Jaecoo Malaysia showcased the Jaecoo J8 alongside the Jaecoo J7. The J8 was revealed in Doha, Qatar, in October last year in both two- and three-row seating configurations, depending on the market.
This SUV measures at 4,820mm in length, 1,699mm in height, and 1,930 mm in width, with a wheelbase of 2,820mm, making it slightly larger than the J7.
Under the hood, the J8 packs a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine producing 245hp and 385Nm of torque. This powerplant is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and buyers can choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options.
While the previewed unit was a left-hand drive and not indicative of the model for the Malaysian market, it still showcased several features. Notable elements include 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, dual 12.3-inch displays for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, and controls, along with a head-up display.
The interior revealed leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a 14-speaker Sony sound system, air-cooled wireless charging, a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, and a powered tailgate. While the previewed unit was configured for five seats, the J8 is available with six or seven seats.
However, the J8 will be launched much later this year as we still await the official launch of the J7 which is expected to be sometime in March.
Nissan is ushering in the new year with sophistication as it unveils the enhanced Nissan Almera KURO (Black) Edition. Boasting elevated aesthetics that radiate sporty poise, the 2024 model introduces the trendy Glacier Grey exterior body colour.
The Nissan Almera KURO (Black) Edition sets the stage with factory-fitted styling enhancements, featuring gloss black front grille cladding and black alloy rims as standard equipment across all three Almera variants. Elevating the stealthy theme, customers can opt for either the KURO Package or the KURO GT Package, both significantly enhancing the vehicle’s appearance.
The KURO Package builds on the Almera Turbo’s aerokit developed exclusively by TOMEI Japan, incorporating elements such as a Gloss Black Front Bumper Spoiler, Gloss Black Rear Bumper Spoilers, Gloss Black Side Skirts, and Gloss Black Boot Lid Spoiler. The package also includes practical accessories like ICE Cool Tinting Film, Sport Pedals, Kicking Plate, Door Handle Protector, and Door Visor.
For enthusiasts seeking the ultimate styling, the KURO GT Package takes it up a notch by adding the distinctive TOMEI GT Wing and 16-inch IMPUL Racing alloy rims, providing a complete stealth treatment.
Under the hood, the Nissan Almera Turbo is powered by technological innovations, including Nissan Intelligent Mobility and Nissan Safety Shield 360 initiatives. It features Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (IFCW) and Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking (IFEB) as standard, with the top VLT grade adding Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Intelligent Around View Monitor (IAVM) 360° camera with Moving Object Detection (IMOD).
Achieving an impressive fuel economy rating of 18.4km per litre, the Almera Turbo boasts a turbocharged engine using Mirror Bore Coating technology from the iconic R35 Nissan GT-R. Paired with the ultra-efficient XTRONIC Continuously Variable Transmission with D-Step Logic and Sport Mode, the Almera Turbo delivers exceptional performance.
Inside, the Almera Turbo features a contemporary instrument panel design inspired by a ‘Gliding Wing,’ complemented by premium materials, a flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel, and a 7-inch semi-digital meter cluster. The cabin provides comfort and connectivity with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display supporting Apple CarPlayTM and Android AutoTM.
The new Nissan Almera KURO (Black) Edition starts at RM83,888, with a launch promotion offering RM1,000 for the KURO Package and RM1,500 for the limited edition KURO GT Package (limited to 300 vehicle sets). Additionally, low monthly instalments starting from RM658 are available. The Almera KURO (Black) Edition is now available for viewing and test drives at all Nissan showrooms nationwide.
Jaecoo, a brand under Chery, has just shown us its premium urban off-road SUV, the J7. The brand is making its mark in the fiercely competitive automotive market with its “Born Global” philosophy, emphasising its commitment to global performance and standards.
The J7 has dimensions of 4,500mm in length, 1,865mm in width, and 1,680mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,672mm, making it slightly smaller than the third-generation Range Rover Sport. It also features 19-inch Aurora-inspired aluminium alloy wheels.
Promoted as an outstanding urban off-road SUV in the premium category, the J7 boasts a ground clearance of 200 mm, an approach angle of 21 degrees, a departure angle of 29 degrees and a wading depth capability of 600mm. For those prioritising practicality, the J7 offers a generous boot space measuring 412 litres, a maximum towing capacity of 1,300kg, and a roof load capacity of 75kg.
The available features encompass LED headlamps, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a central infotainment touchscreen measuring 14.8 inches, wireless compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a head-up display, a hands-free powered tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, rear air-conditioning vents, a powered driver’s seat, front seats with heating and ventilation. The transmission shifter has an avant-garde fighter-inspired design. It also has a safety provision of up to 10 airbags, and an extensive array of advanced driver assistance systems such as:
AEB: Automatic Emergency Braking
FCW: Front Collision Warning
LDW: Lane Departure Warning
LDP: Lane Departure Prevention
ELK: Emergency Lane Keeping
IES: Intelligent Evasion System
CSA: Curve Speed Assistance
DAI: Departure Ahead Inform
ACC: Adaptive Cruise Control
IHC: Intelligent Headlamp Control
TJA: Traffic Jam Assist
540° Panoramic Camera
Parking Assistance
RCW: Rear Collision Warning
RCTA: Rear Cross Traffic Alert
RCTB: Rear Cross Traffic Braking
BSD: Blind Spot Detection
LCA: Lane Changing Assistance
DOW: Door Opening Warning
The heart of the J7 is a 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine with 194hp and 290Nm of torque. Paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an intelligent 4WD system, the J7 achieves a 0-100km/h acceleration in eight seconds. According to WLTP ratings, the fuel consumption stands at 7.48 litres per 100km.
More information such as pricing and packages will be available soon during the official launch in the first-half of 2024.
QuantumScape, a leading developer of solid-state batteries, has achieved significant success in recent testing conducted by Volkswagen’s PowerCo labs. The prototype of QuantumScape’s solid-state battery underwent an impressive 1,000 charging cycles, retaining over 95% of its initial energy capacity. This outstanding performance is equivalent to an electric vehicle covering more than 482,803km without experiencing any noticeable degradation in range.
The solid-state battery technology developed by QuantumScape is considered revolutionary due to its potential to offer longer ranges, shorter charging times, and enhanced safety compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The company’s target for the prototype was 800 cycles with 80% energy retention, and the actual results have far surpassed this goal.
The rigorous testing carried out by Volkswagen’s PowerCo labs is a crucial step in validating the performance potential of QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium metal batteries. The prototype cell used in the tests has the same number of layers and follows the same proprietary cell format as QuantumScape’s first production-intent battery cell, known as the QSE-5.
In a startling incident on December 12, 2023, negligence by contractors involved in the multi-level parking project at Rawang Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) station resulted in losses exceeding RM2.4 million. The aftermath saw a construction crane collapsing on the track between Rawang and Kuang, triggering widespread disruptions that affected more than 20,000 train passengers.
Contractor Warnings and Freezing of Approvals
According to NST, transport minister Anthony Loke disclosed that KTMB had issued warnings to the contractors, leading to the freezing of approvals to the Public Works Department (JKR) and Railway Assets Corp (RAC) due to unauthorized construction work near KTMB’s operational track. The revelation sheds light on a disregard for safety protocols that could have averted the catastrophic incident.
The freezing of approvals indicates a systemic failure in oversight and raises questions about the efficacy of regulatory checks in preventing unauthorised construction activities.
The world of electric vehicle has been thriving in the past couple of years, with new models being introduced every other month from well-known brands. Even all-new brands have been sprouting up like mushrooms after rain as well.
A lot of the all-new brands are from China, but some are also coming out of Europe and the good old USA as well. While that has been a common theme, some car makers are reviving well-known, legendary brands but as pure EV’s.
Take Lotus for example, the iconic British brand was bought over by the Zhejiang Geely group, and save for just one model, it makes only electric vehicles while once upon a time it made nothing but ultra-light high-performance cars. Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus, may be rolling in his grave but the company is now making big bucks, which should stop his twirl.
And we also have Smart, which is usually stylised in lower case. Though not as iconic as Lotus, Smart has been around since the 80s and has made quite a name for itself over the years.
Many associate Smart with Mercedes-Benz and they are not wrong about that. However, Smart’s story goes further than that. Smart’s foundations lays with Swatch watches when the latter’s CEO wanted to create a car with the same manufacturing technologies and personalization options as the watches.
But rather than going at it alone, Swatch began looking for automotive partners. Volkswagen had initially agreed to support the brand but that changed when a new CEO took up the mantle.
Smart and Daimler-Benz AG then reached an agreement in 1994 and a number of eye-catching cars such as the ForTwo and ForFour soon came around, but sales were abysmal.
Mercedes-Benz and Geely then formed the Smart Automobile Co. Ltd in 2019 and began building Smart cars in China. The German brand handled design and marketing while Geely would focused on architecture and engineering.
Fast forward a couple of years and Smart is officially in Malaysia with Proton thanks to Geely, except that this time there is a new company that manages the brand.
Proton New Energy Technology (Pro-Net) was formed in 2022 and handles sales of Smart cars in Malaysia and in Thailand. The first point of business was to establish the Smart brand in Malaysia, and thus, after a series of teasers, Smart was officially launched in Malaysia in November of last year.
Rather awkwardly called the #1 (pronounced as the hashtag one), the first model comes in three variants – the entry level Pro model, Premium, and the flagship model seen here, the Brabus.
Priced at RM249,000, this is officially the cheapest Brabus model that has ever gone on sale. And those that know Brabus will understand that Brabus cars are not your regular run of the mill models. Any car that has the Brabus logo is something remarkably special, and the #1 Brabus is no different.
While the lesser variants can be described as regular EV’s, the Brabus adds performance and good looks to it, particularly in this matte grey colour with its contrasting radiant red roof.
True to the original plan, the #1 was designed by Mercedes-Benz while Geely focused on the engineering. It is built on Geely’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA) platform that also underpins other Geely brands like the Lotus Eletre, Zeekr 01 and Polestar models.
But the #1 runs on the SEA2 version to be exact, which is the same platform that is found on the Zeekr X and the Volvo EX30.
In terms of size, the #1 Brabus is 4270mm long, 1822mm wide and has a 2750mm wheelbase. At first glance, it looks similar in size to a MINI Countryman, but once you research the numbers, you will notice that it is in fact slightly longer than a Honda Civic. This should not come as a surprise though as the #1 is technically Smart’s first SUV.
Despite being quite large, which is something Smart cars were never meant to be, there is no mistaking its design. Somehow, Mercedes-Benz has managed to make it bigger, yet still retain its design DNA. The LED lights at the front and the back are connected by a light strip that runs across the length of the car. This looks good and accentuates the width of the car.
Take a seat in the captain’s chair and you are greeted by a minimalist interior. Directly ahead of you is a small 9.2-inch meter cluster that gives you all the essential readings such as the speed, battery charge and range of the car. Up ahead there is a 10-inch heads-up display that can be adjusted according to your height.
Dominating the interior though is a massive 12.8-inch infotainment screen that houses all the controls of the car. From here you adjust everything from the position of the side view mirrors to the safety systems, the entertainment, navigation and even look for the closest charging station.
One nifty feature that it has is a built-in navigation system with local info on charging stations. This shows you all the charging stations that are located near you, the status of the station (operational or not) and its charging performance.
The one feature we particularly like is that you can key in your destination into the map, let the car do the calculations for you and it will tell you whether you have enough juice to get there.
If you don’t, the car will show you where to charge and how long it will take you. It basically does all the hard work for you, and that is something that makes owning an EV more pleasant since there aren’t as many charging stations as petrol stations.
Once you have that out of the way, you can sit back and indulge in one of the finest sound systems found in an automobile. Entertainment is provided by Beats with 13-speakers placed all around the interior to ensure you don’t only hear your favourite music the way the artist intended you to, but also feel it deep in your organs.
But in case you are not an audiophile like us, you will be happy to know that the Brabus has its own augment engine sounds as well. There are two different engine sound options called the Smart original sounds and classic, which sounds too fake as compared to the former.
These sounds match the character of the Brabus, with 428PS and 543Nm at its disposal, this #1 is capable of some serious performance. The acceleration to 100km/h is seen off in 3.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 180kmh. This is blisteringly quick considering that it weighs in at a hefty 1900kg.
Even charging it up is quite impressive. The #1 is capable of 22kW AC charging which allows it to recharge from 10 to 80% in just three hours. That is seriously fast and rare. Most EV cars in Malaysia are only capable of 11kW or 7kW AC charging, and only expensive EV’s like Audi’s e-Tron’s or the Porsche Taycan are capable of 22kW AC charging.
But of course, it is also capable of some seriously fast DC charging. With 150kW capability, it can spruce up from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes. The only problem? There are not that many 150kW DC chargers available that allow you to do that. As for range, the #1 Brabus has a 400km range as compared to the 440km of the Premium variant, but that is still better than the 315km of the entry-level Pro variant.
Besides its obvious performance talents, there is much to love about the #1 Brabus, such as its spaciousness that allows a family of five to get fairly comfortable with luggage space for a weekend at the beach. Build quality is great too and features such as the vehicle to load function lets you power up appliances like a fan or a coffee machine if you like to spend time outdoors.
Even driving it is super fun as the suspension has been stiffened to match its performance, meaning you can throw it into corners and slingshot out in stitches of laughter. But when you want to take it slow, just press a button to open the full panoramic roof and turn off the radio, sink into the ultrasuede leather seats and bask in its silent ambiance.
But it is not all praises for the #1 Brabus. The Gunmetal trim around the centre console tends to glare in the afternoon sun and this blinds you when driving. There are no audio buttons so you are left with the steering buttons or have to dive into that centre screen to adjust simple things like the volume.
Then there is the annoying Lane Keep Assist function that forces you to fight the car which wants to stay in its lane when all you want to do is swerve out of the way of a suicidal motorcyclist. These are simple things that can be irritating, but they are not deal breakers as there is plenty to love about the #1 Brabus.
In fact, and at the risk of being crucified by Teslaholics, we would go so far as to say that it is perhaps a better buy than a Tesla. We dived into Tesla Malaysia’s website and specified our very own Model 3. We chose the Long-Range version with 19-inch wheels and full self-driving capability. And that would set us back RM262,500. But its glass roof does not have a shade, nor can a tint keep it cool enough for a bald man to drive comfortably, so that is out.
Then we chose the Model Y and opted for the Long-Range variant with 20-inch wheels with self-driving capabilities and that would set us back RM293,000, which is substantially more than the #1 Brabus.
And besides, the real flex is owning a Brabus, how many people can say that? Also, if you buy a Smart over a Tesla, the friendly salespeople will even help you apply for a loan, where else with a Tesla, you must do everything yourself, very much like assembling Ikea furniture.
Specifications
Motor: Dual Electric Motors
Power: 428PS
Torque: 543Nm
Range: 400km
AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours
DC Charging: 150kW; 10-80% in 30 mins
We like: Performance, Features, Handling
We don’t like: Simple controls can be hard to access
