2022 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross – Perbezaan Saiz

Pening kepala tak tahu sama ada patut beli SUV segmen-B seperti
2022 Honda HR-V
ataupun SUV segmen-C seperti
2022 Toyota Corolla Cross
 - beza besar ke saiznya?

Jika anda amat mementingkan ruang dalam pemilihan sesuatu kereta, kami akan membantu anda memilih antara HR-V 2022 atau Corolla Cross 2022 dari segi perbezaan saiz dan ruang.

Perbezaan Saiz

Model

2019 Honda HR-V

2022 Honda HR-V

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross

Panjang (mm)

4,346

4,385

4,460

Lebar (mm)

1,790

1,790

1,825

Tinggi (mm)

1,605

1,590

1,620

Jarak Roda (mm)

2,610

2,610

2,640

Kapasiti But (liter)

448

320

440

2022 Honda HR-V vs 2019 Honda HR-V

Sebelum kita bandingkan HR-V baharu dengan Corolla Cross, eloklah kita tahu perbezaan antara HR-V terkini dengan HR-V sebelumnya (generasi kedua). Berdasarkan perbandingan, model generasi ketiga Honda HR-V dibina lebih panjang berbanding HR-V sebelumnya, iaitu 39 mm lebih panjang.

Meskipun lebih panjang, namun lebar dan jarak roda kedua-dua model ini sama sahaja manakala ketinggian HR-V 2022 telah dikurangkan sebanyak 15 mm berbanding model sebelumnya, menjadikan ia lebih kelihatan lebih garang dan
sporty
.

Walau bagaimanapun, kapasiti but belakangnya kini lebih kecil berbanding sebelumnya dengan perbezaan sebanyak 128 liter. Untuk mereka yang sering membawa muatan yang banyak, kapasiti but belakang yang semakin mengecil ini semestinya dirasai.

2022 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross

Sebelum membuat perbandingan, anda perlu tahu bahawa kedua-dua model ini dijual dalam segmen yang berbeza secara rasmi namun yang pasti garis di antara segmen semakin kabur pada masa ini dan si pembeli juga akan pasti akan membandingkan di antara kedua-dua model ini sebelum membuat keputusan.

Jika dilihat diatas kertas, saiz Corolla Cross ternyata lebih besar dengan 75 mm lebih panjang, 35 mm lebih lebar, 30 mm lebih tinggi dan jarak roda 30 mm lebih panjang berbanding HR-V.

Dari segi kapasiti but, Toyota Corolla Cross tampil dengan ruang kargo yang lebih luas menjadikannya sebagai pilihan yang lebih praktikal. Tidak kiralah model hibrid mahupun petrol biasa, kapasiti but Corolla Cross tetap sama, iaitu 440 liter atau 120 liter lebih besar berbanding HR-V.

Walaupun ruang but HR-V kecil, namun HR-V dibekalkan dengan tayar gantian bersaiz penuh berbanding Corolla Cross menggunakan tayar ganti sementara sahaja.

Seperti kecil-kecil cili padi, kerusi belakang HR-V hadir dengan ciri Ultra Seat dengan nisbah lipatan 60:40 yang memudahkan pengguna untuk memuatkan lebih banyak barang di dalam kereta.

Harga

Dengan saiz dan ruang yang ditawarkan, berikut merupakan harga yang ditawarkan (Harga OTR tanpa insurans) bagi kedua-dua model ini di pasaran Malaysia:

2022 Honda HR-V: RM114,800 - RM140,800

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross: RM128,303 – RM139,991

Dari segi harga, HR-V tampil dengan pilihan yang lebih murah bagi model asasnya, namun model tertingginya sedikit mahal berbanding varian tertinggi Corolla Cross.  Walau bagaimanapun, jika anda perlukan kereta yang lebih besar secara keseluruhannya, Corolla Cross adalah pilihan yang paling berbaloi.

Namun jika saiz bukanlah menjadi sasaran utama anda, Honda HR-V dengan reka bentuk baharu adalah merupakan pilihan yang lebih mantap. Walaupun saiznya lebih kecil, namun ia dilengkapi dengan ciri Ultra Seat yang memudahkan pengguna untuk memuatkan barang bersaiz besar di dalam kereta.

Jadi, SUV mana yang menjadi pilihan anda? Adakah perbezaan saiz yang tidak begitu ketara ini bakal menjadi penentu pilihan anda?


Taxi Drivers To SPAD: Upgrading Our Vehicles Is Too Expensive

Last week, several news portals reported on Kuala Lumpur’s taxi service being rated as the worst in the world by the London Cabs website in its “10 Countries with the Worst Drivers” list.
Over the weekend, the Kuala Lumpur Sentral Taxi Drivers Association concurred with the website’s claims, stating the the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) should be more involved with taxi associations to ensure a tighter screening process of taxi drivers and not be hasty in giving out licences.
Malaysian Taxi Drivers’ Transformation Association (PERS1M) Deputy Manager Kamarudin Mohd Hussain who commented on the website’s claims said the fault was squarely on SPAD’s failure in enforcing the usage of the metre to charge and proper attire while on the job.
Speaking to
The Malay Mail Online
, SPAD Chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar also agreed with the off-putting list and said many programmes and training courses for taxi drivers had been organised to curb the problem.
Additionally, he stated that 50% of the 42,000 taxis operating in Kuala Lumpur were privately owned. “Most of the privately-owned taxis are more than seven-years-old and SPAD has been encouraging the drivers to purchase new cars,” he said. London Cabs claimed in its list that “Cars in Kuala Lumpur can often be rather old and in poor condition.”
However, Kuala Lumpur Sentral Taxi Drivers Association president Badrol Hisham in a rebuttal to SPAD’s statement says that taxi drivers are unable to upgrade their vehicles to new ones on the count of high purchase and maintenance costs.
“If he (taxi driver) is already finding it difficult to pay for maintenance, how do you expect him to buy a new car? I have known a few taxi drivers who resorted to loan sharks to pay for their taxis,” he said. He added that taxi drivers had to service their vehicles every two weeks because of the high mileage clocked.
Last month, local
Proton
 taxi distributor, Delivery Special Sdn Bhd organised an event to address the recent criticisms that taxi drivers faced, where some claimed that the
maintenance costs for the Proton models are just too high for them to bear.
Badrol said, “They are faced with hardship. They already find it difficult to make ends meet, and with the new regulations outlined by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to upgrade to new vehicles, it is absurd.”
This is a response to Hamid Albar’s statement that only about 2,000 taxi drivers in the city had complied with its guidelines to upgrade their vehicles.
Taxi drivers had to pay the rental for their taxis before getting their salaries released which amounted to between RM30 and RM40 daily. Kamarudin said that the SPAD should assist taxi drivers financially by subsidising the purchase and maintenance cost of new vehicles.


Dyson Details Broad Strokes For Electric Car In Registered Patent

Yes, it's the same Dyson that makes vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, and cool looking stand fans. Patents are usually a good way to see what companies are going to get up to ahead of the their actual fully developed products, but we have been mislead numerous times before in the past - especially with things like Porsche's variable compression ratio patent that still hasn't seen the light of day.
The latest in patent news was for Dyson's electric car,
which Automotive News Europe has picked up on
. It goes hand in hand with an automotive page that was recently posted by Dyson on their website which details its history in the automotive world, and should eventually build to their wholly designed and produced electric vehicles.
Unfortunately, the patents awarded only reveal fairly broad strokes in terms of the design. Dyson is mulling larger wheels for efficiency, a low centre of gravity for better handling, and fully reclining seats. This doesn't really tell us much because that could describe most any car on the market these days, let alone an electric car.


This Chinese SUV Features An Anime Girl AI Assistant

Bestune, a sub-brand under the First Auto Works (FAW) umbrella, will be unveiling an all-new SUV called the T77.
In an effort to differentiate its all-new T77 SUV from the rest of the competition, Bestune has given its new model a unique twist to its infotainment system.
According to
Autohome
, the all-new Bestune T77 will feature a holographic AI that is part of the infotainment system, which can be customized between three different characters with five clothing options for each character. The infotainment system is able to control the air-conditioning and sunroof. Additionally, passengers can also interact with the AI for entertainment purposes.
The oily bits of the all-new Bestune T77 include a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that does 143 hp and 204 Nm, mated to either a 5-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.


The Proton X50 Is Officially Here – 4 Variants, Priced From RM79,200 Onwards

We’ve ogled at its
style and pizazz
, we’ve combed through its
comprehensive product features
, and we’ve been exhilarated by its
tiny but punchy powertrain
, now, with the conclusion of its virtual launch – the most anticipated model of 2020, the Proton X50 is finally here.

With the launch we finally know the prices of the four locally-assembled variants on offer:

X50 1.5T Standard: RM79,200

X50 1.5T Executive: RM84,800

X50 1.5T Premium: RM93,200

X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship: RM103,300

All Prices are OTR Excluding Insurance, and include government-mandated Sales Tax Exemption, valid until the 31st of December 2020.

As you probably already know by now, all four variants are powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine in two power levels – the lower-powered ‘port-injected’ powerplant, dubbed 1.5T outputs 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque, while the more powerful ‘direct-injected’ 1.5 TGDi (High Output) outputs 177 PS and 255 Nm of torque. In all cases, power is routed to the front wheels through a 7-speed (wet) double-clutch gearbox (DCT) similar to the unit found in the
Proton X70
.

The highlight of the interior is the infotainment system – which comprises an 8-inch infotainment unit in the two entry-level variants and a new 10.25-inch landscape ‘floating type’ infotainment system atop the centre console in the two premium variants. The new infotainment system is augmented by the latest generation “GKUI 19” operating system and utilises a powerful ‘E01’ Quad-Core processing unit for a smoother user experience.

As for the range-topping Flagship variant, it will be offered with a suite of Active Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) which include:

Blind Spot Information System

Intelligent High Beam Control

Forward Collision Warning

Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Lane Departure Warning

Lane Keep Assist

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Intelligent Cruise Control

The Flagship variant also gets a dual-tone exterior, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2020 Proton X50 will be offered in four different variants with the following highlight features:

Proton X50 1.5T Standard

1.5-litre turbocharged engine (150PS / 226Nm)

7-speed DCT transmission

ABS, VSC, Hill-Hold Assist, Hill-Descent Control

Reverse camera

4 airbags

Cruise control

Full-LED headlamps

17-inch alloy wheels

Manual air-conditioning

Fabric seats

Rear air vents

8-inch infotainment head unit

N95 cabin air filter

Keyless Entry, Start/Stop ignition

Reverse camera

Proton X50 1.5T Executive

6 airbags

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Auto headlamps

Front foglamps

Front parking sensors

Leatherette interior

Proton X50 1.5T Premium

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

18-inch alloy wheels

Six-way powered driver seat

10.25-inch infotainment unit

7.0-inch digital instrument display

Single-zone auto air-conditioning

360-degree camera

Proton X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship

1.5 TGDi (High Output) engine (177PS / 255Nm)

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Four front parking sensors

Dual Tone exterior

Panoramic sunroof

Proton has also announced five value-added packages coinciding with the launch of the Proton X50, these include:

5-year unlimited mileage warranty

5-year data package (at 1GB/month)

5 times free labour service (Limited to the first 30,000 bookings by 31st Dec 2020)

Financing interest rates from 2.22 percent (per annum)

Proton Insurance Program (Waiver of betterment costs for 12 years, and Agreed Value Coverage for up to 12 years, and Personal Accident insurance of up to RM15k)

The 2020 Proton X50 will be offered in six different colours: Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Ocean Blue, Citric Orange, and Passion Red
depending on the specific variant


Audi e-tron GT’s European Invasion Has Begun

Audi dealers across Europe have welcomed the arrival of the
recently launched e-tron GT
 to their showrooms as the four-door electric coupe has now gone on sale in both its stomping ground of Germany, with a starting price of 99,800 Euros (around RM487k) as well as other markets.

Interested buyers will be able to choose from two variants of the car, both equipped with dual motors and all-wheel drive: the e-tron GT quattro and RS e-tron GT.  The new model joins other cars in the new Audi electric sub-brand such as the titular
e-tron and e-tron Sportback
.

Unlike those two preceding cars, however, which both use existing Volkswagen Group MLB platforms, the e-tron GT is the first Audi EV to be built from the ground up around zero-emissions powertrains. It sits upon the same J1 underpinnings as the Porsche Taycan, partially explaining why both cars look so similar and share nearly identical specifications along with its 800V electrical architecture and three-chamber air suspension system.

As a little refresher, the current entry-level e-tron GT quattro could be seen as the Audi equivalent
to the Taycan 4S
, powered by two permanently excited synchronous electric motors that combine to produce 476PS and 630Nm under normal driving but can be ‘overboosted’ to 530PS for a short period when necessary, such as during launch control.

The RS e-tron GT, on the other hand, is a more powerful and performance-oriented variant, akin to the Taycan Turbo, which features an uprated pair of electric motors in addition to other enhancements. Output is typically 598PS and 830Nm but can be temporarily boosted to 646PS under hard acceleration, as required to achieve its quickest 0-100km/h sprint of 3.3 seconds.

Both quattro and RS variants of the e-tron GT derive power from an 84kWh lithium-ion battery array built into the vehicle’s floor structure, supplemented by four independent cooling channels and can support DC fast charging up to 270kW. Armed with a full battery, the e-tron GT is capable of long distance driving with ranges up to 488km according to real-world WLTP testing standards.

With the e-tron GT’s European rollout underway and a more global campaign soon to follow, Audi plans to maintain their momentum as the best selling EV brand among fellow German
rivals Mercedes-Benz
 and BMW with the e-tron and e-tron Sportback recording year-over-year growth of 79.5 percent in 2020 with 47,324 units delivered to customers.

More than 80 percent of the models in Audi’s range are currently available with an all-electric or electrified drive system, including plug-in hybrid drives (PHEV) and mild hybrid systems (MHEV). Going forward, the company intends to have more than 20 all-electric models and an expanded PHEV lineup on the road by 2025.


Toyota Motor Thailand Submits EV And Hybrid Investment Plans To BoI

If you think bureaucracy is something that Malaysia has a monopoly on, think again. We may bemoan the hoops that manufacturers have to jump through in order to keep their products competitively priced in our market, but let's not forget that quite nearly every manufacturer that is serious about setting up shop in Thailand has submitted their plans to the Thai Board of Investment (BoI) in order to receive incentives in various shapes and forms.
Toyota Motor Thailand is the latest to do so, according to a
report by the Bangkok Post
. The flavour of the year is plug-in hybrid and battery EVs, and Toyota managed to win privileges on a project with a 19 billion baht investment at their Gateway plant in Chachoengsao. This application covers a production of roughly 7,000 hybrid EVs a year, along with 70,000 batteries for EVs and various other components totally 9.1 million units.
All of this comes on top of an investment of 21 billion baht in hybrid electric vehicle production on the part of Toyota. Manufacturing of the batteries at their new production site will begin in May, along with the initiation of a battery life cycle management program that looks at recycling and reusing batteries once they have reached their end of life. This has been a very important environmental concern as there is a harsh environmental impact during the mining of metals for batteries.
On the whole, Toyota is doing pretty well in Thailand with an impressive 31.2% bump over 2017 as they managed to move 315,113 vehicles (passenger cars and pickup trucks). They're aiming for a more modest 9.7% increase this year, despite a projected 8% decrease in exports as various markets around the world are suffering from ongoing economic challenges, as well as the ongoing trade war with China.


SPAD To Launch New Travel Planner App With Live Info

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) will be launching a new mobile application to make it easier for commuters to access all the transportation networks available to them to better plan their journey.
According to
The Malaysian Insider
, the app is in its development stages and, once finished, will be able to provide real time travel information for all transportation services under SPAD's jurisdiction.
The app will be available during the first quarter of 2016 and will be a free download on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, said SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.
"The journey planner app is expected to help commuters better plan their trips using public transport. This also includes the ERL and eventually the MRT lines as well," he said at an Interim Stage Bus Support Funds (ISBSF) event.
Syed Hamid also commented on the upcoming proposal submission to the cabinet concerning the
fare increase
 for LRT and Monorail services at the end of August, with some fares having not been revised in 20 years.
"The proposal will be discussed with other ministries. We will also look into concessions for students, senior citizens and the disabled. Prasarana will make the announcement when it is approved by the end of the year," he said.


All-New 2023 Lexus RX Outed - Fresh Design, Tech/Luxury Upgrades, More Electrification

With this freshly unveiled 5th-generation of the popular Lexus RX, the Japanese luxury marque has given its 5-seat sub-flagship SUV a complete once-over, revamping everything from the interior, exterior, and even its line-up of powertrains.

Against such rivals as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE,
and Volvo XC90
, the RX has always proven itself as
a force to be reckoned with
. However, with this newest iteration bearing the nameplate from 2022 onwards, Lexus has clearly taken a more aggressive approach to patch up its deficiencies.

2023 Lexus RX - Designed To Impress

Like before, it is built on Toyota’s TNGA (GA-K) platform but has a wheelbase extended by a seemingly minuscule 6mm. More substantially, it boasts a 15mm wider front track matched to an additional 40mm spacing for each rear wheel. Its roofline has also dropped by 10mm, which all contributes to a lower centre of gravity and theoretically improved handling.

Still, it’s a Lexus, so don’t expect to violate the laws of physics through a set of bends, but it does deliver some insight into where the brand has set its priorities. Against this theme of added dynamism is the all-new RX’s design, one that embraces a sportier, harder-edged aesthetic no matter which variant is looked upon.

It looks more hunkered on the road, owing to its more squat (21-inch) wheel positioning and a more sloping roofline that stops short of falling into the dreaded coupe-SUV territory. Adding to this is the 89kg weight reduction over the outgoing RX.

There’s also quite clearly some design overlap with the cues first seen in the Lexus RZ, their first fully electric vehicle, though brand signatures such as the hexagonal front grille remain on full display, flanked here by new headlights with arrowhead daytime running light signatures.

Luxury, Japanese Style

Things are decidedly less bold when stepping inside. Perhaps more than any other element of the all-new RX, the cabin sticks to established norms instead of forging its own new path. The combination of materials, interior trim pieces, control surfaces, and ergonomics are not far removed from other Lexus models.

That’s not to say the RX isn’t plush since we know the Japanese brand excels in build quality and finish, possibly trouncing every other equivalent vehicle in their class, with the possible expense of a singular ‘wow factor’.

2023 Lexus RX Variants

The range starts with the RX 350h with that suffix denoting its status as a hybrid (the non plug-in type). It uses a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol paired with an electric motor in series to output a combined 246hp and 315Nm of torque to all four wheels. Gone is the larger capacity V6 engine altogether.

Meanwhile, a less efficient and expensive but ultimately more powerful RX350 will also be made available that uses a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol for 275hp and 430Nm in a front-wheel or all-wheel-drive configuration. However, the non-turbo fuel-sipping hybrid is advertised to be quicker to 100km/h.

Above this, we have the RX450h+ that pairs the RX350h’s 2.5-litre engine with a larger lithium battery and beefier electric motor. This variant is a plug-in hybrid that Lexus is being light with on details, though we are presuming this to mirror
the Toyota RAV4
 Prime PHEV in terms of mechanicals, meaning an output of 302hp.

No More V6 Power, More Electrification

At the peak of the RX range is the RX500h F Sport Performance which wants to leave as little room as possible to doubt its top-dog status. This one pairs the 2.4-litre turbo motor with the usual assortment of components that make up the highly regarded Toyota/Lexus series hybrid system.

While the combustion engine is mainly concerned with driving the front wheels, there’s a high torque electric motor at the rear axle to provide all-wheel traction. The automaker is dubbing this DIRECT4, and as a combined unit endows the RX500h with 367hp and 644Nm, enough to launch the range-topping RX to 100km/h in just 6.0 seconds. In terms of pure pace from standstill, this is about level with
the BMW X5 xDrive45e
 but still a hair behind the XC90 T8.

Each variant of this 5th-generation RX will come equipped with Lexus Safety System 3.0. This includes the brand’s Autonomous Emergency Braking solution (they call it Pre-Collision System) with pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Alert, and All-Speed Dynamic Cruise Control.

We’ll keep you posted on when exactly the all-new RX will hit Malaysian shores but don’t hold your breath if you were hoping it would show up within the next few months.


Key Proton Vendors Sign Collaboration Agreements With Overseas Counterparts

Right after signing a MoU with MAI as well as a performance pledge, key vendors that supply parts and components to Proton signed a collaboration agreement with their overseas counterparts.
The first batch of agreements to be signed, ranging in scope from joint ventures to technical assistance, will bring in an initial investment of RM 170 million to Malaysia, and is expected to increase in tandem with Proton’s manufacturing volume.
This formal agreement is also the first step in establishing a supplier base capable of meeting the technology and quality standards required to manufacture the next generation of Proton cars to be jointly developed with Geely.
“Proton would like to urge its vendors to grab this opportunity to build partnerships with their overseas counterparts in order to reach a world standard for technology advancement and quality. This will enable them to compete internationally and lead to the development of a Malaysian automotive industry vendor community that is able to compete on a global scale,” said Dato’ Seri Syed Faisal Albar, Chairman of Proton.
Among the top tier Malaysian vendors include Delloyd, Hicom Teck See, and Proreka.
“The participation of Malaysian vendors is a key component to achieving the long-term goals of the company. We want Proton products that are built right here in Tanjung Malim, using parts made in Malaysia for the domestic market as well as for our export models and be able to stand comparison with competitors from around the world. This is a commitment Proton, as Malaysia’s iconic automotive brand, is making to ensure the Malaysian automotive industry continues to develop world-class competencies,” he added.
The Proton X70 will be the first model to benefit from this new vendor collaboration and is scheduled for local assembly at the Tanjung Malim plant in 2019. One of the key highlights of the new Proton X70 is the
 infotainment system that features natural language
 voice commands.


Toyota Dedah 16 Kenderaan BEV – Bakal Lancar 30 Model menjelang 2030

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC)
 telah mendedahkan 16 konsep kenderaan elektrik (
BEV
) kepada umum di Tokyo baru-baru ini.

Seiring dengan pendedahan tersebut, Toyota turut mengumumkan pelaburan berjumlah 8.0 trilion yen (RM298 bilion) dalam menghasilkan kenderaan kurang-karbon serta kenderaan berteknologi karbon-neutral bermula tahun hadapan sehingga 2030.

Separuh daripada dana pelaburan yang diberikan pada projek ini akan digunakan bagi tujuan penyelidikan dan pembangunan serta pembelanjaan modal bagi kenderaan BEV manakala separuh lagi dana tersebut akan didedikasikan kepada kenderaan hibrid seperti HEV, PHEV dan FCEV.

16 kenderaan BEV baharu yang ditunjukkan pada umum merupakan antara 30 kenderaan BEV baharu yang dirancang TMC untuk dilancarkan bermula tahun hadapan sehingga 2030.  Ia meliputi barisan kereta yang komprehensif seperti kereta penumpang elektrik, SUV dan kenderaan komersial.

Kesemua 16 kenderaan BEV yang dipamerkan di Tokyo merangkumi 5 kenderaan Toyota bZ (Beyond Zero), 7 kenderaan lifestyle termasuk kenderaan komersial serta 4 model Lexus.

5 model kenderaan Toyota bZ merangkumi
bZ4X
 yang bakal dilancarkan pada tahun hadapan, SUV bersaiz sederhana dengan rekaan era baharu BEV Toyota, SUV kompak untuk pasaran Eropah dan Jepun, mid-size sedan dan SUV bersaiz besar (3 baris tempat duduk).

Presiden TMC, Akio Toyoda mendedahkan bahawa Toyota mensasarkan sebanyak 3.5 juta kenderan BEV dalam setahun menjelang 2030. Ini menyaksikan peningkatan sebanyak 1.5 juta berbanding sasaran 2 juta unit jualan kenderaan BEV yang diumumkan pada Mei lalu.

Daripada jumlah keseluruhan sasaran 3.5 juta unit kenderaan terjual itu, division mewah Toyota,
Lexus
 disasarkan perlu menyumbang jualan sebanyak 1 juta unit melalui barisan model BEV di Amerika Utara, Eropah dan China.

Toyoda berkata penawaran rangkaian barisan kereta elektrik yang lengkap bertujuan untuk memberikan pilihan yang lebih luas kepada pelanggan untuk membuat pilihan selain dapat mengurangkan emisi karbon. Lexus turut meletakkan sasaran untuk memiliki rangkaian model kereta BEV sepenuhnya menjelang 2035.

*Kredit foto: Noriaki Mitsuhashi


The Rebirth Of The Proton Satria – Is It Even Possible?

Conjecture about future cars can be a very exciting topic every once in a while – and the Proton Satria we reckon is ready for a comeback!

In many cases, with regard to future cars or models, hypotheses can be drawn from a manufacturer’s product, marketing, or financial plans… sometimes, it’s insider info from people in the know, but the most precise way of predicting a future model from a car manufacturer – is the success of its predecessor.

It is for this reason, you can be assured of a next-generation Perodua Myvi or Honda Civic, or even the BMW 3 Series – we know it makes sense to build newer versions because buyers like the concept and execution of the older model. Moreover, we can also pinpoint with startling accuracy when the next model comes based on the life expectancy of the current model.

However, in some cases, models cease not because of buyer demand, but because of other factors such as:

Market sentiment and demand

Economic conditions

Vehicle regulations

Currency fluctuations

Manufacturer financials and overall direction

Development costs

Global supply chain factors

Competitor models

It’s perhaps now more clear why Toyota – despite all its financial and technological might – had to say goodbye to the Supra nameplate for some 17-years, only reviving it in 2019 with the A90 Supra when economic conditions were better.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the Celica, Soarer, or the MR-2. Because, despite the previous (JZA80) Supra’s popularity and almost religious following across the world, the Japanese economic recession in the 90s and early 2000s had almost sealed its fate under a brand best known for cheap economical cars, and who at the time, needed to tighten the belt.

The Supra only made a return because Toyota could collaborate with BMW, who had developed the
(G29) BMW Z4
 and was willing to work with Toyota; this dramatically dropped development costs and time and meant that the car could be introduced sooner.

Which brings us to Proton, and perhaps one the most loved models it has ever produced - the Satria. Having recently been in the original
Proton hot-hatch
, got us wondering if there was any chance at all that Proton could revive its lauded nameplate, given the brand’s current resurgence, financial strength (given its ties to Geely), and not to mention, the powertrain technology Proton now has access to.

So even before we get to if the Satria can see the light of day once again, a few other factors have to be examined to see if there is a business case for it.

What would the new Satria be?

Historically, the Satria’s two-door hatchback design was a major part of the car’s appeal. Until the Satria and Putra, two-doored hatchback and coupes were pretty much only reserved for buyers with fat wallets, and as such offered an affordable entry point to a sporty vehicle. The 1.3-litre variant further democratised the Satria’s owner base, which ranged from young professionals to college graduates.

This time, however, the Satria might have to forgo its compact silhouette in favour of two more doors simply because buyers who purchase a hot-hatch, do not necessarily want to compromise on people carrying capacity. We see this in the evolution of the
Honda Civic Type R
 and Renault Megane RS respectively, all of which offered two-door variants in previous generations, but have now embraced four-door practicality and still look superb.

Who would buy it?

Combining a sporty design and the practicality of four-doors gives the ‘Satria’ its best chance of appealing to everyone from enthusiasts drivers to ‘soccer-moms’ who want a sporty ride. Ultimately, a performance-orientated model from Proton - something missing for a long time - will undoubtedly stir the imagination and create massive amounts of hype.

How much would it cost?

Well, this is the million-dollar question. However, one could make a case given the popularities of the Honda Jazz and more recently, the Toyota Yaris; that a snazzy hatchback from Proton in the RM75k-RM85k range would undoubtedly offer a compelling alternative, especially if it offered on-par or better performance than the former two. The most desirable versions of the Satria – the GTi and later the Neo R3 versions were priced in the RM65k-RM73k range, proving that if the product is worth the money, it will sell.

What would it be based on?

Now here is where it gets interesting. Logically, the updated ‘P2’ platform used in the Iriz and Persona would provide the most economical means for development since it’s already a proven package. Also, given both cars have been adapted to fit Proton’s latest-generation 1.6-litre powertrains would mean that it could perhaps be adapted to suit a newer, more powerful engine, which could be sourced from Geely. Nevertheless, this is much easier said than done.

Also, the P2 platform was designed from the outset with a comprehensive suite of safety technologies and better strength and rigidity incorporating Hot-Press Forming (HPF) technology which would give it the strong bones it needs to be a sporty hot hatch.

What would power it?

If we discount the Honda sourced powerplants in the Proton Perdana, and the (184PS/300Nm) 1.8-litre turbocharged Geely four-cylinder in the X70; the most powerful engine Proton currently offer is the 140PS/205Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged mill supplied in the
Exora
. Those are decent numbers, but as you might surmise, far off when compared to the likes of the Golf GTI.

However, Geely has at their disposal a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection engine jointly developed with Volvo Cars. Dubbed the 1.5 TD, it’s compatible with hybrid powertrains and made to fit in the Compact Modular Architecture - CMA platform (also co-developed by Geely and Volvo). The 1.5 TD was developed in conjunction with a lightweight (just 75 kg) 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (7DCT) which is capable of handling a maximum torque of 330Nm. The earliest impression of this will come with the upcoming Proton X50 SUV, slated for launch later this year.

The 1.5TD delivers 180PS pf power and peak torque of 265 Nm – making this a formidable powerplant, especially when coupled to a quick-shifting 7-speed DCT transmission in a small lightweight chassis.

What would it look like?

Now we get to the best part of our
berangan-angan
 piece, with the aforementioned criteria in place, we set about designing – albeit to the best of our creative ability – a sublime reinterpretation of our cult-favourite Proton. The design render draws heavily from design trademarks of past Satrias, such as the Satria GTi, Satria Neo R3 and Clubsport versions.

Where possible, we have adapted aesthetic highlights such as the flared wheel arches, rounded edges of the rear glass, pronounced rear spoiler and sleek front hood. Further down, our modern rendition packs a snazzy wheel and tire package (inspired by the current Iriz) to ensure a strong street presence and low-slung stance.

The keen-eyed will also notice we have a borrowed the front headlights and grille from the new Persona/Iriz, but given it a twist, with then rounded double-teardrop lower edge as a nod to the Satria Neo.

In terms of the body, we have derived inspiration from Proton’s first (and rather good) - global hatchback car – the Suprima S, and also from more established performance hatches such as the Ford Focus ST.

What are the odds Proton will make this?

Trust me, we would love to buy the crystal ball that gives us that very answer. However, since we have a greater understanding of what it takes to create a great car, much less a performance hot-hatch, the odds are slim but here’s to hoping! Until then, I suppose we’ll have this awesome render and ever-optimistic conjecture to keep us going.

Did we miss out anything in the design you would have wanted to see? Let us know in the comments...


JPJ runners to be affected by Anthony Loke's digitalisation revolution?

Will JPJ 'runners' be affected by the government's move to digitalise driving licenses and road tax stickers?

The
perception of JPJ runners is a bit of a mixed bag
.

While some loathe them because they feel their fees add on the cost of their vehicle registration, some actually do appreciate their services, as they can do all the nitty gritty associated with a vehicle, such as the necessary trip to PUSPAKOM for a vehicle inspection, name change and renewal of driving license and road tax.

Well, like it or hate, they might become a thing of the past soon as the government's announcement of introducing a digital driving license and road tax sticker system might affect their income.

This was brought to light by Kosmo recently, where they interviewed a runner concerned about his future.

According to the interview, 38-year-old Rahim said that his services are still popular and well-received, but he also has to think of other ways of income, if in future the demand for runners is no longer there.

Rahim is a realist and has yet to rule out the possibility that most customers aged 40 and under will switch to a digital system online.

"The cost of 'upah' taken to deal with JPJ, including money for fuel, food and travel is between RM10 to RM15."

"The amount of income possible for a week's work for road tax renewal services is about RM150 to RM500. This depends on the number of existing customers, but generally, we get this if we deal between 40 to 50 people."

"I was thinking, if the income starts to be affected, I might change my career as a food delivery or despatch rider. This is all that is suitable at the moment," he told Kosmo.

But not all runners share Rahim's sentiments. 40-year-old runner by the name of Ronney said he does not feel that this career is in jeopardy since all vehicle owners still have to renew their road tax every year.

"It's not that there is no need to renew the road tax, it's just that it doesn't need to be affixed to the vehicle's windshield. For us, this is no problem and will not affect income."


Kia says goodbye to the Stinger with the final 'Tribute Edition'

Kia is closing off its Stinger production line for good with the launch of its final and limited-run model, the
Kia Stinger Tribute Edition
.

Designed to pay homage to the brand's high-performance vision, the Stinger has been making waves ever since its inception back in 2017 and the following year went it entered the Malaysian market. To make way for the future that is electric, Kia Stinger's production finally comes to an end. Oppa is sad.

1,000 units to go into production

The final Kia Stinger Tribute Edition production line will be limited to only 1,000 units worldwide. No word on the pricing just yet, but if one happens to come to Malaysia, rest assured that it'll be way beyond the RM300,000 mark.

Based on the
Kia Stinger 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 GT variant
 (which was priced at around RM310,000 when it was first launched in Malaysia back in 2018), the exterior has been 'refreshed' with blacked-out parts for its side mirrors, Brembo brake calipers, and 19-inch wheels.

Customers can opt between the current Ascot Green paint finish or the newly-introduced Moonscape Matte Gray - a colour that was added as part of the Kia Stinger's final send-off.

According to Chang Sung Ryu, Senior Vice President and Head of Purchase CX Design Sub-division, "The Stinger Tribute Edition denotes an important chapter in the story of Kia’s high-performance ethos. Featuring an exclusive color and interior trim never before seen on the sedan, it also serves as a fitting celebration of the Stinger’s contribution to the Kia brand."

Bespoke Terracotta brown leather

Kia also introduced a brand-new interior trim for the Stinger Tribute Edition which comprises mainly the bespoke Terracotta brown leather that is found covering the sport seats, steering wheel, door side trim, and handles. A carbon-effect finish for the console was added to complement the whole Terracotta theme.

A numbered door sill plate on the driver's side will also be added to showcase the Tribute Edition's authentication of exclusivity in case anyone asks. Firepower is maintained at 370PS and 510Nm of torque as well as its eight-speed automatic transmission.

Annyeonghi gaseyo, Mr. Stinger.


New BMW 7 Series Makes Malaysian Debut, 740Le xDrive Plug-in Hybrid, RM594,800

After much anticipation, BMW Malaysia today finally introduced the new BMW 7 Series. Only one variant will be offered here which is the 740Le xDrive plug-in hybrid in Pure Excellence trim, priced at RM594,800 on the road without insurance.
This is how it stands against its rival, the Mercedes-Benz S560e:
Assembled locally, the 740Le is now powered by a new turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine that pumps out 286 bhp and 450 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm, replacing the pre-facelift model’s 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo engine.
The engine is aided by a synchronous electric motor integrated into the transmission which adds another 113 hp and 265 Nm of torque. The nett maximum output (when in Sport mode) is 394 hp and 600 Nm of torque, versus the outgoing model’s 322 hp and 500 Nm of torque.
The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic Steptronic transmission which sends power to all four wheels via the xDrive all-wheel drive sytem.
Capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and clocking a top speed of 250 km/h, the 740Le also comes with a new 12.0 kWh high-voltage battery which resides under the rear seat. The battery can be charged fully in 4.4 hours using a 16 Amp/ 230 V power outlet.
Compared to the outgoing model’s 9.2kWh battery which enabled the car to drive in pure electric mode for up to 41 km, the new 740Le’s range has increased to about 50 km thanks to the higher capacity battery.
Powertrain aside, the 7 has also gone through a few major updates in terms of exterior design. Clad in Pure Excellence trim, the front end of the new 7 Series has been completely tweaked, featuring a new bumper, a new bonnet that is 50 mm higher than before, the kidney grille that is 40% larger than before, as well as new BMW Laser headlights that are 35% slimmer than before.
Moving to the side, the car comes with new 19-inch wheels, as well as redesigned air breathers which are more upright compared to the outgoing slanted ones.
At the rear, the new 7 comes with a redesigned bumper, new slimmer LED taillights with 3D effect, and a light bar which runs across the rear right below the chrome strip and above the number plate.
Moving inside, key updates include the 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Pro digital instrument panel, and a 10.25-inch central display infotainment system which now supports touch screen functionality. Both are powered by BMW’s latest Operating System 7.0.
The wide range of BMW Personal CoPilot driver assistance systems is now complemented with standard equipment such as the camera and radar-based approach and pedestrian warning system that can now detect cyclists.
The new 7 also features the Evasion Aid which uses steering interventions to support the driver in sudden evasive manoeuvres, Crossroads Warning with City Brake Activation, Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Parking Assistant, Reversing Assistant, as well as the BMW Digital Key which is available for selected Android mobile devices.
Another comfort aspect comes in the form of a new mobile phone tray that supports wireless charging for compatible devices, now positioned more accessibly within the driver’s view below the air-cond controls.
Other key features in the cabin include:
New sports steering design
Poplar Grain Grey fine-wood trim
Alcantara headliner
Nappa Leather upholstery
Electrically adjustable comfort seats with massage function for rear passengers
Panoramic glass roof with Sky Lounge lights
Automatic four-zone control air-conditioning
Roller sunblinds
Rear Entertainment Experience
16-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound System
Updated Gesture Control system with more functions
Connected Package Professional
BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice command)
Available in four colours (Mineral White, Black Sapphire, Bernina Grey, Imperial Blue) which can be paired with either Black Nappa Leather or Cognac Nappa Leather upholstery, the new BMW 740Le xDrive is offered with the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, under which the car can be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from RM6,788.00 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).
Owners of the new BMW 7 Series will experience the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:
BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme
BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Programme for its Run Flat Tyre offering and services
BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW White Card
BMW Service Online
Looking for a new BMW? Get the best deals
here
.


The Grand Tour terminated as Amazon cut ties with Jeremy Clarkson after Meghan Markle attack

Oops, he did it again - Jeremy Clarkson allegedly once again gets his contract terminated after an outburst.

Rumours are swelling that Amazon Prime has reportedly ended its relationship with
The Grand Tour
 hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond due to comments made by Clarkson about Meghan Markle.

The streaming platform will air completed episodes of The Grand Tour and Clarkson's Farm, but reportedly have no plans to work with the controversial star and his teammates after 2024.

This was picked up by an exclusive report by Variety, which said its source has told them that Amazon Prime Video would no longer work with Clarkson and Co.

This action is obviously related to Clarkson's controversial comments about Meghan Markle in a column in The Sun newspaper recently, where the host said he "lies awake at night grinding my teeth and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her."

Clarkson has since apologised for his comments on social media and apparently via email directly written to Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. He also requested The Sun to bring down the article, which they did.

Prince Harry and Meghan however responded to Jeremy's so-called email apology with a statement of their own and denied that Clarkson reached out to Meghan and himself.

Jeremy Clarkson has never been a person to shy away from controversy as in 2015, the
BBC terminated his contract with Top Gear
 after Clarkson reportedly punched one of the show's producers.


Lexus RC 200t Introduced With 241HP Turbocharged Engine

Lexus
 has announced a new turbocharged variant for its sports coupe line with the introduction of the RC 200t.
The RC 200t is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine, developing 241hp and 350Nm of torque, and is paired to an eight-speed Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission, driving the rear wheels. This powertrain is also found on the
recently introduced IS 200t as well
. Performance-wise, the coupe gets to 100km/h from a standstill in just 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 230km/h.
Developed in house, the powerplant features a combination of water-cooled cylinder head, integrated exhaust manifold and twin scroll turbocharger. It also comes with Variable Valve Timing intelligent – Wide (VVTi-W), allowing the engine to switch between the Otto and Atkinson cycles.
Lexus will also be offering a F Sport version of the RC 200t as well which features tuned front and rear suspension systems with a Torsen Limited Slip Differential and the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). Visual cues include model-specific badging and 19-inch alloy wheels.


Cara ‘Corner’ Dengan Betul – Teknik Brek, Pemegangan Stereng Main Peranan Penting

Tidak dinafikan, kemalangan jalan raya di
kawasan selekoh
 kerap sekali berlaku di Malaysia. Ini menimbulkan persoalan adakah majoriti rakyat Malaysia yang memandu sudah mengetahui cara yang betul untuk membelok di selekoh?

Secara logiknya,
kemalangan jalan raya
 memang sesuatu yang sukar untuk dijangka. Walau bagaimanapun, risiko untuk terlibat dalam kemalangan boleh dikurangkan jika anda mengamalkan pemanduan berhemah yang merangkumi pengetahuan, kemahiran dan sikap.

Untuk kuasai teknik membelok di selekoh dengan betul, kena tahu cara pegang stereng dengan betul dulu. Berikut merupakan antara tips dan teknik memegang stereng dengan betul.

Teknik Memegang Stereng

Jarak kedudukan tangan dan tubuh pemandu perlu berada di dalam keadaan selesa semasa memegang stereng. Kedudukan terlalu jauh dan terlalu rapat tidak digalakkan.

Tetapkan kedudukan stereng mengikut posisi yang sesuai.

Pegang stereng pada kedudukan yang disarankan sahaja (10/2) dan (3/9).

Pegang stereng dengan kemas, tapi jangan genggam terlalu kuat.

Jangan silang tangan ketika membelok, sebaliknya tolak stereng ke atas dan tarik ke bawah dengan menggunakan kedua-dua belah tangan untuk membelok.

Seterusnya, pemandu perlu tahu teknik menekan
brek
 dengan betul. Walaupun menekan brek ini kelihatan mudah sebab hanya perlu memijak pedal brek, tapi tindakan menekan brek pada waktu yang salah juga berisiko membuatkan kereta anda hilang kawalan.

Teknik Menekan Brek

Fokus pada pemanduan dan bersedia untuk menekan brek apabila kereta di hadapan menekan brek. Lebih baik tekan brek awal menggunakan daya yang sederhana bagi mengelakkan kereta berhenti secara mengejut.

Jangan brek mengejut kerana ia boleh mendatangkan risiko kenderaan anda dihentam dari belakang oleh kereta yang tidak sempat menekan brek.

Jangan tekan brek mengejut sambil pusingkan stereng kereta.

Tekan brek sebelum belok, bukan semasa belok

Untuk menekan brek dengan betul dan selamat, pemandu perlu fokus sepenuhnya pada pemanduan, khususnya kereta yang berada dihadapan. Sentiasa bersedia untuk menekan brek apabila kereta di hadapan menekan brek bagi memastikan kereta tidak dibrek secara mengejut. Brek mengejut boleh mendatangkan risiko kemalangan seperti dihentam dari arah belakang oleh kereta yang tidak sempat menekan brek.

Ketika memasuki selekoh, jangan sesekali menekan brek secara mengejut. Tindakan tersebut boleh membuatkan kenderaan anda hilang kawalan terutama pada kelajuan tinggi. Ketika membelok, tayar kereta lebih mudah untuk mencengkam permukaan jalan jika ia hanya berdepan dengan satu tekanan dalam satu masa. Tindakan menekan brek semasa membelok akan memberikan tekanan berlebihan pada tayar dan boleh membuatkan kereta hilang kawalan.

Seeloknya, kurangkan kelajuan kereta dan gunakan gear rendah ketika melalui selekoh tajam. Jika kereta anda sedang bergerak laju, tekan brek dan perlahankan kereta sebelum memasuki selekoh dan lepaskan brek ketika membelok. Tindakan menekan brek sebelum selekoh boleh mengurangkan kebarangkalian kereta hilang
traction control
 ketika membelok.

Selain itu, mengambil selekoh pada kelajuan tinggi juga boleh mengakibatkan kereta terbabas atau berpusing terutama pada jalan basah. Jaga juga jarak kedudukan kenderaan anda dan kenderaan lain semasa membelok kerana segala pergeseran, walaupun kecil boleh buat kereta terbabas.

Kesimpulannya, kemalangan dapat dikurangkan jika majoriti rakyat Malaysia mengamalkan pemanduan berhemah yang meliputi pengetahuan, kemahiran dan sikap. Ilmu pengetahuan dan kemahiran memandu memang mudah untuk dipelajari, namun sikap pemandu berhemah perlu dipupuk dari awal.


Projek PKP – Anak Muda DIY Van Pasar Malam Jadi Mini Campervan

Kelapangan masa yang dimiliki Asri Nawawi akibat Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) telah disii dengan mengubahsuai
Daihatsu
 Hijet S85 Minivan beliau menjadi sebuah campervan!

Biasanya kita tengok orang luar je yang rajin
DIY
 campervan ni, namun Asri telah membuktikan bahawa orang kita juga pandai DIY dari segi pengubahsuaian van ke campervan ni. Untuk makluman anda, sebelum ini Asri telah berjaya mengubah
Perodua Kancil
 850cc milik ayahnya menjadi sebuah campercar. Namun setelah beliau membeli sebuah Daihatsu Hijet terpakai, tak sah lah kalau tak
bikin
 kan?

Sejurus menerima van tersebut, pemuda ini menghantar van ke bengkel untuk servis
enjin
. Mana taknya, kot kot van dah tersadai lama sebelum dibeli olehnya. Kalau enjin buat hal masa tengah jalan kan naya tu.

*Sumber: Facebook

Selepas itu, bermula lah episod DIY pemuda ini bersama minivan terpakai beliau. Proses make-over minivan yang merangkumi luar dan dalam ini difahamkan mengambil masa selama 2 bulan untuk disiapkan sepenuhnya.

Untuk bahagian luaran, Asri telah mengecat bahagian lampu depannya serta menukar lampu belakang yang baru. Roof basket turut dipasang dibahagian atas untuk penyimpanan barang. Panel tenaga solar 50W pun ada tau pada minivan ini! Ianya dipasang pada roof basket. Menariknya, panel ini boleh dilaraskan kedudukannya mengikut arah matahari serta dibuka. Bak kata orang, langit tak selalu cerah.

Untuk bahagian dalaman, Asri telah mencuci dan menanggalkan sisa cat lama seperti di stereng dan bahagian dalam kenderaan sebelum dikemaskan dengan warna baru. Bagi mengurangkan panas serta bunyi bising van, beliau telah menggunakan insulation foam pada lantai serta dinding van. Menurutnya, barang ini didapati secara atas talian. Insulation foam itu kemudiannya ditutupi dengan kayu plywood supaya lebih kemas.

Tambahnya lagi, setiap potongan kayu haruslah teliti. Tahukah anda bateri van Daihatsu Hijet ini berada di belakang? Oleh itu, beliau telah menyediakan ruang khas pada lantai plywood van bagi tidak menghalang kedudukan bateri.

Aksesori dalamannya memang menarik. Menurutnya, konsep minimalis serta ‘guna apa yang ada’ menjadi pilihan utamanya kerana tidak mahu menggunakan terlalu banyak barang yang memakan ruang dalaman van. Antara aksesori yang dimasukkan ke dalam van ini ialah kabinet meja, katil, tilam, dan langsir. Kayu palet telah digunakan untuk membina kabinet serta katil tersebut. Asri menyatakan bahawa katil tidak perlu terlalu tinggi bagi menjimatkan ruang kepala di dalam van. 360’ swivel bracket juga telah diletakkan pada tempat duduk penumpang di hadapan, membolehkan kerusi itu berpusing 360 darjah.

Menurut Asri, beliau memulakan projek DIY seperti ini daripada kosong. Kosong yang dimaksudkan adalah kosong dari segi aksesori dan kosong dari segi pengalaman. Yang paling hebat, abang ni siapkan campervan ni daripada A-Z sorang-sorang sahaja! Walaupun projek berseorangan ini mengambil lebih masa, namun kepuasannya tiada tandingan.

Lihatlah hasilnya!

*Sumber: Facebook

Kekangan masa menjadi cabaran terbesarnya dalam menyiapkan projek ini. Beliau terpaksa membahagikan masanya dengan menyiapkan van, menyunting video untuk dimuat naik ke YouTube dan keluarga. Tapi sebab dah minat, semua jalan! Beliau turut merakamkan segala proses DIY minivan ke campervan ini dan memuatnaik ke laman YouTube menerusi akaun peribadinya. Video tersebut mendapat perhatian ramai bukan sahaja daripada rakyat negara ini, malah juga daripada rakyat negara Indonesia. Ikuti perjalanan proses DIY ini di akaun
YouTube
 beliau!

Bagi sesiapa yang berminat untuk mengubah suai van lama menjadi sebuah campervan, Asri berpesan supaya jangan sesekali takut untuk membuat silap. Buktinya, pemuda ini telah membuang kabinet yang telah dibina untuk campervan ini kerana tidak berpuas hati dengan hasilnya. Tapi lepas tengok campervan ni siap, memang berbaloi la setiap usaha yang telah dilakukan pemuda ini. Walau bagaimanapun, kos keseluruhan bagi pengubahsuaian minivan ini masih lagi tidak diketahui. Menurut Asri, dia belum kira lagi buat masa ni.

*Sumber: Facebook

Walaupun tanpa pengalaman, Asri memiliki kebolehan seperti bertukang kayu, pendawaian eletrik, solar dan menjahit. Sesiapa yang selalu ponteng kelas kemahiran hidup tu memang rugi! Kalau tak boleh ubahsuai kenderaan sendiri seperti pemuda ini. Kalau anda langsung tak mempunyai ilmu dalam pengubahsuaian atau pertukangan, pastikan anda mendapat pertolongan atau nasihat daripada orang yang lebih pakar. Kalau tak, ibarat tikus membaiki labu lah!

Jangan lupa 'follow' semua akaun medsos saudara Asri bagi mengikuti segala pengembaraan campervan ini nanti!


Sony Gets Bored Of Making TVs and Radios, Develops A Car

Yes, you read that right – Sony just took the world by surprise when it presented an electric concept car called the Vision-S at the ongoing CES 2020 exhibition in Las Vegas.

Powered by two 200 kW electric motors that produce a combined 536 hp, the electric concept sedan is able to do the century sprint in just 4.8 seconds while clocking a top speed of 240 km/h.

Measuring 4,895 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, and 1,450 mm in height, the Vision-S Concept is a four-seater sedan which also comes with AWD technology.

The Vision-S also adopts a newly designed EV platform which enables its application for various uses and car types such as SUVs and also MPVs, which hints at the possibilities of Sony coming up with different types of vehicles in the future.

Complementing the platform is the operating system which is designed to support constant monitoring through connectivity that is enabled by a 5G network and over-the-air (OTA) system updates.

According to Sony, the vehicle’s system will endlessly evolve by working together, undergoing reintegration and being continually updated and optimized.

One of the main highlights of the Vision-S is how ready it is for the forthcoming autonomous driving era, with the “Safety Cocoon” concept, which comprises the “Oval Sensing” system that has 33 sensors (including Sony CMOS sensors) installed both inside and outside the car.

While keeping a watchful eye 360 degrees around the body, safety is also thoroughly monitored when the car is in motion. The cocoon-like layout also underlies the "Oval" design theme.

The network of sensors throughout the car also enables 360-degree recognition of traffic conditions. The sensors then provide precise driving assistance, such as advanced cruise control, self-parking and auto-lane change functions, that corresponds to Level 2+ driver assistance.

It not only enables safe, secure driving but also allows energy efficient driving and stress reduction.

According to Sony, software updates allow for continual performance upgrades, with the aim of ultimately achieving Level 4 or higher self-driving in the future.

Inside, the car cabin will evolve into a comfortable environment, like the space inside a living room.

Sony said that it wants to create a mobile entertainment space with a field of sound that encapsulates the entire body, a luxurious visual world of moving images, and intuitive user interfaces.

Speaking of entertainment, the Vision-S also comes with a “360 Reality Audio” system, where object-based spatial audio technology is utilized to recreate vivid realism that makes people feel like the artist is performing right before them.

Each musical element, such as vocals or instruments, can be placed in a spherical sound field based on the artists intended position. During playback, sound comes from 360-degrees around the listener to recreate performances with invigorating reality.

That being said, Sony has not released details revolving around the powertrain capacity and capabilities, or if it will ever produce this car, but it looks likely.


How Many Compact SUVs Does Hyundai/Kia Need? More Than Six, At Least

Hyundai and Kia have a dominant foothold in both developed and developing markets, capitalising on the SUV uptrend with two (or more) versions of the same car. Is it clever or a cheat-code?

There’s no denying it,
SUVs
 have successfully infected the automotive sphere. It has almost fully taken over at this point, with only a few pockets of rebellion left to fight the good fight on behalf of sedans, wagons, and coupes. Hyundai and Kia, the sister car brands from South Korea, might not have their most potent portfolio on offer here in Malaysia, but they’ve been ruthless in their pursuit of mass market domination.

Their tactics are worthy of respect, tailoring any and all advantages at their disposal to bombard the potential customer with
choice and value
 while squeezing out their competition on brand presence and profit margin.

In developing markets where the up-and-coming population is moving into the working or middle class, they’re voraciously going after every nook where there’s a buck to be made with little regard to a broader brand philosophy or potential cannibalisation between models. And this is most obvious with regard to the SUV boom, or more accurately, with compact urban-centric soft-roading SUVs - a.k.a crossovers. “Start ‘em young and get ‘em hooked”, I suppose.

By my count, there are (at least) 6 very similar compact SUVs offered by either Hyundai or Kia that are not only interchangeable among themselves, but also renders each other redundant depending on which region you find yourself in. There could be even more models, but I’ll be focusing on the Hyundai Creta, Kona, and Venue as well as the Kia Seltos, Stonic and Sonet. Mind you, these mess of models all sit below the Hyundai Tuscon or Kia Sportage.

(I could also throw in the Kia Soul and Niro, but ain't nobody got time for that.)

Triplets In Pairs

There are a couple of concepts to grasp before we take a closer look here. First of all, nearly every major automaker out there liberally utilises shared platforms and cross-picking between engines and even interior components.

Making each model fully unique is wildly more expensive by comparison and leads to a greatly extended development time, but then again, having different models share
too much
 blurs any line of distinction and stinks of a lazy copy/paste approach to cars. In the case of Hyundai and Kia, though, they reckon they can get away with it by shuffling the deck: having them be sold under separate brands in separate markets. Genius.

In trying to make sense of the Hyundai/Kia compact SUV swamp, I’ve arranged this in order of hierarchy with the highest going first. These are usually more expensive, better equipped, and dimensionally larger. Let’s begin:

Hyundai: Kona vs Creta vs Venue

Make no mistake, they might have different names, but none of them can sit more than 5 occupants. They also all have a decently sized boot and are powered by the same engines, more or less.

The Kona is more ‘lifestyle-centric’ with its stylish looks and a moniker taken from a Hawaiian locale. Hyundai is somewhat more proud of this model as it’s also available in more established markets such as North America, Europe, and Australia. That said, we don’t (yet?) have it in Malaysia (besides its
fully electric version, kinda
), which is a shame.

The Creta is one of those built-to-a-cost models and was initially conceived as a few-frills crossover for India, in which it did very well. So well, in fact, that Hyundai quickly sought to build upon that success by bringing it to Russia and China before expanding that to South Africa and South America. Thanks to the Creta, Hyundai (and Kia, by extension), got their first taste of blood.

The Venue is quite new and almost uncomfortably similar to the Creta, which is technically its bigger brother, making things awkward in markets where they’re sold side by side.

Elsewhere, from what we can gather, Hyundai’s loose plan is for the Venue to play the lesser role as their entry-level crossover/SUV in the same markets where the Kona is also sold given that both models were developed with more established markets in mind.

Kia: Seltos vs Stonic vs Sonet

Gotta give them credit, at least all these Kias try to appear homogenous in name. Still, there’s nothing that truly differentiates them. Door count, boot space, engine range, overall size - they’re all broadly similar. And in case you had not drawn the association, these are the Kia-badged equivalents to the Hyundais listed above, aimed at the same market segments at same-ish price points.

The Seltos is probably the best looking among the six gathered here and is thankfully already semi-confirmed for a
Malaysian launch
 where it will seek to take down the Honda HR-V, though things are bound to get even spicier when Proton unleashes the
X50
. It might also explain why the Kona is absent.

Down the pecking order we have the Stonic, which has a decidedly more European flair and a name that sounds like a new brand of soda. It could be thought of as the SUV/crossover alternative to the Kia Rio, which is also a mostly Euro-focused model. Why wouldn’t you just get the Rio? No clue. However, unlike the Creta, the Stonic hasn't been peddled in nearly as many markets.

Lastly, we have the Sonet, which is unabashedly designed and developed for India. Though it has adopted Kia design cues, very little DNA has been altered from its genetic template, the Hyundai Venue. It made its South Asian launch just last week but we won’t be surprised if a market introduction within SEA region is already on the way.

Overload Or Overlord

Just think of the scope of cars that the Hyundai Motor Group now commands. Both their mass market brands are slowly but surely making an upmarket push and have even begun to field
legitimate performance offerings
, supplemented by their newer entry-level models like the Venue and Sonet, which are also helping to guarantee a steady supply of new owners who might then be inclined to upgrade purchases within their family of cars.

Kia and Hyundai are eating up the sales charts in many of the developing countries they’ve entered (not including Malaysia) thanks to this strategy, and it is through this strategy of simultaneously flooding the market with choice and starving their rivals of a compelling voice, that has rumoured to have led Volkswagen to pivot into selling their cars under the Jetta badge in China.

In the ever-growing SUV segment, there’s an almost overwhelming catalogue between the Hyundai and Kia line-up. Higher up, the Genesis brand is making impressive headway in establishing themselves as a legitimate
alternative to other premium cars
 from Japan and Germany.

This volume-centric focus has propelled the South Korean conglomerate to being one of the largest automakers in the world, with the current numbers pinning it in 4th place behind Renault-Nissan as of H1 2020. Looks like they’ve got all the bases covered; we just wished their cars weren’t so derivative of each other.


Honda Will Close Its Swindon Plant In 2021, Where Will The New Type R Be Made?

When it comes to production sites, not many people pay attention to where their cars are manufactured. But there is one plant in particular that was put on the world map when Honda unveiled the current generation Civic Type R, and it's in the UK. It's Honda's Swindon plant, which is known for producing Honda Civic hatchbacks for the European market, but was also tasked with building one of the quickest hot hatches in the world.
With the incoming wave of electrified new products to meet tightening emissions and efficiency regulations, manufacturers have been forced to upgrade and retool existing plants, build entirely new plants, and shut down certain plants that are becoming redundant. In the case of Swindon, unfortunately it's the latter, and Honda has announced that the plant will be closing its doors in 2021, once the current product life cycles come to an end.
It's an annual 150,000 unit deficit that Honda will have to make up for, and Brexit's impact on the UK's relation with the rest of the European Union has made the country a lot less favourable for manufacturers to set up shop in. The 3,500 employees at Swindon will have to look for new jobs once these models come to an end, and hopefully Honda has some good restructuring and personnel redistribution plans in place.
Turkey will also be affected in this restructuring, as Honda Turkiye A.S. will also have its future in question once the current Civic sedan comes to the end of its life cycle. That being said, it intends to continue business operations, and so Honda may have future electrified models planned to be built in this relatively low output plant. Honda Turkiye A.S. currently pushes out around 38,000 units a year.
Despite all the hubbub, Honda will continue to have its European HQ based in the UK to serve the needs of the European market. It's a bit of a strange choice, but Toyota also places their Asia Pacific headquarters over in Singapore which - as far as we know - is a vastly different market to the rest of the region with near equal takeup of official imports and grey imports.


Jenis Lady Driver - Anda Yang Mana Satu?

Ketika memandu di jalan raya, kalau anda tengok kereta depan macam
slow
 sangat, selalunya kita akan berfikir “ini mesti
lady driver
” sambil memotong kereta tersebut dan cuba melihat siapakah pemandunya. Betul tak?

Teruk sangat ke pemanduan wanita? Mengikut Institut Penyelidikan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia (MIROS), bilangan pemandu lelaki yang terbabit dalam
nahas jalan raya
 tujuh kali lebih tinggi berbanding wanita. Angka berkenaan jelas mempamerkan corak pemandu lelaki terbukti lebih
berbahaya
 dan kurang berhemah jika dibandingkan dengan wanita.

Berdasarkan statistik di atas, stigma wanita memandu terlalu perlahan ada betulnya kerana mereka lebih berhemah dan berhati-hati di jalan raya, namun terlalu berhati-hati pun bahaya juga.

Kami senaraikan 5 jenis
lady driver
 yang mungkin anda pernah jumpa di jalan raya atau mungkin anda sendiri pun memandu sebegini, ehem...

1. Lady Laju Nak Pergi Mana?

Lady driver jenis ini selalunya memandu laju di jalan yang lengang, terutamanya di
highway
 atau pemanduan jarak jauh seperti
balik kampung
. Apabila wanita yang memandu, kebiasannya lelaki atau suami akan segar mata sebab 'takut' akan kadar kelajuan yang dibawa isteri.

*Kredit: Facebook Khairul Hakimin Mohammad

Mengikut pengalaman penulis sendiri, sesetengah kereta mempunyai
pusat graviti yang rendah
 dan membuatkan pemanduan menjadi lancar, sehinggakan pemandu tidak berasa seperti memandu dengan laju, padahal penumpang di sebelah sudah tidak senang duduk sambil menjeling odometer kereta.

2. Lady Tekan Brek

Sikit-sikit nak pijak brek! Itu antara situasi paling tidak disukai ketika sedang memandu apabila ‘terserempak’ dengan pemandu lain yang suka tekan
brek kereta
. Walaupun jarak kereta di hadapan boleh muat sebuah lori treler, tapi kaki asyik menekan pedal brek.

Ini terjadi kerana wanita mempunyai kekurangan dalam keupayaan
spatial
 (ruang dan jarak) berbanding lelaki terutama ketika memandu di jalan raya. Masalah anggaran jarak mengakibatkan pemandu wanita akan menjadi terlalu berhati-hati hingga bertindak sentiasa menekan brek.

Terlalu kerap menekan brek akan menyukarkan kenderaan lain di belakang anda dan ini boleh mengundang risiko kemalangan.

3. Lady Teragak-agak

Masalah anggaran jarak ini juga membuatkan ramai wanita cepat rasa takut dan tidak berkeyakinan semasa memandu kereta. Sebagai contoh, ketika di persimpangan atau
roundabout
, sesetengah lady driver akan mula teragak-agak masa yang tepat untuk keluar simpang yang mungkin memakan masa terlalu lama. Kalau kereta belakang pula hon, lagi gelabah jadinya!

Penulis sendiri mengalami masalah teragak-agak ini, jadi cara terbaik adalah dengan membiasakan diri untuk keluar simpang sekerap yang mungkin.
Practice makes perfect!

*Kredit foto: Perak Today

4. Lady Banyak Fikir

Mantan Ketua Pengarah MIROS, Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak berkata tindakan wanita yang banyak berfikir menghilangkan fokus pemanduan dan membuatkan mereka tidak konsisten dan ada kala lambat membuat keputusan untuk mengubah arah.

“Ini termasuk sewaktu mereka memandu untuk melintas persimpangan yang tidak mempunyai lampu isyarat,
memotong
 dan ketika meletakkan kenderaan”, katanya.

Asasnya, jika tidak yakin dengan kelajuan kenderaan, kekal saja di lorong perlahan. Perlu pandai mengimbangkan kelajuan kenderaan dengan fokus dan jarak lebih-lebih lagi waktu kesesakan lalu lintas, untuk mengelakkan kereta anda ‘dihentam’ pemandu lain.

5. Lady Multitasking

Dapat lakukan pelbagai kerja dalam satu-satu masa memang mengagumkan tetapi tidak ketika memandu. Tapi situasi
multitasking
 ini dapat dilihat apabila menaiki kereta yang dipandu wanita. Bercakap telefon atau menghantar SMS adalah perkara biasa, namun ada sebahagiannya mampu bersolek, rakam gambar sendiri (
selfie
) malah membetulkan rambut dan tudung ketika memandu. Lebih drastik, apabila semuanya dilakukan serentak!

Sebenarnya, tak kira pemandu itu lelaki atau perempuan, cara kita memandu memang berbeza. Jadi, tidak adil sekiranya hanya cara pemanduan perempuan asyik diperkatakan. Kedua-dua jantina punya sikap positif dan negatif sebagai pemandu.

Apa yang penting, lebihkan sikap bersabar dan hormat menghormati ketika memandu untuk mengelakkan sebarang kejadian yang tidak diingini.


BYD takes the lead as Singapore's best-selling electric car brand, surpassing Tesla in 2023

BYD emerges as Singapore's top-selling electric car brand, outpacing Tesla in 2023.

According to Singapore's The Straits Times, the latest data from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), has shown that Chinese electric carmaker
BYD has surpassed Tesla
 as Singapore's best-selling battery-powered brand in the first five months of 2023.

During this period, BYD registered 303 electric cars, followed by Tesla with 283 and BMW with 249.

Around 20 per cent of BYD sales were to private-hire operators. Volvo entered the top 10 bestsellers list, replacing Bluecar and Audi, respectively.

Tesla experienced the largest drop in market share, indicating increased competition and a decline in the novelty associated with the brand. This trend is not limited to Singapore, as Tesla's share of electric vehicle sales in California has also declined.

To counter this, Tesla has started advertising for the first time in its history, with Singapore featured in their inaugural video advertisement.

In the first five months of 2023, 1,462 electric cars were registered, accounting for 13.4 per cent of total registrations, a slight increase from 2022.

Parallel imports, which are vehicles sold by non-authorised retailers, accounted for 21.7 per cent of car registrations. However, their share in the electric vehicle market is only 1.6 per cent, significantly lower than authorised agents.


Thailand International Motor Expo 2016 To Proceed As Planned

For a brief period, there were concerns that Thailand’s annual International Motor Expo event might be cancelled this year as the country goes into a period of mourning following the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Inter-Media Consultant Co., Ltd. (IMC), organisers of the Thailand International Motor Expo 2016 have since confirmed that the show will go on as planned, but with the presentation and activities activities toned down to respect the sensitives of Thai people at this moment in time. The show will be held from 1-December to 12-December at the IMPACT Challenger 1-3, Muang Thong Thani, in the outskirts of Bangkok.
Kwanchai Paphatphong Organizing Chairman of the 33rd Thailand International Motor Expo confirms that the event this year will be held as originally scheduled while exhibitors are requested to cooperate by giving due consideration to the appropriateness of their activities, calling off any noisy/colourful lights and sounds shows with dancers and cancelling the “Smart Pretty Vote 2016”.
Car companies with pretties must submit their outfit scheme for approval by the Organizer prior to the start of the Motor Expo who will base his ruling on the apparel not being too scanty or too tight fit and skirts or pants must cover the knees. During the Motor Expo if a show is found to be precariously indecent the Organizer will give orders for it to be stopped immediately so that the overall image of the Motor Expo harmonizes with the feelings and sensitivities of the Thai people at this moment in time.
A total of 36 car brands and 19 motorcycle brands will be exhibiting their products at this year’s Motor Expo.
IMC is expects this year’s event will draw in about 1.5 million visitors, while bookings for cars and bikes are targeted at 50,000 units and 3,000 units respectively, with turnover totaling over 50 billion Baht.


Volkswagen Malaysia Expands Distribution With New Shah Alam Parts Hub

Volkswagen
 Malaysia has extended its parts hub for Malaysia, expanding their distribution centre to Shah Alam. This will make it a much quicker and more convenient affair to get replacement components for their car.
They have also enhanced their after sales service through the establishment of the new Shah Alam Parts Hub, which acts as an extension of the larger operation of Volkswagen’s Parts Centre in Singapore, which has been serving the region since 2014.
The parts themselves will be received from the Singapore centre as well as directly from the Volkswagen’s second-largest production plant in Kassel, Germany. Ample room for storage is provided within the 10,000 square foot structure.
Through working very closely with its regional partner just south of the border, efficient delivery turnaround times are ensured by order submissions being processed twice each day. Distribution of those parts, particularly market-focused inventory, campaign-related, and high-demand parts will be dispatched two times a day to dealerships across Malaysia from either Singapore or Shah Alam.
“Volkswagen is ‘Always by your side’ and customer satisfaction is our highest priority. With the establishment of this seamless integration between dealerships and Parts Hub, we have significantly reduced the waiting period. Therefore the performance of your Volkswagen car is always optimal,” said Volkswagen Malaysia managing director Armin Keller.


New Mitsubishi Triton Open For Booking - 5 Variants, Estimated Price From RM100k To RM140k

Shortly after previewing the new Triton pickup truck yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS 2018), Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) announced that the model is now open for booking.
Due to be launched in the first quarter of 2019, the new Triton, which will be imported from Thailand and offered here in 5 variants, is expected to be priced between RM100,000 to RM140,000.
Visually, the facelifted Mitsubishi Triton features a front end that closely resembles the Xpander and Pajero Sport, featuring the ‘Dynamic Shield’ front fascia with slim bi-LED headlights and LED daytime running lights. Similar to the Xpander, the front fog lights are housed at the edges of the bumper.
The available colours are White Diamond, Black Mica, Sterling Silver, and Graphite Grey Metallic.
Moving inside, the Triton gains some new switchgear, new air vents, and also soft touch materials and stitching on the centre arm rest, floor console, and parking brake.
On the safety end, the new Triton comes with features such as Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA), and Auto High Beam (AHB).
Depending on the variant, the New Triton is equipped with 7 SRS airbags, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Active Stability with Traction Control(ASTC), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descend Control (HDC), Trailer Stability Assist (TSA), and Brake Override System
Under the hood of the new Triton is the same 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine powering the pre-facelift model, but it is coupled with a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain produces 181 PS and 430 Nm of torque. Also part of the package is Mitsubishi's Super Select 4WD II system with Off-road Mode.
Malaysians will be able to get the first close-up view of the New Triton at a series of special displays at major towns and cities from 7 December 2018 to 20 January 2019. The locations and dates of the roadshows are shown below:
The first 1,000 owners who book and register a New Triton stand a chance to receive an exclusive limited edition THULE all-purpose luggage bag worth RM2,000.


Porsche and Audi developing Shared Architecture For Electric Cars

Porsche and Audi are deepening their development partnership to create an all-new vehicles architecture called the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) in an effort to get electric vehicles to market more quickly.
The partnership, which was first announced ten months ago, is aimed at creating a larger scope for electrification, digitalization, and autonomous driving, as well as further development of highly efficient conventional drive systems.
Project facilities were established in
Ingolstadt
 and Weissach for the joint undertaking, which is expected to result in three model families.
Audi is leading two of the three planned vehicle projects, both of which includes models from both companies, while Porsche is leading the remaining project.
Of the developers currently working on this project, 550 are from Audi while 300 are from Porsche, with more being assigned as the project progresses. Each of them is required to spend two days a week in attendance at the partner company’s site.
The new electric architecture will enable Audi and Porsche to exploit the advantages of the purely electric vehicles – including the package, wheelbase, and spaciousness, to name a few examples.
The platform architectures are also variable so that they can be used for high-floor and low-floor vehicles (SUVs and sedans, respectively). Plans call for the first models based on the PPE to appear in late 2021.
Prior to that, in 2018 and 2019, Audi’s e-Tron and Porsche's Mission E production models will be the first electric models launched by the two premium brands.
Audi’s product portfolios in the future will be based on the MEB (modular electrification platform, developed by Volkswagen), the PPE, and two further developed conventional architectures.
Since
doubling their investment in electromobility
 to a total of six billion Euros, some 500 million Euros will be allocated for the development of
Mission E
 variants and derivatives, while roughly one billion Euros will be put into the electrification and hybridisation of the existing product range.


Shell Celebrates 125th Anniversary With Special Art Project

To kick off its 125
th
 anniversary in Malaysia,
Shell
 unveiled ‘Celebrating 125 Years’, an art project involving famous artists including Datuk Lat, Cheeming Boey, Sabek, Yap Hanzhen, Amey Sheikh Ali, Caryn Koh, Thomas Powell, and Dmojo.
The eight artists will develop 15 murals at selected Shell stations nationwide, with at least one mural located in each state. The art captures the artists’ own interpretation of progress and the Malaysian pioneering spirit, with some illustrating familiar Malaysian scenes and landmarks, while others showcasing nature and Malaysian society.
“Each mural reflects on society’s common values, which Shell also embraces as part of its DNA: diversity, unity, respect, and inclusiveness. We believe these values unite Malaysians across the country, and will propel the nation forward into the next 125 years. Our aim is for the murals to reach out to people, share these common values, and hopefully inspire and enrich their lives,” said Datuk Haji Azman Ismail, Managing Director Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd. and Shell Timur Sdn. Bhd.
According to Shell, 'Celebrating 125 Years' is just one of many initiatives to commemorate it’s 125
th
 anniversary this year. Last month, the company embarked on a 3-day charity drive, #Pump123 in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, whereby

1 sen (RM0.01) was donated for every

1 litre

of fuel pumped at Shell stations nationwide during the period.
It is said that the funds collected will be disbursed to disadvantaged children across the country via six charitable organisations, and we will announce the total collection in the near future. Shell will also be releasing a series of videos called #StationStories over the next two months, featuring some of its customers who share their personal stories and experiences.
Shell said that it will also be hosting a gala dinner on 10 August 2016 for its partners across the industry, followed by Heritage Trail, a nationwide treasure hunt in September 2016.


Alpine Celebration Concept Revealed At Le Mans, Celebrates 60 Years Of Sporting Passion

In celebration of its 60 years of existence, Alpine has released this, the Celebration concept that recently made its debut at the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours after
being teased by the car maker
 a few days prior.
If the name sounds familiar, Alpine was a French manufacturer of racing and sports cars that sourced Renault engines to power them. The company was bought by
Renault
 in 1973 and the introduction of the Alpine Celebration serves to show how the French car maker plans to make a comeback to the sports car market.
A testament to its heritage, the Alpine Celebration’s design is heavily inspired by Alpines of the past, with the A110 Berlinetta being the main influence with twin-mounted spotlights positioned on the front bumper. The design isn’t made to be flashy or extravagant and it doesn’t need to be. As Alpine puts it, “With no need for gimmickry to stand out from the crowd, the beauty of the Alpine Celebration resides in its simplicity.” Coating the beautiful bodywork is a blue-orange colour scheme, once again a homage to Alpine’s previous cars and more recently, their 2013 return to endurance racing.
No details on the powertrain have been announced beyond the fact that this will be a mid-engined layout with a ‘sufficient’ power output paired to a light body.
Next stop for the Alpine Celebration concept will be the Goodwood Festival of Speed where hopefully, more details about the car will be released.


2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz - The Lifestyle Pickup We All Secretly Want

Hyundai has a been on a steady roll of presenting pretty desirable cars lately, but this one has been
rumoured for years
 - largely with constant prodding by the pick-up loving Australians - since it
emerged as a concept
 at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show. Here is it, Hyundai Santa Cruz.

The Ozzies have been pretty much banging on Hyundai’s door to put it into production, and finally they’ve relented, knowing that the Americans would probably eat up a new lifestyle-focused ‘truck’ just as ravenously.

The Santa Cruz is a pick-up with a difference, however, as the it doesn’t utilise a body-on-frame construction. Rather, and in case you couldn’t tell from that distinctive fascia, it’s built using the more commonly found unibody chassis due to its close relation to the
new 4th-generation Hyundai Tuscon
 (NX4), though the wheelbase has been considerably lengthened to 3,005mm and an overall length of 4,971mm.

But this is not a pushover, or so it desperately wants you to think with its broad overfenders, angular exterior cues, pronounced skid plate, and chunky looking 20-inch wheels (18-inch alloys also available).

This does also mean a transverse engine layout and a predominantly front-bias drive split despite its HTRAC all-wheel drive system. Also, due to that monocoque body, towing capacity is inherently lacking behind other pick-ups, though it is rated for about 2.2 tonnes with its top-end engine, which is identical to another unibody truck, the Honda Ridgeline.

While that wouldn’t bother most people, that does draw a deep line in the sand with regard to where this new model’s priorities lie. In fact, the automaker officially markets it as a Sport Adventure Vehicle, à la BMW. It can do some off-road rough-and-tumble stuff, just not as much.

The upshot is that, since it is based on the new Tuscon, the Santa Cruz should be much more refined, even plush on machine paved roads, able to provide nearly all the practicality plusses that you’d find in a
Ford Ranger
 with a large interior (or, in truck terms, a cab) and very decent 1,270mm long rear bed with lockable tonneau cover.

Unlike the usual variety of pick-ups, we’re used to seeing here, the other point of difference here is the lack of any diesel engine, though it’s possible Hyundai will add their staple 2.2-litre CRDi unit in next year’s model revision.

As it stands, though, the 2021 Santa Cruz is available with their 2.5-litre Smartstream naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine identical to the one fitted in the
Hyundai Sonata
. This produces 194PS and 245Nm and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Above that base spec sits the powertrain package you really want; essentially a turbocharged version of that same 2.5-litre Smartstream, but now producing a much heartier 285PS and 422Nm, paired to an 8-speed dual-clutch, though both gearboxes allow for manual override via paddle shifters.

At the expense of some off-road capability, this is about as sleek and curvaceous as it gets for any pick-up truck and a stark departure from the more ruggedly (often overly so) styled alternatives that are actively leaning into that macho persona - the
Nissan Navara Pro-4X
 and
Toyota Hilux Rogue
 being the most recent examples.

Inside, the Santa Cruz is equally posh, basically inheriting the unaltered crossover-centric cabin from the Tuscon. Leather seats, a digital instrument cluster, and high quality finishings litter the surroundings. Hyundai even throws in most of their SmartSense active safety features including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Lane Keep Assist, and Driver Attention Warning.

There’s no word yet if the South Korean automaker is even interested in lobbing this new model to Southeast Asia. Even more cruelly, they’re even denying the Santa Cruz to Australian buyers. We imagine they won’t be quiet about that slight.

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Can You Improve Your Car’s Handling For RM 1,000?

If you enjoy driving, then improving your car’s handling is a pretty good way to amp up the experience. But can you do it on an RM 1,000 budget?

Before we begin, I’d like to point out that this is a fairly loaded question because “improvement” can be subjective and there is a huge variation in pricing depending on what kind of car you drive. Making a Perodua Kancil handle better is going to be a lot easier and cheaper than doing the same for a Porsche 911 – but we’ll try to break it down anyway.

Tyre Pressures

Welcome to the Free.99 option, and one that few people pay attention to – even among those who consider themselves enthusiasts. Tyre pressures are critical when it comes to a car’s handling and many people forget that pressures can run and change over time. It literally costs nothing to make sure your tyre pressures are correct (except perhaps the cost of a tyre pressure gauge), but even beyond that you can experiment with what works.

Certain tyres are more responsive to changes in tyre pressure than others, although it also depends on the situations the car is in. Tyres with softer sidewalls that are more comfort oriented can be a pain to balance grip (lower pressure) with steering response (higher pressure), but adjusting it progressively is the key to find the right pressures for you. You can even vary the pressures between the front and the rear to control how the car behaves – but whatever you do, try to make your adjustments when the tyres are cold for consistency.

Alignment

Perhaps the cheapest option that you can go for which will transform your car’s handling is a simple alignment job, whether it’s to make sure that your wheel alignment hasn’t run over time, or to adjust the alignment to suit your desired result. You would be surprised how much an alignment change can affect how a car behaves, although that depends on how adjustable your car is to begin with and how receptive it is to these changes.

For example, with most front-wheel drive cars a small amount of toe-out for the front wheels can dramatically improve how quickly the car reacts to your steering inputs as well as improving the front-end grip from mid-corner to exit. Similarly, as long as your car as a way to adjust rear toe, you can choose to either toe-in the rear wheels for more straight-line stability or run them with zero toe (or toe out, if you’re a madman) for a livelier rear end.

All of these changes are very minor and will probably run you RM 100 to RM 200 at most (if the job is especially complex). You don’t lose anything in terms of comfort or driveability, but the flip side is that the right alignment for you may take a couple of attempts as you test and retest to see what feels good. Always remember not to go overboard with these changes as extreme settings can have unpleasant results.

Bars and Braces

One common modification, especially for older cars where the chassis can feel as rigid as a can of soda, is to add strengthening bars and braces throughout the car. The prices of these are generally not too extravagant, especially if you pick a local company like Ultra Racing. Each brace or bar costs a few hundred Ringgit, but it’s also important to know which ones to use and which to avoid.

For example, strengthening bars that fit under your fenders are usually a big help when it comes to sharpening up the steering feel and response as there is a huge amount of chassis flex from the front end. Strut bars go without saying, both for the front and the rear, and some room bars that fit between the B pillars of your car can also help to curb chassis flex. Anti-roll bars are a different matter entirely and not something we recommend you change without a deeper understanding of the potential drawbacks.

Lowering Springs

This is not something we really recommend as results can be a little hit and miss, but they are cheap! Lowering springs will usually cost under RM 1,000 for more mass market models, and mid-to-high end models will probably break that RM 1,000 mark for a decent set. The concept is that by lowering your car slightly you end up with a slightly lower centre of gravity, and the springs are usually slightly stiffer as well so you get more perceived body control.

There is, however, a whole bunch of issues that need to be addressed. For one, lowering a car may get the centre of mass lower to the ground but it may actually shift the roll centre further from the centre of gravity, resulting in a longer roll couple whi- well, it’s a lot of physics but you get the idea. Similarly, the stiffer lower springs may not work well with the stock suspension dampers that you still use, which can create some strange results and wear out your shock absorbers prematurely. In short, not the best option, but one that still falls within budget.

Tyres, obviously

This is a bit of a conundrum because if you’re driving a car that needs tyres 16-inches in size or larger, you probably won’t be able to pull this off for RM 1,000 or under. Similarly if you have a car that runs a larger tyre, there’s a higher chance that the manufacturer specified decent tyres from factory so you probably won’t need to change the tyres to have a very noticeable effect – at least not without spending a lot of money.

But for the rest of us who drive more budget-friendly cars running smaller wheel and tyre sizes, going to a decent tyre can be a big help. We’ve covered a range of tyres before that will absolutely deliver on performance, and each of these tyres can be had for RM 1,000 for a set of four, in 15-inches or under (if they’re available in that size). Going to a better tyre gives you better, more consistent grip as you drive.

Now, there are plenty more things you could probably do to your car to improve the overall handling positively, but all of them will cost you more money that our rather low budget allows for. From full on aftermarket adjustable coilovers, to aerodynamic devices, the possibilities are endless. The important thing is to make changes progressively and measure improvements to ensure that you are making a positive change rather than regressing.


Kerana Gearbox Rosak, Toyota Land Cruiser Cygnus Dipandu Secara Mengundur – Pemandu Ditahan Polis

Baru-baru ini, beberapa video yang menunjukkan sebuah
Toyota Land Cruiser Cygnus
 yang dipandu secara mengundur telah tular di media sosial. Apa kes?

Video terbabit memaparkan kenderaan
pacuan empat roda
 itu dipandu secara mengundur di beberapa lokasi berbeza. Malah, siap ada adegan mengundur di
lampu isyarat
 ketika kenderaan itu ingin membelok memasuki simpang. Bayangkan apa perasaan kenderaan di belakang kereta tersebut. Pasti penuh dengan 1000 tanda tanya.

Ekoran penyebaran video tersebut, pihak Bahagian Siasatan dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik (BSPT) Ibu Pejabat Polis (IPD) Sandakan, telah bertindak pantas menyiasat kesahihan video tersebut. Hasilnya, pihak polis mendapati kejadian tersebut memang benar berlaku di persimpangan lampu isyarat Bandar Kim Fung jam kira-kira jam 10 pagi, Ahad lalu.

*Kredit foto: Polis Daerah Sandakan

Susulan itu, pihak polis telah berjaya mengesan pemandu serta kenderaan yang digunakan dalam video terbabit. Lelaki yang berumur 44 tahun itu telah ditahan polis pada waktu malam, hari yang sama video berkenaan tular.

Ketika ditanya, pemandu tersebut memberikan alasan bahawa terdapat kerosakan pada
kotak gearnya
 menyebabkan kereta itu terpaksa dipandu secara mengundur. Ketika kejadian, hanya gear undur sahaja yang berfungsi dan boleh digunakan. Beliau telah mengambil langkah untuk melenjan sahaja kereta ini ke bengkel secara mengundur.

Tindakan berani mati pemandu ini bukan sahaja membahayakan dirinya, malah meletakkan nyawa pengguna jalan raya lain dalam bahaya. Kes ini disiasat dibawah Sek 42(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987, kerana memandu secara melulu dan merbahaya.

Ketua Polis Daerah Sandakan, Asisten Komisioner Mohd Azhar Hamin menegaskan bahawa pemandu yang mengalami kerosakan kenderaan dinasihatkan untuk menggunakan
khidmat trak tunda
 untuk menunda kenderaan ke bengkel demi keselamatan bersama.

Bagi yang tidak tahu, anda juga boleh mendapatkan perkhidmatan tunda kereta secara percuma daripada pihak
insurans
 anda. Servis tunda ini boleh digunakan untuk menunda kenderaan anda untuk dibawa ke bengkel berhampiran. Khidmat ini bukanlah hanya boleh digunakan ketika kemalangan sahaja, nak tunda dari rumah atau dari pejabat pun boleh.

Untuk menggunakan perkhidmatan tunda insurans, anda tidak perlu membuat laporan polis. Laporan polis hanya diperlukan sekiranya anda terlibat dalam kemalangan dan ingin membuat tuntutan wang untuk membayar balik kos tinggi kerosakan kereta anda.

Hubungi saja pihak insurans anda dan minta mereka untuk hantar khidmat trak tunda untuk membawa kereta anda ke
bengkel
. Bukan itu sahaja, anda diberi kebebasan untuk memilih pusat servis yang disediakan oleh insurans atau boleh memilih bengkel pilihan anda sendiri. Servis ini adalah percuma dan boleh digunakan sekurang-kurangnya 2-3 kali setahun.

Jadi, tak perlulah lakukan aksi merbahaya dengan memandu secara mengundur atau lain-lain. Walaupun segelintir daripada anda mempunyai skil pemanduan yang mantap, tetapi ianya tetap salah disisi undang-undang. Kalau dah jadi satu kesalahan, tak kiralah sehandal manapun anda boleh mengawal kenderaan, anda tetap akan menerima ‘surat cinta’ daripada pihak berkuasa.

Ingat! Niat tidak menghalalkan cara.

*Kredit video: The Star

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