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smart #1 Previewed in Malaysia: 440km range, 66kwh battery, BRABUS Model Soon?

Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Proton, has just introduced the smart #1 into the electric vehicle (EV) market in Malaysia. The all-electric compact SUV, which is a touch bigger than the smart ForFour, is the result of a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Geely.

The smart #1 actually made its global debut in April 2022 where during the second half of 2022, China, Europe, and the UK were some of the first places to receive it.

Prior to its launch here in Malaysia, we had the opportunity to actually test it out. The right-hand drive Premium, left-hand drive Premium (China spec) and the Brabus variant.

The design of the smart #1, which is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. It was designed by the Germans and is built on Geely’s modular Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA), which also serves as the foundation for vehicles like the Lotus Eletre, Volvo EX30, and Zeekr 001.

The smart #1 will only be available as a rear-wheel-drive model, with a single motor generating 272PS and 343Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and has a driving range of 440km WLTP cycle. There are three available drive modes: eco, comfort and sport. However, these are the Premium variant specs.

The Brabus variant, on the other hand, puts out 428PS and 584Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds! It has dual motors providing a four-wheel drive configuration. However, due to it having this much power, the driving range is reduced to 400km. There are four available drive modes: eco, comfort, sport and Brabus. Both variants are limited to a top speed of 180km/h.

Another feature included in the Brabus trim is the engine imitation sound that plays through the speakers. A Brabus engine sound and a V8 engine sound.

In addition, the Brabus variant has three additional trims to choose from: Pure+, Pro+ and Premium+.

It features a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 66kWh. The 10%-80% charge time is three hours with 22kW AC charging and less than 30 minutes with 150kW DC charging.

The exterior of the smart #1 Premium variant features an active grille shutter, flat-faced 19-inch wheels, and frameless doors and has a drag coefficient of just 0.29.

The Brabus trim, however, gets twin nostrils as a styling element, a sportier front bumper, an aggressive grille, a rear spoiler, 19-inch dynamo-styled alloy wheels and a two-tone paint scheme with red accents.

The central infotainment screen, which is 12.8 inches in size regardless of which variant you choose, controls almost everything. It features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chipset, a CPU and chipset designed for the gaming industry, and its home screen is filled with graphics and information.

Unlike the variants available in China, we get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Many important features of the system are hidden in submenus; for example, turning off the system’s excessively loud fake engine noise will lead you deep into the system, while adjusting your mirrors requires tapping the screen and then repeatedly pressing the buttons on the steering wheel.

It also has a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a ten-inch heads-up display, a panoramic glass roof and 13-speaker Beats sound system.

The majority of the materials are soft to the touch, especially the Alcantara swaths in the Brabus model. Also, note that Smart chose a combination of real and synthetic leather and not vegan alternatives here.

The Brabus gets a little extra on the interior as well with a black-themed interior, Alcantara/leather-wrapped steering wheel, microfiber suede seats, headrests with the Brabus logo in red stitching and alloy pedals. The booth space measures in at 323L but can be expanded to 986L while the frunk has a 15L available space.

Another neat little feature is that the front grille lights up and will follow the beat of the music that is playing in the car at the time.

The smart #1 has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The safety features include:

Seven airbags
Full complement of driver assistance features
Autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive Cruise Control with stop and go
Lane centring assist
Lane change assist
Lane keep assist
Blind spot monitoring

Keshy’s Driving Notes:
On top of the preview session that Timothy just touched on, we also got to drive the smart #1 around the Proton test track at the Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam.

Simply put, the #1 drives like any other EV, it is silent, power delivery is instantaneous and there’s pretty much nothing that truly makes it stand out from the rest.

Except for the fact that the #1 has a steering feel that I really like.

EV’s tend to feel dull and disconnect the driver from what happens at ground level with the tyres. But in the #1, there’s a good feel for what the tyres were doing, and the steering wheel feels chatty. And this gave me the confidence I needed to barge into the oval track (which goes up to a 20 degree banking, NASCAR like) at about 110-120km/h.

I have to say that this is one of the my favourite EV’s at the moment, but not only from a driving perspective.

But before I tell you about what else I like about the #1, I have to say that the Brabus model feels like a proper rocket. But that artificial sound it makes is a little too fake, and too loud. So loud, that it reaches a point where it started to hurt my ear drums. And I wasn’t the only one complaining about it. Good thing that it can be turned off.

So onto what I like about it. I like it’s size.

I believe EV’s should be small because EV’s are meant to be practical urban commuters. And the #1 is exactly that. It is perfectly sized. Slightly bigger than a MINI, perhaps about the size of a Countryman.
Inside, there’s a lot of hints of Mercedes-Benz, such as the buttons, but we are not allowed to tell you much about the interior due to an ongoing embargo.

So if you are considering an EV, I would tell you to wait until smart Malaysia introduces the pricing because the #1 could just be the EV for you. It is for me at least.

Porsche Vision 357 Speedster: A Blend Of Old And New

Porsche has developed a contemporary take of the 356 No. 1 open-top Roadster to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the company’s first vehicle.

The new Vision 357 Speedster is a roofless evolution of the Vision 357 Concept shown at the start of the year.

The coupe was based on the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, while the speedster was inspired by the 718 GT4 e-Performance. It borrows the 718 GT4 Clubsport’s chassis and blends it with the Mission R concept’s electric motors and battery technology. The one-off boldly displays “75” badges as a homage to the original 356 and has a one-sided tonneau cover.

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Hyundai Ioniq 6 Launched In Malaysia; Starting From RM289,888!

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has introduced the Ioniq 6 into the Malaysian market. It is the second model sold under the Ioniq sub-brand, which is geared towards selling electric cars, and the fourth model made using the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

The streamlined Ioniq 6 design was influenced by Hyundai’s Prophecy Concept EV, which made its debut in March 2020 and, according to Hyundai, it has the lowest drag coefficient of 0.21. A large wheelbase of 2,950mm results from the stretched-out front and rear points. The Ioniq 6 measures in at 4,855mm in length, 1,880mm in width, 1,495mm in height.

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Nissan Skyline Could Become An Electric Crossover SUV

One of the most established nameplates in the automobile industry, the Nissan Skyline dates back to 1957. Since then, we have had great iterations after great iterations. Who could forget Brian O’Conner’s iconic R34 from 2Fast2Furious?

The Skyline, Supra and NS-X made the holy trinity of JDMs followed by other legends like the RX-7 and Silvia’s. However, JDM enthusiasts, get ready to shed a tear because according to reports, the Nissan Skyline could become an electric crossover SUV.

The Skyline sedan’s progress is reportedly “frozen.” Instead, it has been said that Nissan is creating the next version of the Skyline using the CMF-EV platform or the electric Ariya crossover as its foundation. This just sounds like one of those ideas you get after having one too many drinks.

But apparently, it will have multiple-motor all-wheel drive and produce more than 450hp, though it’s unclear if there will be twin- or quad-motor options.

According to reports, the Skyline EV will be launched in the US but will be restyled as an Infiniti to fit its upscale position. That would make it the same as earlier Skylines marketed in the United States since 2001, such as the G35, G37, and Q50.

The Japanese carmaker Nissan wouldn’t be the first to repurpose a legendary moniker for a crossover. Soon, the Toyota Crown will feature new body designs, one of which is an SUV. The causes are clear-cut as SUVs are in high demand and fit well with the positioning of vehicles like the high-end Crown and Skyline. But why not just come up with something new and leave our childhood alone?

Bugatti Chiron’s Successor Is A Hybrid V8

The new hypercar from Bugatti will mark a significant change for the company. Achim Anscheidt, the former head of design at Bugatti, stated that the Chiron replacement will make its debut next year and go into production in 2026.

Most significantly, the next Bugatti substitutes a V-8 hybrid powertrain for the company’s iconic W-16 engine, probably drawing on the electrical know-how of Croatian carmaker Rimac, who joined Bugatti in 2021.

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smart #1 Previewed Before Official Public Launch

smart Malaysia has provided a unique behind-the-scenes experience of the highly anticipated smart #1 at its headquaters in Subang Jaya recently.

smart’s first production model in the family of its all-electric vehicles (EVs), the smart #1, was on display at the two-day event. EV aficionados who had been anxiously anticipating this day were the target audience for this event, which was designed to satisfy their enthusiasm and expectation.

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10% Reward For Those Who Report Vehicle Customs Duty And Tax Evasion

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) is rewarding anyone with reliable information on the evasion of customs duties and taxes, as well as the criminals, with 10% of the amount of the seizure.

If the seizure is valued at RM1 million, 10% of the amount, which is RM100,000, would be awarded to the informant. There is a provision for informants, which shall be assessed in accordance with the category.

The products included alcohol, cigarettes, and automobiles, according to Deputy Minister of Finance Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who also indicated that the informant’s name will remain undisclosed.

Maslan stated that the rewards had been given out by JKDM for a long time but had not been publicised and that the information supplied is necessary to stop acts that would hurt the people and the nation.

Recently, seven people have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on suspicion of decreasing the charges on luxury automobiles, resulting in the loss of nearly RM33 million in customs tax.

With a target of RM588 million for this year, Negeri Sembilan JKDM has already collected more than RM300 million in revenue as of June 31 this year.

Those with information can contact the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.

Dodge Challenger And Charger Orders Close For Good On 31 July 2023

Although electric vehicles offer immediate power and mad acceleration, they can never come close to the raw sound and power of a V8. Specifically, two of the most iconic American muscle cars, the Dodge Challenger and Charger.

*2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody*

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Tesla Officially Launched In Malaysia!

Tesla has officially been launched in Malaysia today and the Model Y is the first model to be officially offered for the Malaysian market. According to Tesla (Malaysia), the Model Y is the most affordable SUV by Tesla; designed and built as Tesla’s first mass-market sports utility electric vehicle.

Tesla’s launching in Malaysia is in line with the government’s goal to promote low-carbon mobility and to support the EV industry. Tesla also stated that this is to assist the government’s move to install 10,000 EV charging stations in Malaysia by 2025.

As part of its own initiative, Tesla Malaysia has introduced indoor Supercharger stations with eight superchargers located at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and is said to open as soon as possible, pending a few more approvals. Prior to this, Tesla has already revealed a list of 10 available supercharger locations throughout Malaysia:

Iskandar Puteri, Johor
Negeri Sembilan
Dengkil, Selangor
Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Two locations in Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh, Perak
Perai, Pulau Pinang

According to Tesla Malaysia, more superchargers will be available in the coming future to make trips from Singapore to Malaysia and then to Thailand a seamless journey.

Tesla has also announced that their headquarters for the Malaysian market will be located in Cyberjaya.

Customers can benefit from 100% road tax exemption and individual income tax relief of up to RM2,500 on expenses related to EV charging facilities for the assessment year of 2023.

The Model Y is available to order in Malaysia with prices starting from as low as RM199,000. There are three trims available to choose from:

Model Y(Rear-wheel Drive)

Range: 455km
Top Speed: 217km/h
0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds
Seats: 5 seater
Wheel: 19″/20″
Price: RM199,000

Model Y Long range Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive

Range: 533km
Top Speed: 217km/h
0-100km/h: 5 seconds
Seats: 5 seater
Wheel: 19″/20″
Price: RM246,000

Model Y Performance Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive

Range: 514km
Top Speed: 250km/h
0-100km/h: 3.7 seconds
Seats: 5 seater
Wheel: 21″
Price: RM288,000

Tesla has over 1.3 million cars produced in 2022 and over 4 million total cars delivered as of today.

Hennessey Turns The Mustang Dark Horse Into A 850hp Beast

The H850, a highly-tuned thoroughbred variant of the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, is the most recent product from Hennessey Performance. In addition to being a supercharged stallion, it also features supporting modifications and a complete warranty.

Ford’s brand-new Mustang Dark Horse leaves the factory with a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine that produces 500hp. A Tremec six-speed manual gearbox or a Ford 10-speed automatic can be requested during purchase. The customer also receives large heart-stopping Brembo brakes in any configuration.

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