How Efficient Can A Mazda 2 SkyActiv-G Be In The Real World? It’s 35.18 km/litre

Much has been said about the benefits of Mazda’s signature SkyActiv suite of fuel-saving technologies, which promises near hybrid-like fuel economy but minus the added weight and cost of hybrid components. As a bonus, these SkyActiv-equipped Mazdas are a joy to drive.
To put the claims to the test, Bermaz Motor, the local distributor for the Mazda brand organized a fuel economy challenge drive involving 15 Mazda cars, 5 units each of the Mazda 2, Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-5.
Unlike many other fuel economy challenges done in the past, this drive by Mazda intends to replicate real-world driving conditions, so the organizers have been very strict about banning any hypermiling techniques nonsense.
Even the air-conditioning controls have been sealed, with the control knobs set at 19 degrees Celsius, fan speed at mid-level, and each participant are given a limited time to complete each driving sections to ensure that nobody drives at ridiculously low speeds. Every 5 minutes of late arrival past the targeted arrival time will incur a penalty of 0.3-litre/100 km.
Folding of side mirrors is also not allowed, and security tapes have been pasted at the base of each mirror for added measure.
In fact, on the last two legs we were caught by heavy traffic along the North South Highway enroute to Permas Jaya in Johor Bahru, forcing us to up our pace to avoid any late penalty. At some sections we had to maintain speeds that are way above the speed limit and cannot be published here.
Our test car was a Mazda 2 Sedan 1.5-litre, running on Dunlop Enasave EC300+ tyres. I took the first leg, with Gerard (representing our sister-publication Malaysian Evo magazine) navigating. Starting off at Bermaz’s headquarters in Glenmarie in Petaling Jaya at 9am, we drove into the tail-end of morning rush hour traffic.
Snarling traffic the biggest enemy of fuel economy, as fuel is burnt away without moving the car. Still, with a little bit of effort, savings can be gained.
The trick is to pay a lot of attention, constantly monitoring each lane’s traffic flow while looking far ahead. Is the car on the left pulling in? Is there a gradient coming up? Are the cars ahead slowing? By paying attention to your surroundings and the changing traffic conditions ahead, and modulating the throttle appropriately, you can minimise fuel-sapping unnecessary braking.
Best of all, employing such driving techniques not only makes you a safer driver, it doesn’t slow you down one bit at all. In fact, our car was actually slipping through traffic faster than many aggressively driven cars who were making a lot of unnecessary lane changes, and then getting caught up behind another slow vehicle.
The only trick we employed was manually disabling the i-stop engine idle stop feature when inching along in traffic, and reactivating it again while waiting at the traffic lights.
Sometimes, the unnecessary start-stop cycles might end up burning more fuel, as more fuel is used to restart the engine. However when the car is going to be idle for longer periods, like when waiting at a traffic light intersection, i-Stop will save fuel.
Once we entered the highway, we kept an average speed of between 65 to 75 km/h, constantly monitoring our ETA on Waze. We were given 75 minutes to reach the Senawang R&R stop 83 km away. That’s more than enough but we decided to keep a brisk pace as traffic is expected to be heavy near Seremban and we need to build a comfortable buffer for that.
After a compulsory 10 minutes stop at Senawang, the marshals released our car for the next 56 km leg towards Philea Resort in Melaka, to be completed in 55 minutes with Gerard at the wheel.
At this point, Waze alerted us of slow traffic near the Ayer Keroh toll, so we maintained a similarly brisk 75 km/h but after awhile, Waze again alerted us that we are well within the targeted ETA with a 20 minute margin so we backed off the throttle slightly.
Following another compulsory stop at Philea, we made our way to the most challenging stretch yet, a 92 km stretch that must be completed within 80 minutes, with Gerard at the wheel once again. Traffic was progressively getting heavier, with many heavy vehicles on the highway, chipping away our margin from a comfortable 20 minutes to just 10 minutes.
On the clearer sections, we had to increase our pace, reaching up to 120 km/h, sometimes beyond, to keep to our targeted ETA.
We arrived at Yong Peng in good time and after another 10 minutes compulsory stop, it’s my turn to take the wheel again for the final 112 km leg towards Permas Jaya, to be completed in 90 minutes.
Almost immediately after rejoining the NSE, Waze threw a bombshell saying that heavy traffic ahead is pushing our ETA back by 20 minutes. Our 10 minute margin has now turned into a 10 minute deficit. With the traffic ahead still clear, I prodded the throttle harder in a futile effort to claw back some time.
Rather than flooring the throttle, I timed my accelerations and overtakings on the downhill sections, applied gentle throttle pressure to let the speed creep up gradually. I don’t recall any fuel economy challenge that I had participated in the past where I had to fly past so many cars at such speeds.
It is almost certain that we will get a penalty, so the objective now is to cut the penalty from two 5 minute blocks (0.6-litre/100 km penalty) to just one 5 minute block (0.3-litre/100 km).
Despite sacrificing much of our earlier gain, raising our average fuel consumption from below 4-litre/100 km to 4.3-litre/100 km, and hitting speeds well above the speed limit, politely flashing our headlights to request slower moving cars ahead to yield, our ETA was reduced by a mere 2 minutes only.
With less than 40 km to go before reaching the congested stretch, there was little else that I could do, soon we were stuck in a massive crawl due to roadworks. With the Mazda sitting idle, burning precious fuel away, and all two lanes clogged up, temptation was strong to follow the crowd and slip into the emergency lane but we are proud to say that we kept our discipline.
Soon other competitors joined the queue and it became clear to the organisers that nobody is going to reach the destination on time. A unanimous decision was made to waive any late penalty, which was welcomed but it also meant that our earlier efforts to pick up the pace and drove much faster than everyone else earlier had come to naught.
It the end, the results for our car came in at 35.18 km/litre, or 2.84-litre/100 km, putting us in second place, behind a Mazda 2 Hatchback which did 35.98 km/litre (2.78-litre/100 km).
How Realistic Are The Figures?
Firstly, more than 92 percent of the distance 348.3 km distance covered are done on highways, so don’t expect to see such fuel-sipping figures in your daily drive to the office and back.
But the point remains that the Mazda 2 is an impressively economical car to drive, and if you are a smooth driver, you can easily match the manufacturer’s claim of 5.2-litre/100 km even though those figures are obtained in an ideal laboratory environment.
So if you can’t achieve good fuel economy figures on a Mazda 2, don’t blame the car.
Why We Love the Mazda 2
Beyond the economy aspect, we were reminded once again what a capable car the little Mazda 2 is. Its interior might be less practical and less spacious than a similarly priced Honda Jazz but the cabin’s premium touch is so impressive that it is comparable to an entry-level German luxury car – say a BMW 1-series or an Audi A1.
Even the graphics used on the MZD Connect infotainment system is very premium looking and reminds us of those seen in BMWs, especially with respect to the layout, colours and resolution of the built-in GPS navigation system.
Despite its diminutive size, the car was very confident to drive in, and the cabin was impressively quiet.
Yes, the Honda Jazz is still the golden benchmark in everyday city cars, but for those who are willing to trade a little bit of practicality for some fun time, you can’t go wrong with a Mazda 2.
Read our test drive of the Mazda 2
here
 and
here
.


The Shanhai Cannon is GWM's ultra truck

The Shanhai Cannon is GWM's premium truck offering. If you don't look at the price, the truck actually sounds quite good.

When GWM Malaysia announced that they would be launching nine cars in the next three years, we hope one of them would be this, the newly launched Shanhai Cannon pickup truck.

GWM has labelled the Shanhai pickup as their more premium truck, which we suppose will be a more upmarket product than their
POER truck
.

Unveiled at the recent Guangzhou Auto Show, the "new large-scale high-performance luxury pickup" will be offered in a hybridised V6 petrol or diesel engine.

The 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, which is paired to a 48V battery mild hybrid system, packs a punch, as it produces a potent 349hp and 500Nm of torque.

The 2.4-litre diesel engine, which is also paired with a 48V battery mild hybrid system, is decent too, as it generates 181hp and nearly the same amount of torque as the petrol engine (480Nm).

Both engines are mated to a nine-speed auto and BorgWarner's famed on-demand 4WD system with front and rear diff locks. GWM also claims that the truck has a wading depth of 800mm, which altogether gives the truck some excellent off-road credentials.

To give it a good balance of ride and handling for either smooth or off roads, GWM has equipped the car with SUV-like suspension, comprising of double wishbones up front and a multi-link coil-sprung solid rear axle.

If you know your GWMs very well, then you would have probably picked up that the Cannon's front end looks similar to the
GWM Tank
, and the reason for that, as reported by CarExpert Australia is that "Based on GWM's off-road tank platform – understood to be close to the new Tank 300 SUV".

The rear however is typical of any pickup truck with a truck bed after the cab, but the Shanhai Cannon does come with a unique truck bed tailgate, where the door can be dropped down like a traditional truck or split in the centre like barn doors.

On the inside, the attempt to make the truck more premium is more apparent, as it can be had with a dual interior. The truck is also equipped with large 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen system, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, head-up display, panoramic sunroof and ventilated leather seats.

The truck is also packed with lots of safety systems and driver aids, as it is equipped with six airbags, AEB, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.

What's not so lovely is its price, as its pricing in China starts from 228,800 to 248,800 yuan (RM146k to RM159k) for the diesel, and 258,800 to 301,800 yuan (RM165k to RM193k) for the petrol.

GWM did say that the Shanhai Cannon is a premium product, so it won't be cheap. At these prices, they do rival those of Ford's Ranger, which does give you some food for thought.


EU Mulls Phasing Out Palm Oil Biodiesel By 2020, Malaysia and Indonesia Responds

Earlier this month, the European Parliament has voted to phase out palm oil-based biofuels by 2020, on grounds that palm oil production is responsible for severe deforestations in many countries.
The resolution by the European Parliament however, has yet to be ratified by the European Commission.
While the European Commission mulls over the matter, ministers from Malaysia and Indonesia, the two largest exporter of palm oil in the world, will be heading to Europe next month to counter the resolution.
Speaking to Bernama earlier today, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong said “The Cabinet feels that the resolution is unfair. I have been instructed by the prime minister to go to Europe to talk to the EU lawmakers and officials.”
In pushing for the motion to ban palm oil-based biofuels in the European Union, Member of the European Parliament representing the Czech Republic, Kateřina Konečná said “We want an open debate with all players so we can make palm oil production sustainable, without cutting down forests and in compliance with dignified human rights conditions.”
The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of her motion, with 640 votes against 18, with 28 abstentions.
“This is Parliament’s first resolution on this issue and it is up to the Commission how it acts upon it. But we cannot ignore the problem of deforestation, which threatens the Global Agreement on Climate Change COP21 and UN Sustainable Development Goals”, she added.
The European Parliament noted that 46 percent of the palm oil imported by the EU is used to produce biofuels, requiring the use of about one million hectares of tropical soils.

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In its defense, the European Parliament is not pushing for a ban on all palm oil-based biofuels, but for the EU to implement a single certification scheme to guarantee that only sustainably produced palm oil enters the trade bloc.
Since the ‘90s, the palm oil industry is often targeted by green lobby groups from Europe. While the motives of some of these groups are questionable, the allegations are not entirely baseless. Our almost annual haze phenomenon is itself a strong evidence against the palm oil industry.
At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that not all palm oil producers are as irresponsible. The industry should be given credit for making a voluntary move to establish the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil in 2004. A direct result of this was the creation of the Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) standard.
However, the EU counters that such standards is open to criticism and are confusing to consumers, leading Indonesia to lambast the EU for using environmental credentials as an excuse to protect Europe’s domestic agricultural sector, a sector which is heavily subsidized by the European Union.
In response to the European Parliament’s resolution, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry had issued a statement that reads, “The recommendation to phase out the use of palm oil within the resolution is protectionist in nature. It is odd that the resolution recommends the promotion of rapeseed and sunflower oils, which according to data, are actually inferior to palm oil.”
Independent tests by Japan’s JAMA confirms palm oil-based biodiesels, the ones used in Malaysia and Indonesia, are indeed cleaner and provide better driving performance than other competing biofuels from Europe or USA made using either rapeseed or sunflower oil.
Closer to home, the Malaysia plans to increase the consumption of palm oil by mandating an increase in palm oil content in our local diesel fuel later this year, raising it from the current 7 percent to 10 percent for Euro 2M grade diesels (B10). However the exact timing to implement the proposed increase to B10 have yet to be finalized.
As not all vehicle manufacturers have agreed to warranty their vehicles to run on palm oil biodiesel blends beyond 7 percent, palm oil content for Euro 5 diesels will remain capped at 7 percent (B7).
More on B10 biodiesel
here
.


When And What We'll See In The Next Panamera, As Revealed By Porsche CEO

It’s no secret that the
Porsche

Panamera
 is due for an update. Originally launched in 2010, the four-door super saloon isn’t looking as fresh as it once did. The folks at Stuttgart agree, and through CEO Matthias Müller, we might know when to expect it.

At the
2015 Geneva Motor Show
, Indian Autos Blog reported that while answering questions from one of their reporters, Mr Müller said regarding the next Panamera’s arrival, “I suppose in the second half of 2016.” Whether this means a full production model or an Motor Show reveal remains unclear.

He continued, and elaborated on the design of the upcoming car, choosing his words correctly to emphasize an evolutionary step from the current model. “It is more or less the same design language, you’ll recognize it as a Panamera. It will be of a better package, and some details will be more modern of course.”

We won’t be surprised, however, if in 2016 we find out that it borrows quite a bit from the Sport Turismo concept that was shown at the 2012 Paris Auto Show as that was an undeniably well received design that does not stray far from the constraints of mass production.

Porsche has been working on a second-generation Panamera for some time and have recently been testing prototypes in icy Sweden and at track facilities in Europe. It will ride on the Volkswagen Group’s new MSB platform and reported to be over 90kg lighter than before thanks to its construction incorporating more lightweight aluminium and magnesium over steel.

Likely engine options should include the V8 and V6 petrol engines as well as the V6 diesel and hybrid models. An improved PDK dual-clutch transmission has been speculated to send power to either all four wheels or the rear two.


Honda Civic Type R (FK8R) Delivered To First Malaysian Customer

One Mr. Adrian Salleh Bin Hashim has just became the first Malaysian to own the latest FK8 generation Honda Civic Type R. The vehicle was delivered to him at Honda dealer Botanic Auto Mall Sdn. Bhd. in Klang.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony, Honda Malaysia Group Vice President Mr. Akkbar Danial said, “We remain committed to providing joy to our customers by offering products that are of high value and advanced in technology. The All-New Civic Type R stands out above the rest, delivering race track-worthy powerful performance yet adaptable to our daily driving demands on Malaysian roads. We strive to ensure all of Honda’s line up provides the Joy of Driving to our customers with its unique advanced features.
This is what makes Honda unique. We want to take this opportunity to thank Malaysians for their unwavering support towards the latest technologies that we introduce.”
Mr. Akkbar also added, “A customer survey was conducted prior to the launch of the 2007 year model Civic Type R or better known as FD2R in 2007 and we are pleased to note that Mr. Adrian Salleh was one of the first customers interviewed for feedback on the Type R, which helped contributed market insights especially on the identification of the demand and needs of a new customer segment. His passion for the Type R is evident as we deliver the very first All-New Civic Type R to him today. In 2007, Malaysia became the only country outside of Japan to officially launch the FD2R. Honda Malaysia sold 420 units of the FD2R between 2007 to 2011. This achievement was possibly due to the popularity and demand of sporty and race-worthy cars that can be driven on the roads. Malaysia has seen an increasing number of Honda fans and car enthusiasts taking an interest in models like the Type R.”
Since it was open for bookings on 1st October 2017, Honda Malaysia has received more than 70 booking for the all-new Civic Type R.
Botanic Auto Mall dealer owner Dato’ Mahfoz Bin Haji Hamid said, “We are proud to be one of the 20 Honda Sport Dealers to share this excitement. We received many enquiries regarding the All-New Civic Type R and positive feedback after customers viewed the car at our dealership. We are very honoured to be part of this significant celebration to handover the first All-New Civic Type R in Malaysia today. As a Honda dealer, we look forward to providing Mr. Adrian Salleh and all our customers with excellent after sales services to ensure they experience the joy of owning a Honda.”
Mr. Adrian Salleh who is a regular Honda customer at Botanic Auto Mall said, “The launch of the All-New Civic Type R made me eager to test and feel this beast. I was impressed with its sporty and bold exterior, delivering powerful performance yet suitable for me to drive daily. The feature I find most unique is the 3-Way Driving modes; which are COMFORT, SPORT and +R Mode that allowed me to set the preferred driving mode to experience different dynamic performance in different driving environment. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel to feel the power while on my daily commute.”
Besides being the first Malaysian to drive home the All-New Civic Type R, Mr. Adrian Salleh will be gifted with specially customized Honda merchandise, a GoPro HERO 5 and authorized Honda Ultra Glass Body Coating with Ultra Window Coating valued at RM5,300 as tokens of appreciation from Honda Malaysia in celebrating this milestone.
The Civic Type R is priced at RM320,000 excluding insurance, and can only be purchased (and maintained) at one of the 20 selected Honda Sport dealers.


Nissan Wants All Its Cars In Japan To Be Able To Brake By Itself

Automatic braking and other pre-crash safety features are usually found in more expensive higher-end models a given automaker’s range, but
Nissan
 it wants to make it a feature on all mass-volume cars in its domestic market by this autumn.
According to a Reuters report, Japan’s second largest automaker is investing heavily in the prediction that automatic braking will be the focus of the next large-scale implementation of a safety feature, following airbags and antilock brakes becoming standard equipment. And their intention to outfit pretty much every model they offer with the system will begin with
the X-Trail Hybrid SUV
 that was unveiled recently.
An increasing market demand, especially in developed markets, for more advanced safety features has led to this move and it is expected that other automakers will be setting up rival solutions to reduce the number of emergency braking accidents.
In the new
RAV4 Hybrid
, Toyota, Nissan’s primary competitor, revealed its system (dubbed Toyota Safety Sense or TSS) that utilizes a camera with laser radar to detect a would-be collision that alerts the driver and can apply braking force should the threat reach above a certain threshold.
Toyota
 said that in the Japanese and North American markets, the new safety system will be either offered as standard or as an optional extra on nearly all the passenger cars offered there.
Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and
Renault
, said that these technologies are all incremental steps toward the self-driving cars which, as he said in a previous statement, would likely be introduced into the Japanese market some time in 2016. Its reasonable to assume that both Nissan and Renault are hard at work to perfect the vehicles, technology, and infrastructure to properly flesh out this vision.
It’s unknown what the rollout strategy is for the rest of the world, but a commitment as big as this isn’t likely to stay confined for very long, meaning that there should be plans coming to light for Nissan’s future vehicles in Malaysia having automatic braking as a standard and perhaps self-driving cars even further down the line.


Proton X50’s 1.5 Turbo Engines To Be ‘Buatan Malaysia’ Soon

Besides a certain stubborn virus, there was no doubt that the Proton X50 took up most of the limelight in 2020 in the minds of your average car-enthused Malaysian. Though nearly everything about the new model was taken from the Geely Binyue, we could at least take some consolation in that it had undergone a thorough localisation effort and is
assembled in Tanjung Malim
.

However, its engine, a
1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged
 petrol mill, remained a key component of the X50 that was a ‘CBU’ from China. That could all change this year if some new information lifted from the 2021 annual report of
Sapura Industrial Berhad
 proves accurate.

In line with a more aggressive CKD push from the national automaker, the vendor is aiming to be a part of Proton’s global supply chain as they expand their export market reach by being an active participant in the Proton-Geely GEP3 (
Global Engine Petrol 3)
new engine program.

According to the industrial vendor, they have received Letters of Award to soon begin supplying components for the local manufacture of the 1.5-litre turbo engine in both standard and higher output direct-injection variants, which in the X50 range produces 150PS/226Nm and 177PS/255Nm respectively.

The parts in question, according to the document, include the Torsional Vibration Damper, Exhaust Camshaft, and Intake Camshaft. It also added that the GEP3 engine is due to replace the current CamPro-branded engines that have served Proton models since 2005 in some form or another.

Of course, the phasing out of all legacy engines in favour of newer Geely designs will take some time but does at least flesh out the prospect of cars such as the Iriz, Persona, Saga, and Exora receiving them in the foreseeable future, presumably paired with the X50’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as well.

In the short term at least, a steady local supply of these engines could definitely put a big dent in overcoming
the long waitlist period
 that is currently afflicting the X50 and its future owners. However, while the shift to locally built engines is likely to take place some time within the next 12 months, there’s no telling when exactly we can expect it to happen without some official word from a tight-lipped Proton.


Detroit 2017: Honda To Debut All-New North American-market Only Honda Odyssey

Honda is set to debut an all-new fifth generation North American market Honda Odyssey at the coming 2017 North American International Auto Show, which opens on 9-January.
Despite the familiar Odyssey name, the model referred to here should not be associated with the Japanese market Honda Odyssey that is also sold in Malaysia. Predominantly sold in USA and Canada, the North American market Honda Odyssey features a different styling and is powered by a larger 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine.
Apart from one design sketch, Honda has not revealed any other information about the all-new Odyssey but the company did say that the all-new model will feature new powertrain technology, sophisticated styling and showcase a new suite of innovative features. It also claims that it offers the ultimate in family-friendly design and packaging.


PLUS Issues Travel Time Advisory For Labour and Wesak Day Holidays

The long weekends are upon us with the upcoming Labour Day and Wesak Day holidays between 30 April and 5 May, which means for some of us, it means a trip back to our hometowns while others can take this opportunity to plan a road trip to a holiday destination.
Before you set out on your journey, PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) has released its Travel Time Advisory (TTA) schedule for those who are planning to use the North-South Expressway (NSE) during this period.
Motorists are urged to refer to PLUS’ TTA and plan ahead before setting out on their journey and to ensure they are well informed on the latest traffic updates on the highways. This can be done by contacting PLUSLine at 1800-88-0000, following
@PLUSTrafik
 on Twitter, or by downloading the PLUS mobile app on their smartphones or tablets (available for
iOS
 and
Android
).


All-New Mercedes-AMG G63 Launched In Malaysia, From Over RM 1.46 Million

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just unveiled the all-new Mercedes-Benz G-Class in the country and the Mercedes-AMG G63 is the sole representative of this legendary off-road model here.
The all-new G-Class has been
thoroughly reworked in all aspects
. While it retains the torsionally rigid ladder-type frame, the optimized material selection and design have contributed to a lower weight and more comfortable ride for occupants.
The team from Mercedes-AMG have designed the all-new frame to accommodate coil springs all-round, with an independent double wishbone front axle and a five-link axle at the rear.
Up front, the all-new Mercedes-AMG G63 underpins its unique position among performance off-road vehicles provided by the glorious 4-litre V8 biturbo engine.
“The G-Class, a vehicle that is truly stronger than time, iconic, and legendary but yet timeless. The G63 reinforces its position as an off-road vehicle with a powerful on-road performance through the AMG V8 biturbo with that unmistakable symphonic sound,” said Mark Raine, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
The hand-built V8 biturbo engine delivers 585 hp peaking at 5,500 rpm to 6,000 rpm and 850 Nm of torque at a low range of 2,000 rpm to 3,500 rpm. All that power is sent to the AMG Speedshift TCT 9G (torque converter, 9-speed) automatic transmission and then to the Performance 4Matic all-wheel drive.
The reduction gear, long travel suspension plus electronic software enables the G63 to master all terrain. Pre-set terrain modes which are Sand, Trail, and Rock are part of the off-Road mode under the Dynamic Select driving mode selector. Ground clearance is still a generous 241 millimetres.
More off-road traction to individual axle can be further diverted through the three locking differentials (front, centre, and rear).
The Mercedes-AMG G63 comes standard with these features:
AMG Performance Exhaust System
AMG Ride Control adaptive suspension
AMG 22-inch Cross-spoke forged wheels
Multibeam LED head lamps
AMG Carbon fibre trim in red pepper
Ventilated front seats
Burmester surround sound system
Intelligent Driving Assistance Package
The Mercedes-AMG G63 destined for Malaysia are also equipped with the AMG Driver’s package that lifts the top speed to 240 km/h. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also
unveiled another two 63-series SUVs
 at the launch event at Sepang International Circuit- the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63S SUV and Coupe variants.


Volvo’s Ara Damansara 3S Centre To Launch Soon - 4 Floors, VR Experience

A new and rather tastefully imposing four storey Volvo 3S (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) centre has been unveiled in Ara Damansara. The white monolith was designed and built to adhere to the high standards of the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE).

It stands as the newest addition to Sime Darby Motors City and will be officially launched on 20th February 2020 under the banner of Sime Darby Swedish Auto Sdn Bhd, who were appointed as Volvo’s local dealer-partner mere months ago back in October 2019.

The ground floor, as you’d expect, will feature an expansive showroom to showcase the best from the Swedish marque’s portfolio. Spread over the second and third floors are the fully equipped and fully air conditioned service centre (a first in Malaysia) and a specialised area for vehicle paint correction and detailing. Finally, the top-most floor houses a wheel alignment and balancing zone.

Inside, the customer experience was obviously designed around a set of very Scandanavian values and ideals, meant to deliver one that’s “contemporary” and “luxurious”. Owners also can experience the RATC Bay (Reception At The Counter) for quicker service, which is another first in a 3S centre here.

Yet another first, and one that really emphasises its state-of-the-art status, is the VR Studio. The virtual reality experience will allow potential buyers to experience Volvo cars and the their capabilities in a far more impactful and immersive fashion.

The new Volvo Ara Damansara 3S Centre is located at: Block 6, Sime Darby Motors City, 6 Jalan PJU 1A/7, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Alternatively, enquiries can be directed to their reception desk at 03-76233200. Once open, the centre will operate on Mondays to Saturdays between 8.30am to 5.30pm.


How Different Are Cars Sold Here From Other Countries?

Not every car sold across the world is identical. But how exactly do manufacturers determine what specs or changes to make?

If we were talking about the 1980s, the only differences you would get between cars in some parts of the world and others is whether they came with a catalytic converter, and a range of engine sizes. For the most part, cars sold on a global scale had nearly identical parts – which makes it a little easier to source parts for older cars from pretty much any market that sold it.

But as cars have become more optimized and efficient, ironically there has been a growing emphasis on homologation and making cars work in particular markets – whether that’s through adjustment to local regulations, or specifying certain performance outputs or suspension settings. In the case of the former, the requirement for a rear fog light as well as amber indicators (not a global requirement) are two things that come to mind.

In the case of the latter, it is a little trickier to explain but there are a number of examples of cars that required a lot of persistence on the part of local distributors for a manufacturer to even allow them to sell the cars in Malaysia. The
Honda Civic FD2 Type R
 and the
Mazda 3 MPS
 are two such examples where Honda Malaysia and Bermaz respectively had to convince their principals that these cars would both sell well locally, as well as survive the local road conditions.

Marketing can always be tweaked, but road and driving conditions cannot. Surprisingly, Malaysia has some of the harshest driving conditions you can get which can make some manufacturers hesitant. The second generation Honda City (the ones which came with CVT-type automatics at least) were notorious for having reliability issues, and that was simply because the engineers never expected Malaysians to sustain such high speeds for such extended periods of time. After
two generations
 they started offering a CVT again across their range of models – but with units that were far beefier than before.

The same could be said of the notorious DSG failures that plagued the first wave of Volkswagen TSI models in Malaysia. Curiously enough, these problems were isolated to very few markets – and specifically, it seemed to correlate with markets with a high frequency of long traffic jams as well as high heat and humidity. A jam in Europe is usually a much shorter duration and distance than the 45 minute to two hour jams that some of us will face on the daily. It took a while for Volkswagen to find a
permanent fix
 to the problem, and thankfully the problems have all been ironed out following some serious aggression from the community.

With all of this in mind, you would assume that manufacturers would pick the softest suspension and weakest engine outputs for our country, but you would be wrong. In some cases, Malaysians should be thankful that engineers and marketing teams fought for certain features or specifications. Perodua’s work with the
second generation Myvi
 saw stiffer suspension and a heavier steering weight for our market compared to the equivalent Daihatsu and Toyota models in Japan – something that Malaysians would complain about had they been too soft or light respectively.

Similarly, without a picture of what local fuel availability is like, it can be difficult for manufacturers to decide what level of performance to provide. It is known that our local
Volkswagen Golf R
 models follow that of Australia with a 290 PS output, though that is more to deal with our local heat and humidity. In the past, there were concerns that Malaysians wouldn’t have access to RON 97 or higher, which made it difficult to get the green light for performance cars.

For a time, a number of manufacturers would even use Genting as a test road because it was regarded as some of the toughest roads that a car would have to face in Malaysia – Perodua even made it a point that a Kancil could travel to the peak with a full load of four passengers, and Honda made clear that some of their models were put through their paces on the mountain roads. That has become less of an emphasis now, and with road-scanning services, much of the driving conditions in various countries can be replicated or simulated remotely.

That being said, you will still occasionally see the odd homologation or prototype running around on our roads, simply because engineers still need to test if anything odd or off will pop up when it comes time to sell these cars in an official capacity – hence the excitement whenever we happen to see one on our roads in camouflage. Case in point the numerous
Proton X50
 sightings.


Westar Maxus Has A Negative Pressure Ambulance That Stops Viruses From Getting Out

There are many levels of safety when it comes to pathogens, but one of the highest is negative pressure.

If you were around in the 1990s, there was always this fear that Ebola and its numerous deadly variants would spread so quickly and aggressively that the death toll would be unlike anything humankind had seen in centuries before. This fear, much like fear of the Cold War spawned numerous war movies, ended up creating a number of movies that played out these pandemic scenarios. One common theme is that wherever the virus or pathogen was being experimented on, the laboratory would have to be negative pressure to keep things in.

What negative pressure means is that essentially there is a constant mild vacuum inside the laboratory to stop things from getting out. You can seal up cracks in doors and windows as much as you like but viruses will always find a way - that is, unless they're constantly being sucked back inside. Westar Maxus has managed to make a negative pressure ambulance for Malaysia, which is of course aimed at improving safety when dealing with COVID-19 patients. Based on a long-wheel base variant of the V80 transporter, this may very well be the most advanced ambulance we have here.

Within the ambulance sits... another ambulance. Okay, not really - but there is a secondary internal chamber that sits on a stretcher, and that is where infectious patients will be placed. The chamber is air-tight and negative pressure as well to further reduce the risk of contamination when moving between areas. All of the air inside the cabin will only be discharged back outside once it has been cleaned of pathogens, and the interior has a UV light that engages between uses in order to more effectively sanitize.

All of this is put into place to make it easier for front-liners to work with and transport COVID-19 patients. The risk is still out there, and there have to be ever stronger measures to prevent the spread of the virus when even just trying to treat and isolate patients.


Car Batteries: Types of batteries, how to choose the right battery and when to change your battery?

All you need to know about car batteries - the different types, how to choose the right battery and when to change your battery.

These days, the only conversations people have about vehicle
batteries
 are those found on an electric vehicle. It feels like people are getting more familiar with EV batteries rather than those currently sitting underneath their bonnet in their ICEV's.

Well, till EVs take over because they eventually will, the battery underneath your bonnet is still the heart of internal combustion cars because, without it, there's just no way that the car will start.

But what do you know about your car's
battery
? Is it always working all the time, and how do you really care for it? If you know the answers to it, then great, but if you don't, don't worry, because this fun piece of information about car batteries is about to get you up to speed.

How do car batteries work?

Powering your car is a complex affair, but here's a simple little fact for you: you need a functioning battery to get it to come alive. Your car battery provides the much-needed bolt of electricity to put electrical components to work, so a car battery is quite essential if you think about it.

The car battery is designed to only supply a short burst of high power, just enough to get the engine to move a couple of hundred RPMs through the electric starter. Once it has ticked over, the electric starter disengages, which by then would have drained a few percentage points off the car battery's state of charge.

With the engine running, an electric generator or more commonly known as an alternator, takes over from the battery, where it will generate electricity for the rest of the vehicle, usually between 13.5 V and 14.5 V.

If the battery itself tried to power a vehicle's electrical systems such as the ignition and fuel system, engine and transmission controls, audio and climate control, it would probably only be able to do it a few minutes before killing itself.

Battery's weaknesses

Three main things kill car batteries; heat, vibration, and discharging.

Heat basically accelerates corrosion and electrolyte evaporation, which shortens the life and kills a car's battery. This is why most cars have air dams or tubes to direct air at them, as it will help keep the battery nice and cool.

Vibration on the other hand works just like an earthquake as it'll shake everything around, including a battery's internal plates and loosen internal connections. A properly fitted battery will be safe from excessive vibration which is why sometimes you see some braces on top of the battery so that it doesn't move around.

Accidental discharge is possibly the worst thing for lead-acid batteries. Leaving the lights on for long periods or leaving things
charged
 in a car all day will drain the battery, and this may require it to be
jump-started
 if power is low, but the battery will never fully recover.

Short trips will also help kill a battery as the alternator doesn't have enough time to charge the battery up after many startups.

What types of batteries are there?

There are three main different battery types; AGM, EFB and Lead Acid.

Their high performance characterizes AGM and EFB batteries, while Lead Acid is more your run off the mill battery.

Lead Acid batteries - The Conventional battery for the conventional car

Conventional batteries such as lead-acid batteries are the most common types of battery. This technology is often referred to as SLI, which relates to the main functions of a vehicle battery: Starting, Lighting, and Ignition. They are suitable for vehicles without start-stop technology and a moderate number of electrical consumers.

Battery Example: Amaron NS40, Varta NS40ZL, Century NS40

Used on: Proton Iriz, Persona, Perodua Bezza, Axia

EFB batteries – Good for vehicles that have start-stop

EFB batteries are an optimized, higher performance version of wet battery (original type of rechargeable batteries). The abbreviation "EFB" stands for "Enhanced Flooded Battery.

Without going all too technical, EFB batteries have many possible charging cycles and provide more than double the partial and deep discharge performance compared to conventional batteries, thanks to some unique materials used between the plates inside a battery.

EFB batteries are often installed in vehicles with simple automatic start-stop systems. Due to their superior performance, batteries with EFB technology are also increasingly used as replacements for conventional lead-acid batteries.

Battey Examples: Varta Silver Dynamic, Amaron M42, Bosch ST Hightec

Used on: Any Mazda, BMW, Mercedes, Renault, Honda with start-stop feature

AGM batteries – If your car has start-stop, regen braking, and the whole nine yards.

AGM batteries are versatile, have high performance and are designed for high demands. In principle, the structure of an AGM battery is the same as that of a wet cell battery. However, in an AGM, the electrolyte is no longer free-floating but is bound in a special glass fibre separator – hence the name "Absorbent Glass Mat".

The large contact area contributes to the power output and also makes the battery leak-proof. Due to its construction, the battery is sealed airtight. This feature enables internal recombination of oxygen and hydrogen so that there is no water loss.

An AGM battery can withstand three times more cycle life than a conventional starter battery. AGM batteries are ideal for vehicles with automatic start-stop systems with braking energy recovery (recuperation). A conventional starter battery cannot handle the high power demands of these systems. AGM batteries are also the right choice for cars with high energy consumption and a large number of electrical components.

Battery examples: Banner AGM, Varta Powersport AGM, Magneti Marelli AGM

Used on: Any BMW with Efficient Dynamics and Mercedes with 48V Mild Hybrid

How to know it's time to change your battery?

Today's car batteries typically last three to five years in our type of hot and humid climate. A failing car battery will give you many warning signs, such as dim headlights, strange air conditioning behavior, or slow engine cranking. If any of these things creep up, get your battery checked before anything else.

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

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Carlist.my.

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Fuel Price Update: 20th To 26th April – 12 Sen Up For RON97

The Ministry of Finance Malaysia has announced the updated prices of petrol and diesel fuels starting from 20
th
 April.
The price of RON97 petrol will increase 12 sen to RM 2.80 per litre, while the price of RON95 petrol is capped at RM 2.08 per litre.
The price of diesel will remain capped at RM 2.18 per litre for Euro 2M and RM 2.28 for Euro 5 respectively.
In summary, the prices for petrol and diesel are listed below:
RON95 – RM 2.08 per litre (unchanged, capped)
RON97 – RM 2.80 per litre (up 12 sen)
Diesel Euro 2M – RM 2.18 per litre (unchanged, capped)
Diesel Euro 5M – RM 2.28 per litre (unchanged, capped)


ASEAN NCAP: Malaysian Made Car Under Investigation For Safety Violation

A Malaysian made car is currently being investigated by the ASEAN NCAP for an alleged safety violation in which the vehicle’s top tether fitment (for child seats) has been removed from the car after it has obtained its safety rating, said ASEAN NCAP in a press statement released late yesterday.
ASEAN NCAP’s Secretary-General, Mr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim said the exclusion of the top tether will certainly have a severe impact on the car’s Child Occupant Protection test results. The vehicle tested by ASEAN NCAP was fitted with the said top tether.
The independent safety organisation, which is an affiliated to Global NCAP (also related to Euro NCAP and ANCAP) did not reveal the manufacturer or the model in question, but said that it is a locally made car (they specifically used the word 'made' rather than 'assembled').
There were rumours that the manufacturer in question is a national brand, but as today is a public holiday, the spokespersons of Proton and Perodua are unable to comment on the matter yet.
Update:
 Perodua:
All Our Vehicles Conform To Ratings Awarded By ASEAN NCAP
ASEAN NCAP said it will be sending a show cause letter to the manufacturer, with a demand for its plans to recover the situation. ASEAN NCAP plans to either suspend the vehicle’s safety rating or have the said car retested with its existing (lower) safety specifications.
Khairil also added that the findings will be made public. He also said that as a result of this irresponsible act by a local manufacturer, ASEAN NCAP will also be investigating other models which have been tested by ASEAN NCAP earlier.
Related link:
Euro NCAP, ANCAP, ASEAN NCAP - What's The Difference?


PLUS To Offer 20 Percent Rebate For Electronic Payment Users On Selected Highways

PLUS has announced that starting 9
th
 September 2015, motorists who pay at tolls electronically will receive a 20 percent rebate on selected highways.
This is an effort to further urge the public to abandon their cash-only toll habits before the eventual all-electronic shift takes place at all, if not the majority, of Malaysian tolls.
The tolls in question that will pass on the rebate to motorists using Touch n’ Go, PLUSMiles card, and SmarTAG include:
Penang Bridge Toll Plaza, Jitra, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kubang Semang, and Lunas.
Managing Director of PLUS, Dato’ Noorizah Hj Abd Hamid said, “The introduction of the electronic payment system not only facilitates smoother toll transactions at the toll plazas, but at the same time offers the public the chance to enjoy 20% toll rebate per month beginning 1 September until end of this year.”
Of note, however, is that Penang Bridge users who are currently using their residents-only 20 percent toll discount will not be eligible for a further a toll rebate.
“In addition, the public can also purchase SmartTAGs at a promotional rate of RM96.00 (inclusive of 6% GST) at Customer Service Centres at the Penang Bridge Toll Plaza, Jitra and Kubang Semang (while stock lasts). The Customer Service Centres operate from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm every day,” added Norizah
Motorists can also choose to purchase preloaded RM5 PLUSMiles Touch ‘n Go card at a promotional rate of RM5 (card is free) at the toll lanes at Penang Bridge Toll Plaza, Jitra, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kubang Semang and Lunas.
Based on calculations factoring in monthly usage of 30 days, this rebate will yield savings for electronically-paying motorists of more than RM42.00 per month. Detailed information on the savings are below:
Firstly, for the Penang bridge toll:


VW Arteon R-Line Finally Makes Malaysian Debut – Locally Assembled, RM221,065

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) today launched the highly-anticipated, all-new Arteon R-Line.

Locally assembled at the Volkswagen plant in Pekan, Pahang, the Arteon R-Line is priced at RM221,065 on the road without insurance.

The five-door fastback, which is Volkswagen’s flagship model, is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre TSI engine that is paired to a 7-speed DSG gearbox, producing 190 PS and 320 Nm of torque.

Since it is an R-Line model, the Arteon’s exterior features frameless doors, an aggressive front chrome grill with R-Line badge, LED headlights and taillights with dynamic indicators, a rugged black rear spoiler, 19” Montevideo alloy wheels, lower chrome trimmings, and an All Weather Light system.

Also worth mentioning here is that the Arteon has a huge boot with 563-litres of storage space, with an Easy Open boot function.

Inside, front passengers get 14-way ErgoComfort seats decked in R-Line badging, while the driver is able to enjoy an additional massage function.

For audiophiles, the Arteon is fitted with a Dynaudio sound system that offers a premium audio experience with its 11 speakers, 16 channel digital amplifier, one subwoofer and 700W of sheer sound luxury.

Adding to the luxurious ambience are Silver Rise aluminium inserts, Titanium Black headliner, an analog clock and 3-color ambient lighting.

With sharp resolution and higher clarity, the 11.7” Digital Cockpit allows drivers access to driving data with six customizable screen views and over 30 combination options, including 2D and 3D navigation and a full 100% map view.

Connectivity at your fingertips, the 9.2” Discover Pro touchscreen infotainment system allows drivers to connect wirelessly via Apple Car Play, and available for Android Auto and Mirrorlink via a Type C USB port. The system offers voice control, gesture control and is even customizable to feature a split screen view.

For those wanting to customise their drive, the all-new Arteon R-Line comes with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), which offers up to 15 selectable increments and five different driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual.

Where safety is concerned, the Arteon R-Line features Post Collision Braking System that prevents a second collision; Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS) that takes preventive measures during a collision by cutting the fuel supply, unlocking the door and turning on the hazard lights; and Electronic Different Lock (XDS) that improves traction and reduce understeer.

Other standard safety features are Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Brake Assist (BA), Hill-hold Control, Proactive Passenger Protection System and Active Bonnet for pedestrian protection.

The Arteon also comes with the Area View 360 camera that combines the use of all four cameras to offer a complete bird’s eye view. This screen is customizable and available in full or split views.

The Arteon R-Line is equipped with Tyre Pressure Monitoring System which monitors individual tyres pressure; and manoeuvre braking that automatically applies brakes to prevent a collision when it senses an object at speeds of up to 10kmph.

Available in 5 colours - Manganese Grey, Turmeric Yellow, Pyrite Silver; Deep Black, Oryx White Pearl – the Volkswagen Arteon R-Line also comes with 3 years free maintenance, 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years roadside assistance.


VIDEO: Helmetless On The Nurburgring With An 8.3-Litre Viper? Prepare To Crash

Can we all agree that wearing a helmet on a racetrack is necessary? Especially in an open-top car? Good. Can we also agree that a Dodge Viper is a bit of a handful? Great. This driver on the
Nurburgring
 doesn’t, or at least forgot to agree.
The silver one we see in the video, a second-generation Viper roadster, has under the hood an enormous 8.3-litre V10 engine which pumps out well over 500hp. And if we’re honest, it’s not known for having the most sophisticated suspension either (with the exception of track-oriented
Viper ACR
). It’s somewhat of a blunt instrument, which is exciting, but you need to be on your toes.
The driver and a passenger were in the Viper, took a corner, albeit a little too quickly, and the front washes wide. The driver compensates with more steering angle, which starts to come good as the car stumbled onto the grippier curb surfaces. Then it appears that more power was applied, which then swung the car around with nowhere left to go except slamming into the Armco barriers.
Funniest part? All the used plastic water bottles that got ejected from the trunk upon impact. Embarassing. At least the accident occured at a much lower speed than it could have been.


Updated Nissan GT-R Prices Announced For The US Market, 45th Anniversary And NISMO Edition Included

After Japan, it is time for the updated
Nissan
 GT-R to go on sale in the United States and among the four variants that are available include a special 45th Anniversary Gold Edition and NISMO one.
All variants are listed as below:
GT-R Premium: $101,770 USD
GT-R 45th Anniversary Gold Edition: $102,770 USD
GT-R Black Edition: $111,510 USD
GT-R NISMO: $149,990 USD

Nissan GT-R
 Premium & Black Edition
The same VR38DETT 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 petrol engine remains largely the same but with a little tune-up, bringing power up to 550 hp and 628 Nm torque. Other changes include new 20-spoke wheels for the Premium and new interior colour schemes to choose from.
The Black Edition however, receives just that little bit more including lightweight black aluminium forged RAYS wheels, red and black interior, Recaro leather-appointed seats, and a dry carbon fibre rear spoiler.
Nissan GT-R
 45th Anniversary Gold Edition
Based on the GT-R Premium model, the highlight of this celebratory edition model is the special gold paint colour (Silica Brass) on the exterior, a throwback to the 2001 Skyline GT-R M-Spec (R34 type), but also small subtle details as well. In the engine bay, a gold-tone vehicle identification number plate can be found as well as commemorative plaque on the interior centre console.
Nissan USA say that fewer than 30 examples of these special GT-Rs is slated for the United States market.
Nissan GT-R
 NISMO
When the normal GT-R isn’t enough, enter the NISMO variant. The engine here is reworked to now produce 600 hp and 652 Nm torque, which is more courtesy of turbochargers that are similar to those used for GT3 racing, optimising ignition timing control, and upgraded fuel pump. Power is still sent through a paddle-shifted sequential six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Further enhancements have also been made to the four-wheel independent suspension that receive NISMO tuning to be lighter and reduce roll stiffness, and additional adhesive bonding that increase body shell rigidity. Aerodynamics are also worked on with a wider front bumper, engine undercover, carbon fibre rear spoiler.
Inside, racing style Recaro seats are found along with an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel. The material is also found on the meter hood and red stitching can be found on the seats, centre console, door trim, and steering wheel.


Nasim Launches New Peugeot 3008 SUV Plus And 5008 SUV Plus

The second half of 2019 begins with a bang for Nasim Sdn Bhd, as they launch the new Peugeot 3008 SUV Plus and the Peugeot 5008 SUV Plus. This pair of SUVs have won numerous awards in the last few years, but this year sees them being shifted to local assembly at Naza Automotive Manufacturing, which will function as a hub for Southeast Asia.
The styling and specifications for these new models largely follows that of before, although being locally assembled the number of features have increased. New roof rail designs and chrome side mirrors add a touch of class, as well as a new panoramic sunroof and sport 18-inch alloy wheels for both the 3008 and 5008.
On the inside, both cars pack Claudia leather seats, with either Graphite or Goa stitching depending on the variant. Leather and fabric materials cover most touch points, while blue mood lighting adds a touch of class in an otherwise utilitarian segment.
The Peugeot i-Cockpit makes a return, with a new navigation function embedded in the 8-inch multifunction colour touch screen, with the 12.3-inch heads-up digital cluster display being updated with the addition of an Onyx graphical style, a new Driving Assistance display mode, and Personal modes.
There’s a smart motorised tailgate for both models to ease access when loading and unloading the boot, along with a kick function for hands free operation. But more important than easy access is the new suite of driver assistance systems, from Driver Attention Alert, to Speed Limit Recognition and Recommendation, 180 degree reverse camera with stitching function, and an upgraded Blind Spot Information System and Active Lane Departure Warning.
Both the 3008 and 5008 get Nera Black, Pearl White, Amazonite Grey, and the new Aster Gray colour, while the 3008 gets a Metallic Copper and the 5008 gets Emerald Crystal as exclusive colours.
So what’s the pricing like? The base variant of the 3008 SUV Plus, known as the Active model, goes for RM 150,888, climbing to RM 163,888 for the Allure variant. For the 5008 SUV Plus, the price starts at RM 166,888 for the Active variant, and RM 179,888 for the Allure variant. All models come with a 5-year warranty, 3 years free service, and access to Skylounge by Naza at Subang Skypark.
For the best deals on Peugeot models, click
here
.


7 Dastardly Driving Habits Of The Average Malaysian Driver

So, the standard of driving in the country is on its way to hell, isn’t it? While face-to-face Malaysians can be some of the nicest folk you'll meet, on the road, something else seems to come over us, magnifying a selfish, courtesy-lacking attitude.
Or is it just that Malaysians aren't all that friendly anymore, and it's that demeanor that shows itself on the road? Either way, that's for a social experimentalist to figure out. Here, we're calling it as we see it.
And "it" has gotten so bad (not even mentioning
the crime-related activities
), that government officials, at a point not so long ago, were even considering
installing a speed-limiter on all vehicles
 that leave showrooms, forever binding them to a pace of 110km/h or below to try and curb the high death rate Malaysia has on its roads.
But what is it exactly that we do on the road that’s so terrible? Let us count the ways with these seven selfish and dangerous ways.
Tailgating, a.k.a. “Cucuk-ing”
THE PROBLEM:
 There’s no excusing this one, is there? Drivers that tailgate do it with full knowledge and control of their actions, and it can’t be any more stupid to do (lacking courtesy, example one). Tailgating simply involves one vehicle following another far too closely for comfort or time enough to react to any sudden changes, often at high speeds too.
Reasons for tailgating are simple enough to understand: as the car behind, usually a road-bully, tails the vehicle ahead very closely, “cucuking” their bumpers to intimidate them out of the way.
Fair point, given the existence of right-lane hoggers/ crawlers (something we’ll address in the next point), but we’ve seen the disastrous results of tailgating-gone-wrong far too often to know better. One momentary lapse of attention, one late reaction by any of the involved drivers, and you’re never going to have enough time to get on the brakes quickly enough to avoid a crash or worse.
THE SOLUTION:
 If you must get past someone that’s hogging the overtaking lane, there’s no point putting your own life in danger. Be smart, be patient. Flashing your high-beams is a more polite way to inform the car ahead of your presence, and signalling to the right often helps others understand your plans. If they still don’t get it, toot your horn once to help them notice – hopefully then they’ll make way. If that still doesn’t work, be even more patient. One mistake, and it’s the lives of you and your loved ones at stake. Getting a dash-cam and shaming the lane-hogger (or tailgater) on social media can also be quite entertaining. Carlist.my is ever ready to help you promote it too.
Here's one other reason you may want to follow another car too closely:
Hogging The Right/ Overtaking Lane
THE PROBLEM:
 One of the main reasons for tailgaters to do what they do comes from drivers that misuse the overtaking lane (right-most), hogging it for no good reason. If you haven’t been briefed yet, the right-most lane is, by law, the overtaking lane – not the “fast” lane.
THE SOLUTION:
 Here’s how you use it: Driving on a highway at 100km/h, in the middle lane, should you encounter someone doing 95km/h on it ahead of you, approach, pull out to the right, overtake, and get back to the middle lane when you’re done.
Now, no law will change the fact that sometimes, you will stay on the right-most lane to get past a long stretch of slower drivers, and that’s okay, so long as you maintain a good awareness of your surroundings and move over in time to let others pass you.
If or not
other drivers use it to exceed the legal speed limit
 is well beyond your control. As a safe, responsible driver, it’s your job to keep you, yours and everyone around you safe. And that sometimes means staying away from morons who abuse the road.
Failing To Understand What Red, Yellow and Green Traffic Lights Mean
Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? It’s probably one the first things you learn as a toddler, riding around in cars: Go on green, slow on yellow, stop on red. But you and I both know what those colours
really
 mean in Malaysia, don’t we?
Green:
The world is the way it should be
Yellow:
Speed the hell up
Red:
“Can la, can la, can la…”
Unfortunately, maintaining this understanding is what will eventually get you in a dangerous crash, and more devastatingly, one that involves other innocent motorists. Too many Malaysian drivers have a habit of beating a red light in order to avoid getting stalled behind one (again with the ‘me-first’ attitude), and too many times have we seen massive accidents (let alone deaths) come from it. With motorcycles typically maintaining the front line at a traffic light, they’re usually the first to fall victim, and also the least protected.
And it’s not just at speed. Some motorist do it amidst a traffic crawl, and then cause more of a problem when they’re stuck, blocking other lanes from their turns at moving along on green.
So, even if you’ve got no consideration for your own life, try to spare a thought for other motorist who do, and abide by the original set of rules.
Texting & Driving: Or Worst, Gaming & Driving
THE PROBLEM:
 Fiddling with your mobile phones while driving? Come on, we should know better than that, shouldn’t we? Well, apparently, we don’t. If talking to someone over your mobile phone is distracting enough, what more fiddling with a touchscreen, trying to put together sentences you’d normally fumble anyways while doing absolutely nothing else.
Driving while using your mobile phones takes your eyes and attention away from the road. And to think that others can’t spot you hiding your phone on your lap is silly – good drivers pay attention to other drivers and what they’re paying attention to. The simple fact is that countless accidents are caused by inattentive drivers, regardless of their current speed.
THE SOLUTION:
 If it’s a text message (usually is, if not a game – we’ve actually seen that) that absolutely requires your immediate attention, pull over, do what you need to, and then go back to driving. If it’s a navigation app that you’re trying to configure, do it before you drive off and use a gadget mount to clamp your device to your windscreen. As if we really need to be telling you these things…
Car makers spend endless amounts of time and resources to help drivers keep their eyes ahead and focused on the road while they drive (placement of display screens, head-up display systems, etc.), and here we are, thinking we know better by putting our phones over our laps and turning our gazes away from the road. Genius. Here’s a look at your life should you keep that up:
WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC CONTENT
.
Double-Parking
The above example is something this writer witnessed personally, where at a crossroad flowing traffic past breakfast time on a Sunday morning, two drivers had conveniently left their vehicles there, and were nowhere to be seen for more than an hour. They were there from the time we had arrive to have our dim sum, and were still there after we had left.
THE PROBLEM:
 Rather than actually take the time to find a proper parking space, double-parking is something many Malaysian drivers resort to – parking their cars behind another parked vehicle in a proper spot. Most times, drivers who do this believe that their actions aren’t causing any harm to anyone, and are under the impression that they can get in and our of wherever they’re going clean and quick.
THE SOLUTION:
 Keep in mind that everything you do on the road has a strong influence on what others do around you. Double-parking shrinks a particular lane’s available space down and blocks someone in – what if that someone who took the time to park properly had an emergency they had to rush to, and your car was in their way? Would you appreciate being in their shoes?
The only known solution to double parking is to avoid doing it entirely.
Impulsive Manoeuvres: Sudden Swerving
Stemmed from the above point of having no consideration for those around you, impulsive and sudden driving manoeuvres can be more lethal on the road. Remember, every move you make with your vehicle greatly influences those around you to react in response to your actions – familiar with the butterfly effect?
THE PROBLEM:
 So, you initially intended to make an exit off the LDP highway to SS22, but was thinking about what’s for dinner, and forgot to move over to the left lane to prepare to exit. Now, you’re on the right-most lane, looking like you’re going to miss your turn. Impulsiveness takes over; you swing to the left, jumping across two lanes at once just to get to dinner on time, forgetting about everything else that you risked just now.
THE SOLUTION:
 Given that this act is probably one of the most selfish, inconsiderate, things you could do on the road, do try to avoid any and all impulsive decisions behind the wheel - make this the first thought that crosses your mind in the brief moment before you react. Yes, you’d miss your exit, but not only would you be putting yourself in danger by doing it, you’d be putting everyone else around you in danger as well.
Stay put, remember to focus on your route next time, and pay attention to where you’re going. There’s always another turn up ahead, or a u-turn that you could use. And don’t go trying to reverse your way back just to catch the exit.
Leaving Your Headlamps on High Beams
At night, when it’s hard enough to see things with all the lights flashing, having someone behind you drive with their high beams on consistently and blinding you is probably the last thing anyone needs.
THE PROBLEM:
 Unfortunately, the above happens more often than we’d like, and it’s often caused by pure carelessness – you switch on your high beams to see through a darker stretch of road where the street lamps are weak (or not existent) and no one’s around. You drive out of said area, and forget to turn them off. Another instance for this happening is when you’re just being mean, and want those ahead of your to move away.
THE SOLUTION:
 Always be mindful of your instrument panel, even more so at night, to pay best attention to your vehicle’s status. Just as much as this could happen to you, you could be doing it to someone else without knowing. Distracting the car ahead of you with blinding lights puts yourself in danger too: with the driver ahead focused on your beams, they aren’t as focused as they should be on the road, and if they slam the brakes for whatever reason, it will be you next to follow.
Also, do have your headlamps’ angles/ direction checked from time to time. Fitting aftermarket units (even the stock ones, sometimes), an installer can sometimes make the mistake of leaving them out of position and facing too high. This doesn’t only irritate drivers ahead of you; it doesn’t provide the optimum illumination of the road you need.
And that’s not all…
We’re quite sure that there are far more deadly points to go around, which we haven’t highlighted yet - street racing, driving too fast around neighbourhoods, not giving pedestrians the right of way at crossings, so on.
These items are of course the worst of the bunch we encounter very regularly, and would love to hear from you about what bothers you on the road. Write to us, tell us what you think in the comments, we’re listening.
Most of all, be sure to send this to a friend. Too many people get on the road every day without knowing any better – you can thank our driving education system for that – but simple tips like these go a long way. In the end, it’s about being safer on the roads and making it a less hectic and stressful environment to be in.


Review: 2017 Ford Ranger Wildtrak – Jet-Setting Pick-Up

For a time, pick-up trucks were viewed as affordable tax-free alternatives to budget B-segment sedans. Then, as their popularity grew amongst private owners, in came more features and better refinement; suddenly, pick-up trucks have become a lifestyle choice.
Pick-up trucks have been on this journey of progressive refinement for some time now, but the quantum leap moment happened in 2012 when Ford launched the current-generation Ranger T6 that raised the standards of features and technology margins never before seen in the segment.
Ford’s bravado with the highly-sophisticated Ranger T6 paid off handsomely. Despite not quite managing to surpass the
Toyota Hilux
 in sales volume, the Ranger won much plaudits and is still widely regarded as the class-leading pick-up. Rivals have since caught up with newer models, however, but there is no question that it was the Ranger that blazed the trail for others to follow.
The Ranger continues to be a hot seller for Ford. A surprisingly early
facelift came in 2015
 that made it an even better truck, but prices have been steadily creeping up too; owning a Ranger is hardly cheap these days, especially not if you opt to go for the full bells & whistles in the recently-launched
Wildtrak ‘Jet Black’
 edition as tested here.
Specifications:
Price: RM145,829.84 (OTR with Insurance)
Engine: 3.2-litre, Inline-5 Longitudinal, Turbodiesel
Power: 200PS @ 3,000rpm
Torque: 470Nm @ 1,750 – 2,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed torque converter automatic, 4x4
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Load-Sensing Proportional Valve (LSPV), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Roll Over Mitigation, Trailer Sway Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, ISOFIX
Origin: Fully-imported from Thailand
Overview

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The XLT variants are the ones most people buy, but it is the Wildtrak spec that everybody wants; less so, we suspect, for the added performance of its 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine, but more perhaps for its sportier aggressive styling.
The limited ‘Jet Black’ edition here decks the Ranger Wildtrak in black paint and runs a pair of racing stripes down its centre. Infotainment gets a software upgrade to feature the latest Sync 3 operating system. A price premium of RM1,750 over the non-limited Ranger Wildtrak is reasonable in this case, but a final asking price of RM146k with insurance is no small amount of money.
In addition to its more rugged appearance, the Wildtrak model also gets a substantially longer equipment list than the already generous manifest of the regular Ranger XLT. Features such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist puts the Ranger at premium vehicle level.
Noteworthy to mention too, that
reverse camera
 and electronic stability control are standard right from the regular XLT variants upwards. Curious then, that with this many class-leading features already incorporated, Ford has left out keyless entry.
Exterior
Looks is an area which the Ranger has scored very highly since the T6 was first launched in 2012. Five years on with a major facelift in between, the Ranger continues to be an exceedingly handsome-looking vehicle even if rivals are fast catching up.
A big part of the Wildtrak variant’s special appeal is the way its bright orange colour scheme contrasts with dark claddings and trim inserts to give off a funky yet rugged aura. In eschewing the Wildtrak’s signature bright colour, but retaining its rugged trim elements, the ‘Jet Black’ edition here projects an added air of menace in its looks. If you're the type that dig the look of subtle aggression, this truck, we suspect, should look highly appealing.
Ford remains surprisingly conservative with its choice of headlamps with all variants of the Ranger making do with halogen headlamps and bulb-type daytime-running lights. Rival pickups have mostly begun offering xenon and LED illumination in their upper variants, though it is also worth remembering that these fancy new headlights can also be significantly more expensive to replace.
Exclusive to the Wildtrak, the cargo bed gets a covered 12V power socket and a pair of cargo lights to illuminate the deck in the dark.
Interior
Besides extensively revising its fascia, Ford also gave the Ranger’s already modern cabin a substantial makeover for the 2015 facelift. Noteworthy is a revised semi-virtual instrument cluster that features a pair of LCD screens flanking the central speedometer. Looks positively slick at first glance, but it makes the virtual tachometer too small for our liking. Also, the organization of information isn’t as well sorted as the brilliantly simple four-quadrant layout as seen in the multi-info display of the
Focus
,
Mondeo
, and
S-Max
.
The new Sync 3 infotainment system, on the other hand, is praiseworthy for its smooth operation and intuitiveness of its interface. Resolution of display is good and response to touch commands is positively free of lag. We particularly appreciate the manual FM tuning feature that gives users the option of manually keying in a specific frequency on the virtual keypad.
Driving Experience
The Ranger set new standards in dynamics and refinement for the segment when it was launched in 2012 and still has yet to be convincingly surpassed by any rival since. Only the
Mitsubishi Triton
 and, more recently, the
Chevrolet Colorado
 any sort of legitimate claim of being anywhere near the same league as the Ranger with regards to their respective road manners.
Although the base 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine already provides a thoroughly competitive balance of performance and economy, the 3.2-litre five-cylinder powerplant here adds a new dimension of smoothness and refinement to the equation. The bigger five-pot engine makes full use of its extra cylinder and cubic capacity to not only offer better performance, but also to provide smooth and effortless accumulation of speed.
The 2015 facelift also added in significantly improved safety, which included, for the first time, autonomous driving aids in the segment. We didn’t put its autonomous emergency brakes to the test, but did try to provoke the lane keep assist system a few times – the calibration proved surprisingly good with intervention delivered in a firm, yet gentle manner.
Comfort & Refinement
We typically have to brace for shaky stiff rides with pick-up trucks, but the Ranger is indeed better than most in this respect. Its damping is, perhaps, still second best to the Triton, but is otherwise good enough that folks accustomed to the comforts of a passenger car are unlikely to be severely shaken. It is as comfortable as one can reasonably expect of a chassis that still has to be tuned to haul palm oil from the estates.
As mentioned earlier, the 3.2-litre five-pot is exceptional in its smoothness and refinement. Together with an excellent soundproofing package, Ford has succeeded in making the Ranger a truly quiet truck on the move. At highway speeds, conversations can be carried out without raised voices and neither was there any need to dial up the radio volume.
Economy
Over 320km of driving in mixed conditions covering highways and urban roads, the Wildtrak returned a measured average of 10.5 litres/100km on the trip computer; high in comparison to sub-2.5-litre trucks that are more popular in Peninsular Malaysia, but decent, in context, for a 3.2-litre engine.
The Toyota Hilux 2.8, for example, averaged 10.8 litres/100km in our hands; whilst the Chevrolet Colorado 2.8 returned 13.9 litres/100km, although that was admittedly under highly enthusiastic driving conditions. We have not thoroughly reviewed the
Isuzu D-Max
, but its ability to travel all the way from
Bangkok to Singapore
 without needing to refuel suggests it is a significantly more economical truck even in 3.0-litre format.
Conclusion
More than its added muscle, the appeal of Wildtrak trim on the Ranger centres around its enhanced rugged styling cues and features. We strongly believe that if Ford were to offer the Ranger 2.2 in conjunction with Wildtrak trim, the resultant product would quite literally fly off the showroom floor. The recently-introduced
Ranger FX4 2.2
 is perhaps the answer for this demand.
Having pioneered ongoing modernization of its segment, the Ranger continues to lead the market as one of the most refined pick-up trucks in the market. The Wildtrak’s 3.2-litre engine does not offer a significant performance advantage in the real world over the 2.2, although the bigger engine’s manners are admittedly more refined. For most, however, we reckon the 2.2 is more than good enough.
Whichever version of the Ranger you choose, be in no doubt that you are picking a highly advanced product. With features such as electric power steering, autonomous braking, lane keeping assist, and many others, it is no longer sufficient to describe the Ranger as ‘car-like’, because it is, in certain aspects, even superior to regular passenger cars.
It does however, leave us with the question – as pick-up trucks become increasingly more complex machines, what’s left for those seeking uncomplicated easy-to-fix workhorses for no purpose other than haul loads and can be mended with nothing more than screwdrivers and wrenches?


SPYSHOTS: All-New 2016 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Revealed In Commercial Shoot

Seen here is a completely undisguised 2016
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
 which was spotted during a during a filming of the SUV’s commercial, uploaded by
Headlightmag
.
Scheduled to make its global debut at the 2015 Bangkok Auto Show in August, the Triton-based SUV was
earlier teased by Mitsubishi
 and had its design
revealed via leaked patent images
 before that.
These spyshots reveal the exterior design of the all-new Pajero Sport which shouldn’t come as a surprise as it very closely matches that of the teaser and leaked patent images. At the front,
Mitsubishi’s
 “Dynamic Shield” design remains the main highlight with thin headlamps and generous application of chromed bits as well. At the rear, the uniquely-shaped tail lamps continue on to the bottom of the tailgate, a nod to the GR-HEV concept
Sharing the same underpinnings as the all-new Triton pickup truck, the Pajero Sport’s powerplant options could include turbodiesels in 2.4- and 2.5-litre capacities with a 2.4-litre petrol engine as well.
More details of the all-new 2016 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will be revealed when the SUV debuts in August at Thailand.


Audi E-Tron Enters Production – World Debut Coming Mid-September

From concept to reality – Audi first all-electric SUV, the e-tron, has begun production at the company’s Brussels facility ahead of its world premiere in San Francisco on September 17th. The Audi e-tron is Audi's answer
to the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQC SUV
, which incidentally celebrates its debut today as well.
The e-tron is powered by a large lithium-ion battery pack that stores 95 kWh of energy to provide a range of over 400 km, under the realistic WLTP test cycle.
The large traction battery can be recharged within 30 minutes with a 150 kW high-power charging (HPC) station. Smaller home chargers (11 kW and 400-volt, three-phase equipment) will require around 8.5 hours to fully recharge the battery.
Early prototypes of the e-tron have been able to recuperate energy with up to 300 Nm of torque and 220 kW of electric power – more than 70 percent of its operating energy input, a feature no other manufacturer has been able to achieve thus far.
The battery drives two motors, one at each axle, which have access to
two combined power outputs
 depending on the drive mode. In the default ‘D’ gear position, front and rear motors provide a combined output of 360 hp and 561 Nm, a second ‘S’ gear position activates a temporary boost mode (for 8 seconds) which unlocks the full system output of 408 hp and 664 Nm of torque. Top speed is limited to 200km/h for both drive modes.
Patrick Danau, Managing Director of Audi Brussels added, “Audi built up numerous competencies in-house for the Audi e-tron and developed both the battery technology and the actual drive system itself. Since summer 2016, the plant has extensively rebuilt its body shop, paint shop and assembly line step by step, and has set up its own battery production.”
Audi has conducted exhaustive real-world tests prior to the prototype’s
Geneva 2018 debut
, having deployed prototypes for road testing in various locations such as Scandinavia, Africa, Asia and even the North Loop of the Nürburgring.


Volvo XC40 Recharge Sold Out for 2020 – Will it come to Malaysia?

The Volvo XC40 Recharge, the Swedish carmaker’s first of several fully electric models slated to arrive by 2025, has officially entered production, but...

While order books remain open, every car scheduled to be built this calendar year has already been sold out. The first cars are scheduled to be delivered to customers in Europe later this month.

The all-wheel-drive
Volvo XC40 Recharge
 offers a projected range of over 400 km on a single charge with an output of 408 hp. The battery, on the other hand, can charge to 80 percent of its capacity in approximately 40 mins on a fast-charger system.

The new
Android-powered infotainment system
 offers customers unprecedented personalisation, improved levels of intuitiveness and embedded Google technology and services, such as Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store. The XC40 Recharge can also receive larger software and operating system updates over the air.

While building on the excellent safety standards of the original XC40, Volvo Cars safety engineers have completely redesigned and reinforced
the frontal structure
 to address the absence of an engine, meet Volvo’s high safety requirements and help keep people as safe as in any other Volvo.

The battery pack is protected by a safety cage embedded in the middle of the car’s body structure. Its placement in the floor of the car also lowers the centre of gravity of the car, for better protection against roll-overs.

Inside, an innovative approach to all-round functionality gives drivers plenty of storage space, for example in the doors and in the trunk. Because it has no internal combustion engine, the car gives drivers even more storage space via a so-called ‘frunk’ under the front hood.

Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? While the demand for the fully electric Volvo XC40 is so overwhelming in Europe, will it come to our part of the world?

Looking at how rapidly electric mobility is progressing in Malaysia, it is safe to say that there are high chances for the Volvo XC40 Recharge to come here, but not anytime soon.

In fact, Volvo Car Malaysia is one of the frontrunners as far as e-mobility is concerned in Malaysia, having launched models like the
XC90 PHEV
while most of its rivals were still scratching their heads asking if Malaysia is ready?

Fast forward just a few years, and see where our market has come. From having maybe one or two electric cars like the Renault Twizy and the Mitsubishi i-Miev, we now have an electric model in numerous segments. Unfortunately, these electric vehicles are still far from affordable for the average Malaysian.

So, the sooner the government and manufacturers can work something out like a National EV Policy, and make EV's more harga mesra rakyat, the sooner we can expect models like the Volvo XC40 Recharge to arrive on our shores.


Mercedes-AMG's Turbo 2.0-litre Is The Most Powerful 4 Cylinder In Series Production

Just when you thought Mercedes-AMG couldn't put any more performance in their smallest model, they've gone and done it again. The old Mercedes-AMG A45 was already a stunner with 381 PS and 475 Nm of torque in its final iteration, but the up and coming model will see that number rise to 421 PS and 500 Nm of torque courtesy of the all-new M139 turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine. The changes are numerous - far more than just upping the size of the turbocharger or boost levels.
For one, placement of this engine is now completely reversed, with the exhaust side facing the firewall and intake side facing the front. This in turn gives the engine better routing for piping and better response as a result of shorter lengths and improved component placement, as well as improved aerodynamics. It may make the turbocharger a little more difficult to access, but it definitely helps from a performance and balance standpoint.
In comparison to the old engine, this M139 gets larger exhaust valves as well for better flow. More important than that is Mercedes-AMG has included the CAMTRONIC system, which was surprisingly not present in the older M133. The system offers both variable cam timing and variable lift, and it does so in a manner not unlike traditional dual-profile VTEC systems in Honda's highest performance naturally aspirated engines.
The only difference is that instead of locking the camshaft rockers to the higher cam profile, the system slides the cams forwards and backwards to nudge the rockers into either high or low lift and duration positions. In simple terms, it provides more flexibility for the power band and better low and high end performance. It only features on the exhaust cam, while the intake cam makes do with simple variable timing to speed up spool times by reducing valve overlap.
New turbochargers are expected, and roller bearings are a new addition to the hardware of the rotating assembly. This in turn improves response by lowering friction between the turbine and the housing, while a twin scroll setup divides exhaust pulses from consecutively firing cylinders in order to reduce turbocharger lag and interference between cylinders. When chasing big power, larger turbochargers are always necessary and engineers have to pull out all kinds of tricks to cut the resultant turbo lag down.
The fuel injection system has been updated to fire in multiple phases: the direct injection half of the equation is maintained at 200 bar fuel pressure, but a 6.7 bar port injection system has been added because as we've discovered in recent years, direct injection systems are still inferior to port injection when it comes to outright power. We don't yet have systems sophisticated enough or components strong enough to accurately supply fuel at higher rpms, so port injection provides enough additional fuel to keep the engine happy.
Even the ancillaries have been revised. The tech savvy among you may know of electric water pumps being used in motorsport applications, and they are fast becoming common in road cars. We're not referring to auxiliary electric water pumps, but rather the entire system. From an engineering standpoint, a traditional engine driven water pump works entirely opposite to what's needed: at low speeds such as stop-start traffic, the water pump should be pumping quicker as there isn't enough air flowing through the radiator, while at higher speeds a water pump should be operating slower to reduce losses. An electric water pump allows for precise control over pressure and pumping as and when it's needed.
And therein lies the beauty of this all-new engine. It's easy to say that there have been a number of high performance turbocharged 2.0-litres over the years that either match or eclipse these figures, but the reality is that none of these engines have ever been as technologically advanced or as responsive, or likely as reliable. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution FQ models come to mind as being the closest, but they were notoriously laggy in power delivery and were developed by Ralliart - not quite off the production line.
What most people forget is that as close as Mitsubishi came with the Evolution models, the powertrains were at the end of their lifespans. In the case of the infamous 4G63T that powered every Evo model up to the 9, it simply wasn't going to be able to develop the requisite power after tuning it to meet tightening emissions. Despite Mitsubishi's best efforts, the 4B11T in the final iteration of the Evo is frowned upon as being inferior in a variety of ways to its predecessor - although these were necessary moves to get the car into production.
It's an impressive effort on the part of Mercedes-AMG, and the M139 will be hand-built as top-tier AMG engines are, although the processes are now far more streamlined to ensure that production can keep up with demand. The engine will feature in a few different models, with these performance figures being the very top-specification variant operating at 2.1 bar of boost, and a tamer 387 PS variant that runs at 1.9 bar of boost.


2016 Proton Persona Officially Launched. From RM46,800 to RM59,800

After countless amounts of spyshots, teasers, and promo videos, national carmaker Proton has finally taken the wraps off the new Persona.
As we mentioned in an
earlier report
, the new Persona is offered in four variants:
Persona Standard MT - RM46,800
Persona Standard CVT - RM49,800
Persona Executive CVT - RM55,800
Persona Premium CVT - RM59,800
*All prices are on the road with insurance
Six colours are available at the outset - Cotton White, Fire Red, Sterling Silver, Graphite Grey, Quartz Black and a new colour, Carnelian Brown.
Powering the Persona is the same 1.6-litre VVT engine offered in the Iriz, but the Persona gets a more refined CVT gearbox, making the car much quieter than the Iriz. There is also a 5-speed manual gearbox for the Standard MT variant. Plus, the Persona is the first Proton to be offered with an ECO Driving Indicator.
In terms of fuel consumption, Proton claims that the new Persona is capable of achieving 5.6L/100km for the manual, while the CVT variants are capable of clocking 6.1L/100km.
The second-generation Persona also comes with comprehensive suite of active and passive safety systems such as:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction control
Hill-hold Assist
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Thanks to these features, the car has garnered 5-Star Asean NCAP rating across all variants.
Like its predecessor, the new Persona is derived from a hatchback - the Iriz. As a result, it has slab-sided proportions mildly reminiscent of sedan variants of the previous-generation
Mazda2
 and
Ford Fiesta
.
Design wise, the car's design will remind you of its Iriz origins, but Proton's chief designer Azlan Othman tells us that only the front door, front windscreen, side mirror, and front three quarter glass panels are interchangeable between the two vehicles.
Measuring at 4,387mm long, 1,722mm wide, 1,554mm tall with a wheelbase length of 2,555mm, the new Persona is 60mm shorter, 3mm narrower, 116mm taller, and has the wheelbase shorter by 45mm compared to the first-gen model. However, the boot space has grown by 40-litres from 470-litres to 510.
Interior also immediately reveals the identity of its donor car. The dashboard, as far as we can see, is carried over wholesale, but the cabin sports a more upmarket dual-tone colour scheme.
Here to take on the Honda City, Nissan Almera, Toyota Vios and the rest of the horde in the B-segment, features in the new Persona Standard MT and CVT include:
Dual-tone dashboard
10 storage compartments and 7 cupholders
all-round sensors
510L luggage space
15-inch alloy wheels
Electric headlight levelling
Single din head unit with radio/CD/MP3/USB/Wifi Enabled/Bluetooth
ECO Drive Assist
ABS with EBD
ESC
Hill-hold Assist
2 Airbags
Isofix mounts
Dual-tone matt black finish
2 speakers
The Executive CVT and Premium CVT variants on the other hand get additional goodies like:
Follow Me Home Lamp
Rear spoiler
Dual-tone Titanium Chrome
Steering Audio Switches
Rear USB Charger
Rear seat 60:40 split folding
Remote Trunk Release
4 Speakers
Double din head unit with touch-screen
Last but not least, features that are exclusive only to the Premium CVT variant are:
Auto On/Off Headlamps
Bodykit (optional)
Electric-fold side-mirrors
Leather upholstery
Push-start button
Keyless entry
DVD Player
GPS Navigation
6 Airbags
Reverse Camera
Available for test drive at all Proton Edar showrooms nationwide, the new Persona is offered with a 3-year free service (parts and labour included) as the introductory offer for bookings made by 30 September 2016.

Looking for a Proton? Find one now at
Carlist.my

Read also:
First Impressions: 2016 Proton Persona – Last Chance Saloon
New Vs Old: Proton Persona – What’s Better, What Will We Miss?
2016 Proton Persona Receives 5-Stars From ASEAN NCAP


Malaysia’s Roads Are Among The World’s Deadliest! What Are You Doing About It?

Malaysian roads are the third deadliest among emerging countries after Thailand and South Africa, according to a 2013 World Health Organization report published on
Bloomberg
.
Depressingly, despite our aspirations toward becoming a developed nation, our road fatality rates of around 24.0 road deaths per 100,000 population are painfully close to the average figure of 24.1 among low-income nations. As a comparison, middle-income and developed nations average 18.4 and 9.3 respectively on the same metric.
Transposed against an estimated population of 30 million Malaysians, it means we are losing 7,000 – 8,000 people on the road every year.
It is not for a lack of effort that the death toll on our road continues to return depressing numbers year-in year-out. Authorities run safety campaigns every year, yet thousands of people return to their loved ones every year in hospital body bags.
Many factors contribute to road accidents. As road users, two important elements are in our control – our car and our own behaviour. Usual tips for drivers include being alert to hazards, be courteous to other drivers, and be well-rested ahead of one’s journey.
For our cars, the basics start with a sound maintenance regime ensuring all critical parts are in working order, fluids replenished, and other wear & tear items periodically replaced.
Automotive safety have come a long way in recent years, and those of you shopping for new cars can help shape demand by asking for more safety. Features such as ABS and electronic stability control have all become important tools to help the driver minimize the risk of accidents, providing the vehicle is driven within reasonable limits. No safety feature covers against reckless driving.
More recently, advanced driver assistance systems such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist can mitigate the impact of brief lapses of concentration, though they still require the presence of a reasonably competent driver behind the wheel.
Lastly, it is also worth remembering that accidents can still happen without one being at any fault, so, be sure to buckle all occupants up with young ones strapped into child seats.
Safe travels!