Motoring Life

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 an old Land …