2015 Perodua Myvi Premium X Full Review: It’s Hip To Be Square, They Promise

In Malaysia, by 2016, this car really does not need any introduction. Our roads are awash with it, and the sight of the
Myvi
 permeates our urban jungles as well as deeper rural areas. You know it, and you may or may not love it.

In either case, there’s no denying its role in granting access to personal transportation and offering a previously unmatched practicality-to-price ratio to a wide swath of Malaysians, which led to it outselling pretty much every other car on the market here for the better part of a decade since 2006, a year after its introduction.

Since then,
Perodua
 has refined the formula for its B-segment hatch, thus far spawning two generations and numerous design tweaks in between the many variants offered for sale. From the get-go, Perodua knew it had a winner on its hands, and, to an outside observer, they seemed to make a play to blanket as much of Malaysia’s roads with it, positioning it as the car to fit as many needs and budgets as possible.

All that leads us nicely to the
Myvi
 in its current form, still based on
Daihatsu
/
Toyota
 underpinnings and powertrain, and better for it. But has
Perodua
 learned all it can from those gangbuster years of early sales and leveraged its education in the economies of scale to produce a more refined, rounded car that’s better able to serve either urbanite or farmhand equally well?
Janji dicapati?

Key Specs

Price:
 RM46,862 - OTR with insurance and GST, including accessories

Engine:
 1,298cc four-cylinder K3-VE DOHC 16V with DVVT

Power:
 91hp @ 6000rpm

Torque:
117Nm @ 4400rpm

Transmission:
 4E-AT four-speed torque converter automatic

Kerb Weight:
970kg

Overview

This 1.3 Premium X (could the ‘X’ be commemorating the Myvi’s 10th year in production?) variant sits somewhere in the middle of the Myvi range - there are five in total, starting with the 1.3 Standard G at the low-end and the 1.5 Advance Edition on top. Finished in Cosmic Gold Metallic, this particular Myvi is certain to draw attention over the the more sedate colour options. Actually, that’s not true as there’s also purple and a bright red or blue to choose from.

Being a middle child, it isn’t starkly barren but neither is it furnished with the frills of the the more expensive Advance variant, most of which are omissions that seem notable on paper, but in my opinion, do not add enough of a gulf to place the two variants in separate boxes. Experientially, as I will elaborate upon further, they are both very much Myvis. That’s good news for the Premium X variant, which aims to hit that sweet spot between features and price.

Exterior

“Move along, people, just another Myvi driving past. Resume normal procedure.”
 - The typical reaction to the sight of a Myvi is one of indifference, partly because its meant as a ‘practicality over prettiness’ purchase, and partly because Malaysia is already so saturated with them.

Catch that eye roll and squint a little to take in that tall hatch body and notice those subtle curves meant to hide the car’s inherently boxy build, and, even in the mid-pack variant, you’ll start to appreciate Perodua’s little touches to make the car as hip as it could while still remaining inoffensive.

It’s a very unassuming car in terms of its looks and even handsome at some angles, it’s meant to fade into the background while retaining a certain amount of draw in the showrooms - it’s like a kitchen appliance.

For this iteration, Perodua has darkened the headlamps, added a touch more angularity and aggressiveness to the front fascia and, this variant, even fitted it with side skirts and a small roof spoiler courtesy of their in-house accessory line, GearUp. This car is designed to to fit in, and it’s a philosophy that has ran with the Myvi since Perodua started selling them, which is why today you’ll see such a varied demographic of owners.

Interior

Before entering a Myvi that has had 10 years of production under it’s belt, one would be forgiven for expecting a certain amount of progress from the first-generation models in 2005/2006, and there are, but not to the level I was expecting.

The hard plastics are everywhere - because of course they would be at this price - but I couldn’t help but wonder if Perodua could have inserted some soft touch materials on key surfaces to elevate the overall feel of quality. It would go a long way.

After all, Perodua offers the Premium X variant Myvi with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. And while I’m not entirely sold on the hide’s purity, it feels a somewhat disconnected experience to have a (comparatively) high quality steering wheel material and much less premium surface on everything else.

The black fabric seats are comfortable and offer a better seated experience than the leather found in the more expensive versions of the Myvi. For one thing, in our superheated afternoons, leather seats left out in an open-air parking lot would sear your rear end upon contact. Pain. Tears. And at this lower end of the market, leather seats made with cost constraints tend to feel much harder than their connotation of luxury would seem to promise.

Fabric seats breathe better and helps keep you planted while cornering as well, which, given how little side support you’re afforded on these relatively flat cushions, could come in very handy.

There are a number of clever compartments, cupholders, and even hangers to place various items, including one perfectly sized for a SmarTAG dingus and one behind the front passenger seat for a tissue box, so even if you’re big on ordering coffee to go, you’ll likely have no trouble placing them somewhere within the Myvi. Though, it must be said that the phoney carbon fibre-esque texture on the bottom multi-purpose compartment seemed totally unnecessary.

The audio system was decent enough and the controls logical, but for the life me, I could not get the Bluetooth connectivity to work even after trying to pair it up with three different phones.

Around the back, rear passenger legroom and overhead space is seriously impressive, even with the front seats pushed all the way back, which of course is the reason Perodua has been so successful at selling the Myvi to small families. Honestly, to top occupant space and airiness like this, you’d need to move up to a much more expensive D-segment vehicle.

Practicality

As a car to fit mostly all needs, Perodua has snuck in little conveniences to make living with the car as easy as can be. A prime example of this would be the folding rear seats, which do not need any fancy electronics (not that it can be included, given the cost) or complex array of hinges and locks. Instead, all you have to do is pull a prong on each side of the rear seats, and down they come. Need to fold them flat? Just pull on the bottom cushion and they come sliding forward and settle neatly further down in the foot well, leaving room for the seats to be folded flat. Et Voilà! Your bi-annual splurge at IKEA suddenly became a simpler logistical affair.

The Daihatsu-sourced 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine is definitely what a lot of buyers will be pulled by when considering the Myvi over the competition, and over the years, that selling-point has seemed to be proven by a solid track record of reliability and low running costs and fuel consumption.

While driving it through the city slogging through traffic jams, interspersed with the occasional undisturbed highway cruise, fuel economy dipped to a maximum of 15.1km per one litre of petrol, which works out to 6.6-litres/100km - an impressive figure.

Perodua has even calculated the servicing and maintenance costs for the Myvi done at their authorised service centres, and for the first 100,000km, the owner only has to fork out roughly
RM2,722
, making it an ideal choice for first-time car owners not wanting to be caught out of luck and cash when it comes time for required servicing. The service interval breakdown is as follows:

20,000km -
RM353

30,000km -
RM182

40,000km -
RM484

50,000km -
RM150

60,000km -
RM384

70,000km -
RM150

80,000km -
RM484

90,000km -
RM182

100,000km -
RM353

Drive And Handling

The Myvi won’t surprise anyone through the corners, and in spite of its square impression on the road, isn’t a closeted delight around a twisty road by any means. That’s fine for the probably 95 percent of the owners that will be driving it. It becomes immediately apparent that being slung around bends isn’t the car’s strong foot.

Initial turn-in seems sure-footed, but very shortly after that you’d realise the steering is very vague and the inevitable understeer that follows is also disconcertingly numb in how that’s communicated through the chassis. I kept having to add steering angle until it managed to offset the understeer into my desired direction.

Drive it in a more civilised manner, however, and the Myvi is keen to show you where it does excel: at low speeds, over bumps, and on medium-speed cruises. That short list seems on the nose for where a small B-segment hatch will live out the majority of its life in use, but relegates the Myvi into being an affordable, agreeable, fairly comfortable and reliable
conveyance
 to where you need to go.

Once the Myvi has set off, the experience is rather pleasant, but the initial brake-lift from standstill (at least on the unit I tested) was a little jerky and required some finesse to modulate. The four-cylinder engine, quite like the rest of the car, seemed to only be comfortable in a rather narrow operational window: under low-to-mild load between approximately 1,500rpm to 2,900rpm. Above 3,000rpm and the engine feels strained, harsh, and slow to summon up any extra power. It seems a low ceiling as there are an additional 3,000rpm further to go until redline. Again, perhaps this is an isolated case with the unit I tested. Perhaps, too, that the more powerful 1.5-litre version puts on a more spirited display.

Safety

The notable safety features on the Perodua Myvi include dual SRS airbags for the front occupants, Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), ISOFIX child restraint system. Upon undergoing their tests, ASEAN NCAP handed the second-generation Perodua Myvi (all variants) a 4 Star safety rating, both for adult occupant safety as well as for child occupant safety. But we’re not so sure about that uniform rating as the base model, the Standard G, is sold without ABS, EBD, and BA.

Conclusion

By now, the Perodua Myvi has become something of an institution, and a brand unto itself in Malaysia. Some tourists and expatriates I’ve spoken to are more readily familiar with the car model than the manufacturer behind it. It set out to be the most car for the most people at the best price and, by in large, it has succeeded enormously.

There’s not much I can conclude that has not been said before, and not much I can say that will sway owners or potential ones from their purchase. Perhaps they’re (you’re?) buying one as a first car, or a secondary car that’s more economical for city use - both are sound decisions.

It’s a fine car, to be sure, and it serves its purpose very well insofar as cars, to an individual’s criterion, are used as mere transportation - of yourself, other people, and/or additional cargo. It will get you where you need to go reliably, unobtrusively, fairly comfortably, and without fuss or much fuel used, which is what most people want. But for me, using the Myvi in such a way, more than anything, whether by design or circumstance, feels like a somewhat hoolow and purely transactional experience. You’re at this location now, and the Myvi can/does take you somewhere else.

I’m sure owners that have had their Myvis for a while now have come to respect their stoic, uncomplaining workhorse, and perhaps I need more time with the Myvi for it to endear itself to me in this way. But credit where it’s due, the Myvi is responsible for mobilising so many Malaysians that it’s hard not to admire. And whatever initial trigger that led to it’s early success, it’s a better car in nearly every respect now, a little more than a decade later.

The Axia - Blood Brother, Worst Enemy

Hold on, we’re not quite done yet.

Until the arrival of the
Axia
 in late 2014, Perodua’s duopoly of small cars have occupied separate domains which, for the most part, were non-overlapping. At one point, the
Myvi
 has shared showroom space with the
Kancil
, the
Kelisa
, and the
Viva
, but the buyers of one rarely considered the other unless forced to due to financial constraints.

The Axia, then, presents itself as both a sibling and a threat to the Myvi especially in its mid-range guise. Compared to the Viva before it, Perodua newest entry level car has grown substantially in size, and in terms of practicality, has put the Myvi squarely in its crosshairs.

During
my review of it
, I found it’s smaller 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine did not feel burdened. In fact, it felt spritelier than the larger 4-cylinder unit in the Myvi, it is more engaging to drive, its interior is also very commodious, and the differences in refinement and comfort is, for the most part, negligible.

In terms of price, too, the Myvi Premium X is more expensive than the the priciest Axia, the 1.0 Advance -
RM42,377
for the Axia and
RM47,262
 for the Myvi. For around RM5,000 less in the Axia Advance, you’d get a spacious, economical car that comes with features that, in the Myvi, you’d have to pay more for, such as leather seats and a touchscreen multimedia system with navigation. Seems like a no-brainer.

If you’re in the market for a mid-range Myvi, you should seriously consider the top-end Axia if you haven’t already.


The All-New Honda HR-V Turbo Packs A Punch But Is It Better Than The Hybrid?

Our sister publication, Mobil123.com had a taster of the HR-V Turbo on a circuit, but it wasn't the turbo grunt that impressed them the most.

The long-awaited launch of the All-New third-generation 2022 Honda HR-V in Malaysia is
just around the corner
, and while we personally got the chance to sample the e:HEV Honda HR-V in Thailand, we've had to turn to our sister publication Mobil123.com from Indonesia to give you an impression of what the turbo variant is like.

Picture credit: Mobil123.com

2022 Honda HR-V Turbo - How does it perform?

Mobil123.com recently got to sample the Honda HR-V RS Turbo on Lombok's Mandalika circuit, and while HR-Vs are not really built for the track, we suppose Honda Indonesia wanted the media to experience the performance of the HR-V turbo on a circuit.

On paper, there is a 56PS power
difference between the Turbo and the naturally aspirated HR-V
. The most expensive and potent HR-V in Indonesia comes with a maximum power of
177 PS
 at 6,000 rpm, while the 1.5-liter NA petrol engine only pushes out
121 PS
 at 6,600 rpm.

For torque, the HR-V RS Turbo has a peak torque of
240 Nm
 at 4,500 rpm, while the NA has
145 Nm
 at 4,300 rpm.

Before starting a lap at Mandalika Circuit, Mobil123.com said they set the driving mode to the 'Sport' setting, which is only available on the HR-V Turbo.

Picture credit: Mobil123.com

They said the combination of the 'Sport' driving mode, turbo engine, plus a CVT automatic transmission with Step-up Shift technology really does give the car fast acceleration.

Honda HR-V Turbo Drag Race

To show how much more performance you get from the HR-V Turbo, Honda Indonesia set up a drag race between it and the old HR-V with the NA 1.8-litre engine on a 400-metre straight track. The best results recorded a difference of 3 seconds between the two models, with the HR-V Turbo recording a 16-second time compared to 19 seconds recorded by the NA.

But what Mobil123.com was most surprised with is how the HR-V Turbo handled itself on the track. According to them, they felt minimal body roll and the car easily went around corners at speeds between 80-100 km/h.

According to the Large Project Leader of the All-New Honda HR-V, Yoshitomo Ihashi, the excellent handling is contributed by the rigid chassis, suspension improvements, and dimensions changes.

"With the addition of length, height, and lower ground clearance, the new 2022 Honda HR-V is more stable," he concluded.

When exiting the corner, the acceleration of the HR-V Turbo is on point, thanks to the Step-down Shift Control, whose duties include maintaining engine speed when the system senses a bend. This technology exists in both the Turbo and NA variant.

Mobil123.com concluded that if the price isn't an issue and you're looking for the most sophisticated, luxurious, and fiercest All-New HR-V, the RS Turbo variant should be your choice.

Honda HR-V Turbo, e:HEV or NA?

But then again, Indonesia is limited to Turbo and NA variants, whereas we will have all three, including the Honda HR-V e:HEV hybrid, which will present
more options
 to Malaysian buyers.

There's no doubt that the Honda HR-V turbo is a powerful car, but the HR-V e:HEV hybrid will have more torque (
240 Nm
 vs
253 Nm
) and better fuel economy than the Turbo, which to some
might just trump the HR-V Turbo
.

In the words of Honda Malaysia, Torque matters! And in the words of our government, targeted fuel subsidy might just be around the corner - so perhaps fuel efficiency will also be a top priority for us Malaysians, which means the hybrid should be the best option here on our shores.


MAVCOM Pantau Harga Tiket Domestik – Kekerapan Penerbangan Akan Ditambah

Suruhanjaya Penerbangan Malaysia (MAVCOM) sedang memantau
harga tiket penerbangan domestik
 terutamanya laluan ekonomi sehala ke Sabah dan Sarawak ketika
musim Tahun Baharu Cina
 pada Januari tahun depan.

Kementerian Pengangkutan
 telah mengadakan perbincangan dengan MAVCOM bagi memastikan harga tiket penerbangan yang ditawarkan adalah kompetitif.

Harga Tiket Penerbangan Domestik Dipantau

Pemantauan harga oleh MAVCOM mendapati majoriti harga tiket penerbangan yang tersedia ketika tempoh berkenaan berada di bawah kadar RM400.

Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Henry Sum Agong, berkata ia berdasarkan julat harga tambang bagi laluan ke negeri berkenaan dalam tempoh musim perayaan itu, berdasarkan pemantauan MAVCOM pada 14 September lalu.

Harga bagi tambang sehala kelas ekonomi dari 18 hingga 26 Januari 2023 (tempoh pemerhatian) ialah antara RM100 hingga RM1,235.

Manakala untuk tempoh 20 hingga 21 Januari 2023 (tempoh puncak), tiket akan dijual pada harga antara RM210 hingga RM1,400.

Kementerian Pengangkutan melalui MAVCOM akan meneruskan pemantauan terhadap harga tiket bagi semua laluan penerbangan domestik, termasuk laluan antara Semenanjung dengan Sabah dan Sarawak.

Kekerapan Penerbangan Domestik Akan Ditambah

Sementara itu, syarikat-syarikat penerbangan domestik juga telah bersetuju untuk menambah frekuensi penerbangan dari semasa ke semasa bergantung kepada permintaan sebagai langkah menangani masalah harga tiket yang tinggi.

Menurut Henry, Kerajaan sentiasa menggalakkan syarikat penerbangan negara untuk meningkatkan kekerapan penerbangan ketika musim perayaan khususnya di laluan yang popular seperti KL-Sibu, Pulau Pinang-Sibu dan Johor Bahru-Sibu.

Buat masa ini, terdapat:

35 penerbangan seminggu bagi KL-Sibu

1 penerbangan seminggu bagi Pulau Pinang-Sibu

7 penerbangan seminggu bagi Johor Bahru-Sibu

Namun Henry menjelaskan bahawa keputusan untuk meningkatkan kekerapan penerbangan ini tertakluk kepada keputusan komersial yang dibuat syarikat penerbangan.


Malaysia's biggest Volvo Certified Damage Repair Centre unveiled in Penang

Volvo Car Malaysia
 has officially launched its latest and largest Volvo Car Damage Repair Centre in the country.

Located in Juru, Penang, the latest facility that offers end-to-end high-quality body repair and paint services comes ready with high-tech equipment and system that also happen to comply with the latest green tech.

According to Charles Frump, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, "The opening of our newest and biggest Volvo Certified Damage Repair Centre facility in Juru, Penang marks our commitment to providing our customers with top-notch after sales care service."

"Our customers have always been a priority and with our third Volvo Certified Damage Repair Centre opening in less than a year, they can be assured that they are taken care of with Volvo’s international standard of care," added Frump.

The 40,000 square feet facility is also equipped with Car-O-Liner, an advanced inspection and repair system that can detect all damages, including chassis alignments. There's also the PIVAB mixing room and extended spray booth for accurate and consistent paint work. Good stuff from Volvo.


All-New 2018 Volvo XC40 Unveiled, EV In The Pipeline

After introducing the new second generation Volvo XC90 and more recently the new XC60, the company has rolled out its third and most compact SUV, the all-new XC40.
Unlike the Volvo XC90 and XC60 that's based on the Volvo SPA platform, the new XC40 is based on the CMA platform, that was co-developed with Geely.
At launch, the Volvo XC40 will be available with the company's diesel D4 or petrol T5 Drive-E engines. Volvo added that more powetrain options will be added at a later date, which includes a hybrid version and a pure electric XC40. Additionally, the new Volvo XC40 will be first in line to receive the new three-cylinder engine.
The interior of the Volvo XC40 is heavily inspired by the XC90 and XC60, including the minimalist-looking dashboard. Volvo says that the XC40 features a number of storage space, including in the doors and under the seats. Elsewhere, the Volvo XC40 also gets a dedicated wireless phone charging space, 'teh tarik' hooks and a removable waste bin in the centre console.
Despite being Volvo's entry-level SUV, the company has no skimped on safety equipment, as the Volvo XC40 gets Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support and 360° Camera.
Production of the all-new Volvo XC40 is expected to start in November at the company's plant in Ghent, Belgium.


A BMW M4 GT4 Designed By A Malaysian???

A Malaysian has had his design immortalized on a BMW M4 GT4. How bloody cool is that?!

Malaysian designer, Chan Wen Bin took first prize when his proposed design for the M4 was voted top by a jury comprising multimedia artist and BMW Art Car designer Cao Fei, Michael Scully (Global Automotive Director @Designworks) and BMW works driver Bruno Spengler (CAN). The public also had a chance to vote for their favorite design on social media.

Wen Bin takes home with him a cash prize of US$3,000 and of course the knowledge will see the light of day on an M4 GT4. We can't help but feel that BMW should have also flown the winner out to see their design in the flesh but maybe they will once travel restrictions are removed.

Wen Bin's masterstroke will on display at the season finale of the DTM Trophy at Hockenheim, Germany on November 7-8.

Following that the design will be also be made available on the iRacing platform.

“I’ve been a fan of BMW since my childhood and always dreamed of achieving something with BMW one day,” said Wen Bin.

“This livery contest was a fantastic opportunity for me to show my passion for BMW and have my design used by BMW Motorsport. I’m over the moon and am delighted to have won this competition. I can’t wait to see the result in the real world. It’s one of my biggest successes in my career as a designer. Thank you so much BMW.”

In addition to the pure aesthetic perspective, the jury also placed emphasis on the link between virtual and real-world motorsport when making their decision. With the motto "THE FUSION OF REAL WORLD AND SIM RACING", the entrants were faced with the task of creating a design whose elegance and beauty comes into full effect not only in the virtual world but also in the real world.

“Congratulations to Chan Wen Bin on winning the BMW M4 GT4 design competition. With his design he has perfectly expressed the fusion of real-world and virtual motorsport. I’m already looking forward to the season finale of the DTM Trophy at Hockenheim, when the livery will cause a real stir in a real-world race and will be just as much of a delight to see. But I’m equally looking forward to seeing the design in use in the virtual world." added Rudolf Dittrich, head of BMW Motorsport vehicle development.

Congratulations Wen Bin! Cayalah brader!


Mercedes-AMG Set To Debut New 53 Line, All-New 2019 CLS First

Mercedes-AMG continues to fill niches in the market, first with the introduction of the AMG 43 line up. The Stuttgart-based company won't be stopping there, as they are said to be introducing the AMG 53 line up, starting with the upcoming all-new
2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS
.
While the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLS will go on sale in summer 2018, the exact timing of when the AMG 53 variant will go on sale in unknown.
According to
Autonews
, the new AMG 53 line will be powered exclusively by a new straight-six engine, codenamed M256. For the upcoming CLS53, the engine is said to output roughly 430 hp, likely mated to an electric motor in a hybrid configuration to improve efficiency.
Elsewhere, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS will be riding on the W213 E-Class' platform, codenamed Modular Rear Architecture (MRA). The MRA platform will allow the next-generation CLS to be longer and more spacious inside, whilst shaving precious kilograms in the process.
The Mercedes-AMG 53 moniker won't be limited to just the CLS. Sources also say that the E-Class will receive the AMG 53 variant, though limited to the coupe and convertible models. As for the E-Class sedan and wagon, these two mainstream models will be V8-powered AMG 63-only.


TC Euro Cars Announces New Zero-Rated GST Prices On Renault Models

In line with the government's move to re-rate GST at zero percent from six percent, many companies have come forward to offer their updated price lists to reflect the removal of the taxation. In many cases we have seen reasonable drops in pricing as prior to the re-rate of GST, companies had found ways to consolidate their supply chains and reduce the amount of GST they would have to bear. In the case of TC Euro Cars, the changes are big for their French marque, Renault.
Note: Prices have been updated after notice from TC Euro on 28th May 2018
This is also a result of great incentives that TC Euro Cars is offering on their products. As you can see in the table above, the savings can be up to RM 40,000 from the pre-GST, pre-incentive pricing. The new prices with zero percent GST include Renault’s five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage for the models listed in the table above. For more information about Renault in Malaysia, you can visit
www.renault.com.my
 or
ww
w.facebook.com/RenaultMalaysia
.


Lexus UX First Impression

The Lexus UX is nearly ready to make its official market debut and if you're interested in the crossover, let's lift off the covers.

Yesterday we were properly introduced to the UX by Lexus Malaysia. The UX which stands for Urban Crossover is one of these new breed of premium small SUVs, that doesn't sit too tall, looks like a hatchback and is formulated for driving around the urban jungle. Think BMW X1, Volvo XC40 and Mercedes' GLA.

Lexus Malaysia is one of the last companies to bring out a car for this segment, but in this case, it's more of saving the best-ish for last rather than late to the party - we will however get to that in a bit.

It can be had in three different variants, the UX 200 Urban, UX 200 Luxury and the UX 200 F Sport. They all come with a new 4-cylinder Dynamic Force 2.0-litre engine, which has been touted to have much higher torque compared to a conventional naturally aspirated engine. This powertrain is paired to what Lexus calls a "10-speed Direct Shift CVT" transmission, which basically mean a CVT transmission that has a launch gear and 10 virtual speeds.

The similarity between the models end there, with each variant being spec'd differently. The F Sport is the highest spec car while the Urban is the variant with the least amount of fancy toys. With that being said, it doesn't mean the Urban has no premium features because what it doesn't have are things that you can live without. Things such as auto-folding mirrors, air-conditioned seats, blind-spot monitoring system or a larger infotainment screen. Across the range however,  the important features come as standard.

Except for the blind spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert, all variants come with Lexus' impressive Safety System+, which include driver aids such as Front Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane-Keeping System and Active Cornering Assist.

We are also glad to report that all cars will come with the powerful 3-Beam headlamp, LED Daytime Running Lights, and Fog lights with cornering function. However, the Urban model does not come with a power boot - oh no, how will we close the boot now? The Urban is also is kitted out with standard 17-inch rims and tyres, not like the run-flat 18s you get in the Luxury and F Sport.

Speaking of the F-Sport, this variant has its own unique kit, such as the F SPORT leather steering, F SPORT smooth leather seats, 18-inch F SPORT Design wheels, Custom driving mode selector, Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) and rear performance dampers.

We would have loved to try the F SPORT and Urban, but unfortunately, we only had time to drive the Luxury Spec vehicle.

From first impressions and within the first 5 minutes of being in the front passenger seat, we immediately felt the luxury and started to relax. The "ventilated seats" aka air-conditioned seats made our backs nice and cool unlike the conventional leather seats which under the hot sun can cook an egg.

The crossover is also quiet, adding to the comfort, a testament to that amazing NVH muting that Lexus is known for. Even at fast speeds, you can still have a conversation with other occupants without raising your voices - just got to love that. The front seats are amazingly comfortable too, and we really didn't need to adjust the seat much to find the most comfortable position.

The Luxury spec's interior has this two-tone two material theme going for it. It's mostly either using plastic (hard or soft) or blue leather. The leather upholstery is stitched together using this technique called Sashiko quilting, a traditional Japanese quilting method which is similarly used when making Judo and Kendo uniforms. With 10 stitches per inch, it's strength is the main reason why Lexus decided to use this method- hoping the interior will stand the test of time.

We then moved on to the driver's seat, and this was where things got interesting. Without a doubt, this drivetrain was not made for high-speed highway cruising. To get a lot of power out of it, the engine really needed to be worked. But take it down a notch and cruise at legal speeds it's as good as any mile-munching Lexus cruiser. Remember when we said best-ish earlier, this is where it applies.

Moving on, with almost no intrusion of tyre, engine and wind noise, the car feels like it can be comfortably driven to the end of the world. Although the engine needed to be pushed hard, on the B roads, the crossover really did show why it's not your ordinary small SUV. It was surefooted and never really felt like it was out of its comfort zone during the twisties. As explained by the Lexus Malaysia team, the crossover has double-wishbone rear suspension, making it more planted than crossovers which have rear trailing arm suspension.

But enough of that, this vehicle is built for the city, and this is where it shines. One of the best things about the UX is how it smoothens out any imperfection on the road. Although the Luxury spec is equipped with run-flat tyres which are generally harsher and stiffer, the crossover just makes light of whatever potholed riddled roads offer up. Imagine the F SPORT version with adaptive suspension; it must be even better.

As a driver, the car is relaxing to drive, especially when you can be confident that you will be in comfort wherever you go. If we had to nitpick at what we didn't like about the car, we would say that the rear isn't the most accomodating for passengers and that the boot is relatively small. But if you're looking for an affordable way to enter the Lexus Luxury party and if you don't need to worry about carrying adults in the rear continually, then this could be the crossover for you.

Lexus UX 200 Urban : RM 243,888

Lexus UX 200 Luxury : RM283,888

Lexus UX200 F SPORT : RM 299,888

*On-the-Road Price W/O Insurance


2023 Proton X90 officially previewed - no more Infinite Weave grille?

The upcoming
2023 Proton X90
 seven-seater SUV has been officially teased and previewed by Proton earlier today.

The first official appearance of the highly-anticipated SUV model from Proton was held in conjunction with the launch of the brand's new stamping line at its Tanjung Malim plant. This new stamping line is capable of producing 50 different components and reducing the brand's annual imported parts by 115,000 units.

With an RM140 million investment, the new stamping line will also play a crucial role in the manufacturing of the new 2023 Proton X90 which is scheduled for launch within the second quarter of 2023. What we can also confirm is that there will be several variants and one of them will be a mild-hybrid model.

This will also mark Proton's first entry in the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) segment and it'll be locally produced here in Tanjung Malim, Perak. The new stamping line, which is also the largest of its kind here in Malaysia, will greatly assist in carrying Proton's momentum in retaining its role as the country's leading brand in the SUV segment.

Going back to the Proton X90, the first 'public' debut from the line-off ceremony showcased a few major aspects. The first and more visible appearance is its front grille. It looks like they have forgone the 'Infinite Weave' design element used on other Proton models.

Instead, the addition of spaced-out chrome pins in a circular fashion that moves away from the centre front logo can be seen sporting the front end. The other aspect is the possible new 'hero' colour option - a dark blue yet almost purple-ish that reminds this particular writer of the Yamaha factory colour or the famous 'blurple' from West Coast Customs.

Proton also confirmed that the X90 will indeed have a
mild-hybrid
 variant and we have a strong suspicion that it's the 1.5-litre TGDi engine with BSG (Belt Start Generator). The total power output for this powertrain is 190PS and 300Nm of torque whereas the electric motor alone offers 13PS and 45Nm of torque. This will assist in longer engine shutdowns while coasting as well as provide an extra boost during acceleration.

According to Roslan Abdullah, Proton's Deputy CEO, "Today's line-off ceremony marks the beginning of activities leading up to the official introduction of Proton's latest model. Following the start of production, we will hold a media preview and customer familiarisation sessions before launching our new SUV, which will also mark our first NEV product. This is an important step in our NEV journey which will gradually build emphasis on hybrid technology before we launch the first Proton EV."


Nak Alat Ganti Proton X70? Beli sebiji lagi X70 ‘scrap’ – RM25,000 sahaja

Jika ada pengguna
Proton X70
 yang terdesak mahukan alat ganti, mungkin anda boleh pertimbangkan untuk membeli sebiji lagi Proton X70 berstatus scrap bagi mendapatkan alat ganti yang diperlukan.

Proton X70 lusuh dijual untuk alat ganti

Foo Lian Auto Supplies, sebuah kedai yang menguruskan alat ganti baharu dan terpakai import yang bertempat di Ipoh, Perak telah membuat satu hantaran di
Facebook
mendedahkan bahawa syarikat itu ingin menjual sebuah Proton X70 tahun 2020 berstatus lupus atau scrap untuk mereka yang inginkan alat ganti model berkenaan.

Menariknya, keadaan luaran dan dalaman kereta itu masih lagi cantik seolah-olah kereta baharu. Perlu diingatkan, kereta ini bukanlah kereta banjir. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat kerosakan seperti kesan kebakaran di hadapan kereta ini.

X70 ini telah dilaporkan terbakar sebelum ditukar status kepada kereta lupus, namun punca kebakaran tidak didedahkan. Jika merujuk pada gambar yang disediakan, kebakaran itu kemungkinan besar berlaku di bahagian hadapan atau enjin.

Bahagian dalamnya seperti tempat duduk, papan pemuka serta kabinnya juga masih dalam keadaan baik dan kemas. Pendek kata, ianya adalah sebuah X70 yang hampir sempurna, tanpa memikirkan bahagian hadapannya.

Proton X70 itu ditawarkan pada harga RM25,000 sebiji tanpa lerai. Jika ada yang berminat dengan Proton X70 ini, anda boleh menghubungi kedai tersebut untuk sebarang maklumat lanjut.

Untuk harga RM25,000, adakah ianya satu tindakan yang berbaloi untuk membeli Proton X70 scrap hanya untuk mendapatkan alat ganti pada kereta ini?


Perodua Launches Bezza GXtra - From RM 35,500

Taking advantage of the large expected crowd turnout during the Malaysia Autoshow 2018, Perodua has launched the Bezza GXtra - a 1.0-litre variant that gets enhanced looks and a new colour. The GXtra variant will replace the 1.0 Standard G variant.
It's being introduced at a price of RM 35,500 for the manual and RM 37,500 for the automatic, on-the-road without insurance and inclusive of a five-year, 150,000 kilometre warranty.
Most notable of the changes are the side skirts and chrome door handles, as well as the Ocean Blue colour that was previously reserved for 1.3-litre variants of the Bezza. The interior sees a classier dashboard and piano black finishing, as well as an uprated audio system with Bluetooth connectivity.
Air-vent surrounds, the steering wheel spokes, and gear lever base are finished in satin, complementing the chrome interior door handles as well. In short, it's the creature comforts and tactile feel of a higher end model with the pricing fitting of an entry-level label.
The GXtra variant is meant to be a new entry-level model, and as such comes with the 1.0-litre 1KR-VE engine with VVT-i. Buyers can choose between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.
Since the launch of the Bezza in the middle of 2016, more than 100,000 units across all variants have found homes, and with this better-equipped entry level variant there are bound to more eager customers.


Panduan Membeli Tayar Kereta – Tayar 101

Enjin dan kabin yang berteknologi tinggi sering diberi perhatian apabila bercakap tentang sesebuah kereta, tapi bahagian yang lebih penting seperti
tayar
 jarang sekali mendapat perhatian yang sewajarnya.

Tayar merupakan komponen paling penting yang menghubungkan sesebuah kereta dengan permukaan jalan. Sesetengah pemandu mungkin tidak begitu memberi perhatian kepada tayarnya sehinggalah kereta mereka hilang kawalan semasa memandu, tayar pancit atau lebih teruk, tayar pecah.

Oleh itu, anda memerlukan tayar yang berkualiti agar dapat mengelakkan sebarang
insiden yang tidak diingini
 sepanjang pemanduan. Kami di Carlist.my ingin berkongsi beberapa informasi dan panduan memilih tayar yang sesuai untuk kereta anda.

Kod Tayar Kereta

Semua tayar yang dijual dilengkapi dengan kod yang memaparkan segala maklumat mengenai tayar tersebut. Jadi anda kena pandai membaca kod ini supaya tidak ditipu oleh penjual kereta yang ingin menjual tayar lama kepada anda dengan harga sebuah tayar baharu. Anda boleh rujuk maksud kod tayar kereta melalui info dibawah.

195/50R16 84V

Kod Tayar

Maksud

195

Lebar

50

Tinggi

R

Radial

16

Saiz rim

84

Had beban maksimum

V

Had laju maksimum

Semua tayar yang boleh dibeli di pasaran juga memaparkan minggu dan tahun pengeluaran tayar. Berdasarkan gambar di atas, anda fokuskan pada empat angka terakhirnya iaitu 1020. Ia bermaksud tayar ini dibuat pada minggu ke 10, tahun 2020. Dengan ini, anda perlu pastikan tayar yang ingin dibeli itu merupakan tayar baharu untuk memastikan tayar itu lebih tahan lama dan belum tamat tempoh.

*Kredit foto: Chupie Tyres

Berdasarkan jadual di atas, had beban maksimum tayar yang ditunjukkan pada gambar tayar diatas (195/50R16 84V) berada pada paras 84 dan mampu menampung beban maksimum sehingga 500kg. Rujuk jadual diatas untuk mengetahui had beban maksimum tayar kereta anda.

Kalau anda perasan simbol huruf terakhir pada kod tayar diatas, huruf V itu mewakili
had kelajuan maksimum
 kereta yang sesuai dengan tayar. Lain huruf, lain hadnya. Rujuk info dibawah untuk lebih faham.

Simbol Huruf

Had Kelajuan Maksimum

S

180 km/j

T

190 km/j

U

200 km/j

H

210 km/j

V

240 km/j

Z

240+ km/j

W

270 km/j

Y

300 km/j

Memandangkan anda dah tahu baca kod tayar, jangan terburu-buru terus beli tayar, terutama bagi mereka yang gemar mengubah suai kenderaan. Jika anda menukar rim kereta, pastikan tayar yang anda gunakan itu bersesuaian dengan saiz rim supaya tidak memberi kesan buruk pada tayar dan kereta anda.

Ciri sesebuah tayar memainkan peranan dalam memilih tayar yang sesuai. Sebelum membeli, anda perlu mengambil kira
faktor permukaan jalan
 dan cara pemanduan anda. Jangan lupa untuk masukkan sekali aspek lain seperti kos, ketahanan, keselesaan, prestasi dan penjimatan bahan api. Berikut merupakan antara tayar terbaik yang boleh anda dapatkan di pasaran buat masa ini.

Jenis Tayar Terbaik 2021

Kategori Tayar

Jenama Tayar Terbaik

Tayar Ekonomi / Jimat Minyak

Michelin XM2+

Bridgestone Ecopia

Hankook Kinergy Eco

Tayar Selesa

Michelin Primac 4

Continental CC6

Bridgestone Turanza

Tayar Kos Rendah

Falken SN832i

Dunlop Formula D06

Goodyear DP-D1

Tayar Berprestasi

Michelin Pilot Sport

Goodyear Eagle F1

Bridgestone Potenza

Hankook Ventus Prime

Tayar Tahan Lama

Goodyear Duraplus 2

Goodyear Assurance

Yokohama Bluearth

Goodyear Excellence

Info Tambahan

Tempoh penggunaan tayar adalah selama 5 tahun dari tarikh pembuatannya

Tayar baru yang berusia lebih dari 5 tahun masih boleh digunakan tetapi tayar tersebut kini lebih keras kerana getah tayar dah tamat tempoh

Pastikan tayar baharu yang ingin dibeli merupakan tayar terkini

Tapi kalau penjual tayar tawarkan tayar baharu yang dah berusia, pandai-pandailah minta diskaun kalau dah terdesak.

Bila Masa Terbaik Untuk Tukar Tayar?

Kebanyakan pengeluar kereta menyarankan pengguna untuk menukar tayar kereta selepas menjangkau usia enam tahun. Ini termasuk juga dengan tayar ganti walaupun anda tidak pernah menggunakannya kerana oksigen yang berpindah melalui penutup tayar telah mengubah kimia getah dan melemahkan struktur dalaman tayar, sekaligus berisiko mengakibatkan kegagalan tayar.

Lepas beli tayar baharu, anda mestilah kena pandai jaga tayar tersebut. Segala cara penjagaan seperti tekanan angin,
alignment dan balancing tayar
 serta tahap kehausan tayar perlu diambil kira supaya tayar anda kekal berada dalam tahap terbaik.


Limited Run BMW XM Red Label is literally red lipstick on a....BMW

Alongside the launch of the BMX XM and XM Label Red next week, BMW will also be launching a limited run XM Label Red, featuring red accents.

Considering that BMW has labelled the XM as their M Flagship vehicle, it has a lot to live up to.

While its M car-like 490hp twin-turbo V8 petrol engine that's aided by a 196PS electric motor is
probably enough for ordinary mortals
 - BMW felt that its power wasn't enough, which is why they have created the XM Label Red, a fire-breathing version of the XM for those who are just pure adrenaline junkies.

The BMW XM is officially making its global debut at the Shanghai Motor Show next week, and along side it, they will also be launching 500 limited run
XM Label Red Edition
, featuring a frozen carbon black metallic exterior finished with red accents around the grille and wheels.

BMW says, the ordinary XM Label Red responds to the needs and desires of a global target group of individualists – customers with a taste for extrovert lifestyle and a passion for ultimate performance in a car reaching beyond traditional conventions.

The big question is however, who is the limited-run Label Red car for? Those who are exactly what they have mentioned but love the added attention? Perhaps the same people who love the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento because the livery and colourway all remind us of that car.

That car however is non-street-approved hyper car which was born solely for the track, but this however feels like an XM with cosmetic changes, just in case nobody really buys the XM Label Red Edition, because, as we mentioned before, the regular XM is more than enough for ordinary mortals.


Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar Repair Works To Last A Week

Drivers in KL will be in for a rough time on the roads this week which, as
previously reported
, stems from an issue with settling soil that has caused a shutdown of a substantial section of road along Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar (formerly known as Lebuhraya Mahameru).
It’s very clear that the settling soil has worsened since yesterday to a cause large cracks and depression in the road. According to
The Star
, Kuala Lumpur’s Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said the contractors would use granular material to fill the affected areas and strengthen the structure.
“The settlement was caused by incessant downpour. Rainwater seeped into the soil of the undercut tunnelling construction, causing the sheet pile to slant, resulting in the road to crack.”
The area underneath the affected stretch of road is the site of an ongoing MRT (Mass Rail Transit) tunnel construction.
The daily also reported that the Mayor added it would likely a week before that stretch would be safe for reopening, taking three days for the soil strengthening process alone.
“According to Ikram (Malaysian Public Works Institute), there is still slight earth movement. The project consultant will constantly monitor this,” he said.
Motorists that were travelling toward the affected stretch of highway had to be diverted onto the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim (formerly known as Jalan Duta) exit. Traffic conditions there had taken a downward turn, with crawls starting as far back as Jalan Tun Razak, based on checks performed by StarMetro.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes through Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Damansara, Jalan Parlimen and Jalan Tun Razak (South) to exit the city.
A statement released by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) said that their investigation and that of their contractor's revealed that the incident was not caused by the construction of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line.
"MRT Corp wishes to point out that besides the MRT Project, there are other infrastructure construction projects in the vicinity of the Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar-Jalan Duta intersection.”


Tesla to enter Malaysia? SSM filings suggest they might just do it, and soon!

Rumours are circulating that Tesla is about to set up shop in Malaysia, with the basis of it all coming from SSM leaked documents.

Leaks of SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia) documents have been circulating on WhatsApp recently, showing that Tesla Sdn Bhd
has been registered
 with Malaysia's company commission organisation.

The rumour went into overdrive when it was also discovered that Tesla Inc has also listed Tesla Sdn Bhd as one of its subsidiaries in its FY2022 annual report filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A screenshot of this listing, along with the leaked SSM documents, has sparked many conversations
speculating that Tesla will soon be officially selling their cars in Malaysia
, which has excited many electric vehicles and Tesla fans.

To give the speculation more substance, Tesla Sdn Bhd also lists its business nature on the SSM document as a company that will operate as a wholesale and retailer of new motor vehicles, other service activities incidental to land transportation n.e. and maintenance and repair of motor vehicles.

This is not the first time we have seen a Tesla name on SSM, as previously, there was Tesla Services Sdn. Bhd, which was established in 2017. The company that shut down its office in Penang in 2020 was apparently in Malaysia, operating as Tesla's accounting and finance activities in EMEA and Asia Pacific.

The same company apparently asked SSM for its name to be changed to Tesla Sdn Bhd late last year, which leads to where we are now about Tesla's apparent intention of setting up shop in Malaysia.

While this speculation has undoubtedly excited many, it has also brought with it some fears, especially to those who are selling Teslas through the grey market as well as those who have bought Teslas from recon sellers.

If Tesla Inc wants to be irate about things, they could actually make a lot of moves to cut out unofficial importers, such as only being willing to support vehicles bought directly from Tesla Inc.

We will have to see, but whatever it is, we hope Tesla supports all existing customers, whether they bought the car from them or through grey importers.


Kepala Anak Keluar Sunroof – Apa Kata Undang-Undang Malaysia?

Baru-baru ini, telah tular sebuah video yang menunjukkan sebuah
Mercedes AMG C43
 telah membiarkan dua penumpang kanak-kanak mengeluarkan kepala melalui
sunroof
 ketika kereta sedang dipandu.

Video tersebut telah mengundang pelbagai reaksi orang ramai yang rata-rata menyelar tindakan berbahaya itu memandangkan kereta sedang dipandu di atas
lebuh raya.

*Kredit video: Asrul Ali

Selain membiarkan penumpang kanak-kanak berada dalam situasi berbahaya, kereta terbabit telah menerima kecaman hebat di media sosial kerana turut melakukan kesalahan lain seperti:

Memotong dari arah kiri

Tidak memberikan signal

Memandu secara berbahaya (zig-zag)

Membahayakan nyawa penumpang

Kita ketepikan dahulu kesalahan memandunya. Persoalannya, boleh ke keluarkan kepala di
sunroof
 ketika kereta sedang bergerak mengikut
undang-undang Malaysia
?

Boleh Ke Keluarkan Kepala Di Sunroof?

Berdasarkan pertanyaan kami kepada pihak polis, ketika ini masih belum ada tindakan yang dikenakan terhadap mana-mana pemandu yang membenarkan penumpang untuk berdiri dan mengeluarkan kepada melalui sunroof ketika kereta sedang bergerak.

Mungkin ada sesetengah pemandu yang teruja dan mahu memberikan pengalaman baharu kepada anak-anak dengan membenarkan mereka menjenguk di
sunroof
. Walau bagaimanapun, tindakan tersebut mungkin tiada masalah dilakukan di kawasan perumahan atau kawasan tertutup yang tidak sesak dengan kenderaan lain.

Walau bagaimanapun, tindakan mengeluarkan kepada melalui
sunroof
 boleh mendatangkan bahaya kepada penumpang terutama ketika berada di atas lebuh raya atau jalan besar kerana dikhuatiri boleh menyebabkan
kemalangan
 dan kecederaan.

Mengikut undang-undang
Seksyen 336 Kanun Keseksaan, segala perbuatan cuai sehingga membahayakan nyawa manusia, atau keselamatan orang lain boleh dihukum penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi 3 bulan atau denda tidak melebihi RM500 atau kedua-duanya.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Sebelum ini, pihak polis telah menahan pemandu Perodua Alza mengikut Seksyen 336 Kanun Keseksaan kerana disyaki memandu kereta dan membenarkan tiga penumpang kanak-kanak mengeluarkan separuh badan di tingkap penumpang ketika kenderaan sedang bergerak.

Jika nak dibandingkan risiko mengeluarkan kepala di
sunroof
 atau tingkap kereta, kedua-duanya sama sahaja iaitu mendatangkan bahaya. Jika mendatangkan bahaya dan berisiko untuk kemalangan, anda boleh disaman.

Peranan Ibu Bapa

Mengawal dan memantau keselamatan penumpang kanak-kanak

Jangan benarkan kanak-kanak berdiri semasa kereta bergerak

Lebih tegas dalam mendidik

Kunci tingkap dan pintu penumpang ketika kereta sedang bergerak

Pastikan penumpang menggunakan tali pinggang keledar

Memastikan anak berada di dalam
babyseat
 atau
booster seat
 mengikut umur

Meskipun perkara ini dianggap remeh, namun keselamatan nyawa itu yang paling penting. Motif kewujudan
sunroof
 pada kereta bukanlah untuk digunakan sebagai
viewing deck
 kereta anda ketika sedang bergerak. Beringatlah sebelum terkena kerana sesungguhnya nyawa tidak boleh dibeli dengan wang ringgit.


Review: 2017 Audi A4 B9 1.4 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI quattro – A More Matured Proposition

If we were to make a list of the most anticipated car launches of 2016, the fifth-generation Audi A4 (B9) would definitely have been among the frontrunners, as it was the final puzzle piece to complete the heavily contested premium compact sedan segment.
Launched last September, the new A4 was rather late to arrive in Malaysian shores even though the BMW 3 Series F30 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205 have been going at it for some time. Still, there were quite a number of potential buyers who were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the A4 to see what it has to offer against the other two Germans and the underdogs like the Lexus IS and the Jaguar XE.
Although only the 2.0 FWD version of the new A4 was launched here initially, Audi recently added two new variants to the line-up - a base 1.4 TFSI FWD and the range-topping 2.0 TFSI quattro - both of which were recently offered in a media test drive from Setia Alam to Janda Baik and back.
Specifications of the Audi A4 1.4 TFSI
Price: RM218,900 (OTR without insurance)
Engine: 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Max power: 150 PS from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 250 Nm from 1,500 to 3,500 rpm
Fuel consumption: 5.2 litres/100km (combined)
Origin: Fully imported from Germany
Specifications of the Audi A4 2.0 TFSI quattro
Price: RM314,900 (OTR without insurance)
Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Max power: 252 PS from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 370 Nm from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm
Fuel consumption: 5.9 litres/100km (combined)
Origin: Fully imported from Germany
Overview
First unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show, the fifth-generation Audi A4 is offered in three trim levels:
A4 1.4 TFSI – RM218,900
A4 2.0 TFSI – RM248,900
A4 2.0 TFSI quattro – RM314,900
While the entry level A4 1.4 TFSI is powered by a 1.4 litre turbo engine which kicks out 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque, the 2.0 TFSI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which churns out 190 PS and 320 Nm. The mid-range model is also offered with the option of a RM25,000 Tech Pack enhancement which throws in Audi's virtual cockpit, Matrix LED headlamps with dynamic front indicators, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto.
The range topping 2.0 TFSI quattro on the other hand receives a more powerful version of the same EA888 engine, delivering 252 PS and 370 Nm, enabling the car to achieve a top speed of 250 km/h and sprint from naught to hundred in an impressive 5.8 seconds.
Despite having different engine configurations, all variants get the same seven-speed automatic S tronic gearbox with wet dual-clutch, which is responsible for sending all the power to the front wheels of the 1.4 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI, and to all four wheels for the 2.0 TFSI quattro.
Sitting on the Volkswagen Group’s latest MLB Evo platform, Audi claims that up to 120kg has been shed from the outgoing model, resulting in better fuel consumption, performance, and a livelier driving experience than before.
Exterior
Measuring 4,726mm long, 1,842mm wide and 1,427mm tall with a wheelbase length of 2,820mm, the A4 has grown by 25mm in length and 16mm in width compared to the outgoing model. It is also the lowest in height within its segment, according to Audi.
Compared with its rivals, the new A4 is 102mm longer and 31mm wider than the F30 3 Series, and 41 mm longer and 32 mm wider than the C-Class, making it the biggest among the trio.
Design wise, the A4 looks a tad more matured and futuristic than the outgoing B8, thanks to the redesigned front and rear end which comprises the brand’s signature hexagonal front grille, new headlights and tail lamps, tweaked bumpers, as well as new wheel designs.
In terms of equipment, the 1.4 TFSI variant comes with xenon plus headlights with LED DRLs, 17-inch alloy wheels, and also headlamp washers as standard, while the range topping 2.0 TFSI quattro S Line with Tech Pack which we drove later on came with more features like Audi’s Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators, 18-inch “star” alloy wheels, and sportier looking bumpers.
Features aside, what we like about the new Audi A4 is that the difference between the base A4 1.4 and the 2.0’s exterior were barely noticeable at a glance. Only when we had a closer look we could point out the things that set the two variants apart.
Interior
Our journey with the new A4 began in the base 1.4 TFSI variant which came with leather upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats with 4-way lumbar support, Aluminium Ellipse interior inlays, and the MMI Radio plus Infotainment System with a seven-inch screen.
The 2.0 quattro on the other hand came with extras such as alcantara upholstery, sports seats, matt brushed aluminium finish, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch Bluetooth interface, Audi SmartPhone Interface, Audi Connect, and an 8.3-inch screen.
The first thing we noticed in the A4 was how much more space it has compared to its predecessor and also its rivals. With 480 litres of cargo space that can be stretched to 965 litres with the rear seats folded down, this is as roomy as it gets in the segment.
Plus, there was more than enough head and leg room than we could ask for, thanks to the new platform and the dashboard as well as the seats that were designed specifically to maximise cabin space.
Truth be told, this was the first time the writer who stands close to six-feet tall and weighs close to 100 kilos could sit comfortably in the rear of a German premium compact sedan without rubbing his knees on the front seats, in a very long time.
We also love how the base model didn’t feel “cheap” at all compared to the high spec model although there was quite a number of difference in terms of equipment offered.
While all buttons and levers were positioned where they should be, the seats provided very good support throughout for occupants of all shapes and sizes.
Other aspects like build quality, noise insulation, comfort and refinement were top-notch, unmistakably Audi. No complains at all there.
Overall, it might not be as flashy as a C-Class but there is just something attractive about the minimalist approach Audi has taken with the A4’s interior.
Driving Impression
The first car we drove was the front-wheel drive base 1.4 TFSI which had 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque at our service, which wasn’t all that eager at low revs but once we built up some speed, the A4 1.4 came to life and worked in a smoother manner.
In the city, the base model did a pretty decent job with great swiftness but when we were driving up the Karak Highway where the driving got a bit more aggressive, the car lacked composure, behaving like a typical front-wheel driven car where with understeering tendencies whenever we approached a corner fast.
However, once we got into the 2.0 quattro which had 100 horses and 120 Nm more, all-wheel-drive system, larger tyres, and stiffer dampers, it was a whole different story.
With twice as much power and grip as our previous car, the difference between the two models was very obvious. While body roll and shifting of weight was more pronounced in the 1.4 TFSI when it was driven enthusiastically, the quattro didn’t miss a beat.
After some spirited driving up Karak and through the twisty bits of Janda Baik, it was time to cool down and change from ‘dynamic’ to ‘comfort’ mode as we returned into the city in style in the immaculate and quiet cabin.
Conclusion
In summary, the new A4 is now a more matured product compared to what it was before this.
Although it wasn't as popular the 3 Series or a C-Class many years ago, the model has managed to gather a cult following and has become just as ubiquitous as its arch-rivals today, thanks to its cutting edge styling, strong and fuel-efficient engines, and of course, impressive sense of quality that echoes its bigger siblings.
Today, the most recent incarnation of the A4 is not only staying true to this methodology, but has taken things to the next level in terms of practicality. In a segment where a cramped interior was accepted as a norm, Audi has turned things around with the A4, setting another benchmark.
So, if you are looking for a sensible alternative to the 3-Series or the C-Class with avantgarde styling and some practicality, the new A4 is definitely worth checking out.


2017 Kia Rio Spied In Indonesia, Launch Imminent

Kia Indonesia will be officiating the all-new 2017 Rio real soon. Spyshots taken at one of Kia's warehouse indicates that the new B-segment hatchback has landed there.
Thanks to Autonetmagz, photos of the 2017 Kia Rio shed some light on the final specifications of their car.
Visually, the new 2017 Kia Rio will receive projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, side mirrors with LED turn signals, front fog lights and the company's signature tiger grille. Towards the side, it appears that the Indonesian Kia Rio will receive 15-inch multi spoke alloy wheels with body coloured door handles. The rear end receives a two-tone bumper, though rear parking sensors appear to be absent on this particular unit.
As for the 2017 Kia Rio's interior, it seems that Indonesia-bound units get a basic radio with USB and AUX connectivity. Air-conditioning controls are also rather basic, though the new Kia Rio pictured here gets steering mounted audio controls. Seat material is fabric.
The company is expected to debut the 2017 Kia Rio real soon, possibly at the 2017 Indonesia International Motor Show.


April Fools – Proton-badged Suzuki Vitara Brezza

If you have seen this set of images circulated around social media, and believed the claim that it is Proton’s upcoming Suzuki-based SUV model, nobody will blame you.
In truth, these pictures are fake, part of an extremely well done PhotoShop stunt. We nearly fell for it too, until a friend of ours from Proton R3 pointed out that the pictures were clearly edited from this original picture posted on February on an Indian website
team-bhp.com
.
The edited images were first posted on PhotoShop wizard Theophilus Chin’s Facebook page. If his name sounds familiar, he was the man who nearly broke the Internet several years ago when he posted an image of a so-called ‘leaked brochure’ for a Perodua Jaguh – a fictitious Perodua sedan.
Chin’s latest hoax, this time with a Proton, is so good that he even took the effort to replace the partially visible white car on the original picture with a green Proton Iriz, and even added road tax stickers on Proton SUV!


Next-gen Toyota Camry to come with a turbo? Or is it wishful thinking?

Next-gen Toyota Camry to debut with a turbocharged engine? Most definitely on the cards, but we doubt Malaysia will get it.

Although it has been announced that the Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan, other parts of the world will still see the continuation of Toyota's much-loved sedan.

Since the current XV70 Camry is getting on a bit as the original iteration was introduced in 2017, it's nigh time it gets a replacement.

So what can we expect from Toyota when it comes to a new Camry? Well, judging by current trends and Toyota's saucy new cars, we can expect the Camry to be an
even sportier-looking sedan
 with the performance to match.

Usually, when anybody talks about the Camry, it's usually met with a yawn, but seeing how the car is now and what direction it is headed towards, the yawns might just turn into wows.

There's no denying that the popularity of SUVs and crossovers has had an impact on the market for 4-door sedans. However, this doesn't mean that 4-door sedans are becoming extinct or losing their appeal altogether. In fact, some automakers are responding to this trend by making their sedans more distinctive and appealing, with bold designs.

Like with the current Camry, Toyota is experimenting with new types of sedan designs that combine the practicality of a four-door configuration with the sporty styling of a coupe.

The next-generation Camry may even have a lower roofline and a more aggressive stance, which can appeal to drivers who are looking for a vehicle that is both practical and stylish.

To make it even more appealing, some automakers are even introducing more powerful engines, sport-tuned suspension systems, and advanced safety features on their sedans to appeal to consumers who value performance and driving dynamics.

Can we expect a turbocharged Camry for the first time?
 We definitely think so, but not in Malaysia by any measure. Toyota has access to many turbocharged engines, which they will probably utilise for the North American market.

They can easily equip the new Camry with the same powerplant as the new 2023 Lexus RX F Sport 500h, featuring a turbo 2.4-litre with an electric motor good for 340hp or just a regular 2.4-litre turbo from the Lexus NX featuring 280 hp and 430Nm.

But this is not UMW Toyota's style, especially when they are gunning for carbon neutrality. With that in mind, when we get the new Camry because we probably will, it'll probably come with a 208 hp carryover hybrid setup from the current Camry, because that's just how UMW operates.

Still, stranger things have happened, so fingers crossed, perhaps they will prove us wrong, and we'll get an extra saucy Camry for the first time.


5,000 Motorists Caught Speeding - Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2022

5,000 motorists were caught speeding by the Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) on Friday (29 April 2022) according to JPJ as the
balik kampung
 exodus began.

5,021
 out of a total of 750,903 vehicles that went through the AWAS system were found to have been speeding. A further
966
 from 236,617 vehicles were caught beating the red light.

Image credit: nst.com.my

According to JPJ the two offences will be subjected to court action and cannot be compounded according to Section 79, Act 333 (JPJ).

If found guilty, the fine can be up to RM2,000.

Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2022

If you were unaware or had forgotten, this comes as part of
Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri
 that includes five non-compoundable offences meaning no
saman
 and direct to court to settle!

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said that the five offences would have to be resolved in court instead of fines being issued. The non-compoundable offences are:

Driving in the emergency lane

The use of mobile phone while driving

Failure to observe the red light at the traffic light

Queue jumping

Speeding

So please drive safe, be courteous on the road and save yourself from a court date!


Volvo Cars Acquires 100% Of Polestar: More Hot Swedes To Come?

Previously sharing a cooperative agreement to only produce Polestar versions of
Volvo
 vehicles, Volvo Car has just announced that it has fully acquired the tuning company responsible for some of the meanest and quickest vehicles of the Swedish marque.
The Swedish carmaker has also confirmed that from here on out, all its high-performance models will be known as Polestar models, effectively challenging the likes of BMW’s M Division models, and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG range.
In future, Polestar will be looking to utilise Volvo’s twin-engine electrification technology for its next-generation of performance vehicles.
Currently, Volvo only offers two Polestar models, in the form of their
V60
 Polestar estate, and the
 S 60
 Polestar sedan. However, Volvo and Polestar share a long history. They have been working in motor sport since 1996 and in recent years signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop Polestar versions of Volvo cars that combine a comfortable Volvo driving experience with a very high level of power and handling.
“Driving a Volvo Polestar is a special experience. We have decided to bring this experience to more Volvo drivers, placing the full resources of Volvo behind the development of Polestar as the model name for our high performance cars,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.
No financial details of the deal have been disclosed. Existing Polestar Performance employees will become Volvo employees.
The Polestar racing team will remain under the control of Christian Dahl, the former owner of Polestar, and will be renamed. The Polestar brand will continue to work alongside Christian Dahl.


Proton: Dealers Need To Have 3 Months Holding Stock To Avoid Parts Shortage Crisis

February 2022 was a relatively good month of healthy sales for Proton, though not as booming as this time last year. However, past that veil was plenty of drama surrounding their after-sales division’s
lack of parts, leading to a backlog of cars
 not being able to complete their service/repairs and a horde of dissatisfied owners.

Alongside the announcement that the national automaker made a 107% sales gain on the previous month of January with 9,225 units sold and about a third of that contributed to
by the X50 alone
, Proton has finally spoken up about the shortages of parts afflicting service centre turnaround time and what they intend to do about it.

Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer, Proton Edar, said in a statement: “PROTON is aware of the issues it faces regarding after sales and parts availability. Our customers have reached out to us, and we deeply regret any inconvenience caused. I would like to reassure them we take every complaint seriously and senior management has identified several bottlenecks and operational issues that require fixing,”

“The first step is to address the availability of parts and we have implemented a mandatory requirement where all dealers are required to have three months holding stock of 22 fast moving parts. Our central parts centre is also subject to the same requirement, and we hope this will ease waiting times for customers. We are also strengthening the capability and knowledge of our dealers to provide excellent after sales service to all Proton customers. There is still a lot left to do but we will give updates on our progress throughout the year.”

Basically, dealers are now required to have 3 months’ worth of holding stock at all times for certain high demand parts and generally keep a larger pool of other parts as well. While this is a positive instruction, where are these parts going to come from?

Clearly this is an issue of limited supply less a surging influx of demand, so if work on the cars already sent in for maintenance have stalled, how are the dealers expected to keep 3 months worth of stock in reserve especially when they are all looking to grab as much inventory as they can for themselves as quickly as possible due to this mandate?

The shortage of parts is also expected to get worse before it gets better as many Proton owners have so far been unable (no appointment slots) or unwilling (wait and see) to send their vehicles in for maintenance or repairs after being told a part needed is/remains unavailable.

Hopefully these supply chain issues, as Proton says, will be solved and service centres are able to quickly addressed the vehicles currently backlogged before filling their reserve stockpile of parts.


BMW Malaysia Unveils All-New BMW 7 Series: 489hp,700Nm, 31" Theatre Screen at the rear, from RM650k

BMW Malaysia has introduced the latest addition to their lineup, the locally-assembled variants of the luxurious BMW 7 Series. The 750e xDrive M Sport and 750e xDrive Pure Excellence are priced from RM650k.

The new CKD 7 Series
 promises high-performance and dynamic driving experiences that are synonymous with BMW's name. These exceptional plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) offer innovative technology and low-carbon driving experiences without compromising performance.

Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, expressed the company's commitment to developing high-performing electrified vehicles in Malaysia for their loyal customers.

Variants and prices

The New BMW 750e xDrive Pure Excellence RM 649,800

The New BMW 750e xDrive M Sport RM 700,000.00

The New BMW 750e xDrive M Sport boasts sporty design elements that enhance the luxurious sedan, while the Pure Excellence variant provides a harmonious blend of elegance, comfort, and convenience.

These new BMWs are said to set a standard on Malaysian roads, delivering Sheer Driving Pleasure at the highest level in an ultra-luxury package.

The All-New BMW 7 Series showcases a captivating appearance with its split headlight design, featuring BMW Iconic Glow crystal headlights and an illuminated BMW Iconic Glow kidney grille frame.

The latest generation of BMW's eDrive technology for PHEV models is combined with BMW's xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system, which ensures maximum power and performance.

Both the New BMW 750e xDrive M Sport and New BMW 750e xDrive Pure Excellence offer distinctive exterior and interior customization options while sharing similar power and performance characteristics.

The LED lighting units create impressive visual effects and are part of the Great Entrance Moments, a special light show that welcomes passengers with a carpet of light and activated interior lighting.

The All-New BMW 7 Series boasts an extended wheelbase, providing more interior space and comfort. The M Sport variant features exclusive M high-gloss Shadowline, M side sills, M front and rear aprons, and Style 907 bicolour 20-inch M aerodynamic wheels.

On the other hand, the Pure Excellence variant is equipped with Style 903 19-inch sport double-spoke alloy wheels.

The interior of the All-New BMW 7 Series offers a luxurious and technologically advanced experience. It features the BMW Curved Display, CraftedClarity crystal glass trim, Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System, and new My Modes options.

Rear seat passengers can enjoy the Executive Lounge Seating feature in the New BMW 750e xDrive M Sport, along with the
BMW Theatre Screen
, providing an unrivalled viewing experience.

Under the hood, the All-New BMW 7 Series is powered by an in-line six-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, delivering 489 hp and 700Nm of torque.

It achieves a century sprint in just 4.8 seconds while recording a top speed of 250 km/h.

The New BMW 750e xDrive M Sport features the Driving Assistant Plus, while the New BMW 750e xDrive Pure Excellence receives the Driving Assistant Professional.

Both variants come with the Parking Assistant Plus, BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Head-up Display, and four-zone automatic air conditioning, among other standard safety features.

The All-New BMW 7 Series is available in a range of exterior colours and upholstery options, including Oxide Grey Metallic, Black Sapphire Metallic as well as Mineral White Metallic.

Exclusive to the New BMW 750e xDrive M Sport is the M Brooklyn Grey Metallic option, whereas the Sophisto Grey Metallic is exclusively offered to the New BMW 750e xDrive Pure Excellence. Upholstery is offered in either BMW ‘Merino’ leather in Black or BMW ‘Merino’ leather in Tartufo for both variants of the All-New BMW 7 Series.

As part of the BMW Malaysia Premium Ownership experience, owners will benefit from a 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme, BMW Roadside Assistance, and Accident Hotline, the BMW Group Loyalty.


When Tun Dr. Mahathir Drove A Proton Saga Across The Newly Built Penang Bridge

The iconic Penang Bridge will soon turn 33 this year. It was first opened to the public on 15-September 1985. At 13.5 km, it was at one time the longest bridge in South East Asia and third longest in the world.
Back in the ‘80s, Malaysia was a country full of optimism and potential. Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had good reasons to be proud of his country. Less than 30 years after becoming a self-governing country, Malaysia was putting itself on the world’s map, all for the right reasons.
1985 saw Malaysia achieving double milestones – the opening of the region’s longest bridge and launch of our first national car; Proton Saga. Several years later, we connected both ends of the Peninsular with the North South Highway, still one of the best highways in Asia (unfortunately the same can’t be said about the drivers).
Malaysia was, without a doubt, one of the world’s most progressive developing country. Remember that the country was barely even 30 years old.
To celebrate the twin milestones, Dr. Mahathir and his wife Dr. Siti Hasmah had on 3-August 1985, took a drive across the newly completed Penang Bridge one month ahead of its public opening, in a red Proton Saga.
Keen observers who remembered the specifications of our first national car will notice that this particular Saga was the entry 1.3S variant, as indicated by the absence of the passenger-side mirror. It’s a feature that we take for granted these days but back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, you would have to pay extra for side mirrors.
Image credit :Twitter
@GambarKlasik

Mahathir had started his drive from Perai together with his wife. Sitting behind in the car were the then Works Minister Datuk S. Samy Vellu, Penang Chief Minister Dr. Lim Chong Eu, and Proton Chairman Tan Sri Jamil Jan.
Photos from our archives also show that Dr. Mahathir’s Proton Saga was followed closely by a Volvo 240 Series, which in the era before the Proton Perdana, was the default car used by government agencies/ministries.
As Malaysia’s oldest locally-assembled car marque (since 1967), Volvos were the preferred car for senior ranking civil servants. Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs were already locally-assembled by then but the former had too much of a businessman ring to it while latter’s image centred on enthusiast drivers. Doctors, university chancellors, government officers, basically people whose job was to serve the people, generally preferred a Swedish Volvo.
At the end of the drive, Dr. Mahathir hosted a brief session with the assembled members of the media before returning back to Perai, this time with Dr. Siti Hasmah driving. The historic drive also served the purpose as a teaser/promotional drive for the first Proton, which would only be launched several weeks later on 28-August 1985.
Four days after Mahathir’s drive, Proton would launch a nationwide ‘Sagarama’ tour with two Proton Sagas - BCH 1351 and BCH 1352. The cars would eventually cover over 4,109 km without breaking down, a demonstration of the Proton’s durability.
Did you know that the Penang Bridge was designed to last for 400 years and can withstand earthquakes of up to 7.5 magnitude on the Richter scale? Barring any man-made circumstances like an intentional sabotage or having a large ship ramming into one of its towers, it will stay intact for many more generations after us.
Construction began on 11-January 1982, by Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. and Malaysia’s own United Engineers Malaysia (UEM).
The bridge was designed by a homegrown talent – the late Tan Sri Prof Chin Fung Kee, a geotechnical engineer and former acting Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya (now Universiti Malaysia).
The man who pushed forward the ambitious proposal to build a bridge connecting Penang Island with Peninsular Malaysia was the late Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, the former Chief Minister of Penang. Prior to that, the only connection between the island and the mainland was the ferry service, which was slow and heavily congested.
Like many engineering projects of this scale, the risks were high and more than 20 workers died in the course of building the bridge. At its peak, over 2,300 workers including 800 Koreans were working on the project.
The final cost of the Penang Bridge totaled RM 800 million. In comparison, the Proton Saga project had cost the government RM 405.4 million.
Today, Penang is linked to the mainland by two bridges. The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, which locals refer to it as simply the Penang Second Bridge, was completed in 2006 to alleviate traffic congestion on the original Penang Bridge, and it spans across an even longer distance of 24 km.


Proton To Receive 1.5L Turbocharged Engine From Geely

Proton is set to introduce a new model fitted with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine in the coming months, according to a report by
The Edge
.
Speaking to the publication, Proton’s Head of Engineering, Yang Jun said that the introduction of the downsized turbocharged engine is in line with the current market trend where car manufacturers are turning to forced-induction engines. This move is driven partly by demand from customers. Another factor that Yang mentioned is that turbocharged engines can deliver improved fuel consumption without compromising performance.
He added that the new model will be launched soon.
When asked by reporters, Yang did not confirm whether the move to launch a 1.5-litre turbocharged model was made after the announcement of the 2019 Budget, whereby vehicles with an engine capacity of below 1.5-litres are eligible for the targeted fuel subsidy.
The Geely Binyue is one of the models powered by the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine
The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that Yang mentioned is part of Geely’s G Power range of engines. This particular 1.5-litre three-cylinder mill was co-developed by Geely and Volvo, and is also found in several Volvo models.
In addition to that, the move for Proton to adopt Geely’s new turbocharged engine could signal the end of its own Campro Turbo engine.


CONFIRMED: Upcoming Proton X90 will be a mild-hybrid

We've been talking about the imminent arrival of the new
Proton X90
 for months now, and we can now confirm that it'll be the brand's first
mild-hybrid
 model.

Reports have showcased that the incoming Proton X90 will be launched in 2023 and it'll be a mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV). As for the timeline, our best-educated guess would be somewhere at the end of the first half of 2023 (possibly May or June). Interesting? Indeed.

Image credit: The Ajerul

How do we know that the Proton X90 will be a mild-hybrid model? It all started at the end of 2021 when Proton launched its Gallery of Inspiration at the Centre of Excellence complex (COE). A part of the showcase was a 1.5L TGDi engine with BSG (Belt Start Generator) alongside the powertrains used in the Proton X70 and X50.

We also know that Geely already has the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with the addition of an electric motor used in the Geely Okavango model that produces 190PS and 300Nm of torque - the same figures we've been seeing everywhere that mention the upcoming Proton X90, including one of DRB-HICOM's analyst briefings.

The BSG system in particular uses a belt that's connected to the crank to power the 48V power system and battery. Since the system is a mild hybrid, it'll only help with longer engine shutdowns during coasting as well as giving a slight boost in getting the car rolling again from a standstill thanks to the electric motor's 13hp and 45Nm capabilities.

And no, you can't charge the 48V lithium-ion battery module apart from regenerative braking and the ICE engine itself. The good thing is that it'll definitely give a much-needed fuel consumption improvement to make the upcoming Proton X90 seven-seater SUV a much better purchase prospect.


Lexus LX570 Price Reduction Announced, Savings Of Up To RM74,000

Lexus Malaysia has announced that its full-sized luxury SUV, the LX570 will receive a price cut of RM74,000 which effectively brings the price down to RM850,000. When Lexus Malaysia introduced the LX570 back in 2015, the model retailed for a cool sum of RM924,000.
Elsewhere, the Lexus LX570 retails for RM850,872 in Sabah and Sarawak, RM454,283 in Langkawi, and RM455,092 in Labuan. All prices are on the road excluding insurance.
To recap, the Lexus LX570 is powered by a 5.7-litre 3UR-FE V8 petrol engine that produces 383 hp of power and 546 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. A permanent four-wheel drive system and a Torsen limited-slip centre locking differential splits torque 40:60 between the front and rear under normal driving conditions.
Safety equipment is generous, comprising of 10 airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), ISOFIX (rear), Tyre Pressure Warning System (TPWS) Front and Rear Parking Sensors, and Reverse Camera.
Read more:
Review: Lexus LX 570 – Analog Beast In A Digital Void


Perodua Posts 30% Jump In Sales For Q1 2015

Perodua
 has reported its financial results for Q1 2015 and, good news, the popular local automaker is seeing very strong numbers, both for overall volume and annual growth.
They sold 57,200 total units compared 44,024 last year during the same quarter, showing an increase of 30% over 2014’s figures, as well posting sales of 22,500 units in March 2015 alone – its highest monthly sales to date.
Perodua’s lineup is at a strongpoint, with these finances being propelled by increasing demand for its newest and most affordable model, the
Axia
. Over 60,000 units have been delivered out of the more than 100,000 bookings received. They are pushing hard to make it as widely appealing a model as possible, with the recent launch of its
GearUp
 accessories pack being made available for the Axia first.
Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said that Perodua’s stellar Q1 can be attributed, at least in part, to “consumers looking to register their cars before the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax.”
Of course, with 8,400 units sold in Q1, the
Myvi
 continues to remain a strong seller throughout the years since its introduction and has been a catalyst in Perodua’s financial rise over the last decade.
Other areas of Perodua’s businesses were also strong performers with an increase of 14%
to RM84 million
for its After Sales division as well as a growth of 2% to RM61.8 million for its Parts and Accessories division.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to achieve our sales target of 208,000 units for this year on the back of continued strong demand for our models and other promotions,” Aminar said.


Purr-fect Christmas for some as the first batch of Ora Good Cats has arrived on our shores

It looks like it's going to be a great Christmas for some who have ordered the Ora Good Cat, as GWM has announced that the first batch of the smart EV has arrived on our shores.

Since its
launch last month
, GWM Malaysia said they had received positive feedback about its cutesy and stylistic EV, and they are happy to announce that the first batch of customers will most probably get their Ora Good Cats soon.

Attached with the announcement was a picture of the many Ora Good Cats, presumably at a stockyard in Malaysia, all waiting to be delivered to their rightful owner.

GWM's customers have fallen for the fully electric car because of what it brings to the table, an EV which has the right balance of price and features.

The Ora Good Cat is sold at a relatively affordable price, starting from RM139,800 for the 400 Pro and RM169,800 for the 500 Ultra.

The 400 Pro gives you 400km of driving range, while the 500 Ultra gives you 500km of driving range. Despite the two models being equipped with different-sized batteries, power is uniform across the range, featuring 143 PS and 210 Nm of torque, which helps it get from  0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds.

Both cars also get the same attractive 4-in-1 "Purr-fect" package where ORA GOOD CAT buyers can enjoy a complimentary portable and home charger, a 5-year or up to 150,000 km warranty, an 8-year or up to 180,000 km battery warranty, and 5 times free service labour maintenance.

 The GWM Ora Good Cat was recently awarded “Most Anticipated Newcomer of the Year” for the
Carlist.my Editors' Choice Awards
, as it was recognised for its excellent value, futuristic style, impressive safety features and advanced technology.


This Is How Audi Speeds Up Their Job Interviews

Job interviews are very much like first dates – anticipated but time consuming and highly pretentious. So when it was time for Audi Italy to begin recruiting for staff to support its 17 new Audi Sport showrooms, the folks at Audi decided to make their job interviews a little bit more Audi-like.
Of course, the video is most probably staged and clearly, this is not a standard practice for Audi but it sure made a lot of people interested in sending their resumes to Audi.


How To Claim For Your Windscreen If Hit With A Stone From A Public Grass Cutter?

Did you know you could claim compensation for a damaged windscreen caused by a public grass cutter?

The windscreen is one of most significant components on a vehicle. It protects the driver and others in the vehicles from debris such as stones, dust and insects. They’re also an important barrier from weather which is why they must always be in tip top shape.

While road debris is one of the major causes of
windscreen damage
, it's not rare to find a broken or cracked windscreens caused by a public grass cutter.

When public grass cutters are trimming grass, their machine often gets in contact with little stones which then fly uncontrollably in different directions, sometimes hitting a car's windshield.

If this windshield is yours, please do not panic, as there is a way to replace it
without technically using your own money
.

If you have
windscreen cover
age
 as part of your vehicle's insurance plan, replacing a windshield is pretty much a straightforward job. All you need to do is contact your insurance company and tell them you have a broken windown and they will probably point you to their nearest authorized windscreen specialist for that windshield replacement job.

Without windscreen coverage, replacing your cracked windscreen that is damaged by a public grass cutter is a bit more complicated, but dont fret, there is a way to do it.

Public grass cutters, more often than not, are usually contract workers. They are workers hired by the city councils, to cut grass around the area that the council governs.

Before the city council hires them, they will usually ask the company whether they have this thing called Public Liability Insurance.

Public Liability Insurance is considered a must for businesses that involve themselves in regular interactions between the public and the company members. The Public Liability Insurance covers their legal liability to a third (3rd) party due to an accident in connection with their business operations.

Accidents such as stones flying out from grass cutting machines causing damage to a vehicle is one of the things covered under this Public Liability Insurance.

Because of this Insurance, you can claim compensation from the grass cutter's employers, which is usually the company hired by the city council.

If you ever find yourself in this situation, you must act quickly, and the first thing you must do is speak to the grass cutter and explain what just happened. You then ask them for the contact details of their supervisor/employer. Although it is not necesarry, taking photos of the location and grass cutter will probably help your cause. Please do not be mad at the grass cutters, as they are just carrying out their duties and cannot prevent stones from flying off their machine.

When you contact their employer, explain to them what happened, and that you would like to officially submit a complaint regarding the incident with the outcome for compensation. Once you are through with that, proceed to the nearest police station and lodge a complaint and compile a report of the incident. If you think this is the last step it is not, as it is also necessary to report this incident to the area's city council so that they have it in their record.

To claim for compensation from the company hired by the city council, some paperwork is usually necesarry to facilitate the claim, and these may include:

A copy of the vehicle's registration

A copy of the vehicle's
road tax and insurance
 policy

A copy of your Identification card

A copy of your driving license

A copy of the police report

A letter describing the whole accident and what you are demanding

A photo of the damaged area on your vehicle

A quotation or two from a workshop that will be carrying out the replacement job

Compensation for a cracked windscreen caused by public grass cutters is usually a straightforward process, but be warned, if your car has a cracked windscreen due to public grass cutters but is parked illegaly, there's no point in trying to claim for it as you are illegaly parking in the first place.

There have also been some cases where they have not fully compensated people for the damages, simply because there is a lack of proof, such as if the accident happened when you were not around and that the grass cutters had already left.

It's also been said that only the owner (on paper) of the vehicle is eligible to claim for compensation, so if you are a driver and that the vehicle is not technically yours get the owner to submit the complaint.

Yes, the process might seem a bit tedious, but there is usually no glory without hardship. Even if you get partial compensation, it's still money saved, so its best to go though the process and give it a shot. These type of accidents are nothing new and happens often, so it should be a straight forward process which we believe will be handled swiftly by the company or city council.


Ford Ranger Raptor- Ready For Reveal Trailer

Ford Thailand has released another teaser video for the upcoming Ford Ranger Raptor, with the emphasis that the performance pick-up is ready to be revealed.
In this new video, the Ford Ranger Raptor is seen going through its paces on some high speed testing on sand, traversing on rocky terrain as well as some fairly deep river crossings.
In the final action scene, the Ford Ranger Raptor goes through a big jump akin to a stage from the Dakar Rally. It looks certain that the Ranger Raptor is serious about its performance credentials.
Based on the preview video made last September, the majority of the rough terrain performance testing and validation
were done in the Australian outback
.
Details are scarce at the moment, but we need not wait until the traditional Bangkok Motor Show timing (late March) for unveil, as few sources have indicated the Ranger Raptor is set for a global launch in early February 2018.


2021 KIA Optima - Now That's Dashing

It's been a month now since the 2021 KIA Optima had broken surface in South Korea, and Kia has finally released some technical information to give some substance to that gorgeous looking exterior and interior design.

Starting at the most exciting area, the engine bay, we now know that the Optima can be equipped with either a turbocharged 1.6-litre 178hp/265Nm engine or a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre with158hp/196Nm or a multipoint injection 2.0-litre engine with 150hp and 192Nm of torque.

A more powerful turbocharged 2.5-litre GDi engine pushing out 191hp and 246Nm of torque is also on the cards. According to some reports from automotive publications in North American, they will be getting a GT version of the Optima which will come with a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, good for 286Hp and 422Nm of torque mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission.

If that doesn't sound exciting enough as it is, it has also been rumoured that an AWD option of the GT will be made available but nothing that anybody can cement down based on facts.

KIA has gone to great lengths to make the Optima look this aggressively sporty, and it all started with the collaboration of their design studios in North America, Europe and South Korea. The front end looks like something Audi would do, with that aggressive tiger-nose grille spreading nearly the entire front of the sedan. The front end also comes with these 'heart-beat' DRLs which sits under and around those LED headlights.

The aggressive styling continues at the rear, with that also common sloping loof and dashing looking windscreen that every manufacturer is going for these days. Also at the back are dual exhausts, sporty rear bumper and an integrated spoiler. From the pictures, it also looks like there is a red rear light bar joining the two tail lights together.

Moving to the inside, the Optima now sports a newly designed interior headlined by a 12.3inch digital speedo cluster and next to it a 10.25-inch infotainment system. Other possible kits include an 8-inch head-up display, 12-speaker BOSE audio system and ambient mood lighting.


Confirmed: Geely Acquires 49.9 Percent Stake In Proton Plus 51 Percent Of Lotus

Following months of
speculation
,
DRB-Hicom Bhd
 and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group have come to an agreement that sees the Chinese carmaker acquiring stakes in both Proton Holdings Bhd and subsidiary Lotus Advance Technologies Sdn Bhd.
Senior representatives of both DRB-Hicom and Geely have put pen to paper on a binding heads-on-agreement at Putrajaya earlier today witnessed by YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Malaysia’s second Minister of Finance.
Subject to regulatory and shareholder approval as well as signing of the final definitive agreement, the two companies have agreed for Geely to acquire a 49.9 percent stake of Proton as well as securing a 51 percent stake in Lotus.
The final agreement is expected to be signed by July 2017. Valuation of Proton’s stake in this deal has yet to be disclosed, but Lotus is stated as being valued at GBP 100 million. Separately, the remaining 49 percent stake of Lotus is being sold to Etika Automotive Sdn Bhd.
Through this tie-up, Proton is expected to gain access not only into Geely’s vast expertise and resources for future product development, but also tap into the Chinese brand’s bigger market presence in other Asian markets.
Assuaging concerns of possible shake-ups and retrenchments, officials of both companies cite Geely’s track record of turning around Volvo Cars in which the Swedish company not only did not shrink its workforce but also embarked on an aggressive path of growth that fuelled further job creation.
“Our intention was always to ensure the revitalization of the Proton nameplate. It was Malaysia’s first national car brand and has more than 30 years of history. This deal will be the catalyst to elevate a brand that Malaysians resonate with,” said DRB-Hicom Group Managing Director Dato Syed Faisal Albar.
Geely Holding Group Executive Vice President and CFO Mr. Daniel Donghui Li, meanwhile commented that the Group’s successful acquisition of Proton and Lotus stakes gives the Chinese brand a strong foothold in the region.
“With Proton and Lotus joining the Geely Group portfolio of brands we strengthen our global foot print and develop a beachhead in South East Asia,” Li said.
“Geely Holding is full of confidence for the future of Proton, we will fully respect the brands history and culture to restore Proton. to its former glory with the support of Geely’s innovative technology and management resources. We also aim to unleash the full potential of Lotus Cars and bring it into a new phase of development, thanks to our experience accumulated through Volvo Car’s revitalization,” he continued.