Testing Bridgestone's Latest Working Class Hero - Potenza RE003

You know Bridgestone has a winning product on its hands when it is confident enough to pass us the keys to various pairs of identical cars but fitted with tyres from renowned competitors like Goodyear and Michelin.
The subject of my attention today is the Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003. As its Potenza name suggests, this is a street performance tyre. It replaces the previous RE002 and is positioned below Bridgestone's performance flagship the Potenza S001. For trivia lovers, RE is short for Racing Equipment.
Where the Potenza S001 is aimed at top-level performance cars (think Ferrari 458 and Porsche 911), the RE003 is aimed at mid-level performance cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Toyota 86, Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
What's New?
Compared to the previous RE002, the new RE003 sports a far more aggressive tread pattern, with the asymmetrical tyre's outer side tread looking almost like a racing specs semi-slick tyre!
As you would expect from incorporating a semi-slick style groove, the RE003's improvement in dry handling performance was immediately obvious when compared against the RE002 back-to-back in two identical Subaru WRXes – more on that later.
Bridgestone says the 'Connection Block' - its marketing name for the semi-slick looking bits - adds rigidity to the outer side of the tyre, thus resisting deformation during high-speed cornering, further improving its stability in dry cornering.
But this is not a one-hit wonder tyre, as an equal amount of attention was also given in improving wet weather performance.
Running along the centre rib is a squiggly worm-like tread pattern which Bridgestone calls 'Pulse Groove.'
Pulse Groove's task is to facilitate fast drainage of water to prevent hydroplanning - a situation where the tyre's rotational speed is faster than the grooves' ability to disperse water, thus causing the tyre to float like it's a child's swimming float.
The tyre is also made with a new type of silica compound, featuring Bridgestone's proprietary NanoPro Tech technology. Silica is commonly used to improve a tyre's energy efficiency but in this case, Bridgestone says it also improves dry and wet handling.
Overall, Bridgestone says the RE003 is better than the previous RE002 by six percent in terms of cornering stiffness, eight percent in cornering force threshold - thus allowing the tyre to hold on to the driver's intended line in a corner better - a claim which we will put to the test later.
In terms of the all important braking distance, RE003 is five percent better than the RE002, in both wet and dry conditions.
But the biggest improvement was in the subjective aspect of 'centre feel,' which Bridgestone reckons is 20 percent better than before.
How Does It Drive?
The tests were conducted at the Holden Proving Ground in Brisbane, Australia, one of the three locations in the world to have a rotating turntable, whose giant spinning plate will spit out any car driven over it sideways to simulate a skid at high speeds.
The first test is a fairly mild exercise, comparing against the RE003's predecessor in two identical Subaru WRXes along a slalom course.
Comparing the two back-to-back, the difference in feedback is quite startling, something which I initially refused to believe, short of any instrumented testing, and placed it down to some placebo effect.
How is it possible that one generation of tyre development can deliver any noticeable improvement in a short subjective test? Apparently it is possible.
But repeated test runs confirmed my initial experience - the RE003 sends out a more precise yet progressive feel, whether it is driving straight ahead or see-sawing the steering wheel negotiating the slalom.
With speedometer kept at 55 km/h, the RE003's improved handling is immediate from the moment I turned the wheel to aim for the first cone in the slalom. Where the RE002 feels more vague despite gripping well, the RE003 adds a greater sense of linearity to its action, allowing you as the driver to have a greater degree of feedback from the front tyres.
The next exercise was more interesting. Two Volkswagen Golf GTIs were parked just outside a wet skid pad - one shod with Goodyear Direction 5s and another with Bridgestone RE003s.
I set out with the Goodyear equipped GTI first, with the traction and stability control switched off. Circling the huge skidpad which is now more like a water-filled mega large dinner plate, I am reminded that Goodyear's strong reputation for wet handling isn't without substance.
Holding the steering wheel turned towards right, with the speedometer needle climbing slowly as I gradually build up speed to ascertain where the Goodyear's limits lies, the Goodyears hung on like it had claws dug deep into the standing water.
Understeer only starts to creep in from 50 km/h onwards, and by 55 km/h, the nose will start to push wide. But I also found that if you are steady enough to catch and correct the slide, it is possible to creep up to nearly 60 km/h but by then you are really dancing on the knife's edge. Once past the tyre's limits, the Goodyears broke free very quickly and very abruptly.
With the Bridgestones, the GTI held its line just as well, but there's noticeably more confidence permeating through the steering wheel. Objectively, there is little difference between the two in terms of the maximum speed that can be sustained, but where the Goodyear starting feeling skittish at 50 km/h, the Bridgestone felt calmer, even when the car starts to understeer hard.
Thanks to greater feedback coming through the steering wheel, the Bridgestone equipped car gives ample warning to the driver that he is approaching the limits.
Where the Goodyear went skittish, the Bridgestone simply understeered gently, with the slide becoming progressively wider as you get closer to its limits, but it never throws you off in an alarmingly quick manner.
Next up is the most exciting part of the test - the turn table - imagine a spinning disc on the road surface that you're supposed to drive across. Due to the proximity of the turn table with several trees, Bridgestone elected to have professional test drivers to show us instead. So it's a taxi ride in skidding car then.
Spinning at a leisurely 17 turns per minute, the turn table doesn't look intimidating at all, until you start driving across one.
Approaching the turn table straight ahead at 70 km/h in an all-wheel drive Subaru WRX, the spinning turntable caught the WRX's front wheels, hooked it up and spun it towards the left while the rear tyres were still gripping to the tarmac, violently pulling it into the spinning disc like the car has been caught up by a typhoon.
A fraction of a second later, the turn table spit out the WRX while the rear was yet to catch up with what's happening.
The result is a very violent skid as the front and rear tyres lost grip, and then gripped again, but with both ends wanting to go at different directions. It took a full opposite lock and generous use of throttle before the car could be controlled again.
The immediacy of the RE003s in clawing the wet surface for grip from the moment it left the turntable, arresting the skid as if a huge anchor was just thrown out the window, was enough to rock us sitting inside the car from one side to another.
The final test was the all-round course, which involves a longer stretch of road, interspaced with slaloms and fast lane changes to simulate everyday driving conditions. Once again, two Subaru WRXes were used.
This time the benchmark tyre used was Michelin's Pilot Sport 3 (PS3), probably the best all-round capability tyre on the market.
Driving down the straights, the RE003 was noticeably quieter than the PS3, and had better centre feel when driving straight.
Heaving the steering wheel left-right for the slaloms, the RE003s matched the outstanding precision of the PS3s but the RE003 appears to resist sidewall deformation better than the PS3, and required less correction to the steering angle.
But the test was too brief, focusing only on a narrow set of performance attributes to conclude that the Bridgestone was better than the Michelin, which I still hold in very high regard.
In another tyre test that I have experienced two years ago, pitting Michelins against Bridgestones, I realized that as the temperature increased, Bridgestone's performance proved to be less consistent than Michelin's, whose Total Performance System technology has been proven to deliver a more consistent performance, across all performance attributes.
Still, the RE003 is sold at a considerably cheaper price than Michelin's equivalent so the trade-off is acceptable. Overall, I would definitely recommend the RE003 to anyone looking for an affordable street performance tyre.
The Bridgestone RE003 is available in 15-inch until 18-inch sizes. Prices start from RM230 excluding GST.


2023 BIMS: Mitsubishi unveils Triton-based XRT Concept in Bangkok

Mitsubishi has unveiled the all-new Triton prototype under the name XRT Concept at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show before its official launch in the middle of this year.

The Triton is Mitsubishi Motors' top-selling model, and the pickup truck is exported to about 150 countries worldwide. It's safe to say that it's a very important model for them, so it's no surprise that it has received a full redesign approximately nine years after the launch of the current model.

After the
launch in Thailand in fiscal 2023
, it will be released sequentially in the ASEAN region, Oceania and other global markets.

Picture credit: Autospinn

From what we can see, because the truck is still pretty much camo'd up, the XRT Concept continues the Triton's aggressive look, characterized by a fierce expression on the front and a robust hood that continues to the side with bold, horizontally-themed styling.

To make it seem beefier, the concept car is fitted with front and rear over fenders as well as mud-terrain tires, giving the impression that it's ready for anything you throw it, let it be from on-road adventures to off-road excursions.

The production car will not apparently stray too far away from the concept car, which means one of the most significant changes we can see is that we bid farewell to the Triton's identifiable J-line, which sits between the cabin and truck bed.

Apart from its looks, not many details about the truck have been unveiled by Mitsubishi Motors, but there are rumours swirling around the web that the new Triton will be sharing a lot of its parts, including its ladder frame chassis, with the Nissan Navara.

This is really not a big surprise as the Mitsubishi-Nissan Alliance will surely see some parts bin sharing, common for auto manufacturers that are in cahoots with each other.

Apparently, the next-gen Triton will also come with a new powertrain, with the assumption that it'll be using the same Mitsubishi 4N16 mill as seen on the newest Nissan Caravan, which means that it'll come with a seven-speed Jatco automatic transmission.


CONFIRMED: Toyota bZ4X is coming to Malaysia in 2023

The
Toyota bZ4X EV SUV
 has already been launched in our neighbouring countries, but it'll soon land in Malaysia come 2023.

UMW Toyota Motor announced that they are indeed preparing for its first fully-electrified model for the local market. In fact, a few units have already arrived for testing and training purposes.

Price range unsure

Looking at the Toyota bZ4X offerings in Thailand and Indonesia, we can see that the two different variants are offered at drastically different prices. The one in Thailand is priced at 1,836,000 baht (around RM235,000) while Indonesians can get one for 1.19 billion rupiah (around RM355,000).

Thailand's EV incentives provided by its government helped to greatly reduce the bZ4X's selling price, and the spec they received is the dual-electric motor with AWD that produces 215hp and 337Nm of torque.

Indonesia's much higher price tag will only get them the FWD single-electric motor unit that churns out 204hp and 266Nm of torque. Both are fitted with the same 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack which get the Thai unit a WLTP range of 411km but a much longer range for the Indonesia variant at 500km (WLTP).

Malaysia's EV exemptions ongoing until 2024

The tax exemptions for fully-imported EVs in relation to the import and excise duties will last until the end of 2024. Depending on the variant that we will get come 2023, our best-educated guess in terms of the price range for the Malaysian market might just be between RM230,000 to RM260,000.

Charging-wise, both variants of the Toyota bZ4X EV SUV support up to 6.6kW of AC charging (Type 2 connection) and up to 150kW of DC fast charging (CCS2 connection). The latter offers a charging rate from 0-80% in just 30 minutes. An interesting EV prospect?


Review: 2016 Toyota Vios - Par for the Course

It’s all about value for money. Picking a B-segment sedan always comes down to how much you can get for your money, and for a long time the Toyota Vios was always regarded as a little behind in the specifications department. UMW Toyota has worked hard to bridge the gaps, adding new features and revising the pricing to make the Vios more competitive. But is it a matter of too little, too late?
Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre transverse four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC with Dual VVT-i
Power: 107 PS @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 140 Nm @ 4,200 rpm
Transmission: 7-“speed” CVT, front-wheel drive
Safety: 2 airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, ABS, EBD, BA, ISOFIX
Price: RM92,800 for the 1.5 GX, RM96,400 for the 1.5 TRD Sportivo, OTR with Insurance
What’s new?
There are certain features that customers have begun to expect in their cars- basic things that are regarded as mandatory more as optional or by specification. Some of these are safety features: in the 1970s it was seatbelts, in the 1980s it was anti-lock brakes, in the 1990s it was airbags, and going into the 2000s it was electronic stability control. Perhaps pre-safe and anti-collision systems will be the defining feature of the 2010s- but we digress.
The pre-facelift Toyota Vios was notorious for its lack of stability control, which consumers had come to expect as immediate rivals were offering it as standard across the range. When even local car manufacturers could begin to offer the system it was clear that UMW Toyota had made a mistake- and this has been rectified with the facelift. The new vehicle stability control systems are as competent as you would expect, and there’s little else to say. You asked for it, and they have provided.
But there’s more to this new Vios than a few additional features. Just like the facelift for the previous generation Corolla Altis, this new Vios receives an entirely new powertrain. The newer generation engine has a higher compression ratio and variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust, while the severely outdated 4-speed automatic transmission has been replaced by a 7-“speed” CVT. Self-shifting aficionados can still purchase the basic Vios with a 5-speed manual transmission.
For our drive, UMW Toyota made available the new GX-level trim Vios, along with the top-of-the-line Sportivo models. Both models are largely the same in terms of features, with the mild differences being in the form of aesthetic trim pieces. For the purposes of our review, we will be talking about the GX-level model as this is the one we spent the most time with.
Interior
The Vios is decidedly middle ground in many aspects of its design, and the interior reflects this as well. It isn’t quite nearly as roomy as the
Honda City
, but neither is it as cramped as the
Mazda 2
. The facelift has brought a few aesthetic changes, chiefly in trim pieces along the dashboard and a slightly better build quality, along with the return of cupholders for both the driver and passenger.
Unfortunately, the lack of storage space is still an issue. This isn’t something that can be solved with a facelift, but rather requires a full model change and a proper look at spacing and packaging. The fake stitching has been carried over as well- something we would happily trade for a dome light or some other seemingly missing element. There is even footwell mood lighting, which seems like a feature that wouldn’t be as widely appreciated in this segment.
But in terms of actual features and functionality, the new Vios manages to make up the gap. These new touch-screen head units that UMW Toyota has started to employ across th eir model range seem to be the right choice, despite not necessarily being an integrated unit such as those found in Hondas or Mazdas. They are quick to react to inputs and have high functionality, with the only downside being the frustrating lockout whenever the car is moving.
For a long distance trip such as our drive to Melaka, the Vios provided enough room for three adults to ride in comfort. Once again, it isn’t quite the pinnacle in terms of product packaging, but it’s far from cramped and definitely a car you can live with on the daily. We just wish they would have gotten rid of that fake stitching.
Exterior
It isn’t easy to tell this new Vios from its pre-facelift model, unless you’re looking at a unit with DRLs integrated in the front bumper. The overall look of the Vios has matured over the past years, but of course we remain thankful that it managed to escape from the Dugong-esque styling of the second generation Vios. The 15-inch wheels do seem a little small for the car (even for the TRD Sportivo model), but it’s largely a matter of taste.
How does it drive?
As the two variants available were both CVT equipped, the focus of the drive was on how vastly different the CVT was to the outdated 4-speed automatic that the Vios came with before. Toyota’s CVT has proven to be acceptable in most applications, such as the Corolla Altis and the Camry Hybrid- would it be any different in the Vios?
For the most part, no. There are some moments where the transmission holds an annoyingly high rpm due to the small capacity engine, but during low speed driving and maintaining a high speed the transmission behaves itself. There is a manual override, but you are much better off leaving the car in D and letting it decide for itself. At lower speeds the acceleration is adequate, although accelerating at higher speeds means dealing with the rubber-band nature of the transmission as it reduces ratio.
Handling dynamics are largely similar to the pre-facelift model, which once again means the Vios is fairly middle ground in this department. It doesn’t quite have the dynamic edge of the Mazda 2, but it has far better body composure and chassis response than the Honda City. The electric power steering doesn’t have much feedback to speak of, but it is well weighted.
How efficient is it?
This is an interesting topic, because we were made to carry out a 1-litre efficiency challenge with the Vios. Nothing was left to dispute as the testing methods were heavily controlled: a small capacity fuel tank with a separate fuel pump was mounted up front and connected directly to the fuel feed for the injectors and the engines were run until they died and could no longer be restarted- basically indicating there was no fuel left in the lines.
We were then made to measure out exactly 1 litre of fuel, pour it into this separate tank, and then fire up the car and drive out around Melaka International Motorsports Circuit. The rules were fairly simple- drive for as long as possible, at any speed and with or without the air conditioning. Running through quite nearly 40 participants with 8 cars on the track at any one time, it was a fairly interesting exercise.
The key here was to drive as quickly around the track as the tyres could handle, without accelerating too abruptly or having to use the brakes. Coming down the straight towards the hairpin at the end required a fair amount of coasting to bleed speed, but the idea is that having to touch the brakes or scrub the tyres into a corner meant that you burned too much fuel and built up unnecessary speed on the straight before it.
Once the fuel had run out and you literally came to a dead stop on the track, your trip meter and time would be recorded. Again, this means that you had used up the entire 1 litre of fuel you poured in, and it gives an exact kilometre per litre figure. The results were pretty impressive.
UMW Toyota’s own team had done a baseline run with the air conditioning on and the windows up to give a rough estimate of the worst case fuel consumption- a figure that came to roughly 16 kilometres per litre. My own results came in at a whopping 22 kilometres per litre, bouncing between 40 km/h and 60 km/h and leaving the air conditioning off. The best result of the day was 24.6 kilometres per litre, which is a little over 4 litres per 100 kilometres.
Even if you were to go by the baseline result, the Vios is impressively efficient at these speeds and these kinds of conditions. The CVT helps by keeping the engine boiling at a little over idle as long as you accelerate in a gentle manner, which allows it to stay frugal as you pick up more speed. While we had no time or place to test fuel consumption at higher speeds- say 80 km/h to 100 km/h- we have no doubt that there is potential for even better fuel efficiency.
How comfortable is it?
If you’re tired of hearing the phrase “middle ground”, then you should skip this section. The Vios is once again neither stiff nor soft, although at highway speeds it does feel as though it wanders a little within its lane. It doesn’t crash over expansion joints, but neither is it so smooth that you don’t even notice them. It’s middle ground.
Conclusion
At times, the best way to improve your product is simply to look at why consumers have passed it over for other options. The common gripes have been “no stability control”, and “4 speed automatic”- and simply put, Toyota has fixed these problems. To dive a little deeper, you might take issue with the seemingly poor storage space or the cost cutting in certain areas, but as a car to drive and experience it certainly doesn’t feel lacking. It may not be outstanding in any particular area, but this is no longer a car you can dismiss for a singular large reason. For those who find the Mazda 2 a little small and find the Honda City a little soft, the Toyota Vios might be the answer. The specifications that matter are pretty consistent throughout the model variants, but the 1.5G CVT may be the best bang for buck versus this new GX variant and the Sportivo model. Read about the specific trims and pricing in our launch story
here
.


BMW M6 Line-Up Receives New Competition Package: 600HP, 700Nm Now Made Available

At this year’s M festival held at the Nürburgring race track in Germany,
BMW
 also introduced the new, upgraded Competition Package for the
BMW M6
 Coupe, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, and BMW M6 Convertible alongside the
M6 GT3 racer
.
Part of the Competition Package includes a power boost for the TwinPower Turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine in all three models to 600hp and 700Nm of torque (available from 1,500 to 6,000 rpm), a 40hp/20Nm increase.
This bump in power gives the M6 Coupe a century sprint time of 3.9 seconds while the M6 Gran Coupe and Convertible hits 100 km/h from a standstill in just 4.0 seconds. All Competition models are by default electronically limited to a 250 km/h top speed but with the optional M Driver’s Package, the figure goes up to 305 km/h.
Power isn’t just the only add-on here. Underneath, the chassis receives a tune-up along with the cars’ springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars to be firmer. The Active M Differential also receives a tweak to allow the driver to “accelerate even more dynamically out of tight corners” while the steering is mapped to provide a sportier handling feel.
Visual changes to differentiate the Competition Package models from the base cars are 20-inch M light-alloy wheels with black chrome twin tailpipes for the sports exhaust system.


Toyota e-TNGA EV Platform Detailed – Basis Of Future EV Models

Just last week, we reported that Toyota and Subaru will be joining forces to develop a dedicated EV platform, which will form the basis of more models in the future.
Recently, Toyota has revealed more details of the new platform that is being co-developed with Subaru, which is called e-TNGA.
From the slides provided by Toyota, e-TNGA can feature any drive format – front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or even all-wheel drive. Motor placement is flexible as well, as it can be mounted to the front or the rear of the vehicle.
In comparison, the front-wheel drive format could set Toyota apart from Volkswagen, as the giant German firm just introduced its all-new Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform, designed specifically for EVs. Unlike Toyota, the MEB architecture will be rear-or all-wheel drive only.
In addition to motor placement, e-TNGA also allows for flexible vehicle configurations. Depending on requirements, the vehicle’s wheelbase, front and rear overhangs, and vehicle width can be altered. Despite its varying dimensions, the positions of the motor and battery will remain identical across all e-TNGA applications.
Another key of e-TNGA is its modules, which are separated into the front module, centre module, rear module, battery, and motor. Again, depending on the target vehicle’s requirements, each module can be customized – overhangs can be short or long, battery capacities can vary from small, medium to large, and motor output is variable.
The slides also indicate e-TNGA will be the basis of almost every Toyota EV moving forward, from compact cars, to medium sedans, all the way up to large SUVs. For the compact segment, Toyota will be developing these models alongside compact car specialists like Daihatsu and Suzuki.
Looking for a new Toyota? Find for the best deals
here
.


BMW 430i Coupé M Sport 2021 Berwajah Baharu Diperkenal – Berharga RM454,800

BMW Group Malaysia
 telah memperkenalkan
BMW 430i Coupé M Sport
 baharu dalam usaha mereka untuk menggapai keunggulan seni reka bentuk melalui jenteranya.

Setelah meneroka pelbagai jenis kemungkinan untuk menzahirkan elemen reka bentuk dan gaya demi menyuntik nafas baharu dalam jentera BMW yang bersifat kontemporari, BMW 4 Series adalah hasil daripada sifat ingin tahu BMW dalam dunia seni reka bentuk.

Berikut merupakan spesifikasi untuk BMW 430i Coupé M Sport baharu:

Spesifikasi

Unit

BMW 430i Coupé M Sport Baharu

Enjin

Layout/silinder

In-line/4

Transmisi

Transmisi Steptronic Sport 8 Kelajuan

Kapasiti

cc

1,998

Output Maksimum / Tork

kW(HP)/ Nm

190 (258)/ 400

0-100 km/h

s

5.8

Kelajuan Maksimum

km/h

250

Pengunaan Bahan Api

l/100km

6.6

Pelepasan CO2

g/km

151

Panjang/Lebar/Tinggi

mm

4,768/1,852/1,383

Jarak Roda

mm

2,851

Berat

kg

1,620

Kapasiti But

l

440

Prestasi

Model ini menggunakan enjin petrol 4 silinder BMW TwinTurbo yang menggabungkan pengecas turbo tatal berkembar dengan Valvetronic, Double VANOS dan injeksi bertepatan tinggi. Hasilnya, BMW 430i Coupé M Sport mampu menjana output maksimum berjumlah 258 HP dan 400 Nm Tork. Jentera ini mampu mencapai kelajuan 250 km/j dan hanya memerlukan 5.8 saat untuk memecut dari 0-100 km/h.

Untuk memberikan tahap efisien yang lebih baik, model ini tiba dengan Transmisi Steptronic Sport 8 Kelajuan yang dinaik taraf. Ianya mampu memberikan penggunaan bahan api sehingga 6.6 liter bagi setiap 100 km, serta emisi CO2 berjumlah 151 g per kilometer.

Sistem kawalan seperti teknologi ARB (‘actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation’) membekalkan kawalan gelincir roda yang lebih tangkas dan sensitif.  Ciri pengendalian lincah jentera ini turut dibantu dengan suspensi M Sport, brek M Sport serta stereng sport berciri boleh ubah (Variable Sport Steering).

Bagi menyediakan pakej yang lengkap berserta dengan dinamik pemanduan serba canggih, BMW 430i Coupé M Sport baharu ini turut dilengkapi dengan Kawalan Stabiliti Dinamik (Dynamic Stability Control), termasuk Kawalan Cengkaman Dinamik (Dynamic Traction Control), Kawalan Brek Membelok (Cornering Brake Control), Kawalan Brek Dinamik (Dynamic Brake Control) serta Sistem Pembrekan Antikunci (ABS) dengan ciri Bantuan Brek.

Exterior

Antara yang paling menyerlah tentunya gril ‘kidney’ yang lebih besar di bahagian hadapan kereta berbanding sebelumnya. Reka bentuk gril ini adalah subjektif. Mungkin ada yang suka, mungkin ada yang tidak. Tetapi tahukah anda, gril ‘kidney’ baharu ini dibuat untuk memberi penghormatan kepada ikon-ikon dalam sejarah BMW seperti
BMW 328
? Ia mentafsirkan semula ciri utama jentera ini dan membina model baharu dalam bentuk coupé serba sporty, lagi kontemporari.

Miring ke hadapan, gril ‘kidney’ jentera ini mengunjur ke lingkaran bawah komponen apron, dan di samping tirai salur masuk udara, sekaligus menyerlahkan lagi kelebaran jentera ini dari sudut hadapan.  Secara dekat, gril ‘kidney’ tersebut dilihat membawakan gubahan jejaring yang serba rapi – didahului dengan struktur mendatar bermaterialkan aluminium matte yang membentuk corak indung madu – semuanya dibingkaikan dalam krom berglos tinggi.

Gandingan ciri aerodinamik serta keelegenan serba lasak pada reka bentuk baharu model ini menyerlahkan lagi penampilan atletik jentera BMW 430i Coupé M Sport. Berbanding model terdahulu, dimensi BMW 430i Coupé M Sport baharu bersaiz sedikit lebih besar dengan panjangnya berukuran 4,768 mm (+130), kelebaran berukuran 1,852 mm (+27), ketinggian berukuran 1,383 mm (+6), dan jarak roda berukuran 2,851 mm (+41).

Bagi menyerlahkan lagi kelasakan dan kelincahan pada BMW 430i Coupé M Sport baharu, model ini hadir dengan set roda aloi ringan 19" M dalam penggayaan ‘Double-spoke’ 797 M Bicolour serta tayar saiz bercampur dan tayar ‘runflat’, termasuk brek M Sport dengan angkup brek berwarna biru dan designasi ‘M’. Di bahagian belakang, paip ekzosnya dikemasi dalam krom berglos tinggi

Bukan itu sahaja, model baharu ini turut hadir dengan Pakej M Aerodynamics, BMW Laserlights dengan ciri bantuan lampu puncak, lampu kabus LED, dan Garisan Bayang (Shadow Line) BMW Individual berglos tinggi.

Interior

Di bahagian dalaman, kokpit jentera ini direka khas bagi pemandu sporty. Buktinya, kelengkapan asas model ini meliputi kerusi sport untuk pemandu dan penumpang, stereng kulit ‘M’, pedal ‘M-specific’, upholsteri Leather Vernasca, dan material bumbung Antrasit oleh BMW Individual, lengkap dengan kemasan trim interior dalam Aluminium Tetragon, berserta dengan sorotan kemasan trim dalam Pearl Chrome.  Terdapat juga jalur ‘M-specific’ menghiasi tali pinggang keledar di tempat duduk hadapan dan belakang.

BMW 430i Coupé M Sport membawakan BMW Live Cockpit Professional dengan paparan instrumen digital 12.3”, berserta dengan BMW Navigation System Professional dengan skrin sentuh 10.25”. Sistem bunyi keliling dengan 16 pembesar suara oleh Harman Kardon, serta kefungsian tambahan bagi peranti Bluetooth dan USB dengan ciri pengecasan tanpa wayar turut dilengkapi pada jentera ini. Aspek keterhubungan dalam bentuk Connected Package Professional ditawarkan sebagai standard meliputi Panggilan Kecemasan Pintar (Intelligent Emergency Call), dan Pembantu Peribadi Pintar (Intelligent Personal Assistant).

Selain itu, Panel instrumennya juga lengkap dengan material Sensatec.  Sentuhan serbaguna yang ditawarkan seperti butang multifungsi di stereng, kompartmen muatan tambahan dengan tempat letak tangan di hadapan, serta pelarasan kerusi secara elektrik dengan fungsi memori bagi pemandu memberikan pengalaman pemanduan yang lebih baik pada pemandu.

Cermin sisi di bahagian pemandu serta cemin pandang belakang dilengkapi dengan ciri antisilau automatik selain dibantu oleh sensor hujan untuk menjamin pemanduan yang jelas di atas jalan raya pada setiap masa. Karpet aluan bercahaya dan pencahayaan ambien dengan 11 tetapan cahaya, hamparan lantai yang diperbuat daripada velor, serta penyaman udara automatik 3 zon menonjolkan elemen kemewahan model BMW 430i Coupé M Sport ini.

Ciri Keselamatan

Selain Bantuan Had Kelajuan, Amaran Rentas Trafik, Pencegahan Perlanggaran Belakang, dan Amaran Kawalan Penghampiran Objek, jentera ini dilengkapi dengan Pakej Bantuan Memandu yang meliputi fungsi seperti Amaran Pengeluaran Laluan, Amaran Penukaran Laluan, serta amaran perlanggaran hadapan dengan intervensi brek.

BMW 430i Coupé M Sport juga didatangkan dengan Bantuan Parkir, kamera pandang belakang, dan Bantuan Mengundur yang merekodkan jarak pemanduan 50 meter yang terakhir secara berterusan memberikan anda sistem bantuan pemanduan yang canggih.

Warna

BMW 430i Coupé M Sport baharu ini boleh didapati dalam 4 warna, iaitu Arctic Race Blue Metallic, Portimao Blue, Alpine White, dan Black Sapphire. Selain itu, Upholsteri Leather Vernasca dengan sulaman dekor berwarna hitam menghiasi ruang interior turut boleh didapati dalam warna Black, Tacora Red atau Cognac.

Pemilikan Premium

BMW Group Malaysia menjanjikan pengalaman pemilikan premium kepada pemilik jentera BMW 430i Coupé M Sport baharu seperti Waranti Tanpa Had Perbatuan Bertempoh 5 Tahun oleh BMW, Program Servis Berjadual Percuma, Bantuan Tepi Jalan dan Hotline Kemalangan oleh BMW, Aplikasi Mudah Alih ‘BMW Group Loyalty+’ - BMW Privileges Card dan Servis Dalam Talian BMW.

Dijual pada harga RM454,800, adakah anda berminat untuk menempah BMW 430i Coupé M Sport baharu ini? Tempahan boleh dibuat di
https://shop.bmw.com.my/
 dengan bayaran RM 1,000!


Habis Bayar Pinjaman Kereta? Tukar Hak Milik Kenderaan Melalui E-Batal JPJ

Selesai bayar
hutang kereta
memang seronok, namun tahukah anda bahawa anda perlu
menukar nama pemilik
kereta atau mengeluarkan nama bank daripada geran kereta asal kepada nama anda?

Ini kerana kereta tersebut adalah hak milik bank dan bukanlah hak milik pembayar hutang sepenuhnya selagi hutang pinjaman belum dilangsaikan sepenuhnya.

Kenapa Kena Tukar Status Hak Milik?

Selesai membayar hutang kereta, ada satu lagi proses yang perlu dilakukan di mana geran kereta perlu mendapat pengesahan “Batal Melalui Sistem” untuk menjadikan kereta itu hak milik anda sepenuhnya.

Jika pembelian kereta dibuat melalui
pinjaman bank
, ayat “Hak Milik Dituntut oleh: XXXX” biasanya tertulis pada geran kereta tersebut. Jadi status hak milik bank perlu dikeluarkan daripada geran kereta dengan melakukan proses e-Batal JPJ.

Tukar Status Hak Milik Melalui E-Batal JPJ

Bagi yang tidak tahu, syarat utama bagi penukaran status hak milik dari pihak bank kepada nama anda ialah pinjaman kenderaan perlulah dijelaskan sepenuhnya terlebih dahulu.

Sesudah itu, rujuk proses e-Batal JPJ seperti berikut:

Selesaikan baki pinjaman kereta, dapatkan geran kereta asal

Dapatkan surat pelepasan daripada bank

Hadir ke mana-mana cawangan JPJ

Setelah menerima geran asal daripada syarikat pengeluar kenderaan, hubungi pihak bank dan tanya sama ada surat pelepasan sudah dikeluarkan oleh pihak bank atau tidak bagi meneruskan prosedur pembatalan. Kebiasaannya, pihak bank akan menghantar surat ini terus kepada pihak JPJ.

Jika belum dihantar, bawa surat terbabit ke mana-mana cawangan JPJ berdekatan untuk membuang nama bank dari geran kereta. Proses ini biasanya tidak mengambil masa yang lama bergantung pada situasi dan masa.

Cop e-Batal akan diberikan pada geran kereta anda mengikut prosedur yang ditetapkan oleh JPJ. Cop ini bermaksud kereta ini ialah kereta anda sepenuhnya. Barulah geran di tangan!

Mudah bukan? Betul, proses ini memang mudah. Yang tak mudah tu bila nak langsaikan hutang kereta.


Youtuber Vietnam Cipta Bugatti Chiron Buatan Tangan Paling Realistik Di Dunia

Siapa sangka walaupun dengan kekangan bajet, tak mustahil untuk membina replika
Bugatti Chiron
 yang realistik dan boleh dipandu seperti kereta biasa? Sekali pandang, saling tak tumpah seperti Chiron. Mungkin boleh disewakan pada sifu sifu forex di Malaysia?

Idea tersebut telah diterjemahkan dalam bentuk realiti oleh sekumpulan Youtuber berbakat yang berasal dari Vietnam. Khabarnya kajian menyeluruh telah dilakukan sebelum menghasilkan replika Chiron buatan tangan ini. Apa yang menariknya, geng tersebut hasilkan kereta
hypercar
 buatan Perancis dengan hanya menggunakan peralatan asas dan enjin
Toyota
 je!

Projek ini bermula dengan membina bingkai dengan paip keluli yang kelihatan seakan-akan bentuk Chiron. Bingkai tersebut bertindak sebagai asas untuk mencipta
mock-up
 badan Chiron yang diukir menggunakan tanah liat.

Tanah liat tersebut kemudiannya ditambah dengan lapisan plaster bersama fiberglass untuk menjadi rangka bentuk sebuah Chiron yang lebih kukuh. Bila dah selesai bina rangka badan Chiron dari
fiberglass
, ia dipindahkan pada casis tubular versi
homemade
.

Ya betul, mereka tidak cuba mengubah suai casis daripada kereta yang sedia ada tapi menciptanya dari awal. Casis juga menampilkan apa yang kelihatan seperti suspensi
pushrod
, manakala enjin diletakkan di tengah ala-ala enjin
supercar
 sebenar

Walau bagaimanapun, Chiron ini tidak menggunakan enjin W16, sebaliknya ia menggunakan enjin 1.6L yang diambil daripada Toyota Corolla 1998. Sayap belakang dan cakera rotornya juga dibuat khas untuk projek itu. Untuk melengkapkan rupa, replika itu dicat dengan skema cat biru dan hitam tradisional Bugatti.

Walaupun Bugatti Chiron ini mungkin tidak akan memperdayakan mata-mata peminat kereta, namun bakat yang dimiliki sekumpulan anak muda Vietnam ini harus dipuji. Proses keseluruhan penghasilan replika Chiron tersebut telah didokumentasikan di saluran YouTube mereka bernama NHẾT TV.

*Kredit video dan foto:
NHẾT TV


Audi perkenal logo 2D baharu – Logo empat cincin dua dimensi

Logo empat cicin Audi kini berbentuk baharu dengan menampilkan penampilan dua dimensi.

Logo empat cincin Audi ini telah digunakan sejak zaman awal Auto Union dan ia telah dikemas kini beberapa kali sebelum ini.

Audi perkenal logo baharu, tulisan baharu

Perubahan terbaharu lencana itu mula diperkenalkan pada SUV elektrik baharu
Audi
, e-tron Q8 yang telah dikemaskini. Logo klasik empat cincin telah direka semula untuk memberikan imej yang lebih moden.

Logo baharu Audi kini lebih bersifat timbul dengan sifat dua dimensi dengan gabungan warna silver dan warna hitam pada latar belakangnya. Gabungan dua warna ini membuatkan logo ini kelihatan lebih jelas dan lebih hidup, walaupun dilihat dari jauh.

Meskipun akan ada variasi lain akan diperkenalkan pada logo baharu ini nanti, termasuk logo hitam dan kelabu yang lebih halus, semua versi logo baharu ini akan menerima penampilan dua dimensi yang sama tidak kira di dalam majalah, peranti pintar, papan iklan atau pada kenderaan Audi, menurut pereka Andre Georgi.

Tambah Andre, meskipun logo ini lebih moden, namun ia masih mengekalkan bentuk empat cincin yang sama seperti sebelumnya.

Audi juga dikatakan mahu logo kereta yang bebas dari sebarang elemen krom meskipun model ini lebih sinonim dengan penggunaan elemen krom pada krom.

Selain logo baharu, model akan datang akan menggunakan tulisan eksklusif yang dikenali sebagai Audi Type untuk memberikan Audi sebuah imej jenama yang konsisten merentasi semua jenis pelanggan.


Petron launches Blaze 100 Euro 4M fuel. Priced at RM2.80 per litre

Petron Malaysia Refining and Marketing Berhad (Petron Malaysia) today became the first fuel retailer in the country to officially launch the 100 RON premium fuel for our market.
Positioned above the RON 95 (RM1.85 per litre) and RON 97 (RM2.25) fuel offered currently, the Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4 M fuel is priced at RM2.80 per litre, and is targeted mainly towards high-performance vehicles, sports cars, as well as performance-oriented motorcycles.
Currently available in eight stations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor, Petron Malaysia said that the Blaze 100 Euro 4M will be made available at the brand’s stations in other parts of the country in phases by mid 2016.
That said, the Petron stations that carry the Blaze 100 Euro 4M are as listed below:
Petron Jalan Maarof (Kuala Lumpur)
Petron Sg. Besi Toll Southbound (Kuala Lumpur)
Petron Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (Kuala Lumpur)
Petron Kesas Westbound (Selangor)
Petron Batu 3 Federal Highway ( Selangor)
Petron Damansara Kayu Ara (Selangor)
Petron Skudai Toll Northbound (Johor)
Petron Linkedua Southbound (Johor)
Produced locally at Petron’s refinery in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, the Blaze 100 Euro 4M is said to be formulated with Tri-Activ, which is a triple action formula which promises to deliver more power, better fuel economy, as well as better engine protection.
Looking for a Porsche? Find them at
carlist.my


Why I Chose A Peugeot RCZ Over A Golf GTI

Peugeot seems to be on a bit of roll. So much so that they’re now on their way to becoming the 4th largest automaker in the world by volume (behind 3rd place Toyota) following the acquisition of Opel and Vauxhall in 2017 and their ongoing merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).

PSA Group’s current CEO Carlos Tavares will be helming this newly formed juggernaut, and it could be argued that his clever manoeuvres played a large role in returning the Peugeot brand to a position of strength, volume sales, and even a gradual move upmarket into semi-premium territory.

Some Background

It wasn't always so rosy, of course. So, how far can we trace the French automaker’s relatively recent ascent? Given the title of this little writeup, it’s obvious to assume that I'll try to convince you that the company’s RCZ coupe had some part in it. And you’d be correct.

Its reveal in concept form at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show as the ‘308 RCZ’ stunned those there to witness it, but even more shocking was their apparent commitment to create a production version with minimal sacrifices from the carbon fibre and aluminium show car. Mission accomplished, I say.

It’s one of the few cars that made the concept-to-production transition with its original vision almost entirely intact. And it’s still the only production car ever with a double-bubble glass roof.

At the time, the narrative surrounding the car’s intent and messaging was to prove that Peugeot still had that special something that combined a great drive with bold design. They wanted to recapture that same spark that birthed the 205 GTI and 306 Rallye while simultaneously shedding what it had allowed itself to become in with models like the 1007. Those were dark times.

Versus A Golf GTI (and Clio RS200 EDC)

A couple of years ago, when plotting my next move in car ownership, the shortened short shortlist came down to either an Mk6 Golf GTI, a Clio RS200 EDC, and the RCZ. The Golf, despite being the most expensive, also had the most on-paper appeal. While the Renault put up a good fight for itself, its interior lost it some points.

Speaking of which, the RCZ’s cabin felt the most plush by far with huge sports seats in grey Nappa leather. In fact, the soft cowhide treatment was given to the entire dashboard and some of the door trim.

Everything also felt more tightly put together than what I’m used to expecting from Peugeots of that period. This wasn’t too surprising given that the car’s construction was handled by specialists Magna Steyr in Austria whose production lines at the time were also responsible for the Mercedes SLS AMG and are currently where every A90 Toyota GR Supra rolls out from.

There’s also that persistent worry about potential DSG troubles with the Golf, and being a GTI, that only meant it was most likely to be driven hard throughout most its life. And the same could be said about the Clio RS, whose Getrag-sourced dry-clutch type EDC dual-clutch gearbox also had a dubious history as half brother to the infamous Ford PowerShift.

The only hurdle with the RCZ was finding a suitably pristine low-mileage example in the used market, preferably with a manual transmission. Unfortunately, the ones with a 3-pedal layout on sale at the time looked like they hadn’t been well kept, evidenced by the rough interior and gruff engine noise. Still, the 6-speed automatics in the RCZ were a proven unit and sourced from Toyota-owned Aisin, implying reliability.

It would also be easier to find a more immaculately kept examples as the majority of the 400 or so RCZs sold in Malaysia were automatics. After about 8 months of searching, the right car cropped up on my radar, and I pounced.

Sacrifices

To be honest, there was a lot I would have been willing to let slide when it came to the RCZ and the lack of a manual transmission wasn’t all too difficult to cope with as long as I had access to that curvaceous concept car shape. To this day, there’s nothing quite like it on the road in terms of presence, TT included.

Two doors and a pair of useless rear seats? Sure, it’s a bummer that I can’t bring along more than one friend and maybe an extra contortionist as opposed to seating four comfortable passengers in the Clio or the Golf, but I’ve found it fun to be able to reject giving people a lift and blaming it on the car. It fits my twentysomething lifestyle for now, but that may change when I settle down.

The RCZ doesn’t drive quite as well as the Renault or VW, but then again it wasn’t really engineered to be a hot hatch alternative. The suspension is firm but the car is obviously much better suited to high speed cruising.

To compensate somewhat, upon closing the purchase, I swapped the ageing Continental ContiSportContact 3 for a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, giving the car a much sharper front end but only exacerbated the firm ride - it's a move I’m slowly regretting. Next up are a set of more comfort-oriented tyres, some Bilstein shocks, and a Stage 1 remap to annoy the hot hatch crew.

Legacy

There’s no way I can prove this but the RCZ could be viewed as a turning point for Peugeot, one where the company returned to making the kinds of cars their history and reputation deserves. It was undeniably a design milestone for the company, and one they haven’t been able to exceed in my opinion.

Not long after that came their second-generation 308, a marked step forward in all respects over its predecessor and quickly snagged the title of 2014 European Car of the Year. It was an impressive effort that was followed up by the new 3008, 2008, 508 and more recently the 208 - all models that feature a distinctive exterior design that is both aggressive and alluring.

Across the board, they also drive far better than previous Peugeots in their respective segments and boast high quality interiors with premium materials and impressive build quality. This strong portfolio of cars has earned it strong sales and a new generation of owners loyal to the brand, even snagging it the No.1 spot in JD Power’s UK Vehicle Dependability Survey 2019.

Coincidentally, a lot of these traits first caught the world by surprise in the RCZ. Think of it as the car’s legacy.


Toyota's next electric sports car will be a MANUAL?

Toyota is gunning for the EV market with plans to launch 30 electric cars by 2030, and that's including the next-generation
electric sports cars
.

EV sports car concepts for both Toyota and Lexus have been somewhat showcased in the recent past and judging by the looks, Lexus is headed towards the next-generation LFA while the Toyota EV sports car somewhat resembles the iconic MR2,
Motor Authority
 reported.

Perhaps the best (and weirdest) thing of all is the fact that both electric sports cars from Lexus and Toyota will feature a manual transmission. Don't get too excited just yet as the manual gearbox is not directly linked to the powertrain.

Experts in the field are saying that it's more on simulating the feelings of shifting gears and through the modulations, the electric motor will adjust the torque delivery and generate 'appropriate' sounds within the cabin to deliver the manual-shifting sensation.

Toyota Chairman, Akio Toyoda, also confirmed that the brand's next-gen EV sports cars will also have a clutch pedal to complete the overall manual feeling. Will they be fast, too? Well, how about 0-100km/h in under three seconds? You be the judge.

Akio also mentioned that Toyota is working hard to ensure that those behind the wheels of these upcoming EV sports cars won't even be able to tell that they're actually driving an electric car. Sounds too good to be true? Coming from the Chairman himself, we're confident that Toyota can pull it off.


Video: CNY Road Safety Tips From Proton Staff

The festive period is when many of us hit the roads on our journey to reconnect with our loved ones back in the hometown. Tragically, it is also the time of the year when accident numbers tend to peak due to the sheer volume of traffic ploughing our roads.
Ahead of this year’s Chinese New Year break, the staffs at Proton have put together a short video giving simple road safety tips for motorists. Filmed within the confines of Proton’s own oval test track, the video features five Proton personnel from different department each taking turn offering simple guidance on safe driving practices.
As with most road safety advisories, the advice contained within the video are largely common sense, but they are worth repeating.
Check your tyres
Service or inspect your vehicle ahead of your long journey
Get into a good seating position
Rest well before the journey
Follow traffic rules
Points 3 to 5 are applicable during the journey, but 1 & 2 are part of the preparation process. Have you checked the condition of your car and its tyres ahead of your upcoming trip?


New 30km/h Speed Limit In The Capital Causes Chaos

Malaysia too might see a 30km/h speed limit for residential areas, towns and villages.

It's only been a week since the 30 km/h speed limit was set in Paris, and already road users in the French capital have begun to protest at the new speed limit.

According to a Bernama report quoting the Italian News Agency, ANSA, more and more protests are being staged by Parisian car drivers as they have to face new policies that have made traffic worse in the city, resulting in one big mess.

"Pedestrians are faster than cars" was one of the slogans chanted by the protesters, ANSA wrote. The report also mentioned that quarrels between drivers are frequent, especially when some drivers have complied with the new speed limit while others have disobeyed them.

Taxi drivers in Paris have also voiced their concerns over the matter as customers often ask them to step on it, because the slower speed is costing them more of their time and taxi fare.

"The journey that should have taken only 20 minutes has now increased to 33 minutes, causing taxi fares to increase." said a spokesman representing taxi drivers.

Suppose you're wondering why this bit of news is being highlighted, well it's because last May, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Studies (MIROS) also
proposed a speed limit
 of 30 km/h for residential areas, towns and villages as part of the national
road safety
 plan for 2021 to 2030.

According to MIROS Director-General Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim, the lower speed limit proposed will allow humans to mix with traffic better and will enable the community to create a safer and healthier environment.

Malaysia is among the participating countries which have mandated the 18 resolutions of road safety, set out at the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety (also known as the Stockholm Declaration) in February 2020,

The international conference saw 80 ministers pledging to halve road deaths by 2030 through key actions for safe roads and roadsides, including safe road use, safe speed, sober driving, preventing driving while distracted and
use of safety belts
 and protective equipment; and fast and effective post-crash care.


Volkswagen is bringing back steering wheels with push buttons

Volkswagen
 is planning to bring back push buttons for their steering wheels and it's based on what their customers want.

Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board at Volkswagen AG and CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, recently posted on his
LinkedIn
 page regarding the brand's strategy to become 'the most desirable brand for sustainable mobility'.

Push-button steering wheel is making a comeback

There were basically three key points that Thomas drafted in his post, but the second goes like this:

"We are sharpening our portfolio and our design, plus creating a new simplicity in operating our vehicles. For example, we are bringing back the push-button steering wheel! That’s what customers want from VW."

Currently, all the latest models from Volkswagen come with touch-sensitive controls not just on the steering wheel but on the centre console as well. We can probably guess that the ones on the steering wheels are a bit too sensitive for the likings of fellow VW owners.

You'll find these touch-sensitive controls on the latest
2022 Volkswagen Golf R-Line
,
Golf GTI
,
Golf R
,
Tiguan Allspace
,
Arteon
, and of course, the
all-electric ID.4
.

VW's electrification & digitalisation

As for the other two points brought up by Thomas, Volkswagen is working hard to achieve the brand's full electrification by 2026. The pipeline includes launching ten new electric models around the globe and in every relevant market.

Malaysia has just witnessed the official preview of the
Volkswagen ID.4
 earlier this month during the 2022 Volkswagen Fest. The official launch is just around the corner, and hopefully, the price would competitive enough to make things even more interesting for EV enthusiasts here in the country.

As for his last point, it's pushing on digitalisation throughout the customer's journey. Several markets like Germany, France, and Italy are able to complete the car buying process entirely online and more markets will soon follow suit.


LRT Ampang line disruption for another two weeks

The
LRT Ampang line
 disruption will continue for another two weeks following the discovery of major structural damage.

The cracked viaduct and pier located near the Bandaraya station mean that the particular line between this station and Masjid Jamek will be temporarily cut off in order to remedy the situation.

LRT Ampang line still operational, except between these stations

While Rapid Rail has appointed an experienced consulting firm to identify the source and cause of this significant damage, those who intend to travel between the Bandaraya and Masjid Jamek stations will have no choice but to take the shuttle bus.

The rest of the LRT Ampang Line is still operational, which means that the trains are running normally to all the stations between Sentul Timur and Bandaraya as well as between Masjid Jamek and Ampang. The shuttle bus will assist those who want to get from Bandaraya to Masjid Jamek.

200 Prasarana staff assigned to help commuters

The Star reported that our Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, stated that 200 Prasarana staff have been assigned to help the commuters as well as assist in the repair works for the next two weeks. Other agencies from the Works Department, City Hall, and the Public Transport Agency will lend their hands via a special committee that was formed to resolve the matter as quickly and efficiently as possible.

As for the cost of repairs, there's no specific figure so far as the situation is being treated as an emergency. As with most things in relation to emergencies, safety is the number one priority, which is why the two-week disruption decision was taken and is currently being handled intensively.


All-New G15 BMW 8 Series Coupe Launched – Not Quite A 6 Series With A New Name

Set to go on sale in November 2018, the all-new BMW 8 Series made its global debut ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the race-specs M8 GTE is making its racing debut.
The all-new 8 Series Coupe represents a revival of the ‘90s era E31 8 Series nameplate. Sold from 1990 to 1999, the E31 was one of the most sophisticated grand tourers of the ‘90s.
Some critics have said that the all-new 8 Series is actually a replacement for the F13 generation 6 Series Coupe, which is not entirely wrong given that the 6 Series Coupe was discontinued shortly before the all-new 8 Series was announced. Complicating the argument is that this all-new 8 Series is smaller than the F13 6 Series Coupe. Officially, BMW links this G15 generation 8 Series with the E31 generation model, as well as the Z8 and i8, describing this group of '8' designated cars as 'exceptionally sporty cars that fire the emotions.'
Measuring 4,851 mm long, the 8 Series is actually 43 mm shorter than the 6 Series Coupe. It is also 8 mm wider and 23 mm lower. The 8 Series’ 2,822 mm wheelbase is also 33 mm shorter than the 6 Series.
As the model will only go on sale in November, BMW did not reveal any indicative pricing so it’s difficult to confirm where the model will sit in relation to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and S-Class Coupe.
Neither did BMW confirm speculations that the coupe rides on a variation of the mixed materials CLAR platform that currently underpin the 7 Series and the 5 Series. The version that’s used by the 7 Series has a carbon fibre structure along with steel and aluminum, while the one in the 5 Series uses only steel and aluminum.
However BMW did confirm that the model will be made at the Dingolfing plant, where both the 7 Series and 5 Series are also made.
The company also said that the 8 Series will be offered with two engine choices at launch, both with xDrive all-wheel drive but tuned for a more sporty rear-biased character.
The M850i xDrive uses a bi-turbo 4.4-litre V8 petrol that pushes out 530 hp from 5,500 – 6,000 rpm and 750 Nm from 1,800 – 4,600 rpm. Enough to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds.
The 840d xDrive uses a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbodiesel that pushes out 320 hp at 4,400 rpm and 680 Nm at 1,750 – 2,250 rpm, accelerating it from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
Both models use an 8-speed torque converter Steptronic automatic transmission.
The M850i comes with an electronically-controlled rear differential lock, which uses an electric motor to adjust the rotational speed of either rear wheels when cornering.
The front suspension structures are double wishbones while the rear are five-point multi-link. Adaptive M suspension are standard on both variants, as is the Integral Active Steering that adjusts the rear axles’ angle depending on the vehicle’s speed and steering position.
Optional items include Laserlight headlamps, carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, as well as CFRP wing mirrors, rear spoiler and rear diffuser, and active roll stabilization. The latter uses electric servo motors to not only compensates for body rolls during high-speed driving maneuvers, but also to counteract vibrations triggered by uneven road surfaces on one side of the road.
Inside, the 8 Series feature an optional Aston Martin/Volvo T8-style illuminated glass ornament on the gear lever. When illuminated, the gear lever shows a figure ‘8,’ representing the model’s series number. The glass material also adorns the iDrive Controller, the start/stop button and the volume control for the audio system.
Buyers can choose between a Harman Kardon sound system or Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system, both 16 speakers but the speakers of the Bowers & Wilkins are partially illuminated.
The instrument cluster is now a fully digital BMW Live Cockpit Professional display, with a 10.23-inch full-colour LCD screen.
The infotainment display at the centre is a 10.25-inch unit now runs on BMW Operating System 7.0, and allows for touch, voice, and gesture control, on top of the usual iDrive control. The OS now supports Microsoft Office 365 and Skype for Business. The BMW Digital Key allows customers to leave their car keys at home, and to lock/unlock and start the vehicle using a smartphone.
A higher performance M8, a four-door coupe (G16) in the spirit of the 6 Series Gran Coupe, as well as a convertible (G14) are expected to join the 8 Series model range in the near future.


Volkswagen’s Next Generation Of Platforms Will Be The Final For Combustion Engines

Volkswagen has outlined a timeline to eventually phase out the combustion engine in favour of electric propulsion. The planned introduction of next-generation platforms in 2026 will be the last that are designed for combustion engines.
In a report by Bloomberg, Michael Jost, strategy chief at Volkswagen said, “Our colleagues are working on the last platform that aren’t CO2 neutral. We are gradually fading out combustion engines to the absolute minimum.”
The gradual exit of combustion engines symbolizes a significant turnaround for Volkswagen, which became the poster child for car pollution after admitting to cheating on emissions test in a scandal involving 11 million vehicles worldwide.
Traditional automobile manufacturers are under increasing pressure from regulators to reduce CO2 emissions to combat climate change, triggering Volkswagen to pursue a radical change to EVs.
As a first step, Volkswagen
 showcased the Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform
 that will form the basis of its new range of EV models under the I.D. sub-brand.
By 2025, Volkswagen plans to introduce more than 20 EV models with a sales target of one million EVs per year. This ambitious plan to be the market leader in electric mobility
begins with the Golf-sized I.D.
 in late 2019 followed by the
I.D. CROZZ SUV
. The I.D. BUZZ spacious MPV, a re-interpretation of the legendary Volkswagen Microbus, is scheduled for sale in 2022.
Jost added that the company will continue to modify its combustion engine technology after the introduction of the new platform. Post-2050, there may still be some petrol and diesel models in regions where there is insufficient charging infrastructure.
World number two, Toyota, also predicts the end of the internal combustion engine by 2050.


Thailand Laksana Sistem Tol Tanpa Palang M-Flow – Guna Teknologi AI Dan Kamera Kesan Nombor Plat

Ketika Malaysia masih bergolak dengan penguatkuasaan
RFID menggantikan SmartTag
 di plaza tol, Thailand nampaknya sudah didepan apabila telah melancarkan sistem tol tanpa palang M-Flow di negaranya.

Berbeza dengan RFID, sistem M-Flow tidak memerlukan sebarang kad atau tag kerana ia merupakan sistem aliran bebas automatik yang menggunakan teknologi AI termasuk kamera untuk mengesan
nombor plat
 kenderaan dengan ketepatan sebanyak 99%.

Sistem ini juga mampu untuk mengurangkan kesesakan jalan raya kerana pemandu tidak perlu berhenti untuk membayar tol atau berdepan dengan situasi seperti
tag tidak dapat dibaca
 atau dikesan sehingga perlu mengundurkan kenderaan beberapa kali.

Tol tanpa palang ini boleh mengesan kenderaan yang bergerak dalam kelajuan 120 km/j dan sistem ini boleh mengendalikan 2,000-2,500 kenderaan sejam di setiap lorong menjadikan sistem ini lima kali lebih baik berbanding sistem pembayaran tol secara tunai.

Selain daripada tidak perlu berhenti untuk membayar tol, sistem ini juga berbeza dengan RFID kerana ia merupakan sistem guna dahulu, bayar kemudian (pasca bayar) berbanding RFID yang merupakan sistem prabayar.

M-Flow juga menyokong pelbagai jenis kaedah pembayaran termasuk kad kredit, kad debit atau akaun bank yang boleh disediakan oleh pengguna jika mereka ingin membayar pada setiap hari ke-1 atau ke-16 bulan itu. Mereka juga boleh memilih untuk membayar setiap kali mereka menggunakannya.

Sejak sistem itu diperkenalkan pada 15 Feb, purata 60,000 kenderaan menggunakan M-Flow setiap hari. Jumlah kenderaan yang didaftarkan di bawah sistem M-Flow ialah 110,341.

Bagi mereka yang masih belum mendaftar dengan sistem M-Flow ini, mereka masih boleh menggunakan lorong M-Flow tetapi mereka perlu membayar yuran perkhidmatan dalam tempoh dua hari selepas melalui pintu tol. Jika tidak, mereka akan didenda 10 kali ganda daripada bayaran asal.

Jumlah denda akan meningkat lagi jika pengguna tidak membayarnya dalam tempoh 12 hari. Denda itu termasuk bayaran tol asal, denda bersamaan 10x bayaran tol, denda 200 baht lagi oleh Jabatan Lebuh Raya Thailand, dan kemungkinan denda lain sehingga 5,000 baht kerana melanggar undang-undang jalan raya.

Menurut jabatan tersebut, setakat ini kira-kira 20,000 pemilik kenderaan sudah membayar denda itu. Ekoran nilai denda yang tinggi, Menteri Pengangkutan Thailand, Saksayam Chidchob telah berkata bahawa denda 10 kalli ganda itu ditangguhkan sehingga akhir bulan Mac dan wang denda yang dikutip akan dikembalikan kepada pemandu yang sudah membayar denda terbabit.

Sementara itu, Malaysia juga sedang dalam perjalanan menuju ke arah plaza tol tanpa palang di negara ini. Percubaan keberkesanan sistem
Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF)
 dilaporkan dipasang di Besraya KM5.5 (Arah Utara) dan dijadualkan untuk mengumpul data selama tiga bulan bermula awal tahun ini.

Jika percubaan tol tanpa palang ini menunjukkan keputusan yang positif, ia boleh digunakan secara menyeluruh seperti menggantikan plaza tol lama di beberapa kawasan yang sering terjadi kesesakan lalu lintas. Sama-sama kita nantikan.

*Kredit Foto: M-FLow, The Nation Thailand


2015 Peugeot 508 Quick Review: Sampling New Fine French Wine

A quick look for a new, European family sedan priced between RM170k to RM200k reveals a small ring of on-going, local competition between the
Volkswagen Passat
,
Ford Mondeo
 and this – the 2015
Peugeot 508
.
With SDAC unleashing its
all-conquering Mondeo already
, and Volkswagen priming to do the same with its
all-new Passat before the end of the year
, Nasim Sdn Bhd (official distributors of
Peugeot
 vehicles here) have been spot on to let loose its new 508 facelift in Malaysia now.
*LAUNCH REPORT: Nasim Reveals The New 2015 Peugeot 508 in Malaysia
Let’s be honest, the pre-facelift just doesn’t look the part next to its new competition, and but for the irresistible deals Nasim have thrown at it, you probably wouldn’t take a second look at either. Not that it was bad, but it’s easily drowned out by what the new competition has to offer.
Harsh words? Yes, but duly warranted, we feel. The all-new and very handsome Mondeo is a beast of a machine, despite the RM204k it demands, and the Passat’s German engineering was always going to permit a nod of approval in its favour for more than one reason – even more so when the
all-new B8 Passat gets here
.
The Peugeot’s appeal then, has been its generous list of features, but as comprehensive and feature-packed as they come, the pre-facelif 508 never stood a visual chance, parked next to the 2015 Mondeo or the coming 2015 Passat.
Fortunately, it’s been on the receiving end of a makeover: one that we first saw nearly a year ago when it was globally revealed. And it’s a nice one too, worthy of its rightful place alongside Ford and Volkswagen’s best efforts.
Recently launched in Malaysia by the brand’s official distributors here, Nasim Sdn Bhd allowed us a bit of a chance to take its new 2015 Peugeot 508 1.6 THP out for a spin to see what’s what.
KEY SPECS: 2015 Peugeot 508 1.6THP
Engine: 1.6-litre Twin Scroll Turbo High-Pressure
Transmission: six-speed torque converter automatic
Power: 165PS @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,450 to 4,250rpm
Consumption: 7.1-litres/100km (claimed)
First Impressions:
EXTERIOR:
 From the outside, the front-end is where you’ll spot the majority of the 508’s makeover. The bolder front grille and full LED headlamps are pretty and all, but it’s the swanky LED daytime running lights that flank the front bumper that has us hooked.
Needless to say, we’ve been pulled on the design of the new 508. From our
showroom visits
 to its
public viewings
, we’ve seen it in a range of environments already, constantly muttering praise in favour of this major makeover. And we’re sure you’ll like it too.
INTERIOR:
 Inside, it’s all plush and deliberately chic but not at all unfamiliar, because Peugeot haven’t really fiddled with the 508’s cabin too much. And again, despite us only having the one 1.6 THP to drive this time around, it’s pretty much all the same any variant you look – but for a panoramic sunroof in the SW, and Nappa GT leather seats on the GT variant.
Only a few minor things were noticeably new inside the 508, one item in particular being the lack of a rotary dial control on the centre console, which makes way for a little storage compartment that slides open and shut. Brilliant attempt, but the afterthought effort is clear, because you couldn’t fit more than the car’s key fob or a tiny mobile phone in there – this writer’s 5.6-inch Samsung phone and wallet had to be stored in the door’s storage pockets instead, where they’re easily left behind upon leaving the car.
Where does the rotary dial go to, then? Well, there’s no need for one anymore. The control which used to command the seven-inch HD multifunction screen is of no use here, because this head unit has been touch-enabled: all the controls you’ll need for it are located within the displays, or on the steering wheel.
Apart from lacking sufficient storage compartments on the centre console, there really is very little to fuss about in the 508. Fit and finish is top quality stuff fresh out of the factory, and the materials are all premium, soft to the touch where it matters, and smartly designed.
REAR SPACE:
 Climbing around to the rear of the vehicle unearthed lots of comfort items for all my 182cm self, starting with the amount of legroom – as pictured above, yes, those are my legs. Genitals spaced out well enough for comfort over any long distance drive, the quad-zone air-conditioning system even lets rear passengers on either side choose their own fan speeds and temperatures. A good party trick to showboat, but the console itself is positioned way too forward, and won’t be very much appreciated by a third passenger in the back, seated in the middle, whose legs will find little room for comfort.
NO i-COCKPIT:
 Hoorah! The biggest thing that fell my personal appreciations of the smaller 208, 2008 and 308 hatches hasn’t snuck into the made-over 508. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m sure there’s some serious science about how it all works better for the average person, but being 182cm tall hasn’t helped me find a sweet spot with the lowered, smaller-diameter steering and heightened instrument panel.
That does mean however that the 508 has to stick with its dated steering wheel design, which is a bit aged, and isn’t as nicely sculpted or modern as what you’d get on the all-new 308.
AUDIO:
 Now, I’m personally no audio specialist, but I have made my way around to driving more than few cars that claim super massive audio systems. With the 508, I’m quite certain that the 10-speaker JBL Premium Audio system is by far one of the better ones I’ve set my ears to. It’s got a 500W subwoofer around the back, and there are ample equaliser/ tone settings for you to conjure up your fancies, or just blast a bombing Tamil beat around your neighbourhood.
Driving a 2015 Peugeot 508:
PERFORMANCE:
 Now here’s where having just the one variant may become a bit of a problem: we can’t tell you what the top-spec’s 206PS, 450Nm turbo-diesel power is like. No matter, because Nasim tells us that it’s the base 1.6-litre THP 508 variant that most of you want anyways (previously known as the 508 Premium), and they’ve obliged as such to provide us with the kind.
Off we went then, on a 300km day trip to lunch to back in the 1.6 THP and its 165PS and 240Nm of torque. Those figures sure do sound impressive – at least enough to fend off the 160PS and 250Nm effort made by the 1.8-litre TSI in the current Volkswagen Passat we have here (B7).
On the road however, you may find yourself wanting a little more “ummph”, unfortunately. The 508 drives really well, and has a chassis fit for exercising your charismatic driving needs, but we suspect the EAT6 six-speed torque converter automatic doesn’t share the same fire in its belly. For that reason, the flattering output figures may not feel like it’s living up to the claim – unlike the Passat’s seven-speed dual-clutch DSG does. Drive it like a normal human being should and you’ll have no complaints, of course.
CABIN NOISES
: On the road, the 508’s cabin is extremely quiet despite whatever the surrounding traffic conditions are. At 110km/h, not even the wind noises from the wing mirrors are barely audible.
Having a cabin that quiet throughout however, revealed a lingering engine hum at every instance of being over 2,000rpm. You can even hear the exhaust crackle every time you lift off the throttle to coast.
BLISS:
 A new feature to the 508 is its Blind Spot Sensor System (a.k.a. BLISS), and is available across the model’s range. Working similarly to any blind-spot monitoring system, the car uses rear and side sensors to detect objects in your blind spots, and prompts a lit icon on your wing mirrors.
A neat feature to have, no doubt, but this writer feels that the lit section of the icon is a little bit too small for notice on your wing mirrors, where lots of other visual activity of your surroundings is apparent. At darker times of the day, it’s easily mistakable for a motorcycle’s headlamp. During the day, the challenge is even greater, just trying to notice it at all.
Verdict: Here’s what we think…
There’s no doubting that the new 2015 Peugeot 508 is a strong and worthy contender in its segment, facing two giants of the game in the form of the Ford Mondeo, and the Volkswagen Passat.
The Mondeo is a RM204k beast that’s better off compared with the top-spec 508 GT, leaving the Passat 1.8 TSI as a more accurate and direct competitor. Between the two, both are fair shots at being good European family sedans.
The bigger concern for the Peugeot 508 then, becomes the next-gen Volkswagen Passat B8, which is due to arrive here later this year, but is expected to be more expensive than its current RM177k price of the CKD unit.
The slightly more affordable price, and the feature-packed nature of the 508 make it a very appealing choice against the German-engineered Passat, but committing to the asking RM175k (estimated) for a 508 1.6 THP is a big ask, when you consider what Japanese and Korean car makers have to offer these days: Mazda 6, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord… they’re all valid reasons to look away from Europe’s finest - but that's just our humble opinion.
To finish, we’ll leave it at the 2015 Peugeot 508 being a good European family sedan that’s loaded with premium features, looks as handsome as they come, and has a very tempting aftersales package in the form of its five-years, unlimited mileage warranty and premium Peugeot services. Definitely worth a look, this.
Your move.


Tokyo 2017: All-New Toyota Century Set To Debut, V8 Hybrid Only

While the Toyota Century may be the top-of-the-crop for the company, it is perhaps the slowest evolving model in its lineup as it has remained mostly unchanged since 1967. Toyota is set to introduce its third generation Century at the upcoming 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, with the highlight being the new hybrid V8 powerplant, dropping the nameplate's iconic V12.
First introduced in 1967, the original Toyota Century remained largely unchanged over its 30 year life, apart from minor engine and exterior updates. The second generation Century was introduced in 1997, bringing with it a new 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 into the mix. The second generation Toyota Century was then discontinued in early 2017.
For the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will be heralding the third generation model. The main focus of the new model is its new 5.0-litre V8 hybrid powertrain, which the company says offers 'outstanding fuel efficiency'. Codenamed 2UR-FSE, the V8 that powers the new Century features D-4S direct injection and Toyota Hybrid System II (THS II) for improved fuel economy. Toyota has yet to release power output or fuel consumption figures.
From the exterior, Toyota has maintained its signature Century design whilst modernizing the rest of the model. Projector headlights with LED Adaptive High Beam System surround the Century's iconic large front grille. In fact, the profile of the new Century is largely identical to its predecessor, though Toyota has repositioned the side mirrors and replaced the door handles with grab-type units.
Moving inside, the Toyota Crown sits four with utmost comfort, thanks to its 100% high quality wool that is flexible and soft. Optionally, customers can choose to have their Century upholstered in leather too. An LCD panel located in the centre arm rest allows the rear passengers to control the seats, air-conditioning and audio settings. Other amenities include a writing table, reading light, rear seat infotainment system with large display and a 20-speaker audio system.
Toyota Safety Sense P with collision avoidance support, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert are available as well.


AMG Topples 911? Is that true? Find out in this month's Malaysian Evo

It has been adored and criticised in equal measure. Its name has been around for decades and yet it continues to become the standard by which sports cars are judged. Pretenders to the throne has come and gone, but the Porsche 911 has soldier through them all. All except Mercedes-AMG’s latest sports car, the GT. Built to take on the 911 in hopes of taking its place as the quintessential sports car from Germany, we pitch the new AMG GT against Porsche’s latest 911 GT S to find out if it is mission accomplished?
Having said that, the strength of the 911 name is that through its numerous variations, the 911 name has gone head-to-head with every sort of sports cars, from grand tourer coupes to track-honed machines. The 911 in its most insane iteration, the 620PS 911 GT2 RS is almost in a league of its own. Or is it, as we roll out Mercedes-AMG’s loud and proud 631PS SLS Black Series, to show us a properly hairy experience.
Away from the world of road rockets, we turn to the track where unfortunately for Porsche, a triumphant Le Mans return last year was denied by Audi's all-conquering R18 race cars. Luckily for us, Richard Meaden were one of the few people in the world invited for a very exclusive test drive with Audi's R18 e-tron and R8 LMS ultra to try out their winning formula.
Subjective feel plays half the part in determining the qualities of a sports car, but every performance car needs to be backed by numbers. If the F-Type were to be taken seriously, its V6-powered model would have to be compared with Porsche’s small and light Cayman in a proper game by numbers, conducted scientifically, of course.
Though the Panamera still remains as one of Porsche's love-it or hate-it cars, there is one good reason to celebrate the Panamera GTS. A gift that only the Panamera has, and might not have for much longer. We take it out for a drive to see what the world is missing.
We also sample BMW’s new 428i Gran Coupe to find if it is worth its premium, and can we tame Volvo’s new twincharged XC60 T6? Exciting test drives and more features to pique the petrolheads in all of us, in the February issue of The Malaysian Evo. Out now at your nearest news stands and book stores.


Need To Sell Your Car This MCO? CarlistBid Can Help!

For many of us, the introduction of the MCO has resulted in plenty of plans being laid to waste. From cancelled flights to postponed renovations, we’ve all had to make sacrifices when it comes to keeping in line with the government’s regulations in order to protect our loved ones. But what about selling your car? How do we go about that when we can’t travel more than 10 kilometres from our house? For that, CarlistBid can help.

The usual process is for us to inspect your car by appointment, where you provide your car grant, spare key, and AP (if you’re selling a recon car). You would need to then fill up a checklist on warranty info, validity of roadtax, service records, bank loan status, along with whether your spare key and car grant is available.

Once the inspection is complete, a recommended reserve price would be provided based on your car’s condition and you could choose to either direct sell to us, put it up for auction, or run it in our classifieds section.

Unfortunately, with the MCO in place a physical inspection is currently not possible – so we have adapted to ensure you can still sell your car if you need to. The process is fairly simple. You submit the information on the car you wish to put up for auction via our CarlistBid platform, and from there our Telesales team will provide you with a self-upload link where you can provide all the necessary documents and information –
no contact necessary!

From here, it’s a matter of time to see what the bidding results are and to accept the bid price if one comes through that’s to your liking. All of the formalities like vehicle inspection will be conducted once the MCO lifts, as well as the finalized transaction price.

The best part is that we don’t have any transaction fees at all! We also offer runner services inclusive of door-to-door inspection, Puspakom B5 and B2 forms, JPJ ownership transfer, and renewing road tax that has expired for over a year – but all of this will only be necessary once the MCO is lifted.

So what are you waiting for? Head over to
bid.carlist.my
 to start the process and our telesales team will get in contact with you as soon as possible. With more than 1500 trusted dealers and an average of 3 days to complete a sale, we’re sure we can help you find a new home for your vehicle!


Bas Rapid Transit Iskandar Malaysia (IMBRT) Jalani Ujian Rintis Selama 3 Bulan Mulai 8 April

Menurut Pengarah Bas Rapid Transit Iskandar Malaysia (IMBRT) Rudyanto Azhar, bas-bas yang mengambil bahagian dalam projek ini akan menjalani ujian rintis selama tiga bulan di Iskandar Puteri mulai khamis, 8 April 2021.

*Kredit Foto: BERNAMA

Ujian berkenaan bertujuan untuk menguji laluan yang telah ditetapkan serta menentukan jenis bas yang bersesuaian. Untuk projek ini, sebanyak sembilan syarikat pengeluar bas eletrik tempatan dan antarabangsa akan menyertai ujian ini.

“Ujian rintis projek IMBRT yang bermula pada 8 April hingga 8 Julai depan adalah bagi jarak sejauh empat kilometer Lebuh Raya Sultan Iskandar yang bermula dari Anjung Medini sehingga Horizon Hills,” ujar Rudyanto kepada media.

*Kredit Foto: BERNAMA

Berdasarkan perancangan, operasi IMBRT di kawasan Iskandar Malaysia dijangka bakal bermula sepenuhnya pada tahun 2023. Operasi ini turut berpotensi untuk mengubah landskap pengangkutan Johor serta negara. Selain itu, operasi IMBRT ini turut menjanjikan kemudahan bas yang lebih sistematik serta lebih selesa untuk digunakan oleh para penumpang.

Pengamal media telah diberikan peluang menaiki bas elektrik
Scania
 serta bas elektrik yang dikeluarkan oleh Mobilus Sdn Bhd. Mereka turut dibawa ke depoh bagi meninjau sesi pengecasan bas elektrik berkenaan. Nampak gayanya, setelah
Putrajaya
 dan
BRT-Sunway Line
, Iskandar Puteri turut bakal menerima bas elektrik! Berikut merupakan contoh jenis-jenis bas yang bakal digunakan:

Pada Mac lalu, Ketua Eksekutif Pihak Berkuasa Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (IRDA) Datuk Ismail Ibrahim berkata ujian rintis IMBRT ini amat penting bagi menentukan sistem dan kecekapan perkhidmatan berkenaan selain membolehkan pengawal selia memberikan keputusan akhir. Selain itu, kemudahan di setiap stesen dan terminal dipertingkatkan bagi memaksimumkan kepuasan dan keselesaan penumpang.

Kos keseluruhan perlaksanaan bagi projek IMBRT ini menelan belanja sebanyak RM2.56 bilion. Daripada jumlah tersebut, kerajaan pusat telah memberi peruntukan sebanyak RM1 bilion manakala lebihan bakinya akan dibayar melalui kerjasama swasta-awam bernilai RM1.56 bilion.

IMBRT bakal menyediakan 55 perkhidmatan penghantar dan 44 perkhidmatan terus, menjadikan liputan rangkaian keseluruhan seluas 2,043 kilometer atau hampir 90 peratus daripada kawasan berpenduduk di Iskandar Malaysia.

Terdapat 3 laluan utama bagi projek IMBRT ini, iaitu Skudai, Tebrau dan Iskandar Puteri. Laluan utama akan mempunyai dua stesen akhir, iaitu di Desa Jaya melalui Laluan Tebrau dan di Anjung Medini melalui laluan Iskandar Puteri. Secara keseluruhan, Projek Bas Rapid Transit Iskandar Malaysia (IMBRT) ini mempunyai 33 stesen dengan satu hub di Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) melalui laluan Skudai.

*Kredit Foto: BERNAMA

Diharapkan dengan kehadiran bas elektrik IMBRT yang serba moden ini dapat diperluaskan lagi ke seluruh negara bagi menggalakkan lagi rakyat Malaysia menggunakan pengangkutan awam. Dapat juga kurangkan jumlah kenderaan di jalan raya ketika waktu puncak. Kalau tak mampu nak beli
kereta elektrik
, sekurang-kurangnya dapat juga naik bas elektrik!

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

Check out all the best new & used car deals in Malaysia at
Carlist.my.

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

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VIDEO: Maxis And Waze Use The Voice Of Children To Encourage Safer Driving

Maxis, the popular Malaysian telco company, intends to use a child’s voice to guide drivers via the Waze navigation app with the hope of reducing road accidents and deaths in the country.
To remind drivers of the possibility of endangering the lives of children when driving recklessly, the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative would have the voice of children relay the usual turn-by-turn directions and alerts to drivers as part of a voice pack called ‘Safe Mode’.
“Heavy traffic reported ahead. Don’t text and drive ah,” or “All set, don’t forget your seatbelt,” or “Accident reported ahead. Please be careful, ok?”
The idea itself was conceived by Ensemble, the creative agency IPG Mediabrands. After conducting a study of their own, Maxis concluded that nine out of 10 parents tend to drive in a safer manner when having their kids in the car with them.
To help make sure that habit sticks even when the children are elsewhere is where the telco is hoping this initiative will help. A number children were recruited to lend their voice through auditions held by Maxis.
The Malaysian-made Safe Mode voice pack is reported to reach Waze users globally from June 24.
Eleanne Hattis, Waze head of APAC Sales said, “Safety is the utmost mission for any new feature or campaign Waze develops as we work together with citizens to improve their time in the car. We’re proud to work with Maxis on this project, amplifying a common goal to use mobile technology to promote safer roadways. People generally drive safer with children in the car, and we believe this is an attention-grabbing feature that will assist in spreading the cause.”
This voice pack with children's voices is probably the polar opposite of having
The Terminator give you directions
 on Waze, which is also very fun indeed.


COVID-19 – Global Shut Down

In line with various governments’ efforts on slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus and, crucially, to protect the health and safety of its people, many car manufacturers are suspending production for about a month until things get better.

That said, below are what some of the manufacturers’ course of action are for the time being:

Aston Martin

All manufacturing operations in the UK are suspended until 20th April.

Mazda

While production in Japan will be suspended for 13 days from the 28th of March, production outside Japan, namely in Mexico and Thailand will be suspending production for 10 days from the 30th of March.

Ford

All of Ford’s factories in the Americas, Europe, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and South Africa have either been shut down, or will be shut within the next couple of days for the next few weeks. The company said that the resuming date will depend on factors like the pandemic situation, national restrictions, supplier constraints and dealer stock requirements.

Porsche

The company manufacturing plants in Zuffenhausen and Leipzig closed their doors on the 21st of March, with suspension expected to last for two weeks. The brand also announced that its staffs are banned from travelling on business purposes during this period.

Jaguar Land Rover

JLR announced that it will temporarily suspend production in the UK and Slovakia from now until the 20th of April.

Bentley

Production in UK and across Europe has been suspended until 20th of April.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen has announced that it will be gradually suspending production at its European plants for two weeks in Wolfsburg, Emden, Dresden, Osnabrück, Zwickau, Bratislava (Slovakia), Pamplona (Spain) and Palmela (Portugal).

Peugeot, Citroen, DS

The PSA Group has halted all of its factory operations in Europe due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it will be progressively closing operations across the continent until the 27th of March.


PKP 2.0: Pasangan Jarak Jauh Dibenar Rentas Negeri Bermula Hari Ini

Kerajaan Malaysia akhirnya memberi kelonggaran kepada pasangan suami isteri yang tinggal berjauhan untuk merentas negeri bagi berjumpa dengan ahli keluarga bermula hari ini

*Kredit Video Harian Metro dan MetroTV

Setelah menerima nasihat daripada Kementerian Keselamatan Malaysia (KKM), mana-mana pasangan suami isteri yang terpaksa tinggal berjauhan akibat kerja kini dibenar untuk merentas negeri untuk bertemu dengan keluarga tersayang.

Dalam pengumuman yang dibuat oleh Menteri Kanan Pertahanan, Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob menyatakan bahawa pasangan yang ingin merentas negeri perlu mendapatkan surat kebenaran daripada Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) terlebih dahulu di balai berdekatan.

Bagi pasangan yang bergejala, mereka wajib mendapatkan rawatan terlebih dahulu sebelum pulang bertemu ahli keluarga bagi memastikan mereka bebas daripada wabak COVID-19.

Selain itu, kerajaan turut mempertimbangkan untuk membuka sektor ekonomi lain seperti pasar malam, kedai gunting rambut dan kedai cuci kenderaan setelah banyak permohonan diterima daripada pelbagai pihak.

Kerajaan telah menghantar permohonan terbabit kepada Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) dan KKM untuk berbincang dengan lebih teliti sebelum membuat keputusan. Keputusan tersebut akan diputuskan dalam masa terdekat.

Pada suami isteri yang tinggal berjauhan, sebelum anda pulang bertemu ahli keluarga, pastikan kenderaan anda sudah diservis dan selamat untuk perjalanan pulang. Untuk info lebih lanjut, ikuti
tips penjagaan asas kereta
 ini untuk memastikan kenderaan anda berada dalam keadaan baik.

Apa lagi? Dah tiba masanya untuk panaskan enjin kereta, maklumlah kan rindu?


FJ Company Is The Singer Of Toyota Land Cruisers

If you're a classic car enthusiast, you may have heard of the Porsche-specialist Singer Vehicle Design. But what you may not have seen is FJ Company- an outfit that specializes in reviving and restoring old FJ-generation Land Cruisers.
Their latest project is a 1981 FJ43L-KC Land Cruiser, brought in from Columbia, South America. This generation of Land Cruiser is arguably the most sought after Toyota model, although enthusiasts may argue a stronger case for the Corollas and Supras of old.
While the car was in fairly good condition to begin with, FJ Company chose to do a full restoration from the metal up- along with a few modern touches to keep the car relevant in this day and age. The car was painted in Toyota's Dune Beige- which is more like a grey tone to be fair- with a matte finish.
Much like how Singer mixes and matches parts from various different generations of 911 to produce the "ultimate" 911, FJ Company does the same as well- with certain components like side mirrors and bumpers being fitted despite being from different FJ models.
Beyond that, the engine is a modern 1GR-FE 4.0-litre V6 from a current generation Land Cruiser, managed with a Haltech ECU and pushing 240 hp, while most of the electricals have been updated to match and support modern creature comforts. The lighting is modernized as well, along with interior trim pieces.
The price for all this? A hefty 85,000 USD (or RM 357,000). It's a crazy amount of money for a classic offroad machine with hardly any of the modern safety features you would expect of a car, but the same could be said of Singer's products.


X90 parts supply enough to cover aftersales, declares Proton deputy CEO

In conjunction with the launch of the new
2023 Proton X90
, Proton also announced that they've worked on improving its
parts supply
 issues in the aftersales division.

This announcement was made by Proton's deputy CEO himself, Roslan Abdullah, prior to the price announcement of the brand's first-ever NEV (New Energy Vehicle) model offering in the form of the three-row mild-hybrid SUV. In case you missed out on the prices, the 2023 Proton X90 is available from RM123,800 to RM152,800 (OTR excluding insurance).

The timing was indeed a weird one to make the announcement, but Proton wanted to assure all of its current as well as future customers that they're indeed aware of the situation and are currently working to improve them on all aspects, including aftersales services and parts availability.

This includes the newly-launched Proton X90 SUV, which is Proton's first-ever mild-hybrid production model. With the production line kicking things off in the past couple of months at their manufacturing plant in Tanjung Malim, Proton assures all future owners that there won't be any issues regarding the supply of parts should there be a need for one (or more).

Proton also mentioned that they've already strengthened their efforts regarding parts supply in East Malaysia with the launch of the
Proton Regional Parts Centre
 in Kuching back in February. This facility offers a reduction in parts lead time by up to 30%. In other words, less waiting period if there's ever a need to replace any parts for your beloved Proton model.

Going back to the Proton X90, there are four different variants to choose from - Standard, Executive, Premium, and the range-topping Flagship. While we initially thought the prices were headed towards a more 'premium' range, Proton indeed surprised everyone when they announced that the Proton X90 will be available from as low as RM123k. If you know your stuff, that's a very competitive price range.


SPIED: All-New 2016 Toyota Fortuner Spotted On Thailand Roads

Scheduled to make its debut in Thailand on 17 July 2015, the all-new 2016
Toyota
 Fortuner has been sighted once again, this time through a short video uploaded by
Cars Guide Thailand
 that shows the SUV roaming the roads of Thailand.
Earlier spyshots posted online
 gave us a good look at the Fortuner’s new design both inside and out and the one seen in this video looks the same as well and we can safely confirm its final design with a new-design front fascia featuring slimmer headlamps and additional chrome bits. The rear sees a new tail lamp design as well while the third-row windows are smaller than previously.
Beneath the metal, the next generation
Fortuner
 adopts the
Hilux’s
 FIRM (Frame with Integrated Rigidity Mechanism) platform by Toyota. Its pickup sibling will very likely share its new
‘GD’ lineup of diesel engines
 with the SUV as well. Those offerings are a 2.4- and 2.8-litre four-cylinder unit mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. As the
all-new Hilux
 was also specified with a 2.7-litre petrol engine as well, the Fortuner may receive this powerplant option as well.
Inside, the cabin gets revised
 with repositioned air-conditioning vents, new steering wheel, and new instrument cluster. The centre console also receives an update being more vertical with a touchscreen infotainment system and automatic climate control. However, these specifications do differ from market to market, something to keep in mind.
Full details about the all-new 2016 Toyota Fortuner will be revealed during its global debut in Thailand.


All-New G20 BMW 3 Series Launched In Malaysia, Priced From RM 328,800

BMW Malaysia has just introduced the all-new G20 3 Series in Malaysia, currently available as a singular 330i M Sport variant, fully-imported from Germany. Locally-assembled models will only be introduced at a later time.
Powering the new 330i M Sport is a 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that does 258 hp and 400 Nm. The sole transmission option is an 8-speed automatic that sends power to the rear wheels. The BMW 330i M Sport completes the century sprint in just 5.8 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 250 km/h.
In terms of dimensions, the new G20 3 Series comes in at 4,709 mm (+76 mm) long, 1,827 mm (+16 mm) wide, and 1,435 mm (+6 mm) tall. The wheelbase is also 41 mm longer, coming in at 2,851 mm.
It is also worth noting that our local spec BMW 330i M Sport models are fitted with 18-inch wheels, unlike the test units that we
sampled in Portugal
, which were fitted with 19-inch wheels. It also rides on regular steel suspension, but with M Sport tuning.
The new 330i M Sport also comes with the new BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and BMW Digital Key, the latter allowing drivers to lock and unlock the car via the use of NFC, available on selected Samsung devices. BMW Digital Key also allows the car to be started when the compatible phone is place in the designated wireless charging tray.
As for the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, this is a built-in AI assistant that allows the driver to use natural voice to control various functions of the car, similar to the Mercedes-Benz User Experience system first fitted to the W177-generation A-Class. However, unlike the MBUX system's lack of internet connectivity, local spec cars are fitted with an embedded SIM card, allowing for internet connectivity.
Standard equipment on the new 330i M Sport includes:
Adaptive Bi-LED headlights
M Sport suspension (passive, steel)
M Sport Brakes
18-inch M Sport Style 790 alloy wheels with run-flat tires
12.3-inch digital instrument clustter
10.25-inch Control Display with BMW Operating System 7.0
10-speaker, 205W sound system
Apple CarPlay compatibility
Vernasca leather upholstery (Previously known as Dakota leather)
Five colours are available with the new BMW 330i M Sport, including:
Alpine White
Black Sapphire
Mineral Grey
Portimao Blue
Sunset Orange
Safety equipment on the 330i M Sport is a mixed bag - the new model comes with Parking Assistant with Reversing Assist, on top of the usual Dynamic Brake Control, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Stability Control, and Dynamic Traction Control. Despite that, the 330i M Sport lacks any advanced driving assistance systems such as Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitor, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, or even a 360-degree camera.
BMW Malaysia has also stated that the 330i M Sport's internet connectivity is free-of-charge for the first 3 years. Subsequently, subscription for internet connectivity costs RM1,200 a year.
The BMW 330i M Sport is priced from RM 328,800 (on-the-road, without insurance) and is backed by BMW Malaysia's 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with a free scheduled service program and BMW Tyre Warranty Program.
Read our review of the G20 BMW 3 Series here -
Review: G20 BMW 3 Series – Digital In Mind, Analogue In Soul