ACO Tech, in collaboration with Geno and the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii), has formalised a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) to explore the integration of blockchain solutions into Malaysia’s Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
The partnership aims to leverage blockchain technology to enhance various aspects of the EV ecosystem, including smart contracts, digital traceability management of the supply chain, tokenomics solutions, and privacy protection technologies. These solutions will complement ACO Tech’s E-Mobility Service Platform (EMSP), which is integral to the Government’s Connected Mobility Vision and aims to accelerate the development of EV infrastructure in Malaysia.
By utilising blockchain technology, the alliance seeks to address challenges such as the scarcity of charging ports and inconsistent charging rates. The decentralized ledger system enabled by blockchain will empower EV manufacturers, service providers, and owners/users to engage more interactively, reduce costs, enhance user experience and confidence, and establish seamless tracking and maintenance records. Additionally, it will facilitate peer-to-peer energy and charger-sharing, ensuring transparency throughout the lifecycle of products and services.
The latest updates to Google’s Waze app are aimed at providing users with better real-time insights about road conditions, including speed bumps and sharp curves, to ensure smoother and ticket-free commutes.
One of the key changes is the introduction of speed bump and sharp curve alerts, initially available on iPhones and expected to roll out to Android devices in the coming weeks. Users may have already received notifications about these new features upon launching the app.
These updates come with a redesigned reporting menu, featuring a new hazard icon that prompts users to contribute real-time data more effortlessly. This streamlined process aims to make reporting road conditions more intuitive and efficient.
Within the reporting menu, users can now easily report various road conditions such as traffic, crashes, police activity (including speed traps), bad weather, blocked lanes, road closures, and more. They can also report gas prices or request roadside assistance from fellow travellers.
A major public company believed to be Berjaya Group, is reportedly seeking support from highway concessionaires for a competing bid to install a barrier-free system at toll plazas. This move comes after 32 highway toll concessionaires opposed the government’s plan to appoint a unit of YTL Holdings for the same purpose.
According to FMT, Senior executives from Berjaya Group have allegedly held individual meetings with representatives of the 32 concessionaires to explain their proposal and gather feedback before submitting the final proposal to the works ministry. The Berjaya offer is more favourable than the earlier proposal being considered by the government.
Under Berjaya’s plan, highway companies would construct multi-lane free-flow toll booths, while Berjaya or another company would provide toll collection services. This arrangement would allow concessionaires to receive revenue the next day, similar to the current practice. Additionally, the company providing toll collection services would address revenue leaks from motorists driving through without paying.
Amalgam, renowned for its impeccable scale models, has unveiled its latest masterpiece: a meticulously detailed replica of the iconic 1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 in 1:8 scale. This miniature marvel captures every aspect of the original car, from its scissor doors to its finely crafted interior and engine bay.
Priced at $19,995 (RM95,576), this miniature Countach doesn’t come cheap, costing more than a real Proton S70! However, for enthusiasts captivated by the allure of the Countach, the attention to detail is well worth the investment.
The replica features scissor doors that open vertically, revealing intricate details such as window cranks, door pockets, a detailed steering wheel, gauge cluster, gated manual shifter, stereo, speaker indents, and even an ashtray in the centre console. The front trunk houses meticulously recreated brake components and a spare tyre, while the headlights can be positioned up or down. At the rear, lifting the engine cover reveals a stunningly replicated 4.0-litre V12 engine, complete with red spark wires and throttle linkages.
Porsche and Puma, known for their collaborative sneaker ventures primarily in the realms of lifestyle and racing, are now delving into the world of basketball footwear with their latest partnership.
LaMelo Ball MB.03
The first offering in this collaboration is the LaMelo Ball MB.03, the third signature sneaker for the Charlotte Hornets star. Drawing inspiration from Porsche’s iconic 930 Turbo, it features a striking black and yellow colourway reminiscent of the car’s factory gold paint job, complete with the Porsche logo adorning the heel.
Nissan has introduced updates to the Juke for 2024, aiming to enhance its competitiveness in the crowded small SUV segment. While the exterior design remains largely unchanged, significant improvements have been made to the interior, including a larger infotainment display and enhanced fit and finish. Additionally, Nissan has introduced a new flagship trim called N-Sport and reintroduced a yellow colour option.
The Juke N-Sport trim represents the pinnacle of the lineup, featuring black accents on the roof, pillars, wheels, wheel arches, mirrors, and grille, which contrast with the new yellow exterior colour. Inside, the N-Sport trim boasts yellow stitching, dashboard trim, and inserts made from recycled Alcantara, along with Juke emblems embossed on the seats.
The most notable change inside the cabin is the introduction of a larger 12.3-inch infotainment display, positioned atop a slightly redesigned dashboard with a driver-centric incline. This upgraded display comes standard and can be paired with a new 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument cluster. The improved infotainment system now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and features an enhanced voice recognition system.
Nissan has also made several other interior enhancements, including smoother leather-style material on the steering wheel, a larger glovebox, new seats across most trims, and a redesigned centre armrest for improved support. Additionally, the Juke now comes equipped with an electric handbrake, wireless charging pad, and USB-A / USB-C outlets for all passengers, aligning it with modern standards for 2024.
Exterior updates are minor, with revisions to the colour options and the introduction of new wheel designs, some of which are up to 19 inches in diameter. The highlight is the return of the yellow colour option, which was highly requested by customers and is now slightly paler compared to the previous iteration. Nissan’s colour and trim department has also refined the formulas for the pearl white and metallic black shades to enhance their appeal.
Lane Departure Warning is now integrated as standard equipment with the Juke update. While standard from the Tekna grade onward, emergency lane keep is an option.
The rear-view camera’s quality has also been raised from 0.3 to 1.3 megapixels to better utilise the high-definition centre screen. This means that movements including reversing can be executed even more confidently because of a sharper vision, particularly in low light. All Juke grades now come equipped with a rear-view camera as standard equipment. N-Connecta grade up and higher models can also order the Around-View Monitor, which combines images from four cameras around the car to provide a “bird’s-eye view” of the car’s position for parking manoeuvres.
The Juke offers two powertrain choices. The first is the Juke Hybrid, featuring a Nissan internal combustion engine optimised for hybrid use, delivering 94hp and 148Nm of torque. On the electric side, the primary electric motor generates 49hp and 205Nm of torque, supplemented by a 15kW high voltage starter/generator connected to a 1.2kWh liquid-cooled battery via an inverter. This configuration yields a power output 25% higher than the current petrol engine option, along with fuel consumption reductions of up to 40% in urban settings and up to 20% overall.
Alternatively, the non-electrified engine option for the Juke houses a compact and lightweight 1.0-litre three-cylinder DIG-T turbocharged petrol engine. Delivering 117PS and 180Nm of torque. Drivers can select between a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch (DCT) paddle-shift transmission, along with a driving mode selector (Eco, Standard, Sport) to tailor the driving experience to their preferences.
The upcoming Geneva Motor Show on February 26 will feature the YangWang U8 from BYD, among other models from the Chinese brand.
BYD intends to use the Geneva Motor Show to gauge public reaction to the YangWang U8 before potentially launching the luxury brand in Europe. While it aims to position the U8 as a competitor to vehicles like the Land Rover Defender 130, pricing details for the European market have not been disclosed yet.
Underneath its striking exterior, the YangWang U8 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine serving as a range extender for its 49.05 kWh battery pack. Propulsion is provided by four electric motors delivering a combined output of 1,184hp, offering nearly double the power of a Lamborghini Urus. BYD will also showcase key technologies of the YangWang brand, including the advanced DiSus Intelligent Body Control System and the e⁴ platform that forms the basis of the SUV.
Additionally, BYD will present other products at the Geneva Motor Show, such as the new Seal U DM-i plug-in hybrid SUV and the seven-seat, battery-electric BYD Tang. The Seal U DM-i is expected to be significant for BYD, particularly in markets where EV infrastructure is still developing, as it offers a compromise-free range for drivers.
The automotive world stood still when Porsche took the covers off the first Cayenne at the Geneva Motor Show in 2002. Mouths agape, the world’s automotive media would later go into a frenzy calling it everything from ugly to outright blasphemous.
Porsche would lose many of its loyal fans who thought the company had lost its direction with the Cayenne. Most of them would later return when the Cayenne turned out to be Porsche’s savior.
The Cayenne would go on to be Porsche’s best-selling model for many years, until the Macan arrived but that’s a different story. A lot has been written about the Cayenne since then, but crucially the success of the Cayenne provided much needed cash flow for Porsche to continue building cars it was well known for, like the Turbo, the GT3 and the GT2. Not to mention all the RS variants that have since come along.
“I first saw the first-generation Cayenne testing around the streets of Stuttgart before the launch as I was there for a meeting,” said a former dealer recently in an exclusive but private interview.
“Just like everyone else, I didn’t think much of the design, but then I drove the car and was blown away. I have had the good fortune to own several Porsches and even race them, and the Cayenne is still very much a Porsche at heart. And I have owned every generation since the launch and still drive a Cayenne today,” said the person who we must keep anonymous due to a watertight non-disclosure agreement.
And therein lies the appeal of the Cayenne. Despite its size, its clumsy looks and weight, it is still very much a Porsche underneath. Call it a wolf in sheep’s clothing but the Cayenne probably single-handedly put the word Sport in Sport Utility Vehicle. And almost every automaker who builds a high-performance SUV must thank Porsche for the major risk it took when introducing the Cayenne.
We can go on and on about how successful the Cayenne is and how it has won several races and even explored roads where a SUV is not meant to go. But there is so much out there already that all it takes is a simple Google search.
We are here though to talk about how proud Malaysians should be for the fact that Malaysia is the only country outside of Europe where a Cayenne is built.
Since 2019, the Cayenne has been assembled in Kulim, Kedah through a joint venture between Sime Darby and Porsche AG. This has not only made the Cayenne more accessible to more Malaysians but it has also created high-skill jobs for Malaysians.
Not only that, Porsche has ensured that the Cayenne looks and feels exactly the same as its European made siblings. Step inside a locally-made Cayenne and it does not only look and feel the same but it also smells the same. It makes one wonder, if Audi has its legendary nose team that ensures all Audis smell the same, does Porsche have its own nose team as well? That is a question for a separate interview.
Now in its third-generation, the Cayenne is as popular as ever with Porsche selling 100,000 units worldwide in 2022 alone. With 2023 coming to a close soon, we are expecting the Cayenne to have found even more homes. Why? Because Porsche introduced the facelifted version of the third-generation Cayenne earlier this year, and it builds on the strengths of the already very capable model it is based upon.
Porsche Malaysia introduced the facelifted Cayenne for the Malaysian market in early October of this year, becoming the second locally assembled Cayenne. And just like the first one, it too looks and feels like it was made in Europe. And Porsche deserves credit for that since consistency in the automotive business is always difficult to emulate.
While the underpinnings may be the same, the face-lifted Cayenne is distinguished by an updated design. The front features arches at the side of the new bonnet that is also taller by a few millimeters, giving the new Cayenne a more commanding presence.
The front is also distinguished by new Matrix LED headlights that now only look great but are also quite smart. The headlights determine illumination levels by analysing data from the SUV’s speed, camera and navigation systems to ensure the driver has maximum visibility in low light conditions.
The side of the Cayenne is largely the same but the rear gets a new three-dimension taillights as well as a new light strip that runs across the width of the car and connects both the taillights. It gives the rear of the car a cleaner design.
Porsche Malaysia also provides customisation options for those who want their Cayenne to stand out. Take the wheels for example, the standard wheels measure in at 20-inches and feature quite a lot of rubber that is great to maximise comfort but look somewhat boring. For the adventurous (and with deep pockets), there’s also the choice of 21-inch wheels that look great but will set you back RM45,000. Or if that is still too small for you, there are 22-inch wheels that look amazing and cost an eye-watering RM49,000.
Powering the Cayenne is the same 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine found in the previous model. However, power has been hiked by 13PS and 50Nm for a total of 353PS and 500Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through an 8-speed Tiptronic S gearbox while top speed is rated at 248km/h. Acceleration from zero to 100km/h on the other hand is marked at impressive 5.7-seconds.
The interior of the Cayenne is where the new truly distinguishes itself from the old. The new Cayenne receives a full digital instrumentation cluster, which is a first for the Cayenne. This revolves around the new digital instrument cluster that measures in at 12.6-inches. In true Porsche fashion, an RPM dial still dominates the centre of the panel, just like it always has since the first Porsche back in 1949.
The centre of the dashboard is dominated by a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that offers Spotify and Apple Music as native apps. That means you do not need to plug in your phone to listen to either applications, but there is also Apple Carplay and Android Auto for those who need more.
The overall design of the interior is cleaner than before with fewer buttons and discreet air-conditioning vents that look like they have been merged into the dashboard. Even the traditional gear lever that used to be at the centre console has been repositioned to the left side of the steering wheel and is now a toggle-like switch rather than a lever, which we first saw in the Taycan.
However, Porsche didn’t go full Tesla with the digitalization of the interior. There still are some buttons and knobs such as the volume dial and tactile buttons for the climate control system.
And Porsche has also retained the grip handles located on the centre console, just as they always have been since the first-generation Cayenne. Most importantly, unlike a Volvo XC90 nothing rattles or buzzes when in motion.
The overall size of the interior remains the same with enough room for five people to get more than comfortable. And in case the rear passengers need to be entertained, you can opt for the Porsche Tequipment option that gives you two 10.1-inch touchscreen displays placed at the back of the front seats. This gives access to a variety of options such as Youtube and Netflix.
From behind the driver’s seat, the new Cayenne is still very much a Porsche at heart, just like it always has. The air-suspension does a brilliant job at isolating the cabin from the rumble and tumble of the road underneath. But when you want to have some fun, the suspension stiffens and gives you maximum control of the two-ton SUV.
The best part of the new Cayenne is its jekyll and hyde like character – soft and supple for maximum comfort at one moment, and it all changes at the press of the steering mounted button. Select Sport and the powertrain immediately comes alive and responds to every twitch of the accelerator pedal. The suspension stiffens to reduce body roll, but not to the point of being trashy. The passengers may not even feel the suspension stiffening if you do not mention it, such is its compliance.
At RM599,999 (RM662,499 with all the options), there really is little doubt why the new Porsche Cayenne is as popular as it is. While its competitors like the Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE focus on being efficient and comfortable, the Cayenne takes a different approach.
The Cayenne focuses on driving pleasure without compromising on comfort. It is still very much a Porsche at heart, and that can only mean one thing – uncompromised performance. Except in the Cayenne, you can share the joy of driving with five other people.
Afeela, the joint venture between Sony and Honda, showcased an updated version of its first product, an electric sedan, at CES 2024. The sedan, which remains unnamed, features a revised design and more specific powertrain details. It will feature an all-wheel drive with a 241hp electric motor on each axle and a 91.0-kWh battery capable of charging up to 150 kW.
Afeela plans to launch the sedan in the U.S. in 2026, following its debut in 2025. While orders for the sedan will open in 2025, actual sales are expected to commence the following year.
In addition to the sedan, Afeela intends to introduce two more electric vehicles in the coming years. In 2027, an electric SUV closely related to the sedan will be introduced, followed by a more affordable compact model in 2028. These models will share a platform to reduce costs and development time.
The compact model, roughly the size of a Toyota Corolla, will likely share parts with Honda’s lineup of EVs. To keep costs down, certain equipment and functions may be omitted from the compact model.
Reports indicate that the Afeela sedan will be priced at over 10 million yen in Japan, approximately RM318,189.
As Honda fans across Southeast Asia buzz with excitement over the launch of the Honda BR-V N7X Edition at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2024, Malaysian car aficionados are left wondering; could this special edition model make its way to Malaysian roads?
The reality and the bitter truth is that it is unlikely that the new BR-V will be offered here, since the BR-V was discontinued in the Malaysian market last year, and was instead replaced by the WR-V.
According to Yujiro Sugino, Executive Coordinator for Honda Malaysia, the BR-V was discontinued because the SUV class had a larger market potential, especially in the gap below the HR-V.
But let’s take a look at the specifications of the newly launched Honda BR-V N7X.
With its captivating design elements inspired by the futuristic N7X concept model, the BR-V N7X Edition is already turning heads. From the striking chrome accents adorning the grille to the sleek glossy black accents and 17-inch black alloy wheels, every detail exudes sophistication and style.
Furthermore, the introduction of the BR-V N7X Edition in a new sand khaki pearl colour adds a touch of elegance to this already eye-catching vehicle, setting it apart from its predecessors.
Under the hood, the BR-V N7X Edition retains the reliable 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine, delivering a robust performance of up to 121PS and 145Nm of torque, coupled with a CVT transmission. The Indonesian market continues to offer a six-speed manual gearbox variant as well.
Safety remains a top priority, with advanced features such as Honda SENSING, including Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), High Beam Support (AHB), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Honda LaneWatch, available for the highest variant. This underscores Honda’s commitment to providing cutting-edge technology that enhances both convenience and safety on the road.
The question is, will the BR-V N7X Edition be priced competitively in the Malaysian market if it were ever to be offered here again? The starting price in Indonesia ranges from Rp 319,400,000 to Rp 363,400,000, equivalent to approximately RM97,639 to RM111,090. With competitors like the Perodua Alza, Toyota Veloz, Mitsubishi Xpander and of course, the Proton X50 already offering hard-to-beat prices, we imagine that the BR-V would not do well here. So perhaps Honda Malaysia was right to focus on the small SUV segment with the WRV instead, in which there is only the Perodua Ativa to worry about.
