English Archives

Piston.my

English

First Details Of New Perodua Axia, Bookings Open With Prices Starting From RM38,600

Perodua will soon launch the next generation of the Axia, its entry-level model. The first generation was launched in September 2014 to take the place of the Viva. Up till the end of 2022, the total production volume of the model was almost 587,000 units.

The new model, coded D74A, is a larger model and uses DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) which is also used for the Ativa and Alza. The new architecture has high rigidity and is engineered for manufacturing efficiency as well as better build quality. It also offers designers more flexibility as it is versatile and can be used for different bodystyles.

(more…)

Daihatsu Gran Max Retains Position Of Bestseller In LCV Segment (Below 2 litres)

Daihatsu has had a long presence in the Malaysian market which goes back to the 1970s when it began marketing the Charade hatchback. It was especially strong in the compact car segment and also had popular 4×4 models. Although its involvement in the establishment of Perodua saw it giving up its passenger vehicle sales in Malaysia, it continued to be active in the light commercial vehicle sector.

Last year, its Gran Max remained as the country’s bestselling pick-up/panel van model in the light commercial vehicle segment (below 2 litres). A total of 1,190 vehicles was sold nationwide, a volume that Daihatsu (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (DMSB) was pleased to achieve as conditions were challenging due to the auto industry being affected by supply chain disruptions and economic slowdown.

(more…)

Malaysian Competition Commission Responds To Allegation That It Has Not Acted On TnG Being A Monopoly

Responding to allegations by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA) with regard to the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) failing to put an end to the ‘monopolistic behaviour of Touch ‘n Go Sdn. Bhd. And TnG Digital (TnG)’, the Commission has clarified that there is a misconception on the issues of monopolies.

The Competition Act 2010 (Act 712) acknowledges that a dominant or monopoly in a particular market is not an infringement. The infringement occurs when the enterprise abuses it position in the market. “In this instance, MyCC recognises that TnG monopolises the toll payment system only. They became a monopoly naturally as soon as the Government decided, via a gazette, to abolish cash payment for tolls nationwide with the intention of reducing the congestion at the toll booths for the convenience of highway users,” MyCC explained in its press statement recently.

(more…)

Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein Moves Into Formula E Lead With Two Wins In A Row

Pascal Wehrlein of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team steered his 99X Electric GEN3 car to two wins over two days at the 2023 CORE Diriyah E-Prix, once again pipping Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team driver Jake Dennis to the line, while Rene Rast secured a first podium for NEOM McLaren in Formula E.

Qualifying in fifth rather than ninth in the first day’s race (Round 2), Wehrlein made things easier on himself ahead of Round 3 under the bright lights of Diriyah, venue of the street circuit in Saudi Arabia for the all-electric Formula E series. This year, the more than 35,000 fans who attended the race weekend saw the Middle-Eastern debut for the all-new GEN3 car – the world’s fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric racing car.

(more…)

Police Ask Motorists Not To Publicise Their Roadblocks Or Presence On Waze

The Malaysian police (PDRM) have asked the public not to share information on their operations relating to roadblocks to check motorists and vehicles. Such information is contributed by users of the Waze GPS route navigation app and alerts motorists to the presence of such operations on the road ahead of them.

Speaking at an event in Kuala Lumpur last night, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said such information will hamper enforcement efforts against motorists driving under the influence of alcohol (drunk drivers) and those who commit other traffic offences. When alerted, motorists who are aware that they can be caught for an offence may then avoid the roadblock.

Datuk Azmi is asking the public to cooperate with the police on this and not provide information that helps those who commit road offences. He said road-users should be aware of the dangers they face due to negligence from drunk drivers, those not stopping at red lights, driving against the flow of traffic and so on.

(more…)

Chevrolet Reveals New Corvette Z06 GT3 Racing Car For 2024 Season

Chevrolet and Corvette Racing have a brand new GT3 racing car for customer teams to run in 2024. Although its competition debut is a year away, Chevrolet recently displayed the new Corvette Z06 GT3.R, its first racing car that fully meets FIA GT3 technical regulations.

Designed and developed as a collaborative effort between GM’s Competition Motorsports Engineering division and Pratt Miller Engineering, the Z06 GT3.R is a therefore a landmark racing car for Chevrolet. It takes the level of technology transfer between racing and production to a new level with more shared components and features than ever before.

(more…)

Porsche 911 Crashes Into 3 Parked Cars At IOI City Mall

Three car owners who had their cars parked at the IOI City Mall in Sepang District, Selangor, were unfortunate to have their vehicles damaged by a Porsche 911 which crashed into them. The accident occurred early today (Saturday, January 28) at the valet parking lot of the mall.

According to a report by The Star, Sepang OCPD Asst Comm Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof said that investigations showed that the driver had crashed into a road divider and lost control, leading to the Porsche colliding with the three cars at the driveway of IOI City Mall.

(more…)

One-off Bentley Continental GT Azure Created As Tribute To R Type Continental

A 70-year old Bentley with the registration JAS 949 has been a special car among Bentley models. It was one of only 208 units of the R Type Continental ever built – but the car had a greater impact than the limited numbers suggest. Quoted as ‘a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances’, the R-Type Continental was the fastest 4-seat luxury sedan in the world when it debuted in 1952.

The first owner of JAS 949 was a Dr. Rowland Guenin in Switzerland, who received his car in December 1953. It was ordered in Ivory with a Red interior and a manual gearbox, a specification it retains today along with the original 4.6-litre engine.

In 2001, Bentley acquired JAS 949 and made it one of the models in the company’s 43-car Heritage Collection kept at the Heritage Garage in Crewe, where Bentley has its factory. It has been well maintained with the patina preserved and the car is driven on the road on a regular basis.

(more…)

Final Update For Mazda2?

The Mazda2, which has been around for some 8 years now, has received a second facelift which could be the last one before a next generation arrives. The changes are cosmetic, with the most obvious being the front grille (on one variant) which looks blanked off as it is an EV.

However, there are no powertrain changes and the only engines offered are the 1.5-litre SKYACTIV petrol and turbodiesel units with direct injection. The high compression (14.8:1) SKYACTIV-G petrol engine now delivers 110 ps/142 Nm, while the SKYACTIV-D produces 105 ps/250 Nm. For some markets, the drivetrain is available with a 6-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive.

(more…)

Audi Presents Activesphere Concept As Final Model In Sphere Series

With the transition to electromobility and, perhaps by the end of the decade, automated driving as well, car design will change much more than it has at any time in recent decades. Interiors, in particular, will be remodelled with the freedom given by new architecture developed specifically for electric vehicles. The inner space’ will thus become the core of new vehicle design.

Since 2021, Audi has been presenting a series of concept vehicles which show how the brand will design its future luxury cars, with much focus on interior design. The series is unified by the sphere concept and the latest activesphere model unveiled yesterday joins three others presented over the past two years.

As the fourth and final model in the series, the activesphere concept adopts a 4-door crossover coupe bodystyle, following on from the skysphere roadster, grandsphere sedan, and urbansphere people-carrier. Each concept model interprets the paradigm shift in design differently, with the passengers’ needs and quality of experience at the very top of the priority list. To achieve this, technological innovations and the highest quality materials and workmanship have been used.

(more…)