Larangan Penggunaan Skuter Elektrik Di Jalan Raya – Masih Ramai Yang Ingkar?

Penggunaan skuter elektrik semakin berleluasa di sekitar Kuala Lumpur tetapi tahukah anda bahawa
skuter
 elektrik ini dilarang untuk digunakan di atas jalan raya?

Sebelum pembukaan rentas negeri, ramai warga kota dilihat keluar untuk berjalan-jalan serta beriadah di sekitar pusat bandar mahupun taman-taman awam. Aktiviti ini diserikan lagi dengan kedatangan skuter elektrik sewa milik Beam, sebuah syarikat perkhidmatan mobiliti e-skuter peribadi dari Singapura.

Setelah beberapa
kelonggaran
 seperti kebenaran
rentas negeri
 diberikan dan orang ramai mula kembali bekerja di pejabat, penggunaan skuter elektrik ini menjadi semakin popular dalam kalangan masyarakat kerana ia memudahkan pergerakan khususnya mereka yang berjalan kaki dan menaiki pengangkutan awam ke tempat kerja.

*Kredit foto: The Star

Tetapi dalam keseronokan menggunakan skuter elektrik, ramai yang kelihatan seakan-akan terlupa bahawa skuter tersebut telah dilarang penggunaannya di atas
jalan raya
 bermula 1 Januari 2021. Namun masih ada individu yang dikesan menggunakan skuter elektrik di atas jalan raya tanpa menghiraukan larangan tersebut.

*Kredit foto: Metro TV

Bermula awal tahun ini, penggunaan skuter elektrik di atas jalan raya atau kawasan selain yang digazetkan di ibu negara adalah dilarang. Tindakan undang-undang di bawah Akta Pengangkutan Jalan (APJ) 1987 boleh dikenakan terhadap individu yang ingkar.

Penunggang skuter elektrik yang didapati bergerak di atas jalan raya akan dikenakan denda RM300 untuk kesalahan pertama, maksimum RM1,000 untuk kesalahan seterusnya atau penjara tiga bulan akan dikenakan di bawah APJ 1987

Sebaliknya, apa-apa jenis skuter elektrik sama ada milik persendirian mahupun sewa hanya dibenarkan untuk digunakan di kawasan yang dibenarkan seperti taman-taman permainan, kawasan pejalan kaki dan kawasan sekitar pusat beli-belah di ibu negara.

Larangan tersebut diberikan kerana kehadiran skuter elektrik di jalan raya boleh mengganggu pengguna jalan raya yang lain disamping berisiko untuk terlibat dalam kemalangan jalan raya. Larangan penggunaan skuter ini di jalan raya juga dilaksanakan atas aduan yang diterima daripada orang awam.

Sementara itu, tular satu gambar dimana seorang lelaki didapati menggunakan
unicycle
 elektrik di jalan raya. Melalui gambar, lelaki tersebut didapati menggunakan topi keledar, sarung tangan serta pelindung siku dan lutut. Tetapi adakah ianya mencukupi untuk dihalalkan penggunaannya di atas jalan?

Gambar tersebut telah mendapat pelbagai reaksi netizen, dengan rata-ratanya menyatakan bahawa
unicycle
 elektrik atau apa-apa jenis skuter elektrik tidak seharusnya digunakan di jalan raya. Walaupun penunggang tersebut tidak mengganggu lalu lintas, namun kehadirannya di jalan raya pasti mengundang bahaya ekoran perbezaan kelajuan yang ada pada skuter tersebut berbanding kenderaan lain seperti motosikal dan kereta yang turut berkongsi jalan yang sama.

Inilah padahnya apabila perancangan bandar di Kuala Lumpur ini tidak dilakukan dengan sebaiknya. Memandangkan kebanyakan jalan raya di Malaysia bertuhankan kereta dan motor, tidak banyak laluan khas untuk kegunaan
basikal
dan skuter elektrik disediakan selain daripada lokasi-lokasi tertentu di pusat bandar seperti Dataran Merdeka, KLCC dan Bukit Bintang.

Pada akhir tahun lalu, Ketua Jabatan Siasatan dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik (JSPT) Kuala Lumpur ACP Zulkefly Yahya berkata sekiranya anda ingin menggunakan skuter elektrik di jalan raya, anda perlu memohon lesen kebenaran khas daripada Ketua Jabatan Pengarah Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ).

Walau bagaimanapun, masih tiada khabar berita mengenai permohonan lesen khas tersebut. Menurut beberapa laporan, perkara ini masih sedang diperhalusi agar tidak mendatangkan beban pada mana-mana pihak. Segala urusan berkaitan lesen dan garis panduan akan dikeluarkan sekiranya ia mendapat persetujuan Persatuan Kenderaan Mikromobiliti Malaysia dan penggunanya.

Sekiranya anda merancang untuk menyewa skuter elektrik terbabit untuk meneroka kawasan sekitar Kuala Lumpur, pastikan skuter tersebut hanya digunakan di ruang siar kaki sahaja. Elakkan melalui jalan raya bagi mengurangkan risiko kemalangan selain mengelak daripada didenda ataupun dipenjara.


BMW Rolls Out The New 3 Series LCI Facelift For 2022

There’s a new BMW 3 Series on the block for the 2022 model year that brings some welcome upgrades to the 7th-generation compact executive saloon, but is it enough to keep the competition at bay?

In this mid-cycle facelift (LCI, Life Cycle Impulse in BMW-speak), the G20 has had to step up its game considerably to keep abreast with stiff competition coming from Mercedes-Benz in particular with
their all-new W206 C-Class
.

BMW 3 Series (G20) LCI - What's New?

We’ve already had a sneak peek at the obvious visual changes as well as some of the interior alterations that might have cropped up in this 3 Series refresh
thanks to the i3 that made its debut back in early April
.

Though that was a fully electric version of the G20, it did turn out to echo the regular combustion version pretty closely, evidenced by the pictures seen here. Going over the exterior, the most prominent nip and tuck treatment has been given to the front end where it adopts a larger lower central intake and more stylised side inlets.

We’re relieved the kidney grille has not been altered/enlarged to match many of the other newer,
more contentious designs from BMW
. Flanking them are a pair of slimmed-down headlights with new headlights and daytime running light signatures.

Along its side profile, you’d be hard-pressed to point out any real differences to the outgoing 3 Series that debuted in 2018. However, the rear end has clearly gone under the knife with a much more pronounced diffuser-like element from which sprouts the dual exhaust exits (on the 330i sedan and 330e Touring pictured).

It should be noted, though, that both the cars that BMW has chosen to showcase as part of this reveal are specified with the M Sport package so expect other variants to do things a little differently. Included are 18-inch M light-alloy wheels and optional adaptive suspension, among other items.

Like the exterior trim pieces up front, the rear lower sections here are finished in high gloss black, a decision sure made in an attempt to mask its visual bulk, but we’ll leave it to you to decide if this is a step forward in the looks department. Apart from this, the tail lamp housing and the illuminators within are carried over from the outgoing car.

New Curved Dashboard Display

Stepping inside, the switch to a sweeping curved display enclosure is the most visually striking centrepiece of the new 3 Series cabin. Again, this was previewed by last month’s i3 and mirrors the newest BMWs from the iX to
the more recently revealed 7 Series and i7
.

Though the instrument clusters in the Munich automakers have been digital for some time, it has always been placed within a traditional binnacle. Here, the 14.9-inch central touchscreen is paired with a 12.3-inch driver’s display, both powered by BMW’s Operating System 8 software.

A concession here is the slightly downsized air conditioning vents and a more minimal control scheme for the 3-zone climate control system since much of those features are accessed via the touch panel instead.

Another clear differentiator from the previous G20 is the gear selector, which is now controlled by a recessed toggle switch instead of the chunkier selector seen previously. The central tunnel area is considerably less cluttered as a result, but it also means it’s less likely we’ll ever see a manual from a BMW of this size again, even in the M cars.

Tweaks To Powertrain Recipe

Speaking of performance, for the most part, the powertrain selection is unchanged from the pre-facelift 3 Series. As you’ll find out, the non-M petrol flank is manned by just 2 engines. Things kick off with a 318i and 320i that uses a 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol to output 156PS and 250Nm or 184PS and 300Nm via an 8-speed ZF automatic.

New to the bunch is an entry-level PHEV called the 320e. This uses a 163PS/300Nm version of the B48 mill paired with a 109PS electric motor for a combined system output of 204PS and 350Nm.

The 330i such as the one pictured here uses the same B48 to develop a much beefier 245PS and 400Nm while the
330e plug-in hybrid
 pairs a slightly down-tuned version of this 2.0-litre mill (184PS/300Nm) to the same 109PS e-motor from the 320e. This results in a system output of 292PS and 420Nm.

The M340i still straddles the line
 between regular 3 Series and a full-on performance model. Here we find the venerable B58 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline-6 but now augmented with a 48V starter-generator MHEV system for improved efficiency and an 11PS overboost function to the engine’s 374PS and 500Nm standalone output.

This mild-hybrid setup is also given to all variants of this 3 Series LCI equipped with a diesel engine, ranging from the base 318d to the M340d and its beastly peak torque of 700Nm, but we’ll refrain from elaborating too much on this given the unlikely prospect of them being offered in Malaysia, much to our disappointment.

BMW has confirmed that the new 3 Series LCI will be rolling out to their priority markets starting in mid-year 2022, though it is still unclear how quickly it might reach Southeast Asia and Malaysia. The 3 Series Touring will only be coming in 2023, though this is even more unlikely to reach our shores.


Handbrake Turns Over Speed Bumps Don't End Well

What happens when you're driving along and see a speed bump a little too late? Do you panic? Or just calmly brake as much as you can and hope for the best? Here’s what not to do, though: jam on the handbrake and swerve sideways.
It might not look like it on first blush, but the driver in this video wasn’t just another overeager hatchback driver who wanted to show off (despite looking like one) – he’s actually trying to save himself, but failed. We’re not fans of speed bumps (is anyone?) and some of us might be quite familiar with ones that aren’t even painted properly or at all. All those ingredients were there for this unlucky guy who sent his car sideways over the not-so-high bump, leaving inertia to do the work of flipping his white hatch over.
Toward the end, you can see the driver getting out through the side window, a bystander wearing blue who witnessed the whole thing but couldn’t be bothered to do anything but sigh and mock him aloud, and the car that driver was desperate to get past very easily tackling the bump that just defeated him.


Does vehicle rebadging affect local engineers and suppliers?

The Gerakan Ekonomi Malaysia (GEM) president has voiced out his concerns regarding the current state of the
national automotive policy
 or agenda.

GEM President, Armin Baniaz Pahamin, is pushing towards the restructuring of the national car agenda as is it currently limiting opportunities and growth for the country's local talents in the particular segment.

According to a recent post by
NST
, Armin mentioned that the new automotive policy is not impacting the economic holistically, particularly when it comes to national car brands as it is now leaning more on vehicle rebadging instead of local research and development.

Armin stated "The economy is affected by the new automotive policy which is not holistic, mainly on the aspects of national cars. Groups that are most affected by this include engineers and suppliers as the number of engineers needed would lessen when most of the research and development (R&D) of a vehicle is done in other countries by external engineers."

Armin also highlighted that Malaysian-made cars like the Proton Saga, Persona, Exora, and Iriz carry the biggest economic contribution with around 80% of sales for Proton Holdings Bhd.

He also added that the latest models like the X50, X70, and X90 will impact the demand for local experts from engineers to suppliers as they bypass local R&D. Proton's shareholder, DRB-HICOM, has been urged by GEM to prioritise national car developments instead of relying on the 'rebadging' practice.


BMW Malaysia Officially Introduces The Z4, RM 479,800

Yes, with all the news and previews of the all-new BMW Z4, we are surprised as well that has only just been officially launched by BMW Malaysia. It's made available in a singular sDrive30i specification, which means it comes with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that pushes 258 hp and 400 Nm of torque, delivering power exclusively to the rear wheels through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
The price for this sun-seeking machine? RM 479,800.00 - exclusive of insurance, but with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, the free scheduled service programme, and a tyre warranty program. Monthly instalments on the Balloon Financing Plan start at RM 5,478.00 a month, based on an estimate of a 20% downpayment and a five-year tenure. Only four colours are available: San Francisco Red, Misano Blue, Black Sapphire (as shown here), and Alpine White.
As you'd expect from a modern BMW, the Z4 comes packed with the latest connected services and safety features. There's the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (love it or hate it) which occupies the entire instrument cluster, as well as a Digital Key for easier access through select Android phones that have NFC capability. Even Park Assist makes an appearance, helping with automated parking and exiting of tight parking spots with memory for up to 50 metres.
While we won't be expecting to see the higher spec M40i variant being introduced anytime soon, the Z4 has still been a model long overdue for a change, putting it far ahead of the competition that have yet to unveil their offerings in the highly niche market of two-seater luxury convertibles.
The find the best deals on BMW models, click
here
.


#SyntiumSchool: Picking The Right Kind Of Engine Oil For The Right Kind Of Engine

There are as many kinds of engines as there are shades of blue, but not all engines are built the same. How do you know what kind of oil to pick?

Engines are peculiar things. They turn fuel into heat, noise, and ultimately, power – all through the process of internal combustion. This core mechanic is what powers our cars, although not every engine is designed the same way or produces power in the same manner. Power and torque make you move. Power determines how fast your car can possibly go whereas torque is how long it takes for you to get to that maximum speed.

The thing about heat is that it’s both good and bad. If you think about it, it’s kind of like teh tarik – best when warm, but definitely not scalding hot. Teh is tarik-ed to keep it at a nice, pleasant, drinkable temperature – and that’s the same thing with engine oils. You need an oil to be warm to flow smoothly through your engine, but you definitely don’t want it to be scalding hot.

How Do Engines Work?

Almost every engine in a car today operates on the same four-stroke idea – intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust. Air and fuel goes into the engine, which is compressed and then ignited, which in turn forces the piston back down and generates the turning force that moves your wheels. This cycle is repeated over and over, thousands of times a minute in order to propel you on your journey.

All Kinds Of Shapes And Sizes

Where the differences lie are in the designs of the engine and the layouts. The most common design is known as an inline-four, where all four cylinders are in a row. These types of engines are usually liked because they’re nice and small, but that doesn’t mean that they are lacking in performance – race series such as Super GT, DTM, WRC, and World Time Attack are all dominated by machines powered by inline-four engines.

That being said, sometimes size does matter. When you want to put a bigger engine in a car, it makes more sense to start arranging the cylinders slightly differently. The V6 engine looks like two inline-three cylinder engines that are stuck together, and they usually provide bigger engine capacity for a compact overall length. The trade-off is that these engines are usually designed to provide more low-end and mid-range torque – they aren’t really happy when you push them to really high engine speeds.

Want to go even bigger? Larger capacities are usually catered for with the V8 engine, which are like two inline-four engines connected at the hip. There are two different kinds of V8 engines that have unique firing orders and characteristics, but both options are similarly designed for mid-range and low-end torque. In addition to producing a lot of power, V8s also sound amazing and unique, recognizable from a mile away.

Choosing what kind of engine is best for you is a combination of availability and purpose. There’s less importance in the actual design of the engine, and more value in the overall capacity of the engine as well as whether it is turbocharged or naturally aspirated. Larger engines naturally produce more power, as do engines with turbocharging – but fuel economy usually favours smaller capacity engines (though turbochargers help here as well!).

Taking Care Of Your Engine

While we’ve waffled on about these three engine types, the real issue that any car owner will face is how to keep their engines running happy, and for a long time. For this, there’s nothing more important than the engine oil you use, as this is what helps to lubricate all the moving components in your engine and keep them moving smoothly.

By the very nature of the combustion process, a lot of heat is generated. This heat in turn is spread throughout your engine and into your engine oil. In a twist of irony, engines actually run most efficiently when they can stay as hot as possible – but material and cost limitations don’t allow us to run them at these kinds of temperatures. Get an engine hot enough and you will literally warp the engine block and head, or lose lubrication and seize the engine – sometimes in catastrophic and explosive ways.

As a result, we have to keep our engines running at the right range of temperatures, and a top quality engine oil can deliver on these requirements – just like how the best teh tarik is just cool enough to drink, but still warms your heart. One of the most critical areas to keep cool is in what is known as your engine bearings, as these little metal surfaces are where oil is pumped into to keep things rotating smoothly. If the oil gets too hot, it tends to lose its film strength and you get metal-on-metal contact – damaging, or even sometimes outright destroying an engine. Keeping your car at optimum performance means keeping it healthy and fighting excessive engine heat.

Picking a top quality engine oil like PETRONAS Syntium, you get °CoolTech™ oil formulation that helps to fight excessive engine heat within those tight spaces, giving you strong film strength without providing excessive resistance. PETRONAS Syntium engine oils have been developed after rigorous testing on some of the most demanding test tracks around the world, designed to fight excessive engine heat that our cars face every day.

From left: PETRONAS Syntium 7000 0W-16, PETRONAS Syntium 7000 0W20, PETRONAS Syntium Hybrid 0W20, PETRONAS Syntium 3000 5W-30, PETRONAS Syntium 800 5W-30

Which of these is the right oil for you? To start, look in your owner’s manual for the recommended oil viscosity – usually two numbers in a XW-Y format (where X and Y are different numbers). From there, you can pick from a range of PETRONAS Syntium oils – PETRONAS Syntium 800 will handle all the situations you can throw at it in modern day driving, PETRONAS Syntium 3000 for optimum performance and even better driveability, and the top-of-the-line PETRONAS Syntium 7000 for the ultimate in lubrication and performance. There’s even a specific oil for hybrid vehicles, with the PETRONAS Syntium 7000 0W-20.

With PETRONAS Syntium keeping things moving smoothly in your engine, you and your car can be #DrivenByInnerCool to deliver a winning performance. Fighting that excessive engine heat means you can drive your car for longer periods of time – in short, optimum engine performance for a trouble-free drive. The broad range of engine oils from #PETRONASSyntiumMY means that you can find the right viscosity of oil, regardless of what kind of engine you have.

Test Yourself!

If you feel you understand engines and engine oils a little better now, check out this quiz on PETRONAS Syntium’s
Facebook page
, where you can also get more information on their engine oils. Always make sure to purchase your oil from a reputable source – such as all PETRONAS Mesra outlets, PETRONAS Auto Experts and independent workshops, as well as their official Shopee Store
here
. And if you like these kinds of technical articles, stay tuned for more #SyntiumSchool sessions in the coming weeks and months.


Isuzu to bring 6-speed automatic for Thai market D-Max and MU-X

The Thai market is extremely important for Isuzu, which is why it is usually the first market to receive the latest and greatest tech. Late last year they began the roll-out of their new 1.9-litre dDi engine with the facelifted MU-X and D-Max. For 2016, Isuzu has decided to swap out the 5-speed automatic unit for a newer 6-speed automatic.
The transmission will be fitted to both the 1.9-litre and 3.0-litre turbodiesel engines. It has a manual override mode called Rev-Tronic as well, much like most of the more modern pickup transmissions on the market. Rationale for this change has been centred on improving efficiency with more forward ratios to keep the rpm low at a larger range of speeds.
The updated model is expected to hit Thai showrooms by March 25
th
. For now, we only have the 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre engines powering our local Isuzu models. The former powers the locally assembled D-Max and will eventually be phased out for the 1.9 litre engine. As we import our 3.0 models from Thailand, the new transmission should mirror the Thai market rollout.


Vinfast President - Vietnam's 420hp, 6.2L V8 Flagship Luxury SUV

Vinfast is on the move again, now with a new model that flew almost completely under our radar in the form of the President, a sporty/luxury SUV that now sits on the top of the Vietnamese automaker’s line-up and powered by a thumping 6.2-litre V8.

Followers of past Vinfast models might notice that the SUV is clearly based on the company’s
existing LUX SA2.0
, but numerous styling changes are present to differentiate the two. Discounting that engine for a moment, we see a more aggressive front end treatment with wider side gills and bonnet scoop.

Perhaps these are necessary to cool the V8 lump hiding within that bonnet, one that’s more accustomed to housing a comparatively puny 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine sourced from BMW. It's certainly a huge departure from the
EV prototype
 we saw them testing.

Other touches includes a Vinfast logo finished in an optional bronze-like rose gold tint, which might be used to denote the brand’s more exclusive vehicles. Fair enough, as Vinfast says the President’s production run is limited to just 500 examples and priced at 4.6 billion Vietnam Dong, which comes to a little over RM820k in our money. Steep!

This rose gold flourish is added to other accent points throughout the exterior including the front skid plate, the window surrounds, side steps, roof rails, and even the wheels. The price of that engine alone doesn’t really justify that lofty price tag, which leads us to wonder where else are Vinfast making the President worth the money. Are those actual rose gold leafs?

Inside, the cabin is just as massive. Thanks to an abnormally stretched wheelbase that puts it longer than most European ultra-luxury SUVs except for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Legroom is extremely ample but we’d have to take Vinfast’s word on the level of opulence on offer here. From these pictures, we do see plenty of leather and wood trim, even a large panoramic sunroof, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and a 13-speaker stereo of undisclosed provenance.

However, it’s the refinement, material cohesion and build quality of the President that will ultimately set it apart from the company’s other models, which need to be obsessively executed to match what Vinfast thinks the car is worth. Vinfast insists a large customisability catalogue for customers so that no two units are alike.

That said, that engine does give it at least some reason to not only focus on the interior. With a displacement of 6.2-litres, one would naturally assume this to be an LS-based V8 with GM as the supplier since Chrysler doesn’t usually sell their 6.2-litre HEMI without a supercharger already attached, and this motor is naturally aspirated.

Given the existing ties between General Motors and Vinfast (which bought over GM Vietnam’s assets and facilities in 2018), the crosshairs are firmly pointed at Detroit being the source of the President’s V8. With 420hp on tap and 624Nm being dispersed across a full-time 4WD system, this SUV is clearly quite capable, even boasting a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of 6.8 seconds and top speed scrubbing 300km/h.

That sounds like an excellent way to cruise in luxury from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. After all, who needs a Bentayga when we’ve got this stylish ASEAN-made alternative. Can’t wait to have a go in one once international travel is allowed again.


Lexus Invites You To Go On A Virtual Ride In Its RC F Coupé

How would you like to have a go in a 470hp
Lexus
 RC F? Well now you can, and it’s all thanks to the marvels of virtual reality technology.
Lexus have create an immersive experience of the new RC F coupé where users can embark on a high-speed run around the Ascari race track in southern Spain with the use of an array of cameras both inside and outside the car as well as trackside ones to capture high-quality, 360-degree footage.
This allows viewers to experience the speed, handling, and sound of the RC F without actually being in the cockpit. There’s even an option to choose a smoother driving style if urgency is not your preference.
The experience is being offered as a smartphone app on both
Android
 and
iOS
 devices which can be used stand-alone or with the Google Cardbord Virtual Reality viewer. If you just so happen to have an Oculus Rift VR lying around, that provides a greater immersion as well. You can also experience the RC F film with the new 360-degree
YouTube video streaming function
 (for Chrome browsers only).
Launched at the end of 2014, the Lexus RC F sports coupe was developed at Japan’s famous Fuji Speedway and inspired by the advanced technologies and performance-focused character of the Lexus LFA supercar.


BMW Unveils All-New G06 X6, Now With Illuminated Front Grille

It's a car that a not insignificant number of BMW owners are likely to buy, and it's finally in its third generation. Following the global debut of the G05 X5 last year, it wa only a matter of time before the G06 X6 would follow. This all-new model is longer and wider than before - by 26 mm and 15 mm respectively - and features the first of its kind on a BMW model: an illuminated front grille. It's a rather unique styling cue, and it seems to be an optional feature.
The wheelbase has also grown by 42 mm, which is a fairly significant improvement in terms of packaging and interior room - especially as the X6 doesn't have to be able to take a third row of seats like its more conventional X5 sibling. The front end is a little sportier and a little more angular as well, highlighting the less utilitarian nature of this sport activity coupe. Even the rear end takes a sharper departure from generations past, looking more like those off an 8 Series than any of the current SUV models in the BMW range.
Apart from the coveted M Performance and full on M models, the X6 will be made available with either xLine or M Sport trim options. These are similar to the X5 in the sense that the former offers more off-road oriented styling and reinforcement, while the latter optimizes the car for hurtling along well paved roads. Similarly, the M Sport models receive adaptive sport suspension and blue M Sport brakes.
Two axle air suspension is also available as an option, although you can expect it to be a pricey one. Ticking the xOffroad package adds the offroad modes that you get with the X5, although the number of customers who would take an X6 offroad would be decidedly lower than those who would go offroad in their X5.
Engines are pretty standard fare at launch: four options, two petrol and two diesel. Naturally the petrol options are the ones we're most likely to get, and buyers will have a choice of the xDrive40i or the M50i. The former is powered by the same 335 hp, 450 Nm, 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-6 found in the X5 xDrive40i, while the M50i gets a larger 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 pushing 523 hp and 750 Nm of torque. The M50i also gets a limited-slip rear differential as standard.
On the inside, things look largely the same as the X5 as well, although some of the details are a little more upmarket to appeal to a slightly different demographic - much in the same way a 3 Series and a 4 Series Gran Coupe are similar in function, but vastly different in execution. In terms of functionality and operation, however, the X6 would be identical to the X5 - and this isn't a bad thing.
And finally, there's the driving aids - a hot topic for pretty much every car launched these days. Depending on which boxes are ticked, the X6 can function as a self-parking, semi autonomous machine and even backtrack through tough spots based on your last inputs before turning off the car. Even the most driver-focused automakers are bowing to the demand for autonomous technologies - they're just packaging it differently with things like adaptive cruise control and lane departure alert working hand in hand.
For the best deals on BMW's extensive model line-up, click
here
.


Spyshots: 2019 BMW 1 Series FWD Spotted

The BMW 1 Series’ anticipated change to front-wheel drive is upon us. A test mule of the new car was caught in action by European photographers wearing heavy disguise but still revealing its proportions and door shut lines.
Without the need to accommodate a 3.0-litre straight-six length-wise, the new 1 Series, much like the current
F48 X1
, has a much shortened front end from its predecessor – the distance between front axle and firewall notably reduced.
The test vehicle had a 5-door body, but there is no indication either way at this stage if BMW will offer a 3-door variant as well.
As with the X1 as well as the recently-launched
China-only 1 Series Sedan
, the next-gen 1 Series hatch will be sitting on the BMW Group’s transverse engine UKL platform that is shared with MINI. We do not yet know if the 1 Series hatch is a further development of the Chinese market sedan or if it is a separately-run project.
It is too early to talk about powertrain options, but it is a safe bet that the current range of B-series modular engines will feature. The Chinese-special 1 Series Sedan offers both the 1.5-litre B38 3-cylinder and 2.0-litre B48 4-cylinder petrol engines; the hatch should additionally get diesel and perhaps even PHEV options as well.
Pictures:
 Stefan Baldauf


Volkswagen Opens a New 3S Centre in Tebrau

If you're living down south in the Tebrau area and you own a Volkswagen or you're looking to buy one, there's good news for you. WN Motoworld Sdn Bhd has just opened an RM 1.5 million 3S Centre, which is a hefty upgrade from the interim facility that they used to operate. The new centre is aimed to cater to Tebrau, Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi, Pasir Gudang, and areas around the Iskandar developments.
Spanning 13,123 square feet, the centre is designed to display up to 8 cars in the showroom area with 7 service bays to handle the service side of the equation. As most good 3S Centres are nowadays, this new one also has a customer lounge with TV and Wi-Fi and a cafe so customers are comfortable while their cars are being attended to by the service centre.
The Volkswagen Tebrau 3S Centre sales facilities operates daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm. Aftersales services are available Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 5:30pm and closed on Public Holidays. For those in the area, Volkswagen Tebrau 3S Centre will be hosting an Open House at their showroom on 4-5 March and 18 – 19 March with fun activities for the whole family, test drives and kids colouring contests. For more information, please visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
.
Address: PTD 162998, No. 3 Jalan Harmonium 24/1, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100, Johor Bahru, Johor
Telephone: Showroom: 07-364 8337 / Aftersales: 07-364 9696


Toyota Introduces New GD Diesel Engines For All-New Hilux, Fortuner, Innova

(Pictured above is the previous Toyota 'KD' engine)
At the Vienna Motor Symposium 2015,
Toyota
 unveiled its new range of diesel engines, now wearing the ‘GD’ badge which replaces the existing KD engine line-up.
The first vehicle which will debut the new engines will be the all-new 2016
Toyota Hilux
 which makes its world debut in Thailand on May 21. Previously, we reported on the upcoming eighth-generation pick-up truck where a
few leaked spyshots and details
 about the powertrains it will utilise made its way onto the internet -- and with this announcement, it looks like those rumours have been confirmed.
Other vehicles which will adopt the new diesel engines in the future are the all-new
Toyota Fortuner
 and
Toyota Innova
.
The first of the two new diesel engines introduced is a 2.4-litre unit with the designation 2GD-FTV while the second is a 2.8-litre unit referred to as 1GD-FTV. Both “Economy with Superior Thermal Efficient Combustion” (ESTEC) engines feature Toyota’s D-4D common rail diesel injection operating at 1,350 bar together with a variable geometry turbocharger (VNT) and intercooler. They will also be paired to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Power output figures provided here are reflective of when the engines are paired to the six-speed automatic transmission. Mated to the six-speed manual transmission, less torque will be made available although figures have not been disclosed by Toyota.
The two new engines are as listed below and could adopt different states of tune depending on the market it is introduced in:
1GD-FTV
Capacity: 2.8-litres
Power: 177hp @ 3,400 rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 1,600-2,400 rpm
2GD-FTV
Capacity: 2.4-litres
Power: 160hp
Torque: 400Nm
Toyota’s new ‘GD’ diesel engine range is a significant step-up from its predecessor. In the ‘KD’ line-up, the 1KD-FTV is a 3.0-litre unit which produced 172hp and 352Nm of torque (depending on market) while the 2KD-FTV’s 2.5-litre powerplant provided 142 and 343Nm of torque.


Geely reveals Boyue Cool in China - made for youths!

Geely has unveiled the Boyue Cool, another addition to its ever-growing range of Boyue series of SUVs. With pre-sales expected to open any day now, the compact SUV will officially launch before the year's second quarter.

Explicitly designed for younger consumers, the Cool in its name actually stands for Creative, Opening, Outdare, and Love. If you
know your Boyues
 very well, you will definitely think it
looks like the Boyue L
 - and the reason for that is because the Cool adopts Geely's "Starburst Vision" design language, which features angular shapes and sharp lines.

Judging by its dimensions, the Biyue Cool is roughly the same size as the Proton X70, and apparently, it'll have 39 storage spaces throughout its cabin and 571 litres of rear cargo room.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the powerplant that it utilises as the Boyue Cool comes with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 178 hp and a peak torque of 290 Nm, mated to a 7-speed DCT. Apparently, the engine is jointly developed by Volvo and Geely. Geely also claims that the Boyue Cool will complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds.

Just like a lot of cars these days, the Cool is laced with tons of in trend equipment, including a 10-inch portrait-standing infotainment system. There's also a substantially large panoramic sunroof and 72-colour ambient lighting system for the interior.

The vehicle's clever features is facilitated by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, with 16G memory + 128G storage, a 7nm processor, and an 8-core CPU. Voice interaction and facial recognition capabilities are also available.

According to Geely, a future over the air update will unlock features such as facial recognition to start the engine and automatically adjust the seat position to your liking.

Like a lot of Geely products, safety systems are placed on a high pedestal, which is why the Boyue Cool is equipped with level 2 driving assistance system with 13 functions, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and emergency lane-keeping assist.


Exclusive Interview: Honda Confirms No More Collaborations With Proton Beyond Proton Perdana

During an exclusive interview, Honda has confirmed with Carlist.my privately that it is no longer working with Proton on any future models.
Speaking to me privately on the sidelines of the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show yesterday, Noriaki Abe, Chief Operating Officer of Regional Operations for Asia & Oceania, confirms that Honda is no longer in talks with Proton for any future projects.
“Basically we have stopped all other product development with Proton. Our involvement with Proton stops at the Proton Perdana, as we could not reach an agreement with Proton on several key issues,” said Abe.
Abe is also the President of the Bangkok-based Asian Honda Motor, Honda’s regional office for ASEAN.
The
current generation Proton Perdana
 is based on the previous, eighth generation Honda Accord. This model is not sold to the public, and is only used by government agencies and ministries.
Proton however, is expected to launch a
new Proton Perdana
 sometime in 2016. This particular model will be sold to the general public, and will have a significantly different exterior styling but it is still based on the eighth generation Honda Accord.
Abe’s comments confirms an earlier report by Carlist.my in April 2015, when we reported that Honda has already
called off negotiations with Proton
.


Keadaan Litar Gong Badak Menyedihkan – Nak Bina Litar Drag Di Setiap Negeri?

Jika satu litar pun tidak dapat dijaga dengan baik, bagaimana pula jika litar drag ini dibina di setiap buah negeri seperti yang dikatakan oleh Perdana Menteri?

Susulan kemalangan maut melibatkan pelumba drag di
Litar Gong Badak
, Terengganu baru-baru ini, ramai yang berpendapat bahawa Litar Perlumbaan Gong Badak itu masih belum layak digelar litar bertaraf dunia.

Belum Bertaraf Dunia

Apabila bercakap tentang litar bertaraf dunia, aspek keselamatan perlulah menjadi perkara utama yang dititikberatkan memandangkan sukan permotoran memang terkenal dengan risiko yang tinggi.

Litar antarabangsa ini bukanlah tiada langsung ciri keselamatannya, namun ia kelihatan seperti tidak cukup. Sebagai contoh, penghadang konkrit yang diletakkan pada trek
drag
 itu tidak dipasang sehingga hujung trek seperti yang biasa dilihat di trek lumba drag di luar negara.

Selain itu, keadaan jalan di trek itu juga boleh dipersoalkan memandangkan jalan itu kelihatan beralun meskipun jalannya lurus. Keadaan jalan yang tidak rata semestinya akan mengganggu prestasi kereta selain boleh meyebabkan kemalangan.

Lebih merisaukan, zon untuk memperlahankan kereta di litar itu berada di sebelah kawasan letak kereta. Keadaan ini agak membahaya sekiranya pemandu tidak sempat untuk berhenti atau mengalami masalah brek yang borpotensi mengundang padah. Walaupun ada pagar di bahagian itu, rasa-rasa mampu ke kereta berkelajuan 200 km/j untuk berhenti jika mengalami masalah brek?

Sementara itu, ada juga yang mempertikaikan mengapa gam hanya diletakkan di bahagian permulaan perlumbaan drag sahaja, dan bukanlah sepanjang trek. Untuk pengetahuan anda, gam itu digunakan di bahagian permulaan untuk memberikan permukaan melekit bagi memastikan tayar kereta tidak
burnout
ketika pecutan permulaan dibuat. Jika gam itu diletakkan di sepanjang trek, memang berat la jawabnya.

Litar Sedia Ada Tak Terjaga, Mahu Bina Lagi?

Terdahulu, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob berkata kerajaan bakal
membina litar drag di setiap negeri
 dalam usaha memperkasakan program pembangunan sukan permotoran tanah air.

Tidak dinafikan, pembinaan litar itu memang bagus untuk membangunkan lagi sukan permotoran tanah air. Namun jika litar sedia ada pun tidak terjaga dengan baik, bayangkan jika setiap negeri menerima sebuah litar drag baharu. Bagaimana pula dengan penjagaan dan penyelenggaraan litar itu?

Menurut PM, perlumbaan drag dlihat kurang berbahaya kerana ia hanya memerlukan jalan yang lebih pendek dan lurus jika dibandingkan dengan perlumbaan trek. Namun jika litar drag ini tidak dijaga dengan baik, ia semestinya bakal mengundang terhadap lebih banyak masalah lain.

Mempunyai litar bertaraf dunia hanyalah langkah pertama. Langkah kedua ataupun langkah yang terpenting adalah melaksanakan prosedur yang betul untuk menyelenggara litar tersebut.

Walaupun kerajaan mahu membina litar drag baharu bertaraf dunia sekalipun, tidak ada gunanya kita bermegah dengan litar bertaraf dunia itu jika kita tidak akan mengikut piawaian yang diikuti oleh kebanyakan negara lain.

Kesimpulannya, artikel ini ditulis bukanlah disebabkan perasaan tidak bersyukur walaupun dilengkapi dengan litar sedemikian. Walau bagaimanapun, aspek-aspek lain terutamanya aspek keselamatan, prosedur dan peralatan perlu ditambah baik demi memastikan pemandu, penonton dan krew sentiasa dalam keadaan selamat ketika berlumba.

Majulah Sukan Permotoran Untuk Negara!


Review: All-New 2014 Honda City - Is It Better Than The Competition?

Just a few years ago, we thought Honda had lost its mojo. It appeared to have become an aloft, large corporation that preferred to stay in the safe middle by producing bland cars, prioritizing share holders value over exceeding customers expectations. The all-new 2014 Honda City has proved us wrong.
It’s been quite awhile since we last saw a car that made so much of an impact to the entry-level segment, and move benchmarks so much higher than before.
The model tested here is of the highest specifications V-grade variant.
Specifications for 2014 Honda City 1.5V:
Price: RM89,467.20
Engine: 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC
Power: 120 PS at 6,600 rpm
Torque: 145 Nm at 4,600 rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
Safety: Six airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, VSA, hill start assist, ISOFIX (rear x2), ASEAN NCAP 5-star
Origin: Locally-assembled in Pegoh, Melaka
What is it?
The 1.5-litre City is a B-segment sedan that competes against the Toyota Vios,
Nissan Almera
 and the Volkswagen Polo Sedan – the latter uses a larger 1.6-litre engine.
There are four variants to choose from:
City S: RM74,006.90
City S+: RM77,123.80
City E: RM82,268.90
City V: RM89,467.20
All prices indicated are on-the-road with insurance.
Compared against its peers, the all-new Honda City is a towers a class above its peers, offering a good combination of a spacious interior, good value, high level of safety features, proven record of reliability and good good resale value that’s not matched by any of its peers.
In fact, the City is so accomplished that we think it should be compared against higher-class C-segment models.
Do you really need a 1.8-litre or a 2.0-litre C-segment sedan when a City provides better value, better safety features, is just as spacious (hard to believe, but the City’s interior is actually more spacious than even a Civic), and meets your requirements just as well?
Honda is so confident with its all-new City that the company even provided us with a selection of competing models for us to sample on our day-long experience with the City, just to prove a point.
The cars were provided by Honda, so don’t consider any references to competitor models below as an independent comparison, but merely as a good-to-know guide.
How does it drive?
Honda assures us that the City’s 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 10.5 seconds (S and S+ model, 10.6 seconds and 10.8 seconds for E and V model respectively) is better than anything else in its class. The company even closed off a section of the road for us to do a simple drag race against the earlier mentioned competitor models, provided by Honda of course, but on the surface, the cars appeared to be standard, with original equipment and tyres.
Early money was on the Toyota Vios and the Volkswagen Polo Sedan. The 1.6-litre Volkswagen has a best-in-class torque of 153 Nm at just a lowly 3,800 rpm and a six-speed automatic transmission, but the Volkswagen turned out to be the slowest.
On a different mountainous stretch, the Polo Sedan was having trouble keeping up with the Honda. Despite keeping the throttle planted on the floor mat, it was still overtaken by the City on an uphill stretch, with little effort.
Although the Volkswagen has more ratios, it was the Honda’s CVT that performed better. Even with the Volkswagen’s transmission set in Sport mode, it was not selecting the correct ratio. I had to momentarily lift-off the throttle and mash it down again to force the transmission to knock down another ratio, but by then the City was long gone.
The Vios and the Almera were marginally faster than the Polo Sedan but none of their four-speed stepped automatic transmissions worked as well as the Honda’s CVT. So forget about any prejudice you hear about CVTs being boring to drive, because what Honda has achieved in its City is very impressive. It is just a matter of getting used to the different characteristics of this CVT. Gone is the dreary droning sound and ‘rubber-band effect’ of earlier generation CVTs.
As for concerns with regards to the reliability of this CVT, buyers would be pleased to know that this is an all-new design that incorporates a torque-converter, doing away with the earlier unit’s start-up clutch - an Achilles heal of earlier CVTs.
On the downside, the City’s steering felt a bit too light to confidently tackle a challenging stretch of roads. Even the Vios felt slightly better, but it was the Polo Sedan that had the best steering. What the Polo Sedan lacked in performance it made up with a very confidence inspiring chassis and steering setup.
Have a little bit of faith in the City however, and you will soon learn that the breath of its mechanical grip is actually rather high. You must be doing something very nasty to force the car into a spin. After all, the car is called Honda City, not the Honda Mountain Pass.
The previous model’s paddle shifters have been dropped in favour of more airbags and rear air-conditioning vents. Some may miss having the sporty feature, but personally, I hardly ever use it so I wasn’t too bothered about not having paddle shifts.
Another highlight of the City is its electronic stability control feature, or as Honda calls it VSA. The feature was demonstrated by simulating an emergency lane change, with cones marking the width of a three-lane highway.
To simulate an emergency double lane change, we were told to drive towards the cones at 60 km/h, resist the urge to brake and at the last moment, jerk the steering wheel to the left and to the right, and repeating the same again almost immediately after. The exercise left some of the City’s peers spinning out of control and slamming into the cardboard boxes, which in a real-life emergency situation, could’ve been real cars.
Amidst the carnage of flattened cones and flying cardboard boxes, the City avoided the obstacles with little drama. The City test cars were wearing standard Goodyear Excellence 185/55 R16 tyres.
VSA works in the background by continuously monitoring grip levels on each wheel to prevent a car from skidding. Of course, VSA is not idiot-proof and its life-saving potential is still limited by the available grip between the road and the tyres. Do remember however, that VSA is only available on the E and V grade models.
Of the trio of Honda’s competitors, the Almera felt the most nervous, probably due to its long but narrow body, while the Vios was slightly better. Interestingly, the Polo Sedan proved to be very stable throughout the exercise. Although it didn’t have an ESP system (as Volkswagen calls it), it was very difficult to lose control of the Polo Sedan, even when we tried to.
The Polo Sedan’s ability to maintain its composure without needing electronic aids was indeed surprising. It is a testament to the Volkswagen’s superb chassis, proving that it is important to have a good chassis before electronic driver’s aids can work its magic.
Read also:

When NCAP’s Five-Star Rating Don’t Mean Much – And How Honda Is Moving Ahead
How comfortable is it?
With a tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel and height adjustable driver’s seat, it was very easy settle into a comfortable driving position in the City. The same cannot be said for the Vios and the Almera, which lacks telescopic adjustment, but the Polo Sedan’s telescopic adjustment range is longer than the City.
On the move, the City’s cabin is a very comfortable place to be in. It is quiet, with generous leg and shoulder room. The same cannot be said for the Almera, whose brochure boasts of 636mm long legroom in the rear but what it doesn’t tell you is that shoulder room is severely lacking in the Almera – fitting three adults behind is a tight squeeze. Overall, the City’s cabin is clearly the largest in its class, once you consider both length and width.
The rear seats are set a comfortable angle. The front seats are little bit too soft for my personal preference but it’s not very different from its peers.
The dashboard has a premium touch to it. On the V model, the front passenger section is even covered in soft-touch materials. The instrument cluster, with its ambient illuminated ring looks a lot better than the Vios’ instruments, which lacks an Optitron backlighting and makes do with a rather cheap looking, bright coloured stickers.
The Vios’ lack of cubby holes in front also quickly becomes apparent. That’s quite surprising for a Toyota. Storing Smart Tags and mobile devices will be quite a hassle.
Hustling the City along undulating roads, driving over minor gaps on the road, and ruts, there is nothing to fault with the City’s suspension.
If there are any negatives on the all-new City, it will be the controls for the seven-inch touch-screen display. With no physical controls to mute/on-off or adjust volume, drivers will have to rely on the switches on the steering wheel or taking their eyes off the road to operate the virtual buttons. The black piano finishing also needs special care to maintain their shine.
How economical is it?
Owners will appreciate the City’s excellent fuel economy. With three adults on board and having to keep up with a swift moving lead car driven by GRA National Autocross champion Kenneth Chiew, the City returned 16.4 km/litre (6.1-litre/100 km).
Two more driver swaps later, and being driven harder over a longer 88 km distance over flat lands and hilly areas, it still returned a very respectable 13.1 km/litre (7.6-litre/100km).
We reckoned that the claimed 17.56 km/litre (5.6-litre/100km) can be easily achieved in the real world by adopting a gentler, smoother driving habit.
According to Honda Malaysia, total servicing cost for the all-new City over a five-year/100,000 km period will amount to only RM3,322.48.
Conclusion
Apart from the lack of physical buttons on the V-grade’s 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, the other downside is the lack of projector headlamps (available on the Vios G and TRD Sportivo Variant).
Overall, the City is clearly the best choice in the segment. For a majority of the buying public looking for an entry-level family sedan, there is no better model that even comes close to the City’s all-rounded talent – style, space, comfort, economy, safety, reliability – the City has it all covered.
Unless you have a genuine need for a second car, or a larger utility vehicle, we reckon that the City is the one car that will not only meet the expectations of an average urban family, but also exceed those expectations by a wide margin.


Art of Speed Malaysia ready to rock for 2023

Art of Speed Malaysia (AOS)
 is gunning for a bigger and better show for 2023 which will be taking place on 29 and 30 July 2023 at MAEPS Serdang.

Renowned as the country's premier Kustom & Counter Culture event, AOS 2023 will be bringing out its biggest guns yet thanks to a number of highlights new for this year as well as some key figures from the international custom community from countries like Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and more.

For all motorcycle riders and enthusiasts, AOS will also be hosting the Outdoor ThunderCircus "Brotherhood Rally" to highlight a number of motorcycle makes and brands for different communities. It's definitely going to be a 'rolling thunder' with the mega ride-in from motorcycle groups across Malaysia.

If you're into Hot Wheels, AOS is going to host the first-ever Hot Wheels Collection Convention in South East Asia. Everything and anything related to Hot Wheels will take place in Hall B and for the first time ever, they're going to launch the first-ever Proton Hot Wheels officially for the Saga model.

There will also be a number of high-profile collaborations and happenings between AOS and companies like Vans, Hikari Riders, IGL, Mooneyes, and many more. At the heart of it all, you can expect a huge selection of cars, bikes, bicycles, trikes, and more to be displayed at every corner.

Music lovers can take part in the SoundCircus Festival where a total of 10 bands is set to light up the stage on 29 July 2023 (Saturday) from 4.00 pm onwards. Expect a lot of moshing from bands like Superman Is Dead, MC16, Restraint, Naratu, and more.

Like previous AOS events, it wouldn't be complete without a lucky draw. For 2023, the grand prizes will be a custom 1979 Toyota Celica and a Honda e-DAX bike. For more information on ticket prices for both the Art of Speed Malaysia 2023 event as well as the SoundCircus Festival, head over to
www.artofspeedmy.com
. See you there!


Bangkok 2016: Toyota C-HR Makes ASEAN Debut

Less than a month after being confirmed for production at the
Geneva Motor Show
, the striking
Toyota C-HR
 compact crossover makes its first ASEAN appearance at the ongoing Bangkok Motor Show as seen in pictures provided by colleagues our
Thai sister site
Auto Spinn
.
Confirmed to go on sale in 2017, the C-HR’s surprisingly early appearance in our region suggests that
Toyota
 is plotting an entry into the fast-growing compact crossover segment to take on the likes of the hugely popular
Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3
.
Underpinned by Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) modular platform, the C-HR will be available with a trio of four-cylinder petrol engines – 1.2-litre turbocharged, 1.8-litre hybrid, and 2.0-litre naturally aspirated. Transmission options consist of a 6-speed manual and CVT. Which of these combinations will be selected for the ASEAN region is unclear at this stage.
According Hiroyuki Chiba, Co Chief Engineer of the project, Toyota had began conceptualizing a compact crossover as far back as six years ago, but it wasn’t until the TNGA platform was adopted that the project was able to proceed in a cost effective manner.
When launched, the C-HR will be Toyota’s second model to utilize the TNGA platform after the
fourth-generation

Prius
. Moving forward, the TNGA will see wider applications across the Toyota line-up, enabling the company reduce production costs and complexity worldwide.


Experience The New 2015 Mazda 3 CKD At These Locations

You’re probably excited to know that Bermaz will be launching the 2015 locally-assembled
(CKD)

Mazda
 3 SkyActiv soon but if you didn’t, you can
find out all about it here
. Prices are expected to start from the
RM105,000
 for the entry-level model and if that isn’t tempting enough, the company will be introducing the
Mazda 3
 in the
hatchback body style as well
. However, if that’s still not enough to coax you, why not attend any one of their roadshows and experience the new Mazda 3 SkyActiv CKD first-hand.
The list of locations to experience the new 2015 Mazda 3 SkyActiv CKD are as follows:
8 – 12 April 2015:
Midvalley Megamall (Kuala Lumpur)
9 – 12 April 2015:
Queenbay Mall (Penang)
10 – 12 April 2015:
KSL City (Johor)
15 – 19 April 2015:
Setia City Mall (Selangor)
Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd recently
announced its post-GST pricing
 for Mazda vehicles sold here along with the arrival date of the Mazda 3 CKD which is on 8 April 2015 in three variants that includes a single hatchback option.


Post-GST: ETCM Releases Reduced Prices For Nissan Lineup

Local Nissan dealer Edaran Tan Chong Motor has released a whitepaper explaining its stance on the GST implementation and we've got it here for your coveient perusal.
The new reduced prices will be effective by today, 1
st
 of April 2015. ETCM’s Director of Marketing & Product Planning, Mr Tan Keng Meng said in the statement, “The prices of our CKD models have been reduced by 0.3% to 2%, and the reduction varies from model to model. However, the prices of our CBU models remain unchanged,”
Below are the price changes that have affected the Nissan model line-up and the percentage difference between the pre and post GST implementation.
Curiously, however, the new prices for the Sylphy and Elgrand have been omitted from the list below. Our sources say that this is due to the prices for those models remaining unchanged.


Flash Floods Sweeps Through Klang Valley Again, Chaos On The Road

After a heavy downpour that began just before 4pm yesterday (25 April 2022), the Klang Valley was soon hit with overflowing water again that
consumed the roadways
.

The situation was made worse by the fact that many Muslim commuters were caught in the heavy traffic and rising water levels while heading home early from work having already endured a full day of fasting.

At 3.41pm this afternoon, Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s Integrated Transport Information System shared that the city centre was experiencing heavy rainfall in certain locations. Meanwhile, earlier in the afternoon, the Malaysian Meteorological Department had issued a thunderstorm warning for locales in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, and Pahang.

But not Kuala Lumpur or Selangor.

In addition to officially published photos of inundated vehicles along
Jalan Kuching, Jalan Parlimen, Jalan Semantan, and Jalan Travers
, many citizens took to social media to share the sudden floods from their own perspectives.

This is the third time
 such an occurrence has plagued the most populated area in Malaysia over the past 5 months, but despite many promises that the situation will be rectified, the area’s poor drainage system and overdevelopment have been put sharply into focus.

For those familiar with the weather patterns here, it must have come as little surprise that the volume and ferocity of the deluge quickly led to floods. The sight of muddy water, floating garbage, and partially or fully submerged vehicles have become a familiar one to Klang Valley dwellers.

The heavy rain and thunderstorm only lasted between 60 to 90 minutes depending on location, so it was not enough to trigger the full closure of the
SMART tunnel
. Still, it was plenty to prove that Kuala Lumpur’s flooding problem is more complex than just displacing water in sheer volume.


Proton MPVs: Proton Exora vs Proton V70

A lot of Proton fans are looking forward to a new generation Proton MPV, and with rumours swirling that the Geely Jiaji/ Proton V70 will be that next-generation Proton MPV, it's hard not to get excited.

Proton Exora vs Proton V70

The Jiaji is a
compact MPV
 built by Proton's strategic partner, Geely to cater for MPV buyers in China. According to Geely, the Jiaji combines the "sleekness of a sedan, the power of an SUV, and the space of an MPV." It has a small yet powerful turbocharged engine and comes with the latest safety gear. It's priced in its home market from around RM60k to RM111k, depending on the variant.

Judging by what we know of it, the Geely Jiaji can not be further apart from the Exora, a homegrown and affordable MPV built for local taste from the last decade. Yes, the Exora had a major update in 2017 (minor
update in 2019
), but it still feels, looks, and is equipped like an MPV from the early noughties, which only appeals to buyers with big families looking for the
cheapest MPV around
.

If Proton seriously wants to compete in the affordable MPV segment and change people's perception of them of selling a budget MPV to one that is value for money, they need a new up-to-date MPV to do so. Cue the Jiaji/ Proton V70.

So let's take a look and pit the Jiaji/ Proton V70 head to head against the Exora.

1. Space

The Jiaji is a more extensive MPV than the
Proton Exora
. It's length is 177mm longer, and its width is 100mm wider than the Exora.

2. Seating options

The Proton V70 is offered either as a six or seven-seater MPV. You can have it either in a 2+2+2 or 2+2+3 or a 2+3+2 configuration which should give buyers more options compared to the Exora's 2+3+2 arrangement.

3. Powertrain

While the 1.6-litre turbocharged CamPro CFE engine gave the Exora the much-needed power bump over the CamPro CPS that earlier Exora's were equipped with, it does still feel harsh and outdated when compared to newer engines from recent years.

The Jiaji/ V70 can be had either with a 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine that provides an output of 185 PS and 300 Nm coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission or a 1.5-litre turbo engine developed with Volvo, producing 174 PS and 255 Nm of torque with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

4. Interior

Apart from the exterior, we think one of the most significant differences when comparing the Exora to the Jiaji/ V70 will be when it comes to the cabin experience. While the Exora was enhanced in the NVH department in 2017 to make it feel a bit more premium, it probably will have nothing over the V70's.

With a 12.3-inch floating infotainment display screen, floating centre console, and broad dashboard that emphasises spaciousness, the Jiaji's interior is a nice and spacious place to be in. To top it off, the Jiaji also features a full panoramic sunroof, head-up display, active noise cancellation and an AQS air purification system.

5. Safety features

Proton removed side airbags from the Exora range in 2017 and left all Exoras with only a driver and passenger airbag. While the money saved from the removal of the airbags was reinvested in showroom friendly features such as a better "Hello Proton" infotainment system, it did leave the Exora a bit thin on the safety side, especially in the lower variants, as only the Premium variant came with ESC (stability control) - Yikes!

The Jiaji on the hand comes with an array of safety gear. These include eight airbags, Level 2 autonomous driving, adaptive cruise control with stop-go function, lane centring with turn assistance, electronic stability control, rear and front collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assistance, blind spot detector, and intelligent high beam control.

6. Price

In China, the Geely Jiaji is sold from around RM60k to RM111k, depending on the variant. Its price is higher than the Boyue (Proton X70), which goes from around RM58k to RM74k in China.

Judging from this, we can obviously see that the V70 will probably be priced higher than the Proton X70, something that will shock those interested in buying a Proton MPV as the highest variant Exora (
Exora Black Edition
), only costs around RM70k.

But Proton is no longer on the budget car path. They want to offer a value for money vehicle that can compete with the best while providing a relatively affordable vehicle. As you can see, the Jiaji/ Proton V70 comes with a lot of modern and sophisticated features and they will surely raise the price of the vehicle.

If you want a budget MPV, then yes, you may have one with two airbags and no ESC, but is that really what you want in a family car?

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Honda To Speed Up EV Roll Out In China; New Model By 2018

Honda plans to accelerate the electrification of its models for the Chinese market with a string of new products, beginning with an all-new China-only electric vehicle set for launch in 2018.
At the recent International Forum on Chinese Automotive Industry Development, Honda confirmed that the China-specific EV will be a three-way collaboration with local production partners GAC Honda Automobile and Dongfeng Honda Automobile. The resultant Honda model will also be available through both GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda channels.
The China specific EV model was first confirmed during Auto Shanghai 2017, alongside the
Honda CR-V Hybrid
 model, which until
recently
 was a Chinese market specific model as well.
The automaker will also tie-up with China’s IT services giant, Neusoft, for the development of EV technologies in multiple areas such as battery management, cloud management of vehicle data and connectivity.
Honda also announced that will proactively explore new business opportunities in the area of car sharing services in China, in-line with realising a highly-efficient mobility society and the popularization of new energy vehicles in China.


You Can Now Turn Your Waze Icon Into A Volkswagen Beetle

Who doesn't like the Volkswagen Beetle? Well - if you don't, then you're probably no fun at parties. Regardless of what you think, Waze has decided to recognize this icon of a machine by turning it into an icon that you can use within the app itself.
You can have your Beetle in any colour you like, as long as it's yellow. Just follow the steps listed below and you can have your very own bug following you around the map as you make your way about your day.
Now, there's a lot of news that Volkswagen is putting an end to Beetle production next year - at least, for the foreseeable future. We can understand their decision, although to shelve such an iconic car means it's poised to make a comeback someday - maybe even with an all-electric powertrain.


2019 Hyundai Elantra Facelift Shown, Adds More Driver Assistance

Hyundai Motor America has just showcased the redesigned 2019 Elantra, which carries with it a new exterior design and more safety equipment.
The new car was first caught undisguised early last month, giving us a good look at the new C-segment sedan.
Up front, the updated Elantra features the signature Hyundai cascading grille with a more pronounced bottom half. As for the headlights, the new Elantra features a pair of sharper and wider units. The angular theme continues with the front bumper and front foglights, both of which are vastly different from the outgoing model.
Towards the rear end, the redesigned Elantra now closely resembles the facelifted Sonata, witha pair of slimmer tail lights and the repositioned number plate holder.
Moving inside, the dashboard layout remains similar to the outgoing model, but with new air vents, air-conditioning controls, and storage tray. The interior also sees the addition of a new meter cluster design. Hyundai has also given its new model a larger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the 7-inch unit of the predecessor. The North American model also features Infinity premium audio with 8 speakers, Qi wireless charging, and a rear view camera with dynamic guide lines on selected trim levels.
As for the safety front, Hyundai’s SmartSense is now available on more variants of the updated Elantra. SmartSense is Hyundai’s suite of advanced driver assistance, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, and Driver Attention Alert. Opting for the Elantra Limited with the Ultimate Package adds Safe Exit Assist and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection.
For the North American market, the Elantra is available with three engine choices:
2.0-litre Nu MPI Atkinson cycle petrol
1.4-litre Turbo GDI
1.6-litre Turbo GDI
Hyundai added that the redesigned Elantra Sport will debut towards the end of 2018. Further details of the Elantra Sport will be available at a later date, but Hyundai did confirm that the sportier model will continue with rear multilink independent suspension.
Scott Margason, director, product planning, Hyundai said, “Refinements to both the interior and exterior were initiated on the 2019 Elantra to maintain its emotional design character and include affordable and desired features. The hood, front fenders, fascia, grille and headlights as well as the rear fascia, trunk and taillights each have been redesigned to convey a catchy and confident image. On the rear of the vehicle, the license plate has been relocated to the lower fascia to further enhance the new body sculpture.”


KLIMS 2018: Honda Jazz Mugen Concept Previewed

Honda has previewed the Jazz Mugen Concept, alongside its larger sibling the
CR-V Mugen Concept
 at the ongoing KLIMS 2018 motor show.
But, unlike the CR-V, the Jazz Mugen Concept seems to have undergone a more comprehensive styling transformation, chief of which, is the fitment of the Mugen Aero front bumper, side sill garnishes, Mugen rear spoiler, and rear skirt.
The Mugen Concept also wears 17-inch alloys wrapped in 205/45/ R17 tyres. A gloss black Mugen front grille completes the suite of styling enhancements.
This Mugen kit is sold as an optional accessory in other markets such as New Zealand. It remains to be seen if Honda Malaysia will offer the kit locally, there are currently no plans. This is the second time Honda Malaysia has previewed a Mugen version of the Jazz hatchback, having previously teased the
Jazz 1.5 Hybrid Mugen
 last year.


GALLERY: 2016 Smart ForTwo Cabrio Revealed Ahead Of Motor Show Debut

The
ForTwo
 city car has, since its inception, been the ultimate small urban runaround. And now a new convertible version has sprung up from this diminutive car and is set to make its full debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Before that, though, Daimler has released lots pictures of it - for us to properly prepare, perhaps? According to
Smart
, this car represents “three cars in one” due to its ‘tritop’ fabric roof design, which is larger than the outgoing ForTwo cabrio, that can be closed and opened fully or partially.
The roof takes roughly 12 seconds to be fully lowered or raised, even when driving, and comes in a choice of blue denim, red, or black. A special button on the key fob even allows the owner to operate the roof remotely.
Smart also claims this car is 15% more rigid than the model it replaces, achieved through new materials and manufacturing processes, quashing chatter that it isn’t as strong as it should be compared to its roofed sibling.
The new ForTwo cabrio will, naturally, share the same engine options as the hard top which are both three-cylinder engines, a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated unit and 0.9-litre turbocharged unit, which outputs 71hp and 90hp respectively. They are mated to either a five-speed manual or a dual-clutch automatic.
Full gallery below:


Proton Doubles Sales In November, Saga Returns To The Top

Sales for Proton continue to strengthen as 2019 comes to a close. The national carmaker had another strong performance in November as year-on-year sales for the month grew by 100% with 9,643 units sold.

The cumulative volume for the year stands at 89,476 units, which marks a 50.1% growth in total year-on-year numbers. Market share has also grown and is estimated to now be at 16.2% for the whole of 2019.

Out of all the models on sale, the Proton Saga broke the 4,000 unit monthly sales barrier for the third consecutive month as 4,091 cars were delivered in November. This has brought the model to the top of the A-segment sedan sales table with 34,422 sold so far in 2019. Its volume growth now stands at an impressive 32%, by far the best for any model in the segment.

“The Saga has been a big success for Proton since its launch in August. In just four months, we have already achieved more than 35,000 bookings and currently, every unit our factory can deliver has been spoken for. Our challenge therefore is to increase our production capacity for the Saga and we have had intensive discussions with our vendors to work towards a volume increase next year,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.

According to Proton, the Saga also caught the attention of buyers by its performance in the recent Sepang 1000km (S1K) race. Team Proton R3 brought its three-car team home in first, second and seventh positions with the latter two being 2019 Proton Saga racing cars.


Toyota's bZ Compact SUV concept is mind blowing

Toyota is on a bit of a styling hot streak these days with the most recent example being the shocking revelation of a
super sexy 5th-generation Priu
s. Now, we’ve got new one to stare at: the bZ Compact SUV.

Yes, it’s still a concept, and no that’s definitely not going to be its final name. However, judging by how complete (ready for production) the car looks despite its futuristic appearance, we can be fairly certain that the finished product will not differ too greatly.

The ‘compact SUV’ label itself seems a bit of a misnomer here as it looks far more like a slightly raised sporty hatchback to our eyes. There’s a very aero-informed shape, sharp lines, big sporty wheels with low profile tyres, and only a minimal dose of that unnecessary cladding that’s characteristic of the crossover vehicle genre.

You can almost think of it as the second coming of the C-HR, a model that’s fondly remembered but was by no means a sales hit for the automaker.

Its interior is especially impressive - almost Lexus-like in terms of its visual wow factor. There’s a thin yoke-style steering wheel, minimal switchgear array, almost freestanding centre console, and a curved central screen paired with an equally bendy driver’s display.

Being the latest addition in Toyota’s growing EV portfolio, the bZ Compact SUV is built upon the e-TNGA platform. When fully realised, this be part of the brand’s arsenal of 30 fully electric cars, 5 of which bearing the bZ (Beyond Zero) name.

It looks as though this will be the third model under that pioneering umbrella following the bZ4X (also known as the Subaru Solterra)
and the incoming bZ3
, a smaller four-door sedan aimed to compete against the Tesla Model 3.

Unfortunately, apart from these images and an in-person unveil at the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota hasn’t disclosed many other details. In fact, we know virtually nothing about it past that point.

However, it would probably be safe to guess that it could have a 71.4kWh battery wedged between its axles, powering either a single or dual electric motor setup with as much as 220PS given that these are figures shared with its would-be stablemate, the bZ4X.

We’ve got some indication that the automaker’s exclusive local distributors, UMW Malaysia, are keen to bring the bZ line to our shores. Elsewhere in the region, the bZ4X has already launched
 in both Thailand
 and Indonesia, leaving the door open to a 2023 debut for us.


Frankfurt 2017: Audi Aicon Concept – No Driver, No Problem

Here to give a glimpse at the future of its sedans and AI technology, Audi has taken the wraps off the Aicon concept car at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show.
Measuring 5,444 mm long, 2,100 mm wide and 1,506 mm tall with a wheelbase length of 3,470 mm, the massive four-door 2+2 sedan, which is 240 mm longer than the new A8, features large glass surfaces at the front and rear, curvy windows, darkened side sills, as well as giant 26-inch wheels.
As with the Audi e-tron Sportback concept, the Aicon front features the inverted hexagonal grille, a typical feature of the upcoming generation of electric cars from Audi.
Adding to the futuristic exterior are the fully digital lights which actually comprise hundreds of triangular pixel segments, enabling versatile graphics, animations and information visualizations in any colour.
Featuring opposed doors that open to the front and rear, the Aicon has no B-pillar, no steering wheel, no pedals, or even a dashboard, which means that the entire breadth of the interior is exposed to the passengers as they enter the car.
While the two front seats can be pushed 500 millimetres back and forth between the forward and rear positions, swiveled by up to 15 degrees, the rear seats resemble a bench. There is plenty of space for luggage too - roughly 660 litres.
The Aicon's PIA electronic vehicle assistant recognises a specific passenger by his phone and activates all of his personal settings, including air conditioning and seating position, interior light colour and the infotainment screen layout.
The navigation system awaits entry of a destination, and all accessible channels of communication are ready for use, connected via the fastest available standard.
There are multiple input modes available for engaging with the car. Besides the haptic-manual layer, there are also voice control and eye tracking, in which sensors in the front end of the interior track where the passenger is looking. The passenger locks his onto a control element in the area of the front main display to select it and performs fine adjustments using his hand or voice.
Powering the autonomous car are four electric motors producing a total of 260 kW and 550 Nm of torque, where each drives one wheel, enabling electronically controlled, variable quattro all-wheel drive.
Capable of achieving ranges of between 700 and 800 km on a single charge, the Aicon’s battery can be charged to 80 percent of capacity in less than 30 minutes.
The car is also equipped with wireless charging, which is so smart that it can function without a driver. In an AI Zone, it can pull up to a charging station on its own and charge its battery without any human assistance.
Mechanical components such as the steering shaft and the hydraulics have been eliminated as well. The car is therefore equipped with a complete all-wheel steering system without compromising the available space and thus the passenger compartment.
Despite its long wheelbase of nearly 3.47 metres, the car's turning radius of 8.5 metres makes it somewhat agile for its size, making it suitable for city centre driving.


Did You Know? The QR Code Was Actually Created by Toyota

QR codes, or Quick Response codes, have become a part of our daily lives.

From accessing WhatsApp Web services, paying at fast food chains, accessing documents like flight details, press releases and cinema tickets, the amount of information that can be contained within a QR code is endless.

Have you ever wondered though how it started? Who created it? and for what purpose?

Allow us enlighten you.

The QR Code, which is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode, was first designed in 1994 for the automotive industry in Japan by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, to increase the efficiency in product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document management, and general marketing.

Traditional bar codes were conventionally used, but as the need increased to include more information in a limited space, Denso set up a team in 1992 to develop a new code, and in two years the QR Code was developed for Toyota.

Because a QR code carries information in both vertical and horizontal directions, it can store several hundred times the amount of data carried by a bar code. In fact, over 7,000 numeric characters can be encoded in one QR code.

As for Denso, the brand was popularised by the Toyota Hybrid TS030 & TS040 Le Mans endurance racing cars, for which the company provides electrical components until today.

Coming back to the QR system, Toyota was able to track car parts and components during manufacturing process at a much faster pace compared to other manufacturers in the 1900s.

Following its application by Toyota, the QR system became popular outside the automotive industry as well, due to its fast readability and greater storage capacity compared to standard barcodes.

A QR code, which consists of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, can be read by an imaging device such as a camera, and processed using a Reed–Solomon error correction found in QR Code scanners, until the image can be appropriately interpreted.

The required data is then extracted from patterns that are present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image.

Noticing the rapid growth of QR code usage, Nokia was the first mobile phone brand to incorporate QR code scanners in its mobile phones. Today, almost every phone has a QR code scanner.

That being said, the next time you use a QR code, remember where it came from and be thankful that Toyota created the system, as it has made a lot of things convenient in our lives.


KPDN says sambung bayar vehicle contracts are INVALID

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN) has made it clear once again that vehicle pawning or more commonly known as 'sambung bayar' are invalid and illegal.

Its director-general of enforcement, Datuk Azman Adam, has once again stated that contracts produced to 'sambung bayar' a vehicle are invalid and definitely illegal.

Why? Any active hire purchase agreement means that the real owner is either the bank or financial institution. The car owner or lessee is not allowed to sell the vehicle without the owner's permission because if you're caught doing so, it's considered fraud.

A non-official agreement or 'handshake' agreement for 'sambung bayar' cases between the lessee and a third party is not valid particularly because the real owner of the vehicle (banks or financial institutions) was not informed (and did not grant permission) regarding the vehicle 'handover' to a third party.

Despite the risks, the 'sambung bayar' method seems to gain in popularity because it allows those who have been blacklisted from banks or financial institutions the 'opportunity' to 'purchase' a car from the lessee and just continue the loan repayments for them.

Azman did, however, clarify that this can be done in a proper way via an assignment of rights within the hire purchase agreement BUT you'll need permission from the bank or financial institution that granted the hire purchase agreement in the first place.

In other words, it's not worth the multitude of risks and headaches when it comes to unofficial and invalid 'sambung bayar' with issues like the third party not making the loan repayments, getting traffic summonses, and other legality matters with the banks and financial institutions if caught, especially if you're the lessee.

CLICK HERE
 to know more about 'sambung bayar' matters. Alternatively, you can
CLICK HERE
 if you prefer to read up about it in Malay.


Seven Generations Of Driving Performance – The BMW 3 Series

It’s an insignia synonymous with the brand itself, with a model span that has lasted a third of the life of the company, and – for many years – was the starting point into the realm of what has come to be known as the ultimate driving machine.
The 3 Series is the genesis of the compact luxury sedan segment, and throughout the years has epitomised BMW’s sheer driving enjoyment, not to mention garnered a plethora of motorsport victories over decades of competition.
As the Malaysian market welcomes the
seventh-generation (G20) BMW 3 Series
, let’s take a look back at past generations of the BMW 3 Series.
The genesis of the compact luxury segment
While the E21 Generation might have been the first BMW to wear the 3 Series badge, the 3 Series lineage actually goes further back, to the four-door BMW 2000 and its two-door twin the 2002 (back then two-door BMWs had a 02 designation).
Built on a shortened version of BMW's Neue Klasse (New Class) sedans - which included the 1600 and 1800 models – the 2002 was the genesis for the E21. It laid the design template for next two generations of 3 Series - compact proportions, signature round headlights, slim kidney grilles, Hofmeister kink, and thin pillars.
More importantly, the 2002 was the model that introduced the BMW brand to key markets outside of Germany – the USA in particular.
The first generation
(
E21) – Driver focussed; state-of-the-art technology
First introduced in 1975 – the E21 opened a new chapter in BMW history. It adopted a new naming convention and introduced iconic design traits still featured to this day - an interior design with a dashboard angled towards the driver. The E21 was only offered as a two-door coupe.
Three four-cylinder engines – a 1.6-liter, 1.8-litre, and 2.0-litre – were offered across four variants: the 316, 318, 320, and 320i. The E21 featured then “state-of-the-art” MacPherson front suspension and independent trailing arm suspension at the rear. 1977, the first six-cylinder engine (in the 320 and 323i) was introduced, along with disc brakes all round.
The second generation (E30) – Faster and more refined; the M3 is born
Launched in 1982, the E30 generation brought about advancement in nearly all aspects – new design, optimised aerodynamics, more space, as well as additional body and engine variants. Along with the introduction of a four-door body style (1983), the E30 added a Convertible and track-focussed M3 coupe (both in 1985) variant. The latter started a legacy of high-powered BMW models of its own.
To cater to an ever-growing customer base – BMW introduced a Touring version in 1987, and a permanent four-wheel drive variant (325iX). Other notable highlights were the 325e (high-efficiency model) and the 318is (BMW’s first production four-cylinder, four-valve cylinder head). With more than 2.3 million units sold, the E30 outsold the E21 by a million units over its seven-year lifespan. It was the model that popularized the 3 Series nameplate.
The third generation (E36) – From strength to strength; the first Compact model
The E36 was introduced initially only as a four-door saloon in 1990. A Compact (hatchback) body style was added to the range. It marked a styling departure from the E21 and E30, having the twin round headlamps installed beneath a glass cover.
Its styling was a big leap from the boxy E30, adopting a more slippery 'dolphin' like shape.
This generation also introduced the first ever four-door M3 sedan.
The E36 also saw the introduction twin-cam, 24-valve six-cylinder engines. The power units in the coupé version featured, for the first time, Vanos variable valve timing control which enhances the engine’s torque curve and allowed engineers to increase compression without hampering fuel economy and emissions.
The fourth generation (E46) – Bigger, more refined; the 3 Series for the new millennium
Introduced in 1998, with the E46 generation, the 3 Series grew up significantly - the new model was four centimeters longer and wider than its predecessor, with the interior also having grown accordingly.
Six-cylinder engines now gained Vanos variable camshaft timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts. The E46 also welcomed a new four-wheel drive system in the sedan and the touring models – dubbed xDrive – which operated without conventional locking differentials, instead, by wheel-selective braking to transfer power to the wheel with most traction. The M3 by now sported a naturally-aspirated 3.2-litre which produced 343 hp.
The fifth generation (E90/E91/E92/E93) – Mould breaking design; V8 power comes to the M3
Building on the success of the E46, the E90 generation – first launched in 2005 – offered improved drivetrains, better refinement, improved infotainment and connectivity functions, and a striking new design, a lot of which was borrowed from the Z4.
It also introduced BMW’s EfficientDynamics brand, with all petrol engines adopting high-precision direct injection technology for lean-burn engine operation.
It was also the first 3 Series to adopt iDrive.
The 335i debuted BMW’s TwinPower Turbo (twin-scroll turbocharged) 3.0-litre inline-six which produced over 300 hp. The M3 came in 2007 and, for the first time, was powered by a newly developed V8 engine that produced 420 hp bumping it into the ranks of sports cars such as the Porsche 911.
The sixth-generation (F30/F31/F34/F35) – Striking design; the first hybrid 3 Series
First introduced in 2012, the sixth-generation brought about a raft of innovations for the compact luxury segment in terms of drivetrain, chassis, and safety. This generation saw the coupe and convertible models renamed as the 4 Series. Also introduced was a four-door coupe 4 Series Gran Coupe, as well as the short lived 3 Series Gran Turismo wagon-crossover.
The F30 generation was also significantly more spacious and comfortable. It came with a first-in-segment 8-speed automatic transmission. Driving Experience Control for selectable driving modes was also fitted as standard. Connectivity took centre stage with the F30 generation; BMW ConnectedDrive became a standard feature offering seamless integration with smartphones. All four- and six-cylinder engines now featured BMW TwinPower Turbo technology – no more naturally aspirated engines.
The F30 generation also saw the introduction of the first hybrid model – the 3 Series ActiveHybrid, which was later superseded by the plug-in hybrid 330e. The range-topping M3, on the other hand, swapped displacement for twin-turbocharging, returning to a 3.0-liter straight six, that produced 425 hp.
The seventh generation (G20) – A modern interpretation of driving excellence and connectivity
The G20 generation characterises driving exhilaration in the most modern sense. Despite its ultra-modern mechanicals - such as the lift-related (passive) dampers - the driving experience is designed to be more organic and exciting than its predecessor.
Also, with the integration of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, the G20 introduces class-leading connectivity and convenience features.


Shell Installs Solar Panels On Top Of 216 Stations

Shell has installed solar panels at 216 of its retail stations - a couple of its stations have also been given Green Building Index (GBI) Certification.

Shell Malaysia achieved
another milestone
 in its attempt to reduce carbon emissions in its mobility operations by installing solar panels at 216 of its retail stations.

The installation of solar panels is part of Shell Malaysia's efforts to adopt a combination of measures to improve energy efficiency and
reduce its carbon footprint
, working together with Cleantech Solar to do it.

To date, a total of 22,505 Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels with a total capacity of 10.12 megawatts (MWp) have been installed on rooftops at 216 stations, which is part of the company's commitment to run safe, efficient, responsible and profitable business operations.

To put it into context, the current number of solar panels at its stations can generate 12,939 MWh of electricity, enough to power about 3,740 households in a year.

"At Shell, we aim to make the transition towards a low-carbon future possible for our operations and will always look out for initiatives that will enable us to provide cleaner and sustainable energy solutions for our customers. We have fitted 216 of our stations with solar panels and we will be progressing towards about 350 stations by the end of 2022,” said Seow Lee Ming, General Manager (GM) Mobility Shell.

In 2019, Shell Damansara Jaya and Shell Taman Connaught stations were the first two retail premises in Malaysia to receive a Green Building Index (GBI) Certification.

Shell has also become the first company in the Asia Pacific region to receive GBI certification.

The company is currently receiving GBI certification for five of its other stations, namely Shell Taman Connaught, Shell Damansara Jaya, Shell Mint Hotel,
Shell Hentian Sebelah Tangkak
 and Shell Alor Pongsu.