Review: 2017 Honda City Facelift - Homerun Returns

The current Honda City has been around since 2014 and Honda Malaysia has given Malaysia’s most popular non-national B-segment compact sedan a nip and tuck to keep it fresh and relevant.
Aimed squarely at the Toyota Vios, Nissan Almera, Mazda 2 Sedan and Volkswagen Vento, does the updated Honda City have what it takes to remain on top of the food chain?
What has kept customers flocking Honda dealerships nationwide was the fact that the Honda City is a prime example of a well-packaged sedan at an affordable price.
Honda Malaysia introduced the facelifted City back in March, with the number of variants slimmed down to just three from the predecessor’s four.
Specifications:
Engine: 1.5-litre L15A7 Inline-four Petrol
Power: 120 PS @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 145 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission: Earth Dreams Technology CVT, Front-wheel drive
Safety: Six airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), ISOFIX anchor points, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), G-Con Body
Origin: Locally assembled in Pegoh, Melaka
Price: RM92,000 (OTR with insurance)
Overview
Underneath, the Honda City shares its platform with Jazz. Despite that, however, the City does not have the Jazz's highly-acclaimed Magic Seats that once featured in the 2003 City. Mechanical bits, such as the engine and transmission, are identical to the Jazz.
Honda says that the naturally-aspirated four-cylinder mill of the City is capable of churning out 120 PS and 145 Nm. Hardly earth-shattering figures, but don’t let the numbers fool you, as the Honda City holds it own pretty well against its key rivals. Power is sent to the front wheels via an Earth Dreams Technology CVT.
For the purpose of this review, we will be taking a closer look at the range-topping Honda City Grade V, priced at RM92,000 OTR. As you would expect, the top-of-the-line model comes equipped with all the equipment, including leather upholstery, LED headlights, LED front fog lights, LED tail lights, 8 speakers and a soft-padded dashboard.
Exterior
There’s little to fault with the updated exterior of the Honda City. The pre-facelift model was handsome to begin with, so Honda did not alter much of the City’s exterior.
New for the facelift is the updated front fascia, now with Honda’s latest corporate design. Some would say that the City now looks remarkably like a mini Civic, especially if fitted with the LED headlights. The Honda emblem up front is surrounded by a large chrome piece that connects both headlights. Below the headlights are a pair of LED front fog lights.
Honda also revised the rear end of the City, though not as drastic as the front end. Tail lights have been subtly altered, looking almost identical, though the rear bumper has been refreshed with a black diffuser-piece that breaks the monotony feel of the pre-facelift model. LED tail lights are standard on the Grade V, whilst lesser models make do with the pre-facelift’s halogen units. 16-inch dual-tone alloys are maintained, though for 2017, the design has been improved.
Interior
Moving inside, design of the dashboard and centre console remains largely unchanged. New for this year is the 6.8-inch infotainment system, which we were told is more responsive than the model it replaces.
For the keen drivers, Honda has listened to your feedback and given the City Grade E and Grade V steering-mounted paddle shifters. These paddle shifters, when activated, allow for the CVT to enter a virtual seven-speed mode.
As mentioned earlier, the dashboard is now home to a new 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Whilst functionality wise it performs similarly to the unit it replaces, we can’t help but to notice that the head unit itself is not integrated as before, suggesting that the head unit was more of an afterthought. Sorry folks, unlike the head units in the Civic and Accord with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, the City’s head unit lacks that modern touch. Instead, users are expected to connect their mobile phones via the HDMI port or via Bluetooth for audio streaming. We also noticed some glare under direct sunlight. There is also no Radio Data System (RDS) built into the head unit, meaning no radio name can be displayed on the screen.
The touch panel air-conditioning controls also make a return here. Both the City Grade E and Grade V carry the funky new AC controls. During actual use however, the lack of a tactile knob or button meant that drivers need to take their eyes off the road to adjust the AC. For future owners, keep a microfibre cloth handy in the car, as cleaning fingerprints off the touch panel air-conditioning controls will be a daily affair.
Practicality wise, the Honda City boasts a massive 536 litres of boot space. The large opening also meant that loading and unloading things is pretty straightforward. If the massive boot is not enough, the City’s rear seats can be folded 60:40, further expanding the car’s practicality.
Driving Experience
In terms of driving experience, the crown still goes to the guys over at Mazda. With that said, the Honda City is no bread toaster on wheels.
We spoke to the sales project leader of the new City regarding the new car’s handling, in which he mentioned that it remains identical to the model it replaces.
Not a bad thing, as the current Honda City rides with considerably more compliance than the 2008 Honda City. The older model had a tendency of being too harsh through rougher roads at the expense of a becoming sportier-handling sedan.
For the new City however, Honda has managed to strike the balance between ride comfort and handling. Granted, some lean through corners are to be expected, and the Goodyear Excellence rubbers do scream in protest when the limits are pushed.
But that is beyond the comfort zone of the City. Where the Honda City truly excels is in town, as the name suggests. The light steering and reverse camera meant that parking and navigating around tight parking spaces is a breeze in the new City. Coupled with the smooth CVT, town driving is where the City really shines, delivering fuss free motoring for all.
When the need arises, the paddle shifters on the City certainly helps to improve the overall driving experience. Drivers can now manually shift into the City’s pre-defined virtual ratios, allowing for a more engaging drive.
Fuel Economy
We did a mix of trunk road and highway cruise during our time with the City. By the time we returned the car, the trip computer was reporting an average reading of 12 km/Litre. Bear in mind that the final leg of the drive involved us cruising on the North South Expressway at about 150 km/h.
Conclusion
Honda Malaysia has another winner on hand with the updated City. This little B-segment sedan has it all. Good looks, exceptional fuel consumption, superb practicality at an affordable price.
Versus its key rivals, the Nissan Almera is just dated, despite offering superior rear leg room. The Toyota Vios has been the City’s longest rival, even in 2017. But the Vios is crippled by its twin airbag configuration and less-than-stellar driving performance.
Keen drivers would naturally gravitate towards the Mazda 2, and we won’t blame them for that. The Mazda 2 is a stellar little car, although we hope that more airbags could come as standard, considering the 2’s premium pricing. On top of that, the interior of the Mazda 2 is a lot tighter than the City.
Then there's the Volkswagen Vento, featuring a 1.2-litre TSI mill. Power wise the Vento is bar none, but airbag count is down to just 4. The Vento's plain-looking dashboard may not be everyone's cup of tea, though it remains simple and easy to operate.
The company is set for another homerun with the updated City. Coupled with the 5 year unlimited mileage vehicle warranty, Honda Malaysia has given owners the most important feature, assurance.


Subaru Levorg Makes First Public Appearance. Priced at RM205,510

Set to make its Malaysian debut soon, Subaru’s upcoming model –
the Levorg
 has made its first public appearance at an ongoing road show at the Mid Valley Megamall shopping centre.
From what we can see, the model is offered only in one variant – 1.6 GT-S, with an asking price of RM205,510. And as the variant name suggests, the wagon is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder boxer engine which develops 170PS and 250Nm of maximum torque.
Paired to the engine is Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT gearbox, which delivers power to the wheels via a Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
While exterior features include LED headlights, a sunroof, headlamp washers, twin exhaust pipes, and 18-inch wheels, the list of interior features comprise leather seats, aluminum pedals, Isofix mounts, seat heaters, paddle shifters, as well as an infotainment system with touch-screen, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.
And then there are the safety features - 7 airbags, Vehicle Dynamics Control, ABS, Torque Vectoring, Brake Assist, Brake Override, Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror, Emergency Stop Signal and Auto Vehicle Hold among others.
Imported fully from Japan, the Levorg is expected to be launched officially by Motor Image, the authorised distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia within the next couple of months.
*Photos courtesy of Eric Goh of
Autofreaks.
com
Looking for a Subaru? Find one at
Carlist.my
 today!


To Win Over Tesla, India Is Ready To Race China To The Bottom

We’ve all heard the prediction that India is on the cusp on becoming the next global economic and industrial superpower, much like the transformation China has experienced over the last 40 or so years.

Much like their Asian neighbour to the east, the Indian subcontinent is home to a huge, technologically literate population, presenting a huge opportunity in itself. To spur progress further into the forefront of modern industry, Nitin Gadkari, India’s Minister of Road Transport and Highways, is willing to make significant concessions to US electric carmaker Tesla.

This development follows the American company’s
early foray into the market
 with the registration of its local presence as 'Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt Ltd' in mid-January, after which the
Hindustan Times
 reports that the minister has reached out to Tesla for further discussions, even pitches, with the 3 directors appointed to spearhead its Indian arm.

At the moment, there’s no other country in the world where the EV revolution has taken the most hold than in China. The People’s Republic is home to
numerous automakers
, most of them unknown to us on the outside, yet are making a tidy profit by focusing solely on the needs of customers within their borders.

With many cities in China imposing heavy emissions taxes and actively
encouraging the adoption
 of electric alternatives, EV companies have stepped in to make and offer many options for the Chinese buyer, who can then make use of the upgraded infrastructure and charging network.

Naturally, India wants to accelerate such an expansion where possible. Earlier news that Tesla plans to open its first manufacturing facility in Karnataka is indeed very encouraging to the Indian government and allows for the automaker to transition from introducing the Model 3 and Model Y (by mid-2021) as imported units to offering them locally assembled at a lower cost once the facility is finished and running.

This, in addition to the confirmation that Tesla is also setting up a research and development centre in Bengaluru, which is about 300km away, paints a clear picture that the automaker already has quite a bit of faith in the potential of India becoming their next key market.

However, Gadkiri’s talks with the newly minted Tesla India directors have been most recently steered at persuading them to go a few steps further and divert both manufacturing and parts/component sourcing to local vendors as well.

As he explained to Reuters, India’s large market could open up much bigger doors for Tesla by leveraging the existing supply chain present within the country, many of which are very suited to serving the needs of an EV maker such as providing
lithium-ion
 battery production, steel forging, and metallurgy, as well as silicon semiconductor and microprocessor fabrication, all with the regulatory and financial blessing of the government.

Gadkiri sees India becoming an
export hub for Tesla
 cars and is making some big promises in order to make overall production costs cheaper than even China, even pitching a high-speed Hyperloop line to connect New Dehli and Mumbai - we’ll see if that pans out.

There’s no doubt that a full manufacturing push by Tesla to build EVs in India using locally sourced components would be a huge boon for India, leading to many new job creations and fortifying various industries while attracting other foreign players to do the same.

The question now is whether Tesla sees the long-term value in this and if the short-term hurdles are worth the effort to overcome. Though the Model 3 and Model Y are two of their lower-end models, they will very likely still be beyond the reach of many Indian buyers even with local manufacturing and subsidies to sweeten the deal. Then there’s the matter of charging infrastructure.


Jaguar I-Pace E-Trophy Series To Add More Excitement To Formula E

Jaguar has announced the I-Pace eTrophy series - a one make race which will see about 20 units of the British carmaker’s i-Pace electric SUVs racing each other on the same circuits as the ones in the Formula E championship calendar.
The series, which will be a support race for the FIA Formula E, will comprise 10 races taking place in Hong Kong, Paris, Rome, New York and also Sao Paolo, Brazil among other locations beginning late 2018.
The I-Pace SUVs used in the series will be modified by Jaguar Land Rover’s special vehicle operations unit in order to make them race-ready, according to FIA standards.
“We’ve always said we want to prove our electrification technologies on the track – this is the proof. I am looking forward to seeing a full grid of Jaguar I-PACE racecars in late 2018, soon after the first Jaguar I-PACE hits the road in Europe. Ultimately this innovative series will enhance the technology in our future electric vehicles and benefit our customers,” said Gerd Mauser, the Chairman of Jaguar Racing.
The I-Pace eTrophy aside, Jaguar is also participating in the Formula E race alongside Audi, BMW, Renault, and maybe even Porsche.


Brembo launches new 'Greenance' brake pads

Brembo has launched its latest line of performance brake pads called 'Greenance' - a play of words between 'Green' and 'Performance'.

These new Brembo Greenance brake pads will gradually replace the brand's entire range of aftermarket pads and feature a wide variety of compounds for all driving situations that'll offer maximum braking performance paired with a much lower environmental impact.

For bikes of every kind

The wide variety of compounds from sintered to carbon-ceramic is said to provide all the specific needs for every kind of motorcycle, including road, off-road, and even scooters. Perhaps the best feature of the Brembo Greenance brake pads is their ability to maintain the same braking performance even as the temperature rises.

This is due to the fact that the new pads from Brembo have better resistance to heat and a 10% higher average coefficient of friction compared to standard brake pads. The result is instant performance improvements from the start of the ride, even when the brake system is just starting to warm up.

15% less wear = improved longevity

Riders will also appreciate its ability to offer a better feeling of grip under braking as well as an improvement of 15% in terms of wear compared to other products that are equivalent in the current market.

Brembo has also managed to make its production more eco-friendly by omitting the use of copper and nickel for the sintered pads and no antimony and asbestos for the carbon ceramics. They have also foregone the use of methane gas for the production phase which further drops its CO2 production. Go green, Brembo. Go green.


CarTell Track Attack Vol. I Lights Up Sepang Circuit

Following the
Gymkhana
 Series
 success,
CarTell
 was back at it again with a bigger and more explosive time attack event at the
Sepang International Circuit
 this past Sunday, 4 September 2022.

70 cars ranging from supercars to heavily-modified track beasts and even a wide range of some very lovely JDMs and Continentals, the smell of burning rubbers as well as pops and bangs perfumed the night air from 8.00 pm to 1.00 am.

Supercar showdown

After the compulsory track safety briefing session, the supercars were unleashed into the track where a sea of Porches, Ferraris, Lamborghini, McLarens, and more played their spine-tingling exhaust notes all over SIC.

The fastest times were clocked by a Porsche GT3 RS, Ferrari 488, and a McLaren 720S. It was indeed a sight to behold as these beauties blasted through the back straight for all those who attended the CarTell Track Attack Vol. 1 event at the South Paddock of SIC.

Honda Civic FK8R tops the charts

The fastest car of the night and winner in its category belonged to a fiery red Honda Civic FK8R that has been specifically tuned to slay the corners of Sepang.

Clocking in the best time of the night at 2:22 left many other drivers impressed by the Civic, and those present left with a bit more respect for the FK8.

CarTell Track Attack brought to you by Warranty Smart

The main sponsor for the night's festivities was
Warranty Smart
, the leading extended warranty service provider in Malaysia with a presence in Thailand and Indonesia as well. Warranty Smart's aim is to make vehicle warranties effortless for everyone through fast and easy claim approvals. This in turn helps propel the second-hand car industry, reducing vehicle wastage and benefitting dealers and customers alike.

According to its representative who attended CarTell Track Attack Vol. I, Lean Saw, "
Warranty Smart
 is actually an extended car warranty program where it caters to any cars in the market that are already out of warranty. You can go for further warranty coverage like Warranty Smart for used or recond cars, and even new cars that have exceeded their manufacturer's warranty."

When asked about what makes Warranty Smart different from any other extended warranty programs in Malaysia, the answer was simple - credibility and convenience.

"Warranty Smart is credible in the sense that we are underwritten and backed up by a reputable insurance company, P&O (Pacific & Orient). Secondly, our program is convenient because of our open-service concept where customers are free to service at their preferred workshops even after they've engaged with our warranty program."

"Only when the cars have issues, then you will have to return to any of our authorised panel workshops which are also located nationwide. We have over 180 panel workshops and we're still growing. Premiums are affordable, plans and coverages are very comprehensive, and there are a lot of plans for you to choose from," added Lean.

Repco Malaysia made its presence known at the Track Attack

Repco Malaysia
 was also present at the CarTell Track Attack event where they gave away thousands of Ringgit worth of engine lubricants and goodies for those who attended the event. We're talking full-sized cans of premium engine oil just by following their social media pages, and those who did walked away with quality Repco products.

Repco Malaysia has been doing business in the country since 1976 where they specialise in world-class lubricants, engine oil formulations, as well as brake fluid and system products. The brand has made a name for itself in other countries such as China, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei, and even a number of countries in Europe.

When asked about their best-selling products, Repco Malaysia's representative at CarTell Track Attack Vol. I said "Talking about the best-selling product, the Repco Turbo Diesel Plus is one of them. This fully-synthetic blend contains the CK-4 additive inside, and we've had many repeated customers since its launch. We've received many positive comments from customers saying that their cars felt more powerful and quieter after using this product. Additionally, we are also known for our DOT3 and DOT4 brake fluid range as well."

CarTell Track Attack Vol. I was also supported by our ground sponsors
Wrap District
 and
DP Tuned
.

So is there going to be a CarTell Track Attack Vol. II? We'll keep you posted!


MotoGP Diteruskan Hingga 2024 – Petronas Jadi Penaja Utama

Perlumbaan motosikal Kejuaraan Dunia Grand Prix (
MotoGP
) diteruskan sehingga 2024 dengan Petronas sebagai penaja utama di
Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC)
. Bagaimana pula dengan
Formula 1
?

Meskipun ketika ini kontrak itu hanya kekal hingga 2024, namun pemegang hak MotoGP, Dorna Sports mengatakan bahawa semua pihak yang terlibat telah mengadakan perbincangan untuk melanjutkan lagi kontrak MotoGP ini sehingga 2026.

Sepang International Circuit yang mempunyai dua laluan lurus yang panjang, gabungan selekoh berbeza serta tempat duduk
grandstand
 utama yang menarik membuatkan litar ini menjadi salah satu litar kegemaran peminat serta pelumba sejak tahun 1999 lagi.

Sebelum ini, litar Sepang terbabit telah mementaskan sebanyak 20 perlumbaan MotoGP namun perlumbaan pada tahun 2020 dan 2021 telah dibatalkan ekoran pandemic COVID-19.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta berkata Malaysia merupakan salah satu pasaran penting bagi MotoGP kerana ia bukan sahaja memenuhi keghairahan penonton di
grandstand
, namun ia turut memberi keseronokan pada para pelumba.

Tambah beliau, ujian pra musim yang dijalankan di Sepang sebelum ini telah membuatkan mereka lebih bersemangat untuk kembali berlumba di negara ini.

Petronas Sebagai Penaja Utama

Carmelo turut berbangga kerana dapat menjalinkan kerjasama dengan Petronas, jenama yang popular dengan kecemerlangan serta kejayaan selain menjadi duta Malaysia di mata dunia.

Baginya, tiada yang lebih baik untuk menjadi penaja utama MotoGP di Malaysia selain
Petronas
, satu nama yang bukan asing lagi dalam sukan permotoran.

Oleh kerana Petronas menjadi penaja utama MotoGP di Malaysia, Dorna Sports memaklumkan bahawa pusingan perlumbaan di Malaysia akan dikenali sebagai Grand Prix Petronas Malaysia mulai tahun ini.

Menurut Pengurus Besar Kanan Komunikasi Strategik Kumpulan Petronas, Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz Petronas amat berbesar hati untuk menaja gelaran bagi GP Malaysia yang dianggap sebagai salah satu acara sukan utama di Malaysia dan Asia

Tambahnya, penajaan ini memberikan peluang kepada Petronas untuk berhubung dengan peminat sukan permotoran ini selain mempamerkan jenama serta produk milik Petronas kepada mereka.

Formula 1 Bakal Kembali Ke Sepang?

Sementara itu, SIC tiada perancangan untuk menganjurkan semula perlumbaan F1 selepas kontrak perlumbaan itu tidak diperbaharui sejak tahun 2018 kerana kos penganjuran yang lebih tinggi berbanding MotoGP di samping pulangan yang rendah bagi negara Malaysia.

Pada tahun 1999, hanya 16 negara terlibat dalam menganjurkan perlumbaan F1, termasuk dua negara Asia. Tetapi pada 2017 lalu, jumlah berkenaan telah meningkat kepada 21 buah negara, dan ini menyumbang kepada penurunan pulangan penganjurannya.

Walaupun masih tiada rancangan, namun CEO SIC, Azhan Shafriman Hanif berkata penganjuran semula perlumbaan
F1 di Litar Sepang
 bukanlah perkara yang mustahil untuk berlaku di masa hadapan kerana ia bergantung pada kelulusan daripada kerajaan Malaysia.


Volkswagen’s New Compact Pickup Could Be Sold Outside South America

Volkswagen has announced that it will celebrate the world premiere of its upcoming pickup concept at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show on 6 November.
The company says that the pickup will fuse the features of a digitally networked SUV with the versatility of a well-thought-out pickup to form a new, urban-oriented vehicle.
Yet to be named, the concept, which will be positioned below the Amarok, is based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform just like the Tiguan compact SUV.
One of the noteworthy innovations of this concept is the multivariable loading area, which can be extended in just a couple of simple steps thanks to the folding rear panel of the double cab.
Due to be launched in Brazil in the near future, this is not the first time Volkswagen has made a compact exclusively for the country.
The upcoming concept will actually be continuing the success story of the Saveiro which began back in 1983 in South America.
What Volkswagen did was take the Gol subcompact car and added a pickup bed and made their first compact pickup for the South American market.
Having received an overwhelming response, the Saveiro is now in its third generation and remains a hit in the South American market.
Although the upcoming pickup concept is slated for Brazil, Volkswagen said that there are possibilities for the vehicle to be sold in other regions besides South America due to its “great potential”.


Fuel Price Update: 17 - 23 August - Increase For Petrol, Reduction For Diesel

Fuel prices for the upcoming week (17 - 23 August) have just been announced by the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK). Petrol prices for both RON 95 and RON 97 grades continue the upward trend by rising for the fourth successive week, but diesel sees a 2 sen per litre decrease.
Prices for all three major fuel types have been on an upward trend for much of the last two months. The last decrease of fuel prices happened on the week of
28 June to 5 July
. Since then, the only exception to successive weeks of increases was the week of
20 to 26 July
, when prices were maintained from the preceding week.
New prices (per litre) for the upcoming week are listed below:
RON95 - RM2.15 (up 3 sen from RM2.12)
RON97 - RM2.43 (up 4 sen from RM2.39)
Diesel - RM2.04 (down 2 sen from RM2.06)


Special Edition Mazdasports Mazda 3 To Display At Road Show In 1U

If you’re on the look out for a good deal for a brand new Mazda vehicle, the place to be will be the New Wing of 1 Utama Shopping Centre, where the Mazda Mega Sales Roadshow will be happening for nearly a whole week from 28 Sept to 3 Oct.
Besides showcasing the range of Mazda vehicles officially on sale, a major attraction of the road show will be a special edition Mazdasports Mazda 3 being shown for the first time in Malaysia.
No detailed specifics have been disclosed about this vehicle, but we are expecting a dressed up version of the
regular Mazda 3
. The sole image of the vehicle obtained from Bermaz Motor, embedded within the ad poster of the event, shows a Mazda 3 sedan fitted with door visors and lower skirts.
With a
facelifted Mazda 3
 having recently been introduced in Japan, this could be a run-out special of the current model.
Customers who make a booking for a brand new Mazda vehicle at the road show will receive an instant gift and stand a chance to win Mazda Bonanza Vouchers worth up to RM10,000. Prizes are also there to be won from a Mazda PaperCraft Challenge.


Updated 2020 Honda Civic Type R Unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon

The 2020 Honda Civic Type R made its world debut last week at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

The new model year brings a number of changes and improvements such as revised styling, improved aerodynamic performance, and the addition of standard Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology.

Exterior design enhancements include a new larger front grille opening for improved engine cooling, as well as a new, Type R-exclusive “Boost Blue” colour.

In the cabin, drivers can expect added refinement, thanks to a new Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, and a new shifter with a restyled knob and shorter shift throws.

The big news, however, is that the 2020 Civic Type R adds the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, marking the first time that Honda Sensing will be available as standard equipment on all Civic models and trims.

Also new are the two-piece brake rotors and new brake pads designed to reduce fade and improve high-speed braking efficiency, updated dampers for better ride comfort, stiffer rear bushings for better grip, and the modified front suspension which promise to offer reduced friction and improved steering feel.

Under the hood, the 2020 Civic Type R continues to draw power from a race-bred 2.0-liter direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with VTEC valvetrain putting out a peak 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque, with power to the front wheels delivered through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential.

As before, drivers can choose between three driving modes – Comfort, Sport, and +R – that vary suspension firmness, steering and throttle response.

Another new addition for 2020 is the Active Sound Control feature, which modifies interior sound in concert with chosen drive mode.

That being said, more information about the 2020 Civic Type R will be available later this year.

Meanwhile, check out our review of the current Civic Type R
here
.


Takata Airbag Crisis: Government Needs To Step In

On 1-August 2016, the National Security Council Act came into being, giving the Malaysian government wide ranging powers under the pretext of maintaining security. We however, think that there one other law that is sorely needed to protect the safety of Malaysian consumers, especially given the severity of the on-going Takata airbag crisis.
With an estimated 100 million cars affected globally, the on-going Takata airbag recall is the biggest automobile recall in history. The biggest hotspots are in USA (60 million cars affected) and Japan (20 million cars affected), involving cars made by 14 different manufacturers.
The situation is so bad that in the US, some manufacturers including Fiat and Chrysler are being given a special exemption to continue installing defective airbags into new cars that are being manufactured, with the condition that they will be recalled by 2018. Why? Because of the supply shortage, whatever little airbags that don’t use ammonium nitrate inflators are being diverted to replace defective ones installed on cars that are already on the road.
Regulators in the US allow this because they are convinced that the defective inflators won’t pose any problems in the first few years, while stressing that despite the defect, statistically drivers are still better protected by airbags so disabling them remains illegal.
In Malaysia, there are over 600,000 vehicles affected, mostly from Honda but over 140,000 Toyotas and over 110,000 of Nissans are also affected, and a smaller number of Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Subaru vehicles.
Further complicating the supply shortage is that not all airbag makers produce the same type of inflators and not all cars use the same inflator.
Having said that, Daicel, Autoliv and TRW are now assisting Takata in the recall exercise but the supply is still too low to effectively alleviate the shortage.
In the US, the chronic shortage has forced manufacturers to prioritise the allocation of replacement parts to cars based on a priority grouping – part of a coordinated remedy program drafted by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) – the body that is supervising the recall process. Affected cars are being repaired according to their priority grouping – with older cars from more humid regions given a higher priority.
Over in Malaysia, there is no such system and given the chronic shortage of replacement inflators worldwide, replacement parts are allocated to each affected country based on a monthly quota. Honda, being the largest user of Takata airbags, is naturally the most severely affected brand in Malaysia.
Like many other manufacturers, Honda is trying their very best to obtain more allocations, but without the intervention of an independent regulatory body, it is unable to allocate the replacement parts to older vehicles that needs it most.
As it is, Honda is already facing the wrath of many angry customers who are forced to wait for several weeks or more before their airbag inflators can be replaced, and who can blame them? Who would want to continue servicing their bank loans for a car than could kill them, even without being involved in any major accident?
Customers being customers, one can’t expect them to understand the complexity of sourcing and producing 100,000,000 replacement parts, and this is where a coordinated response by the government, to allocate replacement parts to older vehicles that needs it most is urgently needed.
In the absence of a coordinating authority, Honda Malaysia has to its credit, doing all they can to address the problem.
Carlist.my understands that the Honda has allocated RM 100 million of its own money to
compensate customers for loss of use
 of their vehicle. Owners of affected vehicles – those recalled for driver’s airbag only – that are unable to get their driver’s airbag replaced will be compensated RM50 per day, an acceptable sum considering that car insurance policies only compensate you for RM30 per day for loss of use.
There were also plans to provide rental cars but there just isn’t enough rental cars in the country to go around so the plan was scrapped.
The company has also opened three temporary Central Hubs that opens 7 days a week to alleviate the capacity shortage at dealerships and launching Mobile Hubs to support customers in rural locations.
As we speak, there are many Honda associates who will be away from their families for at least two month, as they are being sent to man the temporary Central Hubs and Mobile Hubs.
It is even extending the same support to parallel imported Honda cars – the only company in Malaysia affected by the crisis to do so.
But the bigger question is, what are the other affected brands doing? As it is, there are no specific laws compelling manufacturers to not only issue a recall, but also to report on its progress in number of vehicles repaired. Consumer safety is now dependent on the moral compass of the manufacturer, who may not be too bothered with cars they’ve sold 10 years ago.
Recalls – Consumers Are At The Mercy of Manufacturer’s Goodwill
Put aside the Takata airbag issue for a moment and let’s just focus on recalls in general – it can be a recall for something as critical as a brake or as minor as a clip on the glovebox.
Without an independent body coordinating any product recalls, consumers rely on the goodwill of manufacturers to owe up to any defects. Right now, local representatives of the respective brands only issue a recall if they are asked to by their global headquarters.
Some manufacturers are very transparent about their recalls (although they might call it a ‘Product Update’ or ‘Service Campaign’ rather than a Recall), but there are others who will simply choose to be coy about it, and quietly carry out the repairs only when the customer sends his vehicle in for servicing – a criminal act in many countries but not Malaysia. If the customer no longer returns to the authorised service centre, then the defect goes unrepaired.
In Japan, a serious accident is investigated to determine if the cause was due to bad roads, poor driving discipline, or a defective part in the vehicle. Manufacturers are required by law to report to the Road Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) if any defects are found.
To quietly carry out repairs at service centres is a criminal act punishable by jail. The MLIT also host a publically accessible website that lists all vehicle models with an active recall, because it’s not right to leave the announcements to the manufacturers, who might use words that downplay the severity of the defect.
In the US, the public can enter the VIN (chassis number) of any vehicle to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s website to find out if there is an active recall for the vehicle. The body also collates complaints from the public about possible defective vehicles.
In Germany, the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt or KBA) monitors all recalls.
Even China, a country known for its notoriously poor safety standards, has the AQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine) monitoring the Takata recall campaign.
Earlier this year, Mazda reportedly issued a recall only after being demanded to by AQSIQ. It was also the same body that pressured Volkswagen to resolve several of its serious quality issues in the past, and required car manufacturers to replace the vehicle if cumulative repair time exceeds 35 days during the warranty period.
So far, Honda has been the very transparent about all its recalls, not just on the airbags, but also for recalls for other components. With no government authority taking lead on the matter, Honda has taken upon itself to setup a
dedicated webpage
 announcing
all
 recalls for Honda cars (not just for airbag recall). It is the first automotive brand in the country to do so. Customers need to only input their vehicle’s VIN (chassis number) to find out if there are any recalls for any components in their vehicle.
Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota have since followed suit with similar initiatives.
Honda has also taken out full page, full colour advertisements on major newspapers across three languages to urge the public the check if their Honda is affected by the recall, another unprecedented move by an automotive brand in Malaysia.
Despite all their efforts, the completion rate for the recall reportedly stands at just 30 percent. The older the car is, the harder it is for manufacturers to trace its current owner, and this problem is not unique to Malaysia, but other countries as well.
For the record, the typical completion rate in the US for recalls for cars aged nine years or older stands is around 30 percent. Going to the US Department of Motor Vehicles (their equivalent to our JPJ) is no guarantee that manufacturers are able to obtain the latest addresses of all the affected owners. According to NHTSA's reports, Japanese brands in the US, led by Honda have the biggest progress in managing the recall.
Recalls Must Be Announced By A Regulatory Body, Not Just The Manufacturer
With all the initiatives taken by Honda, it would be a big shame if other brands, or even the future management team of Honda took note of the brickbats received from this incident decided that being transparent is not wise move
This is why it is imperative that Malaysia regulates product recalls. When a manufacturer issues a recall, it’s specific only to its own cars, even though the same car is actually shared with several other brands, and this puts pressure on the company’s public relations department, who might reel from the nasty response from the public.
An independent regulatory body is required to ensure that manufacturers don’t downplay the severity of the issue – i.e. by using less alarming words in their press release, and calling the exercise a product update rather than a recall.
Manufacturers and consumers alike need to learn to see recalls more positively, and that's only possible when an independent regulatory body steps in.
Every time you update the operating system in your notebook or mobile device to fix a security flaw, you are essentially taking part in a recall exercise. It's not much different from your car. Some car makers are already working on ways to roll out software-related recalls in the same way you update your smartphone. It's one of the reasons why manufacturers are busy working towards a so-called 'Connected Car.'
For a list of cars affected by the Takata airbag recall, visit our
Takata airbag recall FAQ page
.


All-New 2017 Mazda CX-5 Official Prices – RM134k To RM175k

The all-new 2017 Mazda CX-5 is set to be launched soon and, as reported earlier, will be locally-assembled right from the start. Early info obtained from dealerships had quoted indicated prices from
RM136k to RM182k
, but we have just obtained an even more recent price list showing slightly lower prices than previously published.
A new price list dated 19 September 2017 lists on-the-road prices excluding insurance for the all-new CX-5 as follows:
2.0 Petrol 2WD GL – RM134,205.50
2.0 Petrol 2WD GLS – RM148,205.50
2.5 Petrol 2WD GLS – RM160,596.70
2.2 Diesel 2WD GLS – RM164,179.10
2.2 Diesel AWD GLS – RM174,779.10
Prices listed above apply for vehicles finished in solid paint. Metallic paint adds RM400, whilst higher grade premium metallic shades – of which three colours are available: Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, and Snowflake Pearl White – add a further RM2,000.
Additionally, buyers of the base GL model can optionally add a navigation system and leather seats for RM1,270 and RM2,900 respectively.
All three engines featured in the CX-5 are carryover units from the
current model
. Outputs are rated at 155 hp / 200 Nm for the 2.0-litre petrol, 185 hp / 250 Nm for the 2.5-litre petrol, and 173 hp / 420 Nm for the 2.2-litre diesel. Standard transmission for all variants is a six-speed automatic transmission.
To recap,
tentative equipment levels
 of the all-new 2017 CX-5 that we know of are as follows:
2.0 Petrol 2WD GL
Projector headlights
Front & rear fog lights
225/65R17 wheels
Reverse camera
Fabric upholstery
Leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel
Dual-zone auto climate control
Rear air vents
Manual adjustable driver seat
MZD Connect with 7-inch display
6 speakers
2 Rear USB charging ports
Cruise Control
Auto Wipers
Auto Headlights
Mazda G-Vectoring Control (GVC)
6 airbags
ABS with EBD, DSC, ESS
2.0 Petrol 2WD GLS
 adds the following:
Walk Away Lock
10-way power adjustable driver seat
Leather upholstery
Adaptive Front-Lighting Control (AFS)
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Smart City Brake Support (Forward direction only)
2.5 Petrol 2WD GLS
 adds:
225/55R19 wheels
LED headlights with Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS), Auto On/Off and Auto Leveling
LED daytime running lights (DRLs)
LED front fog lights
LED tail lights with LED reverse lights
Rain-sensing auto wipers
All round parking sensors
The
2.2 Diesel 2WD
and
AWD
 models both add:
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
Lane Keep Assist System (LKA)
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), Forward and Reverse direction
Driver Attention Alert (DAA)


Buying Guide: BMW F20 118i M Sport LCI - Yes, You Can Buy!

The BMW F20 118i is the last of its kind, and Carsome Certified can pretty much guarantee that you will only be worried about which twisty road you would be driving on in the foreseeable future.

Say you've got a budget of RM150k, you'd like a do-it-all vehicle, capable weekday car but also fun weekend car. You don't want to buy brand new because depreciation but you would fancy a premium make - does that sound like you?

BMW 1 Series (F20) - The last of the RWD hatchback

We give you the second-generation BMW 1 Series (F20), the last generation rear-wheel-drive 1 Series.

While it is not the most spacious of hatchbacks or most powerful in BMW's 1 Series Range, it makes up for it in the amount of sheer driving pleasure because of its rear-wheel-drive characteristics and light weight. Unlike its competitors, which are all front-wheel drive, there's a sense of 'hooning' to the car thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution.

Some might say that the 1 Series sacrifices space for pure mechanical lust, but then again, if driving excitement is your poison and you're single and carefree - happy with your car you shall be if you drive a 1 Series.

This particular listing on Carsome is a 2018 BMW 118i M Sport, which means it is a facelifted F20, which comes with an eight-speed transmission and a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine with 136 hp and 220 Nm of torque. Also, because it's an M Sport variant, the 1 Series comes with an aggressive M Aerodynamics body kit, stiffer and lower M Sport suspension package, and 18-inch M Sport light-alloy wheels.

BMW F20 118i cons...but

Whatever shortcomings, short of space or short of horsepower found in the 118i will be forgiven entirely the moment you drive it on the open road. The three-cylinder engine is proper BMW stuff – lightweight, fuel-efficient, and packs a punch.

But no matter
what we say about the engine
, what takes centre stage is the car's handling. The BMW is just so agile, it rolls and pitches around you, and you react intuitively with measured steering and throttle inputs. The car is almost like an extension of your hand and feet.

It might only have 136 hp, but we're pretty sure you will be smiling and giggling away in the 118i more than a far more powerful but less engaging front-wheel-drive hot hatch (ok perhaps not the Mercedes A45 S cause that's a monster). So, sheer Driving Pleasure is not a just tagline, it's a genuine promise, and BMW truly delivered in the RWD 118i.

Carsome Certified - BMW F20 118i

And now with Carsome, you get to own this RWD hot-hatch that is
Carsome Certified
!

This is particularly important if you're purchasing a continental vehicle as they are usually higher in price and expensive to repair, so you don't want any potential boo-boos.

Carsome Certified cars are vehicles that have had a strict 175-point inspection, gone through a refurbishment process, and come with a 1-year extended warranty, 5-day money-back guarantee, plus fixed prices with no hidden fees.

In a nutshell,
Carsome Certified cars allow buyers to be confident
 in their chosen pre-owned car to enjoy motoring without any worries.

One big misconception of Carsome Certified cars is that they are only available for your average run-of-the-mill cars. While browsing through their website, there are actually many premium vehicles (
Carsome Luxury Vehicles
) from the likes of BMW and Mercedes also listed.

So make your next purchase a Carsome Certified vehicle and if you do happen to be in the market for a 1 Series BMW, well now you know where there is one with an extended warranty too!

Specifications for BMW 118i M Sport LCI

Price When New: RM189,000

Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder, 12-valve direct injection, single scroll turbocharger

Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Power: 136 hp at 4,400 RPM

Torque: 220 Nm, from 1,250 RPM – 4,300 RPM

Safety: 6 airbags, ISOFIX (rear), ABS, Cornering Brake Control, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control


iCarData: The Best Time To Buy/Sell - Toyota Vios G (2017)

For some great deals on a used Toyota Vios G with a
1 year warranty
& no hidden fees, check out
CARSOME
. If you're not happy with your purchase, bring your car back within 5 days to get a full refund. More info
here
. If you're looking to sell your current car, we have a solution for you too. Trade-in your car with

carsome.my
 and get up to an
RM1,500 discount voucher
 for your next upgrade.

What was once a staple for Malaysian car buyers has over time become a more difficult proposition to sell–at least this is the case when we talk about the Toyota Vios and its various generations.

This B-segment sedan proved to be hugely popular through its first two generations, but by the time the third generation rolled around some omissions in equipment made it difficult to compare against its direct rivals.

Still though, the
Toyota Vios
 has sold in significant numbers even until today, though the highly varied range of variants has been pared down to a more streamlined set of choices.

Looking at the 2017 model, there was a mild model enhancement in the form of equipment and buyers had a whopping six different variants to choose from – including what would be the last of the manual Vios offerings.

The entry-level variant was known as the J, coming with fabric seats and a very basic head unit setup, as well as missing much of the luxury and convenience items.

While the top-end TRD Sportivo variant came with everything that the GX variant had, and threw on some aesthetic items as well for a more aggressive look.

The spread of models fell between the RM 76,500 and RM 96,400 marks – a novel idea when you consider the range-topping B-segment models have now breached the RM 100,000 mark.

There also has to be some consideration for the fact that the recently updated offerings from Perodua boast significant equipment advantages as well as a revised powertrain with a CVT-type automatic transmission at an altogether lower price point, which then drives traditional B-segment sedan offerings up and out of their usual bracket.

With all of this in mind, the ultimate point in purchasing one of these would have to be for the better build quality, ride quality and insulation, plus the fact that you get a full-sized boot as the Vios is a sedan (over a more pertinent hatchback offering at a more competitive price).

Here’s the breakdown:

Vehicle variant:
Toyota Vios G
 (2017)

As mentioned earlier, the Toyota Vios came in many flavours for the 2017 model year but this G variant happens to sit roughly in the middle of the line-up – meaning it gets a little bit of the equipment, but not quite all of the gear like the GX variant would.

Still though, the G badge represented a range-topper for most of the years of the Vios’ production run, with the TRD Sportivo variants bringing only aesthetics. In this case, the Toyota Vios G was going for roughly RM 89,900 back in 2017.

2017 Toyota Vios G

Year

Car Age (Years)

Avg Advertised Price (RM)

Retained Value Percentage

Depreciation Percentage

Cumulative Depreciation Sum (RM)

2017

Launch year

69,537.60

77%

23%

20,362.40

2018

1

66,386.00

74%

26.16%

23,514.00

2019

2

63,205.98

70%

29.69%

26,694.02

2020

3

58,470.88

65%

34.96%

31,429.12

2021

4

58,371.58

65%

35.07%

31.528.42

2022

5

60,308.17

67%

32.92%

29,591.83

There was a significant hit in first year depreciation of 23%, which is surprising though it could be attributed to dealer discounts given at the time that were lowering the overall retail value of the car and making it somewhat more appealing as a proposition.

From there onwards we see a 3% to 5% depreciation per year until the fourth year of ownership where it seems to stabilize around the 35% depreciation mark.

As is the case with all data, 2022 represents a bit of an anomaly as waiting periods for new cars are at an all-time high with various microprocessor shortages and supply cutoffs all around the world.

This in turn drove second-hand car residual values up – hence the higher listed value for 2022.

This then means that the best time to pick up a
Toyota Vios G
 would be in the fourth year or later, as prices would have somewhat stabilised.

Historically the Vios does continue to depreciate beyond the seventh year, though the depreciation tends to be slow as the car does have its inherent strengths.

Chief among these is the unerring Toyota reliability – which also stems from the fact that the Vios is a simple car.

One of the criticisms leveled against it at the time was that it wasn’t as technologically advanced as its rivals, but this in turn made it a more realistic car to own over a longer period of time, with low costs of maintenance and few if not no issues.

After all, its tried and trusted powertrain is likely to outlast you and your children with regular maintenance.

The data here tends to be similar with other variants of the
Toyota Vios
 as the only reflection would be in the higher starting price and higher residual values.

In that sense, which variant of the Toyota Vios you choose really depends on what you prefer–a base spec Vios J works great as a workhorse (and has that manual option if you value a bit of spirited driving), while something like the Vios GX would give you the largest amount of equipment without the TRD Sportivo styling if you prefer something more understated.

Check out used Toyota Vios G with a
1 year warranty
& no hidden fees, on
CARSOME
. If you're not happy with your purchase, bring your car back within 5 days to get a full refund. More info
here
.

If you're looking to sell your current car, we have a solution for you too. Trade-in your car with

carsome.my
 and get up to an
RM1,500 discount voucher
 for your next upgrade.


Geneva 2018: Alpine To Unveil Two New Versions Of The A110

Alpine has announced that it will be unveiling two new versions of the A110 at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
The Renault-owned manufacturer said that the two variants will be called the A110 Pure, and A110 Légende.
While the ‘Pure’ will be the lightest and most driver-focused version of the A110, the Légende adds more refinement and sophistication to the car.
Standard equipment on the Légende includes 6-way adjustable lightweight Sabelt seats, full leather upholstery, and gloss-finished carbon fibre interior trim.
Both versions share the same full aluminium structure, and the 252hp 1.8-litre mid-mounted engine which is mated to a wet clutch, 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) gearbox with double wishbone suspension front and rear.
In addition to the two new models, Alpine will also be adding three new exterior colours to the Alpine range.
That being said, more details of the colours, the A110 Pure, and the Légende will be revealed later this month in Geneva.


Honda Malaysia has no intention of increasing the prices of their vehicles

Honda Malaysia to maintain their current prices - wants to concentrate on delivering ordered cars.

The new year doesn't look good for new car buyers as companies such as BMW, Toyota and Nissan have already announced that some of their cars will get a price hike due to the current challenging situations like global inflation and rising manufacturing costs.

However, not all of them will be doing so, as Honda Malaysia are openly saying that they will not increase their car prices for 2023 models, and will maintain its current prices.

Instead, they will be putting all of their efforts into continuing to provide good quality products, but most importantly,
delivering vehicles to customers
 who are waiting for their vehicles.

Honda had a good 2022 as cars such as the
new-gen HR-V
 and
Civic
 were all highly sought after, which caused a little waiting time for the said vehicles.

All of Honda Malaysia's vehicles are locally assembled at their Melaka plant, which is probably why they are able to balance the books without altering the prices of their cars.

Where Japanese cars are concerned, it seems that the ones that have gone up in price are those which are fully imported.

Honda Malaysia had a 2022 sales target of 80,000 units. In the first six months of the year, Honda Malaysia had already sold more than 39,000 units but received orders for some 105,000 vehicles. Honda Malaysia just announced that they had achieved their target as they have recorded more than 80,200 units of total sales in 2022.


Volvo Celebrates 10 Years With Geely, Confident That Success Will Continue

It was the 28th of March, 2010, when Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely) announced that it had purchased Volvo for USD 1.8 billion.

The purchase, which was China’s biggest ever acquisition of a foreign car brand, also marked the beginning of the nation’s rapid rise in the automotive industry.

At this point of time, Volvo had about 21,500 employees, and recorded global sales of 449,255 vehicles. They were not doing great at this point of time, but they were alright.

Following its separation from Ford, Volvo Cars and Geely mapped out a new future for the Swedish brand, based on a few fundamental building blocks - technical independence, a global manufacturing footprint, a strengthened brand identity, and arms-length governance by Geely.

Starting with the all-new XC90 flagship SUV in 2014, the company completely renewed its product portfolio with a range of brand-new SUVs, estates and saloons.

All new models were based on the Volvo-developed SPA modular vehicle architecture or on the CMA modular architecture, co-developed between Volvo and Geely.

The new model portfolio proved to be such a global success that it delivered six consecutive years of sales records and record profits. In 2019, Volvo Cars sold more than 700,000 cars for the first time in its 90+ years of existence.

The company also expanded its manufacturing and R&D network across the globe. While it started out with only two manufacturing plants and an engine plant in Europe, it now has four additional manufacturing sites and an R&D centre in China, as well as a car plant in the United States, providing a natural operational hedge.

In just 10 years, Volvo Cars saw a complete transformation of its business under Geely ownership, changing from a purely European firm to a truly global player in the premium car market, racking up record sales, revenue and profits along the way.

In fact, models like the XC40 even went on to win World Car of the Year award!

How is that for an achievement?

As it looks back on one decade and heads towards a new one, Volvo Cars said that it will build on this firm foundation as it aims to become a leader in electrification, autonomous drive, and new mobility models, while forging ever closer cooperation with its sister brands under the Geely umbrella.

Volvo also announced that by 2025, it wants half of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest being hybrids. These cars will be part of a new generation of Volvos based on SPA2, the successor to its successful modular vehicle architecture.

“With Geely, we started a new successful phase that took us to a whole new level. We completely renewed our product portfolio, established a global presence, almost doubled our sales and went from break-even to profitable. Going forward, we will continue to grow our business together with Geely,” said Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars.

The Swedish carmaker also aims to establish millions of direct consumer relationships through new forms of mobility, and expects to play a leading role in the safe introduction of autonomous-drive technologies.

These and other ambitions have been made possible and credible thanks to the establishment of a sustainable and profitable business model over the past decade, providing Volvo Cars with a solid platform for further growth.

As of the end of 2019, Volvo Cars, which has 43,000 employees, recorded a record breaking global sales figure of 705,452 vehicles.

On a separate note, it is also going to be three years since Geely acquired our national carmaker Proton. With the brand showing strong signs of a resurgence, do you think that Proton will also be able to replicate the success story of Volvo and become a key player in the global scene?

We wait and see...


5 Kereta Conti Mewah Terpakai Bawah RM79k

Dengan berbekalkan bajet di bawah RM79,000, kereta Conti mewah terpakai apa yang boleh dibeli?

Kereta Conti sering dipuja kerana ia menggambarkan kedudukan sosial yang tinggi. Bukan hanya disebabkan oleh harganya yang mahal, namun dibantu dengan ciri keselesaan, kemewahan serta prestasi yang dibekalkan.

Walau bagaimanapun, kereta ini juga terkenal dengan kos penjagaan serta baik pulih yang tinggi memandangkan kereta ini datang dari Eropah. Jika tersilap pilih, boleh merana poket.

Oleh itu, kami telah menyenaraikan beberapa pilihan kereta Conti mewah terpakai yang boleh dipercayai berdasarkan pencarian di laman web Carlist.my. Menariknya, ada banyak kereta Conti mewah terpakai yang menarik boleh didapati di bawah harga RM80,000.

Kami telah menyenaraikan 5 kereta Conti mewah terpakai yang berumur tidak lebih daripada 10 tahun supaya anda boleh memohon pinjaman kereta terpakai. Berikut merupakan kereta Conti mewah terpakai yang boleh anda beli melalui Carlist.my:

1. 2014 Audi A4 1.8L TFSI

Audi A4 lazimnya merupakan
entry model
pilihan untuk pembeli kali pertama jenama ini. Walaupun Bentuk sedan A3 lebih kecil dengan gaya yang lebih kemas, namun bagi kebanyakan orang, A4 adalah titik permulaan untuk kemewahan Jerman.

Spesifikasi:

Tahun: 2014

Sedan 4 pintu, 5 tempat duduk

Enjin 1.8L, 4 Silinder: 173 HP, 320 Nm

8-Kelajuan Automatik CVT

Penggunaan petrol: 5.8L/100km/j

Kelajuan Maksimum: 225 km/j

0-100 km/j: 8.3 saat

NCAP: 5/5 bintang

Apa yang kami suka

Apa yang kami tak suka

Mod pemanduan seperti yang dilengkapi dengan tetapan suspensi, pedal minyak dan kotak gear yang berbeza-beza

Penggunaan suspensi elektronik yang mahal untuk dibaik pulih/dijaga

Sterengnya elektronik yang ringan, namun semakin memberat ketika kereta dipandu laju sekaligus memberi input secara langsung dan pantas

Spesifikasi bagi varian 1.8L agak kosong berbanding varian yang lebih atas

Kualiti rekaan yang mengagumkan, interior dan exterior

Transmisi CVT yang kurang mengancam

2. 2019 Peugeot 308 1.6L Turbo

Peugeot 308 ialah kereta hatchback yang dikeluarkan oleh pembuat kereta Perancis, Peugeot. Ia telah dilancarkan pada Jun 2007, bagi menggantikan 307, dan diletakkan di bawah 508 dan di atas 208 terkecil.

Spesifikasi:

Tahun: 2019

Hatchback 5 pintu, 5 tempat duduk

Enjin 1.6L turbo, 222 HP, 285 Nm

6-Kelajuan automatik

Penggunaan petrol: 6L/100km/j

Kelajuan Maksimum: 211 km/j

0-100 km/j: 9.4 saat

NCAP: 5/5 bintang

Apa yang kami suka

Apa yang kami tak suka

Rekaan hatchback luaran dalaman yang cantik, tidak lapuk ditelan zaman

Ruang kabin sedikit sempit sebagai kereta Conti yang mewah

Ruang but belakang yang luas (470 liter) mengatasi kebanyakan pencabar segmennya

Stereng bersaiz kecil sepatutnya memberikan lebih rasa
sporty
, namun masih terasa pelik

Pengalaman pemanduan menyeronokkan

Kawalan penyaman udara sepenuhnya melalui skrin infotainment

3. 2014 Mercedes-Benz C200 1.8L Avantgarde Sedan

Mercedes-Benz C200 (W204) merupakan sedan empat pintu dengan pacuan roda belakang yang boleh dikategorikan sebagai kereta mewah. Model ini merupakan model generasi ketiga Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Spesifikasi:

Tahun: 2014

Sedan 4 pintu, 5 tempat duduk

Enjin 1.8L Turbo, 184 HP, 270 Nm

7 kelajuan automatik G-Tronic

Penggunaan petrol: 6.8L/100km/j

Kelajuan Maksimum: 235 km/j

0-100 km/j: 6.4 saat

NCAP: 5/5 bintang

Apa yang kami suka

Apa yang kami tak suka

Gaya yang menonjol di bahagian interior dan ekterior kereta

Tiada ciri keselamatan terkini seperti ADAS

Ruang kabin dan but belakang yang luas

Tiada
paddle shifter

Enjin yang baik untuk kegunaan pemanduan di lebuh raya mahupun di dalam bandar

Rekaan rim yang kurang menarik

4. 2014 Volkwagen Scirocco 1.4L TSI

Volkswagen Scirocco ialah hatchback sport dengan pacuan roda hadapan yang dikeluarkan dan dipasarkan oleh Volkswagen dalam dua generasi dari 1974 hingga 1992 dan generasi ketiga dari 2008 hingga 2017. Pengeluaran kereta ini telah berakhir tanpa sebarang pengganti.

Spesifikasi:

Tahun: 2014

Hatchback 3 pintu, 5 tempat duduk

Enjin 1.4L TSI, 158 HP, 240 Nm

7 kelajuan DSG

Penggunaan petrol: 6.3L/100km/j

Kelajuan Maksimum: 218 km/j

0-100 km/j: 8 saat

NCAP: 5/5 bintang

Apa yang kami suka

Apa yang kami tak suka

Scirocco dibina dengan tahap keteguhan dan kualiti tipikal Volkswagen

kawalan kereta agak berat dan lambat untuk bertindak balas

Tindak balas enjin yang agak '
punchy
'

Rekaan interior yang agak ketinggalan

Kerusi sports yang selesa

Ruang kabin yang sempit, kurang dari segi praktikaliti

5. 2013 BMW 320i 2.0L M-Sport

BMW 320i ialah model 3 Series yang lebih murah untuk dimiliki, namun masih menawarkan pemanduan dinamik yang serupa dengan adik-beradiknya yang lebih berkuasa.

Spesifikasi:

Tahun: 2013

Sedan 4 pintu, 5 tempat duduk

Enjin 2.0L DOHC, 184 HP, 270 Nm

8 kelajuan automatik

Penggunaan petrol: 6.1L/100km/j

Kelajuan Maksimum: 228 km/j

0-100 km/j: 7.3 saat

NCAP: 5/5 bintang

Apa yang kami suka

Apa yang kami tak suka

Kit badan M-Sport yang lebih garang

Suspensi yang lembut membuatkan penumpang membuai

Kawalan kenderaan yang mantap dengan kuasa enjin yang padu

Bunyi angin yang kuat masuk ke kabin ketika kereta bergerak pada kelajuan tinggi

Transmisi 8 kelajuan automatik yang lancar

Skrin Infotainmen yang kecil

Kesimpulan

Kesimpulannnya, banyak kereta Conti mewah terpakai yang boleh didapati pada tangga harga di bawah RM79,000. Bagi memudahkan pilihan anda, kami telah senaraikan 5 buah kenderaan Conti mewah terpakai yang berumur tidak lebih 10 tahun yang boleh anda dapati di
Carlist.my.

Model

Harga Purata Selepas 6 Tahun

Ujian Pelanggaran (NCAP)

Road Tax

2014 Audi A4 1.8L TFSI

RM76,999

5 bintang

RM279

2019 Peugeot 308 1.6L Turbo

RM73,888

5 bintang

RM90

2014 Mercedes-Benz C200 1.8L Avantgarde Sedan

RM72,000

5 bintang

RM278

2014 Volkwagen Scirocco 1.4L TSI

RM52,800

5 bintang

RM70

2015 BMW 320i 2.0L M-Sport

RM77,000

5 bintang

RM379

Waranti Kereta Terpakai Warranty Smart

Salah satu kelemahan membeli kereta terpakai adalah kebanyakannya tidak dilindungi di bawah waranti pengilang.

Warranty Smart merupakan perlindungan pilihan untuk sebarang pembelian kereta terpakai di bawah umur 10 tahun.

Perlindungan bermula dari RM848 setahun. Baca lebih lanjut mengenai Waranti Smart di
sini
.

Cara Beli Kereta Di Carlist

Berikut merupakan cara untuk anda cara mencari kereta terpakai idaman di bawah RM80,000.

Di bawah pula adalah cara menggunakan ciri carian terperinci Carlist untuk mencari kereta terpakai anda yang sempurna:

Pergi ke
Carlist.my

Klik pada 'Pencarian Lebih Lanjut' di bawah kotak carian

Tapi carian mengikut kehendak anda seperti tahun, harga dan sebagainya

Selamat membeli!


Proton to Celebrate Saga's 35th Birthday with Special Edition Model

The 9th of July 1985 will forever be a significant date in Malaysian history as it marks the day our first national car - the Proton Saga, started rolling out of the production line, and tomorrow, the iconic model is turning 35.

In case you didn’t know, the first Proton Saga was based on a Mitsubishi model after the Japanese car manufacturer agreed to a joint venture with HICOM to produce Malaysia’s first car.

It quickly established itself as a favourite amongst Malaysian car buyers and on 16 March 1989, it was even launched in the United Kingdom, where it sold in such numbers that its 12-month sales target was achieved in just six months.

Over the years, even though Proton grew so much from what it was and launched numerous new models, the Saga moniker remained a constant in Proton’s model range.

Known for its reliability and affordability, the new Saga received a major upgrade last August, and received overwhelming response by customers, just like it has always done since day one.

Today, the Saga retains its position as the mainstay of Proton’s range of offerings. Since the launch of the upgraded 2019 model, booking volumes have nearly matched those of the original, which was sold during a time when consumers had fewer options to choose from.

In fact, for the month of May 2020, it was the best-selling car in Malaysia while in June, it reached its highest monthly sales volume in 70 months.

Cumulatively over 1.8 million units have been sold in the last 35 years, meaning the Saga is the most popular model from a Malaysian automotive brand.

With more gradual improvements in the pipeline, a commitment to excellence and the company’s dedication to keeping the Saga ahead of its rivals, the popular nameplate will carry on for at least another 35 years.

So, in case you’re wondering what’s next, Proton will be unveiling a very special edition of the Saga to celebrate the model’s 35th anniversary.

All set to be unveiled tomorrow at 10.35 am virtually via Proton’s official Facebook page, rumour has it that the special model will be called the Saga Black Edition, with a few cosmetic enhancements to distinguish it from the regular Saga.

Excited yet? Log on to Facebook tomorrow and witness the unveiling yourself!


Mazda’s Coming Diesel-Powered Range: CX-5 RM166k, Mazda6 RM206k

As reported by Carlist.my late last year, Mazda is expected to launch at least
four diesel-powered models
 in 2016 – the Mazda 2, Mazda 6, CX-3 and CX-5.
We have just been informed by reliable sources that all four models will be launched very soon, within this quarter, and that the CX-5 and Mazda 6 will have an estimated price of RM166k and RM206k respectively.
No information on prices for the diesel-powered Mazda 2 and CX-3 models yet.
Both the CX-5 and 6 will be powered a 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D diesel engine, while the 2 and CX-3 are powered by a 1.5-litre SkyActiv-D diesel engine.
The CX-5 diesel will be locally assembled at Mazda Malaysia’s assembly facilities in Kulim, Kedah, while the rest of the diesel range will be imported (Japan for 6 and CX-3, Thailand for the 2).
More details will be announced when we get closer to the launch date.


82% Kenderaan Uzur Milik PDRM Negeri Sembilan Akan Ditukar – Terima Toyota Hilux dan Van Higer Ace

Sebanyak 82% daripada 827 kenderaan pelbagai di bawah seliaan
PDRM
 di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen (IPK) Negeri Sembilan didapati telah uzur dan melebihi had usia penggunaan akan ditukar.

Menurut Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara Datuk Mazlan Nazim,
aset milik PDRM
 itu akan ditukar mengikut kemampuan bajet yang diperuntukkan oleh kerajaan secara berperingkat dari semasa ke semasa. Ketika ini, kenderaan tersebut masih boleh digunakan kerana penyeliaan dan
penyelenggaraan
 yang mengikut jadual yang dilakukan.

Meskipun negara masih hangat dengan isu
penukaran kereta Menteri dari Proton Perdana ke Toyota Vellfire
 baru-baru ini, PDRM juga perlu menukar kenderaan milik mereka kerana kenderaan yang sudah melepasi had usia penggunaannya memerlukan kos pengurusan yang tinggi.

Meskipun kenderaan terbabit masih boleh digunakan, Mazlan berkata pengurusan aset kenderaan yang sudah berusia dan uzur bukanlah perkara yang mudah, malah kebanyakan tempoh penggunaannya telah melebihi 15 hingga 20 tahun.

Menerusi Rancangan Malaysia ke-12 (RMK12) yang telah dibentangkan, PDRM telah mendapat kelulusan untuk melaksanakan 8 projek fizikal dan 21 projek bukan fizikal. Walau bagaimanapun, PDRM masih menunggu penyenaraian projek daripada Kementerian Dalam Negeri.

Setakat ini, PDRM kontinjen Negeri Sembilan telah menerima 25 unit keseluruhan daripada kenderaan jenis
Toyota Hilux
 GS Cargo (16 buah) dan van
Go Auto Higer Ace
 (9 buah). Van Go Auto Higer Ace merupakan pengganti kepada van yang telah dilupuskan dan akan digunakan untuk membawa penumpang bagi tugas operasi dan lain-lain penugasan, tambah Mazlan.

Untuk rekod, sebanyak 640 buah kenderaan baharu akan diedarkan kepada PDRM di seluruh negara dan ia memakan kos keseluruhan sebanyak RM108 juta untuk dilaksanakan. Kesemua kenderaan baharu tersebut akan digunakan bagi tujuan penugasan termasuk
Sekatan Jalan Raya (SJR)
 serta membawa barangan dan aset.

Susulan penyerahan kenderaan baharu itu kepada kontinjen Negeri Sembilan, Ketua Polis Negeri Sembilan Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop melahirkan rasa penghargaan kepada Jabatan Logistik dan Teknologi PDRM yang sentiasa menguruskan kenderaan sedia ada milik PDRM dengan sebaik mungkin meskipun dengan peruntukan yang terhad.

Tambahnya, dengan penerimaan kereta baharu ini, PDRM perlu merancang dengan lebih teliti dalam usaha untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan yang dapat memenuhi kehendak masyarakat secara efektif dan berkesan. Mohamad turut berkata bahawa usaha penambahbaikan yang sedang dilakukan PDRM akan diteruskan dan sentiasa dipertingkatkan bagi memenuhi keperluan masyarakat.

*Kredit foto: PDRM


Swap RXZ Dengan Tanah Lot Di Kelantan – Benar atau Demi Konten?

Seorang pemilik sebuah motosikal jenis Yamaha RXZ Catelyzer dilaporkan makan besar apabila berjaya membuat pertukaran jual beli diantara motosikal kesayangannya, Yamaha RXZ dengan sebidang tanah!

Nama RXZ sekali lagi tular apabila seorang pemuda, Nik Mohd. Zulkiflee Lee berkongsi di Kelab Jual Beli RXZ tentang pertukaran jual beli yang menguntungkan ini.

Tukar RXZ Dengan Tanah Lot

Penawar harga yang tinggi
 untuk motosikal lama ini tidak asing lagi dalam dunia permotoran. Bezanya, kali ini motosikal itu ditawarkan dengan lot tanah berkeluasan 5,242 kaki persegi dan terletak di Pasir Puteh dengan nilai anggaran RM70,000.

Berdasarkan perkongsian lelaki itu, model RX-Z yang ditukarkan adalah jenis Catalyzer yang telah diperkenalkan sejak tahun 2003 sehingga tahun 2011.

Dikhabarkan, pemilik baharu RXZ tersebut merupakan kawannya sendiri yang sudah lama memendam hasrat untuk memiliki motosikal itu sehingga sanggup memberikan tanah lot tersebut meskipun nilainya dikhuatiri lebih besar daripada nilai motosikal terbabit.

Orang ramai memberikan pelbagai reaksi berkenaan hal ini dan ada yang menganggarkan harga motosikal tersebut melebihi RM18,000. Namun, ada juga yang berpendapat bahawa situasi ini hanyalah rekaan demi kandungan media sosial sahaja.

Namun pemuda itu telah memuat naik perkongsian terbaharu di Facebook bagi menepis tuduhan negatif netizen dengan menunjukkan proses menukar nama tanah telah selesai dilakukan di Pejabat Tanah Pasir Putih, Kelantan.

Harga Pasaran RXZ Ketika Ini

Memandangkan motosikal tidak dijual di
Carlist.my
, kami terpaksa mencari motosikal ini di platform jual beli lain dan hasilnya, harga yang ditawarkan untuk RXZ terpakai rata-rata berada pada paras RM14,000 ke RM30,000.

Sebelum ini juga, pernah tular sebuah kisah
Yamaha RXZ terpakai telah dibeli oleh pembeli dari Kedah
 pada harga RM60k dalam masa satu hari sahaja ia diiklankan.

Tetapi sejauh mana kesahihan cerita ini? Betul atau bohong itu hanya mereka yang terlibat dengan aktiviti jual beli ini sahaja yang tahu. Sejauh mana pun kesahihan cerita ini, tahniah diucapkan kepada para pembeli dan penjual kerana berani membeli RXZ terpakai dengan harga sebegitu rupa. Siapalah kita untuk menghakimi minat seseorang kan?


First Impressions: 2021 Isuzu D-Max 3.0L X-Terrain – Brute Force Meets Intelligence

What do you think about when someone says
Volvo
… perhaps safety for the whole family,
BMW
, a high chance its driving performance,
Alfa Romeo
 likewise may spark notions of style or design, so what do you think about when you hear
Isuzu
?

Most likely, you’d think: truck, reliability, a hardy workhorse that goes anywhere… and you’d be right! However, every once in a while, every manufacturer needs to revolutionise itself to stay relevant. It’s no easy feat either when certain brand beliefs are so deeply etched in the hearts and minds of your customers.

This is why Volvo is also trying to say its cars
are more premium these days
,
BMW is flogging its green credentials
 like there’s no tomorrow, and Alfa Romeo has gone back to racing to prove its cars are
more than just a pretty face
.

And more importantly, your intentions must be followed through with the right product(s) to say “I have arrived, and this is me…” Well, Isuzu may have just done that with the all-new Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain.

Introduction

Though deeply rooted in the utilitarian market, which large portions of their annual sales being contributed by fleet sales and small business owners, Isuzu hopes to make a bold statement in the growing lifestyle pickup segment with its third generation Isuzu D-Max – which has been dominated by its rivals from Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi.

Though, the traditional buyers will still be well served by the new range which is offered in 7 variants at launch inclusive of the
fuel-efficient 1.9L engined models
:

1.9L Single-Cab (MT): RM88,599

3.0L Single-Cab (MT): RM95,538

1.9L Double-Cab Standard (MT): RM99,599

1.9L Double-Cab Standard (AT): RM106,999

1.9L Double-Cab Premium (AT): RM121,549

3.0L Double-Cab Premium (AT): RM128,038

3.0L Double-Cab X-Terrain (AT): RM141,938

However, the real highlight of the new range is the range-topping X-Terrain which in addition to having all the bells and whistles in terms of equipment and features, also has the grunt and macho looks to stand toe-to-toe with its rivals.

Rivals

Isuzu will be betting big with the D-Max X-Terrain to take on its rivals such as the
Ford Ranger Wildtrak
,
Toyota Hilux 2.8L Rogue
, the recently launched
Nissan Navara Pro-4X
 and
Mitsubishi Triton Athlete.
 A whole raft of lifestyle centric pickup trucks with macho styling and features to match most SUVs and family sedans within their price range.

Specifications of the Isuzu D-Max 3.0L X-Terrain

Engine: (4JJ3-TCX) 3.0-litre VGS four-cylinder turbodiesel

Power: 190PS at 3,600rpm

Torque: 450Nm at 1,600rpm - 2,600rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 4WD

Safety: 7-airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, Brake Override. ADAS features: FCW, AEB, Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Turn Assist, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Multi Collision Brake, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Auto High Beam (AHB), Reverse Camera.

Price: RM141,938 (OTR excluding Insurance, Private Registration)

What’s new and improved in the third-generation (RG01) Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain

Frankly, there’s too many to cover in even 10 paragraphs, so here’s an itemised list:

Built on Isuzu’s Dynamic Drive platform – it’s larger, higher and wider than before with more structural reinforcements. The wheelbase has grown by 30mm.

Latest generation 4JJ3-TCX engine with a new commonrail injection system, electronically controlled VGS turbocharger and a new piston and combustion chamber design to offer improved performance and efficiency.

Finally gets a six-speed automatic transmission, which was not introduced in the RT85 facelift.

Updated ‘Terrain Command’ 4WD system which allows switching between 2H and 4H modes within 0.61 seconds (1.94 seconds previously)

Rear Differential Lock – to equally split torque between two rear wheels

800mm water wading depth

Entirely new interior with a focus on comfort, style, and better refinement – superb 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, crisp 4.2-inch e-Lumax digital cluster display

Better quality interior materials

The improvements are accompanied by additional first in class offerings:

Remote engine start

Walk away auto door lock

Integrated wiper washer system

Adaptive cruise control with stop and go function

How does it feel to drive:

In brief, superbly. While there was significant improvement with the RT85 facelift in terms of drivability – the new D-Max is leaps and bounds better, all around.

Within minutes of sitting in the cockpit, one gets an immediate impression of how quiet the interior is. The seats, steering wheel and the tactile feel of the interior touchpoints all work together to give the X-Terrain a very pleasant and cossetting interior.

The Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels are comparable to that of its rivals such as the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and greatly improved (as well) Toyota Hilux Rogue. In certain aspects, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s as quiet as C-Segment SUVs such as the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail, and Isuzu have achieved this despite using larger 18-inch tyres which tend to serve up quite a bit of tyre roar.

Another notable highlight is the overall composure and stability of the D-Max X-Terrain. The chassis now is the largest in the one-ton pick-up segment while the eight cross members also make it one of the stiffest in its segment.

Other chassis tweaking such as high-mounted front upper wishbones, improved camber settings have achieved a better roll-centre, and a longer wheelbase that allows the engine to be mounted further behind the front wheels have made the D-Max more dynamic than ever. All this has resulted in the D-Max driving with more composure especially on bumpy roads, and cornering more flatly in the bends.

The steering and brakes are much improved too. The X-Terrain hydraulic steering reacts with more quickness and fluidity, and courtesy of 320mm diameter disc rotors up front – stops with far more authority.

Given most of our time was spent on the highways we had ample opportunity to test out some of the ADAS functions. First up was the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) which is simple enough to deploy with the steering wheel-mounted buttons. Once the driver has chosen the preset distance from the car in front, the ACC manages that space very well. The system detects cars up ahead quickly and is quick to respond to merging cars from other lanes. As many pickup owners tend to cover long distances in their trucks, this is a welcome feature.

As for the Lane Departure Warning – it too works as advertised, it alerts with a rather loud beep every time the X-Terrain approaches the lines on the road, however, given this is quite a wide track, the high pitched alarm can be a tad annoying after a while. While I would turn it off entirely, I wish there was a way the alarm tone could be turned down. The blind spot morning system likewise also works instinctively. Unfortunately, we did not have adequate time to test out other functions such as the RCTA and pedal misapplication mitigation system.

Conclusion

Isuzu has managed to comprehensively re-engineer the D-Max into a far more well-rounded product for the growing lifestyle segment, in the case of the X-Terrain especially.

There’s little not to like, especially for the way it looks, drives, and the overall packaging and overall value. This X-Terrain is a high-value product that commands the price tag and improves on nearly every shortcoming of its predecessor.

Add to that the
engineering prowess and proven reliability standards
 of Isuzu and you have a very compelling product to take on all its major rivals.


Mazda Privilege Card Introduced- 15% Off Spare Parts And More!

Bermaz Motor has just introduced a new loyalty programme that also combines the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

The Mazda Privilege Card offers 15 percent discount on Mazda genuine spare parts, five percent discount on labour cost and 15 percent discount on official merchandise. Cardholders are rewarded with rebates on aftersales services required beyond the five-year manufacturing warranty and three years free maintenance package. New and current Mazda owners who purchased a Mazda vehicle in Malaysia are eligible to apply for the card.

A sign-up fee of RM100 (valid for three years) gets you these benefits as well as support those less fortunate through
Mazda Medicare Fund
. This RM100 sign-up fee will serve as a tax-exempted donation to the Mazda Medicare Fund, established in 2014, which has raised more than RM900,000 to assist charity homes, dialysis patients, and a non-profit hospital.

Currently, the card can only be used at showrooms and service centres operated by Bermaz Motor Trading Sdn Bhd and Prima Merdu Sdn Bhd, with plans to expand the use of the card to include all outlets nationwide in the near future.

For more information on the Mazda Privilege Card and a list of participating outlets
please visit
www.mazda.com.my


Racing Accident Leaves National Rider Zamri Baba In Coma

At the Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia on June 7, national rider Muhammad Zamri Baba was involved in an accident while racing and remains in a coma and in critical condition.
According to Bernama, the rider, who is part of the MuSASHi Boon Siew Honda Racing team, was competing in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 2015 SuperSports 600cc Race 1 when the accident occurred.
He was hit by another rider after crashing into the gravel bed during Round Two of the 2015 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship and was immediately brought to the hospital for medical attention.
“When Zamri Baba was brought to the hospital yesterday, he was unconscious and his condition worsened due to his severe head injuries,” said Dr Kamelia Faisal, Pertamedika Sentul City Hospital director, to Bernama. A team of doctors were monitoring the rider’s condition at the Intensive Care Unit.
Dr Kamelia continued by saying doctors would have to wait for Zamri Baba’s condition to stabilize before administering further treatment. X-rays showed that his liver and chest were affected as well, apart from head injuries. Under such conditions, the doctors said transferring him to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur is not advised.
The Boon Siew Honda Team released a statement saying the they would remain in Jakarta to assist with any logistical arrangements that could arise, such as possibly transporting the comatose rider to another medical facility upon release from Pertamedika Sentul City Hospital.
In addition, Zamri’s family had been flown to Indonesia by the team to be by his side. They have requested that the media respect their privacy.


There’s Only One Way To Enjoy A Porsche: Together; Over 70 Years Of Passion And A New Malaysian Record

A sports car is more than a car - it’s a machine driven by shared experiences and memories - according to the creators of one of the most prolific and longstanding sports car manufacturers of all time: Porsche.
Porsche’s “Sportscar Together Day” was first conceived as a global series of events held in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the company in 2018.
This year, local distributor Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) gave the event a reboot, attracting over 2000 Porsche fans and enthusiasts to share in the festivities held at the Sepang International Circuit and be part of a new Malaysian record of the ‘Largest Porsche Gathering’ in Malaysia, with a recorded 320 cars making their way onto the Sepang racetrack and into the history books.
Visitors also got a chance to get up close with Porsche’s iconic road and competition models, including the 911 GT3 Cup race cars from Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, a showcase of all eight generations of the 911, the 919 Hybrid Le Mans Endurance racer and the 1:3 scale model of the full-electric Mission E concept. Alongside, the Fascination Porsche showcase also provided insights into the past and future of the Porsche brand and company.
Separately, the Sportscar Together Day also saw the introductions of the new Macan S model and 'Porsche 360 Leasing program' to the Malaysian market.


The 2023 Kia Sorento Is An SUV For All Seasons

There’s a couple of things that sets
the Kia Sorento
 apart from the usual crop of SUVs, but some of its most desirable attributes don’t really make themselves known until you’ve experienced the vehicle for yourself.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen an all-new Sorento generation hit our roads, allowing the anticipation to grow, but it’s clear the model has been improved significantly in the lead-up to the launch of this all-new version. With the model having so much advancement progress built into it, where do we even begin? Nowhere is this more evident than Kia’s overall approach to designing the Sorento.

What Is ‘Refined Boldness’?

By every dimension, the all-new Sorento is more substantial than its predecessor. However, its bold lines only serve to emphasise its athleticism. There are, of course, some classic cues here to make it obvious you’re looking at a Kia. That hallmark Tiger Nose grille is unmistakeable, for example.

During its design process, Kia says it drew from a concept they call ‘refined boldness’, which seeks to maintain the robust, tough-looking aesthetic of earlier generations of the Sorento.

The Sorento’s newest form applies a greater degree of refinement and elegance and even a sense of sportiness. The body work incorporated very deliberate character lines creases for a noticeably more sculpted look that results in a more contemporary design balance and more swept-back proportions.

Clean yet aggressive elements are featured throughout its exterior to the point you might notice yourself forgetting it can accommodate up to 7 passengers. However, its 6-seat configuration is positioned with a little more luxury in mind, which is complemented in the form of a standard electronically-controlled 4WD system which provides enhanced traction and stability in a variety of driving conditions in addition to the kind of all-weather stability and sure-footedness that so many of its rivals lack.

Performance & Technology For Seamless Journeys

Naturally, the Sorento is also designed with safety in mind as all variants come fitted with a suite of advanced active safety features, including Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and many others all to ensure the utmost driver and occupant protection.

When it comes to raw grunt, the Sorento delivers in spades here as well. The SUV is available with two engine options: a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that delivers 177hp and 232Nm of torque, the other a 2.2-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine that delivers 199hp and 440Nm of torque.

This latter engine especially is a truly stout workhorse. As we’ve experienced in other models, it makes light work of supplying ample acceleration without seeming to exert itself yet is so casually able to settle down into a smooth, quiet cruise at the drop of a hat. Pair that with the Sorento’s decisive 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and the its fuel economy is stunningly impressive.

A Cabin Experience That Punches Above Its Weight

There’s nothing quite like being wowed by an experience that surpasses expectations and it’s clear that Kia had engineered the Sorento to elicit this exact reaction. The plush cabin brings together a sumptuous combination of premium materials that underscore its ergonomic design.

Great care has been given to the construction and placement of control surfaces and how they are meant to be interacted with to make every button push or dial turn one that feels cohesive and purposeful.

It’s a blend of the analogue and digital in equal amount - from the expansive high definition 10.25-inch central touchscreen that’s fitted as standard across the range to the convenient Head-Up Display exclusive to the 6-seat AWD variants (2.5L and 2.2D) to the driver-oriented shift paddles that’s reserved for the range-topping 2.2D 6-seater AWD - the Sorento is a tactile and technological feast.

Touching, Feeling, Seeing Is Believing

As we’ve previously mentioned, there’s nothing like first hand experience to cement the strong impression the Kia Sorento leaves as it starts to set a new benchmark in the SUV space, simultaneously reinventing in the eyes of the world while building on the rich lineage of its 3 generations of predecessors.

Don’t miss your chance to see, touch, and feel the all-new 3-row SUV for yourself at the upcoming Kia roadshow
happening from 12th to 16th April 2023 in GF LUXE, New Wing, One Utama Shopping Centre
 where they will showcase the rest of Kia’s amazing Malaysian line-up, including the class-leading Carnival futuristic all-electric EV6!


Malaysia's Monsoon Transition Phase To Start On 3 October

Malaysia
 is expected to go through the
monsoon transition phase
 beginning on 3 October 2022.

According to the
Malaysian Meteorological Department
, the transition phase is expected to last until the end of November, which also marks the end of the southwest monsoon that started back in May.

Expect heavy rains & strong winds

This monsoon transition phase will bring in light winds from all directions that may trigger thunderstorms. This might also be accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds, so it's best to be prepared especially for frequent travellers. Time to check those tyres, folks.

According to MetMalaysia's Director-General, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, "Such incidents will be more prominent during the evenings and early hours of the night in the west coast states and the interior parts of the Peninsular, west coast of Sabah and central parts of Sarawak."

*Image credit: Rojak Daily

Weather patterns might trigger flash floods

With heavy rains and strong winds, this particular weather situation also runs the risk of triggering flash floods as well as possibly causing structural damage in affected areas. The public should be more aware of this phase by regularly checking the latest weather updates.

In preparation, the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) have prepared over 29,000 officers and personnel in case of floods at all flood-risk and water surge areas. Over a thousand assets including five aircraft are will be prepped and ready to mobilise in case of emergencies.


Video: WRC Driver Thierry Neuville Pushes the Hyundai i30 N to the Limits

Hyundai’s first proper high performance model; the i30 N was recently pushed to its limits by the manufacturer ain Arjeplog, Sweden by FIA World Rally Championship driver Thierry Neuville.
The winter testing was part of Hyundai’s final development program for the car which is set for launch in the second half of 2017.
Engineers at Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Center conducted the winter test on the edge of the Arctic Circle, focusing on the i30 N’s performance and handling characteristics, adjusting the set-up to ensure it will be a performance vehicle for everyone.
Working with Neuville, the team developed and tuned the i30 N’s dynamic systems, testing the ESC (Electronic Stability Control), LSD (Limited Slip Differential), steering, dampers, suspension and tires.

“So many people have been looking forward to this car, so it’s a pleasure for me to be testing it,” Thierry Neuville said. “The engineers have done a good job on the gearbox and the differential. There is good traction and stability in the slippery testing conditions and it’s very easy to handle. A normal driver should get a sensation similar to a race car.” Neuville has reviewed the new model’s performance on a frozen lake in temperatures as low as minus 30 °C (minus 22 °F).

The i30 N will be the third member of the i30 family, joining the five-door i30 and the i30 Wagon, which was launched at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

Hyundai first showcased its high performance N line-up in 2015 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.


Can An Aftermarket Bodykit Get You In Trouble With JPJ ?

Car modifications or bodykits might seem like an innocent act, that is until you break the law.

Pimping out your ride is a big part of
car culture
 here in Malaysia. Many motoring enthusiasts tend to spend their hard-earned money on personalising their car, which can span from being tastefully done to being excessively hideous!

While it is fun to start adding or subtracting parts to our cars, many don't seem to consider the legal implications of these modifications, so to set the record straight, we explore what is allowed and what isn't by definition of the law.

The guidelines that our dear Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia) sets out is quite straight forward, but in some cases, there is more to it then meets the eye.

There are some modifications that can be performed without prior JPJ approval, however, these must be made according to the specified guidelines. The lists of modifications are:

Spoiler, side skirt and aerofoil installation

Door visor installation.

Front and rear bumpers; and kangaroo bar installation (Kangaroo Bar) on the front of the vehicle.

Installation of larger rims and tyres

Sunroof/moon roof/canvas top installation

Stepladder/ boat/ surfboard rack installation

Manual to automatic transmission change

Canopy/canvas installation

Winch, winch bar, side step, rear bar and snorkel installation

Roof rack/ bike carrier installation

Spotlight installation

Seems pretty straightforward right?

Not really, because these modifications or installation of accessories must comply with the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 or the Motor Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Rules 1988.

The air spoiler, side skirt or aerofoil must not exceed 150mm from the outer edge of the rear tyres.

The door visor must not exceed 100mm in width and height.

The use of bigger rims or wider tyres must be completely covered by mudguards or mudflaps, basically no protrusion out of the body.

Protecting guards must not cover the lamps. Sharp edges or protruding parts must not protrude more than 100mm. In addition, the overall width must not exceed the width of the original car make-up.

If bigger bumpers or protecting guards are installed, the addition at the front or rear of the vehicle must not exceed 50% of the vehicle’s wheelbase.

The distance between the headlamps and signal lights from the body of the car must not exceed 300mm and 400mm respectively from the widest part of the car body after modification.

Carrier brackets (roof rack mounts) must not exceed the length and width of the car roof. Carrier brackets must not exceed 400mm in height.

For those who would like to personalise and modify their car even further than this, JPJ has guidelines for that too. For additional modification that you intend to make that will result in a drastic change in the shape, size, stability, safety and original specs of your vehicle, a written permission from JPJ is required before you can proceed with the modifications. These include modifications to:

Modifications to the monocoque frame of the vehicle.

Modification to the original size and shape of the vehicle.

Modification from a sedan car to a convertible.

Modification to the fuel combustion system.

Modification to the brake system.

Modification to the steering system.

Modification to the wheelbase of the vehicle.

The use of fibreglass body to replace the steel body parts.

Change of engine.

While JPJ is willing to allow some degree of modification, there are some that they are not willing to entertain. We can see why they won't allow these modifications listed down below, as it is a matter of safety.

These modifications are strictly not allowed on any vehicle:

Blinking lights (except signal lights and hazard lights) at the front or rear of the vehicle.

Installation of blue, purple, or green lights.

Installation of musical horns, or two-toned horns.

Installation of spotlights at the rear of the vehicle.

For those who are wondering why there are no guidelines for tints, we just chose to leave them out as we have already discussed this previously
here
.

So do you think JPJ are being reasonable with what is permitted and those that are illegal? We want to hear your opinion, so please do comment.

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