2014 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Quick Review – Is it Tough Enough?

“Car like” [adjective] – a word used to describe characteristics or features that resemble those found on or in a car. To add to that, it is also a word that is most commonly used by motoring scribes on every 21
st
 century four-wheeled motor vehicle from SUVs and pick-up trucks. It is only in recent times that this odd fascination for having “car like” traits and things, popped up in the market.  Back then people called a spade a spade, and liked it that way. Nowadays you are never too far from a big and imposing SUV that can outrun a sports car and corner on rails, or more prevalently, pick-up trucks with all the gadgets and appointments of a car.
Most pick-up trucks in the market today are well-appointed luxury barges when you consider how crude and simple they used to be at the turn of the 1990s. That said, for all these lovely lashings like multimedia entertainment systems, sound proofing, or a decent ride comfort that we can now enjoy on today’s pick-up trucks, the question has to asked if they are still the tough and dependable machines that they were made to be? Cars are nice and comfy, but they are weak and hopeless where roads are absent. The truest test of a pick-up truck is to send it to where the roads are as unforgiving as the jungles around it, and that is why we are here driving
Isuzu’s new D-Max
 through the jungles of Sabah.
If you haven’t been to Sabah, you should. It is a magnificent and beautiful place that is largely untouched by the march of progress. Word of caution though, it is not suited for cars as the road network isn’t so much as being poorly maintained, but sporadic. Some stretches of roads are well built, laid with smooth tarmac and properly cambered, only for it to end abruptly and become a gravel track before you know it. And that is if you are lucky. Some sections there really isn’t any road at all. To get around Sabah, a pick-up truck is a necessity, but can the pick-up trucks of today survive the trials of off-road driving, or has it been soften by the demands of modernity?
With that in mind, Isuzu Malaysia prepared their most powerful D-Max model, the V-Cross 3.0L, which we would be driving on a 560km Dura-Mission expedition around Sabah. The trip would take us from the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, up to the northern most point of the island, the Tip of Borneo, down to the mountain town of Kundasang, and right back to the capital. For those who aren’t familiar with the 3-litre variant of the D-Max, here is a brief rundown of what it has in store.
Specifications of the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT
Engine: 2,999cc 4-cylinder, VGS Turbo Diesel
Transmission: Five-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Power: 177PS @ 3,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 1,800-2,800rpm
Price: RM107,460
Considering that the route would take us on mountain roads and through muddy jungle paths, our D-Max was outfitted with chunky Viking off-road tyres, and large side steps to make it easier for us to get in and out of it. It might not sound like much but tyres do make a lot of difference in a vehicle’s performance, and a necessity considering how far deep into the jungle we would be driving the D-Max into. As the D-Max now comes with a larger cargo bed behind, its rear overhang has grown substantially, and to help it climb any steep inclines, Isuzu Malaysia has taken off the rear bumpers as well. Apart from those modifications, the D-Max is similar to the D-Max you can buy straight off the showroom floor, same drivetrain and stock standard features inside.
On paper the D-Max’s 3-litre 177PS turbocharged diesel engine sounds immense, but its power delivery doesn’t feel like a handful when you pin the throttle. Even though it has 380Nm on the cards, which is dealt out from 1,800rpm, the D-Max doesn’t accelerate off the line with any sort of urge. The power ramps up gradually rather than immediately. Despite its displacement, the 3-litre engine doesn’t feel all that more powerful from the more affordable and slightly less powerful 136PS/320Nm 2.5-litre variants. Though as it turns out, on some Sabah’s more mountainous roads and challenging terrain, the extra grunt to be had from its 3-litre engine does allow the D-Max to pull itself through sticky situations with better ease, which was a good thing as rain and mud were in no short supply on the day that we left Kota Kinabalu.
With heavy skies overhead, the weather was a full-on deluge, but that was of little consequence as all was well inside the D-Max. For a pick-up truck, the cabin is refinedand well-equipped with a whole host of features such as auto climate control, multimedia features, and even Bluetooth connectivity. And yet, as befitting of its kind,there is a robust feeling that it will withstand hard usage and wear its years well. Given its body-on-frame construction and leaf springs, it delivered a rather comfortable ride on the road, though that said, there was a huge amount of tyre roar from the off-road tyres, and around corners the huge tyre threads doesn’t offer much in the way of cornering stability. Nevertheless, on the road the D-Max had decent handling characteristics, not quite as sporty as the likes of the Mitsubishi Triton, but its road-holding qualities and ride comfort is good enough that any standard car driver wouldn’t feel too alienated when helming it. It is big on the outside, but behind the wheel the D-Max is easy to drive and thread through the narrow village roads.
But we didn’t travel over the South China Sea to assess the its on-road credentials, nor are we here for the roads, even though Sabah is home to some of the best roads in the country, like the majestic A150 highway that snakealong the Crocker mountain range. Instead we are here to get down and dirty off the beaten path with the D-Max, and in Sabah, you won’t have to travel far to find it. Just 30km out of Kota Kinabalu and we divert ourselves from the smooth hillside roads and straight onto a muddy trail that leads into the deep end of the jungle.
Though weighing nearly two and a half tonnes, it is remarkable to note that the D-Max is quite capable off road without having to resort to using its two 4WD modes. Its dirt crawling capability is of course helped by the off-road tyres, which can vastly alter its performance on rough terrain. As a general rule, if the trail you are on comprises of tarmac, gravel, or stable sand, even with a slight incline, you would be fine driving around in 2WD mode. It is only when the ground beneath is soft sand or thick mud that its  4WD mode is required as the rear wheels can easily sink into the soil, or the torque from the engine dig the rear wheels into trouble. With power distributed between the two axles, it is easy for the truck to pull itself out of a bind, unless of course there isn’t enough torque from the engine to overcome the terrain. For that you need to resort to the last setting, 4WD low-range.
“4L” mode on the D-Max is only reserved for the most challenging conditions, such as rocks and steep unstable terrain. In this mode, power is transferred to all four wheels through a low-range gearbox, which enables you to rev the engine without having to build up speed. This would be useful to get bursts of torque from the engine to steadily pull yourself out of situations, as well as induce engine braking to keep your speed under control when descending steep and slippery slopes.
Through the pouring rain, muddy slopes, rocky escarpments, flooded rivers, and sweltering swamps, the D-Max performed flawlessly. The only moments where I found myself stuck were due to my own lack of experience in off-road driving. For most parts then the D-Max is well suited for off-road excursions and life away from the comforts and confines of the road.
Despite improving the interior refinement and making it all “car-like”, the D-Max is no less tough and dependable as its predecessors were. The extended load bed behind has also increased the D-Max’s carrying capacity by a huge degree as compared to its predecessor, making it just as big as the load beds you find on its contemporaries today. On top of that, Isuzu has certainly upheld the D-Max’s reputation for fuel efficiency with this generation. After 560km worth of fast on- and tough off-road driving, the D-Max with its 3-litre turbodiesel engine returned a fuel consumption figure of 10L/100km, which is a remarkable figure for an engine of such displacement. Though
Isuzu
 only produces two passenger vehicles in their model line-up (with the MU7 seven-seater SUV based on the D-Max slated to be introduced in Malaysia later this year) the Japanese company’s primary business is engineering and supplying diesel engines for other clients, and that shows in the D-Max. For its smoothness, power delivery, and fuel efficiency, the D-Max’s engine is a fine example of their engineering expertise.
Although the D-Max has adopted more “car-like” qualities, it hasn’t forgotten that the great majority of pick-up truck buyers aren’t easily swayed by what is fancy and snazzy. Despite the praise these new car-like pick-up trucks have been receiving, and the laurels that have heaped upon their shoulders, the best selling pick-up truck in the country is still the relatively simple and crude Toyota Hilux.
What most ordinary car buyers forget is that the Hilux is mostly bought by business owners and as far as they are concerned, it is all about the dollars and sense, and the Hilux’s cheap servicing costs plays a big factor in this end of the market. In a previous motoring publication I tabulated the ownership costs (taking into account servicing and spare parts)of a Hilux, and discovered that the difference in costs between a Hilux and its better equipped and fancier rivals wasn’t so much a gap, but a gorge. There was one exception, and that was the Isuzu D-Max. The D-Max’s cost of ownership was closely similar to that of the Hilux.
So all things considered then the D-Max truly excels at being an all-round competent truck that brings together the “car-like” qualities that many desire, but keeps its low ownership costs and robustness that everyone needs. And in our vocabulary, that is what we would call a “win-win” scenario.


Toyota And Mercedes-Benz Lead Auto Sector In 2018 Best Global Brands List

Toyota is once again the world’s most valuable automotive brand, followed by Mercedes-Benz. This is according to branding consultancy Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2018 study.
The study identifies the world's 100 most valuable brands. Nominee brands were evaluated based on their "financial performance of the brand's products or services", "role of the brand in the purchase decision-making process" and "strength of the brand in relation to safeguarding the company's future revenue".  This is done in accordance to ISO 10668:2010 - an international standard that defines the basic requirements on procedures and methods for determining the monetary value of a brand.
Between 2017 and 2018, Toyota had improved its brand value by 6 percent to USD 53.4 billion. It now ranks 7th overall, behind sixth place Samsung and fifth place Coca-Cola.
The second highest ranked automotive brand is Mercedes-Benz, coming in at eighth overall, having improved its brand value by 2 percent to reach USD 48.6 billion. It also means that the three-pointed star is also the world’s most valuable premium brand. The next closest automotive brand is BMW, ranked 13th overall.
Other automotive brands ranked are Honda (20th), Ford (35th), Hyundai (36th), Nissan (40th), Volkswagen (41st), Audi (42nd), Porsche (52nd), Kia (71st), Land Rover (78th), MINI (90th), and Subaru (100th).
The top-three most valuable brands overall are Apple, Google, and Amazon.


BMW M5 (F90) – How Does It Compare Against The G30 M550i xDrive

BMW has just launched its all-new
F90 M5
 flagship, but this isn’t the only high performance version of the G30 5 Series on offer. Sitting just below the M5 is the
M550i xDrive
 that was introduced together with the rest of the
G30 range
 last year.
At a glance, the M5 and M550i xDrive seemingly share a similar mechanical template – 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 driving all four wheels via ZF’s 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission.
The M550i is part of BMW’s M Performance line up, and consequently sits lower in the hierarchy from the full-blooded M model. Nevertheless, despite being nearly 100 hp down on power from the F10 M5, the M550i manages to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h faster by 0.3 seconds.
We can perhaps attribute this discrepancy to the M550i’s superior all-wheel traction and reduced weight over the F10 M5. The M550i is also marginally more efficient with fuel, using a whole litre of fuel less per 100km on the combined cycle.
The F90 M5, on the other hand, receives a substantial boost in power and torque over its predecessor and translates that advantage to a 0.9-second improvement of its century sprint time.
Here are the facts and figures:
Externally, whilst the M550i shares common body parts with regular 5 Series M Sport variants, the M5 gets its unique set of body panels, notably at the front, where a creased aluminium bonnet takes the place of the regular steel item.
The M5’s front fenders, also made from aluminium, are not only flared to accommodate a wider axle track, but also sees the lower air curtain vent from the regular 5 Series erased and replaced with the signature M gills higher up.
The M5’s front bumpers are also carved with larger air intakes, although the M550i strikes back with a no less expressive matt silver trim piece that accentuates its own corner air vent. The M5 also gets its own carbon fibre roof for further weight reduction.
At the rear, both the M5 and M550i get aggressively-shaped bumper diffusers and quad tail pipes. The M550i has more darkened areas, but the M5 gets a more expressive take with sharper and more clearly defined creases.
Inside, both cabins share a common architecture. The three-spoke M steering wheel look largely identical save for the bright red M1 and M2 buttons found in the M5. The M5 also get more technical-looking fonts on its instrument cluster as well as a more elaborate electronic shifter to operate its 8-speed auto.
On paper, little seems to separate these two V8-powered high-performance flagships of the BMW 5 Series range. Given its technical similarities with the F90 M5, the M550i already seems like progression over the previous-gen F10 M5 - a faster 0-100 km/h time sees to that.
It is interesting how BMW see these two cars would co-exist. Our speculation is that whilst the M5 represent the absolute limit of performance possible with today's engineering, the M550i offers more than one would typically require in a more understated and friendlier to use day-to-day. In fact, the M550i's product proposition appears to be edging rather close to the Alpina B5's territory whilst the M5 focuses its guns on the
600hp monster lurking at the Mercedes-AMG corner
.


Proton X70 Special Edition (SE) vs Proton X70 Premium – Mana Lagi Berbaloi?

Antara
Proton X70 Special Edition (SE)
 dan Proton X70 Premium yang mana satu pilihan yang lebih berbaloi?

Proton X70 Special Edition (SE) vs Proton X70 Premium

Baru-baru ini, PROTON telah melancarkan
2,000 unit
 edisi khas
SUV segmen-C
 terlaris di Malaysia iaitu Proton X70 SE. Bagi yang terlepas, Proton X70 SE ini dibina berasaskan varian Proton X70 Premium.

Bagi tujuan artikel ini, kami akan membandingkan model Proton X70 SE dengan Proton X70 Premium. Tapi antara edisi SE dengan varian Premium, mana satu pilihan yang lebih berbaloi? Untuk membantu anda membuat pilihan, kami akan merungkai segala perbezaan yang ada pada kedua-dua model X70 ini.

Harga Proton X70 2021

Proton X70 Premium: RM119,800

Proton X70 SE: RM123,800

Kedua-dua harga yang ditunjukkan merupakan harga On The Road tanpa
insurans
.

Warna Proton X70 2021

Varian Premium Proton X70 ditawarkan dalam 6 pilihan warna iaitu
Snow White, Jet Grey, Ruby Red, Armour Silver, Space Grey
 dan
Cinnamon Brown
. Tetapi untuk X70 SE, hanya dua warna yang ditawarkan, iaitu
Ocean Blue serta Ruby Red
. Warna baharu
Ocean Blue
 yang dipilih pada X70 SE ini merupakan warna yang sedia ada ditawarkan pada SUV segmen-B mereka iaitu
Proton X50
.

Selain itu, Proton X70 SE turut menerima sentuhan dwi-tona pada bahagian luarannya di mana bumbung, cermin sisi serta spoiler belakangnya menerima sentuhan cat berwarna hitam. Warna
Ruby Red
 pada X70 Premium dan X70 SE ini sama sahaja, bezanya hanya dwi-tona tersebut.

Exterior Proton X70 2021

Dari segi keseluruhan bahagian luaran kereta ini, tidak banyak beza pun sebenarnya.

Proton X70 SE lebih menyerlah dengan kehadiran emblem SE yang tersergam indah di bahagian pintu but belakang untuk menandakan bahawa ianya merupakan edisi khas dan terhad.

Rim Proton X70 2021

Proton X70 merupakan kereta Malaysia yang dibina berasaskan
Geely Boyue
 dari China. Di China, model facelift terbaru Boyue yang diberi nama
Boyue Pro
 telah dilancarkan. Untuk edisi khas Proton X70, ia menerima sentuhan rim 19-inci baharu yang sama digunakan pada model Geely Boyue Pro. Sementara itu varian X70 Premium masih menggunakan rim 19-inci X70 CKD.

Interior Proton X70 2021

Tema dalaman bagi kedua-dua model ini agak sedikit berbeza. Proton X70 Premium menggunakan balutan kulit Nappa berwarna coklat keperangan sementara Proton X70 SE diberikan balutan kulit Nappa berwarna hitam.

Bukan itu sahaja, Proton X70 SE turut hadir dengan karpet lantai khas dengan lencana SE untuk mengingatkan penumpang serta pemandu di dalam bahawa kereta tersebut merupakan edisi khas.

Enjin Proton X70 2021

Dari segi mekanikal, tiada sebarang perbezaan antara Proton X70 Premium dan Proton X70 SE ini. Kedua-duanya masih menggunakan pacuan roda hadapan dan enjin 1.8L turbo 4-silinder sama yang memberi output sebanyak 184 PS dan 300 Nm tork serta dipadankan dengan transmisi klac berkembar automatik 7-kelajuan.

Berikut merupakan perbezaan yang boleh di dapati pada kedua-dua model ini. Secara ringkasnya, Proton X70 SE adalah edisi terhad (2,000 unit) bagi Proton X70 Premium dengan ciri yang dipertingkatkan seperti penambahan dwi tona, warna tema dalaman serta rim baharu. Dengan penambahan tersebut, harga bagi Proton X70 SE ini lebih mahal RM4,000 berbanding varian Premium.

Antara X70 Premium dan X70 SE, yang mana satu paling menambat hati anda?

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 your latest
new car promotion
 here also.


Car fuel economy myths - don't believe them!

At some point in your life, someone might have 'advised' you on some 'mythical' ways of improving the fuel economy of your beloved cars.

These so-called ‘tips' to save fuel as well as your hard-earned money go far and wide and while some of them have been proven to work, there are also some that have been debunked by experts but you'll still see people doing them (and going viral on social media) nonetheless.

Here are some fuel economy myths that have been proven to NOT work so you can avoid them and save your time and effort.

Myth 1: Warm up your car first, don't simply start & drive off! -
BUSTED

All
modern-day cars
 are fuel-injected and the ECU (electronic control unit) is smart enough to control the optimal fuel and air mixture the engine needs from the moment the car is turned on. It'll also alter that ratio as the car gets warmer, so there's really no need to let the car idle to its
optimum temperature
 before driving off.

It's better for you and your car to just start driving at a decent pace from the moment the car's engine is turned on. Once the car is at operating temperature (when that blue temperature indicator turns off or when the temperature gauge reaches the normal level), then you can give it all the beans. Just don't go 'pedal to the metal' from the start. Keep calm, start driving, and your car will thank you for it.

Myth 2: Shake your car while refuelling, get rid of ALL the air! -
BUSTED

Ah yes, the shaking and rolling of the car while refuelling at the petrol pump. The reasoning for this weird behaviour started out as a simple thought of 'shaking' out all the air bubbles in the
fuel tank
.

Every single vehicle manufacturer has designed their fuel tanks to accommodate the right levels of both fuel and air. Throwing that balance off by filling it up with fuel all the way up to the fuel cap will affect the performance of the breather valves and drain holes which are used to avoid your fuel from getting contaminated.

Myth 3: Fuel pump already 'clicked'? Continue filling! -
BUSTED

To continue with the first point of overfilling your fuel tank, doing that will cause more harm to the vehicle's Evaporative Emission System (EVAP) where its main function is to store and dispose of fuel vapours. The key word here is 'vapours', so if there's any liquid that goes into the system from the action of overfilling, get ready for an expensive repair bill.

Filling it up to the brim when the petrol pump 'clicks' to indicate that the fuel tank is already full is fine. That should be a sign for you to stop. Trust the fuel pump and never try to fill it up by getting rid of all the air pockets in the tank. Just don't do it.

Myth 4: More expensive fuel = better fuel economy! -
BUSTED

You might have heard from a lot of folks that say they use RON 95 fuel for normal driving in their normal cars, but switch over to RON 97 for longer road trips. Some practise this on a daily basis despite not driving high-performance or
luxury cars
.

If your new and modern car is stock or 'standard' with no aftermarket modifications like
turbo kits
 or high-compression pistons that can 'tekan-tekan preggy', the minimum fuel octane rating recommended by the manufacturer is safe to use for any normal day-to-day driving scenarios in both short and long distance journeys. Filling up with RON 97 or higher won't make your car run smoother or burn less fuel. What you’ll burn is a bigger hole in your wallet.

It's a different case if you're running older cars that don't have knock sensors or perfectly-running ECUs but for most modern-day cars that are not considered as 'high-performance' or 'tuned', stick to the minimum RON number supported by your car and you'll be just fine.

Myth 5: Fill up at night, get more fuel! -
BUSTED

We're all guilty of doing this at least once – refuelling at night because it's colder so that the fuel won't turn into vapour. This has been debunked so many times, but we're going to explain it one more time for you guys and gals.

All the fuels are stored underground where the ambient temperatures above ground would have virtually zero effect on the state of the fuels. Conditions are kept constant when you refuel your cars even at the hottest point of the day. If you fill up 10 litres of fuel, you will get 10 litres from the pump no matter the time of day.

Buy Fuel-Efficient Cars
with CARSOME
 (Not a Myth!)

If you're really worried about fuel economy, the best way to start tackling this is by getting yourself a fuel-efficient car from the get-go. There are many options out there from EEVs

(Energy Efficient Vehicles) like the
Perodua Axia
 to mild-hybrids and even PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) both new and used, depending on your budget.

You can find some really good used options available
at CARSOME
 in all shapes and sizes. For even greater peace of mind, look for those that are labeled with the CARSOME Certified banner. Each CARSOME Certified car has passed a strict 175-point inspection and is professionally refurbished. Furthermore, each car comes with a fixed price and no hidden fees, a five-day money-back guarantee, and a one-year warranty.


Fahami Fungsi Dan Peraturan Penggunaan Cermin Gelap (Tinting) Pada Kenderaan

Tahukah anda setiap pemasangan cermin gelap atau
tinting
 pada kenderaan mempunyai fungsi serta peraturannya yang tersendiri?

Kalau dulu cermin gelap ini dianggap sebagai aksesori sahaja, kini ianya merupakan satu keperluan memandangkan cuaca panas terik yang dihadapi oleh negara ini. Pernahkah anda memandu kereta yang tidak mempunyai tint pada cerminnya ketika panas terik? Rasanya seakan-akan seperti berada di dalam akuarium di tengah-tengah padang pasir, bukan?

Dah la bahang dan tak selesa, sinaran matahari yang tidak ditapis juga boleh mendatangkan bahaya kepada mata serta kulit anda. Sinaran ultraungu serta inframerah berupaya meninggalkan kesan pada anda terutama apabila anda memandu untuk tempoh yang lama. Memanglah kereta anda berbumbung, tapi kedudukan matahari berubah-ubah, begitu juga dengan kedudukan kereta anda. Ada masanya anda akan ditembak juga oleh bintang berapi tersebut.

Jawapan terbaik bagi menyelesaikan masalah ini ialah dengan menggunakan cermin gelap pada kenderaan anda. Bagi mereka yang kurang arif tentang pemasangan cermin gelap, kenali dan fahami terlebih dahulu terma-terma yang digunakan.

Peratusan Ketelusan Cahaya atau Visible Light Transmission (VLT)

VLT bermaksud kadar peratusan cahaya yang dibenarkan tembus melalui tingkap sesebuah kenderaan. Semakin rendah nilai VLT pada filem cermin kereta, semakin kurang cahaya dapat tembus. Pendek kata, semakin kurang peratusan VLT, semakin gelap cermin kereta.

Infrared (IR)

Infrared merujuk pada kadar haba yang menembus masuk kenderaan. Kadar haba di dalam kenderaan yang ditinggalkan dibawah cahaya matahari bergantung pada nilai IR yang terdapat pada filem cermin kereta. Lebih tinggi nilai IR, semakin kurang haba dapat tembus masuk.

Ultraviolet (UV)

Sinaran UV berlebihan yang dipancarkan oleh matahari memberi kesan negatif pada mata dan kulit. Nilai UV pada filem cermin kereta merujuk pada kadar peratusan sinaran UV yang dapat menembusi cermin kereta. Nilai UV yang tinggi pada filem cermin kereta adalah lebih baik.

Pemilihan Cermin Gelap/ Tint

Perlindungan

Semasa ingin memilih tinted yang bersesuaian, pastikan filem cermin yang dipilih mempunyai ciri perlindungan asas seperti perlindungan daripada sinar UV dan haba. Pelbagai jenis tinted boleh didapati dalam harga RM100-RM1,000 bergantung pada jenis filem serta kenderaan yang digunakan. Antara jenis tinted yang popular ialah jenis sputter, metallized, carbon, dan seramic.

Bahan api

Tahukah anda, tinted yang berkualiti dapat mengurangkan kadar penggunaan bahan api kenderaan? Betul tu! Cermin gelap yang berkualiti mampu untuk mengurangkan kadar sinaran matahari yang menembusi cermin dan menangkis haba. Jadi kereta anda tak perlu nak guna lebih bahan api untuk sejukkan bahagian dalaman kereta.

Keselamatan

Selain itu, ada juga filem gelap yang dijual khas dengan ciri keselamatan seperti mengurangkan risiko cermin daripada pecah berderai apabila berlaku kemalangan. Selain menyelamatkan diri anda daripada terkena serpihan cermin, filem jenis ini turut mampu melindungi kenderaan anda daripada dipecah masuk oleh pencuri sewenang-wenangnya. Dengan filem ini, mereka perlu lebih masa untuk pecah masuk.

Waranti

Seperti kereta, filem cermin kereta juga mempunyai waranti yang dikeluarkan oleh pihak pengeluar. Jika filem tersebut rosak dalam tempoh waranti, tuntutan boleh dibuat. Walau bagaimanapun, waranti bagi cermin gelap ini berbeza-beza mengikut jenama. Pastikan anda membuat perbandingan terlebih dahulu untuk mencari yang paling sesuai untuk anda.

Peraturan Penggunaan Cermin Gelap Oleh JPJ

Kebiasaannya, perkara pertama yang dilakukan setelah membeli kereta baharu ialah memasang cermin gelap. Sebelum pasang, kena tahu peraturan juga. Jangan main pasang sahaja. Nanti tahu-tahu dapat surat cinta dari JPJ. Bermula Mei 2019, JPJ telah mengeluarkan peraturan baharu bagi penggunaan cermin gelap kenderaan di negara ini.

*Sumber: Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia

Menerusi pindaan ini, kadar peratusan ketelusan cahaya pada cermin penumpang belakang dibenarkan untuk dipasang tanpa had. Sebelum ini, kadar peratusan yang dibenarkan pada cermin belakang hanyalah 30% sahaja. Walau bagaimanapun, kadar peratus ketelusan cahaya bagi cermin hadapan tiada beza berbanding sebelumnya.

Pengecualian Peraturan Penggunaan Cermin Gelap

Terdapat dua jenis kenderaan yang dikecualikan daripada peraturan cermin gelap:

a) Kenderaan milik kerajaan yang digunakan oleh

Agong & Permaisuri Agong

Raja atau pembesar memerintah sesuatu negeri atau konsortnya

Pemangku raja atau konsortnya

Bakal dan Bekas Raja atau konsortnya

Yang dipertua Negeri

Hakim mahkamah agong / mahkamah tinggi

Pegawai polis atau tentera

b) Kenderaan yang mendapat kebenaran daripada Ketua Pengarah JPJ atas sebab keselamatan atau kesihatan. Untuk memohon, layari laman web rasmi JPJ untuk mengetahui maklumat yang lebih terperinci tentang prosedur permohonan.

Bagi permohonan berasaskan kesihatan, tiada yuran atau bayaran yang dikenakan. Sebaliknya, jika anda ingin memohon berdasarkan keselamatan, bayaran permohonan sebanyak RM 50.00 akan dikenakan bagi setiap permohonan. Jika lulus, anda perlu membayar yuran perakuan kelulusan yang berharga RM5,000. Walau bagaimanapun, tempoh kelulusan pengecualian ini hanya sah selama 2 tahun. Permohonan baharu perlu dibuat sejurus tamat tempoh.

Diharapkan artikel ini dapat membantu anda untuk memilih filem cermin kereta terbaik untuk kenderaan anda. Bukan apa, kalau dah tahu serba sedikit tentang tinted ini, kadar peratusan anda untuk ditipu di kedai aksesori pun turut berkurang.

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Pemberian Subsidi Minyak Diteruskan Kerajaan Malaysia

Kerajaan Malaysia akan terus memberikan subsidi semasa meskipun
harga minyak
 dunia naik mendadak ekoran pergolakan antara Rusia dan Ukraine.

Perkara ini disahkan oleh Pengarah Belanjawan Negara, Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican yang mengatakan kerajaan bakal terus melindungi rakyat daripada mengalami kesan inflasi yang mendadak selain mengambil kira keadaan ekonomi negara yang masih di peringkat awal pemulihan pasca COVID-19.

"Kerajaan mengekalkan dasar subsidi semasa untuk melindungi rakyat daripada kenaikan harga barangan dan gangguan kepada rantaian bekalan makanan, walaupun kos kepada subsidi itu meningkat secara mendadak," katanya.

Menurutnya, kesan pergolakan antara
Rusia dan Ukraine
 mengakibatkan kenaikan harga minyak melebihi AS$100 setong, sedangkan Bajet 2022 yang disediakan kerajaan adalah atas unjuran atau andaian harga minyak sebanyak AS$67 setong.

Beliau berkata rakyat pada ketika ini masih dapat menikmati harga minyak
RON95
 pada kadar RM2.05 seliter, iaitu antara yang termurah jika dibandingkan dengan negara pengeluar minyak seperti Arab Saudi dan negara jiran yang perlu membayar lebih kurang dua kali ganda.

Tambahnya, harga minyak tanpa subsidi kini sudah mencapai RM4.00 seliter dan kenaikan itu menyebabkan harga minyak sawit meningkat, namun kerajaan masih lagi menyediakan pek bersubsidi untuk satu kilogram pada harga RM2.50, sedangkan harga jika mengikut masa ini mencecah hampir RM10.

Selain subsidi minyak, Johan berkata kerajaan turut mengekalkan subsidi harga bagi ayam dan telur yang membabitkan kos lebih RM500 juta untuk tempoh empat bulan bagi menstabilkan harga dan mengawal kadar inflasi.

*Kredit foto: MOF

Pengarah Belanjawan Negara itu berpendapat bahawa Malaysia mungkin tidak akan mengalami impak lain yang ketara terhadap pergolakan yang berlaku di antara Rusia dan Ukraine kerana kedua-dua negara itu bukan rakan dagangan utama negara ini.

Terdahulu, Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia telah mengatakan bahawa mekanisme subsidi minyak akan dikaji semula agar dapat dilakukan dengan lebih bersasar selain menumpukan bantuan dan subsidi kepada golongan rentan serta mereka yang benar-benar memerlukannya.


ROAD CLOSURE: LDP Faces 400m One-Night Closure This Saturday

*Image courtesy of Google Maps
Take note drivers, Kilometre 24 of the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP) will be closed for one night this coming Saturday (4th July). So, if you plan on travelling there during the following hours, do take note.
Between 11:00pm and 6:00am the next morning, a 400m stretch of the LDP highway adjacent to Bank Rakyat and the Kompleks Rakan Muda will be closed to facilitate the launching works for the pedestrian bridge at Station 8 of the Ampang LRT Line Extension Project.
MyRapid has announced that it will be providing two alternative routes for motorist travelling at that time and area, headed towards Putrajaya, Shah Alam and Bandar Sunway directions (see below for routes).
As usual, the public is urged to take caution in these areas, with heavy machinery and lifting of materials will take place during the time. Road barriers, flagmen and warning signs will be in place to help redirect traffic.
Alternative route for motorists from Bandar Sunway towards Putrajaya/ Shah Alam bound
Motorists travelling on LDP from Bandar Sunway heading towards Putrajaya/ Shah Alam bound will be re-directed to travel along Lebuh Puteri, Jalan Industri PBP1 and converge back at LDP near Tractor Malaysia at Jalan Puchong.
Alternative Route  for  motorists  from Shah Alam/ Putrajaya towards Bandar Sunway bound
Motorists travelling on LDP from Shah Alam/ Putrajaya will be re-directed to travel along Jalan Industri PBP1 (near DHL) before converging into LDP after Lebuh Puteri.


Mitsubishi Teases The New Outlander For 2015 New York Auto Show Debut

With the 2015 New York Auto Show coming up next month,
Mitsubishi
 has dropped a teaser image that reveals, albeit little, of the facelifted Mitsubishi Outlander. The refreshed crossover will make its debut in the United States with a plug-in hybrid variant known as the Outlander PHEV for the first time as well. Rumours also point to a possibility that the Outlander will make its way to the Malaysia but that has yet to be confirmed.

Originally known as the Airtrek, the Outlander can be found in the Japanese, United States, and European markets. The three row crossover SUV however, is not available in Malaysia, yet.

The design for the facelift model will be inspired by Mitsubishi’s recent concept vehicles like the
XR-PHEV
, GC-PHEV, and Outlander PHEV Concept S. As for the plug-in hybrid variant, Mitsubishi is said to improve the powertrain to provide a better range and improved fuel economy.

Recently, several spyshots was posted up by Japanese site minkara.carview.co.jp of what appeared to be multiple units of the new Outlander at a port in Japan. From the photos, we can see numerous changes that is adopted from the Outlander PHEV Concept S with redesigned headlights with chrome highlights around them and wraparound tail lights Whether the final vehicle that debuts in New York resemble these, we'll have to wait until early April.

(Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S)


2017 Honda Jazz Facelift Launched, Priced From RM74,800

Honda Malaysia has pulled the covers off the updated Jazz, which was first previewed in the hybrid form during the Carlist.my MAA DRIVE Test and Buy event back in May. The current generation Honda Jazz was first introduced back in July 2014.

For 2017, the Honda Jazz Hybrid joins the existing three petrol models to form a four-variant lineup. All prices are OTR with insurance.

Honda Jazz 1.5 S - RM74,800

Honda Jazz 1.5 E - RM81,000

Honda Jazz 1.5 V - RM88,400

Honda Jazz 1.5 Hybrid - RM87,800

What’s New

Changes to the new Jazz is not as drastic as the updated Honda City. For starters, the grille design is new, mimicking that of the City and Civic with a large horizontal chrome piece with Honda's emblem placed prominently in the centre. Moving to the front bumper, the front fog light surrounds have been reshaped, giving the Jazz a more aggressive appeal. Side profile remains identical to the outgoing model. The Jazz 1.5 S, E and Hybrid receive newly-designed 15-inch alloy wheels, whilst the range-topping Jazz 1.5 V receives new colour for the 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear end of the facelifted Jazz is limited to the rear bumper, as the two black inserts at each end of the bumper have been replaced with slimmer units, accompanied by a slim rear diffuser piece.

As for the interior, changes are limited to the new 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, similar to the one in the new City. Honda has also included the ECON button to the Jazz, on top of the new half leather seats and paddle shifters.

Engine and transmission

The updated Honda Jazz continues to be powered by Honda's proven 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine that does 120 PS and 145 Nm, sent to the front wheels via Honda's Earth Dreams CVT-type automatic.

Apart from the regular petrol Honda Jazz, Honda Malaysia has also introduced the Jazz Hybrid. Power comes from a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine that does 110 PS and 134 Nm, while the electric motor adds another 30 PS and 160 Nm. Combined system output is up to 137 PS, similar to a naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre engine.

Trims and standard features

Three trim levels are offered by Honda Malaysia for the updated Jazz.

The base Honda Jazz 1.5 S (RM74,800) receives these kit:

15-inch alloy wheels

LED tail lights

Halogen headlights

Smart entry with push start button

ECON button

Manual air-conditioning

Tilt & telescopic steering

Fabric upholstery

ULTRA seats

One touch turn signal

One USB port

Four speakers

Dual fron SRS airbags

ABS

EBD

Reverse sensor

ISOFIX anchor points

Moving one level up is the Jazz 1.5 E (RM81,000), which adds:

LED daytime running lights

Touch panel air-conditioning

Steering wheel audio controls

Fabric centre console storage with arm rest

6.8-inch Display Audio

One HDMI port

Hand-free Telephone

Side airbags

VSA

HSA

Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)

Reverse camera

The range-topping Jazz 1.5 V (RM88,400) is equipped with:

16-inch alloy wheels

LED side mirror turn signal

Power retractable side mirrors

Cruise control

Paddle shift

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Leather-wrapped gear knob

Half leather seat upholstery

Leather centre console storage with arm rest

Six speakers

Side curtain airbags

Last but least is the Honda Jazz Hybrid (RM87,800). Equipment is largely similar to the Jazz 1.5 E, but adds:

Cruise control

Sport mode

Shift by wire

Meter cluster with 3D speed meter design

The Honda Jazz 1.5 petrol can be had in five colours, Tafetta White, Carnival Red, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and Lunar Silver Metallic, with the latter being a new colour. As for the Jazz Hybrid, it can be had in White Orchid Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic and Modern Steel Metallic.

Honda Malaysia is backing the Jazz with a five year warranty with unlimited warranty. The Jazz Hybrid gets a eight-year hybrid battery warranty with unlimited mileage, on top of the standard warranty.

Related:
New 2017 Honda Jazz Hybrid’s – All The Nerdy Stuff That You Need To Know


Let’s Go For A Wild Ride… Mitsubishi Triton Style

Buckle up and grab hold as Mitsubishi takes you on a wild ride at its 4SureThrill event this 9-10th March happening at the Outdoor Carpark, Setia City Convention Centre. Skill meets speed at this adrenaline-filled event where lucky participants get to enjoy a taxi ride with two of Mitsubishi’s star drivers: Dakar Rally Champion, Hiroshi Masuoka and local drift ace, Leona Chin.

Hiroshi Masuoka is a Japanese rally legend and two-time Dakar Rally champion. Having won consecutively in 2002 and 2003, Masuoka is one of only four drivers that have won the prestigious event back-to-back. Masuoka has been racing and winning for Mitsubishi throughout his illustrious career, most often behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Pajero.

Leona Chin is a local motorsports athlete that needs no introduction. From drifting, go-karting, to rallying, and circuit racing – Leona has had a successful career in almost every form of motorsport, both locally and internationally. If she’s not burning rubber going sideways at 100 km/h, this damsel of distress can also be found scaring the daylights out of unsuspecting people behind the wheel of a
Mitsubishi Triton
. We’ll let the video below give you a teaser of what Leona has in store at Mitsubishi’s 4SureThrill event.

Additionally, Mitsubishi will also be hosting other fun family activities, a photo contest, and handing out goodie bags to visitors. Refreshments will be provided. The 4SureThrill event starts at 10.00 am and ends at 8.00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Visit the
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia website
 for more details.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Teases EQ Sub-Brand In 2018

Rounding off a superb year in 2017, having delivered 12,045 vehicles, up from 11,779 vehicles in 2016 and managing the fourth consecutive year of growth (2.3 percent in 2017) – the question that seems to be on everyone’s mind is, where does Mercedes-Benz Malaysia go from here?
With 17 new model launches in 2016 and another 17 introductions in 2017 - suffice to say there is no shortage of choices across its 20-model strong lineup.
As of 2017 – their bread and butter limousine models (C-, E- and S-Class) lead the pack with 7,041 units in 2017.
Their premium SUVs which include the GLC, GLE and GLS models rank second with 2,599 units in 2017, mostly driven by strong demand for the CKD produced GLC 200.
Their compact cars continue on their path of success, charting a total of 2,031 units in 2017 and finally their ‘dream car’ line-up, consisting models such as the E-Class Coupe and AMG GTR also recorded growth with 374 units sold.
However, while concluding the
performance results
 presentation, President, and CEO, Dr. Claus Weidner teased, “We did great in 2017, and we are just getting started. We are confident of doing even better in 2018. Our commitment remains focused on providing our customers with the Best Products and Best Customer Experience. Powering ahead as a leader in the premium segment, we are very excited about 2018 as we have a few surprises in store that will excite our customers and the automotive industry as a whole. To give you a hint, one of these exciting updates will be in relation to our superior electric mobility technology in the form of the Mercedes-Benz EQ (sub-)brand.”
Short for Electric Intelligence, the EQ sub-brand refers to more than just a car. In the same way BMW’s 'i' sub-brand encompasses not just the i3 and i8, but also the eco-system supporting electric mobility. Mercedes-Benz’s EQ branding likewise will be communicated through all Mercedes-Benz related wallboxes, charging services, and home energy storage units.
Mercedes-Benz has also released two concepts under the EQ sub-brand, the first being an all-electric SUV, dubbed the
Generation EQ
, which was first previewed at the 2016 Paris Autoshow. This all-wheel drive concept SUV has two electric motors, one at each axle, producing a total output of up to 300 kW (about 400 hp), depending on configuration and is claimed to have an electric drive range of up to 500 km. The Generation EQ is slated to be introduced by 2020.
The second is an all-electric hatch, first unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motorshow, called the
EQA
 which is powered by two electric motors, one at the front axle and one at the rear. The compact car has a system output of over 200 kW and is claimed to achieve a range of around 400 kilometres.
While both these concepts are a few years away from being production ready, the EQ sub-brand, within MBM's context likely refers to the electric and mobility services, given the local market's healthy for demand plug-in hybrid models such as the
E350e
 and C350e.
In a separate but related development, in 2017, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launched its first branded charging station in Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC) and has announced two more locations within the Klang Valley for 2018. Could these new locations be the beginning of the EQ sub-brand in Malaysia?


Do Car Mods Mess With Your Car's Safety Systems?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes, very much so.

One of the hottest topics these last few days is the tragedy that befell the
yellow Proton X50
 resulting in its total loss. This particular car happened to attract a lot of attention because of the way in which the owner modified the car almost immediately after purchasing it - not merely in terms of aesthetics, but various other mechanical components as well.

It even had its power uprated, which wouldn't really be an issue considering how both the tyres and brakes were also improved almost immediately after purchase. It does beg the question though: Can car modifications affect the various safety systems in your car? The simple answer is yes - and here's why.

How These Systems Sense And Work

The way in which these systems actively read the conditions and what the car is doing are through a variety of sensors. Active safety systems may use radar or LIDAR, or even stereoscopic cameras to "see" the road ahead. The more common traction and stability control systems, as well as anti-lock braking systems, rely on wheel speed sensors to tell the computer what's actually going on.

Obstructing any of these sensors can obviously cause issues, which is why many active safety systems will have trouble in heavy rain or other dense conditions. More traditional safety systems don't always suffer from confusion unless the tyre and wheel size is changed in some circumstances - especially when your car came with a specific ratio of front to rear tyre size.

No matter which system you're referring to, it all comes down to how the brakes are applied in order to bring the car back under control. Think about it: in the event of collision mitigation, the brakes are hammered as hard as possible. When your car is oversteering or understeering, the system applies brakes to different wheels in different amounts to stabilize the car. Traction control - well, that's clever throttle manipulation, so it's an entirely separate issue.

How They Decide What To Do

All of these sensors and components are naturally very expensive - more complex systems with faster reaction times, such as the 4-channel ABS module from a Porsche may run well into the five figure range. But they are all absolutely useless or far from effective if they aren't calibrated, which is the job of engineers at a manufacturer.

Hundreds upon thousands of hours are put into the development of a car, and then the safety systems are calibrated for the car on top of that. In the same way that a human can naturally correct oversteer (when your car starts to buang), the major contribution to an accident is still whether correction is applied precisely and in the right amounts.

Engineers will calibrate these systems for a car based on the parameters that the car is sold with - the standard suspension, the standard stopping power of the brakes, and of course the relative amount of grip of the standard tyre option in various conditions. Each of these components can greatly influence how much correction the safety systems have to apply.

How Modifications Can Cause Problems

As you can imagine, the calibration for these safety systems can be pretty tight. For example, upgrading your front brakes to larger components may result in the system applying too much stopping power on the front wheel, causing it to behave even more unpredictably when you're in a tricky situation.

On top of that, stiffer suspension (contrary to popular belief) actually makes a car more likely to lose grip. You may feel as though the car is more stable, but what stiffer suspension also does is narrow the threshold between grip and loss of grip, and that is why swapping to a more aggressive suspension setup can cause safety systems to react perhaps a little too slowly, or with not quite enough input.

And of course, there are the tyres. Going to a very aggressive tyre designed to work in the dry is usually the choice for those seeking performance, but you give up more than what you gain when it comes to driving in the wet. This also means that your safety systems such as ABS and stability control may not function as well, simply because they have less grip to work with.

At the end of the day, whether you choose to modify a car or not is entirely up to you. Some of us go as mild as getting better tyres, while others go as far as swapping entire engines to change the way a car feels and behaves. As long as you understand and accept that you may be compromising some of the safety features engineered into a car - and probably get some proper driver training - then you should be okay with what may come your way.


Frankfurt 2017: The Renault Symbioz Is A Car That Transforms Into An Extra Room At Home

Renault today took the wraps off its latest concept vehicle in Frankfurt, called Symbioz – a car that also doubles as an extension of a house when it’s done being a car.
Powered by a pair of electric motors producing 500 kW and 660 Nm of torque, the Symbioz concept is capable of sprinting from naught to 100 km/h in six seconds and has a 500 km range, thanks to the batteries that can be charged to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes.
The combination of the retracting dashboard, and pivoting front seats make it ideally suited to ‘Mind-off’ autonomous driving. In this mode, drivers can easily relax and chat, read a book or enjoy total access to their personal digital world. Additional personalisation technology allows automatic detection of passengers, customized seat settings, music streaming, and entertainment options.
Built in partnership with LG, Ubisoft, TomTom, IAV, Sanef and Devialet, the main highlight of the Symbioz is that it becomes an additional room of a house (static mode) when it is not moving (dynamic mode).
“The way we use our cars is changing. Already a car is more than just a way to get from one place to another. Full of technology, it’s becoming an interactive and personalized space that connects passengers to other cars, people and objects around them,” said Groupe Renault Executive Vice President and Chief Competitive Officer Thierry Bolloré.
Well, if at all this wacky concept actually becomes a reality in the future, it better come with an attached bathroom.


Bermaz To Limit Sales Of Diesel-Powered Mazda Cars To Peninsular Malaysia Only

As you might have already know by now, 2016 is see Bermaz expanding its range of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia to include several diesel-powered models. Back in December, Carlist.my broke the news that
diesel-powered variants
 of the Mazda 2, Mazda 6 and CX-5, will be introduced in stages starting March/April 2016.
Currently, Mazda Malaysia, a joint venture between Bermaz Motor, the distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia and Mazda Motor Corporation, already assembles the CX-5 diesel at its assembly line in Kulim, Kedah, for export to Thailand.
The Mazda 2 diesel is also rumoured to the locally-assembled soon, but we are not sure if this arrangement is also extended to the petrol-powered Mazda 2, or the Mazda 6, which are now still imported from Thailand and Japan respectively.
When asked about how Bermaz intends to address the issue of limited availability of Euro-5 diesel that’s required by the SkyActiv-D clean diesel engine, a source at Bermaz told Carlist.my that the diesel-powered models will only be sold in Peninsular Malaysia, where Euro-5 diesel is available at selected Petronas, Shell and BHPetrol stations.
Due to concerns on the durability of the fuel and emissions control system when subjected to long-term usage of lower quality Euro-2M diesel, Bermaz will not be selling these diesel-powered models in areas where Euro-5 diesel is not yet widely available.


Indonesia's First BMW i8 Delivered

The new BMW i8 was handed over to its first Indonesian customer today at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta.
This first limited-edition BMW i8 Protonic Red Edition was presented in a dramatic red and white color scheme reflecting the spirit of Indonesia, with the historical ‘Selamat Datang’ monument in the background.
With its exclusive availability, the new limited-edition BMW i8 Protonic Red Edition comes in a unique red paint finish with ‘Frozen’ Grey metallic accents, complemented by the W-spoke 470 light-alloy wheels painted in Orbit Grey metallic with hubs painted in aluminum matt and mixed-size tires (front: 215 R20; rear: 245/40).

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Inside, the limited-edition i8 comes with high-class red double-stitching and exclusive carbon fiber and ceramic trims.
In addition to the hand-over, BMW Indonesia also launched the BMW i Pure Impulse Experience Programme, which gives owners of a BMW i8 exclusive access to visionary personalities as well as cultural and travel experiences that reflect the forward-looking character of BMW I vehicles.
Over the next few months, the BMW i Pure Impulse Experience Programme will also provide a wealth of inspiration for leading a responsible and progressive lifestyle, taking its cue from the brand’s “next premium” character.
Beyond this, BMW i Pure Impulse card-holders can avail themselves of attractive offers in select luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and renowned art galleries around the globe.
The BMW i8 is being introduced at a price of Rp. 3,549,000,000 (off-the-road) and will be available at authorized BMW Dealerships from April 2017 in Indonesia.


Quick Review: Mitsubishi Outlander – The Airtrek Lives On

For a company with such steeped history in 4WD technology,
Mitsubishi
’s SUV line-up in Malaysia features a surprisingly large chasm separating the compact five-seater
ASX
 and the beastly
Pajero Sport
.
A new model has arrived to fill that gap, and it is the third-generation
Mitsubishi Outlander
, a monocoque-based urban SUV descended from the
Airtrek
 and one that is better-suited to compete against mainstream choices such as the
Honda CR-V
 and
Nissan X-Trail
.
Consumer response to the Outlander has exceeded expectations. Despite setting a modest sales target of just 100 units per month, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has already accumulated 200 signatures in its order banks.
We have just returned from a two-day drive event of the Outlander organized by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia to Johor Bahru, and here are some quick impressions ahead of a more comprehensive review to be published at a later date.
Specifications:
Price: RM171,644.80 on-the-road with insurance and GST
Engine: 2.4-litre, transverse inline-4, MIVEC petrol
Power: 167PS @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 222Nm @ 4,100rpm
Transmission: CVT with 6 virtual ratios and paddle shifters, electronic AWD
Safety: 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, electronic stability control (ASC), traction control (ETACS), reverse camera
Origin: Fully imported from Okazaki, Japan
Overview?
Only one variant of the Outlander is offered in Malaysia, and it comes with the following standard equipment:
LED headlamps with daytime running lights
18-inch alloy wheels
Electric-operated tailgate with anti-trap function
Sunroof
Keyless entry with engine start/stop button
Dual zone climate control
Touchscreen multimedia system - Bluetooth, iPod, USB
Reverse Camera
Security & Solar Window Film
ABS, EBD
Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control
7 airbags
Leather seats
Auto headlamps
Auto wipers
Closest Rivals
The Outlander’s RM170k thereabouts pricing and 2.4-litre displacement places it at the upper end of the mid-sized SUV segment. It’s most direct rival is perhaps the Nissan X-Trail 2.5, although the
Kia Sorento
 and petrol variants of the
Hyundai Santa Fe
 (both of which also displace 2.4 litres) are in contention as well.
Families that don’t strictly need seven seats can also expect to cross-shop the Outlander against five-seaters such as the
Honda CR-V 2.4
 and Mazda CX-5 2.5.
Key Talking Points
Handsome exterior looks:
 The Outlander was actually launched globally in 2012, and the one we’re getting is actually the facelifted version. No complaints from us, we find it to be a handsome vehicle with good proportions. We particularly like the expressive front end, which gives the Outlander a bold and futuristic fascia.
Smart electric tailgate:

Mitsubishi’s solution of an automated tailgate is to use spring-loaded struts to push the tailgate up when opening and a simple electric motor for closing only. We like the elegance and cost effectiveness of this solution. Also, it allows the tailgate to be manually-operable in the event of mechanism failure.
Seven Airbags:
 Mitsubishi identifies the Nissan X-Trail as its key rival, it is pertinent to note that the Outlander’s biggest trump card against the more affordable but locally-assembled X-Trail is an advantage in its airbag count. We still can’t fathom Nissan’s logic in giving six airbags as standard in the
Sylphy
 and
Teana
 but only providing two in the seven-seater X-Trail. If safety is a concern, the Outlander has you covered with seven airbags in addition to electronic stability control and ISOFIX mounts.
No rear air-con vents:
 A surprising omission, and potential deal breaker in our tropical climate. It’s not a case of Malaysian consumers being given the short straw, Mitsubishi simply did not design the Outlander’s cabin with rear air-con vents in mind. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia mitigates this by providing tinted windows as standard.
Intelligent 4WD:
 Drawing on Mitsubishi’s long heritage of 4WD technology, the Outlander is equipped with an electronically controlled all-wheel drive system with three operating modes – front-biased on-demand all-wheel drive (4WD Eco), variable intelligent all-wheel drive (4WD Auto), and fixed 50:50 front-rear (4WD Lock). In general, 4WD Eco is the recommended driving mode, with 4WD Auto coming in handy over really treacherous terrain. Still, be mindful that this hardware is not designed for hard core off-roading.
Driving Impressions
A quick spin around the block sees the Outlander giving very positive first impressions. Damping is sufficiently well-sorted to give a properly hushed ride over poor surfaces, and there is adequate refinement as long as one stays on the legal side of the speed limit. Unavoidable as a result of its tall height, body roll needs to be factored in whenever you’re thinking of taking corners at higher speeds. Somewhat surprisingly, high speed handling and composure do not feel as surefooted as Mitsubishi's own Triton.
The 2.4-litre MIVEC engine and INVECS-III transmission partnership is the familiar combo previously offered in the
Lancer Sportback
. Tasked with hauling the additional weight and the need to apportion traction to two extra wheels, performance is not barnstorming, and the CVT is notably hesitant in kicking down when pushed for full bore acceleration. Within urban confines and under part-throttle driving, however, it’s adequate.
Over the two way journey from KL to JB covering 800km on a mixture of highway and trunk road driving, our test car returned a measured fuel consumption reading of 12.0 litre/100km on the trip computer. It’s much higher than MMM’s internally-measured 7.8 litre/100km claim, but we await a test car at a later date driven at our pace before drawing more definitive conclusions.
Conclusion
The Outlander is, in general, a smartly-designed SUV, being blessed with handsome styling and a spacious cabin. Standard equipment levels are good too, particularly the fitment of seven airbags, but the absence of rear air-con blowers hurts its case badly.
Considering Mitsubishi’s renewed focus in SUVs and pick-up trucks, the Outlander’s arrival in our market, if albeit belated, fills a crucial gap in the brand’s line-up. As the
ASX
 shifts its positioning to challenge B-segment crossovers like the
Honda HR-V
 and
Mazda CX-3
, the Outlander gives the likes of the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail more formidable opposition.
Bear in mind that most of its key rivals are locally-assembled, Mitsubishi’s offering of a Japan CBU model with comparable equipment and pricing makes the Outlander a good value purchase.
We are in the midst of arranging a longer stint in a test car for a more in-depth review, so watch this space for more.


Bookings For 2022 Subaru BRZ Now Open In Malaysia - 240PS RWD Coupe Coming Soon

Bookings are now open for the 2022 Subaru BRZ by TC Subaru, TC Subaru, a.k.a Motor Image Malaysia.

Want to get your hands on the 2nd-generation Subaru BRZ? We know it’s due to arrive on our shores this year, but new information reveals it’s due sooner than expected. Motor Image Malaysia, Subaru’s official local distributors have confirmed to Carlist.my that bookings are already being taken for the all-new, 2nd-generation rear-drive coupe.

Back in December, the car was teased as part of
the brand’s 2022 battle plan
 alongside the WRX Sportwagon, WRX sedan, and Outback, dating that announcement to roughly 13 months after the car made its
international debut in November 2020
.

Bookings Open For 2022 Subaru BRZ

Details on the actual spec of the incoming BRZ are still a little murky, but we can be pretty certain that it will mirror the units heading to the Singaporean market as well, and so too will their launch windows coincide.

The Australian market, where the car has been available since December 2021, is typically a decent barometer of what the ASEAN region can expect when it comes to future vehicles. In the case of the 2022 Subaru BRZ, it’s available in two variants: Coupe and Coupe S.

Despite the distinction, they are only separated by minor differences in standard equipment such as seating upholstery (fabric vs Ultrasuede) and heated seats. Both variants get self-levelling LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Both variants also get access to Subaru’s EyeSight active safety suite, though this is relegated to units fitted with the automatic transmission option. As standard, all cars are fitted - as they should be - with a 6-speed manual.

2022 BRZ Specifications

Of course, you’ll also find uniformity with regard to their powertrain across all variants, that being Subaru’s naturally aspirated FA24D 2.4-litre flat-four Boxer petrol mill with 240PS at 7,000rpm and 250Nm at 3,700rpm. Interestingly, Subaru Australia lists RON98 fuel as the minimum requirement. Ouch.

The 7 exterior colour options available Down Under should also be reflected in the Malaysian spec units, at least eventually, that being: Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Ignition Red, WR Blue Pearl, Sapphire Blue Pearl, Magnetite Grey Metallic, and Crystal Black Silica.

That Toyota GR86 Twin

There are also rumours that Toyota are interested to bring in the identical, though differently badged, second-generation GR86 into Malaysian showrooms this year to round out the GR performance offerings. Well, kind of, since we’re missing
the GR Corolla
.

It’ll be interesting to see if there will be any significant differences in price and/or equipment levels between the incoming BRZ and rumoured GR86. The more the merrier, we say.

Speaking of Australia, the first batch allocation for them was snatched up incredibly quickly, so you might want to move fast to get your name down.


Review: 2017 Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L – The Polished All-Rounder

Throughout history, the world has seen many leaders, but only the benevolent ones who won the hearts of their people through their numerous outstanding traits and good deeds are considered great, remembered and cherished till today.
Good examples would be King Suleiman ‘The Magnificent’ of the Middle Eastern Ottoman empire who made educational, legislative, and taxation reforms back in the 1500s, Emperor Meiji of Japan who transformed the nation into an industrial powerhouse, and Persian King Cyrus II who actually gave a damn about human rights back in 520BC itself, just to name a few.
These guys were simply jacks of all trades; masters in politics, military warfare, economy, business, and many more.
Similar to the aforementioned rulers, the current ‘king’ of the D-segment in Malaysia – the Honda Accord, has also somewhat won many hearts over the past 41 years with a few of its traits.
In fact, many of those who bought their Accords 20-odd years ago are so in love with them that they are very determined on keeping them until the end of time. Some have even passed them down to their children.
Currently in its ninth generation, the Accord has seen its fair share of ups and downs since the first-gen debuted in 1976. While some versions like the first, second, fourth, and fifth generation models were more popular, later models like the sixth-gen and seventh-generation versions were facing tougher times as the D-segment grew to become one of the most competitive in the market.
Even during the most challenging of times, the Accord managed to remain among the frontrunners thanks to qualities like its reliability and good looks, and after going through a full model change in 2013, it finally managed to knock the Camry off the throne and became the best-selling D-segment sedan.
So, since holding on to the crown requires just as much effort as to attain it, Honda Malaysia, which became the no.1 non-national car brand in 2015 after the City, HR-V, Jazz, and the Civic became best-sellers in their respective segments, gave the Accord a timely update in conjunction with its 40th birthday in an effort to further strengthen its position.
Specifications
Price: RM172,800
Engine: 2.4-litre, Inline-4 Transverse, DOHC i-VTEC, Petrol
Power: 175PS @ 6,200rpm
Torque: 225Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed torque converter automatic, FWD
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX, Electronic Stability Control (VSA), Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, Parking Sensors Front & Rear, Multi-Angle Reverse Camera, Lane Watch Camera
Origin: Locally-assembled in Pegoh, Malacca
Overview
Similar to the pre-facelift model, the Honda Accord is offered in three trim levels:
Accord 2.0 VTi – RM144,800
Accord 2.0 VTi-L – RM153,800
Accord 2.4 VTi-L – RM172,800
The exterior has gone through some tweaks, just like the interior, and a few new features have been added as well. Mechanically, the Accord has not changed, retaining the same 2.4-litre Earth Dreams i-VTEC engine and 5-speed automatic gearbox package.
The big news with the car however, is that the price of the range-topping 2.4 VTi-L, which happens to be the car we tested, has been slashed by RM5,400 to RM172,800 despite having a couple of new features like the new LED headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.
And now that the price has dropped, this is how it stands against offerings from other brands in terms of pricing (OTR without insurance):
Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L – RM172,800
Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.5 Luxury – RM169,900
Nissan Teana 2.5 XV – RM167,500
Mazda 6 2.5 Sedan SkyActiv – RM194,647
Kia Optima GT 2.0L Turbo – RM179,888
Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI Plus Comfortline – RM185,927
Ford Mondeo 2.0L EcoBoost – RM200,388
Peugeot 508 THP – RM173,888
Proton Perdana 2.4L – RM138,888
Exterior
New features on the Accord includes a new front grille, new bumpers; new LED lights up front and in the rear, new two-tone black and silver rims, more chrome bits than before, and three new colours including this ‘Obsidian Blue’, and exclusive to the 2.4 VTi-L are the full LED lights and the 18-inch wheels.
The exterior changes might be minute but they are enough to make the car look sportier than the ‘saggy butt’ pre-facelift model.
In fact, the updates on the Accord make it look a lot like the Civic now, which is a good thing as it would appeal to the younger crowd as well as the uncles who are young at heart.
As far as the measurements are concerned:
If we are to compare it with the rest of the horde, the Accord now stands among the sportier looking models in the segment along the Mazda 6, Kia Optima GT, and the VW Passat. Size wise, the Accord remains one of the longest cars in the segment, second only to the 5-metre long Perdana (which also happens to be the eighth-gen Accord underneath). It is also one of the widest and the lowest.
So, whether the Accord’s looks appeals to you or not depends on what rocks your boat. If you’re looking for an executive sedan that oozes with athleticism, this car will tickle you in the right places. But if you are into something that looks more conservative, you might want to go for the Camry, Teana, or the Sonata.
Interior
Inside, the cabin layout has not changed much but there has been a couple of subtle yet significant changes.
There is a new wood and piano black trim that runs across the dashboard, door panels and the centre console. The instrument panel has also been redesigned with a new background and font. Thanks to these new features, the Accord’s cabin is now more pleasant to the eye and feels a tad plusher.
The two-screen layout on the centre-stack remains, but the infotainment system has been updated. There is MirrorLink function, HDMI connectivity, WiFi hotspot functionality, as well as Android Auto and Apple Car Play. However, there is no more satellite navigation.
Honda Malaysia said that the move to remove GPS and include Android Auto / Apple Car Play was made after its market studies showed that a large percentage of motorists depend more on their smartphones to find their way around than their car’s OEM sat-nav system.
The infotainment system was quite seamless and user friendly too. Pairing could be done in no time, and accessing music and making calls could be done as we wished without having to touch the phone.
Another thing that has changed is the audio control buttons, which are now integrated into the 7-inch display, translating into more storage space below the air-cond control – large enough to fit a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 to be precise.

Besides the above, the list of standard equipment on the Accord 2.4 VTi-L has been carried over from before, comprising push-start ignition, Honda’s LaneWatch system, paddle shifters, auto-dim rear-view mirror, 8-way powered driver seat with lumbar support, rear air-cond vents, powered rear sunshade, and a subwoofer.
Thanks to Honda’s ‘Man Maximum, Machine Minimum’ design philosophy, the ninth-gen Accord’s rear legroom is now 35.5mm longer even though the car is smaller than the previous generation model.
Besides the additional leg space, boot space has also increased by 23-litres to 461-litres. Complemented by the new, high-quality material and the Active Noise Control (ANC) system which reduces engine noise, the Accord’s cabin is one of the quietest in class.
Quiet, refined, and spacious it may be but the Accord isn’t the most comfortable D-segment contender unfortunately. When it comes to hugging our butts and backs, the Teana still reigns supreme.
Driving Impression
Mechanically, the Accord 2.4 has not changed from the pre-facelift model, meaning that the Earth Dreams Technology (EDT) twin-cam i-VTEC engine and the 5-speed automatic gearbox have been carried over lock, stock and barrel.
Unlike the previous-generation’s K24 engine which requires you to work it hard to get it going at low revs, the EDT mill feels smoother and livelier. However, as quick as it is, power delivery lacks refinement, (no) thanks to the aging 5-speed automatic gearbox.
We have no complains about its performance, though. It is anything but slow or sluggish. Even with four occupants and a trunk full of junk, the 2.4-litre Accord is capable of going way above the speed limit with ease. It’s just that it lacks the finesse you get in a Mazda 6 or the Passat.
Staying true to its lineage, the Accord remains one of the nicer cars to drive in the D-segment. Although the steering lacks weight, the well-balanced chassis, the suspension which is setup to be slightly on the firmer side, as well as all the grip provided by the 18-inch Michelin PS3 tires make the Accord quite an enjoyable car to drive along twisty bits. There is still body-roll, but the car doesn’t feel as ‘boat-y’ as the Teana or the Camry.
As enjoyable as it was to drive it, the Accord is still not as composed and responsive as the Mazda 6, but it is not too far behind.
Further adding to the whole experience are features like Honda’s Lanewatch, which is basically a camera positioned below the left wing-mirror that projects the blind spot on the left side of the car everytime the left signal is turned on.
Besides letting us know what is lurking in the blind spot, the Lanewatch feature also adds to convenience as it gives us better visibility in the rain and the dark.
Conclusion
The Accord is basically a jack of all trades, but we can’t say that it is a master of none because it has many features that make it a crowd-favourite, namely the spacious and well-built cabin, the sporty looks, as well as the driving dynamics.
Although the car already felt well-rounded before the facelift, Honda managed to make it a better package by slashing the price by about RM5,000 despite the few updates.
And regardless of which aspect you want to judge the Accord from, it will either be among the best, or at least above average, which is exactly what brought it to the top of the D-segment.


Volkswagen Offers High Trade-In Promo For Jetta & Passat

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is running a promotional campaign for the
Jetta
 and
Passat
, offering high trade-in prices for both models until 31 March 2017.
The campaign is targeted at Volkswagen owners seeking to trade-in their vehicles for a new one, although owners of other makes can look forward to highly attractive deals as well.
The offer is valid only for vehicles aged six months or older. The vehicle to be traded in is subject to inspection and valuation by authorized dealerships before acceptance.
Both the Jetta and Passat were updated in 2016. The Jetta was
facelifted with the new EA211 1.4-litre single turbo engine
 introduced to replace the outgoing EA111 twincharged engine of the same capacity.
The Passat, meanwhile, saw the long-serving B7 model withdrawn and
replaced by the all-new B8
 in November 2016.
Prices start at RM108,990 and RM159,990 for the Jetta and Passat respectively on-the-road without insurance. Both models are offered with a selection of three variants each –Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline.
Jetta
1.4 TSI Trendline – RM108,990
1.4 TSI Comfortline – RM117,990
1.4 TSI Highline – RM128,990
Passat
1.8 TSI Trendline – RM159,990
1.8 TSI Comfortline – RM179,990
2.0 TSI Highline – RM198,990


Ex-BMW Chief of Design Karim Habib Joins Infiniti

Karim Habib, former Head of BMW Design has been named Head of Infiniti design division, effective July 1, 2017. The move comes shortly after his
departure from BMW
 in January.
He will be based in the company's technical center in Atsugi, Japan and lead the global Infiniti design teams in Japan, Beijing, San Diego, and London, England. He will report to Alfonso Albaisa, newly appointed Senior Vice President of Global Design for Nissan Motor Corporation.
Alfonso Albaisa's promotion comes as Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's design guru, retires after 17-years of leading Nissan's design division. The new appointments are part of a larger shuffle of Nissan's design team.
Alfonso Albaisa added, "We are happy to have Karim join us and head our global INFINITI design teams. During his career as a designer and a leader of global teams he always created modern and inspiring designs. Karim is very skilled at capturing the heart and passion of a brand while at the same time giving each design its unique character. I look forward to Karim inspiring our teams to shape the next generation of Infiniti's."
Karim Habib first joined the BMW design team in 1998, a graduate of the McGill University in Montreal, initially majoring in Mechanical Engineering and later a design degree from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, USA. After finishing his studies, he started working for BMW’s Interior Design team, followed by spells in the Exterior Design and Advanced Design departments. He left for rivals Mercedes-Benz in 2009 and
2010, but returned to BMW in 2011.
His most notable and recent work includes the retrospective
BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage
, a car that “highlighted the potential importance of a brand’s past in future design”.


Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life is now CHEAPER - RM159,990

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced that the price for its
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life
 has been readjusted to a lower and cheaper price tag.

Taking immediate effect for deliveries from January 2023 onwards, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life can be yours from a more affordable RM159,990 (excluding insurance)

RM172,990 back in August 2022

To ensure that future Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life owners get more 'back for your buck', the new price has been actually reduced from RM172,990 back when it was first launched in August 2022.

That's an RM13,000 cheaper and for that, you'll still get the same spacious seven-seater with its class-leading 1,775-litre boot space. Exterior-wise, it's also the same affair with specs like the sleek front grille with VW's illuminated light strip positioned between its full LED headlights.

1.4TSI turbocharged engine + 6-speed DSG

The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life is powered by the 1.4TSI turbocharged engine that produces 150PS and 250Nm of torque. Mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox, this combination is said to offer a great driving experience whilst keeping the fuel consumption down to around 7.7L/100km.

Each brand-new unit will also receive three years of free maintenance, five years of unlimited mileage warranty, and five years of roadside assistance for greater ease of mind. For more info on specs,
CLICK HERE
.


Electrifying Beauty – The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6

The recent Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance was not short star-power as Mercedes-Benz premiered its electric powered uber-luxury coupe, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6.
The 2+2‑seater coupe pays homage to the age of the aero coupés yet underlines current megatrends of efficiency and low-emission vehicles. If the aesthetics seem somewhat familiar, that’s because it harks back the
Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA
 which first debuted at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The concept is designed from the ground-up as an electric car. Total output of the drive system is 550 kW (750 hp) driving four compact permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors situated in the wheels.
The shallow underfloor battery has a usable capacity of approximately 80 kWh. Mercedes claim the car will accelerate from 0‑100 km/h in under 4.0 seconds onto an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h. The batteries will also deliver a maximum range of over 500km on the NEDC cycle.
A quick-charge function allows for DC charging based on the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard allowing a charging capacity of up to 350 kW. Just five minutes of charging gives the vehicle added range of 100km. The car can be charged via a cable connection at a public charging station, conventional domestic outlet or wirelessly through an electromagnetic field.
The unique design of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 is also functional, doing away with spoilers and aesthetic contours, the slinky shape allows for the airflow to hug the contours of the vehicle body and only break away at the tail end of the vehicle. The Concept IAA forebear; explored this concept for extremely low aerodynamic drag.
The distinctive 24-inch wheels are further developed from the Concept IAA – featuring a transparent shield of the aluminium spokes behind it. Further retrospective highlights include a split-window rear windscreen and gullwing doors.
The interior manages refined elegance and sci-fi wizardry in equal amounts. The front windscreen serves as a transparent display: driving-related data and geographical information is shown across its full width which can be controlled via hand gestures.
The conventional circular instruments sit ahead of glass trim that extends from the centre of the dashboard towards the door panels. This strip can provide other information such navigation, seat settings and climate control settings – augmented through touch control.
Taking the sci-fi ethos further are "body sensor displays". Sensors embedded in the upholstery will scan and monitor the occupant’s vital functions and manage comfort features such as the seat climate or massage functions. The floating, transparent centre tunnel visualises the drive system's electrical energy flow.


Sportspace Concept Ruled Out Of Production, According To Kia VP

It’s disheartening to learn that
Kia
 won’t be green lighting the
SPORTSPACE Concept
’s transition to the showroom, especially given how positive the reaction to it was during its reveal at the
Geneva Motor Show
.
An estate based on the
all-new Optima
 which debuted at the 2015 New York Auto Show could have been where Kia called the SPORTSPACE concept up for production, and our hopes were high that they could flesh out what was already not far removed from a production version, at least based on the exterior.
But in a recent interview with Autoguide.com, Kia Motors planning vice president Orth Hendricks said “What we found is that an Optima wagon customer is right on top of our Sorento buyer. We looked at the volume and we looked at the number of people that would choose it and what it would cost,”
He continued by saying that “It would be a whole other set of tooling to bring all that stuff in,” when referring to the monetary and operational expense that would come from outfitting their factories to manufacture such a car.
Although an Optima estate with cues added from the SPORTSPACE concept would likely be well received in the European market, it seems that that simply isn’t enough justification for the automaker to consider an addition to its global model line-up especially when it concerns one of its most widely sold models. Moreover, the Optima is Kia's best seller in American market with 159,020 units sold in 2014, and the fact remains that estate cars just aren’t very popular there.
The fate of the SPORTSPACE’s journey to production hasn’t been flatly rejected with this news although it does mean that it will have to sit in the wings, at least for now.


Indonesia Debuts 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Facelift - Bigger, Bolder, Better To Drive

It’s official: the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander has broken cover ahead of its in-the-flesh public debut tomorrow - November 11th - at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) in Jakarta.

While the Malaysian market has only got its first taste of the model
late last year
, it has been gracing showrooms for close to 4 years elsewhere in ASEAN, explaining the revision within a year since it arrived locally.

The
7-seat MPV-turned-wannabe-crossover
 now features a new front fascia with a revised ’T-shaped’ headlamp cluster, new front bumper to accentuate the automaker’s Dynamic Shield nose design. In between, the revised profile adds quite a bit of overall length with 75mm more front overhang and 45mm rear overhang

There’s also a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels to complement this new set of proportions, said to portray the Xpander in a more upmarket feel. At the rear, there are LED illuminators for both the main and brake lights.

Besides the visual, Mitsubishi says that a new front strut mount, high-performance damper valves, and new rear shock absorbers improve the Xpander’s refinement levels, rigidity, and handling, which was already
one of its most positive attributes
.

The interior doesn’t go under the knife for quite as long, emerging with merely a few key alterations, but welcome ones nonetheless. Its dashboard has now incorporated a horizontal element to emphasise a feeling of added spaciousness and width while the central touchscreen infotainment screen has grown to 9.0-inches.

Additionally, there’s a new steering wheel, new HVAC control knobs, an electronic parking brake, and both USB Type A and Type C outlets for rear-seat passengers.

Mechanically, Mitsubishi has not touched the engine, which remains a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre 4A91 MIVEC petrol. Outputs are also static at 105PS and 141Nm, but crucially drive now reaches the front wheels via a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) instead of the pre-facelift’s 4-speed automatic.

This change alone should bring a lot of quality improvements to the Xpander’s drive, which suffered from the previous transmissions' very limited set of forward ratios that typically left the engine either breathless or underutilised.

We’ve no indication when the rest of the ASEAN region will be receiving the 2022 Xpander, but the wait might not take too long with its Indonesia rollout set to take place shortly after this week’s motor show premiere. That said, once it does
make Malaysian landfall
, it shouldn’t be too far off last year’s RM91,369 OTR price.


Government Deliberating On Easing Restrictions In States Under Phase 1

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has said that the government is considering easing restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals living in states under Phase One of the NRP.

When Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that there would be
some conditional flexibilities
 under the current Movement Control Order for individuals who have completed two doses of vaccine in states under Phase Two, it was met by uproar by those who are still in states under Phase One.

Well, according to our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, the government is considering easing restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals living in states under Phase One of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

According to TheStar, he said the government was still getting input and feedback from experts as the move to ease restrictions was being considered for the sake of mental health in non-high-risk areas.

“We are also looking even for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negri Sembilan that are currently in Phase One,” he said during a virtual press conference.

“Even if we are still stuck in Phase One, we can look at some safe activities like going to the park, open air pasar malam...these are the things being considered, but I cannot announce it yet because I will need feedback from experts,” he said.

He added that it was also vital to note that the healthcare system is currently strained, especially in the greater Klang Valley in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, due to the high number of COVID-19 cases, so the easing would have to be heavily deliberated.

Here is a brief reminder of what is
permitted
 for the fully vaccinated in states under Phase One and Two.

Phase 1 (By State)

Citizens and non-citizens who have a residence in Malaysia are allowed compulsory quarantine at home if they return to Malaysia from abroad (14 days – must have a residence in Malaysia).

Long-distance married couples are allowed to travel across districts or states to meet.

Parents are also allowed across districts or states to meet with children under the age of 18.

Prayer activities are allowed in mosques and suraus – applicable to all phases of NRP, pilgrims are required to show a digital certificate of COVID-19 vaccine.

Non-Muslims can also visit houses of worship - subject to state religious authorities and the Ministry of National Unity for non-Muslims.

Phase 2 (By State)

Interdistrict travel is allowed, just show the vaccine certificate at the SJR.

Dine-in activities are allowed at restaurants and eateries.

Sports and recreational activities without physical contact and not in groups are allowed - jogging, exercise, cycling, skateboarding, archery, tennis, badminton (singles), and the like.

Domestic tourism activities – hotel and homestays allowed.

The easing of restrictions officially commenced on the 10th of August 2021, and the National Security Council will release further guidelines of current travel allocations in due course.


The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Makes Its Global Debut In 20 Days

No, stop asking for a new Lancer Evolution - that's just not happening.

It's been a fairly long run, but in just under three weeks we'll be seeing the next generation
Mitsubishi Outlander
 make its global debut. Mitsubishi doesn't have very many models to shout about these days, so when something new comes along it's important to pay attention.

We'll have to accept that they would not be releasing a new Lancer, or an
Evolution XI
 for the foreseeable future. It's not something that Mitsubishi fans would like to hear, but the reality is that the market has moved on from sedans. Crossovers and SUVs are the name of the game, and for a relatively small car maker with a relatively small budget, they have to hedge their bets where the money will be.

Mitsubishi's tagline for the new Outlander is "Tested to be Tough" - which is fair considering it's an SUV that seems like it can actually head off the beaten path.
Mitsubishi
's heritage lies not only with rally, but with off-roading as well - their Malaysian arm has actively competed in the Borneo Safari for the past few years, and they do field a team in the Paris Dakar as well.

That expertise trickles down to their road-going models as well, and the Outlander is sure to benefit from their understanding of loose and difficult surfaces. It looks like it'll still be a three-row proposition depending on the variant selected, but it will also debut the latest version of the Super All-Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system that gives their models excellent traction in tricky conditions.

What has changed between the previous and current model is the fact that this model comes after the solidifying of their partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, meaning that it may borrow a number of components from the current Nissan Rogue - including the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle variant is also expected to return.


GrabCar Responds To Taxi Driver Ambush Incident

Following an ambush set up by taxi drivers during yesterday’s protest at the Land Public Transport Commission‘s (SPAD) headquarters in Kelana Jaya
where a GrabCar driver was arrested
, the company has issued a statement in response to the incident.
As a recap, the driver of the grey
Nissan
 Almera, Suhaimi Abdul Manaf, responded to a request on the GrabCar app from a “passenger” at the SPAD offices. However, when he arrived on site, a crowd of taxi drivers were there to greet him and prevented him from leaving and demanded the SPAD take action against him which they eventually did driving off in the
Nissan Almera
 with the GrabCar driver in the backseat.
A GrabCar spokesman stated in a press statement, "We do not condone such ambush operations and believe the authorities should actively discourage it. As an industry it's important to understand that consumers want both kinds of services and it is the reason why GrabCar exists.”
“In this region for example, regulators in Singapore and Philippines understand the market nuances and have regulatory frameworks that balance consumer protection and the flexibility needed for innovation in the public transport industry.“
“The multiple services help to ease the barriers that exist within the industry, such as the lack of available on-demand transport options during peak period. By increasing the types of transportation options for consumers, and making it safer and more convenient, we’ve helped to grow the industry as a whole."
The clampdown on private taxi and ridesharing apps such as Uber, GrabCar, Easy Taxi, and Blacklane saw the seizure of nine vehicles during a
three-hour operation on Wednesday
 by SPAD.


Godzilla vs Kong – Myvi Hentam Nissan GT-R R35, Siapa Jaguh?

Baru baru ini, ada berita tentang
Nissan Skyline GT-R  R34
 yang terbabit dalam kemalangan di Shah Alam. Walaupun bukan kereta kita, namun sakitnya masih terasa hingga kini. Terbaru, kini giliran
Nissan GT-R R35
 pula terlibat dalam kemalangan selepas dirempuh dari belakang oleh kereta yang terkenal dengan gelaran Raja Jalan Raya,
Perodua Myvi
.

Bukan King lah kalau tak viral betul tak? Dalam kejadian yang berlaku di Jalan Genting Klang pada petang 26 Januari 2021, kereta Myvi terbabit dipercayai hilang kawalan sebelum merempuh bahagian belakang R35 tersebut. Namun, tiada sebarang kecederaan serius dilaporkan.

*Gambar diambil daripada Facebook Info RoadBlock JPJ/POLIS

Menurut rakan kepada pemandu GT-R terbabit yang berada di tempat kejadian, anggaran kos untuk membaik pulih bahagian belakang yang terkesan seperti lampu, ekzos, bumper dan rear lip diffuser carbon fiber mencecah kira-kira RM55,000. Gila, ini belum masuk kos lain lagi!

*Sumber: Facebook Myvi Buat Hal Apa Hari ini?

Perkara ini menjadi bualan hangat netizen yang beranggapan bahawa pemandu wanita itu harus membayar ganti rugi kepada pemandu R35 tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, pemandu Myvi tersebut tidak perlu membayar kos baik pulih GT-R terbabit kerana hal ini akan diuruskan oleh pihak insurans kedua-belah pihak.

Pemandu wanita terbabit dipercayai bermain telefon pintarnya ketika memandu setelah netizen berjaya untuk mengesan akaun Instagram peribadi pemandu wanita terbabit. Orang Malaysia buat kerja memang laju!

*Kredit Video Berita Terkini TV 918

Kemalangan melibatkan R35 yang juga dikenali sebagai Godzilla itu ibarat filem Godzilla vs Kong, di mana trailer filem tersebut baru sahaja dipertontonkan pada umum pada minggu ini. Suratan atau kebetulan?

Kemalangan melibatkan dua model kereta yang sering disebut sebut oleh penggemar kereta tempatan mendapat perhatian umum. Ini bukan kali pertama pertembungan antara dua darjat ini berlaku. Pada tahun 2019, terdapat satu kemalangan di Seremban di mana Perodua Myvi hilang kawalan dan merempuh Nissan GT-R R35 yang diparkir di tepi jalan.

*Kredit gambar Harian Metro

Pada tahun 2020, telah tular satu video dimana pemandu Myvi cuba mengekori Nissan GT-R R35 di sebuah lebuh raya. Walaupun gagal untuk memintas, namun kebolehan jentera Myvi terbabit untuk mengekori rapat Nissan GT-R tersebut mencuri perhatian netizen. Adakah kedua model kereta ini mempunyai saingan yang tidak kita ketahui?

*Kredit video CIKRI DOT

Walau bagaimanapun, ada juga segelintir pemandu R35 yang gemar memandu secara berbahaya. Pada tahun lepas, sebuah Nissan R35 telah terlibat dalam kemalangan apabila memandu secara melulu selepas lampu isyarat bertukar hijau. Hasilnya, kereta terbabit telah hilang kawalan dan terbabas ke tepi jalan.

*Kredit video F2 Channel

Terdapat perbandingan harga yang ketara antara kedua model ini. Perodua Myvi boleh diperolehi dengan harga bermula daripada RM41,292 sementara Nissan GT-R R35 ini berharga sekitar RM420,000 hingga RM620,000 berdasarkan melalui
Carlist.my
. Tetapi, adakah kedua dua kenderaan ini sama taraf? Semestinya tidak!

Namun, sikap kental sesetengah pemandu Myvi di negara ini telah meletakkan Perodua Myvi sebagai kereta yang paling digeruni di jalan raya. Kalau terserempak dengan Perodua Myvi di jalan raya, seeloknya beri laluan kepada King Myvi kalau taknak kena cucuk!


Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia To Launch F-Pace With Ingenium 2.0-Litre Turbo

Following the launch of the Jaguar F-Pace
a little over a year ago
, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia is going to introduce a new powertrain for the F-Pace model line early next year. Previously, the F-Pace was only available with a 3.0-litre supercharged V6, but it will soon be joined by an Ingenium 2.0-litre turbo straight-4. It's mated to a compact ZF 8-speed, with a pendulum damper in the torque converter that helps to reduce low frequency vibrations.
The powertrain produces a solid 250 PS and 365 Nm of torque from just 1,200 rpm. The Ingenium line of engines are Jaguar's latest and greatest, feature low friction coatings and twin scroll turbos for more power, more response, and better efficiency. The F-Pace is Jaguar's fastest selling model of all time, winning awards the world over. There's no indication of pricing as of yet, although bookings for the new car have now been opened.


Honda R&D Ties Up With SoftBank To Develop 5G Connected Car Technologies

Honda R&D and Japanese telecommunications firm, Softbank have begun discussions toward a joint research project to strengthen 5th-Generation (5G) connected car technologies.
The joint research is pursued with an aim of future adoption of 5th generation internet-connectivity and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication between mobility products, primarily cars, and various other infrastructure.
Beginning in April 2018, SoftBank will install 5G base stations at Honda R&D's Takasu Proving Ground, and the two companies will start full-fledged joint research under a 5G environment.
The first of two main technologies is a ‘High-Speed Handover Technology’ which utilises onboard antennas to enable a stable handover between communication base stations for a vehicle moving at high-speed.
The second objective is developing ‘Recovery Technologies’ that can secure data sending/receiving performance in areas with a weak signal, as well as other data processing technologies.