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Micro-Mobility Vehicle Regulations In Finalisation Phase – Speed Limit Of 25km/h Being Considered

Plans are being made to adapt micro-mobility vehicles to suit existing laws and regulations, and one of the considerations is to limit the speed of micro-mobility vehicles to just 25 km/h.

According to Bernama, the government will soon introduce guidelines on the use of micro-mobility vehicles in Malaysia. A proposal from the Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia) is in its final stages.

Picture credit: Benama

According to PLANMalaysia director-general Alias Rameli, elements such as speed limit, road markings, and specific routes are among those that are being considered.

“The speed limit of micro-mobility vehicles may not exceed 25 km/h, though the vehicle can reach a speed of 50 km/h,” he said.

Alias who believes that the trend of micro-mobility is generally beneficial to the country, said that the use of such vehicles must be adjusted for the safety of other road users. Alias feels regulation is better than outright banning the vehicles as the usage of these vehicles can help reduce carbon consumption.

Once completed, the guidelines will be tabled to the transport ministry as well as the housing and local government ministry for approval. Despite being in its finalisation phase, Alias did not provide an estimated time for its submission or announcement.

Currently, micro-mobility vehicles such as mopeds, personal mobility aids, e-scooters, and such vehicles have been restricted from being used on public roads. Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong reiterated that the government has never banned these vehicles outright, and assured the public they can still be used in safe and controlled environments such as sidewalks or parks.

 

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Tesla Facing Bankruptcy?

Tesla has lost billions of dollars and could possibly go bankrupt.

According to CNN, American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla faces billions of dollars in losses due to the construction of new production plants, supply chain issues and even pandemic-related movement restrictions. 

In a recent interview, the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, said that his company could possibly go bankrupt because of such huge losses.

“The past two years have been an absolute nightmare of supply chain interruptions, one thing after another,” Musk said in an interview with a Tesla owners group. “We’re not out of it yet. Our concern is how do we keep the factories operating so we can pay people and not go bankrupt,” said Musk, as reported by CNN.

CNN Business noted that Tesla had reached the end of the most difficult quarter in two years, as part of its plant operations in Shanghai, China had to be shut down due to Covid-related movement restrictions in the city.

In the same interview, Musk also revealed that his factories in Berlin and Texas have caused the company to lose “billions of dollars” due to supply chain issues. The problem has slowed production, further reducing the number of completed cars – the CNN report mentions that the statement was already recorded late last May but was only revealed last week.

“Both Berlin and Austin factories are gigantic money furnaces right now. There’s a giant roaring sound which is the sound of money on fire. 

One of Tesla’s harshest critics, Gordon Johnson of GLJ Research, told CNN Business that he thinks the company is facing more significant financial problems than most analysts realise.

“Bankruptcy is a real risk for these guys. Why? A lot of their cash is locked up in China. They weren’t profitable until they were in China; and, given China does not allow companies to repatriate dollars made there out of the country, Tesla has a real problem.”

Johnson pointed to Tesla’s decision to cut about 10% of its salaried staff as a tell-tale sign — even as it continues to hire hourly production workers — as another sign of trouble.

“Why do you think they are cutting people? That’s a key tell-tale signal,” he said.

Tesla reported its first quarterly net profit in two years in the third quarter of 2018 and recorded its best sales, profit, and revenue in the third quarter of last year. But the profits are seen to be coming to an end, according to an analyst study by Refinitiv, wrote the CNN report.

Analysts predict that Tesla’s adjusted revenue in the second quarter of 2022 will drop to US $ 2.5 billion (RM11 billion), down from US $ 3.7 billion (RM16.3 billion) generated in the first quarter of 2022. However, the report notes that this is still an increase over adjusted revenue of US $ 1.6 billion (RM7.03 billion), which was recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

CNN also said that Tesla vehicle production remained down 0.1% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, although year-over-year production was 69% higher.

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Limited Edition BMW 2 Series With M Performance Parts – From RM227,800

There are only 50 units of the limited edition BMW 2 Series with M Performance Parts available in the Malaysian market, yours from RM227,800. 

Those who are looking for something unique can quickly opt for one at any of the Auto Bavaria dealers with three packages to amp up your driving experience for the 218i Gran Coupé. These three packages are ‘Aesthetics’, ‘Signature Sound’, and ‘Best of Both Worlds’.

Aesthetics, Signature Sound, or both?

If you want more style, the ‘Aesthetics’ package offers a more edgy and sporty look for your BMW 218i Gran Coupé (the package also comes with an RM3,000 petrol voucher). The ‘Signature Sound’ includes the Harman Kardon Built-in Sound System and a complimentary Harman Kardon Bluetooth Speaker.

BMW 218i Gran Coupe – M Performance Parts pack

Then there’s the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ package, which combines both the ‘Aesthetics’ and ‘Signature Sound’ into one premium package for the BMW 2 Series. The M Performance Parts pack also includes the MPA Shadowline front grille, carbon fibre mirror caps, M rear spoiler, and BMW LED door projectors plus M Performance slides.

Bookings are open and for those looking to get their very own limited edition BMW 2 Series with M Performance Parts, it retails from (off-the-road) RM227,800 to RM233,800 in Peninsular Malaysia.

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Diskaun Saman Trafik Diantara 50% Hingga 80% – Dari 1 – 3 Julai 2022

Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia telah mengumumkan tawaran diskaun saman trafik diantara 50% hingga 80% sempena Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia Negeri Perak.

Orang ramai hanya boleh menikmati diskaun saman ini secara fizikal dengan membuat pembayaran melalui Kaunter Bayaran Saman yang akan dibuka di tapak acara itu nanti.

Diskaun Saman Trafik

Acara: Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia
Tempat: Litar Dato’ Sagor, Pasir Salak, Perak Darul Ridzuan
Masa: 9 pagi hingga 6 petang
Tarikh: 1 Julai – 3 Julai 2022

Pengurangan kadar kompaun saman ini melibatkan:

Saman PDRM: 50%
Saman JPJ: 50%
Saman Majlis Daerah Perak Tengah (MDPT): 50% (1-2 Julai), 80% (3 Julai)

Walau bagaimanapun, diskaun saman ini hanya tertakhluk pada kesalahan terpilih di seluruh Malaysia. Jangan lepaskan peluang ini!

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Bridgestone Is The Official Tyre Supplier for Lamborghini Huracán STO

The new 2022 Lamborghini Huracán STO recently made its official debut here in Malaysia, and Bridgestone joined in the fun as the official tyre supplier for this awesome Italian beast.

That’s right, folks. The latest Lamborghini Huracán STO is rolling on some custom-engineered Bridgestone Potenza sport rubbers that represent the ‘exemplary fusion of technology and design’. Perfect for daily travels and looking good while doing so.

If, however, you’re looking to rip the Huracán STO around the track like the Sepang International Circuit, this Italian stallion can also be fitted with another optional set of custom Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slicks, also tailor-made for the new Huracán STO.

Designed to let drivers truly experience what the supercar has to offer, the Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyres offer excellent grip in the dry from all aspects, including cornering, braking, and overall handling.

Bridgestone injected its entire Formula One heritage into the Huracán STO’s custom Potenza Race semi-slicks which come with optimised tread compound, pattern, and profile. Not only will you get enhanced lap time ability, but also long-lasting track performance.

These tyres are also engineered for road use as well thanks to their maximised contact area and even pressure distribution. Plus the Tricolore colours within the treads just add a nice level of flash to the Huracán STO’s overall facade.

 

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Mercedes-Benz EQS EV To Be Unveiled This July – Range Topping Variant Has 949Nm of Torque

The Mercedes-Benz EQS flagship EV has been spotted in Malaysia and it wants to let you know that July 22 is its big day.

There’s no denying it, all the rave at the moment is about all-electric cars, and it seems that Mercedes-Benz wants you to know that it too wants to play hard in this exciting new segment.

Going around social media are pictures of a heavily disguised Mercedes-Benz EQS, which on its side writes, “Under Wraps Till July 22”. Apparently, it was spotted on the East Coast Expressway.

We suppose this is Mercedes-Benz’s way of telling everyone that the car has arrived on our shores and that a preview/launch is imminent.

Mercedes-Benz EQS in Malaysia!

For those unfamiliar with the EQS, the electric vehicle is inspired by the Vision EQS first unveiled in 2019. It is Mercedes’ first flagship all-electric member of the new S-Class range and the flagship model of the company’s EV brand, EQ. The EQS is the second model to use the EVA platform (after the EQC SUV) and can be had in a 785km driving range (EQS 450+) configuration.

Initially, the EQS was offered as a rear-wheel-drive EQS 450+ variant, which is powered by a single electric motor on the rear axle producing a total of 333PS and 568Nm of torque, and the AWD EQS 580 4Matic which adds a motor on the front axle for a total power output of 532PS and 855Nm of torque.

The variants have grown quickly since then, where Mercedes now offers six different configurations, namely the EQS 350, EQS 450+, EQS 450 4Matic, EQS 500 4Matic, EQS580 4 Matic, and AMG EQS 53 4Matic+.

The base EQS 350 features a 90.6-kWh battery that is good for a  range of 638 kilometres, while all other variants feature a 107.8-kWh battery with varying outputs and range.

The German EV can be juiced up via its 11-kW onboard AC charger or the optional 22-kW add-on. As for fast charging, the sedan supports up to 200 kW of DC fast charging, which Mercedes says can provide up to 300 km of range in just 20 minutes.

The technical specs for all variants are listed down below:

EQS 350(rear motor) – 292PS/565Nm/638km of range
EQS 450+(rear motor) – 333PS/568Nm/785km of range
EQS 450 4Matic(front and rear motor) – 360PS/800Nm/685km of range
EQS 500 4Matic(front and rear motor) – 449PS/855Nm/685km of range
EQS 580 4Matic(front and rear motor) – 523PS/855Nm/676km of range
EQS 53 4Matic+(front and rear motor) – 658PS/949Nm/586km of range

We’re not sure what variants Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will introduce, but it makes sense for them to feel out the market by introducing the base variant and the EQS 450+, which has the highest driving range out of the lot.

We’ll have to wait for July 22 to get a better idea, but who knows, they might just go all out and introduce the EQS 53 4Matic+ with nearly 1,000Nm of torque.

*All photo credits to Stephanie J Aeria 

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Litar ‘Nürburgring Timur’ Bernilai RM1.3 Bilion Dibangunkan Di Langkawi

Sebuah resort litar lumba mewah bertaraf antarabangsa bernilai RM1.3 bilion akan dibangunkan di Bukit Malut, Langkawi, Kedah.

Projek resort bersepadu dan pembinaan litar lumba bertaraf antarabangsa, Open Road International Circuit and Integrated Resorts ini akan menampilkan litar lumpa sepanjang 5.8km yang disebut-sebutkan sebagai “Nürburgring di Timur”.

*Kredit foto: Langkawi Kini

Litar Lumba Mewah Tarikan Baharu Langkawi

Menerusi laporan Langkawi Kini, Menteri Besar Kedah, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor berkata selain litar lumba, resort ini turut merangkumi kemudahan seperti:

Pusat pengedaran kereta 4S
Kemudahan gudang garaj kenderaan
Akademi perlumbaan
Hospital sukan
Projek perumahan
Stesen minyak

*Kredit foto: Sinar Harian

Pada tahun lalu, Sanusi telah menjelaskan bahawa projek itu akan dilaksanakan di atas tanah seluas 66.7 hektar termasuk lapan hektar tanah kerajaan dan ia dijangka memberi manfaat kepada sektor ekonomi serta pendapatan penduduk apabila siap dalam tempoh lima tahun lagi.

*Kredit foto: Langkawi Kini

Ketika ini, papan tanda projek sudah pun dinaikkan dan pembinaan litar lumba bertaraf antarabangsa ini bakal menjadi tarikan baharu sektor pelancongan di Pulau Langkawi.

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Bermaz Launches Stylish 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV Crossover – RM199k

After a long wait, Bermaz Motor has launched the MX-30 in Malaysia, Mazda’s first fully electric vehicle. It comes in a single, well-equipped ‘High’ variant starting from RM198,780 (on-the-road without insurance).

This pricing slots it into close contention with other sub RM200k EVs vehicles such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and possibly the incoming Ora Good Cat. There’s more on the way too, believe me, such as the smart #1, which might be sold through Proton.

Mazda had always pitched the MX-30 in an unconventional manner, insisting that it is a secondary car for shorter journeys that also just happens to be fully electric, is decently practical, and quite stylish. I mean, it even has frameless doors.

Since it’s initial debut back in 2020, Mazda has offered just one powertrain configuration for the electric MX-30, that being a single electric motor powering the front axle with 145PS and 271Nm of torque.

Supplying this is a 35.5kWh lithium ion battery that’s securely integrated into the car’s floor for a low centre of gravity. Admittedly, that’s far from the most energy-dense battery to be offered in an EV, yielding a claimed range of 200km on the WLTP test cycle.

But as mentioned earlier, the MX-30 is meant to be a daily runabout, not a long-distance road trip cruiser. You’re meant to be charging and recharging the battery regularly, thus having a smaller battery does also mean less time waiting while it’s plugged-in.

It’s equipped with an onboard 6.6kW AC charger that should yield a full charge in 5 hours via a Type 2 connector. However, this can be shaved to around 36 minutes when hooked up to a DC charger (via CCS2 connector) to which its maximum charge rate is 40kW.

Sure, it’s technically a crossover but those rear-hinged ‘suicide doors’ and coupe-like roofline tells you all you need to know about who this car is aimed at and what it’s trying to reference (the RX-8, for one).

On the outside, the MX-30 adheres to the tenets of Mazda’s KODO Soul of Motion design philosophy with subtle curves and taut but graceful surfacing that’s become synonymous with the brand’s cars of the past decade.

Without going into exhaustive detail, we’ll just conclude that it’s a good looking car (err…crossover). However, there are some elements here that point to their future aesthetic, so if you like the MX-30 visually, you’ve got plenty to look forward to with regard to other cars coming up from Mazda’s.

Inside, the MX-30’s build quality and high grade materials do elevate the experience very close to something we expect from a German marque. Here, again, we see echoes of Mazda’s other cars, especially those of comparable footprint on the road such as the 3 and the CX-30.

While most of the touch points are comparable, the most obvious difference here is the secondary touchscreen on the centre stack that toggles the climate control settings.

Ahead of the driver is a 7-inch digital instrument cluster joined by an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with Mazda Connect that supports all the usual features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the MX-30 is one of the new local-spec cars from the Japanese automaker to feature a premium Bose audio system with 12-speakers.

In terms of safety kit, Mazda’s debutant EV for the Malaysian market comes with 7 airbags and the usual spread of anti-lock brakes, EBD, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Hill Hold Assist, but complements this with active safety features from the brand’s i-Activsense driver aid suite.

This adds Adaptive LED headlights, 360-degree view monitor, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Front Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and Smart Brake Support (or Autonomous Emergency Braking, AEB).

Bermaz Motor has also hinted at their intention of introducing a less expensive ‘Mid’ variant at a later date that swaps some luxury and equipment for sharper value while retaining the same electric powertrain and battery configuration, but has not detailed a timeline as yet. We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything on the matter.

Available colours for the 2022 Mazda MX-30 include both single and dual-tone finishes. Polymetal and Machine Gray are the only two mono-colour exterior options while Soul Red Crystal comes with a black roof, Jet Black Mica arrives with silver roof pillars, and Zircon Sand gets a black contrast roof.

The Mazda MX-30 comes with a 5 years manufacturer warranty (or first 100,000km), whichever comes first. In addition, the Mazda MX-30 EV battery warranty coverage is up to 8 years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.

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Bermaz Adds 2022 Mazda CX-8 2.5T AWD, 2.2D High Plus To Range

For 2022, the CX-8 is getting a pretty substantial upgrade, giving buyers a choice of two additional engines instead of just a single naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre SkyActiv petrol unit available since launch.

Introduced alongside the launch of the MX-30 electric crossover, the Mazda CX-8 range now has triple the engine count as well as two new variants that, at the high end, bridge the gap between it and the venerable (but merely 5-seat in Malaysia) flagship CX-9, which arrives fully imported from Japan.

Going forward, the locally assembled (Kulim, Kedah) 2022 model year CX-8 will comprise of 5 variants, with on-the-road prices excluding insurance as follows:

CX-8 2.5G 2WD MID – RM177,674

CX-8 2.5G 2WD HIGH – RM183,452

CX-8 2.5G 2WD HIGH PLUS – RM197,553

CX-8 2.2D 2WD HIGH (new) – RM204,758

CX-8 2.5T AWD HIGH PLUS (new) – RM212,425

These two new mills aren’t new to Mazda, nor even the second-generation CX-5 that the CX-8 is based on. Starting with the 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D turbodiesel, it generates 188hp at 4,500rpm and 450Nm from 2,000rpm. As has been proven in its other applications, no other engine from the Japanese automaker beats it for sheer pulling power.

At the helm of 2022’s revised CX-8 range is the 2.5T motor, lifted straight out of the CX-9. With 228hp and 420Nm of torque, this turbocharged petrol engine even develops the exact same output as the one found in the more expensive SUV. All variants share the 6-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission with shift paddles.

What’s more, to help distribute power, it even gains all-wheel drive traction. Mazda isn’t disclosing how much more accelerative the juiced up CX-8 range-topper is but we expect it to be a pretty brisk 7ish seconds.

New to this year’s refreshed range and standard on all variants is Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) that builds upon the original GVC system to improve overall driving comfort by strategically, though almost imperceptibly intervening via small Traction Control and torque vectoring adjustments to reduce lateral movement forces and fatigue upon the occupants, leading to a more composed and stable ride.

While the full spec rundown remains fairly similar between this 2022 revision and the outgoing CX-8, this newer car can be differentiated by an updated front end treatment for variants in ‘High’ and ‘High Plus’ trim lines (basically 4 of the 5 variants), gaining a gunmetal accented finish and chrome bumper garnish, LED Signature headlamps, as well as a wireless smartphone charger to work with the wirelessly connected Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Perhaps more significantly, they also receive heated and ventilated front seats (in leather, of course) as well as an updated i-Activsense active safety suite which now includes adaptive headlights with high beam control, Smart Brake Support (AEB) for the front and rear, and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with stop and go.

As before, each CX-8 comes with Mazda’s 5-year manufacturer’s warranty with inclusive 5-year free maintenance (or up to 100,000km whichever comes first). Exterior colour options include: Platinum Quartz, Polymetal Gray, Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Snowflake White Pearl, Deep Crystal Blue, and Jet Black.

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2022 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series Launched In Sepang

Alongside the locally assembled A 35 and GLA 35, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia have also launched the newest, most hardcore AMG GT coupe into the Malaysian market: the Black Series.

If the bright orange and gloss black accents didn’t hint at its performance credentials, or if over-the-top aero bits weren’t convincing enough that this machine sits at the top tier of AMG road machines, know that in 2020 it snatched the title of fastest production car to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife: 6 minutes 43.616 seconds.

Now, about 18 months after its international outing, buyers in Malaysia will get a change to own one. As you’d expect, it also comes with a stratospheric barrier to entry, so much so that MBM refuses to disclose it completely, merely saying that it’s priced “from RM3 million”.

Historically, neither Mercedes-Benz nor AMG has ever made light of bestowing the title of Black Series on a car. Previous examples have been very fast, true, but also a little overwhelming, characterised by brute force overshadowing the finesse found in their other, lower rung variants.

It gains the double wishbone setup and adjustable custom coil-over suspension system from the AMG GT R, albeit modified to handle the additional stresses the Black Series was designed to be subjected to. There’s adjustable carbon fibre torsion bars, dynamic engine and transmission mounts, and even most of the underbody is carbon fibre.

That’s the same super rigid lightweight material that’s used for its massive vented bonnet and much of the car’s aero package as well, which press down on the car to the tune of some 400kg at 250km/h.

Speaking of which, the cornerstone of the GT Black’s ensemble is its engine. Yes, it’s derived from the 4.0-litre M178 bi-turbo V8 petrol that first debuted in the AMG GT over 7 years ago, but here it has been given a thorough going-over, gaining bits lifted straight out of the AMG GT3 racing car such as its unique ‘flat plane’ crank. To match its unique engine note, the engineers have routed the exhaust manifold as well.

Thanks to upgraded intercooler, new camshafts, and beefier turbochargers, the GT Black outputs 730hp between 6,700 and 6,900rpm while peak torque of 800Nm is available from 2,000rpm to 6,000rpm.

All that is sent to the rear wheels for the extra wide Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres to deal with, as before, through a 7-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch transmission. A 100km/h sprint is dealt with in 3.2 seconds while top speed is 325km/h.

Basically, it’s the closest they’ve come to offering customers a race car based on the AMG GT but keeping just enough out of the equation to keep it street legal.

The cabin is probably where the road car and GT3 racer differ the most as a fair bit of creature comfort remains in this hardcore circuit muncher. It’s got a Burmester sound system too, how extra is that?

The GT Black still has the running gear and infotainment toys from the standard car, albeit draped in plenty of Alcantara and exposed carbon fibre. Single piece bucket seats replace plush leather upholstery and there’s even a roll cage obscuring the rearward view.

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