Ducati MotoGP Rider 'Kantoi' Drunk Driving In Spain After Car Crash

Ducati

MotoGP
 factory rider, Francesco Bagnaia was caught drunk driving in Ibiza, Spain.

A number of Spanish media outlets reported that the 25-year-old Italian crashed his
Citroen
 into a ditch after leaving a disco at 3 am.

The local enforcement was quick to arrive at the scene and performed a breathalyser test on the MotoGP race winner. The result was 0.87mg/l, which was three times over the legal alcohol level allowed for drivers in Spain. Oof.

Fortunately, Bagnaia was the only one affected by the incident as no other person or vehicle was reported injured or damaged. Ducati has confirmed this report and Bagnaia himself went on
social media
 to apologise and explain what happened that fateful night.

*Image credit: Periodico de Ibiza

“Last night I was in Ibiza with my friends for a part during this break from MotoGP,” Bagnaia wrote. “We celebrated and toasted together for my victory at the Dutch GP. As I was leaving the disco at 3 am, I was facing a roundabout when I ended up with the front wheels in a ditch without involving other vehicles or people.

“However, the alcohol test carried out by the police found that the blood alcohol level was higher than what is allowed by Spanish law.

“I am sorry for what happened; I am practically a non-drinker, and it was a serious carelessness that should not have happened.

“I apologise to everyone, and I can assure you that I have learned my lesson. Never get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. Thank you.”

*Image credit: MotoGP

Following the incident, Bagnaia might get his driving license banned for up to four years. Fans online have also joked about the young Italian getting handed a long-lap penalty by Dorna in the upcoming British GP due to 'irresponsible driving'.


2023 Hyundai Stargazer three-row MPV launched in Thailand - From RM99k

The
2023 Hyundai Stargazer
 has officially been launched in Thailand in conjunction with the 2023 Bangkok Motor Show.

Following its Indonesian debut last July, Hyundai's smaller three-row MPV offering comes in four different variants for the Thai market with prices starting from 769,000 baht to 889,000 baht (around RM99,690 to RM115,250).

These four variants for the 2023 Hyundai Stargazer are Trend, Style, Smart 7, and the range-topping Smart 6 with six seats instead of seven. All of them are powered by the same Smartstream G1.5 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine mated to the IVT transmission system (basically a CVT) that produces 115PS and 144Nm of torque.

Measuring 4,460mm long, 1,780mm wide, and 1,695mm tall paired with a 2,780mm wheelbase, the 2023 Hyundai Stargazer is not that far off when compared to its closest competitors in the Thai market such as the Toyota Veloz, Mitsubishi Xpander, and the Honda BR-V.

With that being said, Hyundai went to town when it comes to its interior design thanks to features such as the Hyundai Smartsense suite, 4.2-inch Supervision TFT LCD multi-info display, eight-inch audio touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six speakers, and second-row armrests and tray tables for the top Style models.

Safety features include:

High Beam Assist

Forward Collision-avoidance Assist

Lane Keeping Assist

Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist

Rear Cross-traffic Collision-avoidance Assist

Safe Exit Warning + more

We know that Hyundai Malaysia is planning to bring in a number of new models this year, particularly the Ioniq 6, Creta, Santa Fe, and Palisade. No news on the Stargazer just yet, but it has been spotted here before as well as the four-star ASEAN NCAP crash test results.


2023 Mazda CX-60 To Come With A 3.3-Litre Six-Cylinder Diesel Engine

The
2023 Mazda CX-60
 will be quite an interesting model as the
Japanese marque
 announced an entirely new powertrain for its SUV - a six-cylinder e-Skyactiv D diesel engine.

The 3.3-litre inline-six diesel which Mazda calls it the e-Skyactiv D will be available in two different versions with a power output that goes up to
250hp
 and
550Nm
 of torque. It's quite a peculiar move by Mazda, but they've assured everyone that their diesel powertrain will have very low CO2 emissions (127grams/km).

e-Skyactiv D - more diesel-powered models in the future

The new six-cylinder diesel engine was developed for the 2023 Mazda CX-60, but it will most likely end up in other models as well. Mazda's "Multi-Solution Approach" plans to use this powertrain for other future models to ensure that there's something interesting for every customer group.

The new diesel-powered CX-60 will join the current PHEV model offering, which is already open for booking in some markets. Looking into the future, it's wild that a company like Mazda went for the 3.3-litre diesel unit, but their 'right-sizing' strategy will have some impacts in certain markets - one that demands a balance between torque, power, and fuel efficiency.

The cleanest diesel engine in the world?

Mazda also claims that this particular six-cylinder diesel engine is one of the cleanest in the world. Designed with over 40% thermal efficiency, the new engine that will be housed in the 2023 Mazda CX-60 will also come with the brand's M Hybrid Boost system, together with a new system called 'Distribution-Controlled Partially Premixed Compression Ignition' od DCPCI for short.

Not much else has been said about these systems, but they did reveal that there will be two versions - a 200hp variant with rear-wheel drive, and the 250hp variant with Mazda's i-Active AWD system. Fuel efficiency is also present with 4.9L/100km and 5.3L/100km respectively.

Towing capacity for this particular powertrain has been raised to a whopping 2,500kg. While it does provide more power and torque whilst maintaining very reasonable fuel consumption figures, Mazda also claims that this 3.3-litre unit is no heavier than their current 2.2-litre Skyactiv-D. Those are some impressive figures, folks.


The Mercedes-Benz EQE Is The Electric CLS, Not So Much An EV E-Class

The Mercedes-Benz EQ range of electric vehicles has welcomed its newest and possibly most significant member yet, the EQE. Shown off in Munich at this year’s ongoing IAA, the electric saloon will be the ‘sweet spot’ luxury EV that’ll be
competing with the BMW i4
, Tesla Model 3, and
Polestar 2
.

From the off, it’s pretty obvious that the car is very much a mirror image of the larger and
more expensive EQS
 in terms of design, being only a little bit smaller and not quite as ultra luxurious in certain areas.

Aimed as an electric alternative at the mid-tier size segments of premium saloons like
the current E-Class
, this car sheds a traditional 3-box design for a more uniform overall shape to maximise aerodynamic efficiency and cabin spaciousness.

Measuring 4,946mm in overall length, the EQE is 270mm shorter than the EQS, and is also the first Mercedes-Benz model to be built using 100% recycled steel. The automaker notes that, given its stretched silhouette and hatch-style boot hinge, it’s actually more comparable to
the CLS four-door coupe
.

Two variants will be offered from launch, which is slated for most European markets in early to mid-2022.

For now, the range kicks off with the EQE 350 with a single rear motor with 292hp and 530Nm of torque and will be joined by a second higher output drivetrain, though Mercedes-Benz has declined to disclose details, only hinting at the use of permanent magnet motors for higher power density and efficiency.

Naturally, the EQE will smaller batteries than the EQS, but that doesn't mean range is compromised. In this current sole configuration shown to IAA visitors, the
350
 boasts 90.6kWh for a WLTP rated range of 660km.

To fill the gap somewhat until this mystery higher end variant is brought to light, the
base
 EQE can be had with with the AMG-Line package, adding sportier trim and a set of dark finished lightweight alloys to add some spice and drama to the otherwise clean and tidy exterior.

Stepping inside, the EQE is once again an echo chamber of the higher run EQS, sporting a very high tech, through a minimally styled cabin dominated by the 1,410mm wide
MBUX-powered
 Hyperscreen infotainment system that fills the width of the dashboard.

Mercedes-Benz has gone to great pains to ensure the EQE leads the pack in terms of quality construction, ambient noise isolation, and overall refinement to minimise sonic interferences caused by the wind and drivetrain.

Seemingly in contradiction to this, the EQE also includes the ‘Roaring Pulse’ sound mode, which basically pipes synthetic engine noises through the car’s audio speakers so that you don’t totally freak out upon realising your car is totally, unnervingly silent.


GrabProtect For Malaysia

When COVID-19 struck and it struck us hard, we were all left feeling helpless and hopeless. The days ahead looked challenging. Being locked at home, unable to meet our friends at our favorite cendol joint, eat our favorite mamak mee goreng or even visit our favorite cafes for our daily dose of coffee left many of us feeling blue.

When we were gradually allowed to begin moving again but were afraid of taking public transport due to the risk of transmission, Grab came up with GrabProtect, a six-step comprehensive guide for drivers and passengers to be as safe as possible during their rides.

Face masks were made mandatory for both driver and passenger. Grab also rolled out an in-app online health and hygiene declaration form that had to be filled up daily by drivers before beginning their rides. Passengers were also required to fill up this form before beginning their ride. As an added measure passengers and drivers were allowed the flexibility of cancelling a ride should either party not be wearing a mask. All steps to ensure that we #RideItOutBersama.

During the initial phase of the MCO, Grab, in collaboration with Lifebuoy and Cif provided active drivers with hygiene kits (hand sanitisers and disinfectant sprays) to keep their vehicles clean and safe for passengers during rides. Starting September 7, these hygiene kits will come guaranteed on all GrabCar Plus, Premium or Exec vehicles.

 GrabProtect’s initiative has allowed us the mobility to move around while at the same time keeping us safe. It is an initiative that has not gone unnoticed by passengers as evidenced by the few we spoke to below:

 “Even during this pandemic, I feel safe riding with Grab. The drivers followed the safety measures by wearing masks and providing hand sanitiser in the vehicles. Some drivers even display their My Sejahtera status to prove they are not exposed to COVID-19 risk. I’ll continue to take Grab when going out for grocery shopping and to work.”
 - Sabrina, 27

 “Grab really saved my life when my car broke down during the RMCO and I needed to go to the office, meet with clients and even meet my friends for dinner outside especially after being unable to meet face to face for about four months. I feel safe when taking Grab as the drivers are wearing a mask throughout the ride, the sanitiser is put in the middle of the vehicle and GrabPay contactless payment. “
 - Boey, 32

 “It’s easy oftentimes to forget what a big role GrabCar has played in our new normal ever since the MCO and now RMCO. I can only say thank you to all the Grabcar drivers. Never once did I feel unsafe in a Grabcar. All the SOP’s were followed. More than one driver asked if I was comfortable especially with my mask on, offering to open the window for better circulation. It’s the small things really that they do so well.”
 - Arvind, 35

Go forth and travel safe in this new normal! #GrabJagaKita #RideItOutBersama

More details here:
https://www.grab.com/my/blog/grabprotect/


Falken Marks Entry Into The Big League With Liverpool FC Tie-Up And New Flagship Tyre

In an effort to redefine the Falken brand as a youthful, high-tech challenger to the old giants of the industry like Bridgestone and Michelin, and also to further boost its presence in the global arena, Falken Tyres announced a tie up with English football giants Liverpool FC.
“We’re delighted to partner with a football club as prestigious as Liverpool FC. We are also looking forward to working together in rewarding and recognizing our customers, while connecting with more fans across the world."
"We’re also pleased to reaffirm our commitment to supporting football, as we have done before, while building on our global strategy,” said Satoru Yamamoto, Director and Senior Executive Officer of Sumitomo Rubber Industries.
And just like how Liverpool is among the best in the EPL at the moment, Falken has also introduced its latest flagship product, the Azenis FK510, which is just as good as the best tyres in the market, in Malaysia.
Catered for luxury vehicles, sports cars, as well as luxury SUVs, the Azenis FK510 tyre is completely new even though it still carries the well-known “Azenis” label which is used on the brand’s Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyres.
Available at all Falken outlets nationwide, the Azenis FK510 tyre was engineered using 4D Nano Design which enhances both wear and wet weather traction. The tyre also comes with hybrid undertread materials at a molecular level, which offer generous amount of grip and stability.
The Japan-made Azenis FK510 succeeds the FK453 and covers a wide range of today’s luxury vehicles, including staggered applications. It is offered in 86 sizes ranging from 17 to 22-inch wheels. Popular fitments are for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Mazda, and other Japanese cars.
A variant of the FK510 designed for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and crossovers, as well as a run-flat version will be added to the range next year.
Having earned the ‘Highly Recommended’ label from the German Association of Technical Inspectors (GTUE), the Azenis FK510 also features Blade sipes to protect against aquaplaning.
Besides having a higher negative tread ratio, high volume circumferential grooves, and rounded shoulder contours, numerous blade sipes (small ‘cuts’ in the pattern blocks) optimise the footprint in cornering and cut through the water film on the road surface more effectively.
The tyre’s pattern also ensures consistent pressure distribution throughout the tyre footprint. Known as ACP (Adaptive Constant Pressure), the technology used for this advanced pattern enhances braking performance, directional stability and driving dynamics.
Last but not the least, the longitudinal grooves and enhanced sidewall flexibility of the Azenis FK510 provide a harmonious, balanced response, particularly in cornering and load changes.
Besides improving driving comfort, these features shorten braking distances and increase smoothness.
“We are very pleased to be able to bring this amazing new-generation flagship tyres to Malaysia. FK510 is designed for drivers of premium vehicles looking for excellent grip and outstanding performance,” said Mr Cham Soon Kian, the Executive Vice President of Stamford Tyres, the authorised distributor of Falken tyres in Malaysia.


All-New 2018 Renault Megane RS To Be Unveiled At Monaco Grand Prix

Renault is set to unveil the all-new 2018 Megane RS at the 2017 Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, in the hands of Nico Hülkenberg. To mark Renault's 40th involvement anniversary in Formula One, the new Megane RS will feature a yellow and black livery.
Earlier
, the new flagship hot hatch from Renault was spied with its rear end undisguised, allowing us a clearer look at the new model. Setting itself apart from the Renault Megane GT, the hotter Megane RS will get a centrally-mounted trapezoid-shaped muffler with a large rear diffuser. An RS emblem further differentiates the hot hatch from its Megane GT sibling.
Renault did not mention what powertrain will the new Megane RS receive, but we reckon that a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is possible, pushing out about 300 ponies to the front wheels.
The new 2018 Renault Megane RS is poised to be unveiled officially at this September's Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.


Petronas Fueling Prosperity Promotion To Reward Loyal Customers This CNY

In conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) is giving away close to 9,000 prizes in the form of Petronas Gift Cards and Mesra loyalty points between now and 15th March 2018.
The Fueling Prosperity promotion, open to Mesra card members, is said to be part of PDB’s continuous effort in rewarding their loyal customers.
The promotion offers a grand prize of a Petronas Gift Card worth RM8,888, eight Petronas Gift Cards worth RM888 each, giveaways worth 8,800 Mesra points for 88 winners, and 800 Mesra points for 8,888 winners.
Customers only need to fuel up a minimum of RM38 worth of Petronas Primax to be in the running for these prizes.
Speaking about the promotion, Aadrin Azly, PDB’s Head of Retail Business Division said, “We are always conscientious towards our customers’ needs and this Fueling Prosperity promotion is something that we believe our customers will appreciate as we have made the participating entry simple and the prizes practical.”
“With the Gift Card and Mesra points, customers can purchase or redeem fuel and non-fuel items from our Kedai Mesra, in line with our commitment of rewarding our customers with things that truly matter,“ he added.
In addition to the campaign mentioned above, Mesra card members can also enjoy special benefits such as the
Mesra Personal Accident Plan
 that was launched recently.
In conjunction with the festive season, members who sign up for the Mesra Personal Accident Plan before 28 February 2018 will receive complimentary Mesra PA benefit for the first month.


Geely Jiaji L Dilancarkan Dengan Gril Infinite Weave Proton – Bakal Ganti Exora?

Model yang pernah digembar-gemburkan sebagai
pengganti Exora
 suatu ketika dahulu,
Geely Jiaji
 versi facelift telah dilancarkan di pasaran China sebagai Geely Jiaji L.

Walaupun masih tiada khabar bagi projek menggantikan
Exora
 buat masa ini, namun nama Jiaji sebagai pengganti Exora sekali lagi dipetik setelah Jiaji L ini hadir dengan rekaan gril
Infinite Weave
, iaitu gril ikonik yang digunakan pada kereta baharu keluaran
Proton
.

Exterior

Selain menampilkan gril
Infinite Weave
, Jiaji L juga tampil dengan bampar hadapan baharu bersama gril berbentuk trapezoid yang lebih besar di bahagian bawah. Walaupun Proton telah menampilkan gril tersebut pada X70 pada 2018, namun elemen gril ini telah ditampilkan pada tahun 2010 menerusi model konsep Proton Tuah.

Di belakang pula, Jiaji L menerima rekaan LED baharu pada lampunya serta hadir dengan lampu bar yang bersambung. Selain itu, pemantul cahaya juga diposisikan secara senget di bahagian tepi seakan-akan ruang udara yang semestinya membuatkan bahagian belakangnya kelihatan lebih
sporty
.

Dimensi

Panjang

4,826 mm

Lebar

1,909 mm

Tinggi

1,695 mm

Jarak Antara Roda

2,805 mm

Saiz But

513 liter

Interior

Bahagian dalaman Jiaji L pula menampilkan rekaan papan pemuka yang lebih minimal dan ringkas. Ia masih lagi menampilkan paparan infotainment bersaiz 12.3 inci, namun telah dikemaskini dengan cip E02 terbaharu keluaran Geely. Selain itu, paparan meter digital penuhnya yang bersaiz 7 inci telah ditukar kepada saiz yang lebih besar, iaitu 10.25 inci.

Kedudukan gear juga telah dialihkan supaya lebih mudah diakses oleh pemandu selain memberiikan ruang simpanan yang lebih besar di bahagian konsol tengah. Tempat duduk MPV China ini masih lagi tidak berubah dengan sususan 2-2-2 dan 2-2-3 yang ditawarkan.

Enjin Dan Prestasi

Berbeza dengan Jiaji sebelum ini yang hadir dengan enjin 1.5L TGDI, 1.8L TGDI, Hibrid dan PHEV, Jiaji L hanya hadir dengan enjin 1.5L 4 silinder turbo yang menghasilkan
181 PS
 serta
290 Nm
 tork. Enjin tersebut dipadankan dengan transmisi klac berkembar automatik 7 kelajuan DCT.

Menurut pengeluar China itu, model ini mampu bergerak pada kelajuan maksima 190 km/j serta boleh mencapai penggunaan bahan api sekitar 6.9L/100km. Menurut laman web Geely, model Jiaji biasa kini tidak lagi ditawarkan dengan pilihan enjin 1.8L turbo manakala model PHEV masih menggunakan enjin
1.5 TGDI 3 silinder
 seperti X50 yang digandingkan dengan motor elektrik menghasilkan kuasa keseluruhan sebanyak 258 PS dan 415 Nm tork.

Ciri Keselamatan

ABS dan EBD

ESP

Brake Assist

Traction Control

Hill Start Assist

EPB with Autohold

6 airbags

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Lane Keep Assist

Lane Departure Warning

Intelligent High Beam Control

Speed Limit Reminder

Forward Collision Warning

AEB

Harga

Geely Jiaji L ini ditawarkan dalam 3 pilihan varian:

Charming: 119,800 yuan (RM77,526)

Luxury: 129,800 yuan (RM89.999)

Premium: 142,800 yuan (RM92,412)

Sekiranya Proton benar-benar bakal membawa masuk MPV ini bagi menggantikan Exora, reka bentuk baharu Exora itu kelak kemungkinan akan kelihatan seperti ini. Walau bagaimanapun, ketika ini Proton dilihat lebih cenderung untuk memperkenalkan SUV 7 tempat duduk yang diasaskan daripada
Geely Haoyue ataupun Proton X90.


Nissan GTR Nismo Becomes the Fastest Production Car to Lap Tsukuba

If the ultimate proving ground for cars in the West is the Nurburgring-Nordschleiffe in Germany, what we have in the East is the Tsukuba Circuit in Japan.

Featured heavily in popular Japanese car show “Best Motoring”, as well as games like the Gran Turismo Series and Forza Motorsport, Tsukuba has gained massive popularity among car-nuts worldwide, and has somewhat become the ultimate proving ground for time attacks in Japan.

In fact, many racing teams from around the world frequent the circuit during track days and time attack events with the aim of setting the fastest time possible.

Currently, an event is held every week. Measuring 2.045 km long, the track has a large variety of corners, ranging from wide sweepers to hairpins.

That being said, the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo has just broken the lap time record for production cars in a time attack on the Tsukuba Circuit on December 9th, 2019.

Nismo race driver Tsugio Matsuda drove the record breaking lap with a lap time of 59.3 seconds, beating the last production car track record which was held by the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) which did it in 1:00:07 minute 4 years ago.

Production cars aside, the fastest thing with 4 wheels to ever lap the Tsukuba Circuit is still the purpose-built Nissan Silvia S15 time attack machine, which belongs to Scorch Racing with Under Suzuki, which managed to clock a mighty quick lap time of 50:366 seconds.


Geneva 2018: Mazda Vision Coupe Named Concept Car Of The Year

Held every year to coincide with the Geneva Motor Show, this year’s Car Design Night concluded a couple of days ago, with the Mazda Vision Coupe being named Concept Car of the Year.
Hosted by Car Design News, an online and print publication established in 1999 to serve the international automotive design community, the Mazda Vision Coupe earned top points from a panel of 18 judges, comprising renowned designers from around the world.
The concept was also named “Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year” in Paris last month, making this the model's second global design award.
“Following on from Paris last month, we are delighted once again to have Vision Coupe recognized with a global design award. It is truly an honor to have this model, which aims to express the essence of Japanese aesthetics, applauded by some of the world's top car designers,” said Ikuo Maeda, Mazda's managing executive officer in charge of design and brand style.
“The essence of this design concept will be evident in the next generation of Mazda cars, the first of which is due for launch in 2019,” he said.
Revealed in Tokyo in 2017, the Mazda Vision Coupe is a design vision model for the next generation of Mazda cars. It represents the next phase of Kodo-Soul of Motion design, in which the expression of vitality and dynamism has evolved in pursuit of an essential Japanese aesthetic.
According to Mazda, the concept's flowing and deceptively simple “one motion” form speaks of elegance and high quality.


New Vehicle Sales Data As Of Feb 2021 Showing Signs Of Growth

The latest new vehicle sales data, ended February 2021, is showing positive signs of growth, indicating a trend of stabilisation in the passenger and commercial vehicle segment. According to Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) data – the figures in February show a small but crucial improvement over the same period in
2020
, though from a Year-To-Date (YTD), there’s catching up to do after a slow month in
January
.

In February 2021 – overall car sales were 30 percent higher than in January 2021, closing with 37,923 units representing a small incremental growth of approximately 1 percent from the 37,359 units sold in February 2020 (before the first MCO started). Commercial vehicles showed a more sizeable bump of 1.3 percent to 4,861 units, versus February 2020's 3,728 unit total.

However, the sales of passenger vehicles still trail by 0.87 percent in 2021 in YTD figures after slow sales in January. Commercial vehicles though showed an improvement of 1.21 percent in YTD data 8,818 units versus 7,260 units last year.

According to MAA - traffic volume to showrooms showed much improvement after the lifting of the MCO in certain states.

It’s much the same within terms of production volume; again a small incremental growth of 45,199 units in February 2021, versus 40,371 units in the same month last year.

MAA states that sales volume in March 2021 is expected to be higher than February 2021 on the backs of marketing campaigns hosted by all major manufacturers, the easing of the MCO, and resumption of JPJ's full services for all types of vehicle transactions. MAA has forecasted a Total Industry Volume (TIV) of 570,000 for 2021, which presumes a
bullish growth rate of 8 percent
 over the 529,434 unit total of 2020.

MAA’s forecasts are based on the strong trend of promotional campaigns and the PENJANA stimulus package which exempts SST till the end of June 2021.


Top Five Hacks To Keep Your Car Cool In This Malaysian Heat

Five hacks to keep your car cool in this Malaysian heat!

Malaysia's Meteorological Department has just announced that we are expected to experience much hotter weather due to the Southwest Monsoon.

The hotter and drier climate is expected to last until mid-September according to MetMalaysia, but they do not expect any heatwaves to occur.

Saying that however, the heat will still be unbearable for most, with temperatures soaring up to 35 degrees Celsius on most days.

With this in mind, we explore five hacks on how to keep your car cool during this hot period.

1. Use a window sunshade

Using a sunshade is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to keep your car cabin cooler when parked outside. Put up a window sunshade every time you park your car, and we're pretty sure you will come back to a much cooler car. Of course, you can try to keep it even cooler by putting a sunshade in your rear window too. Thanks to Mr DIY and Shopee, these sunshades can be bought cheaply and quickly.

2. Park in the shadow

The most effective way to keep your car cool is to keep your car in the shade. We know it's not easy to find shade especially in an open car park, but if there is, it's a bonus for you and your car.

If an open car park is near a building and you know where the shadow of the building will be at a particular time, this will be an advantage. Even if the air in your car stays warm, the shade from the shadows will reduce the intensity. At the very least it will not make you feel like you are driving in an oven.

3. Crack a window open

This age-old trick will help dispel hot air from the cabin quickly. By opening all the windows as you drive off, you dispel hot air from the cabin and substitute it with cooler fresh air from the outside.

The best way to do this is to open all the windows as you drive off, then drive around 10-15km/h and take 90 degree turns as much as you can. The inertia when turning will push hot air out to one side and suck fresh air in from the other side.

4. Install good quality window tints

Window tints
 are an effective way of keeping a parked car cool. Good quality tints are designed to allow for a good amount of light to pass while blocking out the sun's thermal rays.

Contrary to popular belief, just because the tints are dark does not mean they will keep out the heat. A good quality tint that is not dark will be more effective at keeping the heat at bay, so make sure you invest in good quality tints from reputable manufacturers. Good window tints also cut down on the sun's harmful UV rays, which can really damage the car's interior.

5. Try a solar-powered ventilation fan

The solar-powered ventilation fan is the latest innovation that promises to keep car cabins cooler.

The fan is attached to the inside of one of your rolled-up windows and has an outward-facing solar panel that harnesses the sun's natural energy. The fan sucks out the hot air from inside of the car and pushes it outside.

We only recommend this for cars that are equipped with visors and parked in a secure open car park. The visors will ensure that water from rain will not seep into the car.

If all else fails, you can always try the below method!


Another out of control Tesla Model Y in China crashes, killing two

Another
Tesla Model Y
 was seen careening down a road in China, seemingly unable to control its rampant acceleration and not responding to braking input. The resulting collisions left 2 people dead in the city of Taizhou, Zhejiang province.

On November 28th, a black Model Y was spotted blasting past a red light at high speed in what appears to be near or in the city centre with wide roads and a heavy concentration of pedestrians.

The EV then slammed into the rear of white SUV at an intersection, which slowed it down considerably, before impacting a guard rail that finally stopped it. A white BMW 3 Series was also involved.

This latest tragedy, under very similar circumstances, has occurred just
2 weeks after another incident
 involving a light coloured Tesla Model Y took the lives of two people and left 3 injured in Guandong, China. In both cases, the EV seemed to be accelerating out of control.

Eyewitness footage and CCTV in Taizhou does not show the moment of impact but does give us a clear extent of the immediate aftermath.

The driver of the black vehicle, Xu Moujun, despite the severe damage, managed to climb out with only minor injuries. He has been detained by local police and the accident is under further investigation.

Even prior to both these most recent tragic road deaths, Tesla has been under fire from the Chinese public and under scrutiny from regulatory bodies. So far it has managed to win all cases brought against it that have claimed brake failure was at fault.

That said, we will need for more facts to come to light about the events that transpired in Taizhou and Guandong two weeks prior, as these so far are the most high profile examples of a potentially deadly issue.


VIDEO: Proton Iriz R3 Race Car Hot Lap With Tengku Djan

We’ve shown you pictures of it
being prepared for its shakedown
 ahead of its race debut this weekend, now checkout a video of Tengku Djan on a hot lap with the
Proton

Iriz
 R3 race car around the Sepang International Circuit.
What you’re looking at here is a regular Proton Iriz, with as stripped out interior in favour of a racer’s cockpit. Externally, there isn’t much that sets this monster apart from the regular Iriz, apart from a front splitter, semi-slick rubbers, and some rear spoilers.
Underneath its bonnet lies a 1.6-litre Campro CFE engine that’s no longer bound to a turbocharger – power is expected to push the 200hp mark.
In any case, here’s Malaysian hero Tengku Djan Ley doing what he does best, in the hot, hot Iriz R3.
Not enough action? Here he is again, this time in a Proton Preve R3, from 2013:


Sewa kereta dari GoCar, SoCar - Apa Yang Perlu Anda Periksa Sebelum Jalan?

Ingin menyewa kereta melalui
GoCar
,
SoCar
 atau mana-mana platform yang menawarkan
kereta sewa
 untuk perjalanan jauh? Boleh sahaja asalkan anda periksa beberapa bahagian penting terlebih dahulu.

Bagi mereka yang tiada kereta atau mereka yang tidak mahu membawa kereta sendiri kerana faktor keselesaan dan ketenangan minda untuk menempuhi perjalanan yang panjang, mereka bertindak untuk menyewa kereta. Tapi adakah kereta sewa ini terjamin tahap keselamatannya?

Apa Yang Perlu Diperiksa Pada Kereta Sewa?

Minyak Enjin

Tarik
dipstick
dan lap menggunakan kain bersih, lalu masukkan
dipstick
ke tempat asalnya semula. Kemudian tarik semula
dipstick
dan periksa keadaan minyak hitam.

Paras minyak hitam perlu berada pada tengah-tengah kawasan bertanda min dan max. Pastikan minyak enjin mencukupi dan masih boleh digunakan (tidak terlalu hitam dan kotor)

Coolant (Penyejuk)

Coolant
 berfungsi untuk melindungi enjin daripada panas lampau (overheating) ketika cuaca panas, dan membeku (freezing) dalam cuaca sejuk ekstrem.

Untuk periksa
coolant
, buka penutup radiator dan lihat sama ada masih terdapat bendalir coolant atau tidak. Periksa juga kuantiti
coolant
 pada tangki simpanan.

Exterior Kereta

Sebelum anda mula memandu kereta tersebut, ambil gambar exterior kereta sekiranya terdapat sebarang cacat cela seperti calar atau kemik yang besar bagi membuktikan kesan itu bukanlah berpunca dari anda. Pendek kata, macam mana anda ambil, macam itulah rupanya bila dipulangkan.

Interior Kereta

Sekiranya kereta tersebut datang dengan aksesori seperti pemegang telefon, bantal atau payung, pastikan barang-barang itu tidak diambil atau dikeluarkan daripada kereta ketika dipulangkan.

Tayar Spare

Periksa juga kadar tekanan angin tayar spare kereta sewa tersebut kerana tayar spare perlu diisi selalu agar dapat digunakan dengan baik apabila berlaku insiden tayar bocor. Ini kerana angin tayar spare tersebut akan berkurangan dari semasa ke semasa.

Tekanan Tayar

Tekanan angin yang kurang atau lebih akan menyebabkan bunga tayar yang tidak sekata sekaligus mendatangkan bahaya ketika memandu. Periksa juga keadaan
tayar
 seperti benjolan, rekahan dan bunga tayar.

Tak tahu paras tekanan angin yang sesuai untuk kereta anda? Rujuk info pada pelekat yang diletakkan di bahagian pintu pemandu. Tayar yang kekurangan angin menggunakan lebih bahan api untuk bergerak.

Pemeriksaan Tambahan

Periksa keadaan wiper seperti getah wiper dan bendalir pencuci cermin

Periksa sistem penyaman udara kereta supaya berfungsi dengan baik

Periksa keadaan lampu (high beam, signal, foglamp) dan pastikan ianya masih berfungsi dengan sempurna

Periksa indikator di bahagian meter sama ada ada indikator seperti
Check Engine
 menyala atau tidak

Walaupun SoCar dan GoCar menawarkan khidmat kereta sewa yang baik, namun ia lebih selamat sekiranya anda sendiri memeriksa bahagian serta komponen asas kereta ini bagi memastikan perjalanan yang lancar dan selamat.


The Current State Of The 2020 D-Segment Crew

Who are the players still left in the elusive D-segment?

With the launch of the Hyundai Sonata last week, it seems like the D-Segment update is now complete. Regardless of spec, the arrival of the Sonata also confirms that the entire D-Segment has gone up in price.

The whole affordable D-Segment crew is now priced closer to RM200k rather than RM150k, which is where it traditionally sat for the longest of time. Half a decade ago, most of these D-Segment cars would have been priced from RM150k, but with inflation and the incorporation of higher-tech as well as some upmarket branding attempts, the prices have all gone up.

2020 Mazda 6 - from RM168,459

The most affordable out of them all is the lowest spec Mazda 6 (2.0L Sedan SKYACTIV), coming in closer to that traditional RM150k price tag. The prices then jump straight past RM200k (
2.5L Sedan SKYACTIV
), but then again, a bigger 2.5-litre engine is included.

2020 Honda Accord - from RM178,203

The current king of the D-Segment is priced competitively compared to the rest, which explains why it is top of the charts. At its lowest price, the car still offers
Honda's
 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and only lacks Honda's advanced safety features like Honda Sensing, 360 multi-view camera, smart parking assist and the alike.

2020 Toyota Camry - from RM188,763

The
Toyota Camry
 is one of the priciest cars in this crew, and there is no cheaper or more expensive alternative to the sole model the 2.5V. While the car feels timeless, the swanky body design and reliable engine cannot hide that the interior feels a bit dated. But then again, people don't buy the Camry for anything else but trouble-free motoring while providing one of the best in class comfort.

2020 Volkswagen Passat - from RM189,012

Previously, the
Passat
 was the only D- Segment car to be priced in between the premium and affordable D-Segment class. With everyone raising their prices, the Passat seems like good value now, especially when you consider that it brings a sophisticated German powertrain, style and efficiency. Even the lowest spec Passat comes with 190PS and 320Nm.

2020 Hyundai Sonata - Introductory price of RM189,888

While the Sonata's price is a shocker to some since the price above is only limited to the first 50 models, Hyundai has actually gone upmarket everywhere else in the world due to its sleek styling, mechanical dependability and uncontested warranty. If you want a trouble-free and stylish car for years to come, the Hyundai Sonata is a good bet.

Once again, here is a price summary of the D-Segment cars mentioned above:

Mazda 6 - from RM168,459

Honda Accord - from RM178,203

Toyota Camry - from RM188,763

Volkswagen Passat - from RM189,012

Hyundai Sonata - Introductory price of RM189,888


Review: Mercedes-Benz (W447) V-Class – Ever Wanted More Than A Toyota Alphard?

No, its not called the Vito or Viano, although you wouldn’t be wrong – in some markets the Vito is sold as a panel and semi-panel van or as a passenger carrier, known as the Vito Tourer, which minus some differences in the body panels, looks almost identical to the MPV you see here.
This is called the V-Class – Mercedes-Benz luxury that can be experienced by seven at-a-go, which is as you might surmise, a really good thing.
But while Mercedes-Benz commands a rich history of building highly-dependable commercial van and trucks, a heritage almost as illustrious as its passenger cars, it is the new ‘kid-on-the-block’ when it comes to the Malaysian market.
When the first-generation Vito van/MPV was launched in Europe in 1996 – the Toyota Estima was already gaining widespread acceptance among more affluent buyers in Malaysia, especially ones with larger families.
Over the years, MPVs have become a popular mainstay of the Malaysian motoring landscape, encouraged no less by the hundreds, if not thousands, of grey-importers flooding their showrooms with MPVs such as the Toyota Wish, Estima, and Vellfire.
Even UMW Toyota Motors developed a good business case of it – choosing to officially import its large MPVs starting off at 2.5-litre Vellfire at RM355,000 and the RM408,400 for the Alphard 3.5 (Alphard 3.5L Executive Lounge: RM505,700).
Japanese offerings also line-up next to considerably cheaper, but no less capable Korean and Chinese offerings such as the
Hyundai Starex
 and
Maxus G10
 respectively – at just over RM150k.
So, besides the on-road presence, exclusivity and obvious prestige that comes with the badge – does the V-Class have something more to offer than its well-established
Japanese rivals
?
Specifications
Engine: 2.2-litre inline-four, turbodiesel
Power: 163 hp at 3,800 rpm
Torque: 380 Nm between 1,400 – 2,400 rpm
Transmission: 7-speed torque converter automatic (7G-Tronic Plus)
Safety: 6 airbags (front, side curtain), ABS, ESC, Attention Assist, Crosswind Assist, reverse camera.
Price: Est. RM430,000 (custom order), without insurance
Origin: Fully-imported from Spain
Overview
The V-Class was officially offered by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia starting Q3 of 2015 on a custom order basis. There are two variants, an entry level variant and the Avantgarde (as tested) on a custom order basis.
The Avantgarde variant comprises 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels with 245/45 R 18 tyres, brake calipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering and sports suspension. The Avantgarde interior package also lists luxury seats in Nappa leather, a leather-look instrument panel with decorative topstitching, and brushed aluminium sports pedals.
Additionally, the car you see here is specified with the AMG Line body kit (first unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motorshow) which includes the aggressive front bumper, pronounced side skirts and rear bumper with a diffuser-like insert. The 7-spoke, 18-inch wheels are exclusive to AMG kit as well. On the inside, this car is also fitted with the matt-anthracite dashboard trim which is an optional extra too.
Prices start off in the region of RM430k sans insurance for the Avantgarde model.
In terms of size - the V-Class measures 5,140 mm in length, 1,880 mm in height and 1,928 mm in width, by comparison, the Toyota Alphard measures – 4,915 mm in length, 1,895 mm in height and 1,850mm in width. Hence, if size truly matters, the V-Class is thus significantly longer than an Alphard/Vellfire MPVs, and more importantly, has a lot more shoulder room and functional luggage space.
Driving Experience
Arguably the most instantly rewarding feature of the V-Class is how it performs on the road. The turbo-diesel four-pot produces 163 hp and 380 Nm. The flat torque curve gives the V-Class a great deal of immediacy when accelerating from standstill to highway limits.
Keep your foot planted though and the V220d will keep accelerating with gusto to around 175 km/h, which is plenty for a car of its stature, in my opinion. It tracks the road tremendously well, unlike the Japanese offerings such as the Alphard, whose steering can get slightly wayward at speed. That being said, the 3.5-litre V6 in the Alphard does muster quite a bit more power and puts it to the road effectively as well.
I had an opportunity to take the V220d down the tight twisty backroads of Janda Baik. Regardless of carrying six persons – the V220d was nippy enough around the tightest bends and maintained its composure on big undulations and the large cracks that litter those well-traversed roads. Not to mention the steering system is very capable of placing the car down a chosen line.
One could argue that handling isn’t the most crucial traits of evaluation for an MPV, but where these attributes come into their own is on longer trips. The V-Class excels at making light work of long journeys, especially on rough roads, where its composed ride means fewer forces are subjected onto the passengers, which ultimately results in a less tiring journey.
Controls in the V-Class Avantgarde trim bare much resemblance to the C-Class sedan, mostly due to the Comand controls and climate control switches making up the central area of the dashboard. Elsewhere the dial clusters look the same too.
Once buckled in, the front seats offer a birds-eye-view of the outside with all-round visibility being another strong selling point of the V-Class. Regardless of the vehicle’s size, it does shrink around you after some time – making tasks such as navigating a tight shopping mall carpark rather easy. With some practice – one would find it easier to park the V-Class, versus a Vellfire or Aplhard, despite its greater width and length.
Comfort and Practicality
The Avantgarde trim enlists Nappa leather seats, which are offer nice tactility and luxury. The individual seats up front and in the second row which offer a comfotable, personalised space.
The third-row seats are a superb place to be in as well, much of this has to do with where the seats are in relation to the rear wheels. Positioned just after the rear tyres, forces from the road are not directly transferred towards the cabin – such as the case in other MPVs and seven-seater SUVs such as the Isuzu MU-X, in the V-Class, they’re spread across a wider zone at the rear section of the car, improving comfort levels.
The seats themselves are very supportive, but be mindful, they take some effort to slide, front to back.
Also, if you notice that one of the second-row seats is facing rearwards – the V-Class allows for seats to be arranged facing the third-row, like a moving meeting room - but this requires the rear row to be slid out first.
In there lies the double-edged sword, while the V-Class offers a large luggage area with all three-row in place, if more room is needed, such as for a bicycle, the third-row seats have to be slid forwards, almost into the default position of the second row.
The other option involves removing the third-row altogether, which can be cumbersome if owners don’t have the extra storage space. Likewise, the Toyota Alphard allows the third-row seats to be folded and fastened to the C-Pillar, and second-row seats to be tumble-folded, which is much easier on a day-to-day basis.
However, with second and third row removed, the V-Class essentially becomes luxury goods van, capable of moving everything from groceries to a chaise lounge.
Conclusion
It all bodes rather well for this new luxury seven-seater from Mercedes-Benz, it’s a well-placed product which offers up a blend of subtle style and far more exclusivity than its Japanese rivals.
Spec-wise, it measures up to the rest in the hotly contested luxury MPV segment. And, thanks to its utilitarian origins, offers added practicality with fully removable seats, to owners who might need to carry more than just people.
However, the real competitor to the V-Class doesn’t come from the Toyota Alphard or Vellfire, but from Mercedes-Benz itself.
I mentioned the Vito Tourer at the start of the article – the V-Class’ more utilitarian sibling, which is officially on sale here through Mercedes’ commercial vehicle importer Nusa Otomobil, at around RM287k. The Vito Tourer offers the same turbodiesel four-cylinder, seven-speed gearbox and plus three extra seats – in a '2-3-2-3' arrangement.
The Vito Tourer is classified as a commercial vehicle and hence has conforms to a differing tax structure to the V-Class. Of course, for RM140+k less, the Vito Tourer loses the swanky dashboard and dial clusters, Avantgarde exterior and interior trim, a shorter warranty package and Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s superb aftersales support.


VIDEO: Scary Crash Escape Could Have Ended Far More Tragically - Another Reminder To Drive Safe

Here’s another gentle reminder to stay sharp on the road, folks, because you never know what could end the lives of you and your loved ones.
In this example, the driver with the dash-cam is seemingly enjoying a rather peaceful trip along an unnamed highway, alongside a trailer carrying what appears to be loaded with Isuzu D-Max pick-up trucks.
Out of nowhere, a Honda City comes flying across from the opposite lane, across the median, and straight into opposing traffic where the driver narrowly escapes a horrifying crash with the trailer and the owner of this video. The two cars do appear to share some contact, though.
It’s hard to tell what caused the Honda driver to veer off path that way: it could be anything from trying to avoid an object on the road, or attempting to overtake another vehicle – either way, it was done quite poorly, and at too much speed.
We hope the Honda driver and his passengers weren’t hurt in the incident (we can’t see what happens beyond the events recorder here).
Watch the video below, share it with your loved ones, and hope we can all do our part to prevent this from happening in the future.
Drive safe everyone, especially so on your long trips back to work after the Hari Raya festivities.
Allahuakbar! Nyaris2 nak kena langgar..
Allahuakbar! Nyaris2 nak kena langgar..More : Sukan Star TV @ Sukan Star .com @ sukanstar.com
Posted by
Sukan Star TV
 on Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Some driving tips for long distance journeys:
Get sufficient rest before you start your journey
Do your best to get a co-driver to help share the driving duties – ideally, driver changes should be made at the hour
If no co-driver can be had, avoid driving alone. Good company can keep you up and alert
Take frequent breaks at different rest stops: stretch your legs, have a refreshing drink, eat something
Stay focused at all times: hands on the wheel, eyes on the road – not on your mobile phones
Be patient: long drives can be boring, especially when you’re stuck behind slow traffic. Always remember that there are far worse things to endure on the road.


Pusat Servis Perodua Sesak Dengan Kereta Banjir

Bencana
banjir
 yang melanda beberapa kawasan di Malaysia telah menyaksikan ribuan kereta terjejas akibat
ditenggelami air banjir
.

Bagi meringankan beban yang ditanggung para pelanggannya, pengeluar automotif tempatan nombor satu negara,
Perodua
 telah menawarkan:

Khidmat tunda dan buruh percuma.

Diskaun 50% ke atas alat ganti terpilih yang merangkumi segala barangan elektronik, gasket, baik pulih enjin, trim pintu, tempat duduk kenderaan dan alas kaki.

Pemeriksaan percuma untuk pemilik kenderaan Perodua yang terjejas akibat banjir.

Tawaran menarik kepada mangsa banjir untuk membaik pulih kenderaan Perodua mereka telah menyaksikan kebanyakan pusat servis Perodua kini sesak dengan pelanggan yang ingin membaiki kereta yang rosak akibat banjir.

Malah baru-baru ini, ada juga media yang melaporkan bahawa kira-kira 11,000 kenderaan Perodua pelbagai jenis yang terkesan dengan banjir mula memenuhi pusat servis Perodua di seluruh Malaysia untuk dibaiki.

Sehubungan dengan itu, Carlist.my telah menghubungi beberapa pusat servis Perodua untuk bertanyakan tentang situasi semasa di pusat servis di situ. Jawapan yang diterima mengatakan bahawa slot di beberapa buah pusat servis sudah penuh dengan kereta banjir dan menasihatkan orang ramai agar menghubungi pusat servis Perodua pilihan anda terlebih dahulu sebelum menghantar kenderaan anda yang rosak akibat banjir ke pusat servis.

Sementara itu, rakan penulis yang bekerja di sebuah pusat servis Perodua di Kuala Lumpur juga berkata perkara yang sama turut berlaku di sana di mana kereta banjir sudah mula memenuhi pusat servis terbabit. Malah slot untuk membaik pulih kenderaan banjir di sana juga sudah penuh. Jika anda ingin menghantar kereta Perodua untuk di servis (bukan sebab banjir), kena tunggu sikitlah. Tapi berapa lama nak kena tunggu itu tak pasti.

Sekiranya anda ingin menghantar kereta Perodua anda yang terjejas akibat banjir, anda dinasihatkan untuk menghubungi pusat servis Perodua pilihan anda terlebih dahulu bagi menempah slot baik pulih sebelum menghantar kereta anda ke sana bagi mengelakkan sebarang kesulitan. Jika slot sudah penuh, mereka akan mengesyorkan pusat servis lain yang mungkin tidak dipenuhi dengan lambakan kereta banjir.

*Kredit foto: Utusan

Bukan Perodua sahaja, namun pusat servis pengeluar lain serta bengkel persendirian juga dijangka sesak dipenuhi kereta banjir. Malah sebanyak lebih
50,000 kereta
 yang rosak ditenggelami air dijangka akan terus tersadai tanpa dibaik pulih. Mana taknya, jika harga baik pulih lebih mahal daripada harga semasa sesuatu kereta, lebih baik beli kereta lain.

*Kredit foto: Utusan

Bagi yang ingin memperbaharui insurans kereta, pastikan anda mengambil insurans tambahan bencana alam. Manakala bagi mereka yang ingin membeli kereta terpakai pula, hati-hati dalam memilih kereta terpakai kerana mungkin
lambakan kereta yang rosak akibat banjir
 baru-baru ini akan dibaiki dan dijual semula.


Penggunaan Lampu Strob Pada Kenderaan Persendirian – Apa Kata Polis?

Boleh atau tidak sekiranya seseorang itu menggunakan lampu strob pada kenderaan persendirian?

Sejak kebelakangan ini, semakin banyak pula isu kenderaan persendirian dilihat menggunakan lampu strob untuk memecut melepasi trafik sesak di jalan raya sehingga menimbulkan kemaharan orang ramai.

Penggunaan lampu strob atau lampu mata arah ini kebiasaannya hanya dikaitkan dengan kenderaan seperti
Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM)
, Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ), ambulans dan Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) ketika berada di atas jalan untuk memaklumkan kepada pengguna jalan raya lain bahawa mereka sedang menjalankan tugas.

Oleh itu, semua pengguna jalan raya lain haruslah patuh dan memperlahankan kenderaan untuk memberi laluan kepada kenderaan tersebut. Persoalannya, bagaimana pula dengan kenderaan persendirian?

Penggunaan Lampu Strob Pada Kenderaan Persendirian

Menurut kaedah 24 Kaedah-kaedah Kenderaan Motor (Lalulintas Jalan) 1959, hanya kenderaan Polis, Bomba, Ambulans dan
JPJ
 sahaja dibenarkan mendapat hak haluan (
Priority Over Traffic
) di mana-mana
jalan raya negara ini
.

Walau bagaimanapun menurut Kaedah 138(1) Kaedah-Kaedah Kenderaan Motor (pembinaan dan penggunaan) 1959, Ketua Pengarah JPJ Malaysia mempunyai kuasa untuk mengecualikan mana-mana kenderaan daripada mematuhi mana-mana kaedah yang sedia ada.

Kenderaan kegunaan persendirian tidak boleh dan tidak akan dibenarkan memasang alat tersebut. Pada tahun lalu, Jabatan Siasatan Dan Penguasaan Trafik (JSPT) telah mengingatkan orang ramai agar tidak sewenang-wenangnya menggunakan lampu strob untuk apa-apa tujuan sekalipun ketika berada di atas jalan raya kerana ianya merupakan satu kesalahan di bawah Akta Pengangkutan Jalan.

Hukuman Menggunakan Lampu Strob

Segala pengubahsuaian kenderaan tanpa kebenaran Jabatan Pengakutan Jalan (JPJ) boleh dikenakan tindakan di bawah Peraturan 138, Keadah-kaedah Lalu Lintas Jalan 170/59. Jika disabitkan kesalahan, boleh dikenakan hukuman penjara tidak lebih enam tahun atau denda tidak lebih RM2,000.

Selain itu, sesebuah kenderaan rasmi yang telah diberi kebenaran untuk memasang dan menggunakan lampu ini hanya boleh menggunakannya semasa menjalankan tugas-tugas rasmi sahaja. Alat ini tidak boleh digunakan dengan sewenangnya kerana ini akan mengganggu aliran lalu lintas.


Johor once again gets hit by flash floods, over 1,500 victims evacuated

Flash floods have hit several districts in Johor, with over 1,000 victims transferred to evacuation centres.

The continuous rain since yesterday has caused some flashfloods in Johor, with A total of 1,591 victims from four of the four districts having to be evacuated to  21 temporary evacuation centres (PPS).

According to Bernama's report, Among the locations hit by flash floods are Kampung Plentong Baru, Jalan Kangkong, Jalan Mawar, Jalan Kongkong dan Jalan Bunga Tanjung yang terletak di Masai. Selain itu, lokasi lain termasuk Batu 19, Sungai Tiram, Kluang, Jalan Sungai Tiram (Senai), Chaah (Segamat), Labis, Kangkar Tebrau, Kota Tinggi dan Kota Masai.

"We hope that road users plan their journeys as there are some roads flooded and landslides in some districts," said JKR Johor.

Some of the roads affected are Kluang-Mersing (Padang Hijau), Jalan Mohd Salim, Jalan Jemaluang Batu Pahat di daerah Mersing, dan beberapa jalan di Kota Tinggi (Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, Jalan Kota Kecil, Jalan Kota Tinggi-Kluang (Kampung Jawa), Jalan Kota Tinggi-Kluang (Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Habab) dan Jalan Kota Tinggi-Kluang (Kampung Batu 25).

This unfortunate flooding is a stark reminder to Malaysians that the MET department (METMalaysia) expects heavy rain to continue until this Thursday in several states.

Water levels are currently at dangerous levels at several rivers in Johor. We hope everyone stays safe and please plan your journey and prepare yourself to avoid the disaster.

For those who don't have natural disaster protection attached to their vehicles, now might be a good time to
call your insurer and get it
.


Correct Usage Of Rear Fog Lights

Since 1 January 2012, Malaysia has been slowly implementing UNECE regulations for new vehicles. UNECE regulations cover every aspect of a vehicle, including headlights, tail lights, restraint system and even seats.
Regulations pertaining rear fog lights aren't very clear, as a result, various car manufacturers appear to intepret the regulations differently. Most new vehicles from Proton, Toyota and Volkswagen are fitted with rear fog lights, though only selected models from Honda Malaysia's lineup actually have it.
One of the UNECE regulated item is the rear fog light. Most fully-imported vehicles from Europe come fitted with one, and as of recent times, locally-assembled models started to have these fitted.
Rear fog lights are extremely useful when weather conditions are poor. UK Highway Code mentions that headlights must be switched on when visibility is poor. Front or rear fog lights can be switched on when visibility is less than 100 meters, though drivers must turn them off when visibility improves. Closer to home, our Malaysian Highway Code has yet to be updated with newer automotive technologies.

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Many Malaysian drivers still practice the incorrect habit of switching their hazard lights on under heavy rain. The reasoning, many justify, is that the hazard lights make their cars more visible to others. This is misguided, as hazard lights are meant to indicate a vehicle that is stationary in an emergency. How are you going to signal for a turn or a lane change? Or are you one of those who just don't use them? Rear fog lights in this instance represent the correct approach to make your car more visible to others. The next time you think about switching your hazard lights in the midst of a downpour, reach for the rear fog light switch instead.
Remember to turn them off when the rain eases though. The intensity of the rear fog lights can be very irritating to drivers behind in clear weather.
We reckon that our police force or JPJ should start issuing fines to drivers who abuse their rear fog lights.


Proton's automotive wonderland unveiled! Step Inside Proton DX, their first automotive digital experience centre

ACO Tech and Proton unveil their first groundbreaking automotive Digital Experience Center

ACO Tech, a subsidiary of the Proton Group in collaboration with Altel and ECARX, has officially launched Malaysia's inaugural automotive digital experience centre, known as Proton Digital Xperience (PROTON DX).

The grand opening ceremony was officiated by Yang Berhormat Tuan Chang Lih Kang, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. Notable figures such as Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Chairman of Proton, Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton, Mr. Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton, Mr. Li Pu, CEO of ACO Tech, and Mr. Wang Qijie, CEO of China Construction Bank Malaysia, were present to commemorate the occasion.

Situated at Quill City Mall in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, PROTON DX wants to be a captivating destination that offers an immersive experience for car enthusiasts of all ages, showcasing the latest innovations in the automotive industry.

Moreover, it aims to provide a dynamic platform for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, igniting interest in the younger generation.

Spanning an impressive 5,275 square feet, PROTON DX features a unique blend of interactive technologies, leisure activities, and lifestyle elements, ensuring an unforgettable experiential journey. The centre is divided into six distinct zones.

At the forefront of PROTON DX is the Virtual Cockpit, a highlight that allows visitors to embark on a virtual drive within an enclosed theatre-like dome, offering an unrivalled experience of smart mobility. Beyond displaying the latest automotive technologies, the Virtual Cockpit also serves as a platform for conceptual experiences, envisioning future mobility innovations.

The well-planned layout of PROTON DX includes an Activity Zone, an interactive space where visitors can enjoy engaging motion-sensing games individually or with family and friends. This area will also host collaborative events in line with the centre's motto, "Let's Shape the Future of Mobility."

Following the virtual drive and motion-sensing games, visitors can unwind and exchange thoughts at Aico Café, a cosy area designed for relaxation, offering a range of beverages and pastries. It also serves as an ideal venue for social gatherings among PROTON owners and like-minded communities.

The centre also provides an array of exclusive merchandise, allowing visitors to purchase souvenirs as a memento of their visit. The Lifestyle Zone showcases unique activewear and lifestyle products resulting from a collaboration between PROTON DX and Joma. This exemplifies the lifestyle aspect of the broader mobility ecosystem, integrating connected vehicles and wearable devices. Additionally, official PROTON merchandise will be available at the centre in the near future.

Recognizing the growing trend of online purchases, ACO Tech enables motoring enthusiasts to conveniently acquire selected products through the ATLAS Auto mobile application. Simultaneously, understanding the importance of hands-on experiences before making a purchase, the centre's ATLAS Mall provides a showcase for customers to explore products available on the ATLAS Auto app.

Furthermore, the ATLAS Mall displays official merchandise from other Geely Group brands, including Lynk & Co and Zeekr.

PROTON DX also offers a special car delivery service with its dedicated Delivery Bay, adding an extra level of excitement for special PROTON customers when receiving their new vehicles.

ACO Tech CEO Mr. Li Pu expressed, "Smart mobility in the automotive industry is evolving rapidly. We are dedicated to enhancing the driving experience and ensuring every drive is exceptional for Malaysians. PROTON DX is one of the platforms showcasing our expertise. This centre offers an immersive space for everyone to learn about innovative automobile technologies and provides an experience that transcends the open road. As we strive to lead the smart mobility industry, we aim to make PROTON DX a platform for STEM education, contributing to raising technological awareness and knowledge in our nation."

PROTON DX was developed through the collaborative efforts of ACO Tech, Proton, and China Construction Bank (CCB).

The centre operates daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and is conveniently located on the Ground Floor, Quill City Mall, 1018, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

For more information about PROTON DX and ACO Tech, please visit their official website, Facebook page, or Instagram page.


Walaupun Dah Boleh Dine-In, Peniaga Masih Belum Bersedia Untuk Beri Kebenaran

Meskipun sebelum ini kerajaan telah memberi
kelonggaran untuk makan di kedai atau dine-in bagi mereka yang sudah lengkap menerima vaksin di negeri fasa 1 PPN
, namun ada sesetengah peniaga restoran dan kedai makan yang masih belum bersedia untuk mengizinkan pelanggan makan di kedai buat masa ini.

Kelonggaran tersebut telah berkuatkuasa pada 20 Ogos lalu, namun sebahagian kedai masih lagi tidak menyediakan meja dan kerusi untuk membenarkan pelanggan untuk makan di kedai. Adakah kerana kekeliruan
SOP
 atau takut kepada jumlah kes positif harian yang tinggi?

Berikut merupakan antara sebab-sebab mengapa pemilik restoran masih tidak membenarkan aktiviti makan di kedai mereka:

Kadar Vaksinansi Masih Belum Di Tahap Selesa

Menurut pemilik restoran MyBurgerLab, Chin Ren Yi, kebenaran dine-in yang diberikan dikala kes positif sedang berada pada taraf 20,000 kes sehari kelihatan seperti terlalu awal dan terburu-buru. Meskipun negara sudah mencapai kadar vaksinasi yang ditetapkan, namun ia masih belum berada pada tahap selesa. Atas sebab keselamatan, beliau lebih selesa untuk benarkan dine-in apabila kadar vaksinasi di negara sudah mencapai 70% pada pertengahan September nanti.

Pekerja Belum Lengkap 2 Dos

Selain itu, pemilik restoran The Golok di Shah Alam juga berkongsi bahawa kedainya masih belum bersedia untuk membenarkan aktiviti makan di kedai atas faktor keselamatan kebanyakan pekerja mereka yang masih belum lengkap menerima 2 dos
vaksin
. Pada pengumuman sebelum ini, hanya pelanggan sahaja yang diwajibkan lengkap dos vaksin untuk makan di kedai. Namun menurut SOP penuh yang dikeluarkan oleh MKN, hanya pekerja yang lengkap menerima dos vaksin lengkap dan tidak bergejala sahaja dibenarkan bekerja.

Kelam Kabut Buat Persiapan

Oleh kerana kedai makan hanya dibenarkan beroperasi untuk take-away sahaja sebelum ini, kebanyakan kedai makan mempunyai jumlah pekerja yang lebih kecil memandangkan tidak perlu untuk melayan tetamu untuk dine-in. Namun pengumuman tersebut membuatkan sesetengah peniaga berasa ragu-ragu untuk mengambil pekerja semula kerana risau jika kebenaran dine-in ini ditarik balik sekiranya wujud kluster dine-in.

*Kredit foto: Kosmo

Pelanggan Degil

Menurut seorang peniaga kedai makanan sarapan pagi di Gombak, hanya orang yang kerja di kedai makan ketika pandemik ini sahaja yang faham dengan sikap segelintir pelanggan yang degil. Jika sebelum ini nak suruh periksa suhu dan scan
MySejahtera
 pun dah susah, bayangkan betapa lecehnya bila perlu periksa sijil digital vaksin pula. Ditambah dengan perangai segelintir anti-vaksin yang berkeras, silap-silap boleh bergaduh dengan pelanggan.

Rata-rata pemilik yang tidak membenarkan aktiviti dine-in ini bersetuju bahawa mereka memerlukan sedikit masa untuk menepati segala kriteria yang dibenarkan untuk dine-in. Kebanyakan mereka juga bersetuju bawa pertengahan bulan September merupakan waktu terbaik untuk kembali membenarkan dine-in berikutan kadar vaksinasi populasi di negara ini mencapai sekitar 70%-80%.

Bagi yang masih keliru dengan SOP dine-in untuk negeri yang berada pada
fasa 1 PPN
, anda boleh rujuk pada gambar di bawah.

Sebagai seorang pelanggan, adakah anda lebih selesa untuk beli secara bungkus atau makan di kedai sahaja pada waktu ini? Kongsikan dengan kami!


30 Years Of The BMW M3 – Four Versions That Were Produced But Never Sold

Thirty years ago, two years after successfully unveiling the first ever M5, the BMW Motorsport Division unveiled the first ever BMW M3, a high performance flagship based on the regular E30 3 Series, but a vehicle that would go on to attain legendary status amongst car enthusiasts.
Interestingly, the original M3 project objective was less about creating a halo car for the 3 Series range but rather to simply develop a race car to compete in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) series. To participate in Group A of the series, BMW needed to sell at least 5,000 road-legal units to the public within a 12-month timeframe.
Now a highly-prized classic among collectors, the original E30 M3 featured extensive enhancements over the regular road-going model. Much of its chassis is uprated and its engine is a highly-tuned 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine that pushed out an impressive (even by today’s standards) 200hp.
Fast forward to the present day, the M3 has evolved alongside the regular BMW 3 Series, entering its fifth model generation with the
F80 sedan
 launched in 2014. In keeping with BMW’s new model nomenclature structure, what was previously the
M3 Coupe and Convertible has spawned off to become the M4
, although the two models continue to be closely-related in a mechanical sense.
In conjunction with the hallowed nameplate’s 30
th
 anniversary celebrations, BMW has revealed four factory specials of the M3 that it had built over the years, but for some reason or another never decided to make available to the masses.
1986 – E30 M3 Pickup
Remember that April Fools joke in 2011 with the E92 M3 Pickup? We now know that BMW actually made such a vehicle, but for the purpose of hauling goods within its compound rather than to be sold to enthusiasts. It has emerged that this is not a very new idea at all. Back in the day, BMW M got its apprentices, graduate trainees, and placement students to transform a regular 3 Series Convertible to a pick-up truck powered by the M3’s 2.3-litre S14 engine. Outwardly, it lacks the flared body of the M3 Coupe, but the additional structural braces that came with the Convertible body made it ideal for the conversion job. This vehicle went on to serve its task without a hitch for over 26 years.
1996 – E36 M3 Compact
Even before there was the
1 Series
, BMW already had the idea of an entry-level hatchback into its range slotting below the 3 Series. During the era of the E36 and E46 from 1993 to 2004, there was this curious model called the 3 Series Compact based upon the regular 3 Series of the time, but shortened to become a 3-door hatchback. The M Division got hold of one and plonked the E36 M3’s 321hp six-cylinder under its hood in a bid to create a more affordable entry point into the M range for younger customers. Demo units were actually lent out to the press, with German motoring magazine
auto motor und sport
 describing it as being “150 kilograms lighter, more agile, firmer, and even more uncompromising.”
2000 – E46 M3 Touring
BMW only made Coupe and Convertible versions of the E46 M3; if you see an E46 M3 Sedan on the road, they probably rolled off the production line as a 320i and went into an accessory shop somewhere along the way. The factory did consider a touring model, however, and made a working prototype to demonstrate production feasibility. The main purpose of this prototype, believe it or not, was see if the E46 Touring's rear doors can be easily modified to accommodate the M3's flared wheel arches. Unlike the E36 M3 Compact prototype above, BMW kept this one entirely in-house.
2011 – E92 M3 Pickup
After 26 years of service, the E30 M3 Pickup workhorse was showing its age and calling for a replacement. The obvious answer then was to return to the formula that had served so well previously, taking the E92 M3 Convertible and turning it into a pickup. Along the way, however, came the idea of doing an April Fool’s prank. A camouflaged prototype was sent to the Nurburgring allowing spyshots to emerge and a press release was even sent out on 1 April as part of the elaborate hoax. Unlike its predecessor, however, this one is licensed for use on public roads.
2016 -
BMW M3 '30 Jahre'
Here is, however, an M3 special that people can actually buy. In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the M3 nameplate, BMW introduced a 500-unit special of the M3 sedan, dubbed the M3 '30 Jahre' that offers uprated outputs of 444hp and comes with BMW's Competition Package with uprated chassis components as standard. All 500 cars will be finishied in exclusive Macao Blue metallic colour, paying tribute to one of the most celebrated versions of the original M3, the M3 Sport Evo.


PDRM reminds us to no 'cop' parking

Jabatan Siasatan Dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik PDRM are warning people to park in proper parking spaces and not 'cop' parking spaces.

The problem of people parking wherever they like is a
common issue in many communities
. While it might not seem like it would create any harm at first, it's actually hazardous for other road users, which may end badly for all parties.

This is why 'Jabatan Siasatan Dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik PDRM', through their Facebook page, is reminding motorists to park correctly or face the consequences.

They said vehicle users must park their vehicles in the parking lots provided to avoid congestion inconveniences to other road users, explained the Facebook posting. They also extended this warning to those who love to 'cop' parking spaces as they too are the cause of many problems.

"Vehicle users must park their vehicles in the parking lot provided. This is to avoid congestion for other road users. Parking spaces are also not to be obstructed, as some like to 'cop' parking spaces by placing umbrellas, stalls and cones in the parking lots."

Any individuals who fail to comply with parking regulations may be prosecuted under the Road Traffic Rules 1959 or the Road Transport (Allocation of Parking) Order according to the jurisdiction of the relevant Local Authority.

They also advised the public to avoid being irresponsible and selfish. "Remember our actions. We should be more attentive and considerate to others."

If this reminder and warning is not enough to sway you from carrying out selfish acts, remember that the Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ) has issued a warning that the punishment for 'cop' offenders is set under Section 119, which carries a penalty of no more than RM2,000 or imprisonment of no more than six months for the first offence and a fine of up to RM4,000 or imprisonment of no more than 12 months for subsequent offences.


2023 Honda Accord Unveiled: Sexy and featuring Honda's best and most advanced tech

Honda has just unveiled the 2023 Honda Accord, and apparently, it is set to re-energise the midsize sedan market. If we judge it by its looks, tech and powertrain, it might just well do so.

Honda has been debuting and introducing some beautiful cars of late, and the
just unveiled 2023 Honda Accord is no exception.

According to Honda, the 11th-gen Honda Accord will
re-energise the midsize sedan
 segment, as it features some of Honda's best and most advanced tech, which will appease those who want to be connected to their car as well as those who adore semi-electrified powertrains.

Exterior - bigger, sleeker and more sophisticated

The new 2023 Accord is longer and sleeker, resulting in what Honda calls premium proportions. Its broad stance emphasises the new Honda design direction with a low horizontal beltline and a long, powerful front end.

At the rear the c-shaped taillights have been replaced with a much sleeker set of rectangular-ish taillights, which are brought together through a lightbar which is disjointed at the Honda logo.

Interior - high tech and large screen that looks like an upscaled Civic interior

Inside, a new sporty and modern interior offers a clean look with
high-quality materials and must-have available tech
 features, including Honda's largest touchscreen (12.3-inch infotainment screen) ever and Honda's first integration of Google built-in for seamless on-the-go connectivity.

According to Honda, the Accord is also more comfortable, with new front Body Stabilising Seats that reduce fatigue on long drives. Premium materials are also used throughout the cabin, especially on touchpoints, with close attention paid to the operation of all switchgear and controls for a premium feel. The shift knob has been angled toward the driver by 5 degrees, allowing for cup holders to be positioned to the right of the shift knob.

The top-spec Accord also comes with a standard 6-inch head-up display, 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and Qi-compatible 15W wireless smartphone charging

Smart Tech - large and advanced digital screens

Intuitive technology has been smartly integrated into Accord with a focus on the driver, including a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument panel with unique display functions depending on powertrain. A digital power flow meter replaces the tachometer in the hybrid-electric cars.

The top-line Accord features Honda's first integration of Google built-in. This includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalised and connected driving experience.

You can even control select vehicle functions by voice with Google Assistant, get directions and live traffic updates with Google Maps, and download music, podcasts, audiobooks and more with Google Play.

Powertrain - Hello new Hybrid system and quieter CVT

The 2023 Accord feature an all-new, more powerful 4th-generation two-motor hybrid-electric system with a pair of electric motors that are now mounted side-by-side and an all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine that adds direct fuel injection.

This new configuration allows for the use of a larger propulsion motor with increased torque output. Combined system output is 204 hp, while traction-motor peak torque is 335Nm (up 20Nm).

The other Accord powertrain is the venerable 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with VTEC(192hp/260Nm), which has been updated with additional refinement and improved emissions performance. Enhancements include an upgraded direct-injection system and new cold-active catalyst, plus a high-rigidity crankshaft and oil pan to reduce engine noise.

The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for the 1.5-liter turbo has been updated to reduce noise and performance improvements were also made and include Step-Shift programming that simulates gear changes at full throttle.

Suspension - Driving pleasure has been amped up

According to Honda, the 2023 Accord is much more fun to drive and this is all down to increased body rigidity and improved suspension.

The Accord's increased chassis rigidity with stiffer body supports and new front brace bars further supports improvements in ride and handling and overall refinement.

Suspension and steering updates make the Accord fun to drive, while simultaneously improving ride quality. A retuned four-wheel independent suspension provides a more engaging driving experience. New front suspension damper mount bearings and ball joints reduce friction to improve steering smoothness.

Safety - More airbags than ever and updated Honda Sensing

On top of new driver and passenger front airbags that were designed to minimise the potential for severe brain trauma associated with angled frontal collisions, for the first time, the Accord features standard knee and rear-passenger side impact airbags.

Accord also features an updated Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies enabled by a new camera with a wider 90-degree field of view and wide-angle radar with a 120-degree field of view.

This wide angle improves collision prevention performance via the improved ability to recognise objects, such as vehicles or pedestrians, as well as white lines, road boundaries like curbs, other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles, and road signs.

The wide angle also enables an expanded control range for Accord at intersections. Blind spot information (BSI) has been expanded, now with 82 feet of radar range. Also there is Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), which is a first for Accord. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, and Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) have been updated to feature more natural responses. Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) is also standard, and Low-Speed Braking Control is available but only in the top-spec.


Volvo Celebrates Their First Million Seller, 50 Years Later

50 years ago, Volvo launched a car that was poised to shape the future of the company forever. it was the 1960s, and the automotive industry was on the cusp of a boom that would see decades of growth and profit. But even back then, the car that they were to launch would achieve a million in sales- an impressive figure considering the relatively small demand for cars back then.
It was the 140 series of vehicles, and it succeeded the legendary Amazon that came before it. It's funny when we talk about the "glory days" of Volvo because there were so many different eras- but this was the one when their cars were still stoicly front-engine, rear-wheel drive. Over the course of its life, it went from the 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine from the Amazon, to a 2.0-litre powerplant in 1969, to adopting EFI in 1971.
The 140 series was important because it brought a lot of features to the market- things that were not necessarily standard options at the time, and things you cannot imagine a car without today. Crumple zones, for instance, were a key engineering consideration. All round brake discs were also standard equipment, along with a primitive form of anti-lock brakes. The dashboard was designed to be protected in a collission, along with a fragile steering column that would split in the event of an accident to reduce the risk of blunt force. Head rests and seat belts were also standard.
When production of the 140 series came to an end in 1974, there were 1,251,371 such examples that had left the factory over the course of its production lifespan. It became Volvo's first car to hit over a million in production numbers, and was succeded by the 240 series of models that went on to generate 2.8-million units sold in just under 2 decades.


Toyota, Mazda Band Together To Work On Something Revolutionary

For years, stricter emissions regulations have twisted the arms of automakers into finding new ways to produce and sell cars that have a reduced environmental impact than their predecessors. In light of this, some automakers, like Toyota and Mazda, have decided to partner up.
As Reuters reports, sources say that both companies each have mutually beneficial technology that would complement one another even in the short term should the exchange take place:
Toyota
’s fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid efforts, and
Mazda
’s SkyActiv series of fuel-efficient petrol/diesel engine tech.
The report also cites Mazda’s previous attempts at bringing a fuel-cell vehicle to market, but given how nascent that sector is, it makes perfect sense for Mazda to hitch their wagon to Toyota’s as they make the only mass-market fuel cell car, the Mirai. Toyota on the other hand could very well benefit from fitting Mazda's SkyActive engine technology into their own powerplants to increase torque and power while maintaining impressive fuel consumption.
The world’s largest automaker has been, arguably, the largest proponent of hydrogen fuel-cell cars, with Honda not far behind. They have even released some of its key patents freely to the market, hoping this would spur the development of the vehicles and infrastructure.
We have to agree, the promise of hydrogen fuel cells are huge, not only for generating electricity to power vehicles but to power the entire planet, and any inroads into this technology are well worth the cost and effort. The reason it fits so well with the cars of today is that they have a similar range of travel and refuelling time.
After all, fossil fuel is but a finite and dwindling resource that pollutes and warms our world, whereas hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and the only output from a hydrogen fuel-cell car is water vapour. Think about it, humanity is on the brink of perfecting a renewable and entirely clean source of energy which could be the most important development of the century. That’s amazing on so many levels.
Although officials from Toyota and Mazda have not been forthcoming on details, Japan’s Nikkei business daily reports that the two automakers are aiming to reach an agreement soon.


What Is FWD, RWD, AWD and 4x4

There are many ways that a powertrain can transfer power to the wheels. Some deliver them to the front, some provide them to the rear, and some deliver them to all four.

There are also many reasons why vehicles displace power differently, but in a nutshell, it all comes down to factors which affect efficiency, cost and purpose.

For non-petrolheads, these systems are all trivial and can get especially confusing when people use terms such as FWD, RWD, AWD and 4x4. To help clear up this issue, we thought we would provide the simplest explanation for these abbreviations.

FWD ( Front Wheel Drive)

FWD means that the car is front-wheel drive. Ubiquitous due to its efficiency and cheaper manufacturing process, most vehicles on the road these days are FWD.

Example of vehicles: Perodua Myvi, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Almera, Proton Iriz

RWD (Rear Wheel Drive)

RWD is when the powertrain delivers power to the rear wheels. It is primarily used in cars that want to achieve a better balance. Vehicles such as race cars and high-end sports cars use this system.

Example of vehicles: BMW 3 Series, Mercedes Benz C Class, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS

AWD (All Wheel Drive)

AWD is when power is distributed to all four wheels. It is a more recent innovation and is commonly seen in SUVs as well as high powered cars. These cars use AWD to help with traction.

Example of vehicles: Subaru XV, Mazda CX5, Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V

4x4 (four by four)

Slightly similar to AWD, a 4x4 is a system where power is delivered to all four wheels. The difference between 4x4 and AWD is that an AWD system might send power unequally to each wheel depending on which wheel needs it the most to get the best traction whereas a 4x4 system will send power to all four wheels equally for the best traction on loose surfaces. It is popular amongst off-roaders, adventure seekers as well as drivers that have to deal with mother nature when she is grumpy.

Example of vehicles: Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton


The 1000cv 2021 Ferrari SF90 Spider Has Just Been Locally Unwrapped

Naza Italia introduces the 2021 Ferrari SF90 Spider.

Naza Italia, the official importer and distributor of Ferrari in Malaysia, has locally taken the wraps off the new 2021 Ferrari SF90 Spider, the first retractable hardtop hybrid from the Maranello based brand.

With a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with three electric motors, the convertible hybrid can do 0-124 kph in 2.8 seconds, about 0.3 seconds slower than its
Stradale
 brother. The electric motor placements are interesting, with two sitting at the front of the car and one nestling between the ICE (internal combustion engine) engine and eight-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox, ala
F1
-MGUK (motor generator unit kinetic) style.

As mentioned before, the SF90 Spider comes with a hardtop instead of a soft-top as Ferrari believes that the hardtop will not deform at high speeds and make for better noise insulation. The puzzling thing is, Ferrari has built a fancy tube from the engine bay straight into the cabin that points the engine roar straight to you - so maybe it's more of a deformity matter than anything else.

The Spider carries the same new mechanical tech from its sibling, headlined by the new 15mm shorter and 10kg lighter eight-speed DCT auto, which is impressive despite having an extra gear and 900Nm of torque going through it.

Looks-wise, the difference between the Spider and Stradale include a 20mm lower roof, slightly thinner A-pillars, and venting in the rear screen. Compare the two via picture, and you won't see much difference but put them side by side, and you'll notice a slightly more cabin forward stance on the Spider.

As is the case with the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider is also available with an additional specification option for owners that want to push its track credentials to the extreme. The Assetto Fiorano pack includes a list of exclusive upgrades that set it apart from the standard car, not least Multimatic shock absorbers, the adoption of high-performance materials such as carbon-fibre and titanium, which have shaved 21 kg off the car's weight, a carbon-fibre rear spoiler and road-homologated Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres designed to make the car sticky on the track.

The Spider has impressive powertrain modes, which include, electric, hybrid and 4WD hybrid. The Spider turns into an FWD car in electric mode and has a range of up to 26km off its 7.9kWh batteries. Speed is limited to 84mph in electric mode. Hah, who says you can't use a Ferrari to go work and back without burning any petrol.

The rest of the modes utilises the ICEV engine and electric powertrain together, which unleashes the car's 1000cv power (ICE and electric motors combined). The Famous Ferrari eManettino steering wheel selector is also available and lets you choose between eDrive, Hybrid, Performance and Qualify. The Qualify mode pops up a small stopwatch button above the checkered flag on the steering wheel's touch-sensitive part and will focus all the available power to the wheels.

What hasn't changed from its brother is the downforce it generates. The SF90 Spider's downforce is largely determined by the patented aero device on the car’s tail: the shut-off Gurney. In order to guarantee the same performance as the coupé, the Ferrari team had to work on the volumes and surfaces of the roof to manage the direction of the aerodynamic flow towards the car’s tail.

The shut-off Gurney is a suspended element comprising two sections: one fixed and one mobile with a wedge-shaped front area. The system is controlled by a sophisticated logic that controls parameters such as speed, acceleration, steering wheel angle, and pressure on the brake pedal, hundreds of times a second in order to identify dynamic conditions requiring more downforce and then promptly activates the system.

The Ferrari SF90 Spider is available from the base price of RM 2,088,000 (before duties, customization options, taxes, and insurance). For further details, contact the Ferrari Malaysia Showroom.


Did Mercedes-Benz Played A Quiet Role At The Korean Peace Summit?

The biggest news last week had to be the historic peace summit between North and South Korea, a major step forward by the two Koreas which have been technically at war since 1950 as no peace treaty was signed following a call for truce.
We will leave the politics to bigger news agencies but what caught our attention was the choice of cars by the two Korean leaders – South Korean President Moon Jae-in travelled to the summit in a W222-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class while his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-Un was chauffeured in his stretched W221-generation S-Class Pullman. We are certain that it is armoured but can’t confirm if it’s a Guard series model by Mercedes-Benz or by a third-party company, as Mercedes-Benz has very strict rules regarding who it sells its factory-made armoured vehicles to, not to mention the obvious trade restrictions on companies doing business with North Korea, nevermind about one coming from a NATO-aligned country.
Kim choice of car is unsurprising as the North Korean ruling family is known to have a wide collection of Mercedes-Benz limousines and an S-Class is the dynasties’ default choice.
His South Korean counterpart however, like all his predecessors, often travelled in a Hyundai limousine. Obviously they are obligated to travel Korea’s finest limousine rather than one from Germany. Since coming into office, Moon's official car is a stretched Hyundai Equus limousine customized for the President with armoured materials developed in-house by Hyundai. Hyundai donated three units of the armoured Equus limousine for use by the Blue House, South Korea's equivalent to the United States' White House. The video below is President Moon’s ‘regular’ official car.
For this summit however, Moon’s had swapped his Hyundai for a Mercedes-Benz. There were only two Korean cars in Moon’s motorcade - a Hyundai Sonata and a regular wheelbase Equus, both police cars clearing the traffic ahead before splitting from the president’s convoy shortly before crossing into the DMZ.
We have reasons to believe that the decision to drop the Hyundai limousine, a symbol of South Korea’s economic progress, for a more neutral Mercedes-Benz of German origin was intentional. That way, both leaders were seen to be coming together on less mutually exclusive terms.
Keen political observers have already pointed that everything about the summit have been meticulously detailed and arranged to reflect the shared identity of the two Koreas and their genuine intention of peace. Everything from the choice of pen used (a Montblanc, also from Germany), to the backdrop of art, poetry and literature used at the summit, have been carefully selected and only themes that are common to both Koreas were selected. Even the symbolic planting of a tree was done using soil taken from the highest mountain of each of the Koreas, sprinkled with water taken from each side’s longest river.
We are quite certain that similar considerations have been made by President Moon’s office regarding his official car.
The President's office can’t do much about the Cadillac Escalades used by his bodyguards though, because those vehicles are a regular feature on his motorcade. It’s quite possible that those Cadillacs can't be replaced because they have been customized to meet the President's security detail's requirements and are not just armoured but are also heavily armed, similar to the ones used by the US President. The SUVs that escort President Trump were known to carry rear-facing high-powered weaponry behind the SUV’s spacious rear.
More about the Mercedes-Benz Guard series armoured vehicles in the video below. By the way, do you know who else uses an S600 Pullman Guard? President Vladimir Putin of Russia.


Kia Reveals More Details On New Rio Ahead Of Paris Debut

As we mentioned
here
 a couple of days ago, the all-new Kia Rio is all set to make its global debut at the upcoming Paris International Motor Show next month.
Although it has only been a few days since they broke the news and shared the first set of sketches, Kia has released the complete set of images revealing the car’s exterior as well as the interior today. A few new details have been revealed as well, such as the car's dimensions and interior features.
In profile, the fourth-generation Rio’s lengthened, more balanced stance is achieved with a long bonnet and longer front overhang, a 10 mm longer wheelbase (up to 2,580 mm), a thinner, more upright C-pillar, and a shorter rear overhang.
Overall, the new car is 15 mm longer than its predecessor (now 4,065 mm long), and 5 mm shorter in height (to 1,450 mm). Straight, clearly-defined lines run down the full length of the car’s shoulder and along its doors, further stretching the appearance of the car for a more stable, confident look.
Inside, the Rio will get a new infotainment system, a ‘floating’ HMI (human-machine interface), with a high-resolution touchscreen to power the Rio’s audio, navigation and new connectivity systems. The new HMI has allowed Kia to reduce the number of buttons on the center console.

Besides that, the seats will be available with a choice of black or grey cloth seat upholstery, or with black or grey artificial leather. A ‘Red Pack’ for the Rio will also be offered, where buyers get black with red artificial leather-trimmed seats throughout the cabin. The cabin itself features gloss black and metallic trim throughout, for a more modern finish.
No technical specifications have been revealed yet, but Kia has confirmed that the new Rio will enter production by end of 2016 in Europe, followed by other markets after that. So, we can expect more information to be coming our way very soon.
Looking for a Kia? Find one now at
Carlist.my


PM Wants Malaysia To Start Producing B20 Biodiesel By 2020

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged Malaysia to follow Indonesia’s footsteps and introduce the B20 biodiesel fuel by 2020 and become the world’s top biodiesel-producing country, according to a
report by The Sun
.
Speaking at the launch of the
B10 biodiesel
programme for the transportation sector earlier this week, the Prime Minister noted that Indonesia has surpassed Malaysia as the largest palm oil producer and that it has already introduced B20 biodiesel (a blend of 20% palm methyl ester and 80% petroleum diesel) in 2016 on its transportation sector.
The transportation sector in Malaysia however, is currently still using the B7 biodiesel fuel, with the B10 version to be introduced in phases beginning this month and implemented in full force only in February next year.
“Malaysia’s palm industry should be bold to explore new market and prove to the world that the quality of our palm oil is among the best.
“I hope all quarters will be fully equipped and ready to introduce B20 biodiesel fuel by 2020. This biodiesel programme is vital to our country because our palm trees are our golden crop, and have contributed to our economy for so long,” he said.
“The use of palm biodiesel will impact positively on our palm industry by reducing our palm oil stocks and subsequently stabilise its price,” he said during the launch of the B10 programme which was first announced by Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok last month.
The B10 programme, which would encompass all diesel vehicles, would improve air quality through the reduction of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases emission by 1.6 million tonne each year.
He also said that there is a need to ensure that only diesel vehicles capable of running on B10 fuel be sold in the country in the future, saying this programme should also be taken into consideration in the National Automotive Policy currently being drafted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.


Hyundai Ioniq Facelift Introduced – Smartsense Active Safety As Standard

Hyundai Motors has released the first images along with details of the facelifted Hyundai Ioniq – in particular, the Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid variants, with an updated full-electric variant to follow soon.
In addition to cosmetic changes, the new Ioniq receives additional active safety technologies as standard, and updated infotainment systems.
All Ioniq variants will be equipped Hyundai SmartSense technology which now includes Front Collision Warning and Avoidance (FCA and FCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), forward vehicle departure, and highway driving assistant (HDA).
The new Ioniq is equipped with the world’s first ‘Green-zone Drive Mode (GDM)’ which automatically switches the vehicle’s driving module in designated areas to use more energy from the electric motor, rather than from the internal combustion engine.
The drivetrain has also been adapted for 1-pedal driving capability (similar to the Nissan Leaf), Smart Regenerative Braking, Utility Mode (allows onboard functions even while the vehicle is switched off), and Eco+ Mode for extending remaining energy during emergency situations.
On the inside, the biggest change is the fitment of the (optional) 10.25-inch infotainment screen featuring voice recognition software and over-the-air updates. The system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as the Hyundai Live Services.
Along with the redesigned headlight and taillights, and updated front and rear bumpers – Hyundai have added three more available paint colours: Fluidic Metal, Electric Shadow, and Liquid Sand – for a total of eight options now.
The new Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid will be introduced in Europe (and progressively other markets) starting in H2 of 2019.


BMW Reveals Its 2-Series Active Tourer Plug-In Hybrid Prototype

BMW
 adds one more to the company’s line-up of eDrive efforts, using technology that it first developed for the BMW i cars. This time, it’s the
2-Series

Active Tourer
 plug-in hybrid concept, and it offers a little glimpse of what a future production model could be like.
For the first time, we find an electric drive permutation that links a front/transverse-mounted combustion engine. There’s a 1.5-litre three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol unit with 134hp and 220Nm of torque delivers drive to the front wheels.
A ‘high-voltage’ generator that’s also front-mounted and an electric motor with 86hp and 165Nm of torque sends power to the rear wheels. The generator itself can deliver an additional 20hp and 150Nm of torque for shorts bursts. Altogether, it enables the prototype to reach 100km/h from a standstill in just 6.5 seconds.
Similar to the BMW
i8 sports car
, the result here also yields a road-linked all-wheel drive system. Being a plug-in hybrid, this
2-Series
 prototype can run for up to 38km on stored electric power alone and achieve an average fuel economy of two litres per 100 kilometres with CO2 emissions under 50g per kilometre.