maintenance bills

A by-product of travelling less has meant we have less spent less on car maintenance as well. There is a flip side to this which we’ll get into but for the most part, we have stretched the regular service intervals and incurred less wear and tear, simply because we have not been able to drive our cars as much as we normally do. This has meant smaller bills for the upkeep of our cars.

We have learnt to DIY a lot more

Due to the closure of certain services, Malaysians may have had to
roll up their sleeves and conduct regular TLC of their cars
 by themselves. At the very least, you might have had to wash your own car, learned to inspect your tyres and keep them properly inflated, and perhaps for some, conduct periodic oil changes. This has been an immense positive, because now, you not only know your car better, you know how to care for it better as well.

The Cons

Not using our car as much

Not using our car as much also has some negative implications. For one, our tyres need to move regularly enough so they do not form flat spots (which happens when the car is seated in one position for a long time). This is perhaps more true for drivers with more than one car. That’s why it's important to start your car every few days and at least drive it around the
taman
 to get it warmed up and get some rotations into the tyres.

Elsewhere, cars that have been seated for too long also can develop issues with suspension bushes and rubber components later on. Rubber components, such as those fitted to our car’s suspension systems require usage to stay flexible and well, rubbery. Prolonged inactivity and exposure to the weather can cause them to harden and crack later on.

At the very least, start your car every few days to keep the battery charged, and drive it for 20-30 mins every week at the least, to ensure all these components get their necessary usage.

Lack of usage also has implications on maintenance

We may have used our cars less and stretched our service intervals, however, not conducting our regular oil changes because of inactivity can also
cause issues later on
. The engine oil in our car eventually breaks down after a predetermined period and can no longer properly lubricate the engine. That’s why we are told that service intervals have a mileage and time limit (for example 10,000km or 6 months). However, with little usage, it’s highly likely that your car has not covered the requisite mileage, but approached the time limit of the service interval.

This issue is compounded by the fact that authorised service centres and independent workshops are working with a limited workforce which will cause delays in booking a service appointment.

While you can afford to stretch your service interval by a while, it’s highly recommended that you perform your oil change at the soonest once it’s reached the required time period. This doesn’t just cover the engine oil but other consumables such as the spark plugs, cabin filter, transmission, coolant and brake fluids.

Prolonged exposure to the elements

Perhaps worst of all is the fact that some of our cars would have been parked out in the elements for long periods of time. Not all of us would have access to shaded car parks, and prolonged exposure to the elements can degrade our car’s paint and other components such as the weather seals.

The easiest way around this is to
purchase a car cover
 so it protects your car from the sun and rain, but make sure you remove the cover (especially after a rainy day) to release moisture that will be trapped underneath. This moisture can seep into the cabin space and cause mould and bad odour.

Conclusion

These 500 days have been tough on all of us, but we must forge ahead despite the challenges for the sake of our own survival and the survival of our great nation. It’s good to know that at least with a well-maintained car, we can all enjoy a great drive once the roads open up again.


Geneva 2016: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet – Return of the Topless Compact

Mercedes-Benz
has officially taken the wraps off the new C-Class Cabriolet at the ongoing
Geneva International Motor Show
 after revealing it online few days ago.
The car, which is the brand’s first compact cabriolet after a long time, will be available in eight different forms, comprising two diesel and six petrol variants:

Cylinders/
arrangement
Displacement (cc)
Output (kW/hp)
Nm
CO
2
emis. (g/km)*
0-100 km/h (s)
Top Speed(km/h)
C 220 d
(4MATIC)
4/in-line
2143
125/170
400
116(130)
8.3(8.1)
231(225)
C 250 d
4/in-line
2143
150/204
500
121
7.2
243
C 180
4/in-line
1595
115/156
250
135
8.9
222
C 200
(4MATIC)
4/in-line
1991
135/184
300
136(163)
8.2(8.0)
235(227)
C 250
4/in-line
1991
155/211
350
140
6.9
244
C 300
4/in-line
1991
180/245
370
151
6.4
250
C 400 4MATIC
6/V
2996
245/333
480
181
5.2
250
C 43 4MATIC
6/V
2996
270/367
520
190
4.8
250

Measuring at 4686mm long, 1810mm wide, and 1,409mm tall, the C-Class Cabriolet is taller than the C-Class Coupe. However, the topless version has 4mm less headroom in front. On the brighter side, it comes with 12mm more head space in the rear.
Thanks to the suspensions that are 15mm lower than the Saloon, the cabriolet gives a sporty impression with its 17-inch standard tyres, and has better aerodynamics as well, with a c
d
 value of 0.28. The AMG C 43, however, has an even sportier look with its distinct AMG design and specific light-alloy wheels.
Based on the S-Class Cabriolet, the fully automatic fabric soft top comes in black in the basic variant, and is optionally available with a multi-layer acoustic soft top in dark brown, dark blue, dark red or black. Mercedes-Benz claims that the material significantly reduces road noise and offers optimal climate comfort and quiet-running characteristics.
Inside, the cabin is based on the C-Class sedan, and comes with heat-reflecting leather, a curved switch in matt silver chrome in the centre console for opening and closing the fully automatic cabriolet soft top, sport seats, individual rear seats, and a wide range of individualisation options which includes 13 upholstery options, seven trim variants, four soft-top colours, twelve paint finishes – including a matt finish, leather-covered instrument panel, to name a few.
In our opinion, the main highlight of the C-Class Cabriolet is the AIRCAP and AIRSCARF systems. Integrated into the roof frame, the systems reduce interior turbulence for all passengers at the press of a button. Alternatively, there is also the option of a retrofitted manual folding draught stop behind the front seats. This noticeably stops draughts only in the front seats.
Like other models, the new C-Class Cabriolet comes with an extensive range of free Standard Services and Remote Online Services as part of the "Mercedes me connect" package. Standard Services include automatic emergency call, Accident Recovery as well as breakdown assistance and after-sales service.
The Remote Online services make it possible at any time and from anywhere to access vehicle information such as the status of windows and doors, mileage, tyre pressures and other diagnostic data. There is also a Vehicle Tracker function as well as remote door locking and unlocking.
Thinking of purchasing a Mercedes-Benz C-Class? Find one now at
Carlist.my


How Much Battery Does Your EV Really Need?

Invariably, a customer
considering an electric car
 - any electric car - will ask a simple question, albeit sometimes a little crudely phrased: how
big
 is the battery?

Since an EV's battery size directly correlates to how much energy can be stored within and, therefore, the range yield one can expect the car to
travel for without needing to be plugged in
 again, this is of course a valid question.

CAPACITY = Weight = Volume = Range = PRICE

Its battery size, or capacity, typically measured in kilowatt-hours, also tends to dictate any EV’s price, making it an even more pertinent question to ask. None of these were ever a concern with combustion-powered cars in the modern era since petrol/diesel filling stations were well scattered throughout the road network and stopping for a full tank took but a few minutes.

With the advent of electric vehicles, prior concepts about ‘refuelling’ need to change writ large as ‘charging’ entails so many other variables, not least of which is whether the electrons are coming via an
AC charger
 or a faster
DC charge source
 - and if so, at what rate (how fast)?

Eventually, society will also have to come to some common agreement as to how much battery - or range - we need from our EVs so that it could perhaps be made a standard or unwritten (but widely understood) expectation.

This is because the majority of us cannot be expected to have one city-bound EV with a more modest battery capacity (and therefore cheaper) and another one waiting for us to require a lengthy road trip that utilises its large battery (making it more expensive).

At this extreme, we find such vehicles as the GMC Hummer EV which is confirmed to have a massive 210kWh battery that takes 1,013-litres of space and weighs 1,325kg on its own - about that of
a Honda Civic
.

A 'Standard' Minimum Range Expectation?

It follows that such a vehicle would need a very powerful and energy-demanding electric motor setup just to get moving let alone keep up on the highway and deliver decent range. This is a prime example of how an EV powertrain’s efficiency decreases past a certain point (like a bell curve) no matter how much ‘more battery’ is thrown at the problem.

Mazda with
the MX-30
, MINI with
the Cooper SE
, and the
Honda e
 all have around 35kWh to spare, taking them to roughly 200km on a single charge or thereabouts. They are all definitely among the most modern EVs offered by each of these automotive brands but you neither would classify them as ‘flagship’ vehicles in the same vein as the Lucid Air (up to 118kWh), Mercedes-Benz EQS (up to 120kWh) that push the boundaries in terms of range, luxury, performance, or all three.

Range anxiety - how much range is enough range?

However, those aforementioned non-flagship cars have all come under criticism that their batteries are too small to alleviate the effects of ‘range anxiety’, but it does demonstrate an important conclusion that automakers are, simultaneously yet independently, arriving at. A balance.

This is an equilibrium between the cost of
manufacturing an EV
 (to which its battery is the largest, heaviest, most expensive component), the cost customers would willingly pay for such a vehicle, their range expectations, and - most importantly - their actual range requirements as proven by data.

We, for our part as car buyers, just have to get used to the fact that we typically don’t need as much range as we think we do in real-world driving.

Passenger cars spend 90% of their existence in parking

Remember, your vehicle spends the huge majority (above 80%) of its time parked and unused. Therefore, as charging infrastructure improves and we can more easily access a plug point or charging station, the worry about depleting any EV’s energy reserves below, say, 40% becomes narrower and narrower.

Though that might be true in 10 years, those of us living in 2022 are being asked to just
trust
 in the growth and development of that infrastructure. It’s like being hungry and only being served appetisers while the main course sits baking in the oven. You know it’s coming up, and you hope it’s as tasty as promised.

Still, perhaps automakers need to set their sights higher. That 200km offered by the Mazda, MINI, and Honda might never be deemed
enough
 no matter how robust the charging network gets. Perhaps a more acceptable figure is
at least 300km
 on a fully charged battery, regardless of the EV’s actual kilowatt-hour figure.

There will be exceptions, naturally, such as the
single-seat micro-EVs
 that are really meant for short-throw commutes and little else. However, if the majority of electric cars on sale to customers looking to switch from a car with an internal combustion engine, provides the assurance that each will be able to reliably take them continuously for at least 300km could be a powerful motivator and increase EV adoption to that coveted
tipping point
.

A little unexpectedly, it is sister car brands Hyundai and Kia that has seemed to have struck the most holistic balance of range, weight, cost, and performance. Take
the IONIQ 5 and EV6,
 for example, both of which are built upon the same EV-specific vehicle platform and offer varying configurations/variants for range and performance.

Can We All Agree?

Neither of them features lithium-ion batteries that dip below 58kWh or exceed 77.4kWh, which can still be considered rather modest. Yet despite that limited matrix, variants within both models are able to offer a range of at least 350km and up to claimed 490km (Hyundai IONIQ 5 Extra Long Range) while another is capable of a 3.5-second sprint to 100km/h that can rival supercars (
Kia EV6 GT
).

This seems like the right mix that satisfies the automaker’s need to maintain a healthy profit margin, keeps the ecological footprint and supply chain demands in check, while also maintaining the customer’s expectation of range/performance that does not deviate too far from what is/was offered by combustion cars.

Others take a different view, arguing that there is “no ideal size” such as Professor Olivier Trescases, the Research Chair in Power Electronic Converters and director of the University of Toronto EV Research Centre, who adds “…what we expect in the future is a wide variety of options from automakers,”

“You really have a hard limit on the weight and volume. The whole point of this shift in transportation is to reduce emissions. It’s quite emissions-intensive to make batteries in the first place,” emphasising that
consistency
 is more important that reducing size as it pertains to the goals of EV battery technology.

As unrealistic of an expectation as it is (at least given the current tech available), Deloitte’s 2022 Global Automotive Consumer Survey revealed that Canadians want an EV with range of at least 600km. Beyond North America, if this ‘expectation’ is reflective of a wider car buying population in other modern societies, that’s clearly going to be a problem….


Jalan Raya Di Malaysia Ke-12 Terburuk Tidak Tepat – Kementerian Kerja Raya

Menurut kenyataan
Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR),
 laporan akhbar tempatan baru-baru ini yang menyatakan bahawa Malaysia ke-12 terbawah memiliki jalan raya yang paling buruk di dunia adalah tidak tepat.

Laporan tersebut dipercayai telah diambil daripada laporan
Worst and Best Roads – US and International Ranking
 yang dijalankan oleh sebuah firma pendidikan pemandu Zutobi.

Laporan Kajian Kurang Tepat

KKR berkata laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh Zutobi itu memberikan persepsi yang kurang baik terhadap kualiti keseluruhan
jalan raya di Malaysia.

Ini kerana laporan itu hanya mengambil kira data untuk 59 negara sahaja melalui empat faktor utama iaitu:

Kualiti jalan raya

Peningkatan kualiti jalan raya

Kematian di jalan raya

Saiz relatif rangkaian jalan raya

KKR sentiasa mengambil perhatian terhadap semua laporan kajian yang diterbitkan sebagai satu kaedah semak dan imbang bagi memastikan penyampaian perkhidmatan yang terbaik untuk rakyat Malaysia.

Komitmen KKR Dalam Menjaga Kualiti Jalan

Tambah KKR, pelbagai komitmen berterusan dilaksanakan khusus dalam menjaga kualiti jalan raya di Malaysia seperti:

Penyenggaraan
Jalan Persekutuan
 Sepanjang 20,017 kilometer

RM900,000 peruntukan kos penyenggaraan jalan di seluruh negara

6,656
jalan berlubang
 telah ditampal sehingga Ogos lalu

KKR juga akan meneruskan usaha menjaga kualiti jalan raya dengan menerusi kempen
Zeropotholes
 sejak 2016 dan kempen Kita Jaga Jalan Kita yang dilancarkan pada November tahun lalu.

Bukan itu sahaja, peruntukan tambahan sebanyak RM130 juta telah diluluskan bagi tujuan Perbelanjaan Pembangunan Kerja-Kerja Penyengaraan Berkala Pavemen Jalan Persekutuan di seluruh negara.

Kajian The World Economy Lebih Tepat

Sementara itu, KKR menjelaskan terdapat satu lagi kajian yang dikeluarkan oleh The Global Economy yang memperoleh data berdasarkan komponen kualiti jalan yang diterbitkan oleh Indeks Daya Saing Global.

Kajian itu meletakkan kualiti jalan raya di Malaysia ke-21 terbaik di dunia mengatasi Australia, Britain dan New Zealand.

Menurut KKR, kajian itu turut memetik sumber sahih daripada kajian eksekutif melibatkan 14,000 tokoh dari 144 negara yang menyertai Forum Ekonomi Dunia yang berpusat di Davos, Switzerland. Untuk membaca lebih banyak berkenaan kajian ini, klik
di sini.


Volkswagen Passat TDI Becomes Korea’s Best-Selling Imported Model

The Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI has become the best-selling imported car in Korea, statistics by the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association showed.
In August, Volkswagen Korea sold 854 units of the Passat 2.0 TDI, putting it ahead of second-placed Audi A6 2.0 TDI (795 units).
The Korean-market Passat is a different model from the European-market Passat that we are used to seeing.
The all-new eighth generation European-market
Passat is expected to be launched in Malaysia
 before the year ends (below).
As explained in an earlier post,
Korea has signed a Korea-USA Free Trade Agreement
, and the Korean government is encouraging manufacturers to import US-made models into Korea to reduce trade imbalance (Korea exports far more cars into the US than the other way around).
The Korean-market Passat is produced in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Korean Passat 2.0 TDI comes is powered by a 140 PS, 320 Nm diesel engine that is paired to a 6-speed DSG transmission. A 1.8-litre TSI petrol paired to a 6-speed torque converter automatic (Tiptronic) transmission is also available.
The best-selling foreign brand in August is Mercedes-Benz (3,662 units), ahead of BMW (3,642 units) and Volkswagen (3,145 units) and Audi (2,796 units).
Cumulative sales of imported cars during the January-August period reached 158,739 units, a 23.2 percent rise from the same period last year.


Volvo Bukit Bintang Opens – Swede Luxury In The Golden Triangle

Volvo Car Malaysia through its authorized dealer Sisma Auto has officially opened the first Volvo city centre showroom in Menara Worldwide on Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Located in the heart of KL’s premier commercial and leisure district – the Volvo Bukit Bintang showroom aims to offer customer-centric ownership experience in line with the newly-evolved Volvo Retail Experience (VRE).
Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia added, “VRE is designed to reflect our Scandinavian-inspired values of calm with cleans lines that exude a cool and refreshing visual exterior appeal whilst the interior offers customers a warm and inviting feeling.”
Volvo owners who reside or work in the vicinity can also enjoy a premium ownership experience courtesy of Sisma Auto’s Concierge Service that offers home or office vehicle pick-up and drop-off for customers within the Klang Valley.
For vehicle service and technical support, Volvos sold through Sisma Auto will be serviced at its Glenmarie service centre, which is currently fully-operational but still in its final stages of construction. Upon the service centre’s completion, Volvo customers will have the option of sending their vehicles directly to the Glenmarie service centre.
Sisma Auto Volvo Bukit Bintang showroom is located on the ground floor, Menara Worldwide, Jalan Bukit Bintang and open from 9.00 am till 7.00 pm from Monday to Friday and 10.00 am till 5.00 pm on weekends.
In conjunction with the opening of this new showroom, Sisma Auto is offering customers purchasing any new Volvo model from them, a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Sweden.


Malaysia Is Volvo's Only PHEV Competency Centre Outside Sweden

Exports of Volvo Cars from Malaysia to Taiwan are underway, making it the only major automotive brand other than Proton and Perodua to export Malaysian-built cars beyond the ASEAN region. The range of models being shipped to the island republic currently consist of regular combustion engine models, but they will be soon be joined by the T8 plug-in hybrid variants of the XC90 and S90.
At present, Volvo is already exporting cars from Malaysia to Thailand for six years, with the XC90 T8 among models being shipped to the kingdom and set to be joined by the S90 T8 as well.
The decision to assemble the XC90 T8 and S90 T8 in Malaysia is of huge significance. The Shah Alam plant is now Volvo’s only core competency centre for PHEVs outside of Sweden. No other Volvo plant in the world exports PHEVs.
Volvo also manufactures PHEVs in China, but it is the S60 PHEV, now a previous-generation product relative to the new SPA range, and the cars are made exclusively for domestic consumption in the People’s Republic.
It was already
reported earlier
 that Volvo Cars have plans to grow its export business from Malaysia to markets such as Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Future plans for exports to Laos and Cambodia are being explored as well. The company projects to hit an annual export volume of 5,000 cars within the next few years.
Volvo’s Shah Alam plant is the
oldest automotive plant operating in Malaysia
, having started off in 1967. The company had earlier spent RM 20 million to upgrade the facility to bring it in line with its latest production standards, readying it for production Volvo’s upcoming generation of vehicles underpinned by the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.
Moving forward, Volvo Cars has committed to ensure that the full Volvo model range will be
electrified to some degree or another by 2019
, meaning by then, every new Volvo in the showroom, will have some form of an electric motor contributing to its motion.


Man Throws Brick At Mercedes-Benz, Receives Instant Karma To The Face

Talk about instant karma. In this YouTube video, we see a man attempting to break the windows of a parked Mercedes-Benz by throwing stones at it. Little did he remember that with every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction (Newton’s third law of motion).
After using small rocks against the Mercedes-Benz’s mirrors, the man than goes for his pièce de résistance in the form of a brick. At the 25 second mark, he throws the brick at the window and immediately after that, it bounces back and hits the man square in the face. Ouch!
The video uploader says that the owner of the car came around the corner seconds later and had the injured man who suffered “head injuries” arrested.


Volvo’s New Infotainment System Makes The Car One Big Android Phone

Volvo’s
partnership with Google
 continues to produce some pretty intriguing advancements in infotainment space as the new 2022 model year versions of the XC60, S90, and V90 models are the newest cars in the Swedish automaker’s stable to be fitted with the Android-powered brains.

This goes far beyond Android Auto, mind you. With the underlying operating system of the infotainment system now running a forked version of Android, Volvo and Google are now able to bring tighter integration between apps and services where applicable to the automotive experience.

Of course, the collaboration with the Silicon Valley search giant extends further than just making the in-car touchscreen interface do cooler things and show prettier pictures. Rather, like the fully electric XC40 Recharge, the
first Volvo to feature Google’s tech
, these 3 other models will be leveraging the company’s Digital Services package to make full use of the computing power built in.

Through an on-board high speed cellular modem, the XC60, S90, and V90 now have access to the internet and can interface with it much like the newest iPhone….or Samsung, I guess, since we’re talking about Android.

Here’s where the Google tie-up comes in handy. Like an Android device, these Volvos native access to Google’s apps and services can work either independently or in conjunction with the driver’s own smart device,

In-car navigation here is enhanced with hands-free native access to Google Maps with personalised routes, points of interest, and smart calendar scheduling, all operable through the large, sharp touchscreen with a zippy interface and minimal input or data lag. Meanwhile, the intuitive voice control system basically takes control of every part of the interface accessible by just speaking to ‘the car’.

Google Assistant and its natural language processing allows drivers to quickly communicate complex instructions and receive accurate responses, whether it’s to dictate a new message reply or looking up the location of your next appointment. On the way there, you could also request your favourite playlist to come on the stereo, and if it isn’t on your phone, it’ll be streamed over the air from your service of choice.

Not only will these Volvos have native access to a curated selection of apps from the Google Play store and adapted for vehicle use, but these apps will also have special functionality that can tie into specific in-car systems that the Android OS can control, such as vehicle temperature, ambient interior lighting, and destination setting.

Question is,
do we even want that
 with all the privacy concerns that entails? Sure, it's inevitable that cars will be converging more and more with technology and therefore are more integrated with internet-related functions, but there does come a point where I need to ask if I want Google of all entities to know more about my car than I do.

Apart from the new infotainment system, the XC60, S90 and V90 are also updated with the company’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), a modern, scalable active safety system that consists of an array of radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors.

As always, Malaysians will need to be a little patient to receive this latest batch of newly revised Volvo models, particularly with the fully electric XC40 Recharge and even
newer C40 Recharge
.


2018 Jaguar F-Type Gets 2-Litre Ingenium Engine, Aesthetic Updates

Remember that sports car that Jaguar launched a couple of years ago? The F-Type? Feels like it's been around forever, hasn't it? Welll it's time for another facelift, and this time Jaguar's finally bringing the Ingenium 2.0-litre engine to the model range. With 300 PS and 400 Nm of torque, this new turbocharged 2.0-litre motor is the most advanced and powerful 4-cylinder in Jaguar's range yet.
Jaguar is happy to throw around a lot of fancy terms for their new Ingenium engine, but we'll simplify it for you. The new engines have variable valve lift, courtesy of a system that should be similar to BMW's Valvetronic. This means a fairly infinite range of valve lifts for a fairly large torque curve, and a good blend of efficiency and performance- not that you're going to be very efficient when you drive it. Like the EcoBoost engines, the exhaust manifold is intergrated in the head as well for better gas efficiency and cooling.
The turbocharger itself is a twin scroll unit that means even quicker response- hence maximum torque being available from just 1,500 rpm. Jaguar says this is to provide a natural F-Type experience with near instantaneous throttle and engine response to heighten the driving experience, although we would still prefer that big-old V8 in the SVR variant. The other benefit of the new engine is a weight reduction of 52 kilograms, which helps a lot when it comes to roadster dynamics.
Perhaps as a nod to simplicity, the 4-cylinder F-Type gets a single exhaust tip to distinguish it from the V6 and V8 models. There are also smaller 18-inch wheels which make it a little more lively in the hands, all aiming to create a slightly more pure driving experience. Perhaps this new entry-level F-Type is to be likened to the BMW E30 318i, which was at times regarded as a baby M3 for its surprisingly good dynamics.
As for the rest of the changes for this new model, they're mostly incremental in the aesthetics department. New bumpers, new headlights, and the like- as you would expect on a car that already looks so pretty. As is the trend among luxury manufacturers (or perhaps for legal reasons), the new F-Type is also offered with a variety of assistance systems like Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist. The other variants in the lineup remain the same in their performance, both in Coupe and Convertible forms.


Audi RS3 LMS Takes On Its First Motorsport Season in 2017

The race-ready Audi RS3 LMS race car,
first unveiled
 at the 2016 Paris auto show, stands in front of its first motorsport season, competing in up to 14 Touring Car series worldwide in 2017. The two most hotly-contested being the TCR International Series and ADAC TCR Germany racing series.
The champion of the TCR International Series in its first two seasons (2015 and 2016), Stefano Comini, will compete with an Audi RS 3 LMS in the 2017 season. The Swiss driver will be racing for Comtoyou Racing from Belgium. The season opens in Rustavi, Georgia on April 1, before traveling to Belgium, Italy, Russia, Portugal, Spain and Scandinavia.
The ADAC TCR Germany gets underway at Oschersleben on April 28, and it includes seven race weekends this year. Entering this series with the R3 LMS from 2017 is Target Competition, the 2016 German series team and drivers’ champions and 2015 TCR International Series team and drivers’ winners.
The Audi RS 3 LMS is not only intended for sprint racing within the national or regional arena, the 350hp race car has also proven itself at the first endurance races of the season. In January, the Cadspeed Racing with Atech team won the TCR class of the Dubai 24 Hours, and in March, Bonk Motorsport won the TCR class of the Mugello 12 Hours on its first attempt.
The Audi RS 3 LMS will also take part in Germany’s biggest endurance race from May 25 to 28, the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing added, “In Germany and around the world, we have sold a total of 90 Audi RS 3 LMS cars to our customers. We all wish all of them the best.”


Review: 2017 Honda Civic Type R (FK8) – Making 320PS Work On FWD

The original Honda Civic launched in 1972 was the car that changed its maker’s history forever. Forty five years and ten model generations on, the Civic has become the benchmark car of the C-segment. It is the default car for the middle-class and after a thorough re-engineering to produce the current-gen FC model, better than ever.
The Civic Type R, on the other hand, follows an entirely different narrative. There have been five versions of the Civic Type R produced since 1996, at one point including two – the FD2 and FN2 – that were being produced concurrently. Depending on model, Honda has alternated between making the Civic Type R in either Suzuka, Japan, or Swindon, UK.
But regardless where they are made, all versions of the Civic Type R consistently follow the same formula of building high-revving track-focused machines within the familiar body of a regular Honda Civic.
The latest addition to the linage carries the FK8 codename and is based off the hatchback version of the current-generation Civic. Even before going into full production, the FK8 has made the greatest introduction of itself possible, by re-writing the Nurburgring Nordschleife’s record lap time for a front-wheel driven vehicle.
At the time of writing, Honda Malaysia refuses to officially confirm if the Civic Type R will be officially available in our market, but they did get us a slot in the car’s European media drive programme that was recently held in Dresden, Germany. To date,
the Philippines
 is the only ASEAN market which this car has been confirmed for.
Specifications:
Engine: 2.0-litre, Inline-4 Transverse, Turbocharged Petrol
Power: 320 PS @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 400 Nm @ 2,500 – 5,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual, FWD
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, LSD, ISOFIX, Electronic Stability Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control,
Origin: Made in Swindon, UK
Overview
Unlike recent history where Honda kept the European and Japanese versions of the Civic Type R separate and distinct, the all-new FK8 Type R is a global model that will sold in one format across the world. No alternative configurations are being planned, meaning there won’t be a sedan version, and despite its considerable power, neither dual-clutch transmissions nor all-wheel drive were ever considered – both add too much weight, according to Honda.
Power is supplied from a 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine rated with outputs of 320 PS and 400 Nm. The engine is carried over from the previous-gen FK2 Type R hatch that catered primarily for the European market. From a Malaysian perspective, however, the new numbers represent a 95 PS and 185 Nm jump from outputs that were previously available from the naturally-aspirated FD2R.
The engine is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission that had its ratios shortened by 7% for improved acceleration. To help drivers achieve smoother downshifts, the transmission incorporates a rev-match feature that automatically blips the throttle as you slam the lever into the gate of a lower gear.
Over-eager enthusiasts may be tempted to diss rev-match as an aid for novice users, but the reality is that it helps even experienced drivers in the initial acclimatization process of the car. In our experience, the feature was on the ball the when called upon, but we recommend gradually practicing your heel-and-toe footwork as you familiarize yourself with the car.
Being based on the current-generation global Civic platform, the Civic Type R finally as independent rear suspension to call upon again, having to live with rear torsion beams in the preceding FN2 and FK2 models. Immediately, the FK8 gains an inherent advantage against the torsion beam-propped Renault Megane RS.
Much of the FK8’s chassis work is done up front, however, where Honda has revised the standard Civic’s suspension to separate the steering knuckle that is otherwise integrated into the front strut. It is similar to Ford’s RevoKnuckle setup in the Focus RS and its purpose is to reduce the effects of torque steer – a very real danger for a FWD car with this much outputs.
Despite similarities in the overall layout, much of the Type R’s suspension parts are unique to it and not shared with the regular Civic. They include bespoke high-rigidity arms as well as all-round adaptive dampers that are individually controlled.
Exterior
The regular Civic already has a fair degree of sportiness in its looks, but the Type R truly takes it to another level with its unashamedly loud looks. It’s not all for show though, Honda claims that all the outrageous protrusions are aerodynamically functional helping reduce drag by 3% over the previous FK2 Type R and, more importantly, generate additional downforce to press the vehicle down at speed.
The comprehensive aerodynamics package includes a smoothened underbody and front tyre air curtain vents for starters. The spikes at trailing edge of the roof function as vortex generators that work in conjunction with the large rear wing to divert air flow across the tail to generate additional downforce over the rear axle. Look closely too at the edges of the front splitter and side sill spoilers – the flick-ups at the edges are meant to generate even more downforce.
A major talking point on the new Civic Type R is its
centrally-mounted triple-exhaust
 with two larger pipes either side of a smaller central pipe. The pipes are laid out in such a way that the central pipe lets exhaust gases out at low engine speeds; at high engine speeds, air pressure at the centre pipe becomes negative, making it suck in ambient air. According to Honda, this gives the Type R a more aggressive-sound exhaust note at low RPMs and eliminates the booming sound at high revs. All this is accomplished without the need of a single moving component.
Another unique element on the Civic Type R’s exterior is its bonnet, which sports an integrated air duct and weighing 5.3 kg less than the standard model’s item thanks to its aluminium construction. Lastly, 20-inch alloy wheels complete the Type R’s visual differentiation over the regular Civic.
One thing is for sure. Regardless whether the Type R actually comes to Malaysia, you can bet that accessory shops are already hard at work developing replica body parts for eager owners of the Civic FC sedan.
Interior
Imagine the regular Civic FC’s cabin with red highlights and front bucket seats, and that’s what you’ll get in the Type R. What this means is that all the packaging and ergonomic goodness already built into the regular Civic is carried over to the Type R, chiefly the deep centre console storage tunnel and two-tier storage area ahead of the gear lever.
At the rear, passengers get similar levels of head and leg room as the sedan, whilst boot space is measured at 420 litres, down from the Civic sedan’s 519 litres. Foldable rear seats are provided, however, allowing the cargo hold to be expanded to 786 litres at the expense of rear seating capacity.
Driving Experience
Seven minutes 43.8 seconds
. It’s not merely enough to state that the Civic Type R is the fastest FWD ever to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife. It is just as telling that the likes of the BMW M4, the previous-generation Audi R8 V10, and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano all require a few seconds more than Type R to lap the world’s most famous proving ground.
Our own track time in the Type R – a brief 15-minute stint around the Lausitzring circuit – was unsettling at first. Lacking the ability to spread its traction to all corners, the Type R can initially seem wild and not a little unruly to the unfamiliar driver. Lift-off oversteer was easy to provoke around tight corners too.
As the laps accumulated, I gradually built my trust on the car, which slowly revealed itself to be rather finely balanced on the turn. Front end grip is convincing; combined with a quick steering ratio, it makes for a sharp turn-in. The playful rear makes the car even more eager, with wiggles easy to catch and correct early on.
Being a heavily-boosted unit, turbo lag from the 2.0-litre mill is inevitable, but sufficiently well mitigated. You’ll need to downshift and keep the revs above 3,000rpm for rapid progress on track, but in the open road, respectable rates of acceleration are on offer from 2,000rpm upwards. Mid-range is decently punchy and at the same time, the engine will happily rev all the way to the red line like a good old-school VTEC.
Does the chassis feel in anyway overwhelmed by all that power going to the front? Not in the conditions we experienced, though we’d still advise extreme caution in bad weather.
The 6-speed manual transmission turned out to be an absolute delight of a gearbox with its short and precise throws. So rewarding is the transmission to operate, Honda could slash the Type R’s power by half and the car would have lost none of its appeal. The only word of warning is that the gates are stacked extremely close to each other – the shift from fifth to sixth is rather easy to miss.
The transmission’s rev match feature is of great overall help. Although we’d still advocate that you learn to blip the throttle and practice your heel-and-toe on downshifts, the rev match function proved especially handy in easing the acclimatization process with the car. There is the option to de-activate the function, but the off switch is buried too deeply in the infotainment’s layers of menus to bother trying in the short duration of the drive programme.
Comfort & Refinement
Whilst the Civic Type R’s product premise is to offer a track-ready machine that double duty for day-to-day use, our brief experience with the previous-generation FD2R suggest that it was a car that is extremely capable for the former, but too compromised for the latter. Its high-strung engine and ultra-stiff suspension guarantees good fun and lap times, but represent less appealing propositions for on-road use.
It is an area which the FK8 appears to have improved upon greatly. Having proved its capability on track, the FK8 also incorporates just the right compromise to be a usable daily driver. Whilst Honda’s claims of its trick exhaust reducing high speed engine boom weren’t too convincing to this pair of ears, the suspension did a serviceable job in absorbing potholes and road patches. It’s no S-Class, but in the context of a car with firmly-sprung sports suspension and low-profile 20-inch tyres, impressively good.
Conclusion
The FK8 is, without doubt, the best-engineered and most talented Civic Type R ever. That the engineers were able to deliver a chassis setup that effectively harnesses 320 PS in a front-wheel drive configuration without feeling overwhelmed is credit to their capabilities. In my personal experience, the far less powerful Ford Focus ST felt way more unruly on the road.
As its Nurburgring laptime proves, the Type R remains a devastating track weapon, but the real progress is the marked increase of its on-road manners. This is truly a car that can serve track duty and then be driven home in decent comfort after the fun is over.
Despite its capabilities and thrills, however, this car has quite a task at hand justifying its appeal outside the circle of hardcore Honda fans. For starters, its UK origins mean that it would not come cheap. Also, motorists spoilt by rivals with all-wheel drive and dual clutch transmissions that are far easier to drive will take some convincing to take up the Type R’s three-pedal proposition.
All being said, we applaud Honda’s steadfastness in delivering a car that appeal to the old-fashioned purists among us. A Civic Type R will not be as refined nor as easy to drive as, say, a Volkswagen Golf R or Mercedes-AMG A45, but the few who would stump up the cash and have the courage to work those three pedals will find themselves in possession of a very special and characterful car indeed.
Below is a full video review, as well as a recording of one of my less embarassing laps around the Lausitzring circuit in Germany.


Ipoh Congestion Solution: Jalan Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12 to Become One-Way Street

It looks like Ipoh's Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12 will become a one-way street as Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh(MBI) has given the green light to give the one-way system a try.

According to The Star, a city council spokesman has said the proposal to turn Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12 into a one-way street has just been approved.

"Hopefully, this will resolve the congestion issue there. Road signs will be installed along with additional parking spots," he said. He added that work would start in the middle of next month.

As reported by The Star, many shop owners along the street are happy that MBI will be turning the road into a one-way system, as they believe that the road is too narrow for it to be a two-way street.

With people parking on both sides of the road, the street has practically turned into a one-way system anyway, so it's just a matter of refining it to ease congestion in the area.

Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12 is a victim of its own success as many frequent the area to visit the famous eateries, beauty salons and child activity centres.

While this might sound like a great idea, there are some cons to having a one-way system as they can affect pedestrians.

One-way systems tend to be unfriendly to cyclists and pedestrians as vehicles tend to stop less, and because they do not stop, vehicle speed tends to be higher, which is a safety issue for people that are walking or cycling around the area.

To be a complete success, MBI needs to think this through, or else it'll just be another one-way system that might be a complete failure, ultimately affecting business on the street.


2018 Ford Fiesta’s Action Packed Teaser Ahead of Geneva Debut

The next-generation 2018 Ford Fiesta has made its action-packed debut, in a Youtube video, just days after the car was previewed at press event in Cologne, Germany.
The video starts off with a product presentation for a group of customers, before curiosity gets the better of one attendee, who snags the keys to the car and proceeds to make a run for it.
Unfortunately, her plan hits a bump, after an overzealous Ford engineer catches her, and gives chase on a BMX bicycle – the action heats up as car and bike blaze trails through the Ford facility in this John Frankenheimer styled, action sequence.
Separately, the Fiesta ST was shown for the first time (in Cologne) ahead of its global public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the next-generation Fiesta ST is powered by an all-new three-cylinder, 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged engine, which will deliver 200 PS, 290 Nm of torque. Ford claims it will have 0-100 km/h acceleration time in the region of 6.7 seconds.
The third generation of Fiesta ST will be the first Ford Performance model ever powered by a three-cylinder engine, and will be the first Fiesta ST to feature selectable Drive Modes – enabling engine, steering and stability controls to be configured to Normal, Sport and Track.
The Drive Modes will also adjust Fiesta ST’s Electronic Sound Enhancement (ESE) technology and active exhaust noise control valve, to deliver an even more satisfying driving experience.
The new 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine also features Ford’s industry-first, cylinder deactivation system for a three-cylinder engine. Ford anticipates CO
2
 emissions of 114 g/km for the new car.
The all-new Fiesta S will be offered in both three-door and five-door bodystyles (
current generation
 only offered with a three-door body) and will feature a greater variety of interior trim and personalisation options.
Aesthetically, the Fiesta ST will include the bold mesh grille front fascia and exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels. Ford reports the new Fiesta ST will be available in some markets, starting early 2018.


CarTell Gymkhana is back! Volume III was all tyre smoke and thrills thanks to UMW Grantt and ENZO

On May 20th, 2023,
UMW Grantt Lubricants
 and
ENZO car mats
 presented CarTell Gymkhana Vol. III where participants and spectators alike witnessed an exhilarating scene of smoke, screeching tires and big smiles, attracting a mix of enthusiastic newcomers and familiar faces eager to put their vehicles and skills to the test.

Held between 9.30am and 4.30pm at Car Park W2 of the Shah Alam Stadium, the event brought together car and driving enthusiasts of all types, persuasions, and backgrounds, united by their shared passion.

Gymkhana is a motorsport event characterised by a timed lap around a tight, technical course. These events feature a designated track with various obstacles like cones, tires, and barrels. Drivers must navigate through the track, employing a wide range of driving techniques.

Similar to gymkhana, autocross events also use cone-based obstacles for drivers to navigate through. However, autocross is more like a scaled-down road course, whereas gymkhana obstacles often include slaloms, 180-degree turns, 360-degree turns, figure-eight turns, and sometimes parking boxes.

In gymkhana, the type of vehicle or car is less critical to success. Even if two individuals have identical cars, their performance and times can differ significantly. The key factors that determine success in gymkhana are a driver's familiarity with their own vehicle, knowledge of the course, and driving ability. Ultimately, the focus in gymkhana is not primarily on the car itself, but on the driver's skills and understanding of the sport.

That said, Cartell’s Gymkhana Volume III used two vehicle classifications: Showroom+ and Prepared. In ‘Showroom+’, the vehicle is left nearly identical to how it emerged from the factory (though some safety or minor upgrades are allowed) whereas ‘prepared’ cars clearly exhibit performance-enhancing modifications.

Carlist, of course, has always been an outspoken proponent of these kinds of grassroots events that make motorsport as accessible as possible to the general public. To that end, members of the CarTell community on Facebook were given a special participation fee of just RM60 where the typical going rate to compete is around RM150.

All manner of vehicles turned up to join in on the fun, from the rear-drive staples like BMWs to the more recent and very popular Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ. Apart from that there were a bevy of very agile front-drive hatchbacks including a near factory-fresh D74A Perodua Axia. See, it really doesn’t matter what car you drive, as long as you have fun driving it!

When a car's engine is subjected to intense stress during a gymkhana, selecting the right lubricant becomes crucial to ensure the vehicle withstands the demands of the event and remains drivable afterward.

This is precisely why CarTell has maintained its partnership with UMW Grantt Lubricants and their high quality products that let your car perform at its peak while maintaining protection.

Special thanks as well to ENZO car mats which offers the most durable, customisable, and precisely constructed aftermarket car mats we’ve ever tried. They’re an improvement to the run-of-the-mill car mats most cars are fitted with in almost every way, not to mention how well they stay wedged in to your car’s interior floor.

Carlist.my and CarTell aren’t done with our Gymkhana plans for 2023, however. We’ll be back before long for our next motorsport outing, so stay tuned!


Limited Time Offer – Volvo XC60, Low Interest Rate Starting From Just 0.62%

Crowned the 2018 World Car of the Year at last year’s New York Auto Show, the XC60 is one of the best SUVs on sale today. Being a Volvo, it clearly sets the benchmark for safety. Like all new generations of Volvo styled by Thomas Ingelath, the XC60 now also stands for style, luxury, comfort, and performance. From now until August, Volvo Car Malaysia will be offering the XC60 with an interest rate of just 0.62 percent – the lowest for any premium make.
Locally, the XC60 is available in three variants – T5 Momentum (RM298,888), T8 Inscription (RM333,888), and T8 Inscription Plus (RM343,888).
The T8 variants are powered by a 407 hp/640 Nm plug-in hybrid 2.0-litre turbocharged engine while the T5 is powered by a 254 hp/350 Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
Inside, the XC60’s cabin is one of the most luxurious in its class. Volvo’s Scandinavian interpretation of luxury is characterized by a clutter-free, user-friendly layout, marrying form and function in a uniquely Scandinavian manner.
Details like the slender air vents with diamond-pattern control knobs, engine start-stop button, and Driftwood decor give the XC60’s cabin a strong sense of craftsmanship.
Advanced driving aids like City Safety steps in to stop and steer the car away from danger should be the driver be, for whatever reason, unable to react in time. It’s the only model in its class to offer such a comprehensive suite of safety features - you wouldn't expect any less from a Volvo.
The Pilot Assist also takes the stress out of every day driving. By using a combination of highly precise radar and cameras, the XC60 is capable of driving semi-autonomously in certain traffic conditions, thus reducing driving fatigue.
The 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio offers class leading sound reproduction and clarity.
This post is sponsored by Volvo Car Malaysia. Find the best deals for new Volvo cars
here
.


All-New Toyota Yaris – Tentative Specs And Prices Here, From RM 71,888

The all-new Toyota Yaris is slated for a debut soon, as the product page for the new hatchback is live on UMW Toyota Motor’s
website
.
Set to arrive in three variants, the all-new Yaris will share its powertrain with the recently-introduced Vios, featuring a 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i four-cylinder petrol engine that does 107 PS and 140 Nm, hooked up to a CVT-type automatic.
In terms of equipment, the entry-level Yaris 1.5J gets:
15-inch alloy wheels with 185/60 R15 tyres
Halogen reflector headlights
Bulb-type tail lights
LED daytime running lights
Power-adjustable side mirrors
Shark fin antenna
Rear fog lamps
Fabric upholstery
4 speaker sound system
60:40 split folding rear seats
Fabric centre console box
Illuminated scuff plates
Blue front footwell illumination
7 airbags
ABS with EBD and Brake Assist
Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control
Hill-Start Assist Control
Speed-sensing door locks
Moving up the ladder is the mid-spec Yaris 1.5E, which adds:
16-inch alloy wheels with 195/50 R16 tyres
Halogen projector headlights
LED tail lights
Acoustic windshield
Front fog lights
Auto folding and power-adjustable side mirrors with turn signals
Multi-info display
Drive mode switch
Steering audio control
6.8-inch touchscreen head unit
Panoramic View Monitor (PVM)
Toyota Premium Security & Solar Tint Film
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Front Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
As for the range-topping Yaris 1.5G, this variant adds:
Unique front grille with colour plating
Optitron meter cluster
4.2-inch colour MID
Leather steering wheel with MID controls
Leather shift knob
6 speakers
Auto air-conditioning
Rear disc brakes
A total of five body colours are available for the all-new Yaris:
Super White II
Silver Metallic
Attitude Black
Red Mica Metallic
Citrus Mica Metallic
The all-new Toyota Yaris is estimated to be priced from RM 71,888 for the 1.5J variant, while the mid-spec 1.5E is estimated to be priced from RM 77,888. The range-topping Yaris 1.5G is estimated to be priced from RM 84,888. All prices are on-the-road, without insurance.
UMW Toyota Motor will be introducing the all-new Yaris later this month, official prices will be announced then.


Proton Iriz Active Versi Crossover Dilancarkan – Harga RM54,000

Proton turut melancarkan varian baharu
Iriz versi crossover
atau dikenali sebagai
Iriz Active 2021
 yang lebih sporty berbanding Iriz biasa dengan harga RM54,000.

Akhirnya, dapat juga kita Proton Iriz yang bercirikan crossover seperti yang telah didedahkan oleh Proton sejak tahun 2014 lalu. Sebagai jentera crossover, Iriz Active 2021 tampil dengan rekaan yang lebih lasak dan agresif berbanding dua varian Iriz 2021 iaitu Standard 1.3L dan Executive 1.6L.

Harga: RM54,000

Enjin: 1.6L, In-line 4-Silinder, 16 Valve DOHC, VVT

Kuasa Kuda: 109 PS

Tork: 150 Nm

Transmisi: CVT

Apa yang baru?

Exterior:

Pada bahagian luaran, rupa hadapan Iriz Active 2021 ini tampak lebih garang dan agresif dengan bampar hadapan yang direka semula menyerupai bampar hadapan
Persona 2021
. Iriz Active hadir dengan jarak kelegaan tanah yang lebih tinggi serta dilengkapi dengan kemasan pelindung cladding plastik pada bahagian wheel arch kereta.

Lampu utama Iriz Active 2021 kini tidak lagi menggunakan lampu halogen, sebaliknya model ini menggunakan
lampu utama LED
. Gril
Infinite Weave
 pada rupa depan kereta ini turut ditambahbaik dengan menggayakan lencana Proton yang baharu seperti yang terdapat pada
Proton X50
. Terdapat juga kemasan silver pada gril bawah crossover ini yang kelihatan seakan-akan membawa imej kenderaan lasak.

Ia turut hadir dengan warna merah dan hitam yang bertemakan dwi-tona, seakan-akan menyerupai warna hitam dan merah yang ada pada X50. Di bahagian atas, terdapat rel bumbung berwarna silver yang menaikkan lagi aura
SUV/crossover
 pada varian baharu Iriz Active ini.

Warna

Warna baru yang diperkenalkan adalah
Citric Orange
’ dan
Passion Red
 untuk Proton Iriz baharu ini.

Rim:

Iriz Active 2021 tampil dengan rim jejari dwi tona baharu yang bersaiz 16-inci. Rekaan serta saiznya yang lebih besar berbanding rim standard Iriz jelas membuatkan model ini tampak lebih agresif dan lasak.

Interior:

Bahagian dalaman crossover ini diserikan dengan beberapa kemasan atau highlight berwarna merah seperti di konsol tengah yang direka semula, meter dan papan pemuka menyamai warna badan luar. Tempat duduk separa kulitnya pula dikemaskan dengan jahitan berwarna merah.

Bukan itu sahaja, Iriz Active 2021 juga dilengkapi dengan skrin infotainment terapung bersaiz 8-inci dengan fungsi arahan suara yang kini mampu mengawal penyaman udara dan tingkap sebelah

pemandu. Untuk melengkapkan ciri lasak pada model ini, Proton menggunakan rekaan pedal yang lebih sporty serta karpet lantai khas.

Sistem Pendingin Hawa Digital:

Proton Iriz Active 2021 ini hadir dengan sistem kawalan
pendingin hawa
 versi digital berserta skrin paparan kecil yang menambah lagi aura kereta yang lebih moden dan premium. Rekaan ini agak berbeza dan lebih baik berbanding rekaan yang terdapat pada Iriz sebelum ini yang kelihatan sedikit kuno.

Enjin dan Prestasi:

Iriz Active ini akan dilengkapi dengan enjin 1.6L, In-line 4-silinder, 16 Valve DOHC, VVT yang mampu menghasilkan output 109 PS dan 150 Nm tork. Enjinnya akan dipadankan dengan
CVT
 dengan fungsi SAT (Stepped Auto Transmission) sahaja dan
bukanlah 4 kelajuan automatik
. Secara amnya, tiada perubahan dari segi mekanikal memandangkan ini hanyalah versi facelift.

Ciri-ciri Lain

6 slot USB

Ruang but sebanyak 510 liter

Kamera dan sensor parkir (bantuan visual dan audio)

Mod ECO

5 bintang ASEAN NCAP

Struktur badan yang diperkuat menggunakan keluli
Hot Press Formed (HPF) steel,

Kawalan Stabiliti Elektronik (ESC)

Sistem Kawalan Traksi (TCS)

Bantuan Pegun Bukit (HHA).

Sekiranya anda berminat dengan Iriz Active versi crossover yang berharga RM54,000 ini, tempahan kini boleh dilakukan dengan meninggalkan maklumat anda di laman web rasmi Proton dan penasihat jualan mereka akan menghubungi anda untuk urusan selanjutnya.

Proton Iriz 1.6L Active ini tiba dengan pakej waranti selama 5 tahun atau 150,000KM (mana-mana yang tiba dahulu). Selain itu, kadar tenaga kerja yang perlu dibayar ketika 3 kali servis terawal juga percuma. Bukan itu sahaja, ia turut menawarkan pakej data 1 GB sebulan selama 5 tahun.

Antara Iriz Active 2021 dan Axia Style, yang mana satu lebih menyerlah?


Perodua Alza Buat Hal – Mula Mula Lari Daripada Polis, Akhirnya Bawa Lari Polis

Sebuah
Perodua Alza
 yang diparkir dalam keadaan enjin dihidupkan dan mencurigakan gagal memberi kerjasama kepada pihak polis apabila cuba melarikan diri sehingga melanggar anggota yang sedang bertugas.

*Kredit Video: Facebook Info Roadblock JPJ/Polis

Kejadian dilaporkan berlaku pada 9 Mac 2021, 10.30 malam di kawasan tempat letak kereta berhampiran McDonald’s Bandar Baru Bangi. Pada waktu itu, sepasukan anggota Ronda Cegah Jenayah Balai Polis Bandar Baru Bangi sedang melakukan rondaan dan terserempak dengan Alza yang mencurigakan itu.

Anggota terlibat telah menghampiri kereta berkenaan untuk membuat pemeriksaan lanjut. Apabila anggota terbabit menyuluh serta mengetuk cermin Alza terbabit, mereka menyedari bahawa terdapat dua orang berlainan jantina berada di dalam Alza terbabit. Pihak polis telah mengarahkan pemandu untuk keluar untuk pemeriksaan lanjut.

Sejurus pasangan terbabit menyedari kehadiran pihak polis, pemandu (lelaki) tersebut bertindak untuk cuba melarikan diri dengan memecut meninggalkan kawasan terbabit. Perbuatan pemandu tersebut telah menyebabkan motosikal salah seorang daripada anggota bertugas itu dilanggar.

Bukan sekadar motosikal, anggota polis bertugas yang berada di hadapan kereta Alza terbabit turut 'disapu' membuatkan anggota terbabit terpaksa berpaut di atas bonet Alza terbabit dalam keadaan kereta bergerak dengan jarak lebih kurang 150 meter sebelum berjaya melepaskan diri.

Ekoran itu, anggota terbabit telah mengalami kecederaan ringan dan motosikalnya mengalami kerosakan. Meskipun suspek berjaya melarikan diri setelah berhenti untuk memberi peluang kepada anggota terbabit untuk turun, namun anggota yang terlibat telah dapat mengecam nombor pendaftaran kereta suspek.

Berdasarkan daripada maklumat tersebut, pihak polis telah berjaya melakukan tangkapan ke atas seorang lelaki dan perempuan yang berumur 19 dan 20 tahun. Permohonan reman ke atas kedua-dua tangkapan akan dibuat di Mahkamah Bandar Baru Bangi pada pagi 10/03/2021 bagi tujuan siasatan lanjut. Kes disiasat di bawah Seksyen 186/307/332 Kanun Keseksaan serta Seksyen 42 Akta Pengankutan Jalan 1987.

Ketika kejadian berlaku, orang awam turut membantu memberhentikan Alza terbabit dengan membaling beberapa kon di hadapan kereta terbabit untuk memastikan polis yang berpaut pada kereta itu dapat diselamatkan. Menurut anggota yang terlibat dalam kejadian ini, mereka telah menggunakan segala usaha dan tindakan yang perlu untuk memberhentikan kenderaan terbabit.

Ada juga netizen yang menyuarakan pendapat kenapa polis tersebut tak guna pistol untuk tembak tayar kereta terbabit? Sebelum ini, sebuah kereta Waja ditembak di bahagian tayarnya ketika cuba melarikan diri daripada polis. Kenapa kali ini tak tembak? Meskipun Seksyen 85 Akta Polis 1967 [Akta 344] membenarkan seseorang anggota polis membawa senjata dalam melaksanakan tugasnya, seseorang anggota polis tidak dibenarkan untuk melepaskan tembakan sewenang-wenangnya semasa melaksanakan tugas atau semasa operasi.

Sementara itu, bekas Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan pernah berkata. "Setiap anggota polis boleh menggunakan kekerasan sehingga membawa kepada kematian apabila dalam keadaan dia mempertahankan diri dan orang awam terutamanya dalam kes-kes jenayah seperti bunuh, rogol, rusuhan dan sebagainya.” Tindakan ini selaras dengan hak mempertahankan diri di bawah Seksyen 100 dan 103 Kanun Keseksaan.

Setiap kejadian berbalas tembakan, anggota polis akan disiasat dengan rapi dan jika terdapat kecuaian atau salah laku anggota polis semasa melaksanakan tugas tersebut, tindakan disiplin atau pendakwaan di mahkamah akan diambil terhadap anggota tersebut. Sekiranya polis melepaskan tembakan pada tayar atau pemandu atas alasan ingin menyelamatkan rakannya yang berpaut pada kereta tersebut, adakah ia suatu kesalahan?

Lagipun, SOP tembakan polis ini agak leceh sedikit. Ingat tembak orang ni mudah ke? Jika tersilap tembak, polis juga yang boleh dipersalahkan. Tembakan juga tak sewenang-wenangnya boleh dilepaskan, terutama di tempat awam. Bayangkan sekiranya peluru tersasar dan terkena pada orang awam lain. Kan bahaya tu. Untuk lebih faham, anda boleh rujuk kes Aminulrasyid Amzah yang maut ditembak oleh anggota polis. Baru anda faham kenapa polis sukar untuk melepaskan tembakan.

Tindakan luar kawalan pemandu terbabit mungkin akibat berada dalam perasaan gemuruh atau takut ditangkap pihak berkuasa. Maklumlah, pasangan terbabit baru berumur 19 dan 20 tahun. Mungkin tengah menggelabah ketika itu. Tindakan seperti ini hanya akan menambah beban mereka apabila ditangkap dan didakwa kelak. Kat Malaysia ni, kalau dah dapat nombor pendaftaran kereta, sekejap sahaja polis boleh jejak. Perbuatan melarikan diri seperti ini amat tidak berbaloi.

Yang paling penting, sekiranya anda ditahan oleh pihak berkuasa, tolonglah beri kerjasama. Nanti elok-elok kena saman sahaja, tak pasal-pasal kena dakwa pula. Kalau tak buat salah, kenapa nak takut?


Review: 2021 Perodua Ativa 1.0H - Almost The Perfect Daily Driver

The new Ativa is Perodua’s most important
new model launched in quite some time
, both to capitalise on the appeal of urbanised SUVs and for its introduction of a new powertrain package that blends a turbocharged engine and a CVT gearbox - both firsts for the company.

It’s no secret that the country’s second national automaker has had an oversized presence on both the sales charts and our roads with Proton only starting to catch up with fruits of its Geely tie-up a few years ago.

They’ve been riding waves of iterative new car launches, one after the next, with the Myvi being widely accepted as Malaysia’s unofficial
default
 hatchback and the
Bezza being a darling of the ride hailing industry
.

The Ativa - launched in early March 2021 with a starting price of just RM61,500 - is set to be just as popular as their other vehicles, perhaps even more so when considering the added practicality, its punchy engine, fuel efficiency, standard active safety features with AEB up to 120km/h - the sheer value here is undeniably strong.

Being a contender in the B-segment, it slides into competition against the newest from Proton as well, the X50. Though the Perodua is a notch or two smaller, it offers comparable levels of versatility, and even manages to outdo more expensive rivals in other areas.

The car we’re testing here is the 1.0H. At RM66,100 with an additional RM4,000 or so in Gear Up optional cosmetic extras, sits midway up the Ativa hierarchy, sandwiched between the entry-level X variant and the range-topping AV, but does it hit that ‘sweet spot’?

Exterior

In my opinion, the Ativa looks “just right”, mixing a certain utilitarian charm with compact dimensions and some softer lines, but of course, all that praise doesn’t really belong to Perodua since it is pretty much a badge-engineered Malaysian-made version of the existing Daihatsu Rocky (A200),
built on the same DNGA platform
. Still, she’s a cutie.

There’s no resemblance or easter eggs to remind us of Perodua’s previous forays into this vehicle category, both based on the Daihatsu Terios. Of course, this began with the Kembara and its legitimate off-road credentials via a part-time 4x4 system. Later on, Malaysians would also be offered the short-lived Nautica, which was simultaneously sold locally as the Toyota Rush. Awkward.

Really, very little has actually changed in terms of its design, and that’s probably for the best. Like this white test unit I’ve been driving, you could spruce up the exterior
via the GearUp accessories
, specifically the ‘Blaze Bodykit’ that adds a front apron, side skirts, and some rear faux diffuser thing among others. For that, you’ll have to part with RM2,500.

Standard on each Ativa are LED headlamps and, with exception of the entry-level 1.0X, LED fog lamps. However, variant 1.0H and up receive 17-inch wheels with a premium set of Bridgestone Turanza T005A tyres, a pleasant surprise. Around it are adequate amounts grey cladding around the wheel arches.

Amusingly, to achieve this sort of ‘floating roof’ effect where the glasshouse is coloured differently than the body, Perodua stuck a matte black sticker on the A-pillar instead of having it painted separately. Still effective, though.

Someone remarked to me that it has a certain
MINI Countryman-like quality
, to which I chuckled at first. But now I’m coming around to agreeing.

Exact opposite of the covered plastics under the X50's bonnet.

Powertrain

Under that bonnet lives the first turbocharged engine ever offered by Perodua,
mated to the their first-ever CVT
. Again, they’re both lifted from the Rocky, but even without the burden of engineering it, localising its manufacture and supporting it over the long term requires some serious technical investment.

It seems to have paid off as the 1.0-litre 1KR-VET turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol, producing 98PS and 140Nm, is a gem of a little workhorse. You could easily write it off as a glorified Axia engine, sure, and that fact isn’t being hidden or obscured.

Fire it up and it even sounds and vibrates like its un-turbocharged cousin, but who cares. Those power and torque outputs might sound underwhelming, but in normal driving the Ativa has more than enough pace to keep up. It gets to speed quicker than you might expect and can easily maintain a highway cruise and then some.

It’s decently refined too with its characteristic 3-cylinder shudders and clatters reduced to a very slight and non-intrusive bit of auditory stimuli just enough to remind you there’s an engine up front. This is thanks largely to the commendable measures taken to noise-isolate the cabin.

The D-CVT gearbox is another great addition to the Perodua arsenal. While I do have genuine reservations about
 its implementation in the Myvi
, it makes a great pairing with the tiny turbo-petrol in the Ativa, able to ride that wave of peak torque between 2,400-4,000rpm to deliver pretty impressive pace with seemingly little strain.

Were this engine mated to conventional automatic, the effect wouldn’t have been as pronounced. As a package, it gives the Ativa superb around-town pace and is brisk enough to find yourself having snuck up and beyond the speed limit without realising. If you thought keeping up with a Myvi was hard, wait until this thing starts tailgating you.

We also tested real-world fuel economy as part of a 4-way B-segment SUV shootout, to which the Ativa took an easy win in this category, consuming about half the amount of petrol as the its three class rivals, Proton X50, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona N-Line (over a mixed 100km journey of highway, countryside road, and city driving.

Interior

The ease of a soft-SUV is its higher H-point, allowing you to open the door and just slide into the seats without needing to bend down or climb up, and the Ativa excels here as expected. Ground clearance isn’t anything special, though it would out-wade a Myvi by a few centimetres in a flash flood, but crucially the seats are elevated to meet the typical Asian at hip level.

Getting inside is also made easier via keyless entry, a nice touch at this price point, and you’re greeted to a noticeably spacious cabin from the outset. The 1.0H tester here had the Blaze two-tone leatherette seat covers (an RM800 extra) to mimic the red on black motif in the AV. I didn’t even mind the manual adjustment or the lack of ‘tapau hooks’, but really wished the steering wheel position could be adjusted telescopically.

Being a fan of fabric seats, I personally would have preferred the seats be kept standard from factory. This aside, the interior is nicely laid out and easy to intuit with build quality and ergonomics being the best I’ve seen from Perodua - above expectations.

Is there a lot of hard plastics? Yes, but that’s completely forgivable, and doesn’t make the Ativa seem chintzy or cheap. There’s plenty of space in the back, too, with headroom being particularly ample. The 60:40 split rear seat backs don’t fold entirely flat, I’m afraid, but even with them upright the 369-litre boot is clearly more commodious than the Proton X50’s, and all that while having a full size spare wheel under there.

Drive And Handling

It handles fine. The end.

As mentioned, all-round visibility is a strong point, making narrow manoeuvring especially easy even in contrast to its segment peers. Perodua has perhaps made a very calculated move in fitting that set of Bridegstone Turanza T005As here.

Though classified as a comfort-oriented touring tyre, it does offer a generous helping of performance characteristics taken from the company’s Potenza line, which might have managed to inflate the Ativa’s road-holding ability.

Steering is light enough to make quick inputs from centre, showing off its agility, but weights up for longer lock-to-lock turns for some reason. Regardless, the Ativa’s ride and handling balance is nicely judged, giving more than adequate grip in all but extreme situations while rarely ever compromising comfort and pliancy, something the huge majority of buyers will prefer.

Once behind the wheel, you’re never really reminded too often that you’re in an SUV (at least I wasn’t) with the Ativa. Because of how nimble it is and how much space it occupies on the road, it really does feels like a taller Myvi, but one with a better resolved interior and less dated looking instruments.

The impact of that turbo-CVT pairing can’t be overstated. Like it manages to
enhance the ‘boost’ characteristic of the Honda Civic’s 1.5-litre unit
, the Ativa feels nearly immediately responsive at speed and quick off the line. Pushing lever to the right engages the transmission’s S (Sport?) mode that maintains higher RPMs and allows for manual ratio override through 7 virtual ‘speeds’.

Really, in my time driving the Ativa, which was about 5 days, never was there a situation where taking the gearbox out of D (Drive) was ever useful. Human intervention/override always made for a worse experience, but maybe it just doesn’t like me.

On the flip side, I really don’t like the automatic start/stop system here. Perodua calls it Eco Idle, which cuts the engine when you come to a stop to save fuel; restarting it when you want to get moving again. It’s useful for being stationary at a red light, sure, but its way too quick to engage.

The engine will turn off even when coming to a complete stop for 1 or 2 seconds to tap a Touch n’ Go card at a toll booth. No chill. I couldn’t stand it. Disabled.

Yes, there’s a ‘power’ button (labelled PWR), but this is also kind of a gimmick. It essentially makes the throttle more sensitive, so a small actuation of the pedal would deliver you a bigger dose of acceleration than you have expected. It's an illusion and doesn’t actually unlock any more power from the engine. Just keep that mode off and be heavier with your right foot. Same thing, but simpler.

Safety and Tech

The first bit of sci-fi that the Ativa brings to your attention is the digital instrument cluster, giving the driver 2 screens to look at along with the 9-inch infotainment unit, both also firsts for Perodua. Within the binnacle, the LCD takes up the most real estate while a digital speedometer sits in the right corner.

Perched atop the centre stack, that touchscreen is bright enough in most situations but can be drowned out by harsh sunlight. The interface is alright but shows no indication being linked to the instrument cluster in any way. Again, it’s a pretty impressive combo at this price point nonetheless with smooth animations and decent customisability.

Perodua seemed to want to make a real statement with the Ativa’s safety package here as each variant, even the baseline X, receives their
ASA 3.0 active safety features
 - now grouped under the Perodua Safety Drive Assist (PSDA) umbrella - which includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (Pre-Collision Warning, Pre-Collision Braking), Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Departure Prevention.

However, more convenience-oriented driver aid features such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Automatic High Beam are reserved for the highest-spec AV…..along with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Honestly, the level of once-premium tech features here really does show the way forward, and because it’s a foregone conclusion that plenty of Malaysians will continue to buy Perodua vehicles, leading to the general level of vehicle safety on our roads increasing, more manufacturers will need to step up as customer expectations rise.

Of course, having no experience crashing (or nearly crashing) an Ativa, I’ve no idea how effective they are in mitigating disaster, but having them onboard certainly brings greater peace of mind in a very tangible way. Lane Keep Assist, though, still continues to be a real bother considering how narrow lanes can get on Malaysian roads. Having it constantly chirp at me for grazing its edges was insufferable. Disabled.

Conclusion

On value alone, there’s really no beating the Ativa on its home turf. Perodua has taken the Daihatsu Rocky, which already had good bones, and left most of it intact to offer to the Malaysian public. It seems to tick all the practicality boxes I would expect for a budget-oriented compact SUV, while equipped with features that elevate it over some much more expensive cars.

On the road it’s even more impressive as a point-to-point conveyance, that 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol motor seemingly, thanks to its D-CVT gearbox, being able to sip fuel incredibly frugally no matter the condition while being brisk and urgent when the need arises or quiet and settled if unhurried.

Besides its on-paper appeal, the Ativa does have a certain indefinable charm that endears me to it. It seems to fit the ‘Utility’ mould of that SUV acronym a lot more than its rivals...or even 90% of the new cars sold here. It doesn’t seem to want to be
‘looked at’
 or
‘looked after’
, but rather to be used and to be useful. That’s a brilliant sense for a car - especially of this type - to elicit.

I’m completely convinced that it outclasses the Myvi as Perodua’s most versatile 5-door, 5-seater vehicle. As a ‘do-everything car' with the best bang for your buck, this is the new King.

Get the AV, turn off Lane Keep Assist (or LKC, as the automaker calls it), turn off Eco Idle, and let the Ativa work for you. Maybe also wait until all the teething issues surrounding the powertrain’s localisation has been ironed out.


Honda Malaysia Honours Hardworking Malaysians

The Honda brand has been present in Malaysia for close to 60 years already, initially represented by Boon Siew Honda (motorcycles) and its sister company Kah Motor (automobiles), part of Oriental Holdings Berhad.
In 2000, Honda Motor Corporation decided to take a greater role in its growing business in Malaysia. The distribution of Honda automobiles was transferred from Kah Motor to the newly formed DRB-Oriental-Honda (DOH). Locally-assembly of Honda models however, would continue for a few more years at the Oriental Holdings-owned Oriental Assemblers plant in Johor Bahru.
By 2002, DOH was renamed as Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., and vehicle assembly operations were transferred to Honda Malaysia’s own plant in Pegoh, Melaka.
It’s been 16 years since Honda Motor formally established a direct presence in our country.
Earlier last month, as part of the National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations, Honda Malaysia published a three-part series of Youtube videos honouring the contributions of hardworking Malaysians working at Honda Malaysia.
The first tells the story of Kumar, who in his own words, was just a normal mechanic before joining Honda Malaysia, where he is now the Head of Technical Specialist at the Honda Malaysia Racing Team. His fellow HMRT teammate, Kiru, is also the Sales Project Leader for the current generation Honda Civic – the point person for all things Civic in Malaysia.
The next person featured is Faezah, an engineering graduate from Japan. Provided equal opportunity by Honda Malaysia, she stands out as one of the few female engineers working in an automobile assembly/manufacturing plant.
Wrapping the three-person feature is Tee, who was one of the earliest employees of Honda Malaysia.
You might also want to read the story of Nor Hairuddin, the
Malaysian chief engineer
behind Honda’s SH-AWD system.


2021 (G01) BMW X3 sDrive20i Launched In Malaysia - From RM273k

BMW Malaysia has officially unveiled the locally-assembled 2021 BMW X3 sDrive20i – the newest member of the BMW X range will now feature alongside the
X3 xDrive30i first introduced here in 2018
 and the recently introduced
X3 M Competition
 range-topper.

Depending on when you make your purchase, the new entry-level variant of the X3 range is priced as follows:

With SST exemptions (until 30th June 2021)

With base 2-year warranty package: RM273,797

with Extended Warranty & Service Package: RM289,537

Without SST exemptions, post June 2021

With base 2-year warranty package: RM281,923

with Extended Warranty & Service Package: RM297,663

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia added, “In 2020 alone, the
BMW X3
 saw over 900 units delivered – despite the slowdown in the automotive industry. This success only strengthens our position as the leading premium automaker with one of the most expansive portfolios of
locally-assembled SAVs
 in the country. We are also proud to introduce the 2021 BMW X3 sDrive20i today alongside the First-Ever BMW 330Li M Sport,”

The new X3 is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine capable of a maximum output of 184hp and a peak torque of 300Nm between 1,350rpm – 4,000rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a ZF 8-Speed automatic transmission. Performance numbers read 8.2 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint, with a top speed of 215 km/h. The claimed fuel consumption stands at 7.1 litres/100km of travel.

The new X3 comes with the xLine package with exterior highlights such as the grille, side skirts and parts of the front and rear bumper in a matt aluminium. Elsewhere the BMW Individual Exterior Line highlights the roof rails in a brushed aluminium finish. Along the flanks, the X3 sDrive20i is equipped with “Y-Spoke Style 694” 19-inch light alloy wheels with runflat tyres.

On the inside, the X3’s main elements are finished in high-gloss black with other trim finishers in Pearl Chrome. Other interior highlights include a three-zone automatic air conditioning system, a 12-speaker sound system, and ambient interior lighting. Infotainment is provided by a 8.8-inch touchscreen control display, complemented by a Sensatec Instrument Panel which includes the BMW Live Cockpit Plus and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant suite.

In terms of safety assistance, the X3 is equipped Driving Assistant with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning and front collision warning with brake intervention, crossing traffic warning rear and rear collision prevention. The X3 20i also notable features Parking Assistant with Reversing Assist system.

Colour offerings for the 2021 BMW X3 sDrive20i include Alpine White, Glacier Silver, Black Sapphire, and Phytonic Blue. All exterior offerings are paired with the sole Black Leather Vernasca interior upholstery with black stitching.

The 2021 BMW X3 sDrive20i is now available at all authorised BMW dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia and will be available in East Malaysia starting 20th April 2021. Customers may also book the 2021 BMW X3 sDrive20i for RM1,000 via the BMW Shop Online platform.

All customers of the X3 are entitled to receive the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience, which includes:

BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme

BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline

The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App - BMW Privileges Card

BMW Service Online

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Leona Chin Becomes Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Brand Ambassador

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) announced that it has appointed Malaysian motorsports talent Leona Chin as its brand ambassador.
Tomoyuki Shinnishi, CEO of MMM said that she was appointed due to her active involvement in motorsports – something that Mitsubishi can relate to as many of the brand’s vehicles are rally inspired models.
Prior to the official appointment, Leona has joined Mitsubishi Motors in promoting models like the new Triton by participating in this year’s Borneo Safari Challenge.
She was also the star of the popular "Sales Girl Drifts Customers in Pickup Truck" prank video which has more than 7.3 million views on YouTube, in which she poses as a Mitsubishi salesperson and takes customers on test drive sessions where she drifts and pulls various stunts behind the wheels of the new Triton, shocking the customers.
“It was an exciting journey for me last year, as the Triton product ambassador and owner. Most of the extreme events which I’ve been with Mitsubishi have proved the strength, durability and endurance of the Triton. I wish to thank Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia for the opportunity to work together again and I am looking forward to represent the brand overall this time,” said Leona Chin.
As the Mitsubishi Motors’ brand ambassador, Leona Chin will appear in several campaigns in the media, roadshows and also on social media campaigns.
She will also be appearing at the Outlander CKD preview roadshow at Mid Valley Megamall from today to 1 October from 10.00am-10.00pm.


Proton Begins X70 CKD Trial Runs At Tanjung Malim

Amidst the launches of various facelift models and the raging success of their first ever SUV, Proton has managed to dodge one of the biggest questions on everyone's minds: when is local production of the X70 going to begin? It seems that the highly popular model has already begun trial runs at their Tanjung Malim plant, with the final trim, paint, and assembly lines still being tweaked to optimize production.
Proton's engineers and production workers have already started semi-automated test runs in order to gain experience with the construction of the Proton X70, with production to start in the second half of 2019. In under two years, Proton will be achieving a significant milestone in their partnership with Geely, and there will be many more variants and models to come which will really revitalize Proton's image locally and potentially abroad as well.
All of this news comes during a visit from China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Mr Miao Wei, who was witnessing the signing of a joint venture agreement between Proton Edar Sdn Bhd, Altel Communications, and ECarX (Hubei) Technology Co Ltd, China.


GALLERY: Live Photos Of The Mercedes-Benz A 250 Motorsports Edition

You’ve seen it from
a bunch of professional shots
, now here’s ours, live from our AMG driving experience in Dresdan, Germany.
Here, you see the new
Mercedes-Benz
 Motorsport Edition: a new design line available for all
A-Class
 variants from the A 200 and up, except for the range-topping A 45 model.
The car is as you see, dressed up with a lot of “petrol green” paint, and a full AMG Sport line exterior kit: rear wing, large 19-inch alloy wheels, front splitter, rear diffuser… the works. You may find this all a bit too familiar, and yes, the Motorsport Edition is similar to that of the special Petronas Motorsport edition that was sold only in Japan, in very limited numbers.
Inside, there’s also a AMG line interior much alike that available on the A 45, with a black leather/ DINAMICA microfiber upholstery.
Most interestingly, the pictures you see here depict a manual transmission variant: a six-speed transmission, three foot pedals and everything.
We’ll be bringing you more live pictures from our A-Class event happening live in Dresdan at the moment, so stay tuned for more.
In the meantime, how would you like to see the A-Class Motorsport Edition in Malaysia?