Month: September 2022

Auto Bavaria is now offering the BMW 5 Series with a limited edition package dubbed ‘5porty’.

Only 30 units of the limited edition BMW 5 Series with M Performance Parts will go on sale and interested parties can choose between two 5 Series models – the BMW 530i M Sport or the BMW 530e M Sport.

M Performance Parts galore

If you’re one of the 30 lucky folks that’ll get the chance to own one of these limited-edition BMW 5 Series models, the list of M Performance Parts should be more than enough to enhance its overall sporty exterior and interior look and feel.

These include:

BMW M Performance High Gloss Black Kidney Grille
BMW M50 Years Wheel Cap
BMW M Performance Carbon Fibre Mirror Cover
BMW M50 Years Emblem (Front and Rear Bonnet)
BMW M Performance Carbon Fibre Steering Cover
BMW LED Door Lights Projector
BMW Gloss Black Air Duct Trims (Left and Right)
BMW M Performance Set of Paddle Shift
BMW M Performance Floor Mats

Samsung Galaxy Ultra S22 included (for free)

The 5porty package for the BMW 5 Series limited edition models will also include some ‘attractive complimentary accessories such as the BMW Advanced Car Eye 2.0, an HD wide-angle camera, a Sttoke Ceramic Reusable Cup, complimentary tinting, and a Samsung Galaxy Ultra S22.

As for pricing, Auto Bavaria dealerships will be selling the limited edition BMW 5 Series with the 5porty package from RM347,000. There are six Auto Bavaria dealerships located across Malaysia if you would like to book one or get more information. For more info on the BMW 530e M Sport and BMW 530i M Sport launched in 2021, click here.

 

If you thought the current-gen Proton X70 is an impressive piece of C-segment SUV, its likely replacement is set to blow you away. The Boyue L (also called the Atlas in overseas markets), as we’ve previously reported, is the Chinese automaker’s answer to the CR-V and RAV4 on a global scale.

Even better, the first units are already rolling off the production floor. Though it looks like it could still belong in ‘concept car’ limbo, the Boyue L is finished and real.

Geely Boyue L – Bye-bye Honda CR-V?

In all transparency, that L suffix could prove significant as that might mean that the Proton-ised version we see locally will be different in some way. Here, it signifies a longer wheelbase (107mm more than the X70’s) as well as denoting its more upmarket positioning.

Still, a shorter wheelbase and less premium counterpart to the Boyue L should be pretty impressive nonetheless, especially given how much of a striking impression its exterior and interior alike make at first glance.

It’s based on the shared Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform which is also in use by Volvo and Lynk & Co, among others.  

Geely Boyue L – based on the CMA platform

We’ve already spent some time looking over the finer details of that exterior, but even in this final production version there’s something very Cadilllac-like about that front end and there are quite a few cues from last year’s Vision Starburst.

Even the Hyundai Elantra and Tucson are jealous of how angular Geely went with those body lines and creases. The same goes for the wheels too, which were specifically designed to match.

Step inside the futuristic aesthetic is further amplified by a minimal dashboard adorned with ambient light elements and two-tone trim treatment. At centre stage sits the 13.2-inch vertical touchscreen infotainment screen running the proprietary Geely Galaxy Air operating system and powered by an 8-core Snapdragon SA8155P system-on-a-chip by Qualcomm.

Ahead of the driver, we find a supplementary 10.25-inch display used as a digital instrument cluster and in some variants, there’s an optional 25.6-inch projection screen and 11-speaker Harman Infinity audio system.

Geely Boyue L powertrain

In terms of powertrain, the range starts with a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder producing 181hp and 290Nm, which should be familiar to Malaysians, driving the front wheels, or a 2.0-litre turbo with 218hp and 325Nm. However, later into its production run, multiple petrol-electric hybrids supplied by Leishen Power will also be offered alongside the all-wheel drive.

Geely has not yet disclosed export or overseas market plans for the larger SUV, but it’s not hard to see how easily the Boyue L could start to steal customers away from established brands in Europe and possibly even North America, should they venture west enough.

The upcoming Volvo EX90 EV SUV will be the brand’s safest car yet thanks to a host of safety features including LiDAR.

Set for its official debut on 9 November 2022, the EX90 full-electric model will be replacing the outgoing Volvo XC90 PHEV model as the brand’s next all-electric flagship SUV. Volvo also stated that the EX90 will be the start of a new era for the brand, and here are some things to expect.

Sensors, cameras, radars & LiDAR

In a bid to further amp up its game in the safety department, the Volvo EX90 will come with a host of safety sensors, cameras, radars, and most importantly, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). To expand on this, the next-generation EV SUV from Volvo will come with a set of eight cameras, 16 ultrasonic sensors, and the LiDAR unit for enhanced safety levels not just for the occupants, but other road users.

Volvo has done its research when it comes to safety enhancements, and it is said that the upcoming EX90 can help to reduce accidents that result in serious injury or death by up to 20%. Another impressive estimate is a 9% improvement in overall crash avoidance. If you do the math on the millions of accidents around the world each year, 9% is a lot and that’s good news for everyone.

Pedestrian detection up to 250m distance, day or night

The LiDAR sensor itself will be embedded in the roofline of the EX90 where it’ll be standardised for all future Volvo models. This tech can help to detect pedestrians up to 250m ahead even while the car is being driven at night and at highway speeds.

For smaller items like a rogue tyre in the middle of the road, the sensor is able to pick up its presence from a 120m distance no matter day or night. The entire safety suite can step in to assist the driver and like having a mind of its own, create a better understanding of when it’s needed to step in and help in the best possible manner.

‘Driver Understanding System’ to help avoid accidents

Taking a step closer to Volvo’s future of zero collisions, they will also introduce a ‘driver understanding system’ in the Volvo EX90. This real-time interior sensing system can help to detect if the driver is not ‘optimal’ for driving and take the necessary steps to avoid any unwanted accidents.

Two cameras will be used to pick up signals from the driver’s eye-gaze patterns. An audio warning system will alert the driver depending on how much visual distraction the cameras pick up from looking at your phone to higher levels of cognitive distraction.

Together with its capacitive steering wheel, the Volvo EX90 even has the ability to safely stop by the side of the road and turn on its hazard lights if it detects that the driver is not responding to any of its warning signals.

You know they’re not playing around when the brand’s head of Safe Vehicle Automation said “We believe the EX90 to be the safest Volvo car to ever hit the road.” Stay tuned to its official global unveiling on 9 November 2022, folks.

 

The Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail is an all-terrain SUV-specific tyre built for adventure-seeking owners.

In some parts of the world, cars that we call SUVs (sports utility vehicles) are known as CUVs (crossover utility vehicles). In these parts of the world, CUVs are generally smaller SUVs based on car platforms, whereas the SUV classification is reserved for larger SUVs like the Toyota Land Cruiser or Range Rover.

Some examples of CUVs are the likes of the Subaru XV/ Forester, Honda HR-V/ CR-V, Proton X50/ X70, Toyota Corolla Cross and Volvo XC40/ XC60. However, since we are in Malaysia, we’ll stick with the SUV terminology as that is what these vehicles are widely known as here.

Body on frame vs Unibody

These days, only a handful of SUVs are built through a body-on-frame construction, with the majority of modern SUVs featuring a unibody construction.

Even the mighty Land Rover Defender, known for its rugged off-roading capabilities thanks to its body-on-frame construction, has moved over to a unibody setup which tells you a lot about how body-on-frame builds are a thing of the past.

While SUV construction has moved along with the times, tyres for SUVs haven’t – or has it?

Introducing the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

Falken has recognised that although many SUV owners mainly use their vehicles on asphalt or the road, quite a few of them do take their cars on unpaved roads, albeit not regularly. Until recently, your only choice for SUV tyres was either road-biased or traditional all-terrain tyres (A/T) built for 4x4s.

While the road-focused tyres are great for paved roads and traditional all-terrain tyres provide an excellent compromise for those who want an all-purpose set of rubbers, no tyre manages to blend the two without compromising its performance on or off-road, at least until now! 

Falken recognised the need for such a tyre and took the opportunity to create a new line, specifically for SUV owners who want an aggressive-looking tyre with added sidewall protection that can cope with on and off-road conditions.

This SUV-specific tyre is called the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail, a tyre built for SUV adventure-seeking owners, which delivers rugged off-road capability without compromise on the asphalt. 

Engineered to match the dynamic and modern characteristics of SUVs, the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail strikes the perfect balance between aggressive off-road traction and dependable, all-weather road grip.

Gone are the noisy characteristics of traditional A/T tyres, as well as shorter tread life and lower fuel efficiency. Instead, you get a good off-road tyre like the Falken Wildpeak AT3W but with the road performance of Falken’s ZIEX ZE310R, which delivers outstanding levels of grip in both wet and dry conditions.

Rave reviews in U.S.A and Malaysia

But don’t take our word for it because many Americans and Malaysians have actually tried the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail and have been both pleasantly surprised and happy with its performance.

The Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail has been in the United States since 2018. A quick lookup of reviews online would yield a lot of happy Americans who have bought, used and is very happy with its performance.

Malaysia is actually the second country after the United States to get the A/T Trail range. Stamford Tyres, the distributor of Falken Tyres in Malaysia, has been conducting studies on the tyre since 2018, gearing up for its debut in 2021.

One of the reasons Stamford Tyres decided to bring the tyre into Malaysia was because there were many queries about the tyre from Malaysians, particularly Subaru owners who believed that the A/T Trail would go hand in hand with Subaru’s much-coveted AWD system.

As part of their study and research, Stamford Tyres have been working hand in hand with Malaysian car clubs who have reviewed the tyres. The feedback proved conclusive with most of the car clubs reporting that they were delighted with the tyre’s performance, especially regarding its low noise, wet and dry grip, wet braking distance and durability. 

Features of the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

Speaking of durability, one of the reasons why the A/T Trail has better tread life is down to Falken’s optimised tread design, which features Falken’s silica-enriched tread compound that delivers superior wear life over a wide range of operating temperatures.

Not only does the tread design help the longevity of the tyres, but it also helps channel water away effectively. The A/T Trail has one of the best if not the best anti-aquaplaning performance in the SUV tyre segment when compared to OE passenger-based SUV tyres. This is particularly useful in our country, as Malaysia is known for heavy rain which can cause puddles of water to collect all over the road. 

According to Stamford Tyre, the Falken A/T Trail is the highest-rated all-terrain SUV tyre when it comes to wet braking, wet handling, dry handling, dry braking, noise comfort and ride quality. Not only is it great on paved roads, but the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail also has a durable 2-ply polyester construction and rugged upper sidewall feature, which protects the tire from sharp rocks during those off-road excursions. 

Another benefit of the Thai-made Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tyre is that it has been optimised for tropical weather, unlike other A/T tyres, which have been designed as an all-season tyre. In addition, the advanced 4D Nano Design compound technology enabled Sumitomo Rubber’s engineers to develop a compound adapted to Malaysian weather and road conditions.

Falken is the market leader in all-terrain tyres in Malaysia

Not only does this make the A/T Trail one of the only climate-specific tyres in Malaysia, but also a tyre range that offers the only SUV-biased all-terrain tyre in the market currently. With the addition of the A/T Trail to the Wildpeak line-up, Falken is now the market leader for 4×4 and SUV All-Terrain tyres in Malaysia. 

Sizes for the Wildpeak A/T Trail range between 16″ to 20″ wheels, with prices starting from RM400++.

Falken products, officially distributed by Stamford Tyres, can be found at their retail locations here. 

You can also follow Falken on FB and IG: Falken Malaysia to keep up with their latest news and promos. 

Porsche Asia Pacific and Shell have launched their first 180kW DC fast charger in Thailand.

The Shell High Performance Charging (HPC) site located in Bang Yai, Bangkok, is the first of 11 high-performance DC fast chargers that’ll be installed at selected Shell stations throughout Thailand in the coming months. By H1 2023, that number will grow to 20 HPC chargers that’ll offer 180kW as well as 360kW outputs.

Extended HPC network from Singapore to Thailand

The Shell and Porsche HPC network collaboration will also be expanded in Singapore and Malaysia which will see at least three to six charging infrastructures going live in each country respectively. By the first half of 2023, it is said that this network will offer emission-free travel ranging over 2,200km throughout the three Southeast Asian countries.

In other words, this will be the longest emission-free driving route in Southeast Asia which is certainly good news for all EV owners to drastically reduce their ‘range anxiety’ issues when it comes to long-distance travel in an electric vehicle. At 180kW, a Porsche Taycan can be charged from 0-80% in just 30 minutes, and that timer gets shorter as the charging capacity gets higher.

Special benefits for Porsche Taycan owners

Speaking of the Porsche Taycan, new owners in Thailand will receive a complimentary Platinum membership for three years which offers a bunch of benefits such as discounted charging rates, free pre-reservations, and 10,000 Shell GO+ points for more redeemable products and services.

Owners in Thailand and Malaysia can enjoy an even more seamless experience thanks to dual app integration via the Sharge and ParkEasy apps. These apps grant access to the entire Shell HPC and Porsche Destination Charging sites in both countries. All other EV owners can also access these charging stations via a pay-per-use rate or a membership subscription plan.

 

Satu projek mega bernilai RM10 juta untuk membina fasiliti industri bersepadu kereta lumba dan akademi automotif telah diumumkan akan dibina!

Perkara ini telah diumumkan oleh Timbalan Menteri Kementerian Belia Dan Sukan (KBS) YB Senator Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker ketika merasmikan pusat perincian bernama OPM & PrimeX Signature.

Pembinaan Fasiliti Industri Bersepadu Kereta Lumba

Kerjasama antara pusat perincian tersebut bersama TOC Automotive College menyaksikan fasiliti seluas 43,000 kaki persegi di Malaysia bakal dibina menjelang 2025.

Khabarnya, fasiliti itu bakal menjadi mercu tanda di Malaysia kerana akan dilengkapi dengan:

Bilik pameran
Pusat pemulihan kereta dan perincian kereta
Pusat jual beli aksesori
dan banyak lagi

Menurut pengasas Optimal Premium Motors, Simpson Tan, OPM & PrimeX Signature bersama TOC akan melabur banyak RM 10 juta untuk membangunkan fasiliti baru ini sebagai platform pendidikan automotif kepada belia dan mencipta lebih 600 peluang pekerjaan.

Ini termasuk latihan teknikal yang menyeluruh, lengkap dengan maklumat industri terkini sebagai pemangkin populasi pekerja mahir di Malaysia.

Sementara itu Pengarah PrimeX Signature, Chris Lee percaya usahasama ini pasti mencipta permintaan yang tinggi terhadap fasiliti kereta bersepadu lumba di seluruh rantau ini dan membawa industri automotif Malaysia ke peringkat yang seterusnya.

Akademi Automotif Bakal Dibangun

Sebuah akademi automotif bernama Auto Detailing Academy (ADA) turut dibangunkan kepada mereka yang ingin menjadikan bidang automotif sebagai kerjaya.

Pelbagai kursus ditawarkan seperti:

Teknologi automotif
Kejuruteraan
Pemulihan kereta
Perincian kereta
Lain-lain yang berkaitan

Timbalan KBS menyebut bahawa Malaysia merupakan negara ketiga tertinggi dalam permintaan industri automotif di Asia Tenggara.

Dengan pelancaran fasiiti ini, beliau percaya ia bakal membuka peluang kerjaya dan latihan kemahiran kepada para belia dengan melengkapkan mereka dengan ilmu pengetahuan yang berguna untuk masa yang akan datang.

OPM dan PrimeX turut menyumbang RM10,000 kepada pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, Kelab Harmoni Malaysia sebagai usaha untuk mempromosikan perpaduan dan menyemai pendidikan kepada para belia di Malaysia.

*Gambaran litar lumba Fastrack City di Johor

Ada Litar Lumba Atau Tidak?

Mungkin bagi sesetengah pihak, apa guna jadi fasiliti kereta lumba kalau tiada port lumba betul disediakan betul tak?

Walau bagaimanapun, tiada sebarang info sama ada pembinaan fasiliti industri bersepadu kereta lumba ini akan melibatkan pembinaan litar lumba atau tidak.

Berdasarkan bajet, RM10 juta itu tidaklah sebesar projek pembinaan Litar ‘Nürburgring Timur’ bernilai RM1.3 Bilion yang bakal dibangunkan di Langkawi yang bakal siap dalam tempoh lima tahun lagi.

Namun mungkin ada hikmahnya jika tidak membina litar lumba kerana tidak mungkin berisiko menjadi satu lagi projek mega tidak tertunai seperti projek ‘halimunan’ Litar Lumba Fastrack City di Johor pada suatu ketika dahulu.

Apa-apapun, kita tunggu dan lihat!

 

Sime Darby Auto Connexion, the authorized distributor of Ford vehicles in Malaysia today announced the introduction of the third generation Ford Everest, an SUV based on the all-new Ford Ranger.

Surprisingly, the new Ford Everest is offered in three variations, a 2WD Sport, 4WD Trend and top-of-the-line 4WD Titanium. Unlike in other markets, no new-gen Everest in Malaysia is equipped with the much coveted V6-Diesel engine. Nonetheless, the top-spec Everest still manages to push out 500Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine.

One of the highlights of the new Everest according to Ford is how quiet the cabin is, as they had worked really hard to provide this comfort feature to its owner and passengers. Handling has also improved, giving drivers a better overall experience when driving the Everest.  

2022 Ford Everest variants and price

Sport 4×2 6AT – RM263,888

Trend 4×4 10AT – RM281,888

Titanium 4×4 10AT – RM308,888

Exterior

Debuting globally in March this year, the third generation Everest features a similar front look to Ford’s new pick-up truck, including the unmissable larger radiator grille with a horizontal bar that incorporates the Ford badge and the new “C-clamp” headlamps. The Sport and Trend get LED headlamps while the Titanium features Ford’s latest Matrix LED headlamps with glare-free high beam to provide maximum visibility without dazzling other road users.

Of course, since it’s an SUV, the Everest gets its own rear end, which now features a more squared-off design compared to the roundish design of the outgoing model. To provide more interior room, Ford has also extended the wheelbase of the Everest by 50mm compared to the Ranger, and this should benefit third-row occupants who will be occupying the sixth and seventh seats. The track has also increased by 50mm.

The wider track and longer wheelbase enabled designers to create a more progressive and muscular appearance. The roof rails on the Everest are more than just a cosmetic piece of design as they’re engineered with the right mounts to carry bikes, canoes, cargo pod or roof-top tent.

In terms of wheels, the Sport and Titanium come equipped with 20-inch alloys, while the Trend rides on 18-inch alloys.

Interior

Just like the Ranger, the 2022 Everest now features more soft-touch materials within its new cabin, but the highlight of the interior just like its cousin, is, of course, the 12-inch portrait-orientated infotainment touchscreen system(10.1-inch for the Trend and Sport), with the latest version of Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment software that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All models come with eight speakers.

The next-generation Everest Titanium is also fitted with a 360-degree camera with split-view display while the Trend and Sport are equipped with reverse cameras in addition to front and rear sensors.

All versions of the next-gen Ford Everest also come standard with 8-inch or 12-inch digital instrument panels that replace the traditional analogue clusters, four USB charging ports (one of which is windscreen-mounted) and a wireless Qi charger.

The new generation Everest is more spacious than ever with more elbow, leg and shoulder room in the front and back and access to the third-row seats is much easier thanks to second-row seats that slide further forward than before.

Ford has prioritised flexible seating in the next-gen Everest, with power folding seats on the Titanium. The second and third row seats have been designed to fold flat to allow for long loads to be carried safely.

There are 10 cup holders in total located at the centre console, armrest, dash-mounted ‘pop out’ holders and in the rear. The next-generation Everest also features an electronic parking brake (with an e-Shifter in the Titanium), three 12V sockets, premium black leather seats now with eight-way power adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger and ebony interior trim. Additionally, the Titanium has a 230V AC power outlet capable of delivering 400W (up from 150W).

Capabilities

Next-gen Ford Everest has a water wading ability of up to 800mm and ground clearance of 200mm. Its increase in wheelbase and track combine to provide better on-road control and off-road articulation as well as improved approach and departure angles. Further tweaks to the damper settings allow for more fun and control in the Everest’s ride, both on- and off-road.

Safety 

Much of the Ranger’s safety and driving assistance systems are also adapted to the new Everest, including the Evasive Steer Assist, a system that helps drivers avoid potential forward collisions by helping the driver steer with less effort, especially when a collision cannot be avoided by braking alone. 

Other useful safety and driving assistance equipment include:

Post-Collision Braking System
Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go (ACC)
Cross Traffic Alert
Reverse Brake Assist (Wildtrak only)
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian detection

There are also regular active safety features such as ABS, EBD, TCS, and ESC. 

Powertrain

The Trend and Titanium are powered by Ford’s small yet powerful 2.0L Bi-Turbo engine that is mated to Ford’s 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, which delivers 210 PS @ 3,500 rpm and peak torque of 500Nm @ 1,750-2,000 rpm.

Both variants are also equipped with part-time 4×4 electronic shift-on-the-fly (ESOF) system, e-Locking Rear Differential and six selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts and Sand.

The 2WD Everest Sport features the simple 2.0L Single Turbo diesel with a six-speed automatic transmission. It pushes out 170 PS @ 3,500 rpm and max torque of 405Nm @ 1,750-2,000 rpm. It also offers four selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul and Slippery)

Colours

Available colours include Absolute Black, Aluminium Metallic, Arctic White, Equinox Bronze, Lightning Blue, Meteor Grey and Sedona Orange.

Warranty

The new Ford Everest comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty, or up to 100,000 km, whichever comes first. 

 

 

 

 

The 3rd-generation Haval H6 is possibly the biggest disruptive new SUV to hit Malaysian showrooms, or at least it will be once it actually launches, and that could be sooner than initially anticipated with 2 units seen at in Shah Alam completely undisguised.

Distributors GoAuto, who are be working closely with Great Wall Motors to establish the brand’s local presence, have confirmed to Carlist.my that these units are scheduled to undergo localisation and endurance testing on our roads.

Though that could mean that a full debut is some time away, this might only apply to the hotly anticipated PHEV variant that was only recently been revealed in Thailand, which is attached to an 8-year or 180,000km warranty. Photos and footage of the more standard H6 have been circulating among Malaysian social media users for months, so it’s possible that the SUV will kick off with a partial range.

Haval H6 PHEV in Malaysia – Game-changer?

Once the testing has been concluded, the PHEV could then be given a proper launch, completing the H6 family.

Specifically, the Malaysian offering schedule should be roughly comparable to that of Thailands where all H6 units are sold as a series (non-plug-in) hybrid that pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor for maximum power and torque figures of 243PS and 530Nm.

The H6 in PHEV form is even more impressive. Not only does it feature slightly updated styling over the HEV and the added flexibility of being able to charge and drive independent of its combustion engine, but its lithium-ion battery is also capable of a claimed electric-only range of 201km.

That’s more endurance than some dedicated EVs on sale today such as the Mazda MX-30 and MINI Cooper SE and many times more than that of other PHEVs. It’s also more powerful than the HEV variant with the engine and motor combo pumping out a combined 326PS while torque stays level at 530Nm.

We’ve also previously commented on how clean and contemporarily designed the interior looks while overseas publications have also remarked on the impressive build quality, materials, and overall finish of the cabin, especially given the price and technology equipped.

Haval H6 vs Honda CR-V vs Proton X70 vs Toyota Corolla Cross

Rivals in Malaysia will include the Proton X70, of course. We suspect that Geely is readying a full-on replacement model for the Boyue it’s based on, but there’s no way of knowing it will arrive to meet the H6 in time for a head-on battle.

The Honda CR-V, which has also recently been given a generational refresh for 2023, will be the next major contender, and the same goes for the Toyota Corolla Cross. That said, neither of them seems to have an answer for the Haval’s powertrain knock-out specs.

Renault has officially unveiled the Renault R5 Turbo 3E – an all-electric drift car in celebrations of the Renault 5’s 50th anniversary.

This show car might just be the best-looking Renault yet which represents the brand’s ‘electric rebirth’ as it prepares itself for the all-out European EV move by 2030. Just like the Hyundai N Vision 74, we completely and utterly approve of the Renault R5 Turbo 3E if this is truly the future of EVs.

Designed to go sideways always

Built on a tubular chassis setup with FIA-approved roll bars, the Renault R5 Turbo 3E comes packed with a 280kW electric motor which produces 380hp and 700Nm of torque. All that e-power is of course sent down to the rear wheels for some proper sideways action.

Mated to a 42kWh battery pack, it can hit 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds from a standstill (3.9 seconds in Drift Mode). Top speed? 200km/h, which is more than enough for several drift or gymkhana laps. To fully commit to the drift scene, it also comes with a 50-plus steering angle.

A work of art inspired by videogames

Almost everything on the Renault R5 Turbo 3E is flashily inspired by the world of video games. With body panels made out of carbon fibre, it comes with the Turbo 2’s iconic air inlets and rear fenders plus a huge rear spoiler to churn out what Renault says “the wildest drifts”.

Other highlights include some pink, blue, and yellow LED strips for the front and rear, retro camouflage stickers, carbon fibre racing bucket seats, Alcantara interior lining, 10 digital screens, and a selection of wacky-named driving modes like Turbo, Track Invader, Donut, and Drifty. Totally tubular, brah.

 

Under new distributors PHS Automotive, Audi’s top-dog super SUV has now entered the Malaysian market with a starting price of RM1.7 million (RM1,699,990). The RS Q8, for context, is basically a Lamborghini Urus without the Italian badge and ornamentation.

For even more context, this sits above the regular Audi Q8 (non-RS) that made its local debut just a few months ago at RM867k. The RS Q8 is also roughly RM600k dearer than the RS 7 Sportback, the previous car to top Audi’s price list in Malaysia.

Audi RS Q8 launched in Malaysia 

It’s hard to say how its price compares exactly to the Urus as its estimated retail sticker of RM 1 million at the time of its local launch was lacking any taxes, options, or on-road costs. With the Audi, at least, a lot more of those factors are accounted for.

As the RS Q8 is the template from which the Urus was traced, it does share a very similar look and identical footprint on the road. Of course, you get the Audi styling (which some prefer) with the huge Singleframe grille up front. The units pictured here wear a very stand-out colour called Java Green for fans of Kermit the Frog, a look that’s perhaps more fitting of something from Sant’Agata than Ingolstadt.

Audi RS Q8 powertrain

Like the Lambo, we find a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 up front with 600PS at 6,000rpm and 800Nm between 2,200 – 4,500rpm mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds with Audi’s quattro permanent AWD system always varying the power/torque split. Top speed is 305km/h.

There’s some mild hybrid stuff at play here too to help the thirsty V8 conserve some fuel. A 48-volt starter generator aids low-speed acceleration and engine-less coasting while brake regeneration helps recycle some otherwise lost energy. Not only that, Audi has given the engine cylinder deactivation to operate as a 4-pot in low-load situations such as highway cruising.

Like its super-SUV peers, the RS Q8 also gains adaptive air suspension and rear-wheel steering to make up for its size and bulk, which is possibly even necessary to ensure the judders from the thin 35 profile Pirelli P Zero tyres on 23-inch wheels aren’t felt in the cabin.

Audi RS Q8 specifications 

Speaking of which, the interior is perhaps the most obvious area where the Audi and Lambo diverge as the former takes a very clean and minimal approach to controls and switchgear. There are trim and accents specific to Audi Sport such as the Alcantara and exposed carbon weave, but nothing overt or jarring.

Most of the RS Q8’s functions are accessed via a pair of touchscreens along the centre stack, coupled to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, all with RS graphics thrown in for good measure.

Other standard equipment highlights massaging front seats in premium perforated Valcona leather, HD Matrix LED headlamps, RS ceramic brakes, a panoramic glass sunroof, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, and a complement of active safety features under Audi Pre-Sense that includes AEB, Lane Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Probably the best part of it all is the after-sales and support package. The fact that the RS Q8 still comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, 3-years free maintenance, and 5-years roadside assistance is something you definitely can’t say about its rivals in Malaysia.