DeLorean Is Back And It's From The Future With The Alpha5 EV - Yes It Has Gullwing Doors

It wasn’t made by Doc Brown and lacks that crucial Flux Capacitor but
wears the DeLorean name
, but can this from-the-ground-up Alpha5 EV convince us it shouldn’t have stayed in the past?

Everyone remembers DeLorean right? That single model, the DMC-12, released by the namesake automaker founded by slick auto exec John Z. Delorean became ingrained in pop culture after its starring appearance as a time machine in the Back To The Future film series.

Back to the Future with the DMC-12 DeLorean

Well, this isn’t that car, nor is it really a modern reinterpretation of it despite the design nods to that 80s automotive icon. Those turbine-style wheels look vaguely similar, it has louvres over its rear screen, and it does have the requisite gull-wing doors, and that might be enough for most people to suspend disbelief.

It’s not penned by Giorgetto Giugaro himself like the DMC-12 was but does come from Italdesign. When considered in isolation, this four-seat coupe has a rakish design, sure, and does look properly futuristic. Its single door on each side is almost as long as the car’s entire wheelbase and, of course, opens vertically but the Alpha5’s mashing up of genres
reminds us of the Koenigsegg Gemera
.

An EV DeLorean

This new fully electric Alpha5 and the DeLorean brand revival is being headed by new CEO Joost de Vries who had previously worked with at Karma Automotive and Tesla having purchased the rights to the brand name from Stephen Wynne.

Wynne had previously been running the outfit as an official aftermarket support service, restoration, and custom-build business since the mid-1990s. In years prior you could get a technically brand new DMC-12 thanks to their reserves of unused original chassis and a bunch of other parts, albeit fitted with much more modern engines, usually Chevrolet crate motors.

The Alpha5 and this revived DeLorean brand is clearly tugging at the nostalgia strings but time will tell if it can compete with other equally futuristic EVs from much more established brands. De Vries isn’t disclosing exactly what has gone into the Alpha5’s development or where the technology is coming from, except to say that it’ll be built in Italy.

Alpha5 DeLorean powertrain

Its electric powertrain and related components, meanwhile, are being supplied by an unspecified company in the UK. Also mysterious are the specifications but de Vries claims the car will have the performance to rival the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door and Porsche Taycan.

The 0-96km/h (0-60mph) sprint is claimed to be 2.99 seconds while 0-88mph (reference!) is 4.35 seconds with a top speed of 155mph (250km/h). We're presuming a dual electric motor setup but have no guesses as to how much combined output, though its battery size is said to be at least 100kWh to provide a range exceeding 300 miles (483km).

Still, you’re unlikely to ever see one on the road as only 88 are planned for production, in reference to that magic speed in miles per hour needed to start the time slice.

More models from DeLorean?

Far from stopping here, the Alpha5 is apparently just the start for this resurrected DeLorean brand. Like its original run in the 1980s, de Vries says that even more models are coming down the pipe including a V8-powered coupe, a fully electric four-door saloon, and eventually, a sports SUV with a hydrogen powertrain to rival the Cadillac Escalade
and BMW X7
.

Let’s hope their expansion plans past this first/only model go much smoother and less scandalous than John DeLorean’s attempt.

The Alpha5 will be shown off to the public for the first time at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours event, which is scheduled to take place in August 2022. We wish them Good Luck and Great Scott!


DRB-Hicom To Study ASEAN Car Project

The ASEAN car project that was first mooted as a memorandum of understanding between Proton and Indonesia's PT Adiperkasa Citra Lestari is currently under discussion and could proceed as planned, according to DRB-Hicom.
According to a report by
Bernama
, DRB-Hicom group managing director Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Syed Albar said, “There is no cost involved and we need to study it a lot.”
Under the 2015 MoU, Proton and PT Adiperkasa Citra Lestari will study the feasibility to explore areas of cooperation, including the possibilities of commercial and technical aspects.
Additionally, the MoU also required both companies to plan for other relevant processes including market studies, logistic services, localization, and engineering.
Earlier, reports emerged that the joint effort between Proton and Indonesia to assemble an ASEAN car could be restarted as Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Indonesian President Joko Widodo recently met during Tun M’s visit to Indonesia last month.


Top 5 Reasons Why The Honda Civic Is A Bestseller - New Or Old

Why does the Honda Civic continue to be a bestseller for Honda, what is its winning ingredient or secret sauce that has sustained its popularity despite 11 generations?

Spanning 10 generations – and
 moving ever closer into its 11th generation
 – the Honda Civic continues to remain ever-popular among sedan car buyers in Malaysia. Having built a reputation as a reliable and stylish option for both young professionals and small families alike, the
Honda Civic (FC)
 in particular continues to buck the trend of plateauing sales that seems to afflict all its immediate competitors, even the Toyota Corolla.

The story is much the same in the used car market as many sedan buyers tend to opt for a used Honda Civic instead of newer B-Segment options, given it remains relevant years after its launch, or even when its generation has come to an end.  Add to that, resilient resale value, so used buyers know they can still sell their Civic for a pretty penny later on.

Top 5 reasons why we and many Malaysians love the Honda Civic

Design

Throughout its many generations, the Civic has always kept with the times and offered stylish designs that appeal to buyers across many spectrums, in contrast to its biggest rival the Toyota Corolla. The Civic has always delivered sleek proportions and sporty details which make it popular with younger buyers. The Civic’s boldest design to date has been the 10th-generation model that introduced the Solid Wing design language and fastback roof proportions and the affectionately called
 “ketam”
 rear headlights.

In the upcoming generation
, the Civic takes on more grown-up looks as a measure to move up as a more premium offering, competing with the likes of the Mazda 3

Powertrains

Throughout the years, all Honda’s (not just the Civic) has stood for steadfast reliability. The Civic has offered a plethora of powertrains under its hood, ranging from the earlier 1.6-litre naturally aspirated (in the 5th- and 6th-gen models) up to 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre four pots in the 8th and 9th-generation models. The 10th-generation (FC) model introduced downsized turbocharging (with 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine) but retains the less powerful 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated units for more entry-level buyers. Across the board, all Civic engines have a reputation for reliability, fuel economy, and relatively high outputs for their small size, making them punchy and eager to rev.

The latest 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo mill has proven very powerful and extremely durable since its introduction. The
 upcoming 11th-generation will carry forward the same powerplant
, albeit with tweaks for more power and better economy. Throughout the years, the iconic
Civic Type R
s have also been offered in Malaysia which normally carry more powerful engines and chassis tweaks for better driving performance and track-ready credentials.

Practical and ergonomic interiors

Though the Civic has greatly grown in size over the years, it has always offered very spacious interiors to accommodate the whole family. Practically any Honda Civic model will accommodate a family of four and offer adequate headroom and legroom plus a cossetting interior for long-distance drives. Good bootspace is another hallmark of the Honda Civic, throughout its many generations, bootspace has consistently grown to accommodate the needs of its occupants.

Honda’s current ethos of “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum” guides its design criteria of stretching the interior space and ergonomics to its fullest to offer greater practicality than its rivals. In the upcoming 11th-generation model, the Civic will grow ever so slightly to offer greater head, shoulder, and knee room than the outgoing model.

Fun driving experience

 A common denominator of any Honda Civic is its
fun driving experience
, In every generation, Honda works tirelessly to improve chassis dynamics. This is evident, when Honda introduced independent rear suspension in its fourth-generation (EF) model, way back in 1987. Though Honda has offered many different suspension setups over the years, they have managed to offer a good balance for the comfort of the average driver and yet fluid and competent handling for more spirited drivers.

Another feature that has always played in the Civic’s favour is lightness, Honda are masters of adding strength to the shell without adding excessive weight. This gives the Civic better fuel economy and a very direct and responsive cornering in the bends. The upcoming Civic will gain a more rigid shell as well as new chassis updates and a wider rear track to take full advantage of the new car’s longer wheelbase for better driving dynamics and ride comfort.

Ease of maintenance

Given their relative simplicity and great build quality throughout the years, Honda Civics are very easy to maintain and upkeep. Plentiful parts and reasonable maintenance costs are another very appealing aspect that drives demand for the Civic.

More so in Malaysia where owners tend to keep their cars for longer periods. An easy to maintain and reliable car is an important criterion to fill for any vehicle on sale in Malaysia. This contributes greatly to the steadfast demand and price retention of the Honda Civic on the used vehicle market.

Conclusion

In its current and upcoming generation, Honda has paid special attention to the safety levels of the Civic. Courtesy of the
Honda Sensing
 suite – many Honda models now offer advanced driver assistance systems that make the Civic substantially safer than all its predecessors. Honda has been one of the first manufacturers to introduce
SAE Level 3 autonomy (in the Honda Legend)
, which undoubtedly will trickle down to smaller models such as the Civic in due time.

This and other developments will keep the Honda Civic at the forefront of the sedan game, offering great value for money and a delightful ownership experience for years to come.

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Is This The Ultimate Off-Road Buggy? Atom Adopts Its Atom For All-Terrain Use

You’re probably familiar with the British car maker Ariel and their lightweight and very bare-skeleton Atom. Drawing on the same principles, Ariel is poised to launch a new off-road vehicle known as the Nomad, combining the same exposed frame design as the Atom but made more rugged to tackle various terrain.
Powering the Nomad is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder Honda sourced engine, providing 235 bhp and 300 Nm of torque paired to a 6-speed gearbox. Interestingly enough, the Nomad does not come with four-wheel drive but Ariel claims its kerb weight of just 670 kg allows it to outperform 4x4s in most situations. 100 km/h is met in 3.4 seconds from a standstill.
Ariel is only planning to produce 100 units of the Nomad per year and for the money paid (in this case 27,500 pounds), you will not receive doors or a roof, suitable for an off-road vehicle. The seats are waterproof as well, which is nice.
The Nomad is also available with a bunch of optional extras to improve its off-road prowess further. Best off-road buggy ever?


Fuel Prices To Be Announced Weekly On Wednesdays From 29 Mar

The Government’s current practice of adjusting fuel prices on a monthly basis is set to evolve into a weekly cycle. This was announced yesterday on by the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
In his speech, which was broadcast live on
RTM 1
, the minister explained that moving forward, the Government will be announcing adjusted fuel prices every Wednesday which will subsequently take effect on 0:01 the following day.
The first announcement will happen next Wednesday, 29 March with the announced prices set to take effect on 0:01 Thursday, 30 March.
“When we used the current system of a monthly managed float, we found that fluctuations in fuel prices were so drastic that it resulted in unease among consumers and fuel retailers alike,” Hamzah said.
Hamzah went on to explain, “To improve on the mechanism that is currently in use, the ministry performed several consultation sessions with the fuel companies, station operators, several NGOs, and other industry stake holders.”
Results of these discussions were presented to the Cabinet which agreed on 22 February to switch management of fuel prices to a weekly cycle.
He went on to remind fuel companies and retailers that stern action will be levelled against parties that sell petrol or diesel at prices other than what’s announced. Companies wishing to offer promotions in the form of discounts are allowed to do so subject to permission from the ministry.
In a subsequent media Q&A after the announcement, Hamzah said that Wednesday is chosen as the day for adjustment in fuel to minimize disruption in supply to the stations. Adjusting fuel prices over the weekend is not feasible as logistics companies responsible for transporting fresh supply of fuel are not in operation.
The Government will continuously review the effectiveness of this new pricing system, and may implement measures to further improve it in a year’s time.


The Stig Unveils A One-Off Ford Focus RS For Forza Motorsport 6

This unique looking Ford Focus RS was recently unveiled at a special Microsoft event, ahead of the international 2015 Gamescom event in Cologne, Germany.
Why the association with Microsoft?
That’s because another
Ford
 Performance model is featured as the cover art on the software company’s new Forza Motorsport 6 game for the Microsoft Xbox One console and that is the
beautiful Ford GT
, which will also be on display alongside the Forza Focus RS at the games trade fair.
The one-off livery seen here on this Focus RS is a winning design from a competition for players of the Forza Horizon 2 open-world racing game and was driven to the pre-show event by none other than The Stig himself from BBC’s Top Gear.
His Stigness would be very pleased with what the
Ford Focus
 RS has to offer starting with a 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder
EcoBoost engine
 developing 345hp at 6,000 rpm and 440Nm of torque from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm. Coupled with the Ford Performance All-Wheel-Drive system that offers a range of selectable Drive Modes – including Drift Mode, it’s bound to be a very exciting car to drive.


Review: Honda Accord 2.4L VTi-L Advance – Living With Honda Sensing

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, a balanced package, 9 out 10 times creates a superb car. Having just enough of every aspect – value, safety, reliability, efficiency, comfort, handling and build quality – delivers a car you might not necessarily desire, but the car you ultimately need.
Yes, I’m sure we all want a jet-black
Mercedes-AMG C63 S
 sitting in our driveway for the weekends, and a short-wheelbase Startech Land Rover Defender to tackle the weekday flash floods that are have been terrorizing Kuala Lumpur and Selangor recently. But, for the most part,
Volvo XC60 T8
 will give us the perfect balance of both these worlds, not to mention, loads more practicality.
Again, a balanced package, both in principle and in execution.
If there’s one aspect that has always described the 10th generation Honda Accord in my opinion – is its balanced offering – it looks sleek, the powertrains are zesty enough and decently efficient, it drives superb, and is nicely packaged to meets the needs of a plethora of customers.
Even amongst its brethren of well-honed Japanese rivals; namely the Toyota Camry, Nissan Teana and Mazda 6 – the 10th generation Accord offers the perfect synthesis of the Camry’s reliability and build quality, the Teana’s space and comfort levels, and Mazda 6’s driving character – all in one well-balanced package.
That is not to say the Teana isn’t a decent steer or the Mazda 6 isn’t built well – but the Accord somehow manages to give in appreciable amounts of the strengths of all these cars in one package. And the sales figures don’t lie; the Honda Accord is the undisputed segment leader.
Overview
Now in the twilight years of its lifespan, Honda has given the Accord a proper technological swansong by adding its Honda Sensing Suite of active safety technologies to the spec sheet. The
update
 came roughly a year after
introducing the facelifted Honda Accord
 in 2016.
And if you’re wondering why Honda Malaysia have even bothered at all to do so considering the 11th-generation Accord has already seen the light of day in some markets, well, that’s simply because our region will not receive the
all-new Accord so soon
, and its perhaps the most prudent effort given the Accord still has to soldier on against the likes of the
facelifted Mazda 6
 and upcoming
all-new Toyota Camry
 which is expected later this year.
For all intents and purposes, this article will only cover the functionality and the practical applications of the Accord’s Sensing suite of features. Click
here
 if you prefer an in-depth review of the facelifted Honda Accord 2.4L VTi-L.
Specifications for Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L Advance
Price: RM168,998 excluding insurance
Engine: 2.4-litre, Inline-4 Transverse, DOHC i-VTEC, naturally aspirated
Power: 175PS @ 6,200rpm
Torque: 225Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: 5-speed torque converter automatic, front-wheel drive
Safety: 6-airbags, Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Honda Sensing – Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CBMS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
Origin: Locally-assembled in Pegoh, Malacca
Driving Experience
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
Both collision avoidance systems work in tandem to prevent or mitigate a frontal collision. FCW uses a monocular camera fitted behind the rear-view mirror and a millimetre wave radar mounted behind the front bumper to detect a risk of collision and provides an audible and visual warning. If no action is taken, CBMS steps in to brake the vehicle. It progressively adjusts brakeforce, from light to strong. Depending on preset distance, the braking action can be very seamless, rather than an alarming manner.
FCW, which is extremely attentive to the motion of the vehicle ahead, warns the driver by flashing a bright “Brake” sign on the instrument cluster. Besides the fact that it will remain almost perpetually on during a traffic jam, it does help the driver remain attentive at all times. After a few days in the Accord, I found myself being more adept at preparing to brake regardless if the “Brake” signal was flashing or not.
The CBMS system kicked in on one occasion when I failed to brake with adequate force even though FCW alerted me with an early warning. Again, a perfect example of despite the level of experience and concentration a driver may possess, these active safety systems are an effective last line of defence before an accident occurs.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
LDW monitors the vehicle’s position within the lane and alerts the driver. If no action is taken, it triggers the RDM system to provide subtle correction by braking individual wheels and providing steering assistance. LDW works at speeds of between 72 km/h and 180 km/h.
For the most part – and this could be a crisis of perception – I believe the RDM system in the Sensing equipped
Honda CR-V (1.5 TC-P 2WD)
 reacts with more smoothness than in the Accord. This is down to the level of corrective torque the RDM system exerts on the steering wheel. In the CR-V, the RDM applies a progressive but coherent corrective torque, but in the Accord, the corrective steering torque applied is intermittent, with minute gyrations of the steering wheel the closer you get to the white lines of your lane - similar operations to the CR-V but from our experience, the CR-V's execution of the same function was a little bit more refined.
It isn’t a deal breaker once you understand what the RDM system is trying to do, but it can be unsettling for some, especially first time adopters of active safety systems.
Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
Like the LDW, the LKAS system also works between 72 km/h and 180 km/h, but assists to keep the car centered within the lane with minute steering adjustments, almost unseen. This helps reduce driving effort.
I found this system most helpful on a long single stint down to Taiping, Perak. The LKAS is the most subtle of all Sensing systems, but it allows for much less steering effort on a highway, and considerably better high-speed tracking. With the LKAS, you’ll find it pretty easy to direct the Accord up to speeds of 145 km/h with one firm hand on the wheel, resulting in a more relaxed driving experience overall.
Active Cruise Control (ACC)
This driver assist function maintains pre-set speed and a programmable distance to the vehicle in front. The ACC works at speeds of between 30 km/h and 180 km/h.
Do note that the Accord's Sensing does not offer the CR-V's Low Speed Follow (LSF) function, an extension of the ACC system which essentially enables the car to brake to a complete stop without driver intervention, before accelerating from standstill to the desired speed once the patch ahead is clear. This is down to the Accord’s mechanical parking brake (foot operated) architecture, the LSF system, available of the CR-V (Sensing variant) requires an electric parking brake system.
Perhaps, the best aspect of the ACC system is the ease of controlling its function, by simply pressing a few buttons on the steering wheel, the driver can quickly settle into cruise controlled drive and adjust the pre-set distance from the vehicle ahead depending on the driving conditions. The brake and throttle applications are nice and gradual, which makes it a welcome addition for drivers who may use their cars for longer journeys.
Conclusion
The Honda Sensing could well be the first time most traditional Honda customers get to grips with the active safety systems, and as such, it's a good stepping stone given just how easy it is to understand, and the cohesive manner in which the systems are applied under normal driving conditions. For the most part, without the FCW flashing the "Brake" light ever so often, there's little else to remind you that you are in anything other than a Honda Accord, albeit one that is substantially safer than before.
The Sensing systems also take the well-honed and balanced attributes of the 10th-generation Accord and builds on them to remain the pick of the bunch when it comes to overall value, day-to-day usability, and an up-to-date spec-sheet.


iCarAsia Signs Up Ex-Top Gear Presenters To Create All New 'Sup Gear' TV Programme

With the contract ended 31st of March, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond has flew into her majesty's ex-colony, Malaysia and penned the dotted lines of the contract which symbolises the rebirth of the presenters of the most watched TV programme in the world.
To cater for local taste, the new 'Sup Gear' culinary program aims to take a slice off Asian Food Channel's dominance on the exclusive coverage of one of the most well-known local delicacies, the 'Sup Gearbox' or (Gearbox Soup in English). As a tribute to the love of food and soups, the trio will travel across Malaysia in search of the best Sup Gearbox.


Window Tinting – What You Need To Know

Our friends at
Roda Pusing
 have recently produced a rather comprehensive guide on what to look for when shopping around for a suitable window tint film for your vehicle.
Among the take away points we’ve learned are:
1.  A legal tint film might not necessary meet JPJ’s VLT requirements. This is because the actual VLT is affected by the thickness or qualities of the glass material used by your vehicle manufacturer.
2. Dark tint film are not necessary better. Buyer should compare tinting films based on their heat rejection properties rather than its opacity.
More tips in the video below:


VIDEO: What Would Furious 7 Look Like If The Stunts Were Realistic?

Deep down we know when we see things in movies that physics can’t be made to do or when the probabilities of failure are too high. What would our experience be like watching Furious 7 if the stunts in the movie, amazing as they are, we’re truly made to be realistic? College Humor takes a stab.
By this point, we think the world is pretty familiar with the Fast and Furious film franchise. If you’re not, well it’s about cars and
stunts
 and a crew of drivers-buddies that do fun stuff with them. In turn, we have fun watching.
If everything they’ve been through actually happened, Brian O’Conner, Dominic Toretto’s and their gang would be the luckiest people in the world just by virtue of still being alive. Either way, we loved
Furious 7
, and so did so many others as its still raking in huge profits at the box office.
So if you’re up for a good laugh and/or even vaguely remember the scenes from the movie, maybe this clip will make you think about how many times the movie skirted the line of extreme improbability. Enjoy.
Video by College Humor


Citroen Reveals Facelifted DS 4 And New DS 4 Crossback

DS,
Citroen
’s more premium sub brand, has a new addition called the
DS 4
 Crossback that will be sold alongside the new DS 4. The new body style accompanies the new high-rider variant, and so too does the new styling cues and engines.
This twofold approach to the DS 4 will help Citroen reach new customers in the premium compact vehicle segment, with crossover sales surging, and according to the French automaker’s estimations, comprises of 30% of the market.
The new front end houses a new grille design as well as a new DS LED Vision headlights. Along the sides we have black wheel arches to match the black alloy wheel and new bumper trims. The DS 4 Crossback also has roof rails and an additional 30mm in ride height over the standard car.
Both the DS 4 and DS 4 Crossback will receive an optional two-tone paint option (roof, rear spoiler, door mirrors), with five accent color options and nine for body color.  Citroen says the luxurious but customizable interior takes eight hours for an upholsterer to hand sew the full grain Nappa and semi-aniline leather around the seats as well as the concave and convex lines of the dashboard.
A new 7-inch LCD touchscreen display takes input for vehicle functions such as entertainment and navigation, leaving need for fewer buttons and enabling a cleaner overall dashboard design. Support for Apple CarPlay is also on offer. Other features include blind spot monitoring, keyless entry, keyless start and a reversing camera.
The refreshed DS 4 comes with some new engine offerings too which includes three petrol and three diesel units to choose from with an output range of 120PS to 210PS. The most powerful THP 210 S&S option also can be fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The DS 4 Crossback will launch with two engine options: a 120PS diesel and 130PS petrol.


New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Facelift Introduced In Malaysia, Priced From RM259,888

The updated C-Class range, which was first announced earlier this year at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, has been introduced here by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
New to the C-Class range is Mercedes-Benz’s EQ Boost, which is a 48 Volt electric system with a belt-driven starter/alternator. EQ Boost only recuperates kinetic energy and charges the battery only when decelerating with the throttle off, and the system is not capable of regenerative braking.
The updated C-Class family starts with the C200, powered by the company’s new 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that does 184 hp and 280 Nm. EQ Boost is able to supplement the engine’s output by another 13 hp when accelerating.
Moving up the ladder is the C300, powered by a larger 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, now delivering 258 hp and 370 Nm.
Both the C200 and C300 feature a 9-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission that sends drive to the rear wheels.
Sitting at the top of the C-Class range is the C43 sedan, now delivering 390 hp and 520 Nm from its 3.0-litre biturbo V6.
A 9-speed AMG Speedshift TCT 9G automatic comes as standard, which sends power to all four wheels via the AMG Performance 4Matic all-wheel drive system. The hot C43 sedan completes the century sprint in just 4.7 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
In terms of equipment, the updated C200 will now receive:
18-inch alloy wheels
Open-pore grey oak wood trim
Blind Spot Assist
Audio 20 infotainment system
10.25-inch media display
12.3-inch Digital Instrument Display
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
As for the C300, this model adds the following equipment:
19-inch AMG alloy wheels
AMG Line exterior package
Multibeam LED headlights
Active Lane Keeping Assist
AMG Line interior package
Black open-pore ash wood trim
Moving to the current range-topping C43 sedan, this biturbo V6 variant further adds this equipment on top of the C300:
AMG matt silver glass-fibre interior trim
Prices start from RM259,888 for the C200, while the C300 is priced from RM304,888. The hotter C43 sedan will set buyers back by RM421,888. All prices quoted are on-the-road, without insurance.
Mercedes-Benz Financial is offering its Flex-C financing programme with the new C-Class, covering financing, insurance, and service packages. The Flex-C financing starts from RM2,788 a month and, for a limited time, all Flex-C financing contracts come with a complimentary First Year Tire and Rim Insurance. The offer is valid till 31
st
 December 2018.


Aston Martin To Produce DB5 Goldfinger Edition, 25 Units, RM 14.3 Million

You're not reading that title wrong. Aston Martin has announced that they are teaming up with EON Productions, the outfit behind the James Bond movies, to produce 25 units of what they are calling the Goldfinger DB5. The reference is, of course, to the Goldfinger movie from the 1960s, starring Sean Connery in the title role, with the DB5 as his car of choice. These reproductions, or continuations as Aston Martin calls them, will be true to the model that appeared on screen - down to the gadgets.
Since Goldfinger, the DB5 has appeared in 6 different James Bond movies: GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) with Pierce Brosnan and three appearances alongside Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015). As great movies spawn great movie memorabilia, Corgi produced a die-cast model of the DB5, with 2.5 million units sold in its first year of production alone.
Aston Martin does have a very close relationship with the British film series, as even their own in-house personalization service is known as Q (a nod to the James Bond character). These 25 units will be built out at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, which is where the original DB5 was produced as well. Chris Corbould is tasked with ensuring that all the gadgets are up to spec - yes, even the revolving number plates - and all of these Goldfinger edition cars will be produced in the Silver Birch paint.
Each unit will go for GBP 2.75 million plus taxes, which is around RM 14.376 million. Only 25 units will be made, so if you somehow have the kind of money to spend on it then act quickly. First deliveries are expected to be made in 2020, so put your money down early.


2016 Ford Everest Launched in Malaysia; Priced from RM199k

The all-new Ford Everest is now officially available at
Ford
 dealerships nationwide, shortly after making its first public appearance at the Ford Going Further Roadshow at 1 Utama a fortnight ago.
As indicated in
our preview story
 after covering the said roadshow, the all-new Everest is offered with a choice of two variants with engines and drivetrains carried over from the Ranger T6 pick-up which it is based upon.
Built on the same rugged yet sophisticated underpinnings of the
Ranger T6
, the all-new Everest is a significantly more advanced vehicle than its predecessor. It is significantly more expensive too, with prices starting from RM198,888 on-the-road without insurance for the base 2.2-litre 4x2 Trend model. The previous Everest, in comparison, was priced between RM163k and RM177k.
Mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard, the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine is rated with outputs of 160PS and 385Nm. Like the
Ranger
, the Everest is the only vehicle in its class to use an electric power steering. The system is tuned to vary assist levels based on vehicle speed, steering angle, cornering forces, and acceleration.
Both variants of the Everest come with a high level of active safety features as standard:
Electronic Stability Control
Hill Launch Assist
Emergency Brake Assist
Emergency Brake Light
Trailer Sway Control
Roll Stability Control
Dual Frontal and Knee Airbags
ISOFIX
Other noteworthy standard features fitted in the Everest 2.2 are as follows:
Front & Rear Fog Lamps
Halogen Projector Headlamps – Manual Leveling
Daytime Running Lights
Dual Zone Climate Control
Cruise Control
Electronic Parking Brake
Infotainment – Ford Sync Gen 1.1
Reverse sensor
Fabric seats
Alternatively, buyers are also offered the more powerful and better equipped 3.2-litre Titanium 4x4 variant which, at RM258,888, comes with the following added equipment:
Side & Curtain airbags
Reverse camera, front and rear parking sensors
HID headlamps
Auto wipers
Rear climate control
230V inverter plug point
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Infotainment – Ford Sync Gen 2 with 8” colour screen
8-way electric driver seat adjustment
Power-folding 3
rd
 row seats
Leather seats
Power for the 3.2-litre model comes from a 200PS / 470Nm five-cylinder engine which, like the 2.2, is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Everest 3.2’s part-time 4x4 driveline is complemented by Ford’s Terrain Management System featuring four pre-set driving modes – Normal, Snow/Mud/Grass, Sand, and Rock – that accordingly adjusts throttle response, transmission mapping, 4WD system, traction control to suit the terrain beneath. Separately, drivers can also lock the transfer case to low range four-wheel drive (4L) as well.
“The all-new Everest offers a brilliant blend of power, safety features and smart technology, wrapped in a bold new design that is sure to appeal to Malaysians,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.
The all-new Everest is offered with a selection of four colours – Sunset Metallic, Cool White, Black Mica Metallic and Aluminum Metallic.


CES 2023: The BMW i Vision Dee wants to be your 'digital companion'

The BMW i Vision Dee was recently unveiled at CES 2023 together with a promo video featuring the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bridging the gap closer between man and machine, the Dee part which stands for "Digital Emotional Experience" is aimed to 'create an even stronger bond between people and their cars going forward'. Quite a story, this BMW i Vision Dee.

Curate up to 32 exterior colours

The colour-changing car concept is nothing new to BMW as they've already unveiled the E Ink technology on the BMW iX Flow. This time around with the BMW i Vision Dee concept, it's no longer just black or white but the ability to transform up to 32 different exterior colours instantly.

It's a part of the concept's attraction points which appeals to the idea of human-like interactions as well as the enhancements of the relationship between the owner and the car. Kinda like KITT from Knight Rider, which also made a special appearance in the BMW i Vision Dee promo video together with his partner-in-crime, David Hasselhoff.

Extended BMW Head-Up Display across the windscreen

One of the features on the BMW i Vision Dee that will make its way to future production models starting in 2025 is the enhanced BMW Head-Up-Display that spans across the entire width of the windscreen. This particular spec will be included in the brand's next-gen vehicles under the Neue Klasse segment.

The BMW i Vision Dee, however, took things to a whole new level thanks to its very intelligent and human-like interaction capabilities which are described more like a companion to the owners rather than just an advanced voice-control feature.

According to Frank Weber, management board member of BMW AG for development, "A BMW lives by its unparalleled digital performance. BMW i Vision Dee is about the perfect integration of virtual and physical experiences. Whoever excels at integrating the customer’s everyday digital worlds into the vehicle at all levels will succeed in mastering the future of car-building."

Other highlights include the BMW Mixed Reality Slider for more customised digital content on the instrument panel, dimmable windows that mixes reality with the digital world by 'creating a new dimension' within the car's interior, and of course, the physical-yet-digital closed BMW kidney grille and headlights that offer 'different facial expressions'.

Hard to put into words, but the conversation between the BMW i Vision Dee and Arnold Schwarzenegger should help to explain things a little bit better.


Shell Eco-Marathon Asia Returns To Malaysia This Year

Shell has announced that Malaysia will once again be hosting the Shell Eco-marathon Asia in 2019 as part of its global “Make the Future Live” programme.
Held at Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, the competition comes back to where it was first held in 2010 and celebrates its 10th year of challenging students to design and build ultra-energy-efficient cars, and then take them out on the track in competition.
From 29th April to 2nd May, over 100 teams from all over Asia and the Middle East will test their self-built energy-efficient cars in the Shell Eco-marathon Mileage Challenge, to see who can go the farthest using the least amount of energy.
Student teams will also have the opportunity to qualify for the Shell Eco-marathon Drivers’ World Championship. Introduced as part of the Shell Eco-marathon programme in 2016, the Drivers’ World Championship challenges the best Urban Concept teams to combine the proven energy efficiency of their car with the speed and skill of their driver, in a race to see who can cross the finish line first on the least amount of fuel.
Qualified teams will go to London for a chance to compete with teams from Europe and the Americas. In 2018, ITS Team 2 from Indonesia’s Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya was crowned the ultimate global winner of the Drivers’ World Championship, the second Asian team to win in the three years the competition has been running.
This year, Malaysia will be participating with a contingent of six futuristic cars from six universities competing to be the most energy-efficient. These universities are inclusive of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, and Multimedia University.
”Every year, we see an increasing standard of performance as well as team spirit and passion, among the student participants at Shell Eco-marathon Asia. The Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is the perfect venue to witness new innovations in vehicle design come to life. We look forward to another exciting year at Shell Eco-marathon Asia,” said Shanna Simmons, Shell Eco-marathon Global Technical Director.


New Porsche Macan Facelift Debuts In Shanghai With Updated Styling And Tech

Since its introduction in 2014, the Porsche Macan has proven itself to be a popular choice with more than 350,000 units delivered globally. For its midlife update, Porsche has improved its best-selling model with some new styling cues from its siblings, the Cayenne and 911.
Up front, the updated Porsche Macan now comes with LED headlights as standard, while the rear receives a pair of tail lights inspired by the 991.2 generation 911 with a horizontal light bar. The tail lights also feature Porsche’s signature four-point design.
Porsche has also updated the cabin of the Macan with a new dashboard. Out goes the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, replaced by a new 11-inch Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system.
The updated dashboard also sees the air-conditioning vents being repositioned from the sides of the infotainment system to bottom of the touchscreen display, similar to the all-new Cayenne. Elsewhere, the updated Macan also features the Connect Plus module as standard. This module transforms the updated Macan into a fully-networked vehicle capable of intelligent voice control and displaying real-time traffic information.
As for the updated Porsche Macan’s active safety, the Stuttgart-based firm has stated that its compact SUV now features Traffic Jam Assist that works up to 60 km/h.
Four new body colours will be made available on the updated Macan, including Miami Blue, Crayon, Mamba Green Metallic, and Dolomite Silver Metallic.
The company did not reveal any powertrain details, though it is possible that the updated Macan will soldier on with existing powertrains.


2022 Honda HR-V Revealed: Plenty To Like, But Is It Still A Class-Leader?

Back in September, you might remember Honda showing off an interesting high-riding show vehicle at Auto China 2020
called the SUV e:concept
. Despite its futuristic looks and a new twist in its design direction, this Honda looks almost finished and ready to hit the production line.

There were people even speculating that this could be the new HR-V though its 3-doors and coupe-like styling were in seeming contradiction with their popular do-it-all crossover’s core purpose. Earlier still, leaked patent filings by Honda revealed images showing a compact SUV with a very similar look.

Well, in any case, they were right, as the newest HR-V does indeed borrow plenty of design and foundational cues from that concept car from a few months ago. Pegged as a 2022 model, this HR-V (also called Vezel in markets like Japan) is indeed ‘all-new’ with pretty much everything about the crossover not being carried over from the previous generation.

Starting with the design, that bolder and more upright front end does somewhat resemble the “flying wing” nose from the Civic and
 new City
, flanked on each side by a thinner and more angular LED headlight cluster topped off by a neat clamshell bonnet. Moving to its profile and we see a larger emphasis on a more lower-slung roofline for that ‘coupe’ effect. The HR-V’s characteristic hidden rear door handles make a return, however, which is a nice touch.

At the rear, Honda hops on the growing trend of including a full-width light bar to connect the left and right tail lights. Plenty of (useless) grey cladding surrounds the lower perimeter too, as is the norm with crossovers that have delusions of off-road adventures. And within those arches, those 18-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin tyres are showy, but certainly won’t help it sling mud.

Before we take in the interior, the real headline feature worth mentioning first is the powertrain. Honda has chosen to equip every HR-V (at least in Europe) with their e:HEV (i-MMD) technology, the same petrol engine and electric motor combo that’s coming to the
City RS that was previewed
 last year.

Instead of the 1.5-litre i-VTEC in the range-topping B-segment sedan, we might also see the familiar 1.8-litre unit fitted. In both cases, the
e:HEV (i-MMD) system
 will take power generated from the combustion engine to both replenish the onboard lithium-ion batteries as well as provide direct power to the electric traction motor that drives the wheels.

Honda has yet to spill the beans on exactly how many variants will be offered let alone the full spread of engines, which might include the more usual fare of standalone naturally aspirated units as well as the smaller displacement turbocharged ones - all driving the front wheels via a CVT. That said, it would be quite a statement to only offer them with the e:HEV hybrid drive across all global markets.

Inside, the HR-V’s cabin aims to be just as bold and advanced looking as the exterior while retaining most of the ergonomic traits that we’ve become used to seeing in recent Honda models. The steering wheel and gear selector look rather traditional, but the ‘floating’ infotainment display and HVAC controls below echo the new Accord. The A-pillars themselves look quite thin, maximising side visibility, while that wide air conditioning vent forms a visual bridge between them to square off the windscreen.

Fans of Honda’s supreme practicality will be glad to know the famed ‘Magic Seats’ also feature prominently and as standard. They also fold in a 40:60 split to reveal more boot spaced, accessed by a powered tailgate, which is also standard across the range, though other touches like a panoramic sunroof, LED ambient lighting, a ‘premium’ sound system, and Honda’s new Digital Key and smartphone access connectivity are dependent on the chosen grade.

Naturally, the
latest Honda Sensing
 active safety suite is included as well on certain variants, adding Autonomous Emergency Braking with stop-go support, front and rear cross collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and a 360-degree camera system.

The HR-V is confirmed to begin its home market rollout first, hitting Japan as early as April before starting its European tour nearer to the end of 2021. With that in mind, it’s reasonable to expect a Malaysian introduction in early 2022.


Touch ‘n Go: RFID dan eWallet – Memudahkan atau Menyusahkan Pengguna?

Adakah anda berpuas hati dengan penggunaan Touch 'n Go secara keseluruhannya? Jika anda berkata tidak, pasti anda mempunyai sebab yang tersendiri yang mungkin turut sama dirasai oleh pemandu lain.

Ingat tak lagi zaman bayar tol guna duit kertas dan duit syiling? Walaupun kena beratur untuk bayar tol, tapi sekurang-kurangnya anda tak perlu berlari keluar kereta untuk menambah nilai kad di kiosk jika baki kad tidak mencukupi dan menyebabkan kesesakan di lorong
Touch ‘n Go
 (TnG).

Selepas kerajaan memansuhkan
lorong tunai
 di plaza tol, ramai yang mengeluh pada awalnya kerana terpaksa beralih ke TnG atau Smart Tag, namun pemandu kini dah dapat membiasakan diri dengan keadaan tersebut.

Kemudian muncul pula laluan tol
RFID
 yang berfungsi seakan-akan Smart Tag. RFID menolak baki dari
eWallet
 anda berbanding baki pada kad fizikal.
eWallet
yang dilaksanakan oleh TnG ini juga boleh digunakan untuk membeli barang, bayar tol mahupun bayar parking. Kedengaran mudah bukan?

*Kredit foto: Berita Harian

Walaupun ramai yang dah tahu, tapi perlu diingatkan semula bahawa baki
eWallet
TnG anda tidak sama dengan baki yang ada pada kad fizikal anda. Walaupun anda boleh guna
eWallet
untuk bayar tol atau
parking
, tapi tak semua tol dan
parking
 boleh terima
eWallet
. Jadi apa fungsi menuju ke arah digitalisasi bila kita masih perlu tambah nilai kad fizikal di kedai menggunakan wang tunai? Adakah sistem TnG ini satu sistem yang gagal?

Meskipun TNG berkata RFID akan dipasang di semua tol di seluruh Malaysia selewatnya hujung tahun ini, namun sesetengah lorong RFID masih mengalami beberapa isu sehingga terpaksa ditutup. Tahu tak kalau anda masuk lorong RFID di lebuh raya dan keluar menggunakan lorong selain daripada RFID, anda akan dikenakan caj tambahan? Persoalannya kalau dah ada RFID kenapa perlu keluar lorong TNG biasa, kan? Jawapannya adalah disebabkan oleh penghadang tol yang rosak sehingga laluan RFID terpaksa ditutup atau ada juga kes di mana sistem RFID gagal membaca baki kad yang ada menyebabkan pemandu terpaksa menukar ke lorong TnG.

Selain itu, penggunaan
eWallet
 di plaza tol juga masih lagi merunsingkan pemandu terutama bagi laluan lebuh raya yang menggunakan sistem berlainan seperti sistem terbuka dan tertutup. Oleh kerana berlainan sistem, anda perlu tahu bagaimana plaza tol membaca kad anda (fizikal atau
eWallet
).

Lebuh raya dengan sistem tol terbuka memerlukan pemandu untuk membayar
kadar tol
 tetap seperti Jambatan Pulau Pinang dan plaza tol di lebuh raya SPRINT. Mengikut sistem ini, TnG akan mengenakan caj pada
eWallet
 anda sekiranya mencukupi berbanding kad fizikal anda.

Malangnya, sistem tol tertutup seperti NKVE masih lagi memerlukan anda untuk menyediakan baki yang mencukupi pada kad anda. Sistem tertutup ini beroperasi seperti laluan kereta api yang terdapat pintu masuk dan keluar, dan jumlah yang ditolak bergantung pada pintu masuk dari mana anda masuk. Jika anda perasan, apabila anda memasuki sistem lebuh raya tertutup ini, plaza tol pertama tidak menolak satu sen pun daripada baki anda dan baki anda hanya akan ditolak ketika keluar dari lebuh raya nanti.

Selain itu, untuk setiap tambah nilai kad TnG, anda akan dikenakan cas sebanyak 0.50 sen. Walaupun tempat-tempat untuk tambah nilai kad TnG tanpa caj tambahan dah semakin banyak, tapi tempatnya bersepah-sepah. Ada sesetengah di kiosk layan diri di plaza tol, stesen LRT/MRT terpilih, dan pusat beli belah. Anda boleh semak di laman web rasmi TNG untuk maklumat lanjut. Walau bagaimanapun, kedai-kedai yang beroperasi 24 jam seperti 7Eleven dan MyNews serta kedai di stesen minyak yang mudah untuk diakses semua masih lagi mengenakan caj 0.50 sen.

Jika anda rasa caj 0.50 sen itu berbaloi memandangkan kedai serbaneka ini hanyalah pihak ketiga yang memerlukan untung, anda cuma diberi piihan untuk menambah nilai sebanyak RM10, RM20, RM50 dan RM100. Jika nak tambah nilai RM30, dua transaksi akan dilakukan (RM20 dan RM10). Ini bermakna anda telah dicaj RM1 untuk kedua-dua transaksi tersebut.

Dalam menuju era tanpa tunai, ia amat memelikkan apabila baki kad fizikal masih tidak boleh ditambah nilai secara online. Nak
topup
, kena pergi mesin juga. Belum kira lagi berapa banyak mesin kiosk tambah nilai TNG yang rosak atau sistem tambah nilai TNG
offline
.

Berbeza dengan situasi ketika tol tunai masih beroperasi, kini lebih banyak pemandu berlari keluar kereta untuk tambah nilai kad di kiosk tambah nilai yang disediakan di plaza tol. Walaupun ianya salah pemandu kerana tak bersedia dengan baki mencukupi, tapi untuk memastikan kelancaran atau supaya perkara ini tidak berulang, sebagai monopoli terbesar di plaza tol di Malaysia, TnG sepatutnya sudah menyelesaikan masalah ini dengan menyediakan sistem bayaran tol semua dalam satu yang menerima baki kad fizikal,
eWallet
, kad kredit dan kad debit Ini sudah pastinya akan memudahkan perjalanan tanpa perlu untuk singgah mana-mana 7E atau stesen minyak untuk tambah nilai TnG.

Selain tol, TnG juga menghadapi masalah di kawasan letak kereta berbayar kerana tak semua kawasan
parking
 boleh terima bayaran secara debit atau
eWallet.
Ada yang masih menolak baki daripada kad fizikal. Baru-baru ini, rakan saya pergi ke Mid Valley untuk menonton wayang pada waktu tengah malam. Bila nak balik, rupanya tak boleh keluar sebab baki fizikal kad tak cukup meskipun
eWallet
 ada duit. Jadi terpaksalah kawan tu pusing kawasan parking tu cari mesin tambah nilai. Nasib baik ada. Itu pun kena tunggu 20 minit sebab
system down
 dan ramai yang beratur sebab alami masalah sama.

Jika sebelum ini ramai yang bising keatas
surcaj tambahan
 yang dikenakan TnG jika menggunakan kad untuk membayar
parking
, pihak TnG dah umumkan bahawa surcaj tambahan itu akan dihapuskan sepenuhnya selewatnya hujung tahun ini. Malah TnG juga sedang bekerja sama dengan rakan syarikat konsesi lebuh raya untuk membolehkan kemudahan RFID digunakan sepenuhnya di kawasan tol di seluruh negara pada hujung tahun ini, atau lebih tepat, bulan hadapan.

Bukan itu sahaja, tahukah anda bahawa anda perlu melakukan transaksi sekurang-kurangnya sekali setahun untuk mengelakkan kad anda dilabel sebagai tidak aktif? Jadi elakkan daripada menyediakan terlalu banyak kad fizikal yang penuh dengan baki sebagai kad tambahan. Mana taknya, dah peram lebih setahun, sekali tak boleh guna. Tetapi jangan risau, anda cuma perlu untuk mendapatkan kad baharu dan pindahkan segala baki yang ada pada kad lama anda. Yang tak bestnya, pemindahan baki ini hanya boleh dilakukan di pejabat TnG.

Secara ringkasnya, sistem
eWallet
 hanya menambah tahap kemudahan yang boleh dinikmati dalam konteks yang agak terhad. Pengguna masih tidak dapat mengelak daripada menambah baki fizikal kad, terutamanya jika perjalanan mereka melibatkan sistem tol tertutup. Secara jujurnya, TnG hanya betul betul akan memudahkan pengguna jika penggunaannya diseragamkan pada semua platform.

Tetapi pada bulan lalu, TnG dan Visa dah umumkan bahawa mereka kini sedang menjalinkan kerjasama untuk menghasilkan kad prabayar Visa, seakan AirAsia BigPay atau kad debit visa Maybank MAE. Kemungkinan boleh digunakan di plaza tol. Paling tidakpun, seragamkanlah penggunaan
eWallet
 serta kad fizikal TnG terlebih dahulu supaya pengguna tidak keliru dan menghadapi masalah di masa hadapan.

Yang paling penting, perkhidmatan TnG juga sedang diluaskan supaya pengguna boleh menambah nilai kad fizikal menggunakan
eWallet
 yang dijangka bakal berlaku pada hujung tahun ini. Sama-sama kita nantikan.


Post-GST: Naza Kia Malaysia Cuts Prices By Up To RM2,088, Picanto Remains Unchanged

Naza
Kia
 Malaysia has announced a decrease in the price of all its model except for the
Kia Picanto
 that remains unchanged. This comes following the recent implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST). Price reductions are from RM308 up to RM2,088, depending on model.
Keep in mind that the on-the-road (OTR) price is inclusive of excise duty, registration fee, road tax (one year), hire purchase ownership claim fee, and insurance. For CBU units however, the OTR price excludes PUSPAKOM CBU inspection fee. All Kia models come with a five-year warranty.


GIIAS 2015: All-New Suzuki iK-2 Concept Captured In The Metal

We’ve seen the
studio shots and professional videos
, now here’s a few live snaps of the all-new
Suzuki iK-2 Concept
 from the Gaikindo Indonesia International Motor Show.
The five-seater hatchback from
Suzuki
 is expected to make its production form debut at the coming Frankfurt Motor Show in September, as the Suzuki Baleno, but is here in Indonesia to once again to remind us all of things to come.
What is it? Well, it isn’t expected at this time to be a replacement model for the
Suzuki Swift
, but more so a C-segment offering from the Japanese carmaker. In our previous report of the Suzuki iK-2’s first appearance, we pointed out that getting rid of the ‘Swift’ nameplate in favour of ‘Baleno’ wouldn’t be very likely, given the Swift’s strong reputation.
An all-new modular platform from Suzuki is expected to underpin the production model, and the Baleno will also be one to benefit from Suzuki’s latest BOOSTERJET 1.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine.


Polestar 2 To Be Unveiled Online, Ahead Of Geneva 2019 Showcase

The all-electric Polestar 2 is set to be unveiled sooner than expected.
The short piece of information was accompanied by a lone teaser image of the rear design of Polestar 2 (above), which does not shed more information after the initial tease about 6 weeks ago (below).
Polestar, who is basically Volvo’s in-house performance arm, has chosen to unveil the new vehicle from its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, in digital format to reduce the carbon footprint.
Livestream will begin on Wednesday, 27th February at 8:00 pm (KL time) on both the
Polestar website
 and its
YouTube
 channel.
Right after the unveiling, Polestar will have a public showcase of the vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show 2019.
This is the second vehicle from the performance and advanced technologies-oriented brand. The
Polestar 1
 that was unveiled in late 2017 is a sleek two-door coupe that promises a combined system output of 600 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque from its petrol-electric powertrain.
Production of the Polestar 1 will commence at the new purpose-built Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu, China for deliveries slated from the middle of the year.


Toyota C+ Pod Unveiled: The AAA Sized EV Car We All Want

Toyota has announced the limited launch of its C+ Pod, a cutesy two-seater Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) which will be offered to Japanese corporate users, local governments and other organizations that have been exploring new options to drive the popularization of BEVs.

Toyota plans to further promote the establishment of systems for popularizing BEVs, including the development of new business models, and to conduct a full-scale launch including to individual customers by 2022. Toyota envisions the C+ Pod as a highly efficient vehicle for short-distance daily use.

The C+pod is also aimed at corporate users visiting customers on a regular basis, and for users in urban or mountainous communities needing safe, unrestricted, and environmentally-friendly transportation options.

The C+ Pod is powered by the “1RM” Permanent Magnet electric motor which is positioned at the rear of the vehicle, powering the rear wheels. The motor produces just over 12hp and 56Nm which gives the C+ Pod a top speed of 60km/h.

A 9.06 kWh lithium-ion battery (located underneath the front of the seats) gives the C+ Pod a driving range of 150 km (WLTC Class 1). The battery requires 5 hours for a full charge with a 200V/16A source. The C+ Pod also includes an external power supply system of up to 1,500 W (100 VAC) as standard for use during power outages and natural disasters.

Measuring in at 2,490mm in length, 1,290mm in width, and 1,550 in height – the C+ Pod is even smaller than a
Smart ForTwo
 (which also sell the Smart EQ full electric vehicle).

Exterior panels are made of plastic to help reduce weight. With an interior cabin width of 1,100mm, the interior provides a simple space for two adults to sit side-by-side. The C+ Pod weighs in at just between 670-690 kgs depending on variant.

On the inside, a centrally mounted instrument panel relays important driving information, while lower down, the minimalistic centre console houses all the car’s switchgear.

As for safety, the C+ Pod conforms to new (Japanese) MiniVehicle crash standards with an impact absorbent body structure and panels. The C+ Pod is also offered with
Pre-collision Safety System
 which detects other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. An Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Parking Support Brakes (Stationary Objects) is also included to help avoid collisions or mitigate damage with walls and other obstacles during low-speed operation.


Geneva 2017: Goodyear Reveals Tires with ‘Brains’

Goodyear unveiled two new concept tires that pretty much give a glimpse at what where things are headed to in the near future, at the ongoing 2017 Geneva International Motor Show.
The first is called the IntelliGrip Urban, which Goodyear said was designed primarily for future-generation autonomous electric ride-sharing vehicles in urban areas.
“With a focus on vehicles for future urban areas, the IntelliGrip Urban concept tire’s technical features aim to maximize uptime and energy efficiency. This is crucial for ‘Mobility as a Service’ providers to offer improved mobility to their customers,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, president of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa.
With its advanced Sensor-in-Tire technology, the IntelliGrip Urban is basically a ‘smart’ tyre which senses road and weather conditions. By gathering this critical data and sending it directly to the vehicle’s computer system, it enables the car to optimize speed, braking, handling and stability.
The IntelliGrip Urban would also enable fleets to monitor their vehicles and tires in real time, giving them a competitive advantage whilst helping to increase their profitability.
And then, we have the Eagle 360 Urban; a 3D printed sphere concept tire powered by Artificial Intelligence which is able to sense, decide, transform and even interact with drivers.
Combined with a bionic skin and morphing tread, the Eagle 360 Urban has the ability to put knowledge into practice, where it will become part of the vehicle’s ‘nervous system’.
It also features a bionic skin with a sensor network that enables it to check on its own status and gather information on its environment, including the road surface.
Via connectivity with other vehicles as well as infrastructure, traffic and mobility management systems, the Eagle 360 Urban also captures information on its surroundings in real-time.
By combining these sources of information and processing them instantaneously using neural networks trained with deep learning algorithms, the Eagle 360 Urban decides the most appropriate course of action. And, powered by Artificial Intelligence, the Eagle 360 Urban learns from previous actions how to optimize future responses.
Although these super-cool tires are in the form of concepts, there is no denying that they have changed the way we look at tires with all the things they can do.


BMW Group Readying Major Model Offensive – 40 Models In 2 Years; New Focus On EVs And Connectivity

Despite enjoying a year of record sales to mark its
centenary
, BMW obviously did not quite enjoy surrendering its decade-long hold at the top of the luxury segment back to arch-rivals
Mercedes-Benz
.
A new offensive is in place to wrest the crown back from Stuttgart, however, as the company has just announced the largest ever model offensive in the company’s history with no less than 40 new and revised models ready to flood the market over the next two years. The count includes BMW passenger vehicles, BMW Motorrad, MINI, and Rolls-Royce.
Getting the show under way was the
all-new G30 5 Series
 that debuted last year and set to hit the roads across the globe this year. The sedan has been on the European market since February and has also recently debuted in
Thailand
 and
Singapore
. Locally, BMW has indicated a launch date of 29 March on an
official teaser microsite
.
The X model family is set to grow considerably too. The
all-new third-generation G01 X3
 has been confirmed to roll out this year, will be joined by the
X2 and all-new X7 flagship
.
Not officially mentioned by the company but understood to be in the works is the new Z5 Roadster
co-developed with Toyota
 to replace the Z4. Also underway is the 8 Series Coupe, presumably to challenge the Merc S-Class Coupe.
Separately, an
all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom
 underpinned by a completely new architecture is set to debut late this year.
Electric power is set to take a greater role in the company’s line-up – all-electric variants of the MINI and next-generation X3 have been promised for 2019 and 2020 respectively. As demonstration of its commitment toward electric mobility, BMW is cultivating much of its expertise regarding electric drivetrains, power electronics, and battery cells in-house rather than depending on third-party suppliers.

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Future BMW models will be built on architectures designed from the onset to suit conventional combustion and plug-in hybrid powertrains from the same body structure. This preparation gives BMW maximum flexibility in tailoring its model mix for any possible developmental trajectory for electric mobility.
Fuel cell propulsion is in the works too – BMW plans to roll out a low volume series fuel cell-powered vehicle no later than 2021 and eventually offer fuel cell-powered vehicles from 2025.
Upcoming generations of BMW vehicles will also be heavily digitalized. Under its iNEXT innovation umbrella, BMW projects a future in which the car becomes a living space fully integrated into the customer’s life and learns from its driver.
“In the coming years we will successfully make the transformation to become a tech company for premium mobility and premium services,” said Harald Kruger, Chairman of BMW AG.


Review: Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E – Swedish Strong

The
Volvo

S60
 has been in our market for many years. The T6 Drive-E powertrain isn’t a new addition either, making its way into the
new XC60
 that was launched over a year ago. And yet when you combine the two, the result is something fresh- and perhaps a little terrifying as well. With the replacement for the S60 still a number of years away, this S60 T6 Drive-E represents the latest and greatest from Volvo - except for the dated infotainment system.

In simple terms, the new range of more powerful Drive-E engines are built off of the same 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine - the difference is in the various bits of hardware that push power and torque outputs up to each specific performance level.  In the case of the T6 Drive-E engine, it is force fed air by both a supercharger and a turbocharger for a total output of 306 bhp and 400 Nm of torque between 2,100 rpm and 4,800 rpm.

For reference, this is similar to the performance that was dealt out by the BMW 335i - an astonishingly quick car that is sadly no longer available in our market. The older 6-speed Geartronic transmission has been dropped in favour of an 8-speed automatic, which also puts it on par with the now-defunct 335i in terms of ratios. But of course a sports sedan is more than just a powerful powertrain in a luxury body and the S60 T6 Drive-E has plenty of factors working against it - which makes it all the more interesting.

Specifications:

Price: RM 238,888

Engine: 2.0-litre, inline-4 transverse, supercharged, turbocharged, direct injection

Power: 300 bhp

Torque: 400 Nm @ 2,100 rpm – 4,800 rpm

Transmission: Torque converter automatic, 8 speed, front-wheel drive

Claimed fuel consumption: 6.7-litre per 100 km

Tested fuel consumption: 13.0 litres per 100 km (fast paced, spirited driving)

Safety: ABS, EBD, Stability Control, Blind Spot Information System, Autonomous Braking, Lane keeping Aid, six airbags

Overview:

The Volvo S60 is one of the models developed during the transition period from Volvo’s previous generation models (pre-V40) to their current generation models (post-V40). It helped to shed the image of sombre, safety focused cars - while still clinging on to the high-class appeal that they had developed. While not quite as radical of a step as the V40, the S60 proved that Volvo still had life in them yet. With the exception of the previous, non-Drive-E powered S60 T6 (a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder AWD beast of a car), all S60s came in front-wheel drive flavour, with either a dual clutch gearbox or a conventional automatic.

The S60 T6 Drive-E is largely similar to the S60 models that we have known to grow and love. It sits one step above the T5, although the price discrepancy is so small that the T6 is clearly the better buy, and Volvo Car Malaysia has since discontinued the S60 T4 and T5. The new T6 now comes with the digital cluster display popularized by the V40 and XC60. Other safety systems were also updated with this facelift, such as the Active High Beam Control, Cross Traffic Alert, and Road Sign Information.

The only difficult part about the S60 is that it was neither really true sports sedan, nor was it true luxury sedan in its previous forms. It was left-field, it was unconventional, and perhaps a little strange for the times. But the good thing about times is that they change, and with the introduction of the V40 and the latest XC90, Volvo has managed to regain some of the appeal they were ripe with back in the mid-90s.

Exterior Design:

For a car that came out nearly half a decade ago, the S60 has gone from being radically different in design, to neatly contemporary. The sweeping coupe-like roofline was once thought to be impractical and unusable, and yet quite nearly every luxury manufacturer has adopted this for their models in some way, shape, or form. The harder lines are rooted well in Volvo’s past, while the flowing curves are indicative of a more modern look.

As mentioned before, the S60 wasn’t as large of a step forward as the V40 was- it was still relatively reserved for the Swedish company, and yet the liberties they took seem to have paid off. Their next generation of concept cars are quite radically different from the current S60, making its design language very brief in the evolution of Volvo styling. As the new XC90, S90, and V90 dominate the public eye, Volvo is quickly adopting their retro-modern styling cues for their future small models.

Interior Design:

On the inside, however, is where this Volvo shows its age. Unfortunately the architecture and design of the S60’s interior meant that it could not adopt Volvo’s sleek new touch-screen system, meaning that it is stuck with the same LCD display and Volvo’s (once pretty cool) waterfall-type centre console. It’s entirely functional, but not even close to the level of the systems adopted by the Germans with their various takes on the iDrive (or even Mazda’s MZD Connect for that matter).

Rear legroom isn’t the best in class either, but it is adequate for four full sized adults for the lunch run, or perhaps even for the odd weekend roadtrip with the family.  Interior tones are sober and dark and modern and not at all out of place in a luxury fleet. Wide window sills remind you of the amount of protection that it’s packing in the event of a hard side impact. It feels slightly more old-Volvo than new-Volvo, but it is by no means an unpleasant place to be.

How Efficient Is It?

The tested figure of 13.0 litres per 100 kilometres isn’t exactly the best representation of what the S60 T6 Drive-E is capable of, because most of those kilometres were hard driving. In more realistic cruising conditions, the figure drops to an acceptable 11 litres per 100 kilometres- which isn’t exactly fuel sipping by modern measure, but doesn’t break the bank in everyday commuting either. The fact that it was so difficult to keep fuel consumption down is only a testament to how entertaining this car is, which brings us to…

How Does It Drive?

It’s a muscle car. This is the simplest way to describe this S60, because it is embodies the concept of packing pure performance into a seemingly innocuous package - but the analogy also extends to its handling ability and dynamics. While the S60 is an excellent car, it doesn’t quite possess the dynamics of the V40 or the sure-footedness of the V60. Volvo gets around this with their 18-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sports, but it is ultimately a band aid for a problem that cannot really be dialled out of the chassis.

To compound things, the T6 motor is known for developing an enormous amount of torque steer, regardless of application. When driven near its limits, the XC60 T6 suffers from the same issue, and the only way the engineers have managed to circumvent this is to add a lot of torque steer compensation to the steering. Found in most high powered front wheel drive cars, the compensation effectively neuters any feedback from the wheels to prevent the steering from pirouetting violently whenever you squeeze the throttle. When applied to such a high level, it results in virtually zero steering feel when you are accelerating hard. Dive into a corner under brakes and you get great feedback, but the moment you start squeezing the throttle the steering goes completely dead (and leaves you hoping you haven’t reached terminal understeer).

But that’s not to say that you can’t enjoy it. Limit your bursts of speed to highways and the occasional pull at the traffic light and you’ll be more than satisfied. The twin-charged engine is fantastic in its operation, with near instantaneous throttle response reminiscent of high-capacity naturally aspirated motors. Perhaps the only caveat to this is that the gearbox is nowhere near as responsive as the ZF 8-speed that has become the industry standard. Ratios are plentiful but not as well spaced as to optimize performance- although it’s merely a matter of driving around these minor issues.

How Comfortable Is It?

Naturally ride comfort is compromised by its larger wheels, but the S60 manages to perform adequately even through undulations and potholes in the heart of the city. As Volvo presented it years ago, the S60 has remained somewhere in the middle between sporty and luxurious- neither responsive enough to be sporty, but not quite plush enough to be luxurious. The compromised rear legroom is also a check against the S60, but it is by no means horrible or harsh.

Conclusion

The Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E is a car that has one foot in the future, but the other rooted firmly in the past. It is an exciting product for the powertrain it comes with, but it still represents a lot of Volvo’s prior design and development processes. It was created in a time when Volvo was struggling to stay relevant, and if anything it is a farewell to an era past. The model that replaces it will be next-gen-tech and will likely allow Volvo to match their contemporary rivals, and the S60 T6 Drive-E offers you a taste of what that might be like.

It’s a brutal car, but it’s also the kind of car that makes you wonder what goes on in that frosty Scandinavian nation-state up north. Perhaps there is the face that Volvo presents on the surface - one of safety and security- but there may be something more exciting that isn’t overtly displayed, something hidden deep. It’s this that makes Volvo a very exciting company, and potentially far more successful if their latest models are anything to go by.


Hyundai Ioniq, Audi Q2, Ford Edge Lead The Way With 5 Stars From Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP has just published its latest round of safety ratings, its last for 2016, with five cars having undergone evaluation. Leading the way with maximum ratings of 5 stars are the Hyundai Ioniq, Audi Q2, and Ford Edge.
Two other cars, the Suzuki Ignis and Ssangyong Tivoli, were given dual ratings in line with new Euro NCAP policy effective April 2016 that allows cars to be given one safety rating based on its basic spec and a second rating when tested with the vehicle’s full complement of optional safety features.
Both the Ignis and Tivoli received base ratings of 3 stars, but Ignis managed a maximum score of 5 stars when tested with its full safety pack; the Tivoli could only manage 4 stars when tested with its optional safety pack.
At present, the Hyundai Ioniq is the only vehicle out of the five tested this round that is currently offered in Malaysia having just been
launched here only yesterday
. In its Euro NCAP test, the Ioniq secured top marks in the four aspects which it was tested in – Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian, and Safety Assist.
As tested in its European specification, the Ioniq carries a long list of safety features that includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning (LDWS), lane keeping assist (LKAS), and active cruise control (SCC).
In Malaysia, the Ioniq comes standard with seven airbags and electronic stability control, but the likes of AEB, LDWS, LKAS, and SCC only appear in the costlier HEV Plus variant. The HEV Plus variant also additionally gets blind spot warning, which is packaged to include rear cross traffic alert as well.
Most of the Ioniq’s advanced safety features were thoroughly evaluated by Euro NCAP. The AEB system was described as providing good overall performance, whilst the lane keeping assist and lane departure warning systems were said to ‘pass all tests successfully’.
Locally-assembled for the Malaysian market, the Hyundai Ioniq is priced from RM103,390 for the base HEV model and rises to RM114,165 for the HEV Plus variant. Prices indicated are on-the-road with insurance for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia.


Ford Sales Surpass Nissan In Thailand – Strong Ranger And Everest Sales

Ford Thailand has capped off a successful first half of 2018 with 32,677 vehicles sold – an improvement of 28 percent year-on-year, while further fortifying its overall market share to 6.7 percent, an uptick of 0.5 percent over the same period in 2017.
Bangkok Post reports
 that Ford’s 1H 2018 sales have shot Ford up to fifth-place in the Thai market, surpassing even Nissan.
The surge in sales is mostly due to strong demand for the Ford Ranger pick-up truck and Everest SUV.
Ford Thailand sold a total of 27,455 vehicles in the first half of 2018, a 36 percent jump over the same period in 2017. The Ford Ranger continues to outperform the market, adding another 1.5 percent market share year-on-year to 13.2 percent.
The
Everest SUV
 posted year-to-date sales of 4,455 units, an increment of 22 percent from last year, even boosting the pickup-based SUV segment by 2 percent in the second quarter, after selling 1,925 vehicles.
Bangkok Post quoted the President of Ford Asean, Yukontorn Wisadkosin who added, "We expect demand for these two nameplates will continue to rise throughout the second half of the year as we prepare to launch new models of both Ranger and Everest, and start customer deliveries of the Ranger Raptor”
Ford Thailand recently
revealed the retail price of the Ford Ranger Raptor
 in conjunction with Bangkok International Motor Show, which will be the range-topping Ranger variant, positioned above the Ranger Wildtrak.


Proton’s First 4S Centre in Klang Officially Opens

After opening a new 4S centre at the north of Shah Alam, Proton continues to reach out and provide better sales and service experience for customers in Klang through the opening of the new Vantage Speed 4S centre along the busy main road of Jalan Kebun.
Vantage Speed has been operating as a Proton dealer since 2009 with separate sales (Setia Alam) and service (Jalan Kebun) locations.
The business owners of Vantage Speed wanted to serve customers much better by having a full-fledged sales, after-sales, spare parts and body & paint centre, and thus renovated the old service outlet to a one-stop 4S centre. The existing Setia Alam sales outlet continues to operate to provide convenience to the customers there.
Dato’ Sri Tee Boon Kee, director of Vantage Speed said, “Ultimately, what matters is customers are happy going into the outlet to shop for a car. A 4S centre will allow for deeper customer engagement and thorough understanding of their needs.”
The heavily upgraded Vantage Speed 4S centre now has a display area that can accommodate up to 10 new vehicles, as well as an 80-seat customer lounge with food and beverage and internet facilities.
The workshop area meanwhile has been upgraded with 14 service bays, in addition to another 10 body and paint bays. The body and paint section also has three dry sanding booths and another two paint oven booths.
As of end July 2018, Proton has approved 93 outlets for the upgrade to 3S and 4S. This is an 85 per cent achievement against the target of 109 outlets by October this year.
Tony Thinagharan, Deputy Director of Proton’s Network Development shared that majority of the remainder of planned upgrade approvals are the outlets located in the greater Klang Valley.
Outlets in Sarawak and Sabah are already 100 per cent approved, while the northern region is only left with outlets in Perak.
Outlets in the east coast of the peninsula will be fully approved, pending two more outlets in Terengganu. As for the southern region, three outlets in Johor and one in Malacca are pending for approval.
“I must emphasize that, besides having a good location, we do indeed have a very capable team running the outlet, from sales to service. The dedicated staff ensure customers have a good and pleasant experience throughout their sales and service journey. We are confident that we are moving in the right direction under Proton roadmap towards excellence in service, sales, and business growth.” added Dato’ Sri Tee.
From now until the end of the month, as well as the final 25 days of the tax-free holiday period, Proton is treating customers with attractive savings on their key models- RM1,500 for the Saga, RM3,000 for the Persona, and RM4,000 for Iriz and Ertiga.
Those who are interested to experience Vantage Speed new-look 4S centre can visit their location at Lot 33004/5 Jalan Kebun, Kampung Jawa, 41000, Klang, Selangor. It is situated next to the main entrance of Delloyd Industries Sdn Bhd.


Gangguan LRT: Kerajaan Mohon Maaf, Bawa Masuk Pakar Dari Istanbul, Toronto

Kerajaan memohon maaf di atas kesulitan yang dihadapi oleh pengguna
Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) laluan Kelana Jaya
 kerana diumumkan tutup sehingga 15 November.

Sebanyak 16 stesen ditutup dari stesen Kelana Jaya sehingga Ampang Park disebabkan oleh kegagalan Sistem Kawalan Tren Automatik (ATC).

Kerajaan Mohon Maaf Atas Gangguan LRT

Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong berkata walaupun syarikat pengendali LRT iaitu Prasarana Malaysia Berhad merupakan sebuah syarikat di bawah Menteri Kewangan yang diperbadankan, tetapi kerajaan tetap terasa bertanggungjawab kerana ia sebahagian daripada kerajaan.

Tambahnya, selaku menteri, ini adalah isu berhubung pengoperasian yang memerlukannya mendengar pandangan dan dapatan daripada pihak prasarana.

Wee telah meminta Prasarana untuk memaklumkan kepada masyarakat sekurang-kurangnya tiga jam sekali berkenaan maklumat terkini gangguan LRT tersebu supaya pengguna sentiasa peka dengan keadaan semasa.

Bantuan Pakar Dari Luar Negara Ditagih Kerajaan

Selain bantuan daripada pihak pengilang peralatan asal (OEM) Thales Group dijangka tiba esok, pakar dari Istanbul, Turkiye dan Toronto serta Kanada juga akan diterbangkan bagi mencari punca utama kegagalan ATC

Menurut Wee, dalam masa beberapa hari ini, pakar tersebut perlu mencari punca kerana ia melibatkan masalah teknikal dan mungkin juga perlu melihat aspek yang lain.

Sementara itu, Wee telah mengarahkan Ketua Setiausaha kementeriannya, Datuk Isham Ishak, Agensi Perkhidmatan Awam Darat (APAD) dan Prasarana untuk mencari satu formula dann penyelesaian terbaik masalah ini.

“Dah sampai masanya untuk Prasaran melihat kepada penjadualan untuk kerja penyelenggeraan secara berkala dan mereka perlu mengubah kepada sistem yang lebih dinamik dan mengutamakan keselamatan,” kata beliau.

Punca Kerosakan LRT

Pada 8 November 2022, operator LRT, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd memaklumkan ATC yang tidak stabil dikenal pasti sebagai punca kepada gangguan LRT laluan Kelana Jaya pada Sabtu dan Isnin lepas.

Susulan itu, perkhidmatan LRT dari stesen Kelana Jaya hingga Ampang Park ditutup selama 7 hari bermula 6 pagi selepas mengambil kira faktor keselamatan penumpang serta memerlukan masa untuk mengenal pasti punca sebenar gangguan LRT.

Namun perkhidmatan LRT Laluan Kelana Jaya masih akan beroperasi dari Stesen Gombak ke Stesen Damai serta dari Stesen Lembah Subang ke Stesen Putra Heights.


First Wuling Air EV Rolls Out From Indonesia Plant

China's auto manufacturer,
Wuling
, celebrates an important milestone this week with the first Indonesian production rollout of its first global EV model, the
Wuling Air EV
 (or just Wuling EV in
Indonesia
).

The first Wuling Air EV also happens to be a right-hand drive version, which will greatly assist in penetrating several markets around the globe and hit their production target of one million units.

Indonesia first, then the rest of the world

Wuling has been quite successful in the past five years after having sold more than a million units in the Chinese local market. Its global expansion will start in Indonesia first before penetrating other markets such as India, Egypt, and many more.

It's a cute-looking thing, this Wuling Air EV, which means that it has the potential to do well if it enters the Malaysian market paired with an affordable pricing package.

40hp, 100km/h, 300km range

The four-seater EV is powered by a
40hp
 electric motor which can hit a top speed of
100km/h
. It is also said that it is able to cover up to
300km
 of range per full charge, which is more than enough to cover daily travels to and from the office.

Wuling will be demonstrating the Air EV's capacity as a suitable mode of transport in November 2022 when Indonesia hosts the G20 summit in Bali. The Air EV will be the official car partner for that very important event.

Eight years battery warranty

Pre-bookings are now open for the Wuling Air EV with expected prices from 250 million rupiah (around RM74,966). Downpayment starts from 37 million rupiah (around RM11,096). Very interesting pricing plan, if you ask us.


It’s All About The Drive And Great Deals

Year-end promotions are nothing new, almost all car manufacturers use it as a mechanism to boost sales before heading into the new year. However, few companies offer an entire ownership ecosystem for its customers like Toyota. And right now, those deals are better than ever.

Through its various comprehensive packages such as EZ Beli, Service Savers and Insurance Packages – there is NO better time to buy a Toyota and enjoy a fuss-free and enjoyable ownership experience for years to come! In addition to that, the government-mandated Sales and Service Tax (SST) exemptions till the end of 2020, gives customers a rare opportunity to save up to thousands of ringgit on their chosen Toyota model.

These are some of the highlights of the year-end promos on your favourite Toyota models:

Toyota Yaris: Free Accessories worth RM2,500, monthly instalments from RM498

Toyota Vios: Free Accessories worth RM2,500, monthly instalments from RM538

Toyota Hilux: Free Accessories worth RM3,585, monthly instalments from RM788

Toyota Innova: Year-end rebate worth RM5,000, monthly instalments from RM958

Other models, such as the Toyota Camry, Alphard and Vellfire can take advantage of discounts courtesy of the SST exemptions ranging from just over RM5k to a whopping RM17k.

Owning a brand new Toyota is made even easier with Toyota Capital’s EZ Beli financing packages, so let us dive in…

What is EZ Beli?

EZ Beli is a unique financing system unlike nowhere else, which allows customers to choose a multi-tiered financing plan which starts with extremely low monthly financing payments and gradually increases repayment over the loan tenure that coincide with the customer's career/salary growth with the additional option of trading in the car for a brand new Toyota model.

This is how it works:

EZ Beli is based on a 9-year auto financing plan which is divided into 3 Tiers. Purchase a new Toyota Vios today, and pay RM538 for the next three years (Year 1 – 3), Tier 2 increases the monthly instalments to RM868 for the following three years (Year 4-6). At the end of Tier 2 period, you can first choose to trade in your current car for a brand new Toyota model or continue to complete your payment in Tier 3 at RM1,188 (Year 7-9).

Toyota EZ Beli offers a monthly instalment in the first three years that is up to 35 percent lower than conventional auto financing rates, giving customers a much lower entry point to their first Toyota. Toyota EZ Beli is especially great for first-time car owners, and new customers looking to come into the Toyota family.

Toyota EZ Beli is also offered with a 2 Tier financing plan for customers who prefer a single repayment rate for the first six years. For those who would like this payment scheme with Shariah compliance, there is also the Toyota
EZ Beli AiTAB
.

What is Toyota Service Savers

Now that you have purchased your dream Toyota model, it is important that you care and maintain it properly to have peace of mind. Here is where the Toyota Service Savers (TSS) further manages and reduces the costs of maintenance for its customers. The TSS package factors in all the service costs for the first 3- or 5-years of the vehicle, and divides it into small payments that are lumped in with your loan repayments.

This way, customers are not burdened with maintenance bills and this also means customers just pay one sum every month both for the loan and maintenance of their Toyota.

Toyota Vios with EZ Beli and TSS: RM538 (Year 1-3/Tier 1) + RM59 (5-YR Package) = RM597

Therefore for just RM59 each month, customers can have total peace of mind for the first 5 years of ownership. The Toyota Service Savers packages are available for the Toyota Yaris, Vios, Corolla Camry and Hilux models.

What is the Toyota Insurance Package

The final aspect of total peace of mind vehicle ownership experience is a great vehicle insurance package that covers the vehicle in the unfortunate event of an accident or breakdown. Here the Toyota Insurance Package (TIS) offers complete peace of mind with additional benefits such as Total Sum Insured payout (for theft and total loss claims), No excess clause for vehicle repairs, No betterment costs for cars up to 10 years old. The TIS package also includes the Toyota 24SEVEN Road Assist which covers free breakdown and accident towing and on the spot approval for claims under RM20,000.

With limited time left before the end of the year, don’t miss this chance to own your favourite Toyota model. For more information, log on to the
Toyota Malaysia website
.


2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport Review: A Japanese Take On The Luxury Crossover

The compact crossover segment is shaping up to be a highly attractive one for carmakers and Lexus are no exception to this. In January,
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd launched the Lexus NX in Malaysia
,
 which adds a Japanese option to the luxury crossover segment that includes the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60.

Available in five variants, the Lexus NX is a new model addition to Lexus’ vehicle lineup, sitting below the larger RX, making it a more attractive proposition if a large SUV is a little too unwieldy for yourself.

When it was launched, the NX also debuted an all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which makes it way to four of the five variants in Malaysia, with the exception being the hybrid NX 300h. Here we have the NX 200t F Sport, representing the sportiest of all five variants. Can the newcomer have something to offer in this niche luxury segment? That’s what we’re here to find out, but first…

Buyer’s Guide:

The Lexus NX200t F Sport is priced at RM362,432.45 (OTR price without insurance with GST) which is quite a premium, but fret not as the entry-level model sans the ‘F Sport’ comes in at just RM287,198.66 which makes it even more affordable than the BMW X3 xDrive20i, which starts at RM325,800.

You also get quite a bit of kit for that money too, with a full suite of safety systems, infotainment, and powered seats at the front, along with a generous amount of interior space. Coupled with good build quality and a three-year warranty (or 100,000km, whichever first), the NX is good value if you’re looking to purchase a car in this segment.

As far as colour choices are concerned, six are made available with Exceed Blue ME reserved for NX 200t F Sport (seen here is Sonic Quartz).

KEY SPECS:

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-scroll turbo

Transmission: Six-speed torque converter automatic, Dynamic Torque Control AWD

Power: 235hp @ 4,500 to 5,600rpm

Torque: 350Nm @ 1,650 to 4,000rpm

0-100km/h: 7.1 seconds

Driving a 2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport:

Performance:

Powering the NX 200t F Sport is an all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-scroll turbo petrol engine paired to a six-speed torque converter automatic with Dynamic Torque Control AWD. With 235hp and 350Nm of torque on tap, the NX is a very quick car, at times leaving you unaware of your current velocity when the accelerator pedal is leaned in just that little bit more.

For a vehicle with a kerb weight of nearly 2 tonnes, the NX accomplishes the century sprint in just 7.1 seconds, and will hit a top speed of 200km/h. Power delivery is very progressive and immediate thanks to the twin-scroll turbos which makes it very easy to manage and call upon when you need that sudden burst of speed to overtake.

Handling

Touted as a raised sports car by Takeaki Kato, Chief Engineer for the Lexus NX, the 200t F Sport certainly has the going power, but it is still limited by its body shape and heft. The front suspension are MacPherson struts while the rear is a trailing arm type double wishbone, both of which are sports-tuned, and ensures the NX’s body roll is kept in check through the corners.

However, when tackling a corner at speed, there is a sense that the NX is just stepping out of its handling comfort zone. The Dynamic Torque Control AWD does attempt to keep things in check, varying the power sent to the rear wheels to switch between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive as and when needed, and you can feel it in action as it tries to pivot the rear of the car back in line by sending more drive to the back.

The NX tries to be a raised sports car but a higher centre of gravity is the reason most sports cars are kept low. The NX is certainly a lot of fun to drive, but only up to a limit.

Ride Comfort

The sports suspension is certainly appreciated for performance driving where firmness is required, but for day-to-day driving, especially when you consider the condition of our roads with its potholes and other random deformities, the NX does feel rather stiff, resulting a rough ride.

It isn’t back-breaking stiff, but it isn’t the most comfortable of experiences either. We do, however, understand that this is a performance-oriented variant with its sports suspension setup and thinner profile tyres. I do reckon that the other non-F Sport variants would provide a better ride with thicker tyres and the omission of the sports suspension.

Convenience

Driving the NX, you begin to appreciate the various systems that make looking out of the crossover an effortless affair. Starting with the 10-way powered driver seat (8-way for the front passenger) that is easily adjusted for height if you need a little boost to look out the large front window. The front seats, except the base grade, even have a cooling function, especially useful for our humid climate.

On the move, the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) is a treat to use, saving you form a strained neck by lighting up to indicate if another vehicle is in the car’s blind spot – and if you do use the indicators to switch into said lane, they begin to blink to remind you to be cautious. They aren’t obtrusive either, and are easily spotted.

Not once was there any anxiety when trying to park the NX, not even in tight spaces. It’s the minor things you may not notice about the car that makes it so easy to navigate in. Slip it in reverse and the side mirrors angle downwards to allow you to guide the vehicle more precisely. Need more help? Refer to the panoramic view monitor, which at a push of a button, gives a bird's eye view of the car.

Keep in mind that some of these features are only available on specific variants like the panoramic view monitor which is only found on the Luxury, F Sport, and Hybrid. One item exclusively available in the F Sport is the panoramic fixed glass roof.

The controls for the features are all easily reached by the driver as well, including the Drive Mode selector, climate control, and Remote Touch Controller. A particular feature I enjoyed was the brake auto hold that works even if you leave the car in ‘D’, negating the need to shift the car into ‘N’ and engage the handbrake. It’s all very easy and effortless when behind the wheel and certainly alleviates the fatigue related to driving.

Living with a 2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport:

Space

As far as space is concerned, the front driver and passenger have ample amounts of it with enough stowage spaces if required. The rear is capable of seating three comfortably with generous amounts of legroom. If needed, the seats can be folded in a 60:40 split, expanding upon the available 500 litre boot space.

Accessing the boot is done with an electric liftgate for added convenience and provides a nice flat and easy entry for your cargo loading needs. There are even latches to hook your payload into place and a removable tonneau cover.

Equipment

On the entertainment front, the NX 200t F Sports is fitted with Lexus’ proprietary 7-inch display infotainment unit with multiple media inputs, navigation, and doubles as a screen for the panoramic view cameras. The system is controlled via a remote touch controller located on the centre console which is neat but not very intuitive. Audio playback is done through a Mark Levinson 14-speaker system that sounds great to the ears – available on the F Sport and Hybrid only.

Drivers will benefit from a power adjustable steering column, high contrast analogue clock plus a coloured 4.2" Multi Information Display (MID). On the F Sport variant, the interior is exclusively available in black and dark rose two-tone combination (the demo unit here), Qi-standard wireless charger, and various F Sport badging and for those who want something sporty to look at, the MID will even display the turbos’ boost pressure and G-force readouts.

The entry-level 200t misses out on the above-mentioned items so you’ll have to look towards the Premium variant and upwards for a more substanstial equipment list.

Verdict:

With the new Lexus crossover, potential buyers have alternatives to vehicles such as the BMW X3, which does have a more subtle look inside and out when compared, but is priced higher than the most affordable NX which offers a similarly impressive package paired to good build quality.

The Lexus NX is therefore the perfect alternative in the luxury compact crossover segment and this 200t F Sport is suited for those who want that little bit more style to stand out from the regular model and who can blame them. The regular car is already quite a looker but it looks even better with the F Sport’s wire mesh spindle grille and dual five-spoke darken wheels.

Add to that a formidable powertrain, copious amounts of space, and effortless convenience while behind the wheel and you have a winning formula for Lexus.