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MINI Aceman review – smaller than the Countryman; does a more compact EV crossover mean more fun?
The MINI Aceman broke cover in April this year to bring a new bodystyle to the British marque’s line-up, placed in the gap between the Cooper hatchback and the Countryman SUV, and its powertrain is where it is distinguished from its rangemates; the Aceman is BEV-only.
Size-wise, the Aceman measures 4,076 mm long, 1,754 mm wide, 1,515 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,606 mm. For comparison, the Cooper hatchback is 3,858 mm long with a 2,526 mm wheelbase, and the Countryman is 4,433 mm long with a 2,692 mm wheelbase.
In Malaysia, the Aceman arrived in a sole SE version priced at RM213,888, and that brings a single, front-mounted drive motor that outputs 218 PS and 330 Nm that can propel the Aceman from 0-100 km/h in 7.1 seconds and to a top speed of 170 km/h. Its nickel-cobalt manganese (NCM) battery pack has a capacity of 54.2 kWh, yielding up to 406 km of range (WLTP).
MINI Aceman SE in Malaysia Charging via AC can be done at up to 11 kW, while DC charging is possible at up to 95 kW, and the latter will bring a 10-80% state of charge in 30 minutes. In terms of driver assistance, included in the Aceman are lane change warning, speed limit info, passive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, and front collision warning with brake intervention (AEB).
The Malaysian-spec Aceman SE gets 19-inch ‘Hexagram’ spoke wheels, roof rails, and skid plates, while the cabin gets Vescin leatherette upholstery in Dark Petrol colour, dual-zone climate control, powered John Cooper Works front seats with memory function, a sport steering wheel, an anthracite headliner, a wireless charging tray and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
What is it like at the controls of the MINI Aceman? Watch the video review as our man Jonathan Lee logs his impressions of the new EV model from a drive in Denmark.
GALLERY: MINI Aceman SE in Malaysia
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Subaru BRZ STI Sport Purple Edition to debut at 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon alongside WRX, Levorg Layback
Subaru has announced its line-up for next year’s Tokyo Auto Salon (2025) which will take place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba from January 10 to 12.
The first model being touted is the BRZ STI Sport Purple Edition, which is special edition model that will be sold in limited numbers in Japan. Based on the existing STI Sport grade of the sports car that is on sale in Japan, the highlight of this car is its Galaxy Purple Pearl paint, which is accompanied by black accents, a range of STI performance parts as well as an interior decorated with silver and grey accents.
Also on stage will be the WRX S4 STI Sport R-Black Limited that also gets a good amount of STI goodies, plus a black interior.
Another dark-themed show car is the Levorg Layback Black Selection, which takes the jacked-up wagon and transforms into a black (exterior) on black (interior) offering, also with STI performance parts. Continuing on, we arrived at the curiously-named Crosstrek Strong Hybrid that is just a STI-kitted Premium S:HEV EX grade.
Subaru will also showcase a few of its race cars too, including the latest BRZ GT300 that will compete in the Super GT 2025 championship, the WRX NBR Challenge (SP4T class in the NBR Challenge 2025) as well as the High Performance X Future Concept, the last of which is a race-prepped WRX for the ST-Q class of the Super Taikyu series.
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2025 Hyundai Palisade detailed: 2.5T petrol and hybrid, up to 334 PS, over 1,000 km range, 9-seat option
It’s been about a week and a half since the new Hyundai Palisade was revealed, and now that pre-sales have started in South Korea, the company has released some details of the car’s powertrain and features. In particular, the 3.8 litre naturally-aspirated petrol V6 and 2.2 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engines have been replaced by a full 2.5 litre four-pot turbocharged lineup in petrol and hybrid forms.
Let’s start with the new hybrid, which uses a slightly detuned version of the 2.5 litre mill, producing 262 PS at 5,800 rpm and 353 Nm of torque from 1,800 to 4,500 rpm. This is paired with a 73 PS/264 Nm electric motor, a six-speed automatic and a 1.65 kWh battery for a total system output of 334 PS. With a 72 litre fuel tank, Hyundai is claiming a total range of over 1,000 km.
The carmaker also says the hybrid model is able to use the electric motor to smoothen out the ride and improve the handling. There are also new features such as Electric Evasive Handling Assist (E-EHA), which uses the electric motor in addition to the brakes to aid evasive steering manoeuvres, as well as Electrically-assisted Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control (e-DTVC).
Additionally, the Palisade Hybrid has a vehicle-to-load function and a new Stay Mode, the latter reserving battery charge to allow for air conditioning and infotainment system usage without the engine on (for a certain period of time, of course) once you reach your destination.
The Palisade is also offered in pure petrol form, replacing the 3.8 litre V6. Despite dropping two cylinders and over a litre in swept volume, the force-induction mill has higher outputs of 281 PS at 5,800 rpm and 422 Nm of torque between 1,700 and 4,000 rpm. It is mated to an eight-speed auto and has a combined fuel efficiency of 9.7 km per litre. Both the petrol and hybrid models can be had with front or all-wheel drive.
As previously reported, the Palisade is now available as a nine-seater with a front centre seat and a second-row bench, not only making it eligible for bus lane use in Korea but also tax exemptions for private buyers and VAT refunds for businesses. A seven-seater with second-row captain’s chairs is also offered.
To make room for more seats, the Palisade has grown by 65 mm in length to 5,060 mm, while the wheelbase has expanded by 70 mm to 2,970 mm. The boxy design certainly takes advantage of the increased dimensions, with stacked vertical daytime running lights and taillights, large slatted grille and lashings of chrome giving the massive SUV plenty of road presence.
Inside the lounge-like cabin, you get a distinctive inverted U-shaped dashboard forming a hood for the 12.3-inch instrument and infotainment displays, along with an “island” centre console – the latter accessible on the nine-seater model by folding down the centre seat. Here, you’ll find a 100-watt USB-C charging port (good for charging even laptops), a Qi wireless charger and an armrest that opens from both sides.
To protect anyone sitting in the middle in crashes, the passenger airbag has been expanded, ensuring coverage for all three front occupants. The second-row, meanwhile, can slide, recline and fold electrically, with the seven-seater model gaining additional controls on the armrest and an optional massage function.
Meanwhile, third-row passengers benefit from larger windows and second-row seats that can tilt and slide (even with a baby seat attached) 92 mm further forwards compared to on the previous Palisade, aiding entry and egress. Even the third row can be slid forwards and back some 110 mm which, together with the 35 mm longer rear overhang, increases boot space to 615 litres.
For the first time on a Hyundai SUV, the Palisade comes with preview electronic controlled suspension (ECS), which uses sensors and the navigation system to predict the road surface and driving situation, adjusting the damping force to suit. This reduces pitching and rolling body movements, increasing comfort. There’s also thicker glass to improve noise isolation, as well as crosswind stability control (CSC).
Other new features include an optional built-in dash cam that provides up to four days of recording when parked and a washer for both the reverse and digital rear-view mirror cameras. The Palisade is also available with a fingerprint reader (to save personal preferences, make payments and start the car), a 14-speaker Bose sound system, the Hyundai Digital Key 2 and an AI-enhanced voice control system.
Also on offer is a full suite of driver assistance functions, such as autonomous emergency braking with crossing traffic and oncoming vehicle (during overtaking manoeuvres) detection, nagivation-based adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction, lane centring assist, lane change assist, blind spot monitoring with collision avoidance, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, door opening warning, remote parking assist (now controllable through a smartphone app), reverse AEB and an advanced rear seat reminder.
Prices for the new Palisade range from 43,830,000 won (RM136,000) to 57,940,000 won (RM179,800) for the 2.5 litre turbo petrol model and from 49,820,000 won (RM154,600) to 64,240,000 won (RM199,400) for the hybrid. Deliveries will start from mid-January, with the hybrid following suit later in the first half of 2025.
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Agility7 by Mercedes-Benz Financial Malaysia – new 7-year tenure, lower monthly payments from RM2,388
The coveted three-pointed star is more attainable than ever with the new Agility7 plan by Mercedes-Benz Financial Malaysia. It’s the same Agility+ payment plan that you know and love, but with a flexible loan tenure that stretches to seven years, up from the previous maximum of five years.
Applicable to selected models such as the A-Class, C-Class, GLA and GLB, Agility7 features lower monthly repayments from just RM2,388 to go with the seven-year tenure, making the dream Mercedes-Benz model more accessible to first time Mercedes-Benz buyers.
For instance, the monthly repayment for a Mercedes-Benz A200 on Agility7 is from RM2,388, which is over RM800 less than the starting monthly repayment for Agility+ – it’s the same for the C200, which is from RM2,788 a month with Agility7. Put simply, it’s perfect for those looking to step into the world of Mercedes-Benz.
Exclusive benefits such as those seen in Agility+ are also offered here. Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) provides peace of mind and certainty – drive with confidence knowing that the future value of your Mercedes-Benz is secured, and nothing is left to chance.
Agility7 is also highly customisable. No two drivers are the same, with the similar needs and lifestyle, which is why the plan allows you to tailor your upfront payment and mileage requirements specifically to your needs. Flexibility also comes to the fore at the end of the tenure – you can either choose to return the car*, extend the loan, or settle to take full ownership of the car – it’s your call.
Those who sign up with Agility7 also get to enjoy additional benefits such as MobilityPlus and Service Packages to enhance your Mercedes-Benz ownership experience. A dedicated Mercedes-Benz Financial team is ready to offer personalised assistance.
Enjoy all the sophistication, performance, and prestige of a Mercedes-Benz on your terms with the new Agility7 plan – full details here
*Terms and conditions apply
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Proton eMas 7 warranty – full battery replacement if SoH falls below 70% within 8 years or 160,000 km
Without doubt the most important EV launch in Malaysia this year, the eMas 7 is Proton’s first production battery-electric vehicle. As a national carmaker, its products are geared towards the Malaysian masses, many of whom may be new to EVs and therefore still wary of taking the plunge.
Besides range anxiety, the battery is one of the most questioned aspects among those new to EVs – what is the battery’s lifespan? What if there’s a problem with the battery? Valid questions, and we’re sure people asked the same questions about combustion engines 140 years ago. We certainly did with hybrids!
Well, apart from a six-year/unlimited mileage warranty that applies to the vehicle, the Proton eMas 7 is sold with an eight-year/160,000 km EV warranty, which covers the EV components and the battery. We checked with Proton – if the battery’s state of health dips below 70% within those eight years, Proton will replace the entire battery for free, just like BYD and Chery. How’s that for peace of mind?
Moreover, according to Proton, internal tests show that after 921 complete charge and discharge cycles – which is equivalent to a mileage of 400,000 km – battery state of health is 90.5%, which ‘far exceeds international standards’.
With RM105,800 Prime and RM119,800 Premium variants (promo prices for the first 3,000 buyers), the Proton eMas 7’s 218 PS/320 Nm front-mounted electric motor is fed by Geely’s Aegis short blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, with capacities of 49.52 kWh for the Prime (enabling a 345 km WLTP range) and 60.22 kWh for the Premium (410 km).
Learn all about the Proton eMas 7 in our launch story, first drive report and walk-around video.
GALLERY: Proton eMas 7 Premium
GALLERY: Proton eMas 7 Prime
GALLERY: Proton eMas 7 colour variants
GALLERY: Proton eMas 7 brochure, price list
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2025 Toyota Alphard/Vellfire gain 2.5L PHEV variants – 306 PS; 73 km EV range; Executive Lounge; fr RM306k
Just over a year after the global debut of the fourth-generation Alphard and Vellfire, Toyota has now announced that it will begin selling both MPVs with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain in Japan from January 31, 2025.
According to Toyota, the PHEV version of the Alphard and Vellfire will have an electric-only range of 73 km following the WLTC standard (more accurate than NEDC but with less procedures as WLTP) Said PHEV powertrain has similarities to the series-parallel hybrid (HEV) system already on sale, including the use of an A25A-FXS 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine and an E-CVT (electric continuously variable transmission).
However, the PHEV’s engine has lower outputs of 177 PS (174 hp or 130 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 219 Nm of torque at 3,600 rpm. By comparison, the HEV’s engine serves up 190 PS (188 hp or 140 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 236 Nm from 4,300 to 4,500 rpm.
Another difference is the battery capacity, which is listed at 51 Ah for the PHEV while the HEV’s unit is 5 Ah. The PHEV’s lithium-ion battery is mounted under the floor in the centre of the vehicle, which Toyota says reduces the centre of gravity by 35 mm compared to HEV models.
The new PHEV models support both AC and DC charging, the latter capable of getting the battery to an 80% state of charge (presumably from 20%) in 38 minutes. In the footnotes, Toyota says rapid charging is with a charger capable of delivering an output of 50 kW or higher at a maximum current output of 125A.
An external power supply delivering up to 1.5 kW (AC 100V) is also equipped as standard, and the vehicles also come with a vehicle-to-home (V2H) system. With a full battery charge and a full tank of gas, this system can provide enough electricity for about 5.5 days of use, assuming the average household consumes 10 kWh daily.
While many aspects of the PHEV powertrain differ from the HEV, the electric motors are identical between the two. All Alphard and Vellfire PHEV models come with the brand’s E-Four system as standard, which features a 5NM front electric motor rated at 182 PS (180 hp or 134 kW) and 270 Nm, while the rear 4NM electric motor serves up 54 PS (54 hp or 40 kW) and 121 Nm.
The total system output of the PHEV system is 306 PS (302 hp or 225 kW), which is higher than the HEV and even turbocharged variants. As for fuel economy, the touted combined WLTC figure is 16.7 km/l, about 1 km/l better than the HEV options.
It’s worth pointing out that the PHEV models are only available in six-seat Executive Lounge guise and they aren’t cheap. The Alphard PHEV retails for 10.65 million yen (about RM306k), while the Vellfire PHEV is slightly more at 10.85 million yen (RM312k). For context, only the PHEV variants cross the 10-million-yen (RM287k) mark in Japan, with every other Alphard and Vellfire option being priced below that.
Toyota also claims improved comfort with the PHEV models, which produce minimal noise and vibration while in electric-only mode. The air-conditioning system can be operated without needing the engine to be started, useful to negate engine idling while the driver waits to pick-up passengers.
Other improvements mentioned include a new Smooth Stop control system that suppresses sudden nosedives when decelerating to help stabilise passenger seating positions. Specific equipment for the PHEV models includes 19-inch aluminium wheels with silver sputtering paint, a woodgrain steering wheel and a ceiling covered in Ultrasuede.
In addition to introducing PHEV variants, improvements have also been made to the petrol-only and HEV versions of the Alphard and Vellfire. These include an updated platform that is said to offer a better riding experience and comfort, while all variants now come standard with a Digital Inner Mirror that includes built-in dashcams front and rear.
The Z and Z Premier grades are now available with a 15-speaker JBL sound system and a 14-inch rear-seat entertainment system, while other updates include an eight-seat X grade for the Alphard HEV and three exterior body colours are offered for the Vellfire, including a new exclusive Precious Metal hue.
Customers can also get a Welcab version in X grade, which is a seven-seater with a side lift-up tilt seat. For those that want something similar to the Lexus LM but can’t afford that, Toyota Auto Body offers a four-seat version of the Alphard called the Spacious Lounge. This can be had with either a HEV or PHEV powertrain, and it comes with 420 mm more legroom than the base model, lounge-like seats with headrest speakers, a luggage clothes rack as well as a refrigerator.
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Renault 5 Turbo 3E – dual rear motors, over 500 PS, 0-100 km/h in 3.5s; EV hot hatch to enter production
A hatchback has always been a natural candidate for a high-performance derivative, and Renault is no stranger to the category, and so the Renault 5 EV that made its debut in February this year has now spawned the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
This is “a modern, electric take” on the Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 from the 1980s, says Renault, and it builds upon the Renault 5 powertrain with a pair of electric motors, one driving each rear wheel for a combined output of more than 500 PS. Thus equipped, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is capable of the 0-100 km/h acceleration run in 3.5 seconds, says Renault.
Battery specifications for the Turbo 3E have yet to be disclosed, though for reference the standard Renault 5 EV packs a 40 kWh battery or a 52 kWh battery, the latter offering up to 400 km of range (WLTP) for the standard EV hatchback.
As shown here, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E wears a much more aggressively styled body compared to the standard car. The Turbo 3E gets larger alloy wheels shod in lower-profile tyres, and these appear to be positioned for wider track widths front and rear, given the significantly widened wheelarches which are square-edged of a modern rally car fashion.
The Turbo 3E also gets a lower and more protruding front bumper, which features restyled headlamps, a slightly enlarged trio of air inlets along the upper edge of the bumper, and a restyled set of four-LED daytime running lights.
Towards the rear, one of the air intakes ahead of the rear wheel arches is where the battery charging socket is located, and the enlarged rear wheelarches extend to make room for vents at the base of each tail lamp. Below these, a significantly extended rear bumper takes on a diffuser-esque form.
The marque says that the Renault Turbo 3E is built around a carbon superstructure that is ‘lightweight and extremely stiff’, though a kerb weight figure was not revealed. As a baseline, the standard Renault 5 EV is claimed to weigh under 1,500 kg.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E isn’t just a design exercise, as Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has confirmed that it will enter production in the future. More will be revealed about the Renault 5 Turbo 3E in subsequent publicity material next year, says the company, which suggests a production debut in 2026.
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Pas Mutiara My50 – free Penang bus rides to continue in 2025, RM7 mil subsidy allocated for 280,000 passes
The Penang state government has decided to continue funding the Pas Mutiara My50 programme in 2025, announcing an allocation of RM7 million for 280,000 passes. As such, Rapid Penang bus services throughout the state will remain free for those utilising the pass under this initiative, said state infrastructure and transport exco member Zairil Khir Johari.
Penang began offering the Pas Mutiara My50 unlimited travel pass in March 2021, with an allocation of 100,000 passes (equivalent to RM3 million) being offered that year. The programe, which was introduced to ease commuter burdens during the Covid-19 pandemic, was renewed in 2022 and has been in place since then.
For 2024, a total of 194,497 passes have been subscribed or renewed as of November, with an average of 17,682 new subscriptions per month, the New Straits Timesreports.
“The Pas Mutiara has gained significant popularity, with steady increases in both card sales and ridership. This trend is expected to continue, especially with the introduction of new bus routes via demand responsive transit (DRT) for on-demand bookings,” he said via a statement.
He added that the state would maintain 15 free CAT Bridge buses for 2025. Ten buses will operate on the CAT 13 route from Seberang Jaya to Bayan Lepas, while five buses will cover the CAT 14 route from Bukit Mertajam to Komtar.
Zairil hoped that the initiative would encourage more Penang residents to use public transport instead of private vehicles, which would result in savings on petrol, parking and tolls.
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Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore, 1,000 unit limited edition
Celebrating Italian design and manufacturing is the Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore, to be madam a limited edition run of 1,000 units worldwide. In Malaysia, the standard Ducati Panigale V4 is priced at RM182,900 for 2025.
Coming in an asymmetric colour scheme designed by Aldo Drudi together with Centro Stile Ducati in the colours of the Italian flag, the Panigale V4 Tricolore pays homage to the Ducati 750 F1. For Ducati, the Tricolore livery is reserved for the most prestigious versions of Ducati superbikes, ever since the first 851 Desmoquattro in 1988.
Taking the seventh generation of the Panigale, the V4 unveiled during World Ducati Week last July, the Panigale V4 Tricolore combines the colours of the Italian flag with the black and white of the checkered flag adorning on the lower part of the fairing. The number plates with the number one celebrate Ducati’s racing success across the decades.
Setting the Panigale V4 Tricolore apart from the standard Panigale V4 is five-spoke carbon-fibre wheels, reducing weight by 0.95 kg compared to the forged units of the Panigale V4S. This lowers the moment of inertia by 12% at the front and 19% at the rear, improving handling response.
Braking is similarly upgraded, with the inclusion of Front Brake Pro consisting of a pair of finned Brembo T-Drive discs measuring 338.5 mm in diameter, increasing braking power and performance. Derived from the racing discs mounted in the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) Panigale race motorcycle, the discs are paired with Brembo Hypure callipers and Brembo MCS 19.21 master cylinder with remote brake lever position adjustment, identical to the setup used in Ducati’s MotoGP and WSBK bikes.
Unique to the Panigale V4 Tricolore is a dry clutch, adjustable footpegs in solid aluminum, and a GPS module. Also included for track use is a racing tank cap in solid aluminum, brake caliper ducts, open clutch cover in carbon-fibre and rear licence plate delete kit.
Every Panigale V4 Tricolore will come with a machined aluminium plate on the upper triple clamp with the model name and edition number, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and edition specific motorcycle cover in a special personalised box. Owners will have the option of purchasing a limited-edition helmet and jacket featuring the Panigale V4 Tricolore colour scheme.
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BYD Atto 2 to launch in UK, Europe – it’s the Yuan Up
The BYD Yuan Up is going to launch in the UK and Europe as soon as next month, wearing a BYD Atto 2 name tag. Bridging the Dolphin–Atto 3 gap, the little SUV will go up against the likes of the Opel/Vauxhall Frontera, the MG ES5 (the ZS EV‘s replacement) and the Suzuki eVitara/Toyota Urban Cruiser twins.
From the single photo we have, we can see that the BYD Atto 2 (at least for Europe) wears a simpler-looking lower bumper – China’s Yuan Up has a busier double-upturned U design. Different wheels, too.
First unveiled in February in China, the Yuan Up is 4,310 mm long (-145 mm versus Atto 3), 1,830 mm wide (-45 mm) and 1,675 mm tall (+60 mm). Its 2,620 mm wheelbase is 100 mm down on the Atto 3.
For further context, the Dolphin is 4,290 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, 1,570 mm tall and its wheelbase measures 2,700 mm. To draw comparisons, the Yuan Up is slightly larger than a Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3.
Chinese-market BYD Yuan Up pictured Same e-Platform 3.0 as on the Dolphin, Atto 3 (also called the Yuan Plus) and Seal. Citing a Green NCAP report, Auto Express says that the Euro-spec Atto 2 will get a 42.4 kWh battery and a range of between 310 and 463 km (China gets 32 kWh and 45.1 kWh batteries for 301 km and 401 km respectively).
For the motor, it seems the Continent will get the 177 PS/290 Nm one, which is the more potent of the two options in China (the other is a 95 PS unit), yielding a 7.9-second century sprint time.
Auto Express reports that the Atto 2 features a rotatable 12.8-inch touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument panel, wireless phone charging and crystal gear lever, just like the Yuan Up. Those centre air-con vents look like they’re mounted pretty low in the dashboard, being in line with the glovebox opener.
UK prices should start from well under £30k (RM169k), AE says. The existence of a right-hand drive car gives us much hope – the Atto 3 is doing very well in Malaysia, so what do you think of its smaller sibling’s chances here?
Chinese-market BYD Yuan Up
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2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: style, seven-seat versatility, hybrid/diesel powertrains, 8-yr hybrid battery warranty
Having been present in Malaysia for nigh on two decades, the Hyundai Santa Fe needs no introduction as far as nameplates go. Various iterations of the large seven-seat SUV have served many families, their tag-along friends and their gear on almost everything from school runs to full-on balik kampung journeys.
Launched in Malaysia in September, the 2024 Santa Fe boasts significant upgrades over the original fourth-generation model – with the most prominent being a new platform – to once again offer versatile and stylish family transport like no other.
This new platform features a subframe that has changed from an H shape to a pound shape, and an improved rear cross member bushing, to more efficiently absorb the impact from the tyres and suspension for a smoother, comfortable ride. Prioritising your family’s safety, this Hyundai third generation platform also comes with increased composition of ultra-high tensile strength steel to improve overall collision safety.
The styling is bold, distinctive and unmistakably Hyundai – the full-width geometric-pattern grille is seamlessly merged with the headlamps, and a clamped lower intake creates a balanced, wide stance. T-shaped LED DRLs create a unique signature, and a seamless line connects them to the tail lamps. A wide rear reflector and skid plate form a striking three-layered aesthetic. Head-turning? You bet.
The spacious, practical and classy interior features liberal use of premium soft-touch materials, while the elevated centre console creates an armchair-like experience for those up front. The push-button gear selector – courtesy of shift-by-wire – is intuitive to use while freeing up centre console space, and access to all seats are a doddle thanks to one-touch walk-in and folding. With comfort levels this high, you and your family will definitely be looking forward to long-distance drives.
There are two powertrains spread over three variants: the RM195,888 Hybrid Plus, RM209,888 Diesel Max and RM215,888 Hybrid Max, all prices being on-the-road before insurance. Let’s first look at the Hybrid – it’s the first Santa Fe hybrid in Malaysia and the second locally-assembled (CKD) Hyundai hybrid after the IONIQ Hybrid in 2016.
The Hybrid marries a 180 PS/265 Nm 1.6 litre direct-injected turbo petrol engine with a six-speed auto and a 44.2 kW electric motor to send a combined 230 PS and 350 Nm of torque to the front wheels. The Smartstream hybrid engine features the world’s first Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology, enabling optimised performance by adjusting the valve duration based on driving conditions.
With respectable performance and the ability to travel up to 1,288 km on a 67-litre fuel tank – indeed, the first hybrid D-segment seven-seater SUV to be capable of this – you truly get the best of both worlds. Plus, there’s an eight-year, unlimited mileage hybrid battery warranty, and if the battery’s state of health dips under 70% within those eight years, Hyundai will swap defective cells free of charge. How’s that for total peace of mind?
Sitting in between the two hybrid variants is the Diesel Max, which carries the proven 2.2 litre CRDi turbodiesel engine that delivers 193 PS and 440 Nm of torque to all wheels through the HTRAC all-wheel drive system and an eight-speed wet DCT.
No matter what variant you choose, you get a five-year, 300,000 km vehicle warranty, six airbags, the Level 2 autonomous driving system – Hyundai SmartSense safety suite that includes Smart Cruise Control and Forward Collision Assist (FCA) that can detect cars, pedestrians and even cyclists, plus an eight-inch touch-screen with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and voice recognition, auto wipers, shift paddles, six speakers and wireless phone charging.
The Max variants have a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument panel, a head-up display, blind spot view monitor, surround view monitor and a power tailgate, while the range-topping Hybrid Max exclusively gets ventilated front seats and driver’s seat memory. Alloys are 17s for the Hybrid Plus, 19s for the Hybrid Max and 20s for the Diesel Max.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presents an altogether compelling package, made all the more so by four striking colours – Snowflake White Pearl, Jet Black, Meteor Grey and Stormy Sea. But don’t just take our word for it – take a closer look and possibly a test spin at your nearest Hyundai showroom. Don’t miss out on Hyundai’s Year End Deals either! Enjoy a limited-time RM10,000 discount on the Santa Fe, plus an extra RM5,000 rebate for service and maintenance. Register your interest here and visit Hyundai Malaysia on Facebook and Instagram for the latest information.
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Nio to launch new firefly sub-brand on December 21 – first model is an EV hatchback on sale in 1H 2025
Nio has announced its third brand called firefly, which will be launched on December 21 during Nio Day 2024. firefly (actually spelt in lower case) will join the namesake and premium Nio brand as well as the more family-oriented Onvo, the latter making its debut in May this year.
According to the Shanghai-based automaker, firefly is positioned in the “boutique compact car market” and is described as a “a symbol of innovation and sophistication in a smaller package” in the company’s press release.
The first firefly model will go on sale in the first half of 2025, although the company isn’t providing much in the way of details for now. However, CarNewsChina reports that the new brand will initially debut a compact electric hatchback with a swappable battery, which has been a longstanding technology that Nio includes in its offerings.
Back in July, Nio founder, chairman and CEO William Li confirmed that firefly vehicles will get their own dedicated battery swap stations. As such, the new brand will not share existing stations with the Nio and Onvo brands, likely due to packaging reasons considering the more compact dimensions.
firefly’s first model is expected to be priced between 100,000 and 200,000 yuan (about RM62k and RM124) – possibly less with the company’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) factored in. This fits in with the brand’s positioning under Onvo, which currently offers the L60 that starts from 206,900 yuan (RM128k), and will enable Nio to take on the BYD Dolphin and other EVs that are within said price range.
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PLUS Malaysia activates Smartlane in 25 locations; Dec 20 – Jan 2, 2025 for Christmas, year-end season
Highway operator PLUS Malaysia has announced that it will be activating the Smartlane on sections of its highway over the coming Christmas festive season as well as for the end-of-year holiday. This will be activated at 25 locations from today, December 20 until January 2, 2025.
PLUS Malaysia is preparing for the increase in traffic volume to 2.12 million vehicles a day for the Christmas and year-end holiday season on these dates, compared to 1.85 million vehicles daily on regular days, it said in a statement.
As with prior Smartlane activations, a signboard to indicate an upcoming Smartlane will be posted 1 km before the Smartlane, followed by another at 500 m before the location. Within each Smartlane zone, there will be reminder signboards every 500 m, and a signboard to indicate the end of the Smartlane.
PLUS Malaysia has also installed flashing green lights on Smartlane signboards to indicate their activation. Meanwhile, the highway operator has allocated 1,500 staff to assist with toll plaza operations, more than 1,500 operational toll lanes, more than 500 PLUSRonda and LPT2Ronda patrol staff, as well as to open all public toilets, suraus and R&R petrol stations which are operational 24 hours daily.
The following is the list of locations in Peninsular Malaysia where the Smartlane will be activated nationwide:
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2025 Kia Syros debuts in India – sub-4m SUV between Sonet, Seltos; 1.0T petrol or 1.5T diesel; Level 2 ADAS
Kia India has unveiled the Syros, which is a sub-four-metre SUV that sits between the Sonet and Seltos in the company’s line-up. Order taking for the all-new model will only be start from January 3 next year, although there’s no disclosure of pricing for now.
Built on the K1 platform, the Syros measures 3,995 mm long, 1,805 mm wide, 1,625 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 2,550 mm. As with recent Kia models, the compact SUV adopts the ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, with cues highlighted being the brand’s ‘Digital Tiger Face’ and signature ‘Star Map’ LED lighting – the latter sees the daytime running lights and cube-style headlamps being tucked into the corners of the front end.
The boxy-shaped SUV also features a notched bonnet, prominent haunches, flush door handles as well as thick B-pillars in body colour. By this point, you get the sense that the Syros’ styling will divide opinion, and that’s before moving to the rear where you find an upright tailgate that sports a large rear window that blends into large C-pillars. Rear lighting is represented by L-shaped LED clusters framing the rear window.
If you can get past the eyebrow-raising exterior, the cabin of the Syros is far more normal. Seemingly inspired by the EV3, contrasting colours used for the interior trim and upholstery create an inviting and airy environment.
The simple dashboard is dominated by what the company calls a 30-inch ‘Trinity Panoramic Display’, which is made up of a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12-inch digital instrument cluster and five-inch touchscreen for the air-conditioning system.
Even with all that screen real estate, physical buttons are still plentiful above and below the central air vents, with power outlets located further down. Practicality is decent too thanks to storage cubbies in the centre console, pockets for devices behind the front seatbacks and a boot capacity of 465 litres – 60:40 split-folding rear seats are also present.
As for equipment, the Syros is available with wheel sizes ranging from 15 to 17 inches, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, leatherette seat upholstery, puddle lamps, 64-colour ambient lighting, keyless entry and start, a reverse camera, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, an air purifier system, rear door sunshades as well as front and rear seat ventilation.
Kia also offers Level 2 ADAS which includes front collision warning and avoidance (with autonomous emergency braking, junction assist and parking support), active cruise control with stop and go, leading vehicle departure alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, high beam assist, driver attention warning, a blind view monitor and a 360-degree camera. The usual assortment of passive safety systems (ABS, ESC) are present too, along with six airbags.
Powertrain options are limited to just two, starting with a Smartstream G 1.0 litre turbocharged inline-three petrol engine making 120 PS (118 hp or 88.3 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 172 Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. This is followed by a Smartstream D 1.5 litre inline-four turbodiesel rated at 116 PS (114 hp or 85 kW) at 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm from 1,500 to 2,750 rpm.
Both engines driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, although the petrol option can also be had with a seven-speed dual-clutch, while the alternative for the turbodiesel is a six-speed auto. Worth pointing out that manual transmission variants get drum brakes at the rear and discs at the front – the automatic and DCT come with disc brakes on all four corners.
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Nissan Kicks e-Power – early bird RM5,000 rebate, 10-year EV warranty extended to first 1,000 customers
The Nissan Kicks e-Power was launched at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) 2024 two weeks ago with an early bird package – a RM5,000 introductory rebate plus two years extra on the EV warranty for a total of 10 years/160,000 km – for the first 500 customers.
Well, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has announced that said package has been fully taken up (meaning bookings have exceeded or at least reached 500) and the company is extending it to the next 500 customers for 1,000 in total.
With the package, the VL is priced at RM108,800 and the VLT, RM116,800 (+RM4,000 for a black roof, VLT only), and as mentioned, the EV warranty is now 10 years/160,000 km (up from eight years, same mileage), covering the battery, ECU, inverter and electric motor. The five-year/100,000 km vehicle warranty does not change.
Learn more about the five-star ASEAN NCAP-rated series hybrid via our launch story, full review, full gallery and spec run-through.
Nissan Kicks e-Power VLT at KLIMS 2024
Nissan Kicks e-Power VL at KLIMS 2024
Nissan Kicks e-Power VLT Malaysia drive gallery
Nissan Kicks e-Power VLT two-tone in Malaysia full gallery
Nissan Kicks e-Power VLT two-tone in Malaysia showroom
Nissan Kicks e-Power VL in Malaysia showroom
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