Review: 2016 Toyota Hilux – Big Change

It feels like we’re a broken record here, but we’ll state it once more: pickup trucks are becoming lifestyle vehicles. In the same way the SUVs went from being workhorse cars to the softroaders we see today, the pickup truck market is slowly starting to encompass (but not shift to) an urban demographic. These were vehicles meant for bumping down muddy paths carrying construction equipment or materials- and the last thing you would expect to see in the car park of your local shopping mall (with hardly a speck of dirt on it).
This increasingly diverse group of buyers means that manufacturers have to juggle the different expectations and requirements of their buyers. The most radical example we’ve seen thus far is the
Mercedes-Benz X-Class concept
 that was previewed last week, which showed the world what can be done when you crank up the luxury to 11 for a pick-up truck. Unfortunately all of those luxury materials are impractical and quick wearing when subjected to the abuse of commercial applications, so a more practical solution is required.
Each generation of pickup truck we see becomes more comfortable and luxurious than the one before. We’ve gone from having barely a radio to keep us company, to a full-on touch screen entertainment system with navigation and all kinds of other bits and bobs that wouldn’t be out of place in a mid-sized sedan. For commercial operators there are still the workhorse models like the single cabs, which usually come without power windows or door locks, and these are affordable enough to suit their purposes.
But here we have the full-fat version. This is the Hilux Double Cab 2.8G (AT) 4x4, representing the most that Toyota is willing to offer to a discerning pickup truck buyer. In simple terms, it is the sole variant with the 2.8-litre turbodiesel motor, with the full double cab body and in the ‘G’ trim level.
Specifications
Engine: 2.8-litre longitudinal four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC Intercooler VNT Diesel
Power: 177 PS @ 3,400 rpm
Torque: 450 Nm @ 1,600 – 2,400 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Automatic with Super ECT & Sequential Shifter
Safety: 7 airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, ABS, BA, Active Tractrion Control, Emergency Stop Signal, Trailer Sway Control
Price: RM 133,900.00 (On The Road, with GST and Insurance)
Overview:
The Hilux is a name that has been familiar to our market for decades. They’ve proven their hardiness in East Malaysia especially, becoming a popular choice for their reliability and robustness in difficult situations. That’s not to say that other pickup trucks aren’t up to the task, but when people had to choose a vehicle that would stand up to the rigors of commercial use, the Hilux was a name they could rely on.
Of course, things have changed in the last decade or so. With more and more people purchasing pickup trucks for use in an urban environment, Toyota had to consider the needs of this new demographic. These are people who are willing to forgo the compact size and comfort of their regular sedans or hatchbacks, in favour of the sheer practical ability of a pickup truck. In some cases an SUV simply won’t cut it, especially in terms of load carrying ability and outright space, but neither do buyers want a bare bones workhorse.
Construction of the Hilux has been fairly consistent through the years. It still sits on a ladder frame chassis, and this generation comes with independent double wishbones at the front and leaf springs at the rear. It’s a pretty traditional form for a pickup truck, and Toyota has always stuck to their guns when it comes to areas like robustness and strength- which is probably why the Hilux has maintained its popularity.
It’s on the inside where the changes are the largest. There is still a lot of leeway for manufacturers to improve the quality of their interiors, and Toyota capitalized on this with a solid leap for this generation. In terms of the mechanicals, this generation of Hilux has part-time 4WD with an automatic disconnecting differential, and rack and pinion steering- not quite the simplest of mechanical items, but perhaps a necessary change on the basis of comfort and liveability.
Interior
Like we mentioned earlier, this is the area where the changes are the most impressive. The dashboard is far from Spartan and straightforward, with sweeping lines and curves that stretch across two distinct levels. The vents are placed above the entertainment system- which is an excellent 6.1-inch touch screen setup- and a contrasting brushed aluminium-esque strip separates the two. There’s start-stop and keyless entry as well, which are premium features you come to appreciate over spending some time with it.
The centre console receives a cubby hole and two cup holders up front, with the majority of the space dominated by the gear lever and ECT mode buttons. There’s also a small stowaway compartment above the glovebox that can house small documents or pens but doesn’t take bulkier items. It doesn’t leave you wanting for more storage space, but similarly it doesn’t provide anywhere near the amount that companies like Honda are capable of offering.
Cabin space has come a long way, and there is pretty of rear legroom to show for the Hilux’s 90 mm increase in overall length. The Hilux is easily capable of hauling 4 to 5 adult passengers on long distance trips or around a dusty construction site- although it’s worth nothing that rear passengers may not take kindly to bumps in the road.
Exterior
Pickup trucks don’t have to be blunt objects, as evidenced by the sleeker and sharper models we see with each passing year. Design may not have been as important in the nascent years of pickup truck development, but it is now becoming a fairly serious factor to consider when customers are perusing their various options. While the overall form is that of a traditional pickup (let’s hope we don’t see bizarre coupe-crossovers in this segment), there are some nice sharp design cues that help to keep the Hilux looking fresh and appealing.
The new Hilux looks fairly sporty, although proportionally it seems narrower and taller than it should be, which may lead some to feel that there is a degree of potential instability. The bed is fairly wide and long with very minor intrusions from the rear wheels, meaning that cargo space isn’t as compromised in that respect. This top-spec Hilux also comes with 18-inch alloy rims to help fill out those wheel arches, although perhaps 17-inch rims would have been a better choice for absorbing bumps on a dirt path.
How does it drive?
For a pickup truck, on-road manners and off-road manners are fairly equal in terms of importance. Most buyers in the city will want a vehicle that can accelerate easily and be manoeuvred easily through tight spaces, and for the most part the Hilux delivers. The transmission feels a little lazy at times and is occasionally prone to shift-shock, but there are very few situations where the Hilux feels as if it cannot get up to speed when merging on the highway, or accelerate quickly enough for you to overtake slower moving traffic.
Once you leave the beaten path, however, things become a little trickier. Automatic transmissions are far superior to their manual counterparts (blasphemy, the purists cry) when it comes to off-roading, as it allows drivers to apply gentle torque to get the car moving on slippery surfaces and to maintain an effective pace when moving across rough terrain. This aspect of the Hilux is fine, as is the effectiveness of the lower gear ratios and the traction of the all-wheel drive system. We have few complaints in this department.
On the off chance that you do decide to push the Hilux through bends and along dirt roads at higher speeds than you should, you won’t be at (serious) risk either. Sure, there are videos of Americans flipping Hiluxes in their dreaded moose test, but the chassis rigidity and the steering response is adequate in keeping the car in a controllable state (and making you feel a little like a rally driver). Just don’t expect your rear passengers to be particularly happy when you eventually come to a stop.
How efficient is it?
As a diesel powered vehicle it may not be the best consumption, but as a pickup truck it isn’t all too shoddy. We clocked a solid 10.8 litres per 100 kilometres with a mixture of town driving, highway driving, and off-road antics- but you could probably achieve a much better figure if you stuck to the city streets. The best consumption achieved was around 8 litres per 100 kilometres, before we decided to kick up clouds of dust and crawl up the sides of reasonably sized mole hills.
How comfortable is it?
For passengers in the front, the Hilux is quite nearly as good as any reasonably set up passenger car. It isn’t as floaty as the previous generation model, which could be nausea inducing at times. It may not provide Camry levels of comfort, but it is a car you can live with around town. For rear passengers, however, it might be worth slowing down for bumps and undulations as the leaf springs are particularly stiff with an empty load bed. On the whole, it’s a very easy car to live with.
Conclusion
The new Hilux is a fair improvement over the previous generation- more than the incremental change we’ve come to expect from Toyota. Things are changing at Toyota, and if the Hilux is anything to go by then we can expect some fairly exciting new models. It is a solid balance between urban appeal and commercial practicality, and this is something that is not easily pulled off. Little touches like interior footwell lighting and an integrated dashcam are nice features that help to distract you from the fact that this vehicle started life as a workhorse, and a workhorse alone.


Monthly Fuel Prices To Be Announced At 12am On The 1st From Here On

If you plan on waiting for the announcement on the next month’s fuel prices this evening, you may be disappointed because it has just been announced that no prior notice will be offered beforehand anymore.
According to The Star, Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) Minister, Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, has told reporters that,
“We have decided to stop the previous practice of announcing the new prices on the last day of the month. From now, motorists will only know if the prices are going up or down or maintained at midnight."
Previously, the announcement for the coming month’s fuel prices was made at 8pm (usually) on the last day of the preceding month, as today is, for the next month’s fuel price announcement. But given this new report, vehicle owners may have to wait a few more hours for the actual announcement.
Here’s what we’ve been paying at the pumps by each month this year (2015):
JUNE 2015:
RON 95: RM2.05
RON 97: RM2.25
Diesel: RM2.05
MAY 2015:
RON 95: RM1.95
RON 97: RM2.25
Diesel: RM1.95
APRIL 2015:
RON 95: RM1.95
RON 97: RM2.25
Diesel: RM1.95
MARCH 2015:
RON 95: RM1.95
RON 97: RM2.25
Diesel: RM1.95
FEBRUARY 2015:
RON 95: RM1.70
RON 97: RM2.00
Diesel: RM1.70
JANUARY 2015:
RON 95: RM1.91
RON 97: RM2.11
Diesel: RM1.93


SDAC-Ford Offers Savings Of Up To RM 113,000 In Its 'Seize the Deal' Campaign

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the sole distributor of Ford in Malaysia, today announced its ‘Seize the Deal’ campaign offering fantastic rebates of up to 17 percent on top of the six percent GST reduction on selected Ford models.
Through this promotion, customers can enjoy savings of up to RM113,000. Valid nationwide for all variants of the Ford Mustang, Fiesta and Ranger models, the promotion applies to vehicles registered from now until 31 August 2018. All prices stated are on-the-road, without insurance, for Peninsular and East Malaysia and private individual registration only.
Through the campaign,the Mustang is priced from RM396,271 1 with a total savings of up to RM113,000 (up to 13 percent rebate with zero-rated GST). Available in two variants – the GT 5.0L and 2.3L EcoBoost – the new Mustang features a sleeker, more athletic styling, enhanced engines, sharper driving dynamics and advanced driver assistance technologies. To ensure complete peace of mind, customers who purchase the Mustang from authorised SDAC-Ford dealers will also enjoy a three-year full manufacturer’s warranty.
In addition to this, the Ford Fiesta is available from RM68,401. Customers can enjoy rebates of up to 17 percent in addition to the zero-rated GST for a combined savings of up to RM20,300. Built for the digital generation, the tech-savvy and young-at-heart can constantly be plugged into their favourite music and connected to their world while on the go with the Ford Fiesta.
Customers who desire a tough, capable and smart pickup truck that also offers a comfortable car-like environment can enjoy rebates to up to 10 percent on top of the six percent GST savings for the ‘Built Ford Tough’ Ranger. This works out to a combined savings of up to RM19,830 with prices starting from RM70,910.
For more information on Ford, visit SDAC’s multilingual website (
www.sdacford.com.my
), which also features a chatbot now available in three languages – English, Bahasa Malaysia and Simplified Chinese – to provide a better customer engagement experience.


Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia Appoints Its First Home Grown CEO

His name is Warih Andang Tjahjono, and as 1st April 2017, he will be the first Indonesian President Director, A.K.A CEO, of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN), replacing the outgoing Masahiro Nonami. Warih will become the first local talent to head a Toyota Manufacturing Arm, outside of Japan. TMMIN is one of 23 Toyota Manufacturing companies worldwide.
The Jakarta Post
 reports that Warih's appointment came directly from Toyota Motor Corporation President Director Akio Toyoda, who also met with President Joko Widodo during a recent visit to discuss Toyota's investments in the country.

Photo Credit:  Facebook,
TMMIN (Toyota Manufacturing Indonesia)

Warih hails from Pati, Central Java, and qualified as a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the Diponegoro University in 1989. He joined TMMIN in 1989 and has served as their vice president since 2013.
TMMIN plants are responsible for the production of the Kijang Innova,
Sienta
 MPV
, Etios Valco, Yaris and Vios models, for both domestic sale and export.
In addition, the TMMIN plants also produce engines such as the 1300cc, 1NR and 1500cc, 2NR – which see duty in the Yaris and Vios models respectively. The bigger 2000cc 1TR and 2700cc 2TR engines see duty in models such as the
Innova
 and Fortuner.


New Mercedes-Benz City Service Outlet Opened by Hap Seng Star

A new
Mercedes-Benz
 dealership opens at the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Touted as the first outlet of its kind, the new Mercedes-Benz City Service is operated by Hap Seng Star, which also runs six other Mercedes-Benz Autohaus dealerships across the country.
Situated along the former Jalan Ipoh, the Mercedes-Benz City Service outlet was built at a cost of RM7 million. It provides employment to 45 staffs and its aftersales section has the capacity to service over 50 vehicles per day, up to 1,100 per month.
“This first-of-its-kind feature is part of our customer-centric strategy, strategically-located, offers easy access for our valued customers located in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner.
Appearance of the outlet complies with the latest Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS) corporate image standards, featuring a Star Lounge café, Wi-Fi, and other amenities.
Additionally, the new outlet is also pioneering the introduction of the newly-introduced Mercedes-Benz Service Differentiation, which provides the convenience of Premier Express Service, Drop & Go, and Door to Door Service for customers.
The Premier Express Service facility allows customers, with an appointment beforehand, to have routine maintenance on their cars performed within a time frame of 30 minutes to an hour.
Additionally, services such as Drop & Go (where customers can drop off their vehicles any time outside business hours) or Door to Door (complimentary pick up and return for servicing) enables the new City Service outlet to cater to the needs of customers with busy schedules. All vehicles that undergo this service enjoy full insurance protection from Hap Seng Star.
To date, Hap Seng Star has invested over RM180 million in its network of Mercedes-Benz dealerships, which operate in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kinrara, Balakong, Kuching,
Kota Kinabalu
, and Miri.


Bridgestone Turanza T005A touring tyres: 6-months Honda HR-V owner review

What may have started as a bit of a left-field alternative has become one of the most prolific and popular products in its segment: we're talking about the Honda HR-V, which came into the world at a time when nearly every automotive manufacturer had a dog in the fight at both the global and local levels.

The popularity of the Honda HR-V can be owed first to the strength of the Honda brand in our local market and second to the incredible practicality of this compact crossover SUV. The HR-V is a showcase of just how good Honda is at developing packaging solutions and providing a well-designed cabin with plenty of storage areas, legroom, and boot space.

The relative simplicity of the design, layout, and powertrain also helps to keep running costs relatively low, which is why the HR-V is used more than its intended purpose, where it has become more than just an urban vehicle, as owners in Malaysia seem to use it for every occasion, including touring.

Judging by owner usage, the Honda HR-V is regarded by many as a complete car, so all the HR-V actually needed outside of factory equipment was a set of quality tyres, which complement its excellent all-around usability.

So when engineer Sassindren Selvaraja won our CarTell x Bridgestone tyre giveaway contest six months ago, we were pretty excited to find out that he drove a Honda HR-V as we wanted to see how Bridgestone's Turanza T005A would pair up with the ever-popular vehicle.

The Turanza T005A is Bridgestone's touring tyre, designed to deliver greater comfort, superior quietness and assured safety for both short and long-distance journeys. Although most associate touring tyres with larger and premium sedans, it is actually built for many different vehicles. Considering what crossovers provide to many Malaysians these days, where they can do it all, it is also highly suitable for crossovers like the Honda HR-V.

As an engineer, Sassindren travels a lot around the country with his HR-V. When it is not utilised for work purposes, the HR-V is primarily commandeered by Sassindren's father, who uses it as his run-around town vehicle.

Since the T005A was also designed with Bridgestone's advanced technologies, enabling a safer, smoother and seamless drive to support individuals and their families to move, live and play, the tyres seem to be a perfect fit for Sassindren, his car and his family.

During the first three-month catch-up with Sassindren, after he installed the Bridgestone Turanza T005A on his Honda HR-V, he was pleased with how they had performed.

The tyres performed admirably in the first three months, where Sassindren commented that they provided him with great confidence when driving on dry or wet roads.

"Compared to my previous tyres, these Bridgestones provide me with great confidence when taking corners, where I feel like the car is sticking to the ground and provide me with no concerns. It made no difference to whether the roads were wet or dry, they just gave me confidence", said Sassindren.

He also commented that its braking performance on wet roads is also good, providing a predictable outcome. Since Sassindren also shares the car with his father, he too has given the tyres some good feedback.

"My father rarely gives any feedback on tyres, but this time, he mentioned that he realised that the sound levels of the tyre are quieter compared to the previous set that we had on the car. He also mentioned the tyres are smooth and comfortable", said the engineer.

After another few months, we again caught up with Sassindren to get feedback on how the tyres were performing after six months. Since this catch-up period happened to be during the rainy season, we were intrigued to find out how the tyres had performed, especially when we knew that Sassindren had been driving it a lot on wet roads.

Sassindren said there's no difference between now and when It was installed, as the tyres are still quiet, supple and comfortable. He also said he's glad that he has the Turanza T005A anchoring his vehicle to the ground in the rainy season, as he is confident of their abilities.

"Unlike harder tyres, which tend to slide over surfaces, the T005A’s softer compound provides essential grip for acceleration and cornering. This also applies on wet roads as the tyres have given me excellent grip and good traction, and there is no aquaplaning issue. I sound like a broken record, but it gives me great confidence in facing the current monsoon season. I feel safe driving in the rain."

When we asked how the braking performance was in the wet after six months of usage, he said they were good, and that the level of grip has not decreased as they still provide good braking performance. We suppose due to the T005A's rounded edges, which can prevent tyre deformation and ensure even contact with the road, we're not overly surprised by his answer.

We've arranged for another catch-up with Sassindren around when he has used the tyres after a year, so we'll know more about how the tyres have performed after being used for that period.

So far however, the Bridgestone Turanza T005A has been the perfect set of tyres for Sassindren and his HR-V as it has given his car a good set of rubbers for him to carry out his daily routine as well as other activities.

When we catch up with Sassindren next, we'll be able to tell you about its wear life, but so far, it has given him a quiet and comfortable ride and confidence on wet and dry roads.

If you want to find out more about the Turanza T005A touring tyres, you can visit:
https://www.bridgestonetyre.com.my/en/tyre/turanza-t005a


GALLERY: McLaren Reveals One-Off P1 To Honor F1 Champion Alain Prost

McLaren
 Special Operations (MSO) is bringing this special P1 to the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed, inspired after the helmet livery of four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost.
This one-off machine follows the French-flag theme carried on Prost’s racing headgear during his time racing for the McLaren Formula One team in the 1980s, colour-matched to white and blue graphics with red highlights and applied to the P1’s carbon fibre bodywork.
It is a first edition and is part of a series by MSO to honour the achievements of a number of iconic drivers who have raced for the team over the last five decades, and this P1 commemorates Prost’s McLaren Foruma One racing career that started in 1980.
The livery would remain as a differentiator between it and other P1s. Apart from this, MSO’s Alain Prost tributary P1 does not come with any other modifications.
The marque will also be showcasing alongside aforementioned P1 one of their rarest street cars, the McLaren F1 GT, at this year’s Goodwood Festival.
Feel free to have a closer look at this special P1 Prost by MSO in our gallery below.


BMW Is Hosting A Nationwide Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales Event This Weekend

BMW Group Malaysia today announced that it will be hosting the 2019 BMW Premium Selection Fair from the 13th to 15th of September at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
According to the company, the first 300 people who purchase a vehicle will receive a one-year BMW or MINI Comprehensive Insurance, as well as a complimentary BMW Advanced Car Eye HD camera.
Visitors will also stand a chance to win exclusive BMW and MINI lifestyle merchandises via lucky draw with any BMW Premium Selection vehicle purchase.
Additionally, selected BMW dealerships will hold events across major locations nationwide including CityOne Megamall by Regas Premium Auto Kuching; Carpark beside One Stop Premium Outlet, Kolombong by Regas Premium Sabah and C-Mart, Alor Setar by Lee Motors. Wearnes Autohaus, on the other hand, will hold it in-house.
The 2019 BMW Premium Selection Fair will feature the BMW X5, BMW 3 Series and BMW 7 Series along with models from the MINI and BMW Motorrad portfolios.
Test drives for all models displayed will be available throughout, providing confidence that all BMW Premium Selection models are in their best condition.
Interested participants can now preview over 500 units of pre-owned BMW and MINI vehicles on the BMW Premium Selection official website before test driving the models at the fair.


BMW M135i xDrive VS Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC – Side by Side Comparison

BMW Malaysia has just officially introduced the very exciting, most powerful version of the third-generation 1 Series - the all-new
(F40) M135i xDrive
 last week - which will also be taking on the Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic, but which one is better?

So, in case you’re wondering which one of the two is better, let us put them side by side and see what they each have to offer.

Price

While the BMW M135i is priced at RM355,646 minus SST, the
Mercedes-AMG A35
 asks for RM366,785 without SST. So, if your decision is going to be purely based on price, the Beemer wins here.

Performance

If we are to make a decision purely based on performance, things are going to be tricky, as both models are almost identical with their offerings. However, the Mercedes has a minimal upper hand as it does the century sprint 0.1 seconds quicker.

BMW M135i xDrive

Engine: B48 2.0-litre four-cylinder, TwinPower Turbo, petrol

Gearbox: 8-speed automatic

Max power: 306 PS

Max torque: 450 Nm

0 to 100km/h: 4.8 seconds

Top speed: 250 km/h

Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC

Engine: M260 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger

Gearbox: 7-speed AMG Speedshift DCT

Max power: 306 PS

Max torque: 400 Nm

0 to 100 km/h: 4.7 seconds

Top speed: 250 km/h

If we are to compare the dimensions of both models, the Mercedes-AMG A35 is slightly bigger than the BMW M135i, but the former has a tad more boot space though. So, if practicality and spaciousness are on top of your priority list, you may want to remember the numbers below.

BMW M135i xDrive

Width: 1,799 mm

Length: 4,319 mm

Height: 1,434 mm

Wheelbase: 2,670 mm

Boot Space: 380 litres

Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC

Width: 1,992 mm

Length: 4,436 mm

Height: 1,405 mm

Wheelbase: 2,729 mm

Boot Space: 370 litres

Features

As is typical for any BMW wearing the ‘M’ badge, the M135i comes with a number of aesthetic highlights to make it look the part. At the front, the aggressive fascia is highlighted by the grille surrounds (replete with unique insert design) and side air inlets that are finished in Cerium Grey, as are the wing mirror caps and rear tailpipe finishers.

Inside, cool highlights include the ‘Illuminated Boston’ interior trim finishes, BMW Individual Headliner, and 16-Speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.

Note too, that the M135i is equipped with BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional (augmented by the BMW Operating System 7.0) displaying data on two screens: a customisable 10.25-inch Instrument Display and high-resolution 10.25-inch touchscreen Control Display. The new premium BMW hatchback is also equipped with BMW Digital Key, Apple CarPlay, Remote Software Upgrade and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

The Mercedes-AMG A35 on the other hand, which is offered in limited Edition 1 package, comes with AMG Aerodynamics package, and also the Night package, which includes the radiator grille with twin louvres, AMG Line front apron with flics on the air intakes, a front splitter, silver chrome trims around the outer air intakes, 19-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels, a new rear diffuser insert, as well as a rear spoiler and twin exhaust pipes.

Inside, the A35 AMG comes fitted with AMG Performance seats in black Artico man-made leather, an AMG Performance Nappa leather flat-bottom steering wheel, as well as AMG emblems with black and silver accents.

The list of standard equipment includes the MBUX infotainment system comprising two 10.25-inch screens, a head-up display, wireless charging for phones, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as the Track Pace racing data logger.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – a brief side-by-side comparison between both the BMW M135i xDrive and the Mercedes-AMG A35 to give you a clearer picture of the difference between both models, in case you have RM360,000 and a sexy German hot-hatch in mind.

If we are to choose one between the two, we would go for the BMW M135i xDrive for a simple reason - we think it looks better. Park your car, do a double take - the BMW has that effect, the Merc less so.

The blue colour it comes in is to die for, and while some have issues with the huge kidney grille, we feel that it gives the M135 a menacing presence. Imagine seeing that thing in your rearview mirror.

The A35 AMG on the other hand is still a good looking car, but it just doesn't look as striking as its rival from Munich.


Ford v. Ferrari Is A True Underdog Movie Set To Excite

These last few years may have been a bit peculiar for Ford. On the one hand, they managed to bring back the Ford GT in an ultra-modern interpretation that has gone to war on two continents, fighting in both American and European race series with mixed results. On the other hand, they're also paring down their range in many countries, forgoing sedans and regular passenger cars in favour of SUVs and pickup trucks.
But back in the 1960s, when Ford was expanding and evolving, they decided to fight one of the biggest names in racing at the time: Ferrari. Now in Europe, Ferrari was king and among the motorsport fraternity, few would dare to make serious efforts to challenge them. But Ford's interest in racing was more than just taking the top spot - it was also because Ferrari had spit in their face when they were looking to acquire the Italian supercar brand by rejecting their offer due to a personal dispute.
Having contracted a renowned racecar builder at the time, Ford produced the GT40 racecar to take the fight to Le Mans. Unfortunately the cars didn't do so well, and after two years of failures the race program was turned over to Carroll Shelby - a name synonymous with high performance American Ford vehicles to this day. In Shelby's hands, with pilot Ken Miles, the GT40 stopped sucking and started winning.
The journey to building a world-beating racecar has been immortalized in film as Ford V. Ferrari, which will centre around the efforts of Shelby and Miles as they work to make the GT40 competitive in a span of a little over three months. The movie stars Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby, Christian Bale as Ken Miles, and Jon Bernthal as Lee Iacocca. Ford v. Ferrari is set to come out in November of this year, and hopefully it will be screened in Malaysia as well.


Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Breaks Laguna Seca Lap Record, Claims To Be The Fastest Sedan In The World

Jaguar’s XE SV Project 8 now claims that it is the fastest four-door sedan in the world after setting a new lap record for 4-door cars at the Laguna Seca race circuit in the US.
Piloted by race car driver Randy Pobst, the 600 PS, four-door road-legal sedan lapped the 3.6 km racetrack in 1:37.54, almost a second faster than the Cadillac CTS-V which set the previous production sedan record with a time of 1:38.52.
The XE SV Project 8 also lapped the Nurburgring with a time of 7:21.23 last year and became the ‘fastest four-door sedan prototype with production-intent’ to lap the ‘Ring’.
Based on the XE’s lightweight aluminium-intensive monocoque, the Project 8 is limited to 300 units, which are hand-built and modified at Jaguar’s SV Technical Centre in Coventry to accommodate the specially tuned, supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine and a bespoke rear differential.
The all-wheel-drive XE SV Project 8 is studded with genuine motor racing technology such as F1-style ceramic wheel bearings, adjustable ride height, and also adjustable camber.
The front and rear fenders are bespoke to accommodate larger, wider, wheels which are necessitated by the larger brakes. The V8’s power is routed through all four Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres through an eight-speed Quickshift automatic ZF transmission, helping to propel the car from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and achieve an electronically limited top speed of 320 km/h.
The car also receives aerodynamic and suspension upgrades, including a ‘Track’ mode for maximum downforce and further improvements to the damping, throttle and steering response.
The XE SV Project 8 is available in two specifications. While the standard four-seat model features Jaguar’s performance seats with magnesium frames, the optional two-seat Track Pack includes lightweight front carbon fibre racing seats with four-point harnesses fixed to a harness retention hoop in place of the rear seat.


Volkswagen Golf R "20 Years" Edition Flexes Its Muscles At The Nürburgring

If you thought that the
Mk8 Volkswagen Golf R
 was already a potent weapon around the
Nürburgring
, meet the Volkswagen Golf R "20 Years" edition.

To celebrate the Volkswagen Golf R's 20th anniversary, the special edition model was actually unveiled back in June with a slightly more powerful EA888 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces
333PS
 and
420Nm
 of torque (13PS more, same amount of torque).

While those figures officially make it the most powerful Volkswagen Golf R model yet, it is yet to be proven in the real world - until today. VW actually went to the holiest of holy sites in terms of racing to get their facts straight - the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

Four seconds faster than the 'regular' Golf R

The Volkswagen Golf R "20 Years" edition comes standard with the R Performance package which includes a roof spoiler, R-Performance Torque Vectoring, Driving Dynamics Manager, and two additional drive modes - Special and Drift. With an extra 13PS to play with, the chase was one to beat the regular Golf R's best lap time at the "Green Hell".

To recap, the Volkswagen Golf R "20 Years" edition is able to hit 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds (a tenth faster than the regular Golf R) as well as a top speed of 270km/h. The attempt to prove the car's worth was done in Special mode, which was the right choice.

Why? Because the race driver managed to clock in a time of 7:47.31, which is four seconds faster than the Volkswagen Golf R standard model. That's quite an impressive feat, and great timing as well to celebrate the Volkswagen R model's 20th anniversary.

Check out its impressive run in the video, below.


Nissan Takes Control Of Mitsubishi Motors

Nissan Motor has emerged as the single largest shareholder of Mitsubishi Motors, owning 34 percent of the embattled Japanese car maker.
Earlier this month, Nissan revealed that Mitsubishi, which produces two Mitsubishi minicar models for Nissan under contract, have been inflating fuel consumption test data submitted to the government. When it comes to fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, the Japanese government practices self-regulation, allowing car makers to submit test results conducted internally. Outside of Japan, most countries including Malaysia require a report by an independent auditor, thus the scandal is limited only to Japan.
As the Japanese government have been giving tax breaks for certain vehicles based on their claimed fuel consumption, the revelation will also mean that Mitsubishi Motors is expected to pay many millions of Dollars in compensation to the Japanese government as well as customers.
The two companies announced today that they have agreed to cooperate in areas including purchasing, common vehicle platforms, technology-sharing, joint plant utilization and growth markets.
Carlos Ghosn, chief executive and president of Nissan, said: "This is a breakthrough transaction and a win-win for both Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. It creates a dynamic new force in the automotive industry that will cooperate intensively, and generate sizeable synergies. We will be the largest shareholder of MMC, respecting their brand, their history and boosting their growth prospects. We will support MMC as they address their challenges and welcome them as the newest member of our enlarged Alliance family."
Osamu Masuko, chairman of the board and chief executive of MMC, said: "Through its long history of successful partnerships Nissan Motor has developed a deep knowledge of maximizing the benefits from alliance partnerships. This agreement will create long term value needed for our two companies to progress towards the future. We will achieve long term value through deepening our strategic partnership including sharing resources such as development, as well as joint procurement."
The agreement also means that the Renault-Nissan Alliance will now be expanded to include Mitsubishi Motors, but since the Alliance has a rather informal arrangement (there is no specific contract that says Carlos Ghosn is head of the Alliance), it is unclear yet what will this mean for the Alliance in the future.
Carlos Ghosn also hinted the new agreement with Mitsubishi would allow Nissan to strenghten its operations in Asia and other emerging markets.
"The performance of Mitsubishi in some markets is better than Nissan. In Southeast Asia, for example, Mitsubishi is doing a great job, especially with SUVs," said Ghosn.
Mitsubishi’s Triton-based Pajero Sport is enjoying brisk sales in the region, and could plug the missing gap in Nissan’s product line-up for this region. The Triton is also selling much better than the Navara. But it’s too soon to say if there will be Nissan-badged Pajero Sport in the future or whether will Nissan cull the Navara and just ride on the Triton’s success.
Several years back, Mitsubishi Motors did signed an MoU with Renault to study the possibility of building the next generation Lancer based on the Renault Fluence. The MoU have since lapsed but this new development could see the plans being revived again.
In Malaysia, Nissan and Mitsubishi already have some existing cooperation via their local representatives. Tan Chong Motor Assemblies, a sister company of Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor, assembles the Mitsubishi ASX under contract for Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.


2016 Porsche Macan GTS Unveiled. Priced at RM710,000

Alongside
the new 911 Carrera
, Sime Darby Auto Performance, the authorised distributor of Porsche vehicles in Malaysia also took the sheets off the Macan GTS earlier today at the brand’s outlet in Sungai Besi.
Priced at RM710,000 (OTR without insurance), the Macan GTS is positioned between the
Macan S
 and the
Macan Turbo
, and comes fitted with a tweaked version of the Macan S’ 3.0L V6 bi-turbo engine, which is paired to a 7-speed dual clutch PDK transmission
.
Thanks to the powertrain package, the Macan GTS produces 360hp and 500Nm of torque, which is 20hp more than the Macan S, and claims to be able to sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 5 seconds.
Compared to the base Macan, the GTS variant is 15mm lower, and features a sportier version of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) chassis, as well as 360mm brake discs which are similar to the ones on the Macan Turbo.
On the exterior, highlights include 20-inch matte black RS Spyder alloy wheels, black accents, a full-sounding sports exhaust system, and the Sport Design package in GTS-specific colouring. Also available as an option is Porsche’s Dynamic LED headlamps.
Inside, the Macan GTS comes with sports seats, generous dose of Alcantara leather, carbon fibre and body-coloured accents, rear air cond vents, Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system, a seven-inch touchscreen display, and Apple’s CarPlay system.
SDAP said that the Macan GTS is offered with a four-year free service, parts and maintenance warranty package.
Looking for a Porsche? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Porsche Reveals New Panamera

Believe it or not, it has already been seven years since Porsche first introduced the
Panamera
 luxury sedan, and after a series of teasers and leaked images recently, the successor was finally revealed earlier today.
Codenamed G2, the new Panamera, which will be going against the soon-to-be-replaced
Audi A8
,
the latest BMW 7-Series
 and new
Maserati Quattroporte
, has been completely redesigned from ground up.
Featuring fresh exterior styling, a new interior, more powerful engines, re-developed chassis, and new contemporary communication features, the new Porsche is expected to be going on sale in many parts of the world next year.
Available in three variants as of now – Panamera 4S, Panamera 4S Diesel and Panamera Turbo, the car is offered with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, or a 4.0-litre V8 diesel engine.
While the 3.0L V6 engine in the Panamera 4S kicks out 434hp at 5650rpm and 550Nm of torque between 1750 and 5500rpm, the 4.0L V8 engine in the Panamera Turbo delivers 541hp at 5750rpm and 770Nm between 1960 and 4500rpm. The Diesel variant on the other hand produces 415hp at 3500rpm and a massive 850Nm of torque from just 1000 through to 3250rpm.
According to Porsche, more models are planned for introduction in early 2017, including an entry level rear-wheel drive variant as well as a hybrid variant.
Built on the second-gen Porsche Modular Standard Architecture platform, the new Panamera takes many styling cues from the 911. Despite retaining a similar liftback silhouette, it looks sleeker and sportier now. The wheel-arches have also been enlarged and can now accommodate wheels up to 21-inches in diameter.
Measuring at 5050mm long, 1935mm wide and 1423mm tall, the new Panamera is 35mm longer, 6mm wider and 5mm taller than the outgoing model. However, Porsche says the subtle added curvature to the roofline has brought a 20mm reduction in the height above the rear passenger compartment, with the affect that the new Panamera appears lower and longer than before.
This is further enhanced by a wheelbase that is 30mm longer than before at 2950mm – resulting in a shorter front overhang and longer rear overhang.
Thanks to the larger dimensions, rear seat headroom has increased, together with the boot capacity, which is up by 50 litres over the first-generation Panamera at 495 litres. With the rear seats folded, luggage space extends to 1304 litres.
Inside, the Panamera introduces a new interior design with touch sensitive surfaces along the middle console with lesser buttons and levers than before. While the dashboard houses a heavily hooded instrument binnacle boasting a traditional, central mounted analogue rev counter bookmarked by two 7.0-inch HD displays, it is supported by a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen monitor used for the various functions of the Porsche Communication Management system, which includes navigation, entertainment and connectivity features.
Other noteworthy features that are new in the second-gen Panamera include the electro-mechanical steering system, InnoDrive autonomous driving function, as well as the night vision assistant feature.
Looking for a Porsche? Find one now at
Carlist.my
 today!


Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 first impressions - a superb daily driver EV that doesn't need to be charged daily

If you want a family-oriented EV that can serve as a daily driver, you should consider the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4 Matic.

Like it or not, the electric vehicle invasion in Malaysia has started, and to be blunt, there's no way you can buy an EV without having another regular car at home.

One of the reasons why you will need a two-car garage if one of them is to be an electric car is that the EV charging infrastructure in Malaysia is still in its infancy stage, which means there are still not enough of them around the country to make EVs practical,
especially if you need them to travel long distances.

However, if you're blessed enough to have the dough where you can have an EV and a regular car at home, and would like to treat the EV as dad's taxi as well as your daily driver, then the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4 Matic is one of the best EVs you can buy right now.

Mercedes-Benz was
relatively slow
 to introduce its EVs in Malaysia, but they've more than made up for it through the EVs they have now introduced. To be quite frank, they have the most versatile range of EVs in the country. They have everything from
a sedan
 to
a large SUV
, all of which are well-thought-out electric cars.

Although the Mercedes-Benz EQS is by far the most impressive electric vehicle in the EQ (Mercedes-Benz calls their EV range EQ) lineup,
the EQB
 makes the most sense for now. Not only is it a compact SUV which suits tight car parks and city roads, but it is also the only seven-seater SUV EV you can buy right now.

What is the Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic, and how much is it?

The EQB 350 4Matic is an electric SUV based on the compact 7-seater Mercedes-Benz GLB. Mercedes took out the GLB's internal combustion engine(I.C.E) and slapped in a battery and two electric motors. One motor is placed at the front and another at the back, giving the EQB 4Matic all-wheel drive capabilities.

As an electric vehicle, the EQB falls in the same category as the five-seater Volvo XC40 recharge, but its extra two seats at the very rear give it a unique feature.

Okay, the EQB is much dearer than the Volvo coming in at RM329k, but Mercedes prices are generally higher than those cars from Sweden.

Exterior

Compared to the GLB, there's not much difference between the exterior look of the EQB and its I.C.E cousin. Everything looks the same, except the EQB has the typical EQ front and rear end look, where things are more Bauhaus and curvier.

Instead of a grille, the EQB has a plastic cover with a Mercedes-Benz logo at the tip of its nose, and at the rear, its taillights are joined up by a light bar stretching between the rear lights. Unfortunately, these new bits of exterior elements turn the EQB into a cutesy little SUV, altering the GLB's more rugged look. Nonetheless, the design works to differentiate the two cars, but we still prefer the look of the GLB.

Interior

The interior is where the EQB is better than the GLB, as some parts of its interior have been given exciting colours to spruce things up.

Instead of bland black seats, you now get a two-tonne two-fabric setup comprising of Artico synthetic leather and Cupertino fabric, and the signature Mercedes-Benz circular air conditioning vents have been given a rose-gold treatment.

Everything else is pretty much undistinguishable, including the vast twin-screen instrument panel/infotainment system, which can be controlled either by touch or some buttons either at the centre console or steering wheel.

Overall, the front cockpit area looks very cool, and it becomes even more vibrant at night, thanks to the illuminated screens and ambient lighting, which sheds some light on the dashboard, door cards and centre console.

Driving experience

Everyone can appreciate the driving experience of an EV, even if you are a petrolhead. Its silent propulsion and instant torque is quite addictive and can turn the most docile of drivers into an uncivilised driver. You just step on the accelerator pedal, and all of its 520Nm of torque moves the EQB swiftly. In fact the EQB can make the 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds which is quite fast for a barge-like vehicle.

But like any EV, the extra weight from the heavy battery pack is felt when you are going fast. It tends to make the vehicle wallow, dip and dive a bit more than its I.C.E counterpart. However, you can still have fun because the different levels of regeneration braking can give the driver an engine braking sensation, which allows you to have more control when coming out of a corner.

The EQB is not built for a sporty drive, and one of the first indications is the standard comfort suspension. It's pretty much a comfortable SUV that eats up bad roads and potholes, which is what we all need in a daily driver/dad's taxi. Its NVH suppression has also been beefed, where Mercedes have taken great care in eliminating unwanted vibrations and noises from the electric motors. Quiet, serene and comfortable is what best describes the EQB's driving experience.

How about its driving range? any range anxiety?

Our test car from Mercedes-Benz didn't come with a home charger, so we took it upon ourselves to see whether we could go throughout the test duration without needing to charge it. When we picked it up, it was fully charged and had about 360km of driving range.

We had the EQB for four days and three nights and practically drove it like a regular car over the said number of days. We took it to work, sent the kids to school, went grocery shopping and even used it to send the kids to their weekend extracurricular activities - you know, standard weekend stuff.

Yes, we did have range anxiety when we first picked up the car because we had no intentions of charging it, but by the time we returned it, we had 200km of driving range left. Now, if you charge it daily at home, it would mean you would have access to all of its driving range every morning, but as it turns out, you could go a few days without charging it, and you'll be alright.

Why is the EQB one of the best EVs to buy?

From first impressions, we were smitten by the EQB. It ticked all the right boxes, including one that no other EVs in Malaysia can do right now. It's comfortable, relaxing and has vast amounts of thrust to appease the boy racer in us.

What took the cake was the fact that I had two extra seats at the very rear, which meant I could take my immediate family for an outing in an electric car without leaving anyone behind.

Although we can't treat the EQB as a proper seven-seater cause it's pretty cramped back there, those two extra seats that pop out of the floor have proven to come in handy. Yes, they might only be suitable for short journeys and kids, but we like that they are there. If practicality is the name of the EV game, then the EQB wins hands down.


Volkswagen Group May Split Brands Into Four Holding Companies, Reports Claim

The
Volkswagen
 Group (VAG) is about to undergo its biggest organisational change by splitting its 12 brands into four distinct holding companies,
Automotive News Europe

reports.
In group one will be the Volkswagen passenger vehicle brand, Seat, and
Skoda
, said to be led by former
BMW
 R&D Chief, Dr. Herbert Diess. Group two will consist of Audi,
Lamborghini
, and motorcycle producer Ducati, which will be managed by
Audi
 Chairman Rupert Stadler.
Porsche
,
Bentley
, and Bugatti will form the third group under the guidance of Porsche CEO Matthias Müller. Lastly, the fourth group will comprise of commercial vehicle brands including Volkswagen Commercial, Scania, and Man, with former Daimler man Andreas Renschler in charge there.
This elaborate move is part of VAG’s effort to decentralise the current single leadership structure into four smaller units that can share technologies and platforms, allowing for a more efficient and quicker in decision making. With this expected measure, the company is expected to respond quicker to changes in the market.
Industry watchers have said that previous Chariman of VAG Ferdinand Piëch made the group difficult to control. The group employs an estimated 600,000 people and has 119 factories worldwide. In comparison,
Toyota
, who is Volkswagen’s main rival, employs around 330,000 people but managed to deliver more vehicles last year to maintain its global lead.
Forbes

reports that the split could be beneficial for VAG with better margins and a refocus of resources on conceiving products more in line with current demand trends to improve its profitability.


All-New 2015 Kia Optima Revealed For The European Market

The all-new 2015 Kia Optima has been revealed in its European specification, a few months after the D-segment sedan made its
global debut at this year’s New York International Auto Show
.
First up, the fourth-generation Optima is bigger than its predecessor with a length of 4,855mm (10mm increase), width of 1,860mm (25mm increase), and height of 1,465mm (10mm increase). This increase in vehicle size also accommodates a 10mm increase in wheelbase to 2,805mm, which should provide more legroom for rear passengers. Boot space gets a boost to 510 litres as well (5 litre increase).
Underneath the metal, the chassis is now stiffer with more than 50% of the body being made from high-strength steel. Together with an increased use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics and structural adhesive,
Kia
 has also concentrated on reducing NVH levels for a more comfortable experience.
For the European market, a 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engine producing 139hp and 340Nm will be offered, paired to either a seven-speed DCT or six-speed manual transmission. The sole petrol offering is a 2.0-litre GDI four-cylinder engine but will be expended to include a plug-in hybrid and a high-performance powerplant in the future, possibly fitted on the Optima GT variant.
As for its design, the all-new
Kia Optima
 is virtually unchanged from
the one that debuted in New York in April
 with the signature tiger nose grille at the front. Inside, sees the choice of a seven- or eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Kia’s AVN software, as well as more soft-touch materials utilised around the cabin.
Unlike the United States variant of the Optima which is built locally there in Georgia, the European variant originates from Korea, as are the Malaysian-spec models.
The all-new Kia Optima will make its first public debut in Europe during the Frankfurt Motor Show next month and will go on sale there during the fourth quarter of 2015.


Gimme Gimme My Myvi GT, Perodua! (Please?)

A 'GR Myvi', created by
The Ajerul
, which will obviously never happen because.....Toyota. Got us thinkng, though.

I mean, why would they (everyone’s favourite second national automaker) string us along with the prospect of a high performance Myvi if they really had no plans to bring it out into the real world? If the idea was to gauge public response, they’ve obviously been swarmed with positive reactions, shouts, even man-squeals to green light the project.

It’s a little surprising to realise that it’s now been more than 18 months - a year and a half - since
Perodua
 showed off the Myvi GT in concept form at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS).

There it stood on the same MITEC floor as the stunning Toyota FT-1 Concept (a precursor to the GR Supra), a Hyundai i30 N, and the ultra-futuristic Lexus LS+ Concept. Yet the Myvi GT was the car everyone seemed to come away from the event talking about.

Apart from it being a creation of Perodua, a marque near and dear to many Malaysians, the car itself seemed tangible - tantalisingly so. Because there was literally zero technical specifications revealed about it, the cosmetic upgrades were all anyone had to speculate upon. And it all seemed within the means of mass production.

Sure, it would need to be a good chunk more expensive to include everything seen on the KLIMS show car, and my colleague Aswan’s promptly published a thorough breakdown of how much such a vehicle would cost if it were sold as is - which you should
definitely check out by the way
.

Even at a hair less than the speculated RM95k, the car would no doubt find more than its fair share of fans willing to hand over a blank cheque for the sheer novelty. Perodua could even tone most of the racer boy visual flair down a couple of notches and still stand good change of releasing the car to an overwhelmingly eager crowd.

Be prepared to watch it fly off dealerships if they manage to price it around RM70k with the right balance of performance and dynamic upgrades over the standard car. Straight line speed probably isn’t priority number one here and as many brave owners of previous-gen Myvis have proven: big power can be extracted if enough money is spent.

Immediately, people would assume forced induction would be on the cards, which is a bad call in my opinion. Turbocharged cars are also inherently less reliable - a label the Myvi wouldn't want blemishing its relatively spotless record. There's also more fun to be had with a atmospheric engine.

Instead, the largest gains to be had are in its corner carving abilities. A set of Brembo brake rotors and pads and aftermarket coilovers were spotted on the Myvi GT concept and lent a good deal of credence to the widened body and track as well as the custom bodykit and 17-inch alloys.

Instead of trying to follow the prevailing hot hatch formula of a small turbocharged engine like the Ford Fiesta ST or Volkswagen Polo GTI, the Myvi GT would be much better off taking a page from the third-generation Renault Clio RS. Not the RS 200 EDC available now, mind you, but its arguably more respected predecessor.

That car kept things simple and was almost entirely focused on driver engagement at all times with a lightweight body, slick manual transmission, and a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine that could riot to 200hp if you knew where it liked to be pushed.

Like my hypothetical Myvi GT, that Clio had its price premium spent on its suspension, steering, and the fine calibration of its engine and drivetrain. It was
slow
 next to its turbocharged peers in a straight line, but was undoubtedly the most fun to drive everywhere else. And that’s what Perodua should be aiming for. Believe me, hot hatch fans would be more than satisfied with 150hp if the redline was set appropriately high and it made all the right noises and evoked all the right sensations.

The 3rd-generation Myvi was a huge leap over the company’s previous cars and made possible thanks to pioneering work done by its prior evolutions. Now that Perodua has such a strong base product in the M800 Myvi, the company is now presented with a rare opportunity to definite its own ceiling.

Put more simply, it’s arrived at the
‘Satria GTI’
 moment, a chance for the Myvi name to transcend model generations and production volume. That 1998 Proton was introduced 22 years ago and yet still commands deference and admiration from any local automotive enthusiast worth their salt.

It’s become a permanent part of Malaysian automotive lore; people turn heads and speak in hushed voices when they see a pristine example pass by on the road. With just one move, Proton made a truly desirable object out of one of the most common, nondescript cars of that period.

Unfortunately, the magic of the Satria GTI has never been fully recaptured, so maybe it’s time for Perodua to take up the challenge and create a local sports car to define this generation. I still maintain that the Myvi GT concept was a strong statement of intent. Here's hoping that they've just not lost faith.


Sime Darby Auto Selection Used Car Store Is Now Online

Taking the offline online. As much as many of us want to delete 2020, it has forced all of us to innovate and the latest to join that list is Sime Darby Auto Selection, launching its own online used car site last Friday.

From used to nearly new, the Sime Darby Auto Selection online store (simedarbyautoselection.com.my) has at the moment about 300 used cars across brands like BMW, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and MINI on offer.  The cars available will not be limited to Sime Darby Motors' franchise brands only.

Each used car on display will first undergo a thorough inspection process before going up online.

A new Spin Car feature will allow customers to get a 360-degree view of the car, both interior and exterior from all angles.

“Along with our vision to be the trusted used car dealer, the team behind Sime Darby Auto Selection strives to offer premium quality used cars and excellent after-sales services to our customers. Sime Darby Auto Selection’s online used car store caters to all our customers’ needs.

Those looking to buy a used car can browse our wide selection and schedule test drives, while those selling their cars may schedule appraisal appointments. Existing customers are also able to log in to book service appointments with our team of highly qualified technicians.

By leveraging on the power of the Internet and mobile technology, we are able to provide a seamless online used car trading experience for our customers, and we hope to leverage on this capability to grow our business even further,” added Managing Director of Sime Darby Auto Selection, Vi Thim Juan.

There was however no mention nor indication of an extended warranty for cars outside their warranty period that is sold through Sime Darby Auto Selection's online site.


Oh No, We Might See The Extinction Of The Megane RS

Esteemed UK automobile media, AutoExpress recently highlighted that the Renault Megane faces an uncertain future due to EVs being the focus of most automobile manufacturers.  Slowly and steadily the cars that we have come to love and know are slowly being phased off, and this led us to think, is it actually the focus on EVs that are making these cars extinct? Or is it the lust for SUVs and SUV looking vehicles that are the main problem? Whatever it is, we don't want the Megane to go, cause that means no Megane RS Trophy Cup cars anymore.

The Renault Megane has been a household name across Europe since 1995, but declining sales has made Renault rethink the budget for future production of these family-friendly hatchback cars. According to the written piece by AE, Laurens van den Acker, Renault's design chief told the publication that the company is looking to reassign the development cost of the Megane as it can be better used somewhere else. "Inevitably, once we're starting to add a range of EVs to our line-up, some of the other vehicles are going to have to go because we just can't afford to develop all of this at the same time," said van den Acker. "The Megane is in a segment that's increasingly under pressure. You have to put your money where the future of the market is."

Now, to decide whether SUVs and SUV looking things are the main problem, we got to look at what the main infiltrators are in a market where small hatchback rules. If we look at some of these charts from Focus2Move.com a specialized automotive industry consulting firm, it confirms our suspicion that SUVs are starting to infiltrate the top 3 spots in Europe's best selling car chart. Except for the Golf which is just loved due to its lineage and efficient tech-driven concept, it seems that people in Europe prefer to purchase either tiny cars, i.e., the Renault Clio or SUVs, i.e. VW's Tiguan.

Actually, the only C-Segment hatchback that is in the top 10 of these charts is the Golf with the rest being filled up by either SUVs or B-segment cars. B-Segment cars have always been around in the top 10 charts because they are the cheapest and offer the best fuel economy, but then in recent years, the SUV which never really belonged in the top 10 have started to inch up closer to the top of these charts, confirming our suspicions.

So is it really the EVs that are killing the C-Segment cars or in this case the Megane? Or is it more of a smokescreen for bad sales? Yes and no because yes things are moving the EV way, but we really can't see that happening all too quickly. There is a future war happening at the moment without it even taking place. Every automotive manufacturer is fighting for future car sales space as some have already realised that they have lost in the present - so why try to fight it any further. So this is what Renault is doing, fighting to be top in the future, not the present.

We don't even need to look as far as Europe because in Malaysia, we can already see the examples of the suvpocalypse. Renault Malaysia are selling SUVs with the Megane RS really only as a branding exercise. We used to have trophy cars, now we are getting Renault Captur trophy instead. Mazda Malaysia is also all about SUVs and doesn't really concentrate on any of their low to the ground cars.

So, is it the EVs? or the SUV that is killing off the beloved Megane? You decide!


All-New Mazda 3 Launched In Malaysia - 1.5L & 2.0L, From RM 139,770

Following the preview earlier this month, Bermaz has officially launched the all-new Mazda 3 here in Malaysia.
Unlike the predecessor model, the all-new Mazda 3 is imported from Mazda’s Hofu plant in Yamaguchi, Japan.
Two engine choices are available across two body styles:
Mazda 3 1.5 Hatchback - RM 139,770
Mazda 3 1.5 Sedan - RM 139,770
Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan High - RM 150,059
Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan High Plus - RM 160,059
Mazda 3 2.0 Hatchback High Plus - RM 160,059
All prices shown here are on-the-road without insurance.
While the all-new Mazda 3 1.5 Sedan/Hatchback get a 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine like the smaller Mazda 2, output figures are actually higher as the engine outputs 118 hp at 6,000 rpm and 153 Nm at 4,000 rpm, as opposed to the Mazda 2's 114 hp and 148 Nm.
The sole transmission option is a six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.
The entry-level Mazda 3 1.5 Sedan/Hatchback is equipped with:
LED headlights with bulb-type DRLs
LED tail lights
16-inch alloy wheels with 205/60 R16 tires
Fabric upholstery
Electronic parking brake with Auto Hold
Cruise Control
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Rain Sensing Wipers
Auto headlights
7-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster
Heads-up Display
Leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel
Manual air-conditioning
8.8-inch display with Mazda Connect infotainment system
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
8 speakers
7 airbags
ABS, EBD, BA, DSC, TCS, ESS
Seat Belt Warning for all seats
Next up is the Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan High. This variant is powered by a 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine that outputs 162 hp and 213 Nm, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan High adds this equipment on top of the entry model:
Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry
Piano black door pillar garnish
Frameless type rear view mirror with Auto Dimming
Paddle shifters
Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning with independent rear control
Rear air vents
Leather upholstery
Powered driver seat with 10-way power adjustment and 2-position memory function
Walk Away Lock
The range-topping Mazda 3 variant is the Mazda 3 2.0 Sedan/Hatchback High Plus.
This variant adds this equipment:
18-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 R18 tires
LED headlights with Front Signature Illumination
LED DRLs
LED tail lights with Rear Signature Illumination
Front and rear parking sensors
i-ActivSense advanced driver assistance system
Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)
High Beam Control (HBC)
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
Lane-keep Assist System (LAS)
Drive Attention Alert (DAA)
Front and Rear Smart Brake Support (SBS)
Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)
Rear spoiler (hatchback only)
Seven colours are available on the all-new 3, namely:
Sonic Silver
Machine Gray
Deep Crystal Blue
Jet Black
Snowflake White Pearl
Soul Red Crystal
Polymetal Gray Metallic (hatchback only)
The all-new Mazda 3 is backed by Bermaz's 5-year/100,000 km manufacturer warranty, whichever comes first. Owners will also get to enjoy a 5-year/100,000 km free maintenance (whichever comes first) package.
Find the best deals for a new Mazda
here
.


Honda’s “Rev Beat S660” App Is The Next Best Thing After Dance Dance Revolution

Remember Guitar Hero? Dance Dance Revolution? Now there is a similar app for petrolheads called the Rev Beat S660 by Honda.
Designed exclusively for the Honda S660 roadster (both manual and CVT), the app, which was launched in June in Japan, basically requires the driver to rev match while shifting gears in order to get ‘rewarded’. Similar to DDR and Guitar Hero where an accurate hit is rewarded with points, the Rev Beat S660 also rewards the perfect gearshift, but with music.
From what we can see in the video, a dance beat starts playing when the app is turned on once the phone is connected to the infotainment system via USB.
Once the car gets moving, the gear shifting is judged in three levels – Bad, Good, and Excellent.
While Good and Excellent shifting will result in the addition of another layer of music from different instruments that make the tune better, a ‘Bad’ shift will see the tune becoming less entertaining. Also, good gearshifts get rewarded with more points, which can be used to unlock new functions and items.
After the driving is done, one can even share their scores on social media platform like Twitter or Facebook directly from the Rev Beat S660 app.
The app is currently available only for iPhone 6, 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, and iPhone SE (iOS 9.3 or later).
As for the S660, only models that have the centre display are compatible. So, if you're interested in installing this app, make sure that your iPhone is up to date, and that the screen has been fitted in your S660 before you embark on your journey towards the perfect gearshifts.


Celebrities And Teen Drivers Are Ready For The Second Season Of The Toyota Vios Challenge

Following on from last season’s huge success as it toured around Malaysia, the next season of the Toyota Vios Challenge will see plenty of new faces as well as the familiar ones that we’ve come to support throughout the season.
The Toyota Vios Challenge is the main attraction of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival organised by UMW Toyota Motor and features around 40 identically race-prepared vehicles competing in three classifications: Promotional Class, Sporting Class and Super Sporting Class.
This season’s race will see the return of celebrities Shawn Lee who is defending champion in the Promotional Class, and fellow artistes Diana Danielle, Janna Nick and Syukri Yahaya who had also completed a refresher course. The outstanding performances of Lee and Syukri last year however, will see both celebrities upgraded to compete in the Sporting Class.
The Sporting Class will see the participation of two talented 14-year-olds and former karting team mates Mohamed Hayden Mohamad Haikal and Oscar Ng Kok Tung; the latter is stepping up into saloon car racing will be following in the footsteps of his father Ng Wai Leong, a former national karter and single-seater race car driver.
In addition to this, there will be six new Malaysian celebrities who will be competing in the Promotional Class. The newcomers to this season’s Toyota Vios Challenge are singers Aiman Tino, Khai Bahar, Nabila Razali, Wany Hasrita, Akim Ahmad and comedian Nabil Ahmad.
Managed by Wing Hin Motorsports under the supervision of Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Japan, the Vios Challenge Racing School put these new drivers through six days of intensive training. It included a one-day theory session on the principles of defensive driving, vehicle technology, driving attitude and behaviour, and emergency braking and avoidance techniques.
The drivers subsequently spent another five days on track at the Sepang International Circuit where they were taught the principles of racing, understanding track rules and regulations, how to execute proper gear changes, the heel and toe technique, racing lines and how to enter and exit corners, as well as the proper technique and threshold of braking – all with a manual gearbox.
The racing cars are prepared under the supervision by Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Japan, with the race run to regulations governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM). While the cars take after the base model Toyota Vios 1.5, it is fitted with a full roll cage for safety, and equipped with race-worthy modifications including aerodynamics, suspension system, exhaust, brakes, clutch, a limited slip differential, and tyres.
While most of the action and competitive driving takes place on a specially-built street circuit on the grounds of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Terengganu, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival is a carnival in itself providing members of the public with a range of activities that include the full Toyota model range, stage games, promotional activities, lucky draws and a Superfans Signing Session for a chance to mingle with the celebrity drivers.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival kicks off from 9 am on Friday (3rd August 2018) to Saturday (4th August 2018), and entrance is free. From Kuala Terengganu, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival will move to the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) in Serdang, Selangor on 19-21 October 2018; the Batu Kawan Stadium in Penang from 22-24 February 2019; with the finale being contested at the Sepang International Circuit on 12-14 April 2019.


2017 Subaru BRZ Facelift Launched In Malaysia – 6MT, From RM224k

Subaru distributor motor image Malaysia has launched the facelifted 2017 Subaru BRZ in Malaysia. Subaru’s seminal 2-door coupe is now crucially offered in both six-speed manual (previously special order) and automatic transmission variants, priced at RM224,389 and RM230,749 respectively, excluding insurance.
No difference in the powertrain, the BRZ is powered by a 2.0-litre boxer engine, producing 200PS at 7,000rpm and 205 nm between 6,400 and 6,600rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Torsen limited-slip differential (LSD). The six-speed auto, however, delivers better fuel consumption – at 7.1l/100km versus the manual’s 7.8l/100km on the ECE cycle.
Aesthetically – the facelifted BRZ is underscored by a new front fascia design, flanked by C-shaped headlamp graphics with full-LED headlamps for improved visibility. The foglamps are full-LED units too. Along the flanks - the front fender design is also new, and the BRZ now wears a 10-spoke 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels. The LED taillights are new as well.
The facelifted model also features some upgrades to the suspension setup – namely thicker anti-roll bars and revised springs and absorbers. Body rigidity has been improved too, thanks to stronger chassis and strut tower braces and a new transmission cross-member plate.
On the inside, the BRZ receives a new instrument cluster with an integrated 4.2-inch multifunction colour display, a 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel completes the updates for this facelift.


How To Keep Snakes Out Of Your Engine

How to keep snakes and kittens out of your engine bay.

Being a country surrounded by rainforests, Malaysia hosts a vast diversity of plants and animal species. Because of this dense rainforest, we can practically see Malaysian reptiles everywhere in the country, including city buildings, urban areas, homes, gardens and even sometimes car parks.

While this herpetofauna is something that we are proud of, it does create a few pesky problems, and one of them is snakes in car engine bays.

While this almost sounds like a scene straight out of Samuel L. Jackson's movie, Snakes On a Plane, it is something familiar that many Malaysians face almost on a daily basis.

Just because you've never been in said situation there's no harm in being proactive so that we can avoid this situation altogether.

Firstly, snakes do not see your car as home, but they do see your engine bay as a warm area that helps increase their body temperature. This helps them to carry out and maintain respiration and circulation functions essential to their life. The engine bay area, when closed, also offers darkness which is attractive to snakes.

Pic credit, NST

Snakes will most probably curl up into the engine bay via the gaps available on the underbody or the wheel well. If your car is full of gaps it will be really hard to stop it from getting in there.

However, you can try to stop them from entering the cabin by not leaving your windows or doors open. They can still wiggle their way into the cabin depending on how insulated your cabin is from your engine bay, but to try and avoid the situation altogether, it's best not to park your car in areas where there is long grass or wooded areas.

But what about modern chemicals? Are they any good at deterring snakes away from the cars?

There's a myth and 'petua orang tua' that says sulfur will keep snakes away. There are even snake-away products that contain sulfur which claim to keep snakes away. Unfortunately, it is not effective at deterring snakes and is a waste of money. But don't take our word for it here's a short video of it NOT working.

Like we said before, there's probably a million in one chance that a snake will make its way into your car, but the chances of a kitten making its way into your engine bay is much higher.

Just like snakes, a kitten loves a warm shelter, and an engine bay is a perfect location. They love to make their way into these type of places so that they can sleep well and feel protected.

Unlike snakes, there are more ways to deter them from entering your engine bay.

Get under your car and spray any openings with cat deterrents. These are products that you can find at pet stores that kittens hate. Yes, it will probably wash off with rain, but if you keep spraying it onto the car, the neighbourhood kitten will most likely get the drift.

If this problem persists, another way to help this from happening is to provide shelter for the offender. We know this might sound counterproductive because it's just inviting them further into your home area, but a kitten in a carrier or box lined up with a warm fluffy towel is better than a cute and harmless kitten in an engine bay. A small bowl of food and water next to it would probably help the cause, and chances are they'll stay there instead of trying to make their way into your engine bay.

Pic credit: Bomba dan Penyelamat Twitter

Suppose you ever find a snake in your engine bay, it's best to call the fire department as they are experts in dealing with this problem, and if you ever find a kitten there, try to get a mechanic to help remove it because sometimes they do hide in hard to get enclaves and nooks in the engine bay or just lure the kitten out with some cat kibbles.


Review: 2017 Honda BR-V - The all-new 7-Up

Perhaps it’s a bit of knowing what lies ahead, drawing from past knowledge and experiences – that you simply know this car, or crossover if you prefer - is going to be stellar, or good at the very least.
So let’s sum up the Honda BR-V in a nutshell – part MPV, part Crossover, based on a stretched platform from the
Honda Amaze sedan
, it will seat seven adults and is estimated to be priced just above the
Honda Jazz
 B-Segment hatch.
Granted even for a company like Honda and its current model range, the BR-V might be a niche too far, one might think. But look a little deeper and, you start to see the finer elements of the car – tested and proven over time to be both incredibly efficient and reliable.
BR-V stands for Bold Runabout Vehicle and as you read this, the formal introduction into the Malaysian market is just a few weeks away. Officially, it’s called a full sized seven-seater crossover and not too long ago, we got to drive it on the busy streets of Bangkok.
Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre tranverse-mounted four-cylinder SOHC 16-valve
Power: 120 PS @ 6,600 rpm
Torque: 145 Nm @ 4,200 rpm
Transmission: CVT-type automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Overview
Platform sharing is rather commonplace in this modern age of car building. By stretching and massaging the underpinnings – a wider variety of bodies can be placed on top, be it a sedan, hatch, crossover SUV or MPV.
The BR-V rests on the same platform used by the Brio A-Segment hatch, Amaze Sedan and Mobilio MPV, all of which, are not officially sold in Malaysia. In fact, if you look closely at the Mobilio’s silhouette and you’d find similar proportions to the upcoming BR-V crossover.
From the pictures, the BR-V does look somewhat compact, and by and large, it is – at 1735mm its 37mm thinner than the HR-V SUV. But, measuring in at 4455mm in length, its only 75mm shorter than the
Honda CR-V
, and the BR-V’s (2660mm) wheelbase means it’s actually 40mm longer than the CR-V’s.
So if you were wondering where the cabin space comes from, there you go, but more on that in a while.
Power comes courtesy of the tried and tested (L15Z) 1.5-litre transverse mounted inline-four i-VTEC engine capable of producing 120PS and 145Nm. Torque is transferred to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission.
Keep in mind, these are the
Thai market model BR-V specifications
, but power outputs should be identical to the long-serving units already found in the
Jazz
 and City models.
Interior
As soon as you climb in, it’s easy to appreciate the BR-V’s vast acreage of space. Entry and egress are easy and should be convenient enough for senior aged drivers. The seating position is nicely elevated to allow an unimpeded view of the outside.
There are obvious design traces of the Honda Jazz in here, case in point, the angular finish of the air-conditioning vents and the almost identical meter cluster arrangement.
For some reason, the car I drove oddly was supplied with the
FD-series Civic
 steering wheel – which was superb to use – but unlikely to make it locally.
Headroom and shoulder room is superb as you might suspect and even after a two-hour driving stint from within Bangkok’s city limits heading towards the countryside, the front seats proved both comfortable and supportive.
There are ample cubby storage spaces etched into the dashboard and centre console but a dearly missed omission is the air-con facing cup holders on the driver’s side. In place is a storage space which is convenient for storing your Smar Tag. Two cup holders, otherwise, are found in the just before the gear lever.
Sliding second-row seats allow users to access comfortable seating arrangement depending on how many are seated inside. The BR-V will carry five in comfort all day.
However, the beauty of the packaging is really in the third-row of seats. The seats are rather supportive, while the back supports allow a decent recline angle, the thigh supports are full-sized too.
I’m six feet tall, and by sliding the second row forward, around 3-inches, was able to find a seating position that surprisingly pleasant. Granted, my knees were touching the second-row seats, but, if required to seat slightly shorter occupants, say 5’ 5” and below – the third row is bar none, the best room one can attain without moving up to a full-sized MPV.
As with most of the current crop of Honda vehicles, the texturing of crucial touchpoints are good. The door handles, dashboard, steering wheel and instrumentation are all rather pleasant to touch and operate. I didn’t quite feel the door panels and plastics around the handbrake console were up to spec, the hard and scratchy plastics didn’t quite exude the same quality we have gotten used to with Honda's other products – such as the Honda Jazz.
We were pleasantly informed however, the Malaysian model will have updates to some of the interior appointments. The door panels will receive fabric (or leather) padding and further enhancements in noise suppression material.
The NVH levels was a regular talking point, on the hard concrete roads of Bangkok, quite a bit of tyre roar seeps into the cabin space, again, the team from Honda have assured, the Malaysian model will deliver a more insulated and serene driving experience than the Thai specification cars. This is consistent with our experience of other recent Honda products, where improved sound insulation is implemented on Malaysian models.
Exterior
Taking the current crop of competitors into consideration, such as the
Nissan Grand Livina
 and
Toyota Avanza
 – the BR-V is a breath of fresh air.
A mixture of angular lines make up the front fascia – giving the car a somewhat imposing stance, I personally like how the top edge of the headlamps line the leading edge of the front bonnet around the flanks. The lower regions of the bumper also feature SUV design cues, with its sharp lines and chunky front skirt design.
The silhouette of the BR-V embraces MPV-like proportions – with the vast acreage of glass lining the car’s waistline. Jet black lower body guards skirt the sides of the car – adding to that overall crossover outlook. 16-inch, five-spoke dual-tone alloys are on show here, and if you've checked out our recent
preview video
, you'll notice them present on the local spec car as well.
Round the back – the tail lamps wrap around the sides, stretching across the rear tailgate, to further accentuate the width of the car. The aforementioned black guard trim wraps across the rear as well.
How does it drive?
Perhaps, the driving experience should take a back seat to the overall practicality and packaging of the BR-V, that being said, it’s no slouch either.
The 1.5-litre four pot pulls strongly above 3,000rpm and is pretty eager to haul the car's weight around town and on the motorway. The well-calibrated CVT is smooth and very efficient at all times.
Getting up to highway speeds is pleasantly easy, with not much protest coming from the drivetrain – on one deserted stretch, it was possible to get the BR-V up to 165km/h, which is plenty for a 7-seater crossover if you ask me.
The BR-V has a class-leading 201mm ride height, seemingly, Honda is taking the Crossover part quite seriously with the BR-V; the elevated ride height should come in handy too, on the pothole-filled and sometimes flooded motorways of Malaysia.
That rise in stature has not hampered the handling in my opinion – the car remains composed at a cruise and very nippy while in mid-to-low speeds in town. I struggle to find any significant difference from how a
Honda City
 performs on the road.
The nicely calibrated steering weightage, responsive powertrain and surefooted handling make the BR-V a superb performer within its category.
How efficient is it?
Having reset the trip meter just before setting off on a long cruise towards Ratchaburi – the BR-V returned up to 13.1km/l while at a gentle cruise on the highways. Moving off the straight stuff for a bit of spirited B-road driving returned around 9.8km/l but no less.
After close to four hours of driving, which included a long stint stuck in traffic returning to Bangkok – the BR-V averaged 10.1km/l. A fair overall return on efficiency given the engine’s humble displacement and rather large vehicle proportions.
Conclusion
In 2016, did you know that more
Honda HR-V
s were sold than when compared to the entry-level Jazz model? In fact, the unconventional results went against every sales forecast Honda Malaysia had drawn up prior to the launch.
An obvious rationale, in my opinion, is that perhaps having such a well-packaged product, that suits the trend of the times - can actually make buyers dig deeper into their wallets at the showroom.
And considering the Jazz is as usable as the HR-V if you’d subtract the suave lifestyle premise and image, even in tough economic times such as now, brings about a crucial point – the customers will pony up the cash if the pitch is convincing enough.
With the BR-V nicely positioned as both a lifestyle statement and economical means of travelling for seven, I have a sneaking suspicion, that it will enjoy similar success and market acceptance come time for its launch… stay tuned.! The moment of truth is but a few weeks away, and you’d be happy to know, that you can already
place a booking
 down for Honda BR-V right now.


Who Should Come First On Public Roads - VIP Convoys Or An Ambulance? - What Does The Law Say?

Who comes first on public roads - VIP convoys or an ambulance?

Once again, the issue of who has way
between VIP convoys and emergency services
 has crept up into the spotlight, thanks to a recent incident where an ambulance was stopped to make way for a VIP.

The parties involved included the Prime Minister's convoy and an
ambulance
, where the emergency service vehicle was stopped despite having its siren on, to make way for the Prime Minister's convoy coming from the Taman Tasek, Skudai direction at the time.

A
statement
 released by North Johor Bahru district police chief Rupiah Abd Wahid stated that the ambulance was stopped to avoid the risk of it being in a collision, somewhat reminding us of the statement given by Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief Superintendent Azman Shariat back in December 2021, where he had to explain why an ambulance had been stopped to make way for the PM's convoy in Hulu Langat.

Now, this is a sensitive issue as the nature of logic and perception would instantly recognise that of course, the ambulance has to
be given way no matter what
, as lives might be at stake. Still, according to official statements, more lives would be at risk if the ambulance was let through, as it would have put all parties at risk of being involved in a collision.

According to Azman back in December, the actions carried out by the police officers whereby they temporarily blocked the ambulance were done in accordance with Traffic Rule No. 9 LN 166/959 of the Road Transport Act 1987.

When we tried to look it up, there are hundreds of sections and various acts involving roads, so we're unsure how it is defined and how the authorities reach a conclusion.

Under 'Kaedah-kaedah Lalu Lintas Jalan 1959' however, it's clear to see that VIP vehicles are not included in the group of vehicles entitled to be given the right of way in accordance with Rule 9, Road Transport Act 1959, but because they are being led by Police Officers, we suppose the rule applies.

Despite this, Azman said JSPT officers and its members are always instructed to give priority to emergency vehicles carrying patients, but the officers in the December 2021 incident made an initial assessment before stopping the ambulance for a short period of time as the convoy was close to the intersection.

On the flip side of the argument, we've also seen the boys in blue, or white for this matter going out of their way to give priority to emergency vehicles carrying patients. They have even escorted an ambulance all the way to the hospital during peak hours, giving the patient a speedy trip to the emergency room.

Even Sultan of Selangor, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's entourage got into the action of helping an ambulance all the way to the hospital where three police motorcycle outriders from the entourage broke off from the group and ushered the ambulance all the way to IJN.

For an ambulance and its patient, time is of the utmost importance as every single second counts, so perhaps
more considerations should be taken into account
 when road users or even VIP convoys see them on the road. You never know, you could be saving someone's life.

In the end the question that needs answering is, despite what the laws of the road or nation may say - what is more important? An emergency vehicle rushing somewhere or a VIP convoy?


Post-SST: New Prices For Toyota Models

UMW Toyota has released the latest prices for its lineup following the reintroduction of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) which came into effect on 1 September.
For models like the Vios, Innova, and Fortuner, prices have gone down marginally. However, for other models, including the imported Vellfire, Alphard, Corolla Altis, Harrier, and C-HR, these models receive a slight bump in price.
Curiously, the updated pricelist from Toyota lacks models such as the Camry, Avanza, and Sienta.
Elsewhere, the entry-level Toyota Fortuner 2.4 AT 4x4 has now been updated with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Active Traction Control (A-TRC), and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).
Apart from the updated Fortuner, specifications of the Hilux 2.4G AT 4x4 have been adjusted, now without the powered leather seats, with a slight drop in price.
Prices of Toyota models can be found below.


Leona Chin and Tengku Djan Ley Join Forces To Compete In The GT World Challenge Asia Series

Motorsport luminaries Leona Chin and Tengku Djan Ley are joining forces this year in an attempt to beat the best of the best drivers around Asia in the ever-growing GT World Challenge Asia series.

The duo who will be backed by a Malaysian squad run by the experienced Tedco Racing will be commandeering a Mercedes -AMG GT3 and be making their debut in Sepang on the 28th of March which also marks the first race of the year in the series.

Chin's racing experience includes stints in the Mini Challenge Asia Series, Renault Clio Cup China and Malaysian Championship Series, where she finished second last season. "It was always a dream to race in any GT championship so to now have an opportunity in Asia's most prestigious GT series is pretty amazing," said Chin. "It's going to be a tough and challenging year as it will be my first time racing a GT3 car, let alone the beautiful Mercedes-AMG. But I'm also very excited to visit new circuits that I've never previously raced at. Competing in GT World Challenge Asia will provide me with a great experience at a very high level of racing."

Meanwhile, Djan Ley, who has 24 years of racing experience, has had outings in Japan's Super GT series as well as back-to-back Merdeka Millennium Endurance victories at Sepang.  His most famous calling, however, is 'Prince of Drift' as he was crowned Formula Drift Asia champion in 2009 and '10, and finished seventh in last season's FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup. "I'm looking forward to a great season with a new, all-Malaysian team," he said. "We hope to be competitive in the Am class, but both Leona and I are new to GT racing. And it's not going to be easy as GT World Challenge Asia has the highest level of competition in the region." Team boss Kelvin Liang added: "As newcomers to GT World Challenge Asia and GT racing generally we will need to dig deep to catch up with the rest of the established teams and drivers. Success, however, will be sweeter being an all Malaysian team of drivers and crew."

The team which will go into the races under the Legacy Racing team name begins its GT World Challenge Asia campaign on home soil at Sepang on 28th of March before heading out to the rest of Asia in 11 different races across the year.


Watch These Driving Instructors Get Pranked By Professional Drifter Leona Chin

For these unsuspecting driving school instructors, their first day of work would be their most memorable as they were each taken on the ride of their lives courtesy of our very own local professional female drifter,
Leona Chin
.
Leona did everything to make herself as unimposing as possible. Putting on nerd glasses, tying her hair in pigtails, and even wearing a denim vest over a yellow Spongebob Squarepants dress. Furthermore, she pretended to act like the most novice of drivers by even asking how to work the clutch to get the car moving and making countless rookie driving errors during the 'test'.
Obviously, the instructors would start to lose their patience when dealing with such an inexperienced driver and have even told her to practice more before attempting the test again.
When Leona pleads for one last chance to prove herself, the instructors would get more than they bargained for. Flooring the accelerator, Leona executes various drifting manoeuvres around the parking lot, doing doughnuts, and basically making sure the entire area is covered in tyre marks.
The reactions are as hilarious and diverse as you might expect with one of the instructors desperately asking her to stop while another grabs onto the seat belt for dear life.
Judge a book by its cover?
 Never again.
Except when your student shows up for a driving test in a heavily modified Nissan Silvia.