iCarData:  The Best Time To Buy/Sell A (GJ) Mazda 6 SkyActiv-G 2.0L

The Mazda 6 makes for an alternate choice whether new or second-hand especially if you're bored of the usual suspects.

As SUVs corner every available corner of the sub-premium and premium markets – one has to ask if the family-segment (otherwise called the D-Segment) is the way forward for owners who wish to make a lifestyle statement about their individuality and sense of style.

Now before we get sucked into the argument of how sleek four-door silhouettes are slowly being phased out in favour of tall, soapbox styled do-it-all SUVs – the sedan bodystyle is not dead yet.

In fact, in bigger markets such as China and North America in 2019, sedans sold strongly across different segments and price ranges – leading to the notion that carmakers can keep on selling them as long as they project style, success and enough individuality when compared to their SUV counterparts.

By virtue of this, design, equipment and driving performance become unique selling factors regardless if it is a Perodua Bezza, Honda Accord, or a BMW 5 Series. In recent times we even see manufacturers boldly putting a precedence on design – such as in the latest versions of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. However, what Honda and Toyota have now accomplished – Mazda already did much earlier with the Mazda 6.

The Mazda 6 has become somewhat of a halo-car for the Mazda brand, despite the companies successes with its SUV range, the Mazda 6 has somewhat filled the gap – in terms of design and driving engagement – left behind by Mazda’s culling of its premium performance products such as the Mazda RX-8.

With one of the most timeless silhouettes in recent time, a sublime chassis and superb range of SkyActiv-G and SkyActiv-D powerplants – in many ways, the Mazda 6 was well ahead of the current competition at its initial introduction. Having been in the Malaysian market for roughly 7 years gives us a great opportunity to examine the Mazda 6’s depreciation.

Truth be told, despite their brilliant ability, Mazda’s unfortunately still do not enjoy quite the same demand and value retention as their Japanese counterparts from Honda and Toyota.

So let us dive in and check it out with the resources from iCarData.

iCarData
, collates data from thousands of used vehicle deals that have been listed on Carlist.my throughout the years. Hence, by pinpointing our search for listings of a particular model throughout the measured period, we are able to track with substantial accuracy the rates of depreciation of any vehicle.

Despite the many factors that need to be considered when buying a used car (i.e: overall condition, mechanical soundness, variant type, and accessories), these price trends, using algorithm-based data, provide the clearest view yet on the natural depreciation of any car. Thus, helping both buyers and sellers with their respective financial decisions when the time comes.

Check out some of our other iCarData features on the
Toyota Vios
 and
Honda City
.

Overview

This might be hard to believe, but the “Kodo” designed Mazda 6 was first introduced here in 2013. Though it has received numerous updates in that time – its ultimate testament is that it still looks fresh to this day.

Here’s a concise rundown of the model’s presence here in Malaysia:

March 2013: (GJ) Mazda 6 introduced. Three variants at outset: 2.0 litre SkyActiv Sedan at RM155,159 and 2.5 litre SkyActiv Sedan and Touring at RM177,660 and RM181,764 respectively.

April 2015: Mazda 6 facelift launched. Updated MZD Connect system. Prices up after GST introduction: 2.0L Sedan at RM159,158, 2.5 litre Sedan at RM194,647, 2.5 litre Touring retails at RM198,647.

July 2016: Mazda 6 2.2L SkyActiv-D turbodiesel introduced. Fully-imported model introduced at RM202,830.

February 2017: Mazda 6 with Mazda’s G Vectoring Control (GVC) introduced. Adds approximately RM6.5k to the prices across the range.

August 2018: Second-facelift Mazda 6 introduced. This facelift introduces numerous design updates. New prices include: 2.0L Sedan at RM156,190, 2.5L SkyActiv Sedan and Touring at RM189,698 and RM193,472 respectively, and 2.2 litre SkyActiv at RM197,401.

September 2019: Latest update sees the Mazda 6 receive the GVC Plus system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Four variants, as before priced between RM173k and RM219k.

Given its salvo of upgrades and facelift over the years, you’d be forgiven for thinking there has always been just one model on sale all this while. However, this is far from the obvious. In addition, it’s laudable that Mazda has kept the 2.5-litre Touring model almost throughout the car’s lifespan despite it being less popular than the sedan models, thereby carving itself a niche amongst wagon loving customers.

The Mazda 6 has naturally occupied a higher price bracket when compared to its Japanese rivals given it’s a fully-imported vehicle, but as we note, this has had little impact on the car’s appeal given what it offers in terms of intrinsic driving performance.

For this report, we will be looking at the bestselling 2.0-litre Sedan variant, which undoubtedly gives us the widest possible data set, and is most comparable against its rivals from Honda and Toyota.

Specifications of the 2013 (GJ) Mazda 6 2.0L (AT) Sedan:

Engine: 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G naturally-aspirated,  inline-four, Petrol

Power: 152 hp @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 200 Nm @ 4,000 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Safety: Six airbags, ABS with EBD, Stability Control

Origin: Fully-imported from Hofu, Japan.

Price: RM155,159 – March 2013 launch (OTR without insurance)

We have taken into account the following to keep our numbers accurate and representative.

Vehicle variant: (GJ) Mazda 6 2.0L (6AT), delivered between March and September 2013.

Depreciation is calculated using the original list price.

Depreciation percentage does not take into account special/ seasonal offers or rebates on the original selling price.

Depreciation for other variants may differ.

Based on ICarData, here is the summarized data for depreciation:

And the graphical analysis below:

From the graph, we find that despite the relative notions that Mazda vehicles do not offer great resale value - the Mazda 6 does have a decently organic rate of value retention. Though it must be said, the 6 does not perform as well as say the
Honda Accord
.

The depreciation rate is strongest in the first three years of ownership, dropping nearly 38 percent in the first three years. The data confirms that the initial depreciation of the Mazda 6 goes on for a longer period than other D-Segment Japanese cars.

Though this is not solely a fault of the Mazda 6, other factors such as price fluctuations in those years - caused by the introduction of GST taxation (in 2016) and launching of competitor models of the facelifted (CR1) Honda Accord would have shifted buyer sentiment as well.

After this period leading into 2016, the used prices of Mazda 6s do somewhat stabilise and undergo an organic 5-8 percent decrement year on year, for the rest of the measured period.

With that said, first-owners can still enjoy decent value retention during the first 5 years, and still trade in their vehicle for an upgrade when the times comes. Given the Mazda 6's relatively strong record of reliability and performance, current owners need not be in a rush to sell their car because it will still be rewarding to own and drive.

The numbers also quite easily illustrate when an existing owner should sell his/her Mazda 6, which is in the fifth year, as the cumulative depreciation reaches that of retained value. At around 50 percent of the original price of the car.

Conversely, a used vehicle buyer might be wise to pick up the Mazda 6 as it enters its sixth year, having dropped below the 50 percent value threshold. This way, buyers are picking up a relatively new vehicle, with financing options at the ready.

Purchasing a Mazda 6 any earlier would mean a higher price upfront in exchange for another 1-2 years of manufacturer-backed warranty support, a fair trade some might say.

For some great deals on the (GJ) Mazda 6 SkyActiv, click
here
.

If you're looking to sell your Mazda 6, we have two solutions for you too. List in on carlist.my or better still, use
CarlistBid
 where we remove all the hassle of selling your car for you as you get searching for your next upgrade.

Which make/ model would you like us to research next?


Don't Forget To Lube!

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, lubrication is defined as the use of a substance such as oil to make an operation easier or to prevent something from sticking or rubbing.

While many of us will have firsthand experience with lubrication, we’re here to tell you about an ongoing promotion from Caltex to help with lubrication for your car!

From now till Jan 22, you get a chance to protect what matters and win RM5,000 worth of fuel!

All you need to do is to purchase selected products from Caltex’s extensive range of engine care additives and lubricants from their Techron, Havoline, and Delo lines from now till January 22nd, 2022 from any nationwide Caltex stations or authorised workshops.

From there, just provide proof of purchase and answer a simple question through the WhatsApp application at (
http://www.caltexlubricantspromo.com.my/
) or by scanning the QR code displayed at Caltex stations and Caltex authorized workshops to participate.

Two (2) Grand Prize winners will be selected, each getting a Caltex StarCash Card worth RM5,000. Meanwhile, a further two hundred (200) winners will also be receiving StarCash Cards worth RM500 each.

Of course, more information can be found on the
Caltex Malaysia website
. If you have further questions, Caltex has also provided a handy FAQ as well enclosed in the links above.

So get yourself some quality lubricant to protect what matters!


That One Time When A German-Italian Partnership Won The World - Volkswagen Golf Mk 1

The Volkswagen Golf is often credited as the one car that defined hatchbacks, the originator for the genre. Except that it isn’t true, the Golf was not the first hatchback. Nearly ten years before the Golf Mk 1 was launched, Renault was already enjoying good success with the Renault 16, which also came with four doors and an opening rear hatch. What the Golf did however was making hatchbacks popular. In some countries, C-segment hatchbacks are simply described as the ‘Golf class.’
Renault 16 offered four doors and a rear hatch in 1965
Hatchbacks offer a disproportionately large aperture for a small car. Legally, the opening rear hatch is defined as a door, since it provides direct access to the cabin. Thus vehicle homologation documents often mention hatchbacks as either three- or five-door cars, much to the confusion of the general public. The large opening allows for easy loading of large cargo while maintain the economy and easy of driving of a small car.
The 1 millionth Golf rolled out off Volkswagen’s plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, just 31 months after it was launched in 1974, achieving that milestone in nearly three times less years than the Renault.
The Golf’s combination of robust mechanics and spacious interior made it a hit among consumers but it was Volkswagen’s consistency of retaining the Golf nameplate and the familiar styling elements for every new model generation that made it the world’s most recognized hatchback.
Apart from a Porsche 911 and a MINI, the Golf is one of the few cars that has remained consistent in its styling direction generation after generation.
In the early ‘70s, the Mk 1 Golf was briefly assembled in Malaysia at the Assembly Services Sdn. Bhd. plant in Shah Alam, which is now owned by UMW Toyota Motor. However by then, local consumers were already gravitating towards Japanese sedans, which were perceived to be more reliable and the sedan bodystyle of a Nissan Sunny and Toyota Corolla was better suited for our needs.
Finding a Malaysia-assembled Golf Mk 1 today is extremely difficult and even in Europe, a Mk 1 Golf is getting quite rare. Thus we were very pleased to come across this particular Miami Blue example at Volkswagen’s AutoStadt Museum at the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg.
The Golf was aptly parked next to a prototype Volkswagen V30, also in blue, just like Volkswagen’s logo. It’s one of the 30 prototypes built to develop a car that history would later know as the Volkswagen Beetle. Both blue cars laid the foundations of Volkswagen.
The Golf came about at a time when a wave of Italianization in car design was sweeping across the industry. Italians might come up short against their Japanese and German peers when it comes to putting together a car properly, but nobody doubted their abilities in styling.
When the then-Chairman of Volkswagen AG Mr. Kurt Lotz was struggling to come out with a product that could repeat the success of the air-cooled Beetle, he turned to Italy for assistance.
While visiting the 1969 Turin Motor Show, Lotz asked his Italian importer Gerhard R. Guempert and a group of journalists for suggestions on who was the best car designer.
A young Giorgetto Giugiaro
They toured the motor show and shortlisted six good designs, before finding out that four of them were done by the same young man from Italdesign - a 31-year old that went by the name
Giorgetto Giugiaro
. Lotz reportedly offered Giugiaro the contract to revamp Volkswagen’s products on the spot at Italdesign’s show stand with the message “Do what you want, but do it fast.”
He was even given access to Volkswagen’s private jet to cut down travel time between his office in Turin and Volkswagen’s headquarters in Wolfsburg.
Volkswagen Passat B1 - oddly enough, it wasn't available as a sedan
The first Giugiaro-designed Volkswagen was the 1973 Passat but the Italian-German partnership only flourished one year later with the smaller Golf, named after the German spelling for Gulf Stream, the ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic.
When the Golf was launched in 1974, the market was populated with cars like the Alfa Romeo Alfasud, Renault 5, Austin Allegro, and even the Honda Civic. Compared to them, the boxy looking Golf was, for some people, one step too radical. However it didn’t take long before the positive attributes of its boxy styling and mechanical package won it a
legion of fans
.
There was a logical reason behind the unorthodox styling. Volkswagen had asked Giugiaro to make a design that was cheap to manufacture because Volkswagen was in a very precarious financial position. The company didn’t seem to be able to progress beyond air-cooled Beetles and the NSU-developed K70, Volkswagen’s first water-cooled product that was supposed to succeed the Beetle, was a commercial flop.
It was very critical that their second attempt with the Golf succeeded. To keep cost low, flat panels and straight lines were preferred. Normally, this would result in a bland looking car devoid of any character, but Giugiaro’s genius was his ability to turn boring flat panels and straight lines into a design language.
The thick C-pillars are now a signature of the Golf, while the boxy styling conveyed a message of German strength and purposefulness.
The signature circular headlamps set within the rectangular grille nearly didn’t make it because Giugiaro hated it. He had originally wanted to use rectangular headlamps but had to swap them with simpler circular headlamps to keep cost low. It was only in hindsight that this circular headlamp and rectangular grille combination became one of the Golf’s most endearing design element.
The early Golfs were shockingly minimalist. The seats were thin and the interior was basic. The instrument panel was literally a big rectangular hard plastic box housing a single instrument pod. It was devoid of any frivolities but more important than aesthetics was that it was mechanically robust and was spacious enough for an average German family.
Beyond its progressive styling, the Golf maximized the potential of a transverse front engine and front wheel drive layout to maximize interior space, offering far more utility than any of its rivals.
Most hatchbacks of that era were actually sedans, as their boot lids were separated from the rear windscreens. Limitations in ‘70s era manufacturing technology meant that it was difficult to make a rear hatch that was strong enough to hold the rear windscreen and creating a large aperture in the rear resulted in compromises in chassis rigidity, which explains why most hatchbacks in the early ‘70s had only two doors while their four door equivalents usually had boot lids that open in a conventional sedan-style manner.
Sedan for the four-door and hatchback for the two-door
Giugiaro figured that by folding the boot lid’s edges, he was able to make the boot lid stronger. The boxy shape also made it easier for engineers to maintain chassis rigidity. By pairing a full-opening hatch with a four-door body and a spacious cabin, the Golf was an ideal family car for congested European cities.
It was only in the ‘80s that manufacturers improved their four-door hatchbacks with true rear opening hatches. Differences between early and later model Alfasuds and Civics were common examples. Early model four-door variants had sedan-type hinged boot lids while later models received full-opening rear hatches.
After launching the Golf, the new management of Volkswagen decided to bring all design work in-house and discontinued their partnership with Giugiaro.
The car design maestro later accepted a similar design brief from Fiat, culminating in the Fiat Panda. Minimalist elements of the Golf Mk 1, the straight line and boxy shape, were obvious, but unlike the Golf, the Panda didn’t receive the same level of continuous improvement and investment to make it into a global household name.
The Fiat Panda had a lot of similarities with the Golf Mk 1
Before he parted ways with Volkswagen, Giugiaro’s swan song was the Scirocco. As a mass-market family car, the Golf project had a lot of constraints. Giugiaro wasn’t too happy with the Golf’s proportions and convinced Volkswagen’s board to allow him to produce a coupe but to keep cost low, it would share the same components as the Golf.
The Scirocco represented Giugiaro's ideals for a small Volkswagen
His message to the board was the Golf’s radical styling would certainly create complications to Volkswagen’s plant at the early stages. He proposed that the low-volume Scirocco be used to fine-tune the manufacturing process.
Although the Golf was very successful in Europe, it didn’t manage to repeat the Beetle’s success. Competition from the rapidly progressing Japanese meant that Volkswagen had to cede its position in some markets - Asia in particular - where the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic reigned supreme.
Still, neither Japanese marque will disagree that it was the Golf that showed the way for everyone else on how to family hatchbacks should be like.
This Golf belongs to Toyota
At the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi, Japan, a Golf Mk 1, also in Miami Blue, carefully restored by Toyota technicians, sits among the museum’s collection. The description plaque honouring the Golf reads, “The Golf proved to be a huge hit around the world and it established the basic style for all of the other small-size, FF (front engine, front wheel drive) hatchback vehicles that followed it.”
Golf GTI Mk 7 and Golf GTI Mk 1
Forty four years and seven and a half generations later, from TSI to
GTI
 to R, the Golf continues to set the tone for all hatchbacks. We can only imagine what the Golf Mk 14 will be like.


Spied: All-New Toyota Camry Caught In Thailand

The all-new eight-generation Toyota Camry has been caught in Thailand.
First shown to the public at the 2017 Detroit Motor Show, the all-new Camry is built on the company’s excellent TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform with rear double wishbone suspension set up and newly-developed MacPherson struts up front.
Right-hand drive versions of the Camry was then introduced in Japan and Australia over the subsequent months. The all-new Camry will also replace the Avensis for the UK market, after a 14-year hiatus.
Thanks to these spyshots from
chobrod.com
, we now know that Toyota Thailand is gearing up for the introduction of the all-new Camry there.
The vehicle seen here appears to be wearing the less aggressive looking front end with wide slats running across the width of the front bumper. The car also appears to be wearing 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels.
While the rear-end of the mule is heavily camouflaged, we can see the silhouette of the rear bumper, with an simple looking rear diffuser featured in the bottom half of the bumper, unlike the sportier Camry’s prominent rear diffuser and quad exhaust tips.
Closer to home, we understand that the all-new Camry could debut in Malaysia later this year, fully-imported from Thailand.


2020 Mazda 3 2.0 Liftback - Both Beauty and Beast

The 2020 Mazda 3 2.0 Liftback High Plus - yes Mazda could definitely name their variants better but in the Mazda 3 2.0 Liftback they have in their arsenal their own 'Jinx', an absolute stunner on the outside but a beast inside!

Reminiscent of how Halle Berry sashays out of the water all glistening under the sun, the Mazda 3 Liftback has that same 'Damn son' factor going for it. Everywhere I parked her, there were admiring glances shot her way and the 'nod' my way.

I'm seriously thinking of getting one, and here's why:

1. It's for ugly people to feel beautiful

Regardless of how physically unattractive you may look, drive up in a
Mazda 3 Liftback
 (pick the Soul Red or Snowflake White Pearl), you'll immediately jump a notch or two up the ladder of good looks. The Liftback is sooo good looking that some of its DNA can't help but rub off on you. Every time I got out of the car, I felt a little more handsome.

2. It wails like a banshee - especially in Sports mode!

On the way back from Penang, passing through the Menora Tunnel, I turned down the volume from the radio, lowered the window, put the car in Sports mode, and floored the throttle. It was ear-gasmic, it was bassy, it was eager, it was stupid-smile-on-my-face-time!

3. It's handling makes you feel alive

So what I mean above is that the Mazda 3 Liftback isn't as surely planted as the Mazda 6 2.5. I was a lot more assured in the 6 due to its longer wheelbase and relative weight. The 3 had a bit of a twitchy backside (at speeds of about 150 km/h) but therein also lies the exhilaration of it. It's a smaller car, its responses are more heightened, its steering response is tighter. It needs you involved, it wants your focus, it wants you to pick your line correctly with minimal adjustment through that sweeping corner. It wants you turned on and alive to make the most of the drive.

4. It's sound system is BOSS

The Mazda Harmonic Acoustics sound system in the Mazda 3 gives you a rich and immersive experience cocooned in its cockpit. I don't know about you but I at times like sitting in my car, turning up the volume, and just jiving to the beats. As I sat in the Mazda 3 one night playing tribute to Eddie Van Halen with Jump, Panama, and Runnin' with the Devil I was immersed with the sound coming out of the 8 speakers all around the car, even played obscenely loud. There was no distortion, no crackle, just plain unadulterated Van Halen. Rest in Power, Eddie.

The acoustics also come into play at high speeds, the tyre roar is definitely noticeable but I like my music loud so this is not a bother to me.

5. It wants to go and go fast

The Mazda 3 2.0 Liftback will pick-up from anywhere on the rev-range. That
Skyactiv
-G 2.0 High Plus should win an award for most rev-happy engine. It doesn't like dawdling, it wants to run free and I was more than happy to oblige! 162hp and 213Nm of torque is plenty fun if you know how to use it. The 6-speed transmission was smooth and precise. I didn't feel the need to try the paddle shifters. I did however briefly but I'm not sure paddle shifters are for me.

6. It's Sports Mode is mental!

Put the car in Sports mode, step on the paddle and wait for that s***-eating grin to be plastered on your face.

You see what Sports Mode does is that it holds a particular gear longer giving you better acceleration plus it sharpens the throttle response all of which you feel in this Mazda 3. It's a proper Sports Mode!

It shouldn't feel this powerful, especially given its top-line numbers, but it does. It's just so bloody addictive. You're burning more fuel in Sports Mode sure but I didn't care! You can't put a monetary value on fun like this!

But...

Now if you've made it all the way here and if you think the Mazda 3 Liftback is god's gift to the automotive world, it's not!

Mazda needs to sort out the centre armrest, especially for men with gangly arms like me, I could never find a comfortable spot for my left hand to rest on. The sloping roof of the rear means that it's hard to fit taller passengers in the back. Its recessed front seat means that you have to drop back a fair bit before hitting cushion but are they dealbreakers? No, not to me. I've become quite enamored by the Mazda 3 Liftback that I'm checking
Carlist.my
 for options.

Go try the Mazda 3 in Liftback form. If nothing else, it will at least leave you feeling more beautiful.

PS: I turned off the Lane Keep Assist System and the Lane Departure Warning System after Tapah on the way up to Penang. I decided to give it a try but found it distracting instead of helpful.


Scott Eastwood is the Face of the New G30 BMW 5 Series

BMW's commercials can be a little hit and miss. For the new G30 they're looking a a slightly different demographic from the ones they've targetted before, moving more towards the young business professional market. In their most recent videos, we see Scott Eastwood monologue-ing while going about what appears to be his daily routine and hopping into a G30 5 Series.
It's strange, because you would usually associate this kind of visual and dynamic with the 3 Series, but perhaps this may be a stop-gap measure to prevent the 5 Series from looking like an "old-person's" car. The G30 is a handsome machine by far, so perhaps a younger crowd could see themselves driving one without fear of looking older than they seem.
The G30 is also more likely to be tech-packed than the lower-end 3 Series, which means it should be appealing to a younger crowd. Self-driving features, gesture controls, and a fine balance between sportiness and comfort- it's hard to find a fault with the G30.


Auto Industry Optimism Through The COVID-19 Fog

Here we are in late March 2020 in an uncertain world and, closer to home, we’re about a week into the Movement Control Order, all to curb the spread and rising infection rate of the COVID-19 virus. People are at home and told to stay there, taking much of the country to a government-imposed standstill.

As with all industries, there’s no denying the impact of the pandemic on the automotive sector. It is of unprecedented scope with lasting effects all the way from the supply chain to the now-drying demand for all but essential items in the minds of consumers who, in so many countries now, are being instructed to stay indoors and avoid any unnecessary social/ business contact or activity.

Early on, with the virus being confined to its origins in Wuhan, the capital city of China’s Hubei province, automakers braced for a major disruption should the situation worsen, shifting their operations where possible to skirt around problematic areas. With the dimming prospects of a swift solution to the outbreak, a seemingly concerted effort was made to shutter manufacturing and sales in the interest of personnel health and safety.

Staple events on the automotive calendar such as the Geneva Motor Show, scheduled to take place earlier this month, were the first to succumb. Following that, all major motorsport bodies issued postponement notices for races and events all the way to June, though there’s a likely extension in the works.

So, it’s bad.

It’s also not yet known if the worst is behind us or yet to come. The situation varies dramatically from country to country. That said, one place very much worth looking at is square one, the epicentre - China - for a little future projection. By all accounts, the People’s Republic with its over 1 billion population has been the hardest hit, crippling the manufacturing industries it thrives on, automotive included.

Amazingly, as of today, the country is reporting that no new cases have been recorded, with efforts now focused on the treatment of existing patients. But for the locals there, does that mean that things are back to normal? Perhaps for the first time after some very dark days, cautious optimism can take root. Wuhan itself is due to have its city-wide lockdown lifted on April 8th, meanwhile factories in other provinces have reopened and begun fresh recruitment exercises.

For now, the glimmers of normalcy are isolated but nonetheless crucial as no other country is as far along the COVID-19 trail. Their recovery should gain momentum if the outbreak is stemmed as the Chinese government says. Should that be the case, there is light at the end of our own tunnel if the situation plays out more or less similarly for us as well as other countries.

Taking the optimistic view that the parts machining and manufacturing Goliath that is China is regaining strength, it could be enough of a catalyst to jumpstart the reawakening of trade, industry, and economy on a global scale - but this has to happen in tandem as other nations hopefully also start to recover from the COVID-19 epidemic within their own borders.

Each country is at different stages of the pandemic’s timetable and are on differing levels of preparedness for such a nationwide medical crisis. Furthermore, the lengths China went to in order to quell the spread of the virus were thorough but, according to some, severe and heavy handed. However, if there are indeed no new cases reported and life in the Hubei province set to start resembling normalcy mere months later, those results are impossible to dismiss.

The automotive industry has endured harsher setbacks. Though the journey ahead to the complete eradication of COVID-19 is still a long one, a point where its impact is diminished enough for the world to unpause is getting closer, day by day. When that happens, and the itch to drive is finally scratched, cars will again be the lifeblood of roads everywhere.

If anything, this period of confinement gives us time to reflect and appreciate the freedom and autonomy cars provide, and we’ll be even hungrier for better ones to sit in our driveways soon.


Used Car Sales Still Looking Good Despite Pandemic In 2020

Although car sales are not as strong as pre-October figures, it's still moving at a steady pace.

It's incredible really that despite the
pandemic
, Malaysians are still buying
new and used cars
 instead of saving money for a rainy day.

What's even more surprising is that the car industry is expected to record flat year-on-year growth for 2020.

According to The Star, Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia (FMCCAM) President Datuk Tony Khor, "The used car industry only had nine months of business this year compared to other years. Business for used car dealers was severely hit from March to May, as a result of the movement control order, and despite that, the used car industry is
recovering well
.

The sales tax exemption
 and six months moratorium helped spur sales in the second half of the year and we expect sales in 2020 to be on par with last year (400,000 used cars sold in 2019), which isn't bad," he told StarBiz.

Since people took advantage of the SST exemption and used the opportunity to buy new cars, more used cars rolled into used car lots. This gave many people the chance to buy good value used cars at a fraction of the price of a new one. The COVID-19 pandemic has also deterred people from using public transport which has helped with sales. Japanese cars, in particular, were amongst the favourites of used car buyers.

"Many of the cars are not only half the price compared with a new one, but the technology in most Japanese cars remain relevant for 15 to 20 years. So they are still popular among consumers even if the model is over a decade old."

However, sales have been slowing down since October due to the expiry of the moratorium, which was implemented in April.

To help boost used car sales in 2021, Khor wants to introduce better warranties for used cars.

"New cars come with warranties that may last around five years, but we want to offer warranties that will last up to 12 years, specifically for the used car's engine and gearbox. Being able to offer something like that will help build confidence in purchasing used cars," he concluded.


Tidak Perlu Tukar Gear ‘N’ Sebelum Masuk Gear ‘P’ Ketika Parking Kereta - Perodua Ativa

Susulan satu video yang tular di medsos baru-baru ini, seorang pemandu
Perodua Ativa
 telah berkongsi cara untuk memasukkan gear dengan betul pada kereta automatik ketika meletakkan kenderaan bagi mengelakkan kerosakan berlaku pada gearbox. Betul ke? Jom kita siasat!

Video tersebut menjelaskan sekiranya anda masuk ke gear ‘P’ secara terus daripada gear ‘D’, itu merupakan cara yang salah kerana ia akan memberikan tekanan kepada gearbox anda. Sebaliknya, beliau mengesyorkan orang ramai agar melakukan seperti turutan tersebut – Pijak brek kaki, masukkan gear ‘N’, tarik
handbrake
, lepaskan brek kaki dan barulah masukkan ke Gear ‘P’.

Persoalannya, adakah pemanduan sesetengah orang selama ini adalah salah? Betul ke kalau kita tukar terus dari gear ‘D’ ke ‘P’ boleh datangkan masalah pada transmisi dan kotak gear kereta? Ekoran itu, Carlist.my telah menyiasat dan tempat pertama yang menjadi rujukan kami semestinya buku manual kereta untuk penilaian yang lebih tepat.

Berdasarkan buku panduan dan manual Perodua Ativa, anda tidak perlu pun untuk menukar gear ‘N’ terlebih dahulu sebelum masuk gear ‘P’ untuk meletakkan kenderaan anda. Sebaliknya, anda cuma perlu untuk menekan brek semasa gear masih lagi pada kedudukan ‘D’ untuk memberhentikan kenderaan terlebih dahulu. Seterusnya, tarik
handbrake
 dan tukar gear ‘D’ kepada ‘P’ dan matikan enjin kereta anda. Cara ini lebih mudah dan ringkas, seperti ramai orang lakukan ketika ini.

Bila difikirkan semula, jika cara kita masukkan gear selama ini dikira salah, tak logik sekiranya Perodua langsung tak bagi tahu orang awam tentang perkara ini dalam buku panduan mereka. Masa ambil lesen memandu dulu pun langsung tiada tekankan perkara ini. Atau mungkin, rata-rata kereta-kereta zaman sekarang sudah dibina dan direka untuk mengendalikan masalah tersebut?

Secara teknikalnya, jika anda menggunakan brek kaki dan menukar gear ‘D’ kepada ‘P’, lalu melepaskan brek kaki anda sebelum menarik
handbrake
, beban kereta akan terletak pada gear kereta ketika brek kaki dilepaskan.

Perkara ini berpotensi untuk betul-betul mendatangkan masalah kepada kereta anda dalam jangka masa panjang kerana sekiranya kereta anda bergerak walaupun hanya 1 atau 2 inci sahaja setelah anda menukar gear ‘D’ kepada ‘P’, ini akan mengakibatkan tekanan pada
parking pawl
 pada gear anda untuk memberhentikan kenderaan, bukanlah pada brek.
Parking pawl
 merupakan pin atau kunci pada transmisi kereta anda dan malangnya, kunci gear ini boleh patah sekiranya perkara ini berlaku secara berterusan. Duit tu bang!

*Kredit foto: FordTechMakuloco (YouTube)

Tetapi, anda tidak perlu pun untuk menukarkan gear anda daripada ‘D’ kepada ‘N’ terlebih dahulu sebelum masuk gear ‘P’ ketika meletakkan kenderaan. Cukuplah sekadar anda menarik
handbrake
 sebelum menukar kepada gear ‘P’ kerana kita tidak mahu kereta bergerak serta berat kereta ditanggung oleh
parking pawl
 semasa proses penukaran gear ‘D’ kepada gear ‘P’. Tambah-tambah apabila anda meletakkan kenderaan di kawasan yang berbukit. Jika dibiarkan berterusan, anda boleh mendengar sendiri bunyi ‘tendang’ pada kotak gear anda apabila anda ingin menukar gear ‘P’ ke ‘D’  ekoran bebanan yang ditanggung lama oleh
gearbox
 ketika kereta ditinggalkan di kawasan parkir.

Tetapi bagaimana pula dengan barisan
SUV
 popular
Proton
seperti
X70
dan
X50
yang menggunakan sistem teknologi shift-by-wire bagi proses penukaran gearnya?

Untuk kereta seperti ini, gear ‘P’ dikuasakan melalui sistem suis pada bahagian atas tuil gear kereta. Menurut PROTON, gear ‘P’ boleh diakses terus daripada gear ‘D, ‘N’ atau ‘R’. Teknologi
shift-by-wire
 ini memberi lebih kelebihan keselamatan kepada software kereta anda. Sebagai contoh, anda tidak boleh masuk gear ‘P’ sekiranya kereta sedang bergerak laju, namun tiada masalah untuk masuk ‘P’ dari mana-mana gear ketika kereta berhenti.

Oleh itu, perbuatan menukar gear ‘D’ kepada ‘N’ terlebih dahulu sebelum masuk gear ‘P’ ketika meletakkan kenderaan seperti X50 dan X70 ini merupakan satu perkara yang sia-sia. Tambahan pula, apabila anda menekan butang ‘P’ pada tuil gear anda, brek parkir atau
handbrake
 anda turut akan berfungsi sama secara serentak kerana signal telah dihantar pada kereta anda melalui software yang ada pada kereta.

Yang paling penting, pastikan kereta anda berhenti sepenuhnya dan brek kaki hendaklah sentiasa ditekan untuk memastikan tiada pergerakan yang berlaku semasa proses penukaran gear ‘D’ kepada ‘P’. Bukan apa, meskipun ianya menggunakan teknologi berbeza, namun prosesnya masih sama.

Pendek kata, cara yang paling ringkas, mudah dan selamat untuk meletakkan kereta anda adalah sentiasa pastikan anda menekan brek kaki dan menarik
handbrake
atau brek parkir terlebih dahulu sebelum menukar gear ‘D’ kepada ‘P’ untuk mengelakkan tekanan kenderaan tidak diletakkan pada
gearbox
. Dengan cara ini, kereta akan berhenti dan bergantung sepenuhnya pada
handbrake
 atau brek parkir kereta anda untuk berhenti.

Tidak perlu pun untuk anda masuk gear ‘N’ sebelum ‘P’ ketika meletakkan kenderaan. Cukup lah sekadar brek kaki dan tarik
handbrake
 atau brek parkir sahaja sebelum tukar gear ‘D’ ke ‘P’. Mudah kan?

Nak lagi senang? Belilah kereta manual!

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.

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Carlist.my.

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.

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 website now.


New Regulations For Vehicle Window Tinting Soon – Anthony Loke

Transport Minister Anthony Loke will be announcing new regulations for vehicle window tinting soon.
He said that he will be announcing the new policy after bringing the JPJ amendments to Parliament later this month.
The previous government updated the window tinting regulations back in February 2016, setting the minimum visible light transmission (VLT) at 70% for the front windscreen, 50% for the front side windows and 30% for the rear side windows and rear windscreen.
“But as far as enforcement is concerned, I have given a strict message to JPJ to enforce all new rulings,” he told reporters at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show launch ceremony.
In addition to the window tinting issue, Loke said that a proposal for electronic number plates are also being considered.


Honda e Kini Di Malaysia – Bayar RM210,000 Dan Ia Milik Anda

Honda e
, sebuah kereta elektrik pertama keluaran
Honda
 yang hanya dijual di pasaran Eropah dan Jepun. Tapi siapa sangka kereta elektrik cilik ini telah mendarat di Malaysia?

Berdasarkan gambar, ia merupakan sebuah unit dari UK yang diimport masuk ke pasaran Malaysia oleh Weststar Motors sebagai kereta
recond
. Kalau di pasaran UK, ada dua varian Honda e yang ditawarkan iaitu Standard dan Advance. Unit yang dibawa masuk ke Malaysia ini merupakan Honda e varian Advance. Apa yang menarik dengan Honda e ini?

Exterior

Perkara pertama yang menarik perhatian tentang kereta ini adalah rupa bentuknya luarannya yang kecil dan membujur. Meskipun kereta elektrik sering dilabel sebagai kenderaan masa hadapan, Honda e masih menampilkan rupa bentuk retro dengan menggunakan lampu hadapan dan belakang berbentuk bulat. Kereta ini turut dilengkapi dengan DRL serta kawalan lampu automatik. Gabungan warna hitam dan putih pada kereta ini menyerlahkan lagi kekemasan kereta elektrik keluaran Honda ini.

Kereta ini juga tidak mempunyai cermin sisi, sebaliknya ia ditukarkan dengan kamera dan paparan tersebut akan dipancarkan pada kedua-dua skrin khas di sebelah kiri dan kanan papan pemuka kereta. Honda e turut dilengkapi dengan roda aloi bersaiz 17 inci yang ditemani tayar Michelin Pilot Sport 4 bersaiz 205/45R17.

Interior

Di bahagian dalam, papan pemuka kereta ini penuh dengan skrin. Ada 5 paparan skrin keseluruhan di mana 2 skrin utama di bahagian tengah bersaiz 12.3 inci, satu skrin sebagai kluster meter, serta dua skrin di kiri dan kanan untuk memaparkan visual daripada kamera sebagai cermin sisi.

Honda e juga dilengkapi dengan:

Kawalan penyaman udara automatik

Sambungan Apple Carplay dan Android Auto,

Lampu ambient

Poket telefon

Bluetooth

SkyRoof

Cermin gelap
 di bahagian belakang

Prestasi

Honda e digerakkan oleh motor elektrik yang hadir bersama bateri lithium-ion 35.5kWh. Kereta ini mampu menghasilkan output 154 PS dan 315 Nm tork. Kereta ini juga memerlukan 8.3 saat untuk memecut dari 0 hingga 100 km/j. Sebagai kereta mesra alam, ia amat sesuai untuk digunakan untuk bersiar-siar di bandar kerana kereta ini menghasilkan 0% pengeluaran
karbon
.

Ciri Keselamatan

Selain itu, ciri keselamatan pada Honda e ini tidak kurang hebatnya. Berikut merupakan ciri-ciri yang hadir bersama model Advance ini:

Kamera undur

Sensor parking hadapan dan belakang

Adaptive Cruise Control

Collision Mitigation System

Intelligent Speed Limiter

Lane Keeping Assist

Road Departure Mitigation

Traffic Sign Recognition

Centre Camera Mirror System

Honda e ini boleh didapati pada harga RM210,000. Menurut Weststar Motors, harga yang ditawarkan bagi setiap model adalah berbeza mengikut spesifikasi kereta tersebut. Sekiranya anda berminat dengan Honda e yang ditawarkan oleh Weststar ini, anda boleh la pergi laman web mereka untuk membuat tempahan.

*Kredit foto: Weststar Motors


Geneva 2017: This is the Rear of the Upcoming 2017 Volvo XC60

With the stage all set for the all new Volvo XC60 to make its world premiere next week in Geneva, the Swedish carmaker has released a few more teaser images of the SUV, showing us the new signature light pattern and the LED taillamps, a few days after revealing the front fascia.
Besides that, we also get to have a closer look at the “Thor’s Hammer” headlight, the front grille which looks like a smaller version of what is fitted in the XC90, as well as the SUV’s silhouette.
From what we can see, the new XC60 looks like it is going to be longer and wider than the current model, thanks to the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.
Under the hood, we expect an array of Drive-E four-cylinder engines to power the XC60, with AWD technology highly likely to be a part of the agenda.
That said; let us stay tuned for a just few more days before the new XC60 and all the necessary information is revealed to the whole world.


Porsche is making synthetic fuels made from water & CO2?

Porsche
 has officially opened its
eFuels manufacturing plant
 in Chile for the production of its very own synthetic fuels.

Together with the Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF) company, the ceremony was officiated with the fuelling of the Porsche 911 using the first batch of synthetic fuel produced at the site which is located in Punta Arenas.

eFuels made with water & CO2 using wind energy?

To push the plant's sustainability qualities through the roof, the synthetic fuel blend is made from water and carbon dioxide using wind energy. The result? A nearly CO2-neutral operation for petrol-powered engines.

According to Barbara Frenkel, Member of the Executive Board for Procurement at Porsche AG, "Porsche is committed to a double-e path: e-mobility and eFuels as a complementary technology. Using eFuels reduces CO2 emissions. Looking at the entire traffic sector, the industrial production of synthetic fuels should keep being pushed forward worldwide. With the eFuels pilot plant, Porsche is playing a leading role in this development."

130,000 litres/year of eFuels to be produced

The pilot phase will see the production of eFuels of around 130,000 litres per annum which will be used for the brand's lighthouse projects like the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and Porsche Experience Centers. The next phase will see those numbers go up to 55 million litres by the middle of the decade.

Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Development and Research at Porsche AG, stated "The potential of eFuels is huge. There are currently more than 1.3 billion vehicles with combustion engines worldwide. Many of these will be on the roads for decades to come, and eFuels offer the owners of existing cars a nearly carbon-neutral alternative. As the manufacturer of high-performance, efficient engines, Porsche has a wide range of know-how in the field of fuels."


Honda WR-V Q3 Malaysia debut confirmed - Next big thing or overpriced micro SUV?

Honda Malaysia has confirmed that the brand's smallest SUV, the WR-V will hit showrooms this year, but are you willing to pay north of RM100k for an Ativa competitor?

At the recent annual Honda Media gathering, Honda Malaysia's President and CEO Sarly Adle Sarkum confirmed that the Honda WR-V would be introduced locally this year.

Honda's first Small Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) is slated to be launched in the third quarter of 2023, and upon its arrival, it will become the first Japanese SUV from a mass-market manufacturer to enter the small SUV segment.

According to Honda Malaysia, the WR-V will be quite the comprehensive package, offering vibrant and bold design, advanced technology, practicality, and comfort. They also said that the crossover would be the perfect companion for young professionals and families who enjoy travel and outdoor activities.

There's a lot of excitement regarding the Honda HR-V, and while most details like design, powertrain and safety features are well known, the biggest mystery surrounding the Malaysian WR-V, would be its price.

Of course, we would have to wait closer to the debut date to get an indication of what kind of pricing we are looking at for the Honda WR-V, but if
Thailand pricing is anything to go by
, we might be looking at a tiny naturally aspirated Japanese SUV that breaches the RM100k mark.

In Thailand, the Honda WR-V is offered in either the base SV variant or the range-topping RS model, with prices starting from 799,000 baht to RM869,000 baht (around RM103k-RM112k).

There are some differences in terms of exterior finishes and equipment, but all 2023 WR-V units are fitted with the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC engine mated to a CVT gearbox that produces 121PS and 145Nm of torque.

Other notable features include a 4.2-inch TFT multi-info display, 7" infotainment touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto), Honda Smart Key Card (with keyless entry & engine start), four airbags (six for top variant) and Honda Sensing safety suite (extra Honda LaneWatch for RS).

Whether the WR-V warrants its price is primarily up to you, but we're intrigued to know your thoughts on the matter.


Carlist.my brings DRIVE: Off-Road Edition 2019 to Sabah

For the first time ever, Carlist.my will host a 2-day off-road car exhibition. Located at the Likas Sports Complex this 16th and 17th of November, the DRIVE: Off-Road Edition 2019 is set to deliver one of the biggest and most exciting car expos in Sabah.

Packed with loads of offers and promotions from participating brands, the event will showcase Isuzu’s Borneo Safari 2019 official vehicles as well as the All-New 1.9 Ddi Blue Power D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, and the Ford Ranger Raptor. Attending visitors will also be able to test drive vehicles on a four-wheel drive track and a defensive driving course in addition to regular tarmac roads.

To be officiated by Datuk Haji Nordin Siman, Mayor of Kota Kinabalu, the DRIVE: Off-Road Edition 2019 will have a variety of food truck vendors, a bazaar area, and car accessories for visitors to enjoy alongside a display of dazzling modified vehicles from the Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association, Borneo Jeep Car Club and various car clubs.

For convenience, visitors using GRAB e-hailing service are entitled to an RM5 discount on their trip to and from Likas Sports Complex by simply using the code “CARLISTDRIVE” throughout the event period.

Visitors stand a chance to win daily lucky prizes such as coffee vouchers, electronic products, and pre-loaded petrol cards worth more than RM10,000. K2 mineral water and Tritonic Isotonic drinks are the official beverages for the event. World Of Buzz, Lobak Merah and Noodou are the official media partners to promote this event.

For more information about the exhibition and test drive booking, check out our homepage
here
.


Geneva 2017 – All-New Kia Picanto To Make Global Debut

The
all-new Kia Picanto
 city car has been revealed for the first time in Europe, ahead of its public debut at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show in March.
Now in its third-generation, the new
Kia Picanto
 brings a youthful and energetic design, an entirely new powertrain option, improved build quality and a high-tech new cabin and that also offers buyers greater potential for customisation.
Crucially, Kia claim the Picanto is now quieter, adopt a more spacious cabin, with the largest cargo capacity in its class. The Picanto also embraces the increasing trend towards five-door models in the A-segment, and hence, the three-door model will be discontinued for the third generation car.
For the first time, Kia will also offer the Picanto in a new ‘GT-Line’ specification, in line with company’s more premium products such as the Optima GT, in European and North American markets.
Despite maintaining its on-road footprint, the new platform boasts a longer wheelbase and longer rear overhang, and a 25mm shorter front overhang, at 675mm – this has freed up more space in the cabin and boot. The longer rear overhang means the boot has grown from 200 litres (VDA) to a maximum 255 litres now.
Essentially, the wheels have been pushed further out towards the corners of the car; the Picanto now measures 1,485 mm in height, 3,595 mm length and 1,595 mm width, the wheelbase has been stretched to 2400mm, up by 15mm.
Three gasoline engines will be available to buyers. The 1.0-litre (67PS and 96 Nm) and 1.25-litre (84PS and 122 Nm) naturally-aspirated multi-point injection (MPI) engines have been carried over from the outgoing Picanto, with a range of enhancements to improve efficiency and driveability.
From Q4 2017, Kia’s new 1.0-litre T-GDI (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) power unit will also be available, offering turbocharged gasoline performance in the Picanto for the first time ever. The 1.0-litre T-GDI engine features a single-scroll turbocharger for instant acceleration, as well as an integrated exhaust manifold, and a high-pressure (200 bar) fuel supply to produce 100PS and 172 Nm of torque.
All engines are paired with a five-speed manual transmission, while a four-speed auto will complement the 1.25-litre MPI models, delivering power to the front wheels.
On the inside, Kia’s designers strived to create a modern cabin, the focal point being the 7.0-inch ‘floating’ infotainment touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard; which houses a navigation system with 3D map, and is available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for full smartphone integration.
Black and grey cloth seats are available as standard, but now, buyers can also personalise their new Picanto with one of five optional colour packs, featuring contrast artificial leather upholstery and stitching.
In GT-Line specification, the exterior of the new Picanto is completed with red, silver and black highlights in the grille, side intakes, along the side skirts and in the rear valance, as well as chrome-tipped twin exhausts. The exterior of the Picanto will be complemented by new projection headlamps with LED indicators and LED daytime running lights, a shark-fin antenna will feature in the near future.
In the ride and handling department, Kia have improved the MacPherson front and torsion beam rear for more stability and comfort. The Picanto’s anti-roll bars are 2% stiffer and mounted slightly lower at the front, and 5% stiffer and slightly higher at the rear. A new steering with new steering ratios (16.5:1 to 14.3:1) has been quickened steering by 13% over the outgoing Picanto, reduced the lock-to-lock turns, from 3.4 turns to 2.8 turns now.
Kia have also paid attention to the safety of the car – now featuring double the proportion of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) compared to the outgoing model; 44% of the new Picanto’s bodyshell is cast in AHSS (up from 22%), reducing body-in-white weight by 23 kg while improving tensile strength by 12%.
The new Picanto is the safest A-segment car Kia has ever made, featuring double the proportion of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) compared to the outgoing model and a selection of active safety technologies. Now, 44% of the new Picanto’s bodyshell is cast in AHSS (up from 22%), reducing body-in-white weight by 23 kg while improving tensile strength by 12%.
The safety suite includes six-airbags (front, front side and curtain airbags) as standard, and an optional knee airbag, as well as a range of active safety features. These include standard Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) will also be offered as an option.
The all-new Picanto will go on sale across Europe from the start of Q2 2017. Following on
earlier reports
, the all-new Kia Picanto could make its Malaysian debut in 2017 as well.


New Honda Civic Launched – Now With Honda Sensing, From RM113k

After much anticipation, Honda Malaysia today finally launched the updated 10th generation Civic, with a few new features.

The new Civic will still be offered in three variants, with pricing as below:

Civic 1.8S – RM113,600

Civic 1.5 TC – RM129,600

Civic 1.5 TC-P – RM139,600

The big news with the new Civic is the inclusion of the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistance features (1.5 TC-P only) which comprises:

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane Keep Assist (LKAS)

Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Low Speed Follow (LSF)

Auto High-Beam

On the exterior, new features that are available across the range include a redesigned front bumper, new rear bumper garnish, new wheel design, a new trunk spoiler, new front sensors, new auto wipers, as well as 60:40 foldable rear seats.

Moving up the ladder, the mid-range Civic 1.5 TC gets even more new features like:

Honda LaneWatch

LED Headlights

LED DRLs

LED Fog Lights

Chrome Outer Door Handle

New leather seats

On top of the above, the range-topping Civic 1.5 TC-P gets additional features such as:

Honda Sensing

New 18-inch wheels

Other key features include:

New Auto Front Wiper

8-way Driver Power Seat

Remote Engine Start with Walk Away Auto Lock

New steering switches

New air-cond fan control switch

Under the hood, nothing has changed. The Civic still gets the same two engine options – the 1.8L i-VTEC engine which produces 141 PS and 174 Nm of torque, and the 1.5L VTEC Turbo engine which kicks out 173 PS and 220 Nm of torque. Both engines are EEV certified.

Also new for the Civic is the Passion Red Pearl colour option, which complements the existing Lunar Silver Metallic, White Orchid Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.

Last but not least, the new Civic comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty program, and a 5-years/ 100,000 km free labour service.


All-New Audi A8L (D5) Launched In Malaysia – 3.0 TFSI, RM879,900

The flagship model of the Audi range, the all-new A8 L has been formally introduced to the Malaysian market. The all-new fourth-generation (D5) model is offered here in its long-wheelbase version, denoted by the “L” in its name; and has been developed from the ground-up for increased comfort, efficiency, and connectivity.
The A8 L measures 5,302 mm (standard model is 5,172 mm in length), thanks to an additional 130 mm added into the wheelbase over the standard model. Height and width are identical to the standard wheelbase mode at 1,485 mm and 1,945 respectively. The A8 L weighs in at 2,020 kg.
The A8 L is offered in Malaysia exclusively with the 3.0-litre (TFSI) turbocharged V6 engine which is aided by a 48V mild-hybrid electrical system. The mild-hybrid system allows the A8 L to coast with the engine switched off, and to restart smoothly. It also has an extended start/stop function and an energy recovery output of up to 12 kW. Nett power is rated at 340 hp and 500 Nm between 1,370 rpm and 4,500 rpm.
Power is fed to an 8-speed automatic transmission which is then distributed to all four wheels through Audi’s quattro permanent-all wheel drive system. Performance is brisk, to say the least, with a 5.7 second 0-100 km/h sprint time and 250 km/h top speed.
Other standard equipment highlights include adaptive air suspension and dynamic all-wheel steering.
In terms of design, the A8 L features a lot of styling cues inspired by the 2014 Audi Prologue concept. At the front is the company’s trademark Singleframe grille which is flanked by HD Matrix LED headlights. The sides are familiar Audi fair, with streamlined proportions and chiseled bodylines, while at the rear, the full-width LED light strip accentuates the width and high-tech design of the car.
The interior has grown in size and equipment, among the major highlights are the MMI touch response, which features two (10.1- and 8.6-inch) high-resolution HD touchscreens for displaying and controlling infotainment and convenience functions, four-zone climate control, panoramic glass roof, and a separate (removable) tablet-like controller that augments the air conditioning, seating, lighting, settings, and media functions for rear-seat passengers.
In terms of safety, the A8 L boasts active safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Assistant including Exit Warning, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA). The A8 L is offered as standard with eight airbags (front, side-front, side-rear, and curtain) and Audi Pre-Sense front and rear.
The new A8 L is fully-imported from the Audi Neckarslum plant in Germany and retails in Malaysia for RM 879,900, inclusive of a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.


Ford Ranger Owner's Club Borneo Region Completes Overland Expedition To Ulu Engkuah

If you google "Ulu Engkuah", chances are you're not going to find much information on it. It's a remote, uncharted village in the district of Song, located in Kapit, Sarawak. Like many of these small villages, it is surrounded by lush rainforests and pristine rivers- the kind you will encounter if you partake in the annual Borneo Safari.
Just yesterday, the Ford Ranger Owner's Club Borneo Region completed an overland expedition to this village- marking the most successful expedition for the club yet. There will be more to come as the club plans to explore more villages in the region as well.
The hilly terrain and river crossings posed a challenge, but nothing too tough for the the Ford Ranger. With 120 kilometers of gravel path and slippery surfaces, a 16-car contingent covered the route and back over 3 days and 2 nights- with 12 to 18 hour stretches of driving each day.
Naturally they had help from the orang asli of the village, especially with charting a route via land, but the benefits are great. The expedition will help to open up development opportunities for the people of the village, and allow them better access to amenities and resources. It's a win-win for the club and the villages they visit: members get to stretch their cars to the limit, and a connection is developed between these villages and the outside world.


ASA 3.0 Untuk Perodua D55L – Tempahan Dibuka Bermula 19 Februari 2021

Nampak gayanya, pelancaran
Perodua D55L
 semakin menghampiri kita. Bila semakin hampir dengan tarikh pelancarannya, semakin banyak info serta khabar angin timbul tentang model
SUV
 baru yang bakal dikeluarkan oleh Perodua ini.

Perodua D55L yang dibina berdasarkan model
Daihatsu Rocky
 dan Toyota Raize ini dijangka akan diperkenalkan pada bulan Mac tahun ini. Sebelum ini, pelbagai spekulasi tentang D55L ini dibuat, antaranya ialah spesifikasi,
nama rasmi
 serta varian yang bakal ditawarkan untuk model ini. Oleh itu, kami disini ingin menjelaskan kepada ada beberapa info penting tentang Perodua D55L ini daripada sumber yang boleh dipercayai!

Pertama sekali, Perodua D55L ini bakal hadir dengan sistem keselamatan yang terbaru daripada Perodua, iaitu Advance Safety Assist 3.0 (ASA 3.0). Bagi yang kurang faham, ASA ini merupakan terma yang digunakan oleh Perodua bagi menggantikan
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System)
. ASA berfungsi dengan menggunakan sebuah kamera stereo yang diletakkan di belakang cermin pandang belakang. Dengan adanya kamera tersebut, pemandu tidak perlu lagi risau dengan bahaya yang ada di hadapan sekiranya mereka tidak peka kerana ASA akan memberikan peringatan sekiranya ia mengesan bahaya di hadapan.

Sebelum ini,
Perodua
 telah pun memperkenalkan sistem ASA dan ASA 2.0 pada modelnya yang terdahulu. Pada awalnya, ASA ini hanya berfungsi diantara kelajuan 4-30 km/h dan kamera stereo ASA ini hanya mampu untuk mengesan kenderaan di hadapan. Namun ASA 2.0 telah meningkatkan prestasi dengan meningkatkan jurang kelajuan yang lebih tinggi iaitu sehingga 100 km/h selain mampu untuk mengesan pejalan kaki dewasa juga. Tapi apa pula perbezaan dan kelebihan ASA 3.0?

Meskipun ASA 3.0 ini sudah dipastikan bakal hadir bersama Perodua D55L, namun peningkatan pada ASA 3.0 berbanding ASA 2.0 ini masih lagi menjadi spekulasi. Antaranya, ASA 3.0 ini dijangka bakal meningkatkan taraf kelajuannya kepada 120 km/h bagi Front Collision Warning untuk berfungsi!

Bukan itu sahaja, ASA 3.0 juga bakal dilengkapi dengan sistem seperti Active Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection serta Reverse Blind Spot Detection. Ciri keselamatan lain seperti 6 beg udara keselamatan serta VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) turut tersedia pada model ini. Tidak dinafikan, ciri keselamatan sesebuah kenderaan amat penting. ASA 3.0 yang sudah dinaiktaraf ini semestinya bakal menjadi sebab yang kukuh untuk orang ramai membeli kereta ini.

Selain itu, Perodua D55L ini disahkan bakal hadir dengan tiga varian iaitu X, H dan AV. Seperti yang anda tahu, varian AV merupakan varian tertinggi (premium) tetapi bagi varian asas, ia bakal dipanggil sebagai varian X, sementara varian H berada di tengah-tengah. Selain itu, model ini turut bakal hadir dengan aksesori tambahan GearUp yang merangkumi dalaman dan luaran oleh Perodua seperti model-model yang lain.

Adakah varian asas D55L ini turut dilengkapi dengan ASA 3.0? Kemungkinannya tidak, hanya pada varian AV sahaja. Apa-apa pun, perkara ini hanyalah andaian sahaja. Yang kami tahu, ASA 3.0 akan hadir bersama model D55L ini. Tetapi untuk varian yang mana itu masih lagi menjadi misteri. Mungkin Perodua jadikan ASA 3.0 sebagai ciri wajib bagi semua varian D55L? Itu lebih baik!

Sementara itu, tempahan bagi model Perodua D55L ini bakal dibuka bermula 19 Februari 2021. Sebelum ini,
Proton X50
 telah mencapai lebih 45,000 tempahan. Adakah Perodua D55L ini bakal mendapat lebih banyak tempahan daripada itu? Ini bakal menjadi
persaingan
 yang sengit!

Dianggarkan harga bagi Perodua D55L ini bermula daripada RM62,000. Secara lazimnya perbezaan harga di antara setiap varian ialah dalam RM5000. Berdasarkan itu kita boleh membuat andaian jika Perodua D55L X bermula pada RM62,000, varian H pula RM67,000 dan varian AV pada harga RM72,000. Jika betul andaian ini varian AV Perodua D55L tak sampai pun lagi harga Standard Proton X50 pada RM79,200.

Apa kata anda? Adakah ASA 3.0 ini cukup untuk anda mempertimbangkan kereta ini? Kongsikan pendapat anda bersama kami!

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.

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Carlist.my.

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CarlistBid.my
.


3 Cylinder vs 4 Cylinder vs 5 Cylinder vs 6 Cylinder

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the three, four, five and six-cylinder engines?

Since the birth of motorcars, there have been many successful and unsuccessful attempts to develop and universalize different types of engines.

Currently, manufacturers make extensive use of three and four-cylinder engines for regular cars and reserve the six-cylinder engines for large saloons and SUVs, as well as sports cars.

However, not everybody likes to go for the conventional engine choice, as Audi shows with their latest
RS3
. Their stubbornness to not dispose of the five-cylinder engine must have sound reasoning behind it, so we're here to take a look at all the engines mentioned above and understand what their advantages and disadvantages are.

Three-Cylinder

Initially, this type of engine was developed for
compact or small cars
 with a displacement of less than 1000cc. These days, the displacement of three-cylinder engines goes all the way up to 2000cc, with the most powerful one pushing out 600hp (
Koenigsegg Gemera
). Its small and compact design makes it easy for engineers to package a small engine to fit in a car, as it only requires a small amount of space to install.

The small size also makes it extremely fuel-efficient. However, the disadvantage of this engine is that the stroke is not large enough, so the torque that it produces is low, therefore, engineers use various innovations to bump up the torque and power, such as using VVT-i system, fuel injection, DOHC, and even
turbocharging
 to make this engine more powerful.

There's also the problem of the unharmonious movement of the piston. In a three-cylinder engine, there are two pistons moving up and one piston moving down, causing the engine to vibrate while operating. The vibrations produced will resonate through the car and into the cabin, accelerating driver fatigue in long-distance driving. This vibration will also cause the engine mounting system to wear out quickly, and replacement costs are usually more expensive than 4-cylinder engines.

Some new engines, such as the ones from Volvo, have a balancing mechanism to control the vibrations produced by the disharmonious movement of the pistons.

Four-Cylinder

The four-cylinder engine is a popular choice amongst manufacturers for many different reasons. It comes with a displacement of 1000cc all the way up to 2700cc for petrol engines and can go up to 4000cc for diesel engines used by trucks. This engine is preferred because it has a harmonious piston movement during operation apart from being compact and straightforward.

Two pistons go up, and at the same time, two pistons go down, canceling out any sort of primary balance vibration. Because it has fewer components, it is also lightweight and gives a
dynamic advantage
 to the car. The engine is also cheap to produce.

But the disadvantage of this engine setup is the existence of secondary balance inertia on the crankshaft, which will cause some vibration. To overcome this problem, a balancing shaft must be fitted to the engine. Due to this problem, it is very rare to have this engine in a very large displacement.

Six-Cylinder

Just adding two more pistons to a four-cylinder inline engine provides you a six-cylinder engine. Toyota, BMW and Nissan are very fond of the six-cylinder engine, especially for their sports cars. Power will come in at every 120 degrees in engine timing compared to 180 degrees in a four-cylinder, giving it a very smooth power delivery.

Just like the four-cylinder inline engine, this engine is simple in design, easy to build, and the construction cost is cheap. However, due to the large size of the engine, it isn't easy to arrange this engine in a horizontal orientation, so it is not seen on a front-wheel-drive system.

Usually, these engines are installed for rear-wheel-drive cars where the engines will be stacked vertically. BMW uses the six-cylinder inline engine in the
Z4
 and also the Supra but with a closed deck design.

Five-Cylinder

So we've come to the odd engine out, the five-cylinder engine. There are many reasons why a five-cylinder is used as a powertrain. Chief amongst them is its shorter in length than an in-line six, which means it can be mounted transversely much more easily. This opens up the opportunity for the engine to be mounted in smaller cars within a manufacturer's range.

Some of the most excellent compact fast cars, such as the Audi Ur Quattro, second-generation Ford Focus RS, and the Volvo
850R
, came with a five-cylinder engine. Delivery of power is smoother than that of a four-cylinder, and when enhanced with the vertical balance of the reciprocating pistons as well as its ability to produce a more significant displacement, there are plenty of reasons why the likes of Audi and Volvo love the five-cylinder engine.

The characterful engine sound it makes, makes it sound like a V10 - another reason why these two manufacturers love them.

Unfortunately, there is also a torque imbalance along the horizontal plane of the engine. What this means is that a five-cylinder engine is constantly trying to twist or flip over its length. This is usually solved with a balancing shaft but the balancing of the shaft is an art that only some manufacturers can master. They only master it because they need to.

The five-cylinders also exude more carbon dioxide than a four-cylinder, but manufacturers work around it by including a mild hybrid system, cylinder deactivation tech and a belt-driven starter/generator.


Used cars now come with a warranty? - All about Warranty Smart

Having some form of protection over any product you’re going to own - or already own - is a very common modern-day concern, one that’s basically expected instead of preferred. Laptops, smartphones, and of course cars are among our prized and essential possessions, so it’s only wise to have a warranty attached.

However, while a manufacturer-backed warranty is included as standard on all new cars, things aren’t so clear cut when it comes to used, reconditioned, or grey market import vehicles, even if the condition they are in is just as pristine. The other major issue with new car warranties is their lack of flexibility and the fact that they don’t last for very long: 5 years at the most, if you’re lucky; at least in Malaysia.

This is where companies like
Warranty Smart
 come into the picture, offering extended protection that’s just as convenient and comprehensive as that from the official automaker or its partnering local distributors.

Peace Of Mind + Flexibility - Not Just For New Cars

In their top tier Smart Platinum+ package, for example, Warranty Smart covers up to 147 different vehicle components including many costly, high-stress parts in the engine, transmission, electronics, fuel system, and supercharger or turbocharger(s). There’s even coverage for labour fees on dreaded oil leaks.

That said, in the spirit of ultimate flexibility, they also do not limit you to their standard warranty program packages and allows customers to mix and match their coverage parameters as they see fit. A bit of Smart Platinum+ mixed with Smart Gold+, Silver+, or Bronze+. You decide!

Since Warranty Smart aims to offer an extended coverage service that delivers ease and peace of mind to owners that extends to and beyond that of OEMs, that means matching or exceeding them in terms of convenience and flexibility as well.

Affordable Warranty Packages For Everyone

Furthermore, vehicle coverage packages are also transferrable should you decide to sell your car and remain active regardless of a change in ownership, meaning the same extra protection and peace of mind of an extended warranty can add value to the price of your car.

With plans from as low as RM848 per year for most Japanese brand vehicles and as low as RM954 per year for continental car brands, extending your car’s warranty coverage is now made truly affordable, convenient, and more flexible than ever thanks to Warranty Smart.

Car Make

Annual Premium (RM)

Japanese

From RM848 per year

Continental

From RM954 per year

Comprehensive Parts Coverage

As one of the country’s pioneering aftermarket vehicle warranty suppliers with operations in Malaysia as well as Thailand and Indonesia, Warranty Smart’s expertise and reputation has been cemented over its 10 years of experience and a long list of satisfied customers.

Over this period, they have also cultivated a strong partnership with Pacific & Orient Insurance Berhad, one of Malaysia’s premier general insurers, with their policies being the bedrock of Warranty Smart’s services.

They also have 182 panel workshops nationwide, chosen for their service quality, strategic locations, and mechanical proficiency with a variety of car brands and models so that you’re never too far to conveniently reach out to file a claim.

Open Service Concept, 24/7 Towing Nationwide

Speaking of which, as they adopt an Open Service concept, Warranty Smart does not limit their customers to only going to their panel workshops for routine servicing in contrast to automakers (and their restrictive conditions) that require this to keep their warranty policies intact.

This means that you can continue to support your favourite mechanic or most conveniently located workshop without worry. And when you do need to bring your car in to check or diagnose a potential fault on covered items at a Warranty Smart authorised panel, that’s also provided free of charge.

Should there indeed be a claimable issue, the panel workshop will work together with Warranty Smart’s claims department to determine the extent of your coverage relative to the components that need replacing or repair, which of course is inclusive of parts and labour.

Warranty Smart provides fast claim approval within 48 hours, and if for some reason the vehicle is not able to be driven there, a complementary nationwide towing service is always a phone call away 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

To learn more about Warranty Smart and how they can help you with your next car owning experience,
head over to their website
 (
www.warrantysmart.com.my
),
their Facebook page
, or call their careline at 1300-800-833.


2015 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 218i Launched In Malaysia: From RM219k

Reporting to you live from a special media preview of the
BMW
 World Malaysia 2015 event, BMW Group Malaysia has just launched the much-anticipated, all-new 2015 BMW
2 Series
 Active Tourer.
The five-seater, compact, multi-purpose vehicle is BMW’s first foray into the segment, and the brand’s first-ever front-wheel drive model – yes, these are
times for big changes
.
2015 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 218i: RM218,800 (without insurance)
*optional Luxury Line Package: RM30,000
If you’re wondering, yes, this is here to directly contest with the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, and appropriately, the Active Tourer is priced nearly identically to the B-Class, which itself retails from RM218,888 (without insurance).
KEY SPECS:
Engine: 1.5-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo, three-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed Steptronic, torque converter automatic
Power: 136hp @ 4,400rpm
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,250 to 4,300rpm
0-100km/h: 9.2 seconds
Top Speed: 205km/h
Consumption: 5.2-litres/100km (claimed)
Performance:
Despite the 218i nameplate which may suggest a larger 1.6 or 2.0-litre four pot, powering the Active Tourer MPV is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder BMW TwinPower turbo engine which delivers 136hp @ 4,400rpm and 220Nm of torque between 1,250 to 4,300rpm. While tuned uniquely here, the all-new BMW engine in the Active Tourer shares much of its components with the BMW i8 sports car (where it delivers 231hp, before the electric motors boost total output to 362hp), and several MINI and BMW variants.
*Check out our review of the 2 Series Active Tourer in Austria
The transmission is a new six-speed torque converter automatic, sourced from Aisin – a step away from the regular eight-speed ZF transmissions common to most BMWs in this part of the world.
The reason for the swap largely stems for the Active Tourer being a FWD model, and with that, a transverse mounted engine, as opposed to the longitudinal layout of their RWD models. The transmission is similar to what we have in the F56 MINI.
As usual, the transmission and throttle mapping can be set to various driving modes, depending on your preferences: ECO PRO, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ is what you’ll be able to choose from. Auto engine start/stop technology is included as well.
Exterior Styling:
Before we get started, mind the fact that the model you see here is in fact a manual variant of the car, which yes, you can buy: we understand that there’s a very small amount of units available, so you best get to booking one if you must have it. Beyond this, only the automatic variant will be available.
The silhouette of the Active Tourer largely resembles another familiar premium German brand’s compact MPV, with a high roofline, wide body, compact wheelbase, dimensions aren’t at all too far off. Regardless, it still looks like a BMW through and through, with iconic and signature traits of the car visible throughout.
And understanding that the Active Tourer rides on a similar platform to the F56 MINI, the wheelbase is in fact longer by 175mm. Total measurements for the car are 4,342mm overall length, 1,800mm overall width and 1,555mm height.
Standard features to the car include 16-inch alloy Turbine style wheels, LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights and rear LED taillights.
LUXURY LINE:
 Deciding on coughing up the extra RM30,000 for the Luxury Line package, and the list of exterior upgrades include 18-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels, further chrome embellishments around the kidney grille, front air inlets, rear apron and exhaust tailpipe.
Interior Design:
Again, a lot of influence comes courtesy of whether or not you opt for the Luxury Line. As standard, the highlights include Sensatec upholstery (vinyl) and high-gloss black interior trim finishers, with highlights in Pearl Chrome.
The cabin itself is as mentioned, a five-seater arrangement, with all styling cues largely resembling what’s already been in previous BMW models. Once inside, drivers will take note of the higher seating position, distanced front windshield and more cues unique to an MPV.
BMW has done extremely well to package the interior of the vehicle, offering lots of storage compartments, generous head and legroom (for a compact vehicle), flexibility of the space within and so much more.
CARGO & SPACE:
 Made for people/ cargo carrying, there is a lot of potential within the cabin. The rear seats for example, don’t only fold flat, they slide forwards and backwards to offer either more rear legroom, or more boot space. On its own, the boot offers 468 litres of space, but with the 40:20:40 split folding seats completely folded, there’s 1,510 litres of useable cargo room. Under the cargo floor, there’s another 100 litres of room, but the trade-off is the lack of a spare wheel.
And if for some impossible reason all that space isn’t enough, the front passenger seat can be folded completely flush with the rear to make room for a full on surfboard, if necessary.
FEATURES:
 BMW Group Malaysia have been generous to specify lots of comfort equipment for its Active Tourer. While we miss out on the full-on 8.8-inch version, Malaysians will benefit from a 6.5-inch control display screen, controllable via a simpler iDrive Controller – no Touch control either.
Infotainment is courtesy of a Radio BMW Professional system, which features a host of BMW Apps and TeleServices, and Bluetooth, USB and AUX-IN connectivity – classis BMW goodies. Sadly, there isn’t a head-up display system as there was on our test drive of the car in Austria.
LUXURY LINE:
 The optional line brings with it full Leather Dakota upholstery with perforations in the seats, fine-wood trim, contrast stitching in the dashboard and more. Equally updated is the entertainment system, which is an upgraded HiFi 205W loudspeaker system, with seven speakers instead of the standard six. The iDrive controller is also upgraded to include more direct select buttons.
The Luxury Line also adds an automatic operation of the tailgate, allowing you to open and close the tailgate at the touch of a button, and a keyless entry feature.
Safety Features:
Not once to slouch where safety is concerned, the all-new 2 Series Active Tourer comes standard with the usual six airbags, ABS, Automatic Stability Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Brake Control, and ISOFIX attachments at the rear. Run-flat tyres are specified as standard.
Also standard to the Active Tourer is a Park Distance Control feature only for the rear of the vehicle, where there’s also a rear-view camera.
LUXURY LINE
: Specifying the optional RM30,000 package adds a front Park Distance Control feature, with Park Assistant.
Other information:
Included in the price is BMW Group Malaysia’s Service + Repair Inclusive package, which entitles buyers to a three-year or 60,000km (whichever comes first) that allows you to “forget about the cost of maintaining, servicing or repairing any wear-and-tear items during the time period. This includes free brake bads, free oil changes, free brake discs, free filters, free drive belts and free scheduled inspections.


Car Culture: JDM Isn't What It Used To Be

In the last few years, the prices of Japanese cult cars have exploded. What has the community turned to?

We're living in a pretty strange time. We have Honda Civic Type Rs of all generations going for absurd money - thanks to the internet showing people around the world just how much their cars are going for in other countries and at various auctions. Yes, this eliminates arbitrage in the context of cars - because people know that they can sell their models for much more to a foreign market.

The problem is that it means many dream cars have been pushed out of reach for anyone who hasn't come into proper earning power in the last few years. Dreamt of owning a Honda Civic EG hatch? They're pushing RM 60,000 for even regular non SiR variants, packing slightly more potent motors like the B16B or B18CR. A proper
Civic EK Type R
 will set you back close to RM 150,000 on the market now.

And it's not just the exorbitant prices of Hondas that are pulling Japanese cult cars out of reach. We remember a time when you could buy a Nissan GT-R (33, 32, or 34, in that order) from around RM 80,000 to around RM 150,000. Now the R32 models are close to RM 200,000, if not more for even a half-decent example. The GT-S and GT-ST models aren't exactly cheap either, so good luck creating a replica.

The
Toyota Supra
 is also notoriously expensive, whether or not you have an original 6-speed manual gearbox or a targa top roof. Even the Mazda RX-7, with its notoriously finnicky rotary engine, has not been spared from surges in pricing. You can hardly find a decent example for less than RM 150,000, when you could pick one up for just over RM 50,000 in the mid-2010s.

Bit by bit, all of these cult classics are simply getting too expensive. You could tell someone to just save up for one, but it's more likely that these models go up in price faster than you can save your hard-earned money. Even models like the Subaru WRX STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are creeping up, despite not having quite the same status as the models mentioned before.

This means Malaysian car enthusiasts have to turn to other avenues. There's already the typical examples of Malaysian heroes, like the Proton Satria, Proton Putra, Proton Wira, Perodua Kelisa, and - done properly - a Perodua Myvi. They're definitely potent machines with the right powertrain and development, but ultimately they're all front-wheel drive options.

Not that front-wheel drive is a bad thing, though it limits the breadth of enjoyment you can get from your car. Other notable affordable front-wheel drive models are the Nissan Sentra (B13 and N14) generation and the Toyota Corolla (AE92 through AE111). Unfortunately, if you want something you can put sideways around an empty car park or small race track, your only affordable options are the Toyota Corolla KE70, or the Nissan Cefiro - and neither are really affordable anymore.

The
KE70
 stopped being affordable when Toyota Corolla AE86 prices started to skyrocket. The reason for this is that in order to actually have a reasonably quick, reasonably powerful KE70, you needed pretty much all of the running gear from an AE86. The problem with the A31 is similar, as making one enjoyable needs you to pick up either Nissan S chassis parts or parts from the Nissan Skyline - neither of which are as cheap as they used to be.

So what's left for enthusiasts? Well, we won't reveal it to you just yet to avoid inflating prices, but they're front-engine, rear-wheel-drive machines that come from the factory with either inline-four or inline-six, naturally aspirated engines. They aren't the fastest things from the factory, but they have a breadth of torque and a fairly healthy supply of aftermarket parts.

More important is the fact that they aren't as expensive to service as people think - about as much as a Japanese car of the same age. If you do a little bit of research, you'll figure out exactly what car we're referring to, and you'll be surprised by just how affordable it is to buy one, build one, and enjoy one on a fairly regular basis.

After all, what use is having a fun car, if you never actually have fun with it? Let's face it, JDM (or Japanese) cars are no longer the underdogs. They're cars for those with deep pockets, and in many cases, they won't be driven as they were intended, with the intent of preserving value for future resale. It's a tough pill to swallow, but one you should do quickly and move on with before we're all forced into electric, autonomous cars.


Tip Untuk Kekal Selamat Di Jalan Raya

Anda tahu Raya sudah hampir tiba bila iklan-iklan Yusuf Taiyoob mula dimainkan di corong-corong radio. Dengan musim perayaan yang semakin hampir, ramai antara kita, terutamanya yang tinggal di kota raya akan berasa teruja untuk balik ke kampung bagi menikmati hidangan rendang, ketupat dan lemang yang sememangnya membuka selera.
Tetapi sebelum kita boleh menikmati hidangan dan sajian lazat kampung tersebut, adakah kita benar-benar bersedia untuk perjalanan yang jauh ke kampung demi bertemu mereka yang tersayang?
Kemalangan sememangnya tidak berbau dan tidak boleh di ramal. Jadi, sesiapa sahaja boleh menjadi mangsa, termasuklah diri anda. Mempersiapkan diri dengan beberapa peralatan di dalam kereta mungkin boleh membantu anda untuk melalui detik-detik yang tidak diingini, sekiranya ia berlaku.
“Rakyat Malaysia perlu sentiasa peka semasa berada di jalan raya. Ramai di kalangan rakyat Malaysia yang beranggapan bahawa kemalangan tidak akan berlaku pada diri mereka.  Berita-berita kemalangan yang tragik dilaporkan setiap hari dalam surat khabar serta internet, namun, mereka masih tidak sedar akan kepentingan untuk mempersiapkan diri sekiranya situasi tesebut berlaku pada diri mereka,” kata Pengerusi Kelab Marsyal Keselamatan Jalan Raya, K. Balasupramaniam.
Aktivis keselamatan ini yang sering menganjurkan bengkel-bengkel keselamatan jalan raya menggesa pengguna jalan raya untuk kekal selamat di musim perayaan ini. Beliau menasihatkan pemilik kenderaan untuk menyimpan beberapa barangan yang mungkin dapat menyelamatkan nyawa mereka semasa dalam perjalanan.
“Salah satu alat yang baik untuk simpan di dalam kereta sekiranya berlaku kemalangan adalah sebuah tukul penyelamat yang dilengkapi dengan siren dan lampu suluh. Ia boleh disimpan di dalam ruang simpanan barangan dan anda boleh menggunakannya untuk memecahkan tingkap kereta sekiranya anda terperangkap,”katanya lagi.
Selain memastikan kereta diselenggara serta pemeriksaan tekanan tayar yang kerap, adalah penting untuk kita memastikan peralatan pembaikan asas kenderaan adalah lengkap.
Peralatan lain yang perlu ada di dalam sesebuah kereta dan berguna semasa situasi kecemasan termasuklah alat pemadam api, kit pertolongan cemas, kabel ‘jumper’, kon trafik serta baju hujan.
“Orang ramai mesti mempunyai pengetahuan tentang keselamatan. Mereka harus tahu perkara-perkara asas seperti pertolongan cemas kerana ada kalanya kemalangan mungkin tidak berlaku kepada diri mereka, namun dengan pengetahuan yang ada, mereka boleh menolong mangsa yang terlibat. Barangan tambahan yang bagus untuk dimiliki adalah kabel menunda serta pita penutup. Disebabkan Malaysia sering mengalami masalah banjir, kabel menunda tersebut mungkin berguna untuk membantu kereta lain yang terkandas dalam banjir dan pita penutup boleh digunakan bagi menutup kerosakan kemalangan kecil buat sementara waktu.”
Bala juga menerangkan bahawa kemalangan jalan raya boleh dikurangkan semasa musim perayaan sekirannya pengendali lebuh raya tidak menawarkan diskaun waktu malam kerana ia menggalakkan orang ramai untuk memandu pada waktu tersebut.
“Bukan semua orang biasa memandu jarak jauh pada waktu malam. Kebanyakan daripada kita hanya memandu ke pejabat dan pulang ke rumah, jadi bila kadarnya lebih murah pada waktu malam, orang ramai akan ingin memandu pada waktu tersebut untuk menjimatkan kos. Tambahan lagi, pastikan juga kanak-kanak terus terjaga semasa dalam perjalanan kerana jika terjadinya kemalangan, mereka sedar tentang apa yang sedang berlaku,” tambahnya lagi.


The BMW Concept Touring Coupé unveiled as a one-off shooting brake concept

This year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este event saw the world premiere of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé.

Designed as a closed two-seater with a shooting brake concept (and an ultra-unique one-off), the BMW Concept Touring Coupé represents the epitome of freedom and the joy of traveling together (if there are no kids in the picture yet, if you know what we mean).

This hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind model merges a traditional body concept with modern technology, boasting the brand's six-cylinder in-line engine (from the Z4) known for its performance and refinement.

The creation of the Concept Touring Coupé was led by the BMW Design team with the goal to reimagine an elegant sports car with a traditional-ish body shape that boasts striking proportions from the long bonnet, muscular rear section, and a stance that one can instantly regard to as a shooting brake.

At first glance, you might feel that the brownish exterior colour is somewhat unique because it is. Called 'Sparkling Lario', the paintwork is embedded with blue glass flakes that add depth and uniqueness to the vehicle's appearance.

Additionally, silver-bronze accents and the specially designed BMW kidney grille enhance its overall elegant facade. The exclusive 20-inch front and 21-inch rear alloy wheels with a 20-spoke radial design just add more 'uumph' to the whole shooting brake stance and look.

That 'uumph'ness is carried into the interior of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé thanks to special Poltrona Frau crafted leather surfaces, two-colour interior tones (dark brown and light saddle brown), and the level of craftsmanship that elevates the whole modern classic vibe.

There's also the custom-made luggage from Modena's famous Schedoni leather workshop that includes two large and one small weekender bags, along with a garment bag, which are all nicely coordinated with the Concept Touring Coupé.

Boujee? Can't argue with that.


Kia Seltos Open For Booking, Poised To Fight HR-V, CX-3, C-HR

Hot on the heels of another korean B-segment crossover is the Kia Seltos, which is closer to launching than ever. What's it going up against?

It's the most competitive segment in the market right now, and for good reason - many buyers are forgoing the traditional route with car size progression and going instead for an SUV or crossover type vehicle. The
Kia Seltos
 is the latest to join that list of cars, and it comes packing a punch.

In conjunction with the announcement of the opening of bookings for the
Seltos
 at any Kia showroom nationwide, there have also been a number of images released to highlight the features and specifications of the upcoming crossover. One of the highlights is the lighting system - part of which is the Sound Mood Lighting System that pulses to the beat of music playing.

Heads-up displays help to keep your eyes on the road and improve safety, displaying everything from speed to Auto Cruise Control status, and even in-car entertainment readouts. This works in tandem with the 8-inch display sitting front and centre, replete with Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple Carplay connectivity.

So what is the Seltos going to be going against? The
Honda HR-V
 is the most obvious rival to beat, with packaging that is simply top in class and pricing that is extremely competitive. But the
Mazda CX-3
 and the
Toyota C-HR
 both offer some truly impressive handling ability, with the latter being priced at a premium while having much better ride comfort to boot.

With all of these to go against, as well as its sister the
Hyundai Kona
, the Kia Seltos will definitely have its work cut out for it.