You would already have read about an all-new Toyota Corolla Altis being launched in some neighbouring countries, and wondered when the new model will come to Malaysia. Well, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has already started a teaser campaign and today announces that dealerships will accept pre-launch orders for the new model. So it should be launched in the near future – although the GR Supra’s launch will definitely be earlier.
The Corolla’s history stretches back to 1966 and this new one will be the 12th generation. For many years, it has held the position of the bestselling model of all-time, surpassing the Ford Model T and Volkswagen Beetle, both of which ceased production.
Two variants, no hybrid variant mentioned
In the past few months, there has been speculation that the new Corolla Altis line-up would include a hybrid variant since such a powertrain is now available for the model. Unfortunately, from the press announcement, it appears that Malaysia won’t get this variant as it is not mentioned. Instead, two variants with 1.8-litre engines will be offered and as demand for manual transmissions is low, both are likely to be equipped with automatic transmissions. The estimated on-the-road prices are RM136,888 and RM128,888.
Completely redesigned, re-engineered
The new Corolla Altis has been completely redesigned and re-engineered using TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture). This new architecture (pictured above) enables the engineers to develop cars with better performance, superior driving dynamics and comfort to meet customers’ expectations.
For some years now, Toyota has given greater attention to safety and has quickly added more safety features and systems to its models. The new Corolla Altis gets the latest Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), an integrated set of safety systems that provide a safer driving experience and better protection for everyone in the car.
More details will come when the model is launched but if you already know enough about this new Toyota model to want to be among the first to own one, visit Toyota.com.my to locate an authorized dealership where you can place your booking.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is going strong with the Merdeka celebrations and to make things even better, they are now offering RM2,000 rebates for the Volkswagen Golf R and GTI, two of the hottest hatchbacks here in good ol’ Malaysia. (more…)
Volvo Car Malaysia together with their dealer-partner Ingress Swede Automobile Sdn Bhd have launched the latest Volvo 3S Centre earlier today. Located at the heart of Mutiara Damansara, the newest Volvo showroom aims to strengthen the brand’s foothold in and around the Damansara area. (more…)
Shell can be found in virtually every country around the globe and in Malaysia, the brand has had a presence of more than 127 years. It is a trusted brand and a household name for petroleum products, lubricants and other services serving Malaysian consumers and the auto industry. This trust has been gained through ensuring strong product quality and value chain integrity.
However, popular brands will tend to attract ‘copycats’ who try to exploit such success and trust by selling fake products to unsuspecting consumers. These are sold through the black market and for companies like Shell, there has been an impact on the brand.
In 2018, Shell conducted laboratory tests on a random sample of products sold online and in hypermarkets that claimed to be genuine Shell products. The lab test results showed that 4 out of 12 containers sold were counterfeit.
Buy Shell products at authorised Shell workshops and Shell stations where the items are guaranteed genuine.
Helping enforcement agencies to identify fakes
As part of its continuous effort to protect Shell’s brand integrity and to ensure that customers receive only genuine Shell products, Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd is driven to strengthen its collaboration with enforcement agencies to combat the presence of lubricants that are being passed off as genuine Shell products to unsuspecting consumers and workshops.
The company recently conducted a special training workshop which was attended by nearly 100 enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNDHEP) and Royal Malaysian Customs. The aim was to provide the agencies with knowledge on how to differentiate genuine Shell lubricants from counterfeit and illegal products, when conducting raids.
Shell Lubricants Marketing General Manager, May Tan, thanked the enforcement agencies for giving serious attention to this issue that has created confusion in the marketplace, threatened Shell’s reputation, and affected the livelihood of honest workshop owners.
Genuine Shell Helix packs have a security QR code.
“We would like to commend the authorities for their efforts in combating counterfeit lubricant production and distribution activities that affect major brands including Shell. As the brand owner, we are deeply concerned with the number of consumers who might have inadvertently purchased fake lubricants through unauthorised channels. That is why we always advise consumers to only buy official genuine Shell lubricants with ‘Untuk Pasaran Malaysia’ labels complete with QR codes that can be authenticated via SHARE website (www.shell.com.my/share) and from authorised outlets to avoid potential irreversible damage to their vehicles,” she said.
If you think you have inadvertently purchased counterfeit Shell lubricants, contact Shell Customer Service at 1-300 88 1808 or send email to generalpublicenquiries-my@shell.com.
Even though the new Mercedes-Benz EQ brand is in its infancy and the first models are just making their appearance, the carmaker is already showing what’s ahead in mobility, progress and sustainable luxury. This is because Mercedes-Benz understands that two things are timeless: the need for transport and the desire for the very special. In a sustainable future too, customers will want a saloon that meets their wishes in terms of comfort, design and technology.
Future design for EQ models
The VISION EQS shows how future EQ models will be shaped. The generous spaciousness and new control concept of this showcar provide a physical preview of the intuitive and digital interior and Advanced MBUX of future luxury saloons. A clear, flowing design idiom makes the individual parts of the entire dashboard blend into an integrated interior sculpture.
The showcar already meets these aspirations today and provides an outlook on future large, electric luxury saloons. At the same time, it illustrates a vision of purpose-built electro-design. With the VISION EQS, Mercedes-Benz is making a clear statement for the continued future of high-quality vehicles and self-determined driving. Supreme craftsmanship, emotive design, luxurious materials and individual driving pleasure will continue to be desirable in the future.
With its innovative, stretched ‘one bow’ proportion, the VISION EQS takes the Progressive Luxury design philosophy of the EQ models into a new dimension. The flowing yet powerful sculptured effect of the exterior design gives the showcar its majestic appearance – luxurious generosity and aerodynamic elegance in ideal harmony.
The prominent, continuous ‘lightbelt’ structures the exterior in a new way. The resulting colour division at shoulder level creates the impression of a ‘black panel’ glass landscape floating on the silver vehicle body – a seamlessly connected vehicle surface from the striking EQ front grille to the rear.
Precision in detail
Technologically futuristic features include the DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps, each with two holographic lens modules, integrated into the continuous 360-degree exterior lightbelt. These allow an almost unlimited number of light variations that provide an outlook on future light configurations for future models.
The brand logo also has new tasks: 229 illuminated, individual stars form the seamlessly integrated lightbelt at the rear, causing the brand’s trademark to shine out in a previously unknown way. Interaction between the vehicle and its environment is not just limited to the lights in the VISION EQS. The digital front grille, which realises a light matrix consisting of 188 individual LEDs as a world first, provides a new level in precise signalling. Once the black panel comes to life, the seemingly free-floating stars and pixels create a fascinating, three-dimensional effect.
Atmospheric generosity within
Inside, the VISION EQS takes its inspiration from the world of luxury yachts. The clear, flowing design idiom creates a new level of serenity – and with it the vision of modern luxury interpreted into the future. For the first time, the entire dashboard blends with the body of the front trim section to form an interior sculpture. With its deep and open spatial architecture, the cockpit of the VISION EQS envelops the occupants like the deck of a boat. The fully integrated, embracing overall sculpture consisting of the combined dashboard, centre console and armrests floats above the generous interior and, for the first time, gives an outlook on the interiors of future luxury saloons by the brand.
The choice of materials for the interior of the showcar also ensures a special ambience. Mercedes-Benz has systematically developed the use of sustainable materials further and uses both traditional and technologically advanced materials. High-quality DINAMICA microfibre in crystal white is used alongside native figured maple trim. This is made from recycled PET bottles.
Also used is artificial leather, with a finely structured surface similar to nappa leather. The material used for the roofliner comes from a special project: a high-quality textile was created by adding a quantity of recycled ‘ocean waste’ plastic, putting the use of sustainable materials on a wholly new level.
Advanced MBUX
The VISION EQS presents a large interior sculpture as a stage for the future: digital content can be experienced by immersion over the entire surface, creating an all-embracing atmosphere. The blending of materials and information illustrates a possible intuitive interaction in the future.
The organically emerging displays and projection surfaces provide display space, as does the intelligent CONNECTED LIGHT that surrounds the occupants. Haptic highlights such as the air vents integrated into the trim element like inlays, the sophisticated speaker covers in rose gold and the fragrance flask encased in a decorative holder like a jewel round off the trendsetting interior of the VISION EQS and show exquisite craftsmanship.
A fully-electric future
With electric motors at the front and rear axles and the battery integrated into the floor, the VISION EQS represents a very well-balanced vehicle concept. The basis for dynamic high-level performance and safety comes courtesy of the electric all-wheel drive with axle-variable torque distribution and a battery installed deep in the vehicle floor between the axles. Thanks to more than 350 kW of output and immediately available torque of around 760 Nm, the VISION EQS has a projected acceleration time from 0 – 100 km/h of under 4.5 seconds.
As a result of an intelligent operating strategy, the prototype can have a comfortable operating range of up to 700 kms. Assuming a charging performance of 350 kW, recharging the battery to 80% capacity should take less than 20 minutes.
The VISION EQS also makes a clear statement for the continuation of driver-controlled vehicles. To this end, the showcar demonstrates the bandwidth of the platform with its clear focus on the driver. Mercedes-Benz will also be in a position to fulfil the desire for individual mobility and thrilling handling characteristics in the future. At the same time the Vision EQS showcar supports the driver with highly-automated driving at Level 3, eg on longer motorway journeys. Thanks to the modular sensor systems, the level of autonomy can be extended up to fully-automated driving in the future.
First two models of the all-electric EQ brand – the EQC SUV and EQV MPV
The 2019 Mazda CX-5 range is currently being previewed at the Bangsar Shopping Centre, from now until the end of this weekend (15 September 2019). The new range comes updated with several key features that increases the SUV’s overall comfort, convenience, stability, and performance. (more…)
