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Mercedes-Benz Introduces All-New Electric GLB with More Space, More Tech and Two Powertrain Options

Mercedes-Benz has pulled the covers off the next-generation GLB, and while its familiar upright silhouette remains, almost everything else has been thoroughly reworked. The SUV enters its new chapter as a fully electric model, stepping in as a successor to the EQB despite wearing a different badge. Hybrid versions will come later, but the initial rollout focuses solely on battery power, available in both five- and seven-seat layouts.

The new GLB arrives with two variants at launch. The first is the GLB 250+ with EQ Technology, fitted with an 85 kWh lithium-ion battery and built around an 800-volt electrical system. Power is supplied by a single rear-mounted motor producing 268 hp and 335 Nm of continuous torque, with a short-lived boost function that temporarily increases output to 454 Nm. It manages the 0–100 km/h sprint in 7.4 seconds and offers a travel range of 630 km on a full charge, which places it right at the top of the segment for efficiency and usable distance.

Above it sits the more powerful GLB 350 4Matic with EQ Technology. This version adds a second motor at the front axle for all-wheel drive, raising total output to 349 hp and 515 Nm. Despite the bump in performance, its range dips only slightly to 615 km. The extra power drops the 0–100 km/h time to 5.5 seconds, giving the 4Matic variant some surprisingly lively acceleration for a family SUV.

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Chery Readies a New Addition to the Tiggo Line-Up with the Tiggo 5 Pro in China

Chery is preparing to expand its Tiggo 5 family with a brand-new model called the Tiggo 5 Pro, a compact SUV that takes a different design direction from the current Tiggo 5x sold in China. While the Tiggo 5 series has so far consisted of the two Tiggo 5x variants, the Pro arrives with a noticeably larger footprint and a fresh look, even though it remains a petrol-powered model.

The Tiggo 5 Pro stretches to 4540 mm in length and 1835 mm in width, making it longer and slightly wider than both existing Tiggo 5x versions, which measure either 4400 mm or 4358 mm long, with both sharing the same 1830 mm width. All three models, however, sit on an identical 2630 mm wheelbase. Its height matches one of the current Tiggo 5x versions at 1588 mm, giving it a similar stance despite its extended body.

What sets the Tiggo 5 Pro apart visually is its new design language, which Chery has reserved for this model. Most striking is the closed-off front end — an unusual choice for a petrol-powered SUV — paired with sharp surface lines and slim headlights. The designers have added a narrow rectangular grille in the middle and a polygonal lower grille that gives the car a layered, more expressive front profile. It’s a cleaner, more modern interpretation that moves away from the busier styling cues often seen on entry-level SUVs.

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Subaru Forester e-Boxer Wins 2024 Japan Car of the Year

The Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) award has been presented annually since 1980, beginning with the Mazda Familia—better known to some as the Mazda GLC. Over the decades, Toyota and Honda have dominated the awards, securing 15 and 14 wins each. Subaru, meanwhile, has only occasionally taken the top spot, but when it does, it tends to make an impression.

Subaru’s first JCOTY win came in 2003 with the fourth-generation Legacy, a model that bids farewell this year. The second title arrived in 2016 with the fifth-generation Impreza, followed in 2020 by the second-generation Levorg (sold in some markets as the WRX Wagon). The brand can now add a fourth win to its record.

The Forester Hybrid—marketed in Japan as the Forester e-Boxer—has been named the 2024 Japan Car of the Year. The award recognises the crossover’s balance of performance, everyday usability, efficiency, and safety. In Japan, the Forester e-Boxer is also competitively priced, ranging from ¥4,202,000 to ¥4,598,000 (around RM131,000 and RM144,000).

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Nissan Introduces the Sixth-Generation Serena in Malaysia with a New e-POWER System

Since its debut in Japan in the 1990s, the Nissan Serena has built a strong reputation in the mid-sized MPV segment. It is known for its ease of use, flexible interior, and dependable performance, qualities that have made it a long-standing favourite among Malaysian buyers. The Serena’s focus on practicality and efficiency has helped it remain one of the most respected and best-selling MPVs in the country.

Malaysia first saw a hybrid Serena in 2013 with the C26 Serena S-Hybrid, which introduced fuel-saving technology alongside a cleverly designed cabin suitable for daily family needs. This was followed by the C27 Serena S-Hybrid, which expanded on the formula with advanced safety technology and user-friendly features that strengthened its appeal among families.

The arrival of the sixth-generation C28 Serena marks another major shift. The All-New Serena e-POWER moves to a fully electric motor-driven setup, aiming to deliver a level of performance and refinement not usually found in this segment. The change signals Nissan’s intention to push the boundaries of what a family MPV can offer.

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Proton Shows First Plug-in Hybrid, the e.MAS 7 PHEV

Proton has shown its first plug-in hybrid car, called the e.MAS 7 PHEV, at the Proton Tech Showcase in Shah Alam. The car is not for sale yet, but this preview shows that Proton is getting ready to enter the plug-in hybrid market for the first time.

The e.MAS 7 PHEV is the Malaysian version of the Geely Starray EM-i, a model sold in China. It shares many parts with its fully electric twin, the e.MAS 7. The test car shown to the public has Proton’s large tiger logo on the front and on the glass panels.

The car uses a 1.5-litre engine made by Geely. For hybrid use, the engine was changed to make it more fuel-efficient. It uses the Atkinson cycle, has simpler parts, and includes a special EGR system to reduce fuel use. The engine also never stops charging the battery unless the wheels need extra help.

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Toyota Introduces the GR GT: A New Flagship Born from Its Racing Programme

Toyota has announced its latest high-performance model, the GR GT, describing it as a road-legal machine shaped by motorsport engineering. It follows a lineage that began with the Toyota 2000GT and continued decades later with the Lexus LFA, marking a new milestone for the brand’s performance arm, Gazoo Racing.

Development of the GR GT was guided by three priorities: achieving a very low centre of gravity, reducing overall weight, and creating a rigid structure to support aerodynamic efficiency. Early figures suggest Toyota has committed to these goals. The car is expected to produce at least 640hp, its centre of gravity sits strikingly low, and the structure uses Toyota’s first all-aluminium frame to keep weight down.

Power comes from a newly developed twin-turbo V8 paired with a single electric motor mounted within the transaxle. Toyota is targeting a minimum of 640hp and 850Nm of torque, all channelled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Toyota stresses that these figures represent baseline targets for the prototype, hinting that the production version may exceed them.

The GR GT’s chassis marks a first for Toyota: a fully aluminium frame, combined with exterior panels made from aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic. The focus on weight reduction brings a series of benefits, including improved stability, sharper responses, and more effective aerodynamics. Carbon-ceramic brakes and 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres—325-section at the rear—complete the package.