Retro Havoc 2019 is just around the corner and this time around, the yearly event organised by Speedy Sabel promises to be even more havoc than previous years. How havoc? For the very first time, they’ll be giving away a specially-crafted Toyota Starlet KP61 for their grand prize lucky draw giveaway! (more…)
Polestar has taken the next step in its development as the electric performance brand with the reveal of the new Polestar 2. Polestar 2 is the new all-electric fastback that brings electric performance cars to a broader and increasingly progressive audience. It offers avant-garde design and a unique customer experience in the premium compact electric segment. Polestar 2 is the first electric car to compete in the marketplace around the Tesla Model 3, with the range starting at a guide price of 39,900 euros. For the first 12 months of production, guide price of the launch edition is 59,900 euros1.
“Polestar 2 is our first fully electric car and first volume model. Everything about it has been designed and engineered with passion and dedication. As an electric performance brand, and through the forthcoming launch of a portfolio of fully electric cars, Polestar is determined to address the world’s air quality challenges. Polestar delivers electric performance cars that are great to own and drive,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer of Polestar.
Polestar 2 is a premium five-door fastback with two electric motors and a 78 kWh battery capacity2 that will enable a targeted range of 500 km3, based on Volvo Car Group’s adaptable Compact Modular Architecture platform (CMA). The 27-module battery pack is integrated into the floor and contributes to the rigidity of the chassis as well as improves the car’s noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels – road noise has been reduced by 3.7 dB compared to a traditional chassis.
Polestar will answer the important question of charging Polestar 2 with a smart, convenient and extensive approach. With a connected digital solution available both in-car and on mobile devices, Polestar is setting up strategic collaborations to give Polestar 2 owners easy and hassle-free access to the world’s largest public charging networks.
For Polestar, performance underlies the entire driving experience. The all-wheel drive electric powertrain in Polestar 2 produces 300 kW (408 hp) and 660 Nm (487 lb-ft). This translates to a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of less than 5 seconds.
The standard dynamic chassis can be enhanced by the Performance Pack that improves driving dynamics with Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes and unique 20-inch forged wheels. Polestar’s signature gold seat belts, brake callipers and valve caps complete the performance visuals.
Highlighting the technology spearhead role that Polestar plays within the Volvo Car Group, Polestar 2 is one of the first cars in the world to embed an infotainment system powered by Android. The Android backbone provides a solid and adaptable digital environment for apps and vehicle functions to coexist, and brings embedded Google services to a car for the first time – including the Google Assistant, Google Maps with support for electric vehicles and the Google Play Store5. Natural voice control and a new 11-inch touch screen display bring the new interface to life.
Phone-as-Key technology enables car sharing and a more integrated ownership experience, as well as Polestar’s connected services such as pick-up and delivery. It also allows Polestar 2 to sense the driver upon approach. Smart features like enlarged graphics in the instrument cluster allow the driver to easily see the charging status and range before entering the car. Polestar 2 can also predetermine the driver’s next move to create a seamless experience with a prepared cabin and quick start sequence.
Maximilian Missoni, head of Design at Polestar, comments: “We decided to bring something different to the segment. Our avant-garde design has evolved from Polestar 1 into an edgier, bolder statement. We have also designed a standard vegan interior with progressive textiles that will appeal to the forward-thinking audience who will subscribe to Polestar 2.”
Design-led features include Pixel LED headlights4 and proximity lighting which enable a unique welcome sequence, Polestar’s now-signature frameless side mirrors and the unique illuminated Polestar logo, which is reflected onto the car’s panoramic glass roof.
In common with all Polestar cars, Polestar 2 will only be available for ordering online. The guide purchase price for the launch version of Polestar 2 is 59,900 euros1 with subscription pricing to follow at a later date. Pre-orders are open at polestar.com. Production of Polestar 2 begins in early 2020 in China for global markets in both left- and right-hand drive.
Polestar 2 made its first public appearance at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show in March, and then embark on a global roadshow in Europe, North America and China throughout 2019. Polestar 2 will also be available in a network of soon-to-be-opened Polestar Spaces that will provide physical viewing and test drive opportunities.
Initial launch markets include China, the United States, Canada, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Other markets are under consideration for future expansion.
Mforce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Benelli brand here in Malaysia, has released the latest 2019 Benelli RFS 150i. The latest evolution of this 150cc cub carries newly-designed decals as its main change together with a new sporty muffler that is said to further enhance its overall performance. (more…)
That’s right! Northern region HOGs can rejoice, for they now have a place to call home right in the middle of Juru Autocity, Penang, with the official opening of Harley-Davidson Penang!
But not only that, HDMP (Harley-Davidson Malaysia, Penang) also took the opportunity to announce the launch and introduction of 14 CKD models built in Bangkok, Thailand… one of them is the HD Fat Bob below…
Both the red and black bikes are identical models, but the former is made in Bangkok, while the latter is made in Milwaukee, USA. There is no telling them apart, both are identical in terms of specs, but the one made in Bangkok costs RM40,000 less. Yes, FORTY THOUSAND ringgit less than the one “Made in USA”.
HDMP is located at Juru Autocity, right next to the Ford showroom.
HDM Penang Official Opening Photo Gallery…
A fleet of BMW 630i GT was handed over earlier today specifically for the Maybank Championship 2019 as BMW Malaysia was announced as the Official Automotive Partner. Entering its fourth edition of the world-level golf tournament, the event saw BMW Malaysia playing a huge role in the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour as well as the European Tour. (more…)
Trucks. 4x4s. Pick-up Trucks. Call them what you will, but a couple of decades ago they didn’t exist… well not on the highways anyway. Since Mercedes-Benz likes to call itself “the inventor of the automobile” I guess it’s only apt to call Ford Malaysia “the inventor of the lifestyle pick-up truck”… no, really.
You see, not so very long ago in the early 90s, Ford Malaysia‘s (then known as AMIM Ford) passenger car sales were suffering, with only the outdated Laser and Telstar being sold, and I use that word ‘sold’ very loosely. So what did they do? In a masterstroke of genius, because their cars weren’t selling very well in their given segments, AMIM Ford decided to create a whole new market segment. And ‘lo and behold, the ‘lifestyle’ pick-up truck was born.
I owned the very first of those trucks, it was called the Ford Courier. It was a naturally-aspirated 2.5L diesel, and if memory serves, the model survived one update (Courier Splash – yellow) and was replaced by the turbocharged Ranger, which henceforth became one of the market leaders in the lifestyle pick-up truck segment, despite just about every other carmaker jumping on the truck-bandwagon, or rather cargo-bed, and introducing their own trucks.
The Ford Ranger 4×4 has evolved over the years, and while still staying true to its “Built Ford Tough” credo, it’s also become – for better or worse (see video below) – a lot more ‘liveable’ and domesticated. It’s like capturing a wild animal and eventually taming it enough to become a house pet. Never forget though, that behind that docile exterior, an untamed beast still lurks…
One of those beasts of course is the new Ford Ranger Raptor, which you can read more about and see videos of here, as well as one of the 4 new Rangers that were recently launched, this Ranger XLT Limited+. Boasting a first-in-class 10-speed automatic transmission, yes, TEN speeds, the new Ranger XLT+ is powered by a new 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine that churns out 213Ps and whopping 500Nm of torque.
It also has an array of other FIC attributes including AEB or Autonomous Emergency Braking & Front Collision Alert, Lane-Departure Warning, Semi-Automatic Parallel Parking, Adaptive Cruise Control and an Easy-Lift Tailgate. Anyone who’s ever owned a truck will know just how heavy that rear tailgate (above) is.
The new Rangers, finally with hydraulic bonnet struts (above), have definitely moved the goalposts insofar as the lifestyle pick-up truck market is concerned, not only are they still very much “Built Ford Tough” but they now also offer an incredible level of refinement unheard of in Rangers of yore.
Want to know more about the new Ford Rangers? Click this link.
BONUS! Why I love the older Ford Ranger 3.2 Wildtrak…
“No replacement for displacement”… we’ve often heard this adage, but does it apply to trucks? Here’s an older model with 3,200cc of brute force, and here’s what I think of it!
The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE has been voted ‘Car of the Year’ at the European Car of the Year Awards 2019. This is the first time a Jaguar has won the coveted prize. The European Car of the Year jury comprises 60 motoring journalists from 23 countries, and the award recognises technical innovation, design, performance, efficiency and value for money.
Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “For our first electric vehicle to also be the first Jaguar to win European Car of the Year gives us a huge sense of pride. I-PACE was designed and engineered in the UK from a clean sheet of paper. It is the most technologically advanced battery electric vehicle. It’s a true game-changer. Winning European Car of the Year is an honour and real recognition of what our world-class team has delivered.”
Designed and developed in the UK, the Jaguar I-PACE has had profound sales success globally, with more than 8,000 customer deliveries to date – 75 per cent of them in Europe*. Nothing else on the road looks or drives like the I-PACE. It is engineered to take full advantage of its electric powertrain and bespoke aluminium architecture, offering sports car performance and SUV practicality.
Charging is made easy for customers using the Jaguar public charging service, accessed via a dedicated app or using an RFID key. With tailor-made charging packages and tariffs compiled into a simple monthly bill, it gives I-PACE customers access to more than 85,000 charging points throughout Europe.
The I-PACE has received 55 awards worldwide since it was revealed a year ago, including German, Norwegian and UK Car of the Year, BBC TopGear magazine EV of the Year, China Green Car of the Year, and Autobest’s ECOBEST Award.
For more information on the I-PACE, visit www.jaguar.com
As part of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia’s continuous efforts to enhance the ownership experience for its customers, the Volkswagen Tiguan will receive an upgrade of a new 2019 Active Info Display (AID) and LED Taillights (below). The upgrades will take effect on all Tiguan units from March 2019 onwards.
The new Active Info Display (below) has a high resolution display colour thin-film transistor (TFT) that is similar to a smartphone. It incorporates functions and features in 2D and 3D graphic display for navigation and media. There is now a three-view customizable screen via the infotainment with over 30 combinations options. The dials can also be pre-set to show a combination of data and a full 3D view map for better navigation.
On the exterior, the LED Taillights have been updated to a new unit with distinctive light graphics. More than a style factor, the new taillight also incorporates brake animation that enhances visibility for safety. The taillights continue to be an all LED system.
For added peace of mind, the upgrades will see no price hike to the Tiguan, and it will remain priced at RM 165,990 for the Highline and RM 175,990 for the JOIN variant. All Volkswagen cars come with 3 years free maintenance, 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years roadside assistance. The Tiguan combines a 1.4TSI turbocharged direct injection engine with a 6-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) with sport mode to give an impressive output of 150PS and a torque of 250Nm between 1,500 to 3,500rpm. It boasts an impressive acceleration of 8.9 seconds from 0 to 100kph.
The Tiguan boast safety features such as six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) as well as hill-hold control. For comfort, the Tiguan features Park Assist, Manoeuvre Braking and 3-Zone Climatronic. For complete connectivity, the Tiguan comes with App-Connect for easy access to apps via the 8”-inch infotainment touchscreen via MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay.
The production of the first generation Tiguan began in 2007 in Wolfsburg and has become Volkswagen’s most successful SUV to date with the 5 millionth unit leaving the assembly line in January 2019. Aside from its worldwide success, the Volkswagen Tiguan has enjoyed local success in Malaysia and is locally assembled at Volkswagen’s Pekan Plant, Pahang. For more information, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my
During the currently ongoing Geneva International Motor Show 2019 being held in Switzerland, one of the world leaders in tire manufacturing that is Goodyear made a few surprise unveilings which involved something literally ‘out of this world’. From performance tires to autonomous and flying cars, Goodyear pulled out all the stops this year. (more…)
Following the photo of a Mercedes-Benz Hybrid battery bill that was widely circulated on social-media, MBM has issued this statement and offer, reproduced here in its entirety with no editing…
“Providing the Best Customer Experience is always a top priority with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM). Our goal is to meet the customer’s needs at any point of their journey with the Mercedes-Benz brand in Malaysia, whether it is their first contact through consultation, the test drive or their purchasing experience and even their after-sales services.
In our pursuit towards providing the best ownership experience for our customers in 2018, we have introduced the Hybrid Battery Extended Warranty programme. At an extremely affordable price of MYR2,688, customers are able to extend the battery warranty for the Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC hybrid and S 400 h for an additional 4 years. The Hybrid Battery Extended Warranty provides 100% coverage for the repair or replacement of the hybrid battery for up to 8 years or 180,000 kilometers whichever comes first*.
At Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, we continuously seek to ensure that all our valued customers have the optimal cost of ownership through the provision of market adequate pricing for our older vehicles. We are pleased to announce that the new recommended retail price is MYR50,000 for the E 300 BlueTEC hybrid battery and MYR65,000 for the S 400 h hybrid battery.
Rest assured the satisfaction of our customers throughout the ownership experience is a priority at MBM and our Authorized Retailers. We have the best interest of our customers at all times and remain committed to delivering the absolute Best Customer Experience.” – Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
Should customers have any queries, kindly contact our Customer Care Centre at Tel: 1-800-88-1133 (Operation Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm) or email: customercare_my@daimler.com or visit the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia website at https://www.mercedes-benz.com.my
*Terms & conditions apply
