Yes, you can now thrash a Toyota Alphard around a track in Gran Turismo 7

The latest Gran Turismo 7 patch now allows you to take the Toyota Alphard around the Nurburgring.

Some cars have a special place in a country's culture, which makes them more valuable and sought-after. For example, the Toyota Alphard is more appreciated here in Malaysia than the Mercedes S-Class, while in Europe, it'll be the opposite.

With that being said, the latest Gran Turismo 7's free March update might be an interesting one for Malaysians because apart from a couple of notable Porsches, an Audi and a Mazda, one of the most interesting cars to come with the patch is, yes you guessed it, A Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge.

Thanks to this patch, you can now drive a Toyota Alphard around the Nurburgring, which by the way has also been updated to feature an Endurance circuit with 85 turns over 24 kilometres and a Sprint course which incorporates 12 turns over 3.6 kilometres of track.

The funny things is, Polyphony Digital, the creator of Gran Turismo, says the new course additions should be perfect for lower-speed road cars, which means they are trying to imply that the Alphard is slow.

Try telling that to a Malaysian with a Toyota Alphard, because they tend to drive their nearly 300hp van like it's the fastest thing in the world. Well, if you wish to test a Toyota Alphard to find out its limits, you can now do it safely in the comfort of your home.

The other car that might be more relevant to us would be the Mazda 3 as that too is sold locally. While many wish to buy the car but choose not to because it just doesn't make the most sense, you can now take it for a test drive virtually and keep it in your garage.

Of course the 1964 Carrera GTS (904), the 1987 Porsche 959 and the  Audi RS5 Turbo TM Racecar are interesting cars, but we're pretty sure Malaysians will blow their credit on the Alphard and the Mazda 3, as they are relatable to our lives.


Another Innocent Life Lost Due To Reckless, Irresponsible Driving

Exactly on this day three years ago, a couple and their six-month-old child were killed in an accident at the Duta-Ulu Klang Highway (DUKE), which was caused by two Perodua Myvis that were driving recklessly.
What happened was that one of the speeding Myvis collided with a Pajero in which the victims were travelling, causing the SUV to flip and land on its side.
After investigations, court hearings, and what not, justice was finally served a couple of months ago as the Magistrate’s Court found the two accused Myvi drivers guilty of driving their cars recklessly which had resulted in the fatal accident.
Fast forward to the exact same date (of the crash) this year which was yesterday - another innocent life was lost in Kuala Lumpur in an accident caused by the sheer stupidity of a bunch of speeding, reckless drivers.
23 year old Raffi Nordin, who was riding a motorcycle on his way back home along Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur, was knocked down and killed by two cars which appeared to be racing each other in the incident which took place at about 3:30 am.
A series of
CCTV recordings
 went viral on social media, showing exactly what happened.
While the driver of one of the cars, who ended up crashing after hitting Raffi, has been detained for investigations, the person behind the wheels of the other car – a Honda Civic EF, is still on the run.
The authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the crash, or those with any information to come forward.
That being said, what do you think should be the punishment for irresponsible, reckless drivers who cause the death of others like the ones mentioned above?
Is a few years of jail sentence and temporary barring from applying for a license sufficient?


GIIAS 2015: Honda BR-V Previewed Live, Possible Launch In Malaysia Come 2016

Let’s set the record straight. The
Honda
 BR-V has nothing to do with the HR-V, despite sharing a similar sounding name.
The more upscale HR-V is part Honda’s Global Small Car family and shares the same platform with
Jazz
,
City
,
Freed
, and Japan-only
Shuttle
.
In the same way the 1.8-litre HR-V is unrelated to the 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre CR-V, so is the BR-V.
Instead, the BR-V is from the same family of cars as the 1.2-litre Brio hatchback and Brio Amaze sedan, as well as the 1.5-litre Mobilio MPV. None of these models are available in Malaysia, but they are widely sold in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and India.
Where the
CR-V
 and
HR-V
 are global models, the BR-V is aimed at only the Asian market, and is jointly developed by Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., in Thailand, and P.T. Honda R&D Indonesia.
So What Is It, Then?
Think of it as Honda’s answer to the
Toyota Rush
. Like the Rush, the BR-V is a seven-seater. Just as the Toyota Rush is based on the Toyota Avanza, the BR-V is based on the seven-seater Mobilio (below). As mentioned earlier, the BR-V has not related with either the HR-V or CR-V.
*Above: Honda Mobilio seen @ GIIAS 2015
Ground clearance is said to be more than 200mm. That's more than the HR-V's 170mm, but similar to the Rush's 200mm.
The BR-V models on display here are technically prototypes but you can expect the final production car will look almost exactly as what you see here, give and take some local variations for wheel design and front grille.
The BR-V will only go on sale in Indonesia in 2016.
What is its engine?
Under the hood is a 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine. It produces 120 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,600 rpm, similar to the City. Transmission is either a 6-speed manual or an Earth Dreams CVT automatic.
Since it shares the same drivetrain with the Mobilio, the BR-V is only available as a 4x2 (front-wheel driven).
What Does It Look Like Inside?
At this point of time, the two cars on display are locked but we might be able to get a bit more time with the car tomorrow (21-August).
We expect the BR-V’s interior to be very similar with the Mobilio, so don’t expect it to be as sophisticated as the HR-V. Remember that the BR-V is aimed at emerging markets and keeping the car affordable is crucial.
Update:
Glimpses of the
BR-V's interior here.
How big is it?
We don’t have any information on the dimensions yet, but visually, the BR-V is quite a big car. Think of a Toyota Rush, only lower.
What about safety
Honda is known to have very high standards for safety and it is good to know that although the BR-V is aimed at emerging markets, the company did not skimp on safety features.
The
all-important VSA
 is available, as are dual front airbags, hill start assist as well as emergency locking retractor (ELR) seatbelts in front and ISOFIX mounts for child seats.
Of course, not all these features will be available across the range.
When Will It Be Launched In Malaysia?
Nothing has been confirmed yet, but if it does pass Honda Malaysia’s feasibility study, we can expect it to be here by 2016.
Do keep in mind that the BR-V’s sister-car, the Mobilio, didn’t make it here despite many early speculations (on our part as well). The project was quietly shelved, likely because Honda Malaysia’s own studies showed that the Mobilio might not meet the expectations of local consumers.
If launched in Malaysia, the Indonesia-made Mobilio had to compete at a disadvantage against our national brand Proton Exora and Perodua Alza. The BR-V however, does not have any competition apart from the aging Toyota Rush so it might have a better chance than the Mobilio.
For those who are currently owning a Perodua Alza, where do they go from there? At the moment, the conservatively-styled Toyota Innova and Rush are their only choice and neither offers a compelling enough package to justify an upgrade from the Alza. The more stylish SUV body BR-V however, might just be the car for this group of consumers.
How much will it cost?
BR-V is likely to be positioned below the RM98,690 HR-V, and seeing that Honda does not have any seven-seater model below the RM100,000 mark, it is quite likely that the BR-V will be priced close to the Toyota Avanza 1.5E’s RM72,787 and the Nissan Grand Livina 1.6’S RM83,974.
In Indonesia, the BR-V will be sold at between IDR 230 to 265 million. The HR-V ranges from IDR 246 million to IDR 270 million.
Six body colours are being made available for the Indonesian market, being Taffeta White, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, and three completely new colours, which are Misty Green Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, and Passion Red Pearl.
Read also:
GIIAS 2015: Previewing The 2016 Honda BR-V's Interior, And More


Myvi Dikunci Tanpa Sebab? Ini Sebabnya - Berjaya Times Square

Susulan video tular yang mengatakan sebuah
Myvi
 telah dikunci tanpa sebab di
parkir
 Berjaya Times Square baru-baru ini, pihak pengurusan pusat beli belah terbabit tampil membuat penjelasan.

Dalam video itu, pemilik Myvi berkenaan
keliru mengapa keretanya dikunci
 sedangkan beliau tidak menghalang lalu lintas. Banyak juga teori ciptaan netizen telah dikongsikan berkenaan mengapa kereta itu dikunci.

*Kredit video: Mia Saripah

Kotak Parkir Khas 'Tandem Parking Bay'

Berdasarkan kenyataan pihak pengurusan pusat beli-belah itu, Myvi itu adalah satu-satunya kereta yang diletakkan di ruang
Tandem Parking Bay
, atau tempat letak kereta seiring. Ini bermakna anda berkongsi dua tempat letak kereta dengan orang lain.

Sebagai contoh, pertama yang diletakkan di ruang itu akan disekat masuk sebaik sahaja kenderaan kedua diletakkan di belakangnya. Ini bermakna jika anda meletak kereta dahulu dan anda ingin memandu ke suatu tempat, orang yang meletakkan kereta di belakang anda perlu menarik kereta mereka keluar untuk membolehkan anda berbuat demikian.

Tiada Bayaran Dikenakan

Pengurusan Tempat Letak Kereta pusat beli-belah itu juga tidak mempunyai cara yang munasabah untuk mengenal pasti pemilik kereta yang diletakkan di tempat letak kereta tersebut.

Untuk memastikan pemilik kenderaan datang ke pejabat pengurusan tempat letak kereta pusat beli belah itu untuk mendapatkan bantuan dan penjelasan, mereka terpaksa mengunci kereta pemilik.

Selepas kedua-dua pihak bertemu dan mengesahkan keadaan, kereta itu dilepaskan tanpa sebarang denda dikenakan kerana pengurusan hanya berniat untuk memberi peringatan kepada pemilik kereta.

Penjelasan ini telah dibuat bagi menjawab dakwaan lelaki terbabit di TikTok setelah lelaki itu memuat naik video baharu mengatakan masalah ini sudah selesai, namun masih tidak faham mengapa keretanya dikunci dan mengapa tiada langsung tanda mengatakan parkir tandem ini tidak dibuka kepada orang awam.


New Honda NSX Colours On Display At The Quail During Monterey Car Week

During ‘The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering’ event at the Monterey Car Week in California, a trio of all-new Acura NSX models (or better known as the
Honda
 NSX to us), was displayed, two of which were shown for the very first time.
The three colours you see before you here are Valencia Red Pearl, Nouvelle Blue Pearl, and Berlina Black, each having their own features and options for the exterior and interior.
On the exterior, there is a carbon fibre package consisting of front spliter, side sills, rear diffuser, and exhaust finisher. Also available is the NSX carbon engine cover, carbon roof, and painted brake callipers. You also note that the NSX in red gets the NSX Signature Y-Spoke Wheels while the blue model has NSX Exclusive Interwoven Wheels instead.
The cabin is also similar, save for small leather upholstery colour changes, for the three models on display at the Quail although the NSX in blue and black do get the interior carbon sports package that tags on a carbon fibre meter visor, steering garnish, aluminium foot rest, and sport pedals.
Of course, the mid-engine NSX comes equipped with a Sport Hybrid powertrain that consists of a 3.5-litre DOHC V6 engine boosted by twin turbochargers delivering “at least” 550hp, and is paired to a 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT).
However, there is some bad news to accompany all this excitement – production the NSX will be delayed with Acura confirming that deliveries for the supercar being pushed back to the first quarter of 2016. Why?
Well, half-way through the development of the NSX some time ago, they made the swtich from a transverse-mounted, naturally aspirated V6 engine to a longitudinally mounted, twin-turbocharged V6. Those changes pushed validation testing for the NSX back further than the company anticipated. The Acura/
Honda
 NSX is produced at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.
So, we’ll have to wait just a little while longer for the Honda NSX. At least, they gave us these lovely images to drool over in the meantime, which is nice.


10 of the sexiest Alfas ever

To recognise Alfa Romeo's 110 years of existence, their Centro Stile (design and style department) have created a 110th-anniversary logo, to celebrate the brand's achievements as well as the enthusiasm and loyalty of its fans and owners.

So we thought we would celebrate this milestone the best way we know-how, and that is by naming 10 of the sexiest Alfa's ever created.

Alfa Romeo T33/2 Stradale Prototipo

To us, the Stradale is the prettiest car that ever came out of Alfa or any factory for that matter. It is also arguably the world's first supercar, as it was one of the first vehicles to breach 0-100km/h in under six seconds.

Alfa Romeo GTV Spider

There's just something unique about its shape that makes it a sight for sore eyes. Some of the awards it has won include, "Car of the Year, Most beautiful Car of the Year and Best-designed Car."

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

The engine was developed by Ferrari the shell was designed by Alfa Romeo - a match made in heaven. You only need to watch Micheal Bay's recent flick, 6 Underground to see the Giulia in all its glory in one of the longest car chase scenes in a movie ever!

Alfa Romeo GT

The GT must be one of the simplest designs ever to come out of Alfa Romeo. But even then, the car had a certain sex appeal about it, even if it was just a bit plainer than the rest.

Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

A regular 147 is a sharp-looking hatchback, and when Alfa decided to give this hatchback a big engine, it became the hulk. Alfa not only designs great looking cars, but they also do great sounding engines. When they slammed a 3.2 V6 engine in it, it didn't just have a massive amount of power; it also had that screaming sound going for it. It would be best if you heard it to believe it!

Alfa Romeo 8c spider 1939

The 8c was the European 'it' car of the 1930s. The 8c designated that it had 8 cylinders and the spider is a convertible version of the 8c. With a long bonnet and large derriere, it just looked fast and sleek sitting still.

Alfa Romeo Brera

Sometimes, just sometimes a concept car makes it from the studio to the streets. The Brera is one of them, and although the front looks like a 159, the rear looked something completely out of a Star Trek spaceship collection.

Alfa Romeo Disco Volante

The car that made Disco sound cool was because it was one of the first cars to be designed to be completely lightweight as well as slippery when speeding through the air with the help of aerodynamics. The design was so good; some said the Jaguar E-Type was an imitation of the Disco.

Alfetta GTS 116

The GTS was a special version of the Alfetta and was mainly built for British roads. Only 50 of them were ever built and only two have survived to date. They were unique because of the 1.6-litre twin cam engine and a transaxle which made them fun to drive. It was built for discerning motorists who demanded high speed with excellent road manners and classic styling.

Alfa Romeo V8 Montreal

The Montreal looks like a crossbreed of an American muscle car and a European supercar. Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, the car is powered by a 90 degree V8. The car's piece de resistance is the four headlamps, partly covered by unique grilles that retract when the lights are on.

These are our choices are there some that we missed?


UMW Toyota confirms introduction of new Alphard and Vellfire

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn. Bhd. had announced that the all new
Toyota Alphard
 and
Vellfire
 are all set to be launched here soon, and that customers can now register their interest at all UMW Toyota Motor branches and authorised Toyota dealers nationwide. However, the pricing has not been announced by the company yet.
But what we do know is that both models will come with a full factory warranty for a period of 5 years and unlimited mileage. Owners are also assured of complete and qualified aftersales support, including parts, from any authorised Toyota service centre in Malaysia.
Powering the Alphard is a 3.5-litre V6 engine while the Vellfire has a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine, both equipped with Toyota’s Dual VVT-i system for optimum performance and fuel efficiency and low emissions. Active and Passive safety systems that are provided as standard include 7 SRS airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control.
Click to enlarge
Both models have a generous range of luxury equipment and the Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge includes VIP Power Seats with internal cooling for extra comfort. This variant also comes with a premium sound system equipped with 17 speakers by JBL.
On the differences between the vehicles imported and sold by UMW Toyota Motor and those which are imported by other parties from dealers in Japan, Mr. Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor said that there are some technical differences which are important to owners.
On warranty of the vehicles, Datuk Ismet said “Most importantly, every model sold by UMW Toyota Motor comes with a full 5 years warranty with unlimited mileage and full aftersales support. This means that the owner can have peace of mind and be assured of qualified aftersales support. We will even make sure that we stock the necessary parts for the Vellfire and Alphard to minimise inconvenience to owners,” he assured.
More information on the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire specifications and colour availability can be obtained from Toyota.com.my or nearest Toyota showroom nationwide.
Looking for a Toyota Alphard? Find one now at
Carlist.my


Toyota Avanza 2022 Dilancarkan Di Indonesia – Harga Bermula Daripada RM60k

Generasi baharu MPV popular Toyota,
Toyota Avanza 2022
 kini telah dilancarkan di Indonesia dengan pelbagai pembaharuan!

Pasaran Indonesia secara rasminya telah menerima Toyota Avanza 2022 yang merupakan generasi ketiga
MPV
 tersebut. Avanza 2022 telah dilancarkan bersama versi yang lebih Sporty iaitu Veloz. Jika nak dibandingkan antara generasi ketiga Avanza berbanding sebelumnya, terdapat perubahan besar pada bahagian luaran dan dalaman kereta ini.

Dengan menggunakan
platform DNGA
, saiz badan kereta ini kelihatan lebih besar berbanding sebelumnya. Kini, Avanza 2022 berukuran 4,395 mm panjang dan 1,730 mm lebar sementara tingginya berbeza mengikut varian (1,665 mm atau 1,700 mm). Jarak antara roda Avanza 2022 juga telah ditambah sebanyak 95mm menjadikannya 2,750 mm.

Exterior

Toyota Avanza 2022 hadir dengan gril hadapan yang lebih ganas dan besar yang berbentuk trapezoid dan digandingkan bersama lampu utama LED yang berbentuk nipis dan tiris. Reka bentuk perumah lampu kabusnya turut direka semula berbentuk seakan segi tiga.
Lampu LED
 di belakang Avanza yang sebelum ini direka menegak telah ditukar kepada rekaan melintang membuatkan rekaan belakang kereta ini kelihatan lebih menarik.

Di bahagian sisi, terdapat satu garisan lurus yang bersambung dari lampu hadapan ke lampu belakang dan melalui pemegang pintu. Cermin sisinya
auto fold
 sementara reka bentuk
wheel arch
 pada bahagian atas tayarnya memberikan gambaran seakan-akan sebuah
SUV
. Selain itu, varian tertinggi Avanza di Indonesia akan menerima rim aloi dwi-tona bersaiz 16 inci.

Interior

Di bahagian dalam, Avanza 2022 hadir dengan rekaan papan pemuka baharu yang lebih segar. Ia hadir dengan paparan skrin sentuh infotainment bersaiz 9-inci (radio, USB, Bluetooth). Sementara itu, varian terendah Avanza pula menerima skrin infotainment terapung bersaiz 7-inci.

Memandangkan kereta ini merupakan MPV, ia hadir dengan 7 tempat duduk dengan mod sofa panjang sebagai standard. Ruang dalaman yang luas serta keadaan kabin yang senyap membuatkan pemandu serta penumpang berasa lebih selesa dan mudah untuk melakukan pelbagai aktiviti lain bersama keluarga di dalam kereta.

Kluster meter Avanza pula menggunakan gabungan dua meter analog yang mengapit skrin MID di tengah. Ia juga hadir dengan push Start/Stop, stereng boleh laras yang dilengkapi dengan butang kawalan audio dan penukaran informasi di skrin MID serta kawalan penyaman udara digital sebagai standard untuk semua varian.

Enjin Dan Prestasi

Berbeza dengan generasi sebelumnya, ini merupakan Toyota Avanza pertama yang menggunakan
pacuan roda hadapan
. Pilihan enjin yang ditawarkan masih lagi tidak berubah iaitu 1.3L 1NR-VE dan 1.5L 2NR-VE. Enjin 1.3L 1NR-VE NA DOHC 4-silinder dengan dual VVT-i menghasilkan 98 PS dan 121 Nm tork. Walau bagaimanapun, pilihan enjin ini hanya datang dalam transmisi 5-kelajuan manual.

Sementara itu, bagi pilihan enjin 1.5L 2NR-VE pula, ia memberikan output 106 PS dan 137 Nm tork. Untuk varian 1.5L ini, ada 2 pilihan transmisi ditawarkan iaitu 5-kelajuan manual atau
CVT
. Tiada lagi transmisi 4-kelajuan automatic pada Avanza 2022.

Ciri Keselamatan

Kesemua varian Avanza 2022 dilengkapi dengan ciri keselamatan asas seperti ABS, VSC, EBD, BA, Hill Start Assist, beg udara kecemasan dan amaran pemakaian tali pinggang keledar. Bagi pilihan enjin 1.5L pula, ia menerima tambahan penderia parking belakang, penggera dan
immobilizer
.

Hanya varian tertinggi Avanza 2022, 1.5G CVT TSS yang menawarkan ciri keselamatan
Toyota Safety Sense
 yang banyak memberi kemudahan kepada pemandu. Sistem keselamatan Toyota Safety Sense merangkumi:

Pre-Collision System

Front Departure Alert

Lane Departure Assist

Pedal Misoperation Control

Rear Crossing Traffic Alert

Blind Sport Monitoring

T Intouch telematics system (
pengesan lokasi kereta,
geofencing, e-care maintenance)

Harga

Toyota Avanza 2022 1.3E – 206.2 Juta Rupiah (RM60,173)

Toyota Avanza 2022 1.5G – Manual: 228.5 Juta Rupiah (RM66,673), Automatik: 241.4 Juta Rupiah (RM70,437)

Toyota Avanza 2022 1.5G CVT TSS – 264.4 Juta Rupiah (RM77,148)

Tidak dinafikan, rupa bentuk Avanza 2022 jauh lebih menarik berbanding generasi sebelumnya. Timbul juga khabar angin mengatakan bahawa Perodua akan membina model baharu
Perodua Alza
 menggunakan platform yang sama seperti Avanza dan
Ativa
. Walau bagaimanapun, masih tiada pengesahan atau pengumuman dibuat oleh
Perodua
 pada ketika ini.

Sekilas pandang, adakah anda berpuas hati dengan reka bentuk keseluruhan serta ciri-ciri yang ditawarkan pada Toyota Avanza 2022 ini?


Lampu Silau - Buat Aduan Ke JPJ Tapi...

Anda pernah mengalami situasi silau akibat pancaran
lampu kereta
 dari depan atau belakang ketika memandu di jalan raya?

Jika ya, anda boleh membuat aduan kepada
Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan
 (JPJ) tentang pemilik atau pemandu kereta tersebut yang telah membahayakan nyawa anda semasa memandu. Itu pun, jika aduan berjaya dibuat...

Penulis sendiri pernah melalui kejadian lampu silau minggu lalu ketika sedang memandu untuk pulang ke rumah. Sebuah kereta model tempatan anggaran tahun 2008, tiba-tiba memotong dan berada di belakang kereta penulis. Serentak itu, pancaran lampu biru terang menghiasi ruang kereta dan apabila melihat ke cermin pandang belakang, terasa bagaikan ‘buta sebentar’.

Tahukah anda sindrom buta sebentar ini boleh mengakibatkan
kemalangan
 atau lebih tragis, kehilangan nyawa bagi pemandu yang mengalaminya?

Menurut kajian yang dilakukan oleh Universiti of Vienna terhadap 350 pemandu di Jerman, 65 peratus responden dilaporkan mengalami buta sebentar atau
temporary blindness
 akibat cahaya yang keterlaluan dan 15 peratus lagi melaporkan mereka hampir terlanggar sesuatu disebabkan pancaran lampu yang sama.

Majoriti responden didapati mengambil masa hampir 5 saat untuk kembali kepada penglihatan normal. Durasi 5 saat tampak singkat, namun sekiranya anda sedang memandu pada kelajuan 100km/j, anda telah bergerak sejauh 134 meter! Dalam masa yang ‘singkat’ itu, banyak perkara boleh terjadi sekiranya anda di dalam keadaan buta sebentar.

Persoalannya, kenapa ada pemilik kenderaan yang menggunakan
lampu kereta
 yang begitu terang? Adakah mereka sedar risiko yang dihadapi pengguna jalan raya yang lain akibat pancaran lampu ini?

Teknologi lampu atau pencahayaan pada kenderaan saban hari semakin maju dan terdiri daripada pelbagai jenis. Daripada sistem lampu yang menggunakan mentol halogen seperti yang terdapat pada kebanyakan kenderaan sebelum ini, kebanyakan pengeluar kenderaan telah beralih kepada penggunaan lampu dari jenis
Light Emitting Diodes
 (
LED
) dan
High-Intensity Discharge
 (
HID
).

Sistem lampu HID menjadi pilihan kerana keupayaan capahan cahaya yang lebih meluas dan terang. Pencahayaan yang lebih baik dan cerah membantu pemandu untuk lebih mudah melihat keadaan jalan raya walaupun dari jarak yang jauh, berbanding lampu
halogen
.

Disebabkan itulah, segelintir pemilik kenderaan tetap ‘berdegil’ untuk menukar mentol halogen kepada HID. Namun jika sekadar menukar mentol, ini akan menyebabkan masalah silau kepada pemandu di hadapan kerana kawasan suluhan lampu akan meningkat pada arah menegak hingga memasuki kawasan pemandu bertentangan.

Pemilik atau pemandu yang ‘degil’ ini seharusnya mengubah tetapan posisi lampu
low beam
 kereta mereka bagi mengelakkan pemandu depan daripada menjadi silau, dengan cara membetulkan pengarasan lampu secara manual atau jika ada suis pengarasan (
levelling switch
) pada kereta.

Namun, harus diingat,
JPJ
 telah mewartakan larangan terhadap kenderaan yang menggunakan lampu HID yang dipasang secara aksesori (Retrofit) ini. Retrofit bermaksud anda mengubahsuai atau menambah sesuatu lampu yang tiada semasa penghasilan kereta tersebut di kilang.

Misalnya, lampu halogen pada Proton Saga yang ditukar kepada HID boleh dikenakan saman oleh JPJ dibawah Kaedah 94 Kaedah-kaedah Kenderaan Bermotor (Pembinaan dan Kegunaan) 1959 kerana "keadaan kenderaan bermotor yang digunakan di atas jalan raya dan semua bahagian dan aksesorinya hendaklah sentiasa tidak mengakibatkan atau mungkin mengakibatkan merbahaya pada orang di dalam kenderaan atau di atas jalan raya".

Jika sabit kesalahan, boleh didenda sehingga RM2,000 atau penjara bagi tempoh tidak lebih 6 bulan dibawah seksyen 119(1) APJ 1987.

Namun, ia bukanlah satu kesalahan jika kereta anda sudah dilengkapi lampu HID oleh pengeluar kenderaan, selagi tidak melanggar
Vehicle Type Approval
 (
VTA
) yang telah diluluskan terhadap sesebuah kenderaan.

Jadi, bagaimana hendak membuat aduan kepada JPJ tentang masalah ini?

Terdapat beberapa cara untuk membuat aduan seperti yang tertera di laman web JPJ, namun, cubaan penulis untuk menghubungi pihak JPJ (setakat artikel ini ditulis) menemui jalan buntu...

Talian Malaysia Government Call Centre (MGCC) seperti tidak beroperasi (
call failed
) setelah berkali-kali percubaan menghubungi nombor yang tertera, mesej peribadi (
private message
) ke laman Facebook JPJ juga tidak berjawab, maka penulis mencuba di pautan
aduan JPJ
 untuk membuat aduan.

JPJ Negeri Selangor pernah berkongsi talian hotline Whatsapp bagi aduan kesalahan lalu lintas, namun, nombor itu mungkin sudah tidak wujud kerana tidak dapat dikesan di dalam applikasi Whatsapp.

Bagi penulis, pada zaman teknologi serba canggih ini, percubaan berkali-kali untuk membuat aduan adalah satu perkara yang meresahkan. Mungkin patut terus ke kaunter JPJ berdekatan, tapi disebabkan
endemik
, lebih baik mencuba dengan cara dalam talian, bukan?

Adakah disebabkan tiada atau kurang aduan yang dibuat (kerana kekangan di atas) maka, pemilik kenderaan dengan lampu terlalu terang ini semakin 'berleluasa' di jalan raya?

Semoga ada 'sinar' bagi cubaan penulis ini kerana kejadian lampu silau bukanlah satu perkara remeh apabila ia melibatkan keselamatan dan nyawa kita di jalan raya. Bagi pemilik-pemilik kenderaan dengan mod lampu terlalu terang ini, semoga diberi kesedaran untuk membetulkan kedudukan lampu depan anda sebelum berlaku kejadian yang tidak diingini.

Ingat, jalan raya bukan kita seorang yang punya!


LAPD Gains A Tesla Model S And BMW i3 To Fight Crime And Save The Earth At The Same Time

The Los Angeles Police Department now has a
Tesla Model S P85D
 and
BMW i3
 in its fleet to determine how the former will fare as a police vehicle as well as the latter for street duty.
We would say the Model S P85D is perfect for chasing after bad guys thanks to its dual electric motors (one at the front and another at the rear). A combined total output of 691hp and 930Nm of torque means, unless the baddie is in a vehicle that is capable of accelerating to 100 km/h from a standstill quicker than 3.2 seconds, they don’t stand a chance. Oh, the P85D has a top speed of 250 km/h as well for good measure. Range anxiety is also not a concern as the range on the Tesla is claimed to be around 474km.
On the other hand, the
BMW
 i3 won’t be doing the heavy pursuit work like its Tesla colleague, being more as a street patrol car with a claimed NEDC range of 190km, with a 168hp electric motor providing drive.
Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, announced the city’s commitment to lease 160 pure battery EV vehicles with the Los Angeles Police, Fire, General Services, and Water and Power departments benefiting from the move. In addition, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the General Services Department will lease an additional 128 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
“Today, we take another step toward becoming the most sustainable city in America,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This year, Los Angeles will become home to the largest city-owned fleet of pure battery electric vehicles anywhere in the country, and we will save taxpayer dollars along the way.”


The Ultimate Family Vehicle – We Pick Our Favourites for Under RM200,000

More often than not, our vehicle ownership journey begins with a relatively smaller car that is ideal for us alone.

During this phase, travelling with a car full of occupants is a rare occasion, which means that space and practicality is not really on top of the priority list.

However, as we progress in life, many of us start earning more, get married, and become family oriented people. When this happens, our needs as well as our priorities change, and this also includes our choice of vehicles.

And this is when many of us face the situation in which we have no choice but to upgrade our bujang cars with something bigger and more ideal for the family.

So, with a wide range of sedans, SUVs, as well as MPVs available in the market, which one would make the most sense?

To answer this question, one must first ask themselves a few important questions like:

“What do I need this vehicle for?”

“How big is my family?”

“How often do I travel with my family?”

“How much things do I carry in the vehicle?”

“What are my daily driving activities like?”

“What do my family members and I need during travelling both on a daily basis and during holidays?”

Once we ask ourselves these questions, the answers will definitely give us a clearer picture of what we actually need.

Since most entry level and B-segment vehicles that we use before becoming full-blown family-oriented people are priced under RM100,000, those who upgrade will normally look at vehicles that are priced one level above, between RM100,000 and RM200,000.

Speaking of families, the average Malaysian family is usually between three to five people strong – Dad, Mum, as well as two or three children, plus a maid in many cases. So, a seven or eight-seater is what would make the most sense.

After going through a list of capable candidates, we feel that the two vehicles you see here offer the best value for money.

If an MPV is what you have in mind, the
Toyota Innova
 here should definitely be in your list. Upon hopping into the new Innova, you will notice that the cabin actually looks like a more affordable version of the Alphard.

The redesigned dashboard clad in material that looks much more premium than the outgoing model, the steering wheel which comprises a combination of wood and leather, the ambient lighting system, the impressive audio system, and the 8-inch touch screen infotainment system certainly gives the Innova a very premium feel.

Further complementing the more sophisticated cabin of the new Innova is the practicality offered. There are the seatback “tables” that can support up to 10kgs, 12V power socket for rear passengers, 50:50 split-folding third-row seats, 60:40 split-folding second row seats with ‘one-touch-tilt-and-tumble’ third-row with cup holders, as well as plenty of seating arrangements.

As far a safety is concerned, there are 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, ESS, VSC, Traction Control, Parking Sensors, as well as Hill-Start Assist.

In case you’re wondering if there is enough power to move eight occupants and their luggage on a road-trip, the answer is definitely. The trustworthy 1TR-FE 2.0-litre petrol engine and 6-speed automatic transmission combo deliver a decent 139 PS and 183 Nm of torque, while consuming 9.1 litres of fuel per 100 km.

Add the impressive noise insulation, the comfortable ride and handling, and the handsome design into the equation, and what we have here is a vehicle that is worth every sen it asks for. In fact, we even spoke to a couple of owners who have been driving their Innovas for about three years now, and all they have is praise.

Offered in three trim levels, the Toyota Innova is priced at RM115,280 for the E variant, RM123,400 for the G, and RM132,400 for the X, which comes with a generous dose of sporty cosmetic enhancements.

However, if MPVs don’t float your boat, and an SUV is what you have in mind, you will have to spend a bit more than the Innova above to get your hands on arguably one of the best 7-seater SUVs out there today –
the new Hyundai Santa Fe
.

Measuring 4,770 mm long, 1,890 mm wide and 1,680 mm tall, it’s 80 mm longer and 10 mm wider than before, and its 2,765 mm wheelbase is 65 mm longer.

Inside, there’s a sweeping three-tier dashboard, high-quality materials, best-in-class legroom for the second row, increased third-row headroom, one-touch tilt-and-slide second row with buttons to fold them, and 1,625 litres of maximum boot space.

In terms of features, the Santa Fe comes with 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, keyless entry, push-button start, cruise control, dual-zone climate control with ioniser, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, black leather upholstery, a floating seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera, 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, stability control, hill descent control and ISOFIX second-row child seat anchors, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, and even a Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) that warns you if a child is left in a seat behind (Premium variant only).

Powered by either a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine producing 193 PS and 440 Nm of torque, or a 2.4-litre petrol engine that makes 172 PS and 225 Nm of torque, the Santa Fe is available in 3 variants, priced between RM169,888 and RM211,888.

Although some may argue that the Santa Fe’s active safety features are not as extensive as some of its Japanese rivals, our priority today is space and practicality, which is why we’re recommending the Korean.

If you have a larger family, we have a few impressive candidates as well, such as MPVs like the Hyundai Starex, Westar Maxus G10, and the Kia Grand Carnival, all of which are excellent people movers with an extensive list of safety, luxury, and convenience features which offer good bang for the buck.

So, depending on how much you can afford, our market has something for everyone, from affordable models like the Proton Exora, Perodua Aruz, Honda BR-V, and Toyota Avanza, slightly pricier alternatives like the models above, and all the way to the Bentley Bentayga, or even the Alphard Executive Lounge.


All-New 2016 Toyota Hilux Advertisement Reveals Possible May 22nd Debut

It appears an official countdown to the launch of the all-new 2016
Toyota
 Hilux has started as this advertisement published by the
Hilux Revo Thailand
 Facebook page reveals a May 22
nd
 reveal date.
Prior to this, the same Facebook page also expected the next-generation pick-up truck to make its
debut on May 21
st
. However, these convincing advertisements do seem to point otherwise.
With the slogan “Revolution is coming” and writing in Thai, the eighth-generation
Toyota Hilux
 would make its debut where it will be produced. When it does, it will face-off against competitors like the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, the
upcoming all-new 2015 Mitsubishi Triton
, and Nissan Navara.
The advertisement itself doesn’t show much of the pick-up but those thin lights do look a lot like daytime-running lights which were shown in various spyshots before. Whether this is limited to the Thai-spec model, we’ll have to wait and see.
Powerplants offered are expected to be two new diesel engines in 2.4- and 2.8-litre capacities producing between 150 to 177hp and 343 to 450Nm of torque, mated to manual and automatic transmissions.


Takata Airbag Crisis: Compensation For Honda Owners, 3 Central Hubs, 24 Mobile Hubs Setup

Honda Malaysia announced today its latest measure to alleviate the shortage in service capacity and replacement airbag modules – an issue that affects not just Malaysia, but over 100 million vehicles recalled worldwide for faulty airbag inflators made by Takata.
The company is offering a RM50 per day loss of use compensation for affected customers (only for vehicles affected by the driver’s airbag recall). It is also setting up 24 mobile hubs and 3 temporary central service hubs supported by trained associates from Honda’s Melaka plant to alleviate the shortage in service capacity at Honda dealers.
Compensation For Loss Of Use
Affected Honda customers who experienced loss of use of their Honda vehicles due to unavailable replacement airbag inflator for the
driver’s
 airbag can now register themselves at
productrecall.honda.com.my
 (instructions only available after you have entered the VIN for your Honda) to receive their compensation of RM50 per day. The compensation period begins on 28th July 2016 and ends on 31st August 2016.
The compensation is offered to owners of cars that couldn’t have the driver’s airbag front airbag inflator replaced (not applicable for cars affected only by the front passenger’s airbag recall)
Upon arrival of the replacement parts for Takata driver front airbag inflators, the registered customers with Honda Malaysia will be notified and advised to replace the airbag inflators within two days. The process to do this is as explained in the flow chart below (
click to enlarge
):
Three Service Central Hubs, Open 7 Days A Week
To alleviate the shortage in service capacity, Honda Malaysia is opening three temporary Service Central Hubs from 1st August 2016 to 30th September 2016. These hubs will operate 7 days a week except public holidays, from 8am to 7pm.
These Service Central Hubs are aimed at providing additional service capacity for Takata airbag inflator replacement activity, helping to ease service capacity limitation at Honda dealers, and also providing storage for the required parts for the replacements.
Customers can book their appointment with any of the Service Central Hubs by calling the Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020.
Due to the multiple recalls for both Takata driver and passenger front airbags inflators, it would be possible that one vehicle is recalled for both Takata airbag inflators replacement. In such a situation, Honda will prioritize Takata
driver
front airbag inflator replacement based on parts availability and due to the low stock availability of Takata passenger front airbag inflator.
Location of the Central Hubs:
Northern Hub
 (Next to S.M.J.K. Convent Dato’ Keramat School)
Address: No.401, Jalan Dato’ Keramat, 10150 Georgetown, Penang.
Central Hub
 - Soo & Sons Metal Works Sdn. Bhd. (Next to Columbia Asia Hospital, near Jaya One)
Address: Lot 15 Jalan 13/6, Section 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Southern Hub
 - Oriental Assemblers Sdn. Bhd.
Address: 99 & 99A-C, Jalan Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor.
24 Mobile Hubs
A total of 24 mobile hubs will be set up at 21 selected Petron service stations and three Honda Family Road Trip locations.
These Mobile Hubs will open from 5th August 2016 until 25th September 2016 and will be operational every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at three different locations from 8am to 7pm.
Location of Mobile Hubs (
click to enlarge
):
Both the Central and Mobile Hubs are supported by Honda’s Mobile Teams – a technical team made up of trained Honda associates from Honda’s plant in Melaka
Read also
:
Takata Airbag Crisis: Frequently Asked Questions, What Should You Do?


Fuel Price Update: 24th to 30th October

The Ministry of Finance Malaysia has announced the updated prices of petrol and diesel fuels starting from the 24th of October to the 30th of October.

The price of RON97 petrol will decrease by 4 sen to RM 1.94 per litre, while the price of RON95 petrol will also decrease by 4 sen to RM 1.64 per litre.

The price of diesel remains the same coming in at RM 1.74 per litre.

In summary, the prices for petrol and diesel are listed below:

RON95 – RM 1.64 per litre (down 4 sen)

RON97 – RM 1.94 per litre (down 4 sen)

Diesel – RM 1.74 per litre (same)


The Hyundai Elantra N Has Been Unleashed – And It Guns For The Civic Type R

Hyundai has unleashed the first and most powerful sedan in its line of ‘high-performance everyday sports cars’, by taking the familiar
Hyundai Elantra
, and refocusing its crosshairs firmly on rivals such as the
(FK8) Honda Civic Type R
 and
Volkswagen Golf R
.

According to Hyundai, its ‘N’ (abbreviation for Nurburgring) skunkworks division has applied no less than 40 different updates to make the Elantra more of an aggressive-looking sedan that has the bark to match its bite.

Under the hood is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an uprated new turbine (beyond the
Veloster N)
 for a flatter and more powerful torque curve - these enhancements, along with the optimization of the shape and material of the cylinder lock, improve both the performance and durability of the engine, which outputs  280PS and maximum torque of 392Nm.

A specialised N Grin Shift (NGS) mode increases boost pressure, temporarily enhancing output up to 290PS (for up to 20 seconds - for DCT variants only).

Mated to the engine is an
8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT)
 that helps the Elantra N accelerate from 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.3 seconds (the
Civic Type R does it in 5.7 seconds
) and keeps accelerating to a top speed of 250 km/h.

Elsewhere, Elantra N’s driving performance is further supported by N Corner Carving Differential (e-LSD, electronic Limited Slip Differential), Variable Exhaust Valve System and Launch Control, in addition, the chassis features an Integrated Drive Axle (inspired by Hyundai’s WRC rally cars) which combines the drive shaft, wheel hub and bearing to offer a weight reduction of 1.7 kg. This makes the Elantra N a lighter and stronger car and adds benefits in terms of withstanding extreme lateral g-force.

The Elantra N is the first N vehicle to use 245mm width Michelin PS4S tires on 19-inch wheels supporting dynamic driving performance and getting a full complement of 360mm sized brake discs for stopping performance to match its go.

On the inside, the Elantra N infotainment system is equipped with a graphic interface that displays information needed for high-performance circuit driving, such as oil and coolant temperatures, torque, and turbo pressure. In addition, the Elantra N features a lap timer function that works with the ‘N Track Map’ to record the driver’s location and movement on a circuit in real-time.

In terms of aesthetics, the Elantra N adds to the angular sedan a revamped front bumper with additional air intakes, aggressive side skirts, and a boot-mounted spoiler that compliments a diffuser element in the lower regions of the rear bumper.


November 2016 New Vehicle Sales – Slight Improvement But Unlikely To Hit Forecasted 580,000 Units

Total new vehicle sales for Malaysia increased 2.5 percent in November, with a total of 49,085 vehicles sold, according to data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA). Cumulative sales now stands at 515,293, or 14 percent less than the same 11-month period last year. This also means that the automotive sector will most probably finish the year slightly below MAA’s forecast of 580,000.
The current performance is a long way off from the 648,000 units forecasted by Frost & Sullivan earlier this year.
Highlights:
Perodua continues to dominate the Malaysian car market but its performance continues to be hampered by inability of many of its customers to secure a loan. Perodua’s numbers for November is 4.3 percent lower than the preceding month, while cumulative sales is 5 percent lower than last year.
Honda, still the leading non-national brand in Malaysia, saw an 8 percent improvement in sales, driven largely by attractive year-end promotions for most of its models. Total sales to date stands at 80,369, about 5 percent less than the same 11-month period in 2015.
Meanwhile, Proton contracted 4 percent but the numbers could improve in the coming months once deliveries of the Proton Ertiga, which was launched in late November, is ramped up.
Toyota made significant gains in November, growing by 16.3 percent on the back of heavy discounting for many of its models, including a RM5,000 discount offered for both the all-new
Toyota Innova
 and new Toyota Corolla Altis, one month before the two models’ launch. The Toyota Sienta, which was only launched in August, was offered with a RM7,500 discount in November.
Nissan also made huge gains in November, growing by 24 percent, but like Toyota, the gains were mostly due to
year-end promotions
. Popular models like the Almera, Grand Livina, X-Trail and Teana were being offered with discounts of up to RM7,500, RM6,500, RM5,500 and RM10,000 respectively.
Mercedes-Benz continues to lead the premium segment, and is still the best-selling European brand in Malaysia, growing by 6 percent, boosted by year-end promotions for the C-Class.
BMW have also significantly closed the gap with Mercedes-Benz. Six months ago, the gap between the two German stalwarts is about 400 cars per month. The gap has now been reduced to less than 70 cars per month.
Mazda, which has so far resisted pressure from Toyota, Honda and Nissan to throw heavy discounts, sold 20 percent less cars in November than in October. Sources at Bermaz Motor also indicated that their inventory towards the end of the year is very low and the company faces little pressure to offer discounts to clear its 2016 stocks.
Lexus, which offered promotions worth up to RM25,000, nearly doubled its sales in November, overtaking Audi and Volvo to reclaim the third spot in the premium segment.
Audi also offered similarly high discounts but like Lexus, Audi Malaysia’s import-only model range puts it at a disadvantage against BMW and Mercedes-Benz’s cheaper locally-assembled EEV status models. Cumulative sales for Audi is 35 percent lower than last year.


The Build Log: A digital man and his very analogue Lotus Exige 350 Sport

This gleaming Lotus Exige 350 Sport belongs to a Mr. Mufizal. To him, this car is driving perfection personified, and the connection it delivers between man and machine is unrivalled. It’s even claimed to be the fastest street Lotus to lap the Sepang International Circuit. We're inclined to believe it.

Welcome once again to The Build Log
, and here we have the story of real, no-nonsense driving machine. The Lotus philosophy has always been about ‘adding lightness’ for a purer experience behind the wheel.

Join the fastest cars in Malaysia at the CarTell Track Attack Volume II happening on May 27th 2023 at the Sepang International Circuit. Featuring 2 sessions for 8 hours of on-track action.
Register now!

It’s a little ironic that Mufizal has chosen such an analogue car given the fact that he is a digital artist and video game developer by trade. He knew he wanted to take it to the track, so the Lotus fit the bill of something that’s purpose-built to be driven hard.

In addition to that, the other criteria was that the car should, by virtue of driving it, teach him to be a smoother, faster, better driver.

It seems to have worked. As we mentioned earlier, this is claimed to be the quickest street legal Lotus to lap Sepang with lap times regularly sweeping below 2 minutes and 28 seconds. However, this wasn’t always the case.

Though there is hesitation to fit the car with too many modifications, some carefully selected ones have made a significant impact on how the car behaves on road and especially on track, enabling his personal best lap times to tumble.

The most impactful, according to him, were the choice of tyres, which were swapped out for Hankook Ventus TD Z221 semi-slicks, a set that's well regarded in the time attack, hill climb, and tarmac rally scenes for its performance.

Other notable alterations made to the Exige 350 also include a Komo-Tec Phase EX430 upgrade kit that adds a variety of new components to the supercharged 3.5-litre V6 and takes power to approximately 430hp.

Lastly, there are a set of Nitron racing suspension components that have really transformed it through the corners. All this together have lead to an Exige 350 Sport that’s quite special and an overall more honed instrument than the car it emerged out of Hethel as, at least according to Mufizal’s preferences.

All the car’s idiosyncrasies and odd details, such as its famously spartan cabin and bonded aluminium chassis, only add to the charm. Inside, the exposed gear linkage for its 6-speed manual transmission and seriously bolstered bucket seats + racing harnesses let you make no mistake that this car isn’t messing around.

You can catch Mufizal and his Lotus Exige in action at during CarTell Track Attack Volume II, happening this weekend on May 27th at the Sepang International Circuit as the centrepiece event that forms CarTell Speedfest co-organised with our friends at Velocity Motor Show.

Speedfest admission is absolutely free, letting you enjoy the many custom cars on display, live DJ, music, car audio competition, and the many exhibitors there offering amazing deals and promotions. It’ll be an amazing way to spend a Saturday, celebrating all things speed and automotive culture.

The track action will begin at 4pm and will continue over 2 sessions to midnight with up for lots up for grabs for the car that posts the fastest overall lap! If you’re keen to get in on the action yourself, limited track slots are might still available but are going fast!
Register here to book your place NOW
.


Honda: Diesel Engines To Be Replaced By Electrified Engines In Stages

The days of Honda’s i-DTEC clean diesel engines are numbered. While popular in certain markets like Europe and India, Honda has confirmed that the i-DTEC series of engines will be progressively phased out, to be replaced by hybrid/plug-in hybrid engines.
“With regards to diesel, our number one market will be Europe, but in Europe, we are giving priority to electrification (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell hydrogen electric, battery electric vehicles). Meaning that we will phase out diesels gradually, replacing it with electrification,” said Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co. Ltd, at the sidelines of the recently concluded 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.
Hachigo stressed that this does not mean that Honda will be terminating its diesel engines line-up immediately, as there are still strong demand for diesels in some countries outside of Europe, India for example.
Honda’s decision to prioritise electrification over diesels is unsurprising, as even Volkswagen and BMW are embarking on similar plans. Post-dieselgate, registrations of privately owned diesel vehicles in Europe has dropped to below 50 percent, the lowest in recent history.
Honda’s long term goal is to have electrified vehicles contributing two-thirds (or 65 percent) of Honda’s global automobile sales by 2030. Out of the 65 percent, 50 percent will be contributed by petrol-electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids, while the remaining 15 percent will come from hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles.
Honda’s i-DTEC diesel engine is currently available in three sizes – 1.6-litre and 2.2-litre for Europe and 1.5-litre for India.


GWM Leverages Forest Ecosystem to Accelerate New Energy Advancements

Over 300 journalists and distributor representatives from over 60 countries and regions visited GWM's R&D Center in Baoding, China during Auto Shanghai 2023. They were excited to gain knowledge about GWM's Forest Ecosystem and its revolutionary New Energy Vehicles (NEVs).

During their visit, the group was given a tour of GWM's various facilities such as the hydrogen energy R&D centre, wind tunnel, NVH laboratories, and others. The advanced technology, vehicle testing, and design style of GWM captured the attention of journalists, who had lively discussions with GWM's technical team.

During the visit, technical head of GWM explained the layout of the R&D Center and their entire vehicle development process. They emphasised GWM's commitment to their R&D concept of pursuing forward-looking technology through precise input in order to achieve industry leadership.

GWM's R&D Center spans across 250,000 square metres and has received a total investment of 5 billion Yuan and includes facilities for product R&D, styling, engineering design, product trial production and testing, and other engineering areas, which greatly support product verification and technology development.

In the NEV sector, GWM has obtained 1,966 patent disclosures and 1,650 patent authorisations, with a year-on-year increase of 51.11% and 80.53%, respectively. In the previous year, GWM increased its R&D investment to 12.181 billion Yuan, showing a 34.34% increase compared to the previous year. During Auto Shanghai 2023, GWM launched its first Hi4 (Hybrid Intelligent 4WD) model to the world.

GWM attributes its success to its new Forest Ecosystem layout, which combines new energy, computational intelligence, and other related vehicle technology industries to establish an ecosystem that supports multi-species interaction and continuous evolution. GWM's full-value chain layout of "solar energy-battery-hydrogen energy-vehicle power" in NEVs, and technical reserves such as intelligent driving, intelligent services, and intelligent cockpits have strengthened its core competitiveness in the age of NEVs.

GWM is committed to continuing its innovation and providing driving forces for its new energy and intelligent strategic transformation. Empowered by Forest Ecosystem, GWM will offer consumers an experience combining extraordinary conveniences, lower carbon emissions, and environmental friendliness.


Tiada Lagi Perodua Alza Menjelang Februari 2022 – Tak Lepas Undang-Undang Emisi Ekzos 2022

Tahukah anda selepas 12 tahun bertahan di dalam pasaran Malaysia,
MPV mampu milik
 buatan Malaysia,
Perodua Alza
 akan dihentikan pengeluarannya kelak?

Benar! Berdasarkan beberapa spekulasi yang melanda Perodua Alza sejak kebelakangan ini, kini ia semakin hangat setelah
Perodua
 dilaporkan telah memberi notis kepada pengedar mereka bahawa Perodua Alza akan dihentikan pengeluaran pada penghujung Januari 2022.

Ini kerana model tersebut tidak melepasi undang-undang emisi ekzos yang ditetapkan oleh kerajaan Malaysia yang bakal beralih dari Euro 2 kepada Euro 4 menjelang 1 Januari 2022. Pada asalnya, undang-undang tersebut dijadualkan akan dilaksana pada Oktober tahun ini namun telah ditangguhkan ke tahun hadapan.

Walau bagaimanapun, Perodua telah berjaya memohon untuk meneruskan pengeluaran Alza sehingga penghujung bulan Januari 2022 meskipun undang-undang tersebut telah dilaksanakan pada ketika itu. Maksudnya, bermula Februari 2022, tiada satu pun model Perodua Alza akan dipasang manakala stok-stok yang telah siap dipasang masih boleh dijual sehingga habis.

Termasuk bulan ini, hanya tinggal 3 bulan sahaja hayat Perodua Alza sebelum pengeluarannya dihentikan sepenuhnya oleh Perodua. Berikut merupakan jumlah unit Alza yang bakal disiapkan pada 3 bulan terakhir hayatnya:

2,820 unit akan dipasang pada November 2021

2,283 unit akan dipasang pada Disember 2021

1,100 unit akan dipasang pada Januari 2022

Dengan ini, kita dapat simpulkan bahawa generasi baharu Perodua Alza hanya akan dilancarkan selepas tarikh berkenaan, dan bukanlah pada tahun ini. Antara spekulasi terhangat yang melanda Alza ketika ini, generasi baharu Perodua Alza dikatakan bakal menjadi kembar kepada
Toyota Avanza 2022
 dan
Daihatsu Xenia
.

Tapi masuk akal juga kenapa Perodua tak lancarkan Alza pada tahun ini memandangkan mereka sedang sibuk menguruskan pelancaran
King Myvi
facelift
 2022
 tidak lama lagi. Maklumlah, Myvi merupakan model mereka yang paling laku sepanjang zaman. Tambahan pula, jika benar khabar angin Alza bakal menyerupai Avanza dan Xenia, ia pasti mengambil masa untuk dijelmakan dalam bentuk Perodua memandangkan Avanza dan Xenia baru sahaja dilancarkan di Indonesia. Biasalah, Malaysia memang lambat sikit untuk dapat model baharu.

Dengan ini,
Perodua Aruz
 akan jadi satu satunya kenderaan Perodua yang mempunya 7 tempat duduk selepas penamatan produksi Alza kelak. Ketika ini, Perodua Alza dikuasakan oleh enjin 1.5L DVVT DOHC EFI yang menghasilkan 104 PS dan 136 Nm yang digandingkan bersama pilihan transmisi 5-kelajuan manual dan 4-kelajuan automatik dengan harga bermula RM49,944 hingga RM60,525.

Jika anda dah lama berkira-kira untuk membeli Perodua Alza, inilah masanya untuk memiliki Alza sebelum pengeluarannya dihentikan!


Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Shooting Brake Shows Up Sexy As Hell

As
promised earlier this year
,
Mercedes-Benz
 has just unveiled its all-new 2015 CLA-Class Shooting Brake – the fifth compact car from the Stuttgart-based carmaker to based on the underpinnings of the A-, B-Class we know.
The CLA-Class Shooting Brake is a four-door
estate/ wagon
 with a sexy swooping roofline, just like its larger
CLS-Class
 Shooting Brake sibling. Seating remains for four or five (depending on how much you’d like to cosy up to your buddies), while cargo room and cabin spaciousness is of course enlarged from the regular
CLA-Class
.
Engine and transmission options remain four-cylinder solutions across the range, and consist of twin-scroll turbocharged petrol mills in 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre guises, and turbo-diesel choices of 1.8-litres and 2.2-litres. The span of power outputs for the petrol engines go from a docile 120hp (CLA 180) to a maximum of 210hp (CLA 250).
On top of the Urban and AMG lines available to the regular CLA-Class Shooting Brake, Mercedes-Benz is also offering a special “OrangeArtEdition” package which dips specific bits of the car’s exterior and interior trims in orange paint – you can see this on the front-grille, wheel surrounds, interior stitching, etc. On top of being available for the CLA 250 Sport Shooting Brake, you can also get this for your CLA 45 AMG sedan as well.
Speaking of AMGs, yes, there’s a CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake variant as well, which gets the one-man, one-engine “Beast” 2.0-litre turbo four. Performance figures for that are an unchanged 360hp and 450Nm of torque.
A market launch of the CLA-Class Shooting Brake is
expected to take place in Germany sometime in Q1 next year
. In Malaysia however, wagon/estate vehicles aren’t usually the most sought-after, but given the fully-imported CLA 200’s healthy reception here in Malaysia, it surely couldn’t hurt too much if Mercedes-Benz Malaysia decided to bring in a few CLA Shooting Brake units with a “try and see” approach, could it? This thing looks too pretty to not see here.
In any case, even if the CLA-Class Shooting Brake doesn’t make an official Malaysian debut, there’s always an “indent order” worth considering – allowing you to directly order any Mercedes-Benz vehicle you want (some terms apply) from your local authorised dealer.


Buy New Goodyear Tyres This Raya And Win A New Honda City Or 10 Years Worth Of Tyre Supply

In preparation for the influx of vehicles on the road during the upcoming Hari Raya season, Goodyear Malaysia, through its Ramadhan and Hari Raya Promotion (Ramadhan and Raya – Goodyear Win a car) is offering Malaysians the opportunity to purchase a new set of tyres at an attractive offer.
During the campaign period which runs from 1st May to 30th June 2019, those who purchase selected Goodyear tyres will stand the chance to win a new Honda City, as well as 10 years’ worth of tyre supplies.
Customers can opt for two different sets of promotions – While the first one features high-end tyres such as the Eagle F1 Asymmetric series, EfficientGrip series, Run on Flat (ROF), and Eagle F1 Directional 5 series, the second promotion is for the more affordable options like the Assurance TripleMax series, Wrangler TripleMax, and the Optilife range.
Part of this promotion also includes the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance (EGP) and SUV tyre, as well as the Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 (ATM2).
Customers who buy a pair of tyres from any of the offered tyre model listed above, are entitled to one entry for the lucky draw for the grand prize.
Meanwhile, those who purchase four new tyres from the list of high-end tyres can also redeem an in-car charger that doubles as an air freshener.
To join the lucky draw, customers will only need to register for the Worry-Free Assurance programme via Goodyear Malaysia’s official website.


Volkswagen Hari Raya Promotion – VW Models From RM25/day

In conjunction with the upcoming Raya festivities, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is running a special festive campaign offering Volkswagen models from as low as RM25/day.
From now till 31st July 2017, customers can enjoy cash rebates and savings on selected models such as the Polo, Vento, Jetta, Golf, Passat Comfortline and Trendline, including the
recently launched
 Tiguan Comfortline.
Model
Available from
Savings
Polo
RM 25/day
RM 7,000
Vento
RM 25/day
RM 11,000
Jetta
RM 35/day
RM 10,000
Golf
RM 45/day
RM 21,000
Passat Comfortline
RM 51/day
RM 15,000
Passat Trendline
RM 51/day
RM 15,000
Tiguan Comfortline
RM 51/day
RM 5,000
Daily costs have been calculated based on a 9-year loan tenure. Visit your nearest Volkswagen dealership to find out more.


Genesis Fully Outs The GV70, Korea’s Own X3/GLC Slayer

The luxury marque
spawned from under the Hyundai
 Motor Group, Genesis, has been making some strong headway in its rather brief existence. Though the brand has only been around for the past 5 years, they've amassed a pretty wide and impressive spectrum of cars to which their newest, the GV70, is the cherry on top.

You might have seen this sleek SUV in some preview images trickled out over the past few months, but here is Genesis opening the floodgates with a full information and gallery dump for our viewing and analysing pleasure.

Naturally, the GV70 sits below the larger GV80, which was introduced back in January. That being said, both have plenty in common in terms of styling, powertrain options, and overall equipment set. The only real separators here are the dimensions, and though smaller, we reckon nobody would label this GV70 as appreciably more compact. With a 2,875mm wheelbase and 4,715mm overall length, it's not lacking in footprint, which should be plenty of interior space too.

We’ll leave the styling verdict up to you, but to us its profile does remind us of the Infiniti QX70 while its front end is certainly making full use of the marque’s distinctive large grille design and split headlight array. Overall, it's very nicely done..

Hyundai, as a rule, has never really been very fond of a maintaining overly large pool of engines for their car brands at any given time, so here with the GV70 we do see plenty of repetition with other models in the luxury-oriented Genesis stable. In fact, the last time we saw these engines they were being used to tout the larger GV80.

Though this newest SUV misses out on the more evolved 3.0-litre Smartstream inline-6 turbodiesel,  the GV70 is kicking things off with a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, though here its enhancements have meant shedding its familiar
CRDi
 moniker to also adopt the
Smartstream
 designation, pumping out 210PS and 440Nm.

Petrol power, on the other hand, is represented by a 2.5-litre Smartstream turbocharged four-cylinder with an decently athletic 304PS and 422Nm. At the top of the range is the 3.5-litre Smartstream, a twin turbocharged V6 that’s traces its roots to the Kia Stinger GT’s powerplant. It generates an impressive 380PS and 530Nm that allows it rocket to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds.

All engines are mated to the same 8-speed automatic transmission, and while GV70s equipped with the V6 come standard with all-wheel drive, it is an optional extra on the the smaller turbo-petrol and diesel units, which come by default with rear-wheel drive.

Also optional is the Sport Package which peppers the exterior and cabin with some very tasteful cosmetic items that effectively lend it a more aggressive presence and opens the customisation up to unique exterior colours and interior trim choices. It throws in sportier wheels in either 19-inch or 21-inch varieties, as you might expect, but the package also includes an Electronic Limited Slip Differential for improved dynamics.

Moving inside, the GV70 looks really impressive just as a visual piece here. As mentioned, there are plenty of customisation options available for each customer, but it seems every combination has been carefully selected to blend in well with the cabin’s aesthetic and material selection.

It looks like the interior elements themselves have been developed in a wind tunnel, somehow. There are buttons and rotary knobs that are finely finished yet clutter is still kept to a minimal. In fact, even starting up this SUV is done with a fingerprint reader built into the centre stack. The climate control vents are barely noticeable and that huge 14.5-inch infotainment screen is unmissable from its top perch but still manages to be somewhat discreet thanks to a very wide aspect ratio.

Especially nice is the HVAC controls which integrate themselves around analogue controls and a seamless digital readout behind it. The instrument cluster is fully digital too, of course. Genesis has also stuffed every active safety feature they have into the GV70, including AEB, blind spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, driver attention warning, intelligent cruise control, and a 360-degree all-round view monitor to name a few.

Like all Genesis cars, none of them have made their way to Malaysian shores (unless you count the
Hyundai Genesis
 sedan brought here in 2015) with the closest official market being Australia. It’s a real shame as, given how much the brand has managed to prove to us (and the world) so far, there will likely not be a shortage of buyers should they decide to expand their list of available territories.


BMW Driver Training 2017 - Back To Basics

The name BMW is often associated with its driver-focused lineup of vehicles. However, the Bavarian-based company is also well known for its driver training program that they organize a couple of times a year.
Closer to home, BMW Malaysia regularly organizes its BMW Driver Training program at the Sepang Circuit.
BMW’s annual Driver Training program aims to develop better drivers on the road. Their course structure is designed in a way that it covers all the basis, from correct seating position to correct steering wheel holding method.
Basics aside, we truly appreciate what BMW has done for its Driver Training program, as we feel that the driving courses offered by the boys from Bavaria allows the driver to properly understand and control their vehicle, be it in a regular or emergency situation.
Several specially-designed exercises await those who sign up for the one-day long BMW Driver Training program, including Brake Steer Avoid, Straight Line Hard Braking, Emergency Lane Change plus understanding oversteer and understeer in a vehicle.
Personally, the one exercise I was looking forward to was the oversteer exercise, where participants had to switch DSC off and drive on a specially-prepared section of the Sepang Circuit car park.
We started off with an understeer exercise, which allowed us to properly understand how understeering happens and how to correct it.  After the understeering exercise, the oversteer exercise was a different ballgame altogether. While it was easy to correct an understeering vehicle by reducing throttle input, correcting an oversteering vehicle certainly took more finesse.
With that said, once DSC was switched back on, the BMW 420i demo cars used for the exercises avoided both understeer and oversteer situations with no fuss. Brakes were applied on the wheels that were slipping and power to the engine was cut, all done within mili-seconds.
The goal of this exercise is to highlight the importance of having electronic stability control in a vehicle. More often than not, avoidable accidents occur because one of the vehicles involved is not fitted with stability control. While it is fun to have the rear end sliding around for experienced drivers, a beginner may panic and end up crashing.
In a nutshell, the BMW Driver Training program is an excellent platform for both novice and advanced drivers seeking to improve their driving skills. After all, once they are done with the Advanced level, drivers can opt for the Intensive level, which we will be covering in the near future.


2022 Proton Iriz vs 2022 Proton Iriz Active vs 2022 Perodua Myvi

Can the new 2022 MC2 Iriz and its newly added 2022 Active variant steal some sales away from the 2022 Myvi? Or is it just a case of too little too late?

Now that Proton has
updated
 the Iriz once again and added another variant to its lineup, how does it stack up against the 'King of the Road', the Myvi?

The third-generation Myvi has been around for almost four years now, and despite not having any
mid-life updates
, it is still considered by many as the perfect run around town vehicle.

The Iriz on the other hand, has been around since 2014, and while it received an update in 2017 (Proton Iriz MC1) so that it can be competitive with the newer third-generation Myvi, it was still an older car that really couldn't match the third-generation Myvi's up to date build and overall satisfying package.

After that, many expected Proton to faze out the Iriz, especially due to Geely's acquisition of a stake in Proton in 2017, which promised new ideas and cars.

But the Iriz MC1 wasn't a swansong after all because here we are in 2021, yet with another
updated Iriz (MC2)
. However,  it'll probably be its last, because there are talks of a new generation Iriz to be launched in the coming years.

Despite giving all 2022 MC2 Iriz variants some major upgrades in the
transmission department
, which has now made it more pleasurable and economical to drive, it's actually the new
2022 Active
 variant with its rugged styling that has stolen the limelight.

The additional styling inside and out of the 2022 Iriz Active has given many the illusion that it is a new car, which to some might just be anough to sway their decision to buy the Proton instead of the Perodua.

Despite this, can the new regular and dolled up Iriz take sales away from the 'King of the Road'?

Let's take a look at the table down below to find out how they stack up against each other.

2022 Perodua Myvi 1.5L AV vs 2022 Proton Iriz 1.6L Executive vs 2022 Proton Iriz Active

Index

Perodua Myvi

1.5L AV

Proton Iriz

1.6L Executive

Proton Iriz

Active

MSRP

RM53k

RM48k

RM55k

Engine Size

1.5 litre

1.6 litre

1.6 litre

Horsepower

102@6,000

108@5,750

108@5,750

Torque (Nm)

167@4,200

150@4,000

150@4,000

Transmission

CVT

CVT

CVT

0-100km/h

11.5 sec

11.6 sec

12 sec

Fuel Economy (l/100km)

5

6.7

7

Wheels (inch)

15"

16"

16"

Kerb Weight (kg)

1015

1178

1185

Dimensions

Length X Width X Height (mm)

3895 x 1735 x 1515

3945 x 1722 x 1564

3965 x 1740 x 1574

Boot Space (litres)

277

215

215

Airbags

6

6

6

Safety

ABS, EBD, stability control, traction control, hill start assist, ASA 2.0 - pre-collision warning, pre-collision braking, front departure alert, pedal misoperation control, pedestrian detection

ABS, EBD, stability control, traction control, EBD, hill start assist

ABS, EBD, stability control, traction control, EBD, hill start assist

Despite our optimistic expectations, the comparison table truly proves a
predictable outcome
, putting the 2022 Myvi ahead mainly because of the car's extensive safety features. The Myvi is also much better in a couple of other departments, including important ones such as fuel consumption and boot space. The rest of the Myvi's features is comparable with the Iriz, but on paper anyway is still better than the Proton.

Yes, the Myvi is an RM5k premium over the top-spec 2022 Iriz Executive, but in monthly hire purchase terms over nine years, the difference is negligible.

We know Proton have worked hard on improving the Iriz, but even with a
12% better fuel economy
 rating compared to the MC1, it is still is not enough to make the Iriz an EEV (energy efficient vehicle) vehicle, unlike the Myvi.

We guess the only thing going for the 2022 Iriz Executive is how it drives, especially when you combine the new
CVT upgrades
 with the famed Proton handling which makes the car livelier than before. If you want this
lively driving sensation
 with rugged exterior styling and a sporty feeling interior, then the 2022 Iriz Active is the one to go for.

We really didn't think much of the car's interior before we sat in it, but the inside really does impress you, with its red accents, blacked-out headliner, and red seatbelts. We know it's a bit of a gimmick, but it is one that has been tastefully done.

With every car, it's sometimes not about whether its better here or there compared to its competitors, but it's all about whether the car speaks to you, and we're pretty sure the 2022 Iriz Active will be speaking to a lot of Malaysians, thus stealing some sales from the 'King of the Road'.


New Honda Insight Will Be A Left-Hand-Drive Only Model, Unlikely To Come To Malaysia

Revealed as a prototype last month at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the
new Honda Insight
, which has been reborn as a handsome Sedan will enter production and reach the first batch of owners in America later this year.
However, unlike the previous Insight, Honda has announced that the new one will be a left-hand drive only model, which means that there is no chance for it to reach our shores.
Positioned above the Civic in Honda’s lineup, the new Insight will be offered with a highly-efficient 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine, paired to Honda’s two-motor hybrid system.
Honda says that the all-new Insight offers refined driving performance plus high fuel efficiency, capable of returning at least 21 km/L.
It is said that Honda Sensing will also fitted as standard across the range, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and new Traffic Sign Recognition.
That being said, the release of the Insight later this year marks the next step in Honda’s plans to make two-thirds of its global vehicle sales electrified models by 2030.


LEAKED: All-New Audi R8 Is Out Of The Bag Before 2015 Geneva Motor Show

Woops. Here’s another secret that’s been let out of the bag before its big debut at the coming Geneva Motor Show: the all-new
Audi R8
. Spotted on Spanish motoring website
Motor Pasion
, the image you see above has spread across the web rather quickly.
Audi
 hasn’t yet responded or reacted to the leak (manufacturers sometimes do by releasing a full gallery of the car after it’s been leaked out), so for now, it’s just the one image for your viewing.
Recapping what we already know, the German supercar will ride on the same architecture as its Italian cousin, the Lamborghini Huracan, and will feature two versions: an R8 V10 with 540hp, and a more potent R8 V10 Plus with 610hp – no more V8s it seems, only 5.2-litre V10s here.
Included in the dismissals is an option of a manual transmission, with the four-ringed manufacturer only offering a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox.
On towards the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, then.
Other Audi R8 News:
Audi Teases 2016 R8 With New Laser Headlight Technology
VIDEO: All-New Audi R8 Caught On Track With Howling V10


BMW Z4 sDrive30i M Sport updated for 2022 - RM508,800

BMW Malaysia has launched the updated
2022 BMW Z4 sDrive30i M Sport
 for the local market with a more dynamic performance.

Priced at RM508,800 (on-the-road excluding insurance), the BMW two-seater open-top premium roadster is said to have a more luxurious and sportier ride thanks to the newly-added enhancements.

New kidney grille & side air intakes

The newly-updated BMW Z4 sDrive30i M Sport now features a new kidney grille structure with new horizontal lines added to the mesh design. The front end is further enhanced with newly-designed side air intakes and M high-gloss Shadowline with extended contents.

For the 'more luxurious and sportier ride' portion of the car, the new BMW Z4 is now fitted with Adaptive M suspension together with a new set of double-spoke 19-inch M light alloy wheels. These new additions work together with the Z4's already available Steptronic Sport transmission and the M Sport brake.

New 'Aluminium Mesheffect' interior trim

The interior for the updated 2022 BMW Z4 has also been refreshed with interior trim finishers in 'Aluminium Mesheffect'. Other notable features from the pre-updated version have been maintained such as the BMW Head-Up Display, Driving and Parking Assistant, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, and M Sport seats wrapped with Leather Vernasca upholstery.

For the price of RM508,800, customers can opt between the current exterior colours of Alpine White, Black Sapphire and San Francisco Red or the newly-added options of Skyscraper Grey, Thundernight Metallic and Portimao Blue. These can be matched with four different interior configurations.


New Volkswagen Passat Facelift and New Arteon Coming Soon

During a recent roundtable meeting with Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) management, it was revealed that the new Passat facelift and new Arteon will be introduced here within the second half of 2019.
First introduced at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the Volkswagen Arteon was later previewed at the 2018 Premium Auto Car Expo (PACE). That particular unit was powered by a 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine that does 280 PS and 350 Nm, sent to all four wheels via Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Essentially a fastback version of the Passat, the Arteon is positioned as the flagship model in Volkswagen’s line-up. Further separating the Arteon apart from the Passat are the frameless doors. As for the interior, the Arteon is similar to the Passat.
Apart from the Arteon, VPCM also mentioned that the facelifted Passat will be arriving later this year.
The facelifted B8-generation Passat was introduced at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March, where the updated model was the first Volkswagen to receive Travel Assist – a system that enables partial automated driving at speeds between 0 to 210 km/h.
In addition to the Travel Assist, the Passat facelift also receives the new third generation Modular Infotainment Matrix (MIB).
Technology aside, the new Passat facelift also receives some visual updates, including a new front and rear fascia plus new wheel design.
Looking for a new Volkswagen? Find the best deals
here
.


MOF: Toyota Vellfire Lebih Jimat Kos Sewaan Berbanding Proton Perdana

Penukaran Kenderaan Rasmi Jawatan (KRJ) daripada model Proton Perdana 2.4 Premium kepada
Toyota Vellfire
 2.5L, dapat menjimatkan perbelanjaan sewaan kenderaan kerajaan.

Kementerian Kewangan (
MOF
) dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan kos sewa bulanan bagi Toyota Vellfire 2.5L adalah lebih rendah, iaitu RM4,851.61 berbanding Proton Perdana 2.4 Premium (RM4,854.41), lapor Berita Harian.

"Penukaran model KRJ juga dibuat berikutan penamatan pengeluaran Proton Perdana 2.4 Premium pada 2014," menurut kenyataan itu.

*Kredit foto: Malaysiakini

Baru-baru ini, tular dalam media sosial mengenai penggunaan Toyota Vellfire 2.5L bagi menggantikan model Proton Perdana 2.4 Premium sebagai
kenderaan rasmi Jemaah Menteri
, apabila proses penggantiannya dimulakan pada April lalu.

Ini berikutan kenyataan di Facebook Ahli Parlimen Bayan Baru, Sim Tze Tzin pada 3 November lalu yang mengulas tentang "bantuan kereta Vellfire sebanyak RM5,759.35 sebulan" kepada Jemaah Menteri diikuti dengan ucapan tahniah.

Sim mengulas soalan lisannya di Dewan Rakyat yang bertanya kepada
Menteri Kewangan
, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz mengenai kos penyediaan Vellfire sebagai KRJ sejak Mac 2020, dan kos bulanan pajakan kenderaan mewah itu daripada syarikat konsesi, Spanco.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Menerusi jawapan bertulis yang diberikan,
Tengku Zafrul
 berkata kerajaan telah memulakan proses penggantian daripada Proton Perdana 2.4L kepada Toyota Vellfire 2.5L sejak April tahun ini.

"Kos pajakan bulanan terdiri daripada RM4,851.61 untuk kos sewa bulanan dan RM907.74 untuk kos penyelenggaraan. Kerajaan juga telah membayar kos pajakan sebanyak RM1.42 juta kepada syarikat konsesi sehingga September," kata Tengkul Zafrul.

Menurutnya lagi, cadangan penukaran model KRJ itu telah dipertimbangkan ketika pentadbiran kerajaan terdahulu, namun hanya dilaksanakan tahun ini.


ACOTY 2016: Mazda, Honda and Mercedes-Benz Win At ASEAN Car of the Year 2016

The Mazda CX-5 has emerged as the Overall Winner of the ASEAN Car of the Year 2016. The facelifted CX-5, with improved styling and a wider range of engines that now includes a 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D diesel, narrowly edged out the second-placed Honda Civic and third-placed Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The race to the top-three spots was so fiercely contested that the winning trio are separated by just slightly more than 2 points. Trailing just 1.77 points behind the Mazda CX-5 is the Honda Civic, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is just 0.56 points further behind.

The all-new Honda Civic was the clear favourite among motoring journalists, but it had to concede to the Mazda CX-5 in overall scores as the Mazda secured slightly more votes from vehicle owners and after-sales services partners.

Only models that are sold across Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia (the three largest car markets in the ASEAN region) from January to August 2016, with the highest scores in their respective categories, are eligible for the overall ASEAN Car of the Year awards.

The ASEAN Car of the Year Award is the most transparent, fair and comprehensive award of its kind as the winners are decided by three independent groups; 30 motoring journalists from 18 publications in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand evaluated the product attributes of each model, while over 350 consumers voted on their ownership experience. In addition to this, automotive after-sales services consultant ACS AsiaPac and third-party warranty services provider Opal also evaluated each model’s reliability and after-sales.

Organised by iCar Asia, publisher of Carlist.my, the ASEAN Car of the Year is now in its second year running, and is a non-profit award. There are no participation fees to attend the prize giving ceremony and the commercial rights to the ASEAN Car of the Year logo are given free of charge to the winning brands.

“Congratulations to Mazda, Honda and Mercedes-Benz for their winnings in this year’s ASEAN Car of the Year Award. Clearly, this is a direct result of their efforts in delivering the right products at the right price and engaging their customers in ASEAN in the right manner,” said Mr. Hamish Stone, CEO of iCar Asia Limited, the organizer of the ASEAN Car of the Year 2016.

He also added, “With our market leading automotive portals in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, iCar Asia is committed to better serve car buyers by giving them the best tools to shop and compare cars. Our portals, and the car buying audiences that they attract, provide car manufacturers with the most effective digital tools to engage car buyers in this region. The ASEAN Car of the Year is the only award of its kind in this region and is one of iCar Asia’s many efforts to grow ASEAN’s new car market.”

Mr. Bobby Ang, Secretary General of ASEAN Car of the Year also added, “My goal of establishing the ASEAN Car of the Year awards, and to keep it running every year as a non-profit, transparent initiative, is to establish ASEAN’s equivalent to other regional Car of the Year awards in Europe and North America. In doing so, we hope to reward car makers’ hard work in improving and introducing better cars for the ASEAN region, which is currently ranked among the top-ten largest automotive markets in the world.”

Liberty Insurance is the official industry partner for this year's event.

In addition to regional honours, ACOTY also gives out country-level awards, with vehicles categorized into segments that reflect the buying pattern of consumers in each country. For the Malaysian market, a total of 24 category awards were given.

ASEAN CAR OF THE YEAR 2016 – MALAYSIA CATEGORY

Budget Car of the Year:
Proton Iriz

Compact Hatch of the Year:
Mazda 2 Hatchback

Compact Sedan of the Year:
Mazda 2 Sedan

Family Hatch of the Year:
Mazda 3 Hatchback

Family Sedan of the Year:
Honda Civic

Executive Car of the Year:
Mazda 6

Budget MPV of the Year:
Toyota Sienta

Mid-Size MPV of the Year:
Nissan Serena S-Hybrid

Large MPV of the Year
: Honda Odyssey

Crossover of the Year:
Mazda CX-3

Mid-Size SUV of the Year:
Mazda CX-5

Large SUV of the Year:
Nissan X-Trail

Premium Compact Car of the Year:
Volvo V40

Premium Family Car of the Year:
Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Premium Executive Car of the Year:
Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Limousine of the Year:
Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Premium Compact SUV of the Year:
BMW X1

Premium Mid-Size SUV of the Year:
Volvo XC60

Luxury SUV of the Year:
Volvo XC90

Driver’s Car of the Year:
Volkswagen Golf R

Performance Car of the Year:
Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster

Coupe/Cabrio of the Year:
Audi TT

Grand Tourer of the Year:
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

Pick-up Truck of the Year:
Ford Ranger


Budget 2016: RM900 million earmarked for Jalan Tun Razak

Being the backbone of transportation between KL much of the popular parts of the Klang Valley, Jalan Tun Razak has gained an infamous reputation for congestion, but that might change soon as Prime Minister Najib Razak has announced a total of RM900 million been set aside to resolve traffic issues on Jalan Tun Razak, at the tabling to the government’s 2016 annual budget today.
The figure is part of the government’s commitment in improving logistic infrastructure through the improvisation of rural roads, and the expansion of the LRT and MRT rail network. These include a plan to build or improve the following highways:
Damansara to Shah Alam
Sungai Besi to Ulu Klang
Pulau Indah
Central Spine Road
Najib didn't elaborate any further on the measures taken to improve traffic conditions in the capital. The government has also outlined an additional RM1.4 billion to be used on improving or upgrading the quality of up to 700km of roads in rural areas next year.


Reduce Road Tax For Older Vehicles - Proposal To JPJ

In an unprecedented move, the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Associations of Malaysia (FMCCAM) is proposing that JPJ considers reducing the road tax for older vehicles.

This came about during FMCCAM's annual general meeting as reported by The Star.

The proposal is as follows:

75% discount for vehicles that are more than 15 years old

50% discount for vehicles that are more than 10 years old

25% discount for vehicles that are five years old

This idea was presented by FMCCAM's president Datuk Tony Khor to Minister of Transport, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

"On the proposal to reduce road tax for cars that are more than 10 years old, the matter must be looked at holistically to ensure the outcome will benefit the majority,” Wee said.

Cheaper road tax for older vehicles?

While there were no commitments or timelines put in place by our MOT, the fact that an idea has been planted and might take fruit perhaps is a reason for some cautious optimism.

By the way, we hope you've moved towards renewing your road tax online, I mean do you really want to line up and wait. Here's a
handy guide
 if it's that time again.

At present, there is no reduction of road taxes for older cars that are kept on the road. Many of these cars have been lovingly restored, given a second breath of life instead of ending up in a scrapyard. It is high time we make some concessions for the classics that we see plying our streets.

This road tax reduction if does come to fruition will benefit many of the older high engine displacement models that are painstakingly kept on the road by dedicated owners.

Classic/ vintage car road tax Malaysia

Of course, you could go the route of applying for a vintage/ classic road tax for your classic rides but that option is tedious and challenging, not to mention it only applies to cars 25 years and older.

If you're wondering how to go about applying for a vintage/ classic road tax, we've covered the A-Z
here
.

Does the Malaysian road tax system need an overhaul, a rethink? Let us know what you think, and if you're thinking of transitioning into an EV anytime soon, here's an article on
EV road tax
 that will interest you.

Of course, for now, EVs are enjoying ZERO road tax until 2025. We are
hopeful
 that in this window a more comprehensive, streamlined system for EV road tax will emerge.


Bentley's First Ever SUV Promises Luxury, Finally Receives A Name

If you have been eagerly awaiting for Bentley’s first SUV, good news! The vehicle, due to be revealed to the world later this year has finally been christened a name:
Bentley
 Bentayga.

Previously, the British car maker teased its luxury palace on wheels in a series of videos of it driving around in the desert.

Now, they’ve released even more videos to trace the development of its luxury SUV, which is derived from the EXP 9F concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

With Bentley promising that the Bentayga will be the most luxurious and expensive SUV in the world, the top-of-the-line
Range Rover
 certainly has its hands full in welcoming new competition.


Pengeluar Tempatan Dominasi Pasaran - Perodua Catat Jualan Tertinggi Untuk Januari 2021

Tahukah anda, lebih separuh daripada jumlah jualan kenderaan dalam pasaran negara ini disumbangkan oleh
Perodua
?

Berdasarkan data yang dikeluarkan oleh Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA), sebanyak 32,829 unit kenderaan telah berjaya dijual di negara ini pada bulan Januari 2021. Walau bagaimanapun, jumlah jualan kenderaan di pasaran Malaysia pada bulan lalu menurun sebanyak 23.5% atau 10,113 unit berbanding bulan yang sama pada tahun 2020.

Daripada 32,829 unit kenderaan yang dijual pada bulan lalu, lebih separuh (51.4%) daripada jumlah tersebut disumbangkan oleh Perodua dengan mencatatkan jualan sebanyak 16,887 unit. Walaupun berkurang sebanyak 8,296 unit berbanding Disember tahun lalu, Perodua masih kekal pengeluar nombor satu di negara ini.

Perodua telah pun mendominasi pasaran meskipun model terbaru mereka,
Perodua Ativa
 masih belum dilancarkan. Bayangkan sekiranya model tersebut telah berada di pasaran, adakah jumlah jualan Perodua akan melambung naik lagi?

Sementara itu, satu lagi pengeluar kenderaan tempatan, Proton berada di tempat kedua dengan menjual sebanyak 5,964 unit pada bulan lalu. Meskipun berada di tempat kedua, Proton gagal mencapai lima angka jumlah jualan seperti Perodua. Jika nak dibandingkan dengan jualan Proton pada Disember 2020, mereka menjual 6,806 unit lebih banyak berbanding Januari 2021, iaitu sebanyak 12,770 unit. Adakah pelancaran
Special Edition
 Proton seperti Iriz dan Saga R3 serta Exora dan Persona Black Edition akan membantu menaikkan jualan Proton untuk 11 bulan akan datang?

Perodua dan Proton yang muncul sebagai Top 2 dalam pasaran Malaysia menyaksikan jenama tempatan mendominasi pasaran dengan 69.9% bagi bulan Januari 2021. Peratusan ini amat tinggi sebenarnya dan dah lama kedua-dua jenama tempatan ini tidak mencapai tahap peratusan seperti ini.

Sementara itu,
Toyota
 berada ditempat ketiga dengan menjual sebanyak 3,828 unit kenderaan pada Januari lalu. Melalui jumlah tersebut, sebanyak 2,450 unit merupakan kenderaan penumpang manakala 1,378 unit merupakan kenderaan komersial.

Honda
 berada ditangga keempat setelah menjual 1,457 unit bulan lalu. Tidak seperti Toyota, Honda tidak mempunyai kenderaan komersial jadi jumlah keseluruhan jualan bulan lalu 100% datang daripada kenderaan penumpang. Terdapat pengurangan sebanyak 10,118 unit berbanding Disember 2020.

Mitsubishi
 turut menunjukkan perkembangan baik setelah menduduki tangga kelima dengan menjual 1,148 unit kenderaan berbanding 1,643 unit pada disember lalu. Daripada jumlah tersebut, 639 unit merupakan kenderaan komersial manakala 509 merupakan kenderaan penumpang.

Secara keseluruhan, angka jualan bulan Januari 2021 berkurang 52.3% daripada 68,836 unit yang dijual pada Disember 2020. Walaupun perbezaan itu agak besar, penurunan ini sudah dijangka oleh MAA ekoran orang ramai yang berpusu-pusu membeli kenderaan kerana mereka menyangka tempoh pengecualian SST yang diberikan kerajaan bakal berakhir pada hujung tahun lalu. Pembelian panik tersebut telah menyebabkan sesetengah pengeluar menghadapi masalah seperti kekurangan stok.

Meskipun bilik pameran dibenarkan beroperasi sepanjang
Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP)
 yang dilaksanakan semula oleh kerajaan pada 13 Januari 2021 lalu, ia turut menyumbang kepada penurunan jumlah kunjungan orang ramai ke bilik pameran.

COVID-19 bukan sahaja memberi ancaman kepada pembeli, malah pengeluar kenderaan turut mengalami masalah seperti bekalan komponen yang tidak mencukupi akibat penutupan operasi sebahagian pembekal automotif. Nak tengok contoh mudah, tengok
Proton X50
 sahaja. Berapa lama tempoh menunggu untuk mendapatkan model tu?

Namun jumlah jualan bulan lalu tidak mencerminkan prestasi jualan sesetengah pengeluar kenderaan pada tahun ini. Ada lagi 11 bulan lagi. Macam-macam boleh berlaku dalam 11 bulan seperti pelancaran model baharu dan lain-lain. Mampukah Perodua kekalkan kedudukan mereka untuk 11 bulan akan datang dengan kemunculan Perodua Ativa?


Drive Home A Brand New Toyota With UMW Toyota Motor's CNY Deals

Leading up to the festive season, UMW Toyota Motor has announced its Chinese New Year sales campaign with deals on offer for various Toyota models. So head on over to Toyota showrooms nationwide to check them out.
In addition, customers will also stand to receive a special ‘Ang Pow’ from Toyota that offers attractive deals for the
Vios
,
Camry
,
Hilux
 or
Altis
 model. These offers are only valid while stocks last.
For more enquiries, please call 1-800-8-TOYOTA (1-800-8-869682). More information can be obtained at all Toyota showrooms nationwide or at
www.toyota.com.my


Why did Proton Kill Off The Manual Variants Of The Persona and Iriz?

With the launch of the recent 2022 Proton Iriz and Persona MC2, you might have noticed that there are no manual transmissions on offer anymore from either the Iriz or Persona so why did Proton kill off the manual variants of the Persona and Iriz?

The 2022
Proton Iriz range
 now consists of the base 1.3L Standard CVT, 1.6L Executive CVT, and a range-topping new variant called the
1.6L Active CVT
. On the other hand, the
Persona range
 consists of the base 1.6L Standard CVT, 1.6L Executive CVT and the range-topping 1.6L Premium CVT.

Just as the name suggests, all models are equipped with a CVT transmission, so if you're looking for a
manual Iriz
 or Persona, you'd have to buy its predecessors, as Proton has discontinued manual versions of the dynamic duo.

When Proton launched the MC1 Iriz and Persona in 2019, they still gave people the option to opt for a manual version of either vehicle, but according to Proton's Vehicle Program Executive, Adzrai Aziz bin Ibrahim, the discontinuation of manual cars is a practice of
variant rationalisation
 as there was little demand for manual versions of the vehicles.

According to Proton, only 3% of Iriz's and Personas sold were manual transmission, and with 5% of vehicle TIV for Proton (529,324 units) being manual cars, it's pretty much safe to say that the demand for manual Proton cars is dead.

According to Adzrai, manual variants had to be dropped because the demand for manual variants was declining, so it was better to save resources and use them to improve
other aspects
 of the car.

This is a form of product optimisation, which most companies undertake once they know a particular product is not profitable or sellable.

But kudos must be given to Proton for offering a manual version of these cars for the longest of time. The Iriz and third-generation Persona have been around since 2016, and Proton has been offering them with manual transmissions since the get-go. It's only recently that Proton has discontinued the manual variants.

With the younger generation treating cars as an appliance, it's not surprising to see that a car that requires manual labour is not sellable.

Let's be honest really, with traffic jams and congested Malaysian roads, do you still see people
buying manual cars
 using them as daily drivers? Even taxi drivers who used to prefer manual cars are now using automatic cars, especially with automatic cars becoming more fuel-efficient and
straightforward to drive
.

So the next time you decide to moan or complain about the death of manual transmission cars or models first ask yourself when was the last time you or your friends bought a new manual transmission car?