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Mercedes-Benz to issue voluntary fix of 3 million diesel vehicles

Luxury vehicle maker, Mercedes-Benz may be in a little bit of a pickle according to a report by AutoExpress. An article published on the website stated that the German automaker has announced a voluntary fix for about 3 million vehicles with diesel engines.

Apparently, its parent company, Daimler has been accussed of selling over a million vehicles that produce more emissions than their supposed to, in markets such as the US and Europe between 2008 and 2016. In fact, the article also states that a German court has issued a search warrant against the company, which should signal that a thorough investigation into this matter is already in the works.

However, the Stuttgart based manufacturer has stated that, this voluntary fix is meant to reassure its customers that the engines that bear the Mercedes-Benz name have the latest diesel technology and adhere to the stipulated requirements. In other words, to them, the programme isn’t an admission of guilt, rather its about the automaker’s commitment and restoring confidence in the oil burning platform.

It will carry out these fixes as well work with the various German regulatory bodies to resolve this issue in a professional manner. The work will be done at no cost to customers, which means that like most other service campaigns, customers are only required to schedule an appointment, then show up at the stipulated time.

Ever since the Volkswagen dieselgate debacle, regulatory bodies are starting to operate with a higher level of scrutiny when it comes to emissions regulation issues. This comes at the heels of rumours that VW wasn’t alone in this. It is believed that emission regulations have become so stringent in recent years, that automakers have had to resort to cheating in order to comply with them.

That said, until actual concrete evidence surfaces, these are baseless accusations from certain parties as a means to ruin the image of certain automakers. As for Mercedes-Benz, they should be able to come out of this fiasco unscathed as long as they are able to weather this storm perfectly well. Bear in mind that the brand produces some of the best vehicles and engines at the moment, which says a lot about its reputation and what the company stands for.

Regardless of how this event pans out, we will be bring you the latest news as soon as we find out.

Source: AutoExpress

Mercedes-Benz X-Class to bridge gap between luxury SUV and utilitarian workhorse

Mercedes-Benz’s new pick-up truck is meant to offer the best of both worlds by combining the rugged ‘go-anywhere’ capabilities with luxuries better suited for more upmarket sedans. Called the X-Class, this pick-up is based on the Nissan Navara, which means it shares pretty much the same wheelbase and similar dimensions with its Japanese sibling.

Much to our dismay, the production version of the X-Class bares very little resemblance to the ludicrously outlandish concept vehicle that was revealed not long ago. The contours are far more conservative this time around, the lines and curves mimic that of the M-Class vehicles, which isn’t a bad thing. Around the back, things are pretty docile too, however depending on the trim level that is chosen, the X-Class will come with number of exterior add-ons that will that make it look a little more special.

Overall, the German automaker has done a fantastic job at concealing what is essentially a Navara pick-up by conferring their own design language onto that of the Japanese stalwart. And it will be available in three different variants which are the Pure, Progressive and Power.

The Pure variant is being marketed as a workhorse that will spend most of its days hauling cargo and getting the dirty jobs done while offering a comfortable ride and decent interior. Then there’s the Progressive, which is aimed at buyers who want a rugged outdoors vehicle that still has decent styling and creature comforts that are required by business people.

https://youtu.be/7aGK4xW2jFM

Lastly, the Power variant is the most expensive of the lot and comes loaded with the best kit that is available. It still has the same rugged off-road capabilities but sports more grown up looks – both inside and out. Merc hopes that this variant will attract the execs who want both style and 4×4 abilities.

The X-Class is being offered with two engine choices, a petrol and a diesel one with a displacement of 2.3-litres. However, power outputs of these engines vary depending on the state of tune with the lowest being 163bhp and the most powerful of the lot having 190bhp.

A more powerful V6 diesel will be released next year and it will deliver 258bhp and a colossal 550Nm of torque. Depending on the model, you will also get paddle shifters, engine stop/start function, as well as drive programs that alter engine behavior based on Which you choose: Comfort, ECO, Sport, Manual and Off-road.

These engine can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed (7G-Tronic Plus) automatic transmission. Buyers can even opt to have either all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive configuration. Basically, its a vehicle that has been designed to appeal to a variety of needs and wants especially to those who want a luxury pick-up truck rather than a humble workhorse.

The suspension features MacPherson struts upfront and multi-link rear as well as a 1,632mm front and 1,625mm rear track, which is much wider than what its competitors are able to offer. At 3,150mm its got a significantly longer wheelbase, shorter front and rear overhangs as well as 202mm ground clearance, making it an ideal vehicle for off-road excursions.

https://youtu.be/_00I5RfvAGw

Inside, things are far more pleasant. The leather upholstery and leather stitched steering wheel give the cabin a luxurious ambiance, something that’s to be expected of the automaker. The seats come with lumbar support, which makes it easier on your back and should make for a more plient ride quality.

There’s also the COMMAND infotainment, touch controls and crisp LCD display. Everything is laid out pretty wheel, making it feel more like an M-Class rather than an X.

Just like other Mercs, this one is equipped with a slew of safety tech that include Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, as well as giving drivers live traffic information.

Check out the extensive picture gallery below to know in detail whether upcoming Mercedes-Benz pick-up truck appeals to you.

Lexus LC to star as Black Panther’s sidekick

The highly anticipated Marvel movie, Black Panther will feature a Lexus LC as the Protagonist’s ‘sidekick’. The Japanese automaker has teamed up with Marvel for a collaboration that will see the new 2018 Lexus LC be the car of choice for the Black Panther character in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, slated to hit theaters on Feb. 16, 2018.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, and starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o, the film follows T’Challa, who, after the events of Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Civil War,” goes back home where he takes the place of his father as King of the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda.

“Marvel continuously captures audiences through charismatic characters and inspiring stories — the ideal fit for Lexus’ mission to craft amazing, engaging experiences,” said Brian Bolain general manager, Lexus marketing. “And the LC’s aggressive styling, high performance and agile handling are a perfect fit for the Black Panther’s quick, cat-like reflexes and superhuman feats. We’re excited to see the duo in action.”

Taking the significance of this vehicle to the next level, Lexus also teamed up with Marvel Custom Solutions to create an original graphic novel by writer Fabian Nicieza and cover illustrations by artists Scott “Rahzzah” Wilson and Szymon Kudranski.

In the comic, the LEXUS LC 500 plays an important role in helping the Black Panther defeat a legendary villain in what is probably going to be an entertaining and well illustrated comic. No word yet on when exactly that this comic will go on sale, but it will probably be after the launch of the movie.

As a means to celebrate the partnership, Lexus and Marvel will host an exclusive Black Panther themed event on Friday, July 21 during Comic-Con after-hours. There will be special performances by DJ Lulo Café and a surprise headliner. It is at that invite-only event that the duo will be unveiling six variant covers for the graphic novel to industry guests and comic enthusiasts.

In case you didn’t know, the Lexus LC is a new sports car from Lexus with a 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 471bhp and 398Nm of torque. It is mated to a 10-speed electronically controlled Direct-Shift transmission with magnesium paddle shifters. Working together, the powertrain allows the car to accomplish the 0-100km/h sprint in a mere 4.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 270km/h.

Sporting an angular design that is both aggressive yet elegant, the LC 500 is touted as a luxury sports car that offers the best of both worlds.

Ford Focus can be yours for just RM668/month

Ford has made it even easier for car buyers to own its award winning mid-size family hatchback, the Focus. According to the automaker, owning a Focus will only cost you RM668/month or you can forgo this deal for a RM15,000 cash rebate, the choice is yours.

This is an exceptionally good deal based on the numbers but we would advice our readers to speak with a Ford repesentive to know the full terms and conditions of this repayment scheme before committing to anything.

That said, the Focus is one of the best vehicles that the US based automaker sells in our market. It’s the third generation car of the Focus family and is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine.

Thanks to forced induction technology, a smaller engine is now able to offer similar output to a much larger displacement one. As such, though the car only has a 1.5-litre engine compared to the 2.0-litre one in its predecessor, power is relatively similar.

It’s exceptionally smart too – the automated louvers behind the front grille open and close to minimize drag of up to 6% enabling the car to save more fuel. The car does this automatically when it detects the vehicle’s speed is sufficiently high and that the engine is receiving adequate air for cooling purposes.

Then, there’s a slew of safety tech such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert feature. This system warns drivers of obstacles (vehicles) that are in their blind spots and also alerts them when it detects a vehicle approaching from either left or right side of the car, up to a range of 40 metres.

But the Focus’ best party trick, is its ability to park on its own, with minimal human intervention. Through the use if the Enhanced Active Park Assist system, the car is able to parallel or perpendicular park perfectly, with the driver only having to change gears, brake and accelerate when necessary.

In addition to that, the car can also drive itself out of parking spaces through the use of the Park-Out Assist feature. This takes the stress out of having to carefully maneuver out of tight parking spaces on congested streets. Sounds like magic, but in actual fact, the car relies on various ultrasound sensors that act as its eyes, to help it navigate in and out of spaces.

Enhanced Active City Stop system, allows the Focus to apply the brakes as and when needed at speeds of up to 50Km/h when it senses an impending collision. It cuts engine power and engages the brakes to prevent avoidable fender benders or reduce their severity.

Finally, there’s Enhanced Transitional Stability, which is a Godsend for those who constantly drive during heavy downpours. This system, monitors the car’s movements and intervenes when necessary to prevent the driver from loosing control and sending the vehicle into a spin.

Going one step further, with the Ford MyKey, owners can set limits on the abilities of the Focus when the supplementary key is in the hands of a different driver. This key can be programmed to enable or disable certain features in the vehicle. For example, if a less experienced person is about to drive, the owner can programme the key, allowing for additional features. These could include, reducing the maximum speed of the car, prompting low-fuel alerts earlier and limiting entertainment (SYNC 3) functionality until seat belts are fastened.

Other features of the Focus include the following:

Keyless entry Push-button Start
Six airbags
Dual-zone climate control
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
Electronic Power-assisted Steering (EPAS)
Torque Vectoring Control
Hill Launch Assist
Six-speed SelectShift with paddle shifters

The Ford Focus can be ordered in six different body colours that include Frozen White, Panther Black, Ingot Silver, Candy Red, Magnetic and Winning Blue. The Focus Trend is priced at RM118,888, the Focus Sport+ is RM139,888 while the sedan version, the Focus Titanium+, comes with a price of RM139,888.

For more information about this or other Ford models, visit the automaker’s local website or your nearest authorized dealer.

Sebastien Loeb to take on steep banking of Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

Nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb will be taking part in the race up the steep banking of Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry at this year’s Les Grandes Heures Automobiles (LGHA). He will be piloting his monstrous Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak, the very same car that he used to shatter the Pikes Peak Hill Climb record in 2013. A feat that remains unbeatable till this day.

Unlike its road going brethren, the the 208 T16 Pikes Peak is powered by a 3.2-litre turbocharged V6 engine that puts out 875bhp. The whole car weighs a minuscule 875kg even with all the aerodynamic bits tacked on. In 2013, the car oly took 8 minutes and 13 seconds to complete the legendary hill climb race in Colorado Springs, a record that still stands today.

As such, judging from Leob’s track record, at at this year’s Les Grandes Heures Automobiles (LGHA), we may witness another record being broken. That said, it isn’t the only Peugeot competing though, because Peugeot will be showing off its Group B 205 T16s, African Rally 204 and CD-Peugeot LM66 short-tail Le Mans racer too.

The new second-generation 3008 road car will be making its world dynamic debut at the very same event, which will be a big deal for the fans of the French automaker. We will get into more of that at a later date, but we digress.

The LGHA will also play host to a display of rare classic cars and motorcycles for the public to view and admire. Though this is an annual event, this year, the organisation is hoping to attract more international car clubs and competitor participation.

Sebastien Loeb and his racer will be in action on the 23rd of September, which isn’t that far away but until then, check out his Pikes Peak hill climb attempt in this video below and let us know what you think.

Honda Odyssey converted into Minnie Van

Honda USA teamed up with Disney-ABC to produce the Minnie Van, which is essentially a 2018 Odyssey that has been reworked to resemble the looks and colours worn by the iconic Disney character.

The car features the signature polka dots worn by Minnie. And the idea of creating such a vehicle was inspired by the magic of Disney, its beloved characters and the power of imagination.

“The all-new Odyssey was developed for modern families offering high-tech features, flexible seating and new styling, all aimed at keeping everyone in the family happy,” said Susie Rossick, Assistant Vice President of Honda Marketing.

He went on to say, “In creating the MINNIE VAN that will be on display at the D23 Expo, we’re proud to partner with Disney-ABC and be inspired by the style of the most fashionable gal around – Minnie Mouse.”

The MPV will be put on display at this year’s Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, which is said to be the company’s ultimate fan event. The vehicle isn’t meant to serve as just a tourist attraction, rather its to educate the public on the improvements made to the Odessey and the benefits that it is able to offer to families across the country.

It’s now quieter, more spacious, safer and offers a whole host of connectivity as well as entertainment features. There’s even a slew of tech that include Magic Slid second row seating, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies, and Honda Sensing® technology.

Developed in Honda’s R&D facilities in Ohio and Califronia, the Odyssey is the best selling MPV in the US for the past 7 years. And this latest vehicle should help bolster the interest in the brand and the namplate even further.

Hyundai i30 N, the Korean version of a hot hatch

The performance hatchback market has heated up these past few years. So much so that even Hyundai has decided to get in on the action. It’s setup its own performance tuning arm called the N. Vehicles that bare this letter are more performance oriented than the base models that they are based on.

If this sounds very familiar to you, that’s because it is. BMW has its M division, Mercedes-Benz has AMG and Ford has SVT. According to Hyundai, there are two reasons why the letter N was chosen to denote performance of its model naming system.

The first, N stands for Namyang, the place in South Korea that the automaker calls home and is where the idea of the creation of a performance arm came was conceptualized. The second reason is, the letter N resembles a sequence of corners of a racing track that is referred to as a chicane.

“The Hyundai i30 N has been developed for no other purpose than to deliver maximum driving fun to our customers in an accessible high-performance package,” says Albert Biermann, Executive Vice President Performance Development and High Performance Vehicle Division.”

He went on to say, “With the high-performance N models we will enhance our brand’s appeal with emotional products that cater to the needs of people who love to have a smile on their face when they drive their car on a winding road and listen to the sound of the engine.”

https://youtu.be/UUfVBi-igUQ

Whatever the case maybe, the first Hyundai to come with the N nomenclature is the i30. The humble yet striking family hatchback has been reworked from the ground up to be a performance vehicle that is able to go toe-to-toe with cars from the likes of Ford and Renault.

The front fascia has been tweaked to offer a more sporting appeal, but has been left largely untouched. The subtle bodykit provide the car with a more aggressive stance yet being tasteful enough not to seem tacky.

Behind the grille, special air curtains help limit air flow to reduce turbulence in the wheel housing and allow for more efficient cooling of the engine.

There are also special channels in the front bumper that direct air to the brakes for cooling. The rear features more angular contours than that on the standard car, too.

There’s a large rear spoiler mounted on the roof to improve downforce and to maintain stability at high speed. In fact, the entire car’s body panels have been tweaked to increase aerodynamic efficiency for maximum traction.

That coupled with an electronic limited slip differential help increase grip especially during high speed cornering. The dual sports exhaust, rear diffuser and trim pieces add to the sporty appeal that complement the 18/19 inch alloy sports rims.

Under the hood is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces nearly 275bhp and 353Nm of torque. the turbo is designed to offer boost at the lower end of the rev range allowing the engine to output linear power delivery. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox, which should appeal to the purist fraternity.

As for the interior, the N version of the i30 receives a more sporty look which is evident by the addition of sports seats and an N exclusive, steering wheel.

This steering wheel has unique blue stitching and an N logo at the bottom. On the left of it, there’s drive selection options (Normal, Sport and Eco) that alter the drive behaviour.

On the right side of the steering wheel, there’s an N button that readies the car to match the optimum designated setting. There’s also a rev-matching feature that allow for better engine control during shifting, which should offer better acceleration and shorter sprint times.

The i30 N comes with a slew of tech that include Electronic Controlled Suspension (adjusts suspension behaviour), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Limited Slip Differential and a Variable Exhaust Valve System.

Despite the performance credentials, the car gets safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF) and High Beam Assist (HBA).

Hyundai’s i30 N has gone through extensive testing at the Nurburgring to ensure that they got the hot hatch recipe just right. That said, its a relatively new car, and we shall have to wait and see how well it stacks up against the VW Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST as well as other established models.

Gran Turismo Sport will be arriving in mid October 2017

After a substantial number of delays, we finally have some concrete evidence that GT Sport, the highly anticipated PlayStation 4 exclusive game, will be here soon. Based on the information we managed to gather from the gran turismo website, we now know that the highly acclaimed fifth installment of the world renowned simulation-like racing game will be put on sale on 17th October 2017.

The new game features a super realistic graphics engine that adds a sense of realism that has been absent from most of the current generation games. The vehicle textures seem very real and the attention detail that has been placed on every car, especially the interior is something that is awe-inspiring.

There’s even a specifically designed and tailored steering wheelcontroller that took four years to develop just for GT Sport, providing players with more realistic control and feedback. It’s called the Thrustmaster T-GT and it mimics the looks of a real racing steering wheel pretty well.

More details regarding the game will be divulged as we approach the launch date which is about three months away. According to the game makers, it will blitz all previous versions when it comes to performance, realism, graphics quality as well as vehicle drivability.

Till the actual launch, take a look at these trailers and let us know what you think about the upcoming game.

Handmade eccentric Mad Max-like truck driven by Jay Leno

Jay Leno, the former Tonight’s Show host, has one of the most comprehensive collection of the world’s most coveted vehicles from the infancy of the automotive era right up to the present day onwa. Name a vehicle that has left a mark on this world in any way or form, and there would probably be an example of it in Jay’s garage.

His Youtube channel titled Jay Leno’s Garage regularly publishes car reviews and other videos that showcases the various other vehicles that he has in his collection as well as those that his guests bring on his show.

This particular episode will be most intriguing to those who are fans of movie cars as well as those that border on the eccentric. Several of the ones featured on this episode, especially the replica of the first generation batmobile and an authentic one from the Batman Returns movie will resonate with DC Comics fanboys everywhere.

That said, their uniqueness, pale in comparison to the weird artistic contraption that was dreamed up by an Henry Chang, engineer turned artist. Realizing that the world of computer programming wasn’t as fulfilling as he would have liked, Henry Chang now a designer/musician, has built a one-of-a-kind automobile that looks more at home in a Mad Max movie than on regular city streets.

Watch the video of Jay Leno and fellow comedian Jeff Dunham ride on this giant handmade, monster truck. Let us know what you think of the vehicle in the comments below.

Top Gear exhibit opens in the UK

Chris Harris, one of the current Top Gear presenters, launched the World of Top Gear exhibit at Beaulieu. The exhibit showcases the more memorable vehicles that were featured on the famous automotive programme in its 40 year history.

Regarding the launch, Chris Harris said, “It’s very exciting, seeing all these incredible cars in one place. It’s a privilege to have a home for all of the weird Frankenstein creations that we have on the show.”

The display is open to the general public over there in the UK and is meant to reflect the recent changes to the BBC’s Top Gear. That said, the new look includes homage to the past, with a heritage corridor timeline paying tribute to the show’s 40-year history.

It all began with Angela Rippon as the first presenter, but back then, it wasn’t the show we know today. In fact, it wasn’t till the early 2000s that Top Gear starting growing in popularity. And we all have Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to thank for making the automotive show, a global phenomenon.

Visitors to the exhibit will get to see the Panda limousine, which Jeremy used to ferry a celebrity about in one of the trio’s famous challenges on the show. Then there’s the infamous Reliant Robin that was converted into a space shuttle, which the boys used to demonstrate to the world’s space agencies, that space travel isn’t that complicated. They had an impressive launch, but everything went south soon after.

Other notable mentions include the Caravan Airship, red Lotus Excel Motorhome complete with its rocket-shaped roof-mounted sleeping compartment, Porsche 944 Turbo ambulance, indestructible Toyota Hilux and double-decker racing cars.

There’s also memorabilia from Top Gear on show throughout the display, including the Jaguar steering wheel from The India Special and door panels from the Hindustan Ambassador, which raced to victory over all other taxis in one of the most entertaining races that we’ve ever seen.

To complement the launch of the exhibit, there will be a demonstration by Harris to entertain the crowd and remind us all that the shenanigans that comes with the programme is alive and well even though Clarkson, Hammond and May have moved on to another show.