JKR Promises To Fix Potholes Within 24 Hours

Call it a New Year's resolution or maybe an awakening but the Public Works Department (JKR) has vowed to repair potholes within 24 hours after its discovery under the "
Aku Janji Zero Potholes
" campaign.

The ministry, as reported by FMT stated that the previous "Aku Janji Zero Potholes" campaign that ran from 2016 to 2018 was aimed to strengthen the ministry's commitment towards the maintenance of roads in the country.

This initiative will be under the purview of JKR and the six concession holders for federal roads in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.

“Under this campaign, pothole repairs will be done within 24 hours of its discovery or complaints and in three days for permanent repairs as stated in the Federal Road Maintenance contract,” the ministry said.

A pothole is defined as holes ranging from 200-1000 mm in diameter according to the statement.

A total of RM1.09 billion has been allocated for the upkeep of federal road maintenance throughout Malaysia including electricity, traffic light, and street lamp bills for 2021.

“A total of 4,091 public infrastructure complaints were received by the ministry and JKR up to Nov 30. From the total, 1,473 complaints were regarding damaged roads. All complaints have been processed and action has been taken by JKR.

“Almost 200,000 potholes were found and repaired through monitoring and patrols by JKR in 2019 while 64,000 potholes were recorded with action taken as of last June,” the statement further read.

According to the JKR organisation chart, the head of JKR is YB Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof - would it be fair then you reckon for us to hold JKR to its promise under a new "Pothole Ada, Pengarah Botak" campaign. After all, it's proven to be such a success with Syed Saadiq taking on the #BotakChallenge and raising RM383,000 for a cause he initiated. All funds raised from the "Pothole Ada, Pengarah Botak" campaign can be channeled towards road safety awareness campaigns.


All-New 2017 Honda CR-V 2WD Previewed At Mid Valley

The
all-new 2017 Honda CR-V
 makes a scheduled stop in the second of five roadshows across the country planned ahead its imminent launch.
Open for bookings since 1 June
, the CR-V is currently on display at the South Court of Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur from 7 to 11 June 2017.
Whilst Honda’s earlier announcement has confirmed that its new 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo powerplant will be offered as the range’s flagship engine, the vehicle on display shows at least another variant on offer, with i-VTEC badging on the tailgate confirming this to be a vehicle powered by a naturally-aspirated engine.
Honda has never confirmed as such, but it is widely accepted that the i-VTEC powertrain in question is likely to be the 2.0-litre R20 SOHC engine carried over from the predecessor model. In
Indonesia,
this powerplant is rated with outputs of 154PS and 189Nm, though the outgoing model generated 155PS and 190Nm in our market.
The 2.4-litre Earth Dreams engine as offered in
Thailand
 is a possible but unlikely powertrain candidate for our displacement-sensitive market; also, its outputs of 173PS and 224Nm might not be seen as providing adequate separation from the 1.5 Turbo’s 193PS and 243Nm. The other Thai market powertrain – the 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel, has been ruled out altogether.
One other mechanical fact we can confirm about the vehicle on display is that it is front-wheel driven – no rear driveshafts were visible from our observations when peeking at the undersides. Honda has confirmed that the CR-V will be offered in both front- and all-wheel drive configurations, but did not state which drivetrain will be matched to which engine.
It has also been confirmed that all variants of the CR-V will have reverse camera, keyless entry, six airbags, and electronic stability control as standard. We also noticed LED headlights, daytime running lights, and 17-inch alloy wheels on the display vehicle. The vehicle’s windows are heavily tinted, precluding us a look inside.
Whilst neighbouring markets are offering the CR-V as a seven-seater, it is understood that Honda Malaysia has opted to continue with the outgoing model’s five-seater configuration, which offers up to 1,084 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.
Based on information released thus far, we are now absolutely certain of at least two variants of the all-new 2017 CR-V – a fully-loaded 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo AWD flagship and a naturally-aspirated 2WD to serve as the range’s entry model.
In between, Honda could conceivably fill the range with a 2.0-litre AWD or 1.5 VTEC Turbo FWD model to serve as a mid-range offering. Alternatively, the vehicle on display could be representative of the CR-V in mid-range spec, meaning two 2.0-litre FWD variants with different equipment levels.
The all-new 2017 CR-V will be the first model to bring Honda Sensing autonomous driving aids to the Malaysian market. Guided by a combination of camera and radar, the Honda Sensing package consists of adaptive cruise control, traffic jam queue assist, frontal collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and road departure mitigation.
Besides Mid Valley, the all-new Honda CR-V will be appearing at the following locations over the next two weeks:
11 June: Imago Mall, Kota Kinabalu
16-18 June: Aeon Tebrau, Johor Bahru
18 June, Plaza Merdeka, Kuching


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Hap Seng Star Launch Latest Autohaus in Klang

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBM) together with authorised dealer Hap Seng Star (HSS) launched the dealer's eighth Autohaus in Malaysia today.
Located in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, the RM3.6 million facility is part of Hap Seng Star’s ongoing RM184 million investment to expand its customer touch-points nationwide.
Aimed at serving customers in Klang and Banting areas, the brand new full-fledged 3S centre is able to display six showroom vehicles, and is managed by 29 personnel who are well-versed in sales, technical services and spare parts.
Equipped with eight work bays, the Bukit Tinggi Autohaus is capable of servicing 450 vehicles a month.
It is said that Hap Seng Star’s latest Autohaus incorporates key aspects of the Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS II), the global Autohaus benchmark of customer experience. In addition, the Autohaus is complemented with Service Differentiation - a menu of customised personalized services tailored to customers’ individual needs.
To date, Hap Seng Star has eight Mercedes-Benz Autohaus locations nationwide. HSS Bukit Tinggi, HSS Kinrara, HSS Balakong, HSS Kuala Lumpur (Jalan Sultan Ismail), and HSS Jalan Ipoh are located in the Klang Valley. Hap Seng Star is also present in Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia.
HSS Bukit Tinggi is located at G-3A & G-5, MTBBT 2, Jalan Batu Nilam, 16, Bandar Bukit Tinggi Klang, while its service centre is located at No. 15, Jalan Permata 2A/KS9, Taman Perindustrian Air Hitam, a mere 15 minutes’ drive away.


UMW Toyota introduces FIVE new GR & GR Sport models in Malaysia

UMW Toyota is kicking off its TGR Festival for 2023 with the introduction of five new GR and GR Sport models for the Malaysian market.

These five brand-spanking new models are none other than the updated 2023 Toyota GR Supra with a six-speed manual transmission, GR Corolla, GR86, Corolla Cross GR Sport, and last but not least, the Hilux GR Sport.

2023 Toyota GR Supra - RM645,000

As mentioned above, the new 2023 Toyota GR Supra is now available with the right kind of transmission - the six-speed manual gearbox. It's been three years since the A90 Supra came into being, but better late than never with the six-speed MT, eh?

That's quite the addition to its 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine that produces 388hp and 500Nm of torque. In other words, it's sayonara to those paddle shifters and hello to manual shift knob courtesy of GR. Clutch kick, baby!

The six-speed manual transmission in the 2023 Toyota GR Supra is also enhanced with the Intelligent Manual Transmission system (iMT) that is said to offer selectable automatic rev-matching for easier downshifts.

Other updates include retuned suspension and damper, chassis controls, 19-inch forged rims, 12-speaker JBL audio system, as well as some updated safety features to boot. Customers can choose from eight different colours - Prominence Red, Lighting Yellow, White Metallic, Black Metallic, Dawn Blue Metallic, Volcanic Ash Grey Metallic, Matte Avalanche White Metallic and Matte Storm Grey Metallic.

2023 GR Corolla - RM355,000

Out of all the cars introduced today at the opening of Toyota's Gazoo Racing Festival, the Toyota GR Corolla is probably the most exciting car out of the bunch.

The GR Corolla is the second Gazoo Racing sports car built from the ground up, whereas the rest are vehicles built in collaboration between Toyota and other auto manufacturers.

Under the bonnet of the GR Corolla is the same powerplant found in the GR Yaris, the G16E-GTS 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine. However, to give it the same amounts of performance as its little brother, the engine has been further enhanced to boost power output to 300 PS at 6,500 rpm and 370 Nm between 3,000  and 5,550 rpm.

Just like the GR Yaris, the GR Corolla is available exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission (iMT) and the famous GR-Four all-wheel-drive (AWD) system developed through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s involvement in the World Rally Championship.

To enhance its grip and stability even further, the GR Corolla comes with a Torsen limited-slip differential on the front and rear axles. At the four corners, the GR Corolla is equipped with 18-inch black ENKEI alloy wheels, fitted with 235/40 high-performance Yokohama ADVAN Apex tyres.

2023 Toyota GR86 - from RM295,000

Alongside the other cars making their debut at Toyota Malaysia’s Gazoo Racing Festival, the GR86 has finally made landfall in Malaysia.

The second-generation of the brand’s Subaru co-developed and manufactured coupe following the 2012 introduction of the GT86, this all-new version furthers the concept of a lithe RWD Japanese two-door to more intense levels.

You can tell it’s proportionately very similar to its predecessor, but the biggest alteration here is the use of a gutsier 2.4-litre naturally aspirated Boxer 4-cylinder engine outputting 237PS at 7,000rpm and 250Nm of torque at 3,700rpm.

There’s the 6-speed manual transmission, which will definitely be the crowd favourite option, but supplemented by a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters (an extra RM10,000). To cap things off its 18-inch wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres as standard.

2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport - RM159,880

Of the cars presented at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival 2023, a HiLux seems like the least interesting. But out of all of them, it does stand to make the biggest impact on UWM Toyota’s bottom line.

It’s pretty much just like the HiLux you know, in double cab guise, but dressed up in GR Sport bits - yes, it is a cosmetic enhancement package. It includes a new front grille, grille frame, overfenders, 18-inch wheels.

However, we’re very pleasantly surprised to find that the suspension system has also been upgraded to a beefier monotube shock absorber setup with retuned coil springs. Its engine is unchanged, however, with the 1GD-FTV 4-cylinder turbodiesel pumping out a familiar 204PS and 500Nm of peak torque paired to a 6-speed automatic. Exclusive to the HiLux GR Sport, though, are paddle shifters!

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 GR Sport - RM142,000

Looking for a sportier-looking Corolla Cross? Take a look at this 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 GR Sport. The exterior as well as the interior has been given the proper GR treatment in terms of look and feel.

The facade has been enhanced with the two-tone package that also features blacked-out side mirrors, roof, rear spoiler, and radiator grille paired with a new set of LED rear lamps, rear bumper garnish and diffuser, and to round it all off, a lovely set of 18-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels.

The insides come with a black interior with red stitching that can be found on its leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear shifter, and leather seat covers along with some GR logos on the push-start button, front seat headrests, and carpet mats.

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 GR Sport is priced at RM142,000 and customers can choose from three different two-tone colour options - Platinum White Pearl, Red Mica Metallic, and Nebula Blue.


BMW’s 10-Millionth 3-Series Sedan Rolls Off The Production Line

At the Munich plant of the
BMW
 Group, something extraordinary has taken place. This 10-millionth unit is a milestone not many cars reach and cements the four-decade success of the
3-Series.

In that time frame, BMW has produced a total of more than 14 million 3-Series in varying body styles, with over half of that being sedans, and the landmark unit that touches the 10 million mark is a BMW
320d
 finished in Imperial Blue. Production of the new 3-Series was only recently launched in July.
2015 BMW 3-Series (F31), Sedan and Touring
Plant Director at the BMW Group facility in Munich, Hermann Bohrer, commented: “The success story of the BMW 3 Series started here in Plant Munich and is now reaching a very special highpoint here as well. The fact that this landmark vehicle was produced at our plant is a particular honour for us and makes me very proud indeed of my team.”
The Munich facility is the only one to have had produced all six generations of BMW 3 Series and seen as a leader in manufacturing processes and advancements for all other facilities producing the same model.
Constant modernisation at the manufacturing level was required to keep up with the technological upgrades the 3-Series had received with each iteration, while also allowing customers to have a myriad of variants and customisation options to tailor their cars to.


Malaysian 2015 New Car Launch Calendar

Looking for when your next, new car will be launched in Malaysia? Here are all the dates for what’s coming to you in 2015.
JUNE 2015:
All-New Isuzu MU-X: Seven-seater SUV
 (June 04)
Hyundai Genesis: Premium family sedan
 (June 05)
Kia Cerato Koup 1.6 T-GDI
JULY 2015:
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: Premium seven-seater MPV
BMW 1 Series Facelift: Hatchback
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT: Super car
AUGUST 2015:
Mazda MX-5 (All-New): Sports car
Also expected this year (with no confirmed dates):
All-New Mazda CX-3
Mazda CX-5 Facelift (CKD)
All-New Volkswagen Passat (B8)
Audi A7 Facelift
All-New Volvo XC90
Ford Ranger Facelift
Ford Everest
Ford Mustang
All-New Peugeot 408
Lexus IS 200t
All-New Lexus RX
UPDATE : Our 2016 list of upcoming car launches is up!
Check it out by clicking here
.


Bangkok 2015: New Mitsubishi Mirage Launched In Thailand - Impressive List of Safety Features!

Three years after its global debut in Thailand, the Mitsubishi Mirage has been given a mid-lifecycle update, as well as a significant upgrade in its list of safety features. The new Mirage was launched today at the 2015 Thailand International Motor Expo, with prices ranging from THB 383,000 to THB 567,000.
Nevermind about other A-segment cars, the new Mirage has more safety features than many other C-segment models.
The previous Mirage was designed to meet Thailand’s Eco Car programme, which entitles it to a lower 17 percent excise duty. Phase 2 of the programme however, which is scheduled to begin in 2019, will add compliance to Euro 5 emission standards as a requirement.
Thailand will also be switching to a CO2 emissions-based excise duty structure by 1-January 2016, which require cars to emit no more than 100 g/km of CO2 to qualify for the lowest 14 percent excise duty rate for eco-cars.
As such, the specifications of the new Mirage mirrors that of its European-market counterparts, adding electronic stability control (or Active Stability Contro, ASC in Mitsubishi’s terminology) as a standard feature across the range. Hill start assist, emergency stop signal (automatically turns on the hazard lights when emergency braking is applied) are also standard.
The highest grade GLS model gets an intra-city, low-speed autonomous emergency braking (Forward Collision Mitigation System, up to 30 km/h) and a misacceleration mitigation system, which prevents the driver from accidently accelerating towards a wall (misshifting between Reverse and Drive for example).
Airbag count however, remains at only two.
The 1.2-litre three-cylinder MIVEC engine has been updated to emit only 98 g/km of CO2. Thankfully, power output remains unchanged at 78 PS at 6,000 rpm, while torque is maintained at 100 Nm at 4,000 rpm.
Fuel economy has also been improved from 21 km/litre to 23.8 km/litre.
The improvements were achieved by lowering the friction of the engine’s internal components, using diamond-like carbon coated piston ring, low friction timing chain, and a Multistage Generation Control with IBS (Intelligent Battery Sensor).
The CVT has also been improved with a G-Sensor system and Idle Neutral Control for lower fuel consumption.
From the outside, the new Mirage is differentiated by its Bi-Xenon HID headlamps with LED daytime running lights (GLS model only) and LED tail lights. The grille and front bumper has also been changed slightly. Lower range models get halogen headlamps, with their LED daytime running lights fitted into the front bumper.
Inside, its still the cabin remains largely unchaged.
Prices in Thailand range from THB 383,000 to THB 567,000.


Proton Sales Climb In May 2022 But Are Parts Delays Solved?

Proton sold close to 10,000 vehicles in May 2022 with almost 4,000 of that being the Saga. Meanwhile,
the X50, their B-segment SUV
, is dominating its class rivals with 2,779 units registered.

The first half of 2022 hasn’t been the smoothest few months for national automaker Proton but with these positive trends starting to bear fruit toward the mid-year, it could be a sign that the worst is now behind it.

Last month’s domestic and export sales totalling 9,792 units represented a 10.8% increase over the preceding month of April and is 3.7% more than what Proton managed over the same period in May 2021.

Proton also reiterated its strong 2nd place position in the Malaysian automotive market overall with an estimated market share of 19.6% while their Year-To-Date market share (of all cars only sold this year) is said to stand at an estimated 17.1%.

Unsurprisingly, the star of their line-up continues to be the X50, which they tout as the current leader in the B-segment SUV space as well as the most popular new SUV in Malaysia overall. The Proton Saga, which was
launched on May 12th in its most recent guise
, continues its strong performance with 3,996 units sold in May.

Finally, on the matter of sales, Proton’s export units are continuing to grow with 513 sales recorded in overseas markets, most of which continue to be in Pakistan followed by Egypt and Brunei.

With a shortage of parts being the most high profile issue facing Proton owners and casting a dark cloud over prospective customers, Proton’s Deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah said: “As with the rest of the automotive industry, we are continuing to try and secure sufficient parts supply to clear our backlog of orders so while that is happening, Proton would like to express its gratitude to customers who have supported us in bearing with the long waiting period.”

That isn’t exactly a crystal clear reassurance that
the parts shortage woes
that have escalated since late 2021 have been overcome, but obviously, Proton has been scrambling to get their hands on as many parts as they can to distribute to service centres.

Hopefully, some additional information can be provided soon relating to the progress in fulfilling these “backlog of orders” while efficiently dealing with the needs in
the after-sales side of things
.


Honda City Hybrid And Jazz Hybrid Still In The Plans For Malaysia

Several years ago at the November 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, the then COO of Asia Ocenia Region Operations of Honda Motor Corp.,
Hiroshi Kobayashi
 told Carlist.my that a hybrid variant of the Honda City will be launched in Thailand and Malaysia.
This revelation was also confirmed by Yoiichiro Ueno, President and CEO of Honda Malaysia, who in February 2014 told the Malaysian press that the company plans to assemble at least two hybrid models at its new No.2 assembly line in at its plant in Pegoh, Melaka later that year.
Then came the spate of recalls for hybrid variants of the Japanese market Jazz (Fit), City (Grace) and HR-V (Vezel) – all of which uses the same 1.5-litre Sport Hybrid i-DCD powertrain paired to a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission.
As these models have yet to be launched outside of Japan, Honda swiftly suspended all plans to introduce these models overseas. Following that, Honda Malaysia did not have a successor for the previous generation Jazz Hybrid – the first locally-assembled hybrid in Malaysia.
According sources familiar with the matter, both the City Hybrid and Jazz Hybrid are still in plans for Malaysia, but added that the models won’t be launched locally so soon yet.
We haphazard a guess that the two locally-assembled hybrids might be launched in late-2017, after the
City and Jazz facelift
 are launched.
“The problem has already been solved but our engineers have elected to continue suspending any plans to launch these models overseas as they felt that more real-world data needs to be gathered before they can be absolutely sure that the problem is permanently solved. The driving conditions in Japan are quite mild – average speeds are low, weather is fine, and drivers usually don’t cover more than 10,000 km per year,” he said.
Another source also explained that dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) are efficient and delivers good driving performance but they are characteristically less smooth when driving at speeds below 20 km/h. “We noted that many Malaysian drivers typically brake hard for speed bumps before accelerating hard again. The stop-go traffic in Malaysia is also different from those experienced in many other countries. The cars don’t really come to a complete stop, but continue to move slowly, and often the drivers would abruptly accelerate hard to close the gap between cars,” he said while gesturing with hands explaining how Malaysian drivers jostle about in traffic, adding that these sudden braking and acceleration, coupled with the hot and humid weather, adds stress to the drivetrain.
“Improving the DCT’s performance within this 10 km/h to 30 km/h speed range is important before we can introduce DCT to Malaysia,” he added.
“You will see, when it’s here, you will see for yourself how much smoother our DCT is,” he smiled.
Middle of last year, Honda
revamped its organisation structure
, and implemented several new processes in response to the spate of recalls. This partly explains Honda’s careful approach before rolling out any new technology.
The Sport Hybrid i-DCD is one of Honda’s three full-hybrid solutions for its models.
The single motor, 7-speed DCT Sport Hybrid i-DCD is used on hybrid variants of compact models like the Jazz, City and HR-V – sold as the Fit, Grace and Vezel respectively in Japan.
The larger Accord Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid uses a two-motor i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive), paired to a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle engine. The system drives the front wheels directly without the need for any conventional transmission.
The Accord Hybrid is currently assembled in Thailand, for domestic sales only.
The third and final solution is the three-motor Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system used in the Legend and NSX. The system pairs a 3.5-litre V6 engine with a 7-speed DCT.


Kumho Appointed OE Supplier To AUDI

Kumho tyres have come a long long way.

So long, that they have just passed the rigorously high standards of Audi and become the OE tyre for Audi's best selling SUV, the Q5.

The tyres that will be the contact patch between the Q5 and the road will be Kumho's CRUGEN Premium KL33 model.

Made in Kumho’s factory in Macon, Georgia, USA the CRUGEN series of tyres were specifically developed in response to the emergence of urban SUVs, for which the CRUGEN Premium KL33 is a top-selling product.

The KL33 offers exceptional on-road handling and braking, plus excellent high-speed stability, making it a sought-after product in its native Korea. It also provides the quiet running and ride comfort required of such an up-market vehicle like the Q5.

Furthermore, its tread pattern is designed to improve driving stability and is abrasion resistance, as well as semi-knurling, 3D blocks and a quartet of wide grooves help ensure safe progress on rain-covered roads.


The Pope Now Drives A Toyota Mirai

It's more than just an electric vehicle - it's the hydrogen fuel cell powered Toyota Mirai, and the Pope's new vehicle of choice.

Regardless of what you might think of the current Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he has some very progressive world views when it comes to science and combating climate change. It's then pretty appropriate that his next Popemobile, so to speak, will be the Toyota Mirai - a car that has been undergoing widespread consumer testing since Toyota launched it a couple of years ago.

Why is it still undergoing testing? It's because the Mirai is a fuel cell vehicle, meaning it operates on hydrogen gas - something that isn't yet available around the world. The only emissions are water, and propulsion is via electric motors that get energy from the fuel cell. In many ways it's far more practical than a pure electric vehicle as refilling the hydrogen tank is a lot quicker than recharging a battery.

On top of all that, it has a range of roughly 500 kilometers on a full tank - which is pretty impressive. We test drove the Mirai alongside the fourth-generation Prius very briefly a couple of years ago on
Fuji Speedway,
 and not only does it drive as well as an electric car, it handles impeccably too.

This new Popemobile will also be free of bulletproof glass - something interesting and a show of faith on the Pope's behalf. This will also help the Mirai with maintaining good efficiency as bulletproof glass is extremely heavy.


Introducing the 2023 Perodua Axia E manual: New grey colour, still the most affordable car in Malaysia, starting at RM22k

Perodua has officially launched the Axia E, catering to the needs of the lower-income group with an affordable price tag of RM22,000 (excluding insurance).

This variant is based on the well-established Perodua Axia introduced in 2017 and holds a reputable 4-star Asean NCAP rating from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS).

"Our goal with the Perodua Axia E is to provide affordable and reliable transportation for all Malaysians," stated Dato' Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President and Chief Executive Officer of Perodua.

The manual transmission model of the Perodua Axia E comes equipped with two airbags, a driver seatbelt reminder, and a 5-year warranty. It is available in three attractive colour options: Ivory White, Glittering Silver, and the new Granite Grey.

The introduction of the Perodua Axia E to the market was carried out by Perodua Chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin. Since its initial launch in 2014 until May 31, 2023, Perodua has recorded an impressive 606,756 units of the Axia model sold, including the All-New Axia that was introduced in February 2023.

Dato' Sri Zainal expressed the company's aim to sell up to 1,500 units per month, catering to both individual customers and fleet sales. "While we do not limit our customer base, we believe that the majority of Malaysians will find this model to be a desirable option," he explained.

"The Perodua Axia E has been thoroughly tested and proven over the years, and we believe this variant will fulfill its role in providing motorcycle owners with an opportunity to own a brand-new car."

Through discussions with local financial institutions, Perodua discovered that owning the Axia E on hire purchase costs as little as RM300 per month. This is equivalent to the monthly payment for a brand-new motorcycle on hire purchase.

With the Perodua Axia E, quality mobility is now within reach for all Malaysians, making car ownership an affordable reality, even if it's just a basic vehicle.


All-New 2017 Honda CR-V Bookings Open; 1.5 Turbo, Advanced Sensing Technologies

After months of anticipation, Honda Malaysia has finally decided to open bookings for the all-new Honda CR-V. It will be making its way to all 91 showrooms nationwide, and customers are invited to place early booking fees on the car from today onwards if they wish to grab one quick. Given Honda's track records with their products, their booking list can grow rapidly- so if you really are interested in the CR-V, get your name down quickly.
The all new CR-V has plenty of new technology that comes with it, and what's interesting to note is that the variant coming to Malaysia doesn't follow the specifications of our neighbours up north. Honda Malaysia is keen to highlight the SENSING safety and driver-assistance technologies that will be made available with this coming CR-V, adding features that were previously usually exclusive to continental cars.
The technologies include everything from radar-based Active Cruise Control to Frontal Collision Deterrence. There is also Side Collision Deterrence, which effectively functions by helping you to stay in your lane and even steering you back on course if it detects you wandering.
All of these systems help to make the drive more convenient and safer at the same time. The Active Cruise Control system combines Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows drivers to set a preferred speed and automatically slows the car down if there is slower moving traffic ahead, and the Low Speed Follow system, which functions exceptionally well in slow moving traffic and can maintain distance with the car in front, bringing the car to a stop if needed. Together, these two systems help to reduce the effort required on anything from a trip outstation to the daily commute.
For the Frontal Collision Deterrence, this system is similar to the City Safety features you may find on European cars. It will first warn the driver with the Forward Collision Warning system, and if there is a risk of a collision the Collision Mitigation Braking System will apply the brakes to reduce speed in order to prevent an accident or to reduce potential damage. The system operates through the use of both radar and a camera to constantly scan for potential threats.
In addition to this, the all-new Honda CR-V will have the 1.5-litre VTEC turbo powertrain made available as one of the variants, paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission. Power is up to 193 PS at 5,600 rpm, while torque is a solid 243 Nm from 2,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm. The all-new CR-V is also a little bigger than its predecessor as you would expect, but it maintains that maneuverable feeling that its predecessors managed to achieve.
Customers can get a firsthand look at the all-new CR-V at roadshows following this schedule:
Customers can be the first to own the all-new CR-V when it is launched by placing an advanced booking now at any of the 91 authorised Honda dealers nationwide. For more information, please call Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or log on to
www.honda.com.my
.


Three BMW Dealerships Joining Forces At Brand's Massive Year-End Expo In KL

The Marquee at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is all set to be transformed into the largest BMW and MINI Dealership in the City Centre this weekend as Quill Automobiles, Ingress Auto, and Wheelcorp Premium, three dealerships representing the BMW and MINI brand in the Klang Valley will come together this weekend, December 6th to December 8th 2019 in a one of a kind event – The BMW Year-End Expo 2019.

The event will present over 90 vehicles with exciting offers which include a special 6 Years and 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty programme, special financing rates from 0.33%, a complimentary one-year BMW Comprehensive Motor Insurance, and many more attractions for your new BMW or MINI vehicle.

That being said, the BMW Year-End Expo 2019 will be taking place at The Marquee at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from now until Sunday, 8th December 2019, 7pm.


Over 8 Million Toyota And Lexus Hybrids Sold Since 1997

Toyota announced today that cumulative sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid models have crossed the 8 millionth car milestone in July 2015.
Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who was part of the original ‘G21’ team tasked to develop the first Prius, recalls the difficulties faced by the team in 1995.
Uchiyamada, often referred to as the ‘Father of the Prius,’ remembered how the team couldn’t even get the first Prius prototype to move for 49 days! "We had no idea what was wrong, so we worked late every night trying to figure it out. We finally got it to move around Christmas time, but it only went 500 meters!"
The Prius was first launched in Japan in 1997. Since then, the Toyota’s line-up of hybrid models have been expanded to 32, including nine Lexus hybrid models.
The Prius family of vehicles, which now includes the namesake model Prius, as well as the Prius c and Prius Alpha (also known as Prius v and Prius + in some markets) lead in cumulative sales, totalling 5.2 million models, followed by the Camry Hybrid (528,300 units sold) and the Lexus RX 450h/400h (317,600 units).
The company said, “The message is clear: having found homes in driveways around the world, hybrids have staying power. Since the launch of the Prius in 1997, Toyota has been gradually adding hybrid models throughout its range.”
The company reached is 1 millionth hybrid car milestone in 2007. The 8 millionth Toyota/Lexus hybrid car milestone was reached just 10 months after crossing the 7 millionth car milestone.
“This ongoing roll-out will only continue, with new hybrid models being added to Toyota's range and sold in more markets than ever before,” it added.
Toyota is expected to announce its latest,
all-new fourth generation Prius
 within the next few months.


SPAD Nabs 7 Unlicensed ‘Taxis’ In Penang Operating Without Permits

*Image above courtesy of The Star/ YouTube
The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has seized up to seven vehicles at the Penang International Airport recently, following a three-day operation there to catch these law breakers.
According to The Star, the vehicles were reported to be used for a public transportation service, but doing so without a permit. SPAD had reportedly spent the three-days operation on monitoring the situation closely, before acting on the involved drivers.
SPAD’s Head Of Enforcement Division Major General, Datuk Paduka Che Hasni Che Ahmad, exclaimed that those who are caught providing such services without authorisation and the right permits to do so, could face a fine of up to RM10,000, or be jailed for up to a year, or both.
*Source


Auto Bavaria 'Cari Pasal' With Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

Auto Bavaria, the official distributor of BMW in Malaysia has published a social media post on Facebook with a 'cari pasal' caption directed at the competition, in this case, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

With an image of what appears to be the
Mercedes-Benz GLE 450
 in the side-view mirror of what we presume to be a
BMW X5 xDrive45e
 (its direct competitor), the social media post goes on to say 'Take pride in your BMW. Afterall, we are always ahead'.

We'll ignore how Auto Bavaria spelt Afterall as one word for now but the question I suppose worth asking is how exactly is BMW always ahead? Are we talking
head-to-head performance
 of the BMW X5 xDrive45e vs Mercedes-Benz GLE 450?

No.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450

BMW X5 xDrive 45e

Price

RM 475,501

RM440,745

Engine

3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder petrol aided by EQ Boost mild hybrid system

3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder petrol with eDrive hybrid system

Transmission

9-speed 9G-Tronic

8-speed Steptronic

Drivetrain

All Wheel Drive

All Wheel Drive

Fuel Economy

9.3L/100km (combined)

9.1L/100km (combined)

Horsepower

362hp + 22hp EQ Boost

394hp

Torque

500 + 250 Nm EQ Boost

600Nm

0-100 km/h

5.7 Seconds

5.6 Seconds

Seating Capacity

7

5

Wheels

21" AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels

20" M light-alloy wheels in Star-Spoke

Suspension

AIRMATIC adaptive suspension

2-Axle air suspension

Airbags

7

6

Driving Assistance Systems

 Active Distance Distronic, Lane Tracking, Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and a 360-degree camera for all-round visibility

Active Cruise Control, Lane departure warning and lane change warning, Front Collision Warning with brake intervention, Rear cross-traffic collision alert and prevention, Heads-up Display, Surround view camera, Parking Assist Plus With Reverse Assistant

Now if you look at the side-by-side comparison above, the X5 is barely ahead at all, let alone being always ahead. Of course, the GLE-X5 could be a metaphor for sales figures or TIV? But Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has stopped reporting their monthly sales numbers to MAA as they are of the belief that a more accurate reporting and assessing of TIV (total industry volume) is to have it based on total cars registered via the road transport department or JPJ. This has been MBM's stand since the second quarter of 2020.

Or we could be reading too much into this and it's all tongue-in-cheek by Auto Bavaria, if that is so then will MBM come up with a reply?

Who remembers when
Honda Malaysia
 did something similar to Toyota during the promotional campaign for the all-new Honda City?

But when it's all said and done, when PDRM comes rolling by, Semua Stop!


China Cutting EV Subsidies In 2021 To Boost Local EVs

China plans to cut subsidies for New Electric Vehicles (NEVs), hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a bid to boost homegrown EVs while making it harder for foreign EV companies to market their vehicles in the largest auto market in the world.

Automotive News reports that China will cut subsidies by a further 20 percent in 2021 (after a 10 percent slash in 2020) for passenger vehicles. Subsidies will be slashed by 10 percent for NEV public buses and taxis. The government’s original plan involved removing all subsidies by 2020, however, the slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the government to roll-back on those cuts in a bid to buoy sales right through the end of 2022.

While it may seem counterintuitive for the country to cut back on subsidies for EV vehicles especially when China hopes for 20 percent of the auto market to be dominated by EVs by 2025 (5 percent in 2020), the move might just help boost Chinese
EV
 manufacturers gain a competitive pricing edge over international rivals such
Tesla
 and
Volkswagen
.

The move to end subsidies, which the Chinese government has had in place for over a decade, hopes to have EV manufacturers operate with more independence.

The cuts will in all likelihood hurt premium EVs such as the
Tesla Model S
 and X, which has enjoyed stellar success with its entry-level Model 3 since its introduction. The Model 3 sales are nearly double that of its closest competitor (YTD March 2020), the BYD Qin Pro EV, which has rolled out of Tesla’s multibillion-dollar
Gigafactory
 since the end of 2019.

Tesla also faces growing competition from other local manufacturers such as NIO, BAIC, GAC, and XPeng which are also making headways within the largest EV market in the world. Despite the pandemic slowdown, a total of approximately 1.3 million EVs were sold in China in 2020, up from 1.2 million in 2019. Sales of roughly 1.8 million EVs are forecasted in 2021, making China an especially lucrative market for EV players.


Pops And Bangs Will Break Your Engine

This kind of tune is absolutely awful and it needs to stop. Not only is it really obnoxious, it can potentially permanently damage your engine either quickly or slowly.

If you don't know what a "Pop and Bang" tune is, let's quickly dive into what inspired it, how it came about, and where you can commonly find it. On much older race cars throughout the 80s and 90s, you would occasionally see puffs of fire coming out of the exhaust pipe accompanied with a crack whenever a driver shifts up or lifts off the accelerator pedal. In some cases there would be pops and bangs (hence the name) without the fire, which usually was the case with older turbocharged rally cars.

In the case of the former, the usual cause for this was excess fuel that was unburned being sent down the exhaust pipe where it would eventually meet fresh air once it exited - and that usually saw the unburned fuel igniting with a crack. With the latter, it was a result of anti-lag systems that would specifically inject fuel even when the driver was off the gas, igniting it to keep the turbos spooling and to reduce turbo lag.

It made for quite the spectacle, both visually and aurally, and it's understandable that people would eventually try to emulate this for their road cars. But there is a reason you don't really see such systems around anymore and race cars tend to be very clean in their operation - very rarely do you see spurts of fire or hear pops and crackles on the overrun.

In addition to this, that excess fuel turned out to be pretty awful for the longevity of an engine. Of course, race cars regularly had oil changes done after each race outing, and broken turbos could easily be replaced with million-dollar race budgets - as these systems usually did end up breaking a turbo or two on a weekend. These same problems come back to owners who tune their cars specifically with the intent of creating pops and bangs.

Let's explain how it's bad.

Excess fuel thins your oil out

In order to achieve these synthetic pops and bangs, almost every tuner will apply the same principle - dump excess fuel into the engine when you lift off the throttle. The excess fuel does help to cool your engine slightly as it brings heat out with it when the fuel vaporizes on the hot metal, but plenty of the fuel still remains unburned inside the cylinder and mixes with the oil on your cylinder walls.

This oil and petrol mixture then washes down past your piston rings and into the sump, mixing with your oil and thinning it out. The function of oil is partly to carry heat away from critical components in your engine, but the main function is ensuring lubrication in the moving parts of the engine. Having the oil thin out is dangerous as it can lead to increased engine wear, and eventually engines seizing and potentially sending a conrod out the side of your engine block. We have seen it happen before, numerous times.

Exhaust valves can get burned

Some of these pop and bang tunes also have the spark plugs fire as the fuel is leaving the cylinder through the exhaust ports by massively retarding (delaying) the ignition timing. This can result in the burning of your exhaust valves, which can either cause them to no longer seal properly or damage them permanently. Either way, it's not great for your engine.

Turbochargers suffer too

For turbocharged engines, that hot exhaust gas mix enters the turbo at a temperature it really isn't designed for - as even turbochargers have a limit to how much exhaust gas temperature they can take. Excess heat can cause permanent damage through warping of the metal or degradation of the seals, and in more extreme cases where true anti-lag is implemented, the actual turbine fins can get damaged by sheer force of the fuel mix igniting.

There are ways to get around all of this, but you really shouldn't be doing it to begin with - especially as it brings no actual benefit to performance. Pops and bangs are really more for show than anything else - let's be real, there's no actual need for anti-lag on modern, small turbocharged engines as they spool up so quickly as it is. By all means, tune for more power and torque, but causing a commotion with pops and bangs is just plain embarrassing!


“And The Lights Go Out” – This is your 2021 F1 Season Calendar

Carrying on from a stellar year of action and upsets in 2020 - we are oh-so-close to the start of another season of thrilling Formula 1 action when the lights go out for the Bahrain Grand Prix this Sunday. A packed 23-race F1 calendar has been set for the 2021 season, including the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in this transitional but crucial year of racing before a monumental change in rulesets takes effect in 2022.

The 2021 season sees the end of back-to-back races (
as was organised in 2020
 to populate the calendar with a shorter season), but a return to long-serving racetracks where the action is intense, and the races awe-inspiring.

This year will see returns to hallowed racetracks – most notably the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Australia), Suzuka Circuit (Japan),  Marina Bay Street Circuit (Singapore), and of course, the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo.

Here’s your 2021 Formula 1 Season calendar:

Bahrain Grand Prix – Sakhir Circuit: 28th March

Italian Grand Prix – Imola Circuit: 18th April

Portuguese Grand Prix – Algarve Circuit: 2nd May

Spanish Grand Prix – Barcelona Circuit: 9th May

Monaco Grand Prix – Circuit de Monaco: 23rd May

Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku City Circuit: 6th June

Canadian Grand Prix – Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve: 14th June

French Grand Prix - Circuit Paul Ricard: 27th June

Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring: 4th July

British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit: 4th July

Hungarian Grand Prix – Hungaroring: 1st August

Belgian Grand Prix –  Spa-Francorchamps: 29th August

Dutch Grand Prix – Zandvoort Circuit: 5th September

Italian Grand Prix – Monza Circuit: 12th September

Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom: 26th September

Singapore Grand Prix – Marina Bay Street Circuit: 3rd October

Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka International Circuit: 10th October

United States Grand Prix - Circuit of The Americas: 24th October

Mexico City Grand Prix – Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez: 31st October

Sao Paulo Grand Prix – Autódromo José Carlos Pace: 7th November

Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit: 21st November

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix – Jeddah Street Circuit: 5th December

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit: 12th December

With new teams such as
Aston Martin
 and Alpine mixing it in with stalwarts such as McLaren, Ferrari, and RedBull Racing – the action should come thick and fast. All teams will have their crosshairs firmly pointed on defending champions Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team which returns to defend their 8th Constructors’ Championship title, with no other than winningest F1 driver of all time Lewis Hamilton at the helm.


Kia's EV6 Just Got Crowned 2022's (European) Car Of The Year

After fending off fierce competition from runners-up Renault Megane E-Tech and
platform sibling the Hyundai IONIQ 5
, the Kia EV6 is both the first Korean entrant to take top spot and the first Asian-built fully electric vehicle to do so as well.

The EV6 scored a total of 279 points from judges in a rather closely fought competition from the 6 other shortlisted contenders. The podium winners (265 and 261 points, respectively) were followed by the Peugeot 308 (191), Skoda Enyaq (185), Ford Mustang Mach-E (150), and the Cupra Born (144).

Jason Jeong
, President at Kia Europe, commented: "It's a great honour to have won the 2022 European Car of the Year with the EV6, the first ever Kia to win this prestigious award. The EV6 is truly a landmark development that's been designed from the outset to make electric mobility fun, convenient and accessible by combining a highly impressive real-world driving range, ultra-fast charging capabilities, a spacious high-tech interior and a truly rewarding driving experience. The EV6 is an exciting sign of what's still to come in our evolving electrified line-up."

The sporty electric high riding hatchback (crossover?) had already been raking in praise around the world for its combination of value, fast charging capability, driving dynamics, range, build quality, and overall technology/safety suite.

Even better news for Malaysia is that current local distributors for the brand, Bermaz (through subsidiary Dinamikjaya Motors),
are keen on bring the EV6 into showrooms
 some time in the second half of 2022, as revealed to investors a few months ago.

Built on the E-GMP platform that will underpin nearly every electric Hyundai and Kia vehicle going forward, the EV6 in its most potent configuration is able to put down 580PS and 740Nm onto the road from its dual-motor powertrain that’s fed by a floor-mounted 77.4kWh battery.

Kia claims that it needs just 3.5 seconds to rocket up to 100km/h from a standstill with top speed achieved at 260km/h.
This level of performance
 does take a toll on range, however, as it will only manage 424km on a single charge. In more endurance-focused guises, such as pairing the largest capacity battery option with the least lesser-powered single motor drive unit, the EV6 can yield an expected 528km (WLTP) in between trips to the plug.

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors managed to strike first blood with the Kona Electric, offering Malaysians a less costly gateway into Korean zero-emissions motoring, now aided by the surprise early
arrival of the IONIQ 5 in March
.

The Car of the Year awards are an independent organisation supported by 9 major automotive publications and is among the longest-running prize in the automotive industry. This year's panel consists of a 61-strong jury consisting of highly respected motoring journalists from 23 countries.

However, due to it only involving journalists and publications based in Europe, those outside the continent refer to it as the European Car of the Year awards.


GALLERY: Renault’s Alaskan Concept Pick-Up Emerges, Heads To Frankfurt 2015

Renault
 has peeled the curtain back on what its future contender in the pick-up truck space will look like. Called the Alaskan Concept, it is a striking take on Renault’s more utilitarian ambitions, with a one tonne payload capacity and very modern but rugged looks.
The Alaskan Concept, Renault's first effort in this space after the 2015
Duster Oroch
, will be shown at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show and the French automaker has confirmed that it will make it to production in the first half of 2016 and be
built at their production facilities in Mexico and Spain
where some reports suggest it may be based on the
Nissan

Navara
.
When this future pick-up does make it to showrooms, it is not clear if will brandish the 'Alaskan' moniker, but will what will likely remain, however, is the concept’s striking looks – Renault say it be “similar in spirit” to the Alaskan Concept which right now strikes the balance between a show truck and production model.
On the concept, there’s Renaults LED PURE VISION tech in the headlights and taillights, sculpted wheel arches that frame 21-inch rims and some rather beefy tyres, and a centre exhaust out back. The body can be finished in satin-effect, brushed and polished metal as well. There’s also a camera fitted into the door mirrors to record the pick-up’s passing surroundings.
According to Laurens van den Acker - SVP, Corporate Design, “The styling of the ALASKAN Concept sticks to the rules of the pick-up segment, including impressive dimensions and a visual sense of power and robustness. At the same time, we have dialed in specific Renault cues in the form of an attractive, status-enhancing front-end design.”
There are no interior pictures as of yet but Renault says it offers “premium travelling comfort” and the “highest standards in terms of equipment and connectivity.”
As to what powers this new pick-up, Renault say it will offer best-in-class fuel efficiency, impressive power output and acceleration figures through a four-cylinder twin-turbocharged diesel engine – the 148hp 2.3-litre unit currently found in the Renault Master, but tuned for higher power output.


Dana Kerajaan Cukup Untuk Teruskan Subsidi Minyak - Tengku Zafrul

Dana yang dimiliki kerajaan ketika ini masih mencukupi untuk meneruskan
subsidi bahan api
 kepada rakyat Malaysia meskipun harga minyak mentah dunia sedang meningkat.

Kenyataan tersebut dibuat oleh Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz yang mengesahkan bahawa wang yang ada ketika ini cukup untuk terus menyokong rakyat dari segi melindungi mata pencarian mereka, terutama golongan rentan.

Tambah Zafrul, sasaran inflasi kerajaan tahun ini masih lagi dalam jajaran yang dinyatakan seperti sebelum ini, iaitu 2.3% dan 3.3%.

Subsidi Bersasar Mungkin Dilaksanakan

Menurut Zafrul, kerajaan akan terus memantau harga minyak dunia untuk melihat pelan jangka panjang, termasuk
pelaksanaan subsidi minyak bersasar.

“Amaun subsidi untuk tahun ini dijangka mencecah RM70 bilion, bermakna subsidi bahan api akan mencecah RM30 bilion. Kita membuat unjuran berasaskan kepada harga minyak Brent bulan Mei, dan subsidi bahan api telah mencecah RM5 bilion sebulan,” katanya.

Buat masa ini, Zafrul mengesahkan bahawa kerajaan akan meneruskan subsidi sedia ada memandangkan kerajaan masih mampu untuk membantu rakyat.

*Kredit foto: NST

Dividen Tambahan Petronas Tidak Diperlukan

Menteri Kewangan itu turut berkata buat masa ini, kerajaan tidak berhasrat untuk meminta dividen tambahan daripada
Petronas
 untuk menanggung subsidi minyak yang sedang diberikan.

"Kita akan melihat semua pilihan. Daripada hasil kerajaan, ia semakin meningkat kerana hasil kita juga bergantung kepada harga komoditi,” jelasnya.

Meskipun syarikat seperti Petronas mengumumkan kedudukan kewangan mereka yang kukuh, namun kerajaan masih belum berbincang untuk meminta lebih banyak dividen daripada Petronas.

"Hasil kerajaan juga meningkat walaupun kenaikannya tidak setinggi peningkatan subsidi. Kita akan terus memantau kerana ia bukan hanya fenomena di Malaysia sahaja tetapi juga di seluruh dunia," katanya.


These Germans Have Set A New Guinness World Record For The Fastest Wheel Change On A Car

So you’ve got a flat tyre, how long do you think it will take to change the wheel with the tyre iron in the boot of the car? Five minutes? Ten?
Well, for a German auto company known as Kfzteile24, their team of four has managed to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest wheel change on a car by swapping out all four of them in a blistering 59.62 seconds.
In accordance with the rules of the record bid, they are only allowed hand tools and their own healthy supply of elbow grease. That means just a hand-operated car jack and tyre irons, no electric tools are allowed here.
The previous record, which had previously stood at 1 minutes and 23.85 seconds by another German team has now been officially smashed.
Think you and your buddies can beat that record? Only one way to find out.


IKBN Students Graduate From Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Apprentice Training Centre

Recently
Mercedes-Benz
 Malaysia awarded an inaugural batch of students from the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) with a certificate of completion to mark their successful training at its Apprentice Training Centre in Shah Alam.
The 11 graduates who are aged 19 to 25 years underwent a three-month training programme with intensive product and systems instruction, covering both theory and practical aspects. The training also included soft skill development with retail experience in a workshop environment as well as lessons in maintenance repairs, electrical, trouble-shooting and diagnosing malfunctions among others.
The programme itself began in October 2015 and was the fruition of a year-long three-way discussion and preparation period between Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and IKBN. Prior to that, the programme was formalised under a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in August 2015.
At the ceremony, Dr Claus Weidner, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, said: “Through the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Apprentice Training Centre, we are proud to witness the graduation of this first batch of 11 participants from the National Youth Skills Training Institute, and we congratulate them for their successful completion of the training programme,”
“It is fulfilling to see that within just four months of signing the MOU with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we have our first batch of graduates. Training and development of youth is important, and certainly part of the Mercedes-Benz DNA. We hope to continue supporting the advancement of skills of Malaysian youth in whatever way possible.”
Also at the event, YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin added: “We are pleased to congratulate our pilot batch of graduates. They are a testament of the smart partnerships the Ministry of Youth and Sports has with industry partners such as Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. We hope they will do well and positively contribute to the workforce.”
Through its Apprentice Training Centre, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is currently in discussions with IKBN to explore other ways to enhance the programme going forward.


2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 4MATIC Review – Better late than never

Mid-sized SUVs and crossovers have been all the rage over the past decade or so. While many manufacturers already have two to three SUV models lined up in their showrooms, the rest of the horde is slowly, but surely making their way towards the bandwagon.
Even the most unlikely of manufacturers have begun producing SUVs, or at the very least, have introduced concepts and announced that there are intentions to produce SUVs in the future – such as
Bentley
 with the hideous
Bentayga
,
Rolls-Royce
 with the
Cullinan
,
Maserati
 and the Levante,
Lamborghini
 with the
Urus
, as well as
Lotus
 with their
yet-to-be-named crossover
 which is due in 2018.
What about
Ferrari
?
“You’ll have to shoot me first,” said Chairman Sergio Marchionne.
That being said, the first few premium brands that noticed the new trend and acted swiftly, such as
BMW
,
Porsche
, and
Audi
, saw great fortune through their SUVs on a global scale.
And for a brand that has always been present alongside BMW and Audi in a never-ending battle for supremacy,
Mercedes-Benz
 has been rather late to react successfully to the aforementioned phenomenon.
Yes, there was the GLK but it was a flop compared to the BMW X3 and
Q5
 globally, as it was only available as a left-hand drive model and couldn’t be made in right-hand drive configuration for some godforsaken technical reason involving the drive shaft.
So, in an effort to make a comeback into the premium mid-sized SUV segment and to give the X3 and the Q5 a good run for their money globally, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the handsome vehicle you’re looking at now –
the GLC
.
Specifications:
Price: RM328,888
Engine: 2.0-litre, inline-4, turbocharged, petrol
Power: 211hp at 5,500 rpm
Torque: 350Nm from 1,200 to 4,000rpm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic G-Tronic with torque converter
Safety: Nine airbags, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Crosswind Assist, Attention Assist, Active Parking Assistant, Distronic Plus active cruise-control system, Steering Assist
Origin: Fully imported from Germany
Overview
The GLC 250 is a premium compact SUV which competes against the
BMW X3
 xDrive20i (RM325,800) and the
Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Quattro
 (RM324,900). Available only in one variant, the GLC 250 sold here is actually offered with a full AMG Line kit that comprises sporty bumpers, a sporty looking skid plate, as well as massive 20-inch alloy wheels.
Unlike the
C-Class
,
S-Class
, and the
E-Class
 that are being assembled locally, the GLC, which is the brand’s smallest longitudinal-engine SUV at the moment, is being fully imported from Germany. However, the brand did announce that it has intentions of assembling the GLC locally in the future.
Exterior
Built based on the C-Class sedan, the GLC 250 stands at 4656mm long, 1890mm wide, and 1639mm tall, which is 1mm longer, 9mm wider and 21mm lower than its closest rival – the X3.
As we mentioned above, the GLC is offered in AMG Line kit, which gives the SUV a sporty appearance. Notable features include LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, positioning lamps, a panoramic sunroof, AMG’s multi-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels, and AMG doorsteps. Thanks to these goodies, the GLC turns out to be quite a looker, and is arguably the sportiest among its rivals.
Unlike its predecessor, the GLK which was rather boxy, the GLC is pretty curvaceous, but as curvy as it is, it still looks bold and would appeal to both male and female customers alike.
Besides that, it is also larger than its predecessor, but despite the increase in size, the GLC is 80kg lighter than the GLK, thanks to the hot-formed high-strength steel in the body structure and an the front wings, bonnet and roof that have a generous dose of aluminium.
Interior
Upon stepping into the GLC, we noticed that the dashboard, the instruments, the infotainment screen on the dashboard, the rotary wheel between the seats, the steering wheel, the trim applications, and even the levers and buttons are all shared with the latest C-Class. It is a C-Class on stilts after all.
There is generous amount of leather and a combination of hard and soft plastic as well. Overall, the cabin build quality is top notch and unmistakably Mercedes-Benz. The driving position was very comfortable, with raised seats affording good visibility all around.
The rear seats split 40/20/40 and offered good level of support as well. The only setback was that legroom was compromised by the central tunnel. As far as practicality goes, there are sizeable door pockets, a lidded bin and drink holders in the front section of the centre console to store items like Smart tags, mobile phones and what not.
What we loved most in the GLC was the 13-speaker Burmester surround sound system, which was so crisp and well-tuned that any song that we played sounded awesome, regardless of the genre.
And then, there was the panoramic glass roof, three-zone air conditioning, Active Parking Assist and a 360-degree camera with bird’s eye aerial view, and very ergonomically placed levers and buttons all around.
In all, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the GLC’s interior is a cut above anything else in the segment right now, as the materials, detailing, and the plush finish put all of its rivals to shame.
How does it drive?
Powering the GLC 250 is the same M274 2.0 litre engine as the C 250, which is capable of producing 211hp and 350Nm of maximum torque. Mated to the engine is a nine-speed G-tronic gearbox with torque converter, which enables the SUV to accelerate from naught to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds and clock a top speed of 225km/h.
With all 350Nm of torque available from as early as 1,200rpm, it was a case of ‘just ask and you shall receive’ when it came to power. For a vehicle its size, the way the GLC moved was pretty impressive indeed.
Complemented by the brand’s 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive system and all the electronic driving aid, the level of grip the GLC offered is also worth mentioning here. Although it is still not on par with the X3 in the agility department, the GLC 250 was still a fun vehicle to drive both in town and along some challenging twisty bits.
With five driving modes to choose from (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual), we could alter the vehicle’s characteristics (to a certain extent) based on our moods and where we were driving. If we are to describe the GLC 250’s driving characteristics in one word, it would definitely be ‘refined’, and on the highway is where it really stood out, thanks to the nine-speed gearbox which shifted so seamlessly that we could barely feel anything.
How economical is it?
While claimed fuel consumption stands in between 6.5 to 7.1 litre/100km, we observed an average of 7 litre/100km throughout our stint with the car over three days, comprising a combination of driving within city roads in the Klang Valley and also the highway.
Conclusion
Mercedes-Benz could’ve been late to arrive in the premium compact SUV segment that is currently being conquered by the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5, but it definitely has all the right ingredients to give its competitors a good run for their money. It might not be the cheapest option here but it is the freshest.
While the X3 might appeal to those who want the best driving compact premium SUV, the Q5 is all about style. The GLC 250 on the other hand, is all about refinement and luxury.
Looking for a Mercedes-Benz? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Rindu Nak Makan Di KFC? Abadikan KFC Pada Nombor Pendaftaran Kereta Anda!

Teringin nak makan ayam goreng tapi tak boleh makan di restoran? Jangan risau, anda kini berpeluang untuk mengabadikan akronim ‘KFC’ pada kenderaan anda mengikut undang-undang! Lepas ini boleh makan dalam kereta sahaja, dan ianya tetap ‘KFC’!

‘KFC’ ini sinonim dengan rangkaian restoran Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) yang sememangnya terkenal dengan hidangan ayam gorengnya yang menjadi kesukaan rakyat Malaysia. Oleh itu, JPJ Negeri Kedah telah mengumumkan bahawa bidaan siri nombor pendaftaran ‘KFC’ akan dibuka kepada semua bermula 13 Februari 2021 sehingga 17 Februari 2021 melalui akaun rasmi Facebook mereka.

Keputusan tender tersebut akan diumumkan 24 jam selepas tarikh tutup penyertaan, iaitu pada 18 Februari 2021. Sekiranya anda berminat untuk mengabadikan siri nombor pendaftaran ini pada kenderaan anda, sila layari
 jpjebid.jpj.gov.my
 untuk membuat tempahan. Anda juga boleh menempah melalui aplikasi JPJeBid di telefon pintar anda pada 13 hingga 17 Februari nanti.

Oleh kerana namanya yang mudah diingati dan amat dikenali oleh rakyat Malaysia, JPJ negeri Kedah mensasarkan untuk menerima kutipan lebih RM1 juta daripada bidaan siri nombor pendaftaran kenderaan ‘KFC’ ini. Tiba masanya untuk rakyat Kedah dan para peminat tegar resipi ayam goreng Kolonel Sanders ini untuk membida nombor siri pendaftaran ini!

Sebelum ini, nombor siri KFA yang sama dengan akronim Persatuan Bola Sepak Kedah hanya mencapai kutipan RM 1.2 Juta, tidak melebihi sasarannya iaitu sebanyak RM2 juta. Ini mungkin disebabkan oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Kedah (KFA) yang kini sudah bertukar status menjadi kelab bola sepak yang diberi nama Kedah Darul Aman FC. Oleh itu, penyokong bola sepak ini lebih cenderung untuk memiliki nombor siri ‘KDA’, yang lebih sinonim dengan Kedah Darul Aman.

*Sumber: Harian Metro

Setakat ini, kutipan tertinggi yang diperoleh JPJ Kedah melalui nombor siri pendaftaran kenderaan ini ialah ‘KEN’, yang mencecah  hingga RM4.8 juta. Pada Disember tahun lepas, JPJ Kelantan mensasarkan sebanyak RM2 juta bidaan nombor pendaftaran
DDX
. Bayangkan kalau nombor plat DDX50 dan DDX70 pada
Proton X50
 dan
Proton X70
. Tak ke ngam tu?

Banyak juga sebenarnya koleksi nombor plat menarik yang boleh anda perolehi. Adakah nombor pendaftaran ‘KFC’ ini menarik perhatian anda? Kalau betul, jangan lupa untuk bida! Selain itu, anda turut boleh
memperbaharui lesen memandu anda secara atas talian dengan JPJ
.

Pada pendapat anda, adakah anda sejenis manusia yang gemarkan nombor siri pendaftaran yang istimewa untuk kenderaan anda ataupun anda jenis yang tidak kisah langsung tentang hal ini? Kongsikan pendapat anda dengan kami!


2017 Hyundai Ioniq HEV Plus - Price Goes Up By RM3k

The price of the top-spec Hyundai Ioniq HEV Plus has gone up by RM3,180 according to Hyundai Malaysia; that now sees the price of the car set at RM114,008, some two months after its
launch
. Prices quoted are OTR
excluding
 insurance. However, the price tag of the entry-level Ioniq  HEV variant remains unchanged at RM100,328 OTR
excluding
 insurance.
Previously, the Ioniq HEV Plus variant which added a suite of active safety features such as Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) was priced at RM110,828 OTR excluding insurance.
Read our review on the Ioniq Hybrid HEV Plus
here.


Recall For Selected Vios, Altis, And Alphard Manufactured Between Jan 2013 and Dec 2014

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd today announced an expansion of the Special Service Campaign (SSC) to replace the inflator modules of the front passenger side airbag to certain Toyota Vios, Corolla Altis and Alphard sold in Malaysia.
The defect is due to propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high temperature cycling. Inflator modules contain a non-desiccated, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant which may cause the rupture of the module. Should such a situation occur, metal fragments will pass through the airbag as it inflates and into the vehicle interior at high speed. As a result, serious injury or death could occur.
There are approximately 21,000 vehicles involved which were manufactured from Jan 2013 to Dec 2014 sold by UMWT. This SSC is also an expansion of the earlier campaigns announced by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).
UMWT said that the necessary parts for this recall is currently being sourced by TMC and once the parts are available, it will notify owners to request them to bring their cars to an authorised Toyota service centre to make the necessary replacements which should take about 1 to 3 hours.
All costs involved for the replacement will be borne by UMWT.
Owners of the vehicles involved are urged to contact any authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682).
Owners can also visit Toyota’s Special Service Campaign webpage through
this link
 to check whether their vehicle is involved through the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Checker.
To those who have downloaded the Toyota Drive Apps, there is also a link to Toyota’s SSC page and the VIN Checker.


Penduduk di kawasan PKPD Dibenarkan Keluar Untuk Suntikan Vaksin

Bagi menjelaskan kekeliruan yang berlaku sebelum ini, kerajaan telah mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa sesiapa yang tinggal di dalam kawasan
Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Diperketatkan (PKPD)
 dibenarkan keluar untuk ke Pusat Pemberian Vaksin (PPV) jika ada temujanji suntikan vaksin Covid-19.

Menteri Kanan (Keselamatan) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob berkata, hanya seorang sahaja dibenarkan keluar bagi tujuan tersebut. Tetapi, kelonggaran diberikan kepada mereka yang uzur atau orang kurang upaya (OKU) yang memerlukan peneman.

Bagi individu yang ingin menggunakan khidmat
e-hailing
 bagi mendapatkan vaksin, Ismail Sabri berkata kerajaan membenarkan kapasiti penumpang seramai tiga orang termasuk pemandu. Menurut beliau, Ini adalah untuk individu warga emas atau OKU yang memerlukan peneman dan tiada kenderaan sendiri untuk ke tempat menerima vaksin.

*Kredit foto: @JKJAVMY di Twitter

Untuk mereka yang mempunyai ahli keluarga di kampung yang perlu dihantar ke PPV, kelonggaran
rentas negeri
 juga akan diberikan kepada individu tersebut. Menurut Ismail, individu berkenaan hanya perlu membuat permohonan kepada pihak polis untuk melakukan rentas negeri dengan menunjukkan bukti berkaitan.

"Jika orang tua di kampung tiada kenderaan untuk ke pusat vaksin maka kelonggaran diberikan kepada anak atau warisnya melakukan rentas negeri bagi tujuan itu. Apa pun saya difahamkan setiap kawasan luar bandar mempunyai sukarelawan yang boleh membantu. Tetapi sekiranya tiada, kita benarkan waris atau anak mereka pulang ke kampung dengan membawa bukti surat atau MySejahtera dan sebagainya,” tambah beliau.

Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Negara, Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani berkata, sekiranya anda ditahan di
Sekatan Jalan Raya (SJR)
, anda hanya perlu menunjukkan bukti janji temu di aplikasi
MySejahtera
, kad vaksinasi atau SMS berkaitan tarikh vaksin kepada polis yang mengawal kawasan berkenaan.

Anggota polis juga sudah sedia maklum dengan kebenaran pergerakan tiga orang termasuk pemandu untuk urusan mendapatkan vaksin, katanya. Bagi tujuan kecemasan atau kematian pula, kebenaran akan diberikan berdasarkan pertimbangan pegawai polis di kawasan berkenaan.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Meskipun penduduk di kawasan
PKPD
dibenarkan keluar mendapatkan vaksin, tetapi menurut Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim, penduduk-penduduk yang sedang memakai gelang pink atau sedang menunggu keputusan ujian saringan tidak dibenarkan keluar untuk urusan vaksinasi.

Tambahnya, polis juga menekankan
Prosedur Operasi Standard (SOP)
 yang membenarkan penduduk keluar dari kawasan berkaitan atas sebab yang membabitkan sektor keselamatan, kesihatan, kecemasan serta kebajikan.

For more latest car news, reviews, car buying guides and videos visit us at Carlist.my
Auto News
.

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


IPD Ampang Jaya Dan JAS Buru Ekzos Bising – Operasi Akan Diteruskan Dari Masa Ke Semasa

Motosikal anda telah diubah suai menggunakan ekzos bising? Inilah peluang terakhir anda untuk menukar semula kepada ekzos asal kerana
Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS)
 dan PDRM sedang memburu anda!

Baru-baru ini, Bahagian Siasatan dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik Daerah (BSPTD) Ampang Jaya bersama JAS telah menjalankan operasi ujian bunyi ekzos yang diadakan di Balai Polis Trafik Ampang pada 6 Februari 2022.

Dalam operasi ujian bunyi yang dijalankan, sebanyak 13 buah motosikal telah menjalani ujian. Hasilnya, pihak berkuasa telah mengeluarkan sebanyak 5 kompaun dan 5 notis pemeriksaan semula kepada mereka yang gagal melepasi ujian.

Difahamkan, operasi memburu ekzos bising ini akan tetap diteruskan dari masa ke semasa oleh BSPTD Ampang jaya untuk memastikan pengguna kenderaan mematuhi peraturan dan undang-undang yang telah ditetapkan.

Berdasarkan kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong pada tahun lalu, kesalahan menggunakan ekzos bising pada motosikal hanya akan dikenakan
tindakan advokasi
, iaitu pengeluaran notis untuk temu siasat dan bukanlah saman.

Sebelum kenyataan tersebut dikeluarkan, kerajaan terlebih dahulu telah menguatkuasakan
saman
 sehingga RM2,000 atau penjara tidak melebihi 6 bulan kepada pemilik motosikal yang mengubah suai motosikal dengan menggunakan ekzos bising.

Walau bagaimanapun, operasi memburu ekzos bising yang dijalankan oleh JAS dan IPD Ampang Jaya baru-baru ini menyaksikan bahawa bukan sahaja notis temu siasat yang dikeluarkan, tetapi turut diiringi bersama kompaun yang tidak dinyatakan berapa nilainya.

Mereka yang pernah ditahan atas kesalahan menggunakan ekzos bising sebelum ini perlu mengelakkan daripada melakukan kesalahan sama kerana di bawah peruntukan Seksyen 64 Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987, polis diberikan kuasa menyita motosikal bagi mengelakkan kesalahan sama berulang.

*Kredit foto: Friends of Trafik Ampang


Incoming Precept Could Put Polestar Over The Top, Tesla On Guard

That’s a bold statement to make for a car that doesn’t actually exist yet from a company that until quite recently were still under the wing of Volvo, but you can’t deny that the Precept has big potential. The automaker behind it has now confirmed that their latest concept car will indeed be made into a production model.

Now that Polestar is an independent
Swedish
-Chinese entity under the Geely umbrella and has a very interesting couple of cars (
Polestar 1
,
Polestar 2
) under its belt, it’s not too hard to imagine the Precept being another successful notch in their belt.

To get you up to speed, the Precept first emerged as a concept car scheduled to make a worldwide debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, which was to be in early March but eventually got cancelled due to concerns surrounding the spreading COVID-19 pandemic.

It was mainly made to be a showcase of Polestar’s design prowess and use of sustainable materials, including flax-based composites and recycled materials that are environmentally friendly while also helping to save weight.

The fully electric four-door also featured frameless (and B-pillar-less) suicide doors, a sleek coupe-like profile and a very angular design that’s a little uncommon from what we’ve previously seen from Polestar. According to them, the rousing public response to the car is the prime motivator behind the push into production.

We were expecting the electrified performance automaker to carry on with their sequential naming scheme, which would naturally mean their next model would be called the Polestar 3; widely believed to be an electric SUV to rival the Jaguar I-PACE and Tesla Model X.

No complaints here as we’re already up to our necks in semi-useless SUVs, so Polestar being bullish on a sporty saloon is both refreshing and encouraging. Also, since we have not heard much official chatter about a tentative Polestar 3, supposedly the Precept will be Polestar’s next showroom model. Unless, of course, they decide to call the production version something else.

Unfortunately, we still don’t know all that much about the Precept. Polestar did not reveal any technical details about its electric powertrain when it was a concept car, and we still have a frustrating lack of information almost 6 months on. Hopefully that’ll change soon.

Don’t let that sleek shape fool you, however - the Precept is quite a large car. At over 3 metres in length, it is 150mm longer than the Tesla Model S. That car, along with the
Porsche Taycan
 and
Lucid Air
 will be the Precept’s main rivals. Based on that, we can probably make some estimations on what Polestar will need to deliver here.

It’ll need to be fast and handle well, which shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the team to pull off and almost certainly requiring a dual-motor layout for maximum power and traction. The battery system will need to be large to allow for an average range that exceeds 500km per charge yet robust enough to supply enough sustained current to the electric motors for sub-3 second standing sprints.

By the time the Precept will reach final prototyping, high-end EVs with over 110kWh batteries and outputs exceeding 1,000hp will be the norm as we’re already starting to see it emerge today with the Lucid and Tesla’s Model S ‘Plaid’ - something Polestar will have to anticipate.

CEO Thomas Ingenlath said that the Precept would be built at the company’s new carbon-neutral
facility in China
 with production volume broadly comparable to the Porsche Panamera. At launch, which has yet to receive a timeline, it will serve as Polestar’s flagship model. However, they don’t expect it to remain at that top spot for too long.

Luckily, unlike the plug-in-hybrid Polestar 1, the Precept won’t be a limited-run model.


Toyota Pours RM8 Billion Into Indonesian Expansion - 10+ EVs, Hybrids

That’s a lot of money, but Toyota is one of those automakers that can afford to splurge like that on a whim. However, this sizeable sum isn’t being spent carelessly, but done to secure its future in what it sees as a very important market over the long term. And this
isn't the first time they've done it
.

Interestingly, according to a report by
CNN Indonesia
, the extra funds (28 trillion Rupiah) aren’t being allocated to the typical activities of establishing new factories, lowering prices, and catering to cars for the budget end of the spectrum. Rather, Toyota apparently has much more forward-looking plans, such as to engineer and manufacture multiple hybrid and electrified vehicles.

The report quotes Yoichi Miyazaki, Toyota Motor Corporation Asia Region CEO, who says that development work on these new vehicles - which includes a hybrid
variant of the Innova
 - is already underway and that Indonesian customers can expect at least 10 new electrified vehicles within the next 5 years.

Those are some serious plans and speaks volumes of the confidence Toyota has in the growth potential of the Indonesian automotive market, a sentiment reiterated by the country’s Minister of Industry after a visit to Japan last week, adding that the company disclosed plans to increase production capacity to 250,000 units per year alongside 411,000 engines produced annually.

From their strengthened Indonesian factories, Toyota is also said to have committed to adding 20 new export destination countries by 2024, bringing the overall total to around 100, which runs parallel with the Indonesian government’s longstanding desire to increase trade activity with Australia which, following the demise of Holden, is without a national car to stand behind.

Back in December 2020, Director of Administration, Corporation and External Relations of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) Bob Azam told reporters that, provided the supply chain can be streamlined and sufficiently modernised, new hybrid models as well as hybridised versions of existing cars can be produced there as early as 2022, especially given the overlapping range of vehicles offered in nearby export markets.

This somewhat murky description does seem to fit the mould for a hybrid version of the Innova
and Fortuner
 since both share similar underpinnings, though Azam declined to confirm.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, UMW Toyota has strongly hinted at the imminent launch of the much anticipated
Corolla Cross
, a supposed C-segment soft-roader that’s already hit the Thai market since July 2020 and the Indonesian market in August 2020.

If its Malaysian launch is within March 2021, that would mean Malaysian were again the last major ASEAN market to receive this latest new model, this time by a full 8 months. This time, even Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar, and the Philippines beat us to the Corolla Cross - but what else is new.


BMW X7 xDrive40i Launched In Malaysia – From RM 888,800

BMW’s first three-row seat SUV is now available in Malaysia. Only one variant is available – the X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence, which can be ordered either as a six- or a seven-seater.
Power comes from a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged direct injected petrol engine producing 340 hp and 450 Nm. The longitudinal engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive transmission.
The X7 is imported from Spartanburg, USA – the same plant that also makes the
X5 (from RM640,000)
. Priced from RM 888,800, the X7 is technically in the same segment as the Slovakia-made Audi Q7 (from RM 599,900 for a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI quattro), but the huge price gap between the two makes such comparison moot.
The price announced today is for the seven-seater version. Retail price for the six-seater variant is to be announced later but BMW Group Malaysia says it won’t differ a lot.
The next closest three-row seat luxury SUV is the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, coming to Malaysia in the form of the previous generation GLS 400 4Matic at RM 890,000. An all-new GLS-Class has already been announced but that model is not yet available here in Malaysia.
The X7 is best seen as an even more luxurious, taller riding alternative to the 7 Series, which now starts from RM 594,800 (for the 740Le Plug-in Hybrid).
The huge gap in prices between the X7 and 7 Series is not only because the former is positioned higher, but also because the 740Le is locally-assembled.
Compared to the long wheelbase 7 Series, the X7 is 87 mm shorter. Of course, to balance its increased ride height (1,805 mm tall), the X7 is 98 mm wider.
Viewing the car up close, we honestly think that the car looks a lot better than our first impression formed from looking at pictures. Such is the nature of today’s cars with their complex lines and curves, whose effects cannot be appreciated in a two-dimensional picture.
It’s the same with the new 7 Series, which was also launched today. It’s actually not as bad as critics say it is.
The fact that our local specification X7 is equipped with a more graceful Pure Excellence package also helps. The Pure Excellence trim suits the large kidney grille better than the M Performance package offered in other countries.
Standard equipment for the X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence includes:
BMW Laserlight headlamps
21-inch light alloy wheels in Y-spoke style 753 Bicolour
Soft closing doors
Two-axle air suspension
Executive Drive Pro chassis control (active anti-roll bar)
Crafted Clarity handmade diamond-cut interior trim (gear selector, volume control, Start/Stop button and iDrive Controller)
Fine-wood trim surfaces framed with electroplated accent trims
BMW Live Cockpit Pro 12.3-inch instrument panel
Heads-up Display
Infotainment with Apple CarPlay support, Gesture Control, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (‘Hey BMW’ voice command)
Rear Entertainment Professional system (2x touch screen display)
16-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound System
Five-zone automatic air conditioning
Electric roller side blinds
Panorama Roof Sky Lounge with LED lighting
Parking Assistant Plus with hands-free parallel parking
360 degree camera, Reversing Assistant with hands-free reversing out of tight spots
Driving Assistant Professional – adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, front collision warning with brake intervention, Emergency Stop Assistant, Evasion Aid, and Crossroads warning with city braking function
The second and third row seats are electrically adjustable but unlike Japanese seven-seaters, the X7’s second row seats don’t fold or tumble forward to allow for more room when accessing the third row. Instead, the X7’s second row seats merely tilt forward.
Behind, the boot has a 325-litre capacity with the seats up. With the third row seat’s backrest folded down, cargo capacity can be increased to 2,120 litres.  The tailgate is a powered split-opening type (yes, both the top and bottom), thus making it easier to open in tight parking spaces.
Although prices have been announced, the X7 won’t be available in local BMW showrooms until September.
Find the best deals for new BMW vehicles
here
.


Ford Continues Educating Drivers On Safety Through DSFL Programme

According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), more than 43 percent of Malaysian drivers use their mobile phones while driving, which mean that close to half of all Malaysian drivers are putting themselves and others in danger while behind the wheel.
So, in an effort to educate these drivers to be more vigilant while on the road which would in turn reduce the number of road accidents, Ford and its local distribution partner Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) recently organised the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme.
Held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) over two days, more than 50 licensed drivers from corporate partners comprising telecommunications, highway maintenance and utilities companies participated in the programme.
The programme was conducted through a mix of classroom and practical training sessions where drivers were offered hands-on driving experience.
An emphasis on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or medication was also incorporated as part of the programme. This included having participants wear specially designed goggles that help simulate the experience of driving while movement, coordination and alertness are impaired.
According to SDAC, the DSFL workshops aim to address various driver risks, such as dealing with unexpected scenarios, speed and space management as well as raise awareness on distracted driving caused by mobile phone use or tiredness.
“Ford Driving Skills for Life provides Malaysian drivers with the tools and resources needed for safe driving. Road safety is a very serious issue and we take pride in our ability to help reinforce this message among Malaysian motorists,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion.
Globally, Ford DSFL is now in its 15th successful year of training licensed drivers of all ages. To date, the program has trained more than 1 million individuals in safe driving practices.


Porsche Cayenne Updated with More Features Under New Premium Package – From RM680k

Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) has introduced a new Premium Package for the E3
Porsche Cayenne
, which now includes a few extra features.

New options under the Premium Package include air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) for dynamic handling and driving comfort, as well as 21-inch RS Spyder wheels for improved road handling, and ParkAssist with Surround View.

Other complimentary luxury options include Bose Surround Sound System for an unparalleled audio experience, and four zone climate control, elevating the experience for drivers and passengers alike.

The enhanced
Cayenne
 Premium Package will come with four years warranty as well as four years free service and maintenance. Pre-orders for the base model start now at the price of RM 680,000. Deliveries will begin in 2021.

Powering
the Cayenne
 is a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine that is equipped with a twin-scroll turbocharger between the cylinder banks and delivers 340 PS. The maximum torque of 450 Nm is reached between 1,340 and 5,300 rpm.

Paired to the engine is an 8-speed Tiptronic S which reduces fuel consumption thanks to its wide ratio spread, thereby enhancing comfort and athleticism. The 8-Speed Tiptronic S also shifts gears automatically – and adapts to any driving style.

“There’s nothing quite like a ride in a sports car, be it for the driver or the passenger, and it’s our goal to share “that sportscar feeling” with more Porsche enthusiasts in Malaysia,” said Christian Hunter, CEO of Porsche Malaysia.

“The introduction of the new Cayenne Premium Package has enabled us to do that, and we stay committed to finding new ways of bringing fans closer to realising their dreams of owning a Porsche. The SUV segment continues to gain popularity in Malaysia, and as the sportiest car in that segment, the Cayenne is uniquely placed to capture the hearts of customers who want to experience the brand and our sports cars,” he said.


Tan Chong Glenmarie 4S Becomes One-Stop For Nissan & Infiniti Customers

The
Nissan Glenmarie 4S Centre
 now becomes a one-stop sales, parts, accessories, and service centre for Nissan vehicles whilst also supporting aftersales for Infiniti vehicles.
Effective immediately,
all Infiniti models
 can be serviced, repaired, and diagnosed at the dedicated Infiniti Service Hub and Customer Lounge setup within the centre’s premises.
Nissan customers, meanwhile, will have the option of adding-on accessories from authorized suppliers operating in the dealership.
The flagship outlet is hosting the first Supagard dealership in Malaysia providing all Nissan owners car grooming services within an air-conditioned glass-mirror room.
Finally, Nissan Navara owners, both the previous D40 and
current NP300
 models, will have a range of Ironman 4x4 accessories to choose from at selected Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis outlets including the Glenmarie 4S centre.
Accessories on offer include suspension kits, bull bars, side steps and rails, and rear protection tow bar. Customers can also buy accessories in packages ranging from RM5,000 to RM19,000. Fitment of suspension bits can be performed at 38 selected TCEAS centres, whilst only 12 are equipped to fit the ‘Challenger Pack’.
In conjunction with its introduction, all Ironman 4x4 packages get introductory discounted offer prices covering labour and accessories. In addition, customers can opt to finance the packages using 0% instalment plans.
The Ironman suspension bits are entitled of 3-year / 60,000km warranty, whilst other items are covered by a 1-year warranty.


Geely Borui Updated For 2017, Could Go On Sale 14 July

Geely's update for the range-topping Borui sedan was just previewed in China ahead of its official debut. The update aims to improve the Borui's exterior and interior design, on top of powertrain improvements.
Looking at the exterior, Geely has given the Borui new front and rear bumpers, with the rear muffler tips now better integrated into the bottom half of the bumper. The tail light design has also been improved over the predecessor. Elsewhere, the updated Geely Borui now comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, replacing the predecessor's 16-inch units.
Inside, the new Geely Borui receives a revised steering wheel and interior trim updates. The old 8-inch resistive touch screen has been replaced by a newer 10.2-inch capacitive-type touch screen. On top of the larger touch screen, Geely has also updated the infotainment system, now with Geely 3.0 operating system with G-Netlink, 4G connectivity with in-car WiFi, GPS navigation, Apple CarPlay and Baidu CarLife. The latter is developed by Baidu as an alternative to Android Auto as Google's services are blocked in China.
In terms of powertrain, the Geely Borui continues to offer two engine choices. The first is a naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine that does 162 PS and 210 Nm mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Sitting above the 2.4-litre engine is Geely's second-generation G-Power 1.8-litre turbocharged engine that's paired to an all-new six-speed automatic transmission. This engine is good for 184 PS and 300 Nm, a good 21 PS and 50 Nm increase over its predecessor. The 3.5-litre V6 could be dropped once the new model is introduced.
According to
xcar
, Geely is expected to introduce the updated Borui on 14 July.
Photo credit: xcar.com.cn


Tesla Ships 7,000 Units of China-Made Model 3 to Europe

When Tesla first announced that it will be producing the
Model 3
 in China, it was said that these cars were destined for the domestic China market, but seems like things have changed.

The company changed its mind last month, and said that vehicles that are produced in Tesla’s megafactory in
China
 will actually be exported to Europe and other markets.

In the most recent development, 7,000 units of the Model 3 that were made in China are currently being shipped to Europe. To mark the milestone event, Tesla even organised an event to celebrate the start of exportations from China.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Shanghai Executive Deputy Mayor said that Tesla can currently produce 3,500-4,000 vehicles per week at its Gigafactory in Shanghai.

With the shipment, Tesla now joins other manufacturers like Polestar and BMW who are also manufacturing full electric vehicles for the European and American markets.

Tesla’s entry level Model 3 has proven to be a huge hit in recent years, which is surprising considering Tesla’s well publicized woes in producing the Model 3 at a decent volume and quality – something which ‘old school’ car companies do every day.

However, now that the company has managed to keep up with demand and produce for various markets in large volumes, Tesla seems to be right on track to cater to various markets around the world.

In 2019, global electric vehicle sales reached an impressive 2.1 million units. Sources say that it could have been even more if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a report published by Bloomberg, the Tesla Model 3 will be shipped to more than 10 countries including Germany, France and Switzerland.

The company’s Shanghai Gigafactory, which is its first facility outside the U.S, opened for local deliveries at the beginning of this year.

Coming back to the Tesla Model 3, the Standard Range Plus variant delivers an all-electric range of 423 km, while the Long Range version delivers 568 km.

Limited production of the Model 3 began in mid-2017, with the first production vehicle rolling off the assembly line on July 7, 2017. The official launch and delivery of the first 30 cars took place on July 28.

As of March 2020, the
Tesla Model 3
 is the world's best-selling electric car in history, with more than 500,000 units delivered. The Model 3 was also the world's top-selling plug-in electric car in 2018 and 2019, and also the best-selling plug-in car in the United States. The Model 3 was also the top-selling plug-in car in Europe in 2019.

As for Malaysia, Tesla is not available officially. However, cars like the Model 3 and the Model S are brought in by grey importers.


Volkswagen Group Announces Strategic Partnership With Aurora For Autonomous Cars

A new player has entered the game. Volkswagen is now joining the self-driving car craze with the announcement of their strategic partnership with Aurora during this year's CES. As part of their TOGETHER - Strategy 2025, they have plans to incorporate a Self-Driving System (SDS) in their products to help keep them relevant and to get ahead of the trickle-down effect from high-end manufacturers. Volkswagen envisions a future in which anyone can push a button and have a self-driving car arrive to take them to their destination - better known as Mobility-as-a-Service (or MaaS).
Working with Aurora, a self-driving system company based in Palo Alto and Pittsburgh in the USA, gives them a big leap forward in their mission to become the world's leading provider of sustainable mobility, with self-driving vehicles. As an aside, Aurora is headed by an ex-engineer from Tesla - which would explain why Tesla is trying to sue them. Their tech and expertise coupled with Volkswagen's resources and financial backing should accelerate autonomous cars towards market-readiness.
Over the past six months, specialists from the Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Lab (VAIL) at Stanford University have already been working intensively with experts from Aurora to integrate Aurora's self-driving system including sensors, hardware and software, such as Machine Learning and AI technology in Volkswagen Group's vehicle platforms. Eventually the systems will spread across their model range and autonomous driving systems will become more accessible to the everyman.