SUNDAY STAR, 11 MARCH 2018
Reliability made more affordable
NO one can beat Perodua when it
comes to sensible products.
It is for this very reason that
Malaysians have trusted the brand
for 25 years and for over a decade,
it has been the number one
motoring choice for Malaysians.
As a car that offers good
performance, durability, easy
maintenance and great fuel
efficiency, the Perodua Alza is a
good option for small families who
do not need something too big to
drive around in.
It seats five comfortably and has
two additional seats in the back.
For a limited period, the Alza now
Combining practicality and fun
CAR manufacturers have seen to
it that Malaysians are spoilt for
choice when it comes to small and
practical cars. They have flooded
the market with cars that are
affordable and cheap to maintain.
Now, the market for small cars
has been shaken by the
outstanding performance and
striking beauty of the new Kia
Picanto brought to you by Naza
Kia Malaysia (the official
distributer of Kia vehicles in
Malaysia).
The third-generation Kia
Picanto wholly matches its tagline
that promises an untypical car
that provides larger-than-life
comes with a special deal that
could save you up to RM1,300.
The Perodua Axia is the best
choice for those looking for a first
car either for themselves or their
children.
It is the top-selling car in
Malaysia and though the price is
highly affordable, the Axia has a
lot of smart features to offer such
as the new VVT-i EEV engine, push
start and smart entry system with
smart key in addition to the new
exterior design.
Extremely good fuel
consumption figures, a good safety
rating and track record on
durability and nippy performance
are just some of the things that
make it the perfect car for those
who want a reliable hatchback
to move around in.
Best of all, you will never be
surprised by a too-expensive
maintenance bill.
On another note, Perodua
is currently running a
fantastic promotion for the
Axia that can save you up
to RM800.
If you have your eye on
the much-loved Perodua
Bezza 1.0L sedan instead,
you could be driving away
with this wonderful machine
on a monthly instalment that
starts from as low as RM395
with a nine-year tenure
comfort, luxury and performance.
This wonder car takes a daring
stance – one that does not
compromise the stability of the
ride or the comfort and safety of its
occupants.
The car is a beauty with a
combination of stylish LED lights at
both rear and front and chic lines.
Look good driving around town in
the all new Picanto, which comes
in a series of exciting and fun
colours.
Be amazed by the seven-inch
floating-style touchscreen in-car
entertainment system that
supports Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay. With AUX and USB ports
(terms apply).
With an on-the-road price
starting from RM36,000, the
Bezza is a fantastic
entry-level sedan
that has all the
usual bells and
whistles such as
spacious
luggage and
interior space,
remote boot
release,
reverse
sensors, a
shark fin
antenna and
an anti-lock
braking system
with electronic brake
distribution.
Those who travel often will also
find the 1.0L VVT-i EEV engine
highly efficient as you can easily
achieve 22.8km per litre with the
manual variant and 21.3km per
litre with the automatic variant.
This would mean long road trips
are a breeze, more so when the car
is fitted with 36L fuel tank.
The service interval is fixed at
every 10,000km or six months
(whichever comes first) for more
savings. Bezza is the best choice of
sedan for daily usage with bigger
boot space for all your travelling
needs.
All Perodua cars come with a
Great things come in small
packages in form of the
Picanto, which boasts
excellent handling and
comprehensive features.
as well as six powerful speakers,
you can be sure you are
accompanied by great tunes on
every drive.
Among the many amazing
features of the in-car
entertainment system is the
controls embedded in the
premium-level steering wheel. It
not only lets the driver navigate
through different commands and
settings but also has a voice
recognition system.
Shift the car into reverse and
watch the colour LCD screen
display a clear view of the rear to
assist you with getting in and out
of tight spaces.
five-year or 150,000km warranty
package (terms and conditions
apply).
Run down to any Perodua
showroom and their friendly sales
advisors will be ready to assist you
in getting your new set of wheels.
Enhance your ride
Perodua's very own accessory
brand, GearUp, is now even easier
to purchase.
Perodua is offering 0% interest
through its 12-month easy payment
plan (with selected banks only) for
Adding to overall style and
function, the Picanto comes with a
push start button and a range of
passive and active safety systems.
You will not have a single
complaint against the Picanto as it
checks all the desired boxes with
features such as hill-start assist
control, six airbags, anti-lock
braking system, brake assist,
traction control, electronic stability
control, rear seat belt
pretensioners, ISOFIX child seat
anchor and high-strength steel for
extra cabin protection.
Even though the Kia Picanto is a
small car, it does not compromise
on practicality and the 60:40 split
The Perodua Bezza is a
great choice for your
daily travel needs.
its range of GearUp accessories.
As the official accessory brand
from Perodua, you will be getting
factory-quality fit and finish that
will last as long as the car itself.
From the body kit, chrome
finish, seat covers and child car
seats, all items are designed to
complement your Perodua.
You also get a six-month
warranty on all GearUp products.
Spruce up your Perodua with
GearUp now before the offer ends
this month.
n For more information, call
1800 88 6600 or visit
www.perodua.com.my
flat folding seats make it easy to
access the boot from the inside.
The 1.2-litre MPI DOHC engine
that produces a maximum power
of 84Ps at 6,000rpm and 121.6Nm
of torque at 4,000rpm cruises
through city roads and highways
with ease.
These features make the Picanto
a true winner in the small-car
segment. Do check out this
A-segment category contender if
you are looking for a luxurious
small car that is also practical,
economical and comfortable.
n For more information, visit
www.kia.com
2 Motoring
Keeping up with modernisation
MANY people have heard of Tesla
and how its innovative electric
vehicles (EVs) changed the general
perception of electric cars.
The sophistication and capability
of various EV models in the market
is testament to how far humans
have come in improving this
technology.
EVs are no longer associated
with being slow, taking too long to
charge or thought of as cars
reserved for the elite. Instead, the
demand for EVs has boomed and it
is now up to automakers, including
established makers, to explore
electrical technology and take
advantage of the market that is still
pretty much underserved.
If you are into green-energy cars,
here are some of the latest
announcements that have set the
motoring world abuzz.
Taming the roar
Jaguar has finally come clean
with the production version of
their I-Pace electric SUV.
The car looks similar to its
concept variant and runs on a
90kWh battery pack that powers
all four wheels.
It has a range of more than
380km, a total system output of
394HP and 694Nm of torque, goes
from zero to 96kmph in 4.5
Harley-Davidson
LiveWire.
seconds and can achieve 80%
charge in 40 minutes with its
100kWh fast charger.
Sales should commence in the
second half of this year and it will
be interesting to see how well an
electric SUV compares to diesel-
powered behemoths that have long
conquered off-road terrains.
An interesting feature of the
I-Pace is how good it sounds. Like
most EVs, the I-Pace is virtually
silent, but as the car gains more
speed it emits a manufactured
SUNDAY STAR, 11 MARCH 2018
oriented car as proven by Porsche's electric motorcycle – the LiveWire
very own Le Mans-winning race – but future production of the bike
car – the 919 Hybrid. was never confirmed.
Fortunately, Porsche also Recently, Harley-Davidson
announced that the 911 will be the bought some shares in Alta Motors,
last vehicle in the world to have a small company producing and
the autonomous driving ability. selling electric motocross models.
"The 911 will always have a It has also announced that its
steering wheel," said August new electric bike will go on sale
Achleitner, director of the 911 within the next 18 months.
model line. Targeted at the younger crowd
who appreciate green-technology
Jolting the world and being eco-conscious, the new
electric Harley-Davidson will have
Synonymous with the a more improved battery than its
open road and adventurous old concept variant.
freedom, America’s beloved Harley-Davidson, however, will
motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson continue selling its current models
has finally made a move that will which are still very much
cement its plan to build an electric appreciated by older customers.
motorcycle.
A few years ago, it came
out with a concept
rumbling keen that makes
accelerating the I-Pace a truly
unique experience.
Shocking news
Porsche has announced that
the holy grail of all Porsche cars,
the 911, may have an electric
powertrain option.
Although Porsche has already
announced the Mission E as its
Jaguar I-Pace.
first EV, the 911 still has the
potential to be a performance-
SUNDAY STAR, 11 MARCH 2018
Channelling efficiency
to the masses
MALAYSIA is surging forward into
its targeted role as an automotive
hub for energy-efficient vehicles
(EEV).
According to Datuk Madani
Sahari, chief executive officer of
Malaysia Automotive Institute
(MAI), an agency under the
International Trade and Industry
Ministry (MITI), more and more
EEVs are being introduced to the
market since the National
Automotive Policy was announced
in 2014.
In 2016, 42.8% of vehicles
introduced to the market were
EEVs. Last year, the number went
up to 52% and MAI is confident
that it will reach 80% by 2020.
EEV vehicles are not limited to
hybrid or electric vehicles alone.
EEVs are defined as vehicles that
meet the fuel consumption and
carbon emission levels set by the
Government.
Out of 58 cars launched last year,
only 3.8% EEVs sold were hybrid
vehicles while 13% were diesel-
powered. The remaining 83.2%
were vehicles with high-efficiency
petrol engines.
“We believe there will be 70 new
car launches this year and 95% of
them will be registered as EEVs.
This augurs well with the
Government's strategy and the
industry's holistic growth," says
Madani.
EEVs assembled in Malaysia will
receive tax incentives and MITI
will ensure the benefits trickle
down to consumers.
Those who plan to export their
EEV products to other countries
Motoring 3
Malaysia’s
green initiative
THE Government has set its target Fuel consumption for new
on making Malaysia the regional vehicles are calculated by the
hub for EEVs through strategic United Nations Economic
investments and the adaptation of Commission for Europe-approved
advanced technology for the test centres.
domestic market by 2020. These centres use the New
The term EEV includes vehicles European Driving Cycle method,
with fuel-efficient internal which is a common part of the
combustion engines, hybrids and vehicle homologation process in
electric and alternative-fuel European countries.
vehicles such as those running on Below are the EEV technical
compressed natural gas, liquefied specifications for fuel
petroleum gas, biodiesel, ethanol consumption based on global
and hydrogen fuel cell. standards:
Passenger and commercial vehicles
Kerb Fuel consumption
Segment Description
weight (kg) (L/100km)
Micro car <800 4.5
will receive more attractive tax A
City car 800-1,000 5.0
incentives. It is one of the ways the
Government is encouraging growth B Super mini car 1,001-1,250 6.0
of local assembly projects and C Small family car 1,251-1,400 6.5
developing high net worth of local Large family car
automotive vendors. D 1,401-1,550 7.0
Some critics say the EEV tax Compact executive car
incentives are only being used by E Executive car 1,551-1,800 9.5
premium car brands. While the F Luxury car 1,801-2,050 11.0
incentives do bring down the price
of various premium models, more J Large 4x4 2,051-2,350 11.5
affordable car brands are also Others Others 2,351-2,500 12.0
using these incentives to offer
safer, more modern products to Two-wheelers
customers.
Companies such as Honda, Engine size (cc) Fuel consumption (L/100km)
Hyundai, Perodua and Proton have
50-100 2.0
benefited from these incentives to
not only offer a more affordable 101-150 2.2
vehicle line-up but also use the 151-200 2.5
opportunity to fit their vehicles 201-250 3.0
with better safety equipment.
4 Motoring
WITH a stiffer front cross member,
enhanced coil and damper, the
Subaru Forester offers drivers a
more comfortable ride quality with
agile and nimble handling across
urban and off-road terrains.
To maximise occupant comfort
and ride quality, noise from inside
and outside the cabin has been
reduced through improved
soundproofing materials and
increased window thickness.
Subaru’s continuously variable
transmission (CVT) allows power to
be delivered consistently and
smoothly regardless of terrain,
making it ideal for adventurous
drivers who like to take their cars
off the beaten track.
The Forester 2.0i and 2.0i-P
variants feature Subaru’s
renowned two-litre FB20
horizontally-opposed boxer engine
that produces a maximum power
of 150Ps at 6,200rpm and 198Nm of
torque at 4,200rpm.
The four-cylinder, 16-valve
engine delivers better fuel
efficiency of 7.9L/100km
(combined) that is achieved
through a long stroke engine
coupled with a lightweight engine
block.
The 2.0XT variant produces a
maximum power of 241Ps at
5,600rpm and a peak torque output
of 350Nm between 2,400rpm and
3600rpm thanks to an FA20 direct-
injection turbocharged boxer
engine that returns a fuel
efficiency reading of 8.5L/100km
(combined).
Upgraded features and
innovations
All three Forester variants
feature Subaru’s unique hexagon
front grille, C-shaped taillights with
Uncompromised
performance and handling
matching headlamps and a fan-
style wheel design with 17-inch
rims.
The face-lifted 2.0i-P and 2.0XT
Forester variants boast LED
headlamps with C-shaped daytime
running lights while the 2.0i
variant features halogen
headlamps and a new bumper
design.
The interior now offers a more
upmarket look and feel with a
refreshed cabin design, stylish TFT
LCD, premium head unit and
redesigned steering wheel.
The premium feel is further
enhanced in the 2.0i-P and 2.0XT
variants with features such as
automatic wipers and headlamps,
power rear gate, power adjustable
driver’s seat with memory function
and power adjustable passenger
seat, smart entry and push start,
dual zone automatic air-
conditioning, SI Drive, high-grade
multifunction display and unique
Personal Identification Number
(PIN) code access.
The PIN code access feature
allows drivers to access their
Subaru Forester without a key fob,
which can be safely and securely
left in the car.
The top-of-the-range Subaru
Forester 2.0XT has even more
luxurious features such as a
sunroof, premium audio system
with Harman Kardon speakers
and 18-inch rims.
Comprehensive all-round
safety
A key highlight of the Subaru
Forester is its X-MODE, which
ensures optimised control of the
vehicle via functions such as hill
descent control (HDC), enhanced
all-wheel drive (AWD) system and
enhanced vehicle dynamics
control. X-MODE comes standard
across all three variants.
When on X-MODE, the on-board
computer coordinates the throttle,
transmission, brakes and
symmetrical AWD for a safe drive
through difficult terrain.
Additionally, the combination of
X-MODE with Subaru’s
symmetrical AWD can also help the
Forester get out of muddy
situations should one or more
wheels get stuck.
Steering-responsive headlamps
have been fitted on the 2.0i-P and
2.0XT variants, allowing the
headlamp beams to move with the
direction of the steering wheel,
maximising driver visibility and
safety.
Additional standard safety
features for all variants include
seven airbags, anti-lock braking
system with electronic brakeforce
distribution and brake assist,
SUNDAY STAR, 11 MARCH 2018
The Forester
delivers consistent
speed and power no
matter the terrain.
engine immobiliser, brake
override, safety pedal system and
ISOFIX child seat anchors.
Improvements on passive safety
include side door reinforcement
beams and a ring-shaped
reinforcement frame around
which the Subaru Forester is
constructed.
Made of high-tensile steel, the
reinforced frame is designed to
shield and protect occupants by
directing impact energy around the
passenger compartment rather
than through it.
Able to withstand the weight of
the 1.5-tonne Forester, the
reinforced frame also provides
additional passenger safety in the
event of a rollover.
n For more information, visit
www.subaru.asia/my