Unusual, little known Mazda vehicles you may never have heard of

In the 100 years that Mazda has been in business, a large part of it making automobiles, numerous models have been created out of the engineering ingenuity and convention defying spirit that is in the brand’s DNA. While the public has seen the successful models around the world, there were also unusual and little-known vehicles the company produced. Some were unique concepts or long-forgotten prototypes or even a rare production car that was available in a small volume.

Away from the famous and significant coupes, saloons, sportscars, family cars, commercial vehicles and roadsters Mazda has become famous for, there’s a hidden story of the projects forgotten by time. Here are some of the Mazdas you’ve never heard of.

1930 Mazda motorcycle

The progression from cork to cars via three-wheeled trikes like the 1931 Mazda Go is relatively well known but before this, Mazda produced a prototype motorcycle as well. Toyo Kogyo, as Mazda was then known, wanted to build a domestic Japanese bike and began development of a prototype in 1929. A 250 cc 2-stroke prototype motorbike was completed in October 1930 and to everyone’s surprise, it won its first race beating a British-made Ariel, which were one of the most-popular bike brands in the 1930s and well-respected in Japan.

1931 Mazda Go

Toyo Kogyo went on to produce 30 more motorcycles in 1930 but commercially, the company took the decision to instead focus attention on developing the practical Mazda Go three-wheeler, setting the company on the road to success in automobiles rather than motorbikes, and leaving Mazda’s flirtation with motorbikes as a small snippet in its history.

1940 Mazda PKW prototype

Mazda’s very first car actually never made it beyond the gestation period. In 1940, the company built a small 2-door prototype car called the ‘PKW’ but the onset of World War II prevented it from reaching production. Mazda’s post-war reconstruction instead focused on the production of the Type GA and Type GB 3-wheeled trucks.

1950 Mazda Type-CA

Amongst these successful and popular 3-wheeled trucks, Mazda also produced another one of its little-known four-wheeled pioneers: the Type-CA 1-ton 4-wheeled truck. This had a small open-sided canvas roofed, split-screen open-decked truck that bore some resemblance to the Willys Jeep. It predated Mazda’s first production car the R360 Coupe by 10 years and wasn’t as famous as Mazda’s 3-wheeled trucks.

1960 Mazda D1500 Bus

The 1960 R360 was Mazda’s first car and over time, its vehicle range kept expanding to include commercial vans, pick-ups and light trucks. In fact, at the time the R360 appeared, Mazda also sold its first bus, a 13-seater based on the D1500 cab-over compact truck, to the Japanese Defence Agency. The interior was flexible enough that, with the seats folded, it could transport injured soldiers on stretchers. The D1500 bus was exported to the Middle East with centre-opening ‘freestyle doors’ at the back that enhanced its usability as an ambulance.

1965 Mazda Light Bus (left Type-C, right Type-A)

Mazda’s first bus for general public use was the 25-seater Mazda Light Bus Type-A of 1965. Based on a concept shown at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show, with its huge curved laminated safety glass windscreen and futuristic styling, it was a world away from the traditional buses found in Europe in the 1960s. Into the 1970s, Mazda continued to produce upscale mini-buses using the Parkway model name and in 1974, even introduced the world’s first rotary engine-powered bus: the Parkway 26.

1973 Mazda CVS

The 1974 Mazda CVS Personal Car Concept showed how Mazda looked ahead to transportation possibilities outside the realm of driver-controlled vehicles. ‘CVS’ stood for Computer-controlled Vehicle System, and the CVS was a wheel at each corner with sliding doors and a spacious interior including big leather chairs and even a telephone! Tested on a Mazda-designed rail track, this self-driving pod looked like futuristic fantasy in 1973. Today, though, it may be less unusual as it resembles the transit carriages you see at airports.

1975 Mazda Road Pacer AP

In the 1970s, although the Japanese brands were known outside Japan for the small and fuel-efficient cars, they also had larger models which were mostly sold in the domestic market. These were models such as the Toyota Century, Nissan President and Isuzu Statesman De Ville. Mazda decided it too would offer a large model which could be used by Japanese government officials.

This saw the development of the Road Pacer AP, which had a completely different look from the usual Mazda models. That was because the model was adapted from the GM-Holden HJ Premier sedan sold in Australia. The huge car bodies were shipped from Australia to Japan without engines whereupon Mazda fitted its compact 135 ps 13B rotary engine within the cavernous bay.

Launched in 1975, the Road Pacer AP featured luxuries such as speed-related central locking and even had a dictation machine! Only sold in Japan, just 800 were produced between 1975 and 1977.

Mazda Pathfinder (sold only in Burma/Myanmar)

The CX-5 is a highly successful Mazda SUV today but largely unknown to the rest of the world, the company also produced a traditional 4×4 SUV that was exclusively assembled and sold in Burma. Called the Pathfinder, it was a rugged off-roader popular with the military and police. It was powered by a 90 ps engine and could carry up to 9 people. A few can still be seen on the roads of Myanmar today.

1991 Mazda Suitcase Car

Even stranger than the Burmese built off-roader, futuristic bus or the Holden-based limousine is the 1991 Suitcase Car. The development of a functioning car built into a piece of luggage came about thanks to the 1991 ‘Fantasy Yard’ event. This was an inter-departmental contest to see which group of Mazda employees could come up with the most innovative and creative solution to produce a moving machine.

A group of 7 engineers from Mazda’s manual transmission testing and research group purchased the largest Samsonite suitcase they could find and a quarter-size pocket motorbike and set to work on their idea. The 33.6 cc 2-stroke engine, handlebars from the minibike were fitted into the suitcase, with the rear wheels slotted onto the outside of the case, while the front wheel would pop through a removable hatch in the front.

The suitcase car took just minutes to assemble and had a top speed of about 30 km/h. While the original prototype was accidentally destroyed just a few months after the event, one Mazda suitcase car still remains in existence.

1993 Mazda London Taxi concept

At Mazda, design has a strong focus as it is a key selling feature of the brand. The freedom of thinking for engineers and designers once led to a collaboration with the London Royal College of Art in 1993 to sponsor a design project. This called for a taxi concept for a future where space would restrict vehicle size. While not an official Mazda concept, Mazda assisted by building the prototype, which was a futuristic looking narrow-track pod shaped minicar that was 20 years ahead of its time.

If you are in Japan and visit Hiroshima, the
Mazda Museum
 at the company’s sprawling complex would be worth a visit. You’ll be able to see many of the rare models mentioned and more. It’s presently closed due to precautions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic but will surely be open again in future when the situation improves.

Visit
www.mazda.com.my
 to know more about the Mazda models you can buy in Malaysia.

LOOKING BACK: When Mazda made the first and only rotary pick-up truck in the world

Fighting COVID-19 is our joint responsibility. Protect yourself and others: make these 6 simple precautions your new habits.


Porsche to ‘double’ the number of vehicles on the road with ‘digital twins’ in future

In future, the Porsche you drive could have an invisible ‘twin’ in the digital world. No, it’s not something to do with science fiction and parallel worlds but a possibility being explored by researchers at the German sportscar company. With continuously improving performance of integrated sensors, networking and data processing capabilities, it may become possible to create a virtual copy of an existing object – like a car. This will allow data-driven analysis, monitoring and diagnostics without the challenges and constraints of real-world tests.

The digital twin of a vehicle comprises not only the operating data it collects but also any related data, such as information collected during planned maintenance work and unexpected repairs. Elements of this digital twin already exist in control unit memories and in the databases maintained at Porsche Centres.

Centralised intelligence system

The main advantage of digital twins is the fact that they can be networked and the data combined with a centralised intelligence system. Conclusions that benefit every single vehicle and therefore every individual customer can be drawn from data relevant to an entire field. For example, an algorithm can compare big data against sensor data from a specific vehicle’s powertrain and chassis to identify a customer’s driving style.

The algorithm can then recommend not only the optimal time for service work on the vehicle but also the required scope of that work. This data makes it possible to customise service intervals and allow servicing for specific components as needed, based on how the customer uses their vehicle.

For instance, with this approach, the hardworking suspension bushes of a sportscar that spends most of its time on a racetrack could be replaced at exactly the right time. By contrast, service work on the engine is more important for vehicles predominantly driven for long distances on motorways. Another even more important benefit of this approach is the fact that potential component wear and even faults can be identified
before
 they have actually occurred, which is a significant advantage from a safety perspective.

For the past 3 years or so, software specialists at Porsche have been working on a digital twin concept that focuses on the chassis, known as a ‘chassis twin’. This project is now being managed by CARIAD, the standalone automotive software company within the Volkswagen Group. In addition to data from Porsche vehicles, the project now has access to data from all Volkswagen Group vehicles, which increases the data pool by a factor of 20.

High importance of the chassis

The reason for focusing on chassis components is clear. On a Porsche, the chassis is subjected to the highest loads, particularly when the vehicle is used on racing circuits. Sensor technology in the vehicle and the intelligent neural algorithms used for centralised analysis allow the load on the chassis to be detected within the vehicle and conveyed to the driver. This intelligent use of data makes the vehicle safer for its passengers because any specific faults are identified immediately, even before the driver or the workshop notices a problem signified by noise or vibration.

The digital chassis is already being used for its first practical testing scenario: monitoring the components in the air suspension of the Taycan EV. This project is primarily for collecting data about body acceleration in this initial stage. The data is evaluated and transferred via Porsche Connect to the central backend system.

This system continuously compares the data from each vehicle against the fleet data. The algorithm calculates thresholds based on this comparison and, if these are exceeded, the customer is notified via the onboard Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system that the chassis may need to be inspected at a Porsche Centre. While this approach ensures that wear does not go beyond specified limits, early repairs also help to prevent consequential damage.

Artificial intelligence with data privacy

Artificial intelligence within the vehicle and within the centralised intelligence system continuously improves contingency planning and the accuracy of the algorithms. Data privacy during the testing phase and after the model’s launch is the top priority so customers are prompted via the PCM to provide their consent to data being collected anonymously. Around half of all Taycan customers have agreed to take part in this pilot project, which has pleased Porsche.

The first version of the digital twin will be launched next year and only sensor data directly from mechatronic components will be evaluated. Other functionality will be added in the future, such as functions that allow wear on specific components to be calculated without the need for physical gauges to be used. For example, if multiple vehicles require adjustments to their wheel alignment or a track rod replacement and multiple sensors have already detected corresponding deviations, this information can indicate a pattern. If the same data is then identified on a further vehicle, the driver will accordingly be told to visit a Porsche Centre.

Early diagnostics in this format can prevent consequential damage which, in this example, would be worn tyres caused by track misalignment. The fault-finding process at the workshop will be faster, because the specific components responsible for a fault can be replaced, thereby reducing throughput times in the workshop and lowering costs for customers.

The digital twin offers other benefits for customers beyond operation of their vehicle. Digital vehicle records can be used to show the residual value of a vehicle, making the process of buying and selling used vehicles more transparent. In addition, manufacturers could consider offering an extended approved warranty based on seamless documentation of component status updates, and even a certificate with a price recommendation for selling on the vehicle.

Designing the Porsche interior of the future


Baojun Kiwi EV uses interstellar geometry design language to draw younger buyers

With electric vehicles (EVs), many of the heavy or bulky components that were needed by a traditional internal combustion engine drivetrain are no longer present. Not only is there weight-saving but less space is also wasted. For designers, there’s a new freedom, just as the switch to front-wheel drive gave interior designers more volume for cabin packaging.

Depending on how bold they are, the designers can now depart from traditional forms that have been used for decades and introduce new styles that may or may not catch on. Perhaps that’s what the designers at SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile had in mind when they came up with this new compact EV.

Remember the Multipla?

Known as the Kiwi EV (previously designated E300), it joins the 11-year old Baojun brand’s line-up which is made up of low-cost models for the Chinese market. The new interstellar geometry design language of the brand is used for the avant-garde split body styling which may bring to mind the Fiat Multipla. The split body design incorporates a front bumper style which echoes the pattern of radar waves.

Like the Multipla, which was regarded as one of the ugliest cars produced, the Kiwi EV has the sort of appearance that will ‘make or break’. The designers probably made a case that its ‘distinct and personalized appearance’ will appeal to younger consumers who may be tried of the conventional look.

Fiat Multipla

Priced from RM45,000

Customers can choose from 6 exterior colours and each one features its own decorative scheme, taking full advantage of the ‘suspended cab’ concept that gives the vehicle its unique look. Depending on the colour choice, the combinations span up to 3 body tones with contrasting accents on the roof, grille, mirrors, trim and wheels. There are two versions with prices ranging from 69,800 RMB (about RM45,000) to 78,800 RMB (about RM51,000).

Baojun highlights the tech features in the Kiwi EV, and besides its own telematics 2.0 system, it has an artificial intelligence voice interaction system, real-time road navigation, voice-controlled WeChat function and a mobile app for convenient management of functions.

Shorter than a Perodua Axia

The Kiwi EV is 2894 mm long, 1655 mm wide and 1595 mm high, with a 2020 mm wheelbase, which makes it shorter than a Perodua Axia. It comes with a McPherson independent suspension and double wishbone independent suspension design, for a comfortable rid

The powertrain employs synchronous fixed ratio gearbox and the electric motor is mounted behind for rear-wheel-drive. It can generate up to 40 kW of maximum power and 150 Nm of maximum torque which comes on instantaneously. The top speed is claimed to be 100 km/h with a range of just over 300 kms. The battery pack, which can have a capacity of up to 31.9 kWh, supports DC fast charging and an hour is said to be the time needed for charging to full capacity.

BYD Auto unveils e-platform 3.0 for next generation of high-performance smart EVs


Fuel Prices For December 21 – 27, 2019


Mitsubishi Triton Phantom edition launched – 200 units only!

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) introduced new and limited edition Mitsubishi Triton Phantom edition.

In an effort to spice things up for the new
Triton
 pick up truck model,
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM)
 announced the availability of the Mitsubishi Triton Phantom limited edition variant. Based on the Triton 2.5 VGT 4×4 Adventure variant, the Phantom edition is enhanced with a much darker approach to it.

The new Mitsubishi Triton Phantom Edition recently made waves online when it starred in a
viral video
 that also features Malaysian professional girl drifter Leona Chin posing as a Mitsubishi salesperson and surprising unsuspecting customers. You can check out the video we’ve posted above.

Back to the pick-up and things look rather dashing to say the least. Exclusive to the Phantom edition is the black paint scheme it dons, followed by the black-finished 17-inch alloy wheels. Accompanying those are the darkened front grille and rear bumper, as well as a sports bar, flatbed cover and front bumper extension.

Rounding off the exterior enhancements are LED DRLs and the special ‘Phantom’ badges all-round. The theme continues on board with the adoption of black leather seat covers with the ‘Phantom’ badge embroidery, as well as a set of carbon-effect cabin trims.

Much of the premium features found on the base car is retained here in the Phantom such as keyless entry and engine push-start button and steering-mounted paddle-shifters. Other notable features on board include a touchscreen infotainment system with reverse camera function, automatic headlamp and wiper activation, as well as dual-zone air conditioning.

Though the Phantom now sports a much tougher and darker aesthetics, the powertrain remains unchanged from the Triton 2.5 VGT 4×4 Adventure it underpins. This means that you’ll still get the same 2.5-litre VGT turbo-diesel mounted up front that develops 176hp and peak torque of 400Nm, as well as the five-speed automatic transmission that works in conjunction with Mitsubishi’s Easy Select four-wheel-drive (4WD) system.

Fully imported (CBU) from Mitsubishi’s Thailand-based production plant, the new Mitsubishi Triton Phantom edition is
limited to just 200 units
. Each is priced at
RM115,680.76
 (on-the-road without insurance) and includes MMM’s offer of a three-year or 100,000km warranty, as well as a two-year free maintenance program with RM2, 000 cash rebates
OR
 free labour with RM4, 000 cash rebates.

More information can be obtained online at
mitsubishi-motors.com.my
 or by visiting any authorised Mitsubishi dealerships nationwide.


10,000th TGDI Engine Produced At Proton Plant in Perak

Just seven months after commencing operations, the
Proton engine plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak
, produced its 10,000
th
 1.5-litre TGDI engine. The engine is used in X50 and X70 SUV models, further increasing their localisation which has always been an important mission of Proton as a Malaysian carmaker.

The engine assembly plant is part of the company’s commitment to invest RM1.8 billion to upgrade its facilities in Tanjung Malim (also referred to as Proton City) and the culmination of a journey that began in 2019 that was taken under challenging conditions. The operational expansion plan is in line with the first strategic thrust of the
DRB-HICOM Automotive High Technology Valley
 (AHTV) programme that aims to maximise manufacturing activities in the region.

Having made the decision to build the new assembly line in Tanjung Malim, construction and the delivery of parts was delayed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, a decision was made to move forward while the country was still having restrictions under the Movement Control Order.

“PROTON’s new engine line is testimony to the grit and determination of our workers to overcoming obstacles and achieving our goals. It is one of the most advanced engine assembly lines in Malaysia with a high level of automation, a climate-controlled environment and multiple testing gateways to ensure the high quality of its output,” said Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton, adding that in 2023, the company aims to produce 60,000 engines, for use in several models.

Another good month
With 11,316 vehicles delivered in November, Proton achieved its best sales volume since 2014. This volume, added to that of the previous 10 months, takes the cumulative volume of the brand to 126,682 units with one month remaining in 2022. By year’s end, the total volume is expected to be the best annual figure since 2013.

The November volume was 13.1% lower than October’s due to some supply issues but comparing the same period of 11 months this year to that of 2021, there is a growth of 10.4%. Proton estimates that the Total Industry Volume of new vehicles delivered will be close to 700,000 units , with its market share almost 20%.

Model sales
Individually, 5 Proton models have already exceeded their total volume from 2021 with two models – the X50 and Exora – leading their respective segments the whole year.

Proton’s top-selling SUV is the X50.

Export sales have also increased by over 2,000 units from the previous year and total 5,028 units after 11 months; for the whole of 2021, the number was 3,018 units

Fourth year of sales growth
“November was an eventful sales month for Proton as we experienced some temporary supply issues that prevented us from achieving our full potential. We are confident of being able to rectify them in December and remain positive about closing out the year strongly, ending 2022 with a fourth consecutive year of sales growth,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton.

“Aside from benefitting the company, the increase in sales has also increased the volume of parts purchased from local vendors, increased our number of dealers, and created jobs for the automotive ecosystem. With new model introductions in the pipeline for 2023, we hope to be able to increase our contribution to the Malaysia economy by making more local investments, selling more vehicles, and further growing our export markets,” he added.

New Proton Regional Parts Centre Opened in Kuching for East Malaysian Region

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Should you buy a new or used car?

This is the age old question, and one that isn’t easy to rationalize. There are basically two schools of thought here: buy a used car if you have a wad of cash and are looking for something interesting, buy a new one if you want to make a sensible choice.

Both these notions no longer hold water in light of the evidence that there are decent second hand cars that are reliable and brand new ones that come with a deplorable list of problems. The key to making the right decision is to identify your expectations and deduce the possible outcome of your decision.

And if that isn’t easy enough for you, we are going to share some of the lessons we have learnt over the years due to the egregious lack of foresight on our part. Following is a list of things to consider when buying a vehicle:

Budget

Surmise a collective figure that you are willing to pay each month for the luxury of owning this vehicle. Do not allow yourself to deviate too far from that figure, no matter how enticing the dealer’s sales pitch might be. Pay only what you can afford, do not settle for something in order to appease his ego or assertive stance. It’s your money – period.

Maintenance Cost

Besides monthly payments, petrol and servicing costs need to be considered as well. Remember to do your research to gauge how much running costs will be. This is an area that many neglect to consider because they assume that the monetary value is proportional to buying a Coke or Pepsi. In the case of a used car, chances of a mechanical failure arising is greater than that with a new one.

Depreciation

If you are the kind who keeps his/her cars for more than 7 years, then you can skip this part. For those of you who swap their every few years, then this is of paramount importance to you. A vehicle’s depreciation is heavily dependent on desirability and demand.

The more sought after a vehicle is, its rate of depreciation will be considerably lower than one that isn’t appreciated that well. The rule of thumb is, buy a Japanese vehicle if you are looking to sell it off in a few years. Over time, it will depreciate far less than those of certain continental makes.

Reliability

Certain cars are plagued with reliability issues, regardless of whether they are new or used. An inherent flaw in the design can cause a chain reaction that could lead to probable and frequent faults down the road. However, new cars are backed by lengthy warranty periods that should nullify repair costs for at least 3 to 5 years. In any case, exercise rationale and speak with a current owner, this way, you will have the necessary facts to make an informed decision.

In conclusion, buying a vehicle may not be as difficult as rocket science, but it isn’t as easy as many might lead you to believe. Do your homework and run your decision past your trusted mechanic for his point of view. Last but not least, buy a vehicle that you would be happy to own and not one that though sensible, drains your joy and effectively, the will to live.


MediaTek And NVDIA Bring Next-Gen AI Into The Automotive Industry

In order to supply a full selection of in-car AI cabin solutions for the upcoming generation of software-defined vehicles, MediaTek and NVIDIA have announced their alliance. This is to create the most attractive solutions for cutting-edge connected cars, the collaboration leverages the strengths of each company’s automotive product portfolios.

MediaTek is a Taiwanese semiconductor company that provides chips for wireless communications, high-definition television, handheld mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers, navigation systems, consumer multimedia products and digital subscriber line services as well as optical disc drives.

“NVIDIA is a world-renowned pioneer and industry leader in AI and computing. With this partnership, our collaborative vision is to provide a global one-stop shop for the automotive industry, designing the next generation of intelligent, always-connected vehicles,” said Rick Tsai, Vice Chairman and CEO of MediaTek.

By working together, MediaTek will create automotive system-on-chips (SoCs) that incorporate a new NVIDIA GPU chiplet together with NVIDIA AI and graphics IP. A super-fast and coherent chiplet interconnect technique links the chiplets together.

A whole spectrum of AI cabin and cockpit operations with cutting-edge graphics, AI, safety, and security features will be delivered by MediaTek’s smart cabin solutions running NVIDIA DRIVE OS, DRIVE IX, CUDA, and TensorRT software technologies.

Together with NVIDIA, MediaTek will provide automotive solutions that go above and beyond the sector’s expanding needs and demands, opening up a sizable market for both businesses. The entire addressable market for SoCs used in automotive instrument clusters and infotainment systems is expected to reach $12 billion (RM55 billion) in 2023, according to Gartner, an American technological research and consulting firm.

The capabilities of MediaTek’s comprehensive Dimensity Auto platform, which makes use of the company’s expertise in mobile computing, high-speed connectivity, entertainment, and a substantial Android ecosystem, can be enhanced by leveraging NVIDIA’s core expertise in AI, cloud, graphics technology, and software, and pairing with NVIDIA ADAS solutions. This results in an all-around smarter in-vehicle experience.


Volkswagen Collector’s Edition Beetle unveiled – RM164,390

It was a sad day for all Beetle fans around the globe as it was recently announced that it’ll stop production. To bid farewell to this ultra-iconic model, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is paying homage with the introduction of the Volkswagen Collector’s Edition Beetle.

This limited edition is only available at 75 units here in Malaysia and those who are interested should know that VPCM has priced this beauty at RM164,390 (OTR without insurance) and is available in four colour options; Blue Silk, Pure White, Habanero Orange and Tornado Red.

What makes this particular model unique? An array of accessories worth RM12,000 is part of the package which includes rear spoiler, decorative film, chrome exhaust tips, aluminium sports pedals, scuff plates, VW Tint and an emblem marking its production run.

To make things legit, owners of this limited and very special model will also receive an official Collector’s Edition certificate of ownership. Do take note that this is the final special edition model of the Beetle here in Malaysia and those who are interested should be quick about booking one of your very own.

According to Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, “All good things must come to an end, and it is the same with this global bestseller. The Beetle has enjoyed a rich history – in Malaysia it is one that dates to when it was assembled in Shah Alam in 1968.  In fact, most Malaysians grew up with a connection to the much-loved car.”

“No other car has sparked such a cult following and defined generations the way the Beetle has. This is the end of an era, so it is only right that we celebrate the life and times of the Beetle with something truly special that is the Collector’s Edition,” added Mr Winter.

After 80 years of production and cementing its status and a cult icon, the Beetle has gone through several monumental marks in its history which includes over 21.5 million units sold around the globe. It is without a doubt one of the best-selling cars of the 20
th
 century.

To all you Beetle fans, owners, and enthusiasts, you must, MUST, go The Iconic Gathering happening this 13 July 2019 in Putrajaya where Volkswagen will be attempting to break the current Malaysia record of the largest Beetle gathered at one location.

For more information, head over to
www.volkswagen.com.my
.

				5 units here in Malaysia and those who are interested should know that VPCM has priced this beauty at RM164,390 (OTR without insurance) and is available in four colour options; Blue Silk, Pure White, Habanero Orange and Tornado Red.


2024 Kia EV9 Revealed With Specs, Features And Variants

Kia has revealed its 2024 EV9 model and it is packed with tons of features including level three autonomy and clever aerodynamics that reduce drag and thus increase range.

Kia’s new three-row
electric
 SUV comes with three, the RWD Long Range model, the Standard RWD model, and the AWD model. All three models are based on Hyundai Group’s E-GMP electric vehicle architecture.

 EV9 RWD Standard

76.1 kWh battery pack
160 kilowatts (215-horsepower)
350 Newton-meters of torque
0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds

EV9 RWD Long Range

99.8 kWh battery pack (rated to do a distance of 541km on a single charge)
Aerodynamic wheels
150-kW (201-hp)
350 Newton-meters of torque
0-100 km/h in 9.4 seconds
Target range of over 541 km

EV9 AWD

Two electric motors
283 kW (380 hp)
600 Nm of torque
0-100 km/h in 6 seconds
‘Boost’ feature available to purchase and download from the Kia Connect Store (increases torque to 700Nm, reducing the 0-100km/h time to 5.3 seconds)

The aerodynamically designed rims for the EV9 come with a choice of 19, 20, or 21-inch.

Although no driving range has been specified for the RWD Standard and AWD models, the ultra-fast 800 Volt charging system adds 238km of range in approximately 15 minutes.

The EV9 also features a Vehicle-to-Load functionality through its Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) that allows up to 3.68 kW of power for users to charge laptops or use camping equipment, among other things.

Kia also revealed the EV9 never-before-seen GT-Line trim which will feature:

Unique bumpers
Trim-exclusive wheels
Black roof rack
Digital Pattern Lightning Grill (Kia’s new technology that allows light to shine through the body color paint)
Customisable front end pattern (additional patterns can be purchased)

The biggest highlight of the EV9 is the Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) which will enable conditional Level 3 autonomous driving thanks to the 15 sensors, including two lidars (Light Detection and Ranging) but for now, it’s going to be limited to the GT-Line model.

The EV9 comes with a seven-seater option and three different captain’s chairs options which are:

Basic captain’s chair
Relaxation (allows a full lay-back recline in both the first and second rows)
Swivel-type (allows you to spin 180 degrees and face the third row)

Kia has swapped out the leather-based interior for more sustainable materials. It uses bio components like corn extract to provide the same feel as leather instead. Piano black plastic can be found everywhere you look whether it be the doors, dash, or sliding center console.

Other features include:

Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (automatically maneuver the EV9 into a parking space)
Blind-spot collision avoidance
Floating panoramic dashboard
Two 12.3-inch touchscreens integrated with a 5-inch segment display

The EV9’s price has not yet been disclosed, but its U.S. debut is scheduled for the second half of 2023. It remains to be seen if the EV9 will enter the Malaysian market.


Diversion At Juru Interchange From October 6 To November 13, 2022

If you are a frequent traveller along the North-South Expressway and pass through the Juru area, be advised that there will be a traffic diversion at the Juru Interchange (northbound) for all vehicles from this Thursday at
12 am October
 6, until
11 pm November 13, 2022
 (Sunday).

PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) said that the diversion is to enable the upgrading works to be carried out. In this instance, it is for upgrading the capacity of the existing drainage systems that are part of a Flood Mitigation Plan near Juru.

The work is being done in stages to reduce inconvenience to motorists and during the period state, there will be a traffic diversion from the entry ramp towards Pulau Pinang-Alor Setar at the Juru Interchange.

Motorists who travel along this route are advised to plan their journeys and be aware of the diversion. They are also advised to drive safely, adhere to speed limits and traffic signs, when passing through the area. Latest information is available via the PLUS App.


Car Slams Into Pedestrians, Killing One

A 20-year-old local male was driving along Jalan Lintas, Kota Kinabalu, and drove right into three pedestrians killing one.

It was reported that the incident occurred around 5 am yesterday when the three male victims were walking towards Surau Istiqomah for their morning prayers.

According to NST, the victims were hit by a car that was driving without its lights on as they attempted to cross the street.

District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaidi Abdullah identified the deceased as a 55-year-old restaurant worker and confirmed to have died at the site after suffering severe head injuries.

Another victim, 34, was only slightly hurt and is currently receiving treatment in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s green zone while the other 39-year-old victim managed to avoid being hit by the car and did not sustain any injuries.

Further investigations are being conducted in accordance with Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act (APJ) 1987.

We suggest that drivers should always ensure that their headlights are turned on when driving through dark roads and pedestrians should try their best to use overhead bridges when crossing roads.


SDAP Sportscar Day sets new Malaysian record

The recent Sportscar Together Day held last Saturday by Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) at the Sepang International Circuit concluded with multiple highlights in its first ever event here in Malaysia. The biggest achievement has to be the number of Porsches that made their way to the track and they now have a record to prove it.

A total of 320 Porsche cars from all walks of life have set a new Malaysian record for the ‘Largest Porsche Gathering’. Once the new record has been confirmed, what better way to celebrate than a victory lap around the internationally acclaimed circuit.

Over 2,000 visitors attended the event filled with one giant dose of Porsche to celebrate the brand, its heritage, as well as its future. Everything from everyday sports cars to super rare supercars, race cars, and memorabilia were on display where the whole family were entertained by the whole setup.

All eight generations of the Porsche 911 were also on display, including the latest 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 4S, the 992. Members of the media were given a taste of the machine is capable of on the track and although the session was short (we only managed a couple of laps), the 992 was indeed a sweet, sweet sports car to drive.

Judging by the two laps alone, we can safely say that the 992 is one heck of a sports car to drive on the track with its immediate power delivery and precision handling BUT super comfortable to be driven on a daily basis (with space to match for your significant other and room for a couple of kids at the back. Yes, it has four seats).

Other major highlights that most of the attendees were attracted to were the Porsche 918 Spyder on display, right next to the future of Porsche; the 919 Hybrid and the Mission E 1:3 scale model. A perfect blend of the brand’s successful past, current offerings, and what the future hopes to bring for Porsche lovers here in Malaysia.

SDAP also took the opportunity to introduce the 2019 Porsche Macan S and the new 360 Leasing program. According to Christopher Hunter, CEO of SDAP, “Celebrating our first ‘Sportscar Together Day’ in Malaysia is a momentous occasion for us. We are thrilled to be able to share the experience of driving a Porsche with more people than ever before, or even for new enthusiasts to start their journey with Porsche with the introduction of our new 360 Leasing programme.”

To know more about the new Macan S and the 360 Leasing program, check out the link below.

354hp Porsche Macan S officially available now – RM625,000


Drag race video of high speed racers, with a twist

E.ON, a well known energy provider, has released a witty video that showcases the versatility of electric mobility. The 1:36 minute film depicts an American style drag race that takes place on a wide barren dessert floor in the middle of nowhere.

A variety of different vehicles line up side by side at the start of the race. They comprise of the world’s first big foot EV, Tachyon Speed by Raesr, an electric hyper-car prototype, Baja buggy, Shelby Cobra motorbikes, and a number of other vehicles.

Initially, the video would have you believe that all these vehicles are in fact petrol or diesel powered. their engine notes or lack there of, were masked by the audible sound of several electric guitars played by musicians from the bed of pick-up trucks.

Their musical notes mimic that of actual engine sounds and exhaust notes. And as these vehicles pass a small petrol station in the desert, the music stops to reveal that all vehicles in the race are in fact, fully electric. The big foot, actually has 30 separate batteries in it that total 360 volts and the Tachyon Speed, has about 1,250bhp of EV power at its disposal.

The video ends with the words,
E.ON is setting the electric car free
, referring to the idea that any car, regardless of age, can be converted into a fully electric one. This maybe a startling revelation to some, but many manufacturers including Bosch, already produce modular systems that can be adapted to support multiple platforms.

E.On however isn’t a manufacturer but a major supporter of the EV platform and is currently running The ‘Freedom is Electric’ campaign. It showcases the diversity of the world of electric vehicles, charged using E.ON’s fast-charging technology, which will be available in thousands of locations across Europe.

It’s ultra-fast charging network, offering 150 kW of charging power with a modular upgrade option to 350 kW, will enable charging of a full 400 kilometres range battery in only 20-30 minutes. This will help somewhat, to make electric cars more practical as daily drivers and for long distance commutes.

All vehicles that were featured in the film, including the motorbikes and drones used for filming, were actually EVs. Not a single drop of fossil fuel was used in the entire making of the video, which exemplifies the notion of electric mobility being the future of modern transportation.


Team mates and friends Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira, Mior Muhammad Hafiz and Muhammad Iqbal Ahmad Suji won big time at the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship Grand Final when they clinched the top three positions to win almost RM40,000 in cash prizes.

The 2-day event brought together an elite group of 20 online racers who competed in a semi-final, with the top 10 fastest drivers advancing to the Grand Final. Held at the UMW Toyota Motor headquarters complex in Shah Alam, Selangor, the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship was streamed online was had more than one million views.

In total, some 720 participants entered the Toyota GAZOO RACING Velocity Esports Championship which had kicked off with a series of 4 qualifying rounds. The championship offered more than RM70,000 in total prize money, most lucrative virtual racing event in Malaysia.

How Taj Izrin Aiman won

Taj Izrin Aiman was victorious in Race 1 behind the wheel of a GR Supra RZ at the Autodrome Lago Maggiore circuit in Italy, finishing ahead of Mior Muhammad with Rio Pandukusuma in third place in the 15-lap race. In Race 2, at the Autopolis Racing Course in Japan, Moo Shuan Jinq crossed the finish line ahead of Mior Muhammad in the 18-lap race in a FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo, with Taj Izrin Aiman finishing in third position.

For Race 3, run at the virtual Circuit de la Sarthe in France which is the venue for the annual Le Mans 24-Hour race, Muhammad Iqbal piloted a TS050 Hybrid to victory ahead of Mior Muhammad and Ariff Roslan in second and third places, respectively.

By the end of the 3 races, the overall championship was down to three potential winners with Mior Muhammad leading with 54 points, followed by Taj Izrin Aiman at 50, and Muhammad Iqbal with 45 points.

In the fourth and final 18-lap race at the famous 13. 6-km Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, Taj Izrin Aiman however, stamped his authority by leading the race from start to finish in a Toyota-powered Dallara Super Formula SF19, building an unassailable lead of 9 seconds ahead of Arif Roslan and Rio Pandukusuma who finished second and third respectively. Low Wooi Kit crossed the finish line in fourth place, followed by Muhammad Iqbal in fifth, while Mior Muhammad who was fourth at one point in the race dropped to sixth, finishing more than 35 seconds behind the race winner and essentially bidding farewell to his hopes of winning the overall championship.

Like racing in the real world

“Virtual racing is an entirely different discipline. It requires a lot of practice and seat time. Just like real racing requires you set-up a vehicle, in virtual racing you have to adapt to the steering and pedal techniques, and at the same time you have to adopt a strategy and manage your tyre wear as well as fuel during a race,” said 22-year-old Taj Izrin Aiman who is an avid motorsports enthusiast and is only into his first year of competitive virtual racing.

Clinching the overall Toyota GAZOO RACING Velocity Esports Championship is also his first major title in virtual racing. Together with his winning team mates, the trio will also represent Malaysia at Toyota’s Regional eSports competition.

In a special 17-lap exhibition race involving celebrities who have competed in the Toyota Vios Challenge, musician Shawn Lee proved that he was indeed a force to be reckoned with both on and off the racing circuit. Lee, a two-time champion in the Promotional Class of the Toyota Vios Challenge, led the virtual 17-lap race at the 4.5-km Fuji International Speedway from start to finish. Behind him was GAZOO RACING Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama, and celebrity gamer Daddy Hood.

“Competing in Toyota GAZOO RACING Velocity Esports Championship is an excellent warm-up for us in preparation for Season 4 of the Toyota Vios Challenge. I can’t wait to get back into racing,” said comedian Nabil Ahmad, who used a Toyota GR Supra Racing RZ.

High driving standards of virtual racers

GAZOO RACING Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer Akio Takeyama noted that the driving standards and technical knowledge the competitors brought to virtual racing was very high.” They  are very serious about what they do and, despite never having experienced real racing, the degree of race craft, the strategies they adopt, discipline and familiarization as well as adaptability to the different types of vehicles and tracks they are exposed to is simply phenomenal.”

“Virtual racing is indeed becoming an important bridge to real racing, and this is also an area we at Toyota are investing in with the start of our
GAZOO RACING Young Talent Development Program
 which will not only provide young karters, but also virtual racers, with the opportunity to transition into real world saloon car racing,” he added.

Virtual racing or esports will be another strong pillar for Toyota to bring motorsports to the masses. The Toyota GAZOO RACING Velocity Esports Championship began in 2018 and UMW Toyota Motor was the first and still the only car company in Malaysia to be associated with the fast-growing sport that is also recognised by the FIA (the world motorsport governing body).

UMW Toyota Motor will continue to support and promote motorsports in Malaysia.

More motorsports-focussed initiatives

“Moving forward, the GAZOO RACING brand will continue to spearhead and expand Toyota’s presence in Malaysian motorsports with a number of new initiatives to be rolled out soon,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

This, he added, will include continuity of the Toyota Vios Challenge racing series and the Toyota GAZOO RACING Velocity Esports Championship, the roll-out of a new range of race-bred and race-inspired GAZOO RACING-badged vehicles, and the expansion of specialty showrooms in the form of GAZOO RACING (GR) Garages for the benefit of customers.

UMW Toyota Motor starts GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program


Mercedes-Benz posts record sales for first half of 2017

Mercedes-Benz has had an awesome six months for 2017, the automaker has posted its best sales figures yet for the month of June as well as for half the year. It was reported that 209,309 vehicles were delivered to its customers in June which is an 11.1% jump compared to the same month last year.

Overall, from January to June of this year, the company shifted 1,144,274 cars, which is a 13.7% increase compared to the same period last year. This means that Mercedes-Benz has outdone itself by surpassing last year’s performance by a considerable margin.

This result was bolstered by year’s second quarter sales, which happens to be Mer’s best quarter ever. During this time, the company sold 583,649 vehicles which is said to be an 11.6% increase overall.

Demand for its cars were so great, that Mercedes-Benz was the most preferred premium brand in markets such as Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, Austria, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, the USA, Canada and Brazil.

“We have posted the strongest half-year in the history of Mercedes-Benz with sales of significantly more than a million cars,” stated Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “Not only the popularity of our E-Class family contributed to this success; demand for our SUVs is also as high as ever in all regions.”

As a means to put this remarkable achievement into context, in Europe alone, the Stuttgart based automaker sold 484,120 vehicles which is a substantial 8.9% increase over last year’s figures. But the market that witnessed the most growth for Mercedes-Benz vehicles was Asia-Pacific.

Asian car buyers purchased 438,710 cars which is a 26.7% increase from last year with the bulk of the sales coming from China. The results were positive overall as China saw a 34.5% increase in sales, South Korea with 47.3%, Australia with 8.5%, Taiwan with 10.9% and India with 8.7%.

The car that contributed the most to Merc’s fantastic sales numbers was the C-Class. Combining sales of both the Sedan and Estate variants, the automaker sold 210,000 C-Class cars, making it the best selling model of its line-up yet again. That said, demand for other Mercedes-Benz vehicles were considerably high as well, especially with regards to the E-Class which saw an increase in sales of about 68.4%.

It looks like 2017 is shaping up to be a great year for Mercedes-Benz and if demand for its vehicles continue to rise, we expect these figures to be a whole lot higher by the time this year rolls to a close.


Fuel Price Updates For May 26 – June 1, 2022


Geely Auto develops cabin virus-filtering system within 20 days, to go into all its cars from next month

Remember our earlier report about Geely Auto’s Healthy Car program to develop healthier vehicles? Well, showing just how determined it is to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak, the carmaker has come out with a G-Clean Intelligent Air Purification System (IAPS) which will be installed in all its vehicles. Working non-stop, Geely’s engineers developed the new system in just 20 days!

IAPS is able to automatically filter out harmful particulates – including airborne viruses – from the vehicles internal air environment. It has an advanced new active carbon chemical filter that can effectively absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde as they enter the vehicle and is also able to filter out irritating odour and harmful pollutants once they are detected by the automatic system.

In addition, the IAPS is equipped with a negative ion generator that can sterilize and deodorize the cabin air, removing in airborne viruses, bacteria, fungi, and molds, etc. Geely says that the filtration is of the same level as an N95 respiration system. The ‘N95’ designation means that at least 95% of very small (0.3 micron) particles used in testing can be blocked.

The IAPS system was already installed in the 150 Jiaji MPVs that the company provided to frontline workers battling the Coronavirus epidemic across China. It will be installed in other models from next month.

The IAPS will be installed in all new Geely vehicles produced from next month. 150 units of the Jiaji MPV already have them as they are urgently needed by medical personnel.

Besides high levels of occupant protection during accidents, Geely vehicles will also have a clean environment to protect from viruses and other biological pollutants.

Under the Geely Healthy Car program, Geely Auto will move to invest 370 million RMB (about RM220 million) into the development of healthier vehicles. The program will progress in three key phases, starting with the introduction of short-term solutions such as the IASP system that quickly be introduced at affordable levels. In Phase 2 and 3, Geely will be partnering with leading medical agencies and material companies to develop clean materials for interior and exterior parts such as buttons and grab handles which may harbour harmful bacteria and viruses. Hopefully, the solutions will also be shared with other companies in the Geely Group which includes Proton.

Geely Auto looks at ‘passenger safety’ from a different perspective, aims to make cars ‘healthier’


GR Heritage Parts project to reproduce Toyota Supra parts for sale

Production of the previous generation of the Toyota Supra ended in 2002 and a follow-up generation did not appear till the launch of the GR Supra in 2019. Enthusiasts were naturally sad when Toyota had announced that Supra production would end, with no indication of whether it could be resumed.

All the units that were still on the road and still in good running condition were obviously cared for, with aftersales support continuing from Toyota dealers. Though it is not known how long Toyota continued to produce replacements parts for the earlier Supra models, some companies will do so for up to 10 years after last production of a model.

Well, it has been 17 years since the Supra (the A80 generation) was last produced so the carmaker would unlikely be making replacement parts. There would be other companies which may make certain parts but these would not be the same as Toyota Genuine Parts which have assured quality.

Replacement parts for past two generations

Now Toyota has announced that it will reproduce replacement parts for the Supra A70 generation (produced between 1986 and 1983) as well as the A80 generation (1993 – 2002). The parts will be produced as a GR Heritage Parts Project and will be sold in Japan and selected overseas markets. Perhaps the
GR Garage
 which is located at some Toyota dealerships in Malaysia will also offer (or at least take orders) for such parts.

At this time, the list of parts available are as follow:

A70 Supra
 – propeller shaft, door handle, fuel sender gauge, weather strip, front emblem

A80 Supra
 – headlamps, door handle, brake booster

Headlamps and propeller shafts are among the parts planned for reproduction.

Toyota wants to hear from you too

Retail sales were original scheduled to start in 2020 but Toyota says this may be postponed to 2021 due to manufacturing reasons. In the meantime, the carmaker also invites requests and suggestions for parts to be reproduced. A page on the Toyota GAZOO Racing website has a form to submit the requests (
click here to go to the page
).

Total production numbers for the two Supra generations are hard to come by but in as far as sales in North America were concerned, over 100,000 units of the A79 generation and around 12,000 units of the A80 generation were sold. The smaller number for the A80 Supra reflected the diminished interest in sportscars, especially coupes, during the 1990s as SUV popularity grew. This trend also influenced other carmakers to cease sportscar production as the numbers became economically unviable.

TRD carbon aero kit & 19-inch wheels for A90 Toyota GR Supra introduced


10 Lucky Honda Civic Type R Customers Win A Trip To Japan To Watch F1 Live! [+Video]

Honda Malaysia has announced the winners of the recently concluded ‘Sprint to the Suzuka Circuit’ campaign. The campaign was held to reward Honda customers who purchased and registered a Civic Type R during the period of April to July 2018. The 10 exclusive winners (below) were chosen based on the most creative answers to the 2 short questions. Each winner will receive two business class flight tickets, two entrance tickets to the iconic 2018 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in October 2018, a 5 Days 4 Nights accommodation in Japan and two sets of official Honda Merchandise, all worth up to RM30,000.

Commenting about the campaign, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said, “I would like to extend my appreciation to the Civic Type R customers for their support towards Honda Malaysia. It is our honour and great pleasure to reward the winners who are also owners of the best engineered Civic Type R. This hot hatch is truly a driver’s car with track-worthy performance yet providing great enjoyment to the driver in their daily commute. The Civic Type R is an amazing piece of engineering that provides the Joy of Driving to its owners.”

Being the most powerful Honda model ever sold in Malaysia, Honda Malaysia has received more than 100 bookings and delivered more than
80 units
 of the Civic Type R since its launch in November 2017. Powered by a highly advanced 2.0L VTEC Turbocharged engine, producing high outputs of 310PS and maximum torque of 400NM, the Civic Type R was engineered to deliver the most rewarding drive in the hot hatch segment. The 3-Way Driving Mode of
COMFORT, SPORT
 and
+R
 allows drivers to experience different dynamic performance both on the road and on the race track.

Recently, the Civic Type R completed its fifth and final planned series across Europe known as the Civic Type R Challenge 2018. The Civic Type R achieved its objectives and broke five records for a front wheel drive production car at all five iconic European race circuits, putting the Civic Type R on the top as the fastest car in its class. Living up to the “Challenging Spirit” inspired by Honda’s DNA, the Civic Type R features the iconic red H badge; a symbol of Honda’s racing legacy and an outstanding exterior symbol that defines a racing perfection body. Here’s the “CTR” in action!

The fully imported Civic Type R is priced at
RM301,928
on-the-road without insurance. Customers can visit any of Honda’s 20 Sport Dealers (below) to view and place a booking for the Civic Type R. For more information on the Civic Type R, please call Honda’s Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to
www.honda.com.my

List of 10 Exclusive Winners of “Sprint to the Suzuka Circuit” Campaign

No

Dealership

Customer Name

IC No

1

Autoworld Asia Sdn Bhd

Muhammad Aiman Esa

900604-14-XXXX

2

Ban Lee Heng Motor Sdn Bhd

Farzlina Binti Ahmad Murad

761223-08-XXXX

3

Botanic Auto Mall Sdn Bhd

Mohd Azroie Bin Zainal

870625-43-XXXX

4

Global Amity Sdn Bhd

Kueh Meng Hing

850313-13-XXXX

5

Kah Motor Co. Sdn Bhd – Selayang

Mohd Ezane Bin Aziz

700902-03-XXXX

6

Kah Motor Co. Sdn Bhd – Sg Pinang

See Kok Cheong

670905-10-XXXX

7

Peringgit Sri Motor Sdn Bhd

Ding Chee Rong

850612-13-XXXX

8

Syarikat Labuan Automobile Sdn Bhd

Datu Raja Noorfaisal Bin Datu Marsuali

831030-12-XXXX

9

Yong Ming Motor Sdn Bhd

Mohd Hafiz bin Mohd Haris Lim

861123-23-XXXX

10

Yooi Cars Sdn Bhd

Aliza Binti Kasim

890818-02-XXXX

List of 20 Honda Sport Dealers selling the CTR

No

Region

Honda Sport Dealers

1

Central

Autoworld Asia Sdn Bhd

2

Central

Botanic Auto Mall Sdn Bhd

3

Central

Global Amity Sdn Bhd (Bangi)

4

Central

Kah Motor Co Sdn Bhd – Selayang

5

Central

Sri Utama Auto Sdn Bhd

6

Central

USJ Car Express Sdn Bhd

7

Central

MH Prestige Auto Sdn Bhd

8

Central

Peringgit Sri Motor Sdn Bhd

9

Central

Tenaga Setia Resources Sdn Bhd

10

Central

The Millenium Auto Carriage

11

East Coast

Syarikat Tan Eng Ann Sdn Bhd

12

East Malaysia

Syarikat Labuan Automobile Sdn Bhd

13

Northern

Ban Hoe Seng (Auto) Sdn Bhd

14

Northern

Formula Venture Sdn Bhd

15

Northern

Kah Motor Co Sdn Bhd – Sg Pinang

16

Northern

Lee Motor SP (Car Div) Sdn Bhd

17

Northern

Yooi Cars Sdn Bhd

18

Southern

Ban Lee Heng Motor Sdn Bhd (Seremban)

19

Southern

Syarikat Motor GS Tay Sdn Bhd

20

Southern

Yong Ming Motor Sdn Bhd


New Perodua Axia Models To Be Assessed By Miros

Following reports of
rigged safety test
 reports in Japan, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) announced that it will conduct an assessment of the latest Perodua Axia model, despite the fact that car owners in Malaysia have not raised any safety concerns.

The Transport Ministry’s Miros department is in charge of conducting research on issues related to road safety, including evaluating the safety features of passenger vehicles.

After Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. (Daihatsu) tampered with the safety tests in Japan, Miros Chairman Professor Dr. Wong Shaw Voon stated that assessments would be performed on the most recent Perodua Axia model produced by Perodua to ensure the safety of the cars.

“We haven’t yet received any complaints, but we will investigate Perodua’s allegations,” said Wong.

Earlier on April 30, Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad assured the public that the new lineup of Perodua Axia models was
safe for on-the-road use
.

Despite the recent “procedural irregularity” mentioned by Daihatsu, Perodua stated that it will neither be carrying out any recall nor suspending the delivery of the model to its customers.


MAI, BHPetrol & MKJR Promote Road Safety During Festive Season

Malaysians will soon embark on their annual journey to celebrate Ramadan with their loved ones, and thus the
Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI)
, the
Road Safety Council Malaysia (MKJR)
and
 Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (BHPetrol)
 officiated the Car Care Week Jom Balik Kampung Raya at BHPetrol Kg Sg Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya recently.

The 3-day programme was held at three stations, BHPetrol Kg Sg Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya on Saturday 9th June 2018, BHPetrol Lebuhraya KL-Karak on Sunday 10th June 2018 and BHPetrol KL-Klang on Monday 11th June 2018. Motorists visited the BHPetrol stations and received a free 21-point inspection.

Present at the officiation ceremony was Dato’ Madani Sahari (MAI CEO), Ir. Azizul Azily Ahmad (BHPetrol General Manager Supply, Retail and GPA), and Puan Aslynda binti Mohd Dahlan (Petaling Jaya Chief Assistant District Officer).

The 21-point inspection only took 10-15mins per car, which covered; engine oil, gear oil, brake conditions, tyre conditions, vehicle lights and etc. In addition, the inspection was not subjected to any particular brand and the vehicle’s owner was consulted and advised on any issues concerning their car after the inspection process.

Additionally, customers who brought in cars for inspection stood a chance to walk away with free gifts provided by
Majlis Keselamatan Jalan Raya (MKJR)
 as well as goody bags full of snacks and drinks sponsored by BHPetrol’s suppliers. The
Jom Balik Kampung Raya
 initiative was held as part of the MAI Car Care Week (CCW) campaign, which aimed to educate consumers on the importance of vehicle inspection, maintenance and repair.

Photo Gallery…


Pushing prototypes to the limits – and having fun as well

The engineers who have to test prototypes go all over the world to places with extreme environments. Their job is to see how the future model will perform in the toughest conditions on the planet and collect data that will help them ensure reliability and durability. Much of the time, the work can be monotonous as it’s not a joy-ride and the vehicles must be driven in specific ways… and not always at high speeds.

For Polestar’s engineers, there are occasions when they must enjoy their work, especially when within the Arctic Circle where the company’s intense winter testing programme runs for 15 weeks from December to March every year. Teams of engineers pushing prototypes to the limits in harsh conditions that can be as low as -35 degrees C.

It’s not just components that are tested but also the prototype’s driving dynamics. “Tuning a chassis on snow and ice allows us to develop our cars in what feels like slow motion and with better accuracy,” said Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s chief chassis engineer who has led the dynamic development of Polestar vehicles for over a decade and advocates tuning in this extreme environment.

“With such low levels of grip, we can feel and analyse the dynamics at a much slower pace than on tarmac, which means we can really fine-tune the way our cars behave, down to the smallest details. This is my absolute favourite place to develop cars,” he revealed.

To exhibit this expertise, and being a rally driver in his spare time with numerous trophies to his name, Rydholm created the unique Polestar 2 ‘Arctic Circle’ as a one-off special version that brings winter rally inspiration to a Polestar for the first time.

The base car, a Polestar 2 Long-range Dual motor with Performance Pack, has several specific modifications. The ride height is higher (+30 mm), with increased power and torque output (350 kW and 680 Nm) and custom-made 19-inch studded winter tyres, each having 4 mm metal studs (490 per tyre). These give the Polestar 2 Arctic Circle the mechanical credentials to be quick and agile on snow and ice.

In combination with springs that are 30% softer, the 3-way performance Ohlin’s dampers, specially designed and tuned for this car together with Ohlins, are set to 9 clicks front and rear and feature auxiliary adjustment chambers. The standard 4-piston Brembo front brakes are good enough, so they are retained without changes.

The front bumper has a carbonfibre skid plate for additional under-body protection. The front and rear strut braces have been fitted to increase torsional rigidity and steering responsiveness. A new prototype launch control system has also been integrated via steering wheel-mounted paddles. And just in case the drivers get stuck in snow far away, a carbonfibre snow shovel and a recovery strap are mounted in the rear of the car as well.

Visually, rally inspiration has seen the fitment of 19-inch OZ Racing rally wheels, four Stedi Quad Pro LED front lights and a unique exterior livery in matte grey and white. Inside, there are custom-upholstered Recaro front bucket seats in charcoal with Swedish gold branding.

“I wanted to have more fun than usual with this car – really being able to push it in terms of performance and handling in a winter environment like a frozen lake. The balance and predictability we have achieved with the raised ride height and specialised tyres are particularly noticeable when you enter a bend completely sideways, with a bigger-than-usual smile on your face, and in total control,” said a happy Rydholm, adding that the Polestar 2 Arctic Circle is a one-time-only showpiece there are no production plans.

Experimental Polestar 2 with higher output shown at Goodwood Festival of Speed


PLUS to accept TnG RFID system on its highways, also addressing reload issues

CIMB Group Holdings Berhad and PLUS Malaysia Berhad have announced that they have recently come to an agreement to provide additional payment options to users of PLUS expressways across the country. These enhanced toll payment services will be facilitated by Touch n’ Go Sdn Bhd (52% owned by CIMB) through the TnG RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag.

Apparently, this agreement resolves the dispute a year ago when PLUS began to introduce its own RFID tag for electronic toll payments. CIMB took legal action to stop PLUS from having its own toll collection system.

Starting with PLUS expressways, the recent agreement promises a seamless experience with more options for toll payment anchored on the concept of Open Payments and will give highway users the choice to link their TnG RFID tags to any of their bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards or the TnG e-wallet.

TnG RFID services will be available in 10 open system toll plazas at PLUS expressways by January 1, 2020, extending to for all 83 closed system toll plazas on PLUS expressways by April 1, 2020. RFID transactions will be real-time and highway users will receive immediate notification of their balance.

Open system toll plazas are defined as a system where the toll fare is a fixed rate based on vehicle class. Closed system highways charge according to the vehicle class and distance travelled, with the toll to be paid when the vehicle exits the highway.

TnG RFID services have been available in pilot-mode at selected expressways nationwide since the beginning of 2019. Currently, there are over 700,000 RFID tags installed on and these tags are currently linked to the TnG e-wallet as a source of funds. The TnG RFID initiative is the first step of a masterplan aimed at reducing congestion on Malaysian expressways.

The scheme is being coordinated and devised in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Works and Malaysian Highway Authority and there will be absolutely no disruption to the current card, SmartTAG or PayDirect services.

It is the intent of CIMB and TnG to roll-out the Open Payments facility to all toll highway concessionaires across Malaysia in the future. Over time, this RFID-driven payment mode is expected to replace the TnG card that has been the defacto mode of payment for toll transactions across the country.

“It has been a key belief at PLUS that giving our customers more options to pay is an important aspect in enhancing their road journeys, so this is a key consideration when working with our partners. We are pleased that Open Payment options will soon be available to toll highway customers, in line with the needs of our customers who look forward to more convenience,” said Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.

“We are delighted that CIMB is aligned on this ambition to partner with us to lead in making it a seamless journey on our highways with the democratisation of toll payments where over time, other mode of payment can be considered, thus ensuring the toll industry is always relevant with market practices,” he added.

On the issue of reloading booths no longer being available at toll plazas, Datuk Azman said PLUS is aware of the unhappiness from some highway users and is working to resolve the issues but needs some time to do so. In the meantime, he urged motorists, for safety reasons, not to get out of their vehicles if they are unable to pass through because their TnG card has insufficient balance. “Press the intercom button and a PLUS customer service officer will come to assist you,” he advised.

No more TAMBAH NILAI at exit toll plazas on PLUS highways from November 5, 2019


TGX joins New MAN Truck Generation as flagship model

MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia) has launched its flagship model of the New MAN Truck Generation line-up – the MAN TGX. The company expects that the truck, designed for long-haul and cross-border trips that typically last a few days, will find significant demand from fleet operators in the country.

More space, larger cab

The MAN TGX is offered alongside its more familiar stablemate, the flexible and versatile MAN TGS that is typically the model of choice in this market. However, the TGX offers more spaciousness with the largest cab among all the New MAN Truck Generation models, especially with its high roof.

The spacious cabin offers more than 520 litres of combined storage space while the standing height of 2,100 mm allows easy movement for the driver and co-driver. The exterior dimensions of the cab are a width of 2,440 mm, length of 2,280 mm and height of 2,150 mm.

Euro-5 compliant engine

The MAN TGX is powered by the proven MAN D2676 LF08 which has maximum power output of 540 bhp/2,500 Nm and is coupled to a 12-speed MAN TipMatic gearbox. It generates lower carbon emissions to comply with stricter Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards that are the norm in today’s business environment. As with all the other models MAN Malaysia has been offering since November 2021, the diesel D266 LF 08 engine is
Euro 5-compliant
.

The engines of all MAN trucks sold in Malaysia are Euro-5 compliant.

MAN Malaysia Managing Director Andrew O’Brooks said that the move demonstrated the company’s desire to stand-up and be counted in Malaysia’s journey towards carbon-neutral status by 2050. “We are effectively challenging the Malaysian transporters to join the journey and take the lead in reducing carbon emissions. In Europe, long-distance transport vehicles produce as much as 27%  of CO
2
 gases. Malaysia must look and act now to reduce its carbon footprint; and the commercial vehicle industry as well as public service vehicles can do their part in this environmental challenge,” he said.

‘
Industry needs to reinvest’

As a manufacturer, MAN is doing its part to offer the right solution. “The industry certainly needs to reinvest in new, future-proof trucks that meet these criteria especially in the current business environment that demands strict environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance,” Mr. O’Brooks added.

New MAN Truck Generation comes with cleaner Euro V engines across the range


ProDrive’s Hunter T1+ competition car to run on sustainable fuel for FIA off-road events

While electrification is the big move by the auto industry to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible, there are also parallel efforts by the FIA (the world motorsport governing body) to reduce the environmental impact of motorsport and motorized mobility. The efforts of the organization apply a science-based target reduction plan aligned with the Paris Agreement 1.5°C objective.

One of the strategies is the introduction of 100% sustainable fuel for Formula 1 in 2025. This fuel will have zero net carbon dioxide emissions. The use of this fuel in motorsports could be a savior for internal combustion engines (ICE) if the technology can be widely commercialized for roadgoing vehicles. If this can happen, then the days of the ICE could be extended a bit more while meeting demands to stop carbon dioxide emissions.

While the use of sustainable fuels in F1 has already been committed, there are also other parties in the motorsport community that are supporting the effort. Prodrive, the British motorsport specialist that developed championship-winner cars for the Subaru World Rally Team, will support one of the first major teams in the world to compete with a new generation of advanced sustainable fuels in an FIA championship. The championship is the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies that will run later this year.

The Prodrive-run Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) team will then use this fuel at the Dakar rally in January to demonstrate that such sustainable fuels can be used as a direct replacement for fossil fuels in standard production vehicles.

Prodrive has developed the sustainable fuel over the past 8 months in conjunction with UK-based, Coryton Advanced Fuels. Called Prodrive ECOpower, it has been specifically developed to demonstrate the environmental benefits of the latest sustainable fuel technology. The main components are generation 2 biofuel, manufactured from agricultural waste, and efuels created by capturing carbon from the atmosphere. As a result, the fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to equivalent petrol.

“I am a great advocate of motorsport taking the lead in developing, proving and promoting new technologies that can help address climate change. Covering thousands of miles across the toughest terrain, the Dakar and the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies are the perfect environment to showcase the benefits of the next generation of sustainable fuels and demonstrate that they can be used in road vehicles to reduce the use of fossil fuels, while still offering the same performance and range,” said Prodrive Chairman, David Richards.

The fuel has been developed at Prodrive’s powertrain facility in England and has been run in the BRX team’s Prodrive Hunter T1+ car in the same unmodified engines which previously ran on petrol. While Prodrive ECOpower has been developed for motorsport use, this sustainable fuel can be used as a direct replacement for unleaded petrol in almost any vehicle and the company is planning to run a near identical fuel in a number of its road vehicles to further prove out the technology.

The Hunter T1+ has been specifically designed to compete at the tough Dakar Rally in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and in cross-country rallies across the world. The 4-wheel drive car can travel over almost any type of terrain, from sand dunes to rocky mountain tracks, and at high speeds. Over the 2 weeks of the Dakar, it will cover more than 7,500 kms.

The BRX team has carried out extensive testing in the UK and is now heading to the Middle East for more extensive endurance work in the same conditions it will experience at the rally. The team will then compete at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Hail Rally before heading to the Dakar which starts on the first day of 2022.

eFuel to be used in Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup


UMW Toyota Assures Safety For All-New Toyota Vios 2023

A recent issue with Daihatsu’s rigged safety crash test that involved the AC100 generation
2023 Toyota Vios
 (also known as Yaris Ativ in Thailand) and D74A 2023 Perodua Axia has caused distress amongst owners of these vehicles.

Perodua
 recently released a statement assuring the safety of the new Axia. Today, UMW Toyota also issued a statement that the sales of the All-New Toyota Vios will continue as there are no issues with the safety standards and quality of the vehicle.

President of UMW Toyota Motor, Datuk Ravindran K. said, “For customers who have booked their All-
New Toyota Vios or are interested in purchasing it, we would like to assure you that the All-New Toyota Vios model complies with all safety regulations and there is no compromise to the quality of the vehicles.”

This follows the statement released by Daihatsu Co Ltd. on 28 April 2023 highlighting a procedural
irregularity on the testing of four models, one of which includes the All-New Toyota Vios.

Subsequent testing has validated that the vehicle meets the UN-R95 certification and there is no need for the Toyota Vios to be recalled as sales of the vehicle continue without disruption.

“We sincerely apologise for any distress caused to our customers and we wish to assure everyone of the
safety and quality of our vehicles. Our commitment to our customers’ safety has always been and remains our topmost in our priority”, he added.

All the necessary passive and active safety features, including some cutting-edge Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) features, are present in the all-new Toyota Vios. All of those features, such as the ISOFIX tether system, front DVR with smartphone connectivity, pre-collision system (PCS), lane departure warning (LDW), and 3D panoramic view monitor, are carried over to the 2023 Vios.

Both the E and G models come with a three-year Toyota vehicle telematics system (VTS), which enables you to monitor and manage some of the car’s operations right from your smartphone.

This generation adds lane keeping control (LKC), auto high beam (AHB), and adaptive cruise control (ACC) to the TSS feature set. However, only the top G variant offers these.


Only street legal BMW M1 Procar to be put on display

The Thermal Club has announced that it will display the only street-legal BMW M1 Procar in existence for viewing at the 26th Annual McCall’s Motorworks Revival. Taking the experience a step further, it is also offering a virtual reality track experience during the same period, giving visitors a glimpse into what the car’s like on the track.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Thermal Club is a premier private motorsports country club that offers exceptional driving experience programmes to its exclusive membership. It operates on a 344 acre facility in the California desert.

It’s home to luxurious villas, three different tracks, a club house, fuel station as well as a tuning shop for repair and maintenance. Basically, its a motorsports enthusiast’s dream getaway. and if you would like to know more, click on the following link:
The Thermal Club

Guests of the Motorworks Revival event will get to experience an  immersive 360-degree virtual reality ride-along offering a lap around two of the club’s Alan Wilson-designed tracks. Apart from that, they will also get a virtual tour of the race shop, driver  lounge, clubhouse, restaurant and a track-side villa.

“We look forward to bringing a piece of racing history and a state-of-the-art virtual tour of our club to this exclusive event,” said The Thermal Club Founder Tim Rogers. “Enthusiasts from around the globe head to Monterey Car Week to celebrate automotive history and enjoy the incredible amenities around the Peninsula.”

BMW produced a total of 40 of these M1 Procars, which competed in a championship support series during the 1979 and 1980 Formula One seasons. The 1979 car that is on display was restored by Bruce Canepa, a renowned racing driver.

The event is said to also feature an amazing display of rare cars, coveted racers, private jets, vintage airplanes, live music and fine cuisine. The Motorworks Revival proceeds benefit the California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation.


New Jaguar F-Type Supercar To Rival McLaren Set To Debut in 2022!

HOT from
Auto Express
, the successor to the Jaguar F-Type will embrace
hybrid technology
 and go mid-engined when it launches around
2022
, Auto Express (AE) has exclusively revealed this. And further down the line, Jag could launch a fully-electric version to rival the forthcoming
Porsche Taycan
.
Development work on the F-Type’s successor is under way, with engineers devising a plan that will transform the model into the brand’s halo product to compete with
McLaren
and
Audi Sport.

Central to the plan and favoured by engineers is the shift from a front to mid-engined layout for the performance car. According to high-ranking technicians working on the project, the
Honda NSX

is being used as a
benchmark
 for the next-generation Jaguar model, because key to the car’s armoury will be the use of hybrid technology to boost performance. Although it will be a replacement for the current F-Type, the new product is likely to bear little resemblance to the existing car. The switch to a mid-engined layout will enable Jaguar to be more daring with the proportions; the long bonnet and cab- rearward design of the current F-Type will make way for a lower, sleeker overall look, previewed here in AE’s exclusive images.

The mechanical make-up of the car is yet to be finalised, but it’s expected that at least
two electric motors
, one on each axle to give four-wheel drive, will supplement a
mid-mounted V6 engine
. If it is to be competitive, a power figure upwards of
550bhp
 is likely, placing it among competitors such as the
McLaren 570S

and
Audi R8
.
It will be only the second mid-engined car in Jaguar’s 83-year history, following on from the
XJ220
 of the nineties (below).

Image from www.autocar.co.uk

The firm came close to launching another in 2010 with the
C-X75
. Developed with Williams Advanced Engineering, the supercar was pitched as a rival for the
McLaren P1
, but the economic situation at the time concerned Jaguar and the project was axed due to a fear of a lack of return on the company’s investment.

The flexible platform on which the new F-Type will be based will also allow the brand to develop a fully-electric version. Auto Express understands engineers are keeping a close eye on the Taycan project and are keen to build a rival for that car. Jaguar has much more experience recently with developing electric cars as opposed to mid-engined vehicles. The
I-Pace
 is widely regarded as the best of its kind and is driven by concentric permanent magnet synchronous motors – that means the car’s driveshaft runs through the middle of them – which are designed and built by Jaguar itself.

It’s also possible that by the time the F-Type EV arrives, solid state battery technology, which is being analysed and developed by a host of global car brands, could be ready for production. Given the extensive changes the F-Type’s successor will undergo, it’s possible Jaguar could rename the model J-Type. The firm applied to trademark the name as recently as last month.

Jaguar F-Type EV Exclusive Photos
 (all 2022 F-Type photos from
Auto Express UK
)


2020 Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster GTS 4.0 bring back the Boxer Six – and manual transmission (w/VIDEO)

The beginning of the second quarter of 2020 will see the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster arriving in European showrooms in the new GTS 4.0 form. The new versions of the mid-engine sportscars are powered by a naturally-aspirated 4-litre 6-cylinder boxer engine developing 400 ps/419 Nm of torque. This engine is closely related to the engine used in the 718 Spyder and the 718 Cayman GT4 but detuned to produce about 20 ps less (but still more than the old turbocharged 4-cylinder 718 GTS engine).

The new GTS engine revs effortlessly to 7,800 rpm and emits a particularly rich 6-cylinder boxer engine sound via the standard Sports Exhaust System. The 718 GTS 4.0 models adopt the twin tailpipe Sport Exhaust System from the 718 Spyder and 718 Cayman GT4. Its saddle-type design creates space for the contrasting black rear lower fascia, which was specifically designed for the GTS models.

As in the 718 Spyder/718 Cayman GT4, the boxer engine also features adaptive cylinder control that alternately switches off one of the two cylinder banks at low engine loads, direct fuel injection with piezo injectors and a variable intake system to enhance the car’s efficiency which is claimed to be up to 9.2 kms/litre.

Equipped exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission and standard Sport Exhaust System, the 718 GTS 4.0 models can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 293 km/h.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sport suspension with a 20 mm lower ride height (compared to other 718 Boxster and Cayman models) is standard. Other standard equipment on the 718 GTS 4.0 models includes Porsche Stability Management (PSM) with individually selectable PSM Sport mode, Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts and Porsche Torque Vectoring with a mechanical limited-slip differential.

With the increased power, the brake system has been enhanced compared to the 718 S and previous 718 GTS models. The cross-drilled cast-iron front rotors now measure 350 mm in diameter (up from 330 mm previously) and are equipped with red 6-piston calipers, while the rear rotor size has been increased to 330 mm. The Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) is available as an option.

The 20-inch light-alloy wheels are painted in satin black and fitted with high-performance tyres (235/35ZR20 at the front, 265/35ZR20 at the rear).

As is typical for GTS models, the spoiler lip, the all-black air intake of the Sport Design front fascia and the redesigned lower rear fascia are kept in black, while the front running light lenses and taillights are tinted.

Black Alcantara is the material of choice for the interior, covering the centre sections of the standard Sport Seats Plus as well as the steering wheel rim, centre console, gear lever and door armrests. In the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, Alcantara also covers the A-pillars and roof lining.

With the optional GTS Interior Package, the tachometer, seatbelts, all decorative stitching including the embroidered GTS emblem in the headrests and the Porsche lettering on the floor mats are kept in either Carmine Red or Chalk. The interior trim for the 718 GTS 4.0 models is dominantly in carbonfibre but other trims are optionally available.

20 years of the Porsche 911 GT3


This is the 700hp Toyota GR Supra Drift by HKS

Excited about the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019? There will be many surprises waiting to drop our jaws straight to the floor like the
new Ford GT supercar
. The other highlight that has caught our attention is the public debut of the Toyota GR Supra Drift by HKS.

That’s right! The legendary tuning company will produce a tyre slaying competition vehicle based on the 2020 A90 Toyota GR Supra and for its first major debut, they will set it loose at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019 happening this weekend from 4 to 7 July 2019 in England.

This full-fledged drift beast will be driven by legendary HKS contract driver, Nobuteru Taniguchi. Built with the very best HKS has to offer, the Toyota GR Supra Drift by HKS is said to produce close to 700hp and 880Nm of ‘Lord, have mercy’ maximum torque.

HKS managed to pull this off with their very own HKS 2JZ 3.4-litre engine kit that bumps up the capacity by 0.4 litres and other goodies such as new HKS camshafts and GTIII-4R turbo package. In other words, it’s a very, VERY impressive 2JZ-GTE placed under the hood.

So, why did Toyota Motor Corporation decided to work with HKS? How about the fact that they’ve build an A70 Supra back in 1991 that can finish a quarter mile drag race within seven seconds? Or what about the time an A80 ‘HKST T-001’ project machine to compete at the iconic Tsukuba Circuit Time Attack?

HKS has all the talent, skills, and knowhow to deliver the very best of any Toyota model and with the latest A90, rest assured that they will deliver. In the meantime, check out the video of them doing the shakedown test.

A70 & A80 Toyota Supra parts will go back into production


Chery Partners With Inokom For Local Assembly

Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malaysian-based Sime Darby Motors and Chery Malaysia have officially joined forces for local assembly at the latter’s 200-acre manufacturing plant in Kulim, Kedah.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Inokom. With nearly three decades of experience in assembling vehicles of many world-renowned brands, Inokom is an ideal partner for Chery in our mission to take root in Malaysia and provide Malaysian consumers with high-technology and high-quality vehicles that are ahead of the curve in terms of design,” said Chery Malaysia Country Director Mr Leo Chen.

Chery is adamant about localising its business in Malaysia as much as is practical, as it has done effectively in a number of other areas. In addition to helping us better understand the needs and desires of Malaysian consumers, Chery thinks that doing this will also help the country economically by transferring technology, creating jobs, and opening up new strategic options.

The Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro SUVs are the first two Chery vehicles to be assembled at the Kedah factory. Despite having local assembly in Indonesia, Chen also declared that Malaysia would serve as the Chinese automaker’s ASEAN production hub. Kulim exports its goods to nations including Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, and even Australia. Except for Vietnam, all of the aforementioned nations have right-hand drives.

“We are also accelerating all other aspects of our localisation strategy, including recruiting top Malaysian talents in areas such as product, sales, after-sales, branding and marketing, and of course through our dealership network – we target to launch with no fewer than 30 dealers covering all major cities nationwide,” said Mr Chen.

The Omoda 5 has attracted a lot of interest from Malaysians thanks to its cutting-edge ‘Art in Motion’ design language, intelligent technology, including Chery’s most recent Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and wide seamless dual screens. Its core values are youth and global development.

The Tiggo 8 Pro, the pinnacle of the renowned Tiggo Pro line, strives to wow upwardly-mobile professionals and businesspeople with its blend of technology, upscale touches, and seven-seat adaptability.


Hap Seng Star opens RM99 million Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Setia Alam, Selangor

Global organisations, especially those in the premium and luxury segments, place great emphasis on brand image and corporate identity. Every aspect of their business must meet high standards and with companies like Mercedes-Benz, it includes the retail experience for customers.

This, of course, requires huge investments and the Hap Seng Group, one of the authorised dealers of the German brand in Malaysia, has spent of a total of RM673 million to date. It has established 10 Autohaus outlets in Peninsular and East Malaysia, as well as a standalone Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-owned Centre and a standalone Body & Paint centre, both in Selangor.

The most recent investment is RM99 million for the new Autohaus in Setia Alam, Selangor, which was officially opened today. The relocated facility has a new luxury brand presence and exclusive luxury lifestyle boutique with enhancements and upgrades that support the brand’s customer-centric efforts.

The Hap Seng Star Setia Alam Autohaus sits on almost 79,000 sq ft of land area and has 7 floors. The spacious showroom floor can display up to 16 cars and the building has amenities such a self-service café, kid’s playroom and even a luxurious ladies powder room.

The lifestyle retail experience includes Mercedes-Benz luxury accessories and collection boutique, catering to a wide range of customers with a variety of collectables and products.

“With this new Setia Alam outlet, we want our customers to experience luxury like no other through our new luxury retail presence, equipped with lavish features and special amenities. Hap Seng Star is continuously looking for ways to innovate our services and offerings while embracing the Mercedes-Benz spirit of luxury, and with our passion for excellence, we will continue to set the benchmark in delivering the best customer services and experience,” said Harald Behrend, Group Chief Operating Officer of Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad and Chief Executive of Hap Seng Group Automotive Division.

The Hap Seng Star Autohaus is a one-stop centre for the needs of new as well as existing customers. For the latter, there is a service area with expandable work bays and maximised service capacity of up to 1,500 vehicles a month. Scheduled service maintenance and major repairs are carried out by trained technicians equipped with complete and approved special tools from Mercedes-Benz.

Other service differentiation offerings range from Express Service 2.0, pick-up and delivery, drop-and-go service booking, wheel alignment and balancing, electrical diagnosis and repairs, paint coating, glass tinting and also assistance with insurance and warranty claims.

“The launch of Hap Seng Star Setia Alam Autohaus is a testament of our joint commitment to redefine a luxurious brand experience for our Malaysian customers, at every point of their journey. It is our goal to work with our dealer partners to continue to grow the brand’s luxury retail concept presence which aims to further enhance our offerings & customer experience in areas of sales and service to cater to the ever evolving needs and desires of our valued customers,” said Sagree Sardien, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia & Head of Region, South East Asia II.

Advanced Modern Apprenticeship at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy now open for applications


Malaysian Man Gets Lost In Forest While Using Waze

Source: @airilhafiz1922 Tiktok

A TikTok user with the handle @Izarus recently reported a terrifying encounter while using the Waze navigation software.

Also known as Airil, he recalled his interaction with the app while travelling to a location specified by a production manager. The production company was said to have offered Airil a shooting position in Jenjarom, Selangor, and also provided him with accommodation.

According to NST, he followed Waze’s directions from Sungai Buloh to Jenjarom at 10.30 p.m., even when the app took him into a dark forest and oil palm farm.

“I went a bit deeper because Waze took me right into the middle of the forest. At that time, there were no tar roads. There were dirt roads, bushes and puddles. Until I got to the location shared by the production manager, and then I realised there was no house there, let alone a homestay,” Airil said.

He panicked and decided to make a U-turn to find his way out, but he became lost in the jungle around midnight. He kept driving despite the challenges and weird sightings, hoping to find an exit.

“I continued to find the way out of the forest. There was a time my tire was stuck in a hole in the ground for a few minutes and drove on a riverbank because I wanted to avoid a big hole in the ground,” he said.

He prayed for protection as a result of his traumatic experience. Airil eventually saw a faint streak of light from a distance and decided to follow it.

He eventually made his way out and came across numerous passing vehicles. He quickly called for assistance from the production manager. The next day, he was surprised to see his car coated in mud and handprints.

Some netizens speculated that the handprints were left by magical forces that assisted him in pushing his automobile when it became stuck. Airil, on the other hand, believed that the handprints were from beings attempting but failing to reach him inside the car.

Many online users suggested using Google Maps rather than Waze because the latter frequently takes users through unexpected alternate routes in an effort to escape traffic jams.

We have also noticed that Waze at times will redirect you to a “shorter” route through back alleys and unknown locations. So do stay cautious when using Waze.