Month: November 2022

Mazda has just teased an as-yet unnamed car and further hinted that it will be developed into what could be the next-generation or, at least, a spiritual sibling to the MX-5. 

The immediate reaction to seeing this pebble-shaped two-door is to note its fixed hard top roof, which could suggest it could sit alongside the Japanese automaker’s much loved roadster instead of replacing it. 

It’s called the Vision Study, which is perhaps one of their least interesting sounding concept cars. However, pulling our interest back in is the fact that it even has Lamborghini-style scissor doors and shape that speaks to ‘mid-engine’ configuration. 

That is, of course, still a big if as Mazda themselves said the projected timeline for a possible introduction will be around or beyond 2030, which is when they plan to have shifted their entire portfolio to one that’s electrified, lifting its target to between 25-40% of global sales to comprise of battery electric vehicles like its MX-30, which was launched in Malaysia in late June 2022. 

A lengthier update video (presented by company President and CEO Akira Marumoto) that covered the brand’s future plans, policies, and sustainability efforts going forward ended with a flashier summary that showed the Vision Study. 

The car only made very brief appearances but was couched in between footage of current and past-generation MX-5s, hence the implied connection. Mazda also made many mentions of “human emotion” and driving enjoyment, surely made to emphasise the high priority of sporty, fun motoring experiences as they transition further into an electrified future. 

Though assumed, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the next-generation MX-5 will be driven by electric motors exclusively. A quick blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in the presentation showed the car’s underlying structure, which doesn’t exactly match up with an EV platform. 

Perhaps we’re looking at sports coupe that will offer buyers both combustion and battery electric powertrains much like what Maserati are doing with the GranTurismo and GranCabrio. 

As of 2022, the newest 4th-generation evolution of Mazda’s iconic roadster – the ND – has been in production for 7 years, making it about old enough to step aside for a fresher-faced successor.

That said, Mazda has previously said that longer product cycles will be favoured. 

Data peribadi seramai lima juta penumpang dan pekerja syarikat penerbangan tambang rendah, AirAsia didakwa bocor selepas digodam kumpulan penggodam dikenali sebagai Daixin.

Menurut laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh DataBreaches, sebuah laman yang melaporkan insiden kebocoran data di seluruh dunia, mereka diberitahu oleh Daixin bahawa mereka telah memperolehi data peribadi 5 juta penumpang serta kakitangan AirAsia.

DataBreaches berkata mereka diberikan dua fail .csv yang turut berikan kepada Kumpulan AirAsia oleh Daixin. Khabarnya, terdapat satu fail mengandungi maklumat mengenai penumpang yang dinamakan.

Fail kedua mengandungi maklumat pekerja dengan pelbagai informasi termasuk nama, tarikh lahir, negara lahir, lokasi, tarikh pekerjaan bermula, soalan rahsia, serta jawapan mereka.

Memetik jurucakap Daixin, DataBreaches berkata AirAsia telah bertindak balas terhadap serangan itu dengan bertanyakan contoh data yang dibocorkan. Selepas diberikan sampel, AirAsia dilaporkan bertanya dengan terperinci bagaimana Daixin boleh memadamkan data tersebut sekiranya bayaran dibuat.

AirAsia dilaporkan tidak cuba merundingkan jumlah itu, yang mungkin menunjukkan bahawa mereka tidak pernah berniat untuk membayar apa-apa.

‘Biasanya semua orang mahu merundingkan jumlah yang lebih kecil,’ kata jurucakap itu kepada DataBreaches.

DataBreaches berkata ia tidak tahu berapa banyak yang diminta oleh Pasukan Daixin untuk menyediakan kunci penyahsulitan, memadam semua data yang telah mereka bocorkan, dan memaklumkan Kumpulan AirAsia tentang kelemahan yang telah ditemui dan dieksploitasi.

Firma itu berkata sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, entiti Malaysia sering menjadi sasaran serangan siber dan Kumpulan AirAsia bukan satu-satunya syarikat penerbangan Malaysia yang mengalami kebocoran data. Malaysia Airlines mendedahkan insiden kebocoran data pada 2020 dan 2021.

Setakat ini, AirAsia masih belum mengeluarkan kenyataan rasmi berhubung isu kebocoran data berkenaan.

Kerisauan pengguna terhadap kesukaran untuk mendapatkan alat ganti Proton di Malaysia Timur bakal terubat setelah Proton mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa mereka bakal membuka Pusat Alat Ganti Serantau (RPC) baharu di Kuching, Sarawak.

Untuk memenuhi permintaan pelanggan yang semakin meningkat di Malaysia Timur, Proton bakal membuka kemudahan seluas 28,000 kaki persegi yang mempunyai lebih daripada tiga kali ganda kapasiti penyimpanan daripada setor sebelumnya.

Pusat ini akan berfungsi sebagai pusat pengedaran alat ganti untuk bahagian dan komponen selepas jualan untuk Sabah dan Sarawak.

Pusat Alat Ganti Serantau Untuk Sabah Dan Sarawak

Menurut kenyataan Proton, RPC baharu yang hampir siap itu telah direka untuk memenuhi keperluan pengedar dan pelanggan mereka di Malaysia Timur di samping mengurangkan masa menunggu alat ganti di rantau yang agak mencabar bagi urusan logistiknya.

“Setelah RPC ini siap, Proton akan menyimpan sehingga tiga bulan stok, malah boleh juga menerima penghantaran terus alat ganti daripada vendor luar negara,” kata Roslan Abdullah, Timbalan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Proton.

Selain itu, RPC baharu juga akan dapat menyimpan sehingga enam kontena, membolehkannya menerima berbilang tempahan serentak serta dapat mengendalikan peningkatan daya pengeluaran, mengurangkan masa yang diperlukan untuk memproses dan menghantar pesanan ke pusat servis/pengedaran.

Berdasarkan jangkaan Proton, peningkatan ketara boleh dilihat tidak lama lagi khususnya dalam tempoh menunggu untuk pembaikian kenderaan kemalangan. Sebagai tambahan kepada tiga bulan stok yang dipegang di RPC, pengedar Proton juga dikehendaki mempunyai stok bahagian penyelenggaraan selama tiga bulan.

Tambah Roslan, ini adalah usaha Proton untuk terus menambah baik perkhidmatan selepas jualannya bagi memuaskan pelanggan. Beliau turut meyakinkan pemilik semasa dan akan datang bahawa alat ganti adalah tersedia untuk Proton baharu mereka.

Model SUV Proton Makin Popular Di Borneo

Jualan SUV Proton di Sabah dan Sarawak telah meningkat secara progresif sejak 2019, berikutan pelancaran Proton X70 pada 12 Disember 2018. Jumlah jualan di rantau ini telah meningkat sebanyak 120% dari tahun 2018 hingga tahun 2021, dan dengan angka tempahan yang sihat pada tahun 2022, syarikat menjangkakan pertumbuhan sebanyak 20% lagi dalam jualan tahun ke tahun.

Sehingga akhir bulan Oktober, Proton telah menyerahkan 115,366 unit kenderaan setakat tahun ini, menunjukkan peningkatan sebanyak 33.6% setakat ini untuk sepuluh bulan pertama tahun 2022.

Kurang daripada empat tahun selepas melancarkan SUV pertamanya, syarikat itu telah menjadi jenama SUV paling popular di Malaysia. Model SUV terkini Proton, Proton X50 kini merupakan model SUV terlaris di negara ini dan secara kumulatif, hampir 50,000 unit Proton X50 dan Proton X70 telah diserahkan tahun ini.

“Bagi pembeli kereta di Malaysia Timur, Proton Saga kekal sebagai model paling popular kami, diikuti dengan Proton X50. Tahun lepas, kami menjual 8,692 unit Proton Saga dan 2,934 unit Proton X50 dan berdasarkan trend tempahan semasa, kami meramalkan jualan masing-masing akan melebihi 10,000 dan 4,200 unit,” kata Roslan Abdullah.

 

 

Roadblocks are incoming. Many of them. In the interest of public safety during this post-election, ‘parlimen gantung’ period, PDRM has announced that they will be setting them up across the country.

The police have started putting up these roadblocks on November 22nd, but only released a statement confirming the move on the morning of the following day, leaving many confused as to why traffic was unusually congested.

A statement released by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, did not specify a period at which the roadblocks, which will be operating 24-hours a day, would cease. Neither did it detail which areas will be targeted.

It is not exactly known what or who the police are looking for when filtering traffic, though the statement does say that it is for the purpose of keeping crime levels low and maintaining civil stability through more visible “omniprent” police involvement.

That said, PDRM have also clarified that these roadblocks would be rolled back during peak traffic hours such as in the early morning and evening on working days.

It also adds that citizens do not need to worry about going through their daily activities as normal as the police guarantees safety and minimal disruption. However, as we all know, roadblocks tend to have the opposite effect – at least in regard to traffic flow.

As you might expect, many Malaysians took to social media to express their frustrations at being stuck in traffic, sometimes for hours, to the point that a few gave up on their office commutes in order to work from home.

The second-gen Honda BR-V has just been introduced in the Philippines. The Pearl of the orient is the third country to receive the seven-seater compact MPV-styled SUV after Thailand and Indonesia. 

Unlike Indonesia, the Philippines get four variants, which include a manual version. The range in the Philippines includes the S MT, S CVT, V CVT and VX CVT. They are priced between RM87k – RM111k.

Photo credit: Mobil123

Just like other SEA countries which have received the BR-V, they all come with Honda’s versatile 1.5-litre naturally aspirated DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 121PS and 145Nm of torque allied to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox.

Unlike Thailand however where all variants get Honda Sensing, only the range-topping VX CVT variant gets the full suite of safety systems, which gives the car collision mitigation braking (AEB), lane keep assist, automatic high beam, lead car departure notification, as well as adaptive cruise control.

Standard on all cars are LED headlights, multi-info instrument cluster display, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ABS, EBD, VSA, hill start assist, reverse camera and speed-dependant auto door lock, four airbags and speakers. The VX CVT adds another 2 airbags as well as speakers to its kit list.

Filipinos are also lucky, as the BR-V is offered in five different colours, but only the range-topping crossover will be made available with Honda’s Premium Opal White Silver Pearl.

Prices of the BR-V have increased wherever it has been introduced, so we can expect the car to also be costlier when it arrives in Malaysia. Singapore or Malaysia could be next, but the question of when is still up in the air. 

Kebiasaannya, gril kereta buatan China bersifat besar dan berkilat. Namun berbeza dengan GAC Motor apabila model GS3 2023 baharu menampilkan gril yang sangat menyerlah berwarna kelabu dan hitam.

GAC GS3 2023 tampilkan gril lebih ganas

Berdasarkan beberapa keping gambar yang dikongsikan oleh media automotif di China, gril hadapan bagi model baharu GS3 ini mempunyai bentuk segi tiga terbalik yang diapit oleh dua lampu utamanya.

Terdapat juga dua bentuk segi tiga pada setiap sisi bawah bampar hadapan yang sepadan dengan bentuk dengan segi tiga terbalik di bahagian atas.

Untuk perbezaan, rekaan hadapan GS3 2023 ini jauh lebih agresif dan garang berbanding model GS3 sebelumnya yang dilancarkan pada 2017. Walaupun sudah lama di pasaran, namun model 2017 itu baru sahaja dilancarkan di Malaysia pada hujung tahun lalu.

Rupa baharu GS3 ini membuatkan gril padamodel lama GS3 itu kelihatan terlalu ‘pakcik-pakcik’. Rekaan gril lama dilihat jauh lebih besar, berkilat dan agak membosankan untuk dilihat.

Di bahagian belakang turut menampilkan aura yang sama seperti di hadapan yang menampilkan banyak sudut tajam seperti segi tiga di bahagian lampu, reflector, bampar serta paip ekzos kereta.

Meskipun saiz gril model 2023 lebih kecil, namun GS3 baharu ini lebih besar berbanding model generasi sebelumnya. Untuk perbandingan, rujuk perbezaan dimensi antara dua model ini di bawah:

Model
GAC GS3 2017
GAC GS3 2023

Panjang (mm)
4,358
4,410

Lebar (mm)
1,825
1,850

Tinggi (mm)
1,685
1,600

Jarak antara roda
2,560
2,650

GS3 2023 dikuasakan oleh enjin petrol 1.5 liter empat silinder turbo yang menghasilkan output 175 hp, dan mampu mencapai kelajuan tertinggi 190 km/j. GAC juga dilaporkan akan melancarkan versi PHEV bagi model ini nanti.

Media China turut berkongsi beberapa keping gambar GS3 2023 varian R yang menawarkan ciri yang lebih sporty. Model ini dilengkapi dengan kit badan, perincian oren, lencana R berwarna oren, diffuser dan dua tip ekzos berkembar di tengah. Walaupun kelihatan lebih garang, namun varian R ini dikatakan mungkin mendapat motor yang sama seperti varian standard.

Model baharu GAC GS3 2023 ini akan dilancarkan di pasaran kereta China pada suku pertama 2023 pada tanda harga bermula sekitar 85,000 yuan (RM54,391.44). Untuk perbandingan harga, model GS3 sedia ada di pasaran Malaysia kini dijual dari RM88,800 untuk versi standard diikuti dengan versi Premium pada harga RM96,800. Berapa agaknya harga untuk model GS3 2023 di Malaysia nanti?

 

We finally have an official launch date for the highly-anticipated BYD Atto 3 EV folks, and it’s going to happen from 9-11 December 2022.

The BYD – Sime Darby Motors Malaysia official Facebook page recently made the announcement regarding its upcoming EV offering and its first official public appearance will take place at Bandar Malaysia. It also seems that it’s open for members of the public, but you’ll need to RSVP quickly as spots are limited.

Estimated price from RM150,000

Reliable sources have indicated that the BYD Atto 3 EV compact SUV’s price is estimated between RM150,000 to RM170,000. That’ll certainly attract a much larger group of people to switch over to the EV side, especially when the official launch of the GWM Ora Good Cat is also just around the corner.

Going back to the BYD Atto 3, it is said that there will be two different variants within that price point, but both will come with the same front-mounted electric motors producing 210hp and 310Nm of torque.

The biggest difference between the two is the battery capacity – a 49.92kWh unit for the base model and a 60.49kWh battery pack for the ‘atas’ variant. The former offers an all-electric NEDC range of 410km while the latter grants a much less range anxiety-inducing 480km, also NEDC.

If you’re interested to check out the all-new BYD Atto 3 here in Malaysia, register by clicking HERE.

Sejak logo baharu Kia dilancarkan, lebih 30 ribu pengguna telah membuat carian ‘kereta KN’ di internet. Adakah logo baharu Kia sukar dibaca?

Pada Januari 2021, Kia telah melancarkan logo baharu yang lebih minimalis dengan menampilkan elemen simetri, rhythm dan ‘kebangkitan’ yang merangkumi keyakinan dan komitmen Kia kepada pelanggan

Logo baharu itu turut dilancarkan dengan slogan baharu iaitu ‘pergerakan yang memberi inspirasi’, namun berdasarkan data yang dikongsi oleh Ashwinn (@Shwinnabego) di Twitter, slogan yang lebih tepat untuk logo ini mungkin ‘pergerakan yang memberi kekeliruan’.

Logo mengelirukan: KIA vs KN

Sejak logo baharu ini dilancarkan, lebih 30 ribu pengguna telah membuat carian ‘kereta KN’ di internet ekoran logonya yang lebih kelihatan seakan-akan gabungan dua huruf K dan N berbanding Kia.

Jadi adakah penggunaan logo yang mengelirukan ini sesuatu yang bijak? Jika dilihat dari sudut pemasaran, ia dipanggil false error marketing di mana kekeliruan akan memberikan lebih banyak perhatian di internet.

Jika carian kereta KN dibuat di internet, laman web rasmi Kia akan muncul di carian pertama. Ini menunjukkan kekeliruan ini memberikan trafik carian organik percuma orang yang mahu tahu tentang jenama dan produknya.

Berdasarkan data yang diperolehi daripada Google Trends, carian kereta KN ini bukan hanya melanda Amerika Syarikat, namun Malaysia turut terkesan di samping Kanada, Australia dan Filipina.

Pengguna Twitter turut berkongsi logo Kia yang sudah disunting agar lebih mudah dilihat dan dibaca sebagai kereta Kia, bukanlah kereta KN.

Pada pendapat anda, adakah penggunaan logo yang mengelirukan ini satu tindakan yang bijak dari Kia atau mereka perlu mengubah semula logonya? Kongsikan dengan kami di ruangan komen!

Mazda will finally revive the rotary engine, but it no longer stands to be that powerful high-revving exciting engine we’ve known it to be. 

After many years of rumours, teasers and prototypes, Mazda will finally revive the rotary engine. Don’t get too excited though, because the Wankel engine isn’t in a Mazda sports car, as it will only act as a range extender powerplant for the MX-30 EV.

Apparently, the Wankel engine will only operate at a constant speed to provide energy to the MX-30’s puny battery. This according to Mazda is their solution to extend the driving range of their EV, where now the MX-30 will have the benefits of an electric drivetrain but with the range of a normal car. 

The MX-30 has a 35.5-kilowatt-hour battery that only offers an EPA-estimated range of 161 kilometres, so with the range extender in play, the car can probably double or triple up its driving range which should make it into a very usable car. 

The displacement of the Wankel range extender engine has yet to be unveiled and that’s a shame, as we’re pretty curious to see just how big it is. Even in rotary powered cars like the Mazda RX-7 and RX-8 the Wankel engine was pretty small, so just imagine how cute it would be in the MX-30.

With the range extender in place, it’s still unclear whether Mazda would give the MX-30 a bit more grunt because it potentially can, but at the very least, they should give the electric motor a bit more juice just to compensate for the extra weight incurred by the range extender. 

Many details regarding the MX-30 with range extender engine are still undisclosed, but we’re pretty keen to see how Mazda would explain how this Wankel powerplant is different from the ones of yesteryears, as the traditional Wankel engines was notoriously known for having lousy fuel consumption as well as emissions, which killed it off in the first place. 

There’s also the big question now of what we should call the upcoming MX-30, because in a traditional sense, it sounds more like a hybrid rather than a pure electric vehicle. 

Whatever it is, well know more in January 2023, as Mazda has promised to introduce it during the Brussels Motor Show in a couple of months.

Ni Hsin EV Tech (NH EV Tech) has officially unveiled its first two EV motorcycle models here in Malaysia – the TailG Ebixon Bold and TailG Ebixon Torq.

Marketed for personal and commercial uses respectively, the TailG Ebixon EV bikes are also locally assembled at the company’s very own manufacturing facilities located in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. Price-wise, you’re looking at RM9,000 for the Bold and RM14,888 for the Torq.

First deliveries to begin in Q1 2023

Pre-orders have already begun for both the TailG Ebixon EV bikes and the company expects the first batch to be delivered successfully within the first quarter of 2023. They also have big plans to deliver over 15,000 units every year for the next three years in the Asia Pacific region.

Starting with the TailG Ebixon Bold model for personal use, this all-electric bike has the capability to travel up to 120km per charge with a top speed of 70km/h. Its 72V electric motor is able to generate 1.5kW of power and 35Nm of torque which is paired to a couple of 77V/22Ah lithium batteries weighing in at 11kg each.

The best part about the batteries is that they are removable and swappable so that you can conveniently charge it at home using its off-board charger with a 3-pin plug or head to the company’s swappable battery station which will be set up in the future.

Other specs include a front 13-inch tyre (130/60), rear 12-inch tyre (120/70), dual disc brakes, telescopic front fork, rear spring coil suspension, and more. For you city dwellers, the TailG Ebixon Bold is priced at RM9,000 (excluding insurance, road tax, and registration).

TailG Ebixon Torq – RM14,888

For commercial use like businesses and deliveries, the TailG Ebixon Torq might float your boat with its more utilitarian design and longer riding range. Its 72V brushless electric motor is able to produce 5kW and 74Nm of torque, which allows it to hit a top speed of 90km/h.

Riding distance is extended to 200km thanks to its set of twin 72V/50Ah lithium batteries that can be charged with the same off-board charger using the 3-pin plug (2-8 hours to fully charge) or swapped later in the future at the brand’s battery swapping station.

Other specs are more or less the same as the TailG Ebixon Bold model, apart from having 12-inch tyres front and rear as well as a rack to mount any box or bag for delivery purposes. The price tag for this baby is set at RM14,888 (excluding insurance, road tax, and registration).