Review: Honda Jazz Sport Hybrid – There’s No Boot Space!

The Honda Jazz Sport Hybrid - no boot space but still one of the best hybrids available in Malaysia.

With news of the fourth-generation Honda Jazz slowly trickling in – especially with its radical departure in design and positioning to become more spacious and practical than ever – we thought it was a good time to take one last look at the current generation Jazz as we know it. It’s a model that has won over fans from all walks of life, whether they see the value in a fun and nimble hatchback, or those who enjoy the all-rounder nature of this B-segment model.

This particular unit is the Jazz Sport Hybrid – the sole hybrid variant offered with this generation of the Jazz. It’s important to remember that this was also a big step forward for Honda as it was one of their earlier models to come with a dual-clutch transmission – especially in Malaysia. It also carries the torch for compact Honda hybrids as the Insight and CR-Z have graciously bowed out in years past.

A Stunner On The Switchbacks

While we truly believe that no new car on the market truly handles or rides poorly, there are still cars that are truly gems when it comes to the driving department. The Jazz has quite a cult following in some enthusiast communities as the chassis is known to be incredibly rigid – a core tenet for a car that handles well. But even in stock standard form, the Jazz is beautifully agile, responding to inputs with an eagerness not commonly seen.

It’s a shame then that the standard tyres offered with the Jazz Sport Hybrid can’t quite keep up with the chassis. In the dry the grip levels are passable, but it’s in the wet where you can have some truly butt-puckering moments. Our advice would be to swap out the tyres once you’ve worn through the first set; pick something a little stickier and you will enjoy the handling balance a whole lot more.

Hybrids Are Severely Underrated

If you have never had the benefit of test driving a hybrid model in your lifetime, we highly recommend that you do. Better yet, make it a Jazz Sport Hybrid – because there are so many ways in which a hybrid powertrain feels so much more refined than a conventional petrol or diesel engine operating on its own.

While there are plenty of arguments against buying a hybrid model, there are also plenty of tangible benefits. Refinement in stop-and-go traffic and just moving off from stops is mind blowing thanks to the electric motor that gives you a gentle, inaudible shove as you get going. There’s also the gentle supplementing of torque as the engine comes on song, providing a torque curve that’s generally smooth and flat from just off idle.

It’s Not The Most Expensive Jazz!

You would think that having a relatively complex powertrain would make the Jazz Sport Hybrid the most expensive of the Jazz family, and that would probably be true in other countries where there aren’t as many incentives for hybrid models. Thankfully, the Malaysian government has made it really favourable to own a locally-assembled hybrid vehicle in Malaysia by providing plenty of incentives that are then passed on to the consumer.

That being said, there are some items that you miss out on if you pick this hybrid variant. Compared to the top-spec Jazz V, you miss the following items:

16-inch rims

An entire spare tyre

Signal lights on the side mirrors

Power-retractable mirrors

Paddle shifters

Leather seats and trim

Two extra speakers

Side curtain airbags

However, if you were to make the same comparison with the mid-spec Jazz E, you benefit from these items being a part of the package:

Advanced Multi-Information Combination Meter

Steering Switch Cruise Control

Shift By Wire

Height Adjustable Driver Seat

A Little Less Practical

Unfortunately, being a hybrid means that boot space becomes compromised as a result of packaging the battery and other components under the boot floor. Due to the fact that this generation of Jazz wasn’t designed with a hybrid powertrain in mind from the beginning, the battery packs cannot be stored in the centre of the car much like some European brands.

So how much space are you giving up? As it turns out, really not that much – just 49 litres, meaning you still get a solid 314 litres with the rear seats up, and a whopping 835 litres with the rear seats down. That is still more space than you get with other brands on the market, which is really a testament to Honda’s finesse when it comes to packaging.

Save Fuel No Matter How You Drive

We’re not understating this when we say that we pushed the powertrain in the Jazz Sport Hybrid. During our time with the car, we had to deal with both stop-start traffic jams and high speed highway runs, as it so happened we had to take it to Terengganu. That’s well over 1000 kilometers, and even with all the abuse the Jazz Sport Hybrid managed to return a decent 13.5 litres per 100 kilometers.

If you try this with most other cars, with the exception of higher-end luxury turbodiesel models, you aren’t likely to even achieve 10 litres per 100 kilometers with this kind of driving. The hybrid system recovers energy quickly and stores it for use when you need to build speed back up on inclines – it’s all so seamless and effective that you hardly realize it’s at work if not for the energy graphs.

Resale Value Is Tip-Top

We don’t have many listings for the Jazz Sport Hybrid – which is probably because the owners love them enough to hang on to them, but also probably because it’s a fairly new car. The oldest listing we have is a
2018 model
 that’s being listed at RM 65,000 at time of writing. But even if you don’t want to take this as a rough estimation, the Honda Jazz has always had excellent resale value and slow depreciation rates, even with the previous two generations.

The Jazz Sport Hybrid is one of those models that you don't even really have to test back to back with a conventional model to feel the difference that the hybrid powertrain makes. The fact that it is so unassuming and intuitive to use, hardly differing from a regular Jazz, makes it all the more appealing and ultimately a great fit for anyone, regardless of their level of enthusiasm for cars.


2016 Will Be The Year of SUVs And Trucks – Here’s Why

For competitive reasons, car companies usually stagger their launches, especially on models that their rice bowls depend on. For example, Mercedes-Benz will not launch an all-new C-Class at the same time as a BMW’s 3-Series. Similarly, Toyota wouldn’t introduce a new Vios so close to the launch of a new Honda City.
Doing so will not only be poorly cost effective, it confuses consumers, and will quickly degenerate a potential great model into a contest of who shouts the loudest.
Yet, within a span of 12 months, Toyota, Ford, and Mitsubishi are vying for the attention of both SUV and pick-up truck buyers. That’s quite a wide net to cast.
In November, Mitsubishi debuted its
all-new Triton
. Several months later Ford began teasing the public with pictures of its all-new Everest ‘concept,’ never mind the fact this ‘concept’ car had working wipers, windshield washers and side mirrors.
Activities in this segment continued to intensify with spyshots of Toyota’s
all-new Hilux
 making their way to the Internet, followed by the
all-new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
 and all-new
Toyota Fortuner
.
In March 2015, Ford hosted the global debut of its
all-new Everest
 in Thailand. Toyota followed up on the act by debuting its
 all-new Hilux
 in May 2015. The baton was then passed back to Ford, who launched its new Ford Ranger in June. In between them, the Isuzu MU-X and
all-new Mitsubishi Triton
 was launched in Malaysia.
Over the weekend, Mitsubishi also introduced its
all-new Pajero Sport
.
What’s Happening?
On 1-January 2016, Thailand will be enforcing a new carbon emissions-based excise duty structure.
Given that Thailand is the global hub for pick-up trucks and truck-based SUVs, the new duty structure has a direct influence on the launch timing of such models around the world.
Under this new duty structure, pick-up trucks and their SUV derivatives that emit more than 200g/km of carbon dioxide will be taxed between 2 to 30 percent higher than before.
For pick-up trucks, the difference is not that big. Single-cab trucks that exceed the limit will be taxed 2 percent higher (from 3 percent to 5 percent), while double-cab trucks are taxed 3 percent more (from 12 percent to 15 percent).
Truck-based SUVs (hereon referred to as passenger pick-up vehicles or PPVs) on the other hand, will be severely affected. Irrespective of their carbon emissions, PPVs will be taxed at least 5 percent more, from 20 percent to 25 percent. Those that emit more than 200 g/km will be taxed 10 percent more.
Thus explains the big rush to launch the models in Thailand before 2016.
So How Will SUVs and Trucks Be Affected?
By 2016, a Ford Everest will be taxed at the same rate as a Honda CR-V, in Thailand, of course.
Currently, a Honda CR-V 2.4-litre is taxed at 27 percent, after discounts for E85 gasohol fuel compatibility. A 2.5-litre PPV is taxed at only 20 percent.
In other words starting 2016, PPV models will no longer enjoy the low excise duties that in the past, have allowed them to be priced lower than passenger car-based SUVs.
The older generation of 2.2-litre to 2.5-litre capacity diesel engines used in pick-up trucks usually emit slightly more than 200g/km of carbon dioxide. A larger 3.2-litre model will emit over 270 g/km.
This also explains why the all-new Mitsubishi Triton, Pajero Sport, Toyota Hilux and Fortuner are fitted with newer, cleaner emissions engines for Thailand.
Don’t expect these engines to come to Malaysia though, at least not until the necessary Euro-5 diesel is available nationwide.
How Does This Affect Consumers In Malaysia?
The loss of price advantage for PPVs mean that prices in Thailand are going to go up, aligning them with passenger car-based SUVs.
The select group of consumers who are buying these PPVs at their new prices are going to expect a higher level of refinement. They are going to expect passenger car-like handling, safety features, and comfort.
Thus explains the massive leap in refinement seen in the all-new Fortuner, Everest and Pajero Sport.
It’s amazing how a change in duty structure in Thailand will have a direct impact on improving the quality and refinement of cars that are sold here.
Over in Malaysia, our duty structure does not make any distinction between PPVs and passenger car-based SUVs.
Aside from the already on-sale Isuzu MU-X and Mitsubishi Triton, all other models mentioned here are expected to be launched in Malaysia by early 2016. The coming influx of very refined and also very durable seven-seater SUVs is expected to intensify competition in the RM160k to RM200k segment.


Throwback: Borneo Safari 2019: Isuzu BluePower Takes On The Greens Of Borneo

The state of Sabah has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the many social and economic changes, Sabah has also had to lose out on hosting one of the most celebrated annual off-road expeditions in the world - the Borneo Safari Expedition.

What started out has as a small group of 4x4 aficionados taking to the jungle to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, would have celebrated its 30th consecutive instalment in 2020.

Alas, as a four-time attendee, I hope it returns in 2021, bigger and stronger than ever. Until then, we can still revisit the action and excitement of the 2019 expedition. Here's a throwback for your reading pleasure.

The Borneo Safari has no shortage of quick quips and catchy phrases.

I suppose if one spends nearly eight days in the jungles of Borneo, without little or no outside communication – there is quite a bit of time to think up catchy phrases and conversation starters.

Two of my favourite cliché’s are “We come for the Safari, but we stay for the suffering”, and the second and more important one, “While you may come as a stranger, you will leave with a family”, last year I found this to be especially true.

This was my fourth attempt at this hallowed international off-road expedition, which returned for its 29th consecutive instalment. Organized by the Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA), the 2019 edition proved to be the most successful one yet – having attracted over 400 vehicles and over 1000 participants from as far as Thailand, Japan, and even Russia.

In the early days, small advertisements were taken out in local dailies in the hopes of attracting like-minded off-roading enthusiasts. The Borneo Safari was, after all, started by just a handful of off-road aficionados, who simply wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Some of whom, who started the Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive Club (the predecessor of the SFWDA), are still involved with the Borneo Safari and the larger off-roading scene in Sabah, all bonafide legends in their own right.

Fast forward to 2019 though, I was part of a full-fledged media entourage made up of both international and local press, photographers, and video crews.

The expedition route starts from the flag-off at Kota Kinabalu (at the site of the Sabah Tourism Board building) down to Beaufort, before setting camp at Singalung at the end of Day 1. Days 2 to 4 saw the entire convoy slowly making its way from Singalung to Kemabong for the first of two Hardcore Sections. It was here where proceedings get very challenging.

Day 5 saw the convoy pass through the town of Tenom, before making its way to Barung where the second Hardcore section began. The convoy will then make it out to Inandung on Day 6. From there on, it’s a straight shot back to Keningau for Day 7, before returning to Kota Kinabalu on Day 8.

Isuzu has become almost synonymous with the Borneo Safari event, both as the Diamond Sponsor and as an enthusiastic purveyor of all things tough and muddy.

The stakes for Isuzu were particularly high last year. Having built a solid reputation for the D-Max as one of the toughest and most capable off-road vehicles in the annual Borneo Safari off-road challenge, the year before, it’s the turn of its newest member: the
D-Max 1.9L Ddi BluePower
.

The smallest engine ever fitted to a D-Max pickup truck had to prove it is not only fuel-efficient – but tough enough to survive the strain and stress of the expedition, and live up to the heritage of its well-known forebears. Two of which – the Red and Black D-Max Monsters respectively – have each endured more than five Borneo Safari expeditions prior.

Come to think of it, any car company can claim that their pick-up trucks are tough and reliable, but only Isuzu can say that their trucks have survived one of the world’s toughest 4x4 expeditions 13 times.

Isuzu trucks might not offer the most power or have the latest electronic toys, but you can count on the fact that when civilization goes into an apocalypse, a D-Max will keep going where others cannot.

Fresh from its launch
 the new Isuzu D-Max that entered the event – aptly named the Blue Monster – had barely clocked 200 km on its odometer before it was positioned at the starting point, and then driven in earnest into the jungles of Sabah.

The ‘Blue Monster’ was virtually stock standard save for a few additions to make it more suited to the terrain and obstacles including a body lift kit to fit the extreme mud terrain tyres, long-travel shock absorbers, a snorkel, winch, and heavy-duty guards to protect the vehicle underbody from hard impacts.

Isuzu has employed this formula across all its
“Monsters” over the years
. Electing to keep the drivetrain, transmission and electronics just as they left the factory, to remain a true representation of the vehicle’s intrinsic ability.

The new Isuzu D-Max BluePower model features a breakthrough 1898cc engine dubbed the RZ4E which replaces the older 2.5-litre VGT (4JK1) turbodiesel. The new mill promises even better fuel economy, bulletproof reliability, lighter weight, and lower emissions.

It featured lightweight moving components and more finely-honed parts to reduce internal friction and a Variable Geometry System (VGS) turbocharger system to improve engine response, particularly at low RPM. Elsewhere, an updated common-rail injection system and intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system are claimed to contribute to an overall improvement in fuel efficiency of approximately 19 percent.

Having joined the convoy on Day 4 in the Kemabong campsite, with the Isuzu convoy having successfully completed the first Hardcore Section, there was optimism and a lot of joy around camp. This is the first time the convoy has seen a paved road in two days and all four D-Max Monsters were all present and accounted for.

Early reservations about whether the 1.9-litre engine would hold up to the abuse of the terrain have all swiftly been nullified. Once packed with luggage, supplies, and occupants, the Blue Monster weighs in excess of two tonnes – no less riding on large, heavy 35-inch tyres – the engine and transmission are put under tremendous strain.

However, the new D-Max took it all in stride.

Once settled, the Isuzu convoy headed to Pekan Kemabong for a special event organised for the locals to welcome last year’s competitors. Another aspect of the Borneo Safari is the many CSR activities that it conducts for rural communities along the way. Activities conducted last year included free health check-ups, food donations, and even supporting a local talent show – much to the delight of the warm and friendly people of Sabah.

On Day 5, the Isuzu convoy headed out almost as soon as daylight breaks. This day will be pivotal – we returned to the jungle for the second Hardcore Section which started at Barung and ends in Inandung. We are told it’s a short stint, roughly 5 km long, but extremely critical given its rising altitude, and extremely tight trails – with sheer drop-offs at certain points.

But we’re fortunate to not encounter any rain for the most of Day 1. In all my years of being here, I have come to understand one thing, the moment it rains – all hell breaks loose. The ground becomes slick like a pasty clay, visibility is reduced, darkness falls faster, and tyres become donuts of mud.

Towards the evening, a short but strong stint of rain falls, and the quick progress made in the morning now slows down. Many cars are struggling at one point with a narrow turn, with a sheer drop at one end, and soft soil on the other – another truck, just before us, had almost toppled. The shovels come out, time to dig up the soil, level it out, so everyone can get through it safely.

From then on, the convoy proceeds slowly but surely, inching ever closer to Inandung. Though we were seated in the cool D-Max cabin, underneath, it was doing all the hard work – clawing across bumps, gulleys, rocky sections without ever needing a winch. The traction levels of these trucks are simply immense.

In the dead of night, around 11 pm, having travelled for almost 12 hours. We finally see the faint glare of a streetlight on a pole.

Which seemed more like a beacon of joy, because that bulb meant electricity, and that meant we had possibly reached the campsite at Inandung. Not much is said at camp that night with most participants falling asleep almost as soon as they could set up their camp beds.

Having made superb progress the day before, Day 6 allowed us to get up close to the locals, and enjoy a few Super Special (SS) stages set up nearby.

SS stages are set up for competing teams with highly modified buggies over the toughest of terrains Sabah can throw at them – from rocky hill climbs, to river sections, to swampy trails.

The fastest teams with the most powerful and reliable machines and the most cunning – all vie to take home big prize money, and more importantly, bragging rights for having conquered what has come to be known as "The Dakar of Malaysia".

Day 7 involved a straightforward drive down to Keningau and then onto Tambunan for our last campsite of the 2019 Safari. As the sun goes down, we are treated to another gathering with locals, whilst enjoying cultural shows and a well-deserved dinner.

As tea and beer are drunk, friendships warm – by now, having endured days of drama and fun, everyone is part of a larger family. An exclusive club of intrepid individuals who find joy and friendship amidst the staggering beauty and adversity of our great Borneo rainforests.

The Borneo Safari in 2019 once again served as the ultimate test of man and machine. As always, the experience leaves the jungle with footprints and the explorer with memories that can last a lifetime. There is little wonder why the Borneo Safari leaves a lasting impression on everyone, it touches everyone in different ways.

Lo and behold there was no Borneo Safari in 2020, an event that I was most looking forward to. I only hope that 2021 brings with it open borders, the death of COVID-19, and the reestablishment of the Borneo Safari!


Toyota Opens Booking For Vios Sports Edition, RM85,300

In anticipation of the upcoming Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Vios Challenge in August, UMW Toyota Motor has opened up bookings for a special Vios called the Toyota Vios Sports Edition. The sporty Vios is inspired visually by the TGR Vios Challenge race car, based on the existing Vios 1.5 J AT.
Outside, the Toyota Vios receives the same aerokit as the race car, including a front apron, side skirts, rear apron and trunk spoiler. Completing the exterior of the Vios Sports Edition are blacked-out alloy wheels, Sport Edition emblem and body decal similar to the Vios Challenge race car.
Inside, the sportier Vios comes with exclusive sports fabric seats, sports gear lever, illuminated scuff plates, amber illumination and sports carpet mat. The rest of the interior is similar to the entry-level Vios, including the standard 2-DIN audio system with four speakers, fixed rear seats and Smart Entry with Push Start button.
Elsewhere, the Toyota Vios Sports Edition comes standard with sports suspension that lowers the car by 27 mm. The familiar 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i four-cylinder petrol engine continues to be offered on the sportier Vios, with 107 PS and 140 Nm sent to the front wheels via a CVT.
Those interested will need to fork out RM85,300, OTR without insurance. In comparison, the regular Vios 1.5 J AT retails for RM77,400. Vios Sports Edition buyers are backed by the company's five-year unlimited mileage warranty. Last but not least, buyers of the Vios Sports Edition will also receive a TGR polo T-shirt, cap and tumbler.


MINI reveals the Cooper EV, will be made in China on a platform co-developed with GWM

MINI has revealed some official photos of the next-generation MINI Cooper SE.

While the
current all-electric MINI Cooper SE
 is probably one of the sharpest EVs you can drive, it isn't the most unique looking. Apart from its different livery, wheels and front-end look, there's little difference between it and its I.C.E. counterpart, the MINI Cooper S.

Well, that might change soon, because, after months and months of guesses and camouflage pictures, MINI has revealed some photos of the next-generation MINI Cooper SE, ahead of its official reveal.

MINI has not revealed any other specs or details about their new electric vehicle, but there are a few photos of the
new MINI EV
 that completely shows off its design.

The first thing you will notice is how grown up the MINI Cooper SE is. Everything looks sleek and rounded off, done to improve its aerodynamics probably. Despite its new grown-up looks, it still has the low roof line and bulging wheel arches. We're glad MINI has kept this as distinctive as possible, as it is one of MINI's best design traits.

Seeing that is created by the BMW Group, of course there's going to be a big panel at the front where the grille is supposed to be. Seeing that it's an EV, of course there's no grille, but you can just about picture it being there.

Out the back is probably where it is most different, as MINI has decided to give the next-gen MINI Cooper SE some unique taillights, which feature a trim bar that stitches the two taillights together, making up a Union Jack flag.

We're not sure if we like the rear end look, but with all BMW group cars these days, you have to judge it by looking at it up close and personal, as pictures do not justify its looks.

What do you think of its looks? It's definitely different alright, but whether it's good or bad is still up in the air.


First Look: The GT86 Is Dead, Long Live the GR86

Meet the successor to the Toyota GT86, the GR86.

The fabled Toyota
GT86
 was introduced to the world in 2012 and is getting on a bit now, and to no surprise, Toyota has just unveiled its successor, the GR86 coupe, a faster, lighter rear-wheel-drive four-seat sports car which Toyota claims has retained the GT86's fun-to-drive characteristics but in an updated package.

Like the
GT86
, the GR86 is a result of Toyota's partnership with Subaru to build compact sports cars. Subaru's new
BRZ
 was revealed late last year, and we can now confirm that both cars share the same platform and engine.

The new 86 features more power thanks to Subaru's 2.4-litre four-cylinder horizontally opposed engine that pumps out 232bhp and 250Nm of torque (that's 35bhp and 45Nm more than the car it replaces). As a result of more power, the GR86 can make the 0-62mph sprint 1.1 seconds faster than the car it replaces, doing it in 6.3 seconds.

The JDM GR86 will be available with a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox and will feature Subaru's 'Eyesight' driver assistance systems.

The car's dimensions are practically the same as its predecessor, but it has shed five kilograms from its weight, thanks to the use of aluminium on the roof and body panels. Toyota has also come out and said that the GR86's torsional rigidity had been increased by around 50 percent, resulting in even sharper steering and handling.

For those who are keen-eyed, you would have noticed that the new 86 also features aerodynamic front and side air ducts, which Toyota claims are based on their learnings from their Gazoo Racing programmes and will help aid handling and stability of the GR86. If you haven't caught it by now, GR stands for Gazoo Racing bringing it in line with other performance-oriented Toyotas such as the GR Supra and Yaris.

Interior details are scarce, but the GR86 should feature a seven-inch infotainment screen as well as an upgraded and driver-focused dashboard design.

The GR86 will go on sale in Japan this late this year and more about the car will be revealed closer to its launch.

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Lucky Nissan Customers Walk Home With Gintell Massage Chairs

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) recently presented 10 lucky winners of the ‘Festive Bonanza Hari Raya’ campaign with a Gintell DéSpace Star Massage Chair worth RM13,988 each.

The lucky winners are customers who purchased and registered a Nissan vehicle during the campaign period in May and June 2019.

The winners are from various regions in Malaysia and are listed as below:

Additionally, they also qualify for the ‘Buy Car Win Home’ Grand Contest, where customers stand a chance to win a brand new serviced apartment worth up to RM 665,000 in The ERA, Duta North Kuala Lumpur.

Organised in collaboration between ETCM and JKG Land Berhad, the contest runs from 1st December 2018 to 31st December 2019.

All customers need to do to participate is purchase and register a Nissan vehicle during the contest period.

On another note, members of the public are invited to join the Nissan Electrifying Drive Carnival which will be happening from the 20th to 22nd September 2019 at selected ETCM showrooms across the nation, where they can get to test drive the all-new Nissan Leaf and take part in fun activities like the Tech Drive Virtual Reality Experience.

Nissan Electrifying Drive Carnival dates and venues:

Looking for a new Nissan? Find the best deals
here.


Can I Buy A Nissan GT-R R35 With RM7,000 Gaji?

Can I buy the legendary 'Godzilla' Nissan GT-R R35 on an RM7,000 salary?

We all know that the Nissan GT-R R35 is one hell of a sports car, but given it has not been updated since 2015 with only
one-off limited-edition versions
 being released after that year, the iconic Japanese car's hype has died off a little bit, until now that is.

A few days ago, an
accident on Jalan Genting Klang
 saw a Perodua Myvi accidentally go into the back of a Nissan GT-R R35.

What was a nightmare incident for both parties involved in the accident, humorously became a viral piece of news where Malaysians labelled the Perodua Myvi the king of the road due to the damage it sustained compared to the Nissan sportscar.

Ever since then, people have been clamoring online about the prices of the Nissan GT-R R35, which got us thinking, how much do you really have to earn to be able to afford one of these beauties?

If we look for some Nissan GT-R R35s on Carlist.my's classifieds, you'll quickly find out that the car's price range sits between
RM230k to RM1.18 million
. The most expensive R35 in the market is a 2018
Black Edition
 variant while the cheapest is a 2008 Premium Edition R35.

Since it'll be tough to get a car loan for R35s that are above ten years old, we picked a younger car as the test subject. The cheapest available R35 that is under the ten-year-old mark is a
2013 Premium Edition
 variant. It's going for RM339k which seems to be a reasonable price for a car of its stature and age.

Being a Malaysian registered R35 that is eight years old, the maximum loan tenure that could possibly be undertaken is probably around 5-7 years. If we follow the standard modus operandi for how these conventional loans work, you would need to fork out 10 percent of the car's value as a down payment first.

Once the loan is approved with a five-year tenure, then you would be looking at paying a downpayment of RM 33,900, road tax of RM5,725, and insurance of RM9,192 which brings your initial cost to RM48,817. The monthly repayment of the hire purchase will be around
RM6,100
 depending on the interest rate that is given for a 5-year tenure.

Does that mean if you have saved around RM50,000 and that your salary is RM7,000 a month you will be able to afford a Nissan GT-R R35? The answer is NO, jangan buat kerja tak pandai!

Traditionally, it is broadly accepted that you should only afford a monthly vehicle repayment that is
1/3
 of your monthly salary. This would mean that in order for you to be able to afford this particular R35, it would be prudent for you to have a monthly salary of around RM18,000 if we follow conventional wisdom.

So if your salary is nowhere near that, we suggest looking at other cars. The other way you can try to finance this R35 if your salary is much lower than RM18k a month is through a big downpayment, but that means you would need to put a significant sum down - one that is probably worth as much as a property downpayment.

But what then, can you afford on an RM7,000 gaji that is two-door, a real driver's car, bucketloads of fun that would also be financially prudent?

What about a MANUAL
Toyota GT86
?

These soon-to-be iconic Toyota's go for around the sub-RM140k mark which makes them much more affordable than the Nissan GT-R. If you put down a 20 per cent downpayment, the monthly repayment will only be around RM1,686, almost 1/4th of the GT-R. If you put down 10 per cent, the monthly repayment is around RM1,897, still making it a more affordable option.

Monthly repayment calculated on car price of RM110,000 over a 5 year repayment period with an interest rate of 3 per cent.

It might be down on power compared to the Nissan GT-R R35, but it'll definitely still get you the admiring glances, easily go sideways, with the practicality of a Toyota. That's a win, no?

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Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Concept Revealed: 600HP, E-Turbo, 310KM/H Top Speed

The all-new 2015
Audi TT
 may have just
made its debut here in Malaysia
 but back in Ingolstadt, the company has revealed this, the Audi TT Clubsport Turbo concept. Scheduled to go on display during the Wörthersee Tour in the Austrian town of Reifnitz from May 13 to 16, the concept features a unique electric biturbo system which showcases Audi’s key future technology, its 48-volt electrical system.
The powertrain on the TT Clubsport Turbo is comprised of a 2.5-litre TFSI five-cylinder engine producing 600hp and 650Nm of torque all sent to a six-speed manual transmission. Power is sent to all four wheels via the brand’s Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. As far as performance goes, 0-100 km/h is met in just 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 310 km/h.
One of the key components that assists in providing the ludicrous amounts of power is the car’s electrically driven compressor. Within the engine, there are two turbochargers, a conventional one which is specifically for high pressure and high engine power and an
e-turbo
 which boosts charge pressure when too little drive energy is left in the exhaust gas for the conventional turbocharger.
The e-turbo serves to provide response and power from low engine speeds at all times as it is capable of revving up to maximum rpm rapidly, delivering up to 200Nm of torque.
Audi
 say in an acceleration duel, the TT Clubsport Turbo pulls away from a counterpart with an identically powered engine but no electric biturbo.
A dedicated 48-volt electrical sub-system provides power to the turbocharger but more importantly, opens the door to a wider range of systems that can be implemented into future Audi models.
Styling-wise, the TT Clubsport Turbo concept looks like race car with open front and rear fenders, large air inlets, revamped bumpers, front splitter, rear diffuser, and a manually adjustable rear wing consisting of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). The wheels are six twin-spoke 20-inch alloys around carbon fibre ceramic brake discs.
Inside, a roll cage made of titanium tubes is installed as are lightweight racing bucket seats. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is also seen here while a multifunction steering wheel features on-wheel controls. Elsewhere, the cabin features CFRP and black Alcantara trim and upholstery. An open shift gate highlights the need to row your own cars with the aluminium gear shift lever.
Development chief behind the TT Clubsport Turbo concept, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg says, “In our TDI engines, we are close to production readiness with this technology. We are now presenting it in a TFSI – here too, we are the first automaker in the world to do this. For our fans at Wörthersee, we have packaged the electric biturbo in a very sporty show car.”
Technology close to production readiness? We can't hardly wait.


Shell V-Power Racing – All 42 station locations in Malaysia listed

Discerning motorists are very selective of the type of fuels used in their vehicles, and many such motorists are insistent on fueling their vehicles with Shell V-Power Racing performance-grade petrol to get the best performance and efficiency out of their engines.

Not all Shell stations offer Shell V-Power Racing at the moment, however. Although Shell Malaysia plans to increase the number of stations offering its flagship fuel to motorists, your V-Power Racing fix can only be satisfied in 42 Shell stations across the country at the moment.

For the benefit of regular Shell V-Power Racing users, we have compiled the list below giving the GPS coordinates of each Shell V-Power Racing-dispensing station along with shortcut URLs that enable you to navigate there via Google Maps or Waze.

If you are a user of Shell V-Power Racing and won't accept any other substitute fuel in your car, this is a list you need to bookmark on your smartphone.

Station Site

GPS

Google Maps

Waze

SELANGOR

Federal Highway, Batu Tiga, Klang Bound

3.081121, 101.572985

Google Maps

Waze

USJ 4

3.056367, 101.576797

Google Maps

Waze

MRR2 Ulu Klang

3.190717, 101.762313

Google Maps

Waze

Elite Dengkil R&R (S)

2.901708, 101.615945

Google Maps

Waze

KLIA Highway, Sepang

2.768223, 101.681575

Google Maps

Waze

Sungai Ramal, Kajang

2.979791, 101.758030

Google Maps

Waze

Taman University, PJ

3.094962, 101.611119

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Pintasan Puchong, Kinrara

3.049073, 101.633377

Google Maps

Waze

LDP Kelana Jaya

3.102954, 101.596756

Google Maps

Waze

Bandar Utama

3.143828, 101.616041

Google Maps

Waze

NKVE Subang toll

3.099868, 101.590109

Google Maps

Waze

MRR2 Gombak

3.234702, 101.723435

Google Maps

Waze

PLUS Tanjung Malim Layby (N)

3.676720, 101.500058

Google Maps

Waze

NKVE Damansara

3.122692, 101.593587

Google Maps

Waze

Prima Saujana Kajang Bypass

3.007593, 101.804016

Google Maps

Waze

Shah Alam Seksyen 9

3.082509, 101.526766

Google Maps

Waze

KUALA LUMPUR

Manjalara, Kepong

3.195906, 101.630783

Google Maps

Waze

MRR2, Kepong

3.229816, 101.650905

Google Maps

Waze

MRR2, Ampang

3.151781, 101.745272

Google Maps

Waze

KESAS R&R Awan Besar

3.065278, 101.661259

Google Maps

Waze

Sri Petaling

3.069566, 101.690006

Google Maps

Waze

PLUS Duta Klang Bound

3.174898, 101.653952

Google Maps

Waze

PLUS Duta KL Bound

3.176920, 101.657665

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Gelanggang, Damansara Heights

3.152119, 101.663416

Google Maps

Waze

Taman Tun Dr Ismail

3.141165, 101.626669

Google Maps

Waze

Taman Desa

3.100628, 101.686148

Google Maps

Waze

TPM2 PLUS, Bukit Jalil

3.055713, 101.704388

Google Maps

Waze

JOHOR

PLUS Machap R&R (S)

1.894698, 103.230495

Google Maps

Waze

Second Link R&R (S)

1.387871, 103.593272

Google Maps

Waze

Taman Perling, JB

1.498764, 103.683033

Google Maps

Waze

PLUS Kulai Layby (N)

1.656660, 103.508107

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Tun Razak, JB

1.488644, 103.728933

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Wong Ah Fook, JB

1.464816, 103.761553

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Tebrau (3.5 Mile)

1.501492, 103.764480

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Tebrau (4
th
 Mile)

1.503208, 103.764796

Google Maps

Waze

Taman Sri Tebrau

1.486850, 103.768395

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Pasir Pelangi

1.490612, 103.786025

Google Maps

Waze

JB Inner Ring Road (Jalan Yahya Al Dattar)

1.471315, 103.765495

Google Maps

Waze

Jalan Skudai 4

1.526839, 103.675123

Google Maps

Waze

PLUS Pagoh R&R

2.148298, 102.698295

Google Maps

Waze

PERAK

PLUS Tapah RSA (S)

4.179137, 101.290955

Google Maps

Waze

NEGRI SEMBILAN

PLUS Seremban R&R (N)

2.757202, 101.845723

Google Maps

Waze

PLUS Seremban R&R (S)

2.764392, 101.830154

Google Maps

Waze

MALACCA

Bandar Ayer Keroh

2.249146, 102.291813

Google Maps

Waze

PENANG

PLUS Juru R&R (S)

5.352365, 100.421619

Google Maps

Waze

* The alphabets N and S denoting rest stops along the PLUS Highway represent northbound and southbound directions respectively.

The above stations are also listed by address on Shell's official website
here
.


Toyota Considering Gazoo Racing Variant Of Corolla Sport Hatchback

With each passing month, the future of Toyota seems a little more exciting. We're not (only) talking about the upcoming Supra, but rather this cultural shift within the company that Akio Toyoda seems to have brought on. It's a level of open-ness and willingness to discuss the future, in addition to the plans themselves - a stark contrast to the rather stiff, no nonsense mood of years past. Case in point is
GoAuto's recent interview
 with Yasuhi Ueda, Chief Engineer of the 12th-generation Corolla hatchback.
Ueda revealed that there was a likelihood for Gazoo Racing to develop their own variant of the Corolla hatch, or Corolla Sport as it's known in other parts of the world. This is very likely due to the success of their Yaris GRMN, which had all right hand drive units sold out within weeks of its official launch, and no plans to increase the number of production units. For now only investigations are under way and that there can be no outright confirmation, but a hot hatchback is definitely in discussion among the engineers at Toyota.
As for what engine it would potentially use among the many in Toyota's range, this is difficult to say. The remnants of a conservative past show as Ueda did not wish to commit to any particular powertrain - even if such a project was greenlit - but even so, he was quick to dismiss the 2.0-litre direct-injection turbo engine currently employed by Lexus models, despite the high performance figures.
More appropriate would be the 2.0-litre direct-injection naturally-aspirated Dynamic Force engine which puts out around 167 hp and 200 Nm of torque, as it would fit in the TNGA platform - but would this be another GT86 issue of not having enough torque and power to be appealing? It's hard to say, but maybe with a supercharger and some tweaking (which Gazoo Racing has done with the Yaris GRMN), they could fettle a solid amount of power out of the engine.
No matter what it is, Toyota is definitely more receptive to performance and engineers are definitely loosening up when it comes to the topic. There is less "We can't do this" and more "It is in discussion", which is cheeky in a sense but a kernel of hope is better than a flat out denial.


Next Generations Of Audi TT And R8 In Doubt

The future Audi’s famed sports cars – the TT and R8 – are in doubt as the automaker is committing most of its
resources to electrification
.
In a report by
the Automotive News
, Audi is reducing model complexity and cutting costs after being overwhelmed by its diesel-cheating scandal and implementation of the stricter new emission standards, the WLTP.
The
Audi TT
and
R8
 might have successful, high-profile presence in motorsports and a strong fan base, but these models are usually high in cost and poor return on investment due to low sales volume.
Audi’s head of Technical Development, Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler told Automotive News, “We engineers want them and our sales colleagues want them, but it is a question of whether we can afford them.”
Rothenpieler also said that the two models are part of Audi’s DNA. It will be difficult to keep them being in pure combustion engine powertrain, as the profit margin targets set by Volkswagen Group for new models now include CO2 emissions.
No decision has been made yet regarding successor models, he added.
Audi CEO Bram Schot said the brand’s future sports car might be electric, hinting at potential battery-powered successors.
Audi did showcase a
fully-electric sportscar concept
 at last year's Pebble Beach Automotive Week and many felt it foreshadows the Audi R8 of the future.
Meanwhile, a fully-electric
high-performance Gran Turismo (GT)
 is already in place for market launch, with Audi planning to introduce the model by the end of next year.
Audi targets to have 12 fully-electric vehicles by 2025 and hopes to achieve roughly one-third of its total sales with electrified models.


I Bought a Used Proton Inspira and I Have No Regrets

After close to 10 years of living with my first car which was a 1988 Proton Saga 1.5, it was finally time to upgrade to something newer, and most importantly safer for occupants, because I had just upgraded myself from being a husband to a father back in 2014.

So, with endless trips to the hospital, to my parents’, Mydin, Jaya Grocer, and my in-laws’ lined up in the near future, the last thing I wanted was to have my wife and newborn child in a 30-year-old car with a moody air conditioning system, no rear seatbelts, no ISOFIX mounts, no ABS, and no airbags.

So, with a budget of around RM50,000 and under RM1,000 for monthly instalment, I wanted to see if it was possible to get my hands on a C-segment sedan which is ideal for a family of three. Due to my budget, going for a brand new Civic or Corolla Altis was definitely out of the picture. Heck, I couldn’t even get a Vios or City with that money.

Therefore, second-hand it was, and the hunt began.  Before I get into the candidates, why I wanted to get a C-segment sedan was because these cars are not too small nor too big. Plus, they have enough power and features to make both short and long distance travelling enjoyable.

The car which I really wanted to get my hands on was a Honda Civic FD 2.0, but the asking price was between RM55,000 to RM80,000 back in 2014. Unfortunately, not only was it slightly out of my budget, but most of them were pretty worn-out and came with very high mileage.

So, since the Civic FD was out of the picture, it was time to check on its rival – the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 GT. While there were many units that were still in tip-top condition, the price was still out of my budget, and as I was sitting in the office scratching my head one day, a colleague gave me an amazing piece of advice – “Why do you want to pay so much for a Lancer when you can get a Proton Inspira for much cheaper? Essentially, they are the same cars ma?”

True enough, a first-gen Proton Inspira 2.0 Premium (2.0 P) was asking for just between RM40,000 to RM48,000 in 2015, compared to a Mitsubishi Lancer and the Civic FD which were asking for easily RM20,000 more.

Even though a 1.8 manual Inspira was cheaper and way more fun to drive, it was not about fun this time. The car I was looking for was for my family, so a stick-shift was definitely out of the question. Plus, I no longer had the strength and patience to go through the congestion on Federal Highway every morning and evening in a manual, nope.

Launched in November 2010, the Proton Inspira 2.0P was actually quite generous with features. The list of standard equipment included Dual SRS airbags, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle-shifters, front pre-tensioner seatbelts, ABS with EBD, immobiliser and alarm system, central locking system, ISOFIX child seat anchors, rear parking sensors, solar and security tinted film, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, trunk lid remote release, front fog lights, welcome light system, driver’s side anti-trap/auto up-down power window, height adjustable driver’s seat, and an MP3/Bluetooth-enabled head unit with Arkamys 3D DSP.

The Inspira 2.0P also came with cruise control, dark brown wood trim on the dashboard and door panels, automatic climate control, automatic headlamp and rain sensors, a body kit, a trunk lip spoiler,
Nappa leather
 upholstery on the seats and door trims, and leather-wrapped gear knob. It was definitely worth it.

The only hiccup about the Inspira is that compared to other Proton models, the spare parts were on the pricier side, due to the fact that they were made by Mitsubishi and had to be imported from Japan.

However, having spent more than five years with the car now, it has been quite a reliable machine that barely has given me any problems. To date, the only things which needed to be fixed in the last five years were the air-cond blower motor, and the light bulbs. Nothing else.

General servicing costs between RM500 to RM800 every 10,000 km, depending on whether the brake pads and filters need to be changed, and since the car comes with a timing chain instead of a belt, that is another headache out of the way.

Powering the Inspira 2.0 P is Mitsubishi’s proven 2.0-litre MIVEC 4B11 4 Cylinder, DOHC 16V petrol engine that is paired to a CVT gearbox, producing 148 hp and 197 Nm of torque. Capable of clocking a top speed of 200km/h, the car is able to do the century sprint in 10.5 seconds. Fuel consumption on the other hand, stands at between 11 and 12 litres per 100 km in the city, and around 9.1 during highway runs.

Overall, the car has its ups and downs like any other car. On the bright side, the overall build quality is impressive, all the necessary features are there, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it is quite a fun car to drive, thanks to the well sorted chassis setup.

On the downside, the spare parts can be quite pricey, and the CVT gearbox sometimes shows signs of struggle when you floor the accelerator. But then again, these are not catastrophic issues, and the car has been a trusty servant for the past 5 years.

So, if you’re looking for a decent, reliable, good looking, fun-to-drive mid-sized sedan for under RM50,000, the Proton Inspira is definitely worth checking out.

In fact, Proton’s collaboration with Mitsubishi has never gone wrong, has it?

Having said that, click
here
 to check out the list of Proton Inspiras that are on sale right now on Carlist.my


MINI Malaysia Now Offers 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty

MINI Malaysia has introduced an all-new 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service program for all new MINI vehicles that are registered from January 1
st
 2016 onwards.
The new service and warranty program offers an extended coverage from the third ownership year onwards, where a manufacturer backed warranty will continue into the fourth year with unlimited mileage. The program will also include a free scheduled service and maintenance of up to 60,000km in accordance with the Condition Based Service system in respective MINI vehicles.
This new warranty program will include a service vehicle check, engine oil service with oil filter replacement and refill quantity. Parts covered by the program are air filters, micro filters, spark plugs, and brake fluids.
That being said, MINI Malaysia says brake discs and pads as well as windscreen wipers are now excluded from the warranty and service program.
Not forgetting MINI vehicles from authorised MINI dealers that were registered in December 2015, MINI Malaysia is offering a special package for customers to upgrade their 3 Years/50,000km MINI Service Inclusive FIX package to the 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service program. Unlike the new 4-year program, this upgraded package will include the full service program offered in the previous warranty package, which also includes brake discs and pads, as well as windscreen wipers.
The warranty and service program is based on the scheduled service recommended by the manufacturer at any authorised MINI dealers across the country. The entitlement also assumes that the car has been driven in a proper manner and has been serviced as recommended by the manufacturer.


Ford EcoSport Updated, Now Without The Rear-Mounted Spare Tyre

Along with the introduction of the all-new Focus RS and GT at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Blue Oval also announced enhancements to the Ford EcoSport. The most noticeable change on the SUV is its availability without a rear-mounted spare tyre that currently adorns the model being sold here.
With the absence of the spare tyre, a tyre mobility kit takes its place as the standard offering, no doubt allowing for simple patch up work on the existing tyres should the undesirable occur.
The EcoSport also receives a retuning to its suspension with revised rear twist beam, and revised spring and damper rates. Ride height has also been reduced by 10 mm. For the European market, the electronic stability control and power steering system has also been tuned for European roads. A Winter Pack tags on heated windscreen, heated mirrors and heated front seats.
Keeping NVH levels down is courtesy of thicker sound deadening materials in the doors and dashboard, as well as tighter seals around the pedals.
The cabin now features a four-inch infotainment unit with Ford SYNC implemented and to improve accessibility, the handbrake has been relocated.
The oily bits also get updated as well to meet EU6.1 emission standard with the diesel variant gaining 5 PS in power.
Later this year, satellite navigation and a rear view camera will be made available on the Ford EcoSport.
The updated Ford EcoSport will take on the
Honda HR-V
 and Peugeot 2008.
EcoSport S
Also on display at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show is a sportier version of the SUV called the EcoSport S (which you are looking at here). Painted in blue, the roof gives a two-tone look by being black instead and omits the roof rails. The side mirrors also receive a black finish and the vehicle features 17-inch alloy wheels. Other exterior changes include a rear diffuser element and privacy glass.


All-New Peugeot 308 GTI Previewed – 270 HP, 330 NM

Set to challenge the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Renault Megane RS when it is introduced here, Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Peugeot vehicles in Malaysia has previewed the hot new 308 GTI.
Powering the Golf GTI-rival from France is a 1.6-litre turbocharged Prince engine that outputs a whopping 270 hp and 330 Nm, sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual. If you shift quick enough, the 308 GTI can complete the century sprint in 6 seconds flat.
Handling is supplemented by a Torsen-type limited slip differential up front and upgraded suspension, while braking is aided by 380 mm front disc brakes and 268 mm rear disc brakes, gripped by Peugeot Sport brake calipers. 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubbers are also standard fitment on the hot hatch.
However, Nasim has not revealed launch timing and prices of the new hot hatch.
Those interested can check out Peugeot’s Motion & Emotion Roadshow at the Ground Floor of High Street at the new wing of 1 Utama Shopping Centre. The road show runs from 24
th
 October till 28
th
 October.


Penerima 2 Dos Vaksin - Dapatkan Surat Kebenaran Polis Untuk Rentas Negeri

Rakyat Malaysia yang telah lengkap 2 dos
vaksin
 yang ingin merentas negeri atas kelonggaran yang diberikan oleh kerajaan dinasihatkan untuk mendapatkan surat kebenaran PDRM terlebih dahulu. Kenapa?

Baru-baru ini, Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin telah mengumumkan beberapa
kelonggaran kepada penerima 2 dos vaksin lengkap
 dan terpakai ke atas semua fasa di dalam
Pelan Pemulihan Negara (PPN)
 berkuatkuasa Selasa, 10 Ogos 2021.

Antara kelonggaran yang diberikan untuk rentas daerah/negeri:

Pasangan suami isteri jarak jauh dibenarkan rentas daerah atau negeri untuk bertemu.

Ibu bapa juga dibenarkan rentas daerah atau negeri untuk berjumpa dengan anak berumur bawah 18 tahun.

Kriteria penerima dos lengkap vaksin:

Vaksin Pfizer, AstraZeneca dan Sinovac = selepas hari ke 14 suntikan dos kedua

Vaksin Johnson & Johnson dan CanSino – selepas hari ke 28 suntikan

Berdasarkan pengumuman Perdana Menteri, ibu bapa dan pasangan jarak jauh tersebut hanya perlu menunjukkan sijil vaksinasi lengkap mereka di
MySejahtera
 dan mematuhi segala SOP serta kriteria ditetapkan.

Walau bagaimanapun, Pengarah Jabatan Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan Ketenteraman Awam (KDNKA) Bukit Aman, Datuk Zainal Abidin Kasim berkata, mereka yang mahu rentas negeri dinasihatkan untuk mendapatkan
surat kebenaran PDRM
 terlebih dahulu meskipun pada peringkat ini tidak termaktub bahawa mendapatkan surat kebenaran tersebut adalah satu keperluan.

Surat kebenaran PDRM ini diperlukan untuk melancarkan perjalanan masing-masing. Ini bagi mengelakkan ibu bapa serta pasangan jarak jauh tersebut berhadapan kesulitan sekiranya tujuan perjalanan mereka dipersoal PDRM di
Sekatan Jalan Raya (SJR)
 atau pasukan keselamatan lain.

Menurutnya, tujuan perjalanan mereka semestinya akan dipersoalkan oleh petugas PDRM selain memeriksa sijil lengkap 2 dos di aplikasi MySejahtera dan cukup atau tidak kriteria yang ditetapkan dalam SOP ditetapkan.

"Namun kita bimbang juga akan ada timbul kekeliruan, kerana mungkin timbul interpretasi (tafsiran) berbeza di peringkat bawahan atau pasukan keselamatan lain seperti
Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM)
, Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia (RELA) dan sebagainya," jelasnya.

Sehubungan dengan itu, mereka yang sudah lengkap 2 dos vaksin amat digalakkan untuk mendapatkan surat kebenaran PDRM untuk mengukuhkan lagi bukti perjalanan bagi mengelak sebarang kesulitan seperti perjalanan disekat pihak berkuasa.

For more latest car news, reviews, car buying guides and videos visit us at Carlist.my
Auto News
.

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


Volkswagen May Offer New Car Discounts For Owners Affected By Dieselgate

As the depth
Volkswagen
’s ‘
Dieselgate
’ subterfuge continues to grow, so does the ensuing consequences and the almost frantic measures by the automaker itself to contain it. Most recently, Volkswagen owners in Germany may now be offered discounts on new cars should they choose to turn in their older models that have these emissions defeat devices installed.
While plausible, at this juncture it is unclear if Volkswagen will only apply this discount scheme in Germany – where the automaker sold 2.4 million cars equipped with the emissions-cheating defeat device – or will eventually expand that to include other countries in Europe and/or North America.
The scandal is the worst faced by Volkswagen in its 78-year history and has put the entire practice of emissions testing as well as the trust in automakers' claimed emissions figures as a whole under a proverbial microscope.
A mildly entertaining consolation of which being that the image and interest in alternative means of powering vehicles are receiving an upthrust of attention and interest – solutions that shun internal combustion entirely, such as battery power or hydrogen fuel cells.
The Volkswagen Group now expects a total cost for the turbulent chapter it finds itself in to exceed 30 billion Euros (approximately RM130 billion) and involve a recall of 8.5 million vehicles in Europe alone, according to Reuters.
The discounts that Volkswagen plans to offer to owners affected by the emissions cheat is reportedly a move that could both shore up sales of its new cars while cutting costs to cope with the fallout stemming from the scandal. It would take pressure off VW dealerships to quickly carry out fixes.
These offers are said to focus on owners of vehicles with the 1.6-litre diesel engines that require a costly replacement of parts in addition to the requisite software patch.


2018 Volkswagen Polo Teased On Video

Volkswagen will be launching the 2018 Polo at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, slated to happen in September. The 2018 Volkswagen Polo was caught
completely undisguised
 back in March.
Since the Volkswagen Polo was introduced in 1975, 14 million units were sold across five generations. For the upcoming sixth generation Volkswagen Polo, the company will utilize the MQB platform to replace the outgoing model's PQ25 platform.
Volkswagen released this teaser video of the new Polo, though the video does little to reveal details of the new model. Despite that, we can see that the new Polo will receive halogen daytime running lights, as opposed to LED daytime running lights of the Golf and Passat. More premium variants of the new Volkswagen Polo could be fitted with LED daytime running lights, we reckon.
We can expect Volkswagen to offer a range of diesel and petrol engines for the new Polo, paired to DSG or manual transmissions. The hotter Polo GTI is also believed to make a return, possibly with an increase in power figures.


Shanghai 2017: Mercedes-Benz S-Class W222 Facelift Debuts With New Engines

With
BMW having launched an all-new 7 Series
 last year and
Audi set to renew its A8 flagship
 for a new model generation, Mercedes-Benz battens its hatches and rolls out a new facelift of its hugely successful W222 S-Class flagship at the ongoing Shanghai Motor Show.
Set to enter European markets in July, the new S-Class receives extensive updates as Mercedes-Benz attempts to ensure that its class-leading flagship continues to stay ahead of its aggressively-chasing rivals. To date, Mercedes has sold 300,000 units of the W222 since its global launch in 2013 – a significant number in its market segment.
On top of significant enhancements of its autonomous driving packages, the S-Class also serves as the platform for Mercedes-Benz to usher in a whole
new family of engines
 that includes, for the first time nearly two decades from the brand, inline-6 engines.
For starters, a 2.9-litre inline-6 diesel is available in two states of tune – 286hp/600Nm powering the S350d and 340hp/700Nm powering the S400d. Built on an aluminium block but running on steel pistons, the engine incorporates two-stage turbocharging and variable valve-lift control.
A petrol-powered 3.0-litre inline-6, codenamed M256, is slated for later introduction. Outputs have yet to be disclosed, although Mercedes has confirmed that two states of tune will be offered. An electric supercharger ensures lag-free boosting, whilst an Integrated Starter Alternator helps recoup energy and deliver sporadic boosts of energy in similar vein to a mild hybrid setup. Its water pump and air-con compressor are electrically-powered too, eliminating the need for belts, but necessitating the use of a 48V electrical architecture.

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November 15, 2017

A new plug-in hybrid variant will also be introduced, promising 50km of all-electric driving range thanks to a significantly increased battery capacity of 13.3 kWh.
Higher up the range comes the Mercedes-AMG-developed 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 in two configurations. A ‘detuned’ variant, codenamed M176, goes into the S560 producing 469hp and 700Nm. At the other end of the scale, the same engine is pushed all the way to 612hp/900Nm – eclipsing even the AMG GT’s outputs – to power the AMG S63 variant.
Both V8 engines have cylinder deactivation capability to effectively reduce overall fuel consumption. At low loads, the engine effectively operates as a four-cylinder.
You wouldn’t believe it, but there actually is still a variant of the S-Class with port fuel injection, namely the 6.0-litre V12 AMG S65 producing 630hp and 1,000Nm to tear the rear wheels through Merc’s previous-generation but proven 7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic transmission.
Interestingly, aside from the S65, all other variants of the S-Class revealed at Shanghai are all-wheel driven, from the S350d right up to the AMG S63. The S63’s 4Matic+ system is an AMG-enhanced setup with fully-variable torque split. Right-hand drive markets, however, will eventually receive the S63 exclusively in RWD configuration.
All functions of the S-Class’ autonomous driving assistance systems receive significantly improved calibration. The Distronic active cruise control system now blends in with the vehicle’s in-board satellite data to further refine the smoothness of its speed adjustment. Active steer assist, lane change assist, and autonomous emergency braking have all been tweaked for even smoother operation.


GE15: Anwar Ibrahim questioned over his use of lavish transportation

PKR President Anwar Ibrahim questioned about his use of a helicopter and expensive cars while campaigning.

 With election day being just around the corner, many candidates and their activities are starting to be scrutinised, where even their mode of transport is being analysed and reported in the media.

The most recent gossip to come out of the election circus was the fact that PKR President, Anwar Ibrahim took a helicopter rather than a car to get to one of his destinations.

According to The Star, the urgent need to reach his destination faster in the campaign trail prompted PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to use a helicopter.

Anwar said to the daily that if he didn't use a helicopter, he would not have reached his destination in time. He continued by saying that "at least  he didn't steal any money", defending his actions for using a helicopter.

Photo credit: TikTok

The report in The Star continued on by stating that some of his critics have also mentioned that he uses "expensive cars" when campaigning, but as usual, Anwar had an answer for that too!

"I did not rent it. The owner, who is from Shah Alam, told me that since I will be going everywhere, even to Perlis, I can use the vehicle, but please return it back on Nov 20".

"I am not a hypocrite like some ministers here.In Kuala Lumpur, he uses expensive cars, but when he returns to Kelantan, he uses Proton Saga," added Anwar, without mentioning names.


VIDEO: Watch A 1,341HP Koenigsegg One:1 Charge Up The Goodwood Hill From Inside The Cabin

The 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed which recently came to pass saw a bevy of exotic machinery charging their way up the famed hill. And what could be more exotic than the Koenigsegg One:1?
Courtesy of
Jalopnik
, we too can now experience the thrills (or terrors) of being inside a 1,341hp hypercar as it undertakes the hillclimb at rapid speeds. The One:1 is the very car that managed to set a new, unofficial
0-300-0 km/h world record not too long ago
.
Here we see Koenigsegg’s head test driver Robert Serwanski at his day job when he isn’t
behind the wheel of his more conventional daily driver
 as he plays taxi to
Jalopnik
writer Máté Petrány.
Serwanski puts the One:1’s 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8 to good use, guiding the all-carbon fibre body with active aero and various titanium bits up the hill while making his passenger’s head move around like a bobblehead doll.
Manic accelerations, hard braking, noise, lots of noise, it certainly looks like a ride to remember.


Kia Teases All-New K900 Flagship Sedan – Due Q2 Of 2018

Kia Motors has previewed its flagship luxury sedan, the K900, ahead of its world debut later this year.
The second-generation model boasts sophisticated exterior design, effortless performance, and a spacious cabin finished in luxurious materials and elegant styling.
Kia also claims, “new technologies” are present to protect occupants, enhance interior comfort and give the driver greater confidence at the wheel.
The K900 (in the U.S.A and Canada) is also known as the K9 in its home market of Korea. The K900 is the flagship sedan which sits above the Kia K7/Cadenza in selected markets. The K900 is also on par with sister-company Hyundai’s G80 model, officially marketed under the Genesis
luxury sub-brand
.
The first-generation Kia K900 has been on sale in the U.S. market since 2014
The Kia K900, like the Genesis G80, is offered in the U.S.A with a 3.8-litre direct-injected V6 that develops 311 hp or a 5.0-litre V8 which outputs 420 hp. The Genesis G80 and Kia K900 likewise, are fitted with 8-speed automatic transmissions in both the V6 and V8 variants.
In the U.S. market, the Kia K900 goes up against well-established rivals such as the Lexus GS, Acura RLX, and BMW 5 Series.
Created through joint efforts by Kia’s designers in Korea and in the U.S., the new K900 will be manufactured at the company’s production facility in Korea. The new flagship sedan is expected go on sale in selected markets from the second quarter of 2018.


Latest Frankenstein Perodua Kancil ‘Hancur’ Seized By PDRM

The viral first-generation
Perodua Kancil
 that made itself infamous by roaming the streets of Bukit Bintang - though it is suspected that Kepong along with other areas of northern Kuala Lumpur is its main stomping ground - in its horribly dilapidated, mutilated, and abused state has finally met its end at the hands of Polis Diraja Malaysia.

It’s also filled to the brim with trash, which seems what the ‘roof’ is being propped up by, and its windows are broken and held together by wire.

Photo: @yazidismail, @ciknawrah - Tiktok

According to Bernama, police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) were aware of and planning action on the yellow car made viral on Tiktok and other social media platforms and had seized the vehicle, along with its 47 year old owner and driver, as it was cruising around the Bandar Metropolitan area at 1 am on Sunday.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Zulkefly Yahya said: Inspections found that the yellow car has no road tax, no roof, and its right front tyre is damaged.”

If you ask me, that’s a grossly summarised list of faults with the car, and should that be its only problems, we might be dealing with a well-executed and calculated troll - or performance art/joke of some kind. The car itself looks like it’s held on with duct tape, Dunlop glue, a wing, and a few prayers. Literally, everything looks like it's on the verge of falling apart.

The driver, as described by authorities, is a man from Raub, Pahang. However, the Sin Chew Daily says that he is originally from Penang, speaks English, was educated in Singapore, and comes from a relatively wealthy rubber plantation-owning family. He is also said to be suffering from mental issues.

On the night his prized Kancil was seized, he even led officers to a second junk Kancil that can barely keep itself on four wheels, though this one was in slightly better shape and was green in colour.

Unwilling to let him drive off in another Frankenstein Perodua and possibly endanger the
safety
 of other road users again, they confiscated both cars. However, it is said that he owns (or has owned) at least two more Kancils and one Kembara.

Amazing.


Shell Kicks off First-Of-Its-Kind "Love My Ride" Festival

500 motorists were given a free oil change and petrol fill-up package that was worth up to RM600, at the Shell “#LoveMyRide” Festival. The festival, which kicked off today and concludes this Sunday (14
th
 June) at the MARTRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC) Kuala Lumpur, is said to be the first-of-its-kind for car lovers.
Selected motorists were entitled to receive a complete engine oil change for their cars using Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology 5W-40 fully synthetic engine oil, as well as up to RM70 worth of Shell V-Power Racing,
 courtesy of Shell Malaysia Trading.
The participants were selected from around 1,000 applications that were received online at
www.lovemyride.com.my
.
Shell Malaysia also attempted to set a record for “the most number of cars in a lubricant changing event in 12 hours” with the Malaysia Book of Records. The feat involves 100 student mechanics from Despark College and Shell Helix branded workshops, an estimated 6,000 litres of Shell Helix Ultra, and 15,000 litres of Shell V-Power Racing.
The festival also features several booths where visitors can take a test drive in the latest BMW and Mazda cars, participate in the Shell V-Power F1 Challenge F1 simulator to stand a chance to win a Sony PlayStation 4 console, fashion bazaar, Shell Helix PurePlus Mixology Masterclass, live music performance, and indulge in over 50 of KL's top food trucks and cafes. The Shell “#LoveMyRide” Festival is open to the public from 10am till 10pm.


From Fridge-maker To Car-maker In Just 12 Years, What's Pushing Geely?

Ever since reports of Geely’s impending acquisition of Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant hit the news, this little known Chinese brand is now often repeated in Malaysia.
It is important to remember that Geely is only one of the two front runners in forming a technical
tie-up with Proton
 (the other is PSA Group, maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars), and Proton's owner DRB-HICOM have yet to make a decision on the matter.
Geely has no presence in Malaysia but it has a small local-assembly operation in Indonesia. However of late, Geely Indonesia’s sales have slowed to a trickle, which is not surprising since models there are of the older, cheap but not cheerful variety developed in the early days of Geely.
To placate the curiosity of Malaysians on this otherwise little known Chinese brand that is rumoured to be taking control Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant, here’s a rundown on Geely.
“Is making a car so complicated that I can’t do it myself? A car is just four wheels, a few sofas, plus a lid and an engine,” said Li Shufu, the founder of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd, to a foreign visitor at his company’s manufacturing plant in rural Taizhou, Zhejiang Province in China, circa 2003, seven years before Geely purchased Volvo Cars from Ford.
Of course Li is very well aware of how complex the car industry is. He has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Yanshan University. His seemingly naïve comments were more of a reflection of his engineering training, that to solve complex problems, start by breaking them into smaller problems.
In another interview with the Financial Times, he said “I believe the auto industry is a competition of human resources, competition of funding, competition of technology and the competition is international. So the key in all these [things] is people.”
Together with Chery and Great Wall, Geely is among China’s most successful car companies, and all three have one thing in common – none of them benefitted from government assistance.
China’s initial master plan to grow its automotive industry was put in place in the ‘80s, about the same time as Malaysia’s National Car Policy. The policy centered on setting up joint ventures between Chinese state-owned companies with foreign companies.
This way, the government argues, allows Chinese companies to absorb technical know-how from their foreign partners, with the final goal of producing home-grown Chinese brands.
Independent private car makers like Geely was never part of the plan. In fact, the Chinese government was actively discouraging Geely’s entry in the car industry.
Upon closer inspection, Geely’s success isn’t so surprising. Compared to big Chinese state-owned companies like the Shanghai-owned SAIC, Guangzhou-owned GAC, Beijing-owned BAIC, which counts big brands like GM, Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda and Daimler as their joint-venture partners, private companies like Geely have to work a lot harder, and they didn’t have the luxury of easy access to a reputable brand, network and technology.
Facing resistance from their government at home, these private companies had to export as soon as possible to survive.
Li Shufu’s story began in 1963, when he was born into a poor farming family in Taizhou. Li was given RMB100 (about RM65) by his father upon his graduation from high school. He used the money to buy a camera and promptly setup photo studio in his village.
He made a bit of money and soon did a small business salvaging gold and silver from discarded electrical appliances.
At 23, he used his experience in taking apart electrical appliances to setup Geely – (吉利) Chinese for auspicious - to manufacture refrigerator parts. Three years later, he resumed his studies in university, before venturing into the motorcycle business in 1993.
Li ventured into the car business in 1997, and the first Geely car was the Geely Haoqing hatchback, a licensed copy of another company Tianjin-FAW’s Xiali, which is itself a licensed copy of the old Charade from Daihatsu.
The Haoqing was launched on the auspicious date of 8/8/1998. But luck was not enough to fix Geely’s quality problems, which is unacceptable even by Chinese standards.
In an interview with The Financial Times, Li explained that the quality of the first batch of Geely was so bad that he was forced to scrap all of them.
“We scrapped them all and OK, that’s not good enough,” he told the Financial Times, adding that the second batch had to be scrapped as well and the third batch was still very unsatisfactory.
After that, Geely made many more horrible looking cars, many of them copied from European and Japanese companies. Like many Chinese companies, the goal was to set foot in the car market, selling very cheap cars. Quality, design and technology can come later.
“My business plan is very simple, you see: We here at Geely will make affordable cars for the masses,” Li told his guest visiting his plant in Taizhou.
“It’s like planting trees. The company will plant seedlings all over the [poorer] inland cities first, then later come into [richer] coastal cities,” he said.
Early Geely models had Toyota engines but today Geely has expertise to develop their own engines but transmissions are made by Australian drivetrain specialist DSI, which Geely bought over in 2009.
It is also worth noting Geely now supplies 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine for use in China’s FIA Formula 4 racing series. It’s the same engine used in Geely’s road-going models.
After years of making cheap but terrible looking cars, Geely’s flagship model today is this Accord/Camry-class Geely GC9, also known as the Geely Emgrand GC9 in China. It’s designed by ex-Volvo Cars designer Peter Horbury, who designed the first generation Volvo S40. Horbury now works for Geely.
Power comes from either a 1.8-litre turbo, 2.4-litre or 3.5-litre V6 engine, all self-developed by Geely and complies with Euro-5 emission standards. Inside, it has enough features to rival any Japanese/Korean model, including 360-degree view camera, Heads-Up Display, adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking and auto parking.
Later this year, Geely's subsidiary London Taxi Company will be building the TX5, a model that will replace London's iconic taxicab. The model will be built in England, at a new plant that is currently under construction in Coventry.
When Geely acquired Volvo Cars from Ford, there were concerns that the Chinese will ruin the Volvo brand. Seven years on, Volvo is now stronger than ever before. Geely is very clear on why they purchased Volvo - because Volvo is able to do things that Geely can’t. So Geely never treated Volvo like how the Americans at Ford did.
Geely simply stepped aside, but provided the necessary support, funding and freedom to the brilliant Swedes to do what’s necessary, things which Ford should have done with Volvo.
Under Geely, Volvo made the largest ever hiring of engineers in recent times, which paid dividends in the form of the benchmark-setting
all-new Volvo XC90
, S90 and V90.
Looking at how Volvo benefitted from Geely, concerns about the Proton’s quality suffering under Geely’s influence are unfounded.
Geely is aware of the shortcomings of its brand, and is pinning its future on a new brand called Lynk & Co, a brand that has more in common with Apple or Google than any car brand.
Developed using engineering expertise from Volvo, the Lynk & Co 01 SUV is Geely’s coming of age. While everyone else is trying to make another car, Geely is disrupting the traditional car industry in the same way tech startups like Tesla have.
Describing details of a car that works more like a smartphone is a bit out of our scope, but in short, it’s a car for the digital age, with its own cloud-sharing services, WiFi, and a totally different approach to ownership.
Rather than buying or leasing the car, you can choose to pay for it as you use in the same way as you would with your smartphone, paying for additional apps or features as you go. The infotainment system even comes with its own app store.
It’s also designed to support car-sharing. Never mind about Uber or Grab, this car is made to allow you to make money from other people renting your car. Think of it as Airbnb for your car. Access to the car is via a temporary key and a smartphone.
It’s even capable of communicating with other Lynk & Co cars. The car can for example, notify another Lynk & Co car where is the nearest available parking.
If you are wondering why the promo videos above don’t show much of the car, then you have not fully understand the changing trends among the new generation of consumers.
In many developed cities where millennials live and work, cars are just too expensive for young people. Interest in cars among the young is now lower than previous generations. Sociologists even have a term for it - the de-motorization effect.
Thanks to the Internet, social habits are changing. The young can now connect digitally and have less need for a car. They are also more open to concepts like car sharing. It’s not very apparent in Malaysia yet because of our poor public transport network, but it’s already happening in Europe, USA and developed Asia.
Even Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler can’t sustain their businesses by just selling cars. They each have launched their own car sharing services division – Moia, ReachNow and Car2go respectively - in major European cities. Lynk & Co is simply taking the concept one-step further with a car that’s designed from the ground up to do just that.
Lynk & Co isn't about the car, in the same way Google's Nexus isn't about the phone. The car/smartphone's hardware is just a platform.
Nevermind about the Japanese or Europeans, even Chinese companies like Geely have moved on to a level where it’s almost impossible for a company like Proton to stay competitive by relying on our relatively small domestic market selling conventional cars.
In terms of technology, Proton doesn’t offer anything that Geely can’t already achieve with Volvo. Having input from Lotus Ride & Handling is nice but a quick look at the top-selling cars in Proton’s market segment tells you that consumers don’t care much about sporty handling.
However everyone knows that emerging markets like ASEAN have big potential, especially Vietnam. Chinese car makers have every incentive to establish a presence here.
With the exception of Singapore, all countries in the ASEAN trade bloc imposes hefty import duties for cars originating from outside of ASEAN, so setting up assembly operations within the region is crucial.
Geely’s fellow Chinese rival the Shanghai government-owned SAIC Motor’s MG brand is using Thailand as its gateway into the region. The MG brand is expected to be launched in Malaysia this year, with
Berjaya Auto is rumoured to be its distributor
.
Opened in 2004, Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant is one of the most advanced in the region, but low sales of Proton vehicles saw its utilization rate hovering at no more than 50 percent. It seems like a very attractive carrot for Geely.
If managed deftly, having another party be it Geely or PSA Group to soak up the unutilized capacity, is in the interest Malaysia’s manufacturing sector. The operative word here is if ‘managed deftly.’
Produced with references from:
1. ‘American Wheels Chinese Roads – The Story of General Motors in China,’ by Michael J. Dunne, John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte. Ltd.
2. Li Shufu: an engineer with a mind for poetry and motion, Richard Milne, Financial Times


UMW Grantt Unveils New Stellar 8000 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil

UMW Grantt International Sdn.Bhd today expanded its product line up with the launch of four new products:
Grantt Stellar 8000 SAE 0W-20 API SN PLUS fully synthetic engine oil
Grantt Quasar SAE 10W-40 API CI-4/SL mineral engine oil
Grantt ATF CVT automatic transmission fluid
Grantt ATF WS (world standard) automatic transmission fluid
The main highlight was the Grantt Stellar 8000 SAE 0W-20, which is formulated with Knock Guard technology.
Best suited for cars with TGDI and GDI engines, the engine oil provides users with protection from LSPI (Low Speed Pre-Ignition) or knocking.
“With more car manufacturers developing engines which are increasingly smaller, more efficient, more advanced and at the same time more powerful, this also creates more extreme operating conditions, especially for TGDI engines. This makes today’s engines more susceptible to LSPI (knocking) which causes internal engine damage and lead to engine failure.”
“The Grantt Stellar 8000 SAE 0W-20 was engineered with this in mind to give drivers outstanding LSPI protection,” said Megat Shahrul Azmin Nordin, President of Manufacturing & Engineering (M&E) Division, UMW Corporation Sdn. Bhd.
The new Grantt Stellar 8000 is said to deliver more than 80% better engine protection against wear and tear. It also has antioxidant additives which control oil thickening, resulting in better air flow to crucial engine parts throughout the oil drain interval.
With its 0W rating, the new Grantt engine oil also aids and protects during cold starts while maintaining a consistent viscosity at optimal and higher engine operating temperatures.  Its advanced dispersant and detergent help to prevent sludge formation and varnish deposits for cleaner engine internals.
While the Grantt Stellar 8000 0W-20 API retails at RM199 (Peninsular Malaysia) for a four-litre bottle, the other newly launched products are priced from RM50 each.


Lexus Wins Most Reliable Brand In 2018 Auto Trader New Car Awards

When it comes to superlatives, rarely do you want to be known as the most reliable. Most handsome, most athletic, most intelligent - these are usually what one aspires to be. But to be reliable means that essentially your value stems from showing up when you're called upon. That being said, in the case of car ownership, reliability is one of the most underrated values you can find in a vehicle - and Lexus has come out on top at the Auto Trader New Car Awards in the UK.
Unlike most car awards where there is a panel of judges to determine the winners, the Auto Trader New Car Awards relies on the opinions of roughly 43,000 car drivers responding to an online survey. This is the second year they've run the awards, and being a consumer-judged test there are bound to be some biases - but these are biases that only stem from a good (or bad) user experience.
Regardless of the accuracy of the results, Lexus vehicles are known to be the most reliable of the luxury marques - and inherent trait of the Japanese - and while they may not be able to win on sportiness or brand strength, their owners are content knowing that they made a good choice. After all, there's no use in having a great car if it's always spending time in the workshop getting fixed. Roughly 99% of Lexus vehicles sold in the UK are self-charging hybrids, which is a testament to the reliability of the technology.


2015 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Launched In Malaysia From RM152k, Sport Version From RM156k

After more than a year of local testing, and the more recent announcement of it being
opened for bookings
,
Hyundai
-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has finally launched the 2015
Hyundai Veloster
 Turbo, asking a tempting
RM152,476
 (with insurance) for it.

A more exclusive Veloster Turbo Sport model is also available, retailing from
RM156,213
 (with insurance), and offering some racing exterior decal stickers, and a unique set of leather seats lined in orange.

Imported directly from Korea, the Veloster Turbo arrives in Malaysia with the model’s latest facelift – replacing the pre-facelift model from before, which was launched here back in 2012.

Buyer’s Guide:

The low-slung Hyundai Veloster coupe is still a dynamic looker, which has now been updated with meaner looks than before.

More importantly, HSDM has rectified one issue the previous Veloster was cursed with – with the pre-facelift model, it was a looker no doubt, it just wasn’t any kind of quick with a 1.6-litre MPI engine tasked to drive the car with just 132PS and 158Nm of torque. Now, Malaysian customers will have the option of a the new T-GDI powerplant, paired with a seven-speed DCT.

Offering 186PS and 265Nm of torque, dual-clutch transmission, a refreshed design, and more kit than before – all for just RM20k more than the previous range-topping, normally-aspirated pre-facelift car (RM132k).

KEY SPECS: 2015 Hyundai Veloster Turbo 1.6 T-GDI

Price:
RM152,476
 (standard)
RM156,213
 (Sport)

Engine: GAMMA 1.6-litre T-GDI (Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection)

Transmission: Seven-speed Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission (7 Speed DCT)

Power: 186PS @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 265Nm @ 1,500 to 4,500rpm

Performance:

This is where it matters, doesn’t it? Because, as mentioned, the previous Veloster looked great in our books, and fancied its chances against the likes of the Honda CR-Z Hybrid, however, it just wasn’t lively enough to drive.

HSDM have certainly addressed the issues, and after much local testing with our fuels and climate (some 100,000km was driven by HSDM), they’ve gone straight to introduce the GAMMA 1.6-litre T-GDI here, paired with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The powertrain now gives customers far more horsepowers to opt for, which is great, but inevitably brings along new competition: primarily in the form of the two-door
Peugeot 208
 GTi with its 200hp, and the highly-acclaimed
Ford Fiesta
 ST - all of which asking slightly lower prices, but achieving the same sort of havoc on-the-road action. The Peugeot is by far the most affordable turbocharged hatch in the country (RM140k), while the Ford is undoubtedly the more driver-focused vehicle. But while they’re all lovely little two-door, turbocharged, hot hatches, let’s not forget one thing: the Veloster has 2+1 doors, and is itself a larger vehicle than its new price competitors - befit of the local C-segment, like the Honda CR-Z, orFord Focus.

Exterior Styling:

Measuring in at 4,250mm long, 1,805mm wide and 1,405mm tall, the Veloster isn’t all that wider than its turbocharged segment competitors, but it is significantly longer than something like the Pug 208 GTi – remember the thing we were saying about the low-slung coupe body type?

But that’s not all that makes the new Veloster Turbo. Changes brought on by the introduction of the facelift model here include a new front grille and front bumper, revised LED headlamp design, a far more aggressive bonnet with new hood character lines, new 18-inch alloy wheels, and we’ve only just covered half of it.

Around the back, the Veloster gets very aggressive with its design, with this special Turbo version equipped even with twin, centred, chromed exhaust pipes right smack in the middle of the new rear bumper design.

Reserved only for the Veloster Turbo Sport model is a set of body decals on the bonnet and doors. as pictured just above on the Storm Trooper white unit.

Most of all, the Veloster Turbo retains its 2+1 door arrangement, which means it’s got two doors on the left of the vehicle, and just the one of the right for the driver. The idea is that with our right-hand-drive region, passengers will mostly get on and off on the left side of the vehicle, where the sidewalk is, and not into traffic where a Grim Reaper awaits – you’ve seen the commercials.

Interior Design:

Inside the Veloster Turbo, a redesigned dashboard awaits alongside a new-design three-spoke steering wheel which has a bunch of audio, voice and cruise control buttons on it. The bright instrument panel  design is said to have been inspired by the twin exhaust pipes of a motorcycle, but we just think they look rather impressive, and conveniently have a multi-info display screen in the middle of the two instruments.

There’s a giant seven-inch touchscreen LCD display on the dash for all your infotainment demands, while a rear-view camera and other car settings can be viewed/ made here. Audio connectivity options include Bluetooth, USB, AUX, and RCA ports. Notably, an Autonet premium audio eight-speaker sound system has been introduced to the Hyundai: one subwoofer, six external amplifiers and one central speaker.

On the slightly more premium Veloster Turbo Sport, the leather seats are lined in orange, while the regular Turbo version gets a grey lining.

Safety Features:

HSDM have equipped its Veloster Turbo with a very generous spread of active safety features to go with the passive “tough-as-steel” body structure. Six airbags are standard fit to the Veloster Turbo, but there’s also Vehicle Stability Management, Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist Control, Brake Assist System and even an active headrest that move up and forwards in the event of being rear-ended, to help mitigate any neck injuries.

Other Information:

Five body colours are available for the Veloster Turbo, and they include Young Gun Silver, Storm Trooper White, Phantom Black, Veloster Red and Sunflower Yellow (the last two in that list aren't available for the Veloster Sport). And as with all its offered models, the list price includes HSDM's five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) extended warranty, along with a 24-hour road assist service.

The Veloster Turbo will be displayed at a roadshow even in One Utama from April 22nd to the 26th.


Proton should highly consider this Geely Binyue L

Photos of the upcoming
Geely
 premium crossover SUV have been circulating online, and it might just be called the Binyue L.

Compared to the
Geely Binyue
 aka "Proton X50", the Binyue L takes things to a different and premium level when it comes to styling and dimensions. Plus, that front end? Hard to argue with that piece of work.

T-shaped headlights for the win

This new compact SUV from Geely doesn't have an official name yet apart from its codename G426. Several automotive sites in China stated that there's a high probability that it'll be named the Binyue L to serve as the more premium offering compared to the current Binyue Cool.

To put things into comparison, the Binyue L has bigger dimensions compared to the Binyue Cool by 130mm longer, 65mm wider, 41mm taller, and carries a wheelbase that is 101mm longer. The front fascia itself should be an obvious winner thanks to its front grille design, Cadillac-style headlights, and also Geely's new logo.

1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine?

In terms of powertrain, the Binyue L is said to be fitted with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 181PS and 290Nm of torque. Mated to a seven-speed DCT, it'll also be a front-wheel-drive setup.

We're not sure how the whole setup will compare with the likes of the current Proton X50 and X70, but one thing is for sure, we're loving the blacked-out roof and the choice of either having the four exhaust tips lined up at the centre of the 'rear diffuser' or separated in twos on the sides. Definitely more on the sportier side of things.


Pakistan PM Gets A PROTON X70

Although it was a promised gift made way back in March by our Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Pakistani Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr.Imran Khan, the first Proton X70 which has made an appearance in Pakistan is a sign for bigger things to come for our National Automobile Manufacturer.

Whilst this particular unit is earmarked for Imran Khan, Malaysia's best C Segment SUV being in Pakistan is truly a symbol for the upcoming CKD assembly plant, located at Karachi. The plant which will be owned by ALHAJ Automotive is currently underway and work has begun at the greenfield site around the area.

Production activities are currently scheduled to begin in 2021 and plans to assemble other models at the plant will also be part of the bigger picture.

“PROTON sees a lot of potential in Pakistan and as Malaysia is the only Muslim country to have its own automotive brand, both our countries are natural partners who have so much to share with each other. The Proton X70 has won several awards at home and we hope that eventually, it can accomplish the same feats when it arrives here,” said  En. Mohd Khalid Yusof, Director of Investment and Promotion, PROTON

By building an assembly plant in Pakistan with ALHAJ Automotive, PROTON hopes to take advantage of reduced duties for CKD vehicles in the country. This will assist the Company in achieving its long term goals to sell 400,000 vehicles by 2027.


2018 Kia Forte Video – More Stylish Than A Honda Civic?

Kia Motors Korea has released a stylish a short video of its all-new Kia K3 which is also known as the Forte in the North American market, and as the Cerato locally – either way, Kia’s new C-Segment sedan looks the business.
Recently unveiled at the
2018 Detroit Motor Show
, this third-generation Forte takes many of its styling cues from the award-winning
Kia Stinger sports sedan
. Penned under the stewardship of Kia design guru Peter Schreyer, the Forte’s long hood and short deck lend it an overall fastback-like shape.
Creases in the Forte’s hood help accentuate a muscular appearance, while Kia’s trademark ‘Tiger Nose’ grill is now flanked by ‘Stinger-esque’ headlamps with a unique light signature, as highlighted in the video. The Forte’s turn signals are mounted at the bottom of the front bumper, near the integrated air curtains that aid the car’s aerodynamics.
The separate turn signal design cues continue at the rear, with the rear turn signals and reverse lights housed at the bottom corners of the rear bumper. Similar to the Sportage compact crossover, a sleek horizontal trim piece connects the taillights, the taillights themselves carry a crisp graphic signature.
In term of dimensions, the all-new Kia Forte has grown to 4,640 mm in length, 1,440 mm in height and 1,798 mm in width.
The video also takes us through the cabin space of the new Forte, which has grown considerably since the last-generation vehicle. The cabin space has actually grown by 81 mm, from the front of the cabin section to the end of the boot, now up to 4,640 mm – aiding legroom and a cargo space. The boots pace is rated at 427-litres.
At the heart of the dashboard is the infotainment system, which comes standard with an 8-inch color touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, integrated neatly into the dash. Kia also offers wireless charging and a 320-watt Harman Kardon premium sound system as an option.
As for the powertrain, the all-new Forte is powered by Kia’s second-generation 2.0-litre Nu four-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine estimated to produce 147 hp and 179 Nm of torque. The engine can be paired with a six-speed manual or Kia’s all-new in-house developed CVT type-transmission.
From the video, we also find Kia has claimed a 15.2 km/l fuel economy, courtesy of Kia’s new “Smart Stream” powertrain line, that will eventually find its way into more future models. The fuel economy readings are even higher than the figures released during the Detroit debut, of 14.8 km/L, however, those figures were estimates at the time of print.
Separately, if you’d like to more about how a Kia Forte matches up against a 700 hp Lamborghini Aventador, check out the video below.