Feature: 2016 Ford Transit - Five Things We Like

About two months ago, the authorised distributor of Ford vehicles in Malaysia; Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) launched the new Transit window van in Malaysia, aimed towards businesses, organisations, anyone looking for a window van to transport large number of people. With a seating capacity of 14 (including driver), the Transit is certainly up to the task.
Priced at RM148,888 on the road without insurance, the new Transit window van, which is available only in Frozen White in this part of the world, is definitely among the most expensive models in its segment that is currently being dominated by China-made 14-seaters that cost less than RM100,000.
So, in order to find out if it is worth spending close to RM150,000 for the Transit, we took it for a spin a few weeks ago to have a closer look and see what it has to offer, and among all the things, it is these five features that impressed us the most:
1) The engine
Powering the Transit is Ford’s proven 2.2-litre Duratorq turbo-diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, producing an output of 155PS and 385Nm of torque. For a vehicle its size, a 2.2-litre engine might sound inadequate but the way the engine pulls the Transit fully loaded with 12 adults both in the city and on the highway is nothing short of impressive.
2) Safety features
Normally, vehicles in this segment only come with the basic safety features. However, the Transit, unlike its Asian competitors, is loaded with features such as Electronic Stability Programme with Fail Boost Support, rollover mitigation, front and rear parking sensors, three-point seat belts for all passengers, second row ISOFIX child seat anchors, Hill-Start Assist, ABS, as well as EBD.
3) Convenience
Features like the power operated side steps that automatically extends and retracts when the sliding door is opened and closed, the 180-degree opening rear barn door which comes with two steps, the wide seats, spacious cabin with a ‘walk-way’ for passengers to move around, and USB connectivity make the Transit a very comfortable and convenient vehicle for the driver, as well as passengers of all ages, shapes and sizes. And then, there are all the storage compartments and cubby holes for occupants to stare all their belongings.
4) The Refinement
Compared to the outgoing model, the new Transit’s cabin is significantly more refined, with reduced noise levels and improved ride comfort for passengers. In addition, it also features a redesigned instrument panel, incorporating a range of smart stowage solutions including a large hidden compartment under the dual front passenger seat and door storage pockets that can fit an A4 clipboard and 2-litre drink bottle. Although many components are made of hard plastic, the cabin doesn’t look or feel cheap at all.
5) The visibility
Manoeuvring a vehicle which measures 5.98m long, 2,474mm wide, and 2,481mm tall is no joke. However, thanks to the huge windscreen, windows, the rear ‘barn’ doors with integrated windows, the two-tier side-mirrors and what not, the level of visibility the driver has is top notch, making it easier to drive the Transit through narrow stretches, ‘Lorongs’, and parking lots.
Conclusion
In summary, these are only a few of the things that set the new Transit apart from a few of its rivals, and also put it on par with more premium models like the Mercedes-Benz Vito.
Complemented by its bold new design, car-like interior and outstanding driving dynamics, there is no doubt that the Transit window van will strike a chord with a broad range of organisations and small businesses.


Honda Issues Worldwide Recall Over Fuel Pump Issues

Honda Global has issued a worldwide recall involving more than 1.4 million vehicles due to a faulty fuel pump issue.

According to a report by the
Daily Express
, affected models include the Acura NSX, Honda Civic, as well as the Honda Accord. It was said that the faulty fuel pump in the affected vehicles are causing them to stall.

The report also stated that the faulty fuel pumps, which are exposed to production solvent drying for longer periods, could cause surface cracking and excessive fuel absorption, and that these issues can eventually cause parts to become deformed and fail which may lead the car to stall.

As for the Malaysian market, it remains unknown if any cars here are affected.

So, watch this space to see if there are any announcements by Honda Malaysia Sdn.Bhd, the sole distributor of Honda vehicles in Malaysia.


Malaysia-Spec Mazda CX-9 Detailed, Priced from RM289,000, Two Variants Available

Ahead of its official debut next week, Bermaz has previewed the Malaysia-spec Mazda CX-9 at the ongoing Malaysia Autoshow. Unlike the Australia-spec model that was sold here earlier, our local CX-9 models now feature Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control (GVC).
Set to arrive in two variants, the Mazda CX-9 will be powered by the company’s 2.5-litre turbocharged SkyActiv-G petrol engine with 228 hp and 420 Nm. Power is sent to either the front or all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, depending on variant.
The only diffrence between both variants is the drivetrain. Standard safety equipment for both variants include:
Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH)
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
Lane Keep Assist System (LAS)
Drive Attention Alert (DAA)
Smart City Brake Support (Front & Rear)
6 Airbags
Walk Away Lock
Exterior wise, both the Mazda CX-9 2WD and AWD both share:
LED headlights with Auto On/Off, Auto Leveling
Front LED fog lights
LED DRLs
LED tail lights
Rear fog lights
Power tailgate
Front and rear parking sensors
Power sunroof with sliding & tilt glass
Rear roof spoiler
Moving inside, the Malaysia-spec Mazda CX-9 model will receive these equipment:
7 seating capacity
Driver seat with 2-position memory and 10-way power adjustment
Passenger seat with 6-way power adjustment
Leather upholstery
Electronic parking brake
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
4.6 inch colour TFT LCD MID
Colour Active Driving Display
All round auto power windows with anti-pinch
Tri-zone auto air-conditioning with independent rear controls
MZD Connect with an 8 inch touchscreen display
Bose sound system with 12 speakers
Navigation system
4x USB Ports (2 front, 2 rear)
Reverse camera with guide lines
Prices start from RM281,449 for the Mazda CX-9 2WD, while the AWD variant costs RM297,349. Both prices are OTR without insurance, inclusive of GST and road tax.
Maintenance wise, Bermaz is backing the Mazda CX-9 with a 3 year free maintenance or 60,000 km package. The fully-imported Mazda CX-9 is backed by a 5 year or 100,000 km manufacturer warranty.


Volvo Lets The S90 Conduct Its Own Job Interviews Using AI Technology

Meet the Volvo HR90, the Swedish marque’s first AI-driven car which actually does its own job interviews.
Presented at last year’s Belgian Car show, creative agency FamousGrey basically equipped an S90 sedan with artificial intelligence which allows it to interview prospective technicians.
After recruiting at the Brussels Motor Show, the car continued with a tour of job expos, schools and Volvo dealerships in search of new technicians.
All Volvo did was ask 50 candidates who applied for jobs in its Ghent factory and with local dealers to submit their job application online in order to be considered for an interview.
The car then interviewed the candidates via image recognition, mapping and analysis of preset parameters, analyzing the candidate's facial expressions and word use in order to assess their knowledge, motivation and social skills.
Based on the candidates’ answers, evaluation reports were made by the car's A.I. and sent to the human HR department of Volvo, where they were invited via email to upload more information about themselves and if their profile met Volvo's requirements.
The follow up however, was conducted as per normal procedures by a human HR manager at Volvo.
Volvo also said that it plans to use this new HR strategy to help its existing service technicians to evolve into personal service technicians, making them capable of taking full responsibility for every aspect of the vehicle from the first customer contact to regular servicing and maintenance.


Confirmed – PSA Group Completes Acquisition Of Opel From GM

The
acquisition of Opel and Vauxhall by France’s PSA Group
 from General Motors is complete, according a joint statement released by both companies today. The €2.2 billion deal also sees PSA take over GM Financial’s European operations.
With Opel/Vauxhall now in its fold, the PSA Group immediately expands to become the second-largest automotive company in Europe, with a market share of 17%, behind the Volkswagen Group.
Despite being often reported as a struggling brand, Opel/Vauxhall was good for €17.7 billion of revenue in 2016. The combined brands were valued at €1.3 for the transaction and are now wholly owned by PSA.
“We intend to manage PSA and Opel/Vauxhall capitalizing on their respective brand identities. Having already created together winning products for the European market, we know that Opel/Vauxhall is the right partner. We see this as a natural extension of our relationship and are eager to take it to the next level,” said Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the PSA Group’s Managing Board.
The other aspect of the deal, valued at €0.9 billion, sees PSA and BNP Paribas join forces to acquire the financing arm of Opel and Vauxhall, an operation which covers 11 European countries. The PSA Group and BNP Paribas will each hold 50 percent of the venture.
Looking ahead, PSA is targeting to get Opel/Vauxhall profitable by 2020 with 2% operating margin; the company targets to hit 6% by 2026.
“We are confident that the Opel/Vauxhall turnaround will significantly accelerate with our support, while respecting the commitments made by GM to the Opel/Vauxhall employees,” Tavares continued.
GM, meanwhile, is not being cast out of the picture entirely. The American company holds warrants for future purchase of PSA Group shares. The two companies also reaffirm their commitment to further collaboration in electrification technologies as well as existing supply agreements involving Holden and certain Buick models.
“We believe this new chapter puts Opel and Vauxhall in an even stronger position for the long term and we look forward to our participation in the future success and strong value-creation potential of PSA through our economic interest and continued collaboration on current and exciting new projects,” said Mary T. Barra, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GM.
Separately, the PSA Group is also reported to be in the midst of pursuing a
51% stake acquisition of Proton
. A report by
Automotive News Europe
 quotes a PSA spokesperson as saying the company had “made an offer and is willing to go further.”


Lori, 4x4 Dirempuh Kereta Api – Ketiadaan Penjaga Lintasan Jadi Punca

Sebuah
kereta api
 milik Jabatan Keretapi Negeri Sabah (JKNS) telah bertembung dua buah kenderaan berdekatan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kota Kinabalu (KKIA).

Kejadian dianggarkan berlaku kira-kira jam 2.40 petang ketika kereta api empat gerabak membawa lebih 70 penumpang dari Beaufort ke Kota Kinabalu merempuh sebuah pacuan empat roda jenis
Toyota Hilux
 dan lori enam tan.

*Kredit foto: RTM Sabah

Tiada Penjaga Lintasan Punca Kemalangan

Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin berkata insiden dikenal pasti berpunca daripada kecuaian penjaga lintasan rata. Berdasarkan laporan Jabatan Keretapi Negeri Sabah (JKNS), tiada penjaga bertugas di pondok lintasan rata di persimpangan terbabit ketika kejadian.

Ketiadaan penjaga yang sepatutnya bertugas di pondok lintasan rata itu membuatkan siren amaran dan palang landasan kereta api tidak dapat diaktifkan ketika kereta api tiba di lintasan rata itu. Kejadian itu menyebabkan kereta api bertembung dengan lori dan pacuan empat roda milik Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar Sabah (JPVS) yang bergerak dari Jalan Lintas-Kepayan menuju ke KKIA.

*Kredit foto: Kosmo

Kesan Kemalangan

Bung juga memaklumkan, ketika kejadian, kereta api yang bertolak dari Kota Kinabalu ke Beaufort pada jam 7.45 pagi itu terlewat sejam daripada jadual asal perjalanan disebabkan kerosakan lokomotif. Tiada penumpang dilaporkan cedera dalam insiden itu, begitu juga pemandu lori dan pacuan empat roda terbabit.

Menurut Bung, kesan kemalangan tersebut melibatkan:

Kerosakan minimum pada lori

Kerosakan agak teruk pada bahagian badan Toyota Hilux milik JPVS

Kerosakan minimum pada bahagian penutup enjin

Pasang CCTV Serta Merta

Mengulas lanjut, Bung Moktar berkata, JKNS akan memastikan setiap maklumat seperti kebenaran untuk berlepas disampaikan dengan tepat dan jelas kepada penjaga lintasan rata serta memastikan setiap pengawal lintasan rata berada di pondok lintasan rata ketika menjalankan tugas.

Tambahnya, pemasangan
kamera litar tertutup (CCTV)
 di bahagian hadapan kepala kereta api akan dilakukan serta merta untuk memastikan rakaman kemalangan dapat diambil untuk merakam kehadiran setiap kakitangan yang bertugas ketika operasi perkhidmatan.

"Proses penubuhan Bahagian Pemantauan dan Koordinasi JKNS juga akan dipercepatkan untuk memastikan setiap prosedur operasi standard (SOP) dapat dikawal selia dengan lebih baik pada masa akan datang," katanya.


Wrong Way Mitsubishi Triton Slams Into Proton Wira Along Federal Highway, 2 Teens Dead

At around 2am on Sunday, September 12th, two teenagers met their demise after their Proton Wira Aeroback was ploughed into head on by a Mitsubishi Triton which was being driven against traffic at kilometre 8.6 of the Federal Highway.

According to a video taken by a fellow road user at the time, the pick up truck was also moving at a high rate of speed in the middle lane, seemingly unaware of driving in the wrong direction. Following the high-speed collision, amateur video shows motorists confronting the Triton driver, a 24-year old male, asking if he had been consuming alcohol.

He denied this accusation but later tested positive for marijuana/ganja when being processed by police officers. He currently is being remanded for 6 days while a more thorough investigation is being conducted.

Speaking on the accident, Shah Alam district police chief Baharudin Mat Taib said that the two victims in the Proton Wira, an 18-year old female driver and a 19-year old male passenger, both from Klang, had died at the scene. Their bodies were sent to Shah Alam hospital for a post-mortem.

While the pick up truck driver emerged from the wreckage dazed, but relatively unscathed, a statement from Selangor fire department director Norazam Khamis reveals that first responders took about 30 minutes to extract the deceased victims from the crumpled remains of their Proton Wira.

Police urged witnesses of the accident to contact Shah Alam traffic investigations and enforcement department investigations.

Apart from the recent
 upshot
of road accidents
, this is far from the first video showing a vehicle travelling the wrong way down the road that has popped up in the last few days.

Since SOP relaxations
 have kicked in, some drivers have emerged from this period of 'hibernation' away from regular driving by behaving in erratic and dangerous ways.


GM Cuts 500 Jobs In Thailand

General Motors Thailand has begun a “voluntary separation programme” to cull 500 jobs off from its existing 3,000 plus staffs payroll, reports the Bangkok Post.
The layoff affects staffs at its sales and marketing office in Bangkok as well as the company’s two production plants in Rayong.
GM’s has two manufacturing plants in Thailand. The 180,000 vehicles per year assembly plant at Rayong's Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate manufactures various Chevrolet models including the Colorado pick-up truck, Trailblazer SUV (not available in Malaysia), Cruze sedan and Captiva SUV. The vehicles are exported across ASEAN.
It also used to manufacture the Sonic but the model has since been discontinued earlier this year after disappointing sales.
Located nearby the vehicle assembly plant is a 120,000 engines per year powertrain plant, which manufactures the Duramax diesel engines range.
Last year, GM sold 25,700 Chevrolet vehicles in Thailand, down 54 percent from 2013.
Earlier in February 2015, GM Indonesia announced that it will be shutting down its vehicle manufacturing plant in Bekasi by June this year. The Bekasi plant, one of the oldest in Indonesia, was manufacturing the Toyota Avanza-class Spin MPV, which didn’t had much success in the region.
Over in Malaysia, Naza Quest, importer of Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia, sold only 1,792 vehicles in 2014.


1,175 cars u-turned by PDRM

Bolehland strikes again!

1,175 vehicles were ordered to turn back by PDRM after they were found to be attempting to cross interstate borders. Strong is the need for these people to balik kampung it seems, police warning also they ignore.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is rather aptly baffled that so many of us are still trying to balik kampung despite the CMCO still in place.

Up north in Penang, 308 drivers were asked to u-turn.

Reason for wanting to go back? Hari Raya Aidilfitri and other invalid reasons.

Ismail Sabri reiterated that those caught can be punished under Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, and will face compounding or be brought to court.

So far PDRM has been lenient, only issuing warnings but if we repeatedly test the boundaries of their patience then expect to get a compound or worse still jail time.

Stay in your kampung please folks, celebrate Aidilfitri with those physically close to you. #KitaJagaKita


Volvo Rolls Out OTA Updates In Malaysia - How Does It Improve Your Car?

Volvo Car Malaysia recently announced that all the latest Volvo models will be available with over-the-air (OTA) software update capabilities for Malaysia.

The latest software update was distributed to more than 190,000 Volvo customers in 34 markets, including Australia, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

The OTA capability is available on the latest
XC90
, S60 and
V60
 models after being introduced as standard on
Volvo Cars electric vehicle models
.

What is OTA?

An over-the-air (OTA) update is the
wireless delivery of new software, firmware, or other data
 to vehicles. Similar to smartphone updates, you don't have to have any additional devices or technicians to get you updated with the latest car software systems.

So what does the newest OTA update bring to the car?

With this eighth operating system update, Volvo owners can upgrade
their infotainment system
 to the latest version of the Android Automotive OS and gain access to the latest app categories in Google Play, including navigation, charging and parking systems, and not miss the upcoming video streaming service due this year. Worth bearing in mind though that the previous Sensus system cannot be upgraded to the Android Automotive OS system found in current Volvo's.

For those with a Volvo EV, the latest OTA update also brings improvements in terms of better energy management that can increase the level of battery efficiency, especially during summer and winter, while maximising the driving distance.

Why is OTA necessary?

When we talked about the OTA system with David Holecek, Volvo's Director of Digital Experience, he explained that OTA is all about interaction, where Volvo can get shared information about the vehicle's status, which will lead to a more efficient update for the owner and car.

"OTA is very data-driven, and it can learn behaviours of drivers, which we can then modify the software based on their needs and wants. Because we can also evaluate the condition of the car, we can extend its lifetime by optimising its operating system", said David.

For those concerned about an OTA potentially immobilising your vehicle in the event of a failed update, David advised not to worry as they will first iron out any bugs. "We test a lot on our own fleet of cars, as well as company cars. So any issues
will first be resolved
 before an OTA update is rolled out to our customers around the world.

Can an OTA be corrupted by lousy internet?

For those concerned about Malaysia's unpredictable internet speeds, which might interrupt an OTA download, the system should pick up where it last left off. "The Volvo system will continue the download from where it dropped off in case of a bad internet connection."

Will cars get frequent OTA updates like phones?

Seeing that OTA updates for many of us are more commonly seen on phones than cars, of course we had to ask the question of whether the vehicles will get frequently updated like phones and will a Volvo vehicle model become obsolete and thus no longer be supported via updates?

According to David, there is no definite set of OTA updates set per model as it is a process of researching, tweaking, and fine-tuning the operating systems in a Volvo as an owner grows together with their vehicle, more so with BEVs compared to ICEs.

David also added that as software features become increasingly sophisticated, Volvo can foresee more frequent updates will be required in the future. By readying the OTA system now, Volvo is setting itself up for a trouble-free experience in the future.

Can some features be activated or deactivated via OTA?

We posed a question to David on autopilot due to recent events involving a Singaporean Tesla owner using the car's
Autopilot feature
 in Malaysia.

Question: Can Volvo activate or deactivate features of the vehicle via OTA if the customer requests for it, especially if certain features are banned in the home market of the customer but are allowed in neighbouring countries, similar to Malaysia - Singapore?

"Technically it should be possible, but we also want to maintain the ownership experience and driving experience of each customer to be as safe and pleasant as possible. Activating or deactivating features over OTA can be unsettling especially if the customer is not used to how said feature might operate or function in reality," answered David.

Will all Volvo cars be covered by OTA updates?

Since Volvo's OTA deployment started being offered at the beginning of last year, Volvo Cars have been expanding the list of countries receiving OTA updates in the majority of Volvo's markets, and the company expects the volume of cars covered by such updates to grow with every new update.


Honda Malaysia Gives Double Joy With Double Bonuses Until 30th September 2018

The 'tax holiday' that Malaysian consumers were treated to has come to an end, but Honda Malaysia is continuing to offer various bonuses across their model range in order to sweeten the deal. With the implementation of SST, we already know
how prices have fluctuated for Honda's models
, but in addition to this there is a rebate of up to RM 20,000 for selected models registered between the 1st and 30th of September, 2018.
It's known as the Double Joy campaign, named for the dual celebration of Malaysia's unity and Honda's 70th anniversary. The company has yet to announce the prices of their CKD Hybrid models, but they will do so in the next few weeks once they have finalized the prices with SST implemented. There's also the expected launch of the new HR-V, as it gains more interest in the market.


Sporty Limited Edition Isuzu D-Max X-Series Launched, Priced From RM118,000

After issuing snippets of their latest D-Max through social media the past few weeks, Isuzu Malaysia has unveiled the new Isuzu D-Max X-series here at the Carlist.my DRIVE Auto Fair 2018 in Setia Alam.
Highlighting the Isuzu D-Max X-series up front is the sporty new look, consisting of a high contrast bumper spoiler, a grey coloured grille with red Isuzu logo and bonnet decals. The sporty stripe decal also extends to the tail gate of the new D-Max X-series.
18-inch wheels in grey colour tone blend with the new front grille, while the new cargo deck spoiler and absence of the roof rails complement the sportiness of the side profile.
A new LED welcome light is also fitted under the side step of the D-Max X-series.
Moving inside, the seats feature a new X-series leather upholstery that features a honeycomb pattern and is finished in black and red. A new steering wheel with red stitching and red Isuzu emblem is paired to the new upholstery.
Further adding to the sporty theme are dashboard and door trim finishers in carbon fibre pattern together with red LED illumination on the door scuff plates and footwell.
The new Isuzu D-Max X-Series also offers extended standard accessories including a 360-degree Around View Monitor (AVM) system and in-car electronic payment card reader that is compatible with Touch N Go cards.
The new Isuzu D-Max X-line is available in two engine choices. The 2.5-litre engine develops 136 PS and 320 Nm while the 3.0-litre engine with a longer cylinder stroke develops 177 PS and 380 Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission and drive either the rear or all-wheels through the Terrain Command dial (2H, 4H and 4L settings).
At the launch, Isuzu Malaysia COO for Light Commercial Vehicle, Masayuki Suzuki said that he is pleased to introduce the signature X-Series marque into the Malaysian market at such an opportune time.
“Since the tax holiday with zero-rated GST started, demand for Isuzu D-Max especially has increased tremendously due to the fact that the
pick-up is priced 6% lower
, a significant reduction. The consumers should take advantage of the situation to book one today, seeing the X-Series is only produced in a limited number,” he added.
Head over to the Carlist.my DRIVE Auto Fair 2018 that's happening at the Setia City Convention Centre this weekend to test drive the new D-Max X-series, as the new model is only scheduled to be displayed at dealerships in early August.
Available in two colours- Silky Pearl White and Stallion Black Metallic, the limited edition Isuzu D-Max X-Series is priced from RM 118,000 for 2.5L engine and RM 124,000 for 3.0L variant without insurance (Peninsular Malaysia). Every purchase of the D-Max X-Series comes with an X-series premium gift set, consisting of an exclusive sling bag, tumbler, key chain and Touch N Go card.


ACOTY 2016 Finalists: Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Subaru XV – Urban Jungle Crossovers

SUVs meet downsizing. Two of the automotive industry’s fastest-growing trends converge in this one segment. The preference of today’s motorists for the perceived security of a taller ride height combining with the more affordable economy of a smaller vehicle mean that compact crossovers are among the surest bets any car manufacturer can make this day and age.
It has taken sometime for this demand to be met, but the last couple of years have seen a huge influx of small crossovers luring customers away from traditional B- and C-segment sedans. Leading the way in this segment is the hugely popular Honda HR-V, but there is, in fact, no shortage of credible alternatives for the price and size.
The Crossover category of the
ASEAN Car of the Year Awards 2016
 sees the HR-V pit its wits against two highly accomplished compatriots. Will common wisdom prevail in favour of the HR-V? Perhaps the more sophisticated Mazda CX-3 is more to your liking? Or does the genuine go-anywhere all-wheel drive Subaru XV represent the segment’s real deal?
Honda HR-V
Nominated by:
 26 out of 26 judges
Pricing:
 RM102,200.00 – RM122,200.00
Overview:
 Runaway best seller, the Honda HR-V has the segment wrapped up in terms of sales numbers. It offers much to like for the Malaysian consumer – nice sporty looks with excellent cabin packaging. There’s also the cachet of the Honda badge that is currently held in high regard by the general populace. It is also one of only two cars in this year’s award that was unanimously nominated by the entire panel of judges.
Pros:
Sporty, dynamic looks.
Typically good Honda interior packaging – extremely practical cabin.
Premium features.
Cons:
Rides too firmly on the move.
Poor overall refinement.
Read More:
2015 Honda HR-V Is Officially Launched In Malaysia. From RM100k, In 3 Variants
2015 Honda HR-V Quick Review In Thailand: The Compact SUV Done Right
2015 Honda HR-V Full Review: It's H For Hipster With This Honda
Review: 2015 Honda HR-V – How Is It Like Living With One Everyday?
Research:
Find out more:
Honda HR-V in New Car Showroom
Cars for sale:
Honda HR-V listed in
Carlist.my
Mazda CX-3
Nominated by:
 23 out of 26 judges
Pricing:
 RM135,082.99
Overview:
 If you want to stand out from the crowd of HR-Vs out there, the CX-3 is the immediate alternative that springs to mind, although there is a price to pay for that privilege. Because it’s shipped in from Japan, the CX-3 costs you more money than a
CX-5
. Mechanically, you are getting a lot for your money – a 2.0-litre direct injection engine plus Mazda’s highly-sophisticated SkyActiv running gear. This is a car that genuinely drives as well as it looks.
Pros:
Excellent fuel economy – 7.1 litres/100km on RON 92.
Lively driving experience.
Premium cabin materials, top notch fit and finish.
Cons:
Expensive – costlier than a CX-5!
Cabin feels very cramped.
Harsh ride and poor noise insulation.
Read More:
Mazda CX-3 Drive In Australia, Impressions And Quick Review
2015 Mazda CX-3 Officially Launched In Malaysia, Goes On Sale For RM135k
Review: 2015 Mazda CX-3 – Not Quite What It Seems
Review – The 2016 Mazda CX-3 Diesel You Can't Have, Yet
Research:
Find out more:
Mazda CX-3 in New Car Showroom
Cars for sale:
Mazda CX-3 listed in
Carlist.my
Subaru XV
Nominated by:
 19 out of 26 judges
Pricing:
 RM137,528.00 – RM150,248.00
Overview:
 There are people who argue that all-wheel drive isn’t strictly necessary for a modern day SUV or crossover. Modern front-wheel drive setups get the job done just as well at a fraction of the fuel consumption. Try telling that to Subaru though, the company that defines its existence on all-round traction. The XV is the only vehicle in this trio of cars with all-wheel drive; this is the car you want when the going gets tough.
Pros:
Subaru’s Fully Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Nuff said.
Highly-refined mechanicals.
Competent chassis setup.
Cons:
Performance lethargic despite 2.0-litre engine.
Read More:
Bangkok 2015: 2016 Subaru XV Makes Regional Debut, Hits Malaysia In January With Provisional RM130k Price
2016 Subaru XV Quick Impressions Review In Bangkok - Less Is More
2016 Subaru XV facelift launched in Malaysia – from RM133k onwards
Review: 2016 Subaru XV 2.0i-P - The Crossover to Settle Down With
Subaru XV Crosstrek – Introductory Price from RM119,500
Research:
Find out more:
Subaru XV in New Car Showroom
Cars for sale:
Subaru XV listed in
Carlist.my
To have your say in the outcome of ACOTY 2016, spare a moment to answer a few simple questions in our ongoing
online automotive customer survey
. Purpose of the survey is to gather consumer feedback on satisfaction levels towards aftersales service of various automotive brands in Malaysia.
Follow the links below to read earlier articles of our ACOTY 2016 Finalists series:
Perodua Bezza, Perodua Axia, Proton Iriz - Supreme Value For The Budget-Conscious
Mazda 2, Honda Jazz, Ford Fiesta – Hatchbacks For The Young And Trendy


MCO Phase Two: Road Closures To Increase, Stricter Enforcement

To combat the abuse of the movement control order (MCO), police in Selangor have said more road closures are to be implemented, and will be done in stages over the coming days.

This follows the continuing closure of between 4 to 5 roads in Petaling Jaya and Kota Damansara, which was ongoing over the past few days in order to limit the crowd movement in the area. Of course, those roads were still accessible to ambulances and other emergency services.

Despite the inconvenience to residents there, during a press conference, Selangor deputy police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed clarified: “…we need to close certain roads that will allow police to filter and control public movement”, according to
Bernama
.

“The MCO allows the public to go out and purchase essential goods but it should not be abused. For example, if you stay in Kota Damansara, then buy your basic essentials there, instead of giving excuses for having to go to Kepong to purchase them,” he added.

At the same time, police confirmed that 8 individuals who were previously arrested for flouting the MCO have been charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code and Section 7 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2020.

As we approach the end of the original movement control order period, authorities have already prepared for the tighter enforcement needed to execute phase two, which tentatively runs until April 14th pending any revision.

In Putrajaya, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that phase two’s enhanced measures included limiting the operating hours of supermarkets, grocery shops, convenience stores and petrol stations to between 8am and 8pm. Restaurants will also need to comply with the same 12 hour open window, but will only be allowed to serve takeaways.

#StayAtHome folks!


2017 Proton Iriz Officially On Sale In Indonesia

Proton Holdings Berhad via its subsidiary in Indonesia, PT Proton Edar Indonesia have officially launched the Proton Iriz A-Segment hatch for the Indonesian market, over the weekend.
Indonesia is the second country after
Brunei
 to import this the Iriz hatchback. Two variants are available at the outset, to the Indonesian market, the Iriz 1.3L MT Standard and Iriz 1.3L CVT Standard, priced at IDR175,250,000 (RM58,489) and IDR185,283,000 (RM61,837), respectively.
The Proton Iriz is available in 7 colours – Cotton White, Midnight Black, Sterling Silver, Atlantic Blue, Graphite Grey, Citrus Green and Fire Red.
Dato' Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Chief Executive Officer of Proton added, “Indonesia is an important market for Proton. Not only have we maintained strong G2G relations being ASEAN founding members, but we also share many similarities in terms of people, language, culture as well as the weather. It’s almost an extension of each other.”
Proton Edar Indonesia is supported by a total of 25 sales and after sales outlets in Indonesia, In terms of after sales services, Proton have 24 service outlets in strategic locations across Java, Kalimantan, Sumatera and Sulawesi, with 8 of them centered around Jabodetabek region. All the maintenance needs of Proton cars will be handled by these service centres.
The Proton Iriz has been on display at the FX Sudirman Mall in Senayan since the 16th of Feb, the roadshow ends on the 22nd Feb 2016. Customers will be able to get up close with the Iriz at all sales outlets starting 20th Feb 2016.


These TNG Enhanced Cards Are Even More Limited, But For A Good Cause

You’d never guess that in 2022, getting your hands on a Touch ’n Go card would be
so much of a hassle
. But it is. So, in response to your
feedback
, they’ve added a series of limited edition design TNG cards for RM25 a piece.

Did you wonder how this would solve the already existing and persistent issue of Malaysians not being able to get their hands on
an NFC-enabled TNG
 card despite that initial product being launched months ago?

Well, neither do we.

But hey, if you really wanted some extra colourful Touch n’ Go cards that are, by definition, even harder to obtain than the standard ‘enhanced’ ones and are willing to pay RM25 each for them for a worthy charitable cause, your cries have been answered.

TNG Digital has not disclosed how many of these limited edition cards will be produced but it’s obvious that they won’t be making them for long. However, there are certain details you’ll need to know if you want one for yourself.

Firstly, they won’t be sold just anywhere, at least officially, and neither will it be available via their eWallet app (which, as we have just checked, the standard ‘enhanced’ card is also still sold out). Instead, these limited edition cards will only be available at Touch ’n Go Malaysia’s exhibition at the Lower Ground floor of NU Sentral mall. So you'd better hurry!

Secondly, each customer is only allowed to purchase a maximum of 2 cards and payment cannot be made any other way except through DuitNow QR - debit/credit card and cash are not accepted. And by the way, that RM25 card will not have any preloaded value, which at least is still way less than
what a lot of online scalpers are selling
 the standard card for.

All that being said, we do support and applaud TNG Digital’s efforts and collaboration with United Voice, an NGO that since 2005 have focused on bringing more awareness to the plight of individuals with learning disabilities such as were the artists that designed and illustrated the artwork seen on those limited edition cards.

They help empower artists afflicted with conditions such as Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism to overcome and pursue their creative expression.

It’s a worthy cause, absolutely, and obviously a portion of the sales proceeds from these cards will be directed to United Voice to help continue their operations and make new charitable projects possible.

We just wished TNG found another way to allow us to use/buy their cards and be charitable in another way when buying the standard NFC version is already so difficult and frustrating due to stock issues. Here's the basic dilemma:

TNG Enhanced Card - Standard

Limited Edition - No

Limited Stock - Yes (Until Now) ✓

More Expensive - Yes (Because Of Scalpers/Resellers) ✓

TNG Enhanced Card - United Vision Limited Edition

Limited Edition - Yes ✓

Limited Stock - Of Course ✓

More Expensive - Yes (But For A Good Cause!) ✓


Malaysia Should Abolish Road Tax In Budget 2023 - Zahid Md Arip

Renewing our annual road tax
 is probably one of the least worrisome expenses in the car ownership journey. That is, unless you have a vehicle with a very large displacement engine. The fact that it’s an annual chore might irk some folk, but is it fair for Malaysians to pay at all?

Senator and former political secretary to Mahathir Mohamad, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip reckons that road tax
is more burdensome to the Rakyat
 than it is beneficial to the country, calling it ‘cukai atas cukai’ or ‘tax-on-tax’ as reported by
Sinar Harian
.

Abolish road tax in Malaysia

He was referring to the fact that Malaysian motorists are already subject to a multi-layered system that taxes us in the form of a vehicle’s sticker price such as high (maybe even exorbitant) import duties, excise duties,
and SST
…and don’t forget the many tolled highways a lot of us need to travel through
on a daily basis
. And on top of all that we still have to pay road tax every year.

“Rakyat Keluarga Malaysia cannot continue to be burdened by compounding taxes upon taxes and Budget 2023 is the best opportunity for the Prime Minister to pleasantly surprise the people,” he says.

No road tax, introduce Vehicle Excise Duty

He also adds that Malaysia could use the United Kingdom, which has abolished road tax since 2015 (wait, what?) and charges Vehicle Excise Duty since 2017 instead, as an example in the execution and implementation of this.

That said, some would argue that the system used in the UK is even more convoluted as there are essentially two rates: one paid for the car’s first year on the road based on tested CO2 emissions, and another for all subsequent years based on how much the vehicle cost when new.

Still, it does mean that with ‘excise duty’ being paid off on an annual basis instead of in one large sum here where it inflates new vehicle prices at the showroom, it could result in lowered prices across the board as well as making a possible dent in the fuel subsidies.

Does Malaysia new a new road tax system?

That claim is starting to sound like a bridge too far but perhaps movement in any direction is preferential to perpetuating our outdated displacement-based road tax system, which has only been revisited to accommodate engine-less fully electric vehicles.

We’ve covered that in a prior article and why its rate measurement being
tied to a car’s total power output is nonsensical
, but at least EV owners have been given a delay from having to deal with road tax at all until after 2025 thanks to the government’s measures put in place to encourage EV adoption
in Budget 2022
.


How the Hyundai Sonata Will Stack Up Against The Kings Of The D-Segment - Aiming For The Throne?

It's different, it's good looking, it's here. Here is how the Hyundai Sonata stacks up against the Kings of the D-Segment.

There's been a lot of teasing of new cars in Malaysia recently, and the award for Best Car Tease of a new product within a new product must go to Hyundai-Sime Darby Auto - if it's intentional-lah.

If you keep up with our Facebook page, then you would know what we are talking about, but for those who don't (come out of your caves), let us get you up to speed. We recently shared a teaser picture by Hyundai-Sime Darby Auto regarding the upcoming Hyundai Kona. While to the left of the Kona stood the butt of that beastly i30N hot-hatch which was launched here last year, to the right of the picture showed the rear end of the
NEW Sonata
.

Is this Hyundai Malaysia's way of telling us that the new Sonata will be launched next after the Kona? Our snooping around says yes, so maybe it's high time to see how the new Hyundai Sonata would stack up against the Kings of the D-segment.

In Malaysia, the kings of the D-segment or 'tauke car' or large family car or whatever you wish to refer to them as, is the Honda Accord or the Toyota Camry. The current King is the
Honda Accord
 as it is currently number one on the sales chart, but generally, this spot always rotates between the
Toyota Camry
 and Honda Accord.

Why are they always on top? Some would argue that they present the best value for money as well as security (reliable, good after-sales, good re-sale value, all of that malarkey), while some would say that they trump more expensive cars when it comes to packaging.

The Hyundai Sonata sales-wise will most probably not come anywhere near the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, but once upon a time, around 2011 to 2014 (sixth generation Sonata), it did put a small dent in the takings of the ever-present Japanese. So can this new Sonata emulate that previous success? Better it even? Well, let's take a look.

Looks - Winner: Hyundai Sonata

There's no denying that all manufacturers have had to make their D-segment cars more sportier-looking to attract buyers away from purchasing an SUV. The Camry now looks like a sporty yet classy car, reminiscent of a Lexus, while Honda has surprised everyone and gone all coupe shaped with the Accord giving it a dramatic sloping rear roofline. The left-wing looking Sonata is definitely the more interesting vehicle to look at. Did you notice that its bonnet extends all the way to the front grille? It is extremely rare among this segment and usually found on more expensive cars like the Volkswagen Passat. It gives the Sonata an air of premium-ness. Its rear is all coupe/hatchback too and really does give it excellent overall shape. But still, it's a radical design and we love it!

Interior - Winner: Honda Accord

Yes, the Camry's sweeping line which cuts through the centre console feels very driver-oriented and sporty, but it's the Accords' understated and simple interior layout that feels more appropriate. We haven't had the chance to physically be in the Sonata's interior, but from the pictures, it looks more European than Asian premium. We like what we see, it's very Audi and the little details like the alcove at the door that can serve as a phone holder or door grab tells us that Hyundai is trying their best to be different. Design is one thing, but we suspect that the Accords' interior materials will still be the best. Everything in that Honda feels supple to the touch and will be hard to beat, so it really is a case of wait and see, but really, we can't imagine the Sonata beating it, because even the Camry couldn't.

Performance - Winner: Toyota Camry

 When it comes to the kings, on paper, the Accord trumps the Camry here. Not only is the 1.5-litre 4 cylinder, 16 Valve, DOHC Vtec Turbo (198hp, 260Nm) more potent than the Camry's 2.5-litre 4-cylinder, In-line, 16-valve DOHC with Dual VVT-I and ACIS (181hp, 235Nm), but you will also pay less road tax thanks to Honda's smaller engine displacement. But, we're just not big fans of CVT transmissions, so the Camry does get back some brownie points for having a 6-speed automatic with Super ECT & Sequential Shifter. The drivetrain is also super smooth - no replacement for displacement we suppose. The Hyundai Sonata will probably come with a 1.6-litre 180hp/264Nm downsized turbocharged engine, and if we are correct, it should be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The recent KIA/Hyundai powertrains have grunt and smoothness, but will it be able to beat the Camry's sleek and smooth powertrain combo? Stranger things have happened...

Price - TBC

Here is where it might get interesting. If Hyundai Sime Darby manages to pull a rabbit out of the hat and put an attractive price on the Sonata, then it might have a chance to put a dent in the dominance of the Japanese. The Honda Accord 1.5TC-P is priced around RM187k  and the Toyota Camry 2.5V sits at about RM188k so if the Sonata can be had for around the RM150k-RM170K mark, then it would definitely make people think twice. Will Hyundai Sime Darby be able to price the Sonata competitively to give it a fighting chance? Launch date will tell, but for now, the best-priced vehicle is still the Accord, how else do you explain its position at the top of the charts?


Volkswagen Launches eShowroom, Up To RM 8,000 Off

Just because you’re stuck at home (if you’re complying with this MCO like you should), it doesn’t mean you can’t do a little bit of car shopping. Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has just introduced the
Volkswagen eShowroom
 where you can browse their range of models and even purchase them online. This is a natural step up from VPCM’s previous forays into selling cars online.

For the month of April (from the 1st to the 30th), VPCM is sweetening the deal with some extra savings and exclusive online offers. Now, this eShowroom is working in parallel with their current flagship store on Lazada, and the exclusive deals are available both on the eShowroom and the Lazada showrooms.

Just how much are you looking at saving if you purchase a Volkswagen through the eShowroom or Lazada? Check out the list below.

Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM agrees with the Government’s efforts to flatten the curve. “The safety of our customers and employees are our top priority and it is crucial that we each play our part in overcoming this global pandemic. The Volkswagen eShowroom was created to offer our customers an alternative solution for those still interested in purchasing a Volkswagen during this Movement Control Order, with attractive deals which we believe will ease the purchasing process for our customers.”


Kia’s EV6 Fully Electric Crossover Coming To Malaysia In H2 2022

In the past, and under a previous local distributor, Malaysia has been pretty laggard when it came to receiving the
latest and greatest from Korean automaker Kia
. However, the brand’s newest stewards in the country, Bermaz, are confirmed to be keen on bringing the EV6 to our shores in 2022.

As communicated to investors, Bermaz (through subsidiary
Dinamikjaya Motors
)
 is planning to introduce the fully electric Kia in either Q3 or Q4 of 2022, placing it in a very favourable climate to take advantage of the numerous proposed tax breaks and incentives to spur EV adoption in the country, which should carry on until the end of 2023.

As a refresher, the EV6 is the first Kia to be built on the Hyundai Motor Group’s shared E-GMP electric vehicle platform and is the second production model after the
Hyundai IONIQ 5
 to feature those underpinnings. Unofficially, it could be seen as the brand’s new flagship, being the most technologically advanced car from the brand to date.

Add to that is the fact that it will be the
fastest and most ferociously accelerative Kia ever
seen, not just in Malaysia. Given its spread of powertrain options, the most powerful configuration is the GT-Line’s 77.4kWh battery supplying charge to dual electric motors for a combined output of 580PS and 740Nm. This enables the EV6 to surge up to 100km/h from a standstill in just 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 260km/h. That's Porsche Taycan 4S levels of quick.

This range-topper variant manages a claimed range of 424km, though Kia does offer a less powerful but more endurance-focused rear-drive (single motor) configuration that can go as far as 528km on a single charge.

The EV6 is styled rather sportily with an almost continuous wedge shape profile, sensuous curves, and a striking set of alloy wheels - the complete opposite of the IONIQ 5, basically. That said, Kia classifies it as a crossover given its tall-ish overall stature and somewhat elevated ride height.

Inside, it’s about as high tech as we’ve ever seen from Kia with a cabin that’s subtly chic and minimal with control surfaces reduced to a handful of touch-activated buttons while the rest of the inputs will be made via its curved central touchscreen (plus instrument cluster combo) and voice activation.

It’ll be interesting to see how the EV6 will fit into the Malaysian automotive landscape, especially given the leg-up in pricing. It will be one of the first mainstream fully electric vehicles to be offered here in an official capacity, joining the Nissan Leaf and
Hyundai Kona Electric
 at one end of the spectrum and at the other, cars like the Porsche Taycan as well as the
BMW iX
.

Of course, we expect more automakers to announce plans for local EV launches throughout 2022, but Kia’s EV6 is certainly a good start. Perhaps it’ll spur Hyundai Sime-Darby Motors to make some moves to introduce
that IONIQ 5 we’ve been hearing
 so much about.


Volkswagen Announces Mexican-made Three Row Tiguan For The Americas

Volkswagen has announced that it will be introducing a unique seven-seater Tiguan for the North and South American market in 2017.
The new model will be produced by Volkswagen de Mexico at its Puebla plant by the end of 2016. While the model is aimed primarily at the North and South American market, the company did not rule out exports for other markets other than the Europe Union and China.
“Localization has become key to safeguarding our competitive position on the global market and manufacturing the Tiguan in Mexico will bring production closer to the US-market,” said Michael Horn, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
The seven-seater (actually it's more like a 5+2 seater) Tiguan will be made at a new line in Volkswagen's Puebla plant.
This is not the first time Volkswagen has produced a stretched Tiguan. The company's Shanghai-Volkswagen joint venture in China also manufacturers a long wheelbase Tiguan model at its Anting plant. The Chinese market only long wheelbase Tiguan measures 4,506 mm long, 80 mm longer than a standard wheelbase Tiguan, but it remains only as a five-seater model.
Considering the 2017 timeline, we are inclined to believe that this Tiguan model refers to a next generation model rather than the current generation Tiguan, which has been on the market since 2007. By 2017, it is reasonable to expect that the Tiguan will be replaced by an all-new MQB platform-based model.


What To Expect From Kia’s 2022 Niro And Sportage Launch In Malaysia

Apart from the revitalised rollout of the B-Segment Seltos that was half-heartedly brought into the Malaysian market
at the time of its initial launch
 in early 2021, the Kia line-up under new local distributors Bermaz will be graced by the larger Niro for the first time as well as the newest 4th-gen Sportage, but how effectively can the pair take the fight to the Proton X70 and Honda CR-V?

Just like most other Malaysians having their 2021 plans sidetracked by even more days spent under lockdown, Bermaz is looking to spring back with quite a few models from their newly allied brands Peugeot and Kia. Ironically, one of the Niro/ Sportage’s biggest competitors
will also be the Peugeot 3008
.

However, while the French SUV is a few years into its life-cycle, Kia has only recently (in late November 2021) revealed their all-new 2nd-generation Niro, promising some bold styling inspired by the HabaNiro concept of 2019, the use of eco-friendly interior materials, and an interesting assortment of tech and powertrain options.

Being one of the newest Kias out there, there’s definitely speculation as to whether operations at Bermaz’s own CKD plants are up to the task of local assembly, especially if the rumoured introduction of plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions of the Niro are to arrive in showrooms before too long.

In its previous incarnation, the Niro was
Kia’s spearhead into electrified vehicles
, utilising an 8.9kWh battery supplying a 44PS electric motor that, when paired alongside a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, produced a combined output of 141PS and 264Nm that was sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission while boasting an electric-only range of around 42km.

Those figures are still pretty spot-on with 2022 standards, especially with the Niro straddling the line between the B and C-Segment in terms of size and value.

That being said, Kia, themselves have yet to fully detail the full spread of variants, trim levels, and technical information of what exactly lies under its bonnet. Still, it’s reasonable to assume that it will be some permutation of their already existing PHEV and EV inventory. The
Hyundai Kona Electric
, for example, will likely have its EV innards transplanted into the newest Kia Niro EV.

Things are a little less hazy with regard to the
Kia Sportage (NQ5)
, another nameplate that Bermaz is keen to bring back to Malaysia. Just like the Niro, the C-Segment Sportage in its newest 5th-generation guise had made its
international reveal earlier in 2021
 and was unsurprisingly very similar to the 4th-generation Hyundai Tucson (NX4) - its sister model - on a technical level.

Both feature a selection of combustion-only as well as parallel hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. We’re likely to see the Sportage arrive with the 2.0-litre Smartstream G20 naturally aspirated petrol and/or a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-pot (also rebranded Smartstream from T-GDI) with up to 179PS and 265Nm.

A likely candidate to sit at the top of the Sportage’s local range is the PHEV, which pairs that same 1.6-litre turbo with a beefy 90PS electric motor for a combined output of 265PS and 350Nm and will likely be trimmed out in the sportier GT or GT-Line interior/ exterior cosmetics.

Naturally, Bermaz, seeing the importance of advanced driver aids rise in the eyes of Malaysian buyers, will probably prioritise the inclusion of active safety features in both the Niro and Sportage for 2022, perhaps even if the cars make their initial landfall here as fully imported units.

Prospective customers are already spoiled for choice with regard to B and C-Segment SUVs, and though the incoming high-riding Kias make for a formidable trio, it could struggle against established rivals if their debut is marred by unattractive pricing.

So far, Bermaz has successfully shepherded Mazda as the automaker transitioned into a more mature, upmarket brand with their own range of ‘CX’ SUVs being consistently popular here. Can the same be replicated for Kia and, by extension, Peugeot?


Toyota Vios Challenge Resumes in August For Season 2

Following the popularity and success of the inaugural Toyota Vios Challenge and Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Festival, UMW Toyota Motor, the authorised distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia has announced the racing calendar for Season 2.
During the launch event, Toyota also revealed new racers who will make their Toyota Vios Challenge debut (Promotion Class) at the season opener in Terengganu in early August.
click to enlarge
Challenging the celebrities from Season 1 (Janna Nick, Diana Danielle, Syukri Yahaya, and champion Shawn Lee) will be Aiman Tino, Akim Ahmad, Khai Bahar, Nabil Ahmad, Nabila Razali, and Wany Hasrita.
Season 2’s racing calendar maintains four races, making its first visit to the East Coast of the Peninsular as well as racing at the famed Sepang circuit:
Stadium Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu – 2 to 4 August 2018
MAEPS, Serdang – 19 to 21 October 2018
Stadium Batu Kawan, Penang – 22  to 24 February  2019
Sepang International Circuit, Selangor – 12 – 14 April 2019
No mention of upgrades in the TRD Asia-developed
Toyota Vios Challenge racer
, as the technical partners of Toyo tires, Denso, Enkei, and Moty’s are all maintained.
As an extension to the
TGR Festival at racing weekends
, Toyota will also be involved in E-Sports through racing simulators.
Toyota also took the opportunity to rejuvenate their “All About the Drive” branding platform. New products will feature connectivity and advanced safety, while brand communication will be skewed to reach the younger generation more effectively.


2015 Mazda 2 SkyActiv Hatchback Full Review: Wrestling With Giants

Mazda
 are on a bit of
a steam-roll
, aren’t they? From the highly sought-after CX-5 which got the ball rolling for its SkyActiv tech and KODO design language, through the 6 and 3 super sporty sedans, to what we have here today, the
2015 Mazda 2 SkyActiv
. And as we know,
they’re far from done
.
In two body styles (hatch, sedan) and making one heck of a first impression when
Bermaz Motor officially launched it here
, RM87,956 is what’s asked of the new 2. Here, we’ve got the hatchback for a full review because, well, who wouldn’t want to drive a Zoom-Zoom hatch? The bigger task then, for the new 2, is going head-to-head with some of the toughest players in one of the most competitive car segments in the nation.
Buyer’s Guide:
As mentioned, RM87,956 is what you’ll have to pay for Bermaz Motor’s latest B-segment model: a price that’s common to both body styles. Features and equipment are spot-on identical between the pair, so the only difference between this review of the hatchback and one of the sedan model draws down largely to cargo capacities – a criteria which the 2 hatch is no slouch at, etiher.
It’s no secret that the Mazda 2 SkyActiv is probably the most “exciting” B-segmenter money can buy right now, with the promise of lots of SkyActiv technologies that ensure dynamic handling and impressive efficiency – so suggests what’s on paper. But for your optimum benefit, here’s our full review of the all-new Mazda 2 SkyActiv hatchback.
KEY SPECS:
Price: RM87,956 (OTR with insurance, sedan and hatch same price)
Engine: 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol
Transmission: Six-speed SkyActiv-Drive torque converter automatic
Power: 114hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 148Nm @ 4,000rpm
Body Colours: Soul Red Metallic, Snowflake White Pearl, Metropolitan Grey, Aluminium Metallic
Driving a 2015 Mazda 2 SkyActiv Hatchback:
Driving the new 2 is what it’s all about, isn’t it? Largely because, if you wanted something practical, a Honda Jazz makes a pretty fantastic runabout hatchback, while the Honda City is about the best value-for-money/ standout favourite/ all-round B-segmenter money can buy. But the Mazda, that’s the one you invest in when you want your money’s worth from a driver’s car.
And that’s just what you get with this 2. The throttle wastes no time transferring your inputs to the road, and the 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine has a lot to give off the line. At speed and wanting more of it, the SkyActiv-DRIVE six-speed torque converter auto comes equipped with paddle shifters and a Sport mode button that liven the car tremendously on demand – bar some time for cog meshing.
One undoing we found when driving this red-hot hatch was with its steering, which unlike the Mazda 3 and 6 we’ve driven before, didn’t feel weighted as well, nor as communicative as we’ve grown to expect of the Zoom Zoom brood. But then again, in the context of a B-segment hatchback you’d appreciate driving every day and not just when a hasty mood struck your day, better definitions of the steering’s character will have to include “light” “convenient for every day,” and “easy on the arms.”
Keeping in the same context of an everyday B-segment hatch driver, the ride is a little bit too firm for this writer’s everyday liking. On silky-smooth tarmac, it’s a gem to drive the Mazda 2 hard: the front wheels are so eager to dart the nose of the car towards almost any direction you throw it at. But, on the kind of treacherous surfaces we drive on in Malaysia, the Mazda 2 leaves a lot to be desired.
VISIBILITY & SEATING POSITION:
 The slant of the C-pillars and the coinciding angle of the rear window hampers your surrounding visibility slightly. Also, the driver’s seat would have been perfect if its adjustments would have allowed it to drop a little bit lower – and no, that’s not a complaint of just this six-foot writer either. My wife, five-foot something-or-the-other, had similar complaints about the front passenger seat, which has no height adjustments at all.
Living with a 2015 Mazda 2 SkyActiv Hatchback:
By far, you’re getting your money’s worth in quality, with the new 2. It’s finished to near perfection, and all the trims, dials and knobs feel great to the touch. The placement of everything is masterclass; stuff you’d expect from a Honda.
SPACIOUSNESS
: Sitting in, the seats are very nice: pliant, yet firmly shaped to prevent you from rolling out of position. For a tall driver, it’s immediately noticeable that the Mazda 3 is really what you want, because there isn’t much room in the cabin of the 2 (leg and headroom) for a six-footer. Even when you do lower the driver seats to as low as they go, it’s all just a bit cramped. For my 5.6-foot wife, the driver’s seat positioning and surrounding space was perfect.
Which may explain why I, in my six-foot state, may have missed out on the whole ‘Zoom Zoom’ feeling typically associated with modern Mazdas.
Back to the matter of space, there’s certainly more here than you would find in a Volkswagen Polo or Suzuki Swift. Rear passengers may find it cosy at first, but will want to get out for a good leg-stretch 50km later. To be fair, this sort of thing applies to pretty much every B-segment hatchback in the country – bar the Jazz. What isn’t very common is boot space, of which the 2 offers a lot more of than a Swift, Polo and maybe Rio. Particularly, I appreciated the depth of the boot (under which houses a spare wheel) and its wide opening. Moving flat-packed IKEA fixtures etc. were no problem with the rear seats folded.
FEATURES
: Else inside, you do get a lot of premium privileges which are being poured over in generous proportions into more affordable models. For example, you get a steering wheel equipped with audio and voice control buttons, the very impressive MZD Connect touchscreen infotainment system, two USB ports and an SD Card reader up front, keyless entry, engine push-start button, a rotary dial on the center console (ala BMW iDrive) to manage your vehicle’s settings, and more. There’s even a full-on heads-up display system!
Then there’s the visual appeal of the interior, which appears to feature more red stitching and carbon fibre bits than a Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG! The seat are mostly leather, apart from the bits that contact your bum and back, but that just ensures the ‘important’ bits don’t get fried when you get in the car on a hot day.
QUALITY:
 There’s a lot to appreciate in what you see around you. Yes, Mazda’s touch of a head-up display system is great and all, but the brand’s dedication to quality reveals very classy things like the brushed aluminium surrounds on the instrument cluster, and not some silly stickers in different colour. Mazda makes a very genuine attempt to rise above the competition.
EFFICIENCY:
 Fuel economy proved relatively impressive, given how hard we were on the throttle most of the time. On average, we found readings of around 7.5-litres/100km, but that figure is easily improved on with a more conservative approach to the throttle.
Verdict:
As an everyday runabout car, you’d probably be better off in a Honda Jazz/ City, and that’s this writer’s honest opinion; if what you want is a reliable, practical, plain-Jane and comfortable B-segmenter. The Mazda 2 does get very, very close to it, though: excelling it even, in certain aspects –overall refinement being one of them.
But where the Mazda 2 really makes up for any losses against the City and Jazz is with its sheer sex appeal. Not only does this car look as cool as it does, it drives well, and likes to be hustled briskly – something that (done safely and legally) makes driving the exciting experience it naturally is supposed to be.
Pity, though, that it could have been a heck of a lot sexier with the original projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, and not these bulb-ed reflectors.


New 2015 Toyota Camry Launched In Malaysia: 2.0E, 2.0G & 2.5L Hybrid From RM150k

UMW
Toyota
 Motor has finally launched its new and improved seventh-generation
2015 Toyota Camry
 and Camry Hybrid in Malaysia, and we’ve got loads to update you with.

Taking over from the four previous variants which had a price range from RM150k to RM181k, UMW Toyota has now reduced its D-segment offerings to just three variants, priced are as below (inclusive of GST, insurance):

2015 Toyota Camry 2.0 E: RM149,900

2015 Toyota Camry 2.0 G: RM159,900

2015 Toyota Camry 2.5 Hybrid: RM174,900

Buyer’s Guide:

Toyota officials here may address its new Camry as a “minor change” model, and they’re probably right about the point where the exterior of the car is concerned. Inside, however, the 2015 Camry is as different from the outgoing model as it can get.

On top of adding a new hybrid variant as the brand’s range-topper, the 2.0-litre models have also been treated with new engines and transmissions, displacing the previous VVT-i mills with new VVT-iW ones, and doing away with the aged four-speed auto in favour of a new six-speeder and E-CVT (more on this shortly).

The new Camry Hybrid, which sits at the helm of the model range, benefits from the local auto policy’s excise duty and import tax exemptions, which makes it very, very competitively priced. With such benefits, UMW Toyota tells us that the Camry Hybrid may well have been priced in the RM250k region! Datuk Ismet Suki, the president of UMW Toyota, said that, "If you want the Camry Hybrid, you best be buying it now," possible referring to the end of the current NAP 2014. Speaking of which, here's the prices:

Competitor Prices:

2015 Honda Accord:
 RM 135k to RM170k (2.0 to 2.4-litre)

2015 Mazda 6:
 RM155k to RM 185k (2.0 to 2.5-litre)

2015 Nissan Teana:
 RM136k to RM165k (2.0 to 2.5-litre)

2015 Hyundai Sonata:
 RM139k to RM154k (2.0 only)

2015 Kia Optima:
 RM146k (2.0 only)

Performance:

As mentioned, the 2015 Toyota Camry facelift has been reworked inside and out, with the bulk of what’s excitingly new being what the eyes don’t see at first glance. A whole new powertrain has been slapped on to the new D-segmenter, and for the first time in Malaysia, we’re getting a Japanese D-segment sedan with a hybrid powertrain.

2.5 CAMRY HYBRID:
 Making full use of the National Automotive Policy’s (NAP 2014) duty exemptions for locally assembled hybrids, the Camry Hybrid is equipped with Toyota's two-motor full hybrid Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which features an Atkinson cycle 2.5-litre, four cylinder engine which makes 160PS and 213Nm of torque on its own devices, and a 104kW (143PS) electric motor. In total, the hybrid system makes an unmatched 205PS in its class (total output is different from the sum of output of the engine and motor because they both peak at different rpms). For comparison’s sake, the Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L delivers 175PS. Even the 2.5-litre Teana is only capable of 173PS.

The electric motor in the Camry Hybrid is powered by a conventional nickel-metal hydride traction battery, as you’d have in the Prius, while all this power is sent to the front wheels of the sedan via an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT).

With the aid of full electric driving, the Camry Hybrid achieves a fuel consumption figure of 5.2-litres/100km.

KEY SPECS:

Engine: 2AR-FXE 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC with VVT-i (intake) and ACIS

Transmission: Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT)

Power: 160PS @ 5,700 rpm

Torque: 213Nm @ 4,500 rpm

Electric Motor Output: 143PS and 270Nm

Total System Output: 205PS

Consumption: 5.2-litres/100km

2.0G & 2.0E:
 Powering the two 2.0-litre models is a brand-new four-pot from Toyota, something that also sits in the Lexus NX200t, albeit without the turbocharging like the Lexus has.

The 2.0-litre VVT-iW (codenamed 6AR-FSE) is what it’s called, and while we’ve explained what the new ‘W’ is all about
in our previous reports
, for the benefit of those new here (hello), it simply stands for ‘Wide’. Why?

‘Wide’ refers to the engine’s ability to expand the intake valves operating angle where necessary, and then allowing it to switch between a conventional Otto cycle to an Atkinson cycle on the fly to best maximise performance and efficiency.

UMW Toyota lists the new 2.0-litre mills with performance figures of 167PS @ 6,500 rpm and 199Nm of torque @ 4,600 rpm.

Best of all for the 2.0-litre duo is the fact that they no longer rely on the dated four-speed torque converter automatic transmissions anymore. In their places, a new six-speed torque converter is equipped, with Super ECT and a sequential shift option.

The 2.0-litre models are rated with a fuel consumption figure of 7.3-litres/100km, based on a Euro combined cycle.

KEY SPECS:

Engine: 6AR-FSE 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC with VVT-iW (intake), VVT-i (exhaust) petrol engine

Transmission: Six-speed torque converter automatic with Super ECT and sequential shifter

Power: 167PS @ 6,500 rpm

Torque: 199Nm @ 4,600 rpm

Fuel Consumption: 7.3-litres/100km

Exterior Styling:

Apart from a few differences, the Camry and Camry Hybrid variants bear very similar styling updates, something you’d be no stranger to if you’ve been keeping up with
news of the car on Carlist.my
. In short, there’s a newly designed front-end to bring the “uncle’s” car up to par with its newer-looking siblings like the Corolla Altis and the Vios. The rear has been made to look a little sportier as well, with an added chrome strip across the back, and a lowered bumper.

The front-end is likely where you’ll spot the most dramatic updates to the car’s design. The grille, the bumper, the headlamps and bonnet have all been updated to showcase Toyota’s bests. More specifically, here’s how the changes shape up between the variants:

2.0E, 2.0G:
 Exterior features for the two 2.0-litre Camry variants are identical, with both offering HID projector types with auto-levelling capabilities, daytime running lights, electric-powered wing mirrors with turn indicators, dual exhaust tips and 16-inch wheels. The single difference we can spot at this point is that between the E and G, the E gets plain-old steel wheels, while the G gets alloys.

2.5 HYBRID:
 Setting the range-topping Camry Hybrid apart from the rest is a set of LED projector-type headlamps, larger and very stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome front bumper mouldings and a single exhaust tip out the back.

Interior Design:

Inside, it’s equally difficult to tell the two 2.0-litre (E, G) variants apart, but for the fabric seats in the E, and the many chrome finishing around the AC controls, inside door lever, and door scuff plate. So to keep this brief for you, we’ll be piling those two together, again. Here goes:

2.0E, 2.0G:
 Unlike the all-new Nissan Teana which relieved wood grain patterns and materials of their duty in favour of shinier plastics and metallic trims, the Camry is still well-appointed with the class of it – and you’ll see this across the range.

The mid-spec 2.0G gets leather seats while the 2.0E has to do with black fabrics, and the seats themselves are completely manually adjustable in the base E variant. The mid-spec G gets power-adjustable front and front passenger seats.

For your comfort, all variants of the Camry benefit from dual-zone auto climate control with rear AC vents, while keyless entry is across the board too. The four-spoke steering wheel is leather wrapped in the 2.0 duo, with something a bit more special reserved for the 2.5 Hybrid.

Generously, UMW Toyota has even specified all its Camry variants with a multi-info display screen on the instrument cluster, equipped with an optitron display screen. Infotainment is courtesy of a display screen on the dash, with radio, CD, MP3, USB and iPod connectivity, allowing you to stream your music to the six-speaker sound system.

2.5 HYBRID:
 Of course, lots more has been reserved for the range-topper, and it starts with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a wood grain top, and more control buttons for the audio and voice connectivity system.

A seven-inch touch-screen display audio with navigation is standard here. Connectivity for the audio system includes DVD, radio, MP3, USB, iPod, Bluetooth, and Mirror Link for your mobile devices. And you’ll be enjoying your tunes through a 10-speaker JBL sound system instead.

The head unit and dash surround the touch-screen itself is different in design to the lesser 2.0-litre models. Display wise, you get an additional rear-view camera with guide lines on the 2.5 Hybrid.

And, just for the 2.5 Hybrid, there’s a wireless charger include – do note that this may only be applicable to mobile devices with the matching capability. You’ll find the pad on the center console for you to rest your phone on and wireless be charged. Sweet!

Safety Features:

Unfortunately, the new Toyota Camry doesn’t feature a full-suite of safety technologies from the base variant up, like the all-new Nissan Teana, for example. On the range-topping hybrid, you do get a full suite of seven airbags and active safety features like vehicle stability control, but beyond that, it’s a poor showing. Here’s how safety lines up for each variant:

Toyota Camry 2.0E:

ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist

Front & Rear Parking Sensors

2 Airbags (front)

ISOFIX child-seat anchors (rear only)

3-point ELR (both front passengers and rear) with pretensioner and force limited (front only)

Toyota Camry 2.0G: (adds to the above)

Vehicle Stability Control

Traction Control

Hill-Start Assist

Emergency Stop Signal

Toyota Camry 2.5 Hybrid: (adds to the above)

Blind Spot Monitor

Rear Cross Traffic Alert System

7 airbags (front, front side, curtain, driver knee)

Optional Equipment:

Additionally, you may spec-up either of the 2.0-litre Toyota Camry variants of your choice with the following equipment/ packages:

AEROKIT:
 Front bumper spoiler, rear bumper spoiler, side skirts, truck spoiler

DVD-AVN with Reverse Camera
: 2-din head-unit DVD player with 7-inch Capacitive Touch Screen (hand/air gestures possible), Smartphone connectivity, WiFi internet browser, voice recognition, HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, navigation, and reverse camera.

Other information:

With UMW Toyota Motor expecting to sell up to 9,000 units of the Camry this year, the local distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia will also be offering a three-year or 100,000km warranty, while the Camry Hybrid gets an eight-year assurance with unlimited mileage for its traction battery. UMW Toyota also tells us that up to date, some 300 units has already been booked. You can catch the new model in showrooms across the nation, now. Also, if you're in the area, there is an on-going Toyota road show where you can also catch the new Toyota Camry.

Take a closer look at the 2015 Toyota Camry here:


Honda Malaysia Issues Recall For Vehicles Produced Between 2003 and 2011

In a proactive effort regarding the airbag inflator issue, Honda Malaysia is issuing a recall for another 147,894 units of Honda Vehicles. The vehicle models involved in this recall are Accord (2003-2011 YM), City (2009-2011 YM), Civic (2007-2011 YM), CR-V (2008-2011 YM), Freed (2009-2011 YM), Insight (2011 YM), Jazz (2009-2011 YM) and Odyssey (2004-2008 YM).

Model
Year Model
Units Affected
Accord
2003-2011
46,832
City
2009-2011
52,345
Civic
2007-2011
23,701
CR-V
2008-2011
15,938
Freed
2009-2011
2,582
Insight
2011
5,053
Jazz
2009-2011
899
Odyssey
2004-2011
544

All affected customers will be informed via a notification letter, which will include details of the recall. Customers who receive the notification are advised to bring the letter and their vehicles to the nearest authorized Honda dealer for inspection. The replacement works will be carried out once the parts are ready. Parts and labour charges related to this recall will be borne by Honda Malaysia.


Audi R8 E-tron Piloted Driving Revealed At CES Asia 2015: 0-100KM/H In 3.9 Seconds, 450KM Range

At the inaugural CES Asia 2015,
Audi
 rolled out a brand new technical concept car that showcases its Piloted Driving technology. This is it, the all-new
Audi R8
 e-tron Piloted Driving concept and we're here live to see it in the metal courtesy of Audi Malaysia.
Zero-emissions isn’t the sole focus here. Floor it and the electric motors come alive, delivering 456hp and 460Nm of torque to the rear wheels. 0 to 100km/h, just 3.9 seconds. Top speed? Depending on the tyres fitted, it could either be 210km/h or 250km/h. If you thought electric cars are dull and boring, think again.
The all-electric sports car receives an increase in the T-shaped battery’s energy capacity from 49kWh to nearly 92kWh, integrated into the centre tunnel and behind the passenger cell. This significant improvement results in an even further possible range of 450km over the previous 215km. Its onboard Combined Charging System (CCS) accepts direct and alternating current, charging the battery in less than two hours.
However, those batteries also provide power for the car’s other major component, the Piloted Driving system. As seen in the A7 technical car as well, the zFAS central driver assistance control unit which is itself a compact central computer with a Nvidia Tegra K1 heart, gathers information from an array of sensors – a new laser scanner, video cameras, ultrasonic sneosrs, and radar sensors.
The information is processed and provides a comprehensive picture of the vehicle’s environment where the R8 e-tron will adapt to and navigate itself on roads, all without any assistance from the driver or support systems like the MMI Navigation Plus.
Being a technical concept car, this R8 e-tron Piloted Driving is not available for purchase. However, if you are interested, Audi will build one without the Piloted Driving component to meet special customer requests.


Man Who Slapped Around Car Wash Worker Ordered To Apologise And Pay RM5,000

An
incident
 last weekend involving a foreign worker at a car wash being verbally abused and physically assaulted by the owner of a luxury SUV for sitting in his car while cleaning it garnered outcry once the CCTV footage was made public.
Following the man’s subsequent arrest under Section 325 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt, the Magistrate’s Court ordered the businessman to pay RM5,000 in damages to the Bangladeshi worker and his employer.
He was ordered to pay in cash on the same day and to publicly apologise to the victim, Shaheb Ali, and his employer, Haziyati Abdul Hamid, writes Bernama.
Magistrate Ellyana Razali made the order after the accused Mohd Risamuddin Ab Wahab, the victim Shaheb Ali and his employer Haziyati Abdul Hamid reached an agreement to the effect as provided for under Section 260 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
During the court proceedings, the accused, who is from Sunway Alam Suria, Section U10, had pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him for his conduct at around 12.45pm on October 17
th
 at Master Clean Car Care at No.30H Jalan Dinar F U3/F, Taman Subang Perdana, Kampung Baharu Subang.
Under Section 325 of the Penal Code, Risamuddin was liable to be fined and jailed up to seven years. Deputy public prosecutor Rustam Sanip informed the court about the consent agreement between the two parties as the Section (325) allowed restitution to be made.


SOP Updates Come Ahead Of Ramadan And Aidilftri - April 2021

Another fortnight, another update on SOPs. What's new?

With the recently announced SOPs for Malaysians with regard to COVID-19, it seems that the government is preparing for the specific nature of our second Ramadan and Aidilfiltri
under the threat of COVID-19
. As a broader overview, CMCO is extended to Johor, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sarawak, and Selangor, as well as Seremban (within Negeri Sembilan) and Kuala Muda (within Kedah).

If you're an employee and you have a valid letter, moving within CMCO, MCO, and RMCO areas is allowed. The only thing that's off limits - not that you'd want to go there - is EMCO (Enhanced MCO) areas. This doesn't concern those in the public service as that comes down to specific departments, but for the private sector attendance is now at 100% for management and operations or support groups.

SOP compliance also regards vehicles, whether that's public or private transport. Once again, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are a singular zone and cross movement is allowed, but you can't move to other CMCO, MCO, RMCO, or EMCO areas without express permission from the police. There is also no limit to the number of passengers (number of seatbelts = number of occupants), but the government heavily advises against at-risk individuals travelling.

For now, all services and activities at airports and ports are allowed to operate, as well as public transport services and e-hailing services like Grab. Food delivery services like Foodpanda and Grabfood will continue to operate from 6 am to midnight, and if you're a married couple living in
separate states
 - you can
obtain a cross-state permit
 from the police.

With the specificity of Ramadan, bazaars will be allowed to operate between 3 and 8 pm in compliance with SOPs, and there will be RELA members to make sure that people aren't flouting or breaching these procedures. Petrol stations in town will be open from 6 am to midnight, while highway stations will be allowed to run around the clock.


Is The CX-50 Really A Mazda Or Just A Toyota RAV4 In Disguise?

This is the Mazda CX-50, a new addition to the Japanese brand’s range of SUVs, though obviously they’re keen to prove that, despite sharing spots
with the CX-5
, that additional
zero
 translates to extra toughness and rugged off-road ability.

But don’t get too excited about that prospect just yet, as while it does come standard with all-wheel drive, this ‘prototype’ shown here is a mere showpiece that’s more about exploring
how cool it would look if
it tackled the wild landscape, rather than
actually
 exploring it.

The stubby tyres, matte bonnet decals, beefy skid plate and oversized roof rack are probably not going to be selectable inventory from your neighbourhood dealership. It’s Mazda’s answer to a certain facet of the SUV market that wasn’t being served by the comparably sized CX-5, but it isn’t a replacement model either.

It’s a similar arrangement to how the CX-3 has been forced, reluctantly, to share a play space with the newer, prettier,
but only slightly bigger CX-30
.

In the ‘mid-size’ SUV segment, entrants like the Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Outback, Honda Pilot, and Toyota RAV4 occupy a slightly higher sub-tier - an area that Mazda had nothing to sell to.

Speaking of that last contender, this Mazda CX-50 does
look a
helluva lot
like the RAV4
. From its proportions to that somewhat excessive amount of wheel arch cladding, the squared shape of the wheel arches themselves, to that very flat long bonnet. It all points to this being a Toyota.

That was the immediate impression I had at seeing the same picture at the very top of this article, prior to even knowing what I was looking at. It was later when I dug through the officially released information from Mazda that I learned that the CX-50 will be built in a new factory jointly operated with Toyota in Huntsville, Alabama.

Not only that but it’s also confirmed that its future PHEV powertrain options will be sourced directly from Toyota - most likely very similar to the RAV4 PHEV (RAV4 Prime in the USA) unit that produces 306hp and boasts an electric-only range of 75km (WLTP).

However, in the face of this mounting evidence and too-convenient links to Toyota and its RAV4, there’s no mention of the CX-50 being based in any way upon the RAV4 or the TNGA platform. Suspicious much?

As far as the non-hybrid engines go, the CX-50 will feature staples of the SkyActiv-G range of four-cylinder mills, starting with a naturally aspirated or
turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol
 paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Production is slated to begin from January 2022 with the CX-50 being the first new model
in a larger SUV offensive from Mazda
. In the coming years, the automaker plans to roll out the CX-60 and CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90, which will be among the first to utilise Mazda’s rear-drive platform and their longitudinally-mounted inline-6 engines.

Unfortunately, the Hiroshima-based automaker has made it clear that the CX-50 was developed and intended for sale in North American markets only (i.e USA and Canada), leaving the rest of the world in the lurch until they eventually backtrack on this.

The CX-60 and CX-80, for example, are two models confirmed to be developed and designed specifically to cater to European buyers. In the next decade, Mazda will essentially be doubling their count of overall SUVs and plans to manufacture these incoming cars alongside their existing line-up, seemingly with each having a region-specific role, be it in North America or Europe or.....elsewhere.

It seems like an awfully expensive and potentially confusing strategy to capitalise on the popularity of SUVs and crossovers, with nearly every tier of vehicle having a non-identical twin.

Still, at least with the CX-50, Mazda is already getting a win just by allying themselves with Toyota on both its manufacture and shared hybrid powertrain. And if it turns out this CX-50 really is just a RAV4 dressed in some fancy KODO design clothes, that’s another boon for ‘streamlining’.


Honda CR-V Achieves 2 Months Sales Target in 1 Week

It comes as no surprise, but the all-new Honda CR-V has achieved impressive results since bookings were opened. In just 1 week, Honda has received 1,400 bookings- which was their projected sales figure for 2 months. With such high specifications and a very competitive price, it's easy to see why Malaysians are snapping them up.
What's more interesting is the breakdown of the models booked. As Honda Malaysia predicted, there would be fewer buyers opting for the 1.5-litre TC (turbocharged) 4WD model- just 9% of the total bookings. It's the 1.5-litre TC-P (turbocharged premium) 2WD model that takes the lion's share of the orders at 40%, followed by the 1.5-litre TC (turbocharged) 2WD model at 31%.
The remaining 20% of orders are for the 2.0-litre i-VTEC 2WD model, which is a fair amount considering it's the entry-level variant. As we mentioned in our video (above), the specification difference between the various models isn't so large as to make the base model feel unappealing, but it's the powertrain and Honda Sensing features that draws people to the higher end variants.


LEAKED: All-New MINI Cooper Clubman Images Hit The Web

While we’re hours away from a global unveil of it, here is the second-gen
MINI
 Cooper
Clubman
: a six-door MINI wagon, so to speak, with a unique split-opening tailgate and lengthened body.
No official details have been spilled just yet, but going off the pictures leaked here, we can tell that it’s all wildly different from its predecessor. Visibly longer than the MINI Cooper hatch is one thing to note, but that rear-end design is something we’ve never seen yet: those taillights are especially attention grabbing.
As we imagine, the new Clubman will be underpinned by the BMW Group’s UKL1 front-wheel drive architecture, which also holds the latest-gen MINI hatch together, as well as the BMW X1, and 2 Series Gran Tourer and Active Tourer.
Around the rear of the Clubman is where you’ll find its unique distinctions, primarily in the form of two doors that open into the cargo area.
Engine wise, we could see the new MINI feature the BMW Group’s latest three- and four-cylinder engines, all of which adhering to BMW’s new 500cc per cylinder philosophy.
We’ll be back shortly with full details of the all-new MINI Clubman, so stay tuned.


NAZA-PSA Group Manufacturing Hub (NAM) Makes Its First ASEAN Export

First announced
last year
, the Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) hub, under the new joint venture agreement between Groupe PSA and Naza Corporation Holdings, has begun to bear fruit, as it exports its first shipment of vehicles for the ASEAN region.
Laurence Noël,
recently appointed
 Head of ASEAN & CEO of Naza Automotive Manufacturing, Groupe PSA added, “The Peugeot 3008 with the Peugeot 5008 1.6 THP are targeted to be available in the Philippines with more than 4,000 units by 2023. The Philippines is the first ASEAN country where our cars manufactured at NAM is being exported to under the AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area). More cars will be exported to other ASEAN countries very soon,”
The Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) operations based in Gurun, Kedah, is the first manufacturing hub in ASEAN for Groupe PSA.
This marks the beginning of Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) distributing the brands under Groupe PSA: Peugeot, Citroën, DS, and Opel to the ASEAN region.


Geneva 2017: Honda Announces Electric Vision - 2 of 3 Hondas will be EVs by 2025

While speaking at the ongoing 2017 Geneva Motor Show, President and COO of Honda Motor Europe, Katsushi Inoue laid out the details Honda’s new ‘Electric Vision’. Of which, outlines the brand’s commitment to an electric future in Europe, with a specific aim to have electrified powertrains in two-thirds of European cars sold by 2025.
The announcement confirms that Europe is at the forefront of Honda’s global electric vehicle strategy. Inoue added, “We will leverage Honda’s global R&D resources to accelerate the introduction of a full portfolio of advanced, electrified powertrains for the European customer.”
Honda’s focus on electrification in Europe will initially be driven by a roll-out of hybrid technology across its automobile range. Honda will also make plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles commercially available to European customers.
The first new hybrid model, which will feature Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, will go on sale in 2018.
Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell model will be showcased at Geneva, alongside the
Civic Type R
 and
NeuV concept
, is the world’s most advanced fuel cell vehicle and delivers a class-leading maximum range of 700 km on the NEDC cycle.
The arrival of Clarity Fuel Cell in Europe as part of the Europe-wide HyFIVE (Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles) initiative reinforces Honda’s commitment to drive the adoption of fuel cell vehicles help create a viable hydrogen refueling infrastructure across the region.
The announcement of the electric vehicle strategy for Europe comes just weeks after Honda was confirmed as the fastest growing mainstream car brand in the region in 2016.
Honda shifted 159,126 units as of end December 2016, an increase of 20.8% per cent over the same period in 2015. Honda’s growth significantly outpaced the results for the EU passenger car market as a whole, which saw a year-on-year increase of 6.8% per cent in 2016.


Honda Malaysia Collaborates With Ministry Of Education To Prepare Future Workforce

Honda Malaysia today signed a Certificate of Collaboration (CoC) with the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE), Ministry of Education (MOE), with the aim of paving the way for Honda’s training modules to be incorporated into selected automotive syllabus.
Honda Malaysia will be collaborating with 17 community colleges from nine states in Malaysia, with more polytechnics and colleges expected to be added into the list in the near future.
According to Honda Malaysia, this initiative is to support the government’s focus on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) towards developing more skilled and certified technicians in Malaysia through high quality trainings.
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Toichi Ishiyama said, “Honda Malaysia has recorded outstanding sales increase by 112% in the past 5 years and this concurrently increases our service intake by 51% over the same period. This leads us to expand our dealership network nationwide, which now stands at 97 outlets to provide easier access for all our customers. Hence, this initiative is very timely as we are able to have more skilled technicians to cater to our increasing customers.”
The students will receive comprehensive training including 6-month industrial attachment at Honda Malaysia dealerships. The specially-designed training is expected to promote understanding and equip the students with Honda’s after-sales knowledge. Collectively, the programme will provide graduates with industry experience and a solid foundation as they enter employment.
Through this collaboration, Honda Malaysia is targeting to receive 120 graduates per year from participating polytechnics and colleges throughout Malaysia.
The collaboration also opens the door for students from different courses who are interested to be part of the Honda technician team. As long as they are genuinely passionate about automobiles and have substantial knowledge in the subject, students can apply to undergo intensive training in Maintenance Technician and Repair Technician modules, and assessments before being hired by Honda Malaysia dealers.


2019 Mazda Vehicles Gain Extended Free Maintenance Package, Prices Adjusted

Bermaz Motor has updated the prices of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia. In summary, all popular models from the year of production 2019 see a price hike of RM2,000.
The adjustment in prices for the popular models are as listed below:
We have updated the last 2018 recommended retail price, updated on 31 October 2018, after being informed by Bermaz Motor on the price changes in the CX-5 with and without the
new power back door feature
 and the Mazda3.
Bermaz Motor is also increasing the free maintenance package for vehicles (except BT-50 pick-up) from the production year 2019, now covering an additional 24 months to provide owners with convenience for the first five years of ownership.
The coverage for mileage is meanwhile extended to 100,000 kilometres from 60,000 kilometres. As such, the free maintenance package now matches the warranty coverage.
The free maintenance package offered to Mazda vehicles is inclusive of labour, parts, and lubricants in accordance with the vehicle’s scheduled maintenance program.
Additional value-added aftersales services available to Mazda owners include 24-Hour Mazda Roadside Assistance for vehicle breakdowns as well as a
Mazda Mobile Service
 in Klang Valley and Penang which provides door-to-door vehicle servicing with no additional charges.
The
Mazda Privilege Card
 meanwhile provides discounts on labour cost and official merchandise while at the same time contribute to the Mazda Medicare Fund.
Note: The comparison table above has been updated to reflect the final 2018 recommended on-the-road price dated 31 October 2018 by Bermaz Motor.


Naza Quest To Cease Distribution Of New Chevrolets In Malaysia, New Principal To Be Announced Soon

Naza Quest Sdn Bhd today announced that it will cease distribution of new Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia, but will continue to provide warranty and after-sales service for existing Chevrolet customers until General Motors (GM) appoints a new Chevrolet distributor.
Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd said, “We came to this decision as a result of a brand rationalisation plan under the Naza Group’s overall corporate strategy to create long-term sustainability and profitability. We will continue to focus on our other four- and two-wheeled brands.”
The company also said that Chevrolet will resume sales of its vehicle portfolio in Malaysia as soon as possible, and is in advanced discussions with potential new partners. A new master distributor partner will be announced in due course.
The cessation of Naza Quest’s Chevrolet new car business operations will take effect from 15 November, 2018.
“I would like to thank General Motors (GM) for their unwavering trust in the Naza Group for the past eight years and wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” Dato’ Samson added.
While sales of new Chevrolet vehicles will be temporarily put on hold, the majority of Chevrolet dealerships will remain open during this transition to meet the aftersales needs of Chevrolet customers.
Naza Quest is pleased to confirm it will continue serving Chevrolet customers at selected existing dealer points, offering customers’ continuity of vehicle service, parts, warranty and aftersales service in Malaysia.


Fuel Price Update: 6th to 12th April - No Change

The Ministry of Finance Malaysia has announced the price of petrol and diesel fuel starting tomorrow (April 6th) and will be valid for the next seven days.
The price of RON97 petrol will remain at RM2.63 per litre, while the price of RON95 petrol will also remain at RM2.08 per litre.
The price of diesel will remain at RM2.18 per litre for Euro 2M and RM2.28 for Euro 5 respectively.
In summary, the prices for petrol and diesel are listed below:
RON95 – RM2.08 per litre (unchanged, capped)
RON97 – RM2.63 per litre (unchanged)
Diesel Euro 2M – RM2.18 per litre (unchanged, capped)
Diesel Euro 5M – RM2.28 per litre (unchanged, capped)