Kia Reinvents The Owner's Manual….With Google’s Help

Kia thinks it's about time the owner's manual got a 21st century upgrade. Calls up Google for a collab.

The owner's manual, when you think about it, is in a very tough spot. To automakers, it’s probably a pain and quite a large expense to put it together and print so many copies for so many models and variants, only for it to be opened and actually read by the owner so rarely, if ever.

To owners, most of us find its size annoying, always taking up room in the glove compartment or door pockets, always tossing it to one side when it gets in the way.

In our defence, it’s probably easier, more helpful, and much more quicker to punch whatever question we might have about our car (even a super obvious one) into our favourite internet search engine than to leaf through a thick tome of finely printed instructions.

That’s why Kia has started to explore other ways to provide owners with access to the information they seek without the antiquity of a printed owner’s manual, even partnering up with tech giant Google (and Megazone) to realise it.

The ‘Kia Owner’s Manual App’ operates via your smartphone, as the name already implies. Once installed, it will leverage your smartphone’s rear camera to overlay an augmented reality (AR) interface when you point it at a specific spot in your car, displaying all the related information on-screen.

This is where the Google partnership is critical, as the app itself is built on the backbone of the Google Cloud AI platform, which uses machine learning to identify symbols and context within the image. If it matches up with the existing data on its master database, it pulls it down to be shown to the user (owner).

Kia has so far intended it to offer quick, easy to understand explanations and quick instructions on certain car functions. As they put it, "if a user scans the ‘cruise control’ symbol on the steering wheel with a smartphone, the AI platform will recognize the image via server communication. The smartphone then instantly displays a video introducing the detailed functions of the cruise control system.”

In addition, the app is also fully searchable for even more convenience, allowing more seasoned owners to quickly access every bit of information available in the manual based on the keyword or phrase they’ve entered. However, we suspect only basic features and symbols will be backed up by actual video instructions or explanations, with the app falling back on pure text content when asked about more complex parts of the vehicle.

Kia has been providing augmented reality experiences via mobile apps in certain markets since 2017, but this is promising to be their most comprehensive and far-reaching use of this technology to date. The South Korean automaker has not confirmed a launch date as of yet but is aiming for the second half of 2020 starting with their newest worldwide models.

“The Kia Owner's Manual App will offer a unique customer experience with our products,” said Eui-sung Kim, Vice President and Head of Global Dealer & Service of Kia Motors. “Kia drivers will be able to enhance the safety and convenience of ownership with the app, which provides easy and intuitive information on the various functions of their vehicle and our latest technologies.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with Kia on this innovative application of AI Platform which is already used in the manufacturing industry to help automate the visual quality control process. The new AI-powered Digital Owner’s Manual is a great example of the kind of challenges AI can solve and how it can help enhance the customer experience,” said Kiyoung Choi, Country Director of Google Cloud Korea.


DBKL Says Only 9.5 Percent Of 1.1 Million Traffic Offence Notices Were Paid

According to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (aka Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, or DBKL), roughly 116,418 traffic offence notices that were issued by their enforcement officers were paid out of the total of 1,111,268 notices issued altogether.
The figures were yielded after a calculation was made to find out how many traffic offenders paid their fines to the city for tickets issued handed between January 1st, 2015 to October 31st, 2015, writes Bernama. That leaves a total of unpaid notices at 994,450, according to Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan, when he addressed the Dewan Negara.
"For 2013, a total of 1,102,440 notices were issued and only 185,919 were paid with collection of RM8,480,509, leaving 916,521 notices unpaid.
"For 2014, some 1,153,925 notices were issued and only 147,026 notices were paid with collection of RM9,823,404. Another 1,006,899 notices were unpaid," he said in reply to an enquiry from Senator Dr Hou Kok Chung.
A follow-up question was then posed by Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali, to which Datuk Dr Loga said that the ministry would find a solution to Kuala Lumpur’s “critical parking problem”, who cited multiple causes to the influx of cars into urban areas not confined to the national capital alone. Namely, the increase in population within metropolitan areas and affordability to own more than one car.


Gagal Patuhi Had Laju, Phua Chu Kang Diharamkan Memandu Selama 3 Bulan

Selebriti serta pelawak terkenal Singapura, Gurmit Singh atau lebih popular dengan nama Phua Chu Kang telah didakwa dibawah Akta Jalan Raya kerana didapati memandu kereta pada kelajuan 131 km/j,
melebihi
70 km/j had laju
 yang ditetapkan bersama anak lelakinya

Mahkamah diberitahu bahawa kejadian berlaku sekitar 9.30 pagi pada 12 April lalu, di mana Singh telah memecut laju kereta mewah miliknya iaitu
Audi A8L
 ketika berada di Woodlands Avenue 12 menuju ke Seletar Expressway. Jentera mewah tersebut dikuasakan oleh enjin 3.0-liter (TFSI) turbocharged V6 yang mampu menghasilkan 340 hp dan 500 Nm tork maksimum. Di Malaysia, model tersebut dijual dengan harga RM 879,900.

Menurut Singh, ketika kejadian itu berlaku, beliau telah mengesan suatu bunyi aneh pada kenderaannya. Curiga dengan bunyi tersebut, beliau telah meminta anaknya untuk mendengar sekiranya ada bunyi yang sama. Tanpa disedari, keretanya telah mencecah had laju 131 km/j. Bagaimana pun, Singh berharap agar mahkamah tidak menganggapnya sebagai pemandu yang cuai atau tidak bertanggungjawab.

Hakim Daerah, Salina Ishak telah menegur perbuatan tersebut dan memberitahunya bahawa perbuatan memandu melebihi had laju boleh membahayakan nyawa anaknya itu. Teguran tersebut telah diakui dan diterima oleh Singh. Beliau yang telah menyesali perbuatannya dan berharap mahkamah dapat mempertimbangkan keputusan sebelum mendendanya kerana ini merupakan kesalahan pertamanya.

Oleh kerana perbuatannya memandu melebihi had laju, Singh, atau nama sebenarnya, Gurmit Singh Virk Chainchal Singh telah disabitkan dengan tuduhan di bawah Akta Trafik Jalan Raya. Singh yang hadir ke mahkamah secara berseorangan tanpa diwakili mana-mana peguam telah mengaku bersalah atas tuduhan tersebut. Baru-baru ini, beliau ada membuat kemunculan dalam video kempen Vaksin bersama kerajaan Singapura bagi menggalakkan lebih ramai orang mengambil vaksin.

Berdasarkan kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Berita Harian Singapura, selebriti berusia 56 tahun itu didenda SG$800 (RM2,490) dan diharamkan serta dilarang daripada memandu selama tiga bulan setelah pihak pendakwa memohon mahkamah untuk mengenakan hukuman larangan memandu kepada beliau. Untuk rekod, ini merupakan kesalahan pertama beliau kerana beliau tidak pernah terbabit dengan mana-mana kesalahan undang-undang sebelum ini.

Bagi kesalahan memandu laju di Singapura, Singh boleh dipenjara hingga tiga bulan atau denda hingga SG$1,000 (RM3,113) jika disabitkan kesalahan. Selepas selesai urusan di mahkamah, Singh telah membuat satu hantaran video di Instagram untuk memohon maaf dan berjanji untuk menjadi pemandu yang lebih baik. Video terbabit telah menarik perhatian ramai dan telah menerima banyak sokongan moral daripada orang ramai.

Berhati-hatilah ketika memandu kerana setiap kecuaian daripada pemandu meskipun hanya satu saat, ia berupaya menjadi pembunuh kepada mereka yang tidak bersalah. Anda mampu mengubahnya!


Who says you can’t buy a used BMW with confidence?

Looking for an electrifying driving experience with a great value? Look no further at Sime Darby Auto Selection this weekend at Bukit Jalil Stadium for some great BMW vehicles from their BMW Premium Selection.

Buying any used vehicle can be a nerve-wracking and daunting experience but all this can be done with Sheer Peace of Mind this weekend.

A plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) can be a lot of fun to drive with its electric motor and gasoline engine working in combination to deliver impressive performance and efficiency, and thanks to establishments like Sime Darby Auto Selection, which takes pride in offering a wide variety of high-quality, pre-owned BMW vehicles that have been thoroughly inspected and certified by expert technicians, you can now enjoy all the benefits of driving an electrified BMW at more affordable prices.

When you choose an Approved Auto Selection car, you can rest assured that you're getting a vehicle that meets the highest standards for quality and reliability.

Each car undergoes a rigorous inspection process, which includes a comprehensive check of the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and electrical systems.

In addition to being thoroughly inspected and certified, Approved Auto Selection BMWs available at Bukit Jalil from 7-9 April will also come with a variety of benefits that are rarely seen in used BMW vehicles.

These attractive benefits include:

●      Attractive rebates

●      360-Degree technical & optical check

●      Verified service history

●      High trade-in value

●      Roadside Assistance

●      Complimentary Gift

●      1-year extended warranty for plug-in-hybrid battery

This one-time offer will only be available at Sime Darby Auto Selection's bringing back Joy exhibition at Bukit Jalil this weekend, so make sure you grab your family and friends so that everybody can experience the joy of owning their dream BMW courtesy of BMW Premium Selection.


BMW To Launch A China-only 1 Series Sedan

Initially previewed as the BMW Concept Compact Sedan at the Guangzhou Motor Show 2015, this first ever BMW 1 Series Sedan is BMW’s answer to the
Audi A3 Sedan
.
Produced by BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd exclusively for the Chinese domestic market only, the 1 Series Sedan was developed by BMW’s headquarters in Germany, with involvement of Chinese engineers.
The company adds that the 1 Series Sedan has been tuned to cope with the many different road and climate conditions found in China, and that BMW engineers have made a lot of specific fine-tuning and improvements according to the Chinese customers' habits and vehicle-use environment.
Technical details are short, and BMW did not elaborate on any specific launch timing or pricing details for the car yet, but the 1 Series Sedan should share the same engine and transmission options with the 1 Series hatchback (not sure about it being rear-wheel drive, or front-wheel drive though).
Prices for the
1 Series
 hatchback ranged from 256,000 Yuan for a Peugeot-developed 1.6-litre turbocharged 118i (different from our newer generation
BMW-developed 1.5-litre turbocharged 118i
) to 496,000 Yuan for the 3.0-litre turbocharged M135i.


2019 Polestar 1 Unveiled, 600 HP, 1000 Nm

The Polestar 1 has been unveiled as a 600 HP, 1000 Nm grand tourer. This is the first Volvo model to be released bearing only the Polestar name. Polestar is Volvo's in-house performance arm.
Expected to roll off the production line in mid 2019, the new Polestar 1 combines an electric powertrain with a traditional internal combustion engine, outputting 600 HP and 1000 Nm. Polestar calls the powertrain “Electric Performance Hybrid” and the model can travel up to 150 km on pure electric power.
Although the Polestar 1 is built on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), engineers at the company has re-engineered about 50% of car’s hardware, with a carbon fibre body that keeps weight down and improves torsional stiffness by 45%. Additionally, the Polestar 1 is the world’s first car to feature the new Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) advanced chassis technology.
Production of the Polestar 1 will commence at the new purpose-built Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu, China.
As for future models, Polestar is looking to introduce the Polestar 2 sometime in 2019, slated to be the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from Volvo. This new mid-sized model will rival the recently-introduced Tesla Model 3. Subsequently, Polestar is also going to introduce its third model, a BEV SUV, aptly called 3.
However, you can't just walk into any Volvo dealer to buy a Polestar 1, as the new model can only be ordered online. Additionally, all future Polestar models are offered with a two or three year subscription, inclusive of pick-up and delivery servicing, plus the ability to rent other vehicles under the Volvo or Polestar range.
At the end of the subscription, the customer can either choose to return the car, or Polestar will collect the car and delivers another model. Polestar will then refurbish the vehicle and prepare it for a another customer as a pre-owned vehicle.
Volvo expected 40% of global car sales within the next 20 years to be electric.


Audi Malaysia Teases 2015 A7 Sportback Facelift Online

For now, it’s just a form that leads to registering for more news, but the fact is that
Audi
 Malaysia has begun teasing the arrival of its 2015
A7
 Sportback facelift. First revealed to the world mid-2014, the updated
BMW
 6 Series,
Mercedes-Benz
 CLS-Class-fighter benefits from a new exterior design, new transmissions and an updated infotainment system.
Speaking to a source within Audi Malaysia, the news has been confirmed, with the car set to be previewed here before the third quarter of the year kicks off. No mention of any further details were spared to us.
*Update:
Audi Malaysia has updated its official website since this article was written, and so have we:
In the past, and under the stewardship of Euromobil Sdn Bhd, the previous distributor of Audi vehicles in Malaysia, the Audi A7 commanded a cool RM599,000 for the single variant available, which was an A7 3.0-litre TFSI quattro – yours truly even had the privilege of driving his parents to his own wedding in this last year (Thanks Audi).
Back to the facelifted model, and Audi has branded its four-door coupe with a more muscular, Single-frame front-grill, revised the bumpers and tailpipes, and made Xenon Plus headlamps a standard inclusion throughout the vehicle. Of course, the brand’s popular Matrix LED headlights can be had, albeit optionally.
An S line package will also be offered, and will include:
Bumpers, front and rear, side radiator grilles, side sill trims and diffuser insert in a striking, sporty design
Diffuser insert painted in platinum grey
Door sill trims with S line logo; in conjunction with ambient lighting, door sill trims illuminated and without S line logo
S line emblem on the front wings
Paint finish in all standard/optional equipment colours and additionally in the special colours Daytona grey, pearl effect and Misano red, pearl effect.
The brand's 3.0-litre TFSI engine has been confirmed as the sole engine option to come, but as always, it's properly equipped with 333hp and 440Nm of torque - 90% of that torque will be available from 2,900rpm to 5,300rpm. This rockets the A7 to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds, and returns a claimed fuel consumption of 8.2-litres/100km.
A few of the Audi's tech features have been shared online as well, so here's a quick glimpse of them:
Adaptive Cruise Control with braking guard including pre-sense front
Night vision assistant with pedestrian detection
Adaptive light and high-beam assist
Audi active lane assist
Audi side assist including pre-sense rear
7-inch high-res TFT colour display drive instruments
Interior ambient lighting
More precise specifications relative to our market will be unveiled soon enough.


All-New 2015 Toyota Fortuner Makes Global Debut In Thailand: Five Variants On Offer, Priced From 1.2 Million Baht

The all-new 205 Toyota Fortuner has made its global debut in Thailand with five variants on offer and priced from 1,199,000 baht (RM133,471).
For the Thailand market, five variants will be on offer and are as listed below (with prices in Thai baht and Ringgit Malaysia direct conversion):
2.4 G 4x2 M/T: 1,199,000 baht (RM133,471)
2.4 V 4x2 A/T: 1,369,000 baht (RM152,440)
2.7 V 4x2 A/T: 1,449,000 baht (RM161,348)
2.8 V 4x2 A/T: 1,529,000 baht (RM170,206)
2.8 V 4x4 A/T: 1,599,000 baht (RM178,053)
Seven colour options are available for the fifth-generation Fortuner: Phantom Brown, Nebula Blue, White Pearl, Gray Metallic, Attitude Black, Silver Metallic, and Super White.
Images are provided by our sister site Autospinn.
Performance
Performance-wise, the new Fortuner shares the same engine from the Hilux pickup truck from which it also adopts its underpinnings from. That means the 2.4- and 2.8-litre turbodiesels from Toyota’s ‘GD’ lineup are offered, developing 177hp/450Nm and 150hp/400Nm respectively with a sole 2.7-litre petrol engine (166hp/245Nm) available as well. The engines are paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission depending on variant.
For the four-wheel drive models, the system is now referred to as Ʃ4 or Sigma Four, to allow easy selection of 2WD and 4WD modes. Those modes are labelled as ‘H2’, ‘H4’, and ‘L4’. Further enhancing the capabilities of the Sigma Four system is A-TRC (Active Traction Control) which adjusts braking and power to the wheels for maximum traction. Adding to the offroad prowess is the DAC (Down Hill Assist Control) system.
Exterior
The design is as what we have seen before in the
numerous spyshots of the SUV

before its global debut
 with that new, more angular front fascia featuring slimmer headlamps with LED daytime lights, and the rear gets thinner tail lamps as well.
Interior
The interior gets a revision as well beginning a new instrument cluster following that of recent Toyota models introduced and the steering wheel is now a three-spoke design with on-wheel controls.
On the centre console, there is an automatic climate control unit resting just below the seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The air-conditioning system blows cool air through the front vents and to the second and third row via ceiling-mounted ones. As for the infotainment system, it supports a variety of media inputs and doubles as a screen for the reverse camera as well.
For practicality, the seats can be arranged in a number of configurations with the second row seats able to tumble forward (One Touch) while the third row ones can be tucked away to the side.
Safety
An impressive safety package suite is offered as well with seven airbags, traction control system, vehicle stability control, TSC, ABS with brake assists and electronic brake distribution. To handle off-road terrain, downhill assist control and hill assist control is available with A-TRC as well.


Bosch Completes Acquisition Of ZF Lenksysteme

The Bosch Group has successfully completed the full acquisition of ZF Friedrichshafen AG’s 50% share in the joint venture ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (ZFLS). The recent development comes following the approval of antitrust authorities. ZFLS will be incorporated into the Bosch Group as a new division with the name Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH.
ZFLS develops, manufactures, and sells steering systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles worldwide. The company can be found in 20 locations worldwide, including places such as such as Europe, the U.S., China, India, Brazil, and
Malaysia
, employing over 13,000 associates. In 2013, the company spent roughly 238 million euros on research and development. Since its establishment some 15 years ago, the company has filed around 750 patents.
Electric steering systems manufactured by ZFLS are one of the primary pieces of technology of assistance systems in cars as well as automated driving. Features like lane-keep assist and start-stop coasting are linked to electric steering systems.
The company also focuses on R&D activities – having introduced the Servotwin commercial-vehicle steering system, which marks the first step into the electrification of commercial vehicle steering. They’ve also introduced a solution to series production which allows a car hooked up to a trailer to be maneuvered from outside the vehicle with a smartphone. Both technologies were presented at the 2014 International Motor Show Cars (IAA).
A compact, locally-engineered, and cost-effective electric power steering system for Asian markets shows the company not only offers solutions for the premium segment. Customers who drive more affordable compact cars can benefit from the increased efficiency offered by these products.


Ford withdraws from Indonesia and Japan

Ford has confirmed its withdrawal from the Indonesian market this year, the company announced in a statement released yesterday. Overseas reports (
WSJ
 and
CNBC
 to name two of our sources) additionally confirm that exit plans are also being implemented in Japan.

Official sales and import of all
new Ford vehicles
 will cease in our neighbouring republic from the second half of 2016. A similar withdrawal timeline will be executed for the Japanese market.

“We wish to ensure that [customers] can continue to visit Ford dealerships for full support for sales, service, and warranty for some time this year. We are committed to maintain a smooth transition of aftersales and warranty coverage even after our departure from our market,” said Ford Motor Indonesia Managing Director Bagus Susanto in a statement directed to Ford customers in the country.

At present,
Ford
’s line-up in Indonesia consists of the
Fiesta
,
Focus
,
EcoSport
,
Ranger
, and
Everest
. In Japan, the range is made up of the
Fiesta
,
Focus
,
Mustang
, EcoSport,
Kuga
, and Explorer. The company also offers its Lincoln luxury brand over at the Land of the Rising Sun.

According to reports on our Indonesian sister site
Mobil123.com
, Ford’s shocking announcement comes less than a year after
General Motors (GM) shut down its Bekasi plant in Indonesia
. GM, however, continues to maintain market presence in Indonesia with a range of
fully-imported Chevrolet vehicles
.

GM’s Bekasi plant first opened in 1995 and was then rendered dormant in 2005. It was then revived in April 2013 as production hub of the Chevrolet Spin for domestic consumption as well as export to Thailand and Philippines.
GM pulled the plug on the US$150 million project last June
.

Ford’s struggles in Indonesia contrasts starkly with the company’s performance in the greater
ASEAN region
 which recorded an 80% increase in overall sales in 2015 to an all-time record of 54,114 units in all countries.

According to
CNBC’s
 report, Ford sold only 6,100 and 5,000 vehicles in Indonesia and Japan respectively in the whole of 2015. In the
same period
, the Blue Oval managed to shift
12,130 vehicles into Malaysian homes
, with the
Ranger
 accounting for 9,264 units.


Forget RFID...When Can We Pay For Parking With TNG eWallet?

While the RFID fiasco gathers
the ire of Malaysians
, it does cloud a larger issue that might be effecting just as many motorists and causing equal, or more, daily frustration and inconvenience: Parking.

The debate continues to rage about whether RFID payments at toll booths are a good thing or a technology that doesn’t actually fix the core problem. So far, the attempted rollout and superseding of SmarTAG at major highways nationwide has been a disaster, and while RFID lanes were commonplace in the Klang Valley, rarely did users remark about it being a marked improvement.

Regardless of what route was used to our destination, the chances are that we will need to park our vehicle. And especially if you’re living in a densely urban area such as the Klang Valley, that’s gonna cost you. However, the majority of parking operators are moving away from physical tickets and ‘autopay’ machines in favour of a touch-less, cash-less alternative.

In fact, a lot of them have switched to accepting payment via Touch n’Go. This change has definitely not made parking any less costly to the end-user, but at least it presents added convenience….right?

Broken, Disjointed, Inconvenient

Actually, much like RFID, and as of early 2022, this has not been the case. While Touch n’Go parking is becoming the norm in most parking facilities such as major office buildings and shopping centres, you’re out of luck if your card just doesn’t have enough balance in it.

In fact, some lots will not let you enter (allowing you to reload a sufficient amount before exiting) without a minimum balance of RM20 or even RM40, leaving you to do some mathematics to figure out if you’ll have enough left after having gone through the gauntlet of toll booths dotted along your commute. That’s fun.

Reloading the card balance itself has become more frustrating with the removal of the TNG card top-up feature being removed from ATM machines. You're left to run (or drive) around finding a petrol station, sundry shop, pharmacy, or the very sparsely distributed TNG self-service kiosks to get your balance up to snuff which, ironically, is done by converting cash into temporary digital currency. Not quite the cashless utopia we were promised, is it?

And if you think you could reload your Touch n’Go balance via the eWallet app or that you’ll be granted entry because you have more than enough balance already, think again. The majority of parking lots that accept TnG payments only read the value loaded into the physical card, not the eWallet.

More accurately, with the exception of a very very brief list of exceptions, nearly all parking lots do not support PayDirect, the feature that allows a Touch n’Go card user to pass through tolls but have his or her eWallet balance deducted instead of having to worry about how much balance is in the physical card itself.

It’s a great if rather obvious idea, but since the feature rollout in March 2021, this writer has not seen this in real life besides two known locations that were promoted by Touch n’Go themselves during the launch ceremony: Gurney Paragon in Penang and The Curve in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Think about it, with a huge chunk of the population in Peninsular Malaysia concentrated in the Klang Valley where RFID lanes have become more commonplace (or at the very least TnG lanes with PayDirect enabled), the majority of road users here still have to manage at least two sets of concurrent balances: eWallet and their physical card(s). It’s a mess.

Sure, RFID is flawed, but at least we’ve learned to live with it for the most part - it can even be a pretty seamless experience on those rare occasions. However, putting so many Malaysians through an additional hassle through a poorly executed parking system with the hollow promise of “going cashless!” seems like a step backwards.

Uphill Battle

Shockingly, it’s not all the fault of Touch n’Go. To enable PayDirect, parking operators will have to fork out additional expenses to be able to plug into the eWallet backend infrastructure to authenticate payments in real-time, requiring them to invest in additional hardware, monthly expenses, and maybe even training.

However, perhaps the single largest contributing factor that keeps parking operators away from implementing the feature is the (literal and implied) heavier, long term reliance on Touch n’Go Sdn Bhd, who have so far proven how greedy they can be by
charging Malaysians RM35
 for a piece of tape with metallic inserts that literally costs pennies. In fact, it's something they provided and installed FOR FREE to pilot testers of the RFID toll booths years ago.

A New Challenger Appears

Further proof of the underhanded spat between parking operators (generally speaking) and Touch n’Go is the rise of MyDebit, which has started to pop up more and more frequently at urban centres and business hubs as another way of paying for parking without physical tickets.

Instead of using your TnG card, you can just pay using your debit or credit card. The system uses the same PayWave (EMV standard) technology that merchants use for contactless payments, making it instantly familiar to most people by now. Most importantly, one never has to worry (well...for the most part) about having sufficient balance in your credit/debit card.

Besides having to dig out your debit/credit card before approaching the entrance to a parking lot, it seems like a great solution to the implementation of PayDirect that has seemed to have stagnated.

However, there are concerns about the security and potential dangers of swiping your debit/credit card so often and haphazardly, especially for tiny amounts at a time like this. The chances of the information being stolen, intercepted, misappropriated, or incorrectly processed are small, but cannot be brushed aside.

Compromising Security For Contactless?

As unnecessary as eWallets might seem, be it from Touch n’Go or otherwise, they do provide a safer extra layer of security that’s removed from the majority of the funds at your disposal.

That being said, in typical fashion, the government also seems reticent to get involved, being ignorant of the small struggles that become significant to everyday Malaysians purely on the basis of how frequently and incessantly they inconvenience us. It was only after the larger
nationwide planned rollout of RFID toll lanes
 in mid-January 2022 and the mass backlash that followed that Putrajaya started to take notice.

Perhaps, for the ongoing shambolic state of touchless/cashless parking, they should be proactive and tackle the issue before it gets out of hand.

NFC Cards

Of course, TNG Digital's solution to this seems to be the long-awaited launch of a new generation of physical Touch n'Go cards -
ones that integrate NFC (Near Field Communication) technology
 - that will require Malaysians to repurchase/upgrade.

Since it's built into most brand new smartphones, the NFC protocol is being used in numerous ways, from facilitating contactless payments to easily pairing Bluetooth accessories with just a touch. In the context of Touch n'Go, the idea being here is to bypass the cumbersome and inconvenient 'reload' locations and allow users to top up their card balance directly via the eWallet app itself.

While this does remove one barrier, a layer of unnecessary complexity still exists as we still have to maintain two separate balances - that of the eWallet and the physical TNG card despite being able to 'top up' the latter ourselves. If Touch n'Go thinks this is a solution, unfortunately, they're only half right.


Review: 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63S – A Lesson in Usable Power

When you think of Portugal, the first things that come to mind are flame-grilled chicken and sun-soaked beaches. Rather surprisingly, there is not a Nandos to be found in Portugal- much to my dismay- and we happened to be visiting this small south-western portion of Europe at the beginning of winter. To rub it in we were put up in a hotel by the coast, in a town that showed just how dead a tourist destination becomes when it’s off-season.
But all of that was inconsequential. We endured nearly 24 hours of flights and layovers for a little over 24 hours of driving the all-new Mercedes-AMG E63S. It’s a technological tour-de-force and the next step forward for the Mercedes-AMG brand in the development of their sports sedans. It’s also important because this is the first E63 (and E63S) to come with all-wheel drive as standard- not as an option as with the previous generation.
All-wheel drive for performance cars is nothing new. Audi has been doing it for decades with their RS models, although both BMW and Mercedes-AMG stuck with the more traditional front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout; reasons cited were a more natural feel, better balance, and so on and so forth. But there is also a physical limit to how much power (or rather, torque) can be transferred to the road when you only have two wheels delivering power. Based on current tyre technology, power levels in these sports sedans have now become a little too much for two wheels to handle.
Well, we say this despite knowing that Mercedes-AMG has long produced cars capable of lighting up their rear tyres on a whim. Perhaps a more accurate description would be that all-wheel drive makes these cars far more effective on both road and track, and perhaps the main challenge in making the system standard was to retain that natural balance and response of a rear-drive machine, while maximizing mid-corner and exit traction. This isn’t too difficult nowadays with electronically controlled torque splits and rear-biased power distribution- but the real question is whether Mercedes-AMG made a car that is clinically fast at the expense of old-school fun.
Our day of driving began with a cold morning- not cold enough for icy roads, and thankfully following a rain-free night. Shuttled from our hotel to the local airport, we were treated to a beautiful view of rolling hills and cork forests, a mix of arid land and foliage- a view that would become a blur behind the wheel of the E63S. At the airport we were paired off and assigned our cars, given a fairly rudimentary explanation of the route we would be following to the track, and set loose upon the highways and back-roads of Faro and Portimao.
It goes without saying that the majority of drivers in Europe have far better lane discipline then what we see here- although it is worth noting that there are very real speed limits in Portugal, despite their highways being similar to that of the infamous Autobahn. After leaving the airport and making it onto the highway, we took to a leisurely pace as we got to grips with the car. As you would expect with a modern turbocharged engine, the torque spread is vast and plentiful from just off idle, allowing you to cruise along at ridiculous speeds while ticking over at low revs. Things were fairly calm and on track as we made our way towards the track until we took a wrong turn and the GPS re-routed us back to the airport.
After a long and frustrating loop, we were now back where we started and extremely tight for time. Not wishing to miss the on-track experience at Algarve International Circuit (or Portimao as it’s colloquially known), it was time to push the 612 PS, 4.0-litre V8 biturbo as hard as it could go to make up for lost time. At full power, the E6 S was hurtling up to its restricted top speed of 250 km/h with hardly any effort, although it would easily sit at 300 km/h if it had the optional Driver’s Package in place. More impressive than the thrust was the composure, with the car sitting planted on the tarmac as we bombed over the hills and through valleys.
Coming off the highway and onto the trunk roads, things became a little trickier. The E63S is not a small car, and trying to hustle it down a lane barely wider than the car itself proved to be quite a challenge, along with damp patches and the occasional motorist. With 850 Nm on tap from as low as 2,500 rpm, we saw it more fitting to keep the car in a higher gear and ride the torque through, rather than screaming along near redline. It isn’t quite well suited for these kinds of conditions, but it can still perform reasonably well in them if called upon.
When we finally arrived at the circuit, the first track sessions were under way. The Americans were heading around the track three cars at a time, led by DTM champion Bernd Schneider behind the wheel of an AMG GT S. Putting our names down on a very long waiting list, we headed upstairs and took some time to learn a little more about these ridiculously powerful cars.
While it’s known that most of these 63 AMG models come with a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, there are subtle variations between them. For example, the engine in the C63S is wet-sump, while the E63S has a dry sump version similar to the one in the AMG GT S- partly to handle higher cornering forces without oil starvation, and partly to make room for the front differential of the all-wheel drive system. The turbochargers on this particular engine are also twin-scroll, which helps to increase power without sacrificing engine response. The 9-speed transmission is a conventional automatic, but it has a wet clutch instead of a torque converter in order to react more quickly.
The 4MATIC all-wheel drive system is also tweaked to deliver that natural driving feel, as mentioned before. As with all good all-wheel drive systems, it operates primarily with torque sent to the rear and only diverts torque to the front wheels when necessary. The E 63 S gets a mechanically controlled limited-slip differential at the rear over the electronically controlled version found in the regular E 63, which also makes it a little more aggressive and neutral as you approach the limit of traction. As for more intricate questions such as whether the engineers at AMG used boost-by-gear, or boost-by-speed, or electronic throttle limiting to improve driveability at low speeds, the only answer we received from the rather stoic German engineers was “Yes,”. That’s not much of an answer, but perhaps they prefer to keep things close to the vest.
When our turn to drive the E63S around the track finally came, the sun was getting low in the sky, and both tyres and brakes were on their last legs. None of that mattered, because we were about to experience and incredible car on an incredible track, and perhaps my only complaint was that I wish I could have squeezed in a few more laps. Portimao has a fairly fast tempo, with blind crests and flowing corners, steep climbs and equally steep drops. It’s a rollercoaster of a circuit, with a particularly nasty blind apex right-hand sweeper before the main straight, and the perfect place to drive a car like the E63S.
Moving quickly out of the pits and in full Race mode, we had just 3 laps to see what the cars could do. A bit of a slip up heading into the second corner reminded us to stay away from the edges of the track where tyre debris and dirt would start to collect and unsettle the car if we rolled over it. Feathering the throttle you can feel the system working power away from the rear wheels as you begin to exceed grip, especially in the tighter sections where you’re using a lot of steering lock to get the car turned in. If you’re a little eager on the way out of the corner, the systems are happy to let the tail out just a little bit before they engage and pull you back in line. The systems can be completely shut off, although with hardly any time to familiarize ourselves with the cars we felt it was best if we left them in the slightly relaxed settings of Race mode.
Once the track session was over, we hardly had time to breathe before we had to hop back in our cars and shoot back to the hotel for dinner. We were once again fighting against the clock, this time in pitch black conditions with hardly a streetlight to guide our way. Being part of a convoy of these cars hurtling down a highway at ludicrous speed in the dead of night is perhaps one of the most bizarre and exciting experiences one can have, and can probably only be topped by a full-on run down the Autobahn.
The following morning we were given one last chance to experience the E63S, but our luck with the weather had run out and we had to deal with intermittent showers. Perhaps it was about time to slow down and take the car in as a whole, as more than just an extremely powerful engine and a competent chassis. The appeal of these top-tier sports sedans is that they are incredibly fast, but also retain the creature comforts and practicality of their more mass-market siblings.
Besides some slightly more aggressive exterior elements and a pair of extremely comfortable semi-bucket seats, the E63S is largely the same as the regular E-Class. Things like the extended central display are retained, crisp and clear as always. The brushed aluminium finish for the dashboard trim contrasted nicely with the black and brown leathers of the interior. If you ever find yourself travelling long distance at a more leisurely pace, you can hardly pick a better car to do it in.
Of course there will be those who say that Mercedes-AMG is losing their way with this all-wheel drive only generation of E63, but this same vocal minority are also less likely to actually purchase a car like the E63, or the E63S. The market speaks for itself: with the previous generation, over 90% of the models sold came with the optional 4MATIC system even though it was available with rear wheel drive as standard. And to quell the complaints, Mercedes-AMG even saw fit to incorporate a drift mode with this new E63S, activated by pulling both steering paddles simultaneously.
Chances are, most owners will use the mode a handful of times before they forget about it- and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Regardless of how it gets its power to the ground, the Mercedes-AMG E63S is blisteringly quick and a lot of fun when you need it to be- and therein lies the argument that car enthusiasts have debated over since the Porsche 911 GT3 RS came with a PDK option only. The idea that a car becomes less enjoyable as it becomes quicker around a track is something relatively recent, but Mercedes-AMG have proven that this need not be the case. The E63S shows that you can have a car that is both fast and fun, and they most definitely haven’t lost touch with the idea of what a sports sedan should be. They’ve simply moved forward with the times.


Takata Airbag Crisis: Over 520,000 Cars In Malaysia At Risk, Is Your Car On The List?

There are over 520,000 cars in Malaysia that are equipped with defective airbags made by Takata. That would mean that for every 100 cars on our road, 4 would have at least one airbag that has literally became a bomb, one that could explode and send shrapnel into the driver’s body with fatal consequences.
Over the past few months, the narrative of news reports regarding Takata airbag crisis have centred on Honda, and rightly so, as all three fatal Takata airbag-related incidents in Malaysia involved Honda vehicles, all of them second generation Honda City models made between 2003 to 2006.
However many forget that the Takata crisis involves more than just Honda models, which leads to concerns of owners of non-Honda vehicles not taking initiatives to check if their vehicle is involved in the recall.
Toyota has over 140,000 cars in Malaysia with defective airbags, while Nissan and Mitsubishi has over 12,000 and 36,000 respectively. A smaller number of Mazda and Subaru vehicles are also affected. If you own or know of anyone that owns any of the models pictured below, please take the necessary precautionary steps.
Honda – 329,059 cars
Toyota – 145,685 cars
Nissan – 12,444 cars
Mitsubishi – 36,010 cars
Mazda – 1003 cars
Check if your vehicle is involved in the recall
here
.
"
I've Responded To The Recall Notice, But The Service Centre Says There Is No Stock. What The Hell?!"
This is a real problem faced by owners, and unfortunately there is nothing much that affected car owners can do, and this applies to drivers all over the world.
Consider the numbers. Bloomberg estimates that the total number of airbags to be recalled stands at 100 million. Let me repeat that again. 100 million - the number looks like this - 100,000,000. Majority of the recalls are in USA (60 million) and Japan (20 million). This is the biggest recall in history and it is going to take years before the recall exercise can be completed.
Who is going to produce these extra 100 million of replacement airbag inflators? A car company that has been using Takata airbags can’t simply call AutoLiv or TRW to place an order for 50 or 100 million more inflators.
As more countries adopt minimum UN safety regulations, the fitment of airbags have increased significantly. Worldwide, there is very little spare capacity in airbag producing plants.
Complicating the matter is different cars require different airbag inflators, and not all airbag makers produce the same types of inflators. You can’t just replace a Takata inflator with another from AutoLiv, although in recent months, AutoLiv, TRW, and Daicel have stepped in to help solve the crisis.
The situation is so severe that in the US, affected cars are being repaired according to their priority grouping, with older cars and those used in more humid regions given higher priority. Owners of newer cars are made to wait longer.
"Should I Disable The Airbag?"
There is no easy way to answer for this. Experts in the US also couldn't agree on which is the best advice. Toyota USA recommends disabling the airbags but Consumer Reports and NHTSA disagrees, as disabling the airbags would mean a 100 percent chance of failure in an accident.
Plus, the root cause of the problem is the unstable ammonium nitrate propellant used by Takata, not the crash sensors (which when subjected to a severe impact, sends an electrical signal to deploy the airbag). There have been reports of airbags exploding even when the vehicle is stationary, or after experiencing a minor impact (similar to City in June's fatal accident with) so there is
no guarantee that disabling the airbags will solve the problem
.
If you feel more comfortable driving with the airbag disabled, many cars now come with the option of disabling the passenger-side's front airbag (for safe installation of child seats at the front). Instructions on how to do this are in the vehicle's owner's manual. The driver's side can be disabled by pulling out the right fuse but please consult a trained technician before doing this yourself.
Do note that the NHTSA believes that Takata airbags with high risks of failures are those older than five to seven years, and that for most cars, especially newer ones, keeping the airbags active is still a better option.
We recommend that you minimize your driving (where possible) - use Uber or Grab, car pool, or rent a car. If possible, avoid putting any passengers on the front passenger seat too.
"Why Can’t They Go To JPJ To Get The Latest Mailing Address Of The Owners?"
Many of the cars affected in the recall are nearly 10 years old. These cars might have been sold multiple times and manufacturers no longer have the contact details of the new owners. In an ideal world, manufacturers should be able to walk into JPJ’s office in Putrajaya, pass them a thumbdrive that contains an Excel file with VIN of all the affected cars, and JPJ will email them a list of addresses.
But unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. As it is, car companies already have trouble obtaining monthly vehicle registrations figures from JPJ, which imposes an administrative charge of RM10 per data per vehicle. If there are 600,000 cars sold per year, that’s RM 6 million to pay. Shouldn’t sales data come from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) you say? Under Malaysia’s Competition Act 2010, MAA is only allowed to publish registration details by make, not by model.
Searching for the vehicle owner's address by the VIN is several steps more complicated than churning out how many units of each vehicle model is registered last month.
We are also not sure if it is sharing of private details of vehicle owners is against Personal Data Protection Act 2010, but nevermind about the cost or legal technicalities.
How many of you have your driving license or vehicle registration tied to your home address? Mine isn’t (yes I know of the penalties, I will get it done soon). So that's the answer. Going to JPJ is not going to solve the problem entirely, although it might help.
To be fair, this is not a JPJ-only problem. The same challenge is experienced in the US as well. The US Department of Motor Vehicles is simply not able to provide manufacturers with a reliable list of addresses of the affected owners, and this explains why completion rate of Takata airbag replacements in the US stands at just 33 percent for cars aged nine years and above - not very different from Malaysia. In many countries, the road transport department is not run like a tax office, which you can be sure of being able to track you down to collect taxes from you.
Based on the trend of past recalls (not just for Takata airbags) in the US, the rate of completion for cars in the first year of ownership is 80 percent, and it declines with older cars, dropping to just around 30 percent for cars aged nine to ten years old.
Perhaps it is time to start discussions about the need to have regulatory body to supervise product recalls. Right now, most local representative offices of the respective car brands only issue recalls when they are asked to by their global headquarters. Nobody supervises how the recalls are carried out.
In Japan, recalls are supervised by the Road Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), while in the US, they have the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Germany has the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt or KBA).
In these countries, manufacturers are required by law to report any known defects to their respective regulatory bodies, who will make their own independent announcements (manufacturer's own announcements might use words that downplay the severity of the issue). Manufacturers are also required to provide regular updates on the progress of the recall, and the remaining number of vehicles that are yet to be repaired.
Read also:
Takata Airbag Crisis: Frequently Asked Questions, What Should You Do?


Tesla Model Y Unveiled, Able To Drive Itself To You

Tesla has unveiled its fourth model that takes the form of a sporty looking crossover.
The new Model Y will be offered in three variants initially, with the fourth entry-variant joining the line-up only nine months later in Spring 2021.
Starting with the Long Range 2WD variant, the Model Y is expected to deliver a realistic range of 480 kilometres. A dual-motor Long Range AWD variant offers more power (range reduces to 450 km) and also asks for a US$4,000 premium over the US$47,000 2WD variant.
The Performance variant meanwhile offers supercar-like acceleration, with the 0 to 96 km/h benchmark sprint achieved in just 3.5 seconds. Tesla has priced the Model Y Performance from US$60,000, and that includes sports suspension, performance braking system, and large 20-inch wheels.
Starting at US$39,000, the Standard Range is no slouch either, with the benchmark sprint requiring less than 6 seconds. Being equipped with perhaps a smaller battery pack, the range is reduced to 370 kilometres on a single charge.
Tesla has maximized the cabin space to accommodate an optional third-row seat and all driving interface is communicated with the large 15-inch touchscreen, similar to
the Tesla 3.
The Model Y will also have Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability on top of the Autopilot - both optional features - enabling automatic driving on city streets, where regulations allow. With the FSD function, the Model Y is capable of adapting to traffic lights (stop, wait, and go) and even overtake slower cars.
Tesla says with FSD, the Model Y will drive itself to you while you wait at a parking lot.
This fourth model also completes Tesla’s co-founder, Elon Musk, initial desire to have a line-up of 'SEXY' passenger vehicles, with the models S, 3, X, and now Y. Model 3 could not be named Model E due to protest from Ford Motor Company.


70% Daripada Tempahan Perodua Alza 2022 Merupakan Versi GearUp

Menerusi respon semasa, aksesori rasmi Perodua iaitu
GearUp
 bagi model
Alza 2022
 berkemungkinan adalah aksesori paling menarik yang pernah dihasilkan oleh pengeluar kenderaan nombor satu di Malaysia ini.

Presiden dan CEO Perodua Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad memberitahu media ketika sidang media di Kota Bharu bahawa daripada 39,000 tempahan bagi Perodua Alza 2022 ketika ini, sebanyak 70% daripada tempahan tersebut merupakan tempahan bersama kit badan GearUp.

Peningkatan 9,000 tempahan berbanding 30,000 tempahan ketika dilancarkan dua minggu lalu menunjukkan bahawa Alza masih menjadi pilihan utama pembeli meskipun insentif
pengecualian cukai SST telah tamat.

Rujuk info dibawah berkenaan aksesori dalaman, keselamatan serta aksesori am yang ditawarkan pada Alza 2022.

Gear Up Untuk Perodua Alza 2022

Prime Bodykit: RM2,500

Bampar hadapan dan belakang

Spoiler serta penutup but

Harga termasuk pemasangan dan cat semula mengikut warna rasmi Alza

Prime Seat Covers: RM1,000

Balutan tempat duduk dua tona (merah dan hitam dengan jahitan merah),

Diperbuat daripada PVC

Mempunyai poket simpanan barang di bahagian belakang tempat duduk hadapan

Tersedia untuk semua varian

Utility Package: RM390

Pelapik ruang barangan belakang (RM80)

Visor cermin (RM160)

pelapik kaki (RM200)

Aksesori Keselamatan

Tempat duduk kanak-kanak (RM680)

Perakam video (RM500)

Pengunci nat tayar (RM200)

Pemerhati tekanan angin tayar (TPMS) Bluetooth (RM430)

Aksesori Umum

Pelapik bagasi (RM75)

Penyusun bagasi (RM37)

Pemegang tisu dengan cermin (RM40)

Sun-visor organizer
(RM20)

Pemegang telefon magnetik (RM30)

Hook beg magnetik (RM50)

Smart Tracker (RM42)

Pelindung hujung pintu (RM30)

Cable Booster
 (RM45)

Fire Extinguisher (RM56)

Kotak tisu balutan kulit (RM60)

Bekas pelbagai guna (RM40)

Anti-slip mat
 (RM15)

First Aid Kit
 (RM33.50)

Hydrophobic film
 (RM15)

Blind Sport Mirror
 (RM60)

Magnet Trap
 (RM57)

Pembersih injektor (RM24)

Evaporator Cleanser
 (RM80)

Throttle Body Cleanser
 (RM36)

Rain Repellent
(RM11.50)

Headlamp Cleanser
(RM10.50)

Vibratile
 (RM285)

Penyegar udara (RM15)

Isian semula penyegar udara (RM11.50)

Projektor terminat bateri (RM3.80)

Bendalir pembersih cermin (RM1.70)

Tambahan

LED Scuff Plates (RM300)

Lampu di lantai (RM250)

Coil Mats (RM200)

Visor Pintu (RM160)

Hood insulator (RM80)

Segala aksesori-aksesori yang dinyatakan boleh dibeli menerusi pakej yang disediakan ataupun boleh dibeli secara berasingan. Apa pula kata anda dengan rekaan bodykit GearUp bagi Alza kali ini?


The Ford Mustang Mach-E Can Power Your House - If You Need It To

Perhaps that's an oversimplification, but it isn't an uncommon trend for today's electric vehicles.

Some of you may not remember the National Lampoon series of movies - basically from an era of family-themed vacation movies where the cast go through mishaps and misadventures. For the cast of National Lampoon, they were brought back in a Ford TV spot featuring the heavily polarizing all-electric
Ford Mustang Mach-E
.

In a recreation from an infamous Christmas scene where the father of the family couldn't get the lights to work, the Mustang Mach-E manages to save the day when his wife plugs it into the house's electrical system. Granted there is no explanation of the mechanics of this function - though it is a feature that is slowly becoming viable with certain infrastructures and vehicles.

Realistically, there's no way that you would ever have more charge than you need in your Mustang Mach-E, especially since current charging rates mean that you're always on the look out for
more power
 rather than having an abundance that you would use to power your house. In an emergency, it is probably possible to do so - and perhaps that may have a role in disaster mitigation or recovery.

The Mustang Mach-E is a car that has drawn so much hatred from the community at large, but a lot of that is due to the name of the vehicle itself. By any other name, it would be a downright crowd-pleaser - a range of up to 300 miles, four variants, between 266 hp and 480 hp from rear wheel drive to all-wheel drive models. It certainly is a car that you could learn to love, and one that is highly competitive among an ever increasing number of rivals.

If you've not seen the ad, here it is for your viewing pleasure:


Honda Unveils Production Image Of the 2022 Honda Civic

In just a couple of months the all-new Honda Civic will be upon us, and the market will be set ablaze. Here's an early look.

Sometime last year, the world was treated to a stunning prototype of the 11th generation
Honda Civic Sedan
. It's a bit of a mind bender isn't it - the Civic that Honda still has on sale still feels like a fresh model, especially after a delayed facelift for our market. That being said, there's no stopping progress and this upcoming model looks to be an amazing step forward.

More recently, Honda is showing off the all-new model for the American market in its production form - a singular picture, but one that expresses enough detail and design for us to know that Honda designers managed to stay true to the stunning prototype. For the American market, this specific Civic wears the Touring specification package with contrast wheels.

We don't get as much variation in our market, but the Americans are known to have quite a breadth of options to choose from when they purchase a particular model. Honda also confirmed that there will be a follow up to the FK8R that became the first global Civic Type R model, and if this
production picture
 is anything to go by, it will be a more mature proposition.

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Volvo Teases Their All-New S90 Ahead Of Detroit Auto Show Unveil

The closer we tread toward the next Detroid Auto Show in January 2016, the clearer the picture will become of
Volvo
’s upcoming flagship sedan, the S90. The car will replace the ageing second-generation
S80
 which by next year would be 10 years in production.
Until then, these are some of the first official glimpses we’ll be getting before the ramp-up to Detroit really kicks into gear. They are a couple of rather vague images - renderings, rather - that do give a little hint as to the basic silhouette of the new S90 as well as the rear light arrangement.
The S90 will share the same platform and chassis as the much lauded
XC90
 SUV and is expected to be the first sedan to carry its new hybrid “Twin Engine” and twincharged petrol engine technologies and intelligent drive systems.
The S90 is also expected to spawn an estate version not long after initial launch in the form of the V90 - both the
S90
 and
V90
 were sort of leaked as convincing miniature scale models earlier this year.
Volvo’s on roll.


2023 Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport lands in Australia - RM106k

The
2023 Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport
 has finally landed in Australia following its official introduction in Europe back in September.

Looking at the country's Toyota Yaris Cross offerings, the GR Sport variant is based on the mid-spec Yaris Cross GXL FWD hybrid model which in turn makes the GR Sport a step lower compared to the flagship Yaris Cross model in Australia - the Urban AWD.

1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid engine - 116PS & 120Nm

Based on the price tag and model segment, the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport should be in the running to go against the
Honda HR-V RS e:HEV
 for its money. With that being said, its 1.5-litre three-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine with two electric motors produces a combined output of 116PS - 15PS down from the HR-V hybrid variant.

Torque-wise, the spec sheets of the Yaris Cross GR Sport states that it has 120Nm of torque but no mentions if that's the combined output or just from the 1.5-litre three-cylinder banger. It's going to be a crucial talking point since the Honda HR-V RS e:HEV punches out 253Nm of torque in total. Nevertheless, the fuel mileage for the Yaris Cross wins at 3.8L/100km as compared to the HR-V's 4.1L/100km.

GR Sport accents & accessories

The 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport comes with a few extras compared to the GXL model it is based on such as sportier 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, retuned suspension that has been lowered by 10mm, mesh-pattern front grille, and black side mirrors.

Other updates and upgrades include red brake calipers, black leather/suede upholstery, GR emblems, aluminium pedals, underfloor brace, USB-C port, and an air purification system, plus a 390-litre boot space capacity.

Safety specs are quite complete for the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport, which consists of:

Eight airbags

Autonomous emergency braking

Adaptive Cruise Control

Emergency Steering Assist

High-beam Assist

Lane Keep Assist

Lane Departure Warning

Blind Spot Alert

Rear Cross Traffic Alert + more


Toyota To Invest 1 Billion U.S Dollars In Grab

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced today that it will be investing 1 billion U.S dollars into Grab to expand the collaboration between the two companies, as well as to explore new mobility strategies across the region.
According to Toyota, the expansion is aimed at achieving connectivity for Grab's rental car fleet across Southeast Asia, and at rolling out various connected services throughout the region that utilize vehicle data stored on Toyota's MSPF.
In addition, collaborations in driving-data-based automotive insurance, financial services for Grab drivers and maintenance services are also contemplated under the new partnership.
Through this new agreement, Toyota and Grab plan to shift into full-scale implementation of services they have been developing to customers in Southeast Asia.
The two companies will look for future collaborations aimed to achieve more-efficient ride-hailing businesses and for developing future mobility service solutions.
The agreement also states that a Toyota executive will be appointed to Grab's board of directors, and a dedicated Toyota team member will be seconded to Grab to as an executive officer.
Toyota and Grab have actually been working together since August 2017, developing connected services for Grab utilizing driving data collected by Toyota's TransLog data-transmission driving recorder.
The recorder, developed by Toyota for corporate fleets, has been installed in 100 Grab rental cars. The data collected is stored on Toyota's proprietary mobility services platform (MSPF), which serves as a form of information infrastructure for connected vehicles.
Both companies have already begun collaboration in the field of connected vehicles by, for example, providing driving-data-based automotive insurance for Grab's rental fleet in Singapore through local insurance companies.


BMW 330e PHEV Coming End of August, RM240k Onwards

We have on good authority that dealers have already begun taking orders for the BMW 330e Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) which is slated for launch at the end of August. The locally-built BMW 330e will be the second PHEV to be introduced by BMW Malaysia after the launch of the
CKD BMW X5 xDrive40e
 – back in June.
Indicated prices are between RM240,000 – RM260,000 which places the 330e just above the RM230,000 320i. Neighbours Mercedes-Benz offer the C 200 Avantgarde and Exclusive variants for the same money.
The BMW 330e is powered by a 2.0-litre, longitudinal-mounted inline-four petrol engine mated to an electric motor, which is situated between the engine and transmission. An eight-speed automatic transmits power to the rear wheels. Exact performance figures are yet to be released, but, we’re informed the power unit outputs a combined 248bhp and 420Nm of torque.
The 330e is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.9 seconds, just 0.1 second off the claimed figures of the
BMW 330i M Sport
. The 330e is capable of traveling up to 120km/h in full EV mode and has a full electric range of 22.5km on a full charge. Cars that are supplied in North American markets feature a 5.7kWh battery supplementing an 87bhp electric motor. Charging time should be lesser than that of the X5 PHEV, which requires 3 hours and 50 mins on a domestic power socket.


Lotus 3-Eleven Unveiled With 450HP, 900KG Dry Weight: Brand's Fastest Production Car Ever

Lotus
 recently unveiled its quickest and most expensive series production car ever at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Known as the Lotus 3-Eleven, it is the successor to the car maker’s previous 2-Eleven produced from 2007 to 2011.
Available in two flavours – Road and Race, the 3-Eleven is hand built in Hethel, England with production slated to begin in February 2016. Only 311 (name reference here) will be built and is priced at £82,000 (RM487,131) for the Road version while the Race version will cost £115,200 (RM686,127).
Unlike its predecessor, the new 3-Eleven utilises a bespoke chassis that uses the brand’s design of extruded and bonded aluminium roll-cage. The Road version’s roll-cage features twin side bars for side impact protection while the Race gets additional bars to meet international motorsport requirements. Modifiable handling dynamics is courtesy of the car’s suspension setup that features lightweight, double-wishbones front and rear, adjustable front anti-roll bar and Eibach springs with Öhlins adjustable dampers.
On the exterior, the new Lotus uses light weight composite materials comprising resin infusion composite technology for its body panels to optimise vehicle weight, aerodynamic, and structural requirements. Looking from the outside, the 3-Eleven screams ‘race car’ with its aggressive, sculpted body that channels the air to meet any three purposes – minimising drag, optimising cooling, maximise aerodynamic downforce. The Race version gets an even more aggressive aero kit.
Complying with
Lotus
’ founder Colin Chapman’s wise words – "Adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere", the 3-Eleven's dry weight is just 900kg (Race version) and is paired to a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine seen in the
Evora 400
 as well. This time, the engine is tuned to produce 450hp at 7,000 rpm with 450Nm of torque available from 3,500 through to 6,500 rpm. The powerplant is mated to a close-ration six-speed manual gearbox (Race version gets a six-speed sequential shifter) with a Torsen-type limited slip differential.
The 3-Eleven is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in less than 3.0 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 280 km/h for the Race version and 290 km/h for the Road version.
All that power mentioned above is sent to the rear wheels which are 18-inch in size at the front and the rear gets 19-inchers. They are wrapped in 225/40 and 275/35 series tyres respectively. Stopping the 3-Eleven with its power to weight ration that exceeds 500hp per tonne is the duty of AP Racing four-piston calipers complemented by two-part grooved and vented brake discs (332mm front and rear). The Race version gets upgraded brake pads.
A car this extreme and track-focused leaves very little for the interior to exhibit. Remember, it’s only the essentials here – no additional weight necessary. That means only a Lotus sports seat with four-point harnesses are fitted as standard with the option of adding on one for the passenger, a quick release steering wheel, gear shifter (on the manual version), a race spec colour TFT instrument cluster (road and track modes available), and an aeroscreen to deflect the air rushing over the car.
Spend a bit more on the Race variant can you’ll get a FIA approved driver’s race seat with six-point harness, a data logger system, fire extinguisher, and a battery kill switch.


New Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe Launched, Priced From RM1.5 million

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just unveiled the updated S-Class range, which includes the new Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe.
The new S63 Coupe features a 4.0-litre V8 biturbo under the hood, producing 612 hp from 5,500 rpm to 6,000 rpm and a whopping 900 Nm of torque from just 2,750 rpm all the way to 4,500 rpm. This allows the S63 Coupe to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 250 km/h. With the optional AMG Driver’s Package, the S63 AMG can hit a 300 km/h terminal velocity.
Compared to its predecessor, the new S63 Coupe now wears the AMG Panamericana grille up front, flanked by a pair of LED Intelligent Light System headlights. The S63 Coupe also receives panoramic roof with Magic Sky Control. 20-inch forged AMG alloy wheels complete the exterior of the S63 Coupe.
Interior features include:
Active multicontour front seats with massage function
Ambient lighting
Wireless charging for compatible devices
Designo headliner in black
Head up display
Night view assist
COMAND Online infotainment system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Buyers of the Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe can also choose to have their cars fitted with the Yellow Night Edition package, further adding:
Exterior mirrors with yellow stripes
AMG stripes on the sides in matte graphite grey
Ceramic composite brakes with yellow brake calipers
AMG Nappa leather in black
AMG carbon fibre matt trim
AMG performance steering wheel with Nappa leather
Yellow Night Edition emblem on centre console
AMG Floor mats with AMG lettering and yellow piping
The Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe is priced from RM 1,461,605.60, on-the-road without insurance and with zero GST, with prices subject to change upon the implementation of SST.
Read more about the other models in the updated range of S-Class by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
The Bespoke Luxury: Mercedes-Benz S560 Cabriolet - RM 1.3 Million of
open-top
 luxury
The Ultimate Luxury: Mercedes-Maybach S560 debuts in Malaysia, From RM 1.4 Million
The Modern Luxury: Mercedes-Benz S450L CKD debuts in Malaysia, From RM699,888


Malaysian Made Volvo XC90 R-Design And S90 R-Design Make Thai Debut

Thai Daily
Bangkok Post reported today
 that Volvo Thailand has expanded its product offering in the country with the R-Design variants of the Volvo XC90 SUV and S90 sedan.
The R-Design variants, which will be the range toppers for both the S90 and XC90 models in Thailand, will complement the Momentum and Inscription variants which were launched in 2016.
Built in Volvo Car Malaysia’s assembly plant in Shah Alam, Selangor, key design elements in the R-Design package include piano-black interior trimming, black leather interior upholstery, as well as bespoke wheels (the S90 gets 19-inch alloys, the XC90 receives 20-inch wheels).
The R-Design models also get a 13-speaker sound system developed with Harman Kardon as standard.
Power comes from the same powertrain package as the other T8 variants, which is a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor that pump out a total of 407 hp and 640 Nm of torque.
That being said, prices for the S90 T8 and XC90 T8 with R-Design have been set at 3.59 and 4.59 million baht respectively.


MITI is gunning for RM20bln EV investment by 2025

MITI aims to attract more EV investment and wants to see it rise to RM40 billion by 2030.

Under the watchful eye of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) aims to attract RM20 billion in investments surrounding electric vehicles by 2025.

The Minister of International Trade and Ministry also said that they are hoping for the investment to rise to RM40 billion by 2030,
 doubling up
 on the initial target.

As quoted in the Sun, the minister said they must approach electric vehicles holistically, which will involve things such as EV software, equipment, engineering and others.

"We need to look at the EV ecosystem and the supply chain as a whole and we will also discuss efforts to further strengthen the EV industry through further discussions with the task force," he said, as reported in the Sun.

Tengku Zafrul said this at the memorandum of agreement (MoA) signing ceremony between Artroniq Bhd and United States (US)-based Beno Inc recently.

Under the agreement, Artroniq has full installation rights for a range of electric bicycle products under the Reevo brand for a period of two years.The deal can potentialy be worth more than RM100 million by 2025 and will create more than 100 new job opportunities for Malaysians.

Artroniq chief executive officer Kent Liaw Way Gian said over 95% of the electric bicycles produced by Beno were exported to the US and Europe, and if we want to attract more investment for the green sector, we need more deals like this to occur.

If we were to depend on Malaysians who are quite frankly
spoilt by fuel subsidies
, it'd be hard for us to get the electric vehicle sector off the ground, let alone see it grow.


Tokyo 2017: Toyota Century – Hybrid Power For Japan’s Ultimate Status Symbol

Toyota has unveiled the third-generation model of its classic
Century flagship
 at the ongoing Tokyo International Motor Show. An iconic sight on Japan roads, the Century is a stately ultra-luxurious limousine highly regarded in Japanese society as being an equivalent of a Rolls-Royce in stature.
The original Century debuted in 1967 and remained on sale for three decades. The second-generation model introduced in 1997 had the distinction of being Toyota’s only model powered by a V12 engine – something not available even in any Lexus model.
Moving things along, the all-new Century cuts its cylinder count to just eight, taking over the 2UR-FSE 5.0-litre V8 hybrid power plant from the outgoing Lexus LS 600h including its nickel metal hydride batteries.
Whilst not the latest tech in powertrain development, the 2UR V8 engine does incorporate Toyota’s advanced D-4S dual fuel system that incorporates both direct and port fuel injection. Toyota has not revealed official performance numbers of the Century, though the same engine in the Lexus LS was quoted at 389 hp and 520 Nm. Interestingly enough, the
next-generation Lexus LS 500h hybrid variant
 is powered by a more compact 3.5-litre V6 aided by two electric motors.
In appearance, the all-new Century sticks closely to the established styling template laid on since the 1967 original, albeit lined with modern day touches. In the simple squared fascia are advanced three-projector headlamps with adaptive LED high beams. The wide tail lamps are also given a three-dimensional treatment.
Overall proportions of the car give added emphasis to the rear section of the cabin by straightening the C-pillar, thus putting added visual focus to the part of the cabin typically occupied by its owner.
Inside, the Century seats four occupants in spacious serene comfort, the interior bisected by a large centre tunnel housing arm rests and storage compartments. The overall ambiance is one of understated luxury rather than expressive sophistication.
Standard seat upholstery is fabric with 100% wool that is said to be extremely flexible and soft. Soft-textured leather is available as an option. Interior amenities include adjustable leg-rest, adjustable rear seats with massage function, writing table, rear-seat entertainment, and a 20-speaker premium audio system.


Check Out The Features Of The New Toyota Yaris With Janna Nick

Of the models to launch this year, the Yaris will be a big model for UMW Toyota. It represents a proper effort to enter the compact entry-level hatchback market, being based on the current generation Vios and developed for the ASEAN region. Estimated pricing
has already been released
, so let's take a tour of the all-new Yaris with celebrity and Vios Challenge racer, Janna Nick.
As you can see, the features mirror that of the Vios as well - which is a good thing as the Vios is generously equipped and highly competitive within its class. The chassis should also benefit from the same improvements that the Vios received when transitioning between the previous and current models.


2024 Hyundai Kona unveiled - EV, hybrid & ICE variants available

Hyundai Motor Company is closing off the year with the introduction of the
2024 Hyundai Kona SUV
.

Not a lot of details have been shared just yet, but there will be four different variants which include EV, hybrid electric (HEV), internal combustion engine (ICE), and the sportier N Line variant.

2024 Hyundai Kona - EV first & adapted for other powertrains

Hyundai's latest Kona is a bit out of the box considering that it was designed to be an EV first and later adapted to other powertrains like the hybrid electric (HEV) and internal combustion (ICE). We're guessing that they want to retain its futuristic facade of an EV first but will be offered in other powertrains to cater to a wider range of customers around the globe.

Speaking of the facade, the new Kona's exterior is certainly bold and dynamic, to say the least. To remind everyone that the model is still a worthy SUV adversary, the new Hyundai Kona is 150mm longer, 25mm wider, and carries a 60mm longer wheelbase compared to the previous generation model.

Futuristic design but still rugged & sporty

The futuristic part can be clearly seen via its new front section thanks to its stretched Seamless Horizon Lamp (pixelated for the EV model), smooth nose section for improved aerodynamics, and bold wheel arches that incorporate the front and rear lights.

And the theme is carried to the rear section of the car as well. With its parametric surfaces, the 2023 Hyundai Kona combines its diagonal side creases with satin chrome molding from the belt line to its spoiler which in turn creates a visually-stunning SUV. To tie everything together, the rear portion also features the Seamless Horizon Lamp and high-mounted stop lamps that are integrated within the spoiler's chrome molding.

2024 Hyundai Kona - four variants to be made

To differentiate between the four different variants, the EV Kona is fitted with pixel graphics on the intake grille and rear bumper and pixel-inspired 19-inch wheels. The hybrid and ICE variants feature a more bold and rugged bumper with a skid plate, plus black wheel arch cladding.

As for the Kona N Line, a sportier exterior is further enhanced with the additions of optional black side mirrors and roof, wing-type spoiler, aggressive front and rear bumpers, 19-inch wheels with a design twist, twin mufflers, and silver skirts.

As for the interior, the main highlights include:

Larger interior 'living space' design

Floating horizontal C-Pad

12.3-inch dual wide displays with floating module

Curve-less Bench Seat for the second row + more

No other details like performance figures have been shared just yet. Hyundai has assured everyone that more information will be released in the coming months. For now, check out of B-Segment SUV battle video which includes the current-gen
Hyundai Kona 1.6T N Line
.


Kia’s SportSpace Concept Greenlit For Production, Optima Wagon Ahead

Alongside their
new Optima
 sedan,
Kia
 has let fly that there’s ample room and probability of the imminent arrival of a new body style variant to go along with it.
Kia mentioned that the new model, should it materialize, would take inspiration from the Sportspace concept. This was uttered during the pre-Frankfurt Motor Show reveal of the European-spec
Optima
.
The quote from Kia goes:
“The all-new Kia Optima range will be developed further in future, with the addition of a new body style, inspired by the Kia SPORTSPACE concept car shown at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show.”
While they did not specify a wagon body style, the
SportSpace concept
 is nothing but just that with its shooting brake shape, coupe-like cues, and sharp but flowing curves. The response at the Geneva Motor Show was overwhelmingly positive. It’s no wonder Kia would want to capitalize.
We can’t expect Kia to follow the concept’s design to the letter, but the defining attributes that were crowd-pleasers are sure to make the cut, or at least be in contention to. We’re fine with that, and if the final product is half as pretty as the concept was, we think everyone else will be too.
Wagon/Estate models might not be the biggest seller worldwide, but Kia could do worse than have to live with a very pretty car to show off in their showrooms.


Honda Reveals Bigger, Badder All-New 6th-Gen CR-V For 2022

Honda has pulled back the curtain on their next-generation CR-V, boasting a bolder exterior, revamped cabin, and a dramatic sweep of electrified powertrains to retain its SUV crown.

As has been the case for a few cars, the Japanese automaker has again elected to debut another all-new model in the United States. America was the premiere venue for the previous Civic FC (10th-gen) in late 2015, then a year later 5th-gen CR-V back in 2016,
subsequently the newest Civic FE
….and now this.

2022 Honda CR-V 6th-Gen previewed!

There, it will lock horns most often and ferociously
with the Toyota RAV4
, which explains why Honda has given the all-new CR-V a range of engines boosted - for performance and efficiency - in some fashion by an electric motor, being the first model in the brand’s range to do so across the board.

Mind you, the outgoing CR-V wasn’t exactly elderly despite its replacement arriving on the scene just 6 years later. Naturally, we expect North America to be prioritised in terms of vehicle deliveries as European sales are only due to begin in 2023. Other regions such as Southeast Asia should be even further down the pecking order.

2022 Honda CR-V powertrains

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

Moving to ditch pure-ICE power is a bold move for Honda but not an entirely surprising one considering what its rivals are plotting. Lifted from the hybridised Civic Hatchback, the most pervasive powertrain in the range is a naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that’s paired with two electric motors.

It's essentially a beefier version of
the e:HEV hybrid powertrain
 that’s fitted into the City RS, City Hatchback RS, and now the all-new HR-V in top-spec form. Its traction motor actually delivers 20Nm additional torque over the last time we saw this hybrid combo, and altogether delivers
207PS
 for the CR-V Sport and Sport Touring (pictured).

Exterior design of the 2022 Honda CR-V

In terms of its exterior design, there are definitely some of Honda’s newest aesthetic cues at play. It’s a squarer shape overall that should stand it in good stead among the chunkier SUVs that litter the US market while conforming to the styling found on US-specific Honda stablemates, the Passport and Ridgeline.

There are hints of the Accord and Civic here and there but, for better or worse, its pronounced shoulder line and Hoffmeister-esque kinked window line past the C-pillar puts us in mind of
the Volkswagen Tiguan
 and more than a few BMWs.

Its bonnet is rather flat and pretty long for a Honda, reminding us of a similarly deliberate design choice by Mazda. Meanwhile, at the nose, its fascia is more uncluttered than we’re used to seeing from Honda but more in tune with its
more upmarket sister brand Acura
. Slim headlights flank a rather large central grille that’s joined by other cosmetic furnishings depending on the variant chosen.

Interior 2022 Honda CR-V

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

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

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

There’s no doubt that the CR-V will be a big hit with buyers, provided Honda has applied their engineering mastery as they usually do. The big question for us is how long will it take for this newest C-segment SUV to reach our shores and, upon its arrival, can Honda Malaysia keep up with demand enough to avoid the
year-long waiting period
 that’s become a stain on the otherwise spotless local introduction of the 3rd-gen 2022 HR-V.


All-New Volvo XC60 Bags 2017 Japan Car Of The Year Award

Japan Car Of The Year (JCOTY) has announced the winner of its 2017-2018 award, the Volvo XC60. Interestingly, the second place of the JCOTY award was handed to the BMW 5 Series, with the Toyota Camry coming in third place.
Last year, the Subaru Impreza bagged the first place. Second and third place went to the Toyota Prius and Audi A4, respectively. In fourth place was the Volvo XC90.
Judges were impressed with the Volvo XC60’s balance between comfort, functionality and driveability. Additionally, the interior and exterior design of the XC60 also reflected the Scandinavian design well. Volvo’s safety equipment and powertrain options including a plug-in hybrid further cemented the XC60’s first place.
JCOTY judges awarded the Volvo XC60 a total of 294 points, ahead of the BMW 5 Series’ 242 points. The new Toyota Camry scored 232 points, while the new Suzuki Swift scored 210 points.


The Renault Arkana Is the Crossover For The People

Well, it's finally happened. The mass market is finally going to be treated to a coupe-crossover vehicle, and it comes in the form of the Renault Arkana. For now it's just a show car and details are scarce, but Renault has indicated that they intend to release it for the Russian market in 2019. As a group, Renault has taken one-third of the market share in Russia, which makes it a very potent place to launch their latest and greatest.
The Arkana is slated to be a C-Segment vehicle, with ties to other SUVs within the Renault range albeit with that signature swooping roofline that defines a coupe crossover. It aims to provide the balance between the elegance of a sedan and the sturdiness of an SUV - in other words, a more stylish alternative to a wagon with a higher ride height. The Arkana will be manufactured and sold in Asia after its debut in Russia, and is a key part of Renault's 2022 target to increase sales to 5 million units.


Bekalan Elektrik Mencukupi Diperlukan Sebelum Beralih Kepada EV, Kata Azmin Ali

Perlu ada bekalan elektrik yang mencukupi untuk pengguna dan industri sebelum negara boleh beralih kepada penggunaan
kenderaan elektrik
 (EV) yang lebih meluas, kata Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Ujarnya, keperluan penggunaan tenaga negara itu perlu diberi perhatian serius dari segi peralihan kepada kenderaan EV atau kenderaan cekap tenaga (EEV) bagi menggantikan kenderaan yang dijana secara enjin pembakaran dalaman (ICE), lapor Bernama.

*Kredit foto: Malay Mail

Menteri Kanan merangkap Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (
MITI
) itu memberitahu Dewan Rakyat bahawa Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU) sedang merangka Dasar Tenaga Negara untuk memastikan bekalan yang mencukupi, bukan sahaja untuk pengguna, malah sektor perindustrian dan isi rumah.

Ini berikutan soalan yang dikemukakan Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz (PAS-Bachok) mengenai strategi khusus kerajaan untuk menarik pelaburan dalam sektor pengilangan komponen EV, tumpuan terhadap
kenderaan hibrid dan elektrik
 berbanding EEV.

Beliau juga menyatakan bahawa Pusat Teknologi Hijau dan Perubahan Iklim Malaysia (MGTC) di bawah Kementerian Alam Sekitar dan Air telah bekerjasama dengan sektor swasta untuk membangunkan infrastruktur sokongan, termasuk
stesen pengecasan
.

Beliau berkata ini adalah antara usaha yang dilakukan untuk membangunkan Malaysia sebagai hab automotif untuk EEV dan EV selaras dengan Dasar Automotif Negara yang diumumkan tahun lepas.

Mengenai pelaburan asing ke arah merealisasikan matlamat ini, Azmin menyatakan bahawa sebuah syarikat Korea Selatan telah bersetuju untuk melabur RM4.24 bilion untuk menubuhkan sebuah kilang di Sabah untuk mengeluarkan gegelung tembaga dan
bateri kenderaan EV
.

Beliau juga berkata bahawa misi pelaburan ke Eropah baru-baru ini, menyaksikan perbincangan diadakan dengan beberapa pengeluar kereta yang sedang beralih  untuk memperkenalkan teknologi EV.

“Salah seorang daripada mereka telah memutuskan untuk menubuhkan sebuah kilang di Gurun, Kedah, yang akan memberi kita peluang untuk membangunkan teknologi tinggi, berketepatan tinggi dan teknologi hijau,” tambahnya.

Terdahulu, beberapa insentif disediakan di bawah
Bajet 2022 bagi menggalakkan lagi penggunaan EV
 dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia.

Antaranya, pengecualian duti import bagi unit terbina sepenuhnya (CBU), pengecualian cukai jalan dan pelepasan cukai RM2,500 untuk pembelian kenderaan EV dan peralatan berkaitan.

Namun,
limitasi stesen pengecasan
 misalnya, menimbulkan persoalan sejauh mana negara kita boleh mengadaptasi kenderaan EV sebagai mod pengangkutan utama, berbanding kenderaan ICE yang sedia ada?

Semoga Dasar Tenaga Negara ini menjadi titik permulaan yang baik untuk pembangunan sektor kenderaan EV di Malaysia, sekaligus merealisasikan negara bebas karbon menjelang 2050.


2022 Kia Sportage Has Landed In Indonesia For A Pricey RM222k

The new 5th-generation Kia Sportage,
revealed in mid-2021
, is one of those new SUVs that looks like it could throw a wrench into the established SUV hierarchy. And with its first appearance in Indonesia checked off, we should expect one in local showrooms before too long.

A somewhat unexpected guest at the Kia booth at the 2022 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) was the all-new Sportage, though rumours of its ASEAN arrival have been circulating for quite some time.

The Sportage there was displayed alongside other shiny new machinery from the Korean automaker
including the Niro EV
, EV6, Carnival, and Carens.

2022 Kia Sportage now in Indonesia, Malaysia next?

Though the Sportage was previewed, it is understood the model itself has yet to be fully launched despite a starting price of around IDR 735 million (roughly RM222k) being thrown around the grapevine. Deliveries, meanwhile, are only set to commence in 2023.

The Sportage seen on the show floor was spotted in a single high-spec variant fully imported from Kia’s manufacturing plant in Gwangju, South Korea, and powered by a Smartstream 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine - essentially a tweaked version of the TGDI unit seen here as early as the
Hyundai Veloster Turbo in 2015
.

On our side of the Malacca strait, Kia’s local distributor Dinamikjaya Motors (a subsidiary of Bermaz) is likely very keen on bringing the Sportage in to rival such SUV mainstays
like the Honda CR-V
.

It would certainly bolster their own line-up of vehicles which currently remain quite limited, consisting of the fully electric EV6 and the all-new and
recently CKD’d Carnival
.

On the Sportage’s design, we’ve already covered that deliberately sci-fi exterior, which Kia themselves (their design team, specifically) call ‘Opposites United’.

Some highlights include its bolder elements such as those boomerang-style daytime running lights, the subtle contour on the lower door panels, and the wraparound bonnet.

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

The interior looks just as impressive with a more definite upmarket feel and material selection than we’ve previously seen with Kia’s more mainstream models,
flagship EV6 notwithstanding
.

We’ll be back if we hear anything new about its Malaysian arrival, though expect silence out of Bermaz at least until some time in 2023 since there’s a strong likelihood that the Sportage’s debut hinges on a successful CKD transition, unlike its Indonesian rollout.

On the other hand, it could reach showrooms in a 'CBU first, CKD later' fashion much like the newest Carnival did.


Upcoming 2023 BMW iX5 Hydrogen Will Use FCEV Tech From Toyota

Much like the electric twins of other cars in its line up (i4, i3, iX3, i7) BMW will soon start fielding a zero emissions version of the X5 as well called…*drumroll*.…the iX5. That bit news might come as no surprise, but the twist is that buyers will get a choice of fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell.

Yes, the Munich automaker is still keen on the FCEV as a prospective long term solution to a post-combustion vehicle landscape, sharing a boat with longtime hydrogen proponents Honda,
Hyundai
, but especially Toyota.

BMW iX5 - EV or Hydrogen Fuel Cell?

Coincidentally, the iX5’s hydrogen fuel cell powertrain will be using plenty of tech from the Japanese automotive giant (mainly the fuel cells themselves) paired with its in-house BMW eDrive innards. This marks the restarting of a longtime collaboration between the two companies which started in 2013 but had since gone quiet.

The iX5 Hydrogen,
based on the 4th-generation (G05) X5
, seems unbothered with hiding its exterior or interior details, remains further out from a launch date as pre-production, on-road testing is only scheduled for later this year, putting an on-sale window sometime around midway through 2023 at the earliest.

Between there and then, BMW will produce a batch of 100 vehicles for a real-world assessment programme for use by drivers that will test them in their everyday situations and conditions in the United States, Japan, Europe, China, and South Korea prior to a full market debut.

The Toyota/BMW hydrogen powertrain will be capable of a total system output of around
380PS
, though this is also aided by a 172PS electric motor. There’s no word yet on the car’s predicted range for each full tank of pressurised hydrogen, but Germans say its efficiency is “vastly improved” following years of research and development.

BMW Hydrogen Fuel Cell iX5 to begin testing

Two carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) tanks will store the 6 kilograms of hydrogen, which will only take about 3 to 4 minutes to refill from a station and pump very similar in appearance to one that dispenses petrol or diesel.

In its newest second-generation guise,
the Toyota Mirai
’s endurance is stated to be up to some
650km
 (based on the US EPA testing) before needing a refill,
though one managed to drive a shocking 1,360km
 - a new world record. Given the iX5 Hydrogen will be fitted with similar tech, it’s natural to assume a similar range will be possible. That said, it’s worth bearing in mind that the BMW will be larger and more powerful.

“With its high-performance fuel cell and optimised power battery, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen’s drive system is unique in the world,” said Juergen Guldner, head of BMW Group Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects. “With this, we are forging new paths for sustainable driving pleasure.”

“As a versatile energy source, hydrogen has a key role to play on the road to climate neutrality. And it will also gain substantially in importance as far as personal mobility is concerned. We think hydrogen-powered vehicles are ideally placed technologically to fit alongside battery-electric vehicles and complete the electric mobility picture,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

“By commencing small-scale production of fuel cells today, we are demonstrating the technical maturity of this type of drive system and underscoring its potential for the future,” he added.

Now it's time to see if Toyota will share
its eco-friendly and still zero-emissions hydrogen combustion engine
 tech with the Germans if BMW asks nicely enough. You know, for the M cars.


Hyundai Introduces World’s First Multi-Collision Airbag System

Hyundai Motor Group has announced the world’s first multi-collision airbag system that significantly improves airbag performance in multi-collision accidents.
Multi-collision accidents are those in which the primary impact is followed by collisions with secondary objects, such as trees, electrical posts, or other vehicles – which according to the U.S. traffic safety administration or NTHSA, occurs in 30 percent of accidents.
Current airbag systems do not offer secondary protection when the initial impact is insufficient to cause them to deploy. However, the multi-collision airbag system allows airbags to deploy effectively upon a secondary impact by calibrating the status of the vehicle and the occupants.
The new technology detects occupant position in the cabin following an initial collision, and are designed to deploy even faster when initial safety systems may not be effective, providing additional safety when drivers and passengers are most vulnerable.
By recalibrating the collision intensity required for deployment, the airbag system responds more promptly during the secondary impact, thereby improving the safety of multi-collision vehicle occupants.
Hyundai Motor Group analysed multi-collision scenarios in multilateral ways to improve airbag performance and precision in secondary collisions. Hyundai Motor Group will implement the new system in future Hyundai and Kia vehicles.