2018 MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid Launched, Priced From RM255,888

MINI Malaysia has just launched the new locally-assembled Countryman Plug-In Hybrid. The launch of the new plug-in hybrid variant of the Countryman marks a significant milestone for MINI Malaysia, as this is the British marque's first-ever plug-in hybrid model, on top of being the first country out of Europe to locally assemble the new Countryman.
Visually, the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid can be differentiated thanks to its model-specific “e” emblems on the fenders and tailgate plus yellow “S” emblem on the front grille. In addition to the various emblems, the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid comes standard with the ALL4 bodykit and 19-inch MINI Yours Masterpiece alloy wheels. The charging port is located on the left side front fender.
Moving inside, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display takes centre stage of the new Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, with support for multi-touch and pinch-to-zoom.
Similar to BMW Plug-In Hybrid models, the new Countryman Plug-In Hybrid features an eDrive button that allows the driver to choose between several electric drive modes, including Auto eDrive, Max eDrive and Safe Battery mode.
Underneath, the new MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid features MINI’s eALL4 System, with the petrol engine driving the front wheels and electric motor driving the rear wheels.
Versus the regular Countryman's 450 litres of boot space, the plug-in hybrid variant makes do with just 405 litres of boot space, as the electric motor is housed within the rear axle of the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid. This results in less storage space beneath the removable boot floor.
The eALL4 System works in conjunction with the eDrive modes, whereby the Auto eDrive allows drivers to drive up to 80 km/h with just electric power. Auto eDrive also features eBoost, a feature which the electric motor assists the petrol engine to boost output.
Then there’s the Save Battery mode, which allows the charging status of the battery to be maintained at a set level, or to be charged by the petrol engine. When this drive mode is activated, the petrol engine is primarily utilized and the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid is strictly front-wheel drive only.
Last but not least is the Max eDrive mode. When drivers engage Max eDrive mode, they can enjoy pure electric driving with speeds of up to 120 km/h. The Countryman Plug-In Hybrid is also able to travel up to 40 km on pure electric propulsion. Running on the Max eDrive mode also transforms the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid into a rear-wheel drive vehicle, as the petrol engine is not utilized.
Powering the new MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid is a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that outputs 136 hp and 220 Nm of torque, while the electric motor outputs another 88 hp and 165 Nm, allowing for a combined system output of 224 hp and 385 Nm. The century sprint of the new plug-in hybrid MINI is completed in just 6.8 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 198 km/h.
Other noteworthy highlights include:
Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning with rear air vents
Interior mood lighting
Power adjustable front seats
Leather upholstery
40:20:40 split folding rear seats
MINI Navigation system
Powered tailgate
Picnic bench
LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
LED front fog lights
MINI logo projection
ABS, EBD, Brake Assist
Attention Assist
Dynamic Stability Control with Dynamic Traction Control and Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC)
6 airbags
Reverse camera
A total of 6 body colours are offered for the new Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, namely Chili Red, British Racing Green, Thunder Grey, Light White, and Melting Silver with black roof and Island Blue with white roof.
Buyers of the new MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid can enjoy the included ChargeNow offering by MINI Malaysia, which includes the MINI Public Charging Cable plus a 1-year free subscription of unlimited charging at all 270 ChargEV stations.
The introduction of both locally-assembled MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid and Cooper S Countryman Sports mark the exit of the fully-imported Cooper Countryman and Cooper S Countryman.
Compared to the fully-imported but discontinued Cooper Countryman's RM239,888 price tag, the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid costs RM16,000 more at RM255,888.
Currently, the MINI Countryman lineup in Malaysia comprises of:
MINI Coooper S Countryman Sport - RM245,888
MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid - RM266,888
MINI JCW Countryman - RM348,888
In terms of aftersales support, the new MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid is backed by MINI Malaysia’s 5 Years Roadside Assistance programme and a battery warranty that is valid for 6 years or 100,000 km.


What Is Drag Coefficient (Cd) – Aerodynamics 101 And The Most Aerodynamic Cars

In its simplest form – aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around things. The rules of aerodynamics explain how an aeroplane is able to fly or a Formula 1 car is able to stick to the ground at staggering speeds. Even a kite reacts to aerodynamics.

Road cars are no different, as they move on the roads, they are actually pushing air molecules present in the atmosphere over, under, and around the car. At low speeds, the effects or aerodynamics are pretty minimal, however, once you speed up, these aerodynamic forces become greater and can actually affect how the car moves, and the rate at which it moves.

Firstly, a little bit of physics.

At any one time, there are always four forces acting on a car in motion. They are called weight, lift, drag, and thrust.

Weight: is the force acting downwards towards the road caused by the weight of the car

Thrust: is provided by the engine to push the car forward

Drag: is a force that tries to slow something down. It makes it hard for an object to move.

Lift: Lift is the push that lets something move up. The force that acts in the opposite of weight.

By looking at the image above, it makes sense that if a car encounters less drag as it moves, the easier it would be to move the car forward, thereby requiring less thrust to move it, or if we add more thrust, the car would move faster. An easy way to understand this is to ask yourself if it would be easier to run through water or run through air? Of course air, this is because water causes more drag on your body than air.

Therefore it’s easy to understand why car manufacturers go to great lengths to reduce the effects drag has on a car’s body. This is because the more aerodynamically efficient (i.e.: less drag) a car body is, the better its fuel economy will be, and the faster it can go.

Consider the shapes of a sports car versus a lorry, of course, the two are made for very different reasons, but you can start to understand why sports cars and race cars through the ages, have always had a beautiful yet small front end, a smooth and streamlined body, and clean proportions front to back. As if to cut through the air like a knife through butter.

In all these cases, manufacturers use a concept called Drag Coefficient or Cd

The aerodynamic drag coefficient is a measure of the effectiveness of a body shape in reducing the air resistance when moving in forward motion.

In its simplest form, the drag coefficient refers to a formula that allows one to calculate the forces acting on the car’s body at different speeds.

F
d
 = c
d
 1/2 ρ v
2
 A

Now, we are not going to whip out our scientific calculators and notepads. However, here is a relative range of Cd figures depending on the vehicle type:

Passenger car: 0.22 – 0.40

Sports car: 0.28 – 0.40

Small/Light van and MPV: 0.35 – 0.50

Bus: 0.40 – 0.80

Note that sports cars actually have a higher Cd value than that of passenger cars such as sedans or hatchbacks.

In this day and age, aerodynamics play a huge part in the construction and design of any car. In all cases, manufacturers will use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling and extensive wind tunnel testing to perfect any car's aerodynamic efficiency.

Supercars have complex surfaces and downforce elements to balance lift and downforce (given their higher speeds), and this, unfortunately, has a negative impact on a sports car’s overall Cd values.

Passenger cars, hybrids, and EVs on the other hand actually have far lower Cd values, as they use clever aerodynamic design, to push air around the car to reduce drag so the vehicle can travel further.

Here are some examples of the most streamlined and aerodynamic cars on sale today:

Tesla Model S, Mercedes-Benz (W205) C-Class, and Toyota Prius – Cd: 0.24

Both the Tesla Model S, (W205) Mercedes-Benz C-Class have a Cd factor of 0.24 thanks to superb proportions, smooth body surfaces and intelligent design to channel air around the car.

Audi A4 – Cd: 0.23

The Audi A4 just pips the 0.24 Cd club and is one of a very few cars with this low of a Cd value. Despite its slightly boxy shape – the A4's very intelligent design at the front and smooth flowing surfaces along the flanks and rear of the car make it very efficient.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan and (G30) BMW 5 Series – Cd: 0.22

Yes, you read that right, the (G30) 5 Series is one of the most aerodynamic cars on sale today. Again, great design, extensive wind tunnel testing, and CFD modelling help this German Luxo-barge to an extremely low Cd value belying its size. The current record holder for the lowest drag value of any production vehicle in the world is the new (V177) A-Class sedan, which features a Cd value of 0.22. The new A-Class sedan follows in the footsteps of its older sibling the (C117) CLA sedan, which previously held the world record.


Tokyo 2015: Toyota Auto Body Pours Luxury Into A Hiace Van To Rival A Rolls Royce

Take two ingredients of unlikely union and mix them together, cost be damned. When those steps are taken to the auto industry, things can get interesting.
Yesterday, we showed you a very
special Toyota Alphard
 that took inspiration from a yacht that even lets you retract its roof to allow you take in the calming sea breeze (assuming you’re on a picturesque coastal route and not in a smoggy traffic jam).
Also created by Toyota Auto Body, manufacturing subsidiary of the
Toyota
 Motor Corporation, one that specializes in body engineering, for better or worse, is this:
We’re showing you a lavished-up
Toyota Hiace
 called the Hiace Platinum Lounge  – perfect for when stepping out of your private jet and back into luxury again. Only with this Hiace, you’ll be able to make your appearance and exit smoothly without the undue attention.
It features a white on black interior with dark wood and light leather with ample space for four lounge occupants, a chilled storage compartment for wine and other beverages and a suite of audio and visual entertainment options built in.
Why make yourself a moving target with a flash
Bentley
 or
Rolls Royce
 when you can get the same comfort, more room and extra privacy with this? Come on, it’s a no brainer.


Review: 2016 Proton Persona – Smaller in Size, Bigger in Aspirations

The Persona has been one of Proton’s most successful models in recent memory. At a time when Proton’s reputation was taking a beating and bleeding market share, the Persona in 2007 was the model that successfully stemmed the decline and helped atone for the series of less-than-successful hatchback models that came before, namely the
Gen.2
,
Satria Neo
, and
Savvy
.
Interestingly, the Persona was actually something of an afterthought, a sedan derived by stretching the Gen.2’s rear overhangs. More crucially perhaps, the Persona addressed many of the Gen.2’s flaws and became well-accepted among Malaysians. Even alongside the newer
Preve
, the Persona continued to sell in respectable numbers.
Still, age was counting against Proton’s long-serving stalwart, and the time for a new Persona had come. Like its predecessor, the
all-new Persona
 is a hatchback-derived sedan. Difference between then and now is that whilst the predecessor s built on the C-segment-sized Gen.2 platform, the newer one sits on
Iriz
 underpinnings, meaning that the nameplate has effectively migrated downwards in segment albeit still occupying the same pricing space as before.
Further mirroring its predecessor’s narrative, the new Persona is once again called upon to be Proton saviour; the car to revive Proton’s fortunes. To show us what its latest baby is made of, Proton let the Malaysian motoring media loose with a fleet of Personas on a journey from KL to Kuantan and back. Can the same success story be told twice?
Specifications:
Engine: 1.6-litre, Inline-4, Transverse, VVT
Power:  107hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 150Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual / CVT, FWD
Safety: 2-6 airbags, ABS, ESC, Traction Control, Hill-Hold Assist, ISOFIX (rear)
Origins: Locally-manufactured at Tanjung Malim
Overview
Powered exclusively by Proton’s latest 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated VVT engine, the Persona is offered with a choice of three trim levels – Standard, Executive, and Premium. Only the base Standard model offers the choice between manual and continuously variable transmissions; Executive and Premium variants are CVT only.
Prices of the Persona start from RM46,800 (OTR with insurance) for the Standard model with manual transmission, with the flagship Premium CVT variant topping things off at RM59,800. In a move to consolidate its line-up, Proton has also made the decision to
phase out lower variants of the Preve
 to make way for the Persona.
To date, Proton has collected about 8,000 orders for the new Persona, with over a thousand having been delivered to customers. The range-topping Premium CVT variant accounts for 45% of orders thus far; later on, however, we expect a more even spread to the lower variants.
Only 10% of buyers have opted for manual transmission; a disproportionately low fraction in totality, but double of what
Perodua gets for stick-shifting Bezzas
. Tellingly, it suggests there is a bigger mix of the driving enthusiast crowd in Proton’s order books.
All variants of the Persona come with dual frontal airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, and ISOFIX amongst a generous suite of safety features. The range-topping Premium model adds side and curtain airbags to the mix along with a reverse camera integrated to its 2 DIN touchscreen system. This commendably high baseline gives the Persona a
5-star safety rating by ASEAN NCAP
 applicable across the range without exception.
Exterior
Being built on a smaller platform, the new Persona naturally occupies a smaller footprint than its predecessor; its waistline shrinking from 4,477mm long by 1,725mm wide to 4,387mm long by 1,722mm wide. Wheelbase has similarly contracted, from 2,600mm to 2,555mm, although the new car is taller than before, rising from 1,438mm to 1,554mm.
Proportions-wise, the new model does not wear the three-box look as naturally as the predecessor did. The boot area, in particular, looks slab-sided and makes the car look under-tyred in the standard-fit 15-inch rims – not that the wheel arches look large enough to accommodate much bigger size of rubber.
Whilst wearing its own distinctive look, the Persona shares common windshield, front fenders, front three-quarter glass, and front doors with the Iriz.
Interior
This is the familiar cabin seen from the Iriz, albeit rehashed with a new colour scheme and supposedly improved quality. Subjectively, we found the tactile feel of our test car’s air-con switches to be a bit more convincing than the Iriz, but the transmission lever's lock button is still too loose for our liking.
To add another piece of constructive criticism to the cabin, the centre console cubby holes are well partitioned, but lacking in depth – expect things to fly off if you ever need to engage in extreme maneuvers.
Enlarged rear seats now offer far superior thigh support over the older model, commendably without sacrificing too much headroom. Upper variants offer 60:40 split-folding seat backs, but without a flat loading floor to the boot. The Standard model with fixed seat backs gets additional structural braces to reinforce the already strong structure.
In feedback to our previous stories on this car, many readers have commented on the lack of adjustable rear headrests that were present in both the previous Persona as well as the current model’s donor car, the Iriz. Proton folks were frank enough to admit this was a cost-driven omission, but has assured us that from a safety perspective, the fixed headrests employed in this model delivers the required whiplash protection.
How does it Drive?
As expected, the Persona’s ride and handling far surpasses anything within its price range. At highway speeds it feels composed, secure, and firmly hunkered down on the road.  The electric power steering feels slightly aloof compared to older models with hydraulic assist, but is quick and accurate enough to satisfy.
Body movements also feel reassuringly controlled. For the average driver, it is a satisfactory setup; only the enthusiasts among us will miss the finer control afforded by the predecessor’s fully independent suspension setup. The solid fundamentals of this car was amply demonstrated in the closed demo session where, even with ESC switched off, the Persona requires very deliberate and abrupt steering inputs to unsettle. (Our friends at
PanduLaju
 recorded a couple of videos that showed the Persona's performance at an obstacle avoidance course with ESC switched on and off)
Further contributing to our highly positive impressions is a vastly improved CVT. Although hardware remains identical to what the Iriz gets, the software has been expertly recalibrated. Not only is the dreadful drone that plagued earlier Proton efforts with the Punch CVT markedly reduced, kick down response has been made sharper, and the car takes off from standstill with more conviction.
Overall feel of the transmission is also more natural, even if it doesn’t quite match the expert levels of CVT calibration mastered by seasoned exponents of the transmission such as Toyota or Nissan. Also noteworthy is the CVT’s pro-active grade logic control system, which provides a greater sense of control by holding the transmission to a lower ratio when descending steeper slopes.
If you are game to handle a clutch pedal, things get even better in the manual model. The 5-speed ‘box by Getrag slots with good throw and precision, with pedal calibration much improved over the Iriz. Brake pedal modulation feels better nuanced, in turn enabling far easier execution of smooth heel-and-toe downshifts. The anchors bite convincingly too, mind. A waste then, that better-heeled enthusiasts are not offered the choice of a higher-specced stick-shifting variant.
How Comfortable Is It?
Like other models in the Proton range, the Persona’s dynamic sharpness comes without any penalties in ride comfort. In fact, they come hand in hand. Damping is excellent, with the chassis exhibiting extremely sophisticated levels of composure when traversing poor surfaces.
Quietness on the move has never been a quality commonly associated with any Proton model, but the new Persona positively addresses this shortcoming. The decision to rearrange the engine room’s configuration to three mounts as opposed to four in the Iriz has paid clear dividends in minimizing unwanted vibrations at source.
On the move, we also noticed good suppression of external sources of noise such as wind and tyre roar. For the first time in a Proton vehicle, conversations can be carried at normal volume at highway speeds. This is, by far, the most refined vehicle Proton has ever produced.
How Economical Is it?
A simple fuel economy challenge was included in the drive programme. Over a 117km route across the state of Pahang from Jengka to Tanjung Lumpur, majority of the participating cars (all being CVT units) achieved readings between 5.4 and 5.7 litres/100km on their trip computers, all of which were reset at the start of the route.
To give the numbers a sense of realism, the drive organizers imposed a time restriction, requiring all cars to complete the route with a minimum timeframe of two hours, meaning we had to maintain average speeds of 80 to 85 km/h in order to complete the challenge. The route itself offered an even mix of highway and trunk road driving before ending in rush hour downtown traffic at the heart of Kuantan.
We switched over to a manual transmission unit for the journey home. Driven with greater exuberance, the said vehicle returned an average consumption of 8.3 litres/100km; incidentally the same figure attained when we recently reviewed the
Iriz 1.6 manual
. Between the two extremes, we reckon most users can expect to average in the region of 6 – 7 litres/100km in their daily grind.
Servicing costs would be identical to the Iriz, with regular maintenance scheduled at 10,000km intervals. Additionally, early takers who complete their purchase of the Persona before the end of September get
three years of free servicing covering parts and labour
.
Against The Competition
Whilst technically a B-segment sedan, the Persona's pricing advantage mean that peers of its size such as the
Toyota Vios
 and
Honda City
 cannot be regarded as its proper competition. In fact, it can be said that the Persona almost occupies a pricing niche of its own with the closest-priced sedan of comparable size, the
Nissan Almera
, a further RM10k north.
Realistically, the 1.6-litre Persona will most likely be cross-shopped by buyers against the smaller
Perodua Bezza 1.3
 instead, which retails between RM42,800 and RM50,800. Only the range-topping 1.3 Advance model of the Bezza really ventures into the Persona's turf, however. Lower-specced versions of Perodua's sedan will have the
new Saga
 to deal with, which is reputed to be targeting a pricing range of RM35,000 to RM45,000.
Whilst conceding a smaller engine and body size, the Bezza 1.3 Advance is not entirely outgunned by the Persona. It matches the Proton's 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating with dual airbags and ESC. Thanks to Perodua's superior packaging capabilities, the Bezza also does not feel any less spacious than the Persona. Switchgear quality is also better in the Bezza, thanks to Perodua having access to the Toyota parts bin. We also expect the Perodua to hold its value better in the resale market.
Arguing in the Proton's favour, however, the Bezza does not come anywhere close to matching the Persona's handling assuredness. The latter simply feels more planted at high speeds whilst also managing to feel positively communicative at the helm.
Conclusion
Proton would love to have a case of history repeating itself with the Persona. Parallels with the predecessor model are there; like how the previous Persona refined the rough edges of the Gen.2, so has the current one addressed shortcomings of the Iriz. There is certainly room to improve, but be in no doubt that this is a product of very good pedigree.
Existing owners of the outgoing Persona
 will perhaps find it difficult to look at the new one and envision an upgrade due to its reduced bodily dimensions. The enthusiasts among us also mourn having the multi-link rear axle being replaced by a torsion beam.
In other ways, however, the new Persona does carry on the spirit of the original model in offering unbeatable value for money as well as a solid driving experience. It is an affordable car for the people, but infused with just enough verve that enthusiasts with a budget can appreciate all the same.


Why Is The (F90) BMW M5 So Much More Expensive Than A 530i… And Yet So Special

Roughly, 35 years ago, BMW pioneered the formula for a four-door sedan with supercar beating performance. The formula was so simple it baffles the mind why other manufacturers had not gotten around to doing in earlier.

Yes, one could argue the Jaguar Mk2 was the genesis of the ‘sleeper’ sedan – but by shoehorning an M88 (racecar derived) six-cylinder into the relatively sedate (E28) 5 Series body, BMW proved a mundane family sedan could eat performance vehicles for breakfast, and do it in style.

In there lies the beauty and nuanced approach of the M5.

It is both boardroom executive and MMA fighter, quiet and composed one moment, yet loud and lethal the next, both a precise family car and red-blooded hot-rod depending on what you need it to be. This has been exemplified in all six-generations of the M5.

Click
here
 to find out why the (E60) BMW M5 is my all-time favourite.

Having recently revealed the facelifted version of the current (F90) M5, BMW has yet again evolved the concept of its ‘Bahn-Stormer Q-Car’ – keeping the exterior somewhat unassuming, while cloaking up to 625hp of fury (in the M5 Competition) under the hood.

But of course, this all comes at a price – because making a car fast is one thing, making the whole thing work as a cohesive package: that requires know-how and sublime engineering.

Which is why, the current (F90) BMW M5, retails for roughly three times more than the (G30) BMW 530i M Sport – you could say it’s the starting point of the BMW performance ladder. Nevertheless, just how special is the M5? Let’s take a closer look…

Firstly, the difference in prices…

Note, for this comparison, we will be looking at the
(pre-facelift) F90 BMW M5
 first introduced here in 2018, and comparing to the locally sold, BMW 530i M Sport first introduced here in 2017.

The locally-assembled BMW 530i M Sport, after the recent sales tax discounts, is priced at RM372,800. The M5, on the other hand, is priced at just under RM943k, or almost three times the price of the 530i, which in all fairness – sits just as many occupants, looks mostly similar, and perhaps 80 percent of the time will drive about the same
until you put your foot down
 that is.

How much power has it got?

Well for the money, almost three times as much as well. The 530i delivers 252hp at 5,200 rpm and 350Nm of torque from as low as 1,450 rpm. Granted, the 530i is no slouch, and as we have noted before, plenty of pace in the right hands. Nevertheless, those numbers pale in comparison to the 600hp (at 6,000rpm), and 750 Nm of torque the M5 delivers. Now the crucial point to note here is the rpm range at which the M5 delivers maximum torque - between 1,800 rpm and 5,600 rpm.

This means that once its dual (twin-scroll) turbochargers spool up – it sends an unwavering salvo of power which is maintained throughout the engine’s operation in each gear. This translates into having a very predictable and exploitable speed, anytime and anywhere you need it.

BMW achieves this via impeccably tuning of the M5’s software and hardware parameters. For one, the M5 is able to manipulate its requirements of air, fuel, boost pressure, and ignition timing precisely to provide that flat torque curve. To this end, the M5’s S63B44 engine utilises a cross-bank exhaust manifold, indirect charge air-cooling, (350 bar) high-precision injectors, fully-variable valve timing (Valvetronic), and variable camshaft timing (Double Vanos). The M5 also uses vastly different lubrication and cooling systems to handle the
stresses of track driving
.

The B48 engine in the 530i uses a single (twin-scroll turbocharger), though it does utilise Valvetronic and Double Vanos technology tuned for a perfect mix of fuel economy and performance.

Where does it send its power?

This is quite possibly the biggest difference between the M5 and the rest of the (G30) 5 Series range – it sends the power to all four-wheels. Though both the 530i and M5 have an 8-speed automatic transmission gearbox supplied by ZF, that’s about where the similarities end. The 530i delivers its power exclusively to its rear wheels, do note however that other markets offer xDrive AWD version of the 530i, 540i and
M550i
.

In the F90, for the first time in an M5 model - power is channelled to all four wheels through an M xDrive' all-wheel drive system. The rear-biased system only calls on the front wheels when additional traction is needed. Additionally, the Active M Differential (also found on the M3 and M4 models) is responsible for precisely distributing drive torque between the rear wheels.

This gives the M5 three main M xDrive settings:

4WD, DSC Normal – Optimised traction, predictable drivability, limited rear wheel slip allowed.

4WD Sport, DSC - MDM – M Dynamic Mode (MDM) distributes more drive torque to rear axle, permissible rear wheel slip is increased, for playful handling.

2WD, DSC Off – Pure rear-wheel drive, classic M5 oversteer driving characteristics.

The system is also able to vary the amount of torque between the front and rear axles at any given time – again adding to the M5’s predictability and potent traction levels.

The transmission has been optimised for lightning-fast gear changes, while the torque converter lock-up clutch activates almost as soon as the car starts moving. The drivetrain has been further reinforced for greater rigidity and strength to make allowance for the high torque, the rear-biased configuration, and the 2WD drive option.

As the old saying goes, power is nothing without control.

What about handling?

In terms of handling – the (F90)'s electronically controlled shock absorbers can be augmented between three driving modes: Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus.

This allows the driver to tune the bound and rebound responses of the suspension depending on whether the car is on the road or track. Additionally, drivers can save certain preferred setups under the M5’s “M1” drive mode, for instance, if they prefer soft suspension settings, but the engine and transmission in full attack mode, if they were driving down a bumpy B-Road.

Likewise, the M Servotronic steering can alter steering torque depending on the same three preset settings.

The M5 is fitted with M compound brakes discs, which are significantly lighter than conventional cast-iron items. Six-piston fixed callipers feature at the front, while the rear is fitted with a single-piston floating calliper.

Notwithstanding that the 530i on the other hand, still offers substantial adjustability when cycling between its various drive modes, but the M5’s responses are just that much more finite. The 530i uses steel ventilated brakes on both the front and rear. The double-wishbone and multi-link on the front and rear of the 530i respectively is much like the setup on the M5. However, the M5 uses certain lightweight aluminium components to keep weight down, selected suspension components such as bushes are different for additional chassis rigidity as well.

What about weight?

This is one aspect where the 530i beats the M5. The 530i weighs in at 1,615 kg – impressive given the car’s relative size, safety systems and equipment list – the M5, on the other hand, weighs in at about 1,895 kg. The weight penalties are mostly down to the all-wheel drive system and larger engine which is more than double in size and has twice as many pistons.

Though BMW trims off a substantial amount of fat using lightweight chassis and brake components, lightweight wheels, aluminium body panels (front bonnet and wings) and a full carbon-fibre (CFRP) roof.

All 5 Series, and hence the M5 as well, don’t benefit from BMW’s Carbon Core technology, which utilises CFRP in the car’s shell construction – like is offered on the 7 Series model.

It does look quite different too

Concisely, the M5 sports different front and rear fascia, bigger (standard) wheels and vastly different aerodynamic features for added downforce and high-speed stability. In its latest iterations (in the facelift), both the G30 and F90 models have redesigned front and rear lights sporting L-Shaped light graphics.

Other standout features of the M5 are the functional side gills, just before the front doors.

The following images will best illustrate the aesthetic highlights of the M5.

Larger wheels, bigger brakes, and an enhanced suspension setup give the M5 its sublime sporting looks.

At the front wider air ducting aids cooling, while certain aerodynamic components functionally add downforce.

Four rounded tailpipes and aggressive diffuser at the rear are other telltale signs its an M5.

On the inside...

Subtle characteristic touches differentiate the inside of an M5 from a regular 5 Series. That and the use of expensive materials such as carbon fibre for the interior trim transforms the M5 from a chic boardroom into a jetfighter.

The facelifted version offers an improved infotainment system and newer control functions for the car's performance parameters.

The two red 'M1' and 'M2' pinned to the steering are most subtle yet prominent signs that this is no ordinary 5 Series.


This is it! -The EU has passed the law to ban sales of petrol and diesel vehicles from 2035 onwards

If you're wondering why there's a
 big movement for electric vehicles
 at the moment, then it's probably something to do with this, as the EU has formally passed the law to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035 onwards.

According to Reuters, the European Parliament this week formally approved a law to effectively ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the European Union from 2035.

While it's not just clear cut at the moment to how this will all work, the general rule is that manufacturers must "achieve a 100% cut in CO2 emissions from new cars sold" 2035 onwards.

This rule will apply to the 27 countries that are a part of the European Union and the final approval for this law will take place next month.

"The operating costs of an electric vehicle are already lower than the operating costs of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine," said Jan Huitema, the parliament's lead negotiator on the rules. He also added that it was crucial to bring more affordable electric vehicles to consumers.

What this simply means is that future cars in the EU will either be
powered by electricity
 or
hydrogen
, as that is what most manufacturers are focusing on.

Volkwagen group, namely Porsche is working on a synthetic fuel that is carbon neutral, which can potentially keep ICE vehicles alive. Right now, this synthetic fuel, codenamed e-Fuel is however just a pilot project, so they have to hurry up if they want to save ICE vehicles.


'FF' plate collected RM34.2 million, RM950k just for FF 8!

The recent bidding for vehicle registration numbers in the
"FF" series
 has generated a record-breaking collection of RM34.29 million.

The FF 8 license plate by itself secured the top spot at RM950,000, according to our current Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, as reported by
NST
.

Between May 14 and 19, a total of 34,032 individuals took part in the bidding process, with 8,348 of them emerging as successful bidders.

*Image credit: NST

Loke revealed that aside from FF 8, the other most expensive plates were FF 9 (RM911,999), FF 3 (RM639,000), and FF 2 (RM638,000).

Among the five numbers that garnered the most interest were FF 199, which had 34 bidders, followed by FF 51 with 32 bidders, and FF 155, FF 555, and FF 1688, each attracting 29 bidders.

According to Loke, "In terms of total number of bidders and winners, the FF series also saw the highest participation since the launch of the JPJeBid online application on April 15, 2019."

*Image credit: Bernama

Due to an overwhelming response, the system experienced a crash on Thursday, prompting the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to extend the bidding period by an additional 24 hours.

Loke expressed his apologies for any inconvenience caused and acknowledged the need for system improvements to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Remember the song from Altimet called 'Kalau Aku Kaya'? Our heads went straight to the chorus "Kalau aku kaya, hari hari hari raya..."


Lexus LF-SA Concept Reveals Brand's Mini Car Aspirations

At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, an all-new concept called the
Lexus
 LF-SA will be unveiled by the company which is said to “explore unexpected territories for the brand in a bold and emotional execution.”
The teaser image isn’t anything to go by as you can see with just a frontal view of the concept that portrays Lexus’ signature headlight design and boomerang-shaped daytime-running lights.
However, photos of the LF-SA concept have leaked online ahead of its official debut and they provide a much better view of what is now a very small car.
With just two doors (three if you count the boot), the Lexus LF-SA looks to be positioned even smaller than the CT 200h, the current smallest model the brand offers.
Lexus has yet to reveal more about its small compact concept but we should expect further details when the Geneva Motor Show kicks off.


Volkswagen Shows Off 272PS 3-cylinder Engine with Electric Turbocharging

Last week Audi showed to the world a 600PS TT concept car
 with an electric turbocharger, dropping hints that the technology onboard is close to production readiness. It seems as though parent company
Volkswagen
 is beginning to prepare the way for the technology as it has given attendees of the International Vienna Motor Symposium, a glimpse of their new high-performance three-cylinder petrol engine that is capable of generating 272PS and 270Nm of torque thanks to the use of a monoscroll turbocharger coupled to an e-booster.
The "e-booster" is Volkswagen’s speak for an electric compressor that is placed between the induction system and intercooler, which uses electricity to spin the turbine vanes of a smaller turbocharger that will route air to the main compressor in moments where there isn’t enough exhaust pressure to build up its boost. Effectively with the aid of this electrically-driven compressor, the e-booster could pump in the air pressure needed to drive the exhaust gas driven turbo, thus eliminating the turbolag that is characteristic of all big turbochargers. In effect, this setup gives drivers an instantaneous engine response similar to that of a non-turbocharged engine, while allowing engineers to fit a bigger turbocharger to extract big power figures from relatively tiny engines.
Tech aside, little else is revealed of the three-cylinder engine, besides it being based on the current EA211 engine family, and features engineering and know-how lifted from the Polo WRC’s rally-spec engine. For now, Volkswagen says that the tiny three-cylinder engine is only a demonstration of the potential of petrol combustion engines, but the prospect of having a thrumming little three-cylinder engine with 272PS on tap, is one that would be too good to pass off for German giant.


Mercedes-Benz Trademarks "O-Class" In Europe

If you want to get a sneak peek of what manufacturers are planning to launch in the coming years, you need only look at patent or trademark applications. Granted not everything you see will actually come to production, but more often than not there is a strong chance that you're on the right track. According to
Autoguide
, Mercedes-Benz has just trademarked the O-Class name in Europe, along with specific designations such as O 120, O 140, O 180, and O 200.
Historically, the O designation has been reserved for Mercedes-Benz buses, so it's highly likely that the O-Class will be some kind of people mover. That being said, the displacement figures seem a little small for a bus, and the trademark is pretty wide stretching to include cars in addition to buses. Consider the fact that the V-Class exists for people moving, and the B-Class slots in as a compact family car, and you'll be scratching your head for a while.


Lucky Biker Narrowly Avoids Accident With AC Unit

Lorries overladen with goods can be a risk, especially if the goods are not fastened properly. One biker had a close shave when a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit fell off a truck.
According to a video posted by Shawn Tan on his Facebook profile, a white truck carrying air-conditioning hardware had one of its ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit breaking free and came hurling towards him.
Thankfully, the biker managed to avoid any unwanted incidents, as he rode right over the AC unit. If he was riding any faster or slower, chances are there will be a different outcome. It is unknown if other vehicles were damaged by the falling AC unit.
It is also worth noting that the rider was riding along the KESAS highway, which has a proper bike lane.


Honda Teases Production Version Of Honda BR-V

Here’s another look at the Honda BR-V, a seven-seater SUV that is positioned below the Honda HR-V. The car was first previewed at the Gaikindo International Auto Show in Jakarta in August, ahead of the car’s planned introduction in 2016.
The BR-V model seen in this picture, quietly released in a low-key announcement of Honda’s Indonesian subsidiary PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM)’s new engine test bench facility, looks a little different from the prototype model seen in August (below).
The most obvious difference is the new grille, which appears to be finished in a different polished aluminium-like material, giving it a rather Acura-like look. The prototype model shown in Jakarta earlier wore a more reflective, almost glass-like material on the grille.
Those wheels also appears to be quite similar to the 17-inch ones fitted on the Indonesian-market HR-V.
The lower front bumper also loses to garnish trim that was fitted on the prototype model.
This model also appears to have only body-coloured door handles rather than the chrome ones fitted on the prototype.
Originally, the seven-seater BR-V is planned to be priced below RM100,000, and was expected to launched in Malaysia in 2016. However looking at the current forex situation, we won’t be surprised if the plans are being reviewed.
More on the Honda BR-V:
GIIAS 2015: Honda BR-V Previewed Live, Possible Launch In Malaysia Come 2016
GIIAS 2015: Previewing The 2016 Honda BR-V’s Interior, And More


2016 Toyota Vellfire Executive Lounge Makes Malaysian Debut With Grandhill Garage - RM568k

Just as we reported on earlier yesterday with our
first look at the new Vellfire Executive Lounge
, we were there to witness its official launch at Sunway Pyramid.
The event itself was organised by Grandhill Garage, the grey importer that’s bringing in this version of the popular
Toyota
 luxury MPV. The one they’re making available for sale is the Executive Lounge model, which comes with a 3.5-litre V6 engine and all the leather, woodgrain, and aluminium trim you’d need to fool yourself into thinking you’re actually in a flying in business class.
In contrast to the added luxury you get inside, at least over the lesser
Vellfire
 variants, the Vellfire Executive Lounge is happy to forego the expected ostentation on the exterior. Indeed, there may be one or two things to distinguish this as the top-of-the-range, but to the average onlooker there’s little giveaway.
It still announces itself to other motorists as a Vellfire, however. That shape has become so very recognisable given how popular it is on Malaysian roads along with the Alphard, and add to that the near-blinding amount of chrome fitted to the front - you’ll know when it’s coming up behind you.
The 17-inch 10-spoke wheels are smaller than some of the other Vellfire variants, but perhaps that decision was to permit thicker tyres to gain that added notch of occupant comfort.
Comfort is the watchword for this living room on wheels, those wide electrically reclining middle-row seats are very comfortable indeed, are both heated and ventilated, and has an electrically-extendable ottoman that extends further even when swung fully open.
Clearly, that’s where the chairman will want to sit, perhaps accompanied by his/her second-in-command at his/her side while plotting the next hostile corporate takeover, while the rest of the entourage busy themselves with the finer details of the enterprise in the third-row seats and the remaining front passenger seat.
What struck us most was the precision-adjustable air conditioning vents for the middle row, a rounded aluminium cylinder that just screams quality and really caps off the whole business class airliner experience. It also comes with 12.1-inch monitor for (in-flight?) movies or business presentations on the go, accompanied by a 1,500-watt JBL GreenEdge sound system with 17-speakers. Additionally, there’s an ambient lighting system with 16 colour options.
Earliest deliveries for the Toyota Vellfire 3.5 Executive Lounge will start in March 2016 for approximately RM568,000, with early birds who pay upfront now receiving an RM70,000 discount. Other Toyota Vellfire variants will also be brought in by Greenhill Garage, including the 3.5 VL for RM538k and the 2.5 ZG for RM368k.
You’ll be able to see the new Toyota Vellfire Executive Lounge for yourself as it will remain on display at Sunway Pyramid until the end of this weekend, 22nd November. There’s also a bunch of other cars on display there which you might be into, including a
Ferrari 458 Spider
,
Lamborghini Aventador
,
Porsche 911

Carrera S
,
Bentley Continental GT
 V8,
Lamborghini Gallardo
 Spyder Performante. Ah yes, and a
BMW
 i3 as well.


Overwhelming Reception Of The Proton X50 Means Some Will Only Get Their Cars In April

It has been said that all deliveries of the X50 will be completed by April 2021.

It's nothing new that the
Proton X50
 is the 'it-car' at the moment, but even Proton never expected it to be this 'lit'.

According to Utusan.com.my, Proton's CEO, Roslan Abdullah, said that the outstanding bookings of the Proton X50 combined with the COVID-19 pandemic have really thrown a spanner into the works, causing delays with assembly and vehicle delivery.

“Ia reaksi rantaian bekalan, apabila penjual tidak dapat beri bekalan, kita juga tak dapat penuhi semua tempahan,” said Roslan.

He continued on by saying that Proton needs around four months to complete the booked vehicles' delivery, which started on 16 September 2020. New year bookings will only probably be completed in six to eight months'
time
.

“Untuk tempahan yang baru masuk, mungkin kita perlukan enam hingga lapan bulan. Bagi tempahan yang dibuat sejak September lalu, kami harap dapat selesaikan dalam tempoh empat bulan, sehingga April tahun ini."

Since the booking books opened on September 16, 2020, more than 30,000 bookings have been made for the Proton X50. To date, only around
4000 units
 have been delivered and registered.

Roslan also added that the bump in bookings and sales for Proton is probably caused by the SST discounts under the government's Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara (Penjana) programme.


Over 200 Hyundai Staria 10-seater in the first month

The
2022 Hyundai Staria 10-seater
 was just launched by Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) in early October and over 200 units were sold within a span of a month.

Regarded as a 'future-forward' multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), the Hyundai Staria first entered the market back in 2021 with a heftier price tag of RM358,888 for the Premium seven-seater premium.

The 10-seater, however, got a much friendlier price point from RM179,888 to RM209,888, which explains why the Staria made such a sales impact within a month of its launch.

Spaceship-inspired exterior

The 10-seater Hyundai Staria might have slightly different specs compared to the more premium seven-seater variant, but the overall spaceship-inspired exterior is maintained with the exception of a few differences such as conventional LED headlamps and a different front grille.

There are three variants of the 10-seater Staria on offer - Lite, Plus, and Max. Across the board, all three models share the same wraparound DRLs, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and of course, the CRDi 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder, VGT diesel engine which produces 176hp and 431Nm of torque.

Demands expected to rise going into 2023

According to Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Retail and Distribution of Sime Darby Motors Malaysia, "With more than 200 units sold since its launch in early October, we are encouraged that the Malaysian public recognises the features of Hyundai Staria 10-seater as a dynamic MPV which offers the best of both worlds, in terms of practicality and performance. We expect demand to only continue to rise in the remaining months and into the new year."


2022 All-New HR-V Launched In Indonesia, World First HR-V Turbo

2022 All-New Honda HR-V officially launched in Indonesia, and one of the variants is a world-first turbocharged Honda HR-V!

Honda HR-V Turbo

The four variants of the 2022 All-New Honda HR-V now include the S CVT, E CVT, SE CVT, and top-of-the-line, RS. Unlike the HR-V for the Thai market, where the e:HEV hybrid variant steals the limelight, the HR-V for the Indonesian market definitely shines the spotlight on the
turbocharged RS variant
 as it is a world-first for an HR-V.

Engine and Performance

The S, E, and SE variants is equipped with a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC, i-VTEC engine, which pushes out 119 hp and 145 Nm of torque. The 2022 Honda HR-V RS, on the other hand, features a 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC engine, producing 174 hp and 240 Nm of torque.
As expected
, all engines are paired with a CVT transmission which Honda says is now better at
delivering performance
 and fuel efficiency.

Honda Sensing and?

Besides being equipped with Honda Sensing, there are a few new features in the 2022 All-New HR-V which include:

3 driving modes

Walk away auto-lock

Electrostatic touch LED map light

Rear seat reminder

Hands-free powered tailgate with walk away cross

Remote engine start.

2022 Honda HR-V: Air Diffusion Outlet

In addition, there's also a new feature called Air Diffusion Outlet, which functions to spread air conditioning alongside the side windows and up towards the roofline so that they do not directly hit the face. This feature is used for the first time in Honda vehicles.

Price

The 2022 All-New Honda HR-V in Indonesia is priced from IDR 355.9 million
(RM105k)
 and goes all the way up to IDR 499.9 million
(RM147k)
. This new crossover also comes in 2 new colour options.

Honda HR-V Prices

Variants

Price

1.5 S CVT

IDR 355.9 mil

(RM105k)

1.5 E CVT

IDR 379.9 mil

(RM112k)

1.5 SE CVT

IDR 399.9 mil

(RM118k)

1.5 RS CVT

IDR 499.9 mil

(RM147k)

Colour Options 2022 Honda HR-V

Ignite Red Metallic two-tone (exclusive to the RS)

Sand Khaki Pearl two-tone

Meteorid Grey

Lunar Silver Metallic

Platinum White Pearl

Crystal Block Pearl.

When will it come to Malaysia?

Seeing that the Thai, Singapore and Indonesian market has launched the 2022 HR-V, next up will probably be Malaysia, but don't count on it
being anytime soon
 as it'll probably be around the second half of 2022. Question is, will we get the 2022 Honda HR-V Turbo?


The Birth Of Nissan's Racing Legends

The year was 1964. Japan was playing host to the Tokyo Olympics. The country's proudest achievement was the 210km/h Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train that broke the world speed record for trains, at a time when most trains could muster 160km/h at most, and only for a fleeting moment.
The Shinkansen would set the tone for high-speed railway networks for many decades to come, paving the way for France's TGV, and Germany's ICE.
Interestingly, the Shinkansen represented not only Japan's love for high speed rails, but the country's obsession with technologies that can propel people faster than ever before.
Away from the 500km-long Tokyo-Osaka railway line that the first-generation Shinkansen trains blitzed past, Nissan was busy stamping its mark on the world's motor racing arena.
Taking on Germany's Best
It was the 1964 Japanese Grand Prix. Nissan's factory racing team's driver, Tetsu Ikuzawa, in a No.41 second-generation S54B Nissan Skyline GT, running in second place was becoming an annoyance to the leading Porsche 904 Carrera GTS.
"It's so fast! It's more than a racing car! This machine's only purpose is to race," said the race commentator.
Outgunned by the Porsche's superior power, it could not keep up on the straights, but the nimble Nissan made up for its deficit in top speed by closing the gap in the corners. Like a fast rhinoceros aggressively charging ahead, but yet unable to shake off the irritating hornet behind it, the Porsche just couldn't shake off the Nissan.
At the peak of the intense German-Japanese rivalry, Ikuzawa sent the crowd into a wild frenzy when, on the sixth lap, the Nissan dived from the outside and blew past the Porsche, just before both drivers had to stomp on the brakes as hard as they could for the hairpin curve that was coming up fast.
"The Skyline GT has taken the lead! Ikuzawa's Number 41 is leading!" shouted the commentator, and everyone in the crowd stood up in awe.
"Now the Skyline is being chased by the Porsche!"
Of course, there was no way the Nissan could keep the Porsche at bay with at least eight more laps to go, but the race ended with Ikuzawa's teammate in another Skyline, car Number 39, taking second place.
While Nissan could not defeat Porsche, the Skylines claimed all second to sixth places. Nissan didn't win the race, but a statement of intent had been made.
Former Nissan factory team's race car driver and Ikuzawa's teammate, Yoshikazu Sunako, still remembers the defining moment very vividly.
“Just before the hairpin curve, Ikuzawa overtook the Porsche, so I thought, ‘Wow, he’s the man!’”
But the early-generation Skyline was hardly a promising race car to begin with.
“We had extended the car by 20 centimetres. The body balance was very bad and the tyres were ‘out’, so that’s why we could only drift when we turned. We slipped and drifted because the tyres were bad,” said Sunako.
“But these issues actually turned out to be good for us,” he added.
After a few practice runs, Sunako knew the car was something special.
“We finished a lap in 2 minutes 47 seconds, and at that point I was proud to say this was the fastest car at Suzuka,” claimed Sunako.
After seeing how close Nissan could get within the Porsche, chief engineer Shin’ichiro Sakurai became so emboldened by what he previously thought to be impossible, actually quite possible.
By 1965, Sakurai's team was ready for a counter-attack in the form of a Nissan R380. Learning from the Porsche, Nissan built a mid-engine race car similar to Porsche, but minus the flat-six engine. Instead, the Nissan used a modified version of the Skyline's 2.0-litre inline-six engine.
Victory would come in the 1966 Japanese Grand Prix, when two Nissan R380's, driven by Yoshikazu Sunako and Hideo Oishi, took first and second place respectively, convincingly defeating not one, not two, but three Porsche 906s.
The defeat would lay the foundation for an epic, bragging rights battle between the two at the fearsome Nürburgring circuit many decades later.
Not only that, the R380 went on to set seven world speed records in the following year (50km, 50 miles, 100km, 100miles, 200km, 200miles, 1 hour), with speeds ranging from 251.22km/h to 256km/h.
The progress in Nissan's motorsports activities was even more impressive when you consider that Sakurai had no experience in developing racing cars.
Prominent Japanese motoring journalist, Kyoichi Yamaguchi, recounted his encounter with Sakurai saying, "He told me that he was given a wide range of assignments because Prince Motor only had 10 engineers on its payroll back then. He didn't really know anything about cars, so he started to study on his own day and night. The effort he put into his studies back then contributed to his vast and detailed knowledge of a whole range of fields related to car making, including even production technologies and material engineering.
"And, in fact, you have to have a really good understanding of even peripheral fields, if you want to be able to explain things to another person. I understood then that the effort he had put into acquiring knowledge back at the beginning of his automotive career had established a very solid foundation for the capabilities and achievements that made him such a great figure in Japanese automotive history."
To continue reading,
click to download
 the latest issue of Nissan's Drive On magazine for free.


JPJ Buru Motosikal Yang Diubahsuai Secara Haram – Guna Tayar Sotong, Ekzos Bising, Tukar Swing Arm

Kepada geng-geng ‘modi’ motosikal, sekiranya
motosikal
 anda telah diubah suai untuk meningkatkan kelajuan, anda sedang ‘dicari’ oleh pihak berkuasa.

Baru-baru ini
, Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ)
 Pulau Pinang telah menjalankan Ops Lejang yang menyasarkan motosikal yang diubahsuai secara haram dan tidak mengikut spesifikasi yang dibenarkan oleh JPJ.

Operasi itu dijalankan di dua lokasi berbeza di Pulau Pinang iaitu berhampiran Plaza Tol Jambatan Pulau Pinang dan Jalan Persiaran Bayan Indah di Bayan Baru.

Ops Lejang Sasar Motosikal Yang Diubahsuai

Melalui Ops Lejang yang dijalankan baru-baru ini, sebanyak 722 buah motosikal telah diperiksa manakala 286 daripadanya telah dikenakan tindakan.

Menurut JPJ, beberapa kesalahan melibatkan pengubahsuaian motosikal telah dikesan seperti:

Brek belakang yang ditanggalkan

Pengubahsuaian
 swing arm

Pengubahsuaian
ekzos

Penggunaan tayar sotong

Penggunaan nombor pendaftaran tidak mengikut spesifikasi yang ditetapkan

Tidak menggunakan cermin sisi

Turut dikesan adalah kesalahan yang melibatkan pemandu bawah umur, tidak memiliki lesen memandu, Lesen Kenderaan Motor (LKM) tamat tempoh serta tiada perlindungan insurans

Pemilik dan penunggang motosikal dinasihatkan sentiasa mematuhi peraturan dan undang-undang dan tidak melakukan sebarang pengubahsuaian haram kepada motosikal mereka. Berikut merupakan
6 pengubahsuaian motosikal yang tidak dibenarkan JPJ:

Tidak menggunakan cermin pandang sisi

Menggunakan tayar terlalu kecil atau tayar sotong

Menukar ekzos biasa kepada ekzos yang berbunyi bising

Menukar
swing arm
 untuk mengurangkan berat motosikal

Menukar blok motosikal untuk memberi lebih kelajuan

Menukar unit kawalan enjin (ECU) untuk mematikan batasan had laju (cut off) serta memberi lebih kelajuan

JPJ turut menasihati masyarakat agar tidak melibatkan diri dalam sebarang aktiviti perlumbaan haram serta menunggang motosikal secara melulu sehingga mengundang risiko kepada diri sendiri dan pengguna jalan raya lain.

*Kredit foto: JPJ Pulau Pinang


Geely Binyue Reviewed – What Does The Chinese Media Say?

It comes as no surprise that the Geely Binyue will be Proton’s next SUV, as a financial report by Geely Automobile Holdings confirmed that the Binyue will be licensed to Proton. In addition to that, the Geely Binyue has also been sighted on Malaysian roads.
But prior to the model’s introduction here in Malaysia, what does the Chinese media say about Geely’s latest Honda HR-V-rivalling crossover?
According to PCauto, the reviewer sampled the range-topping Binyue 1.5 Sport and mentioned that they recommend the Binyue as the model was developed for young consumers in mind, offering a stylish exterior and interior design, plus packed to the brim with features. In addition to that, the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder and 7-speed DCT also received much praise from PCauto. PCauto concluded their review by saying that the Binyue offers superior price-to-performance ratio in its segment.
BitAuto also shared similar sentiments as PCauto. In BitAuto’s review of the Binyue, they said that the Binyue was engineered for the young consumers in mind. With prices in China ranging from CNY 78,800 to CNY 118,880, the Binyue is priced within the budget of many first-time car buyers. They also said that in its segment, the Binyue offers a lot of features, bundled into a sporty package. BitAuto went as far as to say that the Binyue is worth the purchase.
Photo credit:
autohome
As for Autohome, they compiled a word cloud of what owners say about their cars, and majority of the owners like the design of the car, the spaciousness of the cabin, the performance, low fuel consumption, and handling.
Cabin wise, the lack of rear air vents was a sore point for some owners. Interior practicality was also criticized by some owners, saying that the boot space is tight, while others said that storage spaces within the cabin are rather small.
In terms of driving performance, owners enjoy the performance offered by the turbocharged powertrain, but some owners reported that the initial acceleration is sluggish, while vibrations from the three-cylinder engine were noticeable to other owners.
Despite these niggles, the Geely Binyue went on to be the sixth best-selling SUV in China in April, with 12,800 units sold. That number is just behind its bigger brother, the Boyue, which sold 17,500 units in the same month. The larger Boyue was the third best-selling SUV in China last month.
Possibly called the Proton X50 when it goes on sale some time next year, it will challenge the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Renault Captur. With a ballpark price very close to that of a Perodua Aruz (starting price of RM 72,000), the new Proton SUV could attract buyers who appreciate safety and refinement over the practicality of a third-row seat.


Perodua offering discounts from 3 to 6 percent

Perodua is offering between 3 to 6 percent discounts on all its model from today till 14 June.

Perodua has just announced a price reduction of between 3 to 6 percent (OTR excluding insurance) via cash rebates for all its models from today until 14 June 2020. The subsequent price revision due to the tax reduction as recently announced by our Prime Minister will take place after that.

“Despite the tax reduction only becoming effective 15 June 2020, Perodua will offer cash rebates between 3% and 6% for the purchase of our vehicles beginning today,” Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.

Perodua's current model range comprises the Myvi, Axia Bezza, Aruz and Alza with prices ranging from RM22,990 to RM77,200.

Perodua has sold 52,920 vehicles as of the first five months of 2020, giving it a 41% market share against an estimated year-to-date total industry volume of 129,401 units.


Singapore Private Vehicles Entering Malaysia To Pay RM20 Fee Starting 1 October, Must Register Vehicles

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has confirmed that beginning 1 October, foreign private vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore will be required to pay the RM20 Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee. Previously, it was announced the
VEP fee collection would begin in September
.
Speaking to
The Star
, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said that payment for the fee was only by Touch 'n Go card and that the VEP would be on imposed on private passenger vehicles.
He added that all private vehicles, public buses, taxis, goods vehicles, and diplomatic cars are required to be registered with the Road Transport Department, failing which they will be refused entry into Malaysia from 1 September.
Registration can be done online from 15 August and vehicle owners will be required to pay RM10 for the road charge (RC), which is valid for five years.
The VEP fee is exempted for government vehicles, motorcycles, public buses and taxis but they will still have to be registered with the JPJ.
Abdul Aziz also added that a second phase of the VEP system for the Malaysia-Thailand border is in the works, with a mid-2016 roll-out period, maintaining the same fee amount.


Five Awful Car Modifications You Should Seriously Rethink

If you're the kind of person that seeks to get the most out of your car, you've probably thought of modifying it in some way at some point - but some modifications really do more harm than help.

Modifying a car can range from mild to wild - everything from changing your wheels and tyres, to going flat out with a complete engine and gearbox transplant. Within the broad spectrum that is car modification, there are are obviously some really great mods to do, and some mods that just aren't worth the time, effort, or money. Some modifications even make the car behave a little worse than before, so let's get into five of our least favourite items.

Extremely loud exhausts

Especially common among younger enthusiasts is the idea that going to a louder, unmuffled exhaust system is a good idea. Some people do it under the impression that it brings more power, while others do it simply for the style. In the vast majority of cases, all you really succeed in doing is making the car noisier while not really producing that much more power. For proper performance gains, you actually need to remap or retune the engine's control unit to take advantage of the better exhaust gas flow - and often times there is a practical limit to how large a pipe can be before the gains are negligible.

Aggressively stretched tyres

Being more of a remnant of the stance-centric era of car modification, stretched tyres are something that isn't as common nowadays but still comes about every now and then. Stretched tyres are, as you can imagine, tyres that are too narrow for the wheel they are mounted on. A mild amount of stretch isn't a bad thing, but going too far can cause all kinds of issues: the tyre no longer performs and flexes the way it should, and there is a very high risk that you can de-bead and dismount a tyre if you hit a large enough bump.

Incredibly stiff and low suspension

Stiff suspension seems to be equated with better handling, but this rings true only to a certain point. The reality is that soft suspension is stable suspension, and while the car may not feel like it responds as quickly, it is also far more forgiving if you are a little rough with your inputs. A stiffer suspension setup also makes your car more likely to be unsettled by bumps and undulations on the road, which is something you will face pretty often unless you drive on track most of the time.

Most cars look great when they're a little lower, but once again you can overdo things by going too far. Going too low with your ride height can introduce other issues with the suspension geometry that can make the car handle in unpredictable or unpleasant ways - it just may not be immediately obvious to you at the time. Many popular performance cars will have geometry correction kits to accomodate the change, so it is important to do your research before you simply lower a car.

Unreasonably aggressive tyres

This is something that's a bit of a grey area as it varies from car to car, but aggressive tyres can sometimes be more problematic than helpful. It's true that you can get some seriously sticky rubber for your car - most companies will have an extreme option, some being close to semi-slicks, but there are downsides you have to consider. These tyres wear out relatively quickly compared to tyres designed for mass market cars, but more important than that is that they usually need to be warmed up before they perform properly and have pretty awful wet weather performance. If you're spending more of your time on the road, it pays to be a little more conservative with your tyre choices - and ideally, match it to your suspension setup as well (though this is something we'll explain another day).

Fake steering wheels, seatbelts, brakes

This kind of goes without saying, but buying fake items is never going to be a good idea. You simply don't get a level of quality or finish that you get with a proper original product, but there are some things that you simply do not fool around with. Fake steering wheels may look great installed in your car, but they can bend or even snap with a little too much pressure. There are plenty of fake racing harnesses on the market - would you really trust them to hold you in if you faced an accident? And of course, there are fake brake discs and calipers that are simply too cheap to be real - would you have faith in them to slow you down or stop you consistently?

We can think of plenty more modifications that could be classified as "bad" or "questionable", but these are a few that really seem to be common among Malaysian car enthusiasts. Let us know what you think in the comments on our Facebook post.


Don’t let AirAsia screw us: GE15 flight prices soar, MAVCOM steps in

Complaints have been coming in from all over that Malaysians keen on heading back to their hometowns to participate in voting during the 15th General Elections have faced drastically increased ticket prices.
We've been here before
.

After the election date was confirmed yesterday to be on November 19th, a Saturday, it was fully expected that travel services would be bombarded by voters trying to secure transportation. Many took to social media to show just how much their once affordable flight ticket has suddenly doubled or more.

Bernama
reports that in response to this, Transport Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong said the Malaysian Avaition Commission (MAVCOM) will step in to regulate ticket prices, taking appropriate action against any airlines that are found to have raised prices against set conditions.

"Based on the dynamic pricing mechanism for any airline in the world, the earlier it (the ticket) is booked, the cheaper it is and the closer to a date or event, the price will be higher," he said when met at the launch of the Taxi4U application at the Land Public Transport Agency’s (APAD) central region office here today.

Besides air travel, bus operators and inter-state rail tickets will also see a sudden influx of customers all fighting to reserve their seats during that crucial travel period.

It goes without saying that the week leading up to and following November 19th will see increased highway congestion as well, so be sure to choose a safe travel time and make all the necessary preparations should you be behind the wheel.

This is especially important as voting day lands on at a time that’s dangerously close to when the Northeast Monsoon is predicted to start. Rampant floods
seen in late 2021
 and early 2022 and the resulting devastation are definitely occurrences that nobody wants to see repeated come election time or otherwise.

Also make sure your car has
special perils insurance protection
 if you're willing to brave the roads during flood/election season.


Lane Closure Parallel To Sprint Highway To Last Until December 31

Starting yesterday, a lane closure has taken effect along Jalan 16/11 in the direction of Petaling Jaya, which runs parallel to a portion of the Sprint Highway just after the KGPA intersection, in order to facilitate drainage works. MMC Gamuda revealed the closure will extend to December 31st, 2015.
The closure will be divided into two parts, Closure A and Closure B. The former involves a 24-hour closure involving one lane along the one-way Jalan 16/11.
"During this closure, one lane will be made available to motorists from Kuala Lumpur heading towards Petaling Jaya. There will be two lanes available for motorists on Jalan 16/11 going towards Petaling Jaya," said the statement.
The remaining Closure B section will be shut down between 8am and 4pm and will run concurrently with Closure A, leaving just one lane available to motorists there during most of the day until the end of the year.


GIIAS 2016: Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype Comes To ASEAN

First shown at this year’s
Geneva International Motor Show
, the Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype concept makes its first ASEAN appearance at the ongoing Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2016, teasing a possible arrival in our region.
Unlike past-generation European Civic hatchbacks, the new Civic Hatchback is more closely-related to the sedan model, and is planned to be exported globally.
Whilst it is not known whether
Honda Malaysia
 plans to accommodate this model in its local line-up, reports have confirmed that
Honda Australia will be introducing a Civic Hatchback later this year
, and will be importing the vehicle from Thailand along with its sedan sibling.
In the European market, these vehicles will be UK-built and will sport the following range of turbocharged powertrains – 1.0-litre petrol, 1.5-litre petrol, and 1.6-litre diesel.
The
Thai-built sedan variants
, meanwhile, will feature the same pair of petrol engines as seen in the sedan for
our market
, namely the 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated i-VTEC and 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo.
Read our first impressions
review of the tenth-generation Honda Civic sedan here
.


Geneva 2016: Subaru XV Concept Previews Next Generation XV

The Subaru XV Concept made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show today, previewing Subaru’s next generation crossover model.
Subaru also made a lot of references to its new design philosophy, oddly named Dynamic X Solid, which the company describes as “the powerful form of a crossover, and a quality feel beyond its class.”
Takeshi Tachimori, Corporate Executive Vice President for Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. also revealed that the forthcoming all-new Subaru XV will be built on an all-new platform.
“Today, we will unveil the Subaru XV Concept. This will show you the design direction of the next generation Subaru XV. The new design places greater emphasis on the go-anywhere stance of Subaru XV.
“We will adopt a new platform starting with the forthcoming Impreza and XV. The Subaru Global Platform will mark yet another important step in the driving confidence of our Symmetrical AWD vehicles,” said Tachimori.
Assuming that the next generation XV will stay true to the concept car’s dimensions, it will be significantly larger than the current generation XV.
The XV Concept measures 4,520 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 1,570 mm tall, with a 2,670 mm long wheelbase. In comparison, the
current generation XV
 measures 4,450 mm long, 1,780 mm wide and 1,615 mm tall, with a 2,635 mm long wheelbase.
Subaru did not say when the next generation XV will go on sale, but we think 2017 is a reasonable time frame, considering that Subaru has already explicitly stated that this previews the next generation XV, and the concept car doesn’t seem that outlandish.


Perodua Axia E should prioritise safety features like ABS & ESC - Wee Ka Siong

The latest
2023 Perodua Axia E
 was recently launched with a super affordable price tag of RM22,000 but not everyone is singing praise about it.

Former Transport Minister,
Wee Ka Siong
, has voiced his concerns regarding the Perodua Axia E which doesn't come with a couple of very important safety features like ABS and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

According to his post on Facebook, "I am really glad that large car makers are keeping their consumers’ pockets in mind with plenty of choices and ranges of specs from which to choose. But let’s not compromise on the safety and security of the driver and passenger. Certain specs like anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and electronic stability control (ESC) should not be left out just to bring the vehicle price down to ‘Rahmah’ levels."

He then continued by stating that he understands the situation of some households that struggle with their finances but directed the issue toward the government in helping them out. One of the ways of not doing so is by 'reducing vehicle safety specs to satisfy a price point'.

Wee also mentioned that the presence of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and similar anti-skid vehicle features can prevent around 40% of deaths and collisions due to loss of control. In 2018, the Ministry of Transport made it mandatory for all new cars to have ESC.

"I hope that the maker of the Axia E manual, which many have started calling the ‘Kosong Spec’ car will rethink the latest model that comes without safety features like ABS, EBD, and ESC as in the previous Axia E. Even central locking is missing from this latest Axia E," added Wee in his Facebook post.

Going back to the 2023 Perodua Axia E, it is actually based on the 2014 model which meant that it is not compulsory for it to have ABS and ESC fitted as standard safety features. Nevertheless, it does come with two airbags, ISOFIX seat anchors, a driver seatbelt reminder, and a four-star ASEAN NCAP rating which was bestowed upon it back in 2014.


Dieselgate: Daimler Agrees To Request For Assistance From Volkswagen AG

Daimler AG will be releasing its Member of the Board of Management for Integrity and Legal Affairs, Dr. Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt from her contract with Daimler AG to assist in the restructuring of the embattled Volkswagen AG.
Following the diesel engine emissions scandal, Volkswagen AG has approached Daimler AG, which had the experience of recovering from a damaging corruption scandal in 2010, to assist in its recovery.
Hans Dieter Pötsch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Volkswagen AG was said to have approached the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG, Dr. Manfred Bischoff to release its legal affairs and compliance chief
Dr. Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt to Volkswagen.
Daimler announced on Friday that it has released Dr. Christine from her contract, which was supposed to run until February 2017, allowing her to move to Volkswagen AG.
Daimler AG’s Manfred Bischoff said, “In the interests of the Good Corporate Governance of the German automotive industry, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG has agreed to this request after consultation with the Presidential Committee of the Supervisory Board, after Compliance is anchored firmly at Daimler and its corporate culture.
“We thank Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt for the excellent work that she has performed for Daimler AG and wish her the best possible success in her new position.”
"We are delighted that Dr. Hohmann-Dennhardt has agreed to take on this responsible task and that we can build on her outstanding competence and experience", said the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, Hans Dieter Pötsch.
"At the same time we would like to thank Daimler AG for agreeing to our request to the early termination of Dr. Hohmann-Dennhardt's contract," he added.
In 2010, Daimler AG was fined USD 185 million for bribery charges. The company was found guilty of paying USD 56 million in bribes in at least 22 countries.


Honda's 11th-Gen 2022 Civic Confirmed For August 6 Thailand Launch, Malaysia When?

The all-new
2022 11th-generation Honda Civic
 will make its Thai debut on August 6th, but when can Malaysia expect to receive it?

Concurrently, Singapore is also due to be welcoming the 11th-gen 2022 Civic into showrooms there as well, soon to leave Malaysia as the odd one out, as usual. That said, there’s still no launch date set for the island nation.

To whet our appetites, it’s possible that a local preview could be in the works for later this year, months after the launch in neighbouring countries but also months ahead of a possible Malaysian premiere, hopefully with
the sporty hatchback
body style in tow.

In case you’re a little rusty on the details, the all-new model is 33 mm longer than its predecessor at 4,674 mm, with a wheelbase that’s extended by a substantial 36mm to 2,736 mm, surely resulting in a larger passenger cell overall with even more rear legroom. Indicating its underlying shared structure
with the Civic FC
 here, its width at 1,801 mm and height at 1,415 mm is identical to the previous/outgoing version.

Again, compared to its predecessor, the new C-segment contender features a more rounded design that sheds the angles that defined Honda styling for the past few years, with highlights being slimmer LED headlamps with L-shaped daytime running lights, more conventionally shaped taillights, and more contoured bumpers front and rear.

Though it might sound like an extensive rethink, it retains the older Civic’s key genetic markers such as that fastback roofline that extends well past the rear axle. However, that curve is subtler and resembles
the new Accord
 a little more.

The design evolution is carried into the interior as well with an extended silver honeycomb mesh that spans the width of the dashboard with stealthily integrated air conditioning vents behind it, much like the ‘air curtain’ design in recent Audis.

There’s also a new steering wheel and high resolution fully digital instrument display, which a significant improvement over the partially analogue cluster we had in the 10th-gen Civic. A touchscreen infotainment system - once again, Android-based - sits perched above those aforementioned central air vents and climate controls switchgear.

Honda Thailand will only reveal more details next month, just prior to the launch if not on the day itself, though a report by Thai-based Headlightmag asserts that the new Civic only features turbocharged engines with the R18Z1 1.8 litre i-VTEC naturally-aspirated four-cylinder set to be retired from the local range.

However, it should be mentioned that in North America, there’s also a 2.0-litre atmospheric engine option with 160 PS and 187 Nm, which is basically an un-turbocharged version of
the Civic Type R’s motor
.

We’re definitely expecting a return of the L15B7 1.5 litre VTEC Turbo powerplant from the FC, which should output the same 173 PS and 220 Nm we're used to seeing from it. Units earmarked for North America and certain European markets, however, feature the engine with a slight power bump to deliver 182 PS and 240 Nm, but it isn’t certain whether that tune will be used in the incoming Thai-spec Civic.

A more exciting prospect is a new Civic fitted with a hybrid powertrain similar to the one found in
City RS e:HEV
, though that’s only likely to make an international entrance in 2022 or beyond, meaning it might only arrive in our region some months or years down the road.

Either way, all petrol-powered Civics will drive the front wheels through the automaker’s Earth Dreams CVT, which has also been given an identical shift knob from the FC, which looks rather out of place next to all the new bits.

While seeing the new Civic on Malaysian roads by the end of 2021 would be a pleasant surprise, the odds are we'll have to wait until some time in 2022. That said, hopefully there will be a local preview by the year's end.

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The Mazda 3 Bags The 2019 Red Dot “Best Of The Best” Design Award

The
all-new Mazda 3
 has bagged the “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award at this year's Red Dot product design awards. The Best of the Best accolade is awarded to products whose designs are considered genuinely ground-breaking and visionary.
The Mazda 3 joins is the seventh Red Dot prize to date for Mazda’s Kodo design models following the MX-5 RF (2017), the MX-5, CX-3, and Mazda2 (all 2015), (previous generation) Mazda3 (2014), and the Mazda6 (2013).
According to the Mazda 3’s Chief Designer Yasutake Tsuchida, the Mazda 3, the car’s design was inspired by “beauty through subtraction” – expressing the car’s aesthetics in a simple, single form. The designers eliminated character lines so that the body panels reflect the surroundings. The less-is-more approach applies throughout the car. Tsuchida notes that the purity of Mazda’s designs “can only be created by the human hands of our
expert clay
modeller
s”.
The international jury selected fewer than 100 products for the “Best of the Best” prize from more than 5,500 entries across 55 countries. Criteria for selection include innovation, functionality, ergonomics, and longevity. Mazda and the other winners will receive their awards on 8 July at the 2019 Red Dot award ceremony in Essen’s Aalto Theatre.
The all-new Mazda 3 was unveiled at last year’s Los Angeles Motor Show – along with new award-winning design, it sports the revolutionary Skyactiv-X powertrain utilizes
compression ignition
 as opposed to regular spark ignition, which allows the engine to offer improved fuel efficiency and better engine response. The Skyactiv-X 2.0-litre engine believed to produce a healthy
178 hp and 222 Nm of torque
.


Shortlist: The Only Cars I'd Let My Mom Buy

Being in my late 20s also means having parents that are happily retired; and being the family’s official go-to car person means getting asked odd and frequent questions about any small or obscure topic about anything on four wheels. As well as tech support, I am also a one man call centre for anything automotive happening with my family.

I’m sure most of you already know of such a person in your circle, perhaps this is the role you’ve found yourself filling over time, as many others have, being the most technologically or automotively inclined. As such, for the latter category, you know there are certain strategic recommendations that need to be made.

Certain criteria also have to be met. The brief presented to me necessitated it to be decently stylish, easy to maintain, comfortable, and safe all the while being able to seat up to 5 occupants. Add to that, the car in question also needed to have good visibility, be easy to drive, park, and manoeuvre in traffic. Not the toughest checklist in the world.

However, giving the nod to my own mother to buy a certain car requires a surprising amount of consideration on my end, despite not being located in the same state. I know that, should something go wrong, there’s a possibility of being bombarded with an earful of additional questions and/or complaints. Fewer headaches and a seamless ownership experience for my mother (or father) means fewer problems landing on my lap, so my ‘recommendation’ needs to be solid.

And they are:

Honda City

This car probably fits the bill a little too well. It’s a compact B-segment saloon with more interior space than seems possible. Honda has been refining the City since the early 1980s and, as the name implies, have essentially perfected the city car.

Even better, it fares quite favourably in the looks department. It might not looking particularly handsome or aggressive but it’s definitely likeable. It’s the ‘living with’ part of the car that really shines, though. The engine is a 1.5-litre i-VTEC that’s surprisingly responsive when paired to a CVT, which does improve fuel economy and provides a drive mostly free of drama. That’s good news to me.

Toyota Corolla Altis

Moving up in budget and size to the C-segment means jumping over to the biggest name in the business and an even more iconic nameplate. The Corolla is an institution unto itself and the newest 12th-generation model is far and away the most desirable the car has ever been. It certainly has more design flair and, thanks to the TNGA platform and some smart suspension tuning, it drives extremely well too.

Yet, the car still maintains so many so of the attributes that have made it such a solid choice in the past. For all accounts the Corolla is still unshakeably reliable with its 1.8-litre 2ZR-FE engine and considering that Toyota makes the best CVTs out there, the one mated to this motor doesn’t worry me in the slightest. Naturally, I’d want to choose higher-end G variant with active safety features such as Pre-Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Alert, and Dynamic Cruise Control.

Mitsubishi ASX

I have to admit, Mitsubishi has been producing the ASX for longer than it deserves to still exist. This 3rd-generation model is now 10 years old at this point, but that only speaks to how much the automaker must have already ironed out any remaining issues.

Over the years, the ASX has been given some facelifts to keep up with its younger rivals, but ignoring its dated interior is much harder. That being said, its function over form simplicity has a unique endearing quality. Importantly, it’s the 2.0-litre MIVEC engine that’s bulletproof and the INVECS-III CVT proving to be a solid dance partner that interests me the most.

This compact SUV also has all-wheel drive, but I’d argue that’s unnecessary for the kind of driving my mother will be doing unless the variant comes with other features that make it a more justifiable up-sell. The 442-litre boot can swallow up any luggage needs that might arise and the all-round independent suspension means that the larger and taller ASX won’t feel any more unwieldy on narrow city streets as the other contenders on this list.

Honda HR-V

A very worthy alternative to the ASX is the Honda HR-V, which is probably the most popular crossover/ compact SUV in many of the countries it’s sold in - that’s definitely true for Malaysia. Like the City mentioned previously, this offers unparalleled practicality in a fairly stylish package.

The HR-V is another packaging wonder from Honda and it’s rear Magic Seats - as Honda calls them - allow you to open up even more space to carry long or tall items and make the most of its interior. You’d really be surprised at how much this thing can accommodate to the point of questioning if you really need to step up to a CR-V at all.

That said, the HR-V does miss out on active safety features found in the Honda Sensing suite but does have the company’s innovative Lane Watch system and a handy multi-angle rearview camera for easy parking. Mechanically, though, the 1.8-litre i-VTEC and accompanying CVT are beyond suspicion.

Common Threads

Apart from their automaker’s country of origin, you might have noticed a few other commonalities that link the four cars listed above. This isn’t by accident of course.

I might be that guy with a Peugeot, but since I am pursuing painless motoring for the purposes of this exercise, I am much stricter with any car I let my family buy, knowing that the first point of after-sales support is going to be me most of the time.

First of all, a proven track record is a must as reliability is a chief concern. That means a car that has either proved itself throughout the life of its generation to be as free of issues as possible (mostly mechanical) and with as few recalls as possible, particularly if the recall stems from owner complaints and isn’t a preventive step taken by the automaker. The fact that the most dependable cars on the road today are still Japanese is a nice surprise, but purely happenstance.

I’d also like to avoid complexity where possible. The car’s featured here aren’t overly engineered or bloated with unnecessary features, which just means that there’s more to go wrong. They’re also all using naturally aspirated engines which, apart from being easier to maintain, are not as prone to premature wear or as fragile as turbocharged units.

CVTs are also fairly reliable in general in the scheme of transmission types, though not as much as a more conventional torque converter type in my opinion. However, I’d probably hesitate to recommend any type of dual-clutch for their spotty history. They’re capable of very fast shifts and good fuel economy but are extremely complex and inherently not ideally suited to city driving where its mostly crawling in stop-go traffic.


All motorsport events at Litar Permotoran Terengganu have been suspended indefinitely

The horrific accident at the Terengganu Motor Circuit, Gong Badak, last weekend, where a participant was killed, has caused a reaction where all motorsport activities at the circuit have been suspended indefinitely.

State Youth, Sports and Non-Government Development Committee chairman Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah said all events at the venue would be suspended effective 15 October 2022.

He said the directive came following an accident that claimed the life of drag racer Muhamad Hafez Jamal Jamaluddin during the Battle Of The Kings (BOTK) 2022, held last Saturday.

"The organiser is expected to hand in their report soon, and they will also brief us on what actually happened", said Wan Sukairi.

"Once we receive the report, we will study and analyse what we need to improve on in terms of the facilities and the organisers themselves", he said.

He continued by saying that the state government is very sorry for the incident and expressed its condolences to the victim's family, who must have been affected by the incident.

The drag racer known as Apeh Jamal, 40, died while participating in the BOTK 2022 drag race at 11.35am due to serious injuries after the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo type car he was driving lost control and skidded across the race track before crashing into a tree.


2017 Renault Captur CKD Launched In Malaysia; RM109k

Renault’s funky little B-segment crossover,
the Captur
, is now locally-assembled in Malaysia. Together with the
Fluence C-segment
 sedan, the Captur CKD rolls off the Tan Chong Motor Assemblies plant in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.
Launched globally in 2013 and introduced in Malaysia in 2015, the locally-assembled Captur is the same as the model we've had before, despite the new facelifted variant that was recently unveiled at the
Geneva Motor Show
. Also worth noting is the fact that Malaysia is the only country to assemble the Captur outside of Spain.
Benefiting from EEV incentives, the Captur CKD is priced at RM109,000 (on the road, without insurance), down from RM120,669.63 for the
CBU model
. There is no change in equipment between the CKD and CBU models. The first 100 customers enjoy an early bird rebate of RM11,000, effectively bringing the vehicle's purchase price below the RM100k mark.
Other B-segment models competing with the Captur include the
Mazda CX-3
 at RM138,373.00 the
Honda HR-V
 from RM102,200.00, and the Ford EcoSport from RM 95,829.79 - all OTR with insurance.
As before, the Captur CKD is powered by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine rated at 120PS and 190Nm. Drive goes to the front wheels via Renault’s 6-speed EDC dual clutch transmission. Geared towards fuel efficiency, the Captur manages a rated fuel consumption of 5.4 litres/100km in the combined cycle.
Noteworthy equipment includes:
removable fabric upholstery
cruise control
7-inch touchscreen with GPS navigation
USB, Aux-In, Bluetooth
Reverse camera
Auto headlights (halogen)
Auto wipers
Auto climate control
4 airbags
ABS, EBD, Brake Assist
Electronic Stability Control
The Captur's funky appearance is noteworthy for its dual-tone exterior colour scheme with contrasting paint applied on the body and roof; the Pacific Blue body is contrasted by Ivory-coloured roof, whilst the Arizona Orange and Ivory body colours are contrasted with Diamond Black roofs. A newly-introduced Flame Red body colour is also contrasted with a diamond black roof.
Like all mainstream Renault vehicles, the Captur enjoys a five-year manufacturer warranty with unlimited mileage.


Perodua Myvi D20N Now With Auto Braking

The upcoming Perodua Myvi D20N will be setting new standards for safety features by becoming the first local car to be come with advanced driver assistance systems or Advance Safety Assist (A.S.A.) in Perodua-speak.
The A.S.A. suite, adapted from Toyota, includes pre-collision warning and autonomous emergency braking that is able to bring the car to a complete stop from 30 km/h, thus averting or at the very least mitigating impact in lapses of concentration.
There are a couple of catches in the system’s operating parameters, however, and first of them is that it is only functional when the steering is pointed straight. Secondly, the system deactivates if it is called upon more than three times, requiring the car to be restarted to reinstate its operation.
Tied into the system is pedal misoperation control, which retards throttle inputs if it senses that you are too close to the vehicle ahead.
Lastly, a unique Front Departure Alert feature warns the driver in standstill traffic that the car in front has moved. A must-have for folks who like to play with their phones or other distractions in stop-go traffic or at the traffic lights.
The A.S.A. package is offered only in the range-topping 1.5 AV version of the Myvi. Overall, the new Myvi D20N will come with a significantly upgraded safety over its predecessor; all variants come standard with electronic stability control and a minimum of four airbags, whilst 1.5-litre variants get six airbags.