Review: 2017 Honda City Hybrid - Sporting Intentions

When you first lay your eyes on the new Honda City Hybrid, you’ll be forgiven if you can’t immediately identify it as a hybrid model. After all, the new hybrid version of the Honda City carries over most of its visual cues from the Grade E variant of the City it’s based on, with the addition of three hybrid emblems and LED tail lights.
But minor visual changes aside, the biggest difference lies under the bonnet of the City Hybrid.
The Honda City Hybrid signals the company’s re-entry into the hybrid segment, alongside the new Honda Jazz Hybrid. Honda Malaysia has previously offered various hybrid models, but discontinued them after the government retracted its tax incentives for fully-imported hybrid vehicles.
With the introduction of the new Honda City Hybrid, Honda Malaysia wants potential buyers to know that owning its new generation hybrid models is no different from the regular petrol variants, down to its maintenance and driving experience.
Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC, 16-valve, transverse
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive
Power (Engine): 110 PS at 6,600 rpm
Power (Motor): 30 PS from 1,313 rpm to 2,000 rpm
Combined Output: 137 PS
Torque (Engine): 134 Nm at 5,000 rpm
Torque (Motor): 160 Nm from 0 to 1,313 rpm
Combine Output: 170 Nm
Safety: Four airbags, ABS with EBD, VSA, HAS, ISOFIX (2x, second-row seats)
Price: RM89,200 (on the road without insurance)
Origin: Locally assembled in Pegoh, Melaka
Overview
The new Honda City Hybrid is positioned as the company’s entry-level hybrid sedan after the Jazz Hybrid. Equipment level mirrors that of the petrol variant in E Grade, save for the earlier-mentioned exterior details.
Honda Malaysia currently only offers one trim level of the new City Hybrid, which includes the 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights with LED DRLs, LED tail lights, Smart Entry with push start button, paddle shifters and a 6.8-inch Display Audio infotainment system.
As it is, the Honda City Hybrid has no direct competitors, with its nearest rival being the Hyundai Ioniq. Bear in mind that the Ioniq occupies a segment above the City, with prices starting from RM100k, making the RM89k City Hybrid look like a bargain.
Malaysia is the first country out of Japan to get the new Honda City Hybrid.
Exterior
There is nothing to shout about the exterior of the Honda City Hybrid. Changes are minimal at best, as Honda Malaysia decided that by not visually differentiating regular petrol variants of the City and the hybrid version, cost to manufacture the hybrid variant can be kept low as parts are shared between models.
Even with its minimal changes from the petrol variant, the Honda City Hybrid still looks modern and sharp.
The main difference are the LED taillights that are shared with the range-topping Grade V, on top of its unique blue hybrid badges.
Interior
Moving inside, changes are a little bit more apparent.
Out goes the traditional gear level, as the City Hybrid features a futuristic shift-by-wire-type gear lever. That aside, the Honda City Hybrid also gets its own meter cluster that is able to display energy flow, fuel efficiency and other information.
Other Honda City Grade E bits that are carried over include the touch panel air-conditioning controls, fabric upholstery, centre arm rest with storage compartment, rear arm rest and rear air vents.
Despite featuring lithium-ion batteries in its boot, the Honda City Hybrid’s boot space is not compromised, offering its same class-leading 536 litres as the petrol variant.
However, as the batteries are located in the spare wheel well, a spare tire is not included. Instead, the company bundles together a tire repair kit for both the Jazz and City Hybrid.
In case anyone was wondering about how safe the battery cells are in the spare wheel well, Honda assured us that the City Hybrid is able to withstand serious rear impact collisions without affecting its battery cells. In fact, Honda sold more than 865,000 units of its Sport Hybrid i-DCD models back in Japan, without a single unit catching fire as a result of a rear end collision.
Driving Experience
While the exterior and interior of the Honda City Hybrid bears some resemblance to its regular petrol siblings, things are completely different behind the wheel.
Upon starting up from a dead stop, we noticed how quiet the Honda City Hybrid actually is. This is due to the fact that the car starts from EV mode from idle, only starting the engine when additional power is needed.
Speaking of its engine, we especially enjoy the engine note of the new Honda City Hybrid. We noticed that the engine note of the hybrid variant is considerably sportier than the regular City, with a louder growl that fills the cabin. Don’t get us wrong though, the City Hybrid’s refinement is actually impressive for a car at this price point, but Honda engineers have managed to exhibit some sporty character out of its hybrid model, making it’s a very different animal from the Hyundai Ioniq.
Also different from the petrol City is the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Here, the City Hybrid’s shifts are more enjoyable than the CVT found on the regular City, as there are actual gears in the transmission, as opposed to the virtual ratios in the petrol City. Also worth noting is that the electric motor aids the City Hybrid when moving from a dead stop, thus reducing the DCT’s jerky-from-start behavior.
Honda Malaysia also mentioned that the City Hybrid gets additional strengthening at the rear bulkhead, on top of a more rigid A pillar. These work in conjunction with the retuned steering gear ratio and reworked suspension tuning to give the City Hybrid a more surefooted feeling than the regular City.
Fuel Economy and Maintenance
Driving experience aside, we also appreciate how frugal the City Hybrid is when it comes to fuel consumption. With some careful driving, most drivers should be able to see a fuel economy upwards of 20 km/L, something the regular petrol variant struggles with.
More often than not when hybrid is mentioned, cost of maintenance is brought up. However, with the new Honda City Hybrid, maintenance is identical to the regular petrol variant, if not cheaper.
Case in point is the dual-clutch transmission maintenance versus the CVT found in the petrol variant. According to Honda’s official service schedule, the City Hybrid’s DCT transmission fluid only needs to be replaced at the 96th month or 160,000 km mark, as opposed to the CVT fluid that needs to be replaced every 24 months or 40,000 km.
Over a period of 5 years, it costs RM2,867 for owners to maintain the City Hybrid.
Whilst keeping on the maintenance topic, replacing the starter battery in the City Hybrid is considerably cheaper than the Hyundai Ioniq, which costs upwards RM1,000. For the Honda City Hybrid, owners just need to replace the 12V battery with any regular battery.
Conclusion
Now this is when it gets really tricky.
On paper, the Honda City Hybrid is within Ringgits of the top spec Honda City Grade V, though with considerably less equipment.
Apart from its own sibling, the Honda City Hybrid also faces stiff competition from the Mazda 2 Sedan, though the Mazda loses out in terms of interior practicality and cost of maintenance.
However, versus its own sibling, the hybrid City might be a better purchase for those who really enjoys driving as the hybrid powertrain completely changes the behavior of the City.
So is the Honda City Hybrid a good buy? In short, almost certainly. Honda Malaysia foresees that streets of the future will be filled with hybrid vehicles, so by introducing its new hybrid Honda City at an affordable price, the company continues to spearhead the future by making advanced powertrain technologies affordable for the masses.


Chevron Malaysia Launches Fourth Edition Of Caltex Fuel Your School Campaign

Education is an integral part of a societal progress and for the fourth consecutive year, Chevron Malaysia Limited, the marketers of the Caltex brand, has reinvigorated its annual ‘Caltex Fuel Your School’ campaign for 2015, in partnership with the MyKasih foundation.
To kick things off, the company has allocated a total sum of RM250,000 to the campaign which aims to fund eligible classroom projects in a bid to deliver inspiring classroom sessions for students to further promote the learning of Science, Technology, English and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
This year, the campaign will be reaching out to public schools in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan, with a total of 50 classroom projects to be awarded, split equally between schools in both states. The projects will be selected based on the creativity and innovative use of requested project materials that aim to promote a hands-on learning experience in the classroom, which also meets the existing classrooms curriculum objectives.
“Following up on last year’s success, we believe one of the most significant indicators of social progress is education, and we hope our ongoing efforts via the Fuel Your School campaign will continue to provide an equal self-development with proper classroom facilities for students in high need schools – to enhance a better learning environment,” said Chevron Malaysia Limited’s Country Chairman, Shahid Ahmed.
The Caltex Fuel Your School campaign is part of Chevron’s global “Energy for Learning” initiative and have been working hand-in-hand with the MyKasih Foundation, who helps determine classroom projects that deserve to be funded through the campaign. They also consult teachers and help ensure classroom project proposals are scaled towards STEM subjects.
“The public can do their part to support the Caltex Fuel Your School campaign. With every purchase of any petrol using the Caltex JOURNEY Card at participating Caltex service stations in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan, RM2 will be pledged to the classroom projects for public schools in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan from October 15 to November 14,” added Ahmed.


Where Are You Really Allowed To Drive During CMCO?

There’s a lot of conflicting statements by the government regarding what people are allowed to do during this Conditional Movement Control Order, or CMCO. The idea of the CMCO is that the relaxed restrictions generally allow people to get back to work – with a little pushback from individual states, but in an effort to restart the economy nonetheless.

With regards to the purposes of travel, interstate travel is still prohibited unless you obtain express permission from the police – either through the
Gerak Malaysia app
 or by booking an appointment with a police station to apply in person. Other than that, the restriction on travel times has supposedly been removed, and the original 10 kilometre travel radius from home has also been removed.

This all comes in addition to malls being allowed to open for longer, business in general being allowed to reopen, and people even allowed to go back to exercising in parks as long as they maintain social distance. There is no longer a need for you to carry express permission from your employer in order to travel to work either.

But that being said, there is still a sense of seriousness with regards to what you can actually still do. There is, for example, a ban on a variety of gatherings. Neither the ministry nor the police have specified what constitutes a gathering or the maximum size, so there’s probably some flexibility left in the language to allow them to limit non-essential activities. In essence, there is still a focus on keeping any movement to essential or employment related matters only.

To that end, there have been various anecdotal reports. Some sources have said that going for a morning drive to Genting is possible, but only via Karak highway or the old Gombak road – despite the fact that you have to cross into Pahang regardless of which route your choose. Some who have travelled late at night have also seen an increased police patrol car presence which may or may not be to stop and question movement – there’s no way to tell, and you don’t want to be in that kind of situation anyway..

According to the Federal Gazette, the restriction is mostly for travelling between local infected areas – but whether that is only regarding those under EMCO or anywhere that has an infection in general is hard to say. In simple terms, don’t go out unless you have to go out – but if your reason is valid, you probably won’t have to worry about being fined or jailed. To add to that, you can only carry a maximum of three passengers in your car and you must all be from the same household.

There is no doubt that the volume of traffic on our roads has increased as people start moving around more, and thankfully the major roadblocks have all but disappeared. Unfortunately some people haven’t driven in so long that they’ve completely forgotten how to drive – ignoring red lights, changing lanes without signalling, and so on. With that in mind, please be careful and observe your surroundings, as well as ensure that your car’s tyres and brakes are in reasonable condition.


This Chart of Hypothetical Alfa Romeo Models is A Dozen Shapes of Awesome

If
Alfa Romeo
’s sensuous
new Giulia
has rekindled your lust for the brand, then this chart of renderings of hypothetical Alfa Romeo models from Italian graphic artist and Alfa Romeo fan, Lorenzo Prati, will definitely cause uncontrollable bouts of drooling.

Prati’s renderings takes the sleek front fascia of the new Giulia and adapts it onto 11 other body styles, from the Giulietta hatchback, to the Alfa Romeo GT-like Giulia Coupe, a revived Alfetta sedan, the upcoming Kamal SUV, and even the heralded 6C sports car.

This chart isn't the real deal from Alfa Romeo, but we know for sure that Alfa Romeo is already hard at work with building a range of SUV models, a large sedan, and a 6C sports car, though we don't have a clue of what they would look like as of now. Here is to hoping that secretly behind closed doors, these future Alfa Romeo models would assume shapes that are close to Parti's imaginations.

In the meantime, check out Lorenzo Prati’s
Facebook page
 for more imaginative works of Alfa Romeo fan art.


Tokyo 2015: Honda Reveals Motor Show Special S660

Despite its diminutive kei-car dimensions, Honda’s S660 is an infectiously cheerful little thing, and for the Tokyo Motor Show Honda has given it a dark and edgier look with the Motor Show Special Collection.
Sporting a matt metallic gun metal paintjob with an offset black and white stripe, gloss black rims, and Alcantara upholstered seats and dashboard trim, the S660 looks more like a tiny little go-kart space ship fit for Darth Vader, rather than a car.
Aside from sprucing up its exterior the S660 still retains the same kei-car mid-mounted 660cc turbocharged engine which produces 64PS and 104Nm of torque.
The S660 Motor Show Special Collection is a one-off concept to grace the motor show stand. But not that Honda needs to put it on sale, as enthusiasts of Japan will surely lift plenty of cues from this little showpiece to inspire theirs.


VIDEO: A Quick Lesson In How Not To Overtake On Two-Lane Highways

Two-lane highways with traffic coming at each other on either lane is a nerve-wrecking situation to be in, as this driver demonstrates why.
Fine when on your own, the trouble comes down to a slow moving vehicle ahead of you, such as a lorry or trailer. Yes, the law allows you to overtake, and provide road markers for advised locations to do so.
*VIDEO: Samsung Has A Solution For Overtaking Lorries On Two-Lane Highways
But still, it’s no easy feat: if your vehicle doesn’t have enough power to accelerate quickly past, the whole overtaking move is going to take too long, and what could happen is best described in this video below.
The driver, apparently rather impatient to get past the lorry ahead, sticks very close on the lane used by oncoming traffic to view what’s a head. He sees what he thinks is an opportunity, but doesn’t factor in how much time it would take his vehicle to pass the lorry.
By the time he does realise it’s too short of a gap, it’s too late. He slams the brakes, rubs shoulders with the lorry, and is smashed head-on by another lorry on the opposing lane, and then into another lorry.
Some tips:
The only tip we feel that’s possible to share here is a reminder to be patient. We’re quite sure everyone knows (even the driver in this video) where, when and how to best overtake a vehicle on a two-lane highway. The disturbing factor comes from impatience.
A “
Try only lah
” attitude has no place on the road, let alone at highway speeds, so when you do attempt to overtake, be absolutely sure you’re going to get past, safely, with enough room in the opposing lane’s traffic to do so.
Remember also to signal your intentions: if you’re pulling out to the right, signal right so that drivers behind and ahead of you can spot your intentions early. Before pulling back into your lane, signal left too – don’t assume everyone knows what you’re doing just because you’ll be quick doing it.


BMW 750d xDrive – Munich’s Most Powerful Six-Cylinder Diesel Ever

Although most of the money in the luxury segments are now made from four-cylinder engines,
BMW
 has not forgotten its rich heritage of inline-sixes, and the latest round updates to its European model range suggest that this cherished engine configuration remains an important component in Munich’s foreseeable plans.
Headlining BMW’s 2016 summer upgrades for its model range the continent is world premiere of the most powerful diesel engine ever built by the company – a
quad-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six
 punching out 400hp and 760Nm, the latter figure forcibly restricted to protect the internals of its 8-speed automatic transmission.
Slated to power the 750d xDrive from July 2016 onwards, the new engine replaces an existing tri-turbo unit that made 381hp and 740Nm powering a line of BMW M Performance Automobiles not presently offered in the Malaysian market.
Derived from BMW’s latest modular B-series engine family, the 3.0-litre unit utilizes multi-stage turbocharging to ensure maximum effectiveness of boost available across the rev range. Its four chargers consist of two low- and two high-pressure units operating on precisely-coordinated interplay. At low to medium load, both the low-pressure and one of the high-pressure blowers stand duty. Under hard acceleration, however, the low-pressure turbos are bypassed allowing the second high-pressure turbo to kick in from about 2,500rpm onwards.
The result of all these innovations is that the 750d xDrive has 450Nm of torque available from just 1,000rpm with peak torque of 760Nm available from 2,000 to 3,000rpm. Maximum power of 400hp comes at 4,400rpm. Additionally, the new engine is claimed to be 11 percent more efficient than the outgoing tri-turbo unit.
Based on standard EU test cycles, the 750d xDrive consumes between 5.7 and 5.9 litres per 100km depending on tyre size as well as wheelbase length. Top speed is restricted to 250km/h, whilst 0 to 100km/h is achieved in 4.6 seconds (4.7 seconds for the 750Ld long-wheelbase model).


2023 Hyundai Creta now open for booking in Malaysia

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has announced that they've officially opened the booking for its upcoming
Hyundai Creta
 model.

Coming real soon in 2023, the Hyundai Creta B-segment SUV has been spotted several times in the past here in Malaysia, and with this announcement, it is official - the Creta is coming and it's coming soon.

According to Jeffrey Gan, Sime Darby Motors Managing Director of Retail and Distribution for Malaysia, "With so much practicality and space contained within a compact footprint, it’s not difficult to see why SUVs continue to rise in popularity, both globally and in Malaysia."

"The Hyundai Creta illustrates this perfectly, and we look forward to giving Malaysians more choices in the realm of SUVs upon its introduction, which is just around the corner!” added Mr. Gan.

Targeted at the young and young-at-heart, the Hyundai Creta offers boldness and individuality, particularly via its Parametric Jewel front end. Hyundai prides itself on the Creta's front-end design with its hidden LED daytime-running lights and bumper-mounted LED projector headlamps which are said to portray a stunning visual signature at night.

Interior-wise, HSDM has confirmed that the 2023 Hyundai Creta here in Malaysia will come with specs like a 10.25-inch TFT LCD cluster, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen (wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay included), six airbags, and the latest Hyundai SmartSense safety suite.

If power is of concern, the Hyundai Creta in other markets is powered by the Smarstream G 1.5-litre NA four-cylinder engine which produces 115PS and 144Nm of torque. For Malaysia, we will most likely get the same specs as well (unless they decide to throw us a curveball like a 1.0-turbo or a 2.0 NA which Hyundai has in its powertrain arsenal).

More details will be released soon, but for now, you may visit or contact the nearest authorised dealer to place your booking.


BMW’s M2 to get its Video Game Debut on NFS

If you can’t get enough for
BMW’s new M2 Coupé
 fret not, BMW has announced that the M2 would be making its feature debut in a video game in the upcoming remake of Need For Speed.
The remake, which is slated for a November 3
rd
 release on consoles, sees a return to the street racing and car customisation genre. Not limited to the usual ensemble of Japanese or American muscle cars, this latest addition to the series will see a generous mix of the latest supercars such as the McLaren 570S, classic legends in the form of the Ferrari F40, and even the esoteric, with the Volvo 242 making an entry.
Though realistic simulators like Polyphony’s Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsports often serve as platform from which car makers bring their products to the digital realm, one of the early pioneers in the concept was the Need For Speed series.
Despite the terrible 2014 film adaptation that carried its name, the Need For Speed series originally strived for realism and accuracy. The first instalment of the series in 1994 featured a direct collaboration with Road & Track, whose editors provided feedback on the handling and details of each and every car featured in the game. Not just made for young gamers, the first Need For Speed was catered towards enthusiasts as well, with in-game video-clips that explained the history and significance behind each car, much like how Forza 4 slipped in a Jeremy Clarkson commentary.
Unfortunately the series has since taken a more arcade adaptation, rather than striving at being a real-world simulator like Gran Turismo, and it seems that the new reboot would follow in those footsteps of delivering a more unrealistic arcade experience for the casual gamer audience. So even if you could line up the M2 next to the first-, third-, fourth- generation M3, and the new M4, please do take it in-game performance with a grain of salt.


2018 BMW M8 To Join All-New 8 Series Coupe Family

Shortly after previewing the next-generation
8 Series in concept format
, BMW is moving quickly to stoke further interest in its next-generation large coupe by officially confirming an M8 performance flagship is in the works.
Precious details are being offered, but a heavily-covered early prototype was shown at the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race over the weekend.
Whilst bits made visible through the camo are largely classic M cues such as enlarged air intakes, uprated brakes, and the quad exhaust pipes, this run-out also gives us clues on what to expect of the regular 8 Series where design is concerned.
The rear-end remains heavily disguised, but up front, we see a toned down reinterpretation of the Concept 8 Series’ large grille-slim headlamp fascia.
Most revealing perhaps is a peek inside the cabin, where we see parts of the Concept’s gently sloping centre console with a free-standing screen atop in pre-production guise. Much of the dashboard remains covered, obscuring the details, but the basic shape is unmistakeble.
Powertrain specs are anyone’s guess at this moment, but it is fair to assume something with greater potency than the
upcoming M5
, which has been confirmed to generate in excess of 600hp and 700Nm from a heavily reworked version of the predecessor’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8.
Pending further details, the actual job of powering the M8 could fall to either one of two engines – a further uprated version of the aforementioned 4.4 V8 or the 6.6-litre V12 that is currently pushing 600hp and 800Nm in the
M760Li xDrive
.
Alongside the production model, a race-spec M8 GTE is also under development to spearhead BMW’s return to Le Mans.
“We are planning an initial roll-out for the first half of this year and are looking at giving the car its race debut in the Daytona 24 Hours in late January 2018,” BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt – indirectly indicating the timeframe to expect of the production 8 Series and M8’s eventual debut.


Shell Malaysia Raises RM700k In Three Days To Help Underprivileged Children In Malaysia

During the Hari Raya festive season, Shell Malaysia aimed to raise a minimum of RM500,000 from its
“Pump 14, 16, 18” balik kampung campaign
 to help underprivileged children in Malaysia.
Today, the company is pleased to announced that it has managed to successfully raise RM700,000 from the campaign which saw Shell donating RM0.01 for every litre of fuel pumped at its stations nationwide, exceeding its official target by RM200,000.
Tuan Haji Azman Ismail, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd. and Shell Timur Sdn. Bhd. said, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of Malaysians! We were informed that many motorists purposely chose to fill up their tanks on the days of the campaign; the 14th, 16th and 18th of July. This turned the simple act of filling up their vehicles for safe travels during the festive season into a decision to inspire, empower, and transform the lives of underprivileged children. I personally thank all who participated. Your effort will help build a better future for these children”.
The benefits will be directed towards five charity organisations (listed below), where it will be used to support development programmes that benefit approximately 3,500 children of all races to learn new skills and develop their fullest potential.
The Budimas Charitable Foundation
The Nasi Lemak Project
Yayasan Chow Kit
Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin (Sabah)
Yayasan Kemajuan Insan Sarawak
That’s not all because Shell is also looking towards the long term, working in partnership with these organisations to develop a long-term programme so that Shell staff, their families, retailers, and business partners can actively support their work.


Have You Got Your Tickets For The 2017 Petronas Malaysia "F1-Nale" Yet?

We are less than two days away before the
2017 Petronas Malaysia Formula 1 Grand Prix
 main race kicks off, and it is definitely an event that is not to be missed.

As exciting as every Malaysian round of the Formula 1 GP was before this, this year’s race is unlike any other as it is actually the final F1 race to take place in Sepang, and what better way to bid farewell to such a special occasion than to witness it at the circuit itself?

There might only be a day left before the qualifying begins tomorrow but it is not too late for those who wish to be there at the “F1nale” as tickets are still available according to SIC.

The 19th edition of the race in Malaysia, which will be held from 29 September to 1 October 2017 will not only play host to the race, but also other events like support races, family activities, live music performances by the best musicians in Malaysia, and many more.

Coming back to the race, SIC is about to witness what is anticipated to be a very thrilling round on Sunday as Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who is aiming to extend his overall lead in the championship, battling it out with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel who is only 28 points behind.

That being said, the Petronas Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend promises to be a very thrilling, fun-filled event for fans of the sport as well as their families.

So, if you haven’t got hold of your tickets, just head to the
Sepang International Circuit official website
 and get yours while they are still available.


2017 All-New Honda BR-V Launched In Malaysia – From RM85,800

Big on space, huge on value – the all-new BR-V is Honda’s answer for the young and growing families of Malaysia.

Two variants have been introduced at the outset:

Type E: RM85,800

Type V: RM92,800

Prices indicated are OTR with insurance

Overview

The BR-V is Honda’s first seven-seater in this sub-RM100k segment, and is based on a heavily reworked platform used in the Thai/Indo market Honda Brio hatchback and Brio Amaze sedan.

At a glance, the BR-V looks like your typical MPV people-mover, but, with a class-leading, flash flood combating 201mm ride height (even higher than the CR-V's 170 mm) and some fresh and bold body styling, the BR-V does inject some much-needed flair into the segment.

The BR-V fills the gap, in pricing, between the B-Segment Honda City sedan and mid-sized crossover, the HR-V, and competes against the Nissan Grand Livina, Toyota Avanza and Toyota Rush. With the introduction of the new 7-seater, Honda's range of utility vehicles now includes the BR-V, HR-V, CR-V and the premium-positioned Honda Odyssey MPV.

The Honda BR-V measures 1735mm in width, 1666mm in height and 4456mm in length, which is 75mm wider and a whopping 306mm longer than the Toyota Avanza. Crucially, the BR-V’s 2662mm wheelbase pips the Avanza’s by 7mm and the seminal Honda CR-V’s by some 40mm. All these translates into a roomier interior, with the third-row seats spacious enough to accommodate adults comfortably.

For convenience and comfort, the seats are designed to:

Front row - slide and recline

Second row - slide and recline, 60:40 split with one-touch tilt and tumble

Third row - 50:50 split, recline, tilt and tumble

With the third row folded, the BR-V manages a wholesome 539-litre of boot space. With all the seats up, the boot swallows 233 litres of cargo.

The BR-V is locally-assembled at Honda’s plant in Pegoh, Melaka.

Powering all three variants is the tried and tested 1.5-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC engine that also powers other successful models such as the Jazz and City. The unit produces a 120PS at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,200rpm.  The engine is paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) type automatic transmission that also uses a torque converter for better reliability.

On the safety front, all variants of the BR-V receive ABS, EBD, two airbags, as well as the most crucial Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) as standard. Check out the key differences between the variants in the shortlist below.

Standard features of the BR-V

Type E

1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated engine

LED Daytime Running Lights

Projector halogen headlights

Side mirrors with turn signals

Roof rails

Pole type antennae

Shiny dark metallic finished instrument panel

Manual air-conditioning

Fabric upholstery

Urethane steering wheel and gearknob

11 cupholders

Standard audio system with Bluetooth, USB, AUX and Hands-Free connectivity, 4 speaker audio

16-inch alloy wheels

Two airbags

ISOFIX (Second row)

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)

ABS with EBD

Hill-Start Assist (HSA)

Reverse sensors

Security alarm with Immobiliser

Type V

Chrome door handles

Bumper lower garnish and side protector

Electrical tailgate lock

Steering wheel audio control

Water print matt finished instrument panel

Auto air-conditioning

Leather upholstery

Leather steering wheel and gearknob

Leather 'door lining' armrest

6.0 inch display audio

HDMI input port

Reverse camera

The BR-V is available in five exterior colors namely - Tafetta White, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Mechanic, Dark Ruby Red Pearl and the new introduction, Golden Brown Metallic.

BR-V customers will benefit from a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty and up to six, alternate free labour services up till 100,000km. The BR-V's service intervals are at every 10,000km. The Honda BR-V has been awarded a 5-Star Asean NCAP rating in Ault Occupant Protection and a 4-Star Child Occupant Protection rating.

Review: 2017 Honda BR-V - The all-new 7-Up

More:

Going Behind The Scenes – Understanding How The 2017 Honda BR-V Was Developed


Ubahsuai Perodua Ativa ke Toyota Raize – RM9k Sahaja!

Teringin nak ubahsuai
Perodua Ativa
 anda menjadi sebuah jentera JDM? GP Division Auto yang terletak di Jalan Kuching, KL mendedahkan bahawa mereka kini menawarkan body kit original daripada
Toyota
.

Semenjak Perodua Ativa dilancarkan pada bulan Mac lalu, nampak gayanya ramai kaki modi yang gian nak ubahsuai SUV kompak ini menjadi seperti kembarnya iaitu
Toyota Raize dan Daihatsu Rocky
 yang terdapat di pasaran Jepun dan Indonesia. Mana taknya, ada banyak aksesori serta komponen tambahan yang boleh didapati daripada Jepun untuk dipasang serta ditukarkan pada Perodua Ativa ini.

Difahamkan,
body kit
 yang dibawa masuk ke Malaysia oleh GP Division Auto ini bukanlah barang cikai. Meskipun ianya original, kit badan tersebut bukanlah komponen terpakai dari halfcut. Sebaliknya, ianya merupakan body kit baharu yang terdiri daripada bampar hadapan dan belakang, lengkap dengan segala emblem Toyota dan Raize, serta lampu nyalaan siang LED, dan juga modul lampu kabus LED pada kedua-dua bampar.

Proses mengubahsuai Ativa menjadi sebuah jentera
JDM
 kini bukan lagi sekadar angan-angan dalam fikiran. Dengan bermodalkan RM9,000, anda boleh mendapatkan kit asas Toyota Raize ini termasuk pemasangan serta cat. Yang paling menarik, anda tidak perlu untuk mengubahsuai Ativa anda kaw-kaw kerana hampir keseluruhan aksesori ini boleh dipasang secara ‘Plug and Play’ sahaja kecuali mudguard belakang yang memerlukan bracket asli daripada Toyota.

Tapi kalau anda masih lagi belum puas dengan Ativa convert anda yang kini kelihatan seperti Toyota Raize standard, GP Division turut menawarkan body kit lengkap Raize yang lebih sporty daripada kit asas tersebut. Kit badan tersebut terdiri daripada lip bampar hadapan, skirt sisi, lip belakang bersama diffuser bersepadu dengan rekaan empat tip ekzos.

Memandangkan Perodua dah lama tak keluarkan jentera yang ada kembar JDM serta sedap nak dibuat main dengan jajan-jajan yang boleh didapati dari Jepun, jadi inilah masanya untuk kaki convert menyinar. Lagipun, anda tidak perlu tukar komponen lain atau menaik taraf bahagian dalaman dan sistem elektronik Ativa. Hanya tukar kit badan sahaja memandangkan sistem teknologi yang dibekalkan pada Perodua Ativa sama canggih dengan model kembarnya.

Perodua Ativa dikuasakan dengan enjin 1.0 liter tiga-silinder turbo yang mampu menghasilkan output sebanyak 98 PS/140 Nm dan dilancarkan oleh transmisi D-CVT automatik. Selain daripada harganya yang murah, Ativa semestinya pilihan yang berbaloi kerana ianya merupakan satu-satu kereta yang menawarkan ciri termaju dan terkini seperti seperti lampu utama LED dengan signal sequential, lampu selekoh dan Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB), instrumen digital dengan skrin tujuh-inci, sistem bantuan pemanduan keselamatan
ASA 3.0
 dan banyak lagi untuk kereta berharga di bawah RM100,000!

Berminat untuk mengubahsuai Ativa menjadi Toyota Raize? Anda boleh membuat tempahan body kit anda di GP Division Auto yang terletak di Jalan Kuching, KL atau hubungi mereka melalui Facebook mereka untuk sebarang pertanyaan lanjut.

*Kredit foto Ativa ke Raize: GP Division Auto (Facebook)

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RON95 Shortage on Major Highways - Malaysians Angry

In an unexpected twist to the
Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2022
 traveling, major highways are reporting acute fuel shortages, specifically RON95.

Malaysians have taken to Twitter to vent their frustration, with many reporting that petrol stations had run out of RON95 with only the pricier RON97 available.

The price for petrol from May 5-11 is RM2.05 per liter for RON95, RM3.94 per litre for RON97 and RM2.15 per litre for Diesel.

That is an
RM1.89
 per litre difference between RON95 and RON97!

Fuel shortage on major highways!

Twitter user, @shasyaedora complained of fuel shortage on the East Coast from Besut to Kuantan, with many cars left parked at the side of the road or in the petrol stations.

Another Twitter user @ZacZakirin13 advised road users traveling from Kelantan to KL through the LPT highway to refuel their cars before leaving as many petrol stations are out of fuel.

Twitter user, @CikWanZah shared an image of a Shell Kg, Raja which had also run out of fuel for road users.

Heavy traffic has been reported and is expected to
peak this weekend
 as many Malaysians return home to the Klang Valley after the
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
 celebrations.

*Image credit to @shasyaedora and @CikWanZah Twitter


2017 MINI Cooper Countryman Launched In Malaysia, Priced From RM239,888

MINI Malaysia has officially unveiled the second generation MINI Countryman.
Available in two variants, namely MINI Cooper Countryman and MINI Cooper S Countryman.
Earlier
, we sampled the model prior to its local debut.
The entry-level MINI Cooper Countryman receives a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. MINI says that the engine does 136 hp and 220 Nm, allowing the Countryman to hit 100 km/h from standstill in just 9.6 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 200 km/h.
As for the more powerful MINI Cooper S Countryman, this variant is motivated by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 192 hp and 280 Nm. An eight-speed Steptronic automatic allows the Cooper S Countryman to complete the century sprint in just 7.4 seconds. Top speed for the Cooper S variant is rated at 224 km/h.
Standard equipment for both variants include:
MINI Driving Modes with Mid, Sport and Green
Run flat tires
Auto LED headlights with cornering lights
Roof rails
Silver colour sump guard
Servotronic electromechanical steering
ABS, Brake Assist
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)
Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC)
Breakaway engine mounts
Hill Hold Control
Six airbags
Sports leather steering wheel
Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
Anti-dazzle rear view mirror
Picnic Bench
Radio MINI Visual Boost 6.5-inch infotainment system
MINI Connected
Rear View Camera
The MINI Cooper Countryman comes with:
18-inch light alloy wheels
Cloth Firework Carbon Black upholstery
Hazy Grey interior surfacing
Powered Tailgate
Chrome Line interior
Moving one level up, the MINI Cooper S Country receives these kit:
19-inch MINI Yours light alloy wheels
ALL4 bodykit with Piano Black bumper elements
MINI Yours Piano Black Illuminated interior surfacing
Leather Cross Punch in Carbon Black upholstery
John Cooper Works leather steering wheel
Paddle shifters
Electric seat adjustment with memory function
Automatic Tailgate with Comfort Access
Nine colours are available, ranging from Chestnut, Island Blue, British Racing Green, Chili Red, Light White, Melting Silver, Midnight Black and Moonwalk Grey. Thunder Grey is available exclusively on the more expensive MINI Cooper S Countryman.
The MINI Cooper Countryman has a starting price of RM239,888, whilst those opting for the Cooper S variant will see a starting price of RM269,888. Both prices are OTR without insurance. With the purchase of a new MINI, the company is offering a 4 years unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service.


A 900hp VW Passat Is Just What We Need In Formula Drift

We compartmentalize cars into certain categories don’t we? And some just don’t mix: Mini Cooper pickup truck, for example. Nissan GTR driven by your Mom to office. Volkswagen Passat Drifter? Good news, that one does exist.
Tanner Foust, racer and professional tyre-smoker extraordinaire, is ready to enter this 4-wheeled contradiction into the Formula Drift series. On the outside, this one-off monster Passat features lots of Rockstar Energy livery, an APR Performance Rear Wing and Nitto NT05 tyres fitted to KMC wheels.
Making all that wheel spin possible is the seriously powerful V8 engine under its hood which produces 900 hp when boosted with nitrous oxide and 700 hp without. No TFSI efficiency to be found here, I’m afraid.
Just the spectacle of a Passat in Formula Drift is enough to make us pay attention, and with Mr. Foust at the wheel there's a good chance it'll put on a decent show as well. We can’t wait to see it in action once the first leg of the season starts on April 10
th
 at Long Beach.


Proton X50 Trademark Registered

It comes as no surprise that the next product to come out of the Proton and Geely partnership will most likely be based on the Geely Binyue - the younger brother of the Geely Boyue that our Proton X70 is based on.
The Geely Binyue has already been
caught here
, and Proton’s Head of Engineering, Yang Jun,
has confirmed
 that Proton will be introducing a new model fitted with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine.
While the Geely Binyue has all but been confirmed as Proton’s next model, another piece in the puzzle is perhaps the name of the new model. Since the introduction of the Binyue in China, many have speculated the potential name of the new subcompact SUV.
Thanks to a trademark filed by Proton, it appears that the company is considering to use the X50 name on the new model. The X50 name was registered alongside other possible names, including V50, V70, V500, V700, X500, and X700.
Another evidence that Proton could use the X50 name is due to the fact that the X50 name follows the same
alphanumeric naming convention
 that the X70 started. Moving forward, all future Proton models will adopt this alphanumeric naming format, instead of phonetic names.
Granted, car companies frequently register names ahead of actual model launches and it does not necessarily mean that the names will be adopted in upcoming models. Back in 2018, Perodua registered three names –
Aruz, Impax, and Lasaq
 - ahead of the D38L SUV debut, before settling on Aruz.


VIDEO: BMW M2 Spied, Near-Production Prototype Full Walk-Around

We’re looking forward to the
BMW
 M2, as you might imagine. It’s a small, light, barnstormer coupe from the sportiest (arguably) marque among the German automotive titans. This video gives us our clearest look yet at the as-yet unreleased car.
It’s a close look at the front and rear end of the car. The German-sourced footage gives us more detail on the angrier front with more imposing air intakes. Interesting too are the wheels, which look identical to the 19-inchers worn by the
M4
 coupe. Evidently, BMW wants a certain level of visual uniformity within all its
M cars
.
It’s obviously an F87 M2, referencing judgement from the units we saw testing at the
Nurburgring a few months ago
. The baby M-car, according to
BMW Blog
, does pack a wallop from its revised N55 engine, which is numerically similar to powerplant found in the M235i, but reportedly offers up 365hp and 465Nm of torque.
Although this may not get the new S55 lump, the N55 3.0-litre turbocharged engine in the M2 will apparently offer an overboost feature, sending an extra 34Nm of torque for a limited period, a nod to the older
BMW 1M Coupe
. BMW wants to keep all this under wraps, understandably, and have removed any badging on the exterior of the car as well as having the steering wheel covered before leaving it parked.
We’ll get to lay eyes on the final spec car and find out just how close to the mark it is the educated guesses were during the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. However, as is usual with these matters, BMW will likely unveil full details online as the show date approaches.


World Premiere Of BMW X4 M40i

More than just a kitted up X4, the X4 M40i has some genuine credentials under the hood. Sitting above the X4 xDrive35i, the X4 M40i is powered by a new inline six cylinders 3.0-litre Twin Power Turbo (single twin scroll turbo) that produces 360 hp from 5,800 rpm to 6,000 rpm. Its table shape-like torque curve, 465 Nm is sustained from 1,350 rpm all the way to 5,250 rpm, delivered to all four wheels.
To cope with the higher level of charging pressure and increase in the volume of fuel injected, the X4 M40i’s engine has an aerodynamically tuned air intake manifold and a new exhaust system that’s optimised both in terms of back pressure and sound character. There’s also a separate oil cooler.
The standard X4’s 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission has also been retuned with M Performance-specific gear shift programs.
There’s also a launch control program.
The sprint from 0-100 km/h is completed in 4.9 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
Compared to a standard X4, the X4 M40i’s front camber has been increased, with the adaptive dampers have been retuned to meet M Performance specifications. Stiffer springs and reinforced stabilizers have been fitted on both front and rear axles. The variable sport steering has also been sharpened with an M Performance-specific setup.
BMW have yet to announce any pricing details or when will the car go on sale, but the X4 M40i is expected to make its first public debut at November's Los Angeles Auto Show.


Is Gojek Finally Coming To Malaysia?

There are many
e-hailing companies
 here in Malaysia, but none of them can rival the e-hailing giant that is
Grab
. But Gojek? Now, that's an interesting competition.

Indonesia's top e-hailing company was recently spotted in the heart of Kuala Lumpur doing some kind of video shoot. Although its services are not yet available in the country, this could indicate that Gojek might just step into Malaysia's e-hailing segment soon.

*Image credit: The Vocket

The black Honda City with the Gojek logo on the side can also mean that Grab might finally have a worthy competitor within the market in the near future. This also means that in order to stay competitive, Malaysians might just enjoy
better e-hailing services at lower prices
 (hopefully).

There are currently 33 e-hailing registered operations that are registered with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), but Gojek is not one of them (yet). They did, however, try to enter the market back in 2020 with plans to introduce motorcycle e-hailing services, but thanks to COVID-19 and the Government's indecisiveness back then, it never materialised.

*Image credit: The Vocket

Gojek, Indonesia's first unicorn company, has been making waves since it was first established in 2009. It was in 2015 when it launched its app that provided multiple e-hailing services (just like Grab today) and is valued at US$10 billion.

Its latest merger with Indonesia's tech giant, Tokopedia, led to the birth of GoTo - the country's largest merger between two of its most valuable startups. With a multitude of financial backings, Gojek (or GoTo) might just be able to bring the fight to Grab unlike any other e-hailing companies are able to do today. Interesting? It certainly is.


Kia Stinger Makes Malaysian Debut At 2017 MAI Autoshow

The Kia Stinger has made its Malaysian debut at the ongoing 2017 MAI Malaysia Autoshow. The model is yet to be launched, and no indicative prices have been announced. The display unit is left-hand drive, hence would differ from the forthcoming Malaysian specifications model.
The Kia Stinger first debuted at the
2017 Detroit Motor Show
 in January this year. Positioned above the front-wheel drive Optima GT, the rear/ all-wheel drive Stinger competes against the likes of the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

On display is a range-topping GT variant, powered by a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 (Lambda II engine) producing 365 hp at 6,000 rpm and 510 Nm of torque between 1,300 – 4,500 rpm. More power than the Audi S5 Sportback, BMW 440i Gran Coupe, and Infiniti Q50.
Performance numbers read 4.7 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint, onto a 268 km/h top speed for the Stinger GT.
The engine sends power to second-generation eight-speed automatic transmission (designed in-house) that employs a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber (CPA) torque converter to reduce torsional vibrations through the drivetrain.
The Stinger is Kia’s first sedan available with rear- or all-wheel drive. The GT variant is offered with a rear-wheel biased AWD system with Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control.
Apart from the Stinger GT's 3.3-litre V6, a smaller 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder is also offered in certain markets, producing 255 hp at 6,200 rpm with 352 Nm of torque between 1,400 – 4,000 rpm, allowing a 0-60 mph sprint time of 5.9 seconds.


BMW i8 Hybrid Powerplant Wins International Engine + Powertrain Of The Year Award For The Fifth Time

The 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid engine that power the BMW i8 has bagged the award for the Best Hybrid Powertrain for the fifth time running at the annual International Engine + Powertrain of the Year awards.
This year it was competing in a brand new category: Best Hybrid Powertrain. A big surprise was the distance in the score: the powertrain of the BMW i8 took the award with 233 points, 138 points ahead of its closest competitor; the 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain found in the
Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
. Toyota’s 1.8-litre Hybrid (
C-HR Hybrid
,
Prius
, Lexus CT) and Volvo’s 2.0-litre Twin Engine Hybrid (XC90, V90,
S90
) took third and fourth places respectively.
The BMW i8’s powertrain came onto the market in 2014 and has scooped the coveted award in its category since 2015. In that first year, it was also crowned Best New Engine and took the overall International Engine of the Year award.
The i8’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder combustion engine delivers 231 hp and 320 Nm to the rear wheels, while the electric motor, produces an additional 143 hp/105 kW (in the New i8
Coupe
 and
Roadster
) which draws energy from an 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery that drives the front wheels.
The engine’s power is channelled to the rear wheels through a six-speed Steptronic transmission, while the electric motor drives the front wheels via a two-speed automatic gearbox.
The i8 Coupé is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds onto a top speed of 250 km/h. BMW claims fuel consumption of 1.8-litre/100km in the combined cycle. The electric range now stands at 55 km.
2019 marked the 21st edition of the International Engine of the Year awards. Since the event’s inception, power units developed by the BMW Group have racked up a total of 70 wins in their categories and overall.
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here
 for the latest deals on BMW vehicles


Perodua Ativa Available Immediately From Launch - No Waiting 6 Months!

The latest and greatest Perodua model once again surprises us with the distribution of variants - and possibly no waiting list!

When the third generation
Perodua Myvi
 was launched a couple of years ago, one of the things that surprised Perodua's upper management was how many people were picking up the top-spec AV model - and it turned out to be over 50% of customers, rather than the 30% that they were expecting based on their historical data. With the
brand-new Ativa
, Perodua expects that number to be closer to 70% for the top spec model.

This also follows the trend of their bookings as of the 25th of February, which saw over 2000 people registering their interest in the new model. Provided these numbers don't spike drastically, anyone who put their money down on the Ativa will receive it as 2,400 units are already ready to go - especially if you're on Peninsular Malaysia.

If you're in East Malaysia, however, the Ativa may take a little longer to reach you due to COVID-19 restrictions and logistical challenges. Rest assured Perodua is working their hardest to ship their baby SUV out, as they have always done their best to deliver to customers as quickly as possible. This is in stark contrast to
a certain other local SUV
 that has waiting lists which stretch for months.

Perodua expects 3,000 units of the Ativa to be sold a month, or 36,000 units a year for those who aren't quite as good with mental maths. How does that stack up against sales figures of other models in the Perodua range? The closest comparison would be the Aruz, of which just over 30,000 units were moved through the duration of 2019. The Myvi, Perodua's best-seller, clocked in at just under 82,000 units for 2019 as well.

Coming back to the variant breakdown, Perodua expects the aforementioned 70% take-up of the AV variant (from RM 71,200), while 20% of Ativa customers are expected to opt for the mid-range H variant (from RM 66,100), and the remaining 10% to go for the entry-level X model (from RM 61,500). Do note that even the Ativa X comes with Advanced Safety Assist 3.0, LED headlamps, and a variety of other impressive features for a vehicle at its price point.

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Full House: Will The Perodua D55L Be Too Late To The SUV Party?

It’s now the second-to-last month of 2020 and we’ve still heard precious little about Perodua’s rumoured new model, known so far to us by its internal code: D55L. With Proton X50’s launch
done and dusted
 and even the Hyundai Kona now
out in the open
 to further crowd the compact SUV market, is there even room left on the Malaysian buyer’s shortlist?

Of course, we’re aware that the D55L, which would be based on the Daihatsu Rocky, isn’t exactly in the same league as the much-hyped Proton or its competitors such as the Honda HR-V and Mistubishi ASX. However, its size does put them
in contention nonetheless
.

Being a Perodua, though, expect their offering to be very value oriented, perhaps even easily undercutting the X50 by over RM20,000. The price point is, obviously, a point of wild conjecture among many, but a B-segment crossover/SUV with five doors and generous amounts of practicality for a price not that much higher than a well-specified Myvi is
an incredible value
. That’s the kind of offer the average Malaysian might not walk away from.

After all, delivering the most amount of vehicle for the least amount of money has always been Perodua’s philosophy. It’s a strategy that has allowed them to consistently ninja their way around Proton time and time again to become Malaysia’s most popular automaker by volume. But with the X50, they face an enemy that might be immune to their old tricks.

Starting with the Kembara, Perodua beat Proton in the SUV race by a good 20 years. Though, they are also well aware by now that haphazardly attaching the SUV label to a new model doesn’t magically result in high sales numbers. The Aruz isn’t a flop, don’t get me wrong, but they certainly aren’t flying out of showrooms either.

A Rocky And A Hard Place

The ‘new Kembara’, in the form of the D55L, would be entering into a very competitive arena, and despite earlier indication, it’s looking more and more that this market re-entry would be pushed to somewhere in the first half of 2021.

That being said, the value angle might not be as effective a game plan as it used to be. To my personal distaste, SUVs are seen by a lot of buyers as objects of lifestyle rather than pure utility, and as such, they expect to be impressed by it on multiple levels.

Unfortunately for Perodua, buyers from a variety of backgrounds seem to be flocking to the X50 for its style factor and its
generous tech and safety features
, citing that as justification to spend a little extra than what their original budget might have allowed.

To its credit, a lot of the features and general level of materials and refinement offered by the X50 is on par with cars that usually cost much more than what Proton is charging. There’s also
a lot to love about
 the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission which offer unrivalled performance for the money, though only time will tell about how it fares over the long term.

This has left Perodua in a real hole as there isn’t much room to squeeze in a case for the D55L without either locking horns directly with the Proton X50 or potentially cannibalising further sales of their other ‘SUV’, the Aruz, as there would likely need to be a significant overlap with a starting price a little under RM70,000.

The fact is, fighting the X50 on all fronts isn’t an option, but by opting to include a decent tech and safety feature set into the D55L’s standard configuration, not to mention the cosmetics and comfort-oriented touches, Perodua would be forced to sell their SUV at a compromised price point.

After all, foreign markets do sell the Daihatsu Rocky with some impressive levels of kit. These include standard all-wheel drive, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control, a 360-degree all-around view camera system, and a large 8-inch infotainment system.

Though it will very likely arrive at a more attainable entry point than the Proton, it might not be a large enough gulf for buyers to not also consider Proton’s proposition, indirectly landing it in a sparring match with the X50 despite Perodua’s efforts to skirt the confrontation.

On the other hand, if Perodua decides to meet the X50 head-on and equip the D55L such that it could match the Proton blow for blow, it could end up fielding an SUV that isn’t that much larger than the Myvi yet is their most expensive model by a large margin, potentially alienating their core customer base who expected to pay less.

Forced Introduction of Forced Induction

To make matters more complicated for our favourite second national automaker, the Daihatsu Rocky (or its Toyota-badged twin, the Raize), the only powerplant currently powering foreign examples of the model is a 1.0-litre turbocharged
three-cylinder engine
 that produces 99PS and 140Nm, mated to a CVT.

Without choosing to alter this configuration, the D55L would also be Perodua’s first turbocharged vehicle as well as the first fitted with a CVT, taking the company into new territory on a technical level and adds cost to their parts inventory/supply and maintenance pipeline.

Though it would incur additional upfront cost to the company by way of development and testing, there is a possibility that Perodua is actively working to integrate the familiar 2NR-VE 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine and 4-speed automatic into the new SUV platform to better streamline their model line-up and keep prices down at the showroom level. Perhaps this explains the seeming lack of progress on the D55L’s launch and the company’s radio silence on the matter.

Where Does That Leave Us?

The Proton X50 made it very clear that there is strong market demand for this type of vehicle, and to a certain extent even proves that buyers are willing to extend beyond their previous budgetary constraints to get their hands on one, provided the car itself is sufficiently enticing.

At the end of the day, we’re pretty sure that they aren’t letting the ongoing SUV war pass them by - they can’t afford to. Perhaps the smartest minds at Perodua just need a little more time to make the math work.

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Why The 2021 Honda City Hatchback Is The Right Car For Malaysia!

The ASEAN specific Honda City hatchback is the answer for Malaysia, not the fourth-generation Jazz.

The news that Honda in Singapore has opted for the all-new Honda Jazz instead of the Honda City hatchback is a surprising one. It shows that demand for the ever-popular hatchback is still strong, despite its crazy price tag (RM300k) in the Lion City.

For us, however, it just isn't feasible to fully import the Jazz into Malaysia due to the ASEAN trade bloc. Because of where it is made (Japan), it will demand a high price due to higher taxation, compared to the Honda City hatchback, which is currently being assembled in Thailand.

So let's forget about the Jazz and concentrate on the City hatchback. The Honda City hatchback follows the same formula as the Toyota Vios/Yaris concept. It's bigger than the current generation Honda Jazz as well as the all-new Jazz which just made its debut in Singapore.

Much of the City hatchback is similar to the current Honda City sedan sold in Malaysia, but from the central pillars to the back it is all different. The rear doors are unique to the hatchback, and the roof is longer. The taillights, integrated tailgate spoiler, and rounded-off bumpers are also all unique to this model.

On the inside, it's all familiar and pretty much carried forward from the City sedan. The dashboard, all the way to the front door panels are the same. But Honda is not lazy because they have changed things where it matters. Being a hatchback, it's supposed to have added practicality, which is why Honda has re-engineered the rear seats and the floor.

The 2021
Honda City hatchback
 will come with the Jazz's much loved ULTRA seats which means you can turn the
hatchback
 into a cargo-carrying monster by folding the rear seats flat. This makes it as practical as the Jazz if not even more so.

The Thai Honda City hatchback that premiered last
November
 came with a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with an output of 122 PS and 173 Nm of torque. It's mated to a continuously variable transmission, but a six-speed manual option is also available.

We think Malaysia will not be getting this powertrain because a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, and
1.5-litre hybrid
 is available in Honda's arsenal of engines. But then again, Honda Malaysia likes to spring up surprises, so maybe a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-pot will be on the cards after all.

Safety-wise, we can expect the Honda City hatchback to have all the same safety gear as the sedan, which includes, four airbags, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, emergency stop signal, reverse parking sensors, and rear isofix points.

There are strong rumours that the City hatchback will be launched in Malaysia and Indonesia this year, but the Honda City hatchback will have to get in line as Honda Malaysia has yet to launch the Honda City RS. When the
Honda City RS
 does eventually become available, then we can start to accurately predict the arrival of the Honda City hatchback.

As far as pricing for the Honda City hatchback goes, we can use Thailand as a guide. The Honda City hatchback is priced from RM81,000 and tops out at RM101,000 for the highest variant. Interestingly, the hatchback is more expensive than the sedan in Thailand which has a price range of RM78,000 - RM100,000.

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 website now.


Motorcyclist Cannot Keep Road Rage In Check, Gets Injured Because Of It

Two wrongs don’t make a right as they say and road rage is certainly a big no-no that motorists should avoid, as you’ll soon see in this video. This took place in Brazil and it shows exactly what happens when we let our anger get to our heads, which in this case, lead to a very painful outcome.
The video was shot by another motorist from an in-car dash-mounted camera and starts around the 0:20 second mark, where we see a Peugeot 408 driving alongside a motorcyclist. A few seconds later, the Peugeot decides to switch lanes but fails to see the motorcyclist who manoeuvers to avoid. That’s wrong number one there.
Thankfully, no one was harmed at that point but the motorcyclist was certainly very upset and wanted to make sure the Peugeot driver knew it. After a few hand gestures, the motorcyclist decides to give the Peugeot driver a piece of his mind by brake-checking (suddenly braking in front of someone) him. That’s wrong number two.
It is then the Peugeot driver wants to leave the scene and not get involved further, accelerating away.
However, the motorcyclist is still adamant to unleash his fury upon the Peugeot and catches up alongside it before kicking at the car and subsequently crashing himself.
And that is why road rage should be something we all keep in check. It just isn’t worth it.


Waze Goes Official On Android Auto

Good news for Waze users, as the popular navigation application can now be officially used with Android Auto. Just last month, selected users of Waze was selected as beta users for the app, enabling them to run Waze on their head unit.
In the current Waze update (4.27.0.1), users just need to connect their phones to an Android Auto-compatible head unit and launch Waze via the navigation tab. Within the Android Auto interface, Waze users can do what they are usually able to do within the Waze app, including searching for location report traffic condition, police activity, road condition and speed cameras.
We tested Waze on a JVC KW-V930BW head unit with Android Auto and it worked without a hitch. We reckon that Waze should run just fine on any Android Auto-compatible car, including the 2016 Honda Civic, Honda Accord and newly-launched 2017 Honda CR-V. Ford owners with the SYNC3 infotainment system should be able to benefit from this update as well. Other Android Auto-compatible cars include the 2017 Hyundai Elantra and Chevrolet Colorado facelift.
Apart from Waze, Android Auto users can also utilize Google Maps for their in-car navigation needs.
Disclaimer
: As Google has yet to roll out Android Auto in Malaysia, sideloading the APK from unknown sources are done at your own risk. The other method involves a VPN to install Android Auto via the Play Store. We are not liable for any unwanted circumstances.


It’s Official: BMW Is Malaysia’s No.1 Choice Of Premium Vehicles

BMW
 Group Malaysia sold a total of 8,463 passenger vehicles throughout 2014 (
MINI
 included), demonstrating an increase of 13.4% year-on-year against 2013 (7,974). Last year’s sales figures proved to be a record for the brand in Malaysia, even outshining the likes of
Mercedes-Benz
 Malaysia, who even with the introduction of a new range of compact vehicles, only
managed a total of 6,832 units sold
, a personal record for them as well.
More specifically, these are how the numbers add up for BMW Malaysia’s passenger cars (minus BMW Motorrad motorcyles, which tallied to 583):
BMW: 7,808
MINI: 655
Leading the charge for the BMW brand itself were, as always, the
F30 3 Series
 and the
F10 5 Series
, while a new appetite grew for the likes of the
BMW X4
, amongst other vehicles such as the
4 Series
 and new
BMW X5
.
MINI saw an eventful year for themselves as well, with the introduction of the all-new F56 MINI Cooper 3-door, and later 5-door.
Allan Harris (pictured, left), Managing Director & CEO of BMW Group Malaysia commented that, “While the BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series remain strong contenders in the market and are greatly appreciated by our customers, we were able to provide a wider range of models for the Malaysian premium segment with the all-new BMW X4, the New MINI as well as new BMW Motorrad models such as the BMW R nineT and BMW S 1000 R; all of which have gone on to redefine their respective segments.
“Additionally, our further investment in new locally assembled capabilities for the BMW X5, the MINI Countryman and the BMW F 800 GS and F 800 R motorcycles marked a historical milestone for BMW Group Malaysia not only in the country but also in South East Asia. This further underlines our commitment here in Malaysia.”
Globally, the BMW Group also managed to retain its title as the world’s largest premium automobile group, having delivered a total of 2,117,965 worldwide; a 7.9% growth to the previous year.


After dark racing this weekend as Round 2 of Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge lights up Sepang International Circuit!

This weekend,
June 3rd to June 4th, sees the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge series
 once again lighting up both track and thrills at the Sepang International Circuit as Round 2 kicks off in spectacular fashion as the night sets in.

Malaysia’s most high-profile one-make race series ensures wheel-to-wheel action as drivers must squeeze every bit of performance and grit from both themselves and their specially-prepared, but equally capable across the grid, Toyota Vios race car.

The Vios Challenge race cars are similar to the road-going 1.5-litre Toyota Vios except that they have been equipped with special safety equipment.

The race cars are specifically built by Toyota, boasting proper safety equipment – a full-size roll cage, racing harness, bucket seats, fire extinguisher system, and master electrical cut-off switch.

The car’s performance package comprises of a five-speed manual transmission, race suspension, high-temperature brake pads, exhaust system, limited-slip differential, and lightweight wheels wrapped with performance tyres.

As per tradition, the races will feature a total of 45 drivers participating in four different categories: the Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers, the Sporting Class for amateurs and gentlemen drivers, the Rookie Class for young budding talent, and the Promotional Class for celebrities.

As one of the most lucrative one-make challenge series in Malaysia, the competition is bound to be absolutely fierce!

Despite TGR weekend being a closed-door event, viewers will still be treated to special performances by Janna Nick and Khai Bahar. For more details, please visit the official Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia
website
 and
 social media pages
.


SPYSHOTS: Is This The New Toyota Corolla Altis Facelift?

A series of photos that supposedly show the new
Toyota
 Corolla Altis have found their way onto Chinese forum
mobile01
 which shows a large redesign at the front end. Previously,
we posted a demonstration video
 that Toyota played at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, which showed an animated but unnamed model that was suggested to be the new Corolla Altis. However, the car in these spyshots differ from it in many areas.
When compared to the current
Toyota Corolla Altis
 on sale here, the front end appears to be more toned down with rounder edges at the bumper lip. The two-slate grille has now been replaced with a mesh one featuring a body colour-matching strip that runs across it.
The areas surrounding the number plate holder has also been blackened out and the fog lamps now appear to be daytime-running lights.
At the rear, we don’t see any significant changes as the same tail lights appear to be in place as well as the chrome bar that links them both.
Here is how the current Corolla Altis in Malaysia looks:
Stay tuned for more updates.


Review: G32 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo – With An Added Tinge Of Practicality

If there’s one thing that BMW seems to do better than other car companies, it’s filling up niches in the market. The Bavarian company has been actively filling up any niches it can locate, offering models that we never knew could have existed.
Since 2008, BMW has shifted more than 1.13 million of such niche market models, including the 3 and 5 Series Gran Turismo, 4 Series Gran Coupe, 6 Series Gran Coupe, X4, and X6.
With the introduction of the new BMW 6 Series GT, BMW now has no less than 8 niche-filling models, including the aforementioned models. Designed as a replacement for the F10-based 5 Series GT, the new 6 Series GT drops its reference to the 5 Series (even though it’s still based on one).
The new 6 Series GT is also slightly longer than the 5 Series GT it replaces, though this all-new model's height is lower but width remains unchanged from the 5 Series GT.
The highlight feature is perhaps the sloping roofline, and additional boot space it offers over the G30 5 Series sedan. Additionally, the 6 Series GT also offers superior rear legroom. The boot lid however, no longer has a split opening function.
Specifications - BMW 640i GT xDrive
Engine: 3.0-litre Inline-six, Turbocharged
Power: 340 hp @ 5,500 – 6,500 rpm
Torque: 450 Nm @ 1,380 – 5,200 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed torque converter automatic, All-Wheel Drive
Price: Variant not available in Malaysia (630i GT sells from RM 450,000).
Overview
Designed as a model that offers better practicality over its sedan sibling without compromising the driving experience, the new BMW 6 Series GT certainly has a lot to live up to. At least when it comes to exterior design, we reckon that the new model is easier on the eyes compared to the previous 5 Series GT, especially when viewed from the side.
After all, the new 6 Series GT, like most post-2016 new models, is underpinned by the company’s new CLAR platform.
For the purpose of this international media drive, BMW brought out the 640i GT, powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six that does a healthy 340 hp and 450 Nm, hooked up to a smooth shifting 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Being an xDrive variant, power is sent to all four wheels. This combination allows for a century sprint of just 5.3 seconds. Non-xDrive models complete the same century sprint in 5.4 seconds.
This particular variant however, is not available in Malaysia. Instead, we get the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder rear-wheel drive 630i GT.
Exterior
Outside, much of the BMW 6 Series GT is derived from its sedan sibling, including the pair of adaptive LED headlights that flank the signature BMW kidney grille, with large and deep air intakes found at the bottom of the M Sport-flavoured bumper. Luxury Line variants of the 6 Series GT feature a less aggressive front end with a single-piece lower air intake and two front foglights.
As mentioned earlier, the sloping roof line that tapers off gracefully is perhaps this model’s key feature. The sloping roof allows rear seat passengers to enjoy more head room. It features frameless windows all round.
Towards the rear end, the new 6 Series GT drops the practical dual split-folding tailgate found on the previous 5 Series GT. Instead the all-new model now uses a simpler one-piece tailgate. Dual hexagonal muffler tips are found on each end of the bumper. Luxury Line variants of the 6 Series GT feature a simpler-looking dual round muffler tips on each end. BMW's customary L-shaped LED tail lights, which are standard across the range, help complete the rear end.
Interior
As you step inside, familiarity comes into play. Not necessarily a bad thing, as we are rather fond of modern day BMW ergonomics.
Curiously however, we noticed the absence of the signature L-shaped inside door handle that was found on virtually every other BMW model, as the 6 Series GT features a simpler-looking, flat door handle.
Typical of modern BMW models, the company has gone to great lengths to ensure that the material choice and build quality is top notch here, and it shows. Touch points of the 6 Series GT feature soft touch materials in the right places, while build quality is solid throughout the cabin.
The massive 3,070 mm wheelbase, a healthy 95 mm longer than its sedan sibling, allowing for a rather generous rear legroom.
Boot space is also just as generous, coming in at 610 litres. Thanks to the 40:20:40 split folding rear seats, boot space can be further expanded to 1,800 litres.
Our test cars in Lisbon were fitted with the large 10.25-inch BMW iDrive infotainment system with voice and gesture controls, allowing for a pain-free experience. Apple CarPlay connectivity is also available on the new iDrive system, further expanding its usefulness.
Another optional extra that is fitted to the test cars is the BMW Head-Up Display, now with a 70% larger projection surface, which can also display navigation data.
Driving Experience
Underpinning the BMW 6 Series GT is the company’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR), which allows the new 6 Series GT to boast rather excellent road manners.
The turbocharged straight-six B58B30 is quite a gem, as this powerplant revs willingly to its redline, emitting a lovely engine note that belies its grand tourer nature. When paired with the 8-speed Steptronic transmission, shifts are quick and smooth,
Even ride comfort and handling are impressive, as the 640i soaked up road irregularities with ease, further adding credit to its GT nameplate. We reckon that the 6 GT is an excellent candidate for long distance cruising.
Steering on the BMW 640i GT is in line with that you would expect of a grand tourer, weights just nice without feeling nervous at highway speeds. When it comes to steering response and road feedback, don't expect the 640i GT to tingle your senses as a 3 Series would.
We also enjoyed the refined ride of the 640i GT. Those travelling in the back seat can sit back and relax thanks to the comfortable and quiet ride.
Conclusion
As a long distance tourer, there's very little to fault the 6 Series GT as this model offers excellent comfort, generous rear legroom, and immense practicality over the 5 Series.
Even when compared to the locally-assembled BMW 740Le, the 6 Series GT offers superior boot space and a larger fuel tank, as the 740Le's tank size had to be shrunk down because of the hybrid batteries taking up boot space. As a result, the BMW 740Le's highway cruising range is rather limited, something we expect the 6 Series GT to do better.
While the review was focused on the more powerful 640i GT, our locally-assembled models feature the less powerful (and less aural-pleasing) turbocharged inline-4 found in the 630i variant. Granted, our local tax structure does not favour larger capacity engines, as the 3.0-litre unit found in the 640i GT would rake in an annual road tax of roughly RM 2,200.
Stay tuned for a more detailed assessment of the 630i GT once we've driven it on local roads.


Why The Proton Iriz Is Just Not Good Enough!

What happened to the Proton Iriz? Why is it not the choice of many?

When the Proton Iriz was created, it had one mission in life, and that mission was to infiltrate and take away sales from the darling of the B-segment hatchback market, the Perodua Myvi.

Things looked well in the development stages. It looked good, seemed to have slightly more power than the Myvi and promised to bring with it that famous Proton ride and handling. It even got Proton thinking that it could be Proton's new global model. Even its codename, GSC which stood for Global Small Car gave us the hint that Proton thought it would be a successful car.

When it finally launched in 2014, it was met with a lot of fanfare, especially when local media labelled it as a car that has sophistication, good build quality, refinement, and of course great ride and handling.

All good right? Not really, because the Perodua Myvi still outsold the Proton Iriz by the thousands. So what happened? Is the Myvi that good? Or was it simply the case that the shortcomings of the Proton Iriz were just too crucial to ignore? Let's find out.

Limp Bizkit was one of the biggest rap-rock bands of the late nineties but the nu-metal trend they helped pioneer was dead by the early noughties. In 2011 Fred Durst and company tried to make a comeback with their first album in six years called Gold Cobra, but it didn't make much of an impact to the public.

Although there is no direct relation between Proton and Limp Bizkit, the Iriz was like Limp Bizkit's Gold Cobra album, and although the national car company is still around today and on the up, the Iriz never performed like how it was supposed to - just like Gold Cobra.

It had all the right ingredients to succeed but just never did. Unlike Limp Bizkit, the Proton Iriz had a tough opponent to fight against, and that nemesis was the formidable Perodua Myvi.

Inherently, Proton was always going to have to put up a tough fight against the Myvi because not only did the Myvi's DNA stem from one of Japan's much-adored compact car manufacturers, Daihatsu but it was also backed by Daihatsu's parent company Toyota, which is arguably the biggest car manufacturer in the world.

Although down on power and handling, the second-generation Myvi was just too well packaged. With its spacious interior for a small car, dependable drivetrain as well as all you would ever need in a basic car, it was hard for people to move away from it. Apart from the stiffer ride as well as rough interior edges, it was pretty much a perfect car for those who just wanted to zip around town getting from A to B. It behaved well in traffic, and was pretty much low maintenance - a winning formula for most motorists.

The Iriz was not too bad either, but depending on ride and handling was not enough for the small Proton hatchback. At the highest spec, it even had more airbags than the Myvi, but people didn't seem to care. Its biggest misgiving was its CVT transmission. It was jerky, noisy, and unrefined which beats the point of having a CVT.

Speaking of the CVT transmission, the second-generation Myvi with its conventional 4-speed auto transmission even returned better fuel economy than the CVT driven Proton Iriz - so yeah, Proton Iriz was good if you wanted a car with a great chassis, but not so good if you wanted an all-around A to B car.

The Proton Iriz has received a couple of updates in its lifetime with the first one being in
2017

and another one in
2019
. Although the CVT transmission vastly improved it was all a bit too late as Perodua countered Proton's attempts to propel the Proton Iriz forward in terms of sales with the third-generation Myvi in late 2017.

The third-generation
Myvi
 which is practically a distant cousin of the Toyota Yaris but with a conventional 4-speed transmission chocked the air out of the Iriz, especially now that the Perodua hatchback is leaps and bounds better than the second-generation Myvi.

It's bigger, quieter, and feels more premium than ever which really did put the final blow into Proton's Iriz ambitions.

But all of this happened under Proton's old administration, and the new direction that Proton is in gives confidence of better products. Now we see spy shots of the new R3 Edition Iriz with yellow-black livery as witnessed on the sold-out
Proton Saga Anniversary Edition
.

Will, any of this make a difference to the fortunes of the Iriz?

Time will tell but we hope this time it's like the original vision that Proton had for it instead of "Ini Kali Lah".

What do you think needs to change for the Iriz to have a shot at dethroning the Myvi?


Geely Drives Upwards In A Waning Chinese Market, Reports 18% Jump In Profits

Geely Auto has rounded off a remarkable 2018, reporting a strong 18% increase in net profit, increasing to USD 1.84 billion compared to USD 1.56 billion in 2017, driven by global sales of 1,500,838 cars. Lynk & Co, Geely Auto’s premium brand, contributed 120,414 units to that total.
Net revenue for the period increased by 15% to USD 15.46 billion in 2018, compared to USD 13.46 billion in 2017. Geely Auto still generates 98% of its revenue from China, with only Eastern Europe the highest outside of China at 0.6% followed by the Middle East contributing 0.5%.
Despite the overall downward trend for China’s passenger vehicle market (-4%), Geely continues to increase its market share, from 5% the year before to 6.2% in 2018.
The introduction of Geely’s third generation of vehicles since 2016 has continued to be a success with 55% of sales coming from new products together with a higher average selling price.
Meanwhile, Geely’s electrified powertrain range of vehicles that includes the Emgrand EV450, Emgrand GSe, Borui GE, and Lynk & Co 01 sold a combined total of 67,069 units, an increase of 165% from the previous year.
From this year, Geely will significantly increase the proportion of new energy vehicles in its sales volume through more offerings under the Lynk & Co brand, as well as launching its first
pure electric model
 under the Geely Geometry brand.
Geely also recently introduced
the Binyue
 compact SUV,
the Jiaji
 which is the brand’s first MPV, and will launch
the Xingyue
 crossover coupe soon. A total of six new models and ten facelift models are slated for launch this year to support the company’s sales target of 1.51 million units.


2017 XU60 Toyota Harrier From UMW Toyota Motor – Better Than A Recond Model?

As reported earlier, UMW Toyota Motor will for the first time ever, be launching the Toyota Harrier in Malaysia very soon, taking the competition directly to grey imported models, colloquially referred to as ‘recond’ or reconditioned models.
Following the success of the Alphard and Vellfire in recovering lost ground from grey importers, UMW Toyota Motor hopes to repeat the same formula with the Harrier – by offering 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, English language infotainment controls and owner’s manual (recond models have Japanese language controls), support from Toyota’s after-sales network covering not just maintenance and repairs but also recalls.
As mentioned in our
earlier posts
, this all-new Toyota Harrier is quite a departure from its predecessors. It’s no longer related to the Lexus RX but instead shares the same platform as the smaller Lexus NX.
The biggest difference between UMW Toyota Motor’s Harrier and used Japanese market recond models is the engine.
The recond models are powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Valvematic four-cylinder petrol, producing 152 PS of power and 206 Nm of torque. UMW Toyota Motor’s Harrier uses a more powerful 2.0-litre direct injected twin scroll turbine turbocharged four-cylinder petrol that produces 231 PS of power and 350 Nm of torque.
Both grey imported and officially imported Harriers are equipped with a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
UMW Toyota Motor’s model is also of the newer facelifted variety, while the recond models are of the older pre-facelift variety. The facelifted model has a different front bumper, headlight and tail light.
The officially imported Harrier also comes with LED daytime running lights (not available in recond models). The turn signals front and rear are LEDs that light up sequentially (similar to a Lexus RX), versus conventional blinking ones in the grey imported models.
Inside, the newer facelifted officially imported Harrier uses electric parking brake (with Auto Brake Hold function). The pre-facelift recond models use foot-operated mechanical parking brake.
We've also learned that UMW Toyota Motor’s Harrier will be available in two variants. The highest specs variant will Nappa leather seats, which is not offered in most recond models.
The officially imported Harrier also comes with a space-saver spare tyre. Grey import models usually come with a foam-based tyre repair kit only.
However the Harrier model that will be put on display by UMW Toyota Motor at this week’s MAI Malaysia Autoshow is not a Malaysian-specs model, suggesting that the Harrier will not be launched this week as initially speculated.
Instead, the lower specs display unit (a mid-specs model from Singapore) will serve only as a preview to drum up interest in the lead up to the higher specs Malaysia market model’s eventual launch early next year.
As of today, we have no knowledge on the Harrier’s indicative price in Malaysia yet. However, if we can assume that the same price gap between a base model Toyota Harrier in Japan versus a base model Lexus NX 200t is applied to our Malaysian context, we estimate that the Harrier will be priced within the range of RM250,000.


Honda May Be Unveiling A Jazz Type R Later This Year

all photos from headlightmag forums
Of all the automotive suffixes in the world - special model classifiers such as RS, GT, RA-R, TRD, and so on - there is one that grabs the most attention. It's "Type R", and it's a suffix that has been reserved for only three model lines in Honda's history. The first would have been the NSX Type R, which was an ultra-light-weight, high performance variant of the already-world-beating NSX. Following that was the DC2 Integra, and of course, the Civic. (Some would argue that the Accord Type R wasn't quite a Type R).
But this year may see a new model deserving of the Type R badge, and it's one that is loved the world over. The Honda Jazz, or Fit as it's known in other markets, has long had a reputation for stellar handling and dynamics despite its mass market aspirations and numerous practical and functional features. According to some leaked details on
Headlightmag forums
, it looks like the next generation Jazz may very well have a Type R variant.
Power is expected to come from a fettled variant of the turbocharged 1.5-litre powerplant that we see in everything from the Civic to the CR-V, and even the upcoming Accord. Outputs for this hot Jazz are looking to stand at 217 hp and 245 Nm of torque based on these scarce details found in a Japanese magazine. This isn't an entirely far fetched proposition as the Jazz has run the L15 engine in various forms over the years, so porting the turbocharged variant of the engine shouldn't be impossible.
Naturally there would have to be reinforcements made to the chassis to support the power - as all Type Rs have had historically - as well as uprated suspension and brakes. Big power engine swaps for the Jazz are already fairly common in the aftermarket, especially in countries like the United States where they're a fairly cost effective solution to go racing. Locally, a few outfits have managed to fit the infamous K20A (found in the Integra DC5, Civic EP3, and Civic FD2 Type R models) in this compact hatchback, resulting in quite the (front-heavy) weapon.
For the best deals on Honda models, click
here
.


Honda CR-V goes all electrified in Europe, no ICE-only option offered

Honda has officially unveiled the latest version of one of its most popular SUVs, the
Honda CR-V
.

The sixth generation model will no doubt arrive in European markets later this year, and apart from setting new standards in terms of design, functionality, and convenience, Honda is going hard on the electrified front.

A lot of refinements have been made to make the new Honda CR-V a more well-rounded SUV that offers Honda's signature advanced and sporty attributes with cutting-edge driver aids and passive safety features. What customers will be getting in the near future is a Honda CR-V that carries improved reliability, driving dynamics, and most importantly, overall comfort.

For powertrain options, future European owners can opt between two - a full hybrid (e:HEV) or a plug-in hybrid (e:PHEV). This is the first time that an all-electrified CR-V has been offered in the market where all new models are fitted with the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder direct injection Atkinson-cycle petrol engine.

What it offers is enhanced efficiency, refinement, and dynamic performance across the entire range, but even more so with the e:PHEV variant. The very first plug-in hybrid CR-V offers an all-electric driving range of 82km paired with a charging time of only 2.5 hours.

No other specific details have been shared just yet apart from the sixth-gen Honda CR-V offering impressive acceleration, quick charging times, and a highly competitive all-electric driving range.

If charging isn't your thing, the full hybrid e:HEV CR-V should be just as impressive as what we here in Malaysia have already experienced with the Honda Civic. What you're essentially getting is the same lithium-ion battery and two compact electric motors that seamlessly transition between EV, Hybrid, and Engine Drive modes to cater to various driving conditions.

Design-wise, the familiar Honda CR-V silhouette remains, apart from a redesigned front end in the form of a new grille, slim headlights, and a set of new signature daytime running lights. The insides have been expanded thanks to a 40mm longer wheelbase which offers 16mm more rear legroom and 18% more luggage space.

According to Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President at Honda Motor Europe Ltd., “The all-new CR-V builds upon everything the iconic model stands for – progressive design, a premium cabin, class-leading levels of safety, practicality and comfort, and efficient and responsive performance. This latest iteration is the ultimate SUV package, offering a unique, dynamic and premium product that perfectly suits the current demands of the European market.”


2020 Perodua Myvi Gets ASA 2.0, New Electric Blue Colour

Perodua today announced that the Myvi has received a significant safety boost and a striking new body colour for 2020, and is now available for booking at all Perodua showrooms nationwide.

The range-topping 1.5 AV was previously the only variant with the Advanced Safety Assist (ASA*) suite of driver assistance safety systems. Now, the more advanced version, ASA 2.0, is standard on variants 1.5 AV and 1.5 H, and optional on the 1.3 X.

ASA 2.0 first appeared on the Aruz in 2019, adding Pedestrian Detection (up to 50 km/h) to the suite and upping the operational speeds of Pre-Collision Warning and Pre-Collision Braking to 100 km/h and 80 km/h respectively.ASA debuted on the third-generation Perodua Myvi in 2017, comprising Pre-Collision Warning (up to 30 km/h), Pre-Collision Braking (up to 30 km/h), Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control, all of which work together to mitigate collisions.

ASA 2.0 then found its way to the 2019 Axia and 2020 Bezza before arriving now with the Myvi, which continues to be offered with a five-year/150,000 km warranty (whichever comes first).

“With the inclusion of ASA 2.0, the Perodua Myvi takes advanced safety to a whole new level at this price point, and it’s now more widely available within the line-up,” said Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Additionally, the Myvi is now available in Electric Blue (for all variants). Other available colours are Ivory White, Glittering Silver, Lava Red and Granite Grey (now available on all variants except 1.3 G).

That being said, the price of the Myvi is as mentioned below:


JPJ Lancar Ops Sedar - Kesan Kenderaan Tiada Insuran

Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) sudah memulakan Ops Sedar di seluruh negara bagi memantau pemilik kenderaan yang masih gagal memiliki perlindungan insuran kenderaan.

Ketua Pengarah JPJ, Datuk Zailani Hashim, berkata tindakan pemantauan dan penguatkuasaan melalui sekatan jalan raya akan dibuat di beberapa lokasi terpilih, lapor Berita Harian.

Katanya, ia berikutan masih ramai yang gagal memiliki perlindungan insuran kenderaan.

“Pada amnya,
pengguna jalan raya yang tidak memiliki pelindungan insuran
 akan menimbulkan kesulitan kepada pemilik kenderaan itu sendiri sekiranya berlaku sebarang bentuk kemalangan semasa menggunakan kenderaan masing-masing di jalan raya”.

Menurutnya lagi, pihak jabatan juga ingin menyarankan supaya semua pengguna jalan raya mengambil inisiatif untuk tidak menunggu saat akhir bagi memperbaharui Cukai Jalan (LKM) dan Lesen Memandu (LMM) mereka.

September lalu, Kementerian Pengangkutan telah
melanjutkan tempoh untuk memperbaharui cukai jalan dan lesen memandu yang tamat tempoh sah
 hingga 31 Disember ini.

Pelanjutan ini berikutan negara dalam fasa Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) pada awal tahun ini, yang turut menutup sebahagian besar organisasi kerajaan termasuk JPJ.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong, berkata mana-mana pemilik cukai jalan dan lesen memandu yang sudah tamat tempoh sah, tidak akan dikenakan tindakan penguatkuasaan serta pematuhan oleh Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) dan
Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM)
.

Namun bagi melindungi pemandu dan pengguna jalan raya yang lain, katanya, pemilik cukai jalan tamat tempoh sah masih perlu memastikan kenderaan berkenaan dilindungi insurans yang sah.

Sehubungan itu, JPJ juga akan menyediakan kemudahan Mobile JPJ, untuk tujuan pembaharuan LKM dan LMM secara terus ketika Ops Sedar dijalankan.

Dah boleh check yer
road tax
, insuran kereta dan lesen memandu masing-masing, jangan sampai duit melayang kena bayar saman JPJ!

*Kredit semua foto: Harian Metro


Fast Bikes ends Triumph Motorcycles distributorship in Malaysia

Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd dropped a bomb last weekend when they announced that they'll end its Triumph Motorcycles distributorship run here in Malaysia.

The announcement came together with Motoradic Sdn Bhd ceasing its role as the exclusive official importer of Triumph Motorcycles here in the country. It has been a good 12 years since Fast Bikes began its operations back in 2010, but they will be moving on to the next phase.

Fast Bikes outlets in Penang, JB, and KK to cease operations

The final date for both Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd and Motoradic Sdn Bhd in handling anything related to Triumph Motorcycles is 14 January 2023. However, they will still be open to existing customers for consultations related to bikes that are out of the warranty period.

For bikes that are still covered, Triumph Motorcycles UK together with a new Malaysian representative will be taking over the responsibility after 14 January 2023. As for other Fast Bikes' Triumph outlets in Penang, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu, all three of them will also cease operations on the same final date.

Honda Big Wing showroom coming in 2023

As for the Triumph Motorcycles Premium Flagship Store and HQ in Section 13, Petaling Jaya, a transition process will begin as it'll be converted into a Honda Big Wing dealership.

If all the renovations and upgrades are on schedule, the new Honda 'big bikes' representative will open its doors to the public within the first quarter of 2023.


All New 2016 Honda Civic Type R Turbo (FK2) In Malaysia!?

In what seems like an impossible scene, a
brand new Honda Civic FK2 Type R Turbo
 was seen being unloaded from a transporter here in Malaysia!
Evidently fresh off the oven from the UK, with its British number plates still attached to the car, it makes us wonder how the
awesome peeps at R ENGINEERING
 manage to get their hands on the new Civic Type R Turbo that fast.
Upon checking with our good friend Tom, founder of
Zerotohundred
, he told us that R ENGINEERING's racing team will be fielding this CTR Turbo in the upcoming
Sepang 12 Hours Endurance Race
, hence being able to bring the car to our shores as a racing car!
So before you folks get to witness the soon to be stripped-out and roll-caged Civic Type R you're seeing here, you can feast your eyes on the pictures below with that unique 'Haze mode Instagram filter' color effect.
Photo credit:
R Engineering Garage and Racing Team
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