Watch How Mazda Demonstrates the MX-5’s 50:50 Weight Balance

Nearly every manufacturer of rear-wheel drive cars today would always pop the phrase “perfect 50:50 weight distribution” like they are going out of style. After all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy a perfectly balanced car, but are those claims true?
Ever since the first
MX-5
burst on to the scene 26 years ago,
Mazda
 had always claimed that one of the hallmarks of their roadster was has near perfect 50:50 weight balance, and what better way to prove the worth of their latest fourth-generation MX-5 than putting it on a steel fulcrum balance structure. And not only that, the MX-5 is loaded with all the liquids it needs to run, with a driver on board to boot as well. Proving that you can enjoy Mazda’s 50:50 weight balance promise while being in it and driving it.
The end result, while isn’t entirely unexpected, is impressive to say the least. Mazda says that they managed to achieve this thanks to the company's engineering challenge they call “The Gram Strategy”, where engineers comb through every single component in the car to find places they can cut down its weight, even if it is by a few grams, hence its name. By shaving a gram here and a gram there, Mazda's engineers are able to not only fight the flab, but direct the remaining mass in places where it would be beneficial to the driving experience. That is how Mazda has managed to
bring the weight of the fourth-generation model down by 68kg over its predecessor
.
And speaking of its predecessor, Mazda conducted the same test with the third-generation model in 2011. And like its successor, the old guard stood tall and unassisted on that fulcrum as well. No wonder it is still the world’s best-selling roadster.


Shell V-Power – New Blockbuster Ad to Communicate Message of Engine Protection

Shell V-Power petrol now has a sixteen-year history in Malaysia. Being the first petrol brand to introduce the concept of a premium fuel in the market back in 2000, Shell has successfully embedded into the consciousness of most consumers the association between performance and the
V-Power
 branding.
Currently in Malaysia, Shell markets two different grades of fuel with V-Power branding, namely V-Power 97 which is sold at the same price as regular RON 97 fuels of other brands, and the even higher grade V-Power Racing. The latter fuel is available only at
selected stations
, although Shell is in the process of rapidly increasing the number, which currently stands at 52, up from 42 in February.
According to Shell, the unique formulation of its V-Power fuels, be it V-Power 97 or V-Power Racing, is designed to protect the engine against carbon deposits and corrosion. Carbon deposits typically form in the engine’s fuel intake system, whilst corrosion can occur in the form rust on metal surfaces within the fuel system in the presence of oxygen and water.
Shell V-Power is claimed to protect the engine with active cleaning agents incorporated into its additive package that remove carbon deposits. It also forms a protective layer on the engine’s metal surfaces that prevent corrosion of its fuel system components.
It is through these protective properties that Shell claims its V-Power fuels are able to enhance engine performance and longevity.
The overall message of engine protection from Shell is delivered with a two-pronged approach. Recently, the company’s lubricant arm also launched its own unique
12-year / 200,000km extended engine warranty
 for motorists who use Shell Helix Ultra or HX7 engine oils in their vehicles.
This message was perhaps delivered most prominently last year when the company treated 378 Malaysian motorists to free oil changes and a tankful of V-Power Racing petrol in the
Shell Love My Ride
 event.
More recently, the message of protecting the engine against the dangers of deposits and corrosion is delivered in blockbuster style with a new 60-second video commercial featuring state-of-the-art special effects depicting a BMW 4 Series being pursued by a shape-shifting monster representing gunk and corrosion.
The commercial ends with the 4 Series successfully evading the monster and making its way into a Shell station, which dispersed the monster with
Star Trek
-style deflector shields. Produced for consumption by a global audience, the commercial was shot with the same equipment and technology used in big Hollywood productions.


Volvo Video Explains Child Safety As Told By A Child

Volvo Cars Malaysia has released an educational video, presented by the young and talented Farris, which covers the basics of child safety in a car, and the importance of child seats.
A bit more than three minutes in length, the video features Farris dishing out advice on the basics of vehicle safety, and how despite what we may believe, the three-point safety belt is not ideal for younger children and infants.
The video also highlights a lesser known fact, that most vehicle (passive) safety features are not designed for occupants below 140 cm - this is further illustrated by showing the coverage area of the side curtain airbag system. Farris also goes on to explain why adults supporting infants on their laps while traveling can be as dangerous as being unrestrained within the vehicle. Finally, he touches on the advantages of a properly secured child seat.
The creative and highly informative video ties in with a larger effort by Volvo Cars Malaysia to promote child safety awareness in the country.
Volvo Cars Malaysia, in collaboration with Volvo Malaysia (Volvo Trucks), recently embarked on a road safety education campaign designed for children which includes setting-up a Volvo 'facility' within 'KidZania' and conducting road safety roadshows to various schools.
Parents who would like to learn more about in-car child safety, they can download Volvo’s award-winning
Children & Cars Safety Manual
 which is filled with over 40 years Volvo experience in child safety. The manual covers a variety of issues such as child restraints, the differences between front-facing and rear-facing child seats, and safety for the mother and unborn child.
Volvo Cars’ vision for the future is that by the year 2020, no one should be seriously injured or killed in a brand-new Volvo vehicle.


"Proton X50 Feels Like a Porsche Macan" - When The Hype Is Over!

When the hype is over-board - we break down fact from fiction about the 2020 Proton X50.

Malaysians have been going bananas over the Proton X50 for some time now, and the recent
preview
of the vehicle has taken this craze into overdrive.

While the media have tried their best to relay accurate information regarding the vehicle to Malaysians, there just seems to be no end to speculation as well as
misinformation
.

Until there is an official launch, people will continue to talk and hypothesize the vehicle based on what they know, and while this is good for hype, it has created some very creative and interesting self assesed information.

Just by looking at the X50 community pages on Facebook, we can see some very interesting postings. We thought we would take a look at some of them and debunk what has been said.

Proton X50 engine how many cylinders?

All variants of the Proton X50 will come with a 3-cylinder turbocharged engine. The only difference is that the top-spec flagship model will have a higher output thanks to the way fuel is delivered not the number of cylinders it has.

The direct-injection engine variant that comes in the Flagship model churns out a healthy 174 PS and 255 Nm of torque – impressive figures for an engine of this size. As opposed to this, the port injection engine variant makes 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque.

What is the difference between direct injection and port injection? Don't worry, we have you covered and you can read all about it
here
. It's amazing really how the way fuel is delivered can change things.

There's also some who say that three-cylinder engines naturally resonate a lot of vibrations, but to be honest, there's little of that in the modern 3 pot and the clatter that you hear when you are outside the car is more of a fuel delivery system matter rather than cylinder count.

Proton X50 price?

Teasing a much-anticipated vehicle and then previewing it without slapping a price tag on it creates its own set of problems. With many eager to purchase the car based on the preview, many have just resorted to speculating, guessing and even coming out with their own prices.

Proton Cars have actually had to release a statement indicating that the so-called price in the picture above is wrong and in the era of the world wide web, companies must address fake news to help people from getting bamboozled. We know how you can solve this once and for all Proton, just release the price-lah.

Whether the picture above was an actual leak remains to be seen, but what if the prices of the
X50
 is as mentioned above? Yay or nay? Looks broad enough just like how Proton said it would be.

Will there be a waiting list?

With the astronomical amount of interest shown, it's most likely that there will be. Proton has said that while their target is to sell 4,000 units of the X50 for the rest of this year, their plant in Tanjung Malim can produce 8,000 units up until the last minutes of 2020.

If we look at the production numbers of the CKD X70 which was 1,800 units a month, then Proton seems to be conservative with their X50 production numbers coming in at around 1300 units a month. Even at those conservative numbers, there's no chance that everyone will get theirs by the end of the year because if the rumours are true, more than 10,000 bookings have been made.

Even if half of them fail to get their loans approved, it is still a big amount and we're nowhere near the launch either it seems, so for those who will be getting their X50 at a discounted rate because of the
SST tax break
, then congratulations, but for those who won't because their cars will come post December 31, 2020, Proton has mentioned that they will inform their customers through dealers on when they will be getting their X50 as well as whether they managed to utilise the tax break incentive - good luck everyone.

Proton X50 feels like a Porsche Macan...

Proton X50 fans are getting so excited, they've been circulating posts from Geely CoolRay Owners Club Philippines, where a CoolRay owner posted that the Proton X50's Phillipino twin feels like a Porsche Macan. We're not X50 haters or anything because we love the car and are proud of it, but saying that the Proton X50 feels like an RM450k Porsche is a bit much.

The Proton X50 will feel premium and will probably put smiles on owners faces for many years but don't get disappointed when you step into a Porsche Macan and feel like it is miles better than an X50. The problem with overhyping is that it tends to disappoint people so just let it be and take it as one of the best Proton cars ever made. At the very least, it'll definitely make P2 (no mentioning of names of course) feel more budget than ever.

All in all, we too can't wait to get the chance to drive the Proton X50. Why? To put it simply where else can you find a fully petrol-powered, new RM100k-ish (remember no price yet, just prediction) car in Malaysia that has 174PS and 255Nm of torque? Or the very least an RM75k-85k new car that has 148PS and 226Nm of torque?


One Make To Rule Them All - Continental

Tyres are some of the most important things you can purchase for your car - after all, they're the only points of contact between your car and the road. But which tyre gives you the best performance, the most confidence, and pride in your purchase?

We're sure you've heard it a million times over, but we'll say it again - the only things keeping your car going in the direction you want to head in are the four little rubber donuts that sit at each corner of your car. The technology and complexity of tyres have come a long way since its humble beginnings, but the function has remained largely the same.

That being said, not every tyre is made equal. There is a reason that tyres are classed by their level of purpose or the performance on offer. If you're looking for more performance, Continental has a huge range of tyre models and sizes that fit your requirements, and best of all, these performance tyres are comfortable too.

Available for both regular passenger cars and SUVs, the ContiUltraContact 6 blends performance and durability, with the added emphasis of control on wet surfaces and shorter braking distances. As you know, we live in the tropics where rain can be as unpredictable as the lottery, but with these tyres available in a huge range of sizes, there is definitely an application for you. Great longevity, comfort, and noise suppression are engineered into these tyres as well.

For the spirited drivers among us, there is the MaxContact 6, which offers solid performance in both wet and dry conditions, with excellent feedback and lateral grip for confidence in the corners. A good performance tyre is one that lets you approach the limit progressively and lets you know when you are past it with a tap on the shoulder rather than a slap in the face – and the MaxContact 6 delivers in these areas happily.

In addition to these ultra-high performance options, you could also purchase Dunlop and Viking tyres at a slightly lower price point, being more budget-friendly options. Regardless of whether you purchase tyres from either of these brands or Continental, you are entitled to a variety of gifts thanks to their ongoing promotions.

From now until the 15th of December 2020, a purchase of two Continental tyres gets you a 350 ml Thermos mug, while four Continental tyres get you a 600 ml Thermos flask - as long as the tyres are 17 inches or larger. For Dunlop and Viking customers, purchasing a set of four tyres gets you that same 350 ml Thermos mug as well - again if the tyres are 17 inches or larger.

To find your nearest Continental dealer, click on the link
here
. The official promotion website is
here
, and you can visit the official Continental
Facebook
 page – terms and conditions apply.


Honda Civic Type R FK8 Launched In Malaysia – 310 PS, RM320k

Honda Malaysia has officially launched the all-new FK8 Civic Type R in Malaysia, marking the model’s official return to our shores following the FD2R’s discontinuation in 2012.
The first ever Civic Type R designed for a global audience, the FK8 is based on the five-door Civic Hatchback and comes fully imported from Swindon, UK, Honda’s only production facility of the Type R worldwide.
The ‘Made in UK’ label comes with a price though, with customers needing to part ways with RM320k (on-the-road without insurance) to own one. Still, didn’t stop 60 customers from placing their bookings. According to Honda Malaysia, the first 150 customers will have their vehicles ready for delivery no later than March 2018.
Powering the FK8 is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder VTEC Turbo engine producing outputs of 310 PS and 400 Nm, sent to the front wheels via a short-shifted 6-speed manual transmission. The
engine is slightly detuned
 from the
320 PS setup offered in European markets
 enabling it to run on RON 95 petrol.
Although available with a wide selection of colours globally, the FK8 will be offered exclusively in Championship White paint. The grey vehicle shown in our pictures is a pre-production advance car used for internal training by Honda Malaysia.
Standard equipment of the FK8 Civic Type R are as follows:
3-way Driving Mode with Comfort, Sport and +R modes
Adaptive Damper System (ADS)
Meter display with turbo boost meter, Rev indicator, G-Meter Display and Lap Time
Flat bottom leather steering wheel with titanium silver trim
Lightweight front bucket seats
Unique serial number plaque
The all-new FK8 Civic Type R is open for booking exclusively at the following 21 selected Honda Sport Dealers:
Central Region
Autoworld Asia Sdn Bhd
Botanic Auto Mall Sdn Bhd
Global Amity Sdn Bhd (Bangi)
Kah Motor Co Sdn Bhd – Selayang
Sri Utama Auto Sdn Bhd
USJ Car Express Sdn Bhd
MH Prestige Auto Sdn Bhd
Peringgit Sri Motor Sdn Bhd
Tenaga Setia Resources Sdn Bhd
The Millenium Auto Carriage
East Coast
Chuan Thye Motor Sdn Bhd
Syarikat Tan Eng Ann Sdn Bhd
East Malaysia
 - Syarikat Labuan Automobile Sdn Bhd
Northern
Ban Hoe Seng (Auto) Sdn Bhd
Formula Venture Sdn Bhd
Kah Motor Co Sdn Bhd - Sg Pinang
Lee Motor SP (Car Div) Sdn Bhd
Yooi Cars Sdn Bhd
Southern
Ban Lee Heng Motor Sdn Bhd (Seremban)
Syarikat Motor GS Tay Sdn Bhd
Yong Ming Motor Sdn Bhd


The Fastest Volkswagen Beetle Ever at 328 km/h

At 550 PS and 571 Nm of torque, this is the fastest Beetle in the world. It's based off of the Beetle 2.0 TSI that we know and love, but the engine has been prodded and poked until it produces well over double the original horsepower. It was also lightened and equipped with a roll cage and a pair of parachutes for safety, designed to compete on the annual World of Speed event on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
The car hit a peak speed of 328.195 km/h over 1 mile of dried lakebed, making it the fastest Beetle in recorded history. Salt lake racing isn't like your standard tarmac drag racing either, and while it may be safer in many respects, it is also very difficult to find traction and build speed. A limited slip differential and special salt tyres were definited requirements to provide maximum traction.
While the Beetle is only related in namesake and overall shape to the original, Volkswagen has managed to maintain its iconic status. It's difficult to say if Volkswagen will continue the Beetle lineage with another generation, but hopefully the flexibility of the Golf's MQB platform will allow them to do so with relative ease.


Sizzling Day Of Toyota Vios Challenge Action At TPM

On a hot and sunny day in TPM, the on-track action during the Vios Challenge qualifying was equally sizzling, throwing up numerous surprises on the twisty yet short 1.7 km street circuit.
The action had to be delayed in the morning as circuit officials effected emergency repairs to a portion of the circuit that was affected by the recent rains that caused part of the tarmac to dislodge during the practice sessions. With driver safety as a priority, the organisers scheduled all the races on Sunday with just the qualifying sessions run today.
However, the crowds that were waiting patiently were not to be disappointed with the action in all three classes of the Vios Challenge as there was endless jostling for position throughout the 40-minute sessions.
Promotional Class
Championship leader Shawn Lee
 (Car #6) enters Round 4 with an 18-point lead over Shukri Yahaya.  The moment the qualifying session started, Shawn Lee did not sit back and successfully clocked top lap times and was seen hovering around the 1:18 mark, which was well over a second advantage over the rest of the pack.
Meanwhile, Shukri Yahya (Car #24), who is seen to be the closest rival to Shawn Lee wasn't about to go easy on the celebrity beatboxer. Both are also carrying 60 kg ballast in their Toyota Vios racer.
Unbeknownst to Shawn, Shukri Yahya was gradually shaving tenths of his time, lap after lap. Making progress especially after the second half of the session with a clear track in front of him, Shukri Yahya finally managed to take Shawn Lee with 15 minutes left on the clock to snatch pole position with a lap time of 1:18.268 around the 1.7 km circuit.
Relatively safe in third place throughout the second half of qualifying, Danny Khoo (Car #23) kept at a steady pace and remained unbeaten with his lap time of 1:20.044 despite constant efforts from Fattah Amin (Car #9). However, in the final minutes, Diana Danielle (Car #15) put on one of her best laps of the season and knock Khoo off by 0.177 seconds to start third tomorrow.
Sporting Class
The first to take to the circuit was the Sporting Class where Patrick Tam (Car #13) of Team Nano Plus made sensational progress at the beginning of the session with a 1:18.355, granting him provisional pole position early in the session.
But Tam's impressive result didn't last long as he was quickly topped by seasoned go karter Brendan Paul Anthony of Team Dream Chaser (Car #22) who snatched pole with an unexpected 1:17.91, making him the first driver today to go under the 1:18 mark.
Close behind was nemesis and championship leader Brendon Lim (Car #86) of Tedco Racing, who had been lingering in third place early in the qualifying. But it was almost at the end of the session that Lim successfully beat his best effort to clock a blistering 1:18.107 for second place moving Patrick Tam down to third on the grid.
It will be a very close race to call with both championship front-runners starting their race at the front row tomorrow.
Super Sporting Class
Now this is the class to be reckoned with, being accounted for by some of Malaysia's top drivers such as Tengku Djan, Mark Darwin, Boy Wong, Syafiq Ali and William Ho to name a few. The expected battle by the youngest Vios Challenge racer Mitchell Cheah fizzled out event before the weekend when he was sidelined with appendicitis.
With an equal total qualifying window of 40 mins and a fraternity of seasoned racing drivers, it was expected that the final grid positions would only settle toward the end of the session.
Tengku Djan (Car #12) surprised all with his easy 1:17.316 to clinch provisional Pole on his virgin hot lap at the very beginning of the session, But the crowds were puzzled as to why he'd immediately entered the pits on his subsequent lap as his best laps has yet to come.
It was made known later that Tengku Djan had missed a shift which had catastrophically destroyed the valvetrain of his engine, putting him in the spectators’ seat for the rest of the session.
But the huge surprise came when William Ho (Car #39) made  excellent progress and clocked a never before seen 1:16.155, which was almost a 1 second gap from then-second placed Boy Wong (Car #21) of ST Wangan Racing.
With only five minutes to go before the end of the session, it was almost certain that the positions would hold till the end with Ser Ming Hui (Car #33) in 3rd and Mark Darwin (Car #25) in 4th.
But the big surprise came when Kenny Lee (Car #38) who had been sitting out in the pits waiting for traffic to simmer down, made his move in the dying minutes and blew the crowds away with a 1:16.351 to secure second place. Despite being second to Ho, it was still an epic performance by Lee who has yet to enjoy such great result up until today. This pushed Boy Wong to start third tomorrow, with Ser joining him in fourth.
It was a thrilling day of surprises with another exciting day promised on Sunday when all the races will be run in two sessions. Members of the public can catch all the excitement in Technology Park Malaysia or via a livestreaming session at all Toyota showrooms nationwide.


Newer Tougher Ford Ranger Debuts For 2022 With 3.0 V6 Diesel

The Ford Ranger has been thoroughly revamped for
its 4th-
generation
 with new powertrain choices, a more F-150 inspired exterior and a reworked cabin, though it remains visually faithful to the outgoing version.

Though it has been on sale in its 3rd-generation form since 2011, the Ranger remains hugely popular, and Ford has rightly refrained from calling this ‘all-new’. Order books for this newest ‘generation’
pick-up truck
 should be opened in later 2022, starting with Australia and Europe, with pricing to be confirmed closer to that time. With ASEAN being one of the largest markets for pickup trucks, we shouldn’t be far down that list.

Obviously, the 2022 Ranger has been styled with many new nods to Ford’s larger F-150 as well as their new Bronco SUV, and this is mostly seen upfront by its larger radiator grille with a horizontal bar that incorporates the Ford badge and extends across the front to the new “C-clamp” set of daytime running lights. If it looks a little broader than before, that’s because 50mm has been added to its body width.

In profile, there might not be too much to shout about being different apart from the more pronounced wheel arches, but its new tailgate features the ‘RANGER’ lettering stamped into the alloy. Just like the front illuminators, we get LED taillights as well. In addition, Ford will offer around 600 official accessories at launch.

We’ll likely be seeing the selection of body styles, trim levels, and variants mirror the previous Ranger,
including the Ranger Raptor
, XLS, XLT, FX4, and Wildtrak. Also standard across most of the range will be an internal 400W inverter to supply a power outlet accessed within the load bed to provide external power while out in the field.

The current EcoBlue 2.0-litre diesel engine that made its debut in the Ranger Raptor has been carried over, albeit with some slight modifications to improve cooling - very useful in the warmest climates the Ranger will see action in. However, incoming are two single-turbocharged variants and one with twin-turbochargers, both of unconfirmed power and torque outputs.

Headlining the engine range is a new 3.0-litre diesel V6, which will no doubt boast performance statistics to shame the 210hp and 500Nm of torque currently offered in today’s gutsiest Ranger. To add a little petrol variety in diesel-hating North America, Ford will also likely include their 2.3-litre EcoBoost into the mix, slotted from the Bronco.

Ford has also confirmed the almost-all-new Ranger will be
eventually offered with a hybrid powertrain
, possibly echoing the US/Canada-only Maverick, but offered across more global markets, which is also likely where that aforementioned petrol four-pot will really come into play.

These motors will be paired to a revised 10-speed automatic that’s lighter and more efficient than the first go-round, also featuring a tighter set of gear ratios to improve torque distribution and towing ability. A first for Ford, the Ranger will offer two versions of 4WD in the Ranger, the first being with the more familiar on-the-fly manual mode switching while the other a more advanced, electronically-controlled on-demand 4WD system.

Regardless of variant, the Ranger now features much more premium soft-touch materials within its refreshed cabin, the centrepiece of which is either a 10-in or 12-in portrait-orientated touchscreen with the latest version of Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment software, which also runs its fully digital instrument cluster.


Why The Renault Captur Subscription Plan Works At Times Like These

The Renault Captur subscription plan is a saving grace in times like these!

The COVID-19 pandemic has really thrown a spanner into the works of people's life plans. What was once an assurable certainty is now neither here nor there which has caught some people with their pants down.

As salary cuts and economic uncertainty become part of the new norm, a long term and expensive vehicle financing are one of those things you don't want to have!

When times were good, this type of vehicle financing was acceptable, but with an uncertain future for all of us, it only makes sense to look for an alternative way to own a car which can provide some sort of financial security.

My wife was in this exact long term car financing situation a couple of months ago, but we decided to change this as a measure of future-proofing.

We wanted to change the long term car financing into a short one, and after selling her car through
Carlistbid
, we typically shopped around for cars that required the least amount of financing years and money based on our personal budget. After viewing a few cars which were acceptable but not completely the right solution in our minds, we thought we would go check out Renault's subscription plan.

The Renault Captur Subscription plan has been around for some time now, but it wasn't until they came up with the pre-owned Captur subscription plan promotion that made it very appealing to us. What made it even more interesting is that you can subscribe to the plan for a year, meaning we would only be tied down to a car for 12 months instead of the hire purchase plan which would have had us shackled to the bank for three years at a minimum.

The deal clincher for us really was that for the first six months we only had to pay RM799 with the other six reverting to the regular RM1299 fee. This offering was wholly dependent on the
promotion
 at the time, so we pounced on it quickly.

*Picture used is a generic picture from Renault Malaysia

The procedure is quick and straightforward.  Renault does some due diligence (within a day) on you and once cleared you pay a deposit of RM2,500, where you will then wait for the arrival for your car (between 2-4 weeks). When you receive your car, you will start paying the subscription fee. You don't need to pay for road tax, insurance as well as regular service during this tenure so that's all the money you need to spend for that one year.

But what is the pre-owned Captur like? The vehicle that was given to us was a green Renault Captur - as my wife wanted it in green (yes you can pick the colour).  It only had 4K kilometres on the clock and it could have been mistaken for a brand new car. It smelt new, looked fresh and even the tyres were only a couple years old. It came specced with all the goodies such as reverse camera, leather seats and 7-inch infotainment system found on the higher-spec
Captur
.

After having the car for two months now, we can honestly say that it does its job well. Despite its sometimes jerky drivetrain, we're delighted with it. It has excellent agility which helps during city jaunts, a great suspension setup that soaks up all the bumps and imperfections of Malaysian roads and has enough power to go way faster than the national speed limit allows.

My wife travels 46km a day to work and back and all the car is asking for in terms of fuel is RM38 a week. It's been an enjoyable two months she says, and she's completely smitten by it despite moving over from an Audi.

I guess what makes it more enjoyable is that we have a worry-free car which in my opinion makes it the best car in the world for us. There's no worry of maintenance, breakdowns and any additional wallet lightening activities.

But above all else, the best part of it is its short term tenure, and in the current situation we are in, who knows what will happen in a year's time. At least if things go bad, we can always be rid of the financial obligations of the car in eight months time.


Polestar 2 Enters Final Development Stages, All Set To Enter Production In 2020

All set to enter production early next year, the Polestar 2 electric performance fastback’s chassis development is now in its final stages.

Revealed earlier this year, the Polestar 2 will be the company’s first full electric, higher volume premium car designed to compete with the Tesla Model 3.

With 300 kW, 660 Nm, and all-wheel drive, the Polestar 2 comes with a dynamic chassis which promises to offer the perfect balance between comfort and sportiness, large Brembo brakes, as well as adjustable Ohlins dampers.

The car will also offer an optional Performance Pack which takes the car to the next level, with more focussed driver engagement and superior driving dynamics.

Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s lead chassis engineer and chief test driver responsible for tuning the Polestar 2 to perfection said, “We wanted to create a car that people will really enjoy driving.”

“Similar with the Polestar 1, we spend time in many different environments around the world with Polestar 2, fine-tuning and testing lots of different chassis attributes – to find what we call ‘the golden ride’. This is the moment when we as chassis engineers find the ultimate configuration, a perfect balance between dampers, brakes, tyres, steering and power delivery that gives us goose bumps.”

Testing and development is currently being done at the Hällered Proving Grounds in Sweden, in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Germany, Spain and inside the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden.

“Each of our testing environments allows us to refine specific elements of the car and in different ways,” continues Joakim Rydholm.

“The car should feel alive when negotiating a South African mountain pass, calm and confident when cruising at speed on a German autobahn. Cool in Death Valley, cosy in the Arctic and relaxed on a wet country lane in England. As we hone each element along the way, to create that magical Polestar feeling, it gets very exciting. And we don’t stop until we are totally satisfied.”

Joakim Rydholm is also responsible for the chassis of Polestar 1 and there are many similarities between the two cars.

“With our Performance Pack set-up in Polestar 2, we don’t have overcomplicated electronic suspension systems. Instead, we make the smallest adjustments to the Öhlins Dual Flow Valve dampers to find the sweet spot. This really sets the car apart from other electric vehicles,” concludes Joakim Rydholm.

Prior to this, Polestar launched the Polestar 1, a low-volume Electric Performance Hybrid GT with 600 hp, 1,000 Nm and an electric-only range of 150 km (the longest of any hybrid car in the world).

After the Polestar 2, the Polestar 3 will be joining the portfolio as a fully electric performance SUV.


Toyota Menang Besar Di Grand Prix ASEAN NCAP Ke-4

Toyota
 meraih beberapa anugerah bagi teknologi keselamatan terbaik dalam kelasnya serta Anugerah Kecemerlangan sebagai sebuah jenama dengan anugerah 5-bintang paling banyak (2019-2020).

Jenama Toyota telah menerima penarafan lima bintang secara keseluruhan bagi tujuh model kenderaan keluarannya dalam tempoh dua tahun terakhir. Ianya lebih banyak berbanding jenama lain.

Anugerah Kecemerlangan:

KATEGORI

PEMENANG

JENAMA 5-BINTANG PALING BANYAK (2019-2020)

TOYOTA

PENAMBAHBAIKAN KESELAMATAN BERTERUSAN

TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS

PENAMBAHBAIKAN KESELAMATAN BERTERUSAN

TOYOTA HILUX

PENAMBAHBAIKAN KESELAMATAN BERTERUSAN

TOYOTA INNOVA

Anugerah Prestasi Keselamatan Terbaik:

KATEGORI

PEMENANG

BANTUAN KESELAMATAN

TOYOTA MAJESTY/GRANVIA

Daripada 12 kategori berkaitan pengeluar kenderaan serta kenderaan bermotor, Toyota menang dalam lima kategori. Model popular seperti
Toyota Corolla Altis
,
Toyota Hilux
 dan
Toyota Innova
 merupakan penerima Anugerah Kecemerlangan bagi Penambahbaikan Berterusan Keselamatan dalam segmen masing-masing, sementara
Toyota Majesty/Granvia
 diiktiraf dengan Anugerah Prestasi Keselamatan Terbaik Bagi Sistem Bantuan Keselamatan.

"Semua anugerah daripada
ASEAN NCAP
 ini mengesahkan bahawa pendekatan dalam Toyota Synergized Mobility untuk mengetengahkan kepimpinan teknologi Toyota yang akan digunakan untuk menjadikan kereta keluaran kami lebih baik," ujar Presiden UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K.

"Hari ini, kebanyakan model Toyota di Malaysia telah dilengkapi dengan
Toyota Safety Sense
, sebuah konsep Pengurusan Keselamatan Bersepadu yang menghubungkan teknologi dan sistem keselamatan individu untuk saling berkerjasama di dalam pelbagai tahap operasi kenderaan, dari parkir hinggalah kepada keselamatan canggih, keselamatan pra-perlanggaran, keselamatan pertembungan dan menyelamat,” tambah beliau.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Pengerusi UMW Toyota Motor, Akio Takeyama menegaskan bahawa Toyota komited untuk mempertingkatkan tahap keselamatan kenderaan secara berterusan sebagai sebahagian usaha ke arah keselamatan jalan raya dan kenderaan yang lebih selamat, dengan tumpuan terhadap tiga unsur terpenting— kenderaan (memajukan teknologi keselamatan), insan (mendidik pemandu, penumpang dan pejalan kaki ke arah keselamatan trafik) dan persekitaran trafik (menyokong prasarana trafik yang lebih selamat).

Disebabkan penularan pandemik, Anugerah Grand Prix ASEAN NCAP Ke-4 telah diumumkan pada 16 Februari 2021 secara dalam talian. Acara dua tahun sekali bagi Program Penilaian Baru Bagi Negara-negara Asia Tenggara (ASEAN NCAP) bertujuan untuk meraikan pihak yang memberikan pencapaian tinggi terhadap keselamatan dalam kenderaan di rantau ini.

ASEAN NCAP adalah sebuah usaha sama antara Institut Penyelidikan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia (MIROS) dan Global NCAP. Ditubuhkan pada 2011, ia menjadi penanda aras baru bagi keselamatan kenderaan di rantau ini sebagai respon kepada Tindakan Sedekad Bagi Keselamatan Jalan Raya oleh Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB).

Sejak 10 tahun lalu, ASEAN NCAP menumpukan perhatian terhadap model kenderaan popular yang dijual di rantau ASEAN untuk menyediakan maklumat prestasi keselamatan kenderaan kepada pengguna. Ia menjalankan ujian perlanggaran di kemudahannya yang bertempat di Melaka serta di lokasi-lokasi organisasi serupa di sekitar Asia.


Vehicle Insurance Optional Coverage – What Should You Get?

Every one of our vehicles is covered by an insurance policy in order to protect us, the owners, from financial loss or damage in the event of a mishap involving the vehicle.

Even though a Comprehensive insurance policy (first party) offers arguably the widest coverage among other plans, there is still room for more protection, which explains why there are still other optional benefits.

However, since optional coverage means optional charges, it is important to understand what they offer in order to know which ones to pick and which ones to pass.

That being said let us look at some of the optional coverage offered by motor insurance policy providers, and what we think you should get.

1) Windscreen coverage

For an extra premium, a vehicle’s coverage is extended to insure damages against the windscreen or windows of the car.

Since windscreen coverage is a one-time purchase only plan, the coverage will cease once it has been claimed, and the policyholder will need to purchase another cover to insure against windscreen damage in the future.

This, in our opinion is a must have as the windscreen and windows are among the components of a car that is completely exposed to exterior damage, making them among the first things to be damaged in case of an accident.

2) Coverage against natural disaster

This is an optional benefit that covers damages that are caused by natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes, and landslides among others. Although the chances of our vehicles being damaged by hurricanes and earthquakes are slim, floods and thunderstorms happen all the time. Hence, it is advisable to get this coverage just to be safe. Remember the submerged cars on Jalan Duta last October?

3) Strikes, Riots, and Civil Commotion

What if your vehicle gets damaged in a riot or a commotion? There is coverage for that too but what are the chances? Since riots rarely happen in Malaysia (fortunately), this is something that we think you can pass.

So, while many focus only on the price of the premium they will be paying, vehicle owners should actually take a moment and think about what would be the best coverage their vehicle needs, depending on where they live, where they travel to often, and the nature of their jobs among other factors that will help them decide.

The last thing one needs is to get caught in an unwanted situation, and regret not having taken a particular additional coverage just because they wanted to save some cash.

*Pic credit to The Star


2022 Borneo Safari: Isuzu D-Max X Terrain ready to go from the catwalk to the Jungles of Borneo

After showing its pretty side at the recent KL Fashion Week, the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is about to show off its technical abilities at one of the world's most gruelling and celebrated off-road events.

After a two-year hiatus,
Borneo Safari
 is back, and the all-new 3rd-generation Isuzu D-Max with the flagship X-Terrain will be tasked to conquer the unforgiving jungles of Borneo.

Three units of the award-winning pick-up trucks are set to perform duties as the official media vehicles, where they will be relied upon to provide its occupants with the
tools to complete the event safely
.

This year's Borneo Safari will be the much-coveted event's 30th anniversary and will see participants traverse some of the most challenging terrains in the lower plateaus of Mount Kinabalu in the region of Kota Belud. While magnificent views of the mountain and crystal-clear river flowing waters are on offer, the rocky and rugged terrain poses a significant challenge and experience to man and machine.

Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) President Hj Faez Nordin who received the trucks from Isuzu Malaysia's Marketing Manager Alan Lee thanked Isuzu for their continued support of the week-long event.

"An event of this magnitude requires tremendous support both in monetary terms as well as with the use of highly-capable vehicles. We are very grateful to Isuzu Malaysia for providing us with both once again as the event's Platinum Sponsor and supplier of the official media cars," said Faez.

"The X-Terrain was selected as the flag bearer as it is endowed with a significant array of electronic driving aids. Coupled with its highly-engineered mechanical components, we believe the D-Max X-Terrain combines the brains and brawn required to become one of the most capable modern off-road vehicles in the event," said Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia Kenkichi Sogo.

The 2022 Borneo Safari is scheduled to run from 30th October to 6th November. The Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain will now follow the
long tradition of Isuzus
 as the official media car in the Borneo Safari, with both the first and second-generation versions of Isuzu D-Max successfully pressed into service in the past.

If you want to follow their progress, follow
Isuzu D-Max Malaysia's official social media platforms
 to keep up to date with the happenings during the Borneo Safari.

There will even be a Watch and Win web series, so be sure to keep in touch through their platforms to win exciting prizes.


Review: 2015 Mazda CX-3 – Not Quite What It Seems

The CX-3 sits in a rather odd position within importer Bermaz Motor’s model hierarchy. It’s smaller than the CX-5 but is more expensive. As an imported model, the CX-3 misses out on tax rebates enjoyed by the
locally-assembled CX-5
.
Still, Bermaz has no problems selling whatever little allocation it has. Rumour has it that a cheaper, locally-assembled CX-3 will arrive sometime around November this year.
Specifications for Mazda CX-3 2.0-litre
Price: RM135,082 excluding insurance
Engine: SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre, 4-cylinders transverse, DOHC
Power: 154 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 204 Nm @ 2,800 rpm
Transmission: SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed automatic
Safety: 6 airbags, electronic stability control (DSC), traction control (TCS), anti-lock brakes (ABS), brake assist (EBA), Electronic Brake Force distribution (EBD), hill start assist (HLA), ISOFIX (rear)
Origin: Fully imported from Japan
Overview
On first impression, we were blown away by the quality of the CX-3’s interior. We are talking Mercedes-Benz C-Class-style brushed metal inserts on the door panels, Audi A3-style dashboard layout and padding materials throughout the cabin.
Cover the Mazda logo and this could easily pass off as a model from any of the German premium brands. Viewed in that context, the CX-3’s high price might actually be a bargain, depending on your frame of reference.
It competes in the so-called crossover segment, which is populated by models like the
Honda HR-V
,
Mitsubishi ASX
 and
Subaru XV
.
There is only one variant available. Standard features include:
Automatic air-conditioning
Half-leather upholstery
7-inch touch screen full colour MZD Connect infotainment system with 6 speakers, Bluetooth and USB and reverse camera
Paddle shifters
LED headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights
LED tail lights
Power-operated tilt and retractable sunroof
Keyless entry system with engine push-start button
Heads-up display
Exterior
In terms size, the 2.0-litre CX-3 has the smallest body in its class (putting aside the 1.5-litre Ford EcoSport and 1.6-litre Peugeot 2008). It’s about 20 mm shorter than the HR-V and ASX, about 5 mm narrower and significantly lower than either models. Its 2,570 mm long wheelbase is a 100 mm and 40 mm shorter than the ASX and HR-V respectively.
It however, looks more athletic than any of its peers – It is power and beauty condensed into a small package.
Interior
The interior evokes a mixed bag of reaction. On one hand, the cabin feels genuinely premium, and feels good enough to have Audi’s four rings on the steering wheel.
The brushed metallic material on the door panels are made from genuine metal and feels like metal, not plastics dressed up as aluminium. In fact, its interior is better than an entry-level Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It is that good.
The seats are half-leather, just like the HR-V but the CX-3 uses higher grade fabrics, almost suede-like material.
The instruments cluster is decorated with similarly high grade metallic materials. At night, it is illuminated by a very expensive looking white glow that radiates out from the centre.
Live with the car a little longer however, and you begin to realize that while the cabin feels very premium, it is not very functional. By my second day with the car, I was ready to trade the high grade leather trimmings in return for more utility space.
There is no centre armrest, no console box to keep your belongings. In fact the only way to keep your valuables away from prying eyes is to keep them inside the tiny glove box, which isn’t even illuminated so good luck in rummaging through it at night.
Whatever little you space have in front of the gear shifter is rendered useless if you plug in a USB drive or need to charge your phone, or use the 12V power socket for your dash cam.
Similar to many other Mazda models, there is no master door lock switch on the driver’s side. Neither does it unlock automatically even after pulling the inside door handle twice, a common feature that is taken for granted these days.
The MZD Connect infotainment system can be operated either by touching the screen or operating the rotary knob on the centre console. It’s quite intuitive to use too.
The 7-inch touch screen doesn’t fold away but unlike similar setup in small/compact Audi and Mercedes-Benz models, the screen doesn’t get in the way of your view. The dashboard is designed in such a way that the height of the free-standing screen is the same as the instrument panel’s cowl.
However it’s also a case of two steps forward, one step backward. The radio for example, can’t display your pre-set channels and current station on the same screen, so you will have to remember the sequence of your pre-sets. Pressing the ‘Next station’ button on the steering wheel doesn’t scroll the pre-set channels screen either. To do that, you have to use the rotary control knob.
Typical of Mazdas, legroom isn’t a lot either.
Far from being a rival to the capacious HR-V, or even the moderately spacious ASX, the CX-3 is just a slightly larger version of the tiny Mazda 2.
The rear seats fold flat 60:40. Boot space is decent enough but doesn't even nearly match the HR-V's, doesn’t matter if the rear seats were upright or not.
Driving Experience
So it looks great, feels even greater inside, but is not very practical. Thankfully, the ‘Zoom-Zoom’ spirit shines very strongly from the heart of this CX-3.
This is not a car that for you sit inside and be pleased with how many litres of cargo it hauls or how many cup holders it has or show off its ability to haul that 50-inch flat screen TV. You don’t move your house every day, and when you do, there is such a thing called professional movers or even delivery services.
The 1.5-litre Mazda 2, from which the CX-3 borrows its underpinnings from, is already blessed with a very talented chassis but it could use a bit more power. That’s where the 2.0-litre CX-3 comes in. Rather than comparing it against the HR-V, the CX-3 is best seen as a better, more fun to drive, more powerful Mazda 2.
The drivetrain is certainly the best in the segment. A sharp, linear throttle that’s finely adjustable thanks to its floor-hinged accelerator pedal, and it pulls with a lot of eagerness.
The 2.0-litre is more powerful than the similar capacity ASX, never mind about the 1.8-litre HR-V, and it only has to pull 1,211 kg, much less than either competitors.
Mazda’s so-called ‘Jinba-Ittai’ – harmony of horse and rider working as one - ethos for ride and handling is not just some Japanese sounding blabber. The immediacy of CX-3’s response, the way you feel the car dancing around its light feet, and the feeling being one with the car as opposed merely sitting inside one, is something that needs to be experienced by all. Only then will you realise what you’ve been missing from your car.
Just when you thought that we are going to conclude that this is a perfect driving companion, hold on.
Despite the agility, the CX-3 doesn’t feel that well resolved at high speeds. The cabin is quieter than either the HR-V, ASX or XV but there is a higher than normal level of vibration coming through the steering wheel, especially at high engine speeds. Move your right leg over to the brake pedal to gently feather it, you will feel the same vibration coming through it. It’s not the same type of vibration caused by unbalanced tyres (it goes away when you lift off the throttle). Instead it felt like a characteristic of the car, and it’s apparent in the Mazda 2 as well.
Like all Mazdas, the CX-3’s steering doesn’t disappoint. It has a nice level of consistent feedback as you wind up the steering angle, and is sharp. On highways however, that same responsive steering can also mean that it is more sensitive to changes on the road’s surface, requiring a bit more frequent steering correction than others.
Comfort
The CX-3’s ride is a tad on the firm side but it is still more comfortable than the HR-V, which despite being softly sprung, lacks sufficient travel in its suspension and hits the bump stops too easily.
Driving over bumps, ruts, manhole covers, gaps on the tarmac’s surface – only a fairly small amount of judder gets transferred into the cabin, all while maintaining excellent body control.
How economical
We observed an average fuel consumption of 7.2-litre/100 km (13.7 km/litre) after driving for nearly 300 km, majority of it intra- and inter-urban traffic, with a short highway drive in between. That’s very good for a 2.0-litre engine.
Like all Mazda vehicles distributed by Bermaz Motor, the CX-3 is covered by a 3-year free maintenance package that includes parts and labour. You basically pay almost nothing for maintenance apart from fuel and tyres for the first three years.
Conclusion
We love the CX-3’s looks and its very premium interior but not the lack of consideration for practical requirements – the missing centre arm rest and the lack of utility/storage space might be a deal breaker for many young families. As a car for the driving enthusiasts however, it is almost perfect.
Don’t bother comparing the CX-3 against the HR-V or even the ASX, because the CX-3 is a very different car. Far from being an alternative to the leading crossovers in the market, the CX-3 should be seen as the Mazda that Mazda 2 owners should buy if they can afford one – because it has everything we liked (and didn’t like) about the 2, but with better looks and more power. People who buy Mazda 2 don’t really care about interior space or utility functions, but the rest of the car buying public do.
In short, the CX-3 is not for everybody, but in the eyes of Mazda’s intended audience – the Zoom-Zoom drivers crowd - the little CX-3 stands tall with pride.
Alternatively, you can look to the
CX-5
. As a locally assembled model, is not only cheaper than the imported CX-3, but is also more spacious and more practical - at least it comes with a centre arm rest and centre console box.
Find more
Mazda CX-5
 and
CX-3
 at Carlist.my.


Volkswagen Launches First Stand-Alone Body & Paint Centre In Malaysia

Volkswagen
 Malaysia now has their first stand-alone Body and Paint Centre in Malaysia to add to their network of brick-and-mortar after-sales facilities. It was launched by Wing Hin Autohaus Sdn Bhd, which already has a Volkswagen 3S Service Centre within a stone’s throw from this newly opened establishment.

The new Body and Paint Centre spans 50,967 square feet and features 20 service bays, staffed with 15 trained specialists. It will be able to accommodate minor as well as major body repairs, chassis realignment, genuine parts sourcing and replacement, windscreen repair and replacement, along with the usual fare of body spraying and paint work, all while assisting Volkswagen owners with their individual insurance claims process.

To further educate Volkswagen owners on the benefits, the two companies have come together to produce a short video:

As mentioned, to be able to facilitate complex procedure such as chassis realignment, the new facility is equipped with advanced computerised machinery, including a chassis measuring repair system and spray booths with infrared heaters  that controls the temperature, humidity while ensuring a dust free environment for top quality paint finishing.

Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia said that “We congratulate Wing Hin on the launch of their stand-alone Body and Paint centre. Our customers are our top priority and with such investments and dedication from our partners here at Wing Hin, we are one step closer to improving our services and offerings. We at Volkswagen Malaysia engage closely with our dealers and network to ensure we work towards the greater goals of improving the overall ownership experience of your customers.”

Mr. William Loh, Managing Director of Wing Hin said that “Wing Hin is proud to present the first stand-alone Volkswagen Body and Paint centre. We agree that customers are our top priority and our investment towards this centre and into state-of-the-art equipment is proof of our dedication to the brand as we continue to improve ownership experience and build the Volkswagen brand in Malaysia.”

The newly christened Wing Hin Volkswagen Body and Paint Centre will operate from Mondays to Saturdays from 8:00am to 5:30pm. They can be contacted at
03-9082-2833 and are located at
:
Lot 31, Jalan CJ 1/1, Kawasan Perindustrian Cheras Jaya, 43200, Balakong, Selangor.

All repairs and paint jobs done are in accordance and compliant to the standards set by Volkswagen Group Malaysia as well as by the government bodies such as JPJ and PUSPAKOM.

Owners are advised to send their vehicles to an authorised Body and Paint Centre to ensure that only genuine parts and compliant services are carried out to their vehicles. This also ensures that their warranties are intact.


Malaysia Is World’s Second Biggest Importer Of Reconditioned Japanese Cars

In 2015, Malaysia imported nearly 55 billion Yen (about 1.93 billion Ringgit) worth of reconditioned cars from Japan – the second highest in the world. This was based on information extracted by Carlist.my from trade statistics provided by Japan’s Ministry of Finance.
Last year, Malaysia imported 21,192 reconditioned cars from Japan, 89 percent of them were powered by petrol engines below 3,000cc.
While Malaysia’s numbers for 2015 were high, they were 15 percent lower than the preceding year, another sign of Malaysia’s slowing car market. Import of reconditioned Japanese-market cars into Malaysia peaked in 2014, when 24,544 units were brought in, with a total value of 63.5 billion Yen (about 2.25 billion Ringgit).
Reconditioned cars are refurbished used cars imported from overseas (typically from other right hand drive markets like UK, Japan, and South Africa), and sold via parallel importers. In Malaysia, regulations limit them to a maximum age of five years old.
As these are essentially used cars that the vehicle manufacturer had not intended to sell here, they are not covered by any manufacturer’s warranty, and users will not enjoy the benefits of having any potential defects corrected in a recall.
The unusually low mileage recorded on the odometer is also very likely to have been tampered with.
There could also be concerns about their long-term durability when subjected to our local driving conditions, as these cars were not designed to handle our local fuel quality, road conditions and tropical climate.
A Lexus model sold by
Lexus Malaysia
 for example, is fitted with a higher capacity engine cooling system than those fitted in an equivalent Japanese-market
Lexus
 models sold by parallel importers. Reconditioned Japanese cars also have their controls’ labels and infotainment system written in Japanese text.
Still, many buyers are willing to overlook these shortcomings as parallel imported models are significantly cheaper, and in some cases, might not even be offered by the authorised distributor/importer. For example, if you are looking for a
Nissan GT-R
, the only way to get one is to go to a parallel importer. Similarly if you are looking for a
Hummer
 H3 or even a
Toyota Harrier
, or a higher specifications
Toyota Alphard
 or
Estima
 (the ones imported by UMW Toyota have less features).
Now, there are also companies like
Opal
 that offers after-market warranty services to reconditioned cars. While it cannot be compared to a manufacturer’s warranty, the risks associated with buying a reconditioned, parallel imported car is now less than before.
Interestingly, the world’s biggest market for reconditioned Japanese cars is Sri Lanka, totalling nearly 90 billion Yen.
From 2014 to 2015, import of reconditioned Japanese cars by Sri Lanka jumped from 31,804 units to 51,561 units, with the total trade value growing from 58.5 billion Yen to 89.8 billion Yen.
In Sri Lanka, the majority of vehicle registrations are contributed by reconditioned Japanese cars. Data by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) showed that Sri Lanka’s new car sales numbered at just 15,500 vehicles in 2014.
In terms of value, higher-end luxury models tend to get shipped to South East Asia, where many high-end Toyota models like the Alphard, Vellfire, Estima, Harrier, FJ Cruiser, and Land Cruiser are in strong demand. A large number of reconditioned European makes like Audi, BMW, MINI, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche models sold in this region are also shipped in from Japan, apart from the UK.
By dividing the total value of cars traded with the total units shipped, we can see that the cars sent to Indonesia, while fewer in quantity (just 2,803 units) are more expensive (totalling 11.5 billion Yen) than those bought by buyers in Thailand (8,146 units, 24.8 billion Yen) and Malaysia (21,192 units, 55 billion Yen).
On average, the models imported into Indonesia are about 50 percent higher in value than those imported into Malaysia.
The average value of a reconditioned Japanese car in Malaysia is about RM108,000, versus RM140,700 in Indonesia, and RM107,600 in Thailand. Note that this value is determined by the Japanese Customs, and will of course be lower than their actual selling price at dealerships.
New Zealand is another hot spot for Japanese reconditioned cars, importing 112,647 cars last year – the highest in world, but many of these models are of the more regular variety – 40 percent of them were less 1,500cc.
Kenya is fourth, followed by Singapore. Pakistan, Russia, Myanmar and Hong Kong rounded up the top-ten countries. All are right-hand drive countries except for Russia and Myanmar.
Curiously, the hassle of driving these right-hand drive Japanese-market cars in left-hand drive Russia and Myanmar has not deterred buyers. Russia is a big country and many of these right-hand drive cars get shipped to the interiors of Russia, or the port city of Vladivostok. In any case, the Russian government has since begun cracking down on parallel imported right-hand drive cars.
At its peak in 2013, Russia imported 95.7 billion Yen worth of reconditioned Japanese cars, and was the world’s biggest importer from 2010 until 2014.
Myanmar however is particularly dangerous because regulations are lax and many right-hand drive used Japanese vehicles - including taxis, trucks and buses – jostle to get ahead in congested left-hand drive roads of Yangon and Naypyidaw.


All-New 2016 Toyota Hilux: 5 Things We Know So Far

The all-new 2016
Toyota
 Hilux is
merely days away from making its global debut
 in Thailand. Known as the Hilux Revo there, the upcoming pick-up truck features many new features and technologies over the current generation model.
With the advent of the eighth-generation Hilux, other models which will follow soon after will be the
Fortuner
 and
Innova
, both of which are expected to adopt the Hilux platform for their body-on-frame assembly.
With numerous articles providing glimpses of what to expect in the all-new Hilux, we’ve compiled all the information we know so far about the forthcoming pick-up truck:
New Diesel Engines
Toyota has been
expanding its powertrain line-up quietly
 and among the new introductions are two new GD diesel engines which were recently
unveiled at the 2015 Vienna Motor Symposium
. The two new engines in the all-new
Toyota Hilux
 are of a 2.8- and 2.4-litre capacity, designated 1GD-FTV and 2GD-FTV respectively replacing the previous KD engine line-up (pictured above).
Technologies featured on the “Economy with Superior Thermal Efficient Combustion” (ESTEC) engines include Toyota’s D-4D common rail diesel injection operating at 1,350 bar along with a variable geometry turbocharger (VNT) and intercooler. Power outputs are rated as such:
1GD-FTV
Power: 177hp @ 3,400 rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 1,600-2,400 rpm
2GD-FTV
Power: 160hp
Torque: 400Nm
These engines will be paired to either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission, sending power through a 2WD or 4WD system.
New Exterior Design
A recent
teaser video made its way onto the internet
 that shows off the new premium exterior features on the Hilux – LED daytime-running lights resting just above a new LED projector headlamp setup.
However,
several spyshots and leaked images
 have made their way onto the internet as well that provides us a full view of the all-new Hilux. A new front-end design, alloy wheels, and changes at the rear gives the pick-up an updated look more in line with the current crop of Toyota vehicles.
Revamped Interior Design
Design changes aren’t just limited to the outside. Inside, we see a more premium cabin with a large touchscreen multimedia unit, automatic air-conditioning controls, and an updated instrument cluster with a coloured information display. Push-start is also available as seen in these spyshot images as well.
However, this is dependent on the variants offered as certain leaked images show a simpler, less premium cabin as well.
Production Has Already Begun
Over the past few days, the
Hilux Revo Thailand
 Facebook page has been posting several images that show the all-new Hilux on transporters being hauled across Thailand. A few weeks prior, an image which purportedly showed newly produced units of the all-new Toyota Hilux parked outside Toyota’s Thailand factory were posted up on the site as well, a clear indication that Toyota is aiming to distribute vehicles as soon as the vehicle is launched.
Expected Launch Date
For the Thailand market Toyota Hilux, May 21 is the expected launch date with a series of follow-up events preceding it between May 22 and 24 as this leaked advertisement initially revealed.
Us Malaysians may have to wait a little while before the all-new Hilux makes its way here as UMW Toyota Motor have yet to provide an expected arrival date of the pick-up truck. Given that the Thai launch is imminent, we would expect a local debut here in the coming months after.
Image credit:
Hilux Revo Thailand
,
Hilux Revo Thailand Facebook page


This Is A Steering Wheel And It Has A Name – Meet Sayer Jaguar

This odd looking contraption is Jaguar’s vision for a car steering wheel in a future where cars drive by themselves and people sign-up for car sharing services rather than owning any particular car.
This then, according to Jaguar, is the only part of the car that consumers of the future will own. Unlike today’s steering wheel, this doesn’t steer the car at all (remember that cars are supposed to drive themselves by then). Instead, this Artifical Intelligence (AI) enhanced component sits in your home or office and summons the car for you on-demand.
To be unveiled at the Tech Fest event on 7 September at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, the AI-enabled steering wheel goes by the name Sayer.
Jaguar’s own press release describes Sayer as:
This steering wheel concept lives in your home and becomes your trusted companion. Sayer is the first voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) steering wheel that will be able to carry out hundreds of tasks. Sayer could signal your membership of our on-demand service club. A club which offers either sole ownership or the option of sharing the car with others in your community.
Imagine a future of autonomous, connected and electric cars where you don’t own a single car, but instead call upon the vehicle of your choice where and when you need it. That’s a future vision Jaguar Land Rover is exploring with Sayer, the connected steering wheel that could be the only part of the car you own.
Need to be at a meeting two hours away from home by 8am tomorrow? Simply ask Sayer from the comfort of your living room and it will work out when you get up, when a car needs to autonomously arrive at your door and even advise which parts of the journey you might enjoy driving yourself.
Sayer will be featured on a Jaguar’s upcoming concept car, the Jaguar FUTURE-TYPE.
The AI-enabled steering wheel’s Sayer name is an acknowledgement to the contribution of Malcolm Sayer, a prominent designer who worked for the British marque between 1951 and 1970. Sayer was credited for designing many legendary Jaguar models, including the E-Type and D-Type.


Proton Recall for Inspira and Exora Models

Following a global recall made by Mitsubishi Motors Japan earlier this year for its Lancer models, Proton Holdings Berhad has also issued a recall for its Lancer rebadged Proton Inspira models. Units manufactured between 2010 and 2014 have been installed with defective right-turn switches which are supplied by Mitsubishi. The recall involves circa 20,330 units of the Proton Inspira.
On the same trot, Proton will also recall a larger number of Proton Exora 1.6 CPS models for a precautionary inspection of the fuel line in the powertrain compartment. Some 90,000 units produced between from 2009 to 2015 are affected.
Owners are advised to contact Proton’s Customer Care Hotline at 1800-888-398 or visit their website for more information. All labour and parts required for rectification will be borne by Proton.


How To Get Rid Of Water Spots On A Car Without Spending Any Money!

Who knew a simple household item could be the cure for those pesky water spots on cars.

In all my years of being a car enthusiast and vehicle owner, I have realised that there are two things that get me winded up when it comes to car care. One of them is when those naughty neighbourhood cats sit on my car, creating scratch marks, and the other is those pesky water spots that just seem to leave a stain on the vehicle.

While the feline problem is something that can't be fixed humanely, the water spots on cars can be rectified through the use of some household products and elbow grease.

Water spots are caused when there's a high concentration of magnesium and calcium minerals in the water. The minerals build up over time on the car's surfaces and leave a mark. They do not wash off easily, and a simple car wash will not make them go away.

To avoid having water spots on your car, you should wash and dry your car every time it has been through rain. But then again, who has time to wash and dry their car every time it rains? So what do you do if your car starts to be littered with water spots?

According to the much-loved manufacturer of automotive car care products, Turtle Wax, there is a simple way of getting rid of these water spots just by using something that goes well with fish and chips. If you think it is salt, then think again cause it'll damage your car. Yes, vinegar is your friend in this instance and can really help you get rid of those annoying water spots.

Step 1 - Wash the vehicle with a rated car wash cleaning liquid to remove any loose dirt and towel dry.

Step 2 - For water spot removal, fill a bucket with one pint of white distilled vinegar and one pint of distilled or soft water.

Step 3 - Apply the solution to the affected area using a sponge on one section at a time, keeping the finish wet for 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 4 - Rinse the area with water where the solution was applied and towel dry.

Water spots on a car

A
pplying vinegar to the water spot area

Presto, water spots gone!

While I didn't get the chance to try it out on the entire car, I did manage to test it out on a section of the vehicle. The results were quite sublime. As you can see from the picture, the water spots have completely disappeared and the area looks as good as new.

Who knew something as simple as vinegar could help get rid of this pesky problem. Next time if you have fish and chips, save some vinegar for the car.

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

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

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


First Impressions: Subaru Forester CKD – Local Boxing Hero

Having spent the last couple of decades lying low, the
Subaru
 brand is enjoying something of a renaissance in the Malaysian market. Local assembly of the popular
XV
 crossover has brought volumes to almost mainstream levels, boosting the brand’s visibility in our shores tremendously.
Emboldened by the XV’s success, Subaru now ups the ante with a second locally-assembled model from the TCMA Segambut plant.
Launched recently
, the new locally-assembled Forester brings Subaru into the heart of the SUV segment, taking on the likes of the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail.
Ahead of a more comprehensive review to be arranged at a later date, we headed to a Subaru dealership and took one out for a spin.
Specifications:
Variant Tested: 2.0i-P
Price: RM154,488 (OTR without insurance)
Engine: 2.0-litre Boxer four-cylinder petrol
Power: 150PS @ 6,200rpm
Torque: 198Nm @ 4,200rpm
Transmission: CVT, AWD with Active Torque Split
Safety: 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, electronic stability control (VDC), side impact beams, brake override, ISOFIX, hill descent control, Auto Vehicle Hold, reverse camera
Origin: Locally-assembled in Segambut
Overview
The locally-assembled Forester is available in the Malaysian market with two variants, starting off at RM144,948 for the entry 2.0i model, and moving on to RM154,488 for the higher-trimmed 2.0i-P variant as tested for this review. A turbocharged 2.0XT variant is also offered, but being fully-imported from Japan, it is significantly more expensive at RM211,729. All prices provided are on-the-road without insurance.
Safety is commendably given a high base line, with all variants getting seven airbags, electronic stability control, and reverse camera as standard. Differentiation of grade is focused entirely on amenities, where the Premium variant exclusively gets items such as swivelling LED headlamps, keyless entry with PIN code access function, electric front seat adjustment, and paddle shifters.
Follow
this link to our launch story
 for a more detailed breakdown of features in each variant of the Forester.
At a Glance
The fourth-generation Forester has been in Malaysia since 2013. The locally-assembled model we’re getting now is a facelifted version of that model, and it can be identified by its revised head and tail lamp assemblies. Both the standard and premium models wear 17-inch sized rims with the fully-imported turbocharged model getting them a size up at 18 inches.
Inside, the Forester offers seating capacity for five people, and typical of SUVs, the rear seat backs can be folded to expand the cargo hold. Premium models get rear-mounted remote release switches that allow either side of the 60:40 split seat backs to tumble down at the touch of a button.
Cabin quality is, in general, respectable. There is nothing spectacular about Subaru’s selection of materials, but there is similarly little to fault on the account of fit and finish. The overall impression is one of unspectacular solidness. Ergonomics appear good too; in our brief driving stint, we found  most of the relevant controls easy to reach and familiarize.
Driving Impressions
With outputs that are merely on par with the class average, we did not approach our brief test drive of the Forester with significant anticipation or excitement.
Much to our surprise, the 2.0-litre Boxer powerplant punches with more enthusiastic gusto than one would expect of a naturally-aspirated engine of this capacity, notwithstanding the burden imposed upon it to power all four wheels. Mid-range pull is particularly strong, making the Forester feel a lot more responsive to throttle inputs than other 2.0-litre petrol SUVs.
Ride quality seems to err slightly toward the firm side, but body movements appear well controlled. Typical of Subaru vehicles, there is a high level of mechanical refinement and in the Forester’s case, extra effort has been paid in the area of noise suppression, resulting in a vehicle that is impressively quiet on the move.
Conclusion
A starting price of just under RM150k puts the Forester in direct competition against 2.0-litre AWD variants of the
Honda CR-V
 and
Mazda CX-5
, both of which are priced slightly higher in comparison. They do have more affordably priced FWD versions, although Subaru’s near-religious devotion to having all-wheel drive makes the existence such a variant out of the question.
All being said, the Forester appears to be a vehicle of good value. Equipment levels are competitive, and Subaru’s renowned expertise in the technology means that you will be buying into one of the best-honed all-wheel drive systems in the business.
Editor’s Note:
 The vehicle featured in this review was provided courtesy of All Wheel Drive Sdn Bhd, an authorized Subaru dealership based in Kota Damansara. All Wheel Drive Sdn Bhd’s premise is located at 12A-G Jalan Teknologi, Sunsuria Park.


Ford's SYNC 3 Will Debut On The 2016 Ford Escape And Fiesta

In December 2014,
Ford
 unveiled the third-generation of its in-car connectivity and entertainment system known as SYNC 3. They’ve also allowed visitors at the
inaugural CES Asia 2015 to familiarise themselves with the new system
.
Now, the American car maker has announced that SYNC 3 will make its debut in North America this summer (June, July, August) as an option on the 2016
Ford Escape
 and
Ford Fiesta
 with other vehicles in the line-up following suit.
To highlight the significant improvements of SYNC 3, they’ve also released this video that shows just how quick it is to navigate through the system and execute some common day-to-day functions in a Ford Escape (known as the Kuga here) which involve smartphone connectivity and integration, voice recognition, and in-vehicle apps with AppLink™.
SYNC 3 represents a major overhaul with all-new hardware and software. With a capacitive touchscreen, the interactive experience is similar to that of a smartphone or tablet, paired with easy access icons and screens. With enhanced voice recognition, the system is optimised for hands-free usage as well.


Hukuman Terhadap Pemandu Mabuk/Positif Dadah Tidak Cukup Berat Di Malaysia?

Adakah hukuman yang dikenakan terhadap pemandu mabuk serta di bawah
pengaruh dadah
 ini tidak cukup berat memandangkan sehingga hari ini, kes-kes kemalangan disebabkan hal seperti ini masih lagi berlaku?

Pemandu yang memandu dibawah pengaruh dadah atau alkohol ini amat ditakuti di jalan raya kerana kegagalan otak mereka untuk berfungsi dengan sempurna ketika memandu. Sebab itu ada sahaja kes
kemalangan
 yang tidak masuk akal seperti memandu melawan arus.

Pada awalnya, kerajaan telah menetapkan hukuman selama 3 hingga 10 tahun dan denda tidak lebih RM20,000 sekiranya seseorang itu memandu di bawah pengaruh dan menyebabkan kemalangan, kecederaan atau kematian.
Lesen memandu
 mereka juga akan digantung untuk tempoh tidak lebih 5 tahun. Jika disabitkan kesalahan yang sama buat kali kedua, lesennya akan digantung selama 10 tahun.

Walau bagaimanapun, peningkatan jumlah kemalangan dan kematian yang disebabkan oleh pemandu yang tidak bertanggungjawab semakin membimbangkan dan orang ramai telah menggesa kerajaan untuk mengenakan hukuman yang lebih berat kepada pemandu mabuk atau positif dadah.

Oleh itu,
Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987
 telah dipinda setelah mengambil kira pandangan orang ramai menerusi soal selidik yang dijalankan oleh Bahagian Logistik dan Pengangkutan Darat (BLPD) yang mendapati sebanyak 94% daripada 345,000 responden mahu pemandu di bawah pengaruh alkohol dan dadah dikenakan hukuman lebih berat.

Ekoran itu, kerajaan telah menguatkuasakan
Akta Pengangkutan Jalan (Pindaan) 2020
 pada 23 Oktober 2020 yang mengenakan hukuman lebih berat terhadap pesalah jalan raya khususnya melibatkan Seksyen 41 hingga Seksyen 45. Tujuan hukuman lebih berat ini diperkenalkan bagi membuatkan pemandu lebih berhati-hati dan berhemah semasa memandu.

Hukuman Memandu Di Bawah Pengaruh Alkohol/Dadah sehingga menyebabkan kematian:

Bagi Sabitan Pertama

Penjara minimum 10 tahun atau maksimum 15 tahun

Denda antara RM50,000 hingga RM100,000

Hilang kelayakan lesen bagi tempoh minimum 10 tahun

Bagi Sabitan Kedua

Penjara minimum 15 tahun atau maksimum 20 tahun

Denda antara RM100,000 hingga RM150,000

Hilang kelayakan lesen selama 20 tahun

Hukuman Memandu Di Bawah Pengaruh Alkohol/Dadah sehingga menyebabkan kecederaan:

Bagi Sabitan Pertama

Penjara minimum 7 tahun atau maksimum 10 tahun

Denda antara RM30,000 hingga RM50,000

Hilang kelayakan lesen minimum tujuh tahun

Bagi Sabitan Kedua Dan Seterusnya

Penjara minimum 10 tahun atau maksimum 15 tahun

Denda antara RM50,000 hingga RM100,000

Hilang kelayakan lesen selama 10 tahun

Meskipun hukuman ini lebih berat berbanding sebelumnya, namun adakah ia mampu menghalang pemandu yang tidak bertanggungjawab daripada memandu di bawah pengaruh dadah atau alkohol?

Baru-baru ini, terdapat dua kes kemalangan di mana sebuah
lori telah menghentam 5 kenderaan
 di lampu isyarat serta sebuah
Mitsubishi Triton yang merempuh Proton Wira
 setelah melawan arus di
Lebuh Raya Persekutuan
 yang menyebabkan dua remaja maut.

Ini membuktikan bahawa masih ada segelintir pemandu yang memandu ketika berada di bawah pengaruh dadah dan alkohol di Malaysia ini. Bezanya cuma
kantoi
 atau tidak sahaja. Kalau nasib mereka baik, lepas sahaja. Tapi kalau nasib tak baik, boleh terlibat dalam kemalangan.

Sejujurnya, buatlah hukuman yang berat macam mana sekalipun, kalau ada sesetengah golongan yang masih berdegil untuk memandu di bawah pengaruh dadah atau alkohol, ia tidak akan membawa perubahan kerana perubahan yang sebenar bermula daripada diri sendiri. Sedarlah bahawa perbuatan memandu dalam keadaan khayal berpotensi menjadikan anda seorang pembunuh.

Pastikan anda tidak memandu semasa berada di bawah pengaruh. Nasihatilah rakan-rakan serta ahli keluarga anda supaya tidak terjebak dalam penggunaan dadah serta memandu ketika mabuk jika anda sayangkan mereka sebelum nasi menjadi bubur atau lebih tepat, sebelum otak mereka terletak di dubur.

Hati-hati di jalan raya!


The 2016 Toyota Vellfire - Exclusive Early Access To The First Unit In Malaysia

Recently, Carlist.my got exclusive access to tour a brand new 2016 model year
Toyota

Vellfire
 before its made available to customers - the first one to hit Malaysian shores, we’re told. We had a long look at its luxuries, inside and out, courtesy of our parallel importer friends at Grandhill.
The 2016 Vellfire’s exterior has clearly been through a redesign from the previous generation, while the overall characteristic silhouette that’s shared with it’s near-twin, the
Alphard
, has been retained.
Toyota wanted to explore more of its styling differences between the Vellfire and Alphard, with the former symbolising boldness and daring and the latter being luxurious and valiant. Although, to say the Vellfire isn’t luxurious would be flat-out wrong. As we can see, there’s lots of plush surfaces to be enjoyed by everyone inside - driver and passengers.
The creamy white leather upholstery seen in this unit is teamed with black trim and polished wood inserts. Additionally, there are aluminium bit strewn in as a contrast and altogether adds to the premium luxury feel, with the centre console being framed by a slab of machined aluminium.
The passengers enjoying the middle-row are in for a treat with a wide and comfortable seats with rising foot rests, plush headrests and armrests. Those who are accustomed to business class on flights should feel right at home.
The black Vellfire we see here is the Vellfire VL Executive Lounge, but they all share the same new platform that’s more rigid and incorporates a double wishbone rear suspension over the torsion beam arrangement of its predecessor.
Of course, there is Smart Entry, Push Start, Power Sliding Doors, and Reservation Lock functionality as expected. There is also a 148-litre cargo area underneath the third-row seating, which Toyota boasts as being the largest in its class. The LED illumination system is built into the car’s interior ceiling permits four brightness levels and 16 colour choices.
The body itself is also designed to be reduce aerodynamic drag to improve fuel economy, while Toyota claims it has enhanced sound dampening so that the interior is as unpolluted as possible by the noises from the outside.
Engines offered (in Japan) for the Alphard and Vellfire start with the 2.5-litre 2AR-FE unit producing 180hp, moving up to the 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 engine with 276hp, and finally there’s a hybrid option that combines a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle 2AR-FXE engine with 150hp with two electric motors (front and rear) that develops 208hp, turning it into a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Depending on the model, transmission options include either a Shiftmatic Super CVT i-transmission, a six-speed Super ECT automatic, or Toyota’s eCVT.
To know more about the 2016 Toyota Vellfire for yourself, head over to Sunway Pyramid where Grandhill will be hosting a roadshow showcasing the many vehicles they are and will be putting on sale. The roadshow will run from 20th November to 22nd November, 2015.
Interested in buying a Toyota Vellfire? Search
Carlist.my
 today!


All Toll Lanes Will Have All Payment Types

The proposal to incorporate all payment types/ technologies in all toll lanes aims to reduce traffic congestion around the city.

There's a sentiment that one of the significant
causes of congestion in the Klang Valley
 is the abundant amount of toll plazas around the urban conglomeration.

Incorporate all payment types at all toll lanes

It seems that the Federal Territories Ministry agrees with this opinion, which is why they have asked the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to incorporate all payment types at all toll lanes so that all motorists can use any lane at the toll plazas.

According to The Star, Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias has come out and said that the proposal to incorporate all technologies in all lanes aims to reduce traffic congestion in the city, especially during peak hours.

"Often when approaching a toll plaza, motorists have to change course towards the lane designated for their preferred payment method."

"For example, an RFID user must pivot to the designated lane, and most times, only one lane is provided."

"This causes congestion as motorists tend to jostle for space to pay for toll," he said.

"An alternative method must be identified so that vehicles can pass through the plazas faster during peak commute times," said the deputy minister after launching the traffic task force for Kuala Lumpur recently.

He also said he would discuss this matter with the Transport Ministry after hearing feedback from LLM.

Bus lanes in Kuala Lumpur to be re-activated?

To improve traffic conditions immediately, DBKL will remove all roadside parking and traders in stages.
Members of the task force
 would also be mobilised to 85 traffic hotspots to regulate traffic on major roads during peak hours.

Jalaluddin said that DBKL is also studying several measures to tackle the problem for the long term, which may include reactivating bus lanes in Kuala Lumpur as well as integrating them between different highway concessionaires.


Holy Trinity: Ferrari LaFerrari vs McLaren P1 vs Porsche 918 Spyder

It's been a long while since the super car world witnessed a perfectly timed rivalry from the players at the very forefront of the game.
From the early days of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union's pursue of land speed records, the rivalry between Ferrari and Lamborghini, the outright dominance of the McLaren F1 during its era, and to the more recent, the Ferrari Enzo that's constantly pitted against the Porsche Carrera GT in the minds of petrol heads.
And what we have here, is the holy trinity. To have the Ferrari LaFerrari, the McLaren P1 and the Porsche 918 Spyder all in one mother of all shoot outs. All three hypercars conincidentally, aim use hybrid powertrains to provide aided thrusts to boost performance, while each came up with its own unique solution; all in the name of pursuing ultimate levels of performance.
What's interesting, is the willingness of both McLaren and Porsche to pit their cars against each other, which puts in deep constrast Ferrari's notorious 'warning memo' to every single LaFerrari owner, barring them from providing their own car for any form of performance tests with its rivals.
Paul Bailley however, who famously purchased all three hypercars and collected them within the same day, has provided all three of his prized belongings to SupercarDriver to see which is the fastest around the Silverstone track in UK. As the video will only surface in November, what we have here, is a teaser. Enjoy.


Toyota Supra Mk4 Dijual RM700,000 - Ada Pemberani?

Yamaha RXZ
 dan
125zr
 boleh tepi sikit sebab sekarang ni, giliran
Toyota Supra Mk4
 untuk menggegar pasaran. Demo dok kenal bare!

Berdasarkan satu hantaran yang dibuat di dalam
group
 ‘Kereta Turbo Untuk Dijual’ di Facebook, sebuah Toyota Supra generasi keempat telah diiklankan untuk dijual pada harga RM700,000. Ada pemberani tak?

Toyota Supra TRD 3000GT

Bagi sesetengah orang, harga yang ditawarkan itu mungkin agak keterlaluan. Namun ia dipercayai merupakan sebuah Supra unit asal TRD 3000GT yang sebenar dan bukanlah replika atau make over dari model standard.

Memandangkan ianya unit asal, geran serta chassis kereta akan tertulis ‘TRD Supra’. Perbezaan versi ini dengan Supra standard adalah pada bahagian kit badan yang lebih lebar bertujuan untuk aerodinamik yang lebih baik.

Kit badan baharu menjadikan kereta itu 60 mm lebih lebar di hadapan dan 50 mm lebih lebar di belakang. Ini membolehkan roda yang lebih lebar dipasang, yang seterusnya meningkatkan cengkaman sisi kereta.

Enjin dan suspensi juga mendapat pengubahsuaian kecil. Hanya 35 contoh model ini pernah dihasilkan, setiap satunya datang dengan plat VIN bernombor khasnya sendiri yang secara rasmi mengklasifikasikan semula kereta itu sebagai TRD3000GT dan bukannya Toyota Supra.

Salah satu elemen Supra versi TRD 3000GT yang paling dikenali adalah empat lubang bonet geometrinya yang berfungsi untuk melegakan tekanan udara negatif daripada semua udara yang masuk dan pada masa yang sama meningkatkan penyejukan dalam ruang enjin.

Fungsinya telah ditutup oleh panel khas yang dipasang pada bahagian bawah yang direka untuk melindungi komponen bawah bonet daripada kerosakan air ketika memandu di jalan biasa, tapi boleh ditanggalkan dengan mudah untuk dibawa ke trek.

Berbaloi Ke Jual RM700,000?

Berbaloi atau tidak, mungkin pendapat ini akan berbeza-beza mengikut poket masing-masing. Walau bagai manapun, kereta yang diiklankan juga tidak diberikan maklumat yang penuh dan hanya disertai dengan sekeping gambar sahaja.

Kereta ini dibekalkan dengan enjin enam silinder sebaris 2JZ-GTE dengan turbo berkembar yang mampu menghasilkan kuasa
320 HP
 dan
427 Nm
 daya kilas yang disalurkan kepada roda belakang menerusi
transmisi manual enam kelajuan
.

Memang tak dinafikan, Toyota Supra versi TRD 3000GT ini agak
limited edition
, namun berdasarkan satu-satunya gambar yang diberikan di Facebook, kereta itu dilihat seakan-akan sudah di
modified
 dan harga yang dipinta seakan terlalu tinggi. Kalau masih standard dan dijaga baik, mungkin harganya masuk akal.

Seperti pada tahun 2018, sebuah Supra turbo standard tahun 1994 telah terjual dengan harga $500,000 (RM2.18 juta). Walaupun ia terjual sangat mahal, namun ia merupakan model standard kilang dengan perbatuan rendah yang masih terjaga dalam keadaan standard kilang termasuk rim.

Kesimpulan

Kesimpulannya, harga kereta-kereta yang mempunyai nilai sentimental ni boleh jadi agak kejam juga. Tetapi jika bagi anda harga yang ditawarkan itu agak mahal, mungkin ada pemberani diluar sana yang sanggup membayar harga tersebut demi mendapatkan kereta ini. Mungkin.

Info yang diberikan mengenai kereta ini juga kurang jelas di Facebook namun jika anda berminat, sila hubungi nombor yang tertera.

Jika tidak berminat untuk membeli Supra ini, dengan bajet yang sama, baik beli..


Ferrari Portofino Launched in Malaysia- 600 horsepower GT Convertible

Naza Italia, the official importer, and distributor of the Ferrari brand in Malaysia, has just unveiled the brand’s new V8 GT, the Ferrari Portofino.
The Ferrari Portofino takes its name from one of the most attractive villages on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria Region. Portofino is renowned for its charming tourist port and, over the years, has become internationally synonymous with elegance, rustic beauty, and understated luxury.
The Ferrari Portofino, which replaces the Ferrari California T, effortlessly converts from a coupe to a convertible through the electronic retractable hard top in a quick 14 seconds whilst on the move at lower speeds, making it even more practical for use in day-to-day situations.
“The Ferrari Portofino is the most powerful convertible car in the GT segment that Ferrari has ever produced and Naza Italia is thrilled to present this dynamic model in Malaysia. Combined with versatility, it offers a level of driving pleasure and on-board comfort unparalleled on the market,”
“This incredibly versatile V8 GT delivers sporty elegance, extreme performance, high-tech innovation and lavish comfort in a combination that is ideally suited to our customers’ automotive desires,” said Dato Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The Ferrari twin-turbocharged V8 engine, a member of the engine family that won the International Engine of the Year Award in 2016 and 2017, displaces 3.86-litres and churns out 600 hp at 7,500 rpm (40 hp more than the California T) and a maximum of 760 Nm of torque between 3,000 to 5,250 rpm. This engine features Variable Boost Management, a control software that adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected. The full 760 Nm of torque will only be available in 7th gear. This twin-turbocharged V8 engine also sees service in the 4-seater GTC4 Lusso T, with 10 hp more at 610 hp.
The transmission, which is located on the rear axle, is a 7-speed F1 dual-clutch system that drives the rear wheels. This configuration allows the Ferrari Portofino to have a heavier rear weight distribution at 46:54, contributing to better traction and driving pleasure.
0 to 100 km/h is completed in just 3.5 seconds, hitting 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds and reaching a top speed in excess of 320 km/h.
Meticulous aerodynamic solutions have been applied to the Ferrari Portofino, with the air entering the innovative air-curtain inside the head lamp assembly being extracted out at front fender fin and channel along the scooped sides. This relieves pressure at the front wheel housing thus reduce the drag created by the wake from the front wheels.
Underneath the slippery body (Cd value of only 0.312) is a new chassis that employs new casting technologies for lighter individual sections and optimized welding technique – resulting in a lighter and yet stiffer chassis. With all systems taken into account (engine, chassis, electronics, interior fitment), the Ferrari Portofino is a massive 80 kg lighter than the California T it replaces, tipping the scales at 1,664 kg kerb weight.
The Ferrari Portofino is also the first GT in this range to be fitted with EPS (Electric Power Steering). The integration of the EPS and the new third-generation electronic rear differential (E-Diff3) creates even more responsive steering without a trade-off in high-speed straight-line stability.
The new car also focuses on on-board comfort and this is achieved by a slew of new features – an infotainment system with a 10.2” touchscreen display, a new air-conditioning system that improves passenger comfort either with the top up or down, 18-way adjustable electric-powered seats with a new backrest design that boosts legroom for rear seat passengers, and the passenger display.
All passengers will highly appreciate the new wind deflector which can cut airflow inside the cabin by 30% and reduces aerodynamic noise in open-top driving.
Naza Italia has priced the new Ferrari Portofino from a base price of RM948,000 (excluding duty and customization options).


The e-tron GT Is Ready. We’re Ready. What’s Audi Waiting For?!

At one point, Audi had all the motivation in the world to shout about their e-tron GT in their quiet and subtle Germanic way. It was to be the company’s most desirable fully electric vehicle and a sleek four-door fastback entrant into the high-end EV space.

It also happens to be the Audi-badged twin brother to
the Porsche Taycan
 through the Volkswagen Group dynasty, so it shouldn’t still be shrouded in mystery given how much of the gritty development work has already been done. It shares the J1 platform, the 800-volt electrical architecture and even the same permanently excited synchronous electric motor technology.

The Taycan is a full-fledged production model that, for goodness sakes, has already reached Malaysian shores long enough for
this fool to drive one
, and yet the last time the world had a peek at the e-tron GT was its cameo in the 2019 blockbuster
 Avengers: Endgame
.

What’s taking so long Audi?

After all, this is hardly Audi’s first stab at EVs. In fact, they’re probably the most experienced European marque at post-combustion mobility with the
original e-tron SUV
 from 2018, the Q2L e-tron, the
e-tron Sportback
, and the upcoming Q4 e-tron, so they’ve presumably shaken out the early days operational hiccups by this point.

Most recently, Audi themselves published a release which trickled out some extra information about the car’s progress, revealing the testing and driving impressions by
Audi Sport ABT Schaffler Formula E
 driver Lucas di Grassi, alongside the pretty pictures you see strewn about here.

It’s a literal conversation between the Brazillian racer and 3 Audi engineers responsible for the e-tron GT’s development, so I’ll spare you from having to piece through all of it.

As you’d expect, his basic conclusion is that the car is awesome even in this prototypical state, with fun driving dynamics and great grand touring attributes. The engineers then chime in to explain how the car, which is now called the RS e-tron GT by the way, incorporates various innovative technologies to make such a driving experience possible.

It has adaptive three-chamber air suspension to seamlessly shift between a pliant ride while comfortable cruising to zero body roll during aggressive cornering but at the same time allows the car to dynamically alter its ride height.
Sounds familiar.

The battery system is also pretty tricked out with a floor-mounted array totalling over 90kWh, paired with an advanced thermal management system with two cooling circuits to keep temperatures stable and hard accelerations highly reproducible. Also, 0-100km/h sprints in less 4 seconds, pretty much as many times as you want in succession.
Where have we heard that before?

It wouldn’t have taken any smarts to draw the parallel between the RS e-tron GT and the Porsche Taycan, even from the very beginning if all you had was a quick glance at both cars. Preliminary specifications and these driving impressions seem to only confirm its link with the Turbo S variant from Zuffenhausen, as the Audi also cherry picks its rear-axle steer system.

Just like how the Audi RSQ8 has much in common with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo as well as the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga, the RS e-tron GT is merely the next cog in VAG’s cross-pollination master plan.

That being said, what’s taking so long? This new fast electric Audi reads an awful lot like a checklist of features, technologies, even design that’s already in Porsche customer’s hands, saving Ingolstadt a tonne of work and only the finest of fine tweaking to perfect.

Let’s face it, they aren’t waiting to surprise us with anything mind-blowing. The RS e-tron GT will look, drive, and perform nearly exactly like the Taycan Turbo S. Trust me, they’ll even be priced very closely, and the same might hold true for lesser variants below the flagship RS.

Ironically, even before the Audi has had a chance to shine, the Porsche is already its worst enemy. Every engineering and calibration hurdle has already been overcome, leaving a clear room for a worldwide introduction. But they’re holding back.

They Taycan is still having its moment in the sun as the first high profile electric performance car from an established automaker - a German one at that. Audi knows that rolling it out now would forever doom it to live in the Taycan’s shadow and draw one too many unfavourable comparisons that might call them out as identical twins instead of cousins. If that happens, the first-born will be favoured.


Nissan Serena S-Hybrid Now with Impul Sportiness

Nissan’s popular Serena S-Hybrid MPV now comes with an added dose of sportiness in the form of a ‘Tuned by Impul’ package.
Sold in addendum to existing variants of the Serena S-Hybrid, the range of Impul accessories offered for the popular and versatile MPV are as follows:
Full Impul Aerokit – Front bumper, rear bumper spoiler, side skirts, roof spoiler: RM6,360
Chrome Sport Ducts: RM1,113
Chrome Bonnet Fin: RM848
18” Impul Aura SX-50 Alloy Wheels (1 set x 4): RM5,830
225/45 R18 Michelin PS3 tyres (1 set x 4): RM3,339
As usual with all official Impul accessories available with Nissan models in Malaysia, the parts can be bought separately and even retrofitted to existing vehicles without voiding warranty, or bundled into an entire package to be sold with a new vehicle. Individually, the items accumulate a combined cost of RM17,490.
Available for fitment in both Highway Star and Premium Highway Star grades, the package raises the OTR price without insurance of the Serena S-Hybrid Tuned by Impul as follows over the regular models:
Highway Star: RM145,578.59 (+RM12,600)
Premium Highway Star: RM155,863.43 (+RM12,800)
In addition to the abovementioned accessories, buyers who opt for the full Impul package with Premium Highway Star grade also get diamond-stitched combination leather seats with IMPUL logo embossed to the front seats.