Weekly wrap-up: All-new Toyota Alphard, Toyota Vellfire, Neta V, Maserati MC20 Cielo, BMW X7 xDrive40i M Sport launched, and more

The Malaysian automotive landscape witnessed a series of launches this week, starting from Toyota launching the all-new Alphard and Vellfire MPVs to Maserati giving us the MC20 Cielo sports car. In addition, multiple automakers unveiled their astonishing new concepts at the Japan Mobility Show 2023. Here are the top auto news of the week that you may have missed out on:

Local news

2024 Toyota Alphard, Vellfire launched 

The latest versions of Toyota MPVs, the Alphard and Vellfire, have made their way to Malaysia. The upgraded models are based on the brand's new TNGA platform and feature a more refined design and state-of-the-art technologies. The new Alphard is offered in a 2.4T Executive Lounge guise, priced at RM 538,000 while the new Vellfire comes in a sole 2.5 variant, carrying a price tag of RM 438,000. The former is powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged Dual VVT-i engine delivering a power of 278 PS and a torque of 430 Nm while the latter comes fitted with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated Dual VVT-i mill making 182 PS and 235 Nm.

Neta V electric hatchback launched

Owned by Hozon Hozon New Energy Automobile, the Chinese EV brand Neta has established its footprint in the local market. The first Neta electric car on sale in Malaysia is the Neta V hatchback. It comes equipped with a 95 PS/160 Nm front-mounted electric motor and a 38.54 kWh CATL-sourced ternary lithium battery pack, offering a driving range of 380 km (on the NEDC cycle). The Neta V is priced at RM 100,000 (on the road without insurance) in Malaysia.

Malaysia gets the Maserati MC20 Cielo 

The open-top iteration of the Maserati MC20 sports car, the MC20 Cielo, is now up for grabs in Malaysia. It comes equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbocharged “Nettuno” engine tuned to produce 630 hp and 730 Nm and an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the car’s rear wheels. Among the remarkable features of Maserati’s new sports car are butterfly doors, a carbon fibre chassis, an electrochromic hardtop Advanced Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology, a 12-speaker High Premium Sonus Faber audio system, and active safety systems. The Maserati MC20 Cielo price starts from RM 1.2 million (before taxes, duties, and options).

BMW X7 xDrive40i M Sport launched

Launched in Malaysia earlier this year, the BMW X7 facelift now gets a new variant, the xDrive40i M Sport priced at RM 718,800. The latest X7 version is RM 64,000 dearer than the previously launched Pure Excellence trim. Justifying the extra price are M-specific front and rear design, distinctive 22-inch M sport wheels, M Sport brakes, Fineline Black fine wood trim, Merino leather upholstery, M leather steering wheel, a more advanced Driving Assistant Professional package, and new M Brooklyn Grey Metallic exterior colour option.

Perodua Q3 2023 sales report released

Perodua has released the sales figures for the third quarter of 2023. The automaker sold a total of 88,537 cars in this quarter which represents a 28.3% growth compared to 69,011 units in the same quarter last year. The brand’s year-to-date sales stood at 233,227 units in the first nine months of the year. According to Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, the company is on track to achieve its annual registration target of 314,000 units.

International news

2024 Suzuki Swift Concept debuts in Japan

The all-new concept version of the Suzuki Swift hatchback made an appearance at the ongoing Japan Mobility Show. Previewing the fourth-gen of the car, the concept boasts cosmetic enhancements inside and out and new features such as a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Dual Sensor Brake Support, Adaptive High Beam System, and Driver Monitoring System. Under the hood, it carries a hybrid setup with an inline-three petrol engine with VVT and an electric drive system.

Toyota FT-Se and FT-3e BEV concepts unveiled

Toyota also introduced two new futuristic BEV concepts at the show viz. FT-Se and FT-3e. The Toyota FT-Se is a ​​high-performance sports car, which boasts a striking exterior design with a huge lower front grille, vertical daytime running lights, and a set of 20-inch wheels. The Toyota FT-3e, on the other hand, is a next-gen crossover equipped with some innovative features like external digital screens, touch-based operation for rear doors, and lots of screens inside.

Mazda Iconic SP Concept breaks cover

Also on display at the Japan Mobility Show is Mazda’s new sports car concept, the Iconic SP. It is an evolved version of the brand’s Vision Study concept previewed last year. The concept is powered by a unique two-rotor rotary EV system that burns various fuels such as hydrogen and generates electricity with carbon-neutral fuel. The maximum output is rated at 370 PS.

Mitsubishi D:X Concept makes global debut

Mitsubishi has on display an all-new D:X Concept at the Tokyo auto show, which is a six-seater electrified crossover rumoured to preview the next-gen Delica MPV. It features a Dynamic Shield front fascia with an integrated shield, skid plates, sturdy over fenders, large-diameter tyres, and a raised suspension setup. Under its hood lies a plug-in hybrid engine that uses the S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) system.

Honda introduces the Prelude concept in Japan

At the Japan Mobility Show 2023, Honda introduced the Prelude sports car. This two-door EV concept previews the brand’s upcoming electric vehicles, specifically sports cars that aim to deliver an engaging driving experience. Although there's no information yet available on the EV’s powertrain and underlying platform, its appearance is undeniably appealing.

Nissan Hyper Force concept premiered

Nissan has also pulled the wraps off a few ‘hyper’ concept vehicles at the Tokyo show, which includes the Hyper Force Concept. It is an all-electric supercar powered by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain that can generate a whooping power of 1,360 PS. The motor is fed by an all-solid-state battery pack and managed by the brand’s e-4ORCE all-wheel control technology.

Lexus LF-ZC concept revealed

The all-new Lexus LF-ZC concept (which stands for Lexus Future Zero-emission) is also on display at the auto show previewing the company’s next-generation of electric vehicles. It is a sleek four-door coupe incorporating angular design elements and a low roofline. The EV features a Steer-By-Wire system and Direct4 all-wheel drive technology and has a drag coefficient of 0.2 Cd.

2024 Kia Carnival facelift debuts in South Korea

Kia has unveiled the facelift version of the fourth-gen Carnival introduced three years ago. The latest model boasts a fresh new look as it underpins the brand’s “Opposites United’ design philosophy. It will be offered in three different engine options - gasoline, diesel, and hybrid. The latter will house a 1.6-litre turbocharged mill.

That’s all for the week. For further auto updates, stay tuned with us.

Also read: Top 10 major differences between the 2023 Toyota Corolla and Corolla GR Sport