Perodua Simplifies Bookings With New Online Platform

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Malaysian automaker Perodua’s unwavering strive for innovation continues with the launch of their latest service aimed at simplifying the purchase experience for new customers. Perodua Online Booking (or POB) also provides greater transparency for buyers, for improved peace of mind.

The process is incredibly simple and flexible for potential customers. For just RM100 (for Malaysians – a different fee is levied on non-Malaysians), buyers can select the model they’re looking for down to the variant and colour. 

Once the fee has been paid via an online payment gateway, a quick input of personal details and selection of your preferred showroom & sales advisor completes the process. 

Additionally, buyers looking for finance options can choose from a list of banks provided. An email will be sent with a receipt for your (fully refundable) booking fee, and you can then track the status of your new car via the Perodua UFirst app. If you don’t already have a membership, your sales advisor will on-board you to ensure a smooth ownership experience. 

Further, Perodua has also integrated the trade-in process into the Online Booking system – just tick the box, and your sales advisor will do the needful to manage your existing car. Just follow the process and it’ll all run smoothly.

Perodua has also done a bit of troubleshooting ahead of the launch of their Online Booking system. Online bookings “will be treated similarly to those made at any outlet,” and will therefore be subject to the same waiting period if you were to walk in to place a booking. Further, the Online Booking platform will deny a duplicate booking should you have placed one previously – if you’ve changed your mind about your model, variant or colour, speak to your sales advisor who’ll amend your booking as necessary. 

Perodua Online Booking allows customers to order their new Perodua from anywhere, which is particularly convenient for customers who know what they want ahead of time. If you want a test drive you can make that request online too, while still enjoying the same hospitality and service quality that’s maintained Perodua’s market-leader position for as long as it has. 

GALLERY: PERODUA LAUNCHES ONLINE BOOKING PLATFORM

2025 PROTON X70 Open for Booking – L2 ADAS, Apple Carplay & Android Auto

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National carmaker PROTON has today announced the commencement of bookings for its updated X70 SUV, a model that’s been highly-anticipated since test mules were first spotted plying the roads almost a year ago. 

In a brief statement by the company, the new X70 boasts a “significantly refreshed exterior with enhanced performance.” Given that the X70 now has to defend its position as Malaysia’s #1 C-segment SUV against either all-new or significantly-updated rivals from Japan and China, this is certainly called for. 

Continuing, the company details some of the changes on the 2025 PROTON X70. This includes:

  1. Upgraded ADAS level 2 (which should include Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, something the current car does not offer)
  2. Updated 12.3-inch infotainment system, equipped with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
  3. ‘Improved’ PROTON Link app, now with remote-start capability
  4. Updated interior upholstery colour option – Nappa leather now done in ‘stone grey,’ and finally
  5. Multicolour “rhythmic” ambient lighting (which we hope can be disabled).
Our preview of the 2025 PROTON X70.

PROTON goes on to promise an “amazing price & early bird package,” which will likely be detailed at the point of launch (which in itself has yet to be revealed). Interested customers can visit their nearest PROTON dealers to place their RM500 deposit beginning today.

The PROTON X70 has served quite some time as a formidable presence in the C-segment space, punching well above its weight in terms of overall usability, practicality, performance and refinement, but we’ve no doubt that the impending ‘MC2’ update will bring it bang in-line with current competition. 

Shouldn’t be too long then until the wraps are finally pulled on the new X70. Excited?

GALLERY: 2025 PROTON X70 ‘MC2’

New Lotus Eletre Variant Arrives In Malaysia – Entry-Price Dropped To RM598,800

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All the style with more range, for less money.

British sports car brand Lotus has been enjoying huge global success since the introduction of its Eletre SUV, dubbed the brands’ ‘Hyper SUV’ according to official marketing. While the Eletre S and Eletre R have enthralled local fans for about a year now, the Eletre lineup has today expanded to include a more approachable model.

The base Eletre lands in Malaysia with a starting price of RM598,800 (inclusive of taxes & duties), effectively lowering the price for entry by some RM100k. The Eletre slots below the Eletre S and Eletre R, which command pricetags of RM698,000 and RM838,000 respectively. 

Despite that massive reduction in price, the base Eletre is no slouch – offering 603hp and 710Nm and equipped with broadly the same powertrain hardware as the Eletre S, the base-model still rockets from 0-100km/h in just 4.5-seconds. Thanks to its 112kWh battery this also means a maximum driving range of 600km (WLTP), representing a considerable 110km range advantage over the Eletre R (905hp/985Nm, 0-100km/h in 2.95s). 

Charging on the Eletre is equally as impressive, with an 800V architecture allowing the Eletre to accept charges at up to 350kW. This means a 10%-80% charge takes just about 20-minutes at a sufficiently-rapid charger. For home-charging, the 22kW AC feed means juicing up from dead to full should take less than 6-hours. 

Being a Lotus (despite its size and heft), the base-model Eletre promises the same dynamics as you’d expect from anything developed in Hethel. Lotus says there is a “distinct character” that “offers a difference” in the base model compared to the Eletre S and Eletre R, which we interpret as a broader capability on-road and on-track rather than the scalpel-sharp nature we’ve experienced before from the dearer variants. 

Rolling stock on the base-model Eletre are a set of 20-inch 5-spoke alloys, behind which sit 4-piston brake callipers. If that’s not enough for you however, there is the option of 22-inch diamond-cut alloys and six-piston callipers, which come as a set for an additional RM30,000. The base-Eletre also comes as standard with side-mirrors – but if you’d like to make life difficult for yourself, you can always option-on the side-mirror cameras. 

Despite the base-model moniker, the Eletre doesn’t skimp on active safety. A full suite of active driver assistance systems (ADAS) come as standard in the Eletre, bundling things like adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, a 360º camera and all-round sensors. You also get Dynamic Chassis Control to fine-tune the ride & handling characteristics just how you like it, which should pair well with the 5 available driving modes (Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road, and Individual). 

And of course when you’re not enjoying the dynamic prowess of your Lotus Eletre, there’s the 1,380-watt 15-speaker KEF Premium audio system with surround-sound technology that promises to waft you away into another world altogether. 

Featured here is the Eletre in Cinnabar Red. Other colours include Akoya White, Kaimu Grey, Solar Yellow, Natron Red, Galloway Green, Blossom Grey, and Stellar Black. All Eletre models come as standard with a 5-year/150,000km warranty for the car, while the high-voltage battery is covered by an 8-year/800,000km warranty.

GALLERY: LOTUS ELETRE INTRODUCED IN MALAYSIA 

Mythbusting with The Smart #3 Pro

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Who said you can’t be impulsive in an EV?

There’s a misnomer that with an EV, every trip begins with planning. You need to rely on third-party apps or existing background knowledge, and you need to have a real eye for chargers, their locations, and the pricing to go anywhere of meaningful distance. 

smart however believes that your EV should never be a hindrance to your lifestyle. Instead, their solutions make their cars just as capable as anything else out there, allowing you to feed your need for adventure with the same ease you would with any other car but with the added convenience of technological capability.

With features like a live-charging map integrated into the infotainment screen, finding available chargers is a thing of the past. And if that wasn’t enough, thanks to the cooperation of smart Malaysia and charge-point operators, the hello smart app can manage your charging at over 80% of all public chargers nationwide, encompassing both AC and DC chargers for your regular top-up or fast-charging along a motorway route.

This all comes bundled into a car that was co-developed between Geely and Mercedes-Benz, resulting in a vehicle that’s not just bold to behold but a joy to experience. Design flourish is married to exceptional build quality to create a truly next-generation feel with every interaction, setting the smart #1 SUV and #3 SUV coupe up as some of the very best EVs currently on the market (proven by the myriad of awards they’ve racked up already).

Experience the smart way yourself during the inaugural smart Brand Tour, taking place across West Malaysia. The tour kicks off on the 21st and 22nd of July at Setia City Convention Centre, before travelling north to Gurney Plaza Penang from the 4th to 8th of September. Then the #1 and #3 will make the trek down south before setting up camp at Mid Valley Southkey, Johor Bharu from the 19th to 22nd of September. Each of these locations will provide not only a chance to get up close to the #1 and #3, but also the opportunity to experience the vibrant and engaging smart community for yourself. 

#takethesmartway

GALLERY: 2024 smart #3 Pro

Lamborghini Urus SE Launched – 800PS/950Nm PHEV, RM1.03mil

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The raging bull, electrified. 

Six-years following the introduction of the original Urus, Lamborghini Malaysia has unveiled the second-iteration of Sant’ Agata’s most popular model in history, the Urus SE. While the 4.0-litre V8 lump may appear to be a familiar fixture, it’s what’s supporting it that might see fans of the brand cry in shock and horror.

Mated to the 620PS/800Nm engine is an electric motor (rated 192PS/483Nm), producing a combined 800PS and 950Nm of twist. As a result the new Urus SE completes the century sprint in just 3.4-seconds (a 0.1-second improvement over the Urus S), and it’ll keep going until hitting V-max at 312km/h.

Powering the permanent-magnet synchonous motor (which lives in the gearbox) is a 25.9kWh lithium-ion battery which they’ve crammed between the boot floor and the rear limited-slip differential. All this power remains sent to all-four corners for maximum traction, though. 

In addition to a new powertrain, the new Urus SE also bears a few aesthetic changes. The headlamps now feature a less-distinctive ‘wraparound’ LED daytime running light signature, while the front and rear bumpers have also need minor fiddling to make them appear more aggressive than the outgoing car. Beyond aesthetics, these changes (and improvements to the overall aerodynamics) have improved brake cooling by some 30% and cooling of other mechanical components by 15%. There’s also improved downforce thanks to a mildly-rejigged tailgate, which works with the updated rear diffuser to generate 35% more downforce compared to the outgoing car. 

There are also improvements to the interior in the form of twin 12.3-inch digital displays that have been lifted out of the Lamborghini Revuelto. 

Being a Lamborghini there will be a raft of options available to well-heeled customers, including wheels, colours, trims, and more. 

GALLERY: 2024 LAMBORGHINI URUS SE – MALAYSIAN LAUNCH

Kia EV9 Launched in Malaysia – GT-Line AWD, 505km, 7-Seats, RM370k

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BERMAZ, the official distributor for Kia in Malaysia, has today unveiled the new EV9 flagship electric SUV, offering unparalleled levels of practicality in the EV space for a very competitive price. Available as a sole GT-Line AWD with either 6- or 7-seats, the EV9 will start from RM369,668 on-the-road (without insurance).

The Kia EV9 is the largest EV by Kia thus far, and is arguably one of the largest vehicles produced by the brand. It’ll slot above the Kia EV6 and Niro EV, and is among one of very few large-size EVs that offer three rows of seating. The nearest competitor now is the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, which comes in at a whisker under RM700k.

The EV9 will only come in a single GT-Line variant, and therefore only one powertrain option. Motivation comes from a pair of motors (one on each axle) with 385PS (combined) and 700Nm. Fed by a 99.8kWh lithium-ion battery, the EV9 can go from rest to 100km/h in just 5.3-seconds, and top out at 200km/h. 

Built off of Kia’s 800V platform, the EV9 offers DC charging at up to 350kW, allowing the car to go from 10%-80% in just 24-minutes. AC is limited at 11kW, so dead-to-full takes a little over 10-hours. And as per usual, there’s a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system available too. 

Standard features are aplenty with the EV9, befitting its flagship status. All cars ride on 21-inch alloy wheels, while lighting all-around is managed by full-LEDs all around. You get automatic headlights & wipers, keyless entry and go, an electric tailgate, 360º camera and parking sensors. In addition to that we also get (as standard fitment) a pair of camera-system side mirrors in place of traditional glass – the feed is displayed on a pair of screens inside of the car, and also improves aerodynamics. 

Inside you also get the usual Kia digital displays, with twin 12.3-inch screens doing duty for instrumentation and infotainment. There’s also a small digital screen between them to handle HVAC controls. The rear-view mirror is also a screen, displaying a feed from the rear of the car, presumably to aid visibility when the car is fully-loaded with passengers. You also get a drive-mode selector, paddle shifters (for regenerative braking settings), a full-colour heads-up display, three-zone climate control (dual front, single rear), Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, and leatherette upholstery (yes, no real leather). 

Safety is very well catered for too, as expected from a large family car. The EV9 comes as standard with High-Beam Assist, Park Collision-Avoidance Assist (from all directions), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with brake intervention, lane-keep assist, lane-tracing assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, driver-attention warning, and collision avoidance assist (front, and blind-spot). 

Passive safety systems include 7-airbags, that 360º camera system mentioned earlier, ABS, EBD, traction control, brake assist, electronic stability control, tyre-pressure monitoring, rear-occupant alert, safe-exit assist, brake auto-hold, and 4 ISOFIX mounts for the second and third row.

The only key differentiator between the two models is the seating arrangement: The 6-seater offers a pair of Relaxion captains’ chairs in the second row that offer power adjustment, ventilation, and heating, as well as massage functionality. The 7-seater offers a more practical bench, with a 60:40 split to expand on space. 

Again, the Kia EV9 starts at RM369,668 for the 7-seater, and RM374,668 for the 6-seater. All cars come with a 5-year/150,000km warranty as well as an 8-year/160,000km battery & powertrain warranty. Colours offered are Ocean Blue, Snow Pearl White, Pebble Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, and a very fetching Iceberg Green.

GALLERY: 2024 KIA EV9

Peugeot Returns With 408 – 3 Variants, 1.6T, From RM146k

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French marque Peugeot has made a re-entry into the Malaysian market, after parent company Stellantis took back control of the brand from its second distributor in three years. Marking the local relaunch of the brand is the 408, which has gestated from a 308-with-a-boot that it used to be into a standalone fastback crossover.

Three variants make landfall today in the form of the 408 Allure, 408 Premium and 408 GT. All three models are built in Gurun, and will command pricetags of RM146,055, RM166,055 and RM196,055 respectively. 

The new 408 is built on the Stellantis EMP2 platform, and is quite a sizeable machine. Measuring in at 4,687mm in length, 1,859 in width and 1,487mm in height, sitting on a 2,787mm wheelbase and a noteworthy 189mm of ground clearance. This measures up favourably with other C-segment contenders like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla Altis, but Stellantis insists that the 408 sits “in a class of its own.”

The French crossover isn’t holding back in terms of specifications – all cars get full LED headlights & taillights as standard, but only the top-spec GT gets Matrix LED units. Wheel sizes start at 18” Granite Black units for the Allure, rising to 19” Granite Black dual-tone units for the Premium, before topping out with 20” Monolithe Black units for the GT. Notably, only the lower two variants get a spare tyre – the GT makes do with a tyre repair kit. 

Other exterior items include a chrome grille for Allure & Premium variants while GT rocks a body-colour unit instead.

The cabin is also well-specified with standard ‘leather’ upholstery, though the keener-eyed will notice that the Allure packs faux leather, the Premium gets full real leather, and the GT is offered with Nappa leather. Only the two top models get electrically-adjustable front seats (with memory & massage function for the GT), as the Allure makes do with a manual pew for the front passenger. 

Further standard specification includes a 10-inch i-Cockpit display, with the GT offering a 3D Quartz version of the system. You also get a 10-inch HD colour infotainment system as standard but again, the GT upgrades this with an i-Toggle system beneath (essentially a secondary touchscreen with configurable shortcuts). 

Audio is also where the cars differ, with Allure & Premium models making do with 6-speakers while the GT gets a 10-speaker Focal Premium audio system. The GT also sports a cabin air-cleaning system, but all cars offer wireless phone charging and a bevy of USB ports front and rear. 

Stellantis Malaysia says that safety shouldn’t be a luxury, and they’re putting their money where their mouths are with the 408. Standard kit includes autonomous emergency braking, electronic stability program with hill-start, high-beam assist and traffic sign recognition, tyre-pressure monitoring, a 180º reverse camera, active bonnet pedestrian impact protection, and six airbags. 

Step up into the Premium and you gain (in addition to the Allure) things like advanced traffic sign recognition, front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, upgraded autonomous emergency braking (we haven’t a clue what this entails), blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. This is also carried into the GT, which gains the adaptive Matrix LED lights we mentioned earlier. 

The 408 can be had in Obsession Blue, Perla Nera Black, Okenite White, and Artense Grey. It’s a bit of a headache but the Allure doesn’t get Obsession Blue, the Premium gets all four colours, and the GT doesn’t get Artense Grey. Makes sense? 

To combat perception around the brand, the Peugeot 408 will be sold with a 7-year/200,000km warranty. However, only 3-years is a manufacturer warranty and the following 4-years is from Stellantis Malaysia (which crucially will mirror the manufacturer warranty). 

GALLERY – 2024 PEUGEOT 408 GT

Chery Malaysia Puts Safety First Amidst Customer Complaint

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A courtesy car has been extended while investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Chery Malaysia’s emergence as a major player in the local automotive landscape has been going from strength to strength since customer deliveries began in September, but a viral social media post from an aggrieved customer is trying to scupper their efforts. 

Addressing the matter, Chery Malaysia has today acknowledged receipt of a complaint from a customer on Saturday claiming that her Chery Omoda 5 suffered from what was described as brake failure. The customer then took to social media to air her grievances, claiming that her complaint wasn’t taken seriously by service technicians. 

The statement issued by Chery Malaysia’s vice president Lee Wen Hsiang emphasised customer safety as their “utmost priority.”

“We have been in contact with the customer since Saturday (April 6th 2024) to address her concerns and subsequently, a courtesy car was offered to her. We want to emphasise that Chery Malaysia is committed to providing safe and reliable transportation solutions, and we are dedicated to ensuring all our vehicles meet the highest safety standards.”

– Lee Wen Hsiang, Vice President, Chery Malaysia 

Chery Malaysia also took the opportunity to remind customers that they are contactable directly via email at cherycareline@chery.my or via phone at +603 2771 7070. 

The Everything Car – The PROTON Saga

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When we think about the PROTON Saga, it often evokes images from the past. For many the Saga was the car that moved many Malaysian families. It was their first, car, their first family car, their first taste of automotive freedom that would power them to greater successes. 

Much has changed since the late 80s, though. Today our cars are not only used to bring us, our friends and our families from point to point, but they’re also used to make a living and ensure ends are met despite the most arduous and demanding tasks that lay ahead. 

When the Saga first came into existence it would have been unheard of that private vehicles would be used the way taxis are, and the rise of e-hailing has resulted in a shift from a product development standpoint to require cars that are more reliable, better built, and more capable of living up to the more challenging requirements that 2023 brings. That is of course on top of the existing Saga tenets of affordability, frugality, and dependability. 

To better understand the versatility of the Saga and how modern demands has shaped the Saga we know, we sit down with fleet operator Suresh Ramasamy and e-hailing driver Chandra Arjun to get to the bottom of things. 

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Arrives – 525PS, 296km/h DRS, from RM2.63m

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A race car for the road.

Porsche has today introduced the flagship 911 variant in the Malaysian market, offering customers the most uncompromised, performance-focused model in the lineup. The 911 GT3 RS offers the lightest, most driver-centric experience for customers, dialling-up the already-impressive 911 experience. 

“The new 911 GT3 RS resembles a race car more closely than ever before, offering near Cup car-like performance for our growing base of track-enthusiast customers. We are delighted to introduce this highly-anticipated model during the second Porsche Carrera Cup Asia race weekend in Malaysia, with motorsports passion in the air.”

Christopher Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, Sime Darby Auto Performance 

Designed for maximum performance, the 911 GT3 RS packs a 525PS 4.0-litre motor behind the rear wheels, mated to a PDK dual-clutch automatic as standard. The extra performance was eked out with new camshafts and modified cam profiles, with a motorsports-derived single-throttle intake system. Shorter gear ratios on the PDK gearbox also ensures quicker acceleration with greater capacity to withstand the extreme loads that performance driving demands. 

The century sprint is completed in a mere 3.2-seconds, while top-speed is rated at 296km/h. Aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper 6-piston brakes ensure that stopping is done fuss-free and reliably every time, but Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) remain an option for customers. Rolling stock is set at 275/35 R20s at the front, and 335/30 R21 at the rear for the highest-performance grip.

Weight is kept in check with an extensive use of carbon-fibre both inside and out, in addition to more lightweight construction methods resulting in a total weight of just 1,450kg. Aiding this is a reworked cooling system that makes use of just one radiator that more effectively cools the transmission, brakes and engine while further reducing weight.

Downforce is a major factor with the 911 GT3 RS – headlining features include the gooseneck-mounted hydraulic rear spoiler that incorporates drag-reduction technology to maximise speed, as well as ducting in what would have been the front luggage compartment that Porsche says now more closely resembles their 911 GT Cup cars more than ever before. This they say was “the best compromise” to deliver the most racecar-like experience in a road-going model.

Convenience for customers is also a key consideration, with the inclusion of four rotary dials on the steering wheel that allow the adjustment of various suspension settings on the fly. For example, the rebound and compression damping over each axle, the rear diff-lock, and DRS can be fettled with without taking your hands off the wheel, with all changes displayed dynamically via specific displays in the instrument cluster. 

All purchases of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS will include access to Porsche-exclusive events, like track days and owners-club events. The price of RM2.63-million is inclusive of taxes, duties, and official support from Sime Darby Auto Performance, but while the Clubsport package (black leather, Racetex, and carbon-fibre weave) comes as standard, the Weissach pack will command a premium over sticker. 

Weissach Package highlights include a carbon-fibre finish on the front lid, roof, rear-wing, and upper-shell of the exterior mirrors. The roll bars front and rear, coupling rods at the back, and the shear panel on the rear axle are also done in carbon-fibre to enhance driving dynamics, with the rollover bars alone saving 6kg over the standard steel versions.  

2023 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS – with optional Weissach Package – SEPANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT