Why You Should Buy A Honda Jazz Over The Perodua Ativa

Did you know, that not all SUVs have more
practicality
 than your modest
hatchback
?

The simple reason why more and more manufacturers are churning out crossovers and SUVs than ever before is that they are an easy sell. With more buyers falling for the raised look, it's hard for manufacturers to disregard this demand, which in return makes them a quick buck.

There's an opinion that people are buying SUVs because "taller cars imply size, and size implies prestige". And while there are some who fall for this false reading, some fall for an even worse school of thought, which is that SUVs are more practical.

Okay, there's no doubt that full-sized SUVs like the behemoth
BMW X7
 and
Mercedes-Benz
 GLS provide more practicality than your average car. But what about these
crossovers
 like the Perodua Ativa? Are they any more practical than, let's say, a well-engineered hatchback like the Honda Jazz? Let's find out.

The Honda Jazz is a B-segment hatchback and to some, the Perodua Ativa might be irrelevant in this argument because it's considered more of an
A-segment SUV
 rather than a B-segment SUV. But then again, if we look at the dimensions of the Myvi, which is a B-segment car, then you would say that the Ativa is a B-segment SUV, because all of its dimensions except for its width (only slightly) are larger than the Myvi.

Let's save that argument for another day because we're here to look at whether the Perodua Ativa is more practical than the Honda Jazz. Before we proceed, let's look at some dimensions.

                                                           Perodua Ativa VS Honda Jazz

Index

Perodua Ativa

Honda Jazz

Length (mm)

3,995

3,989

Width (mm)

1,695

1,694

Wheelbase (mm)

2,525

2,530

Height (mm)

1,620

1,524

Boot Space (litres)

369

330

Curb weight (kg)

1,035

1,099

Price (top-spec)

RM71,200

RM84,955

On paper, it does seem like the Honda Jazz is a slightly smaller car than the Perodua Ativa, but the Jazz is not called the
practicality king
 without reason. Ever since its arrival in 2014, the Honda Jazz has been known as the car with class-leading space.

The simple reason for this is not because of how it measures up, but more because of its ingenious interior use of space. There are two main things that give it class-leading space; first, the unique centre position of its fuel tank, which allows for versatile loading space from different angles, and the second, its Ultra Seats.

The Ultra Seats is a creative use of space because you can flip them into various configurations, helping you fit whatever it may be. It has, Refresh Mode for when you need to have a lie-down, Long Mode for when you need to haul something long, a Tall Mode for when you need to carry tall items, and Utility Mode for when you need to carry bulky items. All of these different types of seating configurations were designed to help make your life easier and make the Jazz the only car you will ever need.

Although the Perodua Ativa can be considered somewhat practical, It's hard to say that it'll be more practical than the Jazz. So this begs the question if budget permits and rugged looks are not essential and space and practicality is, why not buy a well-designed hatchback like the Honda Jazz?

But what of safety? Isn't taller safer?

But not everybody is after practicality as there are those who buy a taller car because they think taller is safer. Technically this is true but the car has to be bigger and heavier which provides better crash protection than a lighter and smaller one. Since the Ativa is not that much bigger and heavier than the Jazz, the body protection it delivers is potentially the same.

Then there is centre of gravity. A car that is closer to the centre of gravity will generally have less chance of toppling over than a car that is far away from it. This would mean that most hatchbacks that are closer to the ground will be safer than SUVs.

Then there is the opinion that hatchbacks are econoboxes where people generally think they are budget cars and light on safety kit. Well, most hatchbacks these days come with extensive passive and active safety. Even the Ativa's little brother, the Axia comes with Advanced Safety Assist 2.0 which is basically an electronic hazard perception device that helps detect danger and informs the driver.

Generally, SUVs consume more fuel too as they weigh more. The engine will need to work more to get it going. The heavyweight also puts an extra burden on the tyres which will wear out faster compared to a lighter hatchback, so if you want to save money, a hatchback will be lighter on your pocket.

The Jazz is bidding farewell...

Another reason why you should buy the Jazz over the Ativa is that the Jazz will be more precious than most crossovers soon, as it will be
discontinued
. Your chance to own a very reliable workhorse might be coming to an end soon especially if you're looking for one brand new but if you're looking for a second-hand unit, then really there is no better place than Carlist.my. Upon last checking there are
1,132 listings
 for pre-owned Honda Jazz's all over Malaysia.

Of course, we also have the impending arrival of the
Honda City Hatchback
 which if pandemic permitting should see a local launch In 2021. The City Hatchback whilst being a stretched version of the Honda City will carry-forward the Ultra Seats from the Jazz. It will also have the same amount of seating configurations and is expected to be priced from RM80k to RM100k.

So a well-designed, customizable hatchback or SUV?

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10,000 Road Tax Stickers And 1,500 Car Grants Smuggled Out From State JPJ, Two Officers Among Those Detained

The Negeri Sembilan state Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has revealed that more than 10,000 blank road tax stickers were smuggled out of the state’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) between November 2014 and March this year by a syndicate.
As reported by
The Malay Mail Online
, the state MACC also found that 1,500 car grants were issued without authorisation.
Among the four suspects detained during ‘Ops Photostat’ which aimed to crackdown on cloned cars in the country were two JPJ staff who were believed to be issuing grants for cloned cars while the remaining two suspects are believe to be acting as middlemen.
The original road tax stickers were sold by the syndicate at prices between RM450 and RM800 while car grants would fetch up to RM1,200 each.
State MACC director Shaharom Nizam Abd Manap said investigations were continuing, and urged owners of cloned cars in the state to surrender their vehicles voluntarily to the MACC’s office to avoid action.


Socso Coverage for Cabbies, Grab and Uber Drivers

Attention, Grab and Uber drivers, as well as taxi drivers who are self-employed. We have great news for you.
According to
 a report by local daily The Sun
 published today, all of those mentioned above will be covered under the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS), similar to other workers under the Contract of Service scheme.
It is said that a monthly contribution of 1.25 per cent will be made from the drivers’ income for this, ranging from RM13.10 to RM49.40.
Expected to benefit over 73,000 self-employed taxi drivers and some 35,000 active Uber and Grab drivers, the scheme covers medical, temporary and permanent disablement, funeral and also dependent's benefits (pensions).
Other benefits include constant-attendance allowance, education loan, physical and vocational rehabilitation facilities and Return to Work Programme.
Previously, self-employed taxi drivers had to buy insurance policies on their own.
Social Security Organisation (Socso) chief executive Datuk Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said that it will be compulsory for all self-employed taxi drivers to register with Socso under the scheme, and that a grace period of two months will be given to these taxi drivers to register with Socso after the bill is passed in Parliament sometime between 6 March and 6 April.
Socso enforcement officers will also reach out to the taxi drivers and those offering similar services to inform them about the scheme and register them.


Giant Anaconda On Bengaluru Streets Has A Message For The Authorities

We aren’t big fans of potholes and we’re guessing most of you guys aren’t either. Besides making our drive uncomfortable, these vile road deformities can also bring damage to our vehicles, and are a threat to the lives of motorcyclists.
Unfortunately, getting the authorities to fix these road damages can sometimes take a very long time. Which is why many organisations have taken it upon themselves to invent creative ways to gain the attention of the authorities to this issue. From the
Tweeting Pothole
 in Panama and the act of indicating the road defects with paint by a
small group in Shah Alam
, here’s another imaginative method from India.
Non-governmental organisation, Namma Bengaluru Foundation has installed this large anaconda on one of Bengaluru's water-filled potholes where motorists and pedestrians have to navigate past what appears to be a giant snake feasting on a hapless man. The installation was done to draw the attention of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the administrative body responsible for the civic and infrastructural assets of the Greater Bengaluru metropolitan area.
The NGO took a page out of local artist, Baadal Nanjundaswamy who did a similar act two months ago to protest against a pothole that hadn’t been fixed for days. Back then, he painted around the area of the water-filled pothole to resemble a swamp and installed a model crocodile. The stunt worked as only a day later, the damaged road was repaired.
Now, we in Malaysia have our fair share of potholes as well. Are the ones in your area being repaired fast enough? What would you do to get the attention of the authorities if it takes too long to get it fixed?


VIDEO: Toyota Hilux vs. Gravity – Who Could’ve Guessed?

Pick-up trucks, like the
all-new Mitsubishi Triton
 we saw launched in Malaysia just this morning, are more commonly praised for their pure robustness, heavy-duty and hardcore build, and unbridled go-anywhere capacities.
But here in this clip, we see what appears to be a
Toyota

Hilux
 (not
the latest-gen one
) showing off one rather rare quality of a pick-up: its super lightweight body.
Demonstrating its feather-like abilities, the Hilux is seen here attempting to cross a makeshift bridge of two planks, to get from a jetty to a ship.
The result? We’ll not spoilt it for you.
Click the image below to watch it (note: there have been reported issues of some browsers and mobile users being unable to watch the video, so here's a direct link to the source:
https://goo.gl/InZj2z
):


Tiada Lagi Saman Untuk Kesalahan Ubah Suai Ekzos, Hanya Diberi Notis 114 – Wee Ka Siong

Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong berkata kesalahan mengubah suai ekzos kenderaan hanya akan dikenakan advokasi, iaitu pengeluaran notis untuk temu siasat.

Beliau turut memaklumkan bahawa Kementerian Pengangkutan telah membuat satu keputusan untuk menumpukan kepada pendekatan advokasi dengan mengeluarkan Notis 114 berbanding tindakan saman.

Notis 114 merupakan notis panggilan temu siasat dan sesiapa yang menerima notis itu perlu tampil memberikan keterangan di mana-mana cawangan JPJ untuk membantu siasatan.

*Kredit foto: Utusan Malaysia

Menteri Pengangkutan telah memaklumkan sendiri perkara ini kepada Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Datuk Zailani Hashim agar pesalah tidak lagi disaman, katanya pada media selepas menghadiri perasmian Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 2020.

Memandangkan Operasi Khas Ubah Suai Ekzos ini turut melibatkan polis trafik, Dr. Wee memaklumkan bahawa Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador telah mengadakan pertemuan dengan Ketua Pengarah JPJ bagi menyelaraskan tindakan advokasi tersebut.

*Kredit foto: Harian Metro

Sebelum ini, kerajaan mengenakan saman sehingga RM2,000 atau penjara tidak lebih enam bulan kepada pemilik kenderaan yang mengubah suai ekzos kenderaan mereka. Polis turut diberi kuasa untuk menyita motosikal bagi mengelakkan kesalahan sama berulang di bawah peruntukan Seksyen 64 Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987.

Operasi Khas Ubah Suai Ekzos di seluruh negara yang bermula 1 Mac lalu mencatatkan sebanyak
10,166 saman
 atas pelbagai kesalahan yang telah dikeluarkan hanya selepas 5 hari operasi tersebut dilaksanakan, menurut Jabatan Siasatan dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik (JSPT) Bukit Aman.

*Kredit foto: UMNO Online

Dr. Wee berkata beliau telah meneliti semula pelaksanaan tersebut setelah Presiden UMNO Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi yang menyuarakan pandangan beliau berkenaan isu
ekzos bising
 ini dalam ucapan dasarnya pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO tempoh hari.

Dalam ucapannya, Zahid meminta kerajaan mengkaji semula penguatkuasaan ini termasuk bengkel yang menjual ekzos kerana ianya kelihatan seperti menyeksa rakyat pada ketika ini. Buktinya, sudah berbulan-bulan rakyat menyuarakan ketidakpuasan hati mereka terhadap pelaksanaan operasi ini di media sosial.

Kementerian Pengangkutan akhirnya membuat keputusan untuk tidak menyaman pesalah pada saat-saat genting seperti ini. Persoalannya, bagaimana dengan saman-saman yang telah dikeluarkan atas kesalahan yang sama sebelum ini? Adakah saman mereka akan ditukarkan kepada Notis 114? Atau adakah pemberian notis tersebut hanya sah selepas kenyataan tersebut dibuat?

Sehari sebelum kenyataan baharu ini dibuat oleh Wee Ka Siong, Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Jelebu telah mengadakan Operasi Khas Bunyi Ekzos Bising bersama JPJ dimana sebanyak 40 saman atas pelbagai kesalahan termasuk ubah suai ekzos telah dikeluarkan, manakala hanya 13 Notis Arah Periksa dikeluarkan oleh JPJ.

*Kredit foto: Facebook Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Jelebu

Berdasarkan kejadian terbabit, kelihatannya keputusan untuk menukar saman kepada Notis 114 dibuat secara mengejut sejurus selepas ucapan Presiden UMNO yang telah disokong sepenuhnya oleh Menteri Pengangkutan, yang juga merupakan Presiden MCA.

Seperti yang dijangkakan Operasi Khas ini telah menimbulkan lebih soalan daripada jawapan, dari segi undang-undang yang jelas, implementasinya dan sekarang apakah status sebenarnya?

Lagi satu soalan yang harus ditanya ialah,
salah siapa
 sebenarnya dalam isu ekzos ini? Adakah kesalahan ekzos ini merupakan salah pengguna yang tidak patuh undang-undang atau kegagalan kerajaan membanteras kewujudan ekzos aftermarket yang mudah didapati di bengkel serta kedai aksesori kenderaan?

Buat masa ini, kita hanya boleh tunggu dan lihat apa langkah seterusnya yang bakal diambil kerajaan berhubung kenyataan ini. Apa-apa pun, diharapkan agar operasi seperti ini dikaji secara lebih teliti sebelum pelaksanaannya bagi mengelakkan lebih ramai rakyat keliru dan tersepit dalam masalah ini.

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.

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Do Loud Pipes Actually Save Lives?

A certain faction of the motorcycling community is of the belief that 'Loud Pipes Saves Lives'.

What they believe is that by having loud exhaust pipes, riders' lives will be saved as they can be heard from a long distance away, thus avoiding a potential accident.

The logic behind the notion does make sense on the surface of it, but when you employ some thought to it, all sorts of contradictions appear.

The problem with loud pipes is that it tends to create noise pollution which irritates people who do not agree with what some must consider as that sweet braaap, braaap sound...

For those who insist that loud exhausts are a life-saving measure, perhaps these quick facts will change your mind.

Light travels faster than sound

Before getting all science-y on this matter, the plain simple truth is that vision will come before sound. What this means is that on the road, you will almost certainly see a bike first before hearing it. So why not amp up your bike's appearance instead of the sound, it'll definitely get you noticed faster. As an example, you would see lightning before you hear it or you would see a Moto GP bike before you hear it.

Sound follows one direction depending on where it is pointed

Since all motorcycle exhausts are rear-facing, your loud pipe will only be heard by motorists at the rear of your bike instead of the front. 77 percent of hazards come in front of a biker, so to make the claim that loud pipes saves lives, you'd need a front-facing exhaust.

Cars are heavily insulated from noise these days

Cars are becoming more and more efficient at filtering noise outside of the cabin, so if you think you are being heard by having a loud pipe, think again. This is especially so for cars that come with noise cancellation technology which makes the cabin well insulated from outside sounds.

Upgrading your lights and horn is a better safety measure

By installing auxiliary lights and better horns you'd definitely stand a chance to be noticed better. Since horns are pointed forwards, a car will definitely hear that beep beep or honk honk more than the rumble of your loud pipe. Correctly calibrated auxiliary lights like daytime running lights will also make you more visible on the road.

Better riding skills will save your skin more than loud pipes

In the slim chance that loud pipes do draw some attention, they are still completely useless without proper riding skills. Invest some time and effort in improving your emergency braking skills, perception skills not to mention good riding etiquette. Advanced riding courses such as ones from The School of Knee Down and Malaysian Rider's Riding Academy could help you gain some invaluable life-saving skills.

Now, we're not totally against a sweet-sounding exhaust system, because who doesn't love the sound of a Ducati V4 or Harley V-Twin, but a fine balance must be achieved here so that we can continue to enjoy the sweet wail they emit.

But that's our take on it, what about motorcyclists, what do they think?

According to Jeya Thevan, Aprilia Malaysia spokesperson, he too gets annoyed with extremely loud pipes as it brings the wrong kind of attention to motorcycles. "This recent clampdown on
loud motorcycle exhaust systems
 has really taken the joy out of riding a motorcycle. Some motorcycles are homologated with slightly beefier sounding exhausts, but because of these aftermarket 'cap ayam' exhaust systems which make blaring noises, all bikes are under scrutiny even if their exhaust is legal. I too like a good-sounding bike, so it's a shame really this is happening."

You've read Adam's insights, and you've also heard from Jeya, who rides every day and takes part in track days too. They both echo similar sentiments. In the end, it's up to us to find that balance between that rumble we've all come to love vs being a public nuisance. We'd also like to ask the authorities to be fair and transparent when checking the sound limit of exhausts for cars or motorcycles, adhering to the prescribed standard.


Shell Malaysia To Launch Road Safety Education Programme Next Year

Shell Malaysia announced its plans to launch a new road safety programme for 2016. The company made the announcement during the closing ceremony of its Shell Traffic Games event, in which over 500 primary and secondary school students were given a formal education on road safety in by way of engaging and fun activities over the two day event.
Qamar Wan-Noor, Business Opportunity Manager for Shell Malaysia’s downstream division, said, “We are very proud of what we have achieved with the Shell Traffic Games for the past 58 years. Shell has made inroads into helping school students understand the importance of road safety and the role they play in spreading awareness. With this strong foundation in place, Shell is now looking into other areas where we can help improve road safety consciousness, reducing traffic-related injuries and death.”
Elaborating further, Qamar said, “It was recently reported that youths between the ages of 16 and 25 contribute to one-third of road accident fatalities in the country. This is clearly a situation that Shell wants to positively impact, given our long-standing experience and concern in the area of road safety management. We are in the midst of developing a programme to address this and hope to announce it in 2016. We are also looking forward to building on our long-standing relationships with its partners in the government and private sector for the new programme.”
Puan Rozainum binti Ahmad, Co-curriculum and Arts Section Director of Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, said, “Shell has laid a strong foundation for a programme that continues to draw the interest and attention of school students in an area as important as road safety. We thank Shell for all these decades of partnership and look forward to inculcating road-safety consciousness in future generations.”
The Shell Traffic Games was launched in 1957 - yeah, it’s got some serious history - in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Road Safety Department of Malaysia and is held every year in most state capitals. Since its inception, over a million students have taken part and gained more knowledge on keeping safe while on the roads, regardless of vehicle, helping to equip a of safety-conscious Malaysians.


Sibu Kung Fu Kick Policeman – It May Not Be Right, But We Understand

Another week, another viral video – This time around, it was a video from Sibu, Sarawak showing a traffic police officer kicking the daylights out of a motorcyclist who tried to escape a roadblock. Have you watched it yet?

As expected, the video sparked a debate among netizens – with one half of the crowd arguing that it is not right for the traffic police officer to do what he did, the other half firmly believing that the motorcyclist clearly asked for the glorious Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kick.

Now, before we analyse the police officer’s actions, the million dollar question is here is, why did the motorcyclist try to escape the roadblock?

There could be many reasons – Maybe he had no license, maybe the bike was stolen, maybe he had drugs in his possession, maybe he was on the way to rob someone, the list goes on and on, but whatever it is, if he had nothing to fear, why did he try to run?

Well, it turns out that the motorcyclist had no riding license, and he was riding a bike with an expired road tax.

If you were the police officer, what would you have done? Beg him to stop?

We are living in a country at a time where many people think that they are above the law. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that there is little fear and zero respect towards the law, let alone the enforcers.

Coming back to the Kung Fu policeman –  According to Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail, PDRM is currently conducting an investigation into the traffic police officer whose actions led the motorcyclist to crash.

“We are still investigating the matter and we will take stern action against the personnel if he is found to have been careless or had acted aggressively while carrying out his duty,” he said.

The motorcyclist on the other hand, on top of the glorious kick he received, will also be getting summons for not having a riding license, for riding a motorcycle with expired road tax, for riding against traffic flow, and for fitting an illegally modified exhaust pipe.

Well, the moral of the story here is that both the motorcyclist and the traffic police officer were wrong, and it is only right that both of them face the consequences.

However, do keep in mind that this is not the first time something like this has happened. Many Mat Rempits and illegal motorcycle racers have in fact, tasted the police boot many times in the past during massive operations that were held to stop illegal racing, and the ones who “kena” are always the ones who try to escape the roadblocks.

How else are you going to stop these guys? Deploy nail strips on the road like what they do in the United States? That is still going to cause the bad guys to crash.

In a nutshell, what we feel is that, no, it is definitely not right to kick those trying to run away from roadblocks, but we understand. Oh yes, we do!

What do you think? Let the debates begin.


Confirmed: Hyundai Kona Electric To Get Malaysian Launch In Q4 2021

Apparently, Hyundai-Sime Darby Malaysia has got something of an electric surprise in store for Malaysians in the 4th and final quarter of 2021 with the incoming launch of
the Kona Electric
.

As its name plainly states, this is the battery-powered fully electric version of the Kona B-segment crossover, though it will be arriving in
its most current facelift guise
 which was first publicly outed in November 2020.

Carlist.my has received official confirmation that the Korean EV will be launching before the end of the year, giving Hyundai’s local presence a very welcome boost as the first automaker to offer a fully electric vehicle at prices more palatable to mass-market buyers.

Malaysians might remember the first Kona Electric making its
first local appearance at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show
 where it shared booth space with the Hyundai i30 N. Unlike the hot hatch, the EV Kona wouldn’t soon be offered for sale, even in limited numbers.

With the imminent launch of the 2021 Kona Electric, though, Hyundai hopes to capitalise on the growing appetites of EV buyers here, specifically the ones that aren’t necessarily looking for something high-end like a Tesla
or a Polestar 2
.

Visually, the Kona Electric shares much of its exterior design with the combustion-powered Kona, resembling the 2.0 Active but with much more of the front end filled in and, in profile, the grey plastic cladding removed. It does, however, receive a contrasting black roof and a unique set of 17-inch alloy wheels.

Also confirmed to us is the choice of two battery sizes upon its local launch, in line with its specifications abroad. The range will start with a 39.2kWh capacity paired with a single 136PS electric motor driving the front wheels while a pricier variant will receive a substantially larger 64kWh unit and a stronger 204PS motor.

Naturally, despite the weight of the extra cells, the more powerful 64kWh version manages to out-accelerate the lesser variant by 2 seconds to 100km/h (7.9s vs 9.9s) while top speed is 167km/h and 155km/h respectively.

With any fully electric model, range and charging times are arguably more important than any performance metric, and Hyundai quotes 305km for the 39.2kWh variant and 484km on a full charge for the 64kWh Kona Electric according to the latest WLTP testing cycle.

AC charging at home using the single-phase 7.2kW onboard charger will take a mostly depleted battery about 6 hours for the base 39.2kWh unit to reach 80% while its 9 hours and 15 minutes for the 64kWh.

The electric crossover also supports DC fast charging between 10% and 80% with a 100kW charger taking 47 minutes for both battery sizes. However, on the more widespread 50kW chargers, it takes about 50 minutes (39.2kWh) and just over an hour (64kWh). Owners can easily keep track of charging progress via Hyundai’s BlueLink smartphone app.

Each Kona Electric should receive the same assortment of SmartSense driver assist and active safety features that the standard Kona range here is furnished with (mostly), which will include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA), and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA).

Locally, the only real competition the Kona Electric will see from the mass market space (especially the base 39.2kWh variant) will come from
the 2nd-generation Nissan Leaf
, a 5-door hatchback that’s just as accelerative and boasts a 40kWh battery with a quoted 311km range (NEDC).

Lastly, pricing is something we can’t really put a firm guess on since there will likely be some clever manoeuvring on Hyundai’s part to ensure the Kona Electric benefits from as many incentives and subsidies as possible.

The Leaf starts from RM181k while the current range-topping Kona is RM157k. Unless it has a pretty barren equipment list, it’s almost certain that the Kona Electric will command a steeper price than
its 198PS N-Line sibling
. What’s unknown so far is how much that difference will be and if it will strike enough of a balance to lure EV adopters into the fold.


Beijing 2018: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan, It Understands Cantonese

Set to go head to head with BMW’s China-only
1 Series Sedan
 and Audi's A3 Sedan, this is the first ever Mercedes-Benz A-Class L sedan, with ‘L’ denoting its 60 mm longer wheelbase (2,789 mm) compared to the standard wheelbase hatchback, as in the
second generation
 model that’s yet to go on sale in Malaysia.
However unlike the China-only 1 Series Sedan, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the A-Class sedan will be previewed in other markets in the second half of this year, but cautioned that it will be a slightly different model (possibly with a shorter, standard wheelbase as the hatchback) from this, without giving any specifics. Hint: the standard wheelbase car will also point towards the next generation CLA-Class.
Mercedes-Benz says that the long wheelbase model seen here is manufactured by Daimler’s local joint venture Beijing-Benz Motor’s plant in Beijing, exclusively for China.
When it goes on sale in China in the second half of this year, the A-Class Sedan will be powered by a relatively tiny 1.33-litre aluminum turbocharged four-cylinder, with two output levels – 134 hp and 161 hp. A more powerful 188 hp 2.0-litre turbo will follow at a later stage. All engines are paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic driving the front wheels.
The boot has a cargo volume of 420 litres, compared to the hatchback’s 370 litres.
Like the all-new hatchback donor car, the A-Class L sedan benefits from the latest MBUX infotainment system – the company’s latest artificial intelligence enabled natural language voice control operated software. MBUX is making its debut in the all-new A-Class hatchback. Watch how the natural language voice control works in the video below.
As this is a China-specific model, the car’s MBUX has been tweaked to understand not just Mandarin, but also local dialects such as Cantonese and Sichuanese! Since Facebook and Google’s services are blocked in China, this particular model’s MBUX software has been adapted to support China’s WeChatMyCar app.
The navigation system display is also adapted specifically for the Chinese market and features augmented reality technology. Unfortunately the company didn’t share any visual examples of how the feature looks like.
Mercedes-Benz says the car comes equipped with advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) functions that are comparable to those used in an S-Class, without elaborating further but it’s likely to include Distronic adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and steering assist functions.
Fun facts about the A-Class (hatchback) in China:
50 percent of A-Class buyers in China are women (compared to 40 percent in Europe)
40 percent of the buyers are buying an A-Class as their first car
33 percent of mainland Chinese A-Class owners are below 30 years old
The Beijing-Benz Automotive Co. Ltd.’s plant in Beijing, a joint venture between Daimler and BAIC Motor, is the world’s largest Mercedes-Benz passenger car plant, and the only one to manufacture front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive models as well as engines on one site.


Perodua Myvi 2022 Facelift – Realiti vs Khabar Angin

Sudahkah anda menempah
Perodua Myvi 2022 Facelift
? Jika belum, penting untuk anda tahu apa yang baru pada Myvi 2022 ini!

Bagi sesiapa yang terlepas, anda kini boleh membuat tempahan untuk membeli Perodua Myvi 2022 Facelift dengan menghadirkan diri ke pusat pameran jualan Perodua yang berhampiran atau hubungi saja mana-mana penasihat jualan
Perodua
 yang sah untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.

Walaupun tempahan dah dibuka, namun perincian penuh tentang Myvi 2022 ini masih menjadi tanda tanya. Setakat ini, hanya beberapa ciri dan maklumat mengenai
Myvi 2022
 ini dikeluarkan secara rasmi oleh Perodua. Timbul juga pelbagai khabar angin tentang kereta ini yang masih tidak dapat dipastikan kesahihannya.

Oleh itu, kami disini akan senaraikan beberapa perkara dan ciri-ciri yang sudah sah bakal hadir pada Myvi 2022 serta beberapa perkara lain yang masih dikira sebagai khabar angin memandangkan masih belum diumumkan atau disahkan oleh Perodua buat masa ini.

Realiti

4 Varian Ditawarkan, Tiada Manual

Myvi 2022 Facelift ini akan ditawarkan dalam beberapa varian seperti varian tertingginya, 1.5L AV (Advance), 1.5L H, 1.5L X dan dua varian enjin yang lebih kecil iaitu 1.3L G. Semua varian ini hadir dalam transmisi automatik memandangkan Perodua telah menggugurkan transmisi
manual
dalam barisan Myvi 2022 ini.

Warna Baharu - Cranberry Red

Perodua turut memperkenalkan pilihan warna baharu,
Cranberry Red
yang hanya tersedia untuk varian tertinggi Myvi, iaitu varian AV. Sementara itu pilihan warna-warna lain bagi Myvi sebelum ini seperti
Ivory White, Glittering Silver, Lava Red
 (tidak tersedia untuk AV),
Granite

Grey
 dan
Electric Blue
 masih dikekalkan.

Ciri Keselamatan

3 varian teratas Myvi 2022 seperti varian V, H dan X bakal menerima sistem keselamatan
Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA)
 sebagai standard. Sistem ini jauh lebih baik jika nak dibandingkan dengan
ASA 2.0
 yang ada pada Myvi 2020. Nak tahu apa yang dibekalkan dalam sistem PSDA ini? Rujuk gambar di atas.

Rupa Baharu

Meskipun Perodua hanya menunjukkan gambar DRL pada Myvi 2022 ini, tapi gambar rupa bentuk baharu Myvi ini telah pun tersebar luas di media sosial. Yang pastinya, Myvi ini kelihatan seakan-akan menyerupai Ativa dengan penggunaan bampar depan yang lebih berbentuk X dengan penambahan DRL (tiada lagi lampu kabus untuk varian AV), gril hadapan yang lebih besar, dan reka bentuk lampu utama utama yang sedikit kecil dan nipis berbanding sebelumnya. Corong udara hiasan pada bahagian bampar belakang Myvi sebelum ini telah dikecilkan dan dikemaskan untuk menyamai bentuk lampu DRL di bahagian hadapan kereta.

Jimat Minyak

Hasil daripada ujian yang dilakukan Perodua terhadap pilihan enjin 1.3L Myvi 2022, Perodua turut mengesahkan bahawa Myvi 2022 ini lebih menjimatkan
minyak
 setelah mencatatkan 22.2km/liter berbanding 21.1km pada Myvi sebelum ini.

Harga

Myvi 2022 facelift ini bakal dijual pada harga bermula dari RM45,700 hingga RM58,800 (Semenanjung Malaysia, tanpa insurans). Untuk varian tertinggi iaitu AV, harganya lebih mahal RM6,103 berbanding varian sama sebelumnya manakala varian terendah Myvi 2022 pula lebih mahal RM2,671 berbanding model sebelumnya. Harga bagi varian lain seperti H dan X masih belum didedahkan.

Setakat ini, perkara yang disebut di atas merupakan perkara yang telah sah akan tiba pada Myvi 2022 nanti. Bagaimana pula dengan khabar angin tentang pembaharuan lain yang bakal diterima oleh Myvi 2022 Facelift ini?

Khabar Angin

CVT

Terdapat ura-ura bahawa transmisi atau kotak gear 4-kelajuan automatik yang digunakan Myvi sekarang akan ditukar kepada
CVT
 atau lebih tepat, transmisi
D-CVT
 yang sama digunakan pada
Perodua Ativa
 ketika ini. Meskipun ramai yang beranggapan bahawa perkara ini bukanlah khabar angin, namun selagi ianya tidak didedahkan oleh Perodua, ia dikira sebagai khabar angin.

Enjin Turbo

Terdahulu, ada khabar angin yang mengatakan enjin turbo yang digunakan pada Ativa, 1KR-VE yang menghasilkan 98 PS dan 140 Nm tork akan digunakan pada Myvi 2022. Walau bagaimanapun, khabar angin ini sama sekali tidak tepat memandangkan Perodua telah mengumumkan varian yang akan dijual hanya terdiri daripada dua pilihan enjin seperti enjin 1.5L dan 1.3L sahaja, bukanlah 1.0L turbo. Varian tertinggi Myvi 2022 dijangka akan kekal menggunakan enjin 1.5L 2NR-VE, 4 silinder, Dual VVT-I yang menghasilkan 103 PS dan 137 Nm tork.

Headlamp Assist

Memandangkan rekaan lampu hadapannya kelihatan seakan-akan lampu Perodua Ativa, besar kemungkinan Myvi 2022 ini bakal menerima fungsi lampu LED adaptif dan automatik seperti yang ada pada Ativa. Ini kerana bantuan lampu utama ini disenaraikan sebagai salah satu ciri Perodua Smart Driving Assist yang ada pada Ativa. Kalau Myvi 2022 dah sah dilengkapi dengan PSDA, kemungkinan besar Myvi 2022 turut akan menerima ciri tersebut.

Voice Recognition

Adakah Myvi 2022 akan hadir dengan sistem kawalan suara seperti
Proton Iriz Active
? Jika anda nak tahu, sistem infotainment yang ada pada Ativa juga boleh dikawal menggunakan arahan suara (Google Voice) sekiranya pemandu menyambungkan telefon pintarnya (Android) dengan sistem infotainment menggunakan SmartLink. Tetapi pemandu hanya boleh bercakap dengan kereta, bukanlah kereta yang bercakap dengan pemandu.

Walau bagaimanapun, bahagian interior Myvi ini masih lagi menjadi misteri. Tetapi memandangkan tempahan dah dibuka bagi model baharu King of The Road ini, nampak gayanya tarikh pelancaran kereta ini juga dah tak lama.
Berminat? Tempah sekarang dan jadilah antara yang terawal untuk membawa pulang King 2022 facelift ini!


UMW Toyota Passes The Torch To Two More Dealers

When UMW Toyota said they would be transferring most of their branches back to dealers, it was met with mixed reactions. In 2020, is it any different?

To understand the significance of this relatively minor piece of news, we need to go way back to late 2017 and 2018 when UMW Toyota first announced that they would begin transferring many of their branch retail operations to dealers and other relevant parties. For those who don’t understand why this would be the case, UMW Toyota is the local distributor for Toyota products, but in the past, it also happened to own a great number of dealerships as well.

This happens to be a pretty rare situation, as in many other countries and with other brands, there is a separation of roles between a distributor and a dealer. A distributor’s job is to, well, distribute products to a network of dealers, as well as to develop overall brand strength, invest in advertising and so on. The dealers in turn take on the actual job of retail and service – an incredibly expensive endeavour, but one that can also be financially rewarding if executed properly.

The reason why this presented a problem for UMW Toyota is that having its own significant network of dealers led to eventual accusations of bias and preferential treatment for their own dealerships, and you can’t blame someone for coming to this conclusion. Bias and preferential treatment can come in the form of stock allocation (hot selling models go to their own branches), or it can even be the fact that dealerships not owned by UMW Toyota would have to pay for their vehicle allocations in cash.

As Toyota’s operations have shifted significantly in the last few years, dealerships have progressively been transferred to dealers in an effort to level the playing field in a way. In turn, UMW Toyota has had to step up their support as a distributor to help these dealers move product and it has helped them to streamline their operations and focus their efforts.

The latest piece of news regarding this endeavour going on three years is that Laser Motor PJ Sdn Bhd will be taking over the Section 19 PJ outlet and Cheras outlet from here on out, taking two key dealerships in the Klang Valley. In doing so, there is also more flexibility for a dealership to operate in the way that they choose, and more flexibility in how they want to sell a car to customers.

That being said, the initial reaction to this news was heavily controversial as we mentioned earlier. In a way, some felt that UMW Toyota was pulling back and abandoning dealerships as a whole – not merely their own. But three years have passed and UMW Toyota has shown their network of dealers that they are still very much alive and kicking, and ready to provide as much support as they can.


VIDEO: Malaysian Car Thief Demonstrates How Easy It Is To Steal Your Car

Think you’ve got the latest car anti-theft defences? You may want to think again.
Here’s a video that’s recently come to our attention, of a Malaysian car thief demonstrating how easy it is to break in and steal your vehicle, to what appears to be the local police.
Now, the vehicle in view may be a Honda City, but do keep in mind that these methods, amongst the many others, do apply to almost any vehicle in the market.
The thief starts by opening the door with a special key of some sort, which as soon as the doors open, would typically sound your average car alarm – don’t go thinking your keyless entry systems are all that safe either, because there’s always a keyhole tucked away as a failsafe.
The thief then sticks the same key into the ignition, and begins to work his magic by plugging into the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics (OBD). A few clicks later, and bang: the engine fires up, the alarm is disarmed (presumably), and he’s driving away in your vehicle.
Mind you, Mr Thief does this all in whilst in handcuffs. Imagine what he could do with his hands free, and a friend for company?
If anything, this video is a good reminder of how keeping your car safe from an experienced thief is never 100% possible. For them, your best defences only prolong the time spent on the job.
Carlist.my
 recommends several tips to improve the odds against this happening to you:
Only park in places you know is safe for your vehicle: are there guards in the area? Is your vehicle in view of others who may be able point out a thief and call for help? Is the area well lit during the day and night? Ask yourself these questions.
Having the latest alarms and immobiliser tech is always a plus, but there’s no program or software in the world that can cut through a solid steering lock mechanism. Yes, it would still be possible to steal your car, but it would require a strong hacksaw and more time than the average thief would like to spend doing something suspicious in a parked car.


Mercedes-AMG LED Projector Lights – Illuminating Your First Steps

Mercedes-Benz original-parts program now offers an additional customisation option for its Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG models - the LED Projector AMG Emblem.
The LED projector lights are the latest addition to the original accessories program which also includes the popular illuminated Mercedes-Benz front-grill emblem.
The option goes on sale in Europe, through its dealer network, for numerous vehicle models from A-Class to the GLS range, depending on the corresponding door lighting packages.
Based on the most modern LED technology – a 3D image of the famed AMG or Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star emblem is projected at the bottom of the door, onto the ground when opening the driver and passenger doors.
The lighting mechanism is easily installed by replacing the factory-installed entrance lighting at the bottom of the front doors. The new projector uses state-of-the-art LED technology, consumes little power and has a long service life.


Goodyear Assurance DuraPlus 2 Tyre Is Here, Priced From RM136

Goodyear Malaysia has updated its Assurance DuraPlus range with the new Assurance DuraPlus 2 which comes with TredLife Technology that is designed to provide longer mileage and durability.

According to Goodyear Malaysia, the Assurance DuraPlus 2 tyres which were made using innovative tread design, cavity shape and re-formulated long-lasting compound, arecapable of delivering tread life of up to 110,000 km.

The tread pattern on the Assurance DuraPlus 2 comes with a symmetric design with a larger tread width which allows a larger surface area of the tyre to be in contact with the road at any time, and also a higher level of flexibility to rotate in the event of irregular wear.

Additionally, an enhanced cavity shape helps to provide a more squarish and balanced footprint to evenly distribute contact pressure, leading to extended mileage.

Narrow lateral grooves along the side of the tyres on the other hand, assist in reducing road noise caused by air pumping. Noise is further reduced with the use of rubber strips between the ply and liner to physically dampen any vibrations.

The tyre’s tensile strength and wear resistance has also been improved, ensuring high mileage performance. The use of this compound is not only present throughout the tread, but also along the sidewall to offer long-term resistance against damage caused by environmental factors.

Furthermore, the Assurance DuraPlus 2 uses a minimum of two layers of high modulus, low shrinkage ply material in the sidewall, which helps to ensure strong resistance to external impacts.

Available at all Goodyear AutoCare centres across Malaysia, the Assurance DuraPlus 2 tyres are offered with sizes ranging from 13- to 16-inches, retailing between RM136.00 to RM293.00 per piece.


Parking In Front Of Your Neighbour's House - Legal or Illegal?

Legal or not, parking in front of your neighbour's house is uncourteous, but if that doesn't make you reconsider, you could be in trouble with the law if you do so.

They say the difference between a good neighbour and a bad one is a good fence, but when it comes to street parking, the difference between a good neighbour and a bad one is where you
park your car
.

While some of you might not have this problem because you live in condos or housing areas with plenty of parking spaces, many Malaysians out there have access problems, where inconsiderate neighbours obstruct roads and houses so that they have a convenient place to park their cars.

The problem usually arises when there is a lack of parking space around residential areas where residents have to get creative with parking spots. With many Malaysians owning more than one vehicle due to lack of good public transportation, this problem is becoming more common.

While some of these creative parking spots are mostly a nuisance where it's just hard to manoeuvre around your street, there are some extreme cases where these inconsiderate car owners completely block someone's home by parking in front of their gates.

Logically and courteously, parking in front of someone's home is a big fat no, especially when it blocks access to their property. Not only is it mannerless, but this act also creates a grievance between neighbours, which is a nightmare for all parties.

Legally, it is also not allowed, and according to Section 48 of the Malaysian Road Transport Act, it is a compoundable act that may get you a summon of up to RM1000.

This act entitles you to tell those inconsiderate neighbours or car owners that they can't park in front of your house. Still, suppose the kind warning doesn't motivate them to park somewhere else, in that case, you have the right to contact your local authorities like the city council or the police to either issue them with a summon, clamp their vehicle or remove their car.

But to be honest, if it ever reaches that point where you have to get local authorities to intervene, then the only outcome would be an unharmonious neighbourhood, so perhaps you should first try to reach out to your neighbours and kindly tell them that they are blocking or obstructing your home.

To completely avoid this awkward situation with the parking problems, motorists and neighbours should all be a bit more courteous and think of each other when we park our cars. It's simple really, would you like it if someone obstructs your home and makes it difficult for you to enter and leave your own house?

We're pretty sure the answer is no! So when you park, just put yourself in your neighbours' shoes and be sure not to block anyone's way.

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

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Carlist.my.

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.

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CarTell x UMW Grantt Lubricants - Gymkhana Part I

On a fairly early Saturday morning (12/03/22), the Shah Alam Stadium Car Park W2 was brought alive with the sounds of tyres screeching and the smell of burning rubber. More importantly, it brought together enthusiasts to test cars and skills in the CarTell Gymkhana!

The
CarTell Gymkhana
 brought to you by UMW Grantt Lubricants kicked off with its inaugural gymkhana competition on 12th March.

Entries were limited to 30 participants with an open session later in the evening for everyone to have fun and release some of the pent-up adrenaline due to the past two years of various lockdowns we've had.

The course design was technical and challenging but it is a testament to the ability of the participants that only 19 DNFs were recorded out of a total of 112 timed runs.

KE70s, E36s, an Impreza, a Satria, Kelisa, and a smattering of GT86s meant that both the Continental as well as JDM makes were well represented. One brave soul even brought an E30 Coupe, not forgetting also an E39 and E34.

When a high amount of stress is run through a car's engine during a gymkhana, the right choice of lubricant is paramount to ensure that the vehicle survives the stresses of a gymkhana and you can also drive it home later. Hence the CarTell partnership with UMW Grantt Lubricants was the most logical choice for the organisation of this gymkhana.

"UMW Grantt Lubricants is a well-known brand in the industry. As a homemade product that is continuously improving via our ISO 9001:2015 certified world-class plant, Grantt has ticked the boxes of the highest international standards and surpassed the stringent American Petroleum Institute (API) and European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA) requirements - meaning to say it is a lubricant that will serve you well in your daily driver or even your gymkhana vehicle," said Mohd Asri Jusoh, General Manager of UMW Grantt International Sdn Bhd

The top three for the day were:

Mitch Chong

Matthew Low

Alan Tan

It was what we foresee to be the first of many such enthusiasts driven activities by CarTell in 2022 so stay tuned to this page or join us
here
!

You can also follow UMW Grantt Lubricants for more events and promotions across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Youtube @umwgranttlube


Hyundai Ioniq Wins Two 2017 Car Of The Year Awards

The
recently launched
 Hyundai Ioniq has garnered two “Car Of The Year” awards in both Sweden and France, after being named 2017 Compact Car of the year by French automotive magazine L’Argus and the prestigious
Teknikens Världs Stora Bilpris 2017
 in Sweden.
The Ioniq notched up a win at the 2017 Trophées Argus, after a jury of 23 journalists from the L‘Argus magazine, appointed the Ioniq is due to its design, spaciousness, and the high quality of its driving and safety assistance equipment. The Ioniq outscored the likes of the Fiat Tipo, the Infiniti Q30, the Renault Scénic dCi and the fourth-generation Toyota Prius.
On the Swedish front, the jury based its decision on the Ioniq’s handling characteristics, appealing design, an attractive price as well as its general practicality in everyday life, also due to its maximum electric range of 280km. The overall verdict of Teknikens Världs: “This is an electric car for the people”.
Thomas A. Schmid, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe added “This reinforces our conviction that the Ioniq is the best-value eco-car in Europe. The line-up including the Ioniq Hybrid offers the best warranty and is fully equipped for a very competitive price and with no compromises with regard to design, driving pleasure or connectivity.”
The Ioniq is the world’s first car, engineered from the ground-up to house three distinct electrified powertrains - namely a full-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Note, however, the L‘Argus awards judged the Ioniq Hybrid EV while and
Teknikens Världs
jury bodies rated the Hyundai Ioniq Electric model, which is not available in Malaysia.

The Hyundai Ioniq has also received numerous other industry awards, including the “Car of the Year” title in Norway, 2016 Red Dot Design Award, Good Design Award 2015 and 2016 as well as a maximum
five-star safety rating
 by Euro NCAP.


Toyo shows off their off-road tyres with the Ferret

Offroading is one of those things that requires a little bit of expertise and a lot of perserverance. That is, unless you have a Ferret at your disposal. It's a repurposed vintage British military 6 x 6 vehicle, complete with a turret and a big old American V8 supplying power to all 6 wheels. Watch expert dirt driver BJ Baldwin throw it around an arid landscape, fitted with Toyo's Open Country offroad tyres to help him find purchase in the dirt.


Honda Civic Tourer Circles Europe In 13,500km Drive, Sets New Fuel Efficiency World Record

Honda
 has done something pretty darn remarkable, setting a new Guinness World Record title for fuel efficiency in a diesel-powered
Civic
 Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC. The car consumed an average of 2.82 litres of diesel per 100km and covered 13,498km during its 25-day drive across all 24 EU contiguous countries.
Far from a superlight hatchback – it’s the kind of car families use. That makes the achievement all the more impressive as well as making the
prospect of a Honda CR-V diesel
 even more enticing.
The full title bestowed upon by Guinness World Records is ‘Lowest fuel consumption – all 24 contiguous EU countries (all cars)’. Sitting behind the wheel were duo members of Honda’s R&D team, Fergal McGrath and Julian Warren.
The pair undertook a journey that is equivalent of driving the distance between their homes in the UK all the way to Australia. Quite a feat, but they took it on anyway to demonstrate the real world fuel-economy of the Civic Tourer, which travelled an average of 1500km on each tank of diesel. All in all, they filled up nine times during their drive, with a total fuel cost of 645 Euros or RM2700.
On the morning of June 1st 2015, the road trip commenced with a planned route stretching in a clockwise direction to finally reach their finishing point at the same location in Aalst, Belgium after passing through the two dozen EU countries. The record measurements themselves were calculated both in litres per 100km and miles per gallon, equated over the entire duration.
Fergal McGrath commented after journey’s end: “It was tough, but we really enjoyed it, and setting this new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title has made all of the hard work worthwhile. This was a huge team effort so I’d like to thank everyone involved for all of their commitment and support. After spending so much time behind the wheel Julian and I are just happy to be back behind our desks for a while!”
The stipulations and regulations set by Guinness World Records team were thorough and exhaustive. The car is required to enter each of the 24 countries, collecting a range of evidence including a fuel/mileage logbook, GPS readings, video and photographs and independent witness signatures to prove that it has done so.
To ensure accurate monitoring of the route, journey time and distance driven, the record car was fitted with a tracking device, provided by fleet telematics and stolen vehicle recovery expert, TRACKER (part of the Tantalum Corporation).
The car itself must be a standard model in every specification, with zero modifications or alterations of any kind allowed to corrupt the replication of ‘real world’ conditions that an owner would face. As stated before, independent witnesses were used during the course of the entire journey, fuelling was carried out at normal filling stations, tanks filled to the maximum to ensure no weight advantage, tyres remained inflated at the recommended pressures and wheel alignment was set at factory specifications. Driving speed had to always be within the law and in keeping up with varying traffic conditions.
The two-man team piloting the Civic Tourer were both non-professional drivers, having the sensibilities and knowledge levels of an ordinary would-be owner of the car. They merely employed simple but effective driving techniques, the sort anyone could use to eke out the most fuel economy from their cars. These include careful and sensible route planning, driving smoothly and consistently without harsh acceleration or braking, anticipating road conditions ahead, carrying no unnecessary weight, and keeping the car properly maintained.
"This is an incredible achievement and the team should all be very proud of the efforts that they have put in to set this new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD. Driving the equivalent distance from their home in the UK to Australia in just 25 days is a huge challenge very few would take on. The fuel economy figures are remarkable – particularly when you consider that this is not a small car, but a tourer with class-leading load space and vast practicality,” said Kate Saxon, PR Communications Manager at Honda Motor Europe Ltd.
Although happy, both McGrath and Warren were pretty wiped after the epic journey.


2015 Isuzu MU-X Quick Review

Many serious 4x4 enthusiasts worth their transfer cases will tell you that Isuzu is a very well respected brand. Older folks will remember that there was a period of time in Malaysia when the Isuzu name was so synonymous with the 4x4 genre, that any 4x4 vehicle, irrespective of its make, were generically referred to as a ‘Trooper,’ a legendary Isuzu model that anyone born before the ‘90s will surely remember. It’s essentially a Japanese Land Rover, minus the rosy-tinted heritage tales of Maurice Wilkes doodling on the beach’s sands.
The ‘90s, characterised by post-bubble economy Japan wasn’t too kind to Isuzu’s fortunes and over time, Isuzu’s heritage in building robust SUVs faded into a distant memory, at least as far as Malaysia is concerned.
Up north however, Thailand remains a bright spot for the company. In fact, Thailand has long overtaken Japan to become Isuzu’s largest market.
Commonly referred to in Thailand as PPVs (pick-up truck passenger vehicles), these seven-seater truck-based SUVs enjoy a lower 18 percent excise duty, versus 35 percent for a passenger car-based five-seater Honda CR-V.
The unique taxation system, introduced in early 2000s, has created a new segment of pick-up truck derived SUVs – bringing to market the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-7, followed later by the Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
Several units of the MU-7 were imported into Malaysia to be used as company cars for the management of Isuzu Malaysia and you might have seen them on our roads.
However, as the MU-7 was already at the tail-end of its model life, Isuzu Malaysia elected to wait for the next-generation MU-X that you see here.
What is it?
Being an SUV derivative of the D-Max pick-up truck, the MU-X’s front is similar to the D-Max, differentiated only by the MU-X’s two-tone lower front bumper and a different LED daytime running light.
Keen enthusiasts will have noticed that the MU-X looks very similar to the Thailand-market Chevrolet Colorado, itself an SUV version of the Chevrolet Trailblazer.
The Isuzu however, uses its own 2.5-litre variable geometry turbo system (VGS) commonrail diesel engine that’s shared with the D-Max. Power output remains unchanged at 136 PS @ 3,600 rpm and 320 Nm @ 1,800 – 2,800 rpm.
While the 2.5-litre variants of the D-Max are locally-assembled at the DRB-Hicom plant in Pekan, the MU-X is imported from Thailand.
How Much?
There are two variants on offer – a 4x2 and a 4x4 variant – with prices ranging from RM151,944.56 for the 4x2 Automatic, and RM164.969.84 for the 4x4 Automatic but these are introductory prices and is valid only until July 2015. Expect a slight increase in prices for orders invoiced after July 2015.
Prices quoted are on-the-road with insurance and GST.
The extra RM13k buys you LED daytime running lights, cruise control, automatic air-conditioning, a Blaupunkt six-speaker touchscreen DVD infotainment system with GPS, reverse camera, and Mirror Link, as well as a roof-mounted monitor for rear passengers.  The rear monitor can be set to either mirror what appears on the touchscreen in front (if you wish, the reverse camera’s feed can be shown on the rear monitor as well) or to independently play movies from a DVD.
More importantly, there are no differences in active and safety features. Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control (TCS), and ISOFIX child seat mounts are standard across the MU-X range.
How Does It Drive?

The 2.5-litre engine was fine in the D-Max, which I still hold to a very high regard, but in the significantly heavier MU-X, performance was only borderline adequate.
Typical of Isuzu, the MU-X’s engine is very conservatively tuned, with a rather low peak power output.
In fact, it’s surprising to see that despite being equipped with a variable geometry turbo (VGT, or as Isuzu prefers to call it – VGS), the MU-X’s engine output merely matches that of a non-VGT powered Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GL.
Compared to a similar VGT-equipped Mitsubishi Pajero Sport VGT, the MU-X is down by 42 PS while the all-important torque is 30 Nm less. Its peak torque range is also quite limited, plateauing at 2,800 rpm, while the Mitsubishi still has 700 rpm more to play with.
Climbing up Cameron Highlands, I had to work the five-speed automatic transmission’s manual override function often to keep the engine on the boil.
We hope the trade-off made by Isuzu in adopting a very conservative engine tuning will yield better long-term reliability, something which we cannot ascertain for now but considering the good track-record of two-generations of D-Maxes, there is little reason to doubt it.
On the upside, Isuzu engines are well known for their fuel economy. There were three adults and our gear on-board, and along the test drive, we took the liberty of breaking away from the convoy to snap some photos in rugged terrain, often having to leave the engine idling for long. As a result, we had to make up for a lot of lost time to keep to the schedule and there was a lot of full throttle driving. Despite all that, the MU-X still returned an average of 11 km/litre. That’s very impressive for a seven-seater SUV.
First-time owners of truck-based SUVs might not like the ‘looser’ feel of the MUX’s steering but this is actually a preferred setup for off-road vehicles to better negotiate deep ruts and rough terrain without sending too much kickback to the driver’s fingers.
Snaking our way up Cameron Highlands, the MU-X’s long travel, soft suspension did not do it any favours on these mountainous stretches. Oddly, it seemed to have poorer body control than the D-Max, which was surprisingly very comfortable to drive on-road.
As far as on-road handling is concerned, the Pajero Sport still has the upper-hand but we suspect the MU-X’s soft, long-travel suspension will fare better once the road ends and the muddy trails begins.
Switching from 2WD to 4WD mode is done by simply turning a Terrain Command’s rotary dial on the centre console. Unlike the full-time 4WD (but thirstier on fuel) Toyota Fortuner, the part-time 4WD MU-X does not have a centre differential so owners should avoid engaging 4WD when driving on tarmac, as doing so will cause premature wear to the differentials and tyres.
How Comfortable Is It?
Getting off the mountainous sections and onto the flatter North South Highway, the MU-X displays a very different character, as it is able to cruise comfortably with the soft suspension riding over any imperfections.
Being a tall-riding pick-up truck-based SUV, with a large frontal section, I was expecting a lot of wind noise but the cabin was surprisingly very quiet even at speeds well above 120 km/h.
Isuzu’s internal data says the MU-X has the lowest aerodynamic drag amongst its main competition – which we later learned, unofficially – refers to the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner.
Inside, Isuzu also said that the MU-X has the best interior space, with legroom in the third row said to be significantly more spacious than its main competitors – again implying the Pajero Sport and Fortuner as comparisons.
Being a newer-generation model, the MU-X benefits from the latest advancements in packaging know-how. Where the MU-X’s older competition like the Pajero Sport and Fortuner uses bulky third row seats which are very difficult to stow away (you have to fold the seatback down and lift the heavy seats sideways to hang them by the side window), the newer MU-X features a cinema-like raised third row section. Simply pull a strap and the seats fold flat with the boot floor. It’s so easy even a child can safely do it.
Despite using thinner cushioning materials, the third row seats are still fairly comfortable and adults can still fit in it without having to bring their knees too high.
One major challenge for large cars with spacious cabins like the MU-X is cabin cooling. While it is normal for cars in this segment to feature rear-mounted air-conditioning vents, some with separate blowers, Isuzu has gone one step further to fit a separate condenser unit for the rear. The condenser is tucked away beneath the arm rest on the right-side third row seat.
Verdict
What the Isuzu MU-X lacks in outright performance and on-road handling composure, is more than made up for it with its superior cruising comfort, quiet cabin, impressive third row legroom and excellent fuel economy. Throw in the proven durability of Isuzu vehicles – just ask the folks in rural Sabah and Sarawak, Isuzu Malaysia’s stronghold – the MU-X has a lot going for it.
We also appreciate the fact that the very important safety feature ESC (second only to seatbelts in the hierarchy of importance), and three-point seatbelt for the middle second-row passenger is available as standard. Something which isn’t found in any of its competitors, at least not until when the all-new Ford Everest is launched here.
Isuzu MU-X 2.5-litre 4x4 Automatic
Engine: 2.5-litre DOHC 4JK1-TCX commonrail diesel with variable geometry turbo
Power: 136 PS @ 3,400 rpm
Torque: 320 Nm @ 1,800 – 2,800 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift
Safety: Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, ESC, TC
Price: RM164.969.84 on-the-road with insurance and GST (introductory price until July 2015)


All-New 2018 Nissan Serena Officially Launched In Malaysia- From RM135,500

After a media preview session last month and nationwide roadshow campaign, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), the distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, has officially launched the all-new 2018 Nissan Serena 2.0 S-Hybrid.
The popular MPV has not changed in dimensions, maintaining its 4,770 mm length with a wheelbase of 2,860mm, 1,740 mm width and a height of 1,865 mm. The all-new Serena (sales code C27) is offered in two variants and both also have the same 7 occupant seating capacity.
Serena 2.0 S-Hybrid Highway Star- RM135,500
Serena 2.0 S-Hybrid Premium Highway Star- RM147,500
*Prices indicated are OTR without insurance, and with GST
.
Since opened for order taking in early April 2018, ETCM has collected 1,300 bookings, with consumers heavily favouring the Premium Highway Star.
The all-new Serena continues to be powered by the S-Hybrid micro-hybrid system. Unlike a full-hybrid vehicle like a Toyota Camry Hybrid, or the Honda City Hybrid/Jazz Hybrid pair, the Serena S-Hybrid is not capable of pulling away from standstill in electric power. The electric-propulsion portion of this micro-hybrid system is only aided by a pulley-driven starter-generator that contributes 2.6 PS/48Nm during initial starts from a standstill.
The direct-injection MR20DD 2.0-litre petrol engine delivers 150 PS and 200 Nm of torque, sending power to the front wheels via a CVT-type automatic.
Tested under the R101 test cycle, the all-new Serena S-Hybrid delivers a fuel consumption of 14.2 km per litre (13% better) and it qualifies for Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) incentives.
Expect take-off performance to improve, as the power-to-weight ratio per tonne is now 88.9 PS / tonne, a 2.8% improvement versus the outgoing Serena C26.
Nissan has improved the cabin quietness through the addition of sound absorption materials at wheelhouse. Stiffer front and rear suspension mountings, as well as the addition of high-performance valves in the shock absorbers, delivering a more stable and comfortable ride.
Better manoeuvrability in tight spaces has been improved with the new steering rack with a quicker ratio that reduces steering wheel lock-to-lock rotation. This is also aided by a new variable-assist electric power steering that provides effortless steering weight at low speeds, while firm up at highway speeds for improved stability.
On the exterior, the all-new Serena features the company’s V-Motion front fascia prominently, with a two-tier headlight design with LED positioning lights in the upper portion and LED projectors located below, for the headlamps.
The Highway Star variant that Malaysia has selected receives sportier-looking bumpers, complete with black highlights and cladding on the side.
A pair of daytime running lights (halogen technology) are placed beside the front fog lights.
Gloss black finishing on the window pillars from the front to the rear gives the all-new Serena a “floating-roof” effect.
The wheel size and pattern tells the two variants apart - Premium Highway Star comes fitted with dual-tone 16-inch while Highway Star in silver tone 15-inch.
At the launch event today in Petaling Jaya, Mr. Christopher Tan, Sales and Marketing Director of ETCM said, "Besides being one of the best looking MPVs in Malaysia, the all-new Nissan Serena S-Hybrid is equipped with many new intelligent technologies and smart features that will bring an abundance of joy and happiness to many families. The new Serena is simply magical."
As for the rear end, the all-new Serena features a rear spoiler plus various chrome pieces that help give the MPV a slightly more upmarket appeal. A Dual-access tailgate - which is useful in tight parking spots as it allows the tailgate to flip open in two different lengths - is also standard.
Inside, the all-new Serena conveys a more premium feel through contrasting double-stitching running across the instrument panel. Plenty of storage places continue to dominate the instrument panel, with front upper gloveboxes, multiple small and medium sized shelves, cup holders, and pockets.
Nissan has also redesigned the interior to enable a gain of 180 mm in cabin length, 20 mm more headroom, and 65 mm in width.
A large 7-inch multi-information display (MID) provides driving information to the driver. In parking speeds, the MID also projects the Intelligent Around View Monitor (AVM) bird’s eye view for better manoeuvrability and accuracy in tight spaces. This new AVM system also alerts the driver through audio and visual prompts if there are moving objects “entering” the camera’s four display zones.
Occupants on the second row, now in individual captain seats, have access to individual USB-charging ports and a flip-up tray-table. Apart from sliding and reclining, the second-row seats can also move inward to increase space for occupants to egress/ingress to the third row.
Passengers at the third row also have access to the door switch that opens or closes the left sliding door. Combined with the inward-moving second-row seats with integrated seatbelts and the redesigned C-pillar, access to the third row is probably the best for any MPV in the market.
The list of standard features for the Highway Star includes:
Choice of single-tone colours of Cashmere Gold (New), Tungsten Silver, Brilliant White and Diamond Black
15-inch alloy wheels in 195/65 Bridgestone tyres
7-seat capacity
7 USB charging ports
7-inch multi information display (MID)
Fabric upholstery
‘Zero Gravity’ designed front and second-row seats
Captain seats on the second row
Power sliding doors on both sides, with hands-free function
50:50 split-folding third-row seats with sliding function, side-folding.
Manual sun blinds on sliding doors
Automatic single-zone front air conditioning
Automatic rear conditioning with zone temperature and fan control
6.75-inch Clarion head unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
Intelligent Around-View Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD)
6 airbags
ESP, EBD, Hill Start Assist
Intelligent Driver Alertness (Drowsiness detection)
Cap-less fuel filler
Tyre repair kit (pump and sealant)
The Premium Highway Star adds these features:
Two-tone exterior colours (Imperial Umber + Cashmere Gold, Diamond Black + Tungsten Silver, Diamond Black + Brilliant White)
16-inch alloy wheels in 205/55 Goodyear tyres
Driving Video Recorder (DVR)
Door visor
V-Kool security tint
Combination leather seats, either in two-tone brown or single-tone black
10.1-inch roof-mounted LCD monitor (able to play media from data USB-port)
Tech-on tray mat for tablets or gadgets
Interior lighting in white LED
The all-new Serena S-Hybrid is locally-assembled at Tan Chong Motor Assemblies (TCMA), Serendah and comes with a 5-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty. A 3-year or 60,000km Maintenance Service inclusive (whichever comes first) is being offered for a limited time as part of the launch campaign. Additionally, the first 500 registered vehicles will also receive a free Terzo portable cooler by PIAA worth RM500.
ETCM is also providing a 'Price Protection Promise' where customers are refunded on the difference, should there be any reduction in the prices once more information on the abolishment of GST and the new pricing mechanism is announced.
As of now, all prices of Nissan vehicles remain as it is.


End of the road for the Mercedes-Benz CLS, no replacement incoming

An official from Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed that the CLS will be discontinued.

Before the introduction of Mercedes' CLS, luxury car buyers only had a choice between traditional sedans or sporty coupes, but no option combined the two in a single package.

The CLS was designed to bridge this gap, offering the practicality and comfort of a sedan with the sporty and dynamic driving experience of a coupe.

Well, in a world where SUVs are king and also come with a sporty drive and coupe-like shapes, it seems like that there is no space for the CLS, which is why it has been reported that Mercedes-Benz will be discontinuing the CLS.

Although there's no big announcement, an official from the company's Australian division has told CarExpert that production of the four-door coupe will come to an end in August.

We suppose this question was a long time coming as Mercedes-Benz Australia had pulled the listing for the CLS from their online configurator for some time now.

According to Motor1.com "the automaker's local representative said it has stopped accepting orders as customers are being redirected toward the recently introduced E-Class (W214): Orders have ceased and production for the current CLS will end August this year in preparation for the new E-Class."

The Mercedes-Benz CLS was created to fill a niche in the luxury car market for a high-performance, four-door coupe. It was first introduced in 2004, and it quickly gained popularity for its sleek and stylish design, as well as its impressive performance and handling.

In Malaysia, the third generation and probably last gen CLS was introduced in 2018
. Three variants were offered over the years, including the CLS350, CLS450 and the CLS 53 4Matic+ which featured 435hp and 520Nm of torque. The 53 also had an EQ Boost integrated starter generator which gave an extra 21hp and 250Nm of torque over short periods.

Mercedes-Benz's website in Germany still offers the CLS, with 8 different variants to choose from, all the way from a diesel powerplants to a fire breathing AMG variant.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sees More Diesel Models On The Horizon

With the arrival of Euro 5 emissions grade diesel fuels at several gas stations in the Klang Valley already, it’s no surprise to see carmakers flock towards the opportunity to expand their ranges to include further diesel variants in their line-ups in time to come.
One such company is
Mercedes-Benz
 Malaysia, who are currently enjoying a wave of success with its sole diesel-hybrid vehicle in the country. Seaking to its Vice President of Marketing, Mark Raine at a recent event, it’s clear that they are very keen on introducing more diesel models in Malaysia to complement their two diesel-powered models, the
E-Class

E 300
 BlueTEC Hybrid, and the V-Class.
“Yes, the coming of Euro 5 grade diesel has encouraged us to look into more diesel cars. We can’t say yet just what models specifically will be launched here, but they will come. Keep in mind that, this wouldn’t be an exercise of replacing our petrol models; it will purely be a case of expanding our range to offer more to our customers here.”
How Has The E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid performed with Euro 5 diesel?
Driving an E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid daily himself and sharing similar sentiments, Raine said that he has spoken to dealers in Johor, who only have positive things to say about switching to the Euro 5 diesel provided by BHP stations there.
“I’ve spoken to our dealers in Batu Pahat, and it’s really encouraging to hear what their customers have to say about switching to the Euro 5 diesel. As expected, it’s only positive things.
READ ALSO:
Our 2,000km Journey From KL To Bangkok On A Single E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid’s Tank
“Naturally, there are gains with performance and efficiency, and the engines will of course run smoother – everything pretty much works better, which simply means that you could improve the total driving range of your tanks, amongst other benefits.”
Does The E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid Need To Be Adapted For Euro 5 Diesel?
Originally, the 2.1-litre turbo diesel powertrain in the Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid was developed to run on Euro 6 diesel grade. But given Malaysian circumstances at the time, Daimler AG had specifically adapted our locally-available engines to operate normally with the outdated Euro 2M fuels that were solely available here.
READ ALSO:
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Reassures Customers Of B10 Biodiesel compatibility
Now that several fuel companies are making the Euro 5 grade diesel more openly available, customers need only to sit back and relax, says MBM’s Vice President.
He said, “Yes, we had to adapt our engines to work on the Euro 2M diesel here in the beginning, but changing to Euro 5 doesn’t require any more adaptations. Our customers are only set to gain from the improved performance and efficiency.”
When Will We See More Mercedes-Benz Diesel Models?
When, exactly, is hard to say for the moment: because unlike the government-mandated switch from Euro 2M to Euro 4M grade petrol as of September 1
st
, 2015, there has been no such instruction from local authorities on the grade of diesel fuel in the country.
In the beginning, BHP was first to offer Euro 5 emissions grade diesel in the country, rolling it out in the border state of Johor. To date, more and more fuel retail brands are gradually introducing this, many of which in the Klang Valley itself.
In the past Mercedes-Benz Malaysia took a break from selling any diesel models in Malaysia prior to 2014, but first returned to it last year, when they announced its unique and limited fleet of C-Class (W204) C 220 CDI cars (pictured above is the exact car we reviewed back in 2014).
The cars, about 20 of them, were kept within Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and tested extensively by the company on the Euro 2M diesel sold here, in an attempt to see how its model adaptations would play out. 400,000km of local tests later, MBM tells us that they’ve worked faultlessly. Coincidentally, these engines are largely similar to the ones you would find in their top-selling E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid.
Next year (2016),
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will also be launching a tidal wave of SUVs
. Stay tuned for more details.


MBM Launches Mercedes-Maybach S 580 & GLS 600 4Matic As Ultimate Luxury Models

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just introduced two of the most absurdly luxurious German cars into the Malaysian market, at the same time.

Already that’s saying something, but given that this launch is barely days after the
W206 C-Class made its local premiere
 tells us MBM is going into 2022 with some real firepower.

Successor to the Maybach 57 and 62 from the early 2000s, this S 580 4Matic is the luxury brand’s quintessential model as we’ve known them after their revival under Daimler AG. Naturally, it’s based on
the latest W223 S-Class
, but unlike that car’s initial launch, a starting price has been disclosed: RM1,928,815.76.

For that, you’ll get a car that’ll not only easily rival anything from the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, but perhaps beat it in terms of the kind of insane details, features, materials, and craftsmanship that this level of automobile customer demands.

Starting with the exterior, it does still look like the W223 at a glance with that bespoke Maybach grille and wheels not quite enough to set it apart. The two-tone body colour, however, is a distinctly Maybach characteristic. Despite the visual resemblance, most of the car’s body is completely new and not interchangeable with the Benz variation.

Naturally, there’s a galaxy of available colours among other customisation options, but the paint on every Mercedes-Maybach is said to receive a dual-layer of clear coat before being painstakingly hand finished/perfected for a full week before being deemed worthy of the badge.

Crucially, since this is a car fit for billionaires and heads of state, this is a true limousine meant for chauffeured driving. To this end, literally, the Maybach S 580’s wheelbase has been extended by 180mm to ensure more than ample legroom. The door handles not only sit flush with the body when not in use but the rears can even open fully automatically at the press of a button.

Upfront, there’s the expected pair of very large and sharp MBUX infotainment displays as
we’ve seen in the W223
. While the software interface seems identical on the surface, there’s surely deeper functionality accessible only in Maybach models.

There’s a tonne to cover in terms of luxury features and upgrades over the S-Class here, but in summary, there’s extremely supple leather upholstery with lashings of intricately machined aluminium and wood inserts, each rear passenger receives fully adjustable reclining thrones with a dedicated MBUX screen just ahead. In between, any super luxe car isn’t complete without its own mini-fridge for that bottle of expensive champagne (or two).

The Burmester sound system in the Maybach S 580 is important in that it isn’t just there to sound good, but to make sure nothing else corrupts the auditory experience of its occupants regardless of whether music is playing or not.

Lots of calibration and acoustic witchcraft have gone into the car’s active noise cancellation, which isolates the cabin from any external sound, including the engine. No doubt this has also been developed alongside the Airmatic suspension to dampen the auditory disturbances of road surfaces and imperfections.

Moving onto the
GLS 600 4Matic
, this sits slightly lower on the Mercedes-Maybach hierarchy, hence its starting price of RM1,789,453.18. Cosmetically, they’ve applied the same superlative treatment given to the S-Class and applied it to the GLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz’s largest SUV.

Luxury, fit and finish, and overall opulence are about on par with the Maybach S 580 but immediately noticeable is the reduced legroom thanks to its unchanged (and unextended) wheelbase over
the standard W167 GLS
.

It’s definitely the more imposing of the two Maybachs launched here, being taller and larger by volume. Those 23-inch alloy wheels are all bling, though, and exiting a Maybach GLS as its automatic footstep discreetly slides out is just gangster.

Under the bonnet, both the S 580 and GLS 600 share the same 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 that we’ve come to be familiar with in many high-end Mercedes-Benz cars, albeit now with standard 48V starter-generator, making them both mild-hybrids technically.

They’re tuned differently as well. Where the S 580 gets 503PS and 700Nm, the GLS 600 receives a beefier 557PS and 730Nm. This was done perhaps to offset the latter’s weight disadvantage since both are able to accelerate to 100km/h from rest in a hot-hatch shaming 4.9 seconds (4.8 seconds for the S 580, to be precise).

Both cars are far and away the most obscenely luxurious permutations of the S-Class and GLS-Class ever made, much less that have graced Malaysian shores; the kind of vehicles that can only really be purchased by someone that values it above facts, figures, and price tags.

The phrase “if you have to a$k, you probably can’t afford it” definitely applies here, but you don’t even have to (ask) as the upfront starting prices are here begin with. Of course, that’ll start to skyrocket when you get to the customisation and optional extras.


Nine More Added To Thursday’s Toll Hike - All 17 New Highways Rates Tabled

The list of highways taking part in the increased toll charges along major highways has grown substantially since we first published the list of
hiked highway prices yesterday
, and the range of said hike is between 20sen and RM4.70, when it comes into effect on October 15
th
.
A total of seven more highways within the Klang Valley have announced hikes, with two more being in Johor and Penang, respectively.
The following prices are for passenger cars.
First of all, let’s cover the Klang Valley highways first.
Kajang-Seremban Highway (LEKAS)
has announced an increase of 10sen and RM2.00 between its Kajang Selatan, Semenyih, Pajam, Mantin, Setul, and Jelebu toll plazas.
Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP)
 has announced an increase toll rate of 50sen from RM1.60 to RM2.10. Meanwhile, the Western Kuala Lumpur Traffic Dispersal Scheme, or more commonly referred to as the
SPRINT highway
, has increased its toll rate across the board by RM1.00 at the Pantai, Damansara, and Bukit Kiara plazas.
The
Grand Saga highway
 has increased their toll rate to RM1.30 at both their Batu 9, and Batu 11 toll plazas. The
Guthrie Corridor Expressway
’s increase is 50sen, amounting to RM1.90. The
Kemuning-Shah Alam Expressway (LKSA
) has seen an increase to RM1.70 for the Seri Muda and RM0.90 for the Alam Impian toll plazas.
In Kuala Lumpur, the
Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH)
 has been a RM1.00 increase to RM2.50.
Finally, the two highways to announce toll hikes (so far) outside of the Klang Valley are the
Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR
) and the
 Senai-Desaru Expressway.
 For the BORR, an increase to RM1.50 for the Prai and Bagan Ajam toll plazas and RM1.20 for the Sungai Nyior toll plaza. For Senai-Desaru, it is RM4.50 for Ulu Tiram, RM9.20 for Cahaya Baru, and RM13.50 for the Penawar toll plaza.
PLUS Malaysia said in a statement that their toll rates would remain unchanged.


Ford Ranger ‘Tough Done Smarter Experiential Test Drive’ Event At 1Utama From Oct 9-11

Following the
launch of the new 2015 Ford Ranger here in Malaysia
, Ford Malaysia along with its local distributor Sime Darby Auto ConneXion is inviting the general public to get up close with the significantly updated pickup truck at the ‘
Tough Done Smarter Experiential Test Drive
’ event at Central Park Avenue, 1Utama Shopping Centre. Entry is free.
On display at the event are a few variants offered to customers including the 2.2L XLT and the top-of-the-line 3.2L Wildtrak. There are also staff standing by to explain any of the new features which are available on the pickup.
Aside from that, visitors can also sign up for a chance to ride in the new Ford Ranger with a professional driver at the wheel, as they go through a course that demonstrates some of the pickup’s capabilities including Hill Descent Control, 800mm water wading depth, Forward Collision Warning, and others.
So, if you’re curious just what the new 2015 Ford Ranger has to offer and to experience first-hand the ‘Ford Built Tough’ philosophy, direct yourself to the 1Utama Shopping Centre this weekend.


Road Closures Ahead For KL City Grand Prix

Kuala Lumpur will host its very first city race with the inaugural
KL City Grand Prix
. During the race weekend that stretches from August 7
th
 to 9
th
, several sections of roads will be closed from traffic access from 6am to 6pm during those days.

As Bernama reports, the
affected roads
 are Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan P Ramlee.

GT Global Race (M) Sdn Bhd, the event’s organizer, made a statement saying that the night prior to the start of the race weekend, an FIA-approved temporary race circuit would be built within the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Construction, however, will only take place after dark on Thursday (6
th
 August) between 10pm and 6am the next morning to have as minimal impact on motorists as possible. From Friday morning, contractors would close the affected roads and progressively shut gates and access points to properties along them.

By 7.30am, all public and non-official vehicles will be cleared from the track and the roads will be off-limits from the general public.

GT Global Race assured that up until the week of the race and during the dismantling period after the Grand Prix, access to all properties, public and private, in and around the circuit should not be affected any more than what is currently experienced for normal construction in Kuala Lumpur.

For the race itself, it will start in front of Suria KLCC. From there, the racers will
weave around
 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Perak, and Jalan P Ramlee to complete the lap. It is hosted by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) and GT Global Race (M) Sdn Bhd.

More than 100,000 spectators and visitors are expected to congregate around the race event over that weekend.


RON97 Fuel Price Update: 26 July To 1 August – 2 Sen Decrease

The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has announced the price of RON 97 fuel for the next seven days.
The good news continues, as the premium grade fuel sees another decrease in price in this round of pricing adjustment, to the tune of 2 sen per litre starting tomorrow.
That being said, the prices for petrol and diesel from 26th July to 1st August are as listed below:
RON95 –
RM2.20
per litre (no change)
RON97 –
RM2.54
 per litre (down 2 sen from RM2.56)
Diesel –
RM2.18
 per litre (no change)


2016 Proton Persona Open for Booking

Proton have open their order books for the upcoming Proton Persona Sedan, scheduled for launch later this month. Bookings fees are set at RM300, refundable in any circumstances.
The indicative price for the all-new Proton Persona - the sedan version of the
Proton Iriz
; is from RM47,000 to RM61,000 in Peninsular Malaysia and from RM49,000 to RM63,000 in East Malaysia. The Persona will be offered in three variants - Standard, Executive and Premium, with an optional bodykit on all variants.
Six colours are available at the outset - Cotton White, Fire Red, Sterling Silver, Graphite Grey, Quartz Black and a new colour, Carnelian Brown. As an incentive to early birds; Proton are offering a 3-year free service (parts and labour included) as the introductory offer for bookings made by 30 September 2016.
The second generation Proton Persona is powered by a 1.6-Litre VVT engine, offered for the first time with an ECO Driving Indicator. A comprehensive suite of active and passive safety systems - Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction control, Hill-hold Assist and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), have garnered it a 5-Star Asean NCAP rating across all variants.
The Proton Persona sits a class above Perodua's newcomer the
Bezza
. Read out thoughts on Proton's upcoming sedan
here.


May The Fourth Be With You

Today is May the 4th, and unless you are a Margaret Thatcher fan where you might wish to use today as a remembrance day of the first time she stepped into 10 Downing Street, you would be like Boris Johnson and everyone else across the globe who are using the pun "May the fourth be with you" as a form of recognition for the ever-popular intergalactic drama franchise, Star Wars.

Now recognised as an official celebration by the studio who owns Star Wars, May 4th will always be Star Wars Day for fans across the globe. Some are celebrating the day by watching all of the nine episodes, while some are getting dressed up in costumes resembling the characters, while others are playing with their collection of Star Wars memorabilia especially them lightsabers.

Quite a few of us are Star Wars geeks ourselves so here's our ode to #MayThe4th:

Darth Vader X Mercedes AMG GT 4-Door Coupe

There's no denying it; the Mercedes AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is a vehicle fit for a dark lord. With its menacing shape and matt black colour, we're pretty sure Dark Vader himself would be pretty pleased with this vehicle, especially when he can probably chase down any rebel on the road thanks to the GT's 630hp engine which can warp itself to 100kmh in 3 secs.

Mandalorian X Tesla Cybertruck

If the Mandalorian had to drive a car, we think he would have chosen the Tesla Cybertruck. The truck is shiny like him and pretty stealth moving like himself too. The Mandolorian doesn't care much for many things, but we think the Cybertruck will have enough space for all of the Mandalorian's weapons and fancy gizmos as well as baby Yoda. Since the Tesla Cybertruck can be had with the Tesla ATV, we think it would be a perfect combination for the Mando who sometimes goes on scouting missions in unchartered territories.

Stormtroopers x Myvi

If there is one car that sums up a Stormtrooper, that car would be a Myvi. Although not significant, they are everywhere and comes in many forms of shape and colours. Essentially, the Myvi is like any Stormtrooper, same on the inside but different on the outside.  Purposed to whatever the task is at hand, you can find a racer Myvi, a market car Myvi, a family car Myvi and many more. The Stormtroopers too come in many purposes. There is the Shock Trooper, Shadow Trooper, Flame Trooper, to name but a few.

Nissan Maxima X Kylo Ren

Before the last Jedi debuted, Nissan had a go at creating cars inspired by characters from Episode 8. While we all know most of it was just a branding exercise, we actually think that the Nissan Maxima inspired by Kylo Ren was spot on. Apart from incorporating some of Kylo's headgear into Nissan's V-Motion Grille design language, the rest of the car was pretty much black and plain, just like Kylo Ren. We say they got this spot on because the Maxima is a car that everyone knows is great and it doesn't need to be flashy for it to show off its great front end. A few Of Kylo's Stripes was all it needed to give it that Jr Dark Lord look.

And that our fellow fans is our contribution to May the 4th, did we miss out on any vehicles?


Paris 2016: Lexus UX Interior Previewed

All good things have to come to an end. For the last few years Lexus adapted the interior styling from the LFA in many of their models, and this has led to some truly awe inspiring products. The Lexus IS had, hands down, the best interior in class- even if it was limited by a lacking entertainment system. But Lexus is readying itself for the next generation of interior design, and they're putting it on display in the form of the UX Concept for the upcoming Paris Motor Show. We
previously reported
 initial details about the concept, but this time we get a look at the interior.
The concept itself will be based on Lexus' vision of a compact SUV in the future. There are a great deal of technologies being put on display, with the focus being on the HMI, or human machine interface. In the concept, holograms feature heavily to display information to the driver and other occupants. The driver has a floating globe that replaces their instrument cluster, while information about climate control and the like wil be displayed on a faceted crystal-like hologram above the centre console.
Moving back towards the realm of realism are other features which we are already seeing implemented- things such as electrochromic windows, electrostatic switches, and cameras in place of wing mirrors a-la Volkswagen XL1. While the purpose isn't entirely clear, there is a demountable sound bar that occupies half of the dashboard which Lexus feels will provide a "new audio experience". The concept will be on display at the Paris Motor Show towards the end of this month.


2018 Next Generation Mercedes-Benz CLS Spotted Testing

A heavily disguised development car of the next generation Mercedes-Benz CLS, expected to arrive in 2018 – has been spotted road-testing in Germany.
Clear footage of uploaded on the walkoART Youtube channel reveals the unmistakable silhouette of Mercedes-Benz’s luxury-coupe, tipped to be badged as the CLE, as part of Mercedes-Benz's new naming convention.
The next generation CLS (or CLE) will borrow its underpinnings from the
W213 E-Class
 which means a host of powerplants ranging from turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesels,
inline-sixes
, and the fire-breathing 603bhp turbocharged AMG V8 mill.
The new model is also likely to receive similar active safety technologies as the current E-Class, such as the Speed Limit Pilot – which regulates the car’s cruise control speed according to the road’s speed limits and Active Lane Change Assist which is able to perform lane changes autonomously.
The CLS will hold court with
BMW’s 6-Series Gran Coupe
 and Porsche's Panamera, however, unlike Porsche who will be
introducing a Wagon
 model in their Panamera range (expected in 2018) – Mercedes-Benz are reportedly planning to axe their CLS Shooting Brake model due to dismal demand.