Alright, maybe ruin is a little dramatic. The point is, we all have our habits when driving; some of them are fairly harmless and some potentially lethal (texting, for one). Habits that can incur unnecessary costs and inconvenience or worse, risk an accident are best corrected. So, these are the 4 things you should not do in an automatic transmission car. 1. Shift to reverse while the car is still moving forwards Each time when an opposite direction gear is selected, it is advised to come to a c
Oct 21, 2020
Dashcam footage of a fatal accident showing a Toyota Hiace vaulting over a low curb before colliding into a Perodua Bezza in Jalan Saujana Impian has gone viral. The accident resulted in the death of the Bezza driver and front passenger and heavily injuring 2 others in the car. Traffic Crime Investigation Department (JPST) Selangor chief Superintendent Azman Shari’at confirms with Harian Metro that the victims who died at the scene were husband, Remyzan Baharuddin, and wife, Suzyla Ahmad Dahlan.
Mar 8, 2021
Perodua recently launched their new and improved automatic transmission fluid (ATF) oil, specifically for models produced from 2013 onwards. Rated at D3-SP specification, it is applicable for models like the Myvi, Bezza, Axia, Alza and Aruz. Both red and blue bottles of Perodua Genuine Oil ATF D3-SP contain the same, newly improved formula specially designed for Perodua electronic automatic transmissions (E-AT). Red bottles are only sold at Perodua authorised service centres, while blue bottles
Mar 25, 2020
Say goodbye to 4AT! Updated Kia Rio with the more advanced transmission is coming! In July 2017, Kia Malaysia officially released a new generation of Kia Rio. The new version is all right as a whole while the power configuration is controversial because in today using 4AT is inevitably a bit stingy. But there was news that the new Kia Rio will be equipped with 6AT transmission and also has an optimization on the safety configuration. Someone revealed that Kia Malaysia is about to upgrade Kia Rio
Jul 21, 2019
Sebuah Perodua Myvi putih terbakar selepas terlibat dalam satu kemalangan dengan Proton X70 di Jalan Saujana Impian pada pagi Ahad (7 Mac). Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) Selangor menerima panggilan kecemasan berhubung kejadian kebakaran itu pada pukul 8.33 pagi hari itu, dan kira-kira 7 jam kemudian Perodua Bezza pula bertembung dengan sebuah van Toyota Hiace yang menyebabkan kematian pasangan suami isteri di lokasi yang sama. Menurut laporan Harian Metro, Pengarah JBPM Selangor N
Mar 9, 2021
An article from fortune.com back in 2016 suggested that a car spends about 90% of its time parked. Is there any truth to that? Well, even if you did drive 2 hours a day, it would only amount to 8.3% of the 24 hours we have in a day. There’s still a good 91.7% left. If you drive an automatic, you need to shift to “P” and engage the parking brake to park the car. There are however, two different types of people in terms of the sequence of action. Some shift to “P” first, and then engage the parkin
Jun 29, 2020
When Toyota launched the GR Supra, it kept the enthusiast scene buzzing – partially because Toyota worked with BMW to develop the Supra, but also because the GR Supra lacks a manual transmission. Tetsuya Tada, the chief engineer of the GR Supra threw a curveball, asking if Toyota should prioritize a manual version of the Supra, or should they develop a more powerful version. In the meantime, a tuner group called European Auto Group recently got their hands on the GR Supra and has started work on
Oct 22, 2019
Mag X, a Japanese publication has reported that a manual gearbox is “under preparation” for the A90 Toyota Supra. The manual gearbox is expected to make the infamous coupe even more engaging to drive. There are yet to be any specifics on the manual gearbox. Currently the A90 Toyota Supra utilises the 8-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles. Earlier this year, Toyota had already introduced a 4-cylinder turbo B48 base variant of the Toyota Supra alongside the B58 turbo 6-cylinder variant
Jul 29, 2020
Generally, most cars don’t last a lifetime and most people would generally own a car for a few years before replacing it. Still, there are some cars which are still running years or even decades after they were bought new. In fact, for this week’s Top Rank, we wanted to focus on the cars that are generally seen as immortal. Some of them might be considered indestructible and can last a lifetime no matter what is thrown in their way. You could even think of them as the automotive equivalent of a
Feb 21, 2021
If you found a genie in a bottle and wished for enough money to last an entire lifetime, things could turn out several ways. He could give you a billion ringgit to let you live lavishly for a good 50 years. He could also not give you anything at all, but make you die the moment your money runs out. The point is, “lasting an entire lifetime” is only as good as how long a lifetime is. With that, lifetime transmission fluids also depend on the definition of what a lifetime is. You’re probably famil
Sep 13, 2020
Just a few days back, my colleague Arif opined that the world doesn't need manual cars anymore. Chaos ensued, tables and chairs were thrown in the office (some were thrown in Adrian's direction too, for saying this). After the dust has settled, I'm happy to report that we're all still friends and colleagues (I was forced to type this). Jokes aside, I am only too aware of the passage of progress, and Arif does have valid points about the need to continue moving forward. Electric cars and autonomo
Aug 2, 2020
Behold the new 2020 Toyota Yaris facelift! Like the newly-introduced Toyota Yaris Ativ sedan, aka the Toyota Vios in Malaysia, Toyota Motor Thailand has upgraded the new Toyota Yaris with Toyota Safety Sense, updated exterior stylings and a sportier interior as well as Apple CarPlay connectivity. Cosmetically, the new Toyota Yaris is sharper than the outgoing generation with narrower squinty automatic LED headlamps paired with stylish LED DRLs. Toyota has also updated the Yaris’ grille with a bl
Aug 19, 2020
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) and Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) have donated five Toyota Innova ambulances to the Indonesia Red Cross (PMI). These Toyota Innova ambulances are fitted with all the necessary life-saving equipment, including an easy-to-operate entry and exit system, a fixed oxygen system, as well as various storage spaces for storing medical equipment. But why not a Toyota Hiace? According to TAM’s marketing director, Anton Jimmi Suwandy, the Innova was selected as the Hi
May 21, 2020
Back in the early 90s, if you wanted to buy a performance car, you’d most probably choose the manual transmission option. The equivalent automatic option was probably heavier, slower-reacting, and had higher fuel consumption. My own uncle once told me back then, “In a sprint, my manual car would always be faster and more accelerative versus an automatic.” Those words stuck with me. Fast forward to today, and self-shifting transmissions have gotten so good, no human input could possibly match its
Jul 24, 2020
The Toyota Corolla Cross made its global debut in Thailand last week. Production has already begun in Thailand and the Corolla Cross will be in dealerships across the land of smiles later this month. As for the Malaysian market, the Corolla Cross will make its way here and UMW Toyota Motor hinted that it will be locally assembled. Currently, the manufacturing plant at Bukit Raja has a capacity of 50,000 units per year. According to MAA’s production data, the plant produced around 37,000 units la
Jul 15, 2020
The Toyota RAV4 is now available at Toyota showrooms across Malaysia, priced from RM 196,436 to RM 215,664 during this 6-month sales tax exemption period. After 31-December 2020, prices will increase to RM 203,880 and RM 223,880 respectively, when the 10 percent sales tax is reinstated. In any case, the imported from Japan Toyota RAV4 is priced out of the competition by a big margin. Its locally-assembled rivals like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 tops out at RM 175,900 and RM 181,660 respectivel
Jun 18, 2020
Prior to the introduction of the locally-assembled (CKD) Proton X70, the company has confirmed that the upcoming model will be fitted with a new 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic transmission, superseding the 6-speed torque converter unit. Recently, Geely flew selected members of the media to its headquarters in Zhejiang, China as a preview for the new transmission. DCT, reliable meh? Speaking to members of the media, Geely’s Senior Chief Engineer Tejinder Singh said that their new wet-type
Feb 3, 2020
Manual drivers rejoice, as Nissan has confirmed that the upcoming Nissan 400Z will be fitted with a three-pedal option. Over the past week, Nissan has dropped a slew of teasers for its new Z-car, including one that has the 400Z’s manual shifter in view, as well as glimpses of the new car’s headlights and wheels. Nissan’s design boss Alfonso Albaisa also posted a sketch of the Z-Car’s rear-end, hinting that the model will get horizontal tail lights – much like the 300ZX. Power is expected to be d
Sep 11, 2020
An increasingly common feature in automatic transmission cars nowadays is paddle shifters. 9 times out of 10, a new car will come equipped with it, be it an econobox like a Honda City or a hot-blooded supercar (a McLaren 720S comes to mind). How did this feature become so prevalent? Is it just a gimmick, or something genuinely useful? How did it even come about? Origins of the paddle shift The most primitive form of a paddle shift system was first seen in 1901, which was invented by Amedé Bollée
Feb 3, 2021
Persidangan korporat UMW Holdings Berhad baru-baru ini mengesahkan bahawa Toyota Corolla Cross 2021 akan dilancar pada suku kedua tahun ini. Model ini merupakan sebahagian dari pelan mereka untuk tahun 2021. Setakat ini, UMW Toyota Motor telah melancarkan kemaskini buat Toyota Fortuner dan Toyota Innova. Pelancaran yang selebihnya mungkin Toyota Camry facelift 2021 (CBU Thailand) dan Toyota GR 86 2021 (CBU Jepun). Generasi kedua buat sportscar ini dijangka membuat debut global di Jepun dalam beb
Feb 16, 2021
It’s official, Suzuki has returned to Malaysia after a 5-year hiatus. One of its most iconic models, the Suzuki Swift Sport, is set to make a comeback. Full disclosure - yours truly has a third-generation Suzuki Swift Sport (ZC32S) with a stick shift, hence some bias is likely at play here. As the title would already have hinted, I am a die-hard fan of manual transmissions. So much so that when my colleague Jason was throwing furniture at another colleague, Arif, for his article on manual transm
Apr 5, 2021
UMW Holdings Berhad, has in its latest corporate presentation, confirmed that the 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross will be launched in Malaysia in the second quarter of this year. The Corolla Cross will be one of the several new models (not all are listed here) that its subsidiary UMW Toyota Motor has planned for 2021. Of these, two have already been launched – the new facelifted 2021 Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Innova. The remaining models will most probably be the new Thailand-made 2021 Toyota Camry (
Feb 16, 2021
The #SaveTheManuals movement has been rather successful in the automotive world. Case in point, Porsche brought back the 6-speed manual transmission option in their 991.2 generation Porsche GT3 following public woes. I love driving cars with three pedals and a stick – regardless of power and performance. It gives you an additional layer of engagement and connection with the car which more often than not equates to ‘fun driving’. Rowing through the gears yourself is not just an exercise for your
Oct 9, 2019
UMW Toyota Motor has just launched the all-new 2020 Toyota RAV4 in Malaysia. Two variants are available – 2.0L and 2.5L. Both variants are imported from Japan. Prices start from RM 196,436 for the RAV4 2.0L, while the RAV4 2.5L is priced from RM 215,664. Both prices are on-the-road, without insurance, and SST-free. With SST in place, the RAV4 is priced from RM 203,880 to RM 223,880. Separating both the RAV4 2.0L and 2.5L is the powertrain – the 2.0L variant is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinde
Jun 18, 2020
One of the cars that stole last week's thunder was the 2020 Toyota Vios GR Sport. Since we first broke news of the car a couple of months ago and all the way up to our Closer Look post, one thing has got one trump card that people have been talking about - its '10-speed' gearbox. Pretty much for good reason too. Name us a few other cars that come with 10-speed gearboxes. There's the 2020 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, its beefier Ranger Raptor sibling and the way more expensive 2020 Lexus LC500 Convertib
Dec 26, 2020
A90 Supra lineage shown Likely 3.0L straight-six with 340 PS Could be priced below RM 600,000 Toyota Malaysia has dropped a teaser on its Facebook page, hinting that the all-new A90 Supra is coming soon. From what we gathered, we understand that Toyota Malaysia will introduce the all-new A90 Supra in September. Expected to be priced below the RM 600,000 mark, our Malaysian market A90 Supra will likely feature a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six petrol engine that outputs 340 PS between 5,000 r
Aug 16, 2019
Coming alongside the 2021 Toyota Fortuner facelift is the 2021 Toyota Innova facelift, with bookings due to be open for booking in Malaysia later today. Customers are able to register their interest on Toyota Malaysia's website. Based on the Indonesian- and Thai-spec Innova, the teaser pic on Toyota Malaysia's social media pages and website depicts the slight nip-and-tuck the car gets - pretty much a smaller, trapezoidal grille, rear garnishes and different wheels. So far, no teasers of the inte
Jan 4, 2021
Alongside the Toyota Innova facelift, UMW Toyota has also teased the arrival of the 2021 Toyota Fortuner facelift. Customers are able to register their interest on Toyota Malaysia's website. Based on the Thai-spec Toyota Fortuner, the 2021 Toyota Fortuner facelift might receive a more powerful 2.8-litre engine from the Toyota Hilux Rogue. It makes 204 PS and 500 Nm of torque (a 30 PS and 50 Nm increase over the outgoing model), mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Convenience features are
Jan 4, 2021
Toyota authorized dealer Laser Motor’s outlet in Seksyen 19 Petaling Jaya has a quite a good reputation as a friendly neighbourhood dealer that PJ folks trust. For various reasons, this particular Toyota dealer sees an unusually high number of old Toyota cars being sent there for maintenance work, even if the cars are well past (sometimes decades past) their warranty period. It’s something that even the people at UMW Toyota Motor’s headquarters find difficult to explain (because only then can th
Apr 16, 2021
UMW Toyota Motor has announced that prices for locally assembled (CKD) models will not be increased at this time. The CKD models include Yaris, Vios, Rush, Hilux, Fortuner, Innova and Hiace. About a month ago, the Ministry of Finance said that any increase in prices as a result of the new method of Open Market Value (OMV) calculation will be absorbed by the Finance Ministry until 31st December 2020. However, prices are expected to increase next year. As for the fully imported (CBU) models, the f
Feb 28, 2020
Honda HR-V
Perodua Alza
Honda City
Honda City Hatchback
Toyota Yaris