The Nissan Serena: Unsung Hero Of Malaysian Family Mobility

A family man will attest that a happy family is the key to a happy life. A family man will also usually go out of their way to provide the best comfort for people that matter the most to them, let that be in the form of a home or a car.

This is why multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) thrive in Malaysia. We care about our family and want nothing but the best for them. One of the original MPVs or OG MPVs that set the standard for all MPVs in Malaysia is the Nissan Serena.

The history of Nissan Serena in Malaysia

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) introduced the
1st Gen C23 Serena
 (CKD) in 1997 as a value-for-money family vehicle. Due to its size, shape and ability to comfortably ferry around many people to different locations, some even went as far as calling it a Boeing 747 without wings.

In 2001, ETCM introduced the
2nd Gen Serena
, which presented buyers with a larger MPV. Nissan decided to ditch its rear-wheel drivetrain for a front-wheel drive system, which freed up a lot more interior space. However, Nissan wasn't finished making the Serena more practical, as the
C24 generation
 saw the introduction of Dual Sliding Doors, making it the first ever MPV in Malaysia to come equipped with them. Every Serena introduced to the Malaysian market came with something special, and the introduction of the
4th Gen
 was no different.

In 2013, ETCM debuted the
Serena S-Hybrid (C26)
, Malaysia's first-ever hybrid MPV. The fuel-efficient powertrain was under a stylistically designed MPV shell, beautifying it tremendously over the past generations. In 2014 ETCM decided to give the Serena S-Hybrid facelift the CKD treatment - which made it the first CKD Hybrid MPV in Malaysia and helped it become the best-selling non-national mid-size MPV in its segment.

The
5th Gen C27 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid
 which was introduced in 2018 had a tough act to follow, but thanks to its new "V Motion" front facia and Nissan Intelligent Mobility features that gave drivers access to features such as a 360-degree camera, the Serena continued to be the best selling non-national mid-size MPV up until 2021.

What’s new in the 2022 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid Facelift compared to the outgoing 2018 model?

This brings us to the latest Nissan Serena, a
facelifted version of the C27 generation
. The 2022 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid has been
updated with more premium styling and enhanced safety features
. The bulk of the updates comprises its safety features, exterior looks, and infotainment system.

While retaining the elegant presence of its design, there's a refreshed look to the 2022 Serena, thanks mainly to the inclusion of the
'Majestic Chrome Nissan V-motion front grille’
, which stretches from the headlight area all the way down to the centre intake.

There are also
redesigned headlamps
 featuring dual projector LED lamps and positioning lights at the brow. In addition, the rear bumper has been given the glossy black finish treatment for a classy touch. The rear lights have also been refreshed, featuring a set of curvaceous taillights that help make the car look wider. The
newly designed rear LED tail lights
 also add a clear identifier to the latest Serena.

The Serena's
dual-opening tailgate
 marches on in the facelifted vehicle as it is one of its best features. Many Serena owners appreciate the large opening of the tailgate as well as the relatively low loading height but sometimes prefer to use the glass hatch opening for smaller items.

To complement the premium look of the exterior, Nissan has also beefed up the interior, starting with a new wheelhouse sound-absorbing liner, which has helped
make the cabin quieter
. The liner helps suppress NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) levels to deliver a quieter, more serene experience for all passengers.

The premium touches inside the Serena continue through the addition of
Premium Nappa quilted leather seats
, which is a first for the Serena. This adds a sense of luxury to the interior, especially when they wrap those excellent
Nissan Zero Gravity seats
 inside the cabin. With this combo, you now get premium seats to go along with that trademark Serena interior, which has always had an airy feel to it.

The biggest update where the interior is concerned is the
bump up in screen size
 for the infotainment system,
going from 6.75-inch to 9-inches
. Now you can view the 360-degree camera system with Moving Object Detection (MOD) system through a bigger screen. The entertainment monitor for rear passengers has also increased in size,
moving from a 10-inch unit to an 11.6-inch unit
. This will surely keep the kids happier as they can watch their favourite cartoons on a bigger screen.

For those who prefer to be entertained via your own smart devices, the Serena can help keep your battery charged no matter which seat you are sitting in as there are seven USB ports strategically placed around the cabin.

While the bump in screen size will surely keep the family happy, the
hands-free power-sliding doors
 will surely come in handy for anyone that wants to enter the Serena. The powered sliding doors on the Serena can be opened by just placing a foot under the side of the vehicle. This is another feature on the Serena that is well thought out as the hands-free feature will undoubtedly be appreciated when your hands are full as you can use your foot to open either sliding door.

One of the most significant updates to the Serena is its list of
safety gear regardless of variants
. All 2022 Serenas now come with Nissan’s SMART 360° SAFETY SHIELD, which includes safety features such as:

Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning

Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking

Blind Spot Monitoring

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

Lane Departure Warning

Around View Monitor (360 view camera)

Moving Object Detection Warning

Driver Attention Alert

Six airbags

ABS, EBD, BA, TCS and vehicle dynamic control

Nissan’s SMART 360° SAFETY SHIELD
 is a comprehensive safety system package that makes you feel more confident and safe every time you get yourself and your family on the road. This to a family man is probably the most important feature in a car.

As we found out, no matter where you go, you’ll be backed up by a set of advanced technological assistance systems, which helps keep you safe without interfering with the pleasures of exploring the open road.

Everything from its Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning and forward emergency braking to driver attention alert safety system aims to help you avoid collisions and reduce the stresses associated with driving.

Out of all the safety features, the
Predictive Forward Emergency Braking
 is probably the most welcoming addition to anyone who gets behind the wheel of the Serena. Not only does it monitors the vehicle ahead, but it also analyses the second vehicle ahead to help reduce the risk of multi-car accidents. If it detects a hazardous situation, the Serena will activate its brakes and save you.

We found this braking feature particularly useful during our out-of-town trip during the holiday period, where traffic flow on the highway was erratic. We’ve all been there where traffic can sometimes speed up and slow down without warning, causing us to brake late.

While most of the time, we did the braking ourselves, there was an instance where a car in front pulled out to the next lane, revealing a stopped car in front of us. Thanks to the Predictive Forward Emergency Braking, the Serena autonomously braked for us, saving the day and rescuing us from getting into an accident with the stopped car.

The Serena’s safety systems can also cover your back when you’re not on the open road. Its
Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection
 can help with unwanted stress during those visits to tight parking areas like the ones in malls.

When you combine this with the MPV’s
 Rear Cross Traffic Alert
system, you can be sure that the Serena will give you all possible warnings in order for you to avoid those unwanted hassles associated with car parks.

Not only do the cameras strategically placed around the Serena give you a 360° virtual bird's eye view of your surroundings, but sensors placed around the car will also give you audio and visual alerts if movement around your vehicle is detected.

While the system is particularly useful as a passive safety net, we also found that the system can save you from embarrassment in other ways such as maneuvering around obstacles on tight roads as well as avoiding high curbs.

As we mostly live in a capital city where everything is pretty tight, the Intelligent Around View Monitor has come in handy more than once. Because the Serena gives us a 360° virtual bird's eye view of our surroundings, we have called upon it many times just to help us safely navigate tight spaces, such as an illegally parked car on a tight city road. Without it, we would have had to get out of the car and check the space we had to get past that pesky car.

Firepower comes in the tried and tested 2.0-litre Twin CVTC hybrid drivetrain with Energy Control Motor (ECO) for improved performance as well as fuel efficiency. This power unit for the Nissan Serena produces
150PS
 at 6,000rpm and
200Nm
 of torque at 4,400rpm with a fuel consumption rate of 14.2km/l (NEDC).

The 2022 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid has been updated and upgraded in all the right places. The exterior has been updated to match current times, and the interior has been upgraded to provide a more premium feel and give its passengers a luxurious experience.

Everything from its dual-opening tailgate and hands-free power-sliding doors has been thought out well, which in turn will provide families with the best MPV experience possible. Most importantly, however, the Nissan Serena is now safer and more aware of hazards than ever before - and this to a family man is probably one of the best reasons to get behind the wheel of the Serena, for the wonderful moments together.

It’s little wonder that the Serena is one of Japan’s best-selling MPVs as well as a top contender for all-time favourite MPV in Malaysia.


PEKEMA Target Jual 500 Unit Tesla Setahun – Tesla Model 3 Dari RM288K

Semenjak pengumuman
pengecualian cukai dan eksais untuk kenderaan elektrik
 pada Bajet 2022 lalu, industri kenderaan elektrik dilihat semakin rancak dengan semakin banyak model kereta elektrik diperkenalkan.

Persatuan Pengimport & Peniaga Kenderaan Melayu Malaysia (PEKEMA) turut tidak ketinggalan untuk merebut insentif itu dengan membawa masuk
Tesla
 ke Malaysia pada tahun hadapan. PEKEMA telah mensasarkan untuk menjual sebanyak 500 unit Tesla setahun sepanjang tempoh pengecualian cukai dan eksais ini.

Menurut perkongsian PEKEMA, mereka telah menerima hampir 40 tempahan untuk pelbagai model Tesla sejak tempahannya dibuka. Model yang paling banyak ditempah pelanggan adalah
Tesla Model 3
 dan
Tesla Model Y
.

Kesemua model ini merupakan kenderaan baharu, bukannya kenderaan terpakai. PEKEMA telah mengeluarkan senarai harga bagi kesemua model Tesla yang bakal diimport masuk dengan menyaksikan Tesla Model 3 dijual pada harga terendah di antara semua, dengan berharga RM288,888. Jika nak dibandingkan pada tahun 2019, anda perlu membayar lebih RM500k untuk memilik Tesla Model 3 ini.

*Kredit foto:
Malaysian Electric Vehicle Owners Club

Harga Tesla itu agak sedikit ‘mampu milik’ kerana model itu dibawa masuk dari Hong Kong yang tidak dilengkapi dengan skrin sistem hiburan lengkap. Ini disebabkan oleh larangan kerajaan China terhadap penggunaan sistem infotainmen di dalam kenderaan sebagai sekatan terhadap kandungan yang boleh diakses rakyatnya.

Tetapi jangan risau, jika anda mahukan sistem infotaimen lengkap pada Tesla tersebut, PEKEMA juga akan membawa masuk Tesla Model 3 dari UK yang lengkap segala ciri, tetapi pada harga yang lebih mahal iaitu RM323,928.

Berikut merupakan senarai penuh harga model Tesla yang bakal dibawa masuk kelak. Segala tempahan dijangka akan tiba dan diserahkan kepada pemilik bermula Januari 2022.

Tesla Model S, Basic S – RM712,656

Tesla Model S, S Plaid – RM878,256

Tesla Model 3 (Hong Kong) – RM288,888

Tesla Model 3, Rear Wheel Drive – RM323,928

Tesla Model 3, Long Range – RM370,728

Tesla Model X, Basic X – RM817,128

Tesla Model X, X Plaid – RM950,328

Tesla Model Y, Long Range – RM417,528

Tesla Model Y, Performance – RM489,528

Kos tambahan untuk pilihan warna

Putih (Percuma)

Hitam (+RM6,600)

Silver (+RM6,600)

Biru (+RM6,600)

Merah (+RM12,600)

Kos tambahan untuk Tayar:

19 inci (Percuma – Model Y)

20 inci (+RM12,600 – Model Y)

18 inci (Percuma – Model 3)

19 inci (+RM9,000 – Model 3)

22 inci (+RM33,000)

Memandangkan kesemua Tesla ini merupakan unit baru, kesemua model ini diberi jaminan yang sama dengan jaminan antarabangsa yang diberikan oleh Tesla – 8 tahun untuk bateri/motor elektrik dan 4 tahun bagi
hardware
 lainnya.

Harga yang dikeluarkan oleh PEKEMA ini sudah merangkumi kos pengangkutan kereta ke
Tesla Singapura
 sekiranya kereta mengalami masalah besar yang memerlukan ia untuk dihantar ke sana. Tetapi menurut Naib Presidennya, Raja Petra Marudin, perkara demikian belum pernah berlaku sejak PEKEMA membawa masuk Tesla pada 2019 lagi.

Selain itu, PEKEMA juga memberikan khidmat pemasangan kad SIM tempatan dalam kenderaan Tesla anda supaya anda boleh mengemaskini perisian, tetapi pembeli perlu membayar kos tambahan. Untuk pengecasan, pelanggan Tesla Malaysia boleh menggunakan 7 stesen pengecasan pantas DC PEKEMA. Mereka merancang untuk meningkatkan jumlah itu kepada 12 menjelang akhir tahun ini dan sehingga 1,000 stesen menjelang tahun 2025.

Oleh kerana Tesla menggunakan sistem yang membolehkan keretanya diperiksa dari jauh untuk tujuan mengesan masalah yang mungkin ada, khidmat
remote diagnosis
 terhadap kenderaan juga boleh dilakukan dan laporan kereta tersebut akan diserahkan pada pelanggan.

Berkenaan alat ganti, ia bukanlah masalah kerana mereka tiada masalah untuk mendapatkannya. Malah ada juga juruteknik PEKEMA yang dihantar ke Tesla Singapura bagi mempersiapkan mereka untuk membantu pelanggan di sini sekiranya Tesla mereka mempunyai masalah. Jadi tidak perlu hantar kereta ke Singapura kerana juruteknik ini juga boleh hadir ke rumah pelanggan bagi kerja baik pulih.

PEKEMA juga sedang berusaha untuk membawa Tesla dari Australia dan New Zealand yang mungkin menyaksikan perubahan harga dan ketersediaan pada masa hadapan. Raja Petra turut berharap bahawa kerajaan akan mempertimbangkan permohonan PEKEMA untuk membawa masuk unit Tesla melalui Tesla Singapura, yang akan memudahkan lagi logistik untuk pelanggan.


Proton X50 is Being Launched Tomorrow – Which Variant to Buy?

The most anticipated car launch of the year is set to take place tomorrow, virtually of course, and the star is none other than the
Proton X50
, but which one should you buy?

Most of the details are already out there but in case you’re one of those who still can’t decide which variant to go for, here’s a breakdown of the standard specifications, variant-by-variant, in an effort to help you decide.

As reported before,
the Proton X50
 will be offered in four variants:

Proton X50 1.5T Standard

Proton X50 1.5T Executive

Proton X50 1.5T Premium

Proton X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship

Powering the four variants will be one of two engine options. Firstly, we have the range-topping 1.5 TGDi Flagship variant which will be powered by a turbocharged
1.5-litre three-cylinder direct-injection
 petrol engine developed by Geely and Volvo, producing 177 PS and 255 Nm of torque.

The 1.5T Standard, 1.5T Executive, and 1.5T Premium variants, on the other hand, will come with a port-injected version of the turbocharged 1.5-litre
three-cylinder
 petrol engine, which makes 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque; 22 PS and 29 Nm less than the Flagship variant to be exact.

Regardless of the engine, all variants get the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which sends all the power exclusively to the front wheels. It is also worth mentioning here that there will not be an all-wheel drive variant of the X50.

That being said, let us look at the list of standard equipment offered in every variant:

Proton X50 1.5T Standard (Base Specifications):

1.5L Turbo engine (150 PS and 226 Nm of torque)

7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission

4 SRS Airbags

Full LED Headlamps

17-inch alloy wheels

Fabric seats

Rear air vents

8-inch infotainment head unit

Reverse camera

Proton X50 1.5T Executive (Upgrades from standard):

6 SRS Airbags

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Automatic headlamps

Front fog lamps

Leatherette seats

Proton X50 1.5T Premium (Upgrades from Executive):

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

18-inch alloy wheels

Driver Power Seat

10-inch Infotainment Head Unit

360-degree Camera

Proton X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship (Upgrades from Premium):

1.5L TGDi Engine (177 PS and 255 Nm of torque)

Advanced Driver Assistance System

Dual Tone Exterior

Panoramic Sunroof

Looking at the specifications sheet, the best variant to go for is obviously the X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship since it gets all the goodies.

However, the variant which we feel is the best value for money is the X50 1.5T Premium, which gets the same features as the X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship, except for the slightly less powerful engine, ADAS, the dual-tone interior, as well as the panoramic roof.

Except for the Advanced Driving Assistance System, the dual-tone interior, panoramic sunroof, as well as the additional 20 PS are actually features that one can live without, in our opinion.

Blind Spot Information System

Intelligent High Beam Control

Forward Collision Warning

Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Lane Departure Warning

Lane Keep Assist

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Intelligent Cruise Control

However, if you feel that you don’t really need the driver assistance features above, the 1.5T Premium would be the best choice, if you don’t want to go for the Flagship variant.

That being said, the million-dollar question of how much the 2020 Proton X50 is will finally be answered! So, watch this space for more updates from our national carmaker at about 10.50 am tomorrow.


Gun Used To Make A Threat In Road Rage Incident In Damansara Damai

Toy gun deployed to make a threat in a road rage incident.

Road rage incidents are nothing new in Malaysia, but when you have to pull out a gun to make your threats and intentions clear, you're bound to attract PDRM, which will probably see yourself heading down towards that cold low lit corridor, where a prison cell is happily waiting for you at the end of it.

This is of course in reference to an incident yesterday, where a 32-year-old man went to extremities and pointed a gun at a lady driver when she honked at him.

According to reports, the Petaling Jaya police received a complaint from a 36-year-old female e-hailing driver about being threatened by a driver with a gun at around 3.15 pm. By midnight, the Malaysian Royal police force managed to track down and detain the apparent gunslinger at a residence near Bandar Sri Damansara.

Upon further investigation, when the police ransacked the apparent firearm holder's house, they found a toy pistol with the inscription "Made in China" on it and petals of bullets attached to the suspects' waist.

Upon further inquiry, the suspect eventually admitted to the police that he did point the toy gun at the lady driver as he was annoyed that the lady honked at him.

Cross-referencing with the suspect's records, the police found that the suspect did not have a job and had a history of abusing drugs. The police have remanded the suspect to help with the investigation, under Seksyen 506, Kanun Keseksaan.

Pointing a gun at someone, whether it's a toy or a real one, is not a funny matter, as it can cause trauma, but we couldn't help but chuckle at this incident as it shows that people will go to any lengths to show that they have power over other people, even if the prop is a toy.

Also, a horn is a sound-making device that helps warn others of the vehicle's approach, presence, or to call attention to some hazard. So please use it wisely and not aggressively as it might just get you in a pickle.


Tesla cutting prices to boost sales for 2023

In a bid to boost its sales figure for 2023,
Tesla
 has been actively cutting prices around the globe.

The price cuts and discounts which started in Asia have now been expanded to the US and Europe with the target of keeping the demands high despite the worsening global economy. It's an understandable strategy and an effective one too as they've reported certain improvements.

Tesla-made cars in China saw a price cut for all variants of the Model 3 and Model Y between 6%-13.5% last January following a weak H2 2022 performance in terms of sales. The discount strategy saw an 18% increase in January followed by a further 12.6% sales increase in February.

The Japanese market saw a 10% reduction in prices for the same models (Model 3 & Model Y). It's a slightly different case for South Korea where the discounts are based on the models on sale in their market, but the biggest reductions can be seen in the US and Europe between 6% to 20%.

France gets an added bonus via a government subsidy that cuts a further 5,000 euros from the discounted price tag. With the brand officially entering the
Malaysian market
 soon, we can expect some sort of added benefits to getting the sales up and running here in the country.

The Malaysian government will hopefully introduce more incentives in the near future to push the sales of EVs here in the country to promote a much bigger adoption of electrification. We are already seeing that now with more affordable brands entering the market, but with a brand presence as strong as Tesla, the pricing should be a key determining factor for its success.


Bangkok 2017: All-New Volvo XC60 - CBU Sweden Now, CBU Malaysia Later

A couple of weeks ago, the Volvo XC60 was officially launched for the Thai market in both diesel and hybrid flavours. The D4 and T8 respectively are both potent powertrain variants, with the latter being familiar to us in both the XC90 T8 and the S90 T8. Volvo has put an XC60 on display during the Bangkok Motor Expo and we got a closer look.
This particular variant is the D4 model, packing a 2.0-litre turbodiesel that pushes 190 hp and 400 Nm of torque. It sends power exclusively to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. We haven't had a diesel Volvo on sale in Malaysia since the older XC90 days, but hopefully market sentiment changes and our fuel quality improves to allow for these highly efficient, potent powerplants.
As for the rest of the car, it's pretty standard modern Volvo fair, albeit in a smaller package than what we're used to seeing. The right elements are there, with a gorgeous instrument cluster and giant touch screen centre console, as well as a refined looking interior with brushed metal accents.
If Volvo Cars Malaysia can bring in this specification for us, we're sure the XC60 is going to be a hot seller. For now the larger 90 series models may be a little less approachable at their price points, but given how well the previous generation XC60 was received it may be what Volvo needs here to get the brand going strong again.
For now, the Volvo XC60 for the Thai market is fully-imported from Sweden, but in time it will be fully-imported from Malaysia as the previous generation model was. There's no word as to when the XC60 will be officially launched for our market, but you can expect the usual T5 and T6 powertrain options to be made available.


Volkswagen DSG Now With Extra 2 years Goodwill

The new custodian of Volkswagen in our market, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM), faces an uphill task restoring the good name of the brand it represents; but has nevertheless hit the ground running. Following its
recent launch
 of the
all-new Passat
 hoping to lure customers back to the brand, the charm offensive is now directed at existing owners with improvements of the aftersales experience promised in multiple aspects.
Chief among these improvements is this: The DSG dual clutch transmissions benefit from an extra two years of goodwill for vehicles produced before and up to December 2013, with no more than 200,000km on the clock. The two years begins after the initial 5-year warranty has come to an end. Under the terms of this ‘goodwill’, Volkswagen will still cover the cost of replacing defective parts within the DSG, but with partial labour charge billed to the customer. The repair job itself will then be protected by a 2-year warranty covering both parts and labour
This ‘goodwill’ is, however, not a warranty, and compensation will be decided on a case-to-case basis by VPCM. Only cars with full service histories at official VW dealerships enjoy consideration for this ‘goodwill’. Owners of vehicles exceeding five years of age may also look forward to economy service packages that VPCM is working to implement in 2017.
As announced before, cars delivered from 1st September 2016 onwards are covered by a full five-year manufacturer warranty without mileage restriction.
Previously, Volkswagen’s five-year warranty consisted of a 2-year manufacturer warranty extended by a third-party provider. This setup had the unfortunate effect of bottlenecking claims, resulting in cars piling up in service centres with defective parts unable to be replaced in a timely fashion.
For vehicles still covered by the previous arrangement, VPCM claims to have improved processing of claims from its third-party service provider. Naturally, be it the new 5-year warranty or the previous 2+3-year warranty, the usual caveat requiring cars to be serviced at authorized dealers applies.


VIDEO: Taxi Drivers Ambush And Attack Uber, GrabCar Vehicles During KLCC Pickup

The tensions between factions of disgruntled taxi drivers against ride-sharing app's drivers and users are steadily rising. Most recently, a couple of shocking videos have been making the rounds on social media.
What looks to be a band of taxi drivers have gathered outside of the Suria KLCC entrance (probably while their own cabs are parked at the taxi stand nearby) are waiting for vehicles from Uber and/or GrabCar to swing by and pickup their fares before striking. In these cases, a
Perodua

Myvi
 and an
Alza
 were the victims.

Once such a car has been spotted, they surround it to prevent it from moving, verbally attack the driver, and even vandalize the vehicle – breaking off door mirrors, denting bodywork – all while the passengers are already inside. Like we said, shocking.
We’re not quite sure what to make of all this just yet, and we’ll be interested to know what the Royal Malaysian Police has to say about this deliberate acts of intimidation and violence. In the tail end of the second video, you can clearly see a caucasian man (tourist?) in the background. What a shameful sight at one of our nation's most iconic landmarks.
One thing is for sure, this might discourage ride-sharing drivers from taking fares, but this further display of unacceptable behavior will very likely not make customers choose taxi cabs willingly.


Audi Malaysia Launches Tech Pack Variants Of Their A4

It's taken a while for Audi Malaysia to get it in, but it's finally here. At launch, there was talk of the Tech pack option for the A4 being made available across the range, and we're finally seeing that happen. The three new variants of the A4 are the 1.4 TFSI Tech pack, the A4 2.0 TFSI S-Line + Tech pack, and the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro Tech pack.
Prior to this, prospective A4 buyers could choose between the A4 2.0 TFSI S-Line or the A4 2.0 TFSI Tech pack, but this allows them to tick both boxes. The  A4 2.0 TFSI quattro already comes equipped with S-Line equipment as it is.
What the Tech pack gets you is what makes the newer Audi products that much more appealing than contemporary rivals. The Audi virtual cockpit provides the biggest improvement, with a high definition display replacing the traditional instrument cluster.
In addition to this, there are features like advanced phone connectivity, the Matrix LED lighting system, and the Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System. Unfortunately only the 2.0 TFSI quattro gets all of these items, as the 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI S-Line don't receive the sound system, and the 1.4 TFSI only gets the virtual cockpit. As of now, the only other Audi product with the Matrix LED lighting system is the A8L.
The Audi 1.4 TFSI Tech pack retails for RM 243,900, which is RM 25,000 over the price without the Tech pack. The Audi 2.0 TFSI S-Line + Tech pack goes for RM 298,900, which is RM 25,000 more than either the Audi 2.0 TFSI S-Line or the Audi 2.0 TFSI Tech pack. Finally, the Audi 2.0 TFSI quattro Tech pack is going for RM 334,900, which is RM 20,000 more than the non Tech pack variant. Introductory prices for all three variants are RM 224,900, RM 274,900, and RM 314,900 respectively- while stocks last. All prices are on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.


BMW Introduces Updated 2017 BMW 1 Series

BMW has announced today that an updated 1 Series will go on sale in Europe starting July, featuring new special edition models, revised interior and updated iDrive operating system. As before, the updated 1 Series can be had either as a 3-door or 5-door version.
The company will introduce several new special edition models, like the Edition Sport Line Shadow, Edition M Sport Shadow and M140i Edition Shadow. These Shadow editions get BMW's signature kidney grille finished in black, LED headlights with black inserts and darkened LED tail lights. The BMW 1 Series Edition M Sport Shadow also receives black muffler tips. BMW says that the Sport Line, Urban Line and M Sport variants of the 1 Series will continue to be sold with the regular 1 Series. Two new body colours will be available, Seaside Blue and Sunset Orange.
The exterior of the new BMW 1 Series is further complemented by 16 different wheel designs. The BMW 1 Series Edition Sport Line Shadow receives exclusive 17-inch 725 light weight alloy wheels as standard, whilst the Edition M Sport Shadow gets 18-inch 719M wheels in Jet Black or Bicolour Jet Black. Last but not least is the M140i Edition Shadow, which receives 18-inch 436M Orbit Grey alloy wheels.
Inside, the instrument panel has been reworked, now with more emphasis on driver focus. The centre stack that contains the radio and air-conditioning controls now receive a new high-gloss black surface. The centre console also sees an update, with a roll cover now included for the cupholders. Contrast stitching, additional chrome trim and air vents for the air-conditioning further separate the new 1 Series from its predecessor.
In terms of infotainment, the new BMW 1 Series receives the latest iDrive operating system with iDrive Touch Controller. If customers opt for the Navigation Professional system, the central 8.8-inch display can be operated via the touchsreen, which is new. Voice Control is also available.

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Auto News

April 12, 2017

The BMW 1 Series remains the only hatchback in its segment to offer rear wheel drive, though that trait won't last for long as the
next generation BMW 1 Series
 will come as a front-wheel drive model.


Trade-In or Trade-Up With BMW Premium Selection

There’s no doubt that 2020 was a rough year for quite nearly everyone – except perhaps the manufacturers of masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers. Thankfully, however, we’re seeing the signs of the economy recovering – and with it comes more people looking to get back on track with their life plans. For some, progressing in life means ownership of a luxury vehicle – and BMW Premium Selection is making it easier than ever for customers in 2021.

How Easy Are We Talking?

COVID-19 has seen a lot of changes made to the way we do things, and there’s a general sense of fear when it comes to going to crowded spaces and places – even if they’re sanitized on a strict schedule. BMW Premium Selection bypasses all that by coming straight to you if you’re interested in trading in your car (bearing in mind the interstate travel restrictions that are still in place) – they’ll appraise it at your house without you having to lift a finger.

BMW to BMW Only?

No! – BMW Premium Selection accepts any make and model. So if you’re looking to trade-up or trade-in, BMW Premium Selection has you covered. They even accept direct purchases if you don’t feel like upgrading to another Certified Used BMW or MINI product in the range.

Sure Got Hidden Costs, Right?

As far as they can, BMW Premium Selection makes the trade-in or purchase experience as transparent as possible. Inspection and appraisals are free, regardless of whether you decide to pull out of a purchase decision. They even pay out competitively according to market rate, which is incredibly easy to check (just pull out your phone).

But I Don’t Like Paperwork

Who likes paperwork? Forms are one of the worst parts of bureaucracy, which is why BMW Premium Selection will handle that for you too. Just sit back and relax while their well-trained advisors take care of everything, and before you know it you’ll have a Certified Used BMW or MINI model to take home.

It really is as easy as that, plus as we’re all aware there’s no time like the present especially if you want to take advantage of the SST-free period until June 30, 2021. With restrictions lifting and the economy recovering, there’s no reason that you too can’t get back on track and start enjoying the finer things in life like a Certified Used BMW or MINI!

Why BMW Premium Selection?

When a company has the kind of history that BMW and MINI have in Malaysia, you get the benefit of their vast experience and partnership with financial services, as well as their wide service network and overall presence. It really doesn’t get easier than working with a specialized outfit that handles the purchase of your old car, and the sale of your next one – and that’s where BMW Premium Selection really shines.


Porsche Managers Can Now Opt To Go Green Faster With The Taycan

With immediate effect, Porsche Germany has announced that all management staff entitled to lease a company car can opt for the
all-electric Taycan
 (BEV) or choose one of the company’s new plug-in hybrid models.

In line with setting a good example, Andreas Haffner, Member of the Executive Board for Human Resources at Porsche said “Porsche would like to become the most sustainable brand for exclusive and sporty mobility. It is therefore logical for us to extend our electric offensive to include company cars and the employee leasing programme. With our employees as authentic ambassadors of electric mobility, we can contribute to even greater sustainability.”

Managers still have the option of choosing a model that is conventionally powered – such as the
iconic 911
 – however, given some attractive offers, an increasing number are moving to their BEV and PHEV models. Porsche fully expects that the amount of PHEV and BEV models within their fleet to double to almost 50 percent this year.

With five
plug-in hybrid
 variants currently in the Cayenne and Panamera model lines and eight versions of the all-electric Taycan and Taycan Cross Turismo, company car drivers can choose from a wide range of efficient and yet powerful Porsche models. The changeover will take place at the next vehicle swap, which normally takes place every 15 months.

Parallel to this changeover in its own fleet, Porsche is investing in establishing a global charging network: an internal high-power charge park with six DC charging stations, recently going into operation in Zuffenhausen, which allows fast charging of up to 350 kW.

However, Porsche isn’t only working on improving its electric cars, alongside, it is also working with Siemens Energy to develop climate-neutral
synthetic fuels
 (what it calls eFuels) which will practically allow gasoline engine cars to become carbon-neutral gasoline. The pilot project, made up of a lineup of international companies based in Chile, is expected to produce around 130,000 litres of eFuels as early as 2022, and up to 550 million litres of eFuels by 2026.

Porsche is also the first car manufacturer to set itself the goal of being carbon-neutral throughout the entire value chain by 2030.


Paris 2016: 2017 Audi RS3 LMS – Entry Level Touring Car Racer To Take On The TCR

Audi’s bid to take on the global TCR Racing Series starts here – the Audi RS3 LMS, which makes its world debut, alongside the
road-going Audi RS3 Sedan
, at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The RS3 is a new entry-level model for customer racing and Audi will offer the car starting in the 2017 season.
The Audi RS 3 LMS is being developed by Audi Sport customer racing for the TCR category which is still relatively new. In addition to an international TCR series, with some of its races being held as part of the FIA Formula One World Championship supporting programs.
Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing, admits the TCR market has even larger potential that GT3 category and more and more national racing series for TCR touring cars are being founded. Even major endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring are now including TCR classes, TCR also has the ability to reach countries and markets where GT3 races are not held.
This isn't the first time Audi has gone racing in Touring Cars, above, the 1989 Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO
The Audi RS 3 LMS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of about 240 km/h. In TCR trim, the proven four-cylinder 2.0-litre TFSI engine delivers 330 hp.
In terms of safety, the RS3 LMS cars are built around conclusive safety package which includes an FIA-conformant safety fuel tank, a racing safety cell, the PS3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof like the one used in the Audi R8 LMS.
Stephan Winkelmann, ex-CEO of Lamborghini, now Managing Director at Audi Sport adds, “Audi has been active in motorsport on the highest level for generations. With the Audi R8 LMS, Audi Sport customer racing, in a very short time, managed to build a successful customer sport program alongside the factory commitments in the WEC and the DTM. The Audi R8 LMS has since become the market leader in its segment. We have the same plans for the Audi RS 3 LMS, which offers customers an attractive opportunity to get started in fascinating Audi racing”
Audi Sport customer racing will start delivering the first Audi RS 3 LMS cars to customers this December, in time before the seasons of the major TCR racing series open in 2017.
The purchase price is EUR129,000 for the TCR version with a sequential six-speed racing transmission and EUR99,000 for a Club Sport version.


2016 Renault Fluence Formula Edition Unveiled

TC Euro Cars (TCEC), the authorised distributor of Renault vehicles in Malaysia today revealed a special edition version of the
Fluence sedan
, called the Fluence Formula Edition.
Featuring enhanced aesthetics to the exterior as well as interior, the limited edition Renault Fluence was launched in conjunction with Renault’s return to Formula 1 this year, and also as a lead-up to the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix.
On the exterior, the Fluence Formula Edition features a five-piece body kit, customised blue and red coloured decals, a muffler cutter and two-toned black alloy wheels instead of the two-toned silver on the standard version.
Inside, the car features gloss black trims as well as maroon leather seats instead of the regular black.
Under the hood, the Fluence Formula Edition is also powered by a 2.0L petrol engine that is mated to a CVT X-Tronic automatic gearbox, which delivers maximum power of 143 PS at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 195Nm at 3,750 rpm.
Priced at RM126,688 (OTR without insurance), the Fluence Formula Edition is available in two colour choices – Black Metallic or White Pearl.
Other standard features include:
Renault R-LINK multimedia system and a 7-inch touch screen display with in-built navigation
USB connectivity and hands-free Bluetooth kit with music playback
Hands-free entry and engine start, with automatic ‘walk away’ door locking
Automatic climate control with rear air vents
ESP (Electronic Stability Program) with ASR (traction control)
Six airbags (front, side and curtain)
ISOFIX child seat anchors on the rear side seats
Cruise control with speed limiter
Height adjustable 3-point front seatbelts with pretensioners
Automatic door locking which operates at 10km/h and above
Boot space of 530 litres - one of the biggest in its class - which can be expanded with foldable rear seats that split 60:40.
The Renault Fluence Formula Edition comes with a five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage. This warranty is fully backed by Renault and not undertaken by any other insurance companies, which means terms and conditions as well as parts covered are consistent from the first year of ownership to the end of the warranty period.
Looking for a Renault? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Nissan X-Trail Facelift Launched In Thailand, Adds Advanced Tech

Nissan Motor Thailand has officiated the introduction of the facelift model of the popular X-Trail SUV.
New features that encompass the mid-life refresh on the SUV include:
Nissan Intelligent Mobility Advanced Driving Assist System
Adaptive cruise control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and High-Beam Assist
Restyled front design, with new V-motion grille
New graphics in the tail lamp and restyled rear bumper
New head lamps with Adaptive Front Lighting system (AFS)
Two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels
Shark fin antenna
D-shaped steering wheel
Double-stitching on interior panels
Nissan Motor Thailand has re-strategized their powertrain line-up, axing the 2-litre and only offering either a 2.5-litre or the hybrid system.
As such, the three variants with the 2.5-litre engine cover a price range from THB 1.35 million to THB 1.66 million, with the two hybrid variants slotting in between.
According to a report in
the Bangkok Post
, the chiefs at Nissan Motor Thailand said the 2-litre engine carried higher engineering costs. The engine also did not offer any tax-saving as it emitted CO2 levels of 174 g/km, above that target value of 150 g/km.
The X-Trail Hybrid model is also powered by the same, pricier 2-litre engine, but thanks to the fitment of a full hybrid system, the CO2 emission dips to just under the threshold at 148 g/km. Two variants of the X-Trail hybrid, both equipped with the 4WD system, are available in Thailand, priced at THB 1.537 million and THB 1.617 million.
To recap, the conventional 2.5-litre engine delivers outputs of 171 PS and 233 Nm of torque. In the self-charging hybrid variant, the unique two-clutch-one-motor system has a combined output of 179 PS, with the electric motor itself delivering 41 PS (30 kW) of power and 160 Nm of torque.
A CVT-type automatic transmission is fitted in all variants. The fuel consumption for the 2.5-litre variants is 8.2 litres per 100 km, while the hybrid variants manage to deliver an impressive 6.4 litres per 100 km. With the lithium-ion battery taking up space in the luggage area, the X-Trail Hybrid is only available as a 5-seater.
More details of Nissan’s two-clutch-one-motor hybrid system
can be found here
. Thailand was the
first country outside of Japan
 to introduce the X-Trail Hybrid model.
New advanced driving assistance system consisting of adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and high beam assist (termed Nissan Intelligent Mobility) are available in the top-of-the-range VL-variant of both powertrain options.
Standard fitment in the X-Trail 2.5S includes autonomous emergency braking, 4 airbags, third-row seating, infotainment system with touchscreen display, and an electric parking brake with automatic brake hold function.
As Nissan Motor Thailand is the key supplier of knocked-down parts and kits (CKD) to the ASEAN region, we can expect Edaran Tan Chong Motor to introduce the facelifted Nissan X-trail in Malaysia within the next few months.


Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pick-Up Truck Not High On Priority For Malaysia

Earlier in July,
Mercedes-Benz debuted the X-Class pick-up truck
, a first product of its kind for the three-pointed star. Based on the Nissan NP300 Navara’s underpinnings and scheduled to be built at Nissan’s plant in Barcelona (Spain) and Renault’s plant in Cordoba (Argentina) in 2017 and 2018 respectively, Daimler sees the X-Class as a natural extension to the company’s already diverse portfolio of premium 4x4 products.
Apart from Europe, the X-Class key target markets are South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, UK and Australia, basically countries where the Volkswagen Amarok is sold.
The X-Class will feature a mix of engines from both Mercedes-Benz and Nissan. Entry models will be powered by
Nissan's 2.3-litre YS23 four-cylinder turbodiesel engine
 already available in overseas version of the Navara. A higher grade version powered by a Mercedes V6 turbodiesel and permanent all-wheel drive will launch at a later date.
Since the X-Class will be available in right-hand drive form, and the fact that the ASEAN region, especially Thailand, represents a sizeable pick-up truck market, we asked Mercedes-Benz Malaysia if the X-Class is part of their product plans in the near- to mid-term.
Speaking to Mark Raine, Vice-President for Sales and Marketing, Passenger Cars at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, we understand the X-Class is being evaluated by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, as with any new products by Daimler, but the company has yet to reach any conclusion or a decision for the X-Class.
“We’ve not come to a conclusion on whether will we launch the product,” he added. As you can see from the company’s recent activities, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is not averse to introducing low-volume niche models, the company’s wide range of AMG models is a testament to that. So whatever that’s complicating the company’s decision on the X-Class has less to do with potential sales volume, but more to do with whether is it a right fit for the Mercedes-Benz brand in Malaysia, especially since it is well known that it’s basically a reengineered Nissan. That might be acceptable for certain markets, but over here, it’s debatable," Raine said.
“We need to differentiate ourselves form the mass market. First of all, our products have a different substance and it makes no sense to trying to compete with them (mass market brands) for that segment. That’s not our home ground,” he added.
To date, Thailand, one of the largest pick-up truck market in the world, have yet to express any interest in introducing the X-Class. Introduction in Australia, another major pick-up market, has yet to be confirmed but Mercedes-Benz Australia has started gathering details of prospective buyers.


ROAD CLOSURES: Several KL Roads Affected For Nike Event

On 1 February 2015, Nike will host its ‘We Run KL 2015’ event. In conjunction with the run, several roads in Kuala Lumpur will be closed and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has released a list of roads that will be closed along with their respective timings. The race begins at 5.30am and several roads that are affected should be reopened by 10.00am with a select few doing so earlier.
The list of roads that will be closed at specific timings are as follows:
(click to enlarge)


5 Wheel Designs That Will Make Any Vehicle Look Good

Just like how we get ourselves a new pair of shoes to look stylish, most of us also get our vehicles a set of new “shoes” in an effort to make them look better than their standard guise.

While some of us know exactly what type of wheels we want for our vehicles when it is time to change, the other some of us are not very well versed with the world of aftermarket rims, and often depend on the shop Taukay’s recommendations.

If you happen to belong to the latter group, sometimes there is no guarantee that you will find the wheels you absolutely love. But don’t worry, we are here to give you a few suggestions on some universally good-looking set of rims, that should fit most cars.

Since these wheels come in many sizes and variations, it is important that you know the size you want to go for, if a particular model comes in the size you want, and also if you want to go for a set of originals or our good ol’ Taiwan-mari.

We know that rims can cost a lot, but keep in mind that you get what you pay for, and please, try your best to go for the original.

So let’s get straight into the list:

1) Volk Rays TE37

2) Volk Rays CE28

3) Enkei RPF1

4) Enkei RP01

5) BBS RS

Agree? Disagree? Did we miss any? Do let us know in the comments section below!


2015 Honda HR-V Full Review: It's H For Hipster With This Honda

It's been 20 years since
Honda
 last came out with a hit global product - the Honda CR-V in the mid '90s. The CR-V was aimed at the Gen-X crowd, folks who no longer want a ubiquitous sedan like the Accord.
If the CR-V is for the Gen-X crowd, today, you have the Gen-Y Millenials, kids who were babysat by Transformers and Captain Planet. The thing about Millenials is that they, more than any other demographic group, don't want to drive the same type of cars as their parents, because “Yolo” - if you don't understand that, you are not a Millennial.
Thus explains the genesis of the HR-V. Honda says the 'H' in the HR-V refers to 'Hip,' as in Hip Runabout Vehicle. I rather call it the Hipster's Runabout Vehicle.
How Does It Drive?
I have already experienced the HR-V before but that was based on the Thailand market model, with slightly different specifications. You can read about my early impression
here
 (page 147) and that of my colleague Gerard
here
.
Compared to the Thailand specifications model, ours have a different tail light cluster, grille, sans paddle shift and sunroof, and misses out on the 17-inch wheels - which as we will explain later, is actually a good thing.
Eager drivers will be pleased to know that the HR-V is engineered by a group of like-minded enthusiasts.
Take Mr. Kojiro Okabe for example, the soft spoken Assistant Large Project Leader (Honda's equivalent to assistant chief engineer) who hung out  with us during the test drive session. When asked what is his favourite activity, "Toge," was his answer, referring to the Japanese word for mountain pass roads.
Okabe-san is a huge fan of the
Honda S660
. In his free time, he enjoys riding his Ducati Hypermortard on the mountainous roads in Tochigi, where his Honda R&D office is located.
With just a modest 142 PS, 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine under the hood driving the front wheels via an equally pedestrian CVT, the HR-V is far from being a performance vehicle, and it doesn't pretend to be one either, and I like that honesty.
The HR-V is best enjoyed at speeds around 120 km/h. Cabin insulation is significantly better than its peers (which we will put to the test later) but push it any harder, the power deficit becomes obvious.
Without the option of paddle shifters, overtaking on dual carriage ways have to be planned well in advance. Knocking the shift lever down to S mode doesn't make much difference, as despite the S moniker, there is no 'Sport' mode shift mapping.
Instead, S mode is meant for driving downhill, with the CVT set to hold on to a lower virtual ratio longer for engine braking.
Although the engine is shared with a Civic, the HR-V's driving performance is noticeably poorer than the Civic. Standing starts are fine (Honda did not provide any 0-100 km/h figures but says it is class leading), but in-gear accelerations lack punch.
Between the Civic 1.8 and the HR-V, the latter is only 24 kg heavier so much of the duller performance is attributed to the economy-minded CVT, which on the upside, is instrumental in the HR-V's very respectable observed fuel economy of 13 km/litre, despite packing three adults on board and a lot of full throttle, hard driving on mountainous roads in the inner parts of Langkawi.
While I wished it had more power, I do love the HR-V's handling. Dive into tight switchback corners, it is easy to continuously adjust the HR-V's attitude as the rigid body hardly showed any signs of flexing, even when subjected to very high lateral forces.
Although the HR-V is only paired a humble 142 PS engine, Okabe-san confirms that the HR-V's chassis has been over-engineered to accommodate over 200 PS. So in theory, a HR-V Type-R is not impossible although he did add that its suspension will have to be heavily altered to accommodate the higher power output.
In its sister-car the City and the Jazz, the overly light steering makes it difficult to fully exploit the chassis' wide breath potential. In the HR-V, I am pleased to note that the steering feels a few notches heavier, giving the driver better feedback of what's happening at the front axles, without making it too cumbersome for urban driving.
Ride and Handling
Ride comfort is good but not as good as I expected it to be, a gentle reminder that this is still an SUV and some compromises over a sedan is to be expected.
Compared to a City, the HR-V's ride feels slightly firmer, especially for occupants in the rear. Going over rougher strips of tarmac, rear occupants can feel quite a fair bit of busyness from the rear's torsion beam suspension.
However compared to the harsh riding 17-inch wheels Thai-specs test car that I tried earlier, our local models with 16-inch wheels are a lot more pliant.
Despite the slightly firmer dampers, there's still a fair amount of body roll when you push it hard into a corner. Some may not like it, but it's ideal for me as I personally prefer positively controlled body roll, which I find crucial in helping me to gauge the limits of the car, especially for a taller riding one like the HR-V.
Conversely, a firm tall riding car with minimal body roll can be very dangerous as the driver doesn't get sufficient feedback on how close he is to the car's handling limits until it is too late.
Okabe-san also revealed there is one prototype HR-V which was setup to handle as beautifully as a go-kart, but the team concluded that its on-limit behaviour is too extreme for the HR-V's target customers.
Once you get used to the HR-V's characteristics, you will soon learn to use the body roll to your advantage to adjust the car's approach towards a cambered corner, allowing you to string together a set of corners quickly and safely.
To gauge the HR-V's prowess in tackling mountainous roads, Honda also gave us the keys to several competing SUV models, including the Mitsubishi ASX, as well as several indirect competitors like the Mazda CX-5 2.0 4WD, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage.
Blasting through the mountains near the Andaman, it was only the CX-5 that could keep up with the HR-V confidently, and that is also because of the CX-5's added 4WD traction.
Another test was done by driving the HR-V and same set of competing models over simulated rough roads, at 35 km/h with the air-conditioning switched off and the cabin's noise level measured using a Sound Meter app downloaded on our mobile phones. Granted, this method is not very scientific (different tyres were used) to be conclusive but it was good enough as a reference. The HR-V recorded an average of only 69 dB, 1 dB less than the Tucson, 2 dB less than the Sportage and CX-5 but 3 dB lower than the ASX.
All our test HR-Vs were running on Bridgestone Turanza 215/60 R16 tyres.
Okabe-san explained that the reason behind the HR-V's impressively quiet cabin is partly due to the use of a one-piece insulation material under the cabin's floor.
"In the past, many pieces of insulation materials are joined together like a jigsaw puzzle, but gaps are inevitable and with this one-piece material, insulation is now more effective," said Okabe. He also explained that the rubber seals along the door frame is also done much better than earlier Honda models, as the HR-V uses a one-piece door frame and thus does not require any additional spot welding between the upper and lower portion of the door frame.
Interior
Inside, I am once again reminded of what a beautiful place the HR-V's cabin is to be in. The dashboard is lined with soft-touch material end-to-end and so are main parts of the door panels. There's a general sense of premium touches throughout (keeping in mind that this is not a premium car).
The two-tier transmission tunnel adds a touch of sportiness to the interior but the utility pocket at the lower tier is a tad too small for my liking. Okabe-san explained that this is because the gear shifter on all HR-Vs with the regular engines are still mechanically linked, and that takes up space. In the HR-V Hybrid (not available here), a more compact shift-by-wire (SBW) gear shifter is used and the utility pocket on that model is bigger.
Being a Honda, interior space is guaranteed to be class-leading. Cargo volume is rated at 437-litres with the rear seats up, and as you can see from the images below, its practicality is comparable to larger SUV models from one segment above, including the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.
The tonneau cover is very user-friendly too. In most SUVs, the tonneau cover rolls up within a large, bulky bar, which you have to somehow throw inside the car if you wish to fold the seats down to carry large cargo. In the HR-V, the tonneau cover is a thin piece of fabric that can be folded away like a sunshade cover. Brilliant!
And of course, there's the centre fuel tank layout - a patented signature feature of Honda's Global Small Car platform that underpins the Jazz (and City too but the current model uses conventional rear-mounted fuel tank), HR-V and
Shuttle
 - which endows the HR-V's seats to do a lot of 'magic tricks' as you can see below.
Rear legroom is excellent, and is definitely comparable to a CR-V, but of course, its shoulder room is still less than the CR-V.
The cup holders on the transmission tunnel can be flipped over to open up a deeper space that accommodates larger bottles.
The reverse camera is also unlike what's commonly found in competitor models. There's three modes to choose from - wide to check against cross traffic, normal, and top-down view which helpful when reversing near hazards like uncovered gutters, uneven ground or even high kerb.
We also like the fact that active safety features like electronic stability control (ESC) or VSA in Honda speak, is a standard feature. This is how all cars should be specified. Of course it would be great to have everything in the options list but that would only inflate a car's so cost something has to give.
ABS, ESC (or VSA) and two front airbags are the minimum standards, as recommended by FIA, and Global NCAP. Active safety features like ABS and VSA, which prevents an accident from happening in the first place, are more important than passive safety features like airbags.
A demonstration of how VSA controls understeer was simulated when the HR-V was forced to suddenly swerve to the left at 65 km/h, with the left side of the car hitting a wet heavy duty plastic strip to simulate uneven traction on either sides of the car (which can cause to car to go into an uncontrolled spin), before swerving right again. By applying appropriate braking force to the individual wheels, VSA keeps the car under control but of course, how well this works in real life is highly dependent on the available traction on your tyres, and the driver's ability to do the necessary corrective measures as VSA cannot alter the laws of physics.
What's Not To Like?
I wish I could say that the HR-V is an over-hyped product, just for the sake of counter-balancing this overly positive review (I don't recall give so much praise to a new product, except for the very impressive
Mazda 2
).
I also want to believe that the upcoming Mazda CX-3 will likely be better (keeping in mind that concluding so is a bit presumptious). But while it might drive better, it is safe to say that the Mazda is not going to match, let alone trump, the HR-V's practicality, if past Mazdas are any reliable indication.
Yes, I wished the HR-V's transmission was more responsive, but it's not like the competition is offering anything better - the dual-clutch transmission in the Ford EcoSport is jerky in traffic while the Peugeot 2008's 4-speed automatic is just archaic, and the CVT in Mitsubishi ASX and Subaru XV are far noisier than the Honda's.
Everytime I find something on the HR-V to pick on, I am reminded that there's little point in doing so because it's not like the competition is offering a better alternative.
The only problem for the HR-V is not its competition, which it is already standing heads and shoulders above of.
With over 13,000 orders placed in less than three months after its launch, the HR-V is going to be a very common sight on our roads soon, which is not so good for the individuality seeking hipsters that the HR-V is aimed at.
The model is so popular worldwide that Honda's lead plants in Japan and Thailand are struggling to cope, leading to a shortage of assembly kits for the locally-assembled HR-V.
Book one today and you can only expect to get your car in six months, but Honda Malaysia's Managing Director Yoiichiro Ueno said the company is working hard to bring this down to a reasonable 3 months very soon.
For more information on the
Honda HR-V
's variant line-up, price and features list, go
here
.


The Lovely Ladies Of The 2015 Geneva Motor Show

The 2015 Geneva Motor Show showcased many new and exciting cars. From the exotics to the concepts, these wonderful machines have been accompanied by lovely models as well, posing for photographers often for long hours.
Working tirelessly to promote their vehicles on show, these ladies are ever ready to strike a pose or flash a smile with their machines.
Without further ado, enjoy this gallery of the beautiful women and cars of the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.


Is Suzuki (Still) Coming Back To Malaysia? Macam Yes, Hopefully

If you were looking at the grand scale of the automotive timeline here, you’d probably peg 2020 as one of the worst times to make any sudden moves, yet rumours persist that beloved Japanese marque Suzuki are
planning to re-enter the Malaysian market
.

It’s not the company’s first real stab at conquering the car sales charts on our shores, of course. Their most recent attempt was cut short not too long ago, leading to their official exit in 2016 but had left behind a veritable army of Swifts, SX4s, Altos, Grand Vitaras, and even some shapely Kizashis.

As it was at the start of 2020, the money is still Naza being the selected distributor partner, though news of their negotiations have been scarce in recent months. The last time we heard anything, which was before the world started to stall thanks to COVID-19, they were already close to inking something, which might mean that plans could already be in motion for the brand’s re-introduction.

What About Proton?

The most recent ‘Suzuki’ to be sold in Malaysia was done so wearing a Proton badge, a result of a 2015 memorandum of understanding which put the two automakers much closer in terms of sharing technology, platforms, and general resources. This was quite a ways prior to Geely stepping into the picture, by the way.

A number of unfortunate factors meant that, despite multiple cars and collaborations being planned,
only the Ertiga
, a five-door compact MPV based on the first-generation Suzuki model of the same name, made it onto local showrooms. It was short-lived, however, as Suzuki introduced an all-new version in 2018 which did not arrive here.

From there, the Proton-Suzuki connection became tenuous, and since by then all Suzuki dealerships had been absorbed into the Proton Edar network, the Japanese marque’s Malaysian presence dwindled from obscurity to oblivion.

Elsewhere, though, the company thrived with new models that improved upon their predecessors in a multitude of ways and showed strong sales in a number of important markets such as India, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Evidently, they felt they had unfinished business and more to prove to Malaysian buyer, a lot of whom
already have a certain fondness
 for the brand and their cars.

Same Formula?

That being said, what makes Suzuki’s 2020/2021 return set for greatness and glory - unlike their previous Malaysian campaign? Yes, their cars might be much improved, but they’re essentially filling the same gaps in the market that they had before.

We’re now in the age of SUV hysterics with everyone seemingly choosing this type of vehicle against their better judgement or actual needs. Suzuki does have the Vitara, a nameplate we all know and rather like, which would go up against the likes of the Honda HR-V and such, but that’s already their largest offering.

It goes smaller from there with the S-Cross and Ignis, which would be a pair of fine contenders elsewhere, but neither seem to have obvious demand in Malaysia, which have seemed to gravitate more towards larger C-segment offerings. In that case, Suzuki only has the recently unveiled Across to answer for. However, given that it’s essentially
a rebadged RAV4
, their Toyota overlords might not even allow it to enter the market at the risk of it cannibalising sales.

Small cars have always been Suzuki’s speciality, and both the Swift and Swift Sport, as excellent as they are, now have a slighter larger brother (the Baleno) to bolster the range as a direct rival to the
Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris
. However, only time will tell if it will stand strong against those established heavy-hitters.

CKD or CBU?

Given that the Suzuki line-up as a whole is most definitely geared toward high volume sales, it would be critical that the cars sold in Malaysia are not hamstrung by an uncompetitive price. We’ve seen many models from other manufacturers that were good cars worthy of attention yet unfortunately doomed from the start because it cost more Ringgits than sense.

This is perhaps the primary motivator behind Suzuki seeking out the Naza Group as their new local partner. Obviously, having their cars locally assembled will be a prerequisite to kicking off their renewed Malaysian blitz, and Naza has had years of experience with Peugeot and Kia.

Naturally, not all Suzuki models would be eligible for that CKD treatment, so the company (and their local partner) would have to make some wise decisions around the nitty-gritty specifications of a few key models to offer something new and unique to buyers at a great price point.

Shut Up And Give Me My Jimny

You may have noticed I have neglected to mention the Suzuki Jimny up to this point, but that’s only because I selfishly wanted to dedicate a couple of paragraphs to this particular SUV.

Truth be told, I really do hope that Suzuki will offer it here, even if its limited numbers and fully imported and therefore a little too expensive. It’s a comparatively tiny SUV that only has two doors on its side, but its funky-boxy styling and honest ability to tackle rough terrain are too difficult to resist. And it isn't
just
because it matches my name.

It doesn’t have a big boot or even space to seat 5 comfortably, so we can rule it out from being a strong seller to the everyday Malaysian, which is why I know the odds are stacked against it ever arriving here in any official capacity. Still, I’m holding out hope. Should it find its way into showrooms, I’ll be standing by with that deposit.


Hyundai Drops Another Teaser Of The Kona

Less than a month after
teasing
 us with the all-new Hyundai Kona, the company has dropped another teaser image of its new compact SUV.
Though the image has been darkened, we can see that the upcoming Hyundai Kona will receive a unique twin headlight design, similar to the
Jeep Cherokee
. The LED DRLs reside above the LED headlights, flanking the company's new front Cascading Grille.
Hyundai is going to challenge the
Honda HR-V
,
Toyota C-HR
 and
Mazda CX-3
 with its new Kona. Much like its rivals, the Hyundai Kona is expected to be underpinned by the company's B-segment platform, currently used by the i20. Hyundai's range of petrol and diesel engines are also expected to be shared with the new Kona.
The company says that the new compact SUV will be unveiled in June, with sales said to start some time in October.


Ford Revives Australia’s Territory Nameplate For China, Using A Chinese JMC S330

Those of you familiar with the motoring scene in Australia would’ve heard of the Ford Territory, a mid-size five-seater SUV developed exclusively for Australia. It was a fairly popular model on Aussie roads but production ended in 2016, along with the closure of Ford’s manufacturing operations in Australia and with that, the Territory nameplate faded away.
Two years later, Ford has announced that the Territory nameplate will be revived for use in another part of the world – China.
However this China-only Ford Territory has no relation with the discontinued Australian SUV of the same name. Instead, the model is derived from a Yusheng S330 (below) but Ford would prefer that we call it the result of a joint development with JMC.
Yusheng is a domestic passenger car brand owned by Jiangling Motor Corporation (JMC), one of Ford’s two local partners, the other being Changan Automobile Co.
Ford’s press release has only a single front three-quarter shot of the Chinese Territory so we don’t know how the rear looks like, but the back of the S330 looks very much like a copy of a Range Rover Evoque.
Pictures of the interior suggests that cabin is largely the same as the Yusheng, with Ford replacing the original Yusheng’s analog instruments with a full LCD screen, as well as giving the dashboard a new surface layer. Changes include the new air-conditioning vents, infotainment, centre stack, and centre console tunnel, all of which have also been redesigned to Ford’s requirements.
Ford Territory
Yusheng S330
If there’s any consolation to the proud people of Australia, Ford’s Asia Pacific product development centre in Melbourne had a hand in developing the Chinese Territory, while vehicle testing was done at Ford's vehicle testing centre in Nanjing.
Australian Ford Territory, discontinued in 2016
Ford has yet to confirm any powertrain details but said that customers can choose between a fuel-efficient gasoline engine, a 48V mild hybrid with Miller-Cycle technology, and a plug-in hybrid.
The car will only go on sale in China in 2019, sold by JMC-Ford of course, which currently only has the Everest in its SUV line-up. Its other China-made Ford models are the Transit and Tourneo vans. The EcoSport and Kuga are sold by Changan-Ford.
The move to introduce an SUV using its local partner JMC’s Yusheng model is likely to be related to the rapid change in fortunes for Ford in China, whose first-half sales this year is the lowest ever since 2001.
Year-on-year, Ford’s sales in China have tumbled by 25 percent, to 400,443 units. Yes, that sounds like a lot, almost what the entire Malaysia sells in a year, but this is China and for a global brand like Ford, that’s actually underperforming. In comparison, Honda sold 609,1000 vehicles in China in the same six-month period.
Among the reasons behind the drop in sales are Ford’s aging model line-up and a lack of SUV models. The gap between the EcoSport and Kuga is too big and Ford needs something like a Honda HR-V to bridge the gap and this Territory is the company’s stop-gap measure.


Mazda: We Want To Introduce The CX-4 Outside Of China

By now you would have read that the very pretty looking all-new Mazda CX-4 is a forbidden fruit that’s only available in China. At the moment, the CX-4 will only be produced at the FAW-Mazda plant in Changchun. It’s not even produced at Mazda’s home market in Japan.
To find out if the CX-4 is indeed a China-only product as alleged by many publications, Carlist.my speaks to Naoki Okano, the Program Manager at Mazda Motor Corporation’s Product Division responsible for the CX-4 (right in image below).
Okano explained that yes, while the Mazda CX-4 is currently only available in China for now, but Mazda didn’t develop the CX-4 to remain as a China-only car. In fact, the considerations were made to allow the CX-4 to be configured to meet requirements from other markets like Europe or other parts of Asia – diesel engines for Europe for example, as well as provisions to meet other region specific preferences.
“Frequently I am asked this question by the media. My reply is very simple – we are studying the possibility. The original concept of development (for the CX-4) looks at the global market. So that’s why the R&D team is positive, and we want to introduce this model outside of China.
Okano explained that the decision to limit the CX-4’s availability only to China is not because the CX-4 cannot be sold overseas, but due to resource limitations at Mazda – which is much smaller than giants like Toyota, and thus doesn’t have pockets as deep.
“At this moment, it’s determined that the CX-4 will be produced at our Chinese factory. If we are to introduce this model outside of China, we have to determine a production site, maybe Japan, and some additional work has to be made to change (re-tool) the production site (to accommodate the CX-4).
Apart from the additional investment needed to re-tool the plant to produce the CX-4, additional changes needs to be made to the car to meet the different safety regulations and consumer preferences in other regional markets.
For example, US, Europe and Japan has different regulations pertaining exhaust emission controls as well as safety features, and different preferences for interior materials.
It’s not just about whether airbags are fitted or not. EU regulations have very specific requirements on the labelling of headlamps and other parts, while the US has laws require tyre pressure monitors for SUVs. Other oddities include requiring airbags to work without seatbelts, and specific coverage angles for the reverse camera.
Fuel consumption and exhaust emission testing needs to be redone according to the government’s mandated test cycles – the methods are different in USA, Europe and Japan.
“So in a nutshell, we need a bigger investment to cope with the requirements, and of course we need to consider the profitability and feasibility of the business as well. So now at the headquarters we are studying about the possibility?,” explained Okano.
“The preferences and requirements for each region is different. So if we are to introduce this model for other markets, there will be a time lag, and we have to cope with this time lag as well. Of course when we introduce this model to other markets, we have to make some modifications to meet each region’s requirements,” he added.
While Mazda Australia is not too keen on the CX-4, several senior management staff of Berjaya Auto, which owns Bermaz Motor and Berjaya Auto Philippines, the distributor Mazda vehicles in Malaysia and Philippines respectively, were in
Beijing for the CX-4's world premiere
. It’s too early to make any conclusion but it does suggest that there is some level of interest from Berjaya Auto on the CX-4.


2022 Honda City Hatchback Launched - 4 Variants Available, from RM76k

After much
teasing
,
previews
, and
hype
 surrounding the Honda City Hatchback, Honda Malaysia today launched the 2022 All-New Hatchback for the Malaysian market, priced from RM75,670

According to Honda Malaysia, the Hatchback is "A Step Above" in its segment, combining cutting-edge styling with a sporty feel and trendsetting advanced features.

Honda has announced four variants of the City Hatchback, including the much anticipated City Hatchback RS e:HEV. Underneath the City Hatchback's hybrid variant is the
V
, E and S.

All four variants are priced as follows:

S:
RM75,670

E:
RM83,080

V:
RM87,860

RS e:HEV: TBA early 2022

Although the City Hatchback seems like a more compact vehicle than the
City Sedan
, it is taller by 21mm (1,488mm) and has the same width as the Sedan (1,748mm). The significant difference is in the length, as the Hatchback is
shorter
 by 208mm (4,345mm).

Despite being shorter, the 2022 City Hatchback will come with the much-coveted
Honda Jazz
 seating arrangement called the 4-Modes ULTRA Seats. This practical and versatile feature allows the rear seats to be folded flat or flipped up in four configuration modes, Utility, Long, Tall and Refresh, to suit different storage space needs by maximizing the rear space creatively.

Just like its Sedan counterpart, the City Hatchback is offered with two entirely different powertrains across its range. The more familiar S, E, and V variants are powered by the venerable 1.5L DOHC (previously single-cam SOHC) i-VTEC powertrain, which produces a healthy 121PS of power and maximum torque of 145Nm. The engine is mated to a CVT-type automatic transmission.

The halo City Hatchback RS e:HEV variant is powered by Honda’s cutting-edge Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain, which combines an internal combustion engine (ICE) with two electric motors, and a high-power lithium-ion battery pack.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Honda's i-MMD powertrain, it works differently than a traditional hybrid, as the system allows the City Hatchback RS e:HEV to be predominantly driven using its electric motors and a combination of the motors with the ICE engine to power the car seamlessly.

In certain situations, the ICE engine can also be called upon to drive the vehicle independently of the electrical motors, such as high-speed cruising. The i-MMD does this courtesy of an Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) located underneath the boot, where the system can regulate between the three driving modes of EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive in the most efficient manner.

The i-MMD powertrain also does not require a traditional gearbox, instead, it uses an e-CVT transmission unit to deliver 108PS and a best-in-class peak torque of 253Nm – equivalent to that of turbocharged cars with the same capacity – to the front wheels.

Interior

At the centre of the dash, the top three variants launched receive an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The only difference between the Hatchback and the Sedan is the seats at the rear where the Hatchback has received the famed 4-Modes ULTRA Seats as mentioned above.

The 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster is exclusive to the RS variant.

Apart from that everything is pretty much similar, but the V variant does get black leather seats with white pipings to give it a touch of sportiness. The E and S receive fabric seats. The range-topper RS e:HEV gets a mix of suede and leather seats with red accents.

Safety

A further highlight of the City Hatchback RS e:HEV includes
Honda's LaneWatch
 system (also featured on the V variant), which features a camera mounted to the passenger side wing mirror to alert the driver of vehicles in the car’s blindspot. The RS e:HEV also gains an Electric Parking Brake (EPB), just like the Sedan. The V and the RS e:HEV variants get 6 airbags while the E and S get 4.

The City Hatchback RS e:HEV will also be offered with a complete suite of Honda Sensing advanced safety features, as follows:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)

Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Auto High Beam (AHB)

As for the equipment highlights of each model, refer to the picture down below:

Just like its Sedan sibling, the Hatchback RS e:HEV comes with
Honda CONNECT
, a system that utilises the onboard computing power and connectivity features in conjunction with a backbone of internet services to deliver a new dimension of vehicle interactivity - such as Vehicle Diagnostics, Remote Applications, Security Applications, Vehicle Tracking and Support Services - at the touch of a button.

Colour

There are five colours available for the S, E, and V variants, including Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver, Platinum White Pearl and the newly added, Ignite Red Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

The top RS e:HEV variant is only offered in Platinum White Pearl, Ignite Red Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

Warranty

The City Hatchback is offered with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, inclusive of 5 free labour services (within 100,000km/ 5 years). The lithium-ion battery in the City Hatchback RS variant is protected by an 8-year, unlimited mileage warranty.


Proton X70 CKD Will Come With New Brand Logo

Proton today unveiled its new logo and tagline, in line with its mission to be a global and a more modern automotive brand.
The new logo, which features a new ‘uncaged’ tiger emblem with its head held high like an arrow, is said to symbolise Proton’s aspiration to move forward towards success.
While the first model to feature the new logo will be the upcoming Proton X70 CKD, other models in the lineup like the current Saga, Iriz, Persona, and the Exora will still come with the existing logo and ‘Proton’ letterings.
Logo aside, the new ‘Inspiring Connections’ tagline encapsulates the brand’s aspiration of using technology and mobility to help make human connections that inspire a successful life.
Having achieved the No.2 spot in terms of sales this year in Malaysia, Proton also announced that the company’s main goal now is to become the No.1 brand in Malaysia, and become one of the top 3 car brands in the ASEAN region by the year 2027.
“Today as we unveil a new logo and tagline, we are capturing the new ethos of Proton and our ambition to become a truly modern, global automotive brand. Our new ethos comprises our core values of always using innovative technology, our commitment to reliability and adopting an international point of view."
"This stems from our dedication to our work, to our current and future customers, and of course to all our Proton employees, stand behind this commitment,” said Dr.Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.
Looking for a new Proton? Find the best deals
here
.


New Toyota Harrier To Debut in June

While everyone in Malaysia is still painfully waiting for the RAV4 to arrive, Toyota Japan has just unveiled the latest iteration of their popular SUV, the Toyota Harrier.

If you've been living under a rock for quite some time and do not know what the Toyota Harrier is, let us give you a brief introduction. The Toyota Harrier is like formal wear. It's dressed to impress and ready to do business. Compared to the hip and edgy design of the RAV4, which is all about showmanship and youthfulness, the Toyota Harrier is a bit more toned down - classier we suppose. Said to have a launch date of somewhere in June, the new Toyota Harrier is without a doubt a professional-looking machine.

The interior employs tactile synthetic leather to create the image of a natural-looking silhouette wrapped in thick leather, with bentwood-inspired wood tones and piping throughout, presenting a casual air of quality - very business like. A panoramic roof, used for the first time by Toyota, is equipped with electric shades and electro-chromatic windows. Dimming the windows fosters a feeling of quality as soft light penetrates the cabin.

The new Harrier has a front view that emphasizes its sharp and unashammed fearless styling flowing from the front upper grill through to the headlamps. The signature lamps emphasize the individuality and technical advancement of the new Harrier, enabling it to be easily distinguished from a distance.

Despite Toyota's love of building simple structures, the side view of the SUV offers a dynamically changing body cross section that creates a rich expressiveness, very Lexus like we feel. The combination of a narrowed coupe cabin with sports car-like wheel housings extending from both sides of the body gives a generous ruggedness to the rear view. The light from a thin, sharp line of tail lamps and stop lamps also manages to provide it with an overwhelming sense of presence-something that most manufacturers are going for with taillight design these days.

The drive in this new Harrier should be good too as it uses the TNGA (GA-K) platform for its basic structure. This platform has a highly rigid body with a low center of gravity in pursuit of both ride comfort and vehicle driving performance with a focus on driver sensitivity. If it can be set up anything like the new Camry which also rides on this platform, then the SUV can surely balance sportiness and comfort effortlessly.

Speaking of ride, the suspension system benefits from MacPherson struts at the front and a double wishbone setup at the rear. The front and rear suspension geometry has also been optimized to produce a well-balanced rigid body. Through thorough tuning and testing, Toyota has pursued a ride that is both solid and graceful.

To improve steering convergence in the new Harrier, from the first moment driving off and then on the highways, shock absorbers that ensure smooth pedal stroke even in very low speed. This enables the driver to feel the tires gripping the road Toyota says. Active Cornering Assist (ACA) is employed for braking control to prevent understeering at corners. Coupled with an electric power steering system that responds quickly to steering wheel movement and provides light steering, this creates a feeling of comfort in the vehicle's responsiveness.

The TNGA platform brings with it the latest all-new Dynamic Force N/A 2.0-litre engine and Direct Shift-CVT. There is also the option for it to be equipped with Toyota's Hybrid System (THS II), but the current Harrier in Malaysia does not have this spec vehicle so we will have to wait and see if the new one will have a Hybrid option. According to Toyota, the 2.0-litre N/A engine will have an output of 171ps and 207Nm of torque. The hybrid on the other hand will have 266hp when combined with the hybrid system.

Safety wise, the new Harrier will continue the current Harriers safety aspects with things such as pre collision warning systems, parking support brakes, vehicle traction control, adaptive high beam system, hill start assist and seven airbags. This may all change when it comes to Malaysia, but we suspect no short changes here.


Review: (G02) BMW X4 – Power And Presence… Finally

The walkie-talkie clicks over, “You’re free to head out Mr. Arvind” – ahead, a perfectly round skidpad that’s just been doused with water reveals the perfect playground for an overgrown child like me. What I’m hoping to achieve is the modern-day equivalent of tapdancing probably; the ultimate display of motorised peacockery: drifting.
One problem though: this is an SUV, and by all accounts, it’s not supposed to be flinging its behind out from side-to-side in wayward fashion given its high centre of gravity, monstrous wheels, and plush interior accommodation.
But, two aspects of this SUV immediate fly in the face of conventional wisdom – one, it’s a BMW, and two, it’s powered by BMW’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo 40i engine, which develops a wholesome 360 hp.
The skidpad at BMW’s Spartanburg’s test track is where BMW broke the Guinness World Record for the
longest sustained drift in eight hours
, using an
F90 M5
. I’d be happy if I could slide 30 feet without overcooking it. After numerous botched tries, I actually managed to string together a decent “drift” that probably lasted for much longer in my head than the actual three seconds that it took, but hey, I’ll take what I get.
Rest assured, with the all-new (G02) BMW X4, very little of what it intends to offer buyers revolves around driving; don’t get me wrong, and not that it doesn’t do that very well – but this car is all about looks, presence, and premium charm.
While the first generation (F26) X4 somewhat looked like a slightly smaller and skinnier X6, with not much more than the sloping roofline to detach it from the contemporary X3 it shared underpinnings with, the new one places greater emphasis on bolder looks and greater individuality within the BMW X range.
Yet despite its short-lived four-year lifespan, from 2014 – 2018, BMW still managed to sell 200,000 units of the X4 worldwide, which proves to look good, or at least unique, does work.
Overview
The X4 has grown in length by 81 mm to 4,752 mm, an extra 37 mm in width to 1,918 mm and the wheelbase has been lengthened by 54 mm to 2,864 mm; lending the X4 a more imposing and stretched out stance. Also, the rear axle track width has grown by 30mm to aid driving dynamics.
Three trim lines are available at global launch – X Line, M Sport, and M Sport X Line, across seven engine variants – four diesel and three petrol, namely the xDrive20i, 30i and xDrive M40i. Our best guess is, the xDrive30i will make it locally, simply because the cheaper BMW X3 range starts with the 30i, and also, BMW Malaysia previously retailed the more powerful
X4 xDrive28i
 variant.
Hence, most of our on-road seat time was spent behind the wheel of the xDrive30i, which we found to be rather superb.
Specifications of the BMW X4 xDrive30i
Engine: 2.0-litre, Inline-4, Turbocharged
Power: 252 hp at 5,200 – 6,500 rpm
Torque: 350 Nm at 1,450 – 4,800 rpm.
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
Origin: Spartanburg, U.S.A
Exterior
As with most modern BMWs, the front grille is larger than before, flanked by twin LED headlights and horizontal fog lamps further down. Along the flanks, the X4’s shoulder line is much more chiselled this time around – and given it gently rises towards the rear of the car – the roofline now slopes towards the rear hatch in more organic fashion. At the rear, the focal point is the nicely sculpted Full-LED taillights. A powered tailgate is standard fare for the X4.
The X4 stands tall, while the perception of style might be subjective, it does enough to look more special than an X3. But given rivals such as the
Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe
 and
Range Rover Evoque
 also come from prestigious houses, and more than hold their own in terms of having “street cred” – the X4 does have its work cut out for it.
Interior
More so than the technology on the inside, the first thing one tends to notice is the boost in interior space. Despite its swoopy roofline, ingress and egress are easy at the front, the foot wells are deep and the seating position is spot-on.
The longer wheelbase affords an additional 27 mm in rear legroom, which might not sound like much, but actually means you can tackle long journeys, carrying four in comfort. Also quite deceptively – given its roofline – head and shoulder room at the rear is adequate for taller passengers.
The driving position is spot on as you might suspect; it’s not as commanding as I’m sure some would like it to be – being an SUV and all – but it does feel as though you have a better connection to the road. In terms of comfort levels, its familiar BMW fare; comfortable and supportive leather with a soft satin shine that cocoons you both at the front and back of the car. Even better when in red.
A notable upgrade from the predecessor is also the addition of bigger cubby holes; the door pockets can now hold 1-litre bottles and a large compartment just under the climate control switches is super useful for dumping knick-knacks when you’re in rush. The centre console compartment even swallowed my DSLR camera with ease.
The 12-inch instrument cluster displays crisp and snazzy graphics, as does the 10.25-inch centrally located touchscreen display, with the tile-style layout that we have come to know and love. Also, it’s good that central screen is generous in size given the visibility out the rear windscreen is limited, so one must rely heavily on the rear-view camera to reverse or park the car.
Note too that the boot has grown to 525 litres which is marginally larger than rival GLC Coupe (at 500 litres). The boot expands to a maximum of 1,430 litres by folding down the 40:20:40 split-rear backrest.
Driving Experience
Our time behind the wheel would be split into two sessions. The first, a 4-lap blast around the Spartanburg test track and a short stint on the aforementioned circular skidpad; followed by a road drive which takes through city streets, a tight mountain road passing through North Carolina onto the town of Rosman, before heading back down to the proving ground.
We sampled the X4 xDrive M40i on the proving grounds, and elected to take the xDrive 30i onto city roads.
For the most part, the M40i is as sensational as one might come to expect. With a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six pushing 360 hp and peak torque of 500 Nm – progress is brisk, to say the least. Hit that go-pedal hard enough and the M40i will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
The free-revving and torquey nature of the engine allows not only allows for superb straight-line pace but ample modulation through corners and on corner exits. It comes on song at around 2,200 rpm, after which its revs like a banshee all the way to the rev limiter.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox despatches trigger quick gearshifts, with power sent through a rear-biased all-wheel drive system, equipped with an M Performance rear differential. It is for this reason – in the right hands – an SUV of this size will pull controlled slides that defy convention and typical expectations. The M40i gets a Launch Control feature as standard.
The BMW X4 M40i and BMW X4 M40d come equipped as standard with an "M-tuned" variable steering system and M Sport suspension with firmer springs and dampers setup. The 40i's M Sport brakes are specially designed with an extra-large master cylinder to help optimise braking feel. Likewise, stopping power is massive, with very little brake fade and the typical burnt whiff that accompanies a hard stint on track.
This may come as a surprise but I would appreciate a tad more feedback from the front axle in the M40i – which I suspect is no fault of the steering system, but the wide tyres that are fitted on it. With monstrous 20-inch wheels and a rather large contact patch, some of the feedback seemingly becomes muddled in translation.
Which isn’t the case with the X4 xDrive 30i once we got it on public roads; steering feedback is neutral as is steering response at mid to low speeds. It tightens up nicely once you get into three-digit speeds, but given most of the city streets were chocked full with traffic, I rarely got past 140 km/h.
I have no shortage of praise for X4 30i’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder – a fat and flat torque curve, superb highway cruising ability, and it makes a nice sound too. The engine produces a healthy 252 hp, and 350 Nm between 1,450 – 4,800 rpm. BMW claims a 6.3 second century sprint time, which, unless you’ve got wide open spaces like the Autobahn, is just right. It’s was plenty enough for the hard roads of South Carolina; as I suspect will be the case in Subang Jaya.
The 30i also gets a “Sport +” driving mode like the 40i – which sharpens the throttle and gearbox response of the 8-speed automatic gearbox. For the life of me, I don’t know why BMW is moving to a 7-speed DCT for some models when the current offering is so good. Sublime low-speed cruising, intuitive and trigger-quick up- and downshifts when you’re in a spirited mood.
Courtesy of BMW’s trademark lightweight construction, the new X4 weighs 50 kgs lighter than its predecessor and sports a 50:50 weight distribution – which begins to show once we’re onto tight, twisty backroads. The eagerness on turn-in, good mid-corner balance and the agility coming out of corners make the X4 no less manageable than a BMW 3 Series.
Slowing down vigorously for the tightest of corners gives some idea of the car's overall heft, where you have to work the brakes hard to scrub off excess speed. The brakes themselves offer great modulation and stopping power, and oodles of mechanical grip means one would have to be pretty silly to run an X4 off the road.
Conclusion
The (G02) X4 is a cool car, there’s no denying it. Highly stylised cars, such as the X4, undeniably split opinions when it comes to design and perception of beauty, and the X4 is no different. There will be people who love its design and delivery, some others may not. But I can conclusively say that it finally has the presence and pomp to measure up to its Teutonic rivals, namely the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe and Porsche Macan, and stand toe-to-toe with the Range Rover Evoque; arguably the king of the hill when it comes to high street cruising ability.
But if you need a clincher to make your purchase decision, believe that the X4 also delivers in spades on that sporting character and engineering clarity that defines every BMW. This, on the other hand, is irrefutable.


Edaran Tan Chong Motor Launches The 2015 Nissan Safety Campaign

The 2015
Nissan
 Safety Campaign was launched by Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) recently at Legoland Malaysia Resort.
As part of ETCM’s corporate social responsibility, the Nissan Safety Campaign was developed with the goal of raising safety awareness as well as enhancing road safety skills and knowledge not just for Nissan customers, but for members of the general public as well.
Adults and children can be a part of this campaign through two individually-catered programmes – the Kids Safety Carnival ‘My First Safety Programme with Nissan’ and Safety Driving Experience.
The Kids Safety Carnival is conducted by Captain K. Balasupramaniam, founder of the Road Safety Marshal Club and includes a new initiative for 2015 called ‘Fire Escape’ that focuses on educating participants on how to handle fire safety and emergency evacuation survival skill.
Executive Director of ETCM, Dato’ Dr. Ang Bon Beng said the tremendous response for previous Safety Campaigns was the driving motivation to continue with another this year. He said, “It has been extremely heartening to see how the Nissan Safety Campaign has grown from strength to strength over the years with the support from our customers. This year we are focusing on educating the younger generation with basic safety knowledge through fun and creative activities. After all, they are the future of our nation.”
In an effort to reach out to a wider audience, the Kids Safety Carnival will be extended throughout Malaysia. All the Kids Safety Workshop events are free of charge and open to the public. The full schedule is as below:
18 April – Legoland, Johor
9 May – ETCM Bayan Lepas, Penang
23 May – ETCM Kuantan, Pahang
13 June – ETCM Glenmarie, Selangor
15 August – ETCM Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
22 August – ETCM Kuching, Sarawak
The year’s Safety Campaign will conclude with a Safety Driving Programme for Nissan owners in September 2015 with a yet to be disclosed venue. Nissan owners who do wish to attend may contact ETCM’s Customer Relations Department at +603-4047 8788 or send an email request to crd@tanchonggroup.com. Entries are subject to a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.
For more information, head on over to
www.nissan.com.my
.