First Impression: We Took The All-New Kia Carnival On A Day Trip To Ipoh - As Practical As Its Size Suggests?

We get a first taste of the All-New 2022 Kia Carnival. Is the Korean MPV's interior comfort as good as its exterior looks?

Let's face it – a growing family
needs an MPV
. Yes, while a big family can certainly travel in several cars to get to their destination, travelling with the family in one vehicle is part of what makes for an exciting road trip experience.

While many have small to medium-sized families, some of us are blessed with more members, and travelling with the whole gang can be uncomfortable if you don't have a large enough vehicle.

There are plenty of
six and seven-seater MPVs
 on the market, but only a few can claim they can house more than seven passengers. Better yet, only a few can claim it can house more than seven passengers without looking like a troop carrier.

We present to you the All-New 2022 Kia Carnival, an MPV with 11 seats that wants you to forget that it's essentially a van.

Launched globally in June 2020, the arrival of the all-new Carnival at the
tail end of 2021
 was a big surprise, especially when Kia in Malaysia was going through a period of limbo, transitioning from its old distributor to its new one.

Now under
BAuto
, the same company that has served many happy Mazda buyers for many moons, Kia is all geared up for a re-establishment in the Malaysian market, starting with what is arguably their most important vehicle, the fourth-generation Carnival.

Debuted and previewed at Carlist.my's
DRIVE Auto Fair
 last month, the 2022 Kia Carnival received a lot of attention, with some even booking the MPV before testing it out.

For those who have yet to get the chance to see the stylistic MPV and immerse themselves with the Carnival, no problem, let us tell you the good, the bad and the ugly, cause we just had a road trip from KL to Ipoh and back in one day.

Travelling 400km in the MPV over six hours has gotten us quickly acquainted with this Korean MPV. It really did highlight to us its strengths and weaknesses. We drove on city roads, back roads, and highways, gathering some valuable intel.

While one of the MPV's highlights is its undeniable stylistic design, which in my opinion makes it the best looking MPV on sale, its main draw for most buyers would be how it is on the inside.

There's no denying that the 2022 Carnival feels plush inside. From the dashboard layout to the materials used throughout the cabin, the Carnival feels premium. Yes, while we are not fans of the tan colour scheme of the interior, there's no denying that it feels high quality. Even the 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment system with high definition clarity is impressive and adds to the luxurious feel. In addition, the sound system is good, the front seats are nice and comfortable, and there's really nothing to complain about if you are sat in the front row.

Behind that front row however, is an entirely different story, something that will receive a mixed reception depending on other MPVs you have experienced. For example, if you have experienced a
spacious seven-seater MPV
, you might feel like it is a bit tight, but if you're used to
compact seven-seaters
, the space offered is similar but with more seats - let us explain.

Apart from the front row, the best seats in the MPV is of course in the second row. When the middle jump seat in the second row is tucked up sideways, the flanking seats are comfortable - despite having an odd feature.

On the right seat, you only get one armrest placed on the right side and on the left seat, you get an armrest placed on the left side. The left second-row seat is probably the most comfortable seat at the rear of the MPV as it has a makeshift armrest on the right provided by the tucked-away jump seat. It's not really an armrest, but it can be used as one.

During the journey up to Ipoh where we were full of energy, these seats were great, but when we were heading back to KL after a few hours of start-stop driving, we started to notice how there's not actually much legroom in the second row. We even checked if the seats were slid all the way back (because all of the seats in the Carnival can slide forwards and backwards to arrange better space), and they were.

We then tried the third row, where we instantly noticed that things had changed dramatically seat wise. The third-row seats are slimmer than the second row's, and the legroom was just acceptable. The problem here lies in the raised flooring after the second row. Because it is slightly raised, you pretty much sit in an awkward position where your knees are bent more than usual. While this might seem trivial to some, it is something to consider. The third row of seats are probably best fitted for kids, but adults should be fine for journeys no longer than a couple of hours.

When the fourth row is up (it can be hidden away in the floor when not used), it's pretty much a case of trying to adjust all rows to get that optimum comfort for all rear passengers. When this happens, it has to be said that all rear passengers would not be in the best of comfort. And then there is the luggage situation because if the fourth row is erected, there is absolutely no room for cargo.

The reality is that while the Kia Carnival can carry up to 11 passengers, we feel that it can only provide optimum comfort for adults in the front two rows. The rest of the seats at the back are best left for kids, which is excellent if you plan to use it for the kids anyway.

Apart from that, all other aspects of the Kia Carnival are quite fantastic. Its 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine with 199 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque is strong, and its 8-speed automatic transmission is quick and predictable. Kia also did a great job in the NVH department as the MPV feels refined and is pretty quiet on the inside. You really don't get the sense that it's a diesel engine powering the car, which adds to its upmarket feel.

It also drives well and has a good suspension setup that tries to balance comfort and driving dynamics. As a result, the Carnival doesn't feel too big to drive and is quite nimble around town. It does tend to feel slightly jumpy at high speeds, but you shouldn't be driving an MPV that fast in the first place.

The Kia Carnival might be down on advanced safety features, but it does come with Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), which is handy for a larger than average MPV (remember, the Carnival is larger than the Toyota Alphard).

In short, the Kia Carnival is a master of none but a jack of all trades. It won't give you the supreme comfort of a luxurious six or seven-seater MPV, but it will allow you to carry more passengers. It does it with style and elegance, and the frugality and power of a turbo-diesel engine. When you couple that with looks that can kill, it's pretty hard to not like the Carnival, even given its shortcomings.

2022 Kia Carnival Specifications:

Engine: 2.2-litre in-line four-cylinder, turbodiesel

Transmission:  8-speed automatic

Max Power: 199 hp at 3,800 rpm

Max Torque: 440 Nm at 1,750 - 2,750 rpm

Price: RM196,340 OTR without insurance, including SST exemption

Safety: 7-airbags, ABS, ESC, TCS, MCB, ISOFIX, HAC, BCW, RCCA

Origin: CBU from South Korea


Mazda CX-5 Updated With Turbocharged Power

Mazda has given its popular CX-5 a new heart, this time fitting its five-seater SUV with a turbocharged engine plucked from the bigger, seven-seater CX-9.
The SkyActiv-G 2.5T in the new CX-5 does 230 PS and 420 Nm, identical to the output figures of the CX-9. Mazda’s SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic is the sole transmission option. The turbocharged CX-5 can be had either as a front-wheel drive model or all-wheel drive model.
As for the diesel-powered model, Mazda is now offering a six-speed manual option, which can either send drive to the front wheels or all four wheels.
Apart from its new powertrain, the updated Mazda CX-5 range also receives the new G-Vectoring Plus, which now brakes the outside wheels lightly when exiting a corner, to reduce yaw, and thus reducing body sway of the occupants.
In terms of safety, Mazda has updated the CX-5’s Advanced Smart City Braking Support (Advanced SCBS), now with night time pedestrian detection.
Last but not least, the Mazda Connect infotainment is now compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
These updates are currently exclusive to the Japanese market CX-5, though we expect Mazda to introduce the model globally in the next couple of months.


Why The 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Is Better Than Ever

Arguably, one of the biggest highlights of the 2018 Detroit Autoshow has been the all-new
2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
.
The longest-serving member of Mercedes-Benz lineup, which has changed very little over the past 30-years, now boasts a comprehensive redesign of its chassis, powertrain, technology features and overall look.
In a detailed video, Mercedes-Benz takes us behind the scenes of its design, development and, testing of the new G-Class.
Only a few characteristic features have been carried over from the last generation; things such as the distinctive door handle and the characteristic closing sound, the robust exterior protective strip, the exposed spare wheel on the rear door and the prominent front fender indicator lights.
As Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG explains, “The car is almost a brand with over 30 years of history. I believe we cannot fundamentally change it, we have to keep the original DNA and character of this car,”
He adds, We just need to bring it into a new generation by making it more clean and contemporary, and of course, change the proportions to become the next G-Class.”
The new car retains key aspects of the G-Class, such as its ladder-type frame, low-range gear system and, triple locking differential system (front axle, rear axle, and centre transfer case) – and builds on these elements to make the G-Class more formidable.
By far the biggest difference of the new G-Class is skin deep. The overall dashboard architecture follows in the nature of the new models, in particular, the inclusion of the Widescreen Cockpit's twin 12.3-inch display screens.
Elsewhere, retrospective elements such as the grab handle in front of the front passenger and the chrome-highlighted switches for the three differential locks have been retained.
During the launch, Mercedes-Benz announced one variant, the G500, which is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 422 hp and a maximum torque of 610 Nm between 2000 and 4750 rpm. The engine is mated to the company’s 9G-Tronic automatic transmission which has been specifically tuned for off-road performance.
The video also gives us a look at Mercedes-AMG’s involvement in the development of the G-Class’s double-wishbone front axle (independent suspension) system which works in combination with a rigid rear axle.
With regards to AMG models, Shirin Emeera, Head Of Product of Mercedes-AMG explains that AMG powertrains will be fitted with the new AMG Speedshift Plus 9G-Tronic transmission.
She also teases a new AMG engine, “that offers even more power than the one you’re used to right now.” Hinting at a new AMG model that could be introduced in the near future.


10-Seater 2022 Hyundai Staria Is Coming This Year - Est RM170k++

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM)
 has announced that the new 2022
10-seater Hyundai Staria
 will be entering the Malaysian market this year.

Set to arrive within the fourth quarter of 2022, the
spaceship-inspired Hyundai Staria MPV
 can already be booked for only RM1,000 if anyone is interested to get one of their very own.

Estimated from RM170,000++

Interested parties can opt between three different variants which are the Lite, Plus, and Max. While there's no official pricing from HSDM just yet, they've estimated that the incoming Hyundai Staria 10-seater will start from RM170,000++.

According to Low Yuang Lung, HSDM's Managing Director, "We have been getting enquiries for the 10-seater variant as there has been anticipation that the 10-seater variant will replace the Starex. Like the Starex, this 10-seater variant is ideal for big families, tour operators and businesses but with vast improvements and more functionalities in every aspect of the vehicle as compared to the Starex."

Staria's futuristic design at half the price

The first Hyundai Staria Premium that came into the market was introduced late last year in the form of a seven-seater. Being the highest and only variant at the time, it carries a hefty price tag of RM358,888.

The 10-seater variant is able to cut that price right in half as it most likely qualifies as a 'commercial vehicle' under the country's tax regime, which is far lower than what is imposed on the seven-seater Hyundai Staria. We're also guessing that the interior setup will most likely get a few step downs as well.

The good news is that the 10-seater will also come with that stylish horizontal DRLs and a wide radiator grille which helps to set it apart from other modern MPVs here in Malaysia. As for the powertrain, it'll also be fitted with the same diesel-powered 2.2 CRDi engine paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox that churns out
177PS
 and
431Nm
 of torque.


5 Pilihan Kereta Pertama Terbaik Untuk Para Siswazah (Fresh Graduate) - Baru dan Second-hand

Tengah pening kepala mencari kereta pertama yang paling sesuai bagi para
siswazah lepasan universiti
? Jangan risau, kami bantu anda senaraikan 5 kereta terbaik sebagai pilihan anda.

Untuk membeli kereta pertama, anda perlulah tahu serba sedikit tentang panduan yang betul dalam memilih kenderaan yang sesuai. Bukan apa, bila tersalah pilih, nanti poket anda yang kering di kemudian hari. Malah melalui beberapa kajian yang telah dilakukan di dalam negara ini, antara sebab utama golongan belia diisytihar bankrap adalah disebabkan oleh pembiayaan kenderaan mereka.

Rule of Thumb bagi membeli kereta ini mudah sahaja iaitu dengan membeli kereta mengikut pendapatan tahunan. Sekiranya gaji bulanan anda RM2,500, maka anda perlu mencari kenderaan berharga RM30,000 dan kebawah untuk dikira sebagai kereta mampu milik. Tetapi, ianya bergantung pada individu juga kerana ada yang kurang mempunyai komitmen jadi mereka boleh berbelanja lebih dalam membeli kereta. Kalau anda rasa sukar untuk memilih kereta baharu yang memuaskan dalam lingkungan RM30,000, berbelanjalah lebih kalau mampu untuk mendapatkan kereta yang lebih kena dengan jiwa anda.

Ataupun, anda sentiasa boleh mencari kereta terpakai. Lambakan kereta terpakai kini ibarat cendawan yang tumbuh selepas hujan. Kalau dilihat dari segi harga, BMW terpakai pun anda mampu beli. Tapi seelok-eloknya, elakkan perkara tersebut kerana kos pemilikan (road tax dan maintenance) kenderaan tersebut agak sedikit mahal. Oleh itu, kami akan menyenaraikan sebahagian kereta baharu dan terpakai yang sesuai untuk para siswazah sebagai kereta pertama mereka yang berharga dalam lingkungan RM20,000 hingga RM50,000.

1.
Perodua Axia

Harga: RM23,367 hingga RM41,427

Ianya merupakan satu jenayah apabila kereta ini tidak disenaraikan sebagai kereta pertama untuk para siswazah. Dengan harga serendah RM23,367, anda boleh mendapatkan sebuah Axia baharu. Tapi kalau ambil yang paling murah (spesifikasi rendah) pun tak best juga. Seeloknya, ambillah varian GXtra ke atas untuk ciri keselamatan yang lebih menyeluruh.

Kalau mencari kereta untuk dilenjan setiap hari sebagai kenderaan untuk pergi dan balik kerja, Perodua Axia merupakan pilihan terbaik berdasarkan saiznya serta penjimatan minyak dengan mod ECO Driving yang dikatakan mampu untuk berjalan sejauh 22.5km bagi setiap liter Meskipun kelihatan kecil, ruangan kabinnya agak luas juga bagi saiznya berbanding dengan Perodua Kancil ataupun Kelisa.

Terdapat enam varian Axia yang ditawarkan dengan harga bermula RM23,367 hingga RM41,427. Ciri-ciri keselamatannya juga tidak kurang hebatnya setelah Axia menerima 4 bintang ASEAN NCAP Safety Rating. Untuk spesifikasi tertinggi, anda bakal menerima Advance Safety Assist (A.S.A) 2.0, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), ISOFIX, Front Corner Sensors.

2.
Proton Saga

Harga: RM32,800 hingga RM42,800

Antara model tempatan baharu yang mampu milik bagi lepasan universiti adalah Proton Saga. Proton Saga ini bercirikan sedan jadi anda bakal menerima ruangan but yang lebih besar serta mampu mengisi sehingga 5 orang di dalam kereta terutamanya ketika perjalanan jauh. Harga yang ditawarkan juga tidaklah begitu mahal, iaitu bermula dari RM32,800 sehingga RM42,800 mengikut varian. Berdasarkan harga tersebut, ianya merupakan antara kereta yang paling berbaloi dengan harganya.

Antara highlight utama Proton Saga ini semestinya handling Proton yang cukup dikenali. Pemanduan dan pengendaliannya juga lebih baik berbanding pencabar utamanya,
Perodua Bezza
. Dari segi penjimatan minyak, ianya tidaklah memberi nilai penjimatan yang sama seperti Myvi mahupun Bezza, namun ia masih lagi berpatutan dengan 5.7 liter untuk perjalanan 100km. Kalau nak lebih mengancam, bolehlah beli
Saga R3 Edisi Terhad
 yang berharga RM42,800.

Saga ini dilengkapi dengan ciri keselamatan seperti Electronic Stability Control (ESC) dengan Traction Control (TCS), ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Hill Hold Assist (HHA), Front and Rear Parking Sensors, Reverse Camera, ISOFIX.

3.
2020 Perodua Myvi

Harga: RM41,292 hingga RM52,697

Rasa janggal pula bila buat senarai kereta mampu milik tanpa memasukkan King of The Road ini. Perodua Myvi generasi ketiga ini hadir dengan dua pilihan enjin iaitu 1.3L dan 1.5L. Kereta paling popular di Malaysia ini boleh didapati dengan harga bermula RM41,292 sehingga RM52,697 mengikut varian.

Dari segi penjimatan minyak, Myvi dikatakan mampu untuk bergerak sejauh 21.1km bagi setiap liter minyaknya dengan bantuan sistem Eco Idle di mana enjin akan mati secara automatik ketika anda berhenti di lampu isyarat atau ketika menunggu di dalam kereta bagi mengurangkan pembakaran minyak semasa memandu dan sekaligus akan menjimatkan minyak ketika anda memandu. Ciri keselamatan juga up to date memandangkan model paling baharunya dilancarkan pada 2020.

4.
2016 Perodua Myvi 1.5 SE

Harga: RM 34,800

Kalau anda rasa Perodua Myvi 2020 tadi agak sedikit mahal untuk lepasan universiti, anda boleh mendapatkan Myvi generasi terdahulu dengan harga lingkungan RM34,800 sahaja untuk Myvi 1.5L SE (2016).

Kalau lihat di jalan raya sekalipun, model Myvi generasi terdahulu masih banyak boleh dijumpai meskipun ada yang sudah berusia lebih 10 tahun. Bak kata orang, tiada lama, maka tiadalah yang baharu. Model ini datang dengan ciri keselamatan seperti Brake Assists, ABS, EBD, Alarm, ISOFIX, Anti-Theft Alarm System Immobilizer serta reverse sensor.

5.
2012 Toyota Vios 1.5 J

Harga: RM28,999

Kalau nak beli Vios baharu dengan gaji fresh graduate ini agak membebankan juga sebenarnya. Mana taknya, harga Vios bermula dalam sekitar RM75,000. Sebagai gantinya, anda boleh mendapatkan Vios generasi kedua yang jauh lebih murah.

Di laman web Carlist.my, Toyota Vios 1.5 generasi kedua ini berharga dalam lingkungan RM30,000 ke bawah bergantung pada tahun pembuatannya. Sebagai kereta pertama anda, penting untuk anda memilih kereta yang selesa di samping tahan lama. Model ini hadir dengan ciri keselamatan seperti Power Boot, Reverse Sensor, Brake Assists, ABS, EBD serta Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) bagi tempat duduk hadapan. Oleh itu, Toyota Vios ini merupakan antara pilihan yang terbaik yang boleh anda lakukan.

Model generasi kedua yang dihasilkan pada tahun 2007 hingga 2013 ini masih mudah untuk mencari alat gantinya ketika ini. Jadi anda tidak perlu menunggu lama bagi mendapatkan alat ganti sekiranya kenderaan ini mengalami kerosakan. Kos penjagaannya serta pemilikannya juga mampu milik membuatkan Vios ini pilihan berbaloi bagi para siswazah.

Anda boleh dapatkan kereta baharu dan terpakai yang up to date dengan harga yang menarik di
Carlist.my!
 Walau bagaimanapun, jangan terlalu teruja dan mengikut kehendak dalam berbelanja. Dengan bajet dibawah RM30,000, kereta terpakai berjenama Mercedes pun boleh didapati. Sebab itu penting untuk pertimbangkan harga pemilikan kenderaan terbabit, bukan hanya sekadar harga jualan.

Bagi mereka yang membeli kereta yang sedikit berusia, anda dinasihatkan untuk mempunyai sedikit simpanan untuk menambah baik spesifikasi kereta terbabit mengikut piawaian kini. Bukan apa, ianya demi keselamatan dan keselesaan anda sebagai pemandu juga. Setiap komponen kenderaan mempunyai jangka hayatnya yang tersendiri. Pastikan anda menukar dan membaiki komponen tersebut sebelum terlambat!


Volkswagen AG Extends Dr. Martin Winterkorn’s Contract Until 2018

Following a dramatic power struggle with Ferdinand Piech, the Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG announced today that it will be extending Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn’s contract as Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG until 2018.
“The Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG unanimously agreed a resolution for submission to the Supervisory Board at its meeting on September 25, 2015 under which a new contract as Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG for a term until December 31, 2018 should be concluded with Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn,” said the company.
“Together with Professor Martin Winterkorn at the helm we will continue on our successful path of recent years and systematically implement the goals of Strategy 2018”, Berthold Huber, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, said.
A Ph.D graduate from the Max-Planck-Institute for Metal Research, Winterkorn began his career in 1977 as a specialist assistant in the research division "Process Engineering" at Robert Bosch GmbH.
In 1981 Winterkorn joined Audi AG as assistant to the Member of the Board for Quality Assurance.
In 1993 Winterkorn became Head of "Group Quality Assurance" at Volkswagen AG, before assuming the role of Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for "Research and Development" in 2000.
He became Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG on 1-January 2007, overseeing Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN.


Team Malaysia Wins At Castrol Asia Pacific Cars Super Mechanic Contest 2018

After months of intense competition and a regional grand finale that was fiercely contested by four other nations, the Malaysian trio of Low Pai Khoon, Yim Shao Ze and Alvin Tan Yong Jun has just been crowned the regional champions of the Castrol Asia Pacific Mechanic Contest 2018.
The grand finale held over the weekend saw the culmination of months of spirited competitions to discover and recognize some of the best car mechanics in the region. With the national rounds that began in March, three national finalists from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and India formed their teams to represent their country.
The five nations fought extremely hard in the grand finale, which was broken down into two sections- a quiz to assess theoretical knowledge and a 60-minute practical challenge.
In the practical challenge, contestants were required to perform an oil change, followed by diagnosing faults and troubleshooting engine problems on identical and randomly assigned Honda City models. To further heighten the complexity of the tasks, time penalties were imposed on teams for any mistakes, such as oil spills.
Team Malaysia was the first team to complete all the tasks with 20 minutes to spare, with Team Thailand followed closely behind and Team India the second runner-up.
“The Castrol Asia Pacific Cars Super Mechanic contest 2018 is the most exciting one yet, with some of the best Castrol car experts in the region going all out to seize the top spot. Congratulations to our Regional Champions who have worked tirelessly throughout these months to better themselves and push their theory and practical expertise to the limit,” said Regional Marketing Director of BP/Castrol Asia & Pacific Shyam Balasubramanian.
“Castrol is proud to be able to be a part of this journey with them. We hope this experience will, in turn, give them leverage in growing their business and providing enhanced service to their customers.” added Balasubramanian.
As part of the grand prize, the trio from Malaysia will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the pit crew of the Renault Sport F1 Team at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. Castrol is the official lubricant provider for the French-British Formula 1 team since 2017.


Toyota And Mazda Partners Up For New Alabama Plant

Toyota and Mazda have selected Huntsville, Alabama as their new joint-venture manufacturing plant.
With an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles, the new plant will feature two split assembly lines for each company to produce their own vehicles, including a new Mazda crossover and the Toyota Corolla.
The new joint-venture manufacturing plant represents a $1.6 billion investment that both companies plan to make with equal funding contributions. The new plant is approximately 14 miles away from Toyota’s Alabama plant.
Expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs, the new plant is forecasted to go online by 2021.
“Mazda makes cars with a clear vision of how we want to inspire people, contribute to society and help preserve the beauty of the earth. By making such cars here in Alabama, we hope that over time our plant will come to occupy a special place in the hearts of our employees and the local community. By making this plant a vibrant part of that community, we hope to work, learn and grow together with the people of Alabama and Huntsville,” said Mazda Motor Corporation President and CEO Masamichi Kogai.


Malaysia TIV 2018 Forecast – 601,000 Units, 2% Growth Vs 2017

Frost & Sullivan, a global research and consulting organization, has indicated that 2018 will be a better year for the Malaysian automotive industry.
The company forecasts Malaysia’s new vehicle sales in 2018 is expected to reach approximately 601,000 units, which is improvement of 2% against 2017.
Frost & Sullivan put an estimate of 589,209 units for 2017, as MAA has yet to released the December 2017 sales data.
Mr. Vivek Vaidya, Senior Vice President of Mobility at Frost & Sullivan listed a number of key drivers including strengthening Ringgit, rising consumer confidence and
launch of new models
.
However, high household debt and stringent loan approvals are the major obstacles in pushing the growth rate higher.
The strengthening of Ringgit should play a vital role in consumer price stabilization, as cost of parts and assemblies are expected to reduce.
Improvements in public transport as well as growth in alternative mobility solutions e.g. ride hailing apps will impact the automotive market in the long term but unlikely to have any significant impact in 2018.
With Bank Negara’s continued efforts to improve the quality of loans, low income families and young buyers plus SMEs could have difficulties in securing loans.
Mr. Vivek’s team also expects an update or revision to the National Automotive Policy (NAP) which was first implemented in 2014, to have more focus on “Green vehicles” and advanced manufacturing to align with global requirements.
Our market report for November 2017 can be found here.


All-New BMW Z4 M40i At Miramas- Near-Production Ready Details Shown

BMW has started driving dynamics trials of the all-new (G29) Z4 two-seater roadster at its Miramas test centre.
 Trials at the Autodrome de Miramas at the south of France are focussed on fine-tuning of all drive and suspension systems, not only for the basic vehicle but also on the most potent new Z4, the Z4 M40i.
The Z4 M40i will feature a powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine, a newly developed front axle, new electronically controlled locking rear differential, M sports braking system, and mixed tyres - all which are held by a new suspension system with electronically controlled dampers.
“The vehicle concept of the new BMW Z4 is geared consistently towards agility and driving dynamics,” explains Jos van As, Head of Application Suspension. “The high level of body stiffness and the very rigid suspension attachment provide the perfect basis for a set-up that guarantees the performance qualities of a genuine sports car in terms of steering precision as well as longitudinal and transverse acceleration.”
BMW also says the tuning exercise at Miramas not only focusses on agile and precise handling but ensure the suspension does not lose out on comfort levels.
This set of images, albeit in the usual heavy camouflage, is also BMW’s first official release of the new Z4. After taking a closer look at some of the photos, we can conclude that many of the elements in
 the Z4 Concept
 have been retained in this near-production test vehicle.
Production-ready Z4 has a less protruding front spoiler, while maintaining the elaborately designed mesh in the kidney grille. An unpainted finish might explain the missing detail seen in the Concept. Bonnet also does not have vents or louvres.
Production-ready Z4 adopts large air-breather on the front fender and much of the rear bumper elements.


GoCar Is Now Available At 100 Shell Stations In Malaysia

GoCar and Shell Malaysia have achieved quite a milestone in a short span of time, announcing their 100th car sharing location today.

The local car-sharing platform allows users to rent cars by the hour or day via the GoCar smartphone application. GoCar’s fleet consists of a variety of car models from sedans, crossover,  SUVs, MPVs to pickup trucks, catering to customers’ different types of journeys and usage. The addition of
150 units of Renault Capturs back in May
 increased the fleet size to 450 vehicles.

Customers who book a GoCar via the app will also appreciate the convenience of vehicle maintenance and basic insurance included in the rates.

In celebrating this strengthening partnership, GoCar users can enjoy 50% off their booking, with discount capped at RM30 when they spend a minimum of RM5 on all store items excluding all credit reloads and cigarettes.

Additionally, customers can redeem one can of Coca-Cola at RM1.50 when they pick up their GoCar at the Shell stations. The promotion is valid from today until 15th December 2018 at selected Shell stores.


2016 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Makes Thai Debut

Isuzu Thailand has announced an updated version of the D-Max V-Cross.
The high-spec variant, which in Thailand, will be competing with the Chevrolet Colorado High Country and the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, has been given exterior enhancements, as well as a few interior updates.
On the outside, new features include garish elements for the head lights, bonnet and wheel arches. Also new is the front bumper guard, cargo bed-liner and six-spoke 18-inch wheels.
Inside, the updated D-Max V-Cross features two-tone leather, multi-function steering wheel and some new plastic trim. In terms of equipment, added features comprise cruise control, two USB sockets and a Kenwood audio system with navigation.
Powering the truck is a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine kicking out 177hp, paired to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.
There has not been any official announcement on whether the updated D-Max V-Cross variant will be launched here, but it is highly likely as the refreshed range of the D-Max expected to be launched here next month.
Looking for an Isuzu? Find one now at
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18 Years of Honda VSA

Electronic stability control (ESC) is now a compulsory item for all passenger cars sold in the USA, Canada, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea. Why? Because multiple research have concluded that ESC is the second most important safety feature after seat belts.
Research by universities from around the world - USA’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Global NCAP, FIA, UN - all agree that ESC is the single most important safety innovation after Volvo’s Nils Bohlin invented the three-point seat belt in 1959 and shared it with the world for free.
NCAP bodies from around the world strongly recommend that consumers only purchase cars with ESC while the FIA’s stance is that “Buying a car without ESC is like buying a car without seat belts.”
Another important point that is often lost among car buyers is that ESC is far more important than the vehicle’s airbag count. This is because ESC prevents an accident from happening in the first place while airbags merely react to an accident and is only meant to minimize injuries.
This explains the firmer stance of NCAP bodies in placing greater emphasis on ESC over airbags.
Official records in Honda’s achieve say Honda was the first to introduce ESC to a front-wheel drive car in Japan - when it launched the sixth generation Accord (and its sister-car the Torneo) on 4-September 1997. At the same time, we have yet to uncover another front-wheel drive car, be it from Japan or anywhere else that had ESC earlier than September 1997. Do you know of any?
Mitsubishi had a simple side-slip control function in the traction control system of its 1990 Diamante, but it was not an ESC feature in a true sense as the system couldn’t take into consideration the vehicle’s yaw rate – a key input for ESCs.
The Accord referred to here is a Japanese-market Accord (also similar to the European-market Accord) and is not related to the global Accord that was sold in the USA and other parts of Asia. The Torneo is only available in Japan and is basically a Japanese-market Accord with a different front- and rear-end design.
In Japan, car manufacturers sell different models to different dealer networks. The Accord was exclusively available at Honda’s Clio (unrelated to the Renault hatchback) dealerships while the sportier Torneo was sold via the Verno and Primo dealerships.
While other manufacturers elected to purchase off-the-shelf solutions from automotive parts suppliers like Bosch or Continental, Honda took the harder path of developing its own ESC solution from scratch, hence the trademarked VSA (Vehicle Stabilty Assist) name.
On 2-July 1997, Honda announced to the world that it had successfully its own ESC solution, which will be branded as VSA. It was also revealed that VSA is a further development of Honda’s traction control system (TCS) which debuted in the flagship Honda Legend, which on 20-July 1989, became the first front-wheel drive car in the world to have TCS.
By combining the existing ABS (prevents wheels from locking up under hard braking, causing loss of steering control) and TCS (prevents wheel slip when accelerating away on slippery surfaces) with side slip control, VSA is able to prevent a skid caused by either understeer or oversteer.
There are four functions to Honda’s VSA – oversteer control, understeer control, standing start control, and brake control during cornering.
The on-board VSA-ECU is constantly calculating the data sent by the vehicle’s steering angle sensor, four wheel speed sensors, lateral acceleration sensor, yaw rate sensor and engine speed to determine if the driver is losing control of the vehicle or not.
If it is determined that the vehicle is about the go into a skid, the VSA-ECU will apply the appropriate measures to cut engine power, and brake either the inner or outer wheel to bring the vehicle under control again.
If it is determined that braking is applied while the car cornering at a high speed, VSA switches the ABS function from the usual 3-channel operating mode to a 4-channel mode. This is to allow the ABS to take into consideration of the vehicle’s weight transfer during cornering, allowing it to apply greater braking pressure on the wheel that has the most traction.
Today, VSA is available on all Honda models sold in Malaysia, though on some lower range models like the Jazz and City, it is only available in the more expensive E- and V-grade variants.
For higher range models like the Civic, HR-V, CR-V, Accord and Odyssey – VSA is a standard feature, which ideally, is how all cars should be specified.


Opinion: VW Should Put Lamborghini, Not Audi, In F1 Alongside Porsche

Audi, alongside Porsche, will be fielding cars
on the F1 grid
 by 2026, or so the reports say. But who really wants to see that?

We know that the majority of readers on Carlist.my don’t really give two figs about what happens in Formula 1, but we’ll take a stab at assuming you’ll recognise the names Lamborghini, Audi, and Porsche.

It was announced earlier this month that the Volkswagen Group, via CEO Herbert Diess, parent company of all three of those automakers, was keen on entering the open-wheel motor racing series for the 2026 season with both Audi and Porsche presumably functioning as separate, though complementary, teams.

This would act much like Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Alphatauri (or Scuderia Ferrari with Alfa Romeo Racing) with the former being the primary squad where much of the latest and greatest design and engineering budget is being invested. The latter, probably Audi, will serve as a sort of backup and feeder team.

There's also plenty of rumours going around that suggest that Porsche and Audi's F1 entry will follow an acquisition or partnership with a currently competing team with reports of talks with McLaren, Williams
and even Red Bull
.

Everyone Loves A Comeback Story

While Porsche’s return to Formula 1 would be quite a sight to see, it would be a shame for Lamborghini to be sidelined given its equally storied history with the sport and fast cars in general.

Though Audi does have a solid motorsport heritage, their F1 log is confined to a pre-war period in the 1930s when they were still known as Auto Union and before the era’s Grand Prix racing evolved into Formula 1. After the Second World War, VW absorbed Auto Union and quashed any remaining intent to re-enter road racing in favour of turning a profit, building passenger vehicles.

Despite it being an odd fit, VW seems intent on shoehorning Audi into the F1 spotlight when Lamborghini is clearly the brand with an equally rich motorsport pedigree and, more importantly, established recognition for performance vehicles. They sell fast, emotional cars with powerful engines and use plenty of go-fast tech.
Audi, not so much.

And since Formula 1 has now become more about spectacle, action, and entertainment under new management Liberty Media,
a loud and flamboyant Lambo
 team would be a much bigger crowd draw compared to the preppy, rule-abiding image Audi projects.

The Brands & Their History In F1

Porsche’s place in F1 is hard to dispute. The Zuffenhausen manufacturer had entered the sport as a factory team in 1961 but pulled out in1962 due to budgetary constraints.

In the early 1980s, they would return as an engine supplier to McLaren (though the V6 turbos were branded TAG at first), helping the team win the 1984 and 1985 constructors championship with Niki Lauda and Alain Prost at the wheel.

After pulling out for a few seasons subsequently, they returned in 1991 as an engine supplier. However, this effort would end prematurely as their naturally aspirated V12 motor proved to be one of the weakest on the grid.

Should they make a comeback yet again as a factory team for the 2026 season, Porsche’s F1 hiatus will have been 35 years.

Lastly, Lamborghini. The sudden ban by the FIA on turbocharged cars for the 1989 season opened the door for the Sant’Agata manufacturer to step in
with their own V12 engines
.

However, due to it being adapted from their road-going motors, its performance wasn’t exactly leaving the competitors in their dust. Reliability was a persistent issue as well, causing Lamborghini to drop their F1 engine program after the 1993 season.

They have never fielded an F1 car on the grid before, at least under their own name, though they have gotten their feet wet with the idea during their ownership under Chrysler in the early 1990s, even going as far as to design a full chassis following a semi-successful foray into supplying engines.

The race-ready car, the Lambo 291, raced in the 1991 season under the Modena team to disappointing results.

Why Lamborghini Is Done With F1 (Probably)

Ironically, it might be the top brass at Lamborghini itself that is the most resistant to the idea of embarking upon an F1 campaign. In spite of what their VW overlords might want, there could still be an abundant amount of competitive scorn between them and Ferrari.

The Maranello squad appears to be one of two dominant forces in the ongoing 2022 season, and there’s little chance that any F1 car from the VW Group (either branded Lamborghini, Porsche, or Audi) will be a championship contender in its first outings.

This would mean many losses against the Prancing Horse, which could have a negative trickle effect on the perception of Lamborghini’s road cars.

It could take multiple seasons of struggling in the midfield before their power unit and chassis are refined enough and the team works in complete cohesion. Also, tighter regulations on team budgets mean VW can’t just write them a blank cheque to secure some podium finishes.

The simpler truth is that Lamborghini entering F1 presents a bigger risk than it does the potential reward to the brand, and any deviation from their considerably
high repute and profitable business
 formula as an exclusive supercar maker isn’t something VW is willing to gamble on either.

Audi and Porsche, on the other hand, have more to gain from F1. Both automakers have an interest in the development of advanced electrified power units and hybrid technology while Porsche has also invested heavily in
carbon-neutral synthetic fuels
 as a direct replacement for petrol, a direction that F1’s regulators are also in alignment with.

Though Audi’s RS sub-brand (previously quattro GmbH but now called Audi Sport) has been rather dormant recently, any success or failure in F1 can only bolster their credibility as a prestigious, performance-oriented manufacturer as they valiantly compete in the pinnacle of motorsport. You need only look to the torrent of added brand cachet and recognition enjoyed by the AMG
label toward Mercedes-Benz’s road cars
.


Comparison: Proton Iriz vs Perodua Myvi vs Kia Picanto – Entry-Level City Dwellers

The
Perodua Myvi
 has been the nation’s default entry-level hatchback for a decade now. It is a car that transcends class and suited for a wide range of buyer profiles – fresh grads, young families, pensioners, and even as a spare car for well-to-do households.
Proton’s answer to challenge the Myvi’s dominance is the Iriz
, launched in 2014, but only fairly recently which we had the chance to sample in what we suspected would have been its most fun-to-drive guise, powered by the
1.6-litre VVT engine fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission
.
New vehicles with manual transmission are relative rarities in our roads these days, but here in the
Carlist.my
 office garage, we have
Arvind
 and
Aswan
, who both own manual versions of the Kia Picanto and Perodua Myvi respectively. Both their vehicles being relatively affordable hatchbacks, we get them to pit their own rides against the Iriz.
Arvind –
Kia Picanto 1.2
Price: RM54,400 (OTR with insurance)
Engine: 1.2-litre, Inline-4, Transverse, DOHC CVVT
Power:  84hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 119.6Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual, FWD
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, Traction Control, Hill-Hold Assist, ISOFIX (rear), impact-sensing door unlock
What made you choose your current car?
The main factor behind choosing my Kia Picanto was tremendous value for money and suite of safety systems. During the limited time offer when I purchased my car at a heavily discounted price of RM41k – I got six-airbags, ESC, four disc-brakes, hill-hold assist and ABS brakes. There was no other car in the market offering so much for so little dosh.
I also loved its slick-shifting five-speed manual, nippy yet surefooted handling and frugal engine. I regularly achieve 6.8litres/100km on the daily trot with peaks of 8.0litres/100km during enthusiastic driving. The other incentive was because it’s still viewed as an ‘outsider car’, it stands out in a sea of Myvis.
Compare the Iriz’s driving experience with your car.
I love the way the Proton Iriz drives. It’s the best handling car of the lot, period. Superb body control for a relatively small wheelbase – coupled to superb chassis rigidity through the tighter corners. It feels solid, and steering weightage and response is nicely tuned.
The engine however left me wanting – it’s relatively lifeless below 3000rpm. It does pick up nicely thereafter but for a city car, I feel it should have more power down low. The over-rev feature common to more recent Protons is a bit redundant when applied to the Iriz. It feels as if there’s a mismatched (oversized) flywheel which doesn’t allow the engine to rev freely and jolts the drivetrain as you get into the next gear under hard acceleration. This feels unnatural.
On the inside, it does suffer from tyre and engine roar at speed and I would appreciate a slightly lower driving position. The clutch isn’t progressive enough in my opinion and gear changes are a tad notchy when compared to my Picanto. Otherwise it’s comfortable seating and good ergonomics makes for a rather pleasant drive.
What aspect of the Iriz would you like to incorporate into your car?
I would really love the premium in rear legroom and boot space when compared to the Picanto. The Iriz is a big car wrapped within a small shell. I also love the two additional USB charger ports in the centre console, the Picanto only does with one and doesn’t allow for USB charging. The audio system is another feature I would pluck off the Iriz – it offers rather good sound quality for a six-speaker setup.
Would you trade your car for the Iriz? Why?
Not at the moment. The Picanto still continues to impress me with its frugality and enjoyable driving character. Space is a concern sometimes but it’s a problem I can live with. The Iriz is a great car, which is why I convinced my sister to purchase one but it would need a more refined driving experience and a less thirsty engine to further pique my interest.
Aswan
 –
Perodua Myvi 1.5 SE
Price: RM49,968.50 (OTR with insurance, solid paint)
Engine: 1.5-litre, Inline-4, Transverse, DOHC DVVT
Power:  102hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 136Nm @ 4,400rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual, FWD
Safety: 2 airbags, ABS, ISOFIX (rear)
What made you choose your current car?
There were three aspects that I took into serious consideration when I was narrowing down choices for my car: it had to be financially friendly, it had to be reliable, and it had to be fun to drive. Despite there being cheaper options such as the Axia, I felt that the Myvi offered me the right amount of space and practicality that I could live with. It was a car that felt comfortable for my (rather large) frame, while being compact in terms of external dimensions.
The reliability was a question that was answered after talking to a few peers about their own Myvis. It was a consensus that if you sent the Myvi for proper, regular servicing, it would keep on chugging for the better part of a decade. The variant I opted for was the 1.5 SE Manual – although had there been an Advanced model with a manual transmission I may have chosen that instead. The manual is not the most slick-shifting transmission on the market, but it does make the driving experience a lot more entertaining. The 1.5-litre engine also has a wealth of low-end torque that the 1.3-litre units don’t quite have.
Compare the Iriz’s driving experience with your car
It is clear that despite the Iriz being similar in capacity to my Myvi and packing a 5-speed manual as well, the execution of the two cars is entirely different. The strongest inherent characteristic of the Iriz is its fantastic handling balance: the chassis is neutral on the limit, and the steering is direct and precise even if lacking a little in feel. Dynamics has been Proton’s strong point, and the Iriz is no different.
In comparison, the Myvi lacks that dynamic edge in terms of precision and body control, but it makes up for this in a number of other ways. Where the Myvi gear shift may be notchy at times, it has a more positive engagement feel than the Iriz. The clutch pedal on the Iriz has very short throw and even less feel, but perhaps the largest issue with the Iriz is the throttle delay that became prevalent in the Campro era of Proton powertrains. The 1.6-litre engine itself is a little rough around the edges and it lacks the low end punch of the Myvi
–
 which can make overtaking a little bit of a chore at times. At the top end of the rev range it does perform far better than the Myvi’s 1.5-litre lump, but rarely do you get up there to appreciate that high end pull.
Specific to this variant of the Iriz, the kit list feels far more extravagant than my own Myvi – although you could also attribute that to the RM 9,000 price difference and the fact that the Iriz Premium variants would appropriately compete with the Myvi 1.5 Advance. It is worth nothing that the Iriz comes with ESC, which is not available on any Myvi variant, although personally I feel that neither car needs such a system.
What aspect of the Iriz would you like to incorporate into your car?
By far it has to be the handling of the Iriz that I would like to incorporate, or at the very least, emulate in the Myvi. The Iriz is leaps and bounds ahead of the Myvi in terms of dynamic ability straight out of the showroom, with Perodua taking more conservative measures when it came to suspension selection and tyre choice.
Would you trade your car for the Iriz? Why?
No, both in the short term and the long run. As we have waxed lyrical about the Iriz’s handling ability, it remains the only aspect that impresses me about the Iriz. The powertrain was a good attempt but it still lacks the finesse required to be competitive in a modern environment, and the understanding that low-end torque is far more important for everyday driving. The Myvi is a lot easier to drive in day-to- day situations, and you can leave it in fifth gear for most of your commute unless you get trapped in slower moving traffic. I am also positive that I can bridge the gap between my own car and the Iriz with some aftermarket tuning. The Iriz is a solid product and a great attempt by Proton, but the Myvi is just that little bit better suited for my needs.
Concluding Remarks
As affordable entry-level hatchbacks, the Iriz, Myvi, and Picanto need to appeal to a wide range of consumers. They need to be affordably priced in order to be accessible to the masses, yet they cannot feel cheap so as to maintain their appeal in the eyes of affluent buyers who also look at this segment for spare vehicles in the household.
Perodua has undoubtedly gotten the formula right with the Myvi - the scores of these cars you see on the road bears testimony to that fact. The Picanto, for what it's worth, is an excellent effort on Kia's part. It is an effective demonstration of how to make an entry-level vehicle affordable and respectable. The Iriz, meanwhile, is a fine effort on Proton's part - it was developed with the least economies of scale among the three cars present yet having to meet the same requirements in cost and specifications. We also like that Proton went the extra mile with safety and driving dynamics of the Iriz, qualities often neglected in this segment.
Each of the three cars featured here has its own unique blend of strength and weaknesses. The Myvi is the consummate all-rounder, but we found that the perfect motoring solution in this pool would be a vehicle that combines the safety, ride, and handling of the Iriz; powertrain and cabin space of the Myvi; and the zestiness and sophistication of the Picanto.
Read our earlier comparison of the
Myvi 1.5 A/T against the Iriz 1.6 CVT here
.


Hyundai Staria Wants To Be The Next Vellphard-Killer

‘
Staria
’ is a name that you’re definitely not familiar with. None of us are. But you might recognise the various names Hyundai has sold its predecessor under:
Starex
, iMax, and the cargo-focused
iLoad
 (lol).

It’s also quite rare that we give enough of a fig to write about something as ostensibly unexciting as a people mover, whose most prolific tasks were to ferry hotel guests to and from the airport. However, what’s hooked our attention here is the Staria’s potential.

It might still be a boxy MPV, but that name change indicates that Hyundai has much more interesting plans for this new model, and has fittingly endowed it with a modern - even futuristic - design with its singular full-width daytime running light and smooth crease-less body.

Keep in mind, though, that Hyundai hasn’t spilled the full beans on this new model and has kept some key information close to their chest.

What we do know is that the Staria will be, upon a full introduction, a globally widespread vehicle, possibly sold in nearly every market Hyundai has a presence in.

Step into one and, depending on how much you’d be willing to fork out, you could be greeted by a properly posh interior that’s mostly draped in leather and is extremely well insulated. Though this is clearly very focused on occupant comfort, the driver and front passenger do get a stylishly minimal dashboard with a digital instrument cluster and button-type gear selector.

Behind them, the Staria can be equipped with Alphard-style captain’s chairs for lovers of the roving lounge concept, catering to customers who aren’t at all bothered with carrying anyone else around. Hyundai themselves say that the design was inspired by that of a luxury cruise liner or yacht with its large windows that’s almost glasshouse-like.

Another configuration, not including the driver, allows 8 passengers across 4 rows to be seated while retaining high levels of luxury with the 2nd-row chairs being able to swivel around to face each other for a proper road trip staring contest. There's also an 11-seat version, which sucks for social distancing.

Hyundai clearly is aware of the
Toyota Alphard and Vellfire
 running away with the market - and fair enough, they pretty much invented that niche. There is surely space for a rival to step in with an alternative offering to sway the Vellphard crowd through some clever design and innovative ideas.

The whole notion of Hyundai dipping their toe into this space seems to make perfect sense given their recent upmarket push, especially when they know that certain customers are willing to pay a lot more to really bring that first-class flight experience to the road, which is exactly the case with
the Lexus LM
.

Given this opportunity to show up Toyota as well as to gain the favour of a deep-pocketed customer base, the South Korean automaker could introduce a ‘flagship’ version of the Staria under their premium Genesis marque. And who knows, this might end up being pretty lucrative for them further down the line with happy owners buying further into the brand with
the G70
 or G80 saloons and GV80 or
GV70 SUV
s.

Being as yet unreleased, there’s still the matter of the Staria’s technical specifications to confirm. That said, the ‘3.5’ badging on these pre-production units indicates that power could come from a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine, likely lifted from the recently revealed
Santa Fe
 facelift, and so produces 272PS and 332Nm.

We can't imagine Hyundai’s
long-suffering
 longstanding 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel not being included here either, and on such a fitting vehicle for its fuel-sipping high torque characteristics to cope with the already heavy Staria as well as a possible full haul up to 11 occupants. Its likely transmission is a little tougher to pin down as an educated guess, but the company’s in-house 8-speed torque converter automatic seems up to the task, preferably paired with all-wheel drive.

Either way, there’s still plenty of time to speculate on where Hyundai is headed with the Staria, not to mention its possible arrival into Malaysian showrooms. What does seem very obvious is their abandonment of the utilitarian people-mover identity, left in the same dirt pile with the Starex/iMax/iLoad name.

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2023 Subaru Crosstrek Is The All-New 3rd-Gen XV In New Clothes

This is the all-new 3rd-generation Subaru Crosstrek, the Japanese brand’s popular Impreza-based high riding cross-SUV and one of the few that actually can boast off-road ability thanks to its permanent Symmetrical AWD system.

The first new element here is its name, though it only applies to countries like Malaysia where its predecessors
were known as the XV
. Onwards from this 2023 revamp, the Crosstrek name will become the standard global moniker. This is long overdue, in our opinion.

Subaru Crosstrek - coming to Malaysia in 2023

Set to hit Japanese showrooms first despite it always being a predominantly US-centric offering, the Crosstrek should be coming to other right-hand drive markets such as Australia and the majority of Southeast Asia sometime midway through 2023.

Visually, you could mistake this 3rd-gen XV/Crosstrek with being a significantly touched-up version of the outgoing model. Look closer and you’ll spot the new bits, but even then you’ll have to keep a sharp eye.

Subaru Crosstrek - Exterior

There are obvious front-end alterations that feature a more prominent grille and aggressive headlight and bumper garnish treatment as well as a set of bolder black alloy wheels wedged beneath plenty of cladding around the wheel arches.

Its basic shape remains nearly identical, though it has actually shrunk by 5mm in terms of overall length and by a whole 35mm in height. However, Subaru promises no compromises when it comes to practicality and interior space, aided by its slightly elongated wheelbase (+5mm).

Powertrain Subaru Crosstrek

The automaker has also chosen to remain quite silent on the overall Crosstrek range, only detailing a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-4 with
150PS
 and
196Nm
 paired with a 17PS electric motor which they’ve
dubbed the e-Boxer
.

US-spec versions will also receive a larger 2.5-litre version of the flat-4 with
184PS
 and
240Nm
 of torque. It’s unclear if they’ll make their way to local showrooms in that hybrid form but we can be confident that the existing 2.0-litre XV powerplant will likely be carried over, once again mated to a Lineartronic CVT and Symmetrical AWD.

Interior of the Subaru Crosstrek

Inside, we find the same basic layout and trim
from the WRX (2021)
, another car that shares essential platform genetics with the Impreza. Here, Subaru is using a large and vertically-oriented 11.6-inch central infotainment screen that, unfortunately, also replaces some climate control switchgear. The Crosstrek unit seen here also dispenses with a matching digital instrument cluster in favour of analogue dials to sandwich a compact multi-info display. Sounds familiar.

Apparently, the flashier hi-tech dash is given to Crosstreks
equipped with EyeSight
, the company’s active safety and driver aid suite, at least in certain regions, which adds Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, among other features.

When it does eventually arrive on Malaysian shores, obviously pricing will be a major factor in whether buyers here will take positively to it. It will also likely be tasked with fending off a number of new rivals in the form of the Haval H6 and Chery Omoda 5 in addition to usual suspects such as the Proton X70,
Toyota Corolla Cross
, and Mazda CX-5.


Proton Di Kenya - Proton X70 Jadi Kenderaan Rasmi Polis Kenya

Proton Kenya memaklumkan bahawa pihaknya telah menyerahkan sebanyak 30 unit
Proton X70
 kepada pihak anggota keselamatan negara tersebut, Kenya Police Service sebagai kenderaan rasmi mereka.

“Proton X70 akan memberikan gaya yang menarik, kestabilan yang terbaik dan keselesaan kepada Perkhidmatan Polis Negara ketika mereka menjalankan tugas,” tulis Proton Kenya di laman Facebook rasmi mereka.

Hantaran tersebut memperoleh reaksi positif daripada pengguna laman sosial yang rata-rata mengucapkan tahniah dan turut berbangga dengan
Proton
 kerana dipilih menjadi kereta rasmi polis Kenya.

Majlis penyerahan X70 kegunaan polis Kenya itu diadakan pada 20 November lalu oleh rakan kongsi Proton, Simba Corporation di ibu pejabat mereka di Miritini, Mombasa. SUV tersebut mempunyai dua warna, biru dan hijau yang tidak pernah ditawarkan di Malaysia.

Sebagai kereta rasmi polis Kenya, model SUV ini turut dilengkapi pelekat grafik dan lampu strob (kegunaan polis) yang berbeza dengan
model X70
 yang dijual di Kenya.

Di Kenya, Proton X70 dijual hanya dalam satu varian iaitu X70 1.5L. Ia menerima konfigurasi enjin yang sama seperti
X70 pasaran Pakistan
 yang dijana oleh enjin 1.5 liter tiga-silinder Turbo GDI berkuasa 177 PS dan tork maksima 255 Nm. Ia digandingkan dengan kotak gear klac berkembar automatik DCT tujuh-kelajuan yang hanya memacu roda hadapan.

Simba Corporation selaku pemegang francais Proton di Kenya, mengedar dan menjual model CKD X70, Persona dan terbaharu, Saga. Bagi Saga, ia sudahpun
mula dihasilkan secara pemasangan tempatan
 menerusi kilang Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA) yang terletak di Miritini, Mombasa. Operasi tersebut telah pun dirasmikan oleh Presiden Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta pada 10 Disember 2020.

Sebahagian daripada pelan pembangunan ekonomi di sana, Presiden Kenyatta berharap yang projek ini akan menambah peluang pekerjaan bagi golongan muda di Kenya dan memacu polisi “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya” di negara itu.

Timbalan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Proton, Datuk Radzaif Mohamed berkata, selain kenderaan pemasangan tempatan membayar cukai yang lebih rendah, unit CKD juga dijangka akan mendorong pembangunan industri pembuatan automotif Kenya.

Beliau berkata, Proton akan tetap mengukuhkan kedudukan domestik, selain ingin dikenali sebagai pembuat kenderaan antarabangsa.


BMW and MINI Malaysia Introduce 1-Year Extensions To Service + Repair Inclusive Programs for New Vehicles

Buying a car and owning a car are two entirely separate concepts. Whether you can afford the sticker price of the car or the monthly commitment, doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have money left over to take car of the car - which is why a lot of brands nowadays offer free service programs for a certain duration or mileage - which usually goes hand in hand with their warranty programs. BMW and MINI Malaysia have just announced that they are offering a 1-year extension on their Service + Repair Inclusive Programs for all new vehicle purchases.
This offer goes on for vehicles purchased between now and the 30th of June, 2019. The warranty program is an unlimited mileage 6-Year Warranty, while the Free Scheduled Service Programs are included free of charge as long as you get your money down before the end of June. The scope of services made available with the extended warranty programs is in accordance to the BMW Condition Based Service (CBS) status and includes service vehicle check, engine oil change, along with servicing for air filter, fuel filter, micro filter, spark plug and brake fluid.
The exclusive offer will be available to all new purchases of BMW and MINI vehicles with a JPJ registration dated within the programs period from now to 30 th June 2019. Additionally, the MINI 5 years/Unlimited Mileage MINI Service Inclusive and 5 years/Unlimited Mileage MINI Repair Inclusive Programs will also be applicable for fleet packages, duty-exempted vehicles, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program and the Returning Expert Program (REP) customers.
During the campaign period through the BMW ChargeNow Promo, new owners of any BMW iPerformance vehicles will receive the BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable and BMW ChargeNow card, which allows access to partner charging stations like ChargEV. With the BMW ChargeNow service, customers get 24/7 support and access to all charging locations in ChargEV’s network of over 270 charging facilities nationwide. Additionally, new BMW 740Le and BMW X5 xDrive40e owners will also receive a BMW i Wallbox Plus and BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable with the BMW i Wallbox Promo.


Toyota Launches A90 Supra In Japan

After months of fervour surrounding the all-new A90 Toyota Supra, the model is finally seeing launch in its home country of Japan. Yes, Toyota may very much be a global brand these days, and the Supra is the first global Gazoo Racing product, but the legend of the Supra is one of its domestic market heritage. Up until June 14th, 2019, Toyota will only be accepting online scheduling for sales appointments of the 24 Matte Storm Gray Metallic Supra RZs, with the winners being selected by a draw on the day of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race in Germany.
The Supra will be taking part in this race, making it a fitting occasion for 24 lucky Supra buyers. For those unfamiliar with the RZ suffix, it refers to the top-of-the-line turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six model, as opposed to the SZ and SZ-R variants that are powered by the turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-four models. All variants are front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, with an 8-speed automatic transmission between the engine and rear wheels.
The Supra is produced in the Magna Steyr production facility in Austria, alongside the BMW Z4. It's one of the most important model launches for Toyota and will be the beginning of Gazoo Racing's eventual global product line-up with more exciting products designed to make driving fun again. Once considered a Skunkworks-type outfit funded with a black budget, outside of Toyota's rules and norms, Gazoo Racing was eventually brought in to be a part of Toyota as a whole when Akio Toyoda took the helm.
Now, let's take a quick gander at what the pricing of this all-new Supra is like. The aforementioned SZ and SZ-R variants go for 4,900,000 and 5,900,000 JPY (RM 186,231 and RM 224,238) respectively. The range-topping RZ goes for 6,900,000 JPY (RM 262,232), while these 24 special models with the matte gray paint have a 320,000 JPY (RM 12,160) additional fee. In comparison, the Porsche Cayman (said to be the direct rival for the Supra) goes for 6,730,000 JPY (RM 255,750) - and that's before options. Opt for the higher grade Cayman S (which is closer in performance), and you'll see the price going to 8,620,000 JPY (RM 327,628) before options. By that measure, the all-new Toyota Supra looks to be a great deal for the money.


Air tickets to Sabah, S'wak for Kaamatan, Gawai not exceeding RM300, says Transport Minister

The government has announced that they will be subsidising airline tickets to help those who are travelling back home for the Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak holidays.

As usual, just as we are about to approach a festive period,
talks about pricing for airline tickets hit the news.

This is time, it's to do with the Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak annual festival, where the Transport Ministry is saying that they are helping to facilitate a cut-price deal for tickets for Sabahans and Sarawakians to lighten the burden for those who want to return to their hometowns.

According to The Star, the price of one-way air tickets from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak will not exceed RM300 from the 20th of May. As reported by the daily, Transport Minister, Anthony Loke said the discounted rates is part of the ministry's pilot project, which will only be applied in the three days leading to the Kaamatan and Gawai festivals.

"Flight ticket prices from Peninsula Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak will be lower and not more than RM300 starting Saturday midnight," he said.

Loke also said the government had decided to subsidies the tickets to help with the travelling and ease their burdens. Apparently, the government will bear the cost of between RM5.8mil and RM11.4mil for the tickets.

The flight tickets will be available for all airline companies flying to Sabah and Sarawak, including AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air and MYairline.


Spyshot: All-New 2019 Nissan Altima – Could This Also Be The Next-Gen Teana?

Nissan’s next-generation D-segment sedan is in an advanced stage of development. Spy photographers have caught a prototype of what is speculated to be the 2019 Altima undergoing tests on American roads exposing its overall silhouette whilst teasing its new-look grille.
To the uninitiated, Altima is Nissan’s name for the current-generation
L33 Teana in the North American market
.
Apparently inspired by the
Nissan Vmotion 2.0 concept
 first shown at the North American International Auto Show earlier this year, the 2019 Altima moves on from the current model’s conventional three-box shape to a sportier fastback silhouette.
Hints of the aforementioned concept’s V-Motion grille and floating roof design are especially noticeable even through the test car’s camouflage.
The batch of photographs sent to us also include a clear look of the new car’s interior, in which we see an sporty flat-bottomed steering and a free-standing infotainment screen just above the central air-con vents. The overall look remains distinctively conservative. Unlike the exterior, the interior shows barely a trace of what was previewed in the Vmotion 2.0 Concept.
As with the current and previous-generation Teana, the new Altima’s centre console notably lacks a conventional handbrake. No signs of an electronic parking brake either, suggesting Nissan could be sticking with the current model’s foot-operated parking brake. The transmission selector shows two forward-moving gates behind ‘Neutral’ position, suggesting the continued use of a CVT.
Ahead of the gear lever, we also see an engine start button, the ever-present oval-shaped Nissan key fob, as well as a pair of USB ports. The two cup holders are joined in the middle that allowed the test driver’s phone to be slotted inside, though it appears to us that the centre console area could have been better utilized where small-item storage is concerned.
According to our spy photographer’s sources, the new Altima’s range of powertrains could include hybrid and turbocharged petrol engines with all-wheel drive available as an option. This, in our view, is entirely speculative, however, and may not relate to our market.


Jalan Temiang-Pantai Bukan Lokasi Pelancongan – 48 Saman Telah Dikeluarkan

Sebanyak 48
saman
 telah dikeluarkan polis kepada pengguna jalan raya yang bertindak memberhentikan kenderaan di
 Jalan Temiang-Pantai
 untuk tujuan bergambar dan berkumpul.

Menurut Ketua Polis Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop, kesalahan tertinggi yang direkodkan daripada saman yang dikeluarkan itu adalah meletakkan kenderaan di bahu jalan atau lorong kecemasan untuk tujuan berkumpul dan bergambar.

Tambahnya, tak salah untuk mengambil gambar namun tindakan meletakkan kenderaan di bahu jalan dan lorong kecemasan sehingga mengganggu lalu lintas boleh mengundang risiko tinggi berlakunya kemalangan.

Walau bagaimanapun, beliau mengesahkan bahawa masih tiada kes
kemalangan
 direkodkan berlaku di laluan tumpuan orang awam itu sehingga kini.

“Itu sebenarnya Jalan Persekutuan bukannya
lebuh raya
, mungkin sebab pemandangan di sepanjang laluan itu menarik menyebabkan ramai yang berhenti untuk mengambil gambar,” katanya.

Selain itu, aktiviti berbasikal dan jogging dibenarkan di laluan tersebut selagi ia tidak mengganggu kelancaran trafik serta tidak membahayakan diri dan pengguna jalan raya lain.

Dalam pada itu,
Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ)
 akan terus memperketatkan pemantauan di laluan Temiang-Pantai itu terutama pada hari cuti dan hari minggu bagi memastikan tiada pengguna berhenti di lorong kecemasan untuk bergambar lebih-lebih lagi dalam jumlah kenderaan yang banyak.

JPJ turut menjangkakan lebih ramai akan berkunjung ke lokasi berkenaan selepas tular di media sosial kerana pemandangannya yang menarik sehingga diberi jolokan sebagai ‘New Zealand’ Malaysia.

Bagi yang tidak tahu, tindakan memberhentikan kenderaan di lorong kecemasan tanpa alasan yang munasabah adalah satu kesalahan dan tindakan akan diambil mengikut Kaedah 53(1) Kaedah-Kaedah Lalu lintas Jalan 1959 di mana tiada kenderaan boleh diletak di mana-mana lorong kecemasan kecuali kes kecemasan.

Bagi kesalahan itu, denda boleh dikenakan kepada pemandu tidak melebihi RM2,000 atau penjara tidak lebih enam bulan mengikut Seksyen 119(2) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987.

Pihak berkuasa Negeri Sembilan juga menasihati pengguna jalan raya lain tidak kira dari negeri itu mahupun dari luar negeri yang melalui kawasan itu supaya mematuhi peraturan jalan raya ditetapkan supaya tidak menimbulkan kesukaran dan membahayakan pengguna lain.


2018 All-New Honda Accord To Debut Soon With 10 A/T

Honda will debut the all-new 2018 Honda Accord in the United States later this year, featuring two turbocharged engines, an advanced 10-speed automatic transmission and six-speed manual for the turbocharged engines. On top of that, the upcoming Accord will also receive Honda's new dual-motor hybrid powertrain.
The 2018 Honda Accord will be available with three powertrains, which includes two direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The first being the 1.5-litre DOHC Turbo with dual variable cam timing (dual VTC) that is currently found in the Civic. This engine can be mated to a Honda CVT or six-speed manual. The second engine option is a 2.0-litre direct-injection DOHC Turbo with i-VTEC mated to either a 10-speed automatic or six-speed manual. Honda says that the 10AT is an industry's first for a front wheel drive passenger vehicle. Last but not least is the new dual-motor hybrid powertrain, which is able to operate without the use of an automatic transmission, similar to the outgoing Accord PHEV's i-MMD powertrain.
Photos of a camouflaged prototype was released by Honda, though that does little to reveal the new Accord's design. However, Honda did say that the new Accord will gain a lower and wider appearance for a more aggressive stance.
Honda added that more details on the all-new 2018 Honda Accord will be released in the coming weeks.
11 months after its global debut in the US, and 9 months after reaching US showrooms only we received the all-new Honda Civic.


Honda Malaysia Opens 12th Dealership In Johor In Pasir Gudang

Honda Malaysia has launched its latest 3S Centre in Pasir Gudang, Johor which is owned by Yong Ming Motor Sdn. Bhd. (Yong Ming Motor).
Yong Ming Motor has invested a total of RM18.5 million into the 77,000-square foot building in Pasir Gudang, which is equipped with latest facilities and equipment.
The four-storey building houses 14 bays (9 Service Bays, 3 General Repair Bays and 2 Tyre Service Bays) that can accommodate up to 30 cars per day.
On top of that, the new Honda 3S Centre has a lounge for customers with free flow of food, a ‘Kids Corner’, as well as prayer rooms for Muslims to perform their prayers while waiting for their cars to be serviced.
With the opening of the latest facility, Honda Malaysia now has 97 dealerships nationwide, with 12 located in Johor itself.
The new 3S Centre in Pasir Gudang is Yong Ming Motor’s second Honda dealership in Johor, following the first outlet in Skudai.
The Director of Yong Ming Motor, Mr. Kenneth Cheng said, “We are grateful for the opportunity given to us by Honda Malaysia to grow our customer base in this area. Previously, customers in this area had to travel far to view the latest models or to service their cars but with our new dealership we aim to offer them the best Honda experience closer to where they are. This showroom that we are opening today represents our continuing commitment to Honda Malaysia.”
The opening of new Yong Ming Motor Honda 3S Centre in Pasir Gudang is timely to support the increasing customers and after-sales service intake in Johor and able to provide the best quality service to them.
Based on the record, the after-sales intake rose 51% in the past five years. From January to November of 2018, the southern region alone recorded over 235,000 service intakes, an increase of 13% against the same period last year.
In terms of sales performance by region, the southern region was the second highest contributor with more than 17,000 units sold from January to October 2018, which is an increase of 2% compared to the same period in 2017.
Yong Ming Motor (Honda 3S Centre) is located at PTD 209607, Jalan Bandar, Business Centre II, 81700, Pasir Gudang, Johor.


Hyundai Malaysia Launches 2021 Kona N Line 1.6 Turbo And Kona 1.6 Turbo - From RM146,888

Just in case you were waiting for the announcement, Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has today launched the 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line 1.6 Turbo and
2021 Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo
.

Price

The Kona 1.6 N Line is priced at  RM156,888 while the 1.6 Turbo is priced at RM146,888 (Price are OTR, inclusive of the Penjana SST waiver but excludes insurance).

Engine

Both the Kona N Line and
Kona
 Turbo will come equipped with the
Smartstream G 1.6 T-GDi, a turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine that is paired to the Smartstream 7DCT – 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission that produces 198PS of power at 6,000rpm and 265Nm of torque at 1,600-4,500rpm.

Safety

The 2021
Hyundai Kona
 N Line and 2021 Hyundai Kona Turbo will have the full suite of Hyundai's Smartsense active safety and driving assistance technologies comprising of:

Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear  Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)

 Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)

Lane Following Assist (LFA)

Smart  Cruise Control with Stop and Go that keeps the SCC running even when the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA)

Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle  Departure Alert (LVDA)

Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)

Safe Exit Warning (SEW)

High Beam Assist (HBA)

Exterior

2021 Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo

The Kona Turbo will come with a two-tone body colour and roof rack which is exclusive to the 1.6 Turbo variant. The front end has also been redesigned with protective cladding panels, wide thin DRLs that do look quick striking, and a new distinctive centre grille. New tail lights at the rear feature horizontally stretched graphics.

2021 Hyundai Kona 1.6 N Line

The Kona N Line on the other hand will come with the signature N styling all throughout the SUV, distinguishing it from its less racy sibling. Instead of skid plates found on the Kona 1.6 Turbo, the Kona N Line will come with an aerodynamic lip with low-lying corner fins for that stance. Larger air intakes with a unique mesh design and surface treatment will further help you tell apart the Turbo from the N Line.

The 2021 Kona N Line will also come with dedicated 18-inch alloy wheels that will be complemented by body colour claddings, a new rocker panel and a large central aerodynamic diffuser that will create a contrast with the body.

Interior

2021 Hyundai Kona 1.6 N Line

The Kona N Line will come with the dedicated N Line colour package in black with red stitching. Interior materials will combine
black leather and suede. Both the driver and passenger seat will come with ventilated and heated seat functions. The distinctive N look will also be displayed on the metal pedals, gear shift, steering wheel as well as seats.

2021 Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo

As an alternative to the dark interior, the Kona 1.6 Turbo is also available with a light beige interior trim.

Both the Kona variants will feature the new layout similar to the
Kona 2.0
, coming with a new console area. 10.25-inch digital cluster, 8-inch AVN screen, electric parking brake, new ambient light technology t
hat illuminates the centre cup holders as well as the passenger and driver side footwells and new aluminium finish rings around the speakers and air vents.

Entertainment

Bluetooth

Android Auto

Apple CarPlay

Colours

The Kona 1.6 Turbo N Line and 1.6 Turbo comes in five exterior colours, namely Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite  Flame, Pulse Red, and Misty Jungle. Each colour comes with the Phantom Black two-tone roof. The two-tone roof also comes with matching mirror housings.

In addition, these latest variants come with new 18-inch wheel designs.

Warranty

The Kona comes with a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty and a 3-year or 50,000km (whichever comes first) free maintenance service.

If you're so keen you can make your bookings now via Hyundai's new online shopping platform
here
 or contact any of the Hyundai authorised showrooms. Customers can also call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000 for more information.


Pemandu Tayang Gari Memang Polis – Keterangan Sudah Diambil, Siasatan Sedang Dijalankan

Ingat lagi insiden pemandu Proton Persona yang
berlagak seperti penguat kuasa dengan menunjukkan gari
 kepada pengguna jalan raya apabila tidak diberikan laluan? Melalui laporan yang diperolehi, pemandu itu memang disahkan sebagai seorang anggota polis.

Pada 12 Februari lalu, telah tular sebuah video yang menunjukkan samseng jalan raya yang ‘berlagak’ seperti ahli penguat kuasa dengan menayangkan gari selepas memandu secara berbahaya.

Dalam video tersebut, pemandu
Proton Persona
 itu cuba untuk menukar lorong tanpa memberikan signal. Oleh kerana tidak diberikan ruang untuk menukar lorong, beliau telah memecut dari arah kiri sebelum menurunkan tingkap dan melambaikan gari kepada orang awam yang tidak memberikan laluan.

Susulan insiden tersebut, mangsa (pengadu) yang berasa terancam telah membuat laporan polis kerana risau dengan tindakan anggota terbabit yang menayangkan gari semasa memintas keretanya seolah-olah membawa maksud tertentu.

Bahagian Siasatan Jenayah Daerah Dang Wangi telah mengeluarkan kenyataaan bahawa mereka sudah pun menjalankan pengesanan terhadap individu berkenaan sebaik sahaja video tersebut tular.

Hasil semakan polis terhadap kenderaan Proton Persona itu mendapati bahawa pemandu kereta tersebut memang merupakan seorang anggota polis berpangkat Lans Koperal di IPD Wangsa Maju yang berumur 42 tahun.

Ketua Polis Daerah Dang Wangi, Asisten Komisioner Noor Dellhan Yahaya berkata, polis telah membuka Kertas Inkuiri Polis (KEP) dan telah mengambil keterangan 6 individu setakat ini bagi membantu siasatan.

Buat masa ini, segala percakapan dan soal siasat bersama anggota polis yang terlibat telah dirakam dan siasatan lanjut sedang dilakukan oleh Bahagian Integriti Dan Pematuhan Standard IPD Wangsa Maju,

Tambah Dellhan, kes akan dirujuk kepada Timbalan Pendakwa Raya sejurus siasatan selesai untuk tindakan selanjutnya. Walau bagaimanapun, tiada komen lanjut daripada beliau tentang punca sebenar suspek bertindak untuk menayangkan gari kepada orang awam.


Vespa GTS 2023 - 3 update baru - Bakal masuk mid 2023

Vespa GTS 2023 serba baharu telah diperkenalkan di pasaran antarabangsa dengan empat plihan varian seperti  Standard GTS, GTS Super, GTS SuperSport dan GTS SuperTech.

Antara kemas kini menarik pada Vespa GTS versi facelift ini melibatkan suspensi hadapan baharu dan enjin 300 HPE baharu.

Enjin Dan Suspensi

Vespa GTS serba baharu boleh didapati dalam dua pilihan enjin:

125 i-GET

300 HPE

Kedua-dua enjin adalah unit silinder tunggal suntikan bahan api,
liquid-cooled
, namun enjin 300 HPE baharu yang ditampilkan menghasilkan kuasa maksimum 23 HP, menjadikan ia Vespa yang paling berkuasa buat masa ini.

Vespa
telah membuat beberapa kemas kini pada model GTS untuk meningkatkan keselesaan, seperti memperkenalkan tempat duduk baharu dan suspensi
single-arm
 baharu di hadapan.

Walaupun Vespa menggunakan sistem
single-arm
 tradisionalnya, namun suspensi skuter ini telah ditala semula untuk menawarkan keselesaan dan kestabilan ketika bergerak dalam kelajuan tinggi.

Reka Bentuk

Vespa GTS baharu menampilkan badan logam penuh yang menampilkan reka bentuk tipikal Vespa, namun dilengkapi dengan reka bentuk rim aloi yang baharu.

Untuk tahun 2023, Vespa telah membuat beberapa perubahan pada reka bentuk Vespa ini seperti bentuk cermin yang direka semula, pelindung lumpur dan sistem suspensi hadapan baharu. Selain itu,  Vespa GTS 2023 ini ditawarkan dalam 14 pilihan warna.

Ciri-Ciri Lain

Model Vespa GTS Super, GTS SuperSport dan GTS SuperTech dilengkapi dengan ciri mula/henti enjin tanpa kunci serta fungsi pembukaan tempat duduk dari jauh.

Ketiga-tiga model ini juga mendapat ciri Bike Finder yang membantu mengesan skuter di tempat letak kereta yang sesak dengan hanya menggunakan kunci.

Sementara itu, kedua-dua model GTS Supersport dan GTS Supertech juga mendapat sambungan telefon pintar melalui aplikasi Vespa MIS.

Model teratas GTS, Vespa GTS Supertech mempunyai paparan TFT warna penuh bersaiz 4.3 inci, manakala model selebihnya mempunyai paparan LCD analog bersaiz 3 inci.

Masuk Malaysia Tahun 2023

Di Malaysia, Vespa GTS SuperTech 300 Euro 4 boleh dibeli pada harga RM33,300 manakala SuperSport 300 Euro 4 berharga RM28,900. Berbeza dengan sebelumnya, model GTS 2023 ini dijangka bakal mematuhi piawaian emisi Euro 5 dan bakal dilancarkan pasaran Malaysia pada tahun hadapan.


Post-GST: Perodua Announces Price Reduction Between 0.1% and 1.6% On Its Vehicles

With the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST),
Perodua
 will be reducing its vehicle prices between 0.1% and 1.6% depending on model. Furthermore, Perodua will maintain its spare parts prices by absorbing the impact of GST. However, no official GST-inclusive price list was provided as of yet.
Perodua President & CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said, “We have always been supportive of the government’s intention and the customers’ expectation in terms of providing affordable and value for money vehicles. We had repositioned the price of some of our models and added value ranging from 3% to 12% since 2013. In addition all our models have a 5-year warranty for the peace of mind to our customers.”
Among the first product to emerge from the cost saving initiative was the Perodua S-Series that has managed to accumulate sales of approximately 153,000 units from March 2013 and January 2015.
Aminar also added that Perodua was supportive on the implementation of GST. “While the impact of the GST may result in reduction to some areas of our business, unfortunately there are other areas of our business that will result in an increase in cost”, Aminar said.
That increase in cost could possibly be affecting the dealers where a report from
The Sun Daily
stated that the Perodua Dealer Association is requesting the government to allow its members to reclaim the previously implemented 10% Sales Tax on invoices to were issued pre-GST.
Wan Kamal Wan Ismail who heads the association said the unsold stocks which have had their 10% sales tax already paid, will be subject to an additional 6% GST after April 1
st
, resulting in double taxation and substantial losses for each independent dealer.


Shanghai 2019: Long-Wheelbase G20 BMW 3 Series Breaks Cover

BMW has unveiled the long-wheelbase version of the G20 3 Series at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show, which was developed exclusively for the Chinese market.
Chinese consumers prioritize cabin space over handling so this China-only 3 Series variant has been stretched by 110 mm, extending the wheelbase to 2,961 mm. This translates to an extra 43 mm of rear legroom, setting a new benchmark in its segment.
But aside from the long-wheelbase variant of the G20 3 Series, buyers in China can also purchase the regular wheelbase variant of the 3 Series. Both the regular and long-wheelbase variants of the G20 3 Series are assembled at the BMW Brilliance Automotive facility in Tiexi, Shenyang.
The debut of the G20 3 Series in China also marks the introduction of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, a built-in AI assistant that allows the driver to use natural voice command to control various features of the car, much like the Linguatronic feature baked into the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX).
At launch, the G20 3 Series will be available either as a 325i (regular wheelbase) or 325Li (long-wheelbase). Both models share a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that outputs 184 hp and 300 Nm. The sole transmission option is an 8-speed automatic that sends power to the rear wheels.
Although the China-exclusive models wear the 325i and 325Li designations, their power outputs are similar with the 320i models sold elsewhere.
Looking for a BMW? Check out the best deals
here
.


New 2017 Proton Iriz Set To Debut Later This Month

Proton launched the
Iriz
 back in late 2014, offering a total of eight variants for the Malaysian market. The updated Proton Iriz with the
Persona's enhancements
 is expected to debut some time this month.
From what we understand, Proton is finishing up development work on the Iriz minor change (MC), which is expected to receive the same 3 point engine mount set up as the new
Persona
. The new 3 point engine mount is designed to reduce engine and transmission harshness entering the cabin. On top of that, CVT-equipped Iriz variants will also receive the same TCU software update, mirroring the Persona. Other NVH improvements, from what we gathered, include more soundproof material.

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Visually, Proton is likely to introduce a new colour for the Iriz. Updated models can be further differentiated with its new black roof, which we believe will be standard for all variants. Speaking of variants, Proton is said to trim its variants down to just three: 1.3 Standard, 1.3 Executive and 1.6 Executive. The mid-range 1.3 Executive is tipped to receive a push start button. We can further expect some minor changes to the seat upholstery.
Elsewhere, the updated Proton Exora, Preve and Suprima S is expected to arrive later this year, subject to the ongoing foreign strategic partner (FSP) outcome.


ASEAN NCAP Performs Development Tests for Blind Spot Technology

The ASEAN NCAP organisation has performed its first round of Blind Spot Technology (BST) development tests, as part of its ‘ASEAN NCAP 2017-2020’ protocol – BST technology is included under ASEAN NCAP's new Safety Assist (SA) category, as part of an overarching objective to reduce motorcyclist fatalities in the ASEAN region.
The Safety Assist category contributes to 25% of the overall rating of the
new rating system
, with a maximum of 18 points.
The new Safety Assist category covers effective braking and avoidance, including ABS and ESC, seat belt reminders for driver, front, and rear passengers, Blind Spot Technology for nearside, and offside detection, and Advanced Safety Assist Technologies, including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS).
As part of the development test, ASEAN NCAP is testing 10 car models which are fitted with various types of BSTs, that are sold in the ASEAN market. With a primary objective of reducing motorcyclist fatalities, each car will be tested against 10 target motorcycles (of different sizes and models) that are popular in the ASEAN market.
Two types of assessments will be performed, one during daytime, and another at night. During the day, all 10 car models will be run against all 10 target motorcycles, at night, only five car models will be tested against the same 10 motorcycle models.
ASEAN NCAP hopes to assess how accurate the various types of BSTs react towards their surroundings, particularly during lane changing manoeuvres, and gauge the effectiveness of BSTs in detecting motorcycles under different light conditions.
ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General, Ir. Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim explains, “The BST development test marks ASEAN NCAP’s plans in performing actual assessment to test the effectiveness of BST in detecting motorcyclists riding in blind spot zone,”
He adds, “The test is performed based on the requirement as stipulated in the ISO 17387. This test will also prepare us for our future roadmap for 2021-2030 that will place priority in motorcycle safety by having a special domain for it in the future assessment.”
According to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), motorcyclist fatality in Malaysia recorded the highest in 2017 among the category of road users with 4,348 deaths. The number comprises 64.5 percent of the total number of recorded deaths, in 2017, at 6,740.
This is followed by car drivers/occupants at 18.8 percent, pedestrians with 6.5 percent, lorries at 3 percent, cyclists at 2.4 percent, 4WD vehicles at 1.7 percent, vans 0.9 percent, bus drivers/passengers at 0.3 percent, and others at 1.8 percent.


Lexus Takes Interior Craftsmanship To The Next Level With The New LS Sedan

Attention to detail has just been taken to new heights by Lexus with the new LS flagship sedan. As much as this sounds like an exaggeration, the extent Lexus’ interior craftsmen, referred to as 'Takumi' have gone to finish the cabin of the car is mind-blowing.
So, in order to show the world how much work and effort has gone into the car’s interior, Lexus has released a series of videos showcasing what it calls the ‘Takumi Craftsmanship’ and how some of the unique features in the car were created, which includes:
Origami Fabric Pleating
Created by applying the time-honoured skills of Origami paper folding, the draped pleating of the door panels combines traditional art with advanced manufacturing technologies, translating into a feature which showcases the timeless appeal of Japanese craftsmanship and also the artistic side of Lexus.
Kiriko Glasswork
Kiriko is a Japanese coloured glass craft known for its unique engraved patterns. How it is produced is that a glassblower blows clear glass into a paper-thin shape of colored glassand then rotates it to make the overall form. By cutting patterns into the outside surface, a vivid contrast of color and transparent glass is created.
There are two main regions producing Kiriko glass, the region of Tokyo producing the famous clear Edo Kiriko and the region of Satsuma in the South of Japan, which is famous for its wide choice of colours.
In this case, the Kiriko glass panels that accent the interior doors of the All-New Lexus LS were designed by master craftsman Toshiyasu Nakamura, who hand-sketched, cut and polished the glass prototypes. Believe it or not, it took Hideki Ishioka 18 months to perfect a modern production process that could remain faithful to Mr. Nakamura’s unique designs.
Shimamoku Wood
To create the symmetrical Shimamoku wooden trim featured across the LS' dashboard, centre console and door trim, alternating layers of dark and light wood veneers are layered and shaped in a process involving 67 manufacturing steps.

The natural woodworking processes mentioned above is then combined with sophisticated Japanese slicing and laser-cutting techniques to produce three contrasting finishes for use in the new LS - Art Wood Organic, Art Wood Herringbone and Laser Cut Special Wood.
According to Lexus, the focus has been on producing bold contrasts between light and dark, giving the grain patterns and colours a more vibrant appearance.
“I hope that when you open the door you’ll experience an immediate, intuitive sense that you’re looking at an interior that is unlike any luxury car before,” said Chief Designer Koichi Suga.
On top of all of the above, we have the organically shaped dash design clusters information displays at a uniform height to support the “seat-in-control” layout that emphasizes the driver’s ability to operate all systems without changing body posture.
According to Lexus, this interpretation of a traditional Japanese artform was a key part of Chief Designer Koichi Suga’s vision for the car.
“As a Japanese luxury brand, we wanted to integrate elements of Japanese culture and the timeless appeal of Japanese craftsmanship to express the artistic side of Lexus", said Suga.


Finally, new road tax stickers will be introduced this year!

New road tax stickers are underway, as Anthony Loke wants to resolve the issue of low-quality road stickers this year.

Minister of Transport Anthony Loke is one busy bee with countless amounts of official and undercover work to find sources of problems affecting the Malaysian public regarding all things related to transportation.

The most recent problem that he and his ministry would like to resolve is the issue of
low-quality road tax stickers
, which has been burdening Malaysian motorists since it was introduced in the early-to-mid 2000s.

According to a posting on his official Facebook, Loke has held a meeting with the top management of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to discuss JPJ's planning for 2023.

One of the issues that Loke would like to resolve is the problem of low-quality road tax stickers, as he knows that many people complain about it. He would like it to be resolved this year!

"Saya tahu ramai orang mengadu berkenaan sticker cukai jalan yang kurang berkualiti. Perkara itu memang dalam perhatian kami dan satu perubahan besar bakal dilaksanakan dalam tahun ini".

This is probably music to the ears of many motorists, as for many years, the sticker has been burdening the masses as it tends to be hard to install but most importantly, removed.

The sticker tends to tear away in pieces and leave glue residue when you need to remove it, and it needs surgical precision to install when it needs to be separated from the backing film.

Loke not only discussed this issue, but he would also like to see JPJ implement digitisation in core services such as vehicle and driver licensing in addition to strengthening the enforcement of traffic laws.

Loke said, the ministry's main agenda is to make things easier for the people, as he wants to avoid seeing people standing in long queues at JPJ offices which inconveniences them.

He wants to plan any implementation of new initiatives carefully and will make an announcement when complete preparations have been made.