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Latest Stories

• Continental Malaysia announces new tyre lifetime manufacturing warranty – replaces past 5-year plan

  In Local News / by Gerard Lye / 8 December 2025 1:49 pm

  

  

  Continental Tyre Malaysia (CTM) has announced a new tyre lifetime manufacturing warranty applicable for all passenger car, SUV and 4×4 tyres from the namesake brand, as well as those from General Tire and Viking.

  According to the company, the new warranty programme covers protection against manufacturing defects throughout the tyre’s operational lifespan. However, damages resulting from external factors beyond the brand’s control, such as punctures, cuts or impacts damage caused by road hazard are excluded from this warranty.

  It should be noted that the new warranty replaces the previous five-year manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, it is also retrospectively extended to all eligible passenger cars, SUVs and 4×4 tyres purchased prior to this announcement.

  “We don’t just build tyres. We build confidence. This warranty is not just a promise, it reflects the rigorous quality control and innovation that goes into everything we make” said Andrea Somorova, managing director of Continental Tyre Malaysia.

  As before, the warranty is complemented by Continental’s Total Confidence Plan (TCP) road hazard warranty, which provides 12 months of coverage from the date of purchase against unexpected road damages when purchases are registered via the Conti TCP app. Terms and conditions can be found here.

  0 comments | Leave a comment?

   

• Developers of apartments near train stations urged to provide less carpark lots, less need for cars – Loke

  In Local News / by Danny Tan / 8 December 2025 1:19 pm

  

  Can you live without a car? Many would say ‘of course not!’, but what if you live next to a train station, and your city centre office is served by one or more train lines? If you’re a young worker and don’t have a family to ferry around, that’s feasible, and for non-routine journeys, there’s always e-hailing. This is actually quite common elsewhere, and you don’t even have to look far for an example, just across the Causeway.

  That’s the idea behind transport minister Anthony Loke’s suggestion to housing developers to reduce the number of carpark lots in new projects located near public transport stations. He said that a proposal has been submitted to the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), noting that the current requirement of one or two parking bays per apartmemt unit was among the factors contributing to higher property prices.

  “For projects close to public transport stations such as the LRT or MRT, parking requirements could be lowered to encourage residents to use public transport,” he said at a press conference after officiating the new Multiplex Land office building and the pre-launch of Residensi Alamanda Heights at Serdang yesterday, reported by Bernama.

  The Seremban MP said that several transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in Kuala Lumpur were allowed to apply for relaxation of parking requirements from local authorities. He reiterated that the proposal applies only to new developments and is primarily aimed at young residents living near urban rail networks.

  

  “If they live close to public transport stations, the need to own a car may be lower. This can also help reduce their living costs,” Loke said, adding that the initiative is intended to support a long-term shift toward a lifestyle that depends more on public transportation.

  Forget your family needs for a moment and put yourself in the shoes of a young worker in the city – what do you think of this carless idea?

  Looking back, it wasn’t so easy to do this back in the day when I was a young commuter – there weren’t many train lines (Star LRT, Putra LRT, KTM, that’s it) and schemes like My50, where an entire month of public transport rides cost just RM50, didn’t exist. Money saved on a tool car can be put into a tabung for the downpayment of a first home. Then again, these days, many young people have cars waiting for them to get their lesen, and when the time comes, daddy will assist in that first home.

  By the way, the image above is of Residensi Far East, which is literally connected to the Kuchai MRT station. TTDI Ascencia is another perfect example of a TOD, but that’s on the higher end of the condo scale. Lili Apartment is a Rumawip just across the road from Kuchai MRT, so there are affordable options, and this one is just two stations away from TRX.

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• 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLB – 7-seat EV SUV, up to 631 km, 320 kW DC charging, 400V optional, hybrid later

  In Cars, International News, Mercedes-Benz / by Jonathan Lee / 8 December 2025 12:17 pm

  

  It’s been more than six years since Mercedes-Benz introduced the GLB, and in the intervening time it has occupied an interesting niche in the premium segment. Until today, there isn’t another compact three-row SUV from the established brands, which is presumably why Stuttgart has chosen to press on with a second generation unveiled today, at the expense of the much-loved A-Class.

  Built on the same Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) as the also-new CLA, the GLB shares all that car’s bits, including an initial range of purely electric powertrains. It’s slightly larger than before and promises to offer increased practicality and a greater level of tech and intelligence.

  At launch, the car can be had as either a GLB250+ or a GLB350 4Matic, both with the rather cumbersome “with EQ Technology” suffix. The base model has a single rear motor making 272 PS (200 kW) and 335 Nm of torque, along with a Porsche Taycan-style two-speed transmission to improve efficiency without sacrificing acceleration. It gets from zero to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h.

  

  With dual-motor all-wheel drive, the GLB350 boosts outputs just a tad to 354 PS (260 kW) and 515 Nm, taking nearly two seconds out of the century sprint at 5.5 seconds. Both variants come with an 85 kWh (nett) NMC battery to deliver a WLTP-rated range of 542 to 631 km on the GLB250+ and 521 to 614 km on the less efficient all-paw GLB350.

  Thanks to an 800-volt electrical architecture, the GLB is able to support up to 320 kW of DC fast charging, delivering 260 km of additional range with just ten minutes of charging. Unlike the CLA, it will also be able to charge at 400-volt stations at launch, although this is only possible through a DC converter that is frustratingly still optional. As for AC charging, the car will accept up to 22 kW; bidirectional charging is also available, enabled via a future over-the-air update.

  Later on, the GLB range will be expanded with additional variants such as an entry-level version, along with three hybrid models. The latter, available with either front- or all-wheel drive, feature a motor and inverter built into the 8F-eDCT eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, plus a 1.3 kWh 48-volt battery and the ability to recuperate up to 25 kW through regen braking. The M252 1.5 litre turbo four-cylinder engine has reportedly been developed in partnership with Geely and is likely related to the BHE15 mill in the Proton X50.

  

  

  All models are suspended on MacPherson struts at the front and a new multilink setup – adapted from Mercedes’ larger models – at the rear. They also come with a brake-by-wire system and are available with wheel sizes of up to 20 inches in diameter, at which point the car comes as standard with adaptive dampers.

  The new GLB largely maintains the outgoing car’s proportions, its boxy shape and the distinctive thick, upright D-pillars. At the front, the rectangular LED headlights are joined together by an illuminated strip and feature Mercedes’ large and brash three-pointed star graphic, which form the daytime running lights on models with the optional Multibeam matrix units.

  Lower down, there’s a massive octagonal grille with a dinner plate-sized badge, dual spars and 94 little stars. This entire panel is illuminated, including the central star in part or whole, depending on market regulations. The side profile has been cleaned up with pop-out door handles, while the taillights are now a continuous inverted U-shaped band of light spanning the entire width of the car, again with the star graphic. The rear number plate recess has been pushed downwards into the bumper.

  

  Mercedes has put greater focus on aerodynamics this time around to make the GLB more efficient. The streamlined front and rear ends, sealed front shut lines, an optimised A-pillar and door mirror design, an almost completely covered underbody with front and rear wheel spoilers, and aerodynamic wheel designs help deliver a drag coefficient as low as 0.28, with a minimised spread across model lines and options.

  Break out the measuring tape and you’ll realise that the new GLB is longer, wider but lower than its predecessor, measuring 4,732 mm long (+98 mm), 1,861 mm wide (+27 mm) and 1,687 mm tall (-14 mm). Its 2,889 mm wheelbase is 60 mm longer, enabling a 68 mm increase in second-row legroom.

  Using a bespoke electrified platform also means that despite the reduction in height, the GLB offers significantly more headroom in the second and third rows compared to the old EQB. The last row is claimed to be able to “comfortably” fit adults up to 171 cm tall (three centimetres more than that EQB), although it does still lose out in headroom versus the previous petrol GLB, by a scant two millimetres.

  

  As previously revealed, the interior continues to take after the CLA with a bluff, upright dashboard that serves as a full-width display panel, devoid of almost all buttons and switches. This can be outfitted with up to three screens as part of the optional MBUX Superscreen, with a 10.25-inch instrument display and twin 14-inch centre and passenger infotainment touchscreens.

  These run on the latest Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) that was introduced on the CLA, replete with ChatGPT and Google Gemini generative AI support. It supports Disney+ and Sony’s Ridevu streaming services, as well as Boosteroid cloud gaming that can be linked to a Bluetooth controller. Audio is taken care of through an optional 16-speaker, 850-watt Burmester 3D surround sound system.

  In response to customer feedback, the steering wheel now features physical rocker and roller switches to adjust the cruise control speed and volume respectively, although the rest of the steering wheel controls are still capacitive touch units. As per the CLA, you also now only get two window switches on the driver’s door, with users having to thumb a button to switch between front and rear controls.

  

  

  

  Elsewhere, you get round turbine-style corner air vents and rectangular centre vents that lead to a tall centre console. This houses a limited array of buttons, a Qi wireless charging tray and twin cupholders. There’s also a large panoramic glass roof, missing a powered sunshade but gaining a UV-reflective coating to reduce heat in the sun; an electrochromic frosting Sky Control unit with illuminated stars is optional.

  As per the current model, the new GLB has an optional third row with ISOFIX child seat mounts; together with the second row and the front passenger seat, you can fit five child seats at once. The 40:20:40-split second-row has an optional sliding function, improving entry and egress for the third row thanks to a one-touch tilt-and-slide feature that moves a further 32 mm over the previous car, in concert with larger rear doors.

  The boot measures 540 litres on the five-seater model and 480 litres on the seven-seater (with the third row folded), expandable to 1,715 litres and 1,605 litres respectively with the second row also folded. There’s also a 127 litre front boot on the electric version, the largest among Mercedes’ renewed compact car models.

  

  

  Safety-wise, the GLB comes as standard with nine airbags, including a centre airbag and knee airbags for both front occupants; rear side ‘bags are optional. You also get a complete suite of sensors as standard in Europe that enable an entire suite of driver assists, all now packaged under the MB.Drive banner.

  Optional features have to be unlocked through the Mercedes-Benz Store, including MB.Drive Assist Level 2 semi-autonomous driving with auto lane change, MB.Drive Assist Plus with enhanced highway auto lane change and MB.Drive Assist Pro with highly-automated city driving, the latter initially only in China. There’s also an improved MB.Drive Parking Assist that supports diagonal parking spaces, which can be optioned out with a 360-degree camera system as part of MB.Drive Parking Assist 360.

  The new GLB is available to order in Germany now, with a market launch slated for the spring. Prices start from €59,048 (RM283,000) for the GLB250+ and €62,178 (RM298,000) for the GLB350.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Das SKY CONTROL Panoramadach mit beleuchtetem Muster ist derzeit nicht verfügbar und wird zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt angeboten. Der Zeitpunkt der Verfügbarkeit kann sich ändern. Das Polster Beech Brown ist derzeit nicht verfügbar und wird zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt angeboten. Der Zeitpunkt der Verfügbarkeit kann sich ändern. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. SKY CONTROL panoramic roof with illuminated pattern is currently not available and will be offered at a later date. Availability timing is subject to change. The upholstery Beech Brown is currently not available and will be offered at a later date. Availability timing is subject to change.

  

  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Hightechsilber. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. High-tech silver.

  

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Das Polster Beech Brown ist derzeit nicht verfügbar und wird zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt angeboten. Der Zeitpunkt der Verfügbarkeit kann sich ändern. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. The upholstery Beech Brown is currently not available and will be offered at a later date. Availability timing is subject to change.

  

  

  

  Der neue Mercedes-Benz GLB, Interieur The all-new Mercedes-Benz, Interior

  

  
  

  

  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. Das SKY CONTROL Panoramadach mit beleuchtetem Muster ist derzeit nicht verfügbar und wird zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt angeboten. Der Zeitpunkt der Verfügbarkeit kann sich ändern. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. SKY CONTROL panoramic roof with illuminated pattern is currently not available and will be offered at a later date. Availability timing is subject to change.

  

  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  
  

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  

  Der neue elektrische Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR kosmosschwarz magno. The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLB. MANUFAKTUR cosmos black magno.

  
  

  4 comments | Leave a comment?

   

• iCar V23 to get battery swap technology in China

  In Cars, iCaur, International News / by Gerard Lye / 8 December 2025 11:41 am

  

  The iCar V23 (we know it as an iCaur in Malaysia) will soon be offered with battery swapping technology in China, with the country’s ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT) releasing early details of the updated SUV.

  Visually, the battery-swapping version will look identical to the non-swapping model, measuring in at an unchanged 4,220 mm long, 1,915 mm wide, 1,845 mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2,735 mm.

  The battery swap-enabled V23 uses CATL batteries, as Chery is one of five major automakers that are collaborating with the battery maker to use its Choco-SEB battery swap standard. Other automakers include FAW, Changan, BAIC and GAC, with a total of 10 new Choco-Swap models set to be introduced.

  

  

  According to the MIIT filing, the battery-swapping version will have a rear electric motor rated at 136 PS (134 hp or 100 kW), while the non-swapping version gets a more powerful unit with 252 PS (248 hp or 185 kW). The former is also lighter with a kerb weight of 1,720 kg, which is 15 kg lighter than the latter.

  Given CATL’s Choco-Swap ecosystem is primarily for the Chinese market, it is unlikely the battery swap-enabled V23 will be offered in overseas markets. With battery swapping, customers will likely have to commit to a subscription model – similar to Nio’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) – that could lower the initial purchase price significantly.

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• LRT3 Shah Alam Line delayed again, until Q2 2026

  In Local News, Public Transport / by Mick Chan / 8 December 2025 11:35 am

  

  The LRT3 Shah Alam Line that was previously set for launch on December 31 has been delayed once again, and the project is expected to be delayed until at least the second quarter of 2026, reported The Star. Citing industry sources, the is primarily due to system testing and commissioning, the final and most demanding stage of the project, according to the report.

  The LRT3 Shah Alam Line is currently undergoing a mandatory fault-free run as required by the Land Public Transport Act 2010, and during this phase the 22 train sets, along with their supporting systems must be able to integrate and operate continuously and reliably, as expected of a driverless train system of the Grade of Automation 4 standard, it continued.

  “If trains cannot reliably maintain these speeds, the planned service headway of six minutes becomes unachievable, directly impacting capacity and frequency for commuters, and falls short of the specifications spelt out in the Railway Scheme put up for public inspection,” said a source quoted by The Star.

  

  Meanwhile, the news outlet also cited insiders who said that the train sets have struggled to reach and sustain the designated operating speeds of between 80-90 km/h. Other aspects which have yet to be resolved include the required documentation, and critical standard operating procedures have yet to be finalised.

  In February this year, the LRT3 Shah Alam Line had originally been slated for start of operations on September 30, though this was revised towards the end of August. In November, the government was said to be keeping to its target of December 31 for the launch of the RLT3 Shah Alam Line, though this was subject to the resulting of testing, transport minister Anthony Loke said at the time.

  The line is 37 km long and features 25 stations from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia, with interchanges at Bandar Utama (Kajang MRT) and Glenmarie (Kelana Jaya LRT). When it becomes operational, the rail line is expected to benefit more than two million residents in the Klang Valley.

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• JPJ eBid: BSR and VQJ number plates up for bidding

  In Local News / by Danny Tan / 8 December 2025 10:50 am

  

  

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

  Selangor’s latest running number series is ‘BSR’, and it opens for tender on December 9. The bidding period on JPJeBid is five days, ending 10pm today, December 13. 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 WP Kuala Lumpur series ‘VQJ’. The bidding period starts today, December 8, and will close at 10pm on December 12. 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”.

  2 comments | Leave a comment?

   

• Prasarana Malaysia to roll out 1,045 electric buses in KL and Penang by 2030 for green transport ecosystem

  In Local News, Public Transport / by Gerard Lye / 8 December 2025 10:01 am

  

  Prasarana Malaysia plans to roll out a fleet over 1,045 electric buses for Kuala Lumpur and Penang’s urban network by 2030, The Star reports. According to company group chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nasir Ahmad, the eco-friendly buses are part of a focus to create a green transport ecosystem.

  “We only have 15 electric buses on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Sunway Line now which have been in service since 2015,” he said. Launched in 2015, the BRT Sunway Line is an elevated busway linked to KTM Komuter (via Setia Jaya) and Kelana Jaya LRT (via USJ 7) lines.

  Over two years ago, Rapid Bus, which is part of Prasarana, said it is aiming to have to 30% of its bus fleet be comprised of electric buses by 2030, with the next target being 100% of the fleet by 2037.

  In preparation for operating buses on a large scale, basic training and exposure to electric bus fire suppression will be provided to operational staff to ensure they can act accordingly in the event of an unwanted incident.

  “Competency will be a key issue in everything we do. Staff will be trained first, from bus crew members to those responsible for understanding fire suppression for electric buses. We will not start electric bus operations unless we are fully prepared. From the briefing earlier, including procedures and policies, we will ensure that everything is properly followed,” said Mohd Nasir.

  1 comment | Leave a comment?

   

• PLUS Yong Peng-Senai lane widening – nightly road diversions for bridge beam installation, Dec 8-11

  In Local News / by Danny Tan / 8 December 2025 9:51 am

  

  PLUS users, take note. There will be road diversions in stages from Yong Peng (Utara) to Senai (Utara) nightly, 10pm to 5am, from today, December 8, to December 11. The exact location on the North South Highway is KM37.6 to KM37.7, and it involves both northbound and southbound traffic.

  The road diversions is to accommodate bridge beam installation works. Vehicles will be diverted to the rightmost lane to create a safe working zone while minimising traffic disruption to highway users.

  PLUS explains that it is currently working on the extra lane project from Yong Peng (Utara) ke Senai (Utara), and widening the highway lanes also requires work on all the bridges that cross the highway in the Kulai-Sedenak stretch. The project is expected to be completed by January 2028.

  Highway users are advised to plan their journey and follow the signs and crew at the work site. Drive safe.

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• Proton Atlas OS to use E02 Ultra, E06 8-core chips in 2026 – faster processing, better ADAS, AI ready

  In Cars, Local News, Proton / by Jonathan Lee / 5 December 2025 7:40 pm

  

  It’s not just platforms and powertrains that are being discussed at the Proton Tech Showcase this weekend – the national carmaker’s infotainment partner ACO Tech is also previewing a pair of new processors that will power its Atlas operating system starting next year.

  Proton’s current X50, X90 and S70 are all powered by the quad-core E02 chip, developed by the Geely-linked ECARX and introduced back in 2019. The eMas 7, on the other hand, utilises the E04 chip, which is a renamed version of ECARX’s Antora 1000. This is considerably more powerful than the E02, as it has to run Geely’s own Flyme Auto software, unrelated to the Atlas system.

  For 2026, models running on Atlas will get a massive upgrade with the E02 Ultra and E06, the latter likely reserved for higher-end models. Both of these are eight-core units, with the E02 Ultra being built on ARM’s latest v9 architecture and capable of up to 180,000 DMIPs. Equipped with UFS3.1 storage, this chip is claimed to offer “class-leading performance and security” and “end-to-end computing capabilities to power the latest driver assistance systems.”

  The E06, meanwhile, uses Qualcomm Kryo Prime cores, making it suspiciously similar to the US firm’s own Snapdragon Automotive 8255P chip. This one can hit up to 200,000 DMIPs and benefits from UFS4.0 Gear 5 storage, enabling it to power “the next generation of vehicle cockpits” and support future AI implementations.

  

  Both the E02 Ultra and E06 offer LPDDR5 RAM, and their GPU performance is also much higher than even that of the E04, reaching up to 2,000 GFLOPS versus 900 GFLOPS. The more powerful graphics should allow Atlas to better render 3D models such as the car itself with higher-quality lighting and shading, similar to many newer Chinese vehicles.

  Expect at least a year for the new chips to be found in production models – as you can see on the diagram, the year of the previous chips correspond not to the model launch but when the chips themselves were announced. That means they will likely not be fitted to immediate models such as the eMas 7 PHEV, the X90 facelift and the revised S70 and X70.

  Rather, the E02 Ultra and E06 will probably make their debut with Proton’s future indigenously-designed cars built on the Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA). The latter may also debut accessories that were displayed at the show, including physical air-con and audio controls and a variety of cameras attached via magnetic pins.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• Proton i-GT vs Campro VVT, CFE vs GEP3 – power, torque curves, fuel efficiency test results compared

  In Local News, Proton, Technology / by Mick Chan / 5 December 2025 6:43 pm

  

  The Proton Tech Showcase has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine that now serves in the X50 facelift as well as the 2026 Saga MC3 will be headed for the forthcoming, updated X70, X90 and S70, and the carmaker has revealed further details on the new engine family.

  Proton has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine, in its naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, will feature local content proportions of 54% and 45%, respectively, and the Malaysian automaker has also detailed how the new engines are improved compared to their predecessors.

  Beginning with the headline figures, in turbocharged form the 1.5 i-GT engine in the facelifted X50 outputs 133 kW (181 PS) and 290 Nm, gains of 2.3% and 13.7% over those of previous generations, according to Proton. Its claimed fuel consumption of 6.1 litres per 100 km represents a 16.1% reduction, and Proton claims an industry-leading torque-to-weight ratio of 2.64 Nm per kg.

  

  For the 1.5 i-GT engine in naturally aspirated form as found in the Saga MC3, its outputs of 88 kW (120 PS) and 150 Nm represent gains of 25.7% and 25% for power and torque respectively, while its 11.6-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 21.6% quicker than that of its predecessor, the Saga MC2 which did the benchmark run in 14.8 seconds.

  Compared against Proton’s older turbocharged engine, the 1.6 litre, port-fuel-injected turbocharged CFE engine, the 1.5 litre i-GT turbo mill offers 41% more useful torque, according to Proton, and the new engine demonstrates greater torque outputs across the entire engine rev range, from 1,000 to 6,000 rpm.

  Like the older 1.6T engine, the turbocharged i-GT arrives at peak torque at 2,000 rpm, though it appears to taper down from peak torque for longer compared to the older engine.

  

  

  Proton 1.5 litre turbocharged engine, vs the 1.6L CFE turbo and 1.5L GEP3 turbo engines

  In terms of power, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT also offers higher outputs across the rev range, a claimed 17% more, and the new engine brings a steeper ramp up towards its 5,500 rpm output peak, compared to the 1.6T CFE engine’s plateau, which also peaks at 5,500 rpm before the 6,000 rpm limit.

  When compared to the 1.5 litre CEP3 three-cylinder engine previously in the X50, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT engine offers a claimed 14% more useful torque (290 Nm, up from 255 Nm in the X50 Flagship), and 2% more power (up from 177 PS of the X50 Flagship).

  Power and torque are increased across most of the rev range, though power and torque bands of the i-GT appear to dip below those of the GEP3 Turbo engine from 4,500 rpm to 5,250 rpm. Test bench fuel consumption figures for the 1.5 litre i-GT turbocharged engine shows a 6% improvement over the 1.5L GEP3 three-cylinder turbocharged engine, and a 20% improvement over the 1.6L CFE turbocharged engine.

  

  Proton 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine, vs the 1.3L VVT naturally aspirated engine

  Compared between naturally aspirated engines, the NA version of the 1.5 i-GT engine offers claimed gains of 25% more torque and 26% more power, relative to the smaller displacement, also-naturally aspirated 1.3 litre VVT engine. According to official specifications listed for the 2026 Saga MC3, this BHE15-CFN port-injected engine outputs 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm from 4,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm.

  As mentioned, the 1.5 litre i-GT engine in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms will be featured in upcoming updated iterations of the Proton X70, X90 and S70.

  GALLERY: Proton i-GT engine presentation slides

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

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• 2026 Nissan Kait debuts in Brazil – compact SUV with same platform as older P15 Kicks; 1.6L NA, CVT

  In Cars, International News, Nissan / by Gerard Lye / 5 December 2025 5:33 pm

  

  Nissan has revealed a new compact SUV called the Kait that is aimed at markets in the Latin America region, with Brazil being the first country to welcome it. Brazil is also home to Nissan’s Resende Industrial Complex where the Kait will be produced and exported to over 20 markets in the region.

  The Kait is built on Nissan’s V platform that is also used by the first-generation (P15) Kicks, which we get here in facelifted form with an e-Power hybrid system. Measuring 4,304 mm long, 1,760 mm wide, 1,611 mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm, the Kait is similar in size to the P15 Kicks. The boot space of 432 litres is identical for both models.

  Design-wise, the Kait has a more upright stance and sharper styling compared to its platform buddy, with notable cues at the front being slim LED headlamps, daytime running light bars and a wide grille with horizontal slats. Moving towards the rear, we find a rising beltline, roof rails and a gently sloping roof leading into a raked rear windscreen.

  Inside, the Kait’s dashboard is different from the P15 Kicks, as it lacks the “hump” over the central air vents. The corner outlets are also of a more angular design to match the door cards too, but the switchgear and steering wheel look to be carried over.

  

  

  In Brazil, the Kait joins a line-up that already has the P15 Kicks (marketed as the Kicks Play there), which is also sold alongside the second-generation (P16) Kicks that is built on a different platform, the Renault–Nissan CMF-B HS. However, it has been reported that the newer Kait will replace the Kicks Play.

  This will certainly be the case when looking at the pricing, as both the Kait and Kicks Play start from 117,900 Brazilian real (about RM91k). At the upper end of the variant line-up, the Kait tops out at BRL152,990 (RM119k) while the Kicks Play’s most expensive variant is BRL150,190 (RM116k). The P16 Kicks is a more premium offering ranging from BRL166,990 to BRL199,000 (RM129k to RM154k).

  The Kait is offered in four variants in Brazil, all with a HR16DE 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four flex fuel engine making either 110 PS (108 hp or 81 kW) and 146 Nm of torque when running on petrol, or 113 PS (111 hp or 83 kW) and 149 Nm on ethanol. Drive is sent to the front wheels via Nissan’s Xtronic CVT.

  Higher-end variants come with an ADAS suite that includes functions like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. According to Nissan, the Kait is set to be an important model in Nissan’s portfolio alongside the latest Kicks and Magnite which have marked a turning point since their introduction in the region.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

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• MBSA offering up to 75% discount for selected saman, RM20 flat rate for parking compounds, till Dec 31

  In Local News / by Danny Tan / 5 December 2025 5:24 pm

  

  Click to enlarge

  Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) is having a compound reduction campaign from now till December 31, and it’s a great chance to clear off your debts before the year ends.

  The city council is advertising up to 75% discounts for selected saman and a RM20 flat rate for parking compounds under the Kompaun Perintah Pengangkutan Jalan (Peruntukan Tempat Letak Kereta) MBSA 2007. Or is that a RM20 reduction instead?

  The image above has a QR code where you can check on the summonses under your name, if any. If you’re living and/or working in an MBSA area, this is a good opportunity to start 2026 with a clean slate.

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• Maxim Malaysia gets final APAD approval to operate

  In Local News, Public Transport / by Jonathan James Tan / 5 December 2025 3:31 pm

  

  Ride-hailing company Maxim Malaysia has announced that the company has received a final approval letter from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to continue nationwide operations, marking the end of the three-month review period.

  “With this final approval, Maxim is ready to enter a stronger phase of growth in Malaysia. We will continue improving our services, expanding our reach and ensuring a safe and reliable experience for passengers and driver-partners,” Maxim Malaysia director Mohd Hazwan Musley said, adding that the platform enables economic participation, particularly for those whom e-hailing is their primary income source.

  “These steps reflect our commitment not only to regulatory compliance but also to strengthening passenger safety, driver welfare and community support. Maxim has demonstrated that it is a necessary and competitive player in Malaysia’s e-hailing landscape, helping reduce market monopoly and improving mobility across all states,” he said.

  To jog your memory, APAD in May revoked Maxim’s and rival InDrive’s permits for reportedly failing to meet certain conditions, especially regarding e-hailing vehicle permit (EVP) requirements. On July 24, APAD allowed both companies to resume operations, subject to a three-month review.

  Maxim says it submitted all required reports during the review period and that it has done an internal audit of public service vehicle (PSV) and EVP licences, updated its driver onboarding process and implemented more rigorous inspection to ensure full driver licensing compliance.

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• Proton AMA capable of 5-star ASEAN NCAP, Level 2 ADAS – meets Euro NCAP, exports to Europe possible

  In Cars, Local News, Proton / by Jonathan Lee / 5 December 2025 3:30 pm

  

  Yesterday’s Proton Tech Showcase brought a deluge of information regarding the national carmaker’s future products and technologies, with the highlight being its Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA). Among other things, the company revealed that the platform has been designed to meet the highest safety standards and is capable of achieving a five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating in the next 2026-2030 protocol.

  That may seem surprising, given that the new Saga is just off the back of being given a four-star rating, and on the outgoing 2021-2025 protocol at that. But two things counted against the budget sedan there – firstly, the car was tested in base Standard trim, lacking the Premium’s side and curtain airbags that would’ve at least improved its side impact score.

  More importantly, the Saga retains the same basic structure from the outgoing model – albeit strengthened with hot-press-formed (HPF) steel parts – meaning that it can trace its roots all the way back to the 2005 Savvy. This is therefore a tacit admission that the car’s less-than-ideal ASEAN NCAP performance was down to the limitations of the carried-over structure, rather than any underlying deficiencies in AMA itself.

  

  The fact that future models – which will include an SUV and an MPV – will aim for a five-star rating also suggests that these cars will not simply be derivatives of the Saga. Rather, they will likely be genuine all-new products that take full advantage of the “advanced” AMA underpinnings.

  Proton has also confirmed that AMA will support Level 2 semi-autonomous driving technologies such as adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist, building on the Saga’s basic level of driver assists with the addition of a front radar sensor.

  The expanded list of features will basically mirror the full suite offered on the company’s Geely-based models, with blind spot collision prevention, rear cross traffic braking and a front departure alert also being added. This is important, as ASEAN NCAP will evaluate cars on lane keeping assistance starting next year.

  

  Proton doesn’t just intend on remaining a jaguh kampung – with AMA, the company also wants its cars to ace the even more stringent Euro NCAP test. It’s aiming for ratings of four to five stars globally, which will be no mean feat as the European agency has tougher standards for crash safety and driver assistance, and updates them far more regularly. The good news is that the suite of driver assists has already enabled the eMas 7’s twin, the Geely EX5, to net a five-star rating, so the company just needs to work on the structure.

  It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it as Proton intends to take its AMA products global in over 50 markets worldwide, built on an “export-ready” platform and developed in both right- and left-hand drive simultaneously. The company plans to grow in ASEAN, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America.

  Notice that Europe doesn’t figure in Proton’s export market list – that’s not a surprise, given that Geely already operates in the continent, including in the UK. But that doesn’t mean that its efforts to pass European safety and emissions (its cars will meet the latest Euro 6 standards, it says) regulations will be for naught, because as we’ve previously reported, the company has already confirmed that Geely will rebadge some of the AMA cars for certain markets.

  

  The Chinese conglomerate does not currently produce combustion-engined vehicles cheaper than the Binyue/Coolray (known to you and me as the Proton X50) and the Emgrand (S70), having discontinued models like the Vision X3. Vehicles such as the upcoming AMA small SUV could therefore give it an entry into the competitive A-segment in markets like Europe and Australia. This would help improve economies of scale, possibly leading to more affordable products in the long run.

  All this is speculation, of course, and it would all depend on whether Proton is able to churn these models out in a timely fashion. For its part, the company has said AMA will enable shorter product development cycles and product cadences, meaning that its future cars should be produced and updated quicker. This is crucial if it truly intends to more than double its sales by 2030.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• Subaru Forester wins 2025-2026 Japan Car of the Year

  In Cars, International News, Subaru / by Gerard Lye / 5 December 2025 2:10 pm

  

  The sixth-generation Subaru Forester is the winner of the overall 2025-2026 Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) award after securing 1149 points from a panel of judges. The SUV faced closed competition from the reborn Honda Prelude which had to settle for second place with 1,076 points, while the Toyota Crown Estate completed the podium with 654 points.

  The Forester is already on sale in Malaysia since late October this year, although we only get the SUV with a conventional naturally-aspirated powertrain. In Japan, the Forester is also offered with the brand’s ‘Strong Hybrid’ system.

  Other models among the top ten finalists include the third-generation Nissan Leaf (622 points), Volkswagen ID.Buzz (578 points), Hyundai Inster (477 points), second-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (416 points), third-generation Peugeot 3008 (393 points), Suzuki eVitara (357 points) and seventh-generation Daihatsu Move (338 points).

  

  

  While the ID.Buzz missed out on the top prize, the electric van did secure two awards of its own, including Japan Import Car of the Year and Design Car of the Year. The latter saw finalists such as the 3008, Prelude, Inster, Cadillac Lyric, Leaf, BYD Sealion 7, Crown Estate, Alfa Romeo Junior and e Vitara.

  Another winner in the 46th edition of the awards is the 992.2-generation Porsche 911 GTS, with the car’s T-Hybrid system impressing judges with its ability to elevate performance with electrification, but without compromising driving appeal – we lauded the car too. The 911 GTS fended off the Leaf, Prelude, Forester, Lyric, Audi A6 e-tron, Honda N-One e:, Sealion 7, Mercedes-AMG GT and eVitara to claim its prize.

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