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Beijing 2024: Toyota bZ3C and bZ3X concepts debut – previews upcoming EVs to be sold in China this year
At the ongoing Auto China 2024, Toyota unveiled two concepts which preview upcoming electric vehicles (EVs) that will be added to its bZ line-up. If these concepts look familiar, that’s because they are further developments of the bZ Crossover Concept and bZ FlexSpace Concept presented at last year’s Auto Shanghai.
We start with the bZ3C, which is a fastback crossover with a sleek silhouette, the brand’s signature hammerhead-style lighting (front and rear), retractable door handles, a roof-mounted ADAS sensor (likely lidar) as well as a diffuser-like element in the rear.
Inside, the concept has a minimalistic dashboard design and a large infotainment touchscreen that integrates many of the controls for various functions, including the climate system.
There’s also a dual-tier centre console with a plenty of storage space below the cupholders and gear selector. The expressive ambient lighting may or may not make it into the production version.
Moving on to the second concept on display, the bZ3X is a two-row SUV that also carries the hammerhead-style lighting at the front (with the main headlamps positioned lower down), although the rear is a simpler full-width light bar.
Like its sedan stage partner, most vehicle functions are accessed via a central touchscreen, and there’s also a practical dual-tier centre console. Both the bZ3C and bZ3X feature large panoramic sunroofs as well.
At the time of writing, Toyota did not mention anything about powertrain specifications, but it did note that the latest advance driver assistance systems and smart cockpits will be part of the kit list.
Additionally, the carmaker also mentioned that both models are born out of its joint ventures with local Chinese automakers. In the case of the bZ3C, partners include BYD Toyota EV Technology, FAW Toyota Motor and Intelligent ElectroMobility R&D Centre by Toyota (IEM by Toyota).
Meanwhile, the bZ3X is jointly developed by Toyota, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group), GAC Toyota Motor and IEM by Toyota. Both models are expected to go on sale in China this year.
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Beijing 2024: Chery Exeed E08 luxury EV MPV debuts – ‘One Box’ with ‘Wind Aesthetics’ design language
We’re live at Chery’s booth at Auto China 2024 in Beijing, and the top Chinese auto exporter has a few new cars here, most of which are under wraps and waiting for the official reveal later. But the Exeed E08 is not, and we have a gallery of the luxury electric MPV concept for you.
Chery’s first electric MPV is being parked under its high-end Exeed brand, but could well appear elsewhere wearing another of the group’s badges, such as Exlantix. The E08 was designed at Exeed’s European and Shanghai design teams and the ‘Fusion Luxury concept’ is pretty bold looking.
The E08 implements Exeed’s design language of ‘Wind Aesthetics’ on a ‘One Box’ MPV body. The integrated design concept sports ‘smooth and natural’ body lines and ‘simple and pure’ surfaces for a super-low drag coefficient (actual Cd not revealed) for lower energy consumption and extended range.
The E08’s front end is inspired by Exeed’s ‘Cyber Butterfly’ theme. We don’t know what that means exactly, but the front end is made up of a vast empty space, putting emphasis on the Exeed logo and the eye-catching lighting, which are visually connected via the front apron. It’s very obviously electric powered, this car.
It’s consistent at the rear, which stands out for having a stark centre area, framed by L-shaped lights on both top (glass) and bottom sections. The latter flows into the sides, highlighting the E08’s long wheelbase. The rear LED lighting concept is called ‘Wings of the Wind’.
Part of the wow are those massive flower-like wheels, which design is said to be inspired by Eastern symmetrical aesthetics, with two squares overlapping to form eight corners. This symbolises a stable and smooth ride in all directions. Chery says that the E08’s door openings are ‘ultra-wide’ to allow easy direct access to the third row.
It may look like a flight of fancy, but knowing how fast things turn from concept to production over at Wuhu, we bet that the Exeed E08 electric luxury MPV will hit Chinese roads very soon. Malaysia’s rich love the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire – do you think a big and bold Chery electric MPV would get a good reception?
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Beijing 2024: Mazda Arata concept shown – EV and PHEV variants; production version for China in 2025
The Mazda Arata concept has been shown at the 2023 Beijing Auto Show, along with the China-only EZ-6 that is to succeed the current Mazda 6. The Arata concept takes on the form of a crossover, with styling that could reach the successor of the current CX-5.
The Arata concept appears to be earlier in its gestation process, and it employs the carmaker’s latest interpretation of its Kodo design language, through the design themes of being “soulful, futuristic and modern”, according to Mazda’s official material.
As part of Mazda’s EV push, the Japanese manufacturer plans to offer a production version of the Arata next year in China, Japan Times has reported Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro as saying. This productionised Arata is also planned to be offered with two powertrain variants; a full BEV, as well as a plug-in hybrid.
For reference, the EZ-6 with the fully electric powertrain is comprised of a rear-mounted drive motor that outputs either 218 PS or 258 PS, depending on variant; peak torque in both cases is 320 Nm. The battery pack in the EZ-6 ranges from 58.9 to 66.8 kWh, offering range of between 530 km and 610 km on the CLTC testing standard.
A version of the plug-in hybrid powertrain in the EZ-6 is also likely to feature in the productionised Arata, which, in the EZ-6 is a 1.5 litre inline-four petrol engine with a battery of either 19 kWh or 28.4 kWh, and electric motors rated at either 218 PS or 238 PS, with 320 Nm of torque.
In the EZ-6, these will offer EV-only ranges of 135 km to 200 km, and hybrid mode ranges of between 1,140 km and 1,200 km, depending on battery size. The production version of the Arata concept is expected to feature similar range figures, according to Japan Times.
While the productionised Arata is set for the Chinese market, would you fancy an all-electric successor to the CX-5 that looks similar to this? Let us know in the comments.
Mazda Arata concept, official images
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Beijing 2024: Geely Galaxy L7 – Boyue L-based PHEV, 390 PS, up to 90 km EV range; next-gen Proton X70?
Also shown at the Geely stand at Auto China 2024 is the Galaxy L7 plug-in hybrid. Launched in China last June, it’s based on the latest Boyue L SUV and thus offers a glimpse of what a next-generation Proton X70 might look like.
Galaxy is Geely’s new energy sub-brand, and the L7 utilises the NordThor BHE15 Plus plug-in hybrid system, centred around a 163 PS/255 Nm 1.5 litre turbocharged Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine. This is paired with a 145 PS/338 Nm electric motor and a three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) to provide a total system output of 390 PS and 535 Nm of torque.
Juicing the motor is an Aegis battery with a capacity of either 9.1 and 18.7 kWh, resulting in an all-electric range of 43 and 90 km respectively on the WLTP cycle. Fuel consumption is rated at 2.35 litres per 100 km – or 1.3 l/100 km with the larger battery – and even with the battery exhausted, this figure only rises to a still-impressive 5.23 l/100 km. With DC fast charging support, it takes half an hour to charge the battery from 30 to 80%.
The L7 shares the Boyue L’s general proportions, silhouette, doors and angular wheel arches, but receives unique front and rear treatments. These incorporate split headlights with a full-width upper light bar, the Galaxy line’s trademark grille-less front end with the rectangular six-section badge, horizontal full-width taillights and a sportier rear bumper design with a large diffuser.
Inside, you get the Boyue’s 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 13.2-inch floating portrait touchscreen and 25.6-inch head-up display, but the L7 adds a 16.2-inch passenger touchscreen. The Galaxy N OS infotainment system that underpins all of this comes with a smartphone-inspired interface and runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor.
Other features include a 50-watt wireless charger (just one of these, I’m afraid), an 11-speaker Infinity sound system with headrest speakers, a camera-based driver attention monitor, 256-colour ambient lighting and a built-in ottoman and massage function on the very plush-looking front passenger seat.
Safety-wise, the L7 comes with a roof-mounted passenger airbag and a full range of driver assists, including a Level 2+ semi-autonomous driving capabilities similar to Tesla’s Navigate on Autopilot. This enables the car to change lanes by itself, using the navigation system to help get it to its destination.
Prices of the Geely Galaxy L7 range from 125,700 (RM83,000) to 169,700 yuan (RM112,000). Would you get a Proton version of this if it ever comes to Malaysia? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
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2024 BMW i4 gets refreshed – new 401 hp xDrive40
BMW has given the BMW i4 some updates for the 2024 model year. Not quite substantial enough to be considered an “LCI” facelift, but there are some differences nonetheless.
It gets new headlamps, a new design for the kidney grille, the option for BMW Laser Light rear lights, and some updates to the interior. There are also two new colours – Cape York Green Metallic and Fire Red Metallic. The top of the range M50 model also now gets M-specific wing mirror caps.
Previously if you wanted all wheel drive with the i4 you had to go all the way to the top of the range M50 model. Now, you can opt for the new xDrive40 variant, which offers 401 hp and can go from 0-100km.h in 5.1 seconds.
Will this new motor config come to Malaysia? Previously we had the eDrive40 which was less powerful, then a cheaper eDrive45 was introduced.
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Beijing 2024: Geely Galaxy Starship concept previews flagship SUV with AI tech, over 2,000 km PHEV range
Ni hao! We’re live at Auto China 2024 in Beijing, where Geely has just revealed the Galaxy Starship concept. This massive SUV previews the Galaxy sub-brand’s upcoming flagship as well as a suite of AI technologies that will soon be filtering into its existing lineup.
The Starship continues to feature Galaxy’s “Expanding Cosmos of Light” design language, sporting slim LED headlights, an illuminated grille-less front end and full-width taillights. Added to that are a number of typical concept car styling cues, including massive, intricate multi-spoke alloy wheels, a “smart light curtain”, a panoramic glass roof, an active rear spoiler, a sizeable rear diffuser and even something called a Dynamic Island (we can already hear Apple’s legal team working on a response…).
But the highlight of the Starship is of course the enormous gullwing doors that provide unencumbered access to the outlandish interior. You’ll find two front seats, a separate centre seat and a couch-like bench at the rear. What’s interesting is that the aforementioned centre seat can not only be reclined flat but it can even be driven out of the car to provide last-mile transportation.
Other features include an in-house Flyme Sound system with an output of over 2,000 watts, as well as a multi-modal AI-driven voice control that features WeChat integration. The latter is slated to make its way to the Galaxy E8 electric sedan through an over-the-air update in the second quarter of the year.
Beyond that, the Starship comes with a customisable hologram avatar that is displayed on the driver display and even an external display on the doors. It’s also said to offer integration with AI phones (through chairman Li Shufu’s smartphone maker subsidiary Meizu), smart glasses and drones.
Under the skin, the Starship is based on Geely’s new Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture (GEA), which supports full electric, range extender, plug-in hybrid and methanol technologies. These include the next-generation NordThor PHEV powertrains that is claimed to offer a total range of over 2,000 km.
It will also feature the company’s new in-house Aegis Dagger lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, as well as “11-to-1” electric motors said to possess 90.04% efficiency. Additionally, the car features an 800-volt architecture that reduces the use of silicon carbide by more than 75%.
The GEA platform also uses what is claimed to be the world’s first “AI digital chassis” that integrates the powertrain, steer-by-wire and autonomous driving systems. This enables lightning-fast reactions of as low as four milliseconds, compared to 100 ms for a human driver. Geely managed to test this technology by achieving the world’s first autonomous drift in a prototype Galaxy E8.
Geely has not confirmed when the production Starship will enter production, but it’s understood that some of the car’s less outlandish features will make their way to future Galaxy models – some of which may be offered in Malaysia under the Proton badge.
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Beijing 2024: Mazda EZ-6 debuts as EV replacement for Mazda 6 in China – also offered as a PHEV
This is the Mazda EZ-6, a new sedan to come out of the Japanese carmaker’s joint venture with Changan and will be sold as a replacement for the Mazda 6 in China – there’s no confirmation so far if it will make its way to other markets, including right-hand drive ones.
The EZ-6 shares its underpinnings with the Deepal SL03 (another EV from Changan’s sub-brand) but has a unique front and rear design to give it a more distinctive look. Highlights include a large, illuminated and slightly protruding grille that is flanked by slim LED daytime running light signature reminiscent of Mazda’s recent models – the main headlamps sit slightly further down.
There are also vertical slats along the side of the bumper, which gets trapezoidal-shaped intake in the lower apron. Around back, we find round taillights and a full-width light bar which aren’t cues found on the SL03, but the same concaved rear bumper is retained.
In terms of dimensions, the EZ-6 is 4,921 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, 1,485 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2900 mm wheelbase. That makes it 56 mm longer, 50 mm wider and 35 mm taller than current Mazda 6 sedan, while also having a 70 mm longer wheelbase.
Inside, the EZ-6 gets its own dashboard design that is highly minimalistic, with almost all vehicle controls integrated into a large 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen set above the centre air vents. The centre console is equally simplistic by having just cupholders and a small storage cubby, while the steering wheel and 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster appear to be carrived over from the SL03.
Full specifications aren’t out yet, but the EZ-6 is confirmed to follow the SL03 by being offered with two powertrains. Referring to the SL03, the first is a fully electric setup with a rear-mounted electric motor rated at either 218 PS (215 hp or 160 kW) or 258 PS (255 hp or 190 kW) – both with a peak torque of 320 Nm. Battery options include a 58.9- or 66.8 kWh pack that offer between 530 km to 610 km of range based on the CLTC standard.
There’s also a plug-in hybrid version that features a 1.5 litre inline-four petrol engine, either a 19- or 28.4-kWh battery, and electric motors rated at either 218 PS (215 hp or 160 kW) or 238 PS (235 hp or 175 kW) – peak torque remains at 320 Nm. The smaller battery pack offers 135 km of electric-only range and up to 1,140 km in hybrid mode, while the large battery offers 200 km in EV-only mode, or 1,200 km in hybrid mode.
Officially, Mazda says the pure EV model will have a cruising range of approximately 600 km (presumably following the CLTC standard), while the PHEV model is expected to have a range of over 1,000 km.
The EZ-6 is the brand’s third EV after the MX-30 and CX-30 EV, the latter being another product to come out of the Mazda-Changan partnership. What do you think of the EZ-6? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
GALLERY: Mazda EZ-6 official photos
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Geely Galaxy E8 EV – 272 PS RWD and 646 PS dual-motor, up to 665 km range; five variants in China
Following its launch in January this year, we can now bring live images of the Geely Galaxy E8 from China, with the 2024 Beijing Auto Show being held this week.
Derived from the Galaxy Light concept car that was shown in February 2023, the Galaxy E8 is based on the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) that also underpins models from Zeekr, smart, Volvo, Lotus and other models within the Geely group.
The Geely Galaxy E8 measures 5,010 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 1,465 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,925 mm, with ground clearance measured to be between 136 mm and 143 mm. For luggage capacity, its rear trunk volume holds 465 litres, while the front trunk can contain 53 litres.
The range of variants for the Galaxy E8 begins with the Pro and the Max, both equipped with a 62 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that brings a range of up to 550 km on the Chinese domestic CLTC testing standard. For greater reach, the Long Range and Smart Driving variants feature a larger capacity 76 kWh LFP battery that yields 665 km of range (CLTC).
These four variants operate on a 400-volt electrical architecture, and the powertrain line-up begins with a single rear-mounted motor with 272 PS and 343 Nm of torque, enabling the Galaxy E8 to do 0-100 km/h in 5.95 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 km/h.
Charging via DC can reach up to 150 kW, for the battery to be recharged from 10-80% in 28 minutes for these four variants. All variants, including the top Performance variant, feature the silicon carbide technology in their drive systems, and all versions of the Galaxy E8 have a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system as standard.
This line-up is topped by a Performance variant which is distinct from the others, as it uses an 800-volt electrical architecture which enables DC charging at up to 360 kW, for a 10-80% state of charge to be attained in just 18 minutes.
The Performance variant gets a battery of slightly smaller capacity at 75.6 kWh, thus lowering range slightly to 620 km, and its powertrain is a dual-motor setup consisting of a 224 PS front motor and a 421 PS rear motor, for a combined output of 646 PS and 710 Nm. In this configuration, the Galaxy E8 does the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.49 seconds, and a top speed of 210 km/h.
Inside, featuring prominently on dashboard of the Galaxy E8 is a 45-inch display with 8K resolution and which spans nearly the width of the dashboard. This single unit serves three segments – an instrumentation display for the driver, an infotainment section and another for the front passenger.
These are also joined in the cabin by a 25.6-inch AR-enabled head-up display, which is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip and runs Geely’s Galaxy N-OS software.
Further features include a 256-colour ambient lighting system, a cooled 50 W wireless charging pad, an eight-speaker or 12-speaker system Harman Infinity system, and powered front seats with available heating, ventilation and massage functions.
For safety and driver assistance systems, the Galaxy E8 gets five millimetre-wave sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 10 cameras and one LiDAR sensor.
The driver assistance functions here include AEB, adaptive cruise control with intelligent cruise assist, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane change assist, blind spot monitoring, front and rear cross traffic alert, automated parking and Navigate on Autopilot 2.0 semi-autonomous driving.
In China, the Geely Galaxy E8 was priced at launch from 175,800 yuan to 228,800 yuan (RM114,225 and RM148,661), and the E8 is the third model in the Galaxy series, a brand that was launched last year.
GALLERY: Geell Galaxy E8, official images
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More than 14,000 complaints received through MyJalan app for road damage, potholes as of Apr 19
The works ministry (KKR) has received a total of 14,031 complaints through the MyJalan mobile application from last August to April 19, Bernama has reported.
From the total, 27% of these, or 3,776 complaints involved roads under the supervision of the public works department, while 73%, or 10,255 complaints came under the responsibility of other ministries, said deputy works minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The works ministry takes responsibility not only for maintaining federal roads, highways and state roads, but also for channeling the information to various ministries, Maslan added. Some 86% of the complaints related to the works ministry have been resolved, while the rest are still under investigation, he said.
“We have standard operating procedures that are constantly being improved. If there are potholes on highways and federal roads, they should be patched within 24 hours. So far, 100% of them have been patched within 24 hours or less, Maslan said.
Launched by prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last August, the MyJalan mobile app by the works ministry had received around 1,000 complaints for road damage as of the following month since its launch.
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Bangkok 2024: Maserati Grecale Folgore EV – 557 PS/820 Nm, 501 km WLTP; RM1.02 million in Thailand
Shortly after the Maserati Grecale premiered in fully electric guise as the Grecale Folgore last month, the Italian marque’s electric crossover has been shown at the recent 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show.
While outwardly similar to its internal combustion stablemates, there are distinct cues that set apart the Grecale Folgore EV; among these are a front grille that has slim oval cutouts in place of the vertical slats on the ICE variants, while the corner intakes are finished in body colour. At the rear, the no longer required exhaust outlets are substituted aurally by loudspeakers, mandated to warn pedestrians of an approaching EV.
A 400-volt electrical architecture features in the Grecale Folgore, where powertrain is courtesy of two electric drive motors bringing outputs of 557 PS and 820 Nm of torque. Thus equipped, the Grecale Folgore does 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, on to a top speed of 220 km/h.
A 105 kWh battery brings up to 501 km of range on the WLTP standard, with DC charging supported at up to 150 kW to have a 20-80% state of charge achieved in 29 minutes. AC charging is up to 22 kW, which replenishes battery charge at up to 100 km of range per hour.
Four driving modes are offered in the Grecale Folgore; Max Range, GT, Sport and Offroad. Sport offers the full outputs possible from the powertrain, while GT caps output at 80%, Max Range at 75%, or 50% if the power output limiter is in use.
Suspension for the Grecale Folgore is comprised of adaptive dampers and air springs, with wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches in diameter; shown here are 21-inch alloys in Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tyres.
Infotainment comes courtesy of a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a central infotainment touchscreen of the same size, an 8.8-inch display for climate controls, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a sound system with either 14 or 19 speakers. For interior trim, recycled and sustainable materials such as Econyl and Feeltek leather are used.
Pricing for the Grecale Folgore starts from 7,890,000 baht (RM1,018,478) in Thailand, according to Headlight Magazine.
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RON97 petrol price April 2024 week four update – premium fuel price unchanged; still RM3.47 per litre
It’s Wednesday, which means that it is once again time for the weekly fuel price updated in Malaysia, as announced by the finance ministry for the coming week of April 25 to May 1, 2024.
Once again there is no change to the price of RON 97 petrol, which sees the premium grade of petrol continue at the same RM3.47 per litre price as it has been last week, and which in fact has been unchanged since September 2023.
The RON 95 grade of petrol continues at it ceiling price of RM2.05 per litre, as set by the Malaysian government in February 2021. The days of RON 95 petrol at this price appears to be numbered.
As for the retail prices of diesel, the Euro 5 B10 and B20 blends remain priced at RM2.15 per litre, and Euro 5 B7 is priced 20 sen more per litre at RM2.35 per litre.
These fuel prices will take effect from midnight tonight until Wednesday, May 1, 2024, when the next set of fuel price updates will be announced. This is the 17th edition of the weekly fuel pricing format for this year, and the 276th in total since the format’s introduction at the start of 2019.
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Bangkok 2024: Mazda BT-50 facelift – 1.9L and 3.0L turbodiesel variants, from RM97,363 in Thailand
The 2024 Mazda BT-50 facelift has gone on sale in Thailand last month, and it has also been shown at the recent 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show, from which we can bring live images of the updated pick-up truck.
Launched in Malaysia at the end of 2021, the BT-50 is based on the third-generation Isuzu D-Max, and so it continues to be so for its facelift.
Engine choices for Thailand are the RZ4E-TC 1,898 cc four-cylinder turbodiesel that outputs 150 PS at 3,600 rpm and 350 Nm from 1,800 to 2,600 rpm, and the 4JJ3-TCX 2,999 cc four-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 190 PS at 3,600 rpm and 450 Nm from 1,600 to 2,600 rpm. Both 1.9L and 3.0L engines can be paired with either a six-speed manual, or six-speed automatic gearbox.
The example shown at BIMS 2024 is a double-cab 3.0 S Hi-Racer 6AT; the 1.9L engine variant for the facelifted BT-50 in Thailand is only offered with six-speed manual transmission. According to Headlight Magazine, the BT-50 facelift in Thailand starts from 752,000 baht (RM97,360) for the 1.9C Hi-Racer 6MT single-cab, and 862,000 baht (RM111,611) for the 3.0 S Hi-Racer 6AT.
For the double-cab variants in Thailand, the range starts at 922,000 baht (RM119,377) for the 1.9 Hi-Racer 6MT, 992,000 baht (RM128,439) for the 3.0 S Hi-Racer 6AT, 1,172,000 baht (RM151,758) for the 3.0 SP Hi-Racer 6AT, and 1,272,000 baht (RM164,706) for the 3.0 SP 6AT 4×4.
Visual changes applied to the exterior of the BT-50 facelift include a black front grille, and the 18-inch alloy wheels gain a two-tone black finish. The front bumper is finished in the body colour, while gloss black is used for the wheel arch extensions and side mirror covers.
Inside, the cabin of the BT-50 facelift gets two-tone leather upholstery in brown and black, joined by piano black interior trim, including gloss black trim atop the transmission selector lever. The driver’s seat gets eight-way electrical adjustment, while the front passenger seat is a four-way manually adjustable unit.
Driver instrumentation is by a combination cluster with a 4.3-inch information display, while infotainment comes courtesy of a nine-inch touchscreen unit that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also included are voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, auxiliary audio, and USB ports.
Advanced driver assistance systems that feature on the BT-50 facelift include automatic high beam, full speed range adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, AEB, turning-across-traffic AEB, and lane departure warning. Also on are blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic alert with reversing AEB.
Other active safety features are hill start assist, hill descent control, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, multi-collision brake, emergency stop signal, automatic walk-away door locking, and front and rear parking sensors.
In Malaysia, the Mazda BT-50 is currently priced from RM92,729 for the 1.9L Single Cab manual, up to RM142,918 for the 3.0L High Plus Double Cab automatic; prices are OTR without insurance.
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Lotus Emeya EV – bookings open in Malaysia, from RM650k for base variant; Q3 launch, deliveries in Q4
News has emerged that the Lotus Emeya EV is now open for bookings in Malaysia, ahead of an official launch in the country tentatively scheduled for the third quarter of this year. This will be followed by the start of customer unit deliveries from the fourth quarter.
Having first made its debut in New York last September, the Emeya four-door GT made its regional showing at the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show last month, where has gone on sale in two variants starting with the Emeya S from 5,990,000 baht (RM777,600), and the Emeya R at 6,890,000 baht (RM895,500).
In Malaysia, pricing is tentatively expected to start from RM650,000 for the base variant. The Emeya S packs a powertrain that produces 612 PS and 710 Nm of torque, which will propel the electric grand tourer from 0-100 km/h in 4.15 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h. For the top Emeya R that is sold in Thailand, a 918 PS/985 Nm powertrain sends it from 0-100 km/h in 2.78 seconds and to a top speed of 256 km/h.
The Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) by Lotus forms the basis of the Emeya, as it does for the Eletre SUV, and thus employs the same 800-volt architecture as on its SUV.
Specifications from its debut state that the Emeya employs a 102 kWh battery pack, or slightly less than the 112 kWh unit in the Eletre. This gives the Emeya S 610 km of range on a full charge on the WLTP test protocol, while the Emeya R with its higher motor outputs manages 485 km (WLTP).
Charging is facilitated by a 22 kW on-board charger that yields a 0-100% charge in 5.8 hours, while DC fast charging is possible at up to 350 kW, with which it can attain a 10-80% recharge in 18 minutes.
Rolling stock is a set of 22-inch wheels with 265/35 front and 305/30 rear tyres, and the chassis features an electronically-controlled air suspension system similar to that on the Eletre. Active aerodynamics also feature on the Emeya, an active rear diffuser and an active dual-layer rear spoiler, the latter a 280 mm wide unit, or 100 mm wider than that on the Eletre, and offers 215 kg of downforce.
The present-day Lotus family ties are evident in the cabin, where the Emeya sports a central floating, full-HD OLED screen accompanied by a 15-speaker KEF audio setup, or 23 speakers for high-end options, with Dolby Atmos-enabled 3D surround sound.
Bookings for the Lotus Emeya in Malaysia can be made at the Lotus showroom in Pavilion Damansara, and buyers can get in touch at +6016-611 2388. Made in Wuhan, China and arriving in Malaysia in the second half of this year, would the Lotus Emeya be your choice of high-end four-door EV?
GALLERY: Lotus Emeya R at BIMS 2024
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KL-Seremban Highway contraflow to be activated from today – from Sungai Besi toll to KM5.2, 6am to 9am
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has announced that contra-flow traffic has been activated on the KL-Seremban Highway from today, April 24, from the Sungai Besi toll plaza to KM5.2 of the highway. This activation of contra-flow traffic will be from 6am to 9am.
Based on the graphic accompanying the city council’s announcement, the contra-flow activation is likely in order to facilitate maintenance works in the area.
Users who will be travelling along this stretch of the highway are advised to follow posted signage for the contra-flow traffic, and heed the instructions of personnel on-site.
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Mercedes-Benz G580 debuts – first-ever electric G-Class; tank turn, quad-motor, 587 PS, 473 km EV range
Here it is, the fully electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which makes its global debut in Beijing (China is the G-Class’ second largest market) in the year the G-Class celebrates its 45th anniversary. Officially, it’s called the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, which is quite a mouthful and marks a departure from the carmaker’s EQ branding as more of its models adopt electric power.
Previewed by the Concept EQG back in September 2021, the production G580 aims to deliver the same or even better off-road performance as versions with a conventional powertrain, but without any emissions. Deliveries will begin in the second half of 2024.
The G580 is built on a ladder-frame chassis just like the recently updated W465 G-Class, but with a few revisions to accommodate its electric powertrain. For starters, the chassis has been reinforced to accommodate a large battery, and while it may retain the same double-wishbone setup at the front, the solid rear axle has been completely redeveloped to adopt a De Dion design – adaptive dampers come as standard.
The G580 has four electric motors in total, with two in each housing at the front and rear axles. Power from the motors is transmitted to the wheels via dual-joint shafts, which provide the advantage of ensuring the camber does not change during compression.
Each motor has its own two-speed transmission, which is integrated into a shared housing that also includes a double inverter. The purpose of the transmission is to enable low- and high-range gearing like a 4×4 vehicle.
In low-range mode, the reduction ratio is 2:1 to increase wheel torque to cope with difficult terrain and the top speed is restricted to 85 km/h. In normal day-to-day driving, the high-range mode is used to maximise range.
On that mention, Mercedes-Benz quotes a WLTP-rated range of up to 473 km thanks to a lithium-ion battery with an energy capacity of 116 kWh. The two-tiered battery features 216 cells installed in twelve cell modules between three cooling levels and is integrated into the ladder frame for a lower centre of gravity and better rigidity. To prevent water and dirt intrusion, the battery is housed in a torsion-resistant casing.
The battery supports DC fast charging at a max of 200 kW, with a 10-80% state of charge (SoC) achieved with just 32 minutes of being plugged in. There’s also slower AC charging at 11 kW, with a 10-100% SoC reached in 11.77 hours.
As for the electric motors, each one develops 147 PS (145 hp or 108 kW), with the rated system output being of 587 PS (579 hp or 432 kW) and 1,164 Nm of torque. The latter is 314 Nm more than the G63, while peak power is comparable to the 4.0 litre biturbo V8-equipped variant.
While peak torque is an advantage of the G580, its battery and electric components result in a kerb weight of 3,085 kg, which is more than G63 that is around 2.6 tonnes. Go for the fully electric G-Class and you’ll get a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds (G63 does it in 4.3 seconds) and a top speed limited to 180 km/h (G63 maxes out at 220 km/h).
Of course, the G-Class earned its reputation by being a highly capable off-roader, with every iteration required to prove itself 336 times on the Schöckl mountains in Graz, Austria, traversing a 5.6-km route that includes gradients of up to 60% and side slopes up to 40%.
The G580 meets this standard and even surpasses the conventional G-Class in some aspects. According to its maker, the off-road SUV has a maximum water fording depth of 850 mm, which is 150 mm more than variants with a conventional powertrain.
Moreover, the electric G-class comes with G-Turn, which is essentially a tank turn function made possible by the four independently driven wheels. When the conditions are right – car is in ‘D’, Rock mode engaged and low range enabled – drivers simply need to pull on the left or right shift paddle (doubles to handle five regenerative braking modes), hold steering wheel, release the brake pedal and step on the accelerator.
This works for up to two complete vehicle revolutions, and the function can be cancelled manually any time by releasing the shift paddle or accelerator pedal. It’s a great party trick and particularly useful when met with an impossible obstacle while off-roading and a fast change of direction is needed.
Another clever function is G-Steering that regulates drive torque to enable tighter turning when space is limited, kind of like rear-wheel steering. Like G-Turn, this requires specific conditions to be met and there’s a limit, top speed in this case at 25 km/h.
Lastly, there’s an intelligent off-road crawl function that is always active when low range is engaged. Through the shift paddles, drivers can set crawl speeds from as low as two km/h and up depending on the gradient and situation being dealt with.
As for other off-roading-related info, the ground clearance is listed at 250 mm, which enables nearly identical approach and departure angles of 32 degrees and 30.7 degrees respectively. Only the breakover angle is lacked at 20.3 degrees, which is less than the standard G-Class’ 26 degrees. This is due to the presence of the battery and the aluminium underbody protection panel that is 26 mm thick and weighs 57.6 kg.
For the electric G-Class, there’s Electric Dynamic Select that comes with the aforementioned Rock mode, along with Trail and familiar options such as Comfort, Sport and Individual. The model’s signature differential locks are present too, although they aren’t mechanical and rely on the calibration of the electric motors to precisely deliver torque for maximum traction – the company calls them “virtual differential locks.”
One feature that is unique to the electric vehicle is G-Roar (everything needs a label) that heightens the immersion by generating a driving sound reminiscent of V8-powered models, with the sound delivered dependent on the chosen drive mode. “Its deep bass and sonorous tones deliberately set it apart from the sound of other all-electric models from the brand with the three-pointed star,” the company said in its release.
On the design side of things, the G580 looks very similar to its conventional powertrain siblings, but there are some cues to mark it out as the fully electric model. Up front, the model-specific illuminated grille is largely blocked off by a black panel with thin slits, and the round headlamps also get surrounding trim in a similar finish. Meanwhile, the intakes in the lower apron sport square lattice inserts.
Elsewhere, there’s a slightly raised bonnet, air curtains in the rear wheel arch flares and a square box work together with elements from the facelifted G-Class – A-pillar cladding and spoiler lip on the roof – to optimise aerodynamics to hit the claimed range possible. Said box is square and smaller to accommodate the charging cable, but customers can opt for a spare wheel as an option.
Moving inside, you’ll find a dashboard layout that is pretty much identical to the regular G-Class, with all the controls being laid out the same. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment with its dual 12.3-inch displays (digital instrument cluster and central touchscreen) is here as well, with available options being a rear-seat entertainment system (11.6-inch touchscreens, a Burmester sound system and a “transparent bonnet” feature.
No shortage of driver assistance systems either, including Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Steering Assist, Active Brake Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Attention Assist, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, a 360-degree camera, Pre-Safe and Pre-Safe Sound.
Naturally, there are plenty of ways to customise your G580, be it through the Manufaktur programme or the wide selection of packages that alter the exterior and interior. For something more special, the G580 will be offered in Edition One guise that comes with plenty of cost options as standard.
There you have it, the first-ever electric G-Class, a car that Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud to own. What do you think of the G580? Are its on-paper specs impressive and is it worthy of being a “proper G?” Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology
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