Mitsubishi Motors Launches New 3S Centre in Sungai Buloh

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) today celebrated the opening of its latest 3S Centre in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.
Located at Lot 26, Jalan LGSB 1/2, Pusat Komersial LGSB, Off Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, the facility is operated by Esperance Motors.
“Esperance Motors has just started its business partnership with Mitsubishi Motors and we welcome them into the Mitsubishi family.  With a strong leadership, vigorous energy and passion of the Dealer Principal and Management team in the automotive industry, we are confident that Esperance will become a key driving force to expand the market share for the Mitsubishi brand in Klang Valley,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.
Esperance Motors also announced that they will be opening their second Mitsubishi showroom in the second quarter of this year in Rawang. Expected to be fully operational by middle of this year, the new 3S centre will be equipped with six service bays.
In conjunction with the 3S Centre launch, Esperance Motors also took the opportunity to introduce and display the newly launched Outlander and Triton Athlete.
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is currently represented by 55 showrooms (out of which 48 are 3S Centres) and 54 service outlets throughout Malaysia.  In East Malaysia, MMM is represented by 14 showrooms (6 in Sarawak and 8 in Sabah).


Kind Deeds For A Full Heart And Blessed Ramadan This Year

Human kindness is a beautiful thing but it’s also often lost in today’s fast-paced society that values personal success and productivity.

However, take our minds off our self-absorbed goals and it’s easy to see where even our small, seemingly insignificant contribution might make a huge impact in someone’s life. And when better to start than now, just as we are coming up to the holy month of Ramadan.

As the period leading up to Hari Raya Aidilfitri is characterised as the time of forgiveness, self-control, compassion, sacrifice, and charity, here are just some ideas of how we as Malaysians of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs can come together to make this season a little more joyous.

Donate Excess Clothes To The Needy

As much as we might take the simple means to have new clean clothes on our back for granted, it’s a sad reality to realise that there are those who do not have that luxury.

Clothes, like a lot of items in our daily life, tend to accumulate as time goes on, but our preferences for style and fashion are constantly changing. As a result, some of us, many of us, even, have closets full of unused clothing.

Fortunately, there are easy ways to free up some space in your wardrobe while doing your good deed for the day. Many charitable organisations out there are willing to accept used clothing, provided they aren’t in tatters of course, to give to the needy. Some even have large donation boxes in popular areas such as shopping complexes so you can just drop them in at your convenience.

Share Break-Fast/Iftar with Friends & Family

There’s something intrinsic to the human bonding experience about sharing meals together, so why not organise a breaking-fast meal (otherwise known as Buka Puasa or Iftar) at home with friends, neighbours, and family. Bonus points if you can serve self-cooked dishes too!

A hearty meal, especially one that comes at the end of a full day of fasting is even more well-deserved when shared, so it’s the perfect opportunity to also share stories and laughter.

Get Your Mother/Father’s Car Washed

This one kind of depends if your mother and/or father tends to neglect the cleanliness of her/his car. Other parents are quite meticulous about the condition of their car – perhaps it runs in the family, and therefore do not apply.

However, if your father’s car is a bit of a mess, a kind deed to be done is to give it some TLC in the form of a wash. This writer is a bit of a car detailing obsessive, so will gladly take on my father’s filthy
Ford Ranger
 or mother’s slightly less filthy
Honda City
 with hose, suds, and towels in hand, but you’d be forgiven taking the easier route and letting the professionals handle it.

Your parent(s) might have forgotten how good their car looks, so just imagine how blown away they’d be to see it in gleaming condition!

Give Your Mother (In-Law’s) Car A Service

For those searching for extra brownie points from your in-laws, here’s your golden ticket. Many more elderly car owners may not have the energy or time to fuss about getting their car serviced frequently, and consequently they don’t run as smoothly as they should.

They might complain about the supposed unreliability and general frustration with the car, which is your cue to investigate what is ailing the vehicle. Who knows, it might be the case that it just needs a proper service!

After all, the gift of averting a potentially dangerous breakdown is something you can’t really put a price on, which becomes doubly essential given how much travelling we tend to do during the Ramadan and Hari Raya period.

In conjunction with this festive period, from 20th March to 30th April, CARSOME Service Centres are offering super affordable vehicle service packages
 that start from just RM98 inclusive of a 20-point inspection. There’s even a 10% discount on new car batteries with a 15 month warranty as well as a 15% discount on new windscreen wipers and the servicing of brakes and the air-conditioning system.

Buy A First Car For A Family Member

This doesn’t apply to everyone and it definitely doesn’t come around as a common occurrence - except for maybe the extraordinarily wealthy.

Obviously, a big gesture of love and generosity can really leave a mark on a person’s life, but in the case of this writer, there’s a sister that is taking her driving exam and will be a licensed road user before long, meaning she’ll need a car that’s safe and dependable to stop us from worrying every time she heads out.

The extensive selection of CARSOME Certified cars have been fully inspected and refurbished to ensure they are in the highest quality and running condition, so you’re getting the best example used car no matter the price point.

Also for this Hari Raya season, CARSOME is offering discounts up to RM8,000 on selected cars
, vouchers valued up to RM200,000 up for grabs, FREE 1-year warranty and 1-year servicing, and financing with low interest rates from Public Bank for cars purchased from 20th March to 30th April 2023!

Click here and share the joy of Raya with GREAT DEALS!


MAA: TIV 2018 Almost 600,000 Units, Similar Outlook For 2019

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has just released the sales data for December 2018 and thus, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the year 2018.
The 2018 TIV just fell short of hitting the 600,000-unit mark, as sales in December did not spike, unlike previous years.
In fact, December 2018 recorded slightly lower sales of 48,188 units, 94 units lower than the figures the month before. For reference, sales in December 2017 was close to 55,000 units.
Nonetheless, the TIV for 2018 capped at 598,714 units, an increase of 22,089 units or 3.8% compared to 2017.
A detailed analysis of how each brand performed in 2018 will be published at a later date.
Production output from the assembly plants paints a rosier picture, with 2018 witnessing an increase of 13%, ending the year with 564,971 units.
Production growth in 2018 was seen in all segments except the MPV segment, where sales also saw a dip of 14.2%.
Mazda increased the production of the CX-5 model by a massive 100% to satisfy local demand as well as
exports to ASEAN neighbours
The association forecasted that the TIV for this year will remain flat, with the figure rounded up to 600,000 units, with no increase in the segment mix of passenger vehicles to commercial vehicles at a ratio of 89:11.
Datuk Aishah said factors for maintaining the TIV level include forward-purchase of new vehicles during tax-free period, economic uncertainties, inflationary pressures, and
delays in approval for new vehicle pricing
 which affects their introduction timing.
We have compiled the list of new vehicles that are expected to launch this year. Click on the image for the article.

TIV for the next four years also is expected to have a slight growth, at a compounded average growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2%, with 2020’s TIV expected to reach 612,000 units and surging to 623,290 units in 2023.
Datuk Aishah also added that the market has been getting more receptive to hybrid vehicles, as seen in the strong sales growth in 2018. There were 18,754 units of hybrid vehicles sold last year, an increase of 5,104 units compared to 2017.
2018 also saw the launch of new hybrid models that contributed to the increase in sales- BMW 530e, Volvo XC60 T8, and Nissan Serena C27. The data also reflected that Honda City hybrid model has garnered significantly more sales in 2018.
Electric vehicles meanwhile only saw two units of sales in 2018, as opposed to 11 units the year before. The association did not provide breakdown of the sales of these 13 exclusive electric vehicles.


VIDEO: Tianjin Petrochemical Depot Explosion - 36 Fire Fighters Still Missing

A massive explosion that took place recently at the Northern port city of Tianjin has consumed nearly 50 lives, with over 500 people admitted to hospitals (most recent reports state).
The blast, which is believed to have been viewable from space, is said to have come from a mishap at a petrochemical plant in the area, creating a blast as powerful as 24 tonnes of TNT, and shocks reaching up to 2.9 of the Richter scale.
So far, fire fighters have stalled rescue operations, following the death of 12 personnel, and another 36 that are still missing – again, we want to reiterate that this is latest news as per the time of writing, and these numbers are sadly expected to increase over time.
On top of consuming a significant part of the city, its buildings and more, the explosions also consumed a nearby port where thousands of vehicles, visibly several Volkswagen models, can be seen turned to near ash in these images.
Our thoughts are with the people of the city, and we do hope for the best for all affected by this tragic disaster.

【東森新聞粉絲團獨家】天津倉庫驚天爆死傷慘重，東森記者搶先挺進距離爆炸現場僅約100公尺的一座進口車停放場，方圓2公里內滿目瘡痍宛如廢墟，上千輛汽車付之一炬，燒到只剩骨架，損失難以估計。
Posted by
F a c e b o o k News 新闻最前线
 on Wednesday, 12 August 2015


All-New 2022 Honda Civic Production Units Spotted In The US

Since its
official introduction earlier this month
, there has been immense excitement for the upcoming US market 2022 Honda Civic; now for the first time, we have the earliest images of production units caught in the open. Honda aficionado HondaPro Jason gives the clearest glimpses yet of the 11th-generation Civic which is destined for the US sometime later this year.

Several photos crucially highlight the
visually striking exterior and interior
 as these 2022 Honda Civic units await delivery at a storage yard in the US.

Building on the success of the
10th-generation model
, the new 2022 Civic now features more mature design cues. The car has also grown in length and wheelbase to offer a larger stance and better interior accommodation.

A wide front grille is flanked by sleek headlights with an L-shaped DRL light signature at the front. Round the flanks, the car’s glasshouse has been pushed back (at the front) and stretched at the rear (much like the Accord) to give the 2022 Civic a low-slung coupe-like silhouette. The characteristic kink in the bodyline just before the C-Pillar is another nod to the Accord’s design cues. Round the back, the Civic features more rounded proportions, which are compliment by streamlined rear lights with L-shaped graphics for a clean look. The units seen here are noticeably the “Sport” variant, judging by the badges on the boot lid.

A major part of Honda’s efforts with the 2022 Honda Civic has been on the inside - A detailed honeycomb mesh accent now runs the width of the dashboard which neatly integrates the air-conditioning vents. Up top, the touchscreen infotainment system is offered in 7- or 9-inch sizes depending on variant. Down the centre, the centre stack features a main cubby space with an integrated Qi-
wireless charge port
 on selected variants.

The US market receives two four-cylinder engine choices: A naturally aspirated (NA) 2.0-litre or a turbocharged 1.5-litre. The 1.5-litre turbo which is more familiar to us has been updated to produce 180 hp at 6,000 rpm and 240 Nm of torque between 1,700 rpm and 4,500 rpm (87 octane fuel) – those figures represent a 6 hp and 20 Nm gain over the previous model. The 2.0-litre NA engine outputs 158 hp and 187 Nm of torque.

Both engines in the 2022 Honda Civic are paired with an updated continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) uniquely tuned for each engine. The revised
CVT
 enhances fuel efficiency by using a more robust electric hydraulic pump which reduces the load on the mechanical pump, and a ball-bearing secondary shaft to reduce friction and increase efficiency. Honda claims the CVT transmission has been calibrated to provide stepped shifting to simulate a manual-like shifting experience during spirited driving.

In addition to a stronger, more rigid shell, the chassis also receives new updates and a wider rear track to take full advantage of the longer wheelbase for better driving dynamics and ride comfort.

The new 2022 Civic will also be the safest ever, courtesy of the standard-fit
Honda Sensing active driver aids
 suite and a new single-camera system that provides a wider field of view than the previous radar-and-camera-based system. Combined with software advances and a new, more powerful processor, the system can more quickly and accurately identify pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles, along with road lines and road signage.

The system now adds Traffic Jam Assist. The new camera-based system improves existing functionality, such as more natural brake application and quicker reactions when using Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

Honda has yet to announce official pricing and delivery dates of the new car but is largely expected to start soon. The US-market sedan models will be produced at the company’s Alliston plant in Ontario Canada, while a hatchback model – which will join later on – will be produced in Honda’s Greensburg Indiana plant.

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

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Carlist.my.

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MazdaSports Day Is Your Chance To Experience Jinba Ittai

It's the start of a new month, and MazdaSports Academy is kicking things off with the introduction of the MazdaSports Day out in Shah Alam. Following on from the
success of their first training program
, this day is aimed to allow customers to explore the limits of their Mazda vehicles and experience
Jinba Ittai
(horse and rider as one, one of Mazda's beliefs when developing fun-to-drive cars). There is a dynamic test drive course that participants will have to complete with prizes to be won.
The event is being held this weekend, on the 7th and 8th of July 2018 at the Shah Alam Stadium from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information on MazdaSports Day, visit Mazda Malaysia’s
Facebook Page. (
https://www.facebook.com/mazdamy/
).
MazdaSports Day Location
Waze:
https://waze.com/ul/hw281w8u6v
Google Maps :
https://maps.google.com/?q=3.080410,101.542252


Honda City 1.5L Hybrid Eco Test: KL-Penang-KL: 3/4 Tank

I am sure I’m not the only one that takes manufacturer claims of fuel economy with a slight pinch of salt.

With the claimed fuel economy of some Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) dipping below 3.0-itres/100km, it's understandable if some people think those figures are outlandish, and nigh-on impossible to replicate on a daily basis.

However, we recently ran a quick fuel economy test between a BMW 740Le xDrive and Perodua Myvi 1.5L and we were frankly astounded with the results. Though largely anecdotal, it did give us a good idea of how far along PHEVs have come.

But, PHEVs are largely reserved for the premium segment – the least expensive PHEV in our market is the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 which is priced at circa RM250k.

Therefore, they are not cheap, and there’s also the problem of weight, that is, though those high-capacity batteries are great for an electric range of 30-40km; which will despatch the daily commutes for most users with ease.

Once the batteries dry out, like on an outstation journey, it’s a challenge to recharge them substantially while driving, plus now the engine has to lug all the additional weight of the batteries; so it’s a law of diminishing benefits – with more drivetrain complexity, comes more weight, and more weight requires more power to move.

At some point, does it just make more sense to simplify the execution and just go with a more traditional Hybrid powertrain?

Case in point is the Honda City 1.5L Hybrid, because I just went from KL to Penang and back on three-quarters of a full tank. Superb fuel economy… you’re damn right!

Having
tested the car before
, the superb efficiency of its Hybrid drivetrain – which returned 6.7-litres/100km combined despite driving it enthusiastically – had me deeming it the best Hybrid powertrain on sale today. Nevertheless, I had to know just how good.

On a recent trip to Penang, Butterworth to be exact, I had an opportunity to put the City Hybrid through its paces to see just how much mileage can be extracted from a full tank of fuel.

The objective was to drive the City, just as any owner would, without any additional measures to save fuel. By this, I mean no turning off the air-conditioning, no over-inflating of tyres or retracting wing mirrors to reduce drag.

The City Hybrid was run at recommended tyre pressures – inflated at the start of the journey – and the air-conditioning (and infotainment) was turned on the entire journey with temperature settings between 23-deg and 25-deg. Just me and my wife, and about 30kg of luggage (and snacks).

First Leg

The first leg of the journey took us from central Petaling Jaya to Icon City, Butterworth. I started my journey around 12.30 pm, blazing hot conditions were not the most ideal but on the plus side, traffic conditions were ideal. I experienced smooth-flowing traffic, which allowed me to keep my speed as constant as possible, hovering between speeds of 80-110km/h.

Driving economically requires steady throttle inputs plus a bit of planning while driving helps stretch your dollar every step of the way. Having completed the journey by around 5.00 pm. I parked the City Hybrid having covered a total of 336 km, averaging about 23.4 km/litre, or around 4.27 litres/100km. This equates to around RM8.90 for 100km of travel, which also means, I only spent RM29.85 for the entire first leg of the journey.

Return Leg

On my return leg from Butterworth, I started my journey around 4.00 pm. Again, conditions were not the most ideal given the intense heat and humidity; at higher ambient temperatures, air density drops, and so does overall power and efficiency of a vehicle.

The secondary issue is that my journey back wasn’t as smooth as the first leg. While my journey from Butterworth right up until Gopeng was smooth sailing, from then on, both lanes were chock-full of traffic making progress extremely slow. Waze swiftly redirected me to backroads, from Bidor right up to Tanjung Malim.

Though longer and more unpredictable, driving up backroads – which include low and mid speeds, traffic lights, and slow crawls – it does add to the objectivity of the overall test. Most users are after all going to encounter these types of driving scenarios, so this test does offer a fair and accurate representation of real-world fuel usage.

All said and done, after completing the entire journey back to my home, and inclusive of a bit more travelling the next day before returning the car to Honda Malaysia, I had completed a total of 698.5 km, with the car’s telemetry (which is very accurate in my opinion) still reading an available driving range of 61 km. Even if we take a conservative estimate – I’d wager the City Hybrid will cover a total of 750 km before the tank runs dry. Heck, maybe even more if road conditions and weather were better!

Overall efficiency still stood at 23.4 km/litre (4.27 litres/100km) over the entire journey, which totalled in excess of 11 hours of drive time.

Summary

Of course, all Hybrid drivetrains are efficient, but some are just better than others.

In my opinion, the City Hybrid returns amazing fuel economy figures simply because its drivetrain is so perfectly adapted to Malaysian road conditions and driving styles.

Much of this is down to the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which intuitively and intelligently interacts with both the engine and 22kW electric motor to provide seamless power and efficiency.

That and the fact that the battery, despite its small size, recharges very quickly to power ancillary systems such as the Air-Conditioning compressor, steering system, and brake servo system. Click here for an
extremely detailed explanation
.

In addition to being extremely thrifty at the pumps, the City offers superb practicality, occupant space, and a comfortable driving demeanour, which were excellent for a long journey such as mine.


LA 2017: New BMW i8 Debuts In USA, Adds Roadster Variant With 3D Printed Metal Parts!

The BMW i8, still the world’s best-selling plug-in hybrid sports car, has been given a mid-life update and joining the expanded i8 family is a
new i8 Roadster
.
Highlights of the Roadster is a fabric soft-top that can be opened/closed in 15 seconds, at speeds of up to 50 km/h. That alone is nothing unusual, but what differentiates the i8 Roadster’s soft top is the use of 3D printed aluminum components. In order to keep the soft-top’s mechanism compact, BMW had to produce geometric shaped bracing parts that are topologically optimized – a big word to describe space-efficient folding shapes – BMW had to develop a new manufacturing process.
The result is a soft-top that folds vertically in a Z, and when stowed into a the ‘roof box’ behind the driver, there’s still 92-litres of cargo space, on top of the 88-litre boot space behind the mid-engine sports car.
Changes are subtle and among the key visual identifiers of this new i8 versus the outgoing model is a model specific Coupe/Roadster badging on the C-pillar. The bonnet now features a new air shutter, which reroutes air flow to the sides of the car near the wheel arches and under the body. This aerodynamic improvement is particularly important to the Roadster variant in maintaining a comfortable cabin temperature when driving with the top down.
There are two new colour options (E-Copper metallic and Donington Grey metallic) and new optional 20-inch wheels (double-spoke for the Roadster and turbine-style for the Coupe).
Inside, the list of trim options have been revised to include Accaro interior trim, a high-end option featuring cloth/leather upholstery in an Amido/E-Copper colour scheme. The infotainment system has also been revised to bring it in-line with what’s offered in the 7 Series. The main menu is now presented on the screen in the form of horizontally arranged tiles with a live mode. The audio system features a seven-channel amplifier as well as a USB port, while there is also the option of a Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system.
The Heads-Up Display now also shows the gear position and Optimum Shift Indicator (when the six-speed automatic transmission is in Sport mode).
There’s an audible pedestrian warning sound, which emits soft turbine-like sound when the i8 is driven in quiet electric mode. The warning sound is active at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
Both versions of the i8 continue with the same powertrain layout as before, but optimized to deliver improved performance. The mid-mounted 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine continues to offer unchanged outputs of 231 hp and 320 Nm, but receives an integrated particulate filter to further lower emissions. In the combined cycle, the new i8 Coupe is rated fuel consumption of 1.9 litres/100km and CO
2
 emissions of 42 g/km; the i8 Roadster, on the other hand, manages 2.1 litres/100km and 46 g/km.
Bigger improvements are implemented on the electric half of the driveline, in which the lithium-ion battery gets its energy capacity boosted from 20 to 34 Ah and the electric motor's output raised by 12 hp to a maximum of 143 hp and 250 Nm.
On pure electric driving, the new i8 is able to reach a maximum speed of 120 km/h in eDrive mode and 105 km/h in other drive modes - either way, a significant increase from the outgoing model's 70 km/h. All-electric range is rated at 55 km for the i8 Coupe and 53 km for the i8 Roadster.


Gambar Perodua Alza 2022 Tersebar – Pelancaran Dianjak Ke Bulan Julai?

Beberapa keping gambar yang menunjukkan deretan
Perodua Alza 2022
 di kilang pengeluaran Perodua telah tersebar di media sosial. Model tersebut bakal dilancarkan oleh Perodua dalam masa terdekat.

Gambar tersebut menampakkan keseluruhan rupa luaran Alza 2022 ini tanpa sebarang pelekat penyamaran memandangkan ia diambil di kilang Perodua. Sekali pandang, rupa luarannya tidak jauh beza dengan kembarnya,
Toyota Avanza/Veloz
 dan
Daihatsu Xenia
 di pasaran luar.

Exterior Perodua Alza 2022

Walaupun ia menggunakan asas yang sama seperti Avanza/Xenia, namun rupa hadapannya telah diberikan sentuhan Perodua dengan mengenakan rekaan gril hadapan seakan-akan
Perodua Myvi 2022
.

Lampu hadapannya kelihatan sama sahaja seperti kembarnya sementara rim 16-incinya kelihatan mirip rim yang digunakan pada Daihatsu Xenia berbanding rim Avanza.

Bahagian belakangnya pula lebih bercirikan Toyota Veloz di pasaran Indonesia dengan menampilkan rekaan garisan lampu brek belakang yang bersambung.

Berikut merupakan antara perkara penting tentang Perodua Alza 2022 yang perlu anda tahu:

Pelancaran Ditunda Ke Julai?

Berdasarkan khabar angin sebelum ini, pelancarannya dikhabarkan pada bulan Jun ini atau lebih tepat 26 Jun 2022. Walau bagaimananapun, ada info baharu yang mengatakan Perodua mungkin bakal menunda pelancarannya ke bulan hadapan kerana ada vendor yang kekurangan tenaga kerja.

Sepatutnya, ia dilancarkan pada bulan ini bagi menggantikan model lama Alza yang telah ditamatkan produksinya bagi memberi laluan terhadap model baharu ini. Walau bagaimanapun, info ini tidak dapat dipastikan kesahihannya.

Pengecualian SST juga bakal berakhir pada 30 Jun ini jadi sekiranya Perodua ingin memperkenalkan Alza baharu ini pada Julai, pelanggan tidak akan menikmati pengecualian cukai tersebut.

3 Varian Ditawarkan

Perodua Alza 2022 bakal ditawarkan dalam 3 pilihan varian iaitu

X

H

AV

Tiada Enjin Turbo

Alza 2022 ini tidak akan ditawarkan dalam pilihan transmisi manual dan MPV generasi baharu ini hadir dengan enjin 1.5L NA yang dipadankan bersama CVT, bukanlah enjin 1.0 turbo seperti yang terdapat di
Perodua Ativa
.

Di Indonesia, kembar Alza 2022, iaitu Avanza dan Xenia menerima enjin 2NR-VE 1.5 liter seperti Perodua Myvi facelift 2022, namun kembar Alza menghasilkan output 106 PS/ 138 Nm berbanding Myvi yang menghasilkan 102 PS/ 138 Nm.

Warna Baharu

Perodua Alza 2022 ini bakal ditawarkan dalam 5 pilihan warna berbeza yang terdiri daripada warna solid dan metallic seperti:

Ivory White (solid)

Glittering Silver (metallic)

Garnet Red (metallic) – Varian X terkecuali

Vintage Brown (metallic) – Varian X terkecuali

Elegant Black (metallic)

Apple Carplay, Android Auto

Alza 2022 merupakan model pertama Perodua yang bakal dilengkapi dengan sistem sambungan pintar Apple Carplay dan Android Auto. Ciri ini hanya ditawarkan pada varian H dan AV sahaja.

Keselamatan

Perodua Alza 2022 bakal dilengkapi dengan sistem keselamatan aktif Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA) yang terdiri daripada:

A.S.A. 3.0

Driving Assist

Parking Assist

Headlamp Assist

Lebih Besar - Platform DNGA

Oleh kerana Alza 2022 menggunakan platform sama seperti Perodua Ativa serta Daihatsu Xenia, iaitu platform Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA), Alza 2022 ini lebih besar berbanding model lamanya meskipun jarak antara rodanya kekal sama.

Harga

Khabar angin mengatakan bahawa Alza 2022 ini bakal diperkenalkan dengan harga yang sama dengan Perodua Aruz, iaitu sekitar RM69,000. Harga tersebut lebih mahal daripada Alza sebelumnya yang dijual dari harga RM49,944 dan RM60,525 sahaja setelah diberikan pengecualian SST.

Walau bagaimanapun, tiada gambar interior Alza yang tersebar buat masa ini. Kalau nampak dah berderet Alza baharu di kilang Perodua, memang dah dekat sangatlah tarikh pelancaran model ini. Mungkin bulan hadapan, mungkin hujung bulan ini. Nantikan!


PUSPAKOM's monopoly in 2024! Exclusivity to end on September 1st after concession ends

Just like it's the end of the Touch 'N Go monopoly, PUSPAKOM too will end its hold on a specific service in Malaysia, as starting next year, it will no longer be the sole provider of periodic vehicle inspection in the country.

The end of March 2023 will forever be memorable because not only has the government announced that it would virtually end Touch' N Go's monopoly, but they have also announced that PUSPAKOM will also get some competition soon.

According to a posting on Transport Minister, Anthony Loke's official Facebook page, PUSPAKOM will no longer be the sole provider of vehicle inspection services for the road transport department starting from September 2024. PUSPAKOM's concession actually ends on Aug 31, 2024.

The posting continued on by saying that the Cabinet of Ministers has decided that the inspection service of motor vehicles will be opened to any party who is qualified and meets the conditions set after the current concession to PUSPAKOM expires on 31 August 2024.

The process of inviting parties interested in the periodic inspection service of motor vehicles is expected to start in the first quarter of 2024 at the latest.

The decision is in line with the Government's desire to create a competitive service environment and facilitate all Malaysians.

Regarding the current PUSPAKOM Concession Agreement, which was extended for 15 years in 2009, the Cabinet has agreed to extend the agreement for the same period, effective 1 Sept 2024, with the updated terms, which basically allows the market to be accessible to anyone else that is qualified.


Honda Malaysia Adds Passion Red Pearl Paint To City, Jazz, and CR-V Line-Ups

Just in time for the upcoming Raya holidays, Honda Malaysia has announced that the current City, Jazz, and CR-V on sale will receive a new Passion Red Pearl paint colour that made its Malaysian debut with the updated HR-V back in January of this year. With 30% of all new HR-Vs sold in this colour, it proved just how popular the colour is with Malaysian consumers - a market which has traditionally opted for more subdued, monochrome colours.
The Passion Red Pearl will be replacing the Carnival Red colour for the Jazz, as well as the Dark Ruby Red for the City. On the other hand, the CR-V will lose its Obsidian Blue Pearl paint option in favour of this vibrant red paint scheme. With these three models contributing 62% of total Honda Malaysia sales for the last four months, it's no surprise that they are benefitting from a highly popular paint choice.
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here
.


Two Killed, Three Miraculously Survive Horrific Bandar Ainsdale Crash

A married couple lost their lives, but three others miraculously survived in a horrific accident at Kilometre 270.3 along the PLUS highway near the Bandar Ainsdale exit at Seremban on Friday, after a trailer lost control, swerved and ploughed head on into opposing traffic, slamming into three cars.
A dashcam recording of the incident circulating on social media showed the trailer travelling north bound on the slow lane losing control following a burst tyre. The trailer then veered across four lanes of highway and tore through the highway divider into the path opposing traffic upon which a gold-coloured Proton Waja travelling on the fast lane slammed onto it in a sickening impact.
According to reports, the lorry then collided with a Proton Preve and Perodua Alza before it landed into a ditch at the side of the highway.
Harian Metro
 reports that Lau Lian Huat, 62, and Lim Ah Gim, 60, who were travelling in the Alza, were killed on the spot; Azian Saleh, 45, and Abdul Rahim Ramlee, 52, who were travelling in the Preve, as well as Mohammad Tahir Othman, 51, driving the Waja, were injured but miraculously survived the incident.
Photographs of the aftermath show that both the Preve and Waja sustained heavy damage to their front crumple zones though the passenger cells of both cars were relatively intact. The Preve, notably, seemed to exhibit no noticeable deformation aft of its A-pillars.
The lorry driver fled the scene after the incident, but has since surrendered himself to police custody for further investigations.


Next-Gen Nissan Z Prototype Unveiling In Less Than Two Weeks

Amidst the news and the scandals, Nissan has managed to sneak in an interesting new development in the form of the next generation Nissan Z car.

After what seems like an eternity of selling the 370Z (yes, it’s still sold in some countries), Nissan has finally decided that 11 years is enough and the world is ready for the next generation of the Z car lineage. Rumours have called this new model the 400Z, but for now Nissan is only going to release the Z Prototype on the 15th of September, 2020.

From the teasers so far, it’s pretty obvious that this was going to be a Z car. The silhouette presented shows a tapering roofline and sharp rear end reminiscent of every generation of Z to come before it, and possibly every generation to come after. While some have suggested that the new car receives a 4.0-litre V6 – hence the 400Z badging – it is more likely to get one of Nissan’s turbocharged powerplants in the form of the VR30DDTT, which pushes 400 hp in higher trim Infiniti models.

Whatever they decide to do, we hope that they will at least retain a manual gearbox option for the next-gen Z – as there isn’t one paired with the current crop of Infiniti models powered by this engine. There may even be a possibility of hybrid technology in order to meet tightening emissions regulations and make the Z just a little more daily-drivable and socially acceptable.

The next-generation Nissan Z prototype
will be unveiled here
, 8.30 a.m. local time on the 16th of September 2020 just in time for Malaysia Day!


BMW Mulls Localising PHEV Battery Production In Thailand From 2019

BMW is considering plans to localise production of its PHEV batteries in Thailand from 2019 onwards.
Bangkok Post reports
 that BMW is the second European carmaker, after Mercedes-Benz early in January, to apply for the Board of Investment’s (BoI) plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) scheme in Thailand.
Bolstered by a record year of PHEV sales in the Thai market in 2017, rising by 269% over the same period in 2016, BMW's PHEV scheme application is a further indicator of the Thai market's potential to become a part of BMW's global EV supply chain.
Sales of PHEV vehicles made up 13 percent of the 10,020 units sold in Thailand last year, ranking third after Malaysia (56 percent) and Scandinavia (27 percent).
Stafan Teuchert, president of BMW Group Thailand added, “We are making a decision about the localisation of PHEV batteries, and scheduling the manufacturing next year," he said. "It can be allocated to our Rayong plant or we may find new partners."
Further details of the investment figures, plant location, and timeframe have not been disclosed, however, Teuchert said that the PHEV investment will be in addition to the THB4.7 billion
initially allocated
 towards BMW's Amata City Industrial Estate plant in the Rayong Province.
Last year the Rayong plant produced 20,002 vehicles, 60% of which were exported to China. Four PHEV models are assembled in Thailand, namely the 330e,
530e
,
X5 xDrive40e
 and
740Le
, all supplied to the local market.
In addition, BMW Motorrad bikes are also produced and exported to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
BMW expects global sales of PHEV and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) such as the i3, to rise to 500,000 units by 2019, up from 100,000 units in 2017.


2016 Mercedes-Benz C350e PHEV Previewed To Media

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today gave us a glimpse of things to come, with a quick preview of the Mercedes-Benz C350e plug-in hybrid, a day after
launching
 the locally-assembled GLC 250 4Matic sports-activity vehicle.
Set to replace the current range-topping
C300 AMG Line
 (RM307,888) in the W205 C-Class range, the C350e is expected to hit the road at an estimated price of RM299,000. This puts the C350e's asking price well above the RM240k-RM260k ball park rumoured for the upcoming BMW 330e, but MBM officials have emphasized that the company is not keen to compete against its rivals on price, but rather on value.
As you read this, the first C350e plug-in hybrid models start assembly in the Pekan production plant. It is the third hybrid model by Mercedes-Benz to be locally-assembled after the S400 Hybrid in 2014 and the
E300 Bluetec Hybrid
 in 2015.
Powering the C350e is the M274 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, supplemented by an electric motor providing a total-system output of 279 hp and 600 Nm of torque. Individually, the four-cylinder engine (as found in the W205 C250) provides 211 hp and 350 Nm, while the electric-motor adds another 80 hp and 340Nm. Note that the net system outputs are not a direct summation of the engine and motor outputs, which peak at different RPMs.
Drive is sent to the rear wheels via Mercedes-Benz's in-house 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox. The overall setup is good enough to accelerate the C350e from standstill to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds onward to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.
Energy for the electric motor is supplied by a 6.2kWh lithium-ion traction battery that sits just above the rear axles, chargeable through wall box kit or by a domestic socket. A full-charge will require around 2.0 hours on a wall-box kit or approximately 4.0 hours on a home-socket. The wall box charger is sold separately at RM7,200.
With the battery fully charged, the C350e boasts an electric range of 31km at speeds of up to 130km/h, enabling Mercedes-Benz to acheive a calimed combined fuel economy of 2.1-2.4 litres/100km, emitting 48g/km of CO2.
The C350e also packs the following added features over the non-hybrid models:
Silent start mode
Electric motor boost fuunction (Extra 60kW output from electric motor)
Four Driving modes (Hybrid, E-Mode, E-Save, Charge)
Haptic accelerator and brake pedals
Thermotronic three-zone climate control
360 degree view camera
Cabin climate pre-conditioning function
Radar based energy recuperation
Route based drive operation
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Hybrid system
Crucially, the C350e is the third car in Malaysia to be offered with the firm's Airmatic suspension system as standard, a first for the segment. Previously, the Airmatic was only supplied on the S400 Hybrid and GLE400 SUV models.
The car in the pictures is a pre-production model, shown here in Exclusive trim, actual C350e models will be delivered in full AMG Line trim level. This includes the AMG Exterior design bodykit, panoramic roof and 19-inch multi spoke light alloy wheels. The trim work around the headlamp projectors will also feature blue highlights to offer a visual differentiation from the non-hybrid models.
The interior is similarly specified with the inclusion of the AMG Line interior package and Comand Online infotainment suite beaming information through an 8.4 inch display. The 590 watt, 13-speaker Burmester speaker system is also present and accounted for.
Incidentally, the preview of the C350e comes days ahead of the much vaunted (F30)
BMW 330e PHEV
, which is slated for launch later in the week.


Infiniti begins production of their very own turbocharged engine

Turbocharging is an inevitability for every market segment, from sub-compacts to luxury sedans. Efficiency and emissions regulations become more and more difficult to meet with each passing year, and turbocharging is the only feasible option- especially in the European and North American regions. The Germans have had plenty of experience with turbocharged engines and quickly adopted them across their model ranges; there is no longer a new BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Audi model that you can buy which doesn’t sport some form of forced induction.
Infiniti and Lexus, however, could not react nearly as quickly. Lexus managed to accelerate development of their turbo 2.0-litre motor and roll it out in a number of their models as a 200t variant, but Infiniti instead opted to use Mercedes-Benz engines as an interim option. It wasn’t the most elegant solution at the time, but it worked. Late last year, however, Infiniti announced that their own turbo 3.0-litre V6, with some particularly impressive specifications.
Production on this new engine has finally begun at their Iwaki plant, in the Fukushima prefecture. Operating since 1994, the plant employs 600 personnel across a 200,000 square meter factory area. It is one of their more advanced factories, with 60% automation and used exclusively for more complex engines.
A quick look at this new engine shows why it requires advanced production techniques. Its designation is the VR30DETT. VR refers to the engine family, which can be traced to the motor in the R35 GT-R. The new motor doesn’t share either bore or stroke with the VR38DETT, and one of the immediately obvious differences is that the VR30DDTT does not use a longer exhaust manifold for turbocharger placement. Instead, the turbochargers are bolted quite nearly directly onto the head for faster response. A water-to-air intercooler system is used for its more compact and effective nature.
Despite utilising an aluminium block, the cylinder walls are not sleeved with heavy iron linings; Infiniti chose to go with a coating treatment for the bores that would provide the same strength as the sleeves, but with none of the weight penalties. Mechanical friction is down by 40% as a result, and weight is down by 1.7 kilograms. A further 5.3 kilograms is saved by repositioning the catalytic converter closer to the exhaust outlet, also helping to reduce emissions as a result. Direct injection has also been integrated in order to improve fuel efficiency.
Infiniti says they will have two different states of tune for this motor- 300 hp and 400 hp. The lower state of tune develops 400 Nm of torque from 1600 rpm to 5200 rpm, while the higher state of tune makes 475 Nm of torque across the same range. These motors are quite nearly identical in terms of mechanical components, but the 400 hp variant has an additional optical speed sensor for the turbochargers, allowing the turbochargers to spin faster and flow more air without risk of choking or damage. There are also two intercooler pumps for the more powerful variant in order to exchange heat at a quicker rate under hard operating conditions.
The engine is slated to be part of the Q50 and the Q60 model range. Infiniti has yet to release any other mechanical details for the accompanying drivetrain, but it may very well be a bolt-in affair. It’s interesting to note that Infiniti chose to attack the higher end of the market first by producing a large capacity engine, but their work has paid off: the VR30DDTT is the most powerful turbo 3.0-litre motor from factory, short of the one in the BMW M3. We certainly hope it will make it to our shores.


Selangor Kembali Ke Fasa 1 PPN – Bengkel Kereta, Kedai Alat Ganti Kembali Beroperasi

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob telah mengumumkan bahawa
Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Diperketat (PKPD)
 yang berkuatkuasa di 34 mukim dalam Selangor ditamatkan pada 16 Julai lalu sekaligus membuatkan segala SOP PKPD yang berkuatkuasa sebelum ini berubah kepada SOP
Pelan Pemulihan Negara (PPN) Fasa 1.

Susulan pengumuman tersebut, terdapat beberapa perubahan kepada industri automotif negara seperti
bengkel kereta, kedai tayar dan kedai alat ganti
 kini dibenarkan untuk kembali beroperasi di kawasan yang dikenakan PKPD di Selangor sebelum ini. Walau bagaimanapun, sektor ini hanya dibenarkan beroperasi dalam kapasiti 60%, bermula dari 8 pagi hingga 8 malam.

Walau bagaimanapun,
bilik pameran
 serta
kedai cuci kereta
 masih belum dibenarkan beroperasi pada PPN Fasa 1 ini. Memandangkan kedai cuci kereta belum dibuka, anda boleh rujuk pelbagai video
#KasiBikin
 yang telah kami buat sebelum ini sebagai panduan untuk mencuci dan menjaga kereta anda secara DIY di rumah sahaja.

Bagi mengelakkan anda keliru dengan SOP yang berubah ekoran peralihan PKPD ke PPN Fasa 1 di Selangor, kami ada menyediakan ringkasan SOP PPN Fasa 1 yang perlu anda tahu untuk rujukan anda.

SOP PPN FASA 1

Kawasan terlibat: Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Labuan.

Kawalan Pergerakan

Rentas daerah dan rentas negeri tidak dibenarkan.

2 orang isi rumah dibenarkan keluar untuk beli makanan, ubat, keperluan asas dalam radius 10 km dari kediaman. Untuk tujuan vaksinasi atau mendapatkan rawatan, maksimum 3 orang dibenarkan dalam satu kenderaan.

Hanya 2 orang dibenarkan dalam teksi atau e-hailing termasuk pemandu. Penumpang perlu duduk di belakang.

Pergerakan untuk kes kematian atau bencana dibenarkan dengan kebenaran polis.

Pasangan jarak jauh tidak dibenarkan rentas negeri.

Perniagaan dan Perkhidmatan

Restoran, kedai makan, food truck, penjaja tepi jalan dibenarkan beroperasi antara jam 6 pagi hingga 10 malam secara take away sahaja. Dine in tidak dibenarkan.

Kedai runcit dan kedai serbaneka dibenarkan beroperasi antara jam 8 pagi hingga 8 malam.

Keperluan harian seperti kedai hardware, bengkel kenderaan, kedai barangan bayi dan barangan keagamaan dibenarkan beroperasi dari jam 8 pagi hingga 8 malam.

Kedai alat tulis dan kedai menjual alat komunikasi serta komputer dibenarkan beroperasi.

Hospital, klinik dan makmal perubatan boleh beroperasi 24 jam atau mengikut lesen kebenaran beroperasi. Farmasi beroperasi dari jam 8 pagi hingga 8 malam sahaja.

Stesen minyak beroperasi dari jam 6 pagi hingga 8 malam kecuali di lebuh raya bertol yang dibenarkan beroperasi sehingga 24 jam sehari.

Dobi dan kedai cermin mata dibenarkan beroperasi 8 pagi hingga 8 malam.

Pasar malam, pasar tani dan pasar minggu tidak dibenarkan beroperasi.

Sukan dan Riadah

Aktiviti riadah individu dan tidak melibatkan sentuhan sahaja dibenarkan seperti jogging dan skipping.

Aktiviti berkelah tidak dibenarkan.

Aktiviti berbasikal serta sukan lain juga tidak dibenarkan.

Buat masa ini, sebanyak 8 negeri sudah berada di fasa 2 seperti Perlis, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Sabah dan Sarawak.

Ringkasan SOP di atas merupakan sebahagian daripada SOP terkini di kawasan PPN fasa 1 yang perlu anda tahu supaya tidak keliru dengan SOP semasa. Untuk maklumat yang lebih terperinci mengenai SOP PPN Fasa 1, anda boleh rujuk di http://covid-19.moh.gov.my/

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Pakatan Harapan Wants To Rid The North-South Expressway Of Tolls

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has said during a Parliament lobby today that, should Pakatan Harapan come into power, they intend to make PLUS’ North-South Expressway toll-free, writes The Star.
The statement comes fresh after a
toll hike
 of 17 some-odd highway tolls, mostly within the Klang Valley, had simultaneously come into effect last Thursday, October 15
th
 and caused general unhappiness among motorists as it adds yet another thing to penny-pinch on.
Lim said to reporters: "If there is a change, the new government will abolish tolls (at the North South Expressway). By right, there should be no need to pay toll for the North South Expressway and the Penang Bridge as the construction costs have been paid off. This is what the public cannot accept,"
"We are not saying that we should abolish all tolls. We understand that there is a need to impose tolls if construction costs have not been paid. Under those circumstances, you have to pay tolls but must the price must be reasonable, not at high rates like what is happening now.”
Lim, who is also the Bagan MP added that if and when these tolls are abolished at highways, the cost of maintenance will be covered by road tax, just like all other roads are currently.
PLUS Malaysia Bhd’s next toll revision is set to be announced and implemented within 2016, during which it is expected to increase toll rates for four out of their five highways concessions by roughly 5 percent, pending approval by the government.
As per the concession agreement for the Penang Bridge, it will remain the only highway where toll rates will stay flat for the entire foreseeable duration. During the recent toll hike, PLUS said in a statement that toll rates on all its highways are currently unchanged and reiterated that they have been maintained since 2005.
The original concession agreement stipulates that the current concession under PLUS would expire in 2018, however due to several government-sanctioned deferment in toll rate hikes, the period would now extend to December 31
st
, 2038.
The Works Ministry is in support of the October 15
th
 toll hike, citing government subsidies have been in effect to minimize a large portion of the toll prices as to not burden the Malaysian people. Reportedly, the government spent RM1.1 billion in toll-related subsidies between 2008 and 2013.


Mitsubishi Previews Upcoming Red Peak Adventure Tour

Following last year’s successful Red Peak Challenge 4x4 road tour event, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has announced that the second iteration of the Red Peak Challenge, now called Red Peak Adventure, will be coming soon.
More details on the dates and locations of the road tour will be announced soon.
Update:
15-16 August: MyDin MITC outdoor car park, Melaka
22-23 August: Plaza Angsana outdoor car park, Johor Bahru
The events will run from 10am to 8pm, with test rides ending at 7pm.
Here’s the Red Peak Adventure promo video produced by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.


Toyota Celebrates 50 Years Of Producing Vehicles In Malaysia

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) today celebrated 50 years of local assembly of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia at the company’s new assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Klang.
Having assembled more than a million vehicles locally to date, Toyota's CKD operations began back in 1968 at the Champion Motor plant in Shah Alam, with the Corolla KE10. Champion Motor was the Toyota distributor in Malaysia prior to UMWT.
Later in 1975, Champion Motor was renamed as Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB), the name which remains till today.
Manned by 1,125 staff, the ASSB plant in Section 15, Shah Alam, which has an annual production capacity of 38,000 units, successfully produced its 1 millionth vehicle in 2011.
Today, the plant in Shah Alam only produces selected models like the Hilux, Fortuner, Innova, as well as the Hiace panel van, as most of the passenger vehicles are being assembled in the new ASSB plant in Bukit Raja, Klang.
Established earlier this year, the RM2 billion ASSB Bukit Raja plant is currently producing the all-new Toyota Yaris, as well as the all-new Vios.
Manned by more than 1,000 staff, the Bukit Raja plant has an annual production of 50,000 units, which will increase in the near future.
It is also worth mentioning that the state-of-the-art ASSB plant in Bukit Raja is among the most advanced Toyota production plants in the world, featuring high level automation, an innovative design, many futuristic facilities, as well as a very eco-friendly and safe working condition.
Moving forward, Tan Sri Dato Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, the chairman of UMWT said that the company wants to further develop local suppliers, and promote better localisation in tandem with market expansion.
To commemorate Toyota’s 50 years CKD production milestone in Malaysia, UMWT also presented a brand new Toyota Yaris to the Selangor Youth Community (SAY) for their usage in programmes that will involve the youth.
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.


Singapore now has a CKD Hyundai Ioniq 5

Hyundai Motor Co is about to unveil their assembled in Singapore Ioniq 5, two years after they started construction on a research and development centre in the Lion City.

It will be shown at the Singapore Motor Show, which will take place from 12-15 January 2023.

According to The Straits Times, Hyundai Motor’s assembly plant in Singapore will start
rolling out the Ioniq 5
in Q1 of 2023, and to celebrate the momentous occasion, the company will hold a charity auction for the number plates of its first 100 cars assembled in Singapore, which will bear plates with EVS prefix, which stands for EV made in Singapore.

The Singaporean CKD Ioniq 5 will be assembled at Hyundai's Motor Group Innovation Center located in the Jurong Innovation District, which Hyundai says will assemble a total of 30,000 vehicles a year by 2025.

Andy Kang, Hyundai Motor’s head of sales innovation group told the daily that the plant will initially import the car’s fully painted body shell from its newly opened factory in Indonesia, with all other parts shipped in from South Korea.

They also plan to source some parts from Singapore's automotive component makers once its
production volume ramps up
.

Apart from a “Made in Singapore” sticker on the door frames, the EV will be largely similiar to the Ioniq 5s sold in South Korea and Indonesia, but the Ioniq 5 First 100 will be distinguished by unique details such as the use of Gravity Matte Gold paint colour, Dark Pebble Gray interior colour, First 100 badge on the exterior and First 100 print on the seats.

As reported by The Straits Times, Hyundai will be offering a 10-year, 160,000km warranty on the Ioniq 5’s battery at 70%, which means if the battery fails to retain 70% of its charge any time before the 10th year, Hyundai will replace it.


2015 Proton Saga Plus Launched in Malaysia: From RM33k, Discontinues Other Variants

Proton
 has just announced that it is reducing its 2015
Saga
 range by discontinuing its
Saga SV
, Executive and SE models, and is replacing it with a single variant, called the Proton Saga Plus.

“The word ‘Plus’ reflects the additional features on the existing Saga SV model. The model carries the exterior of the Saga Executive variant while retaining the SV price bracket. This means that there is no price increase despite having the improved looks,”
 said Dato' Abdul Harith Abdullah, Chief Executive of PROTON.

Essentially, the Saga Plus, now the base model of the range, gets 14-inch alloy wheels, a full body kit inclusive of a rear spoiler, a rear garnish in body colour, and a ‘Plus’ badging around the rear.

Performance wise, the Saga Plus is equipped with a 1.3-litre Campro IAFM engine, and can be had with either a five-speed manual transmission, or a CVT transmission.

The Saga Plus is official opened for bookings, and is available in five body colours: Black, red, silver, white and brown. The price, as listed below, is inclusive of a three-year (or 60,000km, whichever comes first) warranty.

You can catch the Saga Plus at Proton showrooms nationwide beginning tomorrow, the 15
th
 of August, 2015.


BMW Product Geniuses Deliver Personalized Customer Care

BMW Malaysia has just deployed the first group of sales consultation experts, termed BMW Product Geniuses.
BMW Product Geniuses are meticulously selected and trained within select dealerships under the close guidance of BMW Malaysia, before qualifying as BMW product and brand experts. Their role complements that of a Sales advisor, as they are focused on acquainting prospects with every aspect of the BMW vehicle portfolio, from conducting needs analyses, product presentations, to facilitating test drives.
According to the MD for BMW Group Malaysia, Mr Harald Hoelzl, the BMW Product Geniuses are on hand to provide prospects with a pressure-free experience, as stepping into a showroom can be a daunting experience.
“In addition to being a friendly face, the Product Genius is equipped with the expertise to explain and demonstrate the use of each feature and function of a BMW vehicle and offer insights on product benefits suited to a particular customer’s specific needs. Overall, BMW Product Geniuses occupy a key role as neutral customer consultants, ambassadors for the brand, and knowledge touchpoints within the dealership,” added Hoelzl.
The services of the seven new BMW Product Geniuses can be experienced at Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur, Auto Bavaria Glenmarie, and Ingress Auto Damansara.


Hyundai Brings Soldiers Closer To Home During the Superbowl

For a lot of Americans who are posted on military deployment overseas, it can be tough during times of the year when families are meant to get together. Whether it means that they can't make it back for a holiday, or they don't get to see their child grow up, the struggle can be taxing. The Superbowl is one of those times of year whe families traditionally get together, and while most of those serving can watch a live telecast of it, it isn't quite the same as watching it with their family members present.
tThis Superbowl, Hyundai helped out a number of soldiers who were stationed far out in Poland. They set up 360-degree screens which allowed the soldiers to see their family members in a nearly entirely immersive experience, with a live broadcast from the stadium itself. Through the use of special cameras and head tracking equipment, it allowed these soldiers to spend some time with their families while watching the game- even if separated by thousands of kilometres.


Spoon Saves The EG6 By Making New Parts For It

The recent news that Honda will stop making the current Honda Civic sedan for the Japanese market is quite a shocker if you base it on its popularity here in Malaysia.

But numbers don't lie as for the last fiscal year, which only just ended, only 1,619 units were sold domestically In Japan.

Civic sedans traditionally never sold well in Japan anyways, and we think the problem with the Civic sedan is that, well... it's a sedan. On top of losing out to crossovers, it is also fighting hard against more popular Civic body shapes like the mini station wagons, we all call hatchbacks.

Speaking of hatchbacks, one of the most iconic Civics ever made was a hatchback and thanks to legendry Honda tuner, Spoon, the 28-year-old car which basically propelled the Honda tuner world in the nineties has just been given another lifeline.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the 5th generation Civic or more commonly know as the EG or Dolphin in Malaysia can now get some new body parts thanks to Spoon. Initially sold as an economy car, it had all the potential to be something special thanks to some amazing engineering from Honda, which included a clamshell tailgate, race derived engine and that oh so sweet double-wishbone trailing arm four-wheel independent suspension.

Finding mechanical bits was never a problem with the 28-year-old EG, but body parts were proving difficult to source. It is, after all, a 28-year-old car so it's no surprise that good body parts are scarce, but fear no more as Spoon Sports are bringing out a "Timeless Collection" Line Of EG Honda Civic Parts.

This must be a godsend for Civic builders as they can finally match that perfectly built engine and suspension setup with immaculate body parts. While some have gone the aftermarket route with imaginative replacement and fixes, no OEM parts were available for anyone that wanted to restore the EG.

Initially, Spoon will only produce the front bumper and fender parts made out of FRP. While the bumper will be made to have the exact same dimensions as the original parts, the fenders will be slightly tweaked to be 9mm wider to allow some extra wheel clearance - genius!!

The parts are a result of Spoon Sport's work with American JDM car restorers,
Built By Legends
, who have spent nights and days with Spoon building an Ultimate Civic EG6.

The parts will be available by the end of the year but you will need to shell out a pretty penny for them. The bumper will cost around RM6,762 while the fenders will set you back RM5,757. Let us know if you do opt for it, we'd love to check your car out.


Frankfurt 2019: BMW Concept 4 Unveiled – The Next-Generation 4 Series Is Coming

Not to be outdone by its Stuttgart neighbours and the drop-dead gorgeous
Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS
, BMW pulled the wraps off its equally eye-catching Concept 4, the precursor concept of the next-generation 4 Series Coupe at the ongoing Frankfurt Motor Show.
Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design adds, “The BMW Concept 4 embodies the aesthetic essence of the BMW brand. It combines perfect proportions with a clear and precise design,”
At the front, the most distinctive feature is the vertically oriented grille kidney which is meant to evoke legendary BMW Coupes such as the BMW 328 or the BMW 3.0 CSi. The kidney grille is also home to some elaborate details. The grating itself contains horizontal trim elements with a faceted cut, but when viewed closer actually reveals an array of small “number 4s” joined together. The slim and focused LED twin headlights are slightly angled and team up with the kidney grille to lend the front end a modern look with a strong identity.
Round the flanks, the BMW Concept 4 displays BMW’s signature coupe proportions of a stretched bonnet, long wheelbase, flowing roofline and short overhangs which creates a modern, elegant and dynamic outline. The athletic body incorporates a slender glasshouse with a narrow window aperture. A horizontal mainline between flows between the bulging wheel arches, retrospective of a classical contour line in shaping the character of the flanks.
The wheels are 21-inch items sporting a wide dish and sporty five-spoke design.
Round the back, the character line transitions from the flanks into the rear end in a broad, horizontal sweep and visually reduces the coupe’s height off the ground even further. Vertical air outlets frame the lower section of the rear and emphasise the car’s broad stance. The LED rear lights consist of a single fibre-optic element, which lends the familiar BMW L shape a cutting-edge “heartbeat” graphic with a glass cover.
A striking diffuser integrated into the rear apron sets the seal on the car’s rear-end, flanked by a pair of exhaust tailpipes that highlight the new and dynamic free-form of the BMW Concept 4’s design.


SPYSHOTS: All-New 2016 Toyota Fortuner Spotted At Fuel Station In Thailand

A few days ago, spyshots of the all-new 2016
Toyota Fortuner
 found their way online
which revealed the vehicle completely undisguised
.
This time, new spyshots which shows a white-coloured Fortuner stopped at a fuel station in Thailand have found their way onto a social media page. As we’ve already known what the new Hilux-based SUV looks like – slimmer headlamps, new front fascia, additional chrome bits, what’s more interesting are new interior images.
Starting from the driver’s position, the instrument cluster now follows that of newer
Toyota
 models while the steering wheel has on-wheel controls and paddle shifters as well, interestingly enough.
Moving on, the air-conditioning vents occupy the top part of the dashboard, with the infotainment unit resting below it. The unit appears to be of a touchscreen interface with various inputs for different media. As for the automatic climate control unit, it appears to be a single-zone system with buttons and dials to adjust settings. We can also roughly make out a button for switch the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system off, which is something not found on the current Fortuner sold locally here in Malaysia.
On the centre console, you’ll see two cupholders and the gear selector for the automatic transmission. Behind that are two buttons for “Eco Mode” and “Power Mode”. We also see generous amounts of leather upholstery with visible stitching as well.
However, what is seen here is not reflective of what consumers in Malaysia will obtain because the Thailand-spec model might have features not made available here.
The all-new 2016
Toyota Fortuner
 is expected to make its global debut real soon (17 July) in Thailand where we all will be finally revealed of the SUV.


A Titan Among Immortals – Remembering The (E60) BMW M5

There are less than 20 minutes before we have to clear out from the Circuito De Estoril. Me and my drive partner have just wrapped up a stellar day behind the wheel of the
(F90) BMW M5
  and – by all accounts – it's magnificent, not just because of how it performs on road and track, but how it retains and improves on the crafted pedigree of its lauded forebears.
We had just about enough time to drive the second-generation E34 and third-generation E39 M5s respectively, for one obvious reason: they have manual transmissions. Just short of packing our bags, the BMW personnel in charge of the heritage cars asked if we’d like a go in the E60 M5, but it had to be short. “Just bring the car back in 20 minutes,” he says.
Figuring an offer like this doesn’t come every day, we jump in. We figured we could just take the car for a short blast on the roads surrounding the circuit, on a roughly 3km long loop. What we would discover over the next 20 minutes was nothing short of pure amazement.
Launched in 2005 – even amongst its own hallowed lineage – the E60 M5 was an anomaly, the wild one of the bunch. Where its predecessors favoured a measured evolution, the E60 M5 broke the mould in terms of design, and in the case of its drivetrain, the E60 M5 drew inspiration from the unlikeliest of sources: Formula 1.
I took to the wheel first. The 7-speed SMG 3 gearbox needs to be in ‘Neutral’ before you can start the car; while it can function like an automatic, the SMG 3 is still very much works like a sequential manual transmission.
The SMG 3 featured quicker shift times and smoother clutch application than the SMG 2 (fitted in the E46 M3), and for the most part it’s pretty precise in its engagement. I’m careful not to rev it too much, it creeps forward slowly until the revs rise to about 1,500 rpm when the clutch completely locks up and feels connected like a manual gearbox.
There’s a button just south of the gear knob, which allows us to toggle the gearbox shift maps, from slow to fast. In its fastest gearshift setting, there’s a short pause before the next gear is selected, it’s relatively quick when you consider typical torque-converter transmissions from the era, and about as quick as a well-executed manual shift. I dial it down a notch before just before heading out to the main road.
From the moment the engine ticks over, the angry rumble instantly announces that this is no ordinary E60 5 Series. Where the E34 M5 was subdued, not much louder than its more pedestrian six-cylinder counterparts, and the E39 M5: bassy and urgent – with the E60, there’s a profound sense of just how large its lungs are.
The M5’s odd-firing 90-degree V10, regardless of having two more cylinders, weighs just 240 kgs, almost identical to the V8 unit in the E39. The engine blocks were cast at the same facility as BMW’s F1 engines in the Landshut plant. To keep weight down, the cylinder crankcase is made up of an aluminium-silicon alloy, the one-piece cylinder heads were made from aluminium, and the forged-crankshaft sat on a ‘Bedplate’ derived directly from motorsports, which allows for precise crankshaft alignment even at stratospheric engine speeds. Each piston weighed just 481.7 grams (piston rings and all), for comparison; a football weighs about 450 grams.
The result: 507 hp at 8,250 rpm and a maximum torque of 520 Newton metres, and one of the sexiest soundtracks of any engine ever made.
Heading out onto clear roads – I slowly push the accelerator pedal deeper, speed builds fluidly and with gusto. Moving through the first three gears with part throttle application provides a sense of just how much power is still in reserve.
The steering is light and decisive, regardless of its ‘electromechanical’ active steering system, a technology very much in its infancy all those years ago, it feels communicative and precise, and instantly helps build your confidence with the car.
Round a curve, and I give it the beans, the engine immediately takes on a different character, it starts to howl as it swallows ever more air through its ten individual throttle bodies – the speedometer flies past the 100 km/h mark in third gear. As the rev counter passes its 5,000 rpm mark, the engine discharges a mountain of torque driving the rear wheels forward. The analogy of Vin Diesel pressing the infamous ‘NOS’ button can be applied here.
Between 5,000 rpm and 8,000 rpm, exhaust gases rushing through the 5-into-1 exhaust manifolds and spewing out the back can only be described an orchestra-like staccato that will awaken the dead. The engine roar gets ever louder; by now, the speedometer has blitzed past 160 km/h, flick the paddle and we’re back on the powerband blasting to another RPM redline.
The exit of the road swiftly approaches, I hit the brakes and the car anchors down with authority, there’s a slight delay everytime the gearbox finds a lower gear, so planning your shifts well ahead of a corner is paramount to utilising all the performance available. Given we’ve been spoiled by trigger-quick changes in the F90 M5 throughout the day, my clumsy downshifts feel slightly abrupt.
I remember shouting expletives to my co-driver, something along the lines of “that sounded better than a Lamborghini”.
Before driving the E60 M5, I figured the E39 M5 would be the high-water mark of the M5 range, a modern car with a manual six-speed, a soulful V8 up front, unassuming looks and a superb chassis underneath you – sort of the best of all worlds.
But, the experience pales in comparison to an E60 M5, a true titan among its brethren of immortals.
In many ways, the E60 M5 broke the mould and had to swallow the bitter pill of angering entire generations of BMW purists, but in many ways, it pushed through boundaries that would have otherwise have limited every successive model. Audi’s RS models of recent time are proof of this.
The styling was no longer subdued but in your face, it looked miles apart from any other E60 5 Series, well if you have put down double of what a normal 5 Series owner has, why not show it. To hell with subtlety, if you’ve got four trumpet sized exhaust pipes sticking out the back, why would you want dress the rest of the car up in drab? The 19-inch concaved wheels brought fitment and stance to the table before that was even a thing, and other subtle highlights, such as the functional cooling ducts on the front fender added detail to the car’s silhouette.
Granted, the SMG 3 gearbox, in retrospect may not have been the best way forward, not since we now have double-clutch gearboxes and torque-converter automatics that can handle upwards to 500 Nm of torque, but it brought technology directly from the racetrack into mainstream series production. And regardless of its slightly delayed response, experiencing its throttle blips before engaging a lower gear during acceleration is sensational.
But the one reason the E60 M5 became my favourite M5 of all time, is its engine. Modestly put, its V10 power unit is a milestone in modern engine design and construction. It is one of the most fascinating, complex and vivacious engines to ever see duty in a production vehicle, and probably never will ever again.
With automotive engineering and manufacturing, in its entirety moving in the direction of downsized displacement, hybrid electrification, and autonomous driving, we can be assured that even BMW won’t go to such lengths to create such a maniacal beast of a vehicle.
Yes, M5s have since gotten faster, safer and more predictable, but none of them capture the raw essence of a racecar in such a profound manner, and nothing sounds even remotely close to the likes of an early-2000s Formula 1 car every time you hit that go-pedal.
If you’re talking about a high-watermark, it doesn’t get much higher than this!


2015 BMW 1 Series Facelift Launched In Malaysia: RM220k For Sole CKD 120i M Sport

Revealed to the world just four months ago, here is the new, facelifted 2015
BMW 1 Series
 in Malaysia, taking the shape of 120i M Sport – prices start from
RM219,800.
BMW
 Group Malaysia may have taken its time launching the second-gen hatch here in 2013, but they’ve certainly not wasted any time in offering their refreshed F20 1er this time around.
Buyer’s Guide:
When the second-gen 1 Series was launched in Malaysia, it was made available with three engine variants: 116i, 118i and the range-topping 125i that was a fully-imported (CBU) unit. Soon after, BMW Malaysia reduced its showroom line-up to just its locally-assembled (CKD) 116i and 118i – which were priced from RM169k to RM189k respectively.
Today, BMW Malaysia has launched its new 1 Series in a sole variant option: a 120i M Sport, which effective takes over from the pre-facelift 118i’s position, and retails here from
RM219,800
 (OTR without insurance). From the get-go, BMW Malaysia is launching its new 1 Series as a locally-assembled model (CKD).
KEY SPECS: 2015 BMW 1 Series 120i M Sport
Engine: 1.6-litre BMW TwinPower
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic torque converter automatic
Power: 177hp @ 4,800 to 6,450rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 1,500rpm to 4,500rpm
0-100km/h: 7.2 seconds
Consumption: 5.9-litres/100km
Performance & Powertrain:
Powering the BMW 120i is an updated 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder BMW TwinPower engine (adds 7hp more), mated to an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Not surprisingly, the thing that makes this unique in the premium compact segment is the 1 Series’ rear-wheel drive configuration and 50:50 even weight distribution.
More precisely, the 120i here effectively replaces the pre-facelift 118i, sharing the same 1.6-litre engine as before (pre-facelift), but adopting the new naming strategy introduced by BMW, and to make way for the introduction of the new three-cylinder engines that take up the 116i and 118i designations.
Courtesy of the M Sport package, there’s also an M Sport suspension included as standard.
Exterior Styling:
Ah, the best part about all that’s new with the facelifted 1 Series, its new exterior design. Criticised largely for not being the prettiest model BMW had to offer, the new 1er wears dramatically revised front and rear-end styling.
The front kidney grille has been slightly stretched out, with the bumper itself being heavily revised to appear a lot more masculine and broad, with larger air intakes featured on both sides. The new-look slimmer headlamps feature integrated LED daytime running lights, but you’ll have to specify the full Adaptive LED headlamps if you must have them.
To the rear of the vehicle, and the new L-shaped LED taillights that push right into the tailgate is probably the easiest way to distinguish the new boy from the old, which had a more box-like shape. The rear bumper has also been refreshed on the new model.
The M Sport design line here sees the 120i equipped with the sportier choice M Aerodynamic exterior kit: front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper and exhaust, and also the large 18-inch M Sport alloy wheels as standard.
Interior Design & Features:
There aren’t too many surprises inside the updated 1er, but for a slight change to the gloss-black trim that now surrounds the air-conditioning controls on the dash.
The seats are Alcantara and Cloth and the leather-wrapped steering are courtesy of the M Sport kit specified as standard, while on the dash, you’ll now find an 8.8-inch free-standing control display screen with the larger iDrive Touch Controller located on the center console – typically an optional bit of equipment over the usual 6.5-inch screen, but BMW Malaysia must be feeling generous. This also means that the 120i M Sport features the newest version of the Professional Navigation infotainment system.
There’s a heft of BMW ConnectedDrive features here, too. With a smartphone connected, drivers and passengers can access services such as Spotify, Amazon Cloud Player and others via the BMW Apps menu.
Other Information:
As
announced by BMW Group Malaysia earlier this month
, all BMW vehicles registered post June 1, 2015 will benefit from the company’s new Five-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Schedule Service Program. The new five-year unlimited mileage warranty is manufacturer backed, and the program includes free scheduled service and maintenance of up to 100,000km.
The all-new locally-assembled BMW 120i M Sport will be available in a choice of Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver, Mineral Grey and Estoril Blue colours.
Here's a look at the optional M Performance equipment available:

Watch the unveiling of the facelift BMW 1 Series here:


Subaru BRZ STI Performance Concept Unveiled At 2015 NYIAS

At the 2015 New York International Auto Show,
Subaru
 brought out this menacing looking concept called the STI Performance Concept. Keen eyes will spot that it is based on a
Subaru BRZ
 but this one has been fiddled with and it isn’t just for looks either.
The stock engine is now replaced by a racing powerplant in the form of a STI-tuned EJ20 2.0-litre four-cylinder single-scroll turbo that powers the BRZ GT300 from the Japan Super GT series. Power output is rated at 345hp and 450Nm of torque sent through a six-speed gearbox to the rear wheels.
Other performance enhancements include the suspension, brakes, aerodynamic body kit, and exterior aerodynamic upgrades. The interior features an Alcantara steering wheel and Recaro seats.
Ever imagined what a BRZ STI would look like? This is it. Unfortunately, it is merely a one-off concept and is not for sale. Sorry.
Last year, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles developed a plan to enhance the Subaru Tecnica International (STI) brand in its product strategy and with the presentation of the STI Performance Concept, you could be looking at an expansion of the STI-brand aftermarket parts and introduction of complete STI-tuned cars.
Subaru’s largest market is in the United States and in the motorsports arena, STI will increase its engineering presence in Subaru of America's Global Rallycross team.


Mazda CX-9 CBU Launched in Malaysia. From RM316,788

Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia launched
the new CX-9
 SUV today.
The seven-seater, which currently follows Australian specifications, is offered in 2WD and 4WD configurations, with prices as mentioned below:
2017 Mazda CX-9 CBU 2WD – RM316,788
2017 Mazda CX-9 CBU 4WD – RM333,129
*Prices mentioned are OTR with insurance

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Mazda Previews All-New Seven-Seater CX-8 For Japan

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Powered by Mazda’s SkyActiv-G 2.5-T turbocharged petrol engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox, both 2WD and 4WD versions of the CX-9 produce a maximum output of 228 hp and 420 Nm of peak torque.
Measuring 5,075mm long, 1,969mm wide, and 1,747mm tall with a wheelbase length of 2,930mm, the list of standard equipments in both variants of the new CX-9 CBU include:
20-inch wheels
Leather seats
12-speaker Bose audio system
6 airbags
8-inch LCD display with Commander Control
Reverse Camera
Auto cruise
LED headlamps with DRL
LED tail lamps
Powered Sunroof with sliding and tilt glass
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Remote operated power tailgate
i-Stop  idling stop technology
I-Eloop Brake Energy Regeneration System
ABS, EBD, DSC, BA
Smart City Brake Support
GPS Navigation with 2D and 3D mode
Offered in five colour choices – Sonic Silver, Deep Crystal Blue, Snowflake White Pearl, Machine Grey and Jet Black, the Australian spec CX-9 also comes with 5-years/100,000km warranty and a 3-years/60,000 free maintenance program.

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Mazda Previews All-New Seven-Seater CX-8 For Japan

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July 25, 2017

Having been open for booking since the last quarter of 2016, the Malaysian spec (CBU from Japan) version of the CX-9 seven seater SUV will be launched later this year according to Bermaz Motor.
According to the company, whether there will be a difference in price will depend on the Foreign Exchange rate at the time of launch.


Gaji Pokok RM1,300, Gaji Bersih RM3,000 – Lepas Ke Beli Ativa AV?

Jika gaji pokok RM1,300 tapi gaji bersih boleh cecah RM3,000,
lepas atau tidak untuk beli Perodua Ativa AV
 yang bernilai RM72,000?

Baru-baru ini, ada seorang insan bertanyakan soalan di
Facebook Group
Ativa Club Malaysia sama ada gaji bersihnya sebanyak RM3,000 lepas atau tidak untuk membeli varian tertinggi
SUV
 kompak Perodua itu.

Untuk menjawab persoalan tersebut, kami telah membuat pengiraan untuk melihat sama ada mampu atau tidak.

Gaji pokok: RM1,300

Gaji bersih: RM3,000

Perodua Ativa AV: RM72,000

Sistem Gaji Setahun

Pertama sekali, masyarakat secara umumnya telah dididik agar membeli kereta yang berharga dalam lingkungan harga gaji untuk setahun. Tapi memandangkan gaji pokoknya rendah, bank akan sedikit ragu-ragu untuk meluluskan
pinjaman
.

Kenapa? Kerana gaji bersih itu kemungkinan besar belum ditolak dengan komitmen bulanan. Andai kata pemohon sudah berkeluarga dan mempunyai tanggungan lain seperti anak-anak dan pinjaman rumah, mungkin susah untuk lulus melainkan pemohon seorang yang bujang dan tidak banyak terikat dengan komitmen bulanan.

Selain itu, bank selalunya fokus pada gaji
basic
 atau gaji pokok seseorang berbanding gaji bersih yang sudah ditambah komisyen dan OT. Katakanlah bulan depan si peminjam gagal capai sasaran jualan untuk dapat komisen yang sama seperti bulan lepas atau tak sempat nak pulun OT, si peminjam mungkin akan menghadapi masalah untuk membayar balik pinjaman.

Perkara ini sering berlaku pada pekerja sektor kerajaan. Walaupun gaji pokok rendah, namun gaji bersih boleh capai RM3,000 juga setelah ditambah komisyen lain. Namun jika pemohon dapat buktikan gaji bersihnya sebanyak RM3,000 setiap bulan untuk tempoh enam bulan, mungkin bank boleh terima RM3,000 itu sebagai pendapatan bersih setiap bulan.

Jika sistem gaji setahun digunakan mengikut jumlah gaji pokok yang bernilai RM1,300, nilai kereta yang paling sesuai untuk dibeli adalah kereta yang berada dalam jurang RM15,600 ke bawah. Kalau nak banding dengan harga Ativa AV, peminjam masih memerlukan penambahan RM56,400 dalam gaji tahunan beliau.

Jika bank mengiktiraf pendapatan bersih sebanyak RM3,000 sekalipun, jumlah keseluruhan gaji setahun baru mencecah RM36,000. Jika diikutkan pada sistem gaji tahunan ini, gaji yang dinyatakan oleh insan tersebut kelihatan tidak sesuai untuk membeli Ativa AV yang berharga RM72,000.

Pinjaman Bank Lulus Ke?

Selepas membayar 10% bayaran muka dan kadar faedah antara 2% hingga 3%, anggaran kami ialah beliau perlu membayar antara RM750 dan RM800 sebulan dalam tempoh 9 tahun untuk model tertinggi Ativa.

Katakanlah gaji RM3,000 itu masih belum ditolak sebarang komitmen, gajinya hanya akan tinggal RM2,250 sahaja selepas melakukan pembayaran. Dengan nilai tersebut, tepuk dada tanya selera sama ada hidup mampu diteruskan dengan lebihan gaji tersebut atau tidak.

Berbalik pada soalan kedua insan tersebut sama ada patut ambil pinjaman penuh atau menyediakan deposit 10%, pinjaman mungkin akan diluluskan jika wang deposit diletakkan berbanding pinjaman penuh. Jika pinjaman penuh diluluskan sekalipun, mungkin pemohon perlukan guarantor yang dipercayai.

Kalau masih terasa bayaran bulanan sebanyak RM750-800 itu mahal, cara untuk memudahkan pembelian Perodua Ativa dengan angka gaji bersih sebanyak RM3,000 adalah dengan membayar wang pendahuluan (duit muka) yang besar supaya bayaran bulanan boleh menjadi sedikit murah.
Tapi cuba tanya pada diri sendiri, adakah anda sanggup membelanjakan semua wang simpanan anda hanya untuk membeli sebuah kereta?

Boleh Beli, Tapi Tak Digalakkan Kerana:

Gaji
basic
 rendah (RM1,300), tapi bulanan bayar sekitar RM750-800. Mampukah? Kalau bujang mungkin boleh, tapi buat yang dah berkeluarga?

Bank juga agak sedikit ragu-ragu untuk beri kelulusan. Takut satu hari nanti OT atau komisyen kurang daripada bulan sebelumnya. Macam mana nak bayar?

Pengiraan ini baru masuk hal pembiayaan pinjaman kereta, belum masuk kos untuk menjaga Ativa seperti duit minyak, duit servis dan
insurans
.

Kos Penjagaan Ativa

Salah satu media automotif tempatan ada mengemukakan kos servis Ativa bagi tempoh 5 tahun/100km sebanyak RM3,177.90

Itu baru kos servis, belum masuk kos tayar lagi. Ativa AV menggunakan
tayar
 17 inci yang berharga di antara RM300 hingga RM500 sebiji.

Harga
cukai jalan
 untuk Ativa baru RM20, tapi insurans bagi Ativa AV boleh mencecah RM2,000 lebih juga. Belum masuk perlindungan tambahan peril khas bagi bencana alam lagi.

Kereta Apa Yang Sesuai?

Carilah kereta dalam harga mengikut kemampuan. Untuk lebih selamat, kita gunakan gaji pokoknya sebagai ukuran. Sebagai contoh, RM1,300 x 12 = RM15,600. Dalam jurang harga RM15,600, anda mungkin boleh pertimbangkan kereta terpakai berbanding kereta baharu seperti:

Perodua Myvi 1.3 2007: RM14,900, bulanan RM193 seperti di
sini
.

Perodua Axia G 2015
: RM15,800, bulanan RM205

Proton Saga 1.3 FLX 2014
: RM 15,800, bulanan RM205 – yang juga ditambah dengan waranti dan jaminan Carlist Qualified.

Tiada masalah untuk membeli kereta terpakai buat masa ni. Tambahan pula, platform seperti
Carlist Qualified
 dan Carsome Certified menyediakan kereta terpakai yang berkualiti yang telah diperiksa dan bebas banjir. Bukan itu sahaja, kereta tersebut juga hadir dengan
waranti
 sehingga 1 tahun.

Tidak dinafikan, Perodua Ativa memang menarik tambah-tambah bila dah siap
make up
.
Walau bagaimanapun, para pembeli kereta dinasihatkan untuk berbelanja mengikut kemampuan agar tidak senak membayar di hari kemudian.


DBKL Bans Street Parking, Roadside Vendors During Peak Hour To Ease Congestion

DBKL bans curb-side parking and vendor operations on road shoulders during rush hour.

The
special traffic task force
 for Kuala Lumpur is wasting no time in trying to alleviate the
current traffic congestion problem
 facing the capital.

The first move was to ban big lorries from entering KL during peak hours and the next move, it seems, is to ban curbside parking and vendors on road shoulders during rush hour.

Chaired by Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, the task force is putting the bans in place as
short-term measures
 to ease congestion in the city.

Not only has the task force banned curbside parking during morning and evening rush hour (6.30 am - 9.30 am and 4.30 pm - 7.30 pm), but they will also look into cancelling street parking lots on main roads in stages. The task force has not mentioned the coverage area, so we shall have to wait and see how widespread these bans are.

Regarding the ban of vendors on road shoulders during rush hours, the idea is to stop people from parking their cars next to the road shoulders as they cause congestion when purchasing items from vendors. DBKL will also be cancelling vendor lots in stages, especially on the sides of main roads.

Another measure set to be put in place is the enforcement of yellow box offences at junctions, as many motorists shamelessly sit in the yellow box and block traffic from all other directions just so that they can beat the traffic lights.

At the moment, there are five proposed long-term actions, including the improvement of public transport to
encourage the use of public transportation
, improvement of first and last-mile connectivity, better integration between highway operators and traffic management, the improvement of support infrastructures such as underpass and covered walkways, and the re-activation of bus lanes in the city.


Ford SUV Experience: There is Something for Everyone

With the demand for SUVs on a constant rise all over the globe, experts have predicted that almost half the vehicles on the road to be of this category by the end of the decade.
Hence, it is no surprise that most brands have started preparing themselves by increasing the number of SUVs in their product portfolio. Even a few ‘high and almighty’ brands like
Bentley
,
Maserati
, and
Lamborghini
 took the world by surprise when they expressed serious interest in coming up with SUVs.
Say whatever you want to say guys, but it is still a business at the end of the day and in order to survive and succeed, you have no choice but to give in to what customers want.
That said, Ford; a brand which has been making SUVs for about half-a-century recently invited us over to Philippines to not only show us their range of SUVs sold in this part of the world, but also to show-off what these vehicles are capable of.
Another key message which
 Ford
wanted to send out to the world was that there is something for everyone who wants an SUV. Regardless of whether you want something small for your daughter, something mid-sized and urban, or something massive that is capable of climbing rocks and doing all those crazy 4x4 stuff, Ford feels that it might just have something for you.
So, after a flight and a four-hour long torturous bus ride, we arrived at the city of Clark to be greeted by the friendly folks of Ford, who gave us a quick briefing on what was going to happen over the following couple of days and told us to go get as much as rest as we could.
Our agenda over the next two days basically comprised driving four different Ford SUV models – the
Kuga
,
EcoSport
,
Everest
, as well as the Explorer.
Since each model was designed to serve different purposes and appeal to different people, there were four different courses for each model to show what it’s all about.
So, since the Kuga is a mid-sized urban SUV that is all about convenience and practicality and some occasional escapism, our course comprised both city roads and some nice B-roads leading us to a resort where we had the opportunity to indulge in some fishing, kayaking, camping and what not.
Powered by the ever-capable 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, the Kuga was an absolute delight to drive in the city and also along the highway as there was constant power being delivered seamlessly via Ford’s six-speed automatic Powershift gearbox. The cabin wasn’t all-that spacious but the build quality, refinement and features offered were top notch, making it an ideal vehicle for many of us city-dwellers who love to get away once in a while.
After driving the Kuga, it was time for us to get our hands on the Ford Explorer, a model that is available in markets like America and the Philippines but not Malaysia. Powered by a massive 3.5-litre V6 engine, we drove the large SUV along the mountainous roads of Clark’s outskirts and through a short mild off-road terrain.
With more power on the tap than we could ask for and technologies like the Terrain Management System letting us shift into multiple off-road modes on the go, the Explorer was not only a beast on tarmac, but off the beaten track as well. However, as handsome and capable as it is, Ford Malaysia has no intentions to bring this model into our market.
And then came day two, which was the highlight of the entire trip for us. With the Ford Everest as the weapon, we were given the task of conquering the unforgiving volcanic ash (also known as Lahar) terrain at the foot of Mount Pinatubo, the volcano which went off in 1991, claiming 847 lives and spewing out ten cubic kilometres of ash.
The eruption was so massive that the Lahar bed stretches across a few kilometres around Mount Pinatubo, with a river flowing through it. Unlike sand which sinks slowly, Lahar dissolves super fast. So, whenever it rains, the surface of the terrain changes shape real quick.
That said, it is impossible to conquer this trail if the vehicle you’re in doesn’t have proper off-road capabilities. Do keep in mind that most of us there knew nuts about serious off-roading. So, it was mostly up to the SUV to accomplish the mission.
After shifting into 4L, and setting the Terrain Management System in ‘Sand & Rock’ mode, off we went down the lahar-covered terrain. It was mind-blowing how easily the Everest conquered the path, making it look so easy, and as if we were experts who knew what we were doing.
Despite having to drive over some rocky surface, the Everest’s undercarriage didn’t scrape anything even once. Although we could feel the surface sinking every now and then, the SUV just bulldozed its way through while we were awestruck with how comfortable it was inside the cabin.
Yes, the Everest is based on the
Ranger
 but it was significantly more comfortable and less bumpy than the pickup truck throughout our stint near Mount Pinatubo, thanks to the tweaked suspensions. The best part of it was that the SUVs we were in still had road tyres on.
After conquering the Lahar-clad path, it was time for lunch, followed by the final driving exercise in the more humble Ford EcoSport. In an effort to demonstrate its agility, manoeuvrability, and practicality, we were required to drive it in the busy streets of Clark city and San Fernando, grab a box of coconuts from the market along with some souvenirs before we headed back to our hotel.
Now, even though all four Ford models we drove were SUVs, they are very different from one another. While some are typical city-dwellers, some models mean serious business. So, depending on what your needs are, Ford might just have the right SUV for you.


2021 KIA Picanto Introduced: The Much Loved Urban Mini Just Received A Facelift

Everyone's favourite Korean Mini, the Kia Picanto has just received a facelift, and from what we can see from the details on Kia's Korean website, the Picanto has not only received a facelift, it has also had some upgrades that'll make its competitors look a bit shy.

First up is that swanky looking exterior. Some plastic surgery has really enhanced the look to what was already a handsome looking little mini, with new headlights featuring projector lens with signature LED daytime running lights as part of the unit. A reshaped grille that looks like the GT Line from the previous vehicle has also been included, as well as a new front bumper that gives the updated Picanto an even more aggressive appearance. The rear has not changed much as Kia only tweaked the tail light a little and included some fake dual chrome pipes that also takes its cue from the GT Line.

Under the bonnet, the facelifted Korean market Picanto comes with only a 1.0-litre 'Smartstream G' four-cylinder petrol engine with 75hp and 95Nm of torque. It is mated to a four-speed automatic that helps the car reach a claimed fuel consumption of 6.3L/100km. If the vehicle does eventually turn up on our shores, we're unsure whether it will come with this engine or the current 1.2-litre four-cylinder unit with 83hp and 122Nm of torque in the current Malaysian Picanto.

Now, the piece de resistance for this facelifted Picanto is its safety attributes and cabin experience. Safety wise, the Picanto now comes with Driver Fatigue Monitoring, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Collision Prevention Assist, which basically can stop the car if the driver doesn't, and the car's forward Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) system will also be capable of pedestrian detection.  Blind spot monitoring will also be included- that's a lot of safety gear for such a small car, fantastic!

The Picanto's cabin is definitely something its competitors will be jealous of as from the pictures; it looks absolutely top class. There is a new 4.2-inch TFT LCD driver information screen with digital speedometer, as well as an upgraded 8' touchscreen media system which is an inch larger than in the current car. Top-spec models also get Sat Nav as well as impressive seat cooling for the driver's seat.

There's no indication from KIA Malaysia on when the facelifted Picanto will arrive, but it has to sit in a queue as KIA Malaysia planned to launch the Seltos before COVID-19 attacked Malaysia. There's also the new K5 which launched globally before the Picanto, so it's a little hard to guess when we'll see this little Kia on our roads.


Toyota unveils new bZ concept cars in Shanghai, battery tech from BYD

Toyota has unveiled two of its latest
BEV concept models
, the bZ Sport Crossover Concept and the bZ FlexSpace Concept.

Introduced at Auto Shanghai 2023, these two concept models are currently being developed as part o the Toyota bZ series and will hopefully be launched in the Chinese market sometime in 2024.

There will be a total of 10 BEV models that Toyota will introduce from now until 2026, and these two will indeed propel the EV's arms race.

Starting with the bZ Sport Crossover Concept, this crossover-type BEV is a joint venture between Toyota and BYD. Planned to be produced and sold by FAW Toyota Motor, the "Reboot" concept of the bZ Sport Crossover carries an active yet iconic styling with intelligent features that can evolve even after the customer's purchase.

The target market of Gen Z folks will most likely enjoy features like river assistance and automatic parking as well as other things that can be kept up-to-date.

For families, the bZ FlexSpace Concept might be the one for you as the main aspect of this vehicle is utility. Planned to be sold by GAC Toyota Motor, its "Cozy Home" concept is meant to create a space for families that is safe, comfortable, and offers great peace of mind.

This will involve a much larger cabin space that is paired with intelligent yet user-friendly specs and features with the goal for all family members and occupants to enjoy the journey even more. As mentioned earlier, China will be the first market to sell these bZ models once they go into production in 2024.