A Gathering Of Over 400 Volkswagen Beetles

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) yesterday welcomed 405 Beetle cars from across the country at the Beetle, An Iconic Gathering, held at Putrajaya.
The celebration kicked-off early in the morning with a convoy of 138 Beetle cars making their way through the streets of Kuala Lumpur before heading to Putrajaya to join the Gathering. The parade comprised of Beetle cars of all colours, uniquely customised to reflect the personalities of their owners.
Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Beetle owners who had come from as far north as Perlis and from Johor Bahru for coming together. “It was an emotional moment for us to see the rows and rows of colourful air-cooled and water-cooled Beetle cars and I believe all those who were present today shared this sentiment.”
“This is a car that has united people across all walks of life, and they all gathered in Putrajaya over one common passion – the Beetle. The sense of kinship was apparent everywhere, and we are grateful to all owners, and especially to our Beetle car clubs and classic Volkswagen communities for making the event a success.”
Out of the hundreds of Bugs present, three Beetle cars stood out from the crowd and were awarded “Best in Show”, while one Beetle car, which garnered the most popular vote on social media won “Most Liked Car”. The winners of the “Best in Show” cars were Fairul Irwan, Raja Gopal and Thavanesan A/L Selvaratnam, while Siti Aishah Ismail’s Instagram posting of her Bug earned the “Most Liked Car” title.
Also on display at the event was the Collector’s Edition Beetle, which was launched just one day after the
last Beetle
 rolled out from the production line at Volkswagen’s Puebla factory.
Limited to just 75 units
, the Collector's Edition Beetle comes decked out with a list of accessories worth up to RM12,000, including a rear spoiler, decorative film, chrome exhaust tips, aluminium sports pedals, scuff plates, VW Tint and an emblem marking its production run. Priced at RM164,390 only 75 units are available, and all 75 owners will receive an official Collector’s Edition certificate of ownership.


LEAKED: Is This The New Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG? With 400PS?!

We’ve just stumbled upon what appears to be a leaked image of the new 2016
Mercedes-Benz
 A 45 AMG. This facelift’s changes appear subtle on the outside, but according to the leaked material, this baby AMG is packing a lot more heat.
Exterior updates are subtle as far as we can see, but the front-end of the vehicle does appear to have a few more aerodynamic updates, while the air vents on the front bumper also feature two new horizontal slats we haven’t seen before on the
A-Class
.
We understand that the facelifted A-Class range will most likely be previewed at the coming Frankfurt Motor Show, where it will preview minor exterior and interior updates. But, it hasn’t been confirmed yet if the A 45 AMG would tag along, although, from the readiness this leaked image presents, we wouldn’t be so surprised if it did.
The most interesting bit about this is, however, that the 2.0-litre four-cylinder AMG turbo engine here is believed to pack even more power than the current model, offering from base a 381PS output, against the 360PS the current version has.
Doing one better (and likely preparing for the arrival of a more powerful Golf R: the R 400), the copy on the image here also depicts a 400PS version of the car, said to be called the A 45 AMG S – an alphabet AMG has been slapping on to its hotter version of their already hot cars.
Currently, the A 45 AMG pushes 360PS and 450Nm of torque from its 2.0-litre AMG four-pot turbo. That’s enough to warrant it the title of the most powerful 2.0-litre engine in series production. Other manufacturers have dabbled with similar ideas (Volvo: triple turbo 2.0 concept / Volkswagen Golf R 400 concept) but haven’t yet put them into the market yet.
It seems now that AMG wants to make sure that’s a claim they hang on to for a while longer.


First Impressions: 2016 Proton Perdana – More Than Just A Rebadge

After many years of ups and downs and never-ending drama, things are finally beginning to look positive for our beloved national car manufacturer
Proton
.
Despite all the criticism, the company has taken an oath to come back with a bang and re-instil the sense of trust and confidence people once had in it.
And in order to achieve it, many measures have been taken, including the on-going restructuring of the organisation, the
partnership with Ricardo to produce new engines
, and of course, the introduction of not one or two, but four
new models by the end of the year
 (including the Perdana).
Although many promises such as these have already been given by Proton in the past and many never turned into reality, there is actually progress this time around. We have seen the new management, we have seen the new engine, and we have already seen two out of four of the models slated for their debut later this year.
Now, it has been quite some time since we saw this much productivity from Proton hasn’t it?
The company also finally marked its return to the D-segment after six years with the car you’re looking at right now - the second-generation
Perdana
.
Specifications
Perdana 2.0
Price: RM113,438.00 (Solid), RM113,888.00 (Metallic)
Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, SOHC
Power: 154hp @ 6,300rpm
Torque: 189Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Safety: 4-airbags, ABS, EBD, parking sensors, reverse camera, ISOFIX
Perdana 2.4
Price: RM138,438.00 (Solid), RM138,888.00 (Metallic)
Engine: 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC
Power: 178hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 222Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Safety: 4-airbags, ABS, EBD, parking sensors, reverse camera, ISOFIX, Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Overview
Developed from the eighth-generation Honda Accord,
the new Perdana
 is more than just a rebadging exercise. Yes, it is still an Accord underneath but Proton has put in quite a bit of work as well to set it apart from the donor car. In fact, the company has announced that it will be updating the sedan with more Proton content within the next couple of years.
Unlike the version used by government officials, the units that will be sold to the mass, sports a much-changed appearance over the Accord. The car looks nothing like the donor car on the exterior level.
Even the window lines have been re-shaped. The similarity between the Perdana and the Accord is not immediately obvious, but the door panels are kept unchanged even though the window frames have been reconfigured.
Proton has also lengthened the Perdana’s body to measure five metres from the Accord’s 4,950mm overall length, making it one of the longest vehicles of its class. While the 2.0-litre model measures 4,999mm long, 2.4-litre model's all-round bodykit adds an extra 21mm to its length.
Front and rear light clusters have been comprehensively re-engineered as well, including the fitment of rear fog lights which were not provided for in the Accord’s original lighting architecture. Fully redesigned tail lights are LED-illuminated and projector headlamps are standard in both variants – halogens for the 2.0 and xenon for the 2.4.
As different as the car is on the outside, the interior was unmistakeably Accord, but with a few minor changes of course - such as a new centre stack which houses the android-based infotainment system with full colour touch-screen, the redesigned door levers and buttons, and Proton’s own steering wheel.
Mechanically, the Perdana retains the original mechanical configuration provided by Honda with little changes, carrying the engine, drivetrain, and chassis over lock, stock, and barrel. The only change from what we saw was the tyre specifications, where Proton has replaced the Accord’s Goodyear Excellence tyres with Goodyear EffficientGrip tyres that were tuned specially for the Perdana.
Under the hood, the new Perdana is powered by the eighth-gen Accord’s proven pair of four-cylinder i-VTEC petrol engines, which are both paired to a 5-speed automatic gearbox each, displacing 2.0 and 2.4 litres. However, Proton mentioned that the Perdana will be receiving Proton’s own NE01 engine by end of 2017.
That said, standard equipment include:
Halogen projector headlamps
LED daytime running lights
LED tail lilghts
Front and rear fog lamps
225/45 R17 tyres with 17-inch alloy wheels
Black interior. Leather and fabric seats.
Steering wheel - tilt & telescopic, audio controls
Dual zone auto climate control
8-way electric driver seat adjustment
Infotainment - 6.2-inch TFT touchscreen, Radio, CD, Bluetooth, USB, AUX-IN
Cruise control
4 airbags
ABS, EBD
Front and rear parking sensors with reverse camera
ISOFIX
The 2.4 version on the other hand, gets some additional goodies like:
Paddle Shifters
Auto-leveling HID headlamps
Beige and black interior. Full leather trim.
4-way electric passenger seat adjustment
Electronic stability control.
How does it drive?
Given about a couple of hours in each variant from Shah Alam to Melaka through a combination of B-roads and also highway driving, we covered about 300km in the Perdana, and we were quite impressed by what it had to offer actually.
Besides a couple of minor hiccups like the noticeable road noise after certain speed, slight body roll while cornering, and the steering which could’ve been a tad more responsive, things were fine and dandy with the Perdana.
If you’ve been in an eighth generation Accord, you will feel that nothing has changed in the car. However, if Proton’s NE01 engine can outdo the current engine by Honda, the Perdana can definitely be a better car.
These minor issues aside, the Perdana wins big in terms of comfort, space, and practicality. Regardless of whether it is strictly for business use or for a family, it ticks all the right boxes.
Conclusion
The new Perdana might be a car that is based on a model that is relatively aged compared to many models in the D-segment but let's look at the bright side - it is proven to be reliable. Plus, with an asking price of RM113,888 and RM138,888, it is one of the most competitively priced cars in class.
Despite the affordability, the car is still on par with many of its rivals in terms of presence, features, peformance, and also reliability.
And who knows? Maybe it will turn out to be even better when Proton updates it with its own drivetrain package.
Looking for a Proton? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Opens For Booking; Estimated RM130k

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has officially opened the order books for its new Ioniq Hybrid that is being slated for launch in Malaysia by the end of the year.
Similar to the
Prius for Toyota
, the Ioniq was developed from the onset by Hyundai to be
powered only by electrified powertrains
 namely hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full electric.
For the Malaysian market, it is confirmed that the hybrid variant is being offered at launch, featuring Hyundai’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder GDI Kappa engine working in tandem with a 44PS electric motor. Combined output of the system is rated at 141PS and 265Nm, delivered to the front wheels via a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. A lithium-ion polymer traction battery feeds the electric motor.
The Ioniq’s distinctive styling is influenced by various active and passive aerodynamic features designed to manage airflow around the vehicle. It has an active aero grille, wheel air curtains, rear spoiler, and smooth underbody cover to help achieve a drag coefficient of 0.24.
With a wheelbase measuring 2,700mm, the Ioniq is similar in size to most
C-segment sedans
 in the market. Its body is built with 53.5% advanced high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium.
Notable features of the Ioniq for the Malaysian market include a touchscreen audio visual navigator, dynamic reverse camera, electronic stability control, and seven airbags.
First previewed to Malaysians in
My Auto Fest 2016 held at MINES Convention Centre
 in May, the Ioniq will make another appearance at the same venue on 10 – 13 November 2016 in the Malaysia Autoshow 2016.
Estimated pricing for the Ioniq Hybrid will start from RM130,000 onwards.


2015 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Makes Its Regional Debut At Bangkok Motor Show

At the 2015 Bangkok Motor Show,
BMW
 announced the regional debut of the 2015 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the first front-wheel drive vehicle from the car maker. We’ve previously reported that
BMW Group Malaysia would look to bring two new models
 into our local market and with its debut in Thailand, it wouldn’t be long before we get our turn.
Sharing the common FWD platform that underpins the all-new F56 MINI, the 2 Series Active Tourer will receive a range of powertrains including several petrol and diesel engines. For the Thai market, the 218i (1.5-litre three-cylinder TwinPower Turbo), 225i (2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo) petrol engines are available with only a single 218d (2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo) diesel option.
Transmission options also differ among the variants with the 218i and 218d paired to a six-speed manual transmission. Only the 225i gets a eight-speed Steptronic transmission. Keep in mind that these specifications are for the Thai market and does not reflect what we will actually receive.
Other features included in the compact MPV are a hands-free tailgate opening system, a remote electronic rear backrests release system, BMW Head-Up Display, a Park Assistant Package, and more according to BMW Thailand's digital brochure.
Prices have yet to be announced and we’ll need to wait for the local launch of the all-new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer to find out what we have in store for us.


New Proton 3S Centre Opens In Seremban

Proton has launched its latest 3S centre in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan in an effort to provide better after sales services for customers in the Southern region.
The outlet, which is owned and operated by Setia Auto Drive Sdn Bhd (Setia Auto Drive) features Proton’s new Corporate Identity (CI) colours.
Located in the Galla Industrial Park which is only a 5-minute drive from the Bandar Ainsdale toll plaza and the Seremban-Labu exit, the outlet was built with an investment cost of almost RM3 million.
There are many amenities in the outlet such as free Wi-Fi, laptop charging area, and a comfortable customer lounge.
There are six service bays, six service hoists, nine dedicated sales staff, and also eight service staff.
“The news on Proton’s development is really encouraging and exciting. It is evident that consumers have a changed perception of the brand now. It used to be that people shy away from the brand, but now, people are talking differently,” said  Dato’ Yap Kat Boon, Director of Setia Auto Drive Sdn Bhd.
“For me to be part of the brand is most fulfilling. Apart from it being a national car, it gives me great pride that the new models from Proton will be able to benefit and enhance customers lives with better safety features and up to-date technology in its cars,” he said.
Including Setia Auto Drive, Proton has a total of 79 outlets nationwide with 3S/4S status, which makes the brand the one with the largest number of 3S/4S outlets nationwide.
For the latest deals on Proton vehicles, click
here


Waze Is Live On Android Auto, Beta Testers First

Google first promised that Waze will be available during their annual Google I/O back in 2016. Those interested can apply for the public beta program, which was opened in April.
Android Police
 reported that beta testers can now use Waze with Android Auto, but there are several catches.
The biggest catch is perhaps that Waze for Android Auto will only work on compatible head units, not on a device with Android Auto. If you launched Android Auto on your phone, the only navigation option is Google Maps, no sign of Waze anywhere. However, after tinkering around with Waze and Android Auto, we managed to get Waze running via the phone app without hooking up to a compatible head unit. Bear in mind that the actual UI might differ.
Tough luck for Mercedes-Benz or Audi owners, as Google specifically mentioned that both marques are not support by Waze on Android Auto. We understand that Android Auto-compatible cars, like the Honda Accord and Honda Civic should be compatible right out of the box. Same goes to Ford owners with the SYNC 3 infotainment system.
Seeing that Waze for Android Auto is still in beta phase, there are bound to be bugs to be found. According to an email sent out by the Waze Beta Team, custom Waze voice actions are unsupported at the time being. There is also a noticeable lag when triggering an Android Auto voice command without Waze opened in the head unit. On top of that, if the said car has a camera fitted and turns out, Waze closes and needs to be reopened again.
Neither Google nor Waze Beta Team have mentioned when Waze for Android Auto will go official, though we reckon that could happen sooner than expected.
Disclaimer
: As Google has yet to roll out Android Auto in Malaysia, sideloading the APK from unknown sources are done at your own risk. We are not liable for any unwanted circumstances.


2023 Toyota Vellfire and Alphard coming to Malaysia? Est RM438k-RM538k

The new
2023 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire
 were just launched a couple of weeks back in Japan and Malaysians are already talking about them coming here.

It seems that a number of people have posted what supposedly are the official prices of the 2023 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire directly from UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd. Too good to be true? Let's look a little bit deeper, shall we?

Starting with the 2023 Toyota Vellfire, several posts on social media have indicated that the price of the 2.5 AT variant is set at RM438,000 (on-the-road price without insurance).

The new Vellfire in Japan does indeed share the same 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain as the new 2023 Alphard, but the biggest highlight for the Vellfire for 2023 is the range-topping variant that comes with the new 2.4-litre turbocharged engine to replace the outgoing 3.5-litre V6 unit.

Moving on the Alphard, the so-called 2023 pricing is said to be RM538,000 - RM100k more than the Vellfire. Presented as the Executive Lounge variant with a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine, is indeed different from the ones launched recently in Japan.

The new Alphard is actually priced cheaper than the Vellfire and paired with either a 2.5-litre petrol engine (2AR-FE) or the 2.5-litre Series Parallel Hybrid System (A25A-FXS). Again, different information from the 'official prices' document currently going viral online.

With that being said, will the 2023 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire come to Malaysia? Perhaps, but not this soon. And if they do come, the hybrid versions should be one of the variants being pushed considering the fact that UMW Toyota is indeed pushing for the multi-pathway solutions that involve hybrids, PHEVs, EVs, and more.


Honda’s S2000 Due For Revival, To Be Pitted As More Powerful Mazda MX-5 Alternative?

We suppose it makes complete sense for
Honda
 to want the slices of a very exciting market segment - the small two-seat roadster - not left to its fellow Japanese automaker,
Mazda
. Both companies have had experience with this type of car to critical and often financial success, with Mazda doubling down more often and now is selling its fourth-generation
MX-5
.
Honda, by comparison, has in recent times offered its S2000 as a direct competitor - a car that sadly went out of production in 2009 after 10-year run and two generations. Since 1999, that two-seat roadster garnered high praise for its agile handling and sparkling rev-hungry 2.0-litre V-TEC engine.
But as
Autocar
 reports, a third-generation model is under development, no doubt in continuing the momentum of Honda’s push into the more sporty end of the automotive landscape. It recently unveiled their all-new
NSX hybrid supercar
, the tiny but zippy
S660 roadster
, and the new
Civic Type R
.
The upcoming S2000 will reportedly be engineered with feedback gained from its respected predecessor. It will remain, naturally, as a front-engined, rear-wheel drive, two seater roadster. Honda doesn’t want the ingredients that made it so memorable tainted, which an approach quite similar to Mazda’s when developing subsequent iterations of its MX-5.
Seeing as how Honda has been more welcoming of turbocharging and even hybrid powertrains lately, it would be a permissible assumption that a they would look to those solutions to power an all-new S2000. Autocar reported that several options are being considered, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces around 150hp. This engine would give Honda scope to increase or decrease power based on trim level, and could position the car as a more powerful alternative to Mazda's venerable roadster, with outputs of 180hp or more a possibility.
There’s also a likelihood of a superheated version of the all-new S2000 that would inherit the Civic Type R’s 306hp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, with more track-focused additions such as a limited-slip differential, as well as uprated brakes and suspension components. The report also spoke of a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox being fitted to all versions of the upcoming roadster. An enthusiast-focused machine indeed.
The lack of a suitable rear-drive platform is the most glaring problem with the new S2000’s development. And costs to derive a completely new one would likely elevate costs to the point of it being a more upmarket option similar to the
BMW

Z4
 or the
Audi

TT
 roadster,  which could mean the next S2000 falling under the more premium Acura brand, at least in the United States.
The following is a mere thought experiment, so entertain it as you choose: Seeing as how Mazda and Fiat collaborated on the MX-5 and its bizarro twin, the
Fiat
 124, and
Toyota
 having collaborated with
Subaru
 on the
86
/BR-Z coupe as well as Toyota also reportedly being quite chummy with BMW on work related to the next-generation
Z4
 and Supra - could Honda leverage its motorsport partnership with
McLaren
? Not just on the next S2000 but on future performance cars as well?
The next S2000, if and when it does break cover, will have a more crowded market to contend with. It also has some large shoes to fill, being the successor to one of the most revered roadsters in recent times. We’re quite excited to see how this will play out.


CKD Porsche Cayenne Open For Booking , Deliveries From March 2022

Porsche, through exclusive distributors Sime Darby Auto Performance, has officially started accepting orders for
locally assembled units
 of their Cayenne sports SUV with the base model now costing RM550,000 (inclusive of taxes and duties) instead of the range’s previous starting price of RM665,000 when it arrived fully imported from Slovakia.

Naturally, this RM115,000 reduction in price is due to the CKD transition of this particular Porsche model, but also attributable to the ongoing SST exemption period that has recently
been extended to June 30th
, 2022. Again, this is a pretty major departure from the German marque’s usual ways, which has historically never had cars produced outside Europe until now.

With Malaysia being the first country to break through this geographical barrier and more Porsche vehicles and variants expected to roll out from an advanced
assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah
 set up with long time partners Sime Darby, it's perceived as a significant marker of confidence in the growth of the country’s automotive market.

Currently, with deliveries slated to begin from March 2022, only the entry-level ‘Cayenne’ is offered with this treatment. And as far as well can tell, there isn’t much on-paper difference (if any) between these incoming locally assembled units and the fully imported ones sold prior.

This variant is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that pumps out 340PS and 450Nm via an 8-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission and active all-wheel-drive system, yielding a 0-100km/h sprint of just 6.2 seconds. As a nice bonus, each CKD Cayenne is also fitted as standard with items that were previously only available as additional-cost extras.

These include its 21-inch RS Spyder design alloy wheels (a nearly RM14,000 add-on by itself), Park Assist surround-view camera, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, and a 14-speaker 710W Bose Surround Sound system (previously a RM5,400 add-on).

Other standard equipment highlights on the CKD Porsche Cayenne include LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System, quad-zone climate control, adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system with Porsche Connect online services alongside Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

For an additional RM58,000, buyers can also opt for the Exclusive Manufaktur package, which adds an exterior SportDesign package, sports exhaust system, dark-tinted LED headlights, LED door projector lights, and a matching vehicle key (to exterior colour).

That said, however, what isn’t too impressive is the very limited spread of exterior colours. Just 3 are available: Carrara White, Jet Black Metallic, and Quartzite Grey Metallic.

Miscellaneous extras are also on hand to be selected before confirming the booking, such as a luggage net, all-weather floor mats, and bicycle rack including a roof transport system. There’s also a Porsche Design Timepiece to tempt you for a cool RM38,888.


Mercedes-Benz Begins Production of the New E-Class Coupé

The production of the
new E-Class Coupé
 has officially started at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, Germany.
This latest version follows the saloon, estate and all terrain variants built at the Sindelfingen plant since last year. A long-wheelbase sedan is also being built for China in Beijing.
First unveiled last December, the new E-Class Coupe is no longer based on the
C-Class
 platform. Instead, Mercedes-Benz now builds the E-Class in both sedan and coupe formats from the same underpinnings.
The shift to a larger platform has also resulted in substantial growth in the E-Class Coupe’s dimensions at all directions from the predecessor, although it remains a smaller vehicle than its sedan sibling.
Engine options are carried over from the sedan, featuring the new OM654 2.0-litre diesel alongside the more familiar M274 2.0-litre petrol with the M276 3.0-litre V6 petrol leading the line in the E400 4Matic generating outputs of 333hp and 480Nm.
"The production start of the E-Class Coupé is part of the ongoing rejuvenation of our model range and continues our growth path", commented Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain Management.
The coupé is produced at Bremen as part of a flexible system alongside the C-Class Coupé and Cabriolet. Engineers were able to integrate a further start-up into the running series production in a very short time while the plant is working to full capacity.
The E-Class Coupe is expected to be arriving at dealerships worldwide in the second quarter of the year.


Great Wall Tank 500 - Move Aside Toyota Land Cruiser

The Great Wall Motors Tank 500 can be the replacement vehicle for those who are waiting for their Land Cruiser 300.

When it comes to diversifying choices for consumers, there's just no way anyone can beat the Chinese when it comes to affordable alternatives to some of the world's most sought-after cars.

The latest alternative to come out of China is the
Great Wall Motors
 Tank 500, a four-wheel-drive barge, ready to offer consumers a cheaper and readily available alternative to the famous Toyota Land Cruiser (LC).

Revealed at the Chengdu Motor Show late last year, the Tank 500 is the latest model to come out of Great Wall Motor's new Tank four-wheel-drive
brand
, after the Tank 300, which in our opinion is their version of the Jeep Wrangler.

Coming in at 4,878mm long, 1,934mm wide and 1,905mm high and sitting on a 2,850mm wheelbase (identical to the LC300), the Tank 500 is nearly the same size as the latest Land Cruiser, the 300 (4,950L,1,980W,1,925H).

Just like the
LC
, the Tank 500 is built tough by utilising a body-on-frame platform borrowed from the Great Wall Motors family.

With tough exterior lines, a huge chrome-plated grille, and irregularly shaped headlights on both sides, the Tank 500 has been positioned as a luxury and off-road SUV.

The off-road emphasis is once again emphasised on Great Wall Motor's Tank website, where they reckon its "3.0T V6 + 9AT super powertrain with a maximum power of 260kW and a maximum torque of 500Nm meets the diverse needs of everyday use and outdoor off-road". They also claim that the vehicle can go from 0-100 in 7.3 seconds and achieve a fuel consumption of 10.79l/100km.

According to drive.com.au, "A third-generation switchable four-wheel-drive system features under the skin, reportedly capable of distributing torque between different wheels within 50 milliseconds".

"Drivers are said to be able to switch between two- and four-wheel-drive at speeds of up to 80km/h, while low-range modes, rear and centre differential locks, and up to 11 off-road modes are available to tackle various driving environments".

The Tank 500 is equipped with a coil-spring suspension system with differential locks on the front and rear and offers a ground clearance of 224mm as well as 800mm wading depth and an off-road approach angle of 29.6 degrees.

On the inside, the Tank 500 features a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and is joined by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The interior is also laced with leather upholstery, faux wood inserts and soft-touch materials. There's also a peculiar crystal gear shifter knob, a la Volvo.

With customers worldwide having to wait nearly four years for the new
Land Cruiser
 300 (yes, the waiting is that long), perhaps the Tank 500 can fill in the gap left by the LC300?

The mega Chinese SUV is offered in three variants with prices ranging from RMB 335,000 (RM222k) to RMB 395,000 (RM261k). So LC or Tank?


Review: 2022 Peugeot 3008 1.6T Allure - So Close To Being So Good

The city-dwelling SUV is probably the toughest space for any car brand to compete in, but Peugeot has an ace up their sleeve in the 3008, which in this 2nd-gen guise has been with us since 2016 before
being launched in Malaysia the next year
.

A mid-cycle facelift has graced it following the 2020 model year which
swiftly arrived in Malaysia
 under new local distributors Bermaz, who have offered it in sole 1.6T Allure trim for a cool RM161,616.

Locally assembled
in Gurun
 at a newly repurposed Stellantis facility, the 3008 will lock horns with the biggest hitters that also dwell in the high-riding C-segment. Encounters with class veterans such as the Honda CR-V are inevitable, but newer challengers have also emerged such as the Proton X70 and Toyota Corolla Cross.

The Peugeot, any Peugeot, has always been
the ‘left field’ choice
 for many Malaysians, but does choosing it over the more obvious rivals immediately imply some sort of compromise in order to be a little different?

2022 Peugeot 3008 Allure - Exterior

As much we in Southeast Asia might think of French cars as niche, they are pretty ubiquitous in Europe. Of that, the 3008 stands apart as the most popular model (by volume) that parent company Stellantis (previously the PSA Group) produces, which are the 4th largest automaker in the world.

The 3008 isn’t exactly the newest entrant into the compact SUV scene, but somehow still looks fresh next to the majority of its class competitors. In designing this 2nd-generation 3008, Peugeot spent a lot of time considering its style factor and that’s obvious even in 2022.

Only the front end has undergone any meaningful aesthetic alteration during the aforementioned facelift, adding a vertical ‘fang-like’ daytime running light (DRL) signature that’s now combined into the main front illumination cluster (with directional LED headlamps)  in combination with a new grille pattern.

The quality and intricacy of metal surfacing at play here is something Peugeot should be proud of as it is lacking in most cars at this price bracket, with the
possible exception of Mazda
. You could poke holes in the argument and insist that the 3008 should have gotten a more thorough revamp, but it quite honestly needed no such treatment.

2022 Peugeot 3008 Allure - Interior

The 3008 is the most popular Peugeot the French automaker produces, and for good reason. Its combination of sharp looks, practicality and a certain ‘Joie de vivre’ seems to effectively snare buyers into a test drive where its interior boasts a similar wow factor.

The door opens into a cabin that feels immediately airier than its dimensions suggest thanks to that panoramic sunroof, but stepping inside the combination of materials and flowing dashboard layout endears it some legitimately premium vibes which carry into the evening when the ambient interior lighting comes into view.

Admittedly,
the i-Cockpit
 will take some getting used to since you’re meant to view the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster above the abnormally small steering wheel instead of through it, but it’s otherwise rather logical and well thought-out despite its emphasis on style and flair.

Leather seats are standard and expectedly plush for all occupants with the driver and front passenger both receiving electric seats. However, a pain point would be the lack of thigh adjustment.

We found rear seat space and occupant comfort levels pretty impressive thanks to a completely flat floor and generous padding that
equalled or exceeded the CR-V
 in terms of shoulder room and leg room with 3 adults sat abreast. Boot space is a commodious 591-litres but can expand to 1,670-litres with the 2nd-row seats folded down.

Practicality might not be the first thing someone thinks of when the 3008 comes to mind, but storage compartments are plentiful and large, especially the centre console cubby.

2022 Peugeot 3008 Allure - Engine & Powertrain

To the surprise of absolutely no one, this Peugeot utilises the brand’s enduring 1.6-litre THP ‘Prince’ turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine, which can trace its origin all the way back to 2006 when it was conceived as a joint development between PSA and BMW.

It has thankfully been through numerous evolutions over that time span and has received the International
Engine of the Year award
 for its displacement bracket for an astonishing 8 years in a row. In this 3008, the unit produces 165PS and 240Nm. And yes, this is unchanged

Importantly, it claims to return 7.0-litres/100km on the NEDC test cycle with peak torque (the real reason any small displacement petrol engine is any good) at a decently early 1,400rpm.

2022 Peugeot 3008 Allure - Behind The Wheel

The 3008 is a bit of a mixed bag from behind the wheel. As an SUV and daily driver, it’s comfortable and plush and smooth and generally quite a refined experience that puts you in mind of more expensive cars, but there are certain characteristics that are not consistent with this on-road personality.

It’s 18-inch wheels are wrapped in Continental tyres with decently thick sidewalls but despite this the usually soft suspension can feel harsh over certain bumps and surface imperfections that meet a certain amplitude. This happens only very occasionally but you do become alert as to what kind of roads to steer clear of.

Secondly, though the exterior and interior styling hints at a more playful chassis, it feels quite numb to drive. The steering, through its undersized wheel, is very light even next to smaller city cars and similarly fast lock-to-lock. Precise and capable of quick manoeuvres, sure, but mostly void of tactile connection.

Still, performance from its 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol is expectedly punchy with a very usable peak torque (240Nm) range for smooth overtaking while maintaining above average mechanical refinement. It’s just too bad it’s paired to the older-gen 6-speed Aisin automatic that’s been with us for more than a decade instead of the newer 8-speed unit seen in Peugeots (even the 3008) sold in other markets,
also sourced from Aisin
.

The paddle shifters work well and look nice but the shifts themselves never feel any more hurried than they would without the manual override, which always favours slower gear changes with as little judder as it can muster.

2022 Peugeot 3008 Allure - Safety & Tech

Here, again, is an arena where the 3008 might stumble against some of its more established rivals. On the tech front, in terms of convenience in everyday driving, occupants are pretty well catered to with its 10-inch touchscreen and accompanying 12.3-inch driver’s display.

The interface is slick in its styling but isn’t the last word in intuitive operation as it took me a good little while to get to grips with functions. This doesn’t bode well given the fact that most infotainment and climate control functions are controlled by the touchscreen instead of conventional buttons and knobs (as it should be).

There seems to be an obvious intention to sacrifice some degree of ergonomic simplicity in favour of style and minimalism. There’s a number of other inconsistency issues as well, such as the very nicely integrated Qi wireless smartphone charger, but only a single and deeply recessed USB connection which, despite multiple attempts, I never got to work to enable Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

And yes, it definitely does have that feature built-in.

Despite including some welcome active safety features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Driver Attention Warning and Lane Keep Assist, it misses out on Autonomous Emergency Braking, a cornerstone of
any modern vehicle’s ADAS arsenal
.

One could argue that Rear Cross Traffic Alert or a 360-degree camera system would be a better addition but with all the data that supports how potentially lifesaving AEB can be, it’s a glaring omission when even local contenders such as the Proton X50 and Perodua Ativa are now carrying it.

It definitely loses points next to its closest class rivals in this respect and could even be a dealbreaker to those who prioritise safety and expect it in their next car, which are a growing percentage of the car buying population.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to be said about the 3008 in Malaysia. Like it’s previous pre-facelift form, its competitors have not managed to match its inherent strengths, though some of its key weaknesses have not been addressed in full.

As a package, the Peugeot cannot be denied as a supremely rounded SUV, blending style and functionality, even performance and luxury in a way that leaves its contemporaries seemingly dull and uninspired by comparison.

However, there are compromises that, to some, could be insurmountable in the minds of would-be buyers. In this case, the spec sheet and value proposition comes tragically close to equalling the flair and the competence offered by rest of the 3008 experience, but ultimately falls short.


Behind A Teaser: ETCM Hypes Nissan Kicks e-Power, Ariya EV For 2022 Launch

In a newly published video by Nissan Malaysia (Edaran Tan Chong Motor), there were notably a few interesting models that have not seen the light of day in Malaysia, leading us to believe there are at least a couple of cars coming our way.

Everyone seems to have some kind of promotional thing for CNY each year, right? And in 2022, Malaysia (the world, even) seems to be getting a grip on this whole pandemic business. This is perhaps why the opening text reads “For 2 years, we waited in the shade.”

You know, like a tiger.

The minute-long video (480p max resolution. In 2022. Come on….) then proceeds to roll a montage of people having a roaring good time in various Nissan vehicles, intercut with in-motion exterior beauty shots of the same. Particular emphasis was given to the all-new Almera and Navara with smaller cameos by the other existing models
like the Leaf
 and even the GT-R.

However, early on, we see the Kicks - Nissan’s B-segment crossover that has curiously eluded us until now - and in particular the version with the automaker’s very interesting e-Power drivetrain which seeks to blends the benefits and efficiency gains of an EV with the flexibility of a combustion engine. Since it appeared in this low-res video first, let’s spend a few minutes on it….first.

Dropping The Kicks

In ASEAN, our neighbours in Thailand first got their hands on the Kicks in May 2020 before it was brought to Indonesia later that year. Yes, as an e-Power hybrid. And yes, that means Malaysia is late to the party yet again, by a couple of years this time.

Those who managed to attend the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) in 2018 might have remembered
the Note e-Power being shown off
. It drew quite a large crowd too. The e-Power series hybrid system functions much like Honda’s i-MMD, except Nissan brought it to market first.

The petrol engine, in the case of the Kicks a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated 3-cylinder, is used to spin a generator that stores the resulting electricity in a lithium-ion battery pack, from which an electric motor derives power to directly drive the wheels.

It’s quite a punchy unit too, delivering 130PS and 260Nm to the front wheels, and making it slightly more powerful than the
i-MMD in, say, the City Hatchback
.

From the driver’s perspective, the immediacy and low-speed silence of the powertrain is identical to that of a fully electric vehicle, but instead of having to (hunt for and) plug into a charger to replenish a depleted battery (after a lengthy wait), they’ll just need to top off the fuel tank as normal. Nissan claims an average of 4.6-litres/100km in everyday driving.

Ariya Ready?

Now, onto the Ariya.
This is Nissan’s flagship EV
, a fully electric crossover that should lock horns with the Tesla Model Y that, as of now, has not even begun production due to delays caused by chip shortages and the Covid-19 pandemic in general.

ETCM teasing it here could mean that Malaysia could be one of the first markets to receive the EV once mass production does commence later this year. Of course, it’ll be fully imported and most likely available only in limited quantities.

If the Leaf’s aim was to get as many early adopters onboard with fully electric vehicles, the Ariya is here to make a statement.
It’s abnormally sleek, futuristic, and luxurious
 - basically a showcase of Nissan’s capabilities with zero emissions tech.

Battery sizes come in either 65kWh or 90kWh with up to 390PS on tap from its dual electric motors for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.1 seconds. Meanwhile, its claimed maximum range can reach 500km depending on which configuration is chosen.

Nissan Making A Splash In 2022

Do bear in mind, however, that this video was also uploaded to Nissan Indonesia’s Youtube channel (also in terrible 480p), so we’re not the only ones likely to be getting new models. Nissan Singapore has been teasing the arrival of the Ariya for months, for example.

While the Ariya is the more impressive machine on paper, it’s the Kicks e-Power’s potential Malaysian launch that’s going to cause more of a stir, especially if priced
to annoy the City RS
and City Hatchback RS.

Nissan’s flagship electric model won’t be positioned anywhere as affordably despite the various incentives
and mostly tax-free status
 of new EVs.

That aside, most Malaysians are still hesitant to switch to EVs even if they could afford it, what with the
everyday impracticalities
 that stem from a lack of a widespread charging infrastructure as well as the shortcomings inherent to today’s EVs such as long wait times between charges and battery degradation.

Hybrid powertrains such as Nissan’s e-Power and Honda’s i-MMD make much more sense to a much larger portion of motorists, especially ones seeking to reap the benefits of electrification.

One question does remain, though: Can the Nissan Kicks, once launched in Malaysia, depend solely on the e-Power hybrid or would a pure combustion powertrain need to be offered alongside it if Nissan is to compete with the other B-segment SUVs currently on sale?


Japanese Market 2018 Honda Civic To Receive Eight-Speed DCT

During Honda Meeting 2017 that happened last week, the company showcased some interesting models, including what Honda calls "Dynamic Study", which is based on the current Honda Civic.
According to Honda, the biggest change under the hood is the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), replacing the Civic's continuously variable transmission (CVT). The combination of the 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo and eight-speed DCT is similar to that of the China-market Acura CDX.
Expected to be released in the Japanese market later this year as a 2018 model, the eight-speed DCT boasts a physical size of a regular five-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Compared to regular torque converter automatics, the eight-speed DCT is able to achieve a 15% improvement in power delivery and 8% more fuel efficient. To add a tinge of sportiness, the DCT is able rev-match upon downshifting when S mode is selected.
Underneath, Honda engineers have reworked the rear subframe of the Civic. New for the "Dynamic Study" model is the high rigidity rear subframe, which is able to balance between handling and ride comfort. Bending stiffness of the body is now 57% stiffer and torsional strength is 25% stiffer than the current Civic. On top of that, steering response and brake pedal have been recalibrated. All these improvements are trickled down from what the engineers learnt whilst developing the hotter Civic Type R.
Photo credit:
Car Watch


Review: Toyota Harrier 2.0T Luxury – Late To Market But Worth The Wait

Between 2010 and 2013, the world witnessed the ‘birth’ of three automotive marvels which went on to be known as the ‘Holy trinity of supercars’.

Arguably the most sought-after cars in the world at that time, these machines which most people in the world can only dream of, were the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder, and the McLaren P1.

In Malaysia however, the most sought-after cars are a bit different.

What we have here is the holy trinity of ‘
Towkay
 cars’ - the Toyota Alphard, Toyota Estima, and the Toyota Harrier – three models which most Malaysians aspire to get their hands on once they make it in life.

An interesting thing about our holy trinity of
Towkay
 cars is that they were only being sold by parallel importers for the longest time and boy, did they sell like hot cakes and made the parallel importers some serious cash.

So, realising the high demand and the market potential, UMW Toyota Motor, the authorised distributor of Toyotas in Malaysia finally decided to offer these models officially since 2014.

The first to be launched officially was the previous-gen Previa (Estima) 2.4L in 2014, but it was discontinued by UMWT when the model was updated. And then, came the Alphard 3.5L and Vellfire 2.5L in August 2016.

Last but not the least, for the first time ever, the
Toyota Harrier was brought in officially by UMWT
 at last year’s Malaysia Autoshow 2017.

Overview

Sharing the same platform and engine as the Lexus NX, the 2017 XU60 Toyota Harrier from UMWT is offered here in two variants:

Harrier 2.0T Premium - RM224,572

Harrier 2.0T Luxury - RM245,223

This all-new Toyota Harrier is quite a departure from its predecessors, as it is no longer related to the Lexus RX but instead shares the same platform as the smaller Lexus NX.

The biggest difference between UMW Toyota Motor’s Harrier and used Japanese market recond models is the engine.

While the recond models are powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Valvematic four-cylinder petrol producing 152 PS and 206 Nm of torque, UMW Toyota Motor’s Harrier which we tested here uses a more powerful 2.0-litre direct injected twin scroll turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 231 PS and 350 Nm of torque.

Paired to the engine is a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission which sends the power to the front wheels, unlike the recond models which come with CVT.

Since the model we tested was the range-topping 2.0T Luxury variant, the list of standard equipment was quite comprehensive, including LED headlights with sequential indicators, LED fog lamps, 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, Nappa leather upholstery, a height-adjustable powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, and ventilated, power-adjustable front seats with memory function.

As for safety, the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assists, including Pre-Collision System (autonomous emergency braking), active cruise control and auto high beam come as standard along with seven airbags and Vehicle Stability Control.

Specifications of the Toyota Harrier 2.0T Luxury:

Engine: 4-cylinder, Twin-scroll Turbocharger, petrol

Transmission: 6 speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Max power: 231 PS from 4,800 to 5,600 rpm

Max torque: 350Nm from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm

Price: RM245,233.35 OTR without insurance

Origin: Fully imported from Japan

Exterior

Unlike the the recond models which are of the older pre-facelift variety, the official unit by UMWT here is the facelifted model.

It has a different front bumper, tweaked headlights, tail lights, wheels, and an additional ‘Turbo’ badge. Another key difference is that the front turn signals front are LEDs that light up sequentially like the Lexus RX, compared to the conventional blinking ones in the grey imported models.

Also exclusive to the Luxury variant here are the panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, and rain-sensing wipers.

At a glance, both the official model and the grey import model look quite identical except for a few subtle yet key differences like the wheels, and the sequential turn signals which set the new Harrier apart from the recond model.

Interior

Upon opening the doors of the Harrier 2.0T Luxury, we were greeted by a cabin fit for a
Towkay
, fitted with a generous dose of Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats, an air purifying system, electrochromic rear-view mirror, illuminated scuff plates, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, power-adjustable steering column, as well as keyless entry and ignition.

The list of safety features is just as long in the Luxury variant, comprising 7 airbags, VSC, traction control, hill start assist, ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic parking brake with brake hold function, parking sensors, and the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which includes autonomous emergency braking, Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Adaptive High-beam System (AHS).

Driving Impressions

Capable of sprinting from standstill to 100km/h in just 7.1-seconds, the new Harrier is one quick and impressively smooth SUV both in town and on the highway.

We even put it to test on a controlled, private road to see how fast it can go and believe it or not, “
speedometer mati bro
,” at about 200km/h without breaking a sweat.

As quick as it was on a straight line, it felt more planted than we expected it to be while along long sweeping corners. When thrown around tighter bends, the fact that it is a typical top-heavy SUV became apparent as there was still body roll.

But at any given moment, the level of comfort, refinement, and smoothness was not compromised at all. In fact, the new Harrier is arguably the smoothest and quietest vehicle we’ve driven in recent times.

Even when driven over uneven surfaces, bumps and lumps were tolerated respectably by the dampers, with little vibration and harshness creeping into the cabin.

Where space is concerned, four lanky individuals can travel comfortably in the new Harrier with adequate head and leg space. Three adults can still fit in the rear seat but they better be prepared for some shoulder rubbing throughout the journey.

What we loved the most about the new Harrier’s cabin is that the quietness is almost Lexus-level. Besides the items rattling in the cubby holes, there was barely any intrusion from the road.

Speaking of cubby holes, there was more than enough space for occupants to store small objects like phones, Smart Tags, keys, and what not.

To store larger things, there was 440 litres of boot space at our service with the rear seats up, which is about the same size as what is offered in the Mazda CX-5.

Conclusion

The Harrier 2.0T from UMW Toyota Motor comes better equipped that reconditioned models but there's a catch - it's also RM100,000 more expensive. No free lunches you see. The extra higher price buys a new car versus a used one. You get a newer and more powerful 2.0-litre turbo engine and 6-speed automatic gearbox powertrain package that delivers 79 PS more than recond units’ 152 PS 2.0-litre engine paired to a CVT.

The list of features is also much longer. While the new Harrier comes with LED lights, sequential signal indicators, Nappa Leather, a panoramic roof, electronic parking brake, and memory seats, recond units don’t offer as much.

Besides that, safety features offered as standard in the new Harrier like the Toyota Safety Sense package are only offered on certain grey imported units.

Lastly, it also comes with a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty. Reconditioned ones don't come with any warranty although some dealers will offer you an option of buying partial warranty (covering major items like powertrain and electronics) from third party aftermarket warranty providers. Like all warranties, it is important that you understand the terms and conditions.

Whether these improvements in UMW Toyota Motor's officially imported Harrier justify the additional six digits worth of precious Ringgits or not is for you to decide.


Mazda Starts CX-5 Production At Hofu Plant, Joins Hiroshima Plant

With the demand for the second-generation Mazda CX-5 building with each new market it launches in, Mazda has started production of the model in its Hofu Plant No. 2, in the Yamagachi Prefecture. Up until this point, this second generation CX-5 was only produced at their home-town Hiroshima plant, alongside production in China and Malaysia (yes, we're one of the few!).
Mazda has lofty goals for this CX-5, with an aim to shift 1.65 million units between March 2017 and March 2019, and outgrowing plant capacity is more than a good sign that they're on track. The Hofu plant is no stranger to crossovers, having taken on the task of producing the CX-3 alongside the Hiroshima plant late last year.
Vehicles and transmissions produced at Hofu Plant
Plant
District
Plant name
Products
Hofu Plant
Nishinoura
Hofu Plant No. 1 (H1)
Mazda3 (Axela in Japan)
Mazda2 (Demio), Mazda CX-3
Hofu Plant No. 2 (H2)
Mazda6 (Atenza),
All-new Mazda CX-5
Nakanoseki

Transmissions (SKYACTIV-Drive, SKYACTIV-MT)
The Hofu Plant was set up in 1981, initially as a transmission production facility, but eventually expanded the following year to begin vehicle production. 10 years on, Hofu Plant No. 2 was set up to assist with vehicle production numbers, and 10 years later they began producing the Mazda 6- the first of Mazda's modern product line.
The all-new locally-assembled Mazda CX-5 was launched just last week, with 5 different model variants ranging from RM134,205.50 to RM174,779.10. Read all about the all-new CX-5 in
our launch article
.


Skim Jual Beli Kereta Sambung Bayar – Sah Atau Salah Di Sisi Undang-Undang Malaysia?

Pernah dengar terma
kereta sambung bayar
? Sebelum anda menjual atau membeli kereta sambung bayar ini, adakah ianya sah di sisi
undang-undang Malaysia
?

Skim Jual Beli Kereta Sambung Bayar

Dalam bahasa mudah, kereta sambung bayar bermaksud kereta yang masih mempunyai hutang pinjaman bank dan dijual kepada pihak ketiga oleh pemilik asal tanpa
menukar hak milik
. Dengan ini, pemilik baharu hanya perlu menyambung bayaran kereta tersebut seperti yang telah dipersetujui oleh pihak bank bagi pihak pemilik asal.

Aktiviti jual beli kereta sambung bayar ini popular di Malaysia kerana ianya menguntungkan penjual dan pembeli. Pembeli hanya perlu membayar kos keseluruhan dan amaun deposit yang jauh lebih rendah berbanding kereta baharu dan kereta terpakai.

Kebanyakan orang memilih untuk membeli kereta sambung bayar kerana ianya lebih mudah berbanding proses jual beli yang rumit dengan pihak bank. Selain itu, penjual kereta sambung bayar pula kebiasaannya berbuat demikian kerana memerlukan wang tunai dengan kadar segera. Meskipun penjualan kereta sambung bayar ini kelihatan sebagai satu tawaran yang menarik, ketahuilah bahawa kenderaan yang masih dalam pinjaman tidak boleh dipindah milik atau diberikan kepada pihak ketiga selagi baki pinjaman keseluruhan belum dijelaskan.

Oleh itu, elakkan daripada terlibat dalam proses jual beli
kereta sambung bayar
 kerana anda akan terdedah dengan pelbagai risiko tidak kiralah sama ada pada penjual mahupun pembeli. Berikut merupakan antara risikonya:

Risiko Kepada Penjual

1. Pembeli Tidak Membayar Ansuran Bulanan

Meskipun pada awalnya ia memberikan wang tunai segera kepada penjual, namun masalah lain akan timbul sekiranya pembeli tersebut gagal membayar ansuran bulanan seperti yang telah dipersetujui. Anda kena faham, kebanyakan pembeli kereta memilik kereta sambung bayar kerana mereka mempunyai rekod kewangan yang kurang baik yang tidak melayakkan mereka untuk mendapatkan
pinjaman
 ataupun mereka telah disenarai hitam oleh pihak bank. Jadi, pemilik asal merupakan orang pertama dan terakhir yang akan diburu oleh pihak bank jika bayaran tidak dijelaskan.

Sekiranya penjual gagal membayar ansuran kereta, mereka akan dilanda masalah seperti:

Skor kredit CCRIS dan CTOS yang terjejas

Kereta ditarik pihak bank

Kereta boleh dilelong dan pemilik asal perlu jelaskan baki hutang

Jika kereta gagal dikesan, bank akan mengemukakan Notis Saman Tuntutan kepada pemilik asal

Notis kebankrapan ke atas pemilik asal

2. Pemilik Asal Masih Bertanggungjawab Sepenuhnya

Segala
saman
 yang dikeluarkan kepada pembeli baharu semasa menggunakan kenderaan tersebut jatuh kepada pemilik asal sahaja. Mengikut bank, kereta tersebut masih lagi dianggap sebagai hak milik pemilik asal. Segala perjanjian bertulis antara pembeli dan penjual tanpa pengetahuan bank adalah tidak sah. Oleh itu, pemilik asal perlu bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya bukan sahaja ke atas bayaran bulanan, tetapi juga ke atas saman-saman tersebut.

Penjualan kereta sambung bayar adalah tidak sah dan salah di sisi undang-undang. Ia telah termaktub dalam Seksyen 38 dan 46 Akta Sewa Beli 1967.

Seksyen 38 Akta Sewa Beli 1967 - Sesiapa yang menjual barang-barang yang dibeli secara perjanjian sewa beli tanpa kebenaran daripada pemunya adalah melakukan kesalahan di bawah akta ini dan jika didapati bersalah boleh dihukum dengan denda tidak melebihi RM10000 atau dipenjarakan tidak melebihi 3 tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Seksyen 46 Akta Sewa Beli 1967 – Sesiapa yang melanggar peruntukan-peruntukan di bawah Akta ini dan jika didapati bersalah boleh dihukum dengan denda tidak melebihi RM3000 atau dipenjarakan tidak melebihi 6 bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali.

3. Kenderaan Digunakan Untuk Aktiviti Jenayah

Sekiranya pembeli baharu nekad untuk menggunakan kenderaan tersebut untuk kegiatan jenayah, pihak berkuasa akan terus mencari pemilik asal, bukanlah pemandu baharu tersebut. Pemilik asal perlu bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya dan menanggung risiko seperti disiasat pihak berkuasa. Ini membuka peluang kepada pemilik asal untuk dituduh bersubahat dan boleh didakwa di mahkamah.

4. Tidak Boleh Lapor Kecurian

Sekiranya pemilik baharu kereta tersebut
membawa lari atau mencuri
 kereta sambung bayar tersebut, pemilik asal tidak boleh melaporkan ia sebagai kes kecurian kerana mengikut Seksyen 378 Kanun Keseksaan, kecurian itu merujuk kepada sesuatu harta yang diambil tanpa kerelaan. Dalam kes ini, bagaimana harus pemilik asal melaporkan kecurian kepada
pihak polis
 apabila pemilik asal yang bersetuju untuk memberikan kenderaan tersebut kepada pemilik baharu?

Walau bagaimanapun, pemilik asal hanya boleh melaporkan kes ini sebagai kes penipuan di bawah Seksyen 420 Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara maksimum 10 tahun, sebat atau denda.

Risiko Kepada Pembeli

1. Kemalangan

Jika kenderaan sambung bayar terlibat dalam kemalangan
total lost
, pembeli baharu tidak akan dilindungi oleh
polisi insurans kereta
 berkenaan. Sebaliknya, pemilik asal pula yang akan menerima segala kos ganti rugi memandangkan beliau masih pemilik yang sah. Ini membawa kerugian kepada pembeli, lebih-lebih lagi setelah membayar ansuran bulanan kereta tersebut. Walaupun nama pembeli baharu boleh ditambah sebagai pemandu kedua dalam polisi insurans, bagaimana pula apabila sekiranya pemilik asal meninggal dunia?

2. Pemilik Asal Meninggal Dunia

Kereta akan jatuh kepada waris secara automatik sekiranya pemilik asal kereta sambung bayar tersebut meninggal dunia. Pihak waris berhak menuntut semula kereta berkenaan daripada pembeli baharu meskipun terdapat perjanjian bertulis antara pembeli dan pemilik asal atau laporan polis. Oleh kerana aktiviti jual beli kereta sambung bayar ini salah dan tidak sah di sisi undang-undang, pihak waris boleh tuntut secara terus tanpa perlu membayar sebarang ganti rugi kepada pembeli baharu tersebut.

3. Pemilik Asal Tuntut Semula Kenderaan

Pemilik asal masih lagi mempunyai kuasa mutlak keatas kenderaan tersebut kerana kereta itu didaftarkan atas nama beliau. Segala perjanjian yang dibuat di belakang tabir tidak sah dan tidak dikira sama sekali oleh undang-undang Malaysia. Pembeli juga tiada hak langsung ke atas kenderaan tersebut meskipun sudah melangsaikan hutang ansuran seperti dijanjikan. Lebih parah, pemilik menuntut kereta setelah ansuran bulanan selesai dijelaskan oleh pembeli. Nak tak nak, terpaksalah pulangkan semula bagi mengelakkan tindakan undang-undang.

Kesimpulannya, elakkan daripada terjebak di dalam skim sambung bayar ini - membeli atau menjual kereta yang masih mempunyai hutang dengan bank salah di sisi undang-undang dan mendatangkan banyak risiko. Untuk pembeli, anda tidak disarankan untuk membeli sesebuah kereta selagi nama pemilik asal tidak ditukarkan kepada nama anda. Jika nama ingin ditukar pemilik asal perlu hadir sendiri ke
JPJ
 dan melakukan pemeriksaan kereta di
PUSPAKOM
 terlebih dahulu. Dengan cara ini, anda berupaya untuk elakkan risiko daripada terbeli
kereta klon
. Bagi penjual pula, fikirlah masak-masak sebelum menjual kereta sambung bayar ini untuk mengelakkan lebih banyak masalah yang menimpa di kemudian hari.

Read more:-

The Easiest And Cheapest Way To Sell Your Car If It Has An Existing Hire Purchase Loan

Book Now, Pay Later, Get Protected by Carlist.my

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.

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Toyota Malaysia Issues Recall For 2018-2019 Hilux And Fortuner Over Brake Booster Issue

Toyota Malaysia recalls 2018-2019 Hilux and Fortuner over possible brake booster issue.

Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT), distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia have issued a Special Service Campaign (SSC) on the
Hilux
 and Fortuner where they would like to inspect the brake booster.

Based on the information received from Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), there are 12,997 units of vehicles involved in this campaign, including 11,571 units of the Hilux and 1,426 units of the Fortuner distributed by UMWT from July 2018 to Jan 2019.

The condition involves the resin pistons in the brake booster of the subjected vehicles where the vehicles could experience compromised braking performance.

To ensure that nobody gets left out UMW Toyota Motor will send an owner notification letter to the affected vehicle owners to have the vehicle rectified at no charge. For those who feel they have not been contacted, to get further information, you may contact any authorised Toyota Service Centre or call the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682).


From 2002Ti To M4 DTM – 50 Years Of BMW Turbocharged Race Engines

Nearly 50-years after first competing, and securing the European Touring Car Championship with turbocharged BMW 2002Ti, BMW will soon return to its spiritual home of motorsport with another turbocharged BMW race car: the BMW M4 DTM.
Homologated for the 2019 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) “Class 1” regulations - the 2019 BMW M4 DTM racer drops its V8 powerplant in favour of a newly minted 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Having successfully completed initial testing at BMW’s Dingolfing Plant, BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt added, “BMW Turbo Power has enjoyed success in motor racing for almost 50 years. In the first year with a BMW turbo engine, back in 1969, Dieter Quester was immediately crowned European touring car champion with the BMW 2002 TI. In 1973, the BMW 2002 turbo became the first German production automobile to feature a turbocharger. We are now adding a new chapter to this story in the DTM,”
Marquardt claims that the most impressive attribute of the engine is its efficiency – despite being considerably more powerful than its predecessor. Since the 2000 DTM season, cars are regulated to run 90-degree naturally-aspirated V8 (32-valve) engines with a maximum capacity of 4.0 litres. The V8 engines developed in excess of 500 hp. For the 2018 season – teams were only allowed to use a ZF six-speed sequential gearbox (with a four-disc carbon race clutch) that drives the rear wheels.
The Class One regulations were developed with the intention of unifying regulations between the DTM Championship and the Japanese Super GT Championship, thus enabling teams to compete in both series. For the 2019 season, two races have been earmarked, one in Europe and another in Asia, to be open to teams from both racing series.


Proton X70 MC1 Facelift Bakal Hadir Dengan Enjin Proton X50 TGDI Flagship?

Proton
 nampak gayanya dalam diam sedang bertungkus-lumus untuk menyiapkan model SUV mereka, Proton X70 MC1 (Minor Change 1) yang dijangka bakal diperkenalkan pada bulan Ogos tahun ini!

Berdasarkan beberapa sumber, Proton X70 MC1 yang dijangka akan dilancarkan pada bulan Ogos tahun ini bakal hadir dengan beberapa perubahan jelas pada bahagian luarnya. Namun perubahan tersebut belum dapat dipastikan pada masa ini.

Antara khabar angin yang menarik adalah mengenai perubahan pada enjinnya di mana enjin 1.8L TGDI pada
Proton X70
 akan digantikan dengan enjin 1.5L TGDI, enjin yang sama yang terdapat pada
Proton X50 Flagship
. Adakah ianya sebuah downgrade? Lihat perbandingan antara kedua-dua enjin ini.

Enjin

Kuasa (PS)

Tork (Nm)

1.5L TGDI, 3 silinder

177

255

1.8L TGDI, 4 silinder

184

300

Pada waktu ini, kedua-dua enjin Proton X70 dan Proton X50 itu diimport dari China. Namun Proton dilaporkan sedang berhempas pulas untuk menghasilkan enjin 1.5L TGDI di kilang mereka yang terletak di Tanjung Malim. Khabarnya, enjin ini bakal menjadi enjin asas bagi model keluaran Proton akan datang.

Berdasarkan laporan ini, ianya bukanlah sesuatu yang mustahil. Malah
Proton X70 di Pakistan
 turut dikhabarkan sudah menggantikan enjin lama dengan enjin tiga silinder ini dengan transmisi 7-kelajuan automatik. Malah Proton X70 akan datang di Thailand turut dijangka bakal hadir dengan enjin yang sama. Negara kita punya X70 MC1 ini tunggu masa sahaja untuk dilancarkan.

Jika perkara ini benar, bolehlah Proton jimat kos penghasilan jika semua kenderaannya menggunakan enjin yang sama. Bukan sahaja jimat duit, malah jimat masa juga. Jadi para pembeli tidak lagi perlu menunggu sehingga setahun untuk mendapatkan kereta! Dapatlah Proton ambil peluang untuk cuba raih kembali sokongan orang ramai yang mula hilang kepercayaan.

Meskipun perubahan jelas di bahagian luaran Proton X70 MC1 ini masih lagi misteri, namun adakah ianya akan kelihatan seperti
Geely Boyue Pro
 yang terdapat di pasaran China?

Seperti yang anda tahu, Proton X70 dibina berdasarkan
Geely Boyue
 hasil kerjasama Proton dan Geely. Di China, Geely Boyue sudah pun menerima versi terbaru atau facelift yang dinamakan Geely Boyue Pro. Jadi apabila terdapat khabar angin seperti Proton sedang menyiapkan model X70 MC1, adakah ianya akan dibina berdasarkan model Geely Boyue Pro?

Beberapa bulan lalu, Geely ada melancarkan model
Boyue edisi Sukan Asia
 yang kelihatan seakan-akan ianya dibina oleh Proton. Antara perubahan yang kelihatan seperti produk Malaysia adalah bahagian Infinite Weave grillnya yang sama dengan X70. Difahamkan, Geely mengambil inspirasi tersebut daripada Proton. Selain itu, model terbabit turut menerima kemasan merah pada bahagian gril hadapan, perumah lampu kabus serta di bahagian sisi kereta yang diilhamkan dari Proton. Pertukaran idea antara Proton dan Geely ini tidak asing lagi.

Walau bagaimanapun, masih tiada apa-apa pengumuman rasmi yang dibuat oleh Proton tentang tarikh pelancaran Proton X70 MC1 ini. Sama-sama kita tunggu dan lihat!

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Honda BR-V vs Mitsubishi XPANDER vs Perodua Aruz vs Toyota Avanza vs Proton Exora - Sub RM100k MPV Battle

There are more choices than ever for sub-RM100k MPVs, but which one is the right one for you?

Since its creation, the Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) has been the answer for many family mobility woes. What was once considered an expensive and out of reach vehicle is no longer the case today.

The surge of affordable sub-RM100k MPVs has truly mobilised families like never before. With high levels of build quality, comfort, and clever space defying seven-seat arrangements, these sub RM100k MPVs can be considered as one of the best gifts to buyers who need more than five seats in their vehicles.

With many options available on the market, it's sometimes difficult to decide which one is best for you and your family, so to help with this conundrum, we thought we would put some of the newest and most popular sub-RM100k MPVs together to see how they stack up against each other.

The newest of these sub-RM100k MPVs is the
Mitsubishi XPANDER
. It has to compete with some titans like the
Perodua Aruz
,
Proton Exora
,
Toyota Avanza
 and the venerable
Honda BR-V
. Does it come out on top? Let's take a look.

Sub-RM100k MPV Battle

Index

Honda

BR-V

Mitsubishi

XPANDER

Toyota

Avanza

Proton

Exora

Perodua

Aruz

MSRP

From RM87k

RM91K

From RM81k

From RM60k

From RM69k

Engine

1.5-litre N/A

1.5-litre N/A

1.5-litre N/A

1.6-litre Turbo

1.5-litre N/A

Transmission

CVT

4-speed Auto

4-speed Auto

CVT

4-speed Auto

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

RWD

FWD

FWD

Fuel Economy

(claimed)

6.5L/100km

4.8L/100km

7.7L/100km

8.3L/100km

6.4L/100km

Horsepower

118hp

104hp

104hp

138hp

104hp

Torque

120Nm

141Nm

136Nm

205

136Nm

0-100km/h

12.2 sec

13.3 sec

13.5 sec

11.3 sec

16.5 sec

Wheels

16"

16"

15"

16"

17"

Dimensions

4,451mm(L)

1,735mm(W)

4,475mm(L)

1,750(W)

4,200mm(L)

1,660(W)

4,592mm(L)

1,809mm(W)

4,435(L)

1,695mm(W)

Airbags

2

2

2

2

6

Safety

ABS/EBD

Stability control

ISOFIX anchors

7x 3-point seat belts

ABS/EBD

Stability control

Hill-start assist

ISOFIX anchors

ABS/EBD

ISOFIX anchors

ABS/EBD

Premium Spec adds ESC

ABS/EBD

Brake assist

VSC

ASA 2.0

Hill-start assist

Hill descent control

ISOFIX  anchors

As you can see from the table above, each of these MPVs really has its own strengths. If safety is of primary concern, go for the Perodua Aruz, if power and space are what you want, go for the Proton Exora, if you want an RWD MPV, go for the Avanza, If you want an MPV that is fuel-efficient, good at everything and not a master of anything go for the BR-V and if you want the best looking and handling out of them all, go for the Mitsubishi XPANDER.

No doubt just by glancing at the table, the Perodua Aruz shines above the rest. Ok, it might not be the fastest MPV on the block, but it pretty much has everything covered as well as excelling in the safety department. It's also the second cheapest car out of the lot, so you're getting a lot of bang for your buck there.

However, you should never buy a car based on specs alone, because sometimes a car just speaks out to you. There is also an emotional element to consider when picking a car to buy, even an MPV. Even though the XPANDER doesn't have all the safety gear of the Aruz, its exterior design is a winner, and sometimes, that's all it takes.


7 Malaysian Teams Vie for Top Spots at Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2017

Over 120 student teams from across Asia, Middle East and Australia will be heading to Singapore to put their self-built fuel-efficient vehicles to the test this month at the Asia leg of Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) 2017.
Representing Malaysia this year are seven teams from five universities – Monash University Malaysia; Multimedia University; Universiti Malaya;Universiti Teknologi MARA; as well as Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Four out of the seven teams competing this year emerged winners at the 2016 competition and will reprise their roles in representing Malaysia, casting the limelight once again on the country for producing some of the youngest innovative talents in science, technology, engineering and energy.
Shell Eco-Marathon is a key platform for youths to develop and showcase their talents in science, technology, engineering, and energy fields. It also serves as an avenue for the region’s youngest and brightest to discover new ways of bringing their ideas to live through creative business, marketing, and communications approaches.
Colin Chin, Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia Technical Director said, “SEM is a platform for talented young innovators from different countries to design, build, and power the most energy efficient vehicle through various energy types, including new energy sources such as hydrogen, GTL, and battery electric.
"The inaugural SEM Asia was held in Malaysia in 2010. Year after year, we see Malaysian students showcase immense creative talent in building energy efficient vehicles that could very well be the future of our automotive industry. This year, we have seven teams from the age of 18-25 representing the country –showcasing the potential of our future engineers. On behalf of Shell Malaysia, I wish them all the very best.”
The 2017 Shell Eco Marathon Teams:


2016 Chevrolet Trailblazer Launched In Thailand

Chevrolet Thailand today launched the all-new Trailblazer seven seater SUV, which is basically the closest ‘sibling’ of the
Colorado pickup truck
 which we have here.
Featuring a redesigned exterior, an upgraded engine, as well as many new features, the Trailblazer’s price in Thailand is:
         Trailblazer 2.5L VGT 4X2 AT LT – 1.2 million THB
         Trailblazer 2.5L VGT 4X2 AT LTZ – 1.37 million THB
         Trailblazer 2.5L VGT 4X4 AT LTZ – 1.47 million THB
According to Chevrolet Thailand, the new Trailbazer is the first SUV in Thailand to come with a remote start function, while other notable features include Apple CarPlay with Siri Eyes Free and windows that open slightly to facilitate door closing.
In terms of safety, the SUV comes with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Alert, Forward Collision Alert, Front & Rear Parking Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Trailer Sway Control, Anti-Rolling Protection and a driver’s knee airbag.
Powering the SUV is an upgraded 2.5L Duramax four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with Variable Geometry Turbocharger which has been tuned to offer better performance, fuel economy and lower emissions.
Besides the new Trailblazer, Chevrolet Thailand is also showcasing
 i
ts complete range of products such as the new Colorado, the Captiva, SUV-C, and the Cruze sedan.
As for the Malaysian market, there hasn’t been any official announcement on whether the Trailblazer will be offered. But since even the previous generation Trailblazer didn't make it to our shores, don't expect the new model to come here.
However, we can still expect the all-new Colorado to make its Malaysian debut in the near future as the model has been around for quite some time now.
Looking for a Chevrolet? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Carlist.my Qualified - Qualifying The Quality Of Our Cars!

As a consumer buying a pre-owned, pre-loved, or second-hand car, one of the most daunting questions is the condition of the car? How do you avoid that? How do you walk away from a dealership safe in the knowledge that you’ve bought a good car at fair value?

Now the above is a question that we at Carlist.my understand only all too well. Being the biggest online automotive portal in the country, with 1.5 million monthly visitors, it is a question that we have been proactively seeking to answer and today we introduce to the market, Carlist.my Qualified.

Being the most prominent automotive marketplace with 65% market penetration also comes with the added responsibility of transparency to both our dealers and consumers. We want our consumers to know that when they are parting with their hard-earned cash that they are getting fair value for the car of their choice be it a Perodua Myvi or a Toyota Alphard.

So, what is Carlist.my Qualified?

In a nutshell, it is an extension of Carlist.my’s value proposition of creating a transparent, trustworthy, and secure environment for consumers to buy cars on our site.

Carlist.my Qualified is the newest addition to Carlist.my’s value added offerings, in partnership with Warranty Smart. Warranty Smart was established in 2013. They are one of Malaysia’s first and leading providers of vehicle warranties, specialising in mechanical breakdowns for vehicles of up to 10 years of age. Warranty Smart provides an additional layer of coverage beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty, in hopes that everyone will feel safe and comfortable owning a car – be it second-hand or reconditioned.

The partnership between Carlist.my and Warranty Smart is a partnership borne out of the shared objective of providing safety and security to car buyers.

Consumers will be able to view a 50-point inspection report before making a purchase. The report will be downloadable online or even viewable physically at the dealership. The report will cover the engine, transmission, braking system, steering mechanism, ECU, and TCU.

The detailed inspection components are as below:

As a consumer, you now have the peace of mind that the above items have been checked and verified by Warranty Smart. The warranty is valid for 6 months upon transfer of ownership and unlimited mileage without a cooling down period. The claim limit is RM5,000 per claim with unlimited aggregate claims during the 6-month warranty period.

The Carlist.my Qualified 6-month warranty works independently of regular car insurance. This way consumers will also have added peace of mind that any faults or repairs in the 6-month period will be covered under warranty allowing consumers to save on unexpected repair costs.

“We introduced Carlist.my Qualified to offer our consumers that surety that you are buying a good value car when you shop at Carlist.my. Consumers can rest assured that when they purchase a car with the Carlist.my Qualified designation, they are buying a car that has undergone a detailed inspection that will come with a warranty after transfer of ownership. This is a market first and a further sign of our commitment to offer our consumers a transparent and trustworthy purchasing experience with Carlist.my” said KY Gan, Managing Director of Carlist.my.

At the moment Carlist.my Qualified is applicable to vehicles that are 10 years old or below with a mileage of 150,000 kilometres and below. Most Japanese and Continental makes will be covered under Carlist.my Qualified.

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

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Carlist.my.

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.


Toyota OuTRun held once again after a 4-year hiatus - RM170k collected donated straight to Cancer Society Malaysia

After 4 years, UMW Toyota Motor welcomed back their popular Toyota OutRun, which took place around the Dataran Merdeka area, last weekend.

The second-ever OutRun saw 4,300 participants tackle either a 5km or 10km course, which saw runners enjoying themselves through popular running destinations such as Bukit Tunku.

The theme for Toyota OutRun 2023 is All for One, Run for All, which is line with UMW Toyota Motor’s new vision of Move Your World. The idea of All for One, Run for All stems from the idea of making running, which is seen as a rather individualistic sport, as something more collective.

President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K. said, “We are delighted to see the overwhelming response and participation for our second Toyota OutRun, which is done on a much larger scale following the success of the first event, back in 2019. As part of our CSR commitment, we have partnered with the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) for this year’s initiative, in which 100% of the registration proceeds, worth about RM170,000, will be donated to them”.

This year’s event is organized on a much larger scale in Dataran Merdeka, filled with fun activities such as a race village, concrete and plant workshop, as well as performances from girl-group De Fam, and Toyota Yaris ambassador, Janna Nick.

Everyone can challenge their own impossible when they run together and empower movement among all communities, says UMW Toyota. Start Your Impossible (SYI) is a campaign that encourages everyone to challenge their own impossible that began in conjunction with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic.

As part of the initiative, UMW Toyota Motor organized their first Toyota OutRun event in 2019 with over 3,000 participants in attendance with the proceeds going to the Paralympic Council of Malaysia.


BMW X6 owner claims Semenyih workshop scrapped his car for parts

A BMW X6 owner has claimed that a workshop in Semenyih has scrapped his car and allegedly stole the components.

Recently reported by
theSun
, Soh Lian Hock sent his
BMW X6
 (2014 model) to the said workshop located in Semenyih for insurance claim purposes after it caught on fire back in 2021.

It took the insurance company close to a year to finally decide to decline the insurance claim and leaving Soh with an RM240,000 loss. The reason? The cause of the fire couldn't be identified by the insurance company, apparently.

Soh then went on to file an appeal by hiring the Forensic Services Malaysia (FSM) to investigate, but when he went to the workshop, the condition of his beloved BMW X6 was way worse than when it initially arrived.

Soh also claimed that almost all of the car components were removed without consent, including the engine, radiator, battery, doors, exhaust, and more. In other words, the BMW X6 has been properly scrapped-out for parts.

The worse part? Officials from the FSM couldn't proceed with further investigations regarding the cause of the vehicle fire as the BMW X6 has obviously been tampered with from all the parts being removed. No report, no insurance claim appeal, no justice.

Following a police report made by Soh regarding the allegedly stolen parts, the workshop owner has been taken into questioning prior to a hearing scheduled this month. We sure hope that justice will prevail for all affected parties involved.


8 Kemungkinan Mengapa Proton Tak Bawa Masuk Geely Preface Ke Malaysia

Katalah apa sahaja yang anda mahu pada Geely, tapi anda tak boleh nafikan bahawa Geely dah banyak membantu Proton dengan pengenalan dua model SUV seperti X70 dan X50 dalam pasaran Malaysia.

Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, sukar untuk kita abaikan Geely memandangkan apa sahaja kereta baharu keluarannya mereka boleh jadi kereta
Proton
 di Malaysia pada masa depan. Kali ini, mari bincang tentang
Geely Preface
, sebuah sedan segmen-D keluaran Geely.

Meskipun model ini dilihat sebagai pengganti sesuai bagi Proton Perdana di pasaran Malaysia, namun ada beberapa sebab yang mungkin membuatkan Proton tidak membawa masuk Geely Preface ini sebagai
sedan segmen-D
 baharu mereka dalam masa terdekat ini.

*Kredit foto: MalaysiaKini

1. Proton Perdana = Kereta Kerajaan

Jika kita lihat pada
Proton Perdana
 yang dibina berdasarkan
Honda Accord
, ianya lebih kerap dilihat di atas jalan sebagai
kereta kerajaan
 berbanding kereta orang awam menandakan peminat sedan segmen-D ini semakin berkurangan. Jadi jika Proton bawa masuk Geely Preface sebagai pengganti Proton Perdana hanya untuk kegunaan penjawat awam, ianya tidak begitu berbaloi untuk diperkenalkan dalam masa terdekat.

2. Peminat Sedan Beralih Ke SUV

Masih ada lagi ke peminat sedan segmen-D di Malaysia? Kebanyakan peminat sedan segmen-D sudah beralih ke
SUV
 sebagai kereta pilihan untuk digunakan seisi keluarga. Kedudukan kereta yang lebih tinggi memudahkan urusan keluar masuk bagi mereka yang berumur berbanding kereta sedan yang lebih rendah. Meskipun harga SUV dan kos penyelenggaraannya sedikit mahal berbanding sedan, namun sudah banyak SUV mampu milik yang ditawarkan di pasaran buat masa ini.

3. Proton Lebih Popular Dengan SUV

Jika sebelum ini Proton perkenalkan 2 model SUV yang dijenamakan semula daripada Geely seperti
Proton X70
 dan
Proton X50
, jumlah tempahan yang mereka terima sampai
tak menang tangan
 hingga dinobat SUV paling popular untuk
segmen-B dan segmen-C
. Sehingga kini ada yang masih sabar menunggu Proton X50 yang ditempah untuk sampai ke dakapan mereka. Ini menunjukkan Proton sudah berjaya mendominasi pasaran SUV mampu milik di Malaysia dengan hanya memperkenalkan 2 model. Jadi mengapa mereka perlu fokus pada area yang tidak mempunyai ramai pengikut seperti sedan segmen-D?

4. Sedan Segmen-B Lebih Sesuai

Sedan segmen-B dilihat sebagai pilihan yang paling sesuai untuk diperkenalkan oleh Proton buat masa ini. Sebagai contoh,
Geely Emgrand
 akan memberi impak dan penerimaan yang lebih besar sebagai
pengganti Proton Persona
 berbanding Geely Preface sebagai pengganti Proton Perdana. Sedan segmen-B sering menjadi pilihan utama oleh kerana faktor harganya yang lebih mampu milik dengan ciri-ciri keselesaan dan keselamatan terkini. Jika ciri-ciri yang ada pada Preface boleh didapati pada Emgrand, mengapa bayar lebih?

5. Harga

faktor harga amat sensitif di Malaysia. Jika sesebuah kereta yang ditawarkan itu terlalu mahal, orang ramai akan memilih kereta lain yang menawarkan ciri-ciri yang sama dengan harga yang lebih rendah. Kebanyakan harga bagi sedan segmen-D berada hampir dengan RM200k berbanding RM150k. Dengan harga demikian, anda boleh dapatkan
SUV segmen B
 yang lebih menarik dengan harga yang lebih murah. Lebih baik perkenalkan sedan segmen-B berbanding sedan segmen-D.

6. Bukan Dalam Masa Terdekat

Kalau ikut timeline Proton, memang di patut keluarkan 2 sedan pada tahun ini dan tahun berikutnya. Namun akibat pandemik, pelan mereka terpaksa ditangguhkan. Memandangkan industri automotif seperti Proton banyak terkesan ketika penutupan kilang dan bilik pameran ketika PKP, mereka amat memerlukan sumber kewangan yang kukuh untuk merancakkan semula ekonomi syarikat. Jadi mengapa Proton perlu perkenalkan model yang belum tentu ramai nak beli? Lebih baik dia fokus pada pengganti
Iriz atau Persona
 yang lebih diterima umum berbanding Perdana.

7. Trend SUV

Buat masa ini, bukan sekadar orang berumur sahaja yang beralih ke SUV, malah anak muda pun turut berminat dengan SUV kerana menawarkan rupa bentuk yang sporty selain lebih praktikal bagi mereka yang mempunyai gaya hidup aktif. Kebanyakan SUV tidak lagi kelihatan seperti
Mitsubishi Pajero
 generasi pertama di mana reka bentuknya kini lebih cantik sehingga mampu menarik golongan berumur dan muda untuk memilih SUV berbanding sedan. Tambahan pula, penerimaan SUV yang semakin mencanak naik di Malaysia telah membuatkan pengeluar automotif untuk memberi lebih banyak pilihan SUV dalam pasaran negara ini.

8. Sedan Segmen-D Tak Banyak Pilihan

Sedan segmen-D di Malaysia tidak mempunyai begitu banyak pilihan membuatkan harganya tidak sebegitu kompetitif berbanding harga SUV. Untuk SUV, ada pelbagai pilihan segmen dan spesifikasi mengikut kos anda. Malah jika tidak mampu untuk membeli SUV baharu, ada banyak lagi SUV terpakai yang boleh ada cari.

Berikut merupakan antara 8 kemungkinan kenapa Proton tidak akan membawa masuk Geely Preface sebagai sedan segmen-D keluaran mereka dalam masa terdekat. Sebagai pengguna kereta, sejujurnya adakah anda rasa kemasukan Geely Preface ke pasaran Malaysia melalui Proton merupakan satu keputusan yang tepat pada waktu ini? Kongsikan dengan kami!


PM Anwar pushing ministry to draw up better public transport infrastructure framework

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announces that the Transport Ministry is preparing a comprehensive public transportation framework.

With the increasing amount of
road congestion urbanistes face these days
, it's no surprise that Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is pushing for better infrastructure for our public transportation system.

Anwar recently annouced that Transport Minister Anthony Loke is preparing a comprehensive public transportation framework.

According to Malay Mail's report, Anwar said that once it is ready the framework will be presented to the Cabinet for its implementation.

“I would like to once again thank the transport minister who is preparing a more comprehensive framework and strategy for public transportation that will be presented to the Cabinet and will then be implemented in stages,” Anwar said in his speech at the recent launch of the Putrajaya Mass Rapid Transit Line (MRT2) Phase Two.

He agreed with Loke that public transportation should be top priority to help ease commuting woes, as the public transportation system is not up to scratch.

Anwar said there would be a better budget allocation for public transportation next year, which has had to take a backseat to help improve education and healthcare this year.

He also said that traffic congestion issues could impact the country’s productivity, citing a study from Bangkok that he had read.

This newly-formed Cabinet committee will be chaired by our Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Together with other Cabinet ministers, they will look into ways of resolving traffic congestion issues as well as other pertaining matters in relation to public transportation.


Ford Mustang To Double Down On Crazy AWD Electric Performance

Face it, ’Mustang’ is a bloody great name for a car, and over the past 60 years since the car’s inception, it has now grown into a respected and well known global brand on its own.
Ford
 mainly has the current-generation S550 version of the pony car to thank for this success, the first to be sold outside North American and in right-hand drive markets.

Since 2016, you could even buy one in Malaysia directly from Ford via Sime Darby Auto Connexion - even the 5.0-litre V8 Mustang GT - what a time to be alive! And it was the same story for a number of other overseas markets. Unsurprisingly, the car has gone from an American niche to one of the most popular sports cars of the past decade.

So strong is the brand, it’s actually a challenge to find Ford’s blue oval logo inside our out, replaced by the iconic galloping horse. But now the time has come to 'cash in', so to speak, on the significant leverage the name has accrued.

The direction the company has chosen to spend this currency looks to be in tackling the premium EV boom and establishing Mustang as a range of their future-facing cars that combine luxury with performance and lifestyle appeal. I mean, how else do we explain the Mustang Mach E, a fully electric crossover that, again, doesn’t bear the Ford logo anywhere obvious and is in direct competition with the Tesla Model X, Audi e-tron, and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

With a 98.8kWh lithium ion battery and dual electric motors, the five-seater SUV-ish thing claims to output 460hp and drag itself from standstill to 97km/h in under 3 seconds, way quicker than even the newest 760hp Mustang GT500.

Where it gets interesting is that this isn’t a single aberration, instead the Mach-E is just the start of a brave new world for Mustang, and it isn’t shy about breaking tradition.

Ford’s 1,400hp Electric Mustang Cobra Jet

Before you ask, it’s a one-off prototype, but every inch a real car made to demonstrate the potential of electric high performance, and there is perhaps no bolder showcase of this than by creating a Cobra Jet version void of internal combustion.

For those unfamiliar, Ford has been producing factory-built non-street legal versions of their Mustangs specifically for drag racing competition for decades and in limited quantities, usually affixed with a motorsports-grade interior and safety equipment, fat rear tyres, reworked chassis and suspension, and a bonkers supercharged V8. Obviously, there’s also a parachute included.

The most recent production evolution of the Cobra Jet is so powerful that there aren’t any official numbers, but its widely accepted that its 5.2-litre V8 produces close to 1,000hp thanks to a massive 3.0-litre Whipple supercharger and other modifications. It demolishes the quarter mile in around 8.5 seconds.

You’d probably have a hard time telling these two apart, but the fully electric Cobra Jet is a few tenths quicker at just over 8 seconds to finish the quarter mile, delivering close to 1,500Nm of instant torque to those rear tyres.

Next Mustang Goes Hybrid And AWD?

As recent as the S550 Mustang seems, it’s now already 6 years old with a brand new replacement already well into development. With the Mach-E to enter mass production in the coming months and the Cobra Jet as a clear statement of intent, attention has turned to the template-setting two-door coupe and convertible models with the next-generation car likely to feature electrified powertrains, both hybrid and full EV.

Ford has already announced plans to launch a total of 18 mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models by 2022, and sources have told UK’s Autocar that the next Mustang is an important figurehead for this transformative roll-out.

Crucially, this could initially materialise as the first all-wheel drive Mustang, in line with a 2017 patent filing that showed a
“twin-motor drive system for a hybrid vehicle”
. This, paired a V8 engine in a conventional rear-drive layout would aid a pair of electric motors at the front for additional traction and torque vectoring.

While any alteration to the traditional ways could be viewed as an insult, this hybrid approach could be a happy compromise that only minimally dilutes the muscle car recipe. Diehard fans of the Ford V8 will still get their fix, eco-minded owners will appreciate the car’s improved economy, and speed lovers will surely love the dynamic advantages of all-wheel drive and the dual-motor’s instant and unrelenting torque.

Theoretically, with the electric bits only bothering the front axle, it could even be possible to disable them entirely and effectively turn the car back to being rear-drive only, if temporarily. And Ford does have a history of including a 'Drift Mode' in their cars.

The S650 (its rumoured internal codename) will have to work extra hard to keep its favour with the fans that made it so successful in the first place. Ford will not want to mess with the overall look too much so it should resemble today’s Mustang quite heavily, retaining the retro touches and muscle car cues.

——

Like a lot of sports cars today, the move to electrification seems to already be well underway, but automakers seem to be quite aware that its implementation needs to be done in small doses. However, there’s no denying the enormous performance potential here.

In a car as steeped in history as the ‘Stang, though, capitalising on those benefits might be much tricker than most. Then again, we do already have the Mach-E, a fully electrified crossover bearing the sacred Mustang name and yet there hasn’t been mass revolt, so maybe the hardest part is over.


NZ Wheels And MBM Host Accident Management Workshop For Insurance Companies And Adjusters

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), along with its authorized dealer NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd, recently hosted an Accident Management Insurance Workshop at the NZ Wheels Klang Autohaus.
Aimed at ensuring peace of mind among Mercedes-Benz owners, the Accident Management Insurance Workshop, which was formulated by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia for insurance and adjuster companies, saw an attendance of over 80 participants from the insurance and adjuster fraternity.
The workshop featured information sharing, and live demonstration sessions to showcase the latest Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe and Safety Features, as well as the latest Mercedes-Benz body and paint repair processes including the techniques, technologies, and cost estimation tools.
“We understand the needs and concerns of our customers especially after unexpected occurrences. Thus, we periodically organise workshops such as the Mercedes-Benz Accident Management Insurance Workshop to ensure our customers receive the best assistance,” said R. Devaraju, Deputy Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings.
One of the main highlights of the workshop was that Andreas Roehl, Senior Accident Management Specialist, Daimler AG, flew in from the Mercedes-Benz Headquarters in Germany to conduct a special demonstration on the latest Body and Paint repair process and techniques to the workshop participants.
Currently, the Mercedes-Benz Accident Management Total Solution programme provides customers with extensive services that cover 24-hour roadside assistance, towing service, solving insurance claims, as well as factory standard repairs for Mercedes-Benz vehicles by authorised Mercedes-Benz body and paint centres certified by Daimler Global service and parts.


Audi Giving Discounts Of Up To RM137,000 For The A6L

You know the market is in for a downturn when China is in for a downturn, and you know China is in for a downturn when the number one premium car maker in China is also throwing
discounts
.
Not the average discounts mind you, a staggering discount of RMB 200,000 (RM137,000) for the A6L 50 TFSI, which retails for RMB 742,000 (RM508,000); and now on offer for RMB 542,000 (RM371,000). What is interesting, is that the reduction in itself is what one would pay for a 2.4 litre Chevrolet Malibu, which is also on discount for up to RMB 35,000 (RM 23,980) and -wait for it - for a year 2014 stock!
Other premium brands like Mercedes-Benz, which had a stellar 2015 globally, is also giving big discounts for some of their models, such as this GLK, which goes for RMB 80,000 (RM 54,000) less. Albeit the unsuccessful GLK is a, 'to be discontinued' model, replaced by the smaller GLA and the larger GLC this year.
Now the lot of you must be wondering "What the hell is an Audi A6 50 TFSI?" Well in China, the naturally aspirated FSI engines are still pretty much in use everywhere, with nomenclatures of 30 FSI, 35 FSI. So when Audi introduced the 2.0 TFSI, they just named it TFSI. By the time the 3.0 TFSI engine was introduced, in order to show that it has more number bragging rights, they used the 50 TFSI to denote tht it is equivalent to that of a large 5.0 litre engine.