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Porsche 911 GT3 Gets Track-Ready Upgrade with Manthey Kit

The Porsche 911 GT3 has long been a favourite among enthusiasts who push their cars to the limit on track days, and the new Manthey Kit takes its performance to a whole new level. Designed specifically for those with a passion for high-speed circuit driving, the package builds on the Weissach Package with upgraded aerodynamics, suspension, and braking components.

The result is a car capable of lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:52.981 minutes—nearly three seconds quicker than its predecessor fitted with the same kit.

Developed in close collaboration between Porsche’s Weissach Development Centre and Manthey engineers in Meuspath, the Manthey Kit is available through Porsche Centres worldwide. Its focus is on maximising downforce, improving cornering speeds, and ensuring the car can handle the intense demands of track use.

The suspension has been specially adapted for circuit driving, with four-way adjustable coilovers allowing rebound and compression to be fine-tuned without tools. Spring rates on the front axle have been increased by 10 per cent over the previous generation, enhancing stability and mechanical grip, particularly over kerbs.

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Omoda 7 Raises the Bar for Intelligent Parking

The Omoda 7 arrives with a clear mission: to push smart mobility into its next chapter by offering one of the most capable and adaptable intelligent parking systems currently available. Its suite of features, driven by APA (Automatic Parking Assistance) and RPA (Remote Parking Assistance), is designed to tackle everything from tight parallel spaces to awkwardly angled slots and even narrow residential lanes.

The system supports custom parking paths, memory reverse, and remote straight-in or straight-out manoeuvres, allowing the car to operate confidently even in tricky environments. It has also been calibrated for more than 1,000 real-world scenarios across different markets, giving it an edge in both efficiency and versatility.

The model made its first major appearance at the Omoda I Jaecoo International User Summit in October 2025, held under the theme “Co-Create Co-Define,” which reflects the brand’s ambition to set new benchmarks rather than follow them.

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Toyota Yaris Cross Nightshade Arrives in Thailand with Sportier Look and Upgraded Features

Toyota Motor Thailand has rolled out a new special edition of its popular compact SUV, introducing the Yaris Cross Nightshade to buyers seeking a sportier take on the model. The latest version stands out with a darker, more assertive exterior treatment available in two colours—Cement Grey Metallic, which is new to the range, and Platinum White Pearl—both paired with a contrasting black roof.

The cabin keeps to the same theme with a fully black interior that aims to elevate the SUV’s premium and athletic character while maintaining the convenience and technology features that have made the model one of Toyota’s strongest performers in the market.

Power comes from the familiar 1.5-litre hybrid engine paired with a lithium-ion battery and an e-CVT automatic transmission, supported by POWER, NORMAL, and ECO modes. Toyota says the setup continues to offer brisk acceleration, good refinement, and impressive efficiency, rated at up to 26.3 km/L based on Eco Sticker figures.

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SAIC Moves Its All-Solid-State Battery Programme Into Full-Line Commissioning

SAIC Motor has confirmed that its partner Qingtao Power has completed full-line commissioning at its all-solid-state battery production facility in Anting. According to reporting from IT-Home, the company expects sample cells to be produced before the end of the year, followed by prototype vehicle testing in 2025. If development continues on schedule, SAIC aims to begin commercial mass delivery of the technology in 2027.

SAIC has already outlined its technical benchmarks for the new chemistry. The solid-state cells are targeted to achieve a gravimetric energy density of more than 400 Wh/kg, a volumetric energy density above 820 Wh/L, and single-cell capacities exceeding 75 Ah. These figures were shared earlier through SAIC’s corporate briefings and technology summaries and have been consistently cited in industry coverage.

The company has also released preliminary safety data. Test cells reportedly passed nail-penetration trials and remained stable during exposure to a 200°C thermal chamber without fire or explosion. SAIC states that the chemistry maintains over 90 per cent capacity at low temperatures. These results reflect laboratory and validation testing tied to the firm’s established development roadmap.

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Ford’s Community Drive Reaches 600 Malaysians in Nationwide Outreach

Ford’s long-held belief that progress is strongest when shared has once again taken centre stage, this time through the global ‘Ford Building Together’ initiative. In Malaysia, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford carried that spirit forward with an 11-day outreach campaign that delivered food aid and basic healthcare to 600 people from underserved communities across the Klang Valley, Penang, Ipoh and Kuantan. The effort was powered by 55 Ford volunteers who dedicated their time to ensure the assistance reached families who needed it most.

As the sole distributor of Ford vehicles in Malaysia, Auto ConneXion focused its efforts on groups facing significant daily challenges, selecting B40 families, individuals with disabilities, single mothers, Asnaf Fakir and Miskin households, and the Orang Asli as the primary beneficiaries.

The Klang Valley received aid for 200 people, while Penang saw 100 recipients. In Ipoh, 150 individuals—from single parents to low-income families—were supported, and another 150 from the Orang Asli community in Kampung Paya Bungor, Kuantan benefited from the programme.

Ford’s international philanthropic arm emphasised that its mission has always extended beyond engineering vehicles. The company expressed that meaningful change happens when corporations, partners and communities work together, and the Malaysian campaign was held up as an example of that shared purpose.

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Shell Marks 75 Years with Ferrari by Rolling Out a Revamped Helix Oil Line-Up

Shell Malaysia has marked its 75-year partnership with Scuderia Ferrari by unveiling a refreshed Shell Helix portfolio, introducing upgraded formulations and a cleaner, more modern packaging design. The company said the new look was created to make product identification easier and to give the range a stronger presence on the shelf.

The launch was paired with a special drive organised with the Ferrari Owners’ Club Malaysia, where 75 Ferraris took to the road in a tribute to the long-running collaboration.

The centrepiece of the updated line-up is the Shell Helix Ultra ECT C6 0W-20, which Shell describes as its most advanced engine oil to date and one of the earliest in its range to comply with the upcoming 2025 API SQ standard. The formula is the result of decades of technical development carried out alongside Ferrari, reflecting the brand’s efforts to bring motorsport-level refinement to everyday motoring.

It has been engineered to keep modern engines running cleaner, support better fuel efficiency and provide dependable protection in daily Malaysian conditions.

Shell noted that its history of lubricant development has always been tied to real-world performance, with Ferrari acting as a key partner in testing products under extreme conditions. The company said its position as the world’s top lubricant supplier for 19 consecutive years underscores its commitment to pushing quality and efficiency further.