All-You Need To Know About the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The eight-generation of the perennial hot-hatchback – the Volkswagen (VW) Golf GTI – is nearly upon us. With a legacy spanning over 44 years, the GTI was the car that started the very genre of performance cars for the common man; delivering in every generation – punchy engines, sublime driving performance, great build quality, and brilliant packaging.

Slated to go on sale in Europe in the second half of this year, Volkswagen has released interesting new details about technology that the GTI will be packing including a first of its kind, Vehicle Dynamics Manager. Here’s all you need to know about the all-new (Mk8) Volkswagen Golf GTI.

1. Sleek Design

The Golf GTI takes several design cues from the latest crop of VW vehicles such as the Passat and T-Roc with the upper line of the grille and headlamps forming a  seamless line that runs the width of the front fascia for a low and wide stance. Standard LED headlights will be supplied with the GTI and LED Matrix headlight made optional.

For the very first time, the radiator grille (which features the characteristic red GTI stripe), can be illuminated by a slim LED strip that extends into the headlight modules’ LED daytime running lights on the left and right. Another focal feature is the five LEDs in an ‘X-formation’ at either side of the front bumper as the fog lights.

Along the flanks, the GTI is offered as standard with Richmond 17-inch alloy wheels. 18- and 19-inch wheels, and red brake callipers, are also optionally offered. The thick C-Pillar is another trademark feature of the Mk8 GTI.

At the rear, a GTI roof spoiler that extends significantly towards the rear boosts the downforce at the rear axle. Down below, the sporty diffuser distinguishes the GTI from other Golf variants, while the new model’s exhaust system has one round tailpipe each on the left and the right.

The drag coefficient (Cd) of the GTI has dropped from 0.3 to 0.275. The aerodynamics have been improved by aerodynamically designed wing mirrors, body edges and the roof spoiler. Extensive underbody panelling also contributes to its slinky design.

2. More power

The 2.0-litre turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder will pump out 245 PS, 15 PS more than the current Mk7.5 GTI. Power is sent to a 7-speed dual-clutch ‘DSG’ gearbox, as before.

3. Updated chassis dynamics

Volkswagen has improved the front and rear axles to cope with the additional power and provide more stability. At the front, the wishbone bearings, springs and buffer stops on the front axle have been reconfigured, as have the damping hydraulics and spring rates. Round the back, VW has revised the spring rates and dampers.

Aluminium components are used where possible to shave weight.

Volkswagen is now equipping the new Golf GTI with an electronically controlled front-axle locking differential as standard. The electronic differential offers the GTI precise steering and immense grip in the bends.

4. New Vehicle Dynamics Manager

Aping sports cars with much higher price tags, the Vehicle Dynamics Manager (VDM) coordinates and activates the functions of the electronically controlled front axle locking differential, the electronic ‘XDS+’ differential lock as well as the (optional) electronically controlled shock absorbers (DCC) during every driving manoeuvre.

The VDM measures the individual wheel damping 200 times a second and then accurately controls all the car’s chassis systems to adapt to the road conditions. VW claim, they have almost entirely eliminated understeer in corners – a common issue with high-powered front-wheel drive cars – giving the GTI a very neutral demeanour in corners.

5. A classic but connected interior

On the inside, the Golf GTI no longer features an ignition lock, having been replaced by an Engine Start/Stop button as standard. As a completely new feature, once the doors have been opened, the button pulses red until the GTI engine is started.

The digital display starts up as soon as the doors are opened. Two-display screens, one 10.25-inch for the digital instrument cluster (with more features than before), while a centrally-positioned 8.25-inch screen takes care of all the infotainment functions. An optional 10-inch Discover Pro system will be made available in some markets.

Elsewhere, other characteristic GTI interior details have been reimagined for the Mk8 GTI, such as the classic three-spoke sports steering wheel – now evolved into a sports steering wheel with touch controls. The Tartan seats have also been reimagined with the new Scalepaper pattern and red highlights.

Ambient lighting also comes as standard, illuminating displays and many other interior areas in a spectrum of 30 configurable colours.


Preview: 2016 Proton Saga 1.3 - Open For Bookings, RM37k - RM46k

Snapping on the heels of the
all-new Proton Persona
 comes a similarly renewed
Proton Saga
. Not quite a ground-up redevelopment from the old model, but Proton has made sufficient and substantial updates to vehicle that the company feels justified to call this the all-new third-generation Saga.
Bookings are officially open for Proton’s latest entry model with an indicative pricing range from RM37,000 to RM46,000, slotting it just below the Persona, which
starts at RM46,800 and pushes on to RM59,800
. The outgoing
Saga Plus
 is priced at RM33,970 with manual transmission and solid paint, with metallic paint and CVT adding on RM450 and RM3,660 respectively.
Ahead of its upcoming launch, scheduled for 28 Sept, the motoring media of Malaysia were invited to a behind-closed-doors no-cameras-allowed preview of the new Saga where we also had the opportunity to put the vehicle through its paces on Proton’s high speed oval test track.
Specifications:
Engine: 1.3-litre, Inline-4, Transverse, VVT
Power:  94hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 120Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual / CVT, FWD
Safety: 2 airbags, ABS, ESC, Traction Control, Hill-Hold Assist, ISOFIX (rear)
Origins: Locally-manufactured at Shah Alam
Overview
Mirroring the Persona’s line-up, the Saga is set to be available with a selection of four variants. The base Standard variant comes with the choice between a 5-speed manual from Getrag and the ubiquitous Punch CVT incorporating the same improvements observed in the Persona. Above it, the Executive and Premium variants are CVT-only offerings.
Power comes from the 1.3-litre Campro VVT engine taken from the Iriz, and this will be the only engine on offer. Unlike the predecessor model, the new Saga will not be offered with the option of a 1.6-litre engine, ensuring it does not encroach into the Persona’s turf.
The new Saga’s engine is installed with three mounting points as opposed to four in a bid to improve overall vehicle refinement. As experienced with the Persona, this is a trick that works. This configuration ensures that the engine sits firmly on all three mounts at all times, thus minimizing vibrations.
Outputs of the engine are identical to the Iriz at 94hp and 120Nm. As a result of the implementation of VVT, Proton unsurprisingly claims that performance and fuel economy are both improved over the outgoing model. Manufacturer’s figures read 12.2 and 13.1 seconds for the century sprint times of the manual and CVT variants respectively, with fuel consumption quoted at 5.4 and 5.6 litres/100km.
Depending on variant, the following equipment that was not previously offered with the Saga are being added to the new model
ABS (Executive & Premium only)
Electronic stability control (Premium only)
Reverse camera (Premium only)
1.5A and 2.1A rear USB charging ports
Single-piece foldable rear seat back
Rear fog lights
Front & rear parking sensors
Appearance
Because cameras were not allowed, we don’t have any clear pictures of the new Saga to show you other than the few teaser images provided by Proton here. Not that the looks of the car is any big secret now, however - there are enough
leaked shots circulating the Internet
. What we can say is, none of the spyshots do the car’s looks any justice.
Despite persevering with the predecessor’s platform, every external body panel of the new Saga has been revised. Wheelbase remains identical, but both the front and rear overhangs have been lengthened, stretching the car’s overall length by 74mm. The car also sits wider and lower, its span extended by 9mm and overall height lowered by 11mm.
Dimensionally, the new Saga is smaller than the Persona. Visually, however, the Saga’s proportions and silhouette look and feel more natural for the profile of a three-box sedan. There are some angles, particularly when viewed from the rear, the Saga even seems like the bigger car. The rear doors of the Saga look notably long too, reminding one of the
Volkswagen Jetta
.
Inside, we see more obvious traces of the predecessor's DNA. Whilst sporting improved material textures and detail, the dashboard top piece is noticeably carried over with all control elements mounted in familiar places even if the centre console fascia is significantly rehashed. Buttons also noticeably exhibit improved tactile feel.

Key Talking Points
Carryover Platform With Improvements:
 Less than a ground up redevelopment, but more than a mere facelift; the new Saga builds upon its predecessor’s platform, but receives a number of key improvements. It lacks the more advanced hot-press-formed (HPF) steel construction featured in newer models, but structural integrity is nevertheless improved – torsional stiffness is up from 10,000 Nm/degree to 12,000 Nm/degree.
Not 5-Stars, But Still Safer Than Before:

Because the car continues to employ the same construction technique and materials as the previous model, Proton is unable to engineer the new Saga’s body structure to attain a full ASEAN 5-Star rating within reasonable cost. Still, the new car improves on the
predecessor’s 3-star rating
 to obtain
4 stars
. Dual airbags and ISOFIX are standard for all variants; and ESC joins the equipment manifest, albeit exclusive to the Premium model only, which is understandable at this price point. What we don’t quite agree with is making ABS available only for the Exclusive and Premium variants.
Hydraulic Power Steering:
 Almost every new car launched in recent memory utilize electric power steering. The new Saga, on the other hand, retains its predecessor’s hydraulic-assisted setup. More fuel-consuming and the added cost of periodic power steering fluid changes to think about, but the enthusiasts would perhaps welcome this for the hydraulic rack’s more feelsome and communicative nature.
Foldable Rear Seatback:
 The outgoing Saga offered a respectable 413 litres of boot space, but no variant ever offered the option of foldable rear seat backs. The new car frees up an additional 7 litres of cargo room with the added practicality of a single-piece foldable rear seat back thrown in to carry bigger items; no split folding or flat loading floor, however.
5-Year Model Cycle:
 The original Saga, in its various iterations, was on sale for over 20 years; the second-generation BLM model soldiered on for nearly a decade. The new one will only be in the market for half the time. Proton has planned for the new Saga to have a product life cycle of only five years, pencilling 2021 as the year for the next generation model to be introduced. In that period, Proton targets average monthly sales of 5,000 units, adding up to 300,000 cars in its entire model run.
How does it Drive?
Considering that this is a car built on a carryover platform, the quantum of improvement seen in the new Saga over the outgoing model is impressive. As it currently stands, the Saga is already noteworthy for its above average ride and handling in the context of its segment. The new one not only shows signs of maintaining that, but also seems to exhibit enhanced levels of refinement.
Just as we experienced with the Persona, the new Saga’s standout characteristic is its significantly reduced noise levels over its predecessor. On the banked test track, we touched speeds of 140-150 km/h and was still able to carry out conversations at normal voice. High speed stability was similarly reassuring as well.
Back in 2011, the Saga was the first Proton model that migrated from the venerable Mitsubishi-sourced 4-speed torque converter automatic to the Punch CVT that new perpetuates the brand’s entire line-up. Those early CVT units were much maligned for their excess droning and severely lagged response. How far Proton has come since then. The new Persona incorporated improvements in its transmission control software that finally made for a decent experience with the Punch transmission, and the new Saga receives those very same enhancements.
Performance of the 1.3-litre VVT engine is adequate for the purpose; allied with the much improved CVT, acceleration is delivered with satisfactory smoothness that far exceeds its predecessor’s. The manual version unsurprisingly pulls with greater conviction, but the experience is blighted by a somewhat loose if still reasonably precise gear change. We will revisit this little issue when we have the chance to cross-examine an actual production unit.
Conclusion
Launching two all-new cars, built on two disparate platforms no less, within a month of each other is a challenging undertaking for a manufacturer of any size. Based on what we’ve experienced thus far with both the Persona and Saga, it has turned out to be a task that Proton seems to be handling reasonably well.
Time will tell if the company has did the necessary ground work to ensure that vendors, production, and aftersales have been adequately prepared to ensure both these vehicles hit the road without too much hitches. From a product standpoint, both can lay claim to be excellent vehicles within the context of their price range.
Whilst a fuller evaluation awaits pending a more extensive stint behind the wheel, our first impressions of the Saga are rather positive. For buyers with a tight budget, here is a vehicle that is likably styled and one that is decently refined on the move.


Want The McLaren F1 Experience? Here's A More Affordable Porsche Alternative

So you want to know what it’s like to be in the cockpit of a McLaren F1 with its central driving position? That’s fine and dandy but with prices on one of those being in the millions of dollars, here’s an alternative which costs significantly less.
However, this isn’t a
McLaren
 as you can clearly see. It’s a
Porsche
 but this one’s special because it has been converted to feature a centre seat flanked by two rear ones just like the McLaren F1.
Dubbed the Centro 911, this is a
Porsche 911
 Carrera S that has undergone over 300 man hours of labour to create. By re-engineering the 997-platform, the team at Shawn Bayliff’s Trinity Motorsports Group managed to reposition the gauge cluster and steering wheel, shifter, pedals, centre stack, centre console and parking brake to place the driver front and centre in the cockpit. To allow for easy access in and out of the car, the Cobra racing front seat (with harness) receives a mechanism that allows it to slide left to the driver’s door.
As for performance, the car performs very much like a Porsche should, even with all the changes. The includes the 3.8-litre flat-six engine which sends 355hp to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.
This conversion was built at an approximate cost of $75,000 (not including the donor car) and is estimated to fetch around $85,000 to $115,000 (RM 348,287 to RM 471,212) at
Mecum Auctions
. For that money you get a car that has only done 49,004km and a driving experience like no other.


Qoros Debuts Funky 2 PHEV SUV Concept In Auto Shanghai 2015

Qoros has launched a design concept SUV called the 2 PHEV SUV Concept that’s aimed at “trendy, creative young people” at the Shanghai Auto Show 2015 and it showcases an interesting direction for the fledging company’s future cars.
This B-Segment SUV might not look like it, but it would actually be the company’s smallest vehicle if it makes it to production as, so far, its range revolves around “3” line of vehicles: the 3 Sedan, the 3 Hatch, and the 3 City SUV.
The 2 PHEV SUV hides its smaller dimensions through its longer-than-usual wheelbase, broad stance, and short overhangs that also give it a rather rugged look. It looks like it might be aimed as a competitor to the
MINI

Countryman
. Its most distinctive design cues come from its vertically oriented head and tail lamps that are meant to preview a look that Qoros intends to spread to its other models.
The greenish-blue colour of the concept is inspired by “Ru Kiln” porcelain - valued for their small amount of iron oxide that produces this unique colour when flamed in the crafting process – while the red accents peppered along the car are influenced by Cinnabar, another mineral with a unique colour. The concept also features a panoramic glass roof that’s has opaque Chinese patterns drawn on it.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain that the 2 SUV is made up of a small-displacement turbocharged petrol engine that sends drive to the front wheels, while the rear wheels are served by two high-output electric motors through what Qoros calls an ERA or Electric Rear Axle drive system. Power is stored in batteries incorporated into the chassis floor.
Inside, the Qoros 2 has a minimalist design that’s punctuated by bold graphics and the entire cabin is dominated by white. It has a “floating” instrument cluster, a digital display for the Qoros Media Hub, and the entire cabin reflects the vertical design of the exterior.
Qoros, the Shaghai-based automaker that was founded in 2007 as a joint venture between Chery and Israel Corporation. From what we can see from their current offerings and, now, its possible future ones, we’re impressed with their work.


CES 2018: Telenav To Push In-Car Advertisements – More Revenue For OEMs

In a not-so surprising move, more car owners can expect advertisements on the move as Telenav is launching its new In-Car Advertising Platform.
No, really. Telenav’s In Car Ads SDK (Software Development Kit) powers the new advertising platform, aimed to deliver precise advertisements to drivers. For example, relevants ads can be delivered based on information from the vehicle, including frequently traveled routes, destinations and times of day. By utilizing this data, the infotainment system can show drivers relevant ads, such as picking up discounted pizza on the way home, or refuelling at the nearby petrol station when the system detects that the vehicle's fuel is low.
To ensure driver safety, Telenav says that ads will only appear when the vehicle is stopped, be in at traffic lights or upon arrival. The ads will also automatically disappear when the car is in motion or when the driver interacts with other functions of the infotainment system such as music or answering a phone call.
At the moment, Telenav’s Scout GPS Link is already part of the 2018 Toyota Camry’s infotainment system and Lexus has been using the said application since 2016.
As reported last year, Toyota has committed to Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) for its in-car infotainment system, while manufacturers like Volvo are working with Google for its next generation of infotainment systems.
Apart from Telenav, Waze has also been pushing advertisement to users of its application, although the ads are limited to those navigating using their phones and not via Android Auto.


Nissan Leaf Introduced In Australia

The all-new Nissan Leaf has officially gone on sale in Australia. In an effort to provide a holistic EV purchase experience, the Leaf will be sold with provisions for home charging, provided by JET Charge, Nissan’s electric vehicle charging provider, and have access to the local Chargefox EV charger network.
The full-electric Leaf is built on a dedicated EV platform and is powered by a 40 kWh battery pack that provides power for a single motor that delivers 150 PS and 320 Nm of torque.
The major highlight for the new Leaf is its extended range. Under Japanese testing cycles, the Leaf is capable of travelling up to 400 kilometres on a single charge. But according to the US EPA testing standards: the final iteration of the first generation Nissan Leaf could travel up to 172 km; the all-new model can travel up to 241 km.
The Leaf requires about 24 hours for a full charge using a standard home wall socket, about 7.5 hours using a 7kW home charger, or about 60 minutes to recharge to 80 percent using a CHAdeMO DC rapid charger.
Another innovation that enhances the very unique driving experience of the all-new Nissan Leaf is the e-Pedal. It allows the driver the simplicity of accelerating, decelerating, stopping, and even holding the car’s position, all by using the accelerator pedal alone. Nissan designed the e-Pedal with the idea of maximizing EV driving pleasure.
Having
previewed
 the Leaf at last year’s KL International Motor Show, Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) confirmed that it will go on sale here in Malaysia in the second half of 2019.


Mercedes-Benz CLS250d is Here, CLA250 4MATIC and Shooting Brake Earmarked for 2016

It is a four-door coupe galore for Mercedes-Benz this year as Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s (MBM) vice-president of passenger car sales and marketing, Mark Raine has officially announced the introduction of the CLS250d, and confirmed that they will be adding the CLA250 4MATIC and CLA 250 4MATIC Shooting Brake to their model line-up later this year. This announcement was made at their 2015 Business Performance Review earlier today.
Priced at RM492,888, the CLS250d sports the same diesel-sipping 2.2-litre 4-cylinder engine that is being used in the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid, with a power output of 204hp at 3,800rpm and a more than satisfactory 500Nm of torque between 1,600 to 1,800rpm. Power in this case is sent to the rear wheels via a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic.
Unlike the more expensive and premium-equipped
CLS400
, the CLS250d makes do without the driver assistance package, and only comes trimmed in the standard AMG exterior package, rather than the CLS400’s AMG Plus.
As for the CLA pair, MBM is still in the midst of getting approval for the pricing of both the CLA250 4MATIC and CLA250 4MATIC Shooting Brake in Malaysia. Both CLA250 variants will be adopting the 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 218hp and 350Nm of torque on hand, with power sent to all four wheels via its 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and its 7-speed dual-clutch.
The reason given for using an all-wheel drive powertrain instead of the front-wheel drive setup seen on the A250 Sport is due to the front-wheel drive variant being not homologated for the Malaysian market. As such the CLA range would have to adopt a 4MATIC equipped drivetrain to pair with the 2-litre engine.
While the CLA250 4MATIC is look set to be a standard fixture on MBM’s model line-up, the company will sticking to their plans of only
selling 10 examples of the CLA250 Shooting Brake in Malaysia
. Between the 10 units of Shooting Brakes brought in and previewed late last year, there are five different trims, each of which will be priced differently from one another.


A Detailed Look Under The Audi E-Tron EV

Audi recently launched their first-fully electric vehicle, the Audi e-tron. Unlike other car manufacturers who debut their electric vehicle (EV) in a form of an oddly-shaped compact hatchback, Audi has decided to begin their no-emission product line-up with an SUV.
We followed Audi to their Audi Charge Tech Park to learn more about the inner workings of the new EV.
Styling
While the exterior styling of the Audi e-tron is basically a sporty-looking SUV, the final design was actually selected based on the best aerodynamic performance in the wind tunnel.
The sloping roof is both form and function, giving the e-tron a sporty silhouette from the side, and yet returning lower aerodynamic drag. The roof tapers smoothly to the angular D-pillars which meet the muscular ‘Quattro’ flared fenders where the set of wraparound tail lamps designate the next-third of the design approach.
The designers also added some clever design elements to highlight ‘electrified vehicle’, where the lamps have the graphic of horizontal bars that represent the charge level of batteries.
The lower portion of the doors and rear bumper have a strong pattern in contrasting colour to communicate the placement of the battery, the source of energy for the e-tron. The usual placement of the exhaust outlets is simple stylized elements now.
The brake calipers are also painted orange, the colour used for high-voltage cables.
Virtual Side Mirrors
This feature is by far the most impressive piece of technology on
the Audi e-
tron
. The entire system is fully integrated into the vehicle design and architecture from the very beginning of the project.
Audi wanted to remove as much aerodynamic drag (plus wind noise) as possible and it was only through the fitment of the virtual side mirrors (VSM) that they managed to reach their target values.
Fitting the VSM lowered the Coefficient of drag (Cd) value from 0.28 to 0.27, the best in its segment.
Mounted on a slim stem painted in gloss black on both doors is a small camera with a resolution of 1,280 x 1,080 pixels. The captured images appear on 7-inch, high-contrast OLED displays positioned just below the top edge of the doors.
Thanks to sophisticated image processing, the displays adapt to the driving speeds as well as environment. At highway speeds, the image is reduced in scale so that the driver can better estimate speeds.
When the indicators are turned on, additional coverage to the side is displayed to reduce the blind spot.
Audi engineers say it only takes around 20 minutes for the drivers to familiarize themselves to the placement of the OLED displays and the absence of the physical side mirrors.
Electric Motors
Two electric powers will provide traction for the Audi e-tron. The front motor can deliver 125 kW (170 hp) with 247 Nm of torque, while the larger rear motor, delivers 140 kW (190 hp) with 314 Nm of torque. The combined system output of 265 kW (360 hp) and 561 Nm propels the circa 2,500 kg electric SUV from standstill to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.
Each motor has its own power electronics and planetary gearbox, with a dedicated cooling system going into the core of each motor (rotor).
During normal driving conditions, drive is provided by the rear electric motor. If the driver demands more power, the front motor distributes additional torque. With traction available on all four corners, the e-tron also debuts a new generation of Quattro.
Audi says with the ultra-quick response of electric motors, the e-tron Quattro system is much better than the conventional system, and as such, providing even better agility and stability.
With the accelerator pedal fully depressed, the dual electric motors enter into Boost mode. The front and rear motor outputs now peak to 135 kW (184 hp)  / 309 Nm and 165 kW (224 hp) / 355 Nm respectively.
The total system output of 300 kW (408 hp) and 664 Nm of torque dramatically improves the benchmark acceleration, slashing nearly a second to 5.7 seconds. For comparison, that is quicker than a Porsche Cayenne V6.
The fitment of the two large capacity motor-generator units also allows for more energy recuperation, or commonly known as regenerative braking. Audi allows the driver to select the “strength” of the regenerative braking, with the highest setting providing up to
0.3 G of deceleration force
.
An interesting fact, the motors are made by Audi themselves their biggest engine plant, Audi Hungary.
Battery
The massive 95 kWh battery pack is neatly placed below the floor of the Audi e-tron and does not protrude into the luggage area or passenger's foot well. Measuring close to 2.3 meters long and 1.63 meters wide, the battery pack is actually even larger than a king-sized mattress!
With current lithium-ion battery technology, the size needed to be as such to deliver customer-expected long driving range, which is claimed to be over 400 kilometres under the WLTP-test cycle.
Even with extensive use of cast and extruded aluminium pieces that form the protective shell, the battery pack weighs around 700 kilograms. Just for comparison, a 2018 Formula 1 racer weights just 733 kilograms inclusive of driver, a Formula E Gen-2 tips the scales at 900 kilograms, and the lightest Perodua Axia weighs just 820 kilograms.
The final assembly of the battery pack (12 cells packed into 36 modules) is again done in-house, at the Brussels plant.
High Capacity Cooling System
Both motors and the battery packs all have independent cooling systems. Coolant is pumped into the power electronics and then into the motor core before being returned to the radiator.
The battery pack, with houses many individual modules, use a more concentrated heat transfer technology. A thermally conductive gel is placed between the battery modules and cooling sheet beneath, to ensure the battery pack is kept in its optimal operating temperature range of 25 degrees to 35 degrees Celsius.
The battery cooling system also has its own refrigerant, as this is necessary to keep the temperature of the battery pack as well as other electronics under control during 150 kW DC charging.
As mentioned earlier, the front and rear motors each have their own cooling system, that proving cooling the power electronics as well as the surrounding (stator) and core of the motors (rotor). Heat from the planetary gearbox is also transferred away through clever design of the coolant path.
A total of 22 litres of coolant flow through close to 40 metres of plumbing in the Audi e-tron.
The Future
The Audi e-tron is the first of a few EV models that Audi has planned. After the launch of e-tron SUV, Audi plans to introduce the e-tron Sportback in 2019, and is followed by a compact model and a large-GT model in 2020, which executives say it is Audi’s version of the Porsche Taycan.
The company targets to have
 sales of 800,000 electrified vehicles by 2025
, which represents a third of their total sales. Audi and Porsche are also developing ‘Premium Platform Electric’ (PPE) which will be the basis of the groups EV models from the year 2021.


Toyota WOW Road Tour Kicks Off This Weekend @ Bukit Jalil

Toyota is giving the chance to take an exhilarating joyride in a
Toyota

86
 or
Vios
 TRD Sportivo piloted by a professional stunt driving instructor at their WOW Road Tour. It will be happening in six locations over each weekend from 30
th
 May to 21
st
 June 2015.
Datuk Ismet Suki announced that the inaugural May 30
th
 event will be held at Car Park B of the National Stadium Bukit Jalil. The two day festivities end on May 31
st
. Following that, the tour will move on up north to Juru Auto City, Penang and Likas Sports Outdoor Complex, Kota Kinabalu from 6
th
 to 7
th
 June. Between 13
th
 and 14
th
 June, the tour will hit East Coast Mall Outdoor Car Park in Kuantan and Sutera Mall Outdoor Car Park in Johor Bahru.
The tour’s final destination will be at Batu Kawah New Township in Kuching on the 20
th
 and 21
st
 of June.
The public will get to witness a stunt driving demonstration of the Toyota 86 and Vios TRD Sportivo or even sit in one as the professional driver performs the manoeuvres. There are also taxi ride experiences in
Hilux
 pickup trucks in selected tour locations. The routes and driving demonstrations have been carefully designed by professionals to emphasise the unique strengths of each model.
There will also be shopping vouchers worth RM500 up for grabs to members of the public who participated in the experiential test drive.
This is a departure from the usual Toyota sales event, continued Datuk Ismet about the event. It is aimed celebrating the comprehensive line up that Toyota Malaysia has to offer. During the event, everyone who places an order for a new Toyota will stand a chance to win a brand new Vios 1.5J (AT) on top of the RM500 e-Service voucher given for the current sales promotion, which includes a chance to win an iPad mini 16GB in the Test Drive & Win contest.
Also, starting this month, those who have placed an order for a Vios or Hilux will get an accessories package worth up to RM5,200. Those who place a booking for a Toyota in June will also get a change to win an all-expense paid trip for two to the Tokyo Motorshow. Every fortnight, there are 200 units of iPhone 6 Plus smartphones to be given away as consolation prizes along with 20 pairs of grand prize tickets.


Grab Partners With HERE To Improve Accuracy Of Service

Local ride-hailing platform Grab has partnered up with global map data and location services provider, HERE Technologies, to improve the accuracy of the app’s fare estimations, ETA and trip routing estimations. Grab passengers now also enjoy more accurate and fresh map content, thanks to HERE’s growing database of cloud-based 3D maps.
HERE’s ‘True vehicles’ use cameras and LiDAR technology to capture over 500 different attributes such as road geometry, speed limits and road signs to create a high-definition machine-readable 3D map, down to an accuracy of 2 cm.
HERE’s Matrix API service will improve the way Grab drivers are assigned to passengers, while HERE’s Basic Routing API service will provide ride hailers with more reliable ETAs and corresponding fare estimations.
The partnership will see HERE provide location services in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which Grab will combine with real-world on-road data sourced from its 1.3 million drivers.
HERE will also provide its extensive Places of Interest (POIs) database gathered through public sector and enterprise partners such as Samsung, Amazon and Microsoft, and as well as real-time traffic data sourced from connected vehicles and devices.
Jerald Singh, Head of Product at Grab added, “Southeast Asia is developing quickly, with new roads and new rules emerging every day. By layering local map data on top of HERE’s comprehensive location data, we can optimise driver-passenger interactions and further streamline our backend dispatch systems.”


Proton Announces MSF-R3 Lady Racers Search And Mentor Programme

Team Proton R3 has recently announced the MSF-R3 Lady Racers Search and mentorship programme for race teams competing in the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) series.
According to Proton, both programmes aim to develop motorsports at grassroots level by leveraging on R3’s experience built up over years of competition.
For the MSF-R3 Lady Racers Search, the programme aims to discover talented female drivers, and to give them the right exposure, training, as well as guidance to be able to compete in a male dominated arena.
From an initial pool of participants, only three will be offered an opportunity to develop as racing drivers and participate in the 2019 edition of the S1K race, driving a Team Proton R3 prepared car.
Selections will be based on how contestants perform in a series of on and off-track activities, and will include being judged on criteria such as discipline, team work and commitment aside from their skill behind the wheel.
As for the mentor programme, selected drivers and teams competing in the MSF SuperTurismo races using Proton vehicles will be supported by Team Proton R3 personnel for the remaining three events this year.
Though each team will be independently managed, R3 will provide technical and set-up know-how before and during the race, with the specific aim to improve their performance and inculcate best industry practices.
Selected drivers and teams for MSF-R3 Racers Mentor Programme:
Mohd Hafiz Saad
Nik Shahrul Fadli Nik Mansor
Alban Raymond De Sauza
Muhammad Faishal Othman
Md. Shah Hashim
Contestants for MSF-R3 Lady Drivers Search:
Ng Aik Sha
Samanda Lee
Nurul Husna Nasharuddin
Nursharina Nor Ramlle
Dayangku Faratiwan Adnil
Rozana Rahmat
Umi Nasirah Sulaiman
Zaidah Mohd Ishak
Nor Azirah Mohd Azhar


The New Proton X70 Can Show You The Nearest Mamak

Just slightly over a month after Proton previewed the exterior to the motoring fraternity, the company did another preview for its upcoming X70, this time focusing on the infotainment system.
The Proton X70’s infotainment is based on Geely’s GKUI system, underpinned by the Android 4.4 operating system with Geely’s own interface overlay.
While Proton did not reveal the hardware specifications of the new infotainment system, we do know that the 8.0-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 1280 x 720. Storage capacity is a measly 16GB though. There is also an embedded e-SIM with 4G LTE connectivity and Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities.
Proton says that the 4G LTE data will be provided by Celcom, at no additional charge. Proton also said that there will be “sufficient data on a monthly basis”, though users can purchase top-up packages if the need arises. At the same time, Proton said that they are working with another telco for data connectivity.
For users that intend to sell their X70, Proton says that it is necessary to drop by a Proton Edar outlet to de-register the e-SIM as each car’s 4G LTE connectivity is tied to the owner’s information.
But hardware capabilities aside, the key highlight of the new infotainment system is the voice command system. Now, before you scoff at this, do take note that Geely has hooked up with
Nuance
 to provide Proton with this contextual, natural language voice command system. Nuance is also the same company that helped Mercedes-Benz with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system.
In simple terms, owners of the Proton X70 can say "Hi Proton, I am hungry" or "Hi Proton, it’s too cold", to get navigation information to the nearest restaurant or turn the air-conditioning warmer, resprectively. Additionally, owners of the X70 can say "Hi Proton, I want to see the sky" to open the sunroof.
If voice command isn’t your thing, another party piece of the Proton X70 is its online infotainment apps, which includes music streaming, navigation, and internet radio. These applications run off the cloud and thus do not have any storage penalties.
To keep the system up-to-date, Proton says that the X70 can receive Over-The-Air (OTA) updates, which will be provided for free.
Interested buyers can place a booking online via Proton's online booking form which will come online on October 17
th
.


BMW Localizes Production Of High Voltage PHEV Batteries In Thailand

BMW Group Thailand together with their long-standing systems partner Dräxlmaier Group will begin local production of high-voltage batteries for the range of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) from next year in Thailand.
Mr Christian Wiedmann, President, BMW Group Thailand said, “We are very excited to be taking another big step forward in our electro-mobility strategy. The start of local battery production will enable us to better respond to growing demands for electrified vehicles across ASEAN markets.”
BMW Group and Dräxlmaier Group also plan to invest over 400 million Baht (RM 51 million) to establish a new beacon for e-mobility innovations in Thailand and the region. BMW Group Thailand has also planned and received approval for government incentives to further invest over 700 million Baht (RM 89 million) for more BMW PHEV models.
Since September this year, staff from the Dräxlmaier Group have been taking part in the battery production training program at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing and the pilot plant for e-drivetrains to share their expertise in cutting-edge production technologies such as laser welding, plasma activation, robotics, glueing, automated optical and electrical inline quality inspection along with end-of-line testing.
The training is also focused on supporting a highly-automated process, which is an important part of battery module production, as well as comprehensive quality assurance, product methodology and technology, rework, and analysis.
Technicians will work on battery cells provided by suppliers in the Asian region along with other imported parts such as aluminium housings, electronics, and cables to roll out the high-voltage batteries that not only meet Thailand’s local content requirement but also BMW Group standards. The new production facility is located in WHA Chonburi Industrial Estate 2.
Finished batteries will then be transported to Plant Rayong about 14 kilometres away for the production of selected PHEV models from 2019 onwards. BMW Thailand currently offers nearly the complete range of iPerformance models: 330e, 530e, 740Le, X5 xDrive40e, and i8.


Jaguar Land Rover Approved - Pre-Owned Vehicles

‘APPROVED’ is Jaguar and Land Rover used vehicle program designed to cater to those who wish to have the same peace of mind as they would with a new vehicle.

It is designed specifically for Jaguars & Land Rovers less than five years old and with less than 96,000 kilometres at the time of purchase.

You can rest assured that with Approved, work is only ever undertaken by Jaguar & Land Rover Trained Technicians using genuine parts, approved tools, and diagnostic equipment.

There is a stringent checklist of 165 inspection processes in place that has to be followed. The inspection always includes paintwork, interior, a complete engine preparation, road test, and a final inspection before the vehicle is personally signed off by the Jaguar/ Land Rover Technician. All vehicles must pass all 165 checks to become Jaguar/ Land Rover Approved.

Each car sold by Approved comes with a warranty that covers you for a minimum of two years or 100,000 kilometres (whichever occurs first). This is only available through an authorised Jaguar/ Land Rover Retailer.

To review the latest list of vehicles available under the program please click on the link f
or
Jaguar
 vehicles or this link for

Land Rover
 vehicles.


Spyshot: All-New 2019 G20 BMW 3 Series Sheds Some Camo

The G20 BMW 3 Series has been caught on camera again, this time shedding some camouflage for our spy photographers.
Compared to the earlier spyshots of the new G20 in snow, these spy photos give us a better look at the overall design of the new 3 Series.
Up front, it seems that the one of the mules could be wearing what appears to be an M-Sport kit, judging from its sportier front bumper with a more pronounced lower air intake and front fog light surrounds.
Towards the rear end, the mule also appears to feature a sportier rear bumper with a pair of muffler tips nicely integrated at each end. The edges of the rear bumper also appear to feature a pair of air curtains to aid with air flow.
In terms of driver assistance, it appears that all three mules spotted here seem to carry different amount of hardware, judging from the camera and front number plate placement. Thus, we can expect the new G20 3 Series to feature some amount of advanced driver assistance, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Warning.
BMW is expected to introduce the all-new G20 3 Series some time in 2019, with the hotter M3 slated to arrive a couple of months later.


Honda Sensing Is As Close As You Can Get To Seeing The Future

We love Thai commercials. No matter how big or small the product in question, you know you're in for a good time. Honda Thailand has just released a commercial for their Honda Sensing and other safety technologies, and it starts with a man who can see a little over a second and a half into the future.
It's a heart-warming tale, one of a painful childhood and finding love, but it culminates in an accident - or rather, one that's prevented thanks to Honda Sensing. Despite the ability to see into the future, he could not predict the car in front coming to a sudden stop - but Honda Sensing could.
It's amazing that technology like this, first only offered with higher end luxury models, has finally become available in mass-market cars. The systems are viewed as so important and effective the many NCAP (new car assessment program) ratings will only offer a full five stars if a car is equipped with these active safety technologies.
The Honda Sensing system is currently available in the CR-V and
the Accord
, along with other safety features like Lane Keep Assist. As you can see in the video above, we've tested the system and found it works quite well in real-world conditions, and can mitigate accidents effectively when drivers are not 100% attentive or in unpredictable situations.


Hardcore Traffic Offenders To Face Arrest When Ops Warta Kicks Off Next Month

Malaysian police will launch
Ops Warta
 next month in a nationwide campaign which will target hundreds of thousands of traffic offenders who have been issued warrants of arrest for failing to settle their outstanding summons,
The Star
 reports.
Bukit Aman traffic chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff advised motorists to check for any outstanding summons and to settle them immediately. Legally, the police have the right to arrest individuals who have been issued arrest warrants by the court for failing to settle outstanding summons.
“To date, 2.49 million of the 4.09 million warrants of arrests have already been settled. Now we are looking at the remaining 39% (1.59 million),” he said at Bukit Aman yesterday.
Working with the EPF (Employees Provident Fund) and National Registration Department, Bukit Aman has been able to track down the addresses of these traffic offenders.
SAC Mohd Faud said the police is taking the matter seriously as multiple warnings have been given over the past two years but have largely been ignored by these remaining offenders who still refuse to settle their summonses.
He added, “There are many ways of checking for outstanding summonses so do not expect us to let you off easily.”
Those methods include online checks at
www.myeg.com.my
 and
www.rilek.com.my
. Additionally, motorists are able to perform checks at any traffic police counter, post office, Maybank ATMs, Road Transport Department branches, and at selected shopping malls.
In the first three months of 2015, SAC Mohd Fuad divulged that 880,914 summonses have been issued by the police of which 9,119 were for the misuse of the emergency lane while 69,629 were for queue cutting, indicating that motorists have not changed their attitude to become more law abiding and courteous road users.
Photo sourced from PDRM's Facebook page.


All-New Fourth Generation 2016 Toyota Prius Unveiled

Eighteen years after the first generation Toyota Prius went on sale in Japan in 1997, Toyota has just unveiled its all-new fourth generation 2016 model year Toyota Prius in Los Angeles, USA.
The success of the Prius have spurred Toyota to expand the Prius, which is now no longer just a model nameplate, but a sub-brand of its own with three models placed under the Prius family – the namesake Prius, a smaller Prius c (also known as Aqua in Japan), and a Prius v (also known as a Prius Alpha in some markets).
To date, Toyota has sold over 8 million Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles, consisting of 41 hybrid models (32 from Toyota, 9 from Lexus).
What’s new?
We don’t know much! Blame it on the ridiculous 10-minute short live stream which tells us next to nothing about the all-new Prius.
At the event, the all-new Prius was presented to the American press, and after one 360-degree view of the Prius on a turntable, the live stream quickly ended with a ‘Thank you for watching' message.
So much for making an effort to produce a live stream.
The press release says the all-new Prius is 60mm longer, 15mm wider and 20mm lower than before, but other than that, there is nothing else that we don’t already know from Toyota’s earlier announcements.
As reported earlier, the all-new Prius is the first Toyota to be developed under Toyota's New Generation Architecture (TNGA) program, which promises a ‘more responsive driving experience and enhanced occupant protection.’
The new chassis is more rigid than before, and has an all-new rear double wishbone suspension.
Toyota did not reveal any details about the new engine, other than it will have the highest thermal efficiency for a petrol engine – at 40 percent. The engine is likely to be a result of the
ESTEC (Economy with Superior Thermal Efficient Combustion)
 project.
There’s also a new ‘Eco’ variant which promises even better fuel economy than the regular Prius. The Prius ‘Eco’ variant is differentiated by a set of aerodynamic wheel cap covers and a slightly different rear bumper (minus a rear diffuser-like design at the lower section).
Inside, the all-new Prius loses the previous model’s two-tier ‘bridge console’ which stretches from the dashboard to the front occupant’s centre arm rest. This removal of the two-tier bridge now means that shift-by-wire gear knob is now mounted on the centre stack at a rather odd position.
Like its exterior design, the all-new Prius has strong styling elements of the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle.
How much is it?
As mentioned earlier, no further details were provided and the vehicle will only go on sale in 2016.
More details might be revealed at the coming Frankfurt Motor Show, which opens next week.


2015 Kia Rio Sedan Facelilft Unveiled At The Chicago Auto Show

Following its update of the
hatchback we saw at the 2014 Paris Motor Show
,
Kia
 Motors America has now taken off the covers of its latest iteration of the
Kia Rio
 Sedan at the on-going Chicago Auto Show.
Refreshed inside and out for its global debut here, the new Rio Sedan (and its hatchback cousin) will go on sale in the US by the first quarter of this year.
Externally, the Rio’s updates include new front- and rear-end designs for what Kia believes adds “more visual width and stronger presence.” Like the new front bumper that stretches across the face of the car? Apart from that, a lot of what’s visible here has been featured on the updated hatchback model from the Paris Motor Show.
Inside, Kia engineers have worked on better insulating the cabin from exterior noises by increasing the use of high-density foam in the A- and B-pillars, while new tech features also make their way in to the car. At the top of the range, Kia Rio SX Sedan owners will soon enjoy a sports tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, 11-inch ventilated front disc brakes, steering column-mounted paddle shifters, reverse camera, upgraded navigation and more.
Unlike the Malaysian-available 1.4-litre petrol engine, the US-market will carry forward its 1.6-litre petrol four-pot and six-speed manual or auto transmission. The hatchback will be offered with a six-speed auto as standard, saying bye-bye entirely to the option of a manual transmission.

Could the
Honda City
,
Toyota Vios
 and
Mazda 2 Sedan
 use a new competitor in Malaysia? Would you want the option? Tell us what you think!


World Car of The Year 2017- And the Winners Are...

Well, the results are in. Earlier on we posted about how the
Jaguar F-Pace took the awards
 for World Car of the Year, as well as World Car Design of the Year- but now we'll take a look at the four remaining categories. Most of these cars should be familiar to you, with the exception of the Green Car category because our market is seemingly devoid of... green cars.
First up is the title for World Luxury Car of the Year. In this category, it was a close fight between the new
BMW 5 Series
,
Mercedes E-Class
, and the
Volvo S90/V90
. All three contenders are solid offerings in the luxury car segment, and while we personally thing that Volvo is the coolest kid on the block with their sedan/estate pairing, it's the E-Class that takes the top spot.
Moving on to sportier affairs, we take a look at the World Performance Car of the Year. Also three names you will know- the Audi R8 Spyder, McLaren 570S, and
Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman
 are all vying for top spot here. Rather surprisingly it's Porsche that wins it with their 718, despite being down on performance compared to the other two models. Perhaps it's the purity and relative simplicity of the 718 twins that swayed the judges.
Coming up to a new category, we have the World Urban Car of the Year. The award in particular is focused on recognizing cars that work especially well in day-to-day life, which is something that some of the more prestigious Car of the Year awards tend to glance over. The BMW i3 takes top honours for this, beating out the Suzuki Ignis and Citroen C3 for the spot. An urban car need not be particularly sporty or fast, but it needs to function well in an urban environment- and with zero emissions and great practicality combined with luxury, the i3 was a shoe in from the start.
And finally we have the World Green Car of the Year. As mentioned before, the cars in this category aren't known to us because we generally don't have a market for them what with our insane taxation rates. The best attempts at green cars over here are things like the
BMW 330e
,
Mercedes-Benz C350e
, and
Hyundai Ioniq
. But for this award, it was a toss up between the Chevrolet Bolt, Tesla Model X, and Toyota Prius Prime. You would expect the Tesla to take the top spot, but it's actually the Prius Prime that wins it- on the basis of Toyota's newfound soul-stirring image. A little peculiar, but not entirely undeserving. We
tested the fourth generation Prius over in Japan
 and loved it, despite it not coming over here.


Review: 2016 (F30) BMW 330e – Forty Years In The Making, The Best 3 Series To Date

The year was 1972. Preparations for the Munich Olympic were well underway. Construction for the exterior portion of BMW’s new headquarters, the iconic ‘Zweizylinder’ (Four-Cylinder) Tower strategically located next to Munich’s Olympia Park has just been completed. The 22-storey tower’s is a statement of intent by the then Chairman Eberhard von Kuenheim, the man credited for making BMW into what it is today, that BMW will be the centre of world-class engineering and design.
That’s a bold statement when you remember that back in the ‘70s, BMWs were considered inferior to Opel, and the benchmark driver’s car was an Alfa Romeo Alfetta. The BMW 3 Series hadn’t even come into existence yet.
In the build up to Munchen 1972, BMW built two prototype electric-powered BMW 1602. The donor 1602 cars were part of the ’02 family of sedans that set the template for our present day BMW 3 Series. The pair of Elektro-Antreib (Electric-Drive) 1602s were used as support vehicles for the marathon event, and it was probably the first time an electric vehicle was used a support car for any international sporting event.
But there was no #ElectricDrivingPleasure to be found in these electric drive 1602s. Laden with 350 kg worth of Varta lead-acid batteries and taking 8 seconds just to reach 50 km/h, these prototype 1602s were hardly the Ultimate Driving Machines. Don’t bother asking about the century sprint, because 100 km/h is its top speed.
The fault wasn’t with BMW, but with 1970s battery technology. With every succeeding decade, BMW’s electric drive prototypes got incrementally better as battery technology improved. Superseding the 1602s was a little known BMW LS Electric, followed by the more familiar E30 325iX, the E1 and E2, the E36 325 Electric and most recently the limited production 1 Series-based ActiveE and MINI-E.
Fast forward to today, we now have the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 and full-electric/range-extended electric BMW i3.
Sitting a couple of ranks below the flagship i8 is this 330e. Just when you thought that BMW’s insistence with performance oriented diesels have allowed Toyota to gain an upper hand when it comes to electrified powertrains, BMW’s range of plug-in hybrid i Performance models have re-asserted the Bavarian marque as the benchmark while Lexus only has regular hybrid-only models to offer. Despite Toyota/Lexus’ early lead in hybrid technology, the only plug-in hybrid model in Toyota/Lexus’s range is the Prius Prime, which is not available here.
Specifications for F30 BMW 330e
Engine: B48 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder
Motor: 88hp/250 Nm synchronous electric motor
Traction battery: 5.7 kWh (net), lithium-ion
Total system output: 252 hp, 420 Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Safety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, TC, ISOFIX, BMW Connected Drive with Intelligent Emergency Call
Price: RM248,000 excluding insurance
Origin: Locally-assembled in Kulim, Kedah
Overview
The locally-assembled 330e is slotted between a 320i Sport and a 330i M Sport. It uses the same B48 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine from the 320i, with the exact state of tune - 184 hp and 290 Nm - but boosted by an 88 hp electric motor nestled within the transmission to deliver 252 hp and 420 Nm, enough to match the 330i M Sport.
In case you are asking why the output numbers don’t sum up, that’s because the petrol engine and electric motor deliver their peak output at different engine/motor speed.
As a plug-in hybrid, the 330e can be driven by petrol-power alone but for optimum performance (and also long term reliability), it is recommended that you regularly plug the car in to be charged. Depending on the load capacity of the power socket, and whether you are using a regular domestic power socket or a fast charger, charging time ranges between 2 to 3 hours plus.
If you are away from your home, you can locate any available public charging stations by simply downloading The New Motion app on your mobile. At the moment, all public charging stations are available for use for free, so long as you have a ChargeNow card provided by BMW Group Malaysia (in partnership with GreenTech Malaysia).
Exterior
At a glance, there isn’t much cues for an average person to tell a 330e apart from a 320i, as both models wear the Sport trim. Other than the 330e badge on the boot lid and eDrive badges on the C-pillars, you will have to look harder to spot additional clues like the charging port’s flap on the left front fender, the larger 18-inch wheels, and a high gloss black strip running the width of the rear bumper.
The F30 generation 3 Series has been on the market for quite some time already, but it hasn’t aged one bit. This facelifted LCI model features new light patterns for the headlamps and tail lamps; small touches which add up to give the F30 a substantially younger look.
People say design is subjective, but park the 3 Series next to its peers, notably the W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and B9 Audi A4, it is clear that the BMW, despite being the oldest of the trio, has the strongest identity. The Mercedes-Benz and the Audi are becoming too diluted with other models, to the point that it’s difficult to tell a C-Class from the latest E-Class, or an A4 from an A3.
Interior
Compared to the C-Class or A4, the touch and feel of cabin materials isn’t BMW’s strongest traits, but at least the 330e does away with the 330i M Sport’s tacky looking stickers that line the passenger-side of the dashboard and centre console.
Judged in isolation, the 330e feels premium enough, but not after you put it in context with the W205-generation
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
 or the
B9 generation Audi A4
.
On the upside, ergonomics is still the F30’s strength. Its controls are easiest to use and most intuitive.
Like many rear-wheel drive sedans, the 330e doesn’t have a lot of utility space. If you are coming from a Honda Civic, or even CR-V, you will definitely wonder where did all the space went. You can free up a bit more space by removing the cup holders behind the gear shift lever. The centre console box is only enough for one person’s sunglass, wallet and that’s about it.
There’s enough space in the rear for 2 adults to travel in comfort but three will be pushing it.
Compared to a standard 3 Series, the 330e’s boot floor has been raised slightly higher to accommodate the lithium-ion traction, so boot space is slightly less than other 3 Series sedans.
If interior space is high on your priority, more than driving performance, then the Audi A4, or even the BMW 3 Series GT might be a better option.
The 330e’s interior also has slightly different instrument panel, with eDrive specific readouts and an additional eDrive button next to the gear lever, allowing you to cycle through three driving eDrive modes – Auto, Max, and Save.
Driving Experience
When we had the
330i M Sport
, which offers more or less the same level of performance as the 330e Sport, there were noticeable turbo lag from its highly boosted engine. It’s not serious, but it’s enough to make you add a mental note and to time your accelerations/overtakings slightly earlier.
There was no such issue with the 330e and that’s what makes the 330e a much better car to drive. There is a deep well of torque for you to tap on-demand, and because the electric motor’s power delivery is so much more linear, it’s also easier to drive it in any road/traffic conditions.
In case you’re wondering if this is still the case when the 330e’s traction battery is depleted, the answer is yes. Even with the battery charge level at just 5 percent, kept at that level by using the engine as a generator and energy recovered from regenerative braking, the 330e saw little difference in driving performance, at least as far as short bursts of acceleration is concerned.
However, unlike most hybrids, the 330e’s battery management software is programmed to run the car on electric power as much as possible, even if it’s set on Auto eDrive mode.
In a regular hybrid, the limits to electric drive are quite low so the petrol engine kicks in quite early and the traction battery’s charge is sustained/recharged quite fast. In the 330e, the electric drive system is powerful enough to drive the car until around 90 km/h (depending on A/C setting and road conditions), and so most of your urban commute will be done in electric power.
As the plug-in hybrid’s battery capacity is larger than a regular hybrid, it takes a longer time to recharge and without plugging in, the engine and regenerative braking alone won’t be able to fully charge the battery.
Personally, I prefer to manually control the eDrive modes, switching between Auto eDrive (to use electric drive) in stop-go traffic and Save (to run the petrol engine more) once speed picks up. That way, I am able to keep the battery charge for later use when I encounter stop-go traffic later in my journey, conditions where an electric motor offers a more efficient, smoother and more comfortable driving experience than a petrol engine.
When the roads snake their way into challenging twisty sections, the 330e still behaves with the same level of agility as you would expect from a BMW, despite the added 190 kg over a 330i due to the plug-in hybrid components.
On the highways, there’s a bit more wind noise and tyre road compared to an Audi or a Mercedes-Benz, but not by much.
Ride Comfort
The stereotype that BMWs are less comfortable than an equivalent Mercedes-Benz no longer holds true. Just take a ride in an A-Class or CLA-Class. It’s almost as if the current generation of Mercedes-Benz chassis engineers are no longer able to tune a comfortable ride without resorting to expensive adaptive suspension.
Putting aside the 330i M Sport which has a stiffer M Sport suspension, all other F30 generation 3 Series are generally more comfortable than the equivalent Mercedes-Benz C-Class variant. The 3 Series does all that while still maintaining BMW’s benchmark agility and handling.
The 330e is no different. In fact, the 330e makes more sense as a daily driver than the slightly harsher riding 330i M Sport.
Potholes and rough, poorly mended tarmac didn’t trouble the 330e, which glided over the rough surfaces with minimal drama inside the cabin.
How Economical Is It?
I live in a high rise building, so I don’t have access to a power socket to charge the 330e overnight. Over the 350 km-plus urban and highway distance covered, the 330e had a total of 3 hours’ worth of charging time from two separate occasions.
Despite the limited charging time, the 330e averaged just below 6.5-litres/100 km, with the car operating mostly under Eco Pro and Comfort mode.
Maintenance cost is also kept low thanks to BMW’s 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service. That’s better than what’s offered by BMW’s rivals.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that the 330e is the pick of the of 3 Series range. The lightweight entry model
318i
 (RM202,800) with its three-cylinder engine is nimble and a joy to drive, but equipment levels are basic, lacking even keyless entry and reverse camera. The mid-range 320i (RM231,800) is a better buy but once you’ve experienced either the
330i
 or 330e, you can’t quite go back to the mid-range 320i, especially with its smaller 6.5-inch infotainment screen. The 330e offers comparable performance and equipment levels to the 330i, but with better ride comfort, and is RM50,000 cheaper.
Update: The 330i M Sport has been discontinued as of January 2017.
Deliveries for the
C350e
 (RM289,888) have just started and we have yet to sample it on
public roads
, but it does come with adaptive suspension suspension so it should be more comfortable than a
regular C-Class
 and there is no doubt that the C-Class offers a far more luxurious interior than the 3 Series. It is however, also a lot more expensive than the 330e.
The
Audi A4
 (RM248,900) is fully imported and thus will forever be put at a disadvantage in terms of price, but it offers more interior space and its front-wheel drive/quattro layout makes for a less fidgety steering during long distance high speed jaunts on straight stretches of the highway.


Visit KLIMS 2018 And Stand A Chance To Drive Home A Toyota C-HR, Honda City, Or A Myvi

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), organiser of the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS ’18) today launched the advertising and promotion campaign for the event and announced its media partners which includes Carlist.my.
Besides the campaign launch, the grand prizes for the lucky draw at KLIMS ’18 were also announced by Datuk Mohamaddin bin Ketapi, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia earlier today.
The grand prizes, which every visitor who purchases a ticket to KLIMS '18 stands a chance to win, are a Toyota C-HR, a Honda City, and a Perodua Myvi.
Datuk Aishah Ahmad, President of MAA said, “After a five-year hiatus, the automotive industry players are ready to bring Malaysia’s iconic motor show back with exciting exhibits and attractions to capture the attention of motoring enthusiasts and the public. KLIMS ’18 is the country’s launch pad for new passenger car models, bikes and commercial vehicles. A number of concept cars are also making their way to the show, alongside other innovative automotive products which will be introduced to visitors at KLIMS ’18.”
“Visitors to KLIMS ’18 will experience an overhauled KLIMS compared to its predecessors. There will be new attractions such as vehicles developed and imagined by students from our country’s universities, exotic vehicles, the longest limousine in Malaysia, and customised cars and bikes on display. The new venue at MITEC will also give visitors an interesting visiting experience,” she added.
Entrance tickets are now available for online purchase at AirAsia Red Tix with attractive promotions. Each online purchase of KLIMS’18 entrance ticket is entitled to one entry of fortnightly draws to win AirAsia return flights to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Bali, Taipei, Jakarta and Shanghai. In addition, every online purchase of KLIMS ’18 entrance ticket is also entitled to the grand draw of AirAsia return flight to Tokyo.
Ticket prices for KLIMS ’18 are as mentioned below:
Adults - RM20 (weekdays) / RM25 (weekends)
Students – RM5 (weekdays and weekends)
Children 12 years and below – RM5 (weekdays and weekends)
Family Package for families with up to 5 children aged 12 and below - RM40 (weekdays)/ RM50 (weekends)
KLIMS ’18 Details
Date: 23 November - 2 December 2018
Venue: Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC)
Time: 11 am – 10 pm on weekdays / 10 am – 10pm on weekends
Theme: “Beyond Mobility”


JPJ: Pemilik Plat 'Fancy' Boleh Berdepan Saman Sehingga RM3,000

Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (
JPJ
) telah memuat naik peringatan di Facebook rasmi mereka mengenai kesalahan penggunaan nombor plat ‘fancy’, kabur atau mengelirukan.

Umum mengetahui penggunaan nombor plat ‘fancy’ pada mana-mana kenderaan adalah dilarang serta salah dari segi undang-undang jalan raya Malaysia.

*Kredit foto: Facebook JPJ

Namun, masih ramai yang tetap berdegil menggunakan nombor plat dengan kombinasi huruf dan nombor dalam pelbagai saiz sehingga menyukarkan pelbagai pihak untuk mengenal pasti nombor pendaftaran sebenar kenderaan tersebut jika terlibat dalam apa-apa
insiden jalan raya
.

Jika anda ‘terlupa’, kami kongsikan spesifikasi sebenar plat kenderaan yang dibenarkan seperti yang tertera di dalam laman web
JPJ
:

Huruf dan nombor berwarna putih yang dilekatkan atau di'embossed' atas bingkai hitam.

Huruf dan nombor berwarna putih yang dilekatkan atau di'embossed' atas bingkai berwarna merah bagi kenderaan kedutaan, PBB dan International Natural Rubber Association.

Huruf dan nombor berwarna hitam yang di'embossed' atas bingkai berwarna putih bagi teksi atau kereta sewa.

Orang ramai dinasihatkan untuk mematuhi peraturan bagi memasang nombor pendaftaran kenderaan mengikut spesifikasi yang ditetapkan di bawah Akta Pengangkutan Jalan (APJ) 1987.

Di samping itu, JPJ menyarankan kepada orang ramai untuk melaporkan mana-mana kenderaan yang memasang nombor pendaftaran yang mengelirukan, kabur atau ‘fancy’ di alamat email aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my bersama gambar kenderaan dan butiran lain yang berkaitan bagi memudahkan pihak JPJ mengambil tindakan.

Pemilik kereta bakal diambil tindakan untuk ditemu siasat oleh JPJ. Jika didapati bersalah, pemilik bakal dikenakan hukuman
tidak kurang RM300 dan tidak lebih RM3,000
 di bawah Seksyen 14 (4) APJ 1987.


All-New Mazda CX-30 Open For Booking - Three Variants Starting From RM143k

Mazda Malaysia has officially opened their order books for the 2019 all-new Mazda CX-30. The much-anticipated Compact Crossover SUV will rival the likes of the Toyota CH-R, slots between the CX-3 and CX-5 on the sizing scale, and is designed to appeal to lifestyle centric customers.

The CX-30 is offered here in three variants across two different engines (one petrol and range-topping diesel), priced as follows:

Mazda CX-30 2.0L (2WD): RM 143,119.20

Mazda CX-30 2.0L High (2WD): RM 164,119.20

Mazda CX-30 1.8L Diesel High (2WD): RM 173,027.70

West Malaysia Pricing Shown. Private Registration. On-the-road without insurance.

The CX-30 is the second model in a new generation of Mazda cars to be built on Mazda’s new-generation platform after the all-new Mazda 3. And If you wondering why there wasn't already a CX-4 that slots between a CX-3 and CX-5? You’d be right but the CX-4 is only available in China while this CX-30 is meant for the rest of the world. The CX-4 rides on a slightly longer 2,700 mm wheelbase but it is based on an older, previous-generation CX-5's platform.

The CX-30 comes measure 4,395 mm in length, 1,795 mm in width, and 1,540 mm in height. The height of the CX-30 is identical to the CX-3, while the wheelbase of the CX-30 (at 2,655 mm) is longer than that of the CX-3 (2,570 mm). It's also very similar in size to the Toyota C-HR - 4,360 mm long, 1,795 mm wide and 1,565 mm tall, with a 2,640 mm wheelbase.

The two powerplants on offer include the tried and tested 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G four-cylinder which outputs 163 hp and 213 Nm (at 4,000rpm) and a new 1.8-litre SkyActiv-D turbodiesel which delivers 114 hp and 270 Nm of torque between 1,600 rpm and 2,700 rpm. The sole transmission option for all variants is the six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

Moving into the cockpit, the CX-30 receives a dashboard that largely mirrors that of the all-new 3, albeit with a revised top tier that flows into the door panels. An 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is fitted as standard, as well as an 8-speaker configuration.

Depending on variant, the CX-30 is offered with the following standard equipment:

CX-30 2.0L (2WD)

Mazda G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC)

Mazda i-Stop Start/Stop

LED front headlights with Levelling function

Auto headlights

Rain Sensing Wipers

Electronic parking brake with Auto Hold

Steering wheel audio controls

Bluetooth

Cruise Control

Auto-dimming rearview mirror

Heads-up Display

Colour Windshield-Projection Display

Manual climate control

Fabric seats

8.8-inch display with Mazda Connect infotainment system

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

Reverse camera with dynamic guidance lines

8 speakers

7 airbags

ABS, EBD, BA, DSC, TCS, ESS

Seat Belt Warning for all seats

CX-30 2.0L High (2WD)

Front LED headlights with Signature Illumination

Rear LED headlights with Signature Illumination

Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry

Piano black door pillar garnish

Powered tailgate

Front and rear parking sensors

Frameless Auto-dimming rearview mirror

Paddle shifters

Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning with independent rear control

Rear air vents

Leather upholstery

Powered driver seat with 10-way power adjustment and 2-position memory function

Adaptive Front Lights (AFS)

High-Beam Control (HBC)

Blind Spot Monitoring

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

Front and Rear Smart Brake Support (SBS)

Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)

The equipment levels of the CX-30 1.8L Diesel High are identical to that of the CX-30 2.0L High.

Eight colours are available on the all-new CX-30, namely:

Sonic Silver

Machine Gray

Deep Crystal Blue

Jet Black

Titanium Flash

Snowflake White Pearl

Soul Red Crystal

Polymetal Gray Metallic

The All-New CX-30 is backed by a 5-Years/100,000km Manufacturer Warranty and Free Maintenance package (whichever comes first), according to manufacturer’s standards inclusive of labour, parts, and lubricants.

For the latest deals on Mazda vehicles, click
here
.


GIIAS 2016: Mitsubishi XM Concept Makes World Debut

The
Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show 2016
 officially opened its doors yesterday and there have been quite a few interesting debuts, such as the
Mitsubishi XM Concept
 which made its global debut.
Here to take on the
Honda BR-V
, Honda Mobilio,
Suzuki Ertiga
, and the
Toyota Avanza
, the XM Concept, which is a crossover between an MPV and an SUV, is expected to be powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a front-wheel drive configuration.
The XM name is said to be a combination of the letter “X” which refers to a crossover and “M” which stands for MPV – as the concept promises to offer the capabilities of a SUV with the practicality of an MPV”.
According to
Mitsubishi
, the XM Concept was designed specifically for the Indonesian market and uses a platform that has never been used on any other Mitsubishi models.
The company also added that there will not be a diesel variant for now as there is too little demand for diesel engines in this segment.
Though no technical specifications were disclosed by Mitsubishi, the company did assure that the production version of the seven-seater will be 80 percent similar to the concept when it is launched.
Looking for a Mitsubishi? Find one now at
Carlist.my
Images and info for this story provided by
Mobil123.com
.


Bentley Reveals Special Edition Continental GT Speed Inspired By Breitling Jet Team

Bentley
 has unveiled a series of seven special edition
Continental

GT Speed
 cars that are inspired by the Breitling Jet Team Series, with each car made to match each jet in the airborne acrobatics group to celebrate their grand tour of North America.
The car itself is based on, unsurprisingly, a Bentley
Continental GT
 Speed, and the changes that were made for this limited edition are relegated to the purely cosmetic, which was tasked to Bentley’s Mulliner customisation division.
A bespoke two-tone split of colours that Bentley has dubbed ‘Hallmark’ and ‘Oynx’ is given to the car, with certain highlights tone-matched to reflect the trademark look of the L-39 Albatross Jets.
The interior, too, receives an exclusive colour theme, with uniquely sculptured seats accented in Breitling yellow, along with specially designed logos and graphics. The carbon fibre fascia of the dashboard displays an image of the planes in their Avenger flight formation. The cars are specially numbered to correspond with each jet in the series on its tread plate plaques.
Geoff Dowding, Director of Mulliner, said: "The Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series demonstrates the level of customisation Mulliner can achieve for customers. Creating this very special edition has been an exciting experience for the entire team, taking inspiration from the Breitling Jet Team's grand tour."


All-New Toyota Corolla Altis And Avanza Facelift To Debut In Indonesia In 2019

Ever since the current FC generation Honda Civic hit local showrooms in 2016, it enjoyed an almost unhindered home run to the top spot on the sales charts. Ticking all the right boxes and styled like nothing else in its class, the Civic resonated well with local buyers, leaving archrival Toyota Corolla Altis far behind in the sales charts.
Next year, the Civic will have to contend with a more competitive, all-new Toyota Corolla Altis.
The all-new Corolla Altis was previewed simultaneously in North America (USA and Canada) and
China last month
, and will go on sale there in early 2019. In USA, the model is known simply as Corolla while in China, it’s sold either as a Corolla or a Levin, each with slightly different styling.
Normally, there is quite a big gap between a model’s introduction in North America/China and our region, at least six months or more. These large left-hand drive markets are typically self-sustaining and the models are usually manufactured at their domestic plants that cater only to their respective markets.
Introduction in right-hand drive markets including Toyota’s home market of Japan, typically takes place at a later stage.
However according to Indonesian website
Autonetmagz
, this time around, the gap in introduction timing will be shortened significantly, and the all-new Corolla Altis will be launched in Indonesia next year. If it’s true, it will also mean that the model’s introduction in Malaysia won’t be too far off.
Globally, the Corolla sedan comes in
three different front-end design
, and it’s still too early to say which one will South East Asian markets adopt. Likewise for engine options.
Some markets like USA will retain the outgoing model’s 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i naturally aspirated engine, while adding a 1.8-litre hybrid borrowed from Prius. Meanwhile, China will get the option of an all-new 2.0-litre Dynamic Force naturally aspirated engine.
Like the all-new Camry and C-HR, the all-new Corolla Altis is built on the latest Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which apart from allowing for more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing, also allows for a more spacious interior, lower centre of gravity, improved chassis rigidity plus lower kerb weight for better handling, as well as easier integration of advanced driving aids for better safety.
The Indonesian website also revealed that the aging Avanza is due for a facelift early next year. Grainy images allegedly showing the new Avanza’s front-end have also been circulating within Indonesian circles.


PMX announces exemption of toll for 4 days, from April 19 to 21 and on April 24

Putrajaya is in the habit of providing free passage through tolls when it comes to the Hari Raya holiday and this year is no different as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister has announced the free Rahmah Toll for the 2023 Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays .

According to Anwar Ibrahim, the implementation of the free Rahmah Toll will involve 33 highways for all classes of vehicles.

Photo credit: Gempak

"This effort can reduce the cost of paying tolls for people who will return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival as well as make it easier to plan trips back to their 'Kampungs'," he said at a special Aidilfitri 2023 message in Putrajaya recently.

Photo credit: Sabah Post

At the same time, PDRM would also be providing a special Summons Fee Rate from April 21 until May 21, 2023 for all PDRM traffic summonses for offences in 2022 and before.

Each 'saman' can be paid at a rate of RM50. The special rate, however, does not apply to traffic summons issued in 2023.


Mazda Zoom-Zoom Carnivals – Vouchers and Watches to be Won

Prospective
Mazda
 customers will want to accelerate their shopping plans this coming month in conjunction with the Mazda Zoom Zoom Carnivals happening on three of four weekends of the month at the following selected Mazda showrooms.
5-6 March
Glenmarie – 3.088366, 101.574926;
Google Maps
;
Waze
Puchong –  3.025861, 101.615014;
Google Maps
;
Waze
19-20 March
Ampang – 3.160318, 101.727221;
Google Maps
;
Waze
Kajang – 2.977017, 101.827531;
Google Maps
;
Waze
26-27 March
Padang Jawa – 3.059889, 101.491204;
Google Maps
;
Waze
The campaign will finally conclude with a finale roadshow to be held at the Oval Concourse of 1 Utama’s New Wing from 30 March (Wed) to 3 April (Sun).
At the carnivals, customers stand a chance to win Mazda Bonanza Vouchers and exclusive Mazda EPOS watches upon sign up.
Models worth checking out include the
newly-facelifted

Mazda CX-5
 now available locally-assembled in 2.0- and 2.5-litre displacements along with existing models such as the
Mazda2
,
Mazda3
,
Mazda6
, and newly-launched
CX-3
.


Don't 'Share Share' TNG RFID Tag - One Per Car Only!

The
TNG RFID Tag
 or sticker cannot be shared between several vehicles and if you're caught doing so, there's the risk of your tag getting suspended.

If you don't already know by now, each
TNG RFID tag or sticker
 is unique to the registered customer and vehicle. In other words, you're not allowed to share it, unlike the
SmartTAG portable device
.

Portable device for RFID stickers for sale?

You've seen these plastic things with suction cups that have been used to mount the vehicle's road tax sticker on the windshield? Apparently, you can now get a smaller version of it on multiple e-commerce platforms specifically designed for the TNG RFID tag.

This means that it can be easily removed and placed in different vehicles, but that doesn't mean that it is okay to share. Why? All toll booths with RFID lanes are equipped with
Automatic Licence Plate Recognition (ANPR)
 which can detect any mismatch between the RFID tag or sticker and the vehicle's license plate.

RFID tags should only be used with the vehicle it's registered to

This is actually clear as day on the Touch 'n Go's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page and if you're caught with this violation, it may result in the suspension of the RFID tags or stickers.

So, just follow all the rules and regulations by
sticking it properly
 on the front headlight or windshield to avoid this from happening. Trust me, you don't want to be the person causing an unnecessary jam in the RFID lane, especially during rush hour. Not fun.


Lexus To Feature In Transformers: The Last Knight

After many years of partnership with General Motors, the upcoming Transformers: The Last Knight will see product placements by Lexus.
Not much is known yet, but in the latest trailer for the fifth installment of the Transformers film series released earlier today, there was a brief but very clear scene where a fleet of
Lexus RX
 models were lined up, with their Lexus badges clearly visible.
The Lexus vehicles don’t appear to be part of any Transformers character.
This is not the first time a non-GM vehicle have appeared in a Transformer movie. The previous Transformers: Age of Extinction featured Chinese car maker GAC’s Trumpchi brand’s GA5 sedan and their E-Jet plug-in hybrid concept car.
The Transformers: The Last Knight will premiere on the silver screens this June.
More on the Lexus RX
here
.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Adds Autohaus Outlet In Melaka

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBM), together with authorised dealer partner, MBSA Automotive Sdn Bhd, launched a temporary Mercedes-Benz MBSA Autohaus in Melaka.
With an investment of RM1.2 million, the temporary Mercedes-Benz MBSA Autohaus is part of MBSA’s ongoing RM14 million investment to further boost the after sales services offered for customers in the Southern region.
“With a total of RM45 million invested in southern region, we have five Autohauses that are dedicated to providing customer experience and service like no other. We will continue to delight and satisfy our customers with our ever-growing services and high standards of quality that are synonymous with the Mercedes-Benz brand,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner.
Housed in an iconic building, Mercedes-Benz MBSA Autohaus which covers an area of 10,142 square feet is managed by 48 staff who are well-versed in sales and technical services in line with Daimler’s global standards.
The facility is able to display nine vehicles with a dedicated customer lounge and event floor. For customers’ convenience under the same roof, financial services from Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia and official Mercedes-Benz accessories and merchandise are also available.
“As the only premium authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer in Melaka, we are pleased to showcase an exclusive premium experience to our customers here. Melaka is a perfect spot for us as we combine Melaka’s historical values and the Mercedes-Benz brand heritage, offering a unique Mercedes-Benz brand experience to our esteemed customers in the southern region,” said MBSA Automotive Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Dealer Principal, Mr Philip Beng.
The Mercedes-Benz MBSA Autohaus is fully compliant with the Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS II),   the global Autohaus benchmark of customer experience, complete with the new Mercedes-Benz Corporate Identity (CI).
To date, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has 31 dedicated dealerships nationwide.
The new Mercedes-Benz MBSA Autohaus, which is located at No 1, 3, 5, Jalan KSB 16 Taman Kota Syahbandar, will replace the previous outlet near Jonker Street next month.


Lotus Evora GT410 Now Available In Non-Sport Trim, Est. Price RM 1,150,000

When Lotus left our market in an official capacity a couple of years ago, there was a lot of worry surrounding the state of the brand in Malaysia – but eventually the mantle was picked up by LOTUS KARZ MALAYSIA, out in Shah Alam. In addition to handling the various servicing and maintenance requirements for existing Lotus models in Malaysia, they are also the official dealer for new Lotus models.

Lotus recently announced the addition of the Evora GT410 to their range, which complements the GT410 Sport that is currently available and functions as a more comfortable, road-oriented variant that’s a little less go-kart and a little more GT car. Estimated pricing for the new GT410 stands at approximately RM 460,000 if you want your car in Langkawi (which LOTUS KARZ MALAYSIA offers as a service), or approximately RM 1,150,000 once you settle all duties involved and depending on how you customize your car.

Lead time for the model is just two months if you’re willing to take any specification that’s on the factory floor in Hethel, but if you want it done to your exact tastes that lead time stretches to three months. All things considered, that’s not too bad of a wait for a fairly bespoke lightweight sports car, and some mass market models have even longer wait times than this.

How does the Evora GT410 separate itself from the Sport variant? Oddly enough, while it isn’t designed to be as aggressive as the Sport model, it does come as standard with a lot of optional extras that the Sport model doesn’t have as part of its base pricing. As a more usable everyday car, it comes with Sparco seats, air conditioning, a reverse camera, a premium infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, as well as better refinement through more insulation. These might sound like fairly simple options, but for a raw driver’s car they are welcome additions.

While Colin Chapman may be turning in his grave, drivers and passengers will appreciate having integrated arm rests and storage bins in the doors for more comfort and better practicality. The damper rates are revised for better ride quality, paired with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres for great all weather traction – things you would expect of a car you would want to enjoy on a more regular basis. Even the rear tailgate now has a large glass section to let you see a little better out the back.

In terms of the other optional extras that come as standard for the regular GT410, buyers will get a body-coloured roof, side-sills, tailgate, front access panel, and mirror backs, as well as red AP Racing brake callipers and either silver or gloss black V-spoke cast alloy wheels in 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear. Other equipment includes cruise control, heated seats, and rear parking sensors.

But if you care about every last gram being shed from your car, then the Evora GT410 Sport will still be the car for you – and various revisions like the seats, air conditioning, and updated infotainment system still find their way into 2020’s model. Pricing for the Sport variant is just RM 20,000 more for the Langkawi option – but duty-paid pricing will vary significantly as the options a customer ticks will compound with the taxes as well.


Tesla Thailand is looking for partners to install Superchargers

Tesla has officially arrived in
Thailand
 and they're looking for partners to install their new network of
Superchargers
.

Autospinn Thailand
 reports that Tesla Thailand is looking for interested parties like restaurants or shops to install Tesla Supercharger charging stations at their locations for free, maintenance included. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Eight Superchargers to kick-start

Yes, Tesla Thailand wants to install its Tesla Superchargers for free at eight different locations across Thailand. It seems that they'll also provide free maintenance but no details of the duration or if there are any other obligations for the owners of the establishments. But hey, being free to kick things off is a great motivator.

What we do know is the fact that they've received over 10,000 orders for Tesla EVs in Thailand, and a network of Tesla Superchargers should be crucial in the support of the new car sales once they arrive in the country. As for the 'free' offer, interested establishments will also attract Tesla owners to their locations when the Superchargers are up and running.

Tesla Thailand Superchargers to open for other EVs?

Teslas in Thailand will be using the CCS2 charging ports, which also means that the Tesla Supercharger stations that they'll set up will consist of AC and DC fast chargers that support CCS2 of up to 250kW.

It is not yet confirmed whether Thailand's Tesla Superchargers will be opened for other EVs to use, but it'll make sense for them to do so since they support cars with CCS2 ports. The logical move would be to cater to Tesla owners first, but perhaps they might open it up to other brands at a different charging rate?


Great Wall Motors Announces Massive Malaysia Push - 4 Brands, Local Assembly, Electrification

Great Wall Motors is back in Malaysia, and in a big way. Today the Chinese automotive group announced an ambitious plan to take on the established brands here, and they just might pull it off.

At an officiation ceremony held at their headquarters in the heart of Kuala Lumpur themed “Go With Malaysia”, representatives of the company’s Southeast Asia division outlined our market as their next endeavour following a
successful market entry into Thailand
.

“We will continue to deepen the Malaysian market by increasing investment in the country by carrying out localized assembly through cooperation with Go Auto Group”, said Mr. Cui Anqi, Managing Director of Great Wall Motor Malaysia.

Haval H6 and Jolion incoming to Malaysia

Though the GWM brand might not be a household name to most of us, it's subsidiary marques such as Haval might more likely strike a familiar chord. That’s just one of the brands the auto giant plans to use to gain a solid foothold against other incoming mass-market rivals such Chery, GAC, and more pressingly, Geely-backed Proton.

The SUV-centric Haval, which had previously sold cars here under GoAuto,
will be fielding the H6
 and Jolion. They will be joined by the highly anticipated
retro-stylish Good Cat
 from GWM’s electric-only brand Ora, which we previewed back in May. According to Great Wall Motor Sales Malaysia, the car is being prepared for a Q4 2022 launch.

Ora Good Cat to be launched in Q4 2022 in Malaysia

The Good Cat was also on display at the GWM’s Jalan Ampang HQ lobby, though this is but another preview occasion. Pricing and a reveal of its specifications will be made at a later date closer to the final quarter of this year.

GWM Tank and POER

An unexpected inclusion to their Malaysian rollout is Tank, a GWM brand that focuses on more rugged off-road vehicles. With its brash and boxy design, the Tank 300 bears a striking resemblance to the Jeep Wrangler or new Ford Bronco while
the larger Tank 500
 seems to take inspiration from RAM trucks at the front end and the Toyota Land Cruiser in profile.

Alongside this, the POER brand will also be entering the arena with its own range of pickup trucks. We’ve also happened to have taken a closer look at one of these models earlier this year but expect a more comprehensive spread of products to be revealed in 2023, which is when GWM really plans to kick things into high gear.

For 2022, as mentioned, we can look forward to the launch of the Ora Good Cat and possibly the sportier Ora Good Cat GT, perhaps topped off by the POER pickup truck in limited units before they presumably shift to local assembly to ensure price parity with class strongholds such as the Toyota HiLux
and Isuzu D-Max
.

Mr. Anqi also added that, in terms of after-sales service, Great Wall Motor will also set up a spare parts centre in Malaysia that is accompanied by a technical service team. The customer service centre, which operates around the clock, is designed to offer end-to-end service to Malaysian consumers for complete peace of mind.


Jaguar Confirms That Electric E-Type Will Go On Sale, Hipsters Rejoice

Remember the Jaguar E-Type Zero concept which was shown at the Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest in September 2017?
While many of us thought that it was going to be a one-off thing, JLR has announced that it is actually going to offer the all-electric E-type for sale due to overwhelmingly positive response.
An electric powertrain with single-speed reduction gear has been specially designed for the E-type, utilising many Jaguar I-PACE components. Its lithium-ion battery pack has the same dimensions, and similar weight, to the standard E-type’s six-cylinder petrol XK engine and is in the same location.
The electric motor lies just behind the battery pack, in place of the E-type’s gearbox. A new propshaft sends power to a carry-over differential and final drive.
Using an electric powertrain with similar weight and dimensions to the outgoing petrol engine and transmission means the car’s structure, including suspension and brakes, has not changed, simplifying the conversion and keeping the driving experience in line with the original vehicle.
It drives, handles, rides and brakes like an original E-type with front-rear weight distribution unchanged.
Jaguar Classic will be responsible for building the tailor-made E-types, which will be restored and converted to electric power at the same Classic Works facility in Coventry, UK, which did the ‘Reborn’ E-type restorations.
JLR said that an EV conversion service for existing E-type owners will also be offered, and to preserve the authenticity of the base vehicle, the EV conversion will be fully reversible.
Technical specifications and pricing details will follow, but Jaguar Classic is now taking expressions of interest from potential E-type Zero clients. Deliveries of the first electric E-type vehicles are expected to start from summer 2020.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the Jaguar E-type Zero concept. Future-proofing the enjoyment of classic car ownership is a major stepping stone for Jaguar Classic. The E-type Zero showcases the incredible heritage of the E-type, and the expertise and craftsmanship at Classic Works, while demonstrating Jaguar Land Rover’s dedication to creating zero emission vehicles across every part of the business, including Jaguar Classic,” said Tim Hannig, the director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic.