Singaporean Man Selling Off Rented Vehicles In Malaysia Jailed

A Singaporean man has just been sentenced to 32 months in jail for selling rental vehicles he acquired from his homeland to Malaysian buyers.
Lai Kah Goon, a 50-year old man who reportedly was with intention to clear off some personal debt, worked together with three others, pulled off the feat on four separate occasions with cars valued between RM195k to RM334k, between the early weeks of December 2014 – reports
The Malay Mail
.
The man was later apprehended in China for drug-related crimes, and was deported back to his native Singapore, where the authorities took him in.
With the help of his accomplices, Lai had rented vehicles from two different car rental companies in Singapore, and passed them on to one accomplice who would drive it into Malaysia, while another two based here, would help sell the vehicles off. For his effort, Lai received up to RM14k per sale of a vehicle.
Singaporean authorities were made aware of the activities when the two rental companies had filed police reports against Lai. His 32-month imprisonment could have been extended further (up to seven years, it is reported), but for a remorseful judge and the fact that he had pleaded guilty from the start.
A gentle reminder to buy cars the safe way
This isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last we at Carlist.my hear about a car sale gone wrong. Between armed robberies to steal a car at a supposed meet with a potential buyer, to outright scams such as these, car buyers and sellers alike face the difficult task of an honest sale and purchase.
That’s why we have the sort of dedicated operations team we do here to filter out the bad leads from the good.
When buying a car, always make sure you spot our
‘Verified’
 and
‘Trusted’
 sellers badge (see above). This means that you have Carlist.my’s utmost guarantee of a certified and quality-checked listing.
Shop safely
, folks.


Shanghai 2017: Volkswagen Brings Out the I.D. CROZZ

It was only inevitable. Where SUV-coupe crossovers were once only attempted by luxury car manufacturers, Volkswagen has decided to enter the game as well. This comes in the form of their latest concept on display at Auto Shanghai 2017; known as the I.D. CROZZ (what a name), this SUV-coupe crossover is supposed to be a zero emissions vehicle for the future.
The regular future-car buzzwords are aplenty with the I.D. Crozz. Besides the aforementioned "zero emissions", there is also an "autopilot mode", which is a nod to autonomous driving that will slowly take over our lives in the next few decades. Volkswagen actually plans to put the I.D. CROZZ into production by 2020, and let's hope that they have the good sense to rename it before then.
Specifications are a little up in the air at the moment, but Volkswagen says that the I.D. CROZZ will have 225 kW (301 hp) on tap, with an oddly low top speed of 180 km/h and a range of 500 kilometres. Much like systems found in Teslas, with a fast charging system you can expect the I.D. CROZZ to reach 80% battery capacity in just 30 minutes of charging. Most of the controls will be digital as well, with gesture control and the like.
Despite being smaller than the Tiguan from the outside, the I.D. CROZZ is expected to be more spacious inside thanks to Volkswagen's up and coming electric-only architecture which repositions suspension components to the very edges thanks to a lack of space needed for engine and drivetrain elements. It's a peculiar looking car, but it's probably something we'll have to get used to seeing.


Review: Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 SUV – Fast, Fun, Fits Five.

If you want something fast and you’ve got money to spend, you’re spoilt for choice. There are plenty of options out there, ranging from the light-on-its-feet Mazda MX-5, to the more track-focused Renault Megane RS. But beyond a certain amount of performance, beyond a certain amount of speed, a car goes beyond being merely quick – it becomes truly fast.
When Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launched the 43 AMG variants of their model line, they opened up a world of possibilities. Suddenly it was possible to get a quick Mercedes-Benz without breaking bank, and while these 43 AMG variants don’t come with a nice hand-built engine with an accompanying name plate, they are still packed with enough power to cause a stir in the performance luxury car market.
As the name suggests, the GLC 43 is a GLC SUV with a Mercedes-AMG 3.0-litre biturbo V6 packed in the front, coupled to a 9-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all 4 wheels. Sounds simple enough, but the result is something far more frightening than a “really fast luxury SUV”. Pairing that potent powertrain with a well-tuned air suspension and shockingly strong brakes makes the GLC 43 far sharper than you would expect a 1.8-tonne luxury SUV to be.
Specifications for the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 SUV
Engine: 3.0-litre V6, longitudinal, twin-turbocharged
Power: 367 PS at 5,500-6,000 rpm
Torque: 520 Nm at 2,500-4,500 rpm
Transmission: 9-speed torque converter automatic, 4MATIC all-wheel drive
Safety: 7 airbags, electronic stability and traction control, 360-degree camera, ISOFIX, ABS with BA and EBD
Price: RM 538,888 without insurance
Origin: Imported from Bremen, Germany
Overview
For the sake of balance, let’s deal with the more obvious comments. Yes, the GLC 43 is inherently more practical than its sedan or hatchback brethren, although if Mercedes-Benz Malaysia offered the 43 AMG range in wagon form, that would be our body style of choice. There’s plenty of legroom and headroom as the GLC is built on a C-Class platform, but with wider door apertures courtesy of the SUV form. The interior is well laid out, as per Mercedes-Benz interior design from the last half decade or so, but it will soon look dated when the new A-Class comes out with a huge screen occupying half the dashboard, matching the current-generation E-Class.
But you’d already know that. In fact, you’d already get nearly all of that with a regular GLC 200, sans the 4MATIC all-wheel drive. No, you look at a GLC 43 if you want an SUV that can quite nearly match the other sports cars in your garage, or perhaps if you’ve started a family before having enough disposable income to afford a performance car in addition to a family car in your stable.
Exterior
The GLC 43, much like the more mature Mercedes-AMG models, is reserved in its styling. In some ways it is easily distinguishable from a regular GLC 200 or GLC 250, and not merely by badging – perhaps the more aggressive bumpers or the quad-tip tailpipes or the wheels – but the details remain subtle. In that regard, the GLC 43 is perfect for those looking to “speak softly, and carry a big stick”.
Depending on which drive mode you select, the GLC 43 ranges from traditional SUV heights to outright wagon-esque levels of ground clearance. When you buy a GLC 43 you effectively get three different cars: a lifted SUV for mild off-road excursions, a regular height modern SUV which fits into the urban sprawl with ease, and a lowered SUV for when you need to show the tarmac who’s boss.
Interior
As mentioned before, the GLC 43 takes its interior elements from the C-Class, which makes sense give that they share a common platform. This would make it a little less extravagant than the current E-Class, but still competitive within the luxury car market (Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have to try hard in this regard).
Many of the features we love about the regular GLC variants are translated here as well, although there are sportier seats and the AMG instrument cluster with its various sports displays that also betray the true nature of the GLC 43. It’s a blend of restraint and revelation, and one that works hand-in-hand with the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of this SUV.
Legroom, headroom, and boot space are aplenty. These inherent features of the GLC model line are retained, and is one of the reasons we would choose the SUV over the Coupe variant of the GLC. Do away with the AMG accoutrements and you can hardly tell you are in a performance car.
Driving Experience
If you want the long version, check out
our extended piece for LiveLifeDrive
. If you don’t have the time or patience to read through our experience manhandling the GLC 43 along some twisty mountain roads, then we’ll try to boil it down for you here.
Over the course of our time with the GLC 43, we experienced a great deal of situations, from cruising through city traffic to flying down the highway at odd hours, with the occasional jaunt up and down some trusty trunk roads. In quite nearly every situation, the GLC 43 excels.
In traffic, the GLC 43 behaves as any other Mercedes model or GLC variant would behave. It’s calm and collected, with only the slightest hint of a burble betraying what lays beneath the bonnet. In many ways it is something we can live with, given the performance benefits of these 43 AMG variants.
On the highway, the GLC 43 is sure-footed and secure in its movements. It is capable of darting across lanes with uncanny speed, making it feel like a slightly smaller car by nature. Braking is also excellent with the GLC 43 when called upon, shedding speed with little protest.
It is on the trunk road that you begin to understand how far automotive engineering has come. Yes, there may be great examples of self-driving, all-electric cars that can babysit your children while solving conflict in the Middle East, but this – no, this is something else entirely. And for that, you should really
check out that LiveLifeDrive piece
.
Comfort
The GLC 43 is on all-round air suspension, which gives it a fair amount of pliancy and flexibility. Letting it sit at its standard ride height in Comfort mode gives it the highest amount of ride comfort, taking up bumps easily despite the rather large 21-inch wheels. You won’t be spilling your fair-trade third-wave coffee everywhere during your daily run.
But even so, there is no denying that this is a performance oriented model. The ride isn’t so bone jarringly stiff as to make you regret your purchase decision, but it is definitely not as soft as a GLC 250 no matter how they try balancing outright performance and outright ride comfort.
Fuel Economy
Perhaps this is where things are a little sensitive. There is no way to put this lightly: the GLC 43 drinks fuel. This is par for the course for a performance car, but even with our best efforts we could only achieve a high 14.3 litres per 100 kilometres of distance travelled. It doesn’t drink fuel so quickly such as you would be refuelling every day, but it can be a bit of a financial hit if you’re more inclined to drive the GLC 43 at speed.
But then again, this review was going so well. There had to be some flaws, didn’t there? As a rather interesting quirk, the GLC 43 lowers itself when in Eco mode but keeps the dampers soft – no doubt as a way to reduce drag but maintain levels of comfort.
Conclusion
Admittedly there are far better tools to go fast with, even within the Mercedes-AMG range. You could opt for a C43, or perhaps a GLA45 if you’re feeling sporty. But there is something undeniably poetic about a 1.8-tonne SUV hauling proverbial butt down a highway at ludicrous speeds, or hurtling round corners in a manner that no SUV should be allowed.
Mercedes-AMG has done an incredible job with the GLC 43, and that’s beyond the cliché “it drives like a normal passenger car” line that everyone regurgitates when they get behind the wheel of any modern SUV – because let’s face it, modern SUVs are a lot more advanced than their predecessors, and it would be a damn shame if they didn’t handle at least reasonably well in this day and age.
And so the GLC 43 is perhaps the best one-car-fits-all – more so than those fast family wagons. Even if we discount the fact that Malaysians tend to abhor the wagon form, only an SUV will give you the ground clearance and driving position that lets you navigate flooded roads and the occasional weekend outing in the jungle.
Okay, perhaps we’re stretching it a little – but there’s no denying that the GLC 43 somehow manages to combine the practicality of an SUV with the performance of a… performance car. And just like nasi lemak and fried chicken, porridge and youtiao, or naan and tandoori, it’s a combination that just seems to work.


Sime Darby Auto Performance Unveils 3 Exclusive 911 GT3s

When you're paying an extraordinary amount of money for a car, you can expect a certain level of personalization. Sime Darby Auto Performance has decided to offer that in the form of three 911 GT3 models in three unique colours - Meissen Blue, Signal Green, and Riviera Blue.
The interiors of these three models are fairly identical, save for the body-coloured air vents. There's a leather interior package rife with Alcantara detailing, seat belts and instrument clusters in Guards Red, and illuminated door sill guards.
All of this work comes from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, which is essentially Porsche's bespoke arm that specializes in one-off jobs. These three 911 GT3s showcase the abilities of the subdivision, and may pave the way for more individualization in the future.
The 911 GT3 in Riviera Blue will be on display at Bangsar Shopping Centre from 29 March to 1 April 2018.


30 Day Lane Closure On Cheras-Kajang Highway Starts Today

The closure of a single, left-most lane along the Cheras-Kajang highway starts today, 11
th
 September, and will last until 11
th
 October 2015. This affects the KL-bound direction of the highway.
A statement made by MMC Gamuda said the closed stretch will be from kilometer 14.6 to kilometer 14.8. This is to facilitate painting and reinstatement works at P115 for the 30 day duration.
Four lanes would be reduced to three for the stretch lasting 200 metres at the existing motorist lane from the 704 Interchange (BHTO Interchange).


Tesla Employee Fired For Showing Off Self-Driving Beta On Youtube

Tesla’s big on the
development of self-driving vehicle tech
, sure, but quite touchy when it comes to people other than CEO Elon Musk showing new stuff off before it is fully baked. John Bernal learned this the hard way when he was fired for showing an unfinished beta version of the EV maker’s Full Self Driving system on his personal YouTube channel.

It wasn’t a good move, obviously, as the dismissal came promptly after he was found out demonstrating how FSD worked around different locations around Silicon Valley. Tesla also cut off beta access to
Bernal’s own 2021 Model 3
 as well despite showing no safety “strikes” in the software.

FSD’s in-development functionality aims to bridge the gap between the previous suite of driver assistance features available through Tesla's Autopilot and semi-autonomous driving in pursuit of the holy grail of a car that’s fully capable of driverless operation. Cue Knight Rider theme music.

The main new feature of FSD Is “autosteer on city streets” which allows the car to navigate complex urban environments without driver intervention. FSD costs new Tesla owners a US$12,000 upfront to equip in addition to a $199/month subscription fee following which the driver must obtain and maintain a high driver-safety score as determined by Tesla’s onboard software nanny.

It’s not uncommon for Silicon Valley companies to allow their employees access to unreleased products - hardware or software, or both - to be tested out in the real world. Apple famously lost a prototype iPhone 4 when an employee left it at a bar.

However, these same companies usually operate on a fierce unwritten policy of corporate loyalty. Tesla has not responded officially to their dismissal of Bernal in February who also has a side hustle through his YouTube channel, AI Addict. He had started the channel that same month.

However, according to him, his managers verbally told him that he “broke Tesla policy” and that his YouTube channel was a “conflict of interest”, further chastising him for selling merchandise with the phrase “full self-driving (beta)” on it.

Bernal said that he was always transparent about his content creation with his superiors and the public, adding that he never saw a policy barring him from creating said content with his own property (the Model 3). CNBC even got a hold of Tesla’s current social media policy which makes no direct reference to YouTube or
criticising the company products in public.

Bernal admitted to being a lifelong car enthusiast before joining Tesla in August 2020 as a data annotation specialist working out of their San Mateo, California office. At the time of his dismissal, he had moved up to the role of advanced driver assistance test operator, hence his access to the unreleased system.

Prior to that, he took delivery of a
2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range
 just a few months after his initial employment with the EV maker, which was spurred by the fact that they offered employees free access to FSD as a corporate perk in exchange for the right to collect internal and external vehicle data. Back then it was priced at $8,000.

AI Addict’s channel content comprised of Bernal driving around seemingly normally with a friend around the Silicon Valley area while engaging the FSD system, with the newest beta release installed and operational.


Mercedes' Latest Luxury Retail Experience: The Newly Launched Minsoon Star Autohaus At Seremban

The Minsoon Star Seremban Autohaus also has EV chargers, making it a convenient location for EV vehicles to juice up.

Mercedes-Benz customers and fans in Seremban will be happy to know that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Minsoon Star Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Minsoon Credit Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd) has just launched its newly relocated
Mercedes-Benz Autohaus
 at Oakland Industrial Park, Seremban 2.

The new Minsoon Star Seremban Autohaus outlet features the brand’s latest retail experience concept, which enhances the premium automaker’s customer-centric approach.

Sagree Sardien, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia & Head of Region, South East Asia II
said, “We would like to congratulate Minsoon Star on their new Autohaus. We are continuously working with our dealer partners to grow the brand’s luxury retail concept presence while ensuring our customers expectation, needs and demands are met and exceeded.”

Jim Tan, Dealer Principal of Minsoon Star Sdn Bhd
said, “Seremban has a growing population and township that is booming with affluent communities, and we believe that this is the right location for us to further cater to our customers in this region. We are the only authorised Mercedes-Benz Sales and Service dealer in Negeri Sembilan since 1968 and we are proud to showcase our new Autohaus showcases the brand’s latest luxury retail presence for our customers.”

The unique location at Seremban 2 offers close proximity to existing and potential customers and is strategically located with fast and easy access from Plus Highway.

The 136,070 sqft 3S Centre is managed by 50 personnel with plans to expand into a 4S service centre by 2023.

On top of being able to showcase 10 cars, the showroom floor is equipped with luxury amenities such as the Star Lounge and Mercedes-Benz Luxury accessories and collection boutique. Kids too are not forgotten as there is a playroom to help keep them occupied. The lifestyle boutique offers a range of accessories, apparel, trendy sunglasses, elegant watches, and many more.

What's interesting is that Minsoon Star has a service area of almost one-third of its total built-up area, with a maximised service capacity of up to 700 cars a month. Schedule service maintenance and major repairs can and will be carried out by trained technicians equipped with complete and approved special tools from Mercedes-Benz.

Other services offered include the Express Service 2.0, door-to-door and drop-and-go service booking, 24 hours roadside and emergency assistance, wheel alignment and balancing, electrical diagnosis and repairs, paint coating, glass tinting along with insurance and warranty claims.

The new RM20 million Autohaus offers a wide range of demo vehicles, including the
latest C-Class
 and
Mercedes-EQ
 range of electric vehicles. Also available at the new Autohaus are EV fast chargers, making it a convenient location for EV vehicles to juice up, before driving up north or down south.

Minsoon Star Sdn Bhd is located at No. 336, Jalan Haruan 2, Oakland Industrial Park, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. For enquiries, bookings, or appointments, kindly call 06-851 2882 or email enquiries@minsoon.com.


New York 2018: All-New Nissan Altima - 248 Hp 2-litre Turbo, ProPILOT

Continuing the theme of launching key products in New York, Nissan has just showcased their all-new Altima sedan.
The Nissan Altima is the company’s best-selling sedan in North America, spanning five generations and over 5.6 million units sold.
The Altima nameplate brings so much to Nissan North America that the company basically designed and funded their
own facelift program of the fifth generation
, while the ASEAN region still soldier on with the 2013 Nissan Teana sibling until today. In 2017, Nissan North America sold 255,000 units of the Altima, representing 18% of their total 2017 sales in the continent.
The sixth generation Altima is a major shift in product concept. Denis Le Vot, Chairman of Nissan North America said, “We decided to shake up the midsize segment in terms of design, driving enjoyment, and technologies that are advanced and affordable.”
The new Nissan Altima exterior design does not disappoint, as it faithfully replicates many of the key design elements from the Nissan V-Motion 2.0 Concept, including the large V-motion front grille and wrap-around rear windscreen on the “floating” C-pillar. The new Altima is also lower (-28 mm), longer (+25mm), and wider (+23mm) than the previous generation.
Two new engines are introduced on the new Altima, with the turbocharged engine a real highlight. Replacing the previous 3.5-litre V6 engine is Nissan’s production-ready variable compression turbo – a world’s first.
Depending on driving conditions, the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine self-adjusts anywhere between a minimum compression ratio of 8:1 for added performance (e.g. the Mercedes-AMG 45-series engine) or a maximum of 14:1 for better fuel efficiency (e.g. the Toyota Prius engine).
The 2.0-litre VC-Turbo engine first debuted in Nissan’s premium brand,
Infiniti with the QX50 SUV
.
No 'E-Power' hybrid powertrain is offered, unlike its key Japanese competitors in the segment such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Honda Accord Hybrid. The other engine choice is a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder that Nissan has heavily revised for better efficiency and refinement.
The highly complex VC-Turbo engine delivers 248 hp and 370 Nm of torque, more than the Volkswagen Golf GTI engine with 220 hp and 350 Nm that is found in the similarly positioned rival Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TSI.
Key interior comfort and convenience features range from seats with added bolstering for improved holding and support, to standard NissanConnect featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system.
The new Altima will also feature ProPILOT Assist, Nissan’s single-lane driving assistance technology that eases driver workload by reducing the amount of driver acceleration, steering and braking inputs.
Nissan North America plans for customer deliveries by Q3 this year, so we do not expect it the reach ASEAN by at least late 2019.


2015 BMW X6 M Unleashed In Malaysia: Estimated From RM1.2mil

Well, if you thought the
BMW i8
 would stand as the brand’s most expensive vehicle sold in Malaysia, think again! Here is the all-new 2015
BMW
 X6 M, unveiled locally with an estimated price tag of
RM1,238,800
 (OTR without insurance).
In case you needed an explanation of what it is, well, the
BMW X6
 M is the brand’s hottest iteration of its second-gen Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) – the first-gen X6 M’s debut took place some five years ago.
As massive as it is, BMW has certainly pulled out all the stops to ensure this monster’s dynamic handling prowess.
But first, let’s talk power.
PERFORMANCE:
 At the heart of it all, sits a 4.40litre V8 M TwinPower turbo engine which dishes out 575hp (20hp more than previous X6 M), and a total of 750Nm of torque (10% more than before).
Paired with an eight-speed M Steptronic torque converter automatic transmission, the X6 M will do its century sprint in just 4.2 seconds! And as an added M-exclusive feature, the X6 M has no force-transmitting connection between the engine and transmission when a driver first selects a drive gear. Preventing unnecessary forwards creeping, the X6 M will only move forwards when the throttle pedal is triggered.
EXTERIOR:
 Separating itself nicely from the regular X6, there are a lot of M-specific exterior bits we don’t think need pointing out to you. Clearly, this car is a far more aggressive monster with its unique M double-bridge kidney grille, large three-part air inlets up front, flared wheel arches, quad-exhaust system and 21-inch twin-blade, five-spoke M light-alloy wheels.
INTERIOR:
Inside the SAC is where further BMW M Division appointments are visible: M badges, M three-spoke steering wheel, it’s all accounted for, and a clear masterclass in how to turn a fully functional family-carrying vehicle into a track racer you really could hammer around the Sepang circuit on a weekend.
The exclusive electric M multifunction seats in the new BMW X6 M are equipped here to offer various levels of support and comfort for all kinds of driving. The new BMW X6 M is also fitted with a characteristic M instrument cluster with a display area for M-specific dynamics systems and an M Drive Menu in the Control Display to customise driving characteristics via the M Drive buttons on the steering wheel.
EQUIPMENT:
 Amongst the heft of tech here, you’ll find the free-standing infotainment display screen which has been updated with the latest in BMW ConnectedDrive features, courtesy of the Navigation System Professional interface that itself offers better graphics and 3D map displays.
There’s an optional full-colour Head-Up Display screen too, with M-specific views for drivers (gears, shift lights, speeds, etc.)
Available for selected mobile devices only is the ability to sync up with the iDrive Controller to utilise the BMW M lap timer application.
Keeping the monstrous X6 M agile and light on its wheels is barrage of tech courtesy of the BMW M Division, including an M-tuned xDrive all-wheel drive system, Dynamic Damper Control, Dynamic Performance Control and a Dynamic Anti-Roll system.
Buyer’s Guide:
If you’re ready and willing to drop the RM1,238,800 for the BMW X6 M, you may enquire more at showrooms nationwide. Given the press materials though, do keep in mind that the price listed is clearly stated as an estimated figure only.
The confirm retail price will come inclusive of BMW Malaysia’s 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty and Free Scheduled Service Program.


Ulrich Hackenberg Is Out From Audi AG, Stefan Knirsch Is New Head of R&D

Audi’s head of research and development, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg is the latest casualty from the Volkswagen Group’s diesel emissions scandal. Audi announced today that effective immediately, Dr. Hackenberg has stepped down from his position as the Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi AG.
Hackenberg was best known for his deep involvement in
Audi’s Le Mans programme
. He is often pictured attending Le Mans events with Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi Sport.
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of Audi AG’s Board of Management thanked Dr. Hackenberg said:
“In the 30 years that he was active in the Volkswagen Group, Ulrich Hackenberg was involved in crucial strategies and model decisions. The highly flexible modular system resulted in flexible modular production. Both systems helped us to produce very efficiently and with high quality. Numerous car models from Audi, Volkswagen and Bentley were significantly affected by his commitment and expertise. On behalf of the entire Board of Management, I thank him for his many years of commitment and his professional passion.”
Dr. Hackenberg will be replaced by Dr. Stefan Knirsch, who will be moving up from his previous position as Head of Powertrain at Audi AG.
Dr. Kish started his career at Audi in 1990 as an engineer at the Engine Development department.
In between that and his latest promotion, he has served as head of base engine development at Porsche AG, head of aftersales at Porsche AG, CEO of the Board of Management of Pierburg GmbH, before returning to Audi in 2013.
Dr. Kish has a doctor’s degree at the Institute for Materials Technology of the University.
“Stefan Knirsch has a good knowledge of the Group and of Technical Development at Audi. We know him as a creative and visionary man of action. With him, we will make a strong new start in this challenging situation,” said Audi’s Board of Management Chairman, Rupert Stadler.


Cars Outnumber People In Malaysia, But Not Everyone Agrees With The Finding

According to an expert, the main reason why traffic congestion is on the rise Is because there are more cars on the road than the Malaysian population, but former transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said he was certain that the number of vehicles on public roads was not more than the population.

Many motorists have recently voiced out that there is an acute traffic congestion problem in the country. There seem to be traffic jams everywhere you go, which has made weekday commuting a daily nightmare and weekend travel a living hell.

It has been reported that traffic congestion is now worse than before the Covid-19 pandemic, especially with more workers returning to the office and students going back to school.

While some say the problem is caused by the
delay in building more public transport infrastructure
 and others blaming it on irresponsible motorists who just seem to
park their vehicles anywhere
, causing congestion - there's just no end to theories on why traffic congestion is on the rise.

Well, one plausible theory so far comes from road safety expert Professor Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani of Universiti Putra Malaysia, who mentioned to the New Straits Times that the
worsening traffic congestion
 is caused by the rising number of vehicles on the road, which has now overtaken the Malaysian human population.

More cars than humans in Malaysia!

According to Profesor Kulanthayan, there were
33.3 million
 registered vehicles nationwide last year, which overtook the human population, which stood at
32.6 million
.

Of the 33.3 million registered vehicles, up to 47.3% were cars; 46.6% were motorcycles, while 4.7% were goods vehicles. The rest were buses, taxis, self-drive car rentals and others.

With the vehicle population growing rapidly compared to the human population, it is no wonder that traffic congestion is getting worse nationwide, he said to the  New Straits Times.

Dr Kulanthayan said his observation of the booming vehicle registration over the past few years until 2021 led him to believe that it was the prime contributor to the congestion in most parts of the country.

"What is surprising here is that the vehicle population in 2019 was 31.2 million. Subsequently, it increased by one million every year. In 2021, it was registered at 33.3 million."

"For the first time ever, in 2021, the trend of vehicle population outpaced the human population. Over all these years, it has always been the reverse."

"The vehicle population now is high. If this trend continues yearly where vehicles are rising to the tune of one million, then we will face even more horrendous traffic congestion," he told the New Straits Times.

He also said, "It was common for traffic to be clogged during festivities and peak hours, and then it returns to normal. But looking at the situation now, it is beyond that."

But not everyone agrees with the expert's assessment

According to FMT, former transport minister Liow Tiong Lai has come out and said that he was certain that the number of vehicles on public roads was not more than the population.

"It is not possible that the number of vehicles is more than the population of Malaysia,” he told FMT.

The reason he believes that the assessment is inaccurate is because the number that was picked out by the expert was an accumulation of registered vehicles since the British colonial days.

The news portal quoted Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim, saying that the department had handled 33.05 million vehicles in the past 75 years since it was incorporated as Registrar and Inspector of Motor Vehicles.

Liow called for the government to put the facts right and he suggests that a better picture could be ascertained by using the latest road tax renewal records to confirm the numbers.

News portal, FMT seems to agree with Liow's sentiment, as they recently publicised that "there are about 23 million “
active
” vehicles in the country compared to the 33 million registered vehicles compiled since the British colonial era."

According to FMT, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) stated that there were 11.37 million inactive or dormant vehicles out of the 33.08 million registered vehicles nationwide.

"JPJ estimated that there were 21,709,492 million active vehicles in the country up to September last year,” said a transport ministry senior official, who asked not to be named."

If it's true, why are so many people buying cars?

Professor Kulanthayan said one of the possible reasons for the high number of vehicles was the government's introduction of the
automotive sales and services tax (SST) exemption
 in June 2020 as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) stimulus package.

While he lauded such a move to assist the automotive industry, which was adversely affected due to the travel ban to curb the Covid-19 spread, Dr Kulanthayan said such sweet deals enticed the people to buy vehicles that they may have not needed.

He said people did not want to miss the irresistible offer, and some may have planted the idea to others to upgrade to new cars.

"There could have been graduates who had no intention of buying cars, but they did it because of peer pressure or persuasion from friends and family because they can save money with the tax exemption."

"Now, we are seeing even more vehicles on the road, and this could contribute to traffic jams. That is why you see this happening nationwide, not just in the Klang Valley.

Building more roads is not the answer!

Professor Kulanthayan said
building more roads
 is not the answer. He urged the government to refrain from building more highways or adding more lanes to the existing roads because it would not solve traffic congestion because of the supply-attract-demand theory, which is that when there are more roads, people will buy more cars.

Increasing more lanes on the road will only make things worse, as traffic congestion usually happens at bottlenecks areas where vehicles reduce speed to merge, and that subsequently slows down the flow.

"That is not the right method. I do not recommend building more highways as we already have many of them. The government should be managing the demand instead."

Whatever he-said-she-said, something has to be done

Experts and former ministers can argue about the number of cars on Malaysian roads all they want, but we can all pretty much agree that traffic congestion is going from bad to worse. Something has to be done to address the problem and we should come together to find a solution. Any Ideas?


Tokyo 2015: Suzuki Air Triser Concept Previews Suzuki’s First Full-Hybrid Engine

While
Suzuki may have fallen out of love with Volkswagen
, that didn’t stop Suzuki from envisioning how a 21
st
 century version of the Volkswagen ‘hippie van’ Kombi should look like.

The Suzuki Air Triser concept is a three-row MPV that features sliding doors for both the front and rear occupants, but the party piece is its interior.

When the vehicle is parked, the Air Triser’s seats can be configured to replicate a U-shaped sofa.

There’s also a large screen display mounted on the car’s centre pillar, allowing users to enjoy media content from their mobile devices on the large screen. Yes that looks like a disco ball.

The Air Triser measures 4,200 mm long and 1,695 mm wide and 1,815 mm tall, meaning it’s slightly longer (50 mm more) than a Toyota Avanza, but 35 mm wider but a lot taller. In fact, it is only slightly lower (50 mm lower) than a Nissan Serena S-Hybrid.

No information on the powertrain has been revealed yet but some reports indicate that the Air Triser will preview Suzuki’s first full-hybrid powertrain that centres around a 1.4-litre petrol engine.

While the Air Triser is unlikely to make it into production, the powertrain under the hood might.

The Air Triser will be on display at the coming Tokyo Motor 2015, which opens on October 29.


Sneak Peek Of The Perodua Myvi D20N At Malaysia Autoshow 2017

Visitors to the Malaysia Autoshow 2017 at MAEPS Serdang can get a peek of the all-new Perodua Myvi D20N set to debut soon.
It’s not a full unveil, however; the car is enclosed within a box with slits opened to give a peek of its front and rear end, showing off its LED head lights and tail lights. Look harder, you might even see the rear section of its window line.
Open for bookings
 today, the all-new Myvi D20N is available with a choice of five variants priced from RM44k to RM55k on-the-road excluding insurance.
1.3 G MT: RM44,300
1.3 G AT: RM46,300
1.3 X AT: RM48,300
1.5 H AT: RM51,800
1.5 AV AT: RM55,300
Highlighted features of the new Myvi include standardization of keyless entry for all variants and vastly upgraded safety offering electronic stability control, a minimum of four airbags, and
advanced driver assistance systems
 for the range-topping 1.5 AV model.
The new Myvi is offered with a choice of two powerplants from Toyota’s NR series engine family displacing 1.3 and 1.5 litres. The 1.3-litre engine is available in conjunction with 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions, whilst the 1.5 is fitted exclusively with a 4-speed auto.
Update:
 Perodua has revealed a bit more of the Myvi, with the teaser box having opened a few extra slats giving us a peek of the vehicle's side profile.


Next Generation Nissan Livina To Spawn Off Mitsubishi XM Concept?

The Mitsubishi XM Concept first introduced at
GIIAS 2016
 might be used to form the basis of a new seven-seater B-segment crossover model for Nissan to compete in the ASEAN market, according to a
Bangkok Post
 report
 that quoted a ‘high-ranking source at Nissan Motor Japan’.
If true, such a vehicle could conceivably be positioned to replace the aging Livina family, which consists of the five-seater Livina and its rugged X-Gear derivative as well as the
seven-seater Grand Livina
.
Built on the Nissan B platform,
the Livina family
 is a decade old at present and well overdue for a renewal. Nissan currently offers the Livina family only in selected ASEAN markets, South Africa, Brazil, Taiwan, China, and the Middle East. In Malaysia, only the X-Gear and Grand Livina are available.
The Mitsubishi version is reported to be
near production ready
 and is set to incorporate as much as 80% of the show vehicle’s styling cues that include touches of bright colours with dark contrasts. The vehicle will be powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine.
The same report from
Bangkok Post
 also quoted the Nissan executive as confirming that the next joint-developed product of the two manufacturers will ‘happen in the next fiscal year’.
Earlier reports have also revealed that the two companies will be working together for the next-generation
Triton
 and
Navara
 pick-up trucks.
Nissan acquired 34% of Mitsubishi Motors Corp
 in May 2016 to become its single largest shareholder after the latter was exposed for providing fraudulent fuel consumption data to Japanese regulators. Mitsubishi at that point manufactured two minicar models rebadged as Nissan vehicles for the Japan market.
The two companies had enjoyed strong ties even prior to the acquisition. In 2011, the two companies setup NMKV Co Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture formed for the specific purpose of developing minicars for the Japanese market.
In 2012, Nissan had contracted Mitsubishi to manufacture the previous-generation D40 Navara at MMC’s Laem Chabang plant in Thailand.


VW Offering Incredible Six Month Free Instalment for The Tiguan

The best time to experience and own Volkswagen's best selling global vehicle is now, as Volkswagen Malaysia is offering six months free instalment for all Tiguan units booked and registered by the 30th of June 2020.

With over six million sales worldwide, the Tiguan is a much-loved SUV, and now you too can easily have a slice of German engineering in your driveway. On top of the free instalments, Volkswagen Malaysia is also offering a home delivery service for free to owners located within a 20-kilometre radius from dealerships.

With nimble handling as well as a comfortable ride, the Tiguan is powered by a 1.4TSI turbocharged direct-injection engine with a 6-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) with sport mode providing an output of 148hp and 250Nm of torque between 1,500 to 3,500rpm. Fuel consumption for this mid-sized SUV is also impressive as it can achieve an approximate range of 800 kilometres in-between refuelling.

The impressive features doesn't end there either as the Digital Cockpit of the Tiguan features a high-resolution display with a three-view customizable screen via the infotainment system with over 30 combination options. Safety wise, the Tiguan is packed with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) as well as hill-hold control. For those who love connectivity, the Tiguan is fitted with App-Connect via MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Since its debut in 2007 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), the Tiguan has managed to seal its place as one of the top three SUVs in the world. On average, a brand-new Tiguan rolls off the production line every 35 seconds across Volkswagen factories across the globe.

The Tiguan can be had for RM1,630 per month when you book online, but you ONLY start paying that after half a year. Sweet, no?


The 2020 World Car of the Year May Never be Sold in Malaysia

The global automotive scene may have come to a halt temporarily due to the COVID-19 crisis, but fortunately, the highly anticipated annual announcement of the World Car of the Year awards went on as planned.

Due to the global pandemic, the WCOTY program announced its winners remotely, instead of the usual gala-dinner ceremony which would have taken place at the now-cancelled New York International Auto Show.

Five categories were in contention this year – World Car of the Year, World Luxury Car of the Year, World Urban Car of the Year, World Performance Car of the Year, and World Car Design of the Year – dominated by Kia and Porsche with two titles each.

To the surprise of many, Kia was the biggest winner of the year, having bagged the World Car of the Year title with the Kia Telluride SUV (758 points) ogg. Made especially for the American market, the Telluride is the largest SUV Kia has produced to date.

Built on a modified version of the Sorento’s chassis, the Telluride, which is named after a town in Colorado, is a 7-seater luxury SUV that is powered by a transverse-mounted 3.5-litre direct injection V6 petrol engine and an electric motor which produce a combined total of 400 hp and 355 Nm of torque.

Coming in at second place is a car which we are familiar with – the new Mazda 3, which scored 13 points lesser than the Kia with 745 points. The second runner up for the World Car of the Year awards also happens to be a Mazda – the CX-30, with 738 points.

The Telluride aside, the Kia Soul bagged the World Urban Car of the Year award, after beating the MINI Cooper SE Electric and the Volkswagen T-Cross.

The next big winner is Porsche, which won both the World Luxury Car of the Year as well as the World Performance Car of the Year awards with the new Taycan. Worth mentioning here is the fact that all three finalists in the performance car category were Porsches – the Taycan, the 911, and the 718.

Last but not the least, the winner of the World Car Design of the Year Award aka “the best looking car of this year” as we would like to call it, is none other than the new Mazda3, which beat the Peugeot 208 and once again, the Porsche Taycan to emerge victorious.

In case you’re wondering, all the winning vehicles above were selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprising 86 prominent automotive journalists from 24 countries around the world.

Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulated the jurors’ ballots.

As for the World Car Design of the Year award, a panel consisting of seven highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors.

The design experts were Anne Asensio (France - Vice-President, Design - Dassault Systemes), Gernot Bracht (Germany - Pforzheim Design School), Ian Callum (United Kingdom – Director of Design, CALLUM), Patrick le Quément (France - Designer and President of the Strategy Committee - The Sustainable Design School), Tom Matano (USA - School of Industrial Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco), Gordon Murray (U.K. - Gordon Murray Design) and Shiro Nakamura (Japan - CEO, Shiro Nakamura Design Associates Inc.).


All-New MINI Clubman Teased, Now With Four Doors

The all-new
MINI
 Clubman has been teased by the car maker before it makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015.
First things first, the teaser image which was put up is terribly dark but with a little editing, we begin to see the most interesting new addition to the Clubman, two additional doors. That’s right, the all-new car will adopt a four-door format but retains the split “barn doors” at the back which should make it more practical than its current three-plus one-door layout.
This isn’t a surprise however because at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, the
MINI Clubman
 Concept showcased the new door layout and introduced larger dimensions (260mm longer, 160mm wider) than the current model. Save for a slightly different roof design and off-centred exhaust tip, the all-new car remains remarkably true to the concept shown.
(2014 MINI Clubman Concept)
Underpinning the new car will be a longer, wider version of BMW's UKL platform, commonly referred to as UKL2, which is also used in the
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
 and
X1
.


After X50: Proton’s Next Big Splash Needs A GTI, Passat-Punisher, Vellfire SUV

From the arrival of their first SUV with the X70 following their partnership with Geely, to the tackling of the highly popular compact crossover category with the recently launched X50, the past 2-ish years have marked a period of
growth and prosperity
 for Proton at a scale never before seen.

The company and their Chinese partners, however, don’t seem to be keen on slowing the pace. As was outlined in 2019, Proton’s (public) new car road map stretches to 2023 with each year witness to the launch of a new model, potentially expanding the line-up to 10 vehicles once all the dust settles.

Can Proton even handle the kind of infrastructure stresses that involve the concurrent development, production, sales, and service of 10 separate models? Each with their own selection of variants, trim, and optional accessories? We’ll not know the answer for some time, unfortunately, but the conclusion itself might be purely academic.

Perhaps a more important question to raise is whether Proton sees Malaysia as a vehicle market that is strong, diverse, and stable enough to sustain that kind of supply? In truth, we probably can guess that the answer is “definitely/maybe not”. The obvious solution to that is for Proton to look abroad and shore up plans to bring the brand to the international stage - properly this time.

The good news is Geely seems to have
big things in mind for our humble national automaker
.

The X70 and X50 are the strongest assets the company possesses so far to reach an overseas audience, but they’ll need to bolster that with even more cars that match it for design, technology, build quality, safety, and value.

If we’re honest, they’d also probably need to be similar badge-engineered versions of Geely cars or developed from scratch to be worthy of world-class competition.

With that in mind, what are the awesome future cars that would push Proton over the top? What are the cars that would round out their line-up to deliver an unbeatable selection that could stand up to the best mass market - or even semi-premium - brands in the world?

We could start our list with their hinted new cars coming down the pipeline, which could follow the X50 with two all-new sedans and ending 2023 with a third SUV added to the cast. Below, though, will read more like a personal wish list.

Perdana

It’s time for Proton’s luxury flagship to make a return, and not as a done-up last-gen Honda Accord - it deserves better. Luckily, Geely seems to have the perfect D-segment four-door lined up for the job:
the Borui GE
.

It’s a handsome thing with a lovely fastback profile where the D-pillar is stretched almost to the tail of the car. Inside, it’s a blend of luxurious materials and some pretty high tech touches such as a digital key that’s a lot like the BMW Display Key on the 7 Series.

A large 12.3-inch infotainment display dominates the centre stack and the pane itself blends into the expanse of black reflective trim.

It’s headlined by a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines an electric motor and high capacity battery (60km electric range) with the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol found in the X50 for a combined output of 257hp. Sounds perfect. Even more perfect? A Perdana based on
the Geely Preface
.

Flagship SUV. X90?

Even my feeble grasp of mathematics can tell me the number sequence of 50 and 70 would be followed up by 90. Here, the
Geely Haoyue would be a great fit
 since it’s the right size and one of Geely’s newest models, making it one of their most technically advanced as well.

The 7 seater is definitely imposing with up to 2.2 metres of pure horizontal interior space behind the front row with the seats folded. More intriguing is the 6 seater configuration which allows some Vellfire-style big boss captain’s chairs to be placed in the second row.

Slap on some big LCD screens and a fold-out tray and we have a long distance cabin experience that could rival a Business Class airline ticket, all available from your nearest Proton dealership. What a crazy-amazing prospect that would be.

A Coupe SUV. X60?

As much as I loathe this particular sub-breed of SUVs, a Proton-badged version of the Geely Xingyue can only serve to boost the company’s brand perception, and especially so abroad where the category seems to only be made up of premium marques.

This new model would certainly level the playing field, even if it is for something as tasteless as a coupe SUV. Underneath, the Xingyue is built upon the same CMA architecture that underpins the Volvo XC40. The sporty looks are also complemented by some decently gutsy engines including a PHEV option or a more conventional 2.0-litre turbo with 235hp.

Satria GTI Reborn

With all this work going to SUVs and electrification, this is one arena that the ‘Proton of old’ could really use as an outlet to vent their fun-loving side and show off their talent for great handling cars.

Because there is no obvious Geely equivalent to build off of, Proton would have free rein to once again build the consummate Malaysian hot hatch and resurrect the
revered GTI badge
, dormant for about 20 years now.

The company’s reputation for a sharp and well calibrated chassis has been one of the defining attributes of cars that came even well after the Satria (GTI, Neo R3). The Gen2, the Waja, the Preve, the Suprima S - all these were remembered for dynamics that far exceeded its price point.

Now with access to industry front-running technology, powertrains, and vehicle platforms, Proton should make a statement. Imagine a Malaysian-made compact hatchback with a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine, sleek styling, a sparse but comfortable interior, sharp but pliant suspension, and a kerb weight under 1,300kg.

Pretty soon the world will be drawing comparisons between this and the Ford Fiesta ST, the Polo GTI, and the Renault Clio RS. Picture this: the world’s greatest hot hatchbacks now finding themselves on the back foot by something that rolled out of Tanjung Malim, spawned from the pride, sweat, love, and expertise of Malaysians. Proton would have truly arrived.

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

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
.


Spyshot: Geely Boyue Caught Benchmarking Against Honda CR-V And Last Gen VW Tiguan

Benchmarking against competition happens more often than you would imagine, as car manufacturers often use competitor models to gauge various parameters of their upcoming vehicles.
As posted by our friends over at
Careta
, Proton engineers appear to be busy benchmarking the Geely Boyue against the current generation Honda CR-V and previous generation Volkswagen Tiguan.
At this point of time, it is unknown if the competitors were used to gauge the drivetrain performance or the interior aspects of the upcoming Boyue SUV.
Careta's report also mentions that Proton’s Director of Group Quality, Ogawa Masazumi was present during the session, hinting that Proton is serious about nailing the Boyue’s quality. Masazumi-san was previously from Nissan, where he held several positions over the 30 year period he was there before joining Proton in 2016.
To recap, Proton’s first-ever SUV will be based on the Geely Boyue, Geely’s fourth SUV in its line up. In China, the Geely Boyue is offered with two engines, namely a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with two states of tune. In total, Geely offers 13 variants of the Boyue SUV for the Chinese market.


Porsche Unveils Taycan GTS, Sport Turismo - A Real Wagon This Time!

It took an unexpected detour with
the slightly-ruggedised Cross Turismo
, but finally, Porsche did the right thing by offering up a proper wagon version of their Taycan. It’s called the Sport Turismo, mirroring the treatment given to
second-generation Panamera in its more practical form
.

This is the easiest Porsche reveal to figure out too, which is unusual. Just take the Taycan Cross Turismo and take out the ‘cross’ bits. No unnecessary wheel arch/perimeter cladding, no extra ride height. Just a Taycan with an extended roofline and a boot that opens with a hatch. Mission accomplished.

Arguably, this is what the majority of fans were expecting. I’d bet nobody was itching to take their Taycan on some rough stuff or go mountain biking halfway down a mountain with an electric Porsche; it just seems like a.....mismatch.

The Taycan Sport Turismo was revealed as the GTS alongside its four-door saloon twin, but the body style is expected to be eventually available to most (if not all) variants of the EV, from the base-level ‘Taycan’ to the Turbo S.

It takes some effort to get your head around how Porsche structures its variants, but once you’re up to speed you’ll pretty quickly identify the brief of a somewhat “more-aggressive-but-not-quite-range-topper” being a GTS.

It’s actually one of the newest variant tiers or trim levels offered by the automaker but started with the 997-era 911 GTS before spreading to the Cayenne, Cayman, Boxster,
and even Macan
. It’s only natural that the Taycan follows suit.

This which is why I immediately thought it would be the newest Taycan when Porsche announced its forthcoming reveal for the Los Angeles Motor Show. Unfortunately, I neglected to inform anybody of my
profound powers of Porsche deduction
, and couldn’t reap the rewards of being smug when proven right.

If you’re familiar with the GTS treatment, it’s basically giving you more performance than the standard versions of a given Porsche, but not enough to worry the truly upper crust variants. It’ll also throw in some sportier interior touches from the GT3 (or equivalent) and perhaps some chassis enhancements for good measure. Black wheels are very much also a GTS thing.

This Taycan, no matter the roofline flavour, comes standard with the larger 93.4kWh battery. Its dual electric motors generate 598PS, very neatly sandwiching it between the Taycan 4S (571PS) and Taycan Turbo (680PS). However, Porsche has given the GTS a tweaked version of its Electric Sport Sound, so the car will be humming a sportier tune while it otherwise silently glides past.

Meanwhile, torque matches the Turbo’s 850Nm, though the GTS arrives at 100km/h from rest 0.5s slower at 3.5 seconds. In terms of range, it’ll manage up to 504km on a combined cycle (WLTP) or up to 625km if driven more conservatively around town.

Inside the Taycan GTS, the leather is pretty much gone now and seen only as accents, replaced with microsuede/Alcantara-like material that Porsche calls Race-Tex. It’s all dark grey and is sort of velvety in texture, so it fits the bill. Couple that with the usual contrasting stitch work and further splashing of dark tones and interior highlights, and that’s the GTS' interior motif fulfilled.

Of course, this being a Porsche, you can customise this as well as the exterior to your heart’s content, though your wallet might wince involuntarily on your behalf.

Speaking of extras, a new option introduced on the GTS is a panoramic roof with Sunshine Control, which can turn the mostly transparent roof to opaque at the touch of a button through an electrically activated liquid crystal film layer incorporated into the glass roof.

The roof itself is divided into nine segments that can be switched individually, which Porsche says is a world first in the automotive sector.


Toyota GR Corolla Coming With AWD, 300PS Version GR Yaris' 3-Cyl Engine, Wagon?

Since the announcement of a fire-breathing
rally-derived GR Yaris
, rumours have been swirling around of similar treatment being given to the newest 12th-generation Corolla hatch, giving the Japanese automaker the chance to show up rivals such as the Golf R and Ford Focus RS, but also more Asian competition from the
Honda Civic Type R
 and, more recently, the
Hyundai i30 N
.

The good news seems to be that, yes, a GR Corolla is in the works, and that it’s apparently more powerful and capable than many of us thought it might be, at least according to Japanese car news sites
CarSensor
 and
MagX
. Interesting.

Also quite interesting is the former outlet’s claim that, while the debut form factor will be that of the 5-door Corolla hatch, there will eventually be a wagon to choose from, albeit with a hybrid 2.0-litre.

Toyota, who seems hell-bent on furiously disproving every notion of it only being known for its family cars and sensible grocery-getters, has been on fire lately in delivering one performance blockbuster after another by directly translating their motorsport efforts into machines mere mortals are allowed to buy and use on the road. At least, that’s the idea.

With the stable now filled with the GR Supra, GR Yaris and now second-generation
GR86
, the GR Corolla would make more than a welcome addition to the squad. Its powertrain has been the topic of some conjecture, though, with rumours of a hybrid even gaining some traction similar to the
spiced up Corolla GR Sport
.

While nothing is confirmed yet, reliable and well-placed sources in Japan seem to be positive about the hot Corolla receiving an upgraded version of the G16E-GTS 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine found in the GR Yaris.

Power can be expected to rise to 296PS from the smaller car’s 272PS output, though an estimate on torque is a little harder to pin down. Keep in mind, though, that it would likely be more than the current 370Nm benchmark.

Just like the more petite GR creation, the GR Corolla’s motor will be mated to a 6-speed manual and have drive sent to all four wheels. That said, it’s unclear if will be a more common Haldex-based AWD system or the more complex GR-Four permanent four-wheel drive fitted to the Yaris.

Regardless, the resulting car should be a riot to drive and could easily match the Honda and Hyundai on pure numbers but leave them for dead in the corners and hard launches thanks to its all-paw traction.

Due to not having to undergo an extensive modification programme like the GR Yaris in its homologation pursuit, the GR Corolla is also thought to have a less expensive starting price by at least RM17k - not a drastic difference but not insignificant either. Can't wait for more info to be brought to light!


e-Testing For Car License In Malaysia To Begin In April 2022

The
Road Transport Department
 (JPJ) is planning to launch an e-Testing or automated testing for driving license testing beginning April 2022.

The e-Testing system will measure a candidate's performance that has been conducted via simulation and generate the results in real-time. No more two-week waiting period for candidates to obtain their results.

Photo credit: Bernama

According to JPJ Director-General Zailani Hashim, the automated driving test and training system was currently at the proof of concept stage and is expected to be launched during
JPJ
's 76th celebration as reported by Free Malaysia Today.

Apparently, this e-Testing system would also be more manpower efficient, as only two testers will be needed compared to the seven that are utilised currently. One question worth asking is what will happen to the five other testers that are now surplus to requirements? Will they be redeployed for other tasks?

Photo credit: JPJ Pulau Pinang FB

Zailani went on to add that the e-Testing system will still involve class learning, circuit and road sessions. However, the officer and candidate will not be sitting together in the car during the circuit session. The officers will be in a control room observing the candidates. The other two sessions will remain as it is currently.

Photo credit: JPJ Johor FB

The circuit session will continue to use the current six-point physical driving tests such as uphill driving, parking, and three-point turn.

A similar system such as this is already in place in countries like South Korea and Japan.

While automation and digitalisation have become buzzwords that have been further accelerated by the pandemic, the execution of this e-Testing by JPJ remains to be seen.

Photo credit: JPJ Johor FB

One potential positive being bandied about is that e-Testing will deter bribery. While minimising time and interaction between the tester and candidate can prevent instances of bribery, there is still the road session of the test portion that can be exploited. Also for those in the know, the option to '
gerenti lulus
' happens at the
driving school
 level, rarely during the actual test day itself.

What about installing cameras in the car to capture the test sessions? This way both the tester and the candidate are protected with the whole session being recorded in case accusations of wrongdoing arise against either party. Will that not
betul-betul
 remove any chance of
rasuah
 or under table money?

As they say, the devil is in the details, let's hope this e-Testing by JPJ for
driving license
 testing fares better than the whole
RFID implementation debacle
.


RON97 Fuel Price Update: 12 - 18 July – 1 sen increase

The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has announced the price of RON 97 fuel for the next seven days.
After last week’s 8 sen jump, the premium grade fuel sees another increase in price, however, in a much smaller quantum of 1 sen per litre starting tomorrow.
That being said, the prices for petrol and diesel from 12th to 18th July are as listed below:
RON95 –
RM2.20
per litre (no change)
RON97 –
RM2.59
 per litre (up 1 sen from RM2.58)
Diesel –
RM2.18
 per litre (no change)


Wanita Tersengih Sambil Cop Parking – Pelaku Boleh Didenda, Dipenjara

Seorang wanita telah keluar dari kenderaannya untuk berdiri dan menunggu kereta lain keluar meskipun ada kereta lain yang sedang menunggu
parkir
 itu dikosongkan terlebih dahulu.

Meskipun kegiatan
cop p
arking
 ini sudah berulang kali diberitahu sebagai perbuatan yang dilarang, nampaknya masih ada diantara kita yang masih tidak peka dan masih tekun mengecop
parking
 terutama di
kawasan membeli-belah.

*Kredit video: Hey XpG

Cop Parkir Masih Berleluasa

Berdasarkan video yang dikongsikan oleh Hey XpG di Facebook, adiknya sedang menunggu sebuah kereta untuk keluar dari kawasan parkir terbabit untuk meletakkan keretanya di kawasan itu.

Namun perkara menyakitkan hati berlaku kepada adiknya apabila ada seorang wanita telah keluar dari kenderaannya dan berdiri di kawasan parkir tersebut untuk menunggu kereta itu keluar meskipun adiknya telah menunggu di hapadan kereta itu.

*Kredit video: Hey XpG

Walaupun wanita itu telah diberitahu bahawa kegiatan cop
parking
 ini salah disisi undang-undang, wanita itu hanya tersengih dan bertindak menghalang kereta adik si pemuat naik video tersebut bagi membenarkan kereta Mercedes bernombor plat Singapura yang kemungkinan milik keluarganya untuk masuk ke kawasan parkir itu.

Berdasarkan video, wanita yang cop
parking
 itu bernasib baik kerana beliau dipertemukan dengan orang yang sabar. Bayangkan jika beliau bertemu dengan pemandu yang kurang sabar, barulah buku bertemu ruas.

Kesalahan Cop Parkir Mengikut Undang-Undang

Kegiatan cop
parking
 ini adalah satu kesalahan di Seksyen 50(3) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 dan individu yang cop
parking
 boleh dikenakan denda maksimum RM2,000, atau penjara tidak melebihi enam bulan bagi kesalahan kali pertama.

Jika ianya berulang buat kali kedua dan seterusnya, individu itu boleh dikenakan saman maksimum RM4,000 atau penjara tidak melebihi 12 bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali mengikut Seksyen 119 (2) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987.

Bagi anda yang terserempak atau menjadi mangsa kepada kegiatan cop
parking
, tidak perlulah anda bergaduh atau merosakkan kereta si pelaku. Sebaliknya, anda boleh melaporkannya kepada pihak berwajib melalui:

Hantar Whatsapp ke 011-511 5252

Hantar emel ke aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my

Telefon 03-8886 6412

Selain itu, anda sebagai pengadu juga perlu menyediakan:

Maklumat peribadi pemandu (termasuk IC)

Lokasi

Tarikh dan masa

Nombor plat

Keterangan tentang situasi yang berlaku

Dah ada bukti? Laporkan sahaja tanpa bertumbuk!


Review: MINI Countryman Park Lane – Last Man Standing

Following the recent
launch
 of the all-new
Clubman
 and discontinuation of the ultra-niche
Paceman
 crossover-coupe, the Countryman is now the last surviving member of
MINI
 derivative models that spawned off the second-generation R56 hatchback.
Introduced in 2010, the R60 Countryman was the MINI brand’s first crack at the growing crossover market, and as far as Malaysia is concerned, it has the significance of being the first MINI model to be locally-assembled.
At the time of its introduction, the Countryman was the largest member of the MINI family, although it has since been superseded in that respect by the new Clubman. Certainly, indications are that the next Countryman will be anything but mini in size.
Kicking on the final leg of its model life cycle, a limited 88-unit only
Countryman Park Lane
 based on the Cooper S Countryman was launched earlier this year.
Specifications:
Variant Tested: Cooper S Countryman Park Lane
Price: RM253,888 (OTR without insurance)
Engine: 1.6-litre, Inline-4 Transverse, Turbocharged
Power: 190hp @ 5,500 – 6,500rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,600 – 5,000rpm (Overboost: 260Nm @ 1,700 – 4,500rpm)
Transmission: 6-speed torque converter automatic with paddle shifters, FWD
Safety: 6 airbags, crash sensor, electronic stability control (DSC), traction control (DTC), ABS, pull-away assistant, electronic differential lock.
Origin: Locally-assembled at Kulim, Kedah
Overview?
In short, what we are looking at here, is a front-wheel drive Cooper S Countryman decorated with various exclusive aesthetic ornaments, priced at an RM11k premium over the regular model.
Mechanical configuration sees the venerable twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6-litre Prince engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission to bestow the front wheels with outputs of 190hp and 240Nm, the latter swelling to 260Nm on brief overboost on full throttle.
Alternatively, the Countryman in its regular guises is available at RM198,888 (OTR without insurance) for the 120hp naturally-aspirated Cooper model or RM242,888 for the Cooper S, both of which are locally-assembled and front-wheel driven only. The performance range-topping 218hp JCW variant, which comes fully-imported, is priced much higher at RM313,888.
Interestingly, the all-new Clubman in Cooper S format and sold as a fully-imported model, is priced identical to our Countryman Park Lane edition model at RM253,888.
Exterior
From afar, the Countryman Park Lane can be recognized by its Earl Grey body colour with Oak Red contrast finish on the roof and side mirrors, as well as decal stickers on the bonnet, tailgate, and along the flanks.
Despite not being equipped with all-wheel drive, the Countryman Park Lane is nevertheless decked in a more rugged-looking ALL4 Bodykit that notably includes scuff plates on the front and along the sides. Finally, if you still don’t get the visual cues, ‘Park Lane’ emblems on the fenders give you a definitive answer of its identity.
Interior
Being the more playful extension of the BMW Group, MINI interiors typically avoid the no-nonsense business-like cabin ambiances of its parent company. Contrasting the functional clarity of a typical BMW cabin, MINI interiors are embody funky stylishness in their design philosophies.
At a glance, the Countryman’s cabin clearly carries the established design ethos with commendable faithfulness. Visually, the cabin looks hardly aged and gives off the impression of being a very fun place to be in.
Functionally, however, it leaves much to be desired. Ergonomics, for starters, are less than intuitive. Whilst this writer had no problem settling into a good driving position and found switch gear within easy reach, they are not laid out in a manner that can be easily operated a quick glance. The rows of toggle switches admittedly score full marks for aesthetics, but operating them required taking our eyes off the road for more seconds than it is safe whilst driving.
Available storage space is not fantastic, but enough to live with. The four cupholders along the centre console are decently sized, whilst the rail that extends from the gear lever rearwards can swallow a decent number of small (emphasize small) items. MINI offers a number of optional accessory boxes that can be fastened to the railing, so speak your sales consultant on this.
Build quality feels distinctly average for the price tag. Whilst fit and finish are decent, material selection, at prominent touchpoints at that, are unimpressive. On our test car, the transmission lever’s lock button was jammed in a fully-pressed state, meaning we could freely move the lever into any position (P, R, N, D) at any time.
How does it drive?
Considering its age, and having sampled members of the third-generation F56 family, we unsurprisingly find the Countryman feeling a little ‘last generation’ in its performance and refinement.
We are still big fans of the Prince engine, it didn’t win eight consecutive Engine of the Year category of the year awards for nothing, but newer rivals expose the gruffness at its top end as well as the slight but noticeable amounts of turbo lag.
That being said, the engine pulls strongly in its mid-ranges and is pleasantly eager in its willingness to rev. It’s one of those engines that seems to egg you on to rev it. Aging as it may be, this engine certainly still has its charms. Watch out for torque steer whenever you put your foot down.
Body motions around bends feel well-controlled, but there is unsurprisingly more pronounced levels of body roll than you would experience in other lower-riding members of the MINI family.
Steering turns keenly with good levels of feedback. Its assist levels are generous enough to make life easy in tight spaces, yet it also weighs substantial enough to inspire confidence at higher speeds. It’s a setup that well-balanced enough to appeal to the needs of enthusiasts and city-dwellers alike.
How comfortable is it?
Ride comfort has never quite been the forte of any MINI model, but the Countryman has generally made a better job of it than its smaller siblings. It is still a firmly-sprung car, however, with a primary ride that lets in short-wave disturbances such as road patches, bumps, and potholes. Secondary ride is decently sorted, however, helping the Countryman to achieve good high speed composure.
How economical is it?
MINI claims a combined average fuel consumption of 7.5 litres/100km for the Cooper S Countryman. Our test average of 9.9 litres/100km over a 318km run combining urban and highway driving.
We should note, however, that the engine’s peppy nature has inspired us to drive this particular test car with much greater exuberance on the throttle than most. In that context, we’d say 9.9 was a decent return.
All MINIs sold in 2016 are covered by a four-year unlimited mileage warranty in addition to a four-year / 60,000km free service package covering engine oil, oil filter, air filter, micro filter, spark plug, and brake fluids. Maintenance intervals are condition-based, meaning on-board diagnostics tell you when it’s time to send your Countryman in for some tender loving care.
Conclusion
Rational reasons do not come into play when one considers the purchase of a MINI. The Countryman is perhaps the most practical model of the lot, but it’s still not what we would call the last word on sensibility. More than a car, the MINI brand is an expression of one’s tastes and lifestyle, and one that still offers the driving thrills synonymous with the BMW family at large.
That being said, MINI brand has accrued a large fanbase of young and affluent people attracted to its pleasing combination of outward style and driving dynamics. The Countryman was evidently conceived to allow these fans to continue expressing their identities as their needs outgrow the cramped surroundings of their MINI hatchbacks.


Fuel Price Update: 16 – 22 March – Ron 97 Continues To Increase

The Ministry of Finance Malaysia (MoF) has just announced the price of petrol and diesel, valid for the next seven days.
Effective tomorrow, the premium grade RON 97 fuel is again set for an increase in price, to the tune of 8 sen per litre.
There are no changes to the RON 95 grade petrol and diesel fuel, which the government has set a revised price cap since the beginning of the month.
The ministry said that without the price cap in place, the price of RON 95 petrol and diesel is RM2.24 and RM2.37 per litre respectively based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM).
In summary, the prices for petrol and diesel are listed below:
RON95 –
RM2.08
 per litre (unchanged, capped)
RON97 –
RM2.54
 per litre (up 8 sen from RM2.46)
Diesel Euro 2M –
RM2.18
 per litre (unchanged, capped)
Diesel Euro 5M –
RM2.28
 per litre (unchanged, capped)


2017 Range Rover Velar Coming Soon To Malaysia

The latest addition of the Range Rover family, the
Velar
, is about to arrive in Malaysia as indicated by the new model’s appearance on
Land Rover Malaysia’s official webpage
. Official date of its local launch has yet to be communicated to us, however.
Positioned between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport, the Velar made its global debut only last month. It is powered by a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines both available in either 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 configurations.
D180: 2.0-litre diesel, 180hp, 430Nm
D240: 2.0-litre diesel, 240hp, 500Nm
D300: 3.0-litre V6 diesel, 300hp, 700Nm
P250: 2.0-litre petrol, 250hp, 365Nm
P380: 3.0-litre V6 petrol, 380hp, 450Nm
There is no official indication on which engine is being earmarked for Malaysia, but the 2.0-litre petrol P250 looks a certain bet. It this setup, the Velar is claimed to be able to do 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 217 km/h. Fuel economy in the combined cycle is rated at 7.6 litres/100km with CO
2
 emissions at 173 g/km.
Ensuring it maintains Land Rover’s tradition of accomplished all-terrain capability, the Velar has all-wheel drive as standard with the Terrain Response 2 programme available as an optional add-on. In water crossings, the Velar is able to wade through water 650mm deep. The chassis also incorporates air suspension, stability control, roll stability control, and hill descent control.
In cabin, the Velar’s centre stack consists of a rectangular touchscreen controlling the infotainment system sitting atop a similarly smooth touch surface to operate the climate control system. A rear seat entertainment system with 8” screens embedded inside both front head rests is available as an optional add-on.


Firefly – Now Every Kid Can Drive

Firefly, not to be confused with the local airline company, is the world’s first electric car specifically developed for 5- to 10-year olds, fully designed and built in the U.K. by Young Driver Motor Cars Limited.
Young Driver Motor Cars Limited is a division of Young Driver, the U.K.’s largest provider of driving lessons for children aged 10-17. The idea for the Firefly car came about when Young Driver felt there was a need for a proper training vehicle for under-10-year-olds that wasn’t simply a toy.
But wait, an electric car for children aged five to ten… this is nothing new one might say. Here’s a list of what sets the Firefly apart from a ‘toy car’ one could buy at Toys”R”Us:
Independent suspension
Adjustable driver’s seat
Fixed passenger seat
Hydraulic disc brakes, accelerator and forward/reverse control
Indicators and side repeaters
LED headlights and tail lights
Twin electric motors with up to 9-hour continual operation capability
Twin 12v batteries with 240v charger
Tablet based instruments including speedometer, clock and power reserve indicator
Unique and patented safety system that brings the car to a halt before collision (in reverse or forward drive) whilst in Junior mode
The ability to stop the car by remote control from 120 metres
GRP or carbon fibre body
The Firefly is the brainchild from a team of UK automotive experts, led by veteran car designer Chris Johnson - previously with
Jaguar
,
Ford
 and
Volvo
. A pre-production prototype was first unveiled in April of this year at Gadget Show Live, since then, continual tuning and development efforts aim to make the Firefly handle and drive like a full-sized car.
The Firefly’s electric drivetrain featured two drive modes, 'Junior', which limits top speed to 8km/h, and 'Experienced', which allows a top speed of 16km/h. The car is offered with an optional safety system that uses a network of sensors to halt the car when it detects obstacles – in forward or reverse directions.
The Firefly is also offered with a range of customisation options which include bespoke paint colours and combinations, individual badging and instruments, upholstered leather seats and steering wheel, wireless tyre pressure indicators and in-car audio.
The first Firefly cars are expected to go on sale (worldwide) in 2017 at an expected price of GBP5,750, or if you’re in the U.K., GBP19.95 buys a 20-minute session for your 5- to 10-year old.
GBP5,750, when converted, also gives you a wide range of choices on
Carlist.my
.


Isuzu D-Max Takes The Lead In Thailand

Not every car manufacturer has been hit as badly by COVID-19, and Isuzu seems to be coming out on top – at least in Thailand.

It seems that Isuzu’s massive investments in Thailand have started to pay off as the company managed to clinch the top-selling spot for their
D-Max
 through June of 2020. So high is this number at 14,868 units that it eclipses every other offering on the market, with the Toyota Hilux Revo coming in second at just 6,113 units sold. The Mitsubishi Triton takes third place with 2,009 units, but you can see a severe decline in figures beyond this point.

Year to date, the Isuzu D-Max still dominates with a total 67,625 total sales figure, roughly 18,000 more than the Toyota Hilux Revo. A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that in the highly competitive pick-up truck segment, the latest and greatest commands the most attention – and for the time being that happens to be the Isuzu D-Max.

That victory may be short-lived, however, as other brands are gearing up to launch new and improved versions of their current offerings. Both Nissan and Toyota have recently pushed revised models of the Navara and Hilux respectively for the Thai market, as well as the up and coming Mazda BT-50.

What we’re seeing in Thailand could very much happen over here in the coming months, and not merely limited to the pick-up truck market. As we have seen in the past, following every general slump in sales there is a corresponding rise in the following months that eventually creates a fairly even, average sales figure that matches previous years.


Spied: Is this the next Toyota Innova?

Coming from the streets of India is what appears to be the next-generation
Toyota Innova
, all clad in the appropriate full body camouflage and seemingly evading a set of prying eyes and a smartphone set on record.

In mid-October, car-spotter
Naveen Gowd
a uploaded a quick video onto Youtube showing him chasing down the as-yet unreleased new model. The driver in both cases seemed to be more interested in racing each other down the road than keeping a safe distance - then again, this is India.

The MPV is suspected to house petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, a first for the model, in at least one of its variants upon a future launch. Similarly, those are rumoured to gain the 'Hycross' moniker in some markets, though in its debut market of Indonesia it will be named the Innova Zenix (for some reason).

In addition to its appearance in India, the new Innova is also undergoing similar late-stage pre-production testing in other regions. Also noteworthy since we can't get a good look at the vehicle's finer details, is the choice of alloy wheels and the adoption of a larger, freestanding infotainment head unit.

Buyers can expect a more upmarket feeling cabin compared to Toyota's slightly lower-rung MPV options
such as the Veloz,
 elsewhere known as the Daihatsu Xenia and Perodua Alza - yes, Toyota's naming schemes do get quite confusing as they are rarely unified across different markets.

Unlike its DNGA-derived stablemates, however, the Innova will reportedly ditch the previous generation model's ladder frame chassis for the unibody construction of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that underpins the majority of the brand's newest and most modern models.

The currently sold (in Malaysia) Toyota Innova is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre 1TR-FE four-cyliner engine producing 140PS, which is expected to be more or less retained, though augmented by the inclusion of an electric motor for extra fuel economy.

It's unclear how far down the pecking order an all-new Innova is to local distributors UMW Toyota Malaysia as they are reported to be prioritising the arrival of the full range of GR-branded cars such as the GR86, GR Corolla, and manual-equipped GR Supra.

That said, the regional premiere of the next Innova will surely be a sufficient gauge of public interest that would spur or dissuade them to introduce into Malaysian showrooms or be content with a single MPV offering for the time being.


2021 Perodua Ativa Launched - From RM61,500

At long last, Perodua’s hotly-anticipated B-Segment SUV, the Ativa now celebrates its official launch. The Ativa debuts Perodua’s first-ever turbocharged engine and
D-CVT
 gearbox, and for the first time will sit on a newly developed modular platform – dubbed
DNGA
.

First things first, three
variants
 are offered at launch at the following prices:

Ativa X: from RM61,500

Ativa H: from RM66,100

Ativa AV: from RM71,200

All variants are powered by the
1KR-VET 1.0-litre turbocharged
 transverse-mounted three-cylinder petrol engine which produces 98PS and peak torque of 140Nm between 2,400rpm and 4,000rpm. The engine is mated to a CVT-type transmission (dubbed D-CVT) which sends power to the front wheels. Perodua claims an overall fuel economy of 18.9 km/l (or 5.29 litres/100km).

This is how the Ativa measures up against it’s closest siblings, the Myvi and Aruz:

Note, however, that while the Ativa was developed alongside the Daihatsu Rocky, it is actually approximately 80mm longer thanks to the redesigned body panels, specifically its front and rear bumpers. Other notable differences between the Rocky and Ativa is the Ativa offers a full-sized spare tyre in all variants, and a steel rear door, instead of the plastic rear door on the Rocky.

Another crucial highlight of the Ativa is its active safety suite, dubbed ASA 3.0 which conforms to SAE Level 2 driving assistance functions through the inclusion of features such as active cruise control and lane-keep control, over its older ASA 2.0 system. Elsewhere ASA 3.0's are also more advanced given its more advanced detection hardware. The ASA 3.0 system is also notably more adept in night conditions than the previous ASA 2.0 system.

ASA 3.0 standard features:

Pre-Collision Warning

Pre-Collision Braking

Front Departure Alert

Pedal Mis-Operation Alert

Lane Departure Warning

The highlight features of all three Ativa variants are as follows:

Ativa X

1.0-litre turbocharged (1KR-VET) engine – 98PS/140Nm

D-CVT transmission with sequential shift

LED headlamps

Combination rear lamps

16-inch alloy wheels

Powered door mirror

Rear spoiler

Rear seat recliner

Auto High Beam (AHB)

4.2-inch segmented LCD instrument cluster MID

9-inch Radio with Bluetooth

4 Speakers

ASA 3.0 with LDW

Stability Control with ABS

Hill Start Assist

Reverse Sensor

Ativa H

LED front foglamp

Leather steering wheel

Power retractable door mirrors

17-inch alloy wheels

9-inch infotainment touchscreen

7-inch colour TFT instrument cluster

Auto Headlamps

Sequential turn signals

Front corner sensors

Reverse camera

Adaptive Driving Beam

Ativa AV

Dual-tone leather seats

Tweeter speakers

Safety tinted glass

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Lane Keep Control (LKC)

Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)

The Ativa is offered in five different colours – Pearl Delima Red, Pearl Diamond White, Cobalt Blue, Granite Grey, and Glittering Silver. The aforementioned dual-tone exterior colour is offered with the former two colours (red and white) exclusively for the AV variants.

All 2021 Perodua Ativa's are backed up by a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.

For all the information you could ever need on the Perodua Ativa, click
here
. For our first drive impressions click
here
.

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

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
.

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


UMW Toyota Drops 86, Prius and Prius c From Official Malaysian Sale

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), the official distributor or
Toyota
 vehicles in Malaysia, has dropped its range of
Prius
 hybrid models (Prius, Prius c) and its
86 sports coupe
 from its list of vehicles sold here – a source confirmed the news after we caught wind of it.
Understandably, the missing Prius and Prius c doesn’t surprise us too much, given that the car no longer benefits from the import and excise duty exemptions that once saw its prices slashed all the way down to RM139k and RM97k.
Since the duty and tax reliefs were removed beginning January 2014, as dictated in the latest National Automotive Policy, prices for the Prius and Prius c were last at
RM216,400
 and
RM153,170
 respectively, reducing market interest and demand tremendously.
As far as we understand, UMW Toyota’s future hybrid line-up with consist of a locally-assembled Toyota Camry Hybrid, which we know comes to Malaysia later this year.
The other model dropped is one enthusiast may rue, and that’s the Toyota 86 sports coupe. The two-door model retailed from RM243k when it was launched in 2012, but will no longer be in authorised Toyota showrooms.
However, speaking to a source within Toyota confirmed that UMWT will still accept individual orders for the vehicle should you insist on an official vehicle, but suggested that prices for it may differ from the original list price or RM243k – factors involved in determining this includes things like the prevailing forex: if or not that warrants a purchase over
parallel-imported units
 of the car, is yours to dispute. The same applies to the Prius, and Prius C.


BMW (G07) X7 xDrive40i CKD Previewed In Malaysia – Order Books Opened, Estimated RM708,000

The locally-assembled version (CKD) of BMW’s flagship SUV, the X7, has been formally unveiled with an even more attractive pricetag, while carrying all the same features of the CBU model,
first launched in Malaysia in mid-2019
.

The new CKD (G07) BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence, to quote its full name, is priced at an estimated RM708,000 (pending final price adjustments – OTR, sans Insurance); a whopping RM180k less than the CBU X7’s introductory price of RM888,000.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia added, “The All-New BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence is testament to our
continued support for the local automotive landscape
, as we welcome the luxury Sports Activity Vehicle to our portfolio of locally assembled vehicles in Malaysia.”

As before, power comes from a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged and direct-injected petrol engine producing 340hp and 450Nm of torque. The longitudinal engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic that distributes power to all four wheels through BMW’s xDrive system.

This results in a 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds, not bad at all considering the X7’s size. Billed as the SUV counterpart to the
7 Series sedan
, the X7 is 87 mm shorter, to balance its increased ride height, however the X7 is 98 mm wider and can carry up to 7 adult passengers, given its spacious three-row seating assembly.

Also offered as standard is two-axle air suspension, which links up to the X7’s Dynamic Stability Control system. This system dynamically monitors the vehicle loads at each corner of the car, and factors in those inputs to optimise the braking performance of the X7.

The following are further highlights of the X7 xDrive 40i’s extensive equipment list:

BMW Laserlight headlamps

21-inch light-alloy wheels in Y-spoke style 753 Bicolour

Soft closing doors

Two-axle air suspension

Executive Drive Pro chassis control (active anti-roll bar)

Crafted Clarity handmade diamond-cut interior trim (gear selector, volume control, Start/Stop button and iDrive Controller)

Fine-wood trim surfaces framed with electroplated accent trims

BMW Live Cockpit Pro 12.3-inch instrument panel

BMW Operating System 7.0 (new update)

Heads-up Display

Infotainment with Apple CarPlay support, Gesture Control, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (‘Hey BMW’ voice command)

Rear Entertainment Professional system (2x touch screen display)

16-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound System

Five-zone automatic air conditioning

Electric roller side blinds

Panorama Roof Sky Lounge with LED lighting

The X7 also comes chocked full of driver assistance features that include a 360-Degree Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist, Front Collision Warning with Brake Intervention, Emergency Stop Assistant, Evasion Aid, and Crossroads Warning with City Braking function.

BMW Malaysia has also included the Parking Assistant and Reversing Assistant (hands-free reversing) out of tight spots, therefore X7 drivers pretty much don’t have to worry about parking their mammoth SUV.

The X7 is offered in five exterior colour – Black Sapphire, Sophisto Grey, Phytonic Blue, Manhattan Metallic, and Mineral White, which are all complemented, by unique interior upholstery, appointments and finishes.

Customers can register their interest and book their new CKD X7 starting today, which will be offered with the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership package which carries the following programs:

BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme

BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline

The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App - BMW Privileges Card

BMW Service Online


5 Jalan Paling Ngeri Di Dunia – Lebih Seram Dari Jalan Di Malaysia

Meskipun sebahagian jalan di Malaysia ini boleh dikategorikan sebagai ngeri, tapi ada jalan yang lebih berbahaya di luar sana yang telah meragut banyak nyawa disebabkan jalan itu sendiri.

Walaupun Malaysia terkenal dengan keadaan
jalan yang teruk
 dan berlubang serta beberapa laluan yang ‘merisaukan’ di waktu malam seperti laluan Lebuhraya Timur Barat yang menghubungkan Gerik dan Jeli, namun ada jalan raya di luar negara yang jauh lebih berbahaya daripada kita.

*Kredit foto: Daily Rakyat

Di Malaysia, sebahagian jalan boleh dianggap ngeri dan seram atas sebab-sebab yang tersendiri, antaranya ialah:

Laluan di Terowong Menora – Tempat kenderaan berat kemalangan

Jalan di Sabah – Ibarat permukaan bulan

Hampir 64,000 jalan berlubang di seluruh Malaysia ditampal pada 2021
– Berapa banyak lagi yang belum tampal? Kenapa nampak macam masih banyak?

Namun di luar negara, ada jalan yang lebih ngeri dan menyebabkan banyak kemalangan kerana kedudukan geografinya seperti di kawasan laut serta tepi bukit dan bukanlah disebabkan kerosakan pada jalan semata-mata.

5 Jalan Paling Ngeri Di Dunia

1. Guoliang Tunnel, China

Terowong ini dibina di sekitar tahun 70an dan ia kelihatan seolah-olah jalan yang dikorek daripada sebuah bukit membuatkan ada bahagian seperti lorong manakala ada bahagian terbuka. Untuk sampai ke sana, anda harus meredah pegunungan yang berbahaya dan melintasi terowong 1,200 meter dengan jurang yang dalam.

Jalan ini juga berada di tepi-tepi bukit yang berkedudukan 90 darjah. Kalau jatuh, memang jatuh
freefall
 lah jawabnya memandangkan tiada cerun. Penduduk di kawasan itu juga menggelar laluan itu sebagai jalan yang tidak membenarkan pemandu melakukan sebarang kesilapan.

*Kredit foto: Slate

2. Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway

Atlantic Ocean Road merupakan salah satu jalan paling berbahaya di dunia yang dibangun untuk menghubungkan dua kota di Norway, iaitu Kristiansund dan Molde. Panjang laluan ini ialah 8.3 kilometer dan sering ditutup oleh cuaca buruk.

Keadaan jalan yang naik turun seakan roller coaster di tengah laut pastinya boleh merisaukan sesetengah pemandu. Jika cuaca buruk, ombak laut juga boleh naik ke atas jalan dan menghanyutkan kereta.

3. Pangi Road, India

Jalan ini pula berbahaya kerana terletak di kawasan pergunungan India serta keadaan jalannya yang berbatu-batu. Ketika musim sejuk, penduduk Pangi tidak keluar daripada kawasan mereka selama berbulan-bulan kerana jalan ini amat berbahaya untuk dilalui kerana dipenuhi ais yang amat licin.

Tambahan pula, jalan ini hanya boleh memuatkan satu kereta pada satu-satu masa. Jika berselisih, salah seorang pemandu perlu mengundurkan kenderaannya sampailah tempat yang selamat untuk memberikan laluan.

4. Dalton Highway, Alaska

Menurut BBC, lebuh raya ini digelar sebagai jalan paling berbahaya di dunia ekoran cuacanya yang amat ganas ketika musim sejuk. Ketika musim sejuk melampau, jalan disini akan berubah menjadi jalan ais yang amat licin.  Malah, ada bahagian lebuh raya yang tidak ditar menyusuri kawasan pedalaman yang tidak didiami oleh sesiapa.

Bila tiada orang mendiami kawasan itu, maka ada bahagian yang tiada stesen minyak, kedai makan dan hospital dan sebagainya. Sesiapa yang melalui jalan ini dinasihatkan untuk menyediakan bekalan makanan serta ‘survival kit’ sekiranya berlaku sebarang kecemasan di situ.

5. Yungas Road, Bolivia

Yungas Road atau
Road of Death
 ini merupakan salah satu jalan paling berbahaya di dunia. Jalan sepanjang 69 km di lereng bukit yang dipenuhi batu-batu kecil ini boleh mengakibatkan kenderaan tergelincir dan jatuh ke dalam jurang sedalam 600 meter.

Jalan ini dikenali juga sebagai jalan maut dalam kalangan penduduk Yungas di Bolivia kerana di anggarkan seramai 300 orang pemandu maut di sini setiap tahun. Lebih mengerikan, situasi kenderaan jatuh terjunam ke dalam gaung di jalan ini boleh dianggap sebagai normal.

Rasa-rasanya ada lagi tak jalan di Malaysia yang jauh lebih berbahaya daripada jalan-jalan yang dinyatakan di atas?


Car, Motorcycle Licence Applicants To Take Only One Malaysian Highway Code Test. Cheaper Fees As A Result

In a move by the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said learner drivers are now only required to sit for the Malaysian Highway Code (MHC) test only once, instead of twice as previously experienced by those wanting to get both a car or motorcycle licence.
Upon passing the test and obtaining a temporary licence, learner drivers can then proceed with the on-the-road practical lessons. They will still be required to enrol for two separate courses, each for car and motorcycle before taking the test.
As a result, the JPJ expects the prices car and motorcycle licences to go down following the new regulation that a licence applicant need only sit for a single traffic law test.
Director-general of the JPJ, Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad said, “The RTD will implement the system as soon as possible for the convenience of all parties and I think the fee for driving licences will be lower after this,” he told The Malay Mail.