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NEWS

2024 Haval H6 HEV now in Malaysia, 243 PS/530 Nm, from RM139,800

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Great Wall Motors Malaysia (GWM) Malaysia has officially launched the hybrid SUV model 2024 Haval H6 HEV today.

It is powered by a hybrid powertrain unit, consisting of a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine (150 PS/230 Nm) paired with an electric motor (177 PS/300 Nm), generating a total power output of 243 PS and 530 Nm.

The power is transmitted to the wheels through a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) with two-speed ratios.

Only one variant is offered, namely the H6 HEV Ultra, equipped with features such as the ‘Star Matrix’ grille structure, LED matrix headlights, and glossy black 19-inch alloy wheels.

Meanwhile, the cabin boasts amenities such as dual-zone climate control, rear air conditioning vents, leather-wrapped seats, power tailgate, wireless device charging slot, panoramic sunroof, head-up display screen, and an audio system with eight speakers.

The cargo space measures 560 liters and can extend to a capacity of up to 1,485 liters when the second-row seats are folded flat.


In terms of safety, the Haval H6 HEV comes with six airbags, a 360-degree surround-view camera system, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and parking assistance system.

The selling price of the 2024 Haval H6 HEV starts from RM139,800, complete with a full vehicle warranty for seven years/200,000 km, a 10-year engine warranty or a limit of one million km, as well as an eight-year or one million km warranty for HEV components.

In addition to the offer of a free five-year service package and a RM3,000 discount for bookings made by October 20, 2024, existing GWM vehicle owners can also enjoy an additional rebate worth RM3,000.

Engear Volt, NEWS

10 best EVs launched in Malaysia in 2023 – Part 2

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THE curtains have closed on the year 2023, which seemed like a busy period for the Malaysian electric vehicle market, thanks to the influx of new offerings coming on to the local EV scene.

So without further ado, let’s revisit the 10 most exciting EVs launched in our market throughout last year. Not that the cars in this list is not sorted in order.

Tesla Model 3 Highland

The Model 3 facelift, also known as the Highland, was launched shortly after Tesla marked its entry into Malaysia with the Model Y.

The electric sedan is arguably the most anticipated EV of the year, and this is not surprising as it looks even better than before and comes with various improvements and competitive pricing.

Unfortunately, we have yet to try the new Model 3 but we have a feeling that the driving experience will be rather different from other EVs with the omission of the gear selector and turn indicators.

Audi e-tron GT

Unlike the Porsche Taycan, the Audi e-tron GT can definitely make you feel you’re Mr Stark himself.

The e-tron GT is easily one the most attractive EVs on the market, and its on-track performance has also been proven during a test drive session at the Sepang International Circuit a while ago.

For the Malaysian market, you can get the e-tron GT in the base version or the RS version, which has higher power output, a rear differential lock, rear-wheel steering, and an adaptive air suspension system.

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has been actively expanding its EQ electric vehicle lineup, this time with the launch of yet another model, the EQS SUV.

Available in the sole EQS 580 4Matic AMG Line variant, it is equipped with a 107.8 kWh battery that offers a range of up to 615 km on a full charge. Rapid DC charging at 200 kW allows the battery to be charged from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes.

There’s a long list of standard features on board, which include AMG Line body kit, 22-inch AMG wheels, MBUX infotainment system with Hyperscreen, and Airmatic air suspension system.

BMW i7

Say what you want about exterior design of the i7, but this car has earned BMW’s “most powerful EV” title with a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.7 seconds for the M70 variant.

In the xDrive60 M Sport guise, this electric limousine has 544 PS and 745 Nm, enabling acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 240 km/h. Its range is equally impressive at 625 km.

If performance is not your priority, the i7 still offers a high level of comfort and luxury that can be expected from the 7 Series. There’s plenty of new tech and gadgets inside, including a 31.3-inch drop-dpwn screen for the rear passangers.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Following the encouraging response received for the Ioniq 5, Hyundai has decided to introduce another EV model to the local market, namely the Ioniq 6.

This streamliner-shaped sedan is available in Max RWD and Max AWD variants, offering ranges of up to 614 km and 519 km, with prices ranging from RM289,888 to RM319,888.

If that seems expensive, Hyundai also offers Lite and Plus variants priced from RM219,888. Most of the standard features are retained, but both variants have a lower power output, and the range is shorter at 429 km.

Engear Volt, NEWS

10 best EVs launched in Malaysia in 2023 – Part 1

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THE curtains have closed on the year 2023, which seemed like a busy period for the Malaysian electric vehicle market, thanks to the influx of new offerings coming on to the local EV scene.

So without further ado, let’s revisit the 10 most exciting EVs launched in our market throughout last year. Note that the cars in this list is not sorted in order.

Lotus Eletre

There are many reasons to like the Eletre, whether or not you are a fan of Lotus. Firstly, it is the first production SUV for the brand known for its small and lightweight sports cars.

It may be an electric SUV, but the Eletre has what it takes to blow the existing ICE Lotus vehicles out of the water with a total system output of 905 hp and 985 Nm in its most powerful version, the R.

Its rather aggressive exterior design may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Eletre’s space-age cabin should leave youe in awe.

Smart #1

After months of teasers, the smart #1 was finally launched last November, offering three variants with selling prices ranging from RM189,000 to RM249,000.

The prices may seem a tad steep but with the #1, you truly get what you pay for. In other words, the #1 is a premium EV with a wide variety of features.

The Pro and Premium variants are equally impressive, with acceleration performance of 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and a range of 440 km. If that’s not enough, the Brabus variant offers a sportier look with red trims and two electric motors.

BYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin is the Chinese EV manufacturer’s second model to arrive in Malaysia, following the Atto 3. With a starting price below of RM100,000, it is also one of the most affordable EVs in the market.

True to its name, the Dolphin’s exterior design is rather adorable, enhanced by attractive LED signature lights at the front and rear. Its interior space looks unique with a funky dashboard design and vibrant color theme.

In addition to the impressive driving range (410 km to 490 km, NEDC), what’s appealing about the Dolphin is the amount of standard equipment buyers get, which include wireless Apple CarPlay, a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen, and ADAS, to name a few.

Rolls-Royce Spectre

This ultra-luxurious electric coupe arrived in Malaysia last September as the most expensive EV in the country,  with a price starting from RM2 million excluding options.

If V12-powered cars like the Ghost and Dawn are sometimes described as “eerily silent”, imagine a Rolls-Royce without an internal combustion engine.

With a 102-kWh battery, the Spectre can drive up to 520 km on a full charge. Charging from 10% to 80% can be achieved in just 34 minutes via a 195 kW DC charger. Interestingly, the Spectre is the first two-door coupe Rolls-Royce to come with 23-inch wheels in almost 100 years.

BMW iX M60

The first electric SAV model in the BMW M portfolio is powered by two electric motors producing a total power of 619 PS and 1,015 Nm.

If that torque figure isn’t high enough, the Launch Control function will boost it to 1,100 Nm to enable the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The maximum speed is capped at 250 km/h.

A 105.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides a driving range of up to 561 km, but with the bonkers ouput, it seems that not many drivers will be able to reach 500 km on a single charge.

NEWS

Proton S70 officially launched – 4 variants, priced from RM73,800

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IT’S safe to say that many have been waiting for the arrival of the newest sedan from Proton, especially considering that the last time the national car maker brought a sedan to the market was the Persona back in 2016.

The wait ends today with the official launch of the Proton S70, which enters the Malaysian market as the fourth Proton model to be jointly developed with Geely after the X70, X50 dan X90.

As previously reported, the S70 will be available in four variants, namely Executive, Premium, Flagship, and Flagship X.

All four variants feature a combination of a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that produces 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque.

Note that this is the same port-injected engine and transmission used in the X50 Standard, Executive, and Premium models. The 1.5-litre TGDi engine with 177 PS and 255 Nm, found in the X50 Flagship and the new X70, is not offered in the S70, at least for the time being.

Built on the B-Segment Modular Architecture (BMA) platform, the S70 measures 4,602 mm in length, 1,809 mm in width, 1,466 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,637 mm, making it slightly smaller than the Geely Emgrand it is based on.

In terms of equipment, the entry-level Executive variant comes with six airbags, Lane Change Assist, electronic parking brake, 16-inch alloy wheels, fabric seats, and an 8-inch infotainment screen.

The Premium adds LED headlights, rear light bars, leatherette upholstery, automatic air conditioning, and reverse camera.

The Flagship offers more additional features, including ADAS, tyre pressure monitoring system, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, power adjustment for the driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless charger, and a 360-degree camera with a 3D display.

The range-topping Flagship X only offers one additional feature over the Flagship, which is a sunroof.

Safety-wise, the Flagship and Flagship X variants come with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with 13 safety systems:

  • Autonomous Emergency Braking
  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Adaptive Cruise Control dengan Stop & Go
  • Intelligent Cruise Control
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Lane Departure Prevention
  • Lane Centering Control
  • Traffic Sign Information
  • Intelligent High Beam Control
  • Lane Change Assist
  • Door Opening Warning
  • Rear Collision Warning
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert

There are seven colour options available. Snow White and Space Grey are available for all four variants, while Armour Silver and Passion Red are only offered for the Premium and Flagship.

Marine Blue and Teal Bayou Green are exclusive to the Flagship and Flagship X, and Quartz Black is exclusive to the Flagship X.

Selling prices start from RM73,800 for the Executive, RM79,800 for the Premium, RM89,800 for the Flagship, and RM94,800 for the Flagship X.

The standard package for the S70 includes a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, a 1GB per month data package for five years, free labor for six times, financing interest rates from 2.34 percent, and Proton Insurance Program.

Additionally, the first 3,000 owners who register their cars before February 29, 2024, will receive an aero body kit worth RM3,130 (Flagship X only), a RM500 service voucher (Premium and Flagship only), and an upgraded Proton insurance program.