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Proton Previews 2019 Iriz FL To The Media, Now Comes With Voice Command Like The X70 Too! [+Videos]

Yup, voice commands in an introductory model, your eyes didn’t deceive you in that title. The Iriz is also the very first existing Proton model to be upgraded under the new partnership with Geely, and the Persona will follow suit soon. Targeted for a March 2019 launch, here’s the official media unveiling of the Iriz FL…

Very prominent changes to the Iriz styling are the use of the “Ethereal Bow” and “Infinite Weave” in the front facade; these design elements made their maiden appearance in the X70 of course, but this design was integrated into the Iriz by Proton’s Head of Design, Azlan Othman (below).

During his presentation to the media, Azlan explained the Iriz was penned to portray intelligence with a sporty look, hence the model slogan of Intelligence That Excites. He also mentioned the use of styling elements to create a visual link with other Proton models. Starting from the front, there are new slim headlights integrated with a prominent grille garnish. The shape of the chrome bar is inspired by the “Ethereal Bow” design while the radiator grille features the “Infinite Weave” pattern, topped by a trademark Proton logo. There is also a bold new front bumper that features a new lower radiator grille as well as sleek LED daytime running lamps (DRL) that add a sophisticated touch to the overall design.

At the rear, the PROTON name is now spelled out on the tailgate garnish in place of the logo previously used. Visually, it now looks wider, an impression reinforced by the new rear bumper with vertical garnish inserts and a new bumper stripe. Finishing touches consist of an Iriz nameplate in a distinctive new typeface, a shark fin antenna and new rotor blade design alloy wheels.

The 2019 Iriz is the first B-segment hatchback in Malaysia to feature an intelligent head unit that uses an embedded eSIM card and offers apps for music streaming, navigation and voice recognition. Access to the apps and other functions is via a 7-inch touchscreen featuring a full colour display and 16GB of internal memory. Similar to the system used on the Proton X70, the Iriz also has Wi-Fi connectivity so it can be used as a mobile hotspot or connect to Wi-Fi services that are within range. You can see more of this being demo’d in the video below…

Full mirroring capabilities with Android smart phones is also offered. “Following the introduction of the Proton X70, the 2019 Proton Iriz will be the second Proton model to receive an intelligent head unit offering functions such as voice command, navigation and music streaming. It will also use the same Hi Proton! catchphrase to access the system. You can therefore say that because of the Proton X70, the Proton Iriz was inspired to be intelligent,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON.

Flash promotion to be held in run-up to official launch
PROTON will be holding a ‘flash promotion’ for the 2019 Iriz where interested buyers can make an online booking for only RM9.99. By doing so, PROTON will also reward them with free road tax for a period of two years as a sign of gratitude for booking the Iriz prior to its launch. The promotion starts at 10am on 1 March 2019 and ends at 11.59pm on 11 March 2019. Have a look at the Iriz on Proton’s test track below!

“By holding a flash promotion, we want to make the 2019 Iriz accessible to more potential buyers. Aside from the low commitment fee, we are also offering convenience as bookings can be placed online. This is however a limited time offer so we would encourage interested parties to book their units as soon as possible,” added Dr Li Chunrong.
The Company will also be holding customer previews at several of its Proton Edar outlets to give members of the public a chance to see the 2019 Iriz up close before its official launch. The first location will be at the Proton Edar 4S centre in Chan Sow Lin, where the preview will be held from 2 – 3 March.

Here are the variants to choose from:

Our final video showcases the Iriz’s handling capabilities, stay tuned to Piston.my for the official launch and price announcement coming soon!

Proton Iriz FL Media Preview Photo Gallery…

MID-WEEK FEATURE: 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy The Mercedes-Benz AMG GTC (But Really Should!)

Speechless. Utterly speechless. Seriously, what could I possibly say or write about in regards to the Mercedes-Benz AMG GTC that would persuade or dissuade you to buy one? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Niente. But here I am again, at the wheel of something so automotively audacious that it beggars belief. Granted, I’m fully aware that there are other supercars out there offering similar specs, some even more gratuitous than this, but here’s the caveat; as a ‘complete’ package, this red monster from Affalterbach is hard to beat…

I had to pinch myself twice when I got the offer from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) to have this car over the recent CNY break, a grand total of 11 days. Considering the fact normally we only get regular run-of-the-mill cars for 4 days at most, 11 days with something from MBM’s Dreamcars stable was well, a dream come true really. It was almost poetic that the AMG GTC was painted a stark shade of bright red, a very ‘ong’ (lucky) colour for Chinese New Year 2019 indeed.

The videos above already say everything I feel about this car, so instead of telling you why you should buy it in this article, I’m going to highlight 5 points on why you shouldn’t! Here we go…

Looks: Being an attention grabber ain’t for everyone

While fully aware that looks are indeed very subjective – some still think the Fiat Multipla is a beauty queen – I didn’t meet anyone over the span of 11 days that wasn’t simply bowled-over by the way the AMG GTC comes across. With its short rear-end, and very long front-end (housing an absolute beast, more on it below) the GTC definitely tips its cam-covers to the days of iconic roadsters like the Jaguar E-Type. The formula is simple, but the execution is extraordinarily difficult.

And unlike the aforementioned Jag, the GTC doesn’t suffer the indignity of looking like it’s riding on stilts. This is one of the widest cars I’ve ever tested (check the last photo in the gallery, it almost didn’t fit in my porch) and it sits squat to the road, giving it a very muscular stance. The whole package comes-off brilliantly, and to me the GTCs proportions are spot-on perfect.

So perfect in fact that it received heaps of attention everywhere it went, and sometimes that got a bit lairy because other drivers come way too close to have a better look. And on more than one occasion I actually saw drivers taking photos of this car with their phones while doing 110kmh on the highway; one hand on the wheel, one hand on the smartphone. Highly dangerous because your hands inadvertently steer where you look. So if you want to keep a low-profile in life, this is not the car for you. Really.

Specs: 1 Man, 1 Engine

“All show, no go” definitely doesn’t apply to the GTC. With 550bhp and 680Nm of torque from a 4-litre V8 Bi-Turbo engine up front sitting right over the axle, this car will sprint to 100kmh faster than it took you to read this sentence. About 3.7sec actually, in 4 different ‘selectable’ drive modes. Keep the power on and it’ll see a top-speed of 317kmh. Being a bona-fide AMG means that one engineer was responsible for this cars’ engine (Fabian Rou, take a bow) from the first bolt to the last nut. AMG prides itself on its “One Man, One Engine” credo, and that man’s signature is proudly displayed on the engine cover. Power goes to the rear-wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission with steering mounted paddles.

This car is blindingly quick, there’s no other way to put that, and honestly it’s a speeding-ticket waiting to happen because it doesn’t feel like it’s moving while doing legal highway speeds. If you’re not paying attention, 160kmh feels like eighty. This is not an exaggeration. That’s how well this car is sorted.

Comfort: What’s that?

Right, so being a strict two-seat roadster, it’s a bit of a given that colossal amounts of interior space are not to be found in the GTC. so if you need that, buy an SUV instead. There are suspension settings to choose from, however, riding on those 19- and 20-inch AMG wheels (which cost more than my whole car) shod with 35-series tyres aren’t going to offer the most plush ride you’ve ever experienced. Don’t forget this is a supercar offering superlative performance, so if you want comfort, buy an S-Class instead. And as can be seen in the video, there’s not much boot-space either. Again, if you need cargo space, buy a truck.

Price: If you have to ask…

More than a million after taxes. You need a very, very healthy bank account to keep this baby on the road, for not only is its annual road-tax quite a hefty sum, things like those super-grippy Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres are going to require replacing quite regularly and those, well, let’s just say you could buy another whole used-car for the price of 4 of those. I think it’s very fair to say that if your bank account doesn’t reflect two commas (and the first numeric can’t be anything from 1 to 9) you’d be ill-advised to own this.

Ownership Experience: Can you live with it daily?

Well, let’s get this out of the way right now, no, the GTC is not a daily-driver by any stretch of the imagination. This is not the kind of car you buy to trundle to work and back home with. This isn’t even really a car anymore to be perfectly honest, it’s a statement. The AMG GTC is something you buy not to fulfill a need, it has been created to satisfy a want.

That’s why it’s classified as a ‘Dreamcar’ by Mercedes-Benz themselves. This is the kind of car you dream of owning someday, to be used for fun – and only that – especially on weekends, for the occasional Sunday leisure drive, or to attend some glitzy gala event where you step out of it onto a red carpet, lined with red velvet ropes and paparazzi. The rest of the time, this car will be sat at at home, looking absolutely resplendent. The kind of car you look at, admire and quietly say to yourself “Yeah, I deserve this…”. Mercedes-Benz, making dreams come true for over a century. What an incredible car this is. – Chris Wee.

Volvo Car Malaysia Launches New Setia Alam Dealership

Volvo Car Malaysia has opened its newest 3S (Showroom, Service, and Spare Parts) dealership in Setia Alam by its appointed dealer, Motion Beyond, bringing a total of 11 3S dealerships nationwide.

Strategically located between Shah Alam and Klang, Volvo Setia Alam is set to strengthen the brand’s presence within Greater Kuala Lumpur where these matured townships will offer great market potential for the luxury car brand.

As with all new Volvo dealerships, Volvo Setia Alam will adhere to Volvo’s global showroom and service standards called Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) standard – Volvo’s customer-centric and Scandinavian-inspired approach of selling cars. This year, Volvo Car Malaysia intends to secure more locations throughout the country, especially in areas where it is not currently represented.

Volvo Setia Alam showroom opens from 9:00 am till 7:00 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm on Sundays and public holidays. The service centre opens from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and closes on Sundays and public holidays.

Official Photos Of The New Proton Persona Released!

The first official photos of the face lifted Proton Persona, PROTON’s B-segment family sedan, have been released. Set to be launched soon the Persona, together with its sister car the Proton Iriz, are the first models in the Company’s current range to be given an extensive exterior refresh since the commencement of the collaboration with Geely in 2017. The new exterior lines portray an image of intelligent connectivity coupled with elegant aesthetics with subtle updates that make the Persona stand out from its predecessor. It also carries PROTON’s new family design elements that will be present on all future models to visually link them together.

At the front, the Persona is the recipient of a new outer grille whose shape is inspired by the “Ethereal Bow” that debuted on the Proton X70. The radiator grille meanwhile incorporates the “Infinite Weave” pattern sculpted into its design and sits on top of a redesigned front bumper. Sleek new LED daytime running lamps (DRL) are housed over a honeycomb mesh backing while a new bumper lower garnish ties together the new design elements of the front bumper and frames the lower air intake more elegantly.

Move to the rear and the most noticeable change are the PROTON name proudly spelled out on the trunk lid garnish and the removal of the brand logo. A new bumper lower garnish enhances the rear visual identity while a slimmer spoiler adds an unexpected sporting touch. Finally, the Persona name badge receives a new bolder and more flowing typeface in keeping with the overall exterior styling theme. A new 15-inch aluminium wheel design and a shark fin antenna provide the final exterior styling touches.

Touted as an intelligent family car, the Proton Persona will be equipped with a colour touch screen for access to connectivity options as well as voice command functions. A development of the system used on the Proton X70 and developed by PROTON and ECARX, the Persona will be the first B-segment family sedan to offer such an advanced system to Malaysian car buyers shopping for a new car in its price range. More information on the infotainment system and the technical specifications of the Proton Persona will be released closer to the launch date.

Petronas Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Mobile Bike Workshop, Announces 2019 MotoGP Contest!

Petronas Lubricants Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Petronas Dagangan Berhad, has launched the first ever ‘mobile’ service workshop, where motorcyclists can get their bikes serviced somewhere other than a normal workshop.

Modified from a 20-foot container, “The mobile-service workshop aims to provide our customers convenience and a unique seamless experience, where they can just sit back, relax and leave the service to our skilled technicians” said Dato Sri Syed Zainal Abidin, PDB’s MD and CEO (below). “On average the end-to-end process takes about 8-minutes for small and medium capacity bikes” he added.

Also announced at this event, in conjunction with the upcoming 2019 MotoGP season – in which Petronas is represented in all classes – Petronas is launching the “Petronas Sprinta Bonanza 2019” Contest, in which winners stand to ride away with monthly prizes such as a brand new Yamaha Y15ZR!

In addition, the overall grand prize winner at the end of the promotion will take home a new Yamaha R6 Superbike, painted in special Petronas Yamaha SRT MotoGP Team colours! The second place winner will take home a new Yamaha R25, also in team livery.

The contest runs from 11th March to 30th September 2019. For more info on the Mobile Service Workshop and the “Bonanza MotoGP 2019 Contest”, log on to www.mymesra.com.my

Mitsubishi Motors M’sia Launches New Showroom In Klang Valley

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia, together with authorized dealer Evatrend celebrated the latter’s second Mitsubishi 3S Centre (Sales, Service & Spare parts) opening in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur today. This 3S Centre is located at No. 70, Jalan Midah 1, Taman Midah, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur with a total investment of RM800,000.

With a built up area of 4,908 square feet, the new 3S Centre also houses a fully-equipped workshop with parts storage area for Mitsubishi vehicles. The 3S centre comes with a modern façade, with fully equipped advance diagnostic tools and Special Set Tools (SST) to serve every Mitsubishi vehicle.

“Our principal Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) in Japan recently launched a new global tagline called ‘Drive your Ambition’. It is a powerful statement of our commitment to the values and aspirations of its drivers. We are pleased to note that Evatrend is the first Mitsubishi Motors showroom with our new corporate identity,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.

Speaking at the launch, Low Foi, Chairman of Siang Hin Group, the parent company of Evatrend says “Our 3S centre is located strategically in Cheras, which makes it convenient for customers from neighbouring towns such as Kajang, and Semenyih to send their cars for servicing.” He added, “As a Mitsubishi Motors dealer, we are not only committed to promoting good cars, but we are also customer-oriented from sales to after-sales service.”

In conjunction of the 3S Centre launch, Evatrend also took the opportunity to display the newly launched Triton. With the opening of Evatrend, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is currently represented by 53 showrooms (out of which 47 are 3S Centres) and 52 service outlets throughout Malaysia. In East Malaysia, MMM is represented by 14 showrooms (6 in Sarawak and 8 in Sabah).

The Triton 4×4 pick-up truck are imported as CBU (Completely Built-Up) units from Thailand while the ASX Compact SUV and Outlander are locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia.

TGR 2019: Sights & Sounds, Thrills & Spills @ Toyota Gazoo Racing, Batu Kawan! [+Videos]

Whoever says the racers in Toyota Gazoo aren’t trying hard needs to watch this! Hammer and tongs, no quarter asked or given, bumper to bumper racing that can lead to carnage!

In the meantime earlier on, the Toyo Tyres Drift Team put on a splendid show too!

Here’s a quick walkabout on-site at TGR 2019, do head on over to experience it for yourselves!

Weekend programme appended below:

TGR: Toyota Gazoo Racing Hits Batu Kawan @ Penang 23-24 Feb 2019! [+Video]

We’re here folks! Season 2, Race 3 of the on-going Toyota Gazoo Racing Series is at Batu Kawan Stadium, and here’s the first footage of this weekend!

Swing by if you’re in the area, and stay tuned for more to come!

Proton Hits 3 Record Highs In January 2019, February Promo Announced [+Video]

PROTON has kicked-off 2019 on a high note as total registrations climbed to 7,007 units for January 2019. The 3 highs include:

– Sales growth rate highest among Top-3 automotive brands
– Proton X70 breaks single month registration record for C-segment SUVs
– 74 3S/4S outlets now open to support SSI and CSI targets

The estimated market share is 14.5%, though the final figure will only be confirmed following the publication of industry sales data by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

Following its launch on 12 December 2018, deliveries of the Proton X70 have gathered pace as more units of PROTON’s first SUV become available. Having set a Malaysia market record for most registrations by an SUV in its launch month, the trend continued in the new year with 2,777 units registered in January 2019. The amount means the Proton X70 has set a new record for the most C-segment SUV registrations in a single calendar month.

Here’s our video of the new Proton X70 during the official media drive:

The large number of SUVs registered were instrumental in PROTON posting impressive sales growth figures. Compared to the previous month sales increased by 33.6% while year-on-year, the figure represents a 46.5% growth over January 2018, easily making PROTON the market leader in growth rate for the Top-3 automotive brands.

Another area where the Company leads the industry is in the number of 3S/4S facilities in its network. There are currently 74 PROTON 3S/4S outlets and dealers in operation as at the end of the month with more set to open throughout the year. Together they will assist PROTON in achieving their Sales Service Index (SSI) and Customer Service Index (CSI) target scores.

“PROTON is thankful to be able to start 2019 on a positive note. We already knew we would end the month with the most 3S/4S outlets in the industry but the market leading sales growth rate figure and the record setting number of SUV registrations is due to the humbling support we have received from Malaysian car buyers. There is still a long way to go for the brand to fully recover but we will strive to continue to deliver a premium experience at our outlets while improving our model offerings,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON (above).

For the month of February, PROTON is looking to maintain its sales momentum by running an Ang Pow promotion. Buyers of Proton vehicles are eligible for savings worth up to RM4,000 dependant on the model they choose.

“In conjunction with Chinese New Year, PROTON would like to continue to reward its customers with extra incentives for buying a brand new Proton car. The Company would also like to wish all Malaysians a Happy Chinese New Year and remind them to drive safely during the festive period,” added Dr Li.

Mazda Celebrates 30-Years Of The Iconic MX-5 With Special Edition, Malaysia To Get All-New CX-8 Soon!

Bermaz Mazda recently previewed an all-new CX-8 SUV at its headquarters in Glenmarie, and while the units on display were pre-production ones from Japan, it closely resembles the eventual model to be sold here in the near future. A likely choice of 2 powertrains will be offered, a 2.5 Petrol and 2.2 Turbodiesel, both with varied seating arrangements including a 2+2+2 six-seater.

Aimed to sit squarely between the CX-5 and gargantuan CX-9, on-the-road prices are far from established so stay tuned to Piston.my!

In the meantime, our friends at AutoExpress (<–link) have revealed yet another special edition MX-5 from Mazda, which was revealed at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, marking 30 years of the popular roadster. Only 3,000 examples of this celebratory model will be sold worldwide, with production being divided between soft-top and convertible hard-top ‘RF’ body styles.

“The MX-5 Anniversary Edition is finished in an exclusive ‘Racing orange’ paint colour and features forged aluminium wheels (commissioned by specialists RAYS), Brembo front brakes with calipers finished in orange, Bilstein dampers and a host of numbered “30th Anniversary Edition” badges…” – AutoExpress.

Inside, this limited edition MX-5 gets orange accents and Alcantara swathing around the cabin, dashboard and gear stick, Recaro seats, a nine-speaker Bose sound system and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

This new model’s debut follows in the footsteps of the original MX-5, which was also revealed at the Chicago Auto Show back in 1989. Since its conception, the MX-5 has sold more than 1 million units worldwide, over 130,000 of which have found UK homes.

Mazda CX-8 & MX-5 Photo Gallery (MX-5 photos courtesy of AutoExpress UK)