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First Look At New Hyundai KONA Generation, To Be Launched In 2023

Hyundai Motor has released the first pictures of the new generation of its KONA sub-compact SUV, and like the original IONIQ, there will be a choice of battery electric (BEV), hybrid electric (HEV) or just an internal combustion engine (ICE). A fourth choice will be the sporty N line.

While sharing the same architecture, each version will have unique styling to differentiate it. The overall size has increased a bit with 150 mm addition to the length, 25 mm more width and a wheelbase that is 60 mm longer.

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The Proton X70 After 4 Years

With the launch of the Proton X70 at the end of 2018, not only did Proton have a totally new model for its range but it was also the start of a turnaround and ascent for the carmaker which continues to this day.

*Besides being the first model developed in collaboration with Geely, DRB-HICOM’s partner in Proton, the X70 was also first premium SUV model from Malaysian carmaker.*

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BYD Enters EV Market In Malaysia With ATTO 3 SUV, Priced From RM149,800

With the surge in introduction of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as the government is providing tax exemption for a few years, we’ve been seeing a number of brands from China coming into the Malaysian market. It coincides with the increased export activity by the Chinese companies in recent years, particularly with EVs as the country has the largest market in the world.

The latest is BYD Auto which officially made its debut today with the launch of its first model, the ATTO 3 SUV. Its commencement of business has been exceptionally quick as the distributorship agreement with Sime Darby Motors (SDM) was inked only in September this year. Clearly, the two companies had already been having earlier discussions and had plans in place by the time the agreement was signed and announced.

With products from BYD Auto, now among the top 5 BEV companies in the world, SDM has another brand of electrified products to offer. From starting with just the electrified models of BMW and MINI, it now has BEVs from Porsche, Hyundai and Volvo which are sold by its various units. BYD and Hyundai are likely to provide the entry-level models in coming years while the other brands cater to customers further upmarket.

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Toyota C-HR prologue Concept Previews Next Generation of Compact Crossover SUV

When Toyota revealed the bZ Compact SUV Concept last month, it was suspected that the design of the battery electric model might also be used for the next generation of the C-HR compact SUV. The first generation of the C-HR has been in production since late 2016 so it should be due for change.

Now Toyota has also revealed the C-HR prologue and mentions that it is a preview of the next generation of the compact SUV. It’s likely that the new model will be launched in 2023 though there’s no indication whether it will be during the early part or as late as the Japan Mobility Show (the new name for the Tokyo Motor Show) at the end of October.

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Lamborghini To Start Producing Huracan Sterrato

After showing an intriguing video of an extreme off-road sportscar in July, Lamborghini has presented the production model at Art Basel in Florida this week. The sportscar in the video had been based on a concept car called the Huracan Sterrato, and the production model will also have the same name. 1,499 units will be available, with first deliveries beginning in the first quarter of 2023.

“The Sterrato represents a radical and original interpretation of the super sportscar concept but, in terms of performance, the Sterrato belongs in the world’s most dynamic and exciting driving environments,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini’s Chairman & CEO, after unveiling the car at the international contemporary art fair.

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Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Inspired By ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

To help celebrate the recent launch of the adidas ‘Wakanda Forever Collection’, the team at adidas sought to bring their ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’-inspired designs into the automotive space. For this, they had the latest Lexus RX 500h F SPORT transformed in a collaboration with the carmaker, adidas S.E.E.D, Calty Design Research and 3D printing company Carbon.

The re-imagined exterior of the RX features the Wakandan-inspired print and purple colourway used throughout the adidas sportswear collection. A diamond pattern inlayed across the hood is inspired by the Black Panther’s claw necklace. The same pattern is applied to the door panel inserts and in purple sections of the steering wheel. Gold details, a tie to the new Black Panther’s suit, accent the exterior, with unique ‘F’ centre caps on the wheels.

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AEHRA Aims For The Ultra Premium Car Market With Electric SUV

In the early part of the 20^th century, many car companies were formed to make and sell the new ‘horseless carriages’. But over time, it was a case of Charles Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ which applied to businesses as much as nature. By the end of the century, the number was considerably less than when it started and mega corporations were formed as a few companies merged.

Now, in the 21^st century, the same thing is happening again as a ‘new’ type of motor vehicle – the electric vehicle (EV) – is poised to move into the mainstream – even displacing combustion engined vehicles in another few decades. And again, we see many new companies or start-ups appearing to try to get even a tiny slice of the growing EV market.

Some have been around a few years already, quietly developing their models and approaching investors and now, it seems that many are beginning to reveal themselves and present their products. One of them is AEHRA, an Italian company that aims to ‘disrupt the existing automotive ecosystem by distilling the values of Italian design, world-class engineering and American customer service to leverage the advantages of next-generation EV powertrain packaging and technology’.

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EX90 – Volvo’s New Flagship Electric SUV

20 years after Volvo introduced its first SUV, the Swedish carmaker begins a new era with a totally new SUV that takes it into a fully electric future. Unveiled today in Sweden, the new EX90 is the first of a series of models that will enter the market at the rate of one per year. Volvo has declared that by 2030, it will sell only zero emission electric vehicles – one of the most ambitious electrification blueprints in the automotive industry.

“The Volvo EX90 is a statement for where we are, and where we are going,” said Jim Rowan, Volvo’s CEO. “It’s fully electric with a range of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge, designed to further raise our safety standards, the first Volvo car to be truly defined by its software and part of a wider ecosystem, connecting to your home and your other devices. The Volvo EX90 is the start of something new for Volvo Cars in many ways.”

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Genesis Electrified GV70 To Be Brand’s First Model Built Outside Korea

Following the launch of the Genesis GV70 SUV last year, an electrified version is now being introduced in selected markets outside its home market and will be made at the Hyundai Motor Group’s factory in Alabama, USA from next month. It will be the first Genesis model to be built in the USA and the first-ever Genesis production to take place outside South Korea.

The Electrified GV70, as it is referred to, shares the same design based on ‘Athletic Elegance’ as the GV70. The front end shows more attention to aerodynamic efficiency, vital for electric vehicles which need the lowest wind resistance possible. The Genesis signature Crest Grille has thus evolved into an aerodynamic crest that features an inverted G-Matrix Pattern and incorporates a hidden EV charging port, creating a minimalist yet sophisticated look.

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Volvo XC40 Recharge Updated For Model Year 2023

Volvo Car Malaysia has begun sales of an updated version of the Volvo XC40 Pure Electric, the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) from the Volvo range to be introduced in Malaysia. The model was well received when launched in March this year, with over 400 orders received within the first 2 months, all of which were delivered to customers by June 2022.

Priced at RM278,888 (excluding insurance for Peninsular Malaysia registration), the locally assembled XC40 Recharge gets a new colour (Fjord Blue) to join the choices of Black Stone, Crystal White, Sage Green, Silver Dawn, Thunder Grey. There are also minor cosmetic changes at the front and rear as well as new rims. Inside, Charcoal Connect Suede textile is used, with a new shift lever sculpted with leather-free charcoal material.

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