2014 Infiniti Q50 Full Review: Equipped For A German Assault?

Infiniti’s range-topping answer to the German duo of the
BMW 3 Series
 and the
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
 does not come cheap – at least not this one we’ve been driving. Meet the 2014
Infiniti
 Q50 S Hybrid: 3.5-litre V6, 68PS electric motor, all the tech you could ask for on a spec-sheet, and a RM398,800 price tag that’s far from easy to swallow.
Buyer’s Guide:
Typically, the fully-imported (CBU) from Japan
Q50S Hybrid
 joins a segment led largely by the BMW F30 3 Series and the all-new Mercedes-Benz W205 C-Class. But because of the specific nature of this beast (it’s a hybrid), it’s only fair to square it off against the likes of the
BMW ActiveHybrid 3
 (RM538,800), and the
Lexus IS 300h
 (RM383,300) – only in another review (maybe one for the Q50 2.0t), would it be directly fair to rope in the popular BMW 320i/ 328i and the Mercedes-Benz C200/ C250.
As tested more than a year ago, the F30 ActiveHybrid 3 is a great bit of kit: ridiculously quick, equipped to the brim, and indefinitely a proper modern BMW. Sadly, being an imported vehicle, the AH3 no longer warrants receiving the government’s (NAP 2014) import and excise duty exemptions for hybrids it once enjoyed, which skyrockets its price to RM140k more than the Infiniti in review.
The Lexus IS 300h (RM383,300) on the other hand, while priced very similarly to the Q50S Hybrid, is no match for the Infiniti’s 3.5-litre V6 (IS 300h has a 2.5-litre engine + hybrid power). And apart from being a well-engineered vehicle with great sales and service support, comparisons aren’t all that fair when you put the Q50S’s 364hp and 546Nm of torque against the IS 300h’s 178hp and 221Nm.
Driving a 2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid:
In a segment largely dominated by more affordable variants of the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Q50 has its work cut out for itself where driving matters. As mentioned, tabled in this variant are a 3.5-litre V6 engine assisted by a 68PS electric motor (a.k.a. the Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid), which send a total system output of 364hp and 546Nm to the rear wheels. What that translates to is a 5.1-seond sprint to 100km/h: just where the BMW 335i modestly claims a 5.2s time.
PERFORMANCE:
 In the real world, yes, there’s a very refreshing surge of power when you stamp the throttle, and the seven-speed torque converter automatic gets you up to speed hassle-free. Speaking of which, the transmission is fitted with a Driver-adaptive learning algorithm, which tries to understand your driving habits and adjusts its shift patterns accordingly.
How you use all of this is of course up to you, with there being five driving modes for you to choose from, one of which being a customisable “individual” mode: throttle response, gear shifts and steering weight can be sharpened or eased up as you wish – the suspension isn’t adaptive, but being the sportier 'S' model, you do get a sports suspension, beefier brakes with better tyres (Dunlop SP Sport Maxx run flats).
RIDE & HANDLING:
 For comfort and refinement, you may quantify being better off in a 3 Series, but only in negligible amounts you wouldn’t think twice about on a daily basis. The all-new W205 C-Class is in a bit of a league of its own for comfort driving, being the freshest thing out of the oven.
Where handling matters, attacking a few corners in the Q50 quickly reveals how good a chassis there is under the Q50: the car isn’t unsettled easily, offering lots of mechanical grip to appease our courage on public roads. At the same time, it also unearthed something we didn’t quite like about the Q50S Hybrid, and that’s the Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) system, which as we’ve found out, has a bit of a mind of its own.
STEER BY WIRE:
 DAS is the world’s first ‘steer-by-wire’ system in automotive application that completely disconnects the steering wheel from any physical attachment to the front wheels. Now, there are upsides to having such a thing, like never having to deal with any sudden steering jolts or vibrations as you go over road imperfections, but on the flipside, it doesn’t leave much room for the confidence to drive hard. Worse still, when the front wheels turn and the steering wheel doesn’t follow – yes, that happens quite a bit if you leave the Active Lane Control switched on. We’ll let your imagination draw further conclusions to that.
Where weight is concerned, DAS does well to simulate the sensations, but weight alone is never enough to give you the “go faster” confidence, especially when in the back of your mind you know that there’s nothing but an ECU and an electronically-controlled actuator determining your driving direction, at whatever speed you dare. This writer, at least, isn’t quite ready to move away from a rack and pinion arrangement.
Taking advantage of the pinion-less steering, Infiniti has bundled in its Active Lane Control feature, which effectively prevents you from unintentionally straying across lanes by using a lane-detection camera mounted on the windscreen to “see” road markings, and then tells the DAS system to correct wheel direction accordingly. Brilliant idea, akin to something you’d find in the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but the fact that the system willingly changes the direction of the front wheels without any effect on the angle of the steering wheel, doesn’t feel right.
Another aspect that didn’t feel “right” to us about the Q50 was its counter-intuitive and constant changing of the brake pedal weightiness: at times, there’s a lot of resistance from the pedal, other times, it softens up and makes you really dig in to find the brakes. Understanding that the system is to pre-empt your driving needs, the constantly changing resistance makes smooth driving nearly impossible to achieve, and is a huge discomfort for passengers who have to deal with the accidental over-braking. It’s equally discouraging to have experienced the brake pedal losing all resistance when I pulled up to my house to park – thankfully, we managed to react quick enough to prevent hitting something ahead.
Living with a 2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid:
We like the look of the Q50. Yes, its curves are a bit unusual at first, but it grows on you and everyone else around it: something we observed over the course of our loan period. Inside, however, the Q50 has a lot of obvious catching up to do if it’s going to command any attention at RM398,800.
The eight-inch LCD screen up top is there to keep a driver’s eyes high-up and closer to the road, serving up displays such as the surround-view monitor when parking, basic audio displays, etc. The lower seven-inch display is a touchscreen unit, and lets you fully utilise the car’s infotainment and drive functions: select driver modes, view performance meters, customise audio settings etc. If we’re honest, the entire audio stack functions well enough (ergonomics, touch responsiveness) and features a quality BOSE audio system which are all quite impressive stuff.
On the bright side, the seats are very good, in the sense that they function beyond being plainly comfortable – they also provide very good lateral support, in tune with the car’s sporty ambitions. The center console and door cards have a good share of compartments and cup holders, which are positioned very well to suit even my larger six-foot proportions.
No complaints in the space department up front, but taller rear passengers may have to contend with a tall transmission tunnel for legroom. The opening of the boot is wide enough to swallow most of what you typically expect to fit in there, but there isn’t much depth because of the lithium-ion traction battery that’s parked just over the rear axle.
Verdict: So here’s what we think…
Cards on the table now, and we appreciate the 2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid as a showcase of many modern driving and safety systems. It stands out with a very unique design, and is in our minds a worthy alternative to the class-standard 3 Series and C-Class.
The Q50S Hybrid and its sporty additions is a showcase for some great ideas, but its execution isn’t as refined as you would have it in some of its European rivals. The more affordable and practical Q50 2.0t GT and 2.0t GT Premium are likely the more sensible options (at least until we get to try them), especially in a part of the world where nearly no time (or money) is spent on a car for its Active Lane Control, Direct Adaptive Steering, or hybrid power (unless of course it’s awarded special excise duty exemptions which purely slash prices).


Further Price Reduction and Cash Bonus From Mitsubishi This Raya

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) announced further price reductions on top of the ongoing Raya promotions for its Mitsubishi Motors vehicle line-up effective 1 June 2018.
The new vehicle price follows the newly appointed Malaysian Government announcement recently that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is to be set at 0%.
Refer to the table below for the final prices of all Mitsubishi vehicles after GST is set at 0% from 1 June 2018 onwards:
The new on-the-road (OTR) excluding insurance prices will remain in effect from 1 June 2018 onwards until GST is eventually replaced by the sales and services tax (SST), which has not been announced yet.


What If...The Next Perodua Alza Took Its Looks From The Honda Civic, Merc E-Class?

With the Perodua Alza being released way back in 2009, meaning it would be old enough to attend secondary school by now, there’s been plenty of time for digital artists to give us their idea of how it would be improved in the looks department.

That practice has only seemed to accelerate as the plucky and practical compact MPV has continued to age with its
discontinuation looming in the coming months
, setting the stage for an as yet unconfirmed replacement model.

Prominent pixel-bender Theophilus Chin, has dropped his latest attempt to predict what the next phase of the Alza will look like based on the newest Daihatsu Xenia, a model that could be thought of as the cheaper and more cheerful half-sibling
of the Toyota Avanza
.

However, rather than limiting all-new Alza’s visual cues to those established by existing Peroduas or Daihatsus, he’s chosen to pepper in some DNA from the Honda Civic (FB) from a couple of generations ago as well as the…..wait for it…..
W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
.

That’s quite the unexpected combo, though to be fair only small elements of each car were digitally grafted on. As you’ll see in the video embedded below, a more realistic render had also emerged that brought in more inspiration from the recently
facelifted 3rd-generation Perodua Myvi
 (the one with the D-CVT).

These experiments on a digital canvas were mostly relegated to the front end of the Xenia/Alza as the rest of the vehicle is expected to remain to the original Daihatsu donor as was the case with
the Perodua Ativa
.

In its latest form as launched in Indonesia in late 2021,
the 3-row 7-seater Xenia
 was offered with either a 1.3-litre (1NR-VE) or 1.5-litre (2NR-VE) naturally aspirated petrol engine, respectively offering 98PS and 106PS mated to either a 5-speed manual or D-CVT automatic transmission to drive the front wheels.

Inside, there are clearly some styling and ergonomic elements related to the Rocky-based Perodua Ativa such as the floating infotainment screen, faux carbon weave trim, and multi-function steering wheel controls.

Of course, we won’t know much about the upcoming replacement for the Perodua Alza (and whether or not it will continue the nameplate) until Perodua breaks their silence and furnishes the public with some additional information. For now, we just have to hope they have a good plan to succeed one of their longest serving vehicles.


Ford - Volkswagen Expand Their Global Collaboration – Includes Driving AI, EV Platforms, And Trucks

Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG has announced they are expanding their global alliance to include electric vehicles, in addition to collaborations with Argo AI (a technology platform company) to introduce autonomous vehicle technology for the U.S. and European markets.
Working together with Ford and Volkswagen, Argo AI’s self-driving system (SDS) is the first with commercial deployment plans for Europe and the U.S. Plus, being able to tap into both automakers’ global reach, Argo AI’s platform will have the largest geographic deployment potential of any autonomous driving technology to date.
Under the agreement, Volkswagen and Ford independently will integrate Argo AI’s SDS (Self-Driving Services) into purpose-built vehicles to support the mobility initiatives of both companies. Argo AI’s focus remains on delivering an SAE Level 4-capable SDS to be applied for ride-sharing and goods delivery services in dense urban areas.
Ford and Volkswagen will have an equal stake in Argo AI, and combined, Volkswagen and Ford will own a substantial majority. The remainder will be used as an incentive pool for Argo AI employees, subject to regulatory approvals and conditions. The full transaction represents a valuation for Argo AI that totals more than USD 7 Billion.
Ford CEO Jim Hackett adds, “While Ford and Volkswagen remain independent and fiercely competitive in the marketplace, teaming up and working with Argo AI on this important technology allows us to deliver unmatched capability, scale, and geographic reach. Unlocking the synergies across a range of areas allows us to showcase the power of our global alliance in this era of smart vehicles for a smart world.”
Ford will also become the first additional automaker to use Volkswagen’s dedicated electric vehicle architecture and Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) to deliver a high-volume zero-emission vehicle in Europe starting in 2023. Ford expects to deliver more than 600,000 European vehicles using the MEB architecture over the next six years, with a second all-new Ford model for European customers under discussion.
And as
announced earlier
, Ford and VW are on track to develop commercial vans and medium-sized pickups for each brand in select global markets starting in 2022. Under the agreement:
Ford to engineer, source, and build the medium pickup for both companies for customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and South America (as early as 2022)
Ford to engineer, source and build larger commercial vans for European customers, starting in 2022
Volkswagen aims to develop, source and build a city van for sale in Europe and other select global markets


Pengangkutan Awam Percuma Selama Sebulan – LRT, MRT, KTM, BRT, Monorel dan Bas Rapid KL

Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob telah mengumumkan pemberian perkhidmatan percuma selama sebulan bermula 16 Jun 2022 bagi semua pengangkutan awam di bawah kendalian RapidKL serta KTM Komuter Lembah Klang.

Kenyataan ini disampaikan oleh beliau sendiri sempena pembukaan rasmi
Transit Aliran Massa (MRT) Laluan Putrajaya Fasa Satu
, di Stesen MRT Kampung Batu.

Tambang Percuma Selama Sebulan

Menurut PM, kerajaan faham dengan kesusahan rakyat terutama dengan peningkatan harga barang yang membebankan serta kos sara hidup yang semakin meningkat.

Oleh itu, beliau telah mengumumkan tambang percuma itu bagi perkhidmatan:

MRT

Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT)

Bas Rapid Transit (BRT)

Monorel

Bas RapidKL.

KTM Komuter

Menurut PM, kerajaan memberikan subsidi RM140 juta bagi membolehkan penumpang menikmati tambang percuma pengangkutan RapidKL, manakala RM15 juta bagi KTM Komuter Lembah Klang selama sebulan.

“Saya berharap Keluarga Malaysia yang terlibat mengambil kesempatan mencuba perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam ini dan meletakkan kenderaan masing-masing di Park N Ride dan #JomNaikMRT,” katanya.

Mengeratkan Hubungan Komuniti Penduduk

Melalui penyediaan kemudahan laluan MRT Putrajaya, Perdana Menteri berkata ia akan terus menjadi pemangkin ke arah mengeratkan hubungan antara komuniti penduduk terutamanya yang tinggal berdekatan dengan jajaran.

Tambahnya, rakyat akan lebih mudah bergerak dan berulang-alik ke tempat kerja, bersosial dan mengakses kemudahan awam yang lain.

Kerajaan juga yakin kawasan sepanjang jajaran seperti Jinjang, Sungai Buloh, Kepong dan Bandar Sri Damansara akan membangun lebih pesat, setara dengan kawasan-kawasan di bandar lain.

“Laluan ini juga dijangka mencetus dan merancakkan semula pembangunan di kawasan-kawasan yang lama atau yang belum dibangunkan sebelum ini,” ujarnya.

MRT Laluan Putrajaya

MRT Laluan Putrajaya Fasa Satu sepanjang 17.5 kilometer (km) meliputi 12 stesen termasuk tiga stesen yang pada asalnya sebahagian daripada MRT Laluan Kajang dibuka kepada orang ramai mulai jam 3 petang 16 Jun 2022.

Sembilan stesen baharu yang dibuka ialah:

Damansara Damai

Sri Damansara Barat

Sri Damansara Sentral

Sri Damansara Timur

Metro Prima

Kepong Baru

Jinjang

Sri Delima

Kampung Batu.

Dalam pada itu, 13 laluan bas perantara juga akan memulakan operasi pada masa sama untuk memberi perkhidmatan kepada kawasan perumahan dan komersial yang terletak di dalam kawasan berhampiran stesen seperti Bandar Sri Damansara, Taman Ehsan, Taman Kepong serta Bandar Baru Selayang.

Jika segalanya mengikut jadual, Transit Aliran Massa (MRT) laluan
Putrajaya Fasa 2
 pula dijangka akan beroperasi menjelang Januari 2023.


3.8 Million Malaysian Cars Still Driving With Expired Road Tax

If the matter had slipped your mind over the course of the majority of 2021, it might be a good time to verify if your car(s) have had their road tax renewed as a total of 3.78 million vehicles have yet to do so as of November 16th, according to the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Aedy Fadly Ramli, deputy director-general of planning and operations, revealed the figure to
Bernama
, wishing to remind vehicle owners of the end-of-year deadline while warning of the likelihood of
overwhelmed JPJ counters
 (which are also opened on weekends) should Malaysians wait until the 11th hour.

At a recent integrated traffic operation at the Sungai Besi toll plaza, he told reporters: “They can go to any JPJ branch and the opening hours are listed on the JPJ website,” adding that road tax
renewals can also be done online
.

“For now they still have a chance to renew their road tax but after December 31st there will be no more warning or extension of the grace period,” commenting that legal action will be taken against owners/drivers found to be in flouting the law.

Out of the 3,210 vehicles checked during the traffic operation, Fadly said 596 of them were found in violation of various offences, with notices issued under Section 115 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, requiring owners to present themselves at a JPJ office.

Currently, a government lax period is in effect, allowing vehicles to legally drive on roads despite having an expired road tax.
This will end on December 31st, 2021
. However, to protect drivers and other road users, every vehicle is required to have a valid and ongoing insurance policy regardless.

This measure was announced in September by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong to ease the burden of Malaysians as normal life in the country was only beginning to resume after being under Movement Control Order for most of the year.


Bikers Are Kicking Off Car Side Mirrors In Traffic Now - Stay Safe, Drivers!

A couple of videos have popped up on social media in very close succession (having occurred on the 5th and 6th of September) of motorcyclists adopting a very dangerous and damaging new habit: kicking off side mirrors from cars that are stuck in traffic.

In both cases observed this week, one involving a
992 Porsche 911 Carrera S
 and the other a
2nd-generation Kia Cerato
, the incident occurred when both cars were either attempting to change lanes or had apparently not left enough room for the motorcyclist to filter between them in the narrow margins between lanes (a practice called lane splitting or lane filtering).

The reaction from the online community has been pretty sympathetic to the driver, which cannot be expected to religiously maintain a consistent gap between the line markers and at no point was making it impossible for the motorcyclist to avoid a collision.

In both these cases, the blame falls squarely on the bikers, which were only seen due to the fact that a dashcam was fitted on the cars driving behind them. This was not an emergency reaction: the bikers had time to react, lift their feet up and take accurate aim.

Worse, they both knew that the drivers in both cars would not be able to catch them due to being stuck in slow-moving traffic. This is property damage inflicted from a standpoint of arrogance (not wanting to slow down) and irresponsibility borne of the knowledge that direct retribution will not easily reach them.

110% An Offence

Call it property damage, reckless endangerment, or vandalism. Whatever.

Even if accidentally swiping a wing mirror of a stationary car, perhaps by misjudging the available width to manoeuvre, the blame will still fall onto the motorcyclist. However, as often as this happens, the car’s owner is typically the one that forks out the repair cost.

This new move of kicking said side mirror off is far more deliberate and should be clearly ruled as an offence by the police. Again, the issue comes down to catching the perpetrator should they flee the scene - and they will.

Some online commenters attempted to legitimise the biker’s reckless act by claiming that the car did not leave them space, but if that’s to be believed, why did they not attempt to cushion the imminent impact on a less breakable part of the car?

What Will Shopee Do?

Probably nothing.

There are surely dozens more incidents like these besides those two mentioned that was luckily caught on camera, but in the case of the Shopee rider using his foot to knock off the passenger-side wing mirror from a Porsche 911 (an expensive repair, no doubt), what will his employer do about it?

We, nor any media outlet, have received a response from the company, typically meaning they’re hoping the matter will be forgotten eventually.

Unfortunately, the dashcam footage uploaded online doesn’t clearly show the perpetrator’s number plate, making his identification a little problematic. It kind of defeats the practical purpose of having such a device installed, right?

However, it’s possible that the original full-resolution video file is much denser with detail. Then again, it was recorded in rather dim lighting, and given the tiny sensors usually fitted to dashcams, the footage could be a grainy mess.

Still, it's probably a good idea to be extra wary of delivery riders. They're known for
all kinds of
buffoonery on the road
.

Lane-Splitting: 100% Legally Vague, Dangerous….Tolerated

But is that how it should be?

Fortunately for motorcyclists in Malaysia, the act of lane splitting is not prohibited by law, though nobody really argues whether or not that’s dangerous or necessarily a good idea.

Much of the literature describing offences in Malaysia’s available legal documents - the Road Transport Act 1987 and Road Traffic Ordinance 1958 - involve overtaking from the left side of the road, crossing double solid white lines, and preventing others from overtaking - all of which pertain to vehicles with four-wheel (or more) without detailing any concrete code of conduct or misconduct for motorcyclists.

Here, despite our often poor road conditions and relatively narrow lane widths even on highways, bikers like these who abuse this privilege/oversight certainly make it more and more likely that lane splitting could be a punishable offence in itself.

Responsible riders, or just ones concerned with their safety and that of their fellow road users, will make an effort to be extra observant of when and where they lane split, making sure to not filter through traffic too fast and leave enough room to suddenly brake should the need arise.

Particularly evident during rush hour traffic, we’ve all seen examples of an almost never-ending wall of motorcyclists that make safely switching lanes very difficult, which itself isn’t always possible given that a driver’s visibility could be easily impaired by a large vehicle, a large blind spot, or merely a curve in the road amplifying this disorientation.

Lane Splitting/Filtering. A Necessary Evil?

Let's say it is.

On one side of the coin, lane splitting is generally seen as the main reason why getting around on two wheels is quicker in heavy traffic. Not only that but having to trail behind a larger vehicle (not lane splitting), even an SUV, could be potentially dangerous as their forward line of sight is severely impaired.

That, coupled with the fact that a motorcycle typically needs a longer braking distance, rear-ending a car while refraining from overtaking between lane margins is a definite risk, and not one worth taking according to most Malaysian bikers, especially when moving at higher speeds.

Lane splitting presents them with a greater sense of security, but at the expense of those driving cars. A 2020 report by MIROS concluded that 96.5% of “crash relevant events” were observed when a motorcyclist “was moving either by filtering through lanes or splitting across different lanes” compared to when they stayed with the traffic flow in the lanes.

It also found that “lane-splitting or lane filtering movements on the non-highway roads

were 2.2 times more likely to result in a near-miss, compared to highways.”

For now, the real-world risk of lane splitting seems to easily eclipse any perceived fears of a collision occurring when riding within a lane, even if it happens to be behind a large vehicle.

Still, it could all be down to a biker’s skill and situational awareness. A seasoned rider might never be involved in a collision resulting from lane splitting/filtering when novice riders are far more prone to it. This, coupled with an irrational hurry, a disregard for safety best practices, and a willingness to damage/vandalise the property of others (such as decapitating a car’s side mirror off its perch), is akin to inviting an uproar loud enough to force change.

Lane splitting could be made illegal, and it’ll be the fault of Malaysia’s collective motorcyclists for failing to self-police before the actual police are tasked to interfere.

Get A F****** Dashcam

I mean, come on...

Besides bikers using their foot to deliberately cause damage to cars, who knows how many more incidences of such deplorable behaviour on the road would go unproven or dismissed if not for dashcams?

If you’ve read this far, their value is plain to see and should be regarded as a requirement for every car owner out there. Though quality between brands can vary greatly, merely having a basic one installed and running while you drive is leagues better than not having one.

Should you
stumble upon something wacky
, cross paths with a reckless motorcyclist and have your side mirrors lopped off while stuck in slow-moving traffic, or be involved in another form of unfortunate situation on the road, having video evidence can be invaluable in proving your innocence or someone else’s guilt to the authorities and seeking compensation from insurance providers.

Seriously, just get it. And if you do, urge anyone you know that hasn’t got one to do the same.

In the case of the Porsche 911 and Kia Cerato, we hope the individuals responsible for the damage to your car will be brought to justice.


CKD Mercedes-AMG Coming Soon To Malaysia!

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s strong push for localization continues with an unlikely candidate.
In the latest Malaysian Automotive Association’s (MAA) monthly production report, details have emerged that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s (MBM) Pekan plant has started the assembly of 77 units of a certain model labelled as ‘Mercedes-Benz C43’.
As the C43 model name is only available as a Mercedes-AMG model, this looks to be the first local-assembly program of Mercedes-AMG models in Malaysia.
Currently, MBM offers the fully-imported Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Sedan priced from RM499,888 and the Coupe from RM548,888.
Last month, Mercedes-Benz Thailand announced the offering of their own
CKD of the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe
. The 43-series are easier to CKD as the engines are not hand-assembled unlike the ones available in the 45-series, 63-series and 65-series.
No further details are available at this point in time, but we suspect the Pekan-CKD C43 should be the
2018 facelift variant with a boost of output to 385 hp
.
The Mercedes-AMG 43 range offers customers the genuine AMG experience with the right balance of performance and comfort.
Read our review on the C43 Coupe here
.
Learn more of the Mercedes-AMG history and background:
Mercedes-AMG 43,45,63,65 - What do the badges mean?
A look into the famed 'one man, one engine' factory of Mercedes-AMG
50 years of Mercedes-AMG : From barn to podium
10 coolest cars in AMG history


Harga Tiket Kapal Terbang Naik Mendadak Sempena Hari Raya

Selain isu
jalan raya sesak ke Pantai Timur
 ketika musim perayaan, isu harga tiket
kapal terbang
 ke Sabah dan Sarawak naik mendadak ketika sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri bukanlah perkara asing.

Keterujaan sesetengah rakyat Malaysia untuk pulang menyambut raya di kampung halaman di Sabah dan Sarawak mungkin terpaksa dilupakan ekoran peningkatan mendadak harga tiket kapal terbang.

Harga Tiket Kapal Terbang Naik Mendadak

Sebelum ini, syarikat penerbangan komersial tempatan yang menyediakan laluan penerbangan dari Kuala Lumpur ke Kota Kinabalu dan Kuching hanya menawarkan tiket di sekitar RM300 untuk penerbangan pergi balik.

Berdasarkan pemantauan Bernama terhadap laman web syarikat penerbangan komersial baru-baru ini, tambang penerbangan melonjak sehingga RM2,000 (penerbangan pergi balik) iaitu peningkatan sekitar 566 peratus, menjelang tempoh perayaan Hari Raya Aidilfitri (29 April-8 Mei).

Syarikat Penerbangan 'Hisap Darah' Rakyat

Sementara itu, perbuatan syarikat penerbangan menaikkan harga tiket ke Sabah dan Sarawak ketika musim perayaan tidak ubah seperti menghisap darah rakyat, kata Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

Menurutnya, memandangkan dalam beberapa minggu lagi umat Islam bakal menyambut perayaan Aidilfitri, pasti ramai rakyat Sabah di Semenanjung yang mahu pulang beraya di Sabah. Tindakan membatalkan hasrat tersebut hanya kerana tidak mampu membeli tiket penerbangan yang mahal amat menyedihkan.

“Bayangkan tiket penerbangan ekonomi sahaja untuk satu hala ada yang mencecah RM2,800 hingga RM3,600. Perkara begini tidak seharusnya berlaku dan syarikat penerbangan janganlah menghisap darah penumpang,” tambah Bung.

Oleh kerana banyak aduan diterima daripada masyarakat dari Borneo yang mengeluh dengan fenomena sebegini, Bung meminta
Kementarian Pengangkutan
 untuk campur tangan bagi menangani isu ini dengan segera.

Syarikat Penerbangan Nasihat Beli Tiket Awal

Syarikat penerbangan telah menasihati rakyat Malaysia agar membeli tiket mereka awal bagi mengelakkan kenaikan harga mendadak semasa perayaan Aidilfitri yang disebabkan oleh strategi penetapan harga dinamik.

Malaysia Airlines Berhad
 mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa syarikat penerbangan menetapkan harga tiket secara dinamik yang tertakluk kepada permintaan dan penawaran selain tarikh, masa dan ketersediaan tempat duduk pada jangka masa tertentu.

Malaysia Airlines menggalakkan orang ramai untuk merancang perjalanan dan mengambil peluang ke atas pelbagai tawaran promosi dan diskaun yang disediakan dari semasa ke semasa. Syarikat itu turut memberi jaminan bahawa ia akan terus memantau keadaan dan meningkatkan kapasiti tempat duduk penerbangan bagi memenuhi permintaan yang semakin meningkat.


Porsche Unveils Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

It was only a matter of time before Porsche brought the plug-in hybrid system to their top-of-the-line performance models. Well, we say this but the 918 Hybrid was one such example, although the same treatment has now been extended to the Panamera Sport Turismo.
This comes in the form of the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, which is to say it has the Turbo S powerplant but with the E-Hybrid system working in tandem for... better efficiency.
The numbers, are of course the biggest things that matter. The total system output is 680 hp with 850 Nm available from just off idle, courtesy of those extremely potent electric motors. Even if your batteries are entirely depleted, the petrol powerplant alone pushes out a solid 550 hp.
In terms of acceleration, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo will hit 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, or 200 km/h in just 11.9 seconds. The rated top speed is a whopping 310 km/h, although where you would ever need that kind of speed is beyond us.
On European testing cycles, it is capable of running on just 3.0 litres of fuel for 100 kilometres of driving- assuming you keep that battery charged. There is a maximum range of 49 kilometres on electric power alone, with a top speed of 140 km/h.
The hybrid system is also coupled and decoupled with an Electric Clutch Actuator, resulting in quick response times. Charging the battery from empty to full will take between 2.4 and 6 hours depending on the charger and power connection used.
As for the rest of the car, it's pretty much the same as it was before. The Sport Turismo form was the long awaited wagon version of the Panamera, and sufffice to say Porsche didn't disappoint. It sports a 4+1 seating configuration- that is to say 2 front occupants, 2 rear occupants, and 1 person squeezed in the middle of the rear.
There is also a tilting roof mounted spoiler for variable downforce. On the whole, the most powerful Panamera Sport Turismo has just become a lot more environmentally friendly... that is, if you choose to use it that way.


Perodua Rancang Bawa Masuk Apple CarPlay & Android Auto – Alza 2022 Bakal Jadi Model Pertama?

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perodua, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad berkata ciri sambungan
Apple CarPlay
 dan
Android Auto
 bakal diperkenalkan dalam barisan kenderaan keluaran mereka tidak lama lagi.

Perkara ini didedahkan sendiri oleh CEO Perodua itu ketika ditanya oleh pihak media ketika sidang media khas
Perodua Myvi 2022 Media Drive
. Menurut beliau, Perodua sedang merancang untuk membawa masuk sistem berkenaan untuk digunakan pada kenderaan keluaran mereka.

Tambah beliau, kini semakin ramai pelanggan
Perodua
 yang bertanya tentang penawaran Apple CarPlay dan Android Auto pada kenderaan keluaran Perodua. Pada awalnya, ciri ini tidaklah dianggap begitu penting namun kini ia seakan-akan ciri yang perlu ada pada sesuatu kereta dan Perodua tidak mahu ketinggalan.

Secara dasarnya, sistem Apple CarPlay dan Android Auto ini sama sahaja di mana Apple CarPlay dicipta bagi pengguna iPhone manakala Android Auto pula dibina bagi telefon pintar yang menggunakan
software
 Android.

Teknologi ini dicipta untuk membolehkan pemandu menggunakan semua jenis aplikasi pada telefon pintar mereka dengan selamat dan sah ketika memandu tanpa perlu memegang telefon. Kedua-dua sistem ini dibangunkan untuk mengendalikan fungsi penting seperti aplikasi navigasi mahupun aplikasi muzik pada sistem multimedia kereta yang menggunakan tema atau
interface
 yang seakan sama seperti iPhone mahupun Android.

Ketika ini, masih tiada kenderaan keluaran Perodua yang dilengkapi ciri tersebut. Namun Zainal berkata Perodua mungkin bakal membuat kejutan dengan memperkenalkan sistem tersebut pada
Perodua Alza 2022
 yang bakal dilancarkan pada tahun hadapan.

Pada waktu ini, ia masih lagi dalam peringkat perancangan dan perbincangan. Sebagai info tambahan,
Toyota Avanza 2022
 dan
Daihatsu Xenia 2022
 yang diperkatakan bakal menjadi kembar Perodua Alza 2022 nanti juga telah tersedia fungsi Apple CarPlay dan Android Auto.

Jika segalanya berjalan lancar, tidak mustahil ciri Apple CarPlay dan Android Auto ini akan diperkenalkan pada Alza baharu yang bakal dilancarkan pada tahun hadapan. Ketika ini, Alza 2022 sudah berada pada fasa terakhir sebelum dilancarkan namun disebabkan oleh COVID-19, tarikh yang tetap untuk pelancaran tersebut masih belum boleh dilakukan.

Apa pula pendapat anda tentang penawaran Apple CarPlay dan Android Auto pada kenderaan keluaran tempatan kelak?


Times are Bad? Well, Not For Isuzu Malaysia

Isuzu today shared the news that the brand has further strengthened its position in Malaysia.
According to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), Isuzu was the seventh most popular vehicle brand in Malaysia at the beginning of last year. However, it has managed to move up a rank to sixth spot as of last month. Besides that, the brand also remains on top of the commercial vehicles segment, holding 38.9 per cent market share.
The contributing factors to this were the ELF light-duty truck which was the best-seller in class for the seventh consecutive year, the Forward medium-duty truck which was also a best-seller for the third time, the
D-Max pickup truck
, as well as the
MU-X
SUV.
Despite the decline in total industry volume (TIV) in this segment by 19 per cent, sales volume for the Isuzu D-Max in the pick-up segment increased by 10 per cent, directly improving its market share from 11 per cent to 15 per cent.
Commenting on the results of the 2016 market report by Malaysian Automotive Association, Isuzu CEO Kenji Matsuoka said, “We are very pleased with our achievement as the preferred commercial vehicle brand in Malaysia again despite a less than positive outlook in the industry in 2016.”
Amidst intense market forces against the industry as a whole, he added that the company’s broad initiative to reach out to its customers resulted in them setting up an office in Kuching in November last year, which contributed to the exceptional response by Malaysian drivers.
“Moving forward, we would like to emphasise our continued promise to constantly improve the quality of service and offerings in both the Commercial Vehicles and Light Commercial Vehicles segments in Malaysia and to be the brand every trucker needs and trusts,” concluded Matsuoka.


Fuel Price Update: 23rd February to 1st March – Petrol Up 10 Sen

The Ministry of Finance Malaysia has announced the price of petrol and diesel fuel starting tomorrow (February 23rd) and will be valid for the next seven days.
The prices of RON95 and RON97 petrol will increase by 10 sen, and will be priced at RM2.08 per litre and RM2.38 per litre respectively, while the price of diesel will remain at RM2.18 per litre for Euro 2M and RM2.28 for Euro 5 respectively.
Price summary is as listed below:
RON 95 – RM2.08 per litre (up 10 sen from RM1.98)
RON 97 –  RM2.38 per litre (up 10 sen from RM2.28)
Diesel Euro 2M (B10) – RM2.18 per litre (no change)
Diesel Euro 5M (B7) - RM2.28 per litre (no change)


Perodua Records Best-Ever Sales In 2018, Aims To Sell More This Year

Perodua today announced that it recorded its best-ever sales performance in 2018 with a total of 227,243 units.
The Myvi was Perodua’s best-selling model in 2018, with 82,122 units, followed by the Axia, Bezza, and Alza with 70,821, 49,911, and 24,389 units sold respectively.
With the new Myvi and the recent introduction of
the Aruz
, the company said that it aims to better last year's figure by 1.7% to 231,000 units by end-2019.
“Perodua’s aim to boost its sales by 4% this year will not only strengthen the brand, but also offer some relief to the Malaysian car industry which is expected to grow very minimally this year,” said Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Perodua’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
Perodua also expects to increase its component purchases by 20% from RM5 billion last year to RM6 billion this year. This is in line with the demand expected in 2019 and will directly benefit local automotive suppliers.
According to Dato’ Zainal, over 219,000 vehicles rolled out of the Perodua Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd plants in 2018, a figure which the brand expects to increase by 10.5% to 242,000 vehicles in 2019.
Perodua also broke some records in the after sales division, such as total service intakes (2.17 million intakes versus 2.1 million intakes in 2017), as well as sales of parts and accessories (RM 320.8 million in 2018 versus 2017’s RM288.5 million).
“After-sales service is just as important as sales to us as it sustains us in this ever-competitive market. We want to improve in this area further as it is with customer care that we will be able to further strengthen our brand in this country,” said Dato’ Zainal.


Eight Facts About HERE

Recently, Nokia’s mapping and location service HERE was sold to a consortium of three German carmakers including BMW Group, Daimler AG, and Audi AG for €2.8 billion.
Now, you may or may not have heard about HERE and why this deal is very significant so to get you up to speed, here’s eight facts about HERE that you should know:
HERE has been mapping roads for 30 years
The history of HERE started in 1985 when a start-up firm began by mapping the San Francisco Bay area. This start-up became NAVTEQ and was eventually acquired by Nokia in 2008, transforming it into HERE. Soon, the detail of its maps increased rapidly and in 1994, it installed its first ever automotive-grade map in the
BMW 7 Series
.
Today, HERE is building the map of the future for automated cars
Getting up-close with the
Audi A7

piloted driving concept
, you learn that automated cars require extremely detailed high definition (HD) maps in order to work properly, making it a vital component of automated driving technology. These HD maps allow automated cars to precisely position themselves on the road and serve as a foundation for real-time data about the road environment as well.
HERE already provides map data to the majority of car makers
In Europe and North America, four out of five new cars with in-dash-navigation are fitted with HERE maps which also provides additional features and functionalities like routing, traffic, and local search to a number of premium car manufacturers.
HERE helps businesses to be faster, cost-effective and efficient
The world’s leading enterprise software and logistics companies like FedEx, Oracle, SAP and UPS are working with HERE. Location intelligence from HERE helps to make fixed and mobile asset management more safe, productive, efficient and sustainable.
There are hundreds of HERE cars mapping the world’s roads right now
With the use of laser-based LiDAR technology, HERE’s cars map roads around the world to centimetre-level accuracy. In total, HERE calls upon 80,000 data sources to constantly update its maps including cars, land-registry data and a global community of cartographers.
HERE can predict traffic 12 hours into the future
Using predictive analytics and cloud computing, HERE can help predict traffic up to 12 hours ahead of time. Its real-time traffic service covers 50 countries with up-to-the-minute information including current traffic conditions and incidents that could cause delays.
You can use HERE maps for free on your smartphone
The
HERE maps app is available to download for Android and iOS for free
, with users able to download offline-accessible maps to their device to reduce mobile data use at home and abroad. It offers turn-by-turn navigation for 131 countries, real-time traffic information for 50 countries and public transport routing for 1.000 cities worldwide.
HERE maps public transport, too.
HERE doesn’t just map roads, it also has up-to-the-minute information on public transport routes and timetables. It offers public transport information for 1000 cities across 44 countries globally.


2016 Honda Civic launches in Thailand – 1.8 i-VTEC and 1.5 VTEC Turbo variants available

A mere six months from its
global debut
, the tenth-generation Honda Civic makes its debut in our region having just been
launched in Thailand
, which becomes the first country outside North America to receive the model.

The first Honda model to be produced in Honda’s new Prachinburi plant, the
all-new 2016 Civic
 features Honda’s new 1.5-litre twin-cam VTEC Turbo is its flagship engine, producing 173hp @ 5,500rpm and 220Nm @ 1,700 – 5,500rpm.

Alternatively, the existing model’s naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine is carried over producing mildly improved outputs of 141hp @ 6,500rpm and 174Nm @ 4,300rpm. For the Thai market, this engine is tuned to be compatible with E85 fuel.

Both engines come standard with Honda’s new in-house developed Earth Dreams CVT that replaces the tried and trusted 5-speed automatic transmission used in the present model. As far as engine and drivetrain are concerned, we expect the same combinations to be offered in the Malaysian market.

Depending on variant, the Thai market 2016 Civic comes fitted with the following features,

LED daytime running lights and C-shaped tail lights

7-inch Display Audio Touchscreen – Bluetooth, USB, Apple CarPlay

Multi-Info Display

Engine Remote Start

Honda LaneWatch

Electronic Parking Brake

Auto Brake Hold

Smart keyless entry with Walk Away Auto Lock

Honda is offering a total of four variants of the Civic in the Thai market:

1.8 E – THB 869,000

1.8 EL – THB 959,000

Turbo – THB 1,099,000

Turbo RS – THB 1,199,000

Our Thai-based sister site
Auto Spinn
 was at the scene of the launch. Check out the gallery below for pictures provided by them or follow this link to
view images directly on their site
.


2021 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid - Now Open For Booking - RM137k

UMW Toyota just last night announced the
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
 is now available for booking, coming in at RM137,000.

Engine specifications are still unclear at this point but from what we can gather it should come with the 2ZR-FXE 1.8-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine (an engine that is shared with the Prius and the Corolla Altis Hybrid). Output is a combined 122 PS (98 PS/ 142 Nm of torque from the petrol engine and 72 PS/ 163 Nm from the electric motor).

The hybrid system on the 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross will come with an 8-year hybrid warranty covering the hybrid battery, inverter and power management control ECU. This is extendable for a further 2-years.

The hybrid battery has been relocated under the rear seats to provide for a lower centre of gravity as well as 440 litres of boot space bringing it up to par with the non-hybrid variants.

Drive is sent to the front wheels via an e-CVT with three drive modes to choose from, namely Eco, Sport and EV for zero-emissions driving.

From what we can see of the list of equipment, the
Corolla Cross Hybrid
 will include a 7-inch Multi-Information Display, larger than the 4.4-inch currently available on the
Corolla Cross 1.8G
 and
1.8V
.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will also come with the Toyota Safety Sense advanced suite of safety features including the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). Another convenience feature will be the 3D Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) that will give drivers a 360-degree view of their vehicle for ease of manoeuvring. The Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) will come as standard on the 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross.

Colour options available for the 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross are:

Celestite Grey Metallic

Red Mica Metallic

Nebula Blue Metallic

Silver Metallic

Platinum White Pearl (at an additional RM800)

There are also some customisation options available for the Corolla Cross Hybrid. The table below will help paint a clearer picture.

If you zoom in to the bottom of the price list above, you should see the words Corolla Cross CKD in fine print meaning the 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will also enjoy the full SST exemption which has now been
extended a further six months
 to June 30, 2022.


Chery targets 30k CKD cars a year from Malaysian factory opening in 2023

Chery, the Chinese automaker that previewed a
bunch of new SUVs to Malaysian
 buyers, has launched a duo of SUVs into the Indonesian market just yesterday in Jakarta.

During the event, they also detailed some of their ambitious regional plans, which includes Malaysia.

We’ve known for some time that Chery seeks to establish local assembly for their incoming models
such as the Omoda 5
 and Tiggo range of crossovers, especially if their early line up is as broad as they claim upon entry.

Key to this is Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia - all of which happen to be countries that use right-hand drive vehicles - using this as a springboard to expand into other countries.

With their current CKD operations up and running near Bekasi in West Java, Chery is turning to an as-yet undisclosed location in Peninsula Malaysia for the subsequent step in their manufacturing roadmap.

Zhang Wei, executive vice president of Chery Motor Indonesia, announced that new subsidiary company will be established in December as an official corporate presence to usher in the automaker’s arrival.

Following this, they project that the aforementioned factory churning out locally assembled cars for domestic sale will be operational by June 2023 with a monthly production capacity of 30,000 units.

Their newest and most high profile model, the Omoda 5, will also be making its Australian debut in February 2023 as a completely built unit (CBU), most likely followed by Indonesia and Malaysia respectively as a CKD product.

It is understood that the larger and more fully equipped Indonesia hub facility (or facilities) will be remain primary focus for RHD vehicle production, especially pertaining to units slated for export.

As for the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro which were launched yesterday for the Indonesian market alongside the smaller Tiggo 4 Pro which was previewed in Setia Alam last month, we can probably expect a shorter wait to get them
in Malaysian showrooms.

No promises that they will all be priced optimally at said launch, though. Chery might choose to sacrifice immediate CKD pricing if it means beating competitors -
such as the Haval H6
 and Jolion - to market.


2018 Ford Ranger Raptor Spotted Ahead Of Malaysian Debut

One of the most anticipated new models of this year, one that's due to make its Malaysian debut any time now, is the Ford Ranger Raptor - and it has finally been spotted on local soil.
According to a report by our friends at
Funtasticko.net
, images of what looks like a partially covered new Ranger Raptor, made their way to a few Ford Ranger owners club Facebook pages.
The Ranger Raptor, which looks like it is hiding at the parking lot behind SDAC’s old headquarters in Petaling Jaya, is powered by a new 2.0L bi-turbo diesel engine capable of producing 213 PS and 500 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to the same 10-speed automatic gearbox which is found in the Ford F150 Raptor.
Key features of the Ranger Raptor which made its regional debut in Thailand recently, includes a 150 mm wider track width than the regular Ranger, redesigned rear suspension using Fox Racing Shocks and coil springs at the rear, as well as a Watts Linkage for superior rear axle control.
The ride height was also increased to maintain its off road capability with the added avantage of high-speed performance.
The brakes have been uprated all-round, with 332 mm discs front and rear, along with uprated brake calipers.
In terms of the body and aesthetics, the Ranger Raptor can hardly be mistaken for a regular Ranger (although you will see people copying the bodykit for their own Rangers).
The materials used are more rugged and can take more abuse without deterioriation, having been put through rigorous off-road testing. There are even holes in the side-steps designed to help drain mud, sand, and snow that accumulates.
That said, more details will follow as we get closer to the Ranger Raptor's Malaysian launch.


Geely Binyue PHEV Introduced In China - 255 hp, 415 Nm

Geely has introduced the plug-in hybrid version of its popular Binyue SUV in China, about six months after the regular turbocharged models went on sale.
Similar to the turbocharged models, the plug-in hybrid variants of the Binyue get a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The engine is capable of outputting 174 hp and 255 Nm. As for combined system output, the Binyue PHEV does 255 hp and 415 Nm.
It is worth noting that the closest sibling in the extended Geely family is the Volvo XC40 T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, which shares a similar powertrain as the Binyue PHEV, but outputs 247 hp and 445 Nm.
An 11.3 kWh battery pack allows the Binyue PHEV to boast a 60 km EV range. When combined with a 6.6 kW charger, the Binyue PHEV only requires an hour and 30 minutes to fully charge its batteries.
Outside, the Binyue PHEV is largely identical to the regular Binyue, with the exception of the charging port located on the left front fender and several PHEV emblems.
Safety equipment is also rather generous, as the Binyue PHEV can be had with Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Autonomous Emergency Braking With Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keep Assist, and Speed Limit Identification.
Prices are also rather attractive, starting from 139,800 yuan for the base “Knight” variant, while the mid-range “Ranger” variant costs 149,800 yuan. The range-topping Battle variant costs 159,800 yuan. Geely did mention that these prices are post-incentives, as the pre-incentives prices are 172,800 yuan, 182,800 yuan, and 192,800 yuan respectively.


Mid-Month Mojo - Stuffs We Find Interesting From Our Friends Around Us

You might not be aware of it, but there are plenty of awesome Malaysian car/bike related sites out there. So in the spirit of 'Sehati Sejiwa', we've decided from now on to do a monthly 'Mid-month mojo' curated post here, so you guys get to read more and know more on what's interesting out there on local automotive websites. This move is also to encourage more unique content to be produced as we won't be sharing stuffs that we've already covered anyway. Let's see where this goes and if you guys like it. (The images used below were all grabbed from the cover image of their respective story, we do not own rights to it, click the images to link to the stories).
1. Autobuzz - Remember the bugger who used a McLaren MP4-12C as a UBER car to surprise people around town? They've recently made a lovely new video for Hari Malaysia.
2. Autofreaks - Did you know that Indonesia just had TWO International Motor Shows? Autofreaks reflects upon this and tells us why KLIMS suck. To find out more, click on the lovely image below to follow up on their opinion piece.
3. Autogridz - While they are the official magazine of Ferrari Owner's Club in Malaysia, that doesn't mean they can't appreciate beautiful works of art like a good 'ol air cooled 911, which you can read about in greater detail by clicking on the picture link.
4. Autoworld - Well known editor Kon explains why blasting above 200 km/h on the Autobahn with everything around you is much safer than troddling along at 110km/h in the Australian outbacks with nothing around you. Find out more by following the picture link.
5. BikesRepublic - A feature on Top 10 Bikes that ruled Malaysian roads? How can we car guys not want to know more?
All listed and categorised for your reading pleasure, just click on the picture link.
6. Kensomuse - A very rare review of a very rare car from a well known but rarely thought of brand. Lovely car though.
Click image link to see what we are talking about.
7. Live Life Drive - Our sister site that focuses on the less trodden paths of automotive storytelling, this time they are talking about how Mazda makes beautiful cars.
8. Mekanika - One of the best Bahasa Malaysia websites, they featured a bike that costs RM320,000. Serious. Follow the image link to find out how could someone splash out so much money on a bike.
9. Motortrader - Leave it to industry veteran Chips Yap to explain about ESP. A fascinating read if you follow the image link below.
10. PanduLaju - A review of an Indian car brand by a Chinese man who runs a Bahasa Melayu automotive website. (Must we talk about race just to promote Malaysia day?) Talk about being diverse on Malaysia Day.
11. TrafficMagOnline - Malaysia's very own Speedhunters. How can one not want to know more about a Satria Neo that's as if it had been given the Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB) treatment?
Click image link to see more local automotive pornography.
12. ZeroToHundred - It's Time To Attack. What else? Nothing can be more interesting that the biggest car guy event the country has to offer right? It's coming. Follow the image link to see what's in store.


Ford Malaysia’s New Chatbot Promises A Better Customer Experience

Local Ford distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) has launched its first chatbot service to better engage with its customers. Additionally, Ford's website is now available in multiple languages to offer an improved web browsing experience.
The chatbot, now still in beta, is only available in English and it is able to provide customers with a convenient and conversational interface, enabling customers to start a simple conversation and the chatbot and obtain quick answers to frequently asked questions.
Now, customers can ask the chatbot for information such as “Where is the nearest service centre?”, “What is the number to call for assistance?” or “What is the price of the Ford Ranger XLT?”, and receive an easy-to-understand response.
In addition, the Ford website is now available in
BM
 and
Simplified Chinese
 to complement its existing English website for the convenience of customers who prefer browsing in those languages.
Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion said, “We are proud to bring our first chatbot to life to assist our customers when and where it’s personally convenient to them,  setting the stage for a new customer experience to obtain information about vehicles, services, assistance, and other matters, quickly”.


BMW To Maintain Diesel Models Amidst PHEV Roll Out; But 320d Allocation Exhausted

BMW Group Malaysia’s new focus on plug-in hybrid vehicles will not come at the expense of its existing diesel-powered models. The last couple of months have the seen the company kick start its PHEV offensive first by
launching the X5 xDrive40e
 followed by the 330e earlier today.
Speaking to
Carlist.my
 at the
330e launch
, BMW Group Malaysia Corporate Communications Manager Mr Sashi Ambi told us that although there is a new focus on the PHEV models, the company still takes its diesel line-up very seriously, and there continues to be strong interest in these models.
Mr Sashi did, however, clarify that the current 320d Sedan is for the moment not offered in the Malaysian market simply because the company had exhausted its allocation for our market this year. At the moment, the
3 Series Sedan line-up in Malaysia
 features the 318i, 320i, and
330i
 alongside the newly-launched
330e
.
Diesel power is still available with the 3 Series Gran Turismo, however, in the form of the 320d GT. Other diesel models currently offered in our market consist of
520d
, X1 xDrive20d, X3 xDrive20d, and X5 xDrive30d. All BMW diesel models currently on sale in Malaysia, except the X5 xDrive30d, are benefactors of
energy efficient vehicle (EEV) incentives
 which enable them to be priced competitively.
BMW has a long-established history with diesel engines in Malaysia, going back to the E60 530d it launched in 2004, followed by a more concerted push with four diesel models in 2009. Since then, BMW has been carrying diesel variants of the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X3, and X5 in our market at some point or another.
Benefiting from EEV tax exemptions under the national automotive policy, the
X5 xDrive40e
 and 330e are priced at RM388,800 and RM248,800 respectively, with both models attracting strong interest from Malaysian consumers. Sources have informed us that the waiting period for the X5 xDrive40e currently stretches over a year long.


Range Rover Velar Launched In Malaysia – 3 Variants, From RM529,800

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia today expanded its product portfolio in Malaysia with the introduction of the new Range Rover Velar.
Here to fill the gap between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, the Velar is offered with two engine options and three trim levels:
Velar 2.0L P250                     – RM529,800
Velar 2.0L P250 R-Dynamic – RM588,800
Velar 3.0L P380 R-Dynamic - TBA
prices excludes road tax, registration, and insurance.
Powering the 2.0L models is the Ingenium P250 turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 250 PS and 365 Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics. Thanks to the powertrain, the Velar P250 is able to do the century sprint in 6.7 seconds, and hit a top speed of 217 km/h.
The 3.0L version (P380 badging) on the other hand, is fitted with a supercharged V6 engine kicking out 380 PS and 450 Nm of torque, enabling the higher-spec model to sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 250 km/h.
Standard features include:
Matrix LED headlights with signature DRL
Rain sensing windscreen wipers
Flush deployable door handles
Push-start ignition
20-inch wheels
Exterior mirrors – Auto-dimming, powerfold, heated door mirrors with approach lights
Aluminium-intensive monocoque chassis
Powered gesture tailgate (handsfree)
Morzine headlining
Configurable ambient interior lighting
Leather steering wheel with flush capacitive controls
Black body styling
Perforated Grained leather seats
Terrain Response with Dynamic Mode
Rear View Camera
Intelligent High Beam Assist
213 mm ground clearance
Touch Pro Duo infotainment system
Two HD 10-inch touchscreens with Navigation Pro
12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display
40:20:40-split rear seats with power reclining
Cosmic Grey Interior Upholstery
Meridian Surround Sound System, 825-watt,17 speakers
Standard metal treadplates
Those who opt for the Velar P250 R-Dynamic and the Velar P380 R-Dynamic get extras like:
R-Dynamic badge
Satin Chrome body styling
R-Dynamic exterior kit
21-inch 10-spoke wheels in satin dark grey finish
Panoramic roof
Perforated Grained leather seats with suede cloth seats
Chrome Bezel on the steering wheel
Shadow Aluminium interior trim
Head-up display
R-Dynamic treadplates
Surround camera
Exclusive only for the Velar R-Dynamic P380, are:
Electronic Air Suspension
Ground clearance of up to 251 mm
Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist
Extended full leather upgrade
R-Dynamic badge, P380 badge
Safety features include six airbags, a suite of driver assistance systems, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), ISOFIX, Intrusion Sensor, and Cruise Control Speed Limiter. There is no Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Pedestrian Detection though.
Ensuring it maintains Land Rover’s tradition of accomplished all-terrain capability, the Velar has all-wheel drive as standard, with the Terrain Response 2 programme available as an optional add-on. In water crossings, the Velar is able to wade through water 650 mm deep.
The chassis also incorporates electric air suspension (P380), stability control, roll stability control, and hill descent control.
Designed and engineered at Jaguar Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the Velar, which is manufactured at the company’s Solihull production facility, is also the most aerodynamically-efficient Land Rover ever produced with a low drag coefficient of 0.32.
All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia come with the 'Land Rover Care' programme which includes a five-year warranty, five year's free service and three year's roadside assistance.


New Meets Old: The McLaren P1 GTR Races Its Predecessor On Track

If you haven’t seen the brand new
McLaren
 P1 GTR, please
head here
 now! If you have, it’s time to increase the experience beyond just the visuals because the company has just released this video that places the track-only supercar on track alongside a blast from the past, its predecessor, the McLaren F1 GTR.
In the minute and a half video, we see the P1 GTR in its natural habitat as it races alongside its grandfather around a track, highlighting the power of all its 986 hp hybrid powertrain. There’s also the usual torrent of loud noises as the video progresses.
For a brief throwback, the F1 GTR came into existence nearly 20 years ago. So, which one looks best? Past or present?


All-New Eight-Generation Toyota Camry Launched In Thailand – 3 Engines, 4 Variants

Toyota Motor Thailand has just introduced the
all-new Toyota Camry
, available across 4 variants. Thailand is the first country in the ASEAN region to receive the all-new model.
Kick starting the range is a carried-over 2.0-litre D-4S four-cylinder petrol engine that does 169 PS and 199 Nm, hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The second engine in the all-new Camry lineup is part of the new Dynamic Force family, in this case a 2.5-litre unit that does a healthy 208 PS and 252 Nm, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Last but certainly not the least is the
hybrid powertrain
. Codenamed A25A-FXS, this 2.5-litre petrol engine does 178 PS and 221 Nm, mated to an electric motor that does another 120 PS and 202 Nm, allowing for a combined system output of 211 PS. The Camry Hybrid features an E-CVT, similar to the predecessor model.
For the Thailand market, the range-topping Camry 2.5 Hybrid Premium is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes:
Pre-Collision System
Lane Keeping Assist
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Automatic High Beam
Another highlight of the all-new Camry in Thailand is the inclusion of Toyota’s T-Connect Telematics system. The T-Connect Telematic system is standard fitment to hybrid variants of the Camry, which features a number of useful functions, including:
Geo Fencing
Find My Car
Parking Alert
Stolen Vehicle Tracking
Operator Service
SOS Emergency Service
Pay As You Drive
Navigator
My Toyota Wi-Fi
Toyota Motor Thailand is also offering a Camry TRD Sportivo, which adds:
TRD front bumper skirt
TRD side skirts
TRD rear diffuser
TRD rear wing
Prices start from THB 1,445,000 (~RM181,781) for the Camry 2.0G, while the Dynamic Force-powered Camry 2.5G is priced at THB 1,589,000 (~RM199,896). As for the hybrid variants, the Camry 2.5 HV is priced at THB 1,639,000 (~RM206,193), while the range-topping Camry 2.5 HV Premium is priced at THB 1,799,000 (~RM226,322).
Closer to home, UMW Toyota Motor just
teased
 the arrival of the all-new Camry on its Facebook page, hinting that more information will be made known this Thursday.


New 2018 Audi RS5 Launched – 2.9-litre Twin-Turbo, 450hp

First unveiled at the
2017 Geneva
autoshow
 in March, the launch of the facelifted version of the Audi RS5 has come full circle with a host of new technological updates, whilst maintaining a retrospective homage to one of Audi Sport’s most prolific race cars.
The new RS5 is the flagship model of current-generation (B9) A5 model, based on parent company Volkswagen’s MLB (Modular Longitudinal Matrix) platform.
Audi Sport drew inspiration for the RS5 Coupe from the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO race cars of the late 80s. The large air inlets, on either side of the ‘Singleframe’ radiator grille are much wider and flatter than in the base model.
Along the flanks, Quattro blisters which emphasize the wheel arches are 15mm wider over the standard Audi A5. The RS5 will also feature 19-inch wheels as standard, 20-inch optional wheels are also offered.
At the rear, the RS-specific diffuser inserts and oval tailpipes of the RS exhaust system finish off the exterior of the RS5. The new RS5 Coupé is also 74mm longer than the previous model.
The centerpiece of the RS treatment is the new 2.9-litre direct-injected V6 twin-turbo engine, which Audi developed from the ground up. The engine delivers 450 hp and peak torque of 600 Nm between 1,900 to 5,000rpm. The engine produces some 170Nm more than the outgoing 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 that it replaces.
The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, sending power to all four wheels through the Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system which features a self-locking central differential.
Power is 40:60 asymmetrically distributed to the front and rear axles respectively, Audi Sport also offers an optional rear sport differential.
The RS5 is tipped to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. With the optional RS dynamic package, it can even reach 280 km/h.
Efficiency is also up by 17 percent, thanks to a ‘B-cycle’ combustion process with centralised direct injection – the RS5 is claimed to consume 8.7 liters/100km on the combined cycle.
The increased fuel economy is also due to a lower kerb weight, the RS5 tips the scales at 1,655kg – 60 kg less than the last generation car. A lighter carbon roof is also available as an option.
A revised five-link construction is used on the front axle. At the rear, a five-link suspension replaces the trapezoidal-link suspension used on the previous model.
With the standard RS sport suspension, the new RS5 Coupe sits 7mm lower than the base model. As an alternative, Audi Sport also offers the RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes and dynamic steering with RS-specific tuning. Drivers have three drive modes - individual, dynamic or comfortable using the Audi drive select.
The interior features RS sport seats, also available in fine Nappa leather with a honeycomb pattern – and the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sports leather steering wheel.
For the RS5, the Audi virtual cockpit will also provide information on tire pressure, torque and g-forces, while a shift light prompts the driver to upshift upon reaching the rev limit.
A comprehensive range of infotainment choices will also feature on the RS5, the optional ‘MMI navigation plus with MMI touch’ features a module that allows the car to connect to the internet via LTE technology using a permanently placed SIM. The system also allows for an in-car Wifi hotspot option. The Audi smartphone interface uses Apple Car Play and Android Auto to make selected apps available in a separate MMI menu.
The RS5 is slated to arrive at dealerships in Germany and other European countries in June 2017. The base price starts off at EUR 80,900.


Land Rover Experience Tour - Malaysian Qualification Round Kicks Off

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia today kicked off the Malaysian qualifying round of the Land Rover Experience Tour at a purpose-built course in Desa Parkcity, Kuala Lumpur.
The course, which comprises various challenges such as a 40-degree side-slope, 500mm-deep water wading, a bumpy track, a cross structure ramp, a ‘fenced ring’ challenge, as well as an ‘auto test’ manoeuvring trial, will require participants to complete them with the least amount of mistakes.
The participant with the highest score will then win a trip for two to the regional finals in Laos to compete with the winners from other nations in the Asia Pacific region.
Competing in teams of two, the regional finalists will embark on a three-day driving adventure that will take them across various landscapes and terrains on a series of driving challenges, emphasising on vehicle handling on the tight and technical courses.
Points will be awarded according to speed and accuracy across a range of activities, and the top two pairs of finalists from each rotation will win a spot in the Land Rover Experience Tour Peru 2017 which will be held from 4 to 9 November.
What will happen in Peru is that the participants will be covering almost 600km over the Peruvian mountains, the desert to Pisco, sand dunes, rocky riverbeds and also mountain roads in the new Land Rover Discovery. Accommodation will include a mix of natural campsites and local lodges.
Coming back to the local qualifier, the event, which will be taking place until Sunday, 10 September, is free of charge and requires no prior off-road driving experience from participants.
“The Land Rover Experience Tour in Peru is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime adventure and we are really excited to bring this global competition to the region,” said Robin Colgan, the Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific.
“This is a wonderful platform for us to showcase the unique features and capabilities of our Land Rover vehicles and to meet people that share our love of adventure.Everybody is welcome to come and experience the capabilities and composure of our vehicles.”


Mercedes-Benz Thailand Mulling Incentives For Electric Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz Thailand is studying the feasibility of applying for Thailand’s Board of Investments (BoI) incentive scheme for electric vehicles, having already secured incentive packages for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and lithium-ion battery projects.
Bangkok Post
 reports that newly appointed Mercedes-Benz Thailand President and CEO – and ex-CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia – Mr. Roland Folger confirmed that an application has not been submitted, but they are considering the BoI’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) scheme. BoI’s deadline for the BEV incentive package ends Dec 28th, 2018.
Mercedes-Benz was among the first few companies to secure incentives for plug-in hybrid vehicles, along with
BMW
 and SAIC Motor. Most recently, Mitsubishi Motors announced that it would also be
submitting proposals
 for three new EV projects before the Dec 28th deadline.
Folger added that while the Thai government’s incentive scheme is crucial to beef up the popularity of EV cars, the adoption of EV cars is dependent on appropriate state policies and market demand, and notes that a government scheme with an expiry date would not be a sustainable policy.
Mercedes-Benz and local assembly partner Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) recently set up Thonburi Energy Storage Manufacturing Co for manufacturing of EV vehicle batteries, with operations due to start in 2019. Mercedes-Benz has secured BoI projects for PHEV production worth THB 607 million and battery production worth THB 600 million.
At present between 40 and 50 percent of Mercedes-Benz sales in Thailand are from PHEV vehicles. Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its
all-electric EQC
 which is powered by four electric motors (one at each wheel) which deliver a net output of 408 hp and can travel up to 450 km on a single charge – could this be the perfect vehicle to capitalise on Thailand’s growing EV market?


Ferrari Still Confident Of Strong IPO In Wake Of Volkswagen Scandal

Its ability to sell has
Ferrari
 SpA unfazed about its initial public offering (IPO) despite the European car market’s decline in value following
Volkswagen
’s September 2015 admission of circumventing emissions testing. But how will the Italian automaker fare in selling its stock versus its range of sports cars?
A
Bloomberg
 report finds that potential investors are pegging Ferrari as “on track” to fetch the 10 billion Euro (RM49.4 billion, approximately) valuation that Chairman Sergio Marchionne sought prior to ‘Dieselgate’ coming to the fore.
Sources close to the matter told the financial media company that initial requests for the stock may even exceed the amount available by more than 10 times. Preliminary discussions indicate that the 10 percent Ferrari stake that parent company
Fiat
 Chrysler (where Marchionne is also CEO) could be valued at 1 billion Euros, with the 10 billion Euro value being based on the strength of its brand.
Ferrari Chairman believes the brand should be valued as a luxury-goods maker, such as Prada SpA or Hermes International SCA, and not as an auto manufacturer.
Ferrari is preparing for its planned debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during the second half of October, where it will be listed under the ticker FRRI. Following the IPO, Ferrari will be fully separated from Fiat Chrysler at the beginning of next year. The remaining 80% of the company will be distributed from its current parent company to shareholders in due course.
European automakers have lost around 50 billion US Dollars (RM221 billion, approximately) since the Volkswagen scandal broke late last month. Bloomberg’s numbers show a 40 percent dip for Volkswagen, a 14 percent decline for PSA
Peugeot
, and Fiat Chrysler falling 9 percent.


Detroit 2017: Honda Unveils Odyssey For The U.S. Market

O-D-Y-double S-E-Y. It's a tricky one to spell, but the Honda Odyssey has been an MPV of choice for many families around the world, allowing it to maintain its place in the Honda lineup for the last few generations. The latest generation has finally been unveiled to the U.S. market at the Detroit autoshow, but as the way things go with high volume sellers in the American market, this Odyssey is developed and built specifically for the US market.
What's new with this forbidden fruit of an MPV? Besides being bigger and sleeker than before, there are a number of practical features and luxuries that have been adapted and incorporated to make the Odyssey the perfect home on wheels. There's the standard assortment of newer, better materials that makes the Odyssey feel a little more premium than the model it replaces. The driver gets a full 7-inch TFT display now, signifying Honda's step towards European style instrument clusters (or perhaps something adapted from Acura).
It's an all-new chassis with a fairly familiar old engine. The chassis is lighter than ever with up to 43 kilograms of weight savings depending on specifications, and torsional rigidity is up by 44%. Powering the new Odyssey is a 3.5-litre V6 with the company's trademark VTEC system, paired with either a 9-speed or 10-speed automatic gearbox. It's a potent combination and gives this family minivan a solid 280 hp to haul it around.
The aforementioned features are aplenty. The new entertainment system sports the latest generation of Honda operating system and features solid integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and can be updated wirelessly. Parents will like the CabinWatch system that allows them to keep an eye on rear occupants both day and night via the entertainment screen. Much like a tour bus, the new Odyssey also has a CabinTalk system that lets the front passengers talk to the rear passengers via microphones and speakers. There's a rear entertainment system with 4G-LTE connectivity as well, along with CabinControl that allows owners to control the car's systems via their smartphones. These are all things that could only have been thought of with an intensive understanding of the user experience.
For the past six years, the Odyssey has been the most popular minivan in America, and it looks like this next generatin will allow Honda to maintain their hold on the segment. 2.5 million Americans have chosen the Odyssey over its last five generations since 1994. With all of these bells and whistles and a development process that really takes the customer into consideration, it's not difficult to see why.


BMW to export core models regionally from Malaysia in 2018

BMW
 Group is making Malaysia the export hub of the
3 Series
,
5 Series
, and
7 Series
 models to Vietnam and the Philippines in 2018.
At the introduction of the new
locally-assembled X1 and X4 variants
, Mr Han Sang Yun, BMW Group Malaysia Managing Director and CEO said, “Malaysia continues to be a strategic hub for the BMW Group in South East Asia and we at BMW Group Malaysia are pleased to be able to raise our competency here to assemble and export these premium vehicles to emerging markets in the region to grow our capabilities in the ASEAN region.”
Detailed specifics of the export plans have yet to be revealed, but we do know that BMW does not currently have plans to move out of its current facility housed within the premises of Sime Darby’s Inokom plant in Kulim. Additionally, it is confirmed that BMW will not be expanding the scope of its local assembly operations to include locally painting of vehicle body shells – meaning the vehicle’s monocoque arrive in a welded and painted state.
Interestingly, both target markets in question are left-hand drive countries, although BMW officials confirm that the existing facilities are able to cope with the mechanical variations involved.
Based on the timeline of 2018 provided, it is all but certain that BMW’s plans are focused on the next generation 3 and 5 Series, and perhaps the
current 7 Series
 in its facelifted form.


BMW E39 M5 - The Ultimate Chase Car

The BMW E39 M5 is a dream for many petrolheads, one petrolhead has just taken his passion and created the ultimate chase car.

Most petrolheads and surely every Beemer boy out there would remember a commercial from back in the day which featured a BMW M5 shooting a car-to-car shot of a land speed record vehicle at full tilt, only to overtake it towards the end of its run before coming to stop. The video ends with the driver racing out of his car to check if he had the footage, before finally revealing the E39 BMW M5 as the chase car.

The commercial sent a simple yet powerful message of the M5 being the fastest production saloon on the planet. The video below just in case you have not seen it.

Fast forward 20 years, Jamie Heslup and his team have created his dream chase vehicle using an E39 BMW M5 as the base for the cutting-edge camera rig.

As he states in the video, its been more than a 10-year pursuit of wanting to create the perfect chase vehicle to shoot high-intensity, high-speed scenes with startling quality which led him to choose the M5 for its blend of performance, handling, high-speed stability, and ability to carry four crew members to effectively get the shots he desired.

Dubbed the ‘Bavarian Ranch Hand’ this purpose-built M5 is fitted with a Speed Rail, a 3-Axis dampening Flowcine Black Arm and Ronin 2 and Alexa Mini camera setup. The rig is mounted using points on available from the tow hook, roof rack and other points of the M5 on the front.

As for the M5, it’s basically a stock E39 M5 with 5.0-litre V8 with 400 hp, channelled to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Also, note a 250 km/h top speed that allows for some sensational bit of footage everytime he turns the key.

While the E39 M5 is a rarity in Malaysia, it’s good to know we can still find some great examples of the E39 5 Series on
Carlist.my
.


Indonesia Start-Up Makes Self-Driving, Fully Electric (EV) Proton Savvy

In car terms, it’s not often you
see an old friend like the Proton Savvy
 tackling ‘bigger and better’ some 15 years after it rolled off the production floor. But Indonesian start-up Vixmo has given the Proton Savvy the EV treatment.

Vixmo, the Surabaya-based company is focusing on AI research surrounding
fully autonomous driving
, but the reasons why they chose to build their working prototype around a 2007 Proton Savvy - out of all the other abundant small cars sold there - remains a mystery.

Proton Savvy EV

They’ve done some pretty interesting things with it as well such as swapping out that Renault-sourced D4F 1.2-litre engine for a fully electric powertrain of some description. Apparently housed within the car’s compact shell is a
22kWh lithium-ion battery
, endowing the prototype with up to
150km
 of range, and feeding a
33.5hp/120Nm
 motor spinning the front wheels.

Speaking of wheels, there are a set of upsized rollers (17-inch, probably) in place of the standard 15-inch units that came with the car originally, and behind them is a conspicuously red pair of brake callipers. Supposedly with all the extra weight of an electric powertrain as well as the self-driving tech onboard, the Savvy’s stock stoppers would’ve been overwhelmed.

Clearly, there’s someone at the wheel of the car in some of these images, which were captured during the car’s official public unveiling at the Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show (PEVS) 2022. In fact, apart from the obvious roof-mounted sensor array, it almost seems like Vixmo went out of their way to preserve Proton’s styling cues and general look.

However, the interior has been gutted for the most part - perhaps it was too 2007. Though certain parts have only undergone a repaint and refinishing, such as the door panels, the dashboard, seats, and centre console look entirely new.

In the centre of this featureless expanse, we find a large widescreen LCD touch panel that, much like that found on a
Tesla Model 3/Y
, is used to access and/or control pretty much every feature built into the car. Here we see it displaying an overhead map among other things.

It’ll be interesting to see the EV, AI-driving Savvy prototype being
put through its paces
, but that will hopefully come one day. Once it serves its technological and research purposes, Vixmo will likely construct its subsequent prototypes to resemble their proposed final product.

Far from looking like anything on the road, they seem to be aiming to deliver a vehicle that is absent any human intervention whatsoever, lacking a visible steering wheel or conventional seating for a driver.


2023 Toyota GR Corolla Gets Hardcore 2-Seat, 304PS/400Nm Morizo Edition

The GR Corolla, Toyota’s newest AWD super-hatch has been through a sort of ‘RS’ track-ready treatment to create the Morizo Edition which adds lightness, power, and extra spicy aggro.

Earlier this year, Toyota surprised us all with the announcement of
a hotted-up GR Corolla hatch
, a car that we don’t get in Malaysia even in its more harmless base form, that sports all-wheel-drive and the G16E-GTS 1.6-litre 3-cylinder firecracker turbo-petrol from the GR Yaris.

A 2-seater GR Corolla?

Fun fact: The Morizo Edition is so named after CEO Akio Toyoda's racing alias the team used his personal feedback to fine tune the car over the standard GR Corolla.

It cuts kilograms everywhere it can, leading to a kerb weight of 1,440kg - a 30kg reduction over the standard GR Corolla. Much like the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA’s feather-weighting programme, this Morizo Edition retains functional rear doors though it has had its rear seats removed. That’s right, it’s technically a 2-seater.

Sadly, Toyota has confirmed that only 200 examples of the car will be produced and allocated for sale in North America but has not disclosed how many will be sold in Japan. We suspect numbers won't be quite as limited.

GR Corolla Morizo Edition powertrain

Apart from the weight reduction, the Morizo Edition’s engine has been boosted a little to yield 400Nm of peak torque, up from 370Nm. This is funnelled through a 6-speed rev-matching manual transmission before being fed to all four wheels via Toyota’s GR-FOUR 4WD system with a Torsen limited slip differential on both the front and rear axle.

A set of Yokohama ADVAN Apex V601 tyres were deemed more than adequate for the standard GR Corolla but the Morizo Edition has been given Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres to wear on its 18-inch BBS forged aluminium wheels.

Engine power still tops out at 304PS, but the additional twist will definitely be felt in acceleration, aided by the modified gearbox that has been given tighter ratios for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

This angrier Morizo Edition could be a few tenths quicker than the 5.0 second century sprint benchmark set by the standard GR Corolla if only for its tighter gearing and sticky track-ready tyres. Around a circuit, however, is where that lightness and extra torque advantage would really come into play.

Will Malaysia get the GR Corolla?

There’s still no word yet on when (or if) Toyota will be starting to offer the GR Corolla anywhere besides Japan and North America. Clearly there is plenty of interest, even in a humble Southeast Asian nation such as Malaysia. Just look at how quickly the local allotment
for the GR Yaris got snatched up
.


Paris 2016: Porsche to Roll Out 911 GT3 Cup And Panamera 4 E-Hybrid

Porsche has announced that two new models will be making their public appearance for the first time – the 911 GT3 Cup and the recently announced Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.
Powered by a combination of a 2.9-liter V6 gasoline engine with an output of 330 hp and a 100-kW electric motor, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid delivers a combined total output of 462 hp and maximum torque of 700 Nm, with an electric range of up to 31 miles.
Being able to sprint from naught to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid will also benefit from Porsche’s all-wheel drive system, a Sport Chrono Package with six or more driving modes, as well as Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system.
While combined fuel consumption stands at 2.5 litres per 100 km, the car is capable of achieving a top speed of 278km/h, with the maximum achievable speed in zero-emissions mode is 140 km/h.
Although the car has already been revealed recently, this will be the first time the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid will be making its public appearance.
And then, we have the latest version of the 911 GT3 Cup - the most-produced racing car in the world.
No technical details have been revealed yet, but we expect the car to benefit from the many new technology and upgrades that have been applied to the latest road-going 911. Rumour has it that the GT3 Cup could also get the downsized, turbocharged engine.
Whatever it is, the car will definitely be more powerful than before. That said, watch this space for more updates on the new Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and the 911 GT3 Cup.
Looking for a Porsche? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Google is working on a dashcam feature for its Pixel phones

Is Google working on a dashcam feature for Android phones? Sure seems like it

Using mobile phones as car dashcams can be a good idea and has become increasingly popular. Many people already use their smartphones as dashcams by using apps or mounting their phones on the dashboard or windshield.

Soon however, there might just be a dedicated feature from Google that can take this phone-as-dashcam idea to the next level, as the California-based tech giant is reportedly working on a new feature for its Pixel smartphones that will effectively turn them into a dashcam.

According to Carscoops, the product was found by 9to5google, which spotted a "dogfood" build of the feature in Google's Personal Safety app.

"Dogfooding" refers to the practice of a company or organization using its own products internally. It involves employees using the company's products or services as end-users would, allowing them to identify and address any issues or improvements.

The pre-release feature on Google's Personal Safety services was called Dashcam, which will probably help your phone record videos while driving.

Google Personal Safety is a suite of features and services designed to enhance personal safety and provide assistance in emergencies. These features are primarily available on Android devices and are intended to help users feel more secure while going about their daily lives.

As we said in the beginning, car owners are already starting to use their phones as a dashcam, which saves cost in purchasing another device. Still, this time, a new feature won't make your phone into a makeshift device,  as it will have its own dedicated dashcam feature.


800,000 Units Of The Geely Binyue Has Been Sold In Three Years - Proton X50 Also Flying!

Geely's strong global record, especially with the Geely Binyue gives Proton an inroad to success in Malaysia. The X50's waiting list is testament to that.

When Geely debuted the Binyue in 2018, the timing was opportune as the world began to transition from sedans into SUVs - so a competitively priced, feature-packed B-segment SUV was only going to do well - but perhaps even Geely would have been hard-pressed to fathom the
runaway success
 the Binyue or X50 has been.

With a total of 800,000 units sold across China and globally in more than 10 countries, the vibrant little SUV continues to record monthly sales of over 20,000 units and is dominating the compact SUV market in China and expanding its presence to countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Philippines.

Geely stated that the global success of the Binyue has certainly also boosted the appeal of the
Proton X50
 in Malaysia. While there is merit to this, we believe the X50 speaks for itself and that the Proton is a very much in demand car because of what it provides to buyers.

Buyers in Malaysia choose cars based on appearance, performance and advanced technological features. The Proton X50 is well endowed in all these departments, hence why since its launch there's always been more demand than supply, though that is being slowly but surely addressed.

75,000 combined man-hours, plus 1.9 million kilometres of testing to ensure the car is fully adapted to the weather and tuned for the roads in Malaysia. Teams from Geely and Proton also worked tirelessly on changes to over 400 different design and engineering parameters before the final product reveal so while the Binyue is a winner, let's not discount the additional work put in to make the X50 the Malaysian compact SUV darling that it is.

It's not an easy feat to sell cars to Malaysians. We are a relatively well-informed bunch but we're also financially savvy. Because of this, our expectations can be high, which was why Proton and Geely had to be absolutely sure about the car's specifications. They did succeed in marketing a good vehicle with the right package, didn't they? Well, the approval can be observed in the number of bookings, and with over 87,000 bookings made to date since its launch last year - we'll let you decide.

With that being said, what does the future hold for Proton, and what can buyers expect?

There's no doubt that the X70 and X50 have re-ignited the brand's appeal. After many years of average sales, the SUVs have bumped up their numbers significantly. However, this is a momentum that needs to be cared for carefully, which is why the following products from Proton have to also be superstars.

Can Proton achieve this? Well, by the rumours circulating about their upcoming vehicle, we believe so.

Not only are Proton about to introduce a much sought after body type (I mean, have you seen the hype around the
2022 Kia Carnival
 MPV) in Malaysia, but they are also about to introduce their very first hybrid if the
rumours are true
.

Seen regularly testing up Genting's infamous route, it feels like the
X90's arrival
 is closer than ever. The heavily camouflaged MPV has even managed to involve itself in a road accident - crash testing check!

For those of you who might have been under a rock, the Proton X90 is an MPV based on the Geely Haoyue (China market) and Okavango (Philippines market). While the safety tech and interior quality are expected to be on par with the X50 and X70, many are curious about its seven-seater capacity and its
hybrid powertrain
.

If Proton follows the Okavango recipe, then the X90 should come equipped with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo mill coupled with a simple 48-volt hybrid system. This powerplant produces an overall output of 190 PS and a maximum torque of 300 Nm.

While engine tech is getting more sophisticated in Protons, it has to be said that this will probably be its most sophisticated yet, which is another reason why Proton has to get the X90 right.

If successful, it will set a precedent for future Proton models and once again raise the bar just like the X50 and X70.

Hate it, love it, be ambivalent, you must admit,
at one point in your life, you too have enjoyed a Proton
, and we want the same experience to continue for the next generation. With partners like Geely, Proton is on the right path.