Our Cruise Control trio are back this week previewing the latest car launches in the local market. Hot off the factory line is the 2024 edition of Mazda's CX-5, a brand best-seller that's been upgraded with new styling, technologies and features. Elsewhere, Mitsubishi are going on a road tour to promote a limited edition variant of the Triton pick up truck, now improved with a host of cosmetic upgrades. We also look forward to the arrival of GAC's GS3, the Chinese automakers arriving straight in...
Jan 31, 2024•34 min
Cruise Control returns this week with a couple of new luxury SUVs from continental giants, as Mercedes, BMW and Audi launched the GLA 200, the X5 PHEV and the SQ8 e-Tron respectively. We also look ahead to an electrified version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which has just been confirmed for production. Fresh off Perodua's visit to Italy recently, we discuss the prospects of Perodua's electrification plans, given our current EV infrastructure. We round off this episode with a used car guide, Danie...
Jan 24, 2024•34 min
The Cruise Control guys regroup this week to take you through another week of local automotive news. The arrival of the new Honda CR-V has sent tongues wagging, and this week Honda revealed a hybrid variant of the popular SUV, costing just below the sweet spot of RM200k mark. With Chinese New Year on the horizon, Great Wall Motors are offering a discount on any purchase of the ORA Good Cat, with cash rebates and wall charger thrown in to sweeten the deal. In China, Tesla made the headlines again...
Jan 17, 2024•31 min
Cruise Control is back this week with news from in and around the Asean automotive sector. Daniel and Ali look ahead to a couple of new players entering the Malaysian market, as Chery's subsidiary Jaecoo gave an exclusive preview of the Jaecoo J7, a luxurious SUV vying in the same segment as Chery's own Omoda 5. Elsewhere, new EV company XPENG are also in talks with a Malaysian distributor, as are another EV proponent Zeekr, who just set up shop in Singapore. With these exciting movements to loo...
Jan 10, 2024•40 min
Cruise Control is back in 2024 promising the latest coverage in the local and global automotive industry. Our trio of petrolheads kick off the new year following the launch of the PADU Database, which is intended for targeted petrol and diesel subsidies; Honda's big EV move in Thailand, which we hope to spill over to our market sooner rather than later; plus an exclusive look at Xiaomi's impending launch of their EV supercar! We also discuss the legitimacy of vehicle testing procedures, in light...
Jan 03, 2024•33 min
Our Cruise Control trio returns this week bearing news, views and reviews of the local and regional automotive market. First off, we saw the launch of the Mercedes Benz EQE 500 4Matic, in all its SUV glory. This variant accompanies its luxury sedan sibling for more family oriented uses. Speaking of family, we also hear that Honda are preparing a hybrid powertrain for its once popular Odyssey. The new gen family wagon now comes with 7 seater configurations, and should be fully imported from Japan...
Dec 13, 2023•34 min
The Cruise Control trio are back this week with some very good news from the recently concluded Thai Motor Expo in Bangkok. We focus on seven vehicles with a high likelihood of arriving in Malaysian markets soon. Great Wall Motors are keen to add another EV in Malaysia, following the encouraging response to the ORA Good Cat, and the Chinese manufacturers unveiled a sleek electric sedan dubbed as the ORA Lightning Cat, their smartest electric car to date. Volvo also gave a taste of what's to come...
Dec 06, 2023•41 min
Our Cruise Control trio returns this week with a slew of new launches in the local market; a discussion on the future of EVs based on a Rowan Atkinson article as well as a drive review of Toyota's newly minted people mover. Proton have unveiled their new C-segment sedan, as the highly anticipated S70 makes its debut with price points that rival Japanese sedans in the B-segment! Honda also got in on the action, taking bookings for a 6th generation CR-V, which comes complete with a hybrid powertra...
Nov 29, 2023•41 min
Cruise Control is back this week previewing new car launches in the local and regional markets. Locally, our Prime Minister launched a new electric MPV, as the Maxus MIFA 9 makes its debut. Chinese carmakers continue to create a ripple in the Asean market, after Changan announced their arrival in the Thai market with a new basecamp located in the Rayong province. Globally, Volvo continues to blaze the EV trail, this time with a beautiful family MPV dubbed the EM90. We also discuss the purpose of...
Nov 15, 2023•37 min
Our Cruise Control trio are back this week with reports from the local automotive industry, previewing new releases in the market, discussing local EV discounts plus a compare and contrast between three new seven-seater SUVs currently in the market. News-wise, it's the Germans that are dominating the headlines again. First Mercedes Benz launched the latest GLC and GLE Coupe with some glorious upgrades from the previous editions. BMW are also in on the action with the announcement of the i5 elect...
Nov 08, 2023•41 min
Cruise Control returns this week with previews of what's new in the local automotive market, plus a quick glance at the recently concluded Tokyo Mobility Show and a discussion on EV production in the Western markets. Locally, BYD is making big moves with the opening of two new showrooms, following plans to open up in eight Malaysian cities in the coming year. Maserati announced a high performance race car dubbed as the Cielo; and German giants BMW also bring back their top-end SUV, the seven-sea...
Nov 01, 2023•42 min
Cruise Control is back this week bringing you the latest in the local automotive headlines, plus a recap of Daniel's visit to Chery's headquarters in China. We also review the new facelift edition of the Porsche Cayenne. Locally, Toyota continue their productive year with updates to two of their popular MPVs, announcing the new and improved Alphard and Vellfire, both are set to arrive fully imported, replete with luxury refinements in the cabin. Jaguar Land Rover also announced a new Range Rover...
Oct 25, 2023•37 min
This week on Cruise Control, Ali and Daniel go through the headlines in the automotive world both locally and globally. After months of speculation, the Geely Mercedes-Benz electrifying collaboration finally arrive on our shores, with the unveiling of Smart #1 Brabus edition. We also saw a facelift edition of Porsche Cayenne, now locally assembled with tons of new bells and whistles. We round off the show with an illuminating discussion on the state of local journalism with regards to electric v...
Oct 18, 2023•35 min
Cruise Control returns this week for a review of the latest headlines in the automotive industry, plus a glowing review of a beautiful Audi EV. Tesla rocked the local headlines yet again, this week with the opening of their showroom in Cyberjaya, which is not quite a 3S Centre just yet. We also saw the arrival of the ultra-limited Honda Civic Type R - only 19 units available in Malaysia! In the two wheels arena, Triumph and Ducati both announced updated models of their superbikes, some of which ...
Oct 04, 2023•38 min
Cruise Control is back with the week's roundup of automotive news, a discussion about factory warranty periods as well as a review of Kia's beautiful new EV, the Niro. It's a quiet week as far as new car launches go in Malaysia, but there's plenty to be excited about in the two-wheels arena when Ducati and Royal Enfield made announcements of their latest models respectively. The mighty Italian outfit launched their new and powerful touring motorbike, the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, specially de...
Sep 27, 2023•37 min
Cruise Control returns this week looking at the latest headlines in the local automotive scene. Hot on the list of things to discuss is the issue of cloned cars; where do they come from and what you can do to make sure you don't accidentally own one in your garage! Plenty to discuss, but not before going over fresh news about a facelift edition of the popular Toyota Yaris; Vespa's RM 99k model; the much sought after Kawasaki Ninja ZR as well as a 'Lite' variant of the incoming Hyundai Ioniq 6. S...
Sep 20, 2023•28 min
Our Cruise Control trio returns this week with some notable headlines from a rather quiet week in the local automotive industry. It looks like Lamborghini have jumped on the EV bandwagon with the launch of their hyper-powered Revuelto, a supercar without the roar of a petrol engine. American giants Tesla have opened local bookings for the facelift edition of their signature Model 3, with starting prices that are set to shock the market yet again. Tesla's competitive local pricing, coupled with t...
Sep 13, 2023•32 min
This week on Cruise Control we delve into the latest headlines in the local and regional automotive markets, plus a review of Volkswagen's iconic hatchback. We start with a quick check-in on the sales figures at Honda Malaysia, as the ASEAN focused WR-V excited the market since its launch two months ago. In business news, Sime Darby Auto Selection's acquisition of shares in UMW caught us unaware, agreeing a deal that ultimately made them the biggest conglomerate in the local market. We also lear...
Aug 30, 2023•27 min
Cruise Control is back this week with the latest headlines from in and around the automotive world. It's been a bright week for Chinese manufacturers as Great Wall Motors announced a new pick up truck, whilst fellow countrymen Zontes dropped two nippy little scooter bikes to entice Malaysians. We also take a first look at a souped-up edition of a popular motorbike model in Malaysia, as Yamaha's Y Suku gets a few cosmetic upgrades. Our conversation turns into premium electric SUVs as Daniel share...
Aug 23, 2023•35 min
Cruise Control soldiers on this week despite being a person down, as always bringing you the latest news in the automotive world, as well as Daniel's experience test driving BYD's latest model to leap onto our shores, the BYD Dolphin! As the competition gets hotter in the local EV landscape, (and perhaps feeling the heat from BYD's Dolphin), Hozon has decided to drop the price of their Netta V from RM99K to RM80K. In the petrol realm, Honda announced the 5th generation of Honda City. Sporting a ...
Aug 16, 2023•46 min
Cruise Control returns this week previewing two new BMWs in our local market, peep at Volkswagen's new GTi logo while we bid goodbye to Volvo's iconic wagons. BMW started the week bright with announcements for their most powerful electric SUV to date, unveiling the iX M60, together with another new model, launching the petrol powered sports car M2 Coupe in the same week. We also discuss what the future holds for Volkswagen's iconic Golf GTi, and respond to Volvo's plan to discontinue its sedans ...
Aug 09, 2023•40 min
Cruise Control returns this week as our petrolheads get excited about BYD's latest EV offering, plus a quick peep into the used car market for a 4-year-old Proton X70! The local automotive market was set alight by BYD last week when they launched a new compact EV, dubbed the Dolphin. With its base price below one-hundred-thousand Ringgit mark, Daniel expects this model to fly off the shelves just like the Atto 3. We also look ahead to the arrival of a new generation of Honda CR-V, this time comp...
Aug 02, 2023•32 min
Cruise Control returns this week buzzing with a slew of electric car news! The big headline all week is the official arrival of Tesla in our local market, the American giants launched their best selling Model Y, consequently plummeting prices for grey-imported Tesla's in the used car market down by 50%. Also in the mix is the arrival of Smart #1 and Hyundai's stylish Ioniq 6, steadily growing the electric line up in Malaysia. We also discuss which of the three new models that makes the most fina...
Jul 26, 2023•36 min
Cruise Control returns this week with the latest headlines in the automotive world, complete with a review of an exciting compact SUV from China. As a matter of fact, that model we test drove comes from Chery! The Chinese automakers announced their return to the local market with not one, but two SUV models in the Omoda 5 and the Tiggo 8 Pro. On the EV side of things, Kia looks to have amped up their lineup with the all new electrified Niro EV joining their flagship model from last year, the Kia...
Jul 12, 2023•35 min
Our trio of petrolheads return to discuss the biggest headlines in the automotive industry, complete with a review of Lotus' latest sports car. Looking at some market movements in Europe, BMW looks set to upgrade its affordable performance SUV with a new model of the X1, kitted with the most powerful four-cylinder engine to date plus various other M-specific tech making it the most powerful iteration of the X1 to date. Also in the news are Toyota, who've just announced a second generation of the...
Jul 05, 2023•35 min
Cruise Control is back this week with news from in and around the automotive industry, complete with a drive review of the world fastest SUV! Our trio kick it off with Toyota's new people mover, the Japanese giants launched the Innova Zenix MPV to the market this week. Price jumps are to be expected on this new model, especially its flagship variant that comes with a hybrid powertrain. Also just landed in Malaysia is the latest BMW i7, with a price tag that just tips over the 1 million ringgit m...
Jun 28, 2023•35 min
Our petrolheads return this week to dissect a slew of new car launches in the local automotive industry. We begin with the announcement of the lowest-priced Perodua Axia E, a no-frills base model using an outdated design. Perodua are confident of the prospects for this variant, we discuss who their potential customers could be. On the electric front, Audi announced the arrival of their E Tron fleet, beautiful sporty designs that's set to go up against the EV lineup by their German counterparts. ...
Jun 21, 2023•21 min
The Cruise Control duo Rich and Daniel returns this week to welcome a few additions to our local automotive market. The new generation Ford Ranger Raptors entered the scene with a petrol variant hoping to appeal to both urban and rural truckers, but just this week they've added a new turbo diesel variant to beef up their presence in the pick up truck segment. Also new in the scene are two new additions to the Mercedes Benz EQ series, the German giants reveal imported variants of the EQE and the ...
Jun 14, 2023•36 min
Our three petrolheads return this week to discuss the main headlines in the local and global automotive industry, before diving deep into the glitz and glamour of dsf.my's Vehicles of the Year Awards which saw 16 vehicles drive home trophies from various categories. Hot off the press is the impending arrival of two SUVs by Chery, who are set to rock the local B & D segments with competitive price points, as the Omoda 5 and Tiggo Pro 8 make their debuts in Malaysia. We also check out Mitsubis...
Jun 07, 2023•37 min
Another exciting episode of Cruise Control returns this week as our petrolheads discuss the biggest headlines in the automotive industry. Starting with the unveiling of Renault Zoe, a new compact EV finally arriving on our shores after months of market testing. Geely also made waves, announcing their acquisition of Aston Martin, subsequently sparking possibilities of an electric venture for the premium British company. We also go down memory lane to reminisce about a discontinued sports car that...
May 24, 2023•34 min
