Amazon's DeepRacer Is The AI Racecar Of The Future

Who among us is truly excited about AI racecars? Well, maybe it's something that'll grow on you - at least, Amazon certainly seems to think so, as at
they launched the DeepRacer
 self-driving artificial intelligence (AI) race car during the re:Invent conference in Las Vegas. It's a shoebox sized machine, but a racing league for these vehicles is expected to start next year.
These shoebox sized vehicles aren't the main focus for Amazon in terms of AI applications, but are rather just one of many ways AI can be implemented in everyday life. It's also a very accessible form of AI, as prior to this you would need some pretty serious machinery to both create and execute AI systems.
Amazon is planning fo 20 races of the DeepRacer League, which will coincide with their AWS (Amazon Web Services) summits, where winners will have credits that count towards tickets for the next AWS re:Invent conference. The DeepRacer runs on a cloud environment which is used for reinforced learning by each individual car. Amazon SageMaker was the platform on which this environment was built, being a cheap way to build, train, and deploy machines in production-ready hosted environments.
What does all of this mean in layman terms? Amazon's selling small robotic race cars that will have self learning capabilities, operating on one of their cloud-based platforms that is available for a fraction of the cost of other systems. It's the MSF Saga Cup of AI race cars. AWS now controls 51.8 percent of the global market in cloud computing, beating its rival Microsoft, which controls a little over 13 percent.

The DeepRacer can be pre-ordered on Amazon for the low, low price of USD 249, and will go on sale for a full price of USD 399. For universities or just tinkerers with a knack for coding, this is your chance to get in on the world of AI racing before it blows up in scale - if it ever does.


Lexus Malaysia Starts Order Taking For New 2015 Lexus ES

Less than 24 hours after news of the
new, 2015 Lexus ES’s launching in Thailand
 went online, Lexus Malaysia have just announced that it has begun taking orders for the new ES.
As correctly predicted by Carlist.my yesterday, the ES line-up in Malaysia will remain unchanged, with three variants – ES 250 Premium, ES 250 Luxury, and ES 300h. The turbocharged ES 200t, powered by the same 8AR-FSE from the Lexus NX 200t is limited only to Russia, China and Taiwan, while the naturally-aspirated ES 200 base model, powered the same 6AR-FSE engine from the Camry 2.0-litre, is limited only to China.
There is a slight increase in prices, of around RM2,000 across the board, possibly related to the weakening Ringgit.
The Shimamoku steering wheel, available in some markets for the new ES, was not mentioned on Lexus Malaysia’s website, so that feature will most likely not be available here.
Below are prices (on-the-road excluding insurance) for the new Lexus ES:
ES 250 Premium: RM259,200 (up from RM257,317)
ES 250 Luxury: RM278,600 (up from RM276,690)
ES 300h: RM355,100 (up from RM353,201)
For more information about the new ES, read more at the links below:
New 2015 Lexus ES Makes ASEAN Debut In Thailand
New Lexus ES Debuts - Adds New 2.0-litre DI Engine


Affordable Tauke Cars That Won't Break The Bank

With these cars, you don't need to break the bank to feel like a Tauke or boss.

According to Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka, a Malaysian government body responsible for coordinating the use of the Malay language, 'Tauke' means "Definisi : /tauké/ tuan punya sesebuah kedai atau tuan punya sesebuah badan perniagaan; saudagar".

In simple English, 'Tauke' means the Boss of a business, so when we talk about 'Kereta Tauke', we talk about cars that are most commonly purchased by a Tauke as well as vehicles that makes you look like one.

Generally, a classic Tauke prefers a car from the D-segment. However, a Tauke doesn't necessarily want to own or purchase an expensive D-Segment car. Thankfully there are options out there, so Tauke's rejoice because we are about to list down some used and affordable new Tauke vehicles that won't break the Tauke piggy bank - because a responsible Tauke would invest their hard-earned gains back into the business to make even more.

Skoda Superb (For the Taukes who want to be different)

When the Skoda Superb was first launched in Malaysia, it retailed at RM204,000 - Whoah!!! 200k for a Skoda?!

Now, they can be had for RM50k, 75 percent less than its original price. Why were they so expensive? Because they were for the lack of a better word, superb! Being part of the Volkswagen group does have its advantages, and one of them is access to a lot of high tech engineering from the bigger brother.

The Superb is technically an A4 and Passat underneath. It uses many hardware from these two cars, so parts are widely and readily available. The quirky design is all Skoda, but when you step into it, there is a VW-esque feel to it.

The handling is solid, and so is the powertrain, especially when it kicks in from a lowly 1,500 rpm.

What we like about the Superb is how well put together the interior feels. Most of the used Superbs still look fabulous inside. For those hipster Taukes, this is the car for you.

Honda Accord
 ( For Taukes that want a peace of mind but like to drive)

You'll never really know how well sorted the Honda Accord is till you drive it. It has this premium feel to it. Not only is it comfortable, it's also a pretty nice car to drive.

The driving position is on point, the seats are comfortable, and the 2.0-litre engine has some pep to it even though the figures show differently. On the inside, the car feels bigger than it is, a testament to Honda's clever interior arrangement and design.

Strangely, it doesn't feel big when you drive it, another testament to Honda's engineering department. You really don't hear many complaints about this car from owners, but you do hear complaints from Civic owners as they wish they had one.

Since these cars are so well built, you won't regret it. In Malaysia, the Accord stinks of upper management and Taukeness, so if you want to be recognised as one, the Accord is for you.

Toyota Camry Hybrid
 (For Tauke's that want a little bit more oomph from their Tauke car)

The Toyota Camry is one of the most loved cars around the world. When you want to look for a reliable and comfortable family car, it's hard to beat the Camry.

A penny pincher special, the regular Camry is still one of the best D-Segment cars around, but for us, it has to be the Toyota Camry Hybrid as it ticks all the boxes, plus this model comes with lots of speed. When the 2.5-litre engine works in tandem with the electric engine, the car can produce over 200hp. The combustion engine produces 213Nm of torque while the electric motor can produce 270Nm - so you do the math on how much pull this car has.

For Tauke's that need to get from one business to the other fast, this is the right car for you. If you ever get stuck in traffic when going 'ke sini, ke sana' the electrification will help with fuel consumption.

Kia Optima EX (Most affordable New Tauke car)

For those young Taukes that want a Tauke car that is different, modern looking and stylish, there is no beating the KIA Optima. It is also the most affordable one with a starting price of RM139,888.

This car will be for those Taukes that are bit more left-field because it is an unusual choice among all the Tauke cars that are available. This Korean car is all about style and it shows through its sharp and angular exterior design. The refreshing and youthful design follows through to the interior as well, and as much we want to avoid mentioning it, it has got that Audi interior feel to it.

The engine in this car used to be brash, but the current Optima comes with a much more refined 2.0-litre engine that smooth. It's comfortable, sporty looking and has all the gizmo's to make your feel like one hell of a package for a Tauke car.

Volkswagen Passat ( Affordable new European Tauke car)

If a Tauke wants a European car but doesn't want to spend European type prices, does it mean that the Tauke is all out of options? No, because the Passat is available and it is only slightly more expensive than some new Japanese Tauke cars.

Astonishingly, the Volkswagen Passat is an affordable car and with all the current style and technology, it does feel like a bargain. Taukes friends and clients will surely be impressed with the car, because it certainly doesn't look like a car that would cost under RM190k.

It certainly doesn't feel like one either because in between its powerful engine and luxurious interior, is a car that seats you comfortably, drives well and doesn't look out of place in a C-level parking lot.

So there you have it, three used car and two new car options for the Tauke in you. Which will you choose?


Explore The Latest BMW X Models At The 'Choose Your World' Roadshow This Weekend

BMW Malaysia just announced that it is inviting everyone to bring their thirst for adventure and adrenaline to the BMW Choose Your World roadshow.
The event, which will be held at Plaza Arkadia, Desa Park City from today until the 23rd of June, will give visitors the opportunity to experience first-hand the newly launched BMW X models such as the new X2 M35i, the all-new X4, the all-new X5, as well as the X1 and the X3.
Out of the range, the X1, X3, and the X4 will be available for test drives throughout the 3-day event.
There will also be fitness activities for visitors to go with the whole “action-packed” theme of the event, such as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) games by Playground Fitness. Upon completing the games, participants will be able to redeem a special gift.
Besides the HIIT games, there will be stunt performances too. Last but not least, there will also be an exclusive BMW Lifestyle Merchandise pop-up store will also be on site for enthusiasts of the brand.
Having said that, the details of the BMW Choose Your World event is as follows:
Date                :           21st – 23rd June 2019
Time               :           10:00AM to 7:00PM
Venue             :           Outdoor Carpark 3, Plaza Arkadia, Desa Parkcity
Looking for a new BMW? Get the best deals
here
.


MCO 2.0 Roadblocks and Road Closures In PJ Is A Necessary Evil

The road closures and roadblocks are necessary to help tackle the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

 As we expected, the Movement Control Order (
MCO
) reinstatement has seen police returning to the roads, setting up roadblocks and road closures.

Those who are still out and about in their vehicles find it inconvenient, but Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said that the roads closed to traffic during the
MCO
 are a necessary measure to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as reported by The Star.

Photo credit: The Star

"We are not doing this for fun. It was a tough but necessary decision," he said, urging everyone to cooperate with the MCO.

"We currently have four
roadblocks
, and five road closures enforced in Petaling Jaya and are planning to add another five roadblocks as well as two more road closures.

"Currently, we have 300 police and Armed Forces personnel manning these roadblocks and once we have the additions, we expect to have from 700 to 800 personnel on duty," he said in a statement.

These road closures are mainly in the Kota Damansara area, including Persiaran Jati (Section 8), Persiaran Mahogani (Section 9) and Persiaran Sungai Buloh. The LDP exit to Mutiara Damansara and Damansara Perdana and Jalan 5/46, Bukit Gasing are also under temporrary police barricade.

Currently, the Petaling Jaya police has four roadblocks in place and five road closures enforced in the district, and the police are planning to add another five roadblocks and two more road closures as soon as they get reinforcements.


All-New BMW 7 Series Plug-In Hybrid Debuts: Meet The 740e PHEV

At the same time
BMW
 officially rolled out its
all-new 7 Series
, the carmaker also took the opportunity to debut its first plug-in hybrid version of the flagship limousine.
Branded as the BMW 740e or the 740e xDrive (if your fancy takes to the all-wheel drive version), the plug-in hybrid vehicle is powered by a 2.0-litre BMW TwinPower turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, combined with an electric motor (integrated into the transmission) which together, makes up what BMW calls its eDrive powertrain.
*REPORT: Global Debut of the All-New 7 Series
The electric energy is stored in a lithium-ion high-voltage traction battery located under the rear seat where BMW says is “very well protected in the event of a crash.”
Total system output for the 740e equates to 326hp and 500Nm of torque, which warrants a century sprint of 5.6 seconds for the RWD model, and 5.5 seconds for the xDrive.
Recharging the traction battery can be done on the road as you drive via various energy recuperation methods (braking, coasting etc.) but also by plugging the vehicle into a BMW Wallbox, as well as other publicly available charging stations. Your regular home power socket will do as well, given the right connecting sockets are available.
1.7-litres/100km is the combined rated fuel consumption figure for the 7er PHEV, whilst specifying an xDrive version yields 1.9-litres/100km. All the while C02 emissions are rated at 49g/km and 53g/km for the xDrive.
The 7 Series plug-in hybrid can operate in full electric mode at speeds up to 120km/h, and has a full EV range of 40km. Managing your preferred driving style can be done via an eDrive button located on the centre console, that lets you switch between AUTO, Battery Control and MAX driving modes – each delivering the obvious automation of the hybrid power delivery, reserving electric energy, or delivering full hybrid power all at once, respectively.
Also there to aid optimum fuel efficiency as a route-based power predictive power management function that calculates a journey-specific strategy for electric driving through to the entered destination. The standard specification for the BMW 740e and BMW 740Le xDrive furthermore includes an auxiliary heating and ventilation system, which is powered by electricity from the high-voltage battery or from the mains supply while charging.
That's about all the information we have to share with you at this point. The all-new 7 Series Plug-In Hybrid will make its market launch in 2016, and we'll be keeping an eye out for more details to come. Stay tuned.


VIDEO: Inconsiderate Driver Parks In Disabled Parking Spot, Claims No OKUs Use It

This video has been spreading on social media and it shows a driver of a Perodua Axia parking in a disabled spot before being confronted by a woman who also recorded this video.

What this dude replied, prove that he admit himself is a NOOB driver.
Posted by
My Malaysia-என் மலேசியா
 on Friday, 10 July 2015
Upon exiting his vehicle, the woman confronts the young man nicely and asks why he parked in an OKU spot when it is clearly shown that he is not an OKU himself.
Instead of admitting the fault in his ways, the man attempts to defend himself, claiming that there are no OKUs that use the spots. The woman then tells the man that he is “bullying the OKUs” but the man denies it.
He then asks if the woman is here to prove a point and indirectly “dares” her to put it up on Facebook.
The point here is this, if you’re not a disabled driver (OKU), you should not park in spots which are dedicated to them. It doesn’t matter if no one ever uses them which this man clearly fails to understand.
We as responsible motorists should make it a point to tell off those who support this errant behaviour to spread awareness. Merely keeping quiet and shaking our heads does nothing if the person is not aware that what they are doing is robbing the rights of disabled persons. That’s why we say, kudos to the lady for doing so.


2022 Subaru BRZ Teased, World Premiere Will Happen Before December

Subaru has finally announced that the highly anticipated all-new
Subaru BRZ
 will be making its world premiere somewhere between now and December 2020, with arrival in markets around the world expected to take place in 2022. Excited yet?

In fact, those who got the opportunity to attend the 2020 Subiefest World Record Attempt and Charity Drive in California recently actually got the opportunity to have a sneak peek at the sports car.

So, in a way, the car is already here and it is only a matter of time before we see it in all its glory.

From what we can see in the images that went viral among car community websites, the all-new
Subaru BRZ
 retains the sleek side-profile, and looks quite similar to what it is now, featuring a long bonnet and short rear end.

On the bright side, the stock wheels of the
new BRZ
, which was shown in a teaser image shared by Subaru America on Twitter, look much better than the outgoing model.

In terms of the powertrain, no official details have been revealed, but word on the street is that it would come with a 2.4-litre flat-four boxer engine which kicks out 220 PS and 240 Nm of maximum torque, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a newly developed automatic transmission.

We’re just hoping that it won’t be a CVT, but let’s wait and see what the folks at Subaru have in mind. There was even speculation that there is going to be a turbocharged powertrain making like 250 PS, fighting with the Supra and what not, but looks like the chances are slim, bro…

However, as we mentioned, nothing is official as of now, so we can still keep our fingers crossed and hope for more power.

With more details set to be arriving soon from Subaru, watch this space as we will be keeping a close eye on Subie and the all-new 2022 BRZ.


Inside the CARSOME Certified Lab: The place where quality pre-owned cars are born

In the world of used cars, condition reigns supreme. Acknowledging this imperative, the revered
CARSOME Certified Lab
 assumes an instrumental role in upholding the highest standards of quality.

Their unwavering dedication lies in meticulously curating a selection of vehicles that surpass expectations, ensuring that only the absolute best make their way to discerning buyers.

By leveraging vehicle experts and state-of-the-art tools, CARSOME wants every prospective owner to embark on their new vehicle journey with utmost confidence, avoiding any disheartening surprises down the road.

All
CARSOME Certified cars
 are refurbished at the CARSOME Certified Lab, one of Southeast Asia's most extensive state-of-the-art car refurbishment facilities that has changed the used car industry.

Sounds interesting? Well, If you want to know what goes on at the lab, take a journey with us as we dive into the methodical world of the CARSOME Certified Lab, where cutting-edge technology and meticulous processes ensure that every car meets the highest standards of quality and safety.

The Inspection Process

At the CARSOME Certified Lab, every vehicle undergoes a rigorous inspection process. Trained professionals meticulously examine various aspects of the car, including its exterior, interior, mechanical components, and electrical systems.

By utilising advanced diagnostic tools and equipment, they leave no stone unturned in their quest for a comprehensive evaluation.

CARSOME Certified cars are like rare gems, with only a select few making the cut. Each vehicle undergoes a rigorous 175-point inspection to earn the prestigious CARSOME Certified status.

Advanced Diagnostic Tools used

To deliver accurate assessments, the CARSOME Certified Lab utilises state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, such as the latest Onboard Diagnostic Scanner (ODS).

These tools enable the team to delve deep into the vehicle's systems, identifying potential issues that may not be apparent to the naked eye. From engine performance analysis to electrical system diagnostics, these tools provide precise data, ensuring a thorough examination.

Assessing Structural Integrity

One crucial aspect of the inspection process is evaluating the structural integrity of the vehicle.

Using specialised equipment, the CARSOME Certified Lab can identify signs of previous accidents or structural damage, perhaps caused by fire or flood. This analysis provides valuable insights into the vehicle's history, helping buyers make informed decisions.

Checking and Repairing Mechanical Components

The CARSOME Certified Lab scrutinises the mechanical components of each vehicle to ensure optimal functionality. From the engine to the transmission, suspension, brakes, and more, the team evaluates these vital systems to identify any potential issues.

By examining fluid levels, belt conditions, and overall performance, they provide a comprehensive assessment of the car's mechanical health. CARSOME also goes above and beyond by offering comprehensive repairs and maintenance services. From restoring ABS systems and replacing reverse cameras and sensors to refreshing lubricants, every aspect is meticulously attended to.

The result? Cars that feel and perform as if they were brand new, ensuring the utmost satisfaction for customers.

Thorough Electrical System Evaluation

The modern vehicle's electrical system is intricate and essential. The CARSOME Certified Lab recognises this and conducts thorough evaluations of the electrical components.

From the battery and alternator to the wiring system and onboard electronics, each element is meticulously inspected to verify proper functionality and diagnose any potential electrical issues.

Ensuring Safety and Quality

Essentially, the primary goal of the Certified Lab is to ensure the safety and quality of each vehicle.

By adhering to global safety standards to ensure CARSOME Certified cars operate at optimum functionality, they minimise the risk of buyers facing unexpected problems after purchasing a used car.

CARSOME also sets a new benchmark for safety by surpassing global standards in critical components. For instance, when it comes to tires, CARSOME insists on a minimum tread depth of 2.2mm, exceeding the global standard of 1.6mm.

Similarly, in brake pad inspections, CARSOME ensures a thickness of more than 4mm, surpassing the global standard of 3mm. These meticulous safety checks guarantee that every vehicle meets and exceeds the highest safety standards, providing customers with peace of mind on the road.

Through their meticulous inspections, they provide buyers with the confidence they need to make informed decisions.

Beautiful underneath, beautiful exterior

Imperfections such as scratches and dents undergo meticulous assessment based on stringent criteria, dictating whether body panel resprays are necessary.

Adhering to the highest standards, only reputable and quality OEM paints are employed in the process. To achieve a flawless result, a comprehensive 3-step high-performance paint correction is conducted, ensuring an impeccable surface.

The finishing touch involves a skilful polishing technique and the application of protective wax, resulting in a smooth, mirror-like finish that truly dazzles.

So as you can see, the
CARSOME Certified Lab
 serves as a modus operandi of trust and transparency between CARSOME and its customers. By employing advanced diagnostic tools, conducting comprehensive inspections, and emphasising safety and quality, they ensure that buyers have access to reliable and well-inspected vehicles.

Whether it's examining the structural integrity, evaluating mechanical components, or scrutinising the electrical system, the CARSOME Certified Lab's commitment to excellence sets a benchmark for the industry.

Their expertise and dedication empower buyers to embark on their used car journey with confidence.

All CARSOME Certified cars are quality assured through a stringent 175-point inspection and professional refurbishment. Additionally, each car comes with a fixed price with no hidden fees, five-day money-back guarantee, and one-year warranty. Visit
CARSOME
 today or
download the app
.


Diconteng ‘Bodoh’ Kerana Parkir Merata, King Myvi Tular

King
Perodua Myvi
 telah diconteng dengan perkataan ‘bodoh’ akibat meletakkan kereta di tempat tidak sepatutnya sehingga menghalang
lalu lintas
 dan menyusahkan pemandu lain.

Nama King Myvi sering disebut di dada akhbar kerana sikap negative mahupun positif segelintir penggunanya yang sering membuatkan nama Myvi ini tular di media sosial.

Kali ini, nasib kurang baik sebuah Myvi putih telah dirakam oleh pengguna jalan raya sebelum video terbabit tular di TikTok setelah dikongsikan oleh salah seorang pengguna di situ.

Menurut info yang diberikan orang ramai setelah melihat video King Myvi tersebut, rata-rata mengatakan bahawa kejadian ini berlaku di Cameron Highlands, namun tarikh sebenar klip video itu diambil tidak diketahui. Ketika ini, video tersebut telah mendapat 550,000 tontonan dan 18,200
Likes
 di TikTok.

Berdasarkan video tersebut, Myvi putih itu telah diletakkan di bahu jalan yang sempit sehingga menyebabkan kenderaan sukar untuk bergerak terutama bila ada kenderaan datang dari arah berlawanan.

Ketika video tersebut dirakam, pemilik kereta Myvi ini didapati tidak berada di kereta berkenaan. Walaupun perbuatan menconteng kereta orang lain ini bukanlah perkara yang beretika, namun perbuatan tersebut pasti memberi pengajaran seumur hidup kepada pemilik Myvi tersebut supaya meletakkan kenderaan di
tempat letak kereta
 yang betul.

Berdasarkan reaksi pengguna media sosial yang lain, rata-rata memuji dan menyokong tindakan yang dilakukan terhadap Myvi tersebut kerana perbuatan parkir merata seperti itu dianggap menyusahkan orang lain dan mementingkan diri sendiri.

Orang ramai tidak kiralah pengguna Myvi atau apa-apa kenderaan sekalipun dinasihatkan untuk meletakkan kenderaan di kawasan yang dikhaskan untuk meletakkan kenderaan bagi mengelak kejadian seperti ini daripada berulang.


Proton X70 MC1 Bakal Tiba Mei Ini - 5 Pilihan Varian Ditawarkan

Masih ingatkah anda tentang
Proton X70 MC1
 yang pernah kami ceritakan dahulu? Nampak gayanya, model ini bakal membuat kemunculannya di Malaysia pada bulan Mei ini.

Dua jenis enjin Proton X70 MC1

Berdasarkan khabar angin yang sedang tersebar di media sosial, model X70 MC1 ini bakal ditawarkan dalam dua pilihan enjin iaitu:

1.5 Liter TGDI

1.8 Liter TGDI

Memandangkan enjin 1.5L TGDI merupakan enjin yang sama yang terdapat pada
Proton X50 Flagship
, Adakah ianya sebuah downgrade? Lihat perbandingan antara kedua-dua enjin ini.

Enjin

Kuasa (PS)

Tork (Nm)

1.5L TGDI, 3 Silinder

177

255

1.8L TGDI, 4 Silinder

184

300

5 Varian Proton X70 MC1

Selain pilihan enjin, Proton juga dikhabarkan bakal menawarkan 5 jenis varian bagi X70 MC1 seperti:

1.5 Standard

1.5 Executive

1.5 AWD Executive

1.5 Premium

1.8 Premium

Berbeza dengan Proton X70 sebelum ini yang hanya ditawarkan dalam 4 varian, kini varian AWD kembali dalam barisan X70 MC1. Malah terdapat beberapa foto telah tersebar menunjukkan sebuah unit ujian Proton X70 MC1 bersama lencana
AWD yang dikesan sedang diuji di Lebuhraya Karak menuju ke Genting Sempah
 pada Februari lalu.

Unit CBU Proton X70 varian Executive AWD merupakan satu-satunya unit X70 yang ditawarkan dengan sistem AWD di pasaran negara ini. Walau bagaimanapun, varian AWD telah dihentikan apabila tiada lagi sistem AWD diperkenalkan pada X70 versi CKD yang dilancarkan pada tahun 2020.

Proton X70 MC1 AWD?

Kalau kita lihat dalam katalog Proton ketika ini, mereka masih giat mengeksport Proton X70 bersama sistem AWD ke Pakistan. Di Pakistan, SUV ‘harimau’ ini juga menggunakan kapasiti enjin yang lebih kecil seperti X50 manakala transmisinya masih menggunakan klac berkembar automatik 7-kelajuan DCT yang sama-sama dibangunkan oleh Geely dan Volvo.

Jika dilihat pada model AWD X70 yang pertama kali dilancarkan sebagai unit CBU di Malaysia, model AWD tersebut tidak menerima sebarang sistem bantuan pemanduan pintar (ADAS) kerana ia hanya ditawarkan pada model teratas X70 pada ketika itu, iaitu X70 Premium. Mungkin kali ini model AWD bakal menerima sistem keselamatan aktif yang canggih.

Berikut pula merupakan pilihan rim yang ditawarkan mengikut varian:

17-inci: Standard

18-inci: Executive

19-Inci: Premium

Interior Proton X70 MC1

Khabarnya, ruangan kabin varian premium juga menggunakan kemasan hitam seperti Proton X70 SE. Memandangkan Proton X70 ini merupakan model facelift atau minor change, sudah pasti akan terdapat sedikit perubahan di bahagian luarannya.

Berdasarkan khabar angin serta info terkini yang sedang berlegar di internet, Proton X70 MC1 ini dijangka akan membuat kemunculannya di pasaran Malaysia bermula bulan depan (Mei 2022). Sebarang perincian lanjut mengenai Proton X70 MC1 ini masih belum diketahui.

*Kredit cover photo: Arif Chan


Bangkok 2015: Toyota Camry ESport – The Camry That’s So Bad, We Will Pass It Along

Toyota’s dominance in Thailand’s car market is so huge that there are enough willing buyers to support two rather unrelated Camry models – there’s the regular ‘Asian’ Camry that everyone here is familiar with, and also the ‘American’ Camry ESport, which is imported from Australia, seen here at the 2015 Thailand International Motor Expo.
Australia sells both versions of the Camry. The ‘Asian’ Camry that you and I are familiar with is sold as the Aurion, and it’s only available with a 3.5-litre V6 engine. As for the Camry, Australia has opted to take the ‘American’ Camry, albeit in right-hand drive form. Both the Aurion and Camry are assembled in Australia, at least until 2017, when the plant will be closed down.
The Aussie Camry is powered by the same 2.5-litre Dual VVT-I engine that’s used by our previous locally-assembled Camry 2.5V, which has since been succeeded by the
Camry 2.5 Hybrid.
Thailand has a free trade agreement with Australia, which allows it to import the Aussie-made Camry with zero import duty.
At a glance, the Camry ESport’s more youthful design should win it a lot of fans. Compared to the stodgy looking ‘Asian’ Camry that we are used to seeing, the Camry ESport’s leaner, more athletic appearance is probably the Camry that many younger buyers want, or so we thought.
The positive first impression falls apart the moment you open the driver’s door and step inside the cabin.
The Camry ESport lives up to the stereotype of cars designed for the American market. Despite its attractive looks, the Camry ESport reeks of cheapness everywhere in its cabin.
The doors shut with such a hollow-like feeling that even a Toyota Vios feels more confidence inspiring.
Inside, the interior plastics feels so cheap that it stepping out of this and into a Toyota Vios’s cabin feels like a step up. The trim materials along the door are hard, and feels cheap, it's a drab-fest.
The dashboard is bland, uninspiring, and is a total opposite of what the car’s exterior styling had tried hard to portray. It's almost as if as Toyota tried very hard to remake the car's exterior, but could not be bothered with its interior.
The front seats also appear to be thinner, thus legroom in the rear feels a little bit more spacious than a regular Camry even though the two cars share the same 2,775 mm wheelbase. Both cars are also equally long and tall, at 4,850 mm and 1,470 mm respectively, but the Aussie-made Camry ESport is 10 mm wider, at 1,835 mm.
Despite not having to pay any import duty, and its clearly inferior cabin refinement, the Camry ESport still costs more than a regular Camry 2.5-litre, about 70,000 Baht more, at 1.639 million Baht. That explains why the Camry ESport is such a rare sight on Thai roads.
The Camry ESport is an example is be careful of what you wished for. When it was first released in the US, its athletic looks swayed us over to it, but after seeing the car up close, we will take our ‘Asian’ Camry over this American-style, Aussie-made version Camry ESport anytime.


Cars 3 Might Be One Last Ride for Lightning McQueen

As the Cars franchise has progressed and expanded over the last 10 years, we've seen it go from something relatively simple and oriented for kids, to something a little more action-packed and blockbustery in its second installment. This third installment may be the last, what with the darker trailers we've seen and the grittier storyline.
The latest trailer expands more on the storyline, with Lightning McQueen coming to terms with his own mortality- and idea that the series has managed to skim around, even with the departure of Doc and all. It also has some underdog undertones and a new school vs old school theme with Lightning McQueen going up against the faster and technologically superior Jackson Storm.
All in, the movie is shaping up to be quite an exciting one- even if it may be the last in the series. It's hard to imagine that it has been over 10 years since the first movie, meaning that a lot of kids who watched it in their early teens will probably have their drivers' licenses already. TIme flies.


Soul Red To Be Offered On CKD Mazda Models Soon

For the longest time, Soul Red has been Mazda’s hero colour for a number of models. However, this colour is missing on locally-assembled Mazda models as Mazda Malaysia’s Kulim paint shop cannot handle the unique paint process required for Soul Red Metallic.
In the near future, Mazda Malaysia will be able to introduce Soul Red for its locally-assembled models, as they have invested a total of US$ 20 million into a new paint shop to handle the paint process for Soul Red and the new Soul Red Crystal.
At the moment, the paint shop is not capable of coating a vehicle in the four coats required for the deep gloss of Soul Red. Other colours require only two coats of paint.
Soul Red is currently Mazda’s hero colour, available on a number of their models. Soul Red Crystal is the evolution of Soul Red, which made its debut on the new generation Mazda CX-5.

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We can expect to see Soul Red on locally-assembled Mazda models some time in Q3 2017.
Elsewhere, Bermaz has mentioned that the new 2017 Mazda CX-5 will be introduced some time in September or October 2017.


Honda HR-V RS Updated With Full Black Interior

Honda Malaysia has announced that the HR-V RS will receive a new black interior, replacing the Ivory colour
The introduction of the new black interior is Honda Malaysia’s response to customers’ feedback. Black trim replaces the short-lived Ivory on the centre console, dashboard, seats, and door trim.
Since its introduction in January 2019, Honda Malaysia has received more than 12,000 bookings for the new HR-V, of which 7,000 units have been delivered. The sales figure achieved is almost 60% of Honda’s yearly sales target, achieved in just four months.
Honda Malaysia set a monthly sales target of 1,000 units for the petrol-powered HR-V variants, while the target for the hybrid variant is a modest 100 units monthly.
The RS variant, which is new to the HR-V line-up, contributed 20% of the total sales. As a whole, the HR-V conquered 86% market share and continues to be the segment leader as of March 2019.
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Gaji RM2,800 Boleh Beli Proton X50 – Jurujual Proton

Tahukah anda dengan gaji RM2,800 sebulan anda boleh membeli sebuah
Proton X50
 yang berharga RM79,200 hingga RM103,300?

Berikut merupakan kenyataan yang dibuat oleh seorang pembantu jualan menerusi sebuah video berdurasi 8 saat di
TikTok
. Kenyataan tersebut bagaimanapun telah membuat orang ramai tidak bersetuju dan merasakan bahawa dengan angka gaji sebegitu, lebih baik beli kereta yang lebih
mampu milik
. Persoalannya kenapa orang ramai tak setuju?

Bayaran Ansuran Bulanan Tinggi

Katakan anda mahu membeli Proton X50 varian paling rendah, iaitu varian 1.5T Standard pada harga RM79,200 dengan bayaran muka sebanyak 10% (RM7,920), bayaran yang perlu dibayar setiap bulan adalah kira-kira RM838 selama 9 tahun.

Bagi mereka yang masih baru bekerja dan masih menetap dengan keluarga, mereka masih tidak terikat dengan komitmen lain seperti bayaran kereta mahupun rumah. Kenyataan yang dibuat jurujual tersebut mungkin akan membuatkan mereka yang bergaji kecil namun berselera besar ini untuk membeli kereta tersebut.

Tindakan tersebut mungkin tiada masalah untuk tahun pertama, namun harus diingat, pinjaman itu akan berterusan selama 9 tahun. Pinjaman kereta yang tinggi akan sedikit sebanyak mengganggu dan merencatkan perkembangan ekonomi mereka.

Secara umumnya, masyarakat telah dididik agar membeli kereta yang berharga dalam lingkungan nilai keseluruhan gaji mereka dalam setahun atau sekurang-kurangnya 1/3 daripada gaji bulanan. Kembali kepada persoalan utama, boleh ke gaji RM2,800 nak beli Proton X50? Untuk menjawab persoalan tersebut, kami telah membuat pengiraan untuk melihat sama ada mampu atau tidak.

Sistem Gaji Setahun

Jika kita mengikut pada sistem beli kereta mengikut harga gaji untuk setahun, nilai gaji RM2,800 untuk setahun baru mencecah RM33,600. Kalau nak banding dengan harga asas X50, anda masih memerlukan penambahan lebih 50% daripada gaji tahunan anda iaitu sebanyak RM45,600. Tapi kalau anda pulun juga, mungkin lepas, tapi bila dah habiskan gaji bayar kereta saja, macam mana nak beli barang dapur? Bayar bil? Duit minyak? Duit penyelenggaraan?

Sistem 1/3 Gaji Bulanan

Untuk formula 1/3 daripada gaji bulanan pula, gaji RM2,800 bermaksud anda hanya boleh membelanjakan RM933 sebulan untuk membayar pinjaman kereta. Selepas membayar 10% bayaran muka dan kadar faedah antara 2% hingga 3%, anggaran kami ialah anda perlu membayar antara RM800 ke RM900 sebulan dalam tempoh 9 tahun untuk model asas X50. Berdasarkan teori kedua ini, gaji RM2,800 dilihat mampu untuk membeli X50.

Bayaran Muka Tinggi

Namun jika memang anda teringin dan mahukan Proton X50 pada gaji RM2,800 sebulan dengan ansuran bulanan yang lebih rendah, anda dinasihatkan untuk meletakkan duit muka yang lebih tinggi daripada 10%. Jika bayaran muka mencecah 50% harga kereta, hutang bulanan yang perlu dibayar pun akan menjadi lebih rendah.

Jangan Kecam Jurujual

Meskipun ramai yang mengecam jurujual tersebut, beliau hanya menjalankan tugasnya iaitu menjual kereta. Beliau hanya menjawab soalan yang diajukan dan sejujurnya, kenyataan tersebut mungkin dibuat berdasarkan peristiwa sebenar yang pernah berlaku sebelum ini.

Menurut
bank
, jika anda mampu untuk membayar bulanan kereta, pinjaman anda mungkin boleh diluluskan. Walau bagaimanapun, sebagai pembeli, anda perlu ingat bahawa tujuan bank dan jurual kereta ini hanyalah satu, iaitu memperolehi keuntungan.

Jadi sebagai pembeli, janganlah anda termakan dengan kata-kata manis seperti ini kerana ia kemungkinan besar akan menjadi salah satu punca ke arah kesempitan hidup. Berbelanjalah mengikut kemampuan dan ingatlah, semakin besar periuk, semakin besarlah juga keraknya.


Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo Coupe: 850 HP! 1450 Nm! All Mad!

In the mad and crazy world of
Brabus
, more is always better and they’ve been applying that concept on
Mercedes-Benz
 vehicles for a very long time to create some truly terrifying creations. Here’s their latest beast, the Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo Coupe.

Based on the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe, the Brabus 850 gets more of everything. For starters, more power. The ‘regular’ 5.5-litre twin turbo V8 engine that was originally in place has been taken out and sent to Brabus’ engine shop to be revised.

The tweaks aren’t minor either. For instance, the displacement has been increased to 5.9-litres by boring out the cylinders and inserting corresponding larger forged pistons. A new Brabus-made crankshaft with longer stroke is also in place. That’s just the start of things. Next, the two turbochargers Mercedes-Benz originally had? Gone. Instead, two special Brabus turbochargers with larger compressor units take their place together with modified exhaust manifolds. The company also installed special metal catalysts with 75-mm thick down pipes and a stainless-steel sports exhaust system with actively controlled butterfly valve.

Open the hood and you will spot the other modifications in place – specially designed Brabus intake module that includes a larger air filter housing with enlarged intake and carbon fibre air ducts. The intake and charge air pipes are sheathed in gold heat reflection materials. All these modifications lead to a power output of 850 hp with a peak torque of 1,450 Nm! According to Brabus, that monstrous torque output is electronically limited to 1,150 Nm “in the interest of the longevity of the entire powertrain.”

A seven-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually with Brabus aluminium paddle shifters on the steering wheel send power through the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. If you’re daring enough, a rear-wheel drive variant is available too.

The numbers speak for themselves.
0-100 km/h
 is accomplished in just
3.5 seconds
 and
200 km/h
 is met just
5.9 second later
. The Brabus 850’s speed will continue climbing from there up to an electronically limited
top speed of 350 km/h
, where due to tyre limitations, it can’t push on beyond that.

Going at such ferocious speeds, the aerodynamic features of the car would need to be revised, so Brabus have added a carbon fibre components which include a spoiler on the front bumper, diffuser at the rear, subtle rear spoiler on the trunk lid, and various carbon fibre surrounds on the intakes and outlets.

If that’s not enough to differentiate the Brabus 850 from a basic S 63 AMG Coupe, the company’s Monoblock wheels are available from 18- to 22-inch sizes. The ones you see here are 21-inch Monoblock F cross-spoke wheels in Shadow Gold Chrome design.

Interior-wise, black Mastik leather is found all around the cabin and 219 individual parts are coated in the same Shadow Gold tone as you can see. Meanwhile, there are also carbon fibre elements as well as scuff plates with backlit Brabus 850 logo.

Available as a complete vehicle, the Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo Coupe can also be built on the basis of any existing current Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Coupe.


The Singer Porsche 911 ACS Is The Mad Max Car We Need

Singer has done it again, proving that they can build dirty machines too.

Forget your Cayenne's, Macan's and any other sort of Porsche's that supposedly can go off the beaten track, because if you want a Porsche that can hurl itself down non-tarmac roads, then Singer's Reimagined
Porsche 911
 Safari Rally Racer is the one you should aim for.

Inspired by Porsche's legendary rally machines, like the Dakar rally winning 959 and 953, the Singer All-terrain Competition Study (ACS) is a modern version of those rally monster cars.

Singer worked with Richard Tuthill on this project, a man who owns what could possibly be the world's leading Porsche 911 rally workshop.

At the front end of the ASC, there is a long protruding piece of kit pointing forwards which apparently acts like mudguards so that when the wheels smash into a puddle, they will prevent some of the spray from splashing onto the body.

Massive and broad wheel arches are on each corner of the car to cover the 16-inch forged wheels. A thick rugged-looking sill runs along the lower flank, with an embossed Porsche emblem often seen on the company's rally machines.

The rear of the car looks something out of this world, but there's a tail with a spoiler that integrates into the sculpting that reminds us of the 959. At the bottom half of the rear are a pair of exhaust outlets that poke out from the rear bumper.

Under the battle-ready shell is a twin-turbo, air-cooled 3.6-liter flat-six making about 450 horsepower mated to a five-speed sequential gearbox that runs a full-time all-wheel-drive system. The suspension consists of dual, adjustable dampers at each corner.

The car was built upon a client's request, and apparently, the same client has asked them to build a tarmac version too which we are completely besotted with, especially in that red!


Hitachi and Honda Sign an MoU for Future Electric Vehicle Motor Joint Venture Company

Looking towards the future, Honda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hitachi in order to establish a joint venture in the future that will be developing, manufacturing, and selling motors for future electric vehicles. As the world progresses towards hybrids, fuel cell vehicles, and pure electric vehicles, the demand for electric motors will continue to rise. In the case of Honda, they don't have much expertise when it comes to building full electric cars- but when you don't have a finished product to sell, the next best thing to do is become a critical component supplier.
Hitachi Automotive Systems has been in the vehicle electric motor game since 1999, and their designs since then have improved in terms of efficienc, output, and weight. Honda has also been in the business of hybrid vehicles since 1999 with the Insight, which has seen a certain degree of success. In a nutshell, Hitachi understands how best to make these motors, and Honda understands how to apply them in practice.
There are also expected to be subsidiary operations in the U.S. and China, both in terms of manufacturing and sales. Both markets will have a very high demand for electric motors given the way the industry is headed, so it makes sense to localize production. Hitachi Automotive will continue to provide motors to the companies that it currently supplies to, while Honda will also continue to promote electric and hybrid vehicles in order to help the market along.
1. Overview of the Joint Venture Company (planned)
Name of company:
To be determined

Location:
2520 Takaba, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Representative:
To be determined

Business:
Development, manufacture and sales of motors for electric vehicles
Capital:
5 billion yen

Planned date of establishment:
July 2017

Investment ratio:
Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
51%
49%
2. Future schedule
The signing of the definitive agreement for the establishment of the joint venture company is planned for the end of March 2017.


Volkswagen 3S Centre Launched in Alor Setar

Volkswagen
 Malaysia and Lee Motors Autohaus Sdn Bhd today unveiled the Volkswagen Alor Setar 3S Centre, which is the first and only Volkswagen 3S centre in Alor Setar.
Established with an initial investment of RM 18 million, the 3S centre is said to be able to cater and support customers from Alor Setar, Jitra, Changloon, Arau, Kangar and Sungai Petani.
Spanning over a total of 35,352 sqft, the Volkswagen Alor Setar 3S Centre showroom is able to fit 11 car displays and a customer lounge, while the service centre has a total of 8 service bays manned by 15 experienced and trained aftersales staff.
The outlet is also equipped with cargo lifts, diagnostics tools as approved by Volkswagen Germany as well as a special CCTV system where customers can watch their cars being serviced from the comfort of the customer lounge.
The Volkswagen Alor Setar 3S Centre showroom, which is the fifth outlet to be launched by Volkswagen Malaysia this year, will operate from Monday to Sunday from 9:00am to 6:00pm while aftersales services are available from Sunday to Friday from 9.00am to 6:00pm.
The centre is also equipped with facilities such as a customer lounge with WI-FI connection as well as a café that serves coffee. There are also disable parking and toilet readily available for customers.
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Interstate Travel Dreams For Raya Continues, Most States will Continue CMCO Until May 17

Dreams of travelling during Hari Raya lives on, but CMCO continues until May 17 for most states.

The Malaysian government has announced that the
current movement control order
 (CMCO) for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Penang and Sarawak will be extended until May 17. The announcement also brought some bad news for Sabahans, as they will be joining the list of CMCO states starting from April 29 until May 17.

Kelantan, which was previously under the CMCO, has had its status elevated to a movement control order (MCO) until May 17.

States that are under a more relaxed recovery movement control (RMCO) order until May 17 include Negeri Sembilan (except Seremban which is under CMCO), Melaka, Perlis, Pahang, Terengganu, Perak, Kedah (except Kuala Muda which is under CMCO), along with federal territories Putrajaya and Labuan.

The hope that people will be
allowed to travel
 during Raya still lives on as Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that he would announce the status of
MCO
 for Aidilfitri soon according to a report made by MalaysiaKini.

"Senarai SOP itu fake (palsu), tidak betul.... kononnya pada Aidilfitri nanti rentas daerah tidak dibenarkan, itu tidak benar sama sekali. Saya akan umumkan nanti SOP sambutan itu termasuklah tentang takbir raya, solat Aidilfitri, kunjung mengunjung dan ziarah tanah perkuburan," said Sabri.

However, according to Bernama, the Royal Malaysian Police force will tighten its sekatan jalan raya (SJR) operations at Toll Plazas during Aidilfitri, to catch those who are traveling interstate. According to Bernama, this is a mandate set by Inspector-General Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.

Apart from that, interstate travel still remains forbidden without a permit, except for tourism between RMCO zones, requiring specifically requested permission through registered travel agencies under MOTAC.

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Wee: Government May Extend SST Exemption For New Vehicles

The government may extend the sales tax exemption (SST) for new vehicles to help the automotive industry, which faced many challenges during the lockdown, said Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong as reported by The Star.

In what might be the fourth SST exemption period extension, this time the government of Malaysia is mulling extending it beyond the current deadline of June 30, 2022.

SST exemption period to be extended?

“The government is currently considering the proposal to
extend the SST exemption
, and a decision will be announced soon,” Wee said in a recorded statement at the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Associations of Malaysia (FMCCAM) annual general meeting.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has also been unrelenting in its requests to the Finance Ministry to extend the SST exemption period but to the best of this publication's knowledge has yet to get a response from MOF.

The SST exemption scheme which was first launched under the
Penjana stimulus package
 has been extended three times already with the most current one supposed to expire at the end of June 2022.

 “We welcome initiatives that will help economic recovery, and we will look into the matter to see if the Transport Ministry can help facilitate this proposal.“ Wee added.

Will the SST exemption be extended, or will it remain? If it is extended until December 2020 then one winner will certainly be the
2022 Perodua Alza
 that is scheduled for a July 2022 launch.

Bear in mind though that Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has more than once reiterated
that the SST exemption period will no longer be extended
. Hmm...


VIDEO: You May Want To Watch Out For This 'Used Tyre' Scam

Tyre quality is arguably the single most important factor that determines your car’s on-road safety, and the phrase “where the rubber meets the road” isn’t just a mildly funny jumble of words. Without grip you're not driving the car, you're just along for the ride. A puncture is always a drag, literally, and a blow out? – Good luck.
As drivers, we’ve been conditioned to pay attention to our tyres, lest we want to subject ourselves to another sour experience borne out of neglect. Granted, despite the best of intentions, even the most particular of us fall victim to a few unforseen tyre mishaps.
But this video is just appalling on so many levels. People actually shaving and peeling areas of an already worn down tyre to reveal the few millimeters of fresh rubber that remain underneath, then cutting new grooves along the side, all to create the illusion of newness to the eye of an untrained potential buyer. It’s unthinkable. The parties involved here have clearly elected to trash their moral compass in exchange for some petty profit, gambling with the human lives which will very likely be jeopardized when these tyres finally give way, every time they sell a fraudulently healthy one. Make no mistake, this is a matter of when, not if.
To be clear, this video isn't of a Malaysian incident. In fact, according to the video notes, the footage allegedly originates from somewhere in Europe. However, it’s not inconceivable that such a thing could be replicated elsewhere. Also, it’s quite plain the tyres that have undergone this process are sold as used tires, as the ones sold as brand new have certain characteristics that are much harder to mimic.
With that said, we hope this helps to educate the public about the unscrupulous practices that are occurring elsewhere, and to remain vigilant about tyre health – prior to purchase and during use.
It’s always a good idea to bring your car to an authorized tyre center, workshop or dealer to have them checked and/or worked on by a professional if you yourself don't feel confident in telling the good from the bad. If new ones are needed, have them present a few recommendations and actively participate in the process so that the right tyre is chosen for your needs and that of your car.


1.0 Turbo - Perodua Ativa (D55L) vs Nissan Almera. The New Sweet Spot?

In quite short succession, there will now be two new models in the Malaysian car marketplace that has a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine, and refreshingly, so little drama has been stirred up by this new development.

Since the Proton X50 has
made three-cylinders cool again
, suddenly no one has the stomach to really ask incessantly about the potential downsides of having one short of the usual straight-4 and how that might instigate an apocalypse. Good!

Turbochargers, meanwhile, have been raging in the public vernacular for decades upon decades, but automakers still insist on plastering ‘Turbo’
badges anywhere
 they can fit them and never fail to parrot on about it in the marketing push either.

Though the 4th-generation Nissan Almera (RM79,906 - RM91,310) is guilty of this to some degree, it was much more subtle in its boasting despite being given a blank canvas as the first prominent 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine car offered in Malaysia.

We’ve covered how much of a
leap forward the newest Almera is
 over its predecessor before, and thankfully the car impresses on multiple fronts with that little force-fed engine (called the HR10DET) being just one of the heavy hitters in that ensemble.

It’ll be the same story with the Perodua Ativa (D55L) (RM63k - RM73k) if all the feedback garnered from its
preview drive
 event is to be believed: a great engine (1KR-VET) with surprising reserves and grunt that fits the nature of these compact vehicles quite nicely while sipping so little fuel.

Both the Almera and Ativa not only share 3 syllable names starting with the alphabet’s first letter but comparing them like-for-like gets problematic given they occupy very different segments of the market, meeting different needs.

However, their powertrain package runs almost in parallel with the duo displacing just under 1,000cc spread over 3-cylinders for minimal weight and low fuel consumption, a single-scroll turbocharger upping power, and torque for everyday zippiness and a CVT to transmit that smoothly to the front wheels.

Nissan strikes first with the Almera, which was revealed in full to Malaysians in September 2020. Under its bonnet, the new engine’s rated power figure sits at a nice round 100PS at 5,000rpm and 152Nm of peak torque sustained from 2,400rpm to 4,000rpm. It’s mated to Nissan’s X-tronic CVT, unsurprisingly.

Compared to the engine it replaced, that’s 1PS and 13Nm shy of the peak figures touted by the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated CVTC four-cylinder petrol unit, so the on-paper advantages of going smaller and turbocharged don’t look too convincing. Yet.

Nissan peddles advanced technology used in this ‘entry-level’ turbocharged engine, some of which have been purportedly adapted from the R35 GT-R such as its Electronic Wastegate and Mirror Bore Cylinder Coating, not that it needed much to outshine the previous Almera’s motor in the first place.

On the other side of the fence, we have the Perodua Ativa (D55L), whose engine tech also hails from Japan. The Toyota KR family of engines is most familiar to Malaysians in the Axia and Bezza but can be found elsewhere in the Toyota and Daihatsu portfolio since 2004.

It’s a proven powerplant, though it hasn’t spent too much time in this turbocharged guise, which was specifically developed for use in the Daihatsu Thor kei car and the second-generation Daihatsu Rocky.

Over the 1KR-FE on which it’s based, adding that turbocharger - the ’T’ at the end of its 1KR-VET designation - elevates power and torque from 67PS and 91Nm to a meatier 98PS while peak torque jumps to 140Nm and is sustained over a much broader range. Between it and the driven (front) wheels is
the Dual Mode CVT or D-CVT
.

Neither Nissan nor Perodua have attached other official performance-related figures to their respective 1.0-litre turbo entrants, so we can’t get an accurate sense of how urgently they sprint to 100km/h from rest, for example.

However, anything around 10 seconds is pretty decent for these economy-focused B-segmenters,  which they’ll cleanly accomplish despite CVTs not really being known for their aggressive off-the-line power delivery - perhaps with the exception of Toyota’s Direct Shift-CVT which has a dedicated launch gear.

Top speed is much less of a concern in this corner of the market, too, though both should top out at around 180km/h on a flat surface with no tailwind. Besides, at their price point, vehicle stability at high speed speaks much more about their structural integrity and build quality.

At the other end of the spectrum, it looks like the 1KR-VET powering the Perodua Ativa (D55L) is slightly more fuel-efficient than the Almera’s HR10DET, quoted at a respective 18.9km/litre and 18.4km/litre (or 5.3L/100km vs 5.4L/100km).

All taken together, both engines are very evenly matched, trading blows on power and efficiency. It will be interesting to observe how they, along with the cars they power, perform in the real world at the hands of many Malaysian buyers. Our warm and humid climate does put additional strain on turbocharged engines, particularly their cooling systems, and only time will tell how they hold up in the long run.

It will be down to Perodua and Edaran Tan Chong Motor to ensure the ownership experience is kept at a high standard and that the unique maintenance needs of these engines are being met for maximum longevity.

Still, on a final note, there is the matter of
the new Honda City
. In its Thai spec, the RS variant also receives a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, though here its output was tuned to stay in step with the familiar 1.5-litre i-VTEC. Therefore, power and torque are considerably higher than the Almera and Ativa with the City boasting 122PS and 173Nm. Currently, and unfortunately, this engine has not found its way into the Malaysia-spec City (yet?).

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Frankfurt 2017: Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package - Understated Performance

Slightly over a year ago, Porsche introduced the manual-only 911 R, a throwback to the 1967 911 R. However, the company only produced 911 examples of this hardcore models, leaving those late to the party empty handed.
Good news for those wanting a stick shift Porsche 911, as the boys from Stuttgart has released the 911 GT3 Touring Package (TP), based loosely off the 911 R. Similar to the Porsche 911 R, the new 911 GT3 TP gets a six-speed manual transmission mated to a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six that does 500 PS and 460 Nm, identical to the 911 R. Despite similar outputs, the new Porsche 911 GT3 TP takes 0.2 seconds longer than the 911 R to hit 100 km/h from a dead stop, at 3.9 seconds. Top speed is rated at 316 km/h.
Inside, the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package is adorned with leather upholstery, as opposed to the 911 R's Alcantara. Porsche says that fine leather is fitted to the steering wheel, shift lever, door panel arm rests, centre console compartment lid and interior door handles. Interior trim is black aluminium.
On the outside, the Porsche 911 GT3 TP's only resemblance to the regular GT3 are the large front air intakes. Head and tail lights are similar to the regular GT3, but the Touring Package does not have them dark tinted. Perhaps the biggest difference between the GT3 and GT3 TP is the lack of a large fixed rear wing, replaced by the regular 911 Carrera's automatic deploying rear spoiler. Tyre sizes are staggered, the front end getting 245/35ZR20 rubbers versus 305/30ZR20 tyres at the rear.
Customers have the option of selecting the "Black Exterior Touring Package" will get black side window strips, sports exhaust system tailpipes and headlight washer system covers plus black Porsche logo at the rear, which otherwise would be silver in colour if the option is not selected.
Price wise the new Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package will retail for USD 143,600 in North America, while customers in Germany are expected to pay EUR 152,416. Both prices are similar to the regular Porsche 911 GT3.


Anthony Loke points out 'defects' at KLIA2

Malaysia's Transport Minister,
Anthony Loke
, is back at it again and this time, it's our beloved
KLIA2
 airport.

Following his appearance to launch the latest "fixed fare midnight flight" over at Red Q of AirAsia, Loke went around the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 for a quick spot-check. He has managed to point out a few things that can and should be improved.

Poor lighting in the e-hailing waiting area

The first thing that was mentioned by Loke was the poor lighting conditions at the e-hailing or taxi waiting area. Following some complaints and feedback gathered by the public, this was one of the most obvious things to improve at the Level 1 transportation hub.

Things are especially gloomy at night and even worse when it rains, but those who have been to KLIA2 during these times already know this all too well. Loke noticed that this particular aspect should be improved and upgraded for the sake of safety as well as comfort.

Upgrade works to commence in January

Loke also pointed out some uneven road surfaces in his FB post which may endanger the users at KLIA2. It seems that the airport management has already elected a contractor to start with the upgrade works which is scheduled to begin at the end of January 2023.

Our beloved transport minister also urged all stakeholders to get involved with not just what he saw during his brief spot-check session, but also other aspects of the airport that need to be repaired or improved. Any other things that you would like to point out?


Lestari Perdana, Seri Kembangan Landslip - Can The Car Owners Claim Compensation?

Five vehicles fell victim to a landslip in Serdang yesterday - but can they claim compensation and if so who can they claim it from?

As most of us were settling in for the evening, five car owners in Serdang were the victim of some bad luck yesterday, as their cars were damaged due to a landslip at LP 1A/2 Lestari Perdana.

The incident which occurred around 6.30 pm, saw the ground beneath the cliff giving way, which then saw a bunch of parked cars falling into the drain at the bottom of the cliff.

According to Assistant Superintendent of the Serdang Fire and Rescue station Saharudin Abdul Razak, no casualties were reported. He added that the landslip was caused by rain, which saw a drain burst.

"Following that, the area was cordoned off to the public before the matter was handed over to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council for further action," he told Bernama.

Now, for those wondering if the car owners will be compensated, the simple answer is yes - if they have
special perils on their insurance
 that cover them against natural disasters. The coverage usually provides insurance cover against landslides and floods.

For those
who don't
, it will be a lot tougher to get compensation, as it will wholly depend on the investigation and subsequent report from the incident.

If it is claimed that the incident is classified as a natural disaster, it will be hard to make a claim against any parties as it is out of anyone's control.

Source: WA

If it is found, however, that certain parties have not kept to their end of the bargain and neglected maintenance of the drain or the road (for example), then they can be held liable for damages caused. Likewise, suppose it is found that the developer, surveyor or municipal council has approved the development without considering specific geological safety aspects, they too can be named as parties liable for damages.

Yes, you can get compensation if you do not have special perils on your insurance, but it will be a long-drawn-out process that will take a lot of patience as it can drag out for many years in court.

With this in mind, it's just best to
add special perils
 to your vehicle insurance, as it will probably save you from a lot of heartache and funds.


All-New 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom Makes Global Debut

Rolls-Royce has finally revealed the all-new Phantom after 10 years.
Currently in its eighth incarnation, the Phantom is now underpinned by a new all-aluminium spaceframe chassis which makes the car 30% more rigid than its predecessor. Also new is the car’s suspension setup, which comprises double-wishbone axles up front and a five-link axles in the rear.
The Phantom’s signature ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ auto-levelling air suspensions have also been upgraded in an effort to provide the ultimate level of ride comfort. Complementing the system is a stereo camera that actively adjusts the suspension up to speeds of 100 km/h based on the surface lying ahead.
Powered by a new 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine that is paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, peak output and torque figures stand at 563 PS and 900 Nm respectively.
Dubbed as ‘the most silent motor car in the world’, the new Phantom comes with 130kg of sound insulation and also high absorption layers within the headliner, the doors and the boot.
The company also says that it has worked closely with its tyre supplier to invent ‘Silent-Seal' tires – which feature a specific foam layer placed inside the tyre to wipe out tyre cavity noise and reduce overall tyre noise by 9db, meaning that conversation within the car is completely effortless.
On the exterior, the Phantom now sports a more contemporary design, featuring a redesigned Phanteon grille and new headlights with laser technology, a more raked roofline, and new 22-inch wheels.
The Phantom’s cabin, or ‘The Gallery’ as what Rolls-Royce calls it, comes with a retractable 12.3-inch infotainment screen, newly-sculpted rear seats that can be turned into individual seats complete with a centre console and the new sleeping seat function, starlight roof,  and an instrument panel which has the dashboard and the gauges integrated into a single piece of glass.
Last but not the least, safety features include an HD heads-up display, Alertness Assistant, Panoramic View, aerial view, Night Vision with Vision Assist, Active Cruise Control, Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning, Cross-traffic Warning, and also Lane Departure and Lane Change Alert.


Jakarta 2017: All-New Mazda CX-5 Launched In Indonesia

At today’s opening of the 2017 GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) in Jakarta, PT Eurokars Motor Indonesia (EMI), the distributor of Mazda vehicles in Indonesia, have launched the second generation all-new Mazda CX-5.
The Indonesian market CX-5 comes in two variants – GT and Elite, both powered by a 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G naturally aspirated petrol engine paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission driving just the front wheels. There are no all-wheel drive variant on offer.
Priced between IDR 526,800,000 (for the base GT variant) and IDR 548,800 (for the Elite variant), the five-seater CX-5 is significantly more expensive than an equivalent CR-V. The most expensive 1.5-litre turbocharged CR-V Prestige is priced at IDR 506,000,000.
The cheaper Honda comes with a 5+2 seater cabin, which we don’t get in Malaysia, but without Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) features that Honda refers to as Honda Sensing, which we do get in Malaysia, and is also offered in the Indonesian market CX-5.
The Indonesian market CX-5 gets the full suite of Mazda’s i-ActiveSense safety features - Mazda’s equivalent to Honda Sensing. In fact, the Mazda offers a bit more features in its i-ActiveSense than Honda’s Sensing. On top of the usual autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist, the Mazda adds Adaptive LED headlamps, Adaptive Front Lighting System and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Its autonomous emergency braking feature also works when the car is in Reverse gear, preventing collisions due to accidental reversing.
The CX-5 also comes with a lot of premium features including a 10-speaker Bose audio system, heads-up display (Mazda calls it Active Driving Display) and an electric tailgate.
Like all recent Mazda models, the all-new CX-5 also comes with G-Vectoring Control (GVC), which in simple terms, improves ride comfort for passengers when the car is being driven into a corner. It does so by performing very minute but precise adjustments to the engine’s torque to counter-balance any G-forces experienced.
Closer to home, Bermaz Motor is expected to launch the all-new CX-5 sometime after September. Unlike the imported from Japan CX-5 model for Indonesia, ours will be locally-assembled in Kulim, Kedah, so prices should be a bit more competitive.


Subaru will be unveiling a new Levorg STI prototype car at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon

Subaru will be debuting a new Levorg wagon STI concept car at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon.

Subaru's Tecnica International, or STI, has been responsible for many fabulous cars over the years, and now it seems they have turned their attention to the
Subaru Levorg
, which apparently will make an appearance at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 in January.

The Japanese equivalent of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas has debuted many exciting cars over the years, so it's apt that Subaru would use the Japanese Autoshow to show off its Levorg STI concept.

Dubbed the Levorg STI Sport, we can safely assume that STI would have gone to town on its appearance as well as its performance.

Built on the Levorg STI R EX variant, a sporty trim version of the wagon, it has been said that the WRX based wagon will be equipped with turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-four engine producing 271 hp, but don't get your hopes up about the engine being paired to a manual transmission as it'll still probably be equipped with an auto tranny.

Subaru is being coy and has not disclosed any details of the Levorg STI Sport's mechanical upgrades, but the prototype is said to be able to offer better stable handling qualities and driving experience.

A JDM-spec Impreza, complete with the STI package, will also be revealed for the first time at the Tokyo Auto Salon,  but the WRX STI, may only get a cosmetic upgrade as Subaru has no plans, for now, to be selling an STI version of the WRX for the current model.

Cause we love wagons we can't wait to see what STI has done to the Levrog, and it's about time Subaru beefs up the already sporting-looking wagon.


5 Cheap Conti Performance Cars – From RM15k

European cars from the likes of BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen can be fast with the right amount of fettling and tweaking. So if you want cheap and fast, forget JDM,
Conti's are where it’s at
! We list down the Top 5 from RM15,000 to RM50,000++.

Recently we published an
oxymoron of an article about cheap and fast Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars
. As JDM car prices senselessly balloon, it seems that everybody now has a rare, unmolested, JDM sports car with a sticker price that starts with six figures. With the increase in car prices, so do the prices of original and used parts that are needed to keep them going.

Case in point, I had a friend recently who was looking for a pair of original turn signals for his
Mazda RX-7
, the price he was quoted would have bought an entire headlamp assembly for a
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
, the price has since gone up even further.

As c
ar prices go up, so do part prices...

It’s also telling that once you get past the icons – the GTRs, Supras, and RX-7, it’s the second band of less powerful sports cars that are rising meteorically now – the
S2000
s, Celicas, Silvias, various Type R models, and
Mitsubishi Evos
.

As equitable as they seem to be currently, JDM cars are no longer the cheap and fun cars that could take on the might of European sportscars for much cheaper. And with prices going up, fewer owners are likely to drive them the way they’re supposed to – instead of storing them in air-conditioned garages while in wait for greater returns later on.

The good news is, European cars from the likes of BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen can be just as fast with the right amount of fettling and tweaking. So if you want cheap and fast, forget JDM,
Conti's are where it’s at
!

These five reasonably priced European cars are the perfect starting point to building your budget performance car, sorted by ascending market values.

1. BMW (E46) 325i sedan – from RM15k

The 3 Series needs no introduction and finds itself on many of our lists. The E46
3 Series
 – marketed here between the late 90s and early-2000s is the perfect entry point to build a budget fast car. Maintenance parts are plentiful and reasonably priced, there’s plenty of aftermarket support and even after all these years – E46s are extremely intuitive and precise cars to drive.

It’s best to think of the 325i as the perfect starting point because it houses so much potential, and can be built into a bonafide fast car depending on your budget. If you want to keep things simple, bolt-on upgrades to the suspension, chassis and braking systems will make it a capable car on any road. If the budget allows, for about RM20k, you could swap in a '330i' 3.0-litre inline-six coupled to a six-speed manual transmission and associated suspension and brake upgrades - thereby creating a slick-shifting four-door sedan with around 240hp and great driving dynamics.

2. Audi (B6) A4 1.8T – from RM15k

The
Audi A4
 is the perfect entry-level into the Audi brand. This longstanding model is the contemporary of the BWM E46 and W203 C-Class and still looks the part many years on. The B6 generation of the A4 brought improved refinement, better build quality, and sharper handling. At current prices, they are a tenth of what they used to cost when new but still offer performance that is on par with newer models.

Any Audi fan will tell you that Audi’s have immense tuning potential, and while tuners that specialise in these cars may have been limited just a decade ago, there are ample tuner shops in Malaysia now that are churning out very high-powered cars. Given the A4’s turbocharged engine, upgrading several key components such as the ECU, turbo and exhaust system can substantially boost power outputs. Add to that chassis components such as aftermarket coilovers and brake system and you could be looking at a properly fast yet unassuming sleeper.

3. Mercedes-Benz (W203) C230 V6 – from RM21k

We normally don’t look to non-AMG models when it comes to
fast Mercs
 but don’t be fooled by the C230’s understated styling, this car is the epitome of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Under the hood lies a 2.5-litre V6 naturally-aspirated engine which produces 201hp and 245Nm of torque. The engine is a stout and powerful unit, while the 7-speed automatic transmission gives it linear and very strong acceleration.

The brakes are up to the task and as most of the locally supplied units here were outfitted with the AMG styling package, it gets beefier wheels with wider tyres as well. While the C230 V6 will probably not have the same aftermarket performance support of the BMW, a proper ECU tuning package and aftermarket springs and coilovers should give the C230 enough punch to take on a lot more expensive and newer metal.

4. (Mk4) Volkswagen Polo 1.8T – from RM35k

The
Volkswagen Polo
 is literally the Perodua Myvi of Europe, it’s small yet practical size, stylish design and good build quality make it a fitting car for many buyers around the world. Volkswagen also offers a variety of drivetrains that range from small and economical to downright powerful depending on the variant. The Volkswagen Polo GTi might be the smallest car on this list, but it’s the big daddy of its range.

Under the hood lies a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that channels its power to the front wheels through a good ‘ol 5-speed manual, which when you take into account its size and weight, makes it a true pocket rocket. A simple Stage 1 package from a reputable tuner will bump the power up to around 200PS, and if you want more, these Polo GTis are known to produce up to 300hp with further modifications. Suspension and brake upgrades are aplenty as well – stick that into your tailpipe VTEC Honda.

5. (R56) MINI Cooper S – from RM50k

From the smallest car on this list, we move on to the most raucous and fun of modern cars – the MINI Cooper S. Especially in John Cooper Works (JCW) guise, the Cooper S puts out over 200hp and distributes all that power to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Little needs to be said about the handling prowess of the Cooper S, which is the best for a car of its size. Add to that its timeless design and stylish interior and you have a fun car for every day of the week.

In terms of upgrading its modifications, you can start with Stage 1 which typically tackles the ECU of the car or Stage 2 tune which adds a beefier intercooler, cat-back exhaust systems for a power hike of approximately 40-50hp.
R56 Cooper S models
 can attain up to 300hp with more involved modifications but one has to makes provisions for brakes and transmission upgrades (such as the clutch pack).

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

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.

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Renault and Italian Mobility Giants Launch Sicily Eco Tour

Renault, together with ‘Sicily by Car’, a leading car rental company in Italy and Enel, the country’s largest energy supplier, announced that they will be rolling out the ‘Eco Tour di Sicilia’ initiative.
It is said that the program, which will add 200 Renault ZOEs to Sicily by Car’s fleet, will enable people to tour the whole of Sicily exclusively by electric car.
The Tour di Sicilia initiative, which is the first of its kind in Italy and Europe, aims to overcome the obstacles that hamper green mobility in Sicily, such as limited vehicle range or a lack of charging stations.
Bernard Chrétien, CEO, Renault Italy said, “By supporting e-mobility, we are enhancing and protecting the extraordinary natural, artistic and cultural heritage of which the Sicily region is such an excellent example.”
The Renault ZOE is currently the only mass-market electric car on the market to offer an NEDC range of 402km, equivalent to about 300km in real-world conditions.
The eco-tour project will also deploy a network of charging stations on the island: up to 400 Enel chargers are to be installed in the region’s principal cities and along tourist itineraries, where residents will be able to use these public charging stations for their own electric vehicles.
According to Renault, the opportunity to take a long road trip while enjoying regular access to charging points will bring unexplored freedom of movement to all-electric travel in both urban and rural settings.
Electric vehicles are also key to cleaner air and better health for city dwellers. And since they do not run on fossil fuels, they help drive the automobile industry’s energy transition.


Free ride for Kelana Jaya LRT line users for the next 7 days

RapidKL announced that they would be giving free rides to users of the Kelana Jaya LRT line for the next seven days.

It was announced yesterday that the Kelana Jaya LRT line is fully operational again, and to apologise for the
inconvenience caused
, RapidKL announced that they would be giving free rides to its users for the next seven days.

Although the Kelana Jaya LRT line was only down for five days, compensation in the form of free service is still given according to the total of seven days of service disruption that was
initially announced.

This compensation applies to all Kelana Jaya LRT line users, let it be for My50 pass holders, cash or Touch 'n Go card users. Here are the details of how the free trip will be given for each payment method.

The free LRT rides is applicable between Monday, 14 November to Sunday, 20 November 2022, as long as the start and destination are for stations along the Kelana Jaya LRT line.

Touch 'n Go

For TnG card users, they can use the card as usual without incurring any charges.

Cash

Customers who use cash to buy travel tokens along the Kelana Jaya LRT will need to go to customer service offices at LRT, MRT, Monorail and BRT stations to obtain special one-way travel tokens.

My50

My50 pass users will be given an additional seven days of free travel when renewing their pass. Customers only need to go to any customer service office at LRT, MRT, Monorail and BRT stations and the customer service officer will confirm the additional free travel.

So how's that? Is the free seven-day ride compensation enough for you to forgive RapidKL? Let us know in the comments.


Review: 2022 BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport LCI - Budget Baller

If you're interested in a brand-new Beemer that also happens to be the cheapest, the
2022 BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport LCI
 might be the one for you. Is it any good, though?

Launched initially back in 2020,
BMW Malaysia
 decided to 'amp up' its overall ownership experience in 2022. This 218i LCI model (Life Cycle Impulse or more commonly known as a minor facelift) now comes with one major update and a number of missing minor specs.

Same exterior, no difference

For the 2022 model, nothing has changed visually on the outside. However, when I got to test the previous
218i
 last year, that model was fitted with some optional M Performance Parts, which made the 218i look more '
garang
'.

That one came with the high-gloss black mesh kidney grille, carbon fibre side mirror caps, carbon fibre exhaust pipe tip, and black rear spoiler. Those 'upgrades' were close to RM9,000 back then, and it certainly took the 218i's visuals to a whole new level.

This one, in its stock state, doesn't look too bad. The Melbourne Red is a bit strong in my opinion, but it somehow works well even without those added accessories. Having said that, the colour did grow more on me the longer I had the car in my possession, but I still prefer the Storm Gray.

Just like before, this also comes with frameless windows for all four doors, which are indeed very sporty-looking. Since it's an M Sport model, it comes standard with the 18-inch M double-spoke alloys, and I like them a lot. Hiding behind these are a set of M Sport Suspension, which I have mixed feelings about.

Bigger screens thanks to the BMW Live Cockpit Plus

Those who are familiar with the 218i when it was launched back in 2020 should quickly notice the new interior setup inside the 218i LCI. Previously, this BMW 2 Series came with an analogue instrument plus a 5.5-inch multi-info display and an 8.8-inch centre touchscreen.

Those are gone in the 218i LCI as they've been replaced with a couple of 10-25-inch displays for its instrument cluster & centre touchscreen. They run on the BMW Operating System 7, which smoothens things out in terms of operation.

This makes the 218i LCI a more 'complete' car interior-wise, which also puts it on par with its closest rival from the three-pointed star camp. We also adore that fat M Sport steering wheel, which felt super nice to drive on all occasions.

Are the seats any good?

The sports seat is a bit snug in my opinion (since I'm slightly overweight according to my doctor, boo), but a few adjustments here and there were all I needed to make things comfortable for the drive. No lumbar adjustment, but it does come with side bolsters adjustment.

Rear seats are okay for most Asian adults, but anyone who's taller than 175cm could find it a bit cramped. They're good for a couple of kids, which is what the 218i is intended for, but ferrying more than two tall adults full-time might be a bit of an issue (if they're 170cm or shorter, then it's not going to be a problem).

Is there anything missing?

A few features have been removed in the facelifted 218i. These things are the BMW Digital Key for iPhone users, Qi wireless charger, and powered bolster adjustment for the front passenger seat.

Will we miss them? Not really, I don't mind them not being there at all since I don't really use these features in any car, but some folks might make a bit of noise. Just a bit. Shouldn't be too much of a deal-breaker, if you ask me.

Driving impressions

As stated above, the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 140hp and 220Nm of torque. Paired to a seven-speed DCT gearbox, the 218i can hit 0-100km/h in 8.7 seconds before reaching its top speed of 213km/h.

Not the fastest Beemer, but efficiency-wise, BMW states that it can do 5.9L/100km. Achievable, but more often than not, it's going to be slightly higher. That's the case for me thanks to my slightly heavier right foot.

Turbo lag is noticeable, but once it kicks in, getting it up to highway speeds is a breeze. That, however, shouldn't be too much of a problem as the 218i was designed to be more on the comfort side (with a dash of sportiness). NVH levels are good, good enough that you'll barely notice any outside noise even when travelling beyond 110km/h.

More comfort the faster you go

Let's go back to that M Sport Suspension on the 218i LCI. Going slow, you will feel all the bumps and road imperfections. The 218i is one of the cars that if you want to be comfortable with, you have to go a bit faster.

With that being said, it is an agile car to drive. The electronics in the 218i help to minimise the understeer if you go a bit hard but mostly smooth on all occasions. Cornering feels planted with little to no drama, which is another thing that I really like about the 218i.

Just a bit of advice on my part, turn off the 'Stop & Start' function, it can get a bit rough, especially in traffic jams. Such is the nature of a three-cylinder engine.

Conclusion - Worth the money?

At the end of the day, the BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport LCI is a decent buy with decent levels of performance and overall comfort. For a brand-new BMW that costs just under the RM230,000 mark, it's a good car for all occasions and a good starting point for those looking to get into the BMW brand.

If you have that kind of money to spend, do splurge a bit more to get those optional M Performance parts. With those extra bits and pieces, the BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport LCI can truly be a beauty that you just have to stop and have another look at after parking it.


PLUS keluarkan Cadangan Waktu Perjalanan balik mengundi – 16-21 November 2022

PLUS Malaysia Berhad
 telah mengeluarkan Jadual Cadangan Waktu Perjalanan (TTA) buat pengguna Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan, bagi tempoh dari 17 hingga 21 Nov ini.

Ketua Pegawai Operasi PLUS Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi berkata TTA itu bertujuan mengurangkan kesesakan trafik yang dijangka berlaku akibat peningkatan sehingga 1.9 juta kenderaan di lebuh raya itu, sempena pilihan raya umum ke-15 (PRU15), Sabtu ini.

Jadual Cadangan Waktu Perjalanan PLUS

Pengguna lebuh raya dari Lembah Klang yang menuju ke Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak (Utara) dan Johor disarankan supaya memasuki lebuh raya bermula 16 hingga 18 Nov sebelum 10 pagi manakala pengguna yang menuju ke lain-lain negeri dinasihatkan masuk ke lebuh raya antara 1 tengah hari hingga 4 petang.

Menurut Zakaria, bagi perjalanan pulang semula ke Kuala Lumpur bermula 20 hingga 21 Nov pula, pengguna dari Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak (Utara), Johor dan lain-lain negeri dinasihatkan supaya memasuki lebuh raya sebelum 10 pagi.

“Orang ramai khususnya yang ingin pulang ke kampung halaman atau bergerak ke lokasi mengundi masing-masing dinasihatkan membuat persiapan rapi dan merancang perjalanan dengan lebih awal untuk pulang dan kembali semula ke ibu kota semasa tempoh ini.

Persediaan PLUS dari sudut operasi

Pengguna juga perlu menjangka menghadapi tempoh perjalanan yang lebih panjang di lebuh raya berikutan peningkatan kenderaan berbanding hari-hari biasa. Namun begitu, PLUS turut membuat persediaan dari sudut operasi lebuh raya bagi membantu orang ramai menikmati perjalanan yang selesa sepanjang tempoh tersebut.

Zakaria berkata persediaan itu merangkumi aspek pengurusan operasi serta kemudahan lebuh raya di plaza tol dan kawasan rehat dan rawat (R&R) agar kesemuanya berada pada tahap yang terbaik untuk menerima pertambahan kenderaan di lebuh raya.

Beliau berkata Plus juga akan menghentikan sementara kerja penyelenggaraan, naik taraf atau pembinaan yang memerlukan penutupan lorong di lebuh raya bermula 17 hingga 21 Nov kecuali kerja-kerja kecemasan seperti pengalihan kenderaan yang terlibat dalam kemalangan, pembersihan lokasi kemalangan dan kerja-kerja pembaikan yang kritikal.

“Plus juga menyediakan kren dan trak tunda di lokasi strategik bagi mempercepat kerja pengalihan dan penundaan kenderaan rosak atau terlibat dengan kemalangan di lebuh raya,” katanya.

Menurut Zakaria, Plus akan menugaskan kira-kira 200 pasukan PlusRonda untuk menjalankan rondaan 24 jam setiap hari di lebuh raya serta 1,500 kakitangan di plaza tol untuk melancarkan transaksi di plaza tol serta 30 petugas di Pusat Pemantauan Trafik bagi memantau pergerakan trafik serta membantu mengkoordinasi bantuan kepada pengguna lebuh raya.

“Pengguna lebuh raya dinasihatkan mematuhi had laju, arahan lalu lintas dan berhati-hati ketika memandu berikutan cuaca hujan dan Plus mengucapkan semua pengguna lebuh raya selamat sampai ke destinasi untuk menunaikan tanggungjawab kepada negara,” katanya.

Jadual TTA boleh didapati menerusi aplikasi Plus Mobile App di Google Play Store atau App Store selain di laman web
http://www.plus.com.my
 serta Twitter PlusTrafik.


Nissan X-Trail Joins Rebel Alliance for Star Wars Rogue One

If the adage is true, “Life’s too short to drive boring cars”, then how about one that has been battle tested against the likes of Galactic Empire’s Stormtroopers, TIE fighters and AT-ACTs.
In true operatic levels, only comparable to the upcoming Star Wars standalone flick, the new
Nissan X-Trail
 (known as the Nissan Rogue in North American markets), gets battle-tested in the ultimate challenge: a simulated battlefield right out of Rogue One.
The 2017 Nissan Rogue is the first production vehicle ever to include Star Wars-branded elements in its design and presentation – first introduced at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Nissan is one of five global brands joining forces with Lucasfilm Ltd for the launch of an extensive global promotional campaign in support of the latest edition of the Star Wars movie franchise.
Only 5,400 units of the Limited Edition vehicle will be available in the U.S. and Canadian markets and custom highlights include a unique badge designed in conjunction with Lucasfilm, along with exclusive interior and exterior trim items.
A full-size Death Trooper collectable helmet is also supplied with every purchase.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story open in cinemas December 16th, but if you’d like to immerse yourself in the perfect daydream any Star Wars fan cum petrolhead can ever have, check out the link below.


Alor Setar City Council Offers Free Repairs For Vehicles Damaged In Last Week's Storm

The Alor Setar city council will allow vehicle owners to make insurance claims with it for repairs after last Friday’s freak storm, where uprooted tress damaged seven vehicles at the Sultan Abdul Halim Expressway and Jalan Sultan Badlishah.
Executive councillor for housing and local government, Badrol Hisham Hashim, a special insurance scheme to finance the repair cost for vehicles that suffered damage during the storm is being offered by the council.
“Owners can go to MBAS’s office for further explanations on the insurance claims,” he said here.
Last Friday's storm saw seven vehicles damaged with uprooted trees falling on them. All the drivers and passengers in the vehicles were unhurt during the
11.40am.
incident.
Sources:
Free Malaysia Today
,
The Borneo Post


2023 CKD VW Golf GTI refresh: DAS the way the car was supposed to come in the first place

After a lacklustre year
since its local debut
, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has decided to refresh the Golf GTI for the 2023 year, which now comes with IQ. Drive, their innovative Driver Assistance System (DAS).

For RM244,990, you also now get an updated interior in the CKD Golf GTI, featuring wireless charging and embroidered GTI logo on the driver and front passenger seats as well as electrically heated and adjustable folding mirrors and an additional centre airbag, giving the hot hatch 7 airbags in total.

As for the exterior front, the only update given is the inclusion of fog lights, which now feature the iconic five-piece LEDS at each corner of the honeycomb grille.

Back to the IQ. Drive system because this inclusion actually really completes the car, and it should have been included in the CKD Golf GTI in the first place.

The IQ. Drive system is designed to assist drivers in making their journeys safer and more comfortable. The advanced safety features consist of Travel Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which uses radar and various sensors to detect vehicles ahead, as well as Side Assist, a feature that acts as an active blind spot monitor, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert which comes in handy to inform drivers of potential danger when the reverse gear is engaged.

The Golf GTI also comes with Front Assist, which is basically an Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) feature that uses a radar sensor integrated into the front of the vehicle to continuously monitor the distance to the vehicles ahead. In addition to detecting vehicles, the latest version of Front Assist also detects pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road.

The Lane Assist function on the other hand ensures that the driver stays in lane, using its camera-based lane-keeping assistant. If the vehicle deviates towards another lane when direction indicators are operated by the driver, the system automatically intervenes by steering back into line. In addition, there is also an Adaptive Lane Guidance function that keeps the car within its own lane on an ideal line learned from the driver’s driving characteristics.

Everything else is pretty much the same, including its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, which produces an exhilirating 245PS and 370Nm of torque.

As usual, the Golf GTI is immediately recognisable with its signature honeycomb front grille and red GTI trims, 18” Richmond alloy wheels with red brake callipers, and full LED headlamps and taillights.

With its iconic styling, the GTI is sure to turn heads wherever it goes, and now, it will also surely keep its occupants much safer through the major inclusion of IQ. Drive.


All-New Nissan Almera 2020 Launched In Thailand. Malaysia Soon?

Thailand became the first country in Asia to launch the all-new Nissan Almera last week, at an event called "Challenge All Beliefs" in Bangkok.

The big news with the all-new Almera is the new 1.0-litre turbo engine which makes 100 PS and 152 Nm of torque, with a fuel consumption of 23.3 km/l.

On the exterior, the all-new Almera’s design features a lower, wider, and longer exterior dimensions using Nissan's Emotional Geometry design language, while retaining the Almera's roomy interior space.

Key elements of the Emotional Geometry design language in the new Almera include the V-motion grille, boomerang-shaped headlamps and tail lamps, kick-up C-pillars, and a floating roof.

The new Almera's interior has also been totally redesigned to accommodate a new instrument panel, infotainment screen, steering wheel and seats.

The cabin also features high-quality design and exemplary craftsmanship with head- and legroom to spare, retaining its reputation for best-in-class roominess.

Another area where the all-new Almera stands out is its Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies that provide front, side and rear safety monitoring and intervention. The exciting technology is a key component of Nissan's vision of how vehicles are driven, powered and integrated into society.

Technology wise, safety innovations include Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. With four cameras on the front, rear and side of the vehicle, the new Almera offers Intelligent Around View Monitor and Moving Object Detection.

The NissanConnect multi-infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen Color Display Audio (AIVI) also keeps customers ahead of the curve by bringing infotainment, navigation, safety, security and more under a single platform, with seamless connection via smartphone.

The all-new Nissan Almera comes in five grade levels in Thailand - S, E, EL, V and VL – and six dynamic colors - Radiant Red, Monarch Orange, Storm White, Black Star, Gun Metallic and Brilliant Silver.

Now that the car is available in Thailand, it should be arriving in neighbouring countries within the coming months, so watch this space for more updates on the all-new Almera.

Looking for a new Nissan? Find the bests deals
here
.