All-New Bentley Flying Spur Enters Production – Deliveries Start In 2020

Production of the
all-new Bentley Flying Spur
, the company’s flagship sedan, is now well underway, with the commencement of deliveries set for early 2020.

Customer orders have begun at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England, following completion of over 1.6 million km of development testing, involving the use of 142 prototypes and pre-production cars.

The Bentley Flying Spur will be the most advanced and technically complex Bentley ever built, requiring nearly 200 people to handcraft every Flying Spur through 84 different assembly stages at the company’s factory.

The Flying Spur has been completely reinvented for 2019 to showcase a more purposeful and emotional design.

The new Flying Spur is powered by an enhanced version of Bentley’s 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12, mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission. It has a top speed of 333 km/h, and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds.

Separately, Electronic All-Wheel Steering will feature for the first time in a Bentley, combining with Active All-Wheel Drive and Bentley Dynamic Ride – the world’s first 48V electric anti-roll system – to deliver sublime handling and ride quality.

New, three-chamber air springs offer a much greater range of suspension adjustment between limousine-style ride comfort and sporting levels of body control.


Injecting Power Back Into Your Engine – Caltex Techron Concentrate Plus

It is perhaps a well-known fact that a properly maintained car is more reliable, and will perform better on the daily grind.
Hence, manufacturers stipulate that the vital engine components such as the spark plugs, oil filter and for a large number of engines, the timing belt must be replaced at specific intervals. Not to mention, the lifeblood of any engine - its engine oil, has to be replaced diligently as well.
But, while these components will ultimately keep the engine running reliably, little can be done to clean and restore the insides of the engine and combustion chamber, especially components such as the fuel injectors, intake valves, and pistons.
In any engine – impurities within the fuel and harmful by-products of the combustion process can cause deposits to build up within the engine over time. As time passes, this can lead to lower fuel efficiency, a loss of engine power and increased exhaust emissions.
Now, however, cars old and new, can re-inject the power and efficiency back into their engines, with the Caltex Techron Concentrate Plus fuel additive.
Caltex Techron Concentrate Plus packs all the cleaning power of Techron fuel in a concentrated bottle. Simply pour a bottle into a near empty fuel tank before refueling and the cleaning action begins the moment you start your car.
How It Works
The Techron additives, carried by the fuel, get absorbed by engine deposits, which then begins to decompose. These deposits then disintegrate and break away from the metal surface. Techron then surrounds the deposit molecules, keeping them suspended in the fuel, which is then burned and exhausted by the engine.
The concentrate starts cleaning deposits from fuel injectors, intake valves, and the combustion chamber as soon as the engine is started.
By effectively cleaning injectors and intake valves, the engine will soon regain lost performance, improve fuel economy and reduce harmful exhaust emissions. It especially works for older cars, or vehicles that have had lower-quality gas over time. Caltex Techron Concentrate Plus simple needs to be refilled every 5,000 km, to keep the engine running clean and smoothly.
Caltex Techron Concentrate Plus is optimised for use only in petrol engines. Techron Concentrate Plus works well with carburetted, port or direct-injected engines, both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged. Diesel engines can use Caltex with TechronD fuel – formulated specifically for today’s diesel engines that have to comply with tightening global emissions standards.
What If I Always Fuel Up With Caltex Techron Fuels?
Principally, both Techron fuel and the Concentrate Plus additive are based on similar chemistry, with one distinct difference being the dosage.
This mega-dose of Techron provides a much quicker clean-up of intake-valve deposits left by lower quality gasoline. In addition, the high concentration of Techron reduces combustion chamber deposits, which can help eliminate deposit-related engine knock.
If you have an engine that is sensitive to deposit formation, or if the vehicle is driven under severe heat or traffic jams – such as in Malaysia, Techron Concentrate Plus is helps keep your car running smoothly and performing at top efficiency.
This post is sponsored by Chevron Malaysia Limited


Pemandu Lori Disaman – Bawa Muatan Kereta Polis Secara Berbahaya

Tindakan berbahaya yang dilakukan oleh seorang pemandu lori yang membawa muatan
kereta peronda polis
 secara berbahaya membawa padah apabila beliau dikenakan saman atas perbuatan tersebut.

Pada 5 Februari lalu, telah tular sebuah video berdurasi 58 saat di media sosial yang menunjukkan 8 buah kereta peronda polis diikat dan disusun secara bertindih di atas sebuah lori.

Setelah video tersebut tular, Bahagian Siasatan dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Tapah telah membuka kertas siasatan dengan memanggil pemandu lori tersebut untuk dirakam percakapannya.

Berdasarkan siasatan polis, 8 buah kereta peronda polis yang dibawa secara berbahaya oleh lori itu merupakan hasil jualan lelong aset alih kerajaan Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Seremban.

Kesemua kereta peronda itu dilaporkan telah dikumpulkan di kawasan industri di Seremban sebelum dibawa dengan menggunakan lori tersebut ke Ipoh.

Hasil siasatan,
saman
 sebanyak RM300 telah dikenakan kepada pemandu lori terbabit pada Jumaat lalu. Melalui semakan, pemandu lori itu juga mempunyai 6 saman lampau atas pelbagai kesalahan lalu lintas.

Ketua Polis Daerah Tapah, Superintenden Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail berkata, pemandu lori berusia 32 tahun itu disaman mengikut Peraturan 18 Kaedah-kaedah Lalulintas Jalan 1959 iaitu membawa muatan hingga mendatangkan bahaya kepada pengguna jalan raya lain.


Lamborghini’s New Centenario Hypercar To Make Limited-Run Arrival In 2016

That's a Lamborghini Veneno up there, by the way. Hopefully the upcoming Centenario will better blend the outrageous with the tasteful.
Come the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, supercar manufacturer
Lamborghini
 will let loose a new hypercar in commemoration of 100 years since Feruccio Lamborghini, the company founder’s, birth – April 28
th
 1916.
The news came from
TF1.fr
, a French website, but besides the name Centenario, left a lot of the educated guesswork still to be done such as what outrageous design or technology will Lamborghini choose to dress it with. It will be a limited-run model (20 units) much like their most recent effort in a similar vein with the Veneno which was unveiled, and expected to over 1 million Euros (RM4.75 million).
It isn’t known whether a certain number of those 20 includes a roadster version, if at all.
It will be based on the
Aventador
, Lamborghini’s current flagship, such was the Reventón was to the
Murcielago
 before it. Also, this new limited-run model will wear the moniker LP770-4, pointing to an uprated 770hp 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 that sends power to all four wheels, enabling the new car to reach 100km from a standstill in just 2.7 seconds. Which makes it 20hp more powerful and 0.1 seconds quicker to 100km/h than the
Aventador SV
, pictured below.
The report also remarked upon the car’s exterior design slightly, saying it would not be as wildly styled as the Veneno. Depending on your preferences, could be interpreted as a positive or negative.
We're sure to have more on this new ultimate Lambo as more info emerges.


Virtual meeting with Elon Musk: Malaysia exploring futuristic collaboration not only with Tesla but also Starlink

In an unprecedented virtual rendezvous, Malaysia had the honour of hosting a high-profile conference with Elon Musk, the visionary Founder and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Inc.

The digital gathering witnessed the participation of our esteemed Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian ministers, YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, and YB Fahmi Fadzil, the Minister of Communications and Digital.

During the dynamic meeting,
Musk's keen interest and investment decisions in Malaysia were wholeheartedly welcomed.
 Furthermore, his expressed willingness to explore the possibilities of visiting Malaysia sparked great excitement among the attendees.

Notably, the government conveyed its heartfelt congratulations and unwavering support for the recent inauguration of the Tesla Electric Vehicle brand's Headquarters, Service Center, and Experience Center in Selangor. This milestone signifies Malaysia's readiness to embrace cutting-edge technologies and sustainable transportation solutions.

At the core of Malaysia's drive towards a greener future, lies an unwavering commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by as early as 2050. The nation boasts a comprehensive plan and a competitive ecosystem, effectively supporting the clean energy industry, including electric mobility.

One of the most captivating aspects of the meeting was the discussion surrounding SpaceX's potential involvement in the revolutionary Starlink satellite service. The collaboration aims to bring faster and more extensive internet coverage, especially to remote regions with minimal physical infrastructure requirements. The implications of this endeavour hold tremendous promise for empowering communities through enhanced education, agricultural technology, and income generation.

The ambitious initiatives arising from this meeting are set to elevate the capabilities and well-being of the Malaysian populace, particularly in the realms of education, agriculture, and economic prosperity.

The virtual encounter marked a momentous step towards building a progressive and environmentally conscious nation firmly positioned on the global stage of technological advancement.

With Elon Musk's transformative vision and Malaysia's steadfast commitment to progress, a new chapter of innovation and collaboration has begun. The possibilities are limitless, and together, we march towards a future where cutting-edge technologies shape a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow.


2015 Lexus IS200 t F Sport Review – Let there be turbo

Having entered its third generation, the
Lexus
 IS moniker has come a long way, transforming from a rather conservatively designed sedan into something that is much more exciting. Besides that, for the first time, the IS, which goes against models like the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, is now powered by a turbocharged engine. But does having a turbocharger guarantee a better driving experience? Read more to find out…

Specifications:

Price: RM384,900

Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged, DOHC I-4, direct injection

Power: 241hp at 5,800rpm

Torque: 350Nm from 1,650 to 4,400rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic with torque converter Sports Direct Shift (SPDS)

Safety: 10 airbags, Blind Spot Monitor, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX, Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM), VSC, Traction Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Hill-Start Assist, Brake Assist (BA).

Origin: Fully imported from Japan

Overview

The third generation Lexus IS 200t F Sport is a mid-sized premium sedan which competes against the
BMW 330i M Sport
 (RM308,888),
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Quattro
(RM309,800), and the
Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG
 (RM287,888).

There are four variants to choose from:

Lexus IS 200t Premium – RM297,800.00

Lexus IS 200t Luxury – RM349,900.00

Lexus IS 200t F Sport – RM384,900.00

Lexus IS 300h – RM452,100.00

*All prices indicated are on-the-road without insurance
.

When news first broke that Lexus was going to reveal the latest IS, the level of excitement and anticipation in us was quite high to be honest, as the outgoing
IS 250
 was a pretty awesome car from both the design and performance point of view. So, we couldn’t help it but wonder how better it was going to look and drive.

And then, when the official images and the technical details arrived, we found ourselves asking each other – “Why are we still looking at the old model?”

Wait. This IS the new version.  There has not been any update of any sort as far as the car’s looks are concerned, except for the ‘IS 200t’ badge which replaces the old ‘IS 250’. No new lights, no tweaked bumpers, no re-designed grille, no new wheels as well.

So, what is new?

The answer to the million-dollar question is the all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine which has replaced the outgoing 2.5-litre V6 mill, a new eight-speed gearbox which replaces the previous generation’s six-speed automatic transmission, and a couple of added safety features.

Exterior

The IS 200t F Sport, which is the range-topping model, is also the most expressive variant out of the four versions that are being offered here. The huge grille, 18-inch alloys, the daytime running lights (DRL), and the swoopy side-profile give the sedan a rather bold and sporty look.  In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it is the sportiest looking car in its segment.

The thing is that, the design is not fresh anymore. We are not sure if Lexus busted all of its allocated production budget on the new engine and the additional airbags that it couldn’t even afford new lights, but the company should have come up with new lights or a fresh wheel design at least, in order to distinguish the IS 200t clearly from the outgoing IS 250.

Interior

Similar to the exterior, nothing much has changed with the interior of the IS 200t compared with the IS 250. The cabin is still as cramped as before, thanks to the bulky centre-stack and the dashboard. As far as comfort is concerned, the IS 200t’s cabin is top notch. The seats are all clad in leather and provide excellent support, regardless of the occupant’s size and shape.

Noise, vibration, and harshness level is also impressive and on par with its European rivals. As much as the practicality is concerned, there are six cubbyholes in the cabin, and a huge storage compartment in the centre console for you to keep your mobile devices, Smart Tags and what not. Boot space on the other hand stands at 480-litres, which is pretty decent for a car its size.

Our favourite features in the IS were the touch panel control strip on which you just slide your fingers up and down to adjust the air-con temperature and, in F Sport specification as tested, the virtual instrument cluster that alternates between two configurations at the touch of a button.

Another feature worth mentioning is Lexus’ Remote Touch joystick which is used to navigate through the car’s infotainment system, in order to access all the information ranging from the fuel consumption figures, the source of entertainment, and the vehicle status among others.  As cool as it looks, it lacks the smoothness of the BMW i-Drive system, and still requires you to move your eyes to the display on the centre-stack to see where the cursor is headed to.

How does it drive?

Despite looking the same, the IS is now a completely different car at heart. Gone is the previous 2.5-litre V6, replaced by the new 2.0-litre turbocharged mill, similar to the one powering the NX 200t SUV. While peak horsepower stands at 241hp, peak torque is rated at 350Nm, and mated to the engine is an eight-speed automatic gearbox which replaces the outgoing six-speed auto. Although the engine is similar to the one powering the NX, the IS produces 6hp more than the SUV.

Thanks to the turbocharger and the new gearbox, the IS 200t’s power delivery is much more linear now, and the car feels much more composed on the road. On corners on the other hand, the car offers excellent stability, plenty of grip and very little body roll. The well-weighted steering and strong brakes inspire confidence, too.

Given a work over with the steering-mounted paddle-shifters, the turbo engine responded on the dot, and in a very satisfying manner, offering enough performance to put the accomplished rear-drive chassis to good use and delivering lightning-quick gearshifts both up and down.

Unlike the outgoing IS 250’s V6 mill that needed to be worked hard in order to enjoy all the power, the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine in the IS 200t F Sport hands all 350Nm smoothly on a silver platter from as early as 1,650rpm all the way until 4,400rpm. It was a case of ‘just ask and you shall receive’ as far as the power delivery was concerned.

However, despite having 37hp and 99Nm more, and a more linear power delivery now, the IS 200t still falls short behind the BMW 330i M Sport in terms of acceleration. Besides that, it is on par with the rest of the crowd.

Overall, the Lexus IS 200t is a much better drive than the outgoing model in our opinion. While some may say that it lacks the raw feel of the IS 250, the composure and finesse that it has now is what the car always needed, making it a great car to be driven on the highway, along twisty bits, and of course, in the constantly hectic city traffic.

How economical is it?

While claimed fuel consumption stands at 7-litres/100km, we observed 9-litres/100km throughout our stint with the car over three days, comprising mostly of driving within city roads in the Klang Valley.

It is decent for its segment, but it is still not as fuel efficient as the BMW or the Audi A4.

Similar to other cars in the Lexus line-up, the IS 200t F Sport is covered by a 3-year warranty from the date of first registration or 100,000km travelled, whichever occurs first.

Conclusion

Overall, the Lexus IS 200t is pretty much on par in terms of performance, practicality, comfort, and build quality with its rivals. It is possibly even the most reliable car in the lot as it is not as sophisticated as its German rivals.

However, with an asking price of RM384,900, the Lexus is the most expensive among its closest rivals. This explains why we tend to see more German mid-sized sedans on the road compared to the Lexus.

But then again, if you are one of those who wish to stand out from the masses, and don’t mind spending more for it, the IS 200t might be the right car for you.

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


KLIMS 2018: Baby-SUV Lexus UX 200 Previewed, 169 Hp Paired With New D-CVT

Lexus Malaysia complemented the preview of the
all-new Lexus ES
 with another important model, the Lexus UX compact crossover.
The all-new model is positioned at the emerging compact crossover segment that includes the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, Audi Q3, and the
long waiting period
 Volvo XC40.
The left-hand drive unit brought in by Lexus Malaysia features the latest
2.0-litre engine with Dynamic Force technology
. The naturally aspirated (only type in the segment) engine is said to develop up to 169 hp and 205 Nm of torque. A newly developed CVT-type transmission with a launch gear improves acceleration from standstill and low speeds.
The result of this powertrain combination is a time of 9.2 seconds for the traditional century dash benchmark.
The Lexus UX is the first model to be based on Toyota’s TNGA platform, specifically the GA-C variant. The GA-C variant of the TNGA platform is also utilized by the Toyota C-HR and Toyota Corolla models.
Lexus says that the benefit of the new platform includes sure-footed handling akin to a sports coupe. Occupants will also take note of the highly inviting and pleasing interior in the Lexus UX. Japanese craftsmanship is evident through the placement of the paper 'washi'-inspired trim panel.


RM250k For A Brand New BMW 530i. How?

We are not joking. You really can go home with a brand new
BMW 530i
 to the cost of less than RM250k over the course of three years; but there’s a bit of a catch.
The Full Circle Programme financing scheme from BMW Credit Malaysia recently
introduced for MINI vehicles
 has just been extended to include BMW models as well, starting with the
X1 sDrive20i
 as well as the all-new 530i M Sport.
At the moment, the programme limited to existing BMW Corporate Programme customers including their company directors, spouses of directors, and company employees.
In committing to the programme, customers can choose their financing margins ranging from 70 to 90 percent and a mileage cap between 20,000 and 25,000km per annum.
At the end of the three-year tenure, customers have the choice of returning the car hassle free without further obligations (subject to the car being maintained in good shape), trade the car in for a brand new BMW, keep the car with a full settlement, or extend the financing tenure.
Through the programme, eligible customers can take home a brand new X1 sDrive20i from RM2,258 per month or the all-new 530i M Sport from RM3,588 per month. These figures are based on 70 percent financing margin and 20,000km annual mileage cap.
Based on the math, customers taking up the programme according to the above terms will end up paying less than RM250k excluding insurance for a brand new 530i M Sport worth RM398,800 on-the-road without insurance over a three-year tenure. The vehicle also has guaranteed future value of RM208k at the tenure’s end.
As a comparison, comparably aged units of the 528i M Sport, the new 530i’s direct predecessor, are being
listed on Carlist.my from RM200k to RM280k
 depending on mileage and condition. The cars were sold at RM420k brand new in 2014; equating to depreciation between RM140k and RM220k over the period if transacted at those prices.
It is worth pointing out, however, that despite seemingly higher costs after deeper calculation, the Full Circle programme enables buyers to securely hedge the future value of their cars and also ensure that the vehicle can be disposed without hassle at the contract’s end. It also insulates consumers against any collapse of used car market prices caused by unforeseen market conditions.
Cars financed under the Full Circle Programme are also fully covered by BMW’s 5-year warranty and free service in addition to the 2-year tyre warranty programme.


Audi and Game of Thrones Star “Let it Go” In New Superbowl Ad

Audi returns to the biggest night in American football, the annual Superbowl, with a musically-inspired, 60-second commercial called “Let It Go” featuring Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones fame .

The commercial follows Williams, a vocal advocate for action on climate change, as she sings her own interpretation of the hit song “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen.”

In the ad, Williams gets behind the wheel of her Audi e-tron Sportback and finds herself stuck at an intersection, which represents a crossroads of today’s preconceptions and old notions of consumption, success, and status.

She then chooses to reverse course and leave it all behind, breaking into the familiar lyrics of “Let It Go” as she drives towards a more sustainable future.

Along the way, fellow drivers, pedestrians, and others join in, representing the brand’s efforts to usher in a new era of sustainable mobility. The journey is a metaphor for how the decision to make more sustainable choices takes all of us doing our part.

Recorded by Williams at the acclaimed Abbey Road Studios in London, the reinterpretation of “Let It Go” lends a strong storytelling element to the ad.

According to Audi, it is a new, more defiant take on a song that took the world by storm, but still showcases that transformation always starts with letting go of something old to create something new. In this case, it is moving towards a more sustainable future.


Perodua Myvi Sedan Slated To Arrive By 2017/18, Initial Details Shared

Speaking at a special press conference,
Perodua's
 president and CEO, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh pretty much sounded out the arrival of the long-awaited Perodua Compact Sedan, also believed to be the
Myvi
Sedan. Yes, folks. It's coming.
It hasn't been easy for eager members of the media here to get any information out of the charismatic CEO, but he did share with us some initial details of the model, and has pretty much confirmed its arrival by 2018, at the very latest. End 2016 is believed to be a target, while 2017 is said to be a more reliable possibility.
*Also read:
Perodua Targets To Sell Its Millionth Myvi by 2017
Having seen the GMS Buddyz Concept at the 2013 KLIMS show (pictured here), it’s really to no surprise that a Perodua sedan was on the way, but Perodua has been completely mum on the subject since.
Finally, we’ve got some juicy details for you.
For one, Datuk Aminar confirmed with us that a prototype already exists, and that it will once again be partnering with Japanese carmaker, Daihatsu, for the production of the vehicle. It is believed that Perodua will be leading the charge on this project, with Daihatsu overseeing its development.
Datuk Aminar was also adamant that the upper body design of the vehicle will be, from the ground up, Malaysian designed. The above images of the Buddyz Concept is the only image we have of a Perodua Sedan (albeit a concept), so do expect a vastly different exterior design to the above.
On its arrival time, Aminar teased, “It won’t be this year. It might be next year. It's even more likely the year after that. It’s definitely not by 2019 or 2020.” Which leaves us with a 2017 to 2018 time frame, from the cheeky CEO.
Safety is big on Perodua’s plans as well, with a 5-Star NCAP rating targeted by the national carmaker - it wasn't clearly stated which NCAP he was referring to, but it's most likely the ASEAN NCAP (ANCAP). And to achieve this, it looks like the car will naturally have to adopt some significant updates to what's available on the current Myvi hatchback – could Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), more airbags, and then on be on the cards?
In closing, Datuk Aminar reaffirmed, “It’s going to be a good car, but we don’t dare set too big targets for it just yet. We already have a prototype in testing, and we've had it for almost a year now. So given the natural time frame for the development of a vehicle (24 to 48 months, said Aminar), you will see it soon.”
Stay tuned for more new from Carlist.my for more news on the coming Perodua comact sedan.


Frankfurt 2017: The All-New Renault Megane R.S. Has Arrived

For the longest time, the Renault Megane R.S. was the hot-hatch to beat. It claimed Nurburgring records and was always high up on the list of the top driver's cars every year since it came about, along with the older Clio R.S. models as well. In the last few years that top spot for hot hatchbacks has been greatly contested, with the Golf GTI Clubsport S holding on to it only to lose it to the new Civic FK8 Type R. But RenaultSport is back, with an all-new Megane R.S.- this time in 4-door form.
The new Megane R.S. is powered by a smaller turbocharged 1.8-litre engine (a peculiar choice considering how they had stuck with the 2.0-litre for so long), singing to the tune of 280 hp at 6,000 rpm, with 390 Nm of torque on tap. For the first time ever there is a 6-speed EDC dual-clutch option for the Megane R.S., but thankfully it is also available with the 6-speed manual that we know and love. There are Sport and Cup packages as per the older Megane R.S., with the key difference being the inclusion of a Torsen LSD on the latter.
The front suspension geometry has been redesigned for even more torque-steer eliminating magic. While the rear suspension remains a torsion beam, the new Megane R.S. gets a few clever tricks up its sleeves. Older French hatchbacks used to get a form of rear-wheel steering through bushing flex on the torsion beams themselves. This is useful to a certain degree as it helps with rotating the hatchback into the corner and optimizing geometry in more aggressive situations.
But to go beyond this, there needs to be a mechanical system that can give you better stability at higher speeds, but sharper rotation when you need it as well. That's where Renault's 4CONTROL system comes in, which is effectively a form of 4-wheel steering. At higher speeds it steers with the front wheels, while at lower speeds it steers in the opposite direction. This is a first for its segment, or even hatchbacks in general.
As for the rest of the Megane R.S., it's pretty standard fare. There's the R.S. Monitor which is now even more detailed with the information it registers and will allow you to parade your G force readouts in front of your mates at your local trackday. Much like the BMW M3 and M4, there is also an expert mode that can connect to a camera for even better analysis of your driving, good or bad.
The Multi-Sense system offers five different driving modes, although this is pretty much a rehash of the older Pedal Law system that we had in the earlier Megane R.S. models. There will be a 300-horsepower Trophy variant of the Megane R.S. coming out at the end of 2018, so if you can hold off for just a little bit longer it may be worth the wait.


Yamaha Has A Sports Car Up Its Sleeve, Ready For Unveil At 2015 Tokyo Motor Show

You wouldn’t really expect to hear that brand following the news that a teaser image had just landed of a sleek little sports coupe, but Yamaha has sneakily been working on just that kind of car.
It’s an interesting move from the company more known for its motorcycles, musical instruments, audio equipment, and even engines (whether acoustically tuning the
Lexus
 LFA’s glorious sound, developing the 4.4-litre V8’s in a
XC90
 and other
Volvos
, to the SHO V6 for
Ford
).
The 2013 Yamaha Motiv.e Concept
In 2013, also at the Tokyo Motor Show, Yamaha’s general manager of innovation, Masato Suzuki, said of their Motive.e concept: "The time is right for us to take mobilisation on to four wheels. Everything is under consideration at present. We see an opportunity for us in many different markets around the world,” writes Autocar.
Back to the teaser - there’s not much to go on from the rather grainy picture, unfortunately. But come this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, things should get much clearer. Yamaha merely added that its line-up of two wheeled machines will be joined by “an automobile”.
Yamaha also developed this, the OX99-11, from 1992 as a technological showcase since they began competing in Formula 1 three years prior. The project was tumultous, and only three prototypes were produced.
The car side profile teaser does have many of the sporting cues we’ve come to expect, such as that low and swooping profile. But with little to scale it against, it could be quite compact. If that were true, it would be in line with Yamaha’s previous known intentions to enter the small car market.
Perhaps this attempt at a sports car sets out to prove what can be done on a compact platform. A small-engine, rear-driven, spritely coupe that’s fun and frugal? Yamaha had developed, albeit briefly, a rather interesting compact sports car in the 90s (seen above). Its a long shot to expect any of that to find its way into future Yamahas, but it does bode well.


Women In The Driving Seat

Do you know what New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Iceland and Denmark have in common?

All six of these countries have women as their heads of state. During these troubled times we've seen proactive decision-making, clear communication as well as their empathetic and transparent approach shine through.

So we thought we'll take some time today to shine the light on women who are also doing remarkable work in our industry, the automotive industry.  We list down a few of many local as well as international women pioneers who are in the driving seat.

Pic credit: RupesMalaysia/AutocolortechMalaysia

Joyce Lua (Hands of an angel)

She might not be a name you hear much about in the auto industry, but her choice and quality of work deserves recognition. Ever been to a car detailer and seen a woman detailing a car? Better yet, ever seen a woman being entrusted with detailing a Rolls Royce? Well, you've never met Joyce before then. Rolls Royce Malaysia trusts her with their cars as do many others with expensive vehicles. Joyce started her career in car detailing in 2008, and handling a detailing machine is now secondary to her. Her drive to prove men and people in the auto industry wrong was the catalyst as many doubted her in the beginning. She's inspiring because she has the bravery to tackle a predominately male workplace and excel in it.

Datuk Aishah Ahmad (Taking the fight to the government)

MAA is one of the key figures in the trade and manufacturing aspects of the automotive industry. They have been there every step of the way, and has a say in automotive policies, rules and legislation. Since 1989, the president of this influential organisation has been Datuk Aishah Ahmad. She has seen the automotive industry go through ups and downs and has been its guiding hand through it all. Thanks to Datuk Aishah Ahmad and her team who fight for a lot of things, we now have better diesel fuel, we also applaud her for fighting with the government to lower excise duties.

Pic credit: My Business Stories

Bertha Benz (The first women to drive long distance)

If the hint was not in the name, Bertha Benz was Karl Benz's wife and business partner. She was also known as the first person in history to drive an automobile over a long distance. She actually stole the Model 3 Benz from her husband, grabbed her two sons and went on a 88km trip to see her mother. Bear in mind, this was the time when horse carriages were the norm, so for her to have done what she did was simply quite ballsy!

Pic credit: MSN.com

Jessi Combs (Fastest female on earth)

Even thinking of travelling at 825km/h would be scary for most people. That's just a tad slower than commercial aeroplanes, and Jessi did it on a rocket looking thing on the ground. Unfortunately, Jessi died on August 27, 2019, attempting to break the land speed record, but her two practice runs before the official timing saw her go as fast as 531.889 mph.

Pic credit: Forbes

Marry Barra (First CEO of a major global automaker)

Female CEOs in any large companies are quite a rare sight, but to be a CEO of a big automaker like GM is even rarefied space. As a girl who grew up adoring Pontiac's Firebird, it is no surprise she ended up where she is now. Marry grew up in a Motor City Family. As soon as she could, she started working as a co-op student (General Motor's University) in the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated in electrical engineering and has been in GM since then. She's had many roles including plant manager and head of corporate comms. In 2014 she was made CEO and since then GM has been on the up and up.

Those are but some of the women in the industry. With anything we believe that diversity only brings progress. Without the creativity and guidance of Farhanah Shukri, our videographer, we'd be lost in producing our videos, so thank you Hanah! We appreciate you.


Both Myvi Drivers Charged Over Fatal DUKE Crash Plead Not Guilty

At the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court, both Perodua Myvi drivers that were involved in the crash along kilometre 6.2 of the DUKE highway during the wee hours of Saturday, 2 May 2015 that caused the death of two adults and an infant have pleaded not guilty.
In the investigation into accident, 31-year old Mohammed Reza Fizal Jamaluddin and 35-year old Siti Noor Aini Mohd Said were arrested and charged under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless driving.
The collision involved two
Perodua

Myvi
s that were allegedly involved in a race along the highway when it came into contact with a
Mitsubishi

Pajero
 driven by 35-year old Fairuz Nizam Husain. His wife 25-year old Nova Safitri Azhari and seven-month old daughter Nur Fizura Annisa were passengers, all three occupants of the SUV perished in the crash.
Under the conditions of having their driving licenses suspended and passports held by the police until the end of the trial, deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim asked the court to impose a bail of RM15,000 each.
However, lawyers representing both of the accused have asked for the bail amount to be reduced in light of the fact that each of them have an income of RM2,000 and young children in their care. Following the request, Judge Noorul Fhaiez Mohd Nayan set the revised bail at RM9,000 each as well as ordered them to hand over their passports and their driving license.
Both drivers could have a minimum two year jail sentence and a RM5,000 fine if found guilty.


New Perodua hybrid model coming in 2024 & it's not the Ativa

We recently reported that the
Perodua Ativa hybrid
 subscription program might potentially get expanded to even traditional sales. But Perodua has something different in mind come 2024.

Dato Sri Zainal, Perodua President and CEO, recently stated that the second national automaker has allocated over RM537 million to develop a new model together with RM247 million to 'further modernise our operations'.

2024 Perodua Bezza hybrid model incoming?

Dato' Sri Zainal also stated that this new hybrid model from Perodua will be a 'full model change' model or a new-generation model. While 2023 is reserved for the
new Perodua Axia
, 2024 will most likely see the arrival of the
next-generation Bezza
, as predicted by many experts in the industry.

As for other forms of NEVs like plug-in hybrids and EVs, Perodua is indeed eyeing this particular segment but at the same time, they are also looking into assisting and supporting its many vendors to move forward together towards the future of automotive.

"We are Perodua and we want to develop the local industry"

It's a challenge for Perodua to overcome considering the fact that they mainly compete in the more affordable segment. Perodua and its current vendors are getting prepared for the upcoming NEV rush that might affect a number of local vendors, which is why Perodua is slowly but surely pushing these vendors into the EV space.

What started out with the Perodua Ativa hybrid has led to the introduction of several tech upgrades to these local vendors, particularly when it comes to battery, electric motors, and high-voltage cabling. This will indeed expand even further in the coming months to develop the brand's next hybrid model set for launch in 2024.

Malaysian BEV rapid growth to start around 2030

That will then move on towards 2030 where they are expecting a sharp rise in BEVs as well as a drop for both ICEs and hybrid vehicles in terms of production volume. When you really think about it, seven years is not too far from now.

At the end of the day, there's no denying the fact that Perodua is headed toward full electrification. It's been a very positive experience so far with the current Ativa hybrid subscription program where they've received no complaints and moving forward with the prospect of manufacturing and selling their own NEVs, they'll make sure that the automaker will prosper alongside its local vendors.

Good guy Perodua doing good guy things.


Peugeot CKD Cars Built To Last in ASEAN Conditions

Peugeot
 produced a video to showcase how their cars that are assembled here in Malaysia can withstand the ASEAN road and weather conditions.

In a bid to showcase the longevity and durability, the Peugeot SUVs Made in ASEAN video was released to showcase its manufacturing processes in its
Gurun plant
, particularly regarding the
2008
,
3008
, and
5008
.

500,000km of combined distance testing

To ensure that these Peugeot SUVs are built to last in the very demanding ASEAN road conditions and unpredictable weather, Peugeot puts its entire CKD model line-up to some very harsh tests to ensure that the cars are indeed reliable for the ASEAN market.

From manufacturing, and quality control, to endurance testing of around 500,000km combined, the Peugeot and the Stellantis plant in Gurun really went to town to ensure that their SUVs can handle all sorts of driving conditions, no matter rain or shine, empty or fully loaded.

Reliability ensured for all ASEAN countries

This is not only vital here in Malaysia, but also in other ASEAN countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Brunei.

According to Linda Jackson, CEO of Peugeot, "We are proud to manufacture Peugeot vehicles with high-quality standards in ASEAN for our customers across Southeast Asia. Excellence is a fundamental brand value for Peugeot. The internationalization strategy is my priority for the brand and customers are at the centre of all our actions."


New Toyota Corolla Altis to Become PDRM Patrol Car, Tun Dr M Approves

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was recently showcased a prototype unit of the Toyota Corolla Altis which would soon be the new patrol vehicle to the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP).

Go Auto, who also happen to be the authorised distributors of Haval vehicles in Malaysia, received the letter of intent from the Home Ministry to supply 425 units of mobile patrol vehicle (MPV), to replace the aging Proton Wira and Proton Waja in stages. According to Go Auto, the selection of the Toyota Corolla Altis was a prerequisite from PDRM.

The vehicles will come with five years of free service and each unit will be equipped with additional special accessories such as the Integrated Light Sound System and Fleet Management System, as well as the Very High Frequency communication radio set.

We had the opportunity to test drive the new Corolla Altis during its
launch
 and our verdict is that it's definitely at home in the city which would make it ideal for city patrolling. The chassis setup is solid, the car felt very planted and sure-footed even going around the bends of Genting.

Now if only we can get our hands on a PDRM-spec Toyota Corolla Altis for a test-drive...


Sakamoto Sets Up First Plastic Fuel Tank Factory In Malaysia

A few months prior to the launch of the all-new Perodua Myvi, we
reported that it may very well be equipped with a plastic fuel tank
. Now it seems that this has been confirmed, and to meet the number of fuel tanks necessary for production Sakamoto set up a manufacturing facility in Bandar Mahkota Industrial Park, Banting.
The facility is a joint venture between Sakamoto Research & Development Holdings Ltd (SRD) and Azman Hamzah Plastik Sdn Bhd (AHP). AHP has had 28 years of experience in providing plastic products to the local automotive industry- making them a suitable partner for this endeavour. Under the JV, SRD holds a 70% stake while AHP holds a 30% stake, with a total upfront capital of RM 22 million.
As mentioned earlier, the first plastic fuel tanks to come from the factory were supplied to Perodua in October of this year, for Myvi production. The facility occupies 5,760 square meters, on a land area of  22,330 square meters. Total investment for this manufacturing facility was RM 90 million, with an expected annual production of 300,000 units. This also happens to be the first plastic fuel tank manufacturer in Malaysia.
The entire manufacturing process is entirely automated, including the blow moulding and burr cutting for the production of the fuel tank itself. From there, the tank is drilled and have its brackets welded on, before the fuel pumps, hoses, and protectors are installed. Sakamoto intends to provide for the increasing demand in Energy Efficient Vehicles in Malaysia, and plastic fuel tanks are a great help in cutting down vehicle weight with hardly any downsides.


Loan Moratorium Will Not Be Extended

The banking sector has said that borrowers will need to start repaying their loans from October.

Over the past week both the
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers
 (FMM) and Malaysians Trade Union Congress (MTUC) have urged the government to extend the moratorium for businesses and for Malaysians in the B40 and M40 group.

However Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) told analysts recently that there will be no blanket extension of the moratorium, but banks in the country will continue to offer targeted financial assistance in the form of restructuring and rescheduling (R&R) to borrowers who are unable to meet their monthly loan commitments.

MIDF Research analyst Imran Yassin Md Yusof expects to see an increase in non-performing loans once the moratorium period ends.

“Nevertheless, we expect the banks would have identified potential troubled borrowers and would have put a lot of effort in restructuring and rescheduling these potentially troubled loans and this may moderate the level of NPLs,” he told
StarBiz
.

We genuinely hope that the six-month moratorium has allowed all of you the breathing space to realign your finances and that come October you will be financially capable of fulfilling your loans. In the off chance that you are considering downsizing or removing a financial commitment in the form of your car then allow us to help you with Carlist.my's
Essential Services
 programme.


Dr Mahathir Still Considers Proton As Malaysia's National Car

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, founder and chairman of Proton Holdings Bhd (Proton), stands by it as Malaysia’s national car, despite some contrasting statements the government was reported to have said.
According to
The Malaysian Insider
, during an interview in conjunction with
Proton
’s 30
th
 anniversary, Tun Dr Mahathir said: "It was the government, not us (Proton). We still consider Proton as the national car, but the government does not think it is the national car, that is the government's policy, we cannot say anything,"
"We consider ourselves as the national car, but the government doesn't consider that (any more), it sees us as the same as the others, whether national or imported, all the same."
He added that he would continue to contribute his ideas and time where it is needed and accepted, and that he would continue to lead the automaker forward.
"As long as I can walk, talk and give my ideas, I will be (the chairman), unless the owner gets rid of me. I don't know about that. Right now, I personally go down to inspect the cars, I do everything myself, I test the products after they are created. Every change they make, I test."
The National Automotive Policy (NAP) has recently lifted the protections for the local automobile industry, leaving Malaysian automakers Proton and Perodua to face stiffer competition from foreign manufacturers.
Tun Dr Mahathir
took a swing
 at the Malaysian Automotive Institute in defence of the local automotive industry, responding to Putrajaya encouraging more competition within the space. He said the stronger foreign competition could result in the loss of “a hundred thousand or so” jobs.
Madani Sahari, CEO of the Malaysian Automotive Institute said that foreign brands accounted for 53 percent of the 2014 passenger car market whereas in 2006, the year NAP was introduced, foreign cars accounted for a much lower 22 percent.


Honda Malaysia Opens New 2S and BP Centres in Melaka and Penang

In an effort to further improve its after-sales services to customers, Honda Malaysia today announced the opening of two new 2S (Service and Spare Parts) and Body and Paint (BP) Centres.
The new 2S and BP Centres; operated by Kah Motor in Melaka and JM Motor Services in Penang, will help to support the growing service intakes in the Northern and Southern regions as well as to cater to more after-sales service in urban areas.
As of May 2017, Honda Malaysia is averaging over 100,000 service intakes nationwide every month and there is a crucial need to provide more locations and convenience to meet the after-sales service requirements of customers.
In terms of region this year, both Southern and Northern regions recorded service intakes of 104,832 and 95,605 respectively as of May 2017, which is an increase by 19% and 11% as compared to the same period in 2016.
The total service intakes in the Southern and Northern regions stood at 203,109 and 176,326 respectively for 2016, an increase of 30% and 16% respectively compared to five years ago.
The 2016 total service intakes recorded a year-on-year increase of 14% as compared to 2015 total service intakes. These increases were in line with the growth of Honda Malaysia in the past five years as a result of the rapid increase in the overall sales of Honda vehicles.
It is said that the opening of the two 2S centres are also in line with the company’s efforts in ensuring that its dealers are located in every state and major towns throughout Malaysia.
On another note, all owners of Honda vehicles, new or used, are invited to participate in a special SMS contest by Honda Malaysia. All owners participating in this contest automatically receive petrol cards, with cash prizes awaiting 1,500 potential winners.
The contest, which is running from 12 June 2017 until 6 August 2017, simply requires customers to find questions that can be found in all Honda showrooms, Honda Malaysia’s official website, and Honda Malaysia’s official Facebook page.
Once customers have found these questions, they simply need to send their answers via SMS together with their car registration number, full name and Identity Card number to 39993.
It is said that all participating owners will automatically be rewarded with petrol cards as a token of appreciation. Terms and conditions apply.


Subaru To Setup CKD Operation In Thailand, Export From Malaysia To Cease In 2019

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the company that owns the Subaru brand, have announced that it will on February 2017, be forming a joint venture company with TC Manufacturing and Assembly (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (TCMA TH), a subsidiary of Tan Chong International Limited, to begin local assembly of Subaru vehicles in Thailand.
FHI did not specify what models will be assembled in Thailand, but it should be the XV and Forester, both of which are currently exported from the Tan Chong Motor Assemblies (TCMA) plant in Segambut, Malaysia.
FHI said: “With a view to enhancing Subaru’s competitiveness and further growth in Southeast Asia, FHI has decided to start production in Thailand by a new and soon to be established joint venture company, Tan Chong Subaru Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd., 74.9% of which will be owned by TCMA TH and 25.1% by FHI. The new joint venture aims to begin production in 2019.”
It should be noted that while both TCMA and TCMA TH are related to the same founding families, the two companies belong to a different holding company.
TCMA, which has two plants in Malaysia (Segambut and Serendah), is owned by the Kuala Lumpur-listed Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad, which also owns the distributor rights for Nissan and Renault vehicles in Malaysia.
The Serendah plant assembles Nissan vehicles while the older Segambut plant mainly does contract assembly for other non-Nissan brand vehicles, including Chinese brand Foton commercial vehicles, Mitsubishi (ASX), Renault (Fluence) and Subaru (XV and Forester).
TCMA TH is owned by the Hong Kong-listed Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL). The company also owns Motor Image, the distributor of Subaru vehicles for many countries in Asia Pacific including Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Philippines.
Contract assembly of Subaru vehicles at TCMA’s plant in Segambut will remain, serving the Malaysian domestic market only. As such, there will be no change to the sourcing arrangement for Subaru XV and Forester models sold in Malaysia.
Export to Indonesia have since ceased, following a tax dispute between Subaru distributor Motor Image and Indonesian authorities.


Forward Parking or Reverse Parking? Not a Problem With Audi

There's recently been a fair bit of debate over the virtues of reverse parking versus the inconvenience caused to other road users. Alright, to be fair it's a pretty one-sided debate: many companies employ reverse parking for safety reasons, and some longer vehicles can only be parked in reverse, but for Audi's new automated parking systems it is no longer an issue. Self learning is the next level in piloted driving as it adds high levels of flexibility when the system is presented with a new situation.
At the NIPS (Neural Information Processing Systems) Conference and Workshop this year, Audi has presented a small slice of this new self-learning system in the form of automated parking. A scaled-down model of an Audi Q2 is placed in a bullpen of sorts and made to navigate its way into a metal frame that represents a parking spot. The model is outfitted with automated controls for steering and movement, as well as 10 ultrasonic sensors and a mono camera at each end for vision.
The system effectively learns how to maneuver itself into the spot, even if it may be in an awkward position- so long as it is physically possible. Even if the system requires a hundred different minute adjustments, it will find a way to position itself in the final parking space (as long as it will fit). Arguably this kind of system may not be entirely necessary when there is already talk of stand-off behaviour (where the car may stay a distance away and come to the location when you require pickup), but it is still nifty to have if you're in a hurry and don't want to hunt for a space. Let's just hope you can find your car when it's done.


Toyota working on a modern MR2? This report suggests so

Toyota's racing arm Gazoo Racing is apparently working on a
modern MR2
. Woahh mamma, this sounds interesting!

Toyota's racing arm, Gazoo Racing has been a busy bee for the past few years, releasing several cars that have received well everywhere it lands.

It all started with the GR Supra, followed up by the amazing
GR Yaris
 and GR86 and most recently, the
GR Corolla
.

It seems that the next GR car however will be something a little different, where initally everyone thought it would take shape as an electric vehicle.

Well, according to recent reports coming out of Japan, instead of an electric vehicle, Toyota is in the midst of cooking up a compact and affordable "Midship Sports" car with a surprising 1.0-litre turbocharged engine.

Best Car magazine reports that the baby sports car will be co-developed with Suzuki and Daihatsu, the experts in making small and affordable cars.

According to the Japanese magazine, the Toyota baby sports car might come with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that produces 120hp and 200Nm of torque and will be supported by a mild hybrid system to improve its performance.

If you think these numbers are unimpressive, consider that one of Mazda's most loves sports cars, the 1.5-litre
MX-5
, only generates 129hp and 150Nm, so small numbers sometimes can work.

Plus, it has been reported that the small car will only weigh around 1,000 kilograms, around the same weight as the Mazda MX-5. But what's more impressive is that the Midship Sports car will be equipped with the suspension from the current Yaris, which means it should be a blast to drive.

The Japanese magazine also speculated its price, and they predict it to be retailed between $16,000 - $21,000 (RM70k - RM92k), which should make it one of the most affordable cars out there.


EU Comes To An Agreement On Revised General Safety Regulations For Vehicles

With the news of new regulations being pushed all over the world, it can be difficult to keep track of which countries are implementing what new technologies. The European Commission has just announced that a provisional political agreement has been reached regarding the revised General Safety Regulations, which will come into effect by 2022.
The regulations target safety technologies that must be present in European vehicles in order to protect passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The definition of a "vehicle" extends to cars, vans, trucks, and buses. The aim is to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on European roads, 90% of which are a result of human error.
What does this equate to in absolute numbers? There's an expectation of around 25,000 lives a year that will be saved, and around 140,000 less serious injuries a year by 2038. The overarching goal is to hit zero road fatalities by 2050, better known as "Vision Zero".
In terms of actual features, the interim requirements at 2022 aren't particularly high bars to pass. For all vehicles, there needs to be a warning for driver drowsiness and distraction, intelligent speed assistance (whether that's in the form of automatic limiters or speed limit sign recognition), reverse cameras and sensors, and data recorders for accidents. These aren't things that we haven't seen before, even in entry level models.
Specific for cars and vans will be lane-keeping assistance, advanced emergency braking, and crash-test improved safety belts - again, nothing outrageous. Buses and trucks, on the other hand, will need to be constructed for better vision and come with systems that warn of other road users around the vehicles during turns.


Lesen Khas Trak Pikap Diperlukan – Bendung Kemalangan Maut

Kerajaan perlu mewujudkan
lesen memandu
 khas untuk pemandu
trak pikap
 ekoran banyak kes
kemalangan maut
 melibatkan kenderaan itu di Malaysia.

Saranan itu dicadangkan oleh Ketua Jurulatih TIC Advanced & Performance Driving Academy, Azad Jasmi yang mendapati lesen memandu khas itu penting agar pemandu trak pikap mempunyai kemahiran serta teknik pengendalian trak pikap dengan betul dan selamat.

Lesen Memandu Khas Trak Pikap

Azad mencadangkan supaya pemandu trak pikap perlu memiliki lesen memandu khas seperti pemandu lori dan bas iaitu Lesen Memandu Kenderaan Perdagangan (GDL) dan Lesen Kenderaan Pengangkutan Awam (PSV).

“Keupayaan pengendalian dan memahami karakter sesebuah pacuan empat roda ini penting kerana jika berlaku kecemasan, pemandu akan tahu cara yang selamat untuk membrek supaya kereta itu tidak berpusing atau terbalik,” katanya.

Pada waktu ini, sesiapa sahaja boleh memandu trak pikap asalkan mempunyai lesen Kelas D, iaitu motokar berat tanpa muatan tidak melebihi 3,500 kilogram.

Menurut Azad, lesen Kelas D yang digunakan pemandu pacuan empat roda ketika ini tidak sesuai dengan cara pengendaliannya yang berbeza dengan kereta lain.

Azad turut menyebut bahawa kebanyakan mereka yang mengambil lesen memandu Kelas D akan berlatih memandu dengan menggunakan kereta jenis
Perodua Kancil
 atau
Perodua Axia
.

“Bagaimanapun, selepas mendapat lesen, mereka pandu pacuan empat roda yang mempunyai fizikal yang jauh lebih besar, tinggi serta enjin yang lebih berkuasa,” katanya kepada Kosmo.

Bahaya Trak Pikap

Secara umumnya, Azad memberitahu kenderaan pacuan empat roda tidak boleh dipandu terlalu laju terutamanya ketika digunakan untuk mengangkut barang atau beban.

Jelasnya, kedudukan titik graviti trak pikap adalah lebih tinggi menyebabkan ia menjadi kurang stabil berbanding kenderaan yang lebih rendah dan dekat dengan permukaan jalan.

“Lebih teruk apabila sikap pemilik yang tidak mengenali secara menyeluruh sifat kenderaan itu dan terus memandu laju sehingga hilang kawalan dan mudah untuk memasuki laluan bertentangan atau terbabas,” ujarnya.

Kursus Dan Latihan Memandu Trak Pikap

Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Jalan Raya Kebangsaan, Datuk Mohammad Hisham Shafie pula berkata, mana-mana individu yang mahu memandu trak pikap juga perlu menjalani latihan atau kursus bagi meningkatkan advokasi.

Katanya, antara sebab utama kemalangan masih berulang disebabkan sikap pemandu selain terdapat perbezaan antara cara pemanduan pikap dengan kereta.

“Kita sedia maklum bahawa trak pikap adalah lebih besar dan memiliki kuasa yang lebih tinggi menyebabkan segelintir pemandu tidak mahu bertolak ansur dan juga bersikap ego.

“Jadi, satu program advokasi melibatkan teknik memandu dan pemanduan berhemah perlu diterapkan dalam sistem sedia ada,” ujarnya.

Beliau turut menyarankan Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) dan institut memandu untuk melakukan pemeriksaan ke atas pemandu untuk tempoh tiga tahun hingga lima tahun sekali bagi memastikan mereka layak untuk mengendalikan kenderaan itu.

“Sepatutnya selepas individu ambil lesen, pemandu perlu menjalani semula latihan, teori dan praktikal dalam tempoh tiga hingga lima tahun sekali bagi memastikan kompetensi dan kecekapan pemandu adalah berada pada tahap yang baik dan memuaskan,” tambahnya.

Beliau juga menegaskan, penguatkuasaan undang-undang juga perlu ditingkatkan supaya tiada individu memandang ringan terhadap peraturan sedia ada.


All-New 2019 G07 BMW X7 Unveiled, Available With M Performance And 760 Nm Of Torque

The production version of BMW’s flagship model in its SUV range has finally been made public. The all-new G07 BMW X7 maintains the concept car’s most distinctive feature- the massive kidney grille.
Aimed to compete with other flagship SUVs in the premium segment such as Lexus LX, Infiniti QX80, and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, the all-new G07 BMW X7 will also be in the shopping list of customers in the USA who own the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator.
Similar to the recently launched G05 BMW X5, the slim head lamps in the BMW X7 feature Laserlight technology with distinctive X-shaped elements in blue. This technology extends the beam range by 100%, from 300 metres (LED system) to 600 metres.
Two design packages are available: Design Pure Excellence and M Sport. The former features more bright chrome and silver trim finishes, while the latter adopts more gloss black trim pieces for a sportier look.
Other notable exterior features include a split tailgate that is powered and wheel sizes ranging from 20 inches to 22 inches.
Much attention has been paid to the comfort levels for passengers seated in the second and third rows. Two individual seats with power adjustments and individual armrests can be fitted as an option.
BMW has also fitted a five-zone air conditioning system, allowing occupants in the third row to have control of their own climate. The company also mentioned that the full-sized seats in the third row offer great comfort levels over long distances.
As seen in the BMW 7 Series, the panorama glass roof with ‘Sky Lounge’ lighting uplifts the cabin ambience. LED light is spread evenly across the glass surface to illuminate over 15,000 graphic patterns. All three sections of the glass roof are fitted with its own electric sun blind and controls are separated at each seating row.
Other highlights in the interior include a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system with 20 speakers, dual-touchscreen rear seat entertainment system, and front seats with massaging function.
The driver meanwhile will navigate the layers of vehicle menus through
BMW Live Cockpit
with BMW Operation System 7.0.
A big motor is only expected in this massive SUV. Behind the largest kidney grille in BMW history lies a familiar 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine. The engine delivers 462 hp and 650 Nm of torque, vital outputs to score a century dash time of just 5.4 seconds. BMW, however, will not offer this xDrive50i variant in Europe.
BMW has also unveiled a variant with M Performance tuning, named the X7 M50d. The
3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine
 features multi-stage turbocharging with four turbochargers, delivering a colossal 760 Nm of torque and 400 hp. Benchmark acceleration time is similar to the petrol V8 engine, setting 5.4 seconds on the stopwatch.
The BMW X7 M50d also comes standard with an M Sport differential, a sportier chassis set-up, and 21-inch M-design alloy wheels.
In the smallest petrol engine, a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six will have the X7 xDrive40i label, generating up to 340 hp and 450 Nm of torque. That is sufficient to haul the 2.4 tonne SUV from rest to 100 km/h in an impressive time of 6.1 seconds.
There is no news on the plug-in hybrid system which was shown earlier this year on the X7 iPerformance concept car.
Precise engine power is sent to all four wheels through BMW’s famed xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system. The Off-Road package also calibrates throttle, brake, stability control and torque split together with the height of the air suspension to traverse all types of terrain conditions with ease.
Safety equipment is also all-encompassing in the all-new G07 X7, which includes the semi-autonomous Driving Assistant Professional and Emergency Stop Assistant.
One useful semi-automated feature that stands out in this massive SUV is the Reversing Assistant. This is extremely useful when the driver is not able to have a clear view of the rear of the X7, or when clearing through narrow pathways in reverse direction.
The feature stores steering movements over the last 50 metres of forward low-speed driving. When it is time to move in reverse, the system automatically controls the steering movement in the X7 in the path that the vehicle had moved forward earlier, with the driver just controlling the vehicle speed.
The all-new G07 BMW X7 will be built alongside other BMW X models at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, USA. Global sales are slated to start in March 2019.


Caltex Rewards Contest Winners With Iconic Vespa Bikes

Chevron Malaysia Limited, marketeers of the Caltex brand has rewarded the first 10 winners of its ‘True Power from Within’ contest with the grand prize of a Vespa Premivera 150 ABS scooter each.
Caltex’s promotion runs in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of the popular movie franchise Transformers, and the release of its latest installment, The Last Knight.
Customers can participate in the ‘True Power from Within’ contest by purchasing a minimum purchase of RM50 worth of Caltex with Techron fuel and stand a chance to win prizes such as the Vespa scooters and StarCash.
Customers with Caltex ‘Journey’ and ‘B Infinite’ loyalty cards are entitled to special draws and a chance to win up to two million ‘BPoints’.


2017 Jaguar F-Pace Makes Malaysian Debut – From RM598,800

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Malaysia Sdn Bhd has launched the all-new Jaguar F-Pace performance SUV in Malaysia which will be available in two trim levels:
F-Pace Prestige: RM598,800
F-Pace R-Sport: RM658,800
Prices quoted are inclusive of GST but exclude road tax, registration and insurance.
However, those who require even further exclusivity can opt for the Black Pack R-Sport option which comes with a wide range of optional features. With all the additional goodies, the vehicle's price stands at RM704,624.
The list of standard features in the F-Pace Prestige are as follows:
Bi-xenon LED headlights with DRLs
10-way powered front seats
Blind Spot Monitor
Reverse Traffic Detection
Gesture Controlled Powered Tailgate
Lightweight Aluminium Architecture
508 litres storage space
18-inch wheels
8-inch touchscreen
Monotube dampers
Intelligent Driveline Dynamics
Analogue instrument cluster with 5-inch TFT display
Torque Vectoring
The F-Pace R-Sport gets additional features such as:
Adaptive LED headlamps
All-surface Progress Control
R-Sport Bodykit
R-Sport steering wheel
R-Sport metal treadplate
In-Control Touch Pro infotainment system
14-way powered front seats
10.2-inch touchscreen
12.3-inch full virtual instrument cluster
Adaptive Dynamic suspensions
Configurable Dynamics
Adaptive Surface Response
And then we have the F-Pace R-Sport Black Pack, which is basically the R-Sport fitted with optional accessories like:
22-inch wheels
Activity Key
Gloss black grille and finishes
Illuminated Metal Treadplates
Rear Seat Comfort Pack
Meridian 380W Audio System
Only one engine choice is available; a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine pinched from the F-Type sports car which produces 340PS, and paired to the engine is an eight-speed electronic automatic transmission. This allows the F-Pace to accelerate from 0-100kph in 5.8 seconds all the way to an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph.
Measuring at 4,731mm long with a 2,874mm wheelbase, the F-Pace, which is fully imported from the UK, is built on a body structure that comprises 80 percent aluminium, making it one of the lightest vehicles in class.
Featuring a torque-on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, the F-Pace, which is offered in nine exterior colours, benefits from Jaguar Care which comprises a 5-year warranty and free service. Besides that, the vehicle also gets three years of Jaguar Roadside Assistance.
Managing Director of JLR Malaysia Datuk Aishah Ahmad notes, “We now have an amazing new product that will meet the needs of discerning customers who like the practicality of an SUV, the drivability of a sports car and the prestige of an iconic marque. Compared to other luxury SUVs in its segment, the all-new F-Pace offers a better proposition all-round – better drive, better looks and better technology.”


Carlist.my People's Choice Awards 2018 Returns- Vote And Stand A Chance To Win Prizes!

The much-awaited Carlist.my People’s Choice Awards – Car of The Year is back for its fourth year consecutively to declare the ‘cream of the crop’ to key automotive brands once again.
Hosted by Carlist.my, Malaysia’s No.1 car site with the largest network and most trusted online source for new and used cars, the Award has selected models with top marks from various major car manufacturers’ to be voted by the public on their new monarch.
Consumers are able to
 place their vote for their favourite car
 in each category from now until the 11th of November. Voters will also stand a chance to win prizes of up to RM30, 000 from Harman Kardon, JBL and A&S.
18 star-studded categories are up for grabs this year such as The Best Hatch and Sedan in three size-categories (Compact, Mid-range, and Premium), Budget MPV, Mid-Range MPV, Premium MPV, Continental Tyre Premium Luxury Sedan, Crossover, SUV, Continental Tyre Premium SUV, Continental Tyre Aspirational Car, Pick-up, Green Car, and Budget Car.
In addition to the People’s Choice Award, Carlist.my will be introducing another award: Editors’ Choice Awards - Car of The Year.
Finalist for the Editor’s Choice Awards – Car of The Year is selected behind closed doors through a series of scoring system amongst the editor-cum-judges. The panel of experienced Carlist.my editors will be selecting the winners of this category from their perspective and criteria.
Hamish Stone, CEO of Carlist.my said “We’re pleased with the last year’s results and how it has helped with the car manufacturers’ sales and revenue. Their effort and dedication to claim the top prize is well recognized by the general public.”
“We’re expecting this year to be a lot tougher than last years’ selection due to the tight competition from all of the car brands.” he added.
He also added that Carlist.my hopes that this award program will help end consumers with their automotive choices and as much as providing the auto makers with better insights into what car buyers want.
PKF Malaysia is the official scrutineer for this years’ Carlist.my People’s Choice Awards – Car of the Year with Continental as the Official Tyre Partner. Official prize sponsors are Harman Kardon, JBL and A&S while Official Media Partners are SAYS, OhBulan and Viral Cham.
Announcement for both People’s Choice Award and Editors’ Choice Award winners will be officially revealed on November 16th via Carlist.my’s social media pages and website.


2022 Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4 Matic and EQA 250 review - A couple of EVs that can be taken out of town?

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's electric vehicle range is one of the most complete families of EVs in Malaysia, and we went on an out-of-town trip with them to see what they are like to live with it.

When the government announced the 2022 budget last year, players in the automotive industry jumped out of their seats as it was announced that electric vehicles (EVs) sold beyond 2021 will be exempted from road tax, excise duties, and import duties!

These EV incentives were pretty earth-shaking at the time as they practically opened up the doors for more EV sales in Malaysia, where before they would have been deemed too pricey. Yes, EV prices are still on the premium side, but they have reduced, thanks to the incentives.

With the road paved for more EVs to be sold in Malaysia, many local distributors started working on a plan to bring their EVs. In the final months of 2021, automakers from BMW to Volvo to even Hyundai/Kia announced that they would be introducing their EVs in early 2022, but surprisingly, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) was pretty quiet on this front.

In March 2022 however, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia debuted its first EV, the all-electric
EQA 250
. This Merc EV practically opened the Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle floodgate, which saw Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introducing three more models in Q4.

With these releases, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has one of the most comprehensive EV ranges in Malaysia. They have most of the cars from their Mercedes-Benz EQ (Intelligent Electric Mobility) range and one of Malaysia's most versatile lineups of EVs, making up for their slow start.

To showcase their EVs, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia recently invited us for a drive. This drive would take us from their headquarters in Puchong, down south to Muar, with an overnight stop in Melaka and back to the Klang Valley. This is of course one of the first electric vehicle drives hosted in Malaysia, a clear sign of the times we live in.

The lineup of cars consisted of the complete EQ family in Malaysia, including the
EQA 250 SUV
,
EQB 350 7-seater SUV
,
EQC 400 SUV
, and the top dog, the
EQS 450+
.

Although we tried our best to sample all the vehicles, unfortunately, we didn't have enough time, limiting us to the EQC 400 and EQA 250.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4 Matic

The EQC 400
 is one of the first electric vehicles out of Stuttgart. It's based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC and shares many of its dimensions, including its wheelbase.

In developing the EQC, the engineering focus was not just on the innovative powertrain system, progressive design, and driving dynamics but also on configuring the electric car very consciously for everyday suitability and long-term, hassle-free use.

Considering that it was built on the MRA platform designed specifically for internal combustion vehicles (ICE), one must pay kudos to Mercedes-Benz for creating a usable electric vehicle out of the parts bin.

The EQC 400 4Matic carries the brand's EV 'dynamic performance' thanks to two electric motors mounted on the front and rear axles. Combined output is set at
408hp
 and, get this -
760Nm
 of instant torque. Not only does this mean that the EQC 400 is the most potent EV in Mercedes' lineup, but all of that power also allows the SUV to get from 0-100km/h in just 5.1 seconds, technically also making it the fastest accelerating Mercedes EV in Malaysia.

It has a top speed of 180km/h, and an 80kWh battery pack that offers a range of between
373km
 to
437km
 (WLTP cycle).

In terms of charging, the EQC is fitted with the standard 11kW onboard charger and supports up to 110kW DC fast charging. As a result, 10%-100% using the AC charger can be done in 7 hours and 30 minutes, while 10%-80% using the 110kW DC charger can be completed in just 40 minutes.

The driving experience of the EQC is pretty much like a GLC, where you are basked in comfort and luxury but without the engine sound. Of course, its instant torque is entertaining, but you only really feel the full grunt when accelerating from a standstill. When moving, the monstrous amounts of torque is not as noticeable, but still, you have lots of power that can quickly get you to its top speed without much effort.

On the highway, the EQC is an accomplished cruiser, probably better than the GLC, as its EV drivetrain gives it this next level of refinement that ICE vehicles will never have (ok, maybe the
Mercedes-Maybach
 can provide this). However, that's when you're going straight because when the roads get a bit bendy, you start to feel its main weakness as the weight of the heavy battery-powered vehicle is felt.

The EQC is built for Autobahn-type cruising, where maximum comfort is of the utmost importance, so to expect it to deliver a fun and agile experience would be wrong. However, if you treat it as the vehicle it is meant to be, you will have no qualms with it.

But we guess the most important question of all was how was its driving range? Well, when we set off from MBM's headquarters in Puchong, the EQC had around 367km of driving range, and when we reached Melaka at the end of the day via Muar, it had around 118km left. Okay, that's not enough to get us back to the Klang Valley, but an overnight recharge would have sorted that out,  but then again, we never got to try it out as we moved on to the EQA.

Mercedes-Benz EQA 250

Like the EQC, the EQA is built on a modified ICE platform. It is based on the Mercedes Benz GLA, their smallest SUV. As mentioned, it was the
first Mercedes-Benz EV introduced in Malaysia
, in front of all the other models from the EQ range.

Despite having one of the smallest battery packs out of all the Mercedes EVs, it still delivers a decent driving range of around 429km. When we set off from Melaka towards Seremban, it had 360km of driving range (not fully charged, about 70% of battery life). By the time we got to Seremban, it had 200km of driving range left, which meant we had plenty of juice left to get us back to Puchong.

One of the reasons the battery depleted quickly between Melaka and Seremban was that we were having so much fun in the EQA. It never felt like a heavy battery-operated vehicle as it was quite agile and light. Because of this, we were being slight hooligans on the road and even managed to get it to max out at its top speed of 160km/h.

The EQA 250 is powered by a front-mounted single electric motor that outputs 190PS and 375Nm that's good for an 8.9-second sprint to 100km/h, which is about level with the GLA 250's performance figures (8.7s to 100km/h).

This is definitely the better Mercedes EV on small, tight roads, but it still cruised really well on the highway. The difference between the EQA and EQC on the highway was that the EQA had a lot of sound intrusion in the cabin, and the ride was a bit bouncy. We wouldn't say the EQA is uncomfortable, but it's not an accomplished highway cruiser like the EQC. Where the EQA belongs is actually in the city, where it fits in perfectly.

A complete range of EVs for every need

So as you can see from our short but insightful experience, Mercedes Benz Malaysia has a versatile lineup of EVs with different characteristics.

Yes, we never managed to test the EQS and EQB, but from what we saw, the
EQS is best for out-of-town trips
. It managed to travel throughout the two-day & one-night trip without a recharge and was only juiced up when it arrived back at MBM's headquarters at the end of the excursion.

If you ever need a seven-seater EV, the EQB can deliver on that front because it is the only seven-seater EV available in Malaysia.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia might have started a tiny bit slower in the local EV race, but they have more than made up for it by introducing various cars with different purposes. The driving range offered in the Merc EVs is also decent and impressive, especially considering that only the EQS was made from the ground up to be an electric vehicle. The rest are based on ICE platforms, but you would have never known if no one had told you.


Ford and Apple May Just Have Found the Solution for Range Anxiety

For electric vehicle owners, range anxiety and having to constantly guess when and where to re-charge is a constant “headache”, but Ford and Apple may just have found the cure for it.

So Ford, in an effort to help buyers build trust on electric vehicles, and provide peace of mind, have equipped the all-new
Mustang Mach-E  SUV
 with a feature that can predict how much range drivers have left, more accurately.

Called the “Intelligent Range”, the system will calculate range based on past driver behaviour and forecasted weather conditions – taking advantage of the cloud to predict how much energy will be used in future driving.

The vehicle battery system also reports how much energy is available, while the powertrain module tracks how much energy is being used. Warmer or colder weather can impact range, so Intelligent Range takes that into consideration, too, updating estimated range along the way.

Thanks to the feature, the Mustang Mach-E can even track how much energy is used in different circumstances, including varying speed, terrain and climate conditions, so it can use fleet averages across all Mustang Mach-Es to improve range estimates – even for routes and conditions an individual customer has never driven before.

If range is impacted notably by any number of factors at the start of a trip, customers will receive a notification in their cluster highlighting the new range estimate and details about why the estimate has changed.

On the Brightside, Ford said that it will upgrade the Intelligent Range through over-the-air update, designed to deliver even more accurate prediction capabilities for connected Mustang Mach-E, keeping their fully electric SUVs at the forefront of technology.

A future update will allow Mustang Mach-E to take even more advantage of cloud-connected capabilities, enabling it to factor in real-time traffic conditions, road slope, the terrain and elevation of a given route, and even the temperature at their final destination.

“Changes in driver behaviour and the environment can often impact range, which is the reason other electric vehicles often experience significant range adjustments,” said Mark Poll, electric vehicle charging user experience manager, Ford Motor Company. “Ford is tapping the power of the cloud to make estimates even more accurate – reducing the need for surprise charging stops and to help reduce customers’ anxiety.”

The all-electric Mustang Mach-E – with a targeted pure-electric driving range of up to more than 600 km according to the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) – spearheads a rapidly expanding Ford electrified vehicle range and is one of 18 new electrified vehicles the company is introducing to Europe before the end of 2021.

Besides Ford, Apple is also doing its part in getting rid of range anxiety once and for all. The latest version of Apple's iOS, through the Apple Maps function, will actually offer owners of electric vehicles the ability to plan their route based on charger locations.

According to Apple, the new feature aims to eliminate range anxiety by ensuring that the car can reach the next electric vehicle charging station, by taking into account factors like road elevation, weather, and other elements that consume power.

It is said that Apple Maps on iOS 14 will also monitor the vehicle's current range, keeping an eye on the car's battery usage throughout the journey.


For Only RM16, You Can Help This Man Repair His Crashed Ferrari 458 Speciale

How would you like to help a man repair his
Ferrari 458
 Speciale? No, not the one which
recently crashed in Sarawak
 but this one all the way in Europe in a project called ‘The Dead Ferrari’.
See, this man had a little accident while driving the 597hp mid-engine V8 limited-production exotic on the Nurburgring where he crashed the car and left it in a pretty sad state. How sad? Try 210,000 euros (RM874,029) in repair costs. These photos show us the extent of the damage which is pretty significant.
However, the owner couldn’t come to terms that his 458 Speciale is totalled and destined for the scrapyard which is why he has set up a crowdfunding site
here
 to have random strangers give him money to repair the car – 3.99 euros (RM16.61) per centimetre square of the car.
Why pay for a space on the car? Well, those who do donate will be getting something in return as well because they will have a chance to use the
Ferrari
 as a canvas, uploading a picture on the vehicle’s hood, body, or bumper. Any picture can be uploaded and the revenue will be used to repair the Ferrari and making it an “art car” in the process.
Not only that, contributors will be eligible for a free entrance to the Ferrari Revival Festival and the opportunity for 5000+ people to see your picture every day.
To encourage participation, if 50,000 people do take part in this project, the repaired Ferrari will then be given to one lucky winner for an entire month, for free! That equates to a 1 in 50,000 chance of driving a Ferrari which is pretty tempting.
So, would you want to help out this man and perform a good deed today?


Aston Martin Reveals More Details About Valkyrie Hypercar

It is no secret that Aston Martin is working hand-in-hand with Red Bull Racing to develop its first ever hypercar called the
Valkyrie
. Previously, the Valkyrie was known simply as AM-RB-001.
Compared to the car that was teased earlier, Aston Martin says that the one shown here is an improved version. Perhaps the biggest difference is the openings in the Valkyrie's body between the cockpit and the front wheel arches. The openings are designed to help the Valkyrie achieve more front downforce, according to Red Bull Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey.
Then there's the headlights, which Aston Martin states that the headlights take inspiration from a Formula One car. Now, the Aston Martin Valkyrie does not have headlight covers, instead, the high and low beam elements are fixed to an exposed anodised aluminium frame that allows the headlight beam to be 30 - 40 percent lighter than the lightest series production headlamps available to the company.
Aston Martin's attention to detail included its own 'wings' emblem, as the regular emblem was considered to be too heavy, and a simple sticker won't do the Valkyrie justice. So, the Aston Martin Design Team came up with a chemical etched aluminium emblem that is just 70 microns thick. The emblem, nicknamed the 'lacewing' is attached to the painted body and covered with a layer of lacquer.
Inside, the Aston Martin Design team wanted to keep distractions to a bare minimum, so they positioned all switchgear on the steering wheel, with all vital details shown on a single OLED display. Similar to a Formula One car, the steering wheel can be removed to ease ingress and egress. The team also paid attention to the car's glasshouse design to ensure uninterrupted forward and peripheral side-to-side vision. Out goes the side mirrors, as a pair of rear facing cameras feed two displays located at the base of each A-pillar to mimic a traditional wing mirror.
Aston Martin remained tight-lipped on powertrain and performance details of the new Valkyrie, though we expect the company to share more details in the coming months.


Luc Donckerwolke To Replace Peter Schreyer At Hyundai Motor, Reports Say

Reports say that Luc Donckerwolke will succeed Peter Schreyer as head of design for
Hyundai
 and
Kia
.
The Belgian designer has reportedly left the position of Bentley’s Director of Design to join the Hyundai Motor Corporation although both Korean brands have yet to confirm his appointment,
Automotive News Europe
 said. Stefan Sielaff will succeed him at Bentley.
Current Chief Design Officer for Hyundai and Kia, Peter Schreyer will vacate his position within the next two years as he approaches retirement (he turns 63 this year). Schreyer was a central figure for the complete restyling of Kia’s lineup of vehicles that resulted in the brand’s recognisable Tiger Nose face.
Both Schreyer and his upcoming replacement Donckerwolke have worked as a designer in the Volkswagen Group with Schreyer being responsible for the original
Audi TT’s
 design. Donckerwolke’s notable work included the
Lamborghini
 Diablo VT, Murciélago, and
Gallardo
. He was also involved in the design of
Bentley’s
 future SUV, the Bentayga before leaving the position.
With a portfolio like that, Luc Donckerwolke certainly seems to be the perfect fit to design future Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Will it be revolutionary or evolutionary? We’ll have to wait and see.