Tune Motoring

Toyota Alphard – a car that’s so recognizable even your grandma could spot it from a mile away. We’re stepping into the realm of automotive luxury and style, where the Toyota Alphard reigns supreme. But Have you ever wondered where the name Alphard came from There’s a unique and special story behind it. You will never guess it!

The Alphard name comes from the brightest star in the snake-shaped Hydra constellation, Alpha Hydrae. And in Arabic, ‘Alphard’ means ‘the individual’. 

Meaning:

Brightest star in Hydra: The name “Alphard” comes from a star, specifically, the brightest star in a constellation called Hydra. In astronomy, constellations means a groups of stars in the night sky that form patterns or shapes. Hydra is one of these constellations, and it’s often imagined as a snake-like shape.

Alpha Hydrae: This is the specific star in the Hydra constellation that the name “Alphard” comes from. In many constellations, the stars are given names based on the Greek alphabet. The brightest star in a constellation is often named “Alpha”, followed by the name of the constellation – Hydrae. So, in this case, “Alpha Hydrae” means it’s the brightest star in the Hydra constellation.

If you look at the logo, it’s got Greek written all over it. It’s an alpha (α), the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Some say it looks like an alpha-shaped hydra, but hey, to each their own. It’s fascinating knowing how they came up with the name, isn’t it? 

So, the next time you catch sight of a Toyota Alphard gracing the streets, remember, it’s not just a car – it’s a tribute to the stars in this cosmos. From the brilliance of Alpha Hydrae to the elegance of the Greek alphabet, every curve and line tells a tale of celestial connection. The Alphard isn’t just a vehicle, it’s a testament to the artistry, idea and imagination that goes into creating an automotive legends. 

Peace out!
 

So, the AH40 generation Toyota Alphard and Vellfire have become the trending topic of the automotive world. Japan’s dealerships have hit the brakes on new orders because getting your hands on one of these beauties means biting your nail in wait – for nearly 2 years.

But over in Malaysia, the situation is still under control. Toyota dealers have confirmed that this year’s units allocation have been snapped up. So, if you’re looking to place an order, prepare for a long wait. It’s still better than the epic 2-year wait in Japan, though. Damn, talk about patience being a virtue.

Yes, you read that right. Toyota Motor is prioritising their international buyers, putting their fellow Japanese customers on a slightly longer hold.

Now, don’t get too excited. The number of cars allocated to Malaysia isn’t that high as we know. Given the pricing, these Alphard-Vellfire twins aren’t exactly driving off the showroom on a daily basis. That’s why Toyota can spare a few units for Malaysia.

So, if you’re thinking ” I’ll just go check it out, at least”. Not so fast my friend. Good luck finding a display model. UMW Toyota Motor managed to snatch up every available unit in the region, and they’re all gone – sold!

In Malaysia, you’re looking at an estimated RM 538,000 for the 2.4-litre turbocharged Alphard and RM 438,000 for the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated Vellfire. Worth the wait? 

Peace out!
 

People in Japan are going bananas over the all-new 2023 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire (AH40). These cars are so hot right now that if you order one, you might as well plan your grand parade next September because apparently, there’s a massive one year wait for these models – due to the avalanche of orders.

It has been reported that some Toyota dealerships have even slammed the brakes on taking more orders. Why? It seems like they’ve got a backlog that stretches all the way to next August. Can you imagine the anticipation? These customers are so hyped, Toyota should consider setting up a hotline for daily pep talks on how patience is a virtue and send out stress balls too while they are at it.

Speaking to Web CarTop, one bold dealership laid it out plain and simple: “Once the delivery date is extended to August 2024, we decided to stop accepting orders from customers.” “If we continue to accept orders, the delivery date will be further extended.”

We can’t say for sure when they’ll start taking orders, but some predict it might be around April 2024. Until then, they’ve put up a “fully booked” sign on their door. Toyota just can’t keep up with the demand. That’s a good problem, I guess.

Toyota, in diplomatic fashion, explained via a statement on their website, that customers should hit up their dealers for more information on the delivery dates of their vehicles. 

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, the excitement is not far off. UMW Toyota Motor has had the order books opened wide, anticipating the same kind of crazy reaction like in Japan. And guess what? This year’s quota has already been fully booked. Tough luck to those who did not manage to get their orders in. Why don’t you guys consider getting a previous generation models. It can’t hurt, can it?

The 2.4-litre turbocharged Alphard and the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated Vellfire are coming in hot at RM 538,000 and RM 438,000 respectively. So, if you’ve got the dough and the patience to wait for your brand new wheels, by all means, put your orders in – once Toyota re-opens the order books. 

It’s safe to say that the AH40 has taken Japan by storm and guess which country’s next? Malaysia lah!

Peace out!
 

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Malaysia is ramping up rather significantly in recent years as more marques launching battery EVs in the market. While a lot of Malaysians still can’t afford an EV, those who can and wish to own one may still want to consider EV’s charging cost before making the move to transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.

An Australian research body, Compare the Market, recently published their finding and it says Malaysia ranks second among 50 countries around the world as the cheapest places to charge an EV.

According to the research data, charging an EV in Malaysia cost a mere AUD 0.97 (RM 2.90) for 100 km of driving. Our country is second to Argentina with AUD 0.70 (RM 2.10) per 100 km, while India comes in third place with AUD 1.43 (RM 4.28) per 100 km.

Other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand join in the Top 15 list of the cheapest countries to charge an EV. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Denmark and Italy tied for the most expensive countries to charge an EV – a whopping AUD 11.26 (RM 33.72) for a 100-km drive.

The model used for this study is the outgoing Hyundai Kona petrol and Kona Electric Standard Range. The research’s methodology involved ranking the 50 countries based on their electricity and petrol prices. The cost for refueling/recharging the cars is calculated based on this dataset.

Compare the Market also found that our petrol is rated the cheapest among the other countries selected for this study.

It’s important to remember that both our petrol and electricity is subsidised by the government and these calculations are made based on the most recent publicly available statistics for both petrol and electricity price (September 2022).

According to the research, a full charge for the Kona Electric will costs AUD 2.95 (RM 8.83), while a full tank of petrol for the regular Kona will set you back AUD 33.81 (RM 101.24).

To recap, Hyundai Kona Electric is powered by a 39.2 kWh battery and provides a driving range of 305 km (WLTP). Kona Petrol on the other hand is fitted with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre engine with an estimated range of 806 km (based on the researcher’s calculation from the listed fuel consumption data).

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport tire made its debut in November 2021, boasting cutting-edge tyre technology. As the flagship model in the Potenza lineup available locally in Malaysia, it was engineered to provide exceptional road grip while maintaining excellent drivability and year-round usability.

We were lucky enough to be invited to put the tyre through its paces the Sepang International Circuit, where we could more freely explore the Potenza Sport’s true capabilities in both dry and wet conditions (the result of a morning downpour) as well as over varied surfaces. Aptly, the event was dubbed the Bridgestone Potenza Sport Experience.

Michael Chung, Managing Director, Bridgestone Tyre Sales (M) S.B. adds, “The Bridgestone Potenza Sport Driving Experience event underscores Bridgestone’s unwavering commitment to delivering uncompromising performance and driving pleasure. Through this event, we aim to demonstrate how Potenza Sport embodies our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the road.”

The tyre model is no stranger to those who are in the know about ultra high performance (UHP) tyres, being widely praised following its 2021 global debut for its exceptional grip levels and dry handling in particular.

During a slalom course activity, this certainly was proven true for us in the field with the tyres seemingly able to tangibly upgrade a Volkswagen Golf GTI’s handling and steering characteristics over what we had previously experienced on the car’s stock tyre.

Later in the day’s programme, we were let loose on the South Track at the Sepang International Circuit where the Potenza Sport demonstrated the ease to which it can tolerate high speed and hard braking without breaking a sweat.

It’s no wonder, then, that due to its outstanding attributes, the Potenza Sport was chosen as original factory fitment by the most coveted car brands for their most coveted models such as the MC20 from Maserati as well as the BMW 8 series, Lamborghini Huracan STO and Lamborghini Revuelto.

The Potenza Sport tyres incorporate innovative features such as 3D sipes on the tread pattern to enhance shear stiffness, improve braking, and increase resistance to wear and tear. Furthermore, its tyre compound utilises an optimised proprietary formula and advanced mixing technology to enhance wet and dry handling.

Bridgestone also introduced a novel ‘hybrid crown reinforcement’ to maximise tyre stability at high speeds. Additionally, a sporty carcass package was applied to enhance structural integrity and steering responsiveness while reducing rolling resistance.

These Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres are available in a wide range of sizes, spanning from 18 to 22 inches. For more information, you can visit the Bridgestone Malaysia website or consult any authorised Bridgestone dealer nationwide.

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Picture this: You’ve just given your car a thorough cleaning. The exterior is spotless, the interior smells like a bottle of fragrance spilled in the car and the seats feels so soft, you could literally sleep in the car tonight. Ah, the satisfaction! It’s the same feeling after you get back from a full spa day and a haircut, but this time it’s not for you, it’s for your car. But then you remember, there’s one more place that needs washing, the engine bay – or does it? 

Now, raise your hand if you’ve popped the hood of your car and felt the itch to just spray soap and water and clean it thoroughly. But somehow, you’re worried, will anything happen? There’s so many wires. Good! You did the right thing. However, if left just like that, it’s not gonna get any cleaner. Ding ding ding! You’re right again. 

So, let’s address the age-old question:

Should You Clean Your Engine Bay?

Yes. It is important to clean your engine bay periodically. A clean engine bay improves the overall look of your vehicle and also the functionality of various components in there. A buildup of dirt and oil in the engine bay can lead to corrosion and rust over time. Other than that, dirt and debris can affect the functioning of many components, such as sensors and belts, to name a few. 

Cleaning the engine bay also makes it easier to identify any leaks or potential issues – making it an important part of routine maintenance. Another thing guys, a clean engine bay can also increase the resale value of your vehicle, as it shows that the owner has taken good care of the car.

But, the thing is –  yes, there is a but. It’s crucial to clean the engine bay properly and safely. It’s always best to go to professionals, but, if you insist on doing it on your own, then we recommend just one tool – a damp cloth. That’s it! 

Using the wrong cleaning products or using water-pressure washer can lead to damage. It’s very important to cover sensitive components like the alternator, air intake, and electrical connections to prevent water damage. Avoid using high-pressure washers or any kind of washer even low-pressure washers. Nothing. Because they can force water into sensitive areas and cause electrical issues. You don’t want that. 

It will lead to massive headaches for you, down the road – financially. Just use the damp cloth and wipe off any oil, dirt, grease leaks and debris you can see. But even then, don’t overdo it alright? Overall, regular and careful cleaning of your engine bay is a beneficial practice for your vehicle.

Can the engine bay handle water?

No. Today’s cars come with pretty decent wire insulation and high tech electronical system. Naturally, some parts are highly sensitive to water exposure. Be cautious not to introduce water to areas like the alternator, distributor, air filter/air intake, fuse box, and any other exposed electronics.

In conclusion, while maintaining a showroom-worthy engine bay is not necessary, it’s certainly is a good practice. If you do decide to clean your engine bay, do so with a gentle touch and use only a damp cloth – I repeat, a damp cloth and nothing more.

If you happen to screw it up and land yourself in a mess, good luck with the expenses. For others who did not screw up the cleaning of your engine bay, happy driving!

Peace out!
 

Alright, road warriors and casual cruisers, let’s have a chat about those little habits we’ve picked up on the road, shall we? Don’t worry, we’re not talking “the end of your car” level stuff here, just some important reminder to nudge you guys towards smoother driving…and to make sure your gearbox doesn’t break down in the middle of traffic. Sound good? Great, let’s start. 

Shifting gear while the car is still moving – don’t be that guy or gal.

So, you’re in a rush and you’re reversing out of your parking spot. While still reversing, and the car has not come to a full stop, you suddenly shift it back to “D”. Seem harmless right? And you think that’s fine right? Not a big deal right? Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

The gearbox is built to provide smooth gear shifts, facilitate smooth gear changes in different speeds and even save you some fuel by operating at an optimal RPM in various speeds. But, do you know something? It is not dumbass proof. It can’t protect itself from people who insist on manhandling it. You gotta show it some love as you would your women – or men, by being gentle with it. Capiche? 

Give your brakes a little work. Bring your car to a full stop and then – and only then shift your gear to “D” or “R”.

Neutral dropping – You know you’ve done it! 

Well, me too. I ain’t no saint. I’m guilty of this too. But, we learn, correct our mistakes and improve. Hear me out. Picture this: You are at the traffic light waiting for the light to turn green and you can’t wait coz you’re in such a hurry. – as if everyone else don’t have stuff to do.

Then, you keep revving the engine while in neutral and once the light turns green, BOOM – you slam it into drive. That’s a giant no-no my friends. Let me tell you why. This can cause great stress on the transmission system. When you shift into drive, the transmission bands are forced to clamp down suddenly, leading to a high level of slip.

This puts extra strain on the transmission components and can lead to damage over time. In short, neutral dropping is an unhealthy practice that will lead to costly repairs and should be avoided. Remember, Its not worth forking out thousands of bucks for repair just to continue your retarded driving. 

Unless, your daddy or mommy’s rich af, then, by all means, go ahead and bust up that gearbox. Who knows, you might get a new car for that stunt you pulled.

“P” is for problematic parking

Inside your car’s automatic transmission, there’s a mechanism called the parking pawl. Think of it as a small metal latch. When you shift into “Park,” this pawl engages with a gear connected to the output shaft – means, it is locking it in place. The parking pawl needs a moment to align itself correctly with the gear and lock it. And this is what prevents your car from rolling away when you’re parked on an hill road.

Now, here’s the thing, when you shift into “Park” while the car is still moving – even moving just a little bit and you don’t give it that moment to allign itself and lock, it can jam or even break.

That’s why it’s crucial to come to a complete stop – emphasis on complete, before you shift into “Park.” This small action can save you from expensive gearbox repairs in the future. Why we say expensive? Gearbox repairs are always expensive. It’s never just a few hundred bucks. I got you thinking huh. Think, think.

Neutral Coasting? Nah man, cut it out! 

I saved the best for last. Ok, we all have at some point in our years of driving, done this. Have you ever driven downhill? You have right? So, while you’re coasting downhill, you might have taken your foot off the gas and shift your gear to “N”(neutral). 

Now, what’s wrong with this? Well, more like everything.

When you’re driving and you take your foot off the gas pedal, the car starts to slow down or maintains its speed right? If you leave the gear in drive, the engine helps with the slowing down process. It’s like a built-in brake system.

However, if you shift to neutral, you’re basically telling the engine to sit this one out and just stand by. Now, the car has to rely solely on its brakes to slow down, and that uses up more fuel. Meaning, your engine has to work harder, and that uses more fuel.

So, coasting in gear means the engine is still doing a bit of work to help slow down, which doesn’t use extra fuel. Plus, when you’re in gear, if you need to speed up suddenly, you can just do it. But, in neutral, you’d have to shift back into drive first. But what happens when you shift into drive while the car is cruising in neutral???

Read this slowly alright?

When you shift from neutral to drive while the car is cruising, it can lead to a sudden jolt or lurch, especially if you’re going at a higher speed. This happens because the gearbox has to quickly engage the selected gear.

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This will strain the transmission components, including the clutch (in a manual transmission) or the torque converter (in an automatic transmission). Over time, this kind of sudden shift can contribute to wear and tear on the transmission – again leading to? You guessed it. Costly repairs down the line.

So, it’s best to avoid shifting from neutral to drive while the car is in motion. Coasting in neutral might sound like a genius move to save fuel – I hate to break it to you, it isn’t. 

So there you have it, guys! Just a few insider tips to keep your transmission in tip-top shape. Remember, your transmission is a crucial part of your car’s resale value too. So, treat it nicely.

Happy cruising – using “D’ and not “N”.

Peace out!
 

Buyers in Malaysia who are planning on securing a Volvo XC90, XC60, S90, S60, or V60 will be in for a treat; as the new fleet of 2024 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models from Volvo Car Malaysia will be upgraded with a set of enhancements.

New colour, the Vapour Grey

The 2024 PHEV fleet will be graced with the following upgrades:

A new 6.4 kW 2-phase on-board charger (OBC), replacing the current 3.6 kW single-phase charger
Panoramic sunroof as a standard fitment for all models
New exterior colour, Vapour Grey
New wheel design – a new eight-spoke design for S90 Recharge, and a new six-spoke one for V60 Recharge and S60 Recharge
5-year complimentary Digital Services package – grants access to Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store, and Volvo Cars app remote functions.
New YouTube app inclusion in the Google built-in infotainment system (the app can only be used when the car is stationary).

As for the addition of YouTube, previous Volvo models will receive the app via an over-the-air (OTA) software update for their respective infotainment systems. The update will also enable scheduled charging via the Volvo Cars app.

The updated Volvo models will be available from September 2023. Interested customers can proceed to book a test drive for the 2024 Volvo XC90, XC60, S90, S60 and V60 via Volvo Car Malaysia’s website.

Volvo S90 shown

As a recap, all Volvo PHEV models – with the exception of XC40 – are powered by a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder engine (317 PS/400 Nm) paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, moving the front wheels. An electric motor (145 PS/309 Nm) mounted at the rear axle supplements the engine with a combined power output of 462 PS/709 Nm.

The electric motor is driven by an 18.8 kWh battery and provides an all-electric driving range of up to 90 km, depending on model.

There are two types of people in this world – those who made it their life mission to not spend money on fake stuff, EVER; and those who say, “It is what it is”, believing that the divide between fake and genuine goods is no more than just good ol’ capitalism at work.

While it can be true for most superficial items like harmless decals or accessories, one should not apply the same approach when purchasing functional/electronic/mechanical car parts. Not only they can affect your car’s performance and cause components to fail, fake car parts can also put your life at risk when they don’t work properly.

One of these is real, the other is fake. Can you tell?

It happens to the best of us. Whether you’re a car person or otherwise, we all are exposed to the risk of accidentally purchasing counterfeit car parts. Some of the most common ones that we should look out for are spark plugs, brake pads, oil filters, and relays.

So, how can you spot fake car parts and tell them apart from the original or genuine ones? Fakes can look so convincing these days, but for the sake of having good mental notes to hold on to, here are some useful tips to remember the next time you’re inspecting a box of car-related thingamajig.

When the price is too sus to be true.

Don’t go in here asking why online seller can sell cheaper. Don’t be sohai

One major red flag when you’re out there shopping for car parts, especially online, is when the price is suspiciously too low to be true. Yeah, online platforms do offer a slightly cheaper price compared to physical stores due to lower overhead cost, but the price gap shouldn’t be too big.

Apply best practices when buying stuff online – run a check on seller’s authenticity, reputation, and reviews. Some platforms should be able to give you trusted reviews from real buyers that post real photos of the product listed. Advertisement photos can be misleading, so use fellow buyers’ photos as reference.

Nicer packaging doesn’t mean more authentic

One of the most common practices to verify the authenticity of a product is using holographic stickers. Real holo stickers should have a shiny, good 3D effect as opposed to a flat finish with sad attempts to be so-called holographic 3D, as shown in the picture above. But in some cases, counterfeit parts may have good holo stickers too. Since these stickers can be present on both counterfeit and genuine products, it’s still not a 100% sure way to tell them apart. Perhaps you’d be ‘lucky’ that you’re able to spot a fake should the holo effect is horrible.

Other than using similar-looking holo stickers, fake items can also come with a better packaging compared to their genuine counterparts. Take this genuine belt from Toyota/Lexus as an example. It comes with a simple zip-tie meanwhile its counterfeit comes with more attractive packaging. It’s the effort that counts? I don’t think so.

Or take this fake Toyota cabin air filter as another example; that comes complete with a plastic bag whereas the original one is packed directly into the box without any other protection. Confusing, huh? In this case, you’ll have to inspect the filter itself.

Save the turtles?

If the con man was careless, you may notice “Made in China” stickers contradicting with the “Made in Japan” or “Made in Thailand” writings on the box.

While there may be some other ways to ensure you receive genuine car parts other than the obvious ones, like sending your car to authorised service centres, it’s worth discussing common car parts that are usually sold in the counterfeit market.

1. Spark plugs

The easiest way to spot a fake spark plug is to inspect the centre electrodes or tips. Genuine spark plugs have a thin centre electrode. In the case of this particular model by Denso, the genuine spark plug’s centre electrode has a diameter of 0.4 mm whereas the counterfeit one has a centre electrode diameter of 0.9 mm.

According to some spark plug manufacturers, there are other tell-tale signs of counterfeit items such as the finish quality, printing quality, and thread quality.

2. Oil filters

Be careful about the genuinity of the oil filter fitted in your car as it could cause some serious damage that will cost you more in the future. Other than inspecting the holographic sticker on the box (if any), you can also look for any irregularities such as spelling mistakes.

Coz let’s be honest, fake goods manufacturers are either doing it on purpose or simply won’t learn how to use Google translate (or its equivalent in a certain country) properly for years on end.

Take this fake Perodua oil filter for example – “Minyak” (BM for oil) is mispelled as “Minyaki”.

Google translate truly can be a double-edged sword.

You can also look at the shape of the oil filter, but you’ll need a genuine one to spot the difference. Small things like the quality of the grooves and dimples are sometimes overlooked by counterfeit part manufacturers.

3. Engine oil

Ain’t nobody got time to run a test lab just to get a refund on Shopee

Engine oil manufacturers have made it easy for consumers to authenticate their products by providing a QR code on the bottle. The next thing to do is just whip out your smartphone, scan the QR code, and you’ll be led to the manufacturer’s official website.

For online purchases of engine oil, people would usually go to the official online platform/shop where you can hardly go wrong in terms of originality.

4. Brake pads

There’s no questioning the importance of this car part – you do need to be able to stop your car properly. In some cases, fake ones can even start fires. yikes~ 

You won’t be able to inspect the brake pad at a microscopic level to tell if it’s genuine. However, you can look at the quality of stamping. This is a tell-tale sign even for precision items like pistons.

If you’re more hands-on, look at how well the brake pad fits into the calliper. A genuine one will sit perfectly, whereas a counterfeit part will have some trouble fitting properly. Some brake pad manufacturers have authentication cards too, but that’s usually for the more high-end stuff.

Conclusion

We understand buying car parts can be quite intimidating at times and the great deals you find online can be very alluring. There’s no shame in trying to turn to online sellers for a better deal, BUT you must always be wary. While some con men would sell fake items that are way cheaper than the usual suggested price, some would cunningly sell them for a similar price. It seems like a scary place to be, and there will be multiple unassuming holes that you can fall into.

But it’s always good to apply best practices when online shopping or even in physical shops, if you choose to expand your option beyond official shops or platforms. Always buy from reputable sellers with good reviews and not-too-shady prices or offers. As long as you begin with this, the chances of you getting fake, counterfeit, imitation car parts would already be reduced significantly. Once you have the item in hand, inspect them for the above tell-tale signs before completing the purchase.