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Why The New W206 Mercedes-Benz Is The Best C-Class Ever!

While a Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the ultimate symbol of success, the C-Class is a loud statement of intent.

Before the rise of the A-Class and CLA, it was the C-Class that was the entry level model to the wonderful world of Mercedes-Benz. It was the car to buy for young executives who had just received their first big pay day.

The C-Class took over from the iconic 190E and the new W206 is the fifth-generation model, and is arguably the best C-Class ever made.

As handsome as the new design may be, Mercedes has opted for a similar design lingo across the board. It is now difficult to tell the new E-Class and C-Class apart from a distance.

The rear is the one part where all new Mercedes-Benz models are painfully identical.

I personally can’t stand the fake exhaust tips moulded into the rear bumper, while the real exhaust are neatly tucked away behind the bumper.

But the C300 (below) makes up for that with the sportier look and feel of the two C-Class models currently on offer. The C300 comes with an AMG body kit and sportier 19-inch wheels.

And it is most loveable in Spectral Blue. It is unfortunate though that this colour is only for the CBU models, and will not be available in the upcoming CKD models.

The C200 (above) on the other hand seems mundane in comparison. The Obsidian Black doesn’t do much to accentuate the design lines of the car, while the 18-inch wheels look common in comparison to the ones on the C300.

Both cars also feature the iconic power dome bulges on either side of the bonnet, a feature that was once reserved for the fire-breathing AMG models only.

The C-Class now offers the most spacious interior ever seen in a C-Class, ever. The rear seats are especially comfortable for taller passengers while the front seats feel as spacious as the W124 E-Class.

However, tall driver and front passenger will find their knees rubbing against the sides of the centre console.

The quality of the buttons are typical of modern Mercedes-Benz’s, which means they are neither great nor lacking.

Most buttons are now of the haptic type, which means they are piano black in colour and touch operated. All of the buttons on the steering wheel for example are haptic.

Personally, haptic buttons work fine but they attract smudges and highlight dust particles like moths to a light bulb.

Perhaps Mercedes-Benz designers could take a card from Lexus designers who believe that the essential controls such as air-conditioning and volume still warrant physical buttons since the driver will be reaching out to them while driving.

The interior differences between the two cars are also vast, such as the fact that the C300 comes with a moon and a sunroof while the C200 doesn’t.

The steering wheel too is different, with the C200 (shown below) getting a leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel while the C300 (shown above) gets an AMG steering wheel wrapped in nappa leather.

It doesn’t just end there, even the trimming is different, with the C300 getting the sportier trim.

However, both models get the utterly dominating 11.9-inch portrait oriented touchscreen display. This may seem a little distracting at first, but key controls such as air-conditioning settings are on permanent display, which makes them easily accessible.

Accessing the menus takes some getting used to, but having such a large screen at the centre can definitely be distracting when driving.

There are other nitty gritty details around the interior that distinguish one from the other, but the biggest difference is of course the powertrain.

Both C-Class models share the same 9-speed gearbox, which Mercedes calls 9G-Tronic. It was specifically developed to adapt to something called the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) which is basically an electric motor installed in both models as well.

The new gearbox is said to be 30 per cent more efficient thanks to an optimised mechanical pump. And it also comes with a new multi-core electronic processor that can manage an increased amount of computing power. This has thus reduced the amount of hefty electrical components by a staggering 30 per cent!

The engines of both cars though are totally different.

The C200 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that puts out a hearty 201hp and 300Nm of torque. This hike in power is achieve with the integration of the aforementioned ISG motor. This lets the C200 accelerate to 100km/h in just 7.3 seconds and a 246km/h top speed.

The C300 on the other hand gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that puts out an impressive 255hp and 400Nm of torque. This is good for a six second charge to 100km/h and tops out at 250km/h.

All in all, the new W206 C-Class is undoubtedly the best C-Class ever. The C200 is the thinking man’s choice while the C300 is for those who prefer a sporting flair to their car.

Either model offers an armada of features that includes a meter panel that can be individualised with three display styles, and you can change that according to your mood so you never get bored.

The CBU C-Class is available in eight different colours while prices stand at RM288,334 for the C200 and RM330,681 for the C300.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion wins two awards from Ford for excellence in customer satisfaction

Caring for customers is a key – even crucial – element of any business. Customers who have a satisfying experience at dealerships and owners who have a great ownership experience will remain loyal customers, and might even be ‘ambassadors’ for the brand.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, must be doing this well as its principal, Ford Motor Company, has conferred two President’s Awards for the company’s excellence in ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction in sales and service in 2021.

The prestigious awards are recognition of SDAC’s achievements as one of the very best Ford distributor and dealer organisations in the world. The President’s Award is the top distinction in Ford’s annual rewards and recognition programme, designed to acknowledge its distributor partners for delivering outstanding customer experience and operations.

SDAC received the 2021 President’s Awards for Sales and Service for achieving the highest customer satisfaction scores in both sales and service amongst the distributor markets across various regions. These scores are based on ratings collected from an actual customer feedback and satisfaction survey that Ford conducts with customers in each market, including Malaysia.

Introduced in 2016 regionally, the annual awards programme evaluates distributors primarily on their highest level of overall customer satisfaction and includes sales and parts performance.

*Lounge for customers at the service centre.*

“We are truly honoured to receive the President’s Awards this year. Having won the Chairman’s Award in 2019 and 2020, we have continued to dedicate our efforts to innovating and finding new ways to enhance customer experiences and improve customer satisfaction. We remain committed to pursuing world-class service excellence for all our Ford customers in Malaysia,” said Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford.

“Despite the challenges, 2021 was a tremendously successful year for SDAC. Their dedication, resilience and perseverance have led to various key achievements. In particular, the success of ‘Ford Ranger Getaways’, which is a great example of a truly holistic programme designed to provide a richer and more immersive experience for customers, beyond just sales and service,” he added.

*Ford Ranger Getaways provide owners with an opportunity to fully enjoy ‘The Ranger Life’.*

Ford Ranger Getaways is a community-based adventure platform that brings together customers, other like-minded people and Ford enthusiasts through a series of unique local drive and adventure experiences. Customers can choose from a range of getaways, including off-roading courses to test the limits of their vehicles, becoming a pilot for a day, enjoying a leisurely day with nature or relaxing during a simple retreat with family.

To know more about Ford vehicles and services and showroom locations in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my

‘Live The Ranger Life’ celebrates Ford’s pick-up truck evolution into the modern lifestyle machine that it is today

Volkswagen unveils ID.AERO concept as flagship of all-electric ID. range

After releasing sketches of a new model in its BEV (battery electric vehicle) ID. range, Volkswagen has now issued the first pictures of the concept car that will be the basis of the flagship of the range. To be known as the ID. AERO, it will be the sixth member of the ID. family, after the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID.6 as well as the iconic ID. Buzz.

The future model will be positioned in the premium midsize sedan segment and offered worldwide as the brand’s first global BEV sedan. the production version for China, a very important market for Volkswagen, is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023. The European and global version will be made in Germany from 2023.

Electric offensive in China
With the ID. AERO, Volkswagen is stepping up its electric offensive in China as part of its ACCELERATE strategy. Following the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.6, the production version of the ID. AERO will become the fourth fully-electric model series in China when it goes on sale in the second half of 2023.

Two versions are planned for the world’s largest car market – one for each Volkswagen joint venture. Based on its regional strategy, Volkswagen is aiming to become the leading supplier of sustainable vehicles in China. As early as 2030, it is planned that at least every second vehicle sold in China will be an electric vehicle.

Elegant design characterised by aerodynamics
The concept car is almost 5 metres long and its design is greatly influenced by aerodynamic principles. The roof slopes elegantly to the rear in coupe style and contributes to achieving a very low drag coefficient of 0.23 Cd.

Stylistically, the ID. AERO transfers the design of the ID. family to a sedan in the premium midsize segment for the first time. The aerodynamically designed front end and roof ensure that air flows optimally over the vehicle. The airflow is calmed by the slightly drawn-in rear end with a separation edge.

The front end is characterised by the ID. honeycombs typical for the ID. family. The front is horizontally split into two in the bumper and is a defining style element for the ID. AERO design. As another distinctive feature that makes the ID. AERO stand out in the crowd, a narrow light strip extends horizontally across the front out to the left and right of the illuminated Volkswagen badge and above the IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, wrapping into the wings and side panels.

This light strip is continued visually to the rear end with a few interruptions. The dominant rear end features a striking dark light strip and LED taillight clusters with honeycomb structure that create an exclusive look.

The sporty 22-inch two-tone wheels are designed in the style of a turbine and are integrated flush into the wheel housings. Classic door handles are replaced by illuminated touch surfaces, which reduce the drag even further.

At the top of the silhouette, the bold tornado line and downward sloping roof line shape the design. The powerful shoulder section of the ID. AERO is located above the tornado line. The contour lines make the electric sedan appear flatter and give it a dynamic look.

Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB)
Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) permits short overhangs, a long wheelbase and an exceptionally spacious vehicle interior. The ID. AERO will have a powerful lithium-ion battery with a net energy content of 77 kWh. Thanks to the interaction of the efficient drive system and the excellent aerodynamic properties, the carmaker claims that ranges of up to 620 kms will be possible.

“With the ID. AERO showcar, we are revealing a preview of the next member of the ID. family. A car with an emotional and at the same time extremely aerodynamic design, a range of over 600 kms, an extraordinary amount of space and a premium interior,” said Ralf Brandstatter, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. “With our ACCELERATE strategy, we are intensively driving forward the electrification of our model range. Following the ID.4, this model will be our next global car for Europe, China and the USA. ”

*The ID. family is Volkswagen’s range of the future with all battery-electric models using the MEB platform.*

VW’s ID. SPACE VIZZION shows the stationwagon will continue to exist in the electric age

Road closure along KL-Karak Highway near Lentang tonight

If you are travelling along the Karak Highway tonight (Monday, June 27), be advised that a section of about 500 metres of the highway will be closed. The closure for both sides of the highway will be for 30 minutes from 11 pm tonight and all lanes are expected to reopen to traffic by 5 am tomorrow (Tuesday, June 28).

According to ANIH Berhad, the operator of the Kuala Lumpur – Karak Highway (KLK) and the East Coast Expressway Phase 1 (LPT1), the closure is to facilitate works on the construction of the ECRL (East Coast Rail Link) which will connect Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor when completed in 2027.

According to Radzimah Mohd Radzi, Senior General Manager, Head of ANIH Berhad, the closure is to give access to heavy machinery involved in the construction of the ECRL Genting tunnel. “Both bounds from KM55.35 to KM 55.85 (Lentang) will be closed entirely to traffic to ensure the safety of our users remain top priority. ANIH Berhad would also like to remind our users to plan their journey ahead of time or delay it, if possible,” Puan Radzimah said.

Only the left lanes will be accessible to traffic on both bounds after 11.30 pm tonight and ANIH Berhad is expecting to reopen all lanes by 5 am on Tuesday morning.

Puan Radzimah reminds road-users to drive responsibly and to adhere to traffic personnel on-site and also ensure their vehicles are in good condition before starting their journey.

The latest information on activities at the highways can be found at the official social media pages of the Malaysian Highway Authority/ANIH Berhad on Twitter @LLMTrafik @LPTTrafik and Facebook @Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia @Lebuhraya Pantai Timur. Motorists can also call the LLM Hotline at 1800-88-7752 and LPT-Line at 1-700-818-700.

Additionally, if you want to have an idea of conditions along the highways, you can view CCTV images at Jalanow.com.

Guide to buying a Digital Video Recorder (dashcam)

2022 Jaguar F-PACE now on sale, priced from RM598,800

The F-PACE, Jaguar’s first SUV, has been in the global market since 2016 and over the past 6 years, it has been selling well and even winning the overall World Car of the Year award in 2017. It appeared in Malaysia in 2018 and like many SUVs in the premium luxury segment, it has not had a shortage of buyers.

With its success, it’s clear that the F-PACE ticks all the right boxes for customers and has been a well designed and engineered product from the outset. But it has been 6 years and in an industry where someone is introducing something new every month, periodic refreshing of the looks and enhancing the features list is necessary to keep the model fresh.

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLRM) has now begun selling the 2022 model of the F-PACE which has some cosmetic changes on the outside and updated features within. While the overall form and profile are unchanged, the sculpted bonnet has a wider power bulge for a stronger presence.

The lighting units are new and super-slim (10 mm slimmer) all-LED quad headlights that give stronger illumination. At the same time, they also create greater visual width. The lights have a ‘Double J’ signature graphic formed with the Daytime Running Lights to identify the F-PACE from a distance.

At the rear, the new tailgate accentuates the visual width of the vehicle and below it is a redesigned lower bumper. The new fully LED rear lights with sculpted lenses are inspired by the fully electric I-PACE and feature Jaguar’s chicane graphic.

The cabin of the F-PACE has an elegant ambience merged with elements of engineering ingenuity. The revised cockpit area has a bolder, more dynamic look with greater focus on the driver. The new Drive Selector epitomises Jaguar’s approach to contemporary controls. The soft upper trim wraps round the ‘palm grip’ and proudly features a ‘cricket-ball’ stitch, inspired by iconic British craftsmanship. Below, the precision-engineered metal cradle is sculpted for added tactility and an engaging quality feel.

The centrally mounted 11.4-inch curved-glass HD touchscreen is the control centre for the new Pivo Pro infotainment system. Besides more intuitive operations, it also provides greater clarity for ease of viewing in any lighting conditions. Its simplified menu structure (mimicking a smartphone interface) allows the driver to carry out 90% of common tasks within two taps from the home screen. This reduces the time spent looking towards the display panel, which is safer when driving.

The Pivo Pro system can also connect to compatible smartphones using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto which can put favourite apps like Waze or Spotify on the display panel, and they can be operated from the touchscreen. The wireless approach extends to charging too as there is a charging pad available.

Though the cabin size is unchanged, there is a feeling of extra spaciousness with softer forms and dramatic contrasting use of colour at eye-level. One trick used by the interior designers: light-coloured finishes on lower sections of the cabin which immerse the interior in one tone, visually enhancing the sense of space.

The 5-seater cabin has exquisitely crafted leather upholstery with the rear seats having a 40:20:40 division so that there is flexibility to carry extra cargo or people. With the seats folded, there’s a long floor all the way to the back seats, ideal for bringing home furniture packs from IKEA.

“By offering modern luxury with this latest evolution of the award-winning F-PACE, we are raising the bar even further with this best-in-class SUV, which combines practicality, performance and comfort with a distinctive look and cutting-edge technologies. Everything in the design and the specifications, from the sleeker silhouette and all-new Drive Selector to the spacious and luxe interior equipped with an intuitive infotainment system, are all geared towards ensuring an enriched driving experience,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia.

“Tapping into the positive growth prospects for the luxury car segment as well as the SUV segment in Malaysia, the Jaguar F-PACE bridges both worlds as a globally renowned premium SUV. This is part of Sime Darby Motor's continuous expansion of our range of vehicles through new and exciting models,” added Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Retail and Distribution of Sime Darby Motors Malaysia.

Priced from RM598,800 (inclusive of sales tax but without roadtax, registration fees and insurance) the latest F-PACE is available only in the R-Dynamic version. This has a 2-litre 4-cylinder 250 ps/365 Nm Ingenium petrol engine.

To know more about the new F-PACE and other Jaguar models in Malaysia, visit www.jaguar.com.my.

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia showroom upgraded and now has Robot Assistants!

The Ultimate Bentley Continental GT Mulliner

Bentley has placed a new version of its Continental GT Mulliner at the very top of the range and this is the ultimate version. It is the most powerful, fastest, most dynamic and most luxurious Continental GT yet created by the carmaker.

The new GT Mulliner W12 takes the best of all worlds to become the ultimate Continental GT. It combines the performance and dynamism of the Speed, the comfort of the recently-announced Azure, and the flair of Mulliner handcraftsmanship.

The W12 TFSI engine, handcrafted at Bentley’s carbon neutral factory in England, delivers 659 ps/900 Nm to take the grand tourer to a claimed top speed of 335 km/h after passing 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds from take-off. The new engine is an uprated version of Bentley’s 6-litre W12 TSI engine with a 4% increase in power over the standard W12 model.

A combination of four chassis technologies give the new Mulliner model a level of agility, performance and ride quality that has been stretched to new levels. Bentley Dynamic Ride and three-chamber active air suspension with adaptive damping play a key role in the balance of the car. The optional and newly-developed Carbon Ceramic Brakes, Variable Electronic Stability Control, All Wheel Steering, and an Electronic Limited Slip Differential bolster the agility and performance even further.

Combining the new systems delivers Bentley’s philosophy that a vehicle should feel progressive and secure, yet still be dynamic. To achieve this philosophy in BENTLEY and COMFORT mode, overall grip is balanced between the front and rear wheels while, in SPORT, this mode has been calibrated with a more rear-biased torque–split in all driving scenarios.

Bentley’s 3-chamber active air suspension with adaptive damping, and Bentley Dynamic Ride provide control and comfort. The 48V active anti-roll control system was originally pioneered on the Bentayga and third-generation Continental GT, and is now tuned even further with the knowledge and learning since the systems introduction.

This innovative system features powerful electric motors within each anti-roll bar to resist body roll. In their firmest setting, the motors can deliver 1,300 Nm in 0.3 seconds to counteract cornering forces and keep the body level.

The Electronic All-Wheel Steering enhances the dynamic nature of the Continental GT Mulliner W12 in each of the driving modes. This is even more apparent in SPORT mode, as the steering combines with Bentley Dynamic Ride and the electronic limited slip differential for a level of agility unlike any other Bentley road car, utilising up to 4° of steering lock on the rear wheels.

The eLSD allows true active torque vectoring across the rear axle, which is then fine-tuned with torque-vectoring by brake systems. Together, these technologies improve turn-in and provide exception traction on corner exit – and, of course, allow the keen driver to induce slip angles and to balance the car on the throttle.

The cabin is one defined by luxury and showcases a level of choice and customisation that Mulliner is well known for. A unique colour split is exclusive to the car, with a new combination of primary and secondary hide joined by a third colour through a flowing design line. Eight different 3-colour combinations are proposed by Mulliner, using Bentley’s palette of hides and threads to create striking yet elegant contrast throughout the cabin.

“Diamond in Diamond” quilting to the seats, door trims and rear quarter panels is made up of almost 400,000 stitches with each diamond containing exactly 712 individual stitches. Naturally these are available in a spectrum of coloured threads, too.

For the driver, the brushed-metal finish of the Breitling clock is carried through from the physical world to the digital, with a unique design to the main gauges of the LED main instruments cluster where careful skeuomorphic design and the application of digital textures makes the virtual dials look like real metal.

The GT family now spans a range of models each with a different emphasis, to make customer choice easier. The Azure range is for those prioritising wellbeing and on-board comfort, while those customers wishing to concentrate on driving pleasure can specify the new V8-powered GT S. Going one step further, the W12-powered Speed is the pure driver’s car. And above all these sits the Mulliner.