Hyundai Malaysia Drops Sonata From Local Lineup – Santa Fe and Veloster Too

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors, the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia has dropped the Sonata, Santa Fe and Veloster from its lineup.
A quick check with some Hyundai dealers indicated that HSDM has quietly removed these three models from their official price list, though the company's website still lists the Sonata and Santa Fe. In the interim, Hyundai dealers will continue to sell these models until existing stocks are depleted, after which fresh orders will no longer be made.
The demise of the Sonata comes as no surprised as buying trends have been shifting towards SUVs and crossovers lately. On top of that, the fully-imported Sonata is priced at a disadvantage against its cheaper locally-assembled rivals.
With that said however, all three models have been updated or replaced overseas. The Hyundai Sonata received a midlife update in April 2017, while the all-new Santa Fe was unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. As for the Veloster, the second generation model was introduced recently at the 2018 New York International Auto Show.
The consolidation will allow Hyundai to concentrate its resources on supporting the Ioniq Hybrid and Grand Starex, its top-two best sellers at the moment.


Ferdinand Piech: The VW-Porsche Scion Who Admired Honda

By now, you would have the learned that Dr. Ferdinad Piech, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and one of Germany's most brilliant engineers, has been booted out of his position as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the 12-brand Volkswagen Group empire.
It is a rather unfitting end for the engineering genius Piech but not a surprising one either, as Herr Piech has made many enemies throughout his 53-year career in the automotive industry.
Piech's (right) latest attempt to launch a coup against his portege and current CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn (left), finally pushed Volkswagen Group's board over the edge, who reportedly gave Piech the ultimatum of resigning on his own accord or to suffer the indignity of being voted out by the board.
A brilliant man with few friends
Throughout his life at Porsche,
Audi
,
Volkswagen
, and at mother company the Volkswagen Group, Piech is known to treat his professional job like it is his personal empire, an attitude which the board tolerated because of his proven engineering genius, and connections from his family - the Piech and Porsche families together control 51 percent of voting rights in the Volkswagen Group.
Disagreeing with Piech would often lead to a dismissal, as engineering executive Christian Hildebrandt learned when he questioned Piech's decision to reduce cost by reducing the total number of platforms within the Group. Hildebrandt asked how is it possible to reduce cost if they have to use expensive Audi parts for all models within the Group.
Angered by the response, Piech stared him down and said "I am going to remember your name." Hildebrandt retired two years later.
Piech once said "It's not so good if a person comes twice telling me they couldn't do a job. One time it could happen, second time...."
Indeed, there were concerns that Piech's domineering nature has resulted in him being surrounded by a company of yes-men, stifling any chances of a healthy debate.
While Piech is an engineering genius who thrived on technical challenges, some of his business decisions have been questionable.
The Volkswagen Phaeton and its mega-impressive Dresden plant for example, is Piech's pet-project but it is not only a money losing venture, but competes directly with sister-company's Audi A8, and later the Bentley Flying Spur.
In the late '90s Piech also embarked on the 1-litre car project, a one cylinder 300cc diesel car that delivers 1-litre/100 km, which eventually culminated in the production of the Volkswagen XL1 - which was limited to only 250 units.
Meanwhile BMW wowed the world with its carbon fibre plug-in hybrid i8 sports car, which is sold at almost the same price as the XL1. Between the two, it is obvious which company made the right decision.
From Planes To Cars
Ironically, Germany's best known car czar didn't start out with cars. In fact, Piech had little interest in cars. The young Piech's first career choice was aeronautical engineering rather than automotive.
His dream however, ended when the head of aerodynamics at ETH Zurich, where Piech was studying, designed two Swiss jet fighter prototypes that crashed into Lake Konstaz.
"My career in airplanes was over suddenly. I couldn't go to study in England or France (because of the fallout from World War 2), and I didn't want to go to Russia, and American didn't accept Austrians at that time, so I had to make cars. But during my education I learned how to built aeroplanes mechanically and therefore I learned my love for aluminum, for magnesium, for carbon-fibre. All these materials I learned in Zurich," said Piech in an interview with Richard A. Johnson, the then managing editor of Automotive News, and author of the book 'Six Men Who Built The Modern Auto Industry.'
After graduating, Piech started his career with Porsche, whom his grandfather Ferdinand Porsche founded in 1931.
Born To The Wrong Side Of The Family
Ferdinand Porsche had two children - son Ferry Porsche and daughter Louisa Porsche, who married Austrian lawyer Anton Piech, and later gave birth to Ferdinand Piech.
Although working for Porsche, Piech knew he will never be in a position to lead Porsche because he didn't carry the Porsche name.
At that time, there was an unwritten agreement within the Piech-Porsche family - the Piech family will take care of the vehicle importing and dealership business (Porsche Holdings, based on Austria), while the Porsche family will take care of the sports car manufacturing business (Porsche AG, based in Stuttgart).
Piech however, had very little interest in sales and marketing and his passion lies in the Stuttgart side of the family business.
At Porsche, Piech's engineering genius quickly became apparent, and there was a bit of uneasiness when Piech overshadowed Ferry's own son, Ferdinand Alexander
'Butzi'
Porsche, whom Piech never saw as someone of the same calibre as himself.
"He was never in the race for the top because he was a designer and he was happy designing. He had no interest in running a company," Piech said of Butzi.
From left: Ferdinand Piech, Ferdinand Alexander 'Butzi' Porsche, Hans-Michael Piech
Johnson's book also recounted several instances where the young Piech's domineering nature surfaced as soon as he joined Porsche in 1962, firing many staff that he didn't like.
Once, Piech went to his uncle Ferry and demanded that he fire either him or Hans Tomola, Porsche's then head of technical department, because Hans had authorised the production of a set of shock absorbers that were different from the ones tested Piech, and those shock absorbers were found to have failed Piech's durability testing. Ferry fired Tomola.
During the development of the first generation 911, Piech's race-specifications engine was completed in a shorter time, and proved to be more durable, running 24-hours non-stop despite producing more power than the less stressed passenger car engine, which broke down after eight hours.
The team that built the passenger car engine was fired and Piech took over responsibilities for both the racing engine and the passenger car engine. Among the members of Piech's engine team was Hans Metzger, whose family name will soon become synonymous with engines fitted in 911 GT3 and GT2 cars for many decades.
In 1972, Ferry Porsche, motivated by Soichiro Honda's (whom Ferdinand Piech also deeply admired) policy of banning family members from Honda, restructured Porsche to allow for professional managers to run the company.
"At the end of 1971, all of the family members including my uncle (Ferry) and my mother decided that starting from 1972 all of us had to give up our jobs in the company. I had read a lot about family companies. The first builds up the company, the second generation keeps it, and the third destroys it. I am the third," said Piech.
Piech also didn't speak too highly of the abilities of his cousins.
"With the exception of my sister and my youngest cousin everybody was involved in the company in a higher position - not really in the position they would have been in a free market, and this hurt the company. You could see this," Piech added.
In 1972, Piech, along with Ferry left Porsche, but not before Piech created the legendary Porsche 917 Le Mans race car, whom he said was the greatest risk he ever took in his life. The project became so costly that even Ferry Porsche distanced himself from it.
"Yes, it is my biggest risk. It was the only time in my life I couldn't sleep too well until it worked. But the Ford GT-40 had a five litre engine. To have an equal car Porsche needed the flat-12," Piech told Johnson.
After Porsche, Piech spent some years as a freelance engine designer, who delivered Mercedes-Benz a five cylinder diesel engine one month ahead of schedule.
He will then go on to design the legendary Audi Quattro, whose benchmark setting all-wheel drive system will be another of Piech's legacy.
Later he also created the Audi 100, where Piech stamped his identity with several industry firsts - streamlined aerodynamics on a production car, full galvanized steel body that allowed Audi to offer 10-year warranty against rust, Procon-Ten safety restraint system (a short-lived alternative to airbags).
Later on, Piech went on a shopping spree to acquire more brands for the Volkswagen Group, including Scania, MAN, Bugatti, Bentley, Skoda, Seat, Lamborghini and Ducati, and of course Porsche.
An Admirer Of Honda
It is interesting to note that throughout Piech's colourful five decades career in the auto industry, there is one brand outside the Volkswagen Group that he speaks highly about.
When asked by Johnson who he thought was the most influential person in the modern auto industry, Piech said Soichiro Honda.
"Eiji Toyoda influenced a lot, but he was never my target. It's different," he said.
Piech had a high respect for Honda-san because in the '70s, when most major car companies were swayed by the promises of Dr. Felix Wankel's rotary engine, Herr Piech and Honda-san were the only two independent minds that immediately understood the flaw with rotary engines.
"Inside Audi I was called the 'Wankel-killer.' Mr. Wankel was a genius in mechanical engineering, but he didn't learn thermodynamics. With the Wankel you lost too much energy on the combustion chamber's wall," said Piech.
Soichiro Honda too came to the same conclusion as Piech, despite not having any formal qualifications in engineering (he attended night classes on metallurgy but didn't take the exam because he didn't believe in the value of certificates).
Piech also said that he used to own a Honda motorcycle when he was working with Giorgetto Giugiaro on a project in Turin.
"Honda is for me the most interesting Japanese company because it was not typically Japanese. It is a mixture. American culture and Japanese technology. I never had a desire to work for somebody like Toyota. It is a very good company, but with completely different mindset. It is very conservative, and Honda took risks," said Piech.
In the late '80s, Piech did consider leaving Germany to find work with Honda in Japan. At that time, Europe was lagging behind Japan in automotive engineering and Piech, then a Vice-Chairman and Head of Product Development at Audi, was frustrated with his President, Wolfgang Habbel, whom he described as 'always with a golf bag.'
"At that time Japan was moving the world. Europe was sleeping, and if you are not on the top it's hard to get a company to move faster," lamented Piech.
However, Piech was persuaded to stay by Carl Hahn, head of the Volkswagen Group and chairman of Audi's supervisory board.
Piech is now 78-years old but I doubt we will ever see the last of him. He once told Giorgetto Giugiaro, an old friend of Piech who designed the first generation Golf and Scirocco, "Do you know, Giorgetto, people like us never retire. We simply never learned how."


Volvo Car Malaysia Launches S60 T8 R Design PHEV, RM 295,888

After much anticipation, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has finally launched their mid-sized luxury sedan offering in the form of the S60 T8 R Design – yes, they’re only offering one trim level and specification for the model, at a very aggressively priced RM 295,888.

Sitting in the Scalable Product Architecture platform that also underpins models like the V90, the S60 is a great leap forward from its predecessor in terms of ride and handling, as well as adopting the most potent powertrain currently available in a Volvo vehicle in the form of the T8 PHEV. A twin-charged 2.0-litre inline 4 engine working in tandem with an electric motor and an 11.6 kWh battery delivers 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque. There’s also an 8-speed automatic transmission that delivers power to the front wheels, while electric drive supplements the rear wheels.

Being an R Design model, it comes with a more aggressive design than the plain-Jane S60s, and this direction for styling has worked very well among Malaysian consumers. Of course, the highlights would literally be the head and tail lights that are instantly recognizable from afar, but the way the 19-inch wheels fill out the arches makes for an undeniably sporty sedan.

On the inside, the R Design treatment continues with a three-spoke leather steering wheel, sport pedals, gear lever, tread plates, and carpets. A Harman Kardon 14-speaker sound system graces your ears, while Apple Carplay and Android Auto functionality allows you to retain your smartphone use through the Sensus Connect entertainment system.

Amenities in the form of keyless entry and start, as well as powered driver and passenger seats all show that Volvo is committed to bringing the highest level of specifications to our market. One of the features you will probably enjoy regularly is the 360-degree Surround View Camera that makes parking an absolute breeze when making sure you’re dead centre in a parking spot.

There are more safety systems than you probably knew existed – everything from City Safety with auto braking, to Pilot Assist which allows for semi-autonomous steering, braking, and acceleration at speeds of up to 130 km/h. It kind of goes without saying at this point that Volvo is the best in the business at keeping occupants out of harm’s way, as well as mitigating potential injury.

There’s not much else you need to know – all Volvo products are great in this day and age, and the S60 certainly doesn’t buck the trend. The only thing that remains is picking the colour of your S60. The only truly vibrant colour available is the Fusion Red Metallic, but muted options range from Onyx Black Metallic, to Pebble Grey Metallic, Birch Light Metallic, and Crystal White Pearl.

To find the best deals on Volvo models, click
here
.


Is The BMW (E39) 5 Series The Best There Ever Was?

Every child of the 80s and 90s will reminisce immortalising their poster car with cutouts from magazines and newspapers, slapped on the walls of their bedroom before telling themselves they would one day own and drive them.

Some, like the
Lamborghini Miura
 and Ferrari F40, were loved for their looks and awesome power, some perhaps had stuck on a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing for its storied heritage and rarity, others perhaps glorified cars for their racing heritage… the Subaru Impreza 22B or BMW E30 M3 comes to mind. They were era-defining cars – celebrated for their singularity of purpose, thoroughbred lineage and of course because they were so damn cool!

However, while we all had our poster cars, we also had our dream cars – the
cars we would actually see on the roads
. These were the tangible aspirations that we could actually own one day, perhaps had the chance to sit in…the Mercedes-Benzs, the Bimmers, even the
Alfa Romeos
. These cars may not have been rare or extremely powerful, but were revered for being the best in their class. A generation of machines, lauded the world over for their intrinsic ability and loved everlasting because they were immortalised as their model’s respective high points all those years ago.

The BMW 5 Series is undoubtedly one of those cars that would have left a lasting impression on many young hearts.

A heritage of style and substance

Through its multiple reincarnations, the BMW 5 Series has consistently reinvented itself as a segment leader in offering unrivalled driving performance and elegance among its peers. Today, the 5 Series is seen by many as a highly aspirational vehicle. New or used, a BMW 5 Series is one of those cars that appeals to both the heart and mind.

With a
lineage spanning back to 1972,
 the BMW 5 Series has earned a reputation for being the go-to sedan for its sublime balance of style, performance, practicality and of course thrilling driving performance. Through a plethora of engine choices and variants, to sedan and wagon body styles (starting with the E34-generation), there was a 5 Series to meet almost anyone’s needs – from businessman to the performance-oriented enthusiast driver.

There have been seven-generation of the BMW 5 Series since its inception:

1st Generation – E12 (1972 – 1981)

2nd Generation – E28 (1981 – 1988)

3rd Generation – E34 (1988 – 1996)

4th Generation – E39 (1996 – 2003)

5th Generation – E60 (2003 – 2009)

6th Generation – F10 (2009 – 2016)

7th Generation – G30 (2017 – Current)

Of course, every generation of the 5 Series has brought new innovation, improvements in refinement and better performance – however, one generation stands out as an enthusiast favourite, celebrated for the purity of its driving dynamics, and timeless elegance – the fourth-generation ‘E39’ 5 Series.

Overview

First shown at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, the E39 made its way into Malaysia the following year. Both design- and engineering-wise, the E39 was a massive advancement from the preceding E34 model. Power came from a pair of six-cylinder engines from the M52 Single VANOS engine family, displacing 2.5 litres in the 523i and 2.8 litres in the 528i.

A highly sophisticated vehicle even by today’s standards, the E39 came fitted with advanced features such as electronic stability control and was one of the earliest cars in the market to offer Adaptive Transmission Control and Steptronic ‘manual’ shifting for its automatic transmissions.

Major advancements were made in the E39’s body construction, which featured almost complete usage of light alloy in its construction, achieving between 40 and 50 percent increase in stiffness, better durability, with minimal weight penalties. The E39 also marked a switch in the steering system from the old-fashioned ball-and-nut system to a more contemporary hydraulic assisted rack-and-pinion setup (V8 powered variants retained the recirculating ball setup).

The E39 received its midlife facelift in 2000. Besides an uplifted appearance, the updates also introduced new Double VANOS engines from the M54 family to replace the existing M52 series. The new engines offered similar levels of power from a slightly reduced displacement which, in Malaysia, translates to lower annual road tax. The revised line-up consisted of the 2.2-litre 520i and 2.5-litre 525i. Above them, a new 3.0-litre 530i range-topper was added to the roster. There are also very small numbers of the 523i and 528i with Double VANOS engines.

But it wasn’t just better powertrains and chassis improvements, the E39 was a tour-de-force of new technology which remains impressive to this day – among the highlights were coded key-memory functions that stored your personal driving preferences, steering wheel-mounted cruise control and in-car phone control, and a climate pre-ventilation system.

In addition to all the technological advancement, the E39 ushered in an entirely new design language, which for the first time featured fully enclosed headlights for better aerodynamics and sleek yet beautiful proportions to cut through the air with superb efficiency. That along with a sporty stance gives the E39 an on-road presence that is cool even to this day.

Why is it loved to this day…

Ask any E39 owner worth his/her salt and the first thing they will tell you is just how it drives. The E39 is loved for its beautiful duality of being both a comfortable vehicle for the family and yet, a surefooted machine when introduced to a complex of corners. A lot of this is down to the inherent chassis rigidity, excellent suspension geometry and precise rack-and-pinion steering setup.

In many ways, the E39 delivers a beautiful balance of modernity in terms of refinement, driving effort and power while still offering traditional organic connectivity in terms of its steering feedback, chassis balance and braking. Something you do not get as much off if you step to either its predecessor, the E34 or its tech-laden successor, the E60. Though the
BMW (E60) M5 is another story altogether
.

All of this contributes to a very confidence-inspiring driving experience that seems to mould itself around your driving style.

Its well-designed interior offers a cossetting and comfortable interior which for the most part, is better engineered and built than even its successor. Many will argue it’s also one of the best and most durable interiors BMW has ever put together.

Then there’s the styling, even after 25 years – the E39 remains as elegant and ageless as a Rolex timepiece. Also given its many forms – from the standard Luxury design package, sportier M Sport variants, to the rare
BMW Alpina
 and
AC Schnitzer
versions – the E39 highlights everything from understated and classy to sporty and aggressive depending on your preference.

It must also be said, that amongst its generation of competitors – namely the (W210)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
 and (C5) Audi A6, the E39 was by quite a margin the better driving, better looking and more powerful car. An aspect the 5 Series model range doesn’t quite enjoy today since Mercedes and Audi have for the most part caught up.

Can you still pick up a BMW E39 5 Series today?

By and large yes – and at very cheap prices as well. A
 quick search on the Carlist.my
 classifieds page reveals a number of good examples for sale, there are quite a few for sale as well thorough the various local FB pages.

As we would advise with any used car. Do your research, talk to people and learn up as much as you can before starting your search, especially if it’s your first BMW. Even better still look for classifieds with a
Carlist Qualified
 tick on them. This way you are assured of buying a car PPI (Pre-purchase Inspection) certified and with a warranty. As well built as E39s were, they are not without problems if not maintained well by a competent mechanic.
Here’s a more extensive Buying Guide
 on what to look out for.

Take your time, and always conduct a thorough diagnosis of its engine, electronic systems, chassis and most importantly, its body structure. It is wise to get this done at a BMW specialist and not your regular run-of-the-mill mechanic. Finally test drive the car and see if delivers on that trademark E39 driving experience.

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.


BMW Launches 530e Plug-in Hybrid – From RM343,800

Five years after launching the regular hybrid ActiveHybrid 5 with the previous F10 generation 5 Series, BMW Group Malaysia has today launched the first ever plug-in hybrid 5 Series, the G30 generation 530e. The single variant 530e Sport sells for RM343,800 excluding insurance. The existing 530i M Sport (RM 388,800) will continue to be sold alongside the 530e.
Like the X5 xDrive40e and 740Le xDrive, and 330e, the 530e is locally-assembled at the company’s assembly facility in Kulim.
Compared to the 530i, the 530e expands upon the 530i’s four-cylinder B48 turbocharged petrol engine by adding a 113 hp/250 Nm electric motor to the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. When combined with the engine’s 184 hp and 320 Nm, the 530e generates a total system output of 252 hp and 420 Nm. The numbers are slightly less than the total sum of the motor’s and engine’s output as both drive units peak at different speeds.
The combined output is enough to launch the 530e from 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 235 km/h.
For comparison, the 530i pushes out 252 hp and 350 Nm, delivering an identical 0-100 km/h of 6.2 seconds.
Being a plug-in hybrid, the 530e can drive up to 48 km in electric power alone, reaching up to 140 km/h – the best in its class, well ahead of the Mercedes-Benz E350e’s 33 km and 130 km/h.
The lithium-ion hybrid battery is located under the rear seats, and is rated at 9.2 kWh, which is more than the Mercedes-Benz’s 6.2 kWh. Despite adopting a higher energy capacity battery, it is the BMW that has a bigger boot, 410-litre versus the E350e’s 400-litre. A regular non-hybrid 5 Series has a total boot volume of 530-litre.
The 530e also has a smaller fuel tank, 46-litre versus a regular 530i’s 68-litre. But with a claimed fuel consumption of just 2.0-litre/100 km, the 530e has a theoretical driving range of up to 650 km.
Charging can be done via a regular domestic power socket in under five hours, and under three hours when using BMW’s dedicated i-Wall Box (3.7 kW charge rate). It is also important to note that the 530e’s selling price is inclusive of a three-pin plug home charger, as well as a BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable to be used with one of those publically available fast chargers. It also comes with complimentary one-year access for all ChargEV fast chargers. Owners can check the location and availability of these chargers can be checked via the NewMotion app.
With a Mercedes-Benz, both the wall box charger and fast charging cable have to be purchased separately. On the upside, the E350e comes with a much higher set of features, including Nappa leather interior (E350e Exclusive only), 13-speaker Burmeister audio system, 360-degree camera and a panaromic sunroof. starting from RM392,888.
For comparison, Volvo Car Malaysia, the other active player in the local plug-in hybrid scene, also offers a domestic charger for all their T8 models
On top of the free domestic charger and fast charging cable, BMW also offers its customers with the option of purchasing a BMW i Wall Box for about RM 7,000. However it’s not uncommon for BMW dealers to bundle it with the car during promotional period.
BMW also has a mobile app, BMW Connected, which allows drivers to remotely monitor the status of their vehicle’s charging. It’s the only brand in the segment to do so.
As far as promoting a pleasant total ownership experience for plug-in hybrids is concerned, BMW is well ahead of its peers but for an uncompromised package of premium features, it is Mercedes-Benz that offers the customer everything that's available on the options list.
Our Malaysian-market 530e is only available in Sport Line trim, with Comfort Access.
Key features include:
Full LED headlights (no adaptive)
19-inch V-spoke alloy wheels
Keyless entry
Contactless boot operation
BMW Sport leather steering wheel
Dakota leather upholstery – Black or Cognac
12-speaker audio system
Adaptive suspension (Dynamic Damper with Adaptive Mode)
Park Assist
Lane Change Warning
Blind Spot Monitor
Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
If the list of features appear to be quite basic by the standards of premium cars, it is because the 530e is positioned lower than the 530i. The list of features offered in the Mercedes-Benz E350e can be found
here
.
The 530e is also offered with the BMW Full Circle Programme leasing progamme from BMW Credit Malaysia. Alternatively, BMW Credit Malaysia Balloon Financing 80% loan financial plan also offers the 530e with a starting monthly installment price of RM 3,588.
BMW i Wallbox Plus Promotion
Besides launching the 530e, BMW has also announced a BMW i Wall Box promotion for new owners of the BMW X5 xDrive40e and BMW 740Le xDrive. Between now until 31
st
 March 2018, customers who purchase to two aforementioned models will receive offers a complimentary BMW i Wallbox Plus, which comes with RFID detection and can be managed and controlled remotely using the BMW iV smartphone app. The BMW i Wallbox Plus is valued at RM 7,159.


Review: 2017 Mitsubishi Triton 2.4L MIVEC – Another Couple of Steps Forward

When Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) introduced the
second-generation Triton
 (Fifth-gen L200) here back in 2015, we felt that the package was somewhat incomplete. Whilst it was good looking, powerful, and comfortable, the Triton was also found lacking in safety-related features.
Yes, it was the first model in the pickup truck segment to offer goodies like xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, paddle shifters, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, as well as keyless entry, but only the high-spec variants were entitled to all of them and it just didn’t feel as plush as some of its rivals like the Ford Ranger.
Hence, came the
updated version in September 2016
 with a new 2.4 litre MIVEC VGT turbodiesel engine, bi-xenon HID headlamps and improved safety features.
Also new was the Triton VGT Adventure X variant which was the flagship of the range, which came with a shield extender for the front bumper, dual-tone 17-inch alloys, a new sports bar, a fully covered load bed, a matte black front grille, as well as two exclusive colours – Impulse Blue and Titanium Grey.
Just as we thought that MMM was going to take a "chill-pill" as the Triton was more powerful, better equipped, and more comfortable to be in, the company
updated the model once again last month
, beefing up its safety arsenal whilst further improving its refinement.
So, in order to see how different it feels, we headed to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to put the new Triton through a series of tests last month.
Specifications
Price: Between RM104,800 and RM130,900
Engine: 2.4 litre MIVEC turbo diesel aluminium engine
Max Power: 181PS @ 3,500rpm
Max Torque: 430Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Safety Features: 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX mounts, reverse camera, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Trailer Sway Assist, Active Stability Control
Origin: Fully-Imported from Thailand
Overview
The big news with the 2017 Triton is the inclusion of Brake Assist (BA), electronic stability control, traction control, Hill-Start Assist (HSA), as well as Trailer Sway Control (TSC) – all of which are available as standard in all Triton VGT variants.
These new safety features further complement the existing ABS, EBD, Reverse Sensors, ISOFIX and dual frontal airbags.
The six-variant line-up from before is maintained, but except for the entry-level Triton Quest 4x2 and VGT manual variants, all models are subject to price hikes ranging from RM2,720 to RM3,700 which we summarize below:
Quest 4x2 M/T – RM77,390 (no change)
2.5 4x4 M/T Std – RM93,920 (up RM2,720)
2.4 MIVEC VGT 4x4 M/T – RM104,800 (no change)
2.4 MIVEC VGT 4x4 A/T – RM114,800 (up RM2,800)
2.4 MIVEC VGT 4x4 A/T Adventure – RM123,100 (up RM2,700)
2.4 MIVEC VGT 4x4 A/T Adventure X – RM130,900 (up RM3,700)
Boosted safety aside, other updates focus on interior features, such as the redesigned instrument cluster across the range; the double DIN head unit which replaces the single DIN player in the 2.5 4x4 Std and Quest 4x2, the
all-new Pajero Sport’s four-spoke steering
, as well as eight-way electric driver seat adjustment for the Adventure and Adventure X variants.
Exterior
Apart from the range topping VGT Adventure X variant, changes to the Triton's exterior styling are limited only to accessory trims.
The VGT variants now come with a dark chrome front grille at the front while the Adventure X retains the matte grille. And then, we have the redesigned side steps which make getting in and out of the pickup easier.
The range-topping VGT Adventure X variant on the other hand, gets even more kit than the VGT Adventure, like the tweaked front shield extender, automatic wipers and a dual-tone 17-inch alloy wheels.
Overall, these updates are barely noticeable at a glance. Even if the latest version and the pre-facelift model are put side-by-side, one will have to really pay close attention to notice the differences.
But whatever said and done, the Triton is still quite a looker. Not game-changing like the previous generation model but there’s no denying that it is a handsome vehicle.
Interior
Inside, there’s the new four-spoke leather steering wheel (from the Outlander) for the VGT variants, and the redesigned instrument cluster which looks a tad more premium now.
The VGT Adventure and Adventure X models also get eight-way powered driver’s seat, which further adds to the value of the Triton.
The new steering wheel and speedometer cluster make a lot of difference as they are like the first couple of things we set our hands and eyes on, and the things that we had the most contact with. All these little touches helped contribute to significantly improve upon the driving experience.
Unlike the pre-facelift 2.5-litre version in which we were complaining about how the steering wheel felt cheap and lacked the premium touch a RM110,000 vehicle should have, the updated Triton, has definitely taken a leap forward with buttons exhibiting more premium tactile feel.
Besides that, the cabin refinement and noise insulation has also improved a lot. Believe it or not, we couldn’t hear the engine noise at all until we pressed the accelerator pedal. That is how quiet the new Triton is.
As for occupants’ comfort, both the front and rear seats in the Triton VGT models we drove provided great level of support and didn’t feel stiff at all, regardless of whether they were clad in fabric or leather, depending on variant.
Practicality wise, the Triton passes with flying colours as there was more than enough space to store our stuff, ranging from smartphones, Smart Tags, water bottles, and everything in between.
How does it drive?
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Triton is the best 4x4 out there when it comes to pure driving dynamics.
Powered by the 2.4-litre MIVEC turbo diesel aluminium engine which produces 181PS and 430Nm of maximum torque puts the Triton in the same league as trucks with much larger capacity engines such as the Toyota Hilux 2.8 (177PS, 450Nm),
Chevrolet Colorado 2.5 (182PS, 440Nm)
, and the Nissan Navara NP300 VL (190PS, 450Nm).
On the highway, in the city, through gravel and even during some muddy puddles, power was always available upon request. Unlike some of its rivals in which we have to wait for a second before power is delivered to the wheels, the Triton just gave us all the power we needed at an instance.
Even at speeds of 160km/h, the Triton kept going when we put the pedal to the floor to see if it has more to offer – and boy, were we surprised.
The best part is how beautifully the Triton’s chassis is setup. Yes, there is still noticeable body-roll during cornering and all but it offers a level of composure that is almost car-like.
Further complementing the whole driving experience were the paddle-shifters which enabled us to shift gears as we wished. With 400Nm of torque available from as early as 1,500rpm, the Triton just pounced forward at a snap of a finger on the road.
When we had to go off-road, all we had to do was twist the easy-to-use 4WD selector dial, switching between rear-wheel, four-wheel, and low-range four-wheel drive mode depending on the surface, and let the electronics and mechanics do their thing.
After covering about 150km on the road, we headed to Kota Belud off-road trail where we only got stuck in a puddle of mud about four-feet deep once only because we had stock road tyres on our truck. It was a good reminder that a truck is only as good as its tyres.
Besides that one hiccup, the Triton had no issues going through sand, gravel, grass, and even a small stream.
Having driven almost every model out there in the market, it is safe to say that the Triton still holds the title of being the best pickup truck to drive – something that its rivals are still struggling to outdo for many years.
Conclusion
Being a part of one of the most competitive segments in the market, the new Triton had quite a bit of catching up to do with rivals when it was first launched a couple of years ago.
With other brands constantly upping the ante, it is a good thing that Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia stepped up its own game and updated the Triton to what it is now.
While it already claimed the title of being the best pickup truck to drive many years ago, it lacked in terms of safety and standard equipment offered. But now that these boxes have been ticked off, there is no denying the fact that the Triton has elevated itself to stand just as tall with the segment leaders.
Don’t believe us? Head over to the Carlist.my DRIVE Test and Buy event this weekend at Setia City Convention Centre and have a go at the new Triton yourself? Just sign up
here
 to test drive and compare it against the
Ford Ranger
,
Toyota Hilux
 and the
Isuzu D-Max
.


ESC Mandatory In Malaysia Effective 1 June 2018

Electronic stability control will be compulsory fitment in all new vehicles launched in Malaysia after 1 June 2018. Minster of Transport Dato Sri Liow Tiong Lai announced this when officiating the
Stop the Crash ASEAN 2016
 event happening at Sepang International Circuit today.
Although only Malaysia is making ESC mandatory by law in the region, the ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme (ASEAN NCAP) will be updating its test protocol in 2017 whereby vehicles that do not offer ESC as standard fitment across its range in all ASEAN countries will be granted a maximum rating of two stars regardless of their performance in the crash test.
In his speech, Liow said, “Studies from all over the world show that ESC could prevent at least 40% of deaths due to loss of control crashes and further reduce risk of collision by having significantly better maneuvering control during critical situations.”
He also added that, “In terms of cost-benefit ratio, [ESC] is 8 to 14 times better than head restraints, 18 times better than the centre belt, and 10 to 28 times higher than airbags.”
When asked about potential increase in the cost of vehicles as a result of this ruling, Liow states that he expects the increase to be small enough for car makers to absorb.
“Since 2012, we have regulated United Nation Regulation 94 and 95, which is the most significant for occupant protection during crash. Today, we have launched the new requirement for ESC which is the most significant in crash avoidance,” Liow said.
Once available only in luxury and high performance vehicles, ESC has since trickled down to the masses and can be found even in budget vehicles such as the
Proton Saga
 and
Perodua Bezza
. Here’s how the major brands operating in Malaysia fare with their offering of ESC:
ESC in selected models:
Perodua
Proton
Nissan
Hyundai
Mitsubishi
Volkswagen
Toyota
Honda
Chevrolet
Isuzu (available in all except D-Max single cab models)
Renault (available in all except Twizy EV)
ESC in all models:
Volvo
Ford
Subaru
Mazda
Peugeot
Kia
BMW, MINI
Mercedes-Benz
Audi
Jeep
Lexus
Infiniti


Review: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive - Holding Back The Finer Things

The Santa Fe has been with us since the dawn of the new millennium and marked then-new ground for the South Korean automaker, who were still seeking to expand its influence. The two decades that follow has been a period of rapid growth for the marque and its line-up, and its larger SUV has also remained popular throughout its four-generations, evolving into an accomplished 7-seater.

Alongside its smaller stablemate, the Tucson, Hyundai’s SUV range was clearly taking aim at the North American market. The company knew that their Japanese
competitors
 had a considerable head start to cement a loyal customer base, but the persistent South Koreans were willing to play the long game, slowly chipping away any advantage.

Usually, it was price, but now the Santa Fe plays in the same league. In fact, Hyundai reckons their cars are a cut above some of their contemporaries, straddling that line between mass-market and premium. On the face of things, that sounds good for us Malaysian buyers, who are apparently getting a Santa Fe that’s a step up over its predecessor in terms of prestige and luxury. Even from the start, however, it's apparent that the lower-tier Executive has been denied the kind of features and luxury touches it needs in order to have ensure the more expensive Premium variant shines brighter.

Introduced into the market in mid-2019 following an
initial preview
 in November 2018 at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show, prices started out at RM189k for this base Executive variant with a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated engine, although the recent (and temporary) 2020 sales tax exemption has reduced the barrier of entry to
RM166,974
. Still, that’s a decent chunk of change for a 7-seater SUV, especially if, despite its local assembly, doesn't provide as much raw value as the more expensive Premium variant.

Design: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive

Here’s where Hyundai has put their best foot forward. But instead of having a unified design language across all their models, the automaker seems to be shifting between multiple philosophies depending on vehicle category, each with their own aesthetic personality.

Thankfully, it doesn’t get any more confusing than that, and all we need to know here is how the Santa Fe’s own exterior works (or doesn’t). With a silhouette that embraces the two-box ‘wagon’ shape that we’ve become accustomed to, this is pretty identifiable as an SUV. Hyundai has also spruced it up with a bevy of character lines that swoop in given the right angle of light to bounce off of, but otherwise isn’t too distracting.

It’s a handsome thing, even in this lower-spec Executive graced with the smaller 18-inch wheels, and definitely more imposing in-person than the previous generation Santa Fe. At the front we get an unconventional split illumination array with the upper lights being the LED daytime running lights. Below that, the side ‘gills’ house the more standard grouping of signal lamps, high beam, and headlights, which are halogen projectors here.

Powertrain: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive

Despite all their bluster about design, improved dynamism, even increased levels of luxury in their newer cars, Hyundai maintains a rather ageing catalogue of engines. Both the 2.4-litre Theta II and 2.2-litre CRDi motors have served under the company banner for about a decade now, or more. That said, they have been updated over the years to include newer technologies.

In the entry-level Santa Fe, the 2.4-litre aluminium unit here is a naturally aspirated and uses Multi-Point Fuel Injection, even proudly displaying 'DOHC 16V' on the engine cover - welcome to 2002. Its larger displacement across four-cylinders allow it to produce a respectable 172PS and 225Nm at their respective peaks. In fact, its figures place eerily similar to the 2.4-litre Theta II in the second-generation Santa Fe back from 2005, and there’s something to be said about how quaint this engine feels in 2020.

To be sure, it gets the job done, and is even capable of a shoveling up a decent amount of grunt from low RPMs, but there’s absolutely nothing stirring or particularly impressive about this engine, especially in the face of turbocharged alternatives. It’s a proven workhorse, however, and I suspect that’s how its been able to stay relevant in Hyundai’s cars up until now.

Mated to a 6-speed torque converter automatic that sends drive exclusively to the front wheels, fuel economy was surprisingly good even with city driving, as was engine refinement at higher speeds. Stabbing the accelerator did yield more noise, but the ratio at which speed was accumulated left me wishing every Santa Fe had the 2.2-litre turbodiesel fitted.

Interior: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive

Hyundai has perhaps placed even more attention to the Santa Fe’s cabin than the exterior. There are little flourishes that give away just how much emphasis the team had placed on elevating the experience inside such as the two-tier dashboard, the layered instrument binnacle; even the speaker grilles on the door panels have a 3D geometric pattern to them.

Obviously, it’s the higher-end Premium variant where the more luxurious materials and features are found, but the lower-grade Executive does retain leather seats. The black upholstery does bring the ambiance down a notch but at least there are some white contrast stitching to enjoy.

The seats themselves are comfortable, even in the third row, though only the driver receives electric adjustment. Second row occupants will no doubt appreciate the reclining split folding seats there too. There’s also acres of space (figuratively) in the new Santa Fe, to the point of it needing a little more sound insulation to avoid a slight echo within the cabin.

Material selection is fair, though nothing particularly stands out among the partitioning of soft plastics closer to the usual upper touch points and harder plastics lower down. Hyundai might have semi-premium aspirations akin to Mazda, but simply cannot match the fit and finish offered by their Japanese rival.

One area where the Executive isn’t lacking behind the Premium variant is the infotainment system. Both use the same ‘floating-type’ 7-inch touchscreen that’s perched atop the centre stack. While the display's diagonal real estate isn’t too impressive, the panel is sharp and quite bright.

The side shortcut buttons might look busy but add a welcome level of convenience when traversing the various functions, which does include support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, aided by the snappy interface and intuitive layout. Auxiliary input is also available alongside your typical Bluetooth audio, and there are at least four USB charging ports so you’ll need never be caught with a dead smartphone.

Behind The Wheel: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive

With a vehicle that looks so much like the archetypal SUV, we weren’t prepared to face any last minute surprises about how the Santa Fe drove, which can be described as ‘fine’. That truly isn’t a knock against the Hyundai, as there are many sub-par 7-seaters that it puts to shame.

However, the Santa Fe doesn’t exactly have anything special about how it drives to latch onto either - there's a theme forming here. The steering, though accurate and light, feels very ‘electrically assisted’ and muted. Meanwhile, body roll and front end response is kept in check but was far from confidence inspiring. Then again, this is an SUV.

The engine and transmission combination also held more sway over how I chose to drive the Santa Fe. Knowing the limitations of its power delivery made me even more hesitant to hurry it along the road, even if I wanted to.

That said, the Santa Fe is among the easier 7-seaters I have driven when it comes to threading through traffic. It feels much smaller than the dimensions suggest and that light steering only helped me to buy into this illusion of having near city car-like agility. Even parking was relatively painless and only got easier over time.

Six airbags are equipped as standard, which also applies to the Premium variant, as well as the standard fare of Electronic Stability Control, Anti-Lock Brakes, Traction Control, and Hill-start Assist.

Unfortunately, the Santa Fe does miss out on the kind of active safety features that are quickly propagating even in cars occupying lower price brackets. The most noticeable omission here is Autonomous Emergency Braking, which is absent across the range. However, the Premium variant does add Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Collision Warning, and Rear Occupant Alert. For the less expensive Executive, though, you’re out of luck.

Wrapping Up

This 4th-generation Santa Fe is probably the best version of itself to date, but where previous versions may have had a price advantage, the Hyundai of today has to compete on a more level playing field where nothing can be overlooked.

It does have some very compelling plus points and its capacity to carry 7 occupants, driver included, has never been in question, but its price tag and the South Korean automaker’s own position as a front-running mass-market brand has set expectations considerably higher.

It’s under these criteria where the Santa Fe now seems to find itself struggling, at least in this base 2.4 Executive guise. Clearly, Hyundai has laid the groundwork for the SUV to have much more upmarket ambitions, but that can only be experienced with the higher-grade Premium variant. And if you’re spending the extra cash, do yourself a favour and opt for the 2.2-litre turbodiesel.


Jaguar F-Pace Prototype Plays Support Role For Team Sky At Tour De France

Following a
teaser of its new performance crossover
,
Jaguar
 recently brought out a prototype version of its F-Pace to be the official support vehicle for Team Sky at this year’s Tour de France as it supported them on Stage One in Utrecht.
The F-Pace is set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September but this prototype also serves as another teaser for the upcoming production car.
The support vehicle F-Pace was fitted with a specially-made bike rack featuring an innovative telescopic clamp by
Jaguar
 Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations and are specifically developed for the stage and carried two Team Sky's Pinarello Bolide Time Trial bikes.
Revealing its exterior styling to all, the F-Pace sported a specially created wrap to hint at the final design of the vehicle which is built on the iQ[Al] platform. The F-Pace was previewed through the C-X17 concept and will adopt Jaguar
Land Rover’s
 new line of Ingenium engines.


KLIMS 2018: Hyundai Kona On Display – 2019 Debut?

The Hyundai booth at the ongoing 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (2018 KLIMS) is nothing short of spectacular, featuring models as basic as the
Accent
 all the way up to the
Golf GTI-rivalling i30 N
. Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) also showcased its
all-new Santa Fe
 at the event.
Slotting in between the entry-level sedan and the hot hatch is the Kona, which could finally be introduced here in 2019.
The Hyundai Kona made its global debut back in June 2017, named after a popular tourist attraction in Hawaii. Other SUVs named after popular locations include Santa Fe, Tucson, and Palisade.
Visually, the Hyundai Kona features a unique three-tier design up front, with thin LED daytime running lights (DRLs) sitting right on top, while the LED projector headlights are placed at the outer edge of the bumper, surrounding the signature cascading grille. The fog lights are integrated nicely into the bottom of the bumper, completing the Kona’s front end.
As for the rear, the Hyundai Kona receives a similar tier design, with slim LED tail lights sitting right on top. The turn signal, reverse light, rear reflectors, and rear fog light are located at the bottom edge of the bumper.
The display car is fitted with a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 177 PS at 5,500 rpm and 265 Nm of torque from 1,500 rpm till 4,500 rpm. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) sends drive to the front wheels.
As for equipment, the show car is equipped with:
Heads-up display with navigation info
Krell premium sound system
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display
Qi wireless phone charging pad
Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW)
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Front and rear parking sensors
While the Kona may be a preview for now, the generous safety equipment really sets the Hyundai Kona apart from its competition, as none of the rivals currently offer this level of equipment for a B-segment SUV.


100 units of the BYD Atto 3 delivered to customers at 'Grand Delivery' event - BYD Malaysia can't wait to deliver more!

100 BYD Malaysia customers were probably over the moon last weekend as they began their EV journey thanks to a grand delivery of BYD Atto 3s.

Held at the International Gallery at KLGCC Resort, the grand delivery saw 100
customers picking up their EVs
, just a month after the fully electric crossover was formally
introduced in Malaysia last December.

BYD Malaysia on their Facebook congratulated the owners and hope they enjoy creating wonderful memories with their new E-SUVs. They also left a little message for those who are still waiting for their Atto3 and said that they can’t wait to hand over more BYD ATTO 3 to their eager owners.

The BYD Atto 3 proved to be one hot EV as 1,000 customers booked a BYD Atto 3 within 10 days of the
BYD Atto 3 launch
 back in December 2022.

The Atto 3 is offered in Malaysia in two variants: the Atto 3 Standard Range and the Atto 3 Extended Range.

BYD - Sime Darby Motors Malaysia has priced the BYD Atto 3 EV SUV at RM149,800 for the Standard Range and RM167,800 for the Extended Range variant.

The difference in the price for the two variants is mainly due to its BYD Blade battery capacity - 49.92kWh for the Standard and a bigger 60.49kWh for the Extended.

Range-wise, the BYD Atto 3 Standard Range offers an all-electric driving distance of up to 410km (NEDC) while the Extended Range can get up to 480km (NEDC).

Both models, however, are fitted with the same electric powertrain based on the e-Platform 3.0 - a front-mounted electric motor that churns out 203hp and 310Nm of torque. 0-100km/h? 7.3 seconds.

Sime Darby Motors is looking at opening over
40 BYD showrooms
 here in Malaysia by 2024.

The ambitious plan was announced during the launch of the brand's first and highly-anticipated EV SUV. An investment amount of RM500 million will be utilised to expand the brand's presence here in Malaysia, starting with its first showroom at TREC KL, Jalan Tun Razak.


Why The Subaru Forester Is The Real Deal SUV?

As I was driving the newest
Subaru Forester
 2.0i-S EyeSight, it made me actually forget I was driving an SUV. I started to like it, and quite quickly at that, which is something I thought would never happen.

It was then that I also recalled my brief squeeze into the
Forester GT
, which is little more than an upgrade pack focused on cosmetics, and how it struck me how truly ‘car like’ it was to drive, realising that there has to be something a bit special about how Subaru has engineered it to change the mind of a militant anti-SUV-ist. Like me.

I’ll repeat my position on SUVs, which fall between indifference and disgust, depending on which day of the week it is. And while I personally think they’re quite useless if all you’re going to do with them is crawl around in traffic jams, I do understand the rationale behind car buyers wanting to cut themselves a slice of that ‘adventurous spirit’ through a car purchase.

The thing about that is, most SUVs these days (more like 90%) outright lie about any adventure they’re able to offer. What’s worse is that most people are already aware of that initial conceit. They already know that the Sport Utility portion of the ‘SUV’ acronym can never be realised, but much like a midlife crisis, are still willing to pay for the vague hope of virility in spite of the bulkier size consuming more fuel, the higher ride height upsetting handling, or the front-drive layout meaning it’ll get stuck in some tall grass.

They’re not the rugged, go-anywhere machines that they once were back in prior decades. They’ve gone soft - literally - but that doesn’t mean they’ve started to be honest about their off-road impotence either. Instead, it’s all smoke and mirrors, like a toupee or plastic surgery; we see gratuitous grey plastic cladding added to perpetuate this illusion, on a vehicle most at home in a parking lot and as useless in the unpaved wilderness as a (cheaper, more fuel-efficient, better to drive) family hatchback. Congratulations, you just played yourself.

In Malaysia, Subaru’s line-up currently tips very heavily to the SUV end to capitalise on a hungry majority of buyers, and the same could be said of many rivals brands. It’s supply and demand. On paper, too, the
Forester
 doesn’t really seem to be all too different from the sea of its competitors.

A very functional two-box design and exterior styling that isn’t particularly remarkable, but it’s unmistakably a
Forester
 and a clear descendant of the 1996 original. In our local spec, power is derived from a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre flat-four (boxer) petrol engine with 156PS and a torque figure that always left me wanting a bit more. It’s also mated to Subaru’s Lineartronic, which is a CVT, and perhaps the most un-engaging type of transmission.

I shouldn’t like it, I’ve even kind of forgotten about it as a class frontrunner, so why has it won me over so quickly? Here are a couple of reasons:

A True SUV, No Bull

For starters, it’s the first SUV in this medium-size class that is honestly capable off-road, and Subaru has always been honest about this balance of ability, which definitely endows it with a sense of integrity absent from the pretenders that flood the marketplace.

The company’s Symmetical All-Wheel Drive may sound like jargon, but its capacity to find grip where other AWD systems flail and spin wheels is truly amazing.

Even on conventional road tyres, the system gives Subaru vehicles some legitimate go-anywhere credentials and is able to get itself unstuck from seemingly impossible situations - just look them up on Youtube if you don’t believe me.

Great To (Sit In And) Drive

There’s a combination of factors that make the
Forester
 a pretty sweet thing to drive, and this is really where most of my mind was made up. The ceiling is tall, which is typical for an SUV, but most of the dashboard is low, which does encourage you to sit lower than usual, almost like you would in a car.

With my sporty feeling and supportive seat adjusted, the
Forester
 felt more like a hatchback - like I was sitting in the car, as it should be, instead of on top of it. This new series of Subaru engines are much more refined and linear in their delivery, but there’s no question that 2.0-litre here was lacking in some satisfying low-end grunt next to its turbocharged competitors.

That said, I was quite surprised at how slick the manual override shifts were on the CVT, aided by the tactile steering wheel-mounted paddles. In normal driving situations, it was a decent dance partner, and was rarely - if ever - flustered with which gear ratio in its infinite choices to select, nor did it drone on at 3,000rpm until it reached 60km/h like some others.

Subaru also knows a thing or two about suspension setup which, when paired with the AWD system, gave the
Forester
 serious agility. There was just no drama with quick direction changes, and with sweeping corners, you can actually feel the front wheels grabbing at the road to keep understeer at bay. Very confidence-inspiring. Top marks.

Practicality For Days

The new
5th-generation Forester
 is built on the Subaru Global Platform, the company’s newest and most sophisticated vehicle architecture, and was one of the earliest cars to receive it. These underpinnings are also shared with the new Levorg, XV, Impreza, Legacy, Outback and WRX. Rumour has it that even the
next-generation BRZ/86
 will be built on it.

Apart from obviously being immensely versatile, it has allowed Subaru to maximise the
Forester
’s footprint and offer up the Utility portion of the SUV equation in a big way. While the driver should be cocooned and connected to the car, the passengers are given ample space to lay about.

Being a five-seater, both shoulder room and legroom matter, and the
Forester
 was able to accommodate with ease. And as I mentioned, there’s also plenty of headroom. You’d think that could also be said for the majority of SUVs out there, but you’d be surprised how cramped some rear seats can be with 3 adults sitting in a row.

Don’t even come at the
Forester
 with a boot challenge, either. That boxy design might not have any aspirations of a more glamorous coupe-like roofline, but that makes it an excellent load-lugger, and Subaru knows better than to pursue that kind of shallow design choices.

The boot is ginormous as well. Filled to the height of the included and extendable boot cover, it’s quoted at 508 litres, but with that removed even a large dog could happily sit and roll around here over an extended journey. That space is used wisely too, with the floor itself being nicely square-shaped and near flush with the load lip. With the 40/60 split rear seats folded flat, you’re looking at nearly 1,800-litres of room. Crikey!

Would I
buy a Subaru Forester
? Yes, I think I would actually!


No More Automatic Toll Rate Increases Following Revised Agreement, Says Works Minister

Over the last few months there’s been more commotion over the price of merely getting around, largely due to the increased toll rates that struck Klang Valley motorists by highway concessionaires in late October.
Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof has said that the government has revised and enhanced the Agreements terms with concessionaires that, by the looks of it, will better protect the interests of the everyday road user, writes Bernama.
One such term was the abolishment an automatic toll rate increase that was present on the previous agreement.
"When there is an application from the concessionaire to increase the toll rate, we will check and study the company's statements, whether they had achieved the estimated traffic flow along the highway in the area.
"If the traffic flow reached the estimate, then we will not allow the increase," he said.
However, this does not mean that should the estimate traffic flow not be reached that a toll rate increase be disallowed. Other factors such as the concessionaire’s financial commitments will have sway over the rate revision.
But this move puts more transparency into the process, allowing the people to voice their opinion and/or displeasure, but also allowing more time for the concessionaires to explain their reasoning should an toll rate increase be required.
This is in contrast to October’s increases, which was implemented first before concessionaires cared to elaborate on why - mainly due to complaints from the public.


Porsche Taycan on fire!

The Porsche that caught all of our imaginations with a scorching car
chase
 outside the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart has literally caught on fire.

The Taycan caught fire in a Florida garage on Sunday, damaging the building's structure and exposing part of the vehicles frame. Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident.

A spokesperson for Porsche, Calvin Kim told Automotive News, "We are investigating, and we remain ready to assist if called upon," Kim said. "We are relieved to hear that no one was harmed in this incident and that it's too early to speculate on the cause until the investigation has concluded."

The Taycan is the company's first battery-electric production vehicle, powered by an 800-volt system instead of the usual 400 more commonly reserved for electric cars.

Bill Gates just recently bought himself a Taycan. Maybe in hindsight...


Can I Buy A Porsche Taycan With RM20,000 Gaji?

How much do you have to earn monthly to actually be able to afford a Porsche Taycan?

Porsche
 Asia Pacific and
Shell
's recent announcement about working together to build up
a network
 of high-performance charging (HPC) stations across Malaysia has surely got Taycan fans excited.

With 12 charge points at six Shell stations strategically located along Malaysia's North-South highway, these chargers have the ability to offer EV drivers the flexibility of stress-free travel between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang.

This exciting news means that people will finally be able to drive their Taycans across Malaysia without having range anxiety, and naturally, we started dreaming. This got us thinking, how much does someone actually have to earn to own one of these bad boy Porsche EVs. Will RM20K a month be enough? Let's find out.

For those who have been living under a rock, here is a quick recap of the car. The Porsche Taycan is an all-electric car made by German automobile manufacturer Porsche. They have seven different variants of it, which deliver different outputs and
range
. The entry-level Porsche Taycan, simply known as Taycan, has an output of 321hp and 431km of range and can do 0-100km/h in 5.4secs. The flagship variant called the Taycan Turbo S has an output of 751hp and 390km of range and can do the 0-100km'h sprint in 2.8 seconds.

Conventional wisdom states that your monthly repayment should be no more than
15 percent
 of your salary. Following this school of thought, if your salary is RM20k a month, this would mean you would only be able to splurge between RM3k a month on a car but let's bear in mind that this is an EV, meaning there are fewer mechanical bits that need to be maintained/ replaced. So for the purposes of this article, let's raise your monthly repayment cap to RM4k a month.

Since there are no used Porsche Taycans around, we would have to do this calculation under the presumption that someone will be getting a brand new one from Porsche Malaysia. We'll pick the
cheapest one
 out of the
seven
 available variants.

The entry-level Taycan retails from RM585k, which means if we follow the simple standard modus operandi for how these conventional loans work, you would need to fork out 10 percent of the car's value as a down payment first.

Once the loan is approved for a nine-year tenure, you would be looking at paying a downpayment of RM58.5k,
road tax
 of RM7,504, and insurance around RM18k which brings your initial cost to RM84,004.

But here is the moment you have all been waiting for; how much is the monthly repayment for a base-spec Taycan? The hire purchase's monthly repayment should approximately be around RM5,900, depending on the interest rate given for a 9-year tenure.

Now based on that basic calculation, if you were taking home a salary of RM20k, given that we've established your ceiling for a car repayment is RM4k a month, you would be short RM1900 a month in order to be able to afford the base-spec Taycan.

Let's not forget that you would also need to have almost RM80k handy for the downpayment, insurance, and road tax.

So sadly no Taycan for you which may altogether not be a bad thing because is it really advisable to take a nine-year loan with only a 10 percent downpayment especially seeing as how we are still unaware of how fast the Taycan will depreciate in value? Unfortunately, electric cars in Malaysia depreciate fast which means it'll be hard for you to sell it without losing more money after a year or two.

And then there's the other conundrum, would you really want to hold on to a highly technical and sophisticated electric car for 9 years when the comprehensive maintenance and warranty

programme only lasts for four? We're not saying it's going to break on you because the Taycan is a very well-engineered car that Porsche took time to build, but cars are cars.

We can't answer that for you, but we reckon the safest thing to do is take a four-year loan, which is the same length as the warranty. This will bring your monthly repayment up to RM12K with a 10 percent downpayment. If you wish to do this with a monthly salary of RM20k, you would need to smack down a downpayment of RM250k at the very least, but WOAH that's a big amount!

Technically, you can own a Taycan with an RM20k monthly salary, but there are more cons than pros to it. Ultimately it is your money and you choose what you want to do with it. What we do know however is that for some people there is no price on style, and with the Taycan you'll have bucketloads of it cruising down south on electric power!

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.


Frankfurt 2015: Mazda’s Koeru Concept is What a CX-5 Coupé Would Be Like

Ever since the idea of a SUV coupé exploded onto the popular conscience, the floodgates have opened and
Mazda
 is the latest manufacturer to step into the limelight with their interpretation of an
SUV coupé at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show
.
Called the Koeru concept, which literally means ‘exceed’ or ‘go beyond’ in Japanese, it is Mazda’s own interpretation of a crossover vehicle. Though Mazda didn’t explicitly say any particular segment the Koeru is supposed to step into, its measurements gives a clear hint.
At 4,600mm in length and 1,900mm in width, the Koeru is just 45mm longer and 60mm wider than the
CX-5
. Its wheelbase of 2,700mm is identical to that of the CX-5, whereas its height of just 1,500mm is a whole 170mm lower than the CX-5, giving us a rough idea that this is what a coupé version of the CX-5 would look like. And it looks pretty good.
The Koeru sports sleek and clean lines with a low and rakish roofline that looks all the more exaggerated sitting on its huge 21-inch wheels, alluding to a model with a clear sporty intent. Once again the KODO design traits are present, with a stronger presence from its prominent Signature Wing and sleek LED guiding rings integrated into the headlights. Around the back the Koeru's tail looks remarkably like the tailgate of the Mazda 6 wagon, which is no bad thing.
Not just sleek in appearance, Mazda says that the Koeru sports a turbulence-rectifying under-floor structure beneath, which enables the Koeru to deliver an impressive aerodynamic performance. As for its interior though, Mazda says that the Koeru has improved NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels thanks to their breakthrough NVH technology that thoroughly quells noise and vibration path.
While Mazda has had an impressive track record of bringing recent concepts to production, we have our reservations about the Koeru becoming an actual CX-5 coupé. And Mazda themselves doesn’t seem to drop any strong hints if the Koeru is destined for production anytime soon. But who knows, Mazda might be working on something already.


Review: All-New Toyota Vios 1.5G- The Best Vios Ever

The Toyota Vios entry-level sedan has found itself incredibly popular since its introduction back in 2003. In every new generation, there are some minor, yet insignificant, improvements in terms of features and performance.

This all-new Toyota Vios has finally received the all the technical resources it needs to place itself ahead of the competition.

Prior to its official launch, UMW Toyota Motor invited the motoring media to experience the all-new Toyota Vios to get a better understanding of the significant changes that have been engineered into the new compact sedan.

Specifications for the all-new Toyota Vios 1.5G

Price: RM 87,300 (OTR without insurance)

Engine: 2NR-FE, 1.5-litre, inline-four cylinder, Dual VVTI

Power: 107 PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 140 Nm @ 4,200 rpm

Transmission: CVT-type automatic, with manual-mode

Safety: Seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Panoramic View Camera (PVM)

Origin: Locally-assembled in ASSB-Bukit Raja, Selangor

Overview

The all-new Toyota Vios will be available in
three key variants - J, E, and G, priced from RM77,200
. All variants will feature the carried-over powertrain consisting of the fuel-efficient 2NR-FE 1.5-litre engine paired with a CVT-type automatic that debuted in Malaysia in late 2016.

UMW Toyota Motor will not be offering a 5-speed manual transmission version of the J variant, as there is almost no demand for it.

The company has also addressed many criticisms of its equipment levels, as the previous generation looked uncompetitive.

In the all-new Toyota Vios, standard features found in the entry-level J-variant include automatic air conditioning, ECO-Sport drive modes, seven airbags (inclusive of driver’s knee airbag), hill-start assist control, and integrated LED DRLs.

Other key compact sedans in the segment include:

Nissan Almera (From RM69,888)

Honda City (From RM73,836)

Mazda 2 (From RM76,670)

Volkswagen Vento (From RM85,430)

The all-new Toyota Vios is now assembled at the
new Bukit Raja facility
, where a new hatchback model is also slated to be assembled there and launched in due course.

Exterior

Historically, the Toyota Vios has attracted much praise and criticism in the styling of both its exterior and interior. The design we have in this new generation looks good in the metal, with the front design having a strong resemblance to the new Camry and C-HR.

The all-new Toyota Vios is now equipped with integrated LED DRLs, a feature that was untidily fitted in the previous generation as it was an accessory to meet customer demands.

The 1.5G variant continues lighting up the road ahead with projector-type head lamps, now with a follow-me-home function.

The rear design meanwhile features the most distinct identity, especially when the tail lamps are lit. Horizontal LED light guides strike a classy expression in all four light clusters. LED lighting is also used for the brake lights, which is reserved for the higher E- and G-variants.

There are no changes to the dimensions of the all-new Vios. While the brochure states the width has increased by 30 millimetres to 1,730 millimetres, this new figure is obtained through internal measurement which included the large door handles.

Interior

A better mix of materials has truly uplifted the ambience in the all-new Vios. Together with the Optitron meters and piano-black panel on the centre console and shift lever surround, the interior is a huge step forward in feel and sight.

The Optitron meter not only provides clear continuous illumination, but it is also paired with the large 4.2-inch colour multi-information display (MID) that also includes a large digital speedometer.

Automatic air conditioning is offered standard across the model range. The blower mode is, however, still limited to the face and a mix of face and feet (two modes). That means the front demister is still absent, a non-feature that has plagued the Vios since the model debuted in 2003.

There are no rear cooling vents unlike the Honda City, but the air conditioning system performed incredibly well, and such warranted the omission.

A major key point that all of us agree and will definitely highlight is the incredibly low noise of the cabin. Toyota has increased the tremendous amounts of damping sheets, noise suppressors, as well as a more rigid bodyshell to create the quietest cabin in the segment.

Large noise suppressing material (white bag)
is
placed
 in both front wheel fenders

All these tangible improvements also increased the kerb weight, with the G-variant now tipping the scales at 1,145 kilograms, about 30 kilograms more than the previous generation.

One design weakness in the previous generation was the overuse of faux stitching on the door trim. We are happy to report that the door trim in the all-new Vios has completely ditched this, with the G-variant applying classy genuine white thread stitching on the black soft touch wrapping over the door armrests.

Large bottle holders are also sculpted into the rear door trim, something we truly appreciate on the long drive from Desaru back to Shah Alam. Other improved areas of storage include a larger glovebox, deep cupholders at the centre console, as well as a small flip-out box for small items such as loyalty cards or charging cables.

The placement of the switch to toggle the views of the panoramic view monitor (PVM) is however not ergonomic, completely hidden from sight.

Compared to its arch-rival, the Honda City, the all-new Vios still shows it lacks width inside. Occupants in front will immediately notice and feel that they are seated closer to each other in the Vios compared to the City.

Driving Experience

While the powertrain continues with the fuel-efficient 2NR-FE and CVT-type automatic transmission, Toyota has paid attention in delivering a better response to the driver.

When left in normal drive mode, the CVT transmission now delivers a more responsive acceleration relative to the driver’s input. The engine revolution raises naturally in steps to mimic the forward shifting of a virtual seven-speed transmission.

Sport mode further increases the powertrain response, and also keep the engine spinning at a higher revolution, closer to the peak torque at 4,200 rpm.

Shift paddles were only used sparingly in the drive, as the author preferred to use the shift lever to engage the manual mode with seven virtual ratios. There seems to be a difference in shift qualities between the two methods- the steering wheel paddles felt more refined, while the shift lever felt sportier.

Out on the highway, the all-new Vios felt like a vehicle one segment above. Apart from the aforementioned quiet cabin levels, the suspension has been calibrated to deliver a very impressive ride quality.

Toyota brought along a Honda City for the purpose of comparison and the all-new Vios rode along with significantly better body control and comfort compared to the City.

The ride quality in the Honda City felt very ‘busy’, unable to absorb the unevenness in the North-South Highway, transmitting uncomfortable jolts to the occupants.

Back to back, the Honda’s significant increase in engine power outputs (120 PS, 145 Nm) can be felt immediately. It certainly felt more responsive and achieve higher speeds quicker compared to the all-new Vios.

The all-new Vios 1.5 G is fitted with 16-inch rims wrapped with 195/50-section tyres and we are happy to report that the ride quality is equally comfortable over poorly patched roads in the city and over roads undergoing repair works.

Conclusion

Internally, the all-new Toyota Vios is actually termed as a ‘major facelift’. After experiencing the composure on the highway, the quietness of the cabin, and the overall ambience in the new car, we felt that Toyota has carried out many more improvements in this ‘major facelift’ than with previous generations.

Versus the outgoing model, the-all Vios has improved in all areas, with big leaps in the riding comfort and equipment. Against the perennial rival, the Honda City, the all-new Vios exhibits great cabin refinement which is important to those who frequent long highway drives.

For those with families of larger physique, they might also feel the all-new Vios is narrowed between both front seats compared to the Honda City.

The Volkswagen Vento meanwhile has a strong powertrain performance, but the interior space shows it's from the last generation, lacking in legroom and headroom.


Fuel Price Update: 8 – 14 February – Petrol Up, Diesel Down

The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has announced new petrol and diesel prices for the upcoming week from 8th to 14th February, which will be as follow:
RON95 –
RM2.33
 per litre (up 2 sen from RM2.31)
RON97 –
RM2.61
 per litre (up 3 sen from RM2.58)
Diesel –
RM2.31
 per litre (down 3 sen from RM2.34)


Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson Is The World Car Person Of 2018

Just a couple of months ago,
Auto Bild awarded Håkan Samuelsson their coveted Golden Wheel award
. This time around, he's taking back the title of World Car Person of the Year for 2018, which is a nice complement to the XC40's World Car of the Year award that they received before the opening of the Geneva International Motor Show.
Volvo Cars achieved record profits and sales in 2017, with a 27.7 percent increase in operating profit and global sales of 571,577 cars. The results mark the company’s fourth consecutive year of record growth, underlining the transformation of Volvo’s finances and operations under Samuelsson’s stewardship.
Samuelsson has done a great deal for Volvo during his tenure, so even though he attributes the success of Volvo in its recent years to the work of the company as a whole and Geely's support, the man himself has managed to broker deals with Uber and make car ownership easier for Volvo owners.
These are the marks of a CEO who does not merely sit back and reap the benefits of timing and products that were in development before he arrived. It will be interesting to see what he has in store for the future, as well as the direction he will take Volvo Cars in as it regains a foothold in the luxury landscape.


Mazda CX-4 Spied, Again

A low slung five-seater coupe-SUV positioned between the Mazda CX-3 and the CX-5, the Mazda CX-4 is a bit like a poor man’s BMW X6.
The car has already been previewed at last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, in the form of the
Mazda Koeru Concept
. Mazda is keeping their lips tight about what the Koeru is supposed to hint at but the company is widely rumoured to be working on a so-called CX-4 model.
In September, a heavily disguised prototype what many suspect to be a
CX-4
 was spotted in China.
Now, undisguised images of the CX-4 has surfaced on Chinese website
PopSUV.com
, which we stumbled upon via
IndianAutosBlog
.
The PP-18 label also suggests that this is a pre-production model, which also means that series production should begin within 3 months or less, at least in China.
Assuming that the dimensions of the Koeru Concept are a reliable indicator, the CX-4 should ride on the same underpinnings as the CX-5, retaining the same 2,700 mm wheelbase, but the CX-4 will be 170 mm lower and 60 mm and 45 mm longer than the CX-5.
Engine options are likely to remain the same – 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol, and 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D diesel.
Find more
Mazda CX-5
 SUVs at Carlist.my.
Related link:
Buyer’s Guide: Mazda CX-5 - A Winning Formula


Mazda Launches Limited Edition CX-3 Accessory Package Worth RM14,500

Mazda CX-3 now in limited edition Snowflake White Pearl priced at RM141,329.

Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, the authorised distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia has just announced the introduction of the the CX-3 Limited Edition accessory package, in conjunction with the brand’s 100th anniversary this year.

Developed by Bermaz’s MazdaSports Division, the limited edition CX-3 comes with enhancements on the exterior, interior, and also the vehicle’s handling. The complete list of goodies is as mentioned below:

Under the hood, things remain unchanged as power still comes courtesy of the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre 4-cylinder SkyActiv-G petrol engine that produces 156 PS and 206 Nm of torque, which is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Limited to just 25 units, the CX-3 Limited Edition comes with a 1-Year Mazda Genuine Accessory Warranty based on the period of fitment at the time of new vehicle purchase.

The limited edition CX-3 is now open for reservation and orders can be placed at any of the Mazda outlets.

As this a unique production build model, expected delivery is by the end of July 2020 and will come exclusively in the Snowflake White Pearl colour.


Not fair, North America just got a 196 hp Toyota Corolla Cross

Toyota unveils a nearly 200 hp Corolla Cross - heading to showrooms this June.

In the case of Japanese cars, North America is a large and important market, and car manufacturers may choose to offer higher-performance versions of their cars to cater to the preferences of North American buyers.

The most recent Japanese car to receive higher performance when compared to its counterparts from this side of the world is the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

Toyota North America started selling the Corolla-based SUV in 2022 but only promised fans a hybrid variant this year. Was it worth the wait? damn right it was because not only has the hybrid brought with it some styling updates for the Corolla Cross, but it also comes with a new powertrain, with nearly 200 hp worth of oomph.

With the new Fifth Generation Toyota Hybrid System under the hood, coupled with the Electronic All-Wheel Drive system that's new to the Corolla nameplate, the new Corolla Cross Hybrid offers increased power.

With 196 horsepower and an 8-second 0-100 km/h time, the Corolla Cross Hybrid has the potential to finally be a fun vehicle to drive(In contrast, the
Malaysian Toyota Corolla Cross
 only pushes out 122 hp). According to Toyota, the Corolla Cross Hybrid has always been sporty by nature, and the hybrid represents the perfect next step for this model line.

From a design perspective, it offers an approachable exterior as well as a higher line-of-sight thanks to the revised TNGA-C platform. For all variants of the Corolla Cross Hybrid, Toyota has decided to offer eye-catching details that set it apart from its petrol siblings, such as unique front and rear styling.

It's even available with a two-tone paint job and sporty-looking 18-inch alloy wheels, which confirms Toyota's intentions to make it stand out.


Detroit 2018: 5th Generation Toyota Avalon Unveiled, New Technologies Aplenty

Toyota has take the wraps off its new North American flagship sedan, the Toyota Avalon.
The fifth generation, North American market-only large sedan is the fourth Toyota model to use the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform,
which debuted in the Prius
. Other new models built on TNGA are the C-HR and 2017 Camry.
With the new Avalon built around the TNGA ‘K Sedan’ platform, the longer, lower and wider sedan now packs more new technologies and features. A sophisticated multi-link rear suspension together with adaptive dampers provide better ride and handling.
With more focus on a digitized interior, the all-new Toyota Avalon is the first Toyota that offers Apple CarPlay connectivity as standard through a 9-inch capacitive touchscreen infotainment system. The driver gets a new 7-inch multi information display, flanked by traditional needle gauges.
The all-new Avalon will continue to offer customers the option of a 3.5-litre V6 (2GR-FKS) and Toyota’s latest hybrid powertrain dubbed Toyota Hybrid Drive 2 (THS2) which features an all-new 2.5-litre engine.
The 2.5-litre Dynamic Force Engine with new breathing (electronic VVT-iE) and injection (D-4S) technologies accomplishes the highest maximum thermal efficiency of 41%, relative to other naturally aspirated petrol engines which are in the mid 30s.
THS2 in the all-new Toyota Avalon has been engineered to inspire both spirited driving and fuel consciousness. With the advancement of TNGA platform, the Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack now resides under the rear passenger seat, where previous location was taking up valuable boot space in the old Avalon.
Toyota has not listed the performance figures of either engine, but THS2 available in the smaller Camry Hybrid delivers a system output of 208 hp and fuel efficiency of 19.5 km/L in the U.S. EPA combined cycle.
To further improve fuel economy, the all-new Toyota Avalon features Auto Glide Control (AGC), where the transmission acts like in neutral gear to coast to a stop, rather than the traditional engine braking.
Being a flagship sedan, the all-new Avalon places high priority on cabin ambience being library-quiet. Additional sound-deadening materials and door seals together with the profiled side mirrors make the Avalon the quietest yet.
Active Noise Control (ANC) and Engine Sound Enhancement (ESE) activate to cancel unwanted exterior noise while simultaneously enhancing the engine note via the JBL 14-speaker 1,200-watt 7.1-channel surround sound system.
While the Avalon competes with U.S. domestic models such as Buick Lacrosse, Nissan Maxima and Chrysler 300, we could have a chance to enjoy the engineering and technologies of the Avalon through Toyota’s premium brand, Lexus.
The
 current Lexus ES range
 is based on the 2014 Toyota Avalon. With the Lexus ES contributing to the brand’s market share and revenue for its dealers, it will not be a surprise that the future Lexus ES will have many of new technologies from the all-new Toyota Avalon.
The all-new Toyota Avalon is made in Kentucky, U.S. and goes on sale from Q2 2018.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Launches 7th Gen S-Class - RM 698,744.00

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has officially launched the seventh-generation CKD S-Class, priced at RM 698,744.00

The W223 S-Class which made its global debut in September last year has finally arrived in Malaysia in CKD form and with it comes a new prominent front end, minimalist yet techy interior and a host of advanced tech.

The W223 ticks all the boxes we’d expect in a generational step forward, claiming even better refinement and structural rigidity while boasting a substantial weight reduction. In spite of those lost kilos, the all-new 2022 S-Class is physically larger than the outgoing model, though not by much. Importantly, there's 51mm more in between the front and rear axle in the standard wheelbase variant while also being 55mm wider and 12mm taller.

Michael Jopp, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia said, "The S-Class is the world's best-selling luxury limousine and we are also pleased that the new S580e will be a locally-assembled variant as its predecessor. This is a testament of our commitment to reinforce our local commitment to expand our local foothold in the country. The vehicle underpins our claim to produce the best automobile in the world. This is where covetable luxury meets the greatest possible safety and highest level of comfort.”

Exterior wise, the 2022 S-Class now features a large grille that is bigger than ever before. They are flanked by headlamps that come equipped with DIGITAL LIGHT. DIGITAL LIGHT is a light module with three extremely powerful LEDs with light that is refracted and directed by 1.3 million micro-mirrors.

On the side, the S-Class is mostly smooth except for a crease that runs from the front to the rear of the car just underneath the side windows, but it's the pop-out door handles that takes centre stage.

The rear adopts much of the E-Class' looks with horizontal taillights and faux exhaust vents at each end of the lower bumper.

The inside is perhaps where the 2022 S-Class has experienced the most change, featuring a lounge-like atmosphere of elegance and luxury. The new dashboard architecture hosts the MBUX interface front and centre - with up to five large screens, in part with OLED technology and fingerprint scanner. Also featured in the 2022 S-Class is the class-leading Burmester® 3D surround sound system.

The 2022 S-Class offered in Malaysia only comes in one variant, the PHEV, S580e - with the 3.0 litre inline-6 engine and 9G-Tronic transmission, the vehicle is capable of performing the century sprint in just 5.2 seconds. Additionally, the S580e also offers an estimated 100km pure electric driving range, courtesy of its hybrid electric motor. It takes two and half hours to get it fully charged,

The company’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and AirMatic air suspension (along with E-Active Body Control) are standard. The rear-wheel steering system has also seen a significant upgrade, increasing its maximum turn angle from 4.5 degrees to 10 degrees, improving the car’s turning circle to a very compact 10.9 metres.

Thanks to improved environmental sensors, the driver in the 2022 S-Class has a little less to do, the parking systems provide better support when manoeuvring at low speed. Operation is faster and more intuitive thanks to integration into MBUX. Emergency braking functions also serve to protect other road users.

The S-Class also features the world’s first rear airbags, which are integrated into the backrests of the front seats and deploy in a severe front impact. They deploy gently and protect strapped-in outer rear seat passengers against contact with the front seats. The loads on the head and neck can thus be reduced significantly.

For those of you who didn't know, the 2022 S-Class is also one of the world's most aerodynamic cars with a co-efficient drag figure of 0.22.

How's that for opulence, elegance and luxury on wheels?

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S580e's hybrid system will come with an 8-year or 100,000 kilometres warranty including the battery.

Customers who make a booking soon can look at getting delivery of their new S-Class' in the first half of 2022.

The price for the 2022 S580e is RM 698,744.00


Jeremy Clarkson Is Filming A Corvette Z06, Possibly With Hammond and Stig. But Why?

Top Gear is over. We’ve mourned. We really did. Is it over? Anyway – new day, new beginnings. And unlike his now-bored former co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May, post-
fracas
 Jeremy Clarkson seems to be back to his old ways (sans the punching), evidenced by his posting on Twitter showing a C7 Corvette Z06 and a film crew behind it. Interesting…
Actually, that quip about Richard Hammond isn’t all that justified because if you look closely enough at the picture, the man standing to the left of the gold-coloured tablecloth does resemble the Hamster. The hair, posture, and arms in jacket pocket make it a ringer to Top Gear fans.
While the picture taken wasn’t at the old BBC show’s test track in Dunsfold, which is a shame, but this does bode well for fans who still want to see Clarkson and the gang do what they do best. And if he has Hammond and May on-board in any capacity, so much the better.
Then again, it could be nothing and we might be setting ourselves up for disappointment. Surely, Jeremy Clarkson gets many offers to drive absurdly fast cars just because he’s Jeremy Clarkson, and the
Chevrolet
 Corvette Z06, while a very impressive piece of kit, isn’t in the highest echelons of performance car royalty. It could be that he has merely been tapped to review it for The Daily Telegraph in the UK, who knows?
Another interesting find was that Ben Collins, famed racer, test driver, stunt driver, and possibly best known for being The Stig through much of the Top Gear’s decade-plus show run, posted on Instagram that he was at Thurxton circuit with filming gear. Whether the two are linked is anyone’s guess, but it a curious coincidence.


Satisfy your BYD ATTO 3 curiosity at BYD World happening this weekend

Whether it's internationally or locally, BYD's ATTO 3 is quickly making its way across many homes, and if you're just like the many motorists who is curious about the car, then this weekend's BYD World is probably your best chance to get up close and personal with one of the world's hottest electric vehicles.

If you still need to get on the bandwagon, here are some of the key reasons why the BYD ATTO 3 is starting to become the EV for those who are budget conscious but also have an eye for style and modern technology.

The BYD ATTO 3 is an electric vehicle that uses advanced battery and motor technology to provide a smooth and efficient driving experience. BYD’s Blade Battery technology refers to a unique design approach by BYD, which results in higher energy density and longer range for electric vehicles.

Thanks to this technology, the BYD ATTO 3 can deliver a fantastic driving range of up to 480km and an exhilarating experience, as the SUV can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in just 7.3 seconds.

When not on the move, the BYD ATTO 3's battery pack can also be used to charge other devices via the vehicle's onboard outlets. It's equipped with a 220V AC outlet, which can be particularly useful in situations where power is needed but not readily available, such as during a power outage or while camping.

It can also be convenient for those who need to work remotely or for families travelling long distances who need to keep their devices charged.

If all of this sounds appealing, why not visit the BYD World extravaganza at the Bukit Jalil Stadium this weekend? Not only will you get to know the BYD ATTO 3 better by having all of your questions answered by the many informative sales personnel, but you can also snap up some excellent arrangements this weekend, as there will be exclusive deals to be had at the BYD World sales event.

Some of the exclusive deals include:

Attractive price starting from RM149,800

6 years or 150,000km vehicle warranty

8 years or 160,000km High Voltage Blade Battery Warranty

8 years or 150,000km Drive Unit Warranty (everything from motor to ECU)

Savings up to RM1,450 for home chargers, complimentary of installation and technical inspection

Exclusive Thule offers on any purchase of their roof box

Complimentary 1 year car camping slot with any purchase of Thule rooftop tent

"Terms and conditions apply. For more information on BYD World or the BYD ATTO 3, visit
https://byd.
simedarbymotors.my/byd-world
"


Sarawak Launches Hydrogen Production Plant, Purchases Hyundai NEXO SUVs

In an almost entirely unforeseen move, Sarawak Energy over in East Malaysia has launched their first integrated hydrogen production plant and refuelling station. It's a pretty big leap considering we are barely handling the development of an electric car infrastructure, and many parts of the world haven't even considered moving into the hydrogen fuel cell car market yet. The production is about as simple as it gets with high school science being applied (electrolysis) to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
The hydrogen fuel is to be used for a number of hydrogen fuel cell buses under the ownership and management of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation. For now, the plant is able to handle up to five fuel cell buses and ten fuel cell cars per day, which doesn't exactly sound like a lot of vehicles. All of these vehicles will require about 130 kilogrammes of pure hydrogen to operate in total. Fuel cell vehicles don't produce any emissions besides water, which makes them similar in nature to electric vehicles.
Partnering up with Sarawak Energy is Linde EOX Sdn Bhd, which is one of the leading industrial gas and engineering companies around the world. While we may be used to chemical engineering processes being in the oil and gas sector primarily, this kind of project is one that heads in an entirely different direction and requires different fields of expertise. Sarawak Energy is using this launch as a pilot program, having purchased a pair of Hyundai NEXO hydrogen fuel cell SUVs.
While it's great to be pushing for new technologies and developments and be early adopters, there are some perils. For one, hydrogen fuel cell technology has been around for an incredibly long time, but it isn't something that has quite taken off despite numerous pilot programs and studies from various manufacturers. The electric car, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles remain the more popular choice the world over, and whether countries can stomach developing a hydrogen infrastructure after investing millions on an electric one is a bit of a stretch.