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  • 2022 Perodua Alza D27A launch confirmed for next year – current 12-year old MPV to say goodbye in Jan

    In Cars, Local News, Perodua / By / / 1 comment

    Click to enlarge Perodua Alza D27A render

    We’ve reported a fair bit on the upcoming all-new Perodua Alza, codenamed D27A. By piecing together all the clues and available information, we’ve come to the conclusion that second-generation MPV will debut next year. But there has been no official word from Perodua. Until now.

    At the media drive of the 2022 Myvi facelift in Johor Bahru, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad was asked about next year’s product plans, and if the new Alza is coming soon. He decided to come clean.

    “If I say no then I’ll be lying. Definitely there’ll be one FMC (full model change) next year, but the timing I cannot guarantee now because of travel bans and Covid. Yes, there will be a change but I cannot tell you when, because we are still finalising a few items,” he said.

    Pressed to elaborate, Zainal reiterated that Perodua has the capability to introduce one FMC and two MC (minor change a.k.a. facelift) models per year. “First, we look at our capability. Based on our R&D (capacity) and the number of people that we have, the number of engineers in R&D that we have, currently we are able to have one FMC and two MC models a year,” he said.

    “For Perodua, our model life is six to seven years. Currently we have six models. Every year we’ll have one FMC, taking turns,” he added.

    As reported last month, production of the current Alza will come to an end after 12 years, with a final build of 1,100 units to happen in January 2022. The P2 chief shared that despite the JDM-based model’s age, it somehow has a following, and Perodua gets a steady stream of orders for the MPV every month.

    “The Alza is a very unique model for us. The current Alza still gets 1,500 orders per month. It has its own followers. It’s 13 years old already, compared to the usual model life of six, seven years old. If one year of a car’s age is equivalent to eight human years, Alza is like 160 years old! But it’s still very popular,” Zainal said.

    As such, Perodua doesn’t strictly need to replace the Alza, given the steady demand and the fact that it has long recouped all investment for the project.

    “If you think from a business point of view, I will not change (the model), as it’s fully amortised, and still can get 1,500 orders per month. That’s if it’s a business decision. However, Perodua is a responsible national car company. I want to make sure Malaysians have safety features and our customers enjoy new technology,” Zainal said.

    Click to enlarge Perodua Alza D27A render

    This is no mere PR talk, as Perodua has been pushing the safety tech envelope with every new model, offering features that are unprecedented for the segments and price points it is in. Ancient Alza aside, AEB is now available in every model it sells, adaptive cruise control made its debut in the Ativa, and even the Myvi has ACC now. That and things like the Ativa AV’s Audi Matrix LED-style Adaptive Driving Beam are not a given even in the premium segment. Expect the D27A Alza to have some, if not all of the above-mentioned features.

    You can also expect the next Alza to be a twin of the just-launched Toyota Avanza/Daihatsu Xenia. Merging it with the Toyota/Daihatsu budget MPV for the region makes sense for economies of scale. DNGA for the next Alza/Avanza fits nicely into the Perodua picture as well – the Rawang-based carmaker has invested heavily into DNGA production for the Ativa, which will surely not be a one-off, but a start of a new era.

    The new Avanza is unrecognisable from the budget MPV that we know. It’s larger and less van-like in appearance. Now using the DNGA platform and front-wheel drive (old one was RWD), the Indonesian-spec Low MPV is powered by 1.3L and 1.5L Dual VVT-i NR engines, which Perodua makes in Malaysia for itself and Toyota (Vios, Yaris). Our neighbours get a manual option, but P2 is probably going auto-only, as per the 2022 Myvi. No more 4AT, hello D-CVT.

    Check out the new Toyota Avanza and its Daihatsu Xenia twin.

    GALLERY: 2022 Toyota Avanza





    GALLERY: 2022 Toyota Veloz





    GALLERY: 2022 Daihatsu Xenia



     

  • Perodua sets 240k sales target for 2022, 20% increase for a ‘year of recovery’ – much shorter waiting period

    In Cars, Local News, Perodua / By / / 1 comment

    Perodua, which is aiming to breach the 200k units sales mark for 2021, is targeting sales of at least 240,000 units in 2022. That’s a 40,000 unit increase, or 20% higher than the expected 200k cars registered in 2021.

    President and CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said that the 240k figure is a preliminary estimate and that a more accurate forecast will be shared in late January 2022. He described 2021 is “the most challenging year so far” but 2022 is set to be “a year of recovery” for the market leader.

    “We believe that the worst is behind us in terms of Covid-19 related lockdowns, insyallah, and while there are other risks in the market, we foresee the year 2022 as a year of recovery,” he told the media at the 2022 Myvi facelift drive in Johor Bahru.

    “In fact, based on current information and forecasts, we foresee that we can at least reach the 240,000 registration target next year as the market stabilises and our waiting period will be reduced significantly,” Zainal added.

    The P2 chief forecasts that demand for vehicles would peak in the first six months of 2022 as people will want to benefit of the sales tax exemption incentive by the government, while the second half would see demand slow. The SST exemption was first announced in June 2020 as part of the Penjana stimulus package. Originally scheduled to end on December 31 last year, it was first extended to June 30, 2021, and then to December 31, 2021. Now, it’s set to expire on June 30, 2022.

    “The 240,000 registration number is important as we want to grow the Malaysian automotive ecosystem. With this growth, we expect to see auto component purchase to be back to around RM6.5 billion for next year. We will share the total number of purchased component parts for this year in January,” Zainal said.

    If 240k sounds familiar, that was Perodua’s original sales target for for 2020, before Covid arrived and forced a revision to 210k (eventual sales was 220,163 units). The company set the same target for 2021, but Covid lockdowns and parts supply issues forced P2 to lower it to 214k. That will not be met – Perodua is instead looking to breach the 200k mark. Third time lucky for 240k? The company’s all-time record is 240,341 units, set in 2019.

     

  • Perodua gunning for record 30k sales in Dec to finish 2021 above 200k mark – 14,600 orders for Myvi facelift

    In Cars, Local News, Perodua / By / 2 comments

    Last month, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad announced that the company will not be meeting its 2021 sales target of 214,000 units, a figure that was already revised downwards from the original 240,000 units. The revision was announced in September.

    Zainal said then that breaching the 200k units mark would be a good result for the year considering the difficulties, and as we’re closing in on the end of 2021, that’s what Perodua is aiming at.

    To end 2021 above 200k, P2 is gunning for at least 30,000 registrations in December. If that happens, it’ll be the highest ever in the market leader’s history, surpassing the 27,858 units from October. The current year-to-date figure for Jan-Nov 2021 is 167,250 units, down 14.2% year-on-year.

    Last month, P2 did 20,299 units, a relatively low figure due to intermittent disruption that impacted production. That’s a month-to-month decline of 27.1% from October, a record high. Zainal describes 2021 as the most challenging year so far for the company.

    “We wish to thank all our customers for their support and patience, especially in the most challenging year so far. We are working with the automotive ecosystem to overcome these issues, such as rising Covid-19 cases as well as the semiconductor chip supply shortage. With these countermeasures in place, we see December 2021 as our best month yet,” he told media at the Myvi facelift drive in Johor Bahru today.

    December sales will be boosted by the Myvi facelift, which was launched on November 18. As of December 2, Perodua has collect 14,600 bookings for the revamped best seller.

    “November was slightly slower in terms of registration for the Myvi as there was a delivery gap for that model as we waited for the latest variant to launch. In fact, of the 12,565 units booked, 7,189 orders were converted from the previous variant,” Zainal said, adding that P2 sold 42,288 Myvis from January to November this year.

    Converted orders meant that while the over 7k orders were originally for the pre-facelift third-generation Myvi, buyers will be getting the facelifted car, which boasts a higher level of specification and a price increase. You can also see this as setting things straight, after Proton claimed best selling model bragging rights for the Saga in November.

     

  • Toyota to debut second bZ EV model in 2022 – RM132k sedan for China, to feature BYD Blade LFP battery

    In BYD, Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 1 comment

    Toyota is set to introduce an all-electric sedan in China sometime in late 2022. The model, designed in partnership with Chinese automaker BYD, will first be unveiled as a concept car at the Beijing auto show next April, Reuters reports.

    Expected to be slightly larger than the Corolla, the new model will feature a roomier rear than the former. It will also be very competitively priced, according to sources familiar with the matter. One of them said that the new car would likely sell for under 200,000 yuan (RM132,800), which would firmly put it up against Tesla’s new entry-level EV reportedly destined for the Chinese market.

    The Tesla model is reportedly set to be based on the Model 3 but positioned below it, with a price range of between 150,000 yuan (RM99,600) and 200,000 yuan (RM132,800).

    Notably, the sources also revealed to the news agency that it was BYD, specifically through its compact lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade battery, that provided the key technology for Toyota to finally make an affordable, yet roomy vehicle.

    “The car was enabled by BYD battery technology. It has more or less helped us resolve challenges we had faced in coming up with an affordable small electric sedan with a roomy interior,” one of the sources told Reuters.

    In 2019, both automakers entered into an agreement to jointly develop battery electric vehicles for the Chinese market, with the partnership producing sedans and low-floor SUV BEVs as well as the batteries that would go into these vehicles.

    This collaboration and the resulting interaction led Toyota’s engineers to come across the Blade battery, which they described it as a game-changer, as it was both cheaper and freed up space. “It’s a ‘scales fell from my eyes’ kind of technology we initially dismissed because its design is so radically simple,” one of the four sources that spoke to the news agency explained.

    A typical Blade pack is about 10 cm thick when the modules are laid flat on the floor, roughly five to 10 cm thinner than other lithium-ion packs. While LFP batteries have a lower energy density than other lithium-ion cells, they are cheaper, don’t use cobalt or nickel, have a longer shelf-life and are less prone to overheating. That the tech works is undeniable – Tesla also uses LFP batteries in its Model 3 and Model Y in China.

    Following the debut of the concept, the production model is slated to be launched later in the year as the second model in the Japanese automaker’s new bZ series of fully-electric vehicles, after the recently-unveiled bZ4X SUV. It remains to be seen if the new EV sedan will remain a China-only offering.

     

  • Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara celebrates Christmas with lavish décor, new car launches, charity

    In Cars, Local News / By / / 0 comment

    Sime Darby Motors is getting into the Christmas spirit in a grand way this December by transforming its Sime Darby Motors City automotive complex in Ara Damansara – the largest in Southeast Asia – into Sime Darby Motors Christmas City.

    Visitors to the facility will be greeted by a 51-foot Christmas tree dressed in red and white lights, which is accompanied by a sweeping canopy of lights and Christmas-themed decorations. These stretch through the entranceway, which is your gateway to brands under the Sime Darby portfolio, including BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, MINI, BMW Motorrad, Porsche, Volvo as well as pre-owned car retailer Sime Darby Auto Selection.

    Besides the festive décor, Sime Darby Motors customers will also get to enjoy the two-day Sime Darby Motors City Street event from December 17-18. The highlight event of the month will feature live music, Christmas carols, food trucks as well as various activities and games, including a screening of an English Premier League game.

    Even if you aren’t a Sime Darby Motors customer, you’ll also have plenty of reasons to visit Sime Darby Motors Christmas City this month, as you’ll be able to experience the updated Volvo XC60 during a showcase scheduled to take place on December 4-5.

    That’s not all, as the new Ford Ranger WildTrak Sport Special Edition will be making its launch debut on December 8, which will followed by the Hyundai Palisade a few days later on December 16. For those that are into icons, the latest Porsche 911 GT3 will be on display at Porsche Centre Ara Damansara from December 17.

    Meanwhile, car buyers can look forward to various festive deals on offer, including attractive cash rebates, low interest rates and financing offers as well as additional service offers for new vehicle purchases.

    Christmas isn’t just about receiving gifts but also a time for giving back, and in this spirit, Sime Darby Motors is organising a Christmas charity with a twist. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with five digital snowmen at the facility.

    Each snowman has QR codes representing five NGOs in Malaysia: Faith Hope Love Hospice Care Malaysia, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA Selangor), Befrienders KL, Make-A-Wish Malaysia and Cahaya Society. Those that want to donate will only need to scan the QR codes and make a donation using their e-wallets.

    Additionally, from December 6, there will be a charity drive where customers can visit any showroom at Sime Darby Motors City to donate in-kind contributions such as groceries, toys, books and clothing, which will be distributed to various orphanages on December 22.

    “As the only facility of this kind in Malaysia and the largest in Southeast Asia, we are truly excited to present Sime Darby Motors Christmas City in our first year here, bringing Malaysians a memorable experience,” said Jeffrey Gan, managing director, retail and distribution, Malaysia of Sime Darby Motors.

    “Reflecting our aspiration to be more than an exemplary automotive centre, we have created a festive atmosphere in this unique setting to delight our visitors, bringing holiday cheer to all, in addition to activities to give back to the community through charity donations,” he added.

    To ensure the safety of visitors and staff alike, all activities will be held in line with the SOPs set by the authorities. Individual vaccination certificates will also be checked upon entry and hand sanitiser dispensers will be placed at various locations within the complex.


     

  • Shell Malaysia awarded best in convenience retailing

    In Local News / By / / 0 comment

    Shell Malaysia has received the award for best convenience retailing store under the petrol station category from the ministry of domestic trade and consumer affairs (KPDNHEP), presented by prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Domestic Trade Awards 2020.

    The award received by Shell Malaysia was one of 25 award categories, and were presented to various industries including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), fair price stores, franchise, direct selling, retail, e-commerce, media and petrol stations.

    The Best Convenience Retailing Store award aims to identify and acknowledge companies with retail outlets which went beyond the provision of consumer items, by developing initiatives to support small local enterprises and by providing help to communities in need, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Shell Malaysia.

    To that end, one of the initiatives held by Shell Malaysia was the Realisasi Impianmu Bersama Shell campaign, which aided SMEs by giving them opportunities to expand their businesses through Shell Malaysia’s supply chain, and to supply their products through Shell Select outlets during the month of Ramadan.

    In addition, community food boxes were set up with non-governmental organisation Volunteers Unite to facilitate the donation of halal essential dry food items for those in need.

    “Throughout the pandemic, our priority has been to support our customers, local businesses and the communities where we live and operate. We are humbled to be able to contribute essential items and assistance to our frontliners and the more vulnerable in our community. We are also continuing to innovate our product offerings to meet the changing needs of our customers,” said Shell Malaysia chairman Ivan Tan.

     

  • VIDEO REVIEW: Honda City Hatchback in Malaysia

    In Car Reviews, Cars, Honda, Video Reviews, Videos / By / 4 comments

    We’re now in the final month of 2021, which means the launch of the 2021 Honda City Hatchback is nigh. At least four variants are expected, starting with the entry-level S, E, V and RS. Like the Jazz, the City Hatchback should also cost slightly less than its sedan counterparts.

    No changes will be made to the powertrain offering, so non-hybrid models will run on the same updated 1.5 litre DOHC four-cylinder engine as the sedan, which makes 121 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm, with drive sent to the front wheels through a CVT.

    The RS, meanwhile, uses the same intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid system that debuted with the City RS sedan. Main propulsion is handled by an electric motor (called Traction Motor) that generates 109 PS and 253 Nm of torque, all of which is sent to the front wheels.

    There’s also a lean-burning 1.5 litre Atkinson-cycle engine (98 PS and 127 Nm) onboard, capable of providing direct drive to the wheels at cruising speeds. This switch is done automatically by the i-MMD system, ensuring that the car will operate at peak efficiency at any given speed.

    If you have been following the City Hatchback’s development, you’ll know that the cabin treatment is more or less going to be similar. Expect some variations in trimmings and finishes, but the general kit list should be the same, which includes the eight-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

    Perhaps the City Hatchback’s biggest selling point would be the Ultra Seats, offering unbeatable levels of practicality to suit a range of use cases. It’s a feature – carried from the Jazz – that is loved by many, so if you’re running a small business or frequent the grocers a lot, this could be a solid option.

    GALLERY: 2021 Honda City Hatchback RS e:HEV and V previewed at Sepang Circuit













    GALLERY: 2021 Honda City Hatchback Press Photos





     

  • Hyundai Palisade launching in Malaysia this month – 2.2L AWD diesel and 3.8L V6 2WD petrol, 7 or 8 seats

    In Cars, Hyundai, Local News / By / 5 comments

    Exactly a week after spyshots of the Hyundai Palisade being published on this site, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motor (HSDM) has finally announced that the ginormous seven-seater SUV is coming to Malaysia this month. The car comes fully imported (CBU) from Ulsan, South Korea.

    Two engine variants have been confirmed for our market – the 2.2 Diesel and 3.8 GDi petrol, both available in seven- and eight-seater configurations. The base engine is the 2.2 litre R four-cylinder turbodiesel, producing 200 PS at 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm.

    Customers will also be able to step up to the 3.8 litre Lambda II naturally-aspirated and direct-injected V6, punching out 295 PS at 6,000 rpm and 355 Nm at 5,200 rpm. Both engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, although oddly enough only the diesel models will be offered with on-demand all-wheel drive, equipped with Traction Mode Select with Snow, Mud and Sand modes.

    All four models will have largely the same specs, including full LED head- and taillights, 20-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels, keyless entry, push-button start, power-adjustable front seats (12-way with memory for driver, eight-way for passenger), Nappa leather upholstery, triple-zone auto climate control (with a world-first roof vent diffuser), an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and front and rear sunroofs.

    Also fitted are a head-up display, an analogue instrument cluster with a seven-inch multi-info display, an eight-inch centre touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity, a Qi wireless charger, six speakers, a reverse camera and a powered tailgate.


    The Hyundai Palisade was spotted in Malaysia last week

    One difference between the seven- and eight-seater models is the fitment of second-row seat ventilation in the former. All models come with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated second row, plus heated door mirrors with integrated puddle lights.

    Where the two engine variants diverge greatly is in the safety department. Only the 3.8 GDI gets Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of driver assistance functions, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, blind spot and rear cross traffic collision avoidance, automatic high beam and front departure alert. Six airbags, stability control, hill descent control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a door opening warning and a rear seat reminder come as standard.

    GALLERY: Hyundai Palisade official global photos


     

  • Toyota ZEVs to make up 50% of Western Europe sales by 2030 – hybrids to receive solid-state batteries first

    In Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 0 comment

    Besides introducing the Corolla Cross, GR 86 and bZ4X, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) also shared its European business strategy at its recent Kenshiki (translates to insight from Japanese) event that took place in Brussels, Belgium.

    During the main plenary briefing, the company discussed its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality as quickly as possible, whilst minimising carbon emissions during the journey to neutrality. To do so, it will accelerate its electrification efforts and offer a wide range of CO2-efficient powertrain solutions to all its customers in the region.

    Instead of just electric vehicles (EVs), Toyota says it will roll out more practical and affordable zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs), with the bZ4X being one of them. By 2030, the company anticipates ZEVs to account for at least 50% of all sales in Western Europe, although this could be higher if customer demand increases.

    “Moving beyond 2030, we expect to see further ZEV demand acceleration and Toyota will be ready to achieve 100% CO2 reduction in all new vehicles by 2035 in Western Europe, assuming that sufficient electric charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructures are in place by then, together with the renewable energy capacity increases that will be required,” said Matt Harrison, president and CEO of TME.

    Meanwhile, Gill Pratt, chief scientist at Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and CEO of Toyota Research Institute (TRI), explained that a diverse range of powertrain solutions is the best way to reach carbon neutrality.

    This is because Toyota’s markets are hugely diverse and can differ in terms of energy sources as well as the transportation needs of people. Additionally, the carmaker wants to maximise the carbon return on investment to ensure it optimises the use of scarce raw materials needed for batteries.

    “Whilst Toyota is committed to making millions of battery electric vehicles available to customers, the way to reduce the most net carbon emissions globally is to use every item in our toolbox, including hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, with the proportions of each optimised to make best use of the infrastructure constraints and customer circumstances of every region, and the limited supply and improving performance of batteries,” said Pratt.

    Toyota has already announced a substantial investment in battery technology a few months ago, and this has resulted in some breakthroughs. This includes the start of commercial production of the world’s first bi-polar nickel–metal hydride (NiMh) battery, which is used by the latest Prius c (known as the Aqua in Japan). Benefits over a regular NiMh battery include lower costs as less precious minerals are needed as well as double the output density.

    The carmaker says that by applying similar techniques to lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, along with further improvements in vehicle energy consumption, it expects a 50% reduction in battery cost per vehicle with minimal range deterioration. These efforts will result in more affordable and accessible EVs, which is one of the company’s targets for the coming years.

    Gerald Killmann, vice president of TME R&D, also confirmed that solid-state batteries will first make their way into Toyota’s hybrid electric vehicles, following prototype testing last year. This technology has been heralded as the next leap forward, as solid-state batteries are capable of delivering higher output, longer range and shorter charging times compared to current batteries.

     

  • Lexus RZ fully electric SUV – teaser images released

    In Cars, Hybrids, EVs and Alternative Fuel, International News, Lexus / By / / 0 comment

    Lexus has released teaser images of the RZ, an upcoming battery-electric vehicle that is the first from the brand to be built on a dedicated BEV platform. This isn’t the first battery-electric Lexus, however, as that distinction goes to the UX 300e that has been launched in China, Indonesia and Australia.

    Parent brand, Toyota unveiled its own fully electric SUV, the bZ4X in October this year, and though little else has been revealed about the RZ at this point, using the Japanese manufacturer’s dedicated EV platform means that the zero-tailpipe emissions Lexus is expected to share underpinnings with the bZ4X and the Subaru Solterra.

    While the bZ4X produces 218 PS combined from its front and rear axle drive motors, the battery-electric Lexus could be more generously endowed, which could also receive the brand’s Direct4 Wheel Drive Force Control system that is being developed for the next generation of Lexus electric and hybrid models.

    Click to enlarge

    From the details that are visible in the teaser images, the RZ appears to have aggressively styled headlamps like those on the IS, sharp crease lines, ducktail spoiler as well as a full-width tail lamp assembly.

    According to patent filings sighted by Car and Driver, the automaker plans to use RX450e badging for its upcoming electric SUV, and speculates that it will be offered as standard and F Sport trim variants.

    Sharing a base with the bZ4X means that the Lexus RZ could draw from the Toyota’s technical specifications, such as steering-by-wire and a specific drive mode for optimising drive and traction on slippery surfaces. Similarly, it could possible share the bZ4X’s ability to provide electricity through a DC outlet.

     
 
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Last Updated 02 Dec 2021