Wapcar Morning Insiders (Oct. 2, 2019)

Today is Wednesday, October. 2

 Local News 

The updated Mazda CX-5 2019 is now available

The updated 2019 Mazda CX-5 is now available in Malaysia along with the new range topping 2.5-litre Turbo variant, which was previewed earlier in September.

The new ranging topping 228 PS/420 Nm 2.5-litre turbocharged AWD replaces the 2.2-litre turbo diesel AWD variant. The lower range 2WD turbo diesel variant however, remains on sale.

Alleged RHD Proton X50 caught on camera

It appears that right-hand drive prototypes of the upcoming Geely Binyue-based Proton X50 have started roaming our streets, as our friends over at Funtasticko just posted photos of such a model.

The up-close shots give us a clearer look at the upcoming B-segment SUV, now with the steering placed on the correct right side of the car. Furthermore, the front wipers have also been redesigned for right-hand drive conditions. The upcoming Proton X50 is also expected to don Proton’s latest logo.

Could Petronas&Pertamina's collab make them the world’s most important players?

Today, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal told reporters today that a collaboration between the national petroleum companies of Malaysia and Indonesia, namely Petronas and Pertamina, could make them among the world’s most important players in the industry.

“This resource (oil) is not available in many places, for example in Thailand, it is not available in Vietnam, not available in India, not even in China and the Philippines,” he told reporters after visiting Pertamina Refinery Unit V in Balikpapan here today.

More on a collaboration between the national petroleum companies of Malaysia and Indonesia, namely Petronas and Pertamina, could make them among the world’s most important players in the industry.

Korean K-pop BLACKPINK's first Malaysia Tour will be presented by Kia

Presented by the KIA Motors, BLACKPINK is finally here in Kuala Lumpur for the revolutionary Korean super girl group’s concert on the weekend of 23^rd and 24^th February 2019.

To enter, just test drive any Kia car at KIA showrooms, snap a photo and upload it on either Facebook or Instagram* with the hashtag #KiaMalaysiaBLACKPINK to be in the running! This contest is open to all Malaysians and is valid from 1^st – 17^th February 2019.

More on: KIA Malaysia

 International News 

   Tokyo 2019:  Nissan reveals Nissan IMk concept 

Nissan unveils a new EV concept car in the form of the IMk. The new concept car will take centre stage at the upcoming 46th Tokyo Motor Show. The IMk was created based on the Japanese market needs of nimble driving characteristics and ultimate connectivity in a city car.

The idea of the IMk is to provide the Japanese market who are looking at EV options but prefers a smaller compact vehicle for the metropolis. 

New Toyota C-HR unveiled, updated looks, quieter cabin

Toyota has just announced a new 2019 Toyota C-HR for Europe and Australia. Apart from the new looks, the new C-HR also gets a choice of two hybrid powertrains, which now include a 2.0-litre hybrid. There's also a new infotainment system and handling has also been improved.

New generation Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ confirmed

Toyota Motor Corporation and Subaru Corporation have agreed to deepen their business relationship. Toyota announced on Friday that it will increase its stake in Subaru from 16.8% to 20%. In return, Subaru will purchase 80 billion Yen worth of Toyota shares. 

Both companies also confirmed that they will continue to develop the next generation Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ.

The Japanese market all-new Toyota Corolla is smaller than ours

The recently-introduced sedan and wagon variants of the all-new Toyota Corolla are physically smaller than other markets. These shrunken Toyota Corolla models are exclusive to Japan, where cars are taxed based on body size.

Equipment wise, Toyota has finally provided support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its models, and the all-new Corolla is no exception. The all-new Corolla also gets Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of advanced driver assistance features.