Buying Guide: When Is The Best Time To Buy A Car In Malaysia?

In the past, people tended to avoid buying year-end cars. The logic goes like this - a car registered in December 2015 is valued as a year 2015 car – with 11 months’ worth of depreciation factored in. The same model that's manufactured and registered in January 2016 however, is valued as a 2016 car, and has a much higher resale value, even though the two cars are registered just two months apart.

Others might tell you to avoid buying older models that are being phased out, and that it’s better to wait for an upcoming new model.

Those are not incorrect advice but the car market today is very different from 20 years ago, so the car buying habits of our fathers may not be so relevant today.

Competition has intensified, and higher prices of cars also meant that people are holding on to their cars longer. The advent of the Internet also means that dealers no longer have an exclusive hold over information on upcoming new models.

Buy Between The Months Of November And March

I myself for example, managed to haggle for a huge discount, for a brand that don’t usually give discounts (at that time at least) simply because I managed to locate a dealer who was getting a bit too jittery about keeping a November 2012 car in his lot when the calendar is already showing March 2013.

Considering that people are keeping their cars longer than before, it makes more sense to take advantage of immediate savings today rather than worrying about the differences in resale value seven or ten years down the road. Plus, differences in real terms are not that big once you factor in inflation, compounded over the years that you plan to keep the car.

Most car brands will start offering attractive promotions at year end, often using Christmas as an excuse. This is the time when dealers are competing with each other to hit their annual sales targets, and are willing to sacrifice a bit more of their margins in return for some attractive incentives for top performing dealers.

Typical offers include free maintenance for two or three years, low interest rate, and low downpayment. Of these, low interest rate, sometimes dropping below 1 percent, is usually the best option as it saves you a lot of money in the long-term. Promotions for free service and low downpayment don’t amount as much, usually totalling less than RM5,000.

If you are given a free maintenance package, do check what’s included in the package. Some companies cover both parts and labour while others cover only for parts. Consumables like wipers, brake pads, and batteries are usually not included.

But the biggest discounts are usually given between January and March, where some dealers might be desperate to unload whatever unsold stocks carried over from last year.

If a model can’t be sold during the Chinese New Year sales campaign – which usually happens in the first two months of the year, selling it in later months is going to be even more difficult. March, which is this month, is the best time to hunt for unsold stocks carried over from the previous year.

Buy Run-out Models

A run-out model refers to models that are being phased out in preparation for a new model. So why would you want to buy an older model when you can get a newer model? Well, it’s all about the money. Everything has a price.

There are pros and cons about buying run-out models. The most obvious downside is that your neighbours won’t be that impressed with your new ride.

On the upside, dealers usually throw huge discounts for run-out models. Run-out models, by virtue of them being in production for several years already, tend to have less problems than the newer models that are being phased in.

Over the years, the run-out model’s manufacturing processes would have been subjected to multiple improvement exercises to iron out most common complaints. Recalls would have been initiated, service campaigns would have been carried out to fix whatever that was not right.

Understandably, car companies usually don’t want to admit this but new models in the first year of their model life tend to have the most quality issues, and that’s just the way the manufacturing industry is. No matter how careful or meticulous a company’s quality control processes are, there will always be some hiccups in the initial stages.

A new model always involves new components, new assembly and manufacturing processes, and hiccups are to be expected.

No two models manufactured in two different years are exactly the same even though they might look identical. Every car company will introduce so-called ‘running changes’ on all their models from time to time, as part of their continuous improvement exercise.

An additional padding might be installed behind the dashboard because it reduces rattling, a wire harness’s clip might be changed because it resists heat better, the specifications of a brake rotor might have been upgraded because the previous one simply judders too much, etc. etc.

So a wise car-savvy person might sometimes chose an older but proven, heavily discounted model instead of the flashy new model that everyone is talking about and paying full price for.

If you regularly follow car websites like ours, you will have a rough idea of what’s coming this year and time your purchase accordingly. Here’s a list of new models that are
launching in 2016
.

It is not uncommon for some dealers to sell both new and old models side by side, as they might not be able to clear their stocks fast enough. Such units will usually have the highest discounts. Do a bit of homework, make some calls, check the listings on
Carlist.my
, and you might be lucky to come across a dealer desperate to clear his stock.

The down side to buying such cars is that you usually don’t have a choice in terms of colours or accessories package. It’s usually a case of “This is the discounted price, take it or leave it.”

Buy Run-out Models of Facelifted/Updated Models

Going one level up from the previous tip, the best models to buy are usually those which are due to be replaced by an all-new model soon.

In automotive lexicon, the lifecycle of a car goes like this. There is the launch model – the first in the all-new/new generation model, followed by a facelift model in 2.5 to 3 years later, before it is replaced by another all-new/new generation model in another 2.5 to 3 years time.

A facelift model is a model from the same generation, but has received some minor stylistic, and sometimes technical updates to refresh the car – the headlights and taillights might be changed, bumpers might be different, engine and transmission might have a better software that makes it more fuel-efficient, convenience features might have been upgraded, but beneath the metal panels it is still largely the same car.

Run-out models of these facelifted models usually benefit from the most improvements – combining technical updates added during the facelift/update timing, plus other improvements in manufacturing processes over the model’s five to six years lifecycle.

The highest discounts are usually given when a model is about to be replaced by an all-new model.

For some premium models, discounts may amount up to RM30k.

With the Internet democratising information, it is very easy to
find out how the next model
 is going to look like and form a reasonable conclusion on whether do you like the upcoming all-new model or not, and weigh it against the discounts that are offered to you.

However do make sure that the website or article that you are reading refers to the same model that’s coming here. A
Volkswagen Passat in the USA
 is not the same as Passat sold in Europe or Malaysia. So is a Japanese/European market
Toyota Corolla
. They might share the same name but are in fact, totally unrelated cars.

Buy Pre-Registered or Pre-Owned Cars

This is especially true for premium cars, which don’t retain their value as much as say a
Perodua Myvi
. So why buy new and lose so much money on the car when you can get an almost-new, 6-month old pre-registered, or an 18-month old pre-owned unit, at a much lower price, while retaining all the privileges of a new car – manufacturer’s warranty included.

Pre-registered cars are essentially brand-new cars except on paper. They usually have no more than 100 km on the odometer (some driving for pre-delivery testing and delivery is inevitable), and are registered under the dealer, but are not yet sold to anyone. Dealers do it for various reasons, but mainly to bump up their sales figures.

Pre-owned cars are usually ex-demo units, and sometimes company cars given to their staffs. These are usually no more than 18 months old, have about 10,000 to 20,000 km mileage on it. Some units are used cars traded-in by a customer, and naturally these will have the highest mileage (but also the lowest price).

Pre-registered/pre-owned cars, irrespective how old or how new they are, are classified as used cars (your name will appear as the second owner on the vehicle’s registration documents). As Malaysia’s auto financing structure slaps higher interest rates on used cars, this would mean higher interest rates for a pre-registered or pre-owned car.

However many reputable dealers are usually able to negotiate with the bank to offer you with a lower interest rate loan, comparable to rates offered to new cars, so long as the car is less than 6 months old.

Some premium brands side-step the issue altogether by offering their own financing plans – BMW Credit and Mercedes-Benz Financial are two of such examples.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your dream car is actually not as expensive as what you might think. Good bargains are available to those who know what they want, and are prepared to wait and do a bit of homework.

Time your purchase between November to March. If possible, buy a facelift model but not in the first year of its launch. If you don’t mind, buy a model that is being phased out, shortly before an all-new/new generation new model is launched.

Happy
shopping
!


PDRM deploys 24/7 roadblocks starting November 22

Roadblocks are incoming. Many of them. In the interest of public safety during this post-election, ‘parlimen gantung’ period, PDRM has announced that they will be setting them up. Where?
In all districts.

The police have started putting up these roadblocks on November 22nd, but only released a statement confirming the move on the morning of the following day, leaving many confused as to why traffic was unusually congested.

A statement released by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, did not specify a period at which the roadblocks, which will be operating 24-hours a day, would cease. Neither did it detail which areas will be targeted.

It is not exactly known what or who the police are looking for when filtering traffic, though the statement does say that it is for the purpose of keeping crime levels low and maintaining civil stability through more visible “omnipresent” police involvement.

That said, PDRM have also clarified that these roadblocks would be rolled back during peak traffic hours such as in the early morning and evening on working days.

It also adds that citizens do not need to worry about going through their daily activities as normal as the police guarantees safety and minimal disruption. However, as we all know, roadblocks tend to have the opposite effect - at least in regard to traffic flow.

As you might expect, many Malaysians took to social media to express their frustrations at being stuck in traffic, sometimes for hours, to the point that a few gave up on their office commutes in order to work from home.


Nissan Adds Limited Edition X-Trail X-Tremer To Lineup – Two Variants, RM141k And RM163k

Edaran Tan Chong Motor, the authorised distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia has discreetly announced the addition of the latest variant of the X-Trail SUV called the X-Trail X-Tremer on their official website.
The X-Tremer, which comes with a range of cosmetic additions on top of the regular X-Trail, is offered in two variants:
X-Trail X-Tremer 2.0L 2WD – RM141,450
X-Trail X-Tremer 2.5L 4WD – RM163,650
As mentioned above, features that set the X-Tremer apart from its siblings include:
Passion Red with Black Silhouette two-tone exterior colour
Front X-Face cladding
New chrome rear bumper protector
Black side-mirrors
Black roof rails
17-inch gloss black wheels
Black nappa leather seats and upholstery
Mechanically, there has not been any enhancement. Both the X-Tremer variants are powered by the same 2.0L and 2.5L DOHC Twin CVTC petrol engines as the standard variants, producing 144 PS/ 200 Nm and 171 PS/ 233 Nm respectively. Both engines are paired to the XTRONIC CVT gearbox with 7-Speed Manual function.
Other standard features on the X-Tremer include:
High quality 5-inch colour display
LED headlights with DRLs and LED rear combination lamps
Dual zone auto climate control with rear air-cond vents
Full-colour 5-inch Advanced Drive Assist Display (ADAD)
Intelligent key with push-start ignition
Cup holders with cooling function
On the safety front, there are:
Active Engine Braking (AEB)
Driver and front passenger airbags
ISOFIX mounts
ABS with EBD and BA
Traction Control
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
Active Ride Control (ARC)
Active Trace Control (ATC)
Hill-Start Assist (HSA)
Advanced Hill-Descent Control (HDC)
Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS)
Around View Monitor
With the addition of the X-Tremer, there are three variants of Nissan's SUV in the portfolio at the moment - the X-Trail (from RM137,000), the X-Trail Aero Edition (from RM141,450), and of course, the X-Tremer (from RM141,450).


Scam Alert: When The Price Is Too Good To Be True

The age of the digital marketplace brings with it almost infinite possibilities to the business world – better exchange of information, faster business transactions and greater transparency across the board. On the flip side, the ever present risk of online scams and fraudulent schemes in the digital age threaten everything from our credit card transactions to the cars we buy.
Take for instance an ad that a scammer tried to submit to our site (but was removed as soon as we were alerted of it) – which featured a Honda S2000 Roadster advertised for entirely-too-good-be-true RM48k.
Better informed, car enthusiast types will immediately spot the red flags mostly because S2000s command a cult-like following the world over. Lauded in its time for having scalpel sharp handling, good dynamic balance and one of the most powerful series-produced 2.0-litre engines of all time – the insatiable demand for S2000s today, mean prices are getting higher constantly.
However, here are some general indicators that suggest the ad is a scam, out to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers.
The clearest indicator is the price tag, it’s simply too low. Although prices can vary given performance cars usually change hands on a willing buyer-willing seller basis – it’s unlikely to have an upwards of 65 percent price difference when compared to other ads. This is also true when compared to another car which is advertised on the same page. Do research prevailing market rates first before you start your next car search.
The seller even goes on to say the car was originally registered and or sold in Kuching, which explains very little regarding the price or authenticity on the car, instead, further adds to the discrepancy of the ad itself. Cars from East Malaysia are not necessarily cheaper on the used market, on the contrary – logistics charges typically mean the car can be more expensive than units sold in West Malaysia, and vice versa.
Upon further inquiry, the seller actually requests for a deposit to be made before a viewing appointment is scheduled. This is clearly a red flag that the seller is a scammer. Time to walk away.
Here we'd like to stress, NEVER pay any funds to view or book a car regardless of how rare or expensive it is. Carefully inspect the car's registration and history, followed by a thorough check of the car as well.
A typical script of a scammer goes more or less like this:
Of course, scammers can be rather creative with their tall tales. The general rule of thumb remains. Never pay anything to the seller until you have checked the vehicle registration documents and inspected the vehicle yourself.
For more handy tips on protecting yourself against scammers, check out the above episode of the Torque Show by our friends at AutoBuzz.my, featuring our very own Editor, Kon.


Geely Begins Work On New Lotus Plant In China

Zhejiang Geely Holding (ZGH) has begun construction on a new 9 billion Yuan production plant in Wuhan, Hubei.
When the new plant goes online in 2021, it will be assembling a range of high-end vehicles, including models from Lotus. Lotus vehicles are currently built in Norfolk, England and the Wuhan plant will be the company’s first production plant outside of the UK.
According to
Autonews
, the new Wuhan plant is capable of assembling 150,000 conventional and electrified vehicles annually.
While the new plant is responsible for assembling Lotus vehicles, Geely did not mention what other vehicles will the new Wuhan plant assemble.


7 Reasons Why Your Hearing Needs To Be 100% On The Road

Bad things can happen if you can’t hear the things around you. Things get especially dangerous if you’re unaware of the various audible stimuli coming at you while you’re driving. While your eyes determine much of your sensory perception in a car, you're limited by your field of vision and often you'll be required to rely on your hearing instead.
Driving is all about spatial awareness and your eyes can only alert you to things that your head is pointed at, that leaves us with a huge blind spot (literally) no matter where we look – luckily there’s our ears to fill in the gaps. But imagine that not helping you either. Just think of what you’d be missing out on…
In fact, no need to strain yourself with thought. Like an art or cooking programme, here’s a list we made earlier:
Honks
The first thing you’d think of when it comes to noise on the road: the honk. People on the road don’t honk just to annoy you (not usually). The majority do it to alert others of impending trouble. Maybe you’re too close to their car, maybe your tire is running flat, maybe you’re about to reverse into someone, maybe they want someone to come open the gate for them – there are plenty of possible scenarious.
Pedestrians
Unless your car is able to cancel out sound very effectively, you’d probably be able to hear pedestrians as they scurry around your car, particularly if the engine is quiet or off. This subtle aural indicator is very important for you to decide whether it’s safe to drive on or not. People’s lives are in danger.
Reverse Sensors
Following on from being able to hear the chatter and footsteps of pedestrians, another safety measure included in most cars these days are reversing sensors. Reason being, they help enormously with reversing into and out of spots. They let out a high pitched beep that gets progressively louder and more frequent depending on the distance of your car from the object. Since cars have varying degrees of rearward visibility, being able to detect animals, children, and small obstacles can get very tricky sometimes. And if you’re not able to hear the reversing sensor, parking can be a very harrowing experience.
Loud and Oncoming Vehicles
Generally, loud vehicles are also larger ones such as trucks and construction machinery. Their diesel engines give off a distinctive low rumble. And the larger they are, the more damage they could do to your car should you misjudge your movements around them. So be extra careful when you’re close proximity and use their loud noise to make sound judgements.
With oncoming vehicles there isn’t an exact science to detect exactly what is going to happen next. This is where some experience and the Doppler Effect (science!) come into play. If a car or motorcycle is speeding at you from behind, you would be able to hear that sound building as it gets closer. The last thing you would want to do is make an abrupt lane change into its path.
GPS Instructions
Our cars are equipped with astonishing technology and one of the most frequent uses we put them to while on the road is as our navigators. Whether its using the car's built-in navigation, an app on our smartphones, or an external GPS unit, they all offer turn-by-turn directions with spoken instructions. But if you can’t hear the instructions, the benefits disappear. Some phones have rather faint built-in speakers which makes sharp hearing even more valuable.
Passengers
Ah yes, the old school GPS system - if you don’t know the way, find someone who does and bring them along. Passengers in your cars are also considered your guest and both parties feel obligated to engage in conversation during the drive. Either way, hearing becomes very important when passengers are involved.
Expensive Sound Systems
So you’ve bought your nice car, your dream car; the car that says “I’ve made it”. You’re proud of it, you want to enjoy it. We’ll hazard a guess that it came with a nice sound system too. Something from the likes of Bose, Bang & Olufsen, or Meridian. Some of these setups are really impressive, with up to 11 speakers or more for an immersive and high fidelity experience. But no matter how high end the system is, it won’t be able to reach you if your hearing isn’t where it should be.
Don’t Take The Risk Of Poor Hearing On The Road
Meet the ReSound LiNX – the world’s smartest hearing aid (or as we like to call it the Sports Car of Hearing Aids)
The Resound LiNX is the smartest most integrated hearing aid to come to the market to come from
Hearing Experts Malaysia
. It can easily connect to a wide range of Apple devices to add seamless integration for an even better user experience.
With its iSolate nanotech technology, build-up of moisture, dirt and dust particles will not affect the Resound LiNX’s audio quality and the sound isolation delivers precise hearing in situations where ambient noise is prevalent and distracting. This integration enables some stand-out feature such as listening to your music via the LiNX along with making and taking calls with it as well.
The app that needs to interface between the ReSound LiNX and your Apple device is available as a free download from the Apple App Store, offering seamless connectivity to any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to not only listen to audio and video content, but doubling as a means to make and receive phone calls, all in amazing clarity.
The technology and innovation of the ReSound LiNX is brought to you by Hearing Experts of Germany, one of the largest and most reputable hearing aid providers. In Malaysia, their aim is to offer top quality consulting and personalized hearing solutions through access to the best products in the industry at the best prices; lowering the hurdles that obstruct people all over from enjoying their fullest hearing potential.
You can contact
Hearing Experts Malaysia
 today for more information on how you can stay safe and your hearing at its peak by visiting their website or calling 03-20356771 between 8am-8pm (Monday – Friday) for a free consultation.


No, Mazda Did Not Cheat Its Emissions Test, Here’s What Happened

Earlier today, Japan’s automotive industry was rocked by a news report by the Nikkei Asian Review, alleging that Suzuki, Yamaha, and Mazda have falsified their fuel economy and exhaust emissions test results. This comes after earlier investigations that have found Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Subaru guilty of submitting falsified data to Japanese authorities.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) had confirmed that Suzuki had inconsistencies in data involving 6,401 out of 12,819 vehicles tested since 2012, while Yamaha had inconsistencies in 7 out of 335 vehicles tested since 2016. Meanwhile, Mazda had inconsistencies in 72 out of 1875 vehicles tested since 2014.
Suzuki has since apologized for the oversight, so too did Mazda but the HIroshima-based car maker stressed that there was no deliberate alteration of data, only errors in testing these 72 vehicles and that the revised results have since been sent to MLIT. More importantly, the results and fuel economy and exhaust emissions remain unchanged and as such, Mazda is not required to issue to recall.
Despite the clarification, several media reports are implicating that Mazda had cheated its results.
In its report to MLIT, Mazda explained that the cause of the errors in the test data was found to be due to what’s known among engineers as ‘speed trace errors.’
When conducting fuel economy and exhaust emissions testing in a lab, all test vehicles are driven on a simulated road – a rolling barrel under the wheels – according to a standardized driving pattern; a test cycle. It involves having a human driver accelerate/decelerate/maintain a certain speed, at very specific time intervals. As you can imagine, deviations by the human driver in matching the target speed shown on the monitor can sometimes happen and this is known as speed trace errors.
A Perodua Myvi undergoing emissions testing at Malaysia's
National Emission Test Centre
 in Rawang. Note the driver and the monitor screen in front.
Usually, the computer is supposed to flag any deviation beyond an acceptable margin. In the case of these 72 cars, the computer was not setup to cancel the results.
Anyway, if errors were found on just 72 out of 1875 samples (just 3.8 percent), it should suggest a fault in the test procedures rather than a deliberate act of cheating.
Mazda also stressed that out of the 1875 cars tested, 403 units were tested on the newer and much more stringent WLTC standard (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycles, sometimes also referred to as WLTP), and no errors were found.
All 72 cases were from the 1,472 cars that underwent the significantly less demanding Japanese domestic JC08 test cycle, the reason behind those ridiculously high fuel economy numbers quoted in Japanese brochures.
We should also point out that Mazda is one of the earliest car companies to certify its entire European fleet under the more stringent WLTP’s standards, whose demanding test cycle (chart below) is causing problems to many European car makers as many petrol engines will require particulate filters before it can meet European emission standards.
WLTP will come into force in September 2018 for all newly introduced cars, replacing the existing NEDC (New European Driving Cycle). Measurements on a car company’s fleet-wide carbon emissions (required in Europe), declaration of official fuel consumption and exhaust emissions figures, will have to be done using the WLTP standard. WLTP will be extended to include all new cars sold after January 2019.
Image source: BMW
All Mazda petrol engines have cleared WLTP without requiring any particulate filters, and are probably the only ones to do so. Meanwhile, Mazda’s diesel engines remain the only clean diesel engines in the world to not require exhaust after-treatment devices (AdBlue).
In any case, Mazda treats the errors in its test procedures as unintentional but regrettable.
“We would like to offer our sincere apologies for the concern this matter has caused to our customers and to all our stakeholders. We are treating the matter very seriously and will make every effort to prevent similar occurrences in the future,” said Mazda in a statement to the press released earlier today.
To ensure that this does not repeat, the company said:
“We have decided to take the following steps.
Update the system to automatically treat test results as invalid in the event of a speed trace error.
Have multiple employees check inspection data, including speed trace errors”


Yes - EVs Costs More To Repair. Also Yes - They Cost Way Less To Maintain

A few days ago, findings from a research that suggested
electric vehicles
 have significantly higher repair costs compared to conventional combustion-powered cars were making the rounds online. But how true are its conclusions and were they motivated untowardly?

First of all, the research itself was conducted by Allianz Versicherung, which we all know is a major global insurance provider based in Germany, so that put a slight salty tinge on the information it presents as fair and truthful.

Many online readers (I hate the word
netizen
, so I won’t bother with it) took issue with its mildly inflammatory headline, which painted electric vehicles (EVs) in a bad light, accusing them of taking a step backward in cost of ownership and cost of repairs despite its more efficient
zero-emissions powertrain
.

Don’t Freak Out

Before we throw the book at Allianz, it’s worth going beneath the clickbait and delving a little deeper to ascertain if, at its core, lies a legitimately new discovery or an informed piece of conjecture.

When we examine the meat of this research, there’s far less to get agenda-driven tweaking and corporate lobbying to be found. In fact, much of the data it summarises and cites is pretty well established and corroborated mostly owing to the common sense deduction that EVs contain more expensive parts that, more often than not with regard to its batteries and motor(s),  need to be replaced wholesale instead of in pieces.

If any entity has the experience and data to contrast the repair costs between cars powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) versus EVs, it would probably be
a major insurance provider
 given the sheer volume of damage and repair claims they are bombarded with.

The study found that put simply, electric cars cost more to repair after accidents than ‘conventional’ cars - and considerably more so. Might I add that this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. According to them, the average damage cost in fully comprehensive insurance is roughly 10% higher for pure electric cars.

What’s really shocking here is that plug-in hybrids tend to be some 50% more expensive to repair than ICE cars due to their batteries. Not only do they cost a lot of money on their own, but safety removing the damaged set usually comes with its own unique set of headaches, making the labour required to carry out a repair even more prohibitive.

Stands To Reason

In general, battery-powered or ‘full’ EVs (a.k.a BEVs) are purpose-built to accommodate its unique drive system with the vast majority of components being at ‘ground level’ with the wheels and axles, just above the undercarriage.

On the flip side, plug-in hybrids are typically derived from existing combustion cars that have been extensively modified to accommodate batteries and an electric motor, albeit much smaller and less powerful ones compared to full EVs as they will be working in conjunction with the engine. In short, this means more complexity, more design oversights, less repairability, and more cost - not to mention the relative scarcity of people trained to perform these repairs.

Back to BEVs, Carsten Reinkemeyer, Head of Safety Research at the Allianz Center for Technology, was quoted saying: “We are about 30 percent higher in repairing collision damage with electric vehicles.”

This statement does muddy the waters a little as we don’t quite know whether he means hybrids and EVs or both of them grouped together. Both types of vehicles could require battery replacements, have damaged electric motors, and have similar limitations on skilled human resource.

Same Same But Different

For all its failings, the internal combustion engine is as notoriously
difficult to fully kill off
 as it is to get to operate perfectly over the long term. Just take your car as an example, its engine requires regular maintenance, fluid changes, and can suffer from a multitude of smaller issues that might never be resolved, but is otherwise mostly tolerable.

Though it might be very irritating and dangerous, a typical ICE car can still be driven - but not for very long - with multiple misfiring cylinders, dirty oil, leaking coolant, a clogged induction system, a sticky clutch, or even a
loose timing chain
.

Each of those problem areas mentioned can also be addressed separately and over a period of time. Only in rare cases will the engine as a whole need to be replaced, but this is generally what is being done with electric vehicles.

Due to their more integrated nature and how they work in a tight system, should a few cells in a large EV battery array have taken damage, multiple rows of cells or all of them will need to be replaced. The electric motor on its way out? Time for a new one.

Reinkemeyer echoes the sentiment of Allianz Versicherungs-AG CEO Frank Sommerfeld, who estimates that battery replacements they’ve had to administer cost “up to 20,000 Euros” as underbody damage is a common occurrence in most collisions, which can easily damage the battery.

Puzzlingly, the study also noted that some manufacturers stipulate that the battery must be replaced after an airbag has been deployed. Ridiculous, isn’t it?

Wear vs Degradation

‘Maintainance vs Repair’ could also have been the title of this sub-section, but really they’re two sides of the same coin. Everything degrades - like our own universe sinking slowly into heat death, the integrity of components falls over time, but it affects EVs differently compared to ICE cars.

Common ground can be found with consumables
such as tyres
, brake pads, air filters (cabin), and the like, but where the majority of mechanical components wear away with use in a car powered by internal combustion - seals, gaskets…transmissions - they can usually be repaired or replaced piecemeal.

EVs, on the other hand, due to their systems lacking more than a handful of moving parts and almost entirely digitised, are much less prone to individual components wearing out. The big bottleneck here is battery technology as there is currently no way to prevent their degradation, meaning their ability to hold charge will decrease over time.

Heat does play a role and indeed exacerbates this degradation, which makes proper cooling a major consideration, but even without this external factor the mere charging, discharging, and recharging cycle takes its toll.

A typical EV might not ever face noticeable effects of this degradation over the course of a typical ownership cycle (let’s say 5 years), but it will be an issue for the vehicle’s second or third owner, and passing the buck this flippantly won’t help
EV adoption gain traction
 no matter how much governments want to
jam them down on throats
.

When it comes down to it, you, the individual buyer, must decide on which inconvenience is more tolerable to you:

ICE
 - Numerous potential mechanical issues that are more or less rectifiable (even in an accident) but require regular maintenance to keep wear at bay?

EV
 - Almost no maintenance but with inevitable range/battery degradation and potentially very expensive or prohibitive repairs if major damage is incurred?


5 Things You Need To Know About The Mercedes-Benz MobilityPlus Replacement Car Program

In an effort to provide customers with unparalleled level of convenience and peace-of-mind with comprehensive and innovative financing solutions, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia recently introduced the MobilityPlus Replacement Car Program.
The MobilityPlus program, which falls under Mercedes-Benz Financial, a brand under Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, basically allows Mercedes-Benz passenger car owners to enjoy a replacement car when their vehicles are sent for routine servicing (including warranty claims) that require 48-hours or more.
The MobilityPlus coverage is on the first two year period for FinanceCare and Agility solutions and up to four year period for leasing solution depending on the lease tenure.
Now, in case you’re wondering how convenient Mercedes-Benz MobilityPlus is, just remember these 5 core values of the program:
1) 20 days
A 20-day per year entitlement period is offered for the replacement car at no extra cost to the customer.
2) 24 hours
The replacement vehicle will be made available to eligible customers within just 24-hours of notification by the Authorized Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
3) Preferred Location
For added convenience, customers will even be able to select their preferred pick-up and drop off points of the replacement car.
4) Nationwide Coverage
As long as your Mercedes-Benz was purchased under Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s own financing program like the Agility Financing, or the Young Star Agility Financing for pre-owned cars, the MobilityPlus program will cover you wherever you are in Malaysia, including Langkawi and Labuan.
5) Mercedes-Benz Only
If your car is sent for service or warranty claims that take more than 48 hours, you will not just be given any replacement car, as the MobilityPlus program will ensure that the replacement car is a current generation Mercedes-Benz which is not more than 4-years old.
That being said, the Mercedes-Benz MobilityPlus program comes as a standard feature in all of the brand’s in-house financial programs such as the Agility Financing, Lease@Ease, as well as FinanceCare.
For more information on MobilityPlus, visit
www.mercedes-benz.com.my/mobilityplus
 or call Mercedes-Benz Customer Care line at 1-800-88-1133 from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday - Friday, excluding public holidays or speak to a Finance and Insurance Personnel at your nearest Mercedes-Benz Autohaus.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is also offering financing with interest from as low 1.88%, and 4 years free maintenance services among others. Find out more
here
.


All-New Honda Civic Type R FK8 Accepts RON 95, But Makes 10PS Less

Owners of the legendary Honda Civic Type R FD2 will tell you all about their car’s appetite for high octane fuel. Its high-revving naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre K20A engine is well-known for its requirement of RON 98 fuel, meaning nothing less than Shell V-Power Racing or Petron RON 100 fuel would do.
The recently-launched all-new Civic Type R FK8 will have no such problems, however, with Honda engineers having tuned the 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine to accept RON 95 petrol.
The compromise of being able to accept lower octane fuel, however, is that
Malaysians
 will have to live with slightly detuned 310 PS outputs from the 2.0-litre engine versus the
European model’s 320 PS
.
Speaking in a special interview session with the Malaysian motoring media, the FK8’s Assistant Large Project Leader Hideki Kakinuma clarified that the difference between the 310 and 320 PS is purely on software tuning. Both versions of the engine share identical hardware.
Whilst it was not explicitly stated, strategies employed to counteract the potential knocking when used with RON 95 are likely to include retarding the ignition timing and adjusting the air-fuel ratio to run a slightly richer mix.
The 310 PS engine setup is offered in markets where low octane fuel is not available in abundance. Even in the United States, where this engine is made, the FK8 is offered with the lower engine tune.
According to Kakinuma-san, the reduction of 10 PS adds less than 0.1 seconds to the 0-100 km/h times of the Type R, which is quoted at 5.8 seconds for the European version – might add a few seconds to its Nurburgring time though.
The benefits of enabling the Civic Type R to accept RON 95 fuel is less to do with cost than it is to allow the car to be more easily refuelled when driven in rural areas.
A Type R owner who just blew RM300k on a hot hatchback is not likely to worry about fuel costs, granted, but could conceivably want to take the car on a spirited back road drive, and not many stations in such locations offer Shell V-Power Racing or Petron RON 100.
This compromise in set up is also in line with the new FK8’s brief to improve its long-distance touring credentials whilst preserving the quintessential Civic Type R characteristics.


Get ready. This could be the next Mazda MX-5!

Mazda has just teased an as-yet unnamed car and further hinted that it will be developed into what could be the next-generation or, at least, a spiritual sibling
to the MX-5
.

The immediate reaction to seeing this pebble-shaped two-door is to note its fixed hard top roof, which could suggest it could sit alongside the Japanese automaker’s much loved roadster instead of replacing it.

It’s called the Vision Study, which is perhaps one of their least interesting sounding concept cars. However, pulling our interest back in is the fact that it even has Lamborghini-style scissor doors and shape that speaks to ‘mid-engine’ configuration.

That is, of course, still a big if as Mazda themselves said the projected timeline for a possible introduction will be around or beyond 2030, which is when they plan to have shifted their entire portfolio to
one that’s electrified
, lifting its target to between 25-40% of global sales to comprise of battery electric vehicles
 like its MX-3
0, which was launched in Malaysia in late June 2022.

A lengthier update video (presented by company President and CEO Akira Marumoto) that covered the brand’s future plans, policies, and sustainability efforts going forward ended with a flashier summary that showed the Vision Study.

The car only made very brief appearances but was couched in between footage of current and past-generation MX-5s, hence the implied connection. Mazda also made many mentions of “human emotion” and driving enjoyment, surely made to emphasise the high priority of sporty, fun motoring experiences as they transition further into an electrified future.

Though assumed, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the next-generation MX-5 will be driven by electric motors exclusively. A quick blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in the presentation showed the car’s underlying structure, which doesn’t exactly match up with an EV platform.

Perhaps we’re looking at sports coupe that will offer buyers both combustion and battery electric powertrains much like what Maserati are doing
with the GranTurismo and GranCabrio
.

As of 2022, the newest 4th-generation evolution of Mazda’s iconic roadster - the ND - has been in production for 7 years, making it about old enough to step aside for a fresher-faced successor.

That said, Mazda has previously said that longer product cycles will be favoured.


Proton Named One Of The Official Vehicles Of The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022

As part of the brands under the Geely Auto Group - Proton has also been named as one of the official vehicles for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.

This is another cap for Proton as the most prestigious games on the Asian level are an opportunity to further enhance prominence for our national carmaker. Taking place from 10 - 25 September 2022 in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province - all of Proton's current models,
namely the Persona, Iriz, Exora, Saga,
X50
 and
X70
, will carry the moniker of Official Vehicle of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.

“Reflecting
Proton
’s commitment towards Inspiring Connections and our continuous pursuit of improvement, we want to offer new ways to enjoy a more enriching 19th Asian Games experience through our campaign. Asia’s largest multi-sports event will be an important platform for Proton, and our aim is to connect people from all walks of life to the excitement of both sports and our cars. As one of the Official Vehicle brands of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, Proton is proud to invite Malaysians to join us in expressing support for the national team to help drive them to victory, besides embracing our identity as part of the Asian Family," said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Proton.

As part of
Proton
's involvement with the games, there will be a slew of activities throughout the year, kicking off with the "Proton Ignite Your Life contest" - where customers stand a chance to win attractive prizes including a trip to Hangzhou to experience the games when they book and register
any Persona, Iriz, Exora, Saga, X50 or X70 from 1  February to 31 July 2022.


Wuhan's Car Industry Booms After The COVID-19 Flatline

Perhaps it’s the dumb optimist in me, but the global situation right now doesn’t seem to be following the same rules and patterns of past economic slumps, or at least the most recent from 2008.

As the COVID-19 virus ravages its way westward and each country dealing with their own medical crisis and financial downturn, it’s clear that the devastation left behind is unprecedented, but its passing may be the trigger for a period of growth unseen in the past few years.

Unlike the American financial crisis of 2008, of which the catalyst was the collapse of the US housing market and the banks that propped it up, the pandemic we are experiencing does not turn investments into dust, neighbourhoods into ghost towns, or reduce pillar industries to rubble before leaving lasting bruises on average household income. This is different.

The world is in various states of pause, but consumerist attitudes and impulses are something that can only be suppressed, not eliminated. No doubt a cloud of uncertainty looms over us all, but it too shall pass just like every storm cloud, and with it may be a sudden (or gradual) release of the collective
‘wants’
 of everyone with some money to spend, large or small.

Automakers realise this more than anyone else and have adapted to the constraints of the period, and in Malaysia, they have found creative ways to incentivise buyers and sustain brand interest, whether it's offering even more attractive pricing, rebates, and financing deals, or engaging with potential homebound customers via interactive digital showrooms; all the while continuing to support their existing base.

Like most things with the Coronavirus, China now acts as something of a window into our short term future as they were the first country to be struck by the pandemic; the province of Hubei and the city of Wuhan being the epicentre and likely source of the strain.

There, as Bloomberg reports, a tangible economic recovery may already be underway speedier than anticipated, even after factoring in the stimulus packages announced by the government. The count of dealerships resuming full operations have been climbing gradually and met by a new wave of motivated customers as 99% of all showrooms were open as of April 3rd.

The sheer volume of cars sold are quickly rising back to pre-pandemic levels and bolstered by the sales of big ticket, high-end models from automakers such as Audi and even Cadillac. This comes after a drop of almost 96% at the peak of China’s virus containment measures, as measured by the China Passenger Car Association, who now estimates weekly nationwide sales will rebound to near 2019 levels by the end of April.

A general upward trend has followed every major economic slump, but it seems consumer behaviours are indeed resurgent after a period of lockdown-imposed dormancy with the suppressed buyer impulses only making the post-COVID boom more impactful as purchasing plans seem to only have been delayed,
not curtailed
.

Surely personal mobility has been top of mind for many a Chinese citizen during the waning period of the pandemic. It’s a general concern for every urban-dweller but perhaps more pressing in China since public transportation poses a risk factor to a population still recovering from the trauma of the virus. Having your own car to commute is obviously the safest of all the alternatives. Well, besides working from home.

Anecdotally, this desire for minimised exposure to crowds and strangers as well as additional safety has also contributed to the uptick of new vehicle purchases by guaranteeing a controlled, contained, and comfortable environment. The number of first time buyers are also higher than normal, fresh from a real world education about how COVID-19 is spread and following the lead of many healthcare professionals, including doctors, who are reportedly also in the market for a new vehicle.

This surge in new car sales may be more specific to China given how rapidly the automotive industry has grown within its borders over the past decade, making it a more resilient market than in other countries. While that’s certainly a valid argument, it’s also possible that the same principles could be applicable elsewhere, like Malaysia.

Even so, what we may be witnessing in Wuhan and the like may only be a temporary surge brought about by an abnormally high number of very motivated buyers. Whether this recovery of China’s automotive market is sustained over the medium to long term will be the more credible barometer of what could lie ahead for other regions such as SEA and beyond.

The early signs are promising and is perhaps enough of a silver lining to coax a little more cautious optimism out from us all, but not enough to mean we’re in the clear just yet.


Don’t Call Us ‘Woman Driver’ Like It’s A Bad Thing, Says Women Of China

Earlier this month, somewhere around International Women’s Day, Chinese women (as in, those living in China) have called for a stop to use of the term
“woman driver” in a derogatory sense
.

Due to its association with referring to poor or clumsy drivers, they demand that “It’s time to stop stereotyping” since there are plenty of men that are shoddy drivers as well. Yes, on that we agree.

The sentiment came about when the Qier research and survey platform queried over 1,000 women to self-rate their driving skills. Interestingly, 28% of the respondents agreed that female drivers are generally poorer than men while 68% of them felt that
driving skills were gender agnostic
.

Another stat worthy of mention was that 86% of survey participants had rated their driving skills above a 5 in a 1 to 10 scale, meaning they were above average, with 24% above an 8/10. Just 18% of them felt that the term “women driver” brought about a sense of embarrassment and they were mostly born in the 1990s, if that matters.

Meanwhile, nearly 50% of participants had admitted to being teased, mistreated, or even wrongly blamed for causing an accident because of their gender.

Also on March 8th, the police there published a rather insensitive article on its official Sina Weibo account that had listed the ‘9 dangerous habits of female drivers’ to address the increasing number of woman drivers that have been reported as not looking in the rearview mirror, bringing pets in the vehicle, decorating vehicle with toys/decorations that hinder visibility, wearing high heels behind the wheel, and other bad habits that could hinder quick reaction during emergency situations.

Netizens in China reacted with scorn, as you might expect: “Not only (did you not wish us on International Women’s Day), you discriminate us on this special day. Even if the cops are merely reminding women of safe driving, it shouldn’t be on this day,” they said.

The law enforcement bureau later clarified saying that they published it to remind them of good driving measures and was not meant to discriminate against women, adding that the same content was released on other platforms before, and on other dates.


Super Early Proton X50 Bookings Over Social Media? Tread Carefully

If you're brave enough to book a Proton X50 from some random person over social media, may the odds be ever in your favour :)

Here we go. Malaysians and our thirst for crossovers (a.k.a small SUVs, a.k.a compact SUVs, a.k.a whatever) seems to be never-ending. Obviously, (one of?) the most hotly anticipated car(s) of the moment is the
Proton
 X50, a crossover, the incoming little brother to the strong selling X70 - like a crossover, but bigger.

We can confirm that Proton has not issued any official statements or messages having to do with the X50’s date of launch, much less about when first deliveries will begin, but that hasn’t stopped some individuals on social media from lining their pockets in the meantime.

These are showroom dealers, we imagine, who have taken to various online platforms to communicate with would-be buyers of the X50, even taking upfront booking fees in cash in exchange for a promise to reserve early batches of the crossover once it does come out. If it seems a little shady, that’s because it kind of is.

Just Be Careful

Remember, this is a vehicle that we have not even seen in the flesh yet, so putting down money for an all-new model sight unseen is probably a little less than the wisest of moves. First of all, we would urge anyone interested in transacting towards buying a new car to exercise caution, especially over the internet. Also be wary of paying for a booking fee to any individual because there's no guarantee you'll get it back. Ideally, any money changing hands should be with the dealership itself.

Your
booking
, should it already be done, also does not specify which variant it pertains to. Of course there would not be a single variant at a single price point, but multiple versions of the X50 with varying levels of equipment and trim.

The truth is, anyone offering a booking online doesn’t know any more about the X50 than you or me at this point. Though it has been trademarked, the X50 name isn’t even fully confirmed. We could make educated guesses of course, but be suspicious of anybody narrowing down a price point and launch window at this juncture, and doubly so if they want you to open your wallet for it.

When Is It Coming?

That said, all this social media hoopla does speak volumes about the excitement that underlines the X50’s arrival. It’s also this kind of buzz that always tends to attract opportunists, unfortunately.

Earlier this year, the X50’s slated launch was confirmed to be in 2020, according to CEO Li Chunrong, but with the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world and messing up every business schedule known to man, it wouldn’t be surprising if it got in the way of the newest Proton as well.

Many were predicting a mid-year unveil and even a launch to coincide with the Ramadan festivities, but we all know how that annual holiday was virtually spent shacked up. However, Proton seems well aware of the high demand for their smaller SUV and are eager as ever to deliver that to Malaysians. Therefore, a 2020 launch could very well still be on the cards, albeit in the latter stages of this year.

As a country, we have only just emerged from a government-imposed isolation period that has all but halted normal life and most economic sectors for about 3 months. Perhaps Proton themselves need time to consolidate their resources in relation to their annual priorities before being able to decide when the X50 can be revealed.

What We Know So Far

Quite a lot, actually. Assuming that, like the Boyue-based X70, Proton chooses not to alter the car on which the X50 is based on, we can already estimate about 90 percent of its looks with relative accuracy. That being a slightly shrunken X70.

The Geely Binyue is a 5-seat crossover that competes in the same category as the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Subaru XV, and the incoming Kia Seltos, meaning it will not be lacking for worthy rivals.

The X50 is expected to be the first Proton to feature Geely’s 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder, an engine co-developed with Volvo. In its Chinese market spec, it produces an impressive 177PS and 255Nm of torque that should place it pretty high in the local crossover pecking order in terms of output alone.

It also opens the door for other cars in the Proton portfolio to start using the engine, granting them a much higher performance ceiling than was previous possible with the in-house Campro and CFE mills. Mated to the 1.5-litre turbo is the same 7-speed dual clutch transmission that made its Malaysian debut in the 2020 X70.

The shared transmission is also a key ingredient in Proton’s plans to launch the X50 as a locally made model immediately from launch, allowing it to be specified as generously and priced as competitively as possible. We’re just grateful it isn’t going to be called the
Coolray
, a moniker it takes in some other international markets.


2016 BMW M6 GT3 Makes Its Appearance At M Festival With 500HP, Weighs Less Than 1,300KG

2016 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the FIA GT3 racing championship with
BMW
 showing off its new
BMW M6
 GT3 to guests at the fifth M festival held at the Nürburgring race track recently.
Replacing the current
BMW Z4
 GT3, the M6 Coupé-based version will receive some modifications of its own to adapt it for outings on the race track.  Firstly, the TwinPower Turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine receives dry sump lubrication and produces 500hp and ‘impressively high torque’ according to BMW. That power is fed through a six-speed sequential racing transmission.
The transaxle drive M6 GT3 also receives a racing chassis and tips the scales at just under 1,300 kilograms. In accordance with FIA safety standards, an approved safety cell has been fitted on the racer along with other features whose sole purpose is to protect the driver.
Frank van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH, highlights the effect that the BMW Motorsport team has on BMW M vehicles, “With the new Competition Package, the engines in the BMW M6 Coupé, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupé will produce 600 hp at 700 Nm in the future. This makes 0 to 100 km/h possible in just 3.9 seconds for the Coupé and Gran Coupé, and 4.0 seconds for the Convertible,” said van Meel. “This innovation shows the huge potential of our 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology. And we obviously love to be able to exhaust this potential.”
Going up against the 2016 BMW M6 GT3 will be another new entry model as well, the
Mercedes-AMG GT3
. Other returning but updated entries will be
Audi’s R8 LMS
 and the 2016
Porsche 911
 GT3 R.


All-New Nissan Almera: It’s Not The Almera You Know, But One That Challenges Beliefs

One of the reasons why Nissan is loved is that they introduce solid products in most segments and set an example that other manufacturers struggle to follow. Case in point: the all-new Nissan Almera!

After nine years of the third-generation Nissan Almera, Nissan finally gave us a successor to the long-serving vehicle. Some ask why it has taken them so long to do so? Well, good things take time - and judging by the All-New Almera, that time was definitely well spent.

Nissan really did go to town with the All-New Almera. Not only have they come out with a product that is a far departure from its predecessor, but they have also made a car that's pretty much above and beyond expectations.

Goodbye budget buy, hello premium sedan that is ready to tackle the 21st century. No longer will people buy the Almera because it was the budget option, instead they’ll now buy it because it is the premium, well-equipped, fuel-efficient option.

It all pretty much starts with the interior experience, something that is a far cry from what we were used to seeing in an Almera. This is where you will first catch a glimpse of the excellent work that Nissan is currently doing.

There is not a single cheap-feeling material in sight or to the touch, with much of the dashboard being wrapped in soft-touch material. This kind of trim is still something we don't see commonly in this market segment or even segments higher up, so it's fantastic to see that the new Almera comes with this stylistic choice of interior and materials.

The instrument cluster comprises a vivid screen in the centre and traditional analogue speedometers flanking it. The screen can be swapped to display various types of information or left as a tachometer and safety system monitor as the New Almera is full of it (we'll get to that later).

The seven-inch touch screen display mounted in the dashboard's centre also brings it into the future, a massive contrast from entertainment systems found in the previous Almera. As expected, Bluetooth connectivity is available, and Apple Car Play comes as standard.

While some things that deserved to be left behind have been left behind, some core elements have been carried forward from the previous car - why fix something that is not broken, right?

A core strength of all Almeras is its ability to provide a larger-than-expected interior space, and it's no different in the All-New Almera. Legroom and headroom in the new Almera are expectedly fantastic, even allowing a tall person to sit behind an equally tall driver. It really does adequately seat four adults without cramping any of them - even five passengers might be cosy enough for long trips.

But it’s not all about the rear passengers, because front occupants get to experience Nissan’s Zero Gravity Inspired Sport Seats, which provide a “fatigue-free” experience on long drives.

Speaking of long drives, the Almera’s trunk space can easily pack up enough cargo for those long holidays. With 428 litres of space, the new Nissan Almera will easily accommodate all the luggage, toys and ancillary equipment for a great family trip.

And then there is the NVH, something which has been improved tremendously, practically transforming the Almera experience. The All-New Almera's refinement is just above what you would expect from a B-segment sedan. It's quiet, refined and really does give you the illusion that you are in something more expensive. Not something you would normally attribute to an Almera.

The looks of the All-New Almera is also something to celebrate. The styling of the new Almera is a pretty radical departure from its predecessor. It now has a very prominent and feisty looking front end and flowing lines throughout the body, resulting in a car that looks sleek and sporty. Even the skinny tyres were addressed, as the All-New Almera can be had with 205/55 R16 tyres.

When Nissan's official distributor in Malaysia, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd introduced the All-New Almera, the media and the public were staggered by the amount of standard safety gear it came with.

Standard across the range is Nissan's Intelligent Mobility system, equipping the car with Forward Collision Warning with Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking. As you move up the range, the car gets even more safety gear such as the Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection, Blind Spot Warning System and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Just as we mentioned above, Nissan really went to town with the fourth generation Almera, and the mechanical department benefited from this mission to give the people a fantastic product.

The naturally aspirated engine from the third generation Almera is long gone as Nissan ushers in a new age engine in the form of the turbocharged HR10DET 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine paired to a new generation X-TRONIC CVT with D-Step Logic.

This makes the All-New Almera the only turbocharged model in its class, and despite the tiny displacement, it provides just the right amount of grunt for every occasion. Output stands at 100 PS and 152 Nm of torque, but the real-world driving experience suggests more.

The engine also borrows a lot of tech from Nissan's legendary GT-R, which sees it adopting the high-performance cars' Mirror Bore Coating Technology. This coating produces an extremely thin 0.2mm mirror bore coating cylinder liner that provides better heat conduction, enhanced cooling performance and less engine knocking. With the advantages gained, it contributes toward increasing both fuel efficiency and engine power.

Nissan claims the All-New Almera can do 5.4l/100km (or 18.4km/L) and up to 650km in one full tank. Having gone through and come out tops in our own B-segment sedan shootout, we know that it is indeed a fuel-efficient car.

Speaking of performance and fuel efficiency, not only does the Almera's new X-TRONIC CVT help with the sipping of fuel, but it also provides a good drive. This new transmission provides CVT type constant acceleration but with the shift feel of a conventional auto transmission. Not only does it not feel like a CVT, but it is also quiet and refined, which adds to the whole polished Almera experience.

All in all, the All-New Almera is an accomplished vehicle that pretty much has everything you need for it to be a great daily driver as well as a weekend balik kampung hero. It has comfort, style, refinement, fuel efficiency, torque and plenty of interior space. So it's really worth your time to go see it and test it out for yourself.

Before we forget, Nissan is currently running an attractive 1.88% interest rate promo as well as giving away a free Urban Accessories Package worth up to RM5,500. The Urban package adds a dual-channel video recorder, door handle protectors, door visors, gloss black trunk lid spoiler, trunk tray, front and rear kick plates and all-around glass tinting to the car. No time like the present then to purchase the All-New Nissan Almera.


Seoul 2017: Kia Stinger Makes Asian Debut

The Kia Stinger makes its first official appearance in Asia at the 2017 Seoul Motor Show. The all-new model goes on display for the first time in its home market lining up alongside the 2011 GT Concept that served as the inspiration for Kia’s ambitious challenger of the
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
 and
Audi A5 Sportback
.
First shown at the
2017 Detroit Motor Show
 in January, the Stinger had initially debuted with two petrol-driven turbocharged powertrains – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder from the Theta II family with 250PS and 353Nm lining up alongside a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 pushing out 370PS and 510Nm, the latter good enough to propel the Stinger GT to a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds.
A 2.2-litre diesel engine was later introduced for the European market with rated outputs of 202PS and 441Nm. All three engines are slated for introduction in Korea. An in-house designed 8-speed automatic transmission is standard for all variants.
With its engine installed in a north-south orientation, the Stinger is configured primarily for rear-wheel drive though all-wheel drive is offered as an option. For improved traction, RWD models get a mechanical LSD whilst the rear-biased AWD setup incorporates Dynamic Torque Vectoring.
Adaptive dampers are on the menu too, connected to a five-mode drive select feature that also enables the driver to adjust throttle and transmission mapping at the press of a button.


Piëch vs Winterkorn:  The Cold War For Volkswagen’s Future

Trouble is afoot at the top of the
Volkswagen
 Group with a rift forming among its most senior leadership. The crisis involves CEO Martin Winterkorn and group chairman Ferdinand Piëch, who previously held the CEO position.
In their report, Reuters points to several German publications that state Piëch (pictured above, left) is ‘distancing’ himself from Winterkorn (above, right) and has declared a lack of confidence in his leadership. Winterkorn, to his credit, has had a sterling career as the group’s CEO, leading to arguably its most successful period in history and is confident that the attempts to undermine his contract (ending in 2016) renewal prospects will prove unsuccessful.
During the group’s eight-year stewardship under Winterkorn, the company has expanded its umbrella from eight to 12 brands and has overcome high a labour costs crisis to become one of the automotive industry’s most influential powerhouses, selling a record 10.1 million vehicles in 2014. According to the report, Winterkorn does not intend to quietly step aside from his post at the head of VW even if he is met with powerful detractors, and will not let such a decision succumb to politicking. Sources say that many senior officials within the company have chosen to side with Winterkorn.
Piech, who is largely responsible for VW’s incredible transformation from middling automaker to the international conglomerate it is today, sat at its helm for 22 years before stepping down to a assume the position of chairman, during which time he installed Winterkorn as his successor. Piech is the grandson of Ferdinand
Porsche
 and is part of a clan that still owns a combined 51 percent of the VW Group.
The Porsche family has released a statement through their spokesperson Wolfgang Porsche, saying "The statement from Dr. Piëch portrays his private opinion, which is not aligned…with that of the family," calling into question this apparently baseless criticism of the VW CEO, leaving Piech in a somewhat solitary position in his views. The VW staff council, holding half the seats on the company’s supervisory board, came to Winterkorn’s defence as well.
VW’s enigmatic chairman has had a history of steering the careers of the company’s leadership and those of its subsidiaries to suit his needs and plans. In 2006, then-CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder had come under pressure from labour representatives and during an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Piech stoked the flames further by declaring it an “open issue” whether or not his contract would be extended as a result, resulting to Pischetsrieder’s tenure being cut short . A few years later in 2009, Piech publicly tarnished the professional image of Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and its Chief Financial Officer Holger Haerter, starting a series of events that led to both executives quitting within two months.


All-New Nissan Terra Goes On Sale In China, Other Markets Soon

The all-new Nissan Terra has officially gone on sale in China, the first ladder frame-based SUV that is launched under the “Nissan MOVE to 2022” midterm plan.
Ashwani Gupta, senior vice president for Nissan's Light Commercial Vehicle Business said, "The Nissan Terra builds on our strong SUV heritage while incorporating the needs of the Asian customer and the performance of our refined frame vehicles. The Terra is a descendant of the Nissan Patrol, our tough off-road icon originally designed for police and military use."
Power comes from a 2.5-litre QR25 petrol engine that outputs 180 hp and 251 Nm, sent to all four wheels via Nissan’s 4WD system. For added offroad credibility, the all-new Nissan Terra features 4WD-Diff lock, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist. A six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic can be had.
As for the all-new Nissan Terra’s safety equipment, the five-seater SUV can be had with the Nissan Safety Shield suite of active driver assist, including Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection, and Intelligent Emergency Braking.
For the China market, six variants of the all-new Nissan Terra are available, with prices starting from RMB 168,800 (~RM 105,080) for the base model, all the way up to RMB 245,800 (~RM152,112) for the range-topping model.
Last month, the folks over at headlightmag posted a lone spyshot of what appears to be the Nissan Terra doing road tests in Thailand, indicating that the Land Of Smiles will soon be getting the new SUV. The Thai market Nissan Terra is expected to feature some changes compared to the China market Terra, including a seven-seater option and a diesel engine. The move is in line with Nissan’s plan of introducing the Terra to other Asian markets later this year.


VW Dieselgate: Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn Resigns From Position As Chairman And CEO

In a dramatic turn of events, Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn has announced today that he is resigning from his position as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of the 12-brand Volkswagen Group empire.
The move comes after the explosive ‘
dieselgate
’ scandal where the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that diesel-powered Volkswagen and Audi vehicles sold in the US (four-cylinder Type 189 TDI engines) were fitted with a special software that is capable of detecting if the vehicle is being tested for exhaust emissions, and alters its engine mapping.
It was alleged that the software was responsible for discrepancies in exhaust emissions of up to 40 times between real-world driving conditions and laboratory testing.
In a statement to the press released today, Prof. Dr. Winterkorn said:
“I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.
"As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group. I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part.
"Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation.
"I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life.
"The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis."
Just six months ago, Winterkorn had successfully ousted Porsche family’s scion
Ferdinand Piech
 from his positon as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of of Volkswagen AG.
One month ago, the board extended Winterkorn’s
contract for another term, until 2018
.
The unfolding drama for the one-time darling of Volkswagen AG’s shareholders is a lesson for CEOs chasing stellar growth results to please shareholders.
Under Winterkorn’s watch, Volkswagen AG went from a company that sold 5 million cars in 2003, to reach a record 10.14 million cars in 2014.
On Winterkorn’s resignation, the Executive Committee of Volkswagen AG’s Supervisory Board said:
“The Executive Committee has great respect for Chairman Professor Dr. Winterkorn’s offer to resign his position and to ask that his employment agreement be terminated. The Executive Committee notes that Professor Dr. Winterkorn had no knowledge of the manipulation of emissions data. The Executive Committee has tremendous respect for his willingness to nevertheless assume responsibility and, in so doing, to send a strong signal both internally and externally. Dr. Winterkorn has made invaluable contributions to Volkswagen. The company’s rise to global company is inextricably linked to his name. The Executive Committee thanks Dr. Winterkorn for towering contributions in the past decades and for his willingness to take responsibility in this critical phase for the company. This attitude is illustrious.”
Rumour has it that the current CEO of Porsche AG, Matthias Muller, will be replacing Winterkorn.


Review: New 2018 MINI Cooper S DCT- Fun Just Got Faster

Time surely flies when we are having fun. The current new MINI hatchback (F55 and F56), now in its third generation after BMW Group took ownership and revitalize the brand, was launched in early 2014, with the convertible two years later.
This new generation also debuted new turbocharged four-cylinder and three-cylinder engines wholly designed and manufactured by BMW Group and were paired to a manual or conventional automatic transmission, but with six forward ratios.
Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre, Inline-4, Turbocharged
Power: 192 hp
Torque: 280 Nm (with 300 Nm on overboost function)
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT), front-wheel drive
Features: MINI ’Yours Customised’ individualization (welcome lights, door sill plates, trimmings), adaptive LED head lamps, 8.8-inch touchscreen display, Harman Kardon Hi-Fi, head-up display
Origin: Plant Oxford, England
Overview
In this mid-life product lifecycle update, or shortly termed as facelift, MINI has decided to improve the performance of the vehicles by offering an option for a seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch automatic transmission, or DCT.
Competitors in this segment include the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-class, both of which are only equipped with dual-clutch transmissions for self-shifting function.
BMW’s 7-speed DCT-type transmission has already been fitted in selected sister products which also share the UKL transverse engine platform- the BMW X1 sDrive20i earlier in January and the recently launched BMW X2 sDrive20i.
We managed to drive both 3-door and convertible, but for today’s quick review, we will focus on the MINI Convertible as it was the only new MINI Cooper S there that was equipped with the new DCT-type transmission.
Exterior
MINI, already known for its British roots, has further amplified its British heritage by redesigning its large LED tail lamp with the Union Jack graphics.
Notice that the unique red-and-white position in the diagonal patterns are replicated
similarly
 to the flag
At a glance, the Union Jack looks like a symmetrical design, but MINI designers have faithfully replicated the asymmetrical lines on the left and right LED light clusters motif that matches the iconic flag. This change has certainly uplifted the premium image, as the 2014 pre-facelift design was bland and had a ‘swollen’ look to the tail lamps.
The soft, power folding convertible roof folds away in 18 seconds and operation is allowed at speeds of up to 30 km/h. Once fully retracted, the soft top is not completely hidden beneath the trim panels, keeping its classic, unmistakable profile.
The low-noise soft top also offers a sliding roof function which allows the front section of the top to be retracted to continuously variable levels.
Interior
Stepping into the new MINI, or rather, looking into the occupant space with the soft top down, reveals more than the high-quality trim and new leather upholstery.
Sitting atop the high window sills are four rather beautifully designed oval pieces surrounded by a chrome ring each. These are actually the seatbelt anchors; quite an impressive attention to detail displayed by MINI.
The Union Jack theme continues to make its presence noticed on the passenger trim panel. The panel has a stylized Union Jack motif that warmly lights up together with the ambient lighting.

We really like the new transmission select lever that is fitted in conjunction with the new DCT-type transmission. Gone is the tall, skinny shaft with a cobra head-like shift lever of the old 6-speed automatic. Replacing it is a shift-by-wire gear select lever that oozes with style and ease-of-use.
The electronic shifter operates similar to the current range of BMWs, with short, precise movements for forward, manual/sport mode or reverse gear and pressing the ‘P’ button to activate ‘Park’.
With this new design of the gear select lever, the MINI drive mode switch has now been moved forward to the array of toggle switches, as the previous design of a dial-like ring was not the easiest to operate.
Buyers can also customize the dashboard trim panel with a 3D-printed item, as well as the laser-etched door sills and fender-mounted ‘scuttle’ plates to a texture, colour and text content of their choice. Called MINI Yours Customized, this award-winning feature is only available in Europe for now.
While it can be quite a small matter, it was refreshing to see the demo vehicles all decked out with personalized names on the fender ‘scuttles’ and ‘Welcome to Mallorca’ puddle lamps and door sill illumination.
Following the
 launch of the new MINI facelift in Malaysia
, MINI Malaysia is the first country in ASEAN to offer the 'MINI Yours Customized'.
Check out the amount of customization they offer here
.
Driving Experience
With perfect spring weather in sunny Mallorca (a popular destination for many European cyclists), we immediately put the soft top down upon receiving the keys to the new MINI Cooper S Convertible.

Our MINI navigation waypoint surely pointed us to the very best way to start the drive, tackling the ‘Serra de Tramuntana’.  This impressive mountain range that spans nearly the entire north portion of the island offers drivers magnificent views of the rock cliff and the sea, as well as stretches of roads that are harmoniously connected by plenty of bends and hairpins.
The MINI Cooper S Convertible is without a doubt the best vehicle for this drive. The corner carving ability of the MINI is now further heightened with the closer-spaced ratios in the seven-speed DCT-type transmission. We could also just hold the transmission in second or third without feeling a sense of drag or resistance that is more pronounced in conventional torque converter automatics.
Putting the roof down also allows more exhaust ‘burps’ on upshifts plus turbo ‘whoosh’ noises to stimulate the occupants and downshifts accompanied by an even louder popping. The fitment of the DCT-type transmission has clearly made the Cooper S exhaust a lot more vocal!
In terms of outright shift speed and sensation, this new DCT-type transmission is not as rapid as the ones found in the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The shift speeds are still quick, especially compared to the Mercedes 7G-DCT found in the compact Mercedes-Benz models. MINI also tells us the wet twin clutches are oil cooled.
Upon reaching a town of for lunch, the DCT-type transmission smoothly and intuitively crept the Convertible similarly to an automatic transmission in slow-moving traffic.
We also had a chance to sample a manual transmission-fitted MINI Cooper S 3-door hatchback. As someone who enjoys rowing their own gears, I still preferred the DCT fitment, as the shift quality in the mechanism has a long throw and felt inconsistent across the H-patterns. The automatic downshift rev-matching feature was much welcomed though, assisting in a smooth transition from third to second at every braking before a hairpin corner.
Conclusion
The fitment of the seven-speed Steptronic DCT has really enhanced the overall driving excitement of the MINI Cooper S. The six-speed automatic was a great piece of kit, but with tightening emission regulations, the need to migrate to a twin-clutch setup was necessary is it allows more control over the various engagements.
The new DCT-type transmission is so much more advanced that it now features a ‘coasting function’ that decouples the engine away from the transmission to minimize mechanical drag, lowering consumption and emissions.
Oddly, performance figures are maintained for the MINI Cooper S DCT, with the century dash completed in the same 6.7 seconds as the outgoing six-speed automatic.
We really enjoyed our time in the car, as it was quiet with the roof up, very easy to live and with MINI being more a lifestyle-skewed product, the Convertible perfectly suits the MINI brand values of fun, excitement and premium.
MINI Malaysia has recently launched the new MINI 3-door and 5-door, plus the 231 hp / 320 Nm John Cooper Works hatch. Learn more about the
local specifications and pricing here
. Unfortunately, the beautiful convertible is still not available, yet.


The All-New CLA 45 Combines A45 Performance With Practicality

Yes, we know Malaysians have little love for the hatchback in the broader sense. The sedan has always been the preferred body style, which is a real shame because of how exciting and engaging hot hatchbacks can be. Thankfully Mercedes-Benz knew that not every market has the same appetite for hatchbacks as Europe does, which is why they introduced the CLA 45 as a contemporary counterpart to the A45.
This all-new CLA 45 shares all of the good bits with the A45 that we talked about last week, with the added benefit of a fairly large boot - 460 litres in fact, compared to the modest 370 litre boot in the A45. As is the case with four-door coupes, the CLA 45 does trade away a bit of rear headroom as the roofline tapers downwards, but it usually isn't a deal breaker for our demographic unless you happen to be over six feet in height.
For those who don't have
time to read our article on the A45
, we'll boil the figures down for you. The CLA 45 comes with a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine pushing out 387 hp for the regular model, or an absurd 421 hp for the CLA 45S. Torque is a lofty 480 Nm in the CLA 45, and 500 Nm in the CLA 45S, with both models featuring an 8-speed dual clutch transmission delivering power to all four wheels.
What about the performance metrics? With both the CLA 45 and CLA 45S, the century sprint increases by 0.1 seconds over the A45 and A45S respectively, to 4.0 and 4.1 seconds. Fuel consumptions drops, rather surprisingly, by 0.1 to 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres, as do emissions by around 10 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Top speeds are identical to the A45 and A45S, being 250 km/h for the CLA 45 and 270 km/h for the CLA 45S.
The interior, as is the case with the powertrain, is identical to the A45 as well. Even the list of available options remains the same, although you can expect the suspension tuning and feel of the CLA 45 to be a little different given the extra weight hanging off the rear end and the slightly different weight distribution. That's not necessarily aa bad thing as hatchbacks can be a little trickier to handle in oversteer situations - so the CLA 45 might just make the better track rat as well.
For the best deals on Mercedes-Benz models, click
here
.


Do Proton’s Special Edition Models Mean They’re Going To Be Replaced?

We are almost at the cusp of
four new launches from Proton
, in just one day we will see the new Black Edition variants of the Exora and Persona, and the return of the R3 badge, exclusively plastered on the boots of the Proton Saga and Iriz models.

The latter R3 badged models will be an important litmus test for both Proton and its customers, to see if the market responds positively to sportier versions (which will likely cost more) of their mass-selling models and are they willing to put up their hard-earned money to swipe them off showroom floors.

And for Proton, if they have a comprehensive strategy for R3 in the immediate future – a hallowed name, synonymous with motorsport, which has all the credentials and capacity to become a sublime performance sub-brand for Proton. Not to mention, a wealth of
experience and know-how
 on how to make cars drive better and go faster.

Only time will tell, but we can hope that Proton doesn’t dilute the R3 brand into a range of body kits and floor carpets like
Perodua’s GearUp
 (this is fine because it’s always been an accessory line), and instead builds R3 in the same spirit as Toyota did with Gazoo Racing (GR).

The Black Editions

The Black Editions variants on the flipside, are destined for the Exora and Persona. From what we can see from the teaser trailers, the Black Edition changes are cosmetic, signifying not much more than the new exterior paint colour, new seat upholstery on the inside, and perhaps some trim elements to give it a more unique look.

Our readers were quick to comment on Proton’s efforts, calling it a halfway measure to simply sell a few more units, perhaps even sell older stock. The latter is untrue. However, we definitely know Proton wants to sell more cars, therefore Black Editions are there to maintain interest in the buying market and ensure there is always new metal on showroom floors.

But it’s a little bit more than that, this also means that the Exora and Persona are not going to be replaced anytime soon, there’s still a bit more life in them, and to understand this, we have to look at a model’s lifecycle management.

What is model lifecycle management?

Just like us, a car lifecycle is born into life at its official launch and goes through four basic phases before it reaches the end of its lifetime.

Introduction Stage (0-1 YRS):
This starts even before the car is launched. Carmakers create as much hype and interest in the buying market with creative use of many streams of advertising and social media to get their car on the lips of everyone. This then culminates in the launch and go-to-market which includes getting cars to dealer showrooms ‘ASAP’ for test drives and eventual sales. This effort is then coupled with seasonal/special promotional activities to boost sales in the immediate months that follow.

Growth Stage (1-3 YRS):
The growth stage follows increased public visibility. With more cars on the road, more and more people want to get behind the wheel. By now owners are telling their friends how nice their new car is, and why they should get one. At this point, manufacturers will be focused on streamlining product deliveries and variants, managing product-related issues, and improving both sales and aftermarket operations. Promotional activities may include special discounts to keep the model competitive in the face of newer competition.

Maturity Stage (3-6 YRS):
At this point, the vehicle is well-known but in the face of newer competition with better features and competitive prices, carmakers optimally introduce a facelift model, which introduces both minor and major updates to bring the vehicle up to par with competitors. It may also introduce newer variants with value-added features at no additional cost, and in the case of the Persona, introduce limited edition variants to expand its customer base.

Decline Stage (6-7 YRS):
 This is the toughest stage in the lifecycle of a car, and can make or break a model. Manufacturers may be in the final stages of developing a car’s successor. However, the current model will have to soldier on with minor updates and/or pricing updates to keep it relevant. In some cases, profitability can suffer, just to keep production lines open and keep cars coming out. In this stage, carmakers will typically lower down prices, add discounts, or improve the cost/value proposition with additional equipment at lower prices. While this applies to most passenger sedans and SUVs, MPVs, commercial vehicles, and pickup trucks (with longer lifecycles) typically soldier on for another year or two. Therefore, in this period, minor updates and improvements can still go a long way to keep models relevant.

Persona Black Edition

In the case of the Persona Black Edition, having been launched in Q3 of 2016 – the vehicle remains in its maturity stage, yes it’s been around for a while but given it does not have a well-established competitor, Proton’s minor updates with the Black Edition might just be enough to keep it relevant.

Exora Black Edition

The Exora seemingly gets the same interior and exterior updates as the Persona but we must not forget, it’s the oldest model in Proton’s current lineup given it was first launched in 2009. That’s 12 years old. But, as we’ve mentioned it's an MPV, and as a cost/value proposition, it still makes sense. Don’t forget, the Perodua Alza is just as old but it remains relevant, like the Exora, because it's cheap, spacious and does the job of transporting up to 7 passengers in decent comfort.

This is also the reason we believe Proton held off on the introduction of the
Geely Jiaji based MPV
 offering because a premium MPV (which might cost double that of an Exora) will not cater to the market the Exora currently serves, and which Proton still need. Therefore, the Black Edition is a case of it is what it is, but just for the record, we sure would have loved it if Proton could have offered some snazzier alloys at the very least.

What are Proton’s plans with the Persona and Exora?

Proton has promised a new model every year until 2023, including minor and major updates on its existing vehicles along the way. So we can be assured to see interesting products in the coming years.

Keeping these factors in mind, we reckon the Iriz and Persona will soldier on until 2022 given these two models have received substantial updates in recent times, with the Iriz’s successor coming perhaps at the end of 2022, with the all-new Persona following soon after.

The Exora at the very least should remain on sale until the end of 2022. However, we can’t speculate at this time if a replacement will be launched.


More Perodua Ativa Hybrids available soon?

The 2023 Perodua Outlook press conference was full of interesting announcements, and one of the things that we picked up is the potential of more
Ativa hybrids
 hitting the market through subscription and possibly traditional sales.

Perodua has allocated RM1.15 billion in capital expenditure this year to improve its group operations, said Dato Sri Zainal, Perodua President and Chief Executive officer.

Among the key areas of improvement for 2023 include their new business divisions, where Perodua will be expanding its Pre-Owned Vehicle(POV) and subscription business, especially after the positive response from the public post-Ativa Hybrid launch in September 2022.

Not only is this a clear sign that Perodua is happy with the response from the subscriptions of Ativa Hybrids, but they also feel that they can sell the vehicle outright later on.

"We have also allocated RM537.1 million on the development of a new model, as well as RM247.1 million to further modernise our operations," said Dato Zainal.

During the press conference, the Perodua President also said they are trying to look out, help and support vendors when it comes to future HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) and BEV(battery electric vehicle) vehicles, which is a clear sign that Perodua is delving deeper into the segment.

He said he is challenging vendors to take up this challenge, as for it to work, we have to have local parts manufacturers, which is vital to Perodua's operations.

The feedback from 300 customers who have taken up the Ativa hybrid trial has been good, with no complaints in fact.

"We will have a second catch-up with owners soon as it's a new business area that we want to launch and expand this year. We are developing the system now for the subscription programme," said Dato Zainal.

For now, at least it seems that Perodua will be launching a subscription programme by the end of this year, where more Ativa Hybrids will be made available to the people.


Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Is Now A Nürburgring Ring Taxi

Completing the notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 21.23 seconds, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has secured its position as the fastest production sedan to lap the circuit.
For thrill-seekers out there, good news for you, as the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is now the latest Jaguar Ring Taxi, where passengers can experience speeds of more than 250 km/h and g-forces of more than 1.3G around the 20.8 km circuit in the hands of a professional driver. Hot laps are priced at EUR 199.
To recap, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 features a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that pumps out 600 PS and 700 Nm, paired to an 8-speed automatic. 0-100 km/h is completed in just 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 321 km/h.
For its Ring Taxi duties, the XE SV Project 8 units are fitted with the optional Track Pack, which includes lightweight front carbon fibre racing seats with a four-point harness fixed to a harness retention hoop that replaces the rear seats.
The Jaguar Ring Taxi experience will be available from now until the circuit closes in mid-November. Fret not, as it will be available throughout the open season in 2019. Tickets can be bought at
www.jaguar-experience.de
.


Three new Toyota GR models heading to Malaysia in 2023

UMW Toyota Motor will be updating its Toyota GR portfolio here in Malaysia for 2023 with the imminent arrival of three new models together with the all-electric
Toyota bZ4X
..

These models are none other than the
Toyota GR Supra with the six-speed manual transmission
,
GR86
, and perhaps the most interesting out of the three, the
Toyota GR Corolla
 which was recently launched in Thailand sometime last week.

Toyota GR Corolla as early as Q1 2023?

Malaysians might just have the Toyota GR Corolla on our shores as early as the first quarter of 2023. Sharing the same heart as the GR Yaris, the 1.6-litre G16E-GTS turbocharged three-cylinder engine has been boosted to a very interesting 300PS and 400Nm of torque.

Power is sent down via a six-speed manual transmission to all four wheels using the very clever GR-Four all-wheel-drive system plus other Toyota wizardries that grants its eye-watering Thai price tag of 3,949,000 baht (around RM497,000).

Manual Toyota Supra only for the 3.0-litre unit

For those looking for a bit more power, the new Toyota GR Supra offering with its six-speed manual transmission is paired exclusively to the 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six unit that churns out 387PS and 500Nm of torque.

Just like the Toyota GR Corolla, the Toyota GR Supra will also feature things like auto rev-matching and other minor differences to make way for that manual gearbox like the positions of the centre console, infotainment control wheel, and more.

Toyota GR86 with a 2.4-litre four-banger, anyone?

A more budget-friendly GR option would be the new Toyota GR86. The new model comes packed with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine which produces a more healthy 232hp and 250Nm of torque.

Compared to the previous-gen 86, the new model produces an extra 35hp and 45Nm). The result is a 0-100km/h run of 6.3 seconds - a full 1.1 seconds faster compared to the outgoing GT86 that this 'new' GR86 is replacing.

Again, there's no indicator of timing or pricing for the new Toyota GR models once they are launched here in Malaysia come 2023. What we can tell you is that save that money for after Chinese New Year, because they will come, and the first one will make its appearance within the first three months of 2023.