English Archives

Australia Kicks Off Vehicle-to-Grid Trials with Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr EVs

Australia’s two biggest electricity providers, Origin Energy and AGL, have both announced fresh trials of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology – a system that lets certain electric vehicles feed power back into the grid.

AGL’s programme is the bigger of the two, opening this week for expressions of interest from owners of select Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr models. The trial will run for 12 months and, unlike earlier small-scale tests, covers customers under all major National Electricity Market (NEM) distribution networks in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

Importantly, AGL has confirmed it is working directly with the carmakers to ensure that participation won’t affect the vehicle’s battery warranty.

Origin’s approach is a little different. According to Drive, instead of asking existing EV owners to join, the company is offering a subscription package tied to the BYD Atto 3. For under AUD800 (RM2,222) a month after tax savings, customers will get the car on a novated lease along with a StarCharge V2G Halo bi-directional wallbox.

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How To Check On Budi95 If You Qualify For Subsidised Petrol

The government has launched the Budi Madani RON 95 (Budi95) website where Malaysians can now check if they are eligible for subsidised petrol. The new scheme sets the price of RON 95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre for those who qualify, compared with the unsubsidised rate of RM2.60 per litre that takes effect from September 30.

The announcement was made by Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, who explained that motorists need only complete a quick verification process to begin enjoying the subsidised rate.

How to Check Eligibility

Visit the official website at www.budi95.gov.my

Click on “Semak Kelayakan Individu”.

Enter your MyKad number (numbers only, without dashes or spaces).

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Luxury Car Owners Owe RM35.7 Million in Unpaid Road Tax

Transport Minister Anthony Loke has revealed that owners of some of the world’s most exclusive car brands are sitting on road tax arrears amounting to nearly RM35.7 million.

According to figures from the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Porsche owners top the list with 4,308 vehicles racking up a combined RM13.7 million in unpaid road tax. Rolls-Royce follows with 345 cars owing RM6.4 million, while Bentley owners account for RM7 million from 660 vehicles. Ferrari owners are behind on RM4.7 million for 675 cars, and Lamborghini adds another RM3.7 million with 372 vehicles.

According to Bernama, Loke pointed out that many of these vehicles belong to high-profile individuals, including titled figures, politicians and prominent businessmen, yet the basic responsibility of renewing the Motor Vehicle Licence (LKM) is being ignored.

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Bentley’s Flying Spur Gets First-Ever Ombré by Mulliner Paint Finish

Bentley has revealed something rather special for its Flying Spur — a brand-new Ombré by Mulliner paint finish. This striking look, which blends two colours across the length of the car, has until now only been seen on the Continental GT. It’s now made its way onto Bentley’s four-door grand tourer for the very first time.

The process is as meticulous as you’d expect from Crewe’s Dream Factory. Two highly skilled paint technicians spend almost 60 hours hand-painting each car, carefully layering and blending the shades so that the fade remains perfectly balanced on both sides.

For the Flying Spur debut, the front of the car wears a bright Topaz Blue that gradually transitions to a deeper Windsor Blue at the rear. The fade sweeps seamlessly across the doors, sills, and roofline, showing off the artistry of Bentley’s Paint Shop team.

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Geely Reveals 5th-Gen Emgrand with Bigger Body, More Power and Fresh Design

Geely has pulled the covers off its 5th-generation Emgrand, showing off official images of the brand’s latest petrol-powered sedan. The new model grows in size, gains a more powerful engine, and adopts a sharper design language compared to the current version.

Dimension-wise, the Emgrand now measures 4,815mm long, 1,885mm wide, and 1,480mm tall, riding on a 2,755mm wheelbase. That makes it significantly larger than the 4th-gen model, which stood at 4,638/1,820/1,460mm with a 2,650mm wheelbase. This increase in footprint not only makes the sedan more imposing on the road, but also promises better cabin space for passengers.

At the front, the new Emgrand carries a polygonal waterfall grille featuring 12 vertical trim strips, now arranged in a less dense layout for a more refined appearance. The headlamps have also been redesigned, with a wider illumination range of more than 170 metres, improving night-time visibility.

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YANGWANG U9X Becomes the World’s Fastest Production Car at 496km/h

BYD’s luxury sub-brand, YANGWANG, has officially rewritten the record books after its latest hypercar, the U9 Xtreme, clocked a staggering 496.22km/h at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg circuit in Germany. The run, which took place on 14 September 2025, not only smashed the previous EV record but also overtook the fastest petrol-powered car on record, making it the quickest production vehicle in the world.

The U9 Xtreme, or U9X as it is now officially called, began life as the U9 Track/Special Edition before being refined into a road-going production model. It builds on the foundations of the regular U9 already sold in China, but with significant upgrades that push the limits of what an electric hypercar can do.

Among the highlights is a new 1200V ultra-high-voltage system (up from the U9’s 800V setup), a lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery capable of delivering an extraordinary 30C discharge rate, and four ultra-high-speed motors that spin up to 30,000rpm, generating more than 3,000PS in total. The package is completed with track-focused semi-slick tyres and a recalibrated DiSus-X suspension system, tuned specifically for the brutal forces of high-speed circuit driving.

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Toyota Research Institute Finds Behavioural Science Can Boost EV Charging Habits

The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) has revealed new research showing how behavioural science can play a major role in improving electric vehicle (EV) charging habits, ultimately cutting carbon emissions more effectively. The studies, carried out in both the United States and Japan, tested a prototype app called ChargeMinder, designed by TRI’s Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence division.

Instead of relying purely on technology, the research highlighted how subtle behavioural nudges can change the way people interact with their vehicles. In the U.S., plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivers increased their charging frequency by around 10% thanks to targeted interventions.

Meanwhile, in Japan, both PHEV and battery electric vehicle (BEV) users shifted a significant portion of their charging to hours with the highest renewable energy supply — nearly 59% more than before — which translated to about 30 minutes of extra daytime charging per vehicle each day.

Beyond the environmental benefits, the experiments also improved driver satisfaction. In the U.S., PHEV owners reported a 16-point increase in satisfaction levels, with every participant ending up fully satisfied with their vehicles.

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BMW X5 to Arrive with Five Powertrain Choices, Including Hydrogen

BMW is preparing to roll out the latest generation of the X5, and this time it will come with more drivetrain options than ever before. Buyers will be able to choose between battery electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol, diesel, and, for the first time, hydrogen fuel cell. It will make the X5 the first model in the brand’s line-up to feature the full range of propulsion technologies in a single series.

Alongside the car, BMW is also pushing its Hydrogen Mobility at Scale (HyMoS) programme, aimed at expanding hydrogen refuelling networks in large cities. The pilot phase is starting in Germany, before moving into France and later other markets.

The plan was presented in New York by Joachim Post, BMW AG’s Board Member for Development. He explained that hydrogen plays a crucial role in the shift to low-carbon mobility and confirmed that BMW intends to move both the technology and its infrastructure forward.

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Tun Mahathir Shows He’s Driving Strong at 100, Cruising EKVE in Proton e.MAS 7

On Saturday, 20 September, motorists on the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) witnessed a striking sight, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, at 100 years old, confidently behind the wheel of the Proton e.MAS 7. Even as he approaches a century in age, the former Prime Minister looked comfortable and in command of Proton’s first mass-market electric vehicle.

Drivers who recognised him along the highway waved in respect, a small gesture reflecting the enduring admiration many Malaysians hold for him.

For Tun Mahathir, this was more than just a leisurely drive. His connection with Proton runs deep, going back to the 1980s when he spearheaded the national car project as part of his wider vision for Malaysia’s industrialisation.

It was under his leadership that Proton was established in 1983, with the first Saga rolling off the line in 1985. Over the decades, he has often been seen in Proton cars, treating them not as ceremonial symbols but as everyday vehicles. That bond between statesman and carmaker has never really faded.

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Two Generations of Porsche 911 S/T United by Colour and Craft

Two versions of the Porsche 911 S/T, separated by more than fifty years, now share the same garage: the original 1972 race car and the modern reinterpretation from 2024. Both are finished in Light Yellow, paint code 117, a colour that ties their very different stories together.

The first car began life as a 911 2.5 S/T and famously won its GT class at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans. What happened afterwards is less certain. By the time it was discovered decades later in a barn near San Francisco, it was a wreck. Rust, accident damage, and layers of poor repainting had erased almost all traces of its past.

The last documented race was in May 1975 at Riverdale, with Don Lindley driving. After that, the trail disappeared until 2008, when clues pointed to its survival. In 2013, a Swiss collector travelled to California to recover what was left of the car and entrusted the restoration to Porsche Classic in Stuttgart.

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English

Australia Kicks Off Vehicle-to-Grid Trials with Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr EVs

How To Check On Budi95 If You Qualify For Subsidised Petrol

Luxury Car Owners Owe RM35.7 Million in Unpaid Road Tax

Bentley’s Flying Spur Gets First-Ever Ombré by Mulliner Paint Finish

Geely Reveals 5th-Gen Emgrand with Bigger Body, More Power and Fresh Design

YANGWANG U9X Becomes the World’s Fastest Production Car at 496km/h

Toyota Research Institute Finds Behavioural Science Can Boost EV Charging Habits

BMW X5 to Arrive with Five Powertrain Choices, Including Hydrogen

Tun Mahathir Shows He’s Driving Strong at 100, Cruising EKVE in Proton e.MAS 7

Two Generations of Porsche 911 S/T United by Colour and Craft

All-New Subaru Forester 2.5 Launches in Malaysia – Priced from RM221,500

Honda Unveils Super-ONE Prototype — A Compact Electric Car with a Sporty Soul

Will Honda Build A Prelude Type R?

iCAUR V23 Previewed in Malaysia — A Modern Electric Off-Roader with Retro Soul

Toyota Shares Its Future Plans for Asia

MG Malaysia Celebrates 101 Years with Exclusive MG5 X Edition and MG4 101 Edition

Proton Saga and e.MAS 5 Showcased Before Malaysian and Chinese Leaders at ASEAN Summit

GAC M8 PHEV Officially Launched in Malaysia, Prices Start from RM328,800

MG Malaysia Revises MGS5 EV Pricing to Boost Accessibility and Value

Singapore Warns Foreign Drivers with Unpaid Fines Could Be Denied Entry

Archive

Proton e.MAS 7 Launched in Mauritius – Priced From RM157,153!

GWM Malaysia Opens Bookings for the New Ora Good Cat and Good Cat GT — Prices Start from RM115,000

All-New Toyota Hilux Makes Its Global Debut in Thailand — Now Offered with ICE and BEV Options

GWM Rolls Out New Haval Big Dog Plus with Fresh Styling and PHEV Options

Porsche Malaysia Completes Its First Full Classic 911 Restoration

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