All-New Toyota Hiace Debuts In Thailand

Since its debut back in February, Toyota has been gradually rolling out its all-new Hiace, with Thailand being the latest recipient of the new van.
For the Thailand market, the new model is available with two roof configurations – a low roof version called the Hiace and a tall roof version called the Commuter. The Hiace is available as a 12-seater GL or a cargo-oriented Panel variant. As for the Commuter, it is purely a people-mover, capable of sitting up to 11 with ease.
Both versions of the Hiace are powered by a 2.8-litre turbodiesel that outputs 177 PS and 420 Nm, mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, the latter offered solely on the Commuter.
Safety equipment includes three airbags, ABS, VSC, TRC, Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and Brake Assist. Unlike the Australian market Hiace (which is called the Granvia there), the Thai market model does not get Active Cruise Control or Toyota’s Pre-Collision Safety System.
The Hiace Panel van is priced at THB 999,000, while the Hiace GL costs THB 1.079 million. As for the Commuter, this model is priced at THB 1.269 million for the manual and THB 1.299 million for the automatic.
Looking for a new Toyota? Find for the best deals
here
.


All-New BMW 7 Series (G11) Makes Global Debut

The sixth-generation all-new
BMW

7 Series
 has finally and officially been revealed to the world. We’ve
spied it
,
caught on all the teasers
, and have even shown you a
bunch of leaked images
, but nothing beats a full reveal like we have here.
To shape things up quick for those of you on the go, our coverage of
last night’s leaked images should suffice
, but if you want the full report, read on.
Six generations of the BMW flagship limousine since 1977, and here we are today with sights set of the future, looking at the latest bit of BMW mastery that largely previews all things to come from the brand in due time - as the trickle-down effect begins here, and on to the 5er, 3er and so on. The new 7 Series will be built traditionally at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, alongside the aluminium bodies of Rolls-Royce models and more.
“We had one goal: for the new 7 Series to set the standard for sportiness as well as for innovation in the luxury segment. We wanted our customers to experience all the innovative power of the BMW Group in our BMW flagship.
“Exceptional driving dynamics has always been one of the main reasons customers buy this car. That is why the new BMW 7 Series offers such a versatile driving experience – from absolute comfort to extremely sporty,”
 says Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.
So let’s uncover what’s what, starting with…
Engines:
The US and Europe will both offer different engine variants of the all-new 7 Series, for example, the US gets the 750i with a V8, while Europe will get a 620Nm of torque 730d. Collectively, it’s a range of new inline-six BMW TwinPower turbo petrol and diesel (B58, B57) engines that are the focus of the new 7 Series’ powertrains – there’s a massively updated 4.4-litre V8 that rivals the performance of a BMW M5, but we’ll get to that in a bit.
740i:
 Forming the basis for the 740i, 740Li and 740i xDrive is BMW’s new 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The powerhouse makes 326hp and 450Nm of torque, which is enough to burst it from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds. Do keep in mind here that 7ers are equipped with the latest-gen eight-speed torque converter automatic Steptronic transmission.
730d:
 The sole diesel variant on offer will find its way into the 730d, 730Ld and 730d xDrive. It pushes 265hp, but a whopping 620Nm of torque. The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel features a new common-rail direct injection system with piezo injectors that now generate a maximum pressure of 2,500 bar.
750i:
 Redeveloped by BMW for the 750i xDrive, the 4.4-litre twin-turbo BMW TwinPower V8 petrol engine is good for a stonking 445hp. Torque figures haven’t been revealed as yet.
Clearly, BMW hasn’t revealed the full extent of its engine line-up, and is more likely to be doing so as the 7 Series approaches its market launch come October this year. As reported, various markets will be offered with various spec, so don’t be too disheartened to find that we in Malaysia don’t get the 750i or xDrive units – you could however always just order one directly from BMW.
BMW has also introduced a
740e Plug-In Hybrid variant of the all-new 7 Series
, so you can head on over to that link to find out more.
Exterior Styling:
The all-new 7 Series isn’t too far a stretch from its predecessor in terms of exterior styling, you could still spot one a mile way without much confusion. More an evolution rather than a revolution, BMW has subtly chiselled its limo to further perfection.
At the front, the new 7 Series features BMW’s first Active Kidney Grille, which like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s Active Shutter Grille, can be opened to allow air cooling of the engine bay, or shut to aid aerodynamics when cooling is sufficient.
The redesigned headlamps still feature BMW’s signature twin circular design, but have been remoulded to flow into the kidney grille. As standard, all 7ers will come with full LED front lighting, while optional is a set of BMW Laserlight tech – which has made its was over into mass production from the BMW i8.
If you approach it from the side, you’ll notice BMW’s signature Air Breather has been relocated further downwards than we’ve ever seen it to be on other models, and spawns a chrome trim strip which runs along the sides. The wrap-around window frame, taking in the Hofmeister kink, is a single-piece element for the first time in a series-produced model.
Around the back, and the 7 Series’ broad stance is further proposed by the sleeker L-shaped taillights, which as standard, are full LEDs. Both taillights are joined together by a chrome strip running across the boot lid.
DIMENSIONS:
 Offered also with a long wheelbase version, the regular 7er measures in at 5,098mm long, 1,902mm wide, and 1,478mm tall. The LWB is marginally longer is all aspects, with a wheelbase that’s 14cm longer than the regular vehicle, mostly to make for more room in the rear of the cabin.
Interior Design:
Similarly laid out to resembled what most all modern BMW’s today look like, the new 7 Series hasn’t changed its ergonomics game all that much. But again, if you look closely, you’ll spot the changes. For aesthetics, you may look to new chrome buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and centre console and on the dash. And if that’s not enough chrome for your liking, there’s an optional Design Pure Excellence package which will induce more inside and outside the car, along with add some matt-black brake calipers and some deep-pile floor mats in the rear.
For what’s really new and exciting about the interior, you’ll have to look at the new tech BMW has introduced with its all-new 7 Series, beginning with the latest iDrive 5.0 with Navigation system. For the first time, BMW is going with a touchscreen control display, which also allows for gesture control (waving your hands at it like performing a Jedi mind trick allows you to control various functions like volume, switching music tracks etc.).
The instrument display screen is also all-new, and is a 12.3-inch screen, which allows for lots of customisation as to what you see in it. The colour schemes also change based on what Driving Experience mode you’re in at the time.
Getting carried away with a newfound appreciation for touch-control, there’s a separate control panel for the four-zone a/c controls in the rear which are touch sensitive.
Conveniently, there’s a universal mobile phone holder located on the centre console which features wireless charging capability and is compatible with a range of devices, says BMW.
EXECUTIVE LOUNGE SEATING:
 Ah, yes. If for whatever reason a little more space is needed in the rear for your business-class demands, BMW will be introducing what it calls the Executive Lounge Seating option, available for purchase by mid-2016.
The optional package allows the backrest to be reclined to an angle of up to 42.5 degrees. For more rear legroom, the front passenger seat can be slid forward by an extra 90mm and its backrest tilted all the way forward. For a completely unobstructed view to the front, the head restraint can be folded down as well.
An electrically operated fold-out footrest can also be found on the back of the front passenger seat. The rear-seat entertainment system screen can be electrically adjusted to the ideal viewing angle for the rear passenger’s current seat position. In addition to all this, the Executive Lounge rear console also features a fold-out table, two cupholders and a storage compartment, as well as the new BMW Touch Command unit.
TOUCH COMMAND:
 BMW’s Touch Command device is a removable seven-inch touchscreen tablet device – yes, it’s optional kit too. Anyone with the Touch Command device may control various things like seating positions, interior lighting and air-conditioning, access the car’s infotainment and navigation and more – best of all, you can do most of these things without even needing to be in the car. A WiFi hotspot built into the vehicle provides the necessary online connectivity. Any content retrieved from the Rear-seat entertainment menu with the aid of the tablet is shown on the Rear-seat entertainment Experience system’s two 10-inch screens.
Remote Control Parking:
A first for BMW, owners will be able to get in and out of forward parking spaces without anyone at the wheel via the new Remote Control Parking option – getting in and out of tight spaces can’t get any easier than that. Using your BMW Display Key, drivers need only select the task, and then commands the vehicle to either park itself and reverse out of a parking spot whilst themselves standing by to watch for any obstacles.
Carbon Core Body Construction:
We told you lots about the all-new 7 Series’ CFRP body in our previous stories, but here, we put more facts to the matter.
It starts off with the vehicle being a lot lighter than its predecessor: around 130kg lighter to be precise. What this does for the new 7er then is massive: less weight means more performance and handling, more fuel efficiency gains, you know the drill.
The element here is the BMW’s Carbon Core body structure: using CFRP, ultra-high-tensile steels and aluminium, BMW have been able to slash the 7ers weight by much, yet maintain the rigidity and strength of the vehicle. But that’s not all. We’ve now also learnt that the new 7er’s build has learnt far more than CFRP tech from the brand’s environmentally-conscious BMW ‘i’ Division.
“Careful material selection, energy-efficient production processes and further improved arrangements for environmentally friendly recycling help the new BMW 7 Series to obtain an exemplary life cycle assessment covering its entire product life. The environmental impact - the “greenhouse potential” - is around 25 per cent lower than in the outgoing model,”
 says BMW.
Chassis Control & Driving Experience:
To recap:
“Exceptional driving dynamics has always been one of the main reasons customers buy this car. That is why the new BMW 7 Series offers such a versatile driving experience – from absolute comfort to extremely sporty,”
 says Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. And they’re not kidding.
The new 7 Series is fitted with a double-joint front axle, five-link rear axle and Electric Power Steering. Then there’s also the inclusion of a two-axle self-levelling air suspension system as standard makes a further contribution to the superb ride comfort.
When driving over a rough road, the level control features allows drivers to raise the ground clearance of the vehicle by 20mm – and as soon as the road smoothens out and you pick up speed again to around 35km/h, the system will revert to its original setting. Likewise, when Sport mode is in use, the car will automatically lower itself by 10mm when it reaches high speeds to improve stability.
For the first time, active roll stabilisation is now carried out electromechanically in the new 7 Series, via a development of the Executive Drive Pro feature. The new active chassis control system works in unison with two-axle air suspension and the Variable Damper Control to reduce roll forces created by cornering at high speed. Being electronically controlled and doing away with the use of a hydraulic-type system also makes the 7 Series a lot more energy efficient. The system can technically “see” the road ahead too, via data from the navigation system and a stereo camera, which makes this a sort of “anticipatory” chassis control.
ADAPTIVE DRIVE MODE:
 Added to the list of Sport, ECO PRO and Comfort type driving modes is a new ADAPTIVE mode from BMW which when selected, the vehicle sets itself up to match whatever driving style you throw at it – with the Professional Navigation system as standard, map data is also taken into account.
When it is coming to Malaysia?
Sorry, but we wish we could answer that one for you. But given how quickly BMW Malaysia usually gets their all-new vehicle’s here, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see it here some time Q1 or Q2 2016. In Europe, the all-new 7 Series is only expected for a market launch sometime October 2015. But who knows... we'll have to wait on BMW Malaysia to give us something concrete first.


2018 Toyota Vellfire Facelift Now In Selected Toyota Showrooms

Bookings of the updated Toyota Vellfire and Alphard were opened back in January and it appears that the new MPV can be viewed at selected Toyota showrooms.
Changes to the exterior include a new front-end with updated LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights, front foglights, and grille. Towards the rear, the LED tail lights have also been refreshed. Revised 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels complete the exterior of the facelifted Toyota Vellfire. The vehicle featured here is finished in a shade of brown called Graphite Metallic.
Under the hood, there are no mechanical changes to the facelift model, with the familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with Dual VVT-i, capable of producing 180 PS and 235 Nm. The engine is paired to a CVT-type automatic that sends power to the front wheels.
Inside, the updated Toyota Vellfire features:
Qi wireless charger
Automatic air-conditioning with nanoe air purifying system
Full Display Monitor-type rear view mirror
Black leather seats
Captain seats with power recline and Ottoman
7-inch touchscreen and 8 speakers
10.2-inch roof-mounted monitor
LED ceiling illumination
 Safety equipment includes:
7 airbags
ABS with EBD and Brake Assist (BA)
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRC)
Brake Hold
Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
ISOFIX anchor points
The updated Toyota Vellfire will cost RM350,800, on-the-road exclusive of insurance. Similar to other Toyota models, the Vellfire is backed by a 5 year warranty with unlimited mileage.


Le Mans 2017 – Hat-Trick For Porsche, Heartbreak For Toyota

Porsche has secured the top spot at the 85th instalment of the Le Mans 24-Hours race, snatching victory once again from rivals Toyota in what was a race of perseverance, filled with drama from start to end.
The (Number 2) Porsche 919 Hybrid, piloted Earl Bamber, Timo Bernhard, and Brendon Hartley crossed the line at 1830 hrs on Saturday after completing 367 laps of the Circuit de la Sarthe.
After an enormous effort by the team, the trio sliced through the field from 56th position after suffering from front axle problems and forced to be in the pits for over an hour, to overall victory.
The latest win marks Porsche’s 19th overall win in the world’s toughest race and the third in a row meaning the German manufacturer can now keep the famous trophy. Porsche is the 'winningest' team in Le Mans history, ahead of Audi which have 13 overall wins.
Porsche’s Number 1 919 Hybrid car stopped on track soon after having led the race for more than ten hours, suffering a major mechanical failure.
Toyota Gazoo Racing, on the other hand, endured a painful Le Mans 24 Hours in 2017, in which two of its three TS050 Hybrids did not reach the chequered flag while the remaining car, piloted by Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima finished ninth, after completing 358 laps.
Hopes were high of a first Toyota win at Le Mans when, the pole position-winning (Number 7) TS050 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Stéphane Sarrazin led for the opening 10 hours but it retired in the wee hours of Saturday, following a clutch problem.
An accident put the Number 9 car of Nicolas Lapierre, Yuji Kunimoto and José María López out just minutes after the Number 7 stopped, when it was hit from behind by an LMP2 car, causing a puncture and damaging the hydraulics. That left the car unable to shift gear and it retired on track just a few hundred metres from the pits at 0135 hrs .
The Number 8 car of Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima had also been in contention for the victory for almost eight hours until an issue on the front motor cost it almost two hours in the pits. It rejoined and finished ninth, setting the fastest lap late in the race.
The curse for Toyota at Le Mans continues, after coming close to victory five times in the past, most agonizingly in 2016, when the lead Toyota retired with just five minutes remaining in the race. Toyota showed brilliant pace and reliability leading up to Le Mans, with the Number 8 TS050 winning the first two outings of the 2017 World Endurance Championship, at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps respectively.
Arguably, the Cinderella story of 2017 is that of the (Number 38) Jackie Chan DC Racing’s Oreca-07 LMP2 car driven by Ho-Pin Tung, Oliver Jarvis, and Thomas Laurent which took the overall race lead after the misfortunes of Porsche and Toyota during the night stint of the race.
The Number 38 car held the lead for several hours and looked to be the first ever lower class car to take overall Le Mans honours, until the chasing Number 2 Porsche 919 Hybrid (which pitted for more than an hour earlier in the race) passed it with around one hour left in the race.
The Number 38 car is the first LMP 2 car to podium at Le Mans ahead of the third place Oreca-07 LMP 2 car from the Vaillante Rebellion race team.
Here's the final classification after 24 hours of racing:
Porsche LMP Team (Bernhard / Bamber / Hartley): #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 (367 laps)
Jackie Chan DC Racing (Tung / Laurent / Jarvis): #38 Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 (366 laps)
Vaillante Rebellion (Piquet Jr / Heinemeier Hansson / Beche): #13 Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 (364 laps)
Jackie Chan DC Racing (Cheng / Gommendy / Brundle): #37 Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 (363 laps)
Signatech Alpine Matmut (Panciatici / Ragues / Negrão): #35 Alpine A470 - Gibson LMP2 (362 laps)
United Autosports (Owen / De Sadeleer / Albuquerque): #32 Ligier JSP217 - Gibson LMP2 D (362 laps)
Graff (Allen / Matelli / Bradley): #40 Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 (361 laps)
CEFC Manor TRS Racing (Graves / Hirschi / Vergne): #24 Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 (360 laps)
Toyota Gazoo Racing (Buemi / Davidson / Nakajima): #8 Toyota TS050 - Hybrid LMP1 (358 laps)
Cetilar Villorba Corse (Lacorte / Sernagiotto / Belicchi): #47 Dallara P217 - Gibson LMP2 (353 laps)


ACOTY 2016: Potential Contenders For 2017

Mazda, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz emerged as the biggest winners in the
ASEAN Car of the Year 2016
 awards that were given out recently. Besides sweeping the top three regional prizes, these three brands also took 12 out of 24 category awards at country level for the Malaysian market.
The dominance of these brands is neither a fluke nor a coincidence. All three makers are currently on a high, riding on strong momentum generated by a stream of good models that meet the needs of the buying public. The general excellence of their products has translated to strong performance on the sales charts as well.
Rivals are unlikely to take this lying down, however. Newer, better cars will make landfall in 2017, and there were also a number of cars launched in late 2016 that missed the ACOTY 2016 cut-off date that will be in contention for next year’s award. Read on as we preview the few cars that we expect to make an impact in ACOTY 2017:
Budget Car:

Proton Saga
 – It sits on an old platform, but Proton did a fine job ironing out all the rough edges of the Saga BLM to give us an impressively well-polished third-generation Saga. Improvements to the CVT contribute to a smoother overall driving experience, and chassis tuning is spot on as ever. Buyers on a budget no longer need to sacrifice on refinement.
Compact Sedan:
Proton Persona
 – The new Persona was met with some scepticism ahead of its launch, but has proven itself to be an impressively well-engineered product. Like the Saga that came after it, the
Persona excels on overall refinement
 whilst also offering the joyful driving characteristics that Proton cars of recent vintages are renowned for. Like its predecessor, the new Persona offers impressive value for money. It’s not going to be an easy ride for the Persona though, the segment’s old favourite, the
Toyota Vios
, has reinforced its arsenal with a
new Dual VVT-i engine
 to reignite its challenge in this increasingly competitive segment.
Family Hatchback:

Hyundai Ioniq
 – Having stirred up the market with its impactful ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ models half a decade ago, Hyundai seems to have stagnated with its growth. The locally-assembled Ioniq Hybrid, however, should reinject some fresh impetus to the line-up. Fuel efficiency of a hybrid engine notwithstanding, the Ioniq is an attractively-styled hatchback that is competitively priced and exceedingly well-equipped for the money.
Executive Car:

Volkswagen Passat B8
 – Volkswagen’s fight back to rebuild its battered image starts with the all-new Passat. Good to drive, and carrying enough equipment to rival premium makes, the Passat seeks to reposition itself as a more upmarket alternative to its traditional segment rivals. To ensure good reliability, Volkswagen ran test vehicles for 18 months on Malaysian roads before launching it here. It’s not a sure bet though; the
Honda Accord
 and
Toyota Camry
 – both segment stalwarts – were recently refreshed with more competitive equipment that will certainly lift their scores next year.
Budget MPV:

Honda BR-V
 – It’s dressed as a crossover, but the BR-V is, in essence, an affordable seven-seater competing against the
Toyota Avanza
 and
Nissan Grand Livina
. Expect the newly-launched
Proton Ertiga
 to give it a good fight too. The
Mitsubishi XM
, if it launches in time for our next cut-off, is another contender as well.
Mid-Sized MPV:
Toyota Innova
 – Like its IMV siblings – namely the
Hilux
 and
Fortuner
 – the all-new Innova now wears a far more upmarket look and feel, whilst retaining the robustness of its predecessor that countless business operators appreciated. It has become a more appealing choice for private buyers.
Large MPV:

Kia Grand Carnival
 – A large MPV priced to rival a segment below, and powered by a torquey diesel engine, the Kia Grand Carnival may prove to be the bargain among large people carriers.
Large SUV:

Renault Koleos
 – The
Nissan X-Trail’s
 two-year hold of this category is under threat, ironically by a more refined version of itself. Product of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the Koleos
shares the X-Trail’s platform and engine
 but carries superior equipment and feels more upmarket in comparison. The
Mazda CX-9
 is another strong contender, although its estimated RM250k price tag may see it pushed to compete in one of the Premium SUV segments instead.
Premium Executive Car:
BMW 5 Series
,
Volvo S90
 – Big competition await the
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
 at next year’s award. Its arch-rival, the BMW 5 Series, has just renewed itself with a full model change, but that’s not all. Volvo’s new S90 is a strong dark horse and may just have enough to upset the two traditional segment favourites.
Pick-Up Truck:

Mitsubishi Triton MIVEC
 – The
Ford Ranger
 is the oldest among the current generation of pick-up trucks, but it is still consistently
rated by many as simply the best
. The competition intensifies in 2017 – the Mitsubishi Triton brings its all-new MIVEC turbodiesel engine to the table, whilst the
Chevrolet Colorado
 and
Isuzu D-Max
 have both raised their games with major facelifts.


Mitsubishi Signs MoU With Indonesian Government To Promote EVs

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Government to increase the use and availability of electric vehicles (EVs) in Indonesia.
Both Mitsubishi and the Indonesian Government will be working together to study the efficient usage of EVs in Indonesia.
To kick things off, Mitsubishi provided 10 EVs and four charging stations to the Indonesian Ministry Of Industry (MOI) and other organizations, including universities and research institutions.
Osamu Masuko, Mitsubishi Motors' Chief Executive said, "This Memorandum of Understanding is a vote of confidence by the Indonesian Government in the electric technologies of Mitsubishi Motors. At the same time, this announcement demonstrates the importance that Mitsubishi Motors places on Indonesia in our plans for future growth. We are pleased to be playing our part in helping to reduce emissions in Indonesia and in supporting its transition to a low carbon economy."
Mitsubishi opened its Bekasi plant in April, which assembles the Pajero Sport and Xpander. The Bekasi plant is capable of producing up to 160,000 vehicles annually.


The ECRL Will Not Be Owned By China

According to our Transport Minister, the ECRL does not and will not belong to China and that it will be self-sustaining, high in demand, and good for local economies.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has come out and squashed unwanted speculations about the ECRL, including the rumour that the ownership of assets and lands along the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) alignment will be transferred to China.

Through the Ministry of Transport's official Facebook page, Wee assertively said that certain parties had been spreading slander on the ECRL project as part of a 'malicious propaganda'.

ECRL assets are 100% owned by the Malaysian government

"ECRL assets are 100 percent owned by the Malaysian government through MRL (Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd), and land along the ECRL line is a non-transferable railway reserve."

"The project repayment plan to the Chinese government-owned banks also does not involve the transfer of ECRL assets or land along the ECRL alignment".

"The repayment plan to the government-owned Bank of China for projects also does not involve the transfer of ECRL assets or lands."

"It must be stressed here that MRL is the owner of the ECRL project and assets, while China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) is the main contractor."

ECRL malicious propaganda

"On the alleged ownership or primary owner of this
infrarakyat
 project, I see this allegation as malicious propaganda as narrated by some parties who were also responsible for the rumours regarding the Forest City development project, a joint venture of Proton-Geely. In their narrative, foreign countries control Malaysian assets, national assets are mortgaged, and national sovereignty is invaded."

"This is not only slander, but also tarnishes Malaysia's image in the eyes of the world community, the worse it erodes the confidence of foreign investors to invest in Malaysia."

Wee also took the chance to clear up some other allegations regarding the project, including fare rate, ECRL cargo and passenger traffic projections, and ECRL's possible returns and economic impact.

ECRL ticket prices will be the same as existing train fare

"Once again, I emphasize that the
ECRL fare rate will be equivalent to the existing train fare
 rate regulated by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), an agency under the Ministry of Transport Malaysia. Based on the existing fare, it is very affordable and people-friendly."

"Regarding the ECRL cargo and passenger traffic projections, it has been studied by a certified consultant who has the expertise to collect data and conduct studies to formulate the traffic projections. Through data collected, the ECRL is able to generate high passenger and cargo traffic as it passes through heavy industrial areas and manufacturing hubs connected to the country's major ports."

ECRL rail link

"Apart from that, passenger services are also showing high demand given the range that
passes through major cities
 on the East Coast."

"There is a long-term plan to generate sufficient revenue to cover the company’s operating costs. Any profits from MRL’s train operations and ancillary businesses will be able to be used to repay part of the ECRL project loan liabilities."

Will the ECRL be profitable?

"The cost of cargo transportation to and from the East Coast is projected to decrease up to 40%-50%. This will increase the competitiveness of the East Coast states and create more new industries that are expected to generate revenue through the ECRL".

Wee said that his factual statements would probably not change the perception of some parties who have wandered off far from reality. His explanation is all based on facts, and he is trying to explain things as clearly as possible so that everyone can understand.

The 665km long ECRL is scheduled for completion in 2026 and will pass through East Coast states such as Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang before connecting the Klang Valley to the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The ECRL will reduce travel time and connect
Kota Bharu to Gombak within 4 hours
.


Takata Airbag Issue: The Affected Cars

There have already been four recorded fatal incidents linked to Takata airbags in Malaysia and only a small percentage of owners who have been notified by manufacturers, have sent their vehicles in for repair.

Contrary to popular belief, the recall is not limited to just Honda vehicles. Yes, the brand is the largest user of Takata airbags, but other brands like
Toyota
,
Mitsubishi
,
Nissan
,
Mazda
,
Subaru
, and even Ferrari have issued similar recalls.

That said, dear owners of vehicles from these makes, please, for your own safety, check with your respective manufacturers to confirm if your vehicles are affected by the recall.

Still confused? Please refer to the list below. If your vehicle is here, call your respective manufacturers as soon as possible because you might be in trouble.

Honda

Model

Year

Accord

2003-2011

City

2003-2013

Civic

2001-2011

Civic Hybrid

2003, 2007-2012

CR-V

2002-2011, 2013

Jazz

2003-2007, 2009-2013

Jazz Hybrid

2012-2013

Insight

2011-2013

Stream

2003-2005, 2007-2013

Freed

2009-2011

Odyssey

2004-2008

Toyota (certain batches only)

Model

Year

Camry

2001-2007

Corolla Altis

2001-2008

Vios

2003-2008

Yaris

2003-2008

RAV4

2005-2008

Mazda

Model

Year

BT-50

2006-2011

Mazda 6

2003-2007

Mitsubishi

Model

Year

Lancer

2004-2006

Triton

2006-2014

Nissan

Model

Year

X-Trail (CKD)

2002-2007

Teana (CBU)

2004

Liberty (CBU)

2003

Subaru

Model

Year

Impreza/WRX

2004-2007

If you find your car in the list above, or if you need any information about the issue, the manufacturers can be contacted at:

Honda:
Enter VIN number here

Toyota: 1-800-88-69682

Nissan:
Enter VIN number here

Mitsubishi: Enter VIN number here -
For Lancer
 /
For Triton

Mazda:
Enter VIN number here

Subaru: 03-7956 2288


UMW Toyota Motor Begins Order Taking For The All-New Toyota Camry

UMW Toyota Motor has just announced that they have started order taking for the all-new Toyota Camry, effective 1
st
 November 2018.
The all-new Toyota Camry is built on the proven TNGA platform, giving the model a low center of gravity, rigid body structure, responsive steering, and suspension set up. Speaking of suspension, the all-new Camry, codenamed XV70, gets double wishbone suspension setup at the rear.
For the Malaysian market, we won’t be getting the Dynamic Force range of engines, but rather the familiar 2.5-litre 2AR-FE four-cylinder engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Power figures are 184 PS and 235 Nm.
Standard equipment on the all-new Camry includes:
Automatic projector LED headlights with Automatic High Beam
18-inch alloy wheels
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
7.0-inch colour multi-information display
10.0-inch colour head-up display
Power-adjustable steering wheel with memory
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
JBL 9-speaker Premium sound system (800W) with Class D amplifier
Leather seats with driver memory function
Pre-Collision System
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
Adaptive Radar Cruise Control
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Five colours are available, including Red Mica, Platinum White Pearl Mica, Silver Metallic, Graphite Metallic, and Burning Black.
The all-new Toyota Camry is expected to carry a price tag of RM189,900, on-the-road without insurance.
Visitors to the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2018 at the Malaysia International Trade Center (MITEC) will be able to check out the all-new Camry. The 2018 edition of KLIMS will happen from 23
rd
 November to 2
nd
 December.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Teaches Its Owners About Their Cars

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia together with authorised dealer NZ Wheels have conducted its first Mercedes-Benz Discovery Learning Programme. A specialised program designed to enable their customers to better understand their Mercedes-Benz vehicles and all the functions, technologies, and safety features of their vehicle.
The program hopes to optimise the ownership experience of their customers through information sharing and discovery sessions conducted by the marque’s technical experts.
The program highlight featured a talk by Mr. Andreas Roehl, a Daimler AG Technical Expert who educated customers on the latest vehicle technologies, pre-safe and safety features of Mercedes-Benz cars. Mr. Roehl conducted an Information Sharing Session where customers were taken step-by-step through the Pre-Safe and safety features available within a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
Customers also enjoyed a detailed demonstration of Mercedes-Benz assist systems such as Park Assist and Hill-Hold functions, facilitated by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Technical Specialists. In addition, customers were also educated on servicing and car care tips in a Servicing & Car Care Tips Session.
In conjunction with the Discovery Learning Programme, NZ Wheels also unveiled their brand new Body & Paint facility has the capacity to service up to 70 cars per month, offering services such as spot welding and MIG/MAG welding, dry sanding facility, infra-red technology dryers, Glasurit water-based paints, and dedicated aluminium repair bay.
This new 8,330 sq.ft. body and paint facility was set up at an investment of RM2 million and is the dealer’s first certified Body & Paint Centre commisioned as per Mercedes-Benz global standards.
The NZ Wheels Klang Autohaus has a total built-up area of approximately 32,000 sq. ft. The facility has a total display capacity of 17 vehicles with three of them being the AMG cars at AMG Performance Centre, and is backed by a workforce of around 70 personnel across sales, technical services, and spare parts functions.


The Right Township For An Electric Car - Nada Bidara

Integrated communities are fast becoming popular among people who are trying to avoid the insanity of living within ever expanding city limits, because they offer the best balance of peace and convenience. In the past, moving away from a city centre generally also meant having to buy items in huge quantities as the trip back into town would be a frustrating one.

But now, developers have an understanding that there is immense value in a township that has everything within reach. In a sense it’s the way that older developments used to work, but that concept faded over time as there was more priority over sheer housing density instead of balancing living space with community space.

The real question is, what’s the measure of a good integrated community? For us, the answer is as simple as looking to the future. Can you live comfortably in one of these towns with an electric car? The range of current electric cars sit around 200 kilometers or so depending on which car you buy and how you drive it, which means that your daily route has to be a little shorter than that to make ownership reasonable.

In the case of Nada Bidara, you just might. It’s a new township that’s being built between Labu, Sepang, and Sendayan – or somewhere between Nilai and Seremban 2. In absolute terms it sits roughly 70 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur – which puts it just within the range of an electric car. If you don’t feel like slugging it out in traffic, the Labu KTM station is just 7 kilometres away, making it extremely convenient if you want to take public transport into town.

But the point of an integrated township is that you can avoid heading into the city altogether. If you feel like exploring other parts of peninsular Malaysia, you aren’t far from the North South highway – 12 kilometres from the Seremban toll and 20 kilometres from the Port Dickson toll. Even in what’s usually an extreme case – flying off from KLIA – you are just 18 kilometres from the airport.

So far, we’ve addressed the more major commute requirements. These are probably the longest distances you’ll have to travel if you live out in this kind of township, because everything else will be just a couple of minutes away. Schools, supermarkets, and other services will all be within reach – and you won’t have to spend 20 to 30 minutes fighting through traffic to get there.

Can we then say that an electric car would work perfectly fine in the context of Nada Bidara? Absolutely. If you manage to convince enough of your neighbours to follow suit, you’ll be surprised how quiet living further out can be, without the ambient noise of the city. And that’s really something that money can’t buy.


Has This Model Car Revealed The All-New 2016 Volvo S90?

Could this be the all-new
Volvo
 S90? Well, in a similar fashion to the manner in which the
Bentley Bentayga SUV was recently revealed
, here is a model car from China that could have leaked out what the all-new Volvo sedan could look like.
The model car is clearly badged around the rear with “S90” on its plates, and the design is all too familiar to mistake – it’s also very reminiscent of the two concept cars Volvo has displayed in the past, the XC Concept Coupe, and the Concept Estate.
Around the front-end of the car, Volvo’s all-new ‘Thor’ headlamps are clearly visible, while the front-grille is just like it is on the brand’s latest XC90 SUV – vertical slats and all.
Its remarkable how little Volvo have changed between the production model you see here (should it be just that) and the Concept Estate model (pictured below) – it really is a dramatic leap forwards from the out-going
S80 sedan
, and a very bold design effort from Volvo. But then again, so was the all-new XC90 against its predecessor.
One thing for sure, is that Volvo is on a roll. We all know that the brand is on the verge of reinvigorating its entire line-up of cars to incorporate the brand’s latest and greatest, and the first of which to achieve this was the all-new XC90 SUV.
The Swedish carmaker has promised in the past that it would be delivering an all-new line-up before the end of 2017, and given that the XC90 was the first one to be done and dusted, next in line is of course the all-new S90 – something we expect to see fully revealed to the world early 2016.
The naming may sound completely new to you, but you can think of the S90 as the replacement for the current S80 sedan, albeit with a move slightly upwards where luxury is concerned – the existing S80 will be the last of its kind.


VIDEO: Taxi Driver Charges At Armed Forces Hospital Main Gate, Slams Into Guard

At the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, a taxi driver in a
Proton

Saga
 approaches the main gate when Azhari Mohd Yusoff attempted to hail him down for a security check.
But instead of slowing down, the taxi maintains its speed, and slams into Azhari. Even after the impact, the taxi doesn’t slow down while forcing its way into the compound, with other personnel giving chase.
Two of them stand their ground at the guard post, and prepare a makeshift barricade with cones and sign posts to try stopping the car from escaping. It didn’t work, and the taxi simply knocked them out of the way too.
The driver of the taxi, T. Ganesan, was subsequently arrested and charged in the Sessions Court with attempted murder. The Malay Mail Online writes that the 44-year old man has a history of mental illness, according to his lawyer Noor Mousa Azaddin.
Noor Mousa added: “The defence requests that the accused be sent to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta (Perak) for a mental evaluation,”
Should the defendant face conviction, he could be looking at a jail term of 20 years. No plea was recorded from Mr Ganesan.

Pemandu teksi gile babi langgar sekatan RP dikawasan hospital angkatan tentera.
Posted by
Ayahanda Sudah Marah Lu Punya Kepala Hilang
 on Friday, October 16, 2015


Buy A Mitsubishi ASX Or Outlander And Stand To Win A Holiday

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia, is offering a holiday package to either Cherating, Janda Baik, Desaru or Cameron Highlands to selected customers who buy a new Mitsubishi Outlander SUV or ASX Compact SUV. Promotion is valid until 31 March 2019 only.
Customers who book and register a new Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0-litre or 2.4-litre will enjoy cash rebates up to RM6,000! The Outlander 2.0-litre is priced at RM137,888.00 while the Outlander 2.4-litre is priced at RM152,888.00. The Mitsubishi ASX Compact SUV 4WD and 2WD comes with cash rebates up to RM4,000. The ASX 4WD is priced at RM133,336.08 while the ASX 2WD is priced at RM118,866.00. The Outlander and ASX comes with five years warranty/unlimited mileage.
Last but not least, new Triton cash rebates are as follows:
For more details on the contest or promotions, visit
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my/


Suzuki Is Making A Return To Malaysia Very...Very Soon!

You could call it a hunch, an educated guess, or even something we might know that we can’t tell you just yet – but it all points to one conclusion, Suzuki will return to Malaysia very soon, and we think it’ll happen no later than April 2021. It is well established by now that Naza Group was in the latter stages of negotiation with principal Suzuki Motor Corporation – with the intention of
Naza conducting the local sales, distribution and possible local assembly
 of Suzuki vehicles.

There was even reporting that the local Suzuki entity would begin operations in 2020, and we all know what happened in 2020. However, 2021 is looking very promising.

Though Naza Group in itself has been embroiled with its own share of management and financial issues in recent years, the company according to CEO, SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin has been in a “state of transition” as its streamlines all its business entities moving into 2021 – which include its automotive, property, engineering, construction, and financial businesses.

In November 2020 the company confirmed it was letting go of its Peugeot and Kia businesses. And as of October 2020, was in talks with Peugeot principal Groupe PSA about the sale of the Naza Automotive Manufacturing business which operates its
assembly plant in Gurun, Kedah
. We now know that the sole distributorship of Peugeot vehicles has gone to
Berjaya Auto Alliance
.

Therefore, it was with some surprise we learned that Naza Group had an ace up their sleeve with Suzuki, a well-established brand even here in Malaysia. Now with some publicly available information and a corroborative (though unofficial) sales page found on Facebook, we have reason to believe that Naza’s Suzuki business is set to start very soon.

What cars will they launch?

Well, if you’re bringing back a car company that a lot of Malaysians know and love – you start with a bang! As far as Suzuki vehicles are concerned, this simply means the Suzuki Swift Sport.

Our educated guess is that Naza’s will introduced a fully-imported version of the Suzuki Swift Sport in 2021 – which could coincide with the company launch or happen just after. The introduction of the Swift Sport could be followed up with the official introduction of the Suzuki Jimny, the brand’s tiny but massively capable SUV, which for the most part is already sold through
grey-import dealers locally
.

A big question mark will hang over the
regular Suzuki Swift
, which enjoyed superb success in Malaysia in the early 2000s as a more-premium B-Segment hatchback offering than the Perodua Myvi. However, the introduction and pricing of a mass-selling B-segment car would depend heavily on the local-assembly operation and local vendor program to achieve a competitive target price.

Put simply, nobody is going to buy a Swift for RM100k regardless of how cute it is, especially in this day and age with B-Segment SUVs like the
Proton X50 and Perodua Ativa
 selling for much less, and rivalling equipment levels of cars double their price tag.

CKD or CBU?

Given that the Suzuki line-up as a whole is most definitely geared toward high volume sales, it would be critical that the cars sold in Malaysia are not hamstrung by an uncompetitive price. We’ve seen many models from other manufacturers that were good cars worthy of attention yet unfortunately doomed from the start because it cost more Ringgits than sense. Naza will have ample experience with this from their
previous Kia
 and Peugeot operations.

Also, besides localisation, any CKD operation will rely heavily on Naza’s assembly operations in Kedah, which as we have mentioned is in a state of flux as the entire facility was established in 2004 with help from Groupe PSA. Therefore, a lot will leverage on what Naza retains from its factory operations, which can then be redistributed towards its Suzuki business.

As for more niche sellers such as the Swift Sport and Jimny, it makes more sense to offer them as CBU vehicles.

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
.

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Chery Pro Family – Tiggo 8 Pro dan Tiggo 7 Pro Bakal Masuk Malaysia

S
ebagai pengeksport kenderaan penumpang nombor 1 di China selama 19 tahun berturut-turut, inovasi teknologi sentiasa menjadi tumpuan
Chery
.

Ini dibuktikan oleh kenderaan Pro Family, yang dibangunkan untuk memenuhi keperluan dan kehendak pelanggan global kini serta masa hadapan.

Terdapat lima ahli Pro Family setakat ini yang terdiri daripada SUV dan sedan seperti:

 SUV

Tiggo 2 Pro

Tiggo 4 Pro

Tiggo 7 Pro

Tiggo 8 Pro

Sedan

Arrizo 6 Pro

Pro Family telah disambut baik di banyak pasaran di seluruh dunia, termasuk Eropah Timur, Amerika Selatan, Timur Tengah, Asia dan Afrika. Yang paling penting,
Tiggo 8 Pro
 dan Tiggo 7 Pro merupakan antara model Pro Family yang sedang dirancang memasuki pasaran Malaysia

Setiap model Pro Family dibangunkan berdasarkan tiga teras:

Teknologi pintar

Rekabentuk bergaya

Kuasa cekap

Selari dengan teras pertama, kenderaan Pro Family dipenuhi dengan teknologi yang mengatasi rakan sekelasnya serta jangkaan pelanggan.

Selaku model terunggul Pro Family, Tiggo 8 Pro didatangkan dengan tiga skrin seperti:

Panel meter 12.3 inci

Skrin kawalan iklim 8 inci

Skrin infotainmen terapung 10.25 inci dengan Apple CarPlay, Android Auto serta paparan kamera 360 darjah.

Tiggo 7 Pro turut dilengkapi sedemikian, manakala pengecasan telefon bimbit tanpa wayar dan pintu belakang elektrik juga boleh didapati bagi kedua-dua model.

Sistem Keselamatan

Pro Family juga memanfaatkan teknologi pintar bagi menyediakan keselamatan menyeluruh seperti:

Enam beg udara

Traction dan stability control

ISOFIX

Penggunaan ultra-high-strength steel dalam pembinaan badannya serta ciri-ciri keselamatan pasif yang lain

Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Automatic Cruise Control

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

Traffic Sign Recognition (TSC)

Intelligent High-beam Control (IHC)

Blind Spot Monitoring (BSD)

Front Collision Warning (FCW)

Emergency Brake Override System (BOW).

Reka Bentuk

Dari segi reka bentuk, Pro Family direka mengikut falsafah ‘Life in Motion 3.0’ yang dihasilkan oleh pasukan rekabentuk global Chery. Gril hadapan geometrik matrix diamond yang diilhamkan oleh galaksi serta lampu hadapan LED tampil yakin, manakala pada bahagian dalaman, susun atur cockpit-surround mewujudkan suasana dinamik, selesa serta mewah.

Kuasa

Chery merupakan jenama kenderaan China pertama yang menguasai teknologi teras enjin, transmisi dan casis secara kendiri, dan setelah gigih melakukan penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) selama lebih 20 tahun, teknologi enjinnya merupakan yang terunggul di kalangan jenama China.

Terdapat pelbagai versi enjin bersiri ACTECO, daripada 0.8 liter sehingga 4.0 liter, dan enam enjin ACTECO telah disenaraikan dalam 10 Enjin Terunggul China, menawarkan kuasa serta kecekapan haba yang tinggi.

SUV Terlaris Di China

Pro Family kini sedang membuat penampilan sulung di seluruh dunia seperti di Manila, Kuwait dan Indonesia, di mana model-modelnya menarik banyak minat. Pro Family juga telah menerima pelbagai anugerah di seluruh dunia, termasuk ‘SUV Paling Teknikal’ dan ‘SUV Teknologi Canggih Terbaik’ bagi Tiggo 8 Pro, serta ‘SUV Terlaris’ dan ‘Model Jenama China Paling Popular’ bagi Tiggo 7 Pro.

Baru-baru ini, siri Tiggo 8 telah mencapai pengeluaran 500,000 unit, menjadikannya model yang terpantas mencapai angka tersebut di kalangan SUV bersaiz sederhana dan SUV tujuh tempat duduk jenama China. Sejak kemunculannya pada 2018, siri Tiggo 8 disambut baik dalam pelbagai pasaran global termasuk Brazil, Arab Saudi dan Chile.


2015 Mazda MX-5 Prices For Malaysia Revealed: From RM227k

The all-new
Mazda

MX-5
 has been making waves in the international scene, and it’s nearly time for Malaysians to get in on the action themselves: yes, the highly-acclaimed roadster is going to make its big local debut this Friday (21
st
, Aug).
Just ahead of that, though, Bermaz (official distributor) has understandably released a specifications sheet of the all-new MX-5 SkyActiv to its dealerships, which equally understandably, can hardly wait to get it up and selling already.
One
dealership from Sg. Besi
 has gone ahead and revealed it, which pretty much sums up the car’s prices and specifications. Although we won’t outright vouch for the 100% authenticity of this, we know this dealership to have come good for us several times in the past, keeping us informed of things way ahead of time, with solid accuracy.
First up, and the most important bit we imagine, prices.
RM 226,376 (OTR with insurance)
 is what you’ll have to cough up for the sole CBU MX-5 roadster variant.
Power wise, potential buyers may be happy to know that it’s the SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre engine that makes its way here, and while no clear indication of which transmission will be offered, a quick glance at the spec sheet reveals that paddle shifters are included, which is a giveaway of the SkyActive-DRIVE six-speed torque converter automatic transmission. If or not the six-speed manual will be offered, we can’t say just yet.
Other initial specifications have been revealed as well, key of which include the following (again, do treat this as a tentative arrangement, while we wait on official news by Bermaz):
17-inch alloy wheels
Smart Keyless Entry with Engine Push Start System
i-Stop (idling stop technology)
i-Eloop
MZD Connect 7-inch LCD display screen + Commander Control knob
BOSE 9-speaker sound system
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifters
Adaptive Front-Lighting System
Lane Departure Warning System
Traction Control System + Dynamic Stability Control
ABS + EBD + BA
That’s about all we can tell you about the local-spec all-new Mazda MX-5, so hang tight, and wait till Friday when we fully uncover the iconic roadster with Bermaz.
More MX-5 News:
Watch How Mazda Demonstrates the MX-5’s 50:50 Weight Balance
Mazda Dealership In US Replaces First Crashed MX-5, For Nothing
Mazda Begins Production Of All-New MX-5


Acura NSX And Honda NSX – Same Same But Not The Same

The Acura NSX and Honda NSX are identical cars save for the badge, or so we thought. At a recent visit to Honda’s R&D Centre in Tochigi, Japan, we’ve learned that the differences between the two goes beyond just the badge.
At a glance, both the Acura NSX and Honda NSX appears to be the same cars, but there’s actually quite a number of differences between the two.
This is despite the fact that both Acura- and Honda-badged versions are produced at the same plant – at Honda’s new Performance Manufacturing Centre in Ohio, USA.
To recap, the NSXs sold in the USA, Canada and China will wear Honda’s premium brand Acura. In other parts of the world including Australia, Europe and Japan, the NSX will be sold under the Honda brand.
Acura USA has already launched the NSX earlier this year but the car will only go on sale in 2016. As such, prices have not been confirmed yet but a starting price of circa USD150,000 is to be expected – putting it within the same price bracket as the Porsche 911 Turbo, Audi R8 V10 and Mercedes-AMG GT, in the US at least.
As the NSX is a hybrid (three-motor full hybrid) all-wheel drive high performance car, comparisons with the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 are inevitable but the two are actually very different cars.
The i8 is a rather sporty-ish performance hybrid but its performance levels are well below that of the NSX, which is a proper supercar.
Honda has yet to release any official performance figures but 0-100 km/h times are expected to be well below 3 seconds, enough to see off any of the German trio, or even a Nissan GT-R.
The mid-mounted longitudinal 3.5-litre 75-degrees bank angle twin turbo V6 produces 500 hp from 6,500 - 7,500 rpm, while 550 Nm of torque is sustained from 2,000 – 6,000 rpm. Performance is further boosted by a 76 hp (149 Nm) motor driving the rear wheels, and a pair of 36 hp (73 Nm) motors driving the front wheels. All these makes for a combined output of 573 hp.
In comparison, the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 has a combined output of 357 hp. The i8 takes 4.4 seconds to complete the century sprint, so clearly it’s in a different league.
Prior to the opening of the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, Carlist.my had an opportunity to speak to NSX’s Large Project Leader Mr. Ted Klaus, at the Honda R&D Centre in Tochigi, Japan.
Both the Acura and Honda NSX were available for a brief two-lap familiarisation drive around the Tochigi’s oval test course. More on that later.
Speaking to Carlist.my, Klaus explained, “In terms overall performance levels, yes both cars are the same. But beneath the sheet metal there’s actually quite a number of differences between the two cars - most of them are due to regulations. For example, the Japanese market NSX needs to emit a specific beeping sound when it’s put into Reverse (it’s an audible warning that the transmission is in reverse, not to be confused with a reverse sensor).
“The hood hinges are also different. The hood on Honda models is equipped with a different hinge that pops out to push the hood upwards in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. This is to comply with pedestrian safety rules in Europe and Japan.
“As there are no such rules in the US, the Acura models didn’t need these hinges.”
Klaus also explained that the airbags fitted on Acura and Honda models are also different.
“In the US, airbags must be designed to accommodate unbelted occupants. This is very different from regulations in other parts of the world and as such, the restraint systems on the Acura models are very different.”
Apart from the badges, the most obvious difference between the Acura and Honda NSX are the headlamps.
Acura models have an amber turn signal lens to meet US regulations, while Honda models have a clear lenses.
Sharp eyed readers will notice that the show car at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show wore a Honda badge but had amber turn signal lenses as well. That’s because the showcar was actually an Acura from the US (left-hand drive), with the badges swapped for the Tokyo motor show.
The white cars seen in the pictures here are a close representation of the actual production car.
Klaus is happy with the level of performance delivered by the three-motor
SH-AWD
 hybrid system but he is keener to talk about how the NSX focuses on the driver – a trait which he believes sets the NSX apart from other supercars.
“The numbers are good but with the NSX, our focus goes beyond just numbers. Take the ‘human fit’ concept for example, our goal was to create a human-centered supercar that delivers a New Sports eXperience (NSX). It’s a car that’s friendly to the drivers of all skill levels,” said Klaus, who added that the NSX’s interior has been designed to accommodate up to the 90
th
 percentile of the US population.
Indeed, words like ‘human-centric’ and ‘zero delay acceleration’ are used very often in Klaus’s presentation (which unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take any pictures).
How Does It Drive?
My experience in the Honda NSX (right-hand drive model) ended all too soon, and since it was a smooth banked oval circuit, I could only explore a small portion of the NSX’s wide breath of abilities.
Pictures don’t do the NSX any justice. Its styling might not wow like a hypercar, but it looks a lot better in sheet metal – it projects just the right amount of aggression without being intimidating or offensive, purposeful without being overly racy. It’s a design that is likely to age very well with time.
There are no crowd pulling scissor or gullwing doors here. Push the beautifully anodised aluminium-finished door handle down to open the doors, the frameless door swings open to reveal an inviting interior.
Despite its low seating position, climbing into the NSX isn’t difficult at all thanks to the wide door aperture. Close the doors shut and you will notice that the pair of wing mirrors are mounted higher than they appear to be from the outside, aligning at your eye-level, giving you a very GT race-car feel.
Like many recent Acura models, the conventional gear lever has been replaced with a button-operated type layout. No, don’t worry you won’t hit accidently hit Reverse instead of Drive, as the two buttons are tilted at rather extreme angles. In fact, it is easier to mis-shift between Drive and Reverse on a traditional gear lever than on this button-type selector.
Inside, the NSX’s interior isn’t particularly luxurious. It’s more GT3 than GT. Yes, there’s generous use of leather, and the controls have good ergonomics designed into them, but the use of suede materials on the dashboard suggests a clear bias towards track driving performance rather than grand touring luxury.
The centre stack is dominated by a large rotary dial – the Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) - that you use to select Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track. Compared to the rocker switches layout used in the BMW i8, the NSX’s rotary dial is far more intuitive to use on the move.
Quiet, as its name suggest, drives the NSX in pure electric mode. Sport, Sport+ and Track progressively ups the settings for the car’s steering, brakes, throttle, vehicle stability assist, active dampers (magnetorheological type), engine, transmission as well as intake and exhaust noise (no sound generator here, but there’s amplification using clever valves and pipes) that’s fed into the cabin.
Unless you are racing, Klaus suggests that Sport+ is the optimal setting to extract the most out of the NSX, so I took his advice.
Accelerating at full throttle from standstill on the oval circuit, the NSX’s acceleration was rearranging my insides, pinning me into the semi-bucket seats. Klaus was not exaggerating when he said 'zero delay acceleration.'
The rev-counter on the TFT screen instrument panel was flashing red rapidly as it bangs against the rev-limiter at the each successive upshift of the 9-speed DCT.
The V6 doesn’t sound like a V6 at all. It sounded far more visceral, and each upshift on the dual-clutch transmission was accompanied by a loud ‘pop’ on the exhaust.
My test car was speed limited to 190 km/h, a speed that was reached even before the end of the oval’s straight.
The Brembo brakes are six pistons carbon ceramics in front, four pistons carbon ceramics behind, but with such high levels of grip, plus it’s a banked oval, there wasn’t much need to use them to the fullest.
The steering rack is electrically assisted but has good straight-line feel and stiffens nicely in the corners.
By the end of the second lap, it was time to ease off the throttle and head back into the pits, with the IDS switched to Quiet of course.
Will the Honda NSX be launched in Malaysia?
Honda Malaysia has yet to confirm if the NSX will be officially sold in Malaysia. The NSX is primarily aimed at buyers in the US so we don’t hold any high hopes for the NSX here.
Plus, the supercar market is very brand conscious. As good as the NSX is, it is doubtful if there are enough people who want to buy a Honda supercar.
But nevermind about a hybrid supercar from Honda. When was the last time you saw a RM1.19 million BMW i8 on our roads? So there you go, that’s your answer.
Not even the Audi R8 (most on the road are reconditioned, parallel imported units) or Mercedes-AMG GT can quite cut it. Once you have gone past the million dollar mark, customers want an equally snobbish brand to go with it.
This is a segment that's overwhelmingly dominated by Porsche and Ferrari.
In the sports car hierarchy, the i8 sits below the NSX so do expect prices for the NSX - assuming that there are some brave Honda dealers in Malaysia who are willing to invest in the necessary training and equipment to service an NSX - is going to closer to be well above the i8’s, and closer to the Porsche 911 Turbo S’s RM1.48 million price.
Related links:
The Honda Type-R Family – Its Origins And A Peek Into The Future Of Honda's Performance Cars
Meet The Malaysian Chief Engineer Behind Honda’s SH-AWD System
Exclusive Interview: Honda Confirms No More Collaborations With Proton Beyond Proton Perdana


Nissan Starts Their Heritage Parts Division With the Skyline R32

While we reported on Nissan setting up NISMO as a separate business unit yesterday, what we hadn't noticed is that they are also starting up a Heritage Parts Program under this new NISMO banner. It is normal for manufacturers to produce spare parts for their products for up to 10 years from the end of manufacturing date, but occasionally you will find some manufacturers and suppliers going on for much longer than that- especially for cars like the Toyota Corolla and the like.
Nissan is also getting into this business, but they're starting with the Skyline R32 GT-R. That's great for fans and owners alike, because it helps to keep the parts market prices low and competitive, and ensures a steady supply for owners who may get into bangs and scrapes during their escapades. It's not so much engine and mechanical components that are in short supply as there are plenty of those that can be found aftermarket, but rather body panels and trim pieces that command a much higher price.
What else can we expect Nissan to start reviving parts production for? Don't hope too hard for older cars like the Hakosuka to see fresh parts being made; in these cases there are both licensing issues and the problem of these cars becoming so rare and protected that volumes may not justify the production. But do expect to see more modern Nissan models to have new parts produced, from things like the R34


All-New 2020 Hyundai Sonata Previewed, Launch Imminent

It's tough to develop cars for a shrinking segment, but Hyundai still believes in giving it their all with their latest models. The all-new Hyundai Sonata is a lot closer than you think.

Hyundai is making a comeback in the Malaysian market, with the launch of the
Kona
 right around the corner - but one of the other superstars of their range is going to get a massive update in the form of an all-new generation. It's the all-new Hyundai Sonata, and during the quick test of the Kona, we were offered a short preview of their up-and-coming
D-segment
 sedan.

It's going to be coming in a singular variant - the Smartstream G2.5 - and it comes loaded with features as well as packing a design language and build quality that represents another massive leap forward for the Korean brand. The petrol-powered 2.5-litre engine produces 180 PS and 232 Nm of torque, sending power to the front wheels via a six-speed conventional automatic transmission.

The interior is very generously packaged, as packed into that sleek and fluid dashboard is a heads-up display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality on a floating 8-inch display, an entirely digital 12.3-inch full TFT-LCD instrument cluster, and wireless charging. Electric seats, six airbags, and a Smart Trunk System are also present, as is Blind-spot View Monitoring and LED DRLs.

But really, the party piece is the overall design of the car. It's simply show-stopping, with curves and creases that give it a look so unique and captivating it could easily be mistaken for a European luxury sedan. There's even thought as to how those daytime running lights blend with the bonnet, as the chrome trim which runs over the bodywork is subtly integrated with the DRLs themselves for a completely unique look.

Perhaps the only strange omission is the lack of active safety systems, but in all fairness, these systems are more sought after on paper than in practice. The reality is these systems are still fairly flawed and need years or decades of refinement before being completely useful in all situations.

Bookings for the all-new
Hyundai Sonata
 are not yet open, but you can expect to see this model launching a lot sooner than you think.


Teaser Crossover Elektrik Lotus Type 132 Didedahkan – Bakal Dilancarkan Pada 29 Mac

Lotus
 telah mengesahkan bahawa
crossover
 pertama keluaran mereka,
Lotus Type 132
 akan dilancarkan secara rasmi pada 29 Mac ini.

Sehubungan dengan pengumuman tersebut, Lotus turut mendedahkan beberapa keping gambar serta video
teaser
 yang menunjukkan bahagian luaran, dalaman serta bahagian motor elektriknya.

Untuk bahagian luaran, teaser tersebut telah menunjukkan beberapa elemen yang bakal terdapat pada
crossover
 elektrik ini seperti lampu hadapan utama LED, lampu belakang yang direka secara melintang dan bersambung penuh serta rim gentian karbon.

Manakala bahagian dalaman pula tidak banyak yang dipertontonkan apabila hanya menunjukkan sebahagian rupa stereng yang penuh dengan butang pelbagai guna. Dalam video teaser terdahulu, Lotus ada menunjukkan
crossover
 ini bakal menerima paparan
infotainmen
 jenis terapung.

Walaupun Type 132 ini merupakan
crossover
 pertama Lotus, namun ia merupakan kenderaan elektrik kedua keluaran Lotus setelah pelancaran Evija pada tahun 2019 lalu. Kedua-dua kereta ini tidak akan dihasilkan di Norfolk, sebaliknya ia bakal dipasang di kilang baharu Lotus di Wuhan, China.

Setakat ini, maklumat terperinci mengenai spesifikasi Lotus Type 132 ini masih menjadi misteri. Namun berdasarkan laporan semasa,
crossover
 elektrik ini akan dibina atas platform EV modular Lotus yang dipanggil sebagai Evolution.

Platform itu boleh digunakan untuk membina kereta dengan jarak roda berbeza antara 2,889-3,100 mm (kenderaan segmen-C hingga E).

Platform itu turut akan digunakan untuk menghasilkan beberapa model kereta elektrik premium lain keluaran Lotus seperti Type 133 dan Type 134 yang akan tiba dalam pasaran untuk beberapa tahun lagi.

Crossover
 elektrik ini juga dikhabarkan akan menggunakan teknologi 800-volt untuk pengecasan kelajuan tinggi dan dilengkapi dengan pek bateri berkapasiti antara 92 ke 120 kWh.

Prestasi yang dimiliki
crossover
 keluaran Lotus ini melayakkannya untuk bersaing dengan model elektrik premium lain seperti
BMW iX
 dan
Tesla Model X
.

Nantikan pelancaran Lotus Type 132 ini pada 29 Mac 2022 untuk mengetahui maklumat lanjut berkenaan
crossover
 premium ini.

*Kredit video: Lotus Cars


2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 e 4Matic Coupe Launched At Hap Seng Star Setia Alam

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched the 2022 GLC 300 e 4Matic Coupe in conjunction with the opening ceremony of
Hap Seng Star
’s newest showroom in Setia Alam, which goes for RM374,073 - the car, not the building.

This plug-in hybrid is visually indistinguishable from its combustion-only counterpart to the point that differentiating them at a quick glance is almost impossible unless you spot the ‘e’ badging and/or plug access door near the rear bumper.

That RM374k figure won’t last long, though, as that factors in the 100% SST deduction it enjoys - for the moment - thanks to its local assembly. Starting July 1st, the GLC 300 e 4Matic Coupe will cost RM398,888 (on the road without insurance), which would still undercut the GLC 300 by a decent margin.

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 e 4Matic Coupe powertrain

Its powertrain is quite a bit more advanced than
the standard GLC 300
, not to mention more fuel-efficient and way gutsier, using a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and electric motor to produce a system combined output of 320PS and 700Nm of torque.

With a fully prepped battery, Mercedes-Benz claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds making it more rapid from a standstill than most hot hatchbacks. Meanwhile, its onboard lithium-ion battery can store enough juice to travel 40km without needing to invoke the combustion engine.

You’ll get 20-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels and other AMG-Line trimmings as standard as well as Benz’s adaptive Multibeam LED headlamps. Inside, the layout is very reminiscent of the older model C-Class and its legacy format infotainment and digital driver’s display combo equipped with the brand’s MBUX operating system.

It’s certainly not as arresting as Mercedes’ newer cars that feature
much larger touch displays
 that dominate the dashboard vista but feels polished and well-considered as their cars should. Other highlights include a panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, and Artico leather upholstery.

GLC 300 e 4Matic Coupe safety features

On the safety front, the GLC 300 e 4Matic Coupe features Mercedes-Benz’s Active Brake Assist, a 360-degree camera system, Blind Spot Assist, and Active Lane Keeping Assist.

Since this is based on the
X253 GLC-Class
, which in turn is related to the W205 C-Class, which has been replaced, it's uncertain how long this PHEV version of the GLC 300 4Matic Coupe will enjoy its shelf life.

It’s also worth remembering that the GLC itself has seen
an all-new version launched recently
. The X254 saw an official international reveal in early June, so it’s a matter of time before Mercedes-Benz gets around to making a sleeker-roofed Coupe version of that and they both arrive in our region.


Honda Malaysia Delivers Civics To The Malaysian Army

Honda Malaysia has delivered 40 units of the Civic 1.8S sedan to the Malaysian Army for the purpose of law enforcement and policing duties by the Royal Military Police Corps.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama commented, “Previously, the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) had also chosen the best-selling C-segment as their new mobile patrol vehicles and we are currently delivering more than 1,000 units of the Civic 1.8S to them to be used for their enforcement duties. Honda Malaysia is proud that the Civic has once again been selected as our frontliners’ vehicle of choice,”

The Civic that was presented to the Malaysian Army is powered by a 1.8L i-VTEC engine which delivers a maximum power output of 141PS and maximum torque of 174Nm. Besides having a zesty engine which is also fuel-efficient (certified EEV vehicle), the Civic also offers sharp handling and a roomy interior.

Since the launch of the facelifted Honda Civic in February 2020, the locally assembled Civic has sold more than 5,600 units (as of Aug 2020) and maintained its position as No.1 in the C-segment sedan with a 78% market share as of July 2020. The Civic is currently the second best-selling Honda model in Malaysia after the Honda City.

*Cover image courtesy of Air Times News Network


Lamborghini Polo Storico Unveils Perfectly Restored 1972 Miura SV At Retromobile Paris

Lamborghini Polo Storico, the brand’s in-house department dedicated to managing the company’s historic heritage including the restoration and certification of all Lamborghinis produced up to 2001, has completed yet another restoration project and it is nothing short of impressive.
The car restored was a 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV, in conjunction with Rétromobile, the Paris show devoted to classic cars.
Owned by Jean Todt, the president of the FIA, the fully restored Miura (chassis #3673) was handed over by Polo Storico yesterday in the presence of Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Stefano Domenicali, who personally handed the keys of the restored Miura to its owner.
The restoration took 13 months and involved the complete dismantling of the car, which made it possible to verify each and every detail such as the markings of the frame, body, and interiors, to the numbering, and also the dating present on the other components.
Polo Storico also verified the conformity with the notes present in the assembly books stored in the Lamborghini archives.
Clad in Rosso Corsa red exterior paint with a lower gold band, complemented with black interior leather upholstery, the Miura SV was restored to look exactly how it did 47 years ago when it was delivered to its first owner, Mr Mecin in South Africa.
Alongside the Miura SV, Polo Storico is also presenting a 1966 Lamborghini 400 GT at the ongoing Rétromobile.
Besides restoration, Polo Storico also reconstructs spare parts for classic Lamborghinis, for which more than 200 new code numbers were produced in 2018 alone, enabling owners to use their vintage Lamborghinis with complete confidence.
Added to this is the management of the archives, comprising the production files and the model designs, with the aim of using this know-how to keep classic Lamborghinis as original as possible, which makes it possible for the company to restore more raging bulls from the past to their full original glory.


Facelifted Renault Captur Now In Malaysia, Five-Year Free Maintenance, Price Unchanged At RM109K

The facelifted Renault Captur has gone on sale in Malaysia, featuring new cosmetic updates, interior appointment and a value-added maintenance package while still maintaining its previous price tag of RM109,000.
The facelifted model features a redesigned front bumper with C-Shaped Daytime Running Lights and LED foglamps integrated into the lower regions of the bumper. The license plate holder now sits higher up, just below the front grill.
Along the flanks, the re-designed 17-inch alloys fill the arches. Further up, the wing mirrors are slightly larger than the outgoing model.
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 a new colour options – Atacama Orange and Ocean Blue. Two additional optional colours include Pearl White and Flame Red. All body colour options are contrasted with the Diamond Black roof colour.
In terms of convenience features, the new Captur is also offered with a ‘walkaway auto-lock’ now.
On the inside, the new Renault Captur is offered exclusively with combination leather seats, doing away with the previous (removable) fabric seating. Elsewhere, the compartment that resides atop the dashboard has also been redesigned.
There is no difference to the drivetrain of the Captur, still featuring a 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder which is good for 120 PS at 4,900 RPM, and delivers 190 Nm of torque at 2,000 RPM. The engine is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Additionally, Renault Malaysia also 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.
As before, the new Renault Captur is locally-assembled at the Tan Chong Motor Assemblies plant (TCMA) in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.


2015 MINI Clubman Makes Debut, Malaysian Introduction Expected in 2016

If you think that
MINI
 dropped the eccentric and unique 5-Door MINI Clubman for the more conventional and practical MINI 5-Door, you would be mistaken.
The Clubman is back,
 this time with four normal doors and two split style doors at the back (making it a 6 door if you may). We are reporting from Berlin as we witness the international debut of the new MINI Clubman.
What’s new?
Aside from having four normal front-hinged doors for occupants, the new Clubman has grown substantially larger, and is the largest MINI model so far. Measuring in at 4,253mm long (271mm longer than the MINI 5 door), with a wheelbase that has been extended to 2,670mm (103mm longer than the MINI 5 door), stands in at 1,441mm tall, and sits 1,800mm wide (a whole 73mm wider than the standard MINI and MINI 5 door), the Clubman is big by MINI's standards and represents the brand’s first step into what they define as the “premium compact class”. In terms of footprint size it even dwarfs the sizeable Countryman SUV. However despite its size, MINI claims that it is considered small in its segment, being relatively shorter than other cars found in the premium compact segment.
Built on the UKL 2 platform, denoted as UKL 2 for its bigger dimensions compared to the UKL platform that is used to underpin the current MINI 3 door hatch and 5 door hatch, the Clubman stays true to the design cues that was already previewed on the MINI Clubman Concept that was shown at last year’s Geneva Motor Show. For production, the Clubman features a simpler and similar front snout and front fenders to those fitted to the rest of the MINI hatch range.
What did stay with the production Clubman however is MINI’s first application of BMW’s aerodynamic enhancing Air Curtains and Air Breathers vents that smoothens the airflow in the wheel arches. The Air Curtains comprises of vertically arranged openings in the outer sections of the lower air intake, while the Air Breathers peeks out from behind the Black Band surrounds of the front wheel arches. These slats are said to reduce turbulence in the wheel well, thus leading to cleaner air flow and better fuel efficiency.
While the Clubman’s signature two-piece rear tailgate is retained, with the horizontal taillight design seen on the concept, the doors are now stretched to wrap around the sides of the body, allowing the doors to open up to a wider aperture than what was seen in its predecessor.  Specced with the Comfort Access option, the Clubman's rear tailgate can be opened automatically where the keyholder would only have to move their leg under the bumper to open the right side. Move it again and the system will then proceed to open the left piece, if neccessary.
The rear door window frames, which was a major bugbear on its predecessor has been amended here with the fitment of narrower window frame. This is achieved through to the use of a single sealant used on the left rear door instead of both rear doors, thus improving rear visibility. Even with placing the sealant on door panel, MINI maintains that the door is able to prevent any water from entering the cabin.
On top of the roof, the car's shark's fin shaped antenna comes with a red LED fixture that is said to replace the alarm blinker light that is normally found near the wing mirror. MINI says that this unique design feature plays a cheeky role in helping drivers locate their car, and is inspired by the positioning light that you would find on airplanes.
New Drivetrain Options Under the Bonnet
The Clubman range features new powertrain combinations with a new 4-cylinder diesel engine for the MINI Cooper D Clubman being the key highlight to the range, complementing the Clubman’s range of traditional Cooper and Cooper S variants, with its 1.5-litre 3-cylinder and 2-litre 4-cylinder engine used in its MINI 3 door and 5 door hatch models respectively. The engine choices are as follows:
MINI Cooper Clubman:
 136PS/230Nm (with Overboost), 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol, 0-100km/h in 9.1 seconds, 205km/h top speed, 5.3L/100km average NEDC fuel consumption
MINI Cooper S Clubman:
 192PS/300Nm (with Overboost), 2-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol, 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds, 228km/h top speed, 5.9L/100km average NEDC fuel consumption
MINI Cooper D Clubman:
 150PS/330Nm, 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel, 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, 212km/h top speed, 4.4L/100km average NEDC fuel consumption
Though all three variants are available with a 6-speed manual, which has a function that will automatically match your engine revs on downshifts, as standard, the Cooper S Clubman and Cooper D Clubman are MINI’s first variants to be available with an optional 8-speed transmission. The poverty-spec Cooper Clubman on the other hand retains the 6-speed automatic, as fitting the engine's peak torque figures would be able to make full use of the breath of the 8-speed automatic's ability. All automatic transmissions are paired up to the satellite navigation system to draw navigation data for the purpose of gear and shift point selection according to the route profile.
The Clubman can be specified with the optional MINI Driving Modes, which allows drivers to tweak the throttle mapping and transmission shift points between the standard ‘Mid’ and ‘Sport’ modes from the ring switch place around the gearshift. The ‘Green’ setting on the other hand allows the automatic transmission to decouple itself from the engine and enter a coasting function at speeds of between 50 and 160km/h.
No doubt this model range will be followed up with more engine choices including the John Cooper Works performance variant at a later date.
Bigger and Classier on the Inside
It goes without saying, its larger dimensions does translate into additional interior room with five fully-fledged seats. The rear seats can be specified with an optional 40:20:40 split folding rear seats that can be reclined. Round the back the Clubman boasts a large cargo compartment of 360 litres, which can be expanded to 1,250 litres with the rear seats folded down. Upfront the Clubman’s dashboard sports a new design that is different from what is seen on the MINI 3 door and 5 door, with a horizontal decorative trim piece that stretches the width of the dashboard and wraps around it.
MINI points out that the Clubman has a raised centre console, and forgoes the traditional mechanical handbrake lever for a more space-efficient electronic switch. That being said, the Clubman still adopts the same familiar instrumentation and switchgear such as the compact instrument cluster, MINI’s hallmark LED-ringed centre instrument cluster still dominates the dashboard and houses the infotainment screen, and the ensemble of MINI toggle switches on the centre console and roof are still present.
That being said, the MINI Clubman features a new option for electrical seat adjustment for the front occupants, with the driver's seat fitted with the addtion of memory seat functionality.
To highlight the brand's new foray into the "premium compact car" segment, the Clubman was unveiled with a plush leather interior that comes with the new "Chester" pattern diamond-stitched leather upholstery that is complemented by leather piping.
Loaded with Features
On the safety front the Clubman is well appointed with six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control that also includes a drive-off assistant, brake dry function, fading brake support, and Dynamic Traction Control. Even with the stability system deactivated, the Clubman still has an electronic locking function for the front axle known as the Electronic Differential Lock Control torque vectoring feature which is able to distribute power or apply the brakes to a specific wheel to improve cornering sped and traction.
As for other driver aids, the Clubman can be specified with autonomous Parking Assistant, a camera-based Driving Assistant cruise control and distance control function that automatically maintains a distance from the vehicle ahead, as well as a collision and pedestrian warning system with initial brake function. The Driving Assistant also includes road sign detection for speed limits and overtaking bans, and features a high-beam assistant.
When will we see it?
According to BMW Group Malaysia, don’t expect to see the Clubman make it appearance this year. As of yet, it is too early to pin down an exact date, but BMW Malaysia says that we can expect it sometime next year.


VIDEO: Jaguar Previews F-Pace With Undisguised Side Profile Ahead Of Frankfurt Debut

Jaguar
, in the ramp up to the official debut of their F-Pace SUV, has released a picture and a video (below) of the completed car’s side profile, completely camouflaged and, to our eyes, finished in the 'Ultra Blue' colour usually found on the XFR-S.
The new car’s looks seem to have arrived largely intact from when first saw the crowd-pleasing C-X17 concept back in 2013 which was when we first got wind of Jaguar’s burgeoning SUV intentions.
Jaguar, besides the newly released photo, have kept rather quiet about the F-Pace’s internals and features, clearly opting to release the majority of details alongside the actual car at the full reveal on September 14
th
 on the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show floor.
They did mention that the F-Pace will be based on their modular aluminum platform, sharing it with the XE and
XF
 at its manufacturing facility in Solihull, England. This comes not too long after Jaguar said it would share certain technologies with the
F-Type
.
They include features such as torque vectoring that works in tandem with the F-Pace’s all-wheel drive system to make the car more nimble in the corners, coupled with its double wishbone front suspension and integral link rear suspension set up, should give the F-Pace very un-SUV like handling - in a good way. The electric power-assisted steering, too, will be tuned based on knowledge and feedback garnered from the F-Type.


Leaked: All-New 2017 Honda CR-V To Open For Bookings In Malaysia

Following its recent launches in Thailand and Indonesia, the all-new fifth-generation Honda CR-V is set to be released in Malaysia next. Information from a leaked dealership sales flyer reveals that order books for the latest version of Honda’s popular SUV will be open from 1 June 2017.
The teaser flyer reveals only snippets of information, but the following details are confirmed:
Honda’s new 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo powerplant will be offered as the flagship engine. Outputs are not mentioned, but the same engine is rated at 190PS and 240Nm in the Indonesian market, significantly uprated from
173PS and 220Nm as offered in the Civic
.
Keyless entry, 6 airbags, and electronic stability control standard for all variants.
LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED tail lights.
High-tech autonomous driver assistance systems are on the menu as well, though likely to be limited to the range-topping models only. Said systems include autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, and road departure mitigation.
The Road Departure Mitigation System actively applies brakes and steering correction in the event it detects the vehicle’s course to be veering off the road.
Pricing and full line-up has yet to be disclosed, but we can be certain that one of the two naturally-aspirated petrol engines of the current model, likely the 2.0-litre, will be carried over to power the entry-level variant.
In neighbouring countries, the
Indonesia
 gets the 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine alongside the current model’s R-series 2.0-litre i-VTEC SOHC mill.
Thailand
, meanwhile, offers the 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel powerplant to line-up alongside the 2.4-litre Earth Dreams i-VTEC petrol engine.
All petrol-powered variants of the CR-V launched in ASEAN to date feature Honda’s Earth Dreams CVT as the standard transmission.


Free Rides On BRT-Sunway Line For The Next Two Months

The
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – Sunway Line
 kicks off operations in June and for the next two months, the public can be among the first to enjoy the service for free, travelling between the KTM Komuter station in Setia Jaya and planned LRT station in USJ 7.

Officially launched by Prime Minister Dato Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak on June 1, it is Malaysia’s first elevated Bus Rapid Transit system and was built by the Sunway Group at a cost of RM123mil and was completed three weeks ahead of schedule.

The BRT – Sunway spans across 5.4 km of dedicated elevated lanes that is only open to 15 environmentally-friendly electric-powered buses with a capacity of 67 passengers (25 seated) each. The buses will make their way around the elevated lanes, stopping at seven stations:

Sunway-Setia Jaya

Mentari

Sunway Lagoon

SunMed

SunU-Monash

South Quay

USJ 7


The increase in global sales of EVs can be attributed to China

According to a study, as many as 800,000 cars from China could be sold in Europe by 2025, with the vast majority of them being all-electric.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), an international professional services provider that offers services such as strategy management, the increase in global sales of battery electric vehicles
can be attributed to China
 where some 1.5 million BEVs were sold in the third quarter of this year, a massive 94 per cent increase from the third quarter of 2021.

PwC predicts that car imports from China to Europe will increase and three years from now, the numbers could reach 800 thousand units, making Europe a car importing market.

“Chinese manufacturers, on the other hand, have optimized and developed their products in the domestic market, so that they are now bringing affordable BEV models, innovative technology and novel concepts to Europe,” PwC Germany partner and automotive leader Felix Kuhnert said.

So for those who think Chinese EVs are a laughing stock, think again, cause even Europe will be flooded with them in the near future. The introduction of the
Ora Good Cat
,
BYD Atto 3
 and
smart#1
 is just the beginning, but we're pretty sure more and more of them will come.

Currently, the best selling EV in China is Wuling's Hongguan Mini, followed closely behind by the BYD QIN. In Europe, MG is leading the Chinese EV charge, with its ZS and MG5.


Land Rover Sets New Guinness World Record To Celebrate 70th Anniversary

In an effort to celebrate Land Rover’s 70th anniversary, 632 vehicles set a new Guinness World Record in Bad Kissingen, Bavaria, for the largest parade of Land Rovers.
More than 1,500 customers and fans joined the record-breaking 7.4 km parade, led by two film stars, Heino Ferch in his Land Rover Defender and Kostja Ullmann in a Range Rover Evoque Convertible.
The German parade beat the record of 516 Land Rovers set in Portugal in 2014.
The Bad Kissingen parade featured a wide range of models including many classic Defender models, which were accompanied by the Land Rover Discovery, Discovery Sport, Freelander models, and also the complete Range Rover line-up which includes the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Evoque and Velar.
Jan-Kas van der Stelt, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Germany said, "It was a fantastic atmosphere on the day and a great pleasure for us to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our brand with more than 1,500 enthusiastic Land Rover fans, friends and families. We thank everyone who helped us to bring this together.”
Guinness World Records sent an official adjudicator from its London headquarters, who observed and controlled the strict criteria with two independent referees.
To set the record, all Land Rover vehicles had to be constantly in motion throughout the parade whilst there could be no more than a gap of two vehicle lengths between cars.


Euro-Spec Honda Civic Type R Full Details Revealed

More details (and pictures!) of Honda’s hotly-anticipated 2015 Civic Type R has been released by the Japanese firm themselves, which will go on sale throughout Europe starting July this year.
We’ve brought you details surrounding the all-new
Honda
 hot hatch since the world first got wind of it, following its various
leaks
,
previews
,
teasers
 and motor show
unveils
 – now, Honda themselves have released detailed specifications and images of their “most extreme and high performing Type R ever built.”
Under the hood, we have the direct-injection turbocharged 2.0-litre VTEC engine which delivers 310PS at 6,500rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2,500rpm. Combining a turbocharger with Honda’s high-revving VTEC technology delivers an unrelenting power band, using varying degrees of exhaust valve lift to reduce turbo lag and an electronic waste gate to further improve responsiveness.
Aluminium construction of the pistons, VTEC rocker arms, forged connecting rods and a lightweight crankshaft reduce overall rotational mass of the engine, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
The new Civic Type R needs just 5.7 seconds to achieve the century sprint and will go on to a top speed of 269km/h. Despite this, its C02 emissions are just 170 g/km and a fuel economy figure of 7.3-litres/100 km. A helical limited slip differential controls power distribution to the front wheels and aiding traction during hard cornering.
A specially developed braking system is fitted courtesy of a collaboration between Honda and Brembo, all designed specifically for this car. It’s a four-piston calliper setup with 350mm drilled discs at the front, making them the largest ever installed to a production Type R model.
Its four-wheel Adaptive Damper System allows the car’s on-board computers to continuously monitor and alter dampening for each wheel to either increase comfort or maximize handling during hard driving. Its Dual Axis Strut Front Suspension system also enhances high speed stability and steering feel.
European buyers will have a choice of five colours for their Civic Type R: Championship White, Crystal Black (pearlescent), Polished Metal (metallic), Brilliant Sporty Blue (metallic) and Milano Red.
Inside there’s suede-trimmed sports seats with red double stitching, flat-bottomed steering wheel and the information-dense Multi Information Display (i-MID) which shows the driver Civic Type R-specific information such as the G-meter readout, brake pressure, boost pressure, oil pressure, water temperature, as well as lap and acceleration time, among others.
A new +R mode further increases chassis and engine response by tweaking its in-car parameters to offer the most performance-oriented drive.


Govt open to reviving KL-SG HSR project - but only if it’s all privately funded

The Malaysian government is still keen on the idea of reviving the
HSR (high-speed rail) project
 from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.

With that being said, our Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, mentioned that the suggestion is a possibility but only if they can secure the funds from private firms. In other words, no public funding.

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Looking back at the HSR project between KL and Singapore which was inked back in 2016, the idea was for the 350km track to shorten the travel to just 90 minutes should the project gain traction and be completed in 2026. The Pakatan Harapan government then reviewed the project before throwing it into the bin.

That move resulted in the government fronting an RM320 million compensation to Singapore. Although Anwar Ibrahim was critical of the said project and its negotiations during his time as the opposition leader, he has now given the green light to Loke but if and only if they can secure funds from private firms.


Hyundai Ioniq 6 is coming to Malaysia in 2023

Hyundai Malaysia has teased us with a short video showcasing four new models to arrive on our shores, including the
Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV
.

The short video showcasing the brand's accomplishments and achievements over the years ended with the quote "All these milestones, yet we're not even close to being done" before signing off with a photo of four different car models with the caption "Coming soon".

Hyundai Ioniq 6 + 3 SUV models

The video above which was posted on the Hyundai Malaysia Facebook page ended with the prospect of four new models that they'll bring into the market next year (we assume). The models in question are of course the Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV and three SUVs -
Creta
,
Santa Fe
, and
Palisade
 (from left to right).

The Santa Fe and Palisade are already in the market, but the Creta which just received its five-star ASEAN NCAP rating is a brand-new model built in Indonesia but has been recently spotted on Malaysian soil just a few months ago. While the Creta should be an interesting prospect price-wise if it's locally assembled, EV enthusiasts are obviously more interested in the Ioniq 6.

First Korean EV sedan with 610km range

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 'streamliner' is a different ball game in terms of design compared to the lovely and muscular-looking Hyundai Ioniq 5. Based on Hyundai's latest  Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), there are two different configurations for the Ioniq 6, which are rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD).

The range-topping AWD unit comes with twin electric motors and a 74.kWh battery pack that offers 239kW, 605Nm of torque, and up to 610km of all-electric driving range. A cheaper version of the Ioniq 6 with a slightly smaller 53kWh battery pack will also be offered in the future, just like how the Ioniq 5 is currently available in three different variants priced from RM207k to RM270k.

The Malaysian EV assault is getting more and more intense, folks. Which one are you gunning for? In the meantime, check out our review of the
Kia EV6
 and our camping trip by the beach in the video, below!