2015 Mazda 3 SkyActiv Full Review - The Hero You Know

This review covers, as best of its author's abilities, the Mazda3 SkyActiv at a macro level as well as the mid-spec hatchback (CKD) variant and the high-spec sedan variant (also CKD).

I won’t make any bones about the fact that
Mazda
s have always carried with them a certain weight of responsibility with each iteration. Over the years, the mention of this particular Japanese marque has conditioned us to expect something more, but also distinctive, and in some key areas, markedly better.

Despite that greatness-to-reality ratio tending toward a more grounded outcome over the past years and Mazda’s varying lineup and generational successions having echoes of brilliance while others falling short, their current crop of vehicles - the 'gen-SkyActiv', as we have labelled it for the sake of ease - has been almost unanimously received as a leap forward.

The
Mazda3
, arguably, is one of the most important cars in their stable. After all, the C-segmenter is what a lot of their customers will be considering because of that sweet spot it occupies in terms of size and price, giving their new 3 the added duty of showcasing Mazda’s newfound stride.

You’ve seen the Mazda3, I’m sure, just as I’m sure you have turned your head to look at it for a few moments longer. You know it’s
just
 Mazda, but oddly your gaze lingers anyway. The initial reaction is more emotional, but that kind of good first impressions doesn't necessarily translate to an overall good car. It's a winning formula that has eluded many an automaker far too often, as we’re sure Mazda knows all too well.

Key Specs

Price (high-spec sedan):
RM121,105, on-the-road (OTR) without insurance inclusive of GST

Price (mid-spec hatchback):
RM121,105, on-the-road (OTR) without insurance inclusive of GST

Engine:
1,998cc SKYACTIV-G direct injection inline four-cylinder petrol

Power:
162hp

Torque:
210Nm

Transmission:
6-speed SKYACTIV-Drive torque converter automatic with paddle shifters

Fuel Tank Capacity:
 51-litres

Overview

Let’s pause. Examine that picture a little closer, if you please. You’re very likely to have seen one (or many) of these newest-generation 3s -
sedan or hatch, either way
 - driving along some road somewhere around here. Like I said; you looked. That’s okay. Really, it is. We all did. A lot of us still do. Including me.

But the story of the Mazda3 goes far deeper than fascade. Never mind that its one of the best looking cars on our roads, not just among the C-segment sedans or hatches, how much of a fight can it put up against rivals such as
Ford
's venerable
Focus
 (an
updated version
 is due to hit Malaysia soon), the
Volkswagen

Golf
,
Volkswagen Jetta
,
Honda

Civic
, and
Toyota

Corolla

Altis

Regardless of the variant you choose here, the internals of the Mazda3 remain the same, with the single engine and transmission combination uniformly used. Trim levels plus the amount of kit and conveniences are the only variables.

Exterior

If you’ve noticed with other Mazdas such as the
Mazda6
 SkyActiv,
Mazda2
 SkyActiv,
CX-5
, and
CX-3
, the common visual markers are found on the Mazda3 as well: the pronounced five-point grille, strong shoulder lines, swept back headlamps, ever-so-slightly bulging hood, and an overall more dynamic stance. All tenants of the company's 'KODO - Soul of Motion' design philosophy.

There’s a lot I could say about the Mazda3’s exterior, but without delving too much into the minutia, I’ll conclude that, subjective as looks may be, this is one of the best looking cars you can get for this price. In fact, it might even make a few models from premium European marques (and their owners) a little insecure as you pull alongside.

Having said that, the right colour should be chosen to best accentuate the many definitions lines that run along the car’s body. While a white finish doesn’t quite bring out its best, the popular Soul Red Metallic finish does very well to flatter the car but unfortunately that has been dropped as a colour option since the jump from fully imported (CBU) to to locally assembled (CKD). For the more understated, however, there’s still the Blue Reflex Mica finish that’s seen on our Mazda3 hatch test car which looks much more dark grey than blue to our eyes.

While the mid-spec hatch variant is a real looker, the sedan doesn’t fall far behind with its boot barely extending from the car’s rear baseline, leaving an additional overhang that’s quite subtle. From a front three-quarter angle, it is so discreet that you’ll barely notice the longer rear end just because of how neatly it tapers off.

Of course, both variants share the 18-inch alloy wheels, a set of bi-xenon auto-levelling headlamps, LED daytime running lights up front, and LED tail lamps. Curiously, the dual exhausts ports are hidden away on the high-spec sedan variant while the hatch’s protrude more evidently with its tips finished in chrome.

Mazda3 SkyActiv - Hi-spec Sedan- Interior

Interior

Stepping inside the Mazda3, or pretty much any current-generation
Mazda
, is an exercise of managing surprise. The fit and finish of the cabin immediately brings to mind those from more expensive marques. Premium-feeling. It feels tightly pieced together, too, with surfaces and controls thoughtfully placed with the driver in mind.

There’s leather, tastefully textured plastics, glossy finishes, and a blend of real and faux aluminium that, for the most part, fades into the background as fixtures you won’t touch but can appreciate from a distance. It is an cabin that’s very congruent with the exteior, having similarly subtle undulations in material, geometry and function.

Mazda3 SkyActiv - Hi-spec Sedan- Interior

Sitting inside and driving along is a comfortable experience, even cozy. It’s quiet and plush, with supple materials matched with a supple ride and smooth engine. Whatever tradeoffs Mazda has chosen to exploit seem to be quite clearly the right ones as this level of quality is rare at this price.

The MZD Connect system worked like a charm, with quick responses to input and an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate. Audio performance was punchy, crisp and defined while Bluetooth connections we’re exceptionally quick and reliable, taking an average of five seconds to resume my Spotify tunes upon starting the car. Screen placement is good, as was daylight visibility, and required little eye movement to quickly glance from the road to the screen as opposed to a lower placed panel found in many other cars.

It’s a wonder why so few automakers still only provide one interface interaction model for their infotainment solutions;  in modern cars, they’re typically a touchscreen or capacitive buttons around the panel’s perimeter, or both.

Each is flawed since the screens themselves are usually mounted towards the top of the centre console, requiring a lot of stretching and poking at whatever approximation the driver thinks the button is located. The rotary dial that’s used in the Mazda is a much more sane and ergonomic solution. It’s not a new one either - think BMW’s iDrive that debuted in 2001.

A headlining difference between the sedan and hatch variant of the Mazda3 is the upholstery, with the sedan gaining semi-perforated leather seats while the hatch having to make due with fabric seats. That may seem like a downside for the hatch, but (and this is an issue I’ve raised before) after driving them both back to back, I prefer the fabric seats. To be honest, they feel higher quality than the leather option.

In spite of their lower tier placement, I found the fabric seats to be more comfortable, more supportive and altogether a better match for the car and the interior. The Mazda3, as I think I've alluded to, is an act of balancing congruence, and the leather seats seem a less-than-ideal fit for the car overall.

Drive And Handling

If there’s just one word that could describe how the Mazda3 feels to drive, it’s ‘supple’. And it’s a recurring theme throughout the car that is (I’ll use the word again) congruent with the car. It’s got those soft curves that implies aggression. Same goes for the interior, it’s soft and cosseting and wraps around the driver well.

Sitting inside, that sentiment is communicated as how the car behaves - with poise. It’s rigid, and doesn’t roll much through the corners unless forced, but even that tilt is quite controlled and linear. Electronic Power Steering is likely never going to reach that level of bumpy, jittery dialogue to the driver’s hand as hydraulic racks, but in the Mazda3 the accuracy is quick to breed trust.

During turn in and through the remainder of the corner, the front wheels feel as if they’re much further in front than they actually are. It’s a little tricky to describe, but instead of pivoting from either side of the engine, the front wheels feel as if they’re placed more toward the corners of the car.

I’m not sure if this is due to steering ratios programmed to being a little quicker toward the centre, either deliberately or otherwise, but as a result the turn-in does feel quicker doesn't feel unsettled due to its forgiving suspension, proving how a car’s ride need not be firm to be fun and handle well. It seems to reward a driver that’s willing to work with it, and is able to compensate for the extra give with smaller adjustments to urge the car into line.

The 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G engine is a strong and responsive performer, and had no trouble pulling along the 1,300kg Mazda3 even on steep inclines. At times, I do wonder how much more engaging a drive it would be if fitted with the 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G unit from the Mazda6, or even if/when Mazda introduces a turbocharged SkyActiv powerplant for it, but as it stands the 2.0-litre 162hp unit does a fine job to complement the Mazda3’s typically relaxed but easily excitable character.

The six-speed automatic transmission does a good job as well. Mazda chose to rely on the strong low-end torque of their SkyActiv engines, which allows the transmission here to not kick down when most cars would have done so immediately. When the actual shifts do occur, the action is smooth and near-imperceptible especially under light engine load.

The paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel are a nice touch, and the added connection became one that I relied on time and again even in normal driving, such as wanting to overtake on highways with more finesse and not wanting to wait for the transmission to reasses and react. Just a pull or two, down a gear, and off I go.

Practicality

Being a C-segment vehicle, the Mazda3 has to be flexible enough to fill a number of roles, especially when more people and cargo are thrown into the mix. This car would, after all, likely be its owners’ primary vehicle, being used for the grocery haul, the congested commute, or the road trip.

In these respects, the Mazda3 fairs middlingly. It has enough rear space to occupy three adults, although taller passengers might find that the roofline could get in the way. Legroom is sufficient but not stellar, and adequate for everything other than exceptionally long journeys.

In terms of cargo carrying, the Mazda3 sedan obviously wins in terms of space with its deeper boot compared to the hatch (408-litres v.s 308-litres), but loses out in terms of accessibility. The sill is rather high and the boot floor sits a few inches deeper, making unloading more cumbersome.

The hatchback does have that same tall sill, but the aperture is much larger, able to accommodate a wider range of cargo sizes without having fold the rear seats. Even then, the hatch still has the advantage with a taller overall trunk space. The rear seat release is located in the boot for the sedan, but pulling it won’t cause the seats to fall flat and you’re still required to go to through the rear door to pull it down. The hatch’s rear seat release is more conveniently located on top of the rear seats, next to the headrests.

Fuel

Economy

Despite being a 2.0-litre engine in a world and economy where even large
Audi
s have
downsized further
, and even rarer to find that it’s not turbocharged, the naturally aspirated SkyActiv-G unit proved to be surprisingly economical even in mixed driving conditions, yielding consumption figures that are uncommonly low for its displacement.

During my time with it, switching from driving slowly to briskly didn’t have much effect on the fuel gauge, and the Mazda3 calculated it was consuming a mere 7.3-litres/100km. That's verging on unbelievable.

Without detracting the inherently efficient nature of the engine, Mazda’s i-Stop system, which cuts the engine when the car is stationary at idle but quickly reengages when the brake pedal pressure is released, did very likely play a significant role in achieving that impressive consumption figure.

Bermaz Motor, official distributors for Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, offers the Mazda3 with a 3-year warranty and 3-year (or 60,000km) free maintenance package.

Safety

The Mazda3 scored a full 5 stars from Euro NCAP as well as another 5-stars from ASEAN NCAP.  Regardless of variant, it comes with a total of six airbags, Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake-Assist (BA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), and Traction Control (TCS), and ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the rear seats.

Sedan Or Hatch?

Comparing both cars spec for spec, the identical selling prices for both variants is indeed perplexing, especially when the sedan seen here is sold as the highest trim level whereas the hatchback is relegated to playing second fiddle in the mid-range. There’s also a base sedan for RM105k, just FYI. Does Mazda not want to sell more hatchbacks?

The high-spec sedan gets a rather long list of extra features for the same price as the mid-spec hatchback:

Leather seats

Satelite Navigation

Cruise Control

Autonomous City Braking

Automatic High Beam Control

Rear Vehicle Monitoring

Lane Departure Warning system

Head-up Display

Rev counter instead of speedo as central gauge

Electrically-adjustable seats

With the value proposition clearly favouring the high-spec sedan, what does the mid-spec (but identically priced) hatchback have going for it? I suppose it comes down to personal taste. My opinion stands that the hatchback is indeed the more practical option even if outright boot space is volumetrically smaller, it is marginally easier to park with the shorter overhang, and to my eyes it looks better than the already handsome sedan.

For me, personally, I would choose the hatchback, throwing ‘value propositions’ to the wind, and happily living without the frills of the high-spec sedan. It sounds impulsive, and perhaps even slightly foolish.

Obviously, out on our roads, the sheer degree to which the high-spec sedans outnumber the mid-spec hatchback speaks volumes about buyers not being able to justify the hatch over the sedan, which is a shame.

We’re still left to wonder why. Surely Bermaz could sell many more mid-spec Mazda3 hatchbacks if it were priced lower (as it should be) than the highest-spec sedan variant. There’s obviously some draw to the hatchback that’s not yet being taken advantage of.

Conclusion

The
Mazda3
 is a very capable car, and now that it’s locally assembled, presents Malaysians with more reason to own one of the best vehicles in its class. It’s a car that smoothly melds two seemingly opposing attributes: it’s beauty with brains, cosmetic flair with practical competence, powerful but economical, comfortable but engaging to drive, premium-feeling without the hefty price tag, popular but distinctive. There should be more on the road.

If you were given no other choice but to drive a Mazda3 for the rest of your life (hypothetically assuming that you’ll never crash it and it’ll never break down), you should consider yourself lucky. It’s a very good car. If only it was offered in Malaysia with a more sensible price separation between variants and perhaps a couple more engine choices and trim levels to go with body styles.


4 Things You Should Never Do In A Turbocharged Car

Every car that rolls off the factory line these days seems to be a  turbocharged car. Some come with big turbocharged engines, while others smaller. Whatever the displacement is, it is still a turbocharged engine, and to help prolong the life of these forced engines, there are some engine etiquette that you should follow.

They are not like naturally aspirated engines and should not be treated like one, so here are four things you should never do to a turbocharged car.

1. Proper engine warm-up

Many already know this but it is more crucial for a turbocharged engine. You should never run your car hard until it is properly warmed up. It would be best if you always got it to operating temperature before doing any sort of spirited driving and the common misconception is that if the cooling gauge reaches the middle, you are ready to go. But the thing is, your coolant warms up faster than your engine oil and if your engine oil is not at operating temperature, it can harm your engine. This is even more so in a forced induction car because oil is sent to the turbocharger and if the snail doesn't receive proper oil flow due to it being cold, it could damage it. Just wait a few extra minutes after that coolant gauge reaches the middle, it'll save you some heartbreak.

2. Never switch your engine off immediately after a hard drive

When you drive your car hard, some hardware in your engine bay will be hotter than others. When you switch your engine off, you're also switching off oil flow and what this does is it leaves hot oil in hot areas which will eventually breakdown the oil. This reduces the flow characteristics of the oil and in turn is not good for your engine. This also means that you will need to change your oil more often and not have the most protection against engine friction, so let your engine cool down. Try not to get into boost before reaching your destination, and maybe wait a minute before shutting off your car after a hard drive.

3. Never lug your turbocharged engine

What does engine lugging mean? It merely means that you are giving the engine high load at low engine RPMs. An example of this is let's say you are in sixth gear at 2000rpm and then you suddenly floor it. That is a lot of boost at very low engine RPMs, which is strenuous. The problem with this is you are putting your car at a considerable gearing disadvantage as you're looking for a lot of power at an engine speed that can't make that, so it's best to downshift. Another problem with lugging is low-speed pre-ignition, where the ignition is earlier than when the spark plug can ignite it. It's basically an uncontrolled advanced timing that may hurt the engine. This phenomenon typically happens more in smaller sized turbocharged engines, 1.5-litres and less. This is a very complicated subject, so read more about it if you want to know more, but for best practice, try to downshift before you floor it.

4. Buy the best fuel you can afford

This really is a no brainer, especially for a modified car. What this basically is is an attempt to minimise knock which may hurt your engine. There are many ways to avoid engine knocking but they all reduce power. The best compromise is to get the best fuel available which will help decrease the probability of engine knock.

The effects of the above on engine wear and tear are cumulative. Sure you may argue that you've been doing the opposite of the above for years with no issues but we're advocating for you to pay a little attention to the health of your turbocharged engines today so that you won't be crying tomorrow. Long may you enjoy your turbos!


2021 MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper SE Countryman Launched - From RM244,265.76

MINI has further expanded their local offering of locally assembled MINI’s in Malaysia with the introduction of the 2021 MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper SE Countryman today.

“The locally-assembled MINI Countryman introduced for the first time in 2018 was a significant milestone for us, as Malaysia became the first market in the world outside the Netherlands to locally assemble the best-selling MINI vehicle. Today, we remain committed to our investments in the country with the New MINI Cooper S Countryman and the New MINI Cooper SE Countryman, and we look forward to continue delivering the hallmark go-kart thrill loved by MINIacs across the nation,” said Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

Let’s get into it then...

Both the MINI Cooper S
Countryman
 and the New MINI Cooper SE Countryman will now come with MINI’s ALL4 Exterior Optic. The front bumper is aesthetically different from the outgoing models with the cladding now more prominent. The air ducts on the side have also been moved forward and appear larger than the outgoing models. The front bumper now also shares the same color as the body of the car unlike the piano black cladding on the upper half of the bumper of the previous model.

The rear carries forward much of the previous models save for the removal of the piano black cladding across the top half of the bumper, this has been replaced by one which is body-colored.

Both variants also feature auto LED headlights with cornering lights, bonnet stripes, roof rails and side sills.

The synonymous Union Jack tail lights have now become more block-ish, apparently, this results in stronger lighting. We didn’t have any issues with the previous lights but hey it does look good!

The MINI Cooper S Countryman comes shod on 19-inch MINI Turnstile Spoke with Run Flat Tyres while the MINI Cooper SE Countryman is equipped with the 19-inch MINI Yours British Spoke with Run Flat Tyres.

Since black, especially high-gloss black is in season - the headlight surrounds, rear lights, radiator grille and side scuttles have been finished in high-gloss black instead of chrome, as are the door handles and the model lettering on the tailgate.

The Picnic Bench comes standard on both variants.

For the first time, the MINI Cooper S Countryman will receive the MINI Yours Walknappa leather steering with the union jack insignia at the bottom of the steering wheel.

Another first is the 5-inch digital instrument cluster strategically placed behind the steering wheel on both variants. This keeps the driver informed with speed, fuel level, mileage, temperature, and navigation. To make sure you remain focused while on the road, both variants will also come with a Head-Up Display. In-car entertainment comes in the form of a 12-speaker Harman Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system.

Driving Assistant is standard across both variants. The camera-based driving assistance enables digital high-beam assistant, speed limit information, a person warning with light city braking function and approach control warning with light city braking function.

The person warning and approach control warning will warn and safely brake in a speed range of approximately 10 km/h to 60 km/h. At higher speeds, it will warn the driver of potential collisions with vehicles ahead while pre-conditioning the brakes for a faster response time and shorter braking distance.

The MINI Cooper S
Countryman
 will come with a 2-litre MINI TwinPower Turbo engine, producing 192 hp and 280 Nm of torque. 0-100km/h is achieved in 7.5 seconds, topping off at 226 km/h. The powertrain is paired to a 7-Speed dual-clutch transmission. In order to optimise fuel efficiency, the coasting function is available in both MID and GREEN driving modes now, allowing it to roll along at idling speed, free of any engine braking effect, and at minimum fuel consumption.

The MINI Cooper SE Countryman on the other hand will be powered by 1.5-litre MINI TwinPower Turbo engine + electric motor. Combined power is 224 hp and 385 Nm of torque. The plug-in hybrid hits 0-100 in just 6.8 seconds. Top speed is 194 km/h.

The MINI Cooper SE Countryman will come equipped with the latest eDrive technology, featuring a high-voltage lithium battery churning out an energy content of 10kWh, giving this hybrid an electrically powered range of 48 kilometres. The ALL4 all-wheel-drive system ensures that traction is always at hand when you need it, in the dry or wet.

There are three modes on the eDrive:

AUTO eDrive - uses the intelligent energy management system for the perfect balance between the engine and electric motor

MAX eDrive - pure electric driving at speeds of up to 120km/h

Save Battery mode - kicks in automatically when the battery is low. The petrol engine is then used to charge the battery or maintain its charging status at 90%.

Charging time is rated at 5 hours on 2.3kW charge from 0-100% or 3 hours 15 minutes on a 3.7kW charger.

MINI Malaysia will provide every MINI Cooper SE Countryman with a MINI public charging cable and a one-year free subscription at all ChargEV stations nationwide.

MINI Connected keeps you connected whilst in the car but for the Android users, sorry no bueno! Apple CarPlay is standard. Buyers can operate the 8.8-inch navigation system via touch or voice control. Wireless charging is available to ensure you’re always charged while on-the-go.

The MINI Countryman variants will come in Chili Red, White Silver, Island Blue, Thunder Grey, British Racing Green and for the first time ever, Sage Green!

Retailing at RM244,265.76 for the
MINI
 Cooper S Countryman and RM254,461.84 for the MINI Cooper SE Countryman, booking is now open at all MINI dealerships nationwide. Prices are with SST discounts, OTR, without insurance.


Locally-Assembled 2015 BMW X6 Launched In Malaysia: From RM667k

BMW
 Group Malaysia have officially launched the locally-assembled 2015 BMW X6 (F16) in Malaysia, a few months after the all-new Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) made its
debut at the BMW World Malaysia 2015 exhibition
.
Available in a sole variant which is the X6 xDrive35i M Sport, the locally-assembled model is now priced at RM666,888 (OTR with GST but without insurance) and retains nearly everything that was found in the fully imported unit launched in April this year.
Buyer’s Guide:
Being the replacement for the E71 LCI model, the second generation
BMW X6
 boasts new styling and comes with more equipment as standard. With prices starting at RM666,888, the BMW X6 xDrive35i M Sport is now even more affordable, being some RM50k cheaper than the CBU unit. Four body colours are available here - Alpine White, Flamenco Red, Carbon Black, and Space Grey.
The all-new BMW X6 will be the BMW Group Malaysia’s ninth model to join its list of locally-assembled models with the
most recent being the new 1 Series
.
KEY SPECS:
Engine: TwinPower Turbo 3.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged straight-six
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic sport automatic transmission
Power: 306hp @ 5,800-6,400 rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,200-5,000 rpm
Fuel Consumption: 8.6 litres/100 km
Performance & Powertrain:
Powering the BMW X6 is a 3.0-litre turbocharged TwinPower inline six-cylinder engine which comes with a bevy of BMW EfficientDynamics features that include a Launch Control function and Driving Experience Control. The powerplant produces 306hp and 400Nm of torque, sent through an eight-speed Steptronic sport automatic transmission and to all four wheels via the xDrive permanent all-wheel drive system.
From a standstill, the SAC will hit 100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 240 km/h. As before, the X6 is rated with a fuel consumption of 8.6 litres per 100 km (11.63 km per litre) while CO2 emissions is 200 grams per kilometre.
The M Sport package also tags on the Adaptive M Suspension to the X6 featuring Dynamic Damper Control and pneumatic rear suspension.
Exterior Design:
Viewed from the outside, the all-new X6 gains a more muscular look to it, being slightly longer, wider and taller than its predecessor. At the front is a more pronounced kidney grille flanked by adaptive LED headlights and LED fog lamps just beneath them. The distinct rear gets a new taillight design as well, while the exhaust tips are now rectangular instead.
As part of the M Sport Package, an M Aerodynamics package has been fitted on the X6 with a body kit that features air curtains, air breathers and air vents. 20-inch alloy wheels are also part of the package, with 275/40 series tyres fitted at the front, and 315/35 series tyres at the rear.
Interior Design:
The cabin of the all-new BMW X6 is a step up from the outgoing model, with Dakota leather (available in three colours – Black, Coral Red, and Cognac) now lining the upholstery and Aluminium Hexagon interior trim. Paddle shifters, Sport gear selector lever, and an M Sport leather steering wheel with on-wheel controls are also fitted as part of the M Sport package. Also part of the package are electrically adjustable sports seats with memory function for the front seats.
For comfort, there is a four-zone automatic climate control system and exclusive ambient lighting at shoulder height. Infotainment and navigation is handled by a 10.25-inch Navigation system Professional multimedia unit which accepts multiple inputs and is controlled by BMW’s proprietary iDrive Touch Controller. A 16-speaker, 600W Harman Kardon surround sound system handles audio playback.
Safety Features:
The BMW X6 is packed with safety features beginning with six airbags (front, side, head) and BMW’s suite of safety systems – Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), anti-lock brakes (ABS), Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC). ISOFIX child seat anchors are also located at the rear.
Other Features:
BMW ConnectedDrive features that are also available on the X6 include a heads-up display for the driver. To make parking a more convenient affair, Surround View 360 provides all-round visibility while the additional, camera-based Driving Assistant System consists of Lane Departure Warning with Approach Warning and Pedestrian Warning with city braking function serve to alert the driver whenever the vehicle is about to stray outside the limits of its lane and in case of a potential collision.
BMW’s smartphone integration also allows for in-car access to popular apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Spotify and more.
Other Information:
Buyers of the X6 will also benefit from BMW Malaysia’s latest Five-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty and Free Scheduled Service Program. The manufacturer backed warranty includes free scheduled service and maintenance of up to 100,000km.
Four body colours are available for the all-new locally-assembled 2015 BMW X6 - Alpine White, Flamenco Red, Carbon Black, and Space Grey.


Honda Develops New i-MMD For Small Cars, Replacing Jazz's i-DCD

Honda has confirmed that the all-new next generation Jazz will be available with a new, more compact i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) hybrid system. Honda will debut the all-new Jazz at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show in October.
Compared to the current i-MMD hybrid system that is limited to larger vehicles, the new one is developed specifically for smaller models and the all-new Jazz will be the first model to receive it.
At the moment, the i-MMD hybrid system is found in larger Honda models, such as the Accord and CR-V.
In terms of functionality, the i-MMD hybrid system utilizes a two-motor system that operates without the need for a conventional automatic transmission.
As for the current Honda Jazz Hybrid, this model is fitted with the
i-DCD (Intelligent Dual-Clutch Drive) Sport Hybrid
 system that features an electric motor housed inside the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Honda will also deploy the i-MMD hybrid system across its entire line-up, meaning that the i-DCD Sport Hybrid system will be axed in the future.
A shame really, as the
Honda Jazz Hybrid
 offers an improved
driving experience
 over the regular petrol variant. It remains to be seen if the new generation Jazz Hybrid will be as fun to drive as the current model.
Finding for a Honda? Check out the best deals
here
.


Volvo S90 T8 PHEV CKD Open For Bookings In Malaysia; RM349k Intro Price

The order books have been quietly opened on the soon-to-arrive plug-in variant of the all-new Volvo S90. Set to be locally-assembled, the Volvo S90 T8 is expected to benefit from EEV tax incentives enabling to hit the market at a competitive price.
We have been tipped by a Volvo dealer that the range-topping T8 Twin Engine Inscription trim will be available at an introductory price of RM348,888 for orders confirmed before 31 October. In Volvo speak, Inscription denotes the most luxurious trim grade on offer.
At present
, the fully-imported S90 is priced at RM388,888 for the 254 hp T5 2.0-litre single turbo petrol engine and RM453,888 for the 320 hp T6 twincharged version of the same powerplant.
As seen in the XC90 T8, the S90 T8 features the
T6’s 2.0-litre twincharged mill powering the front wheels whilst a 65kW/240Nm electric motor drives the rear
 in an all-wheel drive setup of sorts.
As a comparison against rivals, the locally-assembled
Mercedes-Benz E-Class retails from RM348,888 to RM383,888
, whilst the BMW 5 Series – yet to be locally-assembled at this point – goes for
RM398,800 for its sole 530i M Sport variant
. The
Audi A6 starts at RM327,900 for its 1.8 TFSI model
 with a recently-introduced
2.0 TFSI quattro model going for RM407,900
.
Upon its introduction, the S90 T8 will supersede the current T5 and T6 models to become the S90’s sole variant on offer in Malaysia.
We have also been informed that the S90's sister model, the V90, will for the moment continue to be sold as a fully-imported model at RM393,888 for the T5 and RM458,888 for the T6 variant.


Carsome PJ Automall Dilancarkan – Pusat Membeli Kereta Terpakai Terbesar Di Malaysia

Platform e-dagang terbesar di Asia Tenggara,
Carsome
 telah melancarkan Carsome PJ Automall yang merupakan pusat membeli kereta terpakai terbesar di Malaysia yang turut hadir dengan
stesen pengecas kereta elektrik.

Pelancaran tersebut telah dirasmikan sendiri oleh Menteri Besar Selangor, Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari.
Menurut Carsome, Carsome PJ Automall yang terletak di Petaling Jaya ini memberikan pengalaman yang menyeluruh dan memudahkan pembelian kereta terpakai bagi para pelanggan.

Ada Apa Di Carsome PJ Automall?

Di Carsome PJ Automall, segala urusan pembelian kereta boleh dilakukan di sini di mana pelanggan boleh melihat, memilih sehinggalah ke pandu uji kereta tersebut.

Setelah kereta dipilih oleh pelanggan, pelanggan boleh melengkapkan pembelian mereka dengan kemudahan kewangan yang disediakan di PJ Automall bagi memproses permohonan dan kelulusan pinjaman dalam 1 hari sahaja.

Carsome PJ Automall juga menjadi tuan rumah kepada rakan kongsi perbankan seperti Maybank dan Public Bank manakala Ecotint dan Glass Auto merupakan rakan kongsi bagi perincian dan pewarnaan kereta sebagai usaha Carsome untuk memberikan pengalaman pembelian kereta yang berbeza.

Carsome PJ Automall mempunyai ruang seluas lebih 100,000 kaki persegi yang boleh memuatkan lebih daripada 200 kereta daripada inventori dalam talian Carsome yang semakin berkembang dengan lebih 1,600 kereta.

Di sana, pelbagai jenis kereta ditawarkan daripada SUV, MPV, 4x4, sedan, hatchback hinggalah ke barisan segmen kereta mewah.

Selain itu, PJ Automall ini juga menyediakan stesen pengecas kenderaan elektrik yang terletak betul-betul dihadapan pintu masuk Automall ini. Berdasarkan maklumat yang diperolehi daripada Carsome, stesen pengecasan itu adalah percuma dan terbuka kepada orang awam.

Untuk terus menawarkan jaminan kualiti dan ketenangan minda kepada pelanggan dalam membeli kereta, Carsome sedang meneroka peluang untuk bekerjasama dengan pelbagai jenama daripada pelbagai industri.

Menurut CEO Carsome, Eric Cheng berkata Automall bertujuan untuk memudahkan perjalanan pembelian kereta dengan menawarkan kemudahan dan keselesaan kepada pelanggan di bawah satu bumbung.

Tambahnya, motivasi mereka adalah untuk menjadikan pusat tersebut sebagai sebagai pusat gaya hidup, di mana pelanggan boleh masuk dan nikmati proses membeli-belah tanpa perlu menghadapi sebarang kebimbangan dan kerumitan.

Shop and Dine Carsome CARnival

Bersempena dengan pelancaran Carsome PJ Automall, Carsome akan menganjurkan acara Shop and Dine Carsome CARnival selama dua hari pada 11 dan 12 Jun ini daripada jam 12pm hingga 8.30pm.

Pengunjung boleh menjamu selera dengan pelbagai jenis makanan, menikmati persembahan muzik dan mengambil bahagian dalam pelbagai aktiviti dikala mencuci mata melihat pilihan kereta yang ditawarkan.

Pelanggan juga boleh menyertai cabutan bertuah dan berpeluang memenangi pelbagai hadiah bernilai sehingga RM12,000, termasuk Nintendo Switch OLED, jam tangan pintar Garmin Venu SQ dan banyak lagi.

Selain itu, pelanggan yang berjaya membeli kereta
Carsome Certified
 dari Carsome PJ Automall semasa acara itu boleh menaik taraf Waranti Platinum secara percuma sehingga RM1,500, percuma pewarna tingkap bernilai RM900 dan kredit
eWallet Touch ‘n Go
 bernilai RM100. Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari laman web rasmi Carsome.


LEAKED: All-New 2016 Toyota Hilux Double Cab Thai Brochure Surfaces Online

It is just days till the covers come off
 the all-new 2016
Toyota
 Hilux pickup truck and images of the brochure for the Double Cab variant have surfaced on the
Hilux Revo Thailand
 Facebook page
. The leaked pictures
pretty much confirms the information that we have already gathered
 from several online sources as well as revealing additional details on the forthcoming pick-up truck.
While the brochure images of the Hilux’s exterior is pretty much spot on with the spyshots that we have seen, the interior is more than just futuristic in looks as it packs plenty of neat features. Besides the asymmetrical dashboard, the
Hilux
 Double Cab would come with a keyless entry and ignition, rear-air conditioning vents, digital climate control, a 7-inch multimedia infotainment display with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and two glove boxes with the upper compartment serving as a cool box.
As for its engine range, the Hilux will feature two new 2.8-litre and 2.4-litre diesel engines, both of which are available in two states of tune, as well as a petrol-fed 2.7-litre engine with Dual-VVT-i. As for transmission choices, the Hilux would be available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.
When it comes to the oily bits underneath, the Hilux Double Cab is said to boast a new “Dynamic Control Suspension” with what appears to be a “Body Control with Torque Demand” feature. With no more rudimentary lever seen in the interior pictures, the Hilux utilises an up-to-date shift-on-the-fly 4WD Shift feature. To supplement its traction, the Hilux Double Cab will come with Active Traction Control and a Diff-Lock feature.
On the safety front, Toyota pulled no stops in loading the Hilux Double Cab with the latest safety features. These include the full complement of seven airbags, traction control, VSC (vehicle stability control), ABS with EBD (electronic brake distribution) and brake assist, trailer sway control, and hill start and downhill assist control.
Though it is certain that the features and images seen here are for the Double Cab variant of the Hilux, possibly the range-topper, it remains to be seen what UMW Toyota Motor will specify for the all-new Hilux when it comes to our shores. But from its exterior and interior looks, and the number of features that are making its debut on this model, it would seem that the new Hilux will up the ante in the pick-up truck market.


Review: 2020 Toyota Camry 2.5V – Premium Perception, Sublime Execution

Perception is a powerful thing when buying a car and it begins almost as soon as you look at a car and in this case, we're looking at the 2020 Toyota Camry 2.5V.

As if to say, the way a car’s coat of paint beams of its sheet metal, or the way its headlights come to life to illuminate the road ahead, or its overall stature somehow fulfils some preconceptions of quality and style, even before we even get to nuts and bolts of the thing.

Case in point is if you lined up a
BMW 3 Series
 next to a
Perodua Bezza
 – literally, anyone would be able to tell which car costs more and does more.

Then perhaps, what our sensory systems perceive is detail, effort, and thought. Perhaps just like carpentry or blacksmithing – the finished product typically looks and works better, because of the additional artisan's skill and finishing process that it took to create it.

There used to be a time when one would look at a Toyota Camry and a BMW 3 Series and quite easily tell which costs more. However, with
more and more SUV models
 populating the marketplace, sedans are being shoehorned into ever-shrinking segments and size brackets; the only way for our beloved Japanese D-Segment flag-bearers to survive is to squeeze into the premium executive sedan market – where, for now at least, money still flows.

This of course means, battling with the likes of the entry-level variants of the 3 Series and Volkswagen Passat as well as its contemporaries, the
Honda Accord
 and
Mazda 6
.

Previously, the lower selling prices of the Accord and Camry presented a case for them to not offer just as much equipment as their German rivals, but with prices nudging the RM200k mark, comparisons are inevitable, and the segment lines blurred – now, the Camry just has to perform on a whole new level.

Nevertheless, as we recently experienced there is much to like of the XV70 Toyota Camry.

Overview: 2020 Toyota Camry

Launched
 at the tail end of 2018 – the 2020 Toyota Camry is only available in one variant, the 2.5V which is fully-imported from Thailand – which is a crucial contributor of its higher price tag, given its approximately RM12k more than its predecessor, the (XV50) Camry. The previous generation, which following the facelift - was made available with a powerful 2.5-litre Hybrid variant.

The decision to retire the longstanding 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre Hybrid variant lies with the decision to fully import the XV70 Camry. In the case of the 2.0-litre, it would have become too expensive to be competitive in the market, whilst an imported 2.5-litre Hybrid, on the other hand, would not have qualified for EEV vehicle assemblies, thereby skyrocketing its prices.

Hence, the best fit was the (2AR-FE) naturally aspirated 2.5-litre Dual VVT-i engine that produces 184 PS at 6,000 rpm and 235 Nm at 4,100 rpm. Drive is transmitted to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Now some might have considered this a step back in powertrain technology, at odds with the Camry’s quasi-premium push, however, the XV70 does bring with it two crucial technologies:

TNGA: The XV70 Camry is underpinned by Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform that promises better ride and handling, and easier integration of advanced driving aids.

TSS: The Camry comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes the full suite of advanced driving aids systems - Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), and Automatic High Beam (AHB). Other more familiar safety systems include the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).

Specifications of the 2020 (XV70) Toyota Camry 2.5V

Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder Dual VVT-i (2AR-FE)

Power: 184 PS at 6,000rpm

Torque: 235 Nm at 4,100rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Safety: 7 airbags, ABS with BA, VSC, Pre-collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), tyre pressure monitor, reverse camera, ISOFIX

Assembly: Imported from Thailand

Price: RM188,763 (OTR Inclusive SST, Excluding Insurance)

Rivals of the 2020 (XV70) Toyota Camry 2.5V

Honda Accord: RM178k – RM188k

Mazda 6: RM168k – RM212k

Volkswagen Passat: RM182k

BMW 3 Series: RM241k

Mercedes-Benz C-Class: RM250k

Exterior: 2020 Toyota Camry

The aforementioned qualitative appreciation for the design of the Camry is well and truly placed. Two years on, especially with the introduction of the Mazda 6 and new Honda Accord, the Camry remains my personal favourite.

Toyota has managed to outline a silhouette that is both traditional sedan and new-age fastback; bodylines are sleek and purposeful, and the overall stance is spot on.

The head and taillight do well to offer that perceived premium look with their understated style and snazzy LED graphics. Some people may think the central grey trim lower down in the bumper is divisive, even too loud, but I beg to differ, it’s one of those details that need to be seen in the flesh as It adds detail and offers some contrast to the otherwise smooth bodywork.

Interior: 2020 Toyota Camry

The interior is as you’d expect from a Camry – large, cosseting, and superbly comfortable. It’s good to know that the familiar and much-loved traits of the Camry have not been cast aside in its ambitions of chasing newer rivals, actually enhanced with the car’s TNGA underpinnings (which we’ll get into).

As far as the design and overall execution – it’s a big step up from the previous XV50, with sharp lines and more complex surfaces on the dashboard and centre console. The many buttons on the centre console give the interior a very driver focussed feel. However, if I were honest, the interior of the 2020 Mazda 6 tops the Camry in overall execution given its simplistic style and sublime tactility in its controls. In terms of usable cubby space, the Camry again excels though.

It’s hardly possible to nitpick at the Camry while seated at the back. The rear offers vast amounts of head, shoulder, and legroom for passengers, and while I might have appreciated a bit more lateral support on the outer edge of the rear seats, the seats themselves are softly padded making long journeys a fuss-free affair.

I will note though that the option to control the rear sunshade is accessed through the sub-menus of the car’s control functions – which one would think, with as many buttons as Toyota has placed on the centre console, they might have added one more for this. And the Camry has a ‘warning bell’ for pretty much everything – and they're loud to the point of annoyance. For example, once I had to unlock my seatbelt, open the driver’s door and peer back to check on available space in the parking spot, (with the gear in ‘Reverse’) – that in short created a cacophony of sounds.

Driving Experience: 2020 Toyota Camry

Once buckled in and on the road though, the 2020 Toyota Camry settles into a nice little rhythm. Here again, the trademark quietness and serene ride quality of the Camry is firmly in place.

Where the TNGA platform’s architecture has superbly enhanced the Camry's driving performance is a sense of solidness in the car’s overall construction and chassis. One gets a sense that with the TNGA’s lower centre of gravity, the Camry has a somewhat European feel of surefootedness.

The suspension is unfazed by smaller bumps and ruts in the road, giving it comfort and compliance, but tightens up adequately when loaded up in the corners – sort of the best of both worlds. Front end grip on turn-in is great, while body control mid-corner and at corner exit is straight and true. The steering, however, while precise, lacks a modicum of feedback one so fortunately receives in the Mazda 6 and VW Passat.

The chassis essentially, manages the drivetrain’s power with aplomb, such that you would think it could handle far more power. While I don’t think the Camry feels underpowered – the engine is torquey and effortless at low revs and winds up beautifully at high revs – it is somewhat let down by the gearbox.

The six-speed automatic constantly wants to shift up to conserve fuel, such that you would need to literally plant your foot to get it to downshift and get going - something that the six-speed auto in the Mazda 6 does so perceptively. Additionally, the gear ratios are also pretty tall - which makes perfect sense for highway cruising, but leaves a lot on the table when it comes to low-end acceleration and fuel economy.

Get it in stride though and the Camry will hit 200 km/h in decent order, and the brakes are nice and progressive when you want to slow things down.

Conclusion

Coming back to the aforementioned effects of perception, I suppose it is important to note, what you as the reader or prospective customer perceives when you first look at the Camry.

Besides the nuts and bolts, which make it the safest, most comfortable and best driving Camry ever – the XV70 Camry manages to rise up to the challenge of being a formidable option to the likes of its German rivals like the Volkswagen Passat and BMW 3 Series.

Though the Camry’s overall performance could still use some tweaking to fully match their capabilities dynamically - especially in the case of the Mazda 6.

However, what you might perceive as its best trait is that the 2020 Toyota Camry has risen to the challenge of breaking away from the mould of being an ideological safe choice to one that inspires aspiration and excitement.

Finally, you will not remember the XV70 Camry for just being another generation of a boring but good car, you’d remember it because it’s sexy and cool, and more than ever you wanted to be seen in one!


Volkswagen Malaysia Lets Art Run Free For Polo’s 40th Anniversary

Has that much time passed? Forty years is a very long time, which makes the
Polo
 undoubtedly one of the longest-lasting and most popular
Volkswagen
 models ever since its introduction in 1975. So how does one celebrate this fourth decade?
Also read:
Special Edition 2015 Volkswagen Polo Club Retails From RM89k, Adds More Kit
Volkswagen Malaysia chose to go with a medley of art forms for their Polo’s 40
th
 anniversary: photography, illustration, fashion, and music – all rolled into one. In Malaysia, the Volkswagen team collaborated with fashion lifestyle photographer Vincent Paul Yong Photography (VPYP) to produce a collection of photographs that mirror the Polo’s fun and practical character.
The photo-story that resulted involved DJ duo LAPSAP and includes graffiti illustrations by artist Cloakwork, which was then revealed during a launch event at the Art Printing Works (APW) in Bangsar titled WYSIWYG, or What You See Is What You Get.
Do head down there to enjoy the exhibition, which also features exciting and thought provoking works from other artists and photographers. There you’ll also find the unique chrome Volkswagen Polo displayed alongside the artwork, an exhibition piece all on its own.
The showcase will be open to the public from the 21
st
 until the 30
th
 of August at the Art Printing Works in Bangsar, so be sure to check it out.


MYPerodua Nation Carnival Is Back And Its Heading To Kedah This Weekend

Following last year’s successful event in Shah Alam, the MYPerodua Nation sales carnival is back once again; set to take place this weekend from 13 to 14 January.
This time around, the carnival will be held at the Amanjaya Mall in Sungai Petani, Kedah over two days from 10 am to 10 pm.
According to Perodua, visitors will get up to 50% off selected parts, GearUp accessories and merchandise at the carnival. Besides that, there will also be ‘Happy Hours’ promotion on both days where parts packages will be offered at offer prices.
All of the deals mentioned above are on top of the on-going Happy New Ride campaign that offers RM2,000 off the Bezza Standard G and Alza, and RM1,500 off the Bezza Advance and Axia.
Other activities at the event will include a lucky draw with a smartphone worth over RM3,000 as the grand prize, mini games, contests, food trucks, an outdoor cinema, live music performances, and the new Myvi’s Advanced Safety Assist demonstration.
The event will also feature a special ‘Compact Nation’ exhibition that tells the story of Perodua’s 25-year journey towards becoming the no.1 car brand in Malaysia.
“The MYPerodua Nation is an annual event that represents one of our efforts to reach out and get closer to Malaysians. It promises something for everyone. Last year, we held this carnival in Shah Alam, and now we’re taking it nationwide, beginning with the northern region this year,” said Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin, Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director.


Chengdu 2016: Honda Gienia Launched For China

First introduced in the form of the ‘Concept B’ in June, the Honda Gienia as it is known now, has made its official debut at the ongoing 2016 Chengdu Auto Show. Designed exclusively for the China market, it is said that the car will be launched in November and sold between 75,000 110,000 yuan.
It's essentially a hatcback version of a Honda City, but just in case you are wondering "Isn't the Honda Jazz a hatchback version of a Honda City?," the simple answer is that China is a huge market and like many other brands, Honda vehicles are sold via two distributors, Guangqi Honda and Dongfeng Honda, each selling different models.
The City and Jazz are sold by Guangqi Honda and to keep Dongfeng Honda happy, Honda has to provide equivalent models for the City/Jazz, and this Genia is one of such model.
Sharing the same platform as the
Honda City/Jazz City
, the Gienia features a large Solid ‘Wing Face’ fascia with a large grille, projector headlamps, LED combination taillights, five-spoke alloy wheels, and parking sensors on the outside.
Inside, the Gienia is fitted with Honda’s LaneWatch monitoring system, a sunroof, keyless entry, touchscreen infotainment system, generous dose of leather upholstery, and a reverse camera.
Made at Dongfeng Honda, the Gienia is powered by a 1.5 liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 131 hp and 155 Nm, mated to a five-speed manual or a CVT.
Measuring at 4,517mm long, 1,705mm wide, and 1,477mm high with a wheelbase length of 2,600mm, the Gienia will be competing with cars like the Citroen c-Elysee, Volkswagen Jetta, and the Chevrolet Cavalier in China.
In case you’re wondering if the Gienia will be coming here, Honda announced that there are currently no plans for export or for production of the car in other countries yet. It will remain as a China-only model.
*Images courtesy of
Autohome China
Looking for a Honda? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Review: Mercedes-Benz C300 (W205) AMG Line – Is there such a thing as too much?

The reward system is a group within our neural structures that is responsible for incentive salience – a psychological network that forms the want or desire, attaches a hedonic value in response to our interactions and derives positive reinforcement.
The reward forms the motivational property and induces appetite behaviour – meaning to say, rewards breed further liking for more rewards. Perhaps… in this day and age, and this is a personal opinion, we are all commonly thought to strive for what we want, never give up and always stay hungry for more.
The hierarchy and upward mobility within our social factions and associations are scored less now by family name, creed and acts of bravery or charity. These days, our net worth is portrayed by the cachet of property, the cars we drive, clothes we wear and the restaurants we are seen in.
Societal norms in this age of consumption also dictate that monikers emblazoned across the boot lid of our cars are worn like a coat of arms. Alphabets like ST, M, RS and AMG are nothing but random letters until they’re stickered on cars - instantly turning them into superheroes of the roads and etching their way into our subconscious as the objects of our desire.
But is there a point where all this becomes slightly superfluous and redundant?
We tested the
W205 C180
 recently. And far from rushed patch-job to widen the entry into the C-Class family, I personally loved its comprehensive spec-sheet, frugal yet able power plant and beautiful interior. Yes, there were a number of blanked-off buttons and the odd toggle which still required human actuation – but having an entry-level offering this well-equipped beckoned the question; do we really need much more than this.
Bring on the C300 AMG Line…
Specifications:
Price: RM307,888
Engine: 2.0-litre, Inline-4 Longitudinal, Turbocharged, Petrol Direct Injection
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: 7-speed torque converter automatic with paddle shifters, RWD
Safety: 7-airbags, ABS, ESC, ISOFIX (rear), autonomous emergency braking
Origin: Locally-assembled at Pekan, Pahang
Overview
The C300 AMG Line, barring the full-blown imported C63 AMG, is the most expensive, most powerful locally assembled C-Class ever. The inclusion of the C300 AMG Line now stretches the line-up to five models, starting with the C180 at the other end of the spectrum. The C-Class’ spiritual rival, the BMW 3-Series is currently offered in three flavours. The following table illustrates how Munich and Stuttgart’s stalwarts shape up currently.
Which leaves the C300 which with only one natural rival, the sensational
BMW 330i M Sport
. Arguably, with similar power figures, the
Lexus IS 200t F Sport
 is alternative, but its stratospheric RM384k price tag puts it out of touch for any cross-shopping, the
incoming B9 Audi A4
 is a formidable opponent not to be discounted, however.
Powering the C300 is a longitudinally-mounted, direct-injected and turbocharged inline-four utilising variable valve timing to output 245bhp at 5500rpm. Torque numbers are the best-in-class currently with 370Nm at 1300rpm.
The Beemer nips the Merc in terms of power but the C300 puts 20Nm more under your right foot earlier in the rev range which can count for a lot on the daily trot. But as with any purchase of cars of this calibre, there are a quite a few other factors at play.
Exterior
Coined as the baby S-Class and surely having the props to back it up this time around; it doesn’t take a Bachelor in Modern Art to appreciate the beauty on the W205 C-Class. From bow to stern, it’s a mix of charming style and taut proportions. The AMG bodykit in this guise further adds a touch of agressive character.
The most noticeable difference between the C300 and the rest of the C-Class range is the achingly beautiful 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. Gloss black graces the horizontal surfaces of the rim while a polished metallic sheen lines the spokes. The car also sits 15mm lower than its non-AMG siblings thanks to sports springs – but this setup is also available on the C250 AMG Line variant. Otherwise, the exterior is as we have come to know and admire.
Interior
On the inside is where the W205 C-Class simply dusts away the competition. The beauty of the layout is only matched by the combination and finish of the materials. Satin metallic dashboard trim contrasts a lacquer-less centre console; both reflecting and absorbing light to great effect around the cabin. Further light can be introduced into the cabin via the panoramic slide-and-tilt sunroof.
The big addition in the C300 is the inclusion of triple-zone climate control – two-zone up front and one for the rear. And as far as the infotainment system – few systems work better than the combination of the COMAND online touchpad and rotary dial and the 8.4-inch display. Both intuitive and easy to adapt to, beaming exquisite sound quality through the 590 Watt Burmester surround sound system.
The Mark Levinson systems equipped in the Lexus IS and Infiniti Q50 models are a close second; and output better bass sound, but the Burmester kit is the best of all worlds in my opinion.
The column-mounted gear shifter can be considered an enigma or an innovation depending on who you ask; but it definitely takes some getting used to, despite the numerous times I have been behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz.
How does it Drive?
Coming back to the initial argument of when is having too much. We have to isolate the drivetrain and chassis of the C300 into two parts.
Besides the ego-flaunting C300 moniker, the engine certainly has the talent to impress. Just because the torque is delivered so early and in such a manner – throttle response is superb. No longer do you have to  plan to overtake cars which might be doing the speed limit, just put your foot down and watch them disappear. I have little doubt, that while the BMW 330i pips the C300 to 100km/h, the C300 will hound it down and eventually pass it. Mid to high speeds is where the C300 truly shines.
The brakes are up to task as well, providing ample stopping force and feel while the in-house Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic does it’s bidding for cogs. Rapid deceleration will induce some jerks on the downshifts, but it’s pleasantly quick and surefooted on upshifts.
The chassis, however, can seem a tad overwhelmed. Much of this is due to the 19-inch rims, which is a blessing aesthetically but a drawback dynamically. The thin tyre sidewalls mean there’s very little absorption and majority of the forces are thus transmitted towards the chassis. Most bumps, dips and highway expansion joints will unsettle the rear end leaving you with not much confidence to push the car.
More unsettling is due to the limited amount the suspension travel; the tyres are prone to lifting of the road surface on bigger bumps, once they do come back into contact though, the bombardment of torque towards the rear wheels almost ensures the car will skip around in fury.
Granted, on the smooth surfaces of Sepang, the car should be quick… no doubt, around the roads of Petaling Jaya though, it’s a handful. Which isn’t the case with the less expensive C250 AMG Line, the wheels are an inch smaller and simply exudes better overall composure.
The BMW 330i M Sport is still the pick of the bunch in terms of driving exhilaration, the chassis still manages to be compliant yet scalpel sharp carving through corners, while the composure coming out of corners is second to none.
The steering is a closer comparison, with the C300 providing good amounts of feedback from the front axles, with weightage and quick reaction speed both tractable and adjustable.
How comfortable is it?
The seats are supportive, some might find them a tad stiff, but should soften nicely with time and wear. The seating position is spot-on, both front row seats power adjusted, placing palms in ergonomic contact of the beautifully moulded steering wheel.
Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) is very good barring the aforementioned reactions to road undulations – reverberating thumps into the cabin space, but it’s no deal breaker. The cabin remains serene at part throttle and at normal traffic speeds.
How economical is it?
After 580km of travel, switching between four different drivers over a few days. The C300 returned a respectable 11.8l/100km, a tad off its 6.3l/100km combined economy claims. The 330i M Sport in comparison managed 9.9l/100km on our recent test, but of course, the driving route was different as well.
Conclusion
If the goal is simply to get the newest and most expensive toy – the C300 AMG Line certainly fits the bill. It’s got oodles of pizzazz and street presence, an impeccable interior and a ferocious power plant.
Down to brass tacks, though, it’s hard to isolate its appeal of the C300 when the C250 AMG Line is as well-equipped, more comfortable and as quick as you need it to be 90 percent of the time. For that matter, buying a C180 also means that one does not need to break the bank to enjoy the brand prestige and the most important bits that make the W205 such a sterling machine.
If the goal is simply to go fast, the unanimous advice remains to go for the
BMW 330i M Sport
… but for the most part, if you love the new C-Class, the C250 AMG Line remains the pick of the bunch.
Perhaps sometimes, there is such a thing as too much…


All-New Mercedes-Benz GLS Breaks Cover - Gains EQ Boost Tech

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLS just ahead of the 2019 New York International Auto Show. The flagship SUV now features even more interior space, luxury appointments, and latest generation powertrains and connectivity features.
A major highlight of the new car is its wheelbase of 3,135 mm, which is 60 mm longer than its predecessor. At the front, the new front grille is flanked by new Multibeam LED headlamps as standard, with a total of 112 LEDs per headlamp. New slim LED DRLs with three LED segments and a chrome-plated under guard finish off the new front end. At the rear, the GLS sports two-piece LED tail lamps which are crowned by a slim chrome trim strip that runs the width of the tailgate. A chrome-plated under guard is fitted at the back too.
The design changes have improved aerodynamics: the new car boasts a drag coefficient of 0.32, versus 0.35 for its predecessor.
A slew of six- and eight-cylinder engines will power the G-Class, highlighted by the new GLS 580 4Matic variant, which features Mercedes-Benz’s EQ Boost hybrid technology. The GLS 580 is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 which is aided by an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) motor for hybrid functions and brake energy recuperation. The engine uses a 48V onboard electrical system.
The GLS 580’s power is rated at 489 hp and 700 Nm, with an additional 22 hp/250 Nm available from the ISG for short bursts. The less powerful GLS 450 4Matic is equipped with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder and ISG hybrid system. The engine alone produces 367 hp and 500 Nm, the ISG again adds the same 22 hp/250 Nm depending on the driving situation.
The 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission features in all variants of the GLS. Power is sent to all four wheels through the 4Matic all-wheel drive system which, in the GLS, is equipped with a transfer case specially adapted for off-road driving. The unit features a multi-plate clutch system with a ‘torque-on-demand’ function and a reduction gear for off-road driving.
The GLS comes with the Airmatic air suspension system with Adaptive Damping System Plus fitted as standard in all variants. The E-Active Body Control suspension, which is combined with the newly developed Airmatic air suspension can be optionally fitted.
In terms of connectivity, the GLS is equipped with the latest generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. Two large 12.3-inch screens are fitted as standard with the optional MBUX Interior Assistant which allows in-car comfort and MBUX functions to be controlled with gestures.
For example, when a hand approaches the touchscreen on the center console, the media display changes and individual elements are highlighted. The system is able to distinguish the driver's hand from the front passenger's and therefore knows for whose seat the massage function is to be activated.
New driver assistance features include the Active Distance Assist Distronic with route-based speed adaptation that responds to real-time traffic information and can slow down the vehicle if required even before the driver becomes aware of the hazard.
Another cool trick of the GLS is its carwash function: when the function is selected, the GLS automatically folds in the exterior mirrors, suppresses the rain sensor information, switches the climate control to air-recirculation mode, and activates the front camera to assist the driver when driving into the carwash. The function deactivates once the driver accelerates again past 20 km/h.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLS will go on sale in Europe and the US by the end of 2019.
For the best deals on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, click
here
.


If You Drive A Beetle, Volkswagen Wants You!

Do you ever read stories of huge car gatherings of a particular brand or a specific model? If you own a Volkswagen Beetle, this is your time to shine. Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia will be organizing the Beetle, An Iconic Gathering - welcoming Beetle owners from all walks of life. The event will be a celebration of the ever-adored classic, held at the open-air carpark at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, this coming 13th of July, 2019.

The aim of the event, besides a celebration of the Beetle, is to break the current Malaysian record of the largest number of Beetles gathered in a single location. All owners of Beetles, regardless of which model you have, are welcome. The event will start with a 150 car convoy from the heart of KL known as the Beetle Sunshine Tour, which will wind its way through the Golden Triangle before heading on to Putrajaya.

Beetle, An Iconic Gathering is open to all Beetle owners in Malaysia and interested participants can register and their cars on the
Volkswagen
 website. Participation is free, and details of the event are provided during the online registration. All participants will also receive a certificate of participation from Volkswagen.

To find the best deals on a Volkswagen model, click
here
.


A Suprise Appearance Of The CKD Mk8 GTI Confirms That It Is The First GTI To Be Built Outside Of Wolfsburg

The Malaysian CKD Mk8 GTI, is the first GTI to be assembled outside of Wolfsburg, Germany

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has just surprised members of the media with the appearance of the
locally assembled eighth-generation Golf
. To much surprise, it included the GTI, confirming that it is the first GTI model to be assembled outside of Wolfsburg, Germany.

Never before has the GTI been assembled outside of VW's home of Wolfsburg, so this local assembly of the GTI in Pekan, Pahang must be treated with much honour.

As expected, the GTI comes with VW's IQ LED lighting system and 18-inch Richmond alloy rims. There are also some minor changes over the R-Line, such as its grille, where it uses a honeycomb-themed grille.

The CKD Golf Mk8 R-Line and GTI will also get a digital instrument display and a touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Not much else has
been revealed
 for now, but the GTI is expected to come with a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 245 PS and 370 Nm. The engine will be mated to a 7-speed DCT. The R-Line on the hand is expected to come with a 1.4-litre turbocharged mill, producing 150 PS/250 Nm. It however will get an 8-speed automatic transmission, dropping the famed DSG transmission.

We will update you once we get more information regarding the vehicles.


V-Charge Is Volkswagen’s Spearhead Into The Automated Parking Revolution

Volkswagen
 is investing heavily into the next phase of the automobile. To that end, its new V-Charge or ‘Valet Charge’ system is a first step in that direction. The automaker has aspirations to hold a leading position in automated parking.
The project is cooperative effort by six national and international partners. What it does is enable the vehicle to look for an empty parking space, but one with charging infrastructure and inductively and autonomously charges its battery.
With V-Charge, especially in the USA where convenient valet parking is a widely used service, no more time will have to be wasted searching for a parking space, allowing fully automated searching for an available parking space within defined zones such as multi-storey parking garages.
A car with V-Charge capability would allow its driver to quickly exit the car right in front of his or her destination, leaving the car to its own devices to handle the offsite parking by receiving a digital map relayed to it and is able to navigate through to an available spot. A link to the car can be established with the associated smartphone application.
Should the car be an electric vehicle, the system would prioritize parking bays with automated charging facilities. To negotiate the many obstructions on the road during ‘mixed-traffic’, the V-Charge equipped vehicle would use cameras and ultrasound sensors to detect pedestrians and cyclists, among others.
Once it has identified a suitable space, the automatic parking manoeuvre begins and will position the car directly above the inductive charging port. Once fully charged, the car will proceed to another parking space to leave the charging facilities open to other vehicles. The owner can then summon the car to the main entrance at which he or she is located, entering the car without needing to set foot in the parking lot.
Volkswagen has a long history in autonomous motoring research, all the way back to 2005 where the company tested a
Touareg
 fitted with advanced sensors and computing power that they named ‘Stanley’, which was a joint project between the automaker and Stanford University of California.


Tesla Releases P100D Version of Model S, Claims Fastest Production Car

Good news for Tesla fans: if you ever thought the Model S P90D just wasn't quick enough for your taste, Elon Musk has the answer for you. It's the P100D- which basically means it packs a 100 kilowatt hour battery, allowing it to use more power and travel further. The new 0-60 mph (not quite 0-100 km/h) time is 2.5 seconds- although this is more a predicted value based on the previous P90D figures extrapolated. With the 100 kwh battery pack, the range also increases to 613 kilometres on a single charge, based on the EU testing cycle.
Tesla is also providing this battery for the Model X, giving it similar performance and range figures (0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, 542 km on a single charge). The great thing about Tesla products is that owners get free firmware upgrades over the air, making it more convenient and extending the life of their product by far.
Tesla customers have the option to upgrade their P90D to a P100D for just 10,000 USD if they haven't yet taken ownership of their P90D, while existing P90D owners can upgrade to the P100D battery for just 20,000 USD. Tesla also says that the sales of the more expensive Model S and Model X are still being used to fund development of the more affordable Model 3- a car that is slated to make electric cars a highly viable option for the masses.


Huawei Lancar AITO M5 – SUV Hibrid Pintar Dengan Ekosistem HarmonyOS

Syarikat teknologi gergasi China,
Huawei
 kembali mendapatkan semula momentumnya yang terbantut akibat sekatan besar-besaran oleh Amerika Syarikat dengan meneruskan kepelbagaian produknya termasuk menghasilkan kenderaan elektrik dengan kerjasama pembuat kereta, Seres.

Pada 23 Disember 2021, Huawei telah melancarkan kereta
hibrid
 pintar baharu iaitu sebuah
SUV
 bersaiz sederhana yang dinamakan AITO M5. Ia merupakan model pertama daripada siri AITO yang disertakan dengan perisian sistem, reka bentuk perindustrian, teknologi kejuruteraan, ekosistem HarmonyOS dan banyak lagi.

Matlamat AITO M5 adalah untuk mencabar kedudukan
Tesla Model Y
, pilihan yang sangat popular di pasaran China. Richard Yu, Pengarah Eksekutif dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif kumpulan perniagaan pengguna Huawei, berkata M5 menawarkan kuasa dan julat puncak yang unggul berbanding Model Y kerana menggunakan elektrik dan
petrol
.

Ini jelas sekali bukan perbandingan yang adil memandangkan M5 akan mendapat manfaat daripada tangki penuh petrolnya apabila kehabisan bateri. Tambah Yu, pemilik boleh mengenalpasti sama ada ia premium atau tidak dengan bunyinya.

Huawei turut membawakan konsep reka bentuk industri yang ringkas dan ekstrem pada AITO M5 ini. Reka bentuk bahagian luarnya kelihatan mewah dan padat, manakala bahagian dalamannya kelihatan luas dan selesa. Kabinnya dilengkapi dengan kokpit pintar HarmonyOS dan kereta ini boleh disambungkan dengan peranti pintar lain Huawei yang lain dengan lancar.

Huawei turut menyatakan bahawa AITO M5 ditawarkan dengan deria canggih dan fungsi pintar melepasi semua model dan syarikat kereta seperti:

Level 2 bantuan pemanduan pintar ADAS

HarmonyOS smart
split screen

One-key transfer

Kunci kereta tanpa sensor Bluetooth menggunakan jam tangan Huawei dengan teknologi NFC

Pengecaman muka 3D

Log masuk automatik ke HUAWEI ID

Pertukaran informasi pemanduan automatik

Sistem navigasi yang dikemaskini mengikut waktu sebenar

Bantuan suara
offline

Sokongan untuk tema telefon mudah alih dan kereta.

Huawei berkata dengan bantuan kuasa pengkomputeran dan sistem pengendalian yang berkuasa melalui pembelajaran AI berterusan dan peningkatan OTA yang optimum, kenderaan dengan teknologi HarmonyOS boleh memenuhi keperluan pengguna untuk peningkatan pengalaman pintar berdasarkan senario dan pengalaman peribadi pemilik.

AITO M5 dilaporkan akan ditawarkan dalam 6 pilihan warna
seperti ceramic white, pine frost green, ice crystal gray, gilt black, mihai blue, and azure blue.
Bahagian dalamannya pula ditawarkan dengan 3 pilihan warna seperti
ivory white, polar night black, and agate brown
. Kesemua warna luaran dan dalaman kereta boleh dipilih dan dipadankan secara bebas oleh pembeli.

Menurut Yu, Huawei telah mereka bentuknya mengikut kualiti dan keperluan dalaman kereta mewah bernilai jutaan dolar, dengan pengalaman memandu bernilai lebih daripada 500,000 hingga 1 juta yuan. Ruang dalaman kereta ini dikatakan setanding dengan SUV besar dan kabin bersepadu mengelilingi kokpit memberikan pengalaman yang ringkas dan mengasyikkan.

Ia bukan sahaja membolehkan pengguna menikmati kemudahan untuk meletakkan kereta dan bergerak di bandar dengan mudah, malah ruang dalaman yang luas dan
panoramic sunroof
 juga membolehkan pemandu dan penumpang mendapat pengalaman yang selesa walaupun ketika melalui perjalanan yang jauh.

Kereta ini dilengkapi dengan 1.5T, 4 silinder
range extende
r 3.0, motor AC tak segerak (
asynchronous
) dan motor segerak magnet kekal. Versi flagship pacuan 4 roda AITO M5 menawarkan kuasa puncak sehingga 365kW (675 Nm) manakala versi prestasi pacuan 4 roda pula mempunyai kuasa 315kW, melebihi prestasi dan hayat bateri Porsche, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5L dan Tesla Model Y.

Tambah Yu, model ini juga mempunyai prestasi
cornering
 yang padu dan lebih hebat daripada McLaren. Dari segi pecutan, ia juga boleh mencapai pecutan 0-100km/j dalam 4.4 saat dan 0-50km/j dalam 1.9 saat. Prestasinya mengatasi banyak kenderaan bahan api dan kenderaan elektrik tulen.

Model ini boleh menyimpan 40 kilowatt-jam elektrik, mempunyai padanan
Huawei Home Charging Pile,
 dan menyokong pengecasan pantas 7kW di mana 45 minit boleh menghasilkan tenaga elektrik daripada 20% hingga 80%. Tempoh 5 jam pengecasan perlahan pula boleh menghasilkan tenaga elektrik daripada 20% hingga 80%. Memandangkan ia kereta hibrid, penjanaan kuasa petrol (tangki bahan api 56L) juga boleh menghasilkan 3500W (220V) kuasa. Dengan sistem tenaga yang menggunakan bateri seberat 1.3 tan, jarak pemanduan maksimum kereta ini boleh mencecah 1000km.

Harga AITO M5:

Versi standard, RWD, harga pra-jualan bernilai 250,000 yuan (RM164k)

Versi prestasi pacuan empat roda, harga pra-jualan bernilai 280,000 yuan (RM184k)

Versi flagship pacuan empat roda, harga pra-jualan bernilai 320,000 yuan (RM210k)

Pandu uji bagi model ini akan dibuka pada 20 Januari 2022.


All VW Dealerships Are Now 4S And 3S Centres

All Volkswagen dealerships in Malaysia are now 4S and 3S centres - which means that almost all of them are able to carry out most maintenance work.

As part of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia's (VPCM) continued drive to enhance the ownership experience for its customers in Malaysia, they have announced that all of its
authorised dealerships
 in the country are now either 4S or 3S centres.

There are currently 17 Volkswagen dealerships and one service partner strategically located in key regions across the country, to provide customers with sales and aftersales services.

14 of these dealerships are 4S centres (sales, service, spare parts, and body and paint services), whereas three are 3S centres (sales, service, and spare parts), and one is a 2S centre (service and spare parts). All dealer groups are equipped with the expertise and facilities to handle body and paint services.

According to VPCM, Volkswagen Malaysia has achieved an average 4.93/ 5 star for its sales experience on Car.Advisor, whilst aftersales services received 4.76/ 5 star – these annual results are as of April 2022.

Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, believes that a
smooth and memorable ownership experience is important
, “Customer service makes all the difference because it elevates the ownership experience. Now with a strong network of 3S and 4S centres, we are providing convenience for Volkswagen owners from around the country. We are also practising transparency with our customer satisfaction because ratings and reviews are available on the Car.Advisor website, and this pushes us and our dealer partners to continue improving our offerings too.”

Car.Advisor is an independent third-party platform that manages customer satisfaction for the Volkswagen brand. Ratings and reviews for each dealership are transparently shown on the website and accessible by the public.


April 2016’s New Vehicle Sales – Downward Spiral Continues

There seems to be no end in sight yet for Malaysia’s automotive sector as new vehicle sales continues to spiral down for the fourth consecutive month this year.
The latest data by Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) revealed that the all-important Total Industry Volume (TIV) is still long way off last year’s figure, with year-to-date sales for April 2016 down by almost 19 percent when compared to the same four-month period in 2015. If there is any consolation, at least the gap between April’s year-to-date figures and March’s has narrowed slightly by four percent. The gap was at 22 percent in March 2016.
Month-on-month, April’s TIV is 14 percent lower than March.
Below are some highlights for the month of April:
Nissan is April’s biggest loser
Among the top-ten brands, Nissan lost the most ground, dropping by 31 percent month-on-month but this is to be expected following the brand’s heavy discounting in the preceding months, which saw Nissan temporarily overtaking Toyota in March 2016.
Nissan also
raised prices
 of some of its cars in April – a direct result of the weakening Ringgit and increasingly challenging business environment, so a drop is to be expected as many Nissan customers brought forward their purchases to March.
Honda cedes ground as 9
th
 gen Civic was phased out, price war intensifies
Apart from Nissan, Honda also saw a significant drop, by nearly 20 percent but this is partly due to its run-out plan for the outgoing 9
th
 generation Civic to make way for the all-new 10
th
 generation Civic.
Heavy discounting by other competing brands, especially Volkswagen (Polo, Jetta, Passat) Toyota (Vios, Corolla Altis) and Nissan (Almera, X-Trail, Teana) also played a role.
Year-to-date, Honda’s market share is up by 13 percent compared to the same four-month period in 2015. It’s still the No.1 non-national passenger car brand in the country, with a very comfortable lead over second place Toyota, outselling it by a ratio of 2.3:1 (excluding Toyota commercial vehicles like the Hilux and Hiace models).
Volkswagen reclaims title for best-selling European brand
Month-on-month, Volkswagen grew by over 110 percent, boosted by a fire sale (a very costly campaign for the brand no doubt) campaign for the Polo, Jetta and Passat.
Volkswagen has also (temporarily) regained the title for the best-selling European brand, taking over from Mercedes-Benz. The company has high hopes on the recently launched
Vento
 to improve its fortunes in the coming months.
Pick-up truck market in reverse, Ford Ranger Leads Toyota Hilux
With the hugely popular outgoing generation Toyota Hilux being phased out in April, the entire pick-up truck segment was thrown in reverse, dropping by 35 percent, double the industry average.
This was probably due to consumers withholding their purchase in anticipation of the all-new Hilux, which was launched earlier in May. Between February and May, nearly all pick-up truck models also had their prices increased as a direct result of the weakening Ringgit, which also could have prompted consumers to bring forward their purchases earlier.
The sharp drop in April was in contrast with the 47 percent increase from
February
 to
March
, much of it contributed by the previous generation Hilux, which was being cleared off my Toyota dealers at heavy discounts.
Month-on-month, sales of the Hilux dropped by 57 percent as the old model was phased out. Sales should pick up again this month but it is left to be seen if the all-new Hilux - which although much improved than before, is significantly more expensive – is able to repeat the previous model’s dominance. The cheapest
double-cab automatic Hilux
 starts at a shocking RM121,900 versus the previous model’s RM96,987.
So far, response for the all-new Hilux appears to be quite lukewarm, assuming that the less than anticipated crowd at Toyota showrooms during the Hilux’s launch weekend is a reliable indicator.
While the deliveries of the all-new Hilux is being ramped up, the Ford Ranger now leads the segment, with 521 units sold in April, versus 489 for the Toyota Hilux, tying with
Isuzu D-Max
.
Proton weakens further
Earlier in
March, Proton lost
 the second overall spot to Honda now it is in danger of dropping further behind Toyota.
April’s tally showed that fourth (overall) place Toyota’s monthly sales is only 380-plus cars shy of Proton, and this is with Toyota phasing out its Hilux and Fortuner models.


BMW Malaysia Appoints New Authorized Dealer In Sabah

BMW Group Malaysia has appointed Regas Premium Sabah as its newest dealer for BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad products in Sabah.
The Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Mr Harald Hoelzl said, “East Malaysia has long been a contributing market to our growth here and we are excited to have Regas Premium Sabah on board as our new dealer in Kota Kinabalu to continue growing our presence in the State of Sabah.”
According to Hoelzl, Sabah currently contributes more than 500 vehicles to the premium segment annually, and has the potential to double over the next five years. He added that BMW Group Malaysia experienced an 18% growth in their deliveries compared to 2016.
Matthew Tan, Dealer Principal of Regas Premium Sabah, meanwhile, said, “It has always been an ambition of ours to venture in the premium automotive industry in Sabah, and representing the brands of the BMW Group is definitely a dream start. With the great ambition and challenge ahead, we look to continue serving existing and new customers with BMW Group Malaysia to further reinforce the growth and presence of the brands in the state.”
Regas Premium Sabah is a joint venture between TM Vision Auto Services and Regas Premium Auto Sdn Bhd. The new dealership will be taking over FM Autohaus as BMW Group Malaysia’s new dealership in Kota Kinabalu and will be operating from the existing 53,500 sq ft facility.


YouTube Joins Waze As Audio Player Partner

Waze today announced that YouTube Music is their newest Audio Player partner.
Since October 2018, Waze users have driven almost 11 billion kilometers while listening to content from one of Waze’s Audio Player partners.  By partnering with YouTube Music, drivers can listen to their favorite albums, playlists, personalized mixes directly within the Waze app where they get their navigation directions.
“We’re really excited to have YouTube Music be part of the Waze Audio Player family,” said Adam Fried, Head of Global Partnerships at Waze.
“We always want to make sure our users have the best possible experience in the car, and now providing them with access to YouTube Music’s huge catalogue means they’ll always have access to their favourite tracks and playlists while on the road.”
Lawrence Kennedy, Product Manager, YouTube Music, said: “We know our users love listening to YouTube Music when they’re in the car, so partnering with Waze now makes the driving and music listening experience even better. By making YouTube Music albums, playlists, mixes and more available within the Waze app, our users can enjoy all their favourite content without ever missing a turn.”
YouTube Music Premium subscribers can listen on Waze by simply opening the Waze app and tapping the music note icon to select YouTube Music as their audio player. They can start enjoying audio content directly from Waze right away, including playlists, radio and more.
The YouTube Music integration for Waze Audio Player will begin rolling out from today, and will be available for all users globally in the coming weeks.


Latest Range Rover Gets PHEV Variant, New Interior Tech

Plug-in Hybrids have been all the rage with luxury carmakers lately and the latest to join the bandwagon is Land Rover, with the introduction of the 2018 Range Rover P400e PHEV.
Powering the SUV is the combination of a 300 hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine and an 85 kW electric motor which produce 404 hp and 640 Nm – available through a permanent four-wheel drive system that enables the vehicle to do the century dash in 6.4 seconds and hit a maximum speed of 220 kmh.
Thanks to its electrified powertrain, the Range Rover P400e emits only 64g/km of carbon and provides an all-electric range of up to 50 km without the Ingenium petrol engine running.
According to Jaguar Land Rover, the 13.1 kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery can be charged fully in 2 hours and 45 minutes at home using a dedicated 32 Amp wall box, or in 7 hours 30 minutes using the 10 amp home charging cable supplied as standard.
Land Rover also claims that the PHEV is a top-notch off-roader, thanks to the Terrain Response system calibrated to take advantage of the torque available from the hybrid system.
Exterior updates are minor, comprising a new grille, redesigned bumpers and air vents, as well six new wheel designs.
Inside the new Range Rover however, there are many new interesting features, such as the seats (which can be controlled via a smartphone app) that feature up to 24-way movement thanks to the new seat frames, USB, HDMI, 12-volt sockets, 4G Wi-Fi hotspots for up to eight devices, 25 types of massages, Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with two HD 10-inch touchscreens, two driving modes (Hybrid and Full Electric), thicker glass, Gesture sunblind, Cabin Air Ionisation, Pixel-laser LED headlights, as well as an activity key armband.
And then, we have the long list of driver assistance features such as the basic Rear Camera, Lane Departure Warning, Emergency Braking, Front and Rear Park Distance Control, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, further complemented by the Drive Pack, Drive Pro Pack, Park Pack, and Park Pro Pack – each comprising different sets of assistance features of all sorts like 360-degree Parking Aid, Reverse Traffic Monitor and Clear Exit Monitor just to name a few.
That being said, the new Range Rover PHEV, which is being produced at the brand’s Solihull production facility is available to order now in the UK, with first deliveries expected to take place from early 2018.


Here’s Your Best Chance Ever To Become A Skilled Racing Driver

The premier motorsports governing body, the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), has just announced a series of driver training and skills development programs, supported by the Ministry of Youth & Sports (KBS), Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF).

With individualised programs ranging from defensive driving – if you want to become a more competent driver –  or a full-fledged track experience to hone your racecraft, these curated MAM programs offer a rare opportunity to elevate your driving skills to a whole new level.

This newly-introduced Driving Skills Training platform is directed at driver development, both for motorsports, as well as skills improvement, with a secondary outcome of improved on-road driving safety.

Chief Executive Officer of SIC, Azhan Shafriman Hanif commented, “SIC puts the priority on the safety measures on track and off track. We highly encourage the enhancement of driving skills not just for racers, but for all types of drivers. We are working closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) to provide these incentives to the motorsports organizers and enthusiasts to use SIC facilities as the venue of choice for all sorts of programmes and activities during this pandemic.”

The ‘MAM Driving Skills Training program’ is divided into three distinct courses:

Defensive Driving – RM180

This course helps drivers become more aware of how to reduce risks while driving and contributes to an improvement in overall road safety awareness to make you a safer driver. During the half-day course, drivers will learn how to stay focused, avoid distractions, detect potentially hazardous situations before they become dangerous, and drive more fuel efficiently. Driving activities include limit braking, avoidance, and basic slalom.

Advanced Driving – RM350

The course focuses on driving skills development for both safety and performance driving enjoyment. It will be a full-day program and is also an ideal platform for budding racers and enthusiasts to improve their car control and dynamic vehicle handling skills level. The focus is more on driving skills, with most of the day being exercises such as oversteer & understeer, high-speed manoeuvring, and skid control.

Race Circuit Driving – RM500 (MAM Competition License holders), RM600 (non-MAM Competition License holders)

Designed for club level and budding racers, this program is aimed squarely at those with experience on Sepang Circuit, specifically, MAM Competition License holders who would be interested to hone the finer details of race driving, and how to attack Sepang International Circuit in-depth. This will be a comprehensive one-day program for those who wish to shave milliseconds off their lap times and will be led by Fariqe Hairuman, - the reigning Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race (S1K) 2019 Champion.

Exercises for the Race Circuit Driving program will be a mix of dynamic driving and car control activities, with turn-by-turn Circuit driving exercises. This includes track walks, in-depth exposure to feel how each corner is different and sharing little tricks and tips for each corner; finally, tying all the segments together to realise a positive improvement in race lap times.

When is it happening?

The driving skills course is permitted to run even during the CMCO period, albeit limited to only 10 participants per session. Strict CMCO SOPs will be adhered to during the running of the classes. The first of the MAM Driving Skills Training series takes place on the weekend of 12-13 December 2020, with 2 more dates announced on 16-17 January 2021 and 13-14 March 2021 respectively. Registrations are open now, for further information please email general@msfracing.com.

Muizz Azli, Secretary-General of MAM declared, "MAM hopes that the program will improve drivers racing craft and at the same time promote better racing etiquette and safety. We want to create racing advocacy among the track day segment and club-level racing drivers."


Shell Launches Malaysia's First 'Carbon Neutral' Engine Oil for Max Engine Power & Sustainability

Shell Helix Power 5W-40 is a new engine oil specially designed for high power & performance vehicles with the added benefit of being carbon neutral. The other carbon neutral lineup is the Shell Helix Power 0W-40 & Shell Helix Protect 0W-30.

Maximum Power & Acceleration

Shell Helix engine oil with Pureplus Technology is made out of natural gas, which is stronger & less volatile at the molecular level compared to traditional engine oil made from crude oil.

What this means to you as the driver is that the Shell 5W-40 is up to 32% better at resisting oil degradation & up to 50% less evaporation to maximize your car's acceleration & stay that strong for longer.

The Shell 5W-40 is suitable for modern direct-injection petrol, turbocharged petrol & diesel passenger vehicles.

Low Viscocity Engine Oils Improves Emissions

Shell engine oils, together with many vehicle OEMs are moving towards low viscocity engine oil specifications with the following benefits:

Better fuel economy

Excellent low temperature performane

Lower friction

Better engine wear protection

All benefits for the consumer for maximum power without compromise while helping to contribute less emissions to the environment.

What is Carbon Neutral?

As many drivers want to reduce their carbon footprint on an individual level, Shell has launched the carbon-neutral engine oil line-up product to capture the changing demands of modern drivers.

Carbon neutrality means that emissions must be avoided, reduced or offset across the entire lifestyle of the product. From raw material extraction, packaging, production, distribution, usage & end of product life.

One of the obvious ways to cut down on carbon fooprint is to use recycled plastic for their packaging. Shell manages to reduce the usage of virgin plastics by up to 30% with the Carbon Neutral engine oil line up.

Whenever emissions can't be avoided throughout the product lifecycle, Shell compensates with carbon compensations projects, such as the restoration & green initiatives:

Wetland preservations

Forest reforestations

Agriculture & grasslands sustainability projects

Blue carbon - Sediments of mangroves, salt marshes & seagrasses

Household waste management

The new engine oil is the first carbon-neutral engine oil made from natural gas & retails starting from
RM280
 for a 4L bottle.

The perfect product for drivers who want maximum acceleration from their high performance car while choosing to contribute to carbon neutrality on an individual level.

Be on the look out for the "
Untuk pasaran Malaysia
" logo on the packaging to ensure it's a genuine product from Shell.

Free Shell Helix bamboo bluetooth speaker
 with every purchase of Shell Helix Power 0W-40, Shell Helix Power 5W-40, or Shell Helix Protect 0W-30 four-litre pack at any participating outlets. While stocks last.


Three new BYD 3S centres now operational in Klang Valley

Sime Darby Motors has officially launched three new
BYD 3S centres
 in the Klang Valley.

Those who are interested in the BYD EV brand can head to any of these new 3S centres located in Ara Damansara, Glenmarie, and Cheras for everything related to the BYD brand including sales and aftersales that started with the
BYD Atto 3
.

The one in Ara Damansara alone had an investment of around RM11 million for an area that covers close to 20,000 square feet equipped with the latest facilities and retail concept of the BYD brand identity.

A total of 48 employees support this particular 3S centre which has also been equipped with four service work bays that can cater up to 270 units each month.

The one in Glenmarie under the management of BYD Sisma Auto is even bigger with a capacity to display up to nine cars and a total of 10 service work bays.  As for the one in Cheras under Millenium Autobeyond, it's roughly the same size with a total of five service work bays.

According to Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group CEO of Sime Darby Berhad, "As one of the key players in the automotive industry, the opening of three (3) BYD 3S centre is a testament to our commitment towards spurring more electric vehicle (EV) adoption amongst Malaysians as we strive to provide world-class sales and aftersales services to our BYD customers."

"We are pleased to have established strong partnerships with our dealer partners - Sisma Auto and Millenium Autobeyond – and we look forward to offering Malaysians innovative and sustainable BYD vehicles and solutions that meet their mobility needs and contribute to a greener future," added Dato' Jeffri.