New Porsche Macan SportDesign Series Introduced – Limited To 40 Units, RM545k

Local Porsche distributor Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) has introduced the limited edition of the Macan SUV, dubbed the SportDesign Series, which adds a host of standard features to the base Macan variant, which is meant to underscore a sportier appearance for Porsche’s junior SUV.
Priced at RM545,000, the Macan SportDesign slots between the Macan and Macan S models, which start off at RM425,000 and RM610,000 respectively. Limited to just 40 units, the Porsche Macan SportDesign is available in two colours - Volcano Grey Metallic and Carrara White Metallic which is spiced up with silver and red accents on the front hood.
In terms of the powertrain, the Macan SportDesign, like the base model Macan, is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that outputs 252 PS between 5,000 - 6,800 rpm 370 Nm of torque between 1,600 - 4,500 rpm. Power is sent to all-four wheels through 7-speed double-clutch gearbox.
Aesthetically, the SportDesign package includes an aggressive looking front apron, painted side skirts and a rear apron. Red highlights also feature on the rear apron and roof spoiler. The keenest of Porsche-philes will also notice the SportDesign side mirror support which is a "double-spoked" item.
Two wheels options are offered - the 911 Turbo Wheel multi-spoke or the retrospective Sport Classic Wheel, a forged one-piece alloy wheel finished in gloss black, both wheel options are 21-inches in size.
On the inside, the SportDesign series is trimmed in a Black and Garnet red combination leather. The Garnet Red colour scheme is also used in other interior elements, such as the contrasting topstitching, seat belts, instrument cluster enclosure and Sport Chrono stopwatch.
A 545-watt, 14-speaker Bose Surround sound system is also included in the SportDesign series. Up top, the panoramic roof option has also been ticked in the SportDesign Macan.
Another highlight is the fitment of air-suspension with ride-height adjustment as standard, augmented by the acclaimed Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). The Sport Chrono Package, otherwise an optional extra, is also fitted as standard in the SportDesign.
The Macan SportDesign series is offered with a four-year warranty and free-maintenance package for a peace of mind ownership experience.


BMW Boss Hints At i5 Full Electric Sedan

Harald Krueger, CEO of
BMW
, has admitted to a German publication that there is space in their line-up to include a new ‘i’ vehicle, adding to the current pair: the i3 electric small town car and the
i8 plug-in hybrid sports car
.
He
told
 Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that it there is room and enough interest in the i-badge to slot in a new model between the i3 and i8, but declined to delve into further specifics: "There is space if you look at it from the number point of view," he said.
Some sources have reported to be pointing to a mid-size saloon that could be somewhat similar to the BMW
5-Series
, tentatively called the i5. They said that, should the car come into production, it would be offered as a plug-in hybrid or as an all-electric model that could go against the Tesla Model S.
BMW’s alternative energy and hybrid technology divisions are pushing hard to solve the next step in powering the world’s
next generation of vehicles
, and a new, more commonplace sedan effort from them could expose the ‘i’ sub-brand to a much wider customer base.
Most recently, BMW was reported to have been in
talks with Apple
 to collaborate on their own vehicle efforts, even going as far as to have Apple CEO Tim Cook visit their plant in
Leipzig, where the i3
 is manufactured.


5 Electric Motorbikes That We Need

While EVs or BEVs are making headlines these days, the two-wheeled world of electric motorbikes is equally exciting if not more so. Now if only we could get our hands on these 5 for a test ride!

Whether we like it or not, the electrified vehicle revolution is here. While electric cars are all the rage these days, we believe the soon to arrive electric motorbike ensemble will probably make the most sense as streets and roads just seem to be getting more and more congested.

Electric motorcycles promise a green way to enjoy the power from a performance motorcycle without the loud noise these brutes usually emit. It'll give us a way to enjoy outdoor tranquillity without the noise and smell of an internal combustion engine.

While this might not appeal to some or most, it is the present and the future so you best get on it with it.

Harley Davidson LiveWire (For those who seek a bit of classic Americana)

If you seem to think you can't go long distances on an electric motorcycle, then you haven't seen Ewan McGregor's Long Way Up. In the documentary, he and his best friend Charlie Boorman, take a couple of modified Harley Davidson LiveWires and travel from South America to Central America all with electric power.

Albeit with some help from Rivian, which installed many charging points along the way, it still proved that the future is here and that electric motorcycles are one of the best ways to hit the open road and seek some adventure. With a range of 234km and a quick charge of 80% battery life in 40 minutes, you can practically take this bike all the way up to Penang from KL just with one charging/ lunch break stop.

A second iteration of the bike is just about to be launched and promises to bring the price of the bike down, so perhaps it'll be more accessible than before.

Pic credit: The Verge

GoGoro SmartScooter (Perfect city bike)

If you ever go to Taiwan and see some cool looking scooters on the roads, 95% chance, it'll be a GoGoro. Owned by HTC, one of the largest mobile phone manufacturers globally, GoGoro bikes offer easy city commuting with the convenience of being able to run it around town for 102 kilometres.

To get the full range, you only need to charge it for around 2.5 hours but then again, thanks to a network of battery stations, you could always just swap out the scooter's battery for a fully charged one. The swappable batteries are GoGoro's most significant selling point, but the design and build quality aren't too shabby either.

Lightning LS-218 (I feel the need for speed)

If you are an environmentalist with a need for speed on two wheels, then the Lightning LS-218 is the bike for you as it was specifically designed and built for speed. Known as the fastest electric motorbike in the world, it can accelerate from 0-100kn/h in 2.2 seconds and has a top speed of 346kph.

The bike broke all previous electric motorcycle speed records in 2011 at Utah's salt lake bed, and in almost a decade, no other motorbike on the market has managed to challenge its title.

Damon Hypersport (No range anxiety here)

If speed is not a concern, but range is, then the handsome Damon Hypersport electric motorbike should be right up your alley. This electric motorbike has a claimed range of 482 kilometres and a 321kph top speed. It's also very clever and kitted out with what Damon calls a co-pilot safety system.

By using cameras, radars, non-visual sensors, and AI to monitor the speed of the bike and the direction, speed, and velocity of everything moving around the motorcycle, the Hypersport Pro is more aware than you are of your surroundings. If the AI co-pilot senses a collision, the bike will alert you via haptic vibrations in your grip, as well as visual warnings on a 6-inch LCD screen.

Fuell Fllow (Future-proof e-mobility)

Elegant and futuristic design, urban range up to 240 kilometres, fast charge under 30 minutes, and the acceleration of a superbike? Does it sound fictitious? Well, the Fuell Fllow is about to make all of this a reality and turn our world upside down. Not only can the Fuell Fllow provide all we could ever need from an electric motorbike, but it also does it in a machine weighing less than 181kg.

The Fllow has numerous innovations like the exclusive wheel motor, the connected dashboard, and 50 litres of storage. It is designed to evolve with technological progress so the creators made sure that the bike is a modular designed bike, which allows for easy upgrade of the battery, wheel motor and charging systems which practically future proof it. It can also go from 0-100kph in 2.7 secs but unfortunately only has a top speed of 130kph.

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E-GMP - Hyundai’s New EV Platform Wants To Embarrass Everyone Else’s

The Hyundai Motor Group was already banking on an early bird advantage to set them on a smooth path to a dominant position in electric mobility, successfully introducing cars like the
IONIQ EV
,
Kona Electric
, as well as the Niro EV and Soul EV from Kia on disparate platforms repurposed to support electric powertrains.

That all changes with E-GMP, a wholly new and modular ‘skateboard’ vehicle architecture that will underpin nearly all of the Group’s electric vehicles, including sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and smaller hatchbacks as early as 2021 while bringing some major innovations to the fore.

Like similar platforms from competing automakers, E-GMP will house all of its lithium ion battery cells between the front and rear axles to maximise interior space and deliver a very low centre of gravity, housed within a central support structure made from ultra high-strength steel which also serves as the vehicle’s spine.

Hyundai aren’t messing around here as the new platform seems to be immediately comparable to those offered by the Volkswagen Group, Tesla, and Rivian for high-end models, cherry picking some of their best features and headlining attributes.

At both ends are the capacity for an electric drive motor for all-wheel torque distribution, not to mention the performance implications. Hyundai themselves claim that an upcoming sports prototype built on E-GMP is capable of sprinting to 100km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 260km/h. Imagine what they could do with a production model, perhaps with the body of the
RN30
 laid atop?

Even more enticing for keen drivers is the confirmation that all cars to use the E-GMP platform will rely on the rear wheels for propulsion with models/variants equipped with AWD requiring an additional front-mounted motor, which includes an EV transmission disconnector to operate more efficiently in RWD-only mode.

Through a separate cooling block and innovative packaging of the lighter weight cells themselves, Hyundai claims an energy density that’s around 10 percent improved over the existing pool of EV battery tech.

Though it supports 400V charging, E-GMP also poaches the ‘800V’ exclusivity away from Porsche (and Audi via the
shared J1 platform
) by announcing the same compatibility and internal voltage within the Hyundai’s architecture, enabling the use of 350kW fast chargers for a theoretical 18 minutes to reach 80 percent capacity and just 5 minutes to deliver 100km of range. Again, very impressive, though it’s unclear what is the projected total battery capacity to which Hyundai is taking aim.

Even without this knowledge, Hyundai promises a maximum range of over 500km with a fully charged battery in real world conditions measured against WLTP testing procedures. We expect this to be a trait of the company’s upcoming large or flagship EV models that have the physical space to slot in the maximum volume of battery cells the platform will allow.

However, the lithium-ion cells and their packaging only tells half the story. More intriguing is E-GMP’s Integrated Charging Control Unit (or ICCU) which is a clear evolution to the on-board chargers (OBCs) found on existing EVs.

Crucially, the ICCU allows for bi-directional charging without any additional components or adapters and enables a new and very practical Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) function. This lets the car be a charging station and/or independent power source to external electrical machinery or appliances.

This V2L capability can scale anywhere from outputting 3.5KW of power at 110V/220V, enough to operate a mid-size air-conditioner or 55-inch television for 24 hours, or even to charge up another EV.

Over the past years, Hyundai has put forth more than a few (quite handsome) concept cars built around a then-mysterious all-new electric powertrain and tinged with production intent, so it’s nice to witness the company finally presenting the technical foundations that will precede the glitz and bling.

A couple of months ago, Hyundai officially announced their dedicated IONIQ sub-brand to encapsulate all their fully electric future models, confirming the coming introductions of the IONIQ 5, 6, and 7 trio by 2024 to cover the bulk of the most relevant vehicle segments.

Intertwined in this major transformation is Kia, who will also be making steady moves to orient themselves around the EV-focused strategy. By 2025, the Hyundai Motor Group as a whole intends to bring forward at least 11 fully electric models and sell more than 1 million BEVs (battery-electric vehicles) across all brands, presumably including Genesis. Lots to look forward to!


2017 Lexus LS (Facelift) Appears In Japanese Magazine – Spied

The
Lexus
 LS is the brand’s flagship model and as these
scans of a Japanese magazine reveals
, could well be due for a facelift.

Based on the magazine scans, it is evident that this is the current generation
Lexus LS
 although the front and rear ends have been covered up, probably indicating the car will undergo a future facelift. In line with Lexus vehicles recently introduced, expect the LS to adopt a similar design language with a more aggressive spindle grille accompanied by LED headlamps, L-shaped daytime-running lights, and LED tail lights.

Minor upgrades are expected on the inside with an updated infotainment unit, driver assistance features, and updated instrument cluster. As this is most likely a facelift and the LS had already received a major revision to its interior in 2013, it is unlikely the cabin will get a significant makeover.

Currently, the model is offered in two variants with the first being the LS 460 (4.6-litre, 380hp/493Nm) and the other, the LS 600h (5.0-litre, 438hp/520Nm). However, the brand recently trademarked the LS 500h nameplate which could point to another hybrid variants although engine options are unknown. The GS 450h SUV could be a suitable donor with its 3.5-litre V6 but a newly developed engine could be an option considering Toyota is on a
powertrain offensive
.


2016 Porsche 911 Carrera Facelift Revealed With Twin Turbo Flat Six

A new
Porsche

911

Carrera
 and
Carrera S
 will be making their way out onto the roads come 2016 (on sale in the US in March), replete with a new 3.0-litre twin-
turbocharged flat-six engine
, a tweaked exterior and refinements inside and out. They will be gracing the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Visually, there’s not much to split here between the first-generation Porsche 911 Type 991. The most obvious changes are seen at the rear where an air intake grille has been integrated with the retractable spoiler. There is also an additional vent located on either side of the car just after the rear wheel arch.
Both attributes were former staples of the earlier turbocharged variants of the 911 (
Turbo
,
Turbo S
, GT2) but now find their way to the new lower tiers in the range, which for the first time gain forced induction.
The new 3.0-litre flat-six in both the new Carrera and Carrera S, exhaust system upgrades and tuned engine management, grants them a bump of 20hp over their predecessors, developing 370hp and 420hp respectively. They also increase torque in each model by 60Nm. In addition, Porsche say these new engines are more efficient than before by up to 12 percent.
The added power and torque makes these new models the fastest 911 Carreras ever, with Porsche claiming a Nurburgring lap time of 7 minutes 30 seconds – a 10 second improvement over the outgoing car. The base Carrera will be able to complete the century sprint in 4 seconds while the more powerful Carrera S tackles it in 3.7 seconds.
Speaking of the noise that so defined Porsche’s naturally-aspirated horizontal engines, they say these new power plants are “underscored by the typical sonorous Porsche flat-six engine sound.”
A seven-speed manual transmission is fitted as standard, as is Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), while Porsche’s seven-speed double-clutch PDK transmission is available as an option. To make the new 911 Carreras even more potent around the corners, four-wheel steering is available as an option for the first time.
Porsche’s Communication Management (PCM) infotainment setup has also received some marked upgrades and features multi-touch gesture as handwriting input support on the seven-inch central display. Smartphones can be connected either via WiFi or Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay support is built in as well along with Google Earth and Google Streetview integration.


Lengkap 2 Dos Bagi Kebenaran Bagi Pelancongan Domestik

Persatuan Agensi Pelancongan Malaysia (MATA) menyeru kerajaan memberikan
kebenaran rentas negeri
 kepada individu yang telah melengkapkan
dua dos suntikan vaksin
 bagi tujuan pelancongan domestik.

Permintaan ini dibuat setelah industri pelancongan negara ini terkesan teruk semenjak tahun lalu ekoran wabak COVID-19. Sekiranya kebenaran tersebut diberikan, ia sedikit sebanyak mampu merancakkan semula industri pelancongan domestik.

Presiden MATA, Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun berpendapat bahawa pembukaan industri pelancongan ini amat penting untuk mengimbangi kerugian yang dialami serta meningkatkan semula pendapatan masyarakat tempatan dalam bidang terbabit.

Tetapi sebelum itu, beliau meminta Kementerian Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya (MOTAC) agar memastikan imuniti kelompok dapat dicapai di beberapa lokasi pelancongan terkenal di Malaysia untuk membuka semula industri pelancongan di kawasan tersebut.

Selain daripada kawasan bandar, MATA menyarankan kerajaan supaya meluaskan lagi program vaksinasi ke pulau peranginan lain supaya lebih banyak pihak yang terlibat dalam industri pelancongan dapat menerima vaksin secara besar-besaran sekaligus dapat mencapai imuniti kelompok.

Menurut MATA, program vaksinasi ini amat penting kepada barisan hadapan industri pelancongan seperti pekerja hotel,
sektor penerbangan
, dan sub pelancongan seperti pekerja spa dan pemuzik.

*Sumber: JKJAV

Berdasarkan laporan kumulatif
vaksinasi
di Malaysia setakat 4 Ogos 2021, seramai 7,704,996 telah pun menerima dua dos vaksin manakali 14,941,585 lagi telah menerima dos pertama. Sekiranya momentum ini berterusan, imuniti kelompok dapat dicapai dengan lebih pantas.

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Ford Driving Skills for Life – Furthering Road Safety Awareness in Malaysia

Ford and local distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), as part of their efforts to increase road safety awareness in Malaysia, have organised the “Driving Skills for Life” (DSFL) program, with over 140 participations this year.
Licensed drivers comprising members of the CitiClub by CitiBank, employees of Sime Darby Berhad, fans of Ford Malaysia’s social media channel, as well as members of the general public have attended the six half-day training sessions workshop, organised by a panel of safety experts. This year’s DSFL was held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
The DSFL workshops addressed the risks that drivers face on the road, such as dealing with unexpected situations, the dangers of distracted driving such as the use of mobile phones while behind the wheel, hazard recognition, speed management and the importance of ensuring child seats are securely fastened.
DSFL is Ford’s flagship global corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme offering free-of-charge, hands-on driver training that covers hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed/space management, and distraction awareness.
In Asia, the Ford DSFL program is now in its tenth successful year of training licensed drivers of all ages. In addition to Malaysia, DSFL training is provided in China, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam
Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion added, “Driving Skills for Life is designed to equip drivers with the skills they need to be better and safer on the road. Road safety is a very serious issue and we feel it is our responsibility to help reinforce this message among Malaysian motorists.”


Spied: 2017 Honda CR-V Spotted On PLUS Highway

It is no secret that Honda Malaysia will be introducing the new 2017 Honda CR-V here. After all, Honda has already introduced the new model in Thailand and Indonesia.
These spyshots were taken on the PLUS Highway heading from Melaka to Seremban, depicting a heavily masked SUV. Our friends over at
Funtasticko
 mentioned that the test mule was wearing a trade plate starting with "M", indicating that this Melaka-registered SUV is in fact the new Honda CR-V as Honda Malaysia's production facility is located in Pegoh, Melaka.
Trade plates aside, the fifth-generation Honda CR-V's silhouette is visible through the camouflage. We can see Honda's signature grille up front and the new tail light design at the rear. Other noteworthy details we spotted include the side mirror-mounted camera, hinting that Honda Malaysia will be offering
LaneWatch
 on the new CR-V, which is currently only offered on the Honda CR-V 2.4. The presence of the dual muffler tips also indicate that the 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo will be offered on the new CR-V, similar to the dual-muffler set up of the
Civic Turbo
.

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Earlier this year, Honda Malaysia
teased
 members of the media with some details of their upcoming models and powertrain options. Apart from the new Honda CR-V, the company is also expected to introduce an
updated Honda Jazz
. All of these launches are part of Honda Malaysia's
sales goal
 to achieve 100,000 units in 2017.


MIROS and MARii Officially Make A Pact To Improve Road Safety In Malaysia

The MoU signing between MIROS and MARii is a good step forward in improving road safety in Malaysia.

To help improve vehicle safety in Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (
MIROS
) and Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (
MARii
) have signed an agreement, to help raise the level of vehicle safety on our roads.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing will see both Institutes working together in activities such as R&D, development of standards, publishing of research in fields such as motorcycle safety, next-generation vehicles (NxGV), components and critical spare parts.

MARii CEO Datuk Madani Sahari said that since the establishment of Marii in 2010, they have worked side by side with Miros and researched ways to improve road safety in Malaysia. The cooperation is a basis to form and develop national-level strategies and policies.

MARii will contribute from its expertise in developing technology, especially in NxGV, while MIROS will share its expertise in developing scenario setting for traffic conditions and real-world Malaysian driving simulation.

Although Malaysia has higher car safety standards compared to neighbouring ASEAN countries, we’re still behind compared to developed countries.

Some integral safety features in new cars such as AEB, stability control, and ABS is still not mandatory in Malaysia. Even the compulsory use of
child safety seats
 is not yet implemented here, so perhaps the official MoU between these two institutes will bring about much-needed change.


Toyota Australia Unveils HiAce Convertible, Optional PieAce Kit

It's a thing of beauty. Toyota Australia has taken the covers off what looks to be the most promising light commercial vehicle of the year: the limited edition HiAce convertible. Based off of the HiAce van, just 2,019 units of this landau-esque model will be built and sold. The 2,019 units will be split evenly across the regular wheel base, long wheel base, and super long wheel base models, as well as the five seater crew vans and 12-seater buses.
But more important than that, is an optional bit of kit that's known as the PieAce. This is what truly takes the HiAce convertible to new heights, with cutting edge technology and practicality that's unparalleled in any modern vehicle.
What separates the PieAce from a HiAce? There are strong hints in the name, and everyone knows how much Australians love their meat pies. The most critical components of all are the pie-centric features, and they are aplenty. A fan-forced oven and grill that can hit 250 degrees celsius cooks pies at a blistering pace, with controls mounted directly on the steering wheel as well.
Unfortunately, you can't buy one of these - not now, and not ever - because it's a fairly elaborate April Fools stunt. We're only half disappointed though, because a van that's capable of cooking pies on the go sounds like a fantastic idea to us.


Locally-Assembled Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213) Expected In Q1 2017

Following the launch of the
CKD GLC 250 4Matic
, we have it on good authority – the next locally-assembled model that will be introduced is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, expected in Quarter 1 of 2017.
The 2016 E-Class (W213) was
first launched
 in June of this year and is currently available in four fully-imported (CBU) variants starting from RM395,888. Only the E200 Avantgarde, however, is officially on sale at the moment. Subsequent variants, namely the E250 Avantgarde, E250 Exclusive, and E300 AMG Line, will be progressively launched between now and November 2016.
An early 2017 launch of the locally-assembled E-Class would correspond nicely with the timeline required by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) to introduce the CKD GLC 250 4Matic, circa seven months after the fully-imported (CBU) units made landfall in January of 2016.
There’s no word on the variants that will be reserved for local-assembly, but the Pekan production plant’s two main-assembly lines can cater for multiple variants and trim levels on a single-line. Therefore, much like the C-Class range, the volume seller E200 and E250 variants, are likely candidates. One might even speculate that the E350e plug-in hybrid is a potential candidate following in the footsteps of the upcoming C350e, but that's pure conjecture on our part.
Mercedes-Benz has a long tradition of assembling the E-Class locally in Malaysia. The locally-assembled W211 E-Class was the first product launched after Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (then known as Daimler-Chrysler Malaysia) was incorporated in 2003. The W212 E-Class that followed was launched as a locally-assembled model right from the start in 2009. Continuation of the E-Class local assembly programme with the W213 will then bring the total number of locally-assembled Mercedes-Benz products to four model lines that also includes the:
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (
C180
, C200, C250, C350e Hybrid)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (S400L Hybrid)
Mercedes-Benz GLC (GLC 250 4Matic)
After being the first Mercedes-Benz CKD Plant in the world to successfully implement a second-shift program in 2015, the Pekan Production Plant will be operating on full-steam in the coming months with the GLC 250 and newly-previewed
C350e plug-in hybrid
 models. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia expects that both the GLC 250 and C350e will take the mantle as primary sales drivers for the remainder of this year.


Renault Captur Is Europe’s Best-Selling Sub-Compact Crossover For 2018

For a region that’s long been associated with hatchbacks and wagons, European consumers are fast falling in love with SUVs. According to data compiled by Jato Dynamics, a total of 15.6 million vehicles were registered last year in Europe, which by Jato Dynamics definition include not just countries in the European Union but also the UK, Sweden, and Norway.
Of that total, 5.4 million were SUVs, up 19 percent from 2017. Although the Volkswagen Tiguan-class of small SUVs still dominate (totaling 2.3 million for 2018), it’s the sub-compact SUV segment that’s growing the fastest, up 29 percent from last year, totaling 2 million units.
Leading the segment is the Renault Captur, with 214,720 units finding new buyers last year followed by the Dacia Duster (182,100 units), Peugeot 2008 (180,204 units), Volkswagen T-Roc (143,319 units), with the Opel Mokka (120,601 units) rounding up the segment’s top-five.
Finishing just outside the top-five is the Ford EcoSport (112,333 units).
Europe’s best-selling cars are often the total opposite of what’s popular in our part of the world. A wide dealer network with a long history in the local markets, homologation regulations and trade agreements that favour products made by countries from the European Union mean that Asian brands are typically less popular there.
Among the Asian brands, it is the made in Britain Nissan Juke that carries the flag for Japan in Europe, coming in at 14th place with 67,647 units sold.
The Honda HR-V may be the undisputed segment leader in our region but it sold only a paltry 25,863 units in Europe, putting it last at 21st place in Jato Dynamics' charts. There, Honda is better known for motorcycles rather than cars.
The Mitsubishi ASX – grouped within this segment due to its market positioning despite riding on a larger C-segment platform - did slightly better at 32,004 units (ranked 20th) while the Mazda CX-3 topped the list of Japan-made crossovers with 56,389 units (ranked 17th).
However, the impending ‘Brexit’ of the UK from the European Union might severely affect the Nissan Juke’s competitiveness. Nissan has already announced that it is abandoning its initial plans produce the next generation X-Trail at its Sunderland plant in the UK and the Juke’s future at the Sunderland plant is uncertain.
Closer to home, the Malaysia’s Competition Act limits the transparency of detailed breakdown of vehicle sales data, but we do know that the locally-assembled HR-V leads the segment, followed by the Japan-made Mazda CX-3.
The European flavour Renault Captur is assembled at the Tan Chong Motor Assemblies plant in Segambut, which keeps the price at a rather competitive RM105,980. The money buys you a peppy 1.2-litre turbocharged engine that makes 120 PS and 190 Nm, driving the front wheels via a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
However the reception towards the Captur here has been lukewarm, for the same reasons why the Honda HR-V doesn’t sell very well in Europe.
That’s a pity because contrary to popular opinion regarding European cars here, Renault’s after-sales service is excellent, backed by Tan Chong Motor’s TC Euro Cars. It tops competitors with a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, and then adds a 5-year/100,000 km free maintenance, plus free pick-up service for scheduled maintenance too. TC Euro will even provide you with a replacement car if your Captur has to be in a workshop for more than 48 hours.


Insurans Kereta 101 – Maksud, Jenis, Cara Beli Dan Cara Tuntut Insurans Kereta

Memiliki sebuah kereta pada masa kini bukan lagi satu kemahuan, tapi ianya satu keperluan. Di Malaysia, setiap kenderaan bermotor wajib mempunyai
insurans
, paling kurang pun insurans dari pihak ketiga bagi melindungi pemandu atau pihak ketiga daripada sebarang risiko tuntutan kerosakan atau kerugian.

Tapi adakah anda benar-benar faham tentang insurans kereta dan cara terbaik untuk memilihnya?

Maksud Insurans Kereta?

Insurans kereta merupakan sejenis perlindungan jangka masa panjang yang boleh dibeli oleh pemilik kereta bagi melindungi kereta dengan mengurangkan kos yang berkaitan dengan
kemalangan
 kereta. Selain melindungi kereta, insurans ini turut memberikan perlindungan kewangan terhadap kerosakan fizikal atau kecederaan badan yang disebabkan oleh kemalangan jalan raya. Tambahan pula, insurans ini juga menawarkan perlindungan seperti apabila kereta anda dicuri serta kerosakan kenderaan yang disebabkan oleh sebarang kejadian selain dari kemalangan jalan raya, seperti cuaca atau bencana alam.

Jenis Insurans Kereta

Terdapat 3 jenis insurans di Malaysia yang boleh anda dapati. Ada yang murah (standard), ada yang harga premium kerana perlindungan penuh dan lebih menyeluruh yang ditawarkan terhadap pelbagai jenis risiko.

1. Insurans Pihak Ketiga

Insurans ini merupakan insurans paling asas yang berupaya untuk melindungi pihak ketiga dalam sesuatu kemalangan. Sebagai contoh, sekiranya anda terlibat dengan kemalangan bersama kereta lain, anda tidak perlu untuk menanggung kos baikpulih kerosakan pada kereta pihak ketiga tersebut kerana ianya telah ditanggung oleh insurans pihak ketiga ini. Selain kos baikpulih kenderaan, insurans ini turut menanggung sebarang kos rawatan yang diperlukan oleh pihak ketiga.

2. Insurans Pihak Ketiga, Kebakaran dan Kecurian

Jenis insurans kedua ini tidak banyak beza dengan insurans pihak ketiga seperti yang dijelaskan di atas. Bezanya, insurans ini turut memberikan perlindungan terhadap kereta kepunyaan anda. Bukan itu sahaja, ia turut melindungi segala kecederaan dan kematian, kerosakan dan kehilangan harta yang berlaku terhadap kereta korang.

3. Insurans Komprehensif

Insurans komprehensif membawa maksud insurans yang lebih menyeluruh dan teliti berbanding dua insurans yang telah dinyatakan di atas. Insurans ini bertindak melindungi liabiliti pihak ketiga, kecurian dan kebakaran kereta anda secara tidak sengaja. Bukan itu sahaja, segala kerosakan terhadap kereta anda sekiranya berlaku kemalangan, kerosakan atau kehilangan harta benda di dalam kereta anda sendiri turut akan ditanggung insurans ini. Jika terlibat dalam kemalangan yang mendatangkan kematian atau kecederaan anggota badan yang disebabkan oleh pemandu, ketahuilah bahawa penumpang anda juga dilindungi.

Perlindungan Tambahan

Selain daripada 3 jenis insurans yang telah dinyatakan, syarikat insurans turut menawarkan pelbagai pilihan perlindungan tambahan yang boleh anda pilih bergantung pada keperluan dan risiko pemanduan. Berikut merupakan antara perlindungan tambahan yang mungkin memanfaatkan anda. Rujuk syarikat insurans anda untuk sebarang maklumat lanjut.

1. Pemandu Tambahan

Pemegang polisi – Percuma

Pemandu kedua – Percuma

Pemandu ketiga – RM10.60*

Pemandu keempat – RM21.20*

(caj berbeza mengikut syarikat insurans)

Jika kereta anda sering dipandu orang lain, wajar untuk anda dapatkan perlindungan ini. Di Malaysia, anda boleh menamakan dua pemandu untuk dimasukkan ke dalam polisi insurans anda secara percuma, manakala setiap penambahan pemandu seterusnya akan dicaj sebanyak RM10 bagi setiap nama.  Sekiranya kereta anda mengalami kemalangan ketika dipandu oleh ahli keluarga atau rakan selain daripada nama yang ada pada polisi, polisi utama kenderaan anda tidak akan membayar/ membayar penuh pampasan kepada anda.

2.  Perlindungan Cermin Kereta (Windscreen)

Perlindungan tambahan ini akan membayar kerugian anda bagi
membaiki cermin yang retak
 atau menggantikan cermin yang pecah. Walau bagaimanapun, insurans ini hanya sah untuk sekali guna sahaja. Jika anda telah membuat tuntutan, anda tidak lagi dilindungi melainkan anda membeli semula insurans cermin ini.

3. Perlindungan Semua Pemandu

Perlindungan ini terbuka kepada kenderaan peribadi yang didaftarkan di bawah syarikat (bukan kenderaan komersil). Polisi ini memberi perlindungan kepada semua pemandu atau kakitangan syarikat yang memandu kereta tersebut daripada risiko kemalangan.

4. Peril Khas (Bencana Alam)

Meskipun anda mengambil insurans komprehensif yang menyeluruh, namun ia tetap tidak akan membayar sebarang pampasan atau ganti rugi kepada anda jika kereta anda rosak teruk akibat bencana alam seperti
banjir
 atau pokok tumbang akibat ribut. Perlindungan daripada bencana alam dipanggil Peril Khas. Perlindungan yang diberikan oleh polisi termasuklah melindungi kereta anda daripada bencana alam seperti banjir, gempa bumi, tanah runtuh, tanah gelincir, taufan dan sebagainya

Kebiasannya, harga bagi perlindungan ini ialah 0.5% daripada jumlah yang diinsuranskan. Tetapi ianya mungkin berbeza mengikut pengendali takaful dan syarikat insurans. Sebagai contoh, jika jumlah diinsuranskan bagi kenderaan anda adalah RM 50,000, anda perlu membayar RM250 setahun. Bagi mereka yang tinggal di kawasan yang kerap mengalami banjir, anda mungkin memerlukan perlindungan tambahan ini.

5. Pampasan Ketika Kereta Masuk Bengkel (Compensation for Assessed Repair Time – CART)

Sekiranya kereta anda terlibat dalam kemalangan yang bukan disebabkan oleh anda, syarikat insurans akan membayar pampasan kepada anda berdasarkan tempoh anda ketiadaan kenderaan ekoran kereta anda dihantar ke bengkel bagi menjalani proses baikpulih.

Pampasan yang diberikan membolehkan anda untuk mengambil pengangkutan awam buat sementara waktu sementara menunggu kereta anda dibaikpulih di bengkel.

6. Perlindungan Aksesori Tambahan Kereta

Takut aksesori kereta anda dicuri atau dirosakkan insan yang tidak bertanggungjawab? Anda dinasihatkan untuk mendapatkan perlindungan ini kerana anda akan diberi pampasan jika berlakunya kecurian atau kerosakan akibat kemalangan atau cubaan mencuri ke atas aksesori yang diinsuranskan.

7. Rusuhan dan Kemusnahan Awam

Polisi ini memberi perlindungan kepada kenderaan anda daripada kerosakan atau kehilangan akibat rusuhan atau kekecohan awam yang berlaku. Untuk mendapatkan perlindungan ini, anda perlu membayar 0.3% daripada jumlah yang diinsuranskan.

Langkah-Langkah Untuk Membeli Insurans Kereta

Urusan membeli insurans kereta ini tidaklah sesukar yang disangka. Ikuti langkah-langkah berikut untuk mengetahui cara-cara membeli insurans kereta.

1. Pilih kaedah pembelian

Ada dua cara untuk membeli insurans kereta. Anda boleh memilih sama ada ingin membeli insurans secara terus dari syarikat insurans atau beli melalui broker insurans bebas. Pilihlah mana yang sesuai untuk anda.

2. Tentukan jumlah serta jenis perlindungan yang diperlukan

Apabila memilih jenis serta jumlah perlindungan, pertimbangkan beberapa faktor penting seperti jenis kawasan tempat tinggal anda, kekerapan pemanduan serta kawasan pemanduan. Kawasan tempat tinggal anda memainkan peranan penting dalam memilih insurans. Jika anda duduk di kawasan yang kerap berlaku kecurian atau bencana alam seperti banjir, anda disarankan untuk mengambil polisi peril khas.

3. Dapatkan sebut harga insurans kereta

Sebagai pemilik kenderaan, anda bebas untuk memilih dan mengubah suai jenis polisi yang anda perlukan, bergantung kepada keperluan anda. Tetapi anda harus ingat, semakin banyak pilihan yang anda tambah dalam polisi insurans anda, semakin tinggi nilai insurans yang perlu anda bayar.

Berikut merupakan butiran yang diperlukan bagi mendapatkan sebut harga:

Nama penuh pemilik kereta

Nombor kad pengenalan pemilik kereta

Nombor telefon

E-mel

Alamat tempat tinggal

Nombor pendaftaran kereta

Jenis kereta

Model kereta

4. Bandingkan harga insurans

Siapa yang tak suka dengan benda murah kan? Sebelum anda memilih insurans yang paling murah, pastikan anda sudah buat penyelidikan sedikit tentang syarikat insurans yang lain. Sesetengah syarikat insurans menawarkan harga yang lebih tinggi daripada syarikat insurans lain. Meskipun ia lebih tinggi, namun mungkin ia lebih berbaloi kerana ia mempunyai penilaian kepuasan tuntutan yang jauh lebih tinggi. Lepas dah puas buat perbandingan, barulah buat pilihan.

Cara Untuk Menuntut Insurans Kemalangan Kereta

Katakanlah sekiranya anda terlibat dalam kemalangan, bagaimanakah caranya untuk menuntut pampasan daripada syarikat insurans? Terdapat dua jenis tuntutan ganti rugi yang boleh anda buat sekiranya kemalangan:

1. Tuntut daripada syarikat insurans anda

Tuntutan boleh dibuat di bawah Tuntutan Kerosakan Sendiri (Own Damage) atau Kerosakan Sendiri Knock (Own Damage Knock) untuk tuntutan Knock. Cara-caranya:

Buat laporan polis dalam tempoh 24 jam dari waktu kejadian.

Maklumkan kepada pihak insurans tentang kemalangan yang berlaku dan hantar kereta anda ke bengkel panel pihak insurans.

Isi borang tuntutan dan kembalikan borang tersebut kepada pihak insurans.

Penyelaras insurans akan dilantik untuk memeriksa kerosakan dan kos untuk membetulkan kereta anda sebelum bengkel panel memperbaiki kereta anda.

2. Tuntut daripada pihak ketiga

Sekiranya anda terlibat dalam kemalangan yang bukan berpunca dari kelakuan anda, tuntutan ganti rugi boleh dibuat pada syarikat insurans si pelaku. Berikut merupakan cara untuk membuat tuntutan:

Buat laporan polis dalam tempoh 24 jam selepas kemalangan

Hantar kereta ke bengkel panel syarikat insurans pihak lain.

Dapatkan Penyelaras Berlesen Bebas untuk membantu menilai jumlah kos kerosakan, dan kehilangan penggunaan, juga dikenali sebagai Pampasan Untuk Masa Pembaikan Yang Ditafsir (CART). Ini adalah untuk mendapatkan pampasan kerana tidak mempunyai kereta sepanjang tempoh kenderaan korang sedang dibaiki.

Anda perlu membayar kos baikpulih kerosakan berikut terlebih dahulu. Kemudian hantar dokumen-dokumen ini kepada syarikat insurans pihak lain:

Salinan asal laporan polis yang telah dibuat

Hasil siasatan pihak polis

Salinan kad pengenalan

Salinan lesen memandu

Laporan penyelaras termasuk kos pembaikan untuk kereta anda

Foto kerosakan kereta (jika ada)

Insurans Kereta Takaful

Insurans takaful
 merupakan polisi yang dibuat berdasarkan undang-undang syariah agama Islam (patuh syariah). Insurans Takaful diperkenalkan sebagai alternatif kepada mereka yang berada dalam industri insurans komersial, yang dipercayai bertentangan dengan sekatan Islam ke atas riba (faedah), al-maisir (perjudian), dan prinsip al-gharar (ketidakpastian).

Pakar undang-undang Islam menyimpulkan bahawa insurans konvensional tidak boleh diterima dalam Islam kerana tidak mematuhi undang-undang syariah atas sebab-sebab berikut:

Insurans konvensional merangkumi unsur al-gharar atau ketidakpastian.

Insurans konvensional adalah berdasarkan konsep dan amalan mengenakan faedah. Sebaliknya, insurans Islam adalah berdasarkan tabarru, di mana sebahagian daripada sumbangan yang dibuat oleh peserta dianggap sebagai derma. Inilah sebabnya mengapa pemegang polisi dalam takaful biasanya dirujuk sebagai peserta.

Insurans konvensional dianggap sebagai satu bentuk perjudian.

Insurans Takaful kenderaan dikategorikan sebagai produk takaful am. Ia menawarkan perlindungan yang menyeluruh yang melindungi pemegang polisi dan pihak ketiga daripada kerugian dan kecederaan akibat kemalangan, kecurian dan kebakaran.

Dengan perkongsian ini, diharapkan anda dapat membuat pilihan yang tepat terhadap jenis insurans yang bersesuaian dengan anda. Nak beli atau perbaharui insurans ni boleh buat
online
 sahaja. Anda boleh membuat perbandingan harga insurans di lawan web MyEG atau Bjak. Segalanya dihujung jari!

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Buy A Pre-Owned Volkswagen This Weekend From As Low As RM39,990

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is hosting a one-weekend only “Volkswagen Pre-loved Weekend Deals” campaign at participating dealers nationwide on the 20th and 21st July from 11am till 5pm.
The campaign will see a range of pre-owned Volkswagen models with low mileage going on sale with prices from as low as RM39,990.
The participating dealers are listed below:
Other Ongoing After sales Promotions
Shock Absorbers
Existing owners can enjoy a complimentary check at Volkswagen service centres, while those who are due for an absorber change will receive additional 20% discount off the retail price. This discount is applicable on genuine Volkswagen shock absorbers and coil springs.
Tyres
As part of the ongoing tyre promotion which has been extended till the end of the year, enjoy low high-quality durable tyres from as low as RM184 and get additional benefits such as free installation, alignment and balancing depending on the different tyre packages.
Battery
Those in need of a battery change will receive 20% discount off new batteries starting from RM365 (depending on model), under the ongoing battery promotion, which has also been extended till the end of the year.
All Volkswagen cars come with 3 years free maintenance, 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years roadside assistance.
Looking for a new Volkswagen? Find the best deals
here
.


Beijing 2016: Volkswagen Lamando GTS – A Jetta CC GTI, All In One

Launched in 2015, the Volkswagen Lamando is a China-only four door coupe variant of the Jetta, which in Volkswagen China’s sprawling array of models, is known as the Sagitar.
Rather confusingly, the Volkswagen Jetta in China is completely unrelated to the European market Jetta model that you and I know. This China-only Jetta is actually a reskinned Volkswagen Polo Sedan, sold by FAW-Volkswagen.
Instead, the Sagitar that is also sold by FAW-VW is what you and I recognised as a Jetta.
Back to the Lamando. It’s sold by Volkswagen’s other Chinese joint venture – Shanghai Volkswagen, which does not have a competitive product in the upper C-segment market, one of the biggest segments in China. Shanghai Volkswagen’s closest alternative to FAW-VW’s Sagitar is the Lavida, which is smaller than the Sagitar and is based on a very old platform that dates back to the Golf Mk4.
The Lamando is Volkswagen China’s effort to keep the two friendly rivals within Volkswagen China’s family happy. It allows Shanghai Volkswagen to take a slice of the market without competing too intensely with the FAW-Volkswagen’s Sagitar (our Jetta).
Currently, the Lamando is only available with either a turbocharged 1.8-litre TSI or 1.4-litre TSI engines. The Lamando GTS however, when it goes on sale in China later this year, will be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI engine borrowed from the Golf GTI, paired to a seven-speed dual clutch DSG transmission driving the front wheels.
It’s differentiated from a regular Lamando by its sportier exterior bits – smoked headlamps and tail lamps, black honeycomb grille, larger wheels, larger air dam in the front bumper,


Understanding Tyre Tread Wear Indicators

With the hot spell over, the erratic weather conditions that we’ve been experiencing lately is starting to swing to the other extreme, with heavy rain and flash floods expected to continue in many parts of Peninsular Malaysia until the end of this month.
Under such wet driving conditions, it is imperative for motorists to ensure that their tyres are in optimal condition.
Every tyre has a tread wear indicator designed into its grooves. As the tyre wears down, the gap between the tread wear indicator and the top of the tread gets smaller. When tread wears down to the point where it’s flat with the indicator, the tyre has gone past its legal limits.
Make it a habit to inspect your tyres regularly – e.g. when you wash your car.
Up until this point, most drivers are getting it right.
The common mistake made by most drivers is that many assumed that as long as the tread has not worn down to the level of the indicators, the tyre is still safe.
While a tyre might still be within legal limits, braking performance however is significantly compromised once the tread depth drops below 40 percent (about 3 mm). In fact, braking performance will begin to taper off once the tread depth drops below 60 percent, as demonstrated in the video below.
Personally, I am quite particular about my tyres and make a mental note to replace them once the tread depth passes the halfway mark. That way, it buys be some time because by the time I am done shopping around for a good set of replacement, they would’ve been worn down to 40 percent, right at the limit of compromise that I am willing to tolerate.
While the tread wear indicator (set at 1.6 mm) is there to fulfil legal requirements, Bridgestone recommends that rather than replacing your tyres based on the indicator, drivers should replace their tyres once the tread depth drops below 3 mm.


Hyundai reported to unveil production version of N Vision 74 on May 27th

If Money Today is to be believed, Hyundai will be mass-producing the 'N Vision 74' concept car, and we can't wait to see it!

When it comes to design, Hyundai Motor Company must be one of the most daring auto manufacturers currently around. If you look at their current crop of cars, most of them have their own unique look that doesn't resemble any other vehicles from other auto manufacturers.

So when news broke out that Hyundai will allegedly be mass producing a car
based on the 'N Vision 74'
 concept car, it naturally put a smile on our faces as once again they are proving that they don't conform to current trends, especially where exterior design is concerned.

According to Money Today, a South Korean media outlet, Hyundai Motor Company is pressing forward with plans to mass produce a version of their 'N Vision 74' vehicle, a car which received "the most popular car of the year" award at the '2022 Top Gear Awards'.

According to their exclusive, they will announce the big news on May 27 at its design studio in Seoul, coinciding with 'Pony Day'.

Pony Day is Hyundai's celebration of their Pony Car, which inspired the design of the 'N Vision 74' vehicle.

Like most of us who are unaware of Hyundai's history, The Hyundai Pony was the first mass-produced vehicle from the South Korean automaker. It was introduced in 1975 and was a significant car for Hyundai, as it helped establish the company as a serious player in the global automotive market.

While the Pony is no longer in production, it remains an integral part of Hyundai's history and legacy, and the revival of its legacy started with the
Hyundai Ioniq 5
, which took some design cues from the Hyundai Pony.

When the 'Hyundai N Vision 74' debuted on N day in 2022, many petrolheads and journalists were impressed with its retro design and futuristic powertrain.

This futuristic powertrain in the form of a rather complicated hydrogen hybrid power system is perhaps the biggest cloud looming over the production version, as it is unknown whether Hyundai will make the car with the said powertrain or a conventional electric vehicle powerplant, just like the Ioniq 5.

It's also unclear whether Hyundai will slap the Pony moniker on the car, but we'll find out on May 27.

Money Today also reported that the car would be designed by Fabrizio Giugiaro, the son of Giorgetto Giugiaro, the designer of the 1974 Pony Coupe concept car.

The Pony was a compact car designed to be affordable and practical, focusing on fuel efficiency and reliability. In contrast, the Pony Coupe concept car was a two-door coupe never produced for commercial sale.

However, it was a vital concept car for Hyundai, showcasing the company's ability to create innovative and exciting designs. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, a renowned Italian car designer who also penned down cars like the Volkswagen Golf Mk1, DMC DeLorean, Lotus Elise and many more.


UMW Toyota's Ramadan Promotion Offering Up To RM3,500 Cash Rebate, “Duit Raya”, And Free Accessories

Throughout the month of May and the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, UMW Toyota Motor and it’s authorised dealers are having a ‘Jalan Cerita – Ramadan Bersama Toyota’ campaign where customers are given special offers including “Duit Raya” worth RM500 for selected models.
Additionally, customers are also entitled to cash rebates worth up to RM3,500 as well as other attractive offers such as free service vouchers, or free accessories packages that give good value for their purchase (for selected model and variants).
Find out more about the offers in the details below, valid from now until 31st May 2018:
Customers who require a financing plan may also check out Toyota Capital services offers like the Toyota 2-Tier Plan which offers lower monthly instalments for graduates, and the Toyota Drive financing plan, the first of its kind where customers can save more.
For peace of mind, all Toyota models come with a 5-year warranty and unlimited mileage (except for the Toyota Hilux with maximum mileage of 150,000kms). To enhance the value of your Toyota, the warranty is transferable to the next owner within the terms and conditions.
To find out more about these attractive offers, customers can visit any Toyota showrooms where test-drives are also available.


2019 Perodua Axia Launched – 5,000 Units Already Booked, Priced From RM 24,090

One of the most popular vehicles in Malaysia has received a well needed update for 2019. The Perodua Axia has been a staple in the Perodua line-up, and with this release comes a number of features to keep the Axia in line with the times, as well as a new STYLE variant that sits in the middle of the range.
Pricing is as follows:
Axia E – RM 24,090
Axia G – RM 33,490
Axia GXtra – RM 34,990
Axia STYLE – RM 38,890
Axia SE – RM 38,890
Axia AV – RM 43,190
Let’s try to break it down. Powertrains are common across the range – with a 1.0-litre, 3 cylinder naturally aspirated engine pushing 67 hp and 91 Nm of torque, paired with a 4 speed automatic or 5 speed manual. Claimed fuel efficiency is 22.5 km/litre for the E variant, 20.8 km/litre for the STYLE variant, and 21.6 km/litre for the remaining variants.
The AV variant is the priciest but this is to be expected as it comes packed with all the bells and whistles of lesser variants, with Advanced Safety Assist 2.0 being the cherry on top of the cake. Pedestrian Detection up to 50 km/h, Pre-Collision Warning up to 100 km/h, Pre-Collision Braking up to 80 km/h, Front Departure Alert, and Pedal Misoperation Control are all a part of this active safety package, and makes the AV a worthy consideration – and the cheapest car on sale that comes with active safety systems.
Working down from there, variants down to the GXtra receive Vehicle Stability Control, and all variants except the base spec E model come with ABS. ISOFIX is common across the range for ease of proper installation of a child seat – in line with Perodua’s numerous child seat initiatives.
As for the specific STYLE variant, the changes are through cosmetics – hence the name. It’s got a sportier front bumper, roof mouldings, side skirts, and larger rims. It almost looks like a crossover save for its fairly passenger-car ride height, but it’s very indicative of the direction consumers are headed in when it comes to picking a car.
Equipment progression through the range is as you would expect. For RM 24,090, the Axia E comes with
5-speed manual (only one in the range)
Painted Front Grille Finishing
Projector Headlights
Body Colour Door Handles
14-Inch Steel Rims
LED Tail Lamps
Fabric Seats
Power Windows
Dual SRS Airbags
Moving up to the Axia G at RM 33,490, Perodua adds
Electric Side Mirrors
14-Inch Alloy Rims
Rear Wipers
Audio Head Unit
Two Front Speakers
Seat Back Pockets
Central Locking
ABS with EBD
Central Locking With Remote
The Axia GXtra at RM 34,990 goes a little further with
Retractable Electric Side Mirrors
Rear Defogger
Mid-range Fabric Trim
Two Rear Speakers
Adjustable Seat Height (for the driver)
Grab Handles
Reverse Sensors
Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control
Anti-Snatch Hook
Now we’re getting higher up in the range. The Axia SE justifies its RM 38,890 price with
High-end Projectors
Turn Signals (for the wing mirrors)
Semi-bucket Seats (sort of)
Rear Spoiler
Blacked-out B Pillars
Keyless Entry and Start
Front Corner Sensors
Solar and Security Window Film
Bluetooth Connectivity
At the same RM 38,890 price is the Axia STYLE, which as mentioned before is largely an exercise in snazzier bumpers and trim, as well as 15 inch alloy rims. While similar in spec to the SE, it does without the mirror-mounted turn signals and front corner signals, as well as the solar and security film, but it does get clear LED tail lamps.
And of course, topping out the range at RM 43,190 is the Axia AV, with the final additions of
Multimedia System with Navigation, ‘Smart Link’, Bluetooth, USB, and HDMI
Leather Wrapped Steering with Audio Controls
ASA 2.0
For the best deals on Perodua models, click
here
.


4 Ways To Boost Your Engine Performance

A sensible car for our commute to work and run our mundane errands is a financially rational decision. But there will be times where we're in the mood for spirited drives. The sudden open roads with no traffic the weekend twisties up Genting or Ulu Yam. That’s when you’ll demand your daily commuter to have more
POWER
.

So in this article, we’ll share 4 tips on how you can boost the engine performance of your daily commuter without breaking the bank.

The engine air filter is vital to provide the cleanest air for your engine's combustion. The difference between the standard air filter (that came with your car from the factory) & a performance air filter can be summarised in the table below:

Upgrade to Performance Air Filters

Standard Air Filter

Performance Air Filters

Product Focus

Removing particles in air before entering the engine

Removing particles in air before entering the engine while maximizing air flow for combustion

Washability & longevity

Not washable

Washable & reusable at least 4 times longer than standard air filters

Independent testing estimates performance air filters do improve acceleration by around 2 to 3%, which is minuscule for the average driver, but it’s still recommended as performance air filters are relatively cheap at around RM100 to buy online (depending on your car model), which makes this an easy recommendation.

Invest in Quality Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are a crucial part of your engine. They work by igniting the air & fuel mixture to create combustion to power the engine.

There are 3 common types of spark plugs, ranked from least to best:

Copper

Platinum

Iridium

Generally speaking, Iridium spark plugs are the ones you want to upgrade to, as they are the most durable & the most precise to spark ignition at a precise time for maximum power & fuel efficiency.

A set of 4 decent Iridium spark plugs may run you around RM150 to buy online (depending on your car model).

Lighten Your Car’s Load

Unnecessary weight will put a strain on your engine in the long run & generally slows you down as the engine has to work harder to lug all that weight around.

To maximise the acceleration of your engine, remove as much weight as possible.

Check out your trunk/boot & leave dead weight at home (bags, that steering lock that you never use & various random stuff).

Apart from decluttering, changing to lighter rims will also help acceleration. But the steep cost of alloys (over thousands of RM) makes this a hard recommendation for regular drivers.

So it’s time for some spring cleaning!

Change to a High Performance Engine Oil

There are plenty of moving mechanical parts in an internal combustion engine & the engine oil's job is to:

Lubricate and reduce friction between moving mechanical parts

Control from overheating

Clean the engine from microscopic deposits

This is why regular and timely engine oil changes as per the manufacturer’s guidelines are recommended. Also, if power is what you seek, then we recommend Shell Helix Power 5W-40.

Shell Helix Power 5W-40
 is formulated with Shell PurePlus Technology, which is made from 99.5% pure base oil
1
 from natural gas. Shell Helix is also the motor oil trusted and recommended by Scuderia Ferrari.

This super premium fully synthetic engine oil is particularly suitable for high power and performance vehicles as well as suitable for a wide range of modern gasoline and diesel passenger cars (without diesel particulate filters). Also, as the product is carbon neutral
2
, you can choose a more sustainable choice without compromising high engine performance and engine protection.

Shell Helix Power 5W-40 is now available at participating Shell branded and independent workshops, where the recommended retail price for 4L pack in Peninsular Malaysia is RM280.00, while in East Malaysia it is RM280.80.

For a limited time, you will get a FREE Shell Helix Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker with every purchase of Shell Helix Power 0W-40, Shell Helix Power 5W-40, or Shell Helix Protect 0W-30 4L pack at any participating outlets, while stocks last.

1
Based on paraffinic hydrocarbon content in the base oil using PurePlus Technology.

2
The CO2e emissions of the lifecycle of this product have been compensated for with verified carbon credits. CO
2
 compensation is not a substitute for switching to lower emission energy solutions or reducing the use of fossil fuels. Carbon credits are purchased and retired to compensate the calculated lifecycle CO
2
e emissions of the product. Although these carbon credits have been generated in accordance with international carbon standards, the compensation may not be exact.


Hyundai Introduces World’s First Smart Fingerprint Access In 2019 Santa Fe

Hyundai has announced the world’s first smart fingerprint technology that allows drivers to lock/unlock and even start their vehicle by using just their fingerprint. Hyundai will introduce the technology in the
2019 Santa Fe
 SUV, which hits selected markets in Q1 of next year.
To unlock the vehicle, the driver needs to place a finger on the sensor located on the door handle. The encrypted fingerprint information will be identified and delivered to the fingerprint controller inside the vehicle. The driver can also easily start the vehicle by touching the ignition that is also equipped with a fingerprint scanning sensor.
The technology also provides a customized driving environment: matching biometric information with pre-saved vehicle settings, such as the seating positions, connected car features, and side-view mirror angles according to the driver.
Hyundai has addressed the security issues of the fingerprint scanner with capacitance recognition; it detects differentials in the electricity level in various parts of the fingertip. The fingerprint technology efficiently prevents forgeries and faked fingerprints.
Hyundai claims the system’s chance of misrecognizing another person’s fingerprint as the driver’s is 1 in 50,000; making it five times more effective than conventional vehicle keys, including smart keys.
The system is also supported by a ‘dynamic update’ feature that allows real-time learning of fingerprints, thereby continually improving its success rate.
Hyundai plans to introduce the technology in selected markets (as yet unconfirmed), and will continue to implement other customizable technologies in the near future.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Maintains Strong 2015 Momentum, Selling 932 Vehicles In April

It’s all coming together very nicely for
Mercedes-Benz
 Malaysia (MBM), isn’t it? Having only just announced their
best-ever Q1 sales performance
, it looks like the brand is off to a flying start in Q2.
MBM’s performance between January 2015 to March the same year saw them sell a total of 1886 units, with the month of March alone contributing to a massive 967 vehicles sold.
Now, according to MBM, it looks like that momentum has been kept up, with another 932 models registered by the company in April 2015, marking a 75% improvement over their figures from the same month from a year ago.
MBM says that its launch of the all-new
Mercedes-Benz C-Class CKD
 in Malaysia has largely contributed to this success, with 270 units registered in April.
Over the same period, an astonishing 293 units of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid were registered. Hopefully, our test drive trip from
KL to Bangkok in the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid on a single tank of fuel
 helped some of that.
Then, there’s no forgetting the S-Class S 400 Hybrid too, which is still racking up the numbers, selling 83 units last month.
And as ever, the brand’s latest range of compact vehicles (A-, CLA-, GLA and B-Class) also made a healthy contribution, collectively responsible for a solid 284 units registered in April 2015.


TRAPO Asia Unveils Their Classic Mark II Car Mats, Kills 99.9% Of Bacteria

It’s amazing how far TRAPO Asia has come in just three and a half years. The Malaysian car mat manufacturer kicked off with an ultra-aggressive online marketing campaign, which has in turn made them the number one online seller for car mats – on top of having one of the more innovative products on the market.
What’s even more surprising, as some of you may not know, is that development of the mats was a function of necessity. The founders of TRAPO Asia, brothers Tzong and Zare Lee, had tonnes of leftover plastic waste with which they had to dispose of – or recycle. In turn they repurposed the plastic to create their range of TRAPO mat products – being both eco-friendly and efficient in terms of production.
In terms of metrics, TRAPO is doing extremely well for itself. Serving over 80,000 car owners with a 6% market share of newly registered cars, expanding to Singapore and Indonesia, and a portfolio of products to suit over 500 different car models, TRAPO is a success story without a shadow of a doubt.
This year sees the launch of the TRAPO Classic Mark II, which improves on their already solid product following feedback from customers and with a renewed focus on bacterial elimination. In a partnership with Fuji Chemical Industries Co Ltd, TRAPO utilizes Bactekiller technology which eliminates 99% of bacteria on the car mat surface, in turn improving hygiene. TRAPO Asia signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Fuji Chemical to be the sole car mat manufacturer to use the Japanese technology in Malaysia.
In addition to this, TRAPO is looking to push on the sustainability front with their new line of TRAPO ECO mats, which are made from a combination of recycled TRAPO mats and raw material. This is in line with the twelfth United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal, as well as giving customers the option to trade in their old mats.
With these new products, TRAPO Asia has the ambitious goal of increasing their market share by another 5%. On top of the re-invigorated product line, TRAPO Asia is also venturing into other car accessories through their in-house brand, Oxtra. Power cables, car chargers, mini vacuums and phone holders are all part of the current product lineup.
To find out more, visit TRAPO Asia’s official website at
http://www.trapo.asia/my/


VIDEO: Hyundai Runs Its New Tucson Through Narrow Circuits Made Like Huge Sandcastles

When it comes to the world of cars, you wouldn’t think ‘SUV’ when the subject of handling or agility comes up. Perhaps you’d be more open to the concept when presented with a
Porsche

Cayenne
 or
Range Rover Sport
, but how about a
Hyundai

Tucson
?
Hyundai themselves wanted to do something about that disconnect and found a clever way to demonstrate how sharply they’ve gotten their new Tucson to handle - and show off some of its headlining features too. How? They’ve cleared out an runway in Hungary and constructed a series of three ‘sand circuits’ for it to drive though, the track only slightly wider than the car.
Should the driver make a mistake or the car isn’t quick enough to react, it’ll be quickly buried under a considerable amount of sand.
The challenge is made even more arduous when the driver has to drive in one of the tracks which has little to no light inside, having to rely on the Tuscon’s “Static Bending Lights”. Next, the driver is then asked to drive through the third and final super-sandcastle circuit backwards, good thing for that rear view camera.


JPJ Catat 55,000 Kesalahan Bawa Kenderaan Tanpa Lesen - Dari Januari Hingga Mei 2022

Menurut
JPJ
, sebanyak 55,000 kesalahan melibatkan pemilik kenderaan yang membenarkan pemandu tanpa lesen membawa kenderaan mereka telah direkodkan di seluruh negara dari Januari hingga Mei 2022.

Menurut Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Perancangan dan Operasi) JPJ, Aedy Fadly Ramli berkata pihaknya kesal dengan sikap ambil mudah sesetengah pemilik yang berterusan melakukan kesalahan tersebut tanpa memikirkan risiko terhadap pemandu lain.

Pemilik Kenderaan Tidak Bertanggungjawab

Berdasarkan pemerhatian dan analisis terkini JPJ, tiada perubahan sikap dan tanggungjawab yang ketara dalam kalangan pemilik kenderaan mengenai isu ini dalam tempoh empat tahun kebelakangan ini.

Menurut Aedy, sebanyak 347,300 pemilik kenderaan didapati membenarkan
individu tanpa lesen
 membawa kenderaan mereka sejak Januari 2019 hingga Mei tahun ini.

Tambahnya, kebanyakan kesalahan melibatkan ahli keluarga terutama ibu bapa yang memberi kebenaran kepada anak-anak, termasuk mereka yang dibawah umur untuk memandu dengan pelbagai alasan tidak munasabah.

Hukuman Terhadap Pemilik Ingkar

JPJ telah mengingatkan orang ramai supaya mengambil serius berkenaan isu ini kerana pemilik yang ingkar boleh dikenakan tindakan mengikut Seksyen 26 (1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 iaitu denda tidak kurang RM300 dan maksimum RM3,000 atau dipenjara sehingga tiga bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Selain itu, JPJ juga boleh mengenakan tindakan yang lebih tegas kepada pemilik seperti menyita kenderaan mengikut Seksyen 64 (1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987.

Sementara itu, sebanyak 580 kenderaan telah diperiksa dalam satu operasi yang dijalankan bersama Jabatan Imigresen dan Agensi Anti
Dadah
Kebangsaan (AADK). Daripada bilangan tersebut, sebanyak 133 kenderaan diberi notis atas pelbagai kesalahan termasuk tiada lesen memandu serta lesen tamat tempoh.

*Kredit foto: AADK Daerah Kemaman
,
 Harian Metro


All You Need To Know About The 2020 Proton Saga Anniversary Edition

To commemorate the 35th birthday of the Saga, the folks at Proton have just unveiled the new Saga Anniversary Edition moments ago, and here's all you need to know about it.

Limited to just 1,100 units, the Saga Anniversary Edition, which is based on the Saga 1.3 Premium AT, will be priced at RM39,300 after SST exemption, which is also the same as the Saga Premium.

Clad in Quartz Black, enhancements on the limited edition model revolves purely around cosmetics, comprising front and rear bumper lips, side skirting, side mirrors, as well as the front grille accent, that are all yellow.

The wheel design on the other hand is the same as the Saga Premium, but it is finished in matte grey versus the standard silver.

The black and yellow theme continues inside as well, with dark fabric upholstery and contrasting yellow bits on the dashboard, around the instrument panel, as well as the air-con vents.

Also worth mentioning here is that the Saga Anniversary Edition is fitted with the N95 Cabin Filter, a feature which will now be made available for all Proton models.

Current owners will have the option to purchase the N95 Cabin Filter for RM59 excluding labour charges, there is a 15% discount on the price of the filter for a limited period until the 9th of October 2020.

Coming back to the Saga Anniversary Edition – the 35th Anniversary Accessories package which includes Door Visors, a Hood Insulator, Trunk Lid Cover, and Boot Tray on top of the yellow bits, is actually available for purchase separately at RM2,350.

So, owners of the 2019 Proton Saga who would like to get a dash of yellow on their cars can happily do so too!


Spyshot: Proton Persona Facelift Caught, Now With DRLs

Apart from the upcoming Iriz facelift, it appears that Proton is also working on refreshing the Persona, a model that was introduced back in 2016 as part of the company’s aggressive marketing strategy of introducing four models in a year.
From the spy photos provided by our friends over at
Funtasticko
, it looks like the Persona facelift is set to receive a revised front grille that is inspired by the X70. The front bumper is also new, now with integrated LED daytime running lights (DRLs), something that was missing before. Unlike the Iriz that was
caught
 last month, the new Persona’s headlights appear to be unchanged.
As for the side profile, we can expect the updated Persona to feature some new 8-spoke alloy wheels, replacing the current wheels.
Despite its camouflage, the creases in the rear bumper hint towards a sharper-looking unit, unlike the curvier one found on the current model. The dual-tone diffuser design with an integrated rear fog light is expected to make a return on the new Persona, but refreshed with new looks.
No word on when the new Persona or Iriz will be launched, but a 2019 debut is almost certain.
Photo credit:
Funtasticko


Perodua Ativa Hybrid Spotted - Launching Here Soon?

The Daihatsu Rocky e:Smart Hybrid has been spotted once again - this time, however, it's wearing a Perodua badge, and there's more than one of them - so Perodua Ativa Hybrid?

A set of peculiar-looking Perodua Ativa's on a trailer has been circulating around social media recently, and if you look closer, there's something more about them than meets the eye.

For those thinking that these are facelifted Ativas, you couldn't be further away from the truth-  as it's too soon for Perodua to be giving them a refresh as they were only launched
a year ago in March 2021.

Perodua Ativa Hybrid - but not for sale!

Yes, they might have different wheels and rear bumper similar to the ones found on the Daihatsu Rocky rather than the Perodua Ativa, but the story from the grapevine is that what you are looking at is the Perodua Ativa Hybrid.

Sources have informed us that Perodua has brought 300 units of these hybrid vehicles from Japan, but they are here for fleet leasing or subscription to companies and also selected individuals.

The data collected through GPS will be
used by Perodua for short and medium-term studies
 on the Hybrid system's efficiency before being made available to the public.

Although the units feature a Perodua logo, the local car manufacturer has not changed any aspect of the exterior design as found on the Ativa. They are just like the Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid vehicle spotted in Bukit Bintang
back in October 2021
, but with Perodua badges.

Daihatsu Rocky e:Smart = Perodua Ativa Hybrid

In Japan
, the Daihatsu Rocky e:Smart Hybrid features a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.2 liter NA (WA-VEX) Atkinson-cycle three-cylinder engine capable of producing
82 hp
 and
105 Nm
 of torque.

The engine mainly acts as a generator which is why power is not sent directly to the wheels. Instead it is primarily used to charge the 4.3 Ah lithium-ion battery pack before being sent back to the
106 hp
/
170 Nm
 electric motor.

According to Daihatsu, because it mainly uses the electric motor to move, the Rocky e:Smart Hybrid is able to offer a more exciting, quieter acceleration and can be enjoyed using the single pedal driving feature (Smart Pedal).

The Daihatsu Rocky e:Smart Hybrid can also return a fuel economy as low as 3.57 l/100 km, which is much more economical than the 5.29 l/100 km found on the Perodua Ativa 1.0-litre turbo.


Nissan Finally Introduces the Kicks to South East Asia- Now With E-Power

The new Nissan way (post-Carlos Ghosn) is a good way and the latest to come out of this new direction is the Nissan Kicks E-Power.

For those of you who do not know what a Nissan Kicks is, we don't blame you as the model was never released here or South East Asia for that matter. It was popular in the good ol' United States, China, and markets alike like where it took on the might of the Honda HR-V and Toyota CH-R.

The in-trouble Japanese vehicle manufacturer has since however jumped into action in the Thai market, so here it is, a made in Thailand Nissan Crossover that has electrification. The E-Power powertrain is basically a petrol-electric hybrid, just like the C-HR.

It combines a petrol engine with an electric motor, but the unique bit here is that the engine never directly powers the wheels. Instead, the engine and generator make electricity for the battery which moves the car.

But don't worry about all the technical bits, it still just drives like a regular car and has fuel-saving attributes like any other hybrid. The Kicks E-Power comes with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine which is coupled to a CVT and an electric motor producing 129hp and 260Nm of torque.

The exterior design, which has been given a facelift, has turned the Kicks into more of an upmarket vehicle instead of looking like a budget one like its predecessor. The latest Nissan design language has been incorporated into the fascia and that V-Motion grille looks the business at the front.

It looks brutish like the Nissan Altima. As with most facelifts, the rear sees few changes, but on the upside, they are all now colour-coded, so no more black bits at the bottom where the plastic claddings are.

The interior has gone upmarket too, think Renault Captur. In fact, could it just be a copy of the Captur interior? It certainly reminds us of it.

We guess the big question is, will the Nissan Kicks ever make it to the Malaysian market? The price of the Kicks in Thailand starts from RM121,000, so that is a good indication of what the price might be like. According to Edaran Tan Chong Motor, they have thought of introducing the Kicks to Malaysia, but it would have to be after the introduction of the Almera. But with the current situation being what it is, perhaps next year would better, or at least till we've 'Kicks' COVID-19 out of Malaysia.


All-New 2017 Suzuki Swift Sport Brochure Leaked, 6 MT & Turbo

Just one week ago, Suzuki dropped one
teaser
 of the all-new 2017 Swift Sport, slated to debut at September's Frankfurt Motor Show. A few days ago, Twitter user
Kaz3647M3
 released scanned brochures of the new Swift Sport.
From the scanned brochures, it is evident that the hero colour for the new Suzuki Swift Sport is yellow, similar to the previous two generations. Suzuki's new sporty hatchback also receives bespoke dual-tone alloy wheels, a different front end with skirting, side skirts and a rear diffuser with the signature dual muffler tips. Six exterior colours will be available, including the aforementioned yellow, red, blue, white, grey and black.
Inside, the all-new Swift Sport is differentiated from the regular models by the sport bucket seats, various red stitching and red interior trim. On top of that, the meter cluster is also new, with a boost meter taking centre stage. Yes, for the first time ever, Suzuki's stonking warm hatch will get a turbocharged engine. A six-speed manual is offered, though an automatic option is possible.
According to the brochure, the new Suzuki Swift Sport will be arriving in Japan some time in September, possibly after its Frankfurt debut.
Photo credit:
Kaz3647M3


2018 All-New Mercedes-Benz G-Class World Premiere – The Legend Returns

The longest-serving Mercedes-Benz model of all time, the G-Class, has been given a new lease-of-life through a comprehensive redesign of its chassis, powertrain, and comfort and technology features to deliver a contemporary driving experience.
The new car retains key aspects of the G-Class, such as its ladder-type frame, low-range gear system and triple locking differential system (front axle, rear axle, and centre transfer case) – and builds on those traits that have made it a sterling off-road performer known the world over.
Only a handful of key features have been left unchanged since the last generation - the distinctive door handle and the characteristic closing sound, the robust exterior protective strip, the exposed spare wheel on the rear door and the prominent front fender indicator lights.
Starting from the ground up, the new ladder type frame has been substantially revised. At the front, Mercedes-Benz co-developed a new suspension system with Mercedes-AMG which features independent suspension with a double-wishbone front axle.
The components of the double-wishbone front axle are directly mounted to the ladder-type frame without a subframe. The lower wishbone's attachment points on the frame in ‘Z-direction’ are positioned as high up as possible. The G-Class’ ground clearance is now 270 mm to the front axle gear case. A strut tower brace in the engine compartment further adds rigidity to the front end.
At the rear, the new rigid axle is controlled by four trailing arms on each side and a ‘Panhard rod’. Mercedes-Benz claims a rear spring bound and rebound travel of 82 mm and 142 mm respectively and ground clearance of 241 mm to the rear axle gear case.
The G-Class key off-road parameters are as follows:
Slope climbing ability of up to 100% on suitable surfaces
Ground clearance between axles - 24.1 cm (up 6 mm)
Maximum fording depth - 700 mm (up 100 mm)
Tilt (rollover) angle - 35° (up 7 deg)
Angle of approach - 31 deg, angle of departure - 30 deg (up 1 deg), break-over angle - 26 deg (up 1 deg)
One varinat for now, the G500, which is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that produces 422 hp and a maximum torque of 610 Nm between 2000 and 4750 rpm. The engine is mated to the company’s 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, specifically adapted to meet the needs of off-roading. Key developments include a dedicated software application to reduce the shift and response times of the transmission.
The G-Class’s driving performance is augmented through the Dynamic Select system, which features five driving modes that adjust the characteristics of the engine, transmission, suspension, steering and assistance systems. The five drive modes include the conventional programs of "Comfort", "Sport", "Eco" and "Individual" with the addition of a new “G-Mode”.
The G-Class changes to "G-Mode" independently of the chosen driving mode as soon as one of the three differential locks has been activated or the low-range off-road reduction gear has been engaged.
This off-road mode adapts the adjustable damping of the chassis and the steering as well as the accelerator characteristic and avoids unnecessary gear shifts to ensure optimum control and off-road capability. A small "G" icon discreetly lights up in the instrument cluster.
The new G-Class is now fitted with electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering, which now allows driving assistance systems such as Parking Assist to be implemented. In addition, the electromechanical steering uses less energy than a hydraulically assisted steering system. Depending on the driving mode, one of three sets of steering characteristic lines, namely Comfort, Sport and Off-Road.
While the appearance may not look substantially different than the model that rolled out in 1979 –the G-Class is now 53 mm longer and 121 mm wider than the outgoing model. The body shell is now made of a variety of steel grades, while the wings, bonnet, and doors are made of aluminium. Aesthetically, the biggest differentiators are the inclusion of new LED headlamps at the front and rear.
Lighter raw materials were used in the G-Class’ construction comprising strong, high-strength, ultra-high-strength steels, and aluminium, as well as improved production processes at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria, has contributed to an overall weight reduction of 170 kg. However, torsional rigidity of the frame, body shell, and body mounts have been improved by around 55 percent (from 6,537 to 10,162 nm/deg).
A key benefactor of the G-Class’ bigger dimension is the added interior space – legroom the front and rear has been improved by 38 mm and 150 mm respectively. The rear seats can now be folded down to 60, 40 or 100 percent. The front seats are now equipped with contemporary comfort features such as memory function for the driver's seat, seat heating front, and rear, as well as luxury head restraints in the front. Comfort can be further improved with the Active Multicontour Seat Package.
By far the biggest difference of the new generation is its interior - the overall dashboard architecture follows in the nature of the new models, with retrospective elements such as the grab handle in front of the front passenger and the chrome-highlighted switches for the three differential locks.
As in the new E-Class, the instrument cluster is split between two large12.3-inch displays which make up the Widescreen Cockpit. Drivers can choose between three different styles for the displays – "Classic", "Sport" and "Progressive" – and also select relevant information and views according to their individual needs.
Drivers control the car’s infotainment functions via touchpad with a controller in the centre console without taking their eyes off the road. The input options are rounded off by shortcut keys in front of the controller for frequently used operating tasks, and by the optional control panel for the driving assistance systems above the rotary light switch. The construction and finish of the interior door panels have been vastly improved.
The G-Class is slated to hit showrooms in Europe starting June 2018, with an entry-level price of EUR 107,040 (price in Germany, including taxes).


Perodua GearUp Smart Bluetooth TPMS Introduced, RM385 Introductory Price

Perodua has launched its new GearUp Smart Bluetooth TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) at an introductory price of RM385, valid until 30 June. After that, the device will be priced at RM430.

According to Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato's Dr Zahari Husin, the GearUp Smart Bluetooth TPMS is locally developed and manufactured, and is backed by a 6-month warranty.

The Perodua GearUp Smart Bluetooth TPMS comprises of four individual tyre sensors and an in-car device. The tyre sensors are screwed on to each tyre valve, replacing the valve caps that transmit tyre pressure information via Bluetooth to the in-car device.

The in-car device has four lights that represents the four tyres of the vehicles, lighting up and beeping when the pressure of any tyres falls below the 8% of the recommended values.

Apart from the in-car device, users can also download the FOBO Tire mobile app in order to get real-time tyre pressure information. The app is available on the
Google Play Store
 and
iOS App Store
.

To prevent the tyre sensors from being stolen, a lock nut spanner is included to lock the tyre sensors. Also, the in-car device features a built-in motion sensor that automatically sends the device into sleep mode when no motion is detected. All of the tyre sensors are powered by coin-cell batteries while the in-car device is powered by two AA-sized batteries, all of which are included in the package.


VIDEO: Is ‘Project CARS’ Worth The Wait, And The Money?

So… new racing title ‘Project Cars’ has recently made its way to Malaysia, and is finally available for your preferred gaming consoles or PCs in various stores.
For this particular writer, it’s the PlayStation 4 version that has my attention. Even more so because since moving on from the PS3, there just hasn’t been a racing simulator worthy of living up to the untouchable standards set by Gran Turismo 6 – The Real Racing Simulator.
Plainly, I want something realistic: a proper simulator, so to speak. And I’m sure many of you do too, craving for some real-life Nurburging action, and some arcadey frenzy like NFS: Rivals or the over-hyped Driveclub. I miss being able to play GT6 with my G27, but until Gran Turismo 7 comes along for the PS4, it looks like Project Cars will have to do.
Admittedly, it’s also no easy purchase. After only just securing Dying Light, spending another RM199 on a video game you can’t test for yourself beforehand is more of a gamble than I’d personally enjoy taking.
Which makes it rather fortunate then, that we’ve stumbled across this YouTube video. GameSpot has taken the trouble to ask a few real-life pro drivers what their impressions were of the promising video game.
After watching XCar’s “track-trained” drivers take on the PS4 preview of the game and a proper driving rig, I think I might be making a stop to the closest gaming store I can find, tonight.
“
There was definite promise to make Gran Turismo look a little bit like child’s pla
y” – them fighting words!
Here’s the vid:
Here are some screenshots:
*Images courtesy of GameSpot


VIDEO: Volvo Engine Remote Start, Helping You Get Through The Heat

Walking into a car that’s just wrought with heat isn’t something anyone enjoys doing, and yet we go through it on fairly regular basis here in Malaysia. Well, Volvo wants to help solve this by offering an optional RM1,999 Engine Remote Start system for Drive-E equipped models.
The video below shows someone who’s just gone finished a round of golf and really wouldn’t care for immediately entering his
Volvo
 with its hot cabin. So, he whips out his key fob – or Personal Car Communicator, in Volvo-speak – to, you guessed it, remotely start his car up and let the air conditioning cool the car for his return. No sweat.
Now, for Malaysia at least, the
XC60
 is the only model that comes with the Drive-E engine. Note, too, that despite the car in the video is the pre-facelifted model, the vehicles that customers will get will indeed be the facelifted
XC60
.
The way Volvo’s Engine Remote Start works is that the engine will start and run for up to 15 minutes upon command. Assuming that the appropriate temperature will be reached before that mark, the engine will turn off once that happens. And if you’re worried about it posing a safety risk, Volvo says that the car’s alarm system and central locking remain on alert within that quarter-hour window (or less) and will engage upon forced entry.