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  • John McGuinness to race Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at 2022 Isle of Man TT in Senior TT

    In Bikes, Honda Motorcycles, International Bike News / By / / 0 comment

    Returning to the Honda Racing Corporation fold is John McGuinness, who will ride the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at the 2022 Isle of Man TT. Scheduled to take place between May 28 and June 11 next year, McGuinness will be teaming up with Glenn Irwin with the CBR1000RR-R making its Isle of Man TT debut.

    McGuinness, popularly known as “McPint” to race fans in reference to the alcoholic beverage, will be making his 100th TT race start. McGuinness has been instrumental in Honda Racing’s record at the TT, giving them 12 of 20 wins on a Honda CBR1000RR.

    “What can I say really, it’s like coming back home to the family! I’ve been in talks for a while with Neil and Harv and it’s just something that feels right; it’s the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, I’ll be 50 years old and also celebrating my 100th TT start, so it feels like it’s meant to be. I’ve enjoyed a lot of success on the roads with the Honda and worked with Harv back in the day with HM Plant Honda, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the set-up and getting going,” enthused McGuinness.

    With the Fireblade name celebrating its 30th anniversary, Honda’s wins at the Isle of Man with McGuinness go back to 2006 in the Senior TT and Superbike categories. The Honda CBR1000RR-R SP 30th Anniversary Edition was recently unveiled at the 2021 EICMA show, while in Malaysia, the CBR1000RR-RR SP retails at RM198,800.



    GALLERY: 2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R SP 30th Anniversary
    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY
    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY
    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY
    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY
    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY

    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY
    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY
    22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY

     

  • Polestar 3 electric SUV teased, set to debut in 2022

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

    Polestar has released a teaser image of its upcoming Polestar 3, which is slated to make its debut next year. Having previously been shown draped under a cover, the lines of the brand’s third model reveal a nicely proportioned shape, despite camo still obscuring details.

    No tech details yet about the SUV, which will be underpinned by Volvo’s second-generation Scalable Product Architecture (SPA2) platform, but it is expected to feature both single- and dual-motor drivetrains like the Polestar 2. The automaker did however reveal that the Polestar 3 will eventually offer autonomous highway piloting, utilising “the best-in-class lidar sensor from Luminar and centralized NVIDIA computing power.”

    Production of the 3 is set to take place in Ridgeville, South Carolina, which will make it the first Polestar model to be built in the US. The 3 will be followed by the 4, expected in 2023, and the 5, which will arrive on the scene sometime in 2024.

    The brand expects to sell around 29,000 vehicles this year, but is aiming to increase that volume ten-fold by 2025. According to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath, the arrival of three new cars will also see Polestar increase its presence from 14 markets currently to at least 30 by the end of 2023.

     

  • Toyota GR Yaris gets hydrogen combustion engine

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

    Toyota has long been among the strongest proponents of hydrogen as a power source, and has now showcased its experimental hydrogen combustion engine technology in the GR Yaris, in which its G16E-GTS turbocharged 1.6 litre three-cylinder engine has been adapted to use hydrogen as fuel.

    The internal combustion engine from the high-performance three-door hatchback employs a modified fuel supply and injection system, while the hydrogen fuel, tanks and refuelling process are the same as that for the commercially available Mirai, which generates energy through a chemical process in its fuel cells.

    This hydrogen-powered engine configuration has already seen deployment in the Corolla Sport that has been entered into the Super Taikyu racing series in Japan, under the Rookie Racing banner of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team to test the setup under the pressures of motorsport.

    That engine in the adapted Corolla Sport was entered in the Super Taikyu ST-Q category, and in classic Toyota fashion, president Akio Toyoda entered the series’ five-hour endurance race in August under his pseudonym “Morizo”, alongside racing drivers Takuto Iguchi, Takamitsu Matsui and Masahiro Sasaki.

    In a roundabout way of sorts, having originally arrived in the GR Yaris as a series production model, the hydrogen-adapted G16E-GTS three-cylinder turbocharged engine has come back into the B-segment performance hatchback after having served motorsport duties in its larger C-segment sibling.

    The engine in the standard road-going GR Yaris produces 261 PS at 6,500 rpm and 360 Nm of torque from 3,000 rpm to 4,600 rpm in European specification – which we receive in the Malaysian market – and which is 11 PS and 10 Nm less than produced from the Japanese market car.

    “We’ve taken the first step to compete with and develop our hydrogen-powered engine with the mindset of taking on the challenge. I imagine things will look a little different 10 years from now, and I hope people will look back and see how we took on the challenge with positivity and enjoyed every moment of it,” said Toyota president Akio Toyoda.



     

  • AD: Lift Your Life with TREVO – enjoy better, wide-ranging mobility solutions that elevate your lifestyle

    In Advertorial, Sales & Promotions / By /

    Peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace TREVO is here to Lift Your Life! From giving you easy, instant access to a wide choice of cars for rent to the opportunity to host your own car to earn extra income (without the extra hassle) as well as extra mobility services – such as Buddy Driver, where everyone can book a personal driver at their convenience.

    This holiday season, make your road trip adventures even more joyful with TREVO. From sedans and hatchbacks to SUVS and seven-seater MPVs and European convertibles and sedans, TREVO has over 150 car types and more than 4,000 cars that are being shared for rent by hosts all across Malaysia, including the Klang Valley, Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu.

    TREVO’s hosts lovingly care for their own cars, maintaining them to a high standard, with many host cars that are available for rent between one to four years old, guaranteeing safety, comfort, and an elevated car rental experience.

    Booking a car is a painless and seamless affair on the TREVO app. With just a few taps, you’ll be driving the car that upgrades your date night, adds extra space and comfort to your daily adventures, or just handles like a dream on holiday road trips.

    TREVO also offers car delivery and pick-up service, where you can have the booked vehicle delivered to you or picked up after your rental period is over. As a bonus, TREVO is offering all first-time users a wallet-friendly offer, with up to 50% Off* on your first drive.

    Meanwhile, those looking to earn extra income can rent their cars out on TREVO. Let your car work and while you sit back and earn. As a TREVO host, we’ve got your back – we verify our guests to ensure your car is in good hands and we protect your car with liability protection up to two million – covering damage, injury, fire, and theft.

    Additionally, new features have also been introduced. Buddy Driver is a convenient and affordable way for everyone to book a personal driver. Imagine the Buddy Driver as someone who can get you and your car home safely after a night out (and avoids a saman), or as a chauffeur for those times you’re going to spend long periods on the road (so you can rest and relax in the backseat). You can also enlist a Buddy Driver to help get your loved ones safely to where they need to be when you’re not available.

    Buddy Driver is available 24 hours a day – a booking has to be made ahead, with a minimum of one hour needed to make an accepted Buddy Driver booking. Until December 31, TREVO is offering a discount for the new service – use code BD10 to enjoy 10% Off your first Buddy Driver booking.

    Lift Your Life today. Download the TREVO app and sign-up now to enjoy all their mobility solutions that make your life better!

    *Promo of 30% or 50% is auto-applied based on your minimum daily price of the vehicle. Offer available for first-time use only.

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  • Norton Motorcycles unveils Norton V4CR Cafe Racer

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

    After a rescue by TVS Motor Company of India and a move to new premises for its reorganisation, Norton Motorcycles has unveiled the Norton V4CR Cafe Racer prototype. As the first of its new designs to be built and engineered in Solihull, UK, the V4CR draws DNA from the Norton V4SV sportsbike.

    Sharing the same V-four engine in the V4SV, the V4CR gets a claimed 185 hp from 1,200 cc, putting it in the same range as the current crop of litre-class naked sports motorcycles in the market. The V4CR comes with a carbon-fibre fuel tank and bodywork, carried on an aluminium frame plus billet aluminium swingarm.

    From the rendering supplied by Norton, the V4CR seems equipped with the necessary equipment expected of a motorcycle in this class, including Brembo brakes, upside-down forks and cafe racer style single seat. Also seen are a single-sided swingarm and titanium exhaust.

    In development over the past 16 months, the V4CR, and the V4SV, signals a rebirth for the 122 year old British motorcycle brand after financial troubles brought about by allegations of tax irregularities and misappropriation. TVS Motorcycles purchased Norton for a cash price of 16 million pounds sterling (RM90.03 million) in April 2020.


     

  • Kia Carens returns as three-row SUV for Indian market

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

    Remember the Kia Carens? It was a small seven-seater MPV that was once sold in Malaysia as the Naza Citra and Rondo. Well, three years after the third-generation model was discontinued worldwide, the Carens is making a comeback on December 16, presumably to the delight of young families everywhere.

    But whereas the old car was a mini-MPV focused on the European market, this new one has morphed into a compact people-carrying SUV for India – essentially Kia’s Hyundai Alcazar. According to the Hindustan Times, Kia calls the car a “recreational vehicle” based around the concept of “Car plus Renaissance”.

    The company has apparently paid special attention to ensure the Carens accommodates larger families while sporting typical SUV styling and an interior featuring “Kia’s signature innovative and smart technology.” This presumably means that the car will be compatible with the UVO smartphone app and come equipped with remote vehicle functionality, first introduced on the Seltos.

    “We are really excited to bring our fourth product for the Indian market,” said Kia India managing director and CEO Tae-Jin Park. “Kia wants to offer a premium and comfortable family RV that has a three-row seating configuration and features fitting in perfectly with India’s urban lifestyle and road conditions.”

    A teaser video released by Kia shows a tall and narrow SUV silhouette with distinctive V-shaped LED daytime running lights and Sportage-style full-width taillights. Spyshots published on Indian media show that the Carens will feature a split headlight arrangement, with the main lamp units separated from the DRLs.

    No technical details have been revealed just yet, but expect the car to share its engines and gearboxes with the Alcazar. These include a 159 PS/191 Nm 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated petrol four-cylinder petrol and a 115 PS/250 Nm 1.5 litre turbodiesel, mated to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

     

  • Proton sales exceeds 100k units third year running; Saga national bestseller, over 4,000 units of X50 sold

    In Cars, Local News, Proton / By / / 0 comment

    National car brand Proton has exceeded the 100,000-unit marks in vehicle sales for the third consecutive year, brought by overall sales on 14,187 units in November, domestic and export sales combined, bringing the year-to-date figure to 100,566 units.

    November sales this year for Proton was a 6.2% gain over the preceding month, while representing a 24.3% increase compared to November 2020. This was also reflected in the 4.3% increase in sales year-to-date. Domestic market share has been estimated to be at 24.5%, while market share year-to-date has grown 1.9% to 22.8%.

    The Proton Saga reclaimed the accolade of the nation’s best-selling car in November with 5,666 units sold, charting its best month of sales since December 2020 and once again making the sedan the best-selling car in Malaysia and therefore also the best-selling A-segment sedan, an achievement it last held in September this year.

    Meanwhile, November also became the Proton X50‘s record month for sales with 4,010 units of the B-segment SUV delivered. This figure has bettered its achievement of 3,839 units sold in October, making it the best-seller in not just the B-segment SUV category, but also for the SUV segment overall.

    Stepping up a size category, the larger Proton X70 continued its strong performance in the C-segment SUV category with 1,901 units sold in November. Further along the Proton range, the Exora MPV continued its fourth month of sales volume growth in succession with 434 units sold, as well as being the best-selling MPV in its class.

    Component supply issues however continue to put pressure on the sales performances of the B-segment Iriz hatchback and Persona sedan, though both managed figures of 642 units and 1,534 units, respectively.

    “Crossing the 100,000-unit threshold with a month to go in the year is a high point for us after another year disrupted by Covid-19, [and] we are confident of ending the year with an increase in total sales. This will make Proton the sole national brand to grow sales and market share this year, and give us a strong base heading into 2022 as we look to consolidate and improve our ranking both domestically and overseas,” said Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.

     

  • GoCar launches GoEV car sharing programme in Malaysia – 25 Nissan Leaf EVs available in pilot phase

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

    Mobility solutions provider GoCar Malaysia has introduced GoEV, a programme which expands electrification to its sharing and subscription service portfolio. Under the pilot phase of the programme, 25 units of the fully-electric second-gen Nissan Leaf are currently available for short-term use and long-term lease within the Klang Valley.

    The Leaf EVs can presently be accessed via three EV car sharing zones that are up and running at strategic locations, and these are GoCar Malaysia’s Petaling Jaya office as well as MyTown Cheras and Avenue K in KL. The company said it is targeting to expand its GoEV zones to 10 by the end of this year, all within the Klang Valley.

    Open to all drivers aged 18 years old and above, users only need to sign up as a GoCar member to select their preferred GoEV Share or GoEV Subs plans. Via the GoCar mobile app, users will be able to check on vehicle availability, place their bookings for sharing or subscription, make the necessary payments, as well as lock and unlock the car. No pre-booking is needed, although a refundable security deposit is needed for the subscription plan.

    The sharing option is currently available only for round-trips (pick-up and return at the same zone) and short-term use, which is calculated by the hour or by the day. Rates start from RM24.90 per hour, or RM249 per day. These naturally become lower with longer tenures – for example, at 30 days and above, the rate is RM106 per day.

    Those looking to experience the workings of an EV over the long term can opt for subscription, with a 24-month plan costing RM2,499 per month, and a 36-month subscription at RM2,299 per month. Rates are inclusive of road tax, insurance, regular servicing and a wall box home charger.

    Additionally, GoCar will also provide complimentary no-cost use of ChargEV cards for each vehicle, offering users access to the almost 300 charging stations available nationwide under the ChargEV network nationwide.

    Click to enlarge.

    The company added that it will have charging stations at all its 10 GoEV zones, with more locations planned over the next 12 months – these will be free to use for all GoEV customers.

    Presently, GoCar is in the midst of transforming its PJ office into a hub, and this is expected to be ready by the middle of next year. Here, the charging infrastructure – which will include a DCFC unit on the premises – will be open to everyone with an EV, not just its users.

    The company says it is aiming to play its part in supporting Malaysia’s transition to electric mobility and zero carbon emissions with its GoEV programme.

    “Malaysia still has a long way to go to catch up on EV adoption and infrastructure. However, we believe that through car sharing and subscription, we can help encourage mass adoption. We are excited to be bringing affordable EV access to the general public,” said GoCar Malaysia CEO Wong Hoe Mun.

    In terms of fleet expansion, Wong said that the company has plans to scale it up to around 100 units within the next 12 months, but added that this deployment – as well as the speed of that introduction – will depend on the response to the programme in the initial phase. This will also determine expansion of operations beyond the Klang Valley.

    In conjunction with the launch of GoEV, GoCar is offering 25% off on all GoEV Share round-trips for bookings before January 31, 2022, via the promo code “TRYGOEV.”

     

  • Geely Group turns 35 – A journey through its years

    In Geely, International News / By / / 0 comment

    As the Geely Group approaches its 35th birthday, it is now a global group of automotive companies that has generated US$47.191 billion (RM200.1 billion) in revenue last year.

    In 2020, brands under the Geely automotive group sold more than 1.32 million units, and has come a long way from founder and chairman Eric Li Shufu’s early years of sourcing and selling refrigerator components, itself having arisen from the search for chemicals for developing film for his prior photography venture.

    From refrigerator parts, Li went on to manufacturing refrigerators, which saw sufficent success for Li to move on to building mopeds, and having seen success there too, Li looked to four wheels, thus kicking off Geely’s car manufacturing chapter.

    The video touches upon the process Li and the company had gone through in pursuit of building their own cars, the challenges faced in being taken seriously by the automotive industry at large, and the eventual acquisition of Volvo as well as the subsequent births of the group’s new automotive brands.

    The purchase of Volvo by Geely has been considered one of the most successful in decades, and has not just become established in auto manufacturing, but has ventured into space as well.

    Of course, Geely is very much present right here in Malaysia, having acquired a 49.9% stake in Proton in 2017, a partnership through which the national car brand has released the SUV duo, the X70 and X50 since. Watch the video of the Geely journey below.

     

  • Brixton Motorcycles updates model range, Cromwell 1200 and Crossfire 500/500X retro bikes introduced

    In Bikes, Brixton Motorcycles, International Bike News / By / / 0 comment

    With the introduction of the Cromwell 1200 and Crossfire 500 and 500X, Brixton Motorcycles moves into large displacement retro-bike territory. The introduction of this pair of big bikes adds to a general update of Brixton Motorcycles range of 125s and 250s, previously introduced to Malaysia in 2018 under the Force Bike Holdings banner.

    With a Euro 5 compliant, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine fed by Magneti Marelli, the Cromwell 1200 gets 82 PS at 6,500 rpm and 108 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm from 1,222 cc. A six-speed gearbox and chain final drive gets power to the rear wheel, a 17-inch hoop shod in Pirelli 160/60 rubber.

    On the 18-inch front wheel, wearing a 110/80 tyre, a pair of Nissin callipers grab twin brake discs. Suspension follows conventional retro-bike styling, with telescopic front forks and twin KYB shock absorbers at the back.

    Ride-by-wire throttle gives the Cromwell 1200 traction control as well as two ride modes – Eco and Sport. LED DRLs and an LCD instrument panel complete the fit out, with seat height set at 800 mm and the whole package weighing 235 kg.

    For the Crossfire 500 and the scrambler styled Crossfire 500X, a unique fuel tank stamped with an ‘X’ on the sides sets this middleweight twin apart from the rest. Power comes from a parallel-twin, liquid-cooled with 486 c, producing 48 PS at 8,500 rpm and 43 Nm at 6,750 rpm.

    J Juan supplies the braking system for the Crossfire 500 with a single hydraulic calliper on the front and rear wheels while suspension uses upside-down forks and adjustable KYB monoshock. Seat height for the Crossfire 500 is set at 795 mm and weight is claimed to be 190 kg.


     
 
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Last Updated 02 Dec 2021