From 17th December 2018 to 31st March 2019, all you need to do is spend RM40 at any Shell Station nationwide to stand a chance to win a dream vacation to either South Korea, Italy or New Zealand during the “Win a Trip with Shell” contest. Its first winner was announced today, which saw Wan Muhammad Fathi (below, right) walk away with an all-expenses paid trip to New Zealand.
All it takes are 3 easy steps: 1) Spend a minimum of RM40 at any Shell Station nationwide; 2) Choose one of the three destinations in the contest form; 3) Submit the form with a valid receipt. Receipts can be for any purchases except tobacco products, Touch ‘n Go reloads and E-Pay products.
Shairan Huzani Husain (above) MD of Shell Malaysia Trading & Shell Timur Sdn Bhd said, “Customers are our priority here at Shell, and we aim to make life’s journey better for all. We recognise Malaysian’s love for gaining new experiences through travelling, and from that we derived the “Win a Trip with Shell” contest, as a way for us to turn everyday journeys into a memorable and rewarding experience that our customers can look forward to this new year”
So don’t forget to do this the next time you refuel at Shell, and you might be on your way to the lands made decidedly more famous by The Lord of the Rings, Ferrari and….err, K-Pop.
2018 was the fifth consecutive record year for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM). The distinctive three-pointed star shined brightly in 2018 with an extraordinary performance of 13,079 vehicles sold, translating into a 9% overall growth. Capturing a 2.4 per cent market share*, the achievement cements Mercedes-Benz as the undisputed luxury lifestyle brand in Malaysia and the global arena.
MBM President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner (below, left) said: “2018 was another successful year in the 15 year-long extraordinary journey for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and the Mercedes-Benz brand. Our efforts to invigorate the brand experience for our increasingly diverse fans have been fruitful and we are happy to retain our position as the number one luxury lifestyle brand. Our great combination of Best Products, Best Service and Best Customer Experience continues to drive the brand’s success and we assure our customers and fans that this will continue to be our focus.”
He added, “Offering a seamless customer experience to our valued customers is a core value that we uphold and we believe this is important to ensure sustainability of the business. The mantra has always been about ‘Putting the customer at the centre of our activities’. ”
Commenting on the 2018 performance, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at MBM, Mark Raine (above, left) said, “We are extremely proud of our history-making performance for 2018. We delivered 13,079 Mercedes-Benz Cars to customers, further cementing our position as the leading premium brand in Malaysia. Our fresh-faced product portfolio with the locally assembled Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43, and all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has succeeded in keeping our fans excited about the brand. Furthermore, we gave the market a taste of the future with the EQ Concept this year. We intend to keep the momentum going with more exciting events and products in 2019.”
In 2018, MBM’s performance was spearheaded by the locally produced limousines, which recorded 7,910 units sold. Following closely were the Mercedes-Benz SUVs with 2,613 units sold, particularly by the locally produced Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 and GLC 250. The German marque expects continued positive demand for this segment. The Mercedes-Benz compact cars recorded a total of 1,875 units sold, while the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars, recorded a total of 662 units sold, a 77% growth for the three-pointed star’s brand shapers.
The 20 vehicle launches spread throughout 2018 sustained the healthy momentum of demand for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The key launches included the locally-assembled Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43, Mercedes-AMG E 53 Sedan and Mercedes-AMG E 53 Coupé, its New Dream Cars Collection, the New Mercedes-Benz S-Class Family, and the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class and new generation C-Class.
Additionally, MBM showcased the brand’s innovative edge with the EQ Concept premiere in Kuala Lumpur – a first in Southeast Asia. The milestone has positioned Mercedes-Benz as a reinventer of the automotive industry with the EQ brand, pioneering the direction and setting the stage for future mobility.
Going hand-in-hand with its Best Products, MBM spearheaded engaging activities to match a diverse fan base aligned to its overall Best Customer Experience commitment. MBM engaged with fans through events like Urban Hunting x ULTRA Singapore 2018, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Kuala Lumpur, the MercedesTrophy and introduction of the AMG Owners Club Malaysia (AOCM) which are aimed at elevating the AMG experience with exclusive access to all things AMG for owners.
Complementing the seamless ownership experience, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM) recorded a steady growth in line with the three-pointed star’s progress. For the year, MBSM financed four out of every 10 Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold and has a solid servicing portfolio of MYR 2.7 billion** MBSM’s commitment to innovative peace-of-mind financing and insurance solutions was further embodied with the introduction of new products like AgilityPlus and Lease2Go.
MBM’s emphasis on upholding Best Customer Experience at every touchpoint translated into the highest Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) After-sales score in history. The achievement has demonstrated the brand’s excellence in managing the high volume of Mercedes-Benz vehicles by maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
The passion and expertise behind the Best Customer Experience brand promise was showcased once again in this year’s Mercedes-Benz SEA II Skills Competition. 2018 marked the competition’s 10th anniversary and first year opening its doors to the South East Asia II (SEAII) region. A total of 613 Customer Services Professionals and Advanced Modern Apprenticeship finalists competed for the title of best technician, service advisor and process specialist within the Mercedes-Benz network.
The celebrated technicians and customer services personnel make up the backbone of MBM’s 35 dedicated dealerships nationwide. In tandem with its growing fan base, MBM launched five new touchpoints last year including the NZ Wheels Klang Autohaus, Hap Seng Star Setia Alam Autohaus and Asbenz Stern Kuantan Autohaus among others. Trained with a view of keeping customers at the centre, every touch point is key in delivering the Best Products and Best Customer Service throughout the entire customer journey. To date, Mercedes-Benz has the largest premium dealer network in the country.
Recognising the dedication, passion and hard work of its dealer partners, MBM held the inaugural Dealer of the Year awards in March 2018. The award is poised to be an annual event aimed at rewarding dealerships for operational excellence and commitment to delivering the Best Customer Experience. Another exciting offering introduced in the network for 2018 was the Mercedes-Benz Certified pre-owned vehicle programme. The programme represents the highest quality in used cars from Mercedes-Benz worldwide, previously known as Proven Exclusivity.
Mercedes-Benz as a brand has invested over MYR 1 billion in the Malaysian market since 2003 and MBM’s production plant in Pekan, Pahang demonstrates its long-term position and consistent commitment to the Malaysian economy. In FY2018, the production plant produced 9,854 vehicles, including the newest addition being the Mercedes-Benz S 450 L and the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Facelift.
MBM’s long-term commitment is also demonstrated through the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy built to develop the skills of Malaysia’s youth and create meaningful job opportunities in the automotive industry. 2018 saw an additional 26 apprentices graduated bringing the total to 853 globally certified local apprentices who have passed through its doors since the establishment of the training programme.
On its outlook for the year ahead, Dr Weidner said, “2019 will be another exciting year for Mercedes-Benz with refreshing innovations and new benchmarks to elevate the customer experience. We are excited to share these updates in due time.” Earlier this week, Daimler AG announced that on a global level Mercedes-Benz sold approximately 2.3 million cars worldwide in 2018, increasing its unit sales by 0.9 per cent, making 2018 the most successful year in terms of sales in the company’s history.
The new sales record in the car division of Daimler AG was driven in particular by the success of Mercedes-Benz in the Asia-Pacific region. Asia-Pacific was identified as the region with the strongest growth in 2018, delivering 943,473 (+7.8%) Mercedes-Benz cars to customers in 2018. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia was one of the few markets in the Asia Pacific region to have delivered more passenger cars than ever before in a single year.
*As of YTD November 2018
**The numbers for 2018 are unaudited and subject to change.
VPCM is inviting you to celebrate Chinese New Year by inviting good luck and prosperity. The Chinese character “Fuu” means good luck and the reason why it is hung upside down is to symbolize that good fortune will come pouring in. Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is kicking off its Chinese New Year celebration by offering great savings on all of its current models and it is enough to turn anyone upside down!
Below are the models and savings that are subjected to terms and conditions while stocks last.
Model
Savings up to
Monthly
Polo
RM6,000
RM720
Vento Comfortline
RM12,000
RM760
Vento Highline
RM8,000
RM870
Golf R-Line
RM4,000
RM1,767
Golf GTI
RM2,000
RM2,550
Golf R
RM2,000
RM3,155
Tiguan Highline
RM5,000
RM1,680
Passat Comfortline
RM20,000
RM1,635
Passat Highline
RM6,000
RM1,976
Beetle Sport
RM2,000
RM1,569
Note: Savings applicable for 2018 year make and limited stock available. Monthly calculation based on 9-year loan tenure with 10% down payment and based on 2.8% interest rate.
Volkswagen customers are always a top priority and here is a reminder to keep safe this festive season. For those looking to change their tyres, be sure to check out the ongoing tyre deals from as low as RM184 with free installation, balancing and alignment depending on the number of tyres purchased.
For peace of mind, there is also a battery campaign where all Volkswagen owners can visit authorized dealerships for a free battery check. Those in need of a battery change will enjoy 20% discount off new batteries starting from RM365 depending on model. This battery deal will run from 15th January till 28th February.
All Volkswagen models come with 3 years free maintenance, 5 years manufacturer’s warranty and 5 years roadside assistance. For more information, visit an authorized Volkswagen dealership or go to www.volkswagen.com.my
BMW AG has revealed a special one-off creation from their BMW Individual Division, the BMW 850i. And it uses pieces of an actual meteorite in its creation, yes, a friggin’ meteorite from space!
“BMW’s Individual Division has produced an exclusive one-off version of the 8-Series. The official reveal of the M850i xDrive Night Sky, BMW says, is set to coincide with an intense meteor shower due to take place on 3-4 January as Earth passes through the orbit of the asteroid 2003 EH…
… as a result, the Night Sky is filled with a range of details inspired by the extraterrestrial, many of which showcase some of the brand’s more exclusive manufacturing techniques. The most striking feature is the inclusion of real meteoritic rock: the material adorns the centre console trim plate, the start/stop button, the the gear selector (below), the top of the iDrive click wheel and the door sill inserts.” – Auto Express.
“The Night Sky is mechanically identical to the regular M850i. That means power comes from a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 with 523bhp and 750Nm of torque. The price is yet to be confirmed for the M850i xDrive Night Sky, but given the unique design, expect it to be astronomical”
For the FULL article from Auto Express, click here.
BMW M850i Night Sky Photo Gallery(All photos courtesy of Auto Express)
TAG Heuer was the first to ring in the New Year at Suria KLCC, with a pop-up exhibition highlighting TAG Heuer Avant-Garde Watchmaking and unique legacy through exclusive and historical timepieces. Curated by Catherine Eberlé-Devaux, TAG Heuer Heritage Director, the exhibition is a tribute to TAG Heuer’s watchmaking innovations since 1860.
Creator of many firsts in Swiss watchmaking, TAG Heuer is relentlessly striving to bring additional technical performances to its iconic timepieces, from achieving ultimate accuracy to developing “disruptive designs” reflecting the brand’s unique spirit.
Among the models presented for the first time in Malaysia, visitors will have the chance to discover the oscillating pinion, patented in 1887, the Monaco V4, the first-ever watch mechanism powered by belts and the Mikrograph, launched in 1916, the first stopwatch accurate to 1/100th of a second used at the Olympics in the 20s.
They will also learn more on the Time of Trip, launched in 1911, the first 12-hour on-board chronograph for cars and airplanes with a power reserve of eight days, and on the TAG Heuer Monaco launched in 1969 and celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the first square water-resistant chronograph equipped with the first self-winding automatic chronograph movement.
The final highlight is a race car Porsche 911, visible in its Gulf Heuer livery, tribute to the relationship between Gulf Oil and TAG Heuer since the 70s, and of course a reminder of Steve McQueen (below) in his legendary role in the movie Le Mans, where he chose the TAG Heuer Monaco to wear throughout the filming.
The exhibition was inaugurated on January 7th by Amelia Sillard, Vice President of TAG Heuer Southeast Asia, Tay Liam Khoon, Executive Director of Cortina Watch, Andrew Brien, Executive Director of Suria KLCC and Francis Tan, Chief Operating Officer of Suria KLCC.
“All the pieces presented in this exhibition are major breakthroughs TAG Heuer has created since 1860, and are the best illustration of the brand Avant-Garde spirit and incredible legacy in watchmaking” said Amelia Sillard. “It’s a real pleasure and honour to be able to show those unique museum pieces, especially flown in from Switzerland, in Kuala Lumpur”
The TAG Heuer exhibition, in partnership with Cortina Watch, will run from now till the 13th of January at the concourse of Suria KLCC.
Good news for those looking to get a new car for this upcoming CNY, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in here, is offering a “prosperity bonus” for this Chinese New Year (CNY) 2019….
“Kick-off the prosperous year with absolute peace-of-mind driving. The award winning Mitsubishi Outlander comes with 2 years free maintenance and 5-years unlimited KM warranty. Customers who book and register a new Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre will enjoy prosperity bonus up to RM8,000! The Outlander 2.0-litre is priced at RM137, 888 and the Outlander 2.4-litre is priced at RM152, 888.” – MMM.
Customers who book and register a Mitsubishi Triton 18MY will enjoy prosperity bonus up to RM12,000! Promotions for all Triton 18MY variants are as follows:
No
Model Variant
OTR Price without insurance SST inclusive (RM) in Peninsular Malaysia
Prosperity Bonus (RM)
Warranty
1
Triton VGT Adventure X
129,270.00
12,000
All Triton variants except Triton Quest: Five years warranty or 200,000km
Triton Quest: Five years warranty or 100,000km
2
Triton VGT AT Premium
118,560.00
12,000
3
Triton VGT AT GL
105,990.00
12,000
4
Triton VGT MT
109,600.00
11,000
5
Triton MT
95,610.00
8,000
6
Triton Quest
78,890.00
5,000
Remark: Promotions are not applicable for New Triton 19MY (below).
The New Mitsubishi Triton 19MY (above) is now open for booking and be one of the first 1000 customers to receive an exclusive Thule Subterra luggage worth RM2000! Book online: http://mitsubishi-motors.com.my/new-triton-booking/ and stand a chance to win GoPro HERO7 Black from now until 20 January 2019!
Last but not least, the Mitsubishi ASX Compact SUV 4WD or 2WD is also up for grabs with prosperity bonus up to RM8,000! The ASX 4WD is priced at RM133,336.00 while the ASX 2WD is priced at RM118,866.00. Not forgetting our loyal patrons, Mitsubishi customers who service their vehicle from 15 January to 15 February 2019 will stand a chance to win an iPhone XS! T&C apply.
· Prices are quoted on-the-road without insurance (10% SST inclusive) for individual private owners only in Peninsular Malaysia and not applicable in duty free zones.
· CNY Prosperity Bonus is valid until 28 February 2019 only, while stocks last.
As covered by Piston.myearlier, fans and representatives of Scuderia Ferrari Clubs from all over Europe were flocking to the Ferrari Museum recently for the opening of the ‘Michael 50’ exhibition on the occasion of the champion’s 50th birthday. Maranello has put together a special exhibition telling the story of Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary record-breaking F1 career: the German champion won an as yet unequalled seven world titles, 91 victories, and 155 podiums.
The Hall of Victories displays some of the most important Ferrari single-seaters driven in his eleven years with the Scuderia. They range from the F310 of 1996, with which Schumacher won three GPs in his first season with the Prancing Horse, to the F399, the car that won the Constructors’ title in 1999 to set Formula 1’s oldest team off on an exceptional run of victories.
There is also the F1-2000 of the legendary ‘Alba Rossa’ (‘Red Dawn’), when at Suzuka Michael secured Ferrari its first the world title since Jody Scheckter 21 years before. Then of course there are the record-breaking F2002 and F2004, and the 248 F1 of 2006, in which he triumphed at the Chinese GP for his 72nd and final victory with Ferrari.
Fans will also be introduced to a lesser-known side of Schumacher, that of developer. Indeed, after leaving Formula 1, the German driver remained at Ferrari not only to help the Scuderia but also to contribute to the development of various road cars, such as the 430 Scuderia in 2007 and the Ferrari California in 2008.
The exhibition will run alongside ‘Driven by Enzo’ and ‘Passion and Legend’, which are already open at the Maranello Museum. ‘Michael 50’ has been organised in partnership with the Keep Fighting Foundation.
Three years after the premiere of the first Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Porsche now unveils its successor: The new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport represents a consequent further development of the successful model from Weissach. For the first time, the near-standard mid-engine racer comes in two versions ex-works: the “Trackday” model for ambitious amateur racing drivers and the “Competition” variant for national and international motor racing.
In developing the new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the focus was put not only on further improved driveability and faster lap times but also on the sustainable use of raw materials. The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is the first ever production race car to feature body parts made of natural-fibre composite material. The driver and co-driver doors and the rear wing are made of an organic fibre mix, which are sourced primarily from agricultural by-products such as flax or hemp fibres and feature similar properties to carbon fibre in terms of weight and stiffness.
Powering the 718 GT4 Clubsport is a 3.8-litre flat-six engine producing 313 kW (425 hp). Compared to its predecessor, this represents a 40-hp increase in performance. The power is transferred to the rear wheels via a Porsche dual-clutch gearbox with six gears and mechanical rear axle differential lock. The lightweight spring-strut front suspension is taken from its big 911 GT3 Cup brother. The impressive racing brake system features steel brake discs all round measuring 380 millimetres in diameter. Tipping the scales at 1,320 kilograms, the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, delivered ex-works with a welded-in safety cage, a racing bucket seat as well as a six-point harness, is a real lightweight.
The basis “Trackday” version is aimed at amateur drivers who want to take part in private track and clubsport events without major effort and outlay. The vehicle features a fixed shock absorber setup. The ABS, ESC and traction control assistance systems ensure forgiving handling at the limit and can be deactivated. Also delivered ex-works is the air-conditioning system, a rescue hatch in the roof, a handheld fire-extinguisher and an 80-litre FT3 safety fuel cell. The non-road-homologated vehicle can be serviced at all Porsche Centres.
The “Competition” model features a raft of details relevant for racing. The shock absorbers can be adjusted in three stages. The safety fuel tank with a capacity of 115 litres is suitable for long-distance events. Thanks to a brake balance system, the balance bias can be infinitely adjusted between the front and rear axle. An integrated air jack system guarantees fast pit stops. The quick-release racing steering wheel adopted from the 911 GT3 R ensures a range of adjustment options for the individual needs of the drivers. An automatic fire extinguishing system adds another safety feature for the racetrack.
“The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport possesses significantly more racing genes than its successful predecessor,” says Porsche’s head of motorsport Fritz Enzinger. “The power of the engine has increased considerably. At the same time, we were able to increase the downforce and the cockpit is now even better suited to drivers’ needs. I’m confident that we can build on the excellent sales figures of the predecessor, of which we have delivered 421 cars.”
Concept
• Single-seater, near-standard production-based race car, not road homologated
Engine
• Aluminium six-cylinder mid-positioned boxer engine with rigid mounting
• 3,800 cc; stroke 77.5 mm, bore 102 mm
• Max. power: 313 kW (425 hp) at 7,500 rpm
• Max. rpm: 7,800 rpm
• Max. torque: 425 Nm at 6,600 rpm
• Compression ratio: 12.5:1
• Racing optimised water cooling with thermal management for engine and gearbox
• Four-valve technology with adjustable camshaft phasing and variable valve timing VarioCam Plus
• Fuel quality: Super Plus unleaded, minimum 98 octane
• Racing optimised electronic engine management (Continental SDI 9)
• Integrated dry sump lubrication
• 100-cell metal catalytic converter complying with DMSB specifications
Transmission
• Rear wheel drive
• 6-speed PDK gearbox with rigid suspension and electronic control unit optimised for racing
• Reinforced dual mass flywheel
• Internal pressure oil lubrication with active oil cooling
• Differential lock optimised for racing
I’m getting ready for a massive hit soon. Well, not to me physically per se, but more toward my bank account, and it’s all because of our ridiculously archaic road-taxation system for private registered vehicles. But first, let’s take trip down memory-lane shall we?
A long, long time ago, in a galaxy… well, right here actually, cars, and more to the point, large capacity cars with big engines, were seen as ‘luxury goods’. Ownership of these ‘big-engine-big-body’ cars were seen as items that only the wealthy could afford. I’ll give you an example, in 1982 a Mercedes-Benz 280SE (above) cost a whopping $90,000. I’ve used the ‘dollar’ symbol because back then the designation ‘RM’ for our currency didn’t even exist yet. To put that price into perspective, my old family house in Kelana Jaya (then known as Ladang Seaport) at the time cost $47,000. Yes, you could technically buy two houses for the price of one luxury Merc.
Photo from Wikipedia
As such, the powers that be levied a hefty road tax on any privately registered car above a certain cubic-capacity (cc), like the gargantuan Mercedes W140 S320 above, its owners had to shell out more than RM3,000 for road tax every year. Road tax is somewhat liveable up to 2,000cc, and it gets a bit more painful up to 2,499cc. It’s anywhere above that mark when things go from painful to downright suicidal, especially in this day and age. Above 2,499cc, the cost of annual road tax for privately registered cars goes up exponentially, and is calculated per cc.
Image from Lelong.my
So now you know why typically in the past (and even till today), luxury carmakers, or rather any carmaker in the D-segment would always try to keep their cars’ cubic-capacity below 2,500cc, for example the Toyota Camry 2.4 (above). For that engine displacement, the road tax is a somewhat liveable RM879 per annum. However, increase that cubic-capacity to just 400cc more, and the road tax is a whopping RM1,630 a year.
Image from Top Gear Philippines
Does anyone remember the Honda Accord 3.5 V6 (above) that was sold here for a brief spell a decade or so ago? I do. I loved it. It was the ultimate sleeper. It also came with a yearly road tax of RM4,380! I’ve purchased whole, complete, running cars for less than that. No wonder it’s all but disappeared over here. Shame really. And that leads me nicely into the crux of this triade…
Automotive technology has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last few decades, and collectively carmakers the world over have unceremoniously dispensed with the old adage of “No replacement for displacement” in lieu of smaller engines with forced-induction in the form of turbochargers and superchargers. It was now possible to achieve better power and better fuel-efficiency without the need for big cc engines. Case in point, the new Mercedes-Benz C200 (<–link) C-Class (above & below).
It’s capable of producing 184bhp and 280Nm of torque from a 1,500cc, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. Let that sink in a while. Here’s the clincher: it’s a luxury car with the cubic-capacity of a Toyota Vios that’s going to cost owners a paltry RM90 a year in road tax. Let that sink in even further.
While on this subject, how about a supercar that pays the same? None? Have you forgotten the BMW i8 below? With its hybrid-powertrain, technically the i8 only has a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder ‘engine’, and thus… it has the same yearly road tax as the aforementioned Vios. How ridiculous is that?
Image from Wired
Now price wise, the Mercedes C200 costs RM249,888 and the BMW i8 retails for more than ONE MILLION Ringgit. So let’s rewind a bit now, back to 1983 actually, when the Mercedes-Benz W126 280SE (below) was brand spanking new, a car that I personally own today. It cost circa 90k Malaysian dollars in 1982, big money in the 80’s, and perhaps it was justified back then to call it a big-ticket luxury item. However, that was 36-years ago.
Fast-forward to 2019, and in a few weeks I’ll be shelling out a whopping RM1,630 for a year’s worth of road tax for the W126 above, which is enough to keep both the BMW i8 and Merc C200 on the road for the next eighteen years. So yeah, owners of newer luxury cars – with smaller force-fed engines – that cost many, many times more than my W126, will be laughing. Hysterically. To say that our Malaysian road tax system is overdue for a revamp is a major understatement.
Now don’t get me wrong, I personally think that smaller force-fed engines in luxury cars is a brilliant move. They’re less polluting and more efficient, but long-gone are the days when a luxury car was defined by the cubic-capacity of its engine, that much is very evident with the current crop of luxury cars for the masses, like the BMW 1-Series above. It only needs a 3-cylinder 1,499cc engine to produce a healthy 136bhp and 220Nm of torque. Not too long ago you’d need an engine in excess of 2-litres and 4-cylinders to do the same. And again, this BMW only costs RM90 a year to keep road-legal.
What can we do for older cars still on the road?
One idea I came up with some time ago when the ill-conceived blanket end-of-life “scrapping-policy” idea for cars over a certain age was mooted, was a yearly inspection for all cars over 20-years of age, to ensure that they were all still roadworthy. And to compensate owners for this mandatory yearly inspection, a reduction in annual road tax could be implemented, i.e. a 50% immediate reduction in annual road tax for all privately owned cars 20-years and older that pass this yearly inspection, 75% reduction for cars 25-years and older. Not only will this eradicate cars that are too badly maintained from entering public roads, but it will also inspire owners to take care of their cars better, ensuring they are roadworthy. How’s that for a start? – Chris Wee.
UPDATE: My good friend Bobby Ang of EVOLTNsaw this article today and made a very good suggestion! Base road tax on the cars’ value as mandated by INSURANCE paid yearly on any privately owned vehicle. “You need to buy insurance, it is mandated, and you have your insured value against your loan amount, or how much you think it’s worth, and this value goes down yearly. Thus following insurance price (a.k.a. insured value) is the best method for road tax .” – Bobby Ang, EVOLTN.
This is actually quite brilliant for newer cars, and might I add: As an incentive, discounts on yearly road tax for new cars can be given based on NCD / NCB as well. No claims, slightly lower road tax. This will ensure motorists drive safer too. Since nobody likes losing their NCD, now with no claims they can benefit from lower road tax as well. Nice one Bobby! – Chris Wee.
Looking for a smaller and more refined G-Wagen of sorts? Well, say hello to the upcoming all-new Mercedes-Benz GLB, which was spied testing by AutoExpress recently. It’s part of a massive new-model offensive by Mercedes-Benz, which will see no less than fifteen new models emerge before the end of 2021.
“Mercedes is in line for a bumper 2019 and will reveal a host of new models this year, plus its first all-electric cars under the new EQ nameplate. Continuing the most rapid product offensive in the company’s history, a total of 15 all-new, new-generation or facelifted Mercedes products will emerge before the end of 2021. They will range from commercial vehicles and new SUVs to electric models and a flagship hybrid-powered hypercar.” – Auto Express.
Slated to fit somewhere in the grand scheme of Mercedes-Benz’s expanding range of SUVs and Crossovers, the GLB will complement the upcoming GLS (below), which is expected to debut at this year’s New York Autoshow. For the FULL article from Auto Express, click this link.
