2025 BMW M5 review - too heavy for an M car?



Latest Carro Malaysia Cars For Sale

Search oto.my Car Classifieds

Latest Stories

  • Volkswagen brand Scout mulling Australian market; RHD to come after 2027 United States, Canada launch?

    Volkswagen brand Scout mulling Australian market; RHD to come after 2027 United States, Canada launch?

    With the resurrection of the Scout brand in 2024 as a brand for electric SUVs and pick-up trucks, the brand will be making its way to the Australian market, according to Australian site Car Expert.

    Scout CEO Scott Keogh has revealed that the Australian market is within the firm’s plans, following the brand’s scheduled launch in the United States and Canada in 2027.

    “We want to nail America and Canada. Those will be our first markets and then after that we will look to other markets and certainly Australia’s on the list,” Keogh told journalists at the Munich motor show earlier this week.

    Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pick-up truck

    The first models to emerge from the Scout brand are the Traveler SUV and the Terra pick-up truck, both of significant size, measuring 5,280 mm long and 5,822 mm long, respectively. Under the skin, an 800-volt electrical architecture supports up to 350 kW DC of fast charging and bi-directional charging, enabling battery range of up to 350 miles or 560 km.

    Both the Traveler and Terra will also be available with a range-extender engine option, and the ICE-augmented powertrain will yield range of more than 500 miles or 800 km. For off-roading credentials, both Scout models will be of a ladder frame construction and be fitted with a solid rear axle, front and rear locking differentials and over 900 mm of water wading capability.

    The order book for the Scout Traveler and Terra opened last year in the United States, priced from US$50,000 (RM217,500 at exchange rates of the time) including incentives, or US$60,000 (RM261,000) at regular pricing.

    GALLERY: Scout Traveler


    GALLERY: Scout Terra

     
  • GWM Wey 80 renamed to Wey G9 for Malaysia – CKD PHEV Toyota Alphard-rivalling MPV coming soon

    GWM Wey 80 renamed to Wey G9 for Malaysia – CKD PHEV Toyota Alphard-rivalling MPV coming soon

    The MPV previously called the GWM Wey 80 has been given a new name ahead of its Malaysian launch, with the GWM Wey G9 moniker having been announced on Facebook. The Chinese carmaker added that the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire rival, last previewed at the paultan.org Premium Auto Car Expo (PACE) in July, is coming soon – about time, too, as the previously-announced Q3 2025 launch window ends this month.

    No other details were announced, but we should get the car as per what was shown at PACE, in the new middle-wheelbase seven-seater specification (sold in China as the Wey Gaoshan 8). That car measures a generous 5,280 mm long, slotting between the 5,050 mm of the standard-wheelbase Gaoshan 7 and the whopping 5,410 mm of the long-wheelbase six-seater Gaoshan 9.

    The Malaysian market G9 will also receive an updated interior, featuring a two-spoke steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen (no passenger display for our market, unfortunately), the latter running on GWM’s latest Coffee OS 3. There are also new seat controls on the second-row armrests, including a rotary massage mode dial.

    Under the bonnet will sit the Hi4 all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 156 PS 1.5 litre turbo four-cylinder engine, a 177 PS electric front motor and a 183 PS rear motor for a total system output of 487 PS, plus 140 km of CLTC-rated electric range from a 37.96 kWh battery. The updated powertrain in China gets a slightly lower total output of 458 PS but a larger 51.55 kWh battery delivering a WLTP-rated EV range of 201 km, although it’s unclear if export markets like ours will get this.

    When it arrives, the G9 will be locally assembled alongside the Haval H6 HEV at the EP Manufacturing (EPMB) plant in Pegoh, Melaka, with exports to ASEAN markets such as Thailand under consideration.

    GALLERY: GWM Wey G9 Hi4 at PACE 2025

     
  • Celebrate Malaysia Day in luxury with Mercedes-Benz, from RM1,998 a month with Step Up Agility+

    Celebrate Malaysia Day in luxury with Mercedes-Benz, from RM1,998 a month with Step Up Agility+

    Celebrate Malaysia Day with the real deal in automotive luxury from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, as the Step Up Agility+ plan makes premium motoring even more accessible.

    Leading the offers from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is the C 350 e, priced from RM279,888 including #MYMercedesRewards of up to RM70,000, and with monthly repayments starting from RM1,998 per month with the Step-Up Agility+ plan.

    Looking further up the model range reveals the E 350 e, priced from RM378,888 inlcuding #MYMercedesRewards of up to RM40,000 and with monthly repayments starting from RM2,688 per month with the Step Up Agility+ plan, two compact service packages and motor insurance support of RM5,200, and RM300 in charging credit.

    Celebrate Malaysia Day in luxury with Mercedes-Benz, from RM1,998 a month with Step Up Agility+

    Prefer the elevated form of the SUV? There’s just the model for that in the GLC 350 e, priced from RM358,888 including #MYMercedesRewards of up to RM40,000, and with monthly repayments starting from RM2,688 per month with the Step Up Agility+ plan. This includes compact service packages and motor insurance support of RM4,500, and RM300 in charging credit.

    The plug-in hybrid trio here that is the C 350 e, E 350 e and the GLC 350 e are covered by an eight-year battery warranty, a fifth-year Extended Star Premium Warranty and the MobilityPlus programme with a guaranteed replacement car.

    For a larger SUV model, the GLE 450 is priced from RM499,888 including #MYMercedesRewards of up to RM45,000, and with monthly repayments from RM4,288 per month with the Step Up Agility+ plan. This includes compact service packages.

    Celebrate Malaysia Day in luxury with Mercedes-Benz, from RM1,998 a month with Step Up Agility+

    Is compactness your preference? Here’s the GLB 250 4MATIC, priced from RM225,888 including an even more generous offering of #MYMercedesRewards at up to RM65,000, and this is offered with low monthly repayments. This includes compact service packages.

    The GLE 450 and the GLB 250 4MATIC SUVs also get the fifth-year Extended Star Platinum warranty coverage, and the MobilityPlus programme with a guaranteed replacement car.

    With any Mercedes-Benz model purchased at this time, you’ll also enjoy access to the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge, as well as private terminal transfers at KLIA Terminal 1 for your air travels. Be sure to take advantage of these offers from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia by visiting any Mercedes-Benz showroom nationwide, and click here to find out more.

     
  • Top 20 EV brands in Aug 2025 – BYD widens lead over Proton, Mercedes surges to 4th, Xpeng and BMW tied

    Top 20 EV brands in Aug 2025 – BYD widens lead over Proton, Mercedes surges to 4th, Xpeng and BMW tied

    Continuing with JPJ registration data from the month of August, we have the top 20 electric vehicle brands, which sees BYD continuing to lead the segment. This time, however, the Chinese EV specialist has widened its lead over second-placed Proton, making last month its second-best in terms of sales after May.

    A total of 1,119 BYDs found homes in August, 353 units more than Proton and its sole EV, the eMas 7 (766 units). The entirety of that gap can be explained by the new Atto 2, which recorded 403 registrations in its first full month of sales.

    This strong performance has pushed BYD’s year-to-date sales figure to 7,389 units – meaning that it’s well on its way to hitting 10,000 sales in 2025 – while Proton’s YTD stands at just 5,455 units (-1,934 units). Completing the podium places is a resurgent Tesla with 509 units registered, consolidating its hold on third with 3,162 units sold YTD.

    Top 20 EV brands in Aug 2025 – BYD widens lead over Proton, Mercedes surges to 4th, Xpeng and BMW tied

    Making a surprising appearance in fourth is Mercedes-Benz. Having languished mid-table with double-digit sales all year, Stuttgart recorded its single best month with 261 EVs registered, likely as a result of its ongoing MyMercedesRewards campaign. This has nearly doubled its YTD EV sales to 527 units, vaulting it up five places to eighth in the standings.

    Ahead of it in the overall table are BMW and Xpeng, which were on level pegging in fifth last month with 96 registrations apiece, continuing a surprisingly close YTD battle for fourth (BMW at 1,117 units, Xpeng at 842 units). Meanwhile, Zeekr saw an uptick in registrations to 88 units (crucially, before sales of the new 7X commence in earnest), as did Leapmotor with 72 units – the latter continuing its strong form since slashing prices of the C10 in June.

    Top 20 EV brands in Aug 2025 – BYD widens lead over Proton, Mercedes surges to 4th, Xpeng and BMW tied

    Behind them, Denza slipped to ninth with 69 units sold, narrowing its YTD gap to Zeekr (787 units versus 679) in the battle for sixth. Rounding up the top ten is Porsche with 59 units registered (467 units YTD), with the usual caveat that these figures include grey market “recon” registrations as well.

    No real surprises further down, although Honda continues to climb up the ladder since entering the standings last month in 19th, climbing up to 15th with 32 vehicles registered (31 of them being the sole officially-imported model, the e:N1).

     
  • GOyang² with Caltex Rewards and Touch n Go – get RM8 TNG cashback or RM5 fuel voucher this month!

    GOyang² with Caltex Rewards and Touch n Go – get RM8 TNG cashback or RM5 fuel voucher this month!

    This has to be the easiest way to earn real rewards! Caltex Rewards x TNG GOyang² is offering RM8 TNG cashback and CaltexGO RM5 fuel vouchers to celebrate our beloved Malaysia this month, and all you have to do is shake your phone! Yes, GOyang-GOyang.

    Here’s how to claim your share. TNG eWallet users, look for the GOyang² tile in the app and shake your phone. If you’re in the vicinity of a Caltex station, a RM8 TNG cashback voucher or CaltexGO RM5 fuel voucher will appear. If your phone’s location is turned on, you’ll receive push notifications to GOyang² if you’re within 5km radius of a Caltex station.

    If you received a RM8 TNG cashback voucher, head to a Caltex station and make a fuel purchase of at least RM40 via the TNG eWallet’s ‘Pay’ function with the in-station Smart Payment Terminal. Don’t forget to scan your Caltex Rewards membership. The RM8 TNG cashback will be awarded instantly for eligible fuel purchases and you’ll see it in your transaction history.

    If your GOyang² efforts yielded a RM5 Caltex fuel voucher, you’ll need to reveal the code, copy it and redeem in the CaltexGO app. Open the CaltexGO app and head to ‘View My Vouchers’. Input the fuel voucher code and click ‘Add Voucher’. Now that the voucher is saved in the CaltexGO app, you just need to apply it when making a fuel purchase – it’s that simple.

    This is extra savings (or free fuel, depending on how you see it) and it’s super easy to earn. The Caltex Rewards x TNG GOyang² campaign is running from now till September 30, so remember to GOyang² before you refuel. Shake away! Full details here.

     
  • Top 20 EV models in August 2025 – Proton eMas 7 still on top, BYD Atto 2 and Tesla Model Y in top three

    Top 20 EV models in August 2025 – Proton eMas 7 still on top, BYD Atto 2 and Tesla Model Y in top three

    As it was last month, the Proton eMas 7 continues to be the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Malaysia, with the model heading the August 2025 chart for the category. According to the latest data from the road transport department (JPJ), 766 units of the eMas 7 were registered last month, an improvement over the 686 units sold in July. This brings its year-to-date (YTD) total to 5,455 units.

    In second spot was the BYD Atto 2, with its 355 units (466 units YTD) sold in August moving it eight places up the rankings from the previous month, while the Tesla Model Y moved up one slot into third, with 323 units registered (2.045 units YTD).

    In fourth place is the BYD Atto 3, with 307 units sold (2,363 units YTD), with the BYD Sealion 7 slipping from third to fifth spot in August, with 234 units sold (2,472 units YTD). Sixth spot was secured by the Mercedes-Benz EQE, with the 201 units registered in August (312 units YTD) making for its best-performing month in 2025 and pushing it into the Top 20 chart.

    Top 20 EV models in August 2025 – Proton eMas 7 still on top, BYD Atto 2 and Tesla Model Y in top three

    Sitting in seventh is the Tesla Model 3, its 186 units (1,116 units YTD) an increase from the 105 units managed in the previous month. Eighth place is taken by the BYD Seal, with 92 registrations (825 units YTD), and in ninth was another BYD model, the M6, with 82 units (1,176 units YTD) recorded last month.

    More gains for the Leapmotor C10 following its update and price reduction made in June, with a total of 72 units (225 units YTD) of the SUV being sold in August giving it 10th spot and bringing it into the top 20 YTD list.for the first time this year.

    Sharing 11th place is the Zeekr 009 MPV, with 69 units (567 units YTD) and the Denza D9, also with 69 units (787 units YTD), while 13th spot was taken by the Xpeng X9, with 64 units (378 units YTD).

    Top 20 EV models in August 2025 – Proton eMas 7 still on top, BYD Atto 2 and Tesla Model Y in top three

    From that point on, it’s the Chery Omoda E5 (41 units; 494 units YTD) in 14th, the Porsche Taycan (39 units; 275 units YTD) in 15th and the Mercedes-Benz EQS, with the 35 units sold last month giving it 16th spot in the monthly chart. Despite this, it’s still not in the overall top 20 rankings. In 17th is the Xpeng G6 (32 units; 464 units YTD).

    Rounding off the top 20 monthly list is the Honda e:N1 in 18th, with a total of 31 units sold last month. The increase from the nine units sold in July means that 40 units of the electric HR-V have now been sold so far. In 19th place is the Volvo EX30 with 27 units and, surprise surprise, the Neta X completes the August chart, with 24 units sold.

     
  • Toyota GR Yaris Aero performance package debuts – ducts, spoiler, adjustable wing developed from racing

    Toyota GR Yaris Aero performance package debuts – ducts, spoiler, adjustable wing developed from racing

    For those in need of more aggressive bodywork for the facelifted Toyota GR Yaris, the Japanese manufacturer has released an Aero performance package for the three-door rally-inspired high performance hatchback.

    The package is comprised of six items, starting in front with the ducted aluminium bonnet that is modelled after the bonnet on the GRMN Yaris, and which Toyota says was developed through the use of the component in the Japanese Rally Championship, and this is aimed at improving cooling performance through the discharge of heat from the engine bay.

    Downforce is of course worked on, and the front lip spoiler is aimed at improving the overall aerodynamic balance of the GR Yaris by suppressing lift at the front end of the car. The front lip spoiler was added based on feedback from professional racing driver Oshima, according to Toyota.

    Aft of the front wheels, the package includes front fender ducts which release air that is accumulated in the front wheelhouses, which is said to improve steering feel when the front of the car dives under heavy braking, and aids handling stability upon corner entry.

    Moving to the underside of the car, a set of fuel tank under-covers optimises airflow along the car’s underbody, and this is inspired by the flat-bottom shape of a fuel tank in a racing car, says the manufacturer.

    At the rear, the package brings rear bumper ducts to reduce the bumper’s parachute effect to lower the drag coefficient. This has been developed to cope with the harsh conditions of motorsport, says Toyota. Added to the rear of the car’s roof is an adjustable rear wing.

    With this being an aerodynamics package for the GR Yaris, there is no change to the car’s powertrain or suspension components.

    Engine outputs therefore remain unchanged, from the car’s launch specifications of 304 PS at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm from 3,250 rpm to 4,600 rpm, and transmission choices continue to be either a six-speed manual (iMT) with auto-blip, or a Gazoo Racing eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission, both with the GR-Four multi-plate clutch AWD driveline and Torsen front and rear LSDs.

    Likewise, suspension continues to be by MacPherson struts in front and a double wishbone layout at the rear, with 225/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres on 8J-wide BBS forged aluminium wheels. These house ventilated discs with four-pot callipers in front, and two-pot callipers at the rear.

    Pricing for the facelifted Toyota GR Yaris with the Aero performance package in Japan starts from 4,055,000 yen (RM115,744) for the six-speed manual RC variant, or 4,405,000 yen (RM125,734) for the eight-speed automatic. The higher-grade RZ trim with the Aero performance package is 5,475,000 yen (RM156,275), and the 8AT version of the RZ is 5,825,000 yen (RM166,266).

     
  • Top 20 cars in Aug 2025 – Bezza, Axia, Myvi stay on podium; X50 jumps to sixth; Tiggo series joins the list

    Top 20 cars in Aug 2025 – Bezza, Axia, Myvi stay on podium; X50 jumps to sixth; Tiggo series joins the list

    The Perodua Bezza is once again the best-selling car in Malaysia for the month of August 2025, with data from the road transport department (JPJ) revealing 9,533 registrations for a year-to-date (YTD) total of 65,479 units. The brand’s only sedan model currently makes up around 28% of total Peroduas registered in the first eight months of this year.

    Like the Bezza, the Axia maintains its second position with 7,980 units (56,158 YTD), while the Myvi keeps the third spot with 6,514 units (47,192 YTD). Also maintaining their positions are the Proton Saga in fourth with 6,052 units (43,537 YTD) and Perodua Alza in fifth (4,645 units; 31,261 YTD).

    With deliveries of Proton’s facelifted X50 well underway, the brand’s B-segment SUV gained ground, climbing up to sixth in August 2025 from 10th in July 2025 and displacing the Perodua Ativa in the process. The 4,133 units of the X50 registered last month is the model’s highest so far this year, bringing its YTD total to 16,379 units.

    Meanwhile, the Toyota Vios keeps its seventh spot (2,816 units; 18,802 YTD), while the Ativa is bumped down to eighth (2,750 units; 22,326 YTD). Next comes the Toyota Hilux in ninth (2,565 units; 16,344 YTD), with the Honda City (JPJ bundles both body styles together) completing the top 10 with 2,039 units (16,937 YTD).

    Top 20 cars in Aug 2025 – Bezza, Axia, Myvi stay on podium; X50 jumps to sixth; Tiggo series joins the list

    The venerable Toyota Alphard stays at 11th place with 1,725 units (12,041 YTD), with the figure being a mix of official and reconditioned car because JPJ puts them together in its data. Honda HR-V registrations almost doubled to 1,583 units (11,075 YTD), which saw the B-segment SUV climb multiple spots from 18th in July 2025 to 12th in August 2025.

    The Proton Persona continues to trudge along steadily, with August 2025 seeing another instance of the model posting over 1,000 registrations at 1,379 units (10,785 YTD) for 13th place – the HR-V knocked it down one spot. In the 14th spot is another Toyota model that maintains its position from July 2025, the Corolla Cross, which managed 1,342 units for a YTD total of 10,373 units. A surprise appearance is the Chery Tiggo series in 15th with 1,336 units, the highest so far in 2025.

    Unfortunately, JPJ data doesn’t split the Tiggo series into individual models, with the line-up currently including the Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 8 Pro and Cross. It’s safe to assume that the more recent (and aggressively priced) Tiggo Cross contributed heavily to the August 2025 figure, which sees the Tiggo series reach a YTD total of 4,570 units.

    Representing the Omoda | Jaecoo camp and staying put in 16th is the Jaecoo J7 (1,232 units; 8,106 YTD), while the remaining four cars in the top list are the Proton S70 in 17th (1,210 units; 11,880 YTD), Honda Civic in 18th (1,100 units; 7,753 YTD), Perodua Aruz (1,059 units; 9,284 YTD) and finally, the CR-V in 20th (924 units; 6,270 YTD).

    Top 20 cars in Aug 2025 – Bezza, Axia, Myvi stay on podium; X50 jumps to sixth; Tiggo series joins the list

     
  • Geely Galaxy V900 – range-extended EV with 6-8 seats, up to 202 km battery range; on sale in China this year

    Geely Galaxy V900 – range-extended EV with 6-8 seats, up to 202 km battery range; on sale in China this year

    The Geely Galaxy V900 MPV has been shown in a filing with China’s ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT), showing the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) version of the battery-electric LEVC L380 that was shown in December 2023.

    Measuring 5,360 mm long, 1,998 mm wide and 1,940 mm tall, the extended-range V900 is slightly longer than the fully electric L380 that measures 5,316 mm long. Rolling stock for the V900 are alloy wheels ranging from 18 inches to 20 inches in diameter.

    The Galaxy V900 is fashioned largely after the L380 it is based on, albeit with a different front fascia that retains the lighting arrangement of daytime running lights located above the main headlamps. Compared to the L380, the V900 here appears to gain a lidar unit on its roof. Meanwhile, optional equipment for the V900 includes powered side steps.

    Click to enlarge

    Inside, the V900 gets a three-row seating layout as standard with a 2-2-2 seating configuration, and it can be optioned to accommodate up to eight occupants, in a 2-2-2-2 layout with an additional, fourth row of seats. Depending on seating configuration, the kerb weight of the V900 ranges between 2,910 kg and 3,030 kg; the fully electric L380 weighs a claimed 2,805 kg.

    According to Car News China, the luggage compartment of the six-seater V900 has a depth of 919 mm, while that of the four-row, eight-seater is 347 mm deep, though the fourth row can be folded flat into the boot floor.

    Geely Galaxy V900 – range-extended EV with 6-8 seats, up to 202 km battery range; on sale in China this year

    Two battery specifications are stated for the V900, starting with a 43.3 kWh ternary NMC battery made by CALB, that offers up to 172 km of electric running, and the second is a 50 kWh ternary NMC battery by CATL, providing up to 202 km of electric running.

    Powertrain for the V900 is comprised of a BHE15-CFZ 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine rated at 120 kW (163 PS), which operates as a generator. Claimed fuel consumption for the V900 when its battery is depleted, is up to 7.2 litres per 100 km.

    According to the report, the V900 is expected to enter the Chinese market this year, and with the battery-electric version of the MPV set to go on sale in the United Kingdom in 2026, Geely could introduce both battery-electric and range-extended electric powertrains to the UK market.

     
  • 2026 Toyota Corolla sedan facelift leaked in China with Prius-style front end, coming to Malaysia?

    2026 Toyota Corolla sedan facelift leaked in China with Prius-style front end, coming to Malaysia?

    Amidst all the goings on with variants like the Corolla Cross and GR Corolla, it’s easy to forget that the regular 12th-generation Toyota Corolla has been around for seven years now. That would ordinarily make it ripe for a replacement, but it looks to be soldiering on for a while more yet, because the sedan is finally receiving its first proper facelift.

    Photos obtained by ChinaEV Home from a filing with China’s ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT) show the sedan with an all-new front end, taking a page from the latest Prius and Camry. Here, you’ll find Toyota’s latest “hammerhead” design lined framed by C-shaped headlights, while L-shaped bumper corners with integrated fog lights lead into the slimmer centre air intake.

    Elsewhere, the car sports new, intricately-designed two-tone alloy wheels that look suspiciously similar to the rollers on the facelifted sixth-generation Lexus ES from 2015. Also added is a black triangle at the trailing edge of the rear quarter light windows to visually lengthen the glasshouse, while at the rear, some red trim has been added to connect the (now smoked) inverted L-shaped taillights.

    2026 Toyota Corolla sedan facelift leaked in China with Prius-style front end, coming to Malaysia?

    By and large, however, the rest of the car looks to be unchanged, saved for black trim to replace the previous chrome. However, we do expect some updates to the interior, similar to what the Camry received for its XV80 heavy facelift. Engine options will likely remain the same, which in China includes 1.2 litre 9NR-FTS four-cylinder and 1.5 litre M15B-FTS three-pot naturally-aspirated engines, plus a 1.8 litre hybrid.

    This revision for the FAW Toyota-built Corolla sedan is important for us, given that among all the variants sold in China (which also include the Allion and the GAC-built Levin), this is the one that’s offered in Malaysia. As such, we can expect this model to be launched here sometime next year, still with the sole 139 PS/172 Nm 2ZR-FE 1.8 litre petrol option.

    GALLERY: 2023 Toyota Corolla sedan in Malaysia

     
  • Top 20 brands in Aug 2025 – Perodua, Proton, Toyota, Honda, Jaecoo stay top five; Tesla goes up to 16th

    Top 20 brands in Aug 2025 – Perodua, Proton, Toyota, Honda, Jaecoo stay top five; Tesla goes up to 16th

    The road transport department (JPJ) has updated its vehicle registration data up until August 31, 2025, with Perodua unsurprisingly taking the top spot with 32,026 units. While slightly lower than the 33,486 units recorded for July 2025, last month’s figure is still over the 30,000-unit mark, which is something the company managed in five out of eight months this year. Tallying everything up, Perodua’s year-to-date (YTD) total is well over the 200,000-unit mark at 231,700 units.

    Coming in second place is Proton with 14,625 units registered in the month of August 2025 for a YTD total of 97,578 units. Positions three to seven are unchanged from July 2025, with Toyota completing the podium in third with 11,707 units (80,491 YTD).

    Honda slots in behind in fourth (6,169 units; 46,757 YTD), followed by Omoda | Jaecoo in fifth (1,898 units; 12,519 YTD), Chery in sixth (1,735 units; 7,920 YTD) and Mitsubishi in seventh (1,317 units; 9,707 YTD).

    In eighth place, BYD crossed the 1,000-unit mark after dipping below it in July 2025 to see 1,119 registrations in August 2025, bringing its YTD total to 7,389 units. Completing the top ten are Mercedes-Benz (962 units; 6,292 YTD) in ninth, while Mazda overtook BMW with its 822 units (5,583 YTD).

    Top 20 brands in Aug 2025 – Perodua, Proton, Toyota, Honda, Jaecoo stay top five; Tesla goes up to 16th

    The Munich-based carmaker settles for the 11th spot with 713 units last month, with its YTD total also below Mazda’s at 5,085 units. Behind it is Great Wall Motor that climbed from 15th to 12th with 600 registrations, its highest so far this year for a YTD total of 3,335 units. Coming in 13th is Lexus with 597 units (3,997 YTD), with Isuzu in 14th (517 units; 4,202 YTD) and Nissan close behind in 15th (512 units; 4,340 YTD).

    As for the bottom five, Tesla’s 509 units in August 2025 saw it take the 16th spot, which is an improvement from 18th place in July 2025. The EV-only brand’s YTD total for the first eight months of this year is currently at 3,162 units.

    Next comes Ford in 17th (473 units; 3,382 YTD), while Jetour makes the list again, this time dropping one spot to 18th with 374 units (1,175 YTD). Porsche in 19th (221 units; 1,726 YTD) and MINI in 20th (205 units; 1,465 YTD) complete the top 20 list.

    Top 20 brands in Aug 2025 – Perodua, Proton, Toyota, Honda, Jaecoo stay top five; Tesla goes up to 16th

     
  • Mandatory seatbelt use in passenger vehicles to be enforced soon, all occupants need to buckle up – JPJ

    Mandatory seatbelt use in passenger vehicles to be enforced soon, all occupants need to buckle up – JPJ

    The road transport department (JPJ) has announced that it will soon begin enforcing the mandatory use of seatbelts for all drivers and passengers in private vehicles nationwide. The department’s director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, did not disclose the exact date for the start of enforcement, but said there would be a period of advocacy before that happens.

    He said programmes such as the Klik Sebelum Gerak campaign, which was launched yesterday, would highlight the necessity of seatbelt use for all vehicle occupants, including rear passengers, the New Straits Times reports.

    “In line with this campaign, we will announce the enforcement of seatbelt use for passengers of private cars in due course. For now, we are beginning with the Klik Sebelum Gerak campaign first, and later we will confirm the date for (the seatbelt) enforcement for car passengers,” he said.

    Once enforcement begins, individuals who fail to wear seatbelts could face fines of up to RM300 under the Motor Vehicles (Seatbelt and Child Restraint System) Rules 1978 (Amendment 2019).

    Mandatory seatbelt use in passenger vehicles to be enforced soon, all occupants need to buckle up – JPJ

    Aedy Fadly added that JPJ was committed to making seatbelt use a national safety norm and culture in order to protect the lives of all road users. “In this regard, using seatbelts helps keep drivers and passengers securely seated during a crash, unlike those without seatbelts who are at a significantly higher risk of injury,” he said.

    The mandatory use of seatbelts across all occupied seats in a vehicle is not new, with the ruling already having been in place since 2009. However, enforcement of this was short-lived, and despite advocacy campaigns and strong suggestions made for its implementation over the years, the lack of fines has meant that most rear occupants remain unbelted inside a moving vehicle.

    There is of course the point that enforcement of the searbelt ruling means that vehicles will need to carry the exact number of occupants permitted according to the vehicle, which would mean that a driver could be fined for carrying more passengers than allowed. The question is, will this put an end to the rather often-found scenario of “five (or more) at the back” in a five-seater vehicle? As always, the answers in due course.

     
  • 2026 Yamaha YZR-M1 V-four unveiled for next season

    2026 Yamaha YZR-M1 V-four unveiled for next season

    Here’s a first look at the 2026 Yamaha YZR-M1 prototype MotoGP race bike. Set to debut this weekend at Misano, Italy, during the San Marino GP, Yamaha hopes this machine will revive its flagging fortunes in MotoGP.

    Having turned in inconsistent performances over the last four years, this new engine configuration for the YZR-M1 is hoped to be able to turn things around for the Monster Energy Yamaha Racing team. The V-four is a new engine configuration for Yamaha in MotoGP, having previously used the inline-four engine going back decades.

    With rivals Ducati having seen resounding success over the past six years with the Desmosedici V-four, it can be seen Yamaha is serious about wanting to wrest the MotoGP crown back and its last world championship in 2021 with Fabio Quartararo.

    2026 Yamaha YZR-M1 V-four unveiled for next season

    The latest iteration of the YZR-M1 will be campaigned in Misano’s Circuit Marco Simoncelli by Augusto Fernandez, Quartararo’s team mate. However, there is o confirmation the V-four YZR-M1 will ru a full season instead of the inline-four, although it was said during the unveiling press conference, “insisting publicly that the more competitive of the two bikes would be the chosen one.”

    Yamaha managing director Paolo Pavesio also insisted a decision could only be taken after a competitive debut, according to Yamaha Factory Racing press release. With the entry of the YZR-M1 V-four into MotoGP, Yamaha will face stiff competition from Ducati, with the Desmosedici in development since 2001, and KTM with the KTM RC16, as well as the Aprilia RS-GP, both launched in 2016.

     
  • JPJ eBid: KGD and SU-P number plates up for bidding

    JPJ has announced that KGD and SU-P are the next number plate series to go up for bidding on its online auction platform, JPJ eBid.

    Kedah’s latest running number series is ‘KGD’, and it opens for tender today, September 12. The bidding period on JPJeBid is five days, ending 10pm on September 16. As usual, the results will be out the following day. The whole process is online now, as it has been for some time, and bidders will get the good (or bad) news via email.

    Also available on JPJ eBid is the Sabah series ‘SU-P’. The bidding period started on September 11 and will close at 10pm on September 15. Results will be out the day after the auction closes.

    New car coming soon and want a nice number plate for the new ride? Why not DIY and skip the reseller’s markup and runner fees? If you have never bid for a number yourself, check out our step-by-step guide on how to navigate JPJ eBid and the techniques needed to get your preferred number at “retail price”.

     
  • Proton Iriz production ends after 11 years – last body produced on Sept 9, no more Proton hatch since 1994

    Proton Iriz production ends after 11 years – last body produced on Sept 9, no more Proton hatch since 1994

    Pour one out for the Proton Iriz, production of which has apparently ended this week with the last body, #97576, having been churned out by the Tanjong Malim plant on September 9. That’s according to the above image that has surfaced on the Proton Iriz Club Malaysia (PICM) Facebook group, quashing any hope of the hatchback receiving a Saga-style makeover.

    While the national carmaker has yet to announce the news publicly (and the car is still listed on the official website), it’s likely that sales will end quietly, as was the case with the Exora MPV in 2023. This means that Proton will soon be without a hatch in its lineup for the first time since it launched the Mitsubishi Mirage-based Satria way back in 1994 (1987 if you count the Saga Aeroback, although that was more a liftback).

    It’s a case of what could have been for the Iriz, which was launched with much fanfare almost exactly 11 years ago as the car that would take the Proton name overseas and save the company. You can trace the model’s roots all the way back to 2010 with the Giugiaro-designed EMAS concept (not to be confused with the eMas 7 EV that took the name 14 years later) that made headlines at the Geneva Motor Show that year.

    Not much of Proton’s splashy period actually came to fruition – remember that it was also during this time that it brought range extender EVs to the UK and made the now-infamous announcement to launch five new Lotus models at the Paris show. But just three years later, the world would catch a glimpse of what the EMAS was turning into with the first spyshots of what was then known as the Global Small Car (GSC).

    Proton EMAS Concept (left), the first Global Small Car spyshot

    Yours truly joined paultan.org in early 2014, just as development of the car was properly gaining speed, with photos of disguised prototypes being sent to our inbox seemingly every week. It was a truly astonishing period as we learnt more and more about the car as the months progressed, with whispers of “Myvi killer” suggesting that Proton was serious about trying to beat Perodua at its own game.

    The Iriz eventually made its debut on September 25 that year (who could forget the tagline “Betul2 Onz”?). Offered in 1.3 and 1.6 litre versions and retailing between RM42,438 to RM62,888, it was priced to tackle the Myvi head-on and specced to beat it – particularly where safety was concerned. I even managed to become one of the first people to drive the car at the launch, describing it as a promising but flawed machine.

    Unfortunately for Proton, Perodua cut its legs from under it by launching the smaller and cheaper Axia just ten days before it, stealing its thunder. Only one of these two cars ever received a second generation – take a guess as to which one.

    In the end, the Iriz never quite managed to meet the frankly unrealistic expectations it was burdened with. That caused a dramatic curtailing of its future plans – it never did manage to get exported to the UK, Australia or Europe (although it did end up being turned into an R5 rally car in the UK, achieving modest success), and it also never received the driver assistance package it was tested with, even as Perodua rolled out its own Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) technology across its lineup.

    Electric (left) and turbo versions of the Iriz never made production

    Neither did the Iriz receive the electric version that it was designed for – and which resulted in the car’s tallboy design – nor the sportier turbocharged engine (paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, no less) that was teased; those Proton firsts ended up going to later Geely-developed products. We still haven’t forgiven the company for denying us the pukka Iriz R3 of our dreams.

    To its credit, Proton did give the Iriz several updates over time to address issues with refinement and CVT performance. These included two significant facelifts in 2019 and 2021 thanks to Geely investment, the last one turning it into a surprisingly attractive car and finally bringing the rugged-looking Active variant into production (albeit in significantly watered-down form).

    Proton Iriz production ends after 11 years – last body produced on Sept 9, no more Proton hatch since 1994

    The Iriz also sired a sedan version in 2016 in the shape of the third-generation Persona. That car ended up becoming more successful, repeating the effect seen on the previous model versus the Gen.2 and indicating that Proton arguably should have led with the four-door version first. As yet, there is no news about whether production of the Persona would end alongside the Iriz, although we suspect it will soldier on for a couple more years at least.

    I think we’ve said enough about the Iriz, which will be fondly remembered (our own Hafriz Shah will – he even bought one!) despite not setting the sales charts on fire. Take a bow, you likeable not-so-Global Small Car, and enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

    GALLERY: 2021 Proton Iriz Active in Malaysia

     
 
 
 

Latest Fuel Prices

PETROL
RON 95 RM2.05 (0.00)
RON 97 RM3.18 (+0.02)
RON 100 RM5.00
VPR RM6.13
DIESEL
EURO 5 B10 RM2.90 (+0.02)
EURO 5 B7 RM3.10 (+0.02)
Last Updated Sep 11, 2025

Latest Videos




Tools