Review: Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 (AT) – Brawn And Brains… Lots Of It

For some, the decision to buy a pickup truck is made easy if their work or leisure activities require the additional cargo carrying capacity, offroad traction, and the ability to carry five occupants in relative comfort. But for a growing population of owners, a truck is simply a lifestyle statement, with its commanding size, macho styling, and day-to-day usability. Dollar-for-dollar, not much comes close when one needs to assert dominance on the roads.
It's for this reason, pickup manufacturers make no bones about telling customers that a truck will literally change their lifestyle and the way they work, live, and play... as if to awaken an inner Indiana Jones in all of us. Notwithstanding the fact that many won't even see a splatter of mud on their wheel arches, trucks themselves have also assimilated to become very much like SUVs: the perennial lifestyle statement of the 21st century. Trucks are now safer, pack loads of equipment, are extremely fuel efficient, and most importantly more spacious and comfortable on the inside.
The Ford Ranger, in addition to its longstanding heritage of performance and durability, has always straddled a good balance between form and function very well. While Toyota and Isuzu primarily boast about their product's rock-solid engineering and fuel economy, Ford flaunts styling, unique colour options, bold bodykits, and stylish interiors – none more so than the Wildtrak variant.
Overview
But for the first time, the Wildtrak isn't the top of the range, that glory, along with most of the hype surrounding the
launch of new Ranger
, belongs to the full-blown, dune-bashing
Ranger Raptor
 model. But whilst almost everyone can't seem to get around its rather stratospheric RM200k price tag, it pays to know what the Raptor stands for: it is first and foremost, a halo-model. The Raptor is meant to widen the boundaries of what is possible within the segment, its a statement of the company's engineering capability, and is meant to stir the soul of any proper petrolhead worth his/her salt.
The Raptor is meant to amaze just based on its breadth of capability and sheer presence. So, saying that it costs RM200k but isn't fitted with all the equipment the cheaper variants offer is like asking why a
Honda Civic Type R
 doesn't come with nine cupholders (like the Jazz), or why a
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
 is not equipped with surround view cameras. The Raptor is the perfect synthesis of a leather interior and the capability of withstanding Operation Desert Storm, so above all, it's an emotive purchase.
But, by throwing in everything-but-the-kitchen-sink worth of options and equipment, Ford may have just created the best Wildtrak there has ever been. It offers distinct styling, the full suite of safety technologies (that no other variant offers) and for nearly RM50k less, it’s the only other variant that offers the same 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine and 10-speed automatic powertrain found on the Raptor model. So by all accounts, it remains the most sensible and calculated option for the average
“gaya hidup”
 type of buyer.
Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: 10-speed automatic, 4WD
Power: 213 PS at 3,750 rpm
Torque: 500 Nm at 1,750 to 2,000 rpm
Safety: Six-airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, ESC, Traction Control, Hill Descent Control, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Pedestrian Detection.
Price: RM144,888 OTR without insurance
Origin: Assembled in Thailand
Exterior
Ask any girl, of any age, and I can almost assure you that there are three cars that they love, or at the very least, think are extremely cool – the
MINI Cooper
, the Range Rover Evoque, and finally the Ford Ranger. The first two, given their high-street presence and iconic style, and the Ranger for its macho looks and commanding stance. If, you don’t believe me, ask around.
The Wildtrak, like its forebears, is spiffed up with a suite of cosmetic add-ons such as the Wildtrak radiator grille at the front, shiny sidesteps, and roof rails around the flanks, and the sport bar atop the truck bed at the rear.
A Cargo LED light integrated on the sport bar offers decent illumination of the truck bed at night, which is more helpful than you might think. Also, note that the Wildtrak adds auto wipers and wing mirrors with integrated puddle lamps and turn signals.
Finished in its Magnetic Grey paintwork and shiny 18-inch wheels, the Wildtrak has not lost any of its brute appeal, whilst still managing to look slightly more premium than most of its competitors.
Interior
Perhaps it’s a case of familiarity but for some reason, I prefer the dashboard layout of the
Toyota Hilux
 – much of it has to do with curvaceous contours and curves, which is much more modern SUV than pickup truck.
However, I can still appreciate the Ranger's interior finish and spot-on ergonomics – buttons and dials are right where you need them to be, and the 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system, in terms of functionality, ease of use, and screen resolution, is miles ahead of what other competitors are offering.
The sequential gear selector, positioned on the gearknob has always been a bit of an enigma for me – now I suppose made even more futile when you take into account there are ten gear ratios to cycle through, so for the most part, it’ll probably never be used.
Touchpoints such as the steering wheel, armrest, gearknob, door panel, and the soft-touch trim atop the dashboard make the interior a really nice place to be in. At the front, while the front seats are well padded and supportive, the rear seatbacks could be a tad softer in my opinion, which would make long distance drives far more enjoyable for all passengers. Entry and egress at both the front and back, given the large door apertures are very good, and also make the Ranger very practical on a daily basis.
Another notable mention is the twin 4-inch TFT colour displays on the instrument cluster, which are easily configurable to feature a variety of data sets just using the controls on the steering wheel.
Driving Experience
The most instantly appreciable aspect of driving the Ford Ranger is its driving position. Despite it being a high-riding pickup, there’s ample adjustability granted by the 8-way powered driver’s seat; so one can seat low enough to feel integrated with the car.
And I have no shortage of praise for the new electric power steering (EPS) system: the linear steering effort is as light as a Perodua Myvi, for lack of a better comparison. It makes U-turns in this two-tonne colossus astoundingly easy; even after driving the car in the city for nearly three hours straight, my arms never felt tired.
No doubt, the EPS system has foregone some steering feedback and clarity the older system had, which came in handy when going off-road because one needs to know what the front tyres are doing, but for the most part, on normal roads, it’s simply superb.
The powertrain is no less cutting-edge, with a first-in-class 10-speed automatic transmission and a 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine that punches out 213 PS and 500 Nm. Between the quick spooling turbos and a gearbox that can drop up to three gears the moment you put your foot down, there’s no shortage of performance when you need it.
At right about 1,500 rpm the torque is delivered swiftly and strongly. There onwards it revs freely up to around 3,500 rpm. The torque delivery, for the most part, is linear and very predictable, so you always know the amount of go you’re going to get, proportional to the throttle application. The usable and accessible powerband pays even greater dividends when going off-road.
But for the most part, despite the eager revving nature of the bi-turbo four-pot, revs rarely rise above the 2,000 rpm mark. Given the ten closely stacked ratios, the Ranger Wildtrak almost always remains in the engine’s natural powerband. For instance, even at 60 km/h, the gearbox is already in 7th gear, maintaining revs at roughly a tick over 1,300 rpm.
This makes even more sense when cruising on the highway: the gearbox slots into its 10th gear as you approach 95 km/h, which in turn delivers superb highway cruising ability and impressive economy figures – as low as 6.4 litres/ 100 km on the highway, climbing up to 10.2 litres/100 km whilst crawling about in city traffic.
The numbers make up a substantial improvement over its predecessor, and if memory serves me right, are almost as frugal as Isuzu’s D-Max, which has for years been lauded as the most fuel-efficient pick-up truck in the market (albeit with less power than the Ranger).
The handling, a hallmark of any Ford, be it car or truck, is firmly in place. The Ranger Wildtrak’s stiff ladder-frame underpinnings and bodyshell operate very cohesively, which in turn endows the Ranger with superb on-road dynamics and cruising ability. I wouldn’t recommend blasting down the highway at 180km/h, but it does manage speeds of 140 km/h with sure-footed ease. Another feature that comes in handy while on the highway is the Wildtrak's first-in-segment Adaptive Cruise Control; which works very smoothly, in terms of maintaining the desired speed, but also slows down rather instinctively when the car ahead slows down.
It’s not too bad in the corners too: mechanical grip is impressive, to say the least, and there’s a real sense that Ford has nicely applied their learnings from the Everest SUV onto the Ranger. Yes, there’s still a bit of scuttle shake at the rear when unladen and going over bumpy roads, but for the most part, you wouldn't call the ride quality uncomfortable. Add to that NVH levels that are impressive even for a car, let alone a pickup truck.
If anything, a slight downside of the driving experience is that the brakes tend to feel a bit spongy compared to what I’ve experienced in the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton. It takes a while to compensate for the lack of brake response; this will be a point of learning for most owners I suspect.
Conclusion
All-in-all, you’d be pretty hard-pressed to find a pick-up truck that offers as much day-to-day usability and practicality. It looks good, drives and steers even better, and its safety features are unmatched within the segment.
It’s doesn’t come cheap though – pushing RM145k, some RM13k more than its predecessor – the Ranger Wildtrak is as expensive as SUVs such as the Mazda CX-5. If you don’t need the cargo capacity (and let’s face it, if you simply needed to carry stuff, there are cheaper variants), the Wildtrak becomes a slightly more challenging point to justify, even when taking into account its lifestyle orientated overtones.
But it must be said that not many vehicles offer a full suite of active safety systems at the Ranger's price, and with a growing number of buyers who are willing to pay a premium for added safety systems, I'd wager it's a bit of a bargain.
Also note the Ford Ranger XLT+, which is priced at RM124,888 is more competitively priced and specified to go up against the likes of the top spec Hilux 2.8 (AT) L-Edition (at RM 138,000) and matches it closely in terms of performance and equipment. Not forgetting, the upcoming
Mitsubishi Triton
 (prices have yet to be announced), which also boasts bold new styling and advanced driver assistance features.
However, if I were to encapsulate the best aspect of the new Ranger Wildtrak, it is that it’s no longer a spiffed-up version of another Ranger model, now standing as a unique offering within the larger lineup. While the Raptor might have stolen the initial hype, the Wildtrak remains the sweet spot between having all the form and functionality of a modern pickup truck.


Volkswagen To Launch Arteon In Korea, Malaysia To Follow Soon

Volkswagen Korea has confirmed that it will be introducing the Arteon in Korea later this year. Four-door coupe successor to the CC is the final part of Volkswagen Korea’s product renewal exercise to regain the third spot among Korea’s best-selling imported cars, which is currently lead by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Toyota.
Prior to its troubles with dieselgate, which hit Volkswagen Korea pretty hard as it was banking on powerful yet efficient clean diesel engines to sway buyers away from Korean models, Volkswagen was the third best-selling import brand in Korea.
Post-dieselgate, the Tiguan is the cornerstone of Volkswagen’s recovery in Korea and it is now among the best-selling SUVs in there. Volkswagen Korea is confident that the Tiguan will surpass the nameplate’s pre-dieselgate numbers set in 2015.
The company have also engaged Korean R&B artist Zion.T to be part of its “New Beginnings Campaign,” which music video titled Nu Day, featured Zion.T in an Arteon.
Details and pricing have yet to be announced but the company did say that the Korean market Arteon will be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine and will be equipped with Volkswagen’s latest advanced driving aids including adaptive cruise control and Traffic Jam Assist, while the interior will feature the fully digital Active Info Display.
At the same time, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) have also announced that the Arteon will be making its local debut at this weekend’s (3-Nov to 4-Nov) Premium Auto Car Expo (PACE), happening at the Setia City Convention Centre in Setia Alam, Shah Alam.
The debut will serve only as a preview and VPCM have yet to reveal any timeline for the sexy four-door coupe’s market launch but you can be certain that it will be happening next year.
As a four-door coupe that’s typically priced like an entry Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series, the Arteon has no direct rival but it’s marketed as a more spacious, sexier but equally German alternative to a traditional Mercedes-Benz C-Class or BMW 3 Series options.


2015 Kia Sportage 2WD Launched In Malaysia From RM119k

Naza Kia Malaysia, official distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia has announced that it will be making a new 2WD (two-wheel drive) variant of its Sportage SUV available. Previously, the Sportage was only available in as a single-variant 4WD model.
This marks the first time in two years that there has been a more affordable variant available for a Kia vehicle in Malaysia.
Buyers Guide
At
RM118,888
, the Sportage 2WD is
RM18,912 cheaper
 than the 4WD variant which costs
RM137,800
. There seems to be no other major changes to the Sportage formula itself apart from the omission of halving the driven wheel count. Let’s go over what this new variant offers for your money.
Key Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre Nu MPI DCVVT inline 4-cylinder petrol
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 154PS @ 6,200rpm
Torque: 191Nm @ 4,70 rpm
What's New?
EXTERIOR:
The Kia Sportage retains its look in almost every department. The front fascia remains, as does the trim along sides and rear. What does visually differentiate the two variants would be the smaller wheels on the 2WD (17-inch) versus the 18-inchers on the more expensive 4WD variant.
Projector-type headlamps with LED Position Lamps
Front fog lamps and auto light control
Bulb-type rear combination lamp (4WD variant gets LEDs)
Roof rack without crossbar
Electrically adjustable folding mirrors with LED side repeater
17-inch alloy wheels
INTERIOR:
The 2WD variant of the Sportage retains many of the frills that were furnished on its more expensive brethren, including the premium Infinity sound system, rear view camera, keyless entry, auto cruise control, leather trimmed steering wheel, and a rear parking assist system. What remains ambiguous right now is whether the leather seats are retained.
The 2WD variant gets manual air conditioning controls over the automatic climate control and the driver’s seat is no longer 6-way power adjustable but instead is manually so. The futher list of interior features are:
Meter cluster with trip computer
Infinity audio system with radio/CD/MP3/AUX/USB with 7 speakers including subwoofer
Rear view camera
Electronic chromic mirror (ECM)
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel with motor driven power steering (MDPS)
Steering audio remote control with auto cruise control
Keyless entry with remote folding key
Front & rear powered windows with driver’s auto up/down and safety windows

SAFETY
: So far as we can tell, the 2WD variant of the Sportage gains all the safety features that came with the 4WD variant. Headliners include twin front, side, and curtain airbags, electronic stability control (ESP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Hill-start Assist Control, and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM).
Of course, as we've reported on recently, Kia is lining up their
all-new Sportage for 2016
 which they plan to officially debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in the middle of September. They have revealed the new generation to the internet, which among other things, wears a reworked exterior:


Kerjasama Speedline Industries, Mitsubishi Hasilkan Xpander Motorsport

Syarikat tempatan, Speedline Industries telah membangunkan satu-satunya
Mitsubishi Xpander
 bertemakan motorsport di negara ini bagi menggamit kenangan zaman kegemilangan era Mitsubishi Motorsport di Malaysia suatu ketika dahulu.

Siapa sangka,
MPV 7-tempat duduk
 yang sesuai untuk digunakan seisi keluarga, Mitsubishi Xpander juga boleh diubah menjadi kereta yang lebih agresif seakan kereta rali tanpa kelihatan pelik?

Bagaimana Ia Terhasil

Idea membangunkan Xpander Motorsport ini tercetus susulan hubungan baik antara Kenneth Koh, pengasas Speedline Industries bersama pemandu kereta rali Xpander AP4, Rifat Sungkar.

Kenneth telah berkongsi idea untuk menubuhkan pasukan dalam sukan permotoran menggunakan Xpander dan menghubungi
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM)
 untuk mendapatkan sokongan terhadap projek terbabit.

MMM telah bersetuju untuk menyediakan sebuah Xpander bagi tujuan itu kerana langkah ini dilihat sejajar dengan rancangan syarikat itu yang mahu mempamerkan kelebihan Xpander yang mempunyai pilihan pengubahsuaian yang luas.

Mitsubishi Xpander Motorsport

Xpander ini menggunakan corak bertemakan warna sukan permotoran Mitsubishi iaitu gabungan antara warna merah, putih dan hitam. Meskipun masih mengekalkan penggunaan gril
Dynamic Shield
 pada rupa hadapannya, Xpander ini lebih agresif dengan dua lubang udara pada bonet hadapan,
air scoop
 di atas bumbung hadapan, serta rekaan di bamparnya yang sedikit berbeza.

Di bahagian sisi, Xpander ini menerima rim aloi 18 inci yang dibalut dengan tayar berprestasi tinggi, iaitu Powertrac Racing Pro bersaiz 225/45ZR18. Terdapat juga penambahan
cladding
 di bahagian wheel arch tayar serta skirt sisi bagi memberikan gambaran
wide body
 yang popular.

Bahagian belakangnya dilengkapi dengan
spoiler
 yang lebih besar dan sepadan dengan rekaan
diffuser
 yang kini lebih agresif dan lebih besar.

Gaya yang ditampilkan oleh Xpander ini tidaklah terlalu keterlaluan. Sekali pandang, ia kelihatan saling tak tumpah seperti Xpander versi rali, AP4 yang dibangunkan oleh Ralliart New Zealand untuk Mitsubishi Motors Indonesia.

Difahamkan, jentera rali AP4 itu telah dijadikan inspirasi oleh Speedline Industries untuk membangunkan satu-satunya Xpander yang lebih agresif dan berbeza dengan Xpander biasa yang ada di Malaysia.

Kerjasama antara Speedline Industries bersama MMM ini menjadi bukti bahawa pemilik boleh mengubah suai rupa Xpander menggunakan kit badan yang agresif dan ia masih akan kelihatan segak.

Cuba anda bayangkan jika MPV seperti
Veloz atau Alza
 diperlakukan seperti ini. Reka bentuk kedua-dua MPV ini mungkin kurang sesuai jika nak dibandingkan dengan Xpander yang lebih berjiwakan
crossover
.

Bagi mereka yang ada perancangan untuk mengubah suai Xpander milik mereka, ini adalah bukti bahawa MPV keluarga ini juga mempunyai darah motorsport yang kuat!

*Kredit video: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia


Kembali Dengan 2 Tahun Tempoh Jaminan, MINI Malaysia Umum Harga Lebih Murah Untuk 2021

Model keluaran
MINI Malaysia
 turut tidak terlepas daripada keputusan
BMW Group Malaysia
 untuk memperbaharui polisi jaminan mereka dengan menawarkan kenderaan keluaran mereka dengan harga lebih murah dengan pengurangan tempoh jaminan yang lebih singkat.

Sebelum ini, MINI mengumumkan tempoh 4 tahun jaminan perjalanan tanpa had kepada semua model MINI yang dijual di negara ini pada Januari 2016 yang lepas. Polisi ini telah menggantikan tempoh 2 tahun jaminan perjalanan tanpa had yang digunakan oleh mereka sebelum ini.

Namun berdasarkan senarai harga model mereka yang dikeluarkan untuk pasaran negara tahun 2021, syarikat tersebut kini kembali menawarkan 2 tahun jaminan perjalanan tanpa had untuk kesemua model mereka tanpa pakej servis percuma ditawarkan. Adakah ianya pilihan yang berbaloi?

Untuk pengetahuan anda, tempoh 4 tahun jaminan/perjalanan tanpa had serta pakej servis percuma ini masih boleh didapati, tetapi sebagai pilihan. Pilihan ini boleh dibuat secara berasingan ataupun sebagai ‘bundle’ selepas anda membeli kereta tersebut (dalam tempoh dua tahun jaminan).

Jadi apa yang terjadi setelah mereka memutuskan untuk menawarkan 2 tahun jaminan pada kenderaan baru mereka sebagai standard piawai mereka? Mestilah harga kenderaan mereka makin murah! Sebagai contoh berdasarkan harga yang dikeluarkan mereka bagi pasaran Malaysia 2021,
MINI Countryman Pure
 kini boleh didapati dengan harga RM213,541 (setelah pengecualian SST), berbanding RM220,741 sebelum ini dengan pengurangan sebanyak RM7,200.

Namun sekiranya anda ingin mendapatkan tempoh jaminan yang lebih lama, anda perlu membayar tambahan RM7,200 untuk model MINI Countryman Pure. Ini menyaksikan tiada perubahan harga sekiranya anda memilih tempoh jaminan yang lebih lama. Dengan cara ini, anda diberi pilihan untuk memilih sama ada untuk memiliki kereta MINI dengan harga murah ataupun harga asal. Tetapi, kalau harga murah, kelebihan dan faedah yang bakal anda peroleh pun kurang la!

Sebagai contoh lain, harga yang ditawarkan untuk model
Clubman John Cooper Works
 kini bernilai RM337,527 berbanding RM345,497 sebelum ini. Pengurangan sebanyak RM7,970 ini kelihatan seperti tawaran yang menarik. Tetapi, sekiranya anda ingin mendapatkan tempoh jaminan yang lebih lama, tambahan sebanyak RM7,970 diperlukan, menyaksikan ia kembali ke harga asal model terbabit sebelum pengurangan harga. Jadi pengurangan dan penambahan harga ini bukan lah sesuatu yang tak masuk akal!

Dalam erti kata lain, bayar lebih dapat faedah lebih, bayar murah dapat jaminan singkat. Jadi mana satu pilihan anda?


Review: Mercedes-Benz (W205) C300 – Can You Really Facelift Character?

The word “character” gets thrown around a lot in the car world.

As if to say, the way a car feels, sounds, and drives somehow compiles itself into the personality profile of the car, which in turn gives rise to acclaim and desirability in certain circles. Character, I best define, as a tangible element that goes beyond the cumulative sum of parts, and resonates with both the logical thinking and the emotions of the driver.

When I first drove the
pre-facelift (W205) C300 AMG Line
 more than three years ago – I was blown away by its looks, power, and all round pizazz – yet came away feeling a bit wanting, because as good as it was, it handled very nervously on bumpy roads and the engine’s powerband wasn’t as linear as it should have been.

Hence, that intuitive feeling of being one with the car was never quite there. Not in the same way, I felt with the less powerful and less expensive C250 AMG Line, which was my absolute sweet spot in the C-Class range.

Following the introduction of the facelift, which brought with it more power and tech, has the C300 regained that invaluable allure of proper driver engagement and hence, character?

Overview

Introduced at the tail end of 2018, the updated C-Class range introduction was highlighted by the inclusion of the C200 with EQ Boost technology, which employs a 48V electrical architecture and belt-driven starter/alternator. A new 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine produces 184 hp and 280 Nm, EQ Boost power supplements another 13 hp when accelerating.

The C300 AMG Line we see here was more familiar, the moniker having been carried over from before, albeit with the new (M264 – same family as the C200 but with one more cylinder) engine now made to produce 14 hp more than the previous unit. Torque remains the same at 370 Nm.

Both the C200 and C300 are mated to a new 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission that offers smoother shifts and better response.

The range is topped off with two Mercedes-AMG models: the C43 and C63S, which feature a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo engine (390 hp/520 Nm) and 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo (503 hp/700 Nm) respectively.

Both the C250 and C350e models have been dropped from the local lineup.

Specifications:

Price: RM304,888

Engine: 2.0-litre, Inline-4 Longitudinal, Turbocharged Petrol, Direct Injection

Power: 258 hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: 7-speed torque converter automatic with paddle shifters, RWD

Safety: 7-airbags, ABS, ESC,  Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Steering Correction, Brake Assist, Forward Collision Warning

Origin: Locally-assembled at Pekan, Pahang

Exterior

Exterior updates on the C300 include a redesigned front bumper and the trademark AMG Diamond Pin grille. Additionally the headlamps have been updated with Multibeam LED units at the front while the rear LED tail lamps get new C-shaped light guides. The rear bumper gets a new lower section redesign.

Along the flanks, the C300 gets the same 19-inch 5-twin spoke wheels previously offered only on the C43 model.

All in all, the C300, especially in its AMG Line guise delivers a graceful yet sporty design which still looks as good rolling down the road as its German counterparts, namely the BMW (G20) 330i and Audi A4 2.0L TFSI.

Interior

On the inside, the C300 also receives the AMG Line treatment with beautiful and tactile open pore ash wood trim on the centre console, contrasting the technical looking steering wheel controls of the AMG three-spoke steering wheel.

The interior is offered in either black, red, or brown (as seen here), which helps create a very stylish cabin space. The seats themselves are supportive (front and rear). Ample front seat adjustment also help you find a comfortable driving position quickly. A Burmester sound system completes the experience with crisp and powerful sounds.

The W205 C-Class is still the high-watermark in terms of interior design and quality in my opinion; yes, the G20 3 Series interior is newer (and much better than its predecessor is) but it just falls short of Mercedes in terms of overall design, quality perception, and execution.

Driving Experience

This is where the pre-facelift C300 fell short of expectations previously; arguably, its job was made even tougher because the C250 already offered such a beautiful balance of comfort and dynamism, that it was easy to look past the C300’s oodles of additional power and focus solely on how nervously it handled on a bumpy roads.

That had a lot to do with the 19-inch wheels and low profile tyres which would hop all over the road at the slightest provocation, essentially pitching the entire car out of line making it a handful even at city speeds. The problem is only compounded when one starts to pile on more speed. The engine too, as powerful as it was, offered a rather narrow effective powerband which meant, you could get caught out sometimes with either having too little or too much power depending where you are in the engine’s rev range.

The former has been greatly ameliorated in the new C300. Despite the wheel and tyre sizes being the same – the new car rides with substantially more composure and less stiffness when not under heavy suspension loads. It wouldn’t surprise me if Mercedes has performed some subtle suspension tweakery, because after ten minutes of driving the C300, I instantly felt so in tune with the car and its steering responses.

I started to trust it, finally!

The steering is quick and makes easy work of pointing the car down a chosen line, while good body rigidity means the C300 remains planted mid-corner and true at corner exits. And when you need to calm proceedings down the brakes offer up massive stopping power and ample pedal modulation.

This as you might surmise, gave rise to pushing further into the car’s performance envelope – at times unleashing all 370 Nm of torque, which comes online just after 2,100 rpm and keeps pulling with authority up until 6,000 rpm. With 258 bhp at your disposal, the C300 makes light work of covering great distances in a single seating and gets even better when you start to hammer it down winding B-roads.

For comparison, its closest competitor the
(G20) BMW 330i
 remains the benchmark in terms of steering clarity, and a lithe and dynamic package in the corners. However, truth be told, it too can be caught out sometimes being a bit too intense on certain roads, in which case, the C300’s slightly more gentlemanly nature would be a better compromise – depending on the type of driver.

Conclusion

I started out this conversation with how an amalgamation of features and functions in a car can somehow produce a tangible element I call the character.

In much the same way character refers to the mental and moral compass of a person, the character of a car would refer to the intuitiveness and clarity when you drive the car and the resulting physical responses that translate themselves into a personality of sorts.

The C300 was previously never short of talent in various aspects, but somehow, when that array of talents came together during the process of driving the car, it never felt truly in union such that you could never jive with it naturally.

Therefore, the new C300 is even more impressive that a few updates during the facelift have greatly given the car in its entirety a lot more fluency (when driving) and dynamism when you need it, and when you trust it to be at your disposal. Finally, becoming the car it always should have been.


Petronas Customers Can Now Redeem Mesra Points Using Setel App

Setel – Malaysia’s first e-payment solution for fuel payment directly from mobile devices, now allows Petronas customers to redeem Mesra points using the app itself.
The increased functionality on Setel is the next step in integrating aspects of the refuelling process onto a single platform to provide a new and convenient experience at Petronas stations.
To start redeeming Mesra points, customers must first link their Mesra card and activate it on Setel. And then, they can redeem RM1 for every 100 points, which will be credited directly to their Setel wallet balance and can be used to purchase fuel immediately.
In addition, customers also have the flexibility to choose the number of Mesra points they want to convert into credits for fuel redemption, anytime, anywhere.
Petronas customers, who are Mesra members, receive three points for every litre of fuel purchased, which is the highest conversion rates for fuel loyalty programmes in Malaysia. For example, a fuel purchase of 50 litres (RM2.08/litre) will give the user 150 Mesra points, which can be converted into RM1.50 worth of fuel.
Setel is available for free on iOS and Android via the Apple Store and Google Play Store. Currently, Setel can be used at 277 PETRONAS stations within the Klang Valley.


FIRST DRIVE: 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8G - Is Pretty Good Really Good Enough?

It’s always a big deal when a new Toyota model arrives in Malaysia, and when it was confirmed that the Corolla Cross was (
finally
)
making its local debut
, we instantly wondered if this would finally be the contender they needed to capture a fat slice of that growing SUV market share.

Interestingly, we’re one of the later markets to receive it in the line-up.
First launched in Thailand
 back in July 2020, it quickly made the rounds to occupy spots in showrooms across Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, even Brunei!

Nevertheless, the Corolla Cross has some lofty promises, wanting to
“Reinvest The Rules”
 as its marketing tagline goes.

As it was a more condensed preview drive than what we’re used to, our morning started with a flag-off from the UMW Toyota HQ in Shah Alam and took us on a winding route that bisected the Klang Valley area to end up in Cyberjaya.

Even upon first impressions, the Corolla Cross comes ‘across’ as the kind of car built to fill a gap in the market. Or, in the case of UMW Toyota, do a better job at capitalising on the midsize SUV/crossover craze
than the C-HR managed
.

While it certainly knows what it wants, that targeted approach to being the most car to most people does alienate itself on a personal level, then again that’s a trait of most of its rivals as well - the more it tries to tick all the boxes, the more it seems like just another object.

Far from endowing any sense of fashionability, in the automotive market, arriving late to the party just means all the good food is gone and all the action has fizzled out. Despite this, that SUV craze
continues to rage onward
, especially in Malaysia, with the last 12 months witness to both national automakers bringing to market two highly competent and competitive entrants.

Over to one side, this does leave Toyota free to survey the field and formulate a smarter game plan, ideally. But have they? Does this bring something fresh to the table? Or is the Corolla Cross a good answer to a question that should have been answered years ago?

Outside And Inside

If you’re a big fan of how
the Corolla
 looks and perhaps expecting a high-riding version of the Corolla Tourer (wagon) or ruggedised Corolla Trek, this ain’t it, chief.

The Corolla reference here seems to be an exercise in nameplate recognition more than anything else. At least stylistically, this exterior is unique enough to justify it being a totally different model and there’s very little here (besides the badges) to indicate a strong tie-in with the Corolla sedan or its other body styles.

Instead of that sleek front end, the Corolla Cross greets you nose first with that rather large grille, flanked by squinty headlamps - halogen’s on the lower-end 1.8G, including daytime running lights, full LEDs on the 1.8V. Coupled with the pronounced bumper cladding, it gives off a certain scowl that resembles a Japanese Oni mask.

That aggressive tone is helped along by fenders that are flared out to meet the squared-out wheel arches on both the front and rear, housing 17-inch wheels wrapped around a set of Bridgestone Alenza tyres.

The rear is a little more nondescript with the headlight cluster and other elements placed exactly where you’d expect them to, but then again it’s not like the Corolla Cross absolutely needed to make itself distinctive from all angles.

That is, except for that nameplate badge just above the boot release where the word ‘Cross’ is nicely centred but ‘Corolla’ is awkwardly hooked on its left side, and in smaller lettering. After taking delivery, I’d immediately find someone with a heat gun to pry that off if it were my own.

That aside, visually, this Toyota does deliver a nice blend of stylish SUV appeal with a certain Japanese flair. Its lines aren’t as gracefully pretty as a Mazda, but it is bolder. In fact, visually, it has much more in common with the RAV4, which isn’t a bad thing at all, yet that’s not called the Camry Cross.

Stepping into the Corolla Cross and there’s a much clearer bridge between the Corolla sedan. The materials, ergonomics, button placement, and even seating position feels familiar, if not nearly identical - as it probably should. It feels modern, well thought out, and decently spacious.

Speaking of which, that 440-litre boot looks even bigger than that measurement suggests given how deep and square the load floor is.

Toyota should also be praised for offering comforts such as leather seats and a 9-inch fully featured  infotainment screen (with Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto support
) even at the entry-level, though I wish there was more contrasting lighter shades against black seats and trim to make the cabin feel a little airier.

Behind The Wheel

Keep your expectations in check and you’ll find the Corolla Cross is a pretty fun little thing to chuck around. Even at slower speeds, the pliancy of the springs and dampers coupled with the inherent rigidity of the
TNGA platform
delivers a drive that’s hard to get too upset with.

Though steering is predictably vague, the front end is sharp and responsive enough and does manage to find grip even if you overcook the turn-in a little. Its rear is much more vague, perhaps owing to that torsion beam over an independent setup.

Still, it will take a lot of agitation to overstep its bounds, and on these thicker tyres on 17-inch wheels, there’s also plenty of sidewall to help absorb the Klang Valley’s
most rutted roads
 with above average poise.

Rather than feeling like a high-riding SUV outright, you can almost imagine yourself in a lower-to-the-ground Corolla hatch that just happens to have a few notches more body roll than normal. But for the huge majority of buyers, the Cross should excel as the all-rounder they expect it to be, though with just a tinge of sportiness.

Safety And Conveniences

As unthinkable as it may be today, wind the clock back just a decade or two, many cars sold in Malaysia did not have airbags as standard. Unfortunately, active safety is much in the same boat as being exclusively based on price or a manufacturer’s upselling tactic.

Here, again, Toyota deserves praise for including some measure of active safety features as standard. Typically, at least in our market for mass-market brands, the full driver aid suite is only made available to the highest spec variant while the rest of the range gets the basic b***h treatment.

Not here. In addition to the 7-airbags, anti-lock brakes, vehicle stability control, and hill-start assist, even the 1.8G comes fitted with Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear-Cross Traffic Alert that will quite potentially save some lives.

Also standard is cruise control and the very useful Panoramic View Monitor for 360-degree assistance while parking, but only the 1.8V gets the more complete
Toyota Safety Sense
 package.

A Bright Future, If Played Right

The Corolla Cross is sort of the perfect example of why vehicle ‘segments’ no longer matter, and are a pretty loose (bordering on useless) guideline to car classification, especially if you refer to a vehicle’s size as a secondary determining factor. Automakers seem compelled to increase the dimensions of a new model over its predecessor, so it’s inevitable that the lines between segments will get even blurrier.

For this newest Toyota introduced here, its basis is shared with the Corolla, a C-segment sedan and one of the most prolific nameplates in the world, but it doesn’t compete with Honda’s C-segment SUV, the CR-V. The same applies to the Mazda CX-30, which is based on the C-segment Mazda 3 hatch.

Rather than pitting blame on the Toyota or Mazda, this issue mostly stems from the Honda HR-V being a freakishly overgrown B-segment contender. Clearly, in terms of the space it occupies, the Corolla Cross is its clear rival, though from a technical and equipment perspective, perhaps
the CR-V is a better match
.

Being almost 8 years old at this point, the current-generation HR-V has aged well but can be perceived as a little beyond its years.
While its replacement
 breaches the C-segment barrier alongside an upmarket push, it will take some time before we can expect a launch in our part of the world. In that stagnant period, Toyota could/should go hard to capitalise on their newer, more modern entrant to make up lost ground and lost sales.

So far, we’re among the only markets to not be offered the hybrid version of the Corolla Cross, so there definitely is room to grow. Beyond that, as a platform/stepping-stone, it affords Toyota the opportunity to really flex their prowess as a dominant player in the highly competitive (but lucrative) compact SUV space.
Finally!

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RM402,354 for the BMW M340i CKD and RM264,613 for the 330e M Sport

And so the cat is out of the bag, BMW Malaysia today announced the confirmed pricing for
the M340i xDrive
 and G20 330e M Sport and it is as we expected.

From spy shots, to document sightings to industry sources, we finally have the confirmed prices for the
BMW M340i xDrive
 which comes in at RM402,354 including SST.

This places it at an RM2,000 premium over its direct rival, the
Mercedes-AMG C43
.

The
G20 330e M Sport
 on the other hand is priced at RM264,613 (OTR) after the SST discount until 31 December 2020.

Complementing the G20 330i M Sport and 320i Sport in BMW Malaysia’s product portfolio, the M340i xDrive will also be the first-ever BMW M car to be locally assembled (CKD) at BMW Malaysia’s facility in Kulim, Kedah along with the 330e.

Before the arrival of the controversial 2020
BMW M3
, the M340i was in fact, the most powerful variant of the current 3 Series range. Also dubbed as the “Baby M3”, the M340i is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre engine producing 387 hp and a maximum torque of 500 Nm. Paired to the engine is an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. When in Sport mode, the gearing is configured to give you the best performance. What that actually means, we'll wait for the test-drive to tell you.

Being an M, the addition of a Launch Control function helps the M340i xDrive to a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds – half a second faster than the previous generation (F30) BMW 340i.

The G20 330e M Sport meanwhile is not exactly new news. The B48 4-cylinder 2.0 engine on the 330e will come with BMW Twinpower Turbo and Xtraboost technology, making a combined output of 292 hp and 420 Nm of torque.

The more sedate and environmentally friendly 330e does the century sprint in a spritely 5.9 seconds with a fuel rating of 2.2 litres for 100 kilometers. The 12kWh lithium-ion battery gives the 330e a range of approximately 60km with a top speed of 140km/h on electricity. Seeing as how many of us in the Klang Valley usually live within a 20km radius of our workplaces, one could quite comfortably just rely on the battery for the commute to and from work.

As for the interior, the M340i features M-specific upholstery in Sensatec/Alcantara trim, anthracite BMW Individual roof liner, an M leather-clad steering, and aluminium Tetragon shift paddles. Additionally, the digital instrument cluster bears the lettering "M340i". The M340i will come in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Portimao Blue, and Sunset Orange.

The interior of the 330e M Sport is similar to that of the M340i. The anthracite BMW roof liner, aluminium Tetragon finishes are shared across the two models together with either the black or cognac Vernasca leather upholstery. The 330e will come in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Portimao Blue, Mineral Grey and Sunset Orange.

The 330e will also afford owners a limited-time offer of an 8-year or 160,000km extended hybrid battery warranty for purchases made between now and 31 December 2020.

Owners of the BMW M340i, will receive the complete BMW Malaysia Premium Ownership guarantee consisting of:

5-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme

Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline

BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile app

BMW Service Online


New Law On Window Tinting Gazetted

Earlier last year, Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) was reportedly said to be proposing a new law on window tinting for cars, which will see a relaxation on the minimum Visible Light Transmission (VLT) from the current 50 percent for the rear windows and rear windscreen, to 30 percent. Not much has happened since then and since the new ruling was never gazetted, it cannot be considered legal.
As of today, JPJ’s website still states the old law of 50 percent VLT for the rear section of the car – “Rule 5 (1) and Rule 5 (3) of the 2000 Amendment of the Motor Vehicle Rules (Prohibition on Specific Types of Glass) set the translucence level of the windshield at no less than 70% and the rear and side windows at no less than 50%.”
However Carlist.my has just learned that the new law allowing 30 percent VLT on the rear section of the car was gazetted by the Ministry of Transport on 6-February 2016, and JPJ is expected to make an announcement on the matter soon.
Update:

The Ministry of Transport has confirmed the new law has been gazetted and will be enforced effective immediately, as reported by
The Sun
.
The new law, Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Certain Types of Glass) (Amendment) Rules 2016 now states the following requirements for minimum visible light transmission (VLT):
70 percent VLT for front windscreen
50 percent VLT for front side windows
30 percent VLT for rear side windows and rear windscreen
The penalty for flouting the law has also been raised. Previously, first-time offenders can be fined of up to RM 500 or risk a two-week jail sentence, while subsequent offenders will be slapped with a 1000 fine, or a one-month jail sentence, or both.
The new law will see the maximum fine raised to RM2,000, or a six-month jail sentence for first-time offenders, while subsequent offenders will be fined up to RM4,000, or 12-month jail sentence, or both.
Image credit:
Autofreaks.com
.
For more tips on finding the right window tinting film for your car, go
here
.


MAA Pleads To Government To Allow Auto Industry To Restart

The MAA is pleading to the Malaysian government to allow the automotive sector to resume as more and more businesses are getting severely affected by the tightened MCO/ EMCO.

According to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) President, Datuk Aishah Ahmad, the entire supply chain in the automotive sector is
severely affected
 following the complete closure of operations due to the tightened Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) implementation in several districts in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

The feedback she received from the association members showed that business operations in the MCO areas are badly affected due to supply chain disruptions.

"The production and distribution of automotive products, namely motor vehicles, components and spare parts, as well as vehicle sales have stopped since June 1. The termination of all these activities will have far-reaching implications for the entire automotive ecosystem across the country", said Aishah as reported by Berita Harian.

The
EMCO
 has not allowed any business activities from the automotive sector to operate, even for states under Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP). Showrooms and distribution centres are still not allowed to operate even though most economic sectors have reopened.

MAA and Aishah are of the view that the approach to the implementation of the EMCO and Phases 1 and 2 should be studied and reconsidered in major economic contributing states such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Johor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan.

She is basically pleading to the government to allow the automotive industry to start up once again before there are any irreversible implications.

On a personal note, not only has this disruption caused business closures, but it has also hindered frontliners from getting to their workplaces quickly. In the last two weeks alone, I have seen friends who are frontliners not being able to go to work due to vehicle breakdowns.

As much as mechanics want to help, they could not get replacement parts as
parts distributors, dealers, and shops are closed
.

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Fuel Price Update: 27 July - 2 August - Petrol Up 6 Sen, Diesel Up 3 Sen

After two weeks of stagnant fuel prices, motorists in Malaysia have to pay slightly more for petrol and diesel. The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has just announced the latest prices for petrol and diesel.
New prices (per litre) are listed below:
RON95 - RM2.03  (up 6 sen from RM1.97)
RON97 - RM2.28  (up 6 sen from RM2.22)
Diesel - RM1.99  (up 3 sen from RM1.96)


Kurangkan Kesesakan Jalan Raya - Plaza Tol Tanpa Palang Diperkenal Pada 2025

Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR)
 menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan sistem kutipan tol tanpa palang atau lebih dikenali sebagai
Aliran Bebas Pelbagai Lorong (MLFF)
 menjelang tahun 2025.

Pengenalan sistem kutipan tol tanpa henti itu merupakan usaha kerajaan dalam mengurangkan
kesesakan trafik
 di plaza tol.

Tol Aliran Bebas Pelbagai Lorong (MLFF)

Menteri Kanan Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof menyatakan bahawa cadangan pengenalan sistem baharu bagi kutipan tol ini telah menerima lampu hijau daripada Jemaah Menteri.

Dengan perlaksanaan tol seperti ini, kenderaan tidak perlu lagi untuk berhenti semata-mata untuk membayar tol sekaligus mengurangkan kesesakan di plaza tol terutama ketika waktu puncak.

Kementerian juga bakal mengadakan rundingan bersama semua syarikat konsesi tol untuk mengenal pasti bagaimana ia akan dilaksanakan agar dapat memberi kemudahan kepada pengguna lebuh raya.

Bagi mengintegrasikan sistem MLFF, kementerian juga bakal mewujudkan pusat arahan (
command centre
) yang diuruskan oleh Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) yang perlu integrasi dengan semua majlis perbandaran atau bandar raya.

Tol tanpa palang ini juga telah diuji di Malaysia sebelum ini. Untuk membaca lebih lanjut tentang ujian ini dan bagaimana tol ini berfungsi, tekan
di sini.

MLFF Sebagai Inisiatif Rancangan Induk Sistem Pengangkutan Pintar (ITS)

Menurut Fadillah, MLFF merupakan antara inisiatif di bawah Rancangan Induk Sistem Pengangkutan Pintar (ITS) 2019-2023 KKR yang dibangunkan bagi meningkatkan keselamatan pengguna jalan raya dan memacu pembangunan aplikasi ITS di negara ini.

KKR juga telah memulakan proses membangunkan penimbang berat kenderaan bagi mengesan lori lebih muatan yang sering menjadi punca kesesakan dan kerosakan jalan raya.

Fadillah berkata penimbang itu dibangunkan bagi mengesan had muatan secara automatik dan tindakan undang-undang akan terus dikenakan kepada syarikat lori tersebut.

Dalam pada itu, KKR akan terus mengekalkan fokus mereka terhadap isu keselamatan jalan raya seperti yang dibincangkan pada Persidangan Dunia ITS kali ke-28 di Los Angeles dari 19 hingga 22 September lalu.


VIDEO: Woman Wrecks Brand New Audi Q3 Gifted To Her Because It’s Too Small

Most people would be happy to receive gifts from others, be it a watch, pen, or even some money. In fact, it is safe to say if that gift turned out to be a brand new car, we’d be over the moon, right?
Not quite, at least for this woman seen in a video recently uploaded onto YouTube. Before we jump into things, here’s a little background info.
See, the woman seen here has a boyfriend who gifted her a brand new
Audi
 Q3 crossover SUV, which in China, is priced at 420,000 yuan or RM292,798 if we follow our current exchange rate.
In the video, she is seen ranting about the size of the vehicle given to her after having gotten into an argument with her boyfriend about the same exact issue. Instead of settling the issue through other means (exchanging for the larger
Q5
 or
Q7
 for instance), the
Audi Q3
 becomes a helpless victim of her rage as she is seen repeatedly smashing the brick against the SUV’s body.
Sources say the incident happened at a local car park and surprised bystanders could do nothing to stop the woman who continuously attacked the car. By the time the police were called in to handle the situation, the Audi had already suffered substantial damage with broken windows, sides, door handles, and side mirrors removed. The damages are estimated to cost approximately 50,000 yuan (RM34,701).


Honda HR-V 1.5 V Turbo vs Proton X50 Flagship

Susulan pelancaran
Honda HR-V
 baru-baru ini, akhirnya
Proton X50
 menerima pencabarnya yang sebenar dalam kumpulan SUV segmen-B.

Menariknya, Honda Malaysia membawa masuk 3 pilihan enjin bagi HR-V 2022 seperti
NA, Turbo dan Hibrid.
 Kehadiran varian HR-V dengan pilihan enjin turbo semestinya membuatkan kedudukan pengendali SUV segmen-B, Proton X50 sedikit tercabar.

Antara Honda HR-V 1.5 V Turbo dan Proton X50 Flagship, yang mana satu pilihan yang lebih menarik?

Enjin Dan Prestasi

Model

Honda HR-V 1.5 V

Proton X50 Flagship

Jenis Enjin

4 silinder, 16 Valve, DOHC VTEC TURBO

3 silinder, In-Line, 12 Valve DOHC, Turbo

Kapasiti (cc)

1,498

1,477

Kuasa (PS)

181

177

Tork (Nm)

240

255

Transmisi

CVT

Automatik klac berkembar 7-kelajuan

0-100 km/j

8.8 saat

7.9 saat

Kelajuan Maksimum

200 km/j

195 km/j

Penggunaan Bahan Api

6.5 liter/100 km

6.4 liter/100km

Dari segi enjin, X50 hanya menggunakan enjin 3 silinder berbanding enjin 4 silinder yang digunakan pada HR-V. Namun dari segi output enjin, tidak banyak beza antara kedua-dua SUV ini memandangkan HR-V hanya memiliki lebihan 4 PS kuasa namun dari segi tork, HR-V kurang 15 Nm berbanding X50.

Berdasarkan perbandingan di atas kertas, Proton X50 tewas dari segi jumlah kuasa dan kelajuan maksimum. Tetapi jumlah tork yang lebih tinggi pada X50 membuatkan kereta itu mencapat pergerakan 0-100 km/j dengan 0.9 saat lebih pantas serta 0.1 liter/100 km lebih jimat dari segi peggunaan bahan api.

Dimensi

Model

Honda HR-V 1.5 V Turbo

Proton X50 Flagship

Panjang (mm)

4,385

4,330

Lebar (mm)

1,790

1,800

Tinggi (mm)

1,590

1,609

Jarak Roda (mm)

2,610

2,600

Berat Kerb (kg)

1,403

1,350

Kapasiti But (liter)

320

330

Dari segi dimensi, HR-V 2022 lebih panjang dan lebih berat berbanding X50 namun tewas dari segi kelebaran dan ketinggian kereta. Selain itu kapasiti but X50 juga 10 liter lebih besar berbanding HR-V.

Exterior

Kedua-dua SUV ini dilengkapi dengan lampu jenis LED bagi semua jenis lampunya. Walau bagaimanapun, HR-V tampil lebih menarik dengan nyalaan lampu signal jenis
sequential
.

Dari segi rupa luaran semata-mata, Proton X50 kelihatan garang dan tegap ala-ala Range Rover Evoque manakala HR-V pula tampil dengan imej yang lebih agresif dengan rekaan belakang bertemakan
‘fastback style’
yang lebih aerodinamik
.

Walaupun saiz rim kedua-dua varian ini sama, namun varian HR-V 1.5 E yang turut menggunakan enjin VTEC Turbo hanya menerima rim bersaiz 17 inci sahaja.

Interior

Model

Honda HR-V 1.5 V Turbo

Proton X50 Flagship

Paparan Meter

TFT 7-inci

LCD Penuh

Paparan Infotainment

8-inci

10.25-inci

Apple Carplay & Android Auto

Ada

Tiada

Sunroof

Tiada

Ada

Corong Penyaman Udara Belakang

Ada

Ada

Tempat Duduk

Leatherette

Leatherette

Power Seat

8-gaya pelarasan

6-gaya pelarasan

Kedua-dua SUV ini menampilkan gabungan plastik lembut dan keras di bahagian dalam kereta memberikan rasa premium pada interior kereta ini. HR-V hadir dengan interior serba hitam manakala X50 lebih menyerlah dengan interior dua tona dan
sunroof
.

Dari segi praktikaliti, Honda HR-V yang baru dilancarkan pada tahun ini mempunyai saiz but yang lebih kecil berbanding Proton X50 yang dilancarkan pada 2020 lalu. Walau bagaimanapun, HR-V menawarkan ciri mod Ultra Seat seperti:

Utility Mode

Long Mode

Tall Mode

Keselamatan

Honda HR-V 1.5 V Turbo:

6x Airbags

ABS

Stability Control

Auto Emergency Braking

Adaptive Cruise Control

Lane Centering Assist

Lane Keeping Assist

Auto high beam

Blind Spot Monitoring (Honda LaneWatch)

Kamera under pelbagai sudut

Honda SENSING (FCW, CMBS, LDW, LKAS, RDM, ACC, LSF, AHB, LCDN)

Honda CONNECT (Safety, Security, Convenience)

Immobilizer

Proton X50 Flagship:

6 beg udara Keselamatan

ABS

Stability Control

Auto Emergency Braking

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Lane Keep Assist (LKA)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Auto Park Assist (APA)

Kamera 360 darjah

Immobilizer

Ciri Lain

Model

Honda HR-V 1.5 V Turbo

Proton X50 Flagship

Smart Entry with Push Start

Ada

Ada

Walk Away Auto Lock

Ada

Tiada

Pengelap Cermin Automatik

Ada

Ada

Paddle Shift

Ada

Tiada

Mod Pemanduan

Normal, Econ, Sport

Normal, Eco, Sport

Remote Engine Start

Ada

Ada

Harga OTR Tanpa Insurans

2022 Honda HR-V 1.5 V: RM134,800

2022 Proton X50 Flagship: RM103,300

Walaupun berada dalam segmen yang sama, namun terdapat perbezaan harga sebanyak RM31,500 bagi kedua-dua model ini. Jika anda mahukan SUV yang lebih
fresh
 di pasaran tanpa sebarang masalah berkaitan alat ganti buat masa ini, Honda HR-V lah pilihan anda.

Namun jika anda memilih HR-V kerana tidak mahu menunggu lama untuk Proton X50, ketahuilah bahawa Honda HR-V generasi ketiga yang baru dilancarkan juga menerima tempoh menunggu yang lama sehingga mencecah
 12 bulan
. Untuk SUV yang lebih mampu milik dengan ciri yang lebih kurang sama, Proton X50 adalah pilihan terbaik.


Toyota Production In Australia Comes To An End After 54 Years

Toyota announced that it is shutting down its plant in Altona, Melbourne, ending more than half a century of manufacturing vehicles in Australia.
As a result of the closure, about 2,600 employees will lose their jobs, bringing the number of staffs from 3,900 people to approximately 1,300, who will continue to be based in Port Melbourne and the Altona manufacturing site which will be retained for new and relocated functions.
The job prospects of the remaining workers is unclear but sources say that all will leave with generous payouts including discounts on new Toyotas for up to five years or a lifetime, depending on their length of service.
The Altona plant, which was producing the Camry sedan right before it shut down, was opened by past Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1995, and has built more than 2 million of the 3.4 million cars produced in Australia since 1963.
Toyota Australia’s President Dave Buttner said that Toyota would continue to be the leading automotive brand in Australia, retaining the existing dealer network of more than 270 sites.
He added that the future plans for the Altona plant includes the relocation of key business units and the development of a Centre of Excellence which will house the company’s design division as well as a training facility and other commercial initiatives that will enhance the company's business.
About 3,000 people attended a farewell ceremony at the Altona plant including current and former employees, suppliers, affiliate companies and officials from Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan.
Over the past decade, Toyota has been Australia’s biggest vehicle manufacturer and will also go down in history as the country’s biggest automotive exporter.
Toyota’s cessation of operations in Australia comes after Ford did the same a year ago, and with Holden – the last member of the ‘big three’ car manufacturers in Australia set to shut down in a couple of weeks, the automotive manufacturing industry down under has come to an end, as a result of the government’s decision to stop subsidizing the automotive industry.


Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia Updates Price List Following Changes in GST

Following the government's announcement to re-rate GST at zero percent, a lot of companies have stepped forward to announce their revised price lists. Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has also done so, and below is their updated price list for this interim period, before the government decides to re-implement SST. Prices shown are effective from June 1st, exclusive of options, road tax, registration, and insurance. Also take note of the additional ongoing promotions, shown in the rightmost column of the table.


Bye Bye Ford Focus RS - It’s Been Fun, Come Back Anytime

Quite strange that
Ford
 (Europe) seems to be shying away from the ‘mega hatch’ arena that it largely created, but that seems to be the prevailing sentiment according to some recent choice words from a company spokesperson. Sad news indeed, but not entirely unexpected.

New, more stringent emissions regulations are to
blame
 for this newest demise. The automaker was heavily rumoured to be investigating a hybrid powertrain to circumvent this and allow a 4th-generation range-topping performance Focus to emerge. Looks like that hasn’t panned out however.

The spokesperson told UK’s
Autocar
 that “increased CO2 taxation and the high cost of developing an RS with some form of electrification for a relatively low volume of vehicles, we are not planning another RS version of the Focus.”

The first-generation Focus RS’ template of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 212hp and front-drive was bonkers for its day and probably the most earnest transfer of WRC spirit into that family tree. It then evolved to a monster 2.5-litre straight-5 with obvious sonic references to the Audi Quattro’s iconic noise, however still pulling through the front axle in hilarious fashion.

A follow-up to the most recent Focus RS would need to top its impressive combination of a 2.3-litre turbocharged engine with 350hp and clever all-wheel drive system. To drive, it was probably the closest Ford has come to offering a showroom-bought rally car. To engineer and manufacture, though, the car was anything but simple or cheap.

To somehow also integrate electrification into the mix while keeping the final price appealing enough to the kind of (limited) customers that the RS badge attracts is a huge challenge, even on paper. Ultimately, it seems, the company has deemed it insurmountable.

There’s a strange irony to the Focus RS’ retirement as well, given how Ford is a mass market manufacturer but now needs to compete with the invading premium marques. Mercedes-AMG has the A 35 and A 45, Audi has the RS3, and BMW now peddles the M135i.

All have AWD and turbocharged engines for truly blistering performance that would shame a 1990s supercar. They’re still expensive to make, like the Focus RS. The difference is these brands have the privilege of being able to price their cars high enough to turn a decent profit.

Asking ‘AMG money’ for what’s essentially a Ford hatch isn’t an easy sell. Sure, there will always be the badge-blind enthusiast or hardcore fan, but that pool of customers just isn’t enough to offset the cost of development and production, no matter how you twist the math.

It’s a real shame that we’ve lost the Focus RS at this juncture, too, since the current 4th-generation Focus is (by my estimation) an extremely impressive car. Even in its base form, it’s a marked step up from its predecessor on all fronts - build quality, design, engine, handling, tech, interior - and is more than worthy of smacking the all-conquering Golf off its high horse. Hopefully we’ll see this newest Focus in some form reach Malaysian shores eventually.

Speaking of Volkswagen, their semi-premium status and pricing enables them to continue to carve out a healthy niche for the Golf R. Their Mk8 version is nearly reaching a finished state. Even better, it has just been rid of its main competitor (from Ford). How lucky.

To the fortunate bunch who already own a 3rd-gen Focus RS, looks like you’re holding on to a future classic and possibly the last of its kind. The successor’s performance chops will only extend as far as the Focus ST - definitely formidable but far from supreme.


Teslas produced between 2016-2023 get a recall

If you own a Tesla produced between 2016 and 2023, let it been known that your Tesla may get you into an unfortunate accident.

Since we have a bunch of
Tesla vehicles
on the road these days, this bit of news about a recall by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration might be of some interest to local Tesla fans.

362,758 units of Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y produced between 2016 and 2023 are being given an advisory by NHTSA due to their Full Self Driving Beta driving system.

According to the NHTSA, the system which allows the vehicle to be driven above the speed set by the authorities or through an intersection can cause an accident.

"The trial version of the FSD system allows the vehicle to act unsafely at the intersection, such as rushing straight ahead where the vehicle should have turned right, entering the intersection without stopping when it should have stopped or rushing straight through the intersection even when the traffic light turned yellow".

"In addition, the system failed to respond adequately to changes in gazetted speed on the road or to respond to the driver's request that the speed be reduced rapidly until it exceeded the speed limit on the road," said NHTSA's official statement.

Tesla has responded by saying that they will resolve this issue through an "over the air" software update feature and officially notify owners by April 15, 2023. This update will be provided to all affected models for free.

While Tesla have agreed to fix the problem, Elon Musk was not happy at the fact that the NHTSA called it a recall.

“The word ‘recall’ for an over-the-air software update is anachronistic and just flat wrong!” Musk said on Twitter. Musk dislikes the “recall” label, especially when Tesla is expected to release an over-the-air software update to address the issue.


Troli Bagasi Mesra Eskalator DI KLIA Tidak Lagi Dibenarkan Di Eskalator – MAHB

Tahukah anda bahawa troli bagasi di
KLIA
direka untuk digunakan di
eskalator
? Namun atas faktor-faktor tertentu, perkara itu tidak lagi dibenarkan di KLIA.

Sebenarnya ramai yang tidak tahu perkara ini, namun menerusi sebuah ciapan yang dibuat oleh Hadi Azmi yang tular di Twitter baru-baru ini, beliau mempersoalkan mengapa KLIA tidak menghebahkan penggunaan troli itu di eskalator seperti mana ia direka.

Malah Hadi turut memberitahu bahawa kegunaan troli itu pernah menjadi sesuatu yang hangat dan popular ketika lapangan terbang itu dibuka buat pertama kalinya.

Troli Mesra Eskalator Di KLIA

Dalam kenyataannya, Hadi menulis bahawa troli itu direka dengan penahan besi di hadapan berserta tali pengikat untuk memastikan bagasi anda tidak terjatuh daripada troli apabila anda menuruni eskalator.

Gigi getah di bahagian bawah troli itu pula berfungsi sebagai penahan yang bakal mencengkam tangga eskalator tersebut.

Ciapan Hadi itu telah menerima respon daripada seorang lagi pengguna Twitter yang menyertakan video di YouTube tentang bagaimana troli itu digunakan di eskalator tanpa sebarang isu.

*Kredit video: Gary Ng Tao Min

Video yang dimuat naik oleh wakil pengeluar troli itu turut menunjukkan kemungkinan troli itu boleh disalah kendalikan, namun troli itu dilihat masih mencengkam eskalator itu meskipun ia bergoyang.

Malah menurut buku manual troli itu yang dikeluarkan pembekal, troli itu memang direka khas untuk digunakan di eskalator. Namun berdasarkan respon orang ramai, pihak berkuasa serta kakitangan KLIA sudah tidak lagi membenarkan troli ini melalui eskalator.

Sebab Troli Itu Tidak Lagi Dibenarkan Di Eskalator

Menurut wakil pengeluar troli itu, kegunaan troli ini di eskalator kini tidak lagi dibenarkan atas banyak faktor, namun sebab utamanya adalah keadaan
wear and tear
 semasa troli itu yang telah digunakan sejak 1997.

Sementara itu, ciapan Hadi itu turut menerima respon daripada akaun rasmi Malaysia Airports yang menjelaskan bahawa faktor keselamatan adalah keutamaan mereka dan larangan itu dibuat kerana terdapat risiko kesalahan pengendalian troli oleh penumpang yang boleh menyebabkan insiden yang tidak diingini.

Malaysia Airports turut menasihati orang ramai yang menggunakan troli bagasi untuk menggunakan lif berhampiran daripada menggunakan troli ini di eskalator.

Kesimpulannya, walaupun ia memang direka untuk tujuan iitu, namun faktor usianya telah menyebabkan troli itu hanya boleh digunakan sebagai troli biasa sahaja. Jika anda guna troli di KLIA, pastikan anda guna lif!


2017 G30 BMW 5 Series: What We Think We Know (Updated)

The kind people over at
BMW Blog
 have noticed that a select group of automotive publications have gotten their hands on pre-production prototypes of the new G30 5 Series, and have plenty of nice things to say about it. We'll get the raw facts out of the way first: the new 5-Series is built on  BMW's new CLAR (Cluster Architecture) Platform, sheds roughly 100 kilograms in weight over the previous model, and features plenty of aluminium and magnesium components despite not having BMW's Carbon Core in place.
As with every iteration of a BMW product, measures have been taken to make the car botth more dynamic and more comfortable at the same time. Redesigned rear geometry and double wishbone front suspension are said to provide solid improvement over the outgoing model. Being essentially based on a shortened version of the 7 Series platform, this is actually quite an impressive feat to pull off from a packaging standpoint.
From a chassis standpoint, there was nothing but praises for the G30.
Autocar
 said: "You can confidently thread the new 5 Series down a winding back road without any qualms about its ability to soak up lateral forces and keep gripping hard even at very high speeds. It is very fleet in its responses while at the same time delivering an engaging exactness to your inputs in rear-wheel drive guise,".
Echoing this was
Car and Driver
: "Under the heading of general observations, we were impressed by the new 5’s structural integrity. As intended, it feels light on its feet and it responds in a distinctly linear manner to steering commands,". These comments came regardless of variant on test, and there were 5 of which available- ranging from a bare bones 530i, all the way to an xDrive equipped 530d.
But this drive was more than merely a test- it was also to gain feedback from the journalists as to what improvements they could make. The area they were focusing on was that of steering weight and response, which was being adjusted on the fly by an engineer with a laptop. General consensus was that the steering, while precise, was a tad bit light even on thte stiffest settings. Hopefully the engineers will make the appropriate adjustments before the car comes to market, or at least provide drivers with a range of steering options.
Update (10/09/2016):
We'll break down additional info into simple bullet points for quick digestion.
Trim lines and Features.
There will be three trim lines: Sport, Luxury, and M Sport.

Sport Suspension and Adaptive Dampers will also be available as options.

Rear wheel steering is available on the higher specification G30s.

Driving modes fall under a new "
BMW Drive Experience
" button now.

A new "stop-and-go" assisted cruise control system will be made available, at speeds of up to 130 km/h.

Powertrains.
The entry level model is the
518d
, witth 150 hp (and presumably,
enough
 torque).

The
520d
 and
525d
 will have 190 hp and 231 hp respectively.

Six-cylinder diesels will come in the form of the
530d
 (258 hp),
540d
 (313 hp), and
M550d xDrive
 (400 hp).

The new petrol
 2.0-litre TwinPowerTurbo engine
 will be available in the
520i
 (184 hp),
525i
 (231 hp), and
530i
 (252 hp) variants.

The new petrol
3.0-litre TwinPowerTurbo engine
 will be available in the
540i
(326 hp),
M550i xDrive
 (450 hp).

Plug-in hybrids
 will be available in
 530e
,
540e
, and
550e
 (or M550e) variants,
pure electric range of 40-50 km at up to 120 km/h


2020 Honda City Teased Again – Will it come with a VTEC Turbo?

Honda Malaysia has teased the upcoming
2020 Honda City
 again, giving us a glimpse at the full LED headlights with a tagline that goes “No Match”.

We don’t know about you, but our concern more than what headlights it will come with is, what engine is going to power the version the comes to Malaysia?

If we look at Thailand where the all-new City was launched months ago, the car came with a newly developed 1.0-litre DOHC turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine that kicks out 122 PS at 5,500 rpm and 173 Nm from 2,000 rpm to 4,500 rpm.

Paired to the engine is a CVT-type automatic transmission that sends power exclusively to the front wheels.

Given a choice, this is the powertrain package which we would love to see here, as it would somewhat change the game in the B-segment, thanks to the low road-tax price which would be the cheapest in class, and also the impressive fuel consumption that stands at 23.8 km/litre (4.2-litre/100 km), which would also be the best in class.

Meanwhile in India, the all-new fifth-generation
Honda City 2020
 is offered with a choice of two engine options - an updated version of the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that produces 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, and a turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel engine which produces 100 PS and 200 Nm of torque.

Both engines are paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, but only the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine will come with a CVT gearbox as an option.

Out of the lot offered in India, it is highly unlikely that the diesel engine will come to Malaysia, but the upgraded 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine does stand a chance.

Besides the engines mentioned above, there is also the possibility of Honda Malaysia retaining the existing 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine which makes 118 PS and 145 Nm of torque, even though we feel that is highly unlikely.

Would be disappointing if the car comes with the same engine after all that hype on social media, wouldn’t it?

That being said, the all-new Honda City 2020 is slated to make its Malaysian debut any time within the next few months, so watch this space for more details on the highly anticipated model as we draw closer to the launch.


Rafidah Aziz: Let's not have false national pride

The former Minister of International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz was on air at this morning's BFM radio's Breakfast Grill programme. It was a very interesting interview and despite being out of the Cabinet for seven years already, her mind is clearly still as sharp as ever.
As expected, the straight shooting former minister did not mince her words when she gave her opinions on various matters, including the state of our education system, the controversial TPPA, and of course, the subject of Proton was brought up as well.
Despite being part of the Cabinet who executed the National Car Policy, Rafidah was surprisingly pragmatic about Malaysia's approach in promoting a domestic automotive industry.
"We tried to protect Proton for a long time by not allowing imports of any car that is within the
Proton
 range, and also the
Perodua
 range. But now things have changed, I think even Proton and Perodua also wants to get out Malaysia and sell overseas, so in other words there will be quid pro co in opening up our market. So when you talk about local cars, it is no longer like in the old days where you get exclusive treatment. Now there is a choice. So cars should not be local or anything. It should be a car that is in the market and can compete," said Rafidah.
On the subject of Approved Permits (APs), Rafidah said most of the APs are for used cars, and that it should not be a permanent thing.
"It is a not permanent thing, it is something that started way before me, we just extended it and it is supposed to have ended/ending in the near future. And the most important thing is for those who are already in the car importing business to diversify. I have told them way way way back. Diversify into other areas that have got to do with the motor industry. You can't be importing second hand cars all your life, right?" said Rafidah.
When asked about her opinions on national cars and national pride, Rafidah cautioned against
romanticising national pride
.
"I like to be practical. Do not harp on this "our own local car our national car." Not too many people get nationalistic that way. But if you can say that this car is the same, on par technologically and everything with other cars in its range, then well present it as that. The fact that it is a local car is good.
"It's like a woman you know? Don't harp on "I am woman I am woman." If the woman is good, you don't have to say she is a woman right? You can see she is a woman. Look at the performance. It's the same with national cars," said Rafidah, who was one of the most powerful woman in the Malay sian political scene past and present.
She then went on express her opinions on having the right sort of pride for national icons.
"Look, national pride will have to justify that pride - very important. If our national is a failure, then no point 'la kan?' But I must say that Proton has now picked itself up from those days, and if they can compete in those areas that matters, the fact that it is a national car is just a bonus. It is a car in the market that people like. It's the same with anything at all - MAS. Let's not have false national pride."
Rafidah also noted that the younger generation of Malaysians don't share the same opinions on national pride as the previous generations, who may be more receptive of the need to protect national icons, products or companies at any cost.
"Eventually that will phase out (linking national pride with national icons). I think the new generations of people are not even nationalistic enough in that sense. You know what I mean? They are talking about "Are you competitive? Is your product good" That's what I mean by they don't care whether it's Malaysian or not, and I think that's fair because this is a global era, globalisation, they have a global perspective. Don't narrow their perspective. Nationalism just means being proud of your nation. Good enough. If the product produced in your nation is excellent, I see no reason why you should belittle it. Simple," she added.
You can listen to the full interview by downloading the podcast
here
.


VIDEO: Is Dubai Littered With Thousands Of Abandoned Exotic Luxury Cars?

Dubai. It’s a lavish place, it’s a beautiful place, it’s also a very warm place. It’s also full of riches, or those with it, living under a system that criminalizes not paying your debts – meaning you’ll go to jail if you don’t cough up the cash, with many owners choosing freedom over their expensive vehicles. Or so it seems.
We can’t prove whether what the video below claims is true or just sensationalism, but if there is a place that something like this is even plausible, it’s Dubai.
This could lead us to the strange circumstance where very valuable, often rare cars are just left to rot under the searing sun after their financially-stricken owners flee the country to avoid a prison sentence. Just because you can drive away with a Ferrari from the showroom doesn’t necessarily mean you can keep up with the payments each month. Such is the case there - many of them, apparently.
It's unclear to us whether this policy to label defaulters as criminals stem from a clause in Sharia law (as it claims in the video) or the law of the land in the United Arab Emirates' federal government. Either way, the result, if true, leads to all these fine machines left to collect dune dust in the punishing Middle Eastern heat. A sight to make any car-lover wince.
Ferrari
s,
Porsche
s,
Mercedes
,
BMW
s - all left to, essentially, just rot away.
The video claims that Dubai police estimates around 3,000 luxury cars are abandoned in airport parking lots each year. Yes, there are a lot of empty stretches of land around Dubai and even the vast expanse of the Rub' al Khali desert to the southwest, but where exactly do these cars all end up?
Just have a look at the video.
Dubai's streets are littered with abandoned sports cars. http://voc.tv/1cRrjAQ
Posted by
Vocativ
 on Friday, July 3, 2015


New, Upgraded Ford Showroom Centre Opens In Batu Pahat

Ang Trading Batu Pahat, the longest running Ford dealership in Malaysia, has relocated its showroom and service center to a more strategic location to better serve customers in the area.
Moving away from its previous location, the new Ang Trading Batu Pahat facility can be found at L ot 1183, Jalan Mohd Akil, 83000, Batu Pahat, Johor. The showroom is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Sunday. Service Centre opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) the official distributors of
Ford
 vehicles in Malaysia announced the news that exemplified their RM140 million commitment to network expansion and customer service over the next two years.
“This new facility represents a significant upgrade for Batu Pahat customers. With an investment of RM1.5 million, they will be better equipped to cater to all sales and aftersales needs of new and existing Ford customers,” said Lee Eu San, managing director, SDAC.
The new Ang Trading Batu Pahat is equipped with six service bays, including two Quick Lane bays, which serve to get customers in and out of the service in under two hours – note that this only applies to minor repairs and vehicle maintenance, without the need to make an appointment.
For customers that do stay a little longer, there’s a comfy lounge, free WiFi, and hot drinks available.
And, if you’re amongst one of the first 10 customers to place a booking at the showroom after it’s official launch, Ang Trading Batu Pahat will be giving away a free TV. There’s also a free 10-point safety check for customers who get their cars serviced there from now until the 28
th
 of February.
Ang Trading Batu Pahat can be contacted via its sales hotline at 07-4342626, or aftersales hotline at 07-4326270.


SmartTAG Replacements Well Underway, RFIDs To Reach By 2017

It’s generically called the Radio Frequency Indentification (RFID) system for now, and it is believed to be in the final stages of implementation.
When it is implemented in full, the RFID system will effectively replace the SmartTAG system at all toll gates. Rather than rely on a Touch ‘n Go card to deposit funds, the new RFID system is believed to be linked to a sole vehicle only, and is expected to transfer funds directly from a user’s bank account – that sounds a bit scary, doesn’t it? We’ll have to wait on some more confirmed information first, though.
According to The Sun Daily, Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said, “Firstly, we will introduce it as a pilot phase at several highway toll plazas and border entry points which will record the foreign vehicle registrations from Singapore, Thailand and Brunei. We are going to implement it in stages in 2017."
The idea behind the system is to usher more motorist to utilise electronic payment methods for tolls, at the same time, effectively reducing traffic congestion in these areas.
And as The Sun Daily reports, it won’t be all that expensive either. Where SmartTAG transmitters (the ones you keep in your car) cost RM120 to buy and will have its display screen malfunction for no apparent reason after a month or so, the new RFID system is expected to cost as low as RM0.60 sen.
"RFID is just a sticker that is identified at toll booths and can be embedded into a road tax sticker. LLM (Malaysian Highway Authority) is also finalising the details with Touch n' Go as there will be no more Smart Tags for express payment. The system to be used by all highway concessionaires," said Fadillah.


Why Are MINI John Cooper Works Models So Expensive… And So Special!

Brand designer and brilliant marketer Walter Landor once said, “Products are made in the factory, but brands are created in the mind”. Suggesting that it doesn’t really matter how good a product you make – unless it evokes desirability and value in the mind of your customer.

The year was 1957, and in post-World War II England, the Suez Crisis had sent fuel prices soaring, leading many to start wondering if the large, gas-guzzling barges of the day made much sense.

Thinking with the times, Sir Leonard Lord of the Morris Company issued his top engineer, Alec Issigonis, a challenge: design and build a small, fuel-efficient car capable of carrying four adults, within economic reach of just about everyone.

The two most important innovations Issigonis came up with were to have a compact suspension system allowing the wheels to be pushed right to the edges of the vehicle, and secondly, turning the engine sideways (transverse) - to power the front wheels instead. This further freed up interior space, because the MINI didn't need a massive prop shaft running underneath the car to power the rear axle.

By the early-60s, the Classic Mini had willed its way into the hearts of many. Transcending traditional class barriers: everyone from hipsters and mods to milkmen, rock stars, and royalty – wanted to get behind the wheel of a MINI and experience its infectious spirit.

In addition, the very traits that made it a good workhorse, made it even better on rally stages. Realising the MINI’s potential early on – British racing legend John Cooper fitted a more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few tuning tweaks of his own to create the Mini Cooper 997 in 1961. Perhaps not knowing at the time, that the humble little MINI would go on to rewrite the rules of engagement and change the face of rally racing for years to come.

Before long, the nimble little classic MINI was outracing and outlasting the larger, more powerful, but clumsier sedan competitors of the day. Most notably winning the prestigious Monte Carlo rally three times, between 1964 and 1967. It would have been four consecutive victories if not for the controversial 1966 disqualification (for using wrong lightbulbs) – which finally saw a Citroen declared the winning car.

Despite starting out as a separate tuning outfit, MINIs developed by the John Cooper Works company became synonymous with the fastest MINIs on the road and rally stages of the world.

So it was with little doubt when new owners BMW acquired the MINI brand in 2000, the John Cooper name was retained to identify the brand’s most performance focussed products. Today, the John Cooper Works (JCW) models are the most premium offerings of their respective model lines – carrying with them the premium trimmings, the full suite of technical features, and the most powerful engines.

But, if the proof is in the pudding – are JCWs models nothing more than spiced up versions of their MINI counterparts or is there real tech and design behind the company’s claims of driving exhilaration.

For this, let’s take a look at the recently launched
2019 MINI Cooper Countryman and Clubman JCW
 models

More Power

In keeping with the JCW tradition, both the Countryman and Clubman receive a substantial power hike over the Cooper S variants. The JCW models pump out a whopping 306 hp and 450 Nm of maximum torque, a substantial bump over the 192 hp and 280 Nm of torque the "regular" Cooper S model receives. The top speeds of both the JCW Clubman and Countryman are electronically limited to 250 km/h versus 228 km/h for the Cooper S Clubman.

Beefier Gearbox

The JCW models swap out the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic unit for a beefier 8-speed automatic transmission to handle all that added torque.

MINI ALL4 For Better Traction

The JCW Clubman and Countryman models are both supplied as standard with MINI’s “ALL4” all wheel-drive system for better traction, versus the front-wheel drive only Cooper S models.

Tweaked Suspension

For added stability, the JCW variants receive a sport suspension system that lowers the car by 10 mm over the Cooper S for better stability and looks. The JCW Countryman is additionally equipped with Adaptive Suspension for that perfect mix of comfort and sharp handling.

Sport Brakes

To keep everything in check, the JCW Clubman and Countryman models are equipped with a sport brakes system, that is tougher and can handle more heat and stress when these cars are pushed to their limits.

Better Cooling

A side effect of additional power is more heat under the hood – to combat this, both JCW models come with an uprated cooling system to keep things cool. The JCW Clubman also features two external coolant radiators.

Bigger wheels

Both the new MINI JCW Countryman and Clubman are fitted with 19-inch JCW Circuit Spoke Two-Tone wheels, for edgier, race-inspired looks.

Unique Styling

To single them out from the rest of the pack, the JCW Countryman features a new bumper trim panel with open-air intakes on both sides, as well as bigger tailpipes of 85 mm in diameter.

The JCW Clubman, on the other hand, comes with a completely redesigned appearance from its predecessor, featuring a new honeycomb front grille, a new front bumper, a front spoiler with a larger splitter and a new insert in the lower grille, and 95 mm exhausts tips.

Racy Interior

Inside, the JCW variants feature sporty racing seat upholstered in Carbon Black Dinamica Leather, JCW leather steering wheel, JCW instrument cluster, JCW centre display trim, JCW start screen, and JCW doorsills.

They also feature stainless-steel pedals, on top of the “MINI Yours” Interior Cockpit Surface in Piano Black that illuminates at night in 12 different colours. A Panoramic Roof additionally adds to the airiness of the cabin space.

With all that power and tech at the ready, any current JCW MINI has the unique ability to make any journey - whether it be a trip to the shops or a blast down your favourite backroad - into an adrenaline-fuelled rush of speed and smiles.

The tradition of being small and ridiculously fast is as true today, as it was half a century ago!


CarTell Track Attack Vol.II - Getting the most out of your first track day

Your first visit to the track is a memorable experience, and it’s always exciting to find our what your car can really do, so it's wise to be fully prepared and equipped to handle any situation that may arise.

We’ve managed to gather some - hopefully useful - information about the track day experience as well coming up on our second round at hosting our own event called Track Attack, maybe you’ve heard of it?

It’ll be happening on May 27th, 2023 at the Sepang International Circuit as part of our larger Speedfest - a morning-to-midnight celebration of speed, car culture, and everything automotive.
Click here to find out more and sign up!

Taking your car onto a track is by far the best (not to mention safest) way to truly test the mettle of your vehicle as well as yourself as a driver. Of course, you don’t have to push hard enough to find the true limits, but the closer you can get to that line, the better a driver you’ll emerge from it, and with a deeper understanding of your car to boot.

Nevertheless, there are certain factors that need to be considered before attempting to set a lap record, even just a personal one. Without experience, it’s natural to feel a bit anxious the night before and imagine unlikely scenarios.

However, by taking proper precautions, you'll be left craving for more after the session and wondering how quickly those hours had passed. It is therefore essential to prepare adequately in advance to avoid any worries later on.

A Little Disclaimer….Kind Of

Disclaimer: We regard these tips be intended for individuals who have some driving experience and sure of themselves and their cars. Secondly, do not encourage driving an unfamiliar car aggressively on the track without first becoming acquainted with its capabilities.

The most effective approach is to spend time at the track and take a few gentle laps to become familiar with the car, even if you’ve owned it for some time. We recommend doing this before making any significant modifications and after accruing some experience.

Though it is necessary to make specific alterations or upgrades to the car to ensure optimal performance during intense track driving, before pushing the car too hard or investing a lot of money in aftermarket parts, it's advisable to go to the track a few times and test the limits of your car versus how much you’d like to improve.

You could very well be entirely happy with your lap time and contented in the thrills with the car you started with, indefinitely!

Tyres and Brakes

Tyres and brakes are among the most crucial components of a vehicle, Without appropriate tires, it's difficult to obtain the necessary grip in the corners, and without adequate brakes, it's challenging to slow down and enter corners smoothly.

This results in slower lap times and accelerated wear of the components, necessitating replacements. While it's acceptable for beginners to use stock tires and brakes, serious competitors should upgrade to better-quality brakes and tires as the original ones will not endure for long.

It is also worth considering to fit a special set of track-prepared tyres as the rougher, more tractive surface of a race track are most definitely going to eat into any set road tyres. Bridgestone, the title sponsor for Track Attack, and one of the most prestigious tyre manufacturers, has a wide selection to choose from!

Chassis and Suspension

The most expensive suspension system may not always be the most effective one for racing purposes. While coilovers are commonly thought of as the go-to solution for suspension upgrades, the truth is that most coilovers are not well-suited for racing and can actually harm your lap times. Furthermore, improperly installed coilovers without adequate supporting components can be even worse than your car's original suspension.

The most cost-effective modification is, shockingly, getting an all-around alignment that adheres to the factory specifications. This is your best bet to ensure that everything is in order just as the manufacturer intended it to be.

When you take your car to an alignment shop, they can also inspect for signs of wear or impending issues that might arise during a track session such as faulty wheel bearings, leaking ball joints, and loose tie rods can significantly impact your car's handling, and they are quite dangerous when on a track.

For most people, OEM suspension components are adequate for a bit of fun now and then. However, those who frequently participate in weekend racing may require high-performance suspension components.

Saving Weight, Adding Lightness

Modern cars have a plethora of features and accessories that are convenient for daily driving or long journeys with family. However, these extra items add unnecessary weight to the car that can slow you down on the track. To improve lap times, it is recommended to remove these items and keep them at home.

The removal process can start with basic things like the spare tire, floor mats, and unnecessary items in the glovebox. Even minor things like air fresheners, USB cables, phone holders can add up and hinder your performance.

Next, if you’re a bit more serious about chasing tenths of a second, you can move on to removing heavier items such as the rear and passenger seats, cabin carpeting, air conditioning unit, and interior panels, which can make a considerable difference in weight.

While it may not be practical to remove these items from a daily driver, getting rid of them is the surest and most straightforward way to shave seconds off your lap times.

Serious racers even think it worthwhile to install lightweight carbon fibre body panels to replace heavier items like the factory spoiler, bumpers, hood, and side skirts, and they make your car look like a race car. However, it's important to keep in mind that carbon fibre is not suitable for everyone since it can crack and be costly to replace.

Get Inspected, Check All Fluids

Having a healthy engine is crucial to keep your car moving and regular maintenance is the key to prevent potential failures. You should regularly check the fluid levels and use quality oil and coolant to keep the engine running smoothly. It's also important to inspect the accessory belts and replace any worn ones to avoid any unforeseen breakdowns.

Just as the above paragraph applies to any daily driver, keeping your engine in tip top condition is doubly important if you intend to drive it harder and faster on track where it will be more intensely stressed.

It's important to note that some tracks have strict rules regarding fluid leaks. You should check your engine bay for any leaks that could compromise the track surface. Also, it's recommended to have a cover on your positive battery terminal.

To prepare for the track, it's recommended to complete a full engine and driveline inspection followed by fluid purge and refill in addition to a normal service. This will ensure that your car is in optimal condition for handling the corners and cones.

Get Your Gear In Order

The majority of track events require you to have appropriate safety gear that meets regulation. These may range from full flame-retardant suits to simple helmets. Ensure you understand the safety guidelines at the event you're attending and plan accordingly.

If a flame-retardant suit isn't mandatory, it's best to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes. It's also recommended to install gauges to keep an eye on your car's performance while driving it at its highest. Things can go wrong suddenly, which can lead to dangerous driving conditions for others. It's critical to have your car's monitoring systems working effectively to avoid any potential damage and prevent accidents from occurring.

Are YOU Ready?

This may be the most important precaution of all - ensuring you are prepared physically and mentally. While it's important to have a car in top condition for any on-track action, being personally ‘ready to drive’ is equally important. Preparing yourself means taking good care of your body and mind.

Ensure you get plenty of sleep before the track event while maintaining good nutrition and hydration is also important, so avoid skipping meals or consuming fast food, which can lead to fatigue untimely gastric mishaps. You need to be completely alert and ready to handle any situation as soon as you start driving.

CarTell Speedfest Volume II

Once again, if you're ready to get your feet wet in the track day thrills, Carlist.my will be hosting our
CarTell Track Attack Volume II
 this May 27th at the Sepang International Circuit with prizes of up to RM10,000 in cash up for grabs for the fastest car of the day.

However, don't worry about being less than experienced as, just like us, the community of driving enthusiasts are always more than welcoming of newcomers to the scene, the hobby, the addiction of weekend track driving.

For 2023,
CarTell Track Attack Volume II
 is also the centrepiece of CarTell Speedfest, a morning-to-midnight celebration of speed, car culture, and everything automotive with something for everyone!