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The Honda NSX will return for a third generation, likely as an EV

August 25, 2021 By Keith Leave a Comment

A great article about Penang.

Honda is sunsetting the second-generation NSX after this year, with the last 350 or so units of the hybrid supercar being the recently-unveiled Type S. Although it’s farewell for now, it seems like the Honda NSX might not be as dead as we thought.

As reported by The Drive, Acura Vice President and Brand Officer Jon Ikeda said in a recent interview: “If you notice, we make an NSX when there’s something we want to say. The first-gen was gas. Second-gen was a hybrid. There’s gonna be another one.”

When prodded further if it means that the next NSX will be an EV, though, Ikeda refused to comment further, but apparently replied with a smile.

The second-generation NSX was pretty much a financial disaster for Honda. Although highly praised by reviewers for its performance, it just never sold very well throughout its short five-year life, selling only 128 units in the U.S. last year.

The accounting book looks even worse when you take into account how much it costs Honda to make one, due to the car’s complex powertrain system consisting of not just two turbochargers, but also three electric motors.

The Honda NSX Type S is a 608 hp swansong to the reborn cult icon. Read more about it here!

Honda, of course, knew all about this. Speaking to MotorTrend on the same topic, Ikeda said: “We didn’t go into it to make a lot of money.” Instead, the NSX – like all flagship halo models – is also Honda’s marketing tool designed to bring people into showrooms, all while acting as an engineering exercise to help the Japanese carmaker build better electrified cars in the future.

“We learned a lot about electrification and fun to drive, which is a staple,” Ikeda added. And of course, aside from these perfectly logical explanation, Honda’s making a new NSX just because they want to make one – and there’s nothing wrong with that.

“We didn’t want to let the NSX die on the vine either. To go quietly into the night is not what it deserves.”

Mugen’s body kit for the all-new Honda Civic Hatchback is what you’d call “tastefully done”. Check it out here!

So how long do we have to wait to see the new NSX? It took Honda 10 years to revive the NSX after phasing out the first-generation supercar in 2005, so we’d say don’t hold your breath.

Although, with the rate that the entire automotive industry is accelerating towards EVs, the next Honda NSX might still come sooner than we thought. I mean, nobody expected Honda to make a new Integra, but that’s exactly what they’re doing.

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The Honda NSX Type S is a 608 hp swansong to the reborn cult icon

August 15, 2021 By Keith Leave a Comment

A great post on Malaysia.

Honda has announced that it will be sunsetting the second-generation NSX at the end of 2022, just six years after the model was first unveiled. To see out the model, Honda has just unveiled the NSX Type S at the Monterey Car Week as its one last hurrah – and we’ve gotta say, what a way to send off the reborn cult icon.

The main upgrade for this run-out model is in the performance department. Specifically, the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrain now churns out a total of 608 hp and 667 Nm of torque, 27 hp and 22 Nm more than the regular NSX.

The power bump is largely thanks to new turbochargers that are borrowed from the NSX GT3 Evo race car, with a 6% increase in boost pressure. There are also new fuel injectors and improved intercoolers, and on the electric side, the batteries now have a 20% bump in capacity, and 10% increase in output.

Honda has also tweaked the NSX Type S’ nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with a new gear ratio of 8.050:1 (down from 10.382:1). The gearbox can now apparently up-shift by up to 50% quicker, and also has a new Rapid Downshift Mode that allows it to skip gears when moving to a smaller cog.

Watch the old and new Honda NSX battle it out in a touge battle!

Other upgrades come in the form of retuned dampers, updated ECU software, new five-split-spoke forged alloy (in matte Shark Grey or gloss Berlina Black) for a 10- and 20-mm wider track front and back, and new bespoke Pirelli P Zero tyres that offers up to 6% more lateral grip.

And on top of that, there are also new aerodynamic devices in the form of new front splitters, side sills, rear spoiler, and a new rear diffuser that’s modelled after the GT3 Evo race car. All in, Honda claims that the new Type S laps the Suzuka Circuit a whopping two seconds faster than the outgoing NSX – not bad at all for a final upgrade.

On the aesthetics end, the Honda NSX has been given a pretty significant makeover for the Type S, particularly on the front fascia. There’s a new hexagonal grille that’s paired to a sharper nose, while at the back, the rear bumpers have also been significantly reworked with more angular vents at the side, surrounding the aforementioned new carbon fibre diffuser.

The head- and tail-lights are both darkened, alongside the blacked-out wing mirrors, door handles, exhaust tips, and badges. The roof is now made with carbon fibre as standard, and customers can also opt for a Lightweight Package with carbon fibre engine cover, interior trims, and carbon-ceramic brake discs that supposedly drop the kerb weight by 26.2 kg.

Some good news instead: Honda is bringing back the Integra next year! Read more about it here.

Just 350 units of the new Honda NSX Type S will be built, and it’s the only variant that Honda is making for the rest of the model’s life, until end-2022. 300 out of the total is earmarked for the United States (wearing the Acura badge), and 70 of them in the new Gotham Gray exterior colour. So long, NSX.

GALLERY

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Naza Automotive appeals for automotive sector to be allowed to resume operations

August 13, 2021 By Keith Leave a Comment

An interesting post about Penang.

Following Honda and Toyota’s plea to the government recently, Naza Automotive Group, the automotive arm of the Naza Corporation Holdings is now also appealing for the government to allow the automotive sector to resume operations.

This is as the entire supply chain in the automotive sector has been seriously affected, especially due to the complete and prolonged shutdown of operations in vital areas like Selangor and the Federal Territories.

“Many of the key automotive companies for both vehicle and parts production are located within these two states. Prolonged business and supply chain disruption will have dire consequences on the industry, especially due to the fact that the local automotive industry is highly dependent on the domestic market,” said Naza Automotive Group, CEO, Dato’ Nik Hamdan.

Naza Automotive Group’s CEO went on to emphasise that the continuous shutdown which affects all facets of the automotive sector would lead to eventual business closures, especially with the smaller players in the industry. It would then lead to layoffs and a deep and long-lasting impact on the job market.

The current situation could also pose safety risks to vehicle owners due to the continuous use of under-serviced vehicles and the inability to replace damaged parts when necessary.

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Volkswagen to expand SUV line-up in Malaysia – T-Roc and T-Cross coming soon?

July 18, 2021 By Keith Leave a Comment

An informative article about Malaysia.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) could be expanding its SUV line-up here in Malaysia, according to a comment by Managing Director Erik Winter in a press conference following the launch of the new 2021 Arteon R-Line 4Motion.

“We are always looking into which models can we bring into the market, which models will fit in the malaysian market,” winter said in response to questions from Journalists. “It’s not a surprise that our SUVs are of course the most successful models.”

“SUVs are in high demand worldwide, so we are also looking to expand our model line-up with more SUVs,” he added, but as usual when speaking about future product plans, stopped short on revealing any further information.

VPCM’s model line-up in Malaysia currently consists of just one model – the Tiguan Allspace – with the regular five-seater Tiguan being discontinued here in our country following the launch of its bigger sibling.

Globally though, the German carmaker’s arsenal of SUVs does have a few more models available, including the T-Roc, T-Cross, and Touareg, and the aforementioned Tiguan five-seater.

Click here to learn more about VPCM’s latest SUV here in Malaysia, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Based on the list above, we think that the T-Roc and T-Cross will be the most likely candidate for a Malaysian introduction. According to Erik Winter, the Tiguan Allspace has actually enjoyed a 15-20% boost in sales compared to the smaller Tiguan 1.4 Highline, so it’s doubtful that VPCM will actually introduce a new model alongside the bigger Allspace variant.

As for the Touareg, the first generation model that was introduced here in Malaysia many years ago did not move many units, so we’re not holding our breaths for a new one anytime soon – especially when there are now so many options available from other premium brands that fall within the same price point.

This leaves us then with the Volkswagen T-Roc and T-Cross, the two smallest crossovers in VW’s global line-up. The B- to C-segment SUV market is a highly lucrative one here in Malaysia, as proven many times over by the Honda HR-V, Proton X50, and the Toyota Corolla Cross, so it’s possible that Volkswagen too, want a piece of that pie – especially since it’s not planning to bring in the Polo in the near future.

Could we even see the Volkswagen T-Roc R here in Malaysia? Well, a man can certainly dream…

Moreover, the 1.5-litre TSI inline-four engine that’s found on either models are already used in other models here in Malaysia, which could simplify its CKD process should Volkswagen choose to assemble the T-Roc and T-Cross here in Malaysia.

To be clear, these are all speculations at this point in time, as VPCM are still keeping mum about their future product plans. Either way, we’re excited to see what the future holds for the brand here in Malaysia, especially after all the Covid-19 gloom and doom passes over!

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Honda’s new interior design philosophy has a bad name, but a good purpose

April 27, 2021 By Keith Leave a Comment

An informative article about Penang.

Honda cars, for the longest time, have had dashboards that can only be described as “Japanese”. You see this in all of their models, from the Jazz to the CR-V, where a busy centre column on the dashboard houses pretty much all the controls.

But on the future Honda models, the Japanese carmaker is looking to break out from its shell with a more minimalist “European-esque” design for its interior, and has even given it a name – “Simplicity and Something“. Yes, really.

The name makes it sound like Honda might have forgotten the second part of its new philosophy, but it basically means to keep the interior as simple as possible, while adding a little pizazz or something unique. Honda says that the latter refers to the “personality and character of the design”, and is expressed through design details such as the knurling on a knob.

The “Simplicity” part meanwhile is pretty straightforward. Essentially, this means making all controls as straightforward as possible and reducing visual clutter, such as reducing the size of the A-pillars, lowering the cowl, minimising the space needed for control surfaces, and even simplifying the displays and menu structure of the software.

Accord — The cluttered centre stack of the CR-V

Honda says this new design philosophy renews its focus on the brand’s classic human-centric “Man Maximum/Machine Minimum” approach, and the vehicle should just “fade away” while driving, giving you a clearer view of the road and neighbouring environment – all while maximising cabin space.

“Simplicity in design requires not only a strong philosophy, but a discipline toward the user experience,” said Honda Interior Design US Creative Lead, Johnathan Norman. “We’ve heard from designers working for other brands who say they were inspired by the simple, human-centered design of old Hondas. Well, so are we!”

The company did not say which new model will be the first to get the new interior design philosophy, but we’re already seeing hints of the new horizontally-focused dashboard on the latest Honda products, such as the all-new Honda Accord.

And if Honda’s concept photos of the upcoming Honda Civic is anything to go by, we’re also definitely going to be seeing the new design philosophy being applied on the new C-segment sedan.

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Video: Can the Toyota Corolla Cross dethrone the Honda HR-V? – AutoVlog

March 29, 2021 By Keith Leave a Comment

An interesting article on Penang.

The B-segment SUV space here in Malaysia, specifically in the non-national segment, has long been dominated by the Honda HR-V – Toyota just never had a worthy competitor in the arena, with the only option being the pricey C-HR. Well, that could all be changing with the introduction of the all-new Toyota Corolla Cross.

We were given the opportunity to sample the 1.8G variant about one week before the Malaysian debut – and we’ve got to say that it matched every bit of our expectations, and then more.

The most impressive aspect of the Corolla Cross, is most definitely the comfort levels within the cabin. On the move, the comfort-oriented suspension set-up soaks up road undulations with poise, while road imperfections are barely discernable no matter which seat you occupy.

Noise levels are also minimal, which surprised us as the entry-level variant doesn’t get the acoustic glass treatment on the windshield and front windows – the 1.8V has these as standard.

Even though the Corolla Cross is geared towards comfort, that doesn’t mean that it can’t handle itself, too. In fact, it’s quite the opposite – the TNGA platform underpinning the crossover once again showed its magical capabilities in transforming its road-holding capabilities.

Yes, it has a simpler, “budget-oriented” torsion beam suspension at the rear, but that doesn’t take away too much of the fluid handling characteristics that we’ve come to love on other TNGA-based models. And on the upside, you get even more space at the rear for your cargo – specifically 440 litres of space, the largest in its class.

There’s still a lot to talk about, so be sure to check out the full video above. If you’re more of a text-reading person, we’ve also published a quick first-drive impressions review of the Toyota Corolla Cross – check that out here.

GALLERY

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Penang Heritage Police Escort/Polis Trafik GoPro Hero8

March 22, 2021 By Keith Leave a Comment

Some interesting news about Penang.

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