IcarData: The Best Time To Buy/ Sell A 2014 (GM6) Honda City 1.5L Type V

If there’s one thing true about Malaysians – it’s that we love our food, and we love our cars.

Malaysia actually ranked the third highest in the world in terms of car ownership; a whopping 93 percent of Malaysian households at least own one car and a substantial 54 percent of households have more than one car. These statistics are from Nielsen Global Survey completed in 2014, since then over three million new vehicles have hit Malaysian roads.

Photo by
Lukas
 from
Pexels

Malaysians have no shortage of options when it comes to competitively priced new cars, and an even larger variety of vehicles available on the second-hand market.

Hence, resale value and timing are of utmost importance for existing owners who want to sell their current vehicle to upgrade to another new vehicle, and likewise for used car buyers who want maximum value depending on the age, price, and overall condition of a used vehicle.

Up until now, it's been hard for most people to ascertain the average used value for vehicles since the sale price of a used vehicle is dependent on a variety of factors, i.e: overall condition, mechanical soundness, variant type and accessories, location, and overall demand.

However, now with the resources of our in-house developed
iCarData
, we can collate data from literally thousands of used vehicle deals, pinpoint our search down to a single model or variant and observe market trends, and overall demand over a number of years and across geographical locations.

These algorithm-based data takes the guesswork out of vehicle depreciation and offers unmatched price tracking to help customers make better-informed purchase decisions.

For this report, we will be looking at the seminal Honda City, in particular the (GM6)
Honda City 1.5L “Type V” variant
. First launched in 2014, the sixth-generation GM6 model was initially launched in 2014 in four trim levels – namely the S, S+, E, and V variant.

In its top-spec Type V variant, the City offered snazzy styling, up to date equipment list, superb refinement, great fuel economy and class-leading practicality (that could almost rival D-Segment vehicles), hence there’s little wonder why the City is the car of choice for everyone from young professionals right up to growing families and everyone in between.

Now in 2020, at the cusp of the introduction of the all-new seventh-generation model – which could see a local market launch as early as Q4 of 2020 – presents us with an opportune time to track just how well the Honda City has fared in terms of value retention over the past few years.

We recently produced a similar report on the City’s main rival, the (NCP150) Toyota Vios which you can check out
here
.

Here’s a snapshot of the 2014 Honda City 1.5L Type V specification

Engine: 1.5-litre L15A7 inline-four Petrol

Power: 120 PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 145 Nm @ 4,000 rpm

Transmission: CVT-type automatic, Front-wheel drive

Safety: Six airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), ISOFIX anchor points, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), G-Con Body

Origin: Locally assembled in Pegoh, Melaka

Price: RM90,800 – April 2014 Launch (OTR with insurance)

We have taken into account the following to keep our numbers accurate and representative.

Vehicle variant: (GM6) Honda City Type V (AT), delivered between June and December 2014.

Depreciation is calculated using the original list price of RM90,800.00.

Depreciation percentage does not take into account special/ seasonal offers or rebates on the original selling price.

The Type V is used as it’s the highest spec in the range, and thus offers a wide and conclusive spread of data points across the market.

Notwithstanding that, depreciation for other variants may differ.

Based on
ICarData
, here's the summarized data for depreciation:

And the graphical analysis below:

Blue line: Average selling price (RM) by year

Grey line: Cumulative depreciation (RM) by year

Orange line: Retained value percentage by year

From the graph above, we see the highest rates of depreciation (of approximately RM14k) in only the first year of ownership. The second-year depreciation sees a drop of another circa 9 percent before steadying for the following four years. The sharper decline in year two (2016) could also be contributed to the launch of the updated (NCP150) Toyota Vios 1.5L which may have shifted market tides and market demand in that year.

With the overall price dropping 5-6 percent in the following four years, the Honda City, especially in its Type V guise, holds value exceptionally well for existing owners. In addition, the
facelifted (GM6)
 model launch which took place in 2017, seemed to have little to no effect over the used prices of pre-facelift units, which continue along a steady pace despite a new model introduction.

Much of this is due to the phenomenal market demand that has not eased off in 2020, even with news of the impending
new model replacement
.

The data shows that owners can choose to keep their City well into the sixth or seventh year of ownership without worrying about losing too much on depreciation. Given that the cumulative depreciation does not equate that of the retained value sum even after six years, an owner can choose to sell his/ her car in the seventh year of ownership and still hope to retain up to 50 percent of its original value.

Inversely, the best time for a used car buyer to snap up the City would be in the third and the fourth years of the car’s lifespan. By now, the bulk of the car’s depreciation has taken place, used values hold steady at circa 70 percent of the original selling price, which means used car buyers are getting a relatively new vehicle at bargain prices. In addition, it is wise to buy a used car that still has at least a year of manufacturer warranty left, should unforeseen problems arise.

For some great deals on the GM6 Honda City, click
here
.

If you're looking to sell your Honda City, we have two solutions for you too. List in on carlist.my or better still use
Carlist Bid
 where we remove all the hassle of selling your car for you as you get searching for your next upgrade.

Which make/ model would you like us to research next? Let us know in the comments.


Volvo Sees Big Dreams In Microsoft’s Insanely Cool HoloLens Virtual Reality Tech

This Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality thing has been in the horizon of technology since it was dreamed up at least two decades ago. Microsoft took a big leap forward when it showed the world its HoloLens visor, allowing a truly immersive and interactive virtual experience that works with the wearer’s environment rather than simply putting another screen between it.
Volvo
 sees the benefit of the technology and how it can implement it into the buying and customising experience, in educating customers on their cars’ safety features and onboard technologies and even on the production lines while worn by factory staff. We’re actually surprised that it took this long for a company - not just an automaker - to take advantage of its power and potential use cases (and there are many).
What’s unique about Microsofts HoloLens is that, because it augments the viewers surroundings, it is much easier to learn and is not at all disorienting like the other Virtual Reality visors from Oculus and Sony that blocks vision altogether. When the wearer pulls up a virtual object, the image seen is so detailed and the fidelity through movement so smooth that it defies belief of it being not actually there. Far from being static images, the virtual objects also react to hand gestures that allow live interaction.
It will be exciting to see where Volvo can take HoloLens and how much Microsoft may learn and improve the technology from the crucible of the Swedish automaker’s real world uses. See for yourself in the video below.


Toyota Expands Topmark Pre-Owned Dealer Network – 10 Locations In Total

Toyota is expanding its TopMark dealer network to offer the latest Toyota & Toyota Hybrid Certified Pre-Owned Cars to customers in four new locations in Malaysia. Through a collaboration with four authorised Toyota dealers of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT), the four new locations are:
UMW Toyotsu Motors Sdn Bhd (Shah Alam and Rawang, Selangor)
Panglima City Motor Sdn Bhd (Klang, Selangor)
ES Yang Motor Sdn Bhd (Muar, Johor)
Telagamas Motors Sdn Bhd (Kulim, Kedah)
These five new dealerships will begin operations from January 2018. As authorised Toyota TopMark dealerships, the dealers can now accept vehicles of any make on a trade-in basis for the purchase of a new Toyota vehicle.
Toyota’s TopMark practices a fair and transparent trading process which includes documented settling of any outstanding loan amount and immediate transfer of ownership. This means that the customer can have a hassle-free exchange to ownership of a new Toyota model. The new dealerships will also offer certified pre-owned Toyota and Toyota Hybrid models.
The quality and reliability of vehicles offered are assured as they undergo a stringent and comprehensive 201-point inspection. These include safety checks to ensure that all safety systems are in proper working order, including if tyres have sufficient thread if not, they will be replaced.
The standard battery is also replaced with a new unit and only genuine parts are used if replacements are needed. All the work is done at an authorised Toyota service centre.
For added peace of mind to the new owner, each vehicle comes with a 2-year/ 40,000 km warranty on the engine and transmission, whichever comes first.
The five new locations join Toyota TopMark’s five existing outlets located in Petaling Jaya, Butterworth Johor Bahru and Kuantan. Lexus Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are also available at selected locations. Toyota Topmark is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UMWT and has a reliable track record spanning 17 years.


Subaru Confirms New Outback Is On The Way, Comes With Giant Touch Screen

Do you feel confused when you look at Subaru's product lineup? Don't worry - you're not alone. Even since the 1990s, Subaru has had models that sit very close to each other to the point of being difficult to distinguish from a positioning perspective. The Impreza Wagon and Forester, the Legacy Wagon and Outback, and so on and so forth. While there are minor variations such as ride height and cargo space, it can still be a little confusing.
The Subaru Outback is essentially a Legacy Wagon that was designed to go soft-roading with a little more ride height and slightly more rugged exterior looks. That's not necessarily a bad thing given the market's spiral into crossover vehicles, and Subaru may have just been thinking way ahead of its time. With the
unveiling of the all-new Legacy sedan
, you can be certain that a new Outback is on its way - and Subaru confirmed this in
an interview with Car and Driver
 during the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.
The Outback will sit on the same global platform as the all-new Legacy, which means better dynamics and ride quality. More important for fans is the fact that the Legacy will be coming with a turbocharged 2.4-litre boxer engine option, which will likely mean that the Outback will have the same powertrain option available - no doubt paired with a CVT-type automatic transmission and the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive that Subaru loves so dearly. There will also be that massive portrait touch screen, in a similar vein to Tesla and Volvo, which would make Subaru the first Japanese brand to adopt such a layout.
You can expect the American market to receive these new models the earliest given that they are huge market for the Japanese brand, and eventually we should see these models trickle over to the rest of the world as it is launched in smaller markets. In the middle of last year, TC Subaru Sdn Bhd - local distributor for Subaru -
launched the updated Outback
 with the EyeSight safety system, although it maintained the singular 2.5-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine option.


The 2022 BMW i7 Is Already In Malaysia, Gets Private Preview

Pretty quickly after the international reveal of the all-new
7th-generation BMW 7 Series (G70)
 back in April, BMW Malaysia started to
tease its local arrival
, including that of the car’s all-electric variant: the i7. Well, it’s already here and a launch now imminent.

It was learned that a black i7 xDrive60 was brought in from Europe to be previewed to select customers in a closed door event, but we managed to get a more up close look at the Munich automaker’s flagship saloon even before that. Well, so far as its interesting exterior is concerned.

BMW i7 - Early Malaysian Arrival

The car has not gone on sale yet and no launch date has been confirmed but we can be fairly certain that one is forthcoming given that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
will be bringing out the EQS
, their equivalent super luxury electric saloon on July 22nd.

Knowing how these two tend to trade blows, BMW must be itching to respond. However, unlike the EQS which has been on sale for the better part of a year following a production run that began in May 2021, the first i7 units have only just left the factory floor. This being one of them.

Peering inside, it’s clear to see that the car is indeed a foreign market unit that’s left-hand drive, looking every bit as plush and technologically advanced as we expect from their most coveted new models.

It’s also unclear if the i7’s eventual Malaysian debut will be accompanied by the wider complement of variants in the G70 7 Series range, which are also offered with petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

BMW i7 xDrive60 Specifications

In xDrive60 guise, the i7 houses a 101.7kWh underfloor lithium-ion battery that’s used to supply its dual electric motors that generate a combined output of 544PS and 745Nm of torque. BMW claims a maximum range of 625km on the WLTP test cycle. A century sprint of just 4.7 seconds is also quoted, as is an electronically limited top speed of 240km/h.

In 2023, BMW has confirmed the premiere of the i7 M70 xDrive, a performance version of the electric limousine with even beefier horsepower and torque figures, up to 660hp and over 1,000Nm, as it effectively replaces the bi-turbo V12-powered M760i previously, touted as the “most powerful BMW model ever registered for road use.”

Refilling the i7’s reserve of electrons can of course be done with either an AC or DC charging source using, respectively, a Type 2 or CCS2 connection with the former at 11kW and the latter up to 195kW that can restore a 10% charge to 80% capacity in just 34 minutes.

We won’t dwell too much on the exterior design but to say that the i7 very closely resembles its non-fully electric brethren, matching the G70’s visual traits such as its oversized kidney grille up front and a rather squared-off shape and body lines, a stark contrast against its closest rival: the smooth, rounded,
almost pebble-shaped EQS
.

Upon its launch, this electric 7 Series would join the
iX3, i4, and iX
 as part of BMW Malaysia’s expanding lineup of EVs.


The Cars Of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Tucked away in a quiet corner just outside the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s city centre is Galeria Sri Perdana. It’s one of those places that are popular among tourists but many locals have never even set foot in it.
The site was originally the official residence of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad during his time as the fourth prime minister of Malaysia. Since his (initial) retirement in 2003, Tun has moved his place of residence to Putrajaya, the administrative capital mooted by Tun. His former government-provided home has since been turned into a museum.
Today, Galeria Sri Perdana is in quite a sad state of neglect, which is embarrassing considering the bus loads of tourists that visit the place every day.
Buoyed by massive public support, Tun came out of his retirement to contest in the recently ended 14
th
 General Election and you all know the rest of this history-making election.
Now that Tun’s popularity has transcended beyond politics, there has been renewed interest in everything that Tun does. Even the Swiss-based Czech shoemaker Bata became an Internet sensation simply because Tun was photographed wearing one. So it got us thinking, what were the cars that Tun owned?
When judged by the standards of a statesman, Tun’s car ownership history has been quite modest but tasteful.
Based on records of earlier interviews, Tun’s first car was a second-hand Fiat 500, the original one with a rear engine, bought with money earned from his writings when he was studying medicine in Singapore. Tun didn’t drove just any Fiat 500, but one with a canvas soft-top. It must have made him quite popular with a young Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah.
The old Fiat however was in quite a bad shape as according to records of earlier interviews with Tun, he had to hold the canvas top together every time he drove from Singapore to his hometown in Alor Setar.
Later, Tun bought a convertible made by the now defunct British car maker Standard Motor Company. Tun didn’t mention the model’s specific name but from what we can dig from Wikipedia, Standard didn’t make any convertibles and the ones they briefly did were rebadged Triumph models, produced when Standard took over the Triumph brand. We think the model that Tun had was most probably a Standard-Triumph Herald.
Who knew that the young doctor, who would later stare down Western powers and raise the status of his country, was at one time zipping around Alor Setar in a sporty convertible?
Of course, we also know that on 1-September 1985, he took delivery of a metallic blue Proton Saga bearing registration number Proton 1001. The car was paid with his own money and was given to his wife Tun Siti Hasmah, and with that Tun Dr. Mahathir became the first buyer of Malaysia’s first national car. Unfortunately we have no idea where is that car kept today.
Parked in a patio behind Galeria Sri Perdana is a small collection of Tun Dr. Mahathir’s cars. Some of it were his own while the rest are gifts given to him by car companies.
This extended wheelbase first generation Proton Perdana V6 Executive bearing registration plate Proton 2020 was used as Tun’s official car during his time as the fourth prime minister. It was given to him by EON, one of the main dealers Proton vehicles in the ‘80s and ‘90s before it was merged with Proton Edar.
The Perdana V6 Executive was a sold only to government offices and was lengthened by EON’s subsidiary, Automotive Conversion Engineering.
Tun has since transferred the registration number Proton 2020 to his current official car, a second generation Proton Perdana Limousine, the one that’s based on an eighth generation Honda Accord, but with a stretched wheelbase.
Next is a W140 generation Mercedes-Benz S600 SEL bearing registration number WG 1. It was given by Cycle and Carriage, then the distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Malaysia (this role has since been taken over by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia). At its time, this was one of the most sophisticated cars you can buy. It had a huge 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine and was a technological marvel of its era.
It had markers which extends out from under the rear bumper to help with reversing this gargantuan sedan, ultra-quiet sound insulating double-glazed windows, power-assisted closing doors, power-operated boot. Back in the early ‘90s when Rolls-Royce was still struggling, this was the ultimate luxury sedan.
The W140 was so over-engineered that it triggered rigid cost controls measures to be put in place by Daimler’s accountants, as part of the reorganized DaimlerChrysler merger that characterized the ‘90s. No other S-Class since then had been developed with such a near blank cheque approach.
It didn’t seem that Tun used the S-Class very much though, as the car had only 11,487 km on the odometer. While it was rarely used, the S600 SEL is like many things in the Galeria, in quite a sad state, even the Mercedes-Benz logo on the boot lid is damaged, the rubbers on the wipers are rotten.
As you know, Mitsubishi Motors was Proton’s technical partner. Two Mitsubishi models - an FTO bearing registration number WEC 3335 registered and a Pajero Mini bearing registration plate WDU 3367 - were given by the Japanese tri-diamond marque.
The FTO was quite a trendy looking coupe of its time, popularized in Asia by Jackie Chan movies but this particular unit had a less enthusiastic automatic transmission.
The Pajero Mini was very compact-sized SUV that was predominantly sold in Japan (but it was also available in spot overseas markets like Hong Kong). It’s quirky dimensions and tiny 660cc engine was intentional as these were required to comply with Japan’s tax-deducted ‘kei’ minicar regulations.
There’s also a Japanese market Daihatsu Move, most probably a gift from Perodua’s technical partner, Daihatsu Motor.
There’s also two electric vehicles in the collection, none of them series production models. One was an early EV project by Citroen, based on a Saxo. The other was a project by Tenaga Nasional, built on a Subaru Domingo.
The Citroen is a left-hand drive model and had push buttons in place of a conventional gear shifter. The Subaru is only a two-seater, with the rest of the cabin is taken up by batteries. It has no more than a 1,000 km on the odometer.
Interestingly, both electric cars were registered – WGH 4073 for the Citroen and WEU 2640 for the Subaru. As far as we know, the first electric vehicle to be registered in Malaysia was the Mitsubishi i-MiEV with the registration number WVY 159 in 2013. Prior to this, JPJ was not able to register electric vehicles because its system couldn’t accommodate vehicles that didn’t have a specific engine capacity.
Citroen had a brief partnership with Proton, resulting in the short-lived Proton Tiara (anyone still keeping one of those?), which was based on a Citroen AX. The Saxo EV was probably in relation to the short-lived relationship with Citroen.
The Nissan President and the Lexus LS 400, bearing registration numbers WAF 1 and WBY 1 respectively, didn’t have any accompanying description text on a standee but we believe that these two were Tun’s personal cars.
The President had a relatively high 30,000 km plus mileage on the odometer, suggesting that it was used quite regularly (by the standards of an active duty prime minister).
The President was Nissan’s flagship sedan and was never officially sold in Malaysia. Along with the Toyota Crown, the Nissan President was the default car used by Japanese statesmen and dignitaries. Nissan has since discontinued the President line of models.
We couldn’t peek into the Lexus’ blacked out Optitron instrument cluster so we cannot verify its mileage but the vehicle is in quite a sad state. The poorly maintained roof directly above the Lexus is severely damaged, leaving the Lexus exposed to the elements. Elsewhere in the exhibit area, damaged roofing materials dangling dangerously above threaten to collapse onto the cars beneath at any moment.
The tyres on the Lexus must have been at least 15 years old as they are starting to peel away after more than a decade of exposure to harsh sunlight. One of its headlamps has damaged rubber seals and traces of water can be seen inside.
The LS was one of the icons of the automotive industry and within just 10 years, Lexus had usurped Mercedes-Benz and BMW in the all-important US market. Many books have been written of Lexus and
stories of Lexus’ legendary customer care
 are still being told until today.
With Tun’s affinity towards Japanese work ethics and industries, all of which culminated in his ‘Look East’ policies, stories of Lexus’ victory against the established German marques must have impressed Tun a lot.
Mahathir is said to be a huge fan of the Lexus brand and had the LS imported for his personal use sometime in the ‘90s, long before the Lexus brand was formally introduced here in 2007. We are not sure if it’s the first Lexus imported by UMW Toyota Motor, but it’s very likely to be one of the earliest. Yes, years before the first Lexus 3S centre was opened in Mutiara Damansara, the company had imported and regularly serviced a small number of LS models.
It is quite likely that Tun might have more cars parked in his residence in Putrajaya. He has also been seen chauffeured in a D4 generation Audi A8L, which he sometimes use alternately with his Proton ‘Accordana’ Perdana.
At one point, he also had a Volkswagen Phaeton and Volkswagen Touareg, given by Volkswagen when Proton was mulling a partnership with the leading German car maker. Tun has since returned the Volkswagens after the deal fell through.
The elusive metallic blue first generation Proton Saga with registration number Proton 1001, assuming that it’s still with Tun, must be worth quite a lot of money today. There should also be a Proton Waja with the registration plate Waja 1 laying somewhere. Rumour has it that Tun also has a first generation Honda Insight - the one with a quirky looking two-seater coupe styling and was never officially sold here – which was given to Tun by Honda and is now parked somewhere in Putrajaya or Cyberjaya, covered in thick dust.


Lesen Vokasional p-hailing Bukan GDL – Kos Bawah RM10, Tak Perlu Ke PUSPAKOM

Lesen vokasional
 yang bakal diwajibkan terhadap penunggang
p-hailing
 tidak sama dengan lesen GDL yang digunakan terhadap kenderaan komersial mengangkut barangan.

Sebaliknya,
Menteri Pengangkutan
, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong berkata ia adalah satu lesen vokasional yang khusus untuk penunggang p-hailing.

*Kredit foto: Kini.my

Lesen Vokasional p-hailing

Menurut Wee, permohonan untuk mendapatkan lesen vokasional untuk p-hailing adalah berbeza dengan GDL, di mana penunggang hanya perlu mengikuti kursus singkat beberapa jam dan tidak perlu ke institut memandu.

Meskipun nama khusus bagi lesen vokasional tersebut belum ditentukan, namun Wee menegaskan pendaftaran lesen vokasional untuk p-hailing nanti akan diperkenalkan secara murah dan mudah.

"Ia hanya membabitkan pembayaran token dan moratorium akan diberikan untuk tempoh pendaftaran itu dan ia tidak akan membebankan rakan penunggang p-hailing,” jelasnya.

Oleh itu, Wee memberitahu lesen vokasional itu tidak akan membabitkan sebarang pemeriksaan terhadap kenderaan seperti kenderaan mengangkut barangan komersial lain.

Kos yang akan dikenakan juga adalah minimum dan dianggarkan tidak melebihi RM10.

Wee turut menjelaskan bahawa dakwaan dan kekeliruan semua penunggang p-hailing perlu membawa motosikal yang digunakan untuk pemeriksaan di
PUSPAKOM
 juga tidak benar.

*Kredit foto: Sinar Harian

Kenapa Perlu Lesen Vokasional?

Menurut Menteri Pengangkutan, perlu ada pendaftaran berkenaan untuk membolehkan kementerian itu mempunyai data sebenar bilangan penunggang p-hailing yang ada di negara ini.

Sebelum ini, data penunggang hanya boleh diperolehi daripada pengendali p-hailing (PHO), namun ia tidak mempunyai data yang lengkap membabitkan penunggang yang masih aktif.

Selain itu, beliau juga bimbang dengan data kajian Institut Penyelidikan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia (MIROS) yang menunjukkan:

62% daripada 16,308 penunggang p-hailing yang diperhatikan melalui kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) Pusat Pengurusan Pengangkutan (ITIS) di Kuala Lumpur, didapati melanggar peraturan jalan raya dengan berada dalam petak kuning atau di lintasan pejalan kaki

14% pula didapati memegang telefon bimbit dan melanggar lampu isyarat

7% membuat pusingan U di tempat tidak dibenarkan

3% menunggang melawan arus atau melalui trafik bertentangan

"Ia akan memudahkan apabila ada keperluan untuk pelan perlindungan dan bantuan. Saya tidak boleh menganggap semua pemegang lesen B2 sebagai penunggang p-hailing. Tidak boleh, ia kena ada kelebihan iaitu berdaftar dengan pihak Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ)," katanya.


Review: 2017 Kia Grand Carnival - Going Big With Style

Stigma. A word that car manufacturers often dread. A word that most first generation Kia Carnival owners are familiar with.
For those in the dark, a gasket failure wreaked havoc on the Kia Carnival, thus tainting the Carnival nameplate and destroying its resale value. Despite that, not everyone was a victim. Owners with cars that remained trouble free often praised the Carnival’s cavernous cabin, comfort especially on long road trips.
Kia subsequently launched the second-generation Carnival in 2005, though that model never arrived here.
The third-generation model then made a debut in 2014 but arrived locally in March 2017.
We got behind the wheel of the entry-level Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDI KX, priced at RM165,888.
Specifications:
Engine: 2.2-litre CRDi turbodiesel with Variable Geometry Turbo
Power: 193 PS @ 3,800 rpm
Torque: 440 Nm between 1,750 – 2,750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Safety: Six airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), traction control (TC), ISOFIX (4x, Second & third row seats)
Origin: Fully imported from South Korea
Price: RM165,888 for 2.2 CRDi KX, RM185,888 for 2.2 CRDi EX (with insurance)
Overview
Naza Kia intends to capture the large MPV market with its new Grand Carnival, aimed squarely at the Toyota Vellfire. The company says that the Grand Carnival is 185 mm longer, 130 mm wider yet 155 mm lower than the Japanese. At the same time, the Grand Carnival boasts a 60 mm longer wheelbase than the Vellfire.
The other competitor that Naza Kia did not mention is the Hyundai Starex. Granted, the Starex seats up to 11 people, versus the Grand Carnival’s 8, but the latter boasts more torque and an extra cog in its automatic transmission.
Exterior
Peter Schreyer and his team did an excellent job with the new Kia Grand Carnival, that is for sure. The strong lines on the exterior does not make the new MPV look garish. In fact, quite the opposite, as the Grand Carnival conveys a very premium appeal.
The usage of chrome on the front and rear is not as generous as the Toyota Vellfire, which is good news for some. The side profile is completely devoid of chrome, with its strong shoulder line gaining attention. Speaking of side profile, both the 2.2 KX and 2.2 EX gains 18-inch alloy wheels, though the latter receives machine finished units.
Kia’s family design continues to the rear, with its tail light design reminiscence of the recently-launched Kia Sorento. LED tail lamps are standard across the range as well.
Those opting for the range-topping 2.2 EX will get the earlier-mentioned 18-inch machine finished alloy wheels. On top of that, a black glossy front grille and roof rails are also exclusive to the 2.2 EX. These are the only visual differences between the two models.
Interior
In line with recent Kia models, build quality is top notch. Coupled with the excellent fit and finish, the interior is a really nice place to be in.
Seat comfort is commendable, though the ones we sampled was with the fabric upholstery. For the driver and front passenger, the seats provide ample support and comfort.
As for the rear, legroom and headroom is generous. Even with the driver seat adjusted to fit a 170 cm person, those behind won’t be feeling cramped. Those confined to the third row won’t feel claustrophobic, thanks to the interior’s light colour and large side windows. Legroom for the third row is also enough for most.
With the third row seats up, boot space is an enormous 960 litres, which can be expanded to 2,220 litres with the third row folded. With all rear seats folded, the Kia Grand Carnival boasts up to 4,022 litres of space.
These numbers are achieved thanks to its clever second row seats that is able to stand up and third row seats that fold neatly into the floor. Hauling furniture from the nearby Ikea has never been so easy.
Apart from that, Kia has also provided several USB ports for charging purposes, though the only one port is provided for the rear passengers.
A large MPV is nothing if cooling is insufficient. To address that, Kia has installed blower vents in the Grand Carnival’s ceiling. These work well to cool the rear passengers, which can be controlled from its digital panel on the top right corner of the ceiling.
Power sliding doors come as standard fitment on both variants of the Kia Grand Carnival. To prevent injury, anti pinch is present, though we don’t recommend owners trying this out.
For us, the only gripe we had with the interior of the Grand Carnival is the diminutive touchscreen head unit. The screen’s diameter is a woeful 4.3-inch, considerably smaller than most smartphones on the market today. Feature wise, it does have USB and AUX connectivity, and that is about it. There is no Bluetooth, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which we feel is rather unacceptable for a vehicle priced well above the RM150,000 mark in 2017.
Driving Experience
With a peak torque of 440 Nm, overtaking is never an issue with the Kia Grand Carnival. Gently poking the throttle sends the 2-tonne MPV scurrying into the horizon. Even with four adults on board plus various bags, acceleration is strong from its CRDi block. Breaking traction is comically easy, especially from toll booths and traffic lights.
Another gripe we have with the Kia Grand Carnival is the hydraulic steering. For navigating around tight spots, the light steering is very much welcomed. However, for long distance cruising, the steering is lacking in assurance. Steering feedback is practically non-existent on the Kia.
Comfort
In short, the Kia Grand Carnival excels at being a family mover. The ride feels planted on smooth surfaces, though the large 18-inch alloy wheels can make ride rather jittery through rutted roads.
Kia’s utilization of rear multilink suspension versus the Starex’s live axle also meant that ride comfort is superior over the latter.
Sound insulation is also worth mentioning. Although the Grand Carnival utilizes a turbodiesel, passengers will never know, as the engineers at Kia has managed to isolate all the nasty vibrations associated with diesel engines. It revs smoothly up to its 4,500 rpm redline. The only hint that a diesel is under the hood is when you stand outside the vehicle, where the diesel clatter is evident.
Road and wind noise are also well suppressed from the cabin. Coupled with the large nature of the Grand Carnival, we did not notice that our speed already surpassed the national speed limit. Driven sedately, this new South Korean MPV makes for an excellent road trip vehicle for a large family.
Fuel Economy
We started off with the trip computer registering 11 L/100 km. Our drive with the Kia Grand Carnival brought us around town, highways and various trunk roads. By the time we returned the MPV, the trip computer was registering 10 L/100 km. We reckon with a gentle foot, the Kia should be able to nudge closer to its claimed 6.4 L/100 km consumption.
Conclusion
Our time with the Kia Grand Carnival was rather short, with each driver covering less than 100 km. With that said, our initial impressions of the new MPV is mostly positive. The cavernous cabin plus its excellent comfort makes for an excellent family mover. Six airbags are present to protect occupants in case an accident occurs.
Naza Kia is very confident with its new Grand Carnival, saying that the new model plus upcoming ones, will push sales up by another 25%. Optimistic, no doubt, but if subsequent models are as good as the Grand Carnival, we believe it can be achieved.


Is Malaysia Already Falling Behind In The Electric Race?

While we have a
spotty network
 of public charging stations to match our scarred roads and a prohibitive
EV road tax structure
 that makes no sense, India just announced plans to set aside $4.6 billion US dollars in incentives for battery makers to set up shop within their borders.

Obviously, the EV race could mean up to several different things to certain people, as there are a bunch of sub-arenas surrounding this huge shift in the automotive world. Rarely does something present itself as
revolutionary,
 but the change in transportation derived from combustion to electrical power is about as close as we’re going to get (probably) in our lifetime, or could be described as ‘transformative’ at the very least.

At the summit of this epic race is the grand prize for solving the world’s energy crisis, but that problem is unlikely to be solved by any carmaker, no matter how innovative they might
think they are
. Not that it matters, really, as the winners of even the smaller battles could stand to make billions as well as a monopoly lasting decades.

It’s the untamed west of the car industry all over again, only the corporations and individuals involved won’t be burdened by a change as dramatic as rearing strong horses to manufacturing intake manifolds. Cars will still be cars, albeit with a major alteration at its core.

That being said, despite electric cars being technically simpler than ones powered by thousands of explosions a minute, not to mention much easier to maintain, the technology and infrastructure required to nullify the inherent weaknesses of EVs require monumental efforts. Customers will not tolerate inconvenience, at least not enough for electric cars to reach the kind of
critical mass it needs
 to trigger widespread adoption.

The Importance of Being First-ish

For the moment, the centre of all this hinges on the production and availability of lithium-ion batteries. Imperfect as the technology may be, it is the best answer we have so far to storing electrical energy in a cost-effective, high volume way.

China, without a doubt, is the leading producer of this new resource thanks to a robust manufacturing sector, accounting for roughly 80 percent of worldwide output despite relatively small deposits of lithium ore relative to its land area. India, as mentioned, has pledged that $4.6 billion US Dollars in order to sway some industry players away from their continental neighbour while slowly building a pool of technical expertise along the way.

If things play out as they want it to, they could secure themselves a comfortable position as the second-largest producer of lithium-ion cells, an industry upon which many others depend. If EV ownership continues to proliferate, for example, automakers would be brought to their knees without a steady supply of batteries, not to mention any form of portable consumer electronics (smartphones, laptops, the list goes on…).

Laying The Groundwork

Malaysia doesn’t have the raw population or the buried natural resources to compete on raw lithium output, but it can be a pioneer in other aspects to stay ahead of the curve. All it needs to do is focus on something less dumb than a government-backed flying car project.

Remember, the transition from fossil fuel to electrification is pretty much inevitable with the unknowns being exactly how we generate that electricity at such a huge scale
without being overly wasteful
 or environmentally harmful. If only we had access to clean nuclear power, right?

With that in mind, the first order of business should be educating the public about this impending transition. And why not spur local industry at the same time by following in India’s footsteps and introducing attractive incentives for existing battery research and technology firms to invest in a Malaysian presence, or better yet introduce even more incentives for local entrepreneurs to do the same?

Meanwhile, Proton and Perodua would also need to step up by getting behind an imperative to sell the first (or first pair) of Malaysian-made hybrid or fully electric vehicles, hopefully with any and all the help they might need from the government to achieve very accessible price points.

Loud-Mouthed Assets

Even the mere announcement of this will start the public chatter machine rolling on the topic, with each passing month more and more citizens will be hungry for new information on how their personal transportation can be less reliant on trips to the petrol station.

Questions and demands for a more comprehensive charging network (proprietary, subscription-based, or public) as well as battery replacement and disposal policies will no doubt follow, as will a swift wave of ruthlessly candid complaints should any party be providing lacklustre answers or solutions or services. After all, Malaysians are never shy about being vocal or voting with their wallets (or because of it).

Taking this electrification matter into our own hands means that it’ll be a rough and tumble few years, that’s for sure, but through it the chaos will subside into calm much quicker than if this transition caught us by surprise.

In the end, Malaysia will stand a much better chance of being a regional hub for post-combustion technologies with an educated society already far along the process of adaptation that also serves as a template for others in Southeast Asia.


Can't abolish road tax - It's too large a JPJ revenue stream, says Anthony Loke

There is no chance the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will consider popular opinions to exempt road tax for vehicle users in this country - too much of a revenue stream to be stopped.

The decision last week to
 not make it mandatory for Malaysians to stick their road tax stickers on their windshields
 was met with popular fanfare, but it seems the 'rakyat' wants more and is now asking for the government to get rid of road tax all together.

Although many are hoping for this, there is no chance of this happening as the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will not take popular opinions to exempt road tax for vehicle users in this country, as the revenue obtained by the government from road tax is reused to benefit the people.

According to a report in Berita Harian, Transport Minister, Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the government receives more than RM2 billion annually from road tax and the call for its exemption will only affect the smooth running of the country's administration.

"Taxes is a revenue stream for the government. If the government doesn't collect taxes, how would we govern the country. Every country collects taxes."

"Road tax is essential and one of the main taxes. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) collects almost RM4 billion every year, most of which is from road tax. Road tax alone, if I'm not mistaken, contributes more than RM2 billion to this sum."

"So if stop collecting road tax, the government's revenue will decrease. If it decreases, it will certainly affect the course of the national administration," said the Transport Minister.

Anthony Loke understands that the rise in cost of living is an issue in the country, but the MOT is always triying as much as possible to reduce the cost of living, including the measure of exempting the display of road tax on vehicles.

"Any citizens who use a third-party company to ship their road tax can now save a little as the 'sticker' is no longer necessary, so delivery (by a third party) is no longer necessary. So save a few ringgit from the delivery cost," he said.

He continued on by saying that the MOT measure to exempt vehicles from displaying road tax is not a mandatory or compulsory measure, but rather an option for all vehicle users.


Mazda To Unveil New Crossover Concept At Frankfurt Motor Show Called, “KOERU”

At the coming Frankfurt Motor Show 2015 which happens from September 17,
Mazda
 will be looking to show off its latest concept vehicle called ‘KOERU’.
The company explains that KOERU means to “exceed” or “go beyond,” and then harps on about how fitting it all is, given the brand’s new foray into the “growing crossover SUV market.”
And that’s pretty much it, with no further hint in sight.
It’s also been made clear that this KOERU concept will showcase the latest from Mazda’s KODO-Sould of Motion design language, of which we spot all the right traits in this photo.
Hard to tell what this is for the moment: it could be anything from a new
CX-7
, to a Mazda 3-type crossover in the style of a Volvo V40 turned V40 Cross Country, simply to fill a gap between the
CX-3
 and
CX-5
 SUVs.
Also, look at the way the roof slants in sort of a coupe-like slope: could they be hinting at a CX-5 Coupe or sorts? It does all look properly bad@$$, in any case.


Malaysia Autoshow 2016: BAIC D20 Poised To Challenge Proton & Perodua

Alongside the locally-assembled
BAIC EV200 electric vehicle
 also comes its regular petrol-powered counterparts that being previewed together at the Malaysian Autoshow 2016 being held at MINES Convention Centre.
Like the EV 200, the D20 will also be offered with sedan and hatchback bodystyles with a choice between 1.3- and 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engines claimed to meet Euro V emission standards. The D20 is also being assembled locally alongside the EV200 at Gurun, Kedah.
The 1.3-litre engine comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission, whilst 1.5-litre variants offer the additional choice between that and a 4-speed automatic. Furthermore, the 1.3-litre is offered in Comfort trim only, whilst the 1.5-litre comes with the option of Comfort and Fashion trim.
Full combination of variants are listed below; all trim levels are available in sedan and hatchback bodystyles:
1.3-litre M/T Comfort
1.5-litre M/T Comfort
1.5-litre A/T Comfort
1.5-litre M/T Fashion
1.5-litre A/T Fashion
Equipment levels are as follows:
1.3-litre M/T Comfort
ABS, EBD
Brake Override
Dual Frontal Airbags
Seat Belt Reminder – Driver Only
Immobilizer
ISOFIX
Daytime Running Lights
Rear Fog Lights
175/65 R14 tyres, steel rims, wheel covers
Roof handles – fixed
Side mirrors – Electric adjustment, integrated signal lights
Rear seat – one-piece folding
Adjustable headlights
Digital climate control
Audio: Single CD, USB, AUX, Radio, 4 speakers
Reverse sensors
1.5-litre M/T & A/T Comfort
 adds:
185/60 R14 tyres, alloy rims
Driver seat height adjustment
Rear seat – 60:40 split fold
Interior chrome trim
1.5-litre M/T & A/T Fashion
 adds:
Seat Belt Reminder – Driver & Front Passenger
Sunroof
Sun visor mirrors
Roof handles – foldable and damped
Side mirrors – Electric adjustment, integrated signal lights, electric folding, heating
Rain sensors
Auto headlights
Coat & hat hook
Audio: Single CD, USB, AUX, Radio, 6 speakers
Steering-mounted controls
Optional: 6.5-inch touchscreen, GPS, reverse camera
Final prices of the D20 have yet to be approved, but BAIC is hoping to price it in the vicinity of the
Proton Iriz and Perodua Myvi
, putting it in the RM45k to RM55k ballpark.


Mini EV X2 is a scam?

You know how they say if it's too good to be true, it probably is. Well this may have been one of those cases. Over the weekend we posted an article on the
Mini EV X2
 city car coming to Malaysia for ONLY RM13,800. Since then PDRM through its Cyber Crime Alert Facebook page has warned fellow Malaysians that this might be a scam.

PDRM has further advised not to make any payments through the miniev.online website. The payment tab on the website currently lists the company name followed by a CIMB bank account number. There's also a live chat feature for you to provide proof of payment. We're sure for many of you this already raises red flags. ❌

Just when we were getting quite excited about an electric city car dengan harga mesra rakyat...oh well, better safe than sorry. This evolving story could yet provide us with another plot twist if all the relevant approvals are gotten from the Malaysian authorities and its sale becomes legit.

For now though, keep your money safely under your pillows.


Honda Hits 100 Million Mark In Just Over 5 Decades

Production milestones are big steps for companies. Honda has, after over five decades in the business, hit the amazing milestone of 100,000,000 units produced (100 million units). That's a lot of cars, especially for a company that doesn't have sub-brands or affiliations apart from Acura in the United States. More impressive is that, at least up until most recently, they were extremely uncompromised in their beliefs when it came to engineering and developing their cars.
Continuously Variable Transmissions and downsized turbocharged engines aren't exactly in line with Honda's traditional values, but they have learned how to work with them for the greater good. In the earliest years of their operation, Honda was a company that focused on either providing for a fast-growing industry in the form of mini-trucks, or catering to those with petrol in their veins in the form of the S500 and S600 sports cars.
Eventually as the years went by, they aimed to broaden their product portfolio and cater to a larger range of consumers. That's where cars like the City, and the Civic, and the Accord, and the CR-V came in. And as more years went by, the filled the spaces between the spaces, leading us to the HR-V and the BR-V, and all the other weird and wonderful models that are surprisingly successful given their niche origins.
The structure of the company is such that allows for great flexibility, with each region getting their own virtually autonomous subsidiary of Honda. This allows for product development and specifications that are tailored for each region without interference from Japan; both Toyota and Honda have a strong belief that nobody understand a market better than the people on the ground. This has allowed Honda to work effectively, producing and marketing their models in each locale with little trouble. As of this year, they have 34 automobile production operations in 18 countries and territories.
If you include their other businesses, like motorcycles and powerplants, this number goes up to a staggering 560 million units produced since their humble beginnings. Honda has come a long way, with numerous successful products and numerous successful motorsport programs. We can only wait and see what the future has in store for the Japanese brand.


Pesawat Terbesar Dunia, Antonov AN-225 Musnah – Jadi Mangsa Krisis Rusia, Ukraine

Pesawat terbesar di dunia, Antonov AN-225 telah dilaporkan musnah ketika pencerobohan Rusia ke atas Ukraine baru-baru ini.

Nasib tidak menyebelahi
kapal terbang
 kargo terbesar dunia itu apabila ia musnah setelah berada di lapangan terbang berhampiran Kiev untuk menjalani penyelenggaraan ketika tentera Rusia sedang menyerang. Menurut pengarah Antonov Airlines, salah sebuah enjin pesawat telah dibuka untuk dibaiki dan pesawat tersebut tidak dapat berlepas pada hari tersebut walaupun arahan yang sewajarnya telah diberi.

Menteri Luar Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba telah mengeluarkan kenyataan di Twitter yang mengatakan meskipun Rusia telah memusnahkan pesawat tersebut, namun Rusia tidak sesekali akan berjaya untuk memusnahkan impian dan cita-cita Ukraine untuk menjadi sebuah negara Eropah yang kuat, demokratik dan bebas.

Tiada pengesahan lanjut mengenai tahap kemusnahan dan kerosakan yang dihadapi oleh pesawat berkenaan. Namun gambar yang diperoleh dari satelit menunjukkan hangar tempat penyimpanan pesawat AN-225 telah mengalami kerosakan. Berdasarkan kenyataan Syarikat Antonov di Twitter, pihaknya tidak dapat mengesahkan keadaan teknikal pesawat berkenaan sebelum ia diperiksa oleh pakar.

Sementara itu, syarikat pertahanan Ukraine yang menguruskan pesawat terbabit, Ukroboronprom berkata pesawat tersebut akan dibina semula dan kos perbelanjaan bakal dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh Rusia. Kos pembinaan semula itu dikatakan bakal menelan belanja sebanyak AS$3 bilion (RM12.6 bilion) dan mengambil masa lebih lima tahun.

Menurut Ukroboronprom, tugas utama mereka adalah untuk memastikan kos ini ditanggung sepenuhnya oleh Rusia yang telah menyebabkan kerosakan yang disengajakan ke atas sektor penerbangan dan kargo udara Ukraine.

Kapal terbang kargo Antonov AN-225 ini turut digelar sebagai ‘Mriya’ bermaksud mimpi dalam bahasa Ukraine. Pada mulanya ia dibina sebagai sebahagian daripada program aeronautik Soviet dan pesawat tersebut membuat penerbangan pertamanya pada 1988.

Selepas bertahun-tahun tidak terbang selepas kejatuhan Kesatuan Soviet, ia membuat penerbangan ujian pada tahun 2001 di Gostomel, kira-kira 20 kilometer dari Kyiv. Pesawat itu dikendalikan Antonov Airlines Ukraine untuk penerbangan kargo dan telah mendapat permintaan tinggi semasa permulaan pandemik Covid-19.

Pesawat terbesar di dunia ini mempunyai panjang 84 meter (276 kaki) dan boleh membawa muatan kargo mencecah berat 250 tan pada kelajuan 850 kilometer sejam.


Honda Joy Of Buying Campaign – A Chance To Win A Honda City

In conjunction with Malaysia’s Independence Day and Honda’s 70th-anniversary celebration, Honda Malaysia will soon kick-off its Joy of Buying campaign.

Customers who place a booking for new Honda cars (any model) between 1st August 2018 and 31st October 2018 and have it registered between 1 September 2018 and 31 October 2018 stand a chance to win exclusive prizes including 7 grand prizes of a Honda City, Sony Blu-ray Home Cinema System and selected Honda official merchandise.

Upon booking, customers have to answer the slogan “The Power of Dreams has changed their way of life…” (in either English or Bahasa Malaysia), in not more than 50 words, and post their answers on the Honda Malaysia website.

For seven weeks, one lucky winner per week with the most creative answers will each drive home the grand prize of a Honda City. A total of 17 second prize winners will walk away with a Sony Blu-ray Home Cinema System, and another 277 lucky winners stand a chance of winning Honda official merchandise.

Honda Malaysia will be giving away the prizes on a weekly basis, starting in the third week of September 2018.


UMW Toyota Apologises Over Upside Down Malaysian Flag At Dealership

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) announced that it expresses deep regret over the incident at one of its authorised dealers where Malaysian Flags were hung upside down.
The company acknowledged that the matter was brought to its attention by social media users after the image went viral.
According to UMWT, the dealership has taken immediate corrective action by removing the flags, and stern action has been taken to ensure such matters do not recur in the future.
The company also stressed that such matters are treated very seriously and that it had no intention to disrespect the country; as it was a genuine and unfortunate mistake.
“We really appreciate our fellow Malaysians who spotted this mistake and notified us. We have since corrected it and taken measures to ensure that such incidences are not repeated in the future. We deeply regret and apologise for what had happened. As Malaysians, we have great respect and love for our country,” said Mr. Ravindran K. President of UMW Toyota Motor.


Is The Ora Good Cat Coming To Malaysia – Spied In Selangor

Recent spyshots of the Ora Haomao or Good Cat in Klang have begged the question, is this premium-ish compact Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) destined for Malaysia? As it’s curiously named, the
Good Cat is a made by Ora
, a subsidiary of the much larger Great Wall Motors (GWM), which also sells the Haval brand here in Malaysia through local distributor Go Auto.

Here kitty-kitty…

GWM recently made its operations debut in Thailand, which coincided with the Ora Good Cat and Haval H6 SUV launch, with plans to introduce two more vehicles in the Thai market within the year.

The introduction of the brand also commemorated a full-scale regional production and development base in Rayong Thailand, one of 12 such production facilities operated by GMW worldwide (which also includes another 5 CKD plants to support its network).

This would mean GWM would have the necessary resources to support and integrate a CKD assembly of the Good Cat through its local partner and
distributor Go Auto
. Through its subsidiary Go Automobile Manufacturing assembles Haval models such as H1 and H2 SUV and acts as a contract assembler for other Chinese brands such as Dong Feng trucks, and Mian Yang Jinbei light trucks. Though little has been heard about the company in recent times.

Why is the Good Cat… good?

The Good Cat could be a game-changer given its relative size and cutesy hatchback looks which offers similar practicality as a Honda Jazz or Perodua Myvi. And given Malaysian interest in hatchbacks, an EV with the right stuff and more importantly right price could create quite a buzz locally.

Besides that, the Good Cat is also a superbly engineered BEV.

Image credit: FB @ CarNewsChina.com

Based on the ‘GWM Lemon’ platform, the car features a front-wheel-drive layout with its single 145PS and 210Nm electric motor sat above the front axle. Supplying charge is a lithium-ion battery, of course, but buyers will be able to choose between capacities of 47.8kWh and 59.1kWh depending on the market.

The latter is capable of powering the car for up to 500km in between recharges, even the smaller 47.8 kWh battery is claimed to offer a substantial 400km range. In addition to slower AC charging, a recharge time to 80% in under 30 minutes is claimed to be possible when plugged into a DC fast charger.

Besides that, the Good Cat offers a rather stylish and premium interior, which highlights a dual-screen infotainment and digital instrument cluster combo similar to the Mercedes-Benz MBUX system as well as a central rotary drive controller. The interior looks pretty plush too, with hints of premium-ish switchgear and upholstery detailing.

The Good Cat is supplied with impressive driver assistance systems which AEB, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert and the company’s proprietary intelligent self-parking suite.


All-New Mercedes-Benz A-Class Spied - Sedan Bares Its Tail

The next generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class have been spotted with minimal disguise, showing us a clear view of the hatchback's front and side profile as well as the tail end of the sedan model. The two test mules spotted by European spy photographers are finished in a unique shade of orange, typically used for the company's internal crash test evaluation.
Codenamed W177, these photos were taken at a company car stock yardwithout camouflage. Alongside the W177 A-Class appears to be the A-Class Sedan, also devoid of any camouflage.
Compared to the outgoing model, the new generation W177 A-Class features a more pronounced front grille with a pair of sharper-looking headlights. The rear end also receives a pair of revised tail lights. Also visible are the window frames on the A-Class Sedan, which differs from the CLA's frameless design.
As for A-Class Sedan, this model is said to be a different product from the CLA that we've gotten accustomed to. According to sources, the A-Class Sedan will be a less sporty but more practical version of the CLA. The A-Class Sedan will be competing against the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series Sedan, though the latter is a China-only affair.
Underneath, the new W177 A-Class and A-Class Sedan sits on an updated Modular Front Architecture (MFA), a platform that could potentially spawn multiple new models, including the new CLA, GLA and B-Class. As before, the revised MFA platform gets MacPherson struts up front and multi-link rears.
The W177 generation A-Class is also slated to feature Mercedes-Benz’s range of new engines, including a plug-in hybrid variant.
Mercedes-Benz is also expected to introduce the hotter A45 AMG at a later date, likely with more than 400 ponies on tap. The outgoing A45 AMG boasts 376 hp drawn from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.


All-New 2015 Subaru Outback Launched In Malaysia: Single 2.5i-S Variant Offered, Priced From RM225k

Motor Image Malaysia has launched the all-new fifth-generation 2015 Subaru Outback in Malaysia. More crossover than SUV, the Outback resembles a Legacy that has been beefed up to be able to tackle off-road terrain more comfortably.
With a name that is linked to the vastness of the Australian interior, the
Subaru
 Outback more closely resembles a rugged station wagon, able to tackle tarmac but also capable of going off-road as well.
Buyer’s Guide:
The Subaru Outback is offered here with only one variant on offer, the Outback 2.5i-S with a price tag of RM224,846.30 (inclusive of GST and insurance).
Performance:
Underneath the hood, you’ll find a 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed Boxer four-cylinder petrol engine which produces 175PS at 5,800 rpm and 235 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to Subaru’s Lineartronic six-speed CVT transmission.
Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system sends drive to all four wheels while progressively adjusting the amount of torque sent to the front and rear via an Active Torque Split system.
To tackle off-road terrain, Subaru's X-MODE system with hill descent control works with the all-wheel drive system to handle rough terrain. The brand's
Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) is also found here, allowing for different driving modes.
KEY SPECS:
Engine: Boxer 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve petrol engine with Multi Point Sequential Injection
Transmission: Lineartronic six-speed automatic transmission
Power: 175PS @ 5,800 rpm
Torque: 235 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Fuel economy: 7.7 litres per 100 km (combined)
CO2 emissions: 177g/km
Exterior Styling:
Robust is the best way to put the Outback’s styling. With a high ground clearance (213mm), roof rails, and bumper guards front and rear, the crossover certainly looks the part should it decide to leave the comfort of tarmac.
At the front, the Outback gets automatic LED headlamps with integrated daytime-running lights and just beneath them, you’ll find fog lamps in chromed enclosures. The front-end also features the Active Grille Shutter which opens and closes to improve fuel consumption.
Moving along the side of the 4,815mm long vehicle, we see
chromed side sills with 'Outback' etched on them as well as
 18-inch alloy wheels are fitted, wrapped in 225/60 series tyres.
At the rear, a powered tailgate opens with the push of a button on either the remote unit or just below the dashbboard for ease of access. The top of the car houses a power sliding, tilt-adjustable sunroof as well.
Interior Design:
Inside, the Outback is upholstered in leather, including the seats and steering wheel. The seats at the front are both power adjustable but only the driver’s seat comes with lumbar support. At the rear, you’ll find 60/40 split folding and reclining rear seats.
To keep the occupants cool, a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system with anti-dust filter comes as standard with heater ducts for rear passengers should the need arise.
Infotainment is handled by a premium audio system with Bluetooth, USB (2), CD player, and voice recognition system, displayed through a seven-inch LCD touch-screen that doubles as a screen for the rear view camera. Audio playback is sent through a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.
For the driver, a 3.5-inch colour LCD screen displays various driving information while for convenience, there are on-wheel steering controls for the multimedia system and cruise control function. Said steering wheel is also adjustable for tilt and reach but is done so manually.
Safety Features:
Rated with a maximum five-star ANCAP occupant safety rating, the Outback features a vast list of safety systems. Within Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system, there are: Electronic Stability Control (ESC), anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA), traction control system (TCS) with limited slip device, and an Active Torque Vectoring system.
Add to this an airbag count of seven, four-wheel disc brakes, hill hold function, ISOFIX child-seat anchors, and a rear view reverse camera and you’ve got yourself a pretty impressive safety package.
Other Information:
Each purchase of the 2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i-S will come with a five-year or 100,000 km warranty (whichever comes first).


World's First Flying Bike Can Be Yours For RM3.5 Million

If you have mad money and want the ultimate flex, how about the world's first
flying bike
? Presenting the AERWINS XTURISMO
'luxury air cruiser'
.

Making its first official debut at the
Detroit Auto Show
 2022, the XTURISMO flying bike was built and developed by Japanese start-up, AERWINS Technologies. It is also said that it's already in sale in Japan, and those living in the US can cop one for USD777,000 or around the RM3.5 million mark.

Fly by at 100km/h top speed

There are no specific details regarding its powertrain apart from the combination of internal combustion and battery with Autonomous Control via an Electric Control System (like a smart hybrid), the XTURISMO weighs in at 300kg with the ability to fly at a maximum speed of 80-100km/h.

With a recommended payload of 100kg, this flying bike has a cruising range of 40km for each flight - a relatively short flight for a bike that can buy you several supercars and some change. But, this is not a supercar. It's a flying bike, like the ones you see in Star Wars or that new Ultraman anime on Netflix ridden by the Alien Wadoran.

Three colour options to choose from

If you're crazy enough to spend that kind of money on a flying bike that looks like a jetski, first and foremost, can we be your friends? Second, That RM3.5 million price tag gives you an option to choose from three different exterior colours - Red, Blue, or Black.

Set to go on sale in the US sometime in 2023, we're pretty sure that some YouTubers will get their hands on one for some crazy content. Let's hope that crashing a 300kg flying beast that can travel 100km/h won't be as nasty as how we imagine it will.


Jalan Tidak Diturap Betul, 5 Kes Kemalangan Dilaporkan Setiap Hari Di Malaysia

Infrastruktur atau jalan yang tidak diturap dengan sempurna di seluruh negara telah menyebabkan sekurang-kurangnya 5 kes
kemalangan jalan raya
 berlaku setiap hari.

Pengasas Persatuan Mangsa Kemalangan Jalan Raya Malaysia, Azlan Sani Zawawi atau lebih mesra dikenali sebagai Lando itu berkata, banyak aduan diterima tentang permukaan jalan yang tidak diturap sempurna telah dilaporkan menjadi punca kemalangan sejak pelaksanaan
Lockdown 3.0
 pada awal bulan lalu.

Setelah dikenalpasti, ia berpunca daripada penggunaan tar yang kurang berkualiti yang mengakibatkan ia mudah pecah atau berlubang sehingga membahayakan pengguna jalan raya lain. Menerusi maklum balas yang diterima oleh pihaknya daripada kontraktor, pelaksanaan
Lockdown 3.0
 ini telah menyebabkan kecacatan berlaku dari segi bahan penghasilan tar.

"Kita difahamkan bahan yang digunakan juga tidak sempurna akibat kuari yang tidak dibenarkan beroperasi sepanjang PKP. Akibatnya pengguna menjadi mangsa apabila mengalami kecederaan. Keadaan ini perlu ditangani segera," kata Lando.

Beliau turut menambah bahawa pihaknya kini sedang merujuk
Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR)
 di negeri berkaitan untuk meminta penjelasan berhubung perkara ini. Dimaklumkan, kontraktor juga masih menunggu kelulusan untuk kerja penyelenggaraan.

Lando agak terkenal di media sosial setelah banyak membantu membaiki lubang pada permukaan jalan bagi mengelakkan kemalangan yang tidak diingini daripada berlaku. Beliau menggunakan tar jenis cold mix yang disifatkan antara yang terbaik, menjimatkan kos serta memenuhi spesifikasi ditetapkan Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR).

Sementara itu Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith berkata, Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) sedang membuat pemantauan berkala bagi memastikan segala kerja penurapan dijalankan sebaik mungkin.

Namun beliau mengakui ada daripada kerja penurapan tersebut didapati menggunakan tar yang tidak berkualiti dan tidak tahan lama. Tambahnya, kementerian amat memandang serius dengan perkara ini dan beliau sendiri turun padang bagi meninjau kerja berkaitan.

"Antara isunya ialah kekurangan pekerja teknikal untuk kerja ini. Tanggungjawab penyelenggaraan jalan persekutuan ini kebanyakannya kita bagi kepada syarikat konsesi dan kita akan minta mereka pastikan mereka melihat perkara ini," tambahnya.


Nasim Invests RM5 Million to Boost Their Customer's Experience

Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for Automobiles Peugeot in Malaysia has invested RM5 million into the business to further enhance its capability of serving their customer base. The cash injection has been apportioned towards a new Technical Centre, Body & Paint Centre and free 3 years Roadside Assistance program.
The Glenmarie Technical Centre, built at a cost of RM2.5million will serve as a platform for all outlets nationwide to obtain the latest information on diagnostics expertise with an emphasis on improving competency and technical knowledge of the workforce.
The 19,000 sq. ft. centre comes equipped with 10 service bays and 17 dedicated and fully-trained technicians operating under the expert guidance of a Master Engineer from France. With direct access to the main server in France and Shanghai, the Technical Centre boasts an up-to-the-minute data service that can be implemented to upgrade software and hardware.
Peugeot’s Puchong Body and Paint measures 20,000 sq. ft. and features delivery bays, estimation bays, free Wi-Fi and a comfortable lounge for its customers. The body and paint centre houses 16 bays with the capability to service up to 80 units per day. Peugeot’s body and required an initial expenditure of some RM2 million.
Additionally, a free 3-year Roadside Assistance program to offer full mobility assistance. This 24-hour service covers emergency roadside and breakdown assistance, including home and roadside assistance and towing, towing assistance for Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, onward travel and hotel accommodation, car assistance, taxi service and emergency message transmission.
Peugeot owners simply have to call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-800-88-6292.


Jaguar Land Rover's Concept_e Trio Showcases Brand's Future Electric Vehicles

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) presented a trio of ‘Concept_e’ electrified vehicle systems at the 2015 CENEX Low Carbon Vehicle, hinting at technologies which may make their way into future production vehicles.
In 2010, Jaguar
Land Rover
 introduced its Range_e Hybrid concept, paving the way for the Range Rover Hybrid’s existence. This time round, the three new electrified powertrain concepts are much more advanced, and includes a new unique high performance, modular electric drive module (eDM) developed in-house by
Jaguar
 Land Rover
The three ‘Concept_e’ research demonstrators consist of a mild hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and an all-electric vehicle:
Concept_e MHEV
Based on a
Range Rover Evoque
, this mild hybrid employs a prototype diesel engine which offers 90PS and comes equipped with a 48V electrical system. The hybrid module sits between the engine and the car’s nine-speed automatic transmission, incorporating a 15kW crank integrated motor with disconnect clutch within it. Powering the motor-generator is the 48V electrical system and 48V lithium ion battery pack.
Concept_e PHEV
The plug-in hybrid concept adopts a similar architecture to the MHEV above but substitutes the diesel engine with a more powerful 300PS prototype petrol engine. The transmission is now an eight-speed unit, mounted longitudinally within a
Range Rover Sport
 donor vehicle instead of an Evoque’s.
The electric motor now functions as the starter motor and is now capable of 150kW, drawing its power from a 320V lithium ion battery packaged in the boot. The hybrid powerplant sends drive through the conventional automatic gearbox normally fitted to the Range Rover Sport with the full time four-wheel drive system retained.
Concept_e BEV
The final demonstrator is not car at all, but showcases JLR’s aluminium vehicle architecture for an all-electric vehicle. Here, the underbody has been modified to accommodate a 70kWh HV lithium ion traction battery and electric axle drive (EAD) units.
The front drive unit is fitted with a single speed transmission coupled with an 85 kW electric motor. Meanwhile, the rear drive unit features a twin speed transmission attached to a 145 kW electric motor.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This is a long-term Jaguar Land Rover research project exploring all aspects of future hybrid and battery electric vehicle technology. The three Concept_e vehicles will allow us to test and develop exciting new potential technologies that could form part of our low and zero emissions vision beyond 2020.


Boleh Cabut Bateri Untuk Dicas – Skuter Elektrik T-70 Dijual RM8,347

Motosikal elektrik
 memang sesuatu yang menarik untuk digunakan. Namun bagi mereka yang menetap di rumah atas atau
high-rise
, mencari soket untuk mengecas bateri motor adalah sesuatu yang sukar. Tapi kini tidak lagi!

Ketika majlis pelancaran Tindakan Pembangunan Bumiputera 2030 baru-baru ini, Skuter T-70 keluaran Tree Technologies Sdn. Bhd. dipamerkan pada umum. Versi awal model ini telah diperkenalkan pada 2016 tetapi versi baharu ini menawarkan peningkatan yang menarik.

Skuter T-70 ini kini tampil dengan sedikit berbeza dan lebih baik berbanding versi awalnya di mana sebelum ini, skuter tersebut hanya menggunakan 30% komponan lokal. Tetapi dalam versi terbaru ini, T-70 kini hadir dengan menggunakan 60% komponen yang didapati dari saluran tempatan. Jadi pengguna tidak perlu begitu risau dengan isu
alat ganti
.

Menariknya, skuter T-70 ini menggunakan bateri yang boleh dibuka untuk dibawa masuk ke dalam rumah atau mana-mana lokasi yang mempunyai soket untuk mengecas bateri tersebut. Ini jelas sekali memudahkan pengguna terutama bagi mereka yang menetap di rumah apartment yang agak sukar untuk mencari soket untuk mengecas. Kini tidak perlu lagi bawa motor di depan soket.

Bukan itu sahaja, tempoh pengecasan T-70 kini dipendekkan serta jarak perjalanan skuter ini dipanjangkan berbanding terdahulu. Kini, T-70 hanya memerlukan 4 jam untuk dicas penuh bagi jarak perjalanan maksimum sejauh 120km. Versi lama memerlukan 6 jam untuk jarak perjalanan sejauh 100km.

Spesifikasi

Berat (dengan bateri): 78kg

Tayar (hadapan): 90/90 - 10

Tayar (Belakang): 90/90 – 10

Brek: Cakera

Dimensi: 1750 x 690 x 1150 mm

Beban maksimum: 150Kg

Suspensi: Hidraulik

Motor

Motor: Brushless

Kapasiti: 1500W

Bateri

Jenis: Lithium

Kapasiti: 72V / 45AH

Berat: 25Kg

Pengecas: 220-240V, 50Hz (5 Amps)

Tempoh pengecasan: 4-6 jam

Prestasi

Kelajuan maksimum: 65 (km/j)

Sudut mendaki maksimum: 18 darjah

Jarak maksimum bila dicas penuh: sehingga 100km

Skuter
 ini ditawarkan dalam pelbagai pilihan warna seperti putih, merah, biru, oren, hijau serta silver. Bagi yang tidak tahu, Tree Technologies merupakan syarikat tempatan pertama yang menghasilkan motosikal elektrik penuh di Malaysia. Skuter mesra pengguna ini sudah terjual sebanyak kira-kira 150 unit sejak diperkenalkan dan kini dijual pada harga RM8,347 (OTR).


Ford Malaysia Achieves Retail Sales Of 373 Units In April, Ranger Remains As Most Popular Model

Ford
 Malaysia recently announced that it has managed to sell 373 units of its vehicles for the month of April 2015 during a period which saw caution in the automotive industry, mainly due to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the start of the month.
The brand’s year-to-date retail sales saw an increase of 22% to 4,984 units.
David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company said, “As the year progresses we expect the industry to regain momentum, helping to drive our performance forward this year.”
“We’re confident that the launch of more global Ford vehicles in Malaysia, including the
all-new Everest
,
new Ranger
, and
new Mustang
, will keep our showrooms busy.”
In April, the
Ford Ranger
 remained as the car maker’s most popular model, contributing 211 units to its retail sales and year-to-date sales that have jumped 57% to 3,715 units.
A few days ago, Sime Darby Auto Connexion, the authorised dealer of Ford vehicles in Malaysia introduced
the all-new 2015 Ford Mondeo in Malaysia priced at RM204k
.


Malaysian Petrol, Diesel Price Increase Announced For March 2015

As
reported earlier
, petrol prices for March 2015 have gone up.
In accordance with the “managed float” system in use by the government that is based on the average global fuel price of the month before, here’s what Malaysians will be paying at the pump come March 1
st
, 2015:
RON 95: RM1.95 per litre
RON 97: RM2.25 per litre
Diesel: RM1.95 per litre
It’s an RM0.25 sen increase across the board from February 2015’s prices, as announced by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, against the previous month’s RM1.70 for RON 95 and diesel, and RM2.00 for RON 97 petrol.
As expected, petrol stations around town were jam-packed with many members of the public anticipating the news, and looking to enjoy at least one more tank at February’s prices.


Audi quattro Tech Is Going To The Moon – Aims For Google Lunar XPRIZE

After conquering the World Rally Championship,
Le Mans
, DTM, enough showing off in the Land of quattro, Audi is now sending its all-terrain traction quattro and lightweight aluminium construction technology to the moon.
Come 2017, Audi together with a group of German scientists from the Part-Time Scientists group that is competing for the USD 30 million prize money in Google Lunar XPRIZE competition, will be sending an unmanned lunar rover to the landing site that the Apollo 17 made in 1972.
The Google Lunar XPRIZE is a competition to challenge and inspire engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop low‑cost methods of robotic space exploration. To win the Google Lunar XPRIZE, a privately funded team must successfully place a robot on the moon’s surface that explores at least 500 meters and transmits high‑definition video and images back to Earth.
Audi will lend its support to Part Time Scientists by sharing its know-how in quattro all-wheel drive and lightweight construction to electric mobility and piloted driving. Audi is also providing wide‑ranging assistance in testing, trials and quality assurance. In addition, the Audi Concept Design Studio in Munich is revising the rover, which will be named the “Audi lunar quattro,” to ensure ideal lightweight construction conditions.
The lunar vehicle with the Audi lunar quattro should launch into space in 2017 on board a launching rocket and will travel more than 380,000 kilometers to the moon. The trip will take about five days. The target landing area is north of the moon’s equator, near the 1972 landing site of the Apollo 17, NASA’s last manned mission to the moon. Temperatures fluctuate here by up to 300 degrees Celsius.
The Audi lunar quattro will use an adjustable solar panel to capture sunlight and to charge the lithium‑ion battery, which powers four electric wheel hub motors. A head at the front of the vehicle carries two stereoscopic cameras as well as a scientific camera that examines materials. The theoretical maximum speed is 3.6 km/h– but more important on the rugged surface of the moon are the vehicle’s off‑road capabilities and ability for safe orientation.


GALLERY: BMW Concept M4 GTS Is In Malaysia For A Special Preview

Not even visitors of the recent Frankfurt Motor Show got to see it, but here is the BMW Concept M4 GTS making a special appearance in Malaysia, after it has only been displayed publicly once before, at the
Pebble Beach show in the US
 mid last month.
Believed to at some lengths preview a future model for the US market, the Concept M4 GTS also features a lot of new tech and design that BMW’s M Division is developing for the street.
It is also heavily derived from the
BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car
, from which the M4 GTS borrows a similar manually-adjustable front splitter and rear wing, a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) hood, and the
ground-breaking water-injection technology
.
The front splitter and wheels are highlighted in an Acid Orange colour, while the overall body is painted in Frozen Dark Grey Metallic.
What’s also impressive about the M4 GTS displayed here is BMW’s latest OLED technology taillights. The M4 GTS is the first car to wear them since
they were first displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January
 early this year.
Full details surrounding the car will be revealed in a matter of weeks, says BMW, but we wouldn’t be too surprised to find the MotoGP Safety Car’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six BMW TwinPower engine, developing similar or slightly more than its 431hp and 550Nm of torque.
BMW says full details surrounding the Concept M4 GTS will be revealed in a matter of weeks.


Ladies And Gentlemen, Start Your Engines - Inter-district and Inter-state Travel Is Allowed From Today

Malaysia's most-watched politician, Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced on Friday last week that inter-district and inter-state travel is once again allowed throughout Malaysia beginning today.

Now, just because the travel ban has been lifted it doesn't mean that you should be planning for a road-trip or Sunday drive just yet, and even if you do please observe the SOPs in place. We are still in the midst of a pandemic.

What's confusing though is that the CMCO is still in effect in Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, most of Selangor, parts of Johor as well as Negri Sembilan.

So CMCO but can travel? Why still CMCO? Or is that to ensure that we still adhere to the other SOPs?

Bear in mind though that travel to locations under EMCO is prohibited.

The three-person per vehicle limit has also been lifted and will instead revert to the vehicle's seating capacity.

We will also no longer be greeted by our Abang and Kakak Polis as all roadblocks will be removed and travellers will no longer require a police permit, except to areas under the EMCO.

The police's attention will now be refocused to ensure we are all in compliance with the SOPs, so please do so.

The tourism sector is set to witness a gradual re-opening, the government will also be holding discussions today on whether employees can be allowed to return to the office in full force.

Now regardless of how you feel about the above, remember that we are ultimately still responsible for the well-being of ourselves and our families. So take the necessary precautions and be safe out there.

For the car club kakis I know it's been a fervent weekend of planning for many of you on which roads to hit next weekend, I know because I'm a member of a few groups. Being a driver myself I understand, but let's take it easy, be respectful on the road and remember we all share the roads. Let's look out for each other.

Too bad
petrol price
 naik last week!


Perodua Alza 2022 vs Perodua Alza 2009 - Beza Saiz Exterior Dan Interior

Antara generasi kedua Perodua Alza 2022 yang diasaskan dari
Daihatsu Xenia
 dengan generasi pertama Perodua Alza yang diasaskan dari Daihatsu Boon Luminas, yang mana satu lebih luas dan selesa?

MPV segmen-B
 baharu Perodua, Alza 2022 merupakan model kedua selepas
Perodua Ativa
 yang dibina menggunakan
platform DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture)
 dan dibina dibawah konsep Perodua Smart Build (PSB).

Alza pertama kali dilancarkan pada tahun 2009, jadi perbezaan 13 tahun antara model generasi pertama dan kedua MPV ini pasti dapat dilihat dengan jelas. Berikut merupakan perbezaan saiz dalaman dan luaran antara kedua-dua generasi Perodua Alza ini.

Dimensi

Model

Perodua Alza 2009

Perodua Alza 2022

Panjang (mm)

4,220

4,425

Lebar (mm)

1,695

1,730

Tinggi (mm)

1,620

AV, H: 1,670

X: 1,660

Jarak Roda (mm)

2,750

2,750

Jarak Kelegaan Tanah (mm)

155

AV, H; 160 (16")

X: 150 (15")

Berat Kerb (kg)

AV, SE: 1,160

S (A/T): 1,145

AV: 1,170

H: 1,155

X: 1,145

Saiz Exterior

Alza 2022 yang menggunakan platform DNGA ternyata lebih besar secara keseluruhannya berbanding Alza 2009 dengan
205 mm lebih panjang, 35 mm lebih lebar dan 50 mm lebih tinggi
.

Walau bagaimanapun, jarak antara rodanya kekal sama manakala jarak kelegaan tanah Alza 2022 adalah 5 mm lebih tinggi bagi model AV dan H manakala varian asasnya, X pula 5 mm lebih rendah berbanding Alza 2009.

Saiz Interior

Faktor kelebaran Perodua Alza 2022 yang sudah ditingkatkan membuatkan kabin MPV ini lebih luas dan lebih selesa untuk perjalanan yang pendek mahupun panjang. Saiz panjang ruang dalam kabin Alza 2022 kini berada pada  jarak
2,765 mm, iaitu 115 mm

lebih panjang
 jika nak dibandingkan dengan Alza terdahulu. Saiz panjang barisan tempat duduk kedua juga telah meningkat kepada
240 mm, iaitu 90 mm

lebih panjang
 berbanding sebelumnya.

Kapasiti But

Model

Perodua Alza 2009

Perodua Alza 2022

Barisan Ketiga Dibangunkan (L)

83

137

Barisan Ketiga Diturunkan (L)

348

498

Radius Pusingan

Meskipun lebih panjang, namun Alza 2022 hanya memerlukan 5 meter sahaja untuk membuat pusingan membuatkan urusan membelok atau membuat pusingan U lebih mudah di kawasan bandar. Rujuk perbezaan di bawah:

Model

Perodua Alza 2009

Perodua Alza 2022

Mitsubishi Xpander 2020

Honda BR-V 2020

Proton Exora 2019

Radius Pusingan (meter)

5.2

5.0

5.2

5.6

5.4

Kesimpulan

Perbezaan 13 tahun antara kedua-dua generasi Alza ini ternyata dapat dilihat bukan sahaja dari sudut teknologi sahaja, namun juga dari segi saiz dalaman dan luaran kereta ini. Walaupun lebih lebar, panjang dan tinggi, namun Alza 2022 tetap lebih praktikal dengan saiz but yang lebih besar, radius pusingan lebih kecil serta pelbagai gaya pelarasan kerusi penumpang dengan kawalan yang lebih mudah untuk melipat kerusi di barisan kedua.


How Many Things Can You Fit In The Mitsubishi Outlander?

The festive season is here, and it is that time of the year when travelling with our loved ones and running around town with a trunk full of things are key parts of our agendas.
This is also the time where many of us will be considering getting ourselves a new ride, just in time for the annual big “Balik Kampung” trip.
So, if you’re considering a decent seven-seater SUV that is priced competitively, looks good, and wins big in terms of space and practicality, you may want to consider
the Mitsubishi Outlander
 we’re looking at here because it ticks all the boxes of the criteria mentioned above.
In order to find out just how spacious the Outlander is, we recently put it to the test by seeing how many electrical items we can actually load into the SUV’s boot.
So we dropped by Grand Senheng electrical store in Setia Alam, randomly picked whatever we could get our hands on, and believe it or not, the things we managed to squeeze into the Outlander were:
1 electric Iron
2 hairdryers
2 kettles
A toaster
2 thermo pots
1 vacuum cleaner
1 blender
2 rice cookers
2 air conds
1 electric table fan
1 electric oven
1 50-inch LED TV
All we had to do in order to fit all these electrical appliances was simply fold the second and third-row seats which fold flat into the floor, and voila!
Check out the video to see how we actually managed to squeeze all of them in.
Assembled locally, the Mitsubishi Outlander is available in two variants:
Outlander 2.0L 4WD – RM 137,888
Outlander 2.4L 4WD – RM 152,888
Besides the spacious interior, both variants of the Outlander also feature Mitsubishi’s intelligent 4WD system with Multi-Select, allowing drivers to select three modes – 4WD Eco, 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock.
For the latest deals on Mitsubishi vehicles, click
here
*This post is sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia


Audi Q8 Unveiled- The New Face Of The Q Family

Audi has just unveiled their flagship SUV which combines an expressive four-door coupe design with high equipment features and a sporty driving experience. In other words, Audi is joining the growing large SUV-coupe group that was started by the BMW X6, which now also includes the Range Rover Sport and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
First shown as the Sport Concept last year, the Audi Q8 - positioned as the flagship model in their ‘Q’ SUV range of models, is based largely on the Q7 model but substantially different dimensions to project the four-door coupe design. The roofline is obviously lower, while the wider body sits on the same wheelbase as the sister Q7.
Being the flagship model, the design team have created the new face of the Q family, through the new ‘Singleframe’ architecture in an octagonal shape. Other design details that take cues from the original Quattro include the gently inclined D-pillars and wheel arch blisters. The 22-inch wheels are also the largest on an Audi.
At the tailgate, a light strip connects the tail lamps which have a technical, digital character to the lighting graphics. The gloss black panel under the light strip is also another element from the original Audi Quattro.
While no engine details have been released, all Q8 models will feature a mild hybrid with 48-volt primary electrical systems. The mild hybrid system consists of a lithium-ion battery and a belt alternator starter. In the Sport Concept, which also featured this mild hybrid system, the combined system output together with a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine was 476 hp and 700 Nm of torque.
The Q8 Sport Concept’s mild hybrid powertrain delivered 476 hp and 700 Nm of torque
On the chassis technology, Audi will equip the Q8 with a purely mechanical centre differential transfer that provides a front-to-rear torque bias of 40:60, where additional drive force can be transferred the rear axle when required. Optional items include an air suspension system and rear-wheel steering that turn the rear wheels by as much as 5 degrees for all-round stability and agility.
Performance tests were also done at the famed 21 kilometres of Nurburgring.
Opening the frameless doors and one is greeted by an interior that is bespoke to the Q8. Similar in concept to the new A8 limousine and A7 Sportback, the dashboard of the Q8 houses a dual-touchscreen setup. The upper display in 10.1-inch size is used for controlling infotainment and the navigation system. A smaller display in 8.6-inch size below places controls for air conditioning and other convenience features.
An online service in the MMI Navigation Plus recognizes the driver’s preferences based on previous journeys and perform intelligent suggestions on the route planning.
Audi will also introduce the remote parking pilot feature in early 2019. This feature allows the driver to egress from the Q8, and park the vehicle in a tight spot through the myAudi app on their smartphone. Up to five radar sensors, six cameras, 12 ultrasound sensors, and a laser scanner feed data to the central computer in the Q8 to allow for a safe operation of this driver assistance.
The Audi Q8 will be available for sale in Europe by the third quarter of this year.


The Suzuki Jimny Is Finally In Malaysia! Yours For RM169k

After a
brief period of teasers
, Suzuki Cars Malaysia (Naza Eastern) has now brought in the much anticipated 4th-generation Jimny as their second model on sale locally after
the Swift Sport
.

Despite its small dimensions, the 4x4, which arrives in a sole variant fully imported from Japan, is being sold with a price tag that might catch some people off guard: RM168,900 on-the-road without insurance and inclusive of the 50% SST discount.

Its local distributors have decided to forego a launch event, even a virtual one, and have opted to just make the Jimny available and open for public viewing at their Petaling Jaya showroom. Drop by and take a look if you have the time.

This sole variant is, from what we can gather, quite similar to the range-topping Sierra available in other markets, but don’t expect much by way of creature comforts or much luxury. The Jimny was always going to be a more rugged, function-first machine.

Standard features include 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED fog lamps, cruise control, single-zone climate control, manually adjustable seats, fabric upholstery, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity that pumps audio through 2 speakers. Yes, just two.

It’s pretty barebones on the safety front as well with 2 airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, brake assist, and ISOFIX mounting points on the rear seats.

Up front and under that charmingly square bonnet we find a 1.5-litre K15B naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that pumps out 100hp and 130Nm that’s mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission and Suzuki's AllGrip Pro part-time four-wheel-drive system.

The front and rear axles are connected/disconnected via hydraulic viscous coupling and come with a low-range transfer box for some true off-roading ability.

It remains to be seen if the Jimny in this form and at this price will attract the sales numbers Suzuki needs to stay afloat in Malaysia this time around. For some buyers,
the Jimny has no substitute
 and will happily pay the RM170k regardless of any rivals new or old.


40 years on - Mercedes-Benz W123

What we know today as the
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
 has not always been called that name. Before the mid-1990s, the middle child of the Mercedes range identified itself only with 3-digit badges that denoted its engine capacity with the ‘E’ suffix added only to models with fuel injection.
So, whilst the name is relatively new, it is nevertheless steep with heritage; one of the most iconic members of lineage is perhaps, the W123, which celebrates the 40
th
 anniversary of its global debut this week.
First shown to the motoring press from 22 to 28 January 1976 at the Paul Ricard Circuit in Southern France, the W123 remained in production for a whole decade, selling 2.7 million units in sedan, coupe, and wagon configurations.
A total of nine petrol and diesel powertrain variants were available at launch, many of them being carried over from the predecessor model. New engines, however, were added along the way; examples including the 2.5-litre six-cylinder M 123 engine in the 250 model and the five-cylinder OM 617 turbodiesel engine in the 300 D.
Development groundwork for the W123 commenced as far back as 1968. At its peak, the model was noted for its commendable engineering and advanced levels of safety. Remarkable for the time was the provision made by the engineers for airbag inclusion in future variants, which was ultimately introduced to the range in 1982 as an option.
Passive safety was enhanced in particular by the combination of an even more robust passenger cell and large crumple zones. Stronger struts in the doors ensured better protection in the event of an impact. In addition, the safety steering shaft invented by Béla Barényi and patented in 1963 made its debut as a complete system in the W123.
The W123 hailed from an era when
Mercedes-Benz
 built cars with almost obsessive attention to detail, quality, and longevity. It is a model that was instrumental in cementing the E-Class’ reputation as vehicles of excellent engineering integrity and impressive durability.
There is a reason why
successive generations of the E-Class
 are able to successfully balance the role of being a
bona fide
 luxury car as well as being the vehicle of choice for most European taxi drivers – Mercedes not only built these vehicles with comfort and luxury, they built them to last as well.
Testament of the W123’s durability can be seen on our roads. Many examples are still serving their owners faithfully, and units in mint condition still running with their original engines can be found a lot more readily than a
BMW 5 Series
 of a similar age.
Mechanically, the W123 is bulletproof, and original spare parts are readily available at reasonable prices. As with any car several decades old, trim parts can be trickier to source, but not impossible. If you’re looking for an affordable classic that can be counted on to serve reliably as a daily driver as well, this car can well fit the bill.
As of the publishing of this article, there are only
four units of the W123 on Carlist.my
. The going rate of a vehicle that is in reasonable wear is well under RM10,000; RM5,000 or less buys a car in running condition, but perhaps not one that is pristine looking. There is a
200 TE estate asking for as much as RM88,000
; with cars like this, the worthiness of its price is very much on a willing buyer willing seller basis.


First All-New 2017 Volvo XC60 Rolls Off Production Line In Sweden

Volvo has begun production of the
all-new XC60
 at its production plant in Torslanda, Sweden. The first customer car rolled off the production line just before lunch time.
The company's first customer-bound unit is a
T5 Inscription AWD
, finished in Crystal White.
Since the introduction of the original Volvo XC60 nine years ago, it has became Volvo's best selling model, almost a million units sold worldwide. That figure is 30% of Volvo's global sales.

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Magnus Nilsson, vice president of the Torslanda plant said, “This is a proud day for everyone at the plant. We have worked hard in recent weeks and months to prepare Torslanda for this latest new Volvo model, and now we are ready to start delivering new XC60s to customers.”
Underneath the second-generation Volvo XC60 is the company's SPA platform. The new XC60 is the fourth model in Volvo's line up to utilize the new platform, which was first introduced on the Volvo XC90.