2017 All-New Honda CR-V: What Is Honda Sensing?

In slightly over a month’s time, Honda Malaysia will be introducing the all-new fifth generation 2017 Honda CR-V, and for the first time ever in this segment, it will come with ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance System) features, or as Honda prefers to call it - Honda Sensing.
Prior to the upcoming launch of the all-new Honda CR-V (could happen as early as next month), we were given brief test drive in the all-new CR-V. When we say brief, we meant a total driving distance of less than 1 km. The short drive was intended to focus only on Honda Sensing, as Honda has strategically held off any full test drive of the all-new CR-V until the its official launch.
ADAS is a generic term while Honda Sensing is a marketing used by Honda vehicles. As such, we will be quite liberal in interchanging the two names.
What is ADAS?
Short for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, ADAS is an umbrella term for a list of related active safety systems. By ‘active,’ it means that the features work to try to prevent an accident from happening, as opposed to passive safety systems like airbags, which only works to minimize injuries.
The keyword here is ‘try,’ because technology cannot compensate for human stupidity. If you refuse to belt your child, or insist on driving recklessly, ADAS won’t be of any use.
For most reasonably safe drivers, ADAS work to avoid an accident by alerting a distracted driver of potential dangers, and in extreme cases, momentarily taking over driving duties from the driver. If necessary, ADAS systems will work to automatically steer or brake the vehicle if the driver is not reacting fast enough.
The biggest challenge in designing a good ADAS system is programming the software to know when to intervene and when to stay in the background (filtering out false alarms).
Once limited only to expensive luxury cars, such functions are starting to appear outside the premium segment.
In Malaysia, Ford was the first to introduce ADAS, albeit limited to only one function, when it introduced autonomous emergency braking (AEB), marketed by Ford as Active City Stop, in the Ford Focus.
Late last year, Hyundai threw a curve ball to its competitors by introducing the Hyundai Ioniq, which at just RM114,008 for the HEV Plus variant, offers a full suite of ADAS features including AEB, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and adaptive cruise control (Hyundai calls it Smart Cruise Control, SCC).
The all-new Honda CR-V with Honda Sensing is next in line to democratize ADAS.
What Is Honda Sensing?
It is Honda’s marketing name for ADAS features. Honda Sensing works by relying on two key components – a monocular camera mounted behind the rear-view mirror and a millimeter wave radar mounted beneath grille on the front bumper.  Together, the two components work to keep the driver out of harm’s way.
Radars are very good at calculating speed and distance but are poor at identifying finer details of an object, which is crucial in filtering out false alarms.
For example, a radar can’t tell if the object in front is a harmless cone or a child. Cameras are good doing that and when combined with sophisticated image recognition software, it can make very good judgement.
So far, Malaysia is the only country in the ASEAN region where the all-new CR-V is equipped with Honda Sensing.
Honda Malaysia has decided to choose Honda Sensing over the third row seat option that our friends in Thailand and Indonesia have selected. Yes, contrary to earlier reports, the upcoming all-new CR-V for Malaysia will remain only as a five-seater.
The features within Honda Sensing include:
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

and Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Honda’s marketing name for Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), CMBS works in conjunction with FCW avoid a frontal collision.
Operating at speeds between 15 km/h and 100 km/h, FCW constantly scans 100 metres ahead for any risk of collision. If there is a risk of a collision, FCW will either give out a warning sound or activate CMBS, which in turn will either apply partial braking while waiting for the driver to react, or apply maximum braking force (while tightening the safety belts) to bring the car to complete stop.
The current generation of CMBS is able to detect not just motor vehicles but also pedestrians. It can also detect children but Honda doesn’t want to include that in its claims because to be specific, CMBS can only detect human figures above 1 metre. In comparison, Volvo’s Enhanced City Safety in the XC60 is capable of detecting human figures above 0.8 metre.
As CMBS rely on both a radar and a camera, any dirt or even severe weather conditions obstructing the camera’s vision will affect the system’s function. In such cases, a message will appear on the instrument panel to alert the driver that CMBS is not available.
CMBS and FCW are always active by default. You can manually disable but it will turn back on at the next engine start up.
CMBS works to save you from getting into situations like this.
And yes, if you have to know, CMBS can be overridden by the driver when he continues to apply full throttle despite the system’s intervention – useful if you have to ram your way out of a potential carjacking or kidnap situation.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Despite its name, LDW in Honda Sensing does more than just warning the driver but also initiate corrective steering.
This function steps in when the driver strays out of his/her lane without signaling. The system works at speeds between 72 km/h and 180 km/h.
We had a chance to briefly sample Honda Sensing’s LDW and one obvious difference that we notice is how seamless Honda’s system works in comparison to the one fitted in the Hyundai Ioniq.
Honda’s LDW is better at judging when your steering inputs are intentional and when they aren’t. In our experience with the
Hyundai Ioniq
, such features are only good for highway driving and are not practical for Malaysian urban road conditions, where we often have to swerve or move slightly out of our lanes to avoid motorcycles or potholes – situations where the we had to ‘fight’ against the system’s corrective measures. We ended up turning off the Ioniq’s LKAS most of the time.
This was exactly what Daisuke Hanzawa, the engineer at Honda R&D responsible for Honda Sensing, wanted to avoid.
“We didn’t want develop a system where the driver will end up turning it off most of the time,” he said.
In preparing for the all-new CR-V’s launch in Malaysia, Naoto and his team had drove a lot of distance in Malaysian traffic conditions to understand our local driving conditions before fine tuning Honda Sensing for our local roads. The tests were conducted last year using Japanese market Honda Odyssey and Legend models equipped with Honda Sensing.
Even in our short test drive in a controlled environment, it was quite hard to trigger LDW from intervening. You can’t just turn the steering wheel slightly to go off your lane to test LDW because LDW knows that you are making an intentional move and won’t interfere. To trigger it, you have to work hard to pretend that you are either falling asleep or distracted.
When it does kick in, marvel at LDW turning steering wheel to bring the car back into the centre of the lane, hands free (do not try this on public roads).
LDW works to avoid fatal accidents like this recent case.
LDW can be permanently disabled by pressing a switch.
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
Also operating at speeds between 72 km/h and 180 km/h, LKAS works to reduce driver fatigue in long distance drive by helping the driver to keep the car to the centre of the lane.
By relying on the monocular camera detecting painted white lines on the road, LKAS constantly adjusts the steering wheel angle.
The hardware is largely similar to semi-autonomous driving features available in the Volvo XC90, V90 and S90 as well as BMW’s 7 Series, but Honda is careful to not market their LKAS as a semi-autonomous driving feature.
Honda believes that the driver must always remain in control and as such, Honda’s LKAS is designed to cut out if it detects that the driver is not holding onto the steering wheel for more than 15 seconds. The system can tell if the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel by the presence of additional torque, which is always present when we apply even the slightest touch to the steering wheel while driving.
Like LDW, LKAS can be permanently disabled.
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
An extension of LDW, RDM works to detect solid white lines (indicating edge of the road) on the left-side of the road rather than broken white lines on the right. If it detects that the vehicle is veering dangerously close to the edge of the road, it will apply corrective steering, and if necessary, it will apply the brakes as well.
Like CMBS, RDM will always remain active in the background by default.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
By using a milimetre wave radar mounted on the lower side of the front bumper, the system automatically reduces the vehicle’s preset cruise control speed when it detects slowing traffic ahead.
ACC can be set from 30 km/h up to 180 km/h.
Low Speed Follow (LSF)
A sub-function of ACC, LSF is useful for stop-go traffic. Preset the maximum speed and distance, LSF will simply follow the vehicle in front, accelerating and braking automatically in tandem with the vehicle in front (steering input still required from the driver). If necessary, LSF is able to brake the CR-V to a complete stop.
Of course, we don’t think the feature is very practical in our aggressive cut and thrust city traffic. Maybe it works in Japan or Germany, where drivers a lot more disciplined, but not here.
LSF operates from 0-100 km/h.
Like ACC, LSF is off by default.
On top of these features, the CR-V will also retain the outgoing model’s Lane Watch blind spot monitoring system (passenger-side only).
More information on other aspects of the all-new fifth generation 2017 Honda CR-V will be revealed when we get closer to its launch date, possibly next month.
Related:
2017 All-New Honda C-RV: 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo, Underpowered?
2017 All-New Honda CR-V: No Seven Seats, But Maybe That's A Good Thing?


Volkswagen Malaysia Expands Its Red Campaign, Up To RM 25,000 Rebate On Pre-Owned Vehicles

If you’ve had your eyes set on any pre-owned Volkswagen vehicle, you’ll be pleased to know that Volkswagen Malaysia’s Red Campaign will be expanded upon and this time, customers are eligible for a rebate of up to RM 25,000 for a purchase of any pre-owned Volkswagen vehicle from participating authorised dealers.
Previously,
Volkswagen
 Malaysia announced a rebate of up to RM 9,999 for any purchase of new selected red coloured Volkswagen models.
In the spirit of the Chinese New Year season, Volkswagen’s God of Prosperity will also be making an appearance around the Klang Valley at ten locations over three days. And if you do get to catch him in person, he’ll be distrbuting angpows as well! A total of 20,000 angpows will be given out containing a ‘cheque’ that entitles you to a discount of up to RM 25,000 on pre-owned vehicles.
This rebate can be enjoyed by Volkswagen customers by:
Visiting Volkswagen dealerships across Malaysia, or
Attending Volkswagen sales events around Klang Valley, or
Following Volkswagen on their social media channels (Twitter and
Instagram
), or
Hunting for the God of Prosperity in person!
Details of the Volkswagen Sales Event are as follows:


2022 Kia Sportage Detailed In New Info-Dump, Potential CR-V Killer Coming Up

Back in early June, Kia had taken the wraps off
their all-new Sportage
, a nameplate that has been with the South Korean automaker since 1993. Despite unveiling it in its new 5th-generation form, there were still some aspects of the new soft-roading SUV that were kept secret.

However, to shed a little more light on what will ultimately go head-to-head with other rival heavyweights such as the Honda CR-V and
Toyota RAV4
, Kia has released a bunch more info and even some new photos prior to the start of production later this year.

We’ve already covered that deliberately sci-fi exterior design, what Kia themselves (their design team, specifically) call ‘Opposites United’. In the black and white panda colour motif here, the contrast really does highlight the bold elements such as those boomerang-style daytime running lights, the subtle contour on the lower door panels, and the wraparound bonnet.

Overall, it’s definitely a unique looking contender that has executed its contrarian look with some taste and consideration, very important in the highly competitive where it’s all too easy to blend into the sea of monotony.

Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center, says: “Reinventing the Sportage gave our talented design teams a tremendous opportunity to do something new; to take inspiration from the recent brand relaunch and introduction of the EV6 to inspire customers through a modern and innovative SUV design. With the all-new Sportage, we didn’t simply want to take one step forward but instead move on to a different level in the SUV class.”

There’s some other design-related mumbo jumbo speak that the design team proceeded to spew about how the Sportage looks, attempting to ascribe some deeper meaning to a family SUV; something to do with “Technology Boldness Nature Joy Reason Pillars” that I won’t subject you to, so bear that in mind.

Speaking of families, the Sportage's people moving capabilities are definitely enhanced over its predecessor thanks to a longer wheelbase and generally larger proportions. It’s still a five-seater vehicle, however, one that also seeks to introduce a touch of sportiness to the drive.

As misplaced as these intentions are, Kia has put some degree of effort into making the cabin and driving position one that feels cocooning behind the wheel. As far as I can tell in these pictures, this ‘driver-oriented' layout has resulted in the central infotainment display and some of the switchgear being angled, but that’s about as far as it goes.

Besides this, the cabin does look properly thought out with what looks like very high quality materials and an ergonomic balance that’s very commendable for what is essentially a do-it-all SUV for the mass market.

One of the more interesting touches here is the use of a shift-by-wire transmission selector, which uses a rotary dial in place of an actual gear knob. While it isn’t something that will transform the experience of owning a Sportage, it is indicative of the care placed on small details.

Most variants of the Sportage will look more or less like the vehicle we first saw last month, though trim level indicators such as the larger wheels and dark exterior accents might be limited to the higher priced variants. For fans of a more ruggedised look, the X-Line variant adds unique front and rear bumpers, thicker wheel arch cladding, and a roof rack among other goodies.

As expected, Kia has now confirmed that many of the engines that were previously seen occupying the
all-new Hyundai Tucson (NX4)
 range will indeed be shared with the Sportage, though, again, not all powertrain options will be available in all markets.

Malaysia, for example, will likely only receive 2 engines at the most, as has been the case with previous Kias and even current Hyundai showroom models. That could change with the
re-introduction of the brand under Bermaz
, but precious little has been heard about progress there.

Things kick off with the 1.6-litre ‘TGDI’ turbocharged petrol engine that’s already been quite familiar to us, though now it has been swallowed under the Smartstream banner. This particular motor has seen action in the Hyundai Elantra Sport, the Veloster Turbo, and most recently, in the Kona where a 180PS and 265Nm output was the norm. This is paired to either a 6-speed automatic or 7-speed dual-clutch and offers as much as 265PS.

Aside from hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions that also utilise the same 1.6-litre petrol (sans turbocharger), which Kia has not elaborated on, the Sportage will also come with a sole oil burning option comprising of a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that’s paired to an 8-speed automatic. Frustratingly, no specifications were provided, but if this mirrors the Tucson, we can expect 186PS and 417Nm of torque.

All in all, the next-generation Kia Sportage is shaping up to be quite a strong contender against the current crop of SUV heavy hitters with a distinctive design, strong refinement attributes, and an impressive effort made to deliver a premium-feeling interior experience.

The abundant mechanical similarities between it and the new Tucson shouldn’t surprise anyone, and to its favour the Hyundai is proving to be quite a formidable opponent in its own right, so the Sportage can only benefit from such strong foundations.

That being said, will we Malaysians ever see the Sportage and Tucson side by side on our shores? The Hyundai’s chances of arriving in local showrooms aren’t set in stone by any means, but things are much less certain for the Kia as even the return of the Kia brand seems to be in limbo since earlier this year.

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

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get your latest
new car promotion
 here also.


Malaysian Cyclists Want Exclusive Use Of The Motorcycle Lane On Weekends

Of all the ways to start the year, this might be one of the worst.

Why is that
cyclists
 feel they are entitled to more and more of our existing road infrastructure? Astro Awani reported that a Bukit Jelutong community organizer by the name of Faz Adhili is demanding that the government reserve motorcycle lanes on main highways for exclusive cyclist use on the weekends.

The rationale for this is that traffic should be lower, and therefore it would be fine for
cyclists
 to pretty much have a weekly takeover. The problem is it is already a grey area for motorcycles to be on the main highway when there is a motorcycle lane, and to add to that cyclists definitely shouldn't be on highways either.

Many statements from the government have also indicated that they are getting tired of this entitlement and arrogance from cyclists, saying that they may propose a registration system for bicycles on par with those of cars. If anything, regulations are tightening for road cyclists in the coming years.

But as a solid counterpoint, my colleague Adam Aubrey - a fan of two-wheeled machines, both motorized and not - has his own views:

In my many years of cycling either abroad or in Malaysia, never have I ever wanted to be on the same road as fast moving vehicles. Instead, my friends and I would look for the quietest of routes so that we can enjoy our healthy hobby. We have travelled to many states in Malaysia and have had a wonderful time cycling all over Malaysia without being harassed nor have we annoyed motorised vehicles.

The reason why there is a
war against cyclists
 at the moment is probably down to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic which has limited the movement of people has probably caused an influx of cyclists to carry out their activity in the capital where the infrastructure is not suitable for serious group cycling. With the addition of new cyclists who have just picked up the hobby, many have headed towards roads not suitable for cycling, just so that they can clock some of that much needed kilometres that cyclists love.

They also used to be able to express themselves at closed road cycling events, but due to mass gathering restrictions, no events are allowed at the moment. Unfortunately, enforcement agencies do not understand what is going on and have slapped some silly rules which they think will help cyclists and motorists. Making lights and bells mandatory will not solve the issue.

There's also an opinion that cyclists should be licensed and registered in the same way motorists are so that they can be accountable in an event of an accident, but shouldn't preventing the accident be the main point? To build a cycling-friendly infrastructure will take decades so perhaps during this pandemic period we should just tell motorists to share the roads with cyclists and tell cyclists to be more mindful and cycle on roads that are safer for themselves- because, at the end of the day, cyclists are more at risk of injuries than those on motorised vehicles.

Until some reasonable rulings are put in place, unfortunately, no one will be happy. Motorbikes used to be the de facto road users that everyone loves to hate but now it's the turn of the other two wheeled machine. Maybe car drivers just hate anything with two wheels and treat them more like pests than anything else.


All-New 2016 Honda Civic's Interior Leaked Through Spyshots, Patent Drawings

The all-new 2016
Honda Civic
 is not due for an introduction any time soon but patent drawings of the car’s dashboard design have appeared on Brazilian site
NoticiasAutomotivas
.

When compared alongside earlier spyshots of the tenth-generation Civic’s interior which were uploaded to the
Hondasacuras
 page (seen above), the patent drawings are pretty consistent.

This includes the omission of the split layout in the current Civic. Also, the air-cond vents are now positioned above the 2-DIN audio system instead of beside them.

Continuing downwards, the stowage space seen in the spyshots are found in the patent drawings as well and beyond that, you’ll find the location of the transmission interface. The one seen in the spyshots are of an automatic kind, most probably a CVT.

More information about the 2016
Honda
 Civic will be revealed as we get closer to its global debut next year.


Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival – Where Adrenaline Runs Deep

Several whacks are heard just before a strong cloud of dust and burnt rubber rushes at my face. I can barely keep my phone gimbal upright as small pebbles pelt my glasses.

The whacks are heard because protector covers beneath the engine are bottoming out on the bumpy street circuit, just moments before drivers stomp the brakes and turn into the fast right corner of Turn 1. The circuit is tight, just two ordinary lanes, which would otherwise simply be an access road for parking at the Penang State Stadium, now sets the scene for one of the most nail-biting corners of the race.

With anywhere between 8-20 specially prepared Toyota Vios Challenge racecars jostling for position and muscling for the inner line, Turn 1 offers equal amount spectacle and excitement, as it does danger and agony. Moreover, I’m about as close to the action as one can get, literally just a reinforced concrete barrier and fence between me and all the cars.

The Toyota Vios Challenge offers one of the
purest forms of motorsport
. Where the cars are all the same, so winning or losing really comes down to driver talent, car setup, and team strategy. Of course, that also makes for some superb stints of bumper-to-bumper drama and old-fashioned tin-top racing.

Three classes run two races over two days – Super Sporting Class, Sporting Class, and the Promotional Class. Super Sporting Class features well-known professional drivers such as Tengku Djan, Mark Darvin, and Brendan Anthony. The Sporting Class on the other hand features up-and-comers such as Hayden Haikal, Kenneth Koh, and even some privateer teams who just want to get in a car and go racing.

The Promotional Classes need little explanation as it is one of the highlights of the Festival – where popular local celebrities such as Shukri Yahaya, Janna Nick, Nabila Razali, Nabil Ahmad, and Diana Danielle to name a few, duke it out on track for top honours and bragging rights. Moreover, if you think they’re just out there for fun… think again! In race 1 on Saturday, the top three drivers were separated by just 1.3 seconds at the finish line.

For the 16,000 fans in Penang who thronged the festival over the two days, the excitement of the TGR Festival included the display and test drive of Toyota’s fleet of new vehicles, a drift performance by Japanese drifters courtesy of Toyo Tires, a racing simulator challenge, stage games, celebrity performances, promotional activities, lucky draws, the sale of merchandises, and a Super Fans Signing Session for a chance to mingle with the celebrities racing in the Promotional class.

Other attractions included a racing simulator challenge, stage games, celebrity performances, promotional activities, lucky draws, the sale of merchandise, and a Super Fans Signing Session for a chance to mingle with the celebrities racing in the Promotional class.

There was also a fleet of motorcycles and merchandise on display and sale by Harley Davidson and Moto Guzzi, a bey blade competition, the sale of Hot Wheels die cast models, and a display by the Art of Speed.

Meanwhile, as an added bonus, all vehicles purchased during the event are offered with an RM200 complimentary service voucher.

Don’t miss the last chance to get up close and personal with the celebrities, drivers, and of course, close-fought racing when Toyota Gazoo Racing festival makes its final stop at the Sepang International Circuit, from 17-19th April 2020.


Will There Be An End To The Proton Parts Shortage Woes?

More and more Proton owners are starting to publicly voice their anger over long waits for replacement parts.

The key success factors in the automotive industry include the betterment of quality, innovation, reliability, performance, cost and after-sales. Unfortunately, while some automotive brands treat after-sales as a business by treating it with the utmost importance, some just seem to place it as an afterthought.

This is a shame, especially when all other aspects of the business are already
on point
, but a car is a car and will eventually need after-sales services, including replacement parts.

Case in point, Proton and their lack of spare parts for their newer generation vehicle, the
X70
 and X50.

It's well-publicised online that owners of
one of the best-selling
 SUVs in the country are starting to get annoyed at the lack of spare parts. One owner, Mohd Qarafi, who has tried to be optimistic about Proton, is starting to lash out publicly about his Proton woes on Facebook (he is one of many).

His Proton has been stuck in the service centre for two months now, due to a shortage of parts. To make things worse, Proton's customer service can't seem to give him a definitive answer to why it is taking so long.

There's no doubt that the X70/ X50 are
fantastic car
s
, but when owners start to voice their anger towards waiting time for replacement parts, it will have a knock-on effect to other consumers who will now want to avoid the vehicle altogether because they are worried about after-sales (an effect we're clearly seeing on social media where current owners are advising potential owners to stay away from Proton).

It's well known that Proton's after-sales has not made the same leap as other aspects of their rejuvenated business. However, Proton last year bravely admitted that they are facing challenges in this department and that the COVID-19 pandemic and a new back end parts ordering and delivery system are to be blamed for this.

According to Focus Malaysia, the newest explanation to why there is a part shortage "stems from China's emission-reduction campaign, which was further aggravated by the winter season."

"Local governments in China have imposed power cuts and rationing on both industrial and residents" which has caused some delays in parts manufacturing."

Despite the X70 being considered as a locally manufactured SUV, it only has 50% local content, which explains why some parts are harder to come by.

Till they make it 100% or expedite imported parts, it sounds like it'll be pretty hard for Proton to speed up the delivery of replacement parts. There's no doubt that Proton is working hard to find a solution for this, and we hope they do, as it'll be a shame to throw away what they have already built on for the past five years - which was
regaining consumer confidence
 and new fans.


Saved Up For A Bugatti Veyron? Too Bad!

If there is one car model that has become synonymous with the word ‘fastest’ and ‘top speed’, it is the Bugatti Veyron. In 2001, when the
Volkswagen
 Group (who purchased the trademark rights on the car manufacturer) decided to start development and eventually produce the hypercar, only 450 units will be made. Production began in 2005 and ten years later, the last example ever will make its grand debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.
That’s right, a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse ‘La Finale’ with chassis number 450 will be the last example of the fastest production car in the world to roll off the assembly line. Granted that each of the previous 449 buyers of the Veyron had their way with customising their purchases with unique details, we think the same applies to this as well.
Unfortunately, until the full reveal at Geneva, we’ll have to make do with Bugatti’s image posted that shows the active rear spoiler of the Veyron with the words ‘La Finale’ printed at the bottom.
So, if you’ve always wanted to get your hands on a Bugatti Veyron, bad news.


Ducati stuffs a 1,158cc V4 engine into its new Diavel

Ducati
 has introduced its latest
2023 Ducati Diavel V4
 and just like the name, it comes with a powerful V4 engine.

It's no secret that Ducati is going all out with its V4 Granturismo powertrain, but it's still a sight to behold when combined with the Diavel's glorious design and chassis. The 1,158cc V4 unit in question is the same one that can be found in the Ducati Multistrada V4.

168hp of pure 'muscle-cruiser'

The 2023 Ducati Diavel V4 is said to produce 168hp at 10,750rpm and 128Nm of torque at 7,750rpm. Carrying a kerb weight of only 223kg without fuel (that's 13kg less than the already impressive Diavel 1260 S), the 2023 Ducati Diavel V4 is able to slingshot itself (along with the rider) from 0-100km/h in under three seconds.

Mated to a six-speed manual transmission with Ducati Quick Shift up/down, the new Diavel V4 promises high performance together with smoothness and regularity at every rpm. That lower weight is thanks to its new chassis that provides improve handling and agility plus the comfort for medium-range touring.

Fully-adjustable suspension & Brembo Stylema brakes

Ducati has also included the works when it comes to the whole package for the 2023 Ducati Diavel V4. That includes a set of fully-adjustable suspension (50mm USD front forks & rear monoshock with an aluminium single-sided swingarm), Brembo Stylema brakes, 17-inch light alloy wheels wrapped with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III rubbers, and a 20-litre fuel tank to name a few.

The electronics package is state-of-the-art to provide the ultimate cruiser riding experience which includes:

6D IMU - Inertial Measurement Unit

Four riding modes - Sport, Touring, Urban & Wet

5-inch TFT dashboard with Ducati Multimedia System

ABS Cornering EVO

Ducati Traction Control EVO 2

Ducati Wheelie Control

Ducati Power Launch + more

The best parts? Those dual-C DRLs on the front and just look at the four exhaust silencers, all grouped up on the right-hand side of the bike. Talk about sexy.


New Mitsubishi 3S Centre in Bayan Lepas Officially Open for Business

EON Auto Mart Sdn Bhd, a member of the DRB-Hicom group of companies and Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia have officially launched a new Mitsubishi 3S Centre in Bayan Lepas, Penang.
It is said that this is part of the company’s efforts to further improve the services for Mitsubishi’s owners in the Northern Region.
The Bayan Lepas 3S centre, which is basically a relocation of Mitsubishi’s 3S centre in Bukit Mertajam, is strategically located at Penang’s Free Industrial Zone which is 20 minutes away from Georgetown.
Covering a total built-up area of 1,199 square meters, the new facility has six service bays, a washing bay and a reception area.
Additionally, the centre features a showroom that is able to showcase five vehicles, as well as a customer lounge with free Wi-Fi and light refreshments.
Fully equipped with diagnostic tools and Special Set Tools (SST) certified by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, the centre is manned by a 20-member team of trained and experienced after sales staffs, service advisors, technicians and consultants.
According to EON Auto Mart, a total of RM600,000 was invested in the 3S Centre to acquire Mitsubishi’s approved equipment and the required workforce.
The Mitsubishi Bayan Lepas 3S centre operates from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:45pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00am to 5:00pm for its showroom.
Aftersales services on the other hand, are available only from Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 5:30pm, and closed on Sundays and public holidays. The centre also provides shuttle service for Mitsubishi customers within a 5km radius.


Hyundai Malaysia Teases All-New Elantra, C-Segment Drama Incoming

We’ve been anticipating the arrival of the 7th-generation Elantra ever since Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) started teasing the all-new Sonata. After all, the model has been a longstanding member of the brand’s Malaysian line-up, and will again be taking jabs at other C-segment entrants.

The brand’s local distributors have dropped a teaser image showing the car’s front end, emphasising its more aggressive swept back headlights and busy grille. Unfortunately, there is no accompanying text or any other information to be extracted here. HSDM just wants everyone to have ‘Elantra’ in mind as they build up to a larger marketing push prior to launch.

Against rivals like the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Toyota Corolla, the newest Elantra certainly leans more heavily on its exterior design to make a first - and lasting - impression. It’s almost more polygon than car with its many geometric character lines, a stark departure from the smooth-flowing contours of its
D-segment bigger brother
.

We didn’t know what the South Korean equivalent to origami is, so a friend of mine thought the design inspiration must’ve come from an unfolded paper aeroplane. Sounds pretty accurate, though I’d add that the copious exterior creases do lend themselves very well to a sportier treatment such as that found on the N-Line variant.

Over
the previous Elantra
 (AD) sold in Malaysia, this version is built on the an all-new K3 platform that will also underpin the upcoming Hyundai i30, contributing to its overall larger footprint. Dimensionally, the car is substantially longer by 55mm from nose to tail, within which it sports a 20mm longer wheelbase. Its body is also 25mm wider than before while its roof peaks 20mm lower.

This partly leads to a roomier cabin that does take some cues from the Sonata with many more horizontal elements at play. Overall, it looks like Hyundai is looking to tinge the Elantra with some semi-premium flair through more elegant shapes and softer, more luxurious materials.

Typical for Hyundai and Kia cars, the touchscreen infotainment screen (up to 10.25-inches) is again perched at the top of the centre stack, but this time its housing is moulded into the instrument binnacle, which can be had in digital form via another 10.25-inch screen. The HVAC and steering wheel controls are the only concentration of buttons facing the driver for a more minimal foreground view.

Even the air conditioning vents are integrated behind a single extended grille element to further reduce visual clutter. Oddly, the upcoming
next-generation Honda Civic
's dash will also feature a similar design.

Elsewhere the Elantra can be equipped pretty generously. Hyundai includes its active safety suite (SmartSense) with all the usual suspects such as AEB and Lane Keep Assist. Some markets receive the option of an 8-speaker Bose audio system, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and fancy interior ambient lighting with 64 colour options in addition to an even more comprehensive list of safety features.

This 7th-gen Elantra isn’t going to blow your socks off with its engine range, though. There is a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder from the Smartstream family, producing 160PS and 191Nm. Other options include a smaller displacement 1.6-litre NA units, one with a turbocharger for 204PS and 265Nm, or an Ioniq-style parallel hybrid with 120PS.

Aside from Ulsan in South Korea, regional manufacturing and assembly of the Elantra is also carried out in the United States and China, so we’re unsure if the car would arrive fully imported or in CKD form upon launch. Speaking of which, HDSM only has a little more than a month to cram in a launch ahead of the SST discount period which ends at the end of December 31st.


Toyota And Subaru To Jointly Develop EV Platform – New EV SUV Coming

Toyota Motor Corporation and Subaru Corporation have announced that both companies will jointly developed a new electric vehicle (EV) platform.
Both companies will combine their strengths – Subaru will employ their know-how in all-wheel drive technologies, while Toyota will share their knowledge in vehicle electrification. One of the first few products to come to fruition is a new C-segment SUV that both companies will market under their own brand.
While the SUV will be the first product to be based on the new EV platform, both companies did say that the platform will also underpin future C- and D-segment models, including sedans and larger SUVs in the future.
Toyota and Subaru’s partnership can be traced back to 2005, after both companies concluded on business collaborations in 2005. Some of the products to come out of this partnership include the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ duo and the sales of the Subaru XV plug-in hybrid, which is sold in the United States.


Spyshots: 2018 Volvo XC40 Gives Sneak Peek Into Cabin

Volvo’s new generation of products continue to roll out apace. With the 90-series (
XC90
,
S90, V90
) fully fleshed out and the
new-generation 60-series
 underway following the
all-new XC60
’s recent launch, next comes the compact XC40 crossover that has just been caught testing in the open by European spy photographers.
The heavily camouflaged mule shows off part of its headlights which now feature the distinctive Thor’s Hammer DRL lighting signature. Side profile shows a conventional SUV-type silhouette with compact proportions whilst the rear reveals the high-rising tail light design that is the trademark of Volvo SUVs, estates, and hatchbacks.
Most revealing pictures show glimpses of the interior, in which we get a good look of the dashboard, centre console, as well as the rear passenger compartment. Up front, we see the now-typical large portrait-shaped touchscreen flanked by vertical air-vents either side. Audio shortcuts are laid neatly in a single row just below the screen.
Photo of the rear cabin area, meanwhile, is notable for showing off the rear door’s window line, which seems to follow the shape shown in the
Concept 40.1
 first shown a year ago.
The XC40, together with other upcoming members of the revitalized
40-series family
, will be underpinned by the
Compact Modular Architecture (CMA)
 small car platform first announced by Volvo in 2015 and used recently in the
Lynk & Co 01 SUV
 to kick-start the new brand founded by parent company Geely.
Debut of the XC40 is expected later this year, with sales likely to commence in 2018. Powertrian options are expected to include a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, as well as a plug-in hybrid setup.
Pics:
 CarPix


Nissan Expands Autech Sub-Brand Lineup In Japan

Nissan is expanding its series of Autech-modified vehicles in Japan to meet the needs of customers who want sportier models.
The models will be unified under the Autech sub-brand, starting with the unveiling of the new Nissan Serena Autech minivan.
The new brand will share a foundation of sporty driving performance with Nissan’s existing sub-brand - Nismo.
While Nismo road cars are focused purely around sports and performance, Autech will emphasize more on the aesthetics of the vehicles.
"Nissan will offer different core values through our two sub-brands, Nismo and Autech. With these sub-brands, we’ll continue offering a variety of programs to help our customers enjoy their Nissan vehicles even more,” said Takao Katagiri, president and chief executive officer of both Autech Japan and Nissan Motorsports International.
Autech-modified vehicles have until now been marketed under the Axis, Rider, Bolero and Mode Premier grade names. However, they will now be unified under the Autech brand.
Nissan also announced that it will be expanding its range of Nismo road cars in April. The new model will be joining the existing Nismo versions of the GT-R, Fairlady Z, Juke, Note, arch as well as the Serena.


Toyota 'GR Corolla' Gets Trademarked, Mega Hatch Inches Closer To Reality

Why would
Toyota
 register for trademarks on a ‘GR Corolla’ and ‘C-HR GR-S’ (as spotted by

GR86.org
) if they’re not doing anything about them? Answer is that they’re probably already far enough along in the development of these models that legally calling dibs on the moniker makes sense.

There’s been a lot of hype surrounding the next move from the Japanese automaker’s relatively fresh-faced performance division under Gazoo Racing (GR for short) since the succession of the Yaris GRMN, GR Supra, and most recently, the newer all-wheel drive GR Yaris.

Also, why have they chose Australia to file this trademark? These are all questions so far unknown to anyone but those within certain exclusive circles of Toyota itself. That said, the company has admitted many times that the portfolio of GR cars is to expand, so why not pluck from their existing line-up.

We will say, though, that the Land Down Under has been known to have a big appetite for fast cars. Meanwhile, its huge expanse of land, long empty roads, and wide variety of surfaces and weather conditions do make it an ideal all-in-one location for testing.

At this point, a hot version of the 12th-generation Corolla seems like a no-brainer. With its sporty looks and inherently talented chassis, it’s almost begging to be given a proper performance revamp to make it an easy rival to the Volkswagen Golf GTI or Ford Focus ST, and this new trademark only reinforces its potential.

The only cars so far to wear the GR prefix are the GR Supra and GR Yaris, both of which are the most high performance cars Toyota makes. Should they embark upon a hotted-up Corolla, it’s going to have to be something seriously capable.

Currently, the most powerful Corolla you can spec is one fitted with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder from their Dynamic Force engine family, producing about 168hp. A decently brisk hatch for everyday driving, no doubt, but definitely not hot hatch material.

However, if they were willing to squeeze in the world’s most powerful 3-cylinder production engine (until Koenigsegg’s Gemera comes out) into a petite Yaris, how much more bonkers could they go if given license to corrupt the Corolla? If we regard the GR Yaris’ 257hp/360Nm output as a the benchmark, a GR Corolla’s own numbers could sail past 300hp.

That would put it into a brawl with the Golf R and Civic Type R, possibly warranting a transplant of the same WRC-inspired all-wheel drive system that’s been slotted into the GR Yaris to handle all that grunt -  we’re in proper mega-hatch territory there. But why not? Toyota certainly has the means and the expertise to make something that mind blowing.

With the C-HR, things are a little less well defined. It’s already a funky looking crossover. Some might even call it sporty and be totally sincere. But the name ‘C-HR GR-S’ implies that it won’t be a full-on performance model and instead one with cosmetic upgrades and perhaps some mild engine and suspension modifications much like the M-Sport or AMG-Line from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, respectively. This should slot above the C-HR GR-Sport which the company already offers for the Japanese market.

Toyota has already proven that their recent high performance revival is in full swing with the GR Supra and especially with the GR Yaris, Seemingly out of nowhere, they have managed to make established competitors a little uneasy about their positions and how, in the long term, they may not stack up as favourably.

Toyota has just begun to show us the full arsenal from Gazoo Racing. If a GR Corolla really isn’t too far away, perhaps even due to be joined by a GR 86 as rumoured, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for what’s coming down the pipe.


610hp Rear-Drive Thrills Come To The Lamborghini Huracan Evo

A new rear-wheel drive version of the Lamborghini Huracan Evo has been revealed with the Sant’Agata supercar maker building upon the rampantly quick standard car, which is offered with as standard with all-wheel drive.

Lamborghini has previously treated the world with a purely rear-driven version of their V10-powered entry-model, starting with the limited run Gallardo Balboni and latterly the pre-facelift Huracan LP580-2 and its sister car, the Audi R8 RWS - both within 2018.

This time, however, that naturally aspirated 5.2-litre ten-cylinder engine has been tuned to deliver 610hp at 8,000rpm and 560Nm at 6,500rpm thanks to the learnings gained from the lap record-breaking Huracan Performante.

That being said, the car is missing 30hp and 40Nm over the standard Huracan Evo. However, this rear-drive version, like its all-wheel driven sibling, also benefits from the former Nurburgring crown-wearer in terms of its active aerodynamic elements and suspension setup.

The company had to tweak their P-TSC (Performance Traction Control System) to suit this Huracan’s drive layout, providing slip but also balanced torque distribution to ensure optimum controllability post-oversteer and improved traction on corner exit.

With the all-wheel drive system omitted, the RWD is naturally lighter, shedding 33kg and maintaining a 40/60 weight distribution across the front and rear axles respectively. Dry weight, meanwhile, stands at relative skim 1,389kg.

In spite of the reduced in traction at launch, Lamborghini claims the Huracan RWD can dispatch 100km/h from rest in just 3.3 seconds, a mere 0.2 seconds slower than its all-paw counterpart. Top speed, unsurprisingly, is nearly identical at 325km/h.

At all corners are 19-inch wheels as standard wrapped around Pirelli P-Zero tyres with larger 20-inch alloys available optionally. Other visual cues that set it apart from the standard Huracan Evo include a modified front air intake and splitter while at the rear we see an altered diffuser.

Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini: “The Huracán EVO rear-wheel drive puts the car in the driver’s hands: the driving experience is delivered by the hardware. This car reminds the driver of Lamborghini’s pure engineering origins: the driver is at the center of the Huracán EVO RWD’s performance, with unfiltered feedback and an emotive and more engaging driving experience controlled by the pilot.


Geneva 2018: Toyota To Unveil All-New Corolla Hatchback

Toyota has announced that they will use the Geneva Motor Show 2018 as the venue to premiere the all-new Toyota Auris, a European flavoured hatchback version of the popular Corolla sedan.
The Toyota Auris faces strong competition from traditional European C-segment hatchbacks such as Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Peugeot 308, Honda Civic, Kia Cee’d, and Seat Leon.
Toyota informs that the exterior design is more dynamic (hinted by the teaser shot above) and will be fitted with the company’s brand new 2.0-litre full hybrid powertrain.
Customarily, the Auris had its own external styling that was penned for the European customers. However, the interior of both Auris and the ASEAN Corolla Altis are identical. Thus, the all-new Auris might be able to provide us with an indication of how the interior of the new generation Corolla Altis will look like, which is planned to be introduced in 2019.
The full reveal of the all-new Toyota Auris will happen on the 6
th
 of March.


6th-gen Honda CR-V spotted in Malaysia - to be launched soon?

The 6th-Gen Honda CR-V mule car has been spotted around the Klang Valley recently, suggesting that it might just get a local debut this year.

The next-gen Honda CR-V was
unveiled globally last year
, and usually, it takes some time for Honda Malaysia to complete its local road testing to identify any issues that need to be addressed before the vehicle can be approved for sale in the local market.

Picture for illustration purposes, this was the CR-V spotted in Thailand

But judging by the sightings of the 6th-Gen Honda CR-V mule car around the Klang Valley recently, we might just get a surprise introduction of the new CR-V this year.

If you've been eyeing up the 6th-Gen CR-V and can't wait to get your hands on it, here are some things you need to know about the CR-V, based on its market debut in the United States.

2023 Honda CR-V powertrains

Powering the lower-rung variants is the familiar 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo four-cylinder petrol with its outputs carried over as well, sending
193PS
 and
243Nm
 to the front wheels (AWD optional) via Honda's CVT.

Moving to the higher variants, these cars have lifted the powertrain from the
hybridised Civic
, featuring the naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that's paired with two electric motors.

Its traction motor actually delivers 20Nm additional torque over the last time we saw this hybrid combo, and altogether delivers
207PS
 for the of the line Honda CR-V

Exterior design of the 2023 Honda CR-V

In terms of its exterior design, there are definitely some of Honda's newest aesthetic cues at play. It's a squarer shape overall that should stand it in good stead among the chunkier SUVs that.

There are hints of the Accord and Civic here and there, but for better or worse, its pronounced shoulder line does give the CR-V that beefy look which suits modern SUVs.

Its bonnet is rather flat and pretty long for a Honda, and at the nose, its fascia is more uncluttered than we're used to seeing from Honda but it does give the SUV amore upmarket look. Slim headlights flank a rather large central grille that's joined by other cosmetic furnishings depending on the variant chosen.

Interior 2023 Honda CR-V

Inside, the CR-V doesn't stray far from the Civic in terms of general ergonomics and layout. Where the previous-gen version sported a fairly distinctive dashboard design to fit its more purposeful, practicality-oriented ethos, we wouldn't be surprised if this 6th-generation replacement was lifted directly from the FE with only the most minor of alterations.

Each variant receives a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but only the range-topper gets a 12-speaker Bose sound system among other goodies.

In addition to an impressive reserve of 10 airbags, each CR-V should receive Honda Sensing as standard with AEB, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and all the rest, enhanced by a new 90-degree FOV camera system and 120-degree millimetre-wave radar.

When will it hit the showrooms?

The big question on everyone's minds is probably how long will it take for this newest C-segment SUV to reach the showrooms, but judging by the sightings, it probably won't be that much longer.

Upon its arrival, can Honda Malaysia keep up with demand enough to avoid any waiting period that's becoming a stain on most new cars these days? Well, if you don't want to be part of the queue, you should stay in tune with updates about the CR-V to get the jump in front of most people.


Proton X50 Talaan Stage 2 Tawan Litar Sepang – 200 HP, 310 Nm Tork

Sebuah
Proton X50
 yang ditala pada tahap 2 telah dilenjan di
Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC)
 bagi menguji kemampuan jentera yang sudah diubahsuai berkenaan dan hasilnya amat memberangsangkan!

Menerusi sebuah hantaran yang dilakukan oleh All In CROSS FIFTY Accessories Malaysia di Facebook, ini merupakan kali kedua Proton X50 tersebut dibawa turun ke Litar Sepang. Kali ini,
SUV
 berkenaan dipandu oleh pelumba professional Malaysia, Mark Darwin.

Memandangkan talaan tahap 2 pada SUV ini telah selesai, SUV popular Proton tersebut kini mampu menjana output sehingga 200 hp dan 310 Nm tork berbanding X50 asal keluaran kilang yang hanya menghasilkan 175 hp serta 255 Nm tork.

SUV segmen-B Proton ini telah berjaya mencatatkan 2 minit 47 saat sebagai catatan masa terpantas dan terbaik dengan purata kelajuan 122km/j. Kalau nak diikutkan, catatan masa tersebut dianggap laju memandangkan Proton X50 ini merupakan sebuah SUV, bukanlah
kereta sport
 ataupun
hot-hatch
.

Apa yang buatkan kereta ni lebih laju berbanding kereta X50 biasa? Jawapannya pastilah ada pada penambahbaikan yang telah dilakukan pada SUV ini. Berikut merupakan antara modifikasi yang dilakukan pada Proton X50 tersebut:

Sistem suspensi boleh laras 32-langkah DWD

Sesendal (bushing) berprestasi tinggi

Bar pengukuh casis SuperCircuit

Kit brek Brembo 6 Pot 380mm

Paip ekzos catless SuperCircuit

Talaan Unit Kawalan Elektronik (ECU) Stage 2

Segala penambahbaikan ini sedikit sebanyak membantu meningkatkan kuasa serta kawalan pengendalian SUV ini di dalam litar. Jika anda rujuk pada video yang dikongsikan, kelihatan seolah-olah Proton X50 tersebut melekat di atas litar.

Meskipun SUV tersebut telah dilenjan selama 4 jam di Litar Sepang, namun Proton X50 tersebut masih berfungsi seperti biasa tanpa sebarang masalah. Perkara ini telah disahkan sendiri oleh pemilik kereta berkenaan di Facebook beliau.

Menerusi sebuah hantaran yang dilakukan oleh pemilik kereta berkenaan di Facebook, kotak gear standard
DCT 7-kelajuan
 pada X50 itu masih tahan meskipun setelah 20 kali membuat pusingan di Sepang tanpa menunjukkan sebarang kekurangan kuasa atau kerosakan dalam penukaran gear. Pemilik kereta berkenaan turut memuji Proton X50 dengan memanggilnya kereta yang dibina untuk bertahan lama.

Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai Proton X50 yang menawan Litar Sepang ini, anda boleh tonton video di bawah:

*Sumber: All In CROSS FIFTY Accessories Malaysia, Lee Jian Xian


New Toyota 2S Centre Opens In Petaling Jaya

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, the authorised distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia recently opened a new 2S (service and spare parts) outlet in Taman Petaling Utama, Selangor.
The outlet has a spacious and comfortable customer lounge for owners to relax while waiting for work to be done on their vehicles.
In addition, full amenities such as refreshments and free WiFi are provided for customers’ comfort and convenience.
Located at No. 30E, Jalan PJS 1/46, PJS 1, Taman Petaling Utama, Petaling Jaya, the service centre has 14 work bays to handle service and maintenance works. Currently, the outlet is manned by 13 fully trained technicians.
Operated by Laser Motor Sdn Bhd, the outlet aims to serve customers in Petaling Jaya, as well as Puchong and other areas nearby.
Laser Motor Sdn Bhd has a long association with Toyota when they became an authorised dealer about 16 years ago with a showroom in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
They also own an outlet Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, which offers comprehensive aftersales services including body and paint services.
“We commend the Laser Motor Group on their initiative to enhance their facilities within the Toyota network in Malaysia. With more outlets in strategic locations, customers will not have to go far to acquire quality sales and aftersales services,” said UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd’s president Ravindran K.


When Your Car Needs To Smell Good There's Only One Option...

Some of us treat our cars like children, like our most prized possession. To some their choice of vehicle defines them, to others it’s a form of transport, to others still it’s a statement piece - but the one thing all types of owners have in common is that their ride should smell nice lah - especially if the said ride is also used to buy ikan or transport durian. Eau de durian gets overwhelming after a while…

So if you wanted your ride to smell good - then you really must get a whiff of Gentleman and Goddess - the latest offerings from VANZO from its New Generation of sterilizing healthy air fresheners.

Now just before you protest that air fresheners are unsafe, replete with chemicals and formaldehyde, we’ll have you know that VANZO’s products are free from alcohol, formaldehyde, benzene and toluene. This is to ensure that your health and wellbeing are taken care of -  especially now during this pandemic.

VANZO is also the first air freshener brand utilising Japan's New Technology, Odour Emulsion Filtration (OEF) to infiltrate then emanate the smooth fresh fragrance.

"To ensure better quality products, we're pleased to work with two Japanese leading fragrance specialists, OGAWA Flavours and Fragrances, and TAIYO Corporation which have over 125 years' experience in manufacturing fragrances," said Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VANZO, Eddie Ng.

"We understand that health and safety are a priority for Malaysians. Our products have gone through and passed the acute inhalation toxicity test for our consumers' peace of mind," he added.

And if the above isn’t enough to convince you, then maybe the endorsement of Louis Koo, Hong Kong superstar veteran of hits such as Paradox, Three and Throwdown might be more compelling. Louis Koo has been appointed as the new face of VANZO's Gentleman series. Joining him is Priscilla Wong, talent extraordinaire from TVB’s Life After Death.

Vanzo’s products are available at 3,500 local retailers including pharmacies, car accessories outlets and supermarkets but since we’re in MCO 3.0 now you should visit
www.vanzoasia.com
 instead.


Honda Malaysia Unveils Updated 2021 HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD Price - RM114k

Honda Malaysia has finally announced the price of their updated 2021 HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD.

At the beginning of the year, when Honda introduced the
updated 2021 HR-V
 to the market, they revealed the prices for all variants (E,V and RS) except for the Hybrid.

Better late than never, Honda Malaysia has finally unveiled its price, seven months after the introduction of the updated 2021 HR-V.

Considering that a bit of new kit has been added to the popular hybrid SUV, it's nice to see that the 2021 Honda HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD has gone down in price, going from its previous price of around RM120k to RM114k on the road without insurance.

We believe Honda Malaysia has taken full advantage of the ongoing sales tax exemption, which now places the Hybrid in between the V and RS variant price-wise.

Only previously seen on the non-hybrid V and RS variant, the 2021 HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD now comes with LED headlights, LED guide taillights, LED front fog lights, chrome door handles, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with two USB ports and Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto connectivity.

Other changes announced include the addition of the Platinum White Pearl colour alongside Lunar Silver Metallic and Modern Steel Metallic in the hybrid colour line-up.

The Sport Hybrid i-DCD variant is still equipped with the
same
 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine with Direct Injection combined with 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission and Integrated High Power Electric Motor.

Assisted by the High-Power lithium-ion battery, the powertrain's combined output is equal to a 2.0L engine performance that offers quick acceleration response and exhilarating driving feel.

Safety-wise, the car comes standard with safety features such as Six Airbags, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Automatic Brake Hold (ABH), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Rear Seat ISOFIX.

To pre-book the Enhanced 2021 HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD, customers can log on to prebook.honda.com.my or download the HondaTouch application on their smartphones. For more information, customers can call Honda’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to honda.com.my


The 2017 Kia Stinger Takes On The Highlands of Scotland In Latest Ad

The ultimate road trip, for most petrol heads, might involve dramatic scenery, a challenging ribbon of tarmac draped on the side of a mountain and most importantly – the howl of a vehicle with character and performance to match.
A sedan from Kia probably isn’t the first thing that would come to mind which might have been true – until the Stinger came along.
The Kia Stinger, first revealed at the
2017 Detroit Motor Show
 in January, is Kia’s first stab at the premium sedan category and incorporates the latest technology from the Korean carmaker.
The handsome bodywork is matched only by a choice of capable power plants - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder from the Theta II family with 250PS and 353Nm and a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 pushing out 370PS and 510Nm. A diesel engine producing 202PS and 441Nm is also offered for the European market. An in-house designed 8-speed automatic transmission is offered as standard for all variants.
The Stinger is offered in rear- or all-wheel drive drivetrains - for improved traction, the RWD Stinger models receive a mechanical LSD whilst the rear-biased AWD setup incorporates Dynamic Torque Vectoring. Adaptive dampers also work in tandem with a Drive Mode selector to allow control of the car’s driving characteristics.
In its latest dramatic advertisement, the Kia Stinger is pitted against the twisty B-roads of the Scottish Highlands, where staggering views are punctuated only by the restless howl of Kia sportiest sedan yet.
We’ll let the video explain further.
The Kia Stinger also made its Asian debut, at Korea at the
2017 Seoul Motor Show
 in April. Closer to home, local distributor Naza Kia Malaysia
recently
 expressed optimism in introducing the Stinger for the Malaysian market in 2017.


Kia EV6 - The Future of EVs in Malaysia, Now

Transitioning to EVs or electric cars in 2022 is the
next evolution of automotive mobility
, and with cars like the Kia EV6, moving away from internal combustion or ICE is getting more and more convincing.

Kia's latest EV offering comes in the form of the
Kia EV6 GT-Line
, and judging by the looks alone, you can easily understand why it has won many awards worldwide like the 2022 Red Dot "Best of the Best Car Design" as well as the 2022 European Car of the Year.

But is it just the awards? Is the Kia EV6 more than that?

Dressed to impress - "Opposites United" design philosophy

Kia's design language has progressed by leaps and bounds and the demand for the Kia EV6 around the globe shows that this particular EV is certainly unique, tasteful, and yet in terms of design, not too overwhelming on the senses.

Optimising the brand's latest design philosophy called "Opposites United", the Kia EV6 portrays its futuristic design elements and tech features seamlessly together whilst showcasing its human-centred nature - a balance of sharp elements and smooth lines that make the Kia EV6 a very desirable BEV to own.

By combining several key highlights like Kia's 'Tiger Nose Grille' and its 'Digital Tiger Face' daytime-running lights, the Kia EV6 evokes a new visual identity within its segment and it's further amplified when seen in real life. Truly a head-turner, this car!

Crossover-inspired side profile

Even the side profile of the Kia EV6 portrays a futuristic crossover-inspired vehicle that combines a great balance of beautiful design as well as functional aerodynamics. This is most outstanding thanks to its swept-back windshield upfront and sloping rear C-pillars.

Those combined with other exterior features like the rear spoiler, curved LED tail lights, 20-inch wheels, and a premium selection of body colours certainly make the
 Kia EV6 a worthy BEV
to own with a stunning exterior design that'll stand the test of time.

Spacious interior for five

If the exterior is not enough to convince you, perhaps its interior will sway you swiftly into getting an EV6. The Kia EV6 offers a more spacious interior setup which is further enhanced with some very comfortable features for your everyday drives.

The first thing that you'll notice is its Relaxion comfort front seats which offer a more comfortable sitting position by relieving pressure on the hips and lower back, especially when adjusted to Relaxion Mode, when the EV6 is stationary. This helps to reduce fatigue and discomfort, which is something that normal conventional seats have a hard time delivering.

The driver, in particular, gets to enjoy the EV6's curved widescreen which comprises a 12.3-inch cluster display and a similarly-sized centre information display. This allows the driver to fully immerse in the EV6's driving experience whilst enjoying maximum visibility.

Other interior highlights include a wide sunroof for a greater sense of space, a 14-speaker Meridian premium sound system, 12.3” infotainment climate control with a capacitive touchscreen, and cargo space that can be expanded up to 1,300 litres when you pull the remote release lever for the second-row seats. Utilitarian? Check.

Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)

Kia is aware that the EV6 needs to provide the
ultimate level of safety
 for its occupants as well as other road users and even pedestrians. When it comes to safety, the Kia EV6 comes with the latest Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technologies.

Confined spaces like tight parking lots can easily be maneuvered thanks to its Surround View Monitor (SVM) which comes with multiple cameras that offer a 360° overhead view around the car. There's also the Safe Exit Assist (SEA) feature that helps to warn of any approaching vehicle from the rear when you open the door to exit the car.

If you find that another car is parked too close for you to enter, the Kia EV6's Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) function can help to get you out of that tight jam with ease. With a simple click and hold of the remote key fob, you can remotely instruct the Kia EV6 to reverse park or move forward.

While driving, the presence of the Kia EV6's Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) all help to detect, warn, and avoid any possible collisions that may happen in different driving scenarios.

320hp & 605Nm of torque with 506km range

If performance is of particular priority to you, the Kia EV6's dual-motor electric powertrain with all-wheel-drive and e-Shift transmission offers power in abundance. The dual e-motors produce 320hp and 605Nm of torque with a 0-100km/h sprint of just 5.2 seconds.

The range can be pushed up to 506km (WLTP cycle) thanks to its large 77.4kWh battery pack, which supports both AC and DC charging. If you find a 350kW DC fast-charger, just connect it via its CCS2 port and 10-80% can be achieved in just 18 minutes.

On a more conventional charge, the Kia EV6 supports up to 11kW of AC charging via its Type 2 connector. 7 hours 20 minutes (10%-100%) is all you need to get it fully charged and ready to go. Plug it in before bed and you’re fully charged by the time you wake up.

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) to power other electrical items

The Kia EV6 is built on the advanced E-GMP (Electric–Global Modular Platform) platform and has some very interesting tricks up its sleeve. One of them that no other car can match is the V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) function.

Once you select either the EV Ready or Utility mode, the Kia EV6 offers 3.6kW to charge or power any lifestyle accessories like your laptop or phone charger. This can be done via its outlet located at the base of the rear seat or a V2L connector through its charging outlet. In other words, the Kia EV6 can function as a huge power bank when needed.

A small price to pay for Earth's future

Priced at RM300,668 (on-the-road excluding insurance), visit any of Kia’s authorised showrooms located nationwide to
find out more about the EV6
. Additionally, there's going to be a Kia Roadshow happening at Sunway Pyramid's Blue Concourse from 12-16 October 2022. The future of EVs is now, and there's no hotter model out there right now than the Kia EV6.

Each and every Kia EV6 comes with a 5-year Manufacturer Warranty or 150,000km and a battery warranty of up to seven years or 150,000km (whichever comes first).

To find out more about the features of the Kia EV6, click
here
.


2015 Honda HR-V Info Hub: News, Reviews, Launch Reports & More

The all-new 2015 Honda HR-V has finally been launched in Malaysia from a stunning starting price of RM99,800, and goes all the way up to RM118,800. Here is our dedicated INFO HUB page set on providing you with all the latest news, reviews and reports surrounding the all-new model from Honda.
Slightly smaller than a
Honda CR-V
, the all-new
HR-V
 is also known as the Vezel in foreign markets, and as we know, is largely based on the underpinnings of a
Honda City
 and
Jazz
. But it isn’t the first of its kind we’ve seen from a car brand in Malaysia.
At launch, the HR-V directly competes with the
Ford EcoSport
 and
Peugeot 2008
: two models we’ve seen in local showrooms for some time now, both with common ideas of sharing their B-segment hatch counterparts’ underpinnings.
But while the
Honda
 rides on a familiar platform, it isn’t precisely what you would call an enlarged Jazz or City, much unlike how the Ford EcoSport has a pretty identical interior, powertrain and more, with its smaller Fiesta sibling – such is the case also for the Peugeot 2008, and its smaller 208.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the HR-V’s interior has much that’s unique about it, and the 1.8-litre petrol engine is straight out of the C-segment's Honda Civic. Don’t be fooled by the “coupe-esque” exterior either: this is a proper four-door, five-seater than disguises its rear door handles by integrating it into the C-pillars of the car.
Want more? Here are a bunch of links to everything you’ll need to know about the all-new 2015 Honda HR-V. Keep in mind that we will be updating this as we gather more information, so you may want to bookmark this page ;)
2015 Honda HR-V Launched In Malaysia: Full Details, Prices and More
At long last, Honda Malaysia has taken the covers off its all-new Honda HR-V, and given some prices to now drool over. But would your purchase be justified by the prices asked of it? We detail all that and more in our complete Launch Report of the 2015 Honda HR-V.
2015 Honda HR-V Quick Review In Thailand: The Compact SUV Done Right
You've seen what the all-new Honda HR-V looks like. Now, find out what it is like to drive and live with as Honda Malaysia were generous enough to send us on a media drive to experience the compact SUV first hand in Thailand.
2015 Honda HR-V Detailed Inside Out: Mega Gallery Included
At the Honda HR-V’s second roadshow, the glass panels surrounding the car were lifted, giving us the best chance to get up close with the all-new compact SUV. Here it is, full undisguised, with a complete gallery to savour. What we’re looking at here is the HR-V in its highest grade/trim, equipped with every possible specification. Do enjoy.
VIDEO: Three Things You’ve Got To Know About The Honda HR-V
If pictures aren’t enough for you, why not indulge yourself in our video tour of the Honda HR-V at its public roadshow?
Honda Malaysia Officially Confirms Arrival Of Hotly-Anticipated HR-V
So much has been said about the coming HR-V, but so little information shared. This time around, Honda Malaysia have made it official. Also confirming a 1.8-litre petrol engine, a CVT transmission, a full suite of safety features that includes Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and six airbags, and more.
*Can anything give the Honda HR-V a proper run for its money? This is our pick, and it’s coming to Malaysia
2015 Honda HR-V Debuts In Thailand: From 890k Baht
Before any Malaysian-based news began to surface, the all-new Honda HR-V made its debut in Thailand, with prices set at RM90,500 to RM106,000 (directly converted from Baht to MYR). Specified very similarly to what we would eventually see here in Malaysia, here is the official Thailand launch coverage.
IIMS 2014: Honda HR-V/ Vezel Shows Up, Asks For Rp240 Juta
Another country to get the HR-V before Malaysia, Indonesia were amongst the earlier nations to show off the compact SUV, this time at the Indonesian International Motor Show. Priced from RM65k to RM95k (when directly converted), the HR-V is also one of the few markets to offer the car with a 1.5-litre engine option, alongside a 1.8-litre range topper.
Honda Introduces The World To Its All-New Vezel
You’d have to wind the clock all the way back to November 2013 for this one: the day that Honda first unveiled the all-new Honda Vezel to the world, at the Tokyo Motor Show. Poised initially for a Japanese debut a month later, the Vezel – a.k.a. HR-V – was to feature a 1.5-litre and a 1.8-litre petrol engine, alongside with a 2WD and AWD configuration. Little was known about the Vezel’s ASEAN debuts, let alone its Malaysian launch, but this was the first time anyone had ever laid eyes on the physical vehicle.


The Volvo Concept Recharge Previews Volvo’s Electric Future Today

Volvo Cars have laid out its future roadmap during its recent Volvo Cars Tech Moment event as it transitions into a
full-fledged electric vehicle manufacturer by 2030
. The first-glimpse of its future strategy and technologies now comes alive with the Volvo Concept Recharge, a manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos.

The Recharge Concept previews the concept of an SUV underpinned by a completely new electric-only platform – as opposed to its first generation of electric vehicles (such as the
XC40 Recharge
), which were underpinned by a platform that could accommodate both electric and conventional powertrains.

By removing the engine and replacing it with a
full battery pac
k
 under the flat floor, the designers have extended the wheelbase and the wheel size of the car. The result is shorter overhangs and a lot more interior space, including a large storage area between the front seats.

True to Volvo’s heritage of Scandinavian design, Concept
Recharge
 has the mantra of 'less but better' at its core, which allowed designers to evolve the car's SUVs proportions to be bigger than ever while also improving aerodynamic efficiency.

In the Concept Recharge, greater flexibility with the platform has allowed designers to reposition the seats, optimise the roof profile and lower the hood of the car while retaining the high-riding position loved by SUV buyers. This approach is claimed to create efficiency gains in aerodynamics compared to a typical SUV, which in turn improves driving range.

The Concept Recharge also introduces a new Volvo design language. Continuing the theme of 'less but better, all unnecessary elements have been removed and what remains are streamlined and flushed surfaces all around the vehicle. The traditional grille has been replaced with a shield-like structure, supported by a new interpretation of Volvo Cars’ Thor’s Hammer headlight design.

These include the latest HD technology-enabled pure graphic, which opens at night to reveal the main lamp units. Round the back, signature vertical rear lamps connect to the brand’s strong design heritage but are reimagined with a set of wings that extend at higher cruising speeds to further improve overall aerodynamics.

On the inside, the new platform allows for a fully flat floor which enhances occupant room. The central focal point is a large 15-inch standing touch screen, which features a new and improved user experience for the company’s next-generation connected infotainment system.

Robin Page, Volvo’s Head of Design adds, “The interior integrates our latest user experience technology with beautiful, sustainable and natural materials. Each part of the interior is like a piece of art and could stand alone as individual furniture in a room. We use the latest technologies but not for their own sake. We always focus on the benefits that technologies can bring.”

Finally and perhaps most importantly, are the
improvements in safety
 that the Concept Recharge brings. A new LiDAR sensor, (built by technology company Luminar) forms a critical component of Volvo Cars’ next-generation safety and autonomous drive technology. The sensor is placed in an optimal position on the roof to collect data on the environment around the car.


Carlist.my Now Offering BMW Premium Selection Vehicles

A smart collaboration and a first in the market between BMW Malaysia and Carlist.my has materialised with Carlist.my’s latest offerings of premium selected cars from BMW’s 14 dealers nationwide on a dedicated microsite within Carlist.my

“We are excited to work with BMW Malaysia once again to enhance the purchasing process of pre-owned BMW vehicles on Carlist.my. Looking at the success of our ongoing collaboration between One2Car and BMW Thailand, I am truly confident that we will deliver a better experience to the Malaysian consumers when they look for the best deals available through our specially curated BMW Premium Selection microsite” said Hamish Stone, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer at iCar Asia Limited.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia added, “The Premium Ownership Experience from the BMW Group is a complete 360-degree suite of privileges and services that are not only limited to the purchase, service, and maintenance of the vehicle. Instead, it is a life cycle and ownership ecosystem where the vehicle is seen to move in a value chain of ownership.”

With an average traffic of 2 million car buyers daily to Carlist.my, this partnership is aimed at helping BMW’s Dealers gain more online exposure for their offerings as well as allow both Carlist.my and BMW Premium Selection to create integrated online marketing campaigns to attract more users to the microsite.

“Kicking-off this industry-first initiative with BMW is also exciting for us, they have been bold in the face of this pandemic, being the most active manufacturer with their slew of car launches in 2020. It is a trait we share with BMW, we like to take the lead” added KY Gan, Managing Director of Carlist.my.

The BMW Premium Selection microsite on Carlist.my with over 400 units of BMW’s and MINI’s is currently live and you can check it out
here
.

Potential owners of vehicles from BMW Group Malaysia’s Premium Selection range will be entitled to:

A Minimum of 12 months BMW Premium Selection Warranty*

360-Degree Technical and Optical Checks of the vehicle

Availability of Approved Vehicle and Service History

Exclusive Financing Offers from BMW Financial Services Malaysia

Competitive Trade-In Offers

BMW Roadside Assistance

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

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

Sell your car fast with the best offer? Visit us at
CarlistBid.my
.

Get the latest new car promotions at
New Car
 website now.


Proton Launches X70 Merdeka Edition – Limited to 62 Units, RM126,100

In conjunction with Malaysia’s 62nd Independence Day celebration, Proton today unveiled the X70 Merdeka Edition (ME) at its dealership in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.
Available exclusively as a Premium variant Proton X70, only 62 units of the Proton X70 ME will be available, with an asking price of RM126,100 in two colour options - Snow White or Flame Red.
While the number of available units coincides with the 62nd anniversary of Malaysia’s independence, Proton announced that it is aiming to sell all of them unit in August itself, judging by current demand levels for the Proton X70.
Besides the two exclusive exterior colour options, the X70 ME also gets its roof and A-pillar in Quartz Black colour, door visors, a rear bumper scuff plate, as well as a customised Merdeka Edition emblem on the tailgate.
Inside, the limited edition model comes with new floor mats, a trunk mat, as well as a special numbered Merdeka Edition emblem. The Nappa leather seats, glass roof, and the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) found on the Premium variant are all carried over in the Merdeka Edition.
“The Proton X70 Merdeka Edition was born out of Proton’s desire to celebrate Malaysia’s Merdeka anniversary month. We are extremely thankful for the support Malaysian car buyers and the Malaysian government has shown to Proton, so this is the company’s way of creating a special version of the Proton X70 as a small gesture of thanks to all Malaysians,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.
Looking for a new Proton? Get the best deals
here
.


Hasbro Is Reviving M.A.S.K, 80s Cartoon Fans Race Down Memory Lane

If you’re a child of the 80s, you may remember a TV-series (and accompanying line of toys) called M.A.S.K. Well, apparently Hasbro is bringing the team of crime fighters and their transforming vehicles back.
The news came via
The Toyark
, where one of their members covered Hasbro’s 2015 Q2 Financial Call, where they outlined the brands they will cover under their company umbrella going forward, which included a revival of M.A.S.K as evidenced by the logo in their ‘New Brands’ section.
There’s a lot of news going on in the world, but when something comes along that surfaces childhood memories, they tend to drown the others out.
So, for those who aren’t fond of remembering acronyms, M.A.S.K stands for Mobile Armoured Strike Kommand. Don’t ask why it isn’t spelled Command, because we don’t know either. In the series, their nemesis is rival organisation VENOM or Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem. Yeah, it was the 80s. They also had transforming vehicles, naturally.
There was the Switchblade, a helicopter that turns into a fighter jet, Rhino, a semi-truck that turns into a offensive tank-like vehicle, Goliath, an Indycar-style racer that turns into a fighter jet, just to name but a few. There wasn’t much else cooler if you were growing up watching that show.
True to 80s flamboyance, the M.A.S.K team’s base of operations was a huge hollowed-out rock with a petrol station at its base that acted as the main entrance. That aside, members of both organizations wore helmets that concealed their identities and granted them special abilities.
Hopefully, Hasbro and others will choose to bring back other 80s favourites too such as StarCom, Dino-Riders, and The Centurions, with returns to the screen in the works too.
In addition to M.A.S.K, Hasbro also announced during it’s Q2 financial call that it is also reviving Action Man, Micronauts, and Stretch Armstrong.


The Rush Of Street Racing And The KL City Grand Prix - By Alex Yoong

The inaugural KL City Grand Prix will be held next weekend on the 7
th
 to the 9
th
 of August. I am very excited about it, as City races are always exciting. There is something about speeding between concrete barriers at over 200km/h that just gets my heart racing.
These kinds of events are always good for the city from my experience, in that they bring with them an atmosphere that is pretty unique. Citizens tend to really get into the swing of things and, if it’s done properly, there are real tangible benefits to the city that hosts them. Hotels, restaurants and local businesses all see spikes in their business from these kinds of races.
Where it has to be managed properly is from the public perception. Because lets face it, there can be a lot of disruption for them too.
Roads need to be closed off
 and the PR battle to convince the public that the inconvenience of traffic jams will be offset by the benefits it brings everyone.
I remember the first year of the Singaporean F1 Grand Prix and how much moaning and groaning everyone was making about the jams, etc. But after that first year, everyone saw the benefits and had completely embraced the race with open arms.
For this first of city races in downtown KL, I won’t be racing. I’m pretty sad about that, but it just wasn’t possible to organize something in time for the event. But I will be doing some PR for the race and commentating for the different GT races while they are going on.
I personally know the guys designing the track and from the safety point of view, I am positive that it will be up to standards. I am interested to know how the drivers will like it come the actual race. From what I can see, it
seems like a typical street track
 with a lot of 90-degree corners – which happens because it’s pretty hard to move buildings.
However, there is an interesting section from where it comes off Jalan Raja Chulan onto Jalan Perak (Turn 11) where the track is quite off-camber and therefore tricky. It then leads into a fast left hand kink (turn 12) that leads you down to Jalan P. Ramlee. That fast kink should be very exciting to drive and I have a feeling there will be some crashes there.
It’s a very different mentality to going racing on a street track. You need to push as always but you have to have a lot of respect for the walls. That means you have to build up slowly, especially as the track is always dirty at the beginning of the weekend. Push too hard too early and you can completely wreck your weekend like I did two years ago at Macau at 260kph. You can see that in the video below.
It’s hard to get right but if you do build nicely and attack at just the right point, the feeling of conquering a tough street track is one of the most rewarding things you can experience as a race driver.


Eight-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty For All New Toyota Hybrids

All Toyota hybrid vehicles will now be covered by an 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty for the traction battery.
This was confirmed by Datuk Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor, at the line-off ceremony of the new
Toyota Camry Hybrid
 earlier today.
The new 2.5-litre Camry Hybrid also previews the new design for all Camry models, will be launched in early April. Prices and specifications have yet to be announced but Datuk Ismet said it will be 'competitively priced, and will be below RM200,000,' at least until the end of 2015, where existing incentives for Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEV) expires.
The Camry Hybrid also replaces the existing Camry 2.5V model.
The warranty is also extended to the new customers of the Prius and Prius c, but as you've already know, both iconic hybrid models from Toyota have already been
dropped from their existing model line-up
 and will only be available upon special request.
Unfortunately, the longer warranty coverage is not extended to existing customers who have purchased their Prius and Prius c before this.r
"We are not going to extend the same, but we will look at it from case to case and so far many of the cases, but we have [cases of batteries] exchanged for new batteries after the warranty period," said Datuk Ismet Suki, explaining that it is not possible extend the same coverage for Prius and Prius c models bought five years ago (Prius was launched in Malaysia in August 2009).
All hybrid models past and present sold by UMW Toyota are equipped with Ni-Mh traction batteries. Li-on batteries are fitted into the Prius Plug-in Hybrid and the Prius v but these models were not sold in Malaysia.


“King” Yellow Myvi Can’t Overtake Without Flipping Over. Memalukan….

A certain
yellow, locally made hatchback
 was seen botching a highway overtake and ended up rolling itself (a couple of times) over before coming to a stop on the hard shoulder. All captured on video, of course.

Provided the information that a small car was caught on camera on Malaysian roads driving in an embarrassing/dangerous/silly manner, the image in your mind will most likely be
that of a Myvi
. Specifically, some form of the boxy 2nd-generation version. Unfortunately, this incident only perpetuates that stereotype.

The whole thing, which occurred around 6:21pm on November 6th, was captured from the perspective of another vehicle’s rear-mounted video recorder (
or dashcam
). Here, the Perodua, in its most infamous royal yellow exterior colour, was seen performing a left lane overtake some distance away on a silver W220 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, then went back onto the right-most lane to overtake a white panel van.

It then made its way toward the car the camera was recording from and attempted to merge back onto the middle lane but somehow did not see that another vehicle was in the way or totally misjudged the slight curve of the road.

This yellow Myvi then smacked into the recording car’s right rear fender before catching its front passenger side wheel, launching it into the air, landing facing the wrong way, onto its roof, sliding on its side, and back onto upright on all four wheels again - stationary. Padan muka!

The vehicle that captured all this footage did not seem to be too impacted by the brunt of the yellow Perodua making contact, brushing it off like a light annoyance. However, noticing the tap and the Myvi doing backflips behind it, the driver promptly stopped on the side of the road.

It's another amazing display of 500 IQ driving from a certain five-door Malaysian hatch, but also a lesson to all of us on the importance of having a dashcam fitted; you never know when a random Myvi driver will come to ruin your day, after all.

With a
police report needing to be lodged
 and the involvement of insurance claims, imagine having to explain the details of an accident like this (and how it probably wasn’t your fault) without the aid of video. Good luck.


2015 Honda Civic Type R Teased With More Details, Hits 270 km/h!

As many of you are aware, an all-new
Honda
 Civic Type R is on its way and the production version will be unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show next month. However, before that takes place, the company has provided more details about its new hot hatch, with an emphasis on the car’s aerodynamics, braking components, and a brief mention about the engine as well. It helps that they’ve provided a few images to tempt us further.
First up, the brief mention of the engine and in the Civic Type R, a 2.0-litre direct injection VTEC turbo unit is found. Honda did not provide any mention about the power output but it is said to be above 280 hp. They did mention that the car will be able to achieve a top speed of 270 km/h, said to be “unrivalled amongst its front wheel-drive competitors”. That puts it in the company of
Mercedes-Benz’s A 45 AMG
 that tops out at 250 km/h (electronically limited).
Bringing the car to a stop is the responsibility of the Brembo brake package on the front wheels. That package consists of four-piston callipers applying braking force to 350 mm drilled discs. 19-inch alloys are fitted as well.
Aerodynamic features start with an almost completely flat underside that aids airflow under the vehicle and works with a rear diffuser to optimise downforce. Additional downforce comes in the form of a rear wing.
At the front, a wide front splitter and deep side skirts also manage airflow, while the front bumper inhibits air turbulence around the front wheels, effectively cutting drag and enhancing high-speed stability.
Other external design bits focus on heat management with various grilles and vents placed around the car to provide greater cooling and ventilation.
The 2015 Geneva Motor Show kicks off in March and that is where the all-new
Honda Civic
 Type R will make its debut in Championship White – the colour most synonymous with each generation of the iconic Honda Type R vehicles.


Spied: 2018 Renault Megane RS Bares Rear End

Renault's hot hatch, the Megane RS is set to return real soon, as a spyshot of the model's rear end has surfaced.
The hotter
Renault Megane RS
 will receive far more aerodynamic bits than its regular Megane sibling, including a large rear diffuser and cut-outs on the rear bumper. Unlike the Megane GT's twin muffler set up, the Megane RS will get a pair of centrally-mounted mufflers. A lone RS emblem can be seen below the right tail light.
The company did not say what powerplant will the Megane RS feature, but a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is likely. Power figures are said to be in the 300 hp region, going exclusively to the front wheels via a six-speed manual, or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a first for the Megane RS. Considering that the Megane RS once held the record for being the fastest production FWD vehicle to lap the Nordschleife circuit before the Honda Civic Type R dethroned it, it would be logical that Renault would attempt to challenge it.

Related Articles

All-New 2018 Renault Megane RS To Be Unveiled At Monaco Grand Prix

Auto News

May 23, 2017

2018 All-New Renault Megane RS Previewed At Monaco Grand Prix

Auto News

May 29, 2017

All-New 2018 Renault Megane RS Interior Leaked

Auto News

May 30, 2017

We do not know when Renault will officiate the new model, as some reported that the company could unveil the new model at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, happening at the end of this month. A debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show in September is also possible.
Photo credit:
Motor1


Proton's Seven Seater Option - X90?

Being part of the Malaysian Motoring Media, of course, gives us all the right to speculate about every single new Geely automobile out there and how that one day that particular model might end up as a Proton this or a Proton that.

The latest vehicle under the microscope in this fantastic privilege is the Geely Haoyue, a seven-seater thing that looks like an SUV cross-pollinated with an MPV. It's neither a Toyota Prado (SUV) nor an Estima (MPV) but more like an Unser. With a starting price of around RM92,000 in its homeland, the pricepoint does seem to be....well, on point for a Proton product.

This is Geely's biggest ever SUV yet and its footprint will be similar to those of a Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-8. Looks-wise, the Haoyue definitely is going for this boxy yet round look that all Geelys have. Even their new Icon Mini SUV has that design language going for it, you know, the one where they look like something that could come out from Jaguar Land Rover.

Available in either a 3-cylinder 1.5-litre turbo mill (175hp/255Nm) or a 4-cylinder 1.8-litre turbo mill (181hp/300Nm), the Haoyue will only have one transmission option, which is the 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

Interior wise, the main headline is of course the big infotainment screen which pretty much dominates the front interior space. Everything else looks pretty much Geely, with square air vents and a Volvo looking gear selector shifter. What makes this vehicle particularly interesting is that all rear seats can be folded down flat, making it one big cargo carrier, perfect for those Ikea runs or perhaps those glamping expeditions where a flat space will come in useful to put a bed on.

If this was ever to be a Proton seven-seater vehicle, the speculation is that it might be the Proton X90, but whatever it may be; we hope Proton can help the styling a little bit and maybe push it to look either more like an SUV or an MPV, because this whole Unser look is not growing on us.


Singapore To Be First Export Market For Geely GE11

Geely is set to launch its first fully electric export market-friendly sedan in Singapore next month. Codenamed GE11, the fully electric sedan has yet to go on sale in China, but several Chinese and Singaporean media outlets have reported that the car, which will soon be sold in China under the Jihe A name, will be launched in Singapore on April 11.
It is unclear if the Chinese Jihe A name will be used for Singapore. Also unclear is whether the car will be available for sale to the public. Singaporean website CarBuyer.com.sg says the GE11 will most likely launched there as part of a fleet purchase by a ride hailing service company.
Grab currently operates a fleet of Hyundai Kona Electric, which is priced from SGD 139,999 to SGD 162,999, slotting it between a Hyundai Tuscon (up to SGD 126,999) and a Santa Fe (from SGD 163,999).
Geely has yet to announce any performance details for the GE11 but several Chinese websites are claiming that the car will be equipped with a 130 kW (177 PS) motor, and will have a top speed of 150 km/h. Electric driving range is rumoured to be between 410 km and 500 km, depending on variant, figures based on Chinese test cycles.
The exterior door handles are hidden flush in the door panels when not in use, and will pop out when the driver approaches the car.
While the car may have an unconventional powertrain, the GE11’s traditional silhouette suggests it is derived from an existing, older generation combustion engine car. The height and length of the bonnet, plus front overhands suggests that the donor car had a regular engine.
Apart from the aforementioned Hyundai Kona Electric, other electric cars currently on sale in Singapore include the BMW i3 (SGD174,000), Nissan Leaf (SGD 167,300), Renault Zoe Electric (SGD 122,999) and Renault Kangoo Z.E. Electric (SGD 99,800). Parallel imported Tesla Model S and Model X are also available (price upon application).
BYD also has fleet of e6 models on running on Singaporean roads but these cars are sold exclusively only to taxi operators, registered using yellow-blue R&D plates.