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  • Perodua Nexis – new D66B DNGA B-segment SUV?

    In Cars, Perodua / By / 3 comments


    Perodua Nexis rendering from @idiyaz.cg Instagram / Behance

    Malaysians are in general a car-crazed lot and we also love our Protons and Peroduas. Now that the 2022 Perodua Alza and Ativa Hybrid has been launched, people are eager to look forward to what’s next.

    It looks like their targets are set on a possible B-segment SUV larger than the Perodua Ativa that is currently being called the “Perodua Nexis”.

    What are these Perodua Nexis photos that have gone viral?

    The source of the hype is a set of renderings by computer graphics renderer Idiyaz Baharuddin, who rendered a set of photos of what a future Perodua B-segment SUV could look like.

    He gave it the Perodua Nexis name as it is one of the trademarks that Perodua registered in April 2022. The other trademark registered alongside the Perodua Nexis was Perodua Traz.

    Is Perodua planning a B-segment SUV?

    Word is that yes, Perodua is planning an SUV larger than the Perodua Ativa and at the moment it is given the codename Perodua D66B.

    It will be built on the DNGA-B platform, which also underpins the 2023 Toyota Vios, 2022 Perodua Alza and 2022 Toyota Veloz.

    Is the Perodua Nexis a confirmed name for the D66B?

    The Nexis is not a confirmed name, it is the name that was chosen by the computer graphics artist for the renderings that went viral.

    Perodua has trademarked various other names that it has not used yet such as Perodua Traz, Perodua Eliana and Perodua Atrivia.

    Even so, the name of the new Perodua SUV could be none of these previously trademarked names and instead a future name that has not been trademarked yet.

    What Daihatsu or Toyota model will the Perodua D66B be based on?

    There are currently no B-segment SUVs based on DNGA launched in any market yet.

    The following are some B-segment SUV models that Toyota are selling. Could any of them end up becoming a Perodua?

    1) Toyota Yaris Cross

    This is the Toyota Yaris Cross, which recently won the 2022 World Urban Car of the Year award. It is pretty good looking and it looks like the rendered Perodua Nexis takes some inspiration from it.

    However, this is an expensive “first world” Euro/Japan market model that is based on TNGA-B instead of DNGA-B, so it is not likely to become a Perodua.

    If you really like this, we have seen recond units on Mudah for RM139k.

    2) Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder

    This is B-segment SUV sold in India, which implies it could be cost effective enough to be sold as a Perodua, but it is neither based on DNGA-B or TNGA-B.

    Instead, this is a product for the Indian market based on a JV with Suzuki, sharing a platform with the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

    Neither of the two products above seem like they could form the base for a future Perodua B-segment SUV.

    Will Perodua take the lead on the DNGA B-SUV project?


    Perodua D66B Rendering by Theophilus Chin

    Since there is no DNGA-B SUV in existence yet, could Perodua be taking the lead on the development? After all, it did so with the Myvi and the Bezza. That could be one possibility.

    The other could just be that a future DNGA-B Yaris Cross simply hasn’t been revealed yet. This Yaris Cross will only share a name with the European TNGA-B Yaris Cross but be built on DNGA-B instead, and be part of the Yaris hatch and Yaris Ativ (Vios) sedan family in Thailand, and eventually a Perodua in Malaysia.

    Would you be in the market for a Perodua SUV larger than the Ativa?

     

  • Petronas Gentari EV charging hub at Suria KLCC – 43 AC, 4 DC guns, DC charging at 60 sen per minute

    In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia / By / / 0 comment


    Photo – Gentari Suria KLCC on PlugShare

    Gentari has set up an EV charging hub at Suria KLCC parking area with plenty of chargers, including two DC chargers that can charge up to four cars at 30 kW each.

    The AC chargers are divided into two types – 20 units of 22 kW AC chargers at the Premium Parking area at P2, and another 23 units of 11 kW AC chargers at P2 and P3.

    Please refer to the following for more info on how to access and use the chargers.

    And as with any charging facility in Malaysia, you are also advised to always check the PlugShare link for any updates to the availability/location/access of these chargers.

    20 x 22 kW AC chargers at Premium Parking P2


    Photo – Gentari Suria KLCC on PlugShare

    These chargers are located at P2 in the Premium Parking area.

    These are “Bring Your Own Cable (BYOC)” chargers, so you need to bring your own Type 2 cable to use them.

    Access to the Premium Parking area is an extra RM10 one time charge over the normal KLCC parking fee, but you do not have to pay extra to use the chargers. No app is required to activate the chargers.

    23 x 11 kW AC chargers at P2 and P3


    Photo – Gentari Suria KLCC on PlugShare

    These AC chargers have an attached Type 2 cable so you do not have to bring your own. They are located at the following areas:

    • P2 – Pillar 12C, 6 bays 204-209
    • P2 – Pillar 13B, 3 bays 150-152
    • P3 – Pillar 12C, 6 bays 194-199
    • P3 – Pillar 13B, 3 bays 144-146
    • P3 – Pillar 14A, 5 bays 94-98

    These AC chargers are located inside the season parking area, so unless you have a Suria KLCC season parking pass, access to public is limited to the following times:

    • Weekdays 6pm – 6am
    • Weekend 24/7 until Monday 6am
    • Public Holiday 24/7

    You will have to use either JomCharge or Setel to pay for charging. Pricing for these 11 kW AC chargers is RM0.10 per minute.

    Just move the cone to park, and put back the cone after you are done.

    4 x 30 kW DC charger guns at P4


    Photo – Gentari Suria KLCC on PlugShare

    These are two units of 60 kW DC chargers configured to charge up to 4 cars at 30 kW each (2 cars per charger).

    The chargers are located at level P4 pillar 6B – bays 223, 224, 226, 227. Bay 225 is a normal ICE car parking. Access to these chargers is 24/7 to the public.

    You can watch the video below if you have trouble finding the DC charger.

    You will have to use either JomCharge or Setel to pay for charging. Pricing for 30 kW DC charging is RM0.60 per minute.

    If you haven’t downloaded Setel yet, we would appreciate it if you could use our referrer code “5h9f3”

    LINK: Download Setel

     

  • Mazda CX-30 CKD estimated price from RM127k?

    In Cars, Local News, Mazda / By / 18 comments

    Estimated prices of the upcoming Mazda CX-30 CKD have appeared online, with indicative pricing between RM127k up to RM155k across four different spec levels.

    The following are the four Mazda CX-30 CKD specs listed:

    • Mazda CX-30 2.0G Core (RM127,000)
    • Mazda CX-30 2.0G High – (RM135,000)
    • Mazda CX-30 2.0G High (RM145,000)
    • Mazda CX-30 2.0G High Plus with sunroof (RM155,000)

    At first we thought we noticed something weird as there seems to be two different 2.0G High pricing listed. But upon looking closer, the RM135k price is actually for a “High -” with a minus at the end, while the RM145k price is for “High” without any minus. So I guess the new CKD line-up has a High Minus, High and High Plus alongside the base Core model.

    This implies that although prices have come down significantly from the CBU’s RM145k-RM181k price range, the spec levels are now different so a direct comparison between CBU and CKD pricing cannot be made. Another thing that points to this is the fact that only the High Plus is listed as having sunroof here while the CX-30 CBU has sunroof equipped on multiple spec levels.

    Another detail in the ads mention that the above pricing is for the Deep Crystal Blue and Jet Black metallic colours only, you’ll have to add RM3k for Soul Red Crystal, Snowflake White Pearl or Machine Gray which are considered Premium colours.

    The Mazda CX-30 CKD will be the third CKD Mazda in Malaysia after the CX-5 and the CX-8. It will be assembled at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, which will receive a RM200 million investment to accommodate the new model.

    Of course, as with any promotional material seen online before an official announcement by the distributor is made, prices and spec levels may change when things become official, so take these numbers with a pinch of salt for now.

     

  • Sime Darby Motors looking to fill large number of positions for BYD business, operations to begin soon?

    In BYD, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News / By / 5 comments

    Earlier this week, Sime Darby Motors (SDM) announced that it had inked an agreement with BYD to distribute the Chinese automaker’s electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia. While it was not revealed as to exactly when BYD-related operations were due to begin in the country, an indication that SDM is gearing up to move quickly on this front comes from a recruitment ad the company put out the same day the announcement was made.

    Spotted on its LinkedIn page, the ad is calling for jobs to be filled in a number of positions, ranging from that for a head of sales to sales personnel/consultants and finance as well as IT personnel, with the closing date for applications set for October 5, hinting that things could be up and running before the year is out.

    The question is how soon the cars that will be coming here will appear. It’s already confirmed that the Atto 3 and e6 EV models have been confirmed for Malaysia. The former, which is also known as the Yuan Plus in China, is an all-electric crossover that features a front-mounted electric motor rated at 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 310 Nm of torque.

    The Atto 3 is already on sale in Singapore and Australia, and is due to make its market debut in Thailand next month. In Australia, the car is available in two Blade LFP battery configurations, the first being a 49.92 kWh unit offering 345 km of range (WLTP, 410 km in NEDC), while the other is a 60.48 kWh unit rated for 420 km (WLTP, 480 km in NEDC).

    The SUV supports AC charging (Type 2 connection) up to 6.6 kW (taking 9.5 hours to get the battery from to 100% from zero) as well as DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) at a max of either 70 kW or 80 kW (corresponding to battery capacity) – the higher input allows for a 0-80% state of charge (SoC) to be reached in just 45 minutes.

    Meanwhile, the e6 is a five-seater electric MPV that is already on sale in Singapore and Thailand. In Singapore, the second-gen offering features a 71.7 kWh Blade LFP battery that powers a front-mounted electric motor, which offers 95 PS (94 hp or 70 kW) and 180 Nm in the way of output. This provides the car with a top speed of 130 km/h.

    The e6 has a WLTC-rated city range of up to 522 km, and the Blade battery which can be recharged via an AC input (Type 2 connection) at a max of 6.6 kW in 12 hours. That’s for the Thailand spec version. With a 40 kW AC onboard charger, as found on the Singapore car, a full AC charge takes 1.8 hours. There’s also support for DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) at 60 kW, which sees a shorter charging time of 1.5 hours.

    GALLERY: 2022 BYD Atto 3











    GALLERY: Second-generation BYD e6 (Singapore market)


    GALLERY: Second-generation BYD e6 (Thailand market)



     

  • Millions of traffic summons still not paid; 77% of fines on Singaporean cars not settled – Johor police

    In Cars, Local News / By / 15 comments

    Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat has revealed that a staggering 2.3 million traffic summons have been issued since 2014, according to Malay Mail. So far, only 600,000 summons have been paid.

    Of the 2.3 million summons issued, 109,758 traffic summons involve Singaporean vehicles and records show that only 23.5% of Singaporean vehicle owners have paid their summons.

    Kamarul pointed out that the highest number of traffic summons were issued for driving over the speed limit and failure to adhere to traffic lights. In the case of Singaporean traffic offenders, it’s worth noting that those with unsettled summons will be prevented from leaving Malaysia under Section 66J of the Road Transport Act 1987 and Section 24(4) of the Police Act 1967.

    Kamarul added that the Johor police has initiated a summons reduction programme that starts today until Sunday (October 2nd). During this period, there will be a 50% discount for payment of select offences. The public is urged to settle outstanding summons at all police stations in 13 district headquarters. Operation hours are between 8:30 am to 5 pm daily.

    The Vehicle Entry Permit initiative was meant to curb the issue of unpaid summons and reduce traffic offences by foreign vehicles but it has yet to be implemented. This is due to difficulties in getting appointments for RFID tag installation. The original date of enforcement was set for October 1.

     

  • BYD Atto 3 EV coming to Malaysia – Blade LFP battery, up to 420 km range, to be priced from under RM150k?

    In BYD, Cars, Local News / By / 3 comments

    With BYD confirmed to enter Malaysia via Sime Darby Motors as its distributor, the brand will be bringing its range of electric vehicles into the market, beginning with the Atto 3 SUV and the e6 MPV.

    The Atto 3 SUV has gone on sale in Australia priced from RM137k Down Under, following the opening of its order books in February, and it will also be launched in Thailand on October 10 in Extended Range guise, which can do up to 420 km on a full charge.

    Dimensions-wise, the Atto3 is 4,455 mm long, 1,875 mm wide and 1,615 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,720 mm. For comparison, the Hyundai Kona Electric stretches the tape at 4,180 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,570 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm.

    2022 BYD Atto 3 Singapore (left) and Australia (right) spec sheets – click to enlarge

    In Thailand, the Extended Range that will be the debut variant of the Atto 3 SUV will be priced at 1.2 million baht (RM147k), and this packs the 60.48 kWh Blade LFP battery that is rated for 420 km range on the WLTP test protocol (the standard closest to real-world range); the Standard Range variant uses the 49.92 kWh battery that offers 345 km of range (WLTP).

    According to Singaporean market specifications, motive power comes from a front-mounted electric motor producing 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.3 seconds.

    The electric SUV can be charged at a maximum of 80 kW DC through a CCS2 connection, or up to 6.6 kW AC through a Type 2 plug. Charging at 50 kW DC from 20-80% takes 42 minutes, while a full charge from zero at 80 kW DC takes 1.2 hours; charging from 0-100% via 6.6 kW AC takes 9.5 hours.

    Compared to Singapore which gets the Atto 3 in just one battery variant (the larger 60.5 kWh unit), Malaysia could take after the Australian market entry which offers buyers two, additionally offering the 49.92 kWh battery variant. Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has taken a similar approach for the Kona Electric, which is on sale in Malaysia in three variants across the 39.2 kWh and 64 kWh battery capacities.

    Singapore specifications for the Atto 3 also include a vehicle-to-load (V2L) mobile power supply function, which can be done up at a rate up to 2.2 kW. Also on are the DiLink Intelligent Connection System, NFC card-enabled smart entry and engine start, a wireless phone charger, air purification mode, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (from Q4 2022), Smart Voice Assistance (also from Q4), the BYD OS app and more.

    For safety equipment, there are seven airbags, a 350-degree surround view monitor, digital video recorder (DVR), full speed-range stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, AEB, front and rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear cross traffic braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and door-open warning.

    Do you like the human muscle aesthetic? The BYD Atto 3 interior offers a full-width view

    These are also joined by a tyre pressure monitoring system, hill descent control, traction control, ESP, ABS, EBD, as well as two front and four rear radar sensors.

    The aforementioned pricing for the BYD Atto 3, in ringgit terms, starts from RM137k and from RM147k in Australia and Thailand, respectively, which stands to reason that the eventual Malaysian market entry could come in from under the RM150k mark as well, given the conditions of the current EV incentives in the country.

    The local arrival of the BYD Atto 3 has yet to be given a firm date, though it will certainly join a fast-growing segment here in Malaysia, including the likes of the Kona Electric that is offered from a similar price point. What do you think of the Chinese carmaker’s electric SUV offering? Let us know in the comments section.

    2022 BYD Atto 3











     

  • 2023 MotoGP: Provisional race calendar released, two countries make MotoGP debut, India and Kazakhstan

    In Bikes, International Bike News, MotoGP / By / / 0 comment

    It will be a packed racing season for the 2023 MotoGP riders and teams as the provisional calendar is released. Making MotoGP race debuts next year are Sokol International Racetrack in Kazakhstan and Buddh International Circuit in India.

    This makes for a total of 21 races for MotoGP next year, starting with the Portuguese GP in Algarve on the weekend of 24 to 26 March before heading across the Atlantic for the Argentina and Americas GP rounds in April.

    Returning to Europe at the end of April for the Spanish GP in Jerez, MotoGP follows this with the French GP on 12 to 14 May, followed by the Italian, German and Dutch GPs in the month of Jun. Kazahstan will feature as the final round before the MotoGP summer break in the first week of July.

    Action resumes the British and Austrian GPs in August, followed by the Catalan and San Marino GPs in September. MotoGP then goes on its longest ever Asia-Pacific tour beginning with the Indian GP on 22 to 24 September, before moving to Japan, Indonesia and Australia in October.

    South-East Asia sees the Thai MotoGP round happening on 27 to 29, with action taking place at Sepang, Malaysia, for the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia on 10 to 12 November. This is followed by the Qatar GP on 17 to 19 November, meaning Malaysia loses its place as the annual penultimate MotoGP round and championship decider, before the racing action wraps up at the Valencia GP on 245 to 26 November.

     

  • BYD e6 coming to Malaysia – five-seat EV MPV; Blade LFP battery; up to 450 km range; priced from RM160k?

    In BYD, Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News / By / 6 comments

    Yesterday, it was announced that Sime Darby Motors (SDM) had signed a distributorship agreement with China’s BYD to sell the latter’s electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia. In an official release, SDM confirmed two models that will be coming to our market, namely the Atto 3 and e6.

    We’ve already prepared a separate post if you’d like to know more about the Atto 3, which you can check out here. In this post, we’re focusing on the e6, which is a fully electric MPV currently in its second generation (the first-generation model made an appearance here back in 2017) that is based on the Song Max, albeit equipped with the Chinese carmaker’s in-house Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

    In Singapore and India, the e6’s battery has an energy capacity of 71.7 kWh that is good for a range of between 520-522 km (WLTC city) or 415 km (WLTC combined). The MPV is also sold in Thailand, where it is listed to have a 70-kWh battery for 500 km of range (NEDC) or an estimated 450 km according to the WLTP cycle – the WLTP figure is preferred as it more closely reflects real world driving.

    The difference in battery capacities could be due to the local distributor’s decision to list the gross or usable energy capacity, with the former being the higher figure. Regardless, the Blade battery juices an identical front-mounted electric motor rated at 95 PS (94 hp or 70 kW) and 180 Nm of torque, which allows for a top speed of 130 km/h.

    As for charging, the Singapore spec sheet lists two options, with the e6 capable of handing an AC input (Type 2 connection) of 40 kW – a full charge takes 1.8 hours. There’s also support for DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) at 60 kW, which sees a shorter charging time of 1.5 hours.

    Meanwhile, the e6 sold in Thailand and India both support the same DC input mentioned above, but the AC charging rate is just 6.6 kW, with a full charge taking 12 hours instead. In India, the e6 can be optioned with the more powerful 40-kW AC onboard charger for the higher-spec GLX.

    If you’re curious about the MPV’s size, it measures 4,695 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, 1,670 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,800 mm. For context, the e6 occupies a slightly larger footprint than the current Proton Exora that is 4,615 mm long, 1,809 mm wide, 1,691 mm and with a wheelbase of 2,730 mm.

    BYD e6 Singapore spec sheet; click to enlarge

    BYD says the e6 is five-seater with a turning radius of 5.65 metres and a boot space of 580 litres when the rear bench is not folded down. The MPV’s chassis gets MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear setup, and in the markets mentioned, 17-inch wheels are standard (paired with 215/55 profile tyres). Compared to the Song Max, the e6 has a closed off grille instead of a slatted one for differentiation.

    In terms of equipment, available for the e6 are halogen projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED taillights, a powered tailgate, leather upholstery, a five-inch TFT instrument display, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, keyless entry and start, automatic air-conditioning with rear vents, an electronic parking brake and electric power steering.

    BYD e6 Thailand spec sheet; click to enlarge

    For safety, the spec sheets reveal four airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system and an array of passive safety systems (ESP, VDC, traction control, hill start assist, ABS, EBD and brake assist). There’s no mention of any active safety systems like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in any of the three markets.

    On the matter of pricing, the e6 retails for 1.39 million baht (RM170,855) in Thailand, inclusive of the country’s 7% value-added tax (VAT), while over in India, the MPV starts from 2.915 million rupees (RM166,104 or 29.15 lakh rupees). As for Singapore, the e6 meets the country’s A1 band of the Vehicle Emissions Scheme (VES), so it qualifies for a SGD25,000 rebate (RM80,906), bringing its price down to SGD156,000 (RM504,678) inclusive of certificate of entitlement (COE).

    BYD e6 India spec sheet; click to enlarge

    If we consider Thailand and India’s pricing, the e6 could be priced around the RM160,000 mark when it is launched here. Of course, that’s just our speculation and we’ll have to wait for the model be launched here to see what SDM is charging for it – hopefully it arrives in time to take advantage of current EV incentives.

    For now, the company has not indicated when the e6 will go on sale in Malaysia and if there will be more than one variant. Based on the specifications of the MPV in other markets, are you looking forward to its arrival? Let us know in the comments below.


    GALLERY: Second-generation BYD e6 (Singapore market)


    GALLERY: Second-generation BYD e6 (Thailand market)



     

  • 2023 MotoGP: India’s Buddh circuit to host MotoGP

    In Bikes, International Bike News, MotoGP / By / / 1 comment

    After news of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between organisers Dorna Sports and the government Uttar Pradesh, MotoGP will makes its race debut in India in 2023. Venue for the first ever MotoGP in the sub-continent will be Buddh International Circuit outside New Delhi, previously the venue for Formula 1 from 2011 to 2013.

    India, with a population of 1.4 billion people, has more than 200 million motorcycles on its roads. Two-wheeled transportation counts for nearly 75% of the total number of vehicles used daily, making India one of the biggest motorcycle markets in the world.

    “We’re very proud to announce that Buddh International Circuit will be on the 2023 calendar. We have a lot of fans in India and we’re excited to be able to bring the sport to them. India is also a key market for the motorcycle industry and therefore, by extension, for MotoGP as the pinnacle of the two-wheeled world,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna.

     

  • Puspakom’s October 2022 schedule for mobile inspection truck unit, off-site tests for Sabah, Sarawak

    In Local News / By / / 0 comment

    Puspakom has released the October 2022 schedule for its mobile inspection unit for Peninsular Malaysia, and off-site testing for Sabah and Sarawak.

    The mobile inspection unit truck will visit Perak, Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. The purpose of this initiative is to serve those living far away from Puspakom branches. Services offered include routine, transfer of ownership and voluntary vehicle inspections, among other tests.

    Click to enlarge schedule

    There’s no fancy “transformers” truck in East Malaysia, but personnel and equipment for off-site tests will visit Ranau, Kudat, Kota Belud, Semporna, Kunak, Kapit, Limbang, Lawas and Marudi, among other smaller towns in Sabah and Sarawak.

    The vehicle inspection company says that customers can go straight to the stated locations at the set dates, without needing to make an online appointment, as one would normally have to do for Puspakom branches. The mobile inspection unit’s normal operation hours are from 8am to 6pm, but some are from 8am to 1pm (marked in red), so check first before heading there.

     
 
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Last Updated 29 Sep 2022