The Up-badging Paradox

Is 'up-badging' a car an acceptable practice or is it a no-no?

Let's face it, every petrolhead loves a performance car, especially one that has the looks to back up its bark. Apart from its unique body kit, performance engine, and performance hardware add-ons, its performance badges are what makes it different and distinctive.

The problem with these performance badges and hardware add-ons is that it's relatively cheap to manufacture and easy to get hold off, which is why you see a myriad of regular cars with these performance cars looks/ badges.

Something's just not quite right about this Golf R

We like to call this an attempt to 'up-badge' one's car, but is it cool to do this? There's really no right or wrong here we feel, it is your car, you do what you want lah!

Personally, though I'd rather drive a car that has the looks to reflect its performance. A standard Myvi in good condition in my eyes is always a bit more sophisticated than a modified ricer. Nobody will bother you and when the time comes to have a spirited drive, nobody will think you're a lan****. In fact, you'd probably get more street cred when driving a stock looking Myvi nicely around the bends.

Whatever happened to keeping it low key? Whatever happened to anonymity? Whatever happened to my car is fast, but it'll pass a roadblock?

One of the most beautiful parts of a car being a sleeper is that look of incredulity from people when you whoop them on the road. That disbelief that something that looks so regular can be as fast as a bullet train. Not many things deliver shock and awe better than a well-executed sleeper.

On the flip side of a well-executed sleeper, are the folks that do not seem to care much about the car's performance, as long as it looks fast and has all the glamour bits from the performance models. There's very little care that the performance doesn't match the look of the car. An M-sport model from a lower spec BMW is a perfect example of this. It looks aggressive, has all the right attributes for comfort, but handles like a cruiser more than a racer. Perhaps though that's all the 'performance' one needs?

Who do we blame for this?

Manufacturers are addressing a demand they see in the market, where certain performance lines are just body kits and fancy stitching on the inside. Let's admit it, looks sell.

The regular Joe might just like the look of the performance body kit, interior stitchwork, performance badges. Is it a little daft? Sure you could argue that sticking an //M badge on an E36 318i is daft but if it makes you, the owner happy, then it's your car innit? But if people laugh at you then you'll have to accept that too lah.

In that same vein, is the BMW M340i an M car or not?

What about 43 badged Mercedes-Benzs', are they thoroughbred AMG cars?

Sound off in the comments, we really want to hear your thoughts!


How Volkswagen Gambled With A Young Outsider To Create The Golf Legend And Rewrote The Rules

The year was 1968. The Volkswagen Beetle had been in production for 23 years already but despite its age, sales weren’t slowing down at all. In fact, production numbers for the Beetle would continue to increase, peaking in 1971 with 1,291,612 units made in various factories around the world - Malaysia included.

But, as the saying goes, you can't have too much of a good thing. Volkswagen was heavily reliant on a single model line that, while popular, wasn't something to be proud of when rivals were moving ahead with more sophisticated products.

For the progressive ones, Volkswagen’s inability to move beyond the Beetle was a reflection of its inability to innovate beyond simple air-cooled engines. The company’s financial standings were also becoming very precarious; when Chairman Kurt Lotz assumed his position in October of 1961, he warned his employees “Volkswagen’s only chance of survival is with a new car.”

It wasn’t that Volkswagen didn’t try to break out of the Beetle-only company stereotype. In 1969, Volkswagen took over NSU, another German car maker at the time. If you haven't heard of NSU, it's because it was eventually merged with Auto Union to form the Audi brand that we know as today.

Upon taking control of NSU, Volkswagen quickly re-designated the K70 sedan that NSU was developing, making it a Volkswagen product. The K70 was a modern-looking front-wheel drive sedan with a water-cooled engine, offering ample space for a family of five. Despite being better in every way than the aging Beetle, the K70 didn't sell well - further confirming critics' opinions that Volkswagen couldn't progress beyond the Beetle. People who could afford better cars than the Beetle simply weren't considering a Volkswagen.

While the K70 didn’t quite deliver the expected numbers, it pointed the way forward for a post-Beetle era Volkswagen. What Volkswagen needed was someone to refine the K70’s concept further and Chairman Lotz already had an idea of who to contact.

While visiting the 1969 Turin Motor Show, Lotz asked his Italian importer Gerhard R. Guempert and a group of journalists for suggestions on who was the best car designer.

They toured the show floor and shortlisted six good designs, and found that four of them were done by a young man from Italdesign - a 31-year old that went by the name Giorgetto Giugiaro.

Details of the discussion were lost in history but in what must have been one of the few rare moments of brazenness by conservative German management standards, Lotz reportedly offered Giugiaro the contract to revamp Volkswagen’s products on the spot at Italdesign’s show stand with the message “Do what you want, but do it fast.”

Lotz’s maverick moment ruffled quite a few hairs at Volkswagen’s board, which was made up of elderly German gentlemen who had for decades worked under the philosophy that one shouldn’t build a new model for the sake of having a new model, which explained why the Beetle remained unchanged for decades.

The fact that Giugiaro was an independent outsider, an Italian who also styled cars for Alfa Romeo, made matters worse.

A young Giugiaro and his then controversial looking Mk1 Golf.

Lotz didn’t stay long in his job. Two years later, he was replaced by Rudolf Leiding, who quickly terminated all projects commissioned to Giugiaro - all except for three cars that were already too far into the development process: the Golf and its Scirocco coupe twin, and the Passat which sat one segment higher. All three would go on to become some of Volkswagen's most important models.

When the Golf was launched in 1974, its ruler straight lines and sharp angles shocked the world. It looked like nothing else on the market but its radical styling also made everyone uncomfortable. A chief designer at a rival company even derided the Golf’s straight lines for looking too much like a folded origami car.

Even Ferdinand Piech, whose grandfather Ferdinand Porsche designed the original Beetle, had dismissed the Golf. Piech had already made his name as a master engineer credited for the race track dominating Porsche 917.

In 1972, Piech took a break from his job at Porsche to take up an intern position at Italdesign to learn about automotive design from Giugiaro. When the design maestro asked Piech what he thought of the Golf, Piech said “I really like the Scirocco -- that will be successful, but not the Golf. That car will be a failure.” It was friendly banter as both Piech and Giugiaro are good friends to this day. The master engineer and master designer share a lot of mutual respect.

A young Ferdinand Piech. The scion of the Volkswagen empire would later go on to head the Volkswagen Group, buying over his good friend Giugiaro's Italdesign in 2010.

But the Golf’s controversial styling (by the standards of 1970s) was exactly what Volkswagen needed. It was a total opposite of the Beetle’s curves and radii. Giugiaro had intentionally kept the Golf’s panels flat for manufacturing simplicity but far from being crude looking, it made the Golf's lines simple, giving it an impression of timeless appeal and clarity of purpose.

Designers often say that the best designs are those that can be traced with just one or two continuous lines - one that has not just a clear identity but is also elastic enough to evolve over time. A Porsche 911’s iconic lines is one such design.

At the mass market end, no car has succeeded in replicating such a continuity in its design, decade after decade on a family car, save for the Volkswagen Golf. In fact, one can focus on the C-pillar alone or the slit-like front-end, and sketch out nearly every generation of Golf.

Another small design detail was the folded edges of the Golf’s hatchback boot lid, which extended to the sides. It might not look like much for today’s casual observer but back in 1974, this small detail made the Golf’s boot lid’s operation sturdier and contributed to the Golf’s purposeful silhouette.

Giugiaro's combination of straight lines, flat panels, chunky C-pillar and folded edges of the boot lid was too unconventional for 1974, with rival designers deriding his work as a folded origami car. It went on to become one of the most important designs of the 20th century while the Golf is now one of the world's most recognised nameplate.

This design detail, along with the Golf’s signature chunky C-pillars, have been copied many times over by its rivals, but none could replicate the Golf's consistency in design identity, generation after generation.

Giugiaro’s work not only saved Volkswagen’s fortunes, but went on to redefine the small/C-segment hatchback class. It took Volkswagen quite a while to get there, and some outside help, but the company not only proved that it could break out of the Beetle mould, but also created a benchmark that would dominate the segment for the next 40 years.

Millions of Golfs sold later, Giugiaro would ask Piech again about his earlier predictions of the Golf’s failure, to which Piech replied, “I felt it was too advanced for its time.” Interestingly, both Giugiaro and Piech retired in 2015, but under very different circumstances. Giugiaro felt that it was time to go as he had achieved enough in his lifetime (and who could argue against that) while Piech stepped down from Volkswagen's supervisory board after a protracted disagreement over management matters.

Today, Italdesign – the company that Giorgetto Giugiaro founded in 1968 – is part of the Volkswagen Group, and is responsible for not just design but also highly specialized prototyping as well as construction of ultra-limited series vehicles under the Automobili Speciali brand.

The former outsider is now very much central to the Volkswagen Group’s operations. Over 40 years later, the Golf’s design identity that Giugiaro created has now evolved into its seventh iteration. It is still the benchmark hatchback for nearly every car maker. In 2013, when the current Mk7 generation Golf was launched, the Golf became the first non-Japanese car to win the Japan Car of the Year award, an impressive feat considering Japan's highly competitive car market.

The Golf is due for a mid-life cycle update and Malaysians can expect to see the
new Golf
, loosely dubbed as the Mk 7.5 Golf, on our local roads soon.

Like the Golf Mk1, the new Golf continues to be the trendsetter for its class. The familiar styling is now improved further thanks to a redesigned front bumper, while the grille has been updated to better match the new headlamps. Snazzy looking LED lighting is now adopted throughout the car.

Details on the Malaysian market Golf are still scarce but judging by Volkswagen Passenger Car Malaysia’s recent offerings like the Passat and Tiguan, both of which have been very well received by the market, we have little reason to believe that the new Golf will be anything less than the new benchmark for its class.

Topping off the refreshed Golf family will be the new hot hatch Golf GTI and the all-wheel drive mega hatch Golf R, both will be launched simultaneously alongside the Golf TSI R-Line.

Often imitated but never equalled, we look forward to the arrival of the new Golf. Not bad for a car that was predicted by many to fail.

Welcome to here to get more choices for
Volkswagen Golf
.


Shell Lubricants Now On Shopee Mall

In a time where we're being advised to stay in whenever you absolutely do not need to go out, online shopping has hit a fever pitch - and Shell is grabbing some of that attention with Shopee.

It can be pretty hard to tell whether the products you're buying are the real deal or not - especially when it comes to car components. Things could be fake or parallel import, which makes it extremely difficult to know if the products are designed for your car, or if they will end up damaging your car. That's why with many online shopping platforms, brands have decided to create official stores through which they can sell their products.

Shell
 is the latest in a line of companies to follow this line of thinking, and with the launch of their official store on Shopee, buyers can be assured that they're getting the real deal. After all, there are plenty of fake Shell products on the market that can damage or even completely destroy your engine if you're not careful, and there's the added benefit that Shell is willing to support buyers who purchase their products - things you would not get with a parallel import.

There's even a 15-day free return policy - though we're not entirely sure how this would work with a lubricant. Shipping is free nationwide which is great, and there are plans to expand the range of products beyond just lubricants for cars and bikes, as even official Shell merchandise and Shell SELECT products are in the pipeline.

In addition to the online store, Shell has been actively monitoring and shutting down operations on e-commerce platforms that are known to provide fake products or parallel imports. In the first half of 2020 alone, 278 online listings were flagged and removed, on top of 179 online stores being shut down.

Shell Malaysia advised consumers shopping online to protect themselves by buying official genuine Shell lubricants only from the
Shell Lubes Official Store
 on Shopee with ‘Untuk Pasaran Malaysia’ labels complete with QR codes that can be authenticated via the Shell
SHARE
 website.


All-new 2023 Toyota Vios now open for booking! Two variants, RM90k-RM96k

The all-new
2023 Toyota Vios
 is now open for booking here in Malaysia with an estimated price tag between RM90,000-RM96,000.

The fourth-generation AC100 Toyota Vios which has been launched in other markets like Indonesia and Thailand (called the Yaris Ativ) was recently teased by UMW Toyota and now, you can place a booking for one with two different variants to choose from.

2023 Toyota Vios - 1.5E & 1.5G, est RM90k-RM96k

There will be two different variants for the 2023 Toyota Vios here in Malaysia - 1.5E and 1.5G. Both will be expected to run with the 2NR-VE 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with Dual VVT-i and a new seven-speed CVT automatic gearbox that produces 106PS and 138Nm of torque (the same powertrain as the Indonesian Vios) built on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform. In comparison, the outgoing model is running the 2NR-FE unit that churns out 107PS and 140Nm of torque.

For those who are particular about pricing, the new 2023 Toyota Vios is estimated at RM90,000 for the 1.5E and RM96,000 for the 1.5G (OTR without insurance). There will be a bunch of notable differences between the two, which will be confirmed in the next bit.

For that price, you're looking at a much sportier-looking Vios that comes with 17-inch alloy rims, selectable driving modes (Power, Eco & Sport), paddle shifters, electronic parking brake with auto hold function, rear AC vents, and a nine-inch display audio with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A bunch of safety features can also be found in the new 2023 Toyota Vios courtesy of the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) such as:

3D Panoramic View Monitor (PVM)

Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

Lane Departure Warning & Prevention

Front Departure Alert

Pre-collision System

Lane Keeping Control

Adaptive Cruise Control

Auto High Beam

There will be five different colours to choose from - Silver Metallic, Nebula Blue Metallic, Attitude Black, Platinum White Pearl, and the new hero colour, Spicy Scarlet SE. An additional RM400 will be charged for those who want it finished in the Platinum White Pearl colourway.


“Hi Proton” System Will Soon be Able to Understand Thai

One of the biggest highlights of the
Proton X70
, when it was first introduced, was the fact that it came with the "Hi Proton" voice command feature, thanks to the Geely Key User Interface (GKUI) system, and it is about to get even better.

Now that the feature has been integrated into every Proton model in the lineup including the upcoming
X50
, new Proton customers will be able to just “talk” to the car using the system, which is able to understand Mandarin, English, as well as “Manglish” to a certain extent.

In case you’re wondering what Manglish is, it’s the grammatically messed up Malaysian-ised English which only we locals understand. A perfect example would be the phrase “Where got?” - Yes, that’s Manglish right there.

The most recent development with the system is that it will be able to understand Thai very soon, according to Geely.

The Chinese carmaker released a statement yesterday saying that Proton is in the midst of developing a Thai version of the GKUI system.

In case you’re wondering why Thai is in the mix all of a sudden, Proton had already announced during the launch of the X70 that
exporting
 the model is going to be one of the main strategies to ensure sales growth.

Now that the X70 is already being exported to Brunei, it looks like the model may be heading to Thailand as well.

Unlike Brunei and Malaysia where English is sufficient to communicate with the masses, Thailand, like Japan, still use their native language in most forms of communication, which explains why Proton is developing the GKUI system to be able to understand Thai.

At the same time, there have not been any updates on whether the GKUI system will be able to understand Bahasa Malaysia in the near future, but do we really need it? What do you think?.


All-New (G20) BMW 330e World Premiere – New XtraBoost Function

Following the debut of the
(G20) 340i xDrive
, BMW has now premiered the all-new (G20) 330e plug-in hybrid variant.
The latest generation model carries over the same powertrain layout of the F30-generation 330e albeit with an increased electric range, better efficiency, and the addition of the XtraBoost function which provides a temporary surge of power.
The plug-in hybrid system comprises a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine which produces of 184 hp along with an electric motor which generates a continuous output of 68 hp, and a peak output of 109 hp. Together, the two drive units develop a system output of 252 hp along with a maximum system torque of 420 Nm.
There are three main drive modes in the 330e:
Hybrid:
 Engine and electric motor are deployed depending on driving conditions. The vehicle can travel up to 110 km/h on the electric motor alone, 30 km/h faster than the
F30 330e predecessor
.
Electric
: Full-electric mode and max electric motor performance. The vehicle can travel up to 140 km/h, previously 120 km/h.
Sport:
 Maximum vehicle performance. XtraBoost function available; provides a temporary boost of 41 hp.
The XtraBoost function can be used up to the minimum charge status of the high voltage battery. It is also available for kickdown acceleration and in the Manual/Sport positions of the gear selector lever. BMW also claims that the 330e is also the first hybrid model to receive a specific throttle program and gearbox shift-maps, complete with brake downshifts.
The electric motor of the new BMW 330e Sedan is integrated into the 8-speed Steptronic transmission in order to save space. The hybrid-specific transmission measures only 15 mm longer than the corresponding versions for
conventionally powered models
.
Recuperated energy is fed into the high-voltage battery in this way or via connection to the car's power grid also serves to supply the vehicle's electrical system, negating the need for an alternator/generator powered by the engine for the electrical system. The lithium-ion battery – positioned underneath the rear seats – has also grown in capacity from 5.7 kWh (in the F30 model) to 12.0 kWh which has improved the 330e purely electric driving range from 35 km to up to 60 km. In terms of performance, the 330e accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the F30 330e, up to a top speed of 230 km/h.
In addition, virtually the entire range of optional equipment features for the new BMW 3 Series Sedan is available for the 330e plug-in hybrid. As alternatives to the basic version, the new BMW 330e also comes in the model variants Advantage, Sport Line, Luxury Line, and M Sport. The optional Adaptive M suspension including, Variable Sports Steering, and the M sports brake system are also offered for the 330e.
The 330e is slated to go on sale in Europe starting June 2019.


PEMULIH Loan Moratorium In Malaysia: Which Bank Is Offering What?

We take a look at the loan moratorium offered by major banks in Malaysia under PEMULIH. Is the automatic six-month loan moratorium worthy of consideration or will it come back to haunt you?

On the back of a prolonged
MCO 3.0/FMCO lockdown
 or National Recovery Plan (NRP), as Prime Minister Muhyiddin has termed it, the government has introduced a wide-reaching PEMULIH stimulus package, which includes an automatic six-month loan moratorium.

As reported before, this covers
hire purchase loans for car
s
 and is similar to the
moratorium that was effected between March and August 2020
. There are no pre-requisite conditions – such as loss of job or reduced income - to qualify for the loan moratorium under the current PEMULIH programme. Borrowers are simply required to contact their lender bank to verify and alter the tenure of their loans, and if required, sign a formal agreement.

For those who thought that the moratorium is a simple pause and delay on their hire purchase loans, they are advised to
think again
, as Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has confirmed that the moratorium offered under the PEMULIH package would not be interest-free, however, banks would waive compound interest and penalty charges for borrowers as part of the moratorium.

This is a crucial point to note, as the simple interest accrued over the next six months can still be re-amortised to the loan payment schedule after the moratorium ends.

With that being said, let's take a look at what major banks in Malaysia are offering. Generally, most offer either a six-month postponement or a 50% reduction for six months.

The consequences of choosing the postponement will be that your total interest paid will be higher due to the tenure extension, and the caveat of the 50% reduction is that the outstanding balance will generally be paid at the end of the loan tenure, one lump sum.

We recommend that you talk to your banks before taking up any kind of loan moratorium.

AmBank

AmBank offers two plans, the first being a deferment of instalments for six months, while the other is a 50% reduction of instalments for six months.

For more information, you may contact AmBank at 03-2178 8888 or e-mail them at customercare@ambankgroup.com.

Hong Leong Bank

Hong Leong offers two plans, the first being a deferment of instalments for six months, while the other is a 50% reduction of instalments for six months.

For more information, you may contact HLB at 03-79591888 or 03-76268899, or e-mail them at PaymentRelief@hlbb.hongleong.com.my

CIMB

CIMB's offering is slightly different from the former two banks mentioned above as they allow you to take a deferment of instalments for either three or six months. CIMB does not offer an outright 50% reduction scheme.

For more information, you may contact CIMB at 03-62047788 or e-mail them at covidcare@cimb.com

Maybank

Just like AMBank and Hong Leong Bank, Maybank offers two plans, the first being a deferment of instalments for six months, while the other is a 50% reduction of instalments for six months. Maybank clearly states that there are term charges for deferred instalments, RM471 for the 6-month postponement and RM258 for the 50% reduction.

For more information, you may contact Maybank at 1-300-88-6688, or e-mail them at weassist@maybank.com

Public Bank

Public Bank's offering is identical to Maybank's. Even their term charges for deferred instalments are the same.

For more information, you can contact Public bank at 1-800-22-5555 or e-mail them at hpcovidsupport@publicbank.com.my

RHB

RHB provides three different alternatives, including a customised reduction in monthly instalments by extension of the loan, on top of the regularly seen 6-month postponement and 50% reduction.

For more information, contact RHB at 03-2776 3111 or e-mail them at wecare@rhbgroup.com

So there you have it above, a compilation of what some of the major banks in Malaysia have to offer on the loan moratorium under the PEMULIH stimulus package. Is it sufficient, is it what Malaysians need or is it merely a delayed haunting as my colleague Jim explores
here
.

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

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

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

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


Rejoice, SST Exemptions Now Extended To 30th June 2021

In a rather abrupt u-turn, the Ministry Of Finance (MOF) has now granted an extension of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) Exemptions for the period until 30th Jun 2021. This is undoubtedly good news for the consumers who have been clamouring to secure their vehicle purchases before the end of the year.

In a letter dated 29th December 2020 to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) and Association of Recond Car Dealers (PEKEMA), the Ministry Of Finance confirmed the extension, despite earlier stating that the SST exemption period would end on 31st December 2020.

The tax exemptions include:

100 Percent Exemption of SST for all locally-assembled (CKD) passenger vehicles (excluding commercial vehicles and pickup trucks)

50 Percent Exemption of SST for all fully-imported (CBU) vehicles

50 Percent Exemption of SST for all used/recond (CBU) vehicles

MAA had previously requested for the SST exemption period to extend to the end of June 2021 to further aid manufacturers and importers clear their existing stock, but it was declined by the MOF, making this a rather unexpected turnaround, at the very last minute.

Though this may come as good news for car buyers, it would undoubtedly mean car makers would now have to scramble to revise prices and delivery deadlines which could result in delays to customers.

This will also mean revisions to certain car prices car like the GR Yaris and both new BMW M models, the M3 and M4.


TNB Temporarily Shuts Down 40 Substations In KL

Tenaga Malaysia Berhad (TNB) had to shut off electrical supply at some substations to safeguard the public's safety during the flash floods yesterday evening.

Just as we recover from the
big Klang Valley flood
 of 2021, flash floods
hit the capital once again
, causing mayhem to those who were unlucky enough to be caught out by the sudden heavy rainfall.

After heavy rain started at 3.00pm yesterday, water quickly started pooling up in many areas, which caused several main roads to be flooded.

Among them are Jalan Kuchai Lama and Sungai Besi, where
many vehicles were seen submerged
 in water in the middle of the road and causing traffic congestion.

Apart from that, the water in Sungai Klang was also overflowing, which caused floods in front of Masjid Jamek, Jalan Masjid India and even the road leading to Pudu.

Following the torrential rain and flash floods in several areas around Kuala Lumpur, TNB had to shut off electrical supply from several power substations to ensure the safety of the public.

The areas affected were as follows:

Kuala Lumpur:

Royal Cendana

Bukit Aman

Class G Qrt

PDRM Bukit Aman

Hospital Tang Lin

Car Park Jalan Tanglin

Jabatan Kesihatan Daerah WP Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya

Jalan Kebun Bunga

Jalan Young Stat

Pejabat Perancang Selangor

Banyan Tree Signature Jalan Conlay

Amphitheater

The Royale Chulan Hotel

Pangsapuri Sri Jati Jalan Jati

Kompleks Budaya Kraf

Restoran Sri Melayu

Rest Hotel Jalan Jati

Kraftangan Jalan Conlay

Hotel Westin

Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera

Menara Worldwide Jln Bkt Bintang

Menara Keck Seng

Royal Selangor Golf Club

RHB

Wisma Inai

Bintang Goldhill Jalan Tun Razak

The Forum

Jalan Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang

Ritz Carlton Hotel

Istana Johor Persiaran Stonor

The Pearl Jalan Stonor

Dua Residency Jalan Tun Razak

Conlay Court

The Ascott Jalan Pinang

Menara BIMB Jalan Perak

Suria Stonor

Mini Tower

Hotel Impiana KLCC Jalan Pinang

Lot 170 Jalan Perak

Picture credit: Utusan

TNB has additionally warned that If the floods worsen today or recur, then supply will be shut off at the affected power substations to ensure the safety of the locals in the area.


India Starts Manufacturing The Suzuki Jimny - Cheaper Jimny for Malaysia?

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, India's largest carmaker has announced that they have started production of Suzuki's versatile compact off-roader, the Jimny.

The
Suzuki Jimny
 which is being produced in Maruti's Gurugram plant is solely made for export purposes at the moment and as of now, Maruti has no intentions of launching the vehicle in India.

The first 184 Jimny's which have been produced will leave Mundra port to Latin American countries such as Columbia and Peru in the next few days. As more are made, the Jimny's will go to foreign markets, including Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.

Mr. Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited told auto.hindustantimes.com that, "The Jimny manufactured at Gurugram shares the same specification as the export models produced at the
Suzuki
 Motor Corporation's Kosai plant in Japan".

He continued by saying that "They are confident that the Jimny made in India will be able to enhance their overall exports."

I guess the big question is, will we be able to get a cheaper Jimny in Malaysia through India? The logical answer for this at the moment is no because although we do have some trade pacts with India unless we have an
official Suzuki distributor
 here in Malaysia, the importation of the Suzuki Jimny will still go through the standard grey import tariffs and channels.

Currently, the fourth-generation Jimny is being sold on the grey import market between
RM145k-185k
, making it one very expensive small utility vehicle but compared to Thailand, which sells the Jimny between RM199k-RM216k, the prices in Malaysia don't seem too bad now, does it?

But when the Jimny is priced around the RM60k mark in its homeland, it does put things into perspective of how expensive an imported car is or can be in Malaysia.

The current generation Jimny was launched in 2018 and received the World Urban Car Award in 2019 at the New York International Auto Show.


Kia Malaysia Introduces Sportage 2.0 EX Variant – Replaces KX and GT Petrol Variants

Naza Kia Malaysia has introduced a new variant of its Kia Sportage SUV, dubbed the 2.0 EX, which will succeed both the entry-level KX and GT variants, as the sole petrol-powered variant of the Sportage range.
The Sportage 2.0 (2WD) EX is priced at RM129,888 (OTR without Insurance) and slots below the diesel-powered
Sportage 2.0D (AWD) GT
, which is priced at RM153,888 (OTR without Insurance).
Given the new EX variant’s price tag, which sits in between the previously available KX (RM118k) and GT (RM138k) variants – the EX variant conditionally offers an array of additional equipment to offer better value to customers.
New for the EX are 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a rain sensor, and auto folding side mirrors with side repeaters. At the front, LED daytime running lights (previously only available on the GT variant), are also offered as standard. Elsewhere, keyless entry, a push start button, and automatic air-conditioning are other examples of equipment that were only offered on the GT Line previously.
On the inside, the 5-inch audio system has been replaced with a new 7-inch touch screen audio system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. An Electrochromic auto dimming rear-view mirror is also standard on the EX variant.
There are no changes to the powertrain: the EX is powered by a 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder engine that delivers 153 hp at 6,200 rpm and 192 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.  Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
Likewise, safety features are the same as before, featuring six airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), vehicle stability control (VSC), and hill-start assist control (HAC).
The Sportage EX is offered in Cherry Black, Mercury Blue, Fiery Red, Snow White Pearl, and Mineral Silver colours, replete with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.


Life-sized 2016 Renault F1 Car on Tour

F1 aficionados and car enthusiasts can catch a lifesize model of the 2016 Renault R.S. 16 Formula One car on display at selected Renault showrooms and roadshow locations between now until

28 August 2016
.

The replica shows off the new yellow and black livery of the 2016 Renault R.S. 16 Formula One car. It will be on display for an entire week at each participating showroom and roadshow, where visitors will have the opportunity get up close and take photos with the model car.

In conjunction with the showcase, TC Euro Cars (TCEC), the sole franchise holder of Renault cars in Malaysia, is also organising weekend activities that are open to the public.

Members of the public can explore and test drive the full range of stylish, contemporary Renault cars on display, including the versatile Captur urban crossover, the elegant Fluence sedan and sporty Clio GT Line hatchback. Those who complete a test drive will receive instant gifts as well as stand to be one of 10 lucky monthly winners to take home an exclusive Renault Sport Vehicle Scale Model.

In addition to a host of freebies up for grabs, other activities during the weekends include Lego and colouring for the kids. There will also be live broadcasts by three radio stations – Lite FM, Era FM & Melody FM – so stay tuned to find out the specific times that they will be on-site at the relevant showrooms.

The 2016 Renault R.S. 16 Formula One model car tour is part of the

‘Renault – Motorsports Is in Our DNA’

campaign. Valid until

31 August 2016
, this promotional campaign also offers attractive deals on selected Renault vehicles as well as the chance to win exclusive Renault Sport Formula One™ Team prizes including Grandstand passes and a Renault Garage Visit at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix.

The schedule for the 2016 Renault R.S. 16 Formula One model car tour is as follows:

Renault F1 Display
Showroom ‘Weekenders’
Venues
18 – 24 July 2016
23 – 24 July 2016 (Saturday &Sunday)
Renault Petaling Jaya Showroom
Lot 1A, Jalan Kemajuan, Section 13
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
25 – 31 July 2016
N/A
Setapak Central Shopping Center
67, Jalan Taman Ibu Kota
Danau Kota, Kuala Lumpur
1 – 7 August 2016
6 – 7 August 2016 (Saturday &Sunday)
Renault Glenmarie Showroom
Lot 1A, Jalan Kemajuan, Section 13
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
8 – 14 August 2016
13 – 14 August 2016 (Saturday& Sunday)
Renault Johor Jaya Showroom
Unit 3A, No 1, Jalan Johor Jaya
Kawasan Perindustrian Plentong
Johor Bharu, Johor
15 – 23 August 2016
20 – 21 August 2016 (Saturday& Sunday)
Renault Petaling Jaya Showroom
Lot 1A, Jalan Kemajuan, Section 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
24 – 28 August 2016
N/A
1 Utama Shopping Centre
Bandar Utama City Centre
Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama Petaling Jaya, Selangor
For more information about Renault, please visit
www.renault.com.my
 or
www.facebook.com/RenaultMalaysia
.
Looking for a Renault? Find one at
Carlist.my
 today.


Perodua Sah Lancar Alza Baharu Tahun Depan – Diikuti Dengan 2 Model Facelift Baharu

Seperti yang anda tahu, Perodua bakal menamatkan penghasilan Perodua Alza sedia ada menjelang hujung bulan Januari 2022. Ini bermakna
tiada lagi Perodua Alza pada Februari 2022
 nanti. Tetapi jangan bersedih kerana hayat
MPV mampu milik
 itu tidak terhenti setakat itu sahaja!

Walaupun ramai yang menjangka bahawa Perodua akan membawa masuk Alza kelak, namun langsung tiada pengesahan dari Perodua sebelum ini, tetapi kini tidak lagi. Ketika sidang media khas Media Drive Myvi 2022 di Johor minggu lalu, Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perodua, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad akhirnya membuka mulut dengan mengesahkan ketibaan Perodua Alza baharu pada tahun hadapan.

Ketika ditanya mengenai rancangan Perodua untuk melancarkan Alza, Zainal berkata sekiranya dia menafikan khabar tersebut, nampak sangatlah beliau menipu. Yang pastinya, beliau mengesahkan Alza baharu akan dilancarkan pada tahun hadapan. Tetapi oleh kerana masalah COVID-19 yang masih membelenggu dunia, tarikh tetap untuk pelancaran model tersebut masih lagi tidak dapat ditentukan.

Perodua tidak mahu terburu-buru melancarkan Alza baharu kerana mereka sedang melihat pada kebolehan dan keupayaan sumber dan pembangunan (R&D) mereka bagi memastikan pengguna dapat menikmati bukan sahaja kereta terbaik, tetapi juga servis yang terbaik.

Sebenarnya, Perodua Alza masih popular dan mempunyai peminatnya yang tersendiri. Model sedia ada Alza di pasaran sekarang masih lagi menerima dalam lingkungan 1,500 tempahan setiap bulan walaupun telah 12 tahun berada di dalam pasaran.

Zainal turut menyatakan bahawa Perodua merupakan sebuah pengeluar kereta tempatan yang bertanggungjawab yang mengamalkan konsep menjual sesuatu kenderaan selama 6-7 tahun sebelum melakukan pembaharuan sepenuhnya. Ini bagi memastikan pengguna Perodua dapat menikmati kenderaan dengan
teknologi terkini
 pada harga mampu milik.

Ketika ditanya mengenai pelan Perodua untuk tahun hadapan, beliau berkata Perodua merancang untuk mengeluarkan 3 model baharu setiap tahun. Daripada 3 model itu, 2 daripadanya adalah facelift atau
Minor Change
 (MC) serta 1 model baharu sepenuhnya (Alza).

Dari segi bisnes, sebenarnya tiada keperluan untuk Perodua memperkenalkan Alza baharu memandangkan Alza sedia ada masih mendapat permintaan tinggi. Namun Zainal menegaskan bahawa Perodua tidak akan membiarkan penggunanya menggunakan kereta yang lama atau ketinggalan dari pelbagai segi, terutama ciri keselamatan.

Jika anda terlepas berita sebelum ini, Perodua Alza baharu kelak dikatakan akan dibina berdasarkan
Toyota Avanza
 serta
Daihatsu Xenia
 yang baru sahaja dilancarkan di Indonesia. Yang pastinya, Alza baharu kelak akan lebih padat dengan ciri-ciri keselamatan aktif yang terkini seperti
Perodua Ativa
 dan
Perodua Myvi.

Memandangkan Alza dah disahkan pelancarannya pada 2022, apa pula 2 model facelift yang bakal dilancarkan pada tahun hadapan?


Vios Challenge Race Day 1- New Faces in Medini City Podium

The faster and wider circuit, together with the unpredictable weather in
Medini City
 meant that opening day of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival was filled with thrills and excitement with plenty of action in all three classes of the Vios Challenge.
The 7-turn 1.9km circuit run in an anti-clockwise direction featured widths of up to three lanes in many sections of the track, giving the drivers lots of room to build up their speed and to make passing moves.
Promotional Class
Shawn Lee continue to dominate his field, clocking in the fastest lap in qualifying to start pole position, with Shukri Yahaya alongside him.
A great start from Diana Danielle meant she could build the speed into turn 3, overtaking Danny Koo for third. Rain began to fall in some parts of the circuit and this made the corners unpredictable. Fighting to regain his third position, Danny brake a little too late going into the hairpin, contact Diana and causing her to spin out, where she later retire from the race.
It was a race to remember for Geraldine Gan, a poor start meant she completed the first lap in ninth, but after a solid drive, avoiding mishaps landed her with her best finish of fourth.
Meanwhile, Janna Nick was in great form and she passed Fattah to claim third, her highest position so far. Unbeknownst to them, Danny Koo who was ahead was slapped with a drive through penalty for his incident with Diana but as he missed the window to pull in for the penalty, he would be excluded from the race results.
This left Janna to fight for her first podium opportunity but with the rain getting heavier in some parts of the track, Janna made a mistake 2 laps from the finish, touching a wall and causing a slow puncture.  Fattah then took  a popular podium finish with Shukri and Shawn on the top steps.
Sporting Class
Starting from pole position, Brendan Anthony tried covering the inside line but Patrick Tam made a great start from the fourth row to charge for the inside line. However, under hard braking for Turn 1 Patrick went deep, tapping Brendan and pushing him into the outside wall. In the melee, Dato Ken Foo who came in on the blind side sent Patrick into the inside wall, bringing out the red flag.
The cars then formed the grid for a re-start sans Patrick and Clement whose car suffered damage and had to call to the pits. Brendan tried to cover the inside line on the re-start but feeling that his car was not tracking straight after the incident, he hit the brakes early, allowing Wong Chin Eeg to take the lead.
A flawless performance by Chin Eeg, who works as a Service Manager for Toyota’s Heiwa Auto Gallery in Tebrau Johor took the chequered flag and his maiden win, ahead of Brendan Anthony, who displayed a very combative drive from sixth at one stage, and Kenneth Koh in third.
Super Sporting Class
The premier Super Sporting class promised to be explosive and it certainly lived up to its billing.
While the pack made it through Turn 1 safely, Tengku Djan who started in Row 2 in his Team Nanoplus car tangled with Kenny Lee in the fast Turn 2. Djan went sideways and speared Akina Teo’s Vios, sending his car into the barrier, blocking off the circuit. Mark was another victim of the crash and he once again retired from the race.
The safety car was immediately deployed but as the skies opened up with a torrential downpour, the field was bunched behind the safety car for 11 laps before the race director deemed the conditions safe for racing.
On lap 12, the field was allowed to go racing but with rain continuing to fall, the drivers took minimal risk and everyone maintained their positions to fight another day. With the 30-minute race duration run, the chequered flag appeared on Lap 16 with William Ho winning the race with Boy Wong and Syafiq Ali rounding up the podium.
A reverse grid of the top six for Race 2 means that the excitement continues with Keifli Othman starting from Pole position with Tengku Djan beside him. With the weather expected to be hot and sunny on Saturday, the quality of racing is expected to yield even greater excitement.
Fans and visitors braced the mid afternoon heat and sudden showers to show their support for their favourite TGR celebrity drivers as well as entertainment from Media Prima’s Drama Sangat bus tour as well as appearances from Ejen Ali and Comot.
Drift Samurai Takahiro Imamura also gave the crowd a good show and fist bumps, all in his Samurai outfit complete with a sword!
There are still three more races to go tomorrow, entrance to the
TGR Racing Festival
 is free and activities begin from 10am daily stretching till 6:30pm.


Laluan Motosikal Tak Ikut Spesifikasi Dunia – Lando

Aktivis jalan raya, Azlan Sani Zawawi atau lebih dikenali sebagai
Lando Zawawi
 menyatakan bahawa lorong motosikal yang ada di Lebuhraya Persekutuan tidak sesuai digunakan kerana tidak mengikut piawaian spesifikasi dunia.

Berikutan semakin ramai pengguna motosikal yang tidak menggunakan laluan motosikal yang disediakan, Lando tampil dengan kenyataan bahawa lorong motosikal di Malaysia ini perlu diperbaiki bagi memastikan penunggang motosikal lebih yakin dan selesa untuk menggunakan laluan tersebut

Kredit foto: iMotorbike

Laluan Motosikal Tak Ikut Spesiifikasi Dunia

Lebuh raya yang dilengkapi dengan lorong motosikal adalah Lebuhraya Persekutuan, Lebuhraya Shah Alam, Lebuhraya Butterworth-Kulim, Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie dan beberapa laluan utama di Putrajaya. Lebuhraya Persekutuan adalah laluan pertama di Malaysia yang dilengkapi dengan lorong motosikal.

Menurut Lando, laluan motosikal di Lebuhraya Persekutuan adalah lebih sempit berbanding  saiz standard bagi tahap kelebaran laluan motosikal mengikut piawaian dunia adalah 3.81 meter untuk lebih selesa bergerak pada kelajuan 70 km/j (untuk kedua-dua lorong di laluan motosikal).

Walau bagaimanapun, Lando berkata saiz kelebaran lorong motosikal di lebuh raya berkenaan hanyalah berukuran 2 meter lebih sahaja membuatkan ia amat sempit dan berbahaya.

Oleh itu, laluan motor yang lebih kecil dari sepatutnya ini telah menyebabkan berlaku pelbagai pergeselan antara pengguna motor terutamanya ketika mahu memotong motosikal lain atau ketika mahu keluar simpang.

Berdasarkan analisis yang dilakukan oleh T.H Law (2005) tentang penentuan lebar selesa dan selamat dalam lorong motosikal, tiada piawaian khusus yang tersedia untuk menilai kriteria reka bentuk lorong motosikal.

Walau bagaimanapun, analisis tersebut mendapati bawa penting untuk menentukan lebar kawalan optimum untuk lorong motosikal bagi memastikan reka bentuk laluan adalah selamat untuk semua motosikal penunggang.

Keputusan kajian itu menunjukkan bahawa lebar kawalan selamat lorong motosikal eksklusif hendaklah mencapai 3.81 meter.

Tambah Lando, apabila kerajaan
mewajibkan akta pengguna motosikal wajib menggunakan lorong motosikal
, ia dianggap amat tidak sesuai untuk digunakan dengan keadaan laluan motosikal sebegini rupa.

“Mungkin bagi motosikal kecil sesuai, namun tidak pada motosikal berkuasa tinggi yang mempunyai saiz yang lebih besar seperti
Superbike
,” katanya.

Lando mendakwa, jurutera yang membina laluan motosikal di Lebuhraya Persekutuan pada tahun 1974 juga terkejut apabila laluan tersebut dinaiktaraf untuk digunakan sebagai laluan motosikal pada saiz sebegitu.

ABS Bagus, Tapi Keadaan Jalan Raya Juga Jadi Punca Nahas

Lando menyokong usaha kerajaan mewajibkan pemasangan sistem brek anti-kunci atau

anti-lock braking system
 (ABS)
 pada semua motosikal baharu dalam usaha mengurangkan kadar kemalangan dan kematian membabitkan penunggang.

Baginya, penggunaan alatan dan teknologi keselamatan jalan raya untuk semua jenis kenderaan termasuk motosikal sebagai langkah wajar dan praktikal bagi membantu mengawal keadaan ketika kecemasan.

Sistem ABS dilihat amat membantu mereka yang kurang kemahiran ‘defensive riding’ terutama bagi penunggang baharu yang menceburi pekerjaan penghantaran makanan atau mereka yang menggunakan motosikal untuk ulang alik ke tempat kerja.

*Kredit foto: Mykmu

Walaupun penggunaan ABS disifatkan sebagai langkah baik,
keadaan jalan raya
, terutamanya lorong motosikal di negara ini masih tidak cukup sempurna dan merupakan antara punca berlakunya kemalangan melibatkan motosikal.

“Masalah benda asing dan kerosakan permukaan jalan masih menjadi punca utama
kemalangan melibatkan penunggang
, selain sikap tergesa-gesa penunggang sendiri. Malah kelemahan sistem penyelenggaraan laluan di negara ini juga tidak boleh diabaikan sama sekali. Kerajaan perlu mengakui kelemahan ini,” katanya.


2020 Toyota Hilux Facelift Pricing Confirmed, From RM93k

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd today announced the confirmed retail prices of
the new Hilux range
, which consist of five variants.

In
the new line-up
 the Double Cab 2.4 E A/T is a new addition. The new Double Cab 2.8 Rogue A/T replaces the current Double Cab 2.8 Black Edition, while the new Double Cab 2.4 V A/T is an upgrade from the current Double Cab 2.4 G A/T (the L-Edition will no longer be available). For those who prefer a manual transmission, the Double 2.4 G and Single Cab 2.4 are still available.

Customers can choose from up to seven exterior colours for the
 2020 Hilux range
. These are Bronze Mica Metallic (a new colour), Crimson Spark Red Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Phantom Brown Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic and Super White II. The Hilux Single Cab is available only in a Solid White colour.

Besides a refreshed appearance that gives a bolder image to the bestselling pick-up truck in Malaysia, there are also updates inside and improvements in performance. Although the current 8th generation Hilux has achieved the maximum 5-star rating from ASEAN NCAP, it continues to be improved in safety aspects with the inclusion of the Toyota Safety Sense system (Hilux 2.8 Rogue).

Purchasers of the new Hilux can save up to 13% during vehicle servicing and enjoy discounts up to 20% for selected items and parts replacement with the Toyota Service Savers package. Available for the period of 5 years or 3 years, the cost of the package can be included in the financing scheme as part of the vehicle purchase cost.

Together with the vehicle purchase, customers are recommended the Toyota Insurance Package, exclusive to Toyota owners. This insurance package offers benefits which can allow an owner to regain use of his or her vehicle as quickly as possible after an accident. If not exceeding RM20,000, the claim can usually be approved within 24 hours, enabling repair work to commence quickly.

Betterment charges and an Excess Clause are also not included and the insurance companies will pay the entire amount of the claim. There is an agreed value for the vehicle in the event of Total Loss (for vehicles up to 10 years old) and complimentary 24SEVEN Road Assist for peace of mind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week nationwide.


Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Buy The 2020 Proton X50

After a full day of testing the 2020 Proton X50 at Sepang earlier today, I left convinced that you would be hard-pressed to find a vehicle in its segment that offers all it does at its rumoured price point.

Not too long ago I wrote
The Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Ignore the Proton X50
, but after spending a scorching day at SIC today, I walked away contrite, a changed man. I have joined the bandwagon of the X50 believers and here are the
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Buy the Proton X50
.

1. Tried and Tested: 2020 Proton X50

Both the 1.5L T and 1.5L TGDi engines on the four variants of the Proton X50 have undergone 1.9million kilometres of testing, a substantial amount of that testing was also conducted on our Malaysian roads as evidenced by the dozen of
spyshots
 across our highways. It is an engine that was co-developed by Geely and Volvo.

Volvo and Geely tested and validated the 1.5TD (the family name of the engines found in the Proton X50) above and beyond the industry standard - a typical Volvo policy. The 1.5TD engines are designed to last 15 years or 350,000 km, much higher than the industry standard of 10 years or 200,000 km. You can read all about that
here
.

2. Power Delivered On Request: 2020 Proton X50

The Proton X50 comes with three drive modes. Normal, Eco and Sport. In Sport mode the new front anti-roll bar helps keep the Proton X50 secure on the tarmac and the steering is further weighted for aggressive driving whereas in the former two modes the steering is light for ease of maneuverability in the city or tight driving spots.

I had the chance to test out both Normal and Sport modes in the Slalom Test as well as 0-100km/h test and yes there was a noticeable stiffness to the chassis that you could feel while in Sport mode. In both modes however power delivery was smooth and crisp. The 7-speed DCT managed upshifts briskly with hardly a noticeable lag, you would be hard-pressed to tell it was a DCT just from feel alone.

I managed a 0-100 in the X50 of 10.21 seconds, a little ways from the claimed 7.9 seconds but I might just have too light a foot. We'll have to try this one again when we get a media car for a longer review.

3. Proton's Famed Ride and Handling

The ride and handling of the Proton X50 was that
secret sauce
 if anything that would make the X50 stand-out from the Geely Binyue and boy did they deliver!

The Slalom Test clearly demonstrated how stable the ride and handling was even in Normal mode. There was very little noticeable body roll and as a driver, this is very confidence inspiring. Never did I feel out of control throughout the course. The 1.5L TGDi was shod with Continental UC6 215/55 R18 rubbers which was both grippy yet also stopped on demand, even under hard braking. Korner pun sedap!

4. ADAS: Proton X50 2020

The 2020 Proton X50 1.5L TGDi comes with a slew of ADAS features including:

Blind Speed Information System (BLIS)

Intelligent High Beam Control

Forward Collision Warning

Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Lane Departure Warning

Lane Keep Assist

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)

It is also the first in its segment with Level 2 Autonomous Driving, no mean feat this. What qualifies the X50 for L2 Autonomous Driving are Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Auto Park Assist (APA).

The APA system works as intended but it's worth bearing in mind that the sensors are sensitive and will not autonomously park the vehicle if it detects a human standing in the parking spot. Safe yes but practical? Maybe not so much. Still if you're the kind yang tak reti side parking or reverse parking then just like your Dad, APA is here to help. Can we have AMA next, Proton?

The video below explains a little more in detail how APA works.

We also got the chance to sample how the other ADAS features worked and what was most impressive was the Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go which worked like a charm and will come in handy in stop and go traffic in the city. The Adaptive Cruise Control allows for the X50 to trail the car in front from 30km/h to 150km/h, it will also apply brake pressure gradually when it senses the car in front stopping and go when the car in front moves again.

The Intelligent Cruise Control on the other hand makes its debut in the Proton X50. It also comes equipped with lane centering assist, just in case the car is caught veering to the left or right of its lane. It's good for speeds of up to 150km/h.

5. It's FAST and it's CHEAP: Proton X50 2020

I don't have a video of this yet but during the Hot Lap (a lap around the South Circuit where we were driven around by experienced race drivers) the X50 hit 156km/h and it felt planted like a cicak! I know I should probably be using a more 'automotive' term but nothing quite comes close to the cicak. Acceleration was rapid, handling was direct and braking was assured without making you want to throw up your biryani/ nasi lemak.

Yes, we don't have the price yet but a source told me the numbers being thrown around online are not far off. So let's say the Flagship variant, the one we tested today comes in at RM104,00 - what value summore you want? Who else among its competitors comes close to offering all the features listed at this price point? I don't think there is anyone.

This is why I think Proton is on to a winner here, a winner which is ultimately also a win for the rakyat. A feature-packed car at harga mesra rakyat. For those of you who are still insistent that this is a 'China car' or a Chinese rebadged then there really is no convincing you and the X50 is perhaps not for you. I quote myself 'The Chinese can set up a colony in Mars - grow tofu and still you would be sceptical of their abilities'.


All-New Land Rover Defender Revealed As A Lego Technic Set

Originally set for a debut in 2020, it appears that we now have a sneak preview of the all-new Land Rover Defender in the form of a new Lego Technic set.
Finished in a lovely shade of Olive Green, this Lego kit appears to depict a two-door, short wheelbase version of the all-new Defender.
Being a Lego Technic set, the 42 cm Land Rover gets a working steering mechanism, four-speed sequential automatic gearbox, three differentials, and an independent suspension set-up. It even gets a working winch up front.
Expected to go on sale later this year, this 2573-piece Lego set is expected to carry a retail price of £159.99.


Volvo V90 Begins Production in Sweden; R-Design Variants Unveiled for S90 and V90

Volvo’s main plant in Torslanda, Sweden, has officially begun series production of its
V90
 premium estate, completing the trio of 90 series flagship models that also include the
XC90 crossove
r and
S90 sedan
.
All three members of
Volvo
’s new 90 series model range are underpinned by the company’s latest generation modular SPA platform and powered by the highly-advanced
2.0-litre Drive-E engine family
 that consist of petrol, diesel, and hybrid powerplants operating in various states of tune.
The three 90 series models represent a cornerstone of Volvo’s USD 11 billion transformation programme implemented in 2010, when ownership of the company changed hands from
Ford
 to Geely.
To date, Volvo’s investments on the SPA platform have yield positive impact on the Swedish employment rate. Headcount on the Torslanda plant’s production line doubled in the last two years to 6,300 people; the R&D side has also taken in approximately 1,000 engineers and is still in the process of hiring more talent. Additional job opportunities have also been created at the supplier side and other supporting businesses in the Gothenburg automotive manufacturing cluster.
Impact on the company bottom line has also been positive. Volvo Cars exceeded 500,000 sales worldwide for the first time in its history last year, whilst tripling its operating profit to SEK 6.6 billion (RM 3.22 billion, exchange rate SEK 1 = MYR 0.49). The outlook for 2016 is looking even more positive, with the company having posted a 10.4 percent global sales increase over the first five months of the year.
“We have invested heavily in preparing the Torslanda plant for building SPA vehicles and it is encouraging to see the positive response to the new 90 cars. We are going from strength to strength, as our transformation plan continues to bear fruit,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.
Full results of the turnaround plan is expected to be realized three years from now, with Volvo completing a full revamp of its model range, replacing the current Ford-based 60 series models as well as the
V40
.
The next-generation 60 series models from Volvo will be built on a smaller scale version of the SPA platform, whilst the
new 40 series models
 will sit on a separate
CMA platform
 developed specifically for compact vehicles.
“Three years from now, the XC90 will be the oldest car on the showroom floor. In other words: the new 90 series are only the start of the new Volvo,” Samuelsson added.
New R-Design for S90 and V90
In a separate development, Volvo also revealed new R-Design variants for both the S90 and V90 models.
“R-Design delivers an edge to our elegant estate and saloon models in our 90 Series, with a winning combination of a sportier, more responsive drive with clearly visible performance styling,” said Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars.
No engine details are mentioned for the R-Design variant, but Volvo did indicate that the chassis of both vehicles have been retuned with a sportier setup for a more ‘energetic and road-hugging’ drive.
Appearance-wise, the S90 and V90 R-Design variants incorporate a tweaked front end with its own unique grille and spoiler-integrated fog lights. Piano black trim elements and 5-spoke matt black diamond cutalloys further emphasize the vehicle’s harder edge stance.
A sportier interior ambiance is delivered by sport contour seats that complement the unique R-Design touches applied to the steering wheel, illumination package, trim inserts, pedals, and even floor mats.
Meanwhile, our good friend and former colleague, Uncle
Bobby
 now of Malaysian EVO is at the international media drive of the S90 and V90 organized by Volvo in Malaga, Spain. Watch his video below for a quick preview of both the S90 and V90 upclose.


Here’s A Full-Size Origami-Inspired Lexus IS, Because Craftsmanship Matters

To those who may think craftsmanship in the automotive industry is an ever-receding pocket of art within an increasingly digital age,
Lexus
 would like to show you something:
A life-size replica of their new
IS saloon
, crafted from 1700 fully recyclable laser-cut cardboard sheets with a fully fitted interior, functioning doors, headlights and rolling wheels. It even has propulsion thanks to an electric motor mounted to its steel/aluminium frame.
Never has something like this taken form. Where a typical car would use sheet metal, glass, and plastics in its construction, those materials have been set aside for something a little more remarkable, definitely more recyclable, and certainly more difficult to assemble (especially in the shape of a car).
This cardboard creation, dubbed the Lexus Origami Car, has emerged as a celebration of the skilled men and women – known as
takumi
– that work on the Lexus production lines, their dexterity honed by mastery of folding paper into an origami cat using only their non-dominant hand within 90 seconds.
Coming out of the studios of London-based LaserCut Works Scales and Models, director and co-founder Ruben Marcos explained how being tasked with creating the Lexus Origami Car was “a very demanding job, with five people involved in the digital design, modelling, laser cutting and assembly. Just like Lexus, we were committed to producing the best possible quality.”
The team were presented with various hurdles from the beginning: “The seats took a few attempts to get just right and the wheels required a lot of refining. Once we could see the physical pieces taking shape, we could identify where we needed to make improvements – as with anything, there were some elements of trial and error, but as we had all the resources we needed in-house, this made the changes easier to produce.”
To get the creative process off on the right foot, Lexus furnished the team with a digital 3D model of the IS. From there, the designs were divided into a series of principal sectors such as the main body, dashboard, seats, and wheels.
These separate parts were then digitally rendered in 10mm “slices” to provide the two dimensional profiles needed to laser cut the 1,700 sheets 10mm cardboard. Once the pieces were precision-cut into form, they had to to be attached in sequence by hand.
A water-based wood glue was used for adhesion and was left to set for 10 minutes after application of each layer. The Origami Car took a total of three months to complete, with accuracy being a paramount concern – one mistakenly placed layer or misalignment could ruin the entire project.
“In effect we created our own vehicle production line,” said Ruben. “There was a lot of repetition in the process and we had to work with military precision, just like the teams that make the real Lexus cars.”


Transport Ministry reports 915,874 recorded road accidents in 2021 and 2022

According to a report compiled by The Star, the Transport Ministry revealed that a total of 915,874 road accidents were recorded over the course of 2021 and 2022.

Minister Anthony Loke disclosed that in 2022 alone, there were 545,588 road accidents, resulting in 6,080 fatalities (1.1% mortality rate). In 2021, there were 370,286 accidents, leading to 4,539 deaths (1.23% mortality rate).

Loke also highlighted a study conducted by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), which
identified human behaviour as the primary cause of road accidents
, followed by road infrastructure design and condition, as well as vehicle condition.

To address these issues, Miros and the Road Transport Department have been actively running campaigns and
enforcing measures to promote safe driving practices
.

In response to a parliamentary inquiry by Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah) regarding the main cause of fatal road accidents and the plans to resolve the issue in the short, medium, and long term, Loke shared that the Transport Ministry launched the Malaysia Road Safety Plan (PKJRM 2022-2030) on January 27, 2022.

The goal of the plan is to achieve a 50% reduction in road accidents by 2030. Various programs and strategies involving local communities and the private sector have been devised to support this objective.

Furthermore, both active and passive strategies have been implemented to enhance vehicle safety standards.

This includes the establishment of a vehicle research and safety test centre, as well as improvements to the standards and evaluation mechanisms used to assess vehicle safety. Minister Loke assured that additional measures have also been undertaken to address the issue effectively.


SPYSHOTS: Next-Gen 2015 Toyota Hilux Leaked Online

Looks like the cat's out of the bag... a little bit at least. Here is what looks like images of the all-new 2015 Toyota Hilux being shared across the interwebs like wildfire. Thanks to a tip off report by our friends at
motoring.com.au
, full credit goes to
Autoblog Greece
 who somehow managed to get their hands on these images of the next-generation
Toyota
 Hilux.

Based on the leaked image that shows the front and rear partially, the new Hilux's front-end has seemingly undergone a huge transformation by adopting design cues similar to what we've seen on the more modern range of Toyota vehicles: more shaped lines, wraparound headlights, and a chromed two-bar grille are most visible here. As for the rear, there aren't any significant changes that can be seen.

Our sister site,
Autospinn
 also had an encounter with a camoflouged unit of the all-new Toyota Hilux as well. Although heavily wrapped up, we can make out that the design changes we mentioned do closely resemble that on their spyshots too. The pickup truck is expected to be unveiled in late March, according to Autospinn's sources.

Stay tuned as we track this development closely.


BMW Malaysia Unveils Refreshed 2021 630i GT M Sport

Even though the
BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
 is one of the least popular models in BMW Malaysia's locally assembled lineup, it has not stopped BMW Malaysia from giving it a refresh.

For the same price as before, BMW today unveiled the new locally-assembled 2021 BMW 630i GT M Sport, a car that BMW calls a dynamic synthesis of performance, long-distance capability, and luxury.

More of a facelift rather than new, the 2021 BMW 630i GT M Sport CKD comes with redesigned LED headlights, a larger kidney grille, and new front and rear bumpers.

The new headlights ensure maximum visibility throughout any drive, as it comes with BMW's famed Laserlight with high-beam assistant. This feature adds dynamic laser illumination technology to the LED Matrix headlights system. The laser light follows the course of the road ahead in high-beam mode, and for the first time, adapts illumination even in low-beam mode. In laser high-beam mode, the range increases to a maximum of 650 metres – nearly twice as much as that of conventional high-beam headlights.

The 2021 BMW 630i GT M Sport also comes with 20-inch M light-alloy wheels in Star-spoke style 817 M Bicolour. Just inside the beautiful wheels are blue painted M Sport brake calipers with the “M” designation, which further accentuate the sporty personality of the new Gran Turismo. Its M high-gloss Shadow Line frames also add to its sporty silhouette.

At the rear of the New BMW 630i GT M Sport is a newly designed bumper shape and a new diffuser insert that come with the M Sport package, complemented by two-sided trapezoidal exhaust pipes. An active rear spoiler nestling in the tailgate comes as standard, increasing downforce at higher speeds.

The active rear spoiler automatically deploys at 120 km/h and is retracted once the car slows down to 80 km/h. For those who would like it up all the time, manual operation is available via a button on the centre console. For added convenience, the New BMW 630i GT M Sport comes with the Comfort Access System and BMW Display Key.

The luxurious interior is where most will appreciate the 6-Series GT and it starts with slightly elevated seats (by 5 cm), which ensures outstanding all-round visibility. Leather Dakota upholstery is what you will be sitting on and individual headliner anthracite and fine-wood ash trunkwood open-pored trim with Pearl Chrome highlight trim finisher are amongst the highlights that amplify the luxurious ambiance of the interior.

For drivers, the standout feature is the fully digital instrument display along with the central Control Display. Its size has increased to 12.3 inches compared to its predecessors 10.25 inches. The High Gloss Black control buttons in the centre console and instrument panels in Sensatec gives the interior some sophistication and elegance. Sports seats for both driver and front passenger, along with an M leather steering wheel and head-up display for the driver, completes the sporty interior theme of the 2021 BMW 630i GT M Sport.

The New BMW 630i GT M Sport is akin to that of a luxury class model, with automatic air conditioning with 4-Zone control, three full-size seats at the rear, along with generous legroom. Additional touches of comfort are roller sunblinds – electrical for the rear window and mechanical for rear passengers’ side windows. A two-part panoramic glass roof at just over one metre in length and 90 centimetres wide, provides an extraordinary sense of space and an exceptionally light and airy cabin feel.

Complementing the array of comfort features, are the superb 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, which ensures unparalleled on-the-road entertainment.

In terms of driver assistance systems, the 2021 BMW 630i GT M Sport comes complete with the Driving Assistant and Parking Assistant Plus, as well as Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go function. Also standard for the New BMW 630i GT M Sport is the fully digital BMW Live Cockpit Professional with BMW Operating System 7, which provides access to a world of BMW digital features. These features include navigation, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, 4G LTE connectivity and various services such as Remote Software Upgrade and over-the-air map updates for the navigation system.

With the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and BMW Gesture Control, the New BMW 630i GT M Sport really does connect the driver to the car. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant provides support tailored to the preferences of driver and front passenger, with functions such as navigation, air conditioning, multimedia and telephony, while BMW Gesture Control offers ease of accessibility, allowing for greater convenience and attention on the road.

The New BMW 630i GT M Sport is powered by an inline four-cylinder petrol engine capable of a maximum output of 258 hp, peak torque of 400 Nm and a top speed of 250km/h. The century sprint can be completed in just 6.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is measured at 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres of travel.

The 2021 CKD BMW 630i GT M Sport is offered in four exquisite exterior colours – Bernina Grey Amber Effect, Mineral White, Carbon Black and Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect. As for the interior, customers have the choice of either Leather ‘Dakota’ Black or Leather ‘Dakota’ Cognac – both of which are complete with exclusive stitching and leather piping in contrast.

The New BMW 630i GT M Sport will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide starting 28th May 2021. Meanwhile, customers may also book the 630i GT M Sport for RM3,000 via the BMW Shop Online platform at https://shop.bmw.com.my/ from 29th May 2021

Owners of the New BMW 630i GT M Sport will receive the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience, which includes:

⦁    BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled service programme

⦁    BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline

⦁    The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card

⦁    BMW Service Online

The 2021 BMW 630i GT M Sport is priced the same as the outgoing car, coming in at RM430,800 (with SST, on the road, without insurance).


Bizarre incident: Pedestrian captures footage of EV battery pack dropping out of car

An astonishing incident involving an electric vehicle was recently captured on camera by a pedestrian in China. The footage showcases an unusual event where an entire battery pack of the car unexpectedly detached and fell onto the road.

According to Carscoop's report, the incident took place on the 2nd Ring Road in Chengdu, located in China's Sichuan province.

Although the video does not capture the exact moment when the battery pack fell out, it does reveal the battery lying in the middle of the road while the white electric vehicle is parked a few meters ahead.

The vehicle involved in the incident is known as the Cao Cao 60, which is a part of Geely's ride-hailing business called Cao Cao. Introduced earlier this year, the Cao Cao 60 is their first electric vehicle exclusively available to ride-hailing business customers associated with Cao Cao Mobility.

The exact cause of the incident remains unclear. However, it is worth noting that the Cao Cao 60 supports battery swapping, and Geely boasts about the ability to
replace a discharged battery pack
 with a fully charged one in just 60 seconds.

It is possible that the battery fell out
shortly after being swapped
. This scenario is plausible, especially considering that EVs supporting battery swapping rely on machinery to secure the packs in place. If there was an issue with the machine, such as an incorrectly torqued bolt, it could have potentially caused the pack to loosen and detach.

Due to the brevity of the video, it is difficult to determine whether any damage was sustained by the underside of the Cao Cao 60 or if the battery pack was affected after falling onto the road.

However, it can be assumed that Geely, the company behind the vehicle, is investigating the incident to determine the cause and any potential consequences


Dear Honda, Is Your New 'Integra' Here Just To Confuse Us?

There’s a new Honda in China, and to our confusion it looks almost exactly
like a Civic (11th-gen)
 from every angle inside and out - with only minor changes dotted about - but comes attached with a whole new name (Integra). Worse, this name has history.

When news broke that Honda just unveiled a new Integra, our minds immediately thought of the recently teased coupe-turned-four-door-liftback that
US-specific brand Acura is resurrecting
. In America-land, this nameplate has a special place in the hearts and memories of ‘import’ enthusiasts and VTEC evangelists.

This isn’t the Integra as car guys know it. In fact, neither is the upcoming Acura model, most likely.  But the decision to give a lightly tweaked Civic clone a recycled name with so much weight behind it is pretty baffling, not to the Chinese customers Honda seeks to sway into buying one, but for everyone else.

‘Integra’ was never a fixture of the automotive lexicon for China’s car buyers and this is probably the first time the majority of new buyers will hear of it. Yet, both
the older 10th-gen Civic
 and the newer 11th-gen Civic are both being sold in the People’s Republic, an awkward showroom pair that will be joined by the ‘Integra’.

Explaining the unique appeal of this car over the standard Civic, especially given how identical they are, must be challenging task. Sympathies for the horde of showroom salespeople, but we suppose it comes down to preference and personal taste.

On a purely subjective level, the Honda Integra here does look like a step up over the Civic. Its got squintier headlights, a sharper front end, a honeycomb grille, a more contoured side profile, and the more angular L-shape tail lights fixes some of the
aesthetic shortcomings of the newest Civic
.

We’re just not sold on the choice of bright exterior colours Honda has chosen to showcase the Integra in. A searing baby blue and a piercing shade of yellow will attract those keen to be as conspicuous as possible, but we hope that a subdued grey or dark blue will also be part of the palette.

Honestly, we wouldn’t mind if, eventually, Honda will take some of the sportier cues introduced in this China-only Integra to work into the 11th-gen Civic’s facelift. Apart from its confusing name and tenuous argument for even existing, the Integra does at least make a good case for itself on first impressions, even if they are only in these static studio shots.

Just like its pricing ahead of its “end-2021” planned on-sale date, its powertrain remains a mystery as well. Honda’s announcement was free of any specific details, but the ‘240 Turbo’ badging on the boot lid does point to a familiar recipe.

Incidentally, the Civic’s 190PS 1.5-litre L15 turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine produces an even 240Nm of torque - a perfect match, and 20Nm stronger than the VTEC Turbo in its 10th-gen predecessor. This is almost certain to be mated to the brand’s Earth Dream’s CVT driving the front wheels.

We’re expecting an identical engine here, as you might’ve guessed. And if that wasn’t proof enough, the China-spec 11th-gen Civic boasts the same ‘240 Turbo’ badge on its boot lid. Case closed.

Zooming out across the Pacific Ocean back over to America, the upcoming Acura Integra is also set to be a
kind-of-sporty four-door not-quite-coupe
 thing as well. In spite of Acura’s attempts at setting themselves apart as the premium tier of the Honda Motor Company, this Integra is also confirmed to
share Civic underpinnings
, which also means that it’s much more closely related to this China-only Integra than the PR machine would like to have you believe.

In the end, it’s still pretty confusing. The Integra name might have some pull in the USA and other markets, but has no bearing on the Chinese car buyer and so is pretty much a useless exercise from a marketing perspective. So, why pluck this name out? And why now when Acura is on the cusp on launching a similar, but different car with the same name?

Besides the Integra possibly cannibalising the recently launched 11th-gen Civic saloon given how hard they are to tell apart, was this all an experiment to get us motoring hacks to talk about them a little more. Were they feeling a little left out, in
need of some extra attention
? More to the point: what was Honda thinking?


Audi's quattro Hits 8 Million Production Milestone

The Audi brand has prided itself on their all-wheel drive system for over two and a half decades. Prior to quattro, they were just another German manufacturer- even if they were a little eccentric and quirky. quattro defined them as a brand, partly through their success in motorsports with the system and partly due to their effectiveness in difficult driving conditions. While branding for the system has become decidedly modern with their "all-lowercase" approach, quattro has in-fact evolved a great deal since its humble beginnings as a system derived from an offroad vehicle.
Even under the overarching quattro branding, there are at least three different configurations for the system. Rarely is it in its transverse front-engine form, found in cars like the A1, A3, Q3 and their performance variants. This is similar to the systems found in Volkswagen cars equipped with 4MOTION, such as the Golf R or the Tiguan. The most common configuration is the longitudinal front-engine form, in everything from the A4 to the S8, and every Q model from the Q5 and up. This is also the traditional quattro form, most similar to the original. The final form of quattro is found in the R8, with a longitudinal mid-engine setup. This system is similar to that of Lamborghini, being primarily rear biased with power diversion to the front on demand.
The technology has come a long way as well. From being fixed with three locking differentials at the front, middle, and rear, the newer systems employ Haldex differentials and various different electromechanical controls to vary torque splits on demand and to provide maximum traction in various situations. In performance applications the engineers at Audi Sport (formerly Audi quattro) the system is tweaked to provide more aggressive characteristics for driving pleasure on the limit.
In any case, the 8 millionth quattro to roll out of an Audi factory just so happened to be a Q5. It's a little fitting, showing how quattro has come from being used purely for homologation reasons, to being prided as the sportiest models in Audi's product lineup, to being a system that ensures safety in tricky situations, and now being employed in their SUV range to keep them relevant and practical as they are intended to be. In 2015, a little under half of all Audis sold were equipped with quattro, and that number is set to rise. In 2014, they crossed their 6 millionth milestone, and a little over 2 years later they'ved produced 2 million more.


Jalan TAR To Be Closed To All Vehicles Except Buses Starting 15th March 2019

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) will be closed off to all vehicles except buses, starting March 15th, 2019 to accommodate local traders and shoppers alike.
According to
The Malay Mail
, the approximately one-kilometre stretching from the Sogo Shopping Complex to Wisma Bandar will be closed for the safety of shoppers in the area. DBKL also plans to rent out (up to 200) lots to traders with business licenses to operate stalls during the Ramadan period and other festive seasons if the road closure is deemed to be successful.
Federal Territories minister Khalid Abd Samad said DBKL had conducted an
online survey
 prior to announcing the road closure, where a majority of respondents had agreed with the closure.
Samad said the move, in addition to the safety of pedestrian and shoppers, was to safeguard the interests of local business owners who were not able to do business at the old site of the Ramadan Bazaar.
Main image credit: Google Street View


Spyshot:  Geely Boyue Facelift Leaked - New Engine And Exterior

One of Geely’s best-selling models, the Boyue, could be receiving a mid-life update soon, as photos of what appears to be the facelifted model have emerged.
According to
Autohome
, the updated Boyue is expected to feature the company’s new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine that does 177 hp and 255 Nm, replacing the current model’s larger 1.8-litre turbocharged unit. Additionally, the new engine is likely going to be paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).  The photos by Autohome also portray the updated Boyue with an AWD emblem, hinting that selected variants could feature AWD.
Visually, the updated Boyue gets slimmer headlights up front, flanking a mildly redesigned front grille. The bottom half of the front end also receives some work, now with a more angular approach.
Towards the rear end, the Boyue facelift draws its inspiration from the upcoming Proton X70, with its Geely emblem placed across the trim piece that connects the two tail lights. Geely has also revised the rear bumper design with some subtle changes, which sees the reflectors and rear fog lamp redesigned with slimmer units.
Autohome did not mention when the new Boyue will be introduced, but we will update this space once more information is made known.


Petron Fuels The 2018 Rainforest Challenge Grand Finale In Kelantan

The 2018 Rainforest Challenge (RFC) Grand Finale in Malaysia, which is one of the world’s top 10 off-road events in the world, just drew its curtains last week and powering it this year was none other than Petron.
As the official fuel sponsor and engine oil partner, Petron fueled more than 150 4x4 vehicles which were piloted by 300 off-road driving enthusiasts from 30 nations around the world, who were competing against the odds in Malaysia’s dense tropical rainforest.
The fuel of choice was Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 5, which is formulated to improve engine performance, ensure better fuel economy, and extend engine life.
It has much lower Sulphur content (10 parts per million), and is 50 times cleaner than Euro 2M diesel, helping reduce exhaust emissions and withstand the extreme heat of today’s fuel injection systems.
Complementing the Turbo Diesel Euro 5 in the 150 vehicles was the Petron Rev-X Engine Oil, which protects the engine with Dynamic Cleaning Technology (DC Tech) to keep the engine clean for improved wear protection and smoother operations.
“Petron is proud to be a partner of this extreme 4x4 event as its official fuel partner for the third year. The Rainforest Challenge has definitely brought out the best sporting spirit in everyone. This year, we introduced our Petron Rev-X Engine Oil to complement the Turbo Diesel Euro 5 in this legendary race for an even better performance and excellent engine cleaning action.
This partnership underscores our products’ superiority, which has been proven to be the best fuel-lubes match even for the most adventurous off-road race as well as for your daily journeys,” said Choong Kum Choy, Head of Retail Business of Petron Malaysia.
“RFC is, indeed, proud to have Petron as our fuel and engine oil partner especially as we face tough conditions during the monsoon season. Drenched terrains demand toughest products to keep us going. The adage ‘When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Gets Going’ is very appropriately applied to Petron’s products in the Rainforest Challenge.
This year, we faced the longest off-road sector under monsoon conditions but we are very confident that the fuel and engine oil from Petron enables us to finish the race,” said Founder and Creator of Rainforest Challenge &RFC Global Series, Luis J.A. Wee.
The event, which was flagged off on 24 November at Dataran Redha, Kota Bharu, took the participants from Kota Bahru, Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai and ended in Gua Musang, Kelantan.
Stages of the race, which were were named Predator, Terminator and Twilight Zone, required all participants to navigate through endless steep down-hill and uphill terrains, cross narrow bridges and tropical swamps, steer around mud pools, and cut across the mighty river in Bering.
Having said that, the RFC Malaysia is the finale of the RFC Global Series (RFCGS) which is a worldwide off-road racing circuit spanning 22 nations with 45 events.
On another note, The Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 5 which was powering all the participants at this year's RFC is now available across the nation
at these locations
. Meanwhile, other products from Petron such as the Petron Rev-X Engine Oil, can be purchased at Petron Malaysia’s Official Store on Shopee
here
.
*Images by Petron & RFC Social Team


Kia Unveils K3 GT - Korean Fastback A Budget 3 Series GT?

Some may call it a fastback or a wagon, others may call it a crossover - either way, Kia's new K3 GT seems undeniably inspired by BMW's fastback 3 Series GT model. The introduction of the K3 GT adds yet another body style to the growing K3 range (better known to us as the Kia Cerato, or Forte in other markets), which already includes a
sedan
 and hatchback model.
The Kia K3 GT will reportedly go on sale in Kia’s home market starting next month and will be offered in either four- or five-door body styles.
Visually, the K3 GT is differentiated from the sedan model by its dark chrome radiator grille, gloss black door mirror covers, GT side sills and a GT emblem on the front grille. At the rear, the K3 GT features an edgy rear bumper design housing dual-exhaust tips and a fixed rear spoiler which is matched with multi-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels along the flanks.
The K3 GT is powered by Kia's 1.6-litre turbocharged (T-GDi) engine, also found in the Euro-market specific Ceed GT hot hatch, which produces 204 hp and 265 Nm of torque. Power is sent through a seven-speed double-clutch transmission to the front wheels.


Malaysian Specs Mazda CX-9 Launched - Seven-Seats, From RM290k

Following the initial 60 units of Australian specifications Mazda CX-9 that was introduced earlier this year, Bermaz Motor has finally launched the Malaysian specifications model of the imported from Japan CX-9.
As before, the CX-9 is available in two variants – 2WD and 4WD, both powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged direct injected petrol engine that’s paired to a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Apart from the drivetrain, equipment levels in both 2WD and 4WD variants are identical.
Claimed fuel consumption is a remarkably low 8.98-litre/100 km (applies to both 2WD and 4WD), as tested under the UN R101 cycle, which is similar to the test cycle adopted by Europe’s NEDC. Keep in mind that this is a full-size seven-seater SUV.
Prices have also been reduced, despite it still being imported from Japan. The Malaysian specifications CX-9 now sells for
RM 289,571 (2WD)
 and
RM 305,912 (4WD)
, excluding insurance. That’s about RM25,000 to RM30,000 cheaper than before.
The differences between the Malaysian specifications CX-9 and the previous Australian specifications models are:
Different suspension tuning that’s more suited for Malaysian roads
Adds G-Vectoring Control (GVC)
LED daytime running lights replacing the previous halogen units
Drops i-Stop (engine idle start-stop) and i-ELOOP (capacitor-based energy recuperation system)
Expanded i-ActivSense advanced driving aids systems, added – Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAS)
As mentioned earlier, both the 2WD and 4WD variant share the same list of features. Among the notable features in the CX-9 are:
20-inch alloy wheels
Adaptive LED headlights that adjusts its light pattern and intensity depending on driving conditions
LED tail lights
8-inch full colour touch screen MZD Connect infotainment display
12-speaker Bose sound system
Full colour Active Driving Display (Heads Up Display)
Keyless entry
Power-operated sunroof with sliding and tilt glass
Power-operated tailgate
10-way power adjustable driver’s seat
Three-zone automatic air-conditioning with vents and controls for rear passengers
6 airbags
ActivSense – Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Smart City Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist System, Driver Attention Alert
The third row seats fold flat into the boot floor (manual folding) and this being a full-size seven-seater, there is enough legroom and headroom for adults. The second row seats only fold and slide forward but doesn’t tumble. Normally this would be an issue but as the CX-9 is a sufficiently large SUV, adults could easily climb in and out of the third-row simply by tilting the seatback forward and sliding it in front. There is no need to even fully fold down the seatback.
Of course, the main highlight of the CX-9 is its interior. Never mind a BMW X5, the CX-9’s cabin materials are good enough to rival even the most expensive Audi Q7. In fact, elements of Audi’s styling can be seen everywhere in the Mazda. From finely machined switchgear bezels to aluminum inlays, the CX-9 presents itself as a proper alternative to the established German premium brands. Pity those who can’t look past the badge.
Starting at RM289k, the seven-seater CX-9 presents itself a more premium alternative to the recently previewed five-seater Toyota Harrier (from RM238,000), as well as a more spacious alternative to the locally-assembled five-seater Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 (from RM288,888).


Johor Sultan Rolled Up In A Hyundai IONIQ 5 To Meet PM

We’re pretty well aware that Johor royalty takes every opportunity to show their extensive collection of automobiles, but this newest sighting takes things into unexpected EV territory with the
Hyundai IONIQ 5
.

When arriving for a meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the Sultan of Johor, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar was seen behind the wheel of the electric hatchback, accompanied by the usual cavalcade of super-tinted SUVs. Our PM, for example, arrived in a
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
.

Last month, the ruler of Johor was
previously seen with a Genesis G90
 as his official chariot of the day, which indicates something of a trend with vehicles from South Korea - Genesis, for the uninitiated, is Hyundai’s luxury sub-brand with the aforementioned G90 being their equivalent of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or
BMW 7 Series
.

Onto the IONIQ 5, the car only made its official
international debut in February 2021
 as the spearhead vehicle of both their EV-focused IONIQ subsidiary marque and the company’s
E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform)
 vehicle architecture.

Its design is pretty much a production-realised version of the Hyundai 45 EV Concept that debuted at 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show with its extremely generous wheelbase, crossover-like ride height, and boldly angular ‘Parametric Pixel’ exterior aesthetic.

It boasts a battery capacity between 58kWh and 77.4kWh and either single or dual-motor configurations with a combined output of up to 320hp and 605Nm. In its longest-lasting variant, maximum range is quoted at 480km before needing a recharge.

With this royal nod, perhaps Hyundai-Sime Darby Malaysia will see fit to fast-track the arrival of the IONIQ 5 to local showrooms. After all, we’ve already had confirmation that Hyundai will be launching their first zero emissions vehicle
here in Q4 2021 with the Kona Electric
.


All-New Volvo S60 And V60 Scores 5 Stars In Euro NCAP

Volvo vehicles are synonymous with high levels of safety protection and it comes to no surprise that their all-new mid-sized sedan and wagon models (S60 and V60 models respectively), aced the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) scoring a maximum of 5 stars.
The third generation Volvo S60 scored highly in the adult occupant protection with a score of 96%, while child occupant protection registered a score of 84%.
All the advanced driving assistance systems in the
Pilot Assist
package were thoroughly put into the test by Euro NCAP. Features such as City Safety with Autobrake technology with cyclist and pedestrian detection performed among the very best but Euro NCAP found the performance of the emergency lane keeping only at a marginal level.
Nonetheless, the all-new Volvo S60 and V60 are two of the safest cars tested under the new regime that includes the aforementioned testing of advanced driving assistance systems.
Launched and manufactured in the USA
, the all-new S60 competes with the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, plus the Lexus IS and is offered with a selection of petrol-only engines, either with or without a plug-in hybrid system. Engine outputs range from 250 hp for the T5 and up to 400 hp for the hybrid T8 AWD.
The video above depicts how Euro NCAP performs tests on advanced driving assistance systems in a controlled environment
.


MITI wants Proton and Perodua to expedite national EV

It seems that after
attending Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's launch of their locally assembled EV
, MITI minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz can't wait to see a national electric vehicle - which is why he has pulled Perodua and Proton aside to discuss the expedition of a national EV.

According to Bernama's report, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) is in talks with local vehicle manufacturers Proton and Perodua, to accelerate the production of national electric vehicles so that Malaysians can have the option to purchase an affordable electric vehicle.

Tengku Zafrul also emphasized at the same time that the current import permit (AP) guidelines have been eased to provide flexibility on the maximum quantity of fully assembled vehicles (CBU), for the pre-assembly market research (Market Research Pre-Assembly - MRA) sector.

MRA vehicles are essentially study vehicles, so local assembly companies can better assess new market needs for the EV segment before starting production.

"This measure is expected to help give the people more EV options," he said at the Dewan Rakyat recently.

It seems that MITI can't wait to flood the market with EVs, as Norazman Ayub, Deputy Secretary General of MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry), also
stated last week
 that the ministry is 'encouraging' more car companies to bring in more affordable EV models into the country, and that will be made available later this year.

The Malaysian government will also push to expand the EV charging infrastructure network to at least 10,000 charging stations by 2025. They are looking at getting around RM20 billion worth of investments to strengthen the Malaysia EV ecosystem by 2025 and RM40 billion by the year 2030.