The Japanese firms possess enormous experience in manufacturing, quality control and supplier development. Combining these strengths with Perodua’s ambitions could create something genuinely valuable.
UMW Toyota launched the GR Corolla automatic in January 2026, some three years after the introduction of the manual GR Corolla. Complete with a boost in maximum torque from 370Nm to 400Nm. Here are my observations of the GR Corolla 8 A/T versus the manual 6-speed version. Both powered by the same 1.6-litre turbo, similar 300 PS, identical GR-Four permanent all-wheel drive. However, these two GR Corollas deliver quite a different driving experience. Undoubtedly, the 8-speed automatic is the easier car to drive fast. In traffic, it offers easy convenience: no clutch work, no constant shifting – just step on…
Chinese cars are still something of a novelty in Malaysia, so there are always people curious to know what they are really like to own — especially an electric one. I was curious myself. So a year ago, I bought a pre-registered Proton e.MAS 7 for RM103,000. Twelve months and 14,000km later, I think I have a reasonably good idea of what living with an EV in Malaysia is really like. We have made about 10 outstation trips in the e.MAS 7, including drives to Penang, Muar and Kuala Terengganu. But my biggest conclusion after one year is quite simple: in Malaysia today,…
As one of the media invited to participate in the 9th Sarawak International 4×4 Jamboree from September 1–5, I had planned this little adventure months ahead. I enlisted my familiar travelling mates Joey Jong and Tay G Lim as co-drivers in my 30-year-old Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series. The plan was simple: take a leisurely 600km-plus drive from Kuching to Bintulu before joining the Jamboree. What we hadn’t factored into our calculations was the haze. The super El Niño had brought exceptionally dry weather, and much of Sarawak was covered by haze. But plans are plans, particularly when you have…
This article was originally published by FMT and is republished here with permission. Malaysia’s next automotive strategy should be less obsessed with the nationality of the badge on the bonnet and more interested in the value created underneath it. I’ve been watching Malaysia make cars for more than 40 years. As an motoring writer, I test-drove the Proton Saga when it was launched in 1985, and saw it become the centre of attention. The narrative then was that Proton marked the beginning of Malaysia’s journey towards becoming an automotive nation. Four decades later, perhaps it is time to ask an…
Toyota bZ4X Interior View Toyota bZ4X Front View Toyota bZ4X Side View Toyota bZ4X Back View Toyota bZ4X Night View After a 300 km drive in Toyota’s first EV into Malaysia, I came away impressed by its power, ride and handling. I had been anticipating how Toyota — the company that has spent decades perfecting the combustion engine, automatic transmission and legends like the Corolla and Hilux — would translate all that experience into an electric vehicle. The answer for Malaysia might just be the bZ4X. And perhaps the most interesting thing about it is not what Toyota has put…
I approached the Toyota Hilux BEV test drive with more than a little curiosity. After all, as a veteran of three Camel Trophies and a veteran off-road enthusiast, I’ve spent enough time in jungles, mud and rain to know that when the going gets tough, you normally want a diesel engine, a big set of tyres and a recovery winch. Not a puny battery in an EV. So, the concept of taking an electric Hilux off-road was irresistible. Could the Hilux BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) live up to the reputation of Toyota’s legendary diesel light truck? And could there even…
Representatives of the Malaysia Car of the Year (MCOTY) judging panel visited MIROS (Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research) to gain insights into ASEAN NCAP (New Car Assessment Program), an independent vehicle safety rating program conducted in a collaboration between MIROS and Global NCAP. ASEAN NCAP is one of the regional NCAPs which assesses new models in a specific region, with focus on the conditions typical of the region. As safety is a major element in the assessment of new models, the MCOTY judges wanted to have a better understanding of the procedures and standards (referred to as protocols) used…
BY COTY JUDGE YAMIN VONG Since its Malaysian debut earlier this year, the GWM Tank 300 has drawn strong interest from SUV buyers looking for something modern, rugged, and relatively affordable. Great Wall Motor positions the Tank 300 as a rival to established 4×4 icons such as the Toyota FJ Cruiser, the Jeep Wrangler, and even the latest monocoque Land Rover Defender (L663). With those benchmarks in mind, we took the Tank 300 to our Grade 4 rock-crawl test track to see how it performs when pushed beyond the typical showroom test drive. Under our off-road rating scheme, Grade 1 is mild…