Review: Renault Captur – The Little Renault That Could

If we look at the global car market lately, Renault has come up with a few really good looking vehicles. In fact, models like the new Megane and the Koleos are among the best looking in their respective classes.
And thanks to the Renault-Nissan alliance which came into the picture in 1999, good old French flair has met a touch of Japanese reliability, translating into somewhat reliable vehicles. Yes, you read that right – we just put “French” and “reliable” in the same sentence.
However, even though the bigger, more capable models like the Megane and the Koleos may get the bigger share of the limelight, the bestseller is actually the smaller sibling: the Captur compact SUV.
Unveiled in 2013, the Captur is not only Renault’s most popular model in the UK, but also the best-selling model in its segment in Europe, a feat which it achieved within a year after its world premiere.
By the end of 2015, the Captur became one of the best-selling crossovers in Europe with total sales of 195,323 units.
Even in Malaysia, the Captur’s presence on the road has slowly, but surely grown over the past few years.
So, since it has been a successful five years since the Captur made its debut, it was only right that Renault gave it the much deserved update in an effort to continue the success story, which brings us to the
facelifted version
 which we got our hands on recently.
Specifications
Engine: 1.2-litre turbocharged inline-four, petrol
Transmission: 6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission, FWD
Max Power: 120 hp at 4,900 rpm
Max Torque: 190 Nm at 2,000 rpm
Price: RM102,884 OTR without insurance
Origin: Assembled in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur
Overview
TC Euro Cars (TCEC), the authorised distributor of Renault vehicles in Malaysia took the wraps off the updated Captur in March this year, featuring new cosmetic updates, new features, as well as a value-added maintenance package.
Only one variant is offered here in Malaysia, which is the locally assembled 1.2-litre turbocharged version which goes for RM102,844 (OTR without insurance).
Renault Malaysia offers the new Captur with a 5-year unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty and five-year free maintenance, inclusive of parts and labour.
The service also covers 24 hours roadside assistance, free pick-up service for scheduled maintenance and alternative transport arrangements in the event the customer’s car is required to be at the service centre for more than 48 hours. Now, how is that for customer service?
Exterior
Based on the 4th generation Clio, the Captur measures 4,122 mm in length, 1,778 mm in width, and 1,566 mm in height, and comes with a 2,606 mm-long wheelbase.
This is how the Captur measures against its competitors:
Size wise, the Captur remains the same as before but there are many new features such as a redesigned front bumper with C-Shaped DRLs and LED foglamps integrated into the lower regions of the bumper, a repositioned license plate holder, re-designed 17-inch alloys, and larger wing mirrors.
Round the back, the new Captur sports a re-designed rear bumper and new taillamps that beam a 3D-like graphic signature when illuminated. The trim panel above the license plate holder is also body coloured now, previously being finished in chrome.
Renault Malaysia has also introduced three new colour options – Atacama Orange, Ocean Blue, and Pearl White, which will be joining the existing Flame Red. All body colour options are contrasted with the Diamond Black roof colour.
According to Renault, the main aim of the update was to make the Captur look and feel more premium, as one of the biggest grumbles from customers was that it lacked the plushness a vehicle in its price range should offer.
Looking at the changes that have gone into the crossover, we think that Renault has succeeded in their mission as the aesthetic updates like the new wheel design and the two-tone paintjob definitely make the Captur look more expensive than the pre-facelift model.
It also looks sporty enough that a big burly man can drive it without being laughed at, or asked “
eh,
 why are you driving your sister or daughter’s car around?”
Interior
Similar to the exterior, changes in the Captur’s cabin are discreet but those who have been in the pre-facelift model will surely be able to notice and feel the difference.
Gone are the old fabric seats, replaced by new ones clad in combination leather. The new steering wheel, which has been taken from the Clio, also has a better feel to it.
The door panels and the upper sections of the dashboard are new as well, finished in a high-quality soft-touch plastic with contrasting stitching.
And then, we have the storage compartment atop the dashboard which has been redesigned to be more user-friendly with a button to open it, compared to the push-to-open mechanism before this.
Speaking of storage, the Captur offers 455 litres of boot space, and if you want more, you can either slide the rear seats forward to expand the boot, or just fold the seats to have 1,255 litres.
That aside, there are plenty of compartments to store objects like bottles, phones, keys, and everything in between. However, there is no centre-console between the front seats, which is rather disappointing. 8 out of 10 cars out there have it, so why not? More storage space is always good news, no?
Infotainment was being handled by the MediaNav multimedia system with a seven-inch touchscreen with navigation, AUX, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. It was quite easy to use, and came with a decent set of speakers but the audio quality is still not as good as the one in the Ford Ecosport or the Peugeot 2008.
Further adding to our convenience was the reverse camera, keyless entry and ignition, auto headlights, and auto wipers. As for safety equipment, items on the list include four airbags, ESC, and hill-start assist.
All that aside, there is more than enough head and legroom for four adults. Complemented by the upright seating position, the Captur offers good level of visibility and comfort for rear occupants.
Driving it
Under the hood of the Captur lies the same 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo engine as before, producing 120 hp and 190 Nm of torque. It is paired to a 6-speed dual clutch transmission which sends the power to the front wheels.
There has not been any mechanical update on the Captur, which means that there is still room for improvements.
Even though it is a vehicle that was made for the city, the Captur actually felt at home only once we reached the highways at higher speed. Not only was there plenty of mid-range torque, but the crossover felt quite composed and balanced as well.
In the city however, driving the Captur wasn’t as enjoyable as we thought it would be due to factors like turbo lag, the infamous “dual-clutch jerking”, and the amount of engine noise that was making its way into the cabin during acceleration.
Despite the engine noise, the Captur gets up to highway speed with ease and cruises at about 120 to 130km/h comfortably, which actually makes it good for long distance travelling. Even when we were driving through corners, it felt more planted than we expected and showed an impressive level of composure.
In terms of fuel consumption, we recorded an average consumption of 9.2-litres/100km, although Renault claims that the Captur is capable of reaching 5.4-litres/100km. We could have got better readings in Eco mode but we decided to just drive it normally to see what happens.
Conclusion
Overall, the Captur, like most cars out there, has its ups and downs. On the plus side, the aesthetic updates have given it a more premium look and feel, and there is no need for owners to worry about maintenance for 5 years as Renault Malaysia is offering quite an extensive warranty package for the Captur.
In terms of reliability, the Captur has been out there for five years now and it is the most popular vehicle in its segment in Europe. The fact that we are seeing more Capturs on the road in Malaysia also says something about it, doesn’t it?
Despite being a small crossover, it offers decent amount of space for four adults, and proves to be a practical vehicle with features like the 60:40 split folding rear seats that can be slid forward to make more space, a spacious boot, and a comfortable cabin which looks and feels more premium than before.
On the downside, it is not the sportiest crossover to drive in town, and the list of gadgetry offered is quite basic compared to its rivals like the Peugeot 2008. Cabin refinement could've been better as well.
But on the bright side, the Captur is a sensible choice for those looking for a good looking, practical compact SUV between RM100,000 to RM110,000 which can also be taken long distance once in awhile.
Plus, at this price point, the Captur stands out from all the HR-Vs, and comes with arguably the best after sales service package in town with the "5inCaptur" scheme, which includes 5 years (unlimited mileage) full manufacturer's warranty, 5 years/100,000 km service package inclusive of the parts and labour, pick-up and return service during scheduled maintenance, and 24 hours roadside assistance.


All-New Toyota Crown Introduced In Japan, Connectivity Services As Standard

Toyota has introduced the fifteenth generation Crown in Japan, continuing the nameplate that was first introduced back in 1955.
The all-new Crown’s key highlight is its dedicated Data Communication Module (DCM) that comes as standard fitment for all variants, bringing 24/7 vehicle connectivity to a whole new level. Toyota’s T-Connect Service, on the other hand, is offered free of charge for the first three years.
Amongst the services offered are :
e-Care Driving Guidance – Call Centre or dealer will provide guidance to drivers when warning lights are activated, according to information transmitted from the vehicle.
e-Care Health Check Report – Drivers can use their smartphone to check the engine oil level and smart key battery level when warning lights are activated. Dealers will also provide maintenance guidance to drivers based on vehicle data.
Connected Maintenance Package – Offers maintenance at optimal timing based on vehicle mileage on top of periodic inspections
Helpnet – Similar to the emergency call function that 's available in all BMW models sold by BMW Group Malaysia, dedicated operators will connect drivers with emergency services when an accident occurs.
Toyota Connected Car Insurance Plan – Insurance rate is calculated based on the driver’s driving style, obtained by data from the vehicle.
Operator Service – Drivers can utilize this service to set destinations in the navigation system or set a restaurant reservation.
Agent (Voice Recognition Service) – Various parameters, including destination setting, news, and weather searches can be done via voice command, which can be activated via the vehicle’s on-board navigation system or Agent.
Hybrid Navigation – The Crown’s navigation will pull live traffic information from Toyota Smart Center, allowing for a more effective navigation.
Line My Car Account – Drivers can set navigation destinations via the Line app and receive information during the journey, such as fuel level and weather.
As for the Toyota T-Connect Service, below are some of the features included :
Driving Diagnoses – Driving patterns are transmitted to the driver’s smartphone and is coordinated with an insurance plan where the premium is calculated based on driving style.
My Car Security – Drivers can check, via their smartphone, the status of their vehicle, including door and trunk status, hazard lights, and auto alarm. Drivers can also lock the door and turn off the hazard lights through the app.
On-board vehicle technology aside, the all-new Toyota Crown is also the first Toyota model to be equipped with the company’s 3.5-litre V6 with the Multi-stage Hybrid System, first fitted on the Lexus LC 500h and LS 500h. The V6 engine in the all-new Crown does 299 PS and 356 Nm, while the electric motor contributes another 180 PS and 300 Nm. Combined system output is 359 PS.
The second engine choice is a 2.5-litre Dynamic Force hybrid engine. This new engine does 184 PS and 221 Nm, aided by an electric motor that outputs 143 PS and 300 Nm, allowing for a combined system output of 226 PS. Under the JC08 test cycle, the Dynamic Force-equipped Crown returns 24 km/L.
If hybrids are not your thing, the all-new Toyota Crown can also be had with a 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine that does 245 PS and 350 Nm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic.
Various trim levels are offered with the all-new Crown, including the sportier RS Grade. RS Grade Crown variants are fitted with 5-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, plus specially-tuned front stabilizer bars. Adaptive Variable Suspension, rear performance damper, rear floor brace, and a rear spoiler help complete the handling aspects of the all-new Crown.
Toyota’s second-generation Safety Sense is also fitted as standard to all Crown models. The second-generation Safety Sense package includes :
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
Automatic High Beam (AHB)
Adaptive High Beam System (AHS)
Road Sign Assist (RSA)
Rear Cross Traffic Auto Brake
Prices start from JPY 4,606,200 for the base Crown B Grade, climbing all the way up to JPY 7,187,400 for the Crown G-Executive.
The company aims to shift 4,500 units of the all-new Crown in Japan per month. The all-new Toyota Crown will be assembled at Toyota’s Motomachi plant alongside the Mark X and Estima.


Sistem Ekzos Kereta Anda Mungkin Bocor? Kenali 5 Tanda Ini

Jika anda tidak mengambil berat tentang penjagaan
ekzos kereta
 (seperti penulis), kemungkinan sistem ekzos kereta boleh bocor, rosak atau bermasalah.

Sistem ekzos kereta
 direka untuk memastikan pelepasan bahan kimia berbahaya yang dihasilkan oleh kereta berada pada tahap yang selamat. Ini bertujuan memastikan jumlah pengeluaran gas mengikut standard ditetapkan sesebuah negara yang mana ia seharusnya kurang membahayakan manusia dan alam sekitar.

Kebocoran sistem ekzos boleh menjejaskan kesihatan dan membahayakan nyawa pemandu dan penumpang sekiranya dihidu secara berterusan sepanjang pemanduan.

Di sini kami senaraikan 5 tanda sistem ekzos kereta anda mungkin mengalami masalah kebocoran.

1. Bunyi ekzos semakin kuat

Kereta yang mengalami kebocoran ekzos biasanya akan
menghasilkan bunyi yang kuat
 terutamanya semasa memecut. Lazimnya, bunyi yang terhasil berbeza mengikut saiz kebocoran - biasanya kebocoran kecil menghasilkan bunyi seperti siulan atau angin, manakala kebocoran besar menghasilkan bunyi yang lebih kuat seperti bunyi enjin motobot.

Biasanya, bunyi ini terhasil lebih kuat semasa enjin dalam keadaan sejuk atau semasa anda memecut kenderaan. Berdasarkan bunyi biasa kereta anda, sekiranya anda terdengar bunyi yang berbeza, segeralah bawa kereta anda untuk
diperiksa di bengkel
. Tidak semua bunyi menandakan sistem ekzos mengalami masalah jadi lebih baik terus diperiksa sebelum menjadi lebih parah nanti.

2. Terhidu bau asap

Jika sistem ekzos mengalami kebocoran, ia akan menghasilkan bau yang menyengat hidung macam
bau diesel atau petrol terbakar
. Bau ini adalah gas karbon dioksida (CO2) yang akan memasuki ruangan kabin kereta dan boleh mendatangkan bahaya jika dihidu secara berterusan.

Namun, yang paling bahaya ialah jika ekzos mengalami kebocoran gas karbon monoksida (CO) kerana gas ini tidak berwarna dan tidak berbau, tapi ia beracun!

Disebabkan itulah anda
tidak dibenarkan untuk tidur dalam kereta
 dengan menghidupkan enjin, kerana pengumpulan CO dalam ruang kabin boleh menurunkan paras oksigen dalam kenderaan, sekaligus boleh mengakibatkan
sudden death
 atau mati lemas.

3. Gegaran pada pedal minyak

Gegaran pedal minyak boleh berlaku walaupun ada kebocoran kecil. Gegaran itu pula berkadar langsung dengan saiz kebocoran paip ekzos. Semakin besar saiz bocor, maka semakin teruk pedal minyak bergegar.

Penulis sendiri mengalami simptom ini dan apabila dibiarkan, gegaran itu dirasai sampai ke bahagian stereng dan lantai kereta. Gegaran dan bunyi yang terhasil seakan kereta nak roboh! Semuanya berpunca akibat paip ekzos bocor.

4. Kuasa pecutan berkurangan

Jika berlaku kebocoran dalam sistem ekzos, ia secara tidak langsung akan menyebabkan
prestasi enjin merosot
. Apabila enjin mula kehilangan kuasa, ini akan mengurangkan kuasa pecutan kereta anda. Bila nak memecut, rasa seperti tidak ‘lepas’ walau sudah tekan pedal minyak sehingga ke lantai!

5. Penggunaan bahan api meningkat

Apabila kita menekan pedal minyak dengan lebih kuat akibat kuasa pecutan yang semakin lemah, ia sekaligus telah meningkatkan
penggunaan bahan api
 untuk memberikan tenaga yang diperlukan kenderaan.

Hasilnya, penggunaan petrol kereta anda akan semakin banyak terbakar melebihi kadar biasa sebelum berlakunya kebocoran pada ekzos. Jangan salahkan kereta anda kuat makan minyak yer, sebaiknya hantar ke bengkel untuk pemeriksaan lanjut.

Beri perhatian dan ambil peduli sekiranya terdapat sebarang perbezaan ketika memandu kereta anda. Yang penting, jangan abaikan tanda-tanda di atas kerana masalah kebocoran yang kecil boleh menjadi lebih parah apabila dibiarkan.


Tan Chong Group Gets Into CNY Fever With New Music Video

In an effort to wish their customers and fellow Malaysians a very happy Chinese New Year, as well as to get into festive spirit, the Tan Chong Group has released a new music video titled “New Year, New Hopes”.
Besides showcasing various models from the brands under the Tan Chong Group such as Nissan with the Serena S Hybrid, Navara, and the Almera, Renault with the Koleos, and the Infiniti Q60, the music video also highlights the importance of uniting with our loved ones, and welcoming different cultures into our lives.
Having said that, the "New Year, New Hopes" music video is a must watch for all Nissan owners who will be celebrating the Chinese New Year.


Toyota Hits The Track With Their New Corolla Sport For BTCC

Making cars fun to drive (again) was only the first step of Akio Toyoda's master plan. Ultimately the plan was to get Toyota back into motorsport, which in turns becomes a bit of a self-sustaining machine of motorsport-inspired machines that get developed for motorsports, which in turn breeds more motorsport-inspired machines. You've seen their GT86 spawn its own one-make races, and you've seen the Yaris become one of the more successful rally machines in the last few years.
The GR Supra is slated for JGTC usage in the coming years, but a little closer to seeing competition is the Corolla Sport in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). This will be its first season, although not the first time the Corolla name has seen usage in touring car racing. Hatchbacks and wagons tend to have an advantage in this series, which in turn makes the Corolla Sport the more effective choice over its sedan sister.
Piloting the machine at Oulton Park was Tom Ingram, who's no stranger to racing for Toyota in the BTCC. He's also the reigning champion in the BTCC, thanks largely in part to consistent performance through the series. This debut track outing for the Corolla coincides with the start of sales for the Corolla Sport in the UK. As shakedowns go this was fairly par for the course, with stress testing the systems being the focus in order to make sure the car can take a full race stint.
Despite overall positive feedback and results from the session, there's still a lot of work left to do - as is the case for many race teams, and with only one month left before the first race of the BTCC season, it's no surprise that the team is trying to cram in as much testing as possible to work out any possible kinks and develop a better sense of how the car behaves with various different adjustments.
There's no word on what engine Toyota is using, as it could very well be the supplied engine as per BTCC regulations, or it could be their own developed 3ZR engine that they used in the Avensis with which they competed over the last few years. The regulations state that the powertrain needs to be a turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder engine that's currently a part of the model lineup, using the same common turbo and intercooler as per regulations and mated with a six-speed sequential gearbox as per regulations.


Students In The US To Learn Physics With The Help Of A Porsche 911

How do you explain the difference between speed and acceleration to school children learning physics?
Surely there can be no better way than with the help of a Porsche 911. This is why Porsche invited the Georgia Public Broadcasting Institute over to the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta to film two video tutorials on “
Speed and acceleration
”, and “
Acceleration and kinematic equations
”.
According to Porsche, they were both intended as part of a much longer series comprising several teaching units for all middle schools and high schools in the US state of Georgia.
They all feature the 911 driving around One Porsche Drive to demonstrate the different ways of calculating movement in kinematics.
According to Porsche, the 911 was chosen for this initiative because it has been the centrepiece of the Porsche brand. It is also one of the most successful sports cars in the world, with over one million units having already been built.
Many of the innovations brought to life for the first time in the Porsche 911 stem from the race course, and since the 911 is all about the thrill of speed and acceleration, it is the perfect object of study for eager physics students.
Having said that, we hope this method will be used to teach physics in other parts of the world in the future as it will really help students pass their papers with flying colours.


City Police launch operation to Improve compliance with traffic laws, no "Kautim" this time!

The Malaysian city police have initiated an operation aimed at ensuring motorists adhere to traffic laws.

The city police chief, Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, expressed the need for the operation, citing the lax attitude of road users towards rules and regulations.

The objective is to restore the dignity of road laws and set an example for other states to follow. Alongside the operation, the police plan to visit schools to educate and instill good values in children, with discussions to be held with the Education Ministry.

The operation includes conducting checkpoints and taking action against offenders, even during peak hours. They are not messing around as The Star's report exemplified how they would be treating the matter.

"In Bukit Bintang, a driver caught the ire of the enforcement team after he started blaring his horn excessively at another vehicle near a traffic stop as the light had turned yellow. Unknown to him, Comm Shuhaily was standing right next to him with members of the media as they were walking from a nearby traffic crossing".

Picture credit: Maukerja

"It was believed that the driver had vented his anger as the vehicle in front of him had blocked his chance to pass the junction.Traffic police quickly swarmed in to pull both drivers to the side".

"Soon after, another driver was also caught trying to beat the red light. At another checkpoint in Taman Desa Aman, a motorcyclist and a pillion rider, who were spotted riding without their helmets on, have been slapped with a summons each. For the first time, such an operation was carried out during peak hours in the city".

 Comm Mohd Shuhaily emphasized that no discounts for traffic compounds would be given, as the goal is to restore national dignity and promote a responsible driving culture.

The operation aims to improve road user behaviour and make the capital city a model metropolitan area in terms of traffic compliance.


Can The Haval Cool Dog Be The Alpha SUV In Malaysia?

Things that Great Wall Motors is known for: many different ‘specialised’ brands, and a comic obliviousness to how corny their car names sound. Case in point, say hello to the Haval Cool Dog.

It looks pretty funky, isn't it (P.S they also have a car called the Ora Funky Cat,
called the Good Cat
 when it comes to Malaysia)? The Cool Dog clearly takes inspiration from boxier, ruggedised SUVs and off-roaders such as the Jeep Cherokee, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, Hummer, the Ford Bronco, and hey maybe even the 4th-generation Suzuki Jimny.

Personally, especially given the colour combo, it puts this writer in mind of the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Not a bad look at all.

Haval Cool Dog - Soon to be Top Dog?

GWM, as they’ve recently announced, will be
coming to Malaysia in force
 with an arsenal comprising of various SUVs from Haval
and Tank
, pickup trucks from POER, and electric vehicles from Ora. There’s also a slim chance that the Cool Dog will be included in that line-up.

Though it may look bigger and bulkier in pictures, its overall length is just about exactly the same as the Proton X70, though it is a fair bit wider (due to those flared fenders) and taller in order to maintain that go-anywhere look.

In China, Haval’s catalogue also includes a bigger brother to the Cool Dog called, fittingly, the Big Dog. Larger and in-charge-er, it even has its different variants named after different breeds of dog such as Husky or Belgian Shepherd

Haval Cool Dog Specifications

Back to the Cool Dog, its powertrain isn’t exactly out of the norm either with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine mated to 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, though it’s got nothing to do with
an eerily similar unit from Geely
. Outputs are stated to be
184PS
 and
275Nm
, which are sent to either the front wheels or all four.

For the time being there is no indication that the Good Dog…I mean the Cool Dog….is set to be sold anywhere outside China and it could take quite a lot of convincing for GWM to commit to making a right-hand drive version. Should that happen, only then might the odds of it coming to Malaysia be a little more promising.

So far, the Chinese automotive group has pretty much confirmed the local arrival
of the Haval Jolion and Haval H6
 in series or plug-in hybrid variations, mirroring their offering in Thailand. Alongside this will be their Ora Good Cat electric hatchback, which we’ve previewed below.

GWM should also be well on their way to constructing an assembly plant here as CKD operations were stated to be a major focus for their Malaysian assault, though it’s likely that initial batches of their cars will be fully imported from China or Thailand before that gets up and running.


Another runaway Tesla lost control & crashed in China

Another
Tesla EV in China
 lost control resulting in a high-speed crash that left one dead and another in a coma.

The
South China Morning Post
 shared the disturbing video taken from a series of CCTV footage which was seen zooming at dangerous speeds before crashing into a bus and another passenger car.

Tesla crash in China - one dead, one in a coma

The unfortunate event also claimed the life of the passenger while the driver is currently in a coma. Both victims are husband and wife. The cause of the incident is still currently being investigated but so far, no official statements have been released by Tesla regarding the incident.

The Tesla Model 3 in question was reported to be around three years old with no issues during its usage prior to this unfortunate incident.

This is not the first time that a
Tesla lost control in China
. There were two different incidents last year in November and December, both models were the Tesla Model Y which also resulted in several deaths and injuries.


Review: All-New Toyota Vios 1.5G – Upping The Game

Since its introduction earlier this year, the all-new Toyota Vios is now a far more formidable rival in its segment, offering a long list of segment-first features.

Specifications for the all-new Toyota Vios 1.5G

Price: RM 87,300 (OTR without insurance)

Engine: 1.5-litre, 2NR-FE, inline four-cylinder, Dual VVT-i

Power: 107 PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 140 Nm @ 4,200 rpm

Transmission: CVT-type automatic, front-wheel drive

Safety: Seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), Front Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

Origin: Locally-assembled in ASSB Bukit Raja, Selangor

Overview

The Toyota Vios has come a long way since it was first introduced here in 2003.

Over time, the competition got stiffer, and the customer got more and more demanding. The formidable little Vios had to adapt with the times or risk getting axed.

For the longest time, the Vios was offered with a four-speed automatic. Rivals such as the Honda City started to offer a five-speed unit as early as 2008 in the GM2-generation City, before moving to the CVT-type automatic in the current generation model.

In terms of safety, the Honda City is the first in the segment to offer Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA).

Airbag count was another sore thumb in the Vios’ book: until the introduction of this facelifted Vios, all variants of the little sedan from Toyota offered only 2 front airbags.

As such, Toyota knew that in order to keep the Vios relevant with customers, a lot of work had to be done to increase the appeal of the Vios. While changes could not be done overnight, they did discontinue the proven-but-dated four-speed automatic, replacing it with a more modern CVT-type automatic and introducing electronic stability control across the range in 2016.

Toyota has also decided to include seven airbags on all variants of the Vios, not just limiting it to the range-topping model.

More expensive variants of the all-new Vios add Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Panoramic View Monitor, further separating the little Toyota from its segment rivals.

Exterior

Some may prefer how the pre-facelift Vios looks, and to a certain extent, we do agree.

With the new model, we get the impression that Toyota was trying a little too hard in an effort to separate it from the crowd. In some ways, they did succeed – the exterior of the Vios is definitely eye-catching.

But, when compared to the model it replaces, the front end of the all-new Vios is unnecessarily complicated due to the addition of the front bumper trim pieces. We reckon that the all-new Vios looks better without the trim pieces, similar to how the Singaporean market Vios looks like.

Despite that, the rear end of the all-new Vios is a step up from the old model. The Vios now looks more matured with this new rear end, thanks to the pair of more organic-looking tail lights. LEDs can be found in the higher E and G variants of the Vios.

Interior

The interior of the all-new Vios, while still behind the Honda City in terms of practicality, is still a massive step up from the model it replaces thanks to a good mix of high quality materials. The leather seats feel good, and Toyota has placed some nice-feeling leather on the door trim, further elevating the ambiance of the cabin.

One gripe we encountered with the Vios is that the steering column reflects sunlight rather badly during afternoons, making the instrument cluster hard to read. A rather glaring oversight on Toyota’s part, it seems.

Technology

Another aspect where Toyota tried to increase the appeal of the Vios is in its features which are usually reserved for high-end models.

For starters, the E and G variants of the all-new Vios include a front digital video recorder. Buyers of the Vios can also opt to include a rear camera for an additional RM 350. Small sum to pay for better peace of mind, really.

Video quality of the built-in DVR is decent at best – details are far from pixel perfect, but sufficient enough when evidence is needed. Night visibility is just about average.

We are aware that aftermarket DVRs exist, but having one wired up to the vehicle’s electric system instead of haphazardly tapping unused fuses is a much better solution. Besides, the wires are neater too.

Toyota has also included a 16GB MicroSD card with the DVR, though we high recommend owners to replace it with a high endurance MicroSD card for better reliability.

Another feature that the Vios includes is the Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), a system that utilizes four cameras located around the car to give the driver a bird’s eye view of the car. The image stitching may not be perfect, but the image resolution is decent enough to aid drivers to manoeuvre out of tight spots. It is also worth mentioning that the overall image quality of the PVM is far superior to the one found on the pricier Mazda 6.

Moving on to the head unit, Toyota has mentioned that both the E and G variants of the Vios include a 6.8-inch touchscreen head unit. Unlike the one found in the recently-updated C-HR, the one fitted to the Vios does not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto; instead you will need to install an app called T-Link.

Similar to MirrorLink, T-Link mirrors whatever is shown on your phone. While it sounds good in theory, it is far more complex in operation. Unlike Apple CarPlay or Android Auto which allow the phone display to be turned off, T-Link (and MirrorLink) requires the phone’s display to be constantly left on, as that is how mirroring works. As a result, your phone will run hot while T-Link is running.

We also appreciate the inclusion of the 4.2-inch multi-info display, which is able to display a range of useful information, such as average fuel consumption, total driving time, average speed, distance-to-empty, and a digital speedometer. One cool feature we noticed was the inclusion of fuel price in the ‘Eco Savings’ menu. Here, owners can pre-set the current fuel price and see how much money they can save by driving efficiently.

Driving Impression

Let’s face it - the Vios is not the last word in driving dynamics. But in the case of the all-new Vios, a lot has changed.

Upon driving the Vios, we noticed that the cabin quietness is rather impressive. Thanks to additional soundproofing materials and a more rigid body shell, the Vios’ cabin is segment-leading, which is an impressive feat all things considered.

Toyota has also done a swell job setting up the suspension of the Vios, as the little sedan is able to balance ride comfort and handling rather well.

Couple that with the nicely weighted steering and smooth CVT, and the Vios makes for a rather good long distance cruiser. Now, if only it came with cruise control.

Considering that our tester has so far clocked 600-odd kilometres, the engine is still relatively ‘tight’. As such, power delivery felt really restrictive and the fuel consumption was rather poor. We averaged about 10 km/L over the 300 plus kilometres we added to the car.

Fret not, as we expect performance (and fuel consumption) to improve once the car has done its first few periodic services.

Unlike the Honda City or Mazda 2, the Toyota Vios still lacks telescopic steering adjustment, a foot rest, and a front demister.

Conclusion

While the all-new Vios is marketed as an all-new model, it is more of a very major facelift. We reckon that the all-new term is fully justifiable as the improvements done to the driving dynamics, cabin quietness, and overall refinement are more than substantial.

Even when compared with some of its key rivals, the Toyota Vios now has enough substance to compete with the best in the segment, be it in terms of safety equipment or cabin refinement.

For the best deals on the Toyota Vios, click
here
.


Denda RM30,000 Jika Memandu Secara Cuai Pakai Selipar

Bagi penggemar selipar Jepun atau Flipper, anda dinasihatkan berhati-hati ketika memandu kerana bakal berdepan denda hampir RM30,000 jikalau anda memandu secara cuai ketika memakai selipar.

Tetapi berita baik ini buat masa sekarang hanya tertakluk kalau anda memandu di England. Pemandu di England bakal berdepan denda maksimum £5,000 jika mereka didapati memandu secara cuai disebabkan mereka memakai selipar.

Ini kalau dipraktikkan di Malaysia...

Mengikut undang-undang Kod Lebuhraya 97, pemandu di England haruslah memakai pakaian dan kasut yang tidak menggangu kawalan pemanduan anda.

Masalahnya bila anda memakai selipar, ia senang tanggal dan jika sangkut di antara pedal minyak atau brek dan kaki anda, ianya boleh mengakibatkan kemalangan. Saya pasti ada di antara anda yang sudah pernah mengalami situasi sebegini. Sebanyak mungkin demi keselamatan anda, pakailah kasut ketika memandu kereta masing-masing.

Di bawah undang-undang yang sama di England, sekiranya pemandu ditahan memandu secara cuai disebabkan oleh pemakaian kasut yang tidak sesuai, mereka juga bakal didenda serta-merta dengan saman £100 atau tiga mata penalti di atas lesen memandu mereka. Di Malaysia, kita juga mempunyai mata demerit lesen memandu,
Sistem KEJARA
.

Bagi kes yang lebih serius di mana pemandu perlu hadap ke mahkamah, denda maksimum £5000, sembilan mata penalti serta larangan memandu boleh dikenakan jika disabitkan salah.

Biasakan diri memandu dengan kasut, mana tau esok jika undang-undang ini bakal dikenalkan di Malaysia anda sudah pun bersedia.

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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.

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Classy Is When Volvo Marries The S90 With Poetry

What a refreshing change to the way luxury cars are being marketed. Instead of feeding on huge egos and pomposity, Volvo has in true Swedish tradition, side-stepped one-upmanship to define luxury, as epitomised by its
all-new S90
, according to its Swedish tradition – where the focus is less on aggression and showing off, but being reflective, respectful, and encouraging people to explore the outdoors.
The script for the commercial reads a shortened version of famed poet Walt Whitman’s work ‘Song of the Open Road’ against beautiful music. It's a fitting poem for drivers, a different type of drivers, for those who appreciate the journey rather than the rush.
Walt Whitman’s ‘Song of the Open Road’ reads:
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Strong and content I travel the open road.
You road I enter upon and look around, I believe you are not all that is here,
I believe that much unseen is also here.
Here is realization,
Here is a man tallied—he realizes here what he has in him,
The past, the future, majesty, love—if they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them.
Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.
I inhale great draughts of space,
The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are mine.
I am larger, better than I thought,
I did not know I held so much goodness.
All seems beautiful to me.
More on the upcoming all-new Volvo S90
here
.


2020 Hyundai KONA and 2020 Hyundai Sonata Launched In Malaysia

Together with a new tagline, 'Geared For Distinction', Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) earlier today launched the 2020 Hyundai KONA and 2020 Hyundai Sonata.

Three variants of the 2020 Hyundai KONA are offered locally:

RM115,888 for the 2.0 Nu MPI Standard

RM130,888 for the 2.0 Nu MPI Active

RM143,888 for the 1.6 Turbo

(OTR including SST discount but excluding insurance)

Prices post-SST-discount will be as follows for the KONA:

RM123,888 for the 2.0 Nu MPI Standard

RM138,888 for the 2.0 Nu MPI Active

RM151,888 for the 1.6 Turbo

The Sonata on the other hand will only come in one variant, the G2.5 Smartstream priced at 206,888 however there is an early bird discount on offer for the first 50 customers at RM189,888 (OTR excluding insurance).

Both vehicles will come with a 5-year or 300,000km warranty (whichever comes first). Both vehicles are also currently available for viewing at all Hyundai showrooms nationwide.

According to Managing Director of HSDM, Low Yuan Lung, " We have received an overwhelming response for the new Kona during the pre-launch booking phase. As a result of the positive response, we are happy to announce that we will continue to market the Kona here. Customers can thus expect the next generation of Kona to be introduced here as well,”.

Low went on to add that the Sonata, "...is built on an entirely new platform that emphasises design, safety, efficiency, power and driving performance. With it, there is a marked weight reduction and

improved fuel efficiency while achieving better durability. It also builds on the original platform’s core strengths, enabling a more stable design with a lower centre of gravity,”

With the launch of these two new vehicles, HSDM is also promising a rejuvenated experience and a new definition of luxury. Lofty goals surely, we wait to see if it holds true!


Proton Monthly Deliveries In August Nears 16k Cars, Highest In 9 Years

In August 2022, Proton put nearly 16,000 cars into customer hands making that month its 9-year high point for monthly deliveries (since July 2013), signalling a return to healthy production numbers after a period
plagued by supply chain disruption
.

More accurately, the number is 15,880 cars, bringing their year-to-date total registrations at 87,481 cars compared to 62,637 units by the same
period in 2021
 - a 39.7% increase. This also boosts Proton’s 2022 YTD market share to 19.5%.

Proton sets delivery record in August 2022

This puts the national automaker into a position to likely make this year their 4th of consecutive growth in terms of annual sales and market share with the
majority of sales attributed to the Saga
 at 6,156 units in August.

The X50, which remains
the country’s most popular SUV
, performed second best with 4,329 units sold, followed by the Persona at 2,612 units and the X70 at a comparatively lacklustre 1,555 units, though it remains Malaysia’s most successful C-segment SUV on sale today. Proton underlined this point and proudly reiterated its sales leadership in 3 vehicle segments.

Proton achieves the highest export sales volume in 113 months

Beyond our borders, they have also announced that it has achieved its highest export sales volume in 113 months, bringing 2022’s total export number to 4,040 units thanks to 938 units shipped last month, occurring just a month shy of the brand’s official entry into the South African market happening in September.

Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Proton: “With four months to go in 2022, Proton production operations have stabilised. Critically, our component supply is now more consistent and better managed to ensure we can produce as many cars as possible,”

“With that in mind, we have undertaken an initiative to increase the number of delivery trucks by over 100% by the end of the year. This makes it easier to ensure our dealers receive their stock as quickly as possible and in turn, this benefits our customers who have been patiently waiting for their vehicles,”

“Proton’s export sales continue to reach new heights every month and are a testament to how the brand is winning over new customers beyond its home market. Export sales are vital to the company achieving its long-term goals and help improve the balance of trade for Malaysia while showcasing the quality and ingenuity of Malaysian vendors.”


MIROS: Lebih 155,000 Kematian Akibat Nahas Jalan Raya Sejak 1995

Mengikut data Institut Penyelidikan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia (MIROS), 155,058 kematian dan lebih sejuta kecederaan akibat
nahas jalan raya
 telah direkodkan sejak 1995, lapor Malay Mail.

“155,000 mayat boleh mengisi muatan dua Stadium Bukit Jalil,” kata Pegawai Penyelidik Kanan MIROS, Yusof Ghani, sambil menyarankan media tempatan untuk membaiki kaedah laporan berita nahas jalan raya supaya bersifat konstruktif bagi menimbulkan kesedaran orang ramai mengenai punca dan akibat
perlanggaran
.

*Kredit foto: Berita Harian

Kajian yang dijalankan
MIROS
 ke atas 100 laporan berita nahas jalan raya daripada akhbar Bahasa Melayu pada 2016 mendapati tiada satu laporan pun yang menyediakan maklumat berkaitan 'penyelesaian' ke arah keselamatan jalan raya yang lebih baik.

Tambahnya, kebanyakan lebih menawarkan cerita sensasi berbanding menunjukkan sebab dan jalan penyelesaian.

Kajian ini dimaklumkan dalam acara Sepetang Bersama MIROS – Bicara Kewartawanan dan Laporan Nahas Jalan Raya yang diadakan secara dalam talian, tempoh hari.

Turut serta Pengarah di Pusat Penyelidikan Keselamatan Kenderaan dan Biomekanik MIROS, Zulhaidi Jawi dan Ahli Lembaga Pengarah MIROS, Shahrim Tamrin.

*Kredit foto: MIROS

Sementara itu, Shahrim berkata, statistik kadar kematian disebabkan nahas jalan raya di negara ini sudah menunjukkan trend penurunan sejak 2017.

Katanya, meskipun ada andaian kadar kematian akibat nahas jalan raya akan semakin menurun jika trend kekal buat tahun ketiga atau keempat, tetapi MIROS tidak akan menghentikan usaha meningkatkan kesedaran awam.

*Kredit foto: PDRM

Bagi tahun 2020, statistik kadar kematian memperlihatkan penurunan sebanyak 24.9% berbanding data tahun 2019. Berpandukan data yang diperoleh daripada PDRM, tahun lalu mencatatkan sebanyak 4,634 kematian akibat
kemalangan jalan raya
, berbanding 6,167 kematian pada tahun sebelumnya.

Angka terbaru itu mewakili penurunan sebanyak 1,533 kematian, walaupun perlu juga ditekankan bahawa seluruh negara sepanjang tahun lalu hingga kini berada di bawah
Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan
 (PKP) yang telah mengehadkan pergerakan orang ramai di atas jalan raya.

Shahrim turut menggesa wartawan supaya berhenti menggunakan perkataaan 'kemalangan' dan digantikan dengan terma 'nahas' ketika melaporkan sebarang berita berkaitan.

“Perkataan 'kemalangan' menjadikan kejadian itu seolah-olah tidak dapat dielakkan sedangkan sebenarnya kebanyakan kemalangan ini boleh dicegah daripada berlaku," katanya.


Mitsubishi To Focus on Sub 3-litre Engines, As Poor Fuel Quality Limits Their Options

It appears that the current generation of 3.0-litre-and-above diesel engines for pick-up trucks will be the last of their kinds, as strict environmental regulations around the world are forcing manufacturers to abandon high-capacity diesel engines.
When the all-new Mitsubishi Triton made its global debut in Thailand late last year, it was launched to the world market with an all-new aluminum block 2.4-litre 4N15 MIVEC common rail intercooled variable geometry turbo diesel engine.
Running with a low-ish (for a diesel engine) 15.5:1 compression ratio, the engine is said to be one of the quietest and smoothest engines in its class, with very impressive power and torque figures too - 181 PS at 3,500 rpm and 430 Nm at just 2,500 rpm, whil keep fuel consumption to just 7.6-litre/100 km (4x4 Double Cab Automatic, Australian specifications).
Globally, the previous model's 3.2-litre engine is notably missing from the engine options list.
As you can tell from
our launch story
, the highly innovative 4N15 MIVEC engine is not available for our local-market Triton, which is imported from the same plant in Thailand that makes the 4N15-powered Triton for Thailand and other markets around the world.
Instead, we have the familiar (but heavily updated) DI-D engine in three different states of tune - from 110 PS to 178 PS.
The reason behind the exclusion of the new 4N15 engine is the unavailability of the necessary Euro-5 or higher clean diesel fuel, which is required by the new generation of sophisticated, clean diesel engines.
Although Euro-5 diesel is already available in some parts of Peninsular Malaysia, pick-up trucks are predominantly sold in East Malaysia and the nature of their usage also means that they will need to be fueled up in rural locations, where fuel quality might deviate even further from the usual Euro-2M standard diesel found city centres.
No More 3.2-litre Engine Option In The Near Future
The previous generation Mitsubishi Triton was at one time offered with a 3.2-litre engine option, before it was discontinued mid-life cycle, and the engine is unlikely to make a return again.
"At this moment we don't have plans for a 3.2-litre engine for the all-new Triton," said Won-Chui Yang, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.
In the near- to mid-term, Mitsubishi Motor's global powertrain development's focus is to meet the increasingly strict exhaust emission and fuel consumption regulations, with reduced emphasis on achieving high power output. This is quite consistent with the industry's powertrain trend.
Market leader Toyota for example, has also abandoned 3.0-litre engines, in favour of a smaller capacity 2.4-litre and 2.8-litre engine for its
upcoming all-new Toyota Hilux
.
Despite offering just one engine option for Malaysia, Mitsubishi Motors has done a very impressive job of improving the DI-D engine to achieve a level of performance that (on paper at least) is comparable to a Ford Ranger 3.2-litre, thanks to its 400 Nm torque and low kerb weight.
Initial response to the all-new Triton has been encouraging, with over 2,200 bookings collected since 1-April 2015. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia targets to sell 900 units of the all-new Triton per month, translating to a 20 percent market share of the pick-up truck segment.


The Bad Blow Job

Have you ever seen a workshop cleaning your air filter (AF) with compressed air because they say that they don't have stock for a new AF, but this AF cleaning method should suffice till the next service?

If yes, we bet your car felt good afterwards, and we know why! It's because the filter is cleaner thus letting more air into the engine. In fact, we bet it's even letting more air in than a new OE filter because that air compressor gun might have just torn your filter allowing more air and dirt into your engine at the same time.

Some from car forums have even gone as far as saying that by using this method, you might also tear the seals which are supposed to keep the AF snug and tight in its housing. If that's not sealed properly, you're definitely getting more dirt into your precious engine.

Here is a short video by Motorservice Group which we think explains things well:

Filter's are cheap, engines are not, so we say insist on a new filter and avoid the compressed air cleaning method. If you really can't afford one we have seen some methods on car forums which logically seem safer.

One person just drops the filter from a height which helped to eradicate the dirt. " I drop the paper media filters on the ground flat from 12-14 inches. Beating the dirt out from the filter is enough for me."

Another person vacuums the filter. "Lightly tap on a firm surface then vacuum the dirty side after 2 years/ 20-25k miles, if the seal is pliable and no tear."

Whatever route you choose to take, just be careful. You car may feel better because of this cheap hack, but doesn't mean it'll stay that way for long.

Like the saying says, If it's cheap, it's not good, if it's good, it's not cheap.


All-New Alfa Romeo Giulia To Be Unveiled On June 24

Alfa Romeo
 is looking to introduce its all-new midsize sedan, commonly referred to as the Giulia, on June 24 at its museum in Arese, just outside Milan with this official teaser released by the company.
The new car will go up against the established big three German brands and respective cars which include the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series, and Audi A4. With an entirely new chassis, design language, and drivetrains to be featured, this new model which has yet to confirm its ‘Giulia’ naming, is an important model to ensure Alfa Romeo’s survival.
Nothing much can be seen from the teaser aside from a heavily blurred image of the car with a sporty profile to it.
Internally, it is referred to as ‘Type 949’ and is rumoured to ride on a rear-wheel drive Giorgio platform with an all-wheel drive option available as well. Powerplant options are said to include a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit with a
Ferrari-derived V6 developed specially for Alfa Romeo
 as being made available too.


Extra tough journey expected for those going back to Kelantan this Hari Raya

Going back to Kelantan during the Hari Raya holiday period is one of the most gruelling journies anyone can face, and this year, that gruelling journey might turn into one of the toughest journies on record.

The main entrance to the town of Gua Musang is expected to be overly congested as two roads have been closed for a month starting yesterday for the installation of bridge piles for the construction of the Lingkaran Tengah Utama Project (LTU).

JKR Jajahan Gua Musang said in a statement that the route at FT2747 KM3.9 (Simpang Hospital) up to KM2.4 (Taman Damar Bridge) and FT2745 KM0.8 (Under the Taman Damar Flyover) will be closed to all traffic in both directions.

JKR continued by saying that the road closure starts from March 29 to April 29 from 8 am to 7 pm. "Road users can use the alternative route FT008 through the front of Gua Musang District Police Headquarters (IPD), FT 2744 (in front of Gua Musang Hospital) and FT2746 (Jalan Pulai).

This road closure has not been the most pleasing of actions by JKR, which has prompted Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Galas, Mohd. Syahbuddin Hashim to vent his frustration.

He hopes that the closure of the road can be temporarily postponed as the road closure will make it difficult for the local community to move, especially at the end of Ramadan as things ramp up towards Hari Raya.

The Lingkaran Tengah Utama (LTU) project, when completed, is capable of reducing the travel time from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan to 3 hours. It is expected to be completed in 2024. Perhaps next year will be a better year for returning Kelantanese.

*Main picture credit: Petra News


September 2018 New Vehicle Sales- Lowest Monthly Volume In Nearly 10 Years

It comes to no surprise that September 2018 recorded the lowest new vehicle monthly sales volume. With the announcement of the three-month tax-free holiday and sales tax to be reintroduced in September, many consumers simply brought forward their new vehicle purchase.
Sales of 31,241 units (in September) were last seen a long time ago, with motoring industry guru Chips Yap of Motor Trader revealed that volumes of under 40,000 units last occurred in early 2009.
This figure represents a 52.3% reduction compared to August 2018. However, this year’s Total Industry Volume (TIV) is still performing better in the first nine months compared to the same period last year. With a total of 454,971 units of new vehicles sold, the TIV is almost 7% better than last year.
Perodua continues to lead but not at a level they are usually known for. The company with only four models in their line-up was over 500 units short of the 10,000-unit mark, ending September with just 9,471 units.
Earlier, the company announced that one of its vendors was having technical issues which led to a halt in production of the Myvi model since August. This will seriously impact the company and its dealers as the Myvi model account for over 40% of Perodua sales, which is also their best seller.
Mazda’s strong demand, as well as continued production of the CX-5, enabled them to be the top the charts in the SUV segment with 1,003 units. Honda is second with 670 units.
What followed after is surprising- BMW managed to move 357 units of the X models, ahead of Nissan (337 units) with their X-Trail and Toyota (321 units) with their Fortuner!
One brand that went against the lower sales trend was MINI. MINI Malaysia had no issues performing better than August, delivering an additional 10 units over the previous month, closing September with 130 units of sales.
We expect the month of October to display similarly low sales volumes. Perodua certainly hopes to hit some high numbers once their production resumes, as the company had reported having an order backlog of 22,000 units of Myvi from the start of October.
Taking a quick look at the production data, the month of September saw a production output of 37,000 units. While this is a lot lower than August 2018 (due to zero production of Myvi as well as slowing down of many other brands), the figure in September 2017 is of similar level.
As an indication of what to expect with the remaining months of 2018, the average monthly production output in the last quarter of 2017 was just 39,500 units.


REVIEW: 2021 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Where Do We Go From Here?

No matter how dramatically they transform over each generation, certain cars will always struggle to escape their ingrained ties to established perception, which is specific to every person but collectively forms a fuzzy composite. In Malaysia, the Honda Civic has always been viewed a certain way, from family runabout to modified machine of mayhem.

With the 10th-generation car (FC),
first introduced on our shores in 2016
, the Japanese brand probably did the most they could to have everyone take it more seriously, to break out of those ‘boy band chains’. To grow up.

The car brought with it a very different set of styling cues, a new turbocharged engine, and decidedly more upmarket interior appointments. As its local launch was preceded by other markets such as North America and Europe, the hype could only get more intense as each new - usually glowing - review was published abroad.

It was no wonder that so many were seen on our roads so shortly after that June launch, nearly 5 full years ago. With the majority of production due to end in 2021 to lay a clear path for its
incoming successor
, let’s look back and give a moment of silence to some of the cars that this Civic helped make extinct from Malaysian showrooms:
Ford Focus, Peugeot 308, Hyundai Elantra (
recently re-introduced
), Kia Cerato, Nissan Sylphy, and Volkswagen Jetta
.

Back in late 2015, upon the car’s international debut, it was pretty clear how this new Honda would give the competition a run for their money. Though rivals were already established here, only a handful remain while all the others have been systematically cast out, if indirectly, by the Civic.

In 2021, the C-segment sedan arena is basically a three-horse race between it,
the Toyota Corolla
, and
the Mazda 3
. If nothing else, this could be seen as a testament to their staying power, but of this trio, the Honda is unquestionably the crowd favourite if evidenced by volume.

But can they top themselves with the all-new 11th-generation version? Or have they set the bar a little too high with the car we have here, in
2020 1.5 TC-P guise
 for RM134,661 as tested, thereby forcing themselves into a more evolutionary cadence?

Have we reached
‘peak Civic’
?

Exterior

By now, we’re all familiar with this car’s silhouette but, upon its introduction, it certainly did break the 3-box mould with its sporty fastback-style roofline. However, unlike other ‘liftbacks’ such as the Ford Mondeo (RIP) and Opel Insignia, I still have to wonder why Honda chose not to hinge the boot at the roof to further boost practicality.

From 2020, the Civic 1.5 TC-P has been given a slight design refresh that leans into the car’s more athletic characteristics. Most obvious are those larger 18-inch alloys in this dual-tone gunmetal and black finish, but they’re also wrapped in rather high-end
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
 high performance tyres - more on that later.

Other than this, the ‘flying wing’ front grille has now been done in a piano-like gloss black, paired with matching moulding accents lower on the bumper. It offsets the intricate and very reflective LED ‘bling-tastic’ headlamp cluster much more neatly than the usual chrome finish, at least to my eyes.

Speaking of which, Honda have also given this Civic (1.5 TC and TC-P) a chrome garnish on the rear bumper as well as a new boot spoiler. Though it does offer the car some aesthetic favours by adding a bit more drama to the back end, it’s unfortunately not very functional with the airflow below it blocked to fit a third horizontal brake light.

Shame, but it’s still a good looking car. In fact, despite its ‘ketam’ tail lights and angular lines, the current Civic’s exterior can only be viewed as successful given how closely its replacement resembles it. You could even call the newer car a little bland by comparison with its softer lines and
play-it-safe design
.

Powertrain

Where Honda did take a risk was with the engine. We all accept this L15B7 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder as commonplace now, but prior to its introduction, Honda’s Malaysian line-up was entirely naturally aspirated, with only the
short-lived FK2 Type R
 being the exception on the international stage.

The shift to the VTEC Turbo hasn’t been the easiest transition for Honda either as a downsized turbocharged engine is not only more mechanically complex, but is routinely subjected to higher stresses, is more susceptible to temperature variances, and is less forgiving to maintenance neglect.

Despite their efforts, early batches had been prone to issues not usually faced by the company’s earlier engines, staining their relatively unblemished reliability record. Honda has, however, refined their processes and have brought the motor up to par, more or less, with their nearly bulletproof atmospheric motors.

The 173PS output in this 2020 Civic is unchanged since its original tune, giving the car some decent performance nonetheless. Power is sent to the front wheels via Honda’s Earth Dreams CVT, as you might expect, resulting in impressive fuel economy provided you keep your right foot in check.

Like any turbocharged car, it’s the torque that makes itself most known in day-to-day driving. Here, the car delivers its 220Nm of peak twist as early as 1,700rpm and sustains it over a wide rev band to 5,500rpm, giving the transmission plenty of shove to find an optimal ratio and leaving the driver rarely found wanting from a slow roll.

Honda is clearly confident in this engine, too, and are doubling down on its widespread use with it featuring it in the CR-V and Accord, albeit tuned to 193PS and 201PS respectively. It will also be powering the majority of 11th-gen Civics moving forward in most markets, Malaysia included.

Interior

Honda is pretty well established as masters of vehicle packaging. Just as we’ve become accustomed to C-segment levels of leg and headroom in the B-segment City, should we expect D-segment roominess in the C-segment Civic?

On those fronts, the Civic has made some concessions to deliver a sexier roofline. As a result, the rear seats have a lower than expected H-point to maximise headroom and the 60:40 bench folds to reveal an oddly narrow boot passage, but knee room is plentiful and the seat cushions themselves are plush and supportive. Rear air conditioning vents are equipped, so there’s every reason to easily settle in for a long journey.

Coincidentally, Honda quotes its boot as being 519-litres, which is pretty large by most standards. However, that’s the exact figure given for the smaller City as well which, if you recall, only performed about average in
our B-segment group comparison
.

Upfront, the perforated leather seats are just as supple, providing good bolstering and electric adjustment. However, the shape of the seat back does make it seem like there is too much lumbar  (lower back) support dialled in, but without any adjustment mechanism to wind it back. Of course, others might not have this issue.

The overall ergonomics, design, and fit/finish here is just as impressive as it was back at its original launch. There are some scattered hard plastics and buttons of merely passable tactility, but that’s to be expected in small doses.

After 5 years, that sense of elevated sophistication hasn’t diminished, rather it has improved thanks to the additional sound insulation. Sure, the 7-inch touchscreen is outdone by the 8-inch unit in the new City, and the digital instrument cluster isn’t the sharpest in an age of 4K screens being the norm, but that’s splitting hairs as they all work quite well.

When you’ve got all your items hidden away in the huge centre cubby space, your music playing via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the engine faintly humming away as you sip fuel at highway speeds, it's easy to realise that the person driving that BMW 318i probably isn’t having a markedly better experience, yet paid much more.

Behind The Wheel

The Civic does have an inherently sportier feel as you’re sat relatively low to the ground and are nicely cocooned between the door and near-elbow level centre tunnel/partition. That early and sustained peak torque also gives you a little confidence boost. This is short-lived, though, as the engine and transmission are tuned for efficiency and will slot into a low-rev, low-excitement cruise just as soon as it can.

Things are comfortable, smooth, even calm, surprisingly so given the larger 18-inch wheels. But then the paddle shifters remind you that you might have more control than you initially thought, and you find them to be rather responsive in shaving off speed by (artificially) downshifting to engine brake. Upshifts, though,
being a CVT
, are a little more muted.

While we’re on the subject, having this type of gearbox in a turbocharged car does produce some idiosyncratic results. On the one hand, its infinite ratios do allow the engine to remain in that boosted sweet spot for longer, maximising power delivery. On the other, if you’re driving enthusiastically and expect good engine response while taking advantage of that spooled turbo, the
lag
 instead comes from the transmission, which more often than not hunts for an optimal ratio every time you vary your throttle position. Then again, this is something most Civic owners won’t ever care about.

Having said that, it’s pretty remarkable how a tyre can impact how a car feels to drive, and having the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 on all four corners gave this Civic a level of sharpness and traction that just wasn’t achievable otherwise. More impressive was how it endowed the car with so much more competence in corners while being quiet and comfortable in normal driving.

We all accept that the Civic, while a solid handler with its rigid structure and multi-link rear suspension, isn’t all that exciting when factoring in its CVT, lacklustre engine note, and nonexistent VTEC ‘kick in yo’ sensation as the revs continue to climb, but the face-lifted 1.5 TC-P is now sharp enough at the front end that throwing it into a corner isn’t a leap of faith. The fun factor ceiling here has most definitely been raised, and there’s really only this upgraded wheel and tyre package to thank for that.

Safety

In any review, this is probably the least interesting topic to cover, but Honda’s inclusion of a comprehensive active safety suite, at this price point, is perhaps the main reason why those now-culled C-segment rivals could struggle should they attempt a comeback.

The Civic 1.5 TC-P isn’t just equipped with a trimmed feature list of
Honda Sensing
, but the full package as also found on the top-spec CR-V, Accord, and City RS. Naturally, we also have the standard 6 airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, parking sensors, reversing camera, and ISOFIX mounts.

Above that, Honda has added Autonomous Emergency Braking (or Collision Mitigation Braking, as they call it), Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist (LKAS), Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and most conveniently, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow.

These are expensive features to implement and, on CBU rivals, are usually the first to get crossed off the list to keep the high stakes math of a price battle going. In the case of the fully imported 7th-generation Elantra, for example, Hyundai SmartSense is relegated to the top-spec Premium variant and the same goes for with i-ACTIVESENSE in the Mazda 3 2.0 High+.

The only other C-segment contender
trading blows with the Civic
 on these terms is Toyota with the 12th-generation Corolla, and this duopoly isn’t likely to change unless a certain homegrown automaker steps into the fray.

Conclusion

Has it aged well:

Yes, much better than most cars. It still looks new and bold, and in some ways, even more modern than its supposed successor. The interior is impressively appointed and well designed too.

Is it practical:

Yes, unless you make a big IKEA haul every other weekend.

Does it drive well:

This Civic always has, even in
standard 1.8S form
. Most people will never explore the limits of what any car can deliver anyway, but if they do this can deliver a rewarding drive. Paired with this turbocharged engine and those Michelin UHP tyres, this is currently the best performance option in the C-segment.

TL;DR - in a sentence or two:

This is a car to suit nearly every need. It’s spacious, handsome, comfortable, easy to drive, quick in everyday situations, easy on fuel, and packed to the gills with safety and convenience tech. It isn’t the class leader in every discipline, but like the City, clearly wins on averages. C-segment crown well-deserved.

TL;DR - In a shorter sentence:

The 11th-gen Civic will have a hell of a job trying to surpass this thing. Surprise me, Honda.

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

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Toyota Dedah 4 Konsep Kereta Elektrik bZ (Beyond Zero) Baharu – Sedan, SUV Bersaiz Kompak, Sedarhana, Dan Besar

Toyota yang sebelum ini telah dikritik kerana tidak mengambil serius mengenai elektrifikasi dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini telah membuat kejutan dan memberhentikan tanggapan terbabit apabila pengeluar kereta itu mendedahkan 12 kereta elektrik baharu (
BEV
), yang dijangka bakal dilancarkan menjelang 2030.

Menurut
Presiden Toyota Motor, Akio Toyoda
 Syarikat itu kini serius dalam menuju ke arah elektrifikasi dengan merancang untuk membahagikan strategi untuk jenama Toyota itu sendiri. Antaranya adalah SUV elektrik
BZ4X
 yang dibangunkan dengan Subaru. Model tersebut telah memulakan sub-jenama "BZ," yang bermaksud "Beyond Zero." Sub-jenama ini akan menerima empat EV tambahan untuk mengiringi BZ4X.

Model pertama dalam rangkaian BZ yang bakal dikeluarkan ialah BZ4X, yang telah membuat debut sebelum ini yang akan dibina di Kilang Motomachi Toyota menjelang pelancarannya pada tahun hadapan. Model tersebut dibangunkan dengan kerjasama Subaru, disokong oleh
platform e-TNGA
 dan menawarkan jarak sehingga 500 km.

Barisan penuh model Beyond Zero ini merangkumi crossover kompak, SUV kompak, sedan serta SUV bersaiz besar. Walau bagaimanapun pada waktu ini, kenderaan tersebut hanyalah sebuah konsep buat masa ini ekoran tingkapnya yang gelap untuk menyembunyikan bahagian dalaman sebenar.

Selain daripada BZ4X, Toyota turut memperkenalkan model sedan yang dibanggil sebagai bZ SDN. Model ini merupakan model sedan 4 pintu yang dikatakan mampu memenuhi jangkaan pelanggan sebagai kereta pertama yang mempunyai konsep rekaan yang menarik.

Selain daripada model
sedan
, Toyota turut memperkenalkan konsep kenderaan SUV pelbagai saiz dibawah rangkaian lencana bZ mereka. Kereta berwarna merah ini dikenali sebagai bZ Small Crossover yang dibina khas sebagai kereta bersaiz kecil yang disasarkan pada pasaran Jepun dan Eropah. Jadi sebarang penambahan pada bateri untuk menambah jarak perjalanan dilihat sebagai kurang berbaloi dan akan menjadikan ia lebih mahal.

Bagi konsep
mid-size
 SUV pula, ia diberi nama sebagai bZ Compact SUV yang dikatakan bakal mencabar kredibiliti Tesla Model Y. bZ Compact SUV ini juga dikatakan hadir dengan rekaan era baharu kenderaan BEV Toyota.

Bagi model SUV bersaiz besar pula, ia bakal disasarkan pada golongan berkeluarga memandangkan SUV BEV itu bakal hadir dengan 3 baris tempat duduk, menjadikan ia pilihan paling sesuai bagi golongan berkeluarga besar.

Sekali pandang, terdapat sedikit persamaan pada konsep dan rupa luaran bagi model bZ SDN dan kesemua model bZ SUV dengan model bZ4X. Bukan itu sahaja, Toyoda turut mengumumkan bahawa pengeluaran kesemua model di bawah lencana bZ ini akan dihasilkan secara besar-besaran bagi memastikan ia dapat dijual dengan harga yang lebih
mampu milik
 untuk semua.

Meskipun tiada tarikh tetap mengenai pelancaran kesemua model ini selain model bZ4X yang bakal dilancarkan pada tahun hadapan, namun kesemua model ini tetap akan muncul di pasaran dunia menjelang tahun 2030 nanti.

Antara kesemua jenis konsep bZ yang dipertontonkan, yang mana satu agak-agaknya akan membuat kemunculan pertama di pasaran negara ini?

*Kredit foto: Noriaki Mitsuhashi


Perodua’s CEO Responds To Engineer’s Comments About Myvi, Alza Safety Risks

Following a recently-trending issue on social media created by “German mechanical engineer” and blogger, Wolf Vaupel, who published his displeasure upon finding out that his wife’s brand-new
Perodua Myvi
 was “not up to international safety regulations”,
Perodua
 has responded.
*You can read all about Mr Vaupel’s comments here
A bit of a background on the matter:
Apart from presuming that your headlamps come on with the instrument cluster dimming, Mr Vaupel claims that drivers have no absolute way of determining if or not their headlamps are activated at any given time – if you examine a
Perodua
 Myvi or
Alza’s
 dashboards, he’s right: there’s zero indication.
In the two cars in question, the dashboard lights flick on regardless of the headlamps being on or not, and Mr Vaupel claims that this is in violation of “international safety regulations.”
*Update: We've managed to dig up
further clarifications of the regulations referred to by Mr Vaupel.
While we can’t find any such “international” regulation that requires this (
updated
), we do agree with Mr Vaupel’s unrest at there being no actual headlamp icon on the dash. At best, we align ourselves with the belief that drivers should have the utmost information of their vehicles at all times, and this includes the overlooked headlight indicator by Perodua.
Perodua Responds To The Situation
Just minutes ago from the time of writing, Perodua published an official release addressing Mr Vaupel’s comments. It’s president and CEO, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh commented,
“It has come to our attention that a blogger by the name of Wolf Vaupel has accused the Perodua Myvi and Alza of posing high safety risk to our customers.
“In his blog posting 10th March 2015, Mr Vaupel claimed that the self-illuminating instrument cluster featured in both the Myvi and the Alza as “deadly”. According to Mr Vaupel’s logic, the self-illuminating instrument panel confuses drivers into thinking that the headlights are on.
“We wish to clarify, that based on inquiries made to both the authorities and insurance companies showed that there is no such linkage concerning self-illuminating instrument cluster and road collisions at night.
“In addition, the self-illuminating instrument cluster is featured on other international brands and we are perplexed on why Mr Vaupel’s attacks are only directed to Perodua.”
*Read Perodua’s full statement here
Perodua’s chief continues to say that his organization has replied to Mr Vaupel directly, contrary to the blogger’s statements.
However, it wouldn't hurt if the company looked into having such an icon display on their instrument panels in the near future. Despite the fact that not all manufacturers have such a display.


Ferrari F12tdf Revealed – 799 Will be Built, Debuts Rear-Wheel Steering on a Ferrari

Ferrari has just taken the wraps off the hardcore brother to the F12berlinetta, the F12tdf. Its snappy collection of alphabets in its name comes from the Tour de France, an endurance road race which Ferrari dominated in the 1950s and 1960s, not that other bicycle race Lance Armstrong once dominated. If you think that the F12tdf looks like a touring car, that is because it sports plenty of racing know-how that is said to elevate its performance beyond that of the already fast F12berlinetta on which it is based.
More Power, Less Weight, More Speed
Just as everybody is going turbocharging, Ferrari has stuck to their guns with the F12berlinetta’s 6.3-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine, with power turned up from 740hp to 780hp at 8,500rpm, with its red line now sitting at 8,900rpm, 200rpm higher. Torque on the other hand has been increased from 690Nm to 705Nm at 6,750rpm, with 80 per cent of which is ready from 2,500rpm.
Its seven-speed F1 DCT dual-clutch gearbox on the other hand has its ratios shortened by six per cent, while upshifts are now 30 per cent faster, and downshifts speeds are quicker by 40 per cent.
Thanks to the abundant use of carbon-fibre inside and out, Ferrari says that they have managed to slash 110kg off the car’s overall weight.
Put together the F12tdf is capable of going from 0 to 100km/h in 2.9 seconds, and 0 to 200km/h in 7.9 seconds (0.6 seconds quicker). According to Ferrari the F12tdf is able to lap Fiorano in 1 minute 21 seconds, which is 2 seconds quicker than Ferrari's claims on the F12berlinetta's lap time.
Better Dynamics Sharpening Electronics
If the F12berlinetta wasn’t already fast on its heels, the F12tdf will be debuting Ferrari's active rear axle, which allows the rear wheels to pivot around the vertical axis. Using a model-based control logic developed entirely in-house by Ferrari, the rear axle steering automatically adjusts the rear wheels, to deliver the optimal steering angle from the steering wheel angle, speed of steering inputs, and vehicle speed. This feature enables the F12tdf to have a quicker response, better agility, and instantaneous turn-in.
Improved Aerodynamics from Nose to Tail
According to Ferrari, the F12tdf’s body boasts an aerodynamic efficiency figure of 1.6, which is almost double that of the F12berlinetta, and yet is able to achieve 230kg worth of downforce at 200km/h, which is an impressive 107kg more than before.
Ferrari says this was possible by going over the whole body and tweaking the car’s aerodynamics to a minute detail. The front has a highly complex bumper design that contributes to downforce generation, with a radically scooped lower section and incorporates a splitter inspired from competition racing. The Aerobridge on the front wings have been redesigned to increase the effects of the air flow. Around the back of the front wheelarch there are small louvres which relieves air pressure build up on the inside, thereby increasing aerodynamic efficiency.
The rear spoiler is now 60mm longer and 30mm higher, while the rake of the rear screen has been increased to extend the surface area to increase rear downforce.
The three pairs of GT-racing derived strakes that lies over the rear wheelarch serves a purpose as well, as they have been adopted on the aerodynamic underbody and are responsible for 30 per cent of the increase in downforce over the F12berlinetta. The rear diffuser too has been redesigned with three active flaps to further boost the power of the vortexes of air flowing out from beneath.
Put its aerodynamic improvements, rear-axle steering, increased power, and weight reduction together, Ferrari says the F12tdf is capable of achieving 87 per cent higher cornering speeds than what the F12berlinetta was capable of, which is simply amazing any way you put it.
Limited Edition and Probably Sold Out
Like the 599GTO before it, the F12tdf will be made in a limited number, 799 to be precise. The F12tdf will be making its official debut at the Finali Mondiali at Mugello, Italy on November 8
th
.
For now Ferrari hasn’t said anything about its availability, but considering their track record with limited edition models that are all sold-out before launch, don’t be surprise to find out that all 799 examples of the F12tdf would have already found firm buyers by now.


All-New 2017 Mitsubishi Expander Front End Unmasked

Spyshot of Mitsubishi's all-new seven-seater has surfaced, thanks to our sister site Otospirit. Mitsubishi Motors Indonesia will be unveiling its new MPV at the 2017 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) later this month. The new model from Mitsubishi was earlier called XM, though the actual production model is expected to be named Expander.
The company had earlier teased the new MPV's front end, side profile and rear end.
Featured prominently in front is Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield corporate design, with a large angular chrome piece extending from the headlights to the bottom half of the bumper. At a glance, it may appear that the headlights are unusually small, though the actual headlights are positioned at the very edge of the bumper, just above the turn signals. Daytime running lights are positioned at the ends of the front grille, giving the Mitsubishi Expander a unique exterior. A pair of front foglights can be found at the bottom of the bumper.
Aimed squarely at the entry-level seven-seater market, the new Mitsubishi Expander is expected to arrive with a 1.5-litre petrol engine with power sent to the front wheels. It's key rivals, including the Honda BR-V, Toyota Avanza and Suzuki Ertiga also feature similar capacity engines.
The new Mitsubishi Expander could be rebadged as the next-generation Nissan Grand Livina as well, seeing that Nissan holds a 34% stake in Mitsubishi.


Sedang mencari
kereta terpakai
 untuk dibeli secara tunai? Kami ada proses serta cara-caranya!

Proses dan Cara Membeli Kereta Terpakai Secara Tunai

Membeli kereta terpakai secara tunai bukanlah untuk semua memandangkan harga kereta terpakai yang masih bagus rata-ratanya bernilai dalam lingkungan
RM20,000 ke atas
. Tetapi, membeli kereta terpakai secara tunai ini turut mempunyai kelebihannya yang tersendiri.

Kelebihan membeli kereta terpakai secara tunai:

Kurang berbelanja secara keseluruhan berbanding membeli secara hutang

Elak bayar kadar faedah pinjaman (interest)

Membina daya tahan kewangan

Fokus untuk mengutamakan matlamat kewangan yang lain

Meskipun
pinjaman untuk membeli kereta
 terpakai terasa lebih selamat memandangkan wang anda tidak dikeluarkan secara sedebuk daripada akaun bank anda, namun ia akan menyebabkan kos keseluruhan yang lebih tinggi berbanding pembelian tunai kerana kadar faedah pinjaman yang dikenakan mengikut tempoh yang dipersetujui. Dengan membeli secara tunai, anda boleh mendedikasikan lebih masa dan komitmen terhadap matlamat kewangan anda yang lain.

Berikut merupakan cara-cara untuk membeli kereta terpakai menggunakan tunai:

1. Survey

Pada tahun 2021 ini, anda dinasihatkan untuk tidak terus pergi ke kedai kereta terpakai untuk mencari kereta untuk mengelakkan anda termakan dengan ayat manis penjual. Seeloknya, carilah dulu model yang anda berkenan seperti di Carlist.my. Di sana, anda boleh menetapkan jumlah harga maksimum mengikut bajet anda seperti RM20,000 dan pelbagai kereta terpakai akan dipaparkan di bawah bajet tersebut.

2. Hubungi Penjual

Setelah menjumpai kereta yang anda mahukan, hubungi penjual tersebut untuk bertanya tentang maklumat lanjut seperti keadaan kereta dan lain lain. Antara perkara yang perlu dititikberatkan adalah berapa lama penjual tu memiliki kereta tersebut, jumlah perbatuan, sebab jual, sejarah kemalangan dan pastikan kereta itu bebas daripada segala pinjaman sebelumnya. Tanya juga sama ada kereta ini telah dimodifikasi atau diubahsuai kerana itu akan mempengaruhi prestasi dan nilai keseluruhan kos penyelenggaraan kereta itu kelak.

3. Semakan Lanjut di JPJ atau PDRM

Untuk memberikan anda lebih ketenangan, anda boleh menyemak dengan JPJ atau PDRM sama ada kereta terbabit pernah terlibat dalam kemalangan atau tidak sebelum ini. Anda juga boleh menyemak sama ada kereta tersebut masih mempunyai isu lain seperti
tunggakan saman
 dan lain-lain untuk memastikan kereta tersebut mempunyai rekod yang bersih.

4. Pandu Uji

Sekiranya kereta tersebut tidak mempunyai sebarang masalah hasil daripada semakan anda, anda boleh pergi berjumpa dengan penjual tersebut untuk
memandu uji
 kereta yang ingin dibeli itu. Tiada yang lebih baik selain daripada merasa sendiri bagaimana prestasi dan keadaan kereta terbabit. Untuk lebih kepastian, bawa sekali mekanik yang anda percaya untuk mengesan sebarang kerosakan yang mungkin tidak dapat dilihat dengan mata kasar orang biasa.

5. Runding Harga

Sekiranya anda berpuas hati dengan kereta terbabit, rundinglah harga mengikut kemampuan anda. Ada sesetangah penjual yang hanya memerlukan anda untuk membayar deposit terlebih dahulu sebelum siap menukar hak milik kenderaan. Ada juga yang meminta untuk melakukan pembayaran penuh terlebih dahulu. Seeloknya, bayarlah deposit terlebih dahulu sebelum proses pertukaran nama selesai. Dah selesai segala urusan nanti barulah bayar penuh untuk lebih kepastian. Sekiranya anda ditawarkan dengan beberapa hadiah lain seperti baucer atau tangki minyak penuh, anda boleh menolak tawaran itu dengan syarat supaya harga kereta dapat dikurangkan lagi.

6. PUSPAKOM

Jika segalanya berjalan lancar dan anda bersetuju untuk membeli kereta tersebut, kenderaan itu perlu menjalani pemeriksaan di
PUSPAKOM
terlebih dahulu sebelum JPJ melakukan
proses pertukaran hak milik kenderaan
 kepada nama anda. Sebelum ini, proses ini memakan masa yang lama namun dengan kehadiran
pemeriksaan bergerak PUSPAKOM
, anda hanya perlu menghubungi PUSPAKOM dan tempah tarikh temujanji. Anda hanya perlu tunggu sahaja mereka datang untuk pemeriksaan. Proses ini biasanya dilakukan oleh pihak penjual.

7. JPJ

Setelah selesai segala urusan dengan PUSPAKOM, kedua dua pihak (penjual dan pembeli) perlu hadir ke pejabat
JPJ
untuk menyelesaikan urusan pertukaran hak milik kenderaan tersebut. Antara dokumen yang diperlukan adalah:

Kad pengenalan (penjual dan pembeli)

Geran asal atau Sijil Pemilikan Kenderaan (VOC)

Borang B5 (Sijil Pemeriksaan Tukar Milik)

Pertukaran hak milik ini memerlukan pembeli untuk membeli insurans kereta baharu setelah pemilik asal selesai thumbprint di JPJ kerana itu akan membatalkan
insurans
dan cukai jalan yang ada pada kereta itu serta merta.

8. Pembayaran

Selepas segala urusan di atas selesai, anda hendaklah melengkapkan segala baki bayaran kereta terpakai itu kepada pemilik asalnya. Pastikan penjual tersebut memberikan anda resit yang menyatakan perkara seperti:

Tarikh

Amaun di bayar

Tahun dikeluarkan

Model kereta

Nombor pendaftaran

Nama, alamat dan tandatangan penjual dan pembeli

Dengan ini, selesailah sudah segala proses untuk membeli kereta terpakai ini. Kini kereta terbabit telah pun menjadi kereta anda sepenuhnya!

Kesimpulannya,
membeli kereta terpakai
 secara tunai bukanlah perkara mustahil di negara ini, tetapi ianya bukan untuk semua orang kerana ia bergantung pada tahap disiplin dan komitmen anda. Tidak dinafikan, membeli kereta terpakai secara tunai memang mempunyai kelebihan yang tersendiri, namun anda perlu membuat kira-kira terlebih dahulu. Kalau beli secara tunai tapi tiada duit simpanan langsung selepas itu pun susah juga kan?

Untuk mencari kereta terpakai dengan harga dan keadaan yang menarik, carilah di
Carlist.my
!

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

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Carlist.my.

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

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


2021 Subaru Forester GT Lite Edition Launched - RM163,788

TC Subaru Sdn Bhd has just launched the lite version of the Subaru Forester GT - for those looking for a Forester with the swagger but minus its EyeSight safety system.

The Subaru Forester GT Edition was launched in June of last year at RM177,788. This gave it an RM8,000 premium over the
Subaru Forester 2.0i-S
. The Subaru Forester GT Lite comes in as the cheapest among the trio at
RM163,788
. (OTR excluding insurance)

Powertrain:

2.0 litre naturally-aspirated boxer four-cylinder (FB20)

156 PS at 6,000 rpm

196 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm

Power is transferred to the wheels via a Lineartronic CVT. The Subaru Forester GT Lite comes equipped with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Two drive modes are available, Intelligent and Sport via SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive).

Hill Descent Control, Active Torque Vectoring and X-Mode with two modes: Snow and Dirt also come standard.

Exterior:

The GT Lite will come replete with the GT Full Body Kit and the GT Exhaust cutter.

Interior:

8-inch Display Audio System

360-degree Around View Monitor System

Safety:

7 airbags

Vehicle Dynamics Control

ABS with EBD and Brake Assist

Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Vehicle Hold

Isofix

Warranty:

The Forester GT Lite Edition comes with a 5-year/ 100,000km warranty.

Colours:

Crystal White Pearl

Ice Silver Metallic

Jasper Green Metallic

Horizon Blue Pearl

Sepia Bronze Metallic

Dark Grey Metallic

Crystal Black Silica.

According to Mr Eugene Tay, Country Manager, TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, "Following the success of the Forester GT Edition last year, I am proud to introduce the new Forester GT Lite Edition to Malaysia. The Forester GT Lite Edition is dynamically designed for customers looking to purchase a large SUV, with a great track record for safety and reliability, with more cabin space and with a sporty, stylish façade. The GT Lite Edition comes equipped with Subaru’s top-of-the-line safety features and is competitively priced below the popular GT edition. It is an example of how we are constantly offering more choice for our customers,”.

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Mercedes-Benz Is 3D Printing Genuine Replacement Classic Parts

If you've ever entertained the thought of owning and restoring a classic Mercedes-Benz, one of the concerns you may have considered is the difficulty in sourcing spare parts. After all, most manufacturers usually halt production of spare parts for particular vehicles at most 10 years after the last year of production, and over time you can expect reserves to start dwindling and you would be forced to look for alternative sources.
But thanks to the magic of 3D printing, this may no longer be an issue. You see, to produce components requires setting up a factory process, and that requires a large minimum order quantity. With 3D printing, components can be manufactured in small quantities and batches with little to no wastage or up-front costs. Daimler has had 30 years of experience with 3D printing, although the initial two decades were mostly for prototype usage.
The most recent additions to their range of 3D printer spare parts are for sliding sunroof rollers for the W110, W111, W112, and W123 models, the inside mirror base for the 300 SL Coupe, and the spark plug holder in the standard tool kit of the 300 SL Coupe and Roadster. There are many more within the Mercedes-Benz Classic spare parts range, and there will be many more to come. Now if only the rest of the manufacturers would get on board with this idea, and we can stop resorting to cheap reproduction pieces.


Review: Mazda Biante - When Driving Matters But You Have Kids

While some people view family MPVs as an end game when it comes to vehicle ownership, others actually see the practical side of owning one.

No one wakes up one fine day wishing they’d dream to own a family MPV. But the reality is that most family men will eventually need to own one MPV for his family.

Let’s take a closer look at the Mazda Biante, a family MPV that sits in the same segment as the Nissan Serena.

Specifications

Engine: 2.0-litre, inline-four transverse, naturally-aspirated

Power: 149 hp at 6,000 rpm

Torque: 190 Nm at 4,100 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS with EBD, DSC, TCS

Origin: Fully imported from Hiroshima, Japan

Price: RM148,149, on the road without insurance

Overview

The Mazda Biante you see here is not exactly new, as it was first launched back in 2008. Mazda refreshed the Biante back in 2013, replacing its old MZR engine and four-speed automatic transmission combination with a newer SkyActiv-G unit and six-speed automatic.

Powertrain aside, the updated in 2013 also brought along a new exterior design for the Biante, which includes Mazda’s then-new corporate face.

Other standard equipment for the Mazda Biante include 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights with manual leveling, LED tail lights, front parking sensors, keyless entry with push start knob, 7-inch infotainment system, i-Stop and Nano-e air purification system.

Exterior

Speaking of the company’s corporate face, the Mazda Biante is perhaps the oldest model in the company’s lineup.

While the 2013 updated brought along a refreshed exterior, the design is still one generation behind Mazda’s current Kodo design language.

Although the design of the Mazda Biante may date back to 2008, we reckon that the stylish headlights that stretches into the A-pillars certainly keeps the MPV looking fresh, nine years old.

Similar to other tall-roof MPVs in its segment, the Mazda Biante gets two power sliding doors on each side, easing ingress and egress for younger kids.

Interior

The interior of the Mazda Biante is a pleasant place to be in, as the beige interior and tall roof gives a very airy feeling.

However, the beige interior is a chore to upkeep when kids are in the equation. Maintaining the interior will be a headache for some parents, and Mazda does not offer a black interior option for the Biante.

Despite its beige interior, we especially love the flexibility of the Biante’s seats, which includes sliding second and third row seats. Need to haul extra bulky items? Just slide and fold the third row seats to increase the boot space.

Build quality is also top notch, seeing that the Mazda Biante is fully-imported from Japan. Our test car has raked up a considerable amount of mileage,

Driving Experience

Behind the wheel of the Mazda Biante, we were pleasantly surprised how easy it was to drive the 4,715 mm long MPV.

Steering is light enough for us to maneuver even in the tightest of parking spaces, and the tall roof certainly helps with visibility.

Apart from that, the SkyActiv-G engine managed to return surprisingly good fuel economy, as we barely used half a tank of fuel travelling from our office to Janda Baik and back.

The six-speed automatic and the SkyActiv-G powertrain combination certainly suits the Biante well, allowing the Biante to accelerate smoothly without hassle. On top of that, the engine is surprisingly torquey despite being naturally-aspirated.

Ride comfort is also commendable, as the Biante strikes the fine balance between handling and soaking up road irregularities. But that’s beyond the point, as the Biante’s core duty is to ferry occupants comfortably and safely.

Conclusion

The Mazda Biante is in a rather weird spot.

On one hand, it offers more seating capacity (8 seats versus 7 seats) than its nearest rival, the Nissan Serena, but the Biante is a considerably older product than the Serena, and it shows, both inside and out.

Exterior wise, the Biante's design has aged considerably more than the Serena. Moving inside, the Nissan Serena boasts a considerably more flexible interior when it comes to its seats. Elsewhere, the dashboard design of the Nissan looks more modern than the Biante.

Age aside, the Mazda Biante still has merits going for it. The Biante is perhaps one of the only few MPVs that offers 8 seats without breaking the bank. Additionally, the SkyActiv powertrain in the Biante suits the large MPV very well.

Additionally, the Mazda Biante drives better than the Nissan Serena. When we sampled the Serena some time back, we noticed that the driving experience was rather clumsy for an MPV.

Priced at just below the RM150,000 mark, the Biante is affordable enough for families than needs the extra seating flexibility and practicality that smaller rivals can’t offer.

With all said and done, we especially enjoy the roomy interior and ride comfort of the Biante. Coupled with the rather good SkyActiv powertrain, the Biante should be on your shortlist if you’re shopping for a family MPV.


Precision Ctrl_ Gymkhana - Ain't No Better Way To Spend A Saturday Morning!

The smell of burning rubber, the sound of screeching tyres, the skill and precision of 15 participants. Welcome to Precision Ctrl_! A gymkhana event that is the first of many courtesy of Bimmers Restoration & Parts and Imola Automotive.

When
CarTell by Carlist.my
 was contacted and asked to be the official media partner for Precision Ctrl_, I jumped at the opportunity. As mentioned before, we want to play a more active role in supporting local motorsports events, and so on hot Saturday morning (10/4/2021), we descended to Shah Alam Stadium.

As its name suggests, Precision Ctrl_ is all about precision and skill in navigating a course that was designed by Akib Nadeem and Muiz Zakwan. The course was technical and challenging with tight hairpin turns and a slalom. The winning time was just over 30 seconds. It was short which meant that every misstep would incur you seconds wasted. The top three of the day was separated by less than two seconds.

I had the privilege of piloting the BMW M340i on the gymkhana track but only managed a paltry 36 seconds. That was all me, not the car. The car itself is a beast. Review coming up soon.

All in all 15 cars took part, many BMW's but there was a Starlet and a BRZ in the mix too! Bayerische Motoren Werke was well represented with quite a few E36's, a bas kilang blue E46 Ci, not forgetting the E36 cabrio (hands-down win for style points), an E39 was seen taking the tight turns with aplomb, a couple of F30's and the most expensive car on the track that day was an E92 M3 (original okay, not upbadged).

Prizes were sponsored by Imola Automotive, Bimmers Restoration & Parts and Torqu3 Lubricant Malaysia.

The winners and their respective times for the day are as below:

1st - Hanif F30 330e - 30.1

2nd - Vick E36 (running an S52B32) - 30.8

3rd - Ariff F30 320d - 31.6

Bila next one? Aaah one is being planned for after Hari Raya so stay tuned, we'll keep you posted.

The Precision Ctrl_ gymkhana event was held observing the strictest of SOPs, all attendees had to check in via MySejahtera and a maximum number of 25 attendees was observed at all times within the event area as stipulated.

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