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The 2025 Proton X70 has officially launched in East Malaysia, marking a significant moment for Proton as it tailored a dedicated debut for its popular C-segment SUV. This launch emphasises Proton’s focus on the Sabah and Sarawak markets, highlighting the importance of these regions in the brand’s growth strategy. The X70, initially launched in December 2018, has been enhanced with a comprehensive range of upgrades to keep it at the forefront of the SUV segment, including refreshed styling, improved interior features, advanced safety systems, and a powerful turbocharged engine.

Key to the success of the Proton X70 is its importance in the premium SUV market across Malaysia, where it has gained a loyal following with over 100,000 units sold and seven awards to its name. Globally, its Geely Boyue counterpart has been equally successful, with over 1.8 million units sold across 49 countries. The latest iteration, the 2025 Proton X70, is designed to build on this legacy by offering cutting-edge features and enhanced performance that cater specifically to the unique needs of East Malaysian customers.

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Hyundai Motor Group is pushing the boundaries of automotive innovation, especially with electrification, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles at the core of its future strategy. While many traditional car manufacturers are cautiously advancing in these areas, Hyundai’s recent 2024 CEO Investor Day presentation showcases its bold plans, particularly with its thrilling N Vision 74 concept. This concept, a hydrogen hybrid sports car, will become a production model, signalling Hyundai’s commitment to groundbreaking technology.

2022 Hyundai N Vision 74 prototype

The N Vision 74 concept made its debut two years ago with Hyundai President and CEO Jae Hoon Chang taking it for a spin at the Nürburgring racetrack. The car’s design takes inspiration from the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe, designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro. Despite the retro nod, the N Vision 74 boasts a modern aesthetic with sharp lines, a large rear spoiler, and digital lighting reminiscent of the Ioniq 5. However, the car’s real innovation lies in its unique powertrain.

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SAIC Motors, a major Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer and partner to both General Motors and Volkswagen, has been hit with a significant 36.3% additional tariff by the European Union. The EU imposed this hefty tariff after accusing the state-owned company of benefiting from “unfair subsidisation,” which allegedly harmed European competition. The tariff is a revision from a previous 37.6%, which SAIC contested earlier this year. This additional tariff comes on top of the existing 10% duty applied to all-electric vehicles imported from China.

In contrast, other prominent Chinese EV manufacturers faced lower tariffs. BYD, China’s largest EV producer, received a 17% tariff, while Geely, which owns Volvo, was assigned a 19.3% tariff. These companies had their tariffs slightly reduced last week. Tesla, which manufactures cars in China, was given the lowest tariff at 9%, primarily due to its limited reliance on Chinese subsidies.

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Nissan is preparing to electrify its iconic GT-R, and the model is expected to be the brand’s first to utilise cutting-edge solid-state batteries. As the new technology continues to develop, Nissan has hinted that these batteries could boost the electric GT-R’s power output significantly.

The first glimpse of this transformation came when Nissan revealed its Hyper Force EV concept in October last year. Described by Nissan as a “game-changing hyper EV,” the electric sports car is touted to deliver over 1,300hp. In comparison, Tesla’s Cyberbeast edition of the Cybertruck reaches a maximum of 845hp.

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Malaysia’s 67th National Day celebration on August 31st will be marked by a special event for the national automotive industry. Proton will unveil its first-ever electric vehicle (EV), the Proton e.MAS 7, in its first public appearance during the National Day parade. First previewed to the media on August 2nd, the e.MAS 7 is set to officially launch later this year. In a nod to Malaysia’s patriotism, the vehicle will be adorned in a special camouflage featuring the colours of the Jalur Gemilang.

Proton’s presence at the parade will be strong, with a 25-car contingent that spans the company’s history—from the original Proton Saga to the recently launched 2025 Proton X70. Celebrating 41 years of history, Proton has played a pivotal role in Malaysia’s industrial development and remains a key player in the country’s economy.

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BMW and Toyota are set to deepen their collaboration on hydrogen fuel-cell technology as global demand for electric vehicles shows signs of stabilising. According to reports, the two automotive giants will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a media roundtable on September 5, marking a significant step forward in their joint efforts to develop hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Under this new partnership, Toyota will supply BMW with hydrogen tanks and fuel cell systems for BMW’s next-generation hydrogen vehicles. These components will be paired with BMW’s in-house electric motors and drive units to create a complete hydrogen fuel-cell drivetrain. The collaboration is expected to reduce production costs for BMW, especially for models like the iX5 Hydrogen prototype, which was recently tested in Australia.

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