Monorel Melaka Terbengkalai Dan Tidak Beroperasi – Suatu Kegagalan?

Perkhidmatan Monorel Di Melaka yang pernah menjadi tarikan pelancong kini hanya mencacatkan permandangan ekoran
terbengkalai
tanpa beroperasi.

Perkhidmatan monorel itu masih beroperasi kali terakhir sebelum PKP pada Mac 2020, namun ia hanya bergerak pada masa-masa tertentu.

Monorel Melaka Cacatkan Permandangan?

Ketika ini, dua gerabak itu kini tersadai di Stesen Monorel di persimpangan Tun Ali di sini manakala kaunter menjual tiket ditutup. Monorel ini juga mempunyai reputasi yang menyedihkan apabila perkhidmatannya terhenti selama 22 kali sejak beroperasi pada 2011.

Lebih menyedihkan, pemandangan di laluan monorel itu cacat kerana beberapa bangunan kilang terbengkalai tidak dirobohkan. Ini sekali gus mencacatkan pemandangan di tengah-tengah bandaraya Melaka.

Persoalannya, adakah pihak berwajib akan terus membiarkan monorel yang pernah menjadi tarikan pelancongan ini usang dan terbengkalai?

Monorel itu juga pernah mencatatkan dua insiden mencemaskan apabila 20 penumpang pernah terperangkap di dalam gerabak pada 2010. Pada 2011 pula, dua pelancong terperangkap di monorel tersebut hampir satu jam sebelum mereka diselamatkan
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat
.

Malah penduduk Melaka juga menzahirkan rasa terkilan dan sediih melihat monorel yang dahulunya popular kini dibiarkan seolah-oleh berkubur tanpa nisan. Menurut laporan Utusan pada tahun lalu, rata-rata penduduk Melaka mahu monorel itu dinaik taraf untuk dijadikan ikon pelancongan.

Kenapa Gagal?

Berikut merupakan antara sebab mengapa Monorel Melaka suatu kegagalan:

Tiket berharga RM10

Hanya 2.5km

Hanya 1 stesen berfungsi

Bergerak dalam keadaan
loop
 atau
uni-direction

30 minit satu pusingan

Dibuat untuk tarikan pelancong, bukan pengangkutan awam

Apa Yang Berlaku Dengan Monorel Melaka?

Pada September tahun lalu, media melaporkan bahawa kontrak syarikat pengendali perkhidmatan Monorel Melaka telah ditamatkan kerana melanggar terma dan syarat perjanjian yang dimeterai bersama Unit Pembangunan Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN).

Pelanggaran utama yang dilakukan syarikat berkenaan ialah menambah klausa dalam perjanjian yang dimeterai iaitu membangunkan 15 lot tanah di kawasan persekitaran Stesen Monorel Melaka.

Syarikat itu juga gagal membayar yuran komitmen sebanyak RM100,000 kepada UPEN bagi melaksanakan projek itu selain tidak membayar lima peratus daripada jumlah keuntungan atau minimum RM1,000 kepada Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB) sejak kontrak bermula.

Tak cukup dengan itu, syarikat berkenaan juga telah mengabaikan aspek keselamatan dalam mengendalikan perkhidmatan seperti:

Cermin hadapan bahagian pemandu monorel tidak jelas dan kabur

Kabel dalam monorel terdedah

Kunci pintu monorel tidak berfungsi

Tiada penyelenggaraan pintu monorel

Lif di stesen tidak berfungsi

Sekiranya perkhidmatan Monorel Melaka ini dibangunkan semula, diharapkan aspek-aspek penting melibatkan keselamatan tidak diambil ringan oleh mana-mana syarikat yang mengendalikan projek tersebut di masa akan datang.


Mazda Teases Its All-New CX-9 Ahead Of LA Auto Show Debut

The
Mazda
 Motor Corporation has pulled back the sheets, slightly, on their upcoming CX-9. The midsize crossover SUV as they call it will make its premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Motor Show.
Once the LA Auto Show rolls around, which is between November 20th and 29th, we still have no definite date set for when Mazda plans to put their newest vehicle on sale - but with luck, they’ll be just as to see in showrooms as we are.
The all-new CX-9 sits at the high-end of Mazda’s new-generation line-up. Of course, it’s imbued with the latest SKYACTIV technologies and KODO-Soul of Motion design, but it moves it up a notch to a more premium design that also goes with its place as a midsize SUV.
For now, let’s see what else we can glean from that sketch. There are some clear details, but many more hidden ones. We’ll find out toward the end of the month at the LA Auto Show.


A baby Mercedes G-Class is on the way!

A baby G-Wagon is apparently on the way, and we can expect to see it as early as 2026.

Mercedes' G-Class
, also known as the G-Wagon, is
one of the most iconic cars ever made
. It has been in production since 1979 and has become popular for those looking for a rugged yet stylish vehicle.

The vehicle is so popular auto manufacturers like Suzuki have even copied its design DNA and walked away with a car that can be considered a runaway success.

The
current Suzuki Jimny, which basically looks like a shrunken G-Wagon
, proves that a smaller G-Class can work. So what can Mercedes do to capitalise on this apparent want? Well, according to a report from the German newspaper Handelsblatt, apparently Mercedes wants to launch a baby G.

According to the report, Mercedes' CEO Ola Källenius is the leading man behind the idea for a smaller G-Wagon, and apparently, we could see it being introduced as early as 2026.

It won't share or be mechanically related to its bigger brother, but instead, the baby G will be built on Mercedes' upcoming MMA architecture, which will be the basis for the next-generation GLA and GLB.

Of course, the baby G will not be able to match the G-Wagon's off-road capabilities as the MMA architecture means it'll be a unibody crossover, but it's been a while anyway since we've seen anyone take their expensive Gelandewagen off-road.

The newspaper mentions that the new baby G will be the same length as its bigger brother, but it would have a lowered ride height, which means less ground clearance. Mercedes will probably equip the baby G with a version of its 4Matic all-wheel drive system, which means it can probably tackle some rough stuff.

On a side note, the interesting thing about Mercedes' upcoming MMA architecture is that it'll be an EV-first platform but not exclusive to electric drivetrains. This will be Mercedes' first platform to have compromised ICE capabilities. So the assumption is that the baby G will probably be offered in EV and ICE versions, along with a PHEV sandwiched somewhere in between.


Economy Minister Mustapa Mohamed Speaks On Targeted Subsidies, Inflation

The Malaysian government is currently in the midst of working out
a targeted solution
 to replace the blanket subsidies over fuel and cooking oil, said our Economy Minister.

During an interview with
Bloomberg
, Mustapa covered a fairly broad topics from the economy in general to inflation while also simultaneously confirming and shedding light on the ongoing work to introduce a targeted subsidy solution.

Targeted fuel subsidy - a solution?

The main cause of all this is the increasingly high price of crude oil that, due to the aforementioned blanket subsidies to cap RON95 at RM2.05/litre, has dramatically increased government spending to curb a disruptive impact on the cost of living.

Though it is a bitter truth to accept, the Malaysian
government can no longer afford to maintain
 such a low ceiling on petrol when the market price has spiked significantly higher. As of the time of this writing, RON97 has hit RM4.72/litre.

In relation to this, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz estimated that the country would have to fork out RM28 billion should the blanket subsidies stay in place. We’ll merely add that earlier in June, Petronas reported a Q1 2022 profit of RM23.44 billion after tax.

Back to the interview, Mustapa expressed a sense of urgency that the sooner the new targeted subsidy policy can be finalised, ratified, and implemented, the sooner it
“will relieve pressure on the government’s budget”
 while ensuring
“those who need subsidies, will get subsidies.”

Over RM71 Billion In Total Govt Subsidies?

On Monday, this sentiment was echoed by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who said that the final subsidy bill for 2022 could exceed RM71 billion if left unchecked.

To those following the unfolding of this expedited shift away from blanket subsidies (which is inherently flawed, we’ll admit), it has been obvious that the main hurdle facing the targeted subsidy plan is a technological and informational one.

In terms of information, there is no consistent or accurate way to ascertain an individual’s ‘need’ for subsidies, if at all, due to there being so many factors that could influence a person’s spending power. Simply grouping Malaysians based on income (such as the T20, M40,
B40 tiering
) would not take into account their lifestyle, dependencies, or situational requirements since it reveals only one part of their overall financial situation.

How will targeted subsidies work?

Still, should that be resolved, it would also be a pretty massive technological undertaking to implement a system (and quickly) whereby those found to be eligible for subsidised fuel could access it at all petrol stations while keeping those ineligible away.

The capacity for Malaysians - even Singaporeans - to find ways to unscrupulously cut corners to save some money knows no bounds, so it might not be long before the subsidies are exploited.

Might we need to verify our eligibility via our MyKad?

Could eligible Malaysians be issued a special ‘Fuel Card’?

Will the subsidies be tied to our vehicle registration/plate number?

Does the value of the car we drive matter?

Do we have to present our tax returns or pay slip to the petrol station counter?

In any case, we reckon the security of any of these targeted subsidy verification solutions (plausible or otherwise) isn’t exactly air-tight, at that point, the problem then falls onto enforcement, which could be an even more difficult (and ongoing) problem.


RON97 Fuel Price Update: 23 to 29 August – Maintain

The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has announced the price of RON 97 fuel for the next seven days.
Price of the premium grade fuel maintains at RM2.65 per litre for the final week of August. Last week, the price was adjusted upwards by 4 sen per litre.
As such, the prices for petrol and diesel from 23rd to 29th August are as listed below:
RON95 –
RM2.20
per litre (no change)
RON97 –
RM2.65
 per litre (no change)
Diesel –
RM2.18
 per litre (no change)


Honda’s Kill List: Standard Sensing By 2030, No VTEC By 2040, Zero Fatalities By 2050

Honda says it will keep striving for zero fatalities involving its cars and motorbikes by 2050 through heavy investment in vehicle safety and autonomous systems to prevent human error on roads.

Over the course of these coming decades, the Japanese automaker hopes improvements to the intelligence of its
driver-assist technologies
, which they call Honda Sensing, in combination with educational programs around road safety, will help reduce the road toll involving its vehicles entirely by their self-imposed deadline.

A key part of the initiative includes Honda adding omnidirectional ADAS (advanced driver-assistance system) to Sensing, wherein every new model the automaker sells by 2030 will be fitted with the technology suite as standard. In all markets, every car from an entry-level Jazz to the range-topping accord arrive with Sensing.

The company is already off to a good start in Malaysia as well as other markets with even the B-segment
Honda City RS i-MMD
 here being sold with the full complement of Sensing technologies, laying the groundwork for its wider proliferation. At the higher end of the spectrum, starting with their home market, they are about to bring SAE Level 3 Autonomous self-driving capabilities to their Legend luxury saloon, calling the upgraded system
Sensing Elite
.

To further ensure this target is achieved by 2050, Honda aims to leverage their state-of-the-art crash testing facilities, which they dub the most sophisticated in the world, in Japan and Ohio.

Like Volkswagen, Toyota, Volvo, and other big names in the automotive world, Honda is also making moves
away from fossil fuels and internal combustion engines
, declaring a new strategy to sell only electric vehicles in major markets by 2040. This will start with vehicles built on a new EV architecture later this decade.

This radical and systematic transition away from ICE powertrains will start at the higher-end of their vehicle portfolio with nameplates like the
fully electric e hatchback
, Insight, Clarity, offering a benchmark for the rest of the line-up to aspire to. Soon after, as the transition to full electric drive progresses, hybrids such as the i-DCD and i-MMD as well as their plug-in hybrids will be put to pasture.

Lastly, as EV tech and its necessary infrastructure becomes more widespread and the cost of electric vehicles becomes lower, the combustion-genocide will come for the mass market models we're familiar with. The VTEC, too, will disappear.


2015 Mercedes-AMG GT S Takes Over From SLS As Formula 1 Safety Car

Oh, how we’ll miss that bellowing 6.2-litre V8 being driven flat-out around the circuit as TV commentators introduced the starting grid before each Formula 1 race – you can thank Bernd Mayländer, its driver, for any theatrics you would have seen on the grid before, and again this year.
Anyways, it’s about the 2015 Formula 1 season gets cracking again, and with the era of the
SLS
 coming to an end,
Mercedes
-AMG is sending forth its latest and greatest flagship racer, the AMG GT: specifically in its most powerful ‘S’ form.
This F1 season, fans may want to listen out for the sound of AMG’s latest 4.0-litre biturbo V8 howling around circuits worldwide – it shouldn’t be too hard with the F1 cars themselves sounding a bit “tame” if pre-season is any firm indication.
What won’t be so tame is the V8 510hp and 650Nm powerhouse planted in the AMG GT, screaming its lungs out through a specially modified Performance Exhaust System.
Apart from a specially-tuned suspension, the new Safety Car is largely identical (performance wise) to what customers can buy on the road, all options included: AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission, 265/35 R 19 and 295/30 R 20 (rear) wheels, Edition 1-like aero package, and more.
The only things you couldn’t probably get Mercedes-AMG to equip for you are the telemetry, marshalling and data systems etc., which are of course unique to F1 safety cars.
There’s An All-New Medical Car Too
The all-new 2015 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate also takes over the role of Medical Car in this year’s F1 championship, alongside the new AMG GT S. The most hardcore version of the C 63 that money can buy is also equipped with a 4.0-litre biturbo V8, which here, makes even more torque than the AMG GT S: 510hp and 700Nm of torque.
Engineers have reworked the vehicle’s AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension to cater to its different uses on track: be it to get to an incident quickly, or to transport the injured comfortably.  The special brakes and wheels are plainly optional equipment to the production series C 63.


Mercedes-Benz Is Taking Car Production To The Next Level With 'Factory 56'

Mercedes-Benz Cars has announced that the construction of "Factory 56", which it claims to be the world's most modern car production site, has officially begun.
Dubbed as the car plant of the future by the folks at Stuttgart, Factory 56 combines three trend-setting features: It is consistently digital, flexible, and brings the term ‘green production’ to life.
“As the inventor of the car, we are reinventing production," says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain.”
Located in Sindelfingen, Germany, the cornerstone for the new assembly plant was laid yesterday by some high-ranking representatives from the company.
Expected to be up and running in 2020, Factory 56 will be producing the brand’s high-end models like the next-generation S-Class, electric vehicles, as well as robo-taxis.
Stretching across a massive 220,000 square meters, which is about the size of 30 football pitches, Mercedes-Benz’s Factory 56 will have man-machine-cooperation and digitally supported processes including work organization as well as logistics and quality assurance.
It will also be connected to other productions in the global production network, and feature a 360-degree linkage along the whole value chain is an essential feature – from the suppliers, to the development department, design, production, and customers.
Finished vehicles will drive off the line automated to the loading station. Under "Digital Anticipation" in the Mercedes me App and online, customers purchasing new vehicles can already today gain exclusive insights into the production of their vehicles and thus have a much more enjoyable wait for delivery.
There will also be driverless transport systems (DTS) with product baskets supporting logistics in the assembly and ensuring the seamless supply of the required materials for the employees at the line.
As advanced as it is, human beings are still at the centre of all activities in Factory 56. Employees will be working at ergonomically optimised workstations, and will be optimally supported in their tasks by digital tools.
Designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, the assembly will use renewable energy and reduce CO2 production, and waste significantly.
On the roof of Factory 56, there will be a photovoltaic system which feeds green electricity into the productions supply, which in turn leads to a reduction of yearly 5,000 MWh of electricity, which is enough to charge the EQC electric SUV 72,000 times.


Spend RM40 With Shell And Stand A Chance To Go To Italy, South Korea, Or New Zealand

Shell Malaysia today launched the “Win a Trip with Shell” contest which is aimed at turning customers’ everyday journeys at Shell into rewarding experiences.
The contest, which started on 17th December 2018 and will run until 31st March 2019, will see winners being rewarded on a weekly basis with a holiday package to Italy, New Zealand or South Korea.
All customers need to do is spend a minimum of RM40 at Shell retail stations nationwide to be eligible to participate. After the purchase, they have to fill a brief contest form, choose one of the destinations between Italy, New Zealand, and South Korea, and submit the form with valid and eligible receipt to stand a chance to win a holiday package.
Customers can purchase any product sold within Shell Select and Kedai premises except tobacco products, E-Pay products, and Touch N Go purchases to take part in the contest.
Shell Malaysia also announced the first winner of the contest during the launch, where Wan Muhammad Fathi Bin Wan Nik Kamal, a 35-year-old administrative assistant from Kedah who chose New Zealand as his dream destination, was given a mock boarding pass to his preferred destination.
Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd said, “We recognise Malaysians’ love for gaining new experiences through travelling and from that, we derived the “Win a Trip with Shell” contest as a way for us to turn everyday journeys into a memorable and rewarding experience that our customers can look forward to this new year.”
During the contest period, there will also be roadshows across the nation featuring an interactive set-up to showcase the grand prizes.


Proton Iriz EV Previewed At IGEM 2015: Expected Debut In 2017, Sub-RM100k Price Tag

This is the prototype Proton Iriz EV, which is currently being previewed at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre as part of the 2015 International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM). The all-electric hatchback is expected to be made available to the public by 2017 with a price tag in the sub-RM100k figure.
Representing
Proton’s
 third foray into electrified vehicles, the Iriz EV comes after the Saga EV and Exora REEV, which were received by the Government for testing but were never sold to the public. It also makes up one of two new Malaysian-made electric vehicles (EVs) that are said be launched by 2017 with “incredible” price tags that fall below the RM100,000 mark.
This was announced by Mohamad Madani Sahari, CEO of the Malaysian Automotive Institute (MAI) at the recent 2015 Kuala Lumpur Automechanika fair almost a year ago in October.
Back to the
Proton Iriz
 EV, and the first thing to note is the similarity in looks to the standard Iriz on sale now. That isn’t surprising as we were told during a special preview of the all-new Proton Iriz prior to its launch in September 2014, we were officially told that the car’s platform was made to accommodate EV/ hybrid systems from the get-go.
And the hybrid powertrain in this prototype consists of a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor offering 116kW or 155hp and a whopping 360Nm of torque. Power is sourced from a 39.6 kWh battery pack developed by Korean company LG, which is underfloor-mounted.
The battery can be charged to full from 40% in just 15 minutes with the use of fast charger. A public charger as those found in certain parking lots will accomplish the same in four hours, while a run of the mill three-pin plug does so in a lengthy seven hours.
Performance-wise, we were told the EV sprints to 100 km/h from a standstill in just nine seconds and is limited to a top speed of 150 km/h, running on a single 7.23 ratio single-speed transmission. What’s more impressive is the range the Iriz EV can accomplish with a claimed New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) of around 300km.
Of course, the fitment of a battery back means the Iriz now packs on a bit of weight, now standing at 1,380kg. That makes it 195kg heavier than the top-of-the-line Iriz 1.6 Premium but you won’t notice the heft either on the inside that remains almost stock save for the Prius-like gear lever and new digital instrument for keeping track of the vehicle’s speed, charge state, and other info. Rear seating space is left unchanged and you still get a spare tyre in the boot.
Does the prospect of a local electric vehicle entice you to purchase one? With a suggested price tag of below RM100k, it certainly undercuts the current offering of electric vehicles in Malaysia, which includes the Nissan Leaf (RM180k) and price-upon-application (POA) Mitsubishi i-MiEV.


Toyota Corolla Altis GR Sport Rolls Out In Taiwan - Malaysia Next?

Most of us won’t be lucky enough to own an A90 GR Supra, but luckily Toyota has spread their GR branding pretty widely across their portfolio of cars. ‘GR Sport’, though, denotes a lower rung of the sub-division’s performance treatment, often implying a bias towards cosmetic tweaks over mechanical upgrades.

That brings us neatly to the Corolla Altis GR Sport, a car we’ve seen before, most memorably in late 2019 at the Thailand International Motor Expo. It got us pretty excited at the prospect of this more aggressive looking Altis gracing our roads in the near future, but things have been rather quiet on that front for obvious reasons.

Which is why its recent introduction into the Taiwanese market is worth taking note of, meaning whatever roadmap Toyota has regarding the car is back on track after the coronavirus pandemic threw any and all plans out of sync. The question remains, though, is Malaysia even (still) on that list?

Well, we sure hope so. The GR Sport will make for a very nice complement to the Corolla Altis range - or just Corolla in our case, which is currently populated by the 1.8E and 1.8G. Is it just me, or could that duo use a little spicing up?

With that ‘Dazzling Red’ exterior colour, 17-inch alloy wheels, all-round bodykit, rear diffuser element and subtle rear spoiler, a Corolla GR Sport would be a fine sight on Malaysian streets. Then there’s the interior which, in Taiwanese spec at least, boasts dual tone red/black leather seats with prominently raised GR logos to match the all-important ones on the outside. That’s how you flex.

Strangely, aside from the door trim accents, the rest of the cabin looks pretty standard. We would’ve loved to see some red stitching on the steering wheel and dashboard; maybe some red graphics on the digital instrument display too. No such luck, apparently.

Toyota have also given the Altis GR Sport some sportier dynamics for the Taiwanese market with “a newly developed sports car suspension and thickened front and rear anti-rolling balance bars, cornering reduces body roll and greatly improves body stability”.

Over there, the Corolla Altis GR Sport also comes in Hybrid form in addition to the standard petrol-only option. And in Taiwan the car also uses the familiar 1.8-litre 2ZR-FE naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine found in our current Corollas. Should the car find its way here, naturally we expect it to arrive in non-hybrid guise.

Power should therefore remain level at 140PS at 6,400rpm and the same goes for torque with 172Nm at 4,000rpm. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed Sequential Shiftmatic CVT - paddle shifters are a must.

Needless to say, the Corolla Altis GR Sport won’t be setting any speed records, but given how well the standard car already drives, those suspension alterations may make a bigger impact than what their on-paper credentials would have you believe.

The addition of a GR Sport to the Thai-market Corolla Altis certainly gave the range some welcome sexiness. Now that Taiwan’s has gotten theirs too, it’s Malaysia’s turn, we reckon. And if they happen to feel inclined use this opportunity to introduce the Hybrid powertrain to the local Corolla as well, that’s even better.


Kuching Service Advisor Tops Nissan Regional Competency Contest

Great news for team Malaysia! After beating his fellow Malaysians in the national-level Nissan Service Advisor Excellence Competency (NISAC) held in April, Mr Ernest Chong Ruichen emerged as champion in the NISAC Award Asia Regional Contest which was recently held in Thailand.
Being the youngest contestant was clearly a non-issue for Chong, who is based at the Nissan Kuching 3S Centre, as he outperformed more experienced contestants from Hong Kong, Singapore, Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Brunei, and Sri Lanka.
Chong was also commended for his extraordinary soft skills, Nissan Sales and Service Way (NSSW) handling standards, and customer-centric mindset.
Mr Michael Yao Tsu-Wei, Head of After-Sales, Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn Bhd (TCEAS) said, “We are extremely proud of Ernest Chong’s achievement as the champion of NISAC. Being the youngest achiever, he will be a role model in setting quality service standards to many other Nissan service advisors here in Malaysia,”
“We will continue to improve the skills and capabilities of our service specialists, and consistently provide our customers with the highest after-sales and service support,” Yao added.
The NISAC Award Asia Regional Contest, organized by Nissan Motor Co Ltd (NML), is aimed to recognize and award the best-skilled service advisors. The contest evaluates methods in welcoming customers, seriousness in meeting customer's needs and wants, transparency for the customer's peace of mind, and sincere explanation for customer's thorough understanding.
Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd, the main distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, would also like to emphasize again the importance of replacement the defective Takata airbag inflators on affected vehicles.
Click here to check if your Nissan is affected or part of the recall campaign
. Customers are advised to call the nearest Nissan service centre (TCEAS) for an appointment. Selected service centres have extended its operating hours. All labour and replacement parts for this recall campaign will be at no cost to owners.


Porsche and Shell Team Up To Introduce Cross-Country Fast-Charge EV Network

Porsche
 Asia Pacific and
Shell
 have jointly announced the implementation of Southeast Asia’s first cross-border high performance charging (HPC) network with 12 charge points at six Shell stations strategically located along Malaysia’s North-South highway.

The new comprehensive charging network will be implemented to offer EV drivers the flexibility of stress-free travel between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang.

The collaboration exhibits both companies' commitment to spur forward the future of mobility. Matthias Becker, Vice President Region Overseas and Emerging Markets of Porsche AG added, “The ASEAN markets hold strong potential for Porsche to unlock and we see an opportunity to shape electric mobility in the region. Our high-performance network across Singapore and Malaysia will serve as a lighthouse project for other countries to follow,”

Through this partnership, six Shell stations will be equipped with 180 kW direct-current (DC) chargers, offering the highest charging capacity across Singapore and Malaysia. The chargers come with two CCS Type 2 charging connectors, allowing a single vehicle to be charged at up to 180 kW, or two vehicles to charge simultaneously at up to 90 kW each. The offering will be rolled out in stages with four stations to be ready in the second half of 2021 (Phase 1 and 2) and two additional stations by the first half of 2022 (Phase 3).

Phase 1 (H2 2021)

Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)

Tangkak (Johor)

Phase 2 (H2 2021)

Jalan Ayer Hitam (Johor)

Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)

Phase 3 (H1 2022)

Simpang Pulai (Perak)

Tapah (Perak)

The sites will be integrated into the existing Shell charging networks, comprising 18 Shell Recharge 50kW fast-charge points at Shell stations and 87 Greenlots public charge points in Singapore, as well as 18 “Reserve + Shell Recharge” charge points in Malaysia.

Furthermore, they will complement the established
175kW high performance chargers available
 at all Porsche Centres in Malaysia and the growing “Porsche Destination Charging” network at selected hotels, airports, sports clubs, and other lifestyle venues.

Once launched, the chargers will be available for all EVs that utilise the CCS Type 2 charging connector, which is widely used across both countries, with Porsche customers enjoying special rates at Shell Recharge.

Shell’s new 180kW HPCs are equipped to charge the
Porsche Taycan from zero to 80 percent
 capacity in around 30 minutes, providing up to 390km (WLTP) of extra travel distance. Shell is also offering additional benefits to Porsche customers such as reserving the HPC points in Malaysia in advance using their mobile app, and preferential prices for food and beverages at the Shell Select shops.

The charging network complements the locations and retail formats for current and future Porsche enthusiasts in Malaysia, such as the newest Porsche Centre Ara Damansara as well as the upcoming Porsche Centre Johor Bahru.

Alongside, Shell is aiming to expand its EV charging offer to 500,000 stations by 2025 globally. The partnership with Porsche and other initiatives are part of Shell’s strategy to accelerate its transformation into a provider of net-zero emissions energy products


Toyota Celica Sends SUV Flying in Bizzare Crash

If there is a single video that can show what damage speeding, following too closely, and blindly swerving can do, this would be it.
Published in Youtube last week, the dashcam video of the incident which took place in Australia, shows how a speeding Toyota Celica gets too close to an SUV, fails to slow down in time and rear ends the latter, sending it flying across two lanes, causing a bad pileup.
But it doesn’t end there as the Celica driver, in his or her miserable attempt to swerve away from the SUV, rams into a parked pickup truck, sending it flying too.
Thankfully, it is said that no fatalities were reported in the seven-car pileup, but how a car the size of a Celica can send the SUV shows how unpredictable and dangerous the outcomes are if a crash is to take place while one is speeding.


Audi Malaysia previews e-tron GT ahead of midyear launch - will start from RM559k

Official distributor of Audi cars for Malaysia, PHS Automotive, have announced that our market will receive
quite the range of electric vehicles
 from the Ingolstadt-based automaker.

Announced at an event at Audi Centre Setia Alam, the brand confirmed at 4 variants of the Q8 e-tron and 3 variants of the e-tron GT will be headed to our shores this year. Bookings are already open for both models.

However, the only car physically on hand to enjoy on that evening
was the RS e-tron GT
, the flagship offering - both technically and in terms of performance - from their premium go-fast Audi Sport division.

With a starting price RM559k to RM643k for the e-tron GT quattro (Dynamic Package optional) and between RM749k and RM769k for the even more rapid RS e-tron GT, these variants seem to handily undercut the equivalent Porsche Taycan with which electric-specific J1 platform and other many technical similarities are shared.

e-tron GT quattro -
RM559k-RM569k

e-tron GT quattro with Dynamic Package -
RM633-RM643k

RS e-tron GT -
RM749k to RM769k

Each e-tron GT variant receives a 93kWh battery (roughly 83kWh usable) that’s rated up to 458km  of range for the standard variant and 447km in its RS guise.

Both are also powered by dual permanently excited synchronous motors, one on each axle. However, while the e-tron GT makes due with 476PS (or 530PS on ‘boost mode’) and 630Nm of torque, the RS e-tron GT delivers 598PS in regular driving, 646PS in boost mode, and up to 830Nm of torque, shaving that 0-100km/h sprint to just 3.3 seconds.

The e-tron GT thanks to its 800V electrical architecture and advanced multi-channel liquid cooling system, can support DC charging up to 270kW while AC charging can be done at up to 22kW, but only if you opt for the Dynamic Package for the GT quattro.

Other notable differences in specification and equipment with the Dynamic Package includes Matrix LED headlights, 21-inch wheels, carbon roof, B&O premium sound system, and an interior finished in Nappa leather and Dinamica combo. Only the RS e-tron GT receives goodies such all-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension.

Due to arrive in larger volume for delivery in mid-2023 fully imported from Germany, each built at Audi’s Neckarsulm plant, the e-tron GT will definitely be a sight to behold on Malaysian roads.


Honda Civic e:HEV - The meanest and greenest Civic you can buy right now!

Honda has just unveiled the Civic e:HEV, and it's pretty much better than the Civic Turbo in all possible ways except for one.

Honda
yesterday unveiled the all-new Civic e:HEV
, the 11th generation hybrid version of its iconic global compact car. It features Honda's proven e:HEV powertrain technology, which is helping the brand to electrify most of its models.

While Hybrid vehicles are an effective way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and a pathway for Honda to reach their vision for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2040, the hybrid powertrain has also given the Civic a new character, which Honda calls "Smart Sport".

While many are content with the overall package and
performance of the 1.5-litre turbocharged Civics
, the Smart Sport is a beast of its own, characterised by how it delivers driving pleasure without compromising on efficiency.

To deliver exceptional dynamics and efficiency as standard is a hard thing to do, but the Honda Civic e:HEV makes it look easy. How does it do it? Well, to understand it, we must get acquainted with Honda's new e:HEV powertrain.

What's underneath the bonnet? rather the whole body in this case

Honda's proven e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) powertrain technology is nothing new because we've seen it in the Honda City sedan/hatchback and the HR-V.

While Honda could have just plonked the same hybrid
1.5-litre powertrain from the City and HR-V
 into the Civic, they actually wanted to give people an exhilarating drive, which is why the Civic e:HEV has a setup that is different to its brothers.

The Civic e:HEV sees the deployment of a new 72-cell lithium-ion battery and two compact and powerful electric motors that is paired to a newly developed 2.0-litre direct-injection Atkinson-cycle engine.

Combined, the powertrain delivers a maximum motor output of 181hp and 315Nm of torque. When
compared to the Civic turbo
, the hybrid manages to breach the 8 second 0-100km/h time, making it faster than its forced induction-powered brother.

The two powerful electric motors work together to provide the primary drive force, but the engine can be called upon for instances when there is light throttle input, such as when you are cruising at higher speeds.

The engine is controlled by a new, compact Power Control unit which now sits under the bonnet with the rest of the powertrain. Sitting under the rear seats is the latest version of Honda's Intelligent Power Unit (what gives the electric motors their energy), which is now smaller and lighter but has the benefits of an increased energy density.

This advanced powertrain is capable of shifting seamlessly between EV, Hybrid and Engine drive with no input from the driver. In fact, according to Large Project Leader of the Civic e:HEV RS, Tomoyuki Yamagami, they purposely made it this way, so that you don't have to think about power or efficiency management. Instead, the car will choose what is optimal for both ends of the spectrum to give you the best results.

This system delivers a feeling of instant torque and powerful acceleration whilst still offering outstanding efficiency. It delivers power so well it even manages to give the driver an acceleration feel at high speeds according to Honda, and this should provide a comfortable passing acceleration. It also manages to do this without an increase in harsh engine sounds.

Central to the e:HEV system is the fixed gear transmission, which has been designed to minimise mechanical friction and is controlled by an intelligent power control unit, which optimises the vehicle to each driving situation.

But does the extra weight make the Civic feel like a hippo?

Tomoyuki Yamagami said the Civic e:HEV drives well, despite being 100kg more than the Civic Turbo.

The Civic e:HEV's dimensions are exactly just like the other variants, except that it sits slightly higher off the ground (126mm VS 128mm). Despite this, Honda pointed out that its centre of gravity is 10mm lower, which should give it good balance.

Speaking of balance, the 100kg of added weight has been distributed evenly across the car (50:50), and according to Yamagami, this was done to ensure that its driving dynamics are not compromised.

One of our colleagues managed to drive it on the Sepang Circuit recently and during the slalom test, he mentioned that the handling was pretty good and the extra weight was unnoticeable. One of the reasons for this good handling is due to some tweaking of the springs and dampers as well as the inclusion of a stiffer cross member at the rear.

How about its fuel efficiency?

According to Honda, the Civic turbo sips fuel at about 6.3L/100km, and the hybrid can do it at 4L/100km. To put that into perspective, our beloved Perodua Myvi returns about 4.8L/100km.

So as you can see, the Honda Civic e:HEV pretty much has all the corners covered, as it has good performance, handling and fuel efficiency. Is worth your hard-earned money? Well, that is down to you because it does have a premium of RM16k over the Turbo.

Technically however, if you want the best Civic available, the hybrid is the one to go for, and we bet you won't regret it at all.


Paris 2016: 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Breaks Cover

The latest version of Porsche’s most produced GT racing car; the 911 GT3 Cup has been officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, together with all the details we need to know about the car.
The big news is that it will not be powered by a downsized turbocharged engine like the road-going 911 as many predicted, but a completely redeveloped drive comprising a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated six-cylinder flat engine producing 485hp.
Among the updates the car has received include a valve drive with rigidly mounted rocker arms and a central oil feed, which is being used for the very first time.
Besides that, an integrated oil centrifuge is used to optimise oil defoaming in the engine. A crankshaft with significantly increased rigidity has also been installed.
According to Porsche, the new 911 GT3 Cup will be used in the 2017 race season, namely the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which is held alongside the Formula 1 races, and in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, as well as in North America.
The car will also be available for the other brand cups in 2018. Porsche added that in total, it is organising 20 of these race series for customer teams around the world, with the 911 GT3 Cup being used exclusively.
On the exterior, the 911 GT3 Cup, which weighs only 1,200kg thanks to the aluminium-steel composite chassis, comes with a new front apron and a new rear end, which provides improved downforce.
However, the 184cm wide rear wing and the wheel dimensions of 18-inches have been carried over from the predecessor model.
Having sold more than 3,000 units since 1998 in the forms of the 996, 997 and 991 model lines, the new 911 GT3 Cup will be manufactured on the same production line as the 911 road car in its main plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, while basic race tuning is performed at the Weissach motorsport centre, where vehicles are thoroughly tested by a professional race driver prior to delivery to the customer.
Looking for a Porsche? Find one now at
Carlist.my


You Can Travel Between Districts And Across State Lines Now

While this news is great, there are a few caveats to take note of - don't go heading for your cross-country road trips just yet.

With COVID-19 came the Movement Control Order, or MCO. And from MCO came CMCO, then RMCO, and now w'ere back in CMCO. The problem is that at each stage, the rules seem to be fairly arbitrary like an especially intense game of mad libs. We won't even go into the blatant double standards that politicians and persons of importance benefit from - let's just focus on what you can do with your cars.

As of last Sunday, the government announced that you could travel cross-district and cross-state. The only problem is that you are only allowed to do so if you come from a green district, and you're going to another green district - even if that green district is within a red state, though you will need police permission for that.

What does that really mean though? For anyone outside of the Klang Valley and Sabah (and Penang to a certain extent), driving around sort of goes back to normal. You won't have to worry about being stopped at roadblocks unless you're entering or passing through a red zone, as long as you stay in a green zone.

But if you're like us, in the Klang Valley, pretty much the entire area is a red zone. In contrast, Pahang - which is just 30 to 40 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur, has had zero cases recently and is pretty much a green state. Even if we wanted to soak in some hot springs, it would not be allowed.

The statistics can be worrying at times as the number of cases go up, but the real issue is that the context for the cases are not explained. For example, Selangor has seen a massive rise in the number of cases in the last two days - but this doesn't mean that COVID-19 is spreading rampantly, but rather one massive cluster was discovered - which happened to be a glove manufacturer.

That alone contributed over 1,000 people to the count, which in turn can make it seem a little scary. Thankfully the government does pay attention to these details, and they have slowly started to relax CMCO rules once again. Business hours have been extended up to 12 am once again, although we really shouldn't be saying this: don't go out unless you absolutely have to.

There is still no resolution for the number of occupants per vehicle apart from the fact that they must be from the same household (again, a bit silly considering people in workplaces are also in proximity). Until anything changes on this end, you will need express police permission to carry more than two occupants or to carry non-family members. Somehow, ride-sharing vehicles are completely exempt from this.


2021 XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design - Full-range of Volvo PHEV CKD’s Now Complete!

Volvo adds another plug-in-hybrid into its local range with the introduction of the XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design. This makes Volvo the first automaker to offer the full range of its vehicle line-up in both CKD and PHEV form.

Built on Volvo’s Compact Modular Platform (CMA), this
Volvo XC40
 Recharge T5 R-Design goes on sale for RM241,997 after the sales tax exemption (OTR, without insurance) and is available for viewing and booking at all authorised Volvo dealers nationwide starting today.

Now, without further ado, let’s get into what’s different about the XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design from the XC40 T5 R-Design.

Powertrain

The Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine. This is coupled with the electric motor that is mounted to its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Combined power output is 262 hp with 425 Nm of torque with 82 hp and 160 Nm coming courtesy of the electric motor.

0-100 comes in a quick 7.3 seconds and top speed is capped at 180 km/h keeping in line with
Volvo’s efforts
 to reduce road injuries and fatalities to zero.

There are five drive modes to choose from: Hybrid (default), Pure, Off-road, Power and Individual - these modes are the same across the Volvo range of PHEV’s.

Before you start drawing parallels to the engine in the
Proton X50
 and Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design please note that the engine in the Recharge is technically and structurally different, though they do share the same architecture.

The 1.5 three-cylinder engine was co-developed by Volvo and Geely, meaning that both the engine in the X50 and XC40 Recharge adhere to the same technical standards but the main difference in the engine for the Volvo XC40 is that it is produced separately by Volvo and has a different calibration, using the CMA platform.

CO2 Emissions

The Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design has a combined CO2 emissions of 50g/km compared to the 176g/km that is emitted from the XC40 T5 R-Design. That is a whopping difference of 126g/km!

Safety

The hallmark of any Volvo vehicle, the Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge T5 R-Design comes with the below as standard:

Pilot Assist

City Safety

Run-off Road protection and mitigation

Cross-Traffic Alert with brake support

This is of course on top of the six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), and Lane Keeping Aid (LKA) that is also equipped on the Recharge.

Design

The XC40 despite being launched in 2017, is still refreshing and imposing to look at, while far from being a classic, its looks have aged well thus why reinvent or rework something that still looks relevant in 2021?

Exterior

Charging lid on the left-hand front fender

C-pillar updated with Recharge moulding

Recharge emblem on the right of the rear

Interior

Scuff plates with Recharge engraved on the metal plates

The Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design also comes with additional storage bins in the cabin with retractable hooks for you to hang your teh-tarik ikat tepi from.

Boot

The 12V battery has been moved to the rear to accommodate the electronics for the plug-in-hybrid system up front. This unfortunately means that you don’t have space for a spare tyre but fret not as the Recharge comes with 19-inch 235/50 Pirelli P-Zero run-flats.

Colors

Five distinct colours will be made available for the Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design: Blackstone, Crystal White Pearl, Bursting Blue Metallic, Glacier Silver Metallic and Coral Red Metallic.

The Crystal White Pearl does look rather fetching especially under sunlight!

Price

Priced at RM255,888, the XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design is now reduced to RM241,997.04 due to the sales tax exemption (on-the-road, without insurance). The pricing for the Volvo XC40 T5 Petrol variant has been revised to RM231,651.00. This makes the XC40 Recharge
RM10,346.04
more expensive than its internal combustion equivalent.

You can refer
here
 for the specifications of the XC40 Recharge that has been carried over from its internal combustion sister.

“The fundamentals surrounding safety, design, and performance are the same for this model as with any other Volvo. Through the dedication of our team, we are confident that this car checks all the right boxes to provide an enjoyable driving experience. At the same time, we hope that the launch of XC40 Recharge T5 will provide a more sustainable choice for Malaysians and spur everyone to think about taking active steps in sustainability together, so we can recharge our environment and the future,” said Nalin Jain, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.


Refreshed Tesla Model 3 May Have Just Leaked on Reddit

Someone has apparently snapped a photo of the upcoming refreshed Tesla Model 3  - and there's a lot of Tesla Roadster in it.

Ever since the news dropped that
Tesla would officially set up shop right here in Malaysia
, people have taken a more profound interest in the brand.

With this in mind, this bit of news might be of some interest to local Tesla fans, because it seems someone has sneakily snapped a photo of the highly secret refreshed Tesla Model 3.

According to roadandtrack.com,  a photo of the long-awaited Tesla Model 3 facelift was published on Wednesday evening in the Tesla subreddit section.

However, there's just no way to confirm it, as Tesla dissolved their PR team in 2020. However, just like how roadaandtrack pointed out, the headlights do have some likeness to the now-delayed Tesla Roadster, and that is probably the biggest giveaway.

According to R&T, there have been rumours tracing back to 2022 suggesting Tesla was planning to revamp its most popular sedan with a refresh in the second half of 2023.

Back in December, spy shots surfaced of a Tesla Model 3 with front-end camouflage testing in California, but that's all we've seen of the illusive model 3 refresh so far.


Hatchback vs Sedan: The Pros And Cons

Stuck between purchasing a hatchback or a sedan? Then these pros and cons of a hatchback and a sedan will probably help with your decision.

The
SUV craze
 has really made us forget about two of the most favourite types of passenger cars. If you're looking for a comfortable, spacious and fun to drive car that is not an SUV, then the hatchback and sedan are still around, believe it or not.

Sedan

A sedan is a four-door, five-seater car with a separate trunk. It's still a common sight on Malaysian roads and has been around for more than 70 years.

The trunk on a sedan is an enclosed cargo area separate from the passenger compartment. In technical terms, sedans are also known as a car with a three-box design. The reason for this is because the front box houses the engine, the middlebox, which is the largest, accommodates the passengers, and the third box located at the rear, known as the trunk, is where cargo is placed.

Except for new exterior and interior designs, sedans are still designed in classic proportions, except that maybe sedans in the modern days are slightly bigger with more coupe-ish rooflines compared to their counterparts of the past.

Cars like the
Honda City
,
BMW 5-Series
, and
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
 are all considered sedans.

Hatchback

Hatchbacks take the elements of a sedan and throw in a little bit more sexy when it comes to its design. They are called two-box cars, as the engine is upfront in the first box and the passengers and cargo area in the second box.

Just as the name implies, hatchbacks have no trunks, as they have a one-piece flip-up tailgate at its boxy rear end, just like a hatch. Hatchbacks either have two or four doors, but these days it's more common to see hatchbacks with four doors, as it is the more practical design.

Modern-day hatchbacks have also morphed into luxurious vehicles, unlike the affordable econobox it once was. They are also built more stylistically compared to the days of old and have less space in the rear. You can thank cars such as the current
Mazda 3 hatchback
,
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
 and
Volvo V40
 for this approach.

Cars like the
Golf GTI
,
Perodua Myvi
and
Proton Iriz
 still have classic hatchback proportions with quite generous space at the rear.

The main difference: Hatchbacks vs Sedans

Beyond its looks, the significant difference between
hatchbacks
 and
sedan
s is what they offer when it comes to cargo-hauling capabilities. For such a compact car, a hatchback can generally accept larger pieces of cargo and have the ability to make it a breeze when loading and unloading them.

The hatchback's large flip-up rear tailgate/hatch door opens big vertically, giving its owners plenty of space to work with when carrying cargo. Couple this with flip-down rear seats, and the hatchback transforms into a mini cargo-hauling machine. Remember the magic seats from the Honda Jazz?

The sedan's cargo-carrying capability is limited by the small opening of the trunk area and the height of the trunk space itself. While some sedans do have a good opening, their low trunk space prevents them from piling cargo high, which means you can only pretty much slot them forward or sideways.

Although boot space is one of the major differences between hatchbacks and sedan, there is another thing which differs between the two. The unique shape of the vehicles does affect the interior space. Generally, sedans do have a longer wheelbase than a hatchback and along with the separate cargo space means passengers often enjoy slightly more generous legroom. For example, the upcoming
Honda CIty Hatchback
 has a slightly shorter wheelbase than its sedan brother.

But this is not always the case, especially when the sedan has a hatchback counterpart. For example, the Toyota Yaris which is largely based on the Toyota Vios has the same wheelbase as its sedan twin, both are built on the TNGA platform. They are virtually sitting on the same chassis.

Hatchback: Cons

The rear open box design of a hatchback where passenger and cargo areas are combined allows a small sip of noise to intrude into the passenger area. Although it's not that detrimental to front passengers, the vehicle's rear occupants will be exposed to it. This is especially so if the boot is empty as the sound has space to travel, creating an echo.

A sedan has more rear structure to block sound. Since the trunk and passenger area are separate from each other, unwanted noises like the exhaust will be minimised. Since the passengers are closed off from the cargo area, sounds from moving about cargo will also be minimised, unlike the hatchback, where you will probably hear more of the cargo rattling or rolling around. You probably won't hear it as much with a suitable parcel shelf, so we are nitpicking a bit here.

Security is also an issue, as thieves will only need to smash the tailgate window to access your precious cargo in the rear.

Sedan: Pros

A sedan is ideal for buyers who want maximum cabin comfort and do not prioritise a large cargo carrying capacity. It's also the safer of the two as the sedan's trunk provides more room for crumple zones to be effective. There is also a lot more metal and space at the rear, which helps protect rear passengers, allowing the vehicle more time to absorb impacts.

Modern engineering has made hatchbacks safer, so once again we are nitpicking here.

Which to consider?

If you are the type of person who
needs to carry lots of tall cargo
, then a hatchback will suit you better. It has more vertical space compared to a sedan.

But suppose you're the type of person who needs a lot of cargo space but will only be carrying luggage type cargo - in that case,
a sedan will be best as it can hold many pieces of luggage
 as well as have maximum rear passenger comfort and rear collision safety.


Family of five forced to call old car home, receives support amidst struggles

A family of five has been residing in an old Proton Wira as their temporary home for the past ten months.

Head of the family, referred to as Razak, aged 42, shared that due to a lack of alternatives, his 39-year-old wife Siti Azeryna Daud, himself and their three children had no choice but to endure living in the car.

Razak expressed his deep anguish over witnessing his own family enduring the daily struggles of residing and sleeping in the vehicle. However, with no other options available, they were forced to endure such circumstances.

Their predicament was brought to light by New Starits Times but originally came from the online community when a Facebook user named Edi Arjuna Pencerita shared a post about their situation. The post provided a glimmer of hope and much-needed relief for Razak and his family, as numerous individuals stepped forward to offer assistance and support.

In the past, Razak had undertaken various jobs, including grass-cutting and driving a school van, but their lives took a turn for the worse, particularly during the challenging period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to their current situation, the family used to rent a house in Banting, Selangor, and subsequently sought temporary shelter at a relative's place in the Klang Valley. Unfortunately, due to certain difficulties and issues, they were compelled to live in the car.

Presently, Razak revealed that he had to be admitted to Temerloh Hospital because of a growth on his neck that he had noticed about a month ago. The pain and discomfort he experienced prompted him to seek medical attention.

"Throughout this period of living in the car, I have been taking my wife and children to various places, such as Nilai in Negri Sembilan, Banting in Selangor, and most recently, Karak in Pahang. Typically, we sleep inside the car. If we have some spare money, I ensure that my family stays in a budget hotel," Razak shared.

He expressed gratitude that, thus far, they had not encountered any disturbances, threats, or significant issues. In fact, patrolling police officers often keep an eye out for them, ensuring their safety.

To make ends meet, Razak attempted to sustain himself as a mobile mechanic, but his earnings were insufficient to cover the costs of renting a house.

"I desired to rent a house, but whenever some money came in, I had to allocate it towards essential items like food and necessities for the children, including milk and diapers. Previously, I managed to save some money, but then our heavily relied-upon car broke down, leaving me perplexed. Consequently, I had to use those savings to repair the car. For a period, I sold canned drinks, but lacking sufficient funds or capital, I couldn't sustain the business," he explained.

Regarding his illness, Razak disclosed that he had been informed about the possibility of undergoing an operation, potentially scheduled for this Friday. "I hope the surgery goes smoothly because I need to regain my health in order to secure a job for the sake of my family".

NST mentioned that a representative from the Welfare Department had reached out to him after their difficult situation gained widespread attention thanks to social media.


She Is The First Female BMW-certified Advanced Driving Instructor In Southeast Asia

A true story of courage and steadfast determination, Chamaiporn Paphatphong, better known as Pook, has become the first female BMW certified driving instructor in South East Asia after successfully completing her training at the BMW Instructor Academy in Germany. BMW has been creating world-class driving trainers under their
BMW Driver Training
 programs since 1997.
Pook recounts the long hours in the classroom, where trainees were educated on the technical aspects of car control for half a day, before heading out to the test track (after lunch) where they were trained to improve the finesse of their driving skills.
After dinner, the theoretical sessions continued for another few hours. Trainees also had to revise their daily syllabus, which normally means, it would be around midnight before they could get some rest.
Pook’s love for cars was inspired by her father; Kwanchai Paphatphong, an avid classic car buff, who is also the organizer of the annual Thailand International Motor Expo. Together with her brother 'Pick,' the Paphatphong siblings also work as motoring journalists at autoinfo.co.th and Formula magazine.
Pook relates to living with these cars from a very young age.
When her dad noticed that she had a deft hand in controlling a car, he sent Pook for her first driver training so she could refine her skills further. Pook realised that the skills she had learnt could be beneficial if thought to a wider audience back home, and hence decided to further her experience through the instructor program in Germany.
Back home, Pook takes pride in owning a pristine BMW 503, which was first purchased by her father some ten years ago. While classic cars may not have been her first love, she grew to understand the underlying driving spirit of any BMW, be it old or new.
Pook explains that if a BMW vehicle could be compared to human character – the person would be someone who is smart, calm but also powerful.


The Volvo Amazon Has Just Turned 60

Named after the female warriors in Greek mythology, one of Volvo’s most iconic and timeless beauties – the Amazon, has just turned 60. And despite being as old as some of our parents, the Amazon is still a looker, continuing to inspire new models like the
V90/S90
.
First unveiled in September in 1956, the Amazon was known to be a car which differed greatly from the common perception of what a Volvo should look like.
The shapes were beautiful and challenging, with features drawn from Italian, British and American design. The man responsible for the design was 26 year old Jan Wilsgaard, who went on to become Volvo’s head of design for many years, designing the 140, 240 and 700 series, as well as parts of the 800 series. Jan Wilsgaard recently passed away at the age of 86.
The new car was the company’s second postwar model, following on from the PV444, and had been named Amason - spelled with an ‘s’. The name came from Greek mythology, in which the Amazons were female warriors. The spelling was changed to the more internationally viable Amazon prior to the launch of production in 1957.
Unfortunately, German moped and motorcycle manufacturer Kreidler also happened to launch a moped called Amazone at the same time, which meant the name was unavailable in a number of key markets.
So, a deal was reached to allow the Volvo model to be known as Amazon in the Nordic markets. This is also why the standard model was known as 121 while the sports model was called the 122 in the rest of the world.
And then, there was the estate model with a standard engine called 221, the estate with the sport engine called the 222, the 85hp 1958 Amazon Sport with twin SU carburettors and a sharper camshaft, and of course, the sportiest of them all – the 123 GT, which borrowed its engine from the 1800S sports car, offering 115hp and overdrive back in 1967 itself.
In total, 667,791 units of the Amazons were built between 1956 and 1970, making it Volvo’s most manufactured model at that moment. It is also the car which switched Volvo’s focus from the domestic market to the export market – as a total of 60 per cent of Amazon’s manufactured were sold outside of Sweden.
Besides that, another reason why the Amazon will go down in automotive history as a hall-of-famer is because it was the first car in the world to feature the three-point seatbelt - an invention by Volvo - back in 1959. Realising the life-saving potential of the three-point seatbelt, Volvo gave away the patents to its invention for free. It is estimated that at least one million lives have been saved by the three-point seatbelt over the course of its 57-year lifetime. The Amazon was also the first Volvo to be assembled outside of Sweden in 1963.
Despite the introduction of the 140 Series in 1966, product development on the Amazon continued, where both the Amazon and the 140 series received the new B20 engine for their respective 1969 models, providing better torque and a slight increase in power.
After 14 years of production, the final Amazon was built in July 1970 at Torslanda, Sweden. Clad in dark blue exterior shade, the car was driven straight into the collection of cars which later became the Volvo Museum.
It may have been more than four decades since the last Amazon was produced but many of them are still running strong around the world. Even in Malaysia, many faithful owners, classic car collectors and enthusiasts have said that it is one of the most iconic and reliable cars that the world has seen.
That said, let us wish the Volvo Amazon a very happy 60th birthday.
Feel like buying a Volvo? Find one now at
Carlist.my


The Disabled Can Now Find Restaurants In PJ That Meet Their Needs Via New App

A new mobile application has just been launched called “My Friendly Restaurant”, aimed with easing the process of browsing and locating disabled-friendly eateries in Petaling Jaya for special needs persons (OKU).
The app itself was created by the Beautiful Gate Foundation, an organisation that has been caring for the disabled since the early 1990s. It allows those with disabilities to find places to eat without having to worry about the lack of disabled facilitie, according to a report from
The Sun Daily
.
“We will send correspondents throughout PJ for two months and evaluate the restaurants based on our index of disabled-friendliness,” said executive director Sia Siew Chin.
In collaboration with Our City Love Social Enterprise of Taiwan, these correspondents will visit the restaurants, take photographs and note a particular establishment’s layout, ease of access, lighting level and, of course, quality of food. The app, made for iOS and Android, will then display these restaurants overlayed on a map with the necessary descriptions, location, and contact details.
“Based on the information, the user will be able to know if a restaurant can meet their needs beforehand. We also aim to include halal and vegetarian indicators, and make it multilingual, starting with Mandarin and English.”
In Petaling Jaya, new restaurants are requires to provide access for the disabled. However older restaurants are under no such obligation. MP Tony Pua, who was there to officiate the app said: "Hopefully with the app this will change."


Lim Guan Eng Isn't Aware Of Act 333 Amendments - Dr Wee

Malaysia's Transport Minister
, Dr Wee Ka Siong, has blasted back at DAP chairman,
Lim Guan Eng
, over his statement regarding the
Mat Rempits
 and
illegal motorcycle racing
.

Following the unfortunate
illegal racing incident
 that happened in Penang earlier this month which led to
five deaths
, Guan Eng stated that more fatal accidents were caused by Mat Rempits compared to
drunk driving
, but the punishments by law are not equal and no major actions have been taken by the Transport Ministry to address this issue.

*Image credit: NST

Act 333 already amended in 2020

Dr Wee fired back at the DAP chairman, stating that the DAP chairman is not aware of the amendments made by Dr Wee on
Act 333 back in 2020
. In fact, two major amendments were introduced. These are:

Act 333, Section 41 - Punishment for deaths caused by reckless driving, minimum jail sentence increased from two years to five years, fine increased from RM5,000 to RM20,000.

Subsequent offences - Minimum jail sentence increased from two years to 10 years, fine increased from RM5,000 to RM50,000, 10-year driving license ban.

*Image credit: Gempak

Long-term plan to tackle
'mat rempits'
 & illegal racing

There were also some amendments to Section 42 which covered reckless and dangerous driving, which saw the driving license ban increased from two years to five years. To add salt to the wound, Dr Wee stated, "It shows that Lim wasn’t serious and he did not look at the amendments on Act 333 that was passed and gazetted."

There's also a long-term plan being concocted by a special team formed by the Transport Ministry, which will look at the current rules, technical components, and advocacy activities. Dr Wee will be presenting the details soon.


NxGV, What Is That?

For the Malaysian automotive industry, today is D-Day. The day where structure, plans and strategy can finally be set in stone. After much uncertainty which has affected the sector, today the NAP (National Automotive Policy) will be unveiled, and my oh my have we waited for this day!

We are still unclear as of now on the direction this NAP will take as this is the new government's first automotive policy, and it appears that MITI, MOF and MARII have all had a hard time figuring out a policy that will pave the way for our automotive industry for the foreseeable future.

However, this hasn't stopped the media from speculating on what the NAP will bring and one word that keeps being thrown about is NxGV. The NST reports that "The government would focus on developing the nation to become the manufacturing hub for NxGV", whilst themalaysianreserve.com writes that "Industry players are looking at NxGV", but what exactly is NxGV?

NxGV is an abbreviation for Next-Generation Vehicles. According to the Next-Generation Vehicle Guidebook which was published jointly by the Japanese Ministries of Environment, Economy, Trade and Industry, Land, Infrastructure and Transport, NxGV are vehicles which are environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient with low or no emissions. These include electric vehicles (EV), hybrid vehicles (HV), plug-in-hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and fuel cell vehicles (FCV).

What this could mean for us is that in the near future we could see more electrified vehicles on the road, possibly due to a more favourable duty structure. There are some very unique and attractive NxGV vehicles that we do not have access to, but if the NAP helps with the price which in turn makes it economically viable for distributors to bring them in, then yes, everyone wins.

If the NAP also promotes Malaysia as a NxGV hub, then manufacturing of parts can be made locally, making NxGV cars cheaper to maintain. One of the problems with NxGv vehicles at the moment is their initial price and the expensive replacement parts. If these two become more affordable through the NAP then perhaps we can finally be in trend with the rest of the automotive world.

Who knows, we might even officially be able to buy a Tesla in Malaysia, perhaps even the Honda e! We wait to see...


Perodua Receives 450 bookings At Malaysia Autoshow 2019

Perodua announced that it had collected 450 bookings at the recently-concluded Malaysia Autoshow 2019 – the highest number of orders it has ever collected at the annual event.
Organised by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), the four-day event took place at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) from 11-14 April.
“This means we collected over 110 bookings per day on average, which is the highest-ever achievement for us since we first participated in the Malaysia Autoshow in 2017,” Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin said.
While the Myvi received the most bookings, the 50 unit-only Perodua Bezza Limited Edition was fully booked in just three days. Perodua said that it is not planning to introduce it as a retail variant as the 50 units were meant to be exclusive to the event.
Besides the Bezza Limited Edition, Perodua also introduced a new range of GearUp accessories at the event for the Aruz.
“We welcome all Malaysians to view the Aruz at the nearest Perodua sales outlet, where our friendly authorised sales advisors will be glad to answer any queries you may have on our latest offerings,” said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin.


This Fake Nissan GT-R Is No Fake Taxi

For those who want a Nissan R35 GT-R but can't afford one, perhaps this "Fake GT-R" from Thailand can give you some inspiration on how to build one.

Since we are neighbours with the beautiful people of Thailand, we've all at some point seen h
ow creative they can be when it comes to cars
.

Their car builds get attention for not only for being creative, but they also get attention for their excellent fit and finish, which is a testament to their workmanship.

'Fake' like Fake Taxi?

So when Chad Bee from the YouTube channel CB Media showed the world around his friend's "Nissan GT-R" from Thailand, we were not surprised by what he unveiled about the sinister-looking vehicle.

We say it looks sinister because its body is wrapped up like one of those adult entertainment 'Fake' cars, but apart from that, we think no one would know any better that the car is actually hiding something more significant than that.

GT-R with an RB26, really?

Chad first posted a picture of his friend's vehicle on his Instagram Story, where he showed the engine bay. Apparently, his followers and people were outraged that somebody would swap out the R35's VR38DETT engine for an
RB26DETT
 from the early nineties.

This particular GT-R had an RB26 engine because it's not a real R35 GT-R in the first place, as it's a fake one made from A31 Nissan Cefiro from the late 1980s.

How much did it cost to make?

Chad's friend, Frank, made the car for $50,000 (RM211k), where he used a blend of
original
and replica R35 GT-R body parts. The headlights, front lip, hood, doors, gas cap, and taillights are all real, while the rest of the body consists of carbon fibre replica panels made by Thai company Karn Fiber, which builds replica body parts all sorts of vehicles.

Although Frank is the CEO of a tuner company in Thailand, it doesn't mean he is made out of money, which is why he decided to create this "Fake GT-R".

You thought Malaysia was bad when it came to car taxes

Because of Thailand's 300% import duty tax on all cars, a real R35 GT-R would have set Frank a whopping $400,000 (RM1.7mil), which is a little absurd for a car in its
current juncture
.

Nonetheless, it seems like Frank is happy with the car, especially when it can drift so well due to it being a build based on a rear-wheel-drive Cefiro, instead of an all-wheel-drive GTR.

We can only write so much about it, so it's best you check out the video for the full lowdown.

Hah, and there you are thinking Malaysia's really bad when it comes to car taxes; we can get a Nissan R35 GT-R starting from RM250k, so count your blessings.


MPOB: DBKL Completes Over 3 Million Kilometre Testing Of B10 Biodiesel Without Incident

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) vehicles have completed over 3,000,000km of driving powered by B10 Biodiesel in real-world conditions without any breakdown, according to a statement released by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) today.
According to MPOB, DBKL was the first third party consumer of B10 Biodiesel in the country as part of a collaboration between the two entities.
Some 50 DBKL vehicles of various sizes, ranging from pick-up trucks to five-tonne lorries, vans, heavy machinery, excavators, have been fuelled up in their day-to-day operations with B10 Biodiesel since January 2014. The vehicles are between three and 15 years of age, and all are powered by engines compliant to Euro 2 or Euro 3 standard.
Majority of the vehicles have averaged between 60,000 and 70,000km of mileage, with one particular five-tonne lorry having clocked over 200,000km on its odometer.
Throughout DBKL’s usage of the fuel, the following observations were noted:
Lower smoke levels:
 In free acceleration tests, the B10-fuelled vehicles averaged readings of 2.7 to 2.8 Hartridge Smoke Unit (HSU) in the smoke meter; far exceeding Department of Environment’s requirements for vehicles to not exceed a reading of 50 HSU. Operator Hamdan Main notes ‘visibly obvious’ reduction in smoke emissions when his Hitachi excavator is in use.
Slight fuel savings:
 Hamdan also observed that fuel consumption of his Hitachi excavator is down slightly from 11 to 10 litres per hour.
Negligible difference in power:
 Two drivers, one assigned to a five-tonne lorry and another responsible for a Nissan Navara pick-up, report negligible difference in vehicle performance between B10 Biodiesel and current fuel grades.
Among the 50 vehicles tested, a Nissan Navara pick-up and a Nissan five-tonne lorry are due to have their engines opened up for detailed inspection jointly conducted by MPOB, Nissan Japan, and local Nissan franchise holder Edaran Tan Chong Motor.
Whilst most official automotive brand custodians in Malaysia remain reluctant to endorse the use of B10 Biodiesel in our market, DBKL appears relatively confident at the new fuel grade.
Muhammad Alif Muhammad Noor, Mechanical Engineer at DBKL’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department, says that the City Hall is seriously considering extending the use of B10 Biodiesel to its entire fleet of 2,040 vehicles.
B10 Biodiesel is a blend of 10% palm methyl ester and 90% fossil fuel. It is slated to replace the current B7 Biodiesel which mixes 7% palm methyl ester to 93% fossil fuel. The specific date of B10's implementation, however, has yet to be confirmed.
Read also:

FAQs on B10 Biodiesel – What You Need To Know Before B10 Is Introduced


Proton Debuts 3 New Models In Egypt, CKD Possible

It was back in September when Proton announced that the company was shipping 225 vehicles to Egypt, with an original October launch mentioned.
Fast forward to November and Proton has just launched the Saga, Preve, and Exora at the newly-refurbished 4S outlet in Smart Village, Abbou Rawash, Giza.
Mr Steven Xu Yuan, Director of International Sales for Proton together with Mr Hisham Ezz Elarab, owner of Alpha Group Ezz Elarab and witnessed by His Excellency En Mohd Haniff Abd Rahman, the Ambassador of Malaysia to Egypt was present at the launch ceremony.
Alpha Group Ezz Elarab is the sole importer of Proton vehicles in Egypt, with cars being sent to seven branches and dealers across the country. The importer is aiming for a sales volume of 1,400 units for 2019, as new versions of the Saga and Exora Plus are expected to be made available from the middle of next year.
Mr Steven Xu, Director of International Sales for Proton said, “Egypt has the potential to play a big role in helping Proton achieve its future sales targets by increasing our export sales volume. The Company and our Egyptian importer have to work closely to ensure their market needs are met when addressing the product and pricing fit to buyers here. If we get that right and deliver cars in a timely manner then we can be successful.”
Moving forward, 2019 will see some major changes introduced to the Egyptian automotive market as there will be a gradual reduction in import tax for European vehicles, thus reducing prices for such models. To counter these challenges, Proton may start CKD operations in Egypt.
“The models we have launched in Egypt will kick off Proton’s re-branding in this market. Sustenance activities will then have to follow in order to keep the sales momentum going and after that we are hopeful that CKD operations will start. Our aim with CKD in Egypt wouldn’t be limited to just the local market as we would be looking at meeting demand over and all throughout the MENA countries,” said Steven Xu.
If Proton’s CKD plans for Egypt goes through, it will mark the second plant outside of Malaysia to assemble Proton vehicles, with Bangladesh being the first.


All-New XU60 Toyota Harrier Launching This Week At 2017 MAI Autoshow

Now this is a surprise. Sources have indicated to us that UMW Toyota Motor, the official distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, will for the first time ever, be launching the all-new Toyota Harrier at this Thursday's opening of the MAI Malaysia Autoshow.
Prior to this, the Harrier, a predominantly Japan-only five-seater SUV that is rarely sold outside of Japan, can only be purchased via grey importers.
This follows the company’s recent move to introduce the Alphard 3.5-litre (from RM408,400) and Vellfire 2.5-litre (from RM345,200). The upcoming introduction of the Harrier will complete the company’s line-up of Japan-sourced models. With it, UMW Toyota Motor can finally offer a full range of officially imported and warrantied alternatives to popular grey imported Toyota models.
We should also point out that unlike earlier generation Harrier models, the current generation Toyota Harrier is not related to the Lexus RX (available from Lexus Malaysia from RM388,000).
Instead, this all-new Harrier has more in common with the Lexus NX, sharing the same 2,660 mm wheelbase. In comparison, the Lexus RX rides on a longer 2,790 mm wheelbase.
Based on a leaked leaflet, it appears that the Malaysian-market Harrier will be powered exclusively by a 2.0-litre direct injected twin-scroll turbine turbocharged petrol engine, producing 231 PS of power and 350 Nm of torque. It’s the same engine (same output) that’s powering all 200t series Lexus models.
No information on the transmission is mentioned but in Japan, the Harrier Turbo, as this particular variant is called, uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, available either as a front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
Other features mentioned for the Malaysian market Harrier include Toyota Safety Sense, which is Toyota’s version of Honda Sensing - an advanced driving assistance systems that’s likely to include at autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Also listed are panoramic moonroof, power-operated tailgate, power-operated Nappa leather seats with memory function, an animated turn signals (similar to the ones used in the Lexus RX), and LED headlamps with adaptive hi-beam function.
There is no indication on the Harrier’s price in Malaysia but in Japan, a base-model Harrier (without Nappa leather seats) starts from 3.38 million Yen, which is about 20 percent lower than a base model Lexus NX 200t  (RM309,900 in Malaysia).
Assuming the same hierarchy is applied in the Malaysian the context, that would put the Malaysian market Harrier’s price within the range of RM250,000. For sure a grey imported model will still be cheaper but remember that grey imported models are used cars and they don’t come with after-sales support. Toyota’s leaflet mentions 5-year warranty for their officially imported all-new Harrier.
The MAI Malaysia Autoshow will run from 9 to 12 November, at the Malaysian Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) in Serdang.
Leaflet credit: Benny


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Starts Exporting Vehicles To Philippines, Beginning With The C-Class

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today announced that the company will begin exporting vehicles for the Philippines market effective this month.
The vehicles, which will be left-hand drive models, will be assembled in none other than the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia assembly plant in Pekan, Pahang.
The first model to be exported to the Philippines will be the brand’s best-seller in Malaysia, the C-Class, in the C180 Avantgarde guise.
Powered by the M274 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 156 PS and 250 Nm of torque, which is paired to a 9-speed automatic gearbox which sends power to the rear wheels, the model that is being exported to the Philippines is the same as the C 180 which our market had before the current facelifted C-Class was introduced.
That said, standard features on the Philippines-bound C180 include LED headlights and 17-inch on the exterior, as well as Artico leather upholstery, ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto on the inside.
“As we set to expand our production volumes, we have undertaken technological upgrades at our plant to enhance our ability to cater to a more robust production portfolio and contribute towards an increased market share of Mercedes-Benz vehicles locally and regionally,” said Dr.Claus Weidner, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
It was also said that besides having logistical advantages of domestic assembly, the export of the left hand drive vehicles from Malaysia will also provide a ready market and more opportunities to local auto part makers.
Looking for a new Mercedes-Benz? Get the best deals
here
.


Spied: Geely Binyue Spotted In Melaka – Next Proton SUV?

Just two months after the debut of the Geely Boyue-based Proton X70, it appears that Proton is busy testing another upcoming model.
This time around, our friends over at
Automachi
 published photos of the Geely Binyue somewhere in Melaka.
As evidenced by its prominent rear wing and quad muffler tips, seen here is the Sport variant of the Geely Binyue.
To recap, the
Geely Binyue
 rides on the company’s new BMA platform, with two engine choices available. The first is a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol that does 177 hp and 255 Nm, hooked up to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The other engine is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder that outputs 134 hp and 205 Nm, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
Geely also mentioned that the Binyue was tested extensively across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America, clocking over 12 million km for the engine and more than 6 million km for the dual-clutch transmission, ensuring the powertrain’s reliability across the globe.
In China, the Geely Binyue is priced from an affordable CNY 78,800 for the base 1.0-litre turbocharged model, while the more powerful 1.5-litre turbocharged model is priced from CNY 88,800. Just for comparison, the Geely Boyue (Proton X70) is priced from CNY 129,800 for the base model.
Considering the quantum in price gap between the Binyue and Boyue in China, Malaysian consumers can expect the upcoming Binyue-based Proton model to have a ballpark price very close to that of the Perodua Aruz (Priced from RM 72,000).
When the model is launched later this year, it will be challenging the likes of other subcompact SUVs, such as the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Toyota C-HR.
Photo credit:
Automachi


2021 Volvo S90 T8 Recharge Launched - RM339,315

Volvo Car Malaysia today revealed the 2021 Volvo S90 T8 Recharge sedan. Equipped with Volvo's Drive-E powertrain, the 2021 S90 will now output 407 hp and 640 Nm of torque bringing its top-line numbers identical to its
S60
 sibling.

Built on the SPA platform that has underpinned releases from the 60 and 90 series from the last few years, this S90 facelift carries on with Volvo's signature looks from the “Thor Hammer” LED headlight design, vertical chrome grille with the Volvo Iron Mark, Orrefors crystal shift knob, the updated rear tail lamps on the S90 have also been updated to bear resemblance to the recently launched S60 T8 R-Design.

Connectivity in the shape of the 9-inch Sensus panel ensures the driver is always connected on the go. Two USB ports in the front support both Apple Carplay and Android Auto. If you thought 14 speakers (from the previous S90) were fancy then the 19 speakers upgraded Bowers & Wilkins setup in the 2021
Volvo S90
 will provide you with aural pleasure like none other. The signature Tweeter-on-Top speaker is seamlessly integrated into the design contours of the S90 T8 Recharge and sits just above the dashboard. We will be looking to test the different room modes available on the S90. Will it be able to transport you to the Gothenburg Concert Hall or to a Swedish theatre? We'll have to wait to find out.

With a chassis made out of boron steel for added body strength, the 2021 Volvo S90 will come packed full of Volvo's list of safety features such as the Blind Spot Information Systems (BLIS), City Safety, Cross-Traffic Alert, Front and Rear Warning and Mitigation Support, Lane Keeping Aid, Pilot Assist, a 180km/h speed cap and many more.

“The fundamentals surrounding safety, design and performance are the same for this model as with any other Volvo. Through the dedication of our team, we are confident that this car checks all the right boxes to provide a premium driving experience. A plug-in hybrid that considers tomorrow without compromising today’s experience, the S90 T8 Recharge is luxury that makes a difference and is the perfect choice for people who embrace their uniqueness and stand out from the crowd,” said Akhtar Sulaiman, Marketing & Public Relations Director for Volvo Car Malaysia.

Priced at RM358,888, the 2021 S90 will be available for RM339,315 (on-the-road, without insurance)

with the Sales Tax exemption until June 31, 2021. The T5 variant, now priced at RM328,888 (before the Sales Tax exemption) will be available only from June 2021 onwards. Viewings for the 2021 S90 T8 Recharge is available from today at all authorised Volvo dealers nationwide.

It will also be available for booking through Volvo Car Malaysia's
website
 especially if you're concerned with crowds.

Five colors will be made available for the 2021 Volvo S90 Recharge T8: Bright Silver, Crystal White Pearl, Onyx Black, Platinum Grey and Thunder Grey


Renault Channels Modernist Architecture For Its Bold Coupe Corbusier Concept

Renault
 taps into the past to inspire the design for its Coupe Corbusier concept, a car that really doesn’t look like anything else we have today – even by ‘concept’ standards.
They’ve also admitted upfront that it does not foreshadow any of its upcoming vehicles.
That’s a shame, given how the industry could well do with an injection of the unusual and daring. Instead, these sorts of “future-looking” exercises are “offering creative staff more leisurely moments”, according to Renault.
Before you ask, the french automaker is keeping its lips sealed as to what is under that very long hood. Perhaps it runs on an infinite propulsion machine? Although we will say it’s quite a large car and it also has doors that swing up and away, with its hinges being rear-facing instead of front.
With that out of the way, lets turn our attention onto that name. You see, Le Corbusier was a Swiss-French architect and one most prolific ones of his time. His real name being Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris.
The man belonged to the modernist school and was responsible for much of its pioneering designs. Its philosophy is exhibited on the Renault Coupe Corbusier “geometric elegance and mastery of light.” This car’s arrival marks the 50
th
 anniversary of his death.
And while the idea of
‘celebrating’
 someone’s death seems a morbid way to honor an individual, Le Corbusier would have approved of this car’s embodiment of modernist principles and theories.


Volkswagen Launches New 3S Centre in Batu Pahat

Volkswagen
 Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and SP Supreme Autohaus today announced the launch of the new Volkswagen Batu Pahat 3S Centre, which is the only Volkswagen 3S Centre in northern Johor.
Spanning a total of about 25,000 square feet, the Volkswagen Batu Pahat 3S Centre showroom is able to display up to five cars, and has six service bays, as well as the latest diagnostics tools and aftersales equipment as approved by Volkswagen Germany.
For customer convenience, the 3S Centre’s customer lounge also comes with Wi-Fi connection, a café with light refreshments and TV for entertainment.
SP Supreme Autohaus had invested a total of RM6.5 million into the 3S Centre to cater and support both Volkswagen sales and aftersales services in the areas of Batu Pahat, Muar, Kluang, Yong Peng, Segamat and other locations within the region.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Erik Winter, the managing director of VPCM welcomed the new Batu Pahat 3S Centre to the ever-growing network of Volkswagen 3S Centres across the nation. “As part of our efforts together with our dealer partners to continuously improve and boost infrastructure, we hope that this addition will further enhance the ownership experience of our customers in Batu Pahat and the surrounding areas. Congratulations to SP Supreme Autohaus on today’s launch and thank you for your commitment to the brand,” said Mr. Winter.
Sia Chai Lim, managing director of SP Supreme Autohaus added that the partnership between SP Supreme and Volkswagen, which began more than two years ago continues to flourish. “We have come a long way since our first showroom launch in 2014, we are fully committed to our business and customer satisfaction. With our confidence in the brand, and with VPCM’s support, we plan to expand, and will be launching another 3S Centre in Permas Jaya next month,” he said.
Volkswagen Batu Pahat 3S Centre showroom and sales operates daily from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Aftersales services are available Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 6:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Both sales and aftersales are closed on Public Holidays.


Nissan Murano Hybrid Debuts At Auto Shanghai 2015

Nissan has unveiled a hybrid version of its
Murano
 crossover at the on-going Auto Shanghai 2015 show. It’s due to be up for sale in China somewhere in mid-2015, with other markets to follow soon after.
The headlining feature here is the hybrid powertrain and for this, the newly-developed QR25DER engine is called up for duty. It’s a 2.5-litre supercharged four-cylinder petrol unit with electric assist coming from a 20hp motor and a lithium-ion battery pack - specifications that it shares with the
Infiniti
 QX60 Hybrid and the
Nissan
 Pathfinder hybrid. It has a combined output of 250hp and 329Nm of torque which goes through an XTRONIC CVT transmission.
That transmission is part of a larger hybrid system that is referred to as the Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch System. Those clutches, however, aren't used in the transmission itself. Instead it uses them to modulate power between the internal combustion engine and electric motor, providing the most efficient source to drive to the wheels depending on requirements. This clutch system has an unconventional layout with one clutch positioned between the electric motor and transmission components while the other is placed between the engine and electric motor.
Nissan wasn’t forthcoming on the exact acceleration numbers or fuel economy figures, but the automaker insists that the supercharged 2.5-litre engine provides comparable performance to the 3.5-litre V6 while returning greater fuel economy that is on par with even a 2.0-litre unit. Of course, the lightweight and efficient electric motor will surely help increase those figures further particularly during city driving.


Geely Boyue-based Proton SUV Expected End-2018, New Proton Models Every Year, EVs Planned

The much-anticipated Proton mid-size SUV, based on the
Geely Boyue SUV
 is expected to be introduced by end-2018 with at least one new model launched every consecutive year.
During a
press
event
 earlier today, Geely Holding CFO and newly appointed Proton Holding Berhad Daniel Donghui Li explained, the introduction of new models are part of a detailed 10-year joint plan between Geely and Proton, which outlines new models, besides the Boyue SUV, that is needed for the Malaysian market.
He added, “The team, including our Malaysian and Chinese colleagues, also Including Geely’s China team will have a very intensive timetable to deliver the new products.”
Proton Chairman Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar added that time is required to homologate these new Geely models as they’re designed for China’s left-hand drive market. Localisation of car components is another factor that needs to be considered and requires time.
Syed Faisal added, “We are also looking at other products within the Geely stable. And we’re not only looking at the cars. But potentially the also the powertrains,”
When asked about the possibility of Electric Vehicle (EV) powertrains, Syed Faisal explained, “Yes, this is something that we will embrace, and Geely has embraced this technology. And this is one of the highest reasons why Proton needs a strategic partner where we can get access, immediate access to technology of EVs.”
Syed Faisal went on to explain that in the midterm strategy, a portion of the current Proton range will remain, and be mixed with ‘exciting’ products from Geely.
To provide specifics on the level of support in terms of product development, Daniel Donghui Li explained, “Geely will supply our latest engines. For your information, Proton’s engines only comply with Euro 4 regulations. Geely will provide [engines] with Euro 6 [compliance] and beyond,”
He added, “Geely will provide its transmission, which is certified not only for traditional [internal combustion engine] cars, it will be also flexible to adapt to new energy solutions, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-electric. We will provide new product development including our big models, hybrids and electric cars.”
He further explains that Geely has invested over USD 10 billion dollars on product development, hence, Proton need not invest heavily in product development, instead, concentrate only on production, plant upgrading, company improvement and the introduction of new products.


Mercedes-Benz EQC Undergoes Extreme Heat Test After Surviving The Cold

The Mercedes-Benz
EQC electric SUV
’s road to series production has just entered the next phase.
Following successful winter trials, the EQC is now undergoing an extensive test programme in the summer heat in the Iberian Peninsula in Spain with temperatures of up to 50° Celsius.
According to Mercedes-Benz, particular attention is being given to aspects which are very demanding for electric cars such as air conditioning and charging in high temperature, cooling the battery, as well as drive system and control units in extreme heat.
"After successfully completing endurance tests in winter at minus 35 degrees, we are confident that the heat trials will confirm that we are well on schedule for the start of series production," says Michael Kelz, Chief Engineer for the EQC.
“While the battery of an electric car "merely" loses power in the cold, exposure to great heat carries the risk of battery damage. Optimum management of these physical characteristics is the aim of the extreme tests in Spain.”
The main focus of the high temperature testing was on the battery cooling circuit, how the battery copes with high power requirements, how a fully charged battery responds to further charging, and what influence the heat has on operating range.
Battery draining tests, including test drives in which the battery is completely drained of power, are also part of the test programme.
Fine dust is also a particular challenge during the trials in Spain, as the test technicians want to know where this dust might be deposited in the components, and whether the sealing concept works in practice.
Almost 200 prototypes and pre-series vehicles are built for the whole test programme, which will see the EQC being tested and validated by numerous individuals from many different development departments.
In the EQC’s case, Mercedes-Benz said that a total of several hundred experts are involved in the testing which takes about four years to complete.
Before coming to market in many countries around the world in 2019, the EQC would have undergone extensive testing in Germany, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Dubai, South Africa, the USA and also China.