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Latest Stories

• Soueast S08 DM in Beijing – 7-seater PHEV, up to 1,000 km range; Jetour sub-brand coming to Malaysia?

  In China, International News, Jetour / by Mick Chan / 22 April 2026 6:13 pm

  

  Jetour has shown the Soueast S08 DM, a plug-in hybrid SUV in Beijing, where this year’s edition of Auto China will take place. The Soueast brand emerged from the acquisition of Southeast Motor in 2024 by Chery, and its current brand name would be repositioned as a brand for international markets.

  Having made its global debut in Kuwait in January this year, the Soueast S08 DM measures 4,810 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 1,705 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm, which places it in the D-segment SUV category among the likes of the Kia Sorento and Proton X90.

  It isn’t a ground-up design, as the Soueast S08 DM is essentially a rebadged Jetour Shanhai L7 Plus with a different front fascia and trim detail. The Soueast S08 DM is shown in Beijing in a seven-seater configuration, whereas the Jetour Shanhai L7 Plus that was launched in China last year is offered in five- and seven-seat layouts.

  The S08 DM features a powertrain that consists of a 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine 156 PS at 5,200 rpm and 220 Nm, paired with a 204 PS/310 Nm electric motor. Combined, the S08 DM makes a total system output of 360 PS and 530 Nm.

  

  

  

  

  Its battery is a lithium iron phosphate unit by CATL with a capacity of 18.4 kWh, offering a claimed EV range of 85 km. DC charging enables a 30-80% recharge to be done in 18 minutes, and conversely it can supply up to 3.3 kW to external devices through its V2L function. Combined with its 70 litre fuel tank, the hybrid range of the S08 DM is claimed to be more than 1,000 km.

  Wheels are 20-inch alloys shod in tyres measuring 235/50R20, with brakes utilising ventilated discs in front and solid discs at the rear. Suspension is by MacPherson struts in front, while the rear gets a multi-link setup.

  Equipment on the S08 DM includes LED headlamps and tail lamps, while inside there is a panoramic sunroof, electric seat adjustment for the driver and front passenger, electric seat back tilt adjustment (ranging between 25 and 41 degrees) for the second row, electric seat back folding for the second and third rows, and a powered tailgate.

  

  

  

  

  Infotainment is by a 15.6-inch touchscreen display while the driver gets a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. Smartphone connectivity is via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while phones can be charged on a 50-watt wireless device charging pad.

  For safety and driving assistance features, the Soueast S08 DM gets lane keeping assist, AEB, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane change assist, blind spot detection, door open warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear collision warning, traffic jam assist, and a driver fatigue alert.

  Passive safety kit includes driver and front passenger airbags, front and rear side airbags and curtain airbags, while for child seats there are ISOFIX anchor points in the second row. Active safety features include stability control, ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill hold control and hill descent control.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  Soueast S08 DM official images

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

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• smart Concept #2 previews 2-seat EV – under 300 km range, Oct debut, coming to Malaysia under Proton?

  In Cars, International News, smart / by Jonathan Lee / 22 April 2026 5:34 pm

  

  Having chased profitability by building ever-larger SUVs and even a sedan, city car specialist smart has returned to its roots with the Concept #2, unveiled in Beijing ahead of the Auto China show later this week. An obvious throwback to the seminal fortwo, the show car presages a production two-seater EV that will be revealed in full at the Paris Motor Show in October.

  The Concept #2 continues to be designed by Mercedes-Benz (by a seemingly more focused and cohesive team than Stuttgart’s own in-house one), with the engineering done by Geely as part of their 50:50 joint venture. It’s underpinned by an all-new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), with a length of just 2,792 mm – you can fit the whole thing comfortably within the #5‘s wheelbase – and a turning circle of just 6.95 metres.

  Those of you looking forward to the return of smart’s distinctive tridion safety cell will be disappointed; the Concept #2 instead adopts the design language set by the #1, with triangular headlights, a floating roof and rounded taillights. It’s a surprisingly aggressive design that takes after the last fortwo, and what will surely be a gaping grille on the production model is instead covered by a monogram of the smart logo framed by twin straps – clearly inspired by one of Louis Vuitton’s iconic bags.

  

  A sporty bodykit and massive wheels (seemingly also held together by straps) pushed to the far corners of the car add to the car’s racy look. This is bedazzled by show car details such as the striking matte white (including, yes, the tyres) and gold colour scheme, the dot matrix displays front and rear and leather door pulls inspired by laundry care labels – replete with the “styled by Mercedes-Benz” script.

  Preliminary estimated specs include a range of nearly 300 km (we presume this is on the WLTP cycle) as well as DC fast charging from 10 to 80% in under 20 minutes. A vehicle-to-load (V2L) function will also be offered.

  In Malaysia, the smart brand is represented by Proton subsidiary Pro-Net, as both entities are part-owned by Geely. Given that Proton has long been exploring CKD local assembly of smart models (likely hinging on its new EV plant in Tanjong Malim), could we see the #2 being offered here as a more premium two-seat alternative to the eMas 5?

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• 2026 Yamaha TMax Tech Max in Malaysia, RM75.8k

  In Bikes, Local Bike News, Yamaha / by Mohan K Ramanujam / 22 April 2026 5:18 pm

  

  A new colour scheme for the 2026 Yamaha Tax Tech Max in Malaysia, with pricing at RM75,888 excluding road, tax, and insurance. The new colour option is Crystal Graphite, while a two-year or 20,000 km warranty is provided against manufacturing defects.

  New for the 2025 TMax Tech Max is cornering ABS, which Yamaha calls Brake Control. Developed from Yamaha’s high performance supersport motorcycles, Brake Control delivers safe braking performance at varying speeds, lean angles and road conditions.

  Also new is the LED headlights, featuring twin elements with more aggressive styling. Otherwise, no other changes with power coming from a Euro 5+ two-cylinder DOHC, 560 cc engine producing 47.6 hp at 7,500 rpm and 55.7 Nm of torque at 5,250 rpm.

  

  Power goes to the rear wheel via automatic transmission and belt drive. Wheel sizing is 15-inches front and rear, wearing 120/70 and 160/60 tyres, front and rear, respectively.

  Braking is done with twin hydraulic disc brakes in front and a single disc at the back, with two-channel cornering ABS as standard equipment. For suspension, the Tax Tech Max gets upside-down telescopic forks in front and a mono shock in the rear.

  Riding information is displayed on a seven-inch TFT-LCD screen with three screen layouts while electronic riding aids include traction control and cruise control. Weight for the Tax Tech Max is listed at 221 kg with 25-litres of fuel carried on-board, while seat height is set at 800 mm.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• 2026 Aprilia SR GT 200 Sport in Malaysia, RM15.9k

  In Aprilia, Bikes, Local Bike News / by Mohan K Ramanujam / 22 April 2026 4:05 pm

  

  Now in Malaysia is the 2026 Aprilia SR GT Sport 200, priced at RM15,900 excluding road tax, insurance and registration. The SR GT 200’s price is a significant reduction from the 2022 price of RM19,900 and for this year, the colour options are Space White, Savana Grey and Street Gold.

  Power for the SR GT Sport comes from an i-Get 174 cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder mill with four-valves and SOHC, fed by EFI and Euro 5+ compliant. The SR GT Sport gets 17.4 hp at 8,500 rpm and 16.5 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm, getting to the ground via CVT gearbox and belt drive.

  For braking, the SR GT Sport uses single hydraulic discs front and rear, with the 14-inch front wheel stopped by a 260 mm diameter disc, while the 13-inch rear wheel comes with a 220 mm disc. Tyre sizing is 110/80 front and 130/70 rear, with front-wheel ABS as standard equipment.

  

  

  Showa provides the suspension for the SR GT 200, the front end held up with conventional telescopic forks with 120 mm of wheel travel while the rear gets twin shock absorbers with adjustable preload. Weight for the SR GT 200 is claimed to be 144 kg with 9-litres of fuel in the tank.

  LED lighting is used throughout while riding information is displayed on a monochrome LCD screen. Seat height on the SR GT 200 is set at 765 mm.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• Over 70% of Malaysia’s blending depots are ready for B15 biodiesel implementation – economy minister

  In Local News / by Anthony Lim / 22 April 2026 3:52 pm

  

  Last week, the government agreed to increase the biodiesel blend rate from B10 to B15, starting with a transition to B12. The change is intended to reduce over-reliance on imported fossil fuels and external markets, while supporting economic restructuring through a switch to renewable energy.

  It was mentioned that the move to B15 biodiesel will not incur additional expenses, because it will make use of Malaysia’s existing biodiesel blending infrastructure. As for the infrastructure’s level of readiness for this, economy minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said that over 70% of the blending depots in the country were ready to implement B15 biodiesel through existing facilities, as Bernama reports.

  He said the government had conducted meetings and site visits to assess the readiness of facilities to implement B15 biodiesel blend. “Findings from infrastructure inspections of blending depots by the ministry of plantation and commodities show that more than 70% of blending depots in Malaysia are ready to implement B15 biodiesel using existing facilities,” he said.

  

  “Operational adjustments are being developed by blending depots to ensure efficiency and the security of petroleum product supply to consumers,” he said. He added that energy issues can no longer be viewed solely from the perspective of current supply.

  “They must be addressed within a national framework that links energy security, the strength of the commodities sector, logistics efficiency, supply chain resilience and the country’s economic resilience,” he said.

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• Chery designing a small city EV in France for Europe

  In Cars, Chery, International News / by Danny Tan / 22 April 2026 3:07 pm

  

  Chery Q EV

  It’s rare that a product can be universally appealing, as each region has its own culture and preferences. Just look at food, for instance. The same can be said for cars – although some types transcend regional tastes (luxury cars and midsize SUVs perhaps), each region has its unique ‘staple’.

  Think big trucks in the US, Japan’s kei cars and Indonesia’s budget MPVs. Europe excels at cool small cars, which are the perfect fit for the continent’s narrow city streets. Picture the Cinquecento zipping around Rome’s cobblestone streets or the Renault Twingo in Paris. So Europe, right?

  Interestingly, Chery wants a piece of the European small city car market, and China’s top car exporter has plans to build one in Europe for Europeans. They’ve picked a base too – France. “We want to build a French car for the French,” Chery France’s director Hanbang Yu told AFP.

  The future small Chery for Europe won’t be a model plucked from China, but a specially designed one for the continent.

  

  Renault Twingo

  The report says that Chery has decided to set up an R&D centre in Paris “to work on a small city car, because France would be a very big market for this little car, and the best way is to design it in France,” according to Lionel French Keogh, Chery’s commercial director in France. “We want to learn what French consumers’ tastes are, and we want a small, beautiful design,” Yu added.

  To be clear, Chery is already in Europe with its staple SUVs. Its Omoda and Jaecoo brands were launched in France this month and the Wuhu giant is already assembling its Tiggo SUVs in Spain at a former Nissan plant, selling them under the Ebro brand.

  Chery aims to raise production in Spain to 200,000 cars per annum within three years and is looking at acquiring other manufacturing locations in Europe. Building in Europe helps Chinese carmakers escape EU tariffs.

  Back to the city EV. Chery currently has the Q, which is something like the Proton eMas 5, but that probably won’t cut it in Europe. It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of this rather unconventional project from a Chinese carmaker.

  GALLERY: Chery Q EV at BIMS 2026

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• Xpeng to launch large SUV in Malaysia 2nd half of 2026

  In Cars, Local News, Xpeng / by Mick Chan / 22 April 2026 1:55 pm

  

  Following the initial release of its official images in February this year, the Xpeng GX has been confirmed to launch in Malaysia in the second half of this year, and will go on sale in either the third or fourth quarter of 2026.

  Shown at Xpeng headquarters in Guangzhou ahead of the flagship SUV’s public showing at Auto China this week, production for right-hand-drive units of the GX is already underway, which puts the brand’s flagship electric SUV on a timeline ahead of the P7 as the right-hand-drive version of the fastback sedan is still in pre-production stages.

  Details uncovered earlier this month, according to Car News China reveal that the GX measures 5,265 mm long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,800 mm wide with a wheelbase of 3,115 mm.

  In China, the GX is offered in range-extender and battery-electric variants, the latter using an 800-volt electrical architecture capable of 5C charging, a 0-100 km/h time of around four seconds and up to 750 km of battery range, according to the report. Powertrain for the BEV version is a pair of 270 kW (367 PS) drive motors.

  

  The range extender version of the GX packs a 1.5 litre, turbocharged petrol engine that outputs 110 kW (150 PS), while front and rear electric drive motors offer a combined output of 210 kW (286 PS). This offers a pure electric range of 430 km on the CLTC cycle (around 353 km WLTP), and a CLTC combined, hybrid range of 1,585 km (1,300 km WLTP).

  Inside, the cabin of the GX houses a six-seater layout, with the second row getting the captain chair configuration and the third row is fitted with a two-seat bench. Infotainment is by a 17.3-inch, 3K resolution central screen, while a smaller, slim display for the driver is located ahead of the steering wheel.

  The second-row captain’s chairs are zero-gravity seats, with integrated seat belts and seat cushion airbags. Meanwhile, the seats in the third row feature 180-degree electrically adjustable backrests to allow for fully flat reclining.

  In China, orders for the Xpeng GX opened at 399,800 yuan (RM231,792) for both battery-electric and 1.5L turbo petrol range extender versions. Pricing indication for the Malaysian market has yet to be announced.

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• Perodua Nexus EV by UTM, NanoMalaysia – can supercapacitors help reduce reliance on batteries?

  In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News, Perodua, Technology / by Jonathan James Tan / 22 April 2026 1:21 pm

  

  Perodua and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) yesterday put out a joint-release to announce the signing of a memorandum of agreement for an xEV engineering programme. Essentially, both parties will collaborate on next-gen EV technology, involving human capital development and research.

  Not earth-shattering news, especially when it’s a continuation of the memorandum of understanding signed in January 2025 for the same, and Perodua’s no stranger to bridging industry and academia. What made us sit up was one of the photos accompanying the release, which you can see above.

  Between the two QV-Es Perodua donated to UTM for study purposes, sits a second-gen Myvi facelift with an EV-style number plate that says ‘Nexus EV’ (not to be confused with Nexis, which is what the Traz would otherwise have been called). Nexus is also the name of UTM’s research magazine, as well as a place in Bangsar South, but I digress.

  

  Of course, this is not an official Perodua product, but what’s interesting is the technology. The Nexus EV is the work of UTM and NanoMalaysia (a company limited by guarantee under the science, technology and innovation ministry, or MOSTI). It’s a Myvi converted into an EV, but it uses something called a Hybrid Electric Storage System (HESS).

  No, that doesn’t make it a hybrid. The word here refers to the fact that there are two energy storages – batteries and supercapacitors (like a Lamborghini Sian, man). UTM explains in an article that pairing the two “can improve power quality during high transient demands, such as sudden acceleration or repeated stop-start traffic, while protecting battery life by smoothing current spikes.”

  “Batteries excel at storing energy for range, and supercapacitors excel at delivering and absorbing high power quickly. In the converted Myvi, the supercapacitor reduces peak current draw from the battery during accelerations and captures high-power regenerative braking energy with lower losses. Supercapacitors help extend battery cycle life by reducing strain on the batteries,” says the article.

  

  

  The team developed a custom energy management system with sophisticated control algorithms to switch seamlessly between the two energy sources – the batteries and supercapacitors.

  The Nexus EV has a 129 PS/235 Nm electric motor, a 10-second 0-100 km/h time (current Myvi 1.5: 102 PS/136 Nm, 10.2 seconds), a 26-kWh lithium-ion battery, a 250-km “practical driving range” and an onboard charger that can top up the battery to 80% in about an hour.

  Packaging the battery modules within the small car required a custom battery enclosure design with a thermal management system. UTM says the addition of battery packs (around 200 kg) would cause a weight imbalance that would in turn necessitate reinforced mounts and suspension upgrades. Indeed, you can see that the boot is chock-full of gubbins, so it’s not exactly a practical solution…

  

  … yet. “The next steps include improvements on battery packaging, developing more advanced battery thermal management systems, an enhanced HESS energy management system and exploring fast-charging protocols that leverage the supercapacitor module to reduce peak battery stress,” says the article.

  It would be easy to dismiss this as nothing more than a weekend project, but Perodua has said many times that it thinks batteries are the biggest barrier to EV adoption in Malaysia. The company’s concerns surrounding cost, battery degradation and resale value are big reasons for the QV-E’s much-maligned battery leasing scheme.

  Likewise, the UTM article cites “high costs” and “reliance on foreign technology” as things that hinder widespread EV adoption, and Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad has said before in an interview that the QV-E is facing issues with some of its Chinese suppliers – and we know the QV-E’s battery comes from China. As HESS and supercapacitor technologies continue to develop, do you think they can help P2 reduce reliance on expensive batteries and foreign technology?

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• Bukit Bintang roads to be closed April 29 to May 2 for VMY 2026 celebrations, partial closures from April 22

  In Local News / by Anthony Lim / 22 April 2026 11:38 am

  

  Motorists heading into Bukit Bintang and the areas surrounding it over the next week should be prepared for traffic diversions, as roads are set to be closed in stages from today until May 2 in conjunction with the World Labour Day Celebration and Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026.

  The three-day event, which runs from April 30 to May 2, is part of the activity list for Visit Malaysia 2026, and is expected to draw large crowds into the city centre.

  

  

  To facilitate the event’s setup and logistics, traffic management measures will be implemented in phases, with partial road closures at night from today, April 22 until April 28. On weekdays, there will be partial lane closures on Jalan Bukit Bintang from 11pm to 5am, and from 12am to 7am on weekends (April 25-26).

  From April 29 to May 2, Jalan Bukit Bintang will be fully closed throughout the day, and traffic heading into the area will be diverted to Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan Imbi. Authorities have asked the public to plan ahead and use public transport where possible. Rail services (MRT, LRT and Monorail) are set to operate at increased capacity throughout the festival period.

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• Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV – no plans for wagon version due to lack of demand for bodystyle: designer

  In Cars, International News, Mercedes-Benz / by Mick Chan / 22 April 2026 10:54 am

  

  Mercedes-Benz currently has no plans to introduce a station wagon derivative of the latest, W520-generation C-Class Electric due to a lack of demand for the bodystyle, reported Autocar.

  While every generation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has offered a station wagon bodystyle in addition to the sedan, the new EV model could be the first in the line to break with tradition because “nobody is buying them”, said Mercedes-Benz head of exterior design Robert Lesnik.

  Even though Lesnik is a self-professed fan of station wagons, the decision on any future additions to the product range would be based on commercial viability, he said. “I say we should have station wagons, but the reality is a little bit different.”

  

  2022 Mercedes-C-Class station wagon, S206-generation

  “We have three regions. Nobody is buying them in America; we tried the shooting brake [version] of the CLS and nobody bought it. The Chinese don’t understand them and don’t buy them. Then Europe is left, and if you look at a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, it’s pretty expensive, so who can actually buy a car like that in Europe?”, Lesnik said to the publication.

  A station wagon version of the C-Class EV has not been totally ruled out, Lesnik said, although the technically similar GLC EV is expected to serve the more luggage-laden customer base for this segment, according to Autocar.

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• JPJ eBid: DFQ and QCW number plates up for bidding

  In Local News / by Danny Tan / 22 April 2026 9:34 am

  

  

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

  Kelantan’s latest running number series is ‘DFQ’, and it will open for tender on May 19. The bidding period on JPJeBid is five days, ending 10pm on May 23. 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 Sarawak series ‘QCW’. The bidding period starts on April 23, and will close at 10pm on April 27. 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”.

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• Isuzu opens new 3S centre on Jalan Tun Razak in KL

  In Cars, Isuzu, Local News / by Jonathan James Tan / 22 April 2026 9:33 am

  

  There’s a new Isuzu 3S centre at 21 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur – near the World Trade Centre. It’s the third KL outlet operated by Autoexec Corporation and it consolidates operations by moving the Jalan Semarak 1S outlet into this larger facility.

  The showroom, open daily, features a new hero car display, delivery bay, customer lounge and merchandise area, while the service centre, open daily except Sunday from 9am-6pm, can accommodate one truck and one pick-up truck at the same time.

  

  

  

  “The opening of this new Isuzu 3S Centre with the latest corporate identity, situated close to the heart of Kuala Lumpur can be expected to improve Isuzu’s presence and increase interest in our range of products that have particular appeal for urban users.

  “I believe that Isuzu vehicles are highly suited to serve users even here within the heart of the city,” said Isuzu Malaysia CEO Tomoyuki Yamaguchi.

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• Geely Preface, Xingyue L i-HEV – 1.5L hybrid, 1-speed DHT, up to 25.1 km/l; tech coming to Proton hybrids?

  In Cars, Geely, International News / by Jonathan Lee / 21 April 2026 6:49 pm

  

  Following on from its announcement of a new i-HEV hybrid powertrain, Geely has now launched the first models fitted with the system in China – the Preface and Xingyue L (Monjaro in export markets) i-HEV. This system essentially brings Geely’s know-how from its plug-in hybrid models to more conventional self-charging hybrids, like the ones found in Japanese rivals.

  Just like the eMas 7 PHEV, it uses an 11-in-1 single-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) that integrates the electric motor. The latter powers the car most of the time, with the engine – a hybrid-specific BHE15 1.5 litre four-cylinder – being used to charge the battery. However, the combustion mill can also clutch in to provide motive power at higher speeds where it is most efficient, similar to Honda’s e:HEV hybrids.

  We should point out that the powertrains in the Preface and Xingyue L are not exactly the same. The sedan uses a detuned electric motor producing 190 PS (140 kW) and 240 Nm of torque, juiced by a 111 PS/136 Nm naturally-aspirated mill.

  

  Those outputs from the four-banger, by the way, are the same as those in the Chinese-market Galaxy Starship 7, which in turn is more powerful than the eMas 7 PHEV. It’s unclear if this engine is the latest version with a claimed thermal efficiency of 48.41%, vis-à-vis the Galaxy Starship 7’s 47.26%.

  Meanwhile, the Xingyue L uses the Galaxy Starship 7’s electric motor (confused yet?) for the full 238 PS (175 kW) and 262 Nm. This motor – and the larger, heavier SUV body – obviously needs more electricity, so the ICE instead gets a turbo and makes 163 PS and 255 Nm.

  The i-HEV’s positioning is complicated by the fact that the Preface and Xingyue L are both already offered with a hybrid powertrain, utilising the aforementioned turbo mill, a torquier 136 PS/320 Nm electric motor and a more complex three-speed DHT tuned to provide greater performance.

  

  The efficiency gains are minimal to say the least, with the Preface i-HEV boasting a WLTP-rated fuel consumption figure of 3.98 litres per 100 km (25.1 km per litre), versus 4.22 litres per 100 km (23.7 km per litre) for the existing Preface Hybrid. The difference is even slimmer for the Xingyue L i-HEV, achieving 4.75 litres per 100 km (21.1 km per litre) as opposed to the Hybrid’s 4.79 litres per 100 km (20.9 km per litre).

  As expected, the main benefit is cost. With less moving parts, the Preface i-HEV is priced starting from 107,700 yuan (RM62,400), significantly lower than the 126,700 yuan (RM73,500) Preface Hybrid. Meanwhile, the Xingyue L i-HEV starts from 148,700 yuan (RM86,200), compared to 167,700 yuan (RM97,200) for the Xingyue L Hybrid.

  The i-HEV powertrain will next be offered in the fifth-generation Emgrand (the successor to the car that spawned the Proton S70) and the Boyue (formerly known as the Boyue Cool). The Emgrand was the one that managed to hit 2.22 litres per 100 km (45 km per litre) in a highway test, as certified by Guinness World Records. With parts being shared with the eMas 7 PHEV, could we see the i-HEV system making its way to Proton’s hybrid models that were announced in late 2025 and set to arrive as soon as this year?

  GALLERY: Geely Preface i-HEV

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  GALLERY: Geely Xingyue L i-HEV

  

  

  

  

  
  

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• Fuel subsidies in Malaysia now RM6-7 billion a month, no sudden policy changes but will be data-driven: DPM

  In Local News, Malaysian Fuel Prices / by Jonathan James Tan / 21 April 2026 5:52 pm

  

  Malaysian deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has told Bernama that the government is now spending RM6-7 billion a month to subsidise fuel – up from RM4 billion just last month, despite the Budi95 monthly quota having been cut from 300 litres to 200 per person beginning this month.

  He however said that the government will maintain fuel subsidies to continue helping the rakyat, and that any fuel subsidy policy changes would not be abrupt or sudden, but would be guided by comprehensive data analyses rather than rushed measures.

  “This is a challenge we are aware of, and we must rely on data to determine the necessary steps to ensure energy supply remains secure, the people are protected, economic growth continues, and industries receive the support they need.

  “Existing subsidy policies, including for RON 95 petrol and diesel in Sabah and Sarawak, will be maintained based on current data to ensure sudden increases in living costs do not burden people,” he said.

  

  Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said the government recognises that the West Asia conflict could go on for 1-2 years, but any action taken will prioritise protecting the majority of Malaysians.

  What if the crisis continues for up to three years? The DPM said the government is preparing for worst-case scenarios, particularly following supply chain shocks linked to the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about a quarter of global energy supply.

  He said Petronas has taken proactive steps to secure alternative supplies from Asia-Pacific, Australia, South America and Africa, while enforcement is being ramped up at the country’s borders to stymie the smuggling of subsidised fuel out of Malaysia.

  “This cannot be done by the government alone. Public cooperation is crucial. If there is abuse, report it so supplies benefit our people, not others. Equally important is the prudent use of energy and water. If we act together, we can ensure supply security is sustained over the longer term,” Fadillah said.

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• Budi Diesel interim cash assistance disbursed today – RM100 extra for Individu and Agri-Komoditi categories

  In Local News / by Danny Tan / 21 April 2026 4:46 pm

  

  The finance ministry has announced that the RM400 Budi Diesel interim cash assistance is now fully disbursed for April 2026. This comes after today’s disbursement of an extra RM100 for Budi Individu and Budi Agri-Komoditi recipients, on top of the RM300 that went into their bank accounts on April 8.

  The upsized monthly cash assistance for diesel users was announced on April 14. This is the second time that the cash assistance has been increased since the Middle East conflict began – it went up from RM200 to RM300 last month.

  One way of seeing this is that the recipient gets the first 67 litres of diesel ‘free’ and then pay full market price beyond that. The current price of diesel in Peninsular Malaysia is RM5.97 per litre, down from last week’s RM6.72 per litre. The subsidised RM2.15 per litre rate remains in effect in Sabah and Sarawak.

  As it was when introduced, the diesel cash assistance is only for diesel vehicle owners with an annual income of below RM100k, unlike the blanket Budi Madani RON 95 (Budi95) for all Malaysians.

  MoF says that the cash assistance is expected to benefit a sizeable number of diesel users, including over 200,000 farmers and smallholders under Budi Agri-Komoditi, with additional funds of around RM20 million per month for them. Meanwhile, Budi Individu is expected to benefit around 150,000 individual diesel vehicle owners in Peninsular Malaysia, with additional funds of around RM15 million per month being allocated for this.

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