Tips for Getting the Most out of Selling Your Car in Malaysia

Malaysians on average change cars every three to five years. It is an exciting process to take possession of your new ride, but before that can be completed, there is also the small matter of selling your existing vehicle to either free up both funds and space to make way for the new vehicle.
Most car dealerships have well-oiled systems and procedures in place for you to trade-in your current vehicle with a minimum of fuss. But whilst the trade-in process spares you much hassle and paperwork, you pay for that convenience by having to make do with accepting less money unless you’re given a generous overtrade deal.
It is no secret that getting the best resale value out of your car involves doing much of the dirty work yourself. Here at
Carlist.my
, we offer a wide-reaching platform for all vehicle sellers –
new
,
used
, or re-conditioned – to reach 2,000,000 local car buyers.
Having helped connect thousands of buyers and sellers with each other, we share some insight to help you get the best value out your vehicle.
1.
Choose the right vehicle:
 You can determine your car’s resale value right from the moment you choose it. Certain vehicle make and models offer better resale value than others. Consumers are willing to pay more for a trusted brand. Also, within a same model family, variants with more equipment can fetch more money.

2.
Do not neglect maintenance:
Vehicle maintenance can be costly, but it pays to keep your car in tip-top mechanical shape. A buyer is more likely to be willing to meet your asking price if all parts are in good working order with wear and tear at reasonable levels. A complete service record further inspires confidence on a buyer to hand you his or her hard-earned money.
3.
Keep the Modifications to a Minimum:
 Modifications are fun, but they come with a price, and we are not just talking about the cost of your modification job. Your modifications may not be to everyone’s taste, and overdoing it only serves to alienate some browsers, effectively alienating a potential pool of buyers. If you must modify your vehicle, ensure that your modifications are reversible.
4.
A Good First Impression:
 Whilst it’s not necessary to spend insane amounts of money to keep your car in concourse condition, it is prudent to maintain an appearance of cleanliness. Stone chips and scratches are understandable, but do fix up severe dents and have your car waxed or give it a fresh coat of paint if you have to.
5.
Post a Good Ad on
Carlist.my
:
 Take good pictures of your vehicle showing its exterior, interior, and engine bay. Your worded description should be persuasive yet concise, and effective in conveying both your sincerity and enthusiasm. Give your prospective buyers the impression that they are buying from someone who cared for and loved the car.


What Is Proton's Customer Appreciation Plan?

Back when Proton launched the Proton X50 the media was informed that they had the capacity to deliver 9,000 units by the end of the year. As reported by Proton on
December 2
, they have delivered a total of 2,203 units of the X50, inclusive of the 447 units
delivered in October
.

Apparently, as posted by many Facebook users on the Proton X50 and X70 forums, over the last couple of days Proton has been informing their dealers that due to the overwhelming response of the rakyat due to the PENJANA initiative by the government, they are facing difficulties meeting demand.

Below is a screengrab from Facebook user Wj Tey of the memo he apparently got from his Proton Sales Advisor.

It further states that any unfulfilled bookings not made this year will be carried forward to 2021 with the year of manufacture being 2021.

Now I've been speculating with family and friends that the government will look at extending the SST exemptions into at least the first quarter of 2021 but with eight days remaining till the year ends, the silence I suppose is an answer in itself.

The initiative was definitely spurring the automotive marketplace, which was evidenced by record-breaking sales by
Perodua
,
Proton
, even the
second-hand car
 market witnessed an uptick.

No extension means that any Proton X50's and X70's registered in 2021 will be subject to SST.

In order to prevent public perception from turning overtly negative towards them, Proton is apparently introducing the Customer Appreciation Plan as a form of appreciation for the support and loyalty of its customers.

Details are sketchy however as to what it entails, with some speculating that it could be either the Urban or Utility packages that are given free in the case of the Proton X50.

On the flip side with eight days remaining to 2020, do you want to receive a car now only for it to be considered a year older when you want to jual or upgrade nanti?

At the time of publishing, there has been no official word from Proton on any Customer Appreciation Plan.

We'll be sure to bring you any updates on Proton's Customer Appreciation Plan as and when we receive it.


Volvo Show Off Their Vision For The Autonomous Driving Interface Of Tomorrow

Volvo
 has released new information and even a video on its IntelliSafe Auto Pilot. They say it is among the industry’s most advanced and easy-to-use interfaces, seamlessly switching from driver control to autonomous driving and vice versa.
Always one to keep the needle on vehicle safety moving forward, it comes as no surprise that the Swedish automaker would be developing expertise in autonomous driving systems and integrating it with their existing line-up of vehicles.
The interface itself is demonstrated via an
XC90
 with special paddles behind the steering wheels that light up or dim down depending on the intended action. It is designed to be intuitive and simple to operate.
When the car enters a route where it can pilot itself, the driver would simply need to pull both paddles when prompted to engage the car’s autonomous driving mode. Once the car has taken over control, the driver would then have the ability to relax or even get some work done during the commute as opposed to being preoccupied with driving.
Once the car is about to exit the autonomous driving route, the paddles will once again flash and a 60 second countdown is displayed within the dashboard for the driver to take back control.
Should the driver, for any reason, not pull both the paddles within the specified time, the car would bring itself to a safe stop further along the road.
Thomas Ingenlath, SVP Design at Volvo Cars, said: “We have designed a user interface that is safe and seamless to use so that drivers can confidently transfer and regain control of the car.”
This new IntelliSafe Auto Pilot system will be available for the first time in the 100 units of Volvo XC90s that the company is making available for the Drive Me project in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2017, the world’s most ambitious autonomous driving project.
In it, 100 self-driving Volvos will be made available to families and commuters around Gothenburg for use in everyday conditions. The cars will be driven autonomously on approximately 50km within selected roads.
Following that, Volvo plans to introduce IntelliSafe Auto Pilot on cars sold to the general public.


The Toyota Supra Performance Line Concept TRD Is A Masterpiece Of Carbon Bits

Oh, the wonders of carbon fibre. Not only is the material incredibly light for the strength, when unpainted (or in the more expensive dry form) it adds a subtle touch of aggression that is only known to those who are familiar with the motorsports-derived usage. With the all-new A90 Toyota Supra, you wouldn't expect there to be a huge deal to be done to the exterior of the car given its complex and fluid design - but TRD (Toyota Racing Development) has proven us wrong.
At the 2019 Osaka Automesse (like a smaller Tokyo Auto Salon, held since 1997), TRD unveiled the Supra Performance Line Concept. For a fairly long time, TRD has been sidelined within Toyota and hasn't really produced much to shout about, more known for bodykits and trim pieces than performance parts these days. But it turns out that expertise in adding aggression to quite nearly everything has paid off, because what they've done to the Supra has transformed it from sublime to one-big-wing-away-from-time-attack.
It took a bit of studying to understand how they pulled it off. In essence the entire concept is the replacement of the front splitter, sideskirts, rear diffuser, boot spoiler, and wheels. It sounds simple enough, and yet it completely transforms the look of the Supra without going entirely overboard. If you compare this concept to the regular road car, you will see that many of the elements are present on the road car but in a far less prominent manner.
And perhaps that's the key to the allure of this concept - a mild massaging of the original components, completed in lightweight materials. The main benefit from theses trim replacements is better aerodynamics and more downforce, with specific focus on shifting the downforce balance towards the rear to make the car more drivable and predictable at higher speeds. The wheels are 19-inch in size, but now forged for better strength and lower weight, resulting in better steering response (yes, even wheels can flex under load).
What will be really interesting to see is if Japan's own BMW specialists - most notable Studie AG and Assist - will start developing components for the new Toyota Supra, given its shared roots with the BMW Z4. These two companies have build some truly impressive machines that have featured in Hot Version and Best Motoring, as well as competed in Super Taikyu, so their expertise could come in handy with Supra aftermarket parts.


First Korean EV Sedan Officially Unveiled - Hyundai Ioniq 6 - 610km Range

The first Korean EV sedan by Hyundai Motor Company has finally been previewed -  the highly-anticipated
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Electrified Streamliner
 takes aim at Tesla.

Thanks to the brand's dedication and investment in its all-electric Ioniq range, the Ioniq 6 is said to offer more advanced tech, personalised space, and features, but more importantly, almost throwing out the biggest aspect of owning an EV - range anxiety.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 Streamliner - 610 kilometres of EV range

Hyundai
 starts off strong by stating that its new Ioniq 6 Electrified Streamliner has an all-electric range of over 610km. This was achieved thanks to its very aerodynamic exterior design as well as some serious figures related to its energy output as well as ultra-fast charging capabilities.

Ioniq 6 - 77.4kWh battery with dual electric motors

In essence, the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 will be made available in two different configurations:

rear-wheel-drive (RWD)

all-wheel-drive (AWD)

This is possible due to Hyundai Motor Group’s latest
Electric-Global Modular Platform
 (E-GMP).

Depending on the market, you might get a few options to choose from, but the range-topping variant is the one with the long-range 77.4kWh battery mated to two electric motors as well as the AWD option (with 20-inch wheels). This configuration churns out 239kW and 605Nm of torque.

There's also the slightly more affordable variant that comes with the standard 53kWh battery plus RWD motor option (with 18-inch wheels). Rated at under 14kWh/100km, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is arguably one of the most energy-efficient EVs to date.

Future owners can also play around with its EV Performance Tune-up system, which allows the driver to freely adjust steering effort, motor power, accelerator pedal sensitivity and driveline mode.

10%-80% charge in 18 minutes - Hyundai Ioniq 6

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 supports both the 400V and 800V charging infrastructure (800V as standard, 400V can be accommodated without additional components or adapters). If you can manage to get your hands on a 350kW fast-charger, 10% to 80% can be done in just 18 minutes.

One cool aspect that was carried over from the
Ioniq 5
 is its vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. This allows the users to charge any electric devices which can be useful during power outages, camping trips, or just a quick charge when you're off the grid.

That's on the outside, the inside of the Ioniq 6 also has a second outlet for you to charge your laptops, phones, and other devices when you're on the go. Cool beans.

Super spacious & clean interior - 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Hyundai's E-GMP platform for the Ioniq 6 offers a super-long wheelbase of 2,950mm, 4,855mm length, 1,880mm width, and 1,495mm height. Unlike the very sharp and angular Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 offers a more sleek and stylish exterior as well as a more 'grown-up' interior.

And that's putting it in a very positive way because it is indeed super clean once you're inside the Ioniq 6. The first thing that everyone will notice is the two 12-inch screens for the digital cluster and infotainment display.

Other specs that you can find in the Ioniq 6 are the Bose surround system with eight speakers + subwoofer, Bluetooth multi-connection support, Dual Colour Ambient Lighting with speed sync, Electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD), and more.

If you have the means to get the Hyundai Ioniq 6 once it goes into production in the next few weeks, do opt for the optional Relaxation Comfort Seats for more angular-seating leisure. If not, the standard seats are already impressive as they are 30% thinner than conventional models to provide more space for the passengers.

Hyundai's latest SmartSense & ADAS

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is also equipped with the next level of Hyundai SmartSense and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems which consists of:

Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2)

Smart Cruise Control (SCC)

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)

Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)

High Beam Assist (HBA)

Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)

Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM)

Safe Exit Warning (SEW)

Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA 2) + many more

Production to begin Q3 2022

Hyundai has slated the Ioniq 6 to go into production within the third quarter of 2022. Deliveries and market launches will be announced at a later date.

For now, you can start deciding on which of the 12 exterior colours and four interior colours to choose from. For the exterior, you have Gravity Gold Matte, Abyss Black Pearl, Serenity White Pearl, Curated Silver Metallic, Nocturne Gray Metallic, Nocturne Gray Matte, Transmission Blue Pearl, Biophilic Blue Pearl, Ultimate Red Metallic, Digital Green Pearl, Digital Green Matte and Byte Blue.

As for the interior, the four options are Dark gray with light gray, Dark olive green with light gray, Black with pale brown and Black.


The 2021 Elantra Is Out For Blood

The new Elantra is finally here, and from what we see from the live broadcast in Hollywood, the Elantra is a heck of a looker!

Wider, longer, and lower, the new Elantra is out for blood in the C-segment market. The bigger and lower everything was made possible through the use of a new platform, and not only has that platform helped it in the looks department, but it has also given the Elantra "exciting driving dynamics".

Following the footsteps of its bigger brother the Sonata, the Elantra now looks like a spacecraft out of Star Wars, due to the "Sensuous Sportiness design identity" that Hyundai is aiming for these days. The four-door coupe look is what every car manufacturer is going for, but the Elantra is undoubtedly one of the prettier ones.

The interior has also received a makeover, but the highlight to us out of all the interior bits is certainly that striking steering wheel. Nevertheless, the “immersive cocoon” interior layout envelops the driver like an aeroplane cockpit, really highlighting the steering wheel as the centrepiece.

Following the world electrification trend and for the first time ever, a hybrid powertrain has been added to the Elantra lineup. The new Elantra Hybrid will feature a 1.6-liter GDI Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine. Elantra's Hybrid permanent-magnet electric motor delivers 32 kW powered by a lithium-ion-polymer battery with 1.32 kWh of capacity positioned under the rear seats. The 1.6-liter GDI engine combined with the electric motor in the Elantra Hybrid delivers a total system output of 139 horsepower and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine mates with Hyundai’s quick-shifting, six-speed, dual-clutch transmission–differentiating the Elantra Hybrid from its key competitors because of its more dynamic and engaging driving experience. The high-efficiency electric motor has an electric only driving mode that delivers instantaneous torque at low speeds, with available power-assist at higher vehicle speeds.

A familiar 2.0-litre engine is also available. This engine generates 147 horsepower @ 6,200 RPM and 132 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,500 RPM. These models are projected to achieve a best-in-class EPA combined fuel economy rating, an improvement over previous models, due in part to an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT).

Hyundai’s IVT provides superior efficiency and simulates gear shifts like those in the automatic transmissions that customers have become accustomed to.

We can't wait to take it out for a test drive!


When Was The Last Time You Changed Your Cabin Air Filter?

Honestly, when was the last time you changed your cabin air filter? Have you ever changed it before?

While some aspects of auto maintenance like
oil changes
,
wiper blades changes
, and
tyre rotations
 are intuitive, it's easy to forget about some other vehicle maintenance areas that are not visible in or on your car.

One item that often eludes the attention of owners is the cabin air filter. It's an easy, affordable thing to replace, but most people just forget about them because they just lie quietly behind the dashboard and do their job - but are they working as efficiently as they need to/ are they working at all?

What
does a cabin air filter do
, and how often should you have yours replaced?

The
cabin air filter
 keeps the air clean in your cabin. It filters out dust and other air pollutants out of the air so you can breathe clean air while driving. While this doesn't affect the performance of the car, it will affect the driver/ passengers and is crucial for the cabin ventilation system.

Over time, the cabin air filter will inevitably get clogged, which will affect your vehicle's interior air quality, which means you will be breathing harmful contaminants in your car.

Also, having a clean cabin filter will maximise airflow, which can help your air conditioning system blow colder air. Since we live in Malaysia where it is mostly hot 24/7, we're pretty sure you want the best possible air conditioning system in your car, right?

The cabin air filter further filters hazardous exhaust fumes that enter the cabin, so it's pretty safe to say that it is crucial for vehicle maintenance.

How often should you change your cabin air filter?

The cabin air filter usually sits behind the glovebox and is relatively easy to replace, and you can probably do it yourself. Most cabin air filters should be replaced somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000 kilometres, and signs like reduced air conditioning airflow, lingering unpleasant odours, and increased dust settling in your cabin are usually telltale signs that the filter is due for a change as it is not properly doing its job.

How do you replace your cabin air filter?

The easiest route is obviously to get a mechanic to do it, but to be honest, it's really an easy job you can do at home once you have the replacement part, which is easily attainable online. If you have never done it before and do not know how to do it, here are some tips.

Take a look at your owner's manual, as in most cases, it will help you locate where the air filter is for your specific vehicle and will explain how to replace them. This will also determine how difficult or easy it is to replace the cabin air filter.

The cabin air filter should be easily accessible if it is behind the glove box or under the hood. However, if it is under the dashboard, this could present more of a challenge.

Replace the old air filter with a new clean one once you know how to do it.

There are plenty of online tutorial videos for specific car models, so that can further guide you.

While this might sound trivial, changing a cabin air filter will make a big difference that you will instantly notice. The smell should be better, and your air-conditioning/ climate control should be cooler, but most important of all, the air you breathe in will be cleaner.


2023 Audi e-tron GT quattro, RS e-tron GT launched in Malaysia from RM589k

The Audi e-tron GT, a fully electric sports sedan, has been officially launched today in Malaysia, expanding PHS Automotive Malaysia's (PHSAM) lineup of e-tron models.

First introduced in February 2021, the e-tron GT is built on the J1 platform, which it shares with the Porsche Taycan. The entry-level variant, called the e-tron GT quattro, is priced at RM588,790 (on-the-road without insurance). This model features all-wheel drive with electric motors on both axles, delivering a combined system output of 476 PS (469 hp or 350 kW) and 630 Nm of torque.

It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 245 km/h. Additionally, a boost mode temporarily increases power to 530 PS (523 hp or 390 kW) and 640 Nm, resulting in a quick 0-100 km/h time of 4.1 seconds. The e-tron GT quattro is equipped with an 83.7 kWh (93.4 kWh gross) lithium-ion battery, providing an electric range of up to 458 km (WLTP standard). Charging options include a maximum AC input of 11 kW, taking approximately nine hours for a full charge, or a DC fast charger with a 270 kW input, allowing a 5-80% state of charge (SoC) in just 22.5 minutes.

Standard features of the e-tron GT quattro include 20-inch black five-spoke aerodynamic module style alloy wheels, controlled dampers, the e-tron sport sound system, LED headlamps and taillights with dynamic turn signals, a panoramic glass sunroof, leatherette interior elements, a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel, perforated leather upholstery, powered front sports seats with memory function, three-zone climate control, MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch system (10.1-inch touchscreen display), Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility through the Audi smartphone interface, and a 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit (digital instrument cluster). Safety and driver assistance systems include eight airbags, Audi pre sense front and rear (including AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and front and rear cross traffic assist.

For those seeking additional features, the e-tron GT quattro can be equipped with the Dynamic Package, priced at RM667,790. This package includes matrix LED headlamps with laser light technology, a head-up display, a carbon-fibre roof, steel brakes with a tungsten carbide coating, red brake calipers, interior elements in fine Nappa leather or Dinamica microfibre, and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. The charging capacity is also increased to 22 kW, reducing the full charging time to approximately four hours.

For more impressive performance, customers can consider the RS e-tron GT priced at RM793,790. This range-topping variant accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, thanks to its dual electric motors producing 598 PS (590 hp or 440 kW) and 830 Nm of torque. The RS e-tron GT also features a boost mode, briefly increasing peak power to 646 PS (637 hp or 475 kW) for a 0-100 km/h time of 3.3 seconds.

The battery capacity remains the same as the e-tron GT quattro, offering a range of 447 km. The RS e-tron GT shares many features with the e-tron GT quattro, including the Dynamic Package, but includes variant-specific items such as 21-inch black five-twin-spoke concave module alloys, fine Nappa leather/Dinamica microfibre upholstery, the Glossy carbon styling package, carbon exterior mirror housings, stainless steel pedals, matte Carbon Twill decorative inserts, illuminated glossy carbon scuff plates, and a black Dinamica microfibre headliner. The RS e-tron GT also incorporates driving-related features like a controlled rear differential lock, rear-wheel steering, and adaptive air suspension.

Every e-tron GT purchase includes a standard two-year warranty and five-year roadside assistance. Customers have the option to add the Audi Assurance Package (AAP) for an additional cost of RM12,000 for the e-tron GT quattro variants or RM15,000 for the RS e-tron GT, extending the vehicle warranty to a total of five years. The EV battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000-km warranty.

Customers will also receive the e-tron Charging System Compact, which includes an intelligent compact charger and power cables suitable for a standard household power socket (1.8 to 2.3 kW output) or a three-phase power supply (11 kW output). The charging unit allows for setting 100% and 50% charging power to prevent overloading the home's electrical system. Additionally, owners will enjoy complimentary RM1,000 JomCharge credits, valid for one year.


Takata Airbag Crisis: Honda to Cover Grey-Imported Models As Well

Honda Malaysia
 has announced that owners of parallel-imported Honda vehicles fitted with defective
Takata airbag
 inflators will also be covered by the company in the ongoing recall campaign to replace these components.
The owners of the parallel imported Honda vehicles are advised to contact any authorized Honda dealers in the country for the details of the required preparations to have their vehicles repaired as soon as possible.
Cost of parts and labour for the airbag inflator replacement will be borne by Honda Malaysia.
Most franchise holders are typically unwilling to provide support to owners of parallel-imported vehicles for such recalls, so Honda Malaysia's gesture here is a laudable one.
Read also:
Takata Airbag Crisis: Frequently Asked Questions, What Should You Do?


MAA Vehicle Sales Data for May 2020 – Numbers are Rising, Slowly but Surely

April 2020 was arguably the worst month ever in terms of new vehicle registrations, but is there positive growth in May or are things looking just as bad?

April 2020 was arguably the worst month ever as far as the Malaysian car market is concerned, as only 141 units of new vehicles were registered, no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and our very own MCO.

This represented a 99.37% drop from the 22,478 units that were registered in March 2020, which was already 44% lower than the sales recorded in February right before the nationwide lockdown came into effect.

However, things are definitely looking on the up as a total of 20,456 new passenger vehicles were registered in the month of May 2020 followed by 2,504 units of commercial vehicles, which brings the total industry volume (TIV) sold in May to 22,960 units.

Out of the lot, the registration figures for the month of May 2020 based on brand is as mentioned below:

Perodua - 7,886 units

Proton - 5,676 units

Toyota - 2,707 units

Honda - 2,678 units

Mazda - 503 units

Nissan – 450 units

Volkswagen – 145 units

Volvo – 70 units

Mitsubishi – 67 units

Renault – 65 units

Peugeot – 63 units

Hyundai/Inokom – 38 units

Lexus – 31 units

Kia – 24 units

Porsche – 24 units

CAM – 16 units

Land Rover – 6 units

Jaguar – 3 units

Isuzu – 2 units

Foton – 1 unit

*brands that are not in the list did not register any new vehicles in May 2020

As for the year-to-date (YTD) cumulative figures, total TIV as of May 2020 has dropped to 129,604 (including commercial vehicles) from 253,731 units over the same period in 2019.

As low as the numbers are, factors such as the Sales Tax exemption, a more relaxed Movement Control Order from 1st of July 2020, and additional promotions and initiatives taken by car manufacturers are expected to drive more consumers towards purchasing new vehicles within the coming months, which should translate into a positive upswing TIV.

But just how high can we expect?

MAA had in April already revised the country's TIV downward by 33%, from 600,000 units to 400,000 units for 2020.

To add salt to the injury, according to a survey by Jobstreet conducted in May, up to 20% of respondents from a sample size of 5000 revealed that they had been retrenched due to COVID-19. It is also expected that more than two million Malaysians are expected to end up unemployed.

Gan Bock Hern, Jobstreet Country Manager went on to add that "35% of Malaysians have experienced a salary reduction of more than 30% the movement control order period."

Taking into accounts all the factors, is a 400,000 TIV overtly optimistic from MAA or do we foresee a bullish recovery for the second half of 2020? Time will tell.


BRT KL-Klang Line Along Federal Highway To Be Ready By 2018

The Bus Rapid Transit service that is planned to connect Kuala Lumpur and Klang, constructed along the Federal Highway, is revealed to be in expected operation by the tail-end of 2018.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Aziz Kaprawi said the government is in the final stages of planning the project’s financial model, which comprises a
34km stretch of road
 to be used exclusively by buses.
According to
The Sun Daily
, Aziz told reporters: "We hope with the BRT project, we can increase the overall daily ridership for public transport in the Klang Valley to 500,000 compared to the current 430,000,"
He then added that a consortium would be established in the near term to ensure the project’s smooth delivery and high level of service for the BRT operator.
The report also touches on the government considering the possibility of allowing naming rights for particular stretches of the line as well as to several stations along the BRT route to private companies in order to maximize their investments into the project’s construction.
Norlela Osman, Land Public Transport (SPAD) BRT division manager, said there would be 25 stations along the route with five of them being integration stations that provide connections to LRT and KTM services along the Federal Highway.
She also added that it is possible that a small section of the 34km BRT lane would need to consist of elevated structures.
Aziz said, “The government will try to ensure it will be affordable for the rakyat," when queried about the BRT KL-Klang line’s proposed fare structure.


How GM Pioneered Airbags And Then Lost It All To Mercedes-Benz

Thirty years ago on this month of September, at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced a W126 generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class fitted with a front passenger airbag – claiming it to be a world’s first. The same W126 model had also introduced the driver’s airbag six years earlier in 1981, also claimed to be a world’s first.
This message of Mercedes-Benz introducing the world’s first airbag was repeated by the Stuttgart’s public relations machinery often enough that all but the nerdiest car enthusiast genuinely believed that Mercedes-Benz was the inventor of airbags.
The image below is taken from an options specifications book for all 1974 model year Cadillac cars, 7 years before airbag was offered in the S-Class. The term Air Cushion Restraint System (ACRS) is General Motor's (GM) marketing speak for airbags.
So how then could Mercedes-Benz repeatedly claim that it produced the world’s first series-production car with an airbag?
The answer lies somewhere between continuity of offering, legal definitions of airbags used in today’s cars and well-honed, consistent public relations.
The title to the world’s series-production automotive airbag could’ve easily gone to General Motors. In many ways, GM holds legitimate claim over Mercedes-Benz in offering the world’s first airbag.
GM had already introduced airbags (marketed as ACRS) to a small number of Oldsmobile Toronado sold to fleet customers in 1973, nearly a decade before Mercedes-Benz.
The public was offered ACRS-equipped cars from 1974 onwards in a variety of full-size Buick and Cadillac models, but within a few years GM’s management balked at the cost, backtracked and discontinued the option in 1976. GM would spend the next 20 years lobbying against proposals by the US Federal to make airbags a compulsory feature.
When Mercedes-Benz installed a driver’s airbag into a series-production W126 S-Class in 1981, eight years after GM's pioneering Oldsmobile Toronado, the American giant was busy resisting proposals by the US government to make airbags compulsory. GM funded public relations campaign and lobbyists to discredit the safety potential of airbags, describing it as unproven, dangerous 'trial balloons.' In doing so, GM lost all moral high ground for it later claim credit that it was the first to introduce airbags.
Image from
CurbSideClassic.com
.
Airbags only became mandatory in the US in 1997, much of the delay was believed to be due to resistance from American Big-3 car makers.
GM’s resistance was partly due to their opinion that safety features don’t sell (at that time). Their own market research pointed that consumers want a good looking large car with a large powerful engine. In GM’s opinion, spending money to develop airbags was simply not a good idea.
GM’s claims against airbags weren’t entirely untrue, as there have been fatalities caused by the airbags (this was pre-Takata crisis days) and their own market research showed that American buyers don’t trust airbags, and are concerned of accidental deployment if the car hits a pothole. GM was also right about three-point seat belts being a far more important safeety feature to promote than airbags.
The early GM cars equipped with ACRS were legally sold without seat belts – something that is unimaginable today but GM is allowed to do so because ACRS was legally defined as a restraining system, a replacement for the then-standard two-point seat belts, and early test results showed that it was effective enough.
As many American drivers and passengers of that era weren’t using seat belts anyway, the always active nature of the ACRS was seen by both GM and the US government as a potentially better solution than cajoling states to pass seat belts laws.
The US legal system can be rather peculiar. The Federal government doesn’t have the right to enforce seat belt laws. Instead, seat belt laws are voted and passed by individual states.
Somehow, a government forcing its citizens to wear seat belts can in the USA, be seen as interfering with the freedom and individual rights of its citizens. Until today, the state of New Hamsphire for example, have successfully resisted against passing seat belt laws.
USA’s unique regulatory and legal landscape played a big part in influencing GM’s approach to using airbags as a primary rather than a supplementary restraint system, stalling its progress.
Mercedes-Benz was not exactly a late comer that stole the title from GM. It had been conducting studies on airbag technology since 1966. The first crash test with a prototype airbag was done in 1968. The German car maker would later file a patent for its own version of airbag technology in 1971, one that operates on a slightly different concept from GM’s.
What made Mercedes-Benz’s solution different (and eventually succeeded) was that the Germans viewed airbag as a complementary feature to three-point seat belts, rather than as a replacement.
One of the main obstacles that frustrated GM in perfecting airbag technology was how to contain the high pressure compressed air safely, and how to control the airbag’s explosive inflation in a safer manner.
By viewing airbags as a complement to three-point seat belts, Mercedes-Benz was able to side-step the problem. The company’s own tests showed that trying to contain the high pressure compressed air was futile, as airbag only achieved maximum effectiveness when used in combination with a three-point safety belt.
Instead, Mercedes-Benz’s alternative was to use an inflator that rapidly inflates the airbag on-demand by igniting a propellant charge, thus side-stepping the issue of containing high pressure compressed air.
The image below is a sample of an early airbag crash sensor, an exhibit at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
In technical terms, Mercedes-Benz’s airbags are defined as Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), meaning that it must be used together with seat belts (rather than replace seat belts). SRS is the airbag operating concept used by every car maker today.
Mercedes-Benz also based its claims on being the first on the the continuity of its airbag offering in its cars, hence they often qualify their claim as first in a 'series-production car.'
While Mercedes-Benz often include the claim to the world’s first airbag in its marketing materials, the company tones down the message somewhat for the US market. Instead, it communicates a slightly different message that says ‘1971 – World’s first airbag patent’ rather than Europe and other market’s ‘1981 – World’s first airbag.’
Between 1966 and 1981, Mercedes-Benz’s trail blazing efforts encountered several unexpected challenges. One of them was that German regulations defined airbags as an explosive device and thus engineers working on it had to obtain the necessary certification, certification to work on bombs!
In 1972, the company had to even built a detonation chamber to legally test airbags. The facility is literally a mini bomb test lab, with reinforced walls and roof that could lift off if there was too much pressure inside the chamber.
At that time, crash labs and even crash test dummies didn’t exist yet. Prior to airbags, Mercedes-Benz had been studying on crumple zone structures. Before they could develop and test crumple zones, they had to develop a way to accelerate the vehicle without a driver, and ways to record crucial engineering data.
Without high speed winches and control systems available in modern crash labs, early crash testing was done outdoors using hot water propelled rockets. Without crash test dummies, engineers resorted to using mannequins from clothing shops! The exhibits below are on display at Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
Controlling the hot water rockets was difficult. Occasionally, the rockets will push the car elsewhere, on in this particular case documented in the image below, down into a stream beside the test track!
Mercedes-Benz’s first crash test facility would only come in 1973, in Sindelfingen.
It is unfortunate that the pioneering work of GM engineers in developing airbags were not sufficiently credited. It’s a classic example of how short-term minded, flip-flopping management decisions could negate the first-mover advantage of any company.
Mercedes-Benz on the other hand, despite not having the first mover advantage, was consistent in its work and was willing to commit over 20 years to perfect the technology. Once they've decided to work on something, they followed it through, and strived to find solutions to problems encountered rather than abandoning the entire project.
As we've read, many of the tests required to develop airbags could not be conducted as the necessary instruments/tools have yet to be invented, and German regulations were complicating matters too, but the team improvised. The consistency and dilligence are what won Mercedes-Benz the public relations battle. Today, few would argue against Mercedes-Benz's pioneering status in developing airbags.
Contrary to popular opinion, Europe does not have any regulations requiring airbags to be fitted. European regulation regarding supplemental restraints is technology-neutral and if a car company is able to achieve the same level of crash protection using alternatives that are cheaper than airbags, it will be acceptable.
Audi for example, had for a short period of time, achieved this via its
Procon-ten
 airbag-less safety steering wheel, which was cheaper than airbags and are just as safe.
The features uses the vehicle's engine as a lever to retract the steering wheel into the dashboard in the event of a frontal collision. However its success was short lived as it could only work with longitudinally mounted engines.
Another example is the Volkswagen XL1, which don’t require a front passenger airbag as the passenger seat is positioned further behind than the driver's seat, thus creating a sufficiently large distance between the passenger and the dashboard. The seat belt alone is good enough.
It is important to remember that airbags are explosive devices and are only safe when used as directed. If precautions are not followed, airbags can hurt you more than it can save you. Read our
Do's and Don'ts of airbags safety here
.


Review: 2015 Honda HR-V – How Is It Like Living With One Everyday?

About nine months ago, our review of the
Honda HR-V concluded
 that it was indeed an overachieving product. It’s not perfect, but punches well above its category.

But we made that conclusion while driving it on scenic roads of Langkawi, where there is little use for Automatic Brake Hold feature (more on that later), and twisty stretches meant that you don’t go past 100 km/h for extended periods of time, and road surfaces are a lot smoother than our moon crater-like roads in Klang Valley.

So how is it like to drive a HR-V as a daily car, in an urban setting, and how does it handle long distance drives? This second appointment with the Honda HR-V will attempt to answer these questions.

Specifications for Honda HR-V 1.8V

Price: RM121,500

Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cylinders transverse, SOHC i-VTEC

Power: 142 PS @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 172Nm @ 4,300rpm

Transmission: CVT, front-wheel drive

Safety: 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (VSA), Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake Force distribution (EBD), Hill Start Assist (HSA)

Origin: Assembled in Pegoh, Melaka

Overview

Sitting below the ubiquitous CR-V, the HR-V belongs to a new, fast growing genre of part-SUV, part-hatchback/sedan-type vehicle commonly referred to as ‘crossovers.’

Alternatives to the HR-V include the 1.5-litre
Ford EcoSport
 (RM92,988 excluding insurance), 1.6-litre
Peugeot 2008
 (from RM119,888), 2.0-litre
Mitsubishi ASX
 (from RM108,980), 2.0-litre
Subaru XV
 (from RM132,724), and 2.0-litre
Mazda CX-3
 (from RM135,082 without insurance).

The HR-V model tested here is the highest specifications V-grade model. The extra RM10k over the E grade model buys you the following:

LED headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights

Cruise control

Multi-angle reverse camera

Half-leather upholstery (seats with fabric in the centre, leather at the side bolsters)

Lights on the sun visors

Side airbags, curtain airbags

7-inch colour touchscreen (2-inches bigger than E grade model) infotainment system with 6 speakers (two more than E grade model), 2 USB ports and HDMI socket

Exterior

“Eh, I didn’t know the HR-V had only two doors,” said a family member upon seeing the HR-V. I guess the hidden door handles are not as gimmicky as I first thought.

It’s effective in disguising the 4-door HR-V as a 2-door car, with some compromise in ergonomics – it’s not as easy to open as traditional grip-type door handles.

Apart from that, there is little to dislike about the HR-V’s exterior.

Interior

There is something about the rice wine served in Tochigi. Somehow the engineers at Honda R&D can squeeze a lot more usable space out of the same footprint than anyone else.

Don’t be fooled by the HR-V’s relatively compact dimensions. The amount of cargo it swallows and the amount of legroom it has is better than many SUVs one-class above it.

Step inside, the choice of material selection lends the HR-V’s cabin a rather premium appeal. It’s not quite as impressive as a CX-3 (keeping in mind that the fully-imported CX-3 is a lot more expensive) but it’s certainly a strong No.2.

The dashboard and door panels are lined with soft-touch materials while the centre stack is finished in piano-black plastics.

The two-tier transmission tunnel is a novel solution to the cabin’s limited space. Adopting the CR-V’s dashboard-mounted shifter was clearly out of the question so in the HR-V, the floor mounted gear shifter is raised to a more user friendly position, matching the HR-V’s raised seating position. Along the way it also created a new storage space below it.

The depth of the two cup holders in the centre console is adjustable, snugly accommodating either a can of soda, or a taller 500 ml mineral water bottle.

Flip the adjustable armrest upwards and it reveals storage box that allows you to organise smaller, loose items on one side, and larger objects on another – no more rummaging in the dark to reach for that key, access card, or even USB drive.

Illuminated vanity mirrors – a crucial feature for short of time career ladies to do their make-up in the car, unavailable even on the highest specifications
Civic 2.0S Navi
 (albeit an outgoing model), is thankfully available on both sides of the V-grade HR-V.

Behind, there is a plenty of legroom, and with comfortable shoulder room for three adults seating abreast. Despite the coupe-like styling, headroom is not compromised at all. Access remains just as easy, thanks to the high hip point.

Cargo volume is rated at 437-litres with the rear seats up, and as you can see from the images below, its practicality is comparable to larger SUV models from one segment above it, including the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5. It’s definitely larger than its direct competitor the Mitsubishi ASX, never mind about the tiny Mazda CX-3.

The seats not only fold flat, but also can be tilted upwards to accommodate tall objects. There’s enough space to keep shoeboxes underneath it – perfect for ladies who prefer to have their shoes within easy reach rather than in the boot.

The foldable tonneau cover also does away with a traditional bulky tonneau cover bar.

The reverse camera has a neat multi-angle feature but the infotainment’s software could be improved to fix some minor user interface issues. Scrolling through the radio channel using the buttons on the steering wheel for example, doesn’t scroll the page on the screen. Pressing the Mode button on the steering wheel doesn’t turn on the radio. Instead, you have to complete a three-step process every time you start the car. There’s the usual legal reminder that you have to hit OK on the screen or it won’t go away, select Audio on the screen, and select FM. The system doesn’t automatically go to your last viewed screen. It’s the same after using the Bluetooth call function.

Driving Experience

This was a bit disappointing. Weaknesses which weren’t so obvious in our test drive in Langkawi began to manifest itself more strongly now on the highway.

Driving performance is not the HR-V’s forte – it’s noisy at highway speeds, even when judged against other Honda models, and the 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine runs out of breath quite soon, and it doesn’t pull as strong as the Mitsubishi ASX.

At 120 km/h, the noise from the CVT less than the ASX, but the HR-V’s poorer insulation against wind and road noise were quite evident. It might be more practical than the Civic, but the Civic is certainly a much better highway companion.

The 142 PS is enough to push the 1,249 kg HR-V along to overtake slower vehicles, but on mountainous stretches, the lack of power is apparent.

The steering is less sharp than the
(improved) Civic
, probably intentional considering the different dynamic attributes due to its taller ride height. It starts off feeling light enough for city driving, but as you increase your speed and steering angle, there isn’t enough feedback coming through.

Body control however is very good. The rigid chassis holds up well against fast switchback corners so long as you don’t hit a rough patch.

The suspension is soft but the damping action is not very refined. A rough patch of tarmac mid-corner also easily throws the car off your intended line.

On smooth surfaces however, dive in to a corner at speed and the car pitches and rolls at just the right amount, in a very controlled fashion.

Comfort

The impressive cabin layout and high quality materials gave it a promising start but the poorly sorted suspension can make for an uncomfortable ride on certain stretches.

The soft suspension lacks sufficient travel and it hits the bump stops very easily, even when coasting over speed bumps at just 20 km/h.

At the same time, the damping is not refined enough to filter out judder when going over smaller patches of broken surfaces, or shopping mall car park type speed bumps.

Hopefully, this will be improved by the next facelift.

The air-conditioning also didn’t felt adequate enough for hot afternoons, especially for occupants in the rear. Our car came fitted with Ecotint window tinting, but it didn’t seem to help much.

On the upside, the Automatic Brake Hold function is one of the smoothest we’ve ever tried. It relieves the driver of having to keep pressing the brake pedal in traffic.

This is a common feature in many European cars but our experience with them have been mixed so far. Many of them don’t work as smoothly as they should. The one in the HR-V is among the better ones as it disengages in a smoother manner, at the slightest pressure from your left foot on the accelerator pedal. However in the interest of mechanical sympathy, it is better for users to shift the transmission to Neutral if the idling period is long.

Economy and Fuel Consumption

Over a 600 km plus distance, the HR-V returned an average fuel consumption of 13.0 km/litre (7.7-litre/100 km). That’s pretty good considering that this involved many full throttle accelerations climbing up Genting Highlands.

Total maintenance cost over a 5-year/100,000 km period is RM3,548, but excludes consumables like tyres, brake pads and battery.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the HR-V has many great things going for it, its very practical interior especially. On the move however, it falls below our expectations but despite its dynamic shortfalls, overall it still is the best option in that segment.

Being a Honda, its safety credentials is well above all other competitors and we are not talking about NCAP ratings. As explained in an
earlier post
, NCAP scores only consider single-vehicle incidences and Honda doesn't design its cars to just meet NCAP requirements, but to do well in real-world conditions.

If you enjoy driving or are going do a lot of long distance driving in the car, we suggest that you look to the Civic instead.

The closest alternative is the ASX, which drives and rides better, comes with 4WD but doesn’t offer as much practicality, consumes a bit more fuel, and is showing its age.

The
Mazda CX-3
 is just a taller, more powerful Mazda 2 and can’t match the HR-V’s all-round capability, not to mention its prohibitive RM135k price tag. If you are interested in one, we suggest that you wait till late-2016 or early-217 for a lower-priced, locally assembled variant.

Or you can look to the cheaper locally-assembled Mazda CX-5. Prices for the new facelift model have yet to be confirmed but the base-model should start upwards of RM130,000, ten grand more than the most expensive HR-V.

There’s also the smaller Ford EcoSport and Peugeot 2008 but neither offers anything unique when pitted against the Japanese trio.

None of the brands mentioned here however, can match Honda's wide network of service centres.

Find more Honda HR-V on sale at
Carlist.my
.


BMW Begins Production Of 8 Series Coupe At Dingolfing Plant

BMW has begun production of the 8 Series luxury coupe at its Dingolfing Plant in Bavaria, Germany.
Launched
 just ahead of this year's Le Mans endurance race, production of the 8 Series has required great investment to improve production processes, including implementation of self-driving transport systems, and smart devices.
Much of the plant and process improvements revolve around the varied use of materials in the construction of the 8 Series - steel, plastic, aluminium, and carbon fibre, is used in the body of the new car. In addition to the supporting structures at the front and rear of the vehicle, other components, such as the roof, doors, bonnet, and the front firewall of the BMW 8 Series Coupe, are made of aluminium.
For the first time in a series-production BMW model, the roof is available in carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) – which is also manufactured at Dingolfing using the wet-pressing process.
The BMW production system’s high level of flexibility allows the 8 Series to roll off the same assembly line as the BMW 5 Series and 7 Series models.

Two engine choices will be available when the new BMW 8 Series Coupe goes on sale in Europe. The 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 (530 hp and 750 Nm) which powers the M850i xDrive Coupe and the 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbodiesel (320 hp and 680 Nm) for the 840d xDrive Coupe.


Feature: Shared Technology – Getting Help Vs Going It Alone

The automotive industry is a very cost-intensive business. Development costs for a new vehicle from ground up, even a basic one, typically run into hundreds of millions, sometimes billions. There are thousands of individual components in one automobile, and each component requires meticulous fine-tuning to produce a cohesive well-honed vehicle to put on the road.
Little wonder therefore, that car makers occasionally set on-market rivalry aside to pool their resources together to jointly develop components, platforms, and sometimes even whole vehicles. Additionally, the rise of large scale automotive component manufacturers such as Bosch, Continental, and ZF allow a large degree of commonized parts between different brands.
The obvious reason why car makers share platforms across multiple models is none other than cost. Greater volume equals faster recuperation of developmental cost, consequently lowering the cost of each vehicle produced.
Automotive suppliers are also keener to give more competitive parts costing with greater commitment of volume. Put yourself in a supplier’s shoes: Car Maker A commits to take a million units of a certain part every year, Car Maker B can only muster a hundred thousand for the same component – who are you likely to prioritize and give a more competitive price?
The automotive industry is extremely intertwined; collaboration between car makers as well as shared hardware between multiple vehicle models are more commonly practiced than the layman might imagine.
Depending on the capabilities and projected volume of a given vehicle model undergoing development, car makers always have to weigh between engineering its own design from ground up, cooperating with another car maker, or buy off an existing design.
Car makers also often mix and match the three approaches along the way; they may develop their own in-house platform and design, plonk in an engine developed in collaboration with another car maker, and buy a ready-made third party transmission, all which are then integrated into one package. The possibilities are endless, but are often dictated by cost and other pragmatic concerns.
An in-house design from ground up is cost and labour intensive, but the car maker has the benefit of owning the design and adjusting parameters as it sees fit. Third-party-sourced hardware is cheaper in the immediate term, but incurs the continuous cost of royalties for an outsider-owned design. Typically, car makers will opt to develop high volume sellers on their own, but it is sometimes more pragmatic to use outsourced or joint venture designs for smaller volume models.
Toyota
 and
BMW
 are two notable examples. These two are among the biggest players in the automotive game, each with their own unique range of vehicles covering a wide range of segments. Yet, the two giants are not hesitating to join hands and work together on a sports car project that is set to yield the
next-generation Supra
 and a replacement model for the Z4.
Closer to home, Proton’s range of cars launched in 2016 notably consisted of four new models each underpinned by separate platforms – a huge undertaking for a car maker of any siz, one which Proton is able to pull off by using a combination of homegrown and imported technology.

Whilst the high volume
Persona
 and
Saga
 are fully in-house products, the range-topping
Perdana
 is based on the proven
eighth-generation Honda Accord
 platform. The final piece of the four-model puzzle will be the
Ertiga
, a compact MPV from Suzuki that is also sold in India and Indonesia. The Ertiga itself is based on a raised and extended version of the
Suzuki Swift
’s platform thus
leveraging on Suzuki’s expertise
 with small-sized vehicles.
For car makers, the approach of either developing a fully in-house product or collaborating with a rival each has its own merits. We do argue that each car maker should have its range of in-house products to forge its own brand identity, but perhaps the more important question is whether the vehicles produced ultimately meets the needs of its target buyers.
Follow this link for other examples of collaboration between car makers:
Feature: Shared Technology - Eight Examples Of Car Makers Working Together


Are Workshops Allowed To Open During The EMCO?

If you're going to suffer a breakdown this EMCO from 3rd - 16th July please be aware that the current EMCO does not allow for vehicle workshops and parts suppliers to open,
as opposed to the MCO 3.0/FMCO
 that considered them to be an essential service. They are now considered non-essential.

However, the latest version of the
EMCO SOPs, with some ambiguity
, allows for critical repairs, maintenance and wiring work to be conducted with a prior appointment, which can be deemed to include critical repairs for our cars. The SOPs themselves do not state in detail whether it applies to cars, or our homes – which ultimately would be more ‘critical’ given the circumstances.

But, if our cars don’t work, then how do we go out for essentials or our vaccinations?

The second part of the statement states that it must be done with a prior appointment, presumably by contacting the boss or operator of the workshop.

Of course, the allowance in the case of an emergency seems to be a perfectly sensible measure to have in place, but we believe there are quite a few issues with the guideline, which could leave workshops and car owners in quite a predicament as it also can be seen as a breach of the SOPs.

What are critical repairs?

Well this can be deemed as anything that
does not allow for the car to be operated in a safe manner
. Therefore, this can entail any of the following:

The tyres, in case of a puncture or failure

The engine – in case of the car’s ignition and fuelling system

Transmission problems

Engine cooling

Vehicle charging

Wiring issues

Braking system

These are the most critical systems of any car, failure of which, and the car cannot be driven. Yes, we can delay periodical maintenance even if your car’s air-conditioning system fails, it still can take you from A to B, but the SOPs must clearly state the nature of repair that can be performed.

There is also the further point of who does the repairs, while the owner of the workshop can open the premise – it’s most likely that a trained mechanic or technician gets the work done, this then creates the need for these skilled workers to travel, which raises more concern with regard to the SOPs.

Where do you get parts to fix your car?

Regardless if the workshop or service centre is allowed to carry out the repairs, the secondary issue is parts availability. As part suppliers are closed, workshops will not be able to fix your car. At best, and depending on the nature of the issue, they may be able to make a quick fix that will allow your car to soldier on for a while longer.

However, let us say your car’s alternator fails, which means the
battery
 cannot be recharged. Without replacement parts; workshops will not be able to rectify the issue.

What if your workshop isn’t nearby?

Most car owners would have their preferred workshops and in certain cases, it may not be near home or require us to pass one of many roadblocks that are in place (even if it’s within the 10km travelling radius). Without provisions in place, it would be next to impossible to explain the nature of the repairs needed and the purpose of travel.

Arguably, if your car requires critical repairs, it makes perfect sense to visit any workshop that is closest and able to conduct the repairs to keep your car moving.

What if everything becomes an emergency?

We cannot ignore the fact of flouting the regulations as well. It would undoubtedly be just a matter of time before owners and workshop operators use any allowance in the SOPs to operate as usual, which will negate the effects of the EMCO in any case.

What is best for now?

Considering the ambiguity of the regulations, limitations of parts and the repercussion of breaking SOPs, it’s best to assume that we cannot get any repairs done during the EMCO period. Though unfortunate, it is best to not run your vehicle if it critically needs repairs, given we cannot travel much during the EMCO it makes sense to hold out until workshops and spare part suppliers are allowed to operate as normal.

In the meantime, keep your cars as healthy as possible by
performing simple checks and DIY upkeep
 such as maintaining correct tyre pressures, topping up engine oil (if required) and keeping your car clean.  On the flipside, if you are not running your car at all, or have more than one car, at least start them once every 3-4 days to warm them up (10-15 minutes) and keep the battery charged to avoid issues cropping up later on.

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Proton Hits New Milestone As They Become smart Distributor For Malaysia And Thailand - EV To Be launched Q4, 2023

Proton has just put pen to paper, formalising a deal that would see them become the general distributor of smart automobiles in Malaysia and Thailand.

The ceremony which was witnessed by the smart team virtually saw Proton's Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah, sign on the dotted line, which now allows Proton to
sell and service smart automobiles in the country
.

First smart vehicle for sale in Malaysia - Q4 2023

According to Proton, this will pave the way for the introduction of new energy vehicles by the national car maker. The first smart model to be sold in Malaysia by Proton during the initial phase of the collaboration is set for early Q4 of 2023 and 2024 for Thailand.

"We aim to sell at least 1,000 units of the smart #1 annually and 10,000 units by 2027. We aim to gear up and have a preview car by May 2023, which we will then open the booking books shortly after," said Abdullah.

"We will spend the time between now and then determining
which features are suitable
 for the local market and studying what its competitors have on offer. By doing this, we are confident we can offer the right product for Malaysians," continued the deputy CEO.

Although the main highlight of the ceremony is obviously the finalisation of the partnership, there's a bigger picture in play as the local car maker has also announced that it intends to invest in a charging network by collaborating with local charging providers to provide and install charging units for customers.

Proton to invest in EV charging network

"We are currently communicating with seven or eight companies regarding charging facilities as we aim to grow the charging infrastructure evenly throughout urban and rural areas," said Yusri Yusuf, Proton's Senior Director of Strategy.

Furthermore, Proton intends to mimic smart's international retail model, where there will be a heavy emphasis on integrated digital lifestyle and other elements that will marry customer preferences with a connected digital solution encompassing journey planning, charging availability, and even purchase considerations.

The introduction of smart in Malaysia will also be used to attract young talents. With the rapid shift in job preference for new workers, Proton will use its long-term plans for sustainability and energy efficiency as well as increasing its ESG scores to appeal to the next generation of automotive industry workers.

“Today marks a big step for Proton’s entry into the new energy vehicle market. The first phase of business with smart is focused on retailing but it provides us with valuable knowledge and experience on not only how to service and charge EVs but also how to transform the way we interact with our customers. The move into this market segment will also help drive PROTON’s move towards being more environmentally friendly in all facets of our operations as we work to help Malaysia achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2050,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Proton's Chief Executive Officer.

smart's
new generation of electric vehicles
 is designed by Mercedes-Benz's global design team with engineering led by the smart R&D team. Currently, the smart#1 has a starting price tag of RM119,600 in China, which tops out at RM149,300 for the range-topping model.

All models are fitted with the same 66 kWh lithium-ion battery and are powered by a rear-mounted electric motor that produces 272PS and 343Nm of torque. The smart#1 can go from 0-100km/h in 6.7 secs and has a charging time of seven and half hours to get it from 0-80% (7.5 kW AC wallbox). The car can also accept up to 150 kW of DC fast charging, which can juice up the battery in just half an hour.


All-New Honda N-Box – The Ultra Practical Little Car That Honda Won’t Sell Us

The all-new second generation Japan-only Honda N-Box has gone sale in Japan. As before, there are two variants to choose from – the standard N-Box or the N-Box Custom, which adds a sportier front-end design and LED headlamps.
Available exclusively only in Japan, the main highlight for this all-new ‘kei’ car is its dramatic weight reduction – 80 kg shed from the previous model, despite the adding a full suite of passive and active safety features, including six airbags and Honda Sensing advanced driving aids system – a first in Japan’s ‘kei’ car segment.
In fact, the Honda Sensing package that’s fitted into the N-Box adds a few more features that are not available in even our Honda CR-V, adding Traffic Sign Recognition, False Backward Start Prevention and Auto High Beam headlights.
The previous N-Box was known for its amazingly practical and spacious interior. A couple of years back, we had the opportunity to sample this little car in Japan and we can confirm this tiny looking box on wheels packs a shocking amount of usable space inside it.
For this all-new model, Honda has improved the cabin even further by adding what Honda refers to as the ‘Super Slide front passenger seat’ function. The front passenger seat now slides 570 mm fore and aft. Coupled with its tall roof and flat floor, occupants can now walk through from the front to the back of the car, as well as from one side to another, perfect for parents with toddlers. The video below explains it best.
The rear seats fold flat into the floor as well.
It’s very spacious and practical interior, ease of access and exit thanks to the power-operated sliding doors makes it an ideal car for young families. Measuring just 3,395 mm long and 1,475 mm wide, the N-Box is so tiny that it’s even smaller than a Perodua Axia, and yet its cabin is big enough to fit the items as shown in the image below:

Two engine options are available – a 660cc naturally aspirated i-VTEC that produces 58 PS at 7,300 rpm and 65 Nm at 4,800 rpm, or a turbocharged variant (with an electric waste gate) of the same engine that bumps up the power to 64 PS at 6,000 rpm and 104 Nm at 2,600 rpm. Both engines are paired to a CVT-type automatic transmission, either as a front-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive.
Fuel economy is rated at 27 km/litre and 23 km/litre respectively. Of course, this figure is obtained from the rather optimistic JC08 Japanese driving cycle.
Prices for the N-Box ranges from 1,385,640 Yen for the G-grade N-Box model to 2,080,080 Yen for the G EX Turbo N-Box Custom.
The N-Box is related to the N-One, a retro-looking hatchback as well as the N-WGN, a boxy but lower roofline hatchback. All three are Japan-only models.
'Kei' refers to a very specific vehicle tax band for minicars in Japan. Originating from post-World War 2 days where fuel was in short supply but an affordable car was required to boost economic growth and motorization.
Kei cars are exempted from certain Japanese taxes, including a mandatory one-time parking permit fee. As such, all kei cars carry yellow number plates.
To qualify, a kei car must not be longer than 3,400 mm long, 1,480 mm wide and 2,000 mm tall, with a petrol engine capacity no bigger than 660cc.
As these cars are designed strictly to meet peculiarities of Japanese taxes, there is very little market potential for such cars outside of Japan, mainly due to their tiny 660cc engine. Homologating these cars to meet overseas regulations will also add significant cost to these otherwise budget cars aimed at Japanese consumers.


Proton X70 Vs Haval H6 - Proton Bakal Kehilangan Takhta Raja SUV Segmen-C?

Great Wall Motors
 telah mengumumkan kepulangan mereka di pasaran Malaysia dan bakal memperkenalkan
Haval H6
. Adakah kedudukan
Proton X70
 akan tergugat sebagai raja
SUV segmen-C
?

Sebelum pengumuman tersebut dibuat, beberapa unit Haval H6 telah dikesan sedang menjalani ujian jalan raya, antaranya adalah unit hibrid seperti di Thailand serta unit PHEV.

Memandangkan SUV ini bakal diletakkan dalam kategori SUV segmen-C, mampukah Haval H6 menggugat kedudukan Proton X70 yang selesa memegang takhta raja SUV segmen-C ketika ini? Jom kita lihat apa yang menarik sangat dengan SUV nombor satu di China ini.

Enjin Dan Prestasi

Haval H6 Hybrid yang diperkenalkan di pasaran Thailand hadir dengan enjin 1.5 liter turbocas empat-silinder. Dalam versi petrol biasa, jentera ini menghasilkan
169 PS
 dan
285 Nm
 tork. Bagi versi hibrid, ia digandingkan dengan motor elektrik yang menghasilkan 130 kW (177 PS), menjadikan output maximum kereta ini sebanyak
243 PS
 dan
530 Nm
. Versi PHEV pula menghasilkan output keseluruhan yang lebih tinggi iaitu sebanyak
326 PS
 dan
530 Nm
 tork.

Sementara itu, Proton kini kelihatan sedang giat untuk menggunakan
enjin 1.5L TGDI
 yang diperkenalkan pada Proton X50 kepada semua model baharu Proton kelak, termasuk
Proton X70 MC1
 kecuali bagi varian tertingginya yang masih menggunakan enjin 1.8L turbo.

Enjin 1.5L TGDI itu menghasilkan
177 PS
 dan
255 Nm
 tork sementara enjin 1.8L pula menghasilkan
184 PS
 dan
300 Nm
. Untuk perbandingan bagi model petrol biasa, Proton X70 dengan enjin 1.8L lebih berkuasa. Namun perlu diingatkan bahawa GWM bakal mengetengahkan kenderaan hibrid dan bateri elektrik sebagai produk utama mereka.

Dimensi

Jika saiz menjadi pilihan utama anda, Haval H6 merupakan SUV segmen-C terbesar dalam kelasnya.

Model

Proton X70

Haval H6

Panjang (mm)

4,519

4,635

lebar (mm)

1,831

1,886

Tinggi (mm)

1,694

1,724

Jarak Roda (mm)

2,670

2,738

Kapasiti But (liter)

512

600

Exterior

Reka bentuk luaran Haval H6 ini boleh dikatakan tidaklah begitu extra, namun sifat kemewahan yang dibawa oleh model ini masih dapat dirasakan seperti gril hadapan yang besar dan kemas, lampu utama LED yang garang, lampu brek belakang LED yang bersambung, sunroof serta dipasangkan rim aloi 19 inci.

Sementara itu, Proton X70 MC1 yang baru dilancarkan pada tahun ini masih lagi menggunakan rupa bentuk model terdahulu memandangkan ianya hanyalah
minor change
 atau
facelift
. Untuk perbandingan, Haval H6 telah memasuki generasi ke-3 pada 2020, menjadikannya beberapa tahun lebih maju daripada model asas Geely yang digunakan sebagai Proton X70 di Malaysia ketika ini. Ini membuatkan rupa kereta ini sedikit
rare
 dan lebih menarik perhatian.

Interior

Ruang dalaman H6 2021 yang serba mewah dilengkapkan dengan warna dwi tona, hitam dan silver sambil menerima kemasan berwarna Rose Gold. Selain itu, kabinnya turut mempunyai:

Panel instrumen digital 10.25 inci

Sistem infotainment bersaiz 12.3 inci

Head Up Display

Penukar gear elektronik

Sistem pengecas tanpa wayar

Pendingin hawa automatik dengan filter N95

Pendingin hawa untuk penumpang belakang.

Sementara itu, Proton X70 MC1 masih lagi mengekalkan interior yang sama seperti sebelumnya. Bezanya cuma kali ini, bumbung dalamnya diwarnakan hitam dan masih tiada sambungan pintar Apple CarPlay mahupun Android Auto terdapat pada paparan infotainment bersaiz 8 inci. Terdapat kemudahan arahan suara Hi Proton yang membolehkan pemandu mengawal tingkap, suhu dan infotaiment.

Anda turut boleh menggunakan kawalan suara untuk bercakap dengan kereta pada Haval H6 seperti mengawal sunroof, tingkap, radio, dan pendingin hawa. Bolehlah bersaing dengan teknologi ‘Hi Proton’.

Ciri Keselamatan

Untuk pasaran Thailand, Haval H6 menawarkan sistem Life+ yang meliputi:

Kamera 360 darjah

Bantuan parkir automatik

Automatic Reverse Assist (ARA)

Adaptive Cruise Control

AEB dengan pengesanan pejalan kaki, basikal dan trafik, peninjau titik buta, pengesanan papan tanda trafik dan keupayaan pemanduan autonomous Tahap 2

Teknologi Wisdom Dodge System (WDS) yang akan mengalihkan kenderaan ke tepi lorong ketika memotong kenderaan besar, sebelum kembali ketengah selepas memotong

Untuk perbandingan, Proton X70 pula hadir dengan ciri keselamatan terkini seperti:

AEB

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Adaptive Cruise Control

Lane Departure warning (LDW)

Blind Spot Monitor

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Kamera 360 darjah

Harga

Dari segi harga, jika Haval H6 dapat dijual pada harga yang kompetitif dan tidak terlalu mahal, ia berkemungkinan bakal menjadi penentu utama penerimaan kereta itu di Malaysia. Proton X50 dan Proton X70 meraih kedudukan sebagai raja SUV segmen-B dan segmen-C kerana faktor harganya yang lebih mampu milik berbanding pencabarnya.

Ketika ini harga bagi Haval H6 masih belum didedahkan, namun jika ia berada tidak jauh dengan harga Proton X70 yang bernilai RM128,800 bagi varian tertinggi, kedudukan Proton X70 sebagai peneraju SUV segmen-C mungkin bakal tergugat.

Servis Selepas Jualan

Menurut GWM, mereka mempunyai perancangan untuk mengutamakan pembangunan rangkaian operasi demi menghasilkan pengalaman pelanggan yang lebih baik untuk rakyat Malaysia. Penekanan akan diberi pada bahagian selepas jualan, dengan langkah yang akan diambil termasuk mewujudkan gudang alat ganti di Lembah Klang. Jenama ini juga akan memperkenalkan pusat talian servis pelanggan yang beroperasi sepanjang masa, dan disokong dengan pasukan servis teknikal.

Untuk Proton X70, servis selepas jualannya mungkin tidaklah sehebat kereta lain, namun menurut Proton isu itu sedang diselesaikan. Jika Haval H6 berjaya menjual kereta dengan harga yang kompetitif dan mengelak isu kekurangan alat ganti seperti yang dialami oleh Proton, ada peluang untuk Haval H6 menjadi raja SUV segmen-C.

Kesimpulan

Jika GWM memperkenalkan Haval H6 sebagai pilihan yang lebih baik dari segi kuasa, ciri dan nilai, tidak dinafikan bahawa X70 akan mempunyai lawan yang cukup kental untuk ditandingi. Perkara yang paling membimbangkan bagi Proton ialah kekurangan dari segi prestasi enjinnya memandangkan X70 mahupun rakan pasaran luar negara (Boyue, Azkarra, Emgrand X7 Sport) tidak mempunyai sebarang bentuk elektrifikasi dalam masa terdekat.


Why CKD, Why CBU?

CKD cars, CBU cars. We discuss the differences and why they exist in the first place?

If you're into cars or currently looking into purchasing one, then you obviously know by now that the Malaysian government has given us some tax breaks to help re-ignite the automotive sector.

Under the 'Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara' (PENJANA) initiative, the tax incentive for new CKD cars fully exempts them from sales tax. It doesn't stop there either because it also states that there will also be 50 percent off sales tax for imported cars (CBU).

But what is the difference between CKD (Completely Knocked Down) and CBU (Completely Built Up) cars in the first place?

CKD

Thanks to this notion called CKD, foreign vehicle manufacturers are able to take advantage of a decreased amount of tax for their cars due to the nature of how CKD works.

CKD cars are built upon kits that are sent from a vehicle manufacturer to a country where it will then be assembled to be a whole car. It is a common practice in the worldwide automotive industry for various reasons, including a lower amount of taxation.

Manufacturers need machinery, land and a workforce to put CKD cars together, which effectively means that they are creating jobs and contributing to the country's economy. For this reason, it is only fair that governments give the manufacturers some tax incentives for their investment in a country.

This allows manufacturers to sell their vehicles for a much lower price, something that will help manufacturers make a profit in the long run.

So CKD works, because not only does a government get to protect their assets (we'll get to that later), but they also get manufacturers to help build up an industry, creating a skilled workforce while making a profit from selling cars abroad.

CBU

CBU cars are the complete polar opposite of CKD. Simply put, CBU cars are just fully imported vehicles. They are cars that are built somewhere else in the world and imported as a whole into the country.

Their prices are usually much higher than CKD cars due to the taxes imposed on them. Due to demand, these cars still exist, because those with the means are willing to pay a premium to get their hands on said vehicle.

However, not all CBU cars will be more expensive than CKDs. Because of a pact called ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) between ASEAN countries, there are no import duties on CBU vehicles produced in ASEAN countries. As an example, some Honda and Toyota vehicles are made in Thailand, so even though they are imported, those vehicles are not subject to the same taxation as a car made in Germany or Sweden.

History of CKD in Malaysia

Malaysia's modern vehicle industry is ruled by two local manufacturers, Proton and Perodua. We say ruled, because the National Car Policy is heavily influenced by them to give these two local car makers an advantage over every other manufacturer.

This in some way is a form of protectionism and many other countries with locally produced cars do the same thing. It is understandable because why wouldn't a country protect their assets, right?

But was it always about protectionism?

Before Malaysia's independence, we could only purchase imported vehicles (CBU). In 1960, a few years after our independence, the Malaysian government started to concentrate on industrialisation which helped kick start the Malaysian automotive industry.

By 1967 local businesses partnered up with foreign vehicle manufacturers to begin assembly of CKD cars. By doing this, not only did the government hope to create more jobs, but it also hoped to establish a market for Malaysian-made parts.

With the gradual increase of local content and technology transfer throughout the years from the joint venture assembly plants, Malaysia became more confident of producing cars which resulted in our own national car, Proton

Depending on who you ask, the pioneers of CKD in post-independent Malaysia were Swedish Motor Assemblies (now known as Volvo Car Manufacturing Malaysia) and Capital Motor Assembly (now known as Tan Chong Motors).

They started making cars towards the end of 1967. While Volvo assembled Volvos and still do in Shah Alam, Tan Chong assembled Datsuns in Johor. According to other sources however, they were not the first and were pipped by a few months by Kilang Pembena Kereta-Kereta (KPKK) who assembled Fiat and Mitsubishi cars in Tampoi, Johor.

Although it is difficult to find an exact figure of how many jobs the CKD initiative has created, it has contributed to the 700,000 nationwide workforces in our current automotive industry. It has also helped Malaysia become the third-largest automotive industry in South East Asia contributing RM40 billion to the Malaysian GDP.

Here is a fun fact

Way back then Malaya was ground zero for the first-ever foreign local assembly plant in South East Asia, which saw FORD Motor Company setting up a hub in Singapore in 1926.

For those who are interested in the current tax structure

Down below we have a list sourced from MAA (Malaysian Automotive Association) that gives us a better picture of how much tax is imposed on CKD and CBU cars. Since we have this tax break thanks to PENJANA, ignore the sales tax figures for CKD cars.

MALAYSIA: DUTIES & TAXES ON MOTOR VEHICLES

MFN - Most Favoured Nation

ATIGA - ASEAN Trade In Goods Agreement

If you would like to find out the list of cars that are CKD in Malaysia, then read this
article
.


40 Countries Agree That Autonomous Emergency Braking Is Important

Ah, active safety systems. In the last decade we've seen the proliferation of these systems in a number of cars, and nowadays you can even get them in entry level models like the Perodua Myvi. Perhaps the most important of these - and the most promoted - is autonomous emergency braking, or AEB for short. You've seen countless videos where a distracted driver doesn't notice an obstacle, and the car manages to stop just short of hitting it - all autonomously.
There are various approaches to AEB systems, but they all have the same end goal: reduce damage in the event of an accident, or avoid them entirely. Studies by Euro NCAP and Australasian NCAP have found that the systems lead to a 38% reduction in real-world rear-end crashes at low speeds. By the estimation of the UNECE, this could lead to over 1,000 lives saved every year within the European Union alone.
With a draft bill on its way, there will be newer, tighter, stricter international UN regulations for AEB systems. The regulation will have a set of testing requirements for systems to work from between 0 and 60 km/h, which is heavily geared to urban scenarios. Light commercial vehicles will also need these systems, and many existing systems will need to be updated to meet these regulations.
Beyond this set of requirements, there is also work being done to improve pedestrian and cyclist detection for these AEB systems as to this day, some systems have difficulty recognizing odd shaped objects that don't look like regular pedestrians. It's a fairly difficult task to execute as even autonomous cars have trouble discerning between obstacles and cyclists due to their complex shape, but given that AEB was a figment of our imaginations just a decade ago, it won't be surprising if they figure it out in the next half decade or so.


Geely Wins Award For The Proton X50's 1.5TD Engine And 7 Speed DCT

The accolades are pouring in for the Proton X50 with Geely being awarded
first prize, "China Automotive Industry Science and Technology Award" for their development of the 1.5TD engine and 7-speed DCT high performance powertrain.

The award by China’s Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE-China) is dubbed by many as the 'Nobel Prize' of the automotive industry and is high praise indeed for an engine that still has its doubters at least back here in Bolehland.

The engine was co-developed by Geely and Volvo at Volvo's R&D centre and China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT) in Gothenburg as well as the Geely Automotive Research Institute in Hangzhou, China.

In case you didn't know, the same engine powering your X50's is already in use by more than 600,000 vehicles worldwide. Geely had before this already explained to us the technology behind the
1.5TD engine
. This news today should allay your fears if any on the proficiency of the 1.5TD powertrain.

Performance, lightweight, reliability, and good fuel economy are at the foundation of the 1.5TD. How it performs or live up to these ambitions over time we'll have to wait to find out.

The 7-speed DCT was developed by Geely based on Volvo's standards and boasts a shift time of 0.2 seconds with a maximum efficiency of 97.2%. It is estimated that this gearbox will be fitted on over one million vehicles by the end of this year.

Another area of focus for the development of the 1.5TD was to give the
three-cylinder engine
 the same refinement as a four-cylinder powerplant.
Geely carried out 120 Noise, Vibration, and Harshness optimization exercises to that end. This included the dedicated design of 12 key parts such as a vibration damping balancer shaft and dual mass flywheel with centrifugal pendulum absorber damper.

You will find the 1.5TD and 7-speed DCT in the
Proton X50 TGDi Flagship
 in Malaysia, so all of you who booked the Flagship variant, you've got an award-winning powertrain in your driveway. The powertrain has also been exported to UK and Sweden with plans to export it to 27 countries by 2021.


Malaysian Tolls Are Contributing To The Highway Traffic Jams

For folks who are in the midst of planning to balik kampung or are already prepared for the journey, good luck, because I'm sure by now you would have caught up with the latest news on traffic congestions happening in most major highways. Your four hours drive will inevitably turn into a tiring six hour trip. So what exactly is the cause of traffic build up?
We can sit here coming up with numerous theories that it's the festive season and everyone wants to go back for family gatherings or it's all the unecessary accidents happening, but I'm here to tell you that maybe, just maybe it is the toll. Yes, it could be as simple as that.
Highways are built to increase the country's mobility, but somehow our road system have failed to do that, especially when in periods of heavy traffic volume. It is apparent when highway operators told press like
The Malaysian Insider
 and
Berita Harian
that the toll forms a bottleneck for the flow of traffic as vehicles would have to slow down as they head towards the toll. See what I mean?
Although toll operators are constantly advising drivers to purchase SmartTAGs the main problem still remains, the toll booths on the cash lanes are still there. It may not require a toll operator and even though we are told that it's "automatic" we still have to stop and wait for the machine to read our device and then the barriers will go up to let us pass, do you know how much time you have wasted? And it gets worse if your SmarTAG device fails?
Remember that time when you were rushing and forgotten that your SmartTAG needs a new battery or maybe your card ran out of money? Cars are jammed up behind you in that SmartTAG lane and are cursing the daylight away while you wait embarrassingly to pay RM2.50 to the toll collector who ran from her post to your car to collect it from you and then open up the barriers for you. Feels like a mini disaster happening doesn't it?
Now I'm not a Singaporean, but I do admit that they got it right with their open road tolling system. Drivers can just drive through the toll booth without stopping so your journey isn't disrupted. Our road technology system is old and obsolete by the standards of what is easily available in the rest of the world. Highway operators and the road technology services provider should work together and invest for a solution to ease our traffic woes and highway jams, it's time for a change.


VIDEO: Car Thieves Caught On Camera Trying To Steal Honda Jazz

Be careful with where you park your cars, folks. Watch these thieves in action, and be mindful of the ever-present danger of leaving your car unattended to.
The incident is believed to have taken place just yesterday at around 4am in the morning, in front of a Speedmart convenience store in Jalan Ipoh.
*ALSO READ:
6 Criminal Acts To Be Wary Of On Malaysian Roads
The thieves start by rolling up to the car with intentions to pry out the Honda Jazz’s aftermarket front bumper. A second thief then comes along and tries to work on the car’s door lock, but fails.
In the end, the three-man team have to settle for the front bumper, having failed at breaking into the Jazz.
It’s another harsh reminder to make sure you always park your cars in safe locations, never leaving it alone to be preyed upon by scum like this.
The thieves were also brave enough to not hide their faces, so, should you recognise them, do notify the authorities.

Cubaan mencuri kereta honda jazz.
Cubaan mencuri kereta honda jazz.Kejadian berlaku pada jam 4.00 pagi di pekan batu jalan ipoh kl. didapati 3 orang pemuda melayu memandu honda jazz (pintu depan berwarna merah, body berwarna silver) dan didapati cubaan melarikan kereta honda jazz (putih) tetapi tidak berjaya..pada kejadian itu pencuri hanya sempat mencabut bumper depan dan belakang shaja..minta tolong ade sape2 kenal tak suspek ?More : Sukan Star TV @ Sukan Star .com @ sukanstar.com
Posted by
Sukan Star TV
 on Wednesday, 2 September 2015
See also:
VIDEO: Thieves Smash Through MPV Window In Mosque Parking Lot
VIDEO: Police Chase Stolen Lorry Without Any Tyres
VIDEO: Snatch Thieves Strike Unsuspecting Motorcyclist
VIDEO: Road-Bullying Myvi Wants To Pick A Fight With Everyone


High-Speed Run Turns Fatal For Porsche 911 On Johor Highway

For some reason or another, the festive season is also a time when road accidents spike. And if you need more reason that this time of the year, more than others, is when you really should drive safely, have a look at this brutally mangled
Porsche

911
 GT3.
Disclaimer:
 The images below depict a very serious crash, the nature of which we do not recommend to the faint of heart. We have elected to not show the openly graphic content on Carlist.my, and the full image set can be found
here
. Again, viewer discretion is advised.
Now, no matter how good a driver you think you are, or how capable your car might be, there’s always something that can go wrong. And unlike track drivers, there aren’t any helmets, six-point harnesses, or roll rages there for you should something unexpected happen – as they often do. So please, drive safely at all times.
These are not mere
incidents
 to be taken lightly, as they’re called
accidents
 for a reason.
This one in particular reportedly occurred on the Sunday, the 19
th
 of July at 4.30pm along the Second Link highway in Johor. According to The Star, Nusajaya OCPD Supt Noor Hashim Mohamad said the 55-year old Singaporean driver, See Lam Huat, lost control of his Porsche 911 GT3 (
997
) and smashed through the Armco barriers and down a rocky incline.
The impact caused the car’s instrument cluster to be flung out, where it remains fixed at 250km/h and 7000rpm.
"See was sent to Hospital Temenggong Seri Maharaja Tun Ibrahim in Kulaijaya for a post-mortem while the 31-year-old passenger is seeking treatment at Hospital Sultanah Aminah," he added.
It is not known if a second vehicle was involved at all. Reportedly, there was a passenger as well that miraculously made it out alive with only minor scrapes. The driver, however, sustained fatal injuries.


Toyota Plans to Unveil Sports Car Line Similar to Lexus F Series

It seems like Toyota Gazoo Racing is popping up in the news quite a bit recently, but one of the things that's been tossed around a lot is the idea of Gazoo taking over Toyota's performance car development.
Gazoo Racing, in the form of GRMN, has released a number of special development models- like the GT86 and the Yaris- but there's more word on this skunkworks-style company working closer with Toyota and being involved in development from the ground up-
as reported by AutoNews
.
Previously this was something that Toyota Racing Development (TRD) was tasked with, but recent reorganization within the company has led to Gazoo taking priority for road car development. Gazoo Racing initially existed separately, set up to allow for racing development without restriction, but have slowly matured and expanded focus to include road-going cars as well.
The hint comes as Toyota planned to announce a new sports car series at an event next month in Japan, which could very well mean that GRMN will only cater to the Japanese market. That being said, they have offered other publications a special supercharged version of the Toyota Yaris to test, which could become a proper hot hatch if it comes to market.


Ante Up: Great Cars Around The RM25k Range

Last week we saw some great cars that were available for around the RM15,000 mark, so this week, we thought we would ante up and try to find some great vehicles for around the RM25,000 price range.

Audi A4 (B7) (RM21,300)

If you're looking for a used vehicle that has a factory fresh looking interior, you should really look at some Audis. The German car manufacturer has a reputation for making robust and durable interiors and this example we picked from Carlist shows that their reputation does precede them. Although the vehicle is a 2006 model, the interior looks like it came off the factory yesterday. Most of you are probably worried about Audi's mechanical robustness, but this model was one of the good ones. It came with the reliable and powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged TFSI engine and non-problematic CVT transmission. The only thing about this particular car is that we would change it back to some OE rims.

Nissan Sylphy (RM24,800)

If going from A to B worry free is your priority, then the Nissan Sylphy will serve you well. Without the body kit, the car is not much of a looker, but with one, it does get some street cred. This example we picked shows how good it can look, especially if the previous owner takes care of it well. Even the interior of this one looks new, and that white paint job looks on point. Strangely on paper, the car doesn't seem very fun and fast, but just go try and drive one, we're sure you'll change your mind. It surprised us too! It felt fast, chuckable and planted - maybe some of that NISMO DNA is in there somewhere.

KIA FORTE (RM23,800)

The first generation KIA Forte was built around the turning point of KIA MOTORS - you know, the one where they managed to convince The Audi TT designer, Peter Schreyer to join them and lead them to better-designed cars. Although not personally designed by him, it was designed in KIA's swanky California studio, and the glamorous look is somewhat apparent in the vehicle. Already known for its bomb-proof build quality, KIA only needed a stylish and modern looking car, and the Forte definitely was that. The mostly grey interior with its red display panels really did mimic Audi's interior design language, but it was just how tight the car felt that made people fall in love with the Forte. If maintained well, they could go on for a long time, and maintenance costs are comparable to Japanese cars.

Nissan Navara (RM29,800)

If you need a truck to help you with your business' transportation needs, the second generation Navara is an excellent choice - although this one comes with a price. At this price range, you will only be able to get the manual version, but the truck will still haul a** especially when it pumps out 174hp and over 400Nm of torque from its 2.5-litre diesel turbocharged engine. At this price point which is way above our RM25k budget, don't expect it to win any beauty contests, but what you will get is a dependable truck that can do the necessary jobs like transporting workers and big heavy cargo. Mechanically they are bulletproof; it's just in the accessory and beauty section where they lose out the most.

Volvo XC90 (RM26,888)

The first-generation XC90 was a revelation when it came out. At the time where most full-sized SUVs were big-engined gas-guzzling hippos, the XC90 debuted in 2003 with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine. Sales were higher than Volvo predicted, and it became Volvo's best selling vehicle in 2004, not bad considering that this was Volvo's first-ever SUV. Seating up to seven people, the SUV is roomy and offers removable seats for additional cargo spacing. At this price, you must think that the XC90 is a money pit, but the front-wheel-drive only, 208hp and 320Nm T5 model is actually quite reliable. Stay away from the 2.9-litre T6 version, as they have transmission problems. This is another car for people who are feeling brave, but you know what they say, fortune favours the bold.