New MINI models introduced in Malaysia

MINI Malaysia recently introduced the New MINI 3 Door and the New MINI 5 Door. This are the first models to be introduced in Malaysia since the third generation MINI was introduced in 2014.

The new models feature emotive, signature design elements such as the new MINI Logo Projection, LED Headlamps and Union Jack Tail lamps with Day Time Running Lights (for the very first time) as well as new logo elements on its body to distinguish the car further from its previous iterations.
The engines weight have an overall reduction of up to eight kilograms improving its fuel consumption radically and fully meeting the latest Euro 6c Standard. This includes the progressive use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) on the engine cover.

The Coasting experience which was previously only available via the GREEN mode is also now possible in the MID mode with The New MINI. The feature intuitively shifts the engine to idle when the foot is off the accelerator pedal when cruising.

The front beams are powered by Bi-LED lights, and at a flick of the indicator will switch the LED daytime running lights to the LED indicators.

MINI Malaysia also introduces the MINI Yours Customised Accessories for the first time ever in South East Asia, which allow retrofit components such as side scuttles, cockpit facia, LED Door Sills Finishers and LED Door Projector to be produced according to the customer’s personally designed specifications.

The classic MINI logo has also been refreshed for all models with subtle modification and a sharper contrast. The re-interpretation of the existing logo now features a two-dimensional "flat design", reflecting the new brand identity with its focus on the essentials – driving fun, distinctive design, premium quality and emotional appeal. Also, with the MINI Logo Projection, drivers are now greeted by the new logo beamed on the ground every time they step in and out of their MINI.

The New MINI Cooper S 3 Door and the New MINI Cooper S 5 Door are the first MINIs in the family to be equipped with the 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission and an electronic gear shifter. The 7-Speed Dual Clutch Steptronic Sports Transmission consist of two sub-transmissions to ensure no delays and thus more comfort in shifting gears. With sub-transmission 1 aligned for gears 2, 4, 6, and the reverse, and sub-transmission 2 for gears 1, 3, 5, and 7, such optimum efficiency means the next gear will always have been pre-engaged on the other sub-transmission. The new transmission type is helped by the purely mechanical function of the torque converter. The expanded gears and bigger gear shift spacing also contribute to less fuel consumption and CO2 emission. Additionally, the newly designed electronic selector lever ensures that the gear always returns to its original position after changing between driving mode D, neutral position N, and reverse mode.

The New MINI Cooper S 3 Door and the New MINI Cooper S 5 Door are powered by the 2.0-litre 4-Cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo Engine. Both deliver up to 192HP and 280Nm of torque, with a top speed of 235km/h.

The New MINI 3 Door goes from 0 to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds with a combined CO2 emission of 125 g/km and combined fuel consumption of 5.5l/100km. Meanwhile, the New MINI 5 Door sprints from 0 to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds. The New MINI 5 Door’s combined CO2 emission is 128 g/km and its combined fuel consumption is 5.6 l/100km.

The New MINI 3 Door

The car stands out with the 17” Cosmos Spoke in Black, where a coat of special black paint provides a more dynamic look that gives the rims a high-gloss finish and deep black paint effect.



The New MINI 3 Door prioritises digital sophistication with its Touch Screen Display with Navigation, a high-resolution screen in the MINI Centre Instrument that puts a wealth of information at your fingertips. The New MINI 3 Door comes with a 6.5” display, which can be operated via the MINI Controller or touch screen. To enhance technological offerings, the New MINI 3 Door features MINI Connected which enables owners to integrate their smart phone, smart phone apps and the MINI Connected App into their MINI. The MINI Connected App enables owners to easily check Fuel Consumption, Fuel Range and Last Known Location.

The challenges of reversing in and out of tight spots are now a thing of the past as the New MINI 3 Door is newly installed with the Rear View Camera.

The interior of the New MINI 3 Door comes with the backlit MINI Yours Illuminated Cockpit. The display lights up with a stylised Union Jack, offering 12 colours that are sure to suit every mood of every driver. The interior finish of the New MINI 3 Door keeps up the MINI comfort and sophistication by being fitted out with Leather Cross Punch in Carbon Black.

The New MINI 3 Door comes in seven colours – Chili Red, Pepper White, Solaris Orange, White Silver, Starlight Blue, Thunder Grey and British Racing Green paired with Black Roof. Alternatively, Chili Red can also be paired with White Roof.

The New MINI 5 Door

The wheels for the New MINI 5 Door impress with the stunning high gloss 17” John Cooper Works Track Spoke in Black, exclusively developed for optimum weight support and fitted with run-flat tyres. An attractive new standard feature for the New MINI 5 Door is the John Cooper Works Aerodynamic Kit which confers the New MINI with the eye-catching rear spoiler.

As with the New MINI 3 Door, digital components such as MINI Connected, the Touch Screen with Navigation with a 6.5” display, and the Rear View Camera are all available with the New MINI 5 Door. In terms of interior finish, the New MINI 5 Door offers Leather Cross Punch Carbon Black and the Black Chequered Interior Style.

The New MINI 5 Door comes in six colours – Chili Red, Pepper White, Emerald Grey, White Silver, Starlight Blue and British Racing Green paired with Black Roof. Chili Red can also be paired with White Roof.

New BMW X3 to be locally assembled

BMW Group Malaysia today introduced the third generation of their mid-sized Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), the new BMW X3. The vehicle will be locally assembled for the first time in the country.

The exterior dimensions of the new BMW X3 may be largely unchanged, but has a five-centimetre-longer wheelbase, long bonnet and short front overhang, which according to the company, emphasise the perfect 50:50 distribution of weight between the front and rear axle.

As for changes in the external design, the front end has the “three-dimensional” kidney grille treatment and foglamps and features a hexagonal design for the very first time on a BMW X model. It also features high-beam assistant which switches head lights to high beam automatically when needed. The BMW X3 sits on 19” light alloy wheels Double Spoke bicolour Ferric Grey.

The vehicle is powered by a TwinPower Turbo 2.0 in-line four-cylinder petrol engine and comprises of TwinScroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, Double-VANOS variable camshaft control and Valvetronic fully variable valve timing. With an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, the BMW X3 is capable of sprinting from 0-100km in 6.3 seconds at a top speed of 240 km/h. The All-New BMW X3 is capable of generating a maximum output of 252hp and 350Nm of torque.

Furthermore, the standard Driving Experience Control switch allows the driver choose between various configurations – i.e. ECO PRO, COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ modes, all of which are designed to make the vehicle more dynamic, more comfortable or more efficient to drive.

The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) allows the power to be split between all four wheels which can be constantly varied. Complementing the off-road capabilities is Hill Descent Control which helps maintain the SAV at a steady pace when driving down a steep incline.

The interior design includes the exclusive BMW X embossing which is highly visible on the B-pillar, enter console and rear door trim. The Leather Vernasca with contrast stitching sports seat, with padded side bolsters looks great. The Luxury Line offers leather upholstery, a Sensatec-covered instrument panel with contrast stitching and Dark Oak fine wood interior trim strips with accent strip in Pearl Chrome. The SAV also comes with 6 ambient light colours tones (orange, lilac, mint, bronze, blue and white) with selectable contour and mood lighting. The 10.25-inch Central Information Display is located above the instrument panel with touch control functionality, provides a quick overview of the most pertinent information and offers users intuitive access.

The rear camera, with Park Distance Control which provides an acoustic and visual (distance only) warning of the obstacle behind the vehicle. To assist the driver further, the Parking Assistant aids with automatic parking into parallel and lateral parking spaces.

Customers have a choice of 4 colours, namely, Terra Brown, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver and Alpine White.

The new BMW X3 will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide from the 25th April 2018 with deliveries expected to commence in July 2018.

The estimated retail price (on the road, without insurance) for the BMW X3 xDrive30i is RM 320,000.00.

The Track-Tor is the fastest tractor in the world

The Top Gear team has set a new Guinness World Records title for Fastest Tractor. Led by Matt LeBlanc, and driven by The Stig, the Track-Tor -a modified high-speed tractor reached a speed 87.2mph on the set of Top Gear on Wednesday, March 14th.

Engineered at the Top Gear Agricultural Technology Centre, the ‘Track-tor’ is a 500-brake horsepower, Lamborghini-style orange-colored farming automotive Frankenstein powered by a 5.7 liter Chevy V8 engine and supported by 4-wheel brakes, adjustable air suspension and 54-inch tires. And in true Top Gear style, it’s also fitted with a push button start, a barometer and a Wellington boot and spade rack.

According to Jack Brockbank, Official Guinness World Records Adjudicator: “To see The Stig hurtle past me in a tractor at 87mph was surreal, but hugely impressive. Equally as impressive is the engineering expertise of the Top Gear team that made this possible – the combination of their skills makes for brilliant record-breaking fun.”

The Track-tor’s unique modifications:

Ad for the New Subaru XV

Nasty Malaysian Drivers and Accidents

Have had some really bad experiences with some really nasty Malaysian drivers recently.

A car scrapped my car near the University of Malaya and while I moved to the side for safety, the other driver just drove away.

Spent half the day yesterday reporting a traffic accident at the police station in PJ.

Last Thursday, a lady hit my wife's car from behind in Damansara Utama. They got down and the lady apologised profusely. They had a chat, exchanged contact numbers and agreed to settle. However, they lady said that she did not have enough money and my wife agreed to take the money when she got her salary. I guess this is something not uncommon with a number of Malaysians living from salary to salary. 

Anyway she agreed to come to a workshop near our house in PJ on the weekend to find out the damage and she drove away. 

We thought it was settled. Next day the drivers' mum, a really rude lady, called up my wife and started shouting.

She wanted us to come to their workshop in Segambut which is nearly one hours away. Later she only wanted to pay only RM150 without even getting an evaluation from the workshop, which her daughter agreed to do. 

She even accused my wife of threatening her darling baby daughter. Mind you, the lady who hit my wife's car is nearly 30 years old. My wife was shocked as the other driver WAS AT FAULT. 

In the conversation that followed, for no reason, she even mentioned that she was an accountant and drove a BMW. WTF has that got to do with the accident. She hung up but the daughter agreed to come on Saturday and settle.

On Saturday, nobody turned up and she simply ignored my wife's texts.

The damage was not that bad but their attitude really made us angry. That left us with no choice but to lodge a report with the police. 

We went to the police station in Damansara Utama which then directed us to go to the Balai Polis, Jalan Penchala, PJ. 

Apparently, we were not the only people who has faced a similar situation as there were so many people who agreed to settle but didn't. The police had some advice for us which I thought I should share with you guys.

If you are ever in an accident:

1. Stop the car. 
2. Take pictures of the damage and the number plate of the other vehicle. 
3. Then get contact details of the other driver.
4. And if the other party wants to settle. Observe the attitude of the person. If you feel uneasy - say that they don't have money or do not agree to accompany you to a workshop to get the damage evaluated - forget about settling. 
5. Lodge a police report within 24 hours and 
6. claim from their insurance, even though it may be some trouble.

The new Lamborghini Urus

Automobili Lamborghini recently launched the Lamborghini Urus, which they claim is the first Super Sport Utility Vehicle. I don't really agree as there are already a few offerings from other brands in this new niche in the luxury segment including the Porsche Cayenne, the Porsche Macan and Range Rover Evoque.

Anyway, the Urus offers luxurious space for up to five occupants and a fantastic driving experience with six different driving modes + the EGO mode available via ‘Tamburo’ driving dynamics selector.

It is powered by a 4.0 liter V8 twin-turbo engine with 650 hp and 850 Nm of torque. The Urus can go from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed 305 km/h. The vehicle has a 4WD system with active torque vectoring and four-wheel steering.

As for safety, it features carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive air suspension and active roll stabilization.

The peaked mound of the bonnet is reminiscent of the Miura and Aventador, and accented by diagonal hood lines. Large air intakes sporting the hexagonal theme are linked by a low-level front spoiler. The front lights are sleek, slim and very sporty, set in a horizontal position and with LED headlights in the familiar Lamborghini Y shape.

The Y-shaped front air intakes, also a feature of the LM002, are detailed with the Italian flag, emphasizing the origins of the model.

With a low roofline and frameless windows, the Urus has a sharply-inclined windshield and strongly-angled rear windows with glass-on-glass replacing the C-pillar. The hexagonal wheel arches borrows deign details from the LM002 and Countachat, housing large 21" to 23" wheels. The rear diffuser is inspired by Lamborghini race cars, with integrated double round exhaust pipes.

As for the interior, the driver and passengers are all afforded a low but extremely comfortable super sports car seat position. Oriented around the driver, the slim Y design of the dashboard, is inspired by the LM002 as well as by current Lamborghini super sports cars. The Lamborghini hexagonal theme echoes throughout the interior, in elements such as air vents and door handles, and even in items such as the cup holders and air bag modules. A multi-function, three-spoke steering wheel incorporates a vibration damper to enhance comfort in all driving conditions. Multifunction switches are intuitively located on the steering wheel to control the Lamborghini Infotainment System (LIS), including car set-up, media, telephone and navigation.

The standard front DNA memory sport seats are fully electric, heated and 12-way adjustable. More luxurious, 18-way fully-electric front seats are available as an option, including features such as ventilation and massage. The rear bench seat comes as standard with a movable and folding seat back and ISOFIX fixings. The rear bench seat can be lowered to substantially extend the trunk space from 616 liters to 1.596 liters.

A fully-digital TFT display shows the Urus' main information in an animated 3D representation and is customizable by the driver.

Just in case you are wondering, the name Urus is derived from the Urus bulls also known as Aurochs. They are one of the large, wild ancestors of domestic cattle.

Jose Mourinho collects his Jaguar

Jose Mourinho is UK's first Jaguar FType Coupé customer.