Toyota Sells 1.52-Million Electrified Vehicles In 2017; Three Years Ahead Of 2020 Target

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has announced today that it has reached a major milestone in annual sales of vehicles with electrified powertrains in 2017 with over 1.5-million sold worldwide.
The figure was an increase of eight percent over the prior record set in 2016, marking back-to-back years of growth and accomplishing one of Toyota's Environmental Challenge 2050 landmark targets: selling more than 1.5-million electrified vehicles in a single year.
The milestone was achieved three-years in advance of the original target which was set for 2020.
Shigeki Terashi, executive vice president, Toyota Motor Corporation adds, "In just over 20 years, we have seen electrified new vehicle sales increase from under 500 sales to more than 1.5 million sales. This is a testament from our customers to the quality, durability, and reliability of our electrified powertrains, and, thanks to them, has led us to establish a solid and sustainable foundation for mass producing a more diverse portfolio of electrified vehicles across our range moving forward."
Since the introduction of its first commercially available electrified powertrain in the Toyota Prius in Japan back in 1997, Toyota has since gone on to launch the first mass-produced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, the Mirai, in 2014, the fourth generation of the Prius in 2016, and the second-generation Prius Plug-In Electric Vehicle in 2017.
In the future, Toyota efforts will be concentrated on the mass production of battery electric vehicles from 2020, starting in China and India, followed by Japan, the United States, and Europe. In addition, Toyota also plans to expand on sales in hybrid electric vehicles in emerging markets.
In line with Toyota's 'Environmental Challenge 2050' – the company aims to achieve annual electrified vehicle sales of 5.5 million units by 2030, as announced in December 2017.
To
achieve its goal
, Toyota has announced plans to launch 10 Battery Electric Vehicles models available worldwide by the early 2020s. From 2025 onwards, the company aims to have an electrified version available for all vehicle models across its global line-up.


Infiniti To Bring Their Prototype 10 To Pebble Beach

Now here's a company we haven't heard from in a while. This year's Pebble Beach will see Infiniti bringing their Prototype 10 speedster concept, perhaps an indication that the company is finally ready to get back into the mix of things. From announcing a revolutionary new engine design, they've been awfully quiet these last few years.
It's not a car that's likely to be made, being a single seater and all, but as is the nature of prototypes the design language may very well be implemented in the Infiniti products to come. The Japanese luxury brand is also planning to electrify all their models by 2021, in line with the times.


Volkswagen Tiguan Is World’s Top-10 Best-Selling Car, Toyota Best-Selling Brand

The all-new second generation Volkswagen Tiguan has proven itself to one of Volkswagen’s biggest successes in recent times. In less than two years after its global introduction, the Tiguan has catapulted itself to become the world’s eighth best-selling car, and third best-selling SUV for year 2017, according to data compiled by automotive consultant Jato Dynamics.
Last year, Volkswagen sold 695,383 units of the Tiguan, behind fourth place overall Nissan X-Trail’s 814,495 units and seventh place overall Honda CR-V’s 749,151 units.
Back in 2016, the Tiguan was only ranked in 21
st
 position but as the model was introduced in other markets outside of Europe especially China, sales of the Tiguan grew by a whopping 38 percent year-on-year, the biggest increase among the top-25 best-selling models ranked by Jato Dynamics.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Golf was ranked as the third best-seller, with 867,145 units sold, ranking behind second place Toyota Corolla’s 924,118 units and first place Ford F-150’s 1,073,285 units.
The Ford F-150 is a pick-up truck that’s only sold in North America while the numbers compiled for the Toyota Corolla include a diverse range of unrelated Corolla models, thus making the Golf the world’s best-selling single platform model passenger car.
The numbers for the Corolla family include the Japan-only Corolla Axio sedan and Corolla Fielder wagon, as well as Australia’s Corolla hatchback (also known as Auris in Europe), and the Corolla Altis sedan sold in Australasia, Africa and the Americas. Despite sharing the Corolla name, these region-specific models are developed independently of one another, using unrelated platforms and drivetrains.
In comparison, numbers compiled for the Golf include variants like the Golf wagon and Golf Sportvan five-seater MPV, but these are just different body type variations of the same car.
Rounding up the world’s top-10 best-selling cars of 2017 is the Volkswagen Passat, with 673,471 units sold. However this number is inclusive of the US and Chinese market Passat, which is unrelated to the European market Passat that’s also sold in Malaysia. China sells both versions of the Passat at different dealer networks. The US-market Passat is sold there with its name unchanged, but the European market Passat is sold as the Magotan.
Toyota is the world’s best-selling brand, with 7,843,423 units sold, followed by Volkswgen (6,639,250 units), Ford (5,953,122), Honda (4,967,689 units) and Nissan (4,834,694 units). Other notable highlights include the Honda HR-V, which at ninth place overall, is also the world's best-selling compact crossover.
Source: Jato Dynamics


The Audi Drive Weekend Is The Perfect Way To Start Your November

If you're looking for some family fun for the first weekend of November, the Audi Drive Weekend is going on from November 4th to 5th at the Mines Resort and Golf Club. It's going on in conjunction with the Audi quattro Cup 2017 golf tournament, and it promises a range of activities to keep you excited while you peruse the extensive Audi model range.
For those who are even keener on purchasing an Audi, there will also be test drive sessions going on around the resort and the greater Seri Kembangan area. Perhaps most attractive is a 0% interest rate on the Audi A4, Audi Q3, and Audi Q7 among many of their other products. The 5-year unlimited mileage warranty is still applicable to every car available at the event.
With November also comes Audi's annual contribution to the Movember movement- where men grow their beards over the course of November to raise awareness for men's health issues. Audi's particular campaign has been known as #derSchnubart (or The Moustache in German), and there will be a detailer on hand to provide free grooming for beards in preparation for the month ahead. There will also be many health-centric and adrenaline-pumping activities going on for the whole family.
Those interested are encouraged to find out more and register their details prior to the event by heading to the official Audi Malaysia website at
www.audi.com.my
, Facebook page (
www.facebook.com/AudiMalaysia
) or Instagram account (@AudiMalaysia).


New Volvo V40 T5 – Now Safety Is Also Sexy

Volvo equals safety. Volvo equals unbreakable. Those are the attributes often associated with Volvo cars. In fact, Volvo is probably the only brand that never had to pay a single cent for quasi Volvo ads memes made by Volvo fans that has reached millions of eyeballs on the Internet.
The most famous Volvo meme was probably the spin on the Fast and Furious 7’s tank scene, which thanks to a 1 second cameo appearance of a Volvo, probably an 850, soon took a life of its own, making Volvo more popular than any other hero cars used in the movie.
At the same time, there is also a maxim in the automotive industry “Safety doesn’t sell,” a famous quote by Lee Iacocca, former CEO of Ford, who was credited for creating the iconic Ford Mustang.
Consumers appreciate safety, but not to the point that they are willing to pay a lot more extra for it (safety costs a lot of money to engineer). Safety is logic, safety left brain, safety is not sexy.
People might buy a cheap, reliable commuter car with their left brain, but they open their wallets a lot more for premium goods that tugs their emotions, things that the right brain likes, things that are sexy, purchases that makes them feel good.
Volvo has been around since 1927. It has its ups and down, and if Volvo wants to continue to survive well into the next few decades, it needs to build its business around generating sustainable desire for its cars. Safety will remain its core, but its cars need to look desirable as well.
In came Peter Horbury, who in 2009 was appointed Vice President of Design at Volvo Car Corporation.
Horbury would later move to Volvo Car’s parent company Geely shortly after the V40’s launch. He was succeeded by Thomas Ingenlath, who further developed Horbury’s design language to create the very beautiful
XC90
,
S90 and V90
.
Debuting at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012, the V40 was the first all-new Volvo to feature Horbury’s new design language, which is distinctively Swedish, with all the associated elegance of understated luxury but yet functional elements that are the hallmarks of Scandinavian designs.
Building on the success of the C30, the V40 was a more expressive premium hatchback that combines the playful, sporty character of a compact car with the luxurious appeal of a larger car.
It has elements which pays homage to the classic 1961 Volvo P1800 coupe and P1800 ES wagon, which some say are one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Watch closer, and you will notice that the shoulder line stretches from the headlamp to the rear door, rising in parallel with the rear windows, before disappearing into a subtle ‘hook’ just right above the rear door handle, just like in the P1800. This little Easter egg of a design cue is intentionally kept subtle, providing a link to Volvo’s past, without making the car too retro looking, but a modern, forward looking car with a respectable heritage behind it.
Clever manipulation of the A- and D-pillars have resulted in a compact car with an exceptionally dynamic looking silhouette.
The A-pillars are heavily raked to give it a ‘fast’ looking expression, while the D-pillar is pulled in considerably to make the rear shoulders distinctive feature of the car, finished off by Volvo’s signature upright tail lights.
“Exceptionally modern, yet unmistakeably Volvo,” said Chris Benjamin, exterior design manager for the V40.
The hexagonal boot lid, first introduced in the C30, also harks back to the P1800 ES’s signature boot lid.
Now that the V40 T5 comes with an all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged Drive-E engine, the view of the V40’s front is going to be a more familiar sight in many driver’s rear view mirrors.
The new V40 T5, priced from RM192,888
, now produces a mighty impressive 245 hp and 350 Nm. That’s a lot more than the Volkswagen Golf GTI, BMW 120i, or even Mercedes-Benz A250 – all of which costs a lot more than the V40 T5.
The V40’s signature high gloss black three-bar grille is stretched wide and mounted low beneath the sweeping bonnet, dominated by the large spear-like Volvo logo. The lower front grille is flanked by the V40’s signature flowing shape LED daytime running lights.
Inside, the V40 stays true to Volvo’s ‘Designed Around You’ philosophy. The V40’s active TFT liquid crystal display Sensus personalised instrument cluster represents Volvo’s ideals for an ergonomic human-machine interface system,
As cars become more complicated, it is important to develop a human-machine interface that only displays the most important information in any given situation right in front of the driver.
For example, the speedometer ring has a unique feature that only highlights the numbers around the pointer needle while dimming other irrelevant sections of the speedometer. Subtle but its positive effect is clear in long distance drives on dark nights. It’s one of the many ways Sensus reduces driving fatigue in long distance drives.
The Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) air-conditioning system ensures that the air you breathe inside the car is always cleaner than the polluted air outside, employing a complicated set of filters and sensors monitoring against harmful ground level ozone, nitrogen oxides and fine dust particles. It’s more sophisticated that the air-conditioning in some hospitals!
Volvo’s Designed Around You philosophy doesn’t just focus on the driver, so the rear seats gets as much attention as the front. The outer seats in the rear are sculpted in a bucket shape to create a comfortable, spacious ride to offer maximum comfort and support. Handy storage compartments also available for the outer rear seats.
The frameless rear view mirror is compact, limiting intrusion into the driver’s view at a minimum, despite packing electro-chromatic auto-dimming function and sensors for the automatic headlamps, wipers and City Safety feature.
The sculpted centre stack, with practical utility space behind it, is finished in Silk Metal Chrome, projecting a cohesive, premium surface that stretches across the dashboard to the doors.
Open the boot, the two-level luggage floor can be folded up to reveal two integrated utility hooks, perfect for trips to the grocery store.
Being a Volvo, class-leading safety is a given. In 2012, the V40 became the safest car ever tested by Euro NCAP, with an adult occupant protection score of 98 percent, a feat matched only by another Volvo - the all-new XC90, at 97 percent, achieved under a different, much more rigorous testing standard (2012 results are not comparable to current results).
Now that the V40 comes with an all-new 245 hp Drive-E engine, combined with its very pretty looking body and record setting safety credentials, It looks like Volvo has finally got all grounds cover.
The left brain approves, the right brain just desires for it. Volvo-esque phrases like Volvo For Life, and Made By Sweden now finally resonates stronger with a new generation of fans.


Fuel Price Update: 17 May Onwards - Maintain

The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has announced the fuel prices that will take effect from 12:01 am 17th May 2018 and there is no change in the prices. The prices have been as published since 22nd March.
However, the usual period of 7 days has been removed, giving the impression the price could change at an unscheduled date, or maintain for quite a long time.
Update: Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has announced that the fuel prices will no longer be on a managed float and will be pegged at present prices
RON 97 fuel continues to have GST of six percent applied until
31st of May 2018
, while RON 95 and Diesel are already given relief.
That being said, here are the prices for the different fuel types:
RON95 –
RM2.20
per litre (no change)
RON97 –
RM2.47
 per litre (no change)
Diesel –
RM2.18
 per litre (no change)


Mercedes-Benz To Produce Batteries In Thailand For PHEVs

In order produce batteries locally for its PHEV models, Mercedes-Benz will be opening a lithium-ion battery factory in Thailand later this year.
As
reported by Bangkok Post
 earlier today, the factory will make Mercedes-Benz the first carmaker in Thailand to produce batteries locally for its PHEVs.
Due to come into operation later this year, the plant, which will be located at the Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) where Tatas were once being produced, will be able to serve 5,000 Thai-assembled Mercedes cars annually.
However, it was also reported that Mercedes-Benz could easily double the production if there is a demand for it.
Initially, the factory will cater to plug-in hybrid models in the C, E, S and GLE-Class lineups but it could also supply full-electric models like the Concept EQ in the near future.
With the availability of both battery and car production in Thailand, AMG-powered models are also expected to benefit in the future as Mercedes has a plan to pursue high-performance technologies via the use of electrification.
That being said, the official announcement by Mercedes-Benz regarding the factory setup is expected to be made next month.


6 Fun Facts About The Golf GTI Every Fan Should Know

Did you know that the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 5 had its own mascot called “Fast”? Well, we didn’t.
But thanks to this cool video released by Volkswagen Malaysia yesterday, we didn’t only come to know about “Fast” the mascot, but also various other fun facts revolving around the Golf GTI.
Titled “GTI by the numbers”, the video highlights six facts about the Golf GTI which touch on the model’s history, production, performance, and much more like how much it has grown since the first gen model, how many editions were released to date, and more.
7
Made for owners and fans of the Golf GTI, the video also shows the current
Golf GTI Mk 7.5
 in all its glory towards the end.
That being said, watch the video and see for yourself how well versed you are on the Golf GTI.
The Golf GTI in our market at the moment which is priced at RM246,490, is the middle-child of the expanded Golf family which includes the Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line (RM173,390), and the the range-topping all-wheel drive Golf R (RM294,390).
Powering the Golf GTI is Volkswagen's EA 288 2.0-litre TSI engine which produces 230 PS and 350 Nm of torque, paired to a six-speed, wet dual-clutch DSG transmission. Performance figures for the Golf GTI include a 0-100 km/h time of 6.4 seconds and a 248 km/h top speed.
Read more:
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 7.5 Review


2022 Aventador Ultimae: Final Pure V12 Lamborghini Starts Their Electric Castration

It’s been public knowledge that Lamborghini’s roadmap includes a shift towards electrification, perhaps even a full EV hypercar in its (near-ish) future, but with the onset of that transition now upon them, can the Italian supercar maker maintain its swagger in a zero emissions age?

Last week, Lamborghini finally put their plans to retire the Aventador into motion, the company’s ageing but still most recent flagship mid-engine V12 model that can trace its roots to
the iconic Miura
 and preceded by the Murcielago, Diablo, and Countach.

It’s had a pretty long life too, a full decade at the top of the Sant’Agata food chain following its production start in early 2011. It doesn’t seem to have lost much in the way of intimidation factor, though we’ll try elaborating on that a little later.

That classic low slung wedge silhouette overlayed with fiercely angular body lines still manages to look current next to much newer designs, so it’s a little hard to imagine the Aventador really being put out to pasture.

Even more tragic is the confirmation alongside last week’s unveil of the Aventador LP-780-4 Ultimae, the model’s final ‘Swansong’ edition, that this is the last pure V12-powered Lamborghini, and limited to  600 units. The successor model being developed will be presumably retain internal combustion, maybe even the same exact V12, but supplemented by an electric motor, or several.

Keep in mind that the Aventador itself marked the end of an era as it was the first car to not utilise Lamborghini’s original V12, which was given a final flourish alongside the Murcielago LP-670-4 Super Veloce. The Italian company had previously been using a permutation of that same engine since the marque’s first ever car, the 350GT, growing in displacement and power output through decades of updates.

Since the successor model was to be the first flagship since Audi took the reins, a new naturally aspirated V12 engine was designed and engineered from scratch, even gaining the rather Germanic internal code L539.

In that original 2011 tune the engine produced 700PS but here the Aventador Ultimae is bowing out with 780PS and 720Nm of torque being sent to all four wheels. If and when it returns, that twelve-cylinder won’t be slotted into the same car, and neither will it hold supremacy in power delivery, rather sharing that role with an electric motor of some sort.

But let’s face it, that’s not a huge deal. We’ve seen this before.

Elsewhere in Bologna, in neighbouring Maranello, Lamborghini’s fierce rival Ferrari have been in the business of merging electric and combustion power to craft high performance supercars for years now, starting with the unimaginatively titled LaFerrari back in 2013.

Fast forward to 2021, the Prancing Horse’s line-up is furnished by two hybrid production models: the
SF90 Stradale
, and the 296 GTB. Far from being perceived as blasphemy, at least not anymore, customers - even Ferrari purists - are now lining up to get their names in the order books.

Electrification and hybridisation
 have become legitimate avenues to reach even higher altitudes of performance, so why would it be any different for Lamborghini?

One day, Sant’Agata, whether through government legislation or direct orders from their Volkswagen Group overlords, might have to abandon internal combustion for good. When that moment comes, it’s entirely possible that Lamborghini as we know it will cease to exist.

The reality is that a huge part of the brand’s appeal is derived from being a little brash, a bit too rowdy, and exceedingly noisy. Perhaps more than any other automaker, the V12 and V10 engine soundtrack is a key element to their brand. That engine and exhaust note conveys a fury and evokes the sense of awe that gets people to sit still as one rolls by, even if only to wait until it’s quiet enough for the conversation to resume.

Ironically, should both automakers undertake the challenge simultaneously, it might be Lamborghini that beats Ferrari to a full EV given its connection to electric vehicle tech developed - and now shared - by
Porsche and Audi via Volkswagen
, giving them a significant leg-up.

However, if an electric Lamborghini can only stand to deliver any shock and awe through its outrageous paint scheme or bodywork, only to cruise around in complete anticlimactic silence, it kind of misses the point. Here’s a mute bull that can only hope to elicit an emotional response if you choose to look upon it directly. Otherwise, it can only make its presence known by annoyingly screeching its tyres.

Sure, it’ll be stupid fast, but speed and rocket-ship acceleration is cheap and fairly common in the EV era. It’s an area where other automakers who are more attached to pure performance might be looked at to deliver best-of-breed vehicles. Lamborghini, meanwhile, aren’t about that.

The Countach, Diablo, Murcielago, and Aventador were all akin to untamed beasts. Primal, to some extent. They were fast, but also a little dangerous and unpredictable. An errant flame from its exhaust, like a Spanish bull’s menacing snort before it charges, can momentarily paralyse a brave man in pale fright.

A silent Lamborghini can terrorise no one. The end of their pure V12 era isn’t yet the castration of the Sant’Agata supercar, though its days of virility are now starting to count down. We just saw/ heard plenty of spine tingling engines roar up the hillclimb at Goodwood, and in a few years the organisers will surely need more classic combustion cars to keep the attendees from falling asleep.


2015 Porsche Cayman GT4 Launched In Malaysia - It’s Yours For RM840k

Sime Darby Auto Performance, official distributors of
Porsche
 vehicles in Malaysia, have officially launched the hot new
Cayman
, the GT4. It’s a car that, for enthusiasts at least, needs very little introduction. Lauded by motoring journalists everywhere for being a superb driver’s car, the Cayman GT4 finally and officially hits Malaysian shores for a cool
RM840,000
, excluding tax and insurance.

The launch took place in Johor Bahru the among Johor Premium Outlet stores. The GT4 sits above the already venerable GTS as top dog of the Cayman bloodline, but with looks and specifications that rival Porsche’s top tier sports car, the
911
.

In fact, with the GT4, Porsche is taking quite a significant gamble. Where previously there was a very clear and deliberate gap between the 911 and Cayman, now the prospective Porsche owner who wants a properly exhilarating sports car has the devil’s duty of having to choose between these two as they’re now very closely matched. Actually, Porsche should be commended for not meddling with its development too much, as they could have easily hamstrung its performance or dynamics as to not cannibalise and compete with their flagship 911, but didn’t.

So what’s this Cayman GT4 - this ‘ultimate Cayman’ - all about?

To save time, the GT4 could be boiled down to being akin to the 911’s more hardcore, more driver-centric GT3, but for the Cayman range. Upon first glance through its specification list, one might jump to the conclusion that it is an amalgam of certain cherry-picked components from the 911.

Its 3.8-litre flat-six engine producing 385hp sounds familiar as it's a dead-ringer for the older 911 Carrera S' (997 Gen II) power figure, but is actually a detuned version of the type-991 Carrera S' motor . Even so, it's a good 35hp more potent than the 3.4-litre unit in the Cayman GTS. Also, the GT4 rests on a set of heavily reworked suspension components that were derived from the current 911 GT3 and is fitted, as you can see, with quite a bit of aero bits from Porsche’s motorsport department.

All that amounts to a 4.4 second century sprint time and a Nurburgring Nordschliefe lap time of 7 minutes 40 seconds - 13 seconds quicker than the Cayman GTS.

The way the Stuttgart-based automaker pulled all of these seemingly disparate parts together and polished it into a Porsche like no other is quite a feat. And to offer it with a good old six-speed manual gearbox will have the purists hopping with joy. Indeed, there was quite a void left when the latest 911 GT3 (991) and GT3 RS were offered with Porsche's PDK double-clutch automatic as the only transmission choice.

Clearly, the Cayman GT4 fills that slot quite nicely.


No Sand Khaki Pearl Colour For 2022 Honda HR-V In Malaysia - Why?

Malaysian HR-Vs can be had in five different colours, but the daring Sand Khaki Pearl isn't one of them. Why?

When Honda Malaysia
launched the all-new 2022 HR-V
, we were wildly anticipating for the new Honda compact SUV to be available with the new Sand Khaki Pearl paint job.

From pictures and what we've seen
in front of our very own eyes
, the Sand Khaki Pearl paint is probably one of the only colours that give the all-new HR-V a complete and totally fresh new look.

Not only does it add a touch of ruggedness to the HR-V through its military-inspired colourway, but the colour can also help hide scratches as well as make the car look clean as the tan hue does an excellent job at masking dirt.

Disappointingly, the HR-V in Malaysia only comes in five colour options, adding Ignite Red Metallic, and Meteoroid Grey Metallic to the familiar colours of Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic and Ruse Black Metallic.

Our neighbours in Singapore and Indonesia have this colour as part of their HR-V lineup, but interestingly Thailand has also omitted this colour from their HR-V catalogue.

According to Honda Malaysia, there's no particular reason why they haven't included the colour as part of their offerings. Our best guess is that it is because it is a daring colour for any car, which could be why Honda Malaysia has decided to play it safe and provide the more regular colour options for its buyers.

There's no two-tone option either for the Malaysian HR-V, but Honda Indonesia and
Thailand
 have decided to give their customers this black roof option for some variants of their HR-Vs.

Would you have bought the HR-V in Sand Khaki Pearl if it was available? Let us know in the comments.


Fire-Breathing MINI JCW GP Launched – RM 377,470

The most extreme MINI Cooper ever made has just been launched in Malaysia, packing astonishing performance figures and track-focused features.

If you want a quirky compact hatchback, you get a MINI three-door hatch. If you want something with pace pick the
MINI Cooper S
, and if that isn’t enough you go for the
MINI John Cooper Works
. But when you want the ultimate, no holds barred weapon – it’s the MINI John Cooper Works GP (JCW GP) that you need. Good thing is, MINI Malaysia has just launched it for our market at a fairly hefty RM 377,470. The bad thing is there are just 10 units up for grabs, so you have to move quickly.

What does that amount of money get you? Well, for starters the MINI JCW GP is based on the three-door hatch, but it looks so aggressive that you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a pure race-car. The bodywork is enlarged and extended thanks to wider body panels, and the front bumper and rear diffuser are designed both to channel air more effectively and to show you that it means business.

Beating at the heart of this super-hatch is a 306 hp, 450 Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, which sends power exclusively to the front wheels through an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with a mechanical differential lock. These may not be chart-topping performance figures, but the MINI JCW GP weighs in at 1,255 kilograms, nearly 100 kilograms lighter than a certain Japanese front-wheel drive turbocharged machine.

Only 3,000 units of this particular MINI will ever be made, and you’ll know which one you have by the specific serial number that’s plastered over the large exterior body kit pieces. Also interesting is the fact that you will not have any rear seats, as MINI has decided to throw them away in favour of strengthening the chassis with a strut bar – or a luggage bar as they call it.

In terms of geometry and suspension, the MINI JCW GP is 10 millimetres lower than even the regular JCW, and packs a slightly wider track width which in turn lowers the effective centre of gravity even further. The suspension has been revised with stiffer springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars for that ultimate go-kart feeling among the go-kart-feeling-cars. Revised bearings at all four corners both allow for more camber gain as well as sharper response to inputs.

But don’t worry – this MINI isn’t as bare bones as you’d think from such a track-focused special. You still get your climate control, and you still get that 8.8-inch screen that sits front and centre in the dashboard. A digital instrument cluster provides information to the driver, allowing you to keep track of various aspects of the car.

If you don’t like the Racing Grey metallic colour that you see here, well you’re out of luck because that’s the only option you get for paint colours. There isn’t a manual option either, so if you’re looking for something with three pedals you can give this a pass. That being said, we’d love to get behind the wheel of one because it sounds like a truly special model that comes only once in a blue moon.


Carlist.my Drive: Auto Fair 2019 Kicks Off – New Cars, Accessories, Test Drives, And More

After much anticipation, the Carlist.my Drive: Auto Fair 2019 opened its doors today, and will go on until Sunday, 18th August 2019 at the Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam.

Hosted by Malaysia’s leading automotive website, Carlist.my, Drive: Auto Fair 2019 offers exclusive deals and promotions from over 30 car brands including Mazda, Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, BMW, MINI, Proton and Perodua. For those looking to upgrade or purchase a new car, on-site loan application and approvals are available with Public Bank offering interest rates as low as 2.22% (terms and conditions apply).

Endorsed by the Malaysian Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii), other participating brands include TRAPO, Pecca Leather, Superlon, Llumar Tinting, Touch’n Go, Maxis, Monster Energy Drink, Smart Cruiser Electric Scooters and Osren Luminous Malaysia are geared up with exclusive deals and promotions packages.

iCar Asia’s Chief Executive Officer, Hamish Stone said, “We’re very excited to host our third Carlist.my Drive: Auto Fair event. We’ve had great support from visitors in previous years and we are bringing another high quality car show again this year. This event is now known to be a major destination for those who are looking to test drive and buy new cars in one place.”

This years’ exhibition is showcasing the new Proton Saga, the Toyota Hilux Black Edition, the new Nissan Leaf, the all-new Mazda 3, the all-new Subaru Forester, the all-new BMW X5, and the Mini Cooper S 60 Years Edition among others.

Visitors are also able to test drive various cars from the participating brands. Car racing fans can also enjoy the sight of the Aleyzo Motorsports Ginetta G55 GT3 and Caterham SP300R.

In addition, this year will also feature a professional drift show from Zen Low & Friends on as well as Subaru’s Russ Swift Stunt Show. Not wanting the kids to miss out, Sony Pictures Malaysia is hosting an Angry Birds play area within the exhibition hall.

As in previous years, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) is giving out car inspection tips as well road safety tips to visitors. A Road Transport Department (JPJ) mobile counter is also available for those who would like to pay their summons or renew their drivers’ license.

Registered visitors will also stand a chance to win daily lucky draw prizes which include electronic gadgets and holiday packages worth more than RM 50,000 from Carlist.my.

“Whether you’re here to buy a car, upgrade your ride, or just walk around to get inspiration – Drive: Auto Fair 2019 is perfect for everyone.” Stone concluded.

Admission to the exhibition is free. For more information about the exhibition and test drive booking, click
here
.


MBSJ 2-Hour Parking Limit Is Back On Starting Sept 1st

After three months of delay,
MBSJ (Subang Jaya City Council)
 will finally implement the
two-hour parking limit
 in six areas under its jurisdiction starting 1 September 2022.

What was supposed to start back in June was put on hold due to one very important factor - not yet getting the green light from the Selangor government regarding the approval as well as some amendments regarding parking space allocation under the Road Transport Order.

Six areas in total cover around 2,000 parking bays

At this moment in time, there will be a total of 1,895 parking pays which have been designated for the two-hour parking limit with lines painted in orange. You'll find them in commercial areas within USJ10, SS12, SS15, USJ21, Bandar Puteri Puchong, and Jalan Kenari (Puchong).

More bays will be added soon to help ease traffic congestion in the said areas. More importantly, there will be a one-hour 'cool-off' period once a user has used up the two hours. In other words, one can only re-park in the same area again after the one-hour timer is up, even if it's at a different parking bay. No immediate re-parking.

Smart Selangor parking app to be used

As for payment, fellow motorists can pay for the two-hour parking fees via the Smart Selangor app starting next month. The app will also be used to monitor the parking situations and timing within the area. Other payment methods and apps will be added in the future.


Review: All-New Subaru Forester Sampled - More Fizz, More Substance

The
all-new Subaru Forester
, while looking eerily like its predecessor, is actually a completely new vehicle - inside and out.
During the regional launch of the all-new Subaru Forester in Taichung, Taiwan, we had the opportunity to sample the new SUV in both on and off-road conditions.
But before we start on the review, let’s take a closer look at the all-new Forester.
Subaru took the evolutionary path when penning the design for the new Forester, as the front end of the new model is not drastically different from the model it replaces. Even towards the sides, the new model bears some resemblance to the earlier model. Thankfully, the rear end has been redesigned with a pair of C-shaped tail lights that give the Forester a refreshing change.
Underneath lies the new Subaru Global Platform, first seen on the new generation Impreza and subsequently the second generation XV.
This new platform brings greater torsional strength for improved chassis rigidity, which leads to lower noise levels, enhanced comfort, and greater handling - but more on that later.
Our drive with the all-new Subaru Forester was restricted to a go-kart circuit and a specially-prepared off-road track, giving us a brief impression of the new SUV.
We first started off at the go-kart track, where Subaru prepared a Mazda CX-5 2.2D and a previous generation Forester for our comparison. A Honda CR-V was also present, but was made unavailable to us due to unforeseen circumstances.
In order to reacquaint ourselves with the Forester, we started off in the previous generation model before sampling the new model.
Right off the bat, the all-new Subaru Forester remained more surefooted and composed when urged through the slalom test. We also noticed that the steering is sharper and more responsive, thanks to the new variable ratio steering system.
Crucial, however, is the rear seat comfort. Not only have Subaru engineers improved the rear legroom of the new model, they also managed to improve the ride comfort. In the back seat of the new model, we noticed that, as the driver was wrestling the car through the slalom, we noticed that the pendulum effect was far less noticeable from the back seat of the new model. A quick check with the engineers on site confirmed our suspicion that they reworked the suspension to further improve the ride comfort. Additionally, as the rear stabiliser bar is now mounted to the body itself, lends itself much better handling than its predecessor.
As for the driving dynamics, the all-new Forester is by no means a challenger to the Mazda CX-5, but where the Forester claws back is how predictable the handling is, on top of the hallmark Symmetrical AWD system.
On one particular section of the go-kart circuit, we had to accelerate each SUV out of a turn, trying to provoke understeer. While the CX-5’s driving dynamics was the benchmark amongst SUVs, the all-new Forester managed to resist understeering when the Mazda understeered badly, with ESP kicking in. But we should also note that both cars were not using identical tyres and we weren't able to verify the respective tyre pressures. It is afterall a Mazda car arranged by Subaru for a Subaru event.
Moving to the off-road section, the all-new Forester further cemented its off-road credentials as it took on the entire course with relative ease thanks to a whole suite of electronic wizardry and gizmos, including the new Special X-Mode, Symmetrical AWD system with Active Torque Split, and Hill Descent Control.
The first section was the cross rollers, where only two wheels were in contact with the ground. Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system senses wheel slippage and sends more torque to wheels allowing the wheel to spin freely so it digs through the slippery snow/mud to get better traction from the surface below
Then there’s the bumpy road section which highlights the rigidity of the new Subaru Global Platform. Coupled with the new suspension, massive 220 mm ground clearance, and improved rear stabilizers, the all-new Forester absorbs shocks remarkably well.
As mentioned earlier, the all-new Forester features the new Special X-Mode, which features two modes : Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud. When the Snow/Dirt mode is activated, traction control remains active just like the regular X-Mode. With the Deep Snow/Mud mode, traction control is deactivated, allowing the wheels to spin freely so it digs through the slippery snow/mud to get better traction from the surface below.
The side ramp and off-road slalom further cemented the capabilities of the Symmetrical AWD system and the new platform.
While our initial impressions of the all-new Subaru Forester are largely positive, we still need to sample the SUV locally before we can draw any conclusions. But as it stands, the all-new Forester offers a lot of potential.


MARii Opens First Satellite Centre In Sabah

Malaysia Automotive, Robotics, and IoT Institute (MARii) has opened its first Satellite centre in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It is the first centre outside of Klang Valley, with the objective of a more extensive reach of technology adoption within the automotive, robotics, and IoT (Internet of Things) sectors as well as overall mobility.
The six-storey MARii Satellite Sabah located at Donggongon Avenue along Jalan Penampang Lama houses advanced product design, process design, data analytics, and special training facilities.
This advanced training centre thus allows participation of Sabahans in advanced technology applications for automotive manufacturing, aftersales, and overall mobility, which can be commonly utilised in other sectors such as furniture, agriculture, plantation, oil & gas, and fisheries.
"The MARii Satellite addresses the logistical challenge of accessing the technologies and advanced methodologies used in the mobility industry, by bringing it directly to the Sabah population. More importantly, it is also a gateway for Sabahans to access MARii's expanded network of expertise and other facilities throughout the country", said Dato’ Madani Sahari, CEO of MARii.
In the areas of human capital development, MARii Satellite Sabah is equipped with a complete training ‘Dojo’ for manufacturing, aftersales, and remanufacturing.
The ‘Dojo’, similar to the setup at the MARii Resource Centre in Selangor, will also be the centre for MARii’s training programmes such as:
Industry-led Professional Certificate (IPC)
Automotive Industry Certification Engineering (AICE)
MARii Industry-led Graduate Apprenticeship Programme
Perantisan Industri Menengah Atas (PIMA)
Digital Engineering and Prototyping (DEP)
A total of 1,200 local trainees have graduated from the IPC programme since July 2018. Another 400 trainees will join the programme later this year.
At the launch of the MARii Satellite Sabah, Datuk Darell Leiking also announced several programmes for local schools and two Certificates of Collaboration (CoC) with a local furniture maker and with Kinabalu Coders.
Five schools have been identified as MARii Adopted Schools which will receive assistance through direct access to learning equipment and skill certification.


Review: Mercedes-AMG 43-series – Driving Performance Accomplished In All Aspects

The Mercedes-AMG 43-series has been a huge hit with enthusiasts as well as the dealers. With the price reduction thanks to the shift in sourcing from fully imported to locally-assembled, many dealerships saw a dramatic increase and production just couldn’t keep up.
The sun, moon, and planets must have aligned perfectly on that particular Thursday, as Mercedes-Benz Malaysia managed to arrange 20 Mercedes-AMG C43 and GLC43 models for a quick escape from their headquarters in Puchong through one of the best driving roads in Malaysia, up to Genting Highlands.
We started off with the Mercedes-AMG C43 sedan. The first half of the journey that plies the MRR2 highway certainly highlighted the essence of the Mercedes-Benz.
Setting the Agility Select drive mode to Comfort or Sport did not yield much of a difference to the ride comfort. The AMG Ride Control adaptive sport suspension soaked up the road imperfections better than expected.
The thud of road joints were transmitted more strongly into the cabin, but otherwise, it is as comfortable as the regular C-Class. We did not use the Eco mode for long, as the transmission moves to a higher gear too soon (there are 9 forward ratios) and it didn’t feel responsive when keeping up with traffic.
Exiting the Karak highway onto the stretch of continuous twists and gradient climbing, meant it was time to set the C43 into Sport+ mode and put windows down. The suspension stiffens up, the throttle response increases and my own adrenaline rush sets off.
The all-wheel drive system in the Mercedes-AMG 43-series has got to be the best calibrated in the performance car fleet. The AMG Performance 4Matic system by default only sends 31% of drive torque to the front wheels.
The setup means one can confidently apply full throttle (that is also 520 Nm of torque) and the C43 leaves corners without much drama, and plenty of confidence with the tail stuck to the tarmac. The sonorous howl from the exhaust outlets bounces off the cliff side at each drag of the gear range, further adding a sensory delight. Plenty of controlled burping and exhaust popping on the overrun (throttle lift-off) too.
A short mention of the gear-changes- while it is fast, it still lacked the total package (refinement, shift speeds) offered by the competitors that have one or two fewer ratios. One will only notice its shortcomings at the most aggressive settings, whilst living and commuting to home and work, it’s a great piece of kit.
After lunch, participants swapped cars and we moved into the GLC 43. Everything is familiar in here, albeit more headroom and shoulder room.
With the GLC 43 being a taller vehicle, it cannot hide the laws of physics. Entering sharper bends at similarly fast speeds, the body roll is notable to us both in the vehicle. While the C43 uses steel springs, the GLC 43 is sprung by air suspension technology on all four corners.
We felt the GLC 43 sounded even more aggressive than the sedan sibling. Both exhaust mufflers have a different structure- the GLC 43 has a large muffler stretching from side to side, while the C43 has a dual-muffler setup. Gentle notes of the exhaust can also be heard in the GLC 43 at low traffic speeds.
On the return drive back to MBM headquarters, the GLC 43 proved to be an equally great companion in slow moving traffic. Thanks to the air suspension, rough patches on the highway are not transmitted into the cabin even though fitted with wide and large 21-inch AMG wheels.
Interested to read more in-depth experience on the C43 and GLC 43? We have them covered here:
Review: Mercedes-AMG C43 – Fit For All Occasions
Review: Of Brutality and Balance – Driving The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 SUV
The Mercedes-AMG 43-series continue to win many fans, as they clearly fulfil the brand promise of ‘Driving Performance’ in every aspect. These two models are certainly entering the realm of future classics, thanks to its daily-driving comfort perfectly combined with an astonishing straight line, cornering, and braking performance.


GIIAS 2015: Audi Debuts the S3 Sedan in Indonesia

Audi
’s smallest hot sedan, the S3 Sedan, has made its Indonesian market debut at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Motor Show today, sporting a price tag of IDR 1.2 billion (RM355,925).
With thrust derived from a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 290PS and 380Nm of torque, coupled to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and hooked up to Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, the S3 sedan is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds. Since the S3 Sedan is built on Volkswagen Group's MQB platform, this is as close as one would get to a sedan-shaped version of the Volkswagen Golf R, only with 10PS more and 0.1 seconds faster to the 100km/h mark, than the 280PS Golf R hatchback we get in our market.
For its asking price, the S3 Sedan in Indonesia comes well-specified with 18-inch 5-parallel spoke S design rims, electric front sport seats, flat-bottomed S3 3-spoke leather steering with shift paddles, Audi Drive Select with an ECO function, Audi Sound System with Music Interface for external device and Juke Box with 11GB of storage capacity, and keyless entry and ignition system.


NZ Wheels Widens Its Network With Fourth Mercedes-Benz Autohaus

Authorised Mercedes-Benz NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd has added another outlet to its stable of Mercedes-Benz Autohauses in the Klang Valley after acquiring the Setapak dealership.

The new 2S (service and spare parts) facility will complement NZ Wheels’s existing Bangsar Autohaus (1S) sales facility. The 2S facility also conforms to the Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS II) Autohaus concept in line with the marque’s global customer experience concept and corporate identity.

The NZ Wheels Setapak Autohaus sits on 13,866 sq.ft. of land and boasts a built-up area of 9,200 sq.ft. The service centre has five mechanical work bays and one wheel alignment bay, altogether capable of servicing up to 250 vehicles a month for both general and specialized repair. 10 highly trained personnel experienced in technical, service and parts are currently managing service and maintenance works.

SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Group Executive Chairman & CEO, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd added, “The Setapak outlet will appeal to the most discerning Mercedes-Benz customers as it is fully equipped with state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz approved diagnostic tools and equipment and staffed by professionally-trained Mercedes-Benz Certified Service Specialists,”

NZ Wheels Setapak is located at the address No. 14, Jalan Usahawan 5, 53300 Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. Business hours are 8.30 am - 5.30 pm from Mondays to Fridays and 8.30 am - 1.00 pm on Saturdays. For customer enquiries, please call 03-41445500.


Jaguar Land Rover To Produce E-Pace SUV in Austria and China

Jaguar latest SUV, which enjoyed an
action-packed world debut
 earlier today, will reportedly be the first of the larger Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) group’s products to be made outside of its home in the U.K.
Reuters
 reports that Jaguar plans to shift its manufacturing operations of the E-Pace SUV to China and Austria.
Jaguar announced that its three U.K. based (Castle Bromwich, Solihull, and Halewood) manufacturing plants were either full or at near capacity, but, given the current Brexit woes, can’t afford to be slapped with customs tariff and delays making further expansions within the UK risky.
In lieu, Jaguar plans to shift manufacturing operations of the E-Pace to Austrian contract manufacturer Magna Steyr, and to its plant in China which is shared with Chinese carmaker Chery.
In a company statement regarding the move, "It allows Jaguar Land Rover to offer its customers even more exciting new vehicles, to protect against currency fluctuations and to build a globally competitive business."
If the name Magna Steyr sounds familiar, it’s because the Austrian giant is also responsible for the production of various BMW and MINI models, such as the
(G30) 5-Series PHEV
. Magna will also be producing Jaguar’s first-ever battery electric vehicle, the I-Pace, slated to begin in early 2018.
Jaguar has however said that should certain economic conditions be met in the near future, it will produce its low-emissions vehicles in the U.K.


Evolution of the Proton Saga - The 35 Year Old Journey

Last Thursday, the 9th of July 2020 marked the 35th birthday of the first National car, the pride of our nation – the legendary Proton Saga, and what better way to commemorate the occasion than having a glimpse at the model’s journey thus far?

First Generation Saga

So, it all began back in 1985 when HICOM and Mitsubishi joined forces to develop an affordable, reliable, and practical model for the rakyat, based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore Sedan.

Called the Saga, which is an acronym for 'Safety, Achievement, Greatness, and Ability', the car was initially offered in both sedan and “aeroback” guises, with power coming from a 1.3-litre 4G13 Orion II engine, followed by the 1.5-litre 4G15 engine that was introduced in 1987 in the updated Proton Saga “Magma”.

Two years later, the Saga achieved another milestone – it made it to the shores of the United Kingdom where the car actually set the record for the 'Fastest selling make of new car ever to enter the United Kingdom', exceeding their 12-month sales target in just 6 months.

In August 1990, the Proton Saga Megavalve was launched in Malaysia with a more powerful 12-valve engine, and the exterior design was altered slightly with a new grille, trim and rims along with the inclusion of rear seat belts and a third brake light as standard.

Proton Saga Iswara

1992 saw the birth of the Proton Saga Iswara, named after the great Helen butterfly (Papilio Iswara) of Sarawak. It shared the platform found in the previous iteration but received major exterior and interior changes.

The Iswara was also available in 4-door saloon and 5-door hatchback guises and was equipped with the same Mitsubishi Orion 1.3L and 1.5L engines. It continued to be imported to Europe until 1996, having been sold alongside the Persona (Wira) there since 1993.

In 2001, Proton introduced the Iswara Aeroback Special Edition. It was based on the Saga Iswara hatchback but included large exterior cosmetic changes and minor interior alterations. It was only available in silver, with a manual transmission and the 1.3 litre 4G13 engine.

Proton Saga LMST

After a successful 10 years, the Saga LMST hatchback was launched in 2003.

Based on the same platform as the previous-gen models, the Saga LMST featured a more modern interior and exterior, and a 1.3-litre Mitsubishi 4G13 carburettor engine that was tuned to produce 83 hp. It was only available in two trim lines, limited to the 5-speed manual transmission.

In late 2006, Proton updated the Saga LMST with some cosmetic updates. It was available in two colours - black and orange, and was limited to the 4G13 1.3L engine, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

On 4 March 2007, Proton launched the final facelift model of the first generation Proton Saga, the Proton Saga LMST 50th Merdeka Anniversary Edition. It was largely identical to the 2006 Saga LMST, but was sold at a discount price of RM26,999 as opposed to the former RM33,240 price.

Proton Saga BLM

After two decades of seeing the same shape, Malaysians were once again excited when Proton unveiled the fresh, second-gen Saga BLM (Base Line Model) in 2008.

It was offered with 3 variants which were priced between RM31,498 and RM39,998 respectively. All variants were powered by Proton's 1.3 litre CamPro IAFM engine.

The new Saga was a great sales success for Proton, having received over 23,000 bookings in less than two weeks from its launch.

Proton Saga FL

On 30 November 2010, the Saga BLM was updated, and out came the Saga FL. First unveiled at the 2010 Thai International Motor Expo, the  Saga FL received large exterior updates, but the technical specifications and interior was carried-over from the pre-facelift Saga.

The Saga FL was launched in Malaysia two weeks after its debut in Thailand, and was sold in two trim lines with 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmissions.

Later in May 2011, a more powerful model called the Proton Saga FL 1.6 Executive was launched.

Proton Saga FLX

8 months after the launch of the Saga FL, Proton added to its line-up the Saga FLX in which 'X' stands for extra. The FLX was available in two trim lines which could be mated to a choice of either manual or CVT drivetrains.

The fine-tuned CamPro IAFM+ engine was utilized and there were options for dual airbags and ABS with EBD. The handling was also vastly improved with a new suspension setup which struck a balance between ride comfort and handling performance.

The Proton Saga FLX SE was then launched on the 30th of November 2011, with power coming from a relatively more powerful 108 hp CamPro IAFM+ 1.6 litre engine, paired to a CVT.

Driver and passenger airbags as well as ABS with EBD were standard. The FLX SE was also equipped with the sportier kit and was only available in two colours, white and red.

Third Generation Proton Saga (Current)

The third generation Proton Saga, codenamed P2-13A was launched on 28 September 2016 as the successor to the second generation Proton Saga.

The third generation Saga is based on the outgoing Saga FLX platform, and is powered by the Iriz's 1.3-litre VVT engine producing 94 hp. Proton has completely re-engineered the exterior design of the new Saga. Its interior has been revamped and refined with an emphasis on NVH reduction.

The third generation Saga is positioned as Proton's entry-level sedan, below the larger B-segment Persona. Safety standards have been improved with the introduction of electronic stability control (ESC) and a 20% stronger body structure. ASEAN NCAP has awarded a 4-star safety rating for the new Saga.

On 6 August 2019, an updated Proton Saga was launched at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It's considered as a minor change internally but as a facelift to the general public. The car now includes design cues from the Proton X70, Proton Iriz and the Proton Persona which includes the new "infinite weave," a pattern inspired by batik and Malaysian wood carvings.

The naturally aspirated DOHC VVT engine is no longer paired to a CVT made by Punch Powertrain, but a four-speed torque converter automatic gearbox sourced from Hyundai. The Executive variant was dropped with the range consisting of Standard MT, Standard AT and Premium AT.

The 2019 Saga also saw the air conditioning vents moved down to allow space for 'floating' head units which included a head unit that runs a modified version of Android for the Premium variant. The Saga now starts at a lowered price of RM32,800 for the manual transmission variant and up to RM39,800 which is almost RM2,000 lower than the pre-facelift version.

That being said, the most recent addition to the legacy is the Saga 35th Anniversary Edition which was launched last week to commemorate the birthday of the model.

Based on the Premium variant, the Anniversary Edition is offered exclusively in Black and features contrasting yellow accents both on the exterior and interior, and is limited to 1,100 units.


10th Generation Honda Civic Open for Booking. Launch in Q2 2016

Honda Malaysia today announced that the all-new Civic is officially open for booking. Prices have to be announced but Honda says the all-new Civic will be launched in the second quarter of 2016.
According to Honda Malaysia, the new Civic will be available with two engine choices – 1.8L i-VTEC and the 1.5L VTEC Turbo.
While the 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged engine delivers 173PS and 220Nm of torque the 1.8L i-VTEC engine produces 141PS and 174Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with a CVT transmission.
Measuring 4,630 mm in length, 1,799 mm in width and a height of 1,416 mm, the new Civic is said to be lower, wider, and more rigid than before. Honda added that the rear seat foot space width has also increased by 27 mm compared to the current model.
In terms of standard equipment, the new Civic is equipped with Remote Engine Start, which allows the driver to start the car from up to 40 meters away with a simple push of a button in the remote key, Walk Away Auto Lock function, Electric Parking Brake, Brake Hold, 8-way driver power seat (all variants), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), ISOFIX, as well as 6 Airbags.
Open for booking at all 88 authorized Honda dealers nationwide, customers will be able to view the car for the first time in Malaysia at My Auto Fest 2016 which will take place from 20th – 22nd May 2016 (10:00am to 9:00pm) at Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre.


KL police goes hard on motorists, issues 5,600 summonses a day

The
Kuala Lumpur Police
 force has been on a roll these past few weeks with over 5,600 summonses issued every day.

In the past three weeks of the "Respect Traffic Laws Ops", a total of 117,745 summonses were issued in the special operation against drivers who disobey the law. That's over 5,000 drivers caught red-handed every single day, and that's just in KL.

And the majority of them weren't even for major offences. According to
the Star
, around 83% of the summonses issued in the past three weeks were related to traffic obstruction. We're guessing that the folks over at PDRM are not playing around anymore, especially for those who contribute to making the traffic congestion worse in the heart of the city like double parking.

These offenses also included an act that a good number of Malaysians don't really take seriously - stopping beyond the white lines at traffic lights or junctions as well as those yellow-painted boxes that nobody should stop in to give way to traffic.

According to KL's JSPT chief ACP Sarifudin Mohd Salleh, “This operation is to educate road users, but with enforcement. There will no longer be any tolerance. They need to learn to respect the law.”

Try doing the math for RM300 for each summons. July has been a very progressive month for the KL Police, eh? For the rest, please drive safely and obey all traffic laws. Be considerate as well because believe it or not, being nice on the road might help everyone to get home faster.


Justice served over fake Endless brake calipers

A man in Johor finally got some justice after getting duped into buying a set of fake brake calipers for his beloved car,
The Star
 reported.

Mohamad Syahrul Aizat, a renovation company proprietor, saw a set of Endless brake calipers that were priced way below the market on Facebook and proceeded ahead with the purchase without any additional background checks. You can just imagine Uncle Roger saying "Haiyaaaa...."

'Original parts' from Japan, but way cheaper

The set of Endless brake calipers is said to be priced at around RM17,500 based on the authorised dealer in Sunway whom Syahrul contacted after facing issues with the fake calipers he found online. The ones that he got prior to this cost him just under RM13,000 and as soon as he got it installed in Port Dickson, he claimed that he faced some 'performance' issues.

After trying to resolve the issue with the seller including asking for a refund, he was blocked from any form of communication (surprise, surprise). Upon further checking with the brand's authorised dealer here in Malaysia, it was confirmed that the set he initially purchased was indeed fake.

Syahrul proceeded to take things to the Johor Bahru Consumer Claims Tribunal and ended with an order by the Tribunal president for the respondent (fake caliper seller) to return the full amount to the claimant (fake caliper buyer) within 14 days. Of course, the fake caliper seller was not present that day to hear the court order in person.

Remember, folks. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check with the authorised dealer for the brand always to be on the safe side.


Mazda CX-4 Confirmed for Beijing Debut

Mazda will give its much-anticipated CX-4 crossover at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show at the end of April, lining up alongside latest versions of the Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-5, and race cars prepared for the Mazda-sponsored MZ Ruisi Racing Team competing in the China Touring Car Championship (CTCC).
Seeking to keep the suspense to its build-up, Mazda’s official announcement goes no further than mentioning vague descriptions of the car, describing the ‘new type of crossover SUV’ that offers ‘a striking presence that sets it apart from other SUVs’ as well as ‘the functionality modern users expect and Jinba-ittai driving thanks to Sustainable Zoom-Zoom’.
Mazda
 had earlier previewed the CX-4's coupe-SUV styling on the
Koeru concept
 shown at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, and we have caught glimpses of the production model through a series of
spyshots
 picked up from Chinese website
PopSUV.com
.
The Beijing Motor Show starts from 25 April and goes on till 8 May 2016.


2018 BMW M5 (F90) Sets World Record For The Longest Drift Ever – Refuels Mid-Drift

The all-new
BMW M5 (F90)
 has simultaneously set two world records - one for the longest sustained vehicle drift in eight hours, and the second for the longest twin vehicle drift, set by an (F10) BMW M5.
The record attempt saw BMW Driving Instructor Johan Schwartz shatter the previous record of 144.1 km with a new record of 374.1 km, or more than 2000 laps of the circular course at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina.
The refuelling car, driven by BMW Chief Driving Instructor Matt Mullins – set the second World record for the Longest Twin Vehicle Drift of 63.1 km, with most of that distance driven in close proximity to the record car, with refueller Matt Butts hanging out the rear window.
BMW's unprecedented record involved refuelling the record car mid-drift, in jet fighter fashion, to maximise the available eight-hour record duration for drifting.
Previous records attempts have all been set with vehicles using large fuel cells or stopping to refuel. Or as refuelling car driver Matt Mullins aptly puts it, “That’s kinda boring, who wants to watch that?”
The sheer complexity of the operation meant that mid-drift refuelling needed to be conducted no less than five times, with more than a few close calls along the way.
A specialised refuelling port for the record car was designed and fabricated aftermarket performance specialists Detroit Speed which involved using advanced components inspired by the racing and aviation industry. Also, special harnesses needed to be fabricated to allow refueller Matt Butts to perform the refuelling process.
The BMW (F90) M5 is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 bi-turbo engine which develops 600 hp between 5,600 – 6,700 rpm and a whopping 750 Nm of torque is available between 1,800 rpm and 5,600 rpm.
Power is channeled through a specially tuned eight-speed M Steptronic transmission – sending power to all four-wheels through BMW’s M xDrive system. The system includes an option to configure the M xDrive system to deliver power only to the two rear wheels – which enables the M5 to go sideways.
For an in-depth view of BMW’s record attempt, check out the behind-the-scenes video below.


VIDEO: Watch A Volkswagen Beetle Demolish A Ford Mustang In A Drag Race

You’re probably wondering how in the world a
Volkswagen
 Beetle (the classic one nonetheless) can match up against a V8-powered
Ford
 Mustang.
However, like a scene straight out of the
Herbie movie series
, this little blue
Beetle
 manages to outdrag its black, menacing Mustang competitor from start to finish. Of course, it can’t do so on its stock engine which is why the one seen here has been tuned by Kaddie Shack in Los Angeles to deliver the power to accomplish this feat.
In the video, you can hear the announcer scoffing the Beetle’s chances but once the lights turn green, the Bug manages to pop a short wheelie before zooming off to the finish line, leaving the announcer shocked as well.
Just another reminder not to underestimate something just by the way it looks. You go little Beetle!


Jaguar F-Pace 2.0L Ingenium Launched in Malaysia, 3 Variants From RM425,800

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia today announce the launch of the Jaguar F-Pace powered by the new 2.0L Ingenium engine.
Available in 3 variants, the F-Pace 2.0L Ingenium line-up in Malaysia with their respective starting prices are:
Prestige                   : RM425,800
R-Sport (Mid-spec) : RM476,800
R –Sport (Hi-spec)  : RM498,800
Prices quoted are inclusive of GST but exclude road tax, registration and insurance.
The 2.0-litre is priced significantly lower than the
F-Pace 3.0L supercharged V6 that debut in Malaysia
 which had a starting price from RM598,800.
All variants of the new entry-level F-Pace are powered by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) group's award winning 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger, producing an outstanding 250 PS and 365 Nm of maximum torque from only 1,200 rpm.
Designed and engineered in-house by the JLR, the new engine range weighs some 80kg less than the company’s current four-cylinder offerings, thanks to the use of lightweight aluminium engine blocks, with each block sharing the same bore, stroke, cylinder spacing, and 500 cc cylinder capacity.
JLR also revealed its key technologies behind its reduced friction and improved performance, which include computer-controlled variable water and oil pumps, roller bearings on cam and balancer shafts, simplified cam drive system, electronically-controlled piston cooling jets, and crankshafts that are offset from the centre of the engine block.
Paired to the engine is an 8-speed automatic gearbox with Jaguar Sequential Shift, featuring the brand’s state-of-the-art pendulum damper technology which absorbs low frequency vibrations and enables the engine to run at lower speeds without compromising refinement.
This allows the F-Pace Ingenium to accelerate from 0-100kph in 6.8 seconds and all the way to an electronically-limited top speed of 217 km/h. Intelligent all-wheel drive and torque vectoring provide additional stability in the corners.
Key features of each variant are as follows:
Prestige:
Xenon head lamps
20-inch wheels in silver finish with 255/50R20 tyres
InControl Touch infotainment system with 8-inch touch screen
Meridian Sound System with 11 speakers
5-inch multi information display
10-way power adjustable front seats
JaguarDrive Control, including Dynamic mode
Door sill plates with ‘Jaguar’ branding
R-Sport (Mid Spec):
Adaptive LED head lamps
R-Sport body styling including bumpers and side power vents
Door sill plates with ‘R-Sport’ branding
Perforated leather seats with contrast stitching
R-Sport softgrain leather steering wheel with satin chrome gearshift paddles
Sports-type front seats with 10-way power adjustment
20-inch wheels in ‘Grey and Diamond Turned’ design
R-Sport (High-Spec):
Surround Camera System
Adaptive Cruise control with Queue Assist
Panoramic glassroof
InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with 10.2-inch touch screen
12.3-inch full digital meter panel with virtual dials
The Jaguar F-PACE has been named
 the winner of the 2017 World Car of the Year and the World Car Design of the Year Awards
 at the New York International Auto Show. It is also the fastest selling model that Jaguar has ever produced, and is only the second vehicle to claim the historic double in the 13-year history of the World Car Awards.
The new F-Pace 2.0L Ingenium
was first previewed
 at their Art of Performance Tour event last month. Closest rivals are the Porsche Macan and Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 Coupe. The new BMW X4 and Audi Q5 have not arrived at our shores yet, while the Range Rover Evoque is a segment smaller.
All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia come with ‘Jaguar Care’ programme which includes a five-year warranty, five years’ free service and three years’ roadside assistance.


2024 Mazda CX-90 debut - Both the 3.3-litre and 2.5-litre engines have 500Nm of torque, AWD is standard

The much-awaited premier of the 2024 CX-90 has taken its course as Mazda has unveiled the company's new mid-size crossover SUV.

Following the CX-60 released last year, the CX-90 is the second model in Mazda's Large Product Group and offers a significant evolution in safety performance and greater joy of driving.

According to Mazda, the CX-90 is a crossover SUV newly developed in light of features that customers in the important North American market demand. This wide-body three-row SUV offers greater comfort, functionality, and safety performance, making driving more enjoyable when travelling, especially when you can bring several friends and family with you, thanks to its third row of seats.

Main headline - Debut of Mazda's new electrified 3.3-litre inline-six engine

Mazda will offer a new range of electrified turbocharged engines for the powertrain, including a
3.3-litre inline six-cylinder engine supported by a 48-volt mild hybrid system
, as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system called e-SKYACTIV PHEV, comprising of a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine.

The larger engine, which is augmented by a 48-volt hybrid system, produces 340 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, while the 2.5 PHEV engine, which comes with a 17.8-kWh battery pack, pushes out a similar 323 horsepower and 500Nm of torque. Mazda has not released any specific details yet, but the PHEV should be able to drive in pure electric mode anywhere from 30 - 50 kilometres.

There's also a new automatic eight-speed transmission which both engines will be mated to. The new tranny is quite interesting as it does not have a torque converter, but instead, it has a multi-plate wet-clutch setup, which according to Car and Driver, is a similar arrangement in AMGs.

Combined with the new rear-biased AWD architecture, the CX-90 offers what Mazda calls "superior environmental performance while honouring the driver's intentions".

Design - Premium is the name of the game

The CX-90's long hood suggests something a lot more than your regular Mazda SUVs, as it gives off elegant and upscale vibes. The CX-90's grille detailing also suggests this is an upscale Mazda SUV, and the chrome trim on the lower body further accentuates this.

A few new colours will be offered apparently, with a unique new tone called Artisan Red leading the way. For those of you who love Mazda's current Soul Red, that too will be made available.

According to Mazda, the interior is an expression of Japanese aesthetics, incorporating the dynamism of light and natural materials in an orderly, elegant space.

They focused meticulous attention on creating a comfortable environment for all on board, where the space in the interior has been enlarged around the seats. Speaking of seats, there are many of them in the SUV, where the third row is designed to seat three but will probably be highly comfortable for two. The third-row passengers will also have access to their own air-conditioning vents.

Furthermore, the cabin also sees the inclusion of Mazda's See-Through View, which allows you to see everything around your car without the car's body obscuring your view. There will also be a sizeable active driving display (meter cluster) that'll support safe vehicle operation and enhance the driver's peace of mind.

More information will be available soon according to Mazda, but many are already speculating that the SUV in the states at least will be priced between $40,000 - $60,000 (RM170k - RM254k). The CX-90 will go on sale in the US around April 2023.


2015 New Car Sales In Malaysia – Which Brands Gained, And Which Lost

2015 was a very tough year for the Malaysian car market. A combination of a weak Ringgit, poor consumer sentiments – which in Q3 2015, dropped to a five-year low of
70.2 points
, as well as uncertainties caused by the implementation of GST in April 2015 has taken its toll on the once resilient Malaysian car market.

Although total industry volume (TIV) continued to show positive growth, at 666,674 units, the increase was a mere 209 units, and it came at the cost of heavy discounting.

The overachieving Honda was however unfazed by the slowing car market. Boosted by strong response for the City, Jazz, HR-V, CR-V and Accord, Honda Malaysia was keen to unseat incumbent Toyota from its position as the leading non-national brand.

The fact that
Honda
 had unseated Toyota despite being handicapped by a much narrower product line-up made its achievement even more impressive. Unlike
Toyota
, Honda doesn’t sell commercial vehicles like the Hilux, Hiace, and it doesn’t have MPVs like the Avanza or Innova.

Both brands were actively giving out promotions and discounts on many of their models, triggering a price war. This created a very difficult situation for second-tier brands like Mitsubishi, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot, Ford and even Proton.

Kia for example, sold less than half of what it sold in 2014.

Naza Kia Malaysia’s sister-company Nasim did not fare any better. Sales of Peugeot vehicles slowed by nearly 50 percent. Despite its accolades as the 2014 European Car of the Year, sales of the
all-new Peugeot 308
 failed to take off locally.

It was a similar story for
Hyundai
. Despite having renewed all of its models except for the Elantra, the all-new Sonata, Tucson and Santa Fe all sold less than their predecessors. Sales of Hyundai passenger vehicles dropped by almost half, from 10,271 units in 2014 to just 5,791 units, while the Inokom commercial vehicles division saw a slight drop from 579 units in 2014 to 495 units in 2015.

Sales of Nissan passenger vehicles was also generally tepid. Consumer interest in the Almera, Sylphy and Teana remained lukewarm but the
popular X-Trail
 and
Serena S-Hybrid
 compensated for the shortfall, keeping Nissan’s overall sales buoyed slightly above 2014’s levels. The X-Trail was the receipient of two ASEAN Car of the Year awards - Third place Overall and Family SUV of the Year (Malaysian category). Nissan’s numbers does not include Infiniti.

Ford
 too saw sales of its passenger cars dropping by almost 50 percent, from 5,361 units in 2014 to just 2,866 units last year. Overall, the sharp drop in sales of the
Fiesta
,
EcoSport
 and
Focus
 was arrested by the very well received Ford Ranger, whose sales had hit a new
record high of 9,231
 units last year.

Mitsubishi also saw a big drop. Sales of the
Triton
 remained robust. There was shortfall of around 300 units compared to 2014 but that’s to be expected during the interim run-out period when the previous Triton was replaced with the
all-new Triton
. Most of the drop had came from Mitsubishi’s passenger car models, namely the
ASX
, Lancer, Mirage and Attrage, whose combined sales had dropped by 35 percent from 2014.

431 units of the
Isuzu MU-X
 were sold in 2015. Sales of the D-Max (pick-up trucks are classified as a commercial vehicle) remained healthy.

Apart from Honda, Mazda too bucked the trend by growing over 25 percent, boosted by strong response to all its models.

Other highlights from 2015’s new vehicle sales figures:

Porsche Macan
 was instrumental in boosting Porsche’s sales by over 60 percent.

Strong response to the Lexus NX, ES and IS200t saw Lexus overtaking Audi for the Number 3 spot in the luxury car segment.

Renault
 and Subaru are growing slowly but steadily. The stellar growth figures seem unusually high but readers should keep in mind that this is due to the low base effect that the numbers are calculated from. Find the latest promotions on the Renault Fluence
here.

Oddly, Malaysia’s most popular European brand is not Ford or Volkswagen or Peugeot, but Mercedes-Benz. To put things into perspective,
Mercedes-Benz sold more passenger cars
 than Hyundai and Kia combined. Also, more people bought BMWs than Peugeot and Renault combined. And Porsche sold more cars than Chevrolet. We are indeed living in some very odd times.

Find more
Mercedes-Benz cars
 on sale at Carlist.my.


BYD Atto 3 EV Malaysian grand launch happening 9-11 December

We finally have an official launch date for the highly-anticipated
BYD Atto 3
 EV folks, and it's going to happen from 9-11 December 2022.

The
BYD - Sime Darby Motors Malaysia official Facebook page
 recently made the announcement regarding its upcoming EV offering and its first official public appearance will take place at Bandar Malaysia. It also seems that it's open for members of the public, but you'll need to RSVP quickly as spots are limited.

Estimated price from RM150,000

Reliable sources have indicated that the BYD Atto 3 EV compact SUV's price is estimated between RM150,000 to RM170,000. That'll certainly attract a much larger group of people to switch over to the EV side, especially when the official launch of the GWM Ora Good Cat is also just around the corner.

Going back to the BYD Atto 3, it is said that there will be two different variants within that price point, but both will come with the same front-mounted electric motors producing 210hp and 310Nm of torque.

The biggest difference between the two is the battery capacity - a 49.92kWh unit for the base model and a 60.49kWh battery pack for the 'atas' variant. The former offers an all-electric NEDC range of 410km while the latter grants a much less range anxiety-inducing 480km, also NEDC.

If you're interested to check out the all-new BYD Atto 3 here in Malaysia, register by clicking
HERE
.


Seiyong S1 - Kereta Elektrik Mampu Milik Untuk Pasaran Malaysia Bakal Diperkenal

Syarikat Ho Wah Genting Bhd bakal memperkenalkan
kenderaan elektrik
 penuh pertama keluaran Seiyong Motor untuk pasaran Malaysia tidak lama lagi.

Berikutan industri kenderaan elektrik yang semakin membangun di negara ini, Ho Wah Genting Bhd yakin bahawa model Seiyong S1 ini mampu untuk menaikkan lagi industri kereta elektrik di Malaysia.

Untuk mereka yang tidak tahu, Seiyong S1 telah diperkenalkan buat kali pertama pada December 2019. Lebih dikenali sebagai Little Bee, model ini merupakan kereta hatchback EV yang mampu mencapai 302 km dalam satu cas penuh.

Berdasarkan spesifikasi model ini di pasaran China, kereta ini dilengkapi dengan bateri 31.9 kWh lithium yang hanya memerlukan 40-50 minit untuk mencapai kapasiti bateri sehingga 80% menggunakan pengecas pantas. Kalau guna pengecas biasa, anda memerlukan 10 jam untuk mencapai tahap penuh bateri.

Kereta elektrik ini juga hadir dengan motor elektrik yang memberi kuasa sebanyak 35 kW (47 hp) dan tork maksimum 150 Nm. Kereta elektrik keluaran China ini juga dikatakan mampu mencapai kelajuan maksimum pada 110 km/j.

Bagi segi dimensi kereta ini, Seiyong S1 mempunyai ukuran 3,720 mm panjang, 1,640 mm lebar dan 1,494 mm tinggi. Sementara itu, jarak roda kereta elektrik keluaran China ini pula ialah 2,390 mm dan mempunyai berat sebanyak 1,115 kg.

Di pasaran China, S1 ini dijual pada harga 70,000 hingga 90,000 yuan. Kalau ditukar ke matawang Malaysia, harga tu baru dalam RM44,300 hingga RM57,000 sahaja. Untuk kenderaan elektrik penuh, ianya dilihat sebagai kenderaan elektrik mampu milik untuk pasaran negara ini. Hatchback keluaran Seiyong Motor ini bakal dijual di Malaysia dalam bentuk
CKD
. Mungkin harga akan turun lagi?

Untuk pasaran China, terdapat tiga varian yang ditawarkan dimana varian tertinggi bakal menerima brek cakera keseluruhannya berbanding varian lain yang menggunakan brek drum di bahagian belakang. Di samping itu, varian tertinggi turut menerima kelengkapan seperti head-up display, skrin sentuh lapan-inci dengan pengesanan suara (Mandarin sahaja) serta kawalan pendingin hawa zon tunggal.

S1 ini terkenal dengan karakteristik seperti ‘Good-Looking (lawa dipandang), ‘Easy to Use' (senang dikendalikan ataupun intuitif), dan ‘Fun’ (kecerdasan tinggi). Model ini dipasarkan bagi golongan yang pengguna dari kumpulan suri rumah, pelajar kolej sehingga lah ke pekerja korporat. Bagi mereka yang tinggal di kawasan bandar dan memerlukan kereta untuk bergerak setiap hari, ini salah satu pilihan yang baik.

Namun ketika ini, masih tiada sebarang info lanjut mengenai spesifikasi S1 yang bakal dibawa masuk ke Malaysia kelak. Kena tunggu dan lihat sahaja buat masa ini.

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

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Carlist.my.

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

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


ETCM Opens Its Biggest Nissan 3S Centre In Malaysia Located At Johor Jaya

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) today launched its Johor Jaya 3S centre, its biggest
Nissan
 3S (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) centre here in Malaysia.

The centre located in Johor Bahru was officiated by Yang Berhormat Dato' Haji Abdul Rahman Bin Mohamed Dewam, Datuk Bandar of Johor Bahru, accompanied by the Executive Director of ETCM, Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng.

If you’re looking for the one-stop-shop for everything Nissan and ETCM, the Johor Jaya 3S centre stands complete with a showroom, MUV certified re-owned and used vehicles, hire purchase and insurance division, a vehicle distribution centre and a service centre where owners are able to service, and obtain spare parts for their Nissan vehicles.

Built on a 2.15 acre plot of land and costing approximately RM25.5 million, the six-storey 3S centre has a total built-up area of 256,000 square feet and features an expansive showroom capable of displaying 30 vehicles. The centre also has the capacity of servicing up to 150 cars per day courtesy of its 36 service bays.

For the convenience of Nissan customers, there is also a lounge, complete with WIFI connectivity while a Kid’s Corner will certainly keep customers with children occupied. Parking is also not a hassle as there are more than 400 parking bays made available.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dato’ Dr Ang said, “What makes our Johor Jaya 3S Centre special isn’t just its sheer size, but its ‘Tan Chong City’ concept. This Mega 3S Centre offers customers the opportunity to test drive and purchase new Nissan models, trade-in old vehicles, get them serviced, as well as obtain spare parts for their vehicles.”

ETCM plans to open more 3S centres across Malaysia. Currently, the company has 100 showrooms (including dealers) and 60 Tan Chong Express Auto Service (TCEAS) workshop throughout the nation. They’ve also targeted to have 20 3S centres by the end of 2015.


Detroit 2017: Mercedes-Benz Unveils Facelifted GLA

The new GLA is finally here, unveiled at this year's Detroit motorshow. Mercedes-Benz has seen solid performance from their trio of A-Class based models (the A-Class itself, the CLA, and the GLA), and the GLA is about due for a facelift as well. With the facelift come updates to the exterior and the interior, as well as more variety in options and more efficient engines.
There are three chassis options for customers overseas- a standard comfort suspension, a more dynamic lowered suspension, and one specific for off-road comfort that raises the ride height by 30 mm. Coefficient of drag has dropped by 0.01 through redesigned bumpers, mirrors, a roof spoiler, and a different A-pillar shape.
On the inside, the largest changes are in new seat covers and trim parts, as well as chrome covered control panels. There's an 8-inch media display was per the older models, but there are new dials for the instrument cluster with sporty red needles. Mercedes is offering two lines, Style and Urban, and each line has a distinct feel and colour palette.
For those who don't fancy the sport seats, there is also the Exclusive package that trades the standard seats out for more traditional SUV style seats. Features and specifications will vary from country to country, but the facelift also brings hands-free boot access- something not previously available for the GLA.
Available as options are new daylight-coloured LED headlamps. The high performance units replace the current bi-Xenon headlamps, and use 60% less energy than xenon lights or 70% less energy than halogen lights. They are projectors and have daytime running light functionality as well. The sytem continues to the back as well, where the LED tail lamps operate in three stages: bright during the day, medium during night driving, and low when stopped at night.
The GLA 45 also receives updates with this facelift, not least among which is the newer 381 hp engine that came with the A 45 facelift. There's also the newer revised 7-speed DCT transmission and, of course, the all-wheel drive 4MATIC system as standard. As for the rest of the car, it remains largely the same as before- but that's a good thing as the GLA 45 was a fairly impressive all-rounder.


Head On Over To The BMW World Malaysia Exhibition From The 17th to 19th April 2015

BMW
 Group Malaysia has prepared something special for the public to exprerience by organising the first-ever BMW World Malaysia exhibition which will run from the 17
th
 to 19
th
 of April 2015 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort.
The three-day exhibition will feature first and foremost, six new vehicles from the BMW Group brands, namely BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad. Also among the displayed vehicles will be the brand’s
landmark concept vehicles
 for the first time in Asia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony was Alan Harris, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia. “We at BMW have always believed in creating an all-round unforgettable experience for our customers, and we wanted to do so through a space which communicates the heart of the brands we carry. We hope that with the BMW World Malaysia, our valued customers will enjoy a brand experience that is unlike any other,” he said.
Visitors will not only be able to check out the various displays of the BMW Group’s brands, including core models, but will be able to purchase various merchandise of their favourite BMW Group brand as well.
For those curious about the six new cars that were introduced at BMW World Malaysia, they are the:
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 218i
BMW X6
BMW i8
F56 MINI John Cooper Works
New MINI Cooper 5-door
New locally-assembled MINI Cooper Countryman
Also among the introductions are two new motorcycles from BMW Motorrad:
BMW S 1000 RR
BMW R 1200 R
And as for the concepts on display, they are the:
BMW 328 Hommage
BMW Concept Roadster (motorcycle)
We have provided a gallery below that gives a glimpse as to what you can expect to see at BMW World Malaysia but trust us, it is infinitely a better experience to be there in person and see the displays up-close and personal.
So what are you waiting for? Direct your browsers over to
http://www.bmwworld.com.my/
 right now and get your tickets. They are only RM18 a piece (inclusive of GST) and the proceeds from ticket sales are for a charitable cause, channelled to
Agathians Shelter
.


All-New 2018 Audi A7 Sportback Announced, Mild Hybrid As Standard

The all-new 2018 Audi A7 Sportback has just been announced. This is the second generation model that succeeds its predecessor that was first launched in 2010.
Outside, the 2018 A7 Sportback is the second production vehicle to utilize Audi’s new design language that was first shown on Prologue Concept. The 2018 Audi A8 is the first model to utilize this new design language.
Up front is the signature Audi Singleframe grille, though the grille is now lower and wider than the one found on the A8. LED headlights come as standard, though customers can also opt for Matrix LED headlights. Additionally, Matrix LED headlights with laser spot is also available.
Towards the rear, the new A7 Sportback features an identical tapered rear end as the original model, with an integrated spoiler that deploys automatically at 120 km/h. Then there’s the tail lights, which consists of 13 vertical segments. A light strip combined both tail lights together.
Moving into the interior, Audi engineers have integrated the company’s MMI touch-based operating concept into the new A7 Sportback that replaces physical buttons and rotary knobs of the infotainment system and climate control with two large displays.
An 8.6-inch display located in the centre console is responsible for the climate control. Above it is the infotainment system that includes, as standard, MMI radio. MMI Navigation and MMI Navigation Plus are available as cost extras, with the latter bundling Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit. Other cost extras include a head-up display.
At launch, the 2018 Audi A7 Sportback will come with a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine that outputs 340 hp and 500 Nm, enabling a 5.3 second 0-100 km/h time. A seven-speed S-tronic gearbox is standard. Audi will introduce other engines, including six- and four-cylinder engines in both petrol and diesel flavours shortly after the A7 enters production.
Engine aside, the Audi A7 Sportback also comes standard with a new Mild Hybrid System (MHEV) that utilizes a 48 volt primary electrical system. Thanks to a belt alternator starter (BAS) that works with a lithium-ion battery, the A7 Sportback is able to feature a recuperation performance of up to 12 kW when braking. Additionally, when the Audi A7 Sportback is cruising between 55 and 160 km/h, the car can coast in a freewheeling mode with the engine shut down and reactivated via the BAS.
In terms of safety, the new Audi A7 Sportback features a grand total of 39 driver assistance systems, which are split into three packages – the Audi AI Parking Package, City Assist Package and Tour Assist Package, with the latter featuring Adaptive Driving Assistant (ADA) that supplements the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with steering interventions meant to keep the vehicle in lane.
The 2018 Audi A7 Sportback will be assembled at the company’s Neckarsulm plant, with prices starting from 67,800 euros.
Market launch in Germany is expected to happen in late February 2018.


JDT Hummer Tour - Naik Limosin Mewah Dengan RM30!

Orang ramai kini boleh merasai pengalaman berharga dengan menaiki kenderaan mewah jenis Hummer Limosin mengelilingi Stadium Sultan Ibrahim milik skuad Harimau Selatan,
Johor Darul Takzim (JDT)

Menurut Ketua Unit Komersil Kelab Bolasepak JDT, Kevin Ramalingam, JDT Hummer Tour itu adalah antara tarikan baharu buat pengunjung untuk meluangkan masa di gelanggang keramat JDT bermula 1 April 2022.

JDT Hummer Tour

Beroperasi setiap Jumaat hingga Ahad

Bermula dari pukul 9 pagi hingga 6 petang.

Tour
 berdurasi selama 10 minit

Bayaran tiket berharga RM30

Tiket boleh dibeli di pintu masuk utama stadium

JDT Hummer Tour ini membolehkan pengunjung melihat sendiri stadium ikonik JDT dengan lebih dekat itu dengan menaiki limosin mewah yang disediakan.

Setakat ini hanya dua limosin Hummer disediakan untuk pengunjung yang ingin menikmati tawaran berkenaan.

Perkhidmatan itu ia sejajar dengan hasrat
Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim
 yang mahu stadium serba canggih itu menjadi tumpuan orang ramai ekoran kelonggaran prosedur operasi standard (SOP) Covid-19 ketika negara memasuki fasa endemik.

Sebagai permulaan, restoran berkonsep barat iaitu Woodfire Burger juga akan dibuka setiap hari dari jam 10 pagi hingga 10 malam disusuli restoran, cafe dan kedai komersial lain yang akan dibuka dalam masa terdekat.

Selepas ini, lebih banyak restoran dan program menarik yang tertangguh bakal dilaksanakan dalam masa terdekat sebagai rancangan kelab JDT untuk memberi pengalaman melawat stadium yang lebih dekat buat peminat setia mereka.

Menurut Kevin, sekiranya Hummer Tour ini mendapat sambutan luar biasa, mungkin perkhidmatan ini akan diadakan pada setiap hari berserta peluang melawat ke dalam stadium.

JDT mahu pengunjung datang ke stadium bukan hanya ketika ada perlawanan sahaja, malah stadium tersebut juga boleh dijadikan tempat keluarga meluangkan masa dengan anak-anak.

*Kredit foto:
JOHOR Southern Tigers


MAA Appealing For SST Discount Extension To Cope With Chip Shortage

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) is calling for the SST discount between 50% and 100% to be extended past June 2022 (the 2-year mark).

The news of the SST discount extension appeal emerges not long after Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz made a pointed assertion that the discount/exemption period
will end on June 30th
, coming out during a Q&A session after MAA’s annual general meeting last week.

SST Discount Extension - Yes/ No?

MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad responded by saying that the organisation believes that there should be an extension of the SST discount to further solidify the rebound of the automotive market, especially given the continuing severity of the
shortages experienced by semiconductor supply chains
.

This will quite likely have an impact on vehicle production on a global scale further into 2022 and even into 2023 with deliveries of Malaysian and locally assembled vehicles also affected. She added that the MAA is currently drafting an appeal letter to officially request an SST discount extension but admits that the likelihood of an extension is rather low regardless.

SST + OMV = Very expensive cars?

“We have not submitted but we will know soon,” she said. “The outcome, we do not know yet. We would like the SST discount to be extended but we really do not know whether the government will accept it or not. It really is up to the government.”

With this in mind, it might be a wise idea to capitalise on the SST discount as it stands today since it might be going away for good within a few months as registrations need to be completed by July 31st to be eligible. So if you do have a particular car in mind for your next purchase, act fast!

While the (full) return of SST will bump up car prices overnight, a
revision to excise duties for 2023
 is yet another factor that will make things less rosy for the car buyer.