Michelin Malaysia is expanding its local tyre portfolio by introducing premium bicycle tyres to the Malaysian market in collaboration with Cyclistic Malaysia, a prominent local distributor. This move aims to revolutionise the cycling experience for enthusiasts across the nation.

Michelin’s high-performance bicycle tyres are now available at seven Cyclistic stores and distributor locations across the Klang Valley. Starting from December 1, 2023, customers can explore and purchase Michelin’s range of bicycle tyres at Cyclistic’s main outlet.

The introduced range includes:

MICHELIN POWER CUP COMPETITION LINE: Designed for racing and training, these tyres draw inspiration from MotoGP technology, offering speed and efficiency. With MICHELIN Aramid Shield Technology, 3×120 TPI casing, and MICHELIN GUM-X compound, they are light, reliable, and ensure efficient handling and stability in wet and dry conditions.

MICHELIN WILD ENDURO FRONT RACING LINE: Developed to excel on all types of terrain, especially at the front, these tyres can also be fitted at the rear for increased grip. The combination of tread, Magi-X DH, and Down Hill Shield delivers maximum grip. The double-reinforced Down Hill Shield and anti-puncture reinforcement ensure excellent handling even at lower pressures.

MICHELIN WILD AM PERFORMANCE LINE: Fortified with “Bead To Bead Protection,” these tyres optimise puncture resistance. Precision-engineered tread increases grip, particularly on the front wheel. The robust “Trail Shield” casing with 4×60 TPI construction ensures long-lasting safety and performance.

The recommended retail pricing (RRP) for the Michelin bicycle tyres range starts from RM240 to RM315 for road bike tyres (Michelin Power Cup Competition Line) and RM105 to RM290 for the mountain bike tyre range (Michelin Wild Enduro Front Racing Line And Michelin Wild Am Performance Line). This expansion reflects Michelin’s commitment to enhancing the cycling experience in Malaysia with premium, performance-driven tyres.

Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Proton, has officially launched the smart #1 which comes in three different variants; the Pro, Premium and the top-of-the-line Brabus. Now, smart Malaysia has been teasing us with previews and test drives without revealing the price since July and finally, the wait ends.

The Pro variant is priced at RM189,000, the Premium at RM219,000 and the Brabus at RM249,000! Well, it is at the price range that we anticipated it to be due to how interactive and powerful this car is. Not to mention the safety features that come with it.

The Pro variant, with a smaller 49kWh LFP battery, provides a WLTP-rated range of 315km on a single charge. In contrast, the Premium variant is equipped with a larger 66kWh battery, offering a WLTP-rated range of 440km. Both variants utilize the same 268hp, 343Nm electric motor, taking 6.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h, and are configured with a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup.

Inside, the Pro variant exhibits a few feature reductions, such as leatherette seats and the absence of ventilated seats for the front occupants. Moreover, the 10-inch head-up display is replaced by a more basic 5-speaker audio system instead of the 13-speaker Beats Audio System.

The third variant, the Brabus variant, offers all the features present in the other variants and an additional option which is the ability to switch from RWD to all-wheel-drive (AWD). This variant prioritises high performance, boasting a rapid 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.9 seconds. It features a Dual-motor All-Wheel-Drive powertrain with 422hp and 543Nm of torque, providing excellent handling and traction, and a practical WLTP range of 400km.

The Pro variant serves as the entry-level option, while both Pro and Premium variants offer almost identical ADAS features, including:

• L2+ ADAS Category/Level
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB) – City/Urban
• Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB) – Pedestrian/Cyclist
• Front Collision Mitigation Support (FCMS)
• Rear Collision Mitigation Support (RCMS)
• Emergency Lane Keep Assist (ELKA)
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
• Lane Change Assist (LA) Automated
• Lane Change Assist (ALCA)
• Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA)
• Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA)
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Door Opening Warning (DOW)
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
• Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF)
• Driver Performance Monitoring (DPM)
• Highway Assist (HWA)
• Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
• 360 Visual Park Assist

The key difference is that the Pro variant comes with Automatic High Beam, while the Premium variant offers a higher-end Adaptive High Beam, Full Autonomous Parking (FAP), Parking Emergency Brake (PEB), and Autonomous Parking Assist.

It features a total of 10 colour combinations, including Future Green, Quantum Blue, Digital White, Cyber Silver, Lumen Yellow, Laser Red, Atom Grey – Matte (Atom Roof), Atom Grey – Matte (Red Roof), Cyber Silver (Red Roof), and Meta Black (Red Roof). Additionally, there are three variant-specific interior styles: the ‘After Dark’ trim for smart #1 Pro, the two-tone white and black ‘Dark Matter’ trim for smart #1 Premium, and the exclusive ‘BRABUS’ interior for the smart #1 BRABUS. Owners can choose the exclusive colour Atom Grey – Matte for an additional RM5,000.

The packages that are being offered are complimentary smartCharge Home charger worth RM3,200, complimentary V2L Adaptor worth RM800, free accessories package worth RM2,000, complimentary internet data of a total 60GB and comprehensive smartPlus assurance coverage.

In addition to that, it comes with an eight-year/150,000km high voltage component warranty, a four-year unlimited mileage warranty and 24/7 roadside service assistance.

SISMA Auto, a leading multi-brand premium automotive group, has unveiled its state-of-the-art flagship Volvo 3S centre in Sungai Besi, Malaysia. Known as Wisma SISMA Auto, this purpose-built facility spans four storeys, covering an impressive 55,000 square feet, and comes at a cost of RM30 million.

The Wisma SISMA Auto facility embodies the Volvo Retail Sustainable Experience, integrating a range of sustainable initiatives. These include rainwater harvesting, solar energy utilisation, an energy-efficient insulated shell facade design, energy-efficient lighting and ventilation, and a focus on maximising greenery on-site. Moreover, the facility incorporates Volvo’s latest sustainably sourced and produced furniture.

Hyundai Motor Company launches the “Go Far with Zero Worries” Ioniq 5 ASEAN Tour, covering an exceptional 2,751km route across Southeast Asia. The Flag Off Ceremony occurred at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) on November 20th and will conclude at Ho Chi Minh City’s Royal Palace in Vietnam on November 30th.

The convoy, consisting of three cars from HMGICS and two from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (HMMI), showcases the Ioniq 5’s reliability, eco-friendliness, and long-distance capabilities. The journey spans five different countries in Southeast Asia, commencing in the vibrant city of Singapore and weaving through Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and concluding in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam—an EV tour featuring the most visited countries in Southeast Asia.

The Malaysian Highway Authority has officially announced the opening of Section 6 of the West Coast Expressway (WCE), effective from 12:01 a.m. on November 21, 2023. Simultaneously, the Minister of Works, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, declared toll payment exemption for users, starting midnight tonight and lasting until January 2, 2024.

Stretching from the North Bukit Raja Interchange to the Assam Jawa Interchange, Section 6 of the WCE establishes a direct link between Kapar and Assam Jawa. This new segment is anticipated to significantly reduce travel time, offering a swift 15-minute journey compared to the existing route, which takes 45 minutes.

Geely’s highly anticipated Zeekr 007 electric sedan has entered pre-sales in China, boasting impressive specifications and cutting-edge features. Priced at 229,900 yuan (approximately RM149k), the Zeekr 007 is set to redefine the electric sedan landscape.

Under the hood, the Zeekr 007 4WD packs a powerful punch with up to 636hp and an impressive acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.84 seconds. The entry-level variant with a single e-motor in the rear axle has 415hp that does 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds. The 007 comes with two range options: 688km (CLTC) and 870km (CLTC).

A male victim was left in disbelief upon learning that his two-year-old car had been sold to a new owner located 100km away, just days after he surrendered the car to repossessors. What began as an attempt to recover his car turned into a distressing ordeal, as he faced challenges in obtaining police support.

According to NST, the victim stated that a group of five agents arrived at his house while he was asleep, claiming to be there to ‘repossess’ his car. They demanded a payment of RM3,770, despite his outstanding debt being around RM2,000. Concerned about potential blacklisting and dubious practices, he hesitated. The agents, purported representatives of the credit company, failed to provide any documentation verifying their identities.

The victim was taken to a police station, where one of the agents provided a statement to the officer at the counter. Without fully understanding the situation, the victim was asked to sign a report relinquishing his car to an unnamed person and absolving himself of all responsibilities associated with the car.

Nine days after his car was repossessed, he settled his outstanding dues and requested the return of his car. However, the situation escalated when the agents demanded an additional RM3,000 for the car’s return. Later, he discovered that his car had been sold to a third party, who demanded RM5,000 for its return.

In the dynamic realm of electric vehicles (EVs), China’s automotive prowess takes centre stage with the unveiling of the HiPhi A. While brands like Rimac and Tesla have set the pace for high-performance EVs, the HiPhi A promises a spectacle that eclipses its counterparts. Let’s be honest here, the HiPhi A is definitely one of the best-looking EV supercars, besides the Rimac Nevera.

Building upon the foundation laid by the HiPhi Z liftback sedan revealed by Human Horizons the previous year, the HiPhi A not only retains its predecessor’s structural essence but amplifies both power and visual impact. Transformed into a tri-motor powerhouse, the HiPhi A boasts a staggering 1,287hp, distributing its formidable might among all four wheels – a leap that nearly doubles the power of the dual-motor Z.

The HiPhi A, equipped with a single rear motor and dual fronts, achieves the 0 to 100km/h sprint in just over 2 seconds. This not only positions the A as a formidable contender but also challenges the acceleration prowess of the Tesla Model S Plaid, which claims a 1.99-second dash to 100km/h. While the Plaid boasts a higher top speed at 320km/h compared to the A’s 300km/h, such velocities are often beyond the reach of everyday driving scenarios.

In collaboration with WESAIL New Energy Automotive, HiPhi elevates the A’s performance further with features like rear-wheel steering, adaptive damping, and torque-vectoring capabilities. The result is a 15 per cent improvement in cornering performance and a 10 per cent boost in braking efficiency compared to its less extreme counterpart, the Z. The already striking exterior of the HiPhi A receives additional enhancements, including a prominent rear wing, broader wheels and tires, matte paint, and generous use of carbon fibre trim.

While details regarding pricing and the model’s potential availability remain undisclosed, prospective buyers can anticipate a premium cost comparable to that of the Porsche Taycan when the HiPhi A hits the market. The arrival of this electrifying powerhouse is sure to make waves and reshape expectations in the competitive landscape of high-performance electric vehicles.