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Brabus Embarks On Ultra-Luxury Real Estate Venture With Launch Of Brabus Island In Abu Dhabi

Brabus, the German brand globally renowned for its high-performance automotive creations, has officially unveiled its most ambitious project yet — Brabus Island. The unveiling, held during a private, invitation-only event in Abu Dhabi, marks a significant milestone as the company steps into the realm of luxury real estate for the first time in its nearly 50-year history.

Situated in the exclusive Al Seef District of Al Raha Beach, Brabus Island occupies approximately 100,000 square metres of prime waterfront property. Just minutes from Zayed International Airport and the city centre of Abu Dhabi, and an hour’s drive from Dubai, the Island is poised to become a prestigious landmark in the Emirate.

Described as a bold new expression of the brand’s identity, Brabus Island embodies the essence of its design language through architecture, offering a living experience that mirrors the distinctiveness of its vehicles. This transition from automotive design to residential living is viewed as a natural evolution of the Brabus ethos.

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2025 Geely Monjaro L in China – A Potential Preview of the Next Generation Proton X70

Geely has given us a close-up of the 2025 Monjaro L, known in its home market as the Xingyue L, during a special preview at its test drive facility in China. The updated SUV could signal the arrival of the next-generation Proton X70 in Malaysia, given the close alignment of Geely and Proton’s product strategies.

Physically, the Monjaro L has grown slightly in size compared to its predecessor. The new model measures 4,770mm in length, 1,895mm in width, and stands 1,689mm tall, with a wheelbase stretching 2,845mm. These dimensions place it marginally above the current Proton X70, suggesting more interior space and a bolder road presence.

The exterior design receives a modest refresh. The most prominent change comes in the form of a vertical bar front grille that now protrudes outward slightly, flanked by Geely’s revised silver emblem. The signature LED headlamps and the shape of the front bumper’s air intake remain largely unchanged, but a new set of 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels adds a more premium stance. Geely has yet to confirm whether the 2025 Monjaro will be sold as a new variant or completely replace the existing version, although indications point toward the latter.

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Ferrari Unveils 296 Speciale: A Sharpened Hybrid Supercar With Track-Inspired DNA

Ferrari has officially revealed its latest high-performance berlinetta, the 296 Speciale, a focused evolution of its mid-rear-engined plug-in hybrid line-up. Designed to elevate the driving experience to new heights, the 296 Speciale is the spiritual successor to a storied lineage of hardcore V8 special series cars, including the Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia, 458 Speciale, and 488 Pista.

At the heart of this latest creation lies a significantly enhanced version of Ferrari’s hybrid powertrain. The familiar 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine now produces 690hp, identical to the output found in the track-only 296 Challenge. This is no coincidence—Ferrari has confirmed that the 296 Speciale inherits its engine mapping and boost calibration from the race car, along with several internal upgrades including titanium connecting rods, new pistons, and a lighter crankshaft. Borrowing from Formula 1 technology, the engine also employs a sophisticated knock control system, enhancing performance and reliability under high-stress conditions.

Augmenting the internal combustion engine is an upgraded electric motor contributing an additional 177hp, bringing total system output to 867hp—up from 818hp in the standard 296 GTB. Power is channelled exclusively to the rear wheels through Ferrari’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which retains its original hardware but features recalibrated shift strategies to better exploit the added performance. Despite its race-ready credentials, the 296 Speciale remains a plug-in hybrid, capable of covering up to 24km on electric power alone.

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Isuzu Launches Production of All-Electric D-MAX Pickup Truck in Thailand

Isuzu Motors Limited has officially begun production of its first fully electric 1-tonne pickup truck, the D-MAX EV, at its manufacturing facility in Thailand. This marks a significant milestone for the Japanese automaker as it expands its portfolio of carbon-neutral vehicles.

The electric D-MAX, first revealed as a prototype at the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show in March 2023, has now entered mass production. Initial manufacturing focuses on the left-hand drive version destined for European markets, with shipments scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2025. Production of the right-hand drive variant is expected to begin by the end of 2025, with sales in the United Kingdom planned for 2026. Further market expansion will follow, based on regional demand.

Designed to match the capabilities of its diesel-powered counterpart, the D-MAX EV features a full-time four-wheel drive system equipped with newly developed electric axles at the front and rear. This setup delivers the smooth and immediate acceleration characteristic of electric vehicles, while also maintaining low levels of noise and vibration. With its robust frame and body structure, the electric pickup offers a high towing capacity and payload performance, ensuring suitability for both commercial and private use.

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Toyota and Waymo Forge Strategic Alliance to Advance Autonomous Vehicle Development

Toyota Motor Corporation has entered into a preliminary agreement with Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company originally founded as part of Google’s self-driving car initiative in 2009, to explore a far-reaching collaboration aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of autonomous driving technologies. The initiative signals a major step forward in the integration of advanced mobility systems, as both companies seek to combine their technological strengths.

Joining the partnership is Woven by Toyota, the mobility and software innovation arm of Toyota. Woven will act as a strategic enabler, contributing its expertise in advanced software architecture and digital mobility solutions. Together, the three entities are aligning behind a shared vision of increasing road safety and expanding access to mobility through the advancement of autonomous technologies.

Central to the potential collaboration is the creation of a new autonomous vehicle platform. The companies will also evaluate how Waymo’s state-of-the-art self-driving technology can be integrated with Toyota’s manufacturing and vehicle design expertise to support the next generation of personally owned vehicles (POVs). This would mark a significant evolution for autonomous driving beyond fleet-based ride-hailing services, broadening its reach into the consumer market. While the exact parameters of the partnership are still under discussion, both parties have expressed a strong commitment to furthering the development of safe and scalable driver-assistance technologies.

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Aston Martin Unveils DBX S: A Lighter, Sharper and More Powerful Flagship SUV

Aston Martin has officially introduced its latest flagship SUV, the DBX S, a high-performance evolution of the DBX range that sets new benchmarks for dynamic capability, design presence and technological innovation. Drawing from its storied tradition of ‘S’ models, the DBX S enters the line-up as a lighter, more powerful and strikingly assertive sibling to the DBX707.

At the core of the DBX S is an upgraded version of Aston Martin’s acclaimed 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Enhanced with turbocharger technology derived directly from the forthcoming Valhalla supercar, including larger compressor wheels and other internal refinements, the powertrain now delivers 727PS—an increase of 20PS over the DBX707. This results in a 0–100km/h sprint time of just 3.3 seconds, while the 0–200km/h time has been reduced by 0.3 seconds. The top speed remains unchanged at 310km/h.

Performance has been further bolstered with a revised exhaust system, amplifying the already sonorous character of the V8. Meanwhile, Aston Martin’s innovative nine-speed wet clutch transmission ensures optimal torque distribution between axles, offering up to 100 per cent rear-wheel torque for a rear-biased driving feel. The DBX S’s gearbox has undergone further calibration, allowing more aggressive downshifts in Sport and Sport+ modes and adjusted upshift points to suit the extended rev range.

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Latest News

Brabus Embarks On Ultra-Luxury Real Estate Venture With Launch Of Brabus Island In Abu Dhabi

2025 Geely Monjaro L in China – A Potential Preview of the Next Generation Proton X70

Ferrari Unveils 296 Speciale: A Sharpened Hybrid Supercar With Track-Inspired DNA

Isuzu Launches Production of All-Electric D-MAX Pickup Truck in Thailand

Toyota and Waymo Forge Strategic Alliance to Advance Autonomous Vehicle Development

Aston Martin Unveils DBX S: A Lighter, Sharper and More Powerful Flagship SUV

Review: New Porsche Macan 4 Offers Good Looks & Practicality

Brabus Opens Flagship Showroom in TTDI, 900 Rocket R Introduced

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Proton e.MAS 7 Conquers 10,432km Across 9 ASEAN Countries

RM350 Million Allocated for Federal Road Maintenance in Peninsular Malaysia

Geely Chairman Backs Dual Strategy of ICE and EV Development, Rejects Price War Tactics

Volvo Padel Open Returns with New Format and Renewed Commitment to Local Talent

Land Rover Revamps Defender for 2025 with More Power, Smarter Tech, and Rugged Refinements

GWM Unveils ICE-Powered Haval Raptor for China with Rugged Off-Road Credentials

BMW Unveils New M2 CS: Track-Ready Performance with Everyday Practicality

Archive

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Malaysia Autoshow 2025: MG Motor Unveils Exclusive Early Bird Package for All-New MG S5 EV

2025 Geely Monjaro L in China – A Potential Preview of the Next Generation Proton X70

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