Rakyat Malaysia Jalan Kaki 2.5 Kilometer Lintas Tambak Johor

Pembukaan
sempadan Malaysia-Singapura
 pada 1 April, 12.01 tengah malam telah menyaksikan ribuan rakyat Malaysia sanggup memilih untuk berjalan kaki dari Singapura ke Malaysia.

Ribuan rakyat Malaysia yang terkandas di Singapura sejak Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) bermula 18 Mac 2020 lalu akhirnya pulang ke Malaysia setelah Malaysia memasuki Fasa Peralihan ke Endemik.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Jalan Kaki Rentas Negara

Memandangkan pintu sempadan ditutup sebelum ini, kumpulan pertama dan terawal merentas sempadan darat itu merupakan rakyat Malaysia yang kebanyakannya bekerja di republik berkenaan dan sudah lama tidak pulang ke tanah air

Sebahagian daripada ribuan rakyat Malaysia itu berjalan kaki sejauh 2.5 kilometer melintasi Tambak Johor manakala yang lain menaiki basikal, motosikal serta kereta dari Woodlands Checkpoints ke Kompleks Kastam Imigresen dan Kuarantin (CIQ) Bangunan Sultan Iskandar.

Suasana sekitar Johor turut meriah dengan orang ramai yang berkumpul menunggu kepulangan ahli keluarga dari Singapura bersama percikan bunga api.

"Welcome back” dan "selamat kembali ke Malaysia”, antara kata-kata dilaungkan mereka yang berkumpul di R&F Mall berdekatan dengan Tambak Johor.

Pembukaan Sempadan Malaysia-Singapura

Pergerakan orang ramai merentas sempadan bermula tepat jam 12 tengah malam itu dijangka berterusan, dengan gelombang paling ramai dijangkakan pada minggu pertama pembukaan sempadan itu.

Pernah disifatkan sebagai laluan darat tersibuk di dunia, Tambak Johor dan Lebuh Raya Linkedua yang sepi sepanjang pelaksanaan PKP kembali bernyawa setelah hampir 2 tahun.

Terdahulu, Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi berkata, terdapat kira-kira 400,000 rakyat Malaysia yang berulang alik dari Johor ke Singapura setiap hari sebelum pandemik COVID-19 bermula.

Kerajaan Johor menjangkakan hampir 400,000 orang bakal menggunakan laluan darat antara Malaysia dan Singapura melalui Tambak Johor dan Linkedua, pada minggu pertama pembukaan semula sempadan.

Pengecualian Tol

Sebelum ini, Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob telah mengumumkan
tol percuma
 di sempadan Malaysia dan Singapura selama 7 hari dari April 1 hingga April 7 2022 di:

Plaza Tol Kompleks Imigresen, Kastam, Kuarantin dan Keselamatan (ICQS) Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (Tambak Johor)

Tanjung Kupang (Lebuh Raya Linkedua)

Tol percuma ini membabitkan perjalanan masuk dan keluar kedua-dua tol yang dinyatakan serta melibatkan semua jenis kenderaan.


2016 World Car Of The Year Nominees Announced

Last year, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class won the coveted 2015 World Car of the Year award whereas its luxury and performance siblings, the S-Class Coupe and Mercedes-AMG GT, took home the World Luxury Car of the Year and World Performance Car of the Year awards respectively.
Now, the nominees for the 2016 World Car of the Year award has been announced, including the contenders for the more specific categories – Performance, Luxury, Green, and Design.
Winners in the 2015 categories saw the BMW i8 coming up tops in the World Green Car of the Year, while the Citroen C4 Cactus won World Design Car of the Year.
To qualify for this year’s awards, as in previous years, models must be new and officially available to purchase on at least two continents between 1 January 2015 and 31 May 2016.
A panel of judges are responsible for the initial list of nominees which were recently announced, ahead of an announcement of the top-three finalists during the Geneva motor show in March 2016. The winner will be revealed shortly after during the New York Auto Show.
The full list of contenders for the 2016 World Car of the Year along with the accompanying specific categories are as follows:
2016 World Car of the Year nominees:
Audi
 A4
BMW X1
Cadillac CT6
Chevrolet Malibu
Ford Edge
Honda
 HR-V (also nominated in the
inaugural Asean Car of the Year awards
)
Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Tucson
Jaguar XE
Kia Optima
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Mazda
 CX-3
Mazda MX-5
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Nissan
 Maxima
Opel Astra
Skoda Superb
SsangYong Tivoli
Subaru Levorg
Subaru
 Outback
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Touran
2016 World Performance Car of the Year
nominees:
Audi R8 Coupe
Audi RS 3 Sportback
BMW X5 M and X6 M
Cadillac ATS-V
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Camaro
Honda Civic Type R
Land Rover
 Range Rover Sport SVR
Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe
2016 World Luxury Car of the
Year nominees:
Audi Q7
Bentley Mulsanne Speed
BMW
 7 Series
Infiniti Q30
Jaguar
 XF
Lexus RX
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe
Volvo XC90
2016 World Green Car of the
Year nominees:
BMW 330e
Chevrolet Volt
Mercedes-Benz C 350e
Nissan Murano Hybrid
Nissan X-Trail Hybrid
Toyota Mirai
Toyota
 Prius
Volkswagen Passat GTE
2016 World Design Car of the
Year nominees:
Audi Q7
Audi R8 Coupe
BMW 2 Series Convertible
BMW 7 Series
Hyundai Creta
Mercedes-Benz
 C-Class Coupe


Most Affordable Cars You Can Buy In Malaysia

People often ask, what is the cheapest car you can buy on Carlist? Well technically, the cheapest vehicle you can get on Carlist is a 1996, RM1,300, Nissan Sunny. That vehicle, however, is more like a project car rather than a daily driver, so the question really needs to be changed to, "What are the most affordable cars on Carlist?"

Affordable could mean many things to many different people so for the purposes of this article affordable to us means that we want a reliable and easy to maintain vehicle, for the least amount of money possible without needing a bank loan.

A 10-year-old car for under RM10k should be able to do the trick, so here is our list of "The most affordable cars on Carlist".

Proton Saga BLM

For under RM10k, you could purchase one of the best cars to ever come out of Proton. Except for the normal Proton kinks like power window switch problems and engine oil leak due to perished valve cover gasket, this car is pretty much bulletproof. The 1.3-litre high revving Campro engine really needs to be worked to get any ounce of power out of the car, so don't expect it to propel you forward like a race car. The handling however is excellent, so you might be tempted to give it a run on the B-roads. But all in all, if you're looking for that daily driver car with not so many things to worry about, the BLM is an option. Did we mention the AC is top-notch in this car?
Prices for these cars start at RM6.5k.

Kia Spectra

Apart from extensive wind noise and a poor paint job, the Kia Spectra could be a great choice for someone who just wants to be different. The drivetrain is quite reliable, but the fuel economy isn't as good as the other cars on this list. The best thing the Spectra has got going for it is its interior space so look for one that has an immaculate interior so that you can enjoy that space. Many used models still do. The overall reliability of the car is a bit hit and miss, so maybe bring a mechanic with you to inspect the car before purchase.
 Prices for the Spectra start at RM6.8k

Perodua Viva

If you're lazy to do anything to a car, or buy a car for someone who doesn't really know much about maintaining cars, the Perodua Viva is your go-to car. Fuel consumption is awesome and owners never really complain about the lack of power coming out of the 1.0-litre engine. It is said that the Viva is a much better car than the Perodua Kancil, in terms of build quality and driving experience. Due to its weight, the car can usually rocket off the line at the trafiic lights, not that we're are recommending you do so. The car is a tin can, so if you want a vehicle with stronger metal, you should look at the other options.
Prices for these cars start at RM5.8k

And there you have it, three solid recommendations for the most affordable cars on Carlist.my. With the economy taking a hit due to COVID-19, maybe you or someone you know might be on the market for a cheap daily runner.


Daimler And Geely Form New Joint Venture To Offer Premium Ride-Hailing Services In China

Daimler Mobility Services and Geely Group Company, Geely Holding Group’s new business entity, have announced that they will form a premium ride-hailing joint venture in China.
According to Daimler, the 50-50 joint venture will be headquartered in Hangzhou, China.
It is said that the joint venture will provide ride-hailing mobility services in several Chinese cities using premium vehicles including but not limited to Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Daimler said that the fleet, which will initially include Mercedes-Benz S-Class, E-Class, V-Class, and Maybach vehicles, could be supplemented by premium electric vehicles of the Geely Group in the near future.
As part of the JV, Geely Group Company and Daimler Mobility Services will be equally represented on the board of the new ride-hailing service, for which the two companies will jointly develop the software infrastructure required to support the business in China.
Speaking of ride-hailing services, Geely Holding’s domestic ride-hailing service called CaoCao currently has more than 17 million registered users, with one million regular active users on the app providing more than 29,000 pure electric vehicles in 28 cities across the country and with over 360,000 completed trips throughout the country on a daily basis.
Daimler on the other hand, is currently providing free-floating and station-based car-sharing services to over 470,000 customers in China who have completed over 20 million kilometers in car-sharing journeys.


Diesel smuggling is real and here is a great example of the syndicate working

Myanmar nationals were arrested after being suspected of embezzling 8,000 litres of diesel worth RM124,200.

When Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled the 2023 budget, he took some time to highlight that enforcement agencies, in collaboration with industry players, will intensify enforcement efforts to curb the leakage of proceeds and subsidies of diesel due to smuggling syndicates.

What was he talking about? well, the recent report by Berita Harian about two foreigners getting arrested for smuggling 8,000 litres of diesel is a great example of the problems we are facing concerning diesel smuggling.

Picture credit: Berita Harian

According to BH's report, two Myanmar nationals, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested in a raid in Kampung Bukit Lada, Kedah after being suspected of embezzling 8,000 litres of diesel worth RM124,200.

The operation was carried out by the Intelligence/Operations Unit of the Federal Reserve Force (FRU) of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Bukit Aman before being handed over to the Kedah Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN).

According to Kedah KPDN director, Affendi Rajini, the police also confiscated two tanks and some diesel transporting equipment used for the activity.

"The interrogation of the foreigners found that the premises did not have permission from the supply controller to deal with the controlled goods", said Rajini.
Picture credit: Berita Harian

"The remand order was obtained from the Alor Setar Court and both suspects were remanded for four days starting yesterday".

If convicted, they can be fined not more than RM1 million or imprisoned not more than three years or both.

For corporations, a fine of not more than RM2 million can be imposed and for the second offence a fine of not more than RM5 million.

These syndicates smuggle subsidized diesel meant for agricultural and industrial use to be sold illegally in the black market, where it is used for transportation and other purposes.

The illegal diesel is then sold to customers, including transportation companies, at a cheaper price than the regular diesel sold at petrol stations. This results in significant losses for the government, as it is unable to collect the excise duties and sales taxes on the smuggled diesel.


UMW Toyota On FMCO - Down But Not Out, Hybrid Electric Vehicles Impacted

With the ongoing Movement Control Order, which began on 1 June 2021, many businesses and sectors have remained closed, but UMW Toyota would like to remind its customers that although they might be down, they are not entirely out.

Down but not out

Commenting on the situation, President of UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), Ravindran K., said that the continued closure of all Toyota and Lexus showrooms nationwide meant that no business could be conducted; whilst at the same time manufacturing of vehicles including the supply chain and logistic efforts have also
come to a halt
.

While accepting that the Government has had to act for the country's good, it has presented a challenge for the company. "We still have an encouraging order bank for the various models. Nevertheless, we hope that the lockdown restrictions can be eased soon to allow us to operate in a limited and safe way. Naturally, we will abide by all Standard Operating Procedures, as we have during the past year," he said.

For those who are still interested in purchasing a Toyota or Lexus, for that matter, they can still obtain detailed information about Toyota and Lexus vehicles at their respective websites – toyota.com.my and lexus.com.my.

They can find out about the models, and the many
flexible financing schemes
 available tailored for different requirements. Bookings can also be made online.

Ravindran K. reminded customers of the exemption of Sales & Service Tax (SST) which is extended until the end of 2021. The exemption covers both locally-assembled and imported Toyota and Lexus models and provides
meaningful savings
.

"We encourage customers to make their bookings online as we can then plan production at our two assembly plants to minimize waiting time when the restrictions are lifted, to enable customers to enjoy the current financial incentives," he added.

For current Toyota and Lexus customers, the company would also like to remind them that Selected UMW Toyota Motor Service Centres continue to operate according to the State and local authorities' provisions to ensure that vehicle owners can obtain assistance in emergencies.

24/7 assistance is available by calling the Toyota and Lexus Helplines at 1-800-888- 247 and 1800-225-3987, respectively.

"Across the nation, customers can still obtain emergency assistance and selected aftersales services for their vehicles," said Ravindran K. He did, however, advise customers to contact the service centres first to make an appointment as this will give them time to ensure that all the necessary measures are in place for their protection as well as the safety of the employees serving them.

The effects of the prolonged restriction

Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor, Akio Takeyama, said that prolonged restrictions on vehicle production could impact passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, which are essential for transporting goods around the country.

"Furthermore, the export business will be affected as well as our subsidiaries export a substantial amount of automotive components as part of Toyota's global supply chain. If this situation continues for long, we are concerned that our overseas customers may look for new suppliers. They cannot have their production delayed due to a shortage of parts from Malaysia. This could have an impact on Malaysia's economy as a whole if export business declines," he added.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the company just announced its
vast investment
 to further the initiatives for carbon neutrality through Hybrid Electric Vehicles' manufacturing, indicating that its manufacturing plant's prolonged shutdown could also impact such plans.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival unfortunately on hold

This year saw the
fourth consecutive season
 of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival). The event has grown in popularity and scale over the years, with the highlight being the Vios Challenge which is the only one-make race in Malaysia.

"It is unfortunate that the ongoing pandemic and strict MCO conditions do not allow running of public events. This includes motorsports so the fourth season of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) and Vios Challenge is on hold. However, when we ran the exciting first round on March 2 at the Sepang International Circuit, we were looking forward to the next two rounds as well as the introduction of the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup and GAZOO Racing Enduro Cup," said Takeyama, who is also Chief Motorsports Officer of GAZOO Racing Malaysia.

"Let us all do our part and pray that the number of COVID-19 cases quickly reduces, and the government will be able to relax the regulations to allow public events," he said.


Tesla Cybertruck To 'Serve Briefly As A Boat'?

The
Tesla Cybertruck
 has been in the dark for quite some time, but the latest Tweet from
Elon Musk
 has certainly raised its interest.

Being one of the most
highly-anticipated EVs
 awaiting its official launch (which has been delayed several times already), a new detail regarding the Tesla Cybertruck has emerged, and it might come with the capability to 'serve briefly as a boat'.

Elon Musk said it, not us

So what was the Tweet from
Elon Musk
 himself? Apparently, the "Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes & even seas that aren’t too choppy."

Elon Musk also added a reply to that particular Tweet by explaining this reasoning "Needs be able to get from Starbase to South Padre Island, which requires crossing the channel."

Easier said than done, buddy. Then again, this is Elon Musk we're talking about.

Tesla Cybertruck to be launched in 2023

With quite a delay in its production, the Tesla Cybertruck has been said to finally enter the market by the middle of 2023. This new waterproof capability might drive it back even further, but we're keeping our hopes up for now.

In the meantime, you can be certain that the line-up will consist of four different variants starting with the single-motor rear-wheel-drive and going up to a quad-motor all-wheel-drive model (also destined for its official introduction in the coming months).

As of now, you can safely say that the Tesla Cybertruck is still deep in the development stage.


2021 Isuzu D-Max Curbs Downtrend With Steep Sales Rise

According to Isuzu, their newly launched third-generation D-Max has been met by a pretty steep rise in sales performance which, they say, mirrors a similar upward trend enjoyed by the pickup truck in other global markets.

On balance, with the lockdown and economic freeze brought about by the ongoing full lockdown (or EMCO) in certain parts of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, things might look a little gloomy for the automotive industry in Malaysia as a whole, yet there has been over 1,200 bookings each month on average for the all-new D-Max
since its introduction in April
.

In contrast, Isuzu were enjoying an average monthly booking rate of 500 units with regard to the older model, though we can’t be sure whether those numbers were garnered throughout that predecessor’s life cycle or in the months leading up to the
all-new model’s local debut
.

The Japanese automaker have also seen some pretty positive response from other truck-obsessed countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and of course, Thailand, attributing it to the D-Max’s “fresh and sporty design, enhanced ergonomics and improved engineering.”

Isuzu Malaysia’s Chief Operating Officer, Masayuki Suzuki, said: “This all-new D-Max phenomenon that has swept the various markets has been somewhat overwhelming. Needless to say, the attractive design, new and improved features and proven Isuzu reputation contributed significantly towards convincing customers to switch or upgrade to this all-new D-Max model.”

Among those 1,200 bookings each month, it was also revealed that the majority of would-be owners chose the 1.9-litre Premium with the automatic transmission - a lion’s share of 36%, perhaps due to its relatively
small displacement engine
 - that also manages to be a strong and economical unit - leading to savings in road tax each year.

Interestingly, the all-new D-Max is proving to be more a lot more popular than usual with buyers in Peninsula Malaysia with 61 percent split between here and East Malaysia. Usually, that 60/40 divide is reversed.

Meanwhile, at the top of the range, the flagship X-Terrain accounted for 17 percent of total bookings recorded so far. Unexpected for a pickup truck, this variant comes with
active safety (ADAS)
features alongside creature comforts and premium interior materials and refinement qualities more commonly found in higher end passenger vehicles.

Mr Suzuki adds: The response to this new model has been extremely positive considering the limited opportunities prospects have had to fully experience the new model due to the strict movement controls and safety protocols. Our current aim is to ensure the smooth, safe and timely delivery of vehicles to our customers despite the various administrative and logistical concerns faced domestically and globally.”


Honda Unveils 2017 Jazz Facelift In Japan

Honda has pulled the wraps off the facelifted 2017 Jazz, stating that the new model will go official in June. The Honda Jazz is sold as the Honda Fit in Japan.
The Honda Fit facelift was
first spied
 undergoing road tests. Subsequently, parts of the new Fit's brochure was
leaked
, giving us a better look at the new model's design. Closer to home, details of the facelifted Jazz
surfaced
 a few days before bookings opened.
Up front, the Honda Fit facelift receives a pair of LED headlights and LED front fog lights. The front grille of the Fit now follows the design of the updated City, with a chrome strip extending from the head lights into the grille. The bottom half of the bumper is also new, with Honda adopting a more angular design for the bottom half of the front bumper. Side profile appears to be identical to the outgoing model. As for the rear end, Honda did not provide any official photos of the new Fit, but Honda Malaysia has
opened bookings
 for the new model, with its rear end visible. For the regular Honda Jazz, the rear bumper design is new, as Honda has replaced the two fake inserts on the egde of the rear bumper, replacing it with a sleeker looking inserts. Bear in mind that the design here is for the Japanese market, overseas model including ours may receive a slightly different design.
Visual updates aside, the updated Honda Fit will receive Honda Sensing, a host of driver assistance that includes Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Collision Mitigation Braking System.
Honda Malaysia is primed to introduce the Jazz facelift in the second quarter of the year. Come third quarter of 2017, Honda Malaysia will introduce the Jazz Hybrid, featuring a 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a seven-speed DCT. Unlike the older Honda Jazz Hybrid's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, the new Jazz Hybrid will feature Honda's new intelligent Dual-Clutch Drive (i-DCD) Hybrid System, making it a full hybrid system, as opposed to the predecessor's mild hybrid set up.


Hyundai Vision T Plug-in Hybrid SUV Concept Unveiled - Previews Next-Gen Urban SUV

Hyundai has unveiled its Vision T Plug-in Hybrid SUV Concept at the ongoing 2019 AutoMobility LA Expo. The Vision T is the seventh member in a series of Hyundai Design Center concepts expressing Hyundai’s “Sensuous Sportiness” global design language.

The Vision T design themes preview the concept for an “urban adventurer” SUV of the future. The long hood and level roofline are coupled with a long wheelbase and short overhangs are meant to reflect dynamic and yet capable SUV.  The Vision T uses crisp geometric angles and edges to create a striking contrast between a sleek silhouette and pronounced wedge lines.

The Vision T’s design is broken down into two sub-themes: Parametric Fantasy and Transcendent Connectivity. These refer to parametric surfaces are connected from the body to either light or trim features – so as to create seamless connectivity free from design boundaries and to create a sense of tension in the bodywork.

Another cool design feature of then Vision T it’s Parametric Air Shutter – When stationary, the grille is closed and static. Once in motion, each individual cell of the grille design continues to move in a prescribed sequence, thereby functionally controlling airflow to the powertrain, and optimizing aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

Even the Vision T charging port can be considered a thing of beauty, the charging port (located on the passenger side rear quarter panel) features a sliding cover. When charging, “Blue Drive” is illuminated, indicating the system is actively charging. The battery state of charge is also visually indicated externally in a metered, circular light cluster, creating a complete circle appearance when fully charged.

Details of the Plug-in Hybrid powertrain, however, are still are scarce at this stage.


GIIAS 2017: Mitsubishi XM Production Model Set For Debut - To Be Called Expander?

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced yesterday that its new ‘small crossover MPV’ –
the XM
, will be making its global debut at the
25th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS)
.
Rumoured to be named the Mitsubishi Expander, the crossover promises to offer the comfort of an MPV with the rugged styling of an SUV. A 1.5-litre petrol engine has been confirmed as the vehicle's source of power.
All set to go on sale in Indonesia later this year, the crossover will feature Mitubishi’s Dynamic Shield design theme, large sculpted fenders, as well as a prominent ride height similar to an SUV.
Inside, Mitsubishi says that the ‘Expander’ is a seven-seater which will feature a fully optimised variable seating layout with enough space for seven adults, and a generous dose of gadgets.
According to Mitsubishi, the new model will be produced at its
new Indonesian factory in Bekasi Prefecture
, West Java.
Earlier reports
 have also revealed plans to develop a replacement model for the Nissan Livina family off the underpinnings of this new model.
No technical details have been revealed yet but we will be able to see the crossover in its full glory at the GIIAS which will be held from 10 to 20 August at the Indonesian Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD City, Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia.


Eco Mode, NIC and SAT - What do they do in the 2022 Proton Iriz And Persona?

The 2022 Persona and 2022 Iriz get some pretty useful transmission updates which should make it better to drive and make them go the distance but what does the Eco Mode, NIC and SAT do?

When Proton launched the facelift 2022
Iriz
 and
Persona
 earlier this month, a total of 200 parts were added/ enhanced on both models. Although much of its publicity was directed towards aesthetic upgrades, such as a new-look bumper and grille, a revised interior, voice control functions, and the introduction of an all-new lifestyle variant called the
Iriz Active
, the changes underneath the body were not covered as thoroughly.

However, at a virtual discussion with Proton's vehicle programme executive, Adzrai Aziz bin Ibrahim, we came to understand these performance improvements a little bit better, which Proton claims makes the current CVT transmission in the 2022 Persona/ Iriz up to
par with the competition
.

The
Iriz and Persona
 are good at many things, but one of the areas it falls short on compared to its
competitors
 is its fuel consumption. To address this, Proton gave the Iriz/persona some transmission software upgrades, which now provides the duo with new fuel-saving functions, namely the Neutral Idle Control (NIC) and Eco Mode.

The Eco Mode on the MC2 (Minor Change 2) vehicles is not to be confused with the Eco Driving Assist indicator previously seen on its predecessor. The Eco Driving Assist indicator merely informs the driver that they are driving economically, whereas the Eco Mode on the 2022 Iriz/ Persona disengages the
CVT
 clutch off-throttle at speeds under 70 km/h, allowing the car to coast, which saves fuel. It can be operated through a button on the dashboard and is not an automatic function.

The Neutral Idle Control is also another fuel-saving measure that disengages the clutch when the car is at a standstill, even if the driver has left the transmission in the D (drive) position. Idling in gear produces a load on the engine and worsens fuel efficiency, so having the clutch disengage itself when it stops alleviates fuel consumption. According to Adzrai, this feature will not harm the clutch but instead save it from unnecessary use.

According to Proton, the fuel savings over its predecessor is 11% for the Iriz, 12% for the Persona and 7% for the Active which is taller and heavier than the regular Iriz.

The final transmission performance enhancement that Proton has been working hard on is the stepped-ratio SAT function. Whereas a regular CVT would usually stay in high revs perpetually making you feel like you are stuck in a low gear, the stepped-ratio SAT function creates a stepped gear change feel where the revs go up and down just like in a normal automatic gearbox. According to Proton, this improves refinement and gives the illusion that the CVT is shifting, which is something that most of you prefer, according to a survey Proton commissioned.

As you can see, the 2022 Proton Iriz and 2022 Proton Persona are not merely aesthetic upgrades. Instead, improvements to its driveability, fuel consumption and NVH have also been made. So yes, no drivetrain hardware has been changed since the MC1 (2019) cars, but the software updates have given the facelift vehicles key improvements, which should make them more fuel-efficient and refined.

Some of you might say, why not just use the 4AT transmission in the
Saga facelift
 since it has been well received? Well, you'll have to stay tuned for that as an article regarding that exact question is coming soon!


VIDEO: 7 Minutes That Will Make You Want A Volvo, Now

Volvo
 Car Malaysia has just shared a very insightful video on its
Facebook page
. In just seven minutes, the clip takes you through the brand’s founding moments, to the monumental influence it is today in the automotive industry.
In Malaysia, it’s a bit unfortunate that an esteemed brand like Volvo doesn’t get around as much. Yes, they’re a bit more expensive for the good majority of us to afford, but that isn’t typically a fault of Volvo, is it? Anyways…
If you think it’s all about safety, well, you’re right. This video shows how Volvo begins everything with safety and environmental consciousness in mind. But who says you can’t be safe and environmentally friendly without a bucket-load of power and sex appeal? Take for example the car pictured above. Pretty darn sexy, wouldn't you say? Yes, it's a concept for now, but we understand that Volvo's next S90, which replaces the S80, will come of this. You've already seen the styling too on the all-new XC90 - Thor's hammer for headlamps, that grille design, and more.
Never mind what we can tell you. We’ll just let the makers of a triple-turbo four-pot pushing 450hp fill you in on every reason why you’d want a Volvo in seven minutes.


BM: Toyota Avanza – Video Pandu Uji oleh Roda Pusing

Baru-baru ini sahaja, ahli penulis
Carlist.my
 berkesempatan untuk menerbit laporan pandu uji versi
Toyota Avanza
 terbaru yang dilengkapi enjin moden VVT-i berkembar 1.5-liter.
Pada masa yang sama, sedang kami sibuk
curi tulang
 membuat penyelidikan melayan
Youtube
, terserempak unit kenderaan pandu uji yang sama, berdaftar BLL 4499 milik UMW Toyota Motor, dalam video terbitan rakan-rakan kami dari
Roda Pusing
.
Dipersembahkan oleh Albakry Salehudin, video yang cukup menghiburkan ini memberi perspektif baru kepada kami terhadap kelebihan MPV terbukti oleh Toyota ini. Pada kesimpulan beliau, jika dibandingkan dengan
Proton Exora
 yang lebih besar dan lebih berkuasa, Avanza ini lebih senang digunakan untuk pemanduan dalam bandar.
Menurut Albakry, susunatur mekanikal jenis pacuan roda belakang Avanza membolehkan MPV Toyota ini membolehkan roda depan dipusingkan pada sudut yang lebih besar; justeru membolehkan Avanza melengkapkan pusingan-U dengan jejari pusingan yang cukup kecil pada 4.7m.
Beri juga perhatian pada video selepas masa 2 minit di mana Albakry memasukkan dirinya di barisan tempat duduk ke-tiga. Mamat Albakry ini bukan kecil badannya; kagum kami tengok betapa senangnya dia boleh muat belakang sana.
Berikut pula, adalah kesimpulan kami dari
Carlist.my:
The original Avanza was a runaway success. It was a well-conceived product for its time and built on solid fundamentals. Toyota’s evident confidence in its own handiwork has seen the same formula carry on unchanged over the last decade and a half.
So, the Avanza remains the same dependable and versatile as it always was, but the harsh reality it faces is that the market and the competition have both moved on. Monocoque-based alternatives such as the
Grand Livina
 and
Perodua Alza
 offer comparable internal volume with the kind of driving refinement which the body-on-frame Avanza, despite its superior robustness, cannot match.
Whilst there will always be place in the market for the Avanza’s brand of dependable simplicity. It is a highly appealing choice of a workhorse – reliable, easy to use, and affordable to maintain
 –
 but don’t expect much beyond that.
Ikutan pautan berikut untuk
laporan penuh kami
.


Petronas Sets Up Mobile Workshops in Hospitals for Frontliners

Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB), via its subsidiary, Petronas Lubricants Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (PLMM), has set up mobile car service workshops at Hospital Sungai Buloh, University of Malaya Medical Centre, and Hospital Kuala Lumpur until the 28th April 2020 to provide convenient auto services to healthcare front-liners during this restricted period.

The initiative is part of Petronas’ corporate social responsibility programme in easing the burden of front-liners battling the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help them stay safe on the road.

During this period, the company will be offering free Petronas Syntium lubricant change for car engines, carried out by its appointed service provider, RessQ60Min powered by MyAssist.

Other services such as change of battery, oil or aircond filter and wipers are also made available at a chargeable rate.

Petronas will also be extending the same service at three of its AutoExpert outlets located in Sri Kembangan, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam to cater to healthcare front-liners who are within 10 kilometers of the vicinity.

PDB’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Azrul Osman Rani said, “Petronas appreciates the dedication and sacrifices made by the front-liners during these challenging times. Apart from the contribution of medical equipment and supplies, as well as food and beverage supply made earlier by the Group, we have now expanded it to include car servicing. We want them to be safe on the roads, and provide them with the comfort that their car is well-taken care of while they focus on attending to the patients.”

Earlier, Petronas Group, through its corporate social responsibility arm Yayasan PETRONAS, contributed RM20 million worth of medical equipment and supplies to help hospitals and healthcare front-liners mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

The Group had also reached out to 800 deserving families through a special initiative, the Sentuhan Kasih COVID-19 programme, providing food aid to the B40 community in Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan to ease their burden during the Movement Control Order period.

PDB has also been contributing cartons of Mesra Mineral Water and Mesra Bites buns to medical staff stationed at the COVID-19 Screening Centre at Hospital Sungai Buloh. Additionally, the Company also contributed cartons of Mesra Mineral Water to University of Malaya Medical Centre and Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Polis Diraja Malaysia and St. John Ambulance, as well as Mesra Bites buns to the Malaysian army.


New Mercedes-AMG SL 43 previewed in Malaysia - est RM1 million!

As if the launch of the refreshed
2023 Mercedes-Benz A 200 and A 250
 alongside the
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
 were not enough, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) threw in another surprise - the preview of the new Mercedes-AMG SL 43 roadster.

70 years of development have led to the birth of the new SL 43 which is said to offer enhanced levels of sportiness and luxury all wrapped within a very attractive facade. Even the tech has been upgraded with some gizmos from Formula 1.

Despite being an entry-level model in the series, the Mercedes-AMG SL 43 is not a small fry by any means. It's actually the first series-produced vehicle to feature an electric exhaust gas turbocharger that offers the best of both worlds between a small yet fast-responding supercharger and a larger supercharger that offers peak power but with delayed delivery.

This is then paired to a 1,991cc four-cylinder engine that churns out 381hp and 480Nm of torque. In addition to this, there's also the RSG electric motor that adds 14hp and 150Nm for certain driving situations that require that extra boost as well the AMG Speedshift MCT 9G transmission.

The result? A 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 275km/h. It's a nimble beast too thanks to other inclusions like sports suspension (the first Mercedes-AMG to feature a multi-link front axle with five links arranged entirely within the rim), an integrated rear wing that can automatically extend, and other bits and pieces.

Going to the looks, the AMG SL 43 comes with a more striking front end that also features the AMG-specific radiator grille. The new design language specifically curated for the SL 43 also resulted in other notable exterior appearances such as the long wheelbase and bonnet, short overhangs, and a pronounced and rear end.

The specific proportions were all carefully considered so that it'll look excellent no matter the position of the three-layer fabric soft top. To open, it only takes 15 seconds and up to 60km/h for the black soft top to fold into the space-saving Z-fold format.

On the inside, the "hyperanalogue" cockpit comes standard with luxury seats and a fully-digital instrument cluster that was designed to look like a powerful wing positioned in the upper and lower sections. Even the 12.3-inch LCD screen was designed to be integrated with the high-tech visor to avoid any unwanted glares and reflections while driving with the top down.

Other interior highlights include:

AMG Performance Steering Wheel (Nappa leather)

Adjustable luxury seats (Black Nappa leather)

AMG aluminium trim + more

With an estimated price tag of around RM1,000,000 (OTR without insurance), the new Mercedes-AMG SL 43 roadster comes in 12 different colour options plus two exclusive SL colourways - Hyper Blue Metallic and MANUFAKTUR Monza Grey Magno.


Detroit 2019: Infiniti Previews The QX Inspiration Concept

Infiniti has released two coloured images for their upcoming all-electric (EV) vehicle, which is set to be officially unveiled at the Detroit 2019 motor show.
Karim Habib, Executive Design Director at Infiniti says, "QX Inspiration is the beginning of a new era for Infiniti, and an illustration of where we want to go with the brand. New technology has given us the opportunity to evolve our design philosophy – and the new vehicle communicates the 'serene strength' at our core."
Without releasing images of the interior, Infiniti says the cabin of the QX Inspiration concept has hand-crafted using traditional techniques and a choice of materials inspired by a subtle Japanese sensuality. New interior technology follows the Japanese hospitality principle of ‘omotenashi’ creating a welcoming environment, while assisting drivers and connecting occupants to the world around them.
While Infiniti is set to just unveil
another concept vehicle
, traditional premium manufacturers already have production-ready EV SUV offerings- Audi recently launched
the e-
tron
, Mercedes-Benz will offer the
EQC by the end of the year
, and
Jaguar i-Pace
 is supporting the all-electric Formula E championship with its own one-make race.
Volvo meanwhile is set to launch an
 all-electric XC40
, the first EV model to bear the iron mark symbol on the grille.
Infiniti will share more details on the QX Inspiration concept on the opening day of Detroit 2019, scheduled for January 14th.


No Increase In Taxi Fare Rates For Now Says SPAD

A request by taxi operators to increase the rate of taxi fares in Malaysia has been rejected by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), citing that the current rates are sufficient as it is structured to suit the industry.
According to
theSun
, SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Akbar said “The
last fare revision in March
 was done after factoring in the expected increase in the price of natural gas (CNG) in September.”
This was in response to taxi drivers, who listed the hike in natural gas prices, the Goods & Services Tax applicable on servicing their vehicles, and yearly inspection as reasons to demand for another increase in the fares.
Yesterday, a group of taxi drivers
submitted a memorandum to the SPAD’s Central Region office
 in Kelana Jaya with the aim of making the commission highlight their dilemma to the Consumer Ministry, Customs Department, Finance Ministry, Puspakom, and Transport Ministry.
The taxi drivers’ demands include either the government decrease the price of natural gas or provide them with a subsidies, and exemption from GST charges when sending their taxis for Puspakom inspection including the daily rental fee paid to taxi companies.
“It was quite alright from the last fare revision in March. But now it is back to square one since the NGV cost has significantly increased from 68 cents per litre to RM1.05. We have been suffering a lot," Port Klang Taxi and Hired Cars Association president Mohd Jani Kamis said, after handing over the memorandum to SPAD central region head Kamaruddin Khairi today.
"Our livelihood is at stake because of these mobile app such as Uber, Grabcar, Eazytaxi and others have been affecting our income up to 30%. Lately, we are feeling the heat as getting customers are not as frequent like before. We have been monitoring the ride-sharing apps for quite some time and we notice they are almost everywhere in the suburbs in the Klang Valley" claimed Mohd Jani.


BMW Makes The World's Largest Kidney Grille Seen Above Frankfurt Airport

Not to be overshadowed,
BMW
 made sure that its appearance at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show was seen by everyone flying into the German city’s airport by creating an airfield poster that measures 146 metres long and 206 metres wide.
This unconventional marketing effort kicks off the launch campaign of the new
BMW 7-Series
. The 30,000 square meter poster is located right in the line sight for aircraft approaching the Frankfurt Airport’s north-western runway, giving air passengers a glimpse of what BMW has in store at the annual motor show there.
It isn’t only the largest poster in the world right now but BMW says it pushes the envelope marketing campaign methods. The project came together as a result of close cooperation with a large number of regional and trans-regional creative agencies, as well as local communities and citizens.
For the structure to withstand strong winds while being sensitive of local plant and animal life, an innovative assembly technology that had not been used before was applied. Despite appearing as a unbroken image from the air, the poster consists of 100 individual prints fitted together on an adjoining field of Frankfurt Airport.
“The new
BMW 7 Series
 is the most innovative sedan in the automotive luxury class,” according to Stefanie Wurst, head of Marketing BMW Germany: “We want to underline this and emphasise the car’s importance to the BMW brand with this large-format, innovative form of advertising.”


VIDEO: Meet MARTY, The Awesome Self-Driving And Self-Drifting DeLorean

Stanford University is known for fostering some great technical minds, feeding the growth of the Silicon Valley’s seemingly insatiable demand for the best and brightest. This time, some students (under the direction of their Professor, Dr. Chris Gerdes) have unveiled MARTY, their fast and furious (and intelligent) DeLorean DMC-12.
Them taking the wraps off their own DeLorean now, during the throws of ‘Back To The Future Day’ (October 21st, 2015) is no coincidence, paying tribute to the popular 80s film series and its iconic time-travelling vehicle, not to mention naming it after its main protagonist.
The team received help from the university’s Revs Program and Renovo Motors. With MARTY (short for Multiple Actuator Research Test bed for Yaw control), they have transformed the DMC-12 into a high-performance, electrically-powered research test bed to push the limits of autonomous driving.
The car was designed to go drifting. And much like in the Back To The Future movie where Doc Brown cites the DeLorean’s stainless steel construction being ideal for ‘flux dispersal’, the this DeLorean’s rear-mounted powertrain hold made it ideal for throwing the car’s weight into a drift.
But the DeLorean’s original V6 engine and transmission were taken out to make room for an high-powered electric motor from Renovo that delivers an insane torque output of 5423Nm, apparently. When it comes to breaking traction and spinning up those rear wheels, we suppose you can never have too much torque.
The car’s steering system was also swapped out for a computer controlled circuit that could hydraulically actuate wheel angle with millisecond reaction times. But all that would mean nothing if the car’s programming did not sense what steering alteration to input during a given drift angle, grip level, and motor output.
But looking at the video, it looks like they’ve nailed. The fist bump gives it away.
Professor Gerdes said: "The laws of physics will limit what the car can do, but we think the software should be capable of any possible maneuver within those limits. MARTY is another step in this direction thanks to the passion and hard work of our students. Stanford builds great research by building great researchers,"
MARTY has been tested for its autonomous drifting capabilities in wide open spaces but in the future the Stanford team wants to train the programming to drift around a track – won’t that be an amazing thing to behold!
Gerdes hopes that the car will eventually be able to compete against human drifters in a drift tournament with the best of them. They’re off to a great start so far.
Minor note: I wish they’d kept the original DeLorean’s rims.


Honda pays tribute to Sonic on his 25th Anniversary

For those who grew up in the early 90s, Sonic was a huge thing. This was before the days of first person shooters, massively multiplayer online games, and real time strategy- Sonic was simple and pure, and from the character spawned numerous games and shows and movies.
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the little speed demon, and to commemorate this Honda of America has done up a Civic in tribute. A large Sonic vinyl runs along the side, blending seamlessly with the bodywork and paintwork. There has also been significant lowering and a custom exhaust in place of the standard setup.
No doubt to draw links between the sportiness and speed of the 10th generation turbocharged Civics, this one-off model has numerous aesthetic changes both on the inside and out. The base colour is blue- similar to the skin colour of Sonic himself. Up front there are gold coloured wheels to represent the rings that Sonic collects, while a red-and-white rim at the back are meant to emulate his running shoes.
On the inside, the seats have been completely redone in Katzkin Blue Leather, with embroidered “Sonic the Hedgehog” 25
th
 Anniversary logos on the headrests. The trunk also sports an improved Rockford Fosgate audio-visual system, kitted out with subwoofers, amplifiers, and a 32-inch television set to play classic Sonic the Hedgehog games. Not only is it a nice touch for the fans, it also shows off the Civic’s immense boot space.
For the designers involved in the project, there was plenty of sentimental value placed in putting the car together- after all, most of them had grown up with the blue hedgehog during the earliest days of console gaming. The Civic will be on display at SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary event in San Diego.


Elon Wants To Supply Powertrain, Batteries And Software To Other Auto Makers, But Who'd Be Crazy Enough To Accept?

Elon Musk is a smart businessman who is willing to take risks. He is also considered a visionary who has been known to think two to three steps ahead.

The recent news of him saying that he is willing to supply powertrains and batteries to automakers is no surprise really because we have always thought that Tesla Inc was a platform to build EV technology on top of their primary business which is to sell cars.

This is pertaining to the recent comment that Elon made in response to Teslarati.com's article about how Volkswagen is admitting that they trail Tesla's EV tech by ten years.

"Perhaps the most prominent relationship between Tesla and a German car company lies within Volkswagen's executives. VW chairman Herbert Diess is an outspoken fan of Elon Musk and has admired the work the South African Tesla frontman has done to combat the spread of dangerous greenhouse gases. Despite the respect that Volkswagen has for Tesla and Musk, the German car company has admitted that they trail by ten years. However, Volkswagen executives believe they can catch up," wrote Teslarati.com.

In a typical Elon move which saw him responding to Teslarati's social media posting about the article, Elon replied saying that "Tesla is open to licensing software and supplying batteries and powertrain". He even went as far as saying that Tesla would be willing to license Autopilot out to other manufacturers despite saying in the past that it would be challenging to implement.

This comment by Elon is not so far fetched because it's not like Tesla has not done it before. Tesla used to supply powertrains and batteries to Toyota and Mercedes Benz, but this was when the two automotive giants had shares in Tesla. It all ended in 2015 after all of them agreed to end the partnership.

We can't blame the German and Japanese automakers for ending the alliance because what happened in 2014 really did show us the dark side of Tesla. In 2014 Elon actually opened sourced Tesla's patents to help other automakers speed up their electric vehicle programme.

What seemed to be goodwill in nature turned sour because it was not open-sourcing in its truest sense. Tesla said that they would not sue any company that used their patents, so Chinese automaker Xpeng used it and openly admitted it. Tesla ended up suing them even if it was technically for stealing the Autopilot source code.

Would any company want to work with Tesla ever again? Perhaps a small boutique EV automaker would because if they managed to source the powertrain and battery from Tesla, they can pretty much source other components from companies like Brembo, Bosch, etc to make a car without needing to invest in R&D and factories. Perhaps a good example of this is the Drako electric car.

For the uninitiated, Teslarati is the leading source for Tesla news, rumors and reviews. They also cover the latest developments in the world of SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the premium EV market.


Review: 2016 F20 BMW 118i LCI – Is This The 1 For You?

For a company that pioneered the art of marketing premium cars to young people, BMW has been uncharacteristically weak in the entry level premium compact cars segment. The company that wrote the history books with its segment defining 3 Series had somehow lost the plot to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A3 when it comes to selling downsized premium cars to a new generation of Gen-Y buyers.
Apart from the 135i and 1M, the previous generation E87 1 Series was a rather forgettable model – it just wasn’t pretty enough, wasn't really comfortable, and its rather basic specifications didn't meet many Malaysians' expectations of a BMW.
This new, prettier looking F20 generation 1 Series LCI – BMW’s acronym for a mid-lifecycle update – is BMW’s latest attempt to regain some lost ground in the segment.
Specifications for BMW 118i Sport LCI
Price: RM173,800 excluding insurance
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
Origin: Locally assembled in Kulim, Kedah
Overview
Priced at just RM173,800 excluding insurance, the locally-assembled 118i significantly undercuts the  imported RM195,888
Mercedes-Benz A180
 and the RM186,900
Audi A3 Sedan
 – which will
soon be replaced by a new A3
 model. The A-Class is imported from two locations; Kecskemet, Hungary or Rastatt, Germany, while the A3 is imported from Ingolstadt, Germany.
Among the trio, the 118i is not only the most affordable, but also offers the longest warranty, 5 years with unlimited mileage, plus a 5-year free maintenance package (does not cover brake pads, tyres, battery, and wipers).
One could also stretch the definition of premium a bit further to also include the
Volvo V40
, which starts from RM175,888.
Sitting above the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo 118i Sport is the 120i M Sport, which costs RM30k more, and is powered by a larger 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo built by Peugeot. However as you will read in further detail below, the 118i is good enough. Why would you want to buy a BMW with an engine built by Peugeot when you can buy one with a newer, BMW-developed engine at a lower price?
Against its peers, the 1 Series stands out as the only model in the segment that’s rear-wheel driven, a unique trait that will not be carried over to the next generation 1 Series - due sometime around 2018 - which will adopt a new front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive platform that’s already underpinning the
all-new F48 BMW X1
.
So there is a good chance that this will be a collector’s item in the future. If you like what you see here, head to your nearest BMW dealer soon because there will never be another 1 Series that drives like this anymore in the future.
Exterior
If you look at BMW first as a maker of premium cars (as opposed to a maker of driver’s cars), then you won’t like the 1 Series LCI. It just doesn’t look as expensive as an A-Class or an A3.
Keen drivers however, will understand what 1 Series is about with just one glance. The overhangs are short, the nose is long, with most of the car’s ‘visual mass’ pushed to the rear – all hallmarks that hint towards a rear-wheel drive performance-oriented car. Trying to squeeze all these elements within a compact hatchback silhouette however, is not going to be easy.
It took BMW one and a half generations to execute the design concept correctly. The new LCI model’s LED headlamps, wider grille and tail lamps have finally given the 1 Series a more proportionate look. No more odd ‘angry bird’ face look.
Interior
Like many BMWs, the 1 Series’s interior is the car’s weakest area. Something is clearly not right when a
Mazda 2
 feels more expensive than a BMW 1 Series. It’s not that the BMW’s cabin feels poor, but Mazda have worked very hard to close the gap and BMW needs to do more to justify its premium price.
Both the A-Class and A3 trumps the 1 Series as far as interior design is concerned. The BMW just doesn’t feel as expensive as the Mercedes-Benz or Audi.
It’s not all disaster though. The 1 Series’s interior is still the most user friendly. First time BMW owners will appreciate the short learning curve to familiarise oneself with the 1 Series’s controls. Every button and switchgear is laid out in a very user-friendly manner, and are more intuitive to operate than in the A-Class.
The 1 Series also has one more thing that only keen drivers will appreciate – a proper mechanically operated handbrake.
This being a BMW, especially a rear-wheel drive one, don’t expect to enjoy the same level of interior space and practicality as you would in say a
Honda Jazz
. There is a small centre console box and a pair cup holders in front. Together they offer just the right amount of space for a driver’s belonging. The keyword is ‘just.’
Technically the 1 Series is a five-seater hatchback but the car is almost strictly a four-seater. The transmission tunnel intrudes quite a bit into the cabin, and the centre rear seat is only suitable for short journeys.
If you must compare, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is not any more spacious, despite riding on a supposedly more space efficient front-wheel drive platform. The Audi A3 Sedan is marginally more spacious inside.
The 118i’s boot however, is surprisingly spacious, even when compared to front-wheel drive hatchbacks.
Driving experience
Whatever shortcomings I found with the 118i’s interior, I have completely forgiven about them the moment I drove it out on the open road.
The market might compare this against the A-Class and the A3, but as far as joy of driving is concerned, the 118i is peerless. Stuttgart and Ingolstadt doesn’t even come close to matching the Munich’s 118i.
No three-cylinder engine should drive this well. Three-cylinder engines are supposed to be inherently unbalanced, and sound like a rattling sewing machine, not for this B38 three potter.
The engine nerds at Munich certainly deserve a big raise. Forget about the Peugeot-built 1.6-litre four cylinder turbo in the 120i. This three-cylinder is the future and this is proper BMW stuff – it’s lightweight, fuel efficient, and packs a punch.
It might have one less cylinder and 96cc smaller in capacity, but this 1.5-litre three potter is far more responsive than the 1.6-litre four potter in the
Mercedes-Benz A180
 that we’ve tested recently. Despite its conservative tuning, the A180 has a surprisingly high level of turbo lag.
In contrast, the 118i’s revs quickly as soon as you punched the throttle. It’s not as fast as an ‘old school’ normally aspirated BMW engine, but faster than the
BMW 330i M Sport
 (which has a much higher boost level so something has to give) that we’ve tested recently. It pulls with sufficient level of eagerness and highway speeds are easily maintained with little effort.
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 hands and feet.
It might have only 136 hp but I am smiling and giggling away in the 118i more than I did when I was behind a far more powerful but less engaging 220 PS
Volkswagen Golf GTI
. Sheer Driving Pleasure is not a just tagline, it’s a genuine promise.
The chassis has a wide breadth of talents. It is able to strike the tricky balance between agility and comfort in ways the harsher riding Mercedes-Benz can’t. Pitch it into a set of corners and the 118i tracks your intended path with minimal slack, and a sprinkle of charisma in its behaviour. Yes, in this age of trick differentials and Nurburgring lap record setting front-wheel drive cars, rear-wheel drive isn’t that much faster anymore, but get behind the wheel of the 118i, and you will be reminded of the certain level of telepathic appeal that only a rear-wheel drive car can deliver.
How comfortable is it?
On straight highways, the rear axle can feel a tad busy, and the cabin is not quite as quiet as what you would expect from a BMW. There’s a fair bit of wind and road noise intrusion, especially from the rear, reminding you that this is still an entry level BMW.  It’s not a car for long distance cruising, which is a pity because the seats were rather comfortable for a compact premium car. If that's a deal breaker, you might also want to know that the same amount of money buys you a one- or two-year old certified pre-owned
F30 BMW 320i
.
The leather seats provided good support in all key pressure points, and were more comfortable on the skin than the A180’s half leather, half fabric seats.
On most road surfaces, the 118i’s suspension is supple enough to iron out most imperfections on the tarmac. It’s a setup that’s very easy to live with in daily urban driving, and is definitely more comfortable than the A-Class.
How economical is it?
On paper, turbocharged engines are very economical, but in reality, turbocharged engines can be quite thirsty, especially in urban driving, but BMW engines are one of the few exceptions.
The 118i is no different, averaging a rather commendable 11 km/litre (about 9-littre/100 km), even after being subjected to the typical test drive routine split among three drivers, most of which done in Sport mode. When driven in Eco Pro mode, we recorded up to 13 km/litre (about 7.6-litre/100 km).
Lift off the throttle, and the 8-speed automatic transmission disengages to save fuel, dropping the rev counter idle. It reengages with no noticeable lag at the slightest touch of the throttle.
The 5-year warranty and 5-year free maintenance package also makes the purchase decision a lot simpler. This is after all a BMW, you can’t expect to pay Honda money for maintenance.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a car to impress the neighbours, your future in-laws, or your friends, don’t bother with the 1 Series. The prettier, more expensive looking
Mercedes-Benz A180
 and Audi A3 Sedan 1.4 TFSI will serve you better on that front.
The 1 Series is not for everybody. Its main highlight is the depth of its talent in ride and handling, a trait that’s not at the top of the priority for most people shopping in this segment, many of whom simply want a pretty looking car with an expensive badge on it.
If however you are looking for sheer driving pleasure, the 118i is peerless. None of its peers are as engaging to drive, none speaks to a keen driver’s emotions the way clasping your hands around the 118i’s steering wheel can. When the revs build, your heart beats faster, your brain lets out a little bit more dopamine pleasure hormone, your hips feeling every movement of the agile chassis, whatever shortcomings of the 118i’s interior and exterior looks fades away.
With the next generation 1 Series switching to front-wheel drive, this F20 generation 1 Series has high chances of becoming a collector's item in the future, with the
M135i
 being the most coveted one. It's even better if it's fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission, which is becoming increasingly rare even in performance cars. If you can’t afford that, this 118i is good enough.


Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Arrives In Malaysia - Size Options 17-19-Inch, Starting At RM700 Per Tyre

Michelin Malaysia has launched the Michelin Pilot Sport 5, the fifth-generation version of their high-performance Pilot Sport tyres targeted at high-performance sports cars and sedans.

The new Michelin Pilot Sport 5 will be available starting April 4, 2022, and is available in 26 sizes, from 17 to 19-inch, at
authorized Michelin distribution centres nationwide
. In addition, 21 more sizes ranging from 17 to 21-inch will be offered by the end of the year.

Michelin says the new tyre is formulated to last longer, thus
differentiating it from other brands
. It was also made for drivers who want performance and sporty driving, taking inspiration from motorsports. Michelin Pilot Sport 5 also won the Contemporary Good Design Award 2021.

Michelin Malaysia’s Managing Director, Oliver Biggart, said, “With the Michelin Pilot Sport 5, Michelin further strengthens our complete and best overall high-performance Pilot Sport range, with ‘Performance Made to Last’ being our key differentiator. Inspired by motorsports, the tyre is

perfect for drivers who demand sporty driving performance and expect nothing but the best. What’s more, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 goes one step further in aesthetics, as evidenced by its 2021 Contemporary Good Design Award – one of the world’s most prestigious international design

awards.”

The recommended retail price starts from RM 700 to RM1,900 per unit.

Key benefits of the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 include:

Long-lasting
 tyre grip, as the tyre offers maximum control with excellent grip and braking performance on wet and dry ground – thanks to the Dual Sport Tread Design technology.

Dynamic Response technology that features a hybrid aramid and nylon belt for optimum transmission of steering instructions onto the road; and the MaxTouch Construction that maximizes the tyre’s contact with the road and evenly distributes the forces of acceleration, braking, and cornering – delivering longer tread life without sacrificing performance.

Premium Touch Sidewall Design that creates a sleek, matte-black aesthetic with a velvet-like micro texture; and the Wear2Check, an easy-to-find and easy-to-read tread wear indicator designed to facilitate monitoring and to help drivers to optimize the longevity potential of the tyre.


"MRT Project Was Overdesigned" - Anthony Loke

Former transport minister,
Anthony Loke
, stated the
PH government
 tried to improve the country's public transportation services, including
MRT
.

In an interview with the
Malay Mail
, Loke was defending the PH administration against the 'misconceptions' churned out by its political rivals. The claims were targeted at PH over the 'delaying' of certain public transportation projects like the
East Coast Rail Link (ECRL)
,
High Speed Rail (HSR)
 from KL to Singapore, and
Johor Baru-Singapore rapid transit system
.

*Image credit: The Star

No transparency in the ECRL contract & project

According to Loke, "The entire contract and the entire project (ECRL) was executed without any transparency. I mean when I was the minister of transport, even officers from SPAD cannot answer me, they were in the dark. They just took decisions from the Prime Minister’s Office to execute the whole thing without much deliberation."

Regarding the Johor Baru-Singapore rapid transit system, Loke further explained that the two-year delay during their time in power was used to renegotiate with Singapore for terms that are more favourable and beneficial for Malaysia.

MRT project was overdesigned?

Pertaining the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Loke stated that the PH government at the time was focused on making the trains and stations more functional. During their period as the government, PH wanted to ensure that these public transport projects are more user-friendly whilst managing costs.

"In the past the MRT project was overdesigned, I think many people agree it was overdesigned in terms of the station and train and so on, it was overdesigned. So we took a more progressive approach in order to cut costs, so we want to make sure for example the MRT stations should be more functional instead of being grandiose, instead of being overdesigned, so that’s the approach we have taken, so I did not think it was really a mistake in that,” added Loke.

*Image credit: The Star

PH was never against public transportation

After explaining that the HSR project was not terminated by PH but Muhyiddin's government (Perikatan Nasional), PH's main concerns during their time from 2018 to 2020 were to make sure that all public transportation services here in Malaysia were to be safer and more affordable, plus other things like figuring out the 'first and last mile' conundrum.

"Those are the issues that we really focus and try to do things differently to ensure the public can appreciate public transport more, of course things are not perfect, we could have done more, we could have done better,” Loke concluded.


Volkswagen Names New Seven Seater Crossover - The Atlas

The first Volkswagen MQB platform model to be built in USA will be named Atlas - German news site
Automobilwoche
 reports. VW’s new midsize crossover, which is also rumoured to be called the
VW
Teramont
 in the Chinese market, is slated for production beginning late this year and leads VW’s charge of reviving the brand’s fortunes and credibility in the North American region.
The Atlas, which first previewed in the US at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show as the CrossBlue concept is scheduled to go on sale towards the end of Q1 2017. The name Atlas also breaks VW’s tradition of naming SUVs starting with the letter ‘T’, such as Tiguan and
Touareg
.
The Atlas signifies a rare occasion when Wolfsburg has allowed the regional hub discretion in naming their product. VW Group America filled applications for the name with the US government in April of this year.
The Atlas which is to be built at VW’s Chattanooga plant in Tennessee, is a seven-seater mid-size crossover which would replace the ageing
Tiguan
. After the Atlas, a larger, redesigned Tiguan will go on sale, tentatively in mid-2017, giving VW a significant footprint in the huge crossover market.


Tesla Falls Short Of 2020 Target

Tesla fell short of their 2020 target, but Elon Musk is still proud of achieving a milestone.

When Tesla released their first car in 2008, no one thought that 12 years down the line, they would be delivering nearly 500,000 vehicles in a year.

Well, despite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Tesla's annual sales went up by 36 percent last year, which saw them
deliver
 499,500 cars in a year when most of the world was in disarray due to the ongoing pandemic.

The most valuable auto company in 2020 delivered 180,570 SUVs and sedans from October through December, breaking their own record of vehicles delivered in a quarter.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, set this
500,000 target
 before COVID-19, so to be hitting just 500 vehicles shy off the target is still quite an achievement considering the year we've had.

In the first three quarters of the year, Tesla reported that they delivered just over
318,000
 vehicles worldwide, including a record 139,300 in the third quarter. To reach their target of half a million, Tesla would have had to go into overtime and surpass the previous record of 181,650 vehicles delivered in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The sales numbers by the end of December were agonisingly close to the target numbers which prompted Elon to offer a tempting deal on the last day of the year.

Elon tried to ramp up sales by making the market an offer that most can't refuse. In typical Elon fashion, he tweeted that all Tesla cars delivered in the last few days of the year would get three months of the company’s “full self-driving” option for free. This is usually a USD10,000 option.

Although the "full self-driving option is still in its beta phase, it pretty much lets the car drive itself, including actively guiding Tesla cars from a highway’s on-ramp to off-ramp, suggesting lane changes, navigating interchanges, automatically engaging the turn signal and taking the correct exit.

Currently selected customers are testing the self-driving software on public roads but Tesla warns that customers are still responsible for driving the vehicles.

Tesla enthusiast, Whole Mars Catalog posted a video showing their FSD-equipped (Tesla's term for ADAS) Model 3 completing a trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles with virtually no interventions.

Full self-driving aside, Elon was still proud of the numbers reached and tweeted “So proud of the Tesla team for achieving this major milestone! At the start of Tesla, I thought we had (optimistically) a 10% chance of surviving at all.”


Five Reasons Why People Want The New Suzuki Jimny Right Now!

It's cute, it's compact, and it effortlessly heads off-road. That's right - it's the Suzuki Jimny!

Suzuki isn't a brand that's known particularly well for its cars. Sure, there was the absolutely AMAZING Suzuki Swift Sport, which gave us three incredible modern warm hatchbacks. There was the Kizashi, which was a little too big and thirsty for most Malaysian's appetites. Of course, there was the SX4 - which also proved to be less than stellar with fuel.

But there is one model from Suzuki that has incredible history - decades, even. It's the Jimny, a compact little off-roader that been around since the 1970s. When you think about the fact that there have only been four generations of Jimny across half a century, that works out to a little over 13 years a generation on average.

So what makes the
fourth-generation Jimny
 such a loved car in the eyes of off-roaders around the world - Malaysia included? Here are five reasons why:

Cult Classic

The Jimny may have started out as a car for the people - after all, the vast majority of engine options fell into the "kei" car bracket of being under 700 cc in displacement. The powertrains weren't all too strong - just 26 to 42 hp for the first generation, 52 to 85 hp for the second generation, and 80 to 86 hp for the third generation - but these mini-Jeep looking things were the choice of many to head off the beaten path. Even with this fourth-generation model, you get a ladder frame chassis with a 3-link live axle at the front and rear, and a low range transfer case.

Modern Interior?

The exterior may be as functional as they come, but the inside is also as modern as you could hope for such a compact car. Just look at it! A large central screen, simple physical controls for the air conditioning and blower, and simple plastic trim pieces that look great in addition to being easily cleaned if you happen to get them dirty. No, sitting in a Jimny for an extended period of time is going to be a joy more than a chore.

Undeniable Style

While the third-generation Jimny took more of a mass-market approach to styling during its 1998 to 2017 production run, the fourth generation has returned to the traditional two-box shape, with retro-esque styling in its sharper edges and more defined lines. It is exactly as you would imagine a shrunken Jeep Wrangler to look - with no loss in functionality.

Bodykits?!

Yes, the Jimny is one of those rare cars that form the basis for some interesting body kits which completely transforms the way it looks. The Mini G kit from Liberty Walk does an incredible job of making the Jimny look exactly like a tiny G Wagen, and if that doesn't get your heart racing we don't know what will.

Endless Potential

If going with a preset style isn't your speed, then let the boys and girls from NATS show you how far you can go with the fourth-generation Jimny. Pictured here are their two projects from the 2019 and 2020 editions of Tokyo Auto Salon - the Jimny Easy Camper is pictured here upfront, with the Jimny Adventure trailing closely behind.

The fact that these two vehicles exist shows you just how broad the spectrum of Jimny modification is - and as you can imagine, both vehicles have their strong suits. It may not be the most passenger-car esque option for you, but in the same vein as MINI hatchbacks and Volkswagen Beetles - sometimes expressing your personal style should be a priority.

Will we get the Suzuki Jimny here in an official capacity at all? It's hard to say as ownership of the Suzuki automobile brand in Malaysia still hasn't quite been confirmed. It was initially meant to go to Naza Group, but all has been quiet since the news first broke around mid-2020. We can still hold out hope, or check out the ten examples
we have for sale in our listings
!

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

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

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


Review: 2016 Honda Civic driven in Thailand – The Final Piece of the Puzzle

If we look at
Honda
’s product portfolio in Malaysia at the moment, almost every model is a best-seller in its respective segment. Somehow, the brand has managed to get things right and tickle Malaysian car buyers in the right spots with its offerings and Voila! – the
CR-V
,
HR-V
,
City
,
Accord
, and
Jazz
 became favourites, elevating Honda to the number-one spot among non-national manufacturers.

However, in the midst of all the success, one model was in despair, finding it impossible to keep up with its siblings in the stable –
the ninth-generation Civic
. While its predecessor - the
Civic FD
 was a huge success, Honda took a few steps back with the FD and basically shot itself in the foot. Truth be told, it wasn’t even half as desirable as the FD.

Fortunately, Honda got the message. And its response is what you’re looking at now – the 10
th
 incarnation of the Civic, which looks so good that it had most of us screaming ‘shut up and take my money’ the moment we saw it.

But wait, there’s more…

For the first time, the Honda Civic gets a 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC engine. Yes, you read that right. Since Mazda has its SkyActiv technology to brag about and Ford has the EcoBoost, it was about time Honda brought something just as impressive to the table. So, there you have it – a Honda Civic with VTEC Turbo; every Honda fan's wet-dream-come-true.

But is it really as impressive as it sounds?

To find out, we got our hands on the Thai-spec models in Chiangmai earlier this month.

Specifications

Civic 1.8 i-VTEC

Engine: 1.8-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated, 4-cylinder petrol

Max power: 141PS at 6,500rpm

Max torque: 174Nm at 4,200rpm

Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Price: TBA

Civic 1.5 VTEC Turbo

Engine: 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged

Max power: 173PS at 5,500rpm

Max torque: 220Nm from 1,700rpm to 5,500rpm

Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Price: TBA

Overview

All set to be unveiled within the next few weeks, the 10
th
 generation Honda Civic has been completely redesigned from ground up, featuring a fresh new design that finally outshines the FD.

Besides a new platform and new design, the big news with the car is that it gets a new 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine which delivers 173PS and 220Nm of torque. Additionally, this is the first engine where Honda Malaysia adopted the direct injection system. Mated to the 1.5L powertrain is a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

On the other hand, there is the 1.8L i-VTEC engine which is being carried over from the ninth generation Civic - producing 141PS and 174Nm of torque and paired with CVT transmission.

So, similar to the Thai market, the Civic will most likely be offered in two engine options – 1.8 i-VTEC and the 1.5 VTEC Turbo, both paired with a CVT.

Expected to be priced somewhere between the HR-V (tops at RM122,200) and the Accord (starting at RM141,000), the new Civic’s closest rivals will be the new
Ford Focus
, the Toyota
Corolla Altis
, the
Mazda3
, and also the
VW Jetta 1.4 TSI
.

Exterior

Measuring 4,630mm in length, 1,799mm in width and 1,416mm in height with a wheelbase length of 2,698mm, the new Civic is 105mm longer, 44mm wider, and 19mm lower than the outgoing model. The wheelbase length on the other hand, has increased by 30mm.

And this is how it measures against its competition:

Model

Length (mm)

Width(mm)

Height (mm)

Wheelbase (mm)

Honda Civic

4,630

1,799

1,416

2,698

Ford Focus Sedan

4,556

1,823

1,469

2,648

Toyota Corolla Altis

4,620

1,775

1,460

2,700

Mazda3 Sedan

4,580

1,795

1,450

2,700

Volkswagen Jetta

4,659

1,778

1,482

2,791

Design wise, the new Civic is arguably the best looking one yet. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that would be one of the best looking Japanese cars in the market.

Unlike most of its rivals that look like either a bigger or smaller version of another model (in the name of so-called design philosophies), the 10
th
 gen Civic looks very original. Plus, it did not remind us of any other model, and that is exactly what we love the most about its design.

Looking at the Thai-spec models which we drove, the 1.8 variant comes with chromed front grille, 16-inch tyres, halogen headlamps, multi-spoke wheels, and no rear spoiler. The ‘RS’ or the VTEC Turbo came with more goodies like LED lights in front and at the rear, Daytime Running Lights, black grille, a ‘floating’ rear spoiler, as well as 17-inch wheels.

For our market, the specifications list have not been announced yet, but Honda Malaysia did announce that full LED headlights and LED DRLs will be offered.

Interior

Inside, the Civic’s cabin has been completely redesigned, looking similar to the one in the City and the Jazz. As flashy as the car looks on the outside, the cabin looked simpler than what we expected.

There were a few major differences between the 1.8 and the 1.5 Turbo in terms of features. For instance, the 1.8 variant came with fabric seats, analogue instrument panel with a small digital display, a more conventional centre-cluster with both touch-screen and levers to control the air-conditioning and audio system, and manually adjustable seats.

The range-topping variant in Thailand on the other hand came with fully-digital instrument panel, a digital centre-stack with touch-sensitive controls for audio and air-conditioning (similar to the high-spec City), paddle shifters, powered leather seats, two USB ports (opposed to the 1.8’s one), and dual zone climate control.

Once again, we would like to remind you that these were Thai-spec cars and the list of features may vary from what will be offered in Malaysia.

Other than that, it was a very comfortable and spacious car to be in. Visibility was top-notch, thanks to the redesigned ‘slim’ A-Pillar Honda is very proud of. Rear legroom has increased by 27mm from the outgoing model. So, it was very comfortable even for lanky individuals to sit through long journeys.

If we are to compare the new Civic’s cabin with its rivals, its biggest strength is space – both for occupants and objects. The boot was huge as well. However, if we are to talk about refinement and build quality, the Civic is still inferior to the Mazda3 and the Ford Focus.

Driving impressions

The first variant which we tested was the range-topping 1.5 VTEC Turbo itself, through a route that comprised a combination of highway and twisty mountain roads in Chiangmai.

When Honda announced that the new Civic is going to be powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre VTEC engine, Honda enthusiasts fell off their seats. In fact, some of them could still be on the floor rolling in awe.

Plus, looking at how handsome the car is, many are living with the assumption that this could be the next best thing for those who cannot afford a Nissan GT-R or a Toyota 86.

“VTEC is back and it shall kick in yo!”
they said.

Well, we have driven the car and let us make one thing clear –
Nothing is gonna kick in yo!

There is not going to be any ‘VTEC opening’ or ‘turbo kicking in’ or anything of that sort with the new Civic. If you are expecting Integra-like handling or S2000-like performance, you will definitely be disappointed.

What we have here is a very refined 1.5-litre engine with a ‘soft’ turbo that makes the car just as capable as a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre sedan, where the power delivery is very linear and civilised. At the end of the day, it is still a comfort-oriented car for the masses, but with a dash of sportiness.

Honestly, the new Civic was anything but slow. Regardless of whether we were in town or cruising along the highway, there was adequate power at all times. However, there was a slight turbo-lag due to the nature of the CVT transmission.

When we slammed the accelerator pedal to the floor, it took about two to three seconds before the car pounced forward, unlike the new Ford Focus EcoBoost which just went for it the moment we put our right foot down.

As for the 1.8-litre variant, the car is powered by a tweaked version of the 9
th
 gen Civic’s naturally aspirated R-Series engine, which pushes 141 PS and 174Nm of maximum torque. The only difference here is that it is mated to a CVT gearbox, unlike its predecessor’s five-speed auto. Compared to the outgoing model, the car felt livelier at low rpm during city driving, but while picking up speed, the engine needed to be worked hard.

In terms of ride and handling, the new Civic’s suspensions and chassis are setup more towards comfort, so there was still noticeable body-roll. But it was still a very enjoyable car to drive. The steering was well-weighted, and responded quite precisely to driver input. Noise insulation and refinement have also improved a lot from before.

Overall, if we are to describe the driving experience of the new Civic, ‘comfortable’ would be the right word. If we are to compare it with its rivals, it falls behind the new Focus and the Mazda3 in terms of outright driving pleasure, but as far as spaciousness, features, and comfort are concerned, the Civic is definitely up there among the best.

Model

Engine

Max Power

Max Torque

Gearbox

Honda Civic VTEC Turbo

1.5L Turbocharged

173PS

220 Nm

CVT

Mazda3 SkyActiv

2.0L Direct Injection

164PS

210 Nm

6-Speed AT

Ford Focus EcoBoost

1.5L Turbocharged

182PS

240 Nm

6-Speed AT

Toyota Corolla Altis 2.0V

2.0L N/A

145PS

187 Nm

CVT

VW Jetta 1.4

1.4L Twincharged

160PS

240 Nm

7-Speed DSG

Conclusion

There is no denying the fact that the Civic is back to full-form. Just look at it! It has improved in almost every aspect imaginable. It might not be the best driving car or the most comfortable one in the segment, but it is definitely the best looking car in its class and also among the most powerful and most generous with features.

Among the equipment expected here, depending on variant, includes full LED lights with DRL, 17-inch wheels, 8-way powered seat, 6 airbags, Remote Engine Start, Electric Parking Brake, Push Start Ignition, Auto Brake Hold, and dual zone air conditioning among others.

Looking at what it has to offer, the new Civic might just be the final piece of the puzzle - Honda Malaysia’s trump card to conquer the only segment that it hasn’t won over.

You might also want to read the opinions of our colleagues from other publications:

Looking for a Honda? Find one now at
Carlist.my


If you're looking for an affordable SUV that is a hybrid, then the 2022 Honda HR-V e:HEV and the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid should be at the top of your list. But which one is for you?

For as long as we've known it, Toyota and Honda have been the best of sparring partners. They both have excellent like-for-like cars in every segment and usually push each other to a higher standard - which is great for consumers.

In the modern-day, the
Toyota Camry has to contend with the Honda Accord
, the Toyota
Corolla Altis has to fight with the Honda Civic
, and the
Toyota Vios/Yaris has the Honda City twins
 (sedan/hatchback) to play with.

But when it comes to crossovers, Toyota didn't really have a suitable sparring partner for the Honda HR-V. Yes, for a stint, the Toyota CH-R was considered the HR-V's sparring partner, but it could never amass the number of sales the HR-V was achieving in Malaysia, mainly because it was an imported model, which made it pricey.

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid or Honda HR-V e:HEV?

So in our eyes, the HR-V was pretty much alone in Malaysia for a long time, but all that changed when the Toyota Corolla Cross came about in 2020.

Since its introduction, the Toyota Corolla Cross has understandably stolen the HR-V's limelight. It's a newer car and in every way more modern than the second generation HR-V. Despite being popular right off the bat, sales of the Corolla Cross started picking up when UMW Toyota
introduced the CKD model back in January 2022
 - which made them better value for money.

So for about six months or so, the Corolla Cross was the "it" crossover for the Malaysian market, but Honda Malaysia wasn't sweating because sales of the third generation HR-V had just begun in Thailand, which meant that Malaysia
would have it soon too
.

So here we are today, having witnessed the launch of the
all-new third-generation HR-V
 in Malaysia, which means that the Toyota Corolla Cross is about to go head-to-head with its rightful sparring partner.

There are many variants available across the range for the Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross, but what intrigues us the most is the bout between the hybrid models, the 2022 Honda HR-V RS e:HEV and the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

To look into this further, we put their specifications side by side.

2022 Honda HR-V RS e:HEV vs 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

Index

Honda HR-V e:HEV

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

MSRP

RM140,800

RM139,991

Engine

1.5-litre NA

+ Electric Motor

1.8-litre NA

+ Electric Motor

Transmission

CVT

CVT

Power (PS)

131 (total output)

122 (total output)

Torque (Nm)

 Engine - 127

E-Motor - 253

253 (Honda states a total

torque output for its

powertrain)

Engine - 142

E-Motor - 163

(Toyota says the TCCH is a parallel hybrid

which has no combined output as the

distribution of torque between the

engine and the motor is varied so both

run in their optimum operating range

as much as possible)

Claimed Fuel Efficiency

(litre/100 km)

4.1

4.3

Fuel Tank Capacity

(litres)

40

36

Dimensions

(LxWxH in mm)

4,328 / 1,773 / 1,605

4,460 / 1,825 / 1,620

Boot Space

(litres)

320

440

Infotainment

8" Touch Screen

Apple CarPlay

&

Android Auto

9" Touch Screen

Apple CarPlay

&

Android Auto

Safety and

Driving Assistance

6x Airbags

ABS

Stability Control

Auto Emergency Braking

Adaptive Cruise Control

Lane Centring Assist

Lane Keeping Assist

Auto high beam

Hill Descent Control

Blind Spot Monitoring (Honda LaneWatch)

7x Airbags

ABS

Stability Control

Auto Emergency Braking

Lane Keep Assist

Adaptive Cruise Control

Blind Spot Assist

360 Camera

Auto High Beam

Front Collision Warning

Exterior, Dimensions And Cargo Space

If you put them side by side, it's quite hard to say which vehicle is the larger vehicle, but according to the dimensions, it's pretty clear that the Toyota Corolla Cross is the bigger crossover out of the two.

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid has this traditional, muscular rugged look going for it, while the Honda HR-V RS e:HEV looks svelte, headlined by that coupe-like shape which is most pronounced from the middle part of the car all the way to the rear.

Although that coupe-like shape has given the HR-V every right to be part of any fashion week, it does have its drawbacks, such as compromising boot space. Not only has the boot space shrunken in size when compared to the outgoing model, but it is also 120 litres less than its sparring partner.

Interior Design

To be blunt, there's no denying that the Honda HR-V's interior feels way more premium than the Corolla Cross'. This is mainly due to its design which is trendy chic. Everything from the infotainment system to the aircon vents feels more premium and stylistic.

While we like the premium feel and look of the HR-V's interior, we can't help but feel that the utilitarian feeling interior in the Toyota Corolla Cross will probably last the test of time.

Everything feels well put together, robust and will probably withstand harsh treatment from its passengers, especially when they are kids. There's no denying that Toyota has gone for a more practical approach, which some might actually prefer over an interior which is trendy.

But then again, the Honda does have those amazing ULTRA seats at the rear, which might come in handy if you need to haul large and tall items.

Powertrain

Despite both being hybrids, they both actually feel different in operation. In our opinion, the Honda HR-V's hybrid powertrain feels like a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) that's just highly refined. It's
smooth like an electric vehicle
 but with the vibrations and sounds of a combustion engine.

The Toyota Corolla Cross, on the other hand, feels like
it has two characteristics
, depending on which mode it is in. At low speeds, where it can sometimes rely mostly on the electric motor, it does pass off as an electric vehicle, but when the engine kicks in, the Toyota just feels as rough as any other vehicle that has an ICE.

If you are in slow-moving traffic most of the time, then the Corolla Cross is pleasantly futuristic, but if you're driving at higher speeds, then the crossover just feels as archaic as any other non-electrified car as it heavily relies on the engine.

Safety

Both cars are neck and neck in the safety department. The HR-V is kitted with the latest Honda Sensing suite of safety features, and the Corolla Cross is equipped with latest Toyota Safety Sense.

 They both have enough safety and driving assistance features that can help drivers avoid hazards as well as make life easier. The Toyota does pip the Honda, but only because it has one extra airbag and a 360-degree camera (have to check again). But all in all, they both have a good amount of safety kit.

Conclusion

Both the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and the Honda HR-V RS e:HEV are fantastic cars. In their own right, they have something unique to offer potential buyers. If you had to choose one, it'd probably boil down to which look you prefer and what's available.

If you prefer a traditional, muscular and rugged-looking crossover, then the Toyota is for you, but if you like to match your trendy clothes with a svelte-looking car, then the HR-V would be the better choice.

The reason why we say it'll boil down to looks is that they are pretty evenly matched. Yes, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will probably ask less from your wallet when it comes to the dreaded re-fuelling time, but the Honda HR-V e:HEV is not too bad either.

They are both comfortable, easy and fun to drive. The Honda however does make you feel like you are sitting in a coupe which should give you that sporty feel, while the Corolla Cross has a more easy-going but commanding feel to it.

We can ramble on and compare the two all day, but in all honesty, at this current juncture, you'll probably just get what's readily available because the news from the grapevine is there are long
waiting lists for either crossover
. Luckily they are both worth waiting for!


BMW Straight Six Engines Are Great, But How Many Were Used For Racing?

When you ask BMW fans what they love about a BMW, it's fairly common to get an answer that alludes to the prowess of their family of straight six engines. There is so much praise for this particular engine layout (for various reasons), to the point where there was a lot of initial pushback when BMW started to move away from these engines for their high performance models. If we take a look at the current powertrains on offer, the M2, M3, and M4 all share a similar turbocharged straight six engine, while the M5 and M8 both use turbocharged V8 powerplants.
Inherently, a straight six (or inline six) engine is balanced in the sense that vibrations and forces are far lower, which in turn makes for far smoother operation. As an engine configuration for everyday use, the straight six is fantastically refined and smooth - effortless, creamy acceleration towards redline, with a distinctive noise that stands out among
plebian
 inline four engines that find a home in nearly every car on the market.
But as great as straight six engines are, BMW didn't use very many of them to go racing in any official works team capacity, or for the highest tiers of motorsport in which they operate. In the earliest days of the 3.0 CSL and the M1, the straight six engine was still a prevalent choice. But by the time the mid 80s rolled around, BMW was transitioning to the M3 for various forms of competition, which meant it was time to run a high-strung inline four engine.
Despite the huge success in DTM, BMW pulled out of the series just as they introduced the E36 3 Series to the world. This would use a six cylinder engine in nearly all forms of competition, including those that required IMSA and FIA homologation. Through the 1990s, this would fly the straight six flag for the brand - and unfortunately, it would also be the second last model to run such an engine configuration in BMW's motorsports.
Following the phasing out of the E36, BMW was in a bit of a dilemma. The E46 M3 that was now their horse in many races across the world was quick, but just not competitive enough to fight the field - which led BMW to develop the E46 M3 GTR. Known by many enthusiasts as the ultimate form of the E46, only 10 road cars were produced (grudgingly) in order to homologate their V8-powered racecar. Yes, BMW had temporarily abandoned the inline six for motorsport duty.
In between the E46 and the E92, BMW fielded a straight six E85 Z4 for a couple of races and homologated it in FIA GT4 - but again, it wasn't competitive with the engine package. Following a very short stint, it was retired - but this was also the time BMW decided to get back into both FIA GT3 and DTM. For the purpose of GT3 racing, BMW had a V8 powered E89 Z4, while DTM saw them fielding an E92 M3 which was naturally powered by a V8 as well.
Since then, BMW hasn't fielded any straight six engines in a motorsports capacity. The M6 which replaced the Z4 for the purpose of GT3 and GTE racing was powered by a turbocharged V8 engine, as is the M8 which succeeded the M6. In FIA GT4 race series, a fairly standard BMW M4 is made available for customer teams - although these are hardly purpose built racecars as they run hardware that is fairly close to road-going specs.
What does that tally up to? In the last three decades, BMW has fielded nine different cars at the highest level of door to door racing, with only three cars running a straight six engine. That's hardly enough to say that BMW's performance engines are defined by that particular engine configuration, and it certainly lends credibility to other engine layouts as well. The reality is that a racecar doesn't have to be as smooth or refined as a road car, which in turn allows engineers to go full bore with performance driven decisions.
The V8 engines are more compact, while also offering better weight distribution and power density. It's a bit of a no-brainer really, but expect performance cars to change direction drastically in the next few years as tightening emissions regulations force manufacturers to go to hybrid powertrains to meet absurd testing cycles, just to be able to sell their cars. The future is bleak, so buy performance cars and enjoy them while you can.